September 2020 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

Sepember 2020 Issue No.102 Est: 2012

How should the town change in the post-pandemic world?

HUNDREDS have already responded to the survey being conducted by the Blandford Town Team and Town Council into how people might like the town centre to change in light of their experience of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But more are needed to provide evidence of the need for change.

Town Team chairman Nic Nicol said: "The online survey got off to a flying start (at blandfordtown.co.uk/survey) and printed Freepost responses are catching up, but we've a long way to go to achieve our target of 1,000 returns."

The scope has been limited in Blandford for immediate measures to facilitate social distancing, with only the widening of the

pedestrian area on one side of Salisbury Street.

In Shaftesbury, however, full pedestrianisation of the High Street has been extended until November.

In Gillingham, a multi-millionpound transport overhaul is underway with funding secured by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership through the Government's Growth Deal to provide a transport improvement package to support its expansion, with nearly 2,000 homes to the south of the town.

In Blandford, a consultation is underway by Wyatt Homes into proposals for 600 more houses to the north of the town, and construction is underway on the first

Brothers George and Harrison with Rio, their cockatiel, hungry but home after his two-day escapade. Story: Page 3.

FORUM FOCUS

two phases of development of up to 530 homes to the south at Blandford St Mary, with no plans at this stage to address the potential traffic flow through or around the town.

Neighbourhood Plan chairman Roger Carter said: "Many of the changes we might like to see would need decisions at a much higher level. First we have to gather evidence, agree on a way forward, and then form a phased plan with a business case for change to secure funding at a time when opportunities will be scarce."

The latest modelling reported to Dorset Council's resources scrutiny committee in August indicates that the council's response to Covid-19 will create a budget gap of more than £63m. Government has already provided additional non-ringfenced funding of £23.8m, meaning that Dorset Council's forecast overspend is approximately £40m (13%).

Councillor Carter said:

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"Shaftesbury and Gillingham town centres are very different and easier to avoid if driving. We need Dorset Council to work with us on knotty problems like town centre parking and traffic flow to address environmental pollution, ensure that current businesses are supported and others encouraged to locate here.

"With the current layout, traffic flow and market area parking, we are unable to move towards the 'café culture' that many people seem to want.

"The Neighbourhood Plan recognises the need to reshape town centres into community hubs by retaining an active street frontage with increased footfall and sustain the character of the Conservation area.

"It supports ground floor uses in the shopping area for retail, food and drink, health, professional and public services, entertainment and leisure, with residential uses above."

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September 2020

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Where to find Forum Focus FOR the duration of the Covid19 emergency the number of Forum Focus pick-up points has reduced due to the closure of many premises.

However we hope it will again be in re-opened village pubs and venues, in addition to publishing on our website and distribution through social media and email.

Currently confirmed pickup points are: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: Tesco, Homebase and Brewery Visitor Centre, Blandford St Mary; Lidl and Bartletts in Shaftesbury Lane; Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S, Langton Road; the Spar Shop in the Market Place; Chaffers and Iceland in Salisbury Street; Whitecliff Surgery in Whitecliff Mill Street; James Newsagents in The Plocks; The Post Office in the Tabernacle; The 3Cs in Damory Street; The Co-op, Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road; Blandford Hospital in Milldown Road; Blandford Connect Day Centre and the Central Shop in Heddington Drive.

In the villages: Bryanston Bryanston Club; Child Okeford The Cross Stores; Iwerne Minster - the Post Office; Langfton Long Abbots Nursery; Pimperne Village Hall and church; Shillingstone - Garage and Coop; Spetisbury - Village Hall and Clapcotts Farm; Stourpaine - The White Horse Inn; Tarrant Keyneston - St Richard Close bus stop; Tarrant Launceston and Gunville Farm Shops.

Local stores dodge the closures

Pedestrianisation in Shaftesbury's High Street.

Town centre changes • From Page 1 Mr Nicol said: "We encourage everyone who lives, works, does business in or just visits the Blandford area to do the survey.

"The evidence needed to stand any chance of funding in these difficult times must be based on what you, the people, want - not on the views of officials.

"The survey is open until the end of September. Age group categories begin with 'up to 15' and extend to '80 +', and we particularly want to hear from the 'up to 35s' who have not responded in great numbers so far. They will have to live with the consequences of the decisions that are made for a lot longer than some of us.

"Let us know what you think, and please ask family, friends, neighbours and contacts to do the survey."

Drugs seized in raid LARGE amounts of money and a quantity of synthetic drugs and herbal cannabis were seized by police after executing a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant in Blandford on August 4.

A local man was assisting them with their enquiries, and a North Dorset Police spokesman praised the community for their help following the incident.

He said: "Thanks to information and intelligence from our local communities we are able to take positive action to make your area safer.

"Please call us on 101, report on dorset.police.uk/doitonline or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

BLANDFORD's M&Co and Travis Perkins branches have so far escaped the list of closures announced by their parent companies in the wake of Covid-19.

M&Co announced in August that they were closing 47 stores and shedding 480 jobs nationwide, but Blandford was not on the list.

Builders' merchant Travis Perkins, which has 645 stores nationwide, announced in June that consultations had begun on plans to close 165, with the loss of 2,500 employees.

Adam Robbins, assistant manager at Travis Perkins on Blandford Heights trading estate, declined to make any further comment, other than to say that the Blandford branch would remain open.

The former Travis Perkins warehouse premises at Units 54-56 Sunrise Business Park have been sold for more than £500,000 by Myddelton & Major to Newglaze Windows, who for the last 17 years have had a showroom at Unit 1.

There has been no news as yet regarding the potential opening of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill store in part of the former Argos premises in East Street, all stores across the country apparently still remaining closed.

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September 2020

Council to press on with Corn Exchange refurbishment project PLANS to remodel the town hall, council chamber and Shambles of the Corn Exchange, together with the stage, are again being progressed after councillors agreed the recommendation of their new consultants Ingham Pinnock Associations (IPA).

A report from IPA was considered by the project working group in July and put forward a 'route map' they should follow to bring to some sort of conclusion the council's long-standing ambition to make the Grade I listed building fit for the 21st century.

The full council agreed unanimously to proceed, based on the most recently agreed plans put forward by Western Design Architects for the stage and IPA for the Town Hall and Council Chamber, both of which still need planning approval, and to follow IPA's advice on the way to secure funding for future phases The stage plan includes opening up the proscenium arch, removing the wings and existing ceilings, installing remote-controlled conservation roof lights with blackout blinds, and extending the stage over the existing steps.

Proposals for the front of the building, drawn up by Malcolm Simmonds Architects, include reconfigured toilets, kitchen and open stairs to the town hall and An area of standing crops near Hod Drive, Stourpaine, caught fire on August 4. Two pumps and a Land-Rover from Blandford, a water carrier from Poole and offroad appliances from Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury were mobilised to the scene.

council chamber above, together with a lift in the entrance foyer, a mezzanine floor providing extra storage and a lighting/sound booth, and raising the roof of the link between the council chamber and Corn Exchange.

Councillor Roger Carter said: "These plans have been kicked around for the past three years.

We cannot delay them any longer."

The working group recommended that it be given delegated authority to avoid further delay and the need for further meetings in August, and that the group should consist of at least nine members - only five had attended the online meeting in July to consider the IPA report.

Councillor Noc Lacey Clarke felt all councillors should be involved, saying: "Considering the length of time it has been going and the amount of money already spent, the working group should not have delegated authority."

Councillor Hugo Mieville agreed, and the council decided by 11 votes to four that separate full council meetings would allow all councillors to be involved in the project going forward.

Councillor Alan Cross said the council had come under fire in the local press over the amount of money spent on the project in the past and that this was the best way forward.

Planning permission and listed building consent is already being sought to remove and replace the existing glazed roof lantern and carry out associated internal and external alterations.

Harrison happily reunited with Rio, the cockatiel.

Rio’s flight of fancy BROTHERS Harrison (9) and George (7) were devastated when Rio, the cockatiel they had watched develop from an egg, went missing from its home in the St Leonards area of Blandford.

A search was launched and an appeal went out on Facebook to locate Rio, described as 'grey with white spots and yellow tail feathers, very young and wolf whistles', who had only joined their household in May. Scores of people responded to say they were searching for him, and a number of possible sightings were reported, together with advice on enticing him home (including playing a recording of a female cockatiel!)

Happily he was found two days later. The family were out for a walk and as they crossed the black Preetz Bridge on the meadows, Rio heard them and flew straight over to join them.

The boys' father Lloyd Overton said: "The response was very touching and shows the positive side to Facebook and social media and also some of the kind, considerate and caring people we have in our town."

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September 2020

Green light for brewery site homes Planners praise design quality DETAILED plans for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Blandford brewery site, which have stalled since the first application in 2009, have now been approved by Dorset Council.

The development by Drew Homes and Homes England was recognised by officers and members of the northern planning committee in July as important for Blandford St Mary and Blandford.

Committee chairman Sherry Jespersen said the amount of work which had gone into bringing the application to conclusion was absolutely clear. "It is very gratifying not to be presented with the lowest common denominator type of housing."

Councillor Val Pothecary said: "It's a very attractive development which sits well within the heritage of Blandford."

She proposed approval, which was supported unanimously.

Bryanston Parish Council reiterated its concern at the transport considerations not taking into

account the 61 houses which have now been built at Dorchester Hill and another 80 at Lower Bryanston Farm given outline approval subject to legal agreements.

Both Blandford St Mary Parish Council and Blandford & District Civic Society, among other points, highlighted the need for environmental considerations including green energy and electric car charging points.

The Civic Society and Blandford Town Council highlighted the need for an equipped play area for toddlers. When Councillor Carole Jones expressed concern, the committee was reminded that there was a large green space nearby together with the skate park.

Councillor Jespersen said she hoped the developers would make it modern and sustainable, and Councillor Les Fry asked what plans there were for renewables. "We are in a climate emergency and need to push that," he said.

Planning officer Robert Lennis said it was an issue which was not addressed in the application and they needed to push for a change in building regulations to include items such as ground source heating, solar panels and water recovery, but also had to consider the location in a conservation area.

He said they could advise the applicants that they would like to see alternative energies. "We are pushing in the same direction," he said.

The case officer said the first phase of 63 of the total of 180 houses proposed provided a new pedestrian link from the Mortain Bridge over the Stour to Blandford St Mary, and included additional design details of high quality.

He said the extensive remedial costs in redeveloping the industri-

al site meant that an affordable housing contribution was not required in this phase of 23 apartments, 11 two-bedroom houses and 29 three-bedroom houses, but the developers were working to provide some.

Councillors were also advised that the density on this first phase of 1.26 hectares would increase in the second phase of 137 homes, including those in the rebuilt part of the brewery, which will be three to four storeys high.

In answer to Councillors Tim Cook and Robin Legg, Mr Lennis said the potential management costs for purchasers when the roads were not to be adopted by the highway authority were not something the council was involved with, but a further planning application would be needed to make it a gated community.

At a socially distanced meeting in Lion James Mayo's garden, the outgoing Lions' president Tony Ives handed over the chain of office to the incoming president Gordon Cox, who then proceeded to induct his nephew Richard Jones into the club. The Lions would welcome new members to join them. Contact Lion Tony for information on 01202 624089.

Home plan opposition PLANS have been submitted for a second 'contemporary' home in woodland alongside the river Stour off Langton Road, where the first approved by North Dorset District Council in 2018 - caused considerable objection from local residents concerned about access to the site and loss of wildlife habitat.

The first proposal by Gary Abbott was for the site of a former cottage, Londonderry, which was demolished soon after the war, but his second, for land to the west, has no such precedent.

Town councillors last month agreed unanimously to object to the application, and Blandford St Mary Parish Council have asked that Dorset Council's planning committee visit the six-metre wide riverbank site before deciding on the application. They say the development overlooking Stour Meadows will involve the removal of trees and environmental disruption in contravention of the draft Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan.

More than 40 residents have now objected to the proposal which at the time of going to press was still awaiting a decision by Dorset Council.

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September 2020

Armed police make arrest after shooting ARMED police carried out a search of the area after a report of a woman being shot with a BB gun in Langton Road, Blandford, on Sunday August 9.

A 52-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and a witness appeal has been made for anyone who saw or has information about the incident.

The woman, who was reported to have been getting out of her car just after 3pm, was taken to hospital with upper arm injuries.

The arrested man was said to be assisting officers with their inquiries.

Det Sgt Jeremy Cuff said: "A full investigation is underway into this incident. I am appealing to anyone who either witnessed the incident, saw anything suspicious in the period leading up to it taking place or captured relevant footage on mobile phones or dashcam to please contact Dorset Police." The occurrence number is 55200118092.

Above: The Osborne family litter picking. Above right: (from left): Pat Osborne and family, Hugo and Yvonne Mieville, and Bob and Carole Brannigan with Blandford War on Waste in the Market Place.

Clean-up squad’s shining example BLANDFORD War on Waste joined forces with the Cleanup Blandford Campaign to conduct Saturday morning litterpicks in the town centre during August.

Yvonne Mieville took a stall on the Saturday market, armed with litter pickers, gloves and plastic bags for volunteers to carry out a two-hour clearance of rubbish, and planned to do the same every Saturday morning that month.

A bigger event is planned in September.

Pat Osborne, who was joined by members of his

CPRE warns of housing free-for-all DORSET Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is warning that the county could be forced to plan for excessive amounts of new housing.

They have commissioned an independent assessment of housing need which highlights that the government's assessment is 47 per cent higher than that in existing local plans and 100 per cent higher than recent rates of housing delivery.

They say there is too much 'executive' housing and homes meeting the demand from those retiring to Dorset, rather than that from young families needing affordable homes.

Now a government white paper proposing further planning reforms threatens Dorset with even higher, centrally imposed housing numbers, while greatly reducing local people's involve-

ment in the planning process.

Peter Bowyer, Dorset CPRE chair of trustees, said: "Building excessive housing can only be at the expense of our very special environment and our communities. Our environment is Dorset's greatest economic asset. Our communities need appropriate homes to meet local need for young families whom we need to keep and attract to work here and so help grow Dorset's economy.

"It is in everyone's interests that the housing numbers in local plans reflect local needs. Plans based on excessive and unrealistic projections can lead to land not being brought forward and the five-year land supply not being met, causing the local plan and associated neighbourhood plans to fail and resulting in a developer-led free-for-all."

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family and headed off to The Close, said: "We found a lot of cigarette butts and bottle tops."

Mrs Mieville said: "People wouldn't drop these in their living room or in their garden. Why do they think it's ok to drop them in the street?"

Apart from the usual thoughtless litter, volunteers also reported a black scooter halfway out of nettles on the left-hand side of the Marsh and Ham, a rusty shopping trolley under the blue bridge, and an old abandoned canoe in the nettles on the righthand side of the weir after crossing.

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The spacious new-look entrance to Blandford library.

New chapter for library BLANDFORD library in The Tabernacle closed for refurbishment before the Covid-19 lockdown made closure more permanent, but reopened on July 27 with a new spacious look and feeling quite different.

Library manager Lou Butcher said: "It took a little longer than expected because of workmen not being able to come in during the lockdown, and there have been many changes, including a one-way system, social distancing and other precautions, including limits on the number of people allowed in at the same time."

Opening hours are from 9.30am to 1pm Monday to Saturday, excluding Wednesday, and some services are not yet available, but people can browse, be issued with and return books and other items.

Use of public computers and internet access needs to be prebooked for sessions up to a maximum 45 minutes, but there is no printing or staff support available.

A new free service allows people to select books of interest, fiction and non-fiction, DVDs and talking books to be collected and ordered online or by phone to 01305 228400.

Jail term suspended A BLANDFORD St Mary man who admitted an assault by beating on a man in Sturminster Newton on May 26 has been given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Kieran Christopher Riley, aged 33, of Pigeon Close, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court by live link, when the bench noted that the assault was deliberate, and the defendant had been cautioned for a similar offence and was in breach of bail conditions issued by the court.

A restraining order was also made to run until the end of July 2022, and Riley was ordered to pay a £128 surcharge and £85 costs.

September 2020

An unholy row breaks out over pew removal plan A DECISION by the church council to remove pews from the Grade II listed church of St Andrew's in Okeford Fitzpaine has sparked a wave of protest from current and former parishioners.

The pews in the 14th century church have been in place since a rebuild in 1868, but the church council says that they were built to accommodate a number of people that "far outweighs the size of congregation that has ever attended the church" and are "an impediment to the involvement in worship of disabled people".

They say the creation of a "flexible worship space" would give people greater choice over where to sit.

But the reason which has particularly inflamed public opinion in a row that has resulted in nationwide publicity and ill-feeling between parishioners and the church council and Rector, the Rev Lydia Cook, is the claim that obese wedding couples struggle to walk down the aisle side by side.

A spokesman for an action group formed on Facebook with 168 members to oppose the move, Save St Andrew's Pews, is Helen Sherwood Clinkard.

She said: "The PCC has been granted a facility to undertake work they call re-ordering - a

major internal construction involving removing the Victorian pews, to be replaced by chairs, and moving the font.

"This has caused great distress within the village, as generations of families have worshipped here.

They say the plans were communicated to the whole of the village, but a significant number of the residents had no idea about it until they saw that the pews were up for sale. One person was told about it in the pub!

"Churches throughout the UK are having their pews ripped out in what they call progress. But this is taking away the heritage and history of these beautiful old buildings."

A complaint to the PCC has also been sent to the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Prince Charles and the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, who has replied in some detail on the procedure which has been followed over four years, and the extensive consultation involved.

He says he is unable to control what the PCC does with the church building but is "fully supportive of their plans which are designed to enable the church building to continue to be a valuable asset to the community into the future. Churches are community buildings which have to adapt to the needs of the community as those needs change."

Badbury play area soon LONG-awaited play areas on the Badbury Heights estate are coming closer with the news that the land on the third phase of the Persimmon Homes development is soon to be transferred to Blandford Town Council.

Councillors agreed that the transfer document could be signed and sealed on payment of outstanding developer contribution for the provision of play areas and open spaces and their future maintenance.

A tender process is underway to draw up a shortlist of proposals for areas for toddlers play and a neighbourhood area for older children.

The proposals will then be presented to residents so that a contractor can be selected following public consultation.

Expenditure of over £190,000 has been authorised for the purchase and installation of play equipment, litter bins, signage and seating to be installed as soon as the signed transfer document is returned and the procurement process has been followed.

Funds have already been allocated for the appointment of a part-time member of staff when needed, and a further amount will be allocated for fencing.

Over £830,000 in total, including interest, is held or expected from Persimmons for the provision of the phase three play areas and public open spaces and their maintenance for 20 years.

September 2020

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Roger’s role in TV study of notorious Dorset hanging

Station back on line after bag of help

LOCAL writer Roger Guttridge made his second appearance on BBC1's award-winning Murder, Mystery and My Family on August 6, when series four reexamined the tragic case of Martha Brown.

Martha was the last woman to be publicly hanged in Dorchester after murdering her husband John Brown at Birdsmoorgate, near Broadwindsor, in 1856.

A 16-year-old Thomas Hardy was among the 3,000 who watched the execution and was undoubtedly affected by the experience, which is thought to have influenced his decision to have his Marnhull-born heroine Tess Durbeyfield executed in Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

"The Hardy connection is one of the things I was talking about, along with the trial itself and whether Martha had a raw deal given what she'd had to put up with from her husband," said Roger, who was brought up at Sturminster Newton and was a

SHILLINGSTONE station has reopened to visitors on Saturday and Sundays only, and has thanked all those who have supported them during their lockdown.

The reopening to volunteers and visitors has been made possible by a £500 grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme set up to support local communities during the Covid-19 crisis.

The café, museum, outdoor areas and car park will be open from 10am to 4pm, but with limited capacity and a restriction on numbers permitted indoors at any time.

Refreshments purchased in the café must be consumed outside, where there are additional picnic tables and benches.

Visitors are also asked to help by returning all used crockery and cutlery to the table outside the café, and putting rubbish in the bin.

pupil at Blandford Grammar School.

In the programme, he read Martha Brown's statement of confession and described how Hardy witnessed and described Martha on the gallows.

Sisters Fran and Irene, relatives of Martha Brown, told how they had researched the case and were keen to separate fact from fiction.

Barristers Sasha Wass and Jeremy Dein presented the evidence for the prosecution and defence to judge David Radford, who concluded that, while the conviction may have been safe, an appeal for leniency should have been heard by the Home Secretary at the time.

Roger and novelist Rosemary Ellerbeck, who also lived in Sturminster Newton for many years and under her main penname Nicola Thorne wrote a novel based on the story, appeared together in an earlier programme on Martha, screened

Roger Guttridge

by HTV 20 years ago.

Roger also appeared on the first Murder, Mystery programme in 2018, which re-examined Charlotte Bryant's murder of husband Fred at Sherborne, and will also feature in series five, to be screened later this year.

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September 2020

Funding drive launched to keep rare mosaic in UK

The participants in the VJ 75th anniversary ceremony in Blandford Cemetery gather around the Cross of Sacrifice.

Powerful symbolism despite low-key VJ Day gathering THERE was a small but poignant ceremony at the Cross of Sacrifice in Blandford Cemetery on the morning of Saturday August 15 in recognition of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day - the day the Japanese surrendered and signalled finally the end of World War II, three months after hostilities ceased in Europe.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant tributes to mark the landmark anniversary had to be organised largely online with videos and national remembrance events broadcast from the National Arboretum on television and radio.

It was touch and go whether the Blandford branch of the Royal British Legion, which three months ago for the anniversary of VE Day could hold only a 'virtual' parade, would be able to stage more than a much curtailed open-air service of remembrance.

In the event they were given permission for Tony Lucas and Marie Parsons to parade standards with attendance by no more than 30 around the memorial cross, including Geordie Thomson, who sounded The Last Post, and piper Roger DuBarry.

The service was introduced by RBL branch president Gyan Tamang, and following the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph and reading from the Bible by RBL branch chairman Terry Clarkson and the Mayor of Blandford Lynn Lindsay, who recalled the role of the Dorsets at the Battle of Kohima, Rudyard Kipling's The Road to Mandalay was read

by RBL branch secretary Robert Taylor.

Wreaths were laid by the Mayor on behalf of the town, by Lieut-Col Barnaby Jacques-Grey, representing Camp Commandant, Col Mike Morton on behalf of the Blandford Garrison, by Mr Tamang and Mr Clarkson on behalf of the RBL branch, and

by Terence Dear on behalf of the COFEPOW (Children of Far East Prisoners of War) and in memory of his father.

The event ended with a 'cry' celebrating the end of the war from Blandford Town Crier Jean Jeffries, who laid her own tribute among the small crosses leading up the path to the memorial cross.

• See more pictures on our website forumfocus.co.uk.

Cash grant lifeline for Ted TEDDY20, the charity set up by Owen and Kim Newton from Blandford to support children with cancer and life-limiting conditions after their 10-year-old son Ted passed away, has been awarded £7,950 by the Coronavirus Community Support Fund.

PIMPERNE'S Farquharson Arms, which closed at the end of March, has been put on the market with Savills by Hall & Woodhouse. It is advertised as a prominent character pub, popular with local residents in a desirable location, but also appealing to destination custom, with three-bedroomed owner accommodation.

The funding, distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, will help with the running costs of Ted's Shack, the static caravan at Waterside holiday park and spa in Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, purchased by the charity in 2015 to provide respite to children undergoing cancer treatment, in remission, or with a terminal condition.

It costs the charity more than £7,000 a year in service charges, even when it is not in use.

It was bought and is funded through various challenges and events, including the Teddy Rocks Festival at Thornicombe in May, which had to be cancelled this year.

Mr Newton, the charity's chairman, said: "We're very thankful to the Coronavirus Community Support Fund and to the government for picking Ted's Shack as one of the projects to receive funding.

"Ted's Shack is so much more than a holiday home - it's a place where families can recuperate and make precious memories. We receive referrals from healthcare professionals at Southampton's Children's Hospital and CLIC Sargent, among others in the Wessex region. The funding has meant that we can keep Ted's Shack running this year, in preparation for hosting families next year."

A CROWD funding campaign has been launched to purchase a panel of mosaic from a Dorset Roman villa which was sold at auction in 2018 to an antiques dealer who has now found an overseas buyer.

A temporary export bar has been placed by Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage on the mosaic, which was discovered in 1974 in the grounds of Dewlish House, near Milborne St Andrew, as part of the first major field excavation project of Weymouth College of Education directed by W.G. (Bill) Putnam.

Ms Dinenage said: "This mosaic is a piece of history telling us about the lives of our Roman ancestors more than 2,000 years ago. It is an incredibly rare example of the Roman occupation of Britain. I hope

The mosaic panel from the Dewlish Roman villa. that, even in these challenging times, a buyer can be found to keep this important and striking work in the UK." The decision on the export licence application for the mosaic will be made on October 16 but may be deferred for three months if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase at the recommended price of £135,000 plus VAT is made.

Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the mosaic should contact the reviewing committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) on 0845 300 6200.

The crowd funding campaign to prevent the loss of an item of great importance both locally and nationally can be found at gofundme.com/f/stop-export-ofdorset-roman-mosaic. The campaign is overseen by the Dorset Council Museum, and any excess will go to its restoration project.

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September 2020

Magazine folds after 40 years

Interested residents gather on the new allotment site with parish councillors.

Allotments project reaches fruition FOR the first time in more than 700 years, Blandford St Mary residents have been offered community allotments.

An association is currently being formed and ground preparation is underway ready for cultivation.

Parish council chairman Malcolm

Pimperne concern over homes site A PRE-application consultation into plans by Wyatt Homes for up to 600 homes north and east of Blandford has now closed, and local councillors are amongst those to have submitted their comments.

A key feature of the draft Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan is the development north of the bypass which forms part of Wyatt's proposal, but it also includes land in Pimperne parish, whose Neighbourhood Plan seeks to preserve the 'important gaps' between the two parishes.

Pimperne Parish Council was considering its response after noting at its July meeting that the proposal included land within their parish and is therefore unacceptable and contrary to their plan.

A decision is still awaited from Dorset Council on whether the draft Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan can go forward to referendum, having attracted reservations from the Pimperne parish as well as the Cranborne Chase AONB and the CPRE (see story on Page 5).

Blandford Town Council has commented that the Wyatt Homes proposal conforms in a large part with Blandford+

Neighbourhood Plan policy and has welcomed the enabling of a primary school and other infrastructure in the northern part of the town.

But it has also asked that the first phase, suggested to be east of Salisbury Road, should be confined to the Blandford parish boundary and not extend into that of Pimperne, and that future phases be brought forward as soon as possible, with a time frame established for provision of the primary school and commercial centre west of Salisbury Road.

Among its list of comments are concern that only toucan crossings are proposed for pedestrians and cyclists, a suggested reduction of speed limits on all roads leading to the crossings, and involvement in discussions on the mix and balance of the 180 affordable homes in the overall development.

It also wants to be consulted on possible funding for a school crossing patrol, maintenance and use of the proposed football pitch, play space and community hub, and to see environmental issues related to housing and energy, traffic flow and public transport addressed.

DORSET Historic Churches Trust is going ahead with this year's Ride+Stride event to raise funds for the Trust and individual churches and charities. But they warn that restrictions may still be in place on September 12, and participants will have to take account of the fact that churches may not be open, refreshments and WCs may not be available, and riders and striders may have to self-record their efforts and complete their own record of visits. Entrants are asked, where possible, to seek sponsorship through JustGiving or other online channels for donations.

Albery said: "We are delighted at long last that we are able to provide up to 29 plots at the top of the old Dorchester Road.

"We have been working hard for over two years with the land acquisition and tree protection order appeals, and at last everything has come to fruition. I thank all my colleagues, consultants and others who have been involved.

"I believe this project will have a huge beneficial impact on Blandford St Mary residents with new friendships and community spirit."

THERE has been widespread regret at the decision of Reach plc to permanently cease publication of the 40-year-old Blackmore Vale Magazine following its suspension due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Reach say the Blackmore Vale area will continue to be covered by their online service Somerset Live and the hyperlocal In Your Area service.

Four staff have been offered voluntary redundancy.

In May, Newsquest launched the Vale Journal, a new edition of the Salisbury Journal, to cover Shaftesbury, Gillingham and other parts of the Blackmore Vale area, but it leaves the southern part of the district with no weekly print media.

With the exception of Forum Focus, there is no monthly print media other than parish magazines, following the announcement that the August issue of Unity, the community magazine for Sturminster Newton established in April 2002, would be the last, although there are moves to revive it.

10

September 2020

New role for old box A NEW defibrillator has been installed in Pimperne - in the disused phone box at the end of Church Lane, which also houses a village 'book swap'.

The facility was officially opened when parish council chairman Peter Slocombe cut the ribbon.

He was watched by a socially distanced gathering of villagers, including Steve and Natalie Harper, who had generously contributed the full cost of refurbishment of the former BT phone kiosk, including replacement of all the glass and repainting in its

The phone box defibrillator and book swap is officially opened by parish council chairman Peter Slocombe (right) pictured with parish clerk Jan Fairman, and Steve and Natalie Harper, who contributed to the phone box's refurbishment.

Max walks for dogs A 10-YEAR-OLD Blandford boy has raised another ÂŁ540 for a local dog shelter by hosting a socially distanced sponsored walk.

Max Painter first held a sponsored walk for Stour Valley Dog Rescue in March, raising ÂŁ438 from donations made by followers of the Instagram account he shares with his miniature dachshund Stanley.

Following the success of his first walk at Badbury Rings, Max, who now has over 10,000 followers on his account, hosted another event to bring his total fundraising amount to over ÂŁ1,000 from his two walks.

bright red colour.

The kiosk was purchased for a pound last year from BT after the telecoms company declared it surplus to requirements in view of lack of use.

The parish council also bought the defibrillator, which has been specially designed to conform to BT's requirements and is powered by the same electricity supply which powered the phone.

It means that there is now a defibrillator available at each end of the village, the other being on the wall of the village hall.

Speeding drivers brought to book DORSET Police's 'No Excuse' team have released details of a series of speeding offences committed in just one day and urged drivers to think twice before recklessly breaking the limit again.

Among them was the driver of a BMW caught travelling at 58mph along the 30mph A350 in Stourpaine, which the driver admitted had been a 'moment of madness'.

A 'No Excuse' spokesman said: "Before it came into view, we heard this BMW accelerating hard through Stourpaine, on the A350 in a 30mph zone.

Unfortunately for the driver we had just switched our laser on and recorded him at 58mph.

"He was still accelerating towards us until we switched the blue lights on so he was probably going even quicker than that.

When stopped, the driver immediately stated he was sorry, he knew what he'd done and said it was a moment of madness.

"He was very polite and apolo-

getic, stating he was in no particular hurry and just rushing home to Bournemouth with his friend.

He asked for leniency but at 93 per cent over the speed limit, he will need to ask the magistrate for that. We do hope he's learnt by this and will think twice before recklessly speeding again."

They said a Volkswagen Golf was recorded at the same location travelling at 48mph, with the female driver claiming she had been rushing to visit her mother and didn't know the speed limit. A Ford Transit van was clocked at 44mph.

Fixed penalty notices were given to both drivers. The driver of a Nissan Qashqai caught on the same stretch of road at 41mph was issued with an education Driving At Speed course.

The spokesman added: "Whilst we were there several members of the community approached us and thanked us for our efforts, which was good to see."

11

September 2020

Online art gives Covid the brush-off BLANDFORD Art Society's annual exhibition ran through most of August on the society website and was its first-ever online, looking very different this year, but could well have been the first of many.

"We hope to return to our usual venue and style in the Corn Exchange in August 2021, but we may offer our second exhibition solely for the members online in future," said exhibition organiser, Wendy Jump.

"This new venture has whetted the appetite of the exhibition committee for new ideas and outlets."

Members had submitted work towards three competitions - 'Art in Isolation', judged by Wendy, who organised a series of monthly topics under the same title for members whilst they were unable to meet; the 'Chairman's Choice', judged by chairman Sue Coke with the subject of 'On The Horizon'; and 'Most Innovative', judged by the exhibitions committee, and not so much a competition, as a desire to encourage innovative work by members.

The winner of the 'Art in Isolation' category was Patricia Armitage with a pastel study of 'Studland Bay', and Theresa Watson was specially commended for 'White Cliff Mill Street Shadows'.

Theresa was also the winner of the 'Most Innovative Work' with 'Mouse on the Med 1', and a special commendation went to Rachel Baynes for 'Into the Light'.

The winner of Chairman's Choice was 'Two Rivers Meet' by Patricia Burns, with a special commendation for Wendy Jump for 'Surface Tension'.

The 50 artworks chosen to exhibit can be found at blandfordartsociety.weebly.com.

Right: Studland Bay by Patricia Armitage Below: Mouse on the Med 1 by Theresa Watson Below right: Two Rivers Meet by Patricia Burns

12

Readers’ letters

A unique chance for change ON some occasions, a crisis creates opportunities that can change how we move forward as a society. Can Blandford grasp the opportunity that the current Covid crisis presents? Can we 'Build Blandford Back Better'?

To ease us out of lockdown, the Government issued guidance to local councils to widen pavements, restrict traffic, make town centres safer for pedestrians, and allow cafes, bars and restaurants to place temporary furniture in suitable locations outside their premises. Although some have been able to do this on private property, the scope in Blandford is limited. But it is not just the immediate after-effects of lockdown that could be addressed.

September 2020 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

Like all town centres, Blandford faces two existential threats changes to shopping habits and climate change.

The opportunity could be grasped to experience the town centre in a new way, where retail is only part of a wider range of uses - green spaces, restaurants and bars, boutiques and market stalls, arts and culture, health and social care services and hitech businesses combining to create a space for community activity.

Such opportunities have been allowed to slip away in the past.

In the 1960s, the town centre was gridlocked with vehicles driving through the town between the north of England and the south coast. The current oneway system was introduced as a temporary measure pending the building of a bypass. When the bypass opened 20 years later, the one-way system stayed in place and now, car use having increased tremendously, creates the traffic backlog it was designed to relieve.

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.

The Marsh & Ham car park was laid out to remove parking from the Market Place and Sheep Market Hill. Then kerbside parking was added when the two traffic lanes through the Market Place separating north- and south-bound traffic were reduced to one.

The Market Place from Sheep Market Hill across to and including the north side of West Street is an urban setting of national significance. Nobody today would dream of channelling all local traffic through such an important heritage area.

Because of a crisis, we have been given the tools to implement those lost opportunities that were not grasped 35 years ago.

Blandford is increasingly a doughnut town with sprawling housing estates surrounding a failing hole in the middle.

Post-Covid, though, the centre could start to adapt, becoming an activity-based gathering place, fostering greater social interaction, community spirit and local identity.

Terence Dear, Blandford

Lockdown helpers WE are a couple in our 70s who have been locked in since March and would like to thank a number of kind people for the amazing and overwhelming help we have received.

To Lewis, who took my husband to and from hospital when it was necessary; to his nurse Claudia making home visits; to Pam who brought us our shopping and prescriptions; to Molly who is in her 90s but rang us to check we were alright and have a chat; and to our neighbour for nearly 50 years Rosemary for all her help.

Vera Bennett Blandford St Mary

Artistic enterprise CONCERNING the letter received regarding attempts to set up an arts hub in Blandford, I am confused by the apparent loss of point, namely that these

huts are not actually representative of Ms Seeger's art but a genuine wish by her to provide somewhere for others, adults and children, to learn and practise their own artistic skills.

Conversely, maybe I have missed the point and they are actually to be made into an art installation and transported to the Market Place for all to admire . . .

Really, come on, be nice.

T Cooper Down House, Blandford

Car park exchange I READ with amusement the letter from H. Rawles about bells on bikes and cars without indicators.

A bell on a bike these days is a rarity but I was most amused by a conversation in Tesco Blandford car park. A 'lady' yakking to her passenger turned right straight across another motorist who asked through his open window: 'Nice car. How much are they with indicators?'

Her reply? 'They don't work, you ******.'

Trevor Burroughs Address supplied

Applause for Jackie I THINK a wonderful, well-known lady called Jackie Vacher needs a mention in your next issue.

During almost all of lockdown Jackie has done a Facebook live quiz night on a Friday at 8pm and it's very much enjoyed and looked forward to by many people, including my mum.

As most people in Blandford know, she has done many, many things for the community and deserves a special mention.

Thank you, Jackie, for keeping so many entertained on a Friday evening.

Sandra Way

Please email your letters to editor@forumfocus.co.uk

13

September 2020

Letters extra Profit is builders' main aim WHILST building new homes is understandable in these days of an increasing national population, as someone who has been involved in the property industry for many years, I recommend that those in authority continually apply scrutiny to planning permissions granted.

They must ensure that house builders are working within those permissions, building to a relatively high standard and bringing all properties built to the market for sale.

Developers make many promises when applying for permission to build new homes, but initial promises are not always met by companies which need to build as many properties as possible, as cheaply as possible and retain as much profit as possible. They are building to make money and not as a charitable foundation.

Unfortunately purchasers may discover when they move into their new homes both the good and the bad of the building process, whether short cuts and cheap materials have been used, and that new home guarantees do not guarantee anything.

When planning permission is sought, the builder states the number of properties to be built and it is assumed they will all be offered for sale. I have seen one local developer retain some of the smaller, affordable properties for their own investment rather than offer them for purchase by first-time buyers as planners originally intended.

It is down to the local government officials to see that high standards and planning conditions are met all through the building process.

Nicholas Smith, Blandford

Singularly inefficient PLEASE inform your readers that the local council do not automatically apply the single person's allowance for council tax.

I have had considerable difficulty in even getting the council to

send the appropriate form to me. I requested the information on several occasions after speaking to them in 2016.

Eventually they did send me a copy of the form by email. I have returned this to their offices by recorded delivery over a week ago and have still not received any reply.

Although quick enough to put up the tax, it is not so quick to refund any over-payment. Some multiple living and large homes are paying less than their share.

So single people should claim their benefits without delay.

I realise that in these unusual times they may not be present but home working. However, surely they check their mail on a regular basis to enable them to respond.

Perhaps through the medium of your publication it would be possible to warn other readers of the complete incompetence of these officials in dealing with a simple problem.

Name & address supplied, Blandford

Businesses together COULD we please bring our group to your readers' attention?

The Blandford Business Support Group is a group of friendly, local, small business owners who get together on the first Thursday of each month at 8.30am, usually at 45 East Street, but meetings are currently being held via Zoom.

We have been meeting since May 2018 with the aim of providing support to each other, discussing local and national issues and how they affect us and to provide information and new skills to progress our businesses and discuss the development of the town.

New members are always welcome.

If you would like more information or would like the link to come along to the next meeting please email kay@cba-services.co.uk - we would love to see you.

Business owners from all walks of life are welcome, there are no restrictions on the number of businesses from the same trade and it is free to join. The next meeting is on Thursday September 3 at 8.30am.

Kay Baxter

Page 20

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September 2020

Club boost

A healthy harvest for potato growers WE may all have felt a bit restricted in lockdown but the potatoes up at Lamperd's Field and Elizabeth Road allotments have not been socially distancing at all!

They have been doing what they do best in the bags of compost in which they were planted earlier this year.

Scores have been grown from the single pota-

toes issued to competitors in the Blandford Allotment Society's annual competition, and more than a dozen bags were presented at the weigh-in held at Lamperd's Field. • Pictured above: the winner, with a total of 4.4 kgs, was Barbara Marjoram, and runner-up Virginia Barnard with a total of 4.02 kgs. Third was Mike Holloway with 2.91 Kgs.

Go-ahead for village homes PLEAS from Child Okeford community, parish council and county councillor Sherry Jespersen - chairman of Dorset Council's northern planning committee - failed to persuade the committee to reject a proposal for up to 26 homes on agricultural land outside the village settlement boundary off Haywards Lane.

The committee voted by eight votes to two, with two abstentions, in support of the outline application by ELT Bournemouth, which they were told merely 'rounded off' the settlement boundary and was sustainable and acceptable in the light of Dorset Council's lack of a five-year housing supply.

The scheme also promises 40 per cent affordable housing and other S106 contributions.

Among numerous grounds for objection were the impact on the character of the village of the number of homes in addition to another 130 currently under consideration.

Child Okeford parish council argued that the authority was being inconsistent in its approach to applications in the village, having refused an application for 68

homes at the self-storage facility on Gold Hill Business Park which has now gone to appeal.

A further outline application was submitted in June by Leaper Land Promotions for another 65 dwellings opposite the business park in Lower Common Road, and further plans for 28 homes on the self-storage site were submitted in March.

The committee was told that the Haywards Lane proposal had been reduced in number from the 32 originally suggested, but objectors were concerned that the access was close to the end of the village's restricted speed limit and to that for St Nicholas CE primary school on the opposite side of the busy road.

The illustrative detail included a car park for parents bringing children to school, despite the opinion of both the school and community that it was not needed.

It was agreed that a condition should not be imposed requiring the car park to be provided as part of a travel plan, and the applicants advised that the need for such a car park should be substantiated.

AN increasing number of walkers and cyclists has benefited the newly reopened Bryanston Club on the route of the Stour Valley Way which, since the easing of lockdown, has also welcomed a number of small local groups to its beer garden and spacious premises.

Sturminster Newton's Car Club members enjoyed a pre-ordered light lunch while exhibiting their vehicles in the club's car park, and on the same weekend a successful Sunday brunch saw patrons enjoy a socially distanced meal in allocated time slots.

Chairman Tony Beale said: "We welcome other groups like this to come and make use of our space. We are off the beaten track so don't have that passing trade. Light lunches can be prepared on a pre-order basis so booking ahead is essential."

Yule plans ORGANISERS of Blandford's Yuletide Festival have confirmed that it is still their intention that the event will go ahead on Friday December 4.

This year's event, which aims to be positive for the community, businesses and stallholders, was due to be bigger, longer and better than previous ones, the perfect start to the Christmas period, with the additional attraction of switching on the Christmas tree lights, previously a separate event run by the Town Council.

Organisers say that given the current Coronavirus situation they will be revising the programme this month and that elements of the event, including the lantern parade, entertainment for children and families and Santa's grotto will be reviewed to take into account current guidance.

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September 2020

Bridal firm’s new shop is a perfect match WITHIN the space of two weeks, Exclusively Yours has relocated from the Georgian Passage where it first opened three years ago to the former 'Game On' premises at 30 Salisbury Street.

Proprietor Kayleigh Hartey, her partner Josh Mcdonald and friend Sam Cooke have effected a transformation with a full interior redecoration and fitting out of the property which was for many years the Oxfam Bookshop.

A former wedding planner who decided to put down roots in Blandford, Kayleigh stocks exclusive designs through her supplier, from whom the majority are ex-samples and so available at a fraction of the recommended retail price.

"Up to closure in March this had been my busiest year, and since reopening in June at the Georgian Passage I have been rushed off my feet with enquiries from brides-to-be.

"But we closed again in the middle of July to make the move to much bigger premises where we opened on August 1. It's just such a shame I was unable to have a launch party.

"It's been such a rubbish year for everyone, so many businesses have had to close. I'm one of the lucky ones, for sure."

Firms ‘must face staff challenges’ BLANDFORD law firm dancy is never easy and it is Blanchards Bailey has warned important that businesses meet employers that they must meet challenges swiftly, honestly and staffing challenges head-on or compassionately. Delaying the face consequences that may process only makes it more diffidamage their businesses further cult for all concerned and now down the line. more costly for employers contributJane Eldridge, the firm's ing to furlough leave head of human payments from resources, said that August 1." with many businesses reopening and staff She said the flexible being asked to return to scheme now allows work, matters left in staff to be brought abeyance since March back on part-time are now also coming to hours and be paid a head. furlough leave for the remainder of their She said: "By meeting contractual hours, employment and HR Jane Eldridge but businesses needissues head-on and ed staff back to help get work being transparent with employ'through the door'. If they couldn't ees, businesses can avoid makgenerate profit they could find ing the return to this 'new normal' themselves struggling when the more difficult and also put themscheme ends in October and selves in good stead for the next needing a second wave of redunquarter of trade." dancies.

The firm has been advising on Blanchards Bailey has bolstered the newly introduced flexible furits HR and employment division lough scheme, carrying out propby taking on an expert employer Covid-19 compliant health and ment law specialist in solicitor safety audits, how to end furStephen Woodman, who has lough, changing current terms of joined the litigation and disputes employment, and how to effect team to work for both employers redundancy and compromise setand employees from the firm's tlement agreements. head office in Blandford.

Jane said: "Administering redunTHE Friends of Blandford Community Hospital have reopened their two charity shops in Barnack Walk, Blandford, and Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, with restricted hours.

The Blandford shop has opened between 10am and 1pm on Monday to Thursday, but both for the time being remain unable to accept donations direct to the shops.

Kayleigh Hartey in Exclusively Yours, now in Salisbury Street.

16

The View from the Hill

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

O

UR new combine has rampaged through our cereal crops, cutting on 22 of the 28 days available between July 15 and August 12. Two brief rain breaks, and a five-day break in the rape as it was not all fit, interspersed what has otherwise been a bit of a marathon.

Very much a harvest of parts, the wheat has unexpectedly gone a long way to counteract the terrible rape and poppy crops and indifferent barleys. The straw men have been pleased to be able to press on close behind the combine as the dry conditions have meant straw was fit for baling straight away, and only a small area of greenish straw got wet in the storms; the rest is stacked in the field if it has not already been hauled away.

A short break from the cutting of regular crops took us to the field containing three hectares of over-wintered cover crop, which we had left in the field in spring, wondering if it might produce some useful combinable seed.

We first tried it on July 21, but the vetch was still very green, so we left it for a couple of weeks and went back on August 4, when we managed to get a pretty useful sample. It consists of phacelia, vetch, linseed and clover, sown in September last year.

September 2020 We had no intention that we would be trying to harvest it this summer when we sowed it, but in the spring thought it was worth a gamble. At the second attempt we collected a couple of tons of seed, approximately 60% vetch, 30% linseed, plus a useful amount of clover and phacelia seed, which are both tiny, and a few wheat grains, but surprisingly little in the way of unwanted weeds.

We have since sown some of these seeds, augmented with other bought species, as manure crops into freshly harvested fields which won't be sown with the next cash crop until next spring. If we get any rain, I hope the plants will germinate and grow strongly to nurture the soil, feed the microbes, and maybe even fix some nitrogen, adding organic matter along the way.

T

he amazing weather has given us a fantastic run of harvesting. Some parcels of grain have needed drying, and with the constant threat of thunderstorms we have been keen to push on with cutting, worried that the weather might turn and give us two weeks of rain, which would mean a lot more drying needed in the grainstore. But in the last week or so the moisture levels have been very low, and no drying needed. However, grain has been coming into store at over 30 degrees, and this will take a lot of cooling to get it down to safe storage temperatures.

The rape crop was a bit disappointing, and sadly the field with the sheep grazing trial did not show up any earth-shattering effects. If anything, the ungrazed patch yielded better than the grazed area, even though the grazing showed a considerable reduction in flea beetle larvae found in the plants in March.

Perhaps we should not be too surprised: getting your sheep to

Collecting the seed crop and (right) the seeds. eat the crop down nearly to the ground in winter probably isn't going to increase the yield! However, the flea beetle poses us a huge issue - many, many farmers have already given up on rape. It can be a very effective break crop and used to be profitable in its own right, but so far has not been since the neonicotinoid chemicals were banned three years ago.

Having decided not to use any insecticides any more on the farm, we are holding out a vague hope that by growing more habitat, and building potential predator numbers, we may still be able to grow a halfrespectable rape crop at some point in the future. It is already time to sow next year's crop, albeit a reduced area compared to what we used to grow, but we have to keep trying. Bring on some rain and we will be out with the drill.

T

he long period of fantastic sunny weather throughout most of the summer has pro-

duced masses of lovely blooming wild flowers, and along with them a preponderance of insect life.

We have seen more butterflies on the farm than for many years - peacocks in huge numbers, which particularly favour the hemp agrimony and the perennial sowthistle, also plenty of gatekeepers, ringlets, orange tips, red admirals and others, including the bane of gardeners' lives, the large white, which loves to lay its eggs on precious brassicas, then the caterpillars hatch and lay waste to your winter greens.

September 2020

Farm is a 'Dorset dream' fulfilled for wildlife artist A NORTH Dorset farm is a dream come true for the Countryside Restoration Trust, which was founded in 1993 by wildlife artist Gordon Beningfield and the writer and farmer Robin Page, who for years presented 'One Man and His Dog' sheepdog trials on television.

The acquisition of Bere Marsh Farm, by the Stour near Shillingstone, has fulfilled the charity's 'Dorset dream' of a flagship to demonstrate its philosophy that thriving wildlife is essential to good farming.

Estate manager Elaine SpencerWhite says the aim is "to restore it to a small-scale, organic, mixed farm, producing food on site, to be sold direct from the farm." For many years, Bere Marsh was owned by Angela Hughes, who played a leading role in Dorset Wildlife Trust and farmed organically all her life.

Elaine, who for many years coordinated Somerset's Levels and Moors markets and Levels Best food brand, is leading the project to make Bere Marsh Farm a showcase of the CRT's commitment to sustainable, traditional farming methods, flourishing flora and fauna, habitat restoration, and an education programme focused on the importance of food provenance.

Robin Page says the 92 acres of grassland, wetland and woodland, rich in butterflies, birds, wildflowers and rare mammals,

are the ideal setting to commemorate Gordon Beningfield, who died in 1998 and had a particular connection to Dorset because of his love of Thomas Hardy's writing.

"It is the perfect place where we can bring together everything we believe in while remembering Gordon and his devotion to the countryside. It represents our vision and why he and I decided to found the Trust all those years ago."

The CRT's initial aim was to buy intensively farmed land with declining wildlife numbers and restore it to create a living countryside. These aims have broadened to include purchasing farmland and woodland where traditional farming methods, wildlife habitat and biodiversity are under threat.

The trust's vision is to "create a working countryside using sensitive and sympathetic farming practices that encourage and protect wildlife and produce highquality produce."

Actress Dame Judi Dench became the CRT's patron in its silver jubilee year, 2018; last year, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the food writer, broadcaster and campaigner who founded River Cottage, originally in West Dorset (now in East Devon), became the food and farming patron.

• countrysiderestorationtrust.com.

Fanny Charles

www.forumfocus.co.uk

17

Writer and farmer Robin Page, former presenter of the TV show ‘One Man and his Dog’, pictured with an owlet.

Picture © Countryside Restoration Trust.

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September 2020

19

September 2020

Ambassadors Band stalwart dies at 77 ACCOMPLISHED musician Patrick (Pat) Bell, who was for 16 years a member of the Blandford-based Ambassadors Band, has died aged 77.

A talented session musician who performed all over the world, and on the Mike Yarwood Show and accompanied actor Dudley Moore on the saxophone, he was also an accomplished distance swimmer and keen water polo player in his youth.

His music career playing saxophone, flute, piano and jazz bass, included playing on many albums before joining The Nite People, who toured Europe extensively and supported a host of major stars, including Georgie Fame, the Beach Boys and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

He then became a founder member of Blackwater Gold and played with KB Sounds Show Band, the Alan Martin Band and the Pete Wilson Band.

In the 1970s Pat ran the Record and Tape Centre in Fredrick Place, where he developed a loyal clientele who appreciated his love for and detailed knowledge of music.

He lived in Weymouth and con-

Patrick Bell tinued playing music around Dorset on a semi-professional basis until 2019, including with the All Stars, the resident band for Weymouth Pavilion, with whom he had played since he was 19.

In the 1980s he retrained as a nurse and opened the Roundhayes House Nursing Home in Weymouth which he ran with his wife Jenny for 19 years before retiring in 2007. They had two children, two stepchildren and 10 grandchildren.

Death notice McCann, Joyce (nee Adams): Sadly passed away at home with close family on Monday July 20, aged 71. A wonderful mother and friend who adored her two grandchildren, she will be sorely missed. A private funeral service took place on Friday 7th August.

Donations in memoriam for Macmillan Cancer Support may be made online by visiting close-funeral.co.uk or cheques payable to the charity c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. Tel: 01258 453133

Music school work DORSET Rural Music School closed its doors in mid-March and remained silent for three months, but this inactive period enabled some much-needed refurbishment to be completed.

As well as new heating and lighting systems and a fully disabledfriendly toilet, the school now boasts a new state-of-the-art kitchen.

Richard Hall, school director said: "We are delighted with the improvements. The building has always scored well on charm and character - now it offers the facilities expected in buildings open to the public these days without sac-

rificing any of its unique character.

"Barring any spikes or second surges, we should be able to open fully at the beginning of September, offering something like normal service, although sadly it seems that no group work will be possible for some time."

During preparations for the deep clean, an interesting collection of photographs resurfaced, showing the work of the school in its early days in the 1950s. If you were a student then and might be able to identify any of the singers and players, the school would love to hear from you.

Update from the surgery Flu clinics 2020 The Blandford Group Practice will be starting the annual flu vaccination clinics in September.

Patients over 65 and patients with chronic health issues, such as asthma and diabetes, will be contacted by our Patient Services Team shortly to invite them to make an appointment.

This year our clinics will be much smaller and more robustly controlled to abide by social distancing regulations so please bear with us. We request patients do not arrive early for their appointment and DO NOT attend if you have any of the symptoms consistent with Covid-19 or don't have an appointment.

Patients attending the surgery for their pre-booked appointment should attend on their own (except for those requiring a carer), with no personal belongings, wearing a face covering and clothing easily removed to expose their upper arm.

We are awaiting further guidance for patients aged 50 to 64 and those who are identified as eligible will be invited LATER in the season for their vaccination.

The number of patients eligible for the vaccine this year is significant, and we request you are patient and wait to be invited.

Help us to help you stay safe and well this winter.

Please note: Due to the current circumstances the AGM of the Patient Participation Group which was due to be held in October has been postponed until further notice.

The A354 was closed for four hours when a trailer overturned at Thornicombe on the evening of Sunday August 9.

Police were called to the scene at 7.11pm and the local authority was asked to attend due to fluid on the road. The road was reopened by around 11.30pm. A Dorset Police spokesperson said there were no reports of any injuries.

20

September 2020

Health activities Walking festival returning to action celebrates nature SOME of the Blandford Group Practice Health Champion activities are getting ready to come back, and some are already back in action, with beginners' running on Wednesday mornings from the Milldown car park at 9am.

Walking for health is on Wednesday afternoons from the pay-and-display car park at the back of Eagle House Surgery, starting at 2pm.

And Nordic walking, on Friday mornings from the M&S car park at 11am, takes a route decided depending on the weather.

The first monthly cycling was scheduled for Friday August 14 from Blandford to Spetisbury but can cater for a maximum of only six cyclists.

The crafts group is planning to start again in September and will include painting and drawing for adults, and those free on a Tuesday and Thursday morning who enjoy gardening will be welcome at the Blandford Museum Victorian garden in Bere's Yard.

Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain and Fatigue Group is currently keeping in touch through Zoom meetings and will welcome anyone who would like to join them, and PTSD patients are being contacted by telephone.

An appeal has also been launched for laptops or iPads no longer in use which could be donated for repair and then gifted to those who would benefit from them so they can be helped by digital champions to access the internet for ordering medication, filling in EConsult, video consultations and just keeping in touch with loved ones.

Sara Stringer, who can be contacted for details on any of the above on 01258 452501, said they were always looking for more volunteers to join their befrienders - people with an hour or two to spare to chat to someone - and to deliver medication to housebound patients. All volunteers will be DBS checked by the practice.

THE inaugural ChalkEscape Walking Festival will feature a series of safe, socially distanced walks, taking in some of the spectacular landscapes that make up the Chase & Chalke area, with local historians, artists, actors and experts leading the walks.

The 'Lightfooted' festival, from September 18-24, is dependent on government guidelines but includes a variety of walks and other activities - from shorter walks to more strenuous routes, covering a variety of topics from archaeology to trees and forestry.

There will be opportunities to develop your sketching skills and a tour of Larmer Tree gardens, with a site-specific performance that sees General Pitt Rivers return to the pleasure gardens he created.

All walks are free, but spaces are strictly limited, so booking is essential by email to info@cranbornechase.org.uk.

One of the first walks on

Saturday September 19 is 'A Loop around Martin Down' starting from and finishing at Martin Down National Nature Reserve.

The 6.5-mile walk takes around three hours and includes Pentridge, Penbury Knoll for views over the Cranborne Chase including ancient field systems and the impressive Bokerley Ditch.

Sketching at Coombe Bissett Reserve on the afternoon of September 21 is a three-hour two-mile circular walk on a fairly easy route over Coombe Bissett Down, including sketching/painting time with inspiration from the works of artists Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious and Angie Lewin.

The festival is part of the Chase & Chalke Landscape Partnership, a National Lottery Heritage Fund project to protect, enhance and celebrate the extraordinary heritage of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For more details see cranbornechase.org.

21

September 2020

School takes pride in lockdown endeavours

Some of the hundreds of children at Phnom Ro Eli in Cambodia who are now receiving an education for the first time.

Fundraising brings the gift of learning NEARLY 500 children in remote rural areas of Cambodia and Myanmar are receiving an education for the first time thanks to the success of last year's Charities Day at Bryanston School, organised by the head boy Cameron Robertson and head girl Zeynep Koksal.

A total of ÂŁ54,000 was raised for United World Schools which, working closely with local communities and tribal groups, has opened a new school in Phnom Ro Eli in Cambodia, which is now providing an education for 235 pupils from five village communities.

It has also opened a significant new extension at its school at Shay Kin in Shan state which has become the largest in Myanmar.

Cameron said: "When we began our fundraising drive, we were determined to help make a difference to the lives of young people in some of the most remote and deprived areas of the world.

"We exceeded even our most

optimistic target and are absolutely delighted to have resulted in such important facilities at the very heart of the local communities - even more so given the extreme challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic."

With little or no healthcare provision, both schools are playing a central role in helping raise awareness and minimise the threat posed by the pandemic.

Zeynep said: "The Charities Day was a real challenge, but we had tremendous support from the entire Bryanston community. To know that so many young people are now learning to read and write and benefiting from proper education for the first time has certainly made all of the effort worthwhile."

Once the global pandemic is over, Cameron and Zeynep are hoping to join other pupils and senior staff from Bryanston on a visit to Cambodia and Myanmar to meet local United World Schools' representatives, as well as pupils and teaching staff at the schools.

STAFF, students and governors at The Blandford School have been told by head teacher Sally Wilson that they should be proud of the positive contribution they made to their families, the school community and the community at large during lockdown.

In addition to delivering remote teaching and support, often alongside home schooling their own children, staff have, as previously reported, created 500 face shields for care homes and hospitals, together with designing and producing hundreds of scrub bags and face masks.

Thirty-four chapters of Treasure Island were filmed to share with all students and year 6 pupils, and staff and governors came together as a team to collect items for Blandford Foodbank, as well as raising ÂŁ756 for the same cause. They also helped families with food parcels over the summer as part of the Foodbank's

'holiday hunger' programme.

Students helping the community in various ways included Aislinn Lewis Smith and Annice Platt from Year 12, who volunteered at Dorchester hospital, sorting PPE and donations and taking them around the wards.

Year 10 student Aiden Oxlee was involved with a local group of volunteers picking up prescriptions and shopping for the elderly and vulnerable members of the community.

William Yorukoglu in Year 7 made scrub bags with the St John Cadet group, and Bill Cainhas in Year 8 made face masks for family and friends after downloading a pattern from the internet.

Year 7 student Max Hopkins was due to run the Poole Half Marathon on June 7, an event which was cancelled - but not wanting the training to go to waste, he ran it anyway.

Milton Abbey students achieve top marks A WONDERFUL set of results at the end of a really challenging year was celebrated by the Milton Abbey Class of 2020.

Results showed that sixth-form students had achieved a 100% pass rate in both A-levels and BTECs, and 86 per cent of Alevel grades at A* to C, with 25 per cent of BTEC grades at Distinction or Distinction*.

Two students achieved the highest possible outcome of a Triple Distinction* in their BTEC countryside management course.

Among students combining A-lev-

els with BTECs, two achieved Double Distinction* in 3D graphic design, one combining this with an A* grade in her Art A-level and the other with an A in maths.

Judith Fremont-Barnes, head of Milton Abbey School, said: "The Class of 2020 have achieved an excellent set of results. They are off to courses as diverse as pharmacology at the University of Bristol, war studies at Hull, film making at Leeds Beckett, farm management at the Royal Agricultural University and art at Manchester."

22

This photo (above) was taken

by The Blandford School Year 9 Student Laila for the Hold Still @ National Portrait Gallery competition to capture a snapshot of the country in 2020 with the themes of Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness. One hundred shortlisted portraits were due to feature in a virtual exhibition on the gallery's website in August. Art teacher Gwen Amey said: "It is a stunning shot that shows great depth and contrast."

THE annual Della Jones Mile at The Blandford School, traditionally staged so that all students and staff can take part, could not go ahead as usual in July with most students working at home. But a small group of staff and key worker students decided that the 42nd run should go ahead. Although not the 500 participants that usually take to the course, they did Della Jones and TBS proud. Results were: 1st and fastest boy: Rannan Dewi in a time of 5:51; fastest girl: Mary Hayball; fastest staff member: Mrs Smith.

September 2020

Students’ wellbeing on the timetable as school reopens AS schools prepare to reopen to all pupils following the summer holiday and four-month Covid-19 closure, Sally Wilson, head teacher at The Blandford School, has thanked parents and carers for their support during lockdown.

She said: "I have been really impressed with the way students and staff have adapted to working remotely and thank parents and carers for their support of our young people. Also those students who joined us in school over lockdown, both in the keyworker area and in the face-to-face lessons, who have been an absolute pleasure to work with.

"I remember the first day of year 10 and 12 returning when they were very generous in their conversations with us, checking we were fine when we were more worried about them. Our values of respect, effort, attitude and perseverance have shone through."

She also thanked the local community for its support to the school, including donations of ÂŁ14,000 by the William Williams, Blandford Rotary and the Blandford Forum Almshouse Charities for the purchase of student laptops, support from Bryanston School, and Blandford Town Council helping to plan for reopening.

Two staff training days on Thursday and Friday September 3 and 4 are planned to be followed on

Monday September 7 by the return of years 7 and 12 and all other students the following day.

"We are very conscious some students may not have found lockdown easy and may be feeling anxious about joining us after a period of absence from formal schooling," said Mrs Wilson. A strong support system was in place to ensure student wellbeing.

Individual year groups will gather in 'bubbles' in outside areas of the school which they will use for break and lunch, and at each lesson changeover to be escorted to their classrooms.

With changing rooms out of action, students will be attending in sports kit on days they have PE and have been advised to wear extra clothing under their uniform and a coat for gatherings outside if it is cold.

Students have been asked to use alternative transport if they can, and those cycling are asked to walk their bikes through the main gates. Access via the Milldown gate will be closed before 9am and after 3.15pm to ensure the safety of children attending Milldown Primary and Panda Pre-School, and parents have been asked to drop students off-site and not to drive to the reception area or use the internal roadway which needs to be kept free for school buses.

Assessment results pleasing THE Blandford School head teacher, Sally Wilson, says details of individual performances at Alevel and BTEC will be published at the start of September once the latest guidance from Ofqual has been considered and the outcome of any appeals has been received.

She said students in Year 13 received their results on August 13 following an assessment period which has been very different to the norm.

"As a school we are extremely conscious this has not been an easy period for the class of 2020 and would like to wish them all

the very best as they leave us and spread their wings."

Initial headlines in terms of school performance were extremely pleasing with 23 per cent of grades awarded being A*- A; 65 percent A*- B; 84 per cent A*- C and 99 percent A* - E. Mrs Wilson said the figures continued to reinforce the very good quality of education provided at the school and a culture of learning which reaps positive results.

"The Blandford community will be aware the school prides itself on a broad and balanced curriculum.

Every year students embark on

an exceptionally wide variety of destinations and this year is no exception," she said.

Year 13 have chosen to read a variety of degrees at university, including medicine, economics, history, adult nursing, physiotherapy, sport sciences, graphic design, drama, philosophy, pharmacology, English, computer science, chemistry, business, criminology, mathematics, mechanical engineering, psychology, human geography and photography.

Some students have decided to commence an apprenticeship, while others are joining the armed forces or taking a gap year.

September 2020

Peter Aldous at the Langton Meadows railway arches.

23

Boxing club on the lookout for new base BLANDFORD Amateur Boxing Club is searching for new permanent premises in the town.

The club had its own premises some years ago but had to give them up due to high rent and rates, and since then has been renting the United Reformed Church hall for two training sessions a week.

But with increasing numbers it has become more difficult to operate there following the reduction in the space available now that it is also being used by the Blandford Food Bank.

Club chairman David Pardoe said: "The club wants to remain in Blandford and within walking distance for all to be accessible.

This is very important as we wish to be there for disadvantaged youths, who may not otherwise be able to get to us.

"Boxing is a fantastic sport for

young people to learn discipline and self-esteem and I would like to build strong links with the police in tackling antisocial behaviour through boxing.

"The club really wants to expand its community participation, but is unable to do this with limited space, and it fears for its future.

"It produced Blandford's first England Junior champion last year and we want to continue in this success."

The non-profit organisation would ideally like permanent premises where it can set up its equipment. Such premises as the Corn Exchange are not suitable because of the shared use required.

Anyone who can help and has or knows of any empty, unused space in Blandford, is asked to contact Mr Pardoe at pardoemail@yahoo.co.uk.

Peter’s pedal power Fee cut for sports clubs COVID-19 restrictions have meant that most Blandford and District U3A activities have been suspended since March so it has been almost impossible to stage any fundraising events for their chosen charity, the Blandford Town Museum.

In order to partly compensate for this, Peter Aldous, vice-chairman and leader of the cycling group, decided to ride 74 miles on his 74th birthday, July 25.

Adverse weather conditions on the appointed day postponed the ride until the following day, but he completed both sections of the North Dorset Trailway and passed through most of the outlying villages, including Child Okeford.

Naturally he called in on the museum in Bere's Yard, Blandford, and also took the opportunity to call in at the Langton Meadows railway arches to become one of the first to climb the steps during a supervised opening of the staircase to the top and appreciate the views over the town and meadows.

Sponsorship has to date raised over £800 and can be donated by cheque to Blandford and District U3A, The Coach House, Duck Street, Child Okeford DT11 8ET, or via his JustGiving page, Peter Aldous 74.

TOWN councillors have agreed to allow the use of the sports pavilions by sports clubs at the Park Road and Larksmead recreation grounds at a reduced charge from July to September.

Full relief was allowed from April to June in view of clubs being unable to use the facilities, but the bowling club and football club started using the Park Road grounds only at the beginning of July, and the cricket club advised they would be using both the grounds and pavilion after July 10. The rugby club began to use the grounds at Larksmead to train but continued not to use the pavilion.

The quarterly rent in total from the four clubs totals nearly £1,700. The decision to charge half the rent, reflecting the need for ongoing maintenance and other costs, was agreed by 13 votes to two, and will be reviewed at the end of September.

BLANDFORD Forum Snooker Club is working on detailed plans for safe reopening arrangements in September. The long-established non-profit making club, based in the Snooker Room at Blandford United Reformed Church in Salisbury Street, is looking forward to welcoming back existing members and new players of any age or experience. For more details email committee.bfsc@gmail.com or phone 07966 276612.

24 Blandford Town Museum now open Thursdays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm Blandford Fashion Museum now open Mondays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm To September 10: Scarecrow Festival, Sturminster Newton Wednesday September 2: Blandford Community Hospital bingo, CANCELLED, see friendsofblandford.org.uk Thursday to Sunday September 3 to 6: End of the Road Festival, Larmer Tree, POSTPONED to September 2 to 5 2021 Friday September 4: Shillingstone English Barn Dance Evenings suspended, 01258 861184 Saturday September 5: Pimperne monthly coffee morning, village hall, 10am to noon Car & Bike Enthusiasts meeting, Station Road car park, Sturminster Newton, 9am to 12 noon Sunday September 6: Free Expression Arts Festival, CANCELLED Monday September 7: Blandford Floral Club meetings suspended, details j.joyce75@btinternet.com Thursday September 10: Forum Otters Cancer Support Group,

What’s on this month PLEASE NOTE: many of the events and meetings listed below have been cancelled in response to the Covid-19 restrictions. We have included them to confirm their cancellation or postponement and where possible give contact details and/or website addresses for the venue or organisation against the date so that further information can be found.

But here you WILL find some outdoor events which are now happening. Please let us know by email to listings@forumfocus.co.uk if your organisation is resuming activities.

Entries in this diary are free of charge. This page is available and regularly updated on our website at forumfocus.co.uk. Readers are advised to check with event organisers before attending. details 07561 114644 Friday September 11 to Sunday September 20: Dorset Architectural Heritage Week, CANCELLED see edht.org.uk/dahw.html Saturday September 12: Dorset Historic Churches Ride & Stride see dhct.org.uk Mini Cheese Festival, Station Road, Railway Gardens and Exchange, Sturminster Newton, see Facebook Sturbiz or sturminsternewton.org.uk Blandford Carnival CANCELLED Sunday September 13: 'Socially

Distanced Quiz' , Bryanston Club.

Teams must be entered in advance. 07387 687030 for more information.

Thursday September 17: Blandford Art Society, see blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Friday to Sunday September 18 to 20: RESCHEDULED to April 30 to May 3, 2021: Teddy Rocks fighting children's cancer with rock, Charisworth Farm, DT11 9AL, see teddyrocks.co.uk Saturday September 19: A Loop around Martin Down, 6½mile circular walk over Coombe

September 2020 Bissett Down, 10am start, approx 2½-3 hours, moderate/fairly strenuous route, see cranbornechase.org.uk Cats' Protection League coffee mornings, 01258 858644 Community Expo, Corn Exchange/Town Hall/Council Chamber, 10am to 1pm, to be confirmed Monday September 21: Sketching at Coombe Bissett Reserve, 2.30pm, 2-mile circular walk, including sketching/painting time, 2½-3 hours, fairly easy route, cranbornechase.org.uk Strictly Come Tea Dancing with the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band, series suspended, details ian@archivepublishing.co.uk Tuesday September 22: A Walk Through History, 10am, 9-mile circular walk, 6 hours, moderate difficulty, cranbornechase.org.uk Friday September 25: Blandford U3A open meetings, call 01258 455081 or see blandfordu3a.co.uk Pimperne Quiz on Facebook, details 07879 0035678 Wednesday September 30: Friends of Blandford Community Hospital AGM, see friendsofblandford.org.uk

Help the hedgehogs

Firms aid charity

THE inclusion of hedgehogs on the Red List of endangered species has prompted local campaigners to remind people of the need to act now to prevent their loss forever to all future generations.

The list published by the Mammal Society in July categorises them as vulnerable to extinction.

A spokesman for the Dorset Mammal Group said: "Driven into towns and villages by loss of habitat in the countryside, hedgehogs face problems with rats, rodenticides, dog bites and increased risk of traffic accidents. Many people are going out of their way to help by developing hedgehog-friendly streets - making holes in, or under, garden fences and walls for hedgehogs to pass through - and developing hedgehog-friendly gardens. There is also a growing army of volunteer hedgehog rescuers, carers and rehabilitators, looking after sick, injured, orphaned or underweight hedgehogs across Dorset.

"If you care about hedgehogs and want to help them, get in touch with the Dorset Mammal Group at hedgehogs@dorsetmammalgroup.org.uk."

DORSET disability charity, Diverse Abilities, has been helped by two local businesses as it deals with the impact of the global pandemic on the adults with profound physical and learning disabilities it supports.

Bryanston School was one of two, together with the Canford School, to help towards reopening The Beehive Centre, the charity's day activity and therapy centre, by donating materials for art activity packs distributed to adults in isolation, and create activities when the centre reopens.

The Hambledon Gallery in Salisbury Street, Blandford, has been donating to the charity's emergency fundraising appeal diverseabilities.org.uk/emergency - the proceeds from the sale of novelty face masks designed by local artist Henrietta Young.

Members of the public can purchase items from the charity's Amazon wish lists at diverseabilities.org.uk/wish-lists to help towards some of the equipment and activities it requires to operate.