Sherborne Times February 2017

FEBRUARY 2017 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

LOST AND FOUND with antiques restorer and artist Edward Oliver

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME

F

unny how some places feel like home. A house is nothing more than a building of function, but a home… Home is a state of mind, a sense, a foundation, a place to love and be loved, a place to long for and return to.

It’s hard to quantify and invariably subjective – but some places just feel right.

In every such home there are objects with stories to tell. Our own battledamaged kitchen table serves as something of an anchor, an archive, an old friend. It bears the scars of marauding children, evenings with friends and a disgruntled old cat, long since passed. Every wine stain, pen mark and gouge is a fond reminder and record. Occasionally, in moments of merciless efficiency, I consider rubbing it down – but each new etch only strengthens my resolve.

This month, we share a coffee huddled around the log burner, with antiques restorer and artist Edward Oliver. From his crumbling, cave-like workshop and showroom on Sherborne’s Trendle Street, Edward rescues beautiful vintage finds and, with a skilful hand, prepares them for the next chapter in their long silent story.

Have a great month.

Glen Cheyne, Editor editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk @sherbornetimes

Edward Oliver Bat's Head, Durdle Door

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard Sub-editor Julia Chadwick Photography Katharine Davies Feature writer Jo Denbury Print Pureprint Distribution team David Elsmore Christine Knott Sarah Morgan Roger & Mary Napper Maggie Pelly Claire Pilley Geoff Wood Contact 01935 814803 07957 496193 @sherbornetimes editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk PO Box 9170 Sherborne DT9 9DW Sherborne Times is printed on Edixion Offset, an FSC® and EU Ecolabel certified paper. It goes without saying that once thoroughly well read, this magazine is easily recycled and we actively encourage you to do so.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither Sherborne Times nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Sherborne Times does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior permission from Sherborne Times.

Additional photography: contributor’s own, Shutterstock, iStock, Alamy and Dreamstime 4 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com

Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms @SanctuaryDorset thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk

Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardeneronline.co.uk

Nicky King The Eastbury Hotel @eastbury_hotel theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Ryan Clayton Oxley Sports Centre @OxleySports oxleysc.com

Mark Lewis Symonds & Sampson @symsam symondsandsampson.co.uk

Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk

David Copp

Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkepartnership.co.uk

Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk Giles Dick-Read Reads Coffee Roasters @reads_coffee readscoffee.co.uk

Kitty Oakshott Upstairs Downstairs Interiors @updowninteriors updowninteriors.co.uk

Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk

Lisa Osman All Hallows AGA Approved Cookery School @cooksandmakers allhallowsfarmhouse.co.uk

Nick Folland Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org

Lindsay Punch Lindsay Punch Styling @stylistmum lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk

Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.)

CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk

Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com

Paul Gammage & Anita Light EweMove Sherborne @ewemoveyeovil ewemove.com John Gaye Sherborne Literary Society sherborneliterarysociety.com Robin Hague Robin James @RobinJamesAveda robin-james.co.uk Peter Henshaw & Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles @rileyscycles rileyscycles.co.uk @DCNSherborne dcn.org.uk

Tony Smith D.Hyp. GQHP. MNCH(Reg) The Sherborne Rooms thesherbornerooms.com Jane Somper Goldhill Organics @GoldhillOrganic goldhillorganics.co.uk Sally Welbourn Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Wayne Winstone Winstone’s Books @winstonebooks winstonebooks.co.uk

44 8

FEBRUARY 2016

What’s On

32 Interiors

65 Body & Mind

14 Unearthed

36 Antiques

78 Property

16 Shopping Guide

40 Gardening

86 Finance

20 Wild Dorset

44 EDWARD OLIVER

91 Tech

24 Family

53 Food & Drink

96 Literature Review

28 Pattern

62 Cycle Sherborne

98 Crossword

30 Animal Care

64 On Foot

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

Your new Audi is closer than you think

Whether you are looking for a new, approved used or demonstrator Audi, you won’t have to look far. As the only Audi approved Centre in the Somerset and Dorchester area, we are proud to represent the Audi brand right on your doorstep. To experience any car in our range from the A1 hatchback to the Q7 SUV and the all-new Q2 compact SUV just give us a call or come in and book a test drive.

It’s all part of the Yeovil Audi Diff erence.

Yeovil Audi. Look No Further.

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WHAT'S ON Listings

Sundays 5th, 19th, 26th 7.45pm

____________________________

The Man Who Was

Wednesday 1st 7.30pm

Born To Be King

Thursday 9th 2.30pm

Insight Lecture: Rock of Ages

Cheap Street Church Hall, Sherborne.

Sherborne & District

written for broadcast by Dorothy L. Sayers.

Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne,

____________________________

Photographer discusses the Land of Fire,

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne.

Talk by Revd Richard Coles who trained as a classical musician but soon found

himself playing keyboards with Jimmy

loved Designer collections.

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A Play-Cycle on the Life of Jesus Christ,

Gardeners’ Association Talk

01935 818427 / 01935 817284

DT9 3AA. Annette Beardsley, Floral

Somerville as half of the pop duo The

Wednesday 8th 7.30pm

Ice and Plants. 01935 813679

Vicar of St Mary’s Finedon? Come and

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DT9 3NL. Documentary following

farm boy to Foreign Secretary

female in 12 generations to be an

DT9 3AA. Talk by Prof. Andrew

Communards. How did he end up as the

Sherborne Flicks: The Eagle Huntress

Thursday 9th 8pm

find out! £5 from the Parish Office.

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne,

Ernest Belvin: from Devon

Wednesday 1st 2pm & 8pm

Aisholpan as she trains to be the first

Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne,

eagle hunter in Mongo lia. £6 from

Thorpe for Sherborne Historical

Behind the Veil – the Art of Islamic Persia Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne John Osborne worked for the British

Sherborne TIC.

____________________________

Council in Iran and Turkey. His lecture

Wednesday 8th 7.30pm

____________________________

Society. £5. 01935 812233

www.sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

____________________________

illustrates the development of the

ArtsLink Flicks:

Friday 10th 7pm

spectacular architecture of the mosques

The Eagle Huntress

Rotary Charity Quiz Night

and palaces of Iran. At the same time he presents the contemporary situation in

Memorial Hall, Digby Road.

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne,

the context of the country’s fascinating

sherborneartslink.org.uk.

£6 from Sherborne TIC

made into teams). Tickets £8.50 from

and significant cultural history.

____________________________

DT9 3NL. Teams of six (individuals

Sherborne TIC, to include a glass of wine

www.sherborne-dfas.org.uk

Thursday 9th 2.30pm

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Up the Garden Path

Friday 3rd 11am

Raleigh Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne

Saturday 11th 9.30am

Development of Horticulture and

Cheap St. Church, Sherborne. Sing with

Area. £5 (students £2). Tea and cake

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Snowdrop Memorial Service Cheap Street Church, Sherborne

An opportunity to remember loved ones.

All welcome. Please contact if you would like a loved one added to the Book of

and light refreshments. 01935 412074

____________________________

Talk by George Tatham on the

A Georgian Choral Extravaganza

Nurseries in and around the Sherborne

Spectra Musica! Registration, £16.

provided. 01935 812252

Saturday 11th 9am-11am

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Community Big Butty Breakfast

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Thursday 9th

Saturday 4th 2.30pm

10am-11.30am & 7.30pm-9pm

Alweston Village Hall. A free children’s

Blackmore Vale and Yeovil

Styling Events with Lindsay

National Trust Association

Punch, hosted by Clare’s

‘Montacute House, Filming,

Designer Dress Agency

Funding and Future’

Two sessions of Shape & Style advice.

Remembrance. 01305 215357

Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne. Talk

by Grahame Meaden. Revealing the perks and pitfalls of letting the cameras in. £5.

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8 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Please join us for a glass of bubbles and personal styling advice. All guests who

would like to shop after the presentation will receive a 10% discount on the Pre-

breakfast with the purchase of an adult breakfast (applies to children up to

10 years old). Children’s activity table, preserves and cakes, and Food Bank

collection at the hall for anyone wishing to contribute

____________________________ Sunday 12th 2pm Walking With Walter

FEBRUARY 2016 Abbey Porch, Sherborne. Join Blue

DT2 7BZ. By The Piddle Valley Players.

Sherborne Folk Band workshop

Raleigh’s historic footsteps from the

Chapel Stores, Buckland Newton and

Cheap Street, DT9 3NL. Suitable for all

Badge Guide Cindy for a stroll in

Abbey to Castleton. Whatever the

weather, no need to book, just turn up.

£10 inc. refreshments. Tickets from Old

Sherborne Methodist Church Hall, off

Piddletrethide Post Office. 07810 406470

levels and all instruments. Learn to play

____________________________

£5. www.sherbornewalks.co.uk

Wednesday 15th 2.30pm

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W.I. Meeting and Talk -

Monday 13th 9.30am-3.30pm

Sherborne Douzelage

West Country Embroiderers -

Catholic Church Hall, Westbury,

Scrappy Collage contemporary wall hanging Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne.

£15 booked in advance. New members

are welcomed. Details: Ann 0196334696

folk tunes by ear, experiment with chords and arrangements. £10 in advance/£12 on the door/£25 for all 3 workshops

www.laurelswift.co.uk Julia: 01935 817905 ____________________________

Sherborne. A talk about Sherborne

Thursday 23rd 10.30am

New members and visitors always welcome

Rose & Crown, Longburton. GR649128.

____________________________

01935 850810

Douzelage presented by Kevin Waterfall.

Ramblers Walk

at a cost of £3, to include refreshments.

4.5miles, via Folke & Wizard Bridge.

____________________________

Saturday 18th 2pm-4.30pm

Monday 13th 2pm-3pm

Curious and Surprising Dorset

Thursday 23rd 8pm

U3A Choirs

Somerset & Dorset Family History

Talk - Russian Apocalypse: the

Guttridge will share some of the stories

Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne.

his imagination over the years. SDFHS

____________________________

“With the Sound of Singing” Cheap Street Church. A medley of songs, admission free

____________________________ Monday 13th 2pm-3pm

____________________________

Society, The Parade, Sherborne. Roger

tragedy of the last Romanovs

from across the county that have captured

Talk. £5. 01935 812233

Members: £8. Non-members: £10, inc.

Saturday 25th 6.30pm

www.sdfhs.org/events/sdfhs-events/

- a talk by local author

refreshments. Pre book: 01935 389611

‘Like a Tramp Like a Pilgrim’

____________________________

Harry Bucknall

from the sixteenth century to the present

Saturday 18th &

North Cadbury Village Hall. Tickets

Tinney’s Lane Youth Centre.

Model Railway Exhibition 2017

Tuesday 14th - Saturday 18th 7pm

07850 474085 nestawessex@gmail.com

With the Sound of Singing Cheap Street Church, Sherborne. U3A

Choirs in concert with a medley of songs day. Free entry. Collection in aid of

Sunday 19th 10am-4pm

____________________________

Digby Hall, Hound St. Sherborne.

Guys and Dolls Buckland Newton Village Hall,

____________________________ Sunday 19th 1:30pm–4:30pm

01258 475137 Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH www.stur-exchange.co.uk

from North Cadbury Village Shop

01963 440923 / 440683. In support of The Friends of St Michael’s Church

____________________________ Sunday 26th 2pm-4pm

Howard Jones

Robert Winston

Tickets: £23

Tickets: £17, £16 concessions

Wednesday 8th March, 7:30pm

Box Office:

£12, to include refreshments, available

Howard shares behind the scenes stories and reveals the inspiration behind his songs in this rare acoustic show.

Thursday 9th March, 7:30pm

Modifying Humans: Where Does Genetics Stop?

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9

WHAT'S ON Divine Union Soundbath

Fairs and Markets

Oborne Village Hall, Oborne,

____________________________

in advance Dean 01935 389655 email

Thursdays and Saturdays

____________________________

____________________________

Sherborne RFC

Country Market

1st IV Southern

Thursday mornings 9.15am-11.15am

Counties South Division

Church Hall, Digby Road

Gainsborough Park, The Terrace

____________________________

Farmers’ Market

The Slipped Stitch

Every third Friday in

pitchero.com/clubs/sherbornerfc

The Julian, Cheap St, Sherborne.

each month 9am-1pm

Saturday 11th 2.30pm Sherborne v

theslippedstitch.co.uk

Cheap Street

____________________________

Frome (H)

Saturday Antiques & Flea Market

____________________________

Saturday 4th 10-4pm

4th Saturday monthly (exc.

Saturday 18th 2.30pm

Sew a Skirt

April & December), 9am-4pm

Trowbridge v

Saturday 4th 2-4pm

Church Hall, Digby Rd

Sherborne (A)

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LA. £12 book

Pannier Market

ahiahel@live.com centreforpuresound.org

The Parade

Workshops and Classes

Call 01935 508249 or visit us to book

Improvers Crochet: C to C

____________________________

____________________________

sessions free. For more details go to

www.sherbornetouch.org or call Jimmy on 07887 800803

____________________________

Playing Fields, Sherborne DT9 5NS. ____________________________

____________________________

Saturday 4th 10am-12pm

Monthly Table Top

Improvers Spin Club

Sale and SwapShop

Sherborne Town FC

Saturday 11th 10am–4pm

Saturday 4th 10am-1pm

1st IV Toolstation Western

Continental Knitting and

Holwell Village Hall, DT9 5LL. Used

League Premier Division

books, CDs, DVDs, bric-a-brac and toys.

Fields, Sherborne DT9 5NS.

Norwegian Purl with Anniken Annis Wednesday 15th 10am-12pm Children’s workshop: sew a bookmark

items, produce & crafts, clothes, cookware,

Raleigh Grove, The Terrace Playing

Sellers: £5 per table (tables provided), set up

sherbornetownfc.com

from 9am. samantha-jane-@hotmail.co.uk

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____________________________

Saturday 4th

Thursday 15th 10am-12pm

Vintage Market

Bridport v

Children’s workshop:

Saturday 25th 8.30am-3.30pm

Sherborne Town (A)

needle felted animals

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne.

____________________________

07809 387594

Sherborne Town v

Saturday 25th 10am–4pm Dorset Button Day Plus Knit and Natter runs every Tuesday and Thursday 10am-12pm

30+ sellers of quality vintage items.

Saturday 11th

____________________________

Cribbs Friends Life (H) ____________________________

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Sport

Saturday 25th 10am-4pm

____________________________

Sherborne Town v

Oils workshop

Every Tuesday and Thursday

Clevedon Town (H)

Digby Hall, Hound Street. Combining

7.30pm–8.30pm

____________________________

composition with alla prima oil painting

Mixed Touch Rugby

Saturday 25th

with Jane Huxtable Brown. £50, £40

Sherborne Town v

Friends. sherborneartslink.org.uk

Sherborne School Floodlit Astroturf,

____________________________

Ottery Lane. DT9 6EE. Novices very welcome. £2 per session, first four

____________________________

10 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Saturday 18th

Brislington (H)

FEBRUARY 2016

Children sherborneparents.com is a new website

dedicated to promoting activities and groups for children in the Sherborne area. We need help adding new

groups and especially special events so please share your recommendations

and contacts via Facebook or mail@

sherborneparents.com. Here is a selection of activities for February:

____________________________

____________________________

Monday 13th 11am-1pm

Thursday 16th 10am-12.30pm

Teddy Bears’ Picnic

& 1.40pm–3.30pm

Sherborne Museum. Hunt for the

Arts Buffet - FREE family

with fun games and access to the

Digby Hall, Hound Street

favourite teddy and a snack and join us

____________________________

teddies hidden in the museum along

art and craft sessions

lovely nursery rhymes box. Bring your

Sherborneartslink.org.uk

for some family friendly fun! Suitable

Tuesdays 10.30-11am

children and adults might like to join

Sherborne Library. A fun interactive

of quizzes and trails are on hand to

their children, good mix of stories, rhymes

for babies and toddlers, but older

Library Gets Lively Under 5’s

in or browse the collections - a variety

session for parents and carers to share with

amuse all ages. Baby changer available

and some room to park buggies. FREE entry, donations welcome.

____________________________

and songs aimed at under 5’s but all

children are welcome to attend. They may include a creative book related activity.

____________________________

DAYS OUT & HOLIDAYS with TAYLORS COACH TRAVEL Days Out

Holidays

____________________________

____________________________

Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour

Brugge Weekend Break

Saturday 11th February

22nd – 23rd April

£30, Club £28

2 Days £145

Bristol Shopper & Ikea

London Film Music Gala

Sunday 19th February

6th – 7th May

£18, Club £16

2 Days £195

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Winchester Military Museum & Shopper Friday 3rd March £25, Shopper £15

____________________________ March Drive & Lunch Sunday 12th March

2017 Day Trips & Excursions brochure available soon.

£34.50, Club £32.50

To join our mailing list for our 2017 brochure call the office now!

____________________________

01935 423177 | www.taylorscoachtravel.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11

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MARCH 2016 | FREE

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WHEN A TREE FALLS

The story of a chair with furniture maker Matt Belfrage plus

Painting the Modern Garden with Julian Halsby Forced Rhubarb with Lisa Osman Literary Review with Wayne Winstone Valentine Gifts with Elly Vvaller The Dartford Warbler with Sally Welbourn The Battle of Agagia with Luke Mouland

exclusiveer reader off Olive's Kitchen

SON OF A BAKER'S SON with Steve Oxford

FAMILY ROAST

plus

Coffee with the Dick-Reads

Artisan Easter Eggs with Elly Vvaller The March Hare with Sally Welbourn and Richard Bramble Seasonal Recipes with Lisa Osman, Sasha Matkevich and Brett Sutton Spring Pruning with Mike Burks Sherry with David Copp

plus

Winter Visitors with Dorset Wildlife Trust Vintage Cars with Richard Bromell Seville Oranges with Lisa Osman Shopping Guide with Elly Vvaller Garden Design with Alan Dodge

exclusiveer reader off NYR Organic

exclusiveer reader off ing The Dinm Roo

ROOM WITH A VIEW

In the studio with artist Vanessa Bowman

exclusiveer reader off ts Oxley Spor Centre

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MAY 2016 | FREE

J UNE 2016 | FREE

J ULY 2016 | FREE

August 2016 | FREE

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ART COLLECTION A Dorset Art Weeks Special

IN THE WORKSHOP with Jamie and Rhiannon of J Smith Woodwork

SEASON TO TASTE

TAKING TEA with Michelle and Rob Comins

with chef and restaurateur, Sasha Matkevich

of Comins Tea House

e Exclusiver reader off Girlings

e Exclusiver reader off ee Reads Coff www.sherbornetimes.co.uk

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SEP TEMBER 2016 | FREE

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MAMMA MIA!

Lunch for little ones with Michela Chiappa

e Exclusiv er reader off r

Balfou Margaret e Beauty Centr

FENCES YET TO MEND Back on the farm with The Countrymen’s Club

A HELPING HAND Behind the scenes at Sherborne Food Bank

CORE VALUES with Simon and Victoria Baxter of Sherborne Cider

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NEVER MISS A COPY If you enjoy reading the Sherborne Times but live outside our free distribution areas you can now receive your very own copy by post 12 editions delivered to your door for just £30.00 To subscribe, please call 01935 814803 or email subscriptions@sherbornetimes.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk 12 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

UNEARTHED WILF WHEELER, AGED 12, AND YVIE WOODS, AGED 9 Sherborne Preparatory School

D

rama and performance is going from strength to strength at Sherborne Preparatory School. Two young talents have had a particularly busy year in the spotlight.

Wilf has a special way of winning over the audience and has revelled in numerous acting roles both at school and beyond. Last year he played a very fine D’Artagnan in a children’s production of The Three Musketeers at Montacute House. He also captivated the audience with his wonderfully crafted delivery in the ‘Rotary Youth Speaks’ debating competition. Wilf ’s team went on to win the local round and they are looking forward to the regional round, coming up this spring.

Having already enjoyed a film role as an extra in BBC2 television drama Castles in the Sky, we are certain Wilf ’s ambition to work in the world of film and theatre is sure to be fulfilled.

Yvie is also a very talented thespian and dancer and has only recently finished a season of pantomime in the Octagon Theatre’s Peter Pan, following seven gruelling rounds of auditions. Her previous work at the Octagon has included starring as Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof and she is set to start rehearsals for the upcoming Cinderella. Yvie’s latest news is that she has successfully navigated the rounds of auditions to take part in the English Youth Ballet production of The Nutcracker. She is therefore busy rehearsing hard for the performances at the City Hall Theatre in Salisbury later this year.

These two are definitely bright lights on the stage and – who knows – we might be seeing their names up in lights in the near future. sherborneprep.org

KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY Portrait, lifestyle, PR and editorial commissions 07808 400083 info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk www.katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk

14 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Bespoke Kitchen & Cabinet Makers

J Smith Woodwork Ltd Staffords Green Corton Denham Sherborne Dorset DT9 4LY 01963 220147 | 07773 701812 | jamie@jsmithwoodwork.co.uk jsmithwoodwork.co.uk

Beard oil, £14.99 (The Present Finder)

Hair grooming kit, £25 (The Circus)

Wondercake, £6.99 (The Present Finder)

Washbag, £15 (Quba) Espresso martini kit, including moka pot, shaker, glasses and 250g Sumatra Bourbon Espresso, £58.00 + P&P (Reads Coffee), Vodka, £9.99, Liberty Fields (Vineyards), Coffee liqueur, £26.95, Heering (Vineyards)

NEW BROMANTICS Jenny Dickinson, Dear To Me Studio Who says men are difficult to buy for?

Here’s our pick of Sherborne’s finest male-friendly fare – and just in time for Valentine’s Day deartomestudio.com 16 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Truffles, £10.65, Charbonnel & Walker (The Pear Tree)

Vintage poetry books, by John Keats, £25; and by Edgar Allan Poe, £30 (Chapter House Books)

Limited-edition saddle, £150, Brooks (Riley’s Cycles)

Cushion, £55 (The Circus)

Valentine’s Card, £3.60 (deartomestudio.co.uk) www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 17

J BRAND DUFFY WYSE 120% LINO ELEMENTE CLEMENTE COCOA CASHMERE 360 CASHMERE SKULL CASHMERE PENELOPE CHILVERS ASH SARNE BELLA FREUD SUNDRY OPEN 9:30 AM ­ 5:00 PM, 33 CHEAP STREET, SHERBORNE DT9 3PU PHONE 01935 816551

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T HE T HE

G OG DO D OO

clearclear C OCPO YYP YY concise concise C O MC ON PA M PA N compelling compelling

Writing for businesses, organisations and individuals. prospectuses • brochures • reports • articles • newsletters • press releases • speeches • blogs • websites

www.thegoodcopycompany.co.uk 18 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

info@thegoodcopycompany.co.uk

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST

Wedding Fayre Sunday 5th March Bridal Wear

Chocolate Fountain

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Entertainers

Stationery

Ideas & much more

• Licensed venue for civil marriages and partnerships • We can cater for up to 400 guests • 39 en suite bedrooms Open from 11:00am to 3:00pm FREE parking and entry. Refreshments available all day

Wardon Hill, Evershot, Nr. Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9PW Tel: 01935 483430

www.gahotel.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

Wild Dorset

WINTER WILDLIFE WATCHING Sally Welbourn, Dorset Wildlife Trust

W

ith some wildlife hunkering down for the big freeze, winter turns our attention to the species that need to work harder to get through the frosty season.

This is why winter is the perfect opportunity to make a real, practical difference to wildlife in your local wild space. Leaving water and food out for birds might seem like a trivial task, but it can mean life or death to them if other food sources are scarce or frozen. You will be rewarded with lovely sights of garden visitors such as the blue tit, goldfinch, redwing or, if you’re lucky, a great spotted woodpecker.

Garden birds aren’t the only active birds around this time of year. On a winter’s day at about 4pm you might see a flock of starlings – also known as a murmuration – as they settle down to roost. Being part of a flock has a huge advantage to a single bird this time of year – there’s safety in numbers. Large groups are believed to deter predators, making it hard for them to single one bird out – the sight of a flock is quite off-putting to a bird of prey. In large numbers, birds have a better chance of successfully hunting for food together and they will stay warm at the same time. So at this time of year in particular, keep your eyes to the sky for one of nature’s best performances!

Nothing is more delightful than seeing a splash of colour on the landscape when the trees are bare, so another favourite of this season is the much-loved snowdrop.

This distinctive white flower bravely comes into bloom in January and flowers until March, so for those who long for spring to arrive, seeing this flower is a sign that warmer times are ahead.

To get out for some winter walks in Dorset, explore Dorset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves at dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves.

WINTER BIRD FEEDING TIPS • Don’t put out too much – stale food can develop harmful bacteria.

• Clean the feeders and the table regularly – use hot water and a pet-safe disinfectant to prevent infections being passed between birds.

• Replenish fresh water – birds need to bathe to keep feathers in good condition and keep them warm. Our tip? Stop water freezing by putting a tennis ball in it.

• Recommended food includes seed mixes, fat balls, household scraps such as raw fats, suet and lard, mild grated cheese and cooked potatoes.

Fruits include apples plus dried fruits such as sultanas and raisins.

• Foods to avoid include white bread, milk, salty or spicy food and loose, whole peanuts. Runny fats from cooking, vegetable oils and margarines can clog feathers and cause birds to lose valuable insulation.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

20 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Great spotted woodpecker www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21

Wild Dorset

SHERBORNE DWT

F

Gillian M. Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Sherborne Group Committee

ebruary is the month when spring really starts to be seen. Our Boxing Day walk, the same circuit as 2015, showed the ‘early starter flowers’ were slower than in the previous year. Only one lesser celandine flower, very few primrose flowers and snowdrops only one centimetre tall, with no signs of buds. We like to be able to make these local annual comparisons.

The February talk for Sherborne DWT, Wednesday 15th at 7.30pm in Digby Memorial Hall, takes us to the Galapagos Islands. Mike Spencer, local photographer and naturalist, visited them recently and will be speaking about his trip in his talk ‘A Glimpse at the Galapagos.’

Many of us will remember the recent scenes in Planet Earth II from Fernandina Island, Galapagos, of racer snakes pursuing the freshly hatched marine iguanas. The abundance and speed of the snakes was somewhat scary.

Eleven years ago, as I write, we were sailing around the Galapagos Islands on a two-masted schooner. It was one of the most wonderful wildlife holidays. One highlight was seeing the comical blue-footed boobies; I had seen pictures of them as a child and never imagined

22 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

seeing them in their own environment. Another was a double bonus – I had hoped to swim with a turtle (pacific green) and, within minutes of achieving this exciting experience, I was swimming with an inquisitive Galapagos penguin – this was not even on my hopedfor list. We studied each other for several minutes above and below water and then it swam away. I could hardly contain my excitement. I shall thoroughly enjoy February’s talk, reminding me of the thrilling trip.

Returning to more local matters, DWT has a ‘species of the month,’ for which they ask for records of any sighting of some relatively easily identified species of flora or fauna. For more information, please see the DWT website. The January species was greenfinch.

Before Christmas we had been commenting that, although this summer their numbers feeding in the garden were higher than in recent years, since midautumn we had not seen one. This continues to be the state of observation – how sad. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

The Joinery Works, Alweston Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5HS Tel: 01963 23219 Fax: 01963 23053 Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk

www.fcuffandsons.co.uk

DESIGNERS AND MAKERS OF BEAUTIFUL FINE BESPOKE JOINERY SINCE 1897

Family

FINDING SPACE Nick Folland, Headmaster, Sherborne Preparatory School

L

eaving the excesses of the festive season behind and as the period of Lent beckons, I have been pondering the advantages of having less, doing less, or saying less. I have decided that there is a great deal to be said for the old adage, ‘less is more.’

Children and adults alike are more likely really to savour and appreciate a favourite meal or treat if it is a rare and treasured thing. In an affluent society we run the risk of ruining the effectiveness of treats through overuse. I remember watching Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, the original film with Gene Wilder, and observing Charlie’s unadulterated joy in eating a square of chocolate on his birthday. It is incredible how much one appreciates a glass of beer or wine after a period of abstinence too!

The same principle applies, I think, to education. If we want children really to take information on board we should resist the temptation to chatter on and aim instead for a succinct phrase. It certainly holds true for talking to children – often one’s message in assemblies has far more impact if the children have just a few wellchosen words rather than a long stream of words.

I took part in some superb staff coaching at a recent inset day, where the director of sport elucidated the need for clarity and brevity when coaching teams. He set up a wonderful demonstration of ‘less is more’ with a bit of acting, where the ‘coach,’ through good intentions and a 24 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

passion to improve skills, stopped the games session 14 times in less than ten minutes to make certain points.

Even though these points were valid, it became very clear that the effectiveness of perhaps one or two really key tips was being watered down because the coach was trying to highlight everything at once. Modern coaching through games is based around discovery, asking the children to find the answers, question themselves and learn through playing. Of course, there is a balance and this must be guided, which is a great skill in itself, but surely it makes sense. I also believe that advice bellowed from touchlines from parents and coaches can often be completely counterproductive. Do the children even hear it? If they do, they perhaps don’t receive it as encouragement and might even misinterpret as it as criticism.

In art, music, drama and English lessons, children can learn that minimal use of paint can be highly effective, that the spaces on the canvas and the rests in music are essential elements of the success of a piece, that a look can convey a thousand words, and that sometimes it is what an author leaves unsaid that gives such poignancy to a scene.

So let’s de-clutter, spring clean and embrace Lent as an opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves the pleasure of discovering that less most definitely can be more. sherborneprep.org

ART CLUB @Sherborne

Supporting and Developing Young Artistic Talent

Footwear Sale!

Sizes 16 to 42

Open 9-5 Monday to Saturday 41 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Call 01935 816111 | natasha@gingerandpickle.co.uk

www.gingerandpickle.co.uk

Small classes of individually tailored lessons for children aged 8-18 Sundays 11am to 1pm and 1pm to 3pm at the Studio Room, Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne • Build the fundamental drawing and painting skills crucial to the development of a proficient artist • Experiment with new materials • Explore new techniques • Expand knowledge, skills and confidence • Build a portfolio in preparation for art scholarships, GCSE and A level exams

Booking now for February to Easter 2017 Dates, details and prices at www.alicockrean.co.uk Call Ali on 07742 888302 or email alicockrean@gmail.com

Starting school in September?

We’re going on a Bear Hunt!

Saturday 4th March

Come and join us for a fun morning of activities for 3 and 4 year olds

For more information and to sign up, please contact the Registrar Aurora Mercer 01935 810911/registrar@sherborneprep.org www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

Family

Children’s Book Review Wayne Winstone, Winstone’s Books, Independent Bookshop of the Year 2016

Me and Mister P by Maria Farrer, (OUP Oxford) £6.99

Y

Exclusive reader offer price of £5.99 at Winstone’s Books

ou know you’ve read a truly gorgeous book when it leaves you with a warm glow. ‘Me and Mister P,’ written by local author Maria Farrer and with illustrations by Daniel Rieley, does just that.

“All I want is a normal family – but no, I’ve ended up with the brother from Weirdsville. Liam is so embarrassing, but Mum and Dad can’t see that and give him all the attention. Leaving me with zero!

Zilch! A big fat NOTHING!” Protagonist Arthur is at the end of his tether – he’s had enough of feeling second-best to his brother. Liam’s 26 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

special needs mean he struggles to fit into a world filled with strange places, loud noises and crowds. As far as Arthur is concerned, his parents just don’t care about him as much as they do for Liam.

The only solution, he decides, is to run away. But when Arthur comes face to face with an enormous polar bear standing on his doorstep, he finds that life is about to change for the better, in the strangest of ways. Prepare to meet Mister P – because there are times when only a polar bear will do.

Warm and funny, this book explores the impact

Illustration: Daniel Rieley

L E W E STO N S HERBO RN E

Leweston Choral Society presents...

Vivaldi's ‘Gloria’ and Handel's ‘Zadok the Priest’ in concert with orchestra

disability can have on immediate family. Maria, a former speech therapist and teacher, captures perfectly the frustration felt by Arthur towards his brother and deals with raw emotions such as jealousy, resentment and embarrassment with a light and dexterous hand.

With its lovely illustrations and lively prose, it is an ideal introduction for younger children to a complex subject, perfect for reading aloud. winstonebooks.co.uk mariafarrer.com

Sunday 5th March 2017 7.30pm At Leweston School Tickets £12 Please contact the Leweston Marketing Department for tickets on 01963 210783 or email marketingteam@leweston.dorset.sch.uk LEWESTON SCHOOL . SHERBORNE www.leweston.co.uk . T: 01963 211 010

Gaudere Et Bene Facere – Rejoice And Do Well www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 27

Pattern

HEART HEADBAND Millie Furby, The Slipped Stitch

F

ebruary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a month for wintery walks and snuggling up with loved ones. Stay cosy with our knitted heart headband, made in pure, organic wool

You will need:

1 ball of Bio Lana Aran yarn in Main shade and 1 ball in Contrast shade 4.5mm needles Sewing up needle Headband will measure approx 9cm across.

Length can be altered.

Cast on 19 stitches in main colour.

Row 1: (k1, p1) twice, K10, (p1, k1) twice, p1 Row 2: (P1, k1) twice, P10, (k1, p1) twice, K1 Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice more. These rows will set the moss stitch pattern.

Rows 7-12: Continue in pattern, following chart in central 9 stitches to insert heart. We knitted the heart in using the Fair Isle technique of carrying our unused yarn behind the stitches.

28 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Rows 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 22: As rows 1 and 2.

Repeat rows 7-22 until work measures 44cm or desired length to fit snugly around your head ending on a ws row.

Cast off.

Weave in ends. Block before sewing up seam.

Fold in half with rs facing and sew seam.

Main colour

/ / / / / / / / / / /

/ / / / /

/ / / / /

/ Contrast colour / / / / / /

If you would like to learn more about Fair Isle and intarsia knitting, Millie will be hosting a workshop on Wednesday 8th March, 7-9pm at The Slipped Stitch theslippedstitch.co.uk

Pet, Equine & Farm Animals

• Operating theatres • Digital x-ray • Nurse clinics • Separate dog and cat wards • Laboratory Kingston House Veterinary Clinic Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB

Grove Dene Veterinary Clinic The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL

Tel: 01935 813288 (24 hours) Email: sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk

Tel: 01935 421177 (24 hours) Email: yeovil@kingstonvets.co.uk

Mon-Fri 9.00-10.30, 16.30-18.00 Sat 9.00-10.30

Mon-Fri 8.30-12.00, 14.00-18.30 Sat 9.00-12.00

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wkwindows@btinternet.com | www.wkwindowsltd.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29

Animal Care

WINTER COUGHS AND COLDS Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership

T

raditionally, winter months were quiet for us vets in companion-animal practice. Not so for my farm and equine colleagues, who have housed dairy cows, calves and horses that suffer from confinement with the consequences of hoof, digestive and respiratory problems. Small animals suffer similar ailments, illustrating a common theme that runs through veterinary medicine.

Spending much of our time indoors at this time of year, combined with low UV levels and high humidity, it is not surprising bacteria, viruses and 30 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

fungi are thriving. All are breathed in to challenge our respiratory defences, which sometimes take a few days to rally round and fight off an infection. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kennel cough,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; that misleading name for an upper respiratory infection in dogs, is particularly common at this time of year. The name was coined as, in the past, many dogs sharing the same air space developed a cough due to airborne viruses or bacteria. These days, I see more cases of infectious coughs in dogs due to rubbing noses socially than being in kennels. One owner called me a

"the first line of defence has nothing much to do with our specific immunity"

while ago to discuss why her litter of puppies and their mother were all coughing when the family lived in the middle of nowhere and no other dogs had been near for weeks. The answer, I’m afraid, is airborne spread on the wind in just the right conditions (well, wrong, really). Viruses generally don’t like being outside a living body, needing the host cells’ DNA machinery to make new virus particles. However, low light and high humidity combined with mild temperatures allows viruses to live in water droplets for some hours, moving on the wind to isolated and vulnerable victims. Luckily, the vast majority of kennel cough infections, though unpleasant and distressing, are not life-threatening. The infection is usually confined to the upper respiratory tract (larynx, trachea and perhaps main bronchi) and so produces a characteristic retchy-cough. Rest, anti-inflammatories and plenty of fluids usually sees a recovery in most dogs within 5-7 days. A deeper, productive cough in an ill dog means the lower levels of the respiratory tract (the alveoli where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged) could be affected and so intensive care is often needed.

We read a lot about boosting our immune system these days and many dog and cat diets claim to contain supplements that do just that. It is really important, however, to realise that the first line of defence against invaders from another space has nothing much to do with our specific immunity. Our system of perfectly targeted, highly specific network of antibodies and immune-cells is very much the second line of defence.

Most useful when already primed and ready for action (as following a vaccine or previous exposure to a disease) our immune system interconnects with the first line of defence. This relies on many physical, nutritional and even emotional factors, which we certainly can influence.

One example of this is the clearance mechanism our lungs use to get rid of all those bugs and soot particles we all inhale every day. The system uses tiny fingers (cilia) that waft a current of mucous up from the lungs, containing most of the particulates that escaped the nasal passages and ended up down in the depths of the respiratory system. Vitamin deficiencies, sedentary behaviour and getting cold all reduce the efficiency of this ‘muco-ciliary escalator,’ which increases the chances of a bug gaining a foothold and causing an infection.

So... Stay warm, stay active and feed your pets and yourselves a good quality, balanced diet! newtonclarkevet.com www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

Dodge Interiors For all your interior needs

Upstairs Downstairs Interiors

Winter Sale Now On

bespoke curtains. blinds. upholstery. loose covers. fabrics. free estimates The Old School Rooms, Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BS Tel: 01935 813 831 Email: info@updowninteriors.co.uk

28 Cheap Street Sherborne DT9 3QD

www.updowninteriors.co.uk

01935 818150 www.dodgeinteriors.com

THE

FABRIC BARN

Interior fabrics with fantastic savings! www.thefabricbarn.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Call: 01935 851025 32 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

BIG SALE BIG SALE BIG SALE NOW ON NOW NOW ON ON local family local family local family best best possible prices best possible prices possible prices superior quality local family superior quality generous superior quality local family generous local family discounts generous discounts best discounts best possible prices best possible prices 01305 259996 possible prices www.bathroominspirationsdorchester.com 01305 259996 superior quality 01305 259996 www.bathroominspirationsdorchester.com

Mill House | Millers Close | The Grove Trading Estate | Dorchester | DT1 1SS

Interiors

FRESHEN UP

Kitty Oakshott, Upstairs Downstairs Interiors

W

ho would have thought it could already be If your sofa is sagging there are ways to bring new life that time of year when we celebrate the into your cushions. If you have feather sofa cushions loves of our lives! Phew, how time flies. and love the look and comfort of them but hate the Have you, like me, entered into the New Year with a constant plumping, there is a solution – you can have mountain of ambitions and goals and are feeling a little new cushion pads made up with a foam and feather jaded already? I often hear from wrap. This provides just the right friends and family about the rush to amount of stability in the cushion reorganise the house as part of the but removes the need for continuous fresh start to the year and, before plumping to make the sofas look they know it, they’re exasperated by good all the time. the challenge. My suggestion to all Undecided as to which fabric those who can identify with this is you may want in your room and not to slow the process down and just do sure what will match? Speak to your one bit at a time. local interior designer about taking Making a ‘wish list’ of what fabric sample books home. This will you would like to alter, reupholster allow you to see what will work in or redecorate is a positive starting the room, with the added advantage point. My recommendation is of giving options that you may to break the wish list down into not have considered before. There realistic bits, bearing in mind the LOVE fabric by Emma Bridgewater is a fantastic array of fabrics that for Sanderson budget, possible disruption and would bring spring into the house time taken to have any bespoke in different ways, with prints of lily items created for your rooms. Have a look at all aspects of the valley, tulips and daffodils. Let your imagination in each room as to whether it needs to be completely run wild with whatever the fabric is that you have taken revamped or just have a few refreshing touches added. a fancy to, whether it’s roller blinds, roman blinds, If it’s curtains you’re after, there’s no need to have curtains, cushions, footstools, reupholstering, recovering completely new ones. If the lining is still good, you can dining room chairs… the opportunities are endless! keep it and simply have the fabric replaced. On the I hope you all have a very loving February. flip side, if the lining is a bit tired from being exposed to the sun, then keep the fabric and replace the lining. updowninteriors.co.uk

34 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Chair fabric: Austen Pemberley Cotton by Swaffer

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 35

Antiques

An NSU scooter, garaged (with other detritus) since 1965 and now liberated for auction this month

BEHIND THE SCENES Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

uite a few people I have met recently have commented how much they would like to ‘do’ my job. Yes, I do feel grateful to have the job as an auctioneer and valuer, but as we all know, the grass is usually greener on the other side.

I fell into the work I do – or rather, I was pushed into it by my father. Having tried out numerous schools during my student years I was, as many young people often are, floating about having a great time. Sadly this did little to impress my father, so I was told to report to The Long Street Salerooms for 9am one Monday morning.

Over 30 years later, having worked for auctioneers up and down the country, I am back in the same salerooms from where it all started.

There is not much today that can shock me when I am out and about, visiting clients who would like to sell their antiques and chattels at one of our auctions. I am invited into some very large and grand country houses and I think this is what people who would like to do what I do, think I do do all day long – and they would be correct, up to a point.

36 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Perhaps they think I start work at 9am, stop for lunch for an hour or so at 1pm and go home at 5pm – or maybe 4pm on a Friday. Perhaps they also think that we have a pot of fairy dust that we sprinkle around the saleroom, which can turn the contents of several houses into neatly arranged rows of furniture, all ready to be catalogued.

Yes, when you see me waving the gavel at an auction on daytime-TV antiques programmes, the salerooms look organised and beautiful, but this is at the end of weeks of preparation. To get to this point, we have emptied several homes of their entire contents. We have sifted through the contents of boxes in the attics and removed, recycled and taken to the tip rusty old broken lawn mowers and fake Christmas trees by the dozen from garages.

This is what we do and we love it. I admit, I do not help out on the vans when they are clearing houses – I would get in everyone’s way. However, you will find me unpacking boxes of ceramics and glass in reception. It’s all about the chase and the great game of discovery. charterhouse-auction.com

With dedicated and experienced staff, specialist equipment and passion, Queen Thorne can develop and maintain gardens for all to enjoy. www.queenthorne.co.uk Tel: 01935 850848

CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers

We are now accepting entries for our Spring Auction Programme Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Sunday 5th February Classic & Vintage Cars Sunday 12th February Silver, Jewellery & Watches with a Selection of Wine & Port Friday 17th February Contact Richard Bromell for advice or Justine Jackson to arrange a home visit The Long Street Salerooms Sherborne DT9 3BS | 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com

1963 Lotus Seven Super S2 £20,000 - £25,000 www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

The Swimming Pool Specialists • Construction • Renovations • Servicing • Chemicals/Equipment 25 years experience in pool industry

07989 525558 www.aquakingpools.co.uk

Castle Gardens, award-winning garden centre and restaurant Everything you need to enjoy your garden all year round

Free February Half Term Activity

Owl Day

Saturday 18 February, 10am - 4pm Get more acquainted with these magnificent creatures from Sharandys Birds of Prey

February Offers

Free 10l bag of seed compost when you buy five or more packets of seeds See in store for exclusive offers at The Walled Garden Restaurant

Open Monday-Saturday 9.00am-6.00pm & Sunday 10.00am-4.30pm (tills open at 10.30am) Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR 38 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

ACTORY • F R

S

MANUFAC

YEAR

2017

D

RED IN OU TU

We just make things better!

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Gardening

IN THE GARDEN with Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

O

rganic gardeners are looked after by an organisation called the Soil Association. No mention of organic in that title – but what they believe is that, by looking after the soil, the soil will look after your plants.

To start the process, almost all soils – especially most of the ones we find locally, such as those that are clay-based and with underlying chalk – will benefit from the addition of humus. Humus is fibrous matter, which comes from broken-down plant material. Useful forms include well-rotted farm manure, composted bark and your own garden compost.

It can be applied by digging it into the soil. Here, it will open up the structure, allowing air to penetrate and also creating spaces for plant roots to find a way through and where moisture can percolate. Additionally, it will provide long-term nutrient as it breaks down and will be a home for many soil organisms that are vital for soil fertility.

The problem with digging is that it may in fact damage the soil as it is being carried out. The rule that I use is that, if your boots start to get several times larger as you are digging then the soil is too wet and more damage is being caused. So either stop or have a cup of tea or, better still, come into the garden centre to get some inspiration! Alternatively, if you really need to get on, cover the area that is being dug with compost about two to three inches deep and stand on that as you dig. If you are keeping clean, then the soil is being improved.

Just the simple addition of a layer of humus such as composted bark to the surface of the soil will help in soil improvement. Mulching, as it is known, does this in several ways. Firstly the layer will keep the soil 40 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

warmer, both as an insulator but also by giving off heat as it biodegrades. Secondly, it reduces weed growth and thirdly, it acts as a physical barrier between the often torrential rain that is a feature of recent weather patterns. Direct impact of powerful raindrops onto bare soil can cause soil damage and the erosion of the best soil in your garden; a mulch softens this. Once in the soil, the moisture will be conserved in the summer by the layer of mulch. Finally, as the material breaks down it will become incorporated into the soil naturally by soil bacteria, fungi and microorganisms, plus larger friends such as earth worms and woodlice.

Adding a layer of humus requires no digging. A further advantage of such a strategy is that we – and I

realise that most of you will be of a more delicate build than I â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are perhaps the worst enemy of quality soils as we trudge around the garden, squashing it down as we go!

While the addition of compost will help the structure and long-term nutrient, readily available nutrient may need to be added to replace that lost in the winter rains.

Slow-release fertilisers are far better for this, especially at the start of the season. I like using traditional or organic forms such as Fish, Blood and Bone and also pelleted chicken manure, as these will provide the readily available nutrients as well as breaking down slowly, providing longer-term food for plants.

Keep an eye out for foliage looking pale and washed out, as it probably indicates nutrient shortage.

Sometimes this will simply be a lack of nitrogen, which is easily solved, but it could also be the shortage of a minor nutrient or trace element. These are available separately, but the problem can often be solved by the use of a foliar feed of perhaps a Maxicrop seaweedbased organic fertiliser. I also like to use Miracle-Gro Ericaceous fertiliser, which will provide a range of nutrients that often go missing from our soils. This is useful on many garden plants, not just acid lovers.

Look after the soil and the soil will look after your plants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and if your plants are happy, you could well be happy too! thegardeneronline.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

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EDWARD OLIVER Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

I

t’s early morning on Trendle Street. Frost lies on the ground and Edward Oliver Smith is busily arranging furniture at the entrance to his workshop and showroom. We wander inside, hot coffee in mind, to the old stable block, now home to Edward’s gently prospering decorative antiques business. Our breath forms a fog in the lingering chill before the very welcome warmth of the workshop’s wood-burner takes hold. We pull two chairs close to the fire – their careworn seats leaking dark wisps of horsehair. “I’ve just got these,” says Ed, sweeping a hand over their backs.

“They are made of oak rather than glossy mahogany, which is rather unusual for this carver-shaped chair,” he muses. For a while we debate whether or not it is worth having the seats upholstered. We sit for a while admiring the inviting decorative patina of the old leather and the idea is soon rejected. >

44 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 45

46 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Edward has quietly gone about his business for the last 13 years. Living close to Bath with his wife and young daughter, Olive, who is now two, he savours the days he spends in Sherborne, where he opens the doors of his atelier to the public. Edward is a Dorset boy and spent much of his childhood in the villages close to Dorchester, where he went to school. His early days, spent largely outdoors, have much to answer for. “I remember, even at the age of 8, my bedroom was colour-coordinated and everything had its place. I used to ask my mum to buy different paint colours just for me and I always had an eye for arranging things I’d found on the beach.” As a teen, Edward visited Kettles Yard in Cambridge and was fascinated by ex-Tate gallery curator Jim Ede’s collection of abstract and modern pieces from the mid twentieth century, including works by Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, and Alfred Wallis. The arrangements of found objects including, stone, wood and vernacular furniture inspired Edward to continue his accumulation of materials from country walks and coastal visits. Further inspiration was to be found in the kitchens, outbuildings and servants quarters of country homes.

“I was drawn far more to the visual stories of old lichen covered bricks and peeling paint than the austere, heavily polished portraits to be found upstairs.”

Edward didn’t head to art school, as one might have expected. Instead, at 19, he decided to go travelling and spent a year exploring Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Inevitably, on his return he was broke, but fortunately his friend, Guy Schwinge (now a partner at Dukes Auctioneers), introduced him to Simon Dodge, who was after someone to work in his shop in Sherborne. “I got to know the restorer who worked in the shed at the back of the shop,” says Edward. “I used to spend my lunch hour with him and he began to teach me furniture restoration.

Soon I was starting to buy stuff at auction myself and doing them up in my spare time. Then Simon let me sell them in his shop and that got me interested in this business.”

After 18 months, the itch to move on came and Edward headed to London. He took on a range of jobs including landscape gardener and estate agent before settling for a course in product and furniture design at High Wycombe Furniture College. After just a couple of years, Edward found himself back in Sherborne. “I worked at Charterhouse Auctioneers for a while,” he explains, “where I would buy bits and pieces of furniture and do them up, just like I had done before. In January 2004, when I was 28, I opened my own shop, here.”

“At first I literally had four or five pieces of furniture at a time in the front, then someone in the trade would come and buy the lot and the shop would be empty,” laughs Edward. “But luckily my mother lent me some money. I was able ditch my Ford Escort, buy a van and extend the shop – that was when I really got into it.”

At the back of the showroom is his workshop – all whitewashed walls, crackling log-burner and music turned up – where Edward works on his furniture restoration. “I am not really a salesman,” he says. “People come in and I will say, ‘hi,’ but really I just let them wander round.” We muse on why it is people still feel the need to touch and see, despite the many possibilities of shopping on the Internet. “A lot of people come in here and run their hand along a table or cupboard – they like to touch furniture in the flesh – and it is what they feel that makes them buy a certain piece,” says Edward.

So what draws him to a certain piece of furniture?

“Well, of course, I do think about my market – but often I get excited because it is a great thing, often a one-off, and I have got to have it. Each piece of furniture is individual – that is why it is so interesting. I am never > www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

48 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49

50 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

bored. Often I sell things and get upset, because I don’t have it any more.” In fact, his attachment to objects has meant that several pieces will never leave his workshop.

“I buy furniture that I would happily have in my own home. Although my wife finds it frustrating when I keep swapping items from the shop kitchen tables, cupboards, paintings.” In way of an example, Edward pulls out an old elm stool that he recently found covered in mud.

It’s most likely a milking stool, and is deeply weathered.

“It’s like an old relic,” he enthuses.

Then there are the paintings that he would never part with, paintings he knows nothing about but which are naïve in style and inspire his own work. “I particularly like Alfred Wallis,” says Edward. “His paintings inspire me because he was self-taught and hard-working. He had a humble life, often painting on found objects or pieces of cardboard.” When he is not sourcing and restoring furniture, Edward himself paints. His large works, reminiscent of Ben Nicholson, are seascapes painted onto recycled floorboards or ‘found’ pieces that he incorporates into a larger landscape. Smaller works meanwhile find their way onto old discarded items such as garden spades, bread boards and fruit crates. They are not drawn by freehand but carefully worked out, angular and striking.

So much so that Edward constantly finds himself working on commissions despite having, similarly to his hero Wallis, not attended art school. “I like the fact that Wallis’s work became important and desirable, despite not having connections in the art world,” he explains.

This year Edward is working on producing another series of paintings and a move towards deeper greys, greens and blues in his furniture. “When I started out everything was cream and then more recently French grey and blue. Now though, I think people are gravitating to bold colours and rich patinas” he remarks.

But, as with every sale he makes, this is not something that will happen overnight. “It’s not just a question of people seeing things and buying them outright. Often it will take a week because someone might ask me to source something, or have very specific measurements, or want me to customise a cupboard they have seen here into a stand for a basin, for example.” This is never a problem. He has carefully selected and restored every piece and considers it important that each one finds the right home. Edward is quite happy to take his time. edward-oliver.co.uk facebook.com/EdwardOliverfurniture instagram.com/edwardvintage www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

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Food & Drink

LOVE IS GRIND Giles Dick Read, Reads Coffee Roasters

V

alentine's Day looms, love is in the air, so what better time to turn to your Grinder for a bit of loving attention first thing in the morning.

These days you have to be careful with Google, so for clarities sake, it’s your coffee grinder, (complete with an ‘e’) to which I’ll be giving closer attention this time.

Those of you who’ve followed my previous words will know that I’ve mentioned many a time how important the correct grind is when discussing the various methods of brew. I realise that in doing so, I may seem to be suggesting that you need to rush out and buy yet another piece of kitchen paraphernalia so this time, I’ll concentrate on the old school and common type that 54 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

you may already have tucked away at the back of the cupboard, the Krups type electric blade grinder.

Costing only about £20, these little grinders are often portrayed as the enemy of good results by many coffee purists, who may be completely missing the point in that using any grinder is better than no grinder at all!

Freshly ground coffee beats pre-ground every time, as coffee once ground, loses freshness extremely quickly when left open to the air. Even after as little as one day it’ll be past its best unless stored airtight in a dark, dry place – but not the fridge, by the way as that causes condensation when the pack hits warm air. Beans on the other hand, keep brilliantly. They freeze well and can be

ground straight from the freezer. Grinding releases all the wonderful volatile substances that fill your kitchen with that wonderful ‘fresh coffee’ smell – something you may have forgotten even existed if you’ve made the move to capsules. Whilst you could just file that experience away, along with the knowledge that once upon a time we could get across the Atlantic in under five hours on Concorde and that light bulbs used to come on straight away, there’s no need, just grab your trusty Krups and give it a whirl.

The downside of blade grinders is that they are relatively inconsistent when compared with more expensive electric burr grinders. The difference lies in

the fact that the blade smashes the beans into pieces more randomly, where the burrs crush the beans uniformly as they pass through from top to bottom. Blades are fine for most day-to-day brews, cafetiere, filter and moka pots, but not much use if you have a full on espresso machine.

That said, there’s no substitute for getting the recipe right for your chosen brew, this being by far the most common point at which people can go wrong, before they’ve even got as far as plugging in the grinder.

The main question when using these little grinders is ‘How long should they be run for?’. ‘Less time than you think,’ is the simple answer. Very often they end up being run for ages, creating a coffee pulp that instantly overextracts to make a bitter brew. Here’s a simple guide: Aim to run the grinder for 8-10 seconds for a coarse grind, to suit a cafetiere or percolator, 12-15 seconds for a medium fine grind to suit filter, and around 20 seconds for a fine grind for a moka pot. You can adjust by a second or two either way to suit variations in dose, but my test results were surprisingly consistent, regardless of whether beans were ground in batches of 14 or 40 grams.

There are loads of different grinders on the market and without doubt, burr grinders are the best – you tend to get what you pay for. If you want an alternative starting point that costs very little, suits small brews, guarantees no noise and doesn’t take up any space on the worktop, consider one of the new breed of hand-grinders. Loved by purists, their ceramic burrs will grind consistently to make the best of every brew, even fine enough for even the most demanding of espresso machines. You just have to give them a little time and energy!

Now that you’ve got the basics, don’t forget the 1785 rule: 17.85ml of hot water, off the boil, per gram of coffee for cafetiere and filter brews, and get grinding.

Make sure you only grind enough beans for one brew at a time, giving the machine a quick wipe out after each use…best when unplugged!

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s present to suit your coffee lover, a grinder is one of the greatest. By far and away the most important item in a coffee arsenal, it doesn’t matter whether you spend £20 or £200, it’ll serve you well and open up a world of brewing possibilities.

Give it a go… I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Reads can advise on grinders of all shapes and sizes, stocking ceramic burr hand grinders and a range of brewing paraphernalia. readscoffee.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55

Food & Drink

WHAT TO EAT NOW

LATE WINTER Lisa Osman, All Hallows, AGA-approved School for Cooks & Makers

Much-loved local chef, tutor and food writer Lisa Osman returns with her seasonal treats for February. Look out for the very best forced rhubarb and grasp the last of the Seville oranges while you can

B

ake a luxurious treat with our celeriac gratin for St Valentine’s Day or, a decadent stack of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Both guaranteed to bring a smile to sweethearts and lonely hearts alike.

Forced Rhubarb

Marry with root ginger and a freshly squeezed blood orange then poach tenderly, uncovered with a little honey, to serve with your breakfast porridge.

Alternatively, make brandy snaps and mascarpone for an easy-to-assemble dessert, oozing with the same warming rhubarb. Reserve some of the cooking liquor and mix the syrup with your favourite fizz for a Valentine cocktail.

Delicate pink stems, grown with such meticulous attention and harvested under candlelight – what could be more romantic? They fill my heart with joy. I want to wrap them in cotton before placing gently in my basket to carry home from the market. Forced rhubarb is produced in the famous nine square-mile ‘Yorkshire Triangle,’ which includes the towns of Wakefield, Rothwell and Morley. Take time out to visit their festival on 17th-19th February 2017.

Seville Oranges

Sadly, due to its limited season and the abundance of trees in highly polluted city streets, many of the imported fruits are gathered from the gutters by disreputable wholesalers. With this mind, take care when selecting your Seville oranges – we suggest that you opt for those that are marked organic and from a reputable source. Given that we use the whole fruit for marmalade and simply nothing is wasted when making this traditional preserve, let’s support the Spanish farmers who work so hard throughout the year, taking care of their beautiful groves.

56 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Celeriac

Such a versatile vegetable, often overlooked for not being very easy on the eye. What a shame, as the bulbous root easily adds another dimension to a midweek supper and brushes up well for even the smartest of dinners. Try a rich gratin for a ‘get-ahead’ side dish for a romantic meal, or simply mash with a generous splash of warmed milk and butter to ring the changes from potato.

Chicory

High in vitamin K, chicory is a perfect larder ingredient when the days are short. Enjoy raw as a winter salad, partnered with blood oranges, crumbled Dorset blue and chopped walnuts. Or try it sliced in half long-ways, brushed with rapeseed oil and placed cut-side down on a hot griddle. Serve with bulgar wheat, cubed feta and roughly chopped preserved lemons. Snip a few chives from the pot you have tucked in your greenhouse.

Leeks

I remember exploring a new garden as a child. It was an unusual plot, set in three terraces with a steep hill in the centre. This was covered in heather with a path of old paving slabs through the middle. Climbing was worth the effort.

At the top I discovered a small vegetable patch. Beside some tired-looking gooseberry bushes stood a beautiful row of leeks. My first memory is of child-like curiosity as I selected the thickest and – in my mind – the most glorious and pulled it from the ground. I was met with the unmistakable scent, similar to chopped onion but sweeter. The smell was fixed to my chubby hands with an equal measure of sandy soil, both of which stung my eyes as I rubbed them. Here, my love affair with the leek began. And because it eats so beautifully with cheese, it is a love that will last a lifetime. allhallowsfarmhouse.co.uk

SAVOURY PANCAKES Makes 10-12 pancakes, serving four

Ingredients

For the Pancakes 110g (4oz) plain flour Pinch of salt 300ml (1/2 pint) semi-skimmed milk 2 medium free-range eggs, beaten 1 tbsp melted butter For the stuffing 220g (8oz) ricotta 220g (8oz) spinach, washed, cooked, squeezed dry and finely chopped 1 large leek, washed well, finely sliced and cooked until soft in a little butter and oil 220g (8oz) button mushrooms, finely sliced and cooked Seasoning, Freshly ground nutmeg For the topping 300ml (1/2 pint) cheese sauce 55g (2oz) grated parmesan or Lyburn Old Winchester 1 tbsp dry breadcrumbs 1 tbsp chopped parsley Method

1 Prepare the stuffing and cheese sauce. Set aside to cool.

2 To make pancakes, weigh flour and salt into a large bowl and make a well in centre. Add eggs and milk.

Beat well until there are no lumps remaining.

3 Add melted butter to pancake batter and mix well.

Place frying pan on AGA boiling plate or over a medium to high heat on your conventional stove to preheat. Wipe your pan with a little sunflower oil and kitchen paper, if necessary, but ensure that there is no excess oil remaining.

4 Pour a tablespoon of batter into pan and swirl quickly around the base of pan to create a thin and even covering. When bubbles appear on surface and the edges of pancake are crisp, flip over and continue cooking for a few moments.

5 Stack pancakes between sheets of baking parchment whilst continuing to cook remaining batter.

6 Stuff pancakes by placing a tablespoon of cold filling into the centre of each, spreading this in a line across diameter. Roll up and place edge-side down in a gratin dish brushed with melted butter, then dusted with dry breadcrumbs.

7 Get ahead â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it can be covered and stored in the fridge at this stage.

To serve

8 Pour cheese sauce over the stuffed pancakes, mix the parmesan and breadcrumb and sprinkle over the top.

Bake uncovered in AGA roasting oven on bottom runner, or in preheated conventional oven 180C, Gas Mark 4, for 20-30 minutes. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57

Food & Drink

BRAISED HOGGET WITH BARLEY AND ROOT VEGETABLES Sasha Matkevich, head chef and owner, The Green with Jack Smith, apprentice chef

S

tudded with pearl barley and a colourful array of root vegetables, this fragrant lamb stew is just the thing for long, dark nights. Serves 5

Ingredients

500g hogget or lamb, trimmed and cut into 2cm cubes 225g pearl barley 30ml sunflower oil 2 large onions, chopped 2 celery sticks, sliced 2 carrots, chopped 225g swede, cut into 2cm cubes 2 cloves of garlic 2 small bay leaves 225g potatoes, cut into 2cm cubes 475ml vegetable stock 1tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1tbsp celery leaves, chopped 1tbsp parsley leaves, chopped 58 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Method

1 Put the barley in a measuring jug and add 600ml cold water. Leave to soak in a cool place overnight.

2 Heat the oil in large pan and fry meat and onions for 5 mins. Add celery and carrots and cook for 5 more mins.

3 Place the barley and its soaking liquid to the pan, then add swede, potato, stock, coriander seeds and garlic to the meat. Season with salt and pepper.

Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cover the pan.

4 Simmer for 40 mins, or until most of the stock has been absorbed and pearl barley is tender. Stir occasionally towards the end of cooking to prevent the mixture from sticking to the base of the pan.

5 Add chopped parsley and celery leaves. Remove from heat and rest for 15 mins.

6 Serve with a spoonful of crème fraÎche or natural yoghurt. greenrestaurant.co.uk

LEEK MACARONI Jane Somper, Goldhill Organics

W

ell, it’s been pretty cold here. We need something warming to fill us up that’s quick and easy too – and not much beats our indulgent leek macaroni. With that in mind, we have the best cheat’s version of cheese sauce, not a spot of roux round here! We often double up the quantities and make a big batch for the freezer as this, for us, is the ultimate in comfort food. We dive in with a side salad of fresh green leaves drizzled with a little olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. If you want to satisfy the carnivore within, you could always add some pancetta or smoked streaky bacon when you are cooking the leeks for an extra salty hit. Serves 3-4 (allowing for 2nds!)

Ingredients

570ml (pint) of whole organic milk 40g organic salty butter 40g organic plain flour 125g strong cheddar (we use James’s Cheese Truckle), grated 50g parmesan, grated 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 3 x organic leeks, washed, trimmed and sliced into discs Big splosh rapeseed oil 350-400g penne or small pasta tubes 50g breadcrumbs 75g pancetta (optional)

Method

1 Cook the pasta tubes according to the packet instructions, adding a good sprinkle of salt to the water. Once cooked, drain and keep to one side.

2 Heat the rapeseed oil in a pan and gently cook the leeks until soft, being careful not to burn. You can add pancetta here if using.

3 Mix the cooked leeks and pasta tubes together in an ovenproof dish.

4 Now for our brilliant cheese sauce, which we also use for cauliflower cheese. Add the flour, butter, milk and cayenne pepper to a saucepan and gently bring to the simmer, whisking all the time. Once simmering, do not allow the sauce to get too hot or it will burn at the bottom. Continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken to a thick, silky sauce (6-8 minutes), then remove from the heat immediately and whisk in the grated cheddar until melted.

5 Pour the cheese mixture over the leeks and pasta tubes and ensure everything is covered.

6 Mix the breadcrumbs and grated parmesan together and sprinkle over the top for a bit of extra crunch.

7 When ready to cook, place in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 15-20 minutes, or when you see the sauce bubbling. goldhillorganics.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

Food & Drink

MADEIRA David Copp

M

adeira, probably the most resilient and longest-lived of all wines, comes from that little island known as the ‘Pearl of the Atlantic,’ claimed for Portugal by Prince Henry the Navigator. Its first governor was the legendary one-eyed Zarco who, despite his handicap, was farsighted enough to plant sugar – or sweet salt, as it was then called – which attracted the attention of Genoese traders.

The adventurous son of one of those traders was sent to make enquiries. Christopher Columbus not only found the sugar, but also a bride from nearby Porto Santo. He settled in Madeira, where he studied his father-in-law’s ocean charts and became convinced that the quickest route to India was not via the southern tip of Africa, but west across the Atlantic.

Not lacking in confidence, Columbus approached the Portuguese king for sponsorship, but his advisors thought the scheme too risky. So the young would-be explorer called on the neighbouring queen, Isabella of Spain. Having recently expelled the Moors from Granada, she agreed to finance his planned expedition.

Columbus’s voyages opened up the Americas – where the English established colonies, as the original 13 US States were known. Madeira, as the last port of call before making the Atlantic crossing, became a profitable trading post.

When the colonists began asking for wine, Madeira replaced her sugar plantations with vineyards. However, the light white wines produced were unable to withstand long, hot voyages across the Atlantic, so the shippers added neutral grain spirit to stabilise them. They also learned that the wine kept in better condition if ‘warmed’ for a period before shipping. Thanks to the process, which involved heating the wines up to 45C for around four months and was called estufagem, they survived the Atlantic crossing and kept in good condition for a long time.

60 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

I once visited Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia and was interested to see that his cellar had been laid out to store quite a few pipes of Madeira. Their long thin barrels, named Pipa in Portuguese, were tapered at either end and much larger than the more conventional Bordeaux wine barrels, holding about 140 gallons.

The third president of the United States purchased and cellared more Madeira than any other type of wine and shared it with his contemporaries George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.

Indeed, Madeira was the wine they used to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Ironically, the Declaration of Independence was the beginning of the end for Madeira sales to the colonies and the English merchants who had been so successful in selling it had to find a new market to replace lost sales. One of these they found at home. The returning

Funchal Wine Festival, Madeira (Wjarek/Shutterstock)

colonists considered Madeira to be the ideal warming drink for England’s cold, damp winters.

Madeira soon became adopted by the English gentry.

In the nineteenth century it became common practice for top-hatted church-going gentlemen to invite fellow parishioners home for Madeira and a slice of cake after Sunday church.

However, two World Wars in the first half of the twentieth century changed social habits considerably.

By the time I left school in 1955, Madeira had become 'old hat' and even something of a joke by the 1960s when Flanders and Swann sang "Have some Madeira, m'dear" every night at the Fortune Theatre.

Notwithstanding its old-fashioned image, Madeira remains a wonderful wine and the Symington family has invested in making many improvements to its production. The best way to get to know Madeira is to go there. We found a tastefully modernised old manor

house called Quintinha São João (quintinhasaojoao. com), managed by staff who make their guests feel like part of the family.

One of the highlights of our stay was inspecting the orchids and walking the Levada paths of the mountains.

On a visit to Blandy’s Wine Lodge in the centre of Funchal, we tasted the four principal grapes of Madeira and sampled them at aged five, 10 and 15 years old.

Sercial and Verdelho are most commonly taken as an aperitif, Bual and Malmsey as digestif. After careful resampling we took as our favourites the nutty dry Sercial and the elegant Bual. However, we liked the medium, richer Malmsey in the afternoon with a piece of cake, learning in the process that Madeira cake is never cut with a knife – it is rich and firm enough to be broken off by hand, as long as Health and Safety aren’t looking!

So now I echo Flanders and Swann and call on you, too, to have some Madeira, my dears. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61

CYCLE SHERBORNE Peter Henshaw, Dorset Cyclists Network Mike Riley, Rileys Cycles

I

think it was Billy Bragg, or maybe Billy Connolly, or maybe someone else who wasn’t called Billy at all, whom I once heard on the radio reminiscing about their army days. The most useful thing they learnt from military life was nothing to do with armed combat, discipline or moral fibre. No, it was that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong choice of clothing.

Well, I’ve always thought that there’s a limit to this philosophy – I don’t really see how an Arctic headwind laden with viscous sleet and hail can be anything but bad weather when you’re on a bike, whatever you happen to be wearing. But generally, it is possible to stay warm and comfy in winter while cycling, with a bit of thought for layering and what works for you. So put that indoor trainer back in its box...

The only tricky part of this is that we all react 62 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

differently to temperatures – some will be sweltering in a few thin layers where others are shivering; some never suffer from cold extremities, while for others it’s a constant battle to keep their tootsies warm. So there’s a bit of trial and error involved, finding out what works for you. If in doubt, when going out for a ride, wear more than you think you’ll need, because it’s always easier to take layers off than magic warm ones out of thin cold air.

If you do start to chill, your body reacts (quite sensibly, in terms of preserving your life) by restricting blood flow to hands and feet in an attempt to keep the core and vital organs warm – so they get colder and eventually numb. I’m told there’s even a point where frostbite ensues and bits drop off, but this has never happened to any cycling friends, so we can relax on that score.

In fact, forget I mentioned frostbite, because the act

Decent cycling shoes with merino wool socks will help keep your feet warm and even overshoes if it’s cold enough. Hand-wise, I just use ordinary fleece gloves, which have space for silk undergloves if the temperature dips below freezing. At the moment I’m testing some battery-powered heated gloves for a motorcycle magazine but, lovely as they sound, they’re really far too bulky for cycling.

Now then, the head. It really is an old wives’ tale that most of your body heat is lost through the top of your head, but if you go round bare-headed on a cold day, that won’t help very much. I find a beanie can keep your bonce toasty on all but the coldest days. If you wear a helmet, you’ll need a skull cap underneath it to keep the cold draught away or, if it’s not quite so cold, a headband will keep your ears and forehead warm while allowing the scalp to breathe. Finally, don’t forget to fill in the gaps.

I’m especially fond of Buffs (or any neckwarmer), which offers a lovely comforting wrap around the neck and, if need be, up and over your nose. This gives a hint of urban warrior, so may not be suitable for Sherborne. Talking of gaps, beware of flapping cuffs and trouser legs, which virtually invite chilly breezes into your inner sancta.

Of course, if you’re just cycling into town, all of this is overkill and wearing what you normally would for walking around on a cold day – including gloves and head covering – should be enough. PH

of cycling warms you up (excluding extremities) far more than walking, unless you’re a brisk, no-nonsense strider. As a result, you will probably end up wearing less to be warm than you might think necessary. This makes the first mile or so decidedly chilly but, trust me, you will warm up.

A base layer is a great start, whatever you’re wearing over the top, because it’s very good at wicking moisture (all right, sweat) away from the body. Sweat is very good at stopping you from overheating, but if you stop on the roadside on a cold day, sticky under bri-nylon, the trapped sweat will soon have you shivering. It’s good if your various layers are as adaptable as possible – multiple thin layers are better than a couple of thick bulky ones – and arm warmers are a good idea, as they’re easy to slip on and off.

P

eter has covered rider preparation well, though I find that specialist waterproof or windproof cycling gloves are a good investment – we even stock a lobster-claw style, which keeps fingers together for extra warmth. A recent topic on Digby Etape Cycling Club’s messages was runny noses while riding, this is snot the place to go into detail but remember tissues. Don’t forget to prepare your bike, as roadside repairs in the cold are no fun. Good tyres are essential in winter, with puncture protection and tread to grip the slippery roads. Regular cleaning and careful lubrication will protect your pride and joy from salt, keep it running smoothly and save you money on repairs. We have Muc Off kits to clean, protect and lube. MR dcn.org.uk rileyscycles.co.uk Riley’s are offering 10% off a service to Sherborne Time readers throughout February.

Please mention this article when booking. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 63

On Foot

SHERBORNE TO BRADFORD ABBAS Nicky King, The Eastbury Hotel

N

ow that the relatives are getting more elderly I’m always on the lookout for a walk that doesn’t involve too many hills – and definitely no stiles. It seems that an amble fulfilling both these specifications is hard to come by in our lovely county.

Our normal Christmas routine has been what is fondly called the pork pie walk, from the Queens Arms in Corton Denham. A beautiful walk along Corton Denham ridge either side of the pub and the promise of a delicious warm pork pie makes for a lovely Boxing Day outing. Last year sadly only the young felt able to tackle the climb up to the trig point, leaving behind the more elderly guarding our pork pie rations!

This year I thought I would try and encourage them all (16 in total) to ring the changes and walk out in a westerly direction. Lyn, the manager at The Three Wishes, suggested this walk to me last week and I tried it out with my friend Tracy at the weekend. We started near Sherborne Abbey Primary School on Lenthay Road and headed towards Thornford and Bradford 64 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Abbas. Lyn was right – it is completely flat and without a single stile to negotiate. The couple of stiles we did come across had handy gates to the side.

We walked up to Thornford, which did involve a slight incline, before heading from there to Bradford Abbas. It was a really lovely walk on what was a dull day – stunning views to be had, no roads to cross and no pheasants to tempt the two terriers we had with us who, on occasion, have been gone a significant time in fruitless pursuit of game. The only disappointment was that we had to return the same way we had come, except for a couple of miles in the middle where we went into the two villages. The Kings Arms, Thornford, or the Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas, are useful stopping points for lunch, coffee or a thirst-quenching half of cider. It took us about 2.5 hours for an eightmile walk in total - so not for the faint-hearted, but a very easy walk indeed. theeastburyhotel.co.uk

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Body & Mind

DEAR ROBINâ&#x20AC;Ś

Robin Hague, Robin James Salon & Spa

In this new monthly feature, the South Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top hairdresser, salon-and-spa owner Robin James is on hand to answer your questions about hairdressing and life in general

66 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

SJ: I’ve been colouring my hair for 25 years and want to see what my natural colour is like. It looks frightful after about eight weeks due to the regrowth, so I then recolour it. How am I ever going to achieve my objective without having to wear a hat for a year?

Well, there are several solutions. It sounds to me like you have an all-over colour. If the colour is a strong contrast to your own, then it will of course show as strong regrowth. Using a semi-permanent colour on the roots is a great way of masking the regrowth whilst you grow out the permanent colour. The semi-permanent shade will fade over a few weeks, so it will need to be redone.

Another idea is to weave some lights through to break up the solid colour and brighten up root regrowth at the same time. The highlights will bridge the contrast.

NC: What is the difference between balayage and ombré colour applications?

Pronounced bah-lee-ahge, this is a technique a stylist uses to highlight your hair and it can be used to achieve many different looks. With balayage, also known as hair painting, the lightener or hair colour is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect from end to root and is all about creating beautiful blends of multi-dimensional colour.

Ombré or sombré is a popular look defined by hair that is dark at the root, then blends into a lighter and lighter shade as it gets to the ends. To achieve this stark dark-to-light dip-dyed look, a stylist will use the balayage or hair-painting technique. This is much more of a contrast than balayage, which has a gentler, more sunkissed appearance.

LB: In the cold winter months I love talking long hot baths. Could you tell me if the hot water is good or bad for my skin?

Especially during the chillier months, the thought of taking a long soak in a hot bath is so very tempting. Unfortunately, cranking up the water temp can take a serious toll on your skin, leaving it dry and irritated. Opt for warm over hot, and try to limit showers and baths to 5-10 minutes whenever possible. (Bonus: you’ll save money and the Earth!) You can also combat hot water’s drying effects by proactively stepping up the hydration: add a few drops of nourishing Aveda Composition Oil to your bath, and swap your normal shower gel for a Creme Cleansing Oil

IR: What can I do about winter frizz?

Frizz is caused by changes in humidity levels, which makes each hair strand expand and reshape (and, unsurprisingly, extreme weather, central heating and air-conditioning can play a key role). To keep frizz levels under control, hydration is essential; but there are other tips and techniques that can help you achieve sleek, groomed tresses. I can’t recommend highly enough the Aveda Smooth Infusion range of products. For example from the range is the Naturally Straight product that progressively straightens and smoothes your hair with every use. As you blow-dry your hair, plant-derived fibres help create a locking layer to help hold your hair straight, day after day. The Organic cassava root helps form a barrier against intense humidity to help you forget about frizz. It literally means straight styling becomes faster and easier. It really is remarkable! robin-james.co.uk

Send your questions for Robin to bodyandmind@sherbornetimes.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

Body & Mind

WHAT TO WEAR Lindsay Punch, personal stylist

F

ebruary can be a strange month when it comes to clothes shopping. The shops are filled with new spring products, but we’re usually stuck in what feels like a never-ending winter. Meanwhile, your style choices may be in limbo, your current wardrobe staples consisting of a faithful baggy jumper, comfy jeans and ankle boots that have seen you through the rain and frost. It’s also easy to resort to an all-black ensemble and be done with it.

You can shake off those grey skies, however, because transitional dressing between the seasons can be both fun and colourful. Try giving your winter fabrics a new lease of life by introducing key pieces that will have you looking forward to brighter days.

To start with, stock up on lightweight knitwear. For a splash of colour in the gloom don’t be afraid to dabble in red. As Audrey Hepburn said, “There’s a shade of red for every woman.” If your skin has more of a yellow undertone opt for a warmer orangey red, while if you have pink or blue undertones, go for the pinkier end of the red spectrum. If you’re not feeling quite ready for that, though, pink is a lighter alternative that never fails to infuse a healthy glow. If knitwear doesn’t leave you feeling inspired, don’t be afraid to mix fabrics – pair leather with lace or florals to give your femininity some edge.

Stripes will never go out of style and have become a uniform for many women. They are effortless, chic and can easily be layered with colourful statement necklaces or 68 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

printed scarves. However, if your stripe obsession is out of hand and your wardrobe has started to resemble one giant Breton T-shirt, the high street will be full of rainbow, seaside or blue banker stripes to offer you an alternative.

You may also ignore the myth that horizontal stripes widen your silhouette – science has declared they do not!

The iconic trench coat never loses its appeal in springtime. It’s much more than a wardrobe basic and promises to be one of the most functional pieces you own. A trench can be layered over your current chunky knitwear or classically paired with a Breton stripe for a Parisian look. Whether you stick to the classic doublebreasted silhouette or want to experiment with new trends such as slouchy fabrics and big buckles, it will be a piece you’ll wear forever.

You can step into the new season feeling confident there are practical shoe trends available – as well as nonsensible skinny stilettos. Also look out for ankle boots in vibrant shades come spring. A red boot will add a pop of colour to a neutral camel, grey, black or navy winter coat.

The most important thing to remember when transitional dressing comes into play is to think about what you already own, then mix and match and see what fun combinations you can up with. If you are investing in anything new, take into account how those inbetween pieces can work now and later. lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk

HIIT IT

Ryan Clayton, fitness instructor and personal trainer, Oxley Sports Centre

H

IIT, or high-intensity interval training, is a training technique in which you give all-out, one hundred percent effort through quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short, sometimes active, recovery periods. This type of training gets and keeps your heart rate up, burning fat in less time.

HIIT training can be performed in numerous ways. You can use lots of equipment or no equipment whatsoever, it can be performed at the gym or at home, outside or inside. The main point is getting your body moving fast and efficiently for short bursts of time.

So why is HIIT training so beneficial? The first thing is it doesn’t take very long, so if your excuse is, “I have no time to exercise,” look no further – 20-30 minutes a day is all you need to get that beach body you have always wanted.

Benefit number two, it burns calories twice as fast.

Studies show that 15 minutes of high-intensity intervals burns more calories than jogging on the treadmill for an hour. That means no more tedious 60-minute trips to the gym – get in, get out, feel great.

Benefit number three, it boosts your metabolism. The American College of Sports and Medicine have said that high-intensity interval training helps you consume more oxygen than a non-interval workout routine. The excess amount of oxygen consumed helps increase your metabolic rate from about 90 minutes to 144 minutes after a session of interval training. Thus the increased metabolism helps burn more calories at a faster rate,

which means you can now really justify that second digestive with your cup of tea.

Benefit number four, you don’t need one single piece of equipment. As I mentioned before, all you need is a little open space to get your body moving, so any exercises that get your heart rate up quickly – such as plyometrics or sprints (on the spot if you haven’t got much room) – will be just as effective as any piece of gym equipment you can think of.

Finally, it’s great for those of you looking for a challenge. Speaking from experience, HIIT workouts are the most challenging training I have ever done and even now it never gets any easier – it really tests your character and your willingness to want to achieve results.

Being able to push yourself to the maximum for those extra 10 seconds out of your comfort zone is a really rare quality to have so, if intrinsic motivation is something you struggle with and you need someone to push you that little bit further, then listen up. From this month, Oxley Sport Centre will be providing you with HIIT classes, which will be 45 minutes long and will include a mixture of plyometrics, TRX suspension trainers, battle ropes and much, much more.

Information on Oxley’s classes and personal trainers can be found on their website oxleysc.com. Alternatively please give them a ring or just pop into the centre where they will be happy to answer any questions. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

Body & Mind

SCRUB UP

Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms

M

odern life is rife with irony. We keep our breath fresh with various minty products, deodorise several parts of our bodies and ward off germs with antibacterial gels. Yet – and here’s the irony – most of us are walking the world with dirtier skin than ever.

Research conducted by The International Dermal Institute reflects that most people only spend 20 seconds washing their face, which is odd when you consider how long was spent on hair and make-up in the morning.

Simply put, 20 seconds is not long enough to get the skin clean after a day spent in the 21st century.

Our skin is actually ‘dirtier’ than it was in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ times because we do more, apply more and are exposed to more. The increasing presence of environmental pollutants in the air and modern skin habits, as well as cosmetics such as waterproof and extended-wear make-up and sun block, build up. These environmental hydrocarbons and products mix with the skin’s naturally sticky sebum secretions to form a coating by the middle of the day.

Understandably, a splash of water and 20 seconds of cleansing can’t penetrate this layer of oil-based debris that 70 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

coats the skin’s surface. Furthermore, using shower gel or soap as a facial cleaner can leave the skin sensitive and dehydrated, as the alkaline nature of these products upsets the balance of the skin. Far better for gents, with only the grime of the day to wash off, to get a specific facial wash that is balanced for use on this, more exposed skin.

When we apply a cleanser or facial wash we generally use a gel-based, sudsy or milky cleanser. All contain surface-active ingredients or surfactants that provide the primary cleansing action. During the initial cleansing process, the water-based portion of the cleanser dissolves water-soluble debris – namely sweat and some environmental factors. The surfactants then emulsify fatty debris such as sebum, make-up, pollution and sunscreens, allowing them to dissolve into the rinse water.

Considering the amount of material that potentially clings to the skin, this initial cleansing will only remove superficial debris and is certainly not adequate unless you perform a second cleanse. However, a double cleanse with only a water-based cleanser will not dissolve all oilsoluble substances applied to the skin, or effectively clean an oily skin. The purpose of cleansing the skin is not to

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achieve a squeaky and tight-feeling sensation, but to clean and condition without compromising the skin barrier function.

The most effective and deepest cleanse can be achieved by first using a cleansing oil. But how can an oil make me cleaner, I hear you ask?

In chemistry, it is said that like attracts like and like dissolves like. So cleansers formulated with plant-based oils can easily melt the oil-based debris on the skin, as the oil molecules bond to each other.

These oils then emulsify with the addition of water to encapsulate and remove the trapped dirt and products. Once this is sloshed away with water, the second cleanse with a water-based cleanser can then penetrate even further, without making the skin feel too dry or stripped.

Don’t skimp on the cost of a proper cleanser and seek advice and samples to find the best choice for you. Although only on your skin a short time, the right cleanser can be as valuable as the right moisturiser. thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk

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01935 818270 www.oxleysc.com Bradford Road, Sherborne DT9 3DA www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

Body & Mind

A NEW APPROACH TO WEIGHT LOSS Tony Smith D.Hyp. GQHP. MNCH(Reg) Registered Hypnotherapist (GHR) ,The Sherborne Rooms

I

n evolutionary terms, homo sapiens has not advanced a great deal biologically from when we were hunter-gatherers about 10,000 years ago. As we’ve been around for about 200,000 years, it means that for 95% of our history we, like other animals, were focused on getting and eating food for survival. Today we live in a society that provides everything, but our brain is still programmed to keep us alive by eating whenever we can and cherishing hard-to-find sweet berries and fruits. We may be consciously aware that Tesco is open 24 hours a day, but the part of our brain that we share with our ancestors – which manages our bodies and our relationship with food – isn’t. Small wonder that we are getting steadily more obese.

Medical journal The Lancet reported that in 2010, three times as many people worldwide died from obesity-related illnesses than from starvation and malnutrition. Obesity is seen to be as bad as smoking for our health. It’s not that the last few generations have been exceptionally greedy or couldn’t resist cakes and biscuits – it’s our increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

The manufactured foods we buy contain unexpected ingredients such as added sugar – a jar of pasta sauce has 12 teaspoons of it, while low-fat yoghurt has five. We also experience higher stresses than previous generations and, when we are stressed or anxious, we eat more and turn to comfort foods. The problem is that no-one has a piece of fruit or vegetable as a comfort food.

It’s also worth looking at how and where we eat.

Have you ever wondered why you feel fuller than you would at home when you’ve eaten at a restaurant? It’s because in a restaurant you’re usually more mindful.

72 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

You’re more aware of the food and the way it tastes and you have probably taken more time over it. That could be why restaurants don’t provide an easy chair and a TV and let you eat the food from a plate on your knee.

Try this mindful eating test – put a sultana in your mouth and for about 20 seconds just hold it there, noticing its texture and feel. Then, very slowly bite it.

Note the sweetness, the taste and aroma – and that’s just a humble sultana! Imagine if you took a little extra time and did that with more of your food?

If you’ve ever been on a diet you’ll know how hard it is to maintain your weight loss. Once you start eating the foods you’ve been told to avoid, the pounds creep back. So how can you break the cycle?

Sherborne Rooms and Sherborne Clinical Hypnotherapy are providing six-weekly one-and-ahalf-hour sessions, developed over three years, where you can delve much more deeply into the basics of why and how we eat. You’ll be taught self-hypnosis to reduce your stress and how to eat mindfully. Further hypnosis is optional and will be provided after the main session if desired. The aim is for manageable, sensible weight loss that can be maintained over time by changing your perspective on food.

There are no fad diets, miracle foods or exercise regimes. You are the one in charge because you are an individual and you are the expert on you.

If you are interested in making a long-lasting change to your diet habits, pick up a leaflet from The Sherborne Rooms or email tony.hypno@gmail.com for more information. sherbornehypno.com

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Body & Mind

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom, GP and complementary practitioner, Glencairn House

T

he immune system is your body’s defence against disease. It is made up of millions of cells with many functions that include absorption and death of bacteria, as well as production of antibodies and anti-viral substances. In order for the immune system to work effectively an optimal supply of vitamins, minerals and food components provided by a mixed balanced diet is needed.

Vitamin C boosts immunity against the ‘common cold’ viruses – studies have shown the duration of a cold is reduced by 20% with vitamin C supplementation. Sucking zinc lozenges boosts the action of immune cells in the throat and reduces the duration of a viral sore throat. The mineral selenium stimulates the production of ‘killer’ white blood cells and, along with vitamin E, stimulates antibody production. Amino acids, the building blocks for protein as found in meat and eggs, are essential for optimal function of the immune system. Eggs also contain vitamin D, which is needed for an efficiently acting immune system. Another source of protein is fish – choose oily fish such as mackerel and salmon as they also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have antiinflammatory properties. Garlic has natural antiseptic properties that denature bacteria and viruses. If your lifestyle is such that a mixed balanced diet is not achievable, you could supplement with multivitamin and minerals, garlic tablets and fish oil capsules. Other supplements worth considering are echinacea, which increases the number and activity of the immune system blood cells, and also probiotics, which prime the immune system against other bacterial infections by stimulating antibody production.

74 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

There are also a number of lifestyle measures worth considering that boost the activity of your immune system. Regular moderate exercise increases the number of circulating immune cells – but beware, endurance overtraining does the opposite. A regular sound night’s sleep is also important for regeneration and rejuvenation, due to the secretion of growth hormone and other healing substances. One study has shown that less than seven hours’ sleep is associated with a higher incidence of the common cold. Stress-relieving strategies such as ‘mind–body’ techniques including yoga and meditation should be considered, as excess stress causes adrenal strain and reduces production of cortisol, the body’s natural anti-inflammatory substance. Other lifestyle measures are moderation in alcohol intake, as excess impairs bone marrow blood cell production. Smoking is obviously unwise, since it loads the body with damaging oxidants and noxious components that encourage inflammation as well as inactivation of the respiratory lining clearance process.

So to sum up, if you wish to boost your immune system you should eat a mixed, balanced diet that contains minerals and vitamins, as well as amino acids and omega-3 fish oils. Supplementation with multivitamins and minerals should be considered if you find the above mentioned diet difficult to achieve. Take regular exercise, address stress issues and get enough sleep. Drink in moderation and don’t smoke. Hopefully the above strategies will boost your immune system and fend off virus and bacterial infections. doctorTWRobinson.com GlencairnHouse.co.uk

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76 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

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Property

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by Mark Lewis FRICS FNAVA, Partner, Symonds & Sampson

M

aurice Williamson and his wife sat in George Hayward’s office on a Monday afternoon. Arrangements were in place for George’s firm to auction their land and this meeting was to decide on the reserve price.

George was upbeat. “I have spoken to the neighbouring farmers and they all say they’re coming, so we could have a bit of fun.”

“Just so long as Brian Prince doesn’t buy it,” said Mrs Williamson. “I know we need the money, but selling to him would be hard to take; he’s disgusting.”

The Williamsons did, indeed, need the money.

Maurice was a fair stockman, but he’d bought a racehorse and had soon become entranced by the racing world. Every time his horse was racing, Maurice

80 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

and his wife went along to the meet. They were often seen in the paddock, chatting to the jockey.

They employed a dairyman but, as they became more and more distracted by the racing, the farm income drifted. Balancing the trainer and vet bills against the milk cheque put a strain on their finances and they reached breaking point when the rent was due.

The racehorse was sold, but the debts were too great. As soon as the bank applied some pressure, a relinquishment of the tenancy followed. The recent dispersal sale had covered the bank loan, but the sale of the land was crucial to their future.

George was well aware of Brian Prince. Aged in his fifties, Brian was a horse dealer, buying at the New Forest pony sales and then shipping the animals over

to France for the table. He was a hard worker, but his local reputation for selling stock was not good and he was known for being untrustworthy. His word was certainly not his bond.

The land for sale was in the Purbecks, between Corfe Castle and Swanage. It was made up of 30 acres in four enclosures. With only one road access point, it could not be split into lots – the neighbours were the only ones able to reach the back fields from their own holdings. The reserve was £60,000.

The auction room was full and the Williamsons’ land was the first lot. George briefly described the land and then invited bids.

“Who will start me at £60,000?”

Nobody moved, but then a man from Bournemouth, who wanted the land for a caravan park, proposed £50,000. Brian Prince bid £52,000 and the price rose in equal increments until it reached £60,000.

George was relaxed as he expected the neighbouring farmers to start bidding, but they just stared back at him. To his surprise and his client’s disappointment, the hammer fell to Brian Prince at the reserve.

Brian left the room followed by the neighbours and George offered the next lot. He was soon interrupted by shouting from outside the hall. George sent his clerk, Colin Lowland, to see what was happening but, before Colin could get out of the room, the doors flew open followed by Brian Prince, who had been pushed with some force and was sprawled on the floor.

George left the rostrum, picked up Prince and went outside. Two of the farmers whom George had expected to bid for the Williamsons’ land were there, in a very agitated state and spoiling for a fight.

“What the hell is going on?” asked George. One of the farmers, with eyes blazing, pointed at Prince.

“He’s a twister, a twister – and he’s going to get what’s coming.”

George stood between them. “I’ll sort this out after the auction, but shut up, the three of you.” Pointing to the auction room, he said, “People are trying to do business in there.”

George went back to the rostrum and apologised to the crowd. After the remaining lots were sold, he called Brian Prince and the two farmers into an anteroom and heard what had happened. One of the farmers said: “This tinker called us and said it was stupid of us to bid against each other, so why didn’t we split the

land between us? He would bid and then we’d all pay for certain fields.”

Prince moved to hide behind George. “We had a deal but I paid them £100 not to bid against me,” Brian said. “But we didn’t get it in writing and an oral contract is not worth the paper it’s written on! I bought it and I’ll keep it.”

The two neighbours moved forward crying, “You liar.” Brian ducked and cowered behind George. As Colin, who was listening outside, told everyone later, “It was about to get very ugly, but George thought on his feet and came up with a brilliant solution.”

George looked at all three of them. “You probably spotted the notice on my rostrum?” They shook their heads in unison. “Well, it is an extract from the auction bidding agreements act of 1969 and confirms that it is illegal to organise a buying ring. We can either throw this at the lawyers and prosecute you, or I can use my auctioneer’s discretion and, as there is a bidding dispute, re-offer the land. Which would you prefer?”

The three looked sheepish. “Don’t suppose we’ve got much choice,” they agreed.

“Right,” said George. “Mr Prince’s bid is £60,000.

Would one of you like to bid £62,000?”

One of the neighbours nodded and the two of them bid the price up. Brian Prince bid £99,000 but, when the neighbour bid £100,000, he threw his arms in the air and said, “You can have it at that price.” An extra £40,000 had been raised, but only Brian and the neighbour had bid. The third farmer had said and done nothing.

The Williamsons were delighted but confused in equal measure.

George produced the contract and the successful bidder walked up to the rostrum. “I appreciate you being so fair, Mr Hayward. I should have known not to trust Prince. I wish I had never listened to him.”

He signed the contract and gave George the deposit cheque, then signed another for £500 and beckoned to his other neighbour, who had been lurking at the back of the room. “Here you are, Peter. Thank you for not bidding against me.”

George pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

They had just broken the law, but he decided to pretend he had seen and heard nothing at all. symondsandsampson.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Property

HOME SAFETY

Anita Light & Paul Gammage, Ewemove Sherborne

I

s your property safe and secure – and, more importantly the inhabitants? Please make sure you and your property don’t become an unwanted statistic in 2017.

In 2015 the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) found that there were almost 800,000 instances of domestic burglary in the UK, with most perpetrators preying on vulnerable properties with poor levels of security. That means approximately one burglary every 40 seconds. It also seems that the majority of these are not planned, but simply opportunistic.

carry out various checks. Those checks include checking the boiler, gas appliances, radiators, fires and cookers.

Have you ever accidentally left your door

Faulty electrics cause about 6,000 fires each year

unlocked? 73% of burglars use the door!

Government statistics reveal that in the year 2014/15 there were 31,300 ‘dwelling’ fires, a shocking 50% of which were caused by cooking appliances – and 30% of which were in properties with no fire alarm. In 2015, 200 people died in house fires.

With an estimated 64% of UK householders admitting to occasionally leaving their house unlocked when they go out, it’s not hard to see how those opportunities arise.

Check the quality of your locks and the state of your windows, doors and frames. You should have a deadlock and all your locks should be of British or European standard. Consider using toughened glass for windows and avoid glass panels if you can. Don’t forget to check door and window frames too, as rotten wood makes easy work for a burglar.

Your alarm system – do you use it?

According to recent research, less than half of UK adults have a burglar alarm or security system and only a quarter of those automatically contact the police. Meanwhile, a survey by Halifax found that only 34% of householders actually activate their alarm on a regular basis.

Consider other forms of protection too, such as light timers (used by fewer than 25% of people in the UK), movement sensors (owned by just 18% of householders) and security cameras (only 9% of householders have these).

The hidden and serious dangers in your property

A recent survey by CORGI HomePlan found that only 10% of people buying a property think that they should

82 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Carbon monoxide is a very real danger

According to statistics from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), carbon monoxide poisoning resulted in about 40 deaths and 200 hospitalisations in the UK in 2013.

Other research indicates that there are about 4,000 A&E attendances regarding treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning each year, some of which can lead to life-changing neurological issues.

What you need to do

1 Before you purchase a property, ask for the service record for all gas appliances including boilers, central heating, fires, cookers and portable heaters. If you’re letting the property you have a legal responsibility to ensure all appliances have been checked by a Gas Safe-registered engineer and that these checks are carried out yearly.

2 Fit a good-quality fire alarm and check monthly that it works. Look for alarms that have a quality mark and make sure you put them in a hallway (not the kitchen). If you’re a landlord, you must fit at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the property. You must also fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burner.

3 Get into the habit of checking that your appliances are switched off and unplugged, and close doors each night before you go to bed. Most fires start at night. ewemove.com/sherborne

Hi, we’re Anita and Paul Branch Directors of EweMove Sherborne Your Local Property Expert

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I have experience of buying & selling properties & how stressful it often is. On this occasion however, I have been lucky in discovering ‘EweMove’ who take the stress out of it by providing a brilliant service. I feel like they are working solely for me. Paul & Anita at EweMove in Sherborne are constantly in contact with us keeping us up to date with everything. They are professional in what they do, yet put me at ease so I feel confident to ask them anything that I am unsure about. From initially contacting them online I feel we have had their constant attention.

Whereas other more traditional agents are either unavailable or slow to respond. The photos, description & overall presentation of our house sale have been superb. I feel that this has been a significant factor in securing us a buyer within hours of being marketed. I can’t recommend Paul & Anita at EweMove highly enough.

Get Your FREE Online Valuation Estimate Visit: EweMove.com/Sherborne Or Call: 01935 350 350

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www.valeautoservices.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

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Finance

THE POWER OF MARKETS Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning

I

n 1958, economist Leonard Read published an essay entitled, ‘I, Pencil: My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read.’ The essay, narrated from the point of view of a pencil, describes the “complex combination of miracles” necessary to create and bring to market the commonplace writing tool that has been used for generations. The narrator argues that no single individual possesses enough ability or know-how to create a pencil on their own. Rather, the mundane pencil – and the ability to purchase it for a “trifling” sum – is the result of an extraordinary process driven by the knowledge of market participants and the power of market prices.

88 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

The importance of price

Upon observing a pencil, it is tempting to think a single individual could easily make one. After all, it is made up of common items such as wood, paint, graphite, metal, and a rubber eraser. By delving deeper into how these seemingly ordinary components are produced, however, we begin to understand the extraordinary backstory of their synthesis. Take the wood as an example. To produce wood requires a saw; to make the saw requires steel; to make steel requires iron. That iron must be mined, smelted and shaped. A truck, train or boat is needed to transport the wood from the forest to a factory where numerous machines

convert it into lumber. The lumber is then transported to another factory where more machines assemble the pencil. Each of the components mentioned above and each step in the process have similarly complex backstories. All require materials that are sourced from far-flung locations and countless processes are involved in refining them. While the multitude of inputs and processes necessary to create a pencil is impressive, even more impressive are the coordinated actions required by millions of people around the world to bring everything together. There is the direct involvement of farmers, loggers, miners, factory workers and the providers of capital. There is also the indirect involvement of millions of others – the makers of rails, trains, ships and so on.

Market prices are the unifying force that enables millions of people to coordinate their actions efficiently.

Workers with specific knowledge about their costs, constraints and efforts use market prices to leverage the knowledge of others to decide how to direct their own resources and make a living. Consider the farmer, the logger and the price of a tree. The farmer will have a deep understanding of the costs, constraints and efforts required to grow trees. To increase profit, the farmer will seek out the highest price when selling trees to a logger. After purchasing the trees, the logger will convert them to wood and sell that wood to a factory. The logger understands the costs, constraints and efforts required to do this, so to increase profit, the logger seeks to pay the lowest price possible when buying trees from the farmer.

When the farmer and the logger agree to transact, the agreed-upon price reflects their combined knowledge of the costs and constraints of both growing and harvesting trees. That knowledge allows them to decide how to allocate their resources efficiently in seeking a profit.

Ultimately, it is price that enables this coordination.

On a much larger scale, price formation is facilitated by competition between the many farmers that sell trees to loggers and between the many loggers that buy trees from farmers. This market price of trees is observable and can be used by others in the production chain (for example, the lumber factory mentioned above) to inform how much they can expect to pay for wood and to plan how to allocate their resources accordingly.

The power of financial markets

There is a corollary that can be drawn between this narrative about the market for goods and the financial markets. Generally, markets do a remarkable job of

allocating resources and financial markets allocate a specific resource: financial capital. Financial markets are also made up of millions of participants – and these participants voluntarily agree to buy and sell securities all over the world, based upon their own needs and desires. Each day, millions of trades take place and the vast collective knowledge of all of these participants is pooled together to set share prices.

Any individual trying to outguess the market is competing against the extraordinary collective wisdom of all of these buyers and sellers. Viewed through the lens of Read’s allegory, attempting to outguess the market is like trying to create a pencil from scratch rather than going to the store and reaping the fruits of others’ willingly supplied labour. In the end, trying to outguess the market is incredibly difficult and expensive, and, over the long run, the result will almost assuredly be inferior when compared to a market-based approach. Professor Kenneth French has been quoted as saying, “The market is smarter than we are and no matter how smart we get, the market will always be smarter than we are.”

One doesn’t have to look far for data that supports this.

Only 17% of US equity mutual funds have survived and outperformed their benchmarks over the past 15 years.

Conclusion

The beauty of Leonard Read’s story is that it provides a glimpse of the incredibly complex tapestry of markets and how prices are formed, what types of information they contain and how they are used. The story makes it clear that no single individual possesses enough ability or know-how to create a pencil on their own, but rather that the pencil’s miraculous production is the result of the collective input and effort of countless motivated human beings. In the end, the power of markets benefits all of us. The market allows us to exchange the time we require to earn money for a few milliseconds of each person’s time involved in making a pencil.

For an investor, we believe the lesson here is that, instead of fighting the market, one should pursue an investment strategy that efficiently and effectively harnesses the extraordinary collective power of market prices. That is, an investment strategy that uses market prices and the information they contain in its design and day-to-day management. In doing so, an investor has access to the rewards that financial markets make available to providers of capital. ffp.org.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Your Life, Your Money, Your Future Trusted, professional, fee based advice We live in a complex world. At FFP we aim to remove complexity, replacing it with simplicity and clarity so that our clients can enjoy their lives without worry

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The value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise, and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment.

90 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Tech

T

he options for banking and shopping online have never been so vast or the payment methods never more complex. But while you might feel safe among the growing hordes of internet shoppers and bankers, there are still some simple steps you need to follow to protect your details and avoid ID fraud.

Mobile and online banking

Online banking has been around for many years now.

Most banks and building societies also offer apps that allow you to bank via your mobile phone or tablet with similar functionality. Despite what you might think, banks aren’t stupid! They make you use multiple layers of security and card readers or code generators to confirm unusual transactions. It’s pretty safe so long as you don’t tell ANYBODY your login details and you use the bank’s recommended ‘Rapport’ security software. In the end, if you do get defrauded, the bank will simply refund your money. I can see no reason not to do online banking.

Before you buy

Always try to use websites you are familiar with, have been recommended to you, or that belong to a retailer you trust before making a purchase. You should also look out for the padlock symbol when you are buying anything online. The symbol that is normally in the top left of your address bar should be closed rather than open and the company name may also be shown in green. You should also check if the site address changes from http:// to https://. This means the page is secure. If either of these signs fails to appear, don’t use the site.

Never use a site that does not contain any contact details for the company because if something goes wrong, it may prove impossible to contact the company afterwards. If in doubt, then only use a brand that you are familiar with. Print a copy of your order that can be

the evidence you need if you must claim a refund later.

Protection

The same consumer rights you have when shopping on the high street also apply online. The items must be of satisfactory quality and the description of the item must not be misleading. If you find that goods you have purchased are faulty, you are entitled to return them for a full refund, providing you return them within 30 days.

Methods of payment

The best way to make a purchase online is to use your credit card. If the item or service is worth more than £100 and less than £30,000, then you will be protected by the Consumer Credit Act, which means that the credit card company will be liable for any defects. The credit card company is then equally responsible as the vendor, especially if the vendor was misleading or if the goods never arrive. However, this protection only applies when buying from UK websites.

Alternatively, you can make purchases using PayPal. This is a safe payment system that is free to the end user (that’s you!) though there is a small fee for receiving money. With PayPal, you can send and receive money online, provided you have a valid email address. You simply sign up and register your credit card or bank with them and they then act as a middleman. This service also allows you to use different currencies. PayPal has a buyer protection feature, whereby you can claim for goods up to the value of £250 at no additional cost, but only on the condition that you make your complaint within 30 days.

As always, if in doubt, DON’T! You know where to come if you need help.

Coming up next month… Today’s biggest security issues computing-mp.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

Gas and oil appliance servicing, repair and installation plus all aspects of general plumbing Local, friendly, qualified and accredited professional

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07590 121599 or 01935 815613 Phelps Heating Solutions Ltd, 57 Granville Way, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4AT

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BRYAN C. COOPER LTD TRADITIONAL BUILDERS - Since 1968 -

A family run Sherborne business established for over 45 years Renovations, Extensions and Alterations, Patios, Boundary Walls and Fencing _________

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To advertise please contact advertising@sherbornetimes.co.uk | 01935 814803 www.sherbornetimes.co.uk 92 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

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www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

DESIGNER

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94 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

Suppliers and Manufacturers of quality Signage, Graphics and Embroidered Workwear

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24 hour emergency callout General plumbing and heating Evening and weekends Friendly and professional service No job too small Tel: 01935 584 034 | Mob: 07718 476 549 info@oakleighplumbing.co.uk www.oakleighplumbing.co.uk

Plu m b i n g & H eati n g Ltd Local & reliable plumber. Gas Safe registered, fully insured • New build • Renovations • Boiler installations • Vented & unvented cylinder installations

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Tiling & Flooring General Renovation Painting & Decorating Kitchen & Bathroom Fitting Roof Repair & Damp Proofing Fascia & Soffits Repair & Replacement Window Repairs & Replacement Guttering Repair & Service Rendering & Plastering Loft Conversions Floor Screeding

New 24 Hour Quote Service 07809 238525 | tom@homeworks.io www.homeworks.io www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

Literature

LITERARY REVIEW Hester Greenstock, Sherborne Literary Society

The Marches by Rory Stewart (Penguin Books) £18.99 (Hardback) Exclusive reader offer price of £17.99 at Winstone’s Books

T

his is the latest offering from Rory Stewart OBE, MP since 2010 for Penrith and The Border, the largest geographical constituency in England, and author of The Places In Between, written after his solo walk across Afghanistan. Stewart

96 | Sherborne Times | February 2017

now describes a trek of some 380 miles starting from Ullswater in the Lake District, his constituency base.

Here, he wants to investigate the Marches, otherwise called the Middleland, the region that lies in the north of England and the Borders region of

Scotland. He loves walking long distances and is also fascinated by human beings and their idiosyncratic likes, dislikes and beliefs. In the book, he traces the England-Scotland border and then progresses up to his family home near Crieff. This is a work with many historical layers but it is also a homage to his father, Brian Stewart – with whom he has a close relationship, yet whom he wants to understand better. The first section is an account of their joint walk along Hadrian’s Wall, during which his father accompanies him for short distances before they review their impressions in B&Bs in the evening. Rory’s experiences while in Iraq and Afghanistan, his father’s insights fighting the insurgents in Malaya in the Fifties and their joint knowledge of how the Romans maintained the northern frontier of their empire on the Wall all generate pertinent insights, not least into today’s Middle Eastern conflicts.

The main part of the book concerns the history of the Middleland, which effectively made up a third country between England and Scotland and which influenced the position of the border today. His concern about the landscape brings him into conflict

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with environmentalists who want to reduce sheep farming and preserve rare species, but who are not so keen on maintaining the Lake District sheep and their 1000-year-old history. He explains how the villages of northern England and their pattern of small farms contrast with the unpopulated swathes of land north of the border. He interviews a wide variety of people to find out their attitude to the land and discovers that their decisions for supporting independence for Scotland are often far from rational. This turns out to be true of his father’s views as well: though supporting the Union, as he used to support the British Empire, he is also an enthusiastic Scot.

In the final section there is a moving account of the end of his father’s life and his burial in the grounds of his Scottish house. The acute observations of the relationships of various people with the land make this a very thought-provoking book on a number of levels, both historical, personal and local. It is also a quest for understanding and meaning in twenty-first-century politics, written by a most unusual politician. sherborneliterarysociety.com

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