December 2021 Forum Focus by Sevensioux

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

December 2021 Issue No.117 Est: 2012

Christmas time is back! CHRISTMAS came early to Blandford town centre with the installation by contractors to the town council of the Christmas tree in the Market Place only a few days after Remembrance Sunday. This was soon followed by the arrival of 21 column lights and small Christmas trees in the main streets, creating an early festive atmosphere for the first post-lockdown Christmas after Covid robbed the country of many of the celebrations in 2020. Even before the poppies for Remembrance left the streets, some premises had been decorated ready for the festive season. Shops and businesses have again been invited to contribute to the cost of the decorations, on which the council spends thousands of pounds each year, and its annual Christmas window competition has encouraged shops and businesses to add to the festive mood by decorating their premises. But a question mark hangs over the colourful lighting of Blandford's Corn Exchange which was a resplendent red, white and blue for Remembrance. The colours are changed in accordance with an agreed plan to celebrate special days and events throughout the year, but town clerk Linda Scott-Giles told town councillors at their planning committee meeting that the fit-

FORUM FOCUS

tings used varied from those approved when listed building consent was given. A report was awaited from Dorset Council's conservation officer on whether they are acceptable on the Grade I listed building. It is due to turn red and green for the Yuletide Festival at the beginning of December, and red, white and blue again for Teddy 20 on December 20, the anniversary of the birth of Ted Newton, whose death at the age of 10 led to the

foundation of the children's cancer charity. The tree in the Market Place will be formally lit on December 3 after the children's lantern parade opens the early Yuletide Festival, and will be followed by the usual community carol singing in the Market Place led from the church lawn. Santa's Grotto will be in the Corn Exchange, with market stalls and festive entertainment, concluding with a full laser light show at 8.30pm.

The festival is again running a 'shop local and shop safe' campaign on its website, where businesses have been invited to promote themselves free of charge. Hopes of extending the festival over the weekend were dampened by a shortage of stallholders and artists for a Saturday evening concert. But Santa will be back in his grotto in the Corn Exchange from 10am • To Page 3

The Corn Exchange - resplendent in red, white and blue for Remembrance - will be turning to its Yuletide colour in December and be red, white and blue again on December 20 for Teddy 20.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

@forumfocus

December 2021

FORUM FOCUS CONTRIBUTING

CONTACTS

Forum Focus welcomes the submission of articles and reports from clubs and societies but asks that they are kept to a maximum of 200 words. If you have pictures you would like to share with us, our readers and our website visitors, please send them, with brief descriptions, by email to editor@forumfocus.co.uk. Low resolution pictures cannot be printed in the paper.

Editorial: Nicci Brown T: 01258 459346 E: editor@forumfocus.co.uk Advertising: John Stayt T: 01258 454427 E: advertising@forumfocus.co.uk Distribution: Jackie Stayt T: 01258 456999 E: distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Design: David Eidlestein T: 01258 450989 E: de@deadlines.eclipse.co.uk

ON THE WEBSITE www.forumfocus.co.uk

Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

Diary events are updated regularly on our website so it is always worth logging on to stay up to date with what’s happening in the area. The website also carries additional pictures of local events and background information on stories.

DEADLINES Adverts: Thursday December 9 Editorial: Friday December 10 Deliveries from Tuesday January 4 View future deadlines on our website.

OUR ADVERTISERS Please support our advertisers who have given us their support. All material published in Forum Focus (either in the magazine or the website), including adverts, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, Forum Focus accepts no liability for any errors or omissions and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear in the publication or on the website.

Where to find Forum Focus

Forum Focus: a message to our readers and advertisers

CURRENTLY confirmed and expected pickup points following the reopening of village pubs and venues are: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: Tesco and Homebase, Blandford St Mary; Lidl and Bartletts, Shaftesbury Lane; Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S, Langton Road; Spoons of Dorset, Nightingale Court; The Gorge Café, East Street; The Spar Shop and Corn Exchange, Market Place; Information Centre, West Street; Chaffers and Iceland, Salisbury Street; James Newsagents, The Plocks; The Post Office, The Tabernacle; The 3Cs, Damory Street; The Co-op, Damory Garage and One Stop, Salisbury Road; Central Shop, Heddington Drive; Blandford Leisure Centre, Milldown Road. Sturminster Newton: The Exchange, Emporium, Candy's and Root & Vine In the villages: Bryanston Club and phone box; Charlton Marshall pub; Child Okeford Cross Stores; Durweston hall and Enford Farm, Fiddleford Inn, Iwerne Minster Post Office; Langton Long Abbots Nursery; Pimperne phone box, church, and Anvil; Shillingstone Garage and Coop; Spetisbury Village Hall and Clapcotts Farm; Shroton Cricketers and bus shelter; Stourpaine shop; Tarrants Langton Arms, Butchery Farm, True Lovers Knot St Richard's Close bus stop, Launceston and Gunville Farm Shops; Winterborne Whitechurch, Milton Arms.

THE March issue of Forum Focus will mark the tenth anniversary of the magazine's launch. It will be our 120th issue; it will also be our last. A combination of factors has conspired to bring us to the reluctant but inevitable decision to call it a day. Since our launch in 2012, we are proud to say that the magazine has carved a place in the hearts of the people of the Blandford area. It has been read by an estimated 50,000 people every month and has established itself for many as the go-to publication for local news and adverts. Forum Focus was born as a free community news magazine, run on a non-profit basis. It was intended to fill a perceived gap in the marketplace after other newspapers ceased coverage of the Blandford area. The amazing response and ongoing support of readers and advertisers through these 10 years shows that we succeeded in our aims. So why are we calling a halt? There are many reasons, not the least of which is that the key members of the small team that produce the magazine are

getting on in years; some have also been troubled by ill health. Stir into the mix the fact that the cost of newsprint and thus of printing - is rocketing and is predicted to carry on in the same vein, plus challenges relating to delivery, storage and distribution, and the inescapable conclusion is that we should cease publication. It will be a 'controlled shutdown', which is why we are announcing it four months in advance. It remains our fervent hope that someone may pick up the baton and fill what is sure to be a yawning gap in the local news and advertising scene. If so, we at Forum Focus would be happy to offer whatever help and advice we can. It has been a delight and a privilege to provide what is widely acknowledged as a high-quality news magazine for the benefit of the local community and we shall leave with a sense of sadness but also of immense pride and satisfaction. We thank you all for your support over the past 10 years and urge you to please continue supporting us until our final issue.

Expulsion warning after pot smell at allotments A STRONG smell of cannabis being smoked on the allotments at Lamperd's Field managed by the Blandford Allotment Society has prompted a warning from their chairman that anyone found using the drug will have their tenancy terminated. In his email to all plot-holders, Ian Ricketts said: "It has been reported to the committee that there has been a strong smell of cannabis on site in the evenings. "This is completely unacceptable

as we have families with children on site, and also if you then drive you could be over the limit. "Any person found to be smoking cannabis will have their tenancy terminated straight away." One recipient of his email commented: "It could just have been an over-full compost bin." Mr Ricketts confirmed that no cannabis was being grown on the site and added: "It was reported to the committee and the matter has been dealt with."

HALL & Woodhouse's Community Chest has celebrated its 20th year and donated £50,000 to 42 local causes across the south. Director Mark Woodhouse and company relationship manager Lucinda Gray hosted the event at the Brewery Tap in Blandford, where over £25,000 was distributed to 24 charities and community groups in the western area, including 18 in Dorset. Applications for the 2022 Community Chest awards open in February, when voluntary groups and charities will be able to request funding from between £400 to £4,000 for new equipment, training, transport or running costs or other help.

December 2021

Cabling causes a new paving delay THE 'stop-start' repaving of Blandford town centre has been halted again following news that fibre optic cabling is to be laid under the pavements this autumn. Councillor Byron Quayle reported to the town council meeting in October that it had been discovered that BT wanted to come into town to carry out some work. In mid-November came confirmation from Dorset Highways that the project had been paused to avoid newly laid paving being disturbed by the utility company. Site investigations were being carried out in November to inform the design of the scheme which will mean the installation of new ducting in the footway to make around 200 connections throughout the town centre. Dorset Highways site agent Anthony Price said that following the completion of the first phase of work, which will be unaffected by the cabling, all pavements have been left safe. Workers will return in the New Year to com-

plete the paving project once the cables have all been installed. He said: "A new way of working had recently been established for the project in order to minimise disruption to residents and businesses and this will be put back into operation when work resumes." Highways operatives will focus on one area at a time, rather than two, and the new programme has been split into 10 phases, with work being carried out in smaller 15m sections at a time. Apologising for any inconvenience caused and thanking everyone for their patience, Mr Price said: "Although much less disruptive for residents and businesses, this new way of working extends the project to a total of 33 weeks rather than the original proposed 12 weeks. "More detail of the phasing of works in the New Year will be provided nearer the time." • Page 17: Now internet firm heading for town

Woody, grandson of Teddy20 founders Owen and Kim Newton, and his friend Arlo, both aged six months, at the Halloween Prep Party. Story and more pictures: Page 9.

Flats plan for restaurant PART of the former JR's restaurant in Blandford town centre which has stood vacant since the start of the pandemic lockdown could be converted to four residential apartments. Plans have been submitted to Dorset Council on behalf of Steve Thorne to extend and convert the Grade II listed building in East Street, which before it became JR's was the Prezzo restaurant. The application seeks permission for conversion of part of the building to residential. A smaller commercial area will be retained at the front for retail resulting in minimal alteration to the frontage onto East Street.

Early start to town’s Christmas • From Page 1 to 1pm on Saturday, and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir will present A Baroque Christmas in the Parish Church at 3.30pm on Sunday. In the Woodhouse Gardens there will again be early evening lights and decorations from early December until early January, following the success of last year's festive display which added a welcome splash of colour to lockdown. The Lions' Christmas Fair, usually held on the Saturday after tree lighting at the beginning of December, will this year be opening in the Corn Exchange at 9.30am on Saturday December 11. News that the scaffolding will not

be erected in and around the Parish Church until the new year at the start of the next phase of its restoration has meant that the Civic Carol Service with town Mayor Lee Hitchings, originally scheduled for Blandford Evangelical Church, can go ahead there on Wednesday December 15. The Mayor's quiz night in the Corn Exchange on Saturday December 18 will support his charity for the year, the Blandford Forum Gymnastic Club. And a bigger and better Parish Church Christmas Tree Trail running until Christmas Eve features trees decorated by the members of local clubs and societies displayed as last year in shop windows throughout the town, with

Sleek & Chic at the junction of Whitecliff Mill and Salisbury streets took on a festive appearance early in November. those decorated by schools displayed in The Old Bath House on

Church Walk. The theme this year is the carol 'Love Came Down at Christmas', with an invitation to create an abundance of stars and angels. A video of the trail has been planned so that people can vote online or by physical voting slip for the winning school and 'People's Choice', which will be announced, together with the Mayor's Choice, on Christmas Eve. Dotted around the town centre from lunchtime on Saturday December 11 will be the handknitted angels which last year decorated the Church tree at Blandford Methodist Church for the Christmas Tree Trail competition, and this year carry details of services at which all are welcome.

December 2021

BLANDFORD PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF WAR

A solemn salute to the fallen REMEMBRANCE may have been curtailed in Blandford, as elsewhere, in 2020, but the town more than made up for it in 2021. There were all the usual events culminating in the parade and church service on Remembrance Sunday, but also the rededication the previous Sunday of the town war memorials 100 years after their installation. The reading of the 117 names of men from Blandford who fell in World War One and 43 in World War Two took almost ten minutes at the rededication in the Market Place on Sunday November 7. They were read by Dorset's Lord Lieutenant Angus Campbell, North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, High Sheriff Michael Dooley and Dorset Council chairman Cllr Val Pothecary during the ceremony hosted by Blandford Town Council just over 100 years after the original dedication of the World War One plaques in 1921. Guest of honour was broadcaster Peter Snow, reading from the

address of his grandfather, the First World War General Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow, who unveiled the memorials at the original ceremony. Taking part in the service led by the Mayor's Chaplain, Pastor Dale Carmichael from Blandford Evangelical Church, was Freeman of Blandford 90-yearold Dr Michael Le Bas, who gave the Exhortation both there and on Armistice Day wearing the medals of his father who fought in both World Wars. The Stour Valley Band, which also played on Remembrance Sunday, played before and during the ceremony; Sig. Kincaid of 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment read the Kohima Epitaph; Geordie Thomson played The Last Post and, after the two minute silence, Reveille, at all the town centre ceremonies. The Market Place rededication came to a close with the hymn 'For All the Saints', which was

Peter Snow addresses the gathering at the rededication ceremony after reading his grandfather's dedication speech.

The Mayor Lee Hitchings introduces the ceremony on Armistice Day with, left to right, trumpeter Geordie Thomson, Councillor Roger Carter, RBL chairman Terry Clarkson, RBL Standard Bearer Marie Parsons, RBL Branch Secretary Bryan Kelly and Deputy Town Cryer Liz Rawlings. Picture Pat Patrick. sung at the 1921 dedication service, and thanks from the Mayor, Cllr Lee Hitchings, who had given the opening welcome and address. Guests and members of the public then travelled by coach and car to the cemetery in Salisbury Road, where the Royal British Legion Blandford branch hosted

the rededication of the Cross of Sacrifice and service of commemoration for all those who died in past conflicts and those buried in the Commonwealth War Graves in the cemetery. In attendance were representatives from Blandford Camp and members of the Royal Signals Band who provided musical inter-

December 2021

RBL chairman Terry Clarkson on Armistice Day. Picture Pat Patrick. The massed gathering around the Cross of Sacrifice at the memorial rededication and RBL service for servicemen buried in the cemetery.

The Schools Remembrance Service led by Mayor's Chaplain Emma Carmichael.

A sunken Remembrance Garden created at the Big Yellow Bus in Shillingstone in a project led by Finn, a 16-year-old student on placement there. ludes, the Last Post, Reveille and accompaniment to the hymn 'I Vow to Thee My Country'. Rebecca Smith from the Commonwealth War Graves Society gave an address, and a piper played Lament whilst the gathering visited the graves to pay their respects. In their addresses, Mr Snow and Cllr Hitchings highlighted particularly the loss of life, both locally and worldwide, as a result of Spanish flu and the parallels with the current Covid pandemic claiming millions of lives, including many of those buried at Blandford. On Thursday November 11, Armistice Day, a short but mov-

ing service was held among the busy market stalls outside the Corn Exchange, and on the Friday representatives of town schools gathered in the church grounds next to the Field of Remembrance to pay tribute with Royal British Legion and town council representatives. Mayor's Chaplain Emma Carmichael gave a short address on the significance of the poppy and Year 7 pupil Thomas Swift from The Blandford School read the Kohima Epitaph. Finally on Remembrance Sunday came the afternoon parade and ceremony followed by a service in Blandford Parish Church.

More Remembrance coverage: Page 13

Blandford's oldest Freeman Michael Le Bas giving the Exhortation on Armistice Day. Picture Pat Patrick.

Kelly Holmes of the Artori Academy with the Overall Best Business award.

December 2021

Artori top the honours list in business awards MORE than 100 people gathered for the inaugural Blandford Business Awards hosted at Bryanston School by the Blandford Business Support Group. After a superb three-course meal served by school staff they heard the outcome of the scheme which saw nearly 140 entries and public nominations in a total of five categories. A panel of three independent judges - Hugo Mieville, chairman of Blandford Town Council's town and general purposes committee; Jon Davies, Blandford Camp garrison commander; and Nicholas Dodd, Bryanston School bursar had the difficult task of sifting through the applications for the Retail, Hospitality, Service and Entrepreneur awards, and those chosen by the public. The awards ceremony was sponsored by Xero who also provided gifts for all those attending. An array of prizes, with an 'otter' theme and sponsored by HSBC, Wessex Internet, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke and CBA accountants, awaited the winners, who also received vouchers from additional sponsors Forum Focus and Hall & Woodhouse. The winners were: Retail - Sweetpea Florists; Hospitality - the Yellow Bicycle Café; Service Ruby's Salon; Entrepreneur - The Artori Academy, who also won the Public

Nomination category and Best Business Overall. The award for the overall winner - a framed engraving of an otter by local artist Jen Vincent - was sponsored by the Blandford Masonic Lodge of Honour and Friendship. Its spokesman Mike Lofthouse said it was appropriate for the Lodge, founded in 1771 with a membership throughout its 250 years' existence from every business, trade and service in the Blandford area, to support the event. Catherine Chapman of CBA Accountants, who is chairman of the Blandford Business Support Group, said she hoped the awards would continue annually and invited those interested in helping with their organisation to get in touch. Guests included the Mayor of Blandford Lee Hitchings, accompanied by his wife Abi, the Mayoress. "It's so important to support our local businesses," he said. "Thank you to Catherine and her team from Blandford Business Support Group for organising a wonderful event, and Bryanston School for their fantastic hospitality. "Congratulations to all the winners and businesses who entered - you are all winners in your own rights - and massive congratulations to The Artori Academy who won the overall Blandford Business of the year."

December 2021

National recognition for beauticians and fish & chip shop TWO other businesses are celebrating success in national awards. The Blandford Health & Beauty Centre in Salisbury Street achieved a triple victory in the British Hair and Beauty Awards which were announced in October, and the Forum Frier in Salisbury Road is one of two fish

and chip shops in Dorset to be recognised in the guide to the best chippies in the country, compiled by Sarsons and the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF). The centre in Bell House, Bell Inn Yard, won bronze for 'Excellence in customer experience’, silver for 'Beauty Salon of the Year', and

The scene in the Cowley Room at Bryanston School where guests celebrated the inaugural Blandford Business Awards.

gold for 'Best workplace environment' in the south-west - three of the 45 categories which attracted hundreds of entries from across the country. Owner Sam Gardiner, who in 2004 was joined by her mum Maggie at the centre she opened after working initially from her parents' spare bedroom, and which now has a team of six therapists, said: "We're obviously very excited and proud of this achievement. "We are so proud of our amazing team who always work hard providing the best treatments and experience for our clients. We wouldn't have been able to achieve these awards without our wonderful loyal clients. "With everything the last year has thrown our way this is the best thing we could have received in the post." Cookie Browning took over the management last December of the Salisbury Road chippy where

Sam Gardiner, whose Blandford Health & Beaty Centre picked up three awards. recent improvements have included the creation of a click and collect service. He said: "We want to be recognised for quality fish and chips and this is one of the ways of doing it. The next target this year is to be a bit more involved with the community, which has been difficult to do with Covid."

December 2021

Boundary change proposal outcry A SUGGESTION from Blandford Town Council that the town boundary be extended to include Blandford St Mary, Bryanston and parts of Pimperne, Langton Long and the area including Blandford Camp, has prompted an outcry from the neighbouring parishes. It is also part of the reason for the resignation from the town council of John Stayt, who remains a member of Blandford St Mary Parish Council. Councillor Stayt, who has served on both councils for 11 years and is a former North Dorset District Councillor, in his letter of resignation accused the town council of 'naked ambition, deceit, and an aversion to discussion with third parties' in putting forward the proposal, which town councillors have been considering for the last six months, without any prior consultation with the neighbouring parishes and with only four days' notice of the deadline for submissions of October 28. The invitation from Dorset Council to all town and parish councillors to submit proposals for its Community Governance Review

A rough outline of Blandford Town Council's suggestion for a new town boundary. was sent in March, and guidance issued by the Boundary Commission for England suggested consultation between neighbouring parishes before any submissions were made. But proposals need to be accepted by Dorset Council in December before being subject to a two-month period of public con-

sultation in the New Year, and will not be finalised until May 2022. Both Blandford St Mary and Bryanston Parish Councils have vowed to do "everything in their powers to ensure that the proposal for the merger is not taken further". In their hurried response to the town council proposal in time for the deadline, Blandford St Mary council said they appreciated there was no obligation to consult with neighbouring parishes but expected it to have been done. They list the extensive facilities in the village, including a pre-school and primary school, two large stores with free parking and fuel station, an equipped play area and allotments managed by them, and now, as part of the new development in the village, land for a community hall which will be funded in part from a community benefit fund from the solar park within the parish. "If Blandford St Mary is moved to Blandford parish, it would take away its identity as a village and its long-term sustainability and security." This year's Blandford Town Council precept equates, among a population of nearly 11,000, to £226 pa for a Band D ratepayer, the third highest in the county, exceeded only by Gillingham and Bridport. In the villages, the annual rate varies from £56.34 in Bryanston (population around 900) down to nil in Langton Long with a population of just over 100. The shared cost of parish administration and services among the estimated current total population of 16,000, expected to rise to 18,000 with new development over the next five years, would inevitably see an increase for those in the parishes.

According to Blandford Town Council, which for many years has held ambitions to extend the boundary, it will make the combined area more sustainable as the principal service town for the region, equivalent to Bridport with a population of around 15,000 and Dorchester with 21,500. • A notice of vacancy posted on the Dorset Council website on November 3 gave electors until November 23 to call for an election to fill the vacancy on Blandford Town Council caused by Mr Stayt's resignation, which can otherwise be filled by cooption by the town council. • No election has been called to fill the four vacancies caused by resignations from Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council where there were already two long-standing vacancies. The sole remaining councillor Liam Deeney has been working with the chief executive of Dorset Council with a view to appointing two Dorset Councillors to act temporarily so that new councillors can be coopted to serve until the next scheduled elections in May 2024. Information on the temporary appointments was not available at the time of going to press as the chief executive needed to liaise with Dorset Council's political group leaders to agree who will be appointed to the temporary role.

Pop-up fun at the Grainstore THE Old Grainstore Emporium and The Pantry at the Grainstore are excited to be hosting their first Christmas Pop-up Market. The Pantry will be serving their usual extensive menu plus some extra seasonal treats and The Old Grainstore Emporium will have tables run by local artisans and crafters selling unique and unusual Christmas gifts. There will also be live music from local musicians, mulled wine and cider, mince pies, lucky dip for the kids and a charity raffle in aid of Dorset Mind. There's lots happening on this new development at the top 'o' the town - Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford (behind Mark Robbins Carpets). For more info phone Sarah on 07745 477795.

December 2021

Spooky goings-on in the woods PUBLISHER William Hone, in his Every Day Book (1826), noted that the ringing of church bells, sometimes all through the night, on All Hallows' Eve had been the custom in Blandford Forum up to the Reformation, when such 'superstitious practices' were banned, and All Souls' Day was dropped from the Church calendar. But it has now once again become a firm fixture in the UK calendar, and in Blandford was spread over two weekends, with preparation events on the first Saturday and an impressive occupation of woodland the day before. Teddy20's Halloween Prep Party in the Woodhouse Gardens included two fully booked sessions of arts, crafts and games which went down a storm, along with Mr. Bear, the tombola, the mummy and, of course, the cakes.

The children were dressed up in amazing Halloween outfits, from Demons to Ghostbusters to Wednesday Addams, during the fundraising and awareness raising day for the charity which supports children with lifethreatening illness and their families. Meanwhile in the Corn Exchange, the Artori Academy hosted a special make-up workshop. It's not certain how many of these creations reappeared at the Halloween Spooktacular in Angus Wood, St Leonard's Avenue, the following Saturday, October 30, which despite heavy rain before and after the event was a great success for the Blandford Environmental Trust. It is one of only a few events hosted each year to raise funds for the wood's maintenance, and their first since 2018 - that in 2019 having been rained off and in 2020 cancelled due to the

Ghoulish behaviour in Angus Wood.

Mr Bear under the archway entrance to the Halloween Prep Party.

pandemic lockdown. Chairman Steve Adamson particularly thanked the decorations team for providing spectacular lighting effects together with ghosts, witches and even a talking skeleton alongside seasonal refreshments for the hundreds of visitors. • There were even more suspicious goings on when fireworks were reported to have been let off near cattle at Badbury Rings on Saturday October 30. Police on patrol responded to numerous reports, found the car believed to be involved and on searching the car and its occupants, discovered and seized a mixture of cannabis and suspected LSD. A spokesman for North Dorset Police said: "The suspects will be interviewed in the near future."

Above & below: Artori Academy creations

A spooky character in Angus Wood.

December 2021

River floods as storm lashes the area

Flooded meadows beside the river in Blandford. HEAVY rain, winds and flooding at the end of October spared Halloween events on October 23 and 30 and a Blandford flood defence tour on October 28 (Page 21). The Environment Agency reported that river levels between Gillingham and Sturminster Newton would be at their highest overnight on October 20, and those on the Middle Stour and tributaries near Blandford the following morning. Flood barriers put in place by the Environment Agency at the entrance to the lower Marsh and Ham car park off West Street pre-

vented access for those working on the town centre repaving project, but Police ensured that all parked vehicles had left the car park, which remained closed until midday on Friday October 22. The Stour burst its banks again on the Thursday night, when footpaths close to the river became flooded, and between six and eight tonnes of material reportedly slipped overnight at Dinah's Hollow on the C13, closing the road at Melbury Abbas until late Friday afternoon. Blandford and Sturminster Newton firefighters went to the rescue of 26 sheep stranded in a flooded

field in Fiddleford and required specialist assistance to carry them to dry land in a boat. Further rainfall and high winds on October 29 resulted in a tree being brought down on the B3082 at Badbury Rings and two sections of the A350 being closed when a powerline came down near Spetisbury, and there was flooding near the roundabout junction with the A31. A tree down across the Trailway between Spetisbury and Charlton Marshall was reported to the Countryside Rangers, but cleared by a resident with a chainsaw, and a tree brought down from further upstream became firmly lodged on the weir under the Mortain Bridge

in Blandford. • New gates arrived in the nick of time on the road which cuts across the River Stour to Hammoon between Child Okeford and Manston to close the road to traffic when the river breaches. Flooding caused by heavy rain has been a problem to villagers for decades. After years of campaigning for a physical barrier to stop drivers ploughing on through floodwater, Manston and Hammoon Parish Council have been rewarded by the installation of a permanent physical barrier on each side of the river which will be closed when flooding is threatened to stop people from driving into the flood water from either direction.

The fallen tree lodged on the weir in Blandford.

December 2021

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Christmas and New Year rubbish and recycling Festive recycling

Lucy Kendall with her prize-winning painting 'Surveying the Savannah'.

Lucy lands an art prize VISITORS to the Pimperne Fair on October 23 had a special treat when sixth-former Lucy Kendall, a final year student at the QE School in Wimborne, displayed her entry in the Dorset Art Prize, a competition for schools across the county. She was later judged first prize winner in the Year 12 and 13 category with 'Surveying the Savannah'. Lucy, aged 17, lives in the village, and about a year ago

began taking commissions for her distinctive artwork creating bespoke photorealistic portraits of friends, animals or children. It has now blossomed into a business. The Dorset Art Prize was established by Bournemouth & Poole College in 2014, and the winners this year were announced at a ceremony at Poole Museum, where exhibitions started the following day.

Many households produce extra waste over Christmas, but much of it can be recycled using your kerbside Recycle for Dorset service. Remember that you can recycle: • cooked and uncooked food, using your food waste bin • wrapping paper (not foil or glittery paper, please) • cardboard and recyclable packaging (not polystyrene) • Christmas cards and envelopes. Please help our crews by putting your glass out for collection before Christmas, reducing the amount of extra glass we collect over the busy festive period. See what items can be recycled at the kerbside at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/which-bin

Christmas trees Dorset Council does not collect Christmas trees of any kind with rubbish or recycling at the kerbside. You can recycle your real Christmas tree by: • home composting it • cutting it up and placing it in your garden waste bin • taking it to a household recycling centre • booking a Christmas tree collection with a Dorset-based charity or service (check local availability).

Readers’ letters

Harmful opinions REGARDING Janet Stiles Tyson's response (Letters, November) to Stephen Kelly's letter of the previous month: How utterly cruel to 'hope he suffers bitterly from its outcomes' just because Mr Kelly has a different opinion and the courage to speak up. His opinion could hardly be considered 'harmful'. Yours could, perhaps. Adrian Ford, Blandford

Medical verdicts RE the Blandford Group Practice: I was quite surprised to see the headline article in the November edition. Normally the Focus approach to problems is more circumspect than that demonstrated here. The situation at the surgery appears to have arisen as a result of several factors and is by no means as simple as an oversight on the part of the admin staff. You then berate the surgery staff for being honest about difficulties they are experiencing and trying to keep patients informed. And as for "retired GPs" being "appalled"; are these the same GPs who retired at an age the rest of the working population could only achieve with a lottery win? And did they ensure that

December 2021 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

their positions could be filled after they left? Yes, the practice should investigate what went wrong and it might put people's minds at rest were they to do a statement when they have completed this. Until then, most of what I have seen about the matter has been speculation, which doesn't help anyone. Name & address supplied. Editor's note: In our article there was no suggestion of a simple oversight and no berating of staff - only a factual report of the information given on the practice social media channels and response from members of the public. We could not ignore the calls for an investigation from and by others.

Beware the scammers I RECEIVED a call from a company purporting to be debt collectors. They called me and texted me a number of times saying I had debt with PayPal. I have no such debt. I eventually rang them back and they asked me to pass security by giving personal details to which I refused. After complaining of harassment they offered to remove my number and send me a letter instead. I've never received this letter at my address. This company is portraying itself as a debt company to collect money from people that is not owed. Please be warned! Do not

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.

give this company or any company your personal details, even if they make you feel afraid. Speak to a friend or family member first. Rachel Down

Toy appeal a triumph I WOULD like to give a huge 'Thank You' to all those who contributed so generously to our Toys for Christmas Appeal this year. The quality and sheer volume was astonishing. I'm informed by the organisations that received these toys that there will be many happy children this Christmas. We set up in the Parish Church on the last Thursday of October and for the next four days the toys just kept coming in. I would like to take this opportunity to pay special thanks to the team from the parish - Sara, Tina and Anne - who arranged everything and made it possible for us to have the use of the church as the collection point. I was particularly struck by the appearance of a very young lady who arrived with her mother, pushing an immaculate 'Mommas & Poppas' dolls' pushchair. This was complete with all accessories including a very welldressed doll. The message from the young lady was that she hoped that another child could have as much pleasure from the doll and pram as she had. We were not able to hold this event last year because of Covid but our community certainly

Some of the hundreds of toys donated to the Blandford Rotary Toys for Christmas Appeal. made up for it this time. We received over 1,250 toys, games puzzles and books - a truly magnificent effort. Thank you all for your donations Steve Adamson On behalf of Blandford Rotary

Blame game THE public are being blamed for overcrowding at hospitals but when you try to get a doctor you can't get a face-to-face appointment and have to wait for hours in a queue on the phone. The doctors at the Blandford Group Practice are referring us to 111 or 999. The blame needs to be shared. Name & address supplied

December 2021

Huge turnout to pay respects THERE was an impressive public turnout for the first full Remembrance Day in two years on Sunday November 14, when crowds lined the streets and viewed the proceedings from the churchyard. Civic and uniformed groups from the town were joined by representatives from Blandford Camp, where Remembrance services had taken place in the morning. The singing of 'Jerusalem' was accompanied by the Stour Valley Band which also provided music until the arrival of the parade of standards at the start of the ceremony. The laying of wreaths was paused briefly when assistance was needed at a medical emergency in the crowd, but resumed and continued with tributes laid on behalf of the town and neighbouring parishes and the various organisations in the town. It concluded with the laying of wreaths on the stone commemorating Jack Counter VC by the Mayor, Councillor Lee Hitchings, and Jack Counter's niece Jackie Counter.

Crowds gather around the Market Place for the Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths on the war memorials. The Exhortation was read by the Mayor, and the Kohima Epitaph by his cadet Ollie Gallanders from St John Ambulance. The parade led by the standard bearers passed Legion House in Church Lane and through The Plocks, Sheep Market Hill and the Market Place, where the salute was taken. Then it was up Salisbury Street and back down Church Lane to the church,

Blandford Scouts in the parade and marchpast which followed the service.

More Remembrance pictures at forumfocus.co.uk

where the address was given by the Mayor's Chaplain, the Rev Dale Carmichael, and a video prepared by Blandford Town Council was displayed on screen. Taking part were Blandford Garrison Chaplain, the Rev Kenneth Adolphe, Blandford RBL branch chair Terry Clarkson, members of the Dorset Rural Music School, Blandford Garrison Commander Col John Davies,

representatives of Blandford youth organisations, the Very Rev Monsignor Jamieson of Blandford Catholic Church, and joint Mayor's Chaplain the Rev Emma Carmichael. There was a retiring collection for the Poppy Appeal, and afterwards refreshments were served in the Corn Exchange by members of SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

December 2021

Pearl theme marks home’s anniversary RESIDENTS and team members at Colten Care's Whitecliffe House in Blandford marked the 30th anniversary of its opening by adopting a pearl theme. They planted a pearl rose bush in their garden and staged a party with pearl-inspired table decorations and gifts. As well as sampling a homebaked anniversary cake with sugar pearl balls, the fun included a high tea and a residents' choir performing popular tunes including Singing in the Rain. Donning yellow hats and umbrellas to mimic the famous street scene in the musical, the resident singers were conducted by Colten Care's music and arts partner Fiona Pritchard and accompanied on the piano by fellow musician and companionship team member Caroline Pugh. Colten Care's executive chairman Ian Hudson and the operations manager for Whitecliffe House Peter Doyle joined in the festivi-

ties and, along with resident Lois Ramsden, helped to plant the pearl rose outside. Other guests at the party included three members of staff who were presented with bouquets in recognition of their 52 years' service between them - healthcare assistants Cheryl Jay and Bernadette Stayner have worked at the home for 17 and 21 years respectively, while domestic assistant Pat Johnson has been there for 16. Home manager Chris Lee said: "The anniversary theme was so appropriate. Whitecliffe is truly a pearl of a care home with a wonderful atmosphere and a proper homely feel. We have a great team devoted to ensuring our residents are extremely happy." Resident and retired physiotherapist Coralie Jackson, who attended the official opening of Whitecliffe House as a visitor back in 1991, said: "I'm pleased to say I have made the correct decision by making Whitecliffe House my home."

Whitecliffe House resident Lois Ramsden and Colten Care's executive chairman Ian Hudson cut the anniversary cake which was decorated with sugar pearl balls.

With their thankyou bouquets are long-serving team members, from left: healthcare assistant Cheryl Jay domestic assistant Pat Johnson and healthcare assistant Bernadette Stayner.

The 30th anniversary of Whitecliffe House is marked with the planting of a pearl rose bush. On hand to help are, from left: companionship team leader Debbie Easter, resident Lois Ramsden, home manager Chris Lee, Colten Care's executive chairman Ian Hudson, Whitecliffe gardener Joanne Barker and operations manager Peter Doyle.

December 2021

Now internet firm heading for town THE local company which has and around the bypass. spent the last ten years develop"Phase one has been getting the ing broadband for rural areas and infrastructure down the Trailway has taken high-speed fibre-optic and we are now expanding into broadband to some of the most phase two with the first residenhard-to-reach areas around tial connections." Blandford He said the has now set future phases of its sights on work will include the town the town centre itself. and all busiShrotonnesses and resbased idents will be Wessex able to benefit Internet is from a connecalready protion. viding servThe company, ices to busiwhich was a nesses on finalist in the the outskirts South West of the town Regional Rural Wessex Internet managing director Hector on Sunrise Business Gibson Fleming. Business Awards for Park and to Best Rural Innovation, is continThe Blandford School campus on uing to expand its 100-strong the Milldown, and will in the new workforce and is one of the year be starting to fill in the gaps broadband providers using fundand offer services to residents ing from Dorset Council's Rural and businesses in between. Gigabit top-up scheme to Managing director Hector Gibson extend its network to rural comFleming, who was brought up in munities. Shroton, launched the business It also won the contract with with his father James in a bid to Dorset Council to deliver full-fibre bring better broadband to rural to over 60 community buildings communities and focused initially under the Getting Building Fund on providing wireless broadband allocation from Dorset Local to villages and hamlets around Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the family farm. and in Somerset was awarded It has since moved on to fullthe contract from Connecting fibre broadband, and Hector Devon and Somerset (CDS) to said: "We are now pushing from deliver full-fibre broadband to the outside into the middle and South Somerset as part of a have already reached parts of three-year government subthe town on the business park sidised programme.

Appeal launched for airfield memorial AN APPEAL has been launched for funds to restore the Tarrant Rushton airfield memorial which honours all who served with 298 and 644 Squadron RAF C Squadron Glider Pilot Regiment and all those who operated from Tarrant Rushton airfield. Aaron Cobb, on his Just Giving page, says: "As a serving member of HM Forces, I volunteered to assist in the restoration of Tarrant Rushton airfield memorial, liaise with those who had served there and assist the current volunteers in the general maintenance of the memorial.

"We soon realised after years of deterioration that the memorial needed some serious upkeep to preserve and prolong the memory of those who have served there. "Paving slabs need re-laying and concreting. The memorial needs repointing and the fence and bench need repainting, to name just a few jobs." He has asked for donations to go towards building materials to rectify the damage and restore the memorial back to a suitable standard so that all can walk on and up to the memorial safely.

The view west from Hod Hill. Picture: Neil Bell.

Hill off danger list HOD Hill, the iron age hillfort above Stourpaine, is one of four in Dorset which have been removed from the Heritage at Risk register thanks to an award of funding from Historic England to the National Trust's Hillforts and Habitats project. Volunteers have carried out condition monitoring surveys for archaeology and undertaken scrub and rough grassland management and erosion repair work to reverse damage which had placed it on the at-risk register. National Trust archaeologist, Dr Martin Papworth, said: "The news that these wonderful places are now in fine condition is a great outcome for all those who have worked together to deliver the project. "Now visitors to Hod Hill, Pilsdon Pen, Coney's and Lambert's Castles can see and better appreciate the ancient qualities of these high fortress settlements while enjoying nature and panoramic landscapes that surround them.''

December 2021

Tony bows out after 35 years AFTER giving 35 years of his life to the Blandford Fashion Museum, now is the time for Tony Dando to part company with the amazing enterprise. He and his late wife, Barbara, were part of the fabric of the building, of the organisation and

Tony Dando

of all of those who work in and have been involved in this unique centre of excellence. He drove the coach which took Betty Penny and her Cavalcade teams of models all around the countryside, often staying away for two or three nights at a time.

Fashion Museum bids a poignant farewell Tony was their 'roadie', providing music to match the eras of each costume on parade. Similarly he piped music throughout the museum at its inception in 1996. For two years before that he built plinths, decorated, installed speakers and prepared the building for its opening. Now, in the museum's 25th anniversary year, he has many responsibilities of security and maintenance, with knowledge and skills in constant demand. Barbara was Betty's PA. She became a chronicler of the times in which they lived, worked, raised funds for and developed the wonderful piece of social history we know today. Tony started life in Bristol and left at 14 to spend 18 months in the BOAC College studying aircraft technology. Feeling unsuited to the work, he left to take up a piecework position at the Brickworks. This was hard, hot and dangerous work, making bricks, firing them and removing them from the kiln. However, he stayed for six years, leaving to join the Army as a Signals Dispatch Rider in the Royal Signals Regiment in 1962, and after basic training at Catterick Camp was posted first to Blandford Camp and Berlin two years later. During his three years there he learnt to speak German, became friendly with local German families, finding it an easy and enjoyable life driving a khaki VW Beetle of which he became very fond. Back in England he met his wife Barbara, leaving the Army in 1970, and they settled in

Blandford where he joined Bere Regis Coaches as a driver. This was still the Cold War era and he joined the Royal Observer Corps on monitoring duties for seven years as a chief observer, responsible for eight others in a fall-out shelter in Bere Regis acting as a nuclear monitoring post. This was disbanded at the end of the Cold War. Joining Betty Penny's Cavalcade of Costumes in 1992 was to enter years full of fun, laughter and comradeship, staying in every kind of place from ordinary households to royal residences. They had huge audiences wherever they went. Once, he says, Prince Charles was there during a show at Kensington Palace. All ticket proceeds went to charity, and Barry, one of his two sons, was a model. Moving to the museum, in his words, "changed everything". He also ran Blandford Scouts for 25 years, and from 2012 to 2017, helped to run the Disability Action Group, managing their new premises and chairing the charity from 2012 until his retirement from there in 2017. Now he is moving to live with his daughter Katya in Bournemouth, mainly at the insistence of his six-year-old grandson. He will be sorely missed and at the present time we cannot imagine the Museum without his reassuring and steady presence. Everyone involved will be joining me in saying thank you for everything he has given to the community and to us, and good luck and happiness for the next stage of his busy life by the sea. Carole Fornachon

Guess the object

The latest donation at the Blandford Fashion Museum. Answers on a postcard to the museum (hand deliveries to the tearoom door in The Plocks), which hosted its annual Christmas raffle on Saturday November 27 in the hope of a valuable contribution to the £114,000 restoration project which is now underway.

December 2021

Station work may stop without more helpers THE restoration and maintenance of Spetisbury station on the North Dorset Trailway may come to a halt if more volunteers do not come forward to help at the regular work parties which have been in operation since 2012. A reduction in the number of helpers with the Spetisbury Station Project Group, a community interest company working under licence from Dorset Council to preserve and enhance the former station, has led to the small team remaining struggling to keep up its usual high standard. Project manager Dean Cockwell said: "Without regular work parties the station will soon revert to

the overgrown, untidy state in which we found it. "The volunteers have excavated the remains of the station buildings and signal box, cleared decades worth of vegetation and created a pleasant green, wildlife-friendly space whilst keeping its station heritage alive with replica railway items. Our aim is to provide a small café on one of the platforms which will serve as both a community hub and a refreshment stop for Trailway users." Anyone who would like to help is invited to see their website at spetisburystationproject.co.uk or contact him at deancockwell@ntlworld.com.

Bowls stalwart steps down after 50 years MEMBERS of Charlton Marshall's Short Mat Bowls Club have paid tribute to their chairman, Pete Coombes (pictured), who has stepped down from the village hall management team after nearly 50 years' service at the age of nearly 70. Carol Crease said: "Pete joined the management team when he was 18 and has not only helped run the bowling, but throughout the years has helped to organise (and in many cases run on his own) very many dance evenings, discos, tabletop sales, etc, to raise money for the upkeep of the old hall, and more

recently made sterling efforts in securing donations towards the building of the new hall. "As a key holder he has always been the first person to open the hall and the last to lock up for the bowling club, is often called out at all hours to see to alarms, as well as acting as general maintenance man. "Born and bred in Blandford and known to many local people, he used to redecorate the old hall on an annual basis and celebrated both his wedding reception and retirement party there."

The Teddy Rocks Crew in the Dorset Tractor Tug.

Teddy tugs a tractor and pulls in the cash THE Teddy 20 team were invited by local gym, R Lukins Fitness, to attend the Dorset Tractor Tug to raise money for Teddy20, along with Weldmar Hospice and Diverse Abilities charities. Teams of six had to pull an eight-ton tractor across 50 meters as fast as they could for their chosen charity, and Blandford Fire Station, Teddy Rocks Crew, Rob 'n' Tug and Camel Tow all turned out for the cause. A spokesman said: "It was a wonderful day that brought lots of people together and just when we thought it couldn't get any better the winning team decided to split the figure between all three charities." Teddy 20 will be bringing Santa back to town this year and is already in talks about the Easter party for 2022 - details can be found on their Facebook page @TheTeddy20 and website teddy20.org. International bands are lining up to play at Teddy Rocks, set to return to Charisworth Farm between April 29 and May 1 after postponing its last two annual festivals due to the pandemic. Organisers have confirmed that US rock band Eagles of Death Metal will headline the three-day festival which will also feature Skindred, Newton Faulkner, The Skints, Terrorvision, The Wurzels, Gaz Brookfield and The Snuts. Further information at teddyrocks.co.uk. A CHARITY sewing day for breast cancer saw the creation of dozens of pillows and a quilt which have been donated to Dorset County Hospital. Jacqui Robertson, Dorset area representative for the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, said: "In conjunction with Sophia Palmer, from Sew Jessalli Sewing School in Glenmore Business Centre, Blandford, the Dorset members of the QGBI held the event at which 60 heart pillows and a small pink ribbon quilt were made, and were handed over to the breast cancer nurses at the Dorset County Hospital in November."

The View from the Hill by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk

Y son Will, who is working in Rutland, was a couple of weeks ago driving a huge 12m wide drill which was used to sow wheat direct into untilled ground, much as we have been doing here with our 6m drill for the first time this year. An indication of the difference between the soft limestone soils of Rutland and the abrasive flint and chalk soils of the Dorset escarpment is the number of hectares you can sow with a single set of discs, which are the only part of the machine that engage with the soil when no-tilling. The Horsch drill in Rutland has sown over 3,500ha on its original discs, whereas our Sky drill has already had to have a disc change after less than 600 hectares. At nearly £70 per disc it

Young hill sheep learning how to eat nuts.

December 2021 is quite pricey, though at least we are not wearing out any other machines. A no-tilled seedbed can look pretty awful on the day of sowing, not quite what we've been used to in the past, where we would prepare a perfect seedbed, and then drive the drill all over it, creating wheel marks and sometimes over-working it. Walk away for a couple of weeks, and it can look a lot happier, complete with a beautiful network of spiders' webs, glistening in the early-morning sun when just at the right angle. It takes a bit of getting used to sowing into such a mess, a bit of an act of faith. It is very disappointing that we have had to use more slug pellets this autumn than ever before, a bit contra the supposedly eco flavour of moving into direct drilling, mainly for soil health reasons. However our agronomist tells us that it is a very bad year for slugs following all types of cultivation, even ploughing. Let's hope that beetle and other slug predator numbers will build in time, as the soil sorts itself out without constantly being unbalanced by cultivations or insecticides. Will the spiders' webs discourage aphids from bringing barley yellow dwarf virus into the crop? As the crops emerge in neat lines in spite of the trash on the sur-

Farming, quad bike-style, in the hill country. face, I start to believe that perhaps our mad policy change might just work. Having banged on about the importance of purely grass-fed livestock to anyone who will listen over the last few months, I was brought down to earth with a bump at half-term by our friends who farm sheep on the Scottish border in Northumberland. They are a proper hill farm, with little more than quad bikes and collie dogs to do all the work. I was blown away when they explained to me how they have to teach every generation of new hoggs to eat sheep nuts - their lives can depend on this early life lesson. This farm often gets a good dose of snow in winter and if they haven't taught their stock, who spend all year on the hill, that when the grass is buried under a blanket of snow they must eat nuts, then they will surely perish. The lessons mean they have to be denied fresh grass, so they are shut in a shed with some dry silage and are offered nuts twice daily, until the majority of them come up to feed. It can take 10 days - sheep are stubborn creatures. Last winter this farm suffered several months of snow and what

kept the sheep going was the quad bike adapted with tracks to keep it on top of the snow, towing a Snacker, which drops small piles of nuts as you drive along. Years ago hill farmers would store hay in containers strategically placed in sheltered spots or 'stells', and struggle out daily with an unreliable snowmobile, to throw some hay around. The tracks on the bike are a game changer. Seeing as this episode will hit readers' doormats shortly before the Christmas and New Year hiatus, it must be a good time to reflect briefly on another year passing, with its trials and tribulations such as labour shortages and unhelpful trade deals, not to mention fertiliser and fuel price hikes. Best consigned to history perhaps, maybe better for the constitution to look forward to the new year with a dose of optimism. Let's face it, you can't really be a farmer without being an optimist. So often accused of being moaners (OK, realists), we wouldn't plant crops or breed more animals if we didn't believe the sun will come up tomorrow, warm rain will fall at some point, and everything will be lovely! Happy Christmas!

December 2021

Flood tour beats the deluge THREE days before the Hallowe'en floods in Blandford, a group of 40 people gathered in the Ham car park to join a tour looking at the town's flood defences. It was led by Environment Agency officers, Henry Quinney, Flood Resilience Engagement Officer, and Mike North, from the local operational team. Joy Reynolds, chair of the Blandford Town Museum, explained that it had been arranged as part of the Museum's Stour Valley Project. The project is looking at the way the River Stour has influenced the development of Blandford and neighbouring villages. Blandford has a long history of flooding and

some of the people present could remember the floods of 1979 when boats were paddled through the Market Place. Mr Quinney said the disastrous floods that year triggered the decision to build the flood defences in Blandford. He and Mr North explained how the Environment Agency constantly monitor river levels upstream and can predict when unusually high flows of water are going to hit The closed flood gates at the Ham car park. Blandford. They normally have several Brook pumping station in Langton Road car hours' notice to issue a warning that the park. gates in the lower Ham car park are going to be closed, completing the flood barrier that Henry and Mike explained how the runs from the bank in the water meadows Pimperne Brook is usually dry during the and becomes the wall across the Ham car summer but starts to flow in late autumn as park and behind properties in the Market the water table on Cranborne Chase rises. Place and East Street. When the Stour is high and the Pimperne They emphasised how important it is that stream cannot drain into the Stour, the people observe the warning notices to avoid pumping station pumps flows from the brook finding their vehicle floating in Christchurch back into the Stour. It also pumps surface harbour. water from the Ham car park, and in the The group walked over Mortain Bridge, along case of a powercut, the generator at the the river through the Stour Meadows and pumping station keeps the station operating back over the Preetz Bridge to the Pimperne as it should.

Christmas services and concerts Sunday December 5: 3pm Salvation Army Carol Concert, Blandford Methodist Church Sunday December 12: 3pm Traditional Carol Service at Langton Long 6pm Carols on the Green at Badbury Heights, Blandford Wednesday December 15: 7pm Civic Carol Service, Blandford Evangelical Church Saturday December 18: 4.30pm Carols Round the Tree, St Peter's Church, Pimperne Sunday December 19: 9.30am Family Crib Service, Charlton Marshall Parish Church 10am Family Christmas Carols at Blandford Evangelical Church 10.45am Carol Service at Blandford Methodist Church 4pm Carols by Candlelight, Spetisbury Parish Church 6pm Carols by Candlelight at Blandford Parish Church 6pm Carol Service/Nine Lessons, Holy Trinity Church, Stourpaine Tuesday December 21: 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight, Blandford St Mary Parish Church Friday December 24: 10am Holy Communion 4pm Family Christingle Service at Blandford Evangelical Church

4pm Christingle (ideal for children and families), Spetisbury Parish Church 4pm Crib Service, St Peter's Church, Pimperne 4.30pm Christingle at the Blandford Parish Church 6pm Children's Christmas Mass at Blandford Catholic Church 7.30pm Communion Service at Blandford Methodist Church (jointly with URC) 11pm Midnight Mass, St Peter's Church, Pimperne 11pm Midnight Mass, St Nicholas's Church, Durweston 11.30pm Carols + Christmas Midnight Mass at Blandford Catholic Church 11.30pm Midnight Communion at Blandford Parish Church 11.30pm Midnight Communion by Candlelight, Charlton Marshall Parish Church Saturday December 25: 9.30am Family Communion at Blandford Parish Church 9.30am Family Service, Charlton Marshall Parish Church 9.30am Christmas Communion Service, Spetisbury Parish Church 10am Christmas Mass at Blandford Catholic Church 10am Christmas Day Celebration at Blandford United Reformed Church

(jointly with Blandford Methodist Church) 10am Family Communion, Langton Long 10am Christmas Communion, Holy Trinity Church, Stourpaine 10am Christmas Day Family Service at Blandford United

December 2021

Reformed Church 10.30am Family Christmas Day Celebration at Blandford Evangelical Church Sunday December 26: 10.45am: Boxing Day Sunday Worship at Blandford Methodist Church

Death notices LITTLEWOOD OLIVE MARJORIE: (formerly of Gillingham, Dorset), at Blandford Grange Care Home, Blandford Forum on October 9, aged 92 years. Funeral Service has been held at the East Devon Crematorium (Whimple). Donations for The Alzheimer's Society or Marie Curie at funeraldirectors.uk.com or c/o Overmass & Chapple Funeral Directors, Chapple Court, Queen Street, Seaton, EX12 2RB CROCKER PAMELA JOY: On October 10, aged 89 years. Mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral service has been held at All Saints Church, Hilton. Donations for Friends of Blandford Community Hospital c/o Grassby Funeral Service, 8 Princes Street, Dorchester DT1 1TW or at grassby-funeral.co.uk DARBY SHANNON VICTOR CHARLES 'SHAN': Unexpectedly on October 11, funeral service has been held at Lesley Shand Funeral Parlour, Blandford. Donations to Cancer Research, c/o Lesley Shand 28 East Street Blandford DT11 7DR, funeraldirector.co.uk/shannondarby ANSELL EVA MAY: Passed away at Castleman House on October 11, aged 91 years. Wife of the late Gordon. Funeral service has already taken place. Donations for Dementia UK via close-funeral.co.uk or cheques payable to the charity c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel

Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. EVANS ROSALIND 'ROS': Died on October 15, aged 75 years, at Newstone House, Sturminster Newton, after a long struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Funeral service at St Mary's Church and celebration of her life has been held at Charlton Marshall Village Hall. Donations to the PSP Association online via close-funeral.co.uk or cheques c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. LAWRENCE TANYA JANE (NEE MAYO): On October 18, at home, aged 57 years. Wife of Brendon and daughter of Gillian and the late William Mayo. Mum of Carly and Cameron and sister of Daren. A celebration of her life will be held in spring 2022 at Durweston. CROW KATHLEEN ANITA (KATE): On October 28 at Larks Leas, Blandford, aged 90 years. Mum to Mark. Funeral service held at Poole Crematorium, donations for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, online to close-funeral.co.uk or cheques c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. WINGATE-SAUL CHARLIE: A thanksgiving service to celebrate Charlie's life was held at Milton Abbey DT11 0BZ on Friday November 19.

December 2021

Honour spotlight for civic stalwart TWO days before Blandford's Town Mace Bearer David Jardine took centre stage for much of the war memorial rededication ceremony at the Corn Exchange, he was the recipient of the Imperial Service Medal at Blandford Camp. The medal, which rewards long and faithful service to the Civil Service, was presented by Blandford Garrison Support Unit Commanding Officer, Lieut-Col Richard (Dicky) Dyer following recommendation by the Ministry of Defence and approval by the Queen. Mr Jardine retired from the Civil Service in 2019, and the presentation should have taken place at that time but was postponed due to the pandemic. His retirement followed more than 25 years of service in a variety of roles to support the units of Blandford Camp, for the majority

of the time as an integral part of the Quartermaster's department, providing logistical support and assisting with all aspects of facilities management for the Garrison. It was presented with grateful thanks for his support to the service personnel serving at Blandford Garrison, for his role as a key team member within the Quartermaster's department and for his continued service to the Blandford community. Despite his retirement, Mr Jardine continues to support the Armed Forces, having had a long association with the Royal British Legion in a number of roles, including that of appeal organiser. He has been an active member of the Blandford and District Civic Society, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the town silver and has held the role of Mace Bearer for many years.

Chef’s specials AWARD-winning chef and food writer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has shown his support for social enterprise, Local Food Links, by providing some recipes to be used on local school menus. The journalist and campaigner on food and environment issues has supported Local Food Links, which supplies most local schools, since it launched in 2006 and the team are thrilled to be able to share some of his recipes with their young discerning customers. The two recipes chosen are gardener's pie - similar to shepherd's pie but more veg-centric - and Boston bean and squash stew, a vegetarian option and wonderful winter warmer.

Chief executive Caroline Morgan said: "We are incredibly grateful to Hugh for allowing us to use some of his recipes on our school menus. Children are very aware of making healthy choices and eating well and Hugh is fully supportive of feeding children well and highlighting local and seasonal produce, which perfectly describes our own aims and objectives." Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said: "If children are getting healthy, homecooked meals at school it encourages them to make informed decisions about food elsewhere, so I was more than happy to offer two of my favourite recipes when Local Food Links asked. I hope the children agree!"

Town Mace Bearer David Jardine receives his Imperial Service Medal from Blandford Garrison Support Unit Commanding Officer, Lieut-Col Richard Dyer.

Jenny Kretz, Home-Start founding trustee, from Child Okeford, with newly qualified volunteers.

December 2021

Charity celebrates 10-year milestone HOME-START North Dorset celebrated 10 years of delivering support to vulnerable families at a gathering in the barn at Hinton St Mary, loaned to them by their patron Valerie Pitt-Rivers. Attending the lunch were representatives of many of the organisations that work with the charity, which has benefited a total of 550 families and 1,120 children over the years. Several volunteers, two of whom had completed 10 years' service Vi Westaway from Gillingham and Barbara Turnbull from Shaftesbury - were given special certificates by the Deputy Lieutenant Helena Conibear on behalf of Michael Dooley, High Sheriff of Dorset. The charity is now making plans for the next 10 years, with another group of nine newly qualified volunteers joining the team. One said that one of the most important things she had learnt through the course was that, ultimately, we are all human and all need help at times.

Anyone in need of support with a child under five can contact Home-Start at their office on 01258 473038. Anyone wanting to find out more about a new course for volunteers starting in the new year, giving a donation or becoming a business supporter can call them or email hello@home-startnorthdorset.co.uk.

Repair experts are in demand VOLUNTEERS are sought to help restart the Blandford Repair Café which is planned to reopen on December 5, providing a place where people can bring broken and damaged items and have them fixed or be offered advice on how to fix them. Amateur and experienced electricians, handy people, carpenters, engineers, bike experts and craftspeople who can spare two hours to help are invited to email emmadesaram@yahoo.com.

December 2021

Happy ending for short story contest A TOTAL of £575 in prize money was offered in the annual Rotary Short Story competition which has been in progress for the last six months and concluded with a finals evening in the Parish Centre. Judges Pam Fudge, Sandra Crook and Nick Allen for prose and Sarah Acton for poetry had already made their decision, and shortlisted candidates read their stories for the audience, or in some cases had their stories read by Sally Lester-Shaw, before the results were announced. Musicians Phil Lester-Shaw and Colin Fletcher played Mozart and Schubert in the background during intervals. In the under-18 category the winner was Orin Harley with 'The Dark', runner-up Keziah Rigby with 'The Bottom Pecking Bird' and third Ronnie-Lyn Tovell with 'The Gluten Free Ghost'. A special award went to Corey Tovell for 'The Farm', written when he

was only five years old. In Flash Fiction, Lisa Fitzgerald's 'The Seeking of Angels' was judged the winner, with Cathryn Thomas's 'Angel Gabriel' runnerup and David Anley's 'Hit and Run' third. The poetry prize and £100 went for the third year running to David Bamber of Dorchester with 'Winter Sunset at Bushy Pond', with runner-up Ann Sydney ('Level Playing Field') and third Mary White ('Woodpecker Willow'). In the Open Prose category, last year's Flash Fiction winner Adrienne Howell with 'Waiting for News' was the recipient of The Mayor's Cup and £200, with Elizabeth Meyer's 'Lone Swan' runner-up and Carole Jardine's 'The Bridge' third. Organiser Adrian Ford said: "There were so many different levels of enjoyment in the audience which made me proud of what we'd achieved. From the proud parents of the (now) six-

Open Prose winner Adrienne Howell with Rotary president Derek Andrews, left, and Mayor of Blandford Lee Hitchings, who presented her with The Mayor's Cup. year-old Corey Tovell, to the other children who stepped up eagerly to read their stories, to the aspiring writers who actually got recognition for their writing perhaps for the first time, and the seasoned scribblers who took such great delight in performing to an audience once again. "Poignant, contemporary points were made so sympathetically,

and the hilarity relieved the tension with some clever flash stories, poems that made your eyes well up and sent shivers down your spine, and the beauty of the pastoral. "I have organised seven of these in Blandford and two at Upton, Poole. This was by far the best of them all, and all those performing should be applauded."

December 2021

Curtain up on movies

Friends and other sponsors with year six, house captains and head teacher Daniel Carter, right

A landmark day as school launches new games zone PUPILS at Archbishop Wake Primary School in Blandford welcomed members of AFC Bournemouth women's team to their playing field for the official opening and naming of their new multi-use games area, the Wake Zone. The official opening - some time after the new facility came into use at the start of the autumn term was arranged to thank those who had supported the project, including the Friends of the school, the Rotary Club of Blandford, Howdens, A-G-I Grass and the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT), of which the school is part. Head teacher Daniel Carter invited Rosie Pitcher and Annabelle Amey, chair and vice-chair of the school council, to announce the school's thanks and - with a loud drum roll from the entire school gathered on the playing field - the name chosen by the pupils, and the school's house captains, Alice Parker, Leo White, Emily Traynor and Franklin Butler, to officially cut the ribbon. Last year, despite Covid restrictions, the Friends were able to raise over £7,000 via a just-giving page

and donated a further £10,000 towards the facility, which provides all-year use of part of the playing field. The whole school completed a sponsored walk around the playing field, and the Doyle family added £500 when a young family member and school pupil did his own sponsored walk. Mr Carter said that when he first came to the school two years ago, he had been amazed to find the extensive landscaped grounds. But the limited amount of hard surfacing made it difficult at play and other times when pupils needed to be outdoors. One of the first things he had done was to seek permission for the new multi-use area which has changed PE lessons and playtimes forever. It has come at a time when physical education has become even more important for all children since lockdown, because of its great impact on both physical and mental health. Following the opening, year groups took it in turns to enjoy a session of PE and training with the women footballers and their manager Steve Cuss.

BRYANSTON School has relaunched its screening of films at the Coade Hall which were suspended during the covid lockdown, and are back with a series of classic Christmas movies. Twelve Christmas films will be shown on North Dorset's biggest cinema screen, with full surround sound, between December 19 and 24, with matinee and evening screenings, starting with a 'Sing-a-Long Frozen' on Sunday December 19 and ending with 'The Polar Express' on Friday December 24. Included are 'The Nativity', 'Arthur Christmas', 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', 'Home Alone', 'White Christmas', 'Love Actually', 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'The Greatest Showman' and 'The Holiday'. There will also be two live screenings from the Royal Opera House featuring performances by The Royal Ballet of 'The Nutcracker' on December 10 and The Royal Opera of Puccini's 'Tosca' on December 15.

Text help with child worries PARENTS and carers of children aged five or under can now access support via ParentLine, a new confidential text messaging service provided by Dorset HealthCare's Health visiting team. Help is offered to those needing guidance about a child's health and development, with advice on a range of topics such as breastfeeding, bottle feeding, weaning, sleep, toileting, minor illness, behaviour and parenting. Simply text 07312 277162 to receive a response within one working day.

December 2021

Pimperne’s poppy tribute

Richard Johnson, Bryanston's head of swimming (far left) with pupils after their successful Solent swim, including 14year-old Max Leigh (second left) who completed the swim in 1 hour, 8 minutes, and squad captain Blaise Lanphere (fifth from left) and outgoing captain Fiona Murr.

Solent swim for charity TEN members of the swimming team at Bryanston School completed a challenging swim across the Solent to raise over £5,000 for Level Water, a national children's charity. The pupils, aged between 14 and 18, successfully completed the 6km crossing from Fort Gilkicker near Gosport to Ryde Sands on the Isle of Wight in two hours after many months of intensive open-water training at locations along the Dorset coast. Bryanston's head of swimming, Richard Johnson, said: "This is a

stunning achievement for every member of the team. The Solent is an iconic stretch of water and presents a real test of endurance and a demanding challenge for even the most accomplished swimmers, as the swell, tidal currents and water traffic can be very disorientating. “All our swimmers deserve a great deal of credit for their diligent approach to training and for rising to the challenge with such determination and good humour." The event was planned and

supervised by experienced event organisers, Solent Swim, with kayakers accompanying each pupil and RIB boats providing full safety cover throughout the swim. The team also benefited from the experience of environmental campaigner and swimming record breaker Oly Rush during one of the training sessions. Anyone wishing to support the fundraising by the Bryanston Swim Squad should visit justgiving.com/fundraising/brysolentswim2021.

Village hall on the cards at last AFTER years of waiting and a failed attempt to provide a village hall for Blandford St Mary at the time of the Blandford Heights development, plans have at last been submitted with Dorset Council for a facility off Roman Avenue on the new Bellway Homes estate. It is planned on a 1,300 square metre site in the western section of the housing scheme and adjacent to an open space, which features his-

toric lime trees, with a games area nearby to the north-east. The application is made by Blandford St Mary Parish Council, for whom the plans have been drawn up by Morgan Carey Architects to include a main hall, kitchen, office, multi-purpose room, toilets and storage space with heating using air source pumps and solar panels on the roof.

THE children of Pimperne Primary School remembered members of our armed forces when each class, from Reception to Year 6, spent time designing and creating poppies for the school's new flower beds. Learning around Remembrance Day was linked to their current personal, social and health education topic of Celebrating Difference, resulting in different designs which worked well together. In addition, Year 6 joined the Remembrance Service at St Peter's Church in Pimperne, laying the school wreath to ensure they 'do not forget' the sacrifices that others make for all.

Some of the poppies made for the Pimperne school flower bed.

Device find shuts roads THE Mortain bridge and West Street, between Blandford's Marsh & Ham car park and the Bryanston roundabout, were closed for several hours on the afternoon of November 3 when a suspicious long metal object, believed to be an explosive device, was found by metal detectors searching in the river Stour. Police placed a 100-metre cordon around the area until the EOD could attend and assess the item, which was found not to be an ordnance device and no danger to the public.

28 Every Monday 2-4 and Thursday 10-1: Kurling, Winterborne Whitechurch Village hall, details 01258 881416 Every Monday and Friday: Lunchtime Bingo, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, Blandford, 12 noon Every third Monday: Blandford U3A Scrabble, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 2 to 4.30pm (and every third Monday of the month): new members welcome Every third Tuesday: The Macular Degeneration Society, Royal British Legion, Church Lane,11.30am to 1pm Every Tuesday: Little Hands Mother and Toddler Group, Okeford Fitzpaine village hall, 9 to 11am, book in advance through Little Hands Facebook Group or call 01258 861511 Blandford Citizens Advice, 10am to 3pm at the Parish Centre in The Tabernacle. At other times call 01747 835016, the free Dorset Advice Line on 0800 144 88 48 or email advice-nd@centralca.org.uk Sing Together, 2.30 to 3.30pm, Blandford Connect Centre, Heddington Drive, Blandford Every Tuesday and Friday: Methodist Lunch Club, bookings 07799 516 735 Every Wednesday: Blandford Community Fridge, Blandford Youth & Community Centre, Milldown Road, open 9 to 11am Methodist Church coffee morning, 10am to noon Rokit community choir, Methodist Church, Blandford, 7.30pm Every Thursday: ‘Messy Mice’ Free Baby and Toddler group, 9.30 to 11am Okeford Fitzpaine CE Primary school Hall (term time only) Square Dancing, Spetisbury Village Hall, 2 to 4pm, details 01202 731012 Every second Thursday: Folk Night, The Saxon Inn, Child Okeford, 8pm Every Friday: Durweston village coffee mornings, village hall,

What’s on this month ARRANGEMENTS may change in the light of any further announcements relating to the pandemic. Please check with the organisers if in doubt. Please also let us know by email to editor @forumfocus.co.uk or phone to 01258 459346 of any events going ahead, either virtually or in person. 10am to 12 noon Every first and third Friday: Bridge ( U3A) in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 2 - 5pm details 01258 450544 Every third Saturday: Veterans Hub, Poppy Stables, Legion House, Church Lane, Blandford, 10am to 2pm Every Sunday: Blandford Methodist Church service 10.45am, book a place by phone on 07799 516 735 DECEMBER Wednesday December 1: Is It Wheely Wednesday? Mystery morning cycle ride from somewhere near Stur - details 01258 860157 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Visitor Centre, Bournemouth Road, Blandford St Mary, 7pm Magnum Carnival Club Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6.45pm, eyes down 7.30pm Thursday December 2: BSO On Your Doorstep - Music of Reflection, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, details 01258 475137 or artsreach.co.uk Friday December 3: Blandford Yuletide Festival, 5 to 8.30pm; free town centre parking (time limits apply) Friday to Sunday December 3 to 5: Garden of Delights, artists' hand-made presents to buy, Springhead, Fontmell Magna, SP7 ONU, 10am to 4.30pm, enquiries 01258 456285 Saturday December 4: Small Business Saturday and free town centre parking (time limits apply) Christmas Coffee Morning, Child Okeford Village Hall, 10am to 1pm: to book a stall call 01258

861055 Coffee and Lunch Christmas Fair and raffle, for the Salisbury-Sudan Medical Link, Tarrant Keyneston village hall, 11am to 1pm Pop-Up Market and Café, The Old Grainstore Emporium and The Pantry, Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford, 12 to 6pm Sunday December 5: Garage sale, supporting the Blandford food bank and Blandford Town Museum, The Model House, Bournemouth Road, Blandford St Mary, 10am to 4pm, details 07971 525970 Blandford Repair Cafe, 11.30am to 1.30pm, Old Grainstore Emporium, Shaftesbury Lane Pimperne Christmas Fair and Christmas shop, Pimperne village hall, 10.30am to 3.30pm, free entry, refreshments, raffle Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir present A Christmas Baroque, Blandford Parish Church, 3.30pm Monday December 6: Blandford Floral Society meets Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm, Sally Taylor Christmas Capers Panda Pre-school Christmas Bingo, The Royal British Legion, Blandford, eyes down 7.30pm Wednesday December 8: Christmas Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6pm, eyes down 7.30pm Dorset Moviola presents 'Dream Horse', Fontmell Magna village hall, 7 for 7.30pm Friday December 10: Wessex Acoustic Folk Christmas Show with Jez Lowe & Bad Pennies with Benny Graham, Royal British Legion, 8pm, call 01202 732239 to book or see wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

December 2021 Live screening of The Royal Ballet's 'Nutcracker', Coade Hall, Bryanston, bryanston.co.uk/events Amadou Diagne and Cory Seznec present 'Touki - Rights of Passage', Winterborne Stickland village hall, 7.30pm, details 01258 880920 or artsreach.co.uk Friday and Saturday December 10 and 11: Madcap Productions present 'Aladdin', Ansty village hall Saturday December 11: Lions Craft Fair, Blandford Corn Exchange, 9.30am to 2.30pm Tarrant Crafters Christmas Fayre, Tarrant Monkton & Launceston village hall, 11am to 4pm Christmas Flower Festival, St Mary's Church, Winterborne Stickland, from 2pm, free entry. Refreshments available Wednesday December 15: Magnum Carnival Club Christmas Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6.45pm, eyes down 7.30pm Live screening of The Royal Opera's 'Tosca', Coade Hall, Bryanston School, see bryanston.co.uk/events Saturday December 18: Christmas fair at Bryanston Club CIC, 12 to 5pm, all proceeds to Durweston school; Mrs Santa's grotto (tickets only, 12 to 2pm); carols in the beer garden (3 to 5pm); local singer Ashley Day (8.30 to 11pm), to book bryanstonclub1@gmail.com Sunday December 19: Bobs Monthly Quiz at Bryanston Club. Book your team in bryanstonclub1@gmail.com Sunday to Friday December 19 to 24: Classic Christmas Films, Coade Hall, Bryanston, see bryanston.co.uk/events Monday December 20: Strictly Come Tea Dancing, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30 to 4.30pm, details 07939 030875 Saturday December 25: Christmas Day Friday December 31: New Year's Eve at Bryanston Club CIC - Live band, doors open 7:30pm. Families welcome!