Sherborne Times July 2019

J ULY 2019 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

150 NOT OUT

with Compton House Cricket Club

sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME

W

hen I think of cricket I think of my grandfather asleep in a deck chair on the village green. A keen sportsman, he enjoyed cricket and played to acclaim in his youth. As he’d snooze – the sweet smell of ale and sandwiches hanging on the air – I’d be aware of something happening in the way of contest, some distance away. Hurling, swinging, ‘cracks’, calls and jogging back and forth. It didn’t seem to matter to my grandfather that he wasn’t actually watching, that didn’t appear to be the point, and it certainly didn’t impede his enjoyment.

At the time, as an impatient teen, I struggled with the pace and duration of a cricket match but now, under the cosh of adulthood and all that comes with it, I get it. I cherish the opportunity not to rush.

And so to July. We welcome Luke Jerram’s Dorset Moon to Sherborne Abbey and a flurry of free, linked events around town. Bees feature large and for good reason, architect Andy Foster is spellbound, Richard Bromell is torn between Triumphs and Colin Lambert calls for a taxi. Katharine and Jo meanwhile visit Compton House Cricket Club – an idyllic venue that this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. Aside from passing generations of players and personalities, it is unlikely to have altered much during that time, but then, what’s the rush?

Have a wonderful month.

Glen Cheyne, Editor glen@homegrown-media.co.uk @sherbornetimes

CONTRIBUTORS Juliana Atyeo

Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne

Simon Barber Evolver Magazine @SimonEvolver evolver.org.uk

Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio

Heidi Berry Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org

Sub editors Jay Armstrong @jayarmstrong_ Elaine Taylor

David Birley davidpfbirley@hotmail.co.uk

Photography Katharine Davies @Katharine_KDP Feature writer Jo Denbury @jo_denbury Editorial assistant Helen Brown Illustrations Elizabeth Watson @DandybirdDesign Print Pureprint Distribution team David Elsmore David and Susan Joby Christine Knott The Jackson Family Sarah Morgan Mary and Roger Napper Alfie Neville-Jones Mark and Miranda Pender Claire Pilley

Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardensgroup.co.uk Jenny Campbell Sherborne Scribblers Paula Carnell paulacarnell.com Cindy Chant Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk Ali Cockrean alicockrean.co.uk Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp Janemarie Cox janemariecox.co.uk Rebecca de Pelet Sherborne School @SherborneSchool sherborne.org Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk Stuart Doughty Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk

1 Bretts Yard Abbey Corner Sherborne Dorset DT9 3NL 01935 315556 @sherbornetimes info@homegrown-media.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk Sherborne Times is printed on 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.

4 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Jonathan Fletcher Opera in Oborne @operainoborne operainoborne.org Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.)

CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk Andy Foster Raise Architects @raisearchitects raisearchitects.com Jean Fox Sherborne Literary Society @SherborneLitSoc sherborneliterarysociety.com Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk

Pippa Hill pippahillsculpture.co.uk Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms @SanctuaryDorset thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk James Hull The Story Pig James Kirton Yeovil Hospital Charity yeovilhospital.co.uk Colin Lambert colinlambert.co.uk Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk Sasha & Tom Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Lucy Morland MSc (Hons) Grad Dip MCSP HCPC MAPCP MAPPI London Road Clinic @56londonroad 56londonroad.co.uk Millie Neville-Jones Suzy Newton Partners in Design partners-in-design.co.uk Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkevet.com Simon Partridge BSc SPFit spfit-sherborne.co.uk Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles @rileyscycles rileyscycles.co.uk Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Niina Silvennoinen Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Poppy Simonson MSc BVSc MRCVS The Kingston Veterinary Group @TheKingstonVets kingstonvets.co.uk Paul Stickland Black Shed Flowers @NaughtyDinosaur blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Matthew Street Seasons Restaurant at The Eastbury @eastbury_hotel theeastburyhotel.co.uk Jono Tregale St Pauls Church stpauls-sherborne.org.uk Grace Tuffin Sherborne Touch Rugby @SherborneTouch sherbornetouch.org.uk

66

JULY 2019

6

What’s On

52 Interiors

116 Tech

8

What’s On

60 Gardening

118 Directory

66 COMPTON HOUSE CRICKET CLUB

120 Folk Tales

14 Film 18 Shopping Guide 22 Wild Dorset 28 Family 40 Art 42 History 46 Antiques 50 Architecture

74 Food & Drink 84 Animal Care 90 Cycling 94 Body & Mind 108 Property & Legal 114 Finance

122 Community 124 Out and About 126 Short Story 128 Literature 129 Crossword 130 Pause for Thought

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

Share the Audi experience.

To find out about the Yeovil Audi experience, latest news and offers follow us on Instagram.

@yeovilaudiuk #myyeovilaudi

Mead Ave

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Av e M ea d

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Houndstone Business Park

Houndstone Retail Park

Preston Rd Audi.

Yeovil Luft Look No Further. on W ay

Yeovil Audi Houndstone Business Park, Mead Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8RT 01935 574981 yeovilaudi.co.uk  

ASDA

@elizabethwatsonillustrations

Listings

drink. dorsetmind.uk/services-courses/west-

First Thursday of

dorset-support-groups/

each month 9.30am

____________________________

Netwalking

‘Feel Better with a Book’ Group

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10.30am

Sherborne Library, Hound St

Explore Historic Sherborne

From Sherborne Barbers, Cheap St.

friendly group. Free. 01935 812683

Blue Badge Guide Cindy, 1½-2 hour

____________________________ Mondays 2pm-3.30pm

Shared reading aloud with a small &

From Sherborne TIC, Digby Rd. With

____________________________

walk. £8 cindyatsherbornewalks@gmail.com

Second Monday of month

____________________________

Free walk & talk with other small business owners & entrepreneurs.

FB: Netwalk Sherborne Instagram:

yourtimecoaching Twitter: @yt_coaching

____________________________

9.30am-3.30pm

Thursdays 1.30pm-2.30pm

First Thursday of each month

West Country Embroiderers -

The Sherborne Library Scribes

2pm-3.30pm

Inchies, Twinchies & Rinchies

Library writing group for sharing

“My Time” Carers’ Support Group

____________________________

Advice, coffee & chat. 01935 601499

Bishops Caundle Village Hall. 01963 34696 ____________________________ Last Monday of month 5pm-6pm Bookchat

& discussion

The Shielings, The Avenue, DT9 3AJ. or 01935 816321

____________________________

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

Fridays 2pm

____________________________

Leaving from Waitrose. Free, friendly

A lively book discussion group

Sherborne Health Walks

1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6pm-8pm

walk around Sherborne. 07825 691508

Dorset Mind - Sherborne

____________________________

Wellbeing Group

Monday 1st 7.30pm-9pm

Costa Coffee, Cheap St. £3 incl. free

Insight Event: The Cost of Care

8 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

JULY 2019 Forgive Me?

Sunday 14th 11.15am

insight.sherborneabbey.com/events

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

Family Pet Service

Friday 5th – Sunday 7th

£12 (please book) 01935 815341

____________________________

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. £5. ____________________________

Tickets £6 from TIC. Pre-film supper

Yetminster Fair Field Marquee

____________________________

Sunday 14th 11.30am-3.30pm

Under The Moon Town Walks

Friday 12th 2pm-3pm

Sherborne Steam Waterwheel

2-hour stroll with Blue Badge

Author talk with Barbara Spencer

Centre Open Day

Guide. Bookings: Sherborne TIC or sherbornewalks.co.uk

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

Oborne Road DT9 3RX.

____________________________

01935 812683

____________________________

____________________________

various times/routes

Entry by donation. sswc.co.uk

Friday 5th – Sunday 14th all day

Friday 12th 6pm

Sunday 14th 2.30pm-4pm

Silton Art Group Art Exhibition

Yetminster Fair Weekend

Music in the Park

Butterfly House, Castle Gardens, New Rd

Opening Party

Pageant Gardens, Digby Rd.

Friday 5th 3.30pm-5.30pm

food & family activities. Free

____________________________ Sherborne Primary School Fete

Yetminster Sports Club. Live music,

Free open-air concert

____________________________

____________________________

Monday 15th 7.30pm-9pm

Harbour Way, DT9 4AJ

Friday 12th 6.30pm for 7.30pm

Insight Event: Post-Modern

____________________________

The Tempest by Illyria

Saturday 6th 8am-10am

Outdoor Theatre

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. £5.

Men’s Breakfast

Castle Gardens, DT9 5NR. £15/£13/£5

St Pauls Church, DT9 4HU

insight.sherborneabbey.com/events

____________________________

Bring picnics/blankets. illyria.co.uk

Wednesday 17th 2.30pm

____________________________

Sherborne WI:

Saturday 6th 12.30pm-10pm

Saturday 13th 2pm

The History of Dorset Buttons

Twisted Cider Open Day

Whist Drive in aid of the

Spring Farm, Bradford Lane,

Rendezvous

Catholic Church Hall, Westbury DT9

Cider, food, music, games

to include tea & prizes. Tickets from

19th - 21st July

____________________________

Maumbury Rings, Dorchester. FREE

____________________________

3RA. £4, to include refreshments

Longburton DT9 6ES.

Methodist Church Hall, Cheap St. £10

____________________________

TIC or 01935 815816 vicki@addey.co.uk

Museum of the Moon

Friends of the Yeatman

Saturday 13th 2pm

Car Boot Sale

Over with Nether Compton Fete

lunar-themed events. moonburyrings.co.uk

The Terraces, DT9 5NS. £5 sellers; 50p

The Green, Nether Compton. Traditional

Friday 19th 12.30pm

____________________________

Sunday 7th 8am-12pm

____________________________

____________________________

fete & fun dog show. FB: comptonfete

Sherborne Literary Society

____________________________

Annual Luncheon

Tuesday 9th 3pm-5.30pm

Saturday 13th 8pm-1am

RVS Sherborne Lunch Club

Big Shorts in the Barn

Leweston School. Speaker: John

Celebration Tea Party

North Wootton Farm, North Wootton

buyers. Free parking. No dogs. 07790 863518

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd

DT9 5JW. £15. Music, bar, food.

Hare OBE. Tickets from TIC or sherborneliterarysociety.com

____________________________

01935 816120

Saturday 20th 10.30am-12.30pm

____________________________

Oxfam Coffee Morning

Book Launch:

Saturday 13th 8.30pm

The Climate Change Garden

Yetminster Street Fair

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd

Butterfly House, Castle Gardens, New Rd

After-Fair Party

Saturday 20th 11am-12pm Butterfly Conservation Talk

Wednesday 10th 7.30pm

White Hart Pub. Live music, prize draw. Free

____________________________

01935 812683

____________________________ Tuesday 9th 6.30pm-9pm

____________________________ ArtsLink Flicks – Can You Ever

____________________________

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9

WHAT'S ON admission. Dog show, classic cars, BMX

Free. bveguild@gmail.com

____________________________

Saturday 3rd August 2pm-4.30pm

for Citizens Advice

Saturday 27th 2.30pm

Chetnole Fete & Flower Show

Ivy House Farm Barn, Oborne DT9 4JY.

Somerset & Dorset Family

Chetnole Village Hall. £1 Children free

____________________________ Saturday 20th 6.30pm-10.30pm Barn Dance Fundraiser

stars. 01963 362048

____________________________

£12/£5 incl. food. Tickets from TIC

History Society: The

____________________________

Photographic Legacy of

Saturday 3rd August 2.30pm

Sunday 21st 8am

the US Civil War

Trent Garden Club Flower, Craft

Sherborne 5km Run

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

& Produce Show

____________________________

____________________________

The Terraces, Sherborne. communifit.co.uk ____________________________

£3 (non-members £5)

Sunday 21st 9.30am-4pm

____________________________

Nether Compton Village Hall. £1 entry

Workshops & classes

Classic & Supercars Sherborne Castle, DT9 5NR. £13 (£15

on day) u-16s free. classic-supercars.co.uk

____________________________

____________________________

Wednesday 24th 10.30am-3.30pm

Tuesdays 9.30am-10.30am &

A Quiet Day in the Garden

10.45am-11.30am

Bembury Farm, Thornford DT9 6QF.

Nordic Walking

Bookings: 01935 812452

Starting from Milborne Port Village

Hall Car Park. Booking essential. 07779

____________________________

Sunday 28th 10am-4pm

Wednesday 24th 7.30pm

Angels of Sound Voice Playshop

Sherborne Science Café: Not So

(10am-12.30pm)

Fantastic Plastics

Crystal & Tibetan Bowl

Tuesdays 10am–12pm

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. £2

Soundbath (2pm-4pm)

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Memory

Wednesday 24th –

Crystal & Tibetan bowl Soundbath

(2pm-4pm). Oborne Village Hall DT9

Wingfield Room, Digby Hall, Hound

4LA. £12 each session.01935 389655

stage memory loss. 01935 815899

____________________________ Saturday 27th 6pm Choral Course singing Choral Evensong Sherborne DT9 3LQ

centreforpuresound.org

____________________________

____________________________

Planning ahead

Thursday 25th 6.30pm-9pm

____________________________

Wildlife Friendly Garden Awards

Friday 2nd - 5th August

Castle Gardens, new Road DT9 5NR.

Opera at Oborne: Various

620843 landwalks@gmail.com

____________________________

St. Free art class for people with early sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________ Tuesdays Watercolour Classes Wheelwright Studios, Thornford.

07742 888302 alicockrean.co.uk

____________________________

01935 814633

incl. La Bohème, Il segreto

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am-12pm

____________________________

di Susanna, Gala Concert –

The Slipped Stitch Workshops

Saturday 27th 10am-12pm

Show Songs & Arias

Sewing Repair Café

St Cuthbert’s Church, Oborne DT9 4LA.

The Julian, Cheap St. 01935 508249

The Slipped Stitch, Cheap St. Bring your

____________________________

01935 817194 info@operainoborne.org

Thursdays term-time

____________________________

9.30am-11.30am

Free/donations

Saturday 3rd August

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Parents

____________________________

10.30am-3.30pm

Saturday 27th 11am-midnight

Blackmore Vale Embroiderers

St Pauls Church Hall & West End

Henstridge Summer Festival

Guild Open Day

Recreation Ground, Henstridge. Free

Bishops Caundle Village Hall DT9 5NB.

sewing issues along for advice & help.

10 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Hall (2 separate sessions). Free art/

craft group for parents of primary age

children. 01935 815899, 07483 338969

THE DORSET OPERA

MMXIX

Country House opera with internationally-renowned soloists, a full orchestra and a chorus of 70 Marquee bar | Posh Picnics | Formal Dining Giuseppe Verdi

NABUCCO

23, 27 July at 19:00 | Matinée 25 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Gaetano Donizetti

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

24, 25 July at 19:00 | Matinée 27 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

OPERA GALA CONCERT Friday 26 July at 19:00

Box Office: 01202 499199 Online Booking: dorsetopera.com The Coade Theatre Bryanston Blandford Forum

WHAT'S ON ____________________________

____________________________

1st Tuesday of the month

Saturday 6th 10am-2pm

10am-12.45pm

Space Crafting Drop-In Session

Sherborne Sling Clinic

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Summer

Please share your recommendations and contacts via FaceBook @sherborneparents

Doodles Play Cafe, 1 Abbey Rd,

____________________________

____________________________

Thursday 25th

Mondays 4pm-7pm

Fridays 9.30am-11am

Children’s Holiday Club

Helen Laxton School of Dance

Bishops Caundle Toddler Group

Sherborne Primary School. Ballet, street

All Saints School, Bishops Caundle

Willow Banks Forest School,

School of Dance

Fridays 10am-12pm

____________________________

Edible Messy Play

Saturday 27th 10am-11am

Every Tuesday

St Pauls Church, Sherborne.

Supanova Stories & Cosmic Crafts

____________________________

Reading Challenge launch. Ages 4+.

dance & hip hop. FB: Helen Laxton

DT9 3LE. Booking essential.

kizzy@babywearingsouthwest.co.uk

____________________________

Reading Challenge launch. Ages 4-11.

01935 812683

____________________________

Leigh. Bookings: 07399 998388 willowbanksforestschool.com

____________________________

£3.50 per session. FB: @ediblemessyplay

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Summer

Baby & Toddler Group

1st Saturday of the month

Village Hall

10.30am-12pm

01935 812683

____________________________

Sticky Church

Monday 29th – Friday 2nd August

Every Tuesday 10am-11.30am

Cheap Street Church Hall. Free group

GO! Sherborne Holiday Clubs

01963 251747

4-6, 7-9 & 10-13. gosherborne.com

during term-time 9.30am Nether Compton

Sherborne Breastfeeding Group Children’s Centre, Tinneys Lane

____________________________

sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

for playgroup & primary age children.

Three activity clubs for children aged

____________________________

____________________________

Art Club@Thornford for Adults

____________________________

Wheelwright Studios, Thornford

Mondays-Sundays

alicockrean@gmail.com or alicockrean.co.uk

Meditation & Relaxation. Small classes,

Fridays

hello@yogasherborne.co.uk

DT9 6QE. 07742 888302,

Hatha Yoga

____________________________

beginners welcome. Contact Dawn:

Acrylic Classes Wheelwright Studios, Thornford.

07742 888302 alicockrean.co.uk

____________________________ Thursdays 2.30pm-4pm

____________________________

ArtsLink Fizz! Parkinson’s Dance

Yoga/pilates

Tinney’s Lane Youth & Community

____________________________

FB: @yogasherborne

____________________________ Mondays 10.30am-12pm Yoga with Gemma Longburton Village Hall. 07812 593314 gemski81@hotmail.com

____________________________

Centre. Free dance class & social time

Mondays-Thursdays

Mondays & Wednesdays

for people who live with Parkinson’s.

Yoga with Emma

Just Breathe Yoga

01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Venues - Sherborne, Milborne Port,

Classes in Yetminster, Chetnole &

Thursdays 7pm-9.30pm

Thornford. emmayogateacher@gmail.com emmareesyoga.com

justbyoga@outlook.com

12 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Corton Denham. 07983 100445

JULY 2019 ____________________________

Every third Friday 9am-1pm

Wednesdays 7pm–8pm

Tuesday evenings

Farmers’ Market

Mixed Touch Rugby

& Friday mornings

Cheap Street

Novice Taster Sessions

Digby Church Hall, Digby Rd.

Every 4th Saturday, 9am-3.30pm

DT9 6EE. £1 per session, first four sessions

01935 389357

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

Wednesdays am, Thursdays am &

____________________________

Iyengar Yoga

____________________________

Sherborne School pitches, Ottery Lane

With experienced teacher Anna Finch.

Vintage Market

____________________________

07809 387594

Compton House Cricket Club

Fridays pm

Saturday 6th 10am-4pm

Yoga with Suzanne

Summer Craft & Gift Fair

(DT9 4RB satnav).

Sherborne venues. Especially suitable for

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

____________________________

____________________________

Portland RT (A)

Wednesdays 2pm-3pm

Saturday 13th 1pm

13th

Classic Mat-based Pilates

Yetminster Street Fair

Marnhull (H)

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall.

& St Andrew’s School

20th

£7.50. 07828 625897 ali@positive-

PTFA Summer Fair

Broadstone 2nds (A)

postures.co.uk

27th

____________________________

High St & Fair Field behind

Shillingstone (H)

Fridays 4pm-5pm

White Hart Pub. Stalls,

entertainment, food & drink. Free

____________________________

____________________________

Sherborne Cricket Club

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall.

Saturday 20th 10am-4pm

The Terraces, Dorchester Rd.

ali@positive-postures.co.uk

Classic Car & Bike Event

aged 50+ 01935 873594

Classic Hatha Yoga (beginners)

Free. 01749 677049

£7.50. 07828 625897

Leigh Food Fair & Vintage/

____________________________

Leigh Village Hall. £2. U-15s free.

Fairs & markets ____________________________

leighfoodfair.co.uk

____________________________

Sport

free. 07887 800803 sherbornetouch.org

____________________________ Over Compton. DT9 4QU comptonhousecricketclub.co.uk.

1st XI 6th

sherborne.play-cricket.com 1st XI 1pm start 6th

Christchurch CC (H) 13th Poole Town (A) 20th

____________________________

Dorchester (H)

Sundays 9am (from Abbey gates)

27th

& Wednesdays 6pm (from Riley’s)

Shroton (A)

Digby Etape Cycling Club Rides

____________________________

Average 12mph for 60 minutes.

Drop bar road bike recommended.

SherborneCyclingClub

____________________________ Thursdays & Saturdays

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Pannier Market

7.30pm–8.30pm

The parade

Mixed Touch Rugby

To include your event in our FREE listings please email details – date/

Thursdays 9am-11.30am

Sherborne School pitches, Ottery

Lane DT9 6EE. £1 per session, first

time/title/venue/description/price/

four sessions free. 07887 800803

contact (in approx 20 words) – by

sherbornetouch.org

the 1st of each preceding month to

____________________________

listings@homegrown-media.co.uk

____________________________ Country Market Church Hall, Digby Road

____________________________

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

What's On

DORSET MOON

Friday 5th – Sunday 7th July

D

orset Moon, the county-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing, has inspired a variety of creative responses ahead of its visit to Sherborne Abbey this month. Starring installation artist Luke Jerram’s amazing Museum of the Moon, a mesmerising fusion of moonlight, lunar visuals made using high-definition NASA imagery of the moon’s surface and surround-sound audio, Dorset Moon is presented by three Dorset arts festivals in three locations, each with its own programme of supporting events. The majestic Sherborne Abbey will provide the backdrop for a full supporting programme as well as the inspiration for a range of community events around the town.

NB: The Abbey will be closed between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 6th July dorsetmoon.com

14 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Friday 5th

Saturday 6th

Sunday 7th

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

A Small Dream

Dorset Moon – Rockets,

Blast Off

noon-midnight

Aliens and Astronauts

noon-5pm

Sherborne Abbey. Video installation

10am-2pm

Digby Hall. Join the Space Detectives to

choreographer Hemabharathy Palani

and craft activities to mark the launch of

featuring acclaimed dancer/

Sherborne Library. Space-themed arts

in collaboration with innovative film/

Space Chase, the 2019 Summer Reading

theatre studio R&D.

____________________________ Earth Module

Challenge. Free drop-in session. Ages 4 – 11

____________________________

dress up as an astronaut, find out about different rockets and how they work

and launch your own space rocket. Free family workshop/drop-in session for

all ages. Supported by the team at The Paddock Project.

noon-midnight

A Small Dream

Sherborne Abbey. A multi-faceted dome

noon-midnight (closed 2pm-4pm)

A Small Dream

structure inside an otherwise nondescript

noon-midnight

tent with room for one or two people.

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

____________________________

Infinity mirror effects and subtle, organic

Earth Module

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

lighting patterns evoke the night sky.

noon-midnight (closed 2pm-4pm)

Earth Module noon-midnight

This Then is the Moon

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

____________________________

noon-midnight

This Then is the Moon

____________________________

Sherborne Abbey. A battered VR headset

noon-midnight (closed 2pm-4pm)

This Then Is the Moon

inspired by Eugene Cernan’s Apollo 17

noon-midnight

helmet houses a 150-second immersive

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

____________________________

digital experience which chronicles our

Train Like an Astronaut

____________________________

____________________________

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

ever-changing relationship with space.

1pm-5pm

Wind and Unwind 2pm and 8.30pm

Call of the Wild

Cheap Street Church Hall . The Space Detectives’ interactive workshop using

virtual reality experiences. Learn what it

Sherborne Abbey. With themes of absence

takes to become an astronaut. Free family

and the movement of the tides, and

drawing on the traditions of English folk

5.30pm and 11.30pm Sherborne Abbey. A sound installation

intended to transport people to the wild

corners of their psyche whilst feeling the

workshop/drop-in session for all ages.

____________________________

song and liturgical music, Helen Ottaway’s

work for musical box and voice will unwind

life force and restorative effect of male

Call of the Wild

merging together.

Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

Keith Wright in conversation

a ribbon of sound and movement.

and female wolves howling alone then

5.30pm and 11.30pm

____________________________

____________________________

with Niki McCretton

Andrew Smith

Sherborne Abbey Choir Annual

3pm

7pm

Summer Concert

Digby Hall. Andrew reads from his

7.30pm

Sherborne Abbey. Dorset artist Niki

shows recently uncovered film footage

Dove’s atmospheric piece Seek him that

account of the first moon landing and

Sherborne Abbey. To include Jonathan

from a camera positioned behind Buzz

maketh the seven stars.

Aldrin’s head.

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

McCretton interviews British engineer Keith Wright who worked for NASA on the first moon landing and even

managed to get a Union Jack on the moon in that historic mission.

____________________________ Call of the Wild 11.30pm Sherborne Abbey. See Friday 5th.

____________________________

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 15

Film

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Cinematheque

A

s Cinematheque’s season draws to a close, we can look back over the past 9 months with satisfaction. The move to the Swan Theatre, the new projector, screen and sound system, and an inspired selection of films have together resulted in a renewed buzz around our film society. However, we won’t become complacent as our 38th season starts in September. The committee has already chosen the programme of films, with many recommendations from our members. Paring back a long list to just 15 titles is a real balancing act but, with the quality of contemporary world cinema this year, we have, we believe, picked the best around.

The new season includes the Icelandic Woman at War, an hilarious but smartly plotted tale of an environmental activist who declares a one-woman war on the local aluminium plant. There are two French films on the list. House by the Sea is another of director Robert Guédiguian’s morality tales. Using an ensemble cast, Guédiguian cleverly throws up moral issues leaving one turning over the options taken days after viewing. The Guardians, an historical drama about women taking over the running of a farm while their husbands and sons fight in World War 1. The French countryside has never looked more beautiful, with fantastic cinematography.

If Beale Street Could Talk is a graceful and emotionally rich adaption of a James Baldwin novel about black lives in America, while the Lebanese film Capernaum tracks the life of a young boy in the shadows of Beirut. The award-winning 3 Faces follows 3 actresses at different stages of their careers. The director Jafar Panahi is still bravely working undercover, 8 years 16 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

into a film-making ban in Iran.

Delightful Divine Order from Switzerland is a laughout-loud telling of how Swiss women finally secured the right to vote (in 1971!), and the noble Nae Pasaran tells, from the Chilean perspective, the true story of how, in 1974, Scottish factory workers managed to ground Pinochet’s Air Force, thus saving innocent lives in Chile.

The Third Murder is a Japanese courtroom drama from favourite director Hirokazu Kore-eda, while multi-award-winning Burning is a South Korean mystery thriller concerning an uneasy love triangle.

Ralph Fiennes’ fascinating film The White Crow follows Rudolph Nureyev in the early 1960s from Russia to Paris, where he draws the attention of the KGB. The German/Austrian adrenaline-driven thriller Styx tells the story of lone yachtswoman Rieke encountering a marooned vessel. Defying warnings not to, she attempts to help... and a nightmare begins.

Two standout films from this year’s Cannes festival are Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You, a social realism film about the gig economy, and Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory, a semi-autobiographical story of a film director reflecting on his life’s choices. Both make it into our programme. The final selection is Birds of Passage - set in rural Colombia, it’s a drug epic like you’ve never seen before!

Something to whet everyone’s appetite surely in this list, so keep a lookout for viewing dates on our website.

We hope to see you at Cinematheque soon. cinematheque.org.uk swan_theatre.co.uk

OPERA IN OBORNE Jonathan Fletcher

E

ach year in August, St Cuthberts Church is transformed into a theatre for a weekend of sublime music. Whilst everything ‘back of house’ is carried out by a crew of villagers, the opera cast are all international soloists in their own right. Proceeds from the event go to the upkeep of the church.

Opera in Oborne aims to make opera accessible to all and encourages first time opera go-ers. Operas are cleverly abridged by the Director, Stephen Anthony Brown, and run for two hours rather than the normal four. Televisions are used to show plot prompts throughout the performances, so the audience doesn’t need to speak the language the opera is being sung in. Lastly, no stuffy dress codes are enforced at Opera in Oborne!

Nigel Masters, from the organising committee, says, ‘There is something magical about listening to a superb musician on a summer’s evening in a beautiful old church in the Dorset countryside. If you enjoy listening to Classic FM, this is a great way for you to listen to the music performed live.’ ​The 2019 programme is a little more ambitious than previous years, with a total of five performances:

Saturday 3rd August, 3pm

Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and

Saturday 3rd August, 3pm

Monday 5th August 2019, 8pm

Il Segreto di Susanna

The main event is the most famous opera of them all, Puccini’s La Bohème. Whether it is the fantastic music, the tears of joy and heartbreak for Rodolfo and Mimi, or the sheer style of bohemian Paris in La Belle Époque, everyone adores this most romantic of operas.

Sunday 4th August, 6pm

Image: Jim Johnson

This matinée performance is the one-hour comic opera, Il segreto di Susanna or Susanna’s Secret. All is revealed in this hilarious 60 minutes of sparkling opera at its tuneful best by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. Writing at the same time as Puccini, Wolf-Ferrari became internationally famous for his beautiful melodies and bubbling comedy. Il Segreto, with its contemporary plot and catchy tunes, is a great example of why he was one of the most performed opera composers of the 1900s.

Sunday 4th August, 6pm

Sunday sees the gala concert return for the eighth year. Previous years have included favourites such as the Toreador Song, ‘La donna è mobile’ and ‘Maria’ from West Side Story alongside some lesser known, but beautiful, arias. The perfect way to introduce opera to a wider audience. operainoborne.org

____________________________________________ Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Monday 5th August, 8pm La Boheme

The Gala Concert St Cuthbert’s Church, Oborne, DT9 4LA. To book your tickets,

please telephone 01935 817194 or email info@operainoborne.org ____________________________________________

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 17

PREVIEW In association with

Holy Moly & The Crackers Influenced by an eclectic range of music, this ever-evolving,

____________________________________________

visceral blend of styles. In the perfect collision of rowdy tunes,

Holy Moly & The Crackers

medley of original songs and old time drinking tunes, both

£10/£7 01258 475137 artsreach.co.uk

nationally acclaimed gypsy folk-rock band play an exciting and

26th July, 7.30pm

pumping danceability and compelling storytelling, expect a

The Exchange, Sturminster Newton DT10 1FH

hilarious and thrilling, and sure to entertain! Released in April

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2019, their third album ‘Take A Bite’ is a concise, passionate

27th July, 7.30pm

with Skinny Lister, HMATC are back on the road. Come along

£10/£7 artsreach.co.uk

take on folk, blues and indie rock. Fresh from a European tour

Village Hall, Halstock BA22 9SG

for the ride and join the craziest party in town!

____________________________________________

evolver.org.uk 18 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

ARTIST AT WORK

No.9: Pippa Hill, Curled Pangolin, Fired clay, 41cm x 25cm

I

grew up in the Dorset countryside surrounded by animals, cows, sheep, my pony, dogs, chickens, hamsters and even tame pigeons.

I remember the shepherd skinning a lamb to cover an orphan so the ewe would accept it, and my mother teaching me how to skin a rabbit. I would collect skulls and dried stoats from the gamekeeper’s gibbet. These things sparked an interest in anatomy and animals.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved clay; most of my sculptures are ceramic although I also make some pieces in bronze resin. My animal sculptures include British wildlife, farm animals, dogs and cats but I also make more exotic animals - rhinos, leopards or elephants.

I wanted to make a pangolin because they are in trouble; they are poached for their meat and scales. They

are fascinating and amazing creatures and will be extinct very soon if nothing is done. To get the right colour for this pangolin I used an iron slip over Earthstone ES50, with a manganese wash to pick out detail and a glaze on the claws and eyes.

This autumn Pippa will be running 3-day workshops at her studio in Charlton Horethorne. The workshops will be ceramic animal sculpture and simple plaster mouldmaking. For more details contact Pippa on 01963 220367 or info@pippahillsculpture.co.uk pippahillsculpture.co.uk Curled Pangolin is available to purchase at ÂŁ350 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

Shopping Guide

Summer reads, from £7.99 Winstone’s Iced Chai Drink £8.50 and Cold Brew Coffee £3.50 Bean Shot Coffee

Sleep Masks, £32 The Circus Giant colouring poster, £5.99 The Present Company 50/50 Colouring pencils, £8.99 The Present Company

DOWNTIME

Jenny Dickinson, Dear to Me Studio Whether relaxing on a lounger, gathering with friends for a feast or enjoying a solo hobby, we have found some perfect buys to help you unwind as we enter summer. deartomestudio.com 20 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Hand-dyed yarn, £3.20 and Stitch Markers, £5 The Slipped Stitch

Chocolate Society bars, from £3.95 The Circus

Towel beach bag, £19 White Feather

Whiskey stones, £15 Circus ll

Hand-carved teak garden lounger, £965 Susie Watson Designs sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21

‘share our passion’

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Home

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TRANSLOCATION OF THE DARK EUROPEAN HONEY BEE Niina Silvennoinen, Volunteer, Dorset Wildlife Trust

T

his spring and summer the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) Kingcombe Centre is embarking on an exciting new project: the translocation of the dark European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). The bees will be transported from an established colony in Sussex, with the aim of creating a stable population and studying their foraging habits and pollen preferences at the Kingcombe’s newly rejuvenated fruit orchard.

The dark European honey bee, also known as the British black bee, is a sub-species of the honey bee which is felt to be our ‘native’ honey bee. The bees’ distinctive features make them particularly suitable for Britain: they are well adapted to flying and surviving in cool weather conditions, and potentially have a greater resistance to disease than other strains of honey bees.

Some people worry that honey bees could compete with wild bees and other pollinators. Whilst this is theoretically possible in a very damaged environment if there were a lot of hives and very few flowers, in reality it is unlikely, especially somewhere like Kingcombe where there are plenty of flowers. We want to see more flowers available for more insects, not those insects we have left having to compete in a depleted landscape.

The bees will be initially looked after by our project 24 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Top Bar Bee Hive kindly donated by Jim the Bee (jimthebee.co.uk)

Wild Dorset

partner, Jim Binning, an established local beekeeper.

Mr Binning is kindly lending his expertise whilst also providing a top bar hive where the bees will be sited.

This is a specialist horizontal hive providing a number of benefits: it allows free range for the entire colony inside the hive and for the bees to build natural-sized combs, whilst eliminating a need for any extra hive equipment.

It varies significantly from a traditional bee hive by mimicking a log, and is considered a more natural process in beekeeping than traditional hives. DWT’s Steve Marsh and Heather Radice will be working with Mr Binning as beekeepers whilst monitoring and recording the progress.

Once the colony is successfully established, the project has the wider aim of creating a teaching package dedicated to helping the visiting public and school groups understand the importance of pollinators. Our translocation project is working in tandem with our Get Dorset Buzzing campaign to encourage Dorset residents to create pollinator-friendly gardens.

The translocation of the bees and the replanting of an apple tree in the Kingcombe orchard has kindly been supported and sponsored by Castle Cameras in Bournemouth. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

HUTS TO HUNKER DOWN IN plankbridge.com 01300 348414

Visit Kingcombe Meadows

A place to learn, eat, relax and stay in west Dorset.

Enjoy being with nature: www.kingcombe.org

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST Photo © Tony Bates MBE

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

Wild Dorset

SHERBORNE DWT Gillian M Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Sherborne Group Committee Member

H

ow have your efforts to ‘get Dorset buzzing’ been progressing? DWT was amazed by the number of people signing up to their campaign. We have been watching the bees in our garden and have been surprised by their number.

Perhaps some of our planting changes have been to their choosing. Certainly, we have been trying to make more insect-friendly decisions.

The holiday season is upon us and it’s time for some extra days out in Dorset. Last summer we had a beautiful day at Arne - the perfume of gorse and the buzzing of insects was amazing. Arne, like Brownsea, is very different from how it was some 20 years ago before the clearance of acres of Rhododendron ponticum. Arne is an excellent place to go on a nightjar walk on a warm summer evening. Similarly, the DWT reserve at Upton Heath has nightjar walks.

In July, the third of five planned translocations of osprey chicks, about 6 weeks old, to Poole Harbour will be completed. This spring a 4-year-old Rutland Water female landed on a Poole Harbour nesting 26 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Image: Gillian M Constable

platform, however she only stayed long enough to refuel and then made her way back to Rutland.

Within a couple of years we should have our first Poole Harbour-bred osprey chicks. This year the 150th Rutland chick was hatched following their reintroduction there in 1996. In August 1996 we were at Rutland Water for the Bird Watchers Fair and saw the first batch of chicks. In late summer ospreys are regularly seen on migration over Poole harbour and Portland, but it will be amazing when a Dorset breeding population is re-established.

Butterfly Conservation is organising another ‘big butterfly count’ this summer. Last year 100,000 people took part by counting butterflies and day-flying moths.

The event takes place over the period 19th July to 11th August and you only need to spare 15 minutes of your time recording the butterflies you see. Details of the survey can be found on Butterfly Conservation’s website. butterfly-conservation.org dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

ARE YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS ON COURSE? Contact us for a pension review.

PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

36 Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, Dorset BH13 7LP Tel: 01202 830730 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315 Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.

Wild Dorset

THE BEES NEEDS

‘S

Paula Carnell, beekeeping consultant, writer and speaker

ave the Bees’ is a mantra that seems to have been chanted for far too long, and with what results?

Admittedly research into bees has increased, or at least the publication of those results. More of the public and non-beekeepers are noticing bees in their gardens, offering the tired and thirsty ones sugar water and maybe keeping a corner of wild plants in an otherwise manicured and chemically treated garden.

Last summer I attended the Learning from the Bees conference in the Netherlands and was delighted to be surrounded by so many like-minded bee lovers and activists, really making a difference in their small apiaries and communities. The Natural Beekeeping Trust, who organised the event, come in for some criticism, particularly from conventional beekeepers, which I find frustrating and unproductive. There seems to be a divide amongst the two main camps of beekeepers, with extreme beliefs in the management, or non-management, of honey bee colonies. Natural beekeepers advocate leaving the bees to their natural ways, living in hollows of trees a good distance from any neighbouring colonies, and for all the produce of the hive to be left entirely for the bees. Some conventional beekeepers follow the practice of rearing colonies for the sole production of honey for humans, using a rigorous protocol of chemical treatments and intervention in breeding practices.

I believe in balance and inspiration.

Everything in nature is connected. I believe to save the bees, or even our planet, we need to observe and learn from what we witness. Sadly, we have been so busy intervening in nature that we have arrived at a point in time where many of our innovations will have an expensive cost, one that will not be repaid until long after our great-grandchildren’s lifetimes. The time for arguing is long past.

I have learned from observing and working with bees over the past eight years, that bees don’t all choose to live a mile apart in south-facing openings of oak trees. Some 28 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Image: Sumikophoto/Shutterstock

colonies thrive in between floorboards alongside one or even three other colonies, all disease-free and with an abundance of honey supplies. Some wild colonies in trees die each winter, some thrive. The same goes for bees in beehives. There isn’t a ‘one hive fits all’.

Like humans, bee colonies have personalities, some preferring a detached mansion while others prefer a village, or even a tower block.

I have worked with and met many other beekeepers, from the West Country to Oman, Bhutan and the United States. Good beekeepers care very much about their bees and will adapt and provide whatever they can to assist them. More and more beekeeping associations across the world are advocating using fewer chemicals to treat the inside of hives to prevent disease. Leaving more honey to feed the bees instead of replacing with sugar syrup improves their natural immunity; think about how our own children would thrive on a winter diet of just baked beans? (Teenagers

excluded!) The general public, however, are mostly oblivious and uneducated as to the needs of bees and the practices that are involved in producing the honey on our supermarket shelves.

I am often asked how people can ‘save the bees’, thinking that a hive in their garden is the first call of action. It isn’t.

All bees need food, especially in the countryside where 98% of our wildflower meadow have been lost since 1940.

We need more native ‘weeds’, the preferred diet of our native bees as discovered by the Welsh Botanic Gardens during their research since 2016. Brambles, hawthorn, elder, and hazel are vital for bee survival.

I haven’t even begun to touch on solitary and bumble bees. We have only one species of honey bee in the UK but over 270 bumble and solitary species. Over 70% of these species have suffered serious decline, particularly across our farmland over recent years. Not only have the chemical farming practices affected them but also loss

of habitat. They are being wiped out at an astonishing rate as their food sources are being reduced or removed.

Placing a hive of 50,000 hungry honey bees next door isn’t going to solve that problem!

What can we do to help? First and foremost, stop using chemicals of any kind in your garden.

If you can’t wait for governments to change, change your own habits: the power of your pound is limitless.

If we all switched our basic food purchases to organic, supermarkets and farmers would soon have to act to keep our business. Imagine the impact eating organic, local and seasonal food would have on our environment.

Perhaps now is the time that we stopped thinking about the globe in human terms. Let’s listen to the bees and learn about how we can help them. After all, how would your behaviour change if you learned that what is killing the bees is also what is killing humans? paulacarnell.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 30 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE MERRITT CENTRE SHERBORNE’S NEWEST ARTS VENUE AT SHERBORNE GIRLS

01935 812245 development@sherborne.com

Sherborne.com

UNEARTHED Archie Munro-Price, Aged 12 Leweston School

A

t only 12 years’ old Archie already has an impressive list of sailing accomplishments under his belt, which is not surprising given that he spends every weekend on the water.

Archie first sat in a sailing boat at a local holiday club aged six, and he hasn’t looked back since. At the age of ten, and with just half a year’s experience of racing, he started entering competitions. His enthusiasm and determination have led to some impressive results including second place in the Regatta Fleet at the National Championships. At the moment he is third in his age group in the Country Juniors and qualified for the Class Squad for Winter Training. His career highlight to date has been representing Great Britain in the Palamós Summer Open. As the current second in the South West Region, Archie, and his remarkable career, has been an inspiration and he has even motivated some of his friends to take up the sport.

Thanks to recent results, Archie has been invited to sail with the Great British Team at the Flanders event in Belgium this month, a fantastic achievement. He has also been selected to represent GB at the Irish Optimist Junior National Championships.

At school, Archie is a passionate and determined student whose ability to balance school life with extra-curricular commitments is commendable. His ambition is reflected by his long list of experiences, achievements and many trophies. Archie is looking to the future and hopes to win the English Junior Nationals being held in Weymouth this summer. He is sure to pursue his sailing career for years to come whilst continuing to inspire his peers along the way. leweston.co.uk

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

32 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Family

Children’s Book Review

by Ethan (aged 11)

Where the River Runs Gold,

by Sita Brahmachari (Orion Children’s Books 2019) RRP: £6.99 Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £5.99 from Winstone’s Books

T

he author of this book, Sita Brahmachari, is known as “one of the most interesting and important voices in children’s books today.”

She has won lots of awards and is also an Amnesty International ambassador which means she helps people around the world who are being treated cruelly.

In this book Where the River Runs Gold most of the world’s animal species have become extinct. There are no bees and so the children are sent to work at a camp called Freedom Fields where they have to pollinate crops by hand so humans can eat. The brochure doesn’t mention half the mean things that the carers do to the children there!

The farm is horrible and Shifa and her brother Themba want to escape. This is very dangerous though as the area is heavily guarded by drones and things called ‘crows’.

'Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016’ 8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128

Themba is an arty boy and he gets very annoyed because he isn’t allowed to sketch anything (unless he does something good). He also can’t see anything to sketch because there are walls everywhere. The characters tell stories from their past about how things used to be and these stories have strong moral messages.

I think the book is possibly aimed at children older than me because it is long and I found it quite hard to follow. However, it is a very important and serious warning about climate change. It is an emotional book, full of danger, sadness, friendship, hope and strong family love. winstonebooks.co.uk sitabrahmachari.com

“A tender strand of revelations, affecting characterisation and a gentle, rocking prose carry us through this illuminating story”

Family

UNIVERSITY IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING

M

Millie Neville-Jones

y friends are starting to come back home from their first year at university and, of course, it is absolutely lovely to see them, but it makes me think. I have survived a year without going to university (against all odds). Not starting university in September 2018 was the best thing that could have happened to me, although I didn’t realise that until now.

Even though I haven’t been to or started at university, I have visited my friends who are there and I can wholeheartedly say it is so much fun: the nights out, the friends you meet and the memories you make are worth more than any university fee. However, it is not for everyone, me included.

Looking back, I was serenaded by university Open Days, the perks of a certain student bank account and being able to tell people, ‘I am going to Manchester University’. In reality, none of this was set in stone. Closer to results day, I was reading articles in the newspapers about alternatives to university and, honestly, they were incredibly appealing: no student debt, earning money, breaking into your dream industry and working your way up from the bottom. Of course, you need to go to university and get a degree for certain careers. I quickly began to realise, however, that I could get into the industry I wanted to work in without going to university. Speaking to people from a previous work experience placement, they told me that I need to make myself stand out amongst graduates - and the answer to that? Having experience.

So, I chose not to start university in September 2018. Since then, I have gained my own experience. I have an internship working in an amazing, local company and am undertaking courses - all of which are helping my career move forward. The best bit is, I can experience university life at the weekends - without the fees.

Before following the crowds and going to university, take a look at the other options out there and read between the lines. Both going to university and choosing not to have their pros and cons. Make the decision that is best for you and remember, you can get drunk and create crazy memories without spending £9,250pa.

34 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Seizing Every Opportunity

SUMMER HOLIDAY CLUBS FOR CHILDREN AGED 4-13

Fun packed themed days full of activities, crafts and so much more!

29 JULY – 23 AUGUST 2019 EVERY WEEKDAY FROM 9AM- 4PM For more information, please visit:

www.gosherborne.com

01935 810911 or registrar@sherborneprep.org

www.sherborneprep.org

The Toy Barn

more Than JuST a Toy Shop...

maize maze openS 20 July

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Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne DT9 4JX 01935 815040 toy-barn.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 35

Family

‘WHEN IS IT PLAYTIME?’ Heidi Berry, Head of Pre-Prep, Sherborne Prep School

S

ometimes, Early Years education looks a lot like play. That’s because it is play! Play teaches children strategy and mutual respect. It teaches how to create and follow rules, and how to take turns. Most children learn best by doing. Experiences matter, sometimes to the point that, ‘If it hasn’t been in the hand and body, it can’t be in the brain’ (Bev Bos). Put simply, play is often how people – both young and old – learn best.

Take the game Snakes and Ladders. In mastering this game, very young children learn numeracy through dice patterns, practice sequential counting, learn positional language, learn how to take turns, and how to cope with winning and not winning (sometimes!). So much 36 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

learning is taking place while they think they are just playing a game.

Children are naturally pre-disposed to the physicality of play. It is by riding a bike or playing hide and seek that they learn to self-regulate and to manage risks.

Outdoor play offers much more than the indoor, virtual forms of play such as computer games. Outside, children use all their senses to explore, discover and learn from their environment. While computer games can provide visual and auditory stimulation, they rarely encourage physical and verbal interaction with others – an essential part of social development. The exuberant, energetic talking that comes from outdoor play is unrivalled in developing the

ability to communicate thoughts and feelings.

Yes, the outside world is messy. Children will get messy when they play outside. As adults, this may concern us and we may try to keep them clean or tell them off for getting muddy. However, children need to get muddy, to splash in puddles, to float sticks down the river.

This is childhood! Sensory play is great fun and is how young children learn about materials and textures. Deep learning takes place when multiple senses are engaged, and nurseries can play an invaluable role when they allow tactile, outdoor play in an increasingly sterile world.

‘Mum, I’m bored’... Children do not need constant entertainment – in fact, providing structured activities

from dawn till dusk may actually prevent them from exploring and inventing. Young children may say they are bored if they are not allowed to watch TV or play a computer game but take them outside and observe from a distance; within moments their creativity kicks in and a whole world of play opens up.

This is why, at Sherborne Pre-Prep, we believe that starting school should not mean stopping play! If children are engaged, stimulated and yes, at times, messy and noisy, the chances are they are learning. Play matters – try it; you might learn something! sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

Family

POLYPHONIC GLEE Rebecca de Pelet, Head of English, Sherborne School

T

he new Poet Laureate has been announced.

Whilst I am sure that Simon Armitage will do a great job with what is a notoriously difficult brief, I was initially disappointed when Imtiaz Dharker turned it down. Andrew Motion, Laureate from 1999 to 2009, called the role, very, very damaging to my work…

I dried up completely about five years ago and can’t write anything except to commission and it seems that Dharker wisely took this view to heart, arguing that she, had to weigh the privacy I need to write poems against the demands of a public role. The poems won.

Dharker’s poem, Honour Killing, appears in an anthology which we teach at GCSE. Dharker describes 38 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

herself as a Scottish, Calvinist Muslim and unpacking this identification with my pupils always provokes important conversations. The poem itself was inspired by the assassination of Sawia Sahar in Lahore, in 1999.

The 29-year-old, married woman’s killer was hired by her parents in response to her decision to leave a violent marriage. Part of the poem’s razor-sharp integrity is its ironic handling of the notion of a striptease, as its speaker removes anything which purports to identify her, leaving her free, metaphorically at least, to explore a new geography of her own. As with all great poems, it is both complex and shatteringly straightforward and although it takes time for pupils to grapple with its subtlety, they are invariably

Angel Lulu Briggs of Sherborne Girls, TEDxSherborne May 2019. Image: Joss Barratt

sufficiently stunned by its factual inspiration to wish to.

In the same way, it was extraordinary to witness the reaction of the audience of the recent TEDxSherborne event to the poetry recitations by young people from four of Sherborne’s schools. Whether listening to a redefinition of the Romantic notion of the Sublime via the blending of landscape with love, a reshaping of Blake’s prophetic and deeply moral teaching, a tearing down of society’s obsession with ticking the right boxes or an exploration of the price of privilege, there was a hearkening among the audience which grew keener with every performance. This reached a climax with a searingly intelligent piece which tackled what

it is to be black, of African heritage, to have money and to be educated in Sherborne. No punches were pulled and instead we were given the truth, such as why wealthy white girls often dress down but for wealthy black girls such a choice creates criticism from both family and friends: I’d like to wear comfortable trousers instead of a dress/I’d like to do all these things without people staring perplexed/ without them shielding their children’s eyes because I’m dressed all ratchet/Because all my white friends do it and get a little confused/I try to talk to them about it without coming off as rude/try to laugh it off when they don’t understand/ and I act all amused. And I’m still quite confused/utterly confused/I’m just plain confused.

This young poet presented herself with a beautiful complexity, refusing, like Dharker, to simplify all that she is and concluded with the following declaration: and I scare you don’t I/because I’m thriving despite it all/ and I’m scaring myself because even though I’m thriving I might even fall/or rather not fall but have the ladder kicked out from under me/There are parts of me that you see/and you think they’re scary/don’t be frightened because I’m just here to build a legacy/I’m here to overcome, and to finish this symphony/and you shall rejoice at the person I will be.

A masterclass in how to be modest, honest and confident all at once.

Introducing her or his pupils to a mix of literary voices is an important part of what an English teacher does. In the last few weeks, my A level class has had the privilege of reading the script of an Off-Broadway, smash hit play written by the Iraqi-American playwright, Heather Raffo. It revisits Ibsen’s A Doll’s House via the experiences of immigrants to the USA from Iraq. The play tackles what it is to be an Iraqi Muslim woman, a mother, a wife, an architect, an immigrant and someone with a secret; it has led to boys talking in wider and more vibrant ways.

All of which takes me back to Dharker. In the end, I am glad that she has prioritised her verse over the job offer as it means that we will hear more of her Scottish, Calvinist, Muslim voice. As the final stanza of her poem Honour Killing begins, Let’s see: thus let’s read voices that are unfamiliar to us and by doing so come to recognise their very familiarity.

(For a strong Pakistani voice, try Ziauddin Yousafzai’s Let Her Fly which is co-authored by local writer Louise Carpenter. He is Malala’s father and has much to teach us.) sherborne.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

Family

DESTINATION: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Juliana Atyeo

‘I only feel angry when I see waste, when I see people throwing away things we could use.’ (Mother Teresa)

F

ortunately for me, I have never worried too much about what other people think about me, so I was not overly perturbed by the look on a neighbour’s face when I mentioned that I had noticed a large glass jar in his recycling box, and that I was wondering if he would mind too much if its destination became my kitchen rather than the recycling plant. Anyhow, the request paid off, and now that jar sits (having been thoroughly cleaned and sterilised) on the kitchen shelf, filled with cacao nibs, nestled cosily between other jars repurposed from their original lives to store dried foods such as oats, rice, dried pulses, nuts and seeds, amongst other items. Admittedly, on that shelf, are several store-bought, kilner-style jars purchased before I became committed to a journey to a zero-waste lifestyle, however I am now of the mind that I will not need to buy any more when the truth of the matter is that there are plenty of jars about waiting to be repurposed.

A basket on another shelf is home to multiple empty jars, generally of a smaller size: former peanut butter jars (perfect with their wide mouths), pesto jars (not quite so good as they tend to be narrower), donated empty jam jars (I can’t remember the last time I bought jam, much to my sons’ disappointment) and so on. Everybody at home knows now that if they finish a jar of something, it does not go into the recycling box, but rather, once it has been cleaned, it joins the collection of storage jars. Of course, placing those jars into the recycling system is far, far superior to chucking them into landfill but we must not allow ourselves the luxury of thinking that recycling is a solution to waste. Whilst it is true that it is possible to recycle glass infinitely (here it differs from plastic which degrades with each recycling cycle), it must be acknowledged that the recycling process itself is energyintensive, so reusing or repurposing glass is the most environmentally friendly option. If reuse is preferable to recycle, the most perfect response to the waste crisis we face must be, without doubt, reduce. When out 40 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

shopping, I now question each potential purchase: how is it packaged and what will end up happening to that packaging, and increasingly, do I need that item in the first place?

Back to those jars – the empty ones in the basket and the filled jars on the shelf. Most nights, before I go to bed, I indulge in what has become a meditative ritual of preparing jars of overnight oats, one jar for my husband, one for my eldest son and one for me (my middle and youngest sons are yet to be converted). Into each jar I place a small cupful of jumbo oats and some chia seeds. Next, I choose from a selection of other items purchased from zero-waste stores: dried fruit (chopped dates, raisins, apricots, goji berries), flaxseed, psyllium husks, ground nuts or nut butters (I am working on making these at home but I haven’t perfected it yet), cacao powder or nibs, cinnamon or mixed spice, fresh fruit (chopped bananas, grated apple, berries – whatever is in the fruit bowl). Then I stir the dry mixture together.

Finally, I choose the milk (hazelnut and cashew are favourites but oat has better environmental credentials) and slowly pour the liquid into the jars. There is something so satisfying as bubbles rise to the surface and more space appears at the top, waiting to be filled.

When the jars are filled to the brim, I tightly screw on the lids and place them into the fridge where they will sit until the following morning. The process is not to be hurried: it is a calming, mindful end to the day, and, at the risk of sounding clichéd, filling those jars for my family to enjoy is an act of love which makes me happy and at peace with the world. Before I close the fridge, I look at the jars, and I think of the three bears. One day, on a weekend, perhaps when I have had a bit of lie-in, nothing would make me happier than to find that my jar has been scraped clean by a Goldilocks, in the form of one of my other two sons, having magically found themselves converted to the joys of home-prepared, close to zero-waste, nutrient-packed overnight oats.

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Art

Wax resist and watercolour

Watercolour, acrylics and ink 42 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

WHAT EXACTLY IS MIXED MEDIA?

S

Ali Cockrean, Artist

tanding in a gallery the other day, I overheard one visitor say to another, ‘I really like that painting.

Is it oil?’ The friend bent down and peered over the top of her glasses at the tiny label giving details and replied, ‘It says Mixed Media.’ Then, after a slight pause, ‘Whatever that means.’

I have to confess to understanding their sense of frustration. Mixed media is such a general term that, on a card designed to inform the viewer, it really serves no purpose. Nobody is any the wiser once they’ve read it! Of course, for some artists, the term ‘mixed media’ is useful as it creates a certain anonymity around the particular methods of application they use to create their work.

Mixed media in art simply refers to a visual art form that has been created using a variety of media in a single artwork. In other words, the artist has combined materials to produce a unique interpretation. This might include, for example, the addition of collage materials such as fabric, newspaper or found objects, or perhaps building texture within the paint by adding sand or grit, or layering a variety of paints, inks, pastels and charcoal to create depth and interest.

We tend to think of mixed media as a relatively modern approach to painting, however it might surprise you to hear that as far back as 330 to 1453AD, artists of the Byzantine Empire were applying gold leaf to their paintings, mosaics, frescos and manuscripts.

When the Cubist art movement began in Europe in the early 1900s, painters such as Picasso and Braque began using mixed media techniques in their work. This included pasting paper and oilcloth onto canvas. For Picasso’s 1923 work The Lovers, he used ink, watercolour and charcoal on paper.

Mixed media offers artists endless opportunities to exercise their imagination; essentially, there are no rules when it comes to how you put the work together so it is fantastic fun to do. Initially there is the excitement of experimenting with a variety of media to see what happens when they are mixed, layered or perhaps applied and rubbed back. Changing the order that you apply the same set of media can give dramatically different results too. As the artist manipulates the materials, the work constantly evolves, changes and reacts. The effects can be unpredictable, yet subtle and intricate. The resulting artwork is always totally unique.

Personally, I love combining charcoal or pastel with watercolour and/or acrylic paint. One of my favourite techniques involves that old school classic known as wax resist. This involves drawing on a surface using white oil pastels or even a simple wax candle, before adding watercolour paint over the top. To me there is something endlessly fascinating about watching the paint separate when it meets the wax, revealing the image in all its glory. A little piece of magic.

We all know it’s not uncommon for artists to experience a block now and then. Sometimes it happens when the ideas run out or a new challenge is needed. Working with mixed media is a wonderful way of inspiring a tired mind and sparking ‘lightbulb moments’. These help an artist generate different ways of doing things, often leading to a refreshing development in their work. However, there is one particular aspect of this approach to making art that an artist always needs to be mindful of: the stability, safety and longevity of the finished work. Oil paint can be applied over acrylic for example, but not the other way around. This is because the acrylic dries far quicker than oil, sealing in and stopping the oils from hardening off, the result being an unstable painting that can’t dry out properly. It’s also not advisable to use anything that might perish over time, such as dried pasta or rice!

Some artists take mixed media to extremes. Many years ago, I knew an artist whose work sold for many thousands of pounds. The artworks were impressive and very saleable, but the process of producing them involved putting highly volatile substances together on a canvas surface. Many of these substances were not meant to be used for artwork at all. The reactions these compounds produced as they were mixed created some incredible visual effects. But at what cost? I have often wondered how long it will take for the chemicals to eat their way through the canvas and what sort of gases they are giving off in the home of the proud purchaser. And goodness knows what would happen if a candle was lit on the mantlepiece below the painting!

So remember, if you really can’t fathom what materials an artist has used to create their visual effects, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask them before you part with your cash! alicockrean.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

History

LOST ROADS AND TRACKS PART VIII

Cindy Chant, Sherborne Blue Badge Guide

T

his month I am going to write more on Green Lane and beyond through to Dorchester. I’ve been longing to share this very ancient old track with you. I find Green Lane very exciting; sometimes I walk through it on my own just to get that buzz which comes from walking along an ancient track that so many generations have walked before.

Green Lane is worth exploring as it has remained unchanged and is a remarkable example of what some of our medieval tracks were before they were tarmacked over. Strong boots and/or a horse are recommended as parts remain wet, muddy and boggy; at its lower end where it joins Broke Lane it is choked with brambles and thorns in the summer and where it enters Folke, it is 44 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

deep in mud in winter.

Folke, one of Dorset’s ‘Lost Villages’ is itself worth exploring. It’s very special church, rebuilt in 1628, is an interesting example of Jacobean Gothic, with the pulpit still retaining its hour-glass stand for the long, long sermons.

Back then to Broke Lane, which is the long lane that runs parallel to the A352 and goes through Longburton and Middlemarsh. It runs over Hunters Bridge and then onto Boys Hill but here traces of it end abruptly at a T-junction, opposite a very wide field that opens onto what was once common pasture. Sadly, no traces of continuation are seen today. However, nearly all this part of the Blackmore Vale was open countryside not so long ago and the medieval road must have run on over this

point to near, or part of, Osehill Green and probably to the inn at Middlemarsh.

This inn was built with reclaimed stone from ‘Grange Court’, country home of the Abbot of Cerne Abbas. The OS 1903 map shows the site of ‘Grange Court’ as a field 400 yards due east from the inn on the main road - but that is another story for another time.

Before the inn was built, the old track must have criss-crossed through Glanvilles Wootton. Indeed, I recall a farmer telling me some years ago that bits of that ancient track were visible in his milking parlour!

It then probably continued through to a little hamlet called Tiley and on over the fields to the bottom of Revels Hill. It then ran through Revels Farm, on through Cosmore and on up the very long and steep Revels Hill. A third horse was often picked up at Revels Farm to help pull the heavy wagons, and later the stage coaches, on and up to the next inn at Giants Head. The horse was then unhitched and made its own way back to its stable at Revels Farm!

Another route that became popular was from Osehill Green, where the old track picked up the track that is now the A352, known as the ‘Holnest Straight’. This old road has not always been as straight as it is now. When the track got very muddy in one place and became too rutted, the horses and waggons, and later the stage coaches, moved from one side to the other, trying to find the driest part where the subsoil was over clay. This way of spreading the road has been used for centuries, the land through here having always been very wet and marshy. It continued, the same as the previous track, past Revels Farm onto Cosmore and up Revels Hill.

Unlike the A352 road, the old Sherborne Road on the Ridgeway and on its journey south does not pass through any villages, although the Downs on each side of it have many field systems and settlements, earth works and tumuli. This must have been a very populated area in pre-Roman times. The old track loses height as it nears Dorchester and crosses the Frome River at the Mill in Burton, to the east of the Old Poundbury Earthwork, and enters Dorchester through what we now know as Higher West Street.

Travelling in those days was tough and so difficult that something had to be done. Hence, the Turnpike system was established. So, next month, I will pave the way for the great social advances that were about to start - The Turnpike Roads. sherbornewalks.co.uk

FREE HOME vISITS Specialist Neil Grenyer will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 25th July to value your antiques

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Antiques

SEEING DOUBLE

I

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

have always been a bit of a petrol head. As a child my father would test me on the make and model of the vehicles we were following whilst driving along.

My memory tells me I was correct on every guess although I suspect it might be playing games with me.

As a keen car spotter in my youth, I also made use of my favourite books. Those of us of a certain age fondly remember The Observer and I-Spy series of books, and I would spend hours looking at all the cars and their specifications.

I passed my driving test a couple of weeks after my 17th birthday, first time naturally, only to crash my sister’s car just after. It was a Fiat 127 Sport, the black one with the orange stripe which felt more like a little A-Team van. The accident happened opposite Sherborne Abbey and I drive past the scene of the crime just about every day. Needless to say, my sister has yet to forgive me.

A year later, having used up all favours with my sister, I bought my own car. By now I was working for Phillips Auctioneers in Long Street, Sherborne, where I am today. Working in antiques I thought the right thing to drive was an old car, so I bought a 1962 Triumph Herald 1200 and my love of all Triumph cars was born.

I went on to own a series of Triumphs including a Stag, Spitfire, Vitesse convertible, and a Dolomite. Today, I still enjoy driving a Triumph and, on a sunny day, you might catch a glimpse of me in a Spitfire which belongs to my son.

So, being a Triumph fan, I was excited to see a 1961 Triumph TR3A entered into our Sunday 21st July auction of classic and vintage cars. This sale is held in a marquee in the beautiful grounds of Sherborne Castle in conjunction with the popular Classic & Supercar Show. Meticulously restored by its owner, it is a concours-winning show car. Of the 58,000 or so Triumph TR3As produced, it is estimated that about only 9,000 survive today making it quite a rare car to see on the roads, at shows or at an auction.

However, shortly after instructions were received to auction this green 1961 TR3A, we had a phone call from another client who also had a Triumph TR3A to sell. Rather like London buses where you do not see one all day and then two come along at the same time, we now have two 1961 Triumph TR3As in the July classic car auction, both beautifully restored and, rather bizarrely, both the same colour!

Estimated at around £30,000 each, I do not think a TR3A will be added to the list of Triumph’s I have owned, not if Mrs B. has anything to say about it. charterhouse-auction.com

46 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Seeing double – two Triumph TR3As being sold by Charterhouse at Sherborne Castle on Sunday 21st July, both 1961 cars, both beautifully restored and both green!

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers We are now accepting entries for our forthcoming auctions: Automobilia & Petroliana Thursday 18th July Pictures, Books & Antiques Friday 19th July In our two day July auction

Classic & Vintage Cars at Sherborne Castle Sunday 21st July

Contact Richard Bromell for advice and to arrange a home visit

Classic & Vintage Motorcycles at Haynes International Museum Saturday 10th August

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Architecture

UNFINISHED, RUINED AND LOST

I

Andy Foster, Raise Architects

recently attended a performance of ‘Spell Songs’, the music and songs written by folk musician Julie Fowlis and others in response to the remarkable book, The Lost Words: A Spell Book. Created by Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris, the book is a compilation of writings and painted illustrations that cast ‘spells of many kinds’ to produce ‘a joyful celebration of nature words and the natural world they invoke’.

As I sank into the music, I wondered whether there were words in architecture that cast spells in similar ways: words that, perhaps magically, connect the physical world of buildings, cities and landscapes with the world of the imagination. Three words came to mind, each arriving with a personal association.

Lost: I recalled a visit a few years ago to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Cornish gardens renovated by the visionary Tim Smit. I noted how Smit must have been aware of the power of the word ‘lost’, and how the impact of his project would have been greatly diminished without it. A single word that, in this context, conjures up former glory followed by years of decline.

But my visit had been bitter-sweet. In the 1980s I’d marvelled at the documentaries about the project, as the former landscapes and buildings were revealed from beneath decades of overgrowth. How disappointed I was that, by the time of my visit, the entire garden had been renovated and there was no remaining sense of decay and dereliction. I had naturally (naïvely?) assumed that something of the as-found, overgrown and dilapidated state of the gardens would have been retained: a section of garden left as it was so that, as a visitor, I could participate more viscerally in imagining the lives, ambitions and fate of its previous owners. But sadly, any sense of ‘lostness’ had, by then, been lost.

Ruined: I remembered a derelict estate cottage on a densely wooded hill near my home town. When I first came across it as a teenager, most of the stone walls were still standing and some of the roof timbers were in place but, over the years, things had gradually deteriorated and 50 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Image: Rmbarricarte/iStock

collapsed. The surrounding woodland had increasingly taken back control. Close to the cottage was a clearing which led to a rocky outcrop that provided an opportunity to look out across the dramatic local landscape.

I visited this place every now and again, although, looking back, I seem to have only visited at times of heightened emotions - perhaps upset because of some failure or elated as a result of some notable achievement. Mostly, I visited alone but occasionally I would take a companion, someone special for my special place. It was the ruins that made it special.

They made you think about who had lived there and the life they’d led in that isolated location. Somehow imagining their past acted as a helpful precursor in thinking about one’s own future.

At the time of my last visit, the site around the cottage had been cleared and the house rebuilt. New saplings had been planted. The ruins gone.

Unfinished: I thought of the team of talented excolleagues who are currently working hard to facilitate

the completion of Antoni Gaudi’s astonishing Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The city authorities having decided to accelerate its construction so that it will be completed by 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death.

There is no doubt that, when completed, it will be one of the most incredible churches ever built. Actually, it is already one of the most incredible churches ever built, even though it remains a work in progress. When you visit now, you have the pleasure of experiencing a remarkable building by a genius architect as well as witnessing the designers, artists, masons and other craftspeople at work. You see it continuing to take shape - and that’s where the magic lies.

I would find it hard to begrudge the considerable contribution that my friends are making towards the building’s completion. It’s just that I wish they weren’t!

I’d much prefer it if the work were slowed down so that it could remain a perpetual and continuous creative act, never quite reaching completion, the visitor left to speculate about what is to come next.

We’re hard-wired to use our imagination. We naturally fill in the blanks when things are concealed from us; we postulate the fortunes of our predecessors when we find evidence of their existence; and we extrapolate how things might have been when we come across the incomplete. However, we can also be tidy-minded and this leads to a second urge which is at odds with the first. It makes us want to re-discover things that have become lost, re-build things that have become ruinous and complete things that have been left unfinished. In the process, we often destroy the very thing to which we were drawn.

We must take care not to break the spell that those words cast.

‘We lack - we need - a term for those places where one experiences a ‘transition’ from a known landscape... into ‘another world’: somewhere we feel and think significantly differently.’ (Robert Macfarlane) raisearchitects.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

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52 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

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Interiors

COCKTAIL HOUR Suzy Newton, Partners in Design

A

s the weather gets warmer, we all start spending more of our time outdoors. Our attention shifts from interior design projects to our outdoor spaces. Warmer months mean the chance to sit in the sunshine and enjoy cooking and eating meals with family and friends in the fresh air. But will your socialising space outside be as stylish as inside? Whether you have a small balcony or a lush green garden, your outdoor space can be made to look and feel inviting and innovative.

Beautifully designed garden spaces are really extra rooms in your home and deserve the same creativity.

Before you start designing it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden. If you love entertaining in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking and garden furniture. A fabulous, relaxing sanctuary can be created by adding outdoor rugs, tactile furnishings, fun lighting features and outdoor cushions.

Just like indoors, textiles do wonders for any space by adding personality and warmth. Osborne & Little have 56 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

created the fabric collection ‘Sea Breeze’ which is ideal for gardens, poolside, terrace and indoors. They are stainand mildew-resistant and have excellent light-fastness.

Most of the names are taken from favourite cocktails such as ‘Pina Colada’, an exuberant tropical print of stylised flora, ‘Mojito’, a small-scale trellis of interlocking circles, or ‘Margarita’, a semi-plain weave composed of tiny squares. The designs are available in a jubilant palette of mandarin, turquoise and ultramarine which sit well next to the natural outdoor colours of green, grey, stone and linen. This vibrant indoor/outdoor collection can bring infinite possibilities, combining beautiful designs with extreme practicality. The outside can now be every bit as beautiful as the inside.

Designers Guild have just introduced ‘Palme Botanique’, a collection of beautiful textures and signature prints which can be complemented by their Delray outdoor rugs. These rugs are durable, practical and can liven up a boring patio, adding layers and softness.

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ambience is outdoor lighting. Once you’ve created the perfect place to entertain guests you can play with illumination and consequently the mood and ambiance: dim lights for a quiet evening or bright for festive outdoor parties. Mantra have wonderful contemporary lighting ranges such as Cool or Flame, which would pass muster in any smart interior but are IP rated for outside use.

Vincent Sheppards’s lighting garland ‘Light My Table’ is a feel-good enhancer for both indoor and outdoor use and allows you to add a welcoming glow to your dining area all year round. A canopy of light literally brings people closer together and creates a cosy atmosphere in the blink of an eye. Because of its simple design, the lighting garland easily blends into any style and brings to mind old-fashioned luminous garlands seen in shopping streets or at garden parties.

So, liven up that garden and enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts! partners-in-design.co.uk

NEVER MISS A COPY

If you enjoy reading the Bridport or 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 315556 or email subscriptions@homegrown-media.co.uk

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Gardening

GARDENING IS GOOD FOR YOU Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

I

heard the other day that planting a tree uses more muscles than a workout at the gym! As well as the occasional opportunity to plant trees, I get up early and help the delivery team load the vans every morning. This gives me not only an insight (without pages of computer reports) into what products are popular but also (by helping to heave three lots of 70kg bags of compost into the vans) a fantastic early morning workout, without the expensive gym membership!

Gardening is good for us in many other ways too.

For example, it’s an occupation that can be peaceful and, whilst carrying out what seem to be menial tasks of watering, weeding or dead-heading, allows the mind to wander and make sense of the day’s problems. I was speaking to someone who finds that fishing does the same for him, but I think the tangling of the line and the fear of actually catching something would keep the stress levels up for me!

Research has recently shown that contact with wellmaintained garden soil, teeming with micro-organisms, can trigger the release of serotonin in the brain. This is a natural anti-depressant which also strengthens the immune system. Hence, gardening is good for physical and mental well-being in a world where screen time and virtual experiences can dominate and as an industry, we should be doing more to shout about this.

Gardening regularly is proven to be good in many other ways too, including helping to reduce stress, burn calories and release endorphins, ‘the happy hormones’ that relax us and make us feel content. There have even been studies to suggest that it can help reduce the risk of dementia too. Getting outdoors and being close to nature in the garden is also great for mindfulness. In our restaurants and farm shop we are witnessing the growing trend for more vegetarian and vegan-based dishes too, as the nation attempts to nourish both body and soul.

The government has been encouraging us to ‘eat 62 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

five a day’ for some time, although now apparently that should be seven a day - and if you are Japanese, 15! But it’s actually 15 different colours of vegetables and fruit that are the key thing, which is perhaps why so many varieties of vegetables are now available in ‘Rainbow’ ranges.

It’s not just being outside in the garden that can have health benefits. Houseplants too are excellent for improving the conditions in which we live. Research has shown that houseplants can help de-stress us, detox our homes and can also filter out chemicals from the atmosphere. They help improve air quality, relax and revive you mentally and physically, and can

Image: Goodluz/Shutterstock

help reduce dust, which saves on the housework. The right indoor plants could reduce susceptibility to stress, allergies, asthma, fatigue, headaches and respiratory congestion. They are proving increasingly popular with younger customers, who want easy-care gardening solutions combined with a healthy edge. That, together with the tendency for new homes to have small or non-existent gardens and the increasing number of rented houses or flats, has boosted this trend. TV adverts from tech firms featuring gadgets for university-bound students to have in their digs often feature houseplants on desks alongside the technology.

For me though, another health benefit is that

gardening is a pastime that can bring communities together. We regularly speak to garden clubs in the towns and villages in the area. Such groups are really important for bringing people together and giving them, especially those who are retired and who may not see many people day to day, a chance to have a friendly chat, instigated perhaps by a discussion on the vagaries of growing cabbages!

So, get out there: mow the lawn, weed the border, tend the soil but also have a chat over the fence. It’s good for you! thegardeneronline.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 63

Gardening

DIARY OF A FIRST-TIME FLOWER FARMER

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Paul Stickland, Black Shed Flowers

hat a wonderful month it’s been… for aphids! Every gardener, and certainly every flower farmer, has noticed that the aphid family, green and black, has been doing very well this year. We don’t use any pesticides at all, which means that we have to keep a very careful watch for any potential pests and particularly for any surge in numbers.

Knowing how rich the insect life is in our garden, the idea of using pesticides to attempt to control just one species, whilst wiping out the hundreds of other benign species that share this space, is just unthinkable. The marketing of such chemicals by very large multinational companies is pretty shocking, resulting in millions of litres of poison being pointlessly dispersed into our gardens. These chemicals are so potent that, were they to be poured en masse into a river, it would cause a major environmental disaster and yet it seems acceptable for gardeners to annually spray these toxins into our environment. These are the chemicals that are used to produce and are consequently present in all those supermarket flowers. Not necessarily what you want on your kitchen table.

We first spotted the greenfly in the low tunnels housing the anemones and ranunculus, the extra warmth and shelter providing an excellent breeding ground. In retrospect, we would have grown these plants ‘harder’, providing more ventilation, allowing them to get colder, removing the covers on those warm days in February, allowing access to any predators but just not encouraging those early aphids to breed merrily in the warm and humid conditions in these tunnels. Of course, we wanted to encourage the early flowers that these tunnels allow but it’s a delicate balance.

Next year we hope to have a big polytunnel in which to grow these and this will allow us to introduce predators to help to control any problem pests. There are natural predators available for a huge range of species now; things have really changed and it’s very encouraging. From nematodes for slug control to predators for white, green and black fly, scale insect and red spider mite, growers have realised that observing 64 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

and working with nature is far better than the use of chemical poisons.

We tried spraying with a strong garlic infusion, the smell of which, luckily, leaves the flowers very quickly!

It didn’t seem to make any difference. We tried soft horticultural soap; this did work quite well but then we noticed that the ladybirds had woken up and would soon be breeding so, in order to protect them, we stopped spraying and started squishing!

It’s not a very pleasant job and possibly bad for your karma but it’s a great way of rapidly reducing numbers whilst waiting for the predators to get going.

We’d noticed that the neighbouring feverfew plants were very badly infested with green and blackfly; they seem to act as a magnet for them. The ladybirds had noticed this too, so my daily squishing routine involved keeping an eye out for them and, after much colourful coupling, their suddenly very numerous larvae. These are curious creatures, grey or black with flashes of colour on their backs, and they and their parents have an insatiable appetite for the fly. I was amazed to see a huge bed of feverfew initially covered in greenfly suddenly be completely clear of them, with just a bit of human squishing and a lot of ladybird nibbling. A friend suggested growing feverfew as a sacrificial plant, essentially a ladybird nursery, so we’ll think about how we can use this to our advantage next year.

The ladybirds and their offspring are everywhere now and doing a great job of keeping things in balance. Despite this, we’ve had to check every flower that has left the farm for green and black fly. Having cut several thousand anemones to date and having had to wash every one, it’s no mean task and I’m sure some have escaped our inspection. Encouragingly, we’ve noticed that very few customers mind the occasional ‘visitor’. It seems there’s a growing awareness of the importance of fostering our insect life rather than destroying it. Let’s hope so. blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk /paulstickland_

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65

COMPTON HOUSE CRICKET CLUB Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

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t’s a balmy evening and Compton House Cricket Club’s pitch is basking in a golden hue as the sun sets to the west. There’s a dozy quiet in the air that’s occasionally broken by the sound of willow hitting leather and the call for a catch. You’ve got the scene: this is Dorset village cricket at its best and a tradition that has been honoured on this site for 150 years.

The club was originally set up by Colonel JP Goodden when he owned Compton House. It was a place to play what was then called ‘country house cricket’: games played by guests at weekend ‘country house parties’.

This would be a regular form of entertainment which eventually all but died out at the start of the First World War. The pavilion was originally a sheep-shearing shed, open to the elements and with no shutters. >

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Sitting in the ancient pavilion - thankfully now with four walls - I am talking to one of the club’s longestsurviving members, Harry Brewer, who joined the club in 1956 when chairman Jack Ponting invited him to become vice-president. ‘I wanted to be a playing member,’ says Harry. ‘I raised a side and we had two to three years of full fixtures.’ He eventually ‘chucked it in’ in his 40s but has held practically every office in the club since then. ‘It took me 13 years to get rid of the job of treasurer,’ he chuckles. ‘But it’s a lovely spot here. When the sun sets over the green it’s glorious.’

Rob Dunning is the current chairman. He joined the U14s team in 1993. ‘I asked to play through the school holidays,’ he explains. He attended King’s School, Bruton, and he and his chums used to enjoy catching up with each other over the game on a Saturday. ‘It just felt very private and special playing here,’ says Rob. ‘It’s off the beaten track and has lots of history. It sucks you in.’

As luck would have it, I have been married for over 20 years to an opening batsman who has played for a number of clubs, and I have sat through my fair share of cricket matches. In the early years I would be close to chewing the grass when he appeared to be just tapping

the ball for what seemed an age before unleashing a big shot but, over the years, I have begun to appreciate that there is an art to this madness.

Cricket is a game of balance, determination and skill. The bowler is seeking to find a weakness in the batsman’s game and exploit it. The batsman has to fend off deliveries but also attack the ball as it swings and turns towards him. Soon it will be become a battle of doubt and determination. There is no regard for time or instant gratification. It is a physical skill but one that requires balance, patience and the ability to strike, to take the initiative when the moment arises.

Almost meditative but total in its focus, it requires an attention that will leave the day’s worries behind.

This is why cricket as a game has lasted for over 200 years but is also one of the reasons youth cricket has dropped away, especially among the 15-18 year olds.

Across the UK, village cricket is struggling to recruit from the youth players into their adult teams. If it continues the way it is, there are fears that village cricket will disappear in the next thirty years. There was a time when the cricket team would have a social focus but social media has done away with that and we live in a time-poor society. Aware of the potential drop-off of > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

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members in their teens, Compton House Cricket has found of way of future-proofing their game.

Recently the club has focused on developing their junior and youth teams. They run the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) All Stars coaching scheme for five-to-eight-year-olds, an initiative set up to encourage youngsters into the game. Only approved clubs are able to offer this scheme and Compton House CC is one of them. The coaching takes place on Wednesday nights and I am here watching as this otherwise calm vista becomes a busy throng of white-clad girls and boys enjoying a fun evening’s practice.

The club has 12 qualified coaches and the children are soon honing their skills. As the vice-chairman, Stuart Casely says, ‘We want our youngsters to stay and work their way up to playing league cricket.

Obviously not all of them will make it but they will enjoy the social leagues. Just recently we had an U14 match and it was fantastic to see the team wandering around the field in twos and threes chatting away before the match.’ Clearly the plan is working as they still have members who, now in their 30s and having moved away, make the effort of driving down from

London or elsewhere to play a few matches.

It’s not just for men of course. This year they are raising a team for a senior ladies game in August and Stuart was pleased to note that their U10 team has 5 girls and 5 boys. There are already 14 girls in the All Stars so it won’t be long before there will be several female teams.

This season is their 150th year anniversary and the aim is to raise funds for a new pavilion which will cost in the region of £150k. ‘I want to get the youth cricket going so that they can enjoy what I enjoyed,’ says Rob. ‘The numbers are not as good as they were 10 years ago but it is a great social experience here, something the digital age can’t ruin, and I’d like to get us back to the Dorset premier league which we were part of in the 2000s. We’re very fortunate because we own the pitch.

That alone is quite unusual but it means that we must fund ourselves.’

To that effect they are holding the Compton House Chairman’s XI versus MCC XI match on the 9th August. Everyone is welcome, to what promises to be the highlight of the club’s summer festivities. comptonhousecricketclub.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 74 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Food and Drink

RUSSIAN CUSTARD WITH FRESH FRUIT, LEMON BALM AND JASMINE Sasha & Tom Matkevich, The Green Restaurant

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his comforting yet vibrant dessert brings back memories of our last holiday in the mountains.

The flavours are delicate and subtle, and feel free to use any seasonal fruit (although this combination works exceptionally well). Beautifully versatile, it can be served warm or chilled from the fridge for a firmer texture on hot summer afternoons.

Ingredients Serves 4

150g strawberries, diced 3 white peaches, diced 150g blueberries 650ml whole milk 3 egg yolks 12g caster sugar 25g semolina 40g unsalted butter 1 generous teaspoon of dried jasmine flowers 5 lemon balm leaves Cornish sea salt, to taste

Method

1 In a medium, heavy-based saucepan bring the milk, jasmine and lemon balm to the boil, stirring occasionally and set aside to infuse for 15 minutes.

2 Meanwhile, combine the egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl with a whisk.

3 Strain the milk, return to the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the semolina to the milk with a whisk, reduce the heat and continue to simmer at a very low temperature for 25 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent it from sticking to the base of the pan.

4 In the meantime, arrange the fresh fruit in 4 coffee cups or suitable glasses.

5 When the milk and semolina mixture is thoroughly cooked and smooth, pour it gradually into the yolks, whisking vigorously. Return to the saucepan, add the butter and continue to whisk until fully emulsified.

Add salt to taste.

6 Pour over the fruit and gently tap to level.

Bon appetite! greenrestaurant.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 75

Food and Drink

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

QUICK AND EASY

LEMON SYLLABUB

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his is a recipe that I have used for more than forty years; it is so quick and easy I’ve never wanted to use any other. The recipe can be made an hour before it’s needed or a day (even a month) ahead as it freezes well. None of the ingredients need to be expensive ones, indeed it’s important to use a cheaper lemon curd as it will help set the syllabub.

Preparation time: 15 minutes What you will need

Stand mixer using the whipping attachment, or an electric hand mixer 6 wine glasses, or china teacups, or ramekins, or similar Ingredients Serves 6

¼ pint (142ml, about half a jar) lemon curd ¼ pint (142ml) white wine, either sweet or dry ½ pint (284ml) double cream Zest of an unwaxed lemon 4 drops of lemon extract 76 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

To decorate

6 fresh raspberries 6 mint leaves Icing sugar to dust Method

1 Place the lemon curd in the mixer bowl and beat on medium until it is broken up and not lumpy.

2 Reduce the speed to the slowest setting and add the wine, pouring in a steady stream so the wine and curd combine.

3 Add the cream and continue to beat slowly until the mixture thickens.

4 Fold in the lemon zest and lemon extract.

5 Spoon into 6 glasses (or whatever you are using) and place in the refrigerator for an hour.

6 Just before serving, decorate each pudding with a raspberry, mint leaf and a dusting of icing sugar.

QUICK AND EASY

MOCHA CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

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y friend Jenny gave me this recipe which I have developed over the years, adding a few twists. The recipe contains no raw egg so it’s possible to serve this to young children or those with an egg allergy.

Preparation time: 15 minutes; Chill time 1 hour Ingredients Serves 4

16 large marshmallows (100g) ¼ pint (142ml) semi-skimmed milk 3 teaspoons of instant powdered espresso coffee 85g dark chocolate at least 50% cocoa fat (I use chocolate chips as they melt more easily) ¼ pint (142ml) whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon of coffee liqueur (optional) To decorate

Chantilly cream 150ml double cream 1 tablespoon dried milk powder 1 tablespoon icing sugar 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur (optional) Chocolate covered coffee beans A piece of dark chocolate to grate over the finished mousse

Method

1 Cut the marshmallows into pieces and place in a small saucepan.

2 Add the milk and coffee powder and stir over a low heat for about 2 minutes or until the marshmallows have melted.

3 Add the chocolate chips to the marshmallow mixture. If you are using a bar of chocolate, coarsely chop the chocolate before adding to the mixture.

4 Heat gently for 2 minutes or until the chocolate has melted, stirring constantly, then set aside to cool.

5 Whip the cream until it reaches stiff peaks, then gently fold in the vanilla extract and the coffee liqueur.

6 Fold the cream into the chocolate mixture until combined. Spoon the mousse into 4 dessert glasses.

7 To make the Chantilly cream, place the cream in a bowl with the dried milk powder and icing sugar then stir, leave for 2 minutes to allow the powder and sugar to dissolve.

8 Whip the cream until it reaches the stiff peak stage and then fold in the coffee liqueur.

9 Place the cream in a piping bag fitted with a 2D star nozzle and pipe a swirl of cream on each pudding.

10 Top with a chocolate covered coffee bean and grate a little chocolate over the top of the pudding.

11 Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

Food and Drink

GOAT’S CHEESE RAVIOLI Matthew Street, Executive Chef, The Eastbury Hotel & Seasons Restaurant

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n the restaurant we serve these goats cheese ravioli with a tomato and saffron dressing, spinach and courgetti. It is lucky that we enjoy making them as they fly out of the kitchen so fast! I demonstrated them at the Leweston Summer Festival in June where they were much appreciated. I hope you will enjoy this dish too.

3 4 5

Ingredients Serves 4

For the pasta 200g ‘00’ pasta flour 1 egg, topped up to 115g with yolks 7g salt 5ml water 5ml olive oil Pinch of saffron

6 7

Slowly work the flour into the egg mixture until it is all combined into a stiff dough.

Knead the dough for 3-4 minutes until it becomes smooth, then allow to rest for 30 minutes.

While the dough is resting, finely chop the basil leaves and beat into the goats cheese.

With a pasta machine or a rolling pin, roll out the pasta dough to about 1-2mm thickness and cut into 30cm by 10cm rectangles.

Lay one sheet down, lightly brush with water, then place 2 rows of 6 teaspoons of the goats cheese on it.

Carefully lay another sheet of pasta on the top of this, starting at one end and trying to remove as many air pockets as possible. Then press down between the goats cheese to seal the pasta together.

Cut pasta into individual ravioli, either with a knife or a fluted ravioli cutter.

Repeat with remaining pasta and goats cheese.

Cook the ravioli in salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes (fresh pasta cooks very quickly). Lift out using a slotted spoon and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

For the filling 200g goats cheese 3 sprigs of basil

8 9

1 Add the saffron to the water and warm it until all the saffron bleeds into the water.

2 Put the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the eggs, saffron water and oil.

theeastburyhotel.co.uk

78 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

THE EASTBURY HOTEL Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BY Tel: 01935 813131 Email: relax@theeastburyhotel.co.uk www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Food and Drink

A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM James Hull, The Story Pig Company

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nd then it was time, time for our Open Farm Sunday event to start! After months of working up to this point, we were more or less ready. At the last minute we had to empty the whole of our barn in case the unsettled weather took a turn for the worse, but we were lucky; the sun shone and the wind didn’t blow.

The Sunday of the event started early for Charlotte and me and, at 4.30am, we went our separate ways, eyes held open with sticks. Charlotte went to sort out hundreds of packs of sausages and bacon ready for the event and I shot off with the quad bike and trailer to put signs up on the approaching roads. In amongst the bountiful froth of cow parsley nestled our little pig signs, ready to guide our visitors to the farm. Then it was back to the farm to cut all the grass in the car park. I love lawn-mowing normally, a time to daydream about winning the Euro-millions lottery or sing a song in my head for an hour, but not today. I raced around as fast as the mower would take me, up and down, round and round, and by 6am the car park was perfect.

As I headed back to the shed I was greeted by the most amazing smell of our Tamworth hog roast gently gurgling away. It had been cooking on a low heat since 9pm on Saturday so by now it was completely cooked and the smell filled the air in the still-early morning.

Then started the final, frenzied racing around, finishing all those little bits of tidying and moving.

No more putting things in an ordered place; now was the time for putting anything anywhere - and still I managed to leave a laden wheelbarrow in the middle of a path in our new garden. Charlotte emerged from packing our supplies and went to make stuffing and apple sauce and strong coffee. There was no more we could do. It was 10.30am and in rumbled Ben and his dad Sam from Twisted Cider to set up the supply of liquid refreshments. The band rocked up in their camper van and, once we had found extension leads that worked, we were set!

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Our team of helpers arrived, and how grateful to all of them for helping us we are, all for free, all just getting on with their allotted job. We couldn’t have done it without them, so I must thank them all. Hugh, who with his freshly operated-on foot sticking up in the air and making its presence felt at all opportunities, worked the till; Michelle, Sten and Sonia who worked tirelessly serving all our customers; James who spent the day directing and parking cars, which at a few points was definitely a juggling act; Ollie and Jess, a young couple who did an amazing job of carving and serving the hog roast; and, last but not least, Len and Luke who hour after hour tirelessly drove our visitors up to the pig field to show everyone the stars of the show.

Bang on 11am the first keen visitors arrived. It’s funny to start with when one person walks round the corner but, within 5 minutes, there were lots. It was incredible; people streamed down the track. The band, The Bog Dogs, started playing and I started to relax. After the last few weeks of non-stop working there was no more to do - apart from move the wheelbarrow, however I didn’t spot that until Monday!

Many of you reading this will have come to our Open day, and hopefully you all enjoyed it as much as we did. Many of you came the year before and could see how we have grown and how things have progressed in a year. Your lovely comments made it all worth it and re-affirmed our ideas and plans for the future. We learnt lots for next year, so hopefully you will join us again to see how the story of The Story Pig - I know, it will take a little while to get used to that - progresses. Thank you, to all who helped and all 600 of you who made our day such a success.

I have just read this to Charlotte and, as the incredible emotions of the work we put into this being a great day escape, we are both in tears. therustrypigcompany.co.uk

Jasmine & Bay

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Order our homegrown Tamworth ham, sausages, joints and bacon The finest Tamworth quality and flavour, a taste of the past!

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Please email or phone us with your individual requirements. info@therustypigcompany.co.uk Tel. 07802 443905 The Story Pig, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne See more at www.therustypigcompany.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Food and Drink

THE GRAPEVINE David Copp

Image: Andocs/Shutterstock

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his month I have chosen to comment on three interesting news items from the world of wine.

The first is from Château Montrose, one of the very great growths of Bordeaux and neighbour to Château Haut Marbuzet, the St Estéphe property in which I took my first steps in the wine trade.

Montrose has 95ha of prime vineyard but another 35ha of forest, copse, hedgerow and fallow land, as well as streams and ponds. They are habitats which support a variety of flora and fauna, including 35 different bird varieties among which are the comparatively rare goldfinch and bullfinch.

Chateau owners are keen to develop the biodiversity of their estates because, in so doing, they enrich their soil and reduce their carbon footprint. Château Montrose has gone a step further: it has introduced 30 ewes and a ram to its fallow land to increase soil enrichment and control weeds. Such eco-pastoralism is expected to result in cleaner, better soil and thereby healthier, riper grapes.

This is the kind of initiative that keeps great wines great.

The second piece of news comes from Budapest, Hungary, one of the world’s most intriguing and handsome capital cities. Invited by friends who asked what I would most like to do during my stay, I replied that I would most like to revisit Tokaj, now only two hours drive away.

Three of us set out together. Three disparate people: a highly successful Hungarian lawyer, a former investment banker from America now resident in Budapest and me, a former marketer turned wine writer. The lawyer, planning retirement, told me of her great wish to support the drive for wider recognition of the Tokaji 82 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Tokaj, Hungary

cultural heritage. This news was doubly remarkable because the lady concerned is teetotal and never visited Tokaj until very recently. ‘It is much more than a great wine region,’ she told me, ‘I found it inspirational on several levels.’

The Tokaji foothills were declared a UNESCO world heritage site several years ago: the citation listed its distinctive landscape and thousand-year history of winemaking. However, my friend was impressed by the community which sustains it and readily agreed with Hugh Johnson, the doyen of world wine writers, who wrote of Tokaj, ‘Il vaut le voyage’. Her enthusiasm was such that the three of us discussed forming a not-for-profit venture with the singular aim of encouraging young and old to think of exploring Tokaji for themselves. We have yet to get this project off the ground, but we will. If you would like to know more contact me at davidccopp@gmail.com.

Tokaj is a totally unpretentious little town with narrow, cobbled streets and faded yellow baroque buildings. Its fame derives from its wines and all its great vineyards and wineries are within a 25-mile radius of the town. It is easy and friendly to visit. Tokaj is not only the name of the town and the wine but also the region as well. It is a region of foothills in the Zemplén range, foothills of the mighty Carpathians. The landscape evolved more than 15 million years ago when a thousand volcanoes erupted, depositing lava to provide a base of hard igneous rock. Several million years later the Carpathian Basin was submerged by the Mare Magnum which, when it receded to form the Mediterranean, left behind valuable clay and marine deposits which, over

more time, were covered with windborne loess.

Thus, the soil of the vineyards is essentially clay mixed with broken rock and loess, and it produces full bodied and fruity wines widely admired for their attractive aroma and nutritional content. Its most famous wines are the great aszú (pronounced ossu) lateharvest wines first produced in the seventeenth century, when they were considered more valuable than gold and were the ultimate gift from monarch to monarch: wines made with great skill, imagination and style. Even a short visit to the region will give you an idea of this magnificent landscape, its superbly sited and well-tended vineyards, and its historic link with Royal Hungary and Transylvania.

A short river ride up the somewhat sleepy Bodrog to a small, provincial town named Sárospatak opens up further adventure. In the seventeenth century, Sárospatak became the centre of Hungarian political, economic and cultural life under the Rákóczis, Princes of Transylvania and the largest landowners in northern Hungary. Determined to keep Hungary free of Habsburg influence, they brought industry and ideas to their world. They persuaded the great Czech educator Jan Comenius to develop a modern system of education for all their people at their Reform College.

Comenius attracted other great teachers to the city and Sárospatak was described as the Athens of Europe and compared to Cambridge (UK). For those really interested in the development of modern education as a means of developing universal harmony it is a stimulating place to visit. The wines from the local vineyards aren’t bad either.

My third piece of news is confirmation from Burgundy that the 2018 vintage is shaping up as well as everyone hoped: it has even been mentioned in the same breath as the great 1947 vintage. I am always interested in Burgundy because I had the good fortune to be mentored by the late and great Georges Bouchard, the oldest of the seventh generation of the family in Bouchard Aîné et Fils.

Georges had a loveable dog which he liked to walk every day after work. He invited me to join him on his walks and to choose which vineyard we should walk in.

Over the months I stayed with the family we walked through all the greatest vineyards, including those of the Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) and tasted their wines, usually with the winemaker.

DRC wines are generally considered the greatest Burgundies because they come from almost perfect

vineyards in terms of soil, drainage and climatic influence on pinot noir. Unfortunately, they are quite small and there are strictly controlled yields for the appellation, so even in a great harvest like 2018 they will only produce about 7,500 dozen for sale.

Such great vineyards were first nurtured by the Cistercian monks from nearby Cîteaux Abbey in the twelfth century. Stephen Harding, the third Abbot (who welcomed the young nobleman Bernard of Clairvaux into the order) was educated at Sherborne Abbey.

The Valois Dukes, in particular Philip the Bold, continued the good work started by the monks: Philip persuaded Dr Fargon, physician to Louis XIV, that Burgundy wines were good for the king’s health. The Valois Dukes also controlled what we know as the Low Countries: Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg, including Flanders. A southern French cloth merchant named Michel Bouchard, who frequently travelled to Flanders, stayed in Beaune and decided to become a négociant, selling the wines to cloth merchants in Flanders. His son Joseph also started a wine business.

Burgundy wines became famous. Over the centuries the region has seen good times and bad times, such as the two World Wars of the early twentieth century.

However, in the latter part of the last century, new blood and new investment led to a spectacular recovery of their great reputation and Burgundy now rivals Bordeaux as the world’s most sought-after wine region.

Unfortunately, fame and scarcity add up to high prices so I am delighted to report that many other countries produce pinot noirs to Burgundian standards.

Some of the most successful regions are just across the Rhine in western Germany or along the Rhône valley in Switzerland. Global warming has meant that red grapes ripen well further north in closed valleys where there is sun but not too much heat, nor heavy rain. The Germans and Swiss are very precise winemakers and focus on elegance and refinement rather than power. I still have some bottles of old Burgundy but I find myself warming to the Swiss and German pinots.

Last year I reported on the World Pinot Noir Championship from Valais. I have recently tasted some superb Spätburgunder wines from the Ahl, Pfalz and Baden Baden which I found to be excellent. Averys came up with a Pfalz Spätburgunder under Dr Loosen’s Wolf label which I can afford.

What with the wonderful Hungarian furmints and hárslevelüs and German Spätburgunder, I have had quite a week. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

Animal Care

HOLIDAY PLANS

Mark Newton-Clarke, MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

T

he holiday season is upon us and, despite many of us choosing to stay in the UK for our summer holidays, mainland Europe will again be a popular destination. Our pets are such an important part of the family that many of us hate leaving them behind, not necessary since the advent of the EU Pet Travel Scheme more than 15 years ago. Although free movement of dogs and cats around Europe is much simpler than before (notwithstanding Brexit!) the price is an increased risk of disease spreading across borders, including the English Channel. There are checks and balances to address these risks (microchip identification, rabies vaccination and pet passports) but the legislation is designed to protect humans, not animals!

Getting ready for a foreign holiday with the family 84 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

(including your dog or cat) can be a busy task and with all the excitement and anticipation of foreign travel it’s easy to forget important details that will protect your pet from exotic diseases. The British Veterinary Association has therefore published a simple checklist for owners intending to travel to mainland Europe and I’ll paraphrase it here as I endorse it fully.

For starters, make an appointment to see your vet at least 3 weeks before your journey to the Continent, although 6 weeks is needed for one special vaccine (see below). This should give enough time to order any special medications and give a rabies booster if that’s been forgotten. Explain where you are going and when, as several diseases are seasonal and localised geographically. Take your pet’s passport for the vet to

Image: Welcomia/Shutterstock

check and make sure all your details are correct. If you have missed the deadline for the rabies vaccine, a booster can be given and your pet can still travel 21 days later, day zero being the day the booster is given.

The vet or nurse will check the microchip for location and to ensure all those digits are correct. A physical exam to ensure your pet is healthy enough to travel will form part of the consultation as will a discussion on how to manage the stress of a long journey.

Disease prevention will be a top priority which, in essence, means don’t let your pet get bitten - by other animals, ticks, fleas, lice, sandflies and mosquitoes!

Your vet or nurse can advise you on the products available. However, not all dangers have teeth and heatstroke will be a risk if you are heading for the sun.

Finally, look up a vet local to your destination in case of emergency and also to give the necessary tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before your return to the UK (unless you are returning from Finland, Malta or Ireland where it’s not required).

That’s the checklist in a nutshell. Now let’s have a brief look at the diseases and how they are spread, starting with the best-known, rabies. Everyone has heard about it and so I won’t go into detail, except to remind you that your pet is protected but you most probably are not, so, if you are bitten by a foreign animal, get medical attention immediately. As an aside, a bat was brought into the Sherborne surgery last week that was strongly suspected of carrying a form of rabies, so don’t handle bats without thick gloves! Better still, don’t handle them at all: they may be unwell and, according to the bat experts, bat rabies is common in Dorset just now.

Let’s get back over the Channel. Ticks are really common and can carry several diseases that are injected into your pet when the tick feeds on the host’s blood.

Some of these are already in the UK (Lyme disease and Babesia) but others are not and all of them represent a real and present danger. You should already be using tick prevention treatment at home and abroad it’s even more important. Try to avoid wooded, moorland or livestock areas but it’s always essential to check your pet over every night and remove any ticks using a special tickhook. Don’t put them in the bin or flush them down the loo, they will survive. Use fire or crushing force and make sure. Sorry if that sounds callous but these diseases can kill your dog, so take no chances.

Sandflies and mosquitoes are more difficult to deal with as they are obviously smaller and move a lot faster than ticks; they are most active between dusk and dawn. The diseases they can carry are more common in Southern Europe around the Mediterranean but their distribution is growing. Local knowledge is useful in this regard, another reason to make contact with a vet local to the area you are visiting. Relatively new on the market is a vaccine that protects against the sandfly-transmitted disease, leishmania. The primary course of vaccinations takes at least 6 weeks to complete and your dog must be 6 months old to start the course.

A final word regarding insurance: you have it for the family so make sure your pet’s insurance covers foreign travel in all the countries you plan to visit. Have fun and remember — we can bring back as much wine for our own consumption as can be safely carried... until the end of October. After that, who knows? sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

Animal Care

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY HORSE

T

Poppy Simonson MSc BVSc MRCVS, The Kingston Veterinary Group

he UK has a growing population of ageing equines, with horses increasingly being kept as companions once they are retired.

Often forgotten, older horses come with their own challenges regarding husbandry and veterinary care.

Below are some of the most important areas of routine care for older horses.

Vaccination

There is a persistent myth that it is not necessary to vaccinate older horses, particularly for influenza.

However, this year’s equine flu outbreak has highlighted the vulnerability of our horse population.

Due to weakened immune systems, elderly horses have a higher likelihood of complications and death if infected with flu. Our advice is to vaccinate for flu even if they live in isolation, as the flu virus can travel distances of up to 2km. Tetanus vaccination remains vital for every horse as the bacteria are always present in the environment.

Dentistry

Older horses are more prone to tooth problems such as cavities, gaps between teeth, and missing teeth. It is much easier to prevent these problems than to treat them, so we recommend regular dental check-ups every 6-12 months to catch problems early and future-proof the mouth.

Exercise

Multiple factors need to be taken into account when deciding the right time to retire a horse – age is just a number, after all – and retired horses still benefit from a degree of exercise such as turnout or hand-walking to prevent stiffness. If arthritis is present, antiinflammatories or other treatments may help. Also, don’t forget the farrier; even if your older horse does no work and is unshod, regular hoof trimming is still essential.

86 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Image: Mikkelvog53/Shutterstock

Nutrition

Much like elderly people, many aged horses struggle to maintain their weight due to low appetite, tooth problems, or illness. Feeding good-quality forage and concentrates, such as a veteran mix, can help deliver the calories and nutrients they need. Their weight can drop rapidly during the cold months so extra TLC is needed during the winter. Body condition scoring or using a weigh tape can help you monitor changes.

At the other end of the spectrum are the horses who become overweight due to overfeeding and insufficient exercise, so it is important to feed for the type of horse you have.

Parasites

Older horses may have a weakened immune system so we recommend keeping up with routine parasite control.

For the average older horse, this means treating for tapeworm and encysted redworm once yearly (usually after the first frost) then performing regular faecal egg counts throughout the year.

When to call the vet

Unfortunately, elderly horses are prone to a variety of illnesses.

One condition which is especially common in older horses is Cushing’s syndrome, which affects 15% of horses aged over 15 years old. Symptoms include a long or curly coat,

delayed moulting, increasing drinking and urination, and lethargy. Cushing’s can predispose the horse to laminitis and weaken the immune system, so it is important to be vigilant for the condition – a blood sample confirms the diagnosis and treatment involves daily tablets. If your horse shows any symptoms of Cushing’s, is becoming stiff, or is otherwise unwell please do not hesitate to get in touch with your vet.

Elderly horses are often the forgotten members of the yard but require more time and effort than their younger herd mates. With just a little extra input, the lifespan and quality of life of our geriatric horses can be vastly improved. kingstonvets.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87

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Sherborne Surgery Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228

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Veterinary services for livestock & pets in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire We now have a new collection point for livestock medicines and supplies at Pearce Seeds, Rosedown Farm, Sherborne.

Please call the office on 01258 472314 for all enquiries

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Cycling

GEARED UP Mike Riley, Riley’s Cycles

M

any of you have been following the buildup in these articles to Adam Anstey riding the Race Across America. I have been on tenterhooks waiting to know if his bike survived the journey to the US. He started the race a few minutes before I started writing this and sent a video to our Cycle Club Whatsapp group showing the bike I supplied crossing the start. Phew! Why so nervous? The Wilier bike Adam is riding has electronic gear shifting, hydraulic brakes and a carbon fibre frame with a shock absorber, so it is a high-tech piece of kit with plenty of scope for things to go wrong. As he rides, I can track his team’s progress live from a GPS tracker. He will have a 90 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

display on the handlebars which shows him his position, route and metrics about his performance such as speed, power output, heart rate. So, in this month’s article, I am focusing on electronic technology in bicycles. After 12 hours I see on my mobile phone that Antonia’s Friends team T808 are traveling at 25.7mph, averaging 19.5mph and on target for 467 miles per day.

Conventional bikes have cable-operated gears and brakes and screws to adjust them. To set up Adam’s gears, the bike is plugged into our computer and we run a diagnostic programme; the optimum positions of the gears are adjusted using the computer mouse and the settings are then stored in the memory of a

microprocessor. When Adam changes gear, he operates levers like those on an ordinary bike but they are actually switches so the shift is fast, precise and repeatable even when he is exhausted. The computer shows us a diagnostic display and runs through self-checks to diagnose problems.

To illustrate how technology has developed and flowed down, here are some personal experiences.

Last week I was reminded that 14th June is Falklands Liberation Day. The first prompt came when a couple who are Falklands residents visited my cycle shop to ask about an e-bike that could traverse the rugged terrain which British servicemen struggled and fought to recover from Argentinian invaders in 1982. Two days later a customer mentioned it was his daughter’s birthday on this anniversary. It transpired he had been in the RAF keeping the helicopters flying while I was an electrical engineer on the SS Canberra carrying the troops. That evening a TV programme about Margaret Thatcher covered this period of history. So why does this have any significance to cycling? Bear with me please… At that time I was studying marine electrical engineering and electronics were becoming integrated into ships’ control systems. I read my course notes sheltering under a table which was my Fire Party duty position, although I am not sure how effective the table would have been if the ammunition rounds which strafed the ship had hit the restaurant. I could not have imagined then how electronics would become a feature of bicycles.

Now electronics are used in motor control, gears, lights, navigation and performance-monitoring devices.

Fast-forward to about 2005, standing in front of a conference room full of submariners. My mission was to convince them the digital sonar system replacing their analogue system required a new approach to fault-finding. The replacement computer-based sonar had more processing power than the computers used

by NASA to land a man on the moon. The computers diagnosed faults and displayed diagnostic information, making the maintainer’s job easier. In 2019, Adam’s race bicycle that was connected to the computer had a similar diagnostic display to a multi-million-pound defence system and this trickle-down of technology has happened since I started studying electronic engineering back in 1982. The gear control system is even programmable to prevent engaging combinations of gears which stress the transmission, and will make shifts of the rear derailleur to compensate for a big jump in ratios when Adam selects a different front ring.

So, up to the present day and the bike chosen for use in the Falklands is a full suspension mountain bike with electric drive and hydraulic disc brakes. Even suspension can have electronic control and I have seen a model where the suspension dynamically adjusts the rear suspension according to inputs from the front wheel about the terrain it is crossing.

When different systems of the bike have digital control it becomes possible for them to talk to each other. On our flagship Volt e-bike the electric drive and gears talk to each other, so the motor pauses when a gear shift occurs, then reapplies power to preserve the life of the gears and make shifting smoother. Gear shifting can even be set to automatic if required and the bike selects a suitable gear to maintain a constant pedalling speed.

It will even shift to an easy gear to pull away when you stop at traffic lights!

On the latest high-tech bikes, mechanical cables have been replaced with wires, however there is even an advancement from this where wireless signals from the handlebars control the gears. Last year I was asked to build a prototype bicycle using an electric drive wheel which had no cables; the rear wheel contained battery, motor and controller and an app on my phone talked to the motor. One of Adam’s sponsors, Freebike, has developed a system for hire bikes where their e-bikes have a geo boundary so if the bike is taken outside of the permitted area the motor cuts out and the bike is disabled to prevent theft. The Wilier road e-bike we supplied to one of our mature cycling club members has a feature where it can take a heart rate monitor input and will adjust the power assistance as required.

What could the future hold? We already have cameras integrated into lights and rear lights with radar to warn riders a vehicle is approaching. I think there will be greater integration with mobile phones and smart watches, e.g. a camera in the rear light which displays the rear view on the phone, bone conduction speakers in helmets to allow phone calls and GPS verbal directions on the move, electric-assisted delivery bikes which navigate the rider to their destination. However, I have just ridden one of the best aluminium bikes ever made, a Principia made in Denmark in 1997, and I am convinced there will always be a place for the beautifully simple and pure bicycle which has soul.

P.S. Adam’s team are now at 745 miles and overtaking some solo riders in the Rocky Mountains. rileyscycles.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 92 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

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Body and Mind

TAN TRUTH Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms

H

aving just returned from a glorious ‘sun’ holiday, I appreciate all too much the sheer joy of feeling the warm rays of the sun on my skin and the deep, relaxing heat it radiates into my muscles.

‘YOU are sunbathing?’ I hear you cry! ‘You, who bangs on about daily SPFs and ageing due to sun exposure!’ Yes, it is true - even I can succumb to the desire to have a ‘real’ tan and ‘real’ white bits. However, it’s the damage limitation, the repair process and respite from sun exposure that is key to minimising the sunbaked leather look that is the bane of frequently overexposed skins.

There is no such thing as a safe tan. The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, is your skin responding to protect itself. The pigment blocks UV radiation from hitting your cells’ most valuable parts and ‘piles up’ on top of the cell’s nucleus, making the skin look darker.

A high-quality, high-level SPF re-applied very regularly will allow you to tan whilst protecting you 94 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

from the likelihood of burning. To deliver the SPF value on the bottle, the recommended amount of sun cream is a shot glass-full for the body and a teaspoonfull for the face. The overall message for sunscreen use is ‘more is better’ and your skin will thank you for it. There are two main types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens, suitable for most skins, are absorbed into the skin and turn the UV light energy into heat energy. Physical sunscreens are mineral-based and bounce the light and heat off the skin due to their reflective quality – perfect for sensitive skins.

To re-hydrate the skin after sun exposure, calm and cool after-sun lotions or gels provide relief. Aloe vera gel is packed with amino acids essential for helping skin repair itself, aiding collagen and elastin production.

However, it won’t give skins which are dried out from sun, sand and chlorine enough nourishment. To comfort sun-stressed skins you will need lotions containing shea

Providing facial aesthetics in our beautiful CQC approved clinic • WRINKLE RELAXING • DERMAL FILLERS • EXCESSIVE SWEATING TREATMENT Call us for your free consultation Tel: 01935 817950 Email: info@sherborneaesthetics.com Find us on

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butter and pure coconut oils. Try to keep overexposed skin cool; take a cool shower or apply damp ice compresses to take the heat and sting out.

Once back from holidays, you should still protect skin from damaging photo-ageing. Roughly 90% of photo-ageing is preventable by wearing a high-level, broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, all year round, to allow your skin to rest and repair itself from your summer blast.

Self-tan products containing dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from sugar beet interact with the proteins on the surface of the skin to produce a darker colour and are a great way to keep a bit of colour all year round or to ‘fake’ a summer tan.

There is no such thing as a safe tan but, by supporting your skin in its recovery and giving it a break, you can limit the damage. thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk

Health Clinic • Acupuncture • Osteopathy • Counselling • Physiotherapy • EMDR Therapy • Shiatsu • Podiatry and Chiropody • Soft Tissue Therapy, Sports

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www.56londonroad.co.uk Email: info@56londonroad.co.uk 56 London Road, Milborne Port, Sherborne DT9 5DW Free Parking and Wheelchair access sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

Body and Mind

MY VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind

D

orset Mind was founded in 1946 and has supported people with mental health problems ever since, helping them to recognise and cope with symptoms and rebuild their lives towards recovery.

Dorset Mind is an affiliate of the national mental health charity Mind, but it is an independent charity responsible for its own income which is used to benefit the local community of Dorset.

As a volunteer, I’ve been fortunate enough to see firsthand the colossal growth Dorset Mind has experienced 96 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

as a charity. When I first began, in September 2018, they occupied a small, one-floor office. Now they have a large, three-storey office, with many more staff and volunteers joining to support their vision: to ensure no one in Dorset faces a mental health problem alone.

Volunteering for Dorset Mind has deeply enriched my life, particularly as a person with mental health difficulties. Contributing to ‘Dorset Mind Your Head’, Dorset Mind’s young people’s programme, I have had the opportunity to help support other young people

Image: Wavebreak Media/Shutterstock

struggling with mental health issues. Dorset Mind educates young people using a whole-school approach involving teachers and parents too. Young people are taught how to identify, manage and cope with a whole variety of emotions, and that it is OK to ask for help with mental health.

Additionally, volunteering for Dorset Mind has opened a whole world of opportunities. I want to use my life to improve the world for other people experiencing mental health issues, and Dorset

Mind has given me the opportunity and the tools to do so. I am involved in their Young Ambassador programme and meet other young people who, like me, have a passion for improving mental health services. I’ve also gained further insight on what gaps there are in Dorset for young people’s mental health and how they can be improved.

I’ve had the opportunity to write about mental health on social media, on the Dorset Mind website and in magazines such as the Sherborne Times! Furthermore, I’ve been able to contribute to exciting campaigns and projects to raise mental health awareness. This includes producing a campaign to normalise mental health conversations in schools, which arose from my team’s winning pitch at Do-it Day, a digital hackathon hosted

by Why Digital in Bournemouth.

Due to the work of Dorset Mind, more people know that there is help available for them; that there are people who care, who don’t just accept what is wrong in the world but take a stand and try to change lives for the better. Such people are hopeful, courageous and unshakable, and now I am too.

Volunteering for Dorset Mind has given me back what I had lost: my faith in humanity and the world around me. I am no longer without hope or feel as though the world is irreversibly broken. Indeed, I am overwhelmed with feelings of hope, as I now know that many people are working hard to change the world. I know this because I’ve seen first-hand the hundreds of brilliant people working hard every day to improve the lives of those who are struggling with their mental health.

There are many different reasons why you should volunteer for Dorset Mind. What I will emphasise is the realisation that you don’t need to passively sit by and watch the horrors of the world. You can make a difference. You can use your time on this earth to contribute to a greater good. You can help to shape a better world for our children and their children.

Dorset Mind has a wide variety of roles on offer, to suit and develop a whole range of interests and talents.

Volunteering will enable you to identify and build your strengths and use them to make your mark on the world.

Stand up. Speak up. Join our movement.

If you would like to get involved with Dorset Mind, visit their website to view their volunteer vacancies or email volunteer@dorsetmind.uk for more information. dorsetmind.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97

Body & Mind

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MENTAL HEALTH

Image: Stuart Brill

Craig Hardaker, Communifit

A

pproximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.

The most obvious result of physical activity is a healthy body but did you know that it is also beneficial for your mental health and well-being? We shouldn’t see physical activity as something we have to do or ought to do but rather as something we do because we value its importance.

What is physical activity?

Physical activity doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym, attending an exercise class or joining a sports club.

It means any movement of your body that uses your muscles and expends energy. Structured, targeted and specific exercise to target our weaknesses is best, but this isn’t for everyone. The best part of physical activity is that there are endless possibilities so there will be an activity to suit you! It is recommended that the average adult should spend between 75-150 minutes doing some form of physical activity each week.

98 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

What is wellbeing?

Wellbeing can be defined as a positive physical, social and mental state. I’ll be focusing on our mental wellbeing, which includes multiple factors such as the sense of feeling good about ourselves, the ability to deal with life’s challenges, the feeling of connection to our community and surroundings, having a sense of purpose, and feeling valued. Mental wellbeing does not mean being happy all the time and does not mean that you won’t experience negative or painful emotions such as grief, loss or failure, which are part of normal life. However, whatever your age, being physically active can help you to lead a mentally healthier life and can improve your wellbeing.

What is the impact of physical activity on mental health?

Physical activity has huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. Even a short burst of 10 minutes brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy and

positive mood. In one study, people were asked to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity, such as going for a walk or housework, and periods of inactivity, such as watching the TV or reading a book. Researchers found that the participants felt more content, more awake and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity. Interestingly, they also found that the effect of physical activity on mood was greatest when mood was initially low.

The most common physical signs of stress include sleeping problems, sweating and loss of appetite.

Symptoms such as these are triggered by a rush of stress hormones in the body. It is these hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which raise our blood pressure, increase our heart rate and increase the rate at which we perspire, preparing our body for an emergency response. Physical exercise can be very effective in relieving stress. Research on employed adults has found that highly active individuals tend to have lower stress rates compared to individuals who are less active.

Exercise not only has a positive impact on our physical health but also can increase our self-esteem.

Self esteem is how we feel about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth. It is a key indicator of our mental wellbeing and our ability to cope with life stressors.

Improvements in healthcare have led to an increasing life expectancy and a growing population of people over 65 years. Alongside this increase in life expectancy, there has been an increase in the number of people living with dementia and people with cognitive decline. The main symptom of dementia is memory loss. Decline in cognitive functions, such as attention and concentration, also occurs in older people, including those who do not develop dementia. Physical activity has been identified as a protective factor in studies that examined risk factors for dementia.

For people who have already developed the disease, physical activity can help to delay further decline in functioning. Studies show that there is approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk of depression and dementia for adults participating in daily physical activity.

Physical activity has been shown to have a positive influence on mood, stress and self-esteem whilst reducing cognitive decline in older people.

Look good, feel good – and start exercising! I am always here to help.

Yeovil Sherborne & District

Join our team of amazing volunteers Volunteer with us To find out more and apply, visit

samaritans.org/volunteer Call 01935 414 015 Email yeovil@samaritans.org @Yeovilsams2 Samaritans of Yeovil, Sherborne & District is a registered charity.

• Exercise classes • Personal training • Homes programme All age groups and abilities @communifit

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yoga with emma Classes in Sherborne, Thornford and Milborne Port For details please visit emmareesyoga.com dorsetyogawithemma emmayogateacher@gmail.com

communifit.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99

Body and Mind

3 REASONS WHY RUNNERS NEED TO LIFT WEIGHTS Simon Partridge BSc (Sports Science), Personal Trainer SPFit

L

ast month I explored why people might use a personal trainer and how important it is as a personal trainer to listen to each client’s specific goals. We are all different. However, I keep hearing the same recurring statement from clients who want to run: ‘I don’t need to do strength training. I run, so my legs are strong already.’

Strength is a completely different adaptation from endurance and can go a long way to improve your running. Whether running a 5K or a marathon, you need to include strength training in your programme to ensure fewer injuries, to run faster and more efficiently.

If you are training for a race, plan both your endurance and strength training programmes. Exercise selection is key: select exercises that will work best to produce optimal strength results and remain compatible with your running goals.

Benefits of Strength Training

1. Injury Prevention Improving strength helps runners prevent knee and hip pain and avoid many running injuries. Running is notorious for creating dysfunction in the hip, forcing the knee to compensate. Performing an exercise such as deadlifts to specifically target the hamstrings and glutes can avoid some of those nagging injuries.

2. Increased Speed Even if you run for fun, achieving a personal best gives you an amazing feeling. Stronger legs mean more force to drive your legs into the ground and the more distance you cover with each stride, the better your chances to beat your personal best.

A recent study found that after a 40-week strength 100 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

training programme, velocity at VO2 max increased significantly. What does that mean? It means that when you reach the point of maximum oxygen intake, your running speed should be higher.

3. Increased Efficiency Efficiency (or economy) is the energy it takes to run a particular distance or speed. Without being too scientific, your VO2 max is the oxygen you would use running at a particular speed. The less oxygen you use over a particular distance, the more efficient you will be. Thus the stronger you are, the more efficient your muscles become, resulting in less oxygen intake to cover the same distance at the same speed.

Programming and Exercise Selection

Designing programmes for runners can be challenging.

You need to build strength but also need to avoid increasing your body weight, because this can slow you down. Stick to lower rep ranges for the more complex, compound lifts such as squats and deadlifts. Runners rely heavily on their quads and hip flexors, so include as many posterior chain exercises, such as hamstring curls and calf raises, as possible.

Single-leg exercises such as Bulgarian split squats and single-leg deadlifts are key exercises for runners for two reasons. First, running is a series of small, singleleg, plyometric-type movements over a long period, so you want your legs to be powerful. Second, single-leg exercises improve hip stability, helping prevent injuries.

In conclusion, there are many benefits to adding some weight training to your running plan. Try it and just see how much progress you make. Good luck. spfit-sherborne.co.uk

BACK PAIN IN CHILDREN

Lucy Morland, MSc (Hons) Grad Dip MCSP HCPC MAPCP MAPPI, Chartered Physiotherapist, 56 London Road Clinic Image: Africa Studio/Shutterstock

E

pisodes of back pain in children are more sporadic than in the adult population but the prevalence of paediatric back pain is more common than previously thought. The younger the child and the more acute the episode, the more likely that a medical professional should assess it.

Musclo-skeletal assessment of children is different from that of adults and a careful history and physical examination must take place. Key to distinguishing between normal and abnormal is knowing the differing ranges of movement and asymmetry, and a careful examination for subtle changes.

Mechanical neck and back pain are common in the adolescent population and are often caused by factors such as poor posture and carrying heavy bags on one shoulder. As a general rule, school bags should not exceed 15% of the child’s weight.

One of the most common causes of low back pain in adolescent athletes is a pars fracture. It is a stress fracture that develops as a result of repetitive stress and overuse at a weak spot in the bone rather than from a specific acute or traumatic event. A pars stress fracture involves a small bone that connects the joints in the lumbar spine, called the pars interarticularis. The pars bone connects the facet joints, a chain of joints found on each side of the spin, and it lengthens during adolescence growth spurts, hence it is particularly thin, weak and prone to injury during the teenage years.

A pars fracture usually starts as mild pain that gradually worsens with running, jumping and kicking activities due to the facet joints pressing together under pressure during these types of activities. Pain is most

usually felt when arching backwards, rotating at the waist or straightening up from a bent forward position, often in dynamic sports such as gymnastics, cricket, tennis and hockey. The pain is generally felt on one side of the back rather than in the centre of the spine.

Pain generally gets worse with sporting activities and eases with rest. Often the athlete will rest for a few days or weeks and the pain will subside but will worsen again on return to activities.

Stress fractures often develop during longer tournaments, in training camps that focus on one specific sport, or when a particular drill or sport is being practised several times a day. Alongside this there will normally have been a significant growth spurt with associated muscle tightness and imbalance, reduced core stability and postural awareness.

If back pain lasts longer than 2 weeks, the athlete should rest and seek further medical attention. Often it will be a physiotherapist who refers the athlete to a paediatric orthopaedic spinal specialist for a further opinion and to seek imaging. If a pars fracture is diagnosed, either with an MRI, CT or bone scan, then, after a month or so of complete rest, a tailored exercise programme under the direction of a specialist physiotherapist should be carried out. This will help improve the flexibility and strength of different muscle groups to reduce the risk of recurrence.

The physical management programme will not speed up the healing process of the fracture, however it is vital that it is managed correctly to ensure full return to sporting activities.

56londonroad.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101

Body and Mind

DEALING WITH FEMALE HAIR LOSS Janemarie Cox, Wig & Hair Piece Specialist

W

hatever our age, there seems to be an evergrowing list of taboo subjects for discussion, even amongst our closest friends. Hair loss is, without doubt, one of them.

There are numerous reasons for the conversation of hair loss being off limits, and I’m certain it’s due to our uncompromising views on the value of ‘looking our best’.

My experience has shown that our hair forms a huge part of our identity: the importance and value we put on it makes it easy for us all to understand the distress we feel when we start to lose it. Losing your hair can completely strip you of your confidence and self-esteem. It’s no surprise that women have reported hair loss as one of the sideeffects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.

Although chemotherapy is usually the first thing people think of when they hear the words ‘hair loss’, there are thousands of women having a daily struggle with short- and long-term conditions which result in them losing their hair. Whether it be a hereditary receding hair line, vitamin deficiency, post-childbirth loss, or alopecia, (temporary or permanent) there are more women suffering hair loss than ever before. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 40% of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40.

Thankfully for those who are experiencing hair loss, there are treatments, products and medical procedures 102 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

out there to help with the symptoms, some of which see very good results. I, however, would like to champion wigs and hair pieces as I believe the transformation they achieve can be an incredibly powerful tool for overcoming the distress of losing your hair.

You should not be fooled into thinking a wig is going to look odd or not fit comfortably. Nor should you be worried that it will be itchy or simply look unnatural.

If you take the time to research and find the right Wig & Hair Piece Specialist, you will be blown away by the results. Wigs that are chosen and fitted correctly can give you the hair that you’ve always dreamed of, which will complement your face shape and skin tone.

It is incredibly important to see a specialist. I’ve seen too many cases of women panic-buying on the internet, spending hundreds of pounds (if not more) based on a thumbnail-sized picture, only to realise their poor judgement has led to an unfortunate conclusion.

There is good advice available

A Wig & Hair Piece Specialist will have a wealth of experience, enabling them to look at you as an individual and know what is going to look good. They will provide you with free advice, taking into account your face shape, density of hair, colour and a style that you’re comfortable with.

Decisions, decisions

There are two choices of wigs on the market, synthetic or human hair, and both come with advantages and disadvantages.

Synthetic hair

Synthetic hair is easy to maintain, with no colour fade, and it doesn’t need styling. There is a larger colour selection and is generally cheaper. The drawbacks are that you can get ‘friction frizz’ on longer styles, and you are unable to colour or use heat to restyle. For these reasons some people talk of synthetic hair as being an inferior option when looking for a more natural hair piece.

Human hair

With human hair you may have to spend more money but you can have a longer style with very little frizzing. This is great if you previously had long hair and are used to it. You can also colour human hair and apply heat to style. The human hair wigs will always be softer to touch and enable you to change the style as and when you please. The only real disadvantages of having a human hair piece is that the colour can fade and the hair is more porous, so it can become damaged. Some people find human hair pieces difficult to manage as they need almost as much attention as natural hair.

If you are researching the best hair piece for yourself, you can rest assured that help is available.

In many cases, hair pieces provide a better solution than most other products on the market. This is especially the case if you want a stronger hairline due to receding or a stronger parting due to thinning. The hair piece solutions for these issues are easy to put in and take out yourself.

Wigs and hair pieces have been a staple of the fashion industry for years and are becoming much more acceptable in the mainstream. If we want longer eye lashes, nails or hair, we think nothing of getting extensions and if we are unhappy with our skin, we apply make-up. The same rules apply to hair loss, using wigs and hair pieces. There is no need to suffer in silence, there are people to talk to and amazing products to suit your needs; it just takes a little careful research and a quick chat with a trained specialist!

JANEMARIE COX High Quality Wig & Hair Piece Specialist for Women

“Providing advice & discreet service with high quality bespoke wigs & hair pieces, whether needed for medical reasons, enhance confidence or bring a touch of glamour to life” For a free consultation call:

07967 198470 www.janemariecox.co.uk

janemariecox.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 103

Body & Mind

MIGRAINE

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom GP & Complementary Practitioner

M

igraine is characterised by severe headaches that are usually one-sided and associated with visual disturbance and sickness. There may be other associated features such as change in sense of smell, temporary localised blindness, dizziness and even one-sided weakness. The sufferer usually retreats to a darkened room for peace and quiet as well as shielding from the light. If you suffer from recurrent headaches but your symptoms don’t fit this description completely, see your GP in order to have the diagnosis confirmed.

Migraine tends to run in families. Migraine can occur in childhood but usually it presents as a mysterious stomach pain, called abdominal migraine. Migraine can be triggered by foods such as cheese, chocolate, caffeine and red wine. Some women have migraine before their period. Migraines can be stress-induced, often workrelated, but strangely can also occur on the weekend only.

Conventional treatment of a migraine attack is by taking Ibuprofen and/or Paracetamol, as well as Imigran obtained from the chemist. Anti-sickness tablets from your GP may be needed to treat the vomiting, in order to keep the pills down. If the migraines are occurring a few times each week preventative treatment is needed with other prescribed tablets – the beta-blocker Propranolol, anti-neuralgia Amitriptyline and the antiepileptic Topiramate.

If you prefer not to go straight to conventional or prescription medicine, complementary medicine should be considered. The herbal medicine Feverfew was used for treatment of migraine by the Ancient Greeks.

The Victorian herbalist Dr Culpepper recommends it for headache - one leaf to be taken daily as a 104 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

preventative. Homeopathic medicine can also be very helpful in patients with recurrent migraine. Features of the headache and associated symptoms are taken into account. The whole-person or ‘holistic’ aspects of the patient are also considered in order to treat the ‘constitutional’ characteristics. In this process the symptoms and the features of the patient are matched with a homeopathic medicine that stimulates a cure.

The supplements Magnesium and Omega 3 fish oils have been shown in studies to reduce the frequency of migraines. Try each in turn for a few months to see if they make a difference.

As migraine can be triggered by stress and pressure it is obviously worthwhile attempting to reduce these problems through addressing work/life balance and interpersonal factors as well as considering mind-body techniques such as yoga, meditation, Pilates or even a good game of golf ! Tension in the neck may also be relieved by manipulation - osteopathy, chiropractic, physiotherapy and cranio-sacral. Acupuncture and Bowen Technique are also well worth considering.

In summary, recurrent headache and migraine should be discussed with your GP if simple relieving medicines are not effective. Discuss relieving as well as preventive treatments. If they are not working consider complementary and alternative medicine such as homeopathy, supplements and manipulative techniques but also don’t forget to address any obvious precipitating factors relating to lifestyle and stress. doctorTWRobinson.com glencairnHouse.co.uk

WINDOWS

&

DOORS

Solidor has long been the market leading timber core composite door. The extensive Solidor range is as widely admired for its stunning design, as it is for its unparalleled security. No other composite door even comes close to competing with Solidor in terms of sophistication and performance.

Choose from a variety of colours, styles, glass and furniture options for a truly personalised entrance to your home.

As a Solidor approved installer, all of our Solidor composite doors are manufactured at our factory in Sherborne.

For more information visit our website or come down to the showroom.

Unit 1a > South Western Business Pk > Sherborne > Dorset > DT9 3PS billbutterswindows.co.uk 01935 816 168

Brister&Son Independent Family Funeral Directors

When your family suffers the loss of a loved one, we are here to support, guide and reassure you – every step of the way Call Daniel on 01935 812647 100 Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AG Email: daniel@wsbrister.com www.wsbrister.com

A J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons – 24 Hour Service –

Private Chapels of Rest Website www.ajwakely.com

Independent Family Directors and Monumental Mason 33 SparrowFuneral Road, Yeovil BA21 4BT Tel: 01935 479913 16 Newland, Sherborne, DorsetService DT9 3JQ -Tel: 01935 816817 - 24 Hour Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

106 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Private Chapels of Rest

Website.www.ajwakely.com

While being ideal for long-term residential needs, the home also maintains a respite service and offers day care to the surrounding communities.

Carers are committed to understanding personal needs and adhering to a tailored approach.

A number of activities are organised to support personal interests and physical health, and residents have access to information technology while enjoying home-cooked meals.

The Old Vicarage Care Home has won over 30 national and regional awards over the last few years for their commitment to care of the elderly to back-up their reputation as one of the leading care homes in Dorset.

At The Old Vicarage we offer...

The Old Vicarage, Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6HL Tel: 01935 873033 Visit our website for a full map to the home

 HealthcareHomes

www.healthcarehomes.co.uk

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Palliative Care Day Care Respite Care Convalescent Care Own GP if required Own Furniture if required Pets by arrangement Near Public Transport Stairlift Minibus or other transport Wheelchair access Gardens for residents Phone Point in own room/Mobile Television point in own room Residents Internet Access

Together we respect, with compassion we care, through

commitment we achieve

JOHN

BRIGHT

COUNTRY STORE

HAND CRAFTED SINCE MAKE, SUPPLY FIT FENCES & GATES HAND CRAFTED SINCE1982 1982 | WE | FENCING, GATES AND & GARDEN BUILDINGS

COME AND SEE US AT: Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show 14th August Melplash Show 22nd August Dorset County Show 7th & 8th September Telephone 01308 421 545 • www.johnbrightfencing.com Paverlands Farm, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5HT 108 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Melbury Osmond Most attractive period, detached house, presented in excellent order, offering three reception rooms, five bedrooms, modern kitchen, range of outbuildings, swimming pool and substantial garden.

Lettings & Property Management

Please call office to discuss further

Independent Letting Agent representing town and country property throughout Somerset and Dorset

Castle Cary Period town house, two reception rooms, kitchen/ dining room, garden room, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, large garden (with gardeners)

5 Tilton Court, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL T: 01935 816209 E: info@stockwoodlettings.co.uk

£1850 pcm

www.stockwoodlettings.co.uk

UNRIVALLED LIVING AT UPBURY GRANGE Available from £250,000* Set against the stunning backdrop of Yetminster, Dorset, is Upbury Grange; a premium quality new housing development exuding luxury at every turn.

Created by award–winning developer Burrington Estates, the high specification homes at Upbury Grange offer generous entertaining spaces, sizable bedrooms and high quality fixtures and fittings as standard. ✓ Two, three four and five bedroom homes. ✓ Fitted kitchen with integrated appliances. ✓ Luxury carpets and flooring included. ✓ Fully turfed gardens.

With Help to Buy* available, homes can be reserved with just a 5% deposit. Contact Sales Executive Jill at Greenslade Taylor Hunt on 01935 345020 or residential.sherborne@gth.net to find out more. www.burringtonestates.com/upbury-grange

*Prices correct at time of printing. Help to Buy criteria apply, see www.helptobuy.gov.uk for details. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

www.gth.net sherbornetimes.co.uk | 109

New homes coming soon at The Hamlets, Milborne Port

The Hamlets, coming soon to Milborne Port,

To make it easier to

is an exciting new development of 3, 4 and 5

move, Bovis Homes

bedroom homes all designed using traditional

offer a great range of

building methods and complementing the local

purchase assistance

architecture. With just 46 dwellings this small

schemes including

development will provide modern living in

Help to Buy and Home

an idyllic location.

Exchange. Theres also exclusive discounts available

Located on the outskirts of the village, The Hamlets will be perfectly situated for enjoying the rural Dorset surroundings and village lifestyle, whilst within easy reach of good commuter links and larger towns.

The fantastic house types range from 3 bedroom terraces, making ideal first homes, to large 5 bedroom

for members of the Armed Forces and public sector key workers including NHS staff, teachers and police officers.

The first homes at The Hamlets will soon be available to purchase, so register your interest now to find out more and be the first to hear when homes become available!

family homes featuring double garages and private

The Hamlets - Milborne Port

gated driveways.

01963 836003

DT9 5FH

Home exchange scheme is subject to independent valuations, survey and contract on your existing property and is subject to criteria, which include the property you are selling is worth no more than 75% of the value of the new Bovis Home you wish to purchase. Home Exchange market value figures are based on reports from 2 independent local NAEA registered agents for a selling period of 8 weeks. Available of selected plots only. Maximum property price excepted via the Home exchange scheme is ÂŁ400,000. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Photograph depicts a typical Bovis Home interior. Elevation may differ to that shown. Internal images may include optional upgrades at an additional cost. Price & availability correct at time of going to print/broadcast. Exact specification may vary depending on the house type. Please ask our sales advisor for details.

Hassle free moving at Mildenhall, Sherborne

Make your move simple and stress-free when you purchase your dream home at Mildenhall!

Ranked as one of the most stressful experiences, we know moving can be both difficult and expensive, but at Mildenhall we want to make stressful moving a thing of the past!

Our fantastic Home Exchange scheme means you can forget about costly estate agents fees and save yourself time and hassle while we purchase your existing home. Simply choose your new home and let us do the rest!

Plus, with a fantastic specification including full height tiling, your choice of kitchen with integrated NEFF appliances, luxurious finishes and all mod cons, you can start enjoying your new home from the moment you move in!

Speak to one of our friendly Sales Advisors today to find out more.

Mildenhall Sherborne DT9 6BP Visit our website for more information or call:

01935 578004

bovishomes.co.uk

Legal

CHANGES TO STATE PENSION SEE WOMEN TAKING THE HARDEST HIT

Why Baby Boomers and Generation X’ers Need to Take Stock

I

Stuart Doughty, Director, Mogers Drewett Financial Planning

n 2018, research from Brewin Dolphin* revealed that women were expecting nearly £100,000 less in pension savings than men upon reaching retirement age, saving an average 9.4% of their net income compared to 11.4% for men.

Recent changes made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in state pension entitlements could have an even greater impact on women’s pension savings, with the state pension age rising from 60 to 66 in 2020, and then to 67 by 2028. Those currently close to the end of their careers, particularly where one partner is reaching retirement age before the other, need to pay closest attention.

Changes to pension credits

Pension credits are designed to top up the incomes of those who have reached pension age to make sure they have a reasonable amount to live on and have been widely welcomed by those living on the poverty line.

Prior to the state pension changes, pension credit has been available to couples where one partner has reached the pension qualifying age. However, as of 15th May 2019, both partners are required to be of pension age for credits to be paid. Where there are significant differences in age, this has the potential to impact a household’s income by as much as £140 per week.

112 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

While mixed-age couples are entitled to claim universal credit, this is considerably less than the pension credit, making this anything but an insignificant change.

Lifestyling

Previously, pensions were often moved into safer investments for an average 10-15 years before they expired. While offering less of a return, they were usually fairly secure. This system is known as ‘lifestyling’ and is common practice.

However, in-line with the change in the pension age, if a pension is ‘lifestyled’ too early (for example, seven years before the due date), the loss could amount to up to £10,000 over the course of retirement. When combined with the impact of the pension credit changes, this could see some pensioners being forced to continue working. Fortunate, then, that the pension age has gone up so significantly.

While a ‘bridging pension’ might seem like the most obvious option, there is a strong possibility that these will end prematurely and shouldn’t be relied on. * The Brewin Dolphin Family Wealth Report reveals the values, goals and aspirations that surrounded wealth in 2018. mogersdrewett.com

THE HOME OF LEGAL & FINANCIAL ADVICE

Sherborne | Bath | Wells | Frome mogersdrewett.com | 01935 813 691 Mogers Drewett Financial Planning is an appointed representative of Centurion Chartered Financial Planners, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Finance

ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS

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

A

s I write this article, one of the leading UK investment funds, LF Woodford Equity Income Fund, has made the dramatic announcement that no investor can withdraw their money for an as yet unspecified period of time. While the reason for this is to protect continuing investors, it is likely to cause great anguish to anybody who needs their money urgently.

Liquidity – being able to get your money within a matter of days – is, in FFP’s point of view, absolutely crucial to a successful investment strategy. After all, part of the investment promise is that you can have your money back when you want it.

One of the problems of traditional investment management is an underlying premise that a fund manager can obtain a better return than the market as a whole.

Intellectually, this seems to be a false assumption as the majority of the market is dominated by professionals. A simple understanding of the law of averages would suggest that only half can do better than average, with the other half doing worse - and this is before any costs have been taken into consideration. All available evidence suggests that when a fund manager achieves better returns than the market as a whole, this is either as a result of chance or it is by taking additional risk. The normal market benchmark might be the FTSE All Share Index, however, part of the problem of the Woodford fund is that they invested in unquoted companies, in other words where there is no daily tradable market.

I have always followed the principle that spreading the risk as widely as possible is always likely to be of benefit. After all, the saying, ‘don’t have all your eggs in one basket’ has been around a very long time! There is also a saying, insofar as an investment portfolio is concerned, that you should never hold enough of any one holding to make a killing or to be killed.

An academic evidence-based approach to investing may not be exciting but it delivers. Our own investment portfolios typically include more than 5,000 daily tradable companies throughout the entire world. Not only does this reduce the impact of the risk of any one company becoming totally worthless overnight but also it significantly improves the liquidity.

While we cannot guarantee to eliminate risk entirely, a well-thought-out, robust investment process reduces risk whenever possible. ffp.org.uk

114 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

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

FFP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Telephone: 01935 813322 Email: info@ffp.org.uk Website: www.ffp.org.uk

AHEAD IN THE CLOUD Our real-time cloud accounting solutions present you with a full picture of your financial position 24/7, allowing you to proactively plan and respond ahead of tax deadlines.

For a fresh take on your accounts, speak to Hunts

T: 01935 815008 E: info@huntsaccountants.co.uk W: huntsaccountants.co.uk @Hunts_Sherborne The Old Pump House, Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 115

Tech

T

hese may sound similar, and they are, but they have very different purposes. Cloud storage, or personal file storage services, is aimed at private individuals, offering a sort of ‘network storage’ for file access or file distribution. Users can upload their files and share them publicly or keep them passwordprotected. Document-sharing services allow users to share and collaborate on document files. These services originally targeted files such as PDFs, word processor documents, and spreadsheets, however many now allow users to share and synchronise all types of files across all the devices they use including music, pictures and video.

Your choice depends on how much storage you need and how much you’re willing to pay.

The big movers and shakers in this business are DropBox, iCloud, LiveDrive, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, although there are smaller companies offering similar services. All offer a limited free amount of storage but you can pay for more. You decide what data you want to store, and the provider makes it accessible across all your devices (desktops, laptops, mobiles etc.). Changes you make on one device are replicated everywhere else and some offer a version history so you can go back if necessary.

The main point of note is that cloud storage is intended to be working files that you access, and update, regularly; cloud back-up is where you might keep a copy 116 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

of everything so that you can retrieve it in the event of computer loss or hardware failure.

The most important word in that last sentence was ‘copy’. I regularly come across people who have moved their life’s work onto a memory stick only for it to fail a few months later. And it was usually the only copy they had! A back-up implies at least two copies, so that if you lose one you’ve still got another. Memory sticks and removable hard disks are all very well but they can fail, and they are only as good as the most recent back-up taken. Most people keep them next to their computer, so in the event of fire or flood they lose the back-up as well as the original!

Cloud back-up sits quietly in the background and continually manages a back-up remotely on a cloud server, with up to 30 days’ version history to go back to; in the event of disaster you simply download all your precious data onto a new computer. It’s not expensive at about £50 a year and it gives you genuine peace of mind. Most of the large players operate in this field as well, but there are a number of specialists such as Carbonite and Acronis.

Whatever you do, don’t be without a back-up! The choice as always, is yours, but if you need help making that decision, you know where to come.

Coming Up Next Month: Windows 7 & iTunes End-of-Life

J. Biskup

Property Maintenance Ltd

TO-DO LIST ✓ Kitchen & bathroom installation ✓ Tiling ✓ Flooring ✓ Wallpaper removal ✓ Painting and decorating ✓ Plastering

✓ Wall repairs ✓ Roof repairs ✓ Loft insulation ✓ Carpentry ✓ Window renovation ✓ PVC guttering and facia boards

BEST PRICES ON THE MARKET FREE QUOTATIONS SHERBORNE Tel: 01935 815712 • Mobile: 07912 145988 Email: jm.biskup@gmail.com www.jbiskup.com

• Luxury grooming facilities • Heated kennels • CRB checked and fully insured • Doggy first aid (accredited CPD)

• City & Guilds Level 3 qualified in dog grooming & dog behaviour • Day packages available • Dental hygiene and teeth cleaning • Puppy health checks

Available Monday-Friday 8-6pm Contact Sue 07920 044 930 sue@countrystyledoggrooming.co.uk www.countrystyledoggrooming.co.uk

Free registration appointment for new clients when accompanied by this advertisement Kingston House Veterinary Clinic Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB Mon-Fri 9.00-10.30, 16.30-18.00 Sat 9.00-10.30 T: 01935 813288 (24 hours) E: sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk kingstonvets.co.uk

Garden Design T 01305 751230 M 07808 471937 E sarah@sarahtalbotgardendesign.co.uk W sarahtalbotgardendesign.co.uk ENGLISH GARDENING SCHOOL, CHELSEA

Wills ––– of Sherborne –––

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

• LPG • Bathroom installations • Free quotes • Competitive prices

T: 07885 420609 E: wills.plumbing@hotmail.co.uk

Roger Dodd A CLEAN SWEEP • Timber framed buildings • Bespoke carpentry • Feature roof trusses • Garden buildings

• Pergolas • Oak framed extensions • Restoration • Barn conversions

Contact James on 07745 591489 hello@mclellancarpentry.com www.mclellancarpentry.com

Flue Enemist • Power Sweeping • Brush & Vacuum • Clean and Efficient

NACS Member HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep acleansweepsouthwest@hotmail.com

01935 813989

DAVE THURGOOD Painting & Decorating interior and exterior

07792 391368 NO VAT www.sherbornedecorators.com michellethurgood@sky.com 118 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Free No Obligation Quote

Steve Devoto

M: 07551 306827 E: help@thelocalboilercompany.com www.thelocalboilercompany.com

Wayne Timmins Painter and Decorator • • • • •

Interior & Exterior Fully Qualified 20 Years Experience Wallpapering & Lining Residential & Commercial

01935 872007 / 07715 867145 waynesbusiness@aol.com

ABBA | GEORGE MICHAEL | DISCO INFERNO | MOTOWN & SOUL Join us this Deecember where we have lined up four of the best music nights across two weekends.

7pm for 7.45pm sit down, Carriages at midnight includes 3 course dinner, tribute act & disco

Competitively Priced, High Quality Carpets, Vinyls, Woods & Rugs SHERBORNE SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Unit 16, Old Yarn Mills, Westbury, Sherborne, DT9 3RQ A family run business established in 1998, we promise a highly professional level of service Tel: 07733 101064 or 01935 817885 www.lsflooring.co.uk

TO BOOK CALL US NOW - DON’T FORGET TO ASK ABOUT OUR GREAT B&B RATES AND EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ON EVENT BOOKINGS

Warden Hill, Evershot Nr Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9PW

www.gahotel.co.uk

Covering South Somerset & North Dorset Small Business Support

Networks & Cabling

New PCs & Laptops

Wireless Networks

Repairs & Upgrades

Broadband Setup

Virus Removal

Disaster Recovery

The Weighbridge • High Street • Milborne Port • DT9 5DG www.mpfix.co.uk

01963 250788

Residential, commercial & heritage interiors Exterior work undertaken, paint spray finishes for new residential & commercial work

07976 565 285

www.justmintdecorating.co.uk justin@justmintdecorating.co.uk

BEAM & FURNITURE STRIPPING & RESTORATION SERVICE Solvent-free and water-based.

Removes up to 7 layers of lead-based paint, varnish, stain, wax and ironwork.

BEFORE

AFTER

Works on all wood, brickwork, render and ceramic.

Unique mess-free renovation and restoration.

07917 787 000 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 119

FOLK TALES with Colin Lambert

JULIE CLARK P&J Cabs

Last month I talked about cures for hangovers. This month it’s how to acquire one.

Sheila and I drive to town. The George first, White Hart, fuel stop at the Abbey Fryer, quickie in the Tap and we hit the Half Moon flying as it’s karaoke night.

After dancing and my very poor attempt at being a rapper, it’s time for home.

Julie is remarkably chirpy for someone only halfway through the 1800 to very late shift. I’m asleep by the time we pass the Gryphon.

Julie was born at the Yeatman, youngest of four.

Schooled at St Aldhelms, not sporty, she describes herself as ‘a bit of a nerd.’ Had her mind set on being a vet. Eleven GCSEs was good but Julie had discovered boys, dancing and the rest so why not leave school at 16 and keep partying, as one often does.

Sheila prods me as I am snoring.

Job as a pub chef for Julie, married at 18, divorced at 23 and a single mum to two girls aged six and eighteen months old.

Another hangover cure is a four-mile walk from Staffords Green into town, to collect the car. Top of Cheap Street and down a passageway, there’s P & J Cabs.

At this point Julie resembles an air (ground) traffic controller: phones, screens, VHF radio and noise from every corner.

‘Julie, a single mum at 23 is a tough job, tell me more.’

‘Me and my girls moved back to my parents, who were brilliant. I landed a job at Hillcrest Taxis running their back office, taking the calls and managing the drivers. In those days, with no mobiles, I also had the company of mainly drunken men, some girls, filling the waiting room with tobacco smoke and kebabs.’

Julie’s air of confidence and steely smile clearly 120 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

indicate she is not to be messed with.

Husband Pete arrives in the office but is gone seconds later.

‘Pete?’ I enquire.

‘We met in my late 20s, married, and our son Nathan arrived in 1996. We’ve been a team ever since.’

‘Next job?’

‘When Nathan was four, I became assistant bar manager at the White Hart. I still regretted leaving school at 16, so studied child psychology and business management, in addition to being a mum of three.

‘In 2003 I moved jobs, once again ground traffic controller at H&H cars. By 2009 I was wrecked, children at the Gryphon, working long hours and managing a home. I crash-landed and did nothing for 8 months except spend time with my kids.’

‘For breakfast, Julie?’

‘Coffee and a cigarette.’

‘You obviously recovered?’

Image: Katharine Davies

‘Yes. Long holidays in Tenerife. Pete and I took up cycling. The kids were growing up and we decided to set up our own company. P (Peter) & J ( Julie) Cabs was born.’

‘Isn’t running your own company more stressful than being an employee?’

‘Yes and no. The hours are still long, I have to keep many ‘balls’ in the air but we oversee our own destiny.

I’m now a qualified driver which adds a new dimension to my life. We still get the drunks but nowadays it’s just as many women as men!’

Again, I see that steely smile that stands no nonsense.

‘So, P&J Cabs, tell me more.’

‘Day starts at 0700, school and station runs mainly. We operate two shifts: 0700 to 1800 and 1800 to midnight, Sunday to Thursday, even later at weekends - if someone’s ill it can be a 20-hour shift. We have four cars and a minibus. Most importantly we have a great team. My daughter, Danielle, helps with the back office and Nathan is a qualified car technician so helps manage the fleet.

At this point daughter Kirsty chats to mum on the VHF. ‘Is Kirsty a driver?’

‘Yes. She trained at the council offices in Dorchester, DBS check, courses in child sexual exploitation and the dreaded Knowledge. She passed with flying colours which really does make us a family business.’

‘And for down-time?’

‘Unlike you Colin, neither Pete nor I drink alcohol; it just doesn’t go with our business. I love cooking, Italian’s my favourite. We also take off on our mountain bikes, all over Dorset or Tenerife for longer breaks.’

During our chat, Julie has fielded ringing phones, drivers on VHF radios, Google maps for postcodes and clearly looks happy juggling the balls.

Thank you so much Julie and family for sharing your folk takes with the Sherborne Times.

Have a great July. colinlambert.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 121

Community

BREAST CANCER UNIT APPEAL

James Kirton, Yeovil Hospital Charity

L: Caroline Osborne – Consultant Breast Surgeon R: Becky Laney – Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Y

eovil Hospital Charity has launched an appeal to raise the funds needed to build a £2 million dedicated Breast Cancer Unit. A gift from a grateful patient who left a donation in their will means they have already hit the £1 million mark; they now have another £1 million to raise.

One in eight women in the UK will face breast cancer in their lifetime. The team in Yeovil treat 2,000 new patients every year and 3,000 follow-up patients.

Demand is increasing by 5% every year and the current facilities are being stretched. There is currently no dedicated unit for breast cancer patients who therefore have to undress multiple times in different departments around the hospital. The lack of space for difficult conversations and the shared waiting room facilities can have a negative effect on patient privacy and dignity.

Being diagnosed and treated in the right environment can make a real difference.

The new unit will solve all these issues and will be a one-stop-shop for patients with either diagnosed or suspected breast cancer. Patients will be able to have their clinical examination, an ultrasound scan, a mammogram, a biopsy, a prosthesis fitting, an appointment with a doctor and an appointment with a specialist nurse, all in one place. The unit will include a counselling room and a meeting room for support groups and wellbeing activities.

There will also be shorter waiting times.

It is proving to be a popular cause and lots of people from the Sherborne area are working hard to help raise 122 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

the funds as soon as possible. Anna Timmis, who runs Pilates classes from her home in Over Compton, hosted a drinks reception to promote the appeal to her clients, neighbours and friends. Anna explains the reasons she is getting behind the appeal.

‘I think a dedicated Breast Cancer Unit is such a good idea.

We are all affected by cancer at some point in our lives and when people are first diagnosed it can be a very frightening experience. At the moment, patients have to move around the hospital to have various tests and it really makes sense to want to bring all of this together in one place. A huge proportion of the patients treated by the oncology team at Yeovil Hospital are breast cancer patients so the pressure on the team and the facilities are enormous. The idea behind the new unit is to improve the experience of patients who are sent to the hospital by their GP, typically when they find a lump in their breast. I am doing what I can to spread the word about the appeal and to raise money, and I hope that other people will also think about what they could do to help.

Fundraising can be really good fun and it is for a good cause that unfortunately affects so many families.’

How to support this appeal

Online: www.justgiving.com/campaign/breastcancerappeal Cheque: Make payable to ‘ Yeovil Hospital Charity’ and send to Breast Cancer Unit Appeal, Yeovil Hospital Charity, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, BA21 4AT Phone: 01935 383020 to talk to the fundraising team Email: fundraising@ydh.nhs.uk

THE SOCIAL TOUCH Grace Tuffin

‘I didn’t realise how much I missed team sports.’

A

t school I took sports for granted; I always liked the camaraderie and assumed I would continue to play after school. However, on entering the world of work, I struggled to find the time and opportunity. It wasn’t until I moved to Sherborne, aged 30, and started my own social media marketing business that I started to think about playing sport again. Working in front of a computer all day meant I was going to need to get out more.

I looked for local clubs but most of them required commitment at weekends for matches. All I wanted was something fun and active to get me out during the working week.

Then in Sherborne School Sports Centre I spotted a poster for mixed Touch Rugby (or ‘Touch’ as it is known) – no membership, no commitment, just turn up and play. I mentioned it to my husband, who used to play rugby, and we talked about it but never got around to going. Months later I saw it again, this time listed in the Sherborne Times, and we both agreed to try it. I started to feel a bit nervous about it and questions began to surface… ‘How do you even play Touch?’, ‘Is it actually mixed or am I going to be the only woman?’, ‘Will there be other beginners?’, ‘Will I embarrass myself ?’

The first evening I went along I had no idea what I was doing, but fortunately everyone was helpful and welcoming. There’s a huge emphasis on encouraging beginners and the primary aim of the club is that

everyone enjoys it, rather than trying to play serious Touch. It felt great to be outside in the evenings learning something new. I was enjoying getting a good dose of endorphins after a hard day’s work and meeting a whole new group of people that I now regard as friends. I also loved that a few people were always up for a drink in The Digby Tap afterwards!

One year on, I can’t think of many sessions I’ve missed. My fitness is great and I’ve enjoyed gaining it! It’s also motivated me to work even harder in the gym in order to improve my fitness on the pitch. I’m proud of the skills I’ve picked up and more confident in my ability to learn a new sport as an adult. Come rain or shine a good group always turn up and there’s something nice about knowing that you don’t need to book in advance, just rock-up and you’ll get a game.

The only regret I have is how long it took me to join.

So, if you’re interested, don’t hang around! Come and give it a go.

Touch takes place on the Sherborne School pitches (satnav DT9 6EE) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.30pm–8.30pm.

This summer there are ‘taster sessions’ for complete novices on Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm. The first four sessions are free. After that they cost £1-2, depending on whether floodlights are needed or not. sherbornetouch.org.uk @SherborneTouch sherbornetimes.co.uk | 123

OUT AND ABOUT

S

David Birley

ummer in the West Country and particularly in Sherborne is a lovely time of the year. The hanging baskets in Cheap Street are in full bloom and both Paddock and Pageant gardens are at their best.

I am sure we are all glad to see that the architecturally important bandstand in Pageant Gardens is being repaired and I hope it won’t be long before our town band is playing there again.

Summer is also important in the life of our town as it is the season of exams. Education is very much the ‘industry’ of the town and so many of our community are involved in it in some way or other. We are particularly fortunate to have such outstanding schools in our midst.

The boys’ school is one of the oldest in the country and gets great results.

Sherborne Girls was Tatler’s Girls School of the Year and I am sure will enhance its reputation even further under the leadership of the new headmistress, Dr. Ruth Sullivan. We are fortunate that the school is very Sherborne-minded and supports many local activities. Their new Arts Centre is a superb building and they are kindly making that available to our community at suitable times.

The Gryphon, our state secondary school, constantly gets very good GCSE and A level results. In this technological age it is refreshing to learn how strong the arts are. I have been to some of their theatrical performances and the standard is very high.

We also have many excellent primary schools in the area and I have been lucky to get to know and be involved with the two in town. I have also been able to help some of their projects with funds from the

124 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Sherborne Summer Festival. For a few years now I have acted as Father Christmas at the Abbey Primary’s Christmas fair. I am helped by two elves who I call Elf and Safety! It is lovely to see the looks of surprise and excitement as the children come into my grotto, and they are all so well mannered. The children of course know exactly what presents they would like but I get some surprised looks when I ask them if they have bought presents for their parents. Still more surprising and amusing are the responses I get when I ask if Mummy and Daddy have been good enough to get presents!

Sherborne Primary, under the leadership of Ian Bartle, has developed many interesting and community-minded innovations. I particularly like their Random Acts of Kindness when they hand out free flowers and cakes to passers-by in Cheap Street.

Some people are surprised when they are not asked for money, which I think is a sad reflection on our times. It is lovely to see the confidence of the children. They also visit nursing homes and talk to the residents which I think is another good idea.

We also of course have Sherborne Prep which, as well as a high academic standard, has an exceptional music department led by Yvonne Fawbert. Their ‘Last Night of the Proms’ performance is not to be missed.

For those even younger we have Kaleidoscope and Little Gryphons. At Kaleidoscope, I particularly like their graduation ceremony when children who are leaving to go on to the primary schools are given a present and a paper mortarboard.

Our ‘industry’ of education is something we can all be proud of.

Ginger and Pickle for sale as a going concern.

Prime leasehold shop in Cheap Street.

Short Story

MADAME GAUTHIER

I

Jenny Campbell, Sherborne Scribblers

never went back to Madame Gauthier. But, today, when I turned to the obituary pages in The Times and saw her name, I felt a stab of remorse for acting the way I did.

It had been my mother’s idea to arrange extra French tuition. ‘It will prepare you for university next year. According to some of the parents I’ve spoken to, Madame Gauthier is an excellent teacher.’

The full mug of coffee, halfway to my mouth, splashed everywhere as I banged it down on the kitchen table. ‘But she’s ancient! And how could you do that without even asking me?’

My mother reached for the kitchen roll on the counter beside her, tore off a couple of sheets and began to mop up the spilled coffee.

‘Oh, for goodness sake, darling. Anyone would think I was sending you to the guillotine.’

‘Well, that would be better than a whole summer with Madame bloody Gauthier.

Rebecca’s sister went to her last year and she was in tears everyday she got shouted at so much – in French!’

‘Now you’re exaggerating and, anyway, you know how excitable the French are. I expect it was just her voice going up a bit. But since you mentioned Rebecca’s sister, where is she now, may I ask?’

I glared at my mother and pursed my lips, refusing to utter that magic word: Oxford. Aged sixteen and dreaming, as I did, of a glittering literary career, it was the place I had set my heart on. And while I could see that a good grounding in the language would be an advantage when it came to studying French authors, I would rather have spent the holiday scrubbing floors than two hours a week with Madame Gauthier.

She lived in a large, first floor flat, part of a converted Edwardian villa overlooking the Thames at Twickenham; and the first thing that struck me when I entered her sitting room was the absence of ornaments. Ours was full of them: china figurines, pottery vases and bowls, candleholders, holiday mementos and framed pictures of family members covered every available surface. But the only ornamentation in Madame’s room was a row of scarlet pelargoniums on the window sill, a magnificent gold clock on the mantelpiece and, on a baby grand piano in one corner, a bowl of fresh roses next to a large, silver-framed picture of a handsome young man whom I took to be Monsieur Gauthier. She had a lot of books, though. A whole wall of them, in fact, mostly French.

As for the woman herself, she was as spare and devoid of decoration as the room. Though, when she opened her front door I had to admit that in the grey, silk blouse and slim black skirt, cinched at the waist with an expensive-looking tan leather belt, she had a definite Parisian elegance despite her being nearer sixty than fifty.

‘Ah, Bonjour Louise. Entrez. We speak now in French, hein?’

126 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Looking back, I realise how badly I behaved. But I just didn’t want to be there. I was angry at my mother, resented the hours that kept me from meeting friends and doing other things and was determined to escape at the earliest opportunity. So I simply said ‘Bonjaw’ and scowled at Madame Gauthier.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Bonjour, Madame, s’il vous plait, Louise.’

‘Bonjaw, Madame.’

‘Hmm.’ she said. ‘Alors, suivez moi, s’il vous plait.’

I followed her into the sitting room where we sat at a small round table, covered in a green chenille cloth, by the window. Here, for the next eight weeks, she did her best to instil in me the finer points of vocabulary and grammar while I looked out at the river boats cruising up and down the Thames, fervently wishing that I was on one of them.

As we neared the end of our sessions, I managed to raise a flicker of interest when we got on to the subject of French cinema. But my customary petulant demeanour would, I am sure, have tried the patience of the holiest saint; and when I stepped out of her front door for the last time, I could swear I heard the sigh of relief as she closed it behind me. My mother made a half-hearted attempt at persuading me to continue with tuition the following year, but one look at my face was probably enough to make her realise that she would be wasting her money.

All this I thought of on reading about the death of Madame Gauthier and, years before, that of her husband Michel. Both had worked with the French Resistance during the German occupation of Paris. Both had been awarded the Croix de Guerre for their bravery – Michel’s posthumously after being tortured and shot, and her own presented by General de Gaulle himself.

Older and wiser, now, I see what an opportunity I missed to learn so much more than a language. But inside every author there is a book longing to be written and already it is taking shape.

__________________________________________________________________________

In Memoriam Bridgett Wilson, born 16 April 1935, died 14 March 2019.

A much-loved, colourful character of Sherborne. She was one of the founder members of the Literary Society and the Sherborne Scribblers.

Bridgett started married life on a farm in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe before returning to England where she entered the world of politics in Westminster. She was a true Tory and will be sadly missed.

The Scribblers

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 127

Literature

LITERARY REVIEW Jean Fox, Sherborne Literary Society

The Lido, by Libby Page (Orion Fiction, 2018) £7.99 Sherborne Times Reader Offer price of £6.99 from Winstone’s Books

L

ibby Page’s debut novel gives us an immediately accessible, heart-warming story of female friendship, love and the importance of community.

Rosemary, an 86-year-old widow, has swum at the Brockwell Lido in Brixton all her life. She learns from the lido manager, Geoff, that a property development company called, ironically, Paradise Living, wants to buy the lido from Lambeth Council. The lido has been losing money; turning it into a private members’ club to serve the expensive flats being developed, with a tennis court replacing the swimming pool, makes commercial sense. Rosemary‘s life has centred around the lido from the age of sixteen, when she met her husband, George, at the local street party celebrating the end of the war. During their long and happy marriage, living in a flat overlooking the lido, they have seen their world change over the years.

Rosemary, a former librarian, and George, a local greengrocer, have witnessed the closure of many local shops and the local library.

Troubled by rumours of the lido’s closure, Rosemary sets about producing a leaflet to try to gather support to stop the sale. She is approached by Kate, a 26-year-old cub reporter from The Brixton Chronicle, who has been promoted from ‘Births, Marriages and Deaths’ to cover the story of the proposed closure. Kate, an anxious young

woman suffering from panic attacks, has had difficulty making a life for herself in London. This unexpected professional opportunity sees her discovering interesting local history and gives her a sense of purpose. She, together with the help of the paper’s charming photographer, Jake, is slowly drawn into the campaign to keep the lido open. Kate and Rosemary develop a strong friendship. Each helps the other: Rosemary to explore her memories and Kate to overcome her psychological woes.

The local community is galvanised to fight the lido’s closure. We are introduced to interested, and interesting, characters living in the area, from Ellis, the fruit and vegetable man, and his son Jake, to Frank and Jarmaine at the second-hand book shop. Ahmed, studying for his ‘A’ levels, with a part-time job as a receptionist at the lido, starts a Facebook campaign. All are prepared to fight to stop the closure of yet another local service.

The Lido is a charming novel that captures the heart and spirit of a community. It is a fable for our time where community spirit seeks to assuage the anxieties found in this millennial age... and a good holiday read too! sherborneliterarysociety.com Libby Page will be speaking at the 2019 Sherborne Literary Festival in October.

Great Reads for Summer £2 off selected titles

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JUNE SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Chief magistrate of Venice (4) 3. In good spirits (8) 9. Messenger (7) 10. Thin pancake (5) 11. Lavish event (12) 13. Contributes information (6) 15. Begins (6) 17. Abnormal anxiety about health (12) 20. Understands; realises (5) 21. Sturdy thickset canine (7) 22. Passageway (8) 23. Backbone; fortitude (4)

DOWN 1. Dilapidated (8) 2. Guttural sound made by a pig (5) 4. Last ___ : swansong (6) 5. Bewitchingly (12) 6. Very low temperature fridge (7) 7. Right to hold property (4) 8. Ruinously (12) 12. Edible snail (8) 14. Total amount of wages paid to employees (7) 16. Irrational fear (6) 18. Traveller on horseback (5) 19. Gull-like bird (4) sherbornetimes.co.uk | 129

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

R

Reverend Jono Tregale, St Paul’s Church

ecently I found myself in Winchester with an hour to spare. I hadn’t been there for at least 25 years and couldn’t remember much about the place so I took myself off to explore the city on foot. There was the Cathedral, the school (Winchester College), the old mill, the statue of King Alfred the Great, the museums, the old barracks, and even King Arthur’s Round Table. Well, of course that last one is somewhat dubious – after all, do we even know there was a real King Arthur, let alone his twelve knights and a table? It got me thinking – what about that other famed character from medieval folklore, Robin Hood? I used to live in Nottingham; his name is everywhere, although little tourism exists around his story. We do, though, quite like to imagine that Arthur and Robin were real – their stories have a certain romanticism about them: Arthur defending ancient Britain against Saxon invasion and, much later, Robin standing up for justice against the corruption of the ruling class during the time of King John. However, there’s little evidence that either existed; both are most likely little more than characters of fiction brought alive in the imagination of later generations. Though both stories may have inspired some degree of positive action in others in defending the weak and vulnerable, it is surely not of great extent.

But there is another story which goes much further back; a story which many have consigned to the same realm of fiction and imagination, and yet which has not only inspired millions into the service of their fellow humanity but also has been held true by the billions who have explored it. It is the story of Jesus. Of course, in some ways it’s not too different from our stories of King Arthur and Robin Hood – the triumph of good over evil. For many there is the romanticism of the Godin-flesh showing the world what true love is; the comforting feeling when we’re reminded of the Nativity – it’s all so nice. Is this not merely wishful thinking? We like to imagine it’s true but surely it’s just a story? Is the story of Jesus just that; a story and nothing more? Is it a story, alongside those of King Arthur and Robin Hood, which has come alive in our imaginations? Or is it more?

I didn’t enter into the Cathedral in Winchester on my visit – I had a deadline to meet and I reached this great building only at the end of my hour. It stands at the heart of that historic city as it has since it was consecrated in 1093, replacing an earlier cathedral founded in 642. In our own town of Sherborne, the Abbey has been the central point around which the community has grown since its founding in the year 705. Both churches have told the story of Jesus for hundreds of years, as do all our churches, old and new. It’s a story that endures, inspires, comforts, challenges – and yet I suspect a story which many have never fully explored. As the summer comes upon us, as holidays invite us to take time out, why not pack an extra book this year – The Bible. Read the gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – and decide whether this is just another tale alongside King Arthur and Robin Hood or something more. Enjoy the summer. Enjoy reading. Enjoy returning to the story of Jesus. stpauls-sherborne.org.uk

130 | Sherborne Times | July 2019

Focus without distraction Endless opportunities

Separate yet together

01935 810403 admissions@sherborne.org sherborne.org

01935 818224 registrar@sherborne.com sherborne.com

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