Sherborne Times October 2019

OCTOBER 2019 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

THE PRODUCERS with Sherborne Country Market

sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME It’s hard to think autumnal thoughts writing barefoot with the sun in your eyes. The shorter days and silent skies offer a comforting reminder and our woodlands, with a collective sigh, release their grip. The nightshift of hedgehogs, toads, bugs and bats busy themselves behind our sleeping backs, leaving little to no clue of their nocturnal endeavours. Those among us seeking solace in the small hours are rewarded by the dulcet calls of owls — hidden feathered sentinels in search of a mate.

And so to October. David Pearson previews this year’s Sherborne International Film Festival, Juliana Atyeo strives to tread lightly, Richard Bromell showcases what is probably my favourite so far of his weird and wonderful lots, Paul Stickland enjoys his 15 minutes, David Copp visits Camel Valley and John Walsh finds himself at the wrong end of an alpaca.

We conclude our series previewing this month’s Sherborne Literary Festival with authors Raynor Winn and John Hemming. Katharine and Jo, meanwhile, call in to the Sherborne Country Market where they make a beeline for the hydrangeas and start a scrum at the cake stall.

Have a great month.

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

CONTRIBUTORS Juliana Atyeo

Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio Sub editors Jay Armstrong @jayarmstrong_ Elaine Taylor 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

Simon Barber Evolver Magazine @SimonEvolver evolver.org.uk Laurence Belbin Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum @SherborneMuseum sherbornemuseum.co.uk Nicholas Bourne Earth Sports @EarthSportsLtd earthsports.co.uk Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardensgroup.co.uk Paula Carnell @paula.carnell paulacarnell.com Cindy Chant Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp Rebecca de Pelet Sherborne School @SherborneSchool sherborne.org Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk Emily Duchscherer Kirk @emilyduchschererkirkart emilyduchschererkirk.com

1 Bretts Yard Digby Road 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 | October 2019

Stephen Fisher Adventurer First Aid dorset.minifirstaid.co.uk 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 John Gaye & Jonathan Stones Sherborne Literary Society @SherborneLitSoc sherborneliterarysociety.com Elspeth Graham Sherborne Poppy Appeal britishlegion.org.uk Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk Briony Harris Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org

Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk Joanna Hazelton MARH RHom London Road Clinic @56londonroad 56londonroad.co.uk Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms The Balfour Beauty Centre @SanctuaryDorset @margaretbalfourbeautycentre thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk James Hull The Story Pig @thestorypig thestorypig.co.uk Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Mark Milbank Sherborne Scribblers Suzy Newton Partners in Designs @InteriorsDorset 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 David Pearson Sherborne International Film Festival shiff.org.uk Margaret Read Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles rileyscycles.co.uk Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Paul Stickland Black Shed Flowers @NaughtyDinosaur blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Holly Toman Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Reverend Diane Tregale The Gryphon School @thegryphonschool gryphon.dorset.sch.uk Simon Walker Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk John Walsh BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Vets friarsmoorvets.co.uk

70 8

What’s On

OCTOBER 2019 56 Interiors

116 Finance

18 Film

62 Gardening

118 Tech

24 Art

70 SHERBORNE COUNTRY MARKET

120 Directory

26 Shopping Guide 30 Family 38 Environment 42 Wild Dorset 48 History 52 Antiques

78 Food & Drink 88 Animal Care 94 Body & Mind 110 Property 114 Legal

122 Community 123 Short Story 124 Literature 129 Crossword 130 Pause for Thought

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

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

Another world on your doorstep

@elizabethwatsonillustrations

Thinking of letting your holiday home?

We know that your holiday home is just that – a home.

That’s why our local team is dedicated to managing your property with the same care and attention you would. With tailored services to suit your needs, you can be as involved as you like, so why not get in touch today?

01929 448 708 enquiries@dorsethideaways.co.uk dorsethideaways.co.uk 8 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

OCTOBER 2019 Listings

Thursdays 1.30pm-2.30pm

____________________________

The Sherborne Library Scribes

Mondays 2pm-3.30pm

Library writing group for sharing &

‘Feel Better with a Book’ Group

Elementum Gallery, South St, DT9 3LU. 01935 813776

____________________________

discussion. 01935 812683

Wednesday 2nd 12pm-2pm

____________________________

Talk: How to Put Your

reading aloud with a small & friendly

Thursdays 2pm-4pm

Garden to Bed for Winter

group. Free. 01935 812683

Seniors Digital Drop-in for Help

____________________________

with Technology

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

Last Monday of month 5pm-6pm

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Shared

Bookchat Sherborne Library, Hound St.

01935 812683

DT9 6EX. Refreshments available.

Free. Bookings: 01935 574961

____________________________

____________________________

Wednesday 2nd 3pm & 7pm

A lively book discussion group

Thursdays 2.30pm-4.30pm

Talk: What Really Happened in

____________________________

ArtsLink Fizz! Parkinson’s Dance

the Yellow House in Arles in 1888?

Tuesdays 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm

Tinney’s Lane Youth & Community

Digby Hall, Hound St. New member/

sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Memory Wingfield Room, Digby Hall DT9 3AA. 01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Centre. 01935 815899

visitors £7. theartssocietysherborne.org.uk

____________________________

Thursday 3rd 2pm-4pm

First Thursday of

An Afternoon of Poetry,

each month 9.30am

Biscuits & Tea

Netwalking

Sherborne Library, Hound St DT9 3AA.

From Sherborne Barbers, Cheap St. Free walk & talk with other small business

01935 812683

____________________________

owners & entrepreneurs. FB: Netwalk

Thursday 3rd 6.30pm-8.30pm

Twitter: @yt_coaching

Thought (Diana Cambridge)

free drink. dorsetmind.uk/services-courses/

First Thursday of each month

01935 816128 winstonebooks.co.uk

1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6pm-8pm Dorset Mind Sherborne Wellbeing Group Costa Coffee, Cheap St. £3 incl.

Sherborne; Instagram: yourtimecoaching;

Book launch: Don’t Think a Single

____________________________

Winstone’s Books, Cheap St.

west-dorset-support-groups/

2pm-3.30pm

____________________________

“My Time” Carers’ Support Group

Friday 4th 7.30pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10.30am

The Shielings, The Avenue, DT9 3AJ.

Yeovilton Military Wives Choir

01935 601499/01935 816321

Tickets £10 from village shop or

Explore Historic Sherborne From Sherborne TIC, Digby Rd, DT9 3NL. With Blue Badge

____________________________

Advice, coffee & chat.

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall.

____________________________

chvhbookings@gmail.com

Guide Cindy, 1½-2-hour walk. £8

Fridays 1.45pm

____________________________

____________________________

cindyatsherbornewalks@gmail.com

Lunchtime Recitals

Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th 10am-5pm

Wednesdays 1pm

Cheap St Church, DT9 3BJ. Free.

____________________________

Art Exhibition

Lunchtime Organ Recital

Fridays 2pm

Sherborne Abbey. Free. Retiring collection

Sherborne Health Walks

Templecombe Village Hall.

Thursdays 9.30am-11.30pm

walk around Sherborne. 07825 691508

____________________________ ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Parents

Leaving from Waitrose. Free, friendly

Free. Refreshments available.

Proceeds to Alzheimers Society

____________________________

____________________________

Sunday 6th 7.30pm

St Pauls Church Hall/West End Hall (two

Tuesday - Saturday 1st - 12th

The Orange Circus Band

sessions). 01935 815899/07483 338969

10am-4pm

sherborneartslink.org.uk

Exhibition: Neil Gower –

Sandford Orcas Village Hall.

____________________________

As Kingfishers Catch Fire

£9. U16s £6. 01963 220208 artsreach.co.uk ____________________________

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9

WHAT'S ON

Please share your recommendations and contacts via FaceBook @sherborneparents ____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Mondays 4pm

Tuesdays 9.15am,

1st Saturday of the month

Helen Laxton School of Dance

9.55am & 10.35am

10.30am-12pm

Sherborne Primary School.

Monkey Music

Sticky Church

Ballet, Street Dance, Hip Hop.

FB: Helen Laxton School of Dance

Scout Hut, Blackberry Rd. Booking

Cheap Street Church Hall. Free group

____________________________

essential. 0195 850541 monkeymusic.

co.uk/area/frome-yeovil-and-weymouth

01963 251747

Mondays 4pm

____________________________

for playgroup & primary age children.

____________________________

Stardust Dance School

Wednesdays 10.30am–12pm

Saturday 5th 9.30am-11.30am

Oxley Dance Studio. Ballet, Tap,

Truth Be Told Intergenerational

Minibeast Activity Morning

Modern dance. Reception-Yr 4.

Toddler Group

stardustdanceschool@gmail.com

Sandford Orcas Village Hall, DT9 4RX.

____________________________

Abbey View Care Home, Bristol Rd.

Mondays & Wednesdays

£2.50 per family. Includes child lunch.

Booking essential. 07713 102676

Saturday 12th 2pm-3pm

____________________________

Sherborne Library, Hound St.Ages 3+

£2/child. 07838 812468

____________________________

gemmagillard@hotmail.com

Story Den

Tinney’s Lane, DT9 3DY. Ages 11-16.

Fridays 9.30am-11am

____________________________

____________________________

6.30pm-8.30pm Tinney’s Youth Club £1. FB: Tinney’s Youth Club

Bishops Caundle Toddler Group

Thursday 31st 5pm-6pm Halloween Hullabaloo

Tuesdays (term-time) 9.30am

All Saints School, Bishops Caundle

____________________________

Nether Compton

Fridays 7.15pm

Baby & Toddler Group

Shindo Wadokai

Stories, crafts, snacks, activities

Village Hall

Karate Club (age 5+)

____________________________

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Age: 3+. ____________________________

Sherborne Dance Academy, North Rd. 07769 215881

____________________________

07585 278722 aps-sherborne.co.uk

____________________________

____________________________

Tuesday 8th 1.15pm-4.30pm

Experimenting with Abstraction

Tuesday 8th

Quakers: Who Are We & What

(Diana Pilcher)

RVS Sherborne Lunch Club

Do We Do?

Wingfield Room, Digby Hall, DT9 3AA.

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Rd

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Monday 7th 2pm-3.30pm Demonstration/Talk:

£5. 01935 815899, sherborneartslink.org.uk

07502 130241/01935 593539

DT9 3NL. 07825 152251

Monday 7th –

Tuesday 8th 10.30am–4.30pm

Tuesday 8th 7pm

Saturday 12th 7.30pm

Wildflower Meadow

Talk: Lord Rawlinson

The Day After The Fair

Maintenance Workshop

Sherborne Studio Theatre, Marston Rd

Sculpture by the Lakes, DT2 8QU. £75

St Andrew’s Church, Trent. £10.

DT9 4BL. £10. Students: £8

10 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

07720 637808 sculpturebythelakes.co.uk

Includes refreshments. Tickets: 01935 851753 or Sherborne TIC

OCTOBER 2019 ____________________________

____________________________

Friday 11th 11am

Tuesday 8th 7.15pm for 8pm

Wednesday 9th 7.30pm

Talk: Friends against Scams

Talk: The Diet of Worms 1521

ArtsLink Flicks – Fisherman’s

Digby Hall, Hound St, DT9 3AA. Non-

Friends

Abbey View Nursing Home, Bristol Rd

____________________________

from Sherborne TIC, 01935 815341

Saturday 12th 12.30pm

DT9 4HD. Free. 01935 813222

members: £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

Digby Hall, Hound St. £6. Tickets

Wednesday 9th 1pm-3pm

sherborneartslink.org.uk

Old Fosterians’ Association

____________________________

Dinner & Reunion

& Hand Massage

Thursday 10th 1.30pm for 2pm

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

Talk: Napoleon’s Coming!

Grange Hotel, Oborne. Past pupils of

Free. Bookings: 01935 574961

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd

Wednesday 9th 6.30pm for 7pm

members free. sherbornemuseum.co.uk

Ballroom, Latin &

Indian Head Massage

____________________________

Fosters & Lord Digby School welcome.

DT9 6EX. Afternoon tea available.

What Shall We Do?

____________________________

DT9 3NL. £5. Sherborne Museum

Saturday 12th 8pm-11pm

____________________________

Sequence Dancing

of Hampton Court

Friday 11th - Sunday 13th

Rosa Beddington Lecture Theatre,

Yarn & Yoga Weekend

Digby Hall, Hound St DT9 3AA.

£10 include refreshments. Tickets from

theslippedstitch.co.uk/yarn-and-yoga

Art in the Palace

Sherborne School for Girls, DT9 3QN.

The Julian, Cheap St. 01935 508249.

TIC and Winstones Bookshop

____________________________

£25. 01935 873497

____________________________

18+. All levels. £5. 01460 240112 dance@dancewessex.co.uk

____________________________ Sunday 13th 9.30am

MORE T HAN A TOY SHOP OCTOBER HALF TERM 26th October - 2nd November

HALLOWEEN MAIZE MAZE AUTUMN SALE on ex-demo items, outdoor play equipment and toys

THE TOY BARN Blackmarsh Farm Sherborne DT9 4JX 01935 815040 toy-barn.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11

WHAT'S ON Pet Service Folke Church. Refreshments afterwards

Tickets online or from gallery. 01935

____________________________

813776 elementumjournal.com/events

Saturday 19th 10.30am-12.30pm

____________________________

Oxfam Coffee Morning

Sunday 13th 11.30am-3.30pm

Thursday 17th 7.30pm

Sherborne Steam Waterwheel

Oddbodies: King Lear

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd DT9 3NL

Centre Open Day

Melbury Osmond Village hall. £9. U16s

Saturday 19th 10.30am–4.30pm

____________________________

for Beginners

____________________________

Oborne Rd, DT9 3RX

Entry by donation. Free parking.

£6. 01935 83453 artsreach.co.uk

____________________________ Watercolour Painting

sswc.co.uk FB: Sherborne Steam

Sculpture by the Lakes, DT2 8QU. £100

Tuesday 15th 11am-2pm

____________________________

07720 637808 sculpturebythelakes.co.uk

____________________________ Antiques Valuation with

Saturday 19th 2.30pm

Acreman St Antiques

SDFHS talk - British Royal Burials:

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

from Sherborne to Windsor

Free. Bookings: 01935 574961

Members £3. sdfhs.org

DT9 6EX. Includes cream tea.

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd. £5.

____________________________

____________________________

Wednesday 16th 2pm

Friday 18th 12pm-2pm

Tuesday 22nd

Afternoon Quiz for

How to Cook Authentic Curry

RVS Sherborne Lunch Club

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline

with Sarah Ali Choudhury

Geranium Trust, Court Barn,

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

refreshments. 01935 423213

____________________________

Tuesday 22nd 11am-1pm

____________________________

Friday 18th 6pm-8pm, Saturday

Make-up demonstration with

Wednesday 16th 2.30pm

19th-Sunday 20th 10am-4pm

Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

WI Talk: ‘The History of Magic’

Leigh Art Show

by David Buckley

Village Hall, Leigh. 01935 873269

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

Court House, Stoford. £5. Includes

Catholic Church Hall, Westbury, DT9 3RA. £4, includes refreshments

DT9 6EX. Free. Bookings: 01935 574961

leighartshow.co.uk

____________________________

07502 130241/01935 593539

____________________________

DT9 6EX. Free. Afternoon tea available Bookings: 01935 574961

____________________________

____________________________

Friday 18th 7.30pm

Tuesday 22nd 7.15pm for 8pm

Wednesday 16th 6pm & 8.15pm

Sunset Café Stompers

Talk: Cottages Ornés – The

Panta Rei Danseteater

Cheap St Church, DT9 3BJ. £12.50.

Charms of the Simple Life

Sherborne TIC

Non-members: £5

Catemwood House, Halstock. £10.

U16s £6. 01935 891744 artsreach.co.uk

Includes light supper. Tickets from

Digby Hall, Hound St, DT9 3AA.

____________________________

sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

____________________________

Friday 18th 7.30pm

Wednesday 16th 7pm for 7.30pm

Tea & Toast – Talk by

DWT Talk: Butterflies

Bonny Sartin, former lead

& Their Conservation

vocalist with The Yetties

Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Rd

St Andrew’s Church, Leigh DT9 6HL.

____________________________

____________________________

DT9 3NL. £2.50

£8. 07813 089002

____________________________

2019

Dance Show: Silence

23 rd -

25 th O

ctob er

Thursday 17th 6.30pm for 7.30pm

Saturday 19th 9am-11am

‘On the Road Not Taken’ – An

Big Butty Breakfast

Wednesday 23rd – Friday 25th

Evening of Words & Music

Alweston Village Hall. Free child’s

Sherborne Literary Festival 2019

Elementum Gallery, South St, DT9 3LU. 12 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

breakfast (U10s) with adult breakfast

The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls

Photo credit lorfordsantiques.com

Bruton Decorative Antiques Fair 18–20 October 2019 Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7LH Trade Preview Friday 18 October 11–2 pm For Complimentary tickets email info@cooperevents.com Call 01278 784912

WHAT'S ON School. Tickets available from

Floral Demonstration:

sherborneliterarysociety.com/festival

Catholic Hall, Sherborne DT9 3EL.

Tuesday 29th

Wednesday 23rd

01935 813316

Folke Golf Club.

The House by The Loch tickets £8

Friday 25th 6.30pm for 7pm

____________________________

eventbrite.co.uk and Sherborne TIC

11am. Kirsty Wark –

‘Miss Potter & Friends’

01300 345455 artsreach.co.uk

____________________________

Refreshments & arrangements raffle

RVS Sherborne Lunch Club

____________________________

07502 130241/01935 593539

2pm. Raynor Winn –

Sherborne Museum’s

Tuesday 29th 3pm

The Salt Path tickets £10

Big Fat Autumn Quiz

Theatre Fideri Fidera:

7pm. Max Hastings – Chastise,

Ogg n Ugg n Dogg

The Dam Busters Story tickets £12.50

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

Tickets: Sherborne TIC. £5pp. Includes refreshments. BYO drink/glasses

Nether Compton Village Hall. For

____________________________

families & dog lovers. £8. U16s £6.

01935 413220 artsreach.co.uk

Thursday 24th 10am-6pm Diana Cambridge –

Friday 25th 7.30pm

tickets £25 / 30 min session

Photography from The Edge tickets £8

01963 362355 artsreach.co.uk

October & November

____________________________

Writer in Residence

Red Cape Theatre: Thunder Road

Planning ahead

11am. Paul Williams – Wildlife

Stalbridge Village hall. £9. U16s £6.

____________________________

2pm. Jonathan Scott –

____________________________

Take a Fresh Look

The Vinyl Frontier tickets £8

Sunday 27th 10am-4pm

at Your Wardrobe

Angels of Sound Voice Playshop

Let Her Fly tickets £12.50

(10am-12.30pm)

Fundraising events/talks in

Friday 25th

Soundbath (2pm-4pm)

10am-4pm. Tom George – Mindfulness

Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA.

Tuesday 5th November 8pm

11am. Rory Maclean –

centreforpuresound.org

A Brief History

of Europe tickets £8

Sunday 27th 10.15am

sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

7pm. John Hemming – People of The

Meet at Rose & Crown, Longburton.

____________________________

____________________________

7pm. Ziauddin Yousafzai –

& Writing Workshop tickets £40

Pravda Ha Ha: True Travels to The End

Crystal and Tibetan Bowl

support of Oxfam. 07828 625897 ali@attireandgarb.co.uk

____________________________

£12 per session. 01935 389655

Talk: The Royal Hospital Chelsea:

____________________________

Digby Hall, Hound St. Non-members: £5.

2pm. Libby Page – The Lido tickets £8

Dorset Ramblers Walk

Rainforest tickets £12.50

4.5-5miles. dorsetramblers.co.uk

Thursday 24th-Sunday 27th

____________________________

Workshops & classes

Sherborne International

____________________________

Film Festival

Tuesdays 10am–12pm

Powell Theatre, Abbey Rd, DT9 3AP.

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Memory

shiff.org.uk (See preview page 18)

St. Free art class for people with early

Tickets from Sherborne TIC: £7/£12/£50.

Wingfield Room, Digby Hall, Hound

____________________________

stage memory loss. 01935 815899

Thursday 24th 2pm-4pm

sherborneartslink.org.uk

Dementia Friends Session

Sunday 27th 3.30pm

Trinity Manor Care Home, Bradford Rd,

Tutti Frutti:

Tuesdays

DT9 6EX. Free. Bookings: 01935 574961

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Watercolour Classes

____________________________ Thursday 24th 7.30pm

Buckland Newton Village Hall.

Family theatre. £6. U16s £5. Family £20.

Wheelwright Studios, Thornford.

14 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

____________________________

07742 888302 alicockrean.co.uk

OCTOBER 2019 ____________________________

____________________________ Sunday 20th 1.30pm-4.30pm Sherborne Folk Band Workshop

beginners welcome. hello@yogasherborne. co.uk FB: @yogasherborne

____________________________

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. £10

Tuesdays 10am-11am

sherbornefolkband.org

Stourton Caundle Village Hall. 07403

Monday 21st 9.30am-3.30pm

____________________________

in advance/£12 on door. 07527 508277

Vinyassa Flow Yoga

____________________________

245546 sarahlouisewilliams@yahoo.com

West Country Embroiderers

Tuesday evenings

Workshop: Inspired by Van Gogh

& Friday mornings

Digby Hall, Hound St. 01963 34696

Iyengar Yoga

____________________________

Yoga/pilates ____________________________

Digby Church Hall, Digby Rd. With

experienced teacher Anna Finch. 01935 389357

____________________________ Wednesdays 8.20am-9.20am

Tuesdays 10am-1pm

(term-time only)

until December

Vinyassa Flow Yoga

Chetnole Art Group

Manor House, Leweston School. 07403

with Laurence Belbin

245546 sarahlouisewilliams@yahoo.com

Village Hall, Chetnole. £135 for

____________________________

13-week term. 01935 872256

Wednesdays am,

____________________________

Thursdays am & Fridays pm

Wednesdays 2pm-4pm &

Yoga with Suzanne

Thursdays 10am-12pm

Sherborne venues. Especially suitable for

The Slipped Stitch Workshops The Julian, Cheap St. 01935 508249

aged 50+. 01935 873594

____________________________

theslippedstitch.co.uk

Mondays 10.30am-12pm

Wednesdays 2pm-3pm

____________________________

Yoga with Gemma

Classic Mat-based Pilates

Thursdays 2.30pm-4pm

Longburton Village Hall. 07812 593314

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall. £7.50.

____________________________

____________________________

ArtsLink Fizz! Parkinson’s Dance Tinney’s Lane Youth & Community

gemski81@hotmail.com

07828 625897 ali@positive-postures.co.uk

Centre.Free dance class & social time for

Mondays & Wednesdays

Fridays 4pm-5pm

people who live with Parkinson’s.

Just Breathe Yoga & Qigong

Classic Hatha Yoga (beginners)

01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Chetnole & Corton Denham.

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall. £7.50.

Thursdays 7pm-9.30pm

07983 100445 justbyoga@outlook.com

____________________________

____________________________

07828 625897 ali@positive-postures.co.uk

Art Club@Thornford for Adults

Mondays-Sundays

Fridays 6pm-7pm

Wheelwright Studios, Thornford

Yoga with Emma

Evening Yoga

DT9 6QE. 07742 888302,

alicockrean@gmail.com or alicockrean.co.uk

Venues - Sherborne, Milborne Port,

Digby Church Hall, Digby Rd

____________________________

Thornford. emmayogateacher@gmail.com emmareesyoga.com

01935 816933

Fridays

____________________________

All abilities. Emphasis on relaxation. ____________________________

Acrylic Classes

Mondays-Sundays

Wheelwright Studios, Thornford.

Hatha Yoga

Fairs & markets

Meditation & Relaxation. Small classes,

____________________________

07742 888302 alicockrean.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 15

WHAT'S ON Thursdays & Saturdays

____________________________

Saturday 19th

Pannier Market

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Radstock Town (H)

The Parade

7.30pm–8.30pm

Saturday 26th

____________________________

Mixed Touch Rugby

Bishop Sutton (A)

Thursdays 9am-11.30am

Sherborne School pitches, Ottery Lane

____________________________

Country Market Church Hall, Digby Rd

____________________________

DT9 6EE. £2 per session, first 4 sessions free. 07887 800803 sherbornetouch.org.uk

____________________________

Every third Friday 9am-1pm

Sundays 9am (from Abbey gates)

Farmers’ Market

& Wednesdays 6pm (from Riley’s)

Cheap St

Digby Etape Cycling Club Rides

Every 4th Saturday, 9am-3.30pm

Drop-bar road bike recommended.

Sherborne RFC

____________________________

The Terrace Playing Fields, DT9 5NS

____________________________ Vintage Market Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd

Average 12mph for 60 minutes.

SherborneCycling.Club

07809 387594

First XV Southern Counties South. sherbornerfc.rfu.club 2.15pm start

____________________________ Saturday 12th 1pm-4pm

Saturday 5th

Book Fair

Oxford Harlequins (A)

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd

Saturday 12th

DT9 3NL. £1. 01935 850210 pbfa.org

Royal Wootton Bassett (A)

____________________________

Saturday 19th

Monday 14th

Salisbury (A)

Pack Monday Fair

Saturday 26th

Sherborne Town Centre

Sherborne Town FC

Windsor (A) ____________________________

Saturday 19th 10am-4pm

First XI Toolstation Western League

Division 1. Terrace Playing Fields, DT9 5NS. sherbornetownfc.com 3pm start

To include your event in our FREE

Saturday 5th

time/title/venue/description/price/

Almondsbury (A)

contact (max 20 words) – by the

Saturday 12th

5th of each preceding month to

Hengrove Athletic (A)

listings@homegrown-media.co.uk

____________________________ Autumn Craft & Antiques Fair Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd DT9 NL. Free. 01749 677049

____________________________

Sport

listings please email details – date/

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

16 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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.

Film

SHERBORNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019

S

David Pearson

herborne Castles Rotary Club will this month be presenting the 11th International Film Festival at the Powell Theatre, Sherborne. The chosen charity for 2019 is Mercy Ships UK, which provides medical services around the world; they have helped more than 2.7 million people during their operations. Other local rotary projects will also be supported.

The Festival will open at 6.15pm on Thursday 24th October with a reception at the Three Wishes Restaurant, Cheap Street. This will be followed at 7.30pm by the film Babel, in which an accident involves four groups of people on three different continents: two young Moroccan goatherds, a vacationing American couple, a deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and a Mexican nanny and her two charges.

There will then be three films shown on each day of the festival, as listed below.

Friday 25th October

The Invisible Guest (2016) 12. 2pm-3.45pm 18 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

A Spanish film which involves an entrepreneur accused of murder who has less than three hours to come up with an impregnable defence.

The Return (2003) 12. 4.30pm-6.20pm From Russia, this film tells the story of two brothers who face a range of new, conflicting emotions when their father, a man they know only from a single photograph, resurfaces.

Indochine (1992) 12. 7.30pm-10.10pm A Vietnamese film involving a French naval Captain, a wealthy plantation owner of French parentage and her adopted Vietnamese daughter, and the struggle they have against European Imperialism in Indochina.

Saturday 26th October

Babette’s Feast (1987) U. 2.30pm-3.45pm This Danish film depicts two sisters who grow up under the wrathful eye of their strict pastor father on a desolate

coast of Denmark. One day a Parisian refugee named Babette arrives to serve as the family cook.

Capernaum (2019) 15. 4.30pm-6.35pm A film from the Lebanon. After running away from his negligent parents, a young boy committed a violent crime and was sentenced to five years in jail. As a hardened, street-wise 12-year-old boy, he sues his parents in protest of the life they have given him.

Elle (2016) 18. 7.30pm-9.40pm A successful businesswoman is caught up in a game of ‘cat and mouse’ as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her (moderately violent/sexual scenes).

Sunday 27th October

The Eagle Huntress (2016) U. 2pm-3.30pm In this film from Outer Mongolia, a thirteen-year-old girl trains to become the first female Eagle Hunter in twelve generations of her Kazakh family. Whilst there are many old Kazakh eagle hunters who vehemently reject the idea of any female taking part in their ancient tradition, her father believes that a girl can do anything a boy can do as long as she is determined.

The Divine Order (2017) 12. 4.30pm-6.05pm

A film from Switzerland which addresses the gender issue with drama and comedy. In 1971, a young housewife organises the women of her Swiss town to fight for ‘the right to vote’.

Le Havre (2012) 12. 7.30pm-9pm A film from France. When an African boy arrives by cargo ship in the port city of Le Havre, an ageing shoeshiner takes pity on the child and welcomes him into his home. This film illustrates the problems of asylum seekers on their journey to Europe.

Sherborne Castles Rotary Club would like to thank their primary sponsor, Four Shires Asset Management, as well as The Three Wishes Restaurant, individual film sponsors, the Sherborne Times, and finally Sherborne School for allowing the use of the Powell Theatre. shiff.org

____________________________________________ Thursday 24th-Sunday 27th October Sherborne International Film Festival Powell Theatre, Abbey Road, Sherborne. Tickets available on the door or in advance from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre. For more information please visit shiff.org.uk

____________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

Film

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

W

e’re now into October and Cinematheque has two great films on offer this month.

On the 9th we show If Beale Street Could Talk, director Barry Jenkins’ follow up to his Oscarwinning Moonlight from 2016. Set in 1970s Harlem, this distinctive and assured adaptation of the James Baldwin novel relates a tale of love, injustice and racism in America.

The story concerns narrator Tish who, with the support of her family, tries to prove the innocence of her partner Fonny, falsely accused of rape, and fight an unjust judicial system refusing to acknowledge the possibility of his not having committed this crime. The story fascinatingly switches between the present and flashbacks to the growing love that insulates the couple from their bleak surroundings in 1970s New York. The appropriate score of soulful jazz perfectly captures and complements the mood and time of the period.

Barry Jenkins has created an authentic and graceful film about black lives in America, of people long20 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

denied true representation on screen. ‘The lushness of the film’s images interacts beautifully with its spoken text, capturing the poetry of James Baldwin’s language.

Fonny and Tish’s story asserts that even in a world of corruption and prejudice, love and dignity can prevail.’

(Tricia Tuttle, London Film Festival 2018) Showing on the 23rd is The Third Murder from our favourite Japanese director, Hirokazu Kore-eda. Straying from the usual family-centred stories for which he is renowned, he steps into the territory of the courtroom drama, as defence lawyer Snigemori Tomoaki investigates an apparently open and shut murder case. However, tantalising layers of ambiguity undermine his (and our) assumptions. This intriguing, complex film is, some say, a denouncement of capital punishment still existing in Japan, as the truth and established facts change shape repeatedly, plunging all into turmoil at each turn.

‘Kore-eda spent months interviewing lawyers in order to accurately portray the Japanese justice system, said to have less to do with the pursuit of truth than with stretching

at The Larmer Tree Gardens

Friday 8th & Saturday 9th November The Larmer Tree Gardens nr Salisbury | SP5 5PY 10.00am - 4.00pm

Entry £5 | Children free Sorry no dogs (except guide dogs) Over 40 stalls with a range of decorative Brocante, vintage textiles, artisan gifts, furniture & seasonal workshops @thedorsetbrocante www.thedorsetbrocante.co.uk

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

details to make them fit ready-made narratives.’ ( Jason Anderson, Sight and Sound) The Third Murder is certainly an entertaining and captivating puzzle.

Two intelligent and intriguing films, I hope you’ll agree. Come along to the Swan Theatre in Yeovil and see what Cinematheque has to offer. Come as a guest or think about taking out a membership to save money.

Top quality international films for £3 or less in a wonderful theatre. Bliss!

As Kingfishers Catch Fire Paintings and sketches by artist and illustrator, Neil Gower

cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk

____________________________________________ Wednesday 9th October If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) 15 Wednesday 23rd October The Third Murder (2017) 15 Cinemateque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT Members £1, guests £5.00

____________________________________________

EXHIBITION RUNS UNTIL SAT 12TH OCT

Elementum Gallery Sherborne

01935 813776 elementumgallery.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21

PREVIEW In association with

Helen Dean: Durlston Cliff Dip pen and Indian ink, 31 x 43 cm

DRAWING ON DORSET

D

orset Visual Arts, in partnership with Evolver magazine, are celebrating the launch of Drawing on Dorset, a book featuring 36 selected drawings, with a series of exhibitions featuring the original drawings.

The selection was made from work submitted following an open call to survey current themes, trends and innovations on drawing practices. It spans the figurative, the abstract and both physical and digital drawings made in Dorset, of Dorset and about Dorset.

This is the second in an ongoing series of publications on different art forms to be produced

by Dorset Visual Arts, best known as producers of Dorset Art Weeks. The first, Fifty Dorset Makers, was also accompanied by an exhibition and has helped 22 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

invigorate the profile of design and craft in Dorset.

Drawing on Dorset seeks to highlight a very different aspect of creative practice in the county. sladecentre.com dorsetvisualarts.org evolver.org.uk

____________________________________________ 12th October-3rd November, Wednesday-Sunday 10.30am-5pm Drawing on Dorset The Slade Centre, The Square, Gillingham, SP8 4AY. 07775 431652 for further information.

____________________________________________

ARTIST AT WORK No. 12: Emily Duchscherer Kirk, Sizzling Summer, Mixed media, 14” x 11”, £95

I

have been creating abstract textural paintings by manipulating acrylic paints in my home studio in Yeovil since 2017, using many different techniques and tools. I mix in polymers to create dramatic and almost three-dimensional paintings.

My works explore human emotion and thought using organic forms as inspiration for their composition - a part of myself goes into each of my works. They are used as therapy; I produce works that represent my ongoing battle of living with severe anxiety.

I began my expressive art journey in 2015 whilst I was recovering from a challenging episode with my mental health. I decided that I had to share my experience with others through my art, which also helps me to balance my mind. We all have a story to tell and, by sharing mine, I hope to inspire others to share theirs.

I believe mental health should be treated the same as physical health; we all struggle with both at different

times in our lives, some more than others.

My works will be displayed along with pieces by seven other artists in a pop-up gallery called ‘We Make Things Gallery’ in Union Street, Yeovil, Somerset for Somerset Arts Weeks Festival until 6th October 2019.

I hope the space will become a huge success and lead to it becoming a permanent gallery and shop in the town centre supporting independent creative businesses. emilyduchschererkirk.com

____________________________________________ Until Sunday 6th October Emily Duchscherer Kirk as part of Somerset Arts Week Festival We Make Things Gallery & Shop, 6-8 Union Street, Yeovil BA20 1PQ. somersetartworks.org.uk

____________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 23

Art

A

fantastic spell of fine weather gave me opportunities to get out and paint in the field.

I must stress that I’m not complaining but, at times, it was so hot I was wilting. Nevertheless, as a true artist I am willing to suffer great hardship for my art!

The paint was very runny - so runny in fact that I could almost pour it out of the tube!

I like the late afternoon and early evening light - the shadows lengthen and have a beautiful blue sheen to them, slowly turning purple as the sun dips lower. On one such afternoon I headed over to Ham Hill and secured a parking space in the lay-by where the ice cream van pitches. All was quiet except for the running of the van’s cooling motor and the call of a buzzard up high. I set up as far from the van as I could and looked 24 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

out over Somerset and the hills beyond.

Right on the edge and looking down, the foreground just drops away; it was like being in a light aircraft but without the movement. The perspective was interesting.

I particularly liked the geometric shapes of the near fields, the lines of colour where they have been cultivated in rows. A tractor of yesteryear was perfectly suited to one small field where it was busy producing bales you could lift without the aid of machinery. It reminded me of the many summers I spent hay-making, working late into the evening: hard work but great fun.

I roughed out the general lay of the land - hill lines, rows of trees and anything that shouted out to be painted.

There are always areas in a painting that one can leave to the imagination and so concentrate on the key points.

LAURENCE BELBIN

Ham Hill

I wanted to give the feeling of height and space, so the distant hills and a good sky were very important. I had the sun directly in front of me, so shadows had to radiate from that central point. One has to work very quickly to establish these elements as the sun changes things so rapidly one could end up in a right mess, or find oneself working from memory or making it up.

I am pleased with what I managed to capture in one sitting as it were.

The second painting is very small. I did this with it held in my hand, an oil sketch for a possible

studio painting later on. This time the sun was off to my left giving long shadows, soft light and that hazy evening sky that can look almost grey. I think in this case most of the softness was dust in the air produced by farmers combine harvesting and baling as much as possible before any change in the weather. With all those tiny dust particles in the air they do create some nice sunsets! Three cheers for the farmers! laurencebelbin.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

Shopping Guide

Cheeky T-Shirt, £85 Circus

Skull Decanter, £18 and Himalayan Salt Shot Glasses, £14 for 2 Fly Jesse

Little Bat, £16 Melbury Gallery

Angel Candle, £8 Melbury Gallery

GHOST TOWN Jenny Dickinson, Dear to Me Studio

October – the naughtiest of months.

Whether you're a saint or a sinner you'll find all the tricks and treats you'll need in Sherborne. deartomestudio.com 26 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Naughty or Nice Notebooks, £1.99 Present Company

Dress-up Angel Wings, £31.99 Circus

Vintage Rosary, £18 D’Urberville

Golden Liniment Bottle £5, Blood Purifying Bottle £15, Medicinal Glass Measure, £15 D’Urberville

Ornamental Pumpkins, £1 each Occasions

Nude Wrapping Paper, £3.50 Circus sherbornetimes.co.uk | 27

Jewellery Clothing

‘For something different’

Gifts Home

Sherborne 01935 814027

28 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Dorchester 01305 265223

ARTI SA N R

O

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E

by c l iv e w e bbe r

ALPACA - PIM A COT TON - SI LK

Open Day Event – Digby Hall Saturday 12th October Our Prices Are Fixed for the whole of the Autumn Season (Subject to VAT remaining at 20%)

We would like to welcome you to our Autumn season

Artisan Route Open Day Event at Digby Hall at Hound Street, Sherborne.

This special event will be held on Saturday 12th October from 10:30 AM – 4 PM. There is plenty of parking at the Digby Hall car park.

We will be featuring our brand new Autumn Collection of Alpaca Knitwear, ‘Perfect Fit’ Pima Cotton Tops, and Silk Scarves – All by Artisan Route.

Lauren – Links knit jacket with crochet covered buttons. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Maya – Stunning geometric intarsia jacket. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Superfine Alpaca.

Andrea – Simple and elegant V neck tunic with vertical detail. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Olivia – Effortless and relaxed long links knit jacket. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Patricia – ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton long sleeved Crew.

Available in 11 colours.

Paula – ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton Roll Neck.

Available in 9 colours.

This is a young company and brand name, but please remember that Clive Webber has had connections for over 20 years in Sherborne and really knows how to produce top quality designs in Alpaca, Pima Cotton and Silk.

The beauty of the Open Day is that it provides the opportunity for Artisan Route to show our products in reality, giving customers the chance to see, touch, and try garments.

Personal service and attention is the focal point of our small business.

Our very good friend Mel Chambers will be with us to help and assist.

We are sure that you all know how to reach Digby Hall, but just in case, the postcode is DT9 3AA. Please feel free to bring family and friends along !

Check out our collection of Alpaca Knitwear, Pima Cotton Tops and Handwoven Silk Scarves in advance at

w w w. a r t i s a n r o u t e . c o . u k or phone for a brochure. T : 01896 823 765 ( Monday - Friday 10.00 - 18.00)

@elizabethwatsonillustrations

Excellence in Private Tuition We assist students aged 5-18 years in literacy, numeracy, SEN, Common Entrance, GCSE, A-Level and exam technique.

Please contact Emily on 07940 423525 or emily@ascent-tutors.com www.ascent-tutors.com 30 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Strong Citizens.

Strong Community.

Stronger Outcomes.

01935 810911 or registrar@sherborneprep.org

www.sherborneprep.org

You are invited to join us for our

AUTUMN OPEN MORNINGS Saturday 5th & Friday 11th October 2019, 11am - 1pm

Nursery & Prep School | Outstanding Extra-Curricular Activities | Extensive School Bus Routes 01963 442 606 | www.hazlegrove.co.uk | admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk | Sparkford, Somerset, BA22 7JA sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

UNEARTHED Tilly Atkinson, Aged 8 Sherborne Prep School

T

alking with Tilly about her incredible achievements in Beavers is a delight. Her face lights up as she chats happily about all the badges on her top and what each one means. Following in the footsteps of her family, (her grandfather was a Scout in the 1950s, her mother was a Girl Guide and is a Cub Leader at the 3rd Scout Group in Sparkford – the club at which Tilly and her brother are both members) Tilly has accumulated an astounding number of awards in just two years as a Beaver. She has managed to accomplish a very rare feat: to complete every single Activity Badge that a Beaver can possibly be awarded, obtaining the last one (Animal Friend) by looking after a puppy over the holidays. She has also gained the highest award a Beaver Scout can get - the Chief Scouts Bronze Award, as well as receiving the Beaver of the Term award for her exemplary behaviour, excellent attitude and calm leadership of her Lodge throughout her time with the Colony. There is barely a spare patch of cloth left on her Beaver uniform for any more badges! From camping to kayaking, photography to first aid, Tilly has accomplished them all, working hard and enjoying every element of every task.

Tilly has since gone on to join Cubs and is working on yet more badges. She has also been learning how to sail on Sutton Bingham reservoir, achieving her RYA Youth Sailing Scheme Stage 2 this Spring. With this plethora of accolades under her belt, her commitment and passion for adventure, Tilly is well on the path to becoming a bright young citizen of our community.

Although, she will definitely need a bigger jumper for all those badges! sherborneprep.org

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FO

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TH N

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Thornford Primary School

Open Morning Friday 15th November, 9.15am – 12.00pm

For more information or to arrange a private visit please contact the Headteacher, Mrs Neela Brooking on 01935 872706 or email office@thornford.dorset.sch.uk Ofsted “Outstanding”, SIAMS “Outstanding” School Games Gold Award Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6QY www.thornford.dorset.sch.uk

32 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Family

SENSE OF ADVENTURE Stephen Fisher, Adventurer First Aid

Wanderlust: Noun, the wish to travel far away and to many different places.

Risk: Noun, the possibility of something bad happening.

A

new generation of school leavers are preparing to get out there and see the world. Alone or with groups of friends, new friends will also most certainly be made over the coming year! What an amazing and exciting time ahead for them. Many of us have been there I’m sure: Do I go straight off in the summer and work later in the year? Do I work now and go later in the year? Ski season? Africa? Australia? South America? Far East? Travel and work or just travel and explore? Decisions, decisions, choices, choices.

It is estimated that some 230,000 young people (aged 18-25) in the UK take a gap year, according to recent statistics. But let’s not just think of school and University leavers - more and more people are taking time out from work, career breaks or just ‘getting out there and seeing the world.’ With affordable air travel, easy international banking and mobile roaming, the world is becoming a smaller and even more enticing place. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Bali’; ‘I’m going to see India by rail’; ‘I’m going to party in Thailand before I go to Uni.’ And so you jolly well should. It’s a beautiful, fun and amazing world out there: don’t live it through a screen or someone else’s Facebook or Insta. account.

However, with travel comes risk! Statistically, 56% of deaths of males between the age of 15-24 are caused by accidents, the same is true for 20% of females. Sadly, I know. By the age of 24 I had lost three friends in two separate tragic accidents. Two lost their lives together in a terrible road accident in the desert of Western Australia during their gap year. The other, shockingly, here the UK. This year, 25 years later, we celebrated the lives of Nick and George over a memorable and moving memorial weekend at the school we all attended. So, after these tragic accidents, did we, as their friends, close down the globe, wrap ourselves in cotton wool and spend the rest of our lives fearing

the thrills of global travel and adventure? No! Many went on to live all over the world. In the last 25 years I am sure we have seen and done things that maybe, just maybe, we only just got away with. But as we get older our knowledge, our appreciation of risk and sense of danger grows, possibly making us shy away from jumping off that waterfall, riding that scooter at night without a helmet or climbing that mountain, slightly off the beaten track, in flip-flops.

It is this knowledge and ‘thinking outside the box’ that is now starting to be taught across some of our local schools and in private classes through the ‘Adventurer’ first aid course. Developed with a local former Royal Marine, now HM Coastguard Search & Rescue Paramedic, ‘Adventurer’ is a fun, interactive hands-on course designed to instil excitement and confidence for amazing adventures ahead as well as providing the skills to deal with the unknown in farflung places, be it a head injury from jumping off that waterfall in the jungle, an ‘RTC’ in a crazy capital city somewhere on the globe or even being ‘first on the scene’ here in Sherborne. The aim of ‘Adventurer’ is to instil confidence and skills for exciting, but safe, travel.

It’s a truly amazing, fun, beautiful but risky world we live in, so get out there and enjoy it. It’s not the same as seeing a picture on a screen.

Go on, ‘Grow your wanderlust, don’t stifle it!’

In Memory of Nick Moore and George Gilroy.

5th February 1994, Western Australia For more information about their six-hour Adventurer First Aid and Global Awareness course for you, your young adventurers or your school, please contact stephen@minfirstaid.co.uk, dorset.minifirstaid.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 33

Family

Children’s Book Review

by Ethan (aged 11)

Pick a Pumpkin, by Patricia Toht (Author), Jarvis (Illustrator), Walker Books (2019) £12.99 Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £9.99 from Winstone’s Books

P

ick a Pumpkin is a book aimed at pre-school children and based around Halloween. It is about decorating the house to make it look as scary as possible, carving pumpkins and Trick or Treating. It begins with two young children choosing pumpkins in a whole array of colours, shapes and sizes, ready to fill their garden.

The story has lots of rhyming words and adjectives in it making it fun to read. The author, Patricia Toht, used to own a children’s bookshop called Never Never

Land and nowadays she writes fiction and nonfiction books. Reading this book gave me the excited feeling that I get when I go Trick or Treating. The book is beautifully illustrated by Jarvis using the colours of autumn, which makes it feel really cozy. If you like having fun at Halloween, I would recommend this book. I can’t wait to carve scary faces into my pumpkin! winstonesbooks.co.uk

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

LOVES LOST

Rebecca de Pelet, Teacher of English, Sherborne School

T

he trappings of Halloween have been in the shops for some time now and those who never usually quote poetry can be heard reciting the opening line of Keats’ ode To Autumn, which describes this season as one of ‘mist and mellow fruitfulness’.

Halloween is, of course, a contraction of All Hallows’ Eve and is an ancient celebration observed by many countries; it is a time to remember the dead, including saints or ‘hallows’. In our house, we have striven to pay as little attention as possible to the commercial trappings of this feast day, with the important exception of pumpkin carving which has become something of a competitive sport. But, in terms of great writing about those we have lost, there is only one story for me: James Joyce’s The Dead. The final piece in his ‘Dubliners’ collection, it concerns Gabriel Conroy, a Dublin schoolteacher, who has attended his elderly aunts’ party with his wife. On returning to their hotel room, his dormant passion for her is stirred into life. But, her thoughts have conversely travelled back to a young man from her youth, Michael Furey, who died for love of her. This unsettling contrast echoes many within the story and the piece closes with Gabriel at the window, seemingly encountering the ghost of his wife’s dreams under an incoming flurry of snow which covers both the living and the dead.

I have visited the homes of two dead writers this year. The first was Keats’, in the midst of summer, and I was charmed by its simplicity and the bittersweet sense of a love and a life lost. It was a physical thrill to lean into the wall which separated the young writer’s bedroom from that of the woman with whom he had fallen in love, whose family had become his neighbour in the Hampstead villa. His famous sonnet in her honour makes the writer’s own thrill fairly clear as he muses on being, Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,/To feel for ever its soft fall and swell. The second was Hardy’s Max Gate in our own county and the experience could not have been more different. Whilst I enjoyed imagining W. B. Yeats and Virginia Woolf seated at the breakfast table, the place was suffused with a gloom even deeper than that thrown by the thick, brown paint

everywhere. I was directed to the room where Hardy died and to the attic where his first wife, Emma, made her increasingly isolated and mentally-fragile home in her last years. Hardy’s poetry about her, though tender (Woman much missed, how you call to me, call to me), came too late; Emma was dead and her successor already installed in what had been her home.

There is one more dead writer who must be brought into the October light: Sir Thomas Wyatt. A courtier and poet he died on the 11th of this month whilst en route to Falmouth on official business. He caught a fever while visiting his friend, Sir John Horsey, in Dorset and on his death was buried in the Horsey vault in Sherborne Abbey. Blink and you’ll miss Wyatt’s brass plaque on the floor, but he is owed so much more attention. Arguably the father of the English sonnet, he too was a man who knew about the pain of love.

Henry VIII, his boss, claimed the very woman whom Wyatt loved: Anne Boleyn. In his poem Whoso List to Hunt, Wyatt is forced to acknowledge that, graven with diamonds in letters plain/There is written, her fair neck round about:/Noli me tangere (Do not touch me), for Caesar’s I am.

The thought of losing his love Fanny Brawne, wrote Keats, would make him swoon to death and Joyce’s Gabriel, as he contemplates the past and the days to come, swooned slowly too. The story’s close is often seen as a confirmation of Joyce’s portrayal of the inescapably moribund nature of his Ireland, a place of ruinous conformism and provinciality. But there is another way of looking at it, as one which points to spiritual awakening and to a form of redemption: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling softly… It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns… he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

Let’s swoon a little then and remember our loves lost and won. sherborne.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 35

Family

THE HIDDEN VALUE OF DYSLEXIA Briony Harris, Head of Learning Support, Sherborne Prep School

D

yslexia isn’t just a specific learning difficulty; it is so much more than that. It’s just that most of us have been looking at dyslexia through the wrong end of a telescope. The traditional view provides a narrow representation of what dyslexia is, i.e. one that focuses on the challenges related to reading, writing, processing and memory. It is time we flipped the 36 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

telescope to see the true, broader picture of dyslexia.

Stephen Spielberg, Roald Dahl, Agatha Christie, John Lennon and Leonardo da Vinci are among many well-known and successful people who have, or had, dyslexia. Some may think that these individuals found their success despite their dyslexia but evidence suggests that they found their success because of it. In

"Throughout history, this ability to think differently has made a significant contribution to revolutionising the world we live in"

fact, recent research shows that 4 out of 5 successful dyslexics attribute dyslexic thinking to their success and that self-made millionaires are four times more likely to have dyslexia than the rest of the population.

So, what is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a difference in the ‘wiring’ of the brain, resulting not only in a pattern of difficulties but also in a pattern of strengths such as big picture thinking, creativity, complex problem-solving, spatial reasoning and communication. Throughout history, this ability to think differently has made a significant contribution to revolutionising the world we live in, from the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell (dyslexic), to the iPhone by Steve Jobs (dyslexic) and from the first aeroplane by the Wright Brothers (dyslexic) to Virgin space travel by Sir Richard Branson (dyslexic). In their report, The Value of Dyslexia, Big Four consultancy firm EY has identified that this unique set of dyslexic skills will be important to our children’s future in a rapidly changing world of work.

Many dyslexics have very high non-verbal intelligence, however their dyslexic strengths can be missed in school, as academic ‘success’ is often dependent upon reading and writing. Advancements in technology are helping to remove some barriers to learning but there is a long way to go. Research by the charity Made By Dyslexia indicates that 9 out of 10 dyslexics said their dyslexia made them feel angry, stupid or embarrassed.

As Albert Einstein, also dyslexic, said, ‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid’.

So, as educators and parents, let’s adopt an approach that nurtures the diverse talents of all children. Let’s recognise and celebrate dyslexia as a valuable way of thinking. Let’s encourage and promote passion in design, drama, technology, music, sport and the arts to harness creativity and innovation. Let’s show our children that their dyslexic wiring holds great potential.

In a future where routine decisions may increasingly be made by artificial intelligence, it is those that can truly think creatively and originally who will enhance and brighten our world.

Dyslexia is so much more than a learning difficulty.

A child is so much more than a set of grades. Let’s flip the narrative. Let’s flip the telescope.

For more information, go to @MadeByDyslexia, @MicrosoftEDU, @dyslexicadv sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

Environment

DESTINATION: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Juliana Atyeo If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.

Pete Seeger, Folk Singer and Social Activist

O

n Sunday evenings, when the residents of my street put out their bins for collection the following morning – we have an alternating fortnightly collection of kerbside recycling and landfill waste together with a weekly food waste collection – my patient family occasionally indulge me in my happy ritual in which I update them on how long it has been since I have had to put out either bin (recycling or landfill) for collection. Not having a home compost system, our food waste caddy does go out every week but is mainly filled with inedible peelings of fruit and the woodier parts of vegetables. Although there is still work to be done in terms of minimising this – I am fanatical about underbuying rather than overbuying and have a system in my fridge that ensures I don’t let food accidentally go off – I don’t feel dreadful about the food waste collection which sends our peelings and cores to an anaerobic digester facility in Dorset where it is converted into a soil improver and into electricity which is fed back into the national grid. Almost every 38 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

household in Dorset has access to this service, and unless residents are engaging in their own composting (which is the most environmentally friendly solution as it involves no transport), there is absolutely no reason why these households should not be ensuring all of their food waste goes into their food waste caddies for collection.

We each have a duty to minimise what we send to landfill. As rubbish rots in the ground, it generates high levels of methane and carbon dioxide; both of these greenhouse gases contribute to global warming so clearly this is a huge concern. Moreover, multiple toxic substances leach into the earth and groundwater over decades, contaminating both our earth and waterways.

And there cannot be a reader who has not seen the depressing results of rubbish that finds its way to our oceans. Although there is always room for improvement, we are lucky in Dorset in that we have a simple and fairly comprehensive kerbside recycling scheme; other waste streams not yet collected on the kerbside are fairly easily recycled in local facilities (for example, Sainsbury’s

Perutskyi Petro/Shutterstock

will take plastic bags including the bags used for sliced bread and some frozen vegetables; there is a tetrapak, clothing and foil collection point in the car park opposite Waitrose and the Sherborne Recycling Centre will recycle some larger household items). Terracycle drop-off points are accessible in the fairly near vicinity and allow you to recycle a variety of items that would otherwise be condemned to landfill, including pens, toothpaste tubes, pet food pouches, crisp packets.

However, we must not fall into the easy belief that recycling is the panacea: it is not. Recycling should be the last resort. If you watched War on Plastic recently you will know that much of what we believe we are sending to be recycled may end up being dumped in other countries. Moreover, even if the material reaches a recycling point, the process of recycling still has a carbon cost in terms of the energy required to undertake the process. For recycling to serve any purpose, then, the closing of the loop is essential, and we must make sure that, whenever possible, we purchase goods which are

made from recycled materials rather than those made from virgin sources. Better yet, is the simple decision to refuse, to say no to the purchase of a new item. With smaller, more common purchases, which are largely connected to convenience and perhaps an expectation of instant gratification or even entitlement, it is about planning in advance, so you simply don’t have to buy items in single use (recyclable or otherwise) packaging.

There is rarely an excuse for anybody to ever purchase a bottle or carton of drink when you can take your own refillable bottle about with you. Similarly, disposable cups, cutlery or packaging are utterly unnecessary if you forward plan. For me, it has been a conscious shift in mindset and a repositioning of myself in terms of how I think about my place on the planet. Perhaps, in a rather unglamorous way, the bins have become a kind of metaphor - a very visual and humbling reminder that, whilst as a family we are making progress in our mission to tread more lightly on Planet Earth, there is still much to be done. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

Environment

Kevin J. Frost/Shutterstock

REBEL WITH A CAUSE

I

Margaret Read

attended my first Extinction Rebellion (XR) meeting in Sherborne in June and joined their next protest in Bristol in mid-July. On a bridge in the city centre, in front of the big, pink boat, I listened to three passionate talks about the climate crisis and I left with the impression that neither the government nor some sections of the press are taking the situation seriously. The action had been organised with the cooperation of the local council and the police. The protest was well-attended and was a very peaceful, friendly and musical day out.

First, I heard a talk from Dr Adrian Gibbs, an expert in bio-waste collection and disposal who lives near Bristol Airport. The owners of the airport want to expand capacity from 8 million to 12 million passengers a year. His passion and despair over this application was impressive. Then I learnt about the proposal to make Ecocide a crime equal to Genocide. Lastly Natalie Fee, founder of the non-profit organisation City to Sea, explained her campaign to reduce the production and use of single-use plastics in order to protect marine life.

City to Sea has set up a website which helps businesses, shops and restaurants all over the UK to set up a tap for refilling water bottles.

Until recently I was proud of my recycling record but did nothing else to help the planet - apart from worry about what is happening to our weather! Hearing the talks in Bristol convinced me that I must do something to raise awareness about the climate crisis. I have therefore 40 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

decided to cycle alone to London to join the International Rebellion which starts on Monday 7th October (usually I jump in my car without a second thought if I want to go anywhere). I will be staying with XR groups on the way.

The first stop is Salisbury, then Winchester and Farnham, and I will spend a night with my sister in Morden, Surrey, on 6th October before joining the event in central London on Monday 7th - a total of 140 miles.

My bike has been sitting unused for years so taking up cycling is a challenge. I have already clocked up about 150 miles and I’ve tackled all the hills around us - except Batcombe! The joy of training is discovering the beauty of our countryside, visiting all the villages in the area and finding back-roads which I have never explored by car.

I have also made a pledge not to fly anywhere again.

Margaret Read, 58, from Frome St Quintin is cycling from Sherborne to London between 3rd and 7th October to join the non-violent action organised by Extinction Rebellion to lobby Parliament about catastrophic climate change. If you would like to see her off on her solo ride, she will be leaving from the Conduit in Sherborne at 10.00am on Thursday 3rd October.

Margaret is being supported by Extreme Rebellion Sherborne, who can be contacted via the XR Sherborne Facebook page. stopbristolairportexpansion.org stopecocide.earth citytosea.org.uk refill.org.uk

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

Wild Dorset

AUTUMN ARRIVALS Holly Toman, Volunteer, Dorset Wildlife Trust

M

igration is a form of adaptation, vital to survival, as the changing seasons vary the climate. As autumn approaches, we will start to see migrant birds returning to the UK, completing a journey of thousands of miles. What may look like chaos to us as we witness flocks of birds pass above is actually part of a planned and calculated flight, unique to a species. Some will take a direct route whereas others may prefer to follow a coastal course.

In the south of the UK, we are lucky to be winter hosts to members of the thrush family such as fieldfares and redwings - two migrant birds that resemble each other. Fieldfares are large and yellow-breasted whereas redwings can be identified by distinctive bursts of orangey-red under their wings.

Returning to nest in Iceland and Scandinavia around the end of March, these birds take this time to indulge in our berry-laden hedgerows, parks and woodlands. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, with its abundance of thick hedgerows, offers an excellent opportunity to see these migrating birds. Fieldfares are sociable birds and can be seen in flocks of over 200.

Increasing numbers of migrating birds are being spotted in our gardens.

A combination of freezing conditions and the dramatic decrease of insect populations forces these birds to take refuge, so don’t forget to top up your bird feeders or provide mealworms, cheese and suet to help keep feathered visitors energised this autumn and winter. Also look out for geese and wading birds that will arrive in September and October in their hundreds and thousands. Dark-bellied Brent geese flock to southern shores in early October. The Chesil Beach Centre, overlooking the Fleet Lagoon, is a great place to see these birds in action.

In Poole Harbour, Holes Bay is the estuary (tidal mouth) of several rivers and is therefore another perfect place to look out for migrating birds. Some fantastic flocks can be seen there late in the afternoon. Coastal areas make excellent vantage points for keen bird watchers, or even if you’re just starting out.

Tips for watching migrating birds: 1 2 3 4

Check tide times and take precautions with appropriate clothing.

Time your visits: geese are mostly likely to be seen at sunrise and sunset.

Keep a record of birds arriving and departing over the season.

Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk 42 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Carolus Aves/iStock

Fieldfare sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

Wild Dorset

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

O

ur October speaker is Professor Jeremy Thomas. He has lived in Dorset for many years and knows DWT well, having recently become a trustee. He is a national expert on butterflies, especially the blue butterflies, and his talk is entitled, ‘Conserving Blue Butterflies that Live with Ants’. The talk is on Wednesday 16th October and as usual we meet in Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, with doors opening at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Drinks and nibbles are available, for a small contribution, and there is time to chat about recent wildlife sightings before the talk. Non-members of DWT are most welcome.

Prof. Thomas writes of his talk, ‘The seven blue butterfly species for which Dorset is famous depend, to a greater or lesser extent, on ants as guardians during their caterpillar and chrysalis stages. For Chalkhill, Adonis and Silver-studded blues the association is intimate and essential for survival. I describe the various relationships that have evolved, especially the extreme cases of the Silver-studded blues of south Dorset and the Large Blue, just north of Sherborne in Somerset. In both cases, conserving their populations involves creating habitat for a single – and very different – species of ant.’ The 44 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Image: Jeremy Thomas

photograph, taken by Jeremy on Portland, shows a male Silver-studded Blue being protected by Lasius alienus (black) ants as its wings dry after emerging from a chrysalis deep in the ant nest.

Last month I mentioned the Long-tailed Blue butterfly seen in the south of the county; a little later, a second was seen at our local reserve, Alners Gorse. In fact, Butterfly Conservation (BC) reports that record numbers, more than 50, have been seen as far north as Surrey. BC says this influx might be attributed to global warming and thus the thought that the first Dorset one might be an escapee was probably incorrect. Also, since mid-August there have regularly been several Painted Lady butterflies visiting our garden on sunny days; sadly, we have not managed to see anything like the four to six hundred reported at Hengistbury head on 10th August.

On 23rd October the group has its final field meeting of the year. We are visiting Hooke Park which is the Architecture Association’s woodland campus. Numbers are restricted so, if you wish to join the meeting, please contact the group secretary, Lynne, on 01935 814779. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

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Wild Dorset

PROPOLIS

Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

D

uring harvest-time we give thanks for the abundance of goodness we have collected from our endeavours.

The most common harvest from bees is honey, however humans also take other power-packed goodness made by bees. Pollen is collected throughout the spring and summer season, in ‘little and often’ bursts so as not to be detrimental to the bees. A specially made guard is positioned in front of the hive with narrow entrance holes. As the bees squeeze through the holes with their pollen baskets laden, excess ‘baggage’ is scraped off and collected in a tray beneath the hive. It’s best only to use this device for a few hours or at most a day at a time in our changeable climate. The bees collect pollen to provide protein to their brood. Packing the pollen into the pollen baskets on their legs using their tongue adds health-giving bee enzymes. This is what makes the pollen so nutritious for humans but more so for the bees.

Wax is also harvested as a by-product of the honey.

The wax comb is spun to remove the honey and the wax is then melted down and used as a base for balms, creams, or in wax candles.

46 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Propolis is the most magical of all the bee products.

In the wild, bees line the interior of their homes (usually in tree trunks) with this sticky substance.

Collecting resins and balms from tree buds and bark, and mixing it with honey and wax, produces an antibacterial substance to fill in gaps around their home, making a protective ‘envelope’. In his latest book, The Lives of Bees, the renowned bee expert Professor Tom Seeley shares how he found old tree colonies where the base of the cavity was lined with propolis several millimetres thick. Beekeepers using wooden box beehives have cursed propolis for many years, breeding bees to minimise propolis production.

Conventional beekeepers like to open up a hive once a week, a more difficult task if the bees have stuck the lid down and frames together between visits. I began to look at propolis differently as I learned of its medicinal properties for humans. Traditional medicine has used propolis for many years, it having proven anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, antiparasitic and immunostimulant properties. It’s quite a wonder drug, and I guess the bees knew that!

Kosolovskyy/Shutterstock

At last year’s Natural Bee conference in The Netherlands, several of the speakers talked of propolis as being the bees’ ‘skin’. We tend to see each bee as an independent being but, as a colony, they work together for the benefit of the whole, sacrificing themselves when necessary for the good of the colony. By surrounding their home in propolis they improve their defence system, not only from predators, by sticking hive parts together or reducing the size of entrances, but also from viruses and diseases. There is a famous story shared by many beekeepers about a mouse found completely coated in propolis inside a hive. It had crawled in during the winter months and the bees, unable to remove its dead body from the hive, protected themselves from the rotting carcass with propolis. Dr Renata Borba of Minnesota University speaks of how bees protected by propolis, when injected with highly contagious and fatal diseases such as European foul brood, fail to succumb. Conventionally kept bees in a hive would fall sick and have to be destroyed if they were to come into contact with this virus. This raises a couple of issues. Firstly, how do we extract propolis

from a hive and, secondly, should we be extracting this when the bees so clearly need it?

Commercially, propolis is collected from hives by placing sheets of plastic or metal along the tops of the frames. Bees collect the resins using their mandibles but, as it’s sticky, a receiver bee meets the bees with the shiny propolis in the pollen sacks on their legs. As they chew it off, they add wax to make it easier to work with.

As bees don’t like holes around their hive, they fill all the gaps in the sheets left by the beekeeper. When the sheets are filled with propolis, the beekeeper removes them and, after freezing, the resin easily comes away and can be stored.

The next question is, how does this affect the colonies? It takes much energy and resources to create the propolis around the hive. I have noticed how my personal colonies, when left to their own devices, produce more propolis by the third generation. Modern hives have smooth, planed-wood interiors, not conducive to propolising by bees. Dr Borba also discovered that propolis loses its biological activity over the winter months, so it’s vital that bees are able to continually collect and add propolis to their hives to maintain the full antibacterial properties. Could it be that this lack of propolis in our beehives is contributing to bees becoming sicker? Would we be less likely to protect ourselves from sickness if we lost our ‘skin’?

As I write this, I am attending Apimondia in Montreal, Canada. With around 5000 bee people from around the globe and a packed schedule of talks and symposiums, I am seeing that new ways of beekeeping are high on the agenda as great losses have been experienced by this continent’s beekeepers. The showing last night of the new film The Pollinators expressed the important connection we have with farmers and how intensive farming methods need to change for the benefit of all our pollinators.

If harvest is the time when we reap what we sow, it is also the time to think about what we have sown. If we wish to have propolis, honey, pollen and wax for our own health and wellbeing, we could take time this winter to value the beeswax candles, tinctures and balms that the bees have worked so hard to produce for us. What can we do to help them create a generous harvest next year? The bees know how powerful their hive products are and, when we care for them well, they are happy to provide us with the medicines we need. paulacarnell.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

History OBJECT OF THE MONTH

THE PEDLAR DOLLS Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

‘F

rom fair to fair, from markett to markett, carieth it to sell in hors pakks and fote pakks’; this C16th commentary referring to hawkers surely hints at the derivation of ‘Pack Monday’, as exemplified in the figures of these pedlar dolls. The word ‘pack’ from Middle English literally means a wrapped bundle of goods for travelling; a number of similar items of produce being sold together; a group of people gathered in one place or (now obsolete) a worthless person of dubious repute.

The dolls, donated by Miss Elizabeth O’Shea, are little documents of social history made c.1820 by C. & H. White of Milton, Portsmouth, the most celebrated producers of such items in terms of detail and accuracy.

They would have been kept under glass domes in the front parlour as curiosities.

The social researcher Henry Mayhew (1812-1887) considered the pedlar to be, ‘the original distributor of the produce of the country... the first free trader’. By 1810 they were required to pay an increasing yearly licence fee and this, coupled with the opening up of travel through the railways, encouraged the practice to gradually die away. Nevertheless, in 1841 a census revealed 97 pedlars operating in Dorset. Travelling between households and villages, from town to town, they sold small household goods, knick-knacks, chapbooks and even song-sheets to isolated communities: important conduits of articles and ideas, both traditional and revolutionary. They filled gaps in the formal economy, operating alongside markets and fairs, purchasing surplus stock for resale elsewhere. Women pedlars were known as ‘Notion Nannies’, bringing news and gossip along with the goods, as likely to tell your fortune or offer herbal remedies. It was often a way for a woman with no references to stay out of the workhouse, 48 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

although the life was precarious.

While she enjoyed a degree of freedom, this aroused suspicion; her customary red cloak marked her difference from mainstream society and hinted at magic and secrets.

Pedlars were often stigmatised and were met in a new parish with a mixture of excitement and fear.

The heady emotion engendered by the anarchic arrival of pedlars and travellers was a feature of Pack Monday. One resident remembered that in the 1930s the fair was, ‘the highlight of the year... half of Sherborne folk taking part, village folk riding in on their bikes and several hundred gypsies descending with their horses for sale... It was a good time for settling grudges; after the fair dozens of windows would be smashed and not many dustbin lids left... a particular high spot was the fighting outside the pubs afterwards, I remember seeing two women going at it outside the New Inn, me and my mates thought that was marvellous... the cells would then be filled for several days’.

Since the mid-1800s headlines in local papers have crowed, ‘Worst Fair Ever’, either in terms of the bad weather, the quality of the livestock or the tawdriness of the pedlars’ goods. But the people still loved it. Another resident recently described the day as one of ‘reunion and gathering’ with friends and relatives coming from across the country and meeting up in one of the local pubs.

Sherborne is fortunate that Pack Monday survives and evolves, since education, gentrification, and the influx of incomers can saturate a traditional culture, disperse it as a living practice and turn it into something quaint and antiquarian, far divorced from its original roots.

Sherborne Museum is open from Tues-Sat 10.30am – 4.30pm. Admission free. sherbornemuseum.co.uk

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History

TAKEN THEIR TOLL Cindy Chant, Blue Badge Guide

South Cheriton toll house (with thanks to the current owners)

T

his month I am going to tell you about some of the toll houses that are on our county boundaries ‘twixt Dorset and Somerset’ but mainly in the Sherborne area. This boundary wriggles around, in and out of each county, so the different turnpike trusts built some domestic dwellings at these remote gates and these are known as ‘toll houses’.

I love these toll houses. They generally consisted of very minimal accommodation, usually only two rooms, a scullery area and an outside privy. However, in later years, larger dwellings did become more common.

These little toll houses were usually in isolation alongside the turnpike gates, on the perimeter of settlements or villages; they might be considered the forerunners of ‘ribbon development’, encouraging the early spread of suburbia.

Nowadays, many roads have very fast-moving traffic and it can be dangerous to stop and gaze in wonder at these little gems from a forgotten age. Sadly, they are all now severely at risk from future road development, although happily some of the surviving toll houses are enjoying new lives in private ownership, having become family homes. I personally and sincerely hope that, in time, these unique buildings will get the added protection of becoming Grade II listed.

So, as the county boundary weaves in and out of 50 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Yeovil, I shall start with roads around Yeovil. I have given map references to all the ones I am discussing, so that you can easily find the remaining toll houses that I mention.

Whistle Bridge toll house

The Maiden Newton Trust of Dorset had two of its most northern routes into Somerset, just south of Whistle Bridge toll house. The A37 south of Yeovil largely follows the line of the Roman road from Ilchester to Dorchester. The section to Whistle Bridge was turnpiked by the Yeovil Trust in 1753 but much of the present A37 was authorised by the joint Yeovil/Ilchester Act of 1852. This toll house was sold in 1867 and, by 1871, it was known as ‘Whistle Bridge, Old Turnpike Cottage’, obviously having ceased to function. I have never found any traces of its whereabouts.

Closeworth toll house

This toll house survives a quarter of a mile north of Prowler’s Cross, on the west side of the A37, first turnpiked in 1778. It is now very much enlarged. The original part of the toll-house is the small projecting bay with the door blocked and a centre window above. This old toll house is very difficult to view and, unless you know this stretch of road well, please do not be tempted to slow down. The road has very fast, continuous traffic.

Yeovil Bridge toll house, Bradford Abbas (Dorset)

This Victorian toll house continues to survive and is little changed in appearance. It stands on the east side of Yeovil Bridge, just into Dorset, by the busy roundabout at the bottom of Babylon Hill. In 1753 it controlled the Yeovil Trust’s turnpike eastwards to the Halfway House near Nether Compton, halfway between Yeovil and Sherborne.

FREE HOME VISITS

Specialist Neil Grenyer will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 31st October to value your antiques

Bow Bridge toll house, Henstridge

Now moving much nearer to Shaftesbury and just on the Somerset side of the Dorset border, at the junction with a side road leading to Henstridge Marsh, the Bow Bridge toll house still stands on the south side of the present A30 which, from Milborne Port to Bow Bridge, was turnpiked in 1753. This toll house has been very much enlarged in recent times.

South Cheriton toll house

In my opinion, the best remaining toll house in our area is in South Cheriton, Horsington. In the Vale of Blackmoor, another Dorset Trust had roads into Somerset, this one covering about six miles of the present-day A357 up as far as Lattiford, just south of Wincanton. The turnpiking of this road was included in the 1765 Act but may not have been completed until a later date. This Grade II-listed toll house survives at South Cheriton, the only one in Somerset with its toll board of charges still in situ (dated 19th July 1824). I thoroughly recommend anyone who is interested to slow down when driving past and view this particularly well-preserved tollhouse with its interesting toll board of charges. It is a real gem!

By the 1840s the turnpike road system had almost reached its end and big changes were just around the corner. The magic of steam, in the form of railways, ultimately caused this change. The canals and the turnpike system were both finished as the travelling public took to the rails in the new and exciting age of railway mania. By 1870 the trusts were being wound up and their assets, in the form of the tollhouses and equipment, were all sold off. The responsibility for the roads now came under the care of the Highway Boards, the forerunners of the County Councils.

AUTUMN BREEZE Elizabeth Adela Stanhope Forbes (1859-1912) BOUGHT FOR £9,000

To make an appointment please contact: 01460 73041 neil.grenyer@lawrences.co.uk Complete House Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged Professional Probate Valuations

Next month I will explore the history of milestones.

Milestones are a relic of a time when life moved much more slowly. ‘How far is it to…?’ sherbornewalks.co.uk

lawrences.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

Antiques

UNEXPECTED LOTS

O

Richard Bromell, ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

ver the years we have developed a broad range of specialist auctions: the term ‘general sale’ has long been gone at Charterhouse. This phrase covered a multitude of items from ceramics to furniture and pretty much everything else in between.

In some ways, I do miss the good old days (only as seen through rose-tinted spectacles). Buyers would root around for hours at a general sale. General sales were often held in poorly lit salerooms which would be hot and stuffy in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. Viewing and auctions would also be accompanied with copious amounts of builder’s tea, bacon rolls and Victoria sponge cake.

Moving into the 21st century, I am pleased to report that bacon rolls, builder’s tea and Victoria sponge cake is still available. However, gone are the dimly lit 52 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

rooms and here at Charterhouse we (unusually for auction rooms) not only have effective heating but air conditioning too, although some bidders are known to complain the temperature is too cold in the summer!

Conducting specialist auctions results in our receiving instructions from far and wide. Recently we signed an agreement with the Isle of Man Government for Enterprise and will be having auctions of classic, race and vintage motorcycles on the Isle of Man at the Classic TT from 2020. Because of this specialist auction, Matthew, who heads up our Classic Vehicle Department, is planning to visit and value a collection on motorcycles in Sri Lanka. Exciting times indeed.

For me, my travels may generally be more local to the West Country, London and the Home Counties, but they are just as exciting. Recently I visited a Dorset

lady who was looking to enter some lots into our busy specialist auction programme, so thankfully no need to take malaria tablets, unlike Matthew. The client was looking to downsize after her husband passed away.

Over the years he had been a keen collector and whilst they enjoyed many of the items together, she was not so keen on his love of fishing books or his love of mounted insects and arachnids, and I know what she means.

At Bromell Towers, there is a division with regard to bugs and spiders. I have always had an interest in bugs whether flying or crawling but have never spent much time with spiders. Mrs B., on the other hand, is the opposite; she particularly dislikes flying bugs, especially wasps, but is quite comfortable with spiders.

In the event a wasp or other flying bug being in the vicinity of Mrs B., I can usually hear her screams.

Being the gallant chap that I am, I always go to her rescue, which means opening a window to let the little chap fly out. However, when it comes to spiders, you might not hear me scream but you will hear me call

for assistance. Mrs B. will then quickly materialise with a glass and piece of cardboard to safely rehome the spider outside.

I was therefore fascinated with the chest with drawers full of insects which the Dorset lady was looking to auction. There was a fabulous selection of exotic specimens large and small, all beautifully mounted, which the husband had bought. Working my way down through the bank of drawers I could tell the lady really wanted for her late husband’s collection to find a new home, and I could have been tempted - that was until I opened the last drawer which contained several (monster) Tarantulas!

The bugs and spiders were subsequently collected and are now entered into our two-day auction on 17th and 18th October which includes hunting, shooting, fishing and taxidermy - not that either Mrs B. or I will be bidding on them. charterhouse-auction.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53

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Interiors

MODERN BRITISH

T

Suzy Newton, Partners in Design

he late designer William Yeoward passed away peacefully on 18th June 2019 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. In case you aren’t familiar with his name, William Yeoward was one of the design industry’s leading forces in interior design and fine crystal tableware.

William developed a reputation as a style maker, retailer and designer of beautiful products for the home. His range of curtain and upholstery fabrics and wallpapers are designed to offer elegance and comfort with great texture and are created with a colour palette that features a myriad of blues as well as ochre, red and shades of naturals and neutrals.

His collaboration with Designers Guild commenced in 1998: ‘Having worked under Tricia Guild’s direction at Designers Guild in my twenties, I had a notion that to continue to work together later in my career would be both fun and beneficial. The idea of adding fabrics and wallpapers to the William Yeoward stable seemed the right decision in 1998 and I believe it still is today.’

58 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

The last collection William designed for Designers Guild - Florian fabrics - has just been launched; it is full of his statement batik-style and damask prints, embroideries and weaves incorporating the classic colour combinations for which he is renowned. This really is a nostalgic and personal collection, taking some of his vintage prints and updating them with contemporary colourways.

William was the personification of understated good taste and his sensitive understanding of his market ensured that the brand became perceived globally as ‘Modern British’ with a reputation for exquisite craftmanship and originality.

‘I realised very early on in my creative life that if I could not find what I wanted, the best thing to do was to find someone to make it.’ He has certainly fulfilled this philosophy in many areas of products he has created for the home. ‘It’s very important to work out what you are about and how you want to live before one even contemplates a house or the things that one needs to live in it comfortably… comfort is the key

ANA BIANCHI EMMA DUNBAR FIONA MILLAIS 19th October – 6th November

to contentment and therefore good design must be practical, elegant and above all comfortable.’

His vision over the years was unwaveringly confident and ensured that his brand was every bit as original as he was. In recent years, William was mostly called ‘brave’ because of the fearless way he approached his illness, but he has always been brave. It takes bravery to start a business as he did so many years ago, bravery to expand it and enormous bravery to continue working until the end.

After being diagnosed with multiple cancers in 2014, he began raising funds to develop an app called Screw Cancer, which he launched in 2017. With one swish of the finger, the app brings up all the vital contacts needed from oncologists to dieticians to appointment schedules and who to call if you are worried or just feeling low.

To discover more about Screw Cancer, the charity Mr Yeoward created to help fellow fighters of cancer to source support and information needed at this most challenging and vulnerable time, visit their website. screwcancercharity.com partners-in-design.co.uk

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www.jerramgallery.com THE JERRAM GALLERY Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LN 01935 815261 info@jerramgallery.com Tuesday – Saturday sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

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@elizabethwatsonillustrations 62 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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Gardening

TAKE YOUR PICK

Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

W

e have just returned from a week in North Yorkshire and were delighted to see that there are still some bilberries fruiting on the moor. Usually the crop has been well-picked by this stage but the wet weather had filled up some of the later berries and there was easily enough for our daughter to make a fabulous pie.

The common name for these berries is a frequent discussion point in our family. In Devon, which is home for me, they are known as whortleberries, whilst in Yorkshire it’s bilberry. Elsewhere they can go by the 64 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

name of blaeberry, whinberry, windberry, or myrtle berry.

Known as Vaccinium myrtillus in Latin, this fruit is like a small blueberry, which is found on a low-growing, scruffy, green-leaved plant that loves acidic conditions, which is why the heather and the bracken of Yorkshire provides the perfect pH level. They taste good too, but the juice gets everywhere and stains too, as we found out a few years ago when our dog Polly took fancy to a bilberry pie resting on the dashboard of our car as we were loading it to go on holiday. When we got in the car some of the pie was left intact but the stain remained forever.

Nata Naumovec/Shutterstock

"the crab apple tree from which we used to scrump apples whilst waiting for the school bus is still alive and doing well. "

Bilberries are very closely related to blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), which also like acidic conditions, so for most of us locally this means growing them in a pot with ericaceous or acidic compost and watering with rainwater. The beauty of a blueberry is that it is a more attractive plant than the bilberry and has glorious autumn colours that hold on well into the winter. The fruit is larger too, making it easier to pick but beware as birds love them too, so protection is needed as the fruit starts to ripen. There are several good varieties, including Bluecrop, but look out for a pink version known as Pink Lemonade which, although not as easy to grow, is an extra bit of fun.

It’s well known that blueberries are a superfood and, if eaten regularly, will have significant health benefits. I thought that bilberries would be similar, and my research shows that they can reduce fatigue, gout, haemorrhoids, diabetes, urinary infections and osteoarthritis. As I haven’t suffered from any of those since eating the pie maybe those claims are correct!

We had a bumper crop of blackberries around us in Dorset but the Yorkshire crop wasn’t anywhere near as impressive, in terms of yield at least. The art of blackberry picking seems to have declined significantly in recent years but we still enjoy it, as does my mum in Devon, although she hasn’t been able to head off on such an expedition this summer. We took her some Dorset berries and she was pleased however I suspect she thought the same about Dorset fruit as we did about the northern form.

On the way back from visiting Mum I went past my primary school and the crab apple tree next to the school from which we used to scrump apples whilst waiting for the school bus is still alive and doing well. From memory the fruit was the size of the John Downie variety and they were edible but a little sharp.

Back in North Yorkshire and enjoying the acidic conditions was a particularly fine example of the yellow berried Mountain Ash (Sorbus Joseph rock). It can be grown in neutral or mildly alkaline soils but will need extra feeding to do well. The berries are quite superb and are followed by magnificent autumn colours too.

Fruit is a wonderful feature on plants and especially if its edible too, but there is something a little bit extra special if the produce comes from a wild bit of moor, a sheltered hedgerow or even from the school playground - although that certainly would be frowned upon now! thegardengroup.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65

Gardening

DIARY OF A FLOWER FARMER Paul Stickland, Black Shed Flowers

I

know I say this every month but this last one has been ridiculously busy and also really rather interesting too.

We opened for our second National Garden Scheme day on the August Bank Holiday. Quite why we chose to open on one of Peter and Amanda’s most busy days of the summer at The Toy Barn, I don’t know. The Maize Maze was full of children, Doodles Cafe was busy serving all the happy families in the Orchard and then, on the dot of one o’clock, 210 visitors appeared.

People came from far and wide. We had a wonderful day in glorious sunshine, with a thousand questions most of them about one particular plant, Euphorbia marginata, which is planted on a far-distant bed, at the very furthest edge of the garden. So, our guests really did explore the gardens thoroughly!

Despite a previous week of orders and weddings, we’d had to have a major tidy up, filling innumerable vole holes, finding and rehoming carelessly misplaced tools, hoses, metal stakes, baler twine, flowerpots, dog bones and general detritus. Lawns were mowed, edges trimmed, sneaky bindweed was discovered escaping the hedgerow and infiltrating the beds under cover of their bounteous growth and most accommodating landscape fabric. Naughty, naughty.

Then we had BBC Countryfile come and film on the Friday.

We’d said goodbye to a couple of lovely weddings by then: bouquets, buttonholes and dozens of buckets of blooms. We’d supplied a van full of white flowers for the amazing Tattie Rose, who flowered the musician Ellie Goulding’s wedding with them in York Minster.

We’d also supplied another glamorous wedding in Cornwall for the Dartmoor florist Joanna Game, a ravishing palette of flowers for Emma Whicher at Martha and the Meadow, more stunning blooms for Anna Langmead, home from her Kenyan flower farms for a summer of weddings in Dorset, a shop full of flowers for Sarah at Sprout and Flower in Mere, funeral flowers…

66 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Quite a week! So, by the time the Countryfile team arrived, we were more than a little tired but nevertheless excited to see how the day would work out. We’d had two pre-production meetings with the director, Erika, and her assistants. They were genuinely interested in Black Shed and our rather unusual story.

We had some sense of what to expect. Come the day, having been so busy, we had little time for nerves and, when the team arrived, we were eager to see how things would go. We hadn’t met Ellie Harrison, the presenter, but she was so relaxed and friendly, that any nerves soon dissipated. The team - cameraman, sound man, director Erika and her lovely assistants - were funny and kind, putting Helen, Tabitha and me swiftly at our ease. They particularly wanted to film Tabitha, as she’s been with us on every step of our journey and has a story of her own to tell.

It was fascinating to watch them at work; they have visited so many wonderful, interesting places and had some captivating stories to tell. They were quietly and humorously impressive. I couldn’t help being slightly envious of their jobs and how efficiently they worked together to capture a story. We were gently guided and asked about the flower farm, how it came to be and how we fit into this lovely community in our home here at Blackmarsh Farm. The light was gorgeous, the flowers were glowing; we were lucky.

Helen taught Ellie to make a bouquet. I tried to discuss the importance of the flourishing world of British Cut Flowers and Tabitha explained how mean we were, not giving her pocket money, forcing her to sell flowers on the streets…

And in a flash, they were gone. We sat, slightly dazed, bemused and briefly in the tidiest flower farm you’ve ever seen, before heading home to a large glass of wine or two, a pizza or three from Tamburinos and some much-needed sleep. blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk blackshedflowers

Countryfile presenters Steve Brown and Ellie Henderson during filming sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

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SHERBORNE COUNTRY MARKET Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

I

t’s Thursday morning and we arrive at the Sherborne Country Market just in time for photographs and interviews before the doors of the Digby Memorial Hall are flung open. Buckets of flowers, baskets of eggs and trays of cakes, not to mention the jams and meat, are being carried into the hall as members go about setting up their stalls. I make a dash for the cake stall in search of a coffee cake and freshly baked bread while Katharine, our photographer, is busy snaffling the freshly picked vegetables. Then we both spot the hydrangeas on the flower stall and are making a beeline for them when Joyce Warne, the chairman, politely reins us in to ensure there will be produce left for the proper customers.

Sherborne’s Country Market has been running since 23rd June 1966. ‘I remember it so well,’ says Jo Osment, the Market Manager, ‘because I had married in May and my mother-in-law said, “Go and pick those lettuces and take them to the market”. So I did, and that was my first introduction.’ The market began in a small hall at the back of what was then the Swan Hotel. It became such a success that they needed more space and so moved to the Methodist church, before finally arriving at the market’s current home, the Digby Memorial Hall. >

70 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

72 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

This year is the centenary of the Country Markets.

The first WI and Country Market was held in Lewes on 14th December 1919. It was created as an outlet for surplus produce from WI members, smallholders and the many ex-servicemen (following WWI) who, otherwise unemployed, were generating income from their gardens.

The markets grew in strength and, by 1932, a marketing organiser for the UK was appointed and the first Rule Book printed - it sold for a shilling (5p).

In time, the markets were registered as co-operatives and producers became shareholders for a nominal fee (currently 5p). They continued across the UK as part of the WI until they were established as a separate commercial enterprise in 1995.

Here in Sherborne, the current producers, having paid their five pence, share in the weekly joy and camaraderie. As Richard McNeall, an ex-schoolteacher who lives in Longburton, says, ‘My ethos is to sell any vegetables that are surplus to our requirements. It gives me a great sense of achievement and, through the market, I am also able to give back to the community.’

That is important to him and his wife who, incidentally, makes many of the cakes.

Joyce, another grower, adds, ‘The market’s mantra is, “homegrown, home-cooked and home-crafted”’. There really isn’t anywhere else in Sherborne where you can find local produce that has such minimal food miles; it all hails from gardens within a short radius of the town.

The vegetables and fruit are entirely seasonal, and the produce is all fresh and additive-free. In an era when many people are concerned about the environment and the distance our food has to travel before it reaches us, this is the perfect market in which to shop or even to join as a new producer. After all, you don’t need to bring bucketloads - just a handful of peppers and commitment will do.

For those for whom the provenance of food is a concern, there is no need to look further. All the food is marked with ingredients and date. The meat is local, you can choose your box of eggs yourself, and you can talk to the producer. There are even savoury dishes which can be bought to be reheated.

Jo Osment is one of the long-standing shareholders and joined as a producer in her own right in 1976. Now in her 70s she still runs a productive garden and makes many of the jams and chutneys. Before her husband passed away, they had two allotments and a garden > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

74 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 75

76 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

about twice the size of the Digby Hall. ‘Now I just run the vegetable garden and have given up the allotments,’ she says. ‘I have a lovely raspberry patch and grow a lot of vegetables. The figs have been fantastic this year.

I always grow some pumpkins as well - just for fun. I really enjoyed looking after my children when they were growing up. I didn’t work, and the market was a way of earning a bit of money.’

Joyce came to it the same way. ‘When my children were young, I was living in Wyke Regis and would walk past the market there after taking them to school. I have always been a keen gardener so I joined the market and dropped in with vegetables to sell.’ As the market is a not-for-profit co-operative it takes only a small percentage for administrative costs, with the rest going back to the producer. It seems to me a perfect route for any new or young producers to begin selling their produce. ‘That’s just how I began,’ says Joyce, ‘as a young mum on the school run.’

The camaraderie of the market is something everyone enjoys. Sarah Chilcott is a recently retired teaching assistant who now co-runs the craft stall. Her speciality is children’s dresses and knitted tank-tops that make perfect gifts. Sarah has always been a dressmaker and

has been making girls’ dresses for the last 13 years, ‘Ever since I got my first sewing machine as a child,’ she explains. ‘It’s the fabric that draws me in,’ she says.

‘However, since my retirement, it is the friendship and meeting customers that brings me the most enjoyment.

They are such lovely people.’

As more customers drift in, Sarah returns to her stall and Joyce reappears with a cup of tea from the market’s café (a regular pitstop for a loyal following of customers on their way into town). Joyce expresses concern for the market’s future and a need to engage the next generation of loyal customers. My hunch is that, if local supermarket shoppers discover the quality and excellent value of the produce on offer, the market will thrive.

In an age where food miles, packaging and provenance are prime concerns, here is a place where those boxes and many more are ticked. Everything at the Country Market has been grown or made at home.

Nothing flown in, no need for gimmicks, just honestto-goodness quality produce pulled from local soil or crafted by local hands. See you at the cake stall!

Sherborne Country Market, every Thursday 9am-11.30am, Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

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Food and Drink

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

APPLE, CINNAMON AND MAPLE SYRUP CAKE

A

t this time of year my apple trees are dropping about 2kg of apples a day, however they are never wasted. Serves 12-24

What you will need

Two 23cm round tins Electric mixer Wilton 2D nozzle Offset palette knife Cake scraper Jars for apple curd and syrup Cake turntable Apple and maple syrup curd

250g Bramley apples, after peeling and coring 60g granulated sugar 115g unsalted butter, chopped into small pieces 2 lightly beaten free-range eggs 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon Canadian maple syrup or maple sugar (can be bought online from Amazon/Sous Chef ) Method

1 Place 2 jam jars in an oven set at 150C (fan-assisted) to sterilise them.

2 Peel and core the apples. Slice and place in a pan with 3 tablespoons of water to simmer, stirring frequently until the apples turn to pulp. Beat with a wooden spoon to make the apple into a smooth puree. Stir in the sugar until it is dissolved.

3 Place the apple puree mixture into a microwavable bowl and add the butter, cinnamon and maple syrup.

4 Stir in the lightly beaten eggs.

5 Cook the mixture in a microwave set on medium for 80 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

one-minute bursts to thicken.

6 After each minute, remove the bowl and stir the mixture. The apple curd is set when it coats the back of a wooden spoon.

7 Pour into the sterilised jam jars, cover with a waxed circle and lid. Set aside to cool. This curd will last for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.

Apple, cinnamon and maple syrup

600g Bramley apples, after peeling and coring 200ml water 100g granulated sugar 5 tablespoons medium Canadian maple syrup 100g Canadian maple sugar (can be bought online from Amazon/Sous Chef ) Method

1 Place 2 jam jars in an oven set to 150C (fan-assisted) to sterilise them.

2 Roughly chop the apples and place in a pan with the water and simmer, stirring frequently. When the apples have turned to pulp, pour them into a sieve lined with a clean muslin cloth and placed over a bowl, and allow the juice to run through. This should be left overnight to obtain the maximum juice.

3 Save 50g of pulp to add to the cake mixture. The remaining apple pulp can be sweetened and frozen in small containers to use for apple sauce or to stir into yoghurt.

4 Pour the obtained juice into a pan with the granulated sugar, maple sugar and maple syrup.

Bring gently to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until sufficient liquid has evaporated to give a thick pouring syrup.

5 Pour the syrup into the warmed jars and cover with lids.

Keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Cake ingredients

360g eggs, weight out of shells 360g caster sugar 140g softened unsalted butter 220g soft margarine 360g self-raising flour 50g apple puree 2 teaspoons cinnamon 6g baking powder 1 tablespoon maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract To decorate

Cake filling 1 jar of homemade apple, cinnamon and maple curd Chantilly cream 500ml double cream 1 tablespoon icing sugar 3 tablespoons of home-made apple, cinnamon and maple syrup I teaspoon vanilla extract Apple, cinnamon and maple syrup to soak cake layers and drizzle on cake Method

1 Set the oven to 160C, 180C, gas mark 4.

2 Sift the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.

3 Place the weighed eggs into a bowl, add the sugar, fat, and sifted flour then beat the mixture for one minute with mixer, allow to rest for one minute, then beat for two minutes. When the mixture is pale and fluffy, fold in the apple puree.

4 Fold in the vanilla extract and maple syrup.

5 Pour the mixture between the tins and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Leave in the tins for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

1 Use a serrated knife to cut each cake horizontally so that you have four layers.

2 Place a dessertspoon of cream on the display plate; this helps anchor the cake to the plate.

3 Place a layer of cake on the plate, brush a little apple, cinnamon and maple syrup over the cake and then spread 3 tablespoons of the cream onto the cake.

Spread â…“ of a jar of the apple curd onto the cream layer.

4 Repeat this with 2 or 3 more layers, making sure you have a flat-base layer for the last layer. Place this on the cake.

5 Spread a final layer of cream evenly on the top of the cake.

6 Pipe 12 cream roses onto to top of cake.

7 Place 2 tablespoons of apple, cinnamon and maple syrup into a disposable piping bag and snip off the end to allow you to drizzle in splashes across the cake and around the rim of the cake. Let it drizzle down the sides of the cake.

To make the Chantilly cream Stir the icing sugar, apple, cinnamon, maple syrup and vanilla extract into the cream and beat on medium until the cream begins to thicken. The cream is ready when it holds its shape.

Either serve straight away or place in the fridge to firm up for 2 hours before serving. This cake can be kept in a fridge for up to 3 days but I would rather serve it on the day it is made.

If you are having a busy week, bake the cakes when you have some time and either freeze if making more than 3 days ahead or leave in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to be decorated.

To assemble the cake

bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Image: Clint Randall

Food and Drink

DUCK, PENNY BUN AND MINT RISOTTO Sasha Matkevitch, Head Chef, The Green Restaurant

T

his is probably my favourite risotto, wonderfully seasonal and fresh. It’s an unusual combination of flavours but, by some magic, red wine and mint really work together in this dish.

Ingredients Serves 4

100g fresh ceps (cleaned and sliced) 2 duck breasts 50g finely chopped onion 350g arborio risotto rice 100ml red wine 2tbsp olive oil 2 cloves of garlic 3 tbsp duck jus 1tsp good quality white wine vinegar 500ml chicken stock 110g butter 6 leaves of fresh mint (finely sliced) 40g parmesan (grated) Cornish sea salt and white pepper Method

1 Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and cook the duck breasts for 4 minutes on each side until brown on the outside and pink in the middle. Cover and set aside to rest. Meanwhile put the stock in a pan and keep it simmering over a low heat while you prepare the risotto.

82 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

2 Heat 20g of butter in a tall, heavy-based casserole and cook the chopped onion over a medium heat until just soft. Add rice and stir with a wooden spoon until it is well coated with the butter. Raise the heat slightly, then add the red wine.

3 Wait until the wine has evaporated (do not stir the rice). Add 2 ladles of the hot stock. Stir the rice gently to prevent it sticking to the pan. Continue to add stock, one ladle at a time, until the rice is tender.

This should take about 17 minutes. When ready, the consistency of the risotto should be ‘all’onda’ (when shaking the pan firmly, this should produce a wave affect across the surface of the risotto).

4 Heat the remaining olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan and ddd penny bun mushrooms with garlic.

Sauté for 3 minutes until golden and tender. Reserve any juices given out.

5 Gently heat the jus and whisk in 10g of butter to finish.

6 When the rice is cooked, remove from the heat and gently stir in the remaining butter and the vinegar, together with the mushrooms, mint and parmesan.

Season to taste.

7 Slice each duck breast diagonally into 6 pieces.

Divide the risotto among 4 warmed plates, arrange the duck slices on top, and spoon over the jus.

Serve immediately. greenrestaurant.co.uk

SKIPPERS

Skippers welcomes new chef Ashley Gartside and celebrates relaunching as a Seafood Bar and Grill on the 1st of October Traditional pub classics and weekly specials served alongside a new range of ales.

Traditional bar, separate restaurant area, dog friendly and with a beautiful garden for all to enjoy. Also available for private functions.

OPENING TIMES Tue - Thu: 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 23:00 Fri: 10:00 - 23:00 Sat: 12.00 - 23.00 Sun: 12:00 - 20:00 FOOD SERVED Tue - Thu: 12:00 - 14:00, 18:00 - 21:00 Fri: 10:00 - 21.00 Sat: 12.00 - 21.00 Sun: 12:00 - 17:00 CHRISTMAS MENU AVAILABLE NOW 1 Terrace View, Horsecastles, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3HE 01935 507900 07525 928604 www.skipperssherborne.co.uk

Now owned by Red Oak Taverns

Little Barwick House Restaurant with rooms

COME FOR DINNER, STAY THE NIGHT

Delicious, classically based dishes with a modern twist, served in an elegant, but relaxed, fine dining atmosphere.

www.littlebarwickhouse.co.uk 01935 423902 Rexes Hollow Lane, Barwick, near Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 9TD sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

Food and Drink

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

I

t’s autumn, the time of year when we are glad of every extra day of dry sunny weather, forgotten are the boiling hot days of midsummer when we might be tempted to mention that it’s too hot! Now we are on borrowed time, the mornings and evenings are drawing in ever faster. The dews are heavy, shoe soaking; the early morning mists spectacular, rolling through the valley below. It’s that time of year when photos take on a magical tone.

Our hedgerows are absolutely bursting with fruit: blackberries, elderberries, hazelnuts. I hear myself saying that I have never seen as many blackberries as this year but have a sneaky suspicion that I say that every year.

Charlotte and I spent an hour last evening picking blackberries together, using the quad bike and trailer as a ladder to precariously stretch and reach the high fruits, hands stained and bloodied, the battle of the blackberry pickers. It was nice, no noise, just the gentle grunting of the pigs behind us and the satisfaction of full containers.

Charlotte has nearly turned herself into a one-woman jam and chutney factory, with pots and jars everywhere and the amazing smells of cooking fruits and simmering vegetables.

The pigs are enjoying this time of year too, not too hot for them. They are out foraging until dark and have grown well over the summer months. We have had 50 84 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

piglets over the last 8 weeks but we have a gap now before any more are born. We are moving to a batch farrowing system; this means that we will farrow 6 together at a time, which should make managing our groups easier as we grow. We are just in the process of moving them all on to fresh paddocks. This is quite a big job. We have eight paddocks, all with their own water supply and pig arks, so we have to make the new paddocks ready before we can move the pigs into their new quarters. Pigs are funny creatures; quite often we try and move them by taking their electric fence down and letting them roam into their new area. Half of them will come straight through the new gap but the other half will not cross over the line where the fence was, no matter how much food is offered. With some it can take 2-3 days before they will cross.

We have had a group of 30 down by the farm as weed clearers and garden waste eaters, and we have enjoyed having them so close, watching all their behaviour. There are 6 smaller ones who are the absolute bosses of the group, however they are all off back up to the main pig field soon ready for the winter months… I’m not even going to mention mud! thestorypig.co.uk

FROM FIELD TO TABLE Order our homegrown Tamworth ham, sausages, joints and bacon Demand for food parcels in and around Sherborne continues to be very high but donations are not keeping pace. Sherborne Food Bank relies solely on the generous food and cash donations from the community and remains in urgent need of your help.

When shopping please consider adding the following items to your trolley: • Tinned Vegetables and Meals • Rice and Pasta • Bottles/Jars/Cartons Donation points can be easily found at

Financial donations can also be made via our website.

Thank you.

www.sherbornefoodbank.org 07854 163869 | help@sherbornefoodbank.org

The finest Tamworth quality and flavour, a taste of the past!

A wide selection of Tamworth meats and meat boxes Our Tamworth Pork Home Delivery Boxes offer the best of artisan butchery, delivered directly to your door Also now taking booking for our amazing Tamworth Hog Roasts. You have never had crackling like it!

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

Coffee Break The Cross Keys 88 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BJ crosskeyssherb crosskeyssherborne 01935 508130 thecrosskeyssherborne.com

Old School Gallery Boyle’s Old School, High Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LF @yetminstergalle 01935 872761 yetminstergallery.co.uk

Jasmine & Bay 2 High Street, Templecombe, BA8 0JB jasmineandbay jasmineandbay.co.uk

The Three Wishes 78 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ 01935 817777 thethreewishes.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

Food and Drink

CAMEL VALLEY WINERY David Copp

M

any years ago I tasted the Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé at an English Wine Producers tasting and voted it the best wine on show.

Since then, winemaker Sam Lindo has gone on to win gold medals in international competition and has three times been voted England’s Winemaker of the Year.

He is a modest man and readily admits he took over a wonderful vineyard created by his parents, who not only taught him a thing or two about working a vineyard and making wine but also encouraged him to go to New Zealand to advance his natural winemaking skills.

So, on holiday in Cornwall, I took advantage of fulfilling a long-held ambition to visit Camel Valley Winery near Bodmin. It is well signposted and very much worth a visit. My enthusiasm was sparked by the quality of the pinot noir rosé I tasted all those years ago.

Why was it so good and how has it improved?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is that father Bob found a magnificent site on the steep, sun-drenched hillsides of the Camel Valley, half-way between the south coast and the Atlantic, where a mild climate allows healthy growth of pinot noir, chardonnay, bacchus (a German variety happy to be in England) seyval blanc and rondo.

The pinot and chardonnay contribute to the excellent Cornish sparkling wine which, in 2018, won royal patronage. Crisp and clean and made in the modern style with state-of-the-art winemaking equipment, this Cornish sparkling wine stands alongside the very best from Kent, Sussex and Dorset. No wonder Fortnums, Waitrose, Hakkasan and the Tate Modern are pleased to stock and sell Camel Valley wines.

Sam Lindo is widely admired by Masters of Wine who judge the International Wine Awards. Just as importantly, he is recognised by leading Champagne winemakers who also produce traditional method sparkling wines in specially chosen sites around the world.

The pinot noir rosé still wine I so admire is perfectly balanced and was a sheer delight to imbibe on the 86 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

sunny terrace overlooking the vineyards. The terrace is just one of the facilities that attract a steady stream of visitors. There were several groups enjoying a tour of the vineyard or structured tastings and the winery accommodation was firmly booked.

I also tasted the bacchus, not my favourite white variety but one which was superbly handled by a talented and confident winemaker. Bacchus has become extremely popular in England as better and better examples become available in the fruit-growing regions, including Furleigh Estate in Dorset.

The Camel Valley vineyard is set in marvellous natural countryside with deciduous woodland – old oak, ash sycamore and beech flourish – where traditional Cornish hedgerows of hazel, holly and

Bob and Sam Lindo of Camel Valley.

Copyright © Camel Valley Wines 2019

blackthorn thrive. The valley will further benefit from the gradual warming climate and perhaps become suitable for the cabernet franc which made its natural home in the cooler inland soils of Libournais and the Loire valley.

I like cabernet franc for its feminine fragrance and flirtatiousness as distinct from the masculine and more muscular cousin, cabernet sauvignon. It is altogether softer, more charming and elegant in maturity, and has the distinct advantage of budding and ripening a week earlier than cabernet sauvignon. Do not be too surprised if more of it is grown in Cornwall in future decades.

Indeed, watch out for it on other inland sites around the world. I have written about its success in Villany, Hungary where Csaba Malatinszky first

highlighted its potential. It is now grown in the Finger Lakes of Upper New York State, in Virginia, and on selected sites in California; in Friuli and Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast; and on the Niagara Peninsular in Canada it produces a delicious ice wine. It also lends itself to elegant sparkling wines. Bouvet Ladubay’s Cabernet Franc Rosé from the Loire is one of the more delicious rosé sparklers I have tried.

What was reassuring on my visit was to see Camel Valley working its way to becoming recognised as an example of English wine at its best. The winery is in good, sure and confident hands and merits its continued success, standing alongside the best of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and the West Midlands fruit country, adding lustre to English wine fame around the world. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87

• 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

The Pet Experience Training & Behaviour Ltd 2018 & 2019 Award Winners of best Dog Training & Behaviour Service in Dorset & Somerset New classes start on Saturday 9th November Dog walking available in Sherborne and the surrounding villages £10 an hour. Call to arrange.

Sarah Easterbrook CoPAS GoDT, IACP Member Fully qualified dog trainer & behaviourist with over 20 years experience Phone now on: 07769 705807 Or email: sarah@thepetexperience.co.uk www.the-pet-experience.co.uk

Sherborne Surgery Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228

Yeovil Surgery 142 Preston Road 01935 474415

www.newtonclarkevet.com

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury Please call the office on 01258 472314

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk 88 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Pet, Equine & Farm Animals

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

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

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

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

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

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

kingstonvets.co.uk

Free registration appointment for new clients when accompanied by this advertisement

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If you enjoy reading the Bridport and 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

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Animal Care

THE COST OF CARE Mark Newton-Clarke, MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

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he way we access healthcare, either for ourselves or our pets, is changing. Anyone who has used the NHS recently will know that systems are constantly being reviewed in an effort to ease the process of providing the service to more patients. Having a daughter half-way through her medical training at Preston hospital, I get an insight into the trials and tribulations of providing individual care to many patients, all with different problems. We 90 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

both agree that triage is a critical stage in the process: get it wrong and a major problem can be overlooked or something trivial can lead to unnecessary worry and wasted time and resources.

In my little world at the veterinary clinics in Sherborne and Yeovil, we are lucky in that communication is quick and easy and experienced vets decide what needs a closer look and what can be dealt with more simply. This essential process requires training,

Firn/Shutterstock

experience and the opportunity to perform a good clinical examination and take an accurate history. This last sentence sums up what happens in a consultation and we have 15 minutes to do it. This is not long, especially when the patient has multiple or complex problems, and so we often admit these cases for the day so that we can get a better ‘feel’ for the animal’s condition. This extra time also allows us to carry out diagnostic tests or, in urgent cases, start treatment to

stabilise the patient before a diagnosis is made.

Part of our problem as vets is our patients cannot speak and tend not to turn up at the clinic alone when they know they have a problem. They rely on their owners, who are very sensitive to their pets’ behaviour but, understandably, may find it difficult to interpret the symptoms. That’s what our medical training is for. I am, however, constantly surprised and pleased that very often owners will get close to the root of a problem so all I have to do is join up the dots.

We all know and vets realise (or should do) that booking a consultation is quite an investment in terms of time and money and, with good reason, owners want to feel sure it’s necessary. We can offer some guidance over the phone but it’s not easy to give accurate advice without seeing the patient.

Many owners have insurance for their animals and the reassurance this cover gives can be invaluable.

However, insurance policies do not pay out for the smaller bills as the excess is never reached. This frustrating situation is quite common, where owners are paying significant amounts per month in premiums but also consultation charges for the minor but important things that often crop up. These expenses can mount up over the year but cannot be claimed back from the policy if the reason for the consultation is different every time.

It might be worth reflecting on the costs involved in caring for our animals as human patients rarely pay directly for medical care. Ironically, investigating problems can be much more expensive than treatment even when we can use our in-house equipment, rather than a referral for CT or MRI. If I added up the combined value of our endoscope, x-ray machine, ultrasound and blood analysers it would be about the same as the cost of the entire building! For a complicated case we might use all of these different state-of-the-art diagnostics, trying to get as close to the truth as we can so that our advice can be as accurate as possible. The more information we have, the less the uncertainty. Although some medications are very expensive, it’s their delivery which can account for much of the cost, especially if intensive care is required with vets and nurses coming in at night to check on animals with intravenous fluid drips.

I do of course wish all animals a problem-free life but, for those times when help is needed, we are always here on hand. newtonclarkevet.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

Animal Care

Helioscribe/Shutterstock

92 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

SOFT BREXIT

John Walsh, BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS, Friars Moor Vets

W

ith most recent news bulletins talking about the dreaded ‘B’ word, I thought I would tell you about another side of my job. A small part of my work involves the certification of live animals, animal products such as cheese, leather, whey and even tractors for export to different countries around the world. To be able to carry out this work a person must have received the correct training to allow them to both inspect the products and fill in the export certificates correctly. These exports provide a vital income for farmers and processors, giving them access to different markets around the world. Hopefully, there will not be too much disruption to this trade after Brexit; we will wait and see!

One of the most recent exports I completed was for a group of alpacas that were going to be exported to Ireland for breeding. This is quite a long process, with the animals first requiring TB testing and blood sampling for Brucellosis. If the results of these tests come back clear, the animals are then free to be exported after an on-farm inspection a couple of days before they are due to travel.

Alpacas are very interesting creatures and originate from the Altiplano (Spanish for high plain) in west-central South America. Spanning the borders of Peru, Chile and Bolivia, this area of the Andes averages nearly 4000 metres, so they are designed to live at high altitude. Alpacas are from the camelid species and closely related to llamas but with a smaller stature. Both the alpaca and the llama were originally domesticated from the wild species of camelid called vicuna and guanaco some 6000 years ago.

Alpacas were kept for their fleece and meat and llamas were mainly used to carry loads through mountain paths in the Andes. There are two types of alpaca: the huacaya alpaca and suri alpaca. The fleece from alpacas is softer than sheep’s wool; the suri alpaca produces the softest fleece which can be compared to cashmere. A baby alpaca is called a ‘cria’. Did you know that the term used when an alpaca gives birth to a cria is called an ‘unpacking’; this always manages to put a smile on my face!

Owning alpacas is on the increase in the UK and ranges from people keeping just a few to larger herds of hundreds. They are kept, as in ancient times, for their fleece and meat, for breeding and showing, and just as pets.

The day came when I had to go the farm to TB-test the alpacas and take bloods for Brucellosis.

If alpacas feel threatened, they regurgitate their stomach contents and spit it at you with surprising accuracy. This vile smelling, green coloured, regurgitated spit was originally designed to frighten off predators in the wild and I can see how this would have worked! So, with ample protective waterproof clothing and with the farmer restraining each alpaca by the neck, we embarked on the job. After the 30th animal both the farmer and I were covered in the foul-smelling fluid and most definitely needed a shower.

Three days later we had to go back to the farm and read the TB test, I was not looking forward to this! Luckily all the animals passed with flying colours and a few weeks later, after completion of the paperwork, they made the journey to Ireland and their new home.

If you would like any information on owning alpacas the British Alpaca Society website is a good place to start. bas-uk.com friarsmoorvets.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 94 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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Body and Mind

HEROIC ADVENTURES IN GERMANY Mike Riley, Rileys Cycles

S

ince cycling started people have wanted to test themselves and their bikes with heroic feats including racing and endurance events.

Catering to aspirations of cyclists to challenge themselves, L’Eroica was born in 1997 in Gaiole in Chianti - an event combining challenging routes, magnificent landscapes and unforgettable refreshments in a unique way. A goal was to protect the Strada 96 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Bianche (white roads) of Tuscany. Eroica has grown into a global movement. The motto of L’Eroica is, ‘the beauty of fatigue and the thrill of conquest’. Event rules are bikes and clothing must be pre-1987. Riders choose outfits matching their bike’s period, usually wool jerseys and leather shoes to make it a bit tougher.

In August I travelled with my friend Philip to the second Eroica Germania event. It attracts a smaller

entry (400 vs 4000) and has a wonderful atmosphere.

The Rheingau region is beautiful, covered with vineyards making Riesling wine. We travelled by car with our two Pike bicycles made in Crewkerne, Somerset. The Le Havre ferry disembarked us at a rude hour and we drove through France and Germany to our camp site at Eltville on Wednesday. As we set up camp, we met our first fellow cyclist, Marco, associated with the Italian bike-building family Gios (the steeds ridden by Brooklyn racing team). Marco’s immaculate Gios Torino Super Record bicycle was made by his grandfather and he looked the part in full Gios team branded clothing; Gios are still built in Italy.

Later the cyclist’s camping area filled up with Brits, Germans, Italians, French and Americans reflecting the international nature of the event. We soon realised the campsite was the equivalent of Fawlty Towers. Planes, ships and trains passed close by all night and a German fishing club took over the site and made merry well into the early hours, so sleep was in short supply.

The festival celebrated local wine and food. The location was the impressively named Baron Knyphausen winery. A market supplying vintage bikes, frames and everything cycling-related was in one field and the cherished bikes of the riders were on view to admire. A beautiful Willier in signature Ramato, copper-plated finish caught my eye, but there was no room for another bike. Evening entertainment included a series of short, entertaining and imaginative cycling films - I joined David, our American campsite neighbour, and his friend Ross who had travelled from Berlin. Another evening, the German equivalent of Ska band Madness performed.

Simon, a fellow Brit I was acquainted with, entered his bike in the concours d’elegance and his daughter was excited to find out if he won a prize.

Thursday, Philip, Marco and I had a practice ride starting on an excellent path by the Rhine for about 5 miles. Underpasses below the road or the railway running alongside allowed access to towns. Many mature riders and groups of tourists used the path and I commented that the last section of the cycle path seemed recently built. At a coffee stop in Ashausen, the guest house proprietor volunteered that the cycle path was the most expensive in the world! The weather was wonderfully sunny and the effort of climbing on a steel bike with gears higher than I usually ride meant I worked hard and was pretty warm; the shade of trees was welcome. At the top we visited Schloss Johannisberg winery where the view across the Rhine and the

vineyards was spectacular and the buildings impressive.

We headed to the festival site in the afternoon and collected race packs including our race number, vouchers, a bottle of Knyphausen wine and nutrition products.

The ride started bright and early in the marketplace with a choice of short, medium or long routes. I tucked into breakfast at the campsite and kitted up in my merino wool jersey, leather shoes and cotton shorts.

When I headed to the start it was around 7.00am and I was glad of the warmth of my jersey. I bumped into Ross, the American visitor, who kindly took pictures of me and the Stan Pike at the start.

The first section went through vineyards on the lower slopes and then climbed into the forest. At the first feed station David was having trouble with his gears; I adjusted them while refuelling with fruit, rye bread and cake. Marco and brother arrived on their Gios bikes and looked relaxed. The route went off-road on steep and tricky forest paths and I was prepared for a puncture. I passed a fellow Brit riding a Mercian tourer more suited to the terrain than my lightweight race bike.

After reaching the summit we rejoined the road and, in contrast, from that point it was a spectacular descent for 3 miles with smooth, freshly laid surface, swooping bends and wonderful vistas. I passed the Mercian rider and realised he was riding a fixed wheel, pedalling as fast as his legs could go. I thought, ‘Chapeau!’ After climbing around 1500 feet again I reached the decision point for long or medium route. The sun was high in the sky and beating down at that point. I struggled at the junction with my decision for several minutes but chose the less heroic option as I was tired and didn’t want to suffer heat exhaustion or inflame old injuries. More trails, pretty villages and lovely roads brought me to the final feed station. A Bavarian band entertained us with Oompah music while we ate potato soup that I could have washed down with glasses of Riesling. I chatted with a couple of Germans about bikes and Brexit and learned the soup was a local dish adapted for vegetarians. I was glad I kept a clear head for the last stage as there were exciting fast descents on rough tracks and it would have been easy to miss route signs or lose control on the loose gravel.

The end was at the festival site. I presented my stamped route card and received my finisher’s medal. Simon’s wife and daughter were in the refreshments area and I joined them with a celebratory glass of wine while waiting to congratulate Philip after completing the long route. rileyscycles.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97

Body and Mind

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD A CYCLE SAFARI ALONG THE BYWAYS, TRAILS AND FOREST TRACKS OF WESSEX Part 1: Sherborne to Bockhampton Nicholas Bourne, Earth Sports

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ne of the earliest exponents of cycling in England was Thomas Hardy. The acclaimed novelist first climbed aboard a bike in 1896, having been persuaded to try out the contraption by his wife Emma, a keen cyclist herself. From then on, the couple could often be seen riding all over ‘Wessex’, Hardy’s allegorical Dorset. The novelist once proclaimed, ‘I have almost forgotten that there is such a pursuit as literature in the arduous study of – bicycling!’

Fast-forward 120 years and once again long-distance cycling has surged in popularity. Just as runners who have tackled a few marathons might think, ‘What next?’, and then try an ultramarathon, increasing numbers of cyclists are looking for something more to satiate their hunger for adventure. This increased appetite appears to be due in part to the higher profile of long-distance races such as the Transcontinental and partly due to the familiar human urge for exploration and the search for new limits. A key aspect of any long-distance challenge is not so much about setting a fast time (except for a small handful) but more about making it to the end, enjoying an unexpected wildlife encounter, reveling in the solitude of a sweeping landscape or sharing a lifelong memory with friends. So, while there are all manner of organised sporting events to enter, sometimes the best way to challenge oneself is just to go out and enjoy a ride on a sunny day with friends; stop when you want, talk to people you meet along the way and go full gas when you feel the urge!

Having undertaken several arduous cycling challenges myself, including being a one-time holder of the Cairo to Cape Town Record, I embarked upon a project this summer to devise the ultimate single day 98 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

cycling adventure along the byways and tracks of Hardy’s mythical Wessex. The brief for the challenge was simple: it should be able to be completed in a single day by any fit, experienced and adequately prepared cyclist on a suitable bike (gravel, mountain or cross); it should pay homage to the Wessex of Thomas Hardy; and it should avoid heavily trafficked tarmac roads in favour of byways, trails and forest tracks. The ride is best undertaken after a spell of dry weather either at a weekend or any day between the end of July to 1st September (due to closures of the Lulworth ranges for gunnery practice).

The route starts from my hometown of Sherborne (Sherton Abbas). From here the route heads south

via backroads to the first sector of gravel at Lyons Gate and onwards in the general direction of Cerne Abbas (Abbot’s Cernel). On the ride, which was undertaken on the first Sunday in September, I am joined by the team behind the cycle clothing brand ‘Stolen Goat’, otherwise known as the ‘Goat Herd’. We negotiated our way safely up the first gravel incline but the stony descent to the Piddle Valley claimed its first victims: one puncture and a melted inner tube which had dislodged from a saddle pack and entangled itself in the rear brake block. The lesson learned here is that everything must be locked down tightly and checked regularly when venturing off-road.

Having narrowly avoided disaster we enjoy smooth

tarmac for the next 5 miles as we head towards Puddletown (Weatherbury) and Hardy’s Cottage at Higher Bockhampton. One cannot help but feel inspired by the fact that Far from the Madding Crowd and Under the Greenwood Tree were written here and the Goat Herd stop for an obligatory photo as two riders on horseback pass us by. For a magical moment we are transported back to a time when motor vehicles had yet to be invented.

Next month’s instalment follows the intrepid Goat Herd from Bockhampton to Corfe Castle. earthsports.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99

Body & Mind

LAYER UP

Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

Iryna Kalamurza/Shutterstock

A

s the northern hemisphere temperature and humidity levels drop and heating is turned up, it is worth introducing nourishing formulas to provide skin with extra protection from climatic extremes.

Harsh winds and cold atmospheric conditions cause skin barrier weathering which leads to dry and dehydrated skin. Our skin also decreases its blood supply to conserve heat and unfortunately the consequence is reduced recovery and repair. Central heating increases the skin’s vulnerability to trans-epidermal water loss, causing dehydrated, tight and uncomfortable skin. In extreme cases this causes skin rashes and chapping which can be quite painful. To restore dry skin, hydrating lipids need to be increased so the skin feels nourished and protected.

Some shower gels, body soaps and face washes contain harsh surfactants which create lots of foamy bubbles but are drying and irritating to the skin. By swapping to a lipidenriched, gentle formula you can minimise the damage to those important surface oils of the skin’s barrier.

Increasing the weight of your body moisturiser is also recommended - try something with a rich blend of ingredients. Body butters are a great choice as they keep the skin feeling moist after application with ingredients such as Shea butter and glycerin. Body oils are a popular option to add a layer of nourishment; some of the best are Moroccan Argan oil, evening primrose oil, sunflower seed, avocado, and wheat germ. Ingredients such as 100 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

mineral oil may provide immediate relief but they only sit on top of the skin and do little to improve it. Mineral oil or baby oil may make dry skin worse as it reduces the skin’s ability to manufacture its own lipids so opt for plant-based oils instead.

Gentle exfoliation has key benefits for winter skin as it brightens the complexion and allows moisturising products to sink in deeper. Using a product which has its exfoliating particles held within an oil-based balm will deliver supersmooth skin and a layer of hydration in one step. Different products are required for face and body exfoliation which should be carried out once or twice a week.

Drinking enough water during the winter months can be tricky - it doesn’t always spring to mind as it does in warmer months. However, it is a vital step to plump your skin cells. Maintain a diet rich in good fats and Omega-3s as well as Vitamin C to support skin cell function and renewal. Nutrients are best obtained through a healthy diet but can be boosted by taking high-quality nutritional supplements to ensure the skin gets its fair share.

Like your garden, your skin can need some attention after the summer to help it through winter, so revitalising it (and yourself !) with an intensive professional skin treatment is the perfect solution. thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

Yoga in and around Sherborne Just Breathe

Yoga and Qigong with Bev Classes in Corton Denham and Chetnole and Yoga Safaris to VictoriaFalls - Zambia My love of different styles of yoga and energy healing has led to a flowing fusion of Yoga and Qigong that can be both Dynamic and Restorative and include Mantra, Pranayama and Relaxation. www.justbreatheyoga.uk justbyoga@outlook.com Mobile: 07983 100445

YogaSherborne

Hatha Yoga classes with Dawn Small classes where I guide you through each posture, you have the option to take it further depending on ability and how you feel on the day!

Beginners and experienced yogis all welcome.

Yoga Alliance qualified teacher. Relaxation with guided meditation classes also available. www.yogasherborne.co.uk hello@yogasherborne.co.uk Mobile: 07817 624081 @yogasherborne

Kate Whittell

Ashtanga-based Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga Yoga in Sherborne, Sandford Orcas and Rimpton My classes flow with the breath and will leave you strengthened and restored in body and mind.

You do not have to be flexible to start doing yoga!

Beginners very welcome. www.magna-yoga.co katewhittell@hotmail.com Mobile: 07881 628780

Body and Mind

THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Young Ambassador

W

orld Mental Health Day takes place annually on the 10th October. This year’s theme is suicide awareness. According to the Office for National Statistics, last year 6,507 people died by suicide in the UK. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst young people aged 15-29 (World Health Organisation) and is the leading cause of death for men under 45 in the UK (CALM).

These shocking statistics demonstrate a dire need to normalise mental health conversations, in the same way that discussions around physical health are widely accepted.

This will encourage more people to avoid facing their struggles alone and to reach out when they need support.

However, for many of us it can be difficult to find the words. No matter how much we care for someone, discussing mental health can feel awkward at first.

Everyone is unique, so it takes practice and adaptability to be able to have effective mental health conversations.

Here is some general advice to keep in mind when talking about mental health.

Mutual sharing

It can be uncomfortable to share personal details.

Begin by discussing any of your own feelings that you feel comfortable sharing. This will make it feel more like a natural conversation, rather than an interview or interrogation. For example, you could share how certain situations make you feel and what you do about those feelings.

Actively listen

Ask questions and give the person the space to answer in full before you respond. Rephrase and repeat back what they’ve said, so that you can be sure you’ve understood.

Let them correct you if you haven’t got things quite right.

102 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Don’t give advice

This can seem counterintuitive, but unless the person asks for it, don’t give unsolicited advice. It’s tempting to try and fix all of the problems a loved one brings up, however the most important thing is to be there to listen to them. Giving advice immediately to a problem that arises can come across as dismissive and removes their opportunity to discuss the issues at depth.

Developing better mental health is a journey and there are no quick fixes.

Ask for feedback

There are no perfect words or ways to approach mental health but it is always beneficial to let the person know that they can tell you if certain phrasing

Shooting Star Studio/Shutterstock

makes them uncomfortable, or if there are certain ways you can improve your talks. Be open, non-judgmental, and willing to learn.

Ask twice

For most people, our default response to “how are you” is “fine”. Asking again can make room for more genuine answers and show the person you truly care about how they are, beyond the formalities.

Be patient

You can’t force anyone to share but asking these questions and attempting these conversations lets the person know that you are there if and when they are ready to talk. Don’t force the point; let them know that you are always there

for a chat should they change their mind.

If you want to talk about your mental health but don’t feel comfortable opening up to someone you know, talking therapies are a great option. You can talk to someone trained, objective and separate from your life. You don’t need to be at your lowest point to be able to access talking therapies, just as you don’t need all your bones to have been broken before seeking help for a broken arm.

Dorset Mind has a variety of talking support groups and counselling, including specific groups for women, LGBT+ individuals, carers and blue light staff. dorsetmind.uk/help-and-support sherbornetimes.co.uk | 103

Body and Mind

HYDRATION

Image: Stuart Brill

Craig Hardaker, BSc (Hons), Communifit

D

o you drink enough water? I know I don’t.

Our bodies are about 60% water but we are constantly losing water from our bodies, primarily via urine and sweat. To prevent dehydration, we need to drink adequate amounts of water. The NHS recommend we drink eight 8-ounce glasses a day, which equals 2 litres. This is called the 8x8 rule, which is easy to remember.

As with most things, this depends on the individual.

Many factors (both internal and external) ultimately affect your need for water. Many people claim that if you don’t stay hydrated throughout the day, your energy levels and brain function start to suffer. One study showed that, in women, a fluid loss of 1.36% after exercise impaired mood and concentration, whilst increasing the frequency of headaches. Other studies show that mild dehydration (1-3% of body weight) caused by exercise or heat can harm many other aspects of brain function. Keep in mind that just 1% of body weight is a fairly significant amount. This happens primarily when you are sweating a lot. Mild dehydration can also negatively affect physical performance, leading to reduced endurance.

There are many claims that increased water intake may reduce body weight by increasing metabolism and reducing appetite. According to two studies, drinking 17 ounces (500ml) of water can temporarily boost metabolism by 24-30%. The researchers estimated that drinking 2 litres in one day increased energy expenditure by about 96 calories per day. Additionally, 104 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

it is better to drink cold water because your body will need to expend more calories to heat the water to body temperature. Drinking water about half-an-hour before meals can also reduce the number of calories you end up consuming, especially in older individuals. One study showed that dieters who drank 500ml of water before each meal lost 44% more weight over 12 weeks, compared to those who didn’t.

Several health problems supposedly respond well to increased water intake. Increasing water intake can help with constipation, a very common problem. Some studies show that those who drink more water have a lower risk of bladder and colorectal cancer. Increased water intake may decrease the risk of kidney stones.

There are a lot of anecdotal reports about how water can help hydrate the skin and reduce acne.

Maintaining water balance is essential for your survival. For this reason, your body has a sophisticated system for regulating when and how much you drink.

When your total water content goes below a certain level, thirst kicks in. This is controlled by mechanisms similar to breathing – you don’t need to consciously think about it. Furthermore, older people may need to consciously watch their water intake because the thirst mechanisms can start to malfunction in old age.

So, let’s make sure we all drink more - and don’t forget to bring your water bottle to all Communifit classes! Have a fit, fun and fabulous October. communifit.co.uk

HALF-TERM MON 28TH OCTOBER – FRI 1ST NOVEMBER

8-14 years 9am-5pm Halloween Arts & Crafts, Hamsterballs, Climbing and many many more activities Morning, Afternoon and All Day options available £10.50 per session, £19 per day or £76 for the week For more information and to book your place, please call reception on 01935 818270 or visit our website www.oxleysc.com/holiday-activities

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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 | 105

Body and Mind

FIT FOR HOCKEY

Simon Partridge BSc (Sports Science), Personal Trainer SPFit

I

n May, the captain of Yeovil and Sherborne Ladies Hockey 1st XI asked me if I would coach their preseason fitness training. Having been promoted, they wanted to be ‘fitter than ever before’ for the challenges of playing in the higher league.

I was once club captain of Loughborough University Hockey Club, so was not only very honoured to be asked but also saw this as a real opportunity to get involved with some sport-specific coaching. Hockey has evolved enormously over the last decade or so. Many of the players are now substituted on and off every 6 minutes – this is true HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), now so popular across the fitness world. These ladies, however, have to do their HIIT on a pitch with a stick and a ball while making decisions at very high physical exertion levels.

Hockey players, as with many other sports players, do not need to run 5km to be fit for their sport. Do you ever run 5km at the same pace in hockey or your sport?

These ladies, like many others who play sport, just do not like going for a run. Here are 4 reasons why going for a run will not get you fit for a sport such as hockey.

3. Long runs make you slower

1. It is counter productive

You should also work on the other important aspects of your sport-specific fitness such as mobility, flexibility, strength, power, core stability, speed, agility, quickness, reaction, speed endurance, recovery, etc.

I would like to wish our Ladies Hockey Club, and everyone else who plays sport, all the very best for the new season. If you are considering returning to sport or giving a new sport a go, good luck. We have so many fantastic local sports clubs, you will be sure of a very warm welcome.

Long distance runs take a lot of time. Getting fit is not about how much time you spend training but getting the best results in the shortest time.

2. It will not actually get you sport-specific fit

Fitness needs to be relevant to the sport you play.

Hockey is more about short, sharp actions and movements which are done explosively and repeated over 70 mins, which is more tiring than running at the same pace for 30 mins.

106 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Hockey is more a game of speed and power so, without getting too scientific, long runs use more slow-twitch muscles fibres while playing hockey will use more fasttwitch fibres.

4. You run in straight lines

Running on a treadmill or outside is not relative to hockey. How many times do you change direction in hockey (at least every 5-10 seconds) or your sport?

So, what should you do instead?

1. Higher Intensity Conditioning

All our specific circuits and drills are designed to last 6 minutes.

2. Strength/Resistance training

To play hockey and most sports, you should follow a structured strength and conditioning training programme relative to your sport if you want to be stronger, fitter, faster and have a greater impact on match day.

spfit-sherborne.co.uk

IN SEARCH OF EMOTIONAL FREEDOM Joanna Hazelton, 56 London Road Clinic

E

motional freedom technique (EFT) is an ‘energy’ treatment system for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s sometimes referred to as Tapping or Psychological Acupressure.

The psychologist Roger Callahan is probably the individual who brought EFT to public notice in the 1990s, even though a form of EFT was being used before then. He discovered a relationship between acupressure points and the limbic system. Gary Craig later simplified Callahan’s technique, developing a sequence of tap points that are now used for many different situations.

There have been many systematic reviews and metaanalyses demonstrating the effectiveness of EFT for both physiological and psychological symptoms. These reviews cover a wide range of conditions and people, including students, veterans, pain patients, obesity patients, hospital patients, chemotherapy patients, athletes, healthcare workers and phobia sufferers. EFT has been found to be an effective therapy for anxiety, depression, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recent research has shown that EFT significantly increases positive emotions, such as hope and enjoyment, and decreases negative emotional states, including anxiety.

The question is often asked, ‘How does EFT work?’

Studies have shown that the action of focusing on the problem and tapping on the specific acupressure points helps regulate the genes that contribute to the overall health of the body by lowering the stress genes and encouraging the stress-reduction genes. MRI and EEG studies show that EFT appears to reduce beta brain waves, which produce a heightened state of alertness and

stress, while strengthening alpha, theta and delta waves, which create deep relaxation and light meditation states.

The technique used for EFT is a simple tapping pattern over certain acupressure points using the fingertips. Depending upon the issue being addressed, the therapist will ask their client to focus upon a term that begins to address or describe their problem. It may be a specific kind of pain, an addictive desire for something specific, a fear of something, sleep problems, symptoms of stress resulting from either from a hectic pace of life or a traumatic experience, or a desire to be able to reach peak performance. The therapist then begins to ‘tap’, while at the same time verbally expressing the clients’ chosen word[s]. This helps the client to focus into the emotional centre of the brain, the limbic system, which relates to our deep emotional responses, to survival instincts and memory. It allows the brain to find a more stable and calm neurological state around the specific issue being addressed.

Perhaps because of EFT’s success with trauma, it is sometimes overlooked when parents are looking for something to support their child’s emotional needs. It is a useful tool to help children overcome anxiety, sleeping problems, stress related to examinations, dealing with bullying and the resulting stress, and the many issues, large and small, that sometimes seem to overwhelm a child.

EFT can address many different emotional and physiological problems; it is a gentle tool to help anyone towards health and wellbeing.

56londonroad.co.uk hazeltontherapies.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 107

Body & Mind

ALLERGY TESTING WHICH TEST TO CHOOSE?

A

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

n allergy is a reaction by your immune system to a protein that has been breathed in, eaten or touched and may result in a variety of medical conditions. These may present with hayfever and catarrh with a runny nose, sneezing and wheezing; reactions to food such as loose motions, vomiting and tummy bloating; or skin irritation with eczema or hives.

There is a selection of allergy tests on offer - but which ones are trustworthy and meaningful?

The only allergy tests that are reliable, reproducible, scientific and validated are Skin Prick Testing and Specific IgE antibody blood tests. There are several so-called allergy tests on offer to the general public that are none of those things. Vega testing, in which the patient is wired up to a ‘black box’ and has a probe placed on their big toe, purports to test up to 3500 different compounds in about 3 minutes! Kinesiology, in which the patient holds a test material in one hand and then the practitioner tests the arm strength in the other arm, is said to be legitimate. Both these test methods have been studied in conventional trials and have returned inconsistent, inaccurate and unreproducible results. Hair analysis is also said to be able to test for allergy but this is incorrect.

Finger-prick allergy testing in health food shops or on the internet is misleading and unscientific.

Skin Prick Testing is scientifically plausible and validated. After taking a detailed account of the problem from the patient, the practitioner chooses a number of test samples that are most likely to be causing the allergic reaction. A droplet of the sample is placed on the forearm and a very fine lancet is gently applied to it. About 10 minutes later the site of the droplet is inspected. If you are allergic to that chosen test sample you will develop a raised itchy lump, much like a stinging nettle rash. If you are not allergic, nothing will happen! Hence you know precisely and immediately what you are allergic to.

The other validated test is Specific IgE blood testing. This is useful when you can’t stop taking antihistamine tablets or you have extensive eczema. The blood test result can take up to 2 weeks to come back. This can be arranged through your GP or through a private laboratory but it is expensive.

Allergy testing is useful for a number of reasons. You can discover whether your symptoms or condition are due to allergy or not. If the allergy test is positive, it identifies the true allergic trigger factor which can be avoided or eliminated from your diet or surrounding environment. If the test is negative, allergy can be confidently ruled out and the situation is clarified. All in all, allergy testing is helpful but beware of which allergy test you choose – not all of them are quite what they are made out to be. doctorTWRobinson.com glencairnHouse.co.uk

108 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 109

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110 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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Set against the stunning backdrop of Yetminster, Dorset, is Upbury Grange; a premium quality new housing development exuding luxury at every turn.

Visit us to discover more about our 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes available.

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www.gth.net 112 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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

From Summer breeze to Autumn leaves It’s not just the seasons that can change this autumn.

If you’re thinking of moving, let us help you make the move to your new home.

Call our Sherborne office on 01935 814488 or come in and see us.

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Crafting quality timber buildings and gates since 1912 Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7LH Tel: (01963) 440414 | Email: info@sparkford.com | @sparkfordtimber | www.sparkford.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 113

Legal

HOME ALONE A GUIDE TO LEAVING CHILDREN AT HOME

Simon Walker, Associate Solicitor, Family Law

I

f you’re a parent or grandparent, you’ll be familiar with how long it takes to get children ready to leave the house. Whether it’s filling a bag with supplies or finding lost shoes, it can prove challenging to do anything quickly, especially if you have an appointment to get to.

If only you could safely leave the children in your care so that you may get on with those daily tasks. We all take risks, especially when under pressure, however, if you do, it is important to make an informed decision.

Surprisingly, there are no specific laws in the UK governing when you can leave a child alone at home or in a car unsupervised. However, according to The Children and Young Persons Act 1993 and several other laws, it is a criminal offence if leaving them alone and without supervision puts them at risk of harm, whether that is through an injury or poor health.

Use personal judgement

Children mature at different rates. One child may mature quickly and feel confident to be left alone for extended periods, whereas another may feel panicked at the prospect of 10 minutes. When children panic, they can make dangerous decisions such as leaving the house or car to seek help, putting them in an unpredictable and potentially unsafe situation.

Ultimately, it is down to the personal judgement of the parent or guardian as to what they deem appropriate and to avoid the risk of any harm. However, in the same way that children mature at different times, parents have different attitudes to what they deem is appropriate.

Personal judgement and its appropriateness needs to be considered against that of the average parent.

114 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Helpful guidelines

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) provides the following guidelines: • If a child is under 12, they should not be left alone for prolonged periods of time. This is because they are rarely mature enough to handle this situation.

• Children under 16 can be left at home alone but should not be left overnight.

• Babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone, even for short periods.

A few questions to ask yourself

Every child is different, so to help inform your decision, ask yourself the following questions: 1 Is this my only option? Is there a neighbour, friend, family member or facility that could help?

2 Has my child been left alone before? If so, how did they react?

3 How long will I be leaving them?

4 What would they do in case of an emergency?

5 Do they have sufficient skills to keep themselves out of danger? Think about cooking, electrics, heavy objects.

Think about the answers to these questions. Houses and cars are full of potentially harmful items and children can get themselves into all sorts of trouble, however they also need to develop and part of their development is learning how to be responsible and independent.

If you regularly need to leave a child alone, or you are unsure about how these rules apply to your situation, you can consult a family lawyer for further advice. mogersdrewett.com

EXPERT LAWYERS ON YOUR SIDE, AT YOUR SIDE. Forward-thinking legal advice on your doorstep Sherborne | Bath | Wells | Frome mogersdrewett.com | 01935 813 691

Finance

GLOBAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES PART II Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning In last month’s article we attempted to demonstrate the randomness of returns on a country by country basis.

N

ow consider the performance of the US and Denmark, shown in the table below. Is it immediately clear which country had the higher return over the past two decades?

Who Performed Better over the 20 Year Period?

Denmark, in fact, was the best performer among all developed markets, with an annualised return of 10.6%. Surprisingly perhaps, Denmark had the best calendar year return only once, in 2015. The US, despite some strong returns in the last several years, was placed ninth overall with an annualised return of 6.3%. Bear in mind, Denmark represents less than 1% of the global market cap available to investors.

worst performers has ranged from a low of 26% in 2018 to as much as 72% in 2009. The differences in emerging markets are even more pronounced, ranging from 38% in 2013 to 179% in 2005. In fact, the difference in emerging markets has exceeded 100% in several years.

These extreme differences in outcomes, combined with the examples of countries that experienced sharp reversals in their return rankings, highlight the risk of trying to predict future returns by looking at the past and emphasise the importance of diversification across countries.

Return Differences

From first to worst

Now, the good news

Denmark also provides an example of the unpredictability in short-term results. After posting the highest developed market return in 2015, Denmark had the lowest return in 2016. Countries have also moved in the opposite direction, from worst to first, in consecutive years. In 2000, New Zealand had the lowest return among developed markets followed by the highest return in both 2001 and 2002. In emerging markets, Hungary and Russia went from the bottom two performers in 2014 to the top two performers in 2015.

This evidence of the randomness in global equity returns is not bad news for investors. Rather than trying to guess which country is going to outperform when, investors committed to a well-structured, globallydiversified portfolio are better positioned to capture the performance of the global markets, wherever and whenever it occurs.

Over the last 20 years, every pound invested in a globally-diversified strategy grew nearly fourfold.

A globally-diversified approach can deliver more reliable outcomes over time with less volatility than investing in individual countries. This can help investors stay on track, through all kinds of markets, toward their long-term goals.

Going to extremes

In a single year, the difference between the return of the highest-performing country and the lowest can be dramatic, as shown below. Among developed markets over the last 20 years, the difference between the best and 116 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

ffp.org.uk

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

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 117

Tech

A

mobile (or cellular) telephone works by having a wireless connection to a nearby transmitter.

The transmitter’s coverage area is called a cell, and as the telephone moves from one cell to another, the call is seamlessly transferred with no break in communication. As a rule, all cells overlap but where this doesn’t happen it’s known as a black hole and you lose your call halfway through.

In the early 1980s the first generation (1G) of mobile phones was introduced and they used an insecure analogue signal that only allowed voice calls. In the late ‘80s, 2G was introduced which was based on a digital system that allowed voice, text and picture messaging as well. 3G followed in 2000 and was at last able to offer the speeds necessary for email and internet browsing. 4G came along in late 2009 and was fast enough to stream TV and video, as well as all the rest… and it’s what most of us use today. It’s taken ALL the ensuing 10 years for 4G to become available just about everywhere but, even today, outside of the big cities the 4G network can be pretty awful. The mobile providers keep telling us that they’ve got 98% of the population covered… but what about the 2% of us that live out in the sticks? We’re lucky to get any signal at all, let alone 4G! So, what is 5G? It’s the next - fifth - generation of mobile internet connectivity, promising much faster data download and upload speeds, wider coverage and more stable connections. Why do we need it?

It’s all about making better use of the radio spectrum 118 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

and enabling far more devices to access the mobile internet at the same time, because we’ve all gone mobile and internet mad! Existing spectrum bands are becoming congested, leading to breakdowns in service, particularly when lots of people in the same area are trying to access online mobile services at the same time. 5G is much better at handling thousands of devices simultaneously, from mobiles to equipment sensors, video cameras to smart streetlights.

And will it work in rural areas? Lack of signal and low data speeds in rural areas is a common complaint, but 5G won’t necessarily address this issue as it will operate on high-frequency bands that have a lot of capacity but cover shorter distances. 5G will primarily be an urban service for densely populated areas. People in rural areas are unlikely to benefit from 5G in the shortterm; commercial reality means that, for some people in remote areas, connectivity will still be patchy at best unless government subsidies make it worthwhile for network operators to go to these places.

You’ll need a new phone, as well as a new 5G contract with your provider. It’s currently expensive compared with 4G services, however I’m sure the price will fall in time. For those of us who don’t live in the cities, two tin cans and a length of twine will have to do!

The choice as always, is yours, but if you think you need advice, you know where to come.

Coming up next month: Printers, again!

J. Biskup

Property Maintenance Ltd

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

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sherbornetimes.co.uk 120 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping All types of stone walling undertaken Patrick Houchen DSWA member CIS registered

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Wayne Timmins Painter and Decorator • • • • •

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

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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

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Unit 14, 0ld Yarn Mills, Sherborne Dorset DT9 3RQ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 121

Community

SHERBORNE POPPY APPEAL Elspeth Graham, Sherborne Poppy Appeal Organiser

W

hether you are a group of friends, work colleagues or an individual wanting to make a difference, here at the Sherborne Poppy Appeal we would love to hear from you. Being part of the Appeal is a great way to meet new people and make a real difference for Armed Forces veterans, both male and female, and their families and dependants.

I am writing this on 15th September, the day on which people remember the Battle of Britain and the sacrifices and valour of those young men who held the might of the Luftwaffe at bay in their tiny Spitfires. Last year we commemorated the centenary of the end of World War One and next year it will be 75 years since the end of World War Two hostilities. However, across the world fighting continues and calls for help to charities such as the British Legion continue, as does the need for volunteers to support it.

The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921 to support veterans of all ages and their families.

This can take the form of setting up new homes on leaving the Services, adapting homes to meet care and mobility needs, helping veterans to get back into work in civilian life, and providing breaks for families.

During the fortnight of the Poppy Appeal in late October, some volunteers visit houses to ask for donations for poppies while others stand on street corners with their red collection tins. Collectors are all ages (some well into their 90s) and genders; this year their numbers have been boosted by members of the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir, bringing the total number of the street team to almost 100. In addition, 180 red collection boxes can be found in shops, coffee bars, banks, offices, hairdressers and pubs across Sherborne and 20 local villages. Please give generously when you come across them.

Over the past four years the Sherborne Poppy Appeal has raised over ÂŁ100,000 as a result of the incredibly hard work undertaken by all the volunteers but especially due to the wonderful generosity of members of the public in and around Sherborne - you are the people who keep the Appeal going so successfully.

Since 2015 I have been the Poppy Appeal Organiser, working behind the scenes well ahead of the collection dates to make it all happen effectively and on time. I am now stepping down and seeking a successor, someone with good organisational skills and the time to take on this role. It is very rewarding, as my predecessors and I can confirm. You will make good friends and have fun, as well as working hard. If you feel you have the time and organisational experience to do this, please contact me. There are still two months of this year’s Appeal to run and you would be welcome to join the team prior to taking on the overall management next year.

Elspeth can be contacted on 01963 364771 / 07930 270809 or by email: elspethpao@gmail.com

122 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

Short Story

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

I

Mark Milbank, Sherborne Scribblers

wanted to impress Nikki, freshly out from England, so decided to take her up to the Mana Pools National Park. There was a lovely little camp there called Ruckomochi and it was sited on a high bank on the very edge of the mighty Zambezi river. The month was September which, in Zimbabwe, is towards the end of the dry season so an ideal time to visit Mana because all the game in the area tends to drift towards the river for its water.

The weather was pretty hot, game abundant, and we had some magic game drives, and even walks, seeing huge herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants with babies and a lovely selection of antelope but the highlight was certainly seeing a pack of the rare wild dogs hunting some impala.

The camp itself was also very good and the guides knowledgeable but it was pretty hot and dusty so we were dirty and thirsty when getting back from an evening drive. The only poor bit about the camp was a very inadequate shower in our little banda. Luke warm water sometimes came out of the nozzle in a miserable trickle which was barely enough to wash off the day’s dust and occasionally nothing came out at all.

I spoke to the management.

“We may have a ruddy great river running past our front door,” laughed the manager, “But you have to pump the water up high to a header tank to get any pressure for a decent shower and the bloody elephants keep knocking it down to get at the water!” He roared with laughter again, before adding, “Try our bathroom.”

“Didn’t know you had one.” I answered “Oh yes we do – come and have a look.”

I only needed one glance at it to realise that this was a very special bathroom and after that evening drive I showed it to Nikki.

“You jump into that bath and I’ll bring you a drink.” I said.

“WOW!” was all she said and hurried off across the cleared glade to our little banda to put on a dressing gown. So as dusk fell, I went to the bar and ordered a bottle of champagne. Yes! It was a very upmarket little lodge and they had plenty of the real bubbly stuff in their fridge.

Carrying the precious bottle in an ice bucket and two glasses, I walked towards the very edge of the river, through a reed door and into the bathroom. Nikki was lying in the bath gazing up at the Southern Cross as there was no roof on the room. Six foot high reed ‘walls’ protected one’s modesty on three sides but the front of the bathroom, facing the Zambezi, was completely open. An African Fish Eagle was perched in the branches of an Acacia Albida tree immediately overhead, the river rushed by just ten feet below us while hippos snorted in the water as they planned their nightly excursion inland to feed.

I poured champagne into each of the two glasses, gave one to Nikki and one for myself before sitting on the end of the bath. Neither of us said anything for a few minutes until I pointed up stream and we both gasped at the sight of a full moon apparently rising out the water of the Zambezi itself. Slowly it crept above the horizon, until it shone in the clear night sky reflected in the dark, tumbling waters of the river.

We watched, entranced as a Goliath heron was briefly silhouetted against the moon as it flapped past looking for a place to spend the night and a herd of elephants splashed into the shallows of the river just upstream from us. A lion roared in the distance and I looked at Nikki. Tears were trickling down her cheeks.

“Could anything be more beautiful?” she spluttered. Her half-finished champagne glass tilted and spilling unnoticed into the bath. “What utter magic - I can’t imagine a room with a better view!”

“Yes,” I agreed, “there may be better views in this world but, off hand, I cannot think of any – and certainly not from a bathroom!”

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 123

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124 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

LITERARY FESTIVAL PREVIEW The Salt Path, by Raynor Winn (Penguin non-fiction, 2018) £9.99 Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £8.99 from Winstone’s Books Jonathan Stones, Sherborne Literary Society ‘We stood at the front door, the bailiffs on the other side waiting to change the locks, to bar us from our old lives. We were about to leave the dimly lit, centuries-old house that had held us cocooned for twenty years. When we walked through the door we could never ever come back.

We held hands and walked into the light.’

So begins this often moving and beautifully written account by a never previously published writer, of the epic walk which was undertaken in their fifties by her and her terminally ill husband along the 630-mile South West Coast Path, a journey which was the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest four times.

Raynor Winn and her husband Moth (who had acquired the nickname while being something of an ecowarrior in his youth) had suffered the double catastrophic blows of Moth being diagnosed with a rare and fatal degenerative disease, and of them being made bankrupt and losing their family home as a result of having had too much trust in a false friend. A sceptical reader may find something disingenuous in Winn’s description of the events leading up to their bankruptcy and eviction, but homeless they became. Spying an old paperback entitled ‘500 Mile Walkies’ about the South West Coast Path (a title which turned out to be a considerable understatement) while hiding from the bailiffs under the stairs in a futile attempt to buy a few minutes’ more time, Winn decided, ‘I just knew we should walk. And now we had no choice’. So that’s what they did, buying a tent on eBay and two (as they were to find out) inadequately thin sleeping bags and armed only with £115 in cash and £48 per week in tax credits.

On their way they quickly found what it was like suddenly to become not merely members of the underbelly of society but not to be members of it at all, and frequently to be treated accordingly. Living through the worst that the Atlantic weather could throw at them and experiencing extreme cold and hunger, and at first total despair such that for many days the mere act of putting one foot in front of another was an achievement, they nevertheless endured. And slowly, despite the fact that his illness did not go away, Moth’s strength and wellbeing started improbably to improve and with it came a form of positive acceptance for them both.

The Salt Path has subsequently been taken up as a tract on homelessness, which in a way is unfortunate because the book is so much more than that. Whilst it is often unsparing in its description of what Raynor and Moth endured along the way, it is enjoyably laced throughout with shrewd irony and episodes of sharply observational humour. It is also an evocative hymn to the sometimessavage glories of the seascape through which they were travelling but, ultimately, it is a powerfully uplifting tale of self-discovery and personal redemption. sherborneliterarysociety.com

____________________________________________ Wednesday 23rd October 2pm Sherborne Literary Festival - Raynor Winn The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls. Tickets £9 - £10 from Sherborne TIC and raynorwinn.eventbrite.co.uk

____________________________________________

Henry Blofeld

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

MY A-Z OF CRICKET

Saturday 30th November, 7pm Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne Tickets £12

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126 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

People of the Rainforest: The Villas Boas Brothers, Explorers and Humanitarians of the Amazon, by John Hemming (Hurst and Co Publishers Ltd, 2019) £20 Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £19 from Winstone’s Books John Gaye, Sherborne Literary Society

I

once met an Amazon explorer who had made contact with a people who had never previously been contacted by outsiders. Somehow this revelation was dropped into the conversation over breakfast with the family with whom we were both staying and for the next hour he had everyone’s total attention. We were all absolutely transfixed by his story. This book has something of a similar effect.

John Hemming is almost certainly Britain’s most knowledgeable and experienced explorer of the Amazon and of South America. In addition, he is a brilliant author of authoritative books on that continent (Conquest of the Incas and Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon) and was, for 20 years, the Director of the Royal Geographical Society - almost certainly the preeminent organisation in the world promoting expeditions to further our knowledge of our own planet.

This long-overdue book is about three brothers, the Villas Boas brothers, who, between them, dedicated their lives to finding the peoples of the southern Brazilian Amazon and then protecting them, both from each other and from the threat of destruction by the outside world. In doing so they also have ensured that huge areas of the precious rainforest have been preserved from exploitation by farmers, loggers and miners.

It is a story of amazing fortitude in adverse physical conditions, wisdom in the ways of humans and extraordinary dedication to both the people and the environment of Amazonia. The three brothers were from an educated, middle-class family but without any academic background or experience in the rainforest when, as young men in 1945, they volunteered for an expedition to explore the upper Xingu River, a major tributary of the Amazon.

This involved back-breaking work in cutting trails into the forest for many months, but this was only the start of a 40-year total involvement with the area.

Sadly, one brother died early but the other two, Orlando and Claudio, went on to live amongst the peoples of the Upper Xingu River for the next 40 years. They were instrumental in saving many indigenous peoples and their political work resulted in legislation that continues to this day. The designation of the vast Xingu National Park, which is not actually a national park but an area closed to all non-indigenous people, is entirely due to their efforts.

It was the very first of its type and has been replicated both elsewhere in Brazil and around the world.

John Hemming was only a young man when he first visited the area but that expedition, in which his fellow British colleague and close friend was ambushed and killed by an uncontacted people, sowed the seeds of exploration which flourished such that now he is one of our most respected authorities on the region. He tells this remarkable story having met the brothers, worked closely with them and having been personally involved in many projects to further their vision.

It is a powerful and inspiring story of old-fashioned derring-do. sherborneliterarysociety.com

____________________________________________ Friday 25th October 7pm Sherborne Literary Festival - John Hemming The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls. Tickets £11.50 - £12.50 from Sherborne TIC and johnhemmingbrazil.eventbrite.co.uk

____________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 127

OCTOBER 2019 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

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bridporttimes.co.uk

OUT NOW

Available across Bridport and beyond Read online at bridporttimes.co.uk 128 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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DOWN 1. Violation (13) 2. Boat (5) 4. Customary practices (6) 5. Short poem for children (7,5) 6. Pasta pockets (7) 7. Affectedly (13) 8. Someone skilled in penmanship (12) 14. Short trips (7) 16. Antenna (6) 19. Espresso coffee and steamed milk (5)

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 129

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Diane Tregale, Chaplain, The Gryphon School & Associate Priest, St. Paul's Church

S

he raised the hammer high and brought it down, fuelled by the force of the anger and pain inside of her. Again and again she hammered until the anger was spent. The white ceramic tiles had offered little resistance; they had become a shattered, broken mess. She was a participant in one of the mosaic workshops I ran at a Christian Festival last summer and she worked quickly, interspersing the broken ceramic with carefully cut, beautifully coloured glass fragments.

As she worked, she told me some of her story. Here was a lady who had experienced much pain and brokenness in her life; a lady whose daughter’s thought processes had been ravaged by mental illness and who was dealing with her own personal challenges as well. She struggled to tell anyone about the pain she carried, bottling it all up. She had recently been on a retreat and was encouraged to release some of her hurt by throwing some old crockery at a wall. It was really satisfying! Then she recalled how she looked at the broken mess on the ground with horror – someone needed to clear all of that up and she felt guilty about inconveniencing someone. It strengthened her resolve to keep silent, not to be a burden to anyone and to carry the load alone.

At the start of the workshop, alongside giving instructions, I had invited participants to reflect on how, in creating mosaics, we work with broken pieces and beauty can emerge. I suggested that this is especially so when we entrust our own lives into the hands of God. This invitation resonated deeply with the lady. The broken pieces of her mosaic reminded her of the pain she carried and the experience she had on retreat. The colourful glass nuggets she formed were a symbol of hope to her of the work that God was doing and would continue to do in her life, and that of her daughter (who was making an equally poignant and beautiful mosaic alongside her mother). The finished articles were stunning and had a depth and richness to them.

The Japanese art of Kintsugi is a variation of the mosaic theme. Instead of hiding cracks in pottery and pretending they are not there, or discarding the imperfect object, cracked items are reworked using a lacquer and powdered gold, silver or platinum. Perhaps there are things we can learn from the art of allowing our brokenness to be acknowledged and beautified rather than feeling disqualified and worthless. Arguably, the pottery that has been transformed with Kintsugi is even more beautiful than the original.

Christians believe in a God who walks alongside us through the varying seasons of life: one who does not forsake or reject us in times of pain and doubt but who brings forth beauty from brokenness and who offers to give us a crown of hope instead of despair. It’s a privilege to know lots of people who would claim this to be true – and the beauty they have worked out in their lives, even amidst brokenness and pain, is a truly beautiful and powerful testimony. Christians believe too that it is an invitation that is inclusive and open to all – in Christ, our brokenness can be transformed and we can be renewed. gryphon.dorset.sch.uk stpauls-sherborne.org.uk

130 | Sherborne Times | October 2019

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