June 2019 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

June 2019 Issue No. 87 Est: 2012

Hospital hassle prompts fury from neighbours RESIDENTS living close to the new Priory Hospital which opened a year ago in Heddington Drive, Blandford, are furious that assurances given before the facility opened are not being met.

The hospital, which replaced the Shottsford House residential unit for severely disabled patients over the age of 18 and had in turn replaced Phoenix House, provides a community independent learning disability unit for up to 16 acute child and adolescent mental health services patients.

The complaints of nearby residents, who have asked the Care Quality Commission to inspect the facility, include the witnessing by their children of young patients in distress at first-floor windows, noisy handovers and staff rest periods with car doors slamming and loud music played in the car park at times when they need to sleep, and inconsiderate parking of vehicles in Heddington Drive, blocking visibility at the access.

Before the facility opened in May 2018, proposals for three-metrehigh security fencing around Shottsford House in Heddington Drive/Fairfield Bungalows raised concerns among local residents who met with representatives of the Priory Group, which runs the mental health facility.

They were told that the anti-climb steel fence and post security mesh fencing with privacy sheets

FORUM FOCUS

provided a secure outside area for service users to have external exercise and recreation. Hospital director Caroline Williams said she hoped that the meeting had alleviated their worries.

A spokesperson for the group on May 8 this year said: "We take any complaint seriously and have taken a number of measures to mitigate noise where any concern has been raised.

"This has included relocating service users to different areas of the hospital, ensuring staff are always mindful of the needs of the local community, and of parking restrictions, and that they use our car park wherever possible.

"We have also liaised closely with the local council, and the Care Quality Commission, and shown them what we have done. We have instructed staff not to use the access drive and to park with consideration to others at all times. Tradespeople coming to the hospital are reserved a space in our car park so as to alleviate pressure elsewhere.

"We are always willing to meet local representatives to discuss any concerns and will take action where appropriate."

She said the CQC, health and social care watchdog, who have yet to make a full inspection, visited regularly to monitor the service, and they worked closely with • To Page 2

Miles and smiles: Rosie Davidson proudly displays her medal after finishing the gruelling London Marathon in five hours 14 minutes and 2 seconds. Her son Henry (right) was her inspiration. Turn to Page 8 to read Rosie’s story and see how Blandford’s other local runners got on.

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June 2019

FORUM FOCUS CONTACTS Editorial: Nicci Brown T: 01258 459346 E: editor@forumfocus.co.uk Advertising: John Stayt T: 01258 454427 E: advertising@forumfocus.co.uk Distribution: Jackie Stayt T: 01258 456999 E: distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Design: David Eidlestein T: 01258 450989 E: de@deadlines.eclipse.co.uk Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

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Copies can be picked up from any of our drop points below: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S Langton Road; The Post Office, Library and Parish Centre in The Tabernacle, the Corn Exchange, the Spar shop in Market Place, Gorge Cafe in East Street, Blandford Museum in the Market Place, the Tourist Information Centre in West Street, Chaffers in Salisbury Street, James Newsagents in The Plocks, the Co-op in Salisbury Road, the 3Cs in Damory Street, the Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road, Cherry's hairdressers in Elizabeth Road, Blandford Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, the Central Shop in Heddington Drive, the Brewery Visitor Centre, Lidl in Higher Shaftesbury Lane, and Tesco and Homebase at Stour Park.

In the villages: Charlton Marshall Church Rooms and Charlton pub, Woodpecker pub at Spetisbury, Abbott Garden Centre, Langton Long, True Lovers Knot and St Richard Close bus stop in Tarrant Keyneston, Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton, Anvil and Farquharson pubs in Pimperne, the White Horse Inn at Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster Post Office, Child Okeford Post Office, Shillingstone Garage, Okeford Fitzpaine village shop, Londis Shop & Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, Post Office and Surgery, Milton Abbas, and The Cricketers at Shroton.

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Nordon fight goes on, vows council TOWN councillors, at their first meeting after the election in May, challenged the decision that the Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government could not intervene in the approval given by the former North Dorset District Council to the demolition and redevelopment of Nordon and its Salisbury Road site.

The response from the Minister's office was that it did not meet the criteria, which needed to be for large developments in exceptional circumstances.

Councillor Steve Hitchings said: "It depends what you mean by a large development, which this is, and exceptional circumstances. If there should be no declaration of interest by an authority selling a property to the applicant on the basis that they give it planning permission, I am speechless.

"The new Dorset Council should be able to reverse the decision.

This is not a political football - I am trying to do what is right for the people of Blandford."

Councillor Hugo Mieville said: "The letter from the Minister's

office talks about community and councils being the same thing.

Here there was very clearly a disparity between the council and the community."

Newly elected Councillor Alan Cross said he had expected while campaigning that it would be about the 'B' word (Brexit), but in Blandford it had been the 'N' word (Nordon).

"If localism is to have any meaning whatsoever, we should take whatever steps we can to take this further," he said.

They agreed a response should be sent to the Secretary of State, copied to the MP, and to the new Dorset Council.

BLANDFORD'S Southern Co-op store in Salisbury Road is one of over 40 across the south at which a new composable carried bag is being rolled out to replace the smaller ones previously offered.

The environmentally friendly fullsize bag is also designed to be used as a food waste caddy liner and costs 5p.

Fury over hospital hassle • From Page 1 external agencies including the NHS and the local authority around the service provided.

But a week after the spokesman's statement, Carol Brennan, who lives next door to the hospital, said there had been no response from either the Priory Group's complaints officer or the new hospital manager to their initial complaints or to a formal complaint on May 12.

She said there continued to be visible disruptive behaviour, vehicles parked too close to the turning, and staff making a noise in the car park morning and evening.

June 2019

Mayoral election controversy as deputy rejected THE decision by town councillors at their annual meeting to elect Lynn Lindsay as their Mayor and Chairman for 2019/20 was received with some shock by those who had assumed that 2018/19 deputy mayor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke would be appointed.

Her election, by 12 votes to two in secret ballot, proposed by Councillor Hugo Mieville and seconded by Councillor Pat Osborne, followed a failed proposal that Mr Lacey-Clarke should be chosen.

It was defeated by nine votes to five, and Mr Lacey-Clarke, who was elected last month as one of Blandford's two Dorset Council members, and recently relocated his business and charity to larger premises, thanked those who had supported him, including his proposer and fellow county councillor Byron Quayle and seconder Councillor Peter Clark.

Mrs Lindsay, whose husband Cliff died last November after a long battle with cancer, has been a town councillor since 1999, served as chairman of the recreation and amenities committee for many years, as Mayor in 2009/10, and in 2016 as chairman when Jackie Stayt, who this year stood down as a town councillor, served as Mayor.

It is not the first time in recent years that a deputy mayor has not the following year become Mayor. In 2010, the late Councillor Esme Butler was elected Mayor when Mrs Lindsay's deputy, Harold Galpin, failed to secure enough votes to succeed her. Councillor Rosemary Holmes served as deputy mayor that year, but the following year Mrs Butler was asked to continue in office after the sudden resignation of the council's new town clerk prompted the need for continuity.

Mrs Lindsay, who was formally appointed at the mayor-making ceremony in the Corn Exchange on May 24, said: "I had a horrific year last year and will be proud to serve in the town where I was born, went to school and which I love very much."

She said she hoped every councillor would treat others with the

respect they deserved, urging all new councillors to read the council's code of conduct, remember that decisions were made democratically and became council policy, and that they should be very careful what they said in public and on social media.

Her warning did not prevent a flood of public comment on the announcement on Facebook by Mr Lacey-Clarke, who had been co-opted to serve as a councillor in March 2016, that he had not been chosen, saying only: "It takes a certain amount of awesomeness to lose a vote when you were the only one standing."

He added that Mrs Lindsay was a good choice, which he had supported following his own defeat.

The comments on his post ranged from accusing other councillors jealous of his election success of spoilt childish behaviour, a political 'stitch-up', failing to recognise the good work he had done for the town, and the older generation holding the town back for fear of change.

This year's deputy mayor and council vice-chairman Lee Hitchings was elected at the annual meeting by ten votes to four, proposed by his father Councillor Steve Hitchings and seconded by Councillor Haydn White.

The chairmen of the planning committee, town and general purposes and finance and staffing committees were reelected as, respectively, councillors Peter Clark, Hugo Mieville and Steve Hitchings, with Roger Carter, Rosemary Holmes and Pat Osborne as their respective vice-chairmen. Haydn White becomes chairman of recreation and amenities, with Mrs Lindsay vice-chairman.

Following the very lengthy process of elections by secret ballot and during the review of the council's standing orders, member agreed by a narrow majority of eight votes to seven a proposal by Mr Osborne, seconded by Mr Lacey-Clarke, that votes on election to council office, including co-options, should not be by secret ballot, but by a show of hands.

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Members of the Blandford Men's Shed and Normtec enjoy a well-earned rest after finishing the restoration work.

Shed men sitting pretty THE Blandford Men's Shed, working with Roger Bond and his company Normtec, have worked their magic and restored a broken bench in New Road, Bryanston, to its former glory.

The bench, which had been seriously damaged last November and needed serious attention, is close to the turning into The Cliff and one of two in New Road which were installed as part of Bryanston's celebrations for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

It was dedicated to Alfred Henry ('Harry') Morgan, who ran the shop in Bryanston with his wife for over 30 years. Harry was hugely respected and involved in every village activity, including Parish Council chairman and churchwarden.

Bryanston's famous wood carver and sculptor, Don Potter, originally carved the commemorative lettering.

The bench has been a welcome spot to take a rest by many people over the years, especially walkers and cyclists making their way up the hill, and thanks to the Men's Shed it is set to do the same for many years to come.

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June 2019

Royal finale to a triumphant day B

An Anonymous Morris refreshes herself after her exertions.

LANDFORD'S 27th Georgian Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday was topped off with the announcement shortly before it closed of the birth that morning of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's baby.

MC Arthur Bush, who was congratulated at the start of the day

by Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter on the role he has played ever since the fayre started over 25 years ago, said that last year fayre-goers had been anticipating the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a few weeks later.

It was a fitting conclusion to a very successful day. Fine weather brought crowds flocking to the traffic-free streets with entertainment and traditional fairground rides in the Market Place. There the Mangled Wurzels provided a welcome addition to a musical programme which included Gurkha, Morris and community maypole dancing, the Stour Valley Band and the Wessex Highlanders.

There was a non-stop programme of live music at various venues, including winners in the recent Paddocks youth talent competition, Nick Tatham, Sanou, One Word and Xander and the Keys, and others both on stages in the Ham car park and Salisbury Street, and outside other town centre pubs.

On the Lower Ham there were birds of prey, alpacas, a classic and vintage vehicle display, rural crafts and miniature tanks, and in the Woodhouse Gardens a 'children's zone' with Mr Merlin and Okey Dokey the Dragon.

The stalls and attractions which have come to represent Blandford's first May Day Bank Holiday filled the main streets, and there was free transport to the Brewery Visitor Centre of main sponsors Hall & Woodhouse.

Volunteers at Blandford Fashion Museum dressed for the occasion in long skirts, aprons, lace caps, mob caps and embroidered • To Page 5

The Ladies of the Women's Institute with their cakes in the Parish Centre.

Town Mayor Roger Carter opening the Fayre, with left, town mace bearer David Jardine and right, the Carnival royalty.

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June 2019

The Performing Arts Academy were part of the entertainment in the Marsh and Ham car park.

Blandford Fashion Museum volunteers donned replica costumes of the era.

The Anonymous Morris in the Market Place. • From Page 4 bonnets. The tearoom volunteers in particular enjoyed serving their delicious cakes and cream teas, and the bright sunshine meant the garden was open.

The ladies of Blandford Evening WI provided a quiet corner of calm for visitors in their Cosy Cafe which was set up in the Parish Centre. Dressed in their mob caps and aprons, 'Les Girls' served plates of scrumptious home-made cakes and gallons of tea and coffee. Although at the edge of the Fayre, word soon got around that there were proper cups and there was a steady flow of customers all day.

The Parish Church offered more refreshments and hosted a magnificent display of arts and crafts, together with a raffle for a beautiful quilt made by members of the 'Simply Sew' Craft Group in support of the church restoration project.

Visitors to the newly remodelled Blandford Museum could view the first in a series of monthly art exhibitions, a retrospective of the work of local artist and Blandford Art

Society member Bridget Richardson, together with the items currently on display courtesy of the Dorset County Museum from their collection of Alfred Stevens and John Bastard works.

Also open with celebratory attractions were the Royal British Legion Club with stocks and pillory, the Blandford Masonic Hall with the Stour Valley Band and the newly discovered National Brass Band Championship cup won in 1863 (see page 17), the Crown Hotel with live music and stalls in the garden, and a number of town centre shops and businesses.

The Mayor, who was accompanied by the town's carnival 'royalty' and mace bearer David Jardine as he went round the town visiting all the stalls in the streets and Corn Exchange, paid tribute to all the volunteers who annually bring the event together.

He was thrilled to receive from Fayre chairman Colin Stevens a donation of ÂŁ500 to his Mayoral charities, the Blandford Opportunity Group and Blandford Food Bank.

More pictures: Pages 6 & 7

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June 2019

The Stour Valley Band in the Market Place.

Hairdressing 'al fresco' in Salisbury Street with Debbie Elliott.

A patriotic flavour from Mick Page in his Union Jack suit.

Arts and crafts in the Parish Church attracted a large audience.

Get your Georgian costumes here from Franchesca Caton of Historic Stitchcut Costumes.

Air Training Cadets, who had helped with various duties during the day, let off steam to the music of the Mangled Wurzels.

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June 2019

Music from Danny Salamander in the garden of the Crown Hotel.

Dick Pointer travelling in style.

Elaine Avery of the Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers demonstrates traditional spinning.

A spell in the stocks for Ken Whillock at the Royal British Legion.

More Fayre pictures at www.forumfocus.co.uk

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June 2019

Marathon entrants get a run for their money AT LEAST a dozen local people took part in this year's London Marathon in April, between them raising more than £11,000 for various charities.

Rosie Davidson, a personal trainer at R Lukins Fitness in Pimperne, was supported by the clients, members and colleagues, as well as friends and family, in raising over double her original target in support of Epilepsy Action.

It was their helpline she used when she first struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis two years ago of a severe form of epilepsy in her son Henry, who is now nearly three years old.

At the beginning of last year he was enduring between three and nine seizures a day. Recovery was slow and the resulting effects on his brain led to developmental delay.

"During a 10-month period he had 119 focal or generalised seizures and many visits to hospital, with two that resulted in prolonged intensive care," said Rosie. "Seizure number 50 was the worst - it lasted 78 minutes: he was sedated, intubated, had cannulas in every limb, his neck and another through a hole drilled into his shin.

"Henry is now on his fourth antiepileptic drug to try and keep the seizures under control but we're not quite there yet. He has recently been diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome and has a long battle ahead of him, but he is such a brave and strong little boy, we have faith that he will get through this.

"When Henry first became poorly I was reading about seizures and

the toll they take on one's body.

Somebody said it was like running a marathon each time. It was then that I thought I wanted to raise as much money as possible for Epilepsy Action as I used their helpline when I was first struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis."

Rosie finished the marathon in five hours, 14 minutes and 2 seconds. Her fundraising page, where the total raised is now over £4,000, is still open at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ RosieDavidson.

• Anna Butler and her team - Jo Hicks and Karen Renwick - have between them raised £5,402.42 including Gift Aid, and are still pushing on Facebook and at https://ukvirginmoneygiving.com/ AnnaButler11/1 to make it £5,500 for the charity MACS, supporting children born with eye defects.

Anna and Jo both finished in five hours 24 minutes 22 seconds, and Karen was seven minutes quicker in five hours 17 minutes 10 seconds.

• Husband and wife Neil and Theresa Docherty, from RunBlandford, took part in support of the charity Bowel & Cancer Research as a tribute to Theresa's father who died when she was 18. Her mother has also successfully overcome bowel cancer but is now battling lung cancer, and her stepfather has prostate cancer.

The stock controller for Dometic UK Ltd in Blandford crossed the finish line in five hours nine minutes, raising £1,780, and husband Neil finished 33 minutes later. To contribute to her

Jo Hicks, Anna Butler and Karen Renwick after their London Marathon run. fundraising, see uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TheresaDoherty1 • Three members of the North Dorset Triathlon Club taking part were Lerryn Chaffey, Steve Pritchard and Nicola Remnant.

Lerryn finished in the best time of three hours 50 minutes to come 582nd in her 40-44 age group, with Steve in just under four hours 42 minutes. Nicola

failed to finish.

• There were also five members of the Dorset Doddlers, of whom the fastest was Gavin Green in just under three hours 37 minutes, with John Cowley in just over four hours 32 minutes and Louise Barnett in four hours 40 minutes 13 seconds. Steven Rigby and Iain Trickett failed to finish.

June 2019

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Businesses moving in THE opening of the new Dulux decorator centre on Glenmore Business Park off Shaftesbury Lane was the latest in a series of new businesses starting in the town.

Painters, decorators and other members of the community were welcomed by Mayor Roger Carter and the famous Dulux dog, and greeted to a breakfast bacon roll, a complimentary goody bag and special offers.

Centre manager Joe Chandler also presented £500 worth of products to children's cancer charity Teddy 20 to help with their work, including the music festival and other fundraising events and activities and maintaining its respite holiday home Ted's Shack.

• Revolutions Records, a small family-run independent record shop specialising in new indie vinyl, has also opened at 5 Nightingale Court off East Street.

• The Forget-Me-Not walled garden and café opened at Downhouse Vineyard on the A3082.

• Staff were being sought to serve light breakfasts and lunches at Black Cactus, a new café opening in Greyhound Yard.

June 2019

£1.68m grant to unlock the secrets of ancient landscape THE National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a £1.68 million grant to the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) for a five-year project which aims to unlock the secrets of Cranborne Chase and the Chalke Valley.

Ground-breaking technology will be used to turn back the clock, revealing the largest Neolithic monument in Britain, the Dorset Cursus, and the project will restore and protect some internationally important habitats and historic sites.

Roger Goulding, the scheme's development officer, said: "Over 6,000 local people have already been involved in the creation of this project, with more than 350 volunteer days donated. It is a project for everyone, whether you live in or around Cranborne Chase and the Chalke Valley."

The AONB also has North Dorset LAG LEADER funding for the production of a tourism app using AI (artificial intelligence) technology to bring the Chase and the towns around it alive, using actors as historic characters to highlight features for tourists visiting the area, and has applied to all town councils involved to help deliver effective marketing for the resource.

Mr Goulding said: "Blandford won't just benefit from this resource to enable visitors and local people to interact with the character to appreciate the highquality architecture of the town centre, but will benefit from visitor referrals from other characters and locations across the network of sites."

Volunteer days will be made available for people to

get involved by recording bird and butterfly species, digging dew ponds and capturing the memories of past ways and traditions.

Highlights include the improvement of habitat for species including Adonis blue butterflies, farmland birds and mammals, management and improvement of woodland and training in woodland skills and crafts, improving grazing to benefit key species and ancient monuments, monitoring the AONB's 'dark skies' status and an extensive archaeological programme to engage adults and children in the towns around the AONB. 'Ancient Ways' will improve or restore 110km of rights of way, with newly promoted walks, cycle rides and walk leader training, and there will be writing competitions, theatrical productions and an oral history project focusing on traditional land management.

Linda Nunn, Director of Cranborne Chase AONB, said: "It's like dusting down an old book that you find in the attic and opening it to find a mass of truly wonderful stories that you can't wait to share with everyone.

"The AONB is a special place that remains largely unknown and has become undervalued. This project will reignite a love for the area and foster a sense of pride for generations to come."

Website: forumfocus.co.uk Twitter: @forumfocus

June 2019

Blaze help for sculptor NEARLY £5,000 has been raised online to support woodturner and sculptor Darren Wheeler after a fire gutted the new workshop he had set up at Melbury Abbas, destroying all his tools, equipment, wood and work in progress.

Within three weeks Darren, who was one of the guest artists at Blandford Art Society's open exhibition last summer, was up and working in a new workshop at Sculpture by the Lakes at Pallington, near Dorchester, where an Open for Art exhibition runs until June 2.

Crowd-funding and an online auction was launched for donations to help Darren recreate his studio, which was opposite the fire in a warehouse at Melbury Farm Business Park. The blaze spread to the unit where he produced unique pieces of sculpture.

Sculpture Park founder Simon Gudgeon said: "It is all down to the help and generosity of everyone who has donated. The response has been incredible and Darren has been overwhelmed by all the support. He reckons £10,000 to £12,000 is needed to replace everything, so he needs all the support he can get."

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Deaths and injuries in a black few weeks on local roads THERE has been a heavy toll on local roads in recent weeks, including the death of a 61-yearold man after his quad bike overturned on an unclassified road between the A31 and A354 on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7.

He was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital for emergency treatment, but died from his injuries a week later.

The road remained closed while collision investigators examined the scene, and police appealed for witnesses to come forward and contact them by calling 101 quoting incident number 6:164.

• On the evening of Saturday May 4, the A354 was closed for over three hours from the Winterborne Kingston turn to Whatcombe Lane following a collision near Winterborne Whitechurch between a grey Alfa Romeo registered in Blandford and a green Ford Mondeo registered in Portland.

One male casualty was taken to hospital for treatment.

• A motorcyclist in his 80s from the Blandford area was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at the traffic lights for the junction of Kings Road and London Road in Dorchester on the evening of

Tuesday April 30. He was riding an orange KTM motorcycle which was in collision with a Scania heavy goods vehicle. Witnesses were asked to call the police, quoting incident number 30:424.

• A 41-year-old man from Poole was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and perverting the course of justice after a fatal accident outside Henbury Stud Farm, near Sturminster Marshall, on the morning of April 30.

The collision involved a white Ford Transit panel van, a white Citroen Relay lorry and a green Kawasaki motorcycle, whose rider, 40-yearold Andrew Mann from Poole, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The occupants of the other vehicles involved did not sustain any serious injuries.

The arrested man has now been released on bail pending further enquiries. Witnesses can contact Dorset Police quoting incident number 30.70.

• An inquest has been opened and adjourned until December 11 into the death of 22-year-old motorcyclist Mark Edward Appleby, of Marnhull, who died at the scene of the collision on the A357 at

Durweston on the evening of Easter Sunday. He had swerved to avoid a deer in the road, colliding with a Suzuki Swift car coming in the opposite direction.

• Builder Nick Miles of Spetisbury and his two adult son passengers had a narrow escape on the afternoon of May 1 when their Ford Transit van was in collision with another travelling in the opposite direction which crossed the carriageway, hitting them almost head-on between Sunrise Roundabout (Higher Shaftesbury Road) and Hill Top Roundabout (A354).

The collision closed the road in both directions, and after being treated by paramedics at the scene, Mr Miles and his sons later attended A&E. The other driver was interviewed and breathalysed, but no arrest was made.

REGISTRATION is open for the 31st Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride, which will take place on Sunday July 7, starting from Corfe Mullen Recreation Ground. Blandford company Iracroft is sponsoring the first refreshment stop at Blandford Corn Exchange. For more details visit macmillanbikeride.co.uk or call 01202 601705 for entry forms.

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June 2019

Bridge to close for four weeks . .

THE closure of Durweston Bridge for structural replacement works is scheduled to start on June 22 and last for four weeks.

It will mean a long diversion for traffic confined to A roads, but also an increase in local traffic on other local roads, and disruption to bus services until the road is reopened to traffic on or about July 21.

There will then be further temporary traffic management until mid-August while the embankment works and parapet installation are completed.

Durweston Parish Council chairman Mark Taylor said after the closure dates were confirmed: "There is an argument that the closure in June and July will impact on our own school but the greater evil in leaving it until

the main holiday is the impact on tourism on which the county depends.

"It's fair to say the district councillors, the highways guru and the parish council have really put a lot into this. The closure planned is the shorter but more expensive option that we've secured. It will definitely be a difficult period for the village."

Local farmer George Hosford said it was a shame Lord Portman, who built the bridge to divert traffic away from his estate, had not built the bridge a bit wider.

"In spite of the money being spent on rebuilding the causeway this year, the road will still be narrow on the approach to the bridge and we will spend many more years sitting at the traffic lights watching lorry drivers smash into

the old bridge walls as they try to negotiate the bend.

"For a couple more million we could widen the bridge, or build a second one, and do the job properly with a pavement, essential for walkers and bus users, remove the lights and improve traffic flow and everyone's quality of life no end."

The Durweston closure follows the lengthy closure of the C13 for engineering work at Dinah's Hollow in Melbury Abbas which has diverted traffic onto the A357, and was extended for two months to the end of May, coinciding with the closure of the B3081 Zig Zag hill at Cann Common for road maintenance and resurfacing at the end of May.

. . and town roadworks continue THE varying restrictions continue at Badger Cross in Blandford for the installation of new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and associated works, together with closures of Salisbury Street for Southern Gas Networks to relay a gas main.

Following its opening for the weekend of May 9 to 11, the Salisbury Street section closure was reinstated on Monday May 13 for the safety of the workforce on the island.

A diversion followed Whitecliff Mill Street and Park Road, reducing traffic heading towards the SGN work in Salisbury Road, and was expected to remain until May 24.

Work at the corner adjacent to Sanderson's included kerbing, tactile paving, ducting and sockets, and trenching and ducting work has been carried out adjacent to Synergy Hair. Surfacing of the

Annabelle’s first word ANNABELLE Gates, aged 11 months, pictured right with her three-year-old brother Lucas, hit the national headlines when she came out with her first word - 'Alexa'!

Parents Catherine and Liam of Blandford, who had expected the usual 'mama' or 'dada', were shocked to realise that using the device with the children to play nursery rhymes and Baby Shark had made young Annabelle obsessed with the word, and now cries it out when she wakes from a sleep or nap.

junction will meant night-time closure on June 3/5, June 4/6 and June 5/6.

Once surfacing is complete the portable signals will move closer to the junction, allowing Siemens to carry out electrical and signal installation work with final commissioning of the signals programmed for June 24.

A Dorset Highways spokesman said: "We continue to work with JDT Utilities, the contractor working on behalf of SGN, to provide new gas pipes and connections in Salisbury Road, and have endeavoured to minimise disruption to the local community by utilising the same traffic management at the Badger Cross junction.

"It is anticipated that they will be clear of the junction within the week, following which we can separate ourselves and work inde-

pendently, DC at Badger Cross and JDT continuing to head north along Salisbury Road."

There the signals will gradually move northwards following the closure of Edward Street at the end of April, and the closure of Albert Street up to June 3 and Victoria Road and Fairfield Road

between May 28 and June 17 will be followed by the closure of Queens Road between June 10 and June 28.

Further information is available from the JDT Utilities team on 01258 440451 or from Dorset Highways Traffic Team on 01305 221020.

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June 2019

LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS ROUND-UP

Tories’ clean sweep in new council poll IN the first elections to the new Dorset Council, with a low turnout of 37.9 per cent county-wide, there was once again a clean sweep for the Conservatives in the DT11 postcode area, but in most cases with a decreased share of the vote since 2017.

First to be declared was the election of Jane Somper in Beacon ward, with the highest turnout of 42.6 per cent. Next was Sherry Jespersen in Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants and Emma Jane Parker in Puddletown & Winterborne South, both with a higher than average turnout.

There was a lower than average turnout in Cranborne Chase where Piers Brown was the victor.

Blandford town had the lowest turnout of 35.8 per cent, although slightly up on 2017's 35.1 per cent, but Noc Lacey-Clarke and Byron Quayle were successful in increasing the

In Winterborne North, where there were seven candidates for the single seat, Andrew Kerby won for the Conservatives with a turnout of 41.9 per cent but again a significant decrease in the share of the vote.

County-wide, the balance of power changed from a Conservative majority of 18 in the former Dorset County Council in 2017 to an overall majority of only four, with 43 seats, compared to 29 Liberal Democrats, 4 Greens, 4 Independents and 2 Labour.

In 2017, there were 32 Conservatives, 11 Liberal Democrats, 2 Greens and 1 Labour and Co-operative. share of the Conservative vote for the two seats. There was also an increased Labour vote, and much reduced Liberal Democrat vote compared with 2017 when only 51 votes separated them from the winning party.

The former North Dorset district remained almost solidly Conservative, with the exception of Shaftesbury, where two Liberal Democrats (Derek Beer and Tim Cook) were elected, compared to only one in 2017.

Dorset Council results in DT11 area (elected candidates in bold) Beacon (1 seat)

Cranborne Chase (1 seat)

Turnout: 42.60% Alexandra Gale (LD) 423 Samuel Charles Skey (Lab) 142 Jane Somper (Con) 1,020

Turnout: 36.70% Piers Brown (Con) 778 Stephen Mark Kelly (UKIP) 200 Dennis Wardleworth (Lab) 208

Blandford (2 seats)

Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants (1 seat)

Turnout: 35.80% Noc Lacey-Clarke (Con) 1495 Hugo Anthony Mieville (LD) 774 Pat Osborne (Lab) 509 Byron Robert Quayle (Con) 1573 Doro Russell (Lab) 362 John Edward Thomas Tanner (LD) 761)

Turnout: 40% Alan Cross (Lab) 221 Joe Hickish (LD) 336 Sherry Jespersen (Con) 854

Puddletown & Lower Winterborne (1 seat)

Turnout: 38.40% Emma Elizabeth Bratley (Lab) 192 Helen Frances (LD) 388 Kevin Nicholas Maitland-Gleed (Ind) 257 Emma Jayne Parker (Con) 789

Winterborne North (1 seat) Turnout 41.9 per cent Christine Adey (UKIP) 162 Barrie Cooper (LD) 363 Andrew Kerby (Con) 557 James Bernard Mayo (Ind) 105 John Stayt (Ind) 88 Haydn Roger White (Lab) 102 Jason Williamson (Ind) 19

New faces on town and parish councils THREE new and one returning councillor have joined Blandford Town Council as a result of last month's elections, which saw contests in two of the four wards.

Former Mayor in 2000/01 Rosemary Holmes, who served on the council from 1990 to 2015, returns to represent Blandford Central, replacing Dianne Robinson and joining Roger Carter, Steve Hitchings, Lynn Lindsay, Pat Osborne and Byron Quayle.

And in Langton St Leonards, Cathy Jacques and Doro Russell join Councillors Hugo Mieville and Colin Stevens, replacing Harold Galpin and Haydn White, who now represents Hill Top ward with another new councillor Alan Cross.

The councillor for Badbury Heights is Lee Hitchings and the councillors for Old Town ward are Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Peter Clark and John Stayt.

Results of the contested DT11 town and parish areas:

Blandford Forum Blandford Central. Turnout: 36.31% 636 Roger Ernest Frank Carter (Elected) 575 Stephen Geoffrey Hitchings (Elected) 469 Rosemary Jill Holmes (Elected) 552 Lynn Catherine Lindsay (Elected) 455 Pat Osborne (Elected) 699 Byron Robert Quayle (Elected) 175 Dianne Judith Robinson

Blandford Langton St Leonards. Turnout: 36.85% 135 Harold Fredrick Galpin 293 Cathy Jacques (Elected) 301 Hugo Anthony Mieville (Elected) 218 Doro Russell (Elected) 297 Colin Robert Stevens (Elected)

Iwerne Minster. Turnout: 49.91% 133 Arthur Evans (Elected) 173 John James Goodliffe (Elected) 142 Mike Jones (Elected) 190 Paul Le Prevost (Elected) 132 Jonathan Mark Maguire 176 Kerry Louise O'Connor (Elected) 150 Brian Patrick O'Luanaigh (Elected) 190 Susan Trim (Elected)

Pimperne. Turnout: 40.11%

Okeford Fitzpaine. Turnout:

198 Bob Adams (Elected) 209 Antony Edward Venables Argles (Elected) 185 John Ernest Beckford (Elected) 182 Timothy Harman (Elected) 150 Martin Christopher Richley 250 Peter Alan Slocombe (Elected) 170 Hugh Sutton (Elected) 240 John Edward Thomas Tanner (Elected)

43.94% 136 Ian Berry 271 Rob Corben (Elected) 267 Stephen Philip Corben (Elected) 168 Derek Day (Elected) 176 Dilys Mary Gartside (Elected) 194 Sue Le Riche (Elected) 75 Fred Light 56 John Tulley Henderson Orriss 233 Neil Plummer (Elected) 211 Rachael Kathryn Rowe (Elected)

In Chettle, where there were no nominations for the election on May 2, the following have been elected unopposed to serve after nominations were sought for a further election on May 23: Oliver James Green, Helen Lawes, David Arthur John Mordaunt, John Henry Drummond Sansom, Rolly Skeats.

15

June 2019

Brewery family’s fortune puts them on the Rich List THE family behind the Hall & Woodhouse brewery have joined the list of the UK's richest people, behind other local figures such as the founders of Lush and New Look.

Chairman Mark Woodhouse, 63, managing director Anthony Woodhouse, 53, part of the seventh generation of Woodhouses in the business with three members of the eighth generation, have with their family an estimated fortune of £134 million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and have entered the list in joint 884th place.

Mark and Mo Constantine, founders of Lush, are the top local entry at 338th, and the founder of New Look, Tom Singh and his family are at 335th.

Founded in 1777, Hall & Woodhouse today has 200 pubs, and its beers are stocked in supermarkets and off-licences across the country. Profits rose by nearly 43 per cent in 2017-18.

Over five years the business has invested £30m in Dorset, replacing its 115-year-old brewery, giving the Crown Hotel in Blandford a £2.5m overhaul, and refurbishing others including the Duchess of Cornwall in Poundbury, the Lulworth Cove Inn, the Smugglers Inn at Osmington, the Fox Inn at Ansty and the Old

Granary in Wareham.

The independent brewer hosts its Business Partnerships Awards annually as a way of giving back and saying thank you to its business partners and their team members for their work throughout the year, and to showcase the success by each pub having the chance to win one of eight coveted awards.

The Greyhound in Blandford won the Charity Champion Award for the Business Partner's long-term commitment to local charity, Teddy20, winning £250 and two tickets for an award winners' educational trip to Lisbon.

The brewery has also pledged to dispel the stigma of male incontinence by installing disposal bins in 51 of its managed houses and in partnership with the PHS Group has backed the campaign to raise awareness of male incontinence and ensure there is an understanding of the condition.

It recently launched its new Forum lager in response to the rise in popularity for crafted lagers over the past couple of years, and on Saturday June 22 hosts the Dorset Beer Festival at the brewery, supporting its charity of the year, the air ambulance service in the counties where its pubs operate.

Charity challenge A FUNDRAISING afternoon and raffle was held at Sweetpea Florists in Blandford Market Place by proprietor Laura Sweetland in support of her brother-in-law Paul Vernon's Jurassic Coast Challenge for the Addisons Disease Self Help Group and the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund.

Paul was a serving soldier at Blandford Camp and captain of the Royal Signals rugby team and Blandford club's 1st XI when he started becoming unwell. He was subsequently diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare endocrine condition which means he is unable to produce stress hormones and untreated can prove fatal.

He said: "Many people have never heard of it and I want to raise awareness and prove that, while I have this condition and am steroid dependant for the rest of my life, anything is possible."

His widfe Emily said: "He's had to give up his captain's hat and retire from rugby which was devastating for him. Addison's disease is so rare that the charity set up to support those with it receives no government funding so it relies on donations. Paul has decided to push his body to the absolute limits and attempt the Jurassic Coast Challenge which is 100km on June 8 to raise awareness of the disease but also to help the charity to research more into this disease."

People can support him on Facebook at Run-4-Addisons495363607621385/ or on his Just Giving page at fundraising/paul-vernon3 where fundraising already includes £500 from the rugby club's end-of-season draw.

Blandford Evening WI members at Highclere Castle.

An outing to the ‘Abbey’ BLANDFORD Evening WI's spring outing was to Highclere Castle, famous as the home of Lord Caernarvon, co-finder of Tutankhamun's Tomb, but more readily recognised as the grand setting for the television series 'Downton Abbey'.

At their annual general meeting, Simone Walls-Macdonald was reelected president, with Josie Tuck vice-president, Jane Bristow secretary and Sheila Chapman treasurer, together with a six-strong committee.

The need for more members on the new committee reflects the increase in activities over the last couple of years. The plans for the coming year include participation in the Town Expo, catering for the D-Day 75 exhibition, an October-Fest dance, Christmas tombola, a Christmas tree competition and a number of cinema trips and craft courses.

16

Readers’ letters

Museum needs volunteers BLANDFORD Town Museum sits in the Market Place in Bere's Yard, down a short alley way between Age Concern and Weldmar charity shops.

It was formed in 1985 and, thanks to many volunteers over the last 30-plus years, has grown both in terms of our unique collection and in the services we provide the community.

We were recently awarded a Northern Dorset Action Group Leader Grant of £20,000, as well as a Section 106 grant of £5,000 for renovation. We were also chosen as one of four museums in Dorset to participate in a project called Rural Proofing Resilience, led by Cornwall Museums partnership, designed to help museums weather the tougher financial years ahead.

The museum has always been and continues to be a volunteerrun museum. In recent years our volunteers have come up with many exciting ways to raise the funds required to keep our doors open and safeguard Blandford's collection of artefacts, exhibitions and educational opportunities.

We have a commitment to maintaining free entry to the museum because we feel strongly that the collection is the property of the people of Blandford. In order to maintain free entry, we need to hold lectures, events and special

June 2019 Please write to Forum Focus if there is something you'd like to comment on or share with other readers.

Email your letter, which should be as brief as possible, to: editor@forumfocus.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call 01258 459346 or deliver your letter to: Forum Focus, c/o Colin's

exhibitions to bring in sufficient funding.

We would like to invite you, members of the community, to volunteer and help with our fundraising activities and events.

Help is needed on everything from generating ideas to helping with coffee, locating speakers for a series of talks, or serving wine at our monthly summer garden parties.

We are forming a new events group and are looking for people in the community who would like to help us keep the museum free to visitors and to preserve Blandford's history.

If you would like to know more about the ways in which you can help, please visit the museum any time during our opening hours. We are open every day except Wednesday from 10am to 4pm and from 11am to 3pm on Sundays. Email sylhixsonandrews@gmail.com or phone 01258 450388.

Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews, Director, Blandford Town Museum

Catalysts can help I AM leading on the Dorset Enterprise Development Programme for Community Catalysts working in partnership with Dorset Council.

This programme can help you turn your ideas into reality by offering a friendly and supportive point of contact, support to develop your idea, practical informa-

Community Club, 49 Damory Street, Blandford DT11 7HD. Please mark your letter 'for publication' and remember to include your address, which will not be used in full. Forum Focus reserves the right to shorten or edit letters in the interests of clarity, brevity and style.

tion on regulation, training, useful connections and much more.

There are many opportunities in your area to be in control of your career / home life balance and use your skills to help others have a better quality of life.

Community Catalysts act as a sounding board for ideas and encouragement and objectivity to develop them into a small business.

If you are ready for a new challenge or already run a small business and have lots of ideas about what people in your community need, Community Catalysts are the people to talk to.

This is a free service. I look forward to hearing from you with any questions you may have. Call 07407 789131, email anita.wingad@communitycatalysts.co.uk or see portal.smallgoodstuff.co.uk.

Anita Wingad

Reading help needed MANY thanks for including a piece on Schoolreaders, a registered charity which provides volunteers to give free one-to-one reading practice to children in their primary schools.

Whilst we have received a couple of volunteers, the primary school at Blandford St Mary is still looking for volunteers to help listen to their children reading.

To become a volunteer you need a good command of English and a bit of spare time each week of the school year. Schoolreaders

will match you to an appropriate local school and our volunteers really enjoy it.

To find out more and to register, please see the website schoolreaders.org or call 01234 924111 for further information.

Rose Cunningham Schoolreaders Ambassador

My privilege JUST to say a big thank you to everyone in Blandford who gave me the privilege of being one of their District Councillors for 24 years. Also, of course, wishing Blandford a peaceful and prosperous future.

John Tanner

IN BRIEF BLANDFORD'S Crown Hotel has been named as the best pub venue in the county in the National Pub & Bar Awards. It was one of 94 sites named as the best venues in their respective counties, chosen on overall best practice across several operational categories. Fifteen of them were due to be named on May 22 as regional winners at a celebration in London where the national winner was announced.

•••••• BRIDGE in the Woodhouse Gardens is moving this month to the Blandford Centre in Heddington Drive due to the temporary closure of the Gardens pavilion and will continue on the first and third Friday of every month at 1.15pm. For further details, call Jean Palmer on 01258 450544.

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June 2019

Band inherits an historic trophy A CUP won by the Blandford Brass Band at the fourth and final Enderby Jackson 'Great National Contest', staged at the Crystal Palace on July 28, 1863, has been reunited with the band's successor, the Stour Valley Band.

also a magnificent champion circular contre bass, in double B flat, with three rotary cylinders, splendidly electroplated; manufactured and presented by the firm of Messrs. Henry Distin, and Co. military musical instrument makers; Blandford Band'.

It went on display, having been missing for many years, at the Blandford Masonic Hall when the band played a one-hour concert on Georgian Fayre day, and is now hoped to be conserved for display in the Town Museum.

Band member Thomas Hunt (baritone horn) also won a soloist prize.

The official notice of the results of the contest, in which the Blandford band played the test piece La Forza del Destino [arr.

Smythe] reads: 'First prize, ÂŁ30, together with free gift of superb massive cup, worked in aluminium gold, oxydised and burnished, ornamented with appropriate devices, for bandmaster;

The previous year, the Blandford band had come fourth in a contest won by the Chesterfield Rifle Corps Band, with runnersup the Black Dyke Mills Band, which had won the inaugural concert in 1860.

At the time of winning this prestigious cup the Blandford Brass Band, which had competed in the first National Contest to come fourth, was led by Robert Eyers, a friend of the writer Thomas Hardy and the singer and comic actor Samuel Cowell.

Eyers was proprietor of the Crown Hotel in 1859, and by 1875 he also owned The Greyhound. In 1869 he was one of the first new members of the Masonic Lodge of Honour and Friendship No.1266, being proposed as a new mason at the consecration meeting held in the Corn Exchange, and was Master of the Lodge in 1875 and Mayor of Blandford in 1883.

The cup won by the Blandford Brass Band in the 'Great National Contest' of 1863.

The Blandford Masonic Hall was purchased by The Lodge of Honour and Friendship in 1890; it was previously the Blandford Assembly Rooms, where the brass band would have played many a concert.

Robert Eyres, then aged 46, is pictured back row, centre, in this picture of the band which accompanied the cup.

Val Pothecary and Graham Carr-Jones present the ceremonial chains and gavel of North Dorset District Council to Blandford Museum director Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews (right), watched by Museum trustees.

Chains link for town NORTH Dorset District Council may have agreed to dispose of its former headquarters Nordon by allowing its demolition, but a small part of local government history will be remaining in Blandford.

The council's ceremonial chains and gavel were presented for safe keeping to the Blandford Town Museum in Bere's Yard by retiring chairman Val Pothecary and leader Graham Carr-Jones.

The chains have been worn by successive chairmen and their escorts since the council was formed under local government reorganisation in 1974, and have now gone into retirement following the council going out of existence with the formation of the new Dorset Council.

Mrs Pothecary said: "North Dorset District Council has been based in Blandford throughout its existence for the last 45 years, and it is only right that the chains and gavel should remain here in the town, where they can go on display, rather than being hidden away in a box somewhere."

18

AWARD-winning actor Nicole Faraday came to do a special workshop on 'Acting for TV' for the Performing Arts Theatre Academy during May half-term.

Nicole has been working on TV and stage for 20 years, starring in TV shows such as Emmerdale, Casualty and Bad Girls, as well as on stage in Bad Girls the musical, pantos and a number of stage productions.

She has frequently come back to her home county to perform at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne. Born in Dorset, Nicole attended Clayesmore School, where she featured in their productions.

PATA principal Becky Hollands said: "We were very excited to bring Nicole to our Academy and for her to teach students what it is like to be a TV actor."

June 2019

Teddy hits the big time!

Teddy Rocks 2019. Photo: Charlie Raven.

MORE than ÂŁ100,000 was taken at the OnBuy Teddy Rocks Festival which drew record crowds to Charisworth Farm over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend in support of local children's cancer charity Teddy 20.

Festival founder Tom Newton, who started the event at the Greyhound pub in Blandford in 2011 after the death of his brother Ted due to a rare bone cancer,

thanked all those who had volunteered then and since, and all those who had offered sponsorship to help stage what was the biggest event to date.

"We have incredible support from our sponsors and they make it possible because it is not a cheap event to put on," he said.

Dozens of local and national companies are listed • To Page 19

19

June 2019

Above: Mr Bear joins the morning yoga session at the Merry Woodland Stage with Yoga Movement.

Left: Terry Gillingham, director of Service Appliances Ltd, presents a Blomberg fridge for use at Teddy Rocks to Tom Newton's father, Owen Newton.

Charity tops £100,000 target • From Page 18 on the festival website as sponsors, including Service Appliances, whose directors Terry Gillingham and Bob Smith were delighted to support by donating a Blomberg fridge for use in the charity marquee.

Damory Buses again provided a shuttle service taking festival goers to and from the site. Camping was sold out, and over 5,000 filled it to capacity.

Morrisons donated food and drink for the volunteers and artists.

The ninth annual festival was headlined by The Darkness and The Zutons, with a range of acts performing across four stages. By the end of the second day, the total raised in 2018 had already been exceeded and the organisers set a new target of £100,000, which was topped with a record breaking £107,964.

Mr Newton said: "We are growing rapidly every year, but we have skipped a couple of years' growth this

time. It's been incredible, a completely unique experience - the day we as a crew have been waiting for since the first time we ever did this back in the pub.

When we first started the festival in 2011, this would have been the dream. We are just a bunch of mates."

He said that when his brother passed away, he put up a Facebook post saying he was going to put a gig on in his memory, and within minutes had 42 bands confirmed.

"A lot of wonderful people have been there throughout it and the whole festival belongs to them. It is unbelievable to think we put a drum kit and a couple of amps together, moved four tables, used cable ties for the banner and the festival was built. It is quite overwhelming, but I am very proud."

Tickets are on sale now, and sponsors sought, for next year's Teddy Rocks Festival. Find out more at teddyrocks.co.uk.

20

Site manager Jon Jenkins puts up the new diversion signs.

Murder inquest date set A REVIEW hearing concerning the inquest into the death of Blandford hairdresser Katrina O'Hara has set a provisional date for February next year, four years after she was stabbed to death by her ex-partner Stuart Thomas, aka George Thomas, on January 7, 2016.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years in August that year.

Assistant Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen confirmed the full inquest into Ms O'Hara's death would be a jury hearing and is expected to last up to four weeks, with more than a dozen witnesses.

June 2019

All clear on Trailway after station diversion USERS of the North Dorset Trailway can now safely pass Shillingstone station following the diversion of the route behind the southbound platform.

It was officially opened by Councillor Pauline Batstone in a ceremony organised by site manager and trustee Jon Jenkins, and presided over by NDRT chairman, David Caddy.

Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter and his fellow walkers were able to use it on their 'Forging the Link' charity walk from Sturminster Newton to the Woodhouse Gardens in Blandford in support of Blandford Food Bank and the Blandford Opportunity Group, which also promoted the new long-distance walk, the White Hart Link.

They were welcomed at Shillingstone station by Mr Caddy and enjoyed the cafe refreshments.

A North Dorset LAG Leader grant was provided to help fund and build the diversion, enhancing the Trailway and improving safety provision for all users with a three-metre wide path suitable for cycling, running, walking and bridleway use.

Mr Caddy said: "The re-routing of the Trailway is a significant milestone in our development as it enables us to proceed with enhancement works on the down platform."

He thanked Graham Stanley, the Trailway Network, Shillingstone Parish Council, the British Horse Society, and the many volunteers who had helped make it happen.

The project was started several years ago when the previous trustees had the foresight to buy the necessary strip of land, and completed after much planning preparation, earthworks and the help of volunteers.

Chairman Julie Newall and Director Richard Hall at the entrance to the disabled toilet at the Dorset Rural Music School.

Music school revamp THE Dorset Rural Music School in Blandford is celebrating the completion of a refurbishment of the building, which has included conversion of its outside toilet into a disabled-friendly facility.

The refurbishment has been made possible thanks to a generous donation of ÂŁ20,000 from the estate of the late Peter Newall, the husband of DRMS chairman Julie Newall.

She said: "We have also had new carpets and lighting installed in the main building, together with a fresh coat of paint to some areas. A new access ramp for the building has been ordered, and the central heating system is being replaced over the summer holiday."

The facilities for the disabled will make it easier for the school to host more public events, as well as for disabled students.

She said huge thanks were due to Mike Peacock and Caroline Brown (Carelec Ltd) for carrying out all the work to such a high standard, and to Spectrum Housing who initially made a grant to get the ball rolling.

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June 2019

A community that shows it cares EASTER marked the second anniversary of the Community Kitchen, run by Blandford Parish Church, whose aim is to build community around a shared meal.

Since it started in April 2017, it has run 35 sessions and welcomed almost 1,500 people through the doors.

The Community Kitchen is truly inter-generational and crosses all social barriers. It is supported by a strong network of volunteers

from the Parish Church, All Saints Langton Long and sixthform students from The Blandford School.

Rector of Blandford, Canon Jonathan Triffitt, said: "When we first thought about running the Community Kitchen, we were struck by the number of stories we were hearing locally and nationally about families going hungry during the school holidays.

"This was heartbreaking and so the Community Kitchen became a vehicle through which we could address the holiday hunger gap within our community.

Since then it has grown to be much more than simply feeding families during the school holidays.

"It has become a source of family, community and friendship - a place where people feel a sense of belonging and welcome without judgement, explanation or fear.

Our values as a

At the servery.

Brass joins the pub scene SUNDAY evenings at the White Horse in Stourpaine will be filled with brass band music, with 11 bands booked to play from 6.30pm onwards on Sundays throughout the summer, starting with the Stour Valley Band on June 2.

They will be followed on June 9 by the Verwood Concert Brass, then by the Wincanton Silver Band, the Michelmersh Silver Band, the Shaftesbury Town Silver Band, the Ringwood and Burley Brass Band, the Poole Borough Band, the Shrewton Silver Band, the Sherborne Town Band, the Gillingham Imperial Silver Band and finally on Sunday August 18 the Down Band.

Diners at the Community Kitchen. church are expectant faith, joyfilled hope and generous love, and it is our hope and prayer that through the Community Kitchen we can demonstrate these values to those whom we welcome and serve."

As well as the standard Community Kitchen, which usually runs during school holidays, there are number of additional sessions - stay & play, homemade Christmas, pancake dropin and Easter/ spring crafts.

There was a Big Breakfast on Sunday May 19 and a Community Kitchen barbecue is

planned in June. There is also a 'give away table' with clothes, toys, food and books, all of which help to make a difference to those in need.

Canon Triffitt said: "It's fantastic the way in which the Community Kitchen has caught people's imagination. We are really thankful for all who have supported this initiative, whether as volunteers, guests, local business and, of course, the Parish Church, whose commitment to this work enables us to offer all meals free of charge to everyone who comes."

22

The View from the Hill

by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk

O

VER the Easter weekend we hosted a university reunion for around 60 people. The fabulous weather provided the perfect backdrop for a farm walk when the cowslips were at their best.

Over the next few weeks we will be welcoming the Durweston Cameo club, the North Dorset CPRE and a number of schools for visits on the farm. Let's hope the sun shines on all of them.

The cows and calves from the valley field managed to escape through a gate left open by person unknown one Sunday evening recently. We were alerted by our school neighbour to say that they were grazing on the sports field and acted quickly before the running track was ruined. A little manure may have been spread, but fingers crossed there was no serious damage.

Our bulls were reintroduced to the cows in the first week of May to ensure a prompt start to calving at the end of next February.

Concentration is required to keep the calving interval to a year or less.

Late calvers are removed from the herd so they don't get later and later, and the bulls are taken away promptly once all cows have had sufficient time to cycle twice or a maximum of three times. Any that do not conceive in

June 2019 that time will have to stay empty until next year, and if more than five years old are likely to be sold.

As old cows are retired, (some of our oldest have now given us 11 calves), we need to bring new breeding stock into the herd, so we choose the best behaved and most well grown heifers from among the youngstock to keep.

Our sheep were shorn over the bank holiday weekend, and then all too quickly started lambing. We lamb late to try to catch favourable weather, as the ewes lamb outdoors, and we try to time shearing as late as we dare, but not so early that the sheep will get too cold.

Once the wool is off, the ewes are much happier. The lamb load As the bluebell season draws to a close this pretty patch still exudes a beautiful generates extra heat, so as soon rich blue and has so far evaded being eaten by greedy sheep. as the sun comes out they really don't need that huge fleece.

The ewe died before we could Many country dwellers are dumbRemoving the wool early means it despatch her humanely. How struck by the withdrawal of the is easier to see what is happening much pain was inflicted before general licence for pest control at the rear end when lambing

by Natural England which means we found her one cannot imagstarts, and also helps to deter flies that we cannot put out Larsen ine. Crows and magpies will also from laying eggs which develop traps for crows and magpies. attack new-born lambs and take into maggots - a horrible affliction. birds’ eggs and fledglings from The ridiculous announcements Our beekeeper friend Robert from Natural England suggest hedgerow, and songbirds and Hogben has been in with extra that control of such pests as rats, pheasant poults in the wild. hives mice and Many of our crops are plagued while the even by pigeons and rooks when rape is flies flowering, emerging, or just before harvest. might as he We use a variety of non-lethal become always bird deterrents at different times illegal, does at of year - gas and rope bangers, judging this time scarecrows, whirlygigs, plastic by the of year. bags/flags, cut-outs of birds of shamWhat is prey on long poles, etc. But none bles over new, howwork particularly well, and the the revoever, are growing populations of certain cation of the polyspecies need proper control with licences The new style beehives which kept the bees warm styrene traps or guns. for the insulated over the winter. control of Natural England could have beehives. crows, magpies and pigeons. asked all parties to bear with The bees seem perfectly happy If anyone needs a reminder of them while they prepared someand I suspect have survived the why crows in particular need cold of winter rather better than thing legal enabling us to carry controlling, it is here. A heavily they would have in the more tradion largely as we have done for in-lamb ewe got stuck on her tional wooden hives. The coldish years. Instead they left it wide back and was attacked by crows weather during flowering will not open for mischief makers like so badly that they got through to have encouraged nectar flow, but Chris Packham to exploit the sither womb. Her lamb's tail was the bees were out working on the uation and stir up what they found protruding from the wound. day I visited them. knew would be a hornets’ nest.

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June 2019

News from the surgeries The Digital GP Practice Before contacting your GP; have you tried the NHS website: www.nhs.uk? Patients can use this site to check their symptoms and get instant advice.

E-Consult - Accessed via the practice websites: Patients can submit consultations 24/7 by answering a series of questions which a GP, or the most appropriate member of the team, will review and respond to by email or phone within 48 working hours. It is estimated that this service has saved 291 GP appointments in five months.

Jean Coull with the bouquet presented at her leaving party at Blandford Information Centre with fellow volunteers and representatives of the trustees.

Online services at Eagle House and Whitecliff Group practices allow you to access a range of services via your computer, mobile or tablet. You need to be registered and obtain a password from the practice reception team to use the service and be able to: • book or cancel appointments online • renew or order repeat prescriptions online • view some of your patient information online Keeping in touch with our patients: Make sure your practice has your up-to-date contact details, including mobile phone and email address enabling us to send appointment reminders, clinic invitations and important information to you by text and email.

Jean’s floral farewell

Both practices have websites designed to quickly find key information, including opening hours, how to register and pages covering a wide range of health issues, with links to other medical organisations.

AFTER 19 years as a member of the team of volunteers who run Blandford Information Centre, Jean Coull was presented with a bouquet to mark her retirement.

Her leaving party was attended by fellow volunteers and representatives of the centre trustees, and the flowers were handed over by trustee Jana Bundy.

Jean, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, was for many years clerk to Pimperne Parish Council. In 2000 she compiled the village's Millennium 'Book of Pimperne' celebrating the story of the village where she had then lived for over 40 years.

Nurses celebrated INTERNATIONAL Nurses Day on Sunday, May 12, was celebrated at Whitecliffe House in Blandford and Colten Care's 20 other care homes with a 'thank you' to nurses for their contribution here and around the world.

The day is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale in 1820, and this year's global theme is Health for All.

Tasty homemade cakes were baked by Colten's home chefs for each of the nursing teams to share with their colleagues and residents.

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care's operations director, said: "It is an opportunity to stop and give thanks for the huge contribution nurses make to all our lives and here at Colten Care they are the backbone of our company."

BREXIT: There has been news coverage about interruption to some drug supplies as a result of Brexit. The Secretary of State for Health, last August, wrote 'the Government has plans in place to ensure a continued supply of medicines to patients from the moment we leave the EU' and states that 'patients will not need to and should not seek to store additional medicines at home' saying 'there is no need for surgeries to issue longer prescriptions' and that any over-ordering will be 'investigated'. Therefore, the surgeries are not in a position to issue any additional supplies of medication to patients on the grounds of Brexit.

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THE new organisers of the popular vintage fairs in Blandford Corn Exchange are husband and wife team, Roger and Mikaela Boon, who held their first event in January after taking over from Jenny Jones.

Their second, on Friday May 31, was expected to again attract many visitors.

Roger has lived most of his life in Dorset, with family connections in Blandford, Stourpaine and Blandford Camp. The couple have lived in Dorset all their married life.

For more information call 07742 582936, email blandfordvintage@gmail.com or find them on Facebook @Blandford Vintage.

June 2019

Clash of dates disappoints Spetisbury festival team ORGANISERS of this year's Spetisbury Festival, held every two years to raise funds for local charities and non-profit making causes, as well as to celebrate the village's own talent, were disappointed to learn that their 'main event', the Country Day on Sunday June 9, would clash with the nearby Wimborne Folk Festival.

A spokesman said: "One of the first things we did was to contact the organisers of the folk festival to make sure we did not hold Country Day on the same weekend. The organisers were extremely pleased we had contacted them to save the clash and wished us well, confirming their dates would be June 15/16.

"Sadly, it has come to our attention that the Wimborne Folk Festival is now on the weekend of June 9, so clashing with our Country Day. It is so disappointing - now both events will lose out with split footfall."

They hope people will still sup-

port the local festival, which in 2017 donated £3,000 to local charities. This year it is supporting Blandford Food Bank, Dorset Mind and Lytchett Minster RFC Mini Youth Rugby, as well as local cubs, nursery and twinning association.

Starting on Thursday May 30 with an illustrated talk in Spetisbury village hall, 'The Incredible Story of the Bankes Family', it continues with an art exhibition in the same venue from Friday May 31 to Sunday June 2, when the villagers’ gardens will be open and visitors invited to enjoy the results of a 'Cake Bake-off' for the tastiest cake/biscuit/scone, to be judged at 2pm.

On Wednesday June 5 the Big Quiz will be held in the village

hall at 7.30pm, and on Saturday June 8 there is moth trapping (booking essential on 01258 857336), yoga at Spetisbury School (details 07780 952395), and SORE (the Spetisbury Occasional Radio Enthusiasts) presenting the first ever episode of 'Dad's Army', as if on the radio, at Marcia's Market at 7.30pm.

Country Day at Crawford Bridge on June 9 from 10.30 to 5.30pm features a host of attractions, stalls and countryside activities.

Finally, on Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22, SODS (Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society) in Summer present 'Fairway to Heaven' by Diana Raffles in the village hall at 7.30pm (tickets 01258 857260).

The CleanUp campaigners gather on the Marsh & Ham.

Clean team rally round CLEANUP Blandford ran their annual litter pick in conjunction with the Dorset Rangers, Blandford Stour Rotary Club and the Stour Valley Canoe Club on Saturday May 11.

Event organiser David Rose said: "It was great that individuals gave up their time to help with the clean-up. Unlike in previous years, it was noticeable that the Canoe Club found very little litter or large items that had been dumped in the river.

"This is a reflection of 10 years of river litter cleans and an appreciation by the public of the wonderful flora and fauna that we have next to our town.

"It is clear that people are consid-

ering the impact of their litter, but there are still areas of the town that do have issues. I encourage everyone to report excessive litter problems to the Dorset Waste Partnership, under 'Report a Street Cleaning Problem'."

In association with Blandford Town Council, Cleanup Blandford have been awarded £2,500 from Litter Free Dorset to buy litter picking items for the Blandford CleanUp Campaign and provide some to the Town Team, and some to five villages in the DT11 area.

The next Blandford Cleanup will be on Saturday September 7.

Further details from cleanupblandford@hotmail.com.

TICKETS are already selling fast for two visits to the Blackmore Vale this summer by the very popular Commedia dell'Arte Rude Mechanicals Theatre Company on their 21st anniversary tour with their latest outdoor production of Ikarus Inc. The tale of dream-selling and pumpkin pie baking with comedy, mime and rock and roll will be performed at East Farm Tarrant Monkton on July 10 and Child Okeford Recreation Ground on July 13. See therudes.co.uk.

June 2019

National recognition for Laura’s mediation skills AN associate at award-winning Blandford-based law firm Blanchards Bailey has qualified as one of the most outstanding mediators in the country.

Solicitor Laura Martin, part of the expanding firm's family law department, has become a Law Society Accredited Family Mediator.

Her success comes as the Government announced a decision to update 50-year-old laws to introduce 'no fault divorces', meaning more mediation is likely.

In future, couples will simply need to confirm the marriage has bro-

ken down irretrievably, and one partner will not be able to refuse a divorce if the other wants one.

Blanchard Bailey's family law department is recognised in the Legal 500 and Laura, who joined the firm in 2004, is recommended individually as a Legal 500 solicitor. She went through a rigorous two-year qualification assessment process which included a lengthy portfolio/dissertation and the provision of evidence of expertise and experience.

Her new status means she is among Accredited Family Mediators who must be consulted

Camera Club news BLANDFORD Forum Camera Club, whose annual exhibition was staged in the Corn Exchange on May 25 and 26, continued with their accumulator competition in April.

Points Cup No 7 was judged by Brian Tarling, who awarded top scores in the prints to Malcolm Bowditch and Sally Chaloner with 9.5 points for David Chaloner and Rachel Cooper.

Top scorers in the PDI section were Stephanie Selwyn, Graham Hutton and Jean Bartlett, with 9.5 for Graham Hutton, Debbie Davies, Pat Catley, Jean Bartlett and Bob Harrison.

The match-an-image competition, Steph Selwyn's winning Patterns in between Blandford, Dorset Light Nature picture in the Camera Club's and Shaftesbury Camera Clubs, saw the winning spot go to Dorset set subject competition.

Light, Leo Rich being the judge of a fun evening with many obscure photographs being shown and the opposing sides trying to match or better them.

The annual set subject competitions were split into two categories with the subject in the prints being 'Patterns in Nature' and in the PDI's 'Abandoned'.

Jim Pascoe was the judge and after his critique of the 54 images, final placings were: 1, Stephanie Selwyn (Oxidation of Iron in Rock); 2, Debbie Davies (Brain Food); 3, Malcolm Bowditch (Just Good Fronds). In the projected section the placings were 1, Debbie Davies (Seen Better Days); 2, Debbie Davies (Should have checked Trip Advisor); 3, Howard Westlake (The Dr's Car).

John and Di Tilsley visited from Dorchester to give a talk on Photographing in Cold Places. Although most of their images and commentary were based on trips to Iceland and Finland, they did have some more local images, showing us that good images, composition and atmosphere can be achieved in the UK. New members are always welcome. We aim to be a friendly and social port of call to any level of photographer. For details see bfcclub.co.uk/ DORSET'S Douch Family Funeral Directors offered free seminars during Dementia Action Week in May, including one at the Lesley Shand branch in Blandford in which they partnered with the Blandford Dementia Action Alliance Group. Dr Bernard Coope spoke on 'Living with dementia and the impact on their lives and those around them'.

The funeral group has had all its premises audited for those with dementia. Most of its staff are 'dementia friends' following training, and Dementia Friends are their 2019 Charity of the Year.

before any family proceedings go to court.

She said: "In a sense it means I am outstanding in my field and I am able to deal with all aspects of family law in mediation including arrangements regarding children and finance.

“Mediation is voluntary, but the overburdened courts say all options must be looked at during the divorce process, and mediation can reduce the stress and cost for all parties.

“I have dealt with many highly complicated cases and my knowledge and experience of family law stands me in good stead."

Laura is also a member of Resolution, the national organisation committed to a non-confrontational approach to divorce, separation and other family problems.

She said: "Resolution has been campaigning for 30 years for change. Current, outdated law makes dealing with the consequences of relationship breakdown acrimonious and difficult as fault against one partner is always introduced.

"The Ministry of Justice's longoverdue announcement is a step

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Laura Martin. forward for family law. It recognises that there is a need to reduce conflict, allowing more focus on resolving arrangements for children and finances.

"At Blanchards Bailey we offer a range of options to help couples who are separating, including mediation, but we will not hesitate in acting robustly if in the best interests of our clients and go to Court when necessary."

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June 2019

The nation prepares to salute the D-Day heroes

Picture courtesy of the Andrew Wright Collection.

Airfield at heart of the commemorations T

HE 75th anniversary of D-Day locally will be marked first, on Sunday June 2, with a poignant commemoration at Tarrant Rushton airfield of the vital role it played in the historic invasion of occupied Europe in June 1944.

The following Thursday, June 6, an exhibition in Blandford Museum prepared by curator Michael Le Bas, will be opened at 10.30am by Lieut-Col (Retd) Bob Brannigan.

On Friday June 7 an exhibition prepared by the Blandford Commemoration Group will open in the Corn Exchange and remain open from 10am to 4pm until Sunday June 9.

The gathering at Tarrant Rushton will remember and honour those people who flew from, and served at, the Royal Air Force station at Tarrant Rushton, from where three waves of Halifax bombers took off towing wooden gliders carrying soldiers bound for Normandy.

Organised by the Wimborne branch of the Royal Air Forces Association in Dorset, it will start at 2pm close to the site of the former airfield's main gate at the 'Windy Corner' stone memorial on the road to Witchampton (postcode DT11 8SB), in the shadow of a black

wartime aircraft hangar, and anyone with an affinity to the airfield is invited to attend.

Built by Wimpey at a cost of £1 million (£30 million today), the airfield opened in May 1943 to train bomber and glider pilots for the D-Day, Arnhem and Rhine Crossing operations, as well as the dropping of secret agents from the Special Operations Executive in occupied Europe, from southern France to the Low Countries and Norway.

It became home to 3,000 men and women from across the country and Commonwealth.

With the coming of peace, the airfield became the home in 1947 to pioneering aviation research and manufacturing company Flight Refuelling, which left in 1980 to later become Flight Refuelling and Cobham, now based in Wimborne.

All that remains of the airfield today in a huge windswept 300-acre field is a small strip of the main concrete runway, two black aircraft hangars put to agricultural and business use, and a perimeter track once used for taxiing bombers and gliders but now a public footpath.

The Museum exhibition 'Blandford, D-Day 6th June 1944, 75 Years ago' will feature displays on Blandford and the Camp, Tarrant Rushton and the Invasion, and US Involvement, covering the build-up and the invasion of Normandy by the British and American Forces garrisoned in Dorset and Hampshire, through to the entry into Paris in August 1944.

The exhibition in the Corn Exchange will examine the very significant role of the Mulberry harbour and its construction and transport to the Normandy coast, the role of the airfield, the Horsa and Hamilcar gliders and Halifax tug aircraft, and the skills in landing the gliders which led to the important capture of Pegasus Bridge to prevent German Panzer troops from reaching the beach areas to oppose Allied forces.

A model bombing range is planned, together with displays on the role of local industries, a working model of Bailey Gate railway, US military hospitals at Blandford camp and Kingston Lacy and the role of women on the land and in the factories.

Local man’s key role in the invasion AMONG the local men to take part in the DDay Landings in Normandy 75 years ago was Blandford-born Ted Barnett.

His battalion's highly secretive preparations for the military invasion had been in Scotland and they travelled back south to the embarkation port of Southampton by train.

As the troop train joined the Somerset & Dorset line at Bath, Ted realised the hauling steam locomotive would have to stop at Blandford station to take on water.

Despite all troop movements being top secret, Ted's father Tom, a local coal merchant, was waiting on the station platform to greet him with a large food parcel. Despite the news embargo, Tom had been tipped off by a Blandford railway signalman that the 5th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment was to pass through his son's home town.

As a military radio signalman, Ted landed in Normandy on D-Day itself, June 6, 1944. His role working with best friend, John Williams from St Mary Cray, Kent, was to assist the No 8 Beach Group with co-ordinating the unloading of vehicles, ammunition and other supplies.

Within an hour of landing, radio communications had been established. By the end of

Radio Signalman Ted Barnett of Blandford served with the 45th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment and landed in Normandy on D-Day. July, despite heavy seas, winds and hostile German fighter aircraft, 201,000 tonnes of supplies had been successfully delivered.

With beach landing activity reducing, Ted and John transferred in August 1944 to the 7th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. Ted

was delighted to join a Bournemouth-based battalion a little closer to home.

The advancing 7th Battalion crossed the River Seine on August 27, having witnessed some "truly awful scenes" of destroyed homes, dead bodies and burnt-out vehicles.

The battalion undertook temporary garrison duties in Brussels, took part in the Battle of Arnhem and then crossed into Germany in April 1945.

After Victory in Europe Day in May 1945, Ted remained in the Hampshire Regiment as a sergeant instructor. However, he was on the day before his departure from the Army on April 23, 1946, to mark it in a notable way, by marrying Myrtle Fletcher in Pimperne Church.

After the war he worked for the Southern Gas Board and then in the offices of Hall & Woodhouse's building department. After a period of ill health Ted Barnett died in Weymouth Hospital in July 1984.

Ted possessed quite a mischievous sense of humour and once joked he expected to be buried close to his mother-in-law so she could keep an eye on him . . . and that is where, in Langton Churchyard, he was buried.

Barry Barnett

June 2019

Volunteer ‘makers’ needed by charity A SMALL national charity, which for over 50 years has worked to help people with disabilities achieve greater independence and improved quality of life, is seeking volunteers in the Blandford area.

Volunteers with REMAP use their skills to make bespoke equipment for people to give them opportunities to take up a sport or hobby, attend school or college and work to support themselves. They also undertake work on behalf of carers to make their tasks easier.

Most of the volunteers are 'makers' who design, modify or manufacture items of equipment required by clients, primarily in their own home workshops. Many are engineers, but anyone with good practical skills and enthusiasm for making things is welcome.

There are REMAP panels in

Dorchester and Southampton, but none in areas such as Blandford to provide services to the rest of the county, and the Bournemouth Panel, with 10 volunteer makers and three occupational therapists providing valuable medical related input and guidance, covers a wide area undertaking between 100 and 120 cases a year and providing around 1,200 hours in labour time.

Additional volunteers are needed, not only as makers but as administration, fund raising and publicity personnel for the organisation, which relies entirely on voluntary donations. Retired medical professionals are also greatly valued as advisors on proposed solutions to meet client needs in an appropriate and safe manner.

For more information and to volunteer, contact Michael Garnish on 01202 604294.

Pat Osborne is presented with flowers at the celebration of 10 years of activities in Charlton Marshall Church Rooms.

Landmark celebrated FORTY-EIGHT Charlton Marshall coffee shop and online centre helpers, their partners, and lunch club volunteers, who have helped sustain the many activities held in the Church Room for the benefit of the village, celebrated 10 years of volunteering with a three-course meal at the Remedy Oak Golf Club, near Wimborne.

Pat Osborne, a former Charlton Marshall postmistress, who organised the development of a coffee drop-in centre in the Church Room after the post office closed in 2008, was thanked for her continued dedication by Peter Elliott and presented with flowers by Colin Pickering.

The online centre is open Tuesday to Thursday 10.30am to 12.30pm with free wi-fi, a helpful mentor on hand, and a wide range of equipment, including laptops, a Mac, a touch screen, an iPad and various tablets. Complete beginners are especially welcome to come and learn new skills or to ask for guidance with saving money on utilities, renewing car tax or passports and online shopping.

Lunch club, held on the first Friday of each month, currently has a few spare spaces, and details are available from Tina on 01258 452380.

New volunteers are always welcome, and anyone with time to spare can contact Pat 01258 453516 for the coffee shop or Paul Hutchings for the online centre 01258 480020.

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Project manager Dean Cockwell and Moira Connolly show off the new pond.

The pond now standing . .

VISITORS to the Spetisbury Station project can now enjoy a new feature, a landscaped pond on the 'down' platform near the seating area, which has high and low water levels to attract various wildlife.

Tadpoles and pond weed have been donated by volunteer members while the rocks were donated by a resident of Charlton Marshall.

The pond is protected by a low picket fence and miniature railway level crossing gate, and the hollow wooden lamp on top of the gate is, in fact, a bug box. A small-scale replica semaphore signal has also been provided for good measure, and children (as well as adults) can operate the signal using a lever.

All the woodworking has been expertly done by their carpenter Mick and the painting completed by Moira Connolly.

Thanks to all their efforts to encourage and support nature at the station site, they have recently been awarded 'Wildlife Friendly Garden' status by the Dorset Wildlife Trust and given a plaque and certificate to this effect.

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June 2019

Pupils count the cost of Durweston bridge closure FACED with the impending closure of Durweston bridge, the children from Durweston Primary School were keen to discover exactly how much traffic uses the bridge each day.

So Seahorses class went out beside the main road through the village in the morning and

were amazed to record over 75 vehicles going past in just 10 minutes.

This seemed like a lot, until Porpoise class went out in the afternoon and counted 132 vehicles.

The children were surprised that they only saw one bus, and the only bicycles were spot-

ted riding through the village rather than on the main road.

Back at school, they looked at where all this traffic is going to go once the bridge is closed and were surprised to discover that the proposed diversion could add over 40 miles to their trip to school.

Inclusion education on school timetable BRYANSTON School hosted a special event at which teaching and pastoral staff at maintained and independent schools in the south-west shared knowledge and promoted best practice in LGBT+ awareness and inclusion.

The LGBT+ Knowledge Exchange followed the school becoming one of only a small number of schools in the UK that have been awarded School Champion Gold status by Stonewall.

It was the first event of its type to be held in the region, attended by staff from schools in Poole, Wimborne, Blandford, Gillingham, Sherborne, Warminster and Calne.

The event featured insightful contributions from Professor Jonathan Glazzard, who runs the UK's only

centre for LGBT+ inclusion in education at Leeds Beckett University; Sam Mills, Education Programmes Officer at Stonewall; and Justin Varney, a former Bryanston pupil and the Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council.

"We're delighted the workshop was so well attended and highlighted the inspirational work of so many different schools," said Claire Miller, Head of Boarding at Bryanston School.

"I'm indebted to my colleague, Ian McClary, who has led Bryanston's progressive approach in such an important area of school life. The Knowledge Exchange was also his brainchild for reaching out and engaging with other schools in the region."

THE Blandford and Pimperne groups of the Dorset Mammal Group's 'hedgehog-friendly towns and villages' scheme were actively promoting Hedgehog Awareness Week from May 5-11. They alerted people to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society's focus on making a space for hedgehogs to live or visit in their gardens. A free plan for building a hedgehog home can be found at britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes.

The Seahorses class from Durweston Primary maypole dancing.

Sun, fun and a maypole FOR the third year in a row, the sun shone on Durweston and people flocked in droves to visit the Durweston Country Fayre.

It was opened with the crowning of the May queen, and children from Durweston CE Primary school performing maypole dances, which brought back happy memories for many local visitors.

The crowds were then free to enjoy the singing, dancing, dog show and terrier racing, as well as burgers, jacket potatoes, hot dogs, crepes, sandwiches, cakes, candy floss, popcorn and cream teas.

There was a bar and skittles, games of skill and chance, stalls to visit or just the opportunity to sit on a straw bale and soak up the sun.

Organised by Christine Newton, who is on the playing fields committee and chair of the PTA, all monies raised will be shared equally between the school and the playing fields.

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June 2019

Pre-school celebrates Masons’ class act Archbishop Wake Primary pupils with 'Wake Me Up'.

Pop go the primaries

PANDA Pre-school gave a special thank you to Ian Steele who, as part of his 2018-2019 term as Master of the Bleckly Clarke Freemasonry Lodge in Blandford, raised an amazing £1,726.25 to go towards their new outdoor classroom.

Claire Tennant, chairperson of Panda, received the cheque on behalf of the group, saying: "The additional space is extremely important for the children to learn and develop in an outdoor environment, as many children are unable to access an outside area at home."

The pre-school has also thanked Tesco who donated £2,000 as part of their Bags of Help scheme and past fundraising events that have all contributed to the wonderful extension to the setting, including JP Landscaping and Fencing and TP Services for their design and build.

Panda Pre-school, behind Milldown Primary in Milldown Road, is available for children from two years old to school age and open from 9am - 3pm daily with a Breakfast Club open from 7.45am. For further information, contact the pre-school on 01258 458151 or Pandapreschool@hotmail.co.uk.

THE Friends of Salisbury Cathedral are hosting an open gardens afternoon on Sunday June 9 in support of their sponsorship of a pinnacle on the north-east corner of the Cathedral.

Eleven gardens in Salisbury's Cathedral Close will be open as part of 'Secret Gardens of the Close' between 1 and 5pm, admission £10, children under 16 free, with also an exhibition of botanical art by Salisbury Florilegium Society, stalls on Choristers' Green, and music from the recorder group Close Consort.

SCHOOLS from the Blandford School's network teamed up to present a splendid concert of singing at The Blandford School entitled 'Pop Music through the Ages.'

Pimperne Primary started off singing Elvis's Teddy Bear (1957), which was followed by Carole King's The Locomotion (1962) from Blandford St Mary and Durweston Primary singing Wouldn't it be Nice by the Beach Boys (1966).

Downlands then presented a medley of Abba songs from the 1970s before giving the stage to Archbishop Wake, who had dressed in a fantastic array of dayglo colours to sing Wham's Wake Me Up before you go-go (1984).

Spetisbury performed Oasis's Wonderwall (1995) and then The Dunbury School brought a tear to everyone's eye with their poignant rendition of Coldplay's Fix You (2004).

Milldown closed the individual section of the programme with Paloma Faith's Make your Own Music (2018) which rounded things off nicely, as the original had been released by Mama

Cass 50 years earlier in 1968.

Students from The Blandford School joined with the primaries at the end of the evening to sing So Happy Together, variously performed by The Turtles, The Beatles and Miley Cyrus.

The event was funded by the Dorset Music Service which paid for Faye Eldret, a professional singer and voice coach, to run workshops in all the schools and to organise and lead the communal singing. Judy Woodward was the pianist.

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Deborah and Violet at the pool table.

Snooker club’s big break BLANDFORD Snooker Club held a very successful open day when many members, friends and visitors enjoyed the opportunity to play snooker and pool during the day for free.

Refreshments were available, and the club was pleased to welcome Blandford Mayor Roger Carter and several town councillors.

A number of visitors expressed interest in joining this long established, friendly and welcoming club, which is now celebrating its 101st year, Members and potential new members, including beginners, can visit the snooker room at Blandford United Reformed Church on club nights - currently Tuesdays from 7.30pm, Wednesday from 6pm and Thursday from 8pm, or at other times by arrangement.

Cues are available for free loan, and since the club is non-profit making, the rates are reasonable. For details call Richard Smith 07966 276612 or email committee.bfsc@gmail.com.

June 2019

Mark strikes silver in boxing semis BLANDFORD's young boxing champion Mark Benham won a unanimous victory in the GB Junior and Youth Three Nations junior semi-finals on May 3 and went on to win a silver medal in the final of the 88kg category.

Team England also won five bronze, eight silver and 19 golds in the two-day event. Team manager Cliff Perkins said: "The behaviour of the boxers was outstanding, in and out of the competition, and the experience they gained was all positive.

"They all now have a benchmark to relate to in further competitions. The coaching staff worked as one unit, promoting teamwork and professionalism for the boxers to aspire to and overall it was a very worthwhile event for England Boxing."

Of Mark's performance, he said: "In the quarter-final, Mark fought Welsh boxer Jayden Torrance in a fast and furious bout in which the Welsh boxer pressed constantly. Mark boxed well at short

and long range scoring with both hands. As the bout went on the Welsh boxer was able to get into range and make an impact.

However, Mark stuck to his boxing and won the bout by a unanimous 5-0 decision.

"Next day in the semi-finals Mark met Shazman Parnez, of Scotland, and hit the canvas from the off but composed himself and stuck to his boxing. In the second round, the Scottish boxer pressed forward, but Mark boxed well on the counter. In the final round, Mark had the better of the things, but the split decision went the way of the Scottish boxer."

Supporters also congratulated Mark's father Les and brother Danny who have coached him to a position in the England team.

Mark thanked everyone for their congratulations on what had been a very good experience. "I and many others thought the decision should have gone my way, but that's boxing," he said.

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June 2019

Ashley Wood club news EASTER Monday saw 32 members of Ashley Wood Golf Club playing in the first Bank Holiday mixed competition of the summer, the Keith Durbin Easter Shield (Greensomes - drawn partners).

The winners with 41 points were Steve Sanger and Sue Smart.

Runners-up with 38 points were Paul Wilkinson and June Walker.

The club's current Ladies' Club Champion and junior member Hermione Christey-Clover played in the Dorset Ladies' County Championships at Knighton Heath GC, qualifying in fourth place gross over the 36 holes to win the Carter Bowl for the best 36-hole nett. She then made it through to the semi-finals matchplay.

Above: Ashley Wood Club Captain Peter Johnson (left) and Lady Captain Val Carder with (centre) the winning pair Sue Smart and Steve Sanger.

Right: County Captain Tracy Bryant with Hermione ChristeyClover and County President Grace Burke.

An invitation to golfers THE Blandford Bowling Club new season is well under way, with a full fixture list of league matches, a range of internal competitions and 20 friendly matches.

The Mayor of Blandford, Roger Carter, opened the new season on April 13. His remarks on the excellent state of the green reflected the hard work that had been put in over the winter months by David Burge and his 'green team'.

The programme of friendly matches began with a victory over tourists from Cornwall, Chacewater Bowling Club, by 140 to 102. This was followed by an annual reciprocal match at Bournemouth Electric Bowling Club which resulted in a tie 94-94.

The lifeblood of clubs is in maintaining membership, and to attract new members, an open day was held on Saturday May 11, with a good turnout and 10 potential members signed up for the coaching course for beginners. It is hoped that they will become full members and enjoy their bowling on the Milldown Road green.

TEAM slots are still available for the Friends of Blandford Hospital annual golf day on Friday June 14 at Ashley Wood Golf Club.

Full details can be found on the Friends' website friendsofblandford.org.uk or by calling the Friends office at the hospital on 01258 451456.

The Friends' Charity shops are busier than ever and seeking donations of good-quality clothing and other items to benefit the hospital and health-related projects across the local area. They can be dropped in to the shop in Barnack Walk, or collected by calling the office.

www.forumfocus.co.uk @forumfocus

32 To June 2: Spetisbury Festival Art Exhibition, Spetisbury village hall, 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday June 1 and 2: Sturminster's Big Weekend: Real Ale and Cider Festival, The Exchange from 7pm Friday to Sunday; Saturday gardening fair, craft fair, food market, vehicle show, Saturday, The Big Lunch, The Railway Gardens, Sunday noon to 4pm Saturday June 1: Sturminster Marshall village fete and fun dog show, St Mary's Church and The Old School, 2 to 5pm Sunday June 2: The Art Room - Informal art session, 11am-1pm at The Kings Arms, Blandford, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Spetisbury Festival Open Gardens and Cake Bake-off, noon to 5pm DD-75th anniversary gathering, Tarrant Rushton Airfield, 1.30 for 2pm start Monday June 3: Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, Christine Evans - From Ice to Fire, 2pm Wednesday June 5: Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm Spetisbury Festival Big Quiz, Marcia's Market, 7.30pm Thursday June 6 (and every Thursday): Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm Friday June 7: D-Day 75th exhibition opens Blandford Museum, 10.30am Bridge (1st and 3rd Friday of every month), Blandford Centre, Heddington Drive DT11 7TP, 1.15 to 4.15pm (change of venue), details 01258 450544 Collingwood Memorial commemoration, Tarrant Hinton, 3pm Friday to Saturday June 7 to 8: D-Day 75th exhibition, Blandford Corn Exchange, 10am to 4pm Friday to Sunday June 7 to 9: Wimborne Minster Folk Festival Saturday June 8: Spetisbury Festival moth trapping (details 01258 857335), Yoga (details 07780952395), radio presentation of 'Dad's Army' (Marcia's Market 7.30pm) Dorset Wildlife Trust Chesil Beach Walk and Boat Ride, 2pm, booking essential, details 01258 880699 Tarrant Gunville Fete, Eastbury House, 2.15pm, Jamie Jigsaw, Stour Valley Brass Band, details tarrantgunville.org.uk Sunday June 9: Geology Walk with a Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham

What’s on this month Entries in this diary are free of charge. If you have an event you would like included, send details to Nicci Brown, 01258 459346 or email events@forumfocus.co.uk. This page is available and regularly updated on our website at www.forumfocus.co.uk. Readers are advised to check with event organisers before attending.

PARTERRE at Keyneston Mill will be opening their gardens to the public on Monday July 1 in support of the charity Diverse Abilities, which is asking others in Dorset to open their gardens between now and August to help raise funds.

Daisy Roe (right), corporate and community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities, said: "If you have a garden you are happy to open to help us raise funds, for children and adults living with disabilities across the county, then come and get dug in."

See diverseabilities.org.uk/open-gardens or call Daisy on 01202 718266.

(Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346 Spetisbury Country Day, Crawford Bridge, 10.30am to 5.30pm 'The World Peace Diet': illustrated talk by Gabriela Lerner and Neil Baird on sustainable food, Springhead, Fontmell Magna, 4pm, details 01258 818223 Tuesday June 11: Cameo Club Meeting, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm, visit by 'Boutique in a Bus' and talk and display of ladies clothing Tarrant Gunville WI meeting, Tarrant Gunville village hall (DT11 8JN), 7.15pm, 'Early years of Wimbledon', includes supper, details 01258 456202 Wednesday June 12: Open Morning, Blandford Food Bank, The Methodist Church, Blandford, 10am to 12noon Play Reading of 'Rumours' by Neil Simon, Blandford Town Museum, Bere's Yard, 7pm Thursday June 13: Forum Cancer Support Group, Town Hall (upstairs in the Corn Exchange), Blandford, 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644 Living Spit's Living Quiz, Winterborne Stickland village hall, 7.30pm, details 01258 880920 or artsreach.co.uk Friday June 14: (and June 28): Craft Market, The Shambles, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 1pm Friends of Blandford Hospital Charity Golf Day, Ashley Wood Golf Club, from 10am Blandford Evening Women's Institute meets 7pm, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, speaker Clive Whitbourne - Working as a Dorset Ranger Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford

Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Noah's Cape Friday and Saturday June 1415: Sturminster Newton Floral Group Club Show, The Exchange, Sturminster Newton Saturday June 15: Cats Protection Coffee Morning & Stalls, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Sturminster Newton Literary Festival, 9.30am to 9.30pm, see sturlitfest.com Comedy Exchange, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm Saturday and Sunday June 1516: Pimperne Open Gardens, 1pm to 5pm, programmes from Pimperne Village Hall, details 07879 003567 Durweston & Bryanston Church Fete, Durweston House, 2.30pm Sunday June 16: Town Perimeter Heritage Walk with town guide, 11am from Durdens Corner (Scrivens), Market Place, details 01258 459346 Dorset Ramblers meet near Milton Abbas church, 10.15am, for 7.5mile walk, bring picnic. See dorsetramblers.co.uk for local walks June 23 and 30 Bryanston Village Tea on the Lawn, The Old Post Office DT11 0PR, from 3pm Tuesday June 18: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, demonstration by Nicky Heal, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775 Wednesday June 19: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm, details valleygardening@gmail.com Thursday June 20: Blandford Art Society Talk by Neil Houghton, 2pm at Pimperne Village Hall, full details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com

June 2019 Blandford Museum Archaeology Group visit to Martin Green's Museum, 7pm, details 01258 452831 Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: The Canterbury Tales, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, details 01258 475137 or artsreach.co.uk Friday and Saturday June 21-22: DorsetFest Midsummer Music Festival, Warren Farm, Bulbarrow, midsummermusic.co.uk Sods in Summer with Spetisbury Festival present 'Fairway to Heaven' by Diana Raffles, Spetisbury village hall, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 857260 Saturday June 22: Dorset Beer Festival, Hall & Woodhouse brewery, 11am to 10pm, for Air Ambulance Service, see hallwoodhousebeerfest.co.uk Spetisbury Church & Village Fete and Dog Show, Spetisbury Manor DT11 9EB, noon to 4pm Child Okeford Hey Day, Recreation Ground, Haywards Lane, Child Okeford, noon to 4.30pm Charity Zumbathon, Corn Exchange, Blandford 7pm Saturday and Sunday June 22 and 23 and Wednesday June 26: NGS Open Garden at The Hollow, Tower Hill, Iwerne Minster, 2 to 5pm.

Saturday June 22 to Sunday July 21: Durweston Bridge (A350/A357 junction) full day and night closure for repair work Sunday June 23: Blandford Hidden Gardens, 11am to 5pm, programmes and tickets ÂŁ5 from Blandford Information Centre, West Street Fippenny Fayre, Okeford Fitzpaine Recreation Ground DT11 0RL, 2pm, details villagehall@okeford-fitzpaine.org Wednesday June 26: Blandford Horticultural Society Sweet Pea and Rose Show, Tarrant Keyneston village hall, 7.45pm (judging from 6pm), details 01258 452380 Friday June 28: Blandford U3A Open Meeting, Durweston village hall, 2pm, Jennie Spiers - paintings of Dorset through the centuries, details 01258 455081 Film Night, Child Okeford village hall, Green Book (12A), 7.30pm Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Jez Lowe & Kate Bramley Saturday June 29: Dr Bods presents The Stereo MC's, Corn Exchange, Blandford 7.30pm Charity Quiz for the Disability Action Group, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm Sunday June 30: Spetisbury CE Primary school's summer fayre, 12 noon to 4 pm