Sherborne Times July 2021

J ULY 2021 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

SMOOTH OPERATORS with Sherborne Bowling Club

sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME

I

n a corner of Culverhayes car park sits an impossibly perfect patch of green. Balletic white figures of all shapes and sizes discharge arcing cannon-fire, silent but for the satisfying clack of melamine and murmurs of affirmation. This mysterious dance plays out for hours. Scores are kept but never settled and the interludes invariably mean ice cream.

It seems appropriate, after many months spent in a disquieting social void, that we feature a group entirely cohesive and at ease. The ancient sport of lawn bowls offers an antidote not only to recent ills but arguably to life itself. It brings together players of every ilk and generation, levelling us all in the common pursuit of a simple pleasure. As a game of skill, teamwork, patience and focus, it also offers a welcome distraction to the hubbub. Did I mention the ice cream?

Have a great month and keep well.

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

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio Sub editor Sadie Wilkins Photography Katharine Davies @Katharine_KDP Feature writer Jo Denbury @jo_denbury Editorial assistant Helen Brown Social media Jenny Dickinson Illustrations Elizabeth Watson elizabethwatsonillustration.com Print Stephens & George Distribution team Barbara and David Elsmore Nancy Henderson The Jackson Family David and Susan Joby Christine Knott Adam May Sarah Morgan Mary and Roger Napper Mark and Miranda Pender Claire Pilley Ionas Tsetikas

Deborah Bathurst Sherborne Literary Society @SherborneLitSoc sherborneliterarysociety.com Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum @SherborneMuseum sherbornemuseum.co.uk Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardensgroup.co.uk David Burnett The Dovecote Press dovecotepress.com Robert Bygrave Sherborne Science Cafe @SherborneSciCaf sherbornesciencecafe.com Paula Carnell @paula.carnell paulacarnell.com Cindy Chant & John Drabik Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk Gemma Cheyne Leweston Prep @LewestonSchool leweston.co.uk Dan Chiappa-Patching Sherborne Prep School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org Ali Cockrean @AliCockrean alicockrean.co.uk David Copp Rosie Cunningham

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.

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4 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Jemma Dempsey Monsignor Robert Draper Church of the Sacred Heart & St Aldhelms sherbornecatholicchurch.org.uk James Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk Simon Ford DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.)

CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk Andy Foster Raise Architects @raisearchitects raisearchitects.com Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk

Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk Alex Hennessy Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk James Hull The Story Pig @thestorypig thestorypig.co.uk Johnny Jones & Doune Mackenzie-Francis The Queen’s Arms @QueensArmsPub thequeensarms.com Keith Jones BVSc MRCVS Kingston Veterinary Group @TheKingstonVets kingstonvets.co.uk Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk Peter Littlewood BA (Hons), FRSA, Cert Mgmt (Open) Young People’s Trust for the Environment @YPTE ypte.org.uk Chris Loder @chrisloder chrisloder.co.uk Alan Lyons Bath and West @BathandWest bathandwest.com Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkevet.com John Osman Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk Simon Partridge SP Fit @spfitsherborne spfit-sherborne.co.uk Jessica Rowlands The Little Treat Box Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Emma Tabor & Paul Newman @paulnewmanart paulnewmanartist.com Marigold Verity Sherborne Scribblers Hugh Watkins Dorset Opera @DorsetOpera dorsetopera.com Grazyna Wikierska grazynawikierska.com

76 8

Art & Culture

JULY 2021 68 Antiques

118 Legal

22 Events

70 Gardening

120 Finance

28 Community

76 SHERBORNE BOWLING CLUB

122 Tech

32 Family 44 Science & Nature 60 On Foot 64 History

84 Food & Drink 96 Animal Care 102 Body & Mind 112 Home

124 Short Story 128 Crossword 129 Literature 130 Pause for Thought

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

THE DORSET OPERA

MMXXI

The home of Country House opera in South West England featuring renowned soloists and orchestra Marquee bar | Picnics | Formal Dining

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

DON GIOVANNI 19, 22, 24 July at 19:00 | Matinée 21 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

COSI FAN TUTTE 20, 21 July at 19:00 | Matinée 24 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Händel/Mozart K566

ACIS & GALATEA Semi-staged concert | Friday 23 July at 19:00 Sung in English with surtitles

Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum

Box Office: dorsetopera.com 07570 366 186

Art & Culture

ARTIST AT WORK

No. 32: Grażyna Wikierska, Biological Robot 1, acrylic on canvas, 127 cm x 101cm, £600

A

rt, for me, is a portal to consciousness, to freedom. It is a journey to healing our suppressed and unrecognised emotions. I like to be a wanderer, an explorer, so I do not identify with any medium – no gates are closed.

Three years ago, I was disturbed by the feeling that I must be productive, that I must achieve success – it was so far from my soul! I let go and I started to feel light; I listened to that inner voice. It has always been my strong need to return to this freshness in creation, to play – childlike – where you let your heart speak. When creating, I like this meditative state – I am at home.

I share here ‘Biological Robot 1’ painted in 2019. I felt this as a breakthrough of my own limits. I was so happy. This painting is important to me – it’s like a captured state of mind. I always had this need for line work (inner work) which represents connection. A metaphor furthered by using thread. In most of my paintings I use an abundance of bright colours, lines, and shapes. It’s organic and intuitive. Art has a shamanic role for me as a type of sacred activism, to raise awareness. grazynawikierska.com grazyna.wikierska

8 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Art & Culture

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

W

ell, we have finally, finally, reached the point where we can seriously talk about opening up Cinematheque again. The team at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil are pressing on with their production of Night Must Fall on the 19th24th July, which means that we can start arranging Wednesday evening dates, from August onwards, to show the remaining films from our cancelled 2019/20 programme. As I am writing this before the Government’s 21st June opening-up target, things may change yet again, but we’ll think positively and plan a new season anyway. Our membership has told us pretty unanimously that they are itching to get back into the Swan Theatre for our screenings, and that we have been missed, which is encouraging – knowing that people are gradually coming out of hibernation to get on with their cultural pursuits.

If anyone is interested in what we shall be showing, check on our website below, to see details updated as soon as we can arrange a full programme. The only problem for us will be selecting just 7 extra films from those that have been released over the past 19 months. There are some exceptional films to consider, including Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), an 18th century French drama concerning the affair between an aristocrat and the artist painting her portrait. With universal acclaim, beautiful cinematography and shed-loads of awards, this view of the world through a woman’s eyes cries out to be seen.

Andrei Konchalovsky’s Dear Comrades! (2020) 10 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Dear Comrades! (2020)

winning the Special Jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, and with Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, tells a personal account of the true story of a 1962 Government cover-up of the shooting of workers on a demonstration, in order to hide the facts of a mass strike in the USSR. ‘Dear Comrades! takes a sharp commanding look at a dark chapter in Soviet history made even more effective by its director’s cold fury.’ (Rotten Tomatoes).

Piotr Domalewski’s I Never Cry (2020) is a moving and raw coming-of-age story of economic migration to Western Europe, told from the Polish side. 17-year-old Ola is sent to Ireland as the only English speaker in her family, in order to bring home the body of her father, who has died in a dockyard accident. This compelling and sensitive story, with much dark humour woven through, has a realism and true-to-life tone, as Ola battles the various layers of bureaucracy in her way.

Many other titles, amongst which Honeyland (2019), Nomadland (2020), Quo Vardis Aida (2020), The Assistant (2019), Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time (2020) have all been well reviewed and give us many hard choices, but it will be just great to be back, selecting world-class films to show locally.

Fingers crossed then for positive news on 21st June and the opening up of the Swan Theatre and Cinematheque to their eager audiences! cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk

Never Cry (2020)

Quo Vardis Aida (2020) sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11

Art & Culture

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT Rosie Cunningham Karen Olivo as Satine and Aaron Tveit as Christian in Moulin Rouge!

I

was lucky enough to be at the opening night of Four Quartets by TS Eliot, performed by Ralph Fiennes, at the Theatre Royal Bath. The theatre was packed, though only a quarter full due to Covid distancing restrictions, but for eighty minutes you could have heard a penny drop. It was a spell-binding performance of intimacy and quiet resolution, which 12 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Fiennes pulled off with aplomb, and with bare feet.

He deserved the standing ovation and seemed almost humbled by it, clasping one hand to his heart as he took the praise.

The Royal Academy is bursting with energy and welcome. The Tracey Emin and Edvard Munch exhibition, on until 1st August, is small but powerful.

Photo © 2019, Matthew Murphy

"A joint exhibition of two kindred spirits exploring dark territories and raw feelings. Two such powerful artists bearing their souls."

A joint exhibition of two kindred spirits exploring dark territories and raw feelings. Two such powerful artists bearing their souls. Exhausting but uplifting too. David Hockney’s The Arrival of Spring exhibition of his iPad drawings from Normandy in 2020 is on until 26th September. There has been some negativity about his paintings made using an iPad, with The Telegraph commenting that they have ‘an airless, artificial quality’ and The Independent stating that ‘his usually vivid palette is dulled by the digital medium’. I listened to Hockney being interviewed at the Hay Festival online this year and he stressed that ‘It’s still about the craft of painting. It’s not the tool; it’s the person using the tool. It’s a skill you have to practise. You have to work on it – train yourself.’ He felt that his work had developed in a new way during lockdown, and he was pleased with the outcome.

I loved the paintings but go and have a look for yourself. It is a good example of it never being too late to learn new things, even for an 83-year-old artist from Yorkshire.

The big news this year is Hilary Mantel’s final book in the Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light, comes to the stage from 23rd September. Ben Miles will reprise his role as Thomas Cromwell and the actor joined forces with Hilary Mantel to adapt the story for the London Stage. This world premiere is at the Gielgud Theatre, produced by the RSC and Playful Productions, directed by Jeremy Herrin, for 9 weeks only. The action starts with the execution of Anne Boleyn and ends with the execution of Thomas Cromwell. Exciting stuff.

Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley are set to star in a revival of Cabaret in the West End from November. Apparently, a new 550-capacity theatre called The Kit Kat Club will be opening to host this fabulous musical. Awaiting more details but something to look forward to.

Finally, the musical of Baz Luhrmann’s film Moulin Rouge! opens at the Piccadilly Theatre from 12th November. The theatre has been revamped and reconfigured especially for this production and it is bound to be big and bold. Set in Paris in 1899, this is a world of indulgence and passions and love. Tickets are selling out fast. It’s a must! royalacademy.org.uk gielgudtheatre.co.uk thepiccadillytheatre.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

Art & Culture

THE DORSET OPERA FESTIVAL 2021 Hugh Watkins

D

orset Opera was founded by Patrick Shelley in 1974 with a production of The Bartered Bride

by Smetana. Except for 1975, at least one opera every summer was staged at Sherborne School until 2005, when performances and the associated summer school were moved to Bryanston School near Blandford Forum. In 2011, two operas were staged for the first time and so the event has become The Dorset Opera Festival.

It has been described as ‘the world’s foremost residential opera summer school’ whereby young people, working alongside professional singers; orchestral musicians; theatre directors and technical experts, are given the opportunity of experiencing the thrill of being involved in producing an opera, involving a large chorus of about 80 with plenty to sing. Some of them have subsequently pursued musical or theatrical careers, even in a few cases singing principal roles with the major UK companies including the Royal Opera House as well as at the Glyndebourne Festival and elsewhere.

Very sadly the pandemic led to cancellation last year and has meant that this year the productions must be scaled down without a summer school. Wisely, Artistic Director Roderick Kennedy has opted for two of Mozart’s most popular operas, Cosi fan Tutte and Don Giovanni, together with a semi-staged performance of Mozart’s arrangement of Handel’s Acis and Galatea. I am much looking forward to this Mozartfest later this month and then to the resumption of the Summer School in 2022.

Cosi fan Tutte is a comedy about women’s fidelity being tested whilst Don Giovanni (Don Juan), is a darker affair about one man, who thinks he is wonderful with women, getting his just desserts by being dispatched to hell – shades of the Me Too movement and a certain disgraced film producer! Acis and Galatea is a pastoral opera about two country lovers and a bit more besides.

Simultaneous translations above the stage (surtitles) 14 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Gounod's Faust, Dorset Opera Festival 2017

will guide you through the plots, such as they are!

Since I was first taken to the opera over 60 years ago, I have attended numerous performances around the UK, Europe and beyond. I look forward to the Dorset Opera Festival every year not only because the standard is phenomenally high, but also the whole experience of Bryanston with its marquee and beautiful grounds, a choice of eating your own picnic with friends or taking advantage of the excellent catering facilities during the long interval reminds me of Glyndebourne on a smaller scale. What’s more, the dress code is nothing like as strict!

One hears far too much about opera being elitist from people (mostly politicians) who don’t know

Image: Alan Wicks

what they are talking about. There are so many venues around the UK (including Bryanston) where you can watch an opera and pay less for your ticket than you would pay to see a Premier League football match.

Furthermore, you don’t have to travel to and stay in London at additional expense.

So, enjoy the music of two wonderful composers, performed by a company which, to quote the influential Opera Now journal, ‘is consistently on a par with the UK’s five main opera companies.’ Indeed, Mozart, as most people’s favourite composer, occupies more places in the Classic FM Hall of Fame for 2021 than any other.

At the time of writing while the country is negotiating its way through the COVID-19 roadmap, it is not clear whether the festival will be allowed to sell all of the seats in Bryanston’s Coade Hall Theatre. So, if you can’t buy a ticket this year, do try again in 2022

dorsetopera.com

___________________________________________

___________________________________________ Monday 19th – Saturday 24th July Dorset Opera Festival 2021 Dorset Opera present a MozartFest! With performances of

two of the three da Ponte operas; Don Giovanni and Così fan Tutte along with a semi-staged performance of Handel’s Acis and Galatea in the Mozart orchestration. For tickets and full schedule of events go to dorsetopera.com

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Art & Culture

THE ARTIST’S PERSONA interviews by Ali Cockrean

COLIN WILLEY

Charmouth Sunset, oil on canvas, 100x120cm 16 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

W

hile The Artist’s Persona interviews artists from all around the UK, it seems a good proportion of our best contemporary painters are in fact living on our own doorstep. It’s not that surprising, given our proximity to the coast and the beautiful countryside we enjoy here, that many landscape artists chose to make this area their home.

One such artist is Colin Willey.

Colin is a Dorset based landscape artist. ‘As a painter I have been drawn to the Dorset landscape as a subject for many years. Working outside in all weathers and at all times of the year, I’ve built up an understanding of the way the landscape changes. The structure of the places can be relatively constant yet the light, seasons and weather can have a dramatic effect on how they look. I often revisit the same places and each time they reveal something new. A view from Charmouth beach – crisp and clear on one day can be shrouded in mist the next. The tide moves in and out and the light alters constantly. It calls for a gutsy approach, working quickly, trying to capture something of the moment before it changes. It’s about experiencing nature first hand: being out in the elements; battling with the wind, the rain, the flies or an approaching herd of inquisitive cows.’

So, with all the challenges that ‘plein air’ painting brings, why does Colin prefer to work outside?

Surely, the comfort of studio painting would be more appealing on a wet and windy day? Colin does admit that sometimes a day in the studio wins out. However, he tells me that being at one with nature gives a much more rounded experience that’s impossible to replicate in the studio environment.

‘Working outside is all about infusing my paintings with immediacy and excitement. A painting evolves as I’m working on it. Nothing stands still in nature, so my painting becomes a history of several hours of standing looking, hearing and feeling a changing landscape – not just a single moment, but many fleeting moments captured in one image.’

The studio does, however, play an important part in Colin’s process, giving him the space for a more selective, considered approach. It’s where he has an opportunity to view his works on their own merit away from the subject. ‘Some are left as they are,’ he says, ‘while others are refined or reworked onto a larger canvas. Equally, some are discarded or painted over on another day.’ >

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Magnolias in the Kitchen Window, oil on board, 40x50cm 18 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Cows by the river at Lewell, oil on board, 20x25cm

It’s an important hallmark of professional working artists that they never anticipate every painting will be a success. They hope, of course, and when it does happen it’s immensely satisfying. However, the reality is that very few paintings come together without a degree of struggle or challenge.

And, sometimes, it’s not just the physical act of painting that can create the challenge. Painting outside also means that quite often artists attract an audience of onlookers. Many are just curious and will stand quietly for a while watching the artist work before moving on, while others prefer to get more actively involved.

‘When you are a lone painter on a beach you do stand out, so everyone can see you for miles around.

It does put some artists off and when you are going through that inevitable ‘ugly stage’ of a painting, you do have to be able to concentrate without worrying what other people are thinking. You have to have a sense of humour about it. People say all sorts of 20 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

things. I once had someone remark, ‘Your painting looked really good from over there…’ which was a little disconcerting!’ Colin laughs.

Not that Colin has any need to worry. His work appears in many prestigious collections including four paintings in the House of Lords’ permanent collection and a work in the private art collection of HRH Princess Anne. He has exhibited at the Mall Galleries, London, in the Laing Landscape Exhibition, with the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the New English Art Club. His work is represented by Carina Haslam Art, who regularly exhibit his work in London, New York and Singapore.

If you would like to hear my full interview with Colin, you can find it on Facebook. Just search for The Artist’s Persona and join our free membership to view it. You can also visit Colin’s website to see more of his wonderful work: colin-willey.co.uk alicockrean.co.uk

Sherborne 01935 812 112 Dorchester 01305 250 240 robin-james.co.uk @robinjamesaveda

Proud Winner of ‘Best Use of Digital’ at the 2021 Sherborne Business Awards

Events

MARKET KNOWLEDGE

Jessica Rowlands, Jessica’s Cakes & Bakes Welcome to The Sherborne Market!

What brings you here?

Sherborne Market has such a great buzz – even in the current climate. I love the community feel and being part of such a fast-paced, busy market with so many other amazing small businesses.

Where have you travelled from?

I am based in Yeovil, Somerset – soon to be opening a shop on Princes Street in the town centre.

Tell us about what you’re selling?

We create bespoke, buttercream cakes for every occasion as well as smaller treats such as graze boxes, my best selling deep-dish, loaded cookies, rich gooey chocolate brownies, cupcakes and so much more!

Where and when did it all begin?

I’ve always had a passion for cooking and baking from a young age. Jessica’s Cakes & Bakes began 5 years ago, on Easter weekend, when I baked lots of treats for friends 22 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

and family and delivered to the doorstep. Fast forward 5 years, I own a converted horse-box called The Little Treat Box, and now my shop The Little Treat Shop ... safe to say, it’s been a crazy few years!

What do you enjoy most about selling at markets?

I absolutely love seeing lots of familiar and new faces popping out to support me and all the other amazing small business that attend the Sherborne Market. I’m so so grateful for the following I have and the amazing feedback I get from being out in The Little Treat Box. If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit?

There are soooo many, but if I had to choose a few it would be Baby Steps, Hint of Home, Bee Floral and of course, the food stalls.

Where can people find you on market day?

My pitch is on Digby Road, opposite Tamburinos.

Look for the flowers and balloons – you can’t miss me!

Flying the flag for local

Hand picked & selected artisan market featuring local producers, suppliers, amazing food, arts and crafts.

2021 dates

July 18th October 17th August 15th November 21st September 19th

Events

PURSUITS OF HAPPINESS Alan Lyons, Head of Shows, Bath & West

O

ne of the positive things to come out of the pandemic was the yearning amongst many for a simpler life – to be surrounded by greenery and get back to nature. Many country pursuits, which have been practised in the South West for generations, have become of interest again, partly because of this and also because of the increase in ‘historical’ TV series such as Poldark and Downton Abbey in recent years.

The art of falconry, for example, has been around for thousands of years, and it is thought that it reached the British Isles in AD 860. Although it is widely believed that the sport was restricted to the upper classes, their lives were recorded more than the lower classes, so, it may be a matter of documentation rather than fact.

Today, UK falconers only fly captive bred birds of prey, and although there are opponents of keeping any wild animals captive, there are many advantages.

Firstly, captive birds of prey live much longer (20-30 years, whereas in the wild only 1 in 3 will live beyond a year). Secondly, by working with captive birds we can understand the hunting styles, diets, nesting, breeding and territorial behaviours of their wild cousins in much greater detail, along with body language and behaviour.

This knowledge can then be applied to conservation and rehabilitation efforts, as falconers can prepare wild birds successfully for re-release. >

Lemonkib/Shutterstock

24 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Falconers are also responsible for restoring part of the eco-system in the British Isles, through the recolonisation of the goshawk. This magnificent creature was almost wiped out by persecution and deforestation during the late 19th century but, throughout the 1960s and 1970s, falconers who were importing European goshawks for falconry began to release some into the wild. Over the following decades the wild population of goshawks has grown here.

Another ancient country sport is wildfowling, the pursuit of mainly wild geese and ducks, often on estuaries and coastal marshes. Wildfowling has taken place ever since people first inhabited the fringes of the North Sea and is primarily a solitary sport for the hardy amongst us, as it requires considerable stamina and patience during the winter months in wet, muddy and cold conditions.

The birds are mostly migrants from the Arctic Circle, Scandinavia and the Low Countries who arrive in the autumn before returning to their breeding grounds in the spring. Their habits are governed by tide, wind, weather and the moon, so, in years gone by, hunters would have developed an in-depth knowledge of these factors. Generally, geese fly to their feeding grounds at daybreak and return to roost far out on the mudflats at dusk. Ducks usually come in at dusk to feed and spend the night on the pools, returning to the mudflats at dawn.

In earlier centuries people would have tried every means to secure these wildfowl for food during the lean winter months. The early wildfowlers would not have had guns or gunpowder, instead using snares and nets to entrap the fowl.

Coming back to the present day and moving away from feathered creatures to those with four paws, during lockdown we all heard numerous stories about the rise of ‘lockdown puppies’. These dogs were bought when their owners were either furloughed or working from home, and therefore had the time to spend with them. Indeed, you may have one yourself !

But now, these dogs are fully grown, and many of their owners are returning to work, so the dogs are spending a great deal of time alone. Training them, therefore, is vitally important if you are to have a happy pet for years to come.

The vast majority of dogs are designed for work, so if you are thinking of buying a dog, do firstly look into the breed – research it. What is the dog bred to do? Can you give that dog the work it requires? How 26 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

"By working with captive birds we can understand the hunting styles, diets, nesting, breeding and territorial behaviours of their wild cousins." much exercise does that dog need? Does that dog need just as much mental stimulation as exercise?

Imagine being totally reliant on one person or one family for everything – that’s your dog. Ask yourself, can you put the time in that your dog deserves?

Having a dog that is well trained and easy to manage in everyday life means you will get more pleasure from dog ownership, and as a result you will have a better bond with your dog. Dog training will teach your dog basic skills from sit, lie down, recalls, loose lead walking, socialisation and much more.

This will in turn make your dog easier to control and give them more freedom to be off-lead, taken to different places and cope in different situations, such as other homes, visiting the vet and even going to the pub! If your dog is well trained and gets the work it needs, it will make for a better and more relaxed dog in the home too.

Everyday walking and training sessions are also beneficial for the owners. You get out and get your daily exercise whatever the weather, and get to meet like-minded people too. Remember - If you don’t give a dog a job, it may go self-employed! bathandwest.com

___________________________________________ Friday 27th - Sunday 29th August Bath & West Country Festival 2021 The Bath & West Showground,

Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN

Three days of action-packed events for all the family and a

haven for all enthusiasts of rural life. Activities, demonstrations and entertainment; including falconry, country skills and dog training, plus fast-paced excitement in the Main Ring and a

much-enhanced food hall experience. Tickets are available at bathandwest.com/tickets

___________________________________________

27 - 29 AUGUST 2021 WOODLAND & COUNTRYSIDE WEST COUNTRY FOOD & DRINK CANINE CORNER LIVE MUSIC SAVER TICKET - £15 PER ADULT 2 CHILDREN ADMITTED FREE WITH EACH ADVANCE ADULT TICKET WWW.BATHANDWEST.COM/TICKETS

Community

OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER Chris Loder MP, Member of Parliament for West Dorset

T

his month, I would like to share some thoughts on ‘green’ electric vehicles because there is a much bigger picture to consider, especially regarding human rights. It is an increasingly important discussion, especially since many of us will move to electric cars over the coming decade as part of meeting the net zero target by 2050. This is a great thing, but we need to fully understand the cons as well as the pros.

Electric vehicles have many benefits for us here in the UK, but, for many developing nations, their production is a human rights concern. This is littleknown and I think it’s worth shedding some light on the problems with the supply chain.

28 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

One issue is cobalt. Cobalt is a key metal used in the production of batteries for electric cars. It is a relatively rare element, generally speaking, but the bigger issue is that half of all the known cobalt reserves in the world are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where many people live in extreme poverty.

To put the DRC’s cobalt output into context, in 2019 the country produced 70% of world cobalt. The cobalt mining industry is very dependent on the DRC, which means we should be aware of just how the metal is extracted from the ground.

Most DRC mining operations are modern, similar to what we would find in the UK or Europe, but a

proportion are so-called ‘artisanal mines’ meaning they function with extremely basic equipment. They are also not very safe, with a 2016 Amnesty International investigation finding that no miners they saw wore face-masks and that the mines were without other typical safety provisions we in Britain would not accept when it comes to mining.

UNICEF estimates that around 40,000 children work in mines in the DRC, some as young as seven years old, which is not widely reported. The DRC has announced it intends to end child labour in mines by 2025 and has asked for international help to do that but there is still a way to go. People living in poverty,

following years of civil war, sometimes have no other choice but to turn to the dangerous mines to make enough money.

In South America, the ‘lithium triangle’ has 60% of known lithium reserves. The triangle is found in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia and the issue here is not so much dangerous mining practices but rather the issues faced by indigenous people through mining where they live.

It is cheaper to mine in the lithium triangle because of an extraction process through which lithium is evaporated from salt brines. This does, however, require huge amounts of water – which is already a scarce resource in these areas.

All of this paints an unpleasant picture, and many thousands of miles away in the UK it may seem like a far-away problem. But the reality is, as the Western world decarbonises, we will be huge consumers of electric vehicles – and therefore, we need to do our part to help improve the industry.

Electric vehicles are not without their challenges here in rural West Dorset either. The distances they can travel on a single charge vary according to the specific model, which can present some difficulties depending on where you want to go and what access you have to charging points. But, as technology improves, many of these issues will become lesser and electric vehicles will likely play a big role in combatting climate change.

As a politician, and in particular as a member of the Transport Select Committee, I consider it a duty to bring up these issues when they are discussed in the House of Commons or as part of a Select Committee inquiry.

Doing this raises the issue with Government, meaning there is chance for legislation to protect people caught in this supply chain. We need to make sure that not only mining companies, but also financial services companies, whose portfolios invest in the mining industry, do their due diligence to ensure the mines they operate and invest in are meeting human rights standards.

It seems important to me that, while many ‘woke’ discourses focus on many different topics closer to home, we do not forget about the things like this going on around the world. There are stories of real human suffering that we shouldn’t push out of our minds just because it might be happening far away.

A green economy is vital – but we mustn’t decarbonise at the expense of the poorest countries in the world. chrisloder.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29

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30 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Making Wealth Management Personal

For guidance you can trust and support you can rely on 01935 382620 | enquiries@church-house.co.uk | www.ch-investments.co.uk At Church House Investment Management, we only make recommendations from our range of investment portfolio services and associated accounts. Full details of the nature of our services can be found at www.ch-investments.co.uk/important-information or can be provided on request. Please note the value of investments and the income you could get from them may fall as well as rise and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment. You should also be aware that past performance may not be a reliable guide to future performance. Church House Investment Management is a trading name of Church House Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 32 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Our Pupils, seizing the opportunity

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T H E TOY b Ar N ’S

MAIZE MAZE OP E N S 2 4 JULY Tickets & info: toy-barn.co.uk ( 01935 815040 Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne DT9 4Jx

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UNEARTHED Eleanor Thomas, aged 15 Sherborne Girls

I

have always loved hockey and started playing for local clubs from an early age. I played for Sherborne Preparatory School and reached the England Hockey National Finals in the U12s team at Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club.

I went on to play for Somerset and the West of England Performance Centre. After playing for Exeter-based West Panthers at the U13 UK Festival of Hockey in 2019, I was selected to play for the U14 UK Lions. We came second at the U14 Indoor Hockey National Finals which was a highlight but sadly our match in Belfast against the U16 Ulster squad had to be cancelled last summer.

I was fortunate to be accepted into the Welsh U16 national squad just before lockdown last February and have participated in an online programme with them for the past year. Really frustratingly, I wasn't allowed to attend the retrials due to the travel ban into Wales but I was subsequently delighted to be called up to play against Ulster in June and gain my first Welsh cap!

Since joining Sherborne Girls, I have been really well supported by the sports staff and I look forward to representing the School again when hockey matches resume. I have recently also joined the Bath Buccs Hockey Club and am excited about the opportunities of playing there. I feel my hockey adds a huge amount to my life and I have developed so many firm friendships whilst playing with great local teams. sherborne.com

KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

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34 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Children’s Book Review

by Eliza Nolan, Aged 10, Leweston Prep

Maria’s Island by Victoria Hislop, illustrated by Gill Smith (Walker Books 2021) £10.99 (hardcover) Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £9.99 from Winstone’s Books

M

aria’s Island is a sad, but eyeopening, book that I loved reading. At the beginning it’s set in Greece, modern day. Then, as the book progresses it’s set just after World War 2.

The book is about a girl named Rita who goes to Greece to visit her grandmother, Maria. Rita always enjoys listening to her grandmother telling stories of her travels around the world, but this is the first story she has heard of Maria’s childhood.

The book is a story of how Maria’s best friend, Dimitris, and her mother, Eleni, get leprosy and go to the island of Spinalonga, where everyone else with the disease is forced to go. They stay in touch but not always in the traditional way of letters. Maria’s older sister, Anna, is embarrassed because it was thought to be unclean if you had leprosy, and she moves out as soon as

she can. After a few years, Eleni’s leprosy gets so bad she dies. Not long after this, Maria gets leprosy herself and is forced to move to the island. However, when she gets there, things start looking up.

It had me on the brink of tears, but it was still a happy ending. Maria’s Island makes you see the pain, fear, and sadness more clearly, and tells you what was still happening not that long ago. It shocked me that, so recently, when we did not understand or feared something, we would put infected people on an island to sort themselves out.

I love this book. I don’t have a favourite part, but I think it’s lovely how they kept in touch so well, even though they were sent to a different island. It was like they never left. I would recommend Maria’s Island to all ages. There is also an adult version called The Island by Victoria Hislop, which is a million-copy bestseller.

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36 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

COLOURING PAGE

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Family

HOME FRONT Jemma Dempsey

I

’ve found myself strangely transfixed by the weeds in my garden. There’s been a good deal of harrumphing at them, but I’m also impressed by their beauty – dandelions especially. I spend ages watching them when they’ve gone to seed and are about to begin their own tempestuous journey to far off places, looking for new ground to call home. And then, before I know it, I’m right back in the oncologist’s consulting room and she’s explaining how cancer 38 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

seedlings which are too small to be detected can be whisked off in the blood stream to a new home and that the most likely places any cancer is to re-emerge is in the lungs, liver or bones. ‘But why are you asking me this, Jemma, we get good results with your treatment, ok?’ I sigh and tell her that when you have cancer you end up becoming a little paranoid and how was I to know that the strange feeling in my tongue was not a new tumour but lymphedema for heaven’s sake? I mean,

Michelangeloop/Shutterstock

really? In my tongue…

‘Let’s just get your scan out of the way first, shall we?’ she pronounces. I know she’s trying to be reassuring but I can tell she thinks I’m a bit bonkers.

But I don’t feel embarrassed, maybe I have lost the plot a bit, but I figure I’m entitled to – this cancer business does funny things to your mind. The scan which she’s talking about will be my first since treatment and it will determine if the dastardly cancer

that was in my right tonsil and lymph nodes in my neck has been seen off, vamoosed, banished by the equally devilish but, ultimately, and, hopefully, lifesaving chemo and radiotherapy. As the date approaches, I can feel the tension in my shoulders increasing, which is not helpful as everything’s tense and tight anyway since my surgery and treatment. Which reminds me to book an appointment for a massage; I was introduced to this masseuse in Ilminster, a slight woman who you wouldn’t think would be able to crush a grape, but give her a twisted up, gnarly old body and she’s in her element.

One of the upsides to recovery is the time you have to think about what you want to do when you emerge from the unexpected nightmare that you found yourself in. Although it’s true there have been times I just wanted, as my sage cancer buddy said, to be put into an induced coma and only woken up once it was all over, I have found myself hankering after something more spiritual in my life. I’m not trying to find a reason for why I got cancer; I’ve been told I was just incredibly unlucky – something like 0.1% of people develop oral cancer from the HPV virus, most people flush it out of their system whereas mine just decided to stay put and have a party. But after going through this particular flavour of hell on earth cancer treatment, I do feel there is a void. I haven’t got a bucket list per sé and I’ve no desire to do another bungee jump, but there’s a definite urgency and yearning to get up and do ‘things’.

So, after some thought, I’ve decided to start by giving Tai Chi a go. I’ve never done anything like it before but do remember seeing a group practising in the square where I used to live when I was at university in Liverpool. I always walked past with a curious raised eyebrow; it made me think of a slowmo version of Hong Kong Phooey, the 70’s kids TV programme, and I, of course, smirked as I was too young and too busy to have much interest in anything spiritual then – unless it received a discount in the student union bar, of course. But I’ve found a group in Sherborne which meets down at Pageant Gardens during the warmer months – note my hesitancy to jinx it by calling it summer – and I’ve decided to give it a go. According to the internet, this ancient Chinese martial art is all about deep breathing, relaxation and flowing movements. Sounds great, though I might be tempted to throw in a Hong Kong Phooey chop for old times’ sake. What could possibly go wrong? jemmadempsey@hotmail.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

Family

READY FOR BIG SCHOOL

Gemma Cheyne, Reception Teacher & Early Years Co-ordinator, Leweston Pre-Prep

M

any 4-year old children and their parents will currently be thinking about and preparing for the change happening in their lives in a couple of months’ time – starting ‘Big School’. Here are some helpful tips as to how you can make your child’s transition as smooth and positive as possible. They fit neatly into four areas; physical, mental, social and emotional.

Physical

Your child being physically ready means having them able to dress themselves, in particular doing up and undoing buttons and putting on socks. It also means them being able to go to the toilet themselves, including 40 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

wiping their own bottoms, flushing and, for boys, aiming well! It means washing their hands effectively – they need to use soap, they need to rinse the soap off and dry their hands thoroughly. The latter two are so important in the winter months where their hands might become chapped – soap residue and slightly damp hands in cold weather can make their hands sore, especially in these times of extra hand-washing. Practise with them how to blow their nose into a tissue, without help – this is a surprisingly difficult skill for such little ones. Being physically ready also means being able to sit at a table and eat their meals using cutlery, although obviously this doesn’t have to be Queen’s-tea-party-perfect at only four-years-old! Give your child plenty of opportunities

to run, climb and balance to hone their gross motor skills. Their fine motor skills will follow but you can encourage strength and agility in their hands and fingers further by giving them pegs to play with, children’s scissors to use, stickers to peel off, Lego, Play-Doh and bubble wrap to pop!

Mental

Being mentally ready starts with them being inquisitive and able to listen and remember things like songs and instructions. Play games with them like ‘Simon Says’ and scavenger hunts (‘Can you find something red/ soft/a brush?’), sing songs with them and make up your own fun actions. Prioritise story time – make it special and enjoy it yourselves! Talk about the story – ask them how the characters are feeling and why they think that, ask them to predict what might happen next, relate it to their own lives. Use a wide range of vocabulary – if a child can remember and pronounce ‘Tyrannosaurus Rex’ then they can use the correct vocabulary and descriptive language for many other things!

Social

To be socially ready for school isn’t just about them happily taking turns in line for the swing or the interactive whiteboard; it’s about taking turns when talking too. Listening to others while you wait for your turn to talk is such an important life-skill at which many adults fail! Basic manners such as saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are crucial, as well as asking for help when they need it. Being able to calmly cope with, and even resolve, disagreements is another fundamental skill.

during the day, try to phase this out before school starts.

Begin to increase their independence and confidence by giving them a responsibility, such as setting the table or putting their own clothes away each evening.

Talk with your child about how they are feeling about starting school. If you are feeling anxious or sad, try not to show it – children often mirror our own feelings. If they are feeling particularly anxious, try reading stories about starting school, arrange play-dates with their class friends over the summer and talk with their teacher – we want a positive start for them too!

We have a little tea party at school a few days ahead of the start of term in September to alleviate nerves, and you can gain many of the same benefits with a little familiarisation in those days – do the walk or drive to school, look at the school grounds, look at the classrooms and facilities on the school website and play ‘Schools’, with your child dressing in their uniform and school shoes with their teddies as their class friends.

I wish you all well with this new and exciting chapter in your lives. Keep smiling, stay positive and watch your child blossom at ‘Big School’! leweston.co.uk

Suggested Books to Read with Your Child Harry and the Dinosaurs go to School by Ian Whybrow, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds (Puffin)

Emotional

Arguably the most important aspect of being prepared for school is your child being emotionally ready – being able to manage their feelings. Going from nursery, their child-minder or from you, to ‘Big School’ is a major step in their lives. Most children are extremely excited about this but many will be anxious about the change. Schools usually have settling-in sessions in the summer term before, to help with the transition. Here, the children will meet their new teacher, their new class friends and see their new classroom. In addition to this, you can encourage them to have time away from you and your home on days out with family members or friends – this will increase their confidence and resilience. Encourage them to have time apart from their favourite toy or blanket and, if your child still naps

Charlie and Lola - I am Too Absolutely Small for School

by Lauren Child (Orchard Books)

My School Unicorn by Willow Evans, illustrated

by Tom Knight (Hodder Children’s Books)

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

Family

A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT Dan Chiappa-Patching, Director of Boarding, Sherborne Prep School

A

s teachers, we like to look back and reflect.

We look to how we learn from an experience.

What would we do next time? What went well? What are the areas for improvement? As boarding staff, we do the same, but on a far more pastoral scale.

So, how can we reflect on this past year and how it has affected the boarding community?

The inescapable fact is that boarding houses have dealt with smaller numbers this past year. Though not necessarily boarding numbers on the books – but rather boarders within a house. And whilst this carries with it many difficulties, like all good boarding staff – we enjoy a challenge! So, how have we rolled up our sleeves and turned this to our advantage? Flexibility has become a hallmark of boarding houses. Endless changes: a senior management that appears more as a rapid response unit, boarding staff instilling a sense of calm whilst paddling ferociously under the surface and parents and children responding as best they can.

The boarding house has had to become, more than ever, an oasis of calm in a rapidly changing world. One thing we do know is that the care and attention that boarding staff have provided for children and families over this pandemic has been exceptional, and without question, essential. And how have we dealt with smaller numbers? By personalising the care and attention we are providing.

Simply put, COVID has truly brought to the boarding house that thing that we so often talk about with prospective parents: a family environment.

Traditionally, when we have talked about a family environment, we have focussed on two things: a houseparent with a family in the boarding house, and an environment where the children in the house see each other as siblings. However, over the pandemic this has, in many cases, been taken one step further, with boarding numbers into the single figures and boarding duties being covered by a significantly smaller staff.

Sometimes, this has even meant taking over catering 42 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

duties in the absence of a full school catering provision and yet, surely this has allowed us to revisit what it is to be a boarding family? Not just putting a routine in place that lets the house run, but actually cooking a meal for our charges, sitting down with them and seeing how their day has gone. Noticing when they are feeling a little down and having the time and space to catch up with them perhaps bending ‘the rule’ of the, usually mandatory, bedtime routine.

It has highlighted the need for genuine communication; these are children whose families are not present and children who may be anxious amidst this global pandemic. Talking, touching base, giving gentle reassurance when required, as we would do our own children. Should we rethink our use of devices, how wonderful that each child can be in touch with

Image: Katharine Davies

parents who are missing their children, or with friends who are missing their peers. In many cases, those not in the boarding house are the ones who have been starved of their friendship groups. Whether a year group Teams quiz, bringing everyone together, or a virtual dinner party, the sense of community can continue, and pupils in-house and overseas can be supported.

Good boarding schools often pride themselves upon their pastoral care and their jam-packed activity programme offering a vast array of opportunities.

This is all positive and valuable, however what I have learned from the last twelve months is that sometimes the pastoral care we provide comes from slowing down the pace of life and being flexible. To give the children, and staff, the opportunity to open up and discuss their anxieties and worries – for some, to even acknowledge

that they are anxious! It also means being present and in the moment. Being available for a child in your care, no matter what. For us, it has been to listen to our children each day and see what they are in the mood for. Baking tonight? Great, let’s sort it out. A movie? Brilliant. Just chatting with friends at home? Sounds like a plan. It is not always possible to be flexible, but the children will understand this, if taken the time to explain.

If you can establish a boarding house where the sense of family is so great that pupils can genuinely come to you for a chat and vice versa, when required, this provides the best boarding environment and pupils thrive. And this can only be established from the top, with the houseparent. Being a parent. Making time. sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 44 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

D I S C O V E R | E AT | S H O P | S TAY | C E L E B R AT E

Welcome to Symondsbury Estate, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside just a stone’s throw from the Jurassic Coast. Join us for lunch. Browse our shops.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Inside Out Dorset, Friday 24th - Sunday 26th September 2021 +44 (0)1308 424116 symondsburyestate.co.uk Symondsbury Estate, Bridport, Dorset DT6 6HG

Science & Nature

SUNNY ‘D’

THE FORGOTTEN VITAMIN? Robert Bygrave, Chair, Sherborne Science Café

D

r Oliver Gillie advised his audience at the May 2009 meeting of Sherborne Science Café to throw away their sunblock, along with most of their clothes – for as long as they could bare it! Explaining the benefits of vitamin D, which is made in the skin with the aid of sunlight, he told us that too much skin protection was bad for our health.

He pointed out that low levels of vitamin D were not only linked with rickets, but also osteoporosis, bowel cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and a weakened immune system. This would mean that the advice given by Cancer Research UK was the wrong advice for some people. In Western Europe, where light levels are relatively low, we need 46 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

to get as much sun as we can. Only 5% of our daily needs comes from our diet. Therefore, his motto was: ‘Let the sunshine in!’ – particularly in Northern England and Scotland.

His unconventional message was greeted with some scepticism by the large audience. However, he pointed out that there was much research to support his claim, even in the BMJ. White skins had evolved from pigmented ones, in response to low light levels, when man migrated out of Africa before the last Ice Age. He advised that a daily dose of 1000-2000 units of vitamin D was therefore required by most people.

Dr Gillie was always a controversial scientist with a wide interest in health issues. He died recently on 15th May at the age of 83. With the summer arriving

Ed Connor/Shutterstock

– he would not have been the doctor to advise you to apply sun-cream. He was particularly interested in the health issues of Scotland and other countries of northern latitudes since he had noticed that they had a lot of similar health problems.

He realised that in Scotland more people of South Asian origin suffered from heart disease than South Asian people in England – even though they had similar ancestry, diets, and habits. His conclusion was that a lack of vitamin D was the fundamental issue with their health problems. He was aware that research showed that dark skins made six times less vitamin D than white skins when tested.

This meant that light skins would survive better in northern climates, and this had affected human

migration in the last 80,000 years. However, in the darkest months insufficient vitamin D would be made by the skin. People with white skin would have this problem as they moved North. Rickets, a bone disease directly caused by a lack of this vitamin, was known as ‘The English Disease’ up to the discovery of the link in the 1820s.

We have been adding cod liver oil, rich in vitamin D, to our diet since the 1930s and in Scotland the government advises taking vitamin D supplements in the dark months from October to March.

It is also known, in this ‘COVID world’, to be a vital substance to fortify our immune systems. sherbornesciencecafe.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

Science & Nature

THE SHORE CRAB

Alex Hennessy, Marketing and Communications Officer, Dorset Wildlife Trust

Harald Schmidt/Shutterstock

48 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

C

rabs are fascinating creatures, with the common shore crab being the one most often found in British waters. Not all shore crabs look the same though – their colours will differ depending on their habitat, age and whether it is breeding season.

They are most often a greenish colour, but can be orange or even red.

If you’ve spotted a crab while rock-pooling or crabbing, it’s most likely to have been a shore crab.

They are medium-sized with a shell (carapace) up to 8cm in width and can be identified by the pattern of spikes on their carapace. The shore crab has five upturned spikes on each side of the carapace and 3 rounded lobes between the eyes.

Shore crabs will feast on anything and everything they come across, including seaweed, mussels, barnacles and even smaller crabs. Around breeding season, a female may have an orange mass on its stomach – these are fertilised eggs, which females carry with them to protect from predators. A female with eggs is known as ‘berried’. Although a native species here in the UK, the shore crab has been introduced and become an invasive species in many other parts of the world, including Australia, South Africa and California.

Take a walk along any harbourside in Dorset, and you’ll see families enjoying the popular summer pasttime of crabbing. It’s a great way for people to get close to nature while spending time outside on warm summer days. However, it is also important to take a moment to think about how you’re caring for the crabs themselves, and the marine environment around you.

There are five easy-to-follow guidelines to ensure the safety of your catch: use a bait bag, not a hook; only keep a maximum of two crabs per bucket (return any fighting crabs); replace the seawater in the bucket every 10 minutes and keep the bucket in the shade; return all crabs to the sea gently, and take all the kit with you when you’re finished – especially taking care to remove plastic from the shoreline.

Learn more about wildlife in Dorset on the Dorset Wildlife Trust website: dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife

Crab facts • The collective noun for crabs is a ‘cast’ • Shore crabs have a life-span of 5-10 years • Shore crabs moult, removing their shells periodically in order to grow sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49

Science & Nature

WILDLIFE ON THE VERGE Simon Ford, Land and Nature Adviser, The John Lewis Partnership, Dorset Wildlife Trust Sherborne Group Member

I

was reading in the paper this week that our roadside verges in the UK make up an area the size of Dorset. It brought me back to the period of lockdown, when our daily permitted exercise was to walk or cycle from our houses.

Sherborne is superbly situated, with a series of footpaths, bridlepaths and country lanes radiating out in all directions, into the local countryside. As a wildlife adviser, I sometimes get called to survey sites or provide ecological advice and, in many cases, these areas are sadly of much lower value for nature, than our verges here in West Dorset.

Early in spring, there is a yellow phase, with the first primroses, golden celandines and, on chalk and limestone, cowslips emerging. Sometimes, I see impressive false oxlips, which are a hybrid between primrose and cowslip. To cap it off are wonderful brimstone butterflies whose wings mimic a leaf and 50 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

a flash of colour from male orange-tip butterflies.

As the season progresses, wild garlic, stitchwort, hogweed, wild carrot and delightful cow parsley or Queen Anne’s lace, grow in profusion during the white period. This is when holly blue, peacock and ringlet butterflies are on the wing. Then, in the summer, it becomes a time of pinks and purples, with foxgloves, red campion, herb Robert, knapweed, scabious and, if we are lucky, orchids flowering.

In the Sherborne area, we can see early purple orchids, common spotted, southern marsh, heath spotted, twayblades and occasional bee, and butterfly orchids on the verges of our highways and byways.

Gatekeepers, meadow brown, marbled white and red admiral butterflies and cinnabar, silver ‘Y’ and burnet moths are a common sight.

It is not just flowers and butterflies to look out for, but also birds such as yellow hammers, song

Emjay Smith/Shutterstock

thrushes, wrens, goldcrests and long tailed tits. I have also seen barn owls hunting for small mammals living in the long vegetation – a dangerous activity sadly on busy roads. In the twilight, bats such as lesser horseshoes and pipistrelles look for insects to eat and navigate using hedges. Reptiles and amphibians, including slow worms, grass snakes, common lizards, frogs and toads can sometimes be seen and, unfortunately, road casualties indicate the presence of hedgehogs, foxes, roe deer, rabbits, badgers and occasional stoats and weasels.

The verges, like our hedges, create an interconnected corridor – if carefully maintained – and species such as dormouse will sometimes use them, especially where they connect areas of broad-leaved woodland. You may notice occasional signs saying, ‘Protected Verge’, such as at Dancing Hill (below the Terraces Playing Fields), where an excellent group of volunteers maintain the

wildflower bank at the junction. These signs also tell the Highways staff that the areas need managing sensitively.

Where there are no safety concerns, such as junctions, wildlife will benefit from the verges remaining uncut – at least until mid-July, when many flowers will have set seed. Hedges should not be cut in the summer at all and, ideally, they should be allowed to grow larger and produce flowers and fruit. Wildlife will benefit - we will be rewarded with delightful displays of flowers and insects, and it will save a great deal of money and carbon in highway maintenance budgets!

What’s not to like.

It is all too easy to flash by in a car and take our verges for granted but enjoy them slowly on foot or bicycle and you will no doubt find some gems and will feel much the better for it! dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

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Science & Nature

LITTLE PEOPLE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE Peter Littlewood, Young People’s Trust for the Environment

W

e’ve heard a lot in the media about the detrimental impacts that the lockdowns have had on children’s education in the last year.

For sure, being trapped at home, sometimes with ropey internet connections or devices being shared between several people has been a struggle, whilst socialising has been really difficult – for young children in particular.

But throughout the lockdowns, children’s interest in the natural world doesn’t seem to have waned in any way.

Here at the Young People’s Trust for the Environment (YPTE), we’re lucky enough to see some fantastic examples of how primary schools have been able to encourage their children’s interest in the world outdoors, even if they haven’t been able to interact with it as much as they’d have liked to for much of the last year.

In April 2020, soon after the first lockdown began, YPTE began creating a new series of home learning packs to assist teachers in providing children and their parents with some inspiration for finding out together about a wide range of environmental topics while stuck at home. The whole series is available on our website (ypte.org.uk/topics/home-learning-packs) and although, thankfully, the lockdowns are now over, the packs are still fantastic for inspiring kids’ interest in the natural world and for giving parents ideas for things to do with their children during the long summer holidays.

Just recently, I’ve been reviewing some brilliant examples of school-based environmental education from the lockdowns. Take for example, the primary school from a small village on the Scottish borders that had already set up a community recycling facility in the school foyer. With the introduction of Covid restrictions, it was clear that the facility was going to have to close, as the public could no longer go inside the school building.

But the children didn’t want to see villagers throwing away items that could under other circumstances be recycled, so they created a video message for the community, in which they asked people to store their 54 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Diego Cervo/Shutterstock

recycling at home, until the school had sorted out a new home for its recycling facility.

A redundant shed in the school grounds was repurposed as the new recycling facility. So, after the children had brightened it up with some funky new artwork to decorate the exterior, created colourful signage pointing the way and installed some new bins provided by a local community group, the new recycling facility opened up. It’s still being used by the villagers today and will continue into the future as the new community recycling centre. It serves a real need, as it’s there for recycling the items that are generally difficult to recycle elsewhere – things like the plastic cases for glue sticks, toothpaste tubes, crisp packets, cartons and batteries.

Then there’s the primary school in Kent that set up a series of recycling initiatives to reduce waste and put money back into parents’ pockets. The schemes they have set up tackle some of the niggling expenses that any parents of primary school children tend to face nowadays. For example, fancy dress outfits can now

be bought second hand for a fraction of what they cost new in a school fancy dress exchange. Football boots, which children tend to grow out of well before they have worn them out, can also be bought second-hand at very low prices. Second-hand uniforms can be either bought or swapped in an in-school uniform swap-shop.

And in one of the most original ventures, packs of reusable party decorations, tablecloths, plates etc. can be hired from the school too.

What’s really great about both of these schools’ projects is that they provide children and families with ways to make a difference in the real world. These aren’t theoretical, textbook ideas. They provide ways to take action that have a positive impact whilst enabling children to learn about how their actions have the power to change the world in a small way – either positively or negatively – every single day.

For example, did you know that here in the UK, we consume around 6 billion metallised, plastic, filmwrapped packs of crisps each year? That’s 16 million bags every day! So, recycling crisp packets makes a lot of sense.

Or that making a pair of trainers or football boots typically creates around 14kg of carbon emissions, with the vast bulk of these emissions arising from the manufacturing process? So, buying them used, but not worn out, is good for the planet as well as the pocket.

Or that around 7 million fancy dress outfits are thrown away each year in the UK alone, and that only a small proportion of these are recycled? Halloween outfits alone create around 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, because they are mostly made from synthetic fibres derived from plastic.

The children from these schools have learned about these issues, found out what they can do to help and have got on and done it! Even in lockdown, the children’s enthusiasm and passion for protecting our planet has remained undiminished, thanks to the guidance and encouragement of their teachers. And that’s something we can all learn from, as we try to ‘build back better’ after the lockdowns. ypte.org.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55

Science & Nature

Image: AKP Branding Stories

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

I

t has been a real joy to be running the daily ‘bee safaris’ at The Newt again. I had missed the interaction with visitors, and especially the things I learn from the visitors whilst I’m sharing my knowledge of bees. Many of the things that I started to discuss ten years ago, were then considered ‘woo woo’ and nonscientific. I have been delighted, however, as over the past few years, science has caught up, confirming much of what many people instinctively knew to be true. I am also loving how talking with people can fill in the gaps of knowledge we all have, like completing a massive global jigsaw puzzle.

On my safaris, I point out plants that bees love – we’ve been very lucky with some excellent sightings of carder and bumblebees through the spring on bugle, 56 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

rosemary and now the chives. One of the herbs I like to point out is plantain; on one of my safaris, a fellow beekeeper called it ‘white man’s footprint’, which I’d not heard before. It was related to the North American settlers spreading across the country, with their honeybees (white man’s flies) and the plantain. I was curious as to why plantain, as I had presumed it would have already been present there.

A week or so later, whilst studying one of my herbal medicine textbooks, there was a chapter on the first European settlers and their interactions with the native Americans. The whole history of medicine and pharmacies is a fascinating one, with highly educated academics feeling challenged by the country housewives’ knowledge of herbs. Meanwhile…

apothecaries were marketing expensive exotic medicine blends using minerals and spices combined in complicated and expensive ingredients. The new world was, therefore, not appealing to the academics without its hospitals or means to recoup their many years of university studying. The apothecaries were slow to follow, uncertain of a flourishing market for their goods. There was still a need for medicine of some form and so, many of the new settlers brought their own medicine in the form of plants and seeds. Plantain being one of them. As it seeded, it spread, warning the first peoples of the incoming settlers. I use plantain for bee stings, either straight from the plant, by mashing up a freshly picked leaf and rubbing it on the spot, or after infusing the leaves in olive oil – I mix the oil with beeswax to make a balm.

A previous safari guest sent me the book Overstory by Richard Powers, as many of my tales reminded him of a character in the book. After reading it, I was reminded of the wisdom and importance of trees, and how, when it was first found that trees communicate with each other, the scientist was ridiculed and became isolated.

Now it has become accepted that the mycelium growing on the roots of trees connects each specimen in a literal worldwide web. It was this book that helped me realise that it takes 200 years to replace a 200-year-old tree.

Last week, I was sharing the story of ‘Alfred’s cakes’ fungi which grow in abundance in the Stumpery, to find that two of my guests had recently visited the Ice Man Museum in Switzerland where one such cake was found in his pocket to keep his hands warm. Shared wisdom lifts our souls, as we realise more about each other and how simply everything is connected – and usually by bees! I even managed to find that pure rubber flip flops made in Cheddar, Somerset, have a bee connection. As rubber plantations are working hard to gain new customers after the popularity of plastics, there are initiatives to combine beekeeping as the rubber trees are full of blooms rich in nectar and so, an excellent honey source.

When I start talking about vibrations, I often see some raised eyebrows as they’re ready for a spoonful of ‘woo’. For the past four years I have been researching and experimenting with frequencies and vibrations of bees, placing bait hives and colonies on the geopathic stress lines that match the bees’ vibration. After learning of three colonies living together healthily in the roof space of a house, with no signs of disease, plenty of honey, as well as in close proximity – going against all

the textbooks – I started delving into the world of ley lines and dowsing.

Back in the 1990s, a beekeeper called Jon Harding had begun looking into why bees preferred different spots, and why some colonies thrived, and others didn’t.

Harding came across NASA research following the sicknesses developed by the first astronauts. NASA started working with frequencies, understanding that the Earth had a frequency of 7.68 HTZ and humans one of 60-80HTZ. Without connection to our Earth’s frequency, humans become sick. This goes someway to explain jet-lag, as well as the popular practice of ‘grounding’ and ‘earthing’. NASA adjusted the background frequency of their spacecraft to match that of Earth’s, solving the problem and enabling humans to remain in space indefinitely.

We have evolved to have regular connections with the Earth, to reset our electrical charge. Bees, however, have a frequency of 256 HTZ (confirmed by a bee safari bee scientist). Beekeepers in New Zealand figured out that when there are underground rivers, a new frequency ‘curtain’ is produced that travels from the ground up, into the atmosphere. Interestingly this curtain has a frequency of between 230 and 280 HTZ, creating an area on the same ‘wavelength’ as the bees. This information helped me to decide where to place bait hives for bees across The Newt estate. It was particularly important not to have wayward swarms flying into the buildings as they were being renovated.

Hadspen House had a history of bees living in the chimneys - no coincidence I once found that this high frequency curtain ran through the building. If you’d like to step further, frequencies can also be related to emotions, 250 HTZ being neutrality, and what is more neutral than being present – an important skill for any beekeeper. May your summer be spent with those on your ‘wavelength’. paulacarnell.com

___________________________________________ Bee Safaris Monday-Friday 3pm-4pm The Newt, Castle Cary

Join Paula for a walking tour of The Newt’s rare, native and wild bee colonies. Discover the various hives hidden in the

woodland and learn more about their fascinating behaviours.

Advanced booking is required. £10 per person. 01963 577777 thenewtinsomerset.com

___________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57

On Foot

58 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

On Foot

THORNCOMBE BEACON Emma Tabor and Paul Newman

Distance: 2¼ miles Time: Approx 1½ hours Park: Car park at Eype’s Mouth. Pay in the honesty box.

Walk Features: An ideal summer walk for an afternoon or early evening, a steady climb up to Thorncombe Beacon, with views along the coast towards Golden Cap and a lovely return section through woodland near Downhouse Farm; there is also a chance to swim at Eype Beach.

Refreshments: Downhouse Farm Café Open 10am - 5pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays

E

ach month we devise a walk for you to try with your family and friends (including four-legged members) pointing out a few interesting things along the way, be it flora, fauna, architecture, history, the unusual, and sometimes the unfamiliar. For July, we take a relatively easy walk from Eype's Mouth to the top of Thorncombe Beacon with good views in either direction along the coast. On the return there are stunning views towards Golden Cap and some good prospects inland before descending through a magical section of woodland and an easy stroll across fields back to Eype beach. >

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

Directions

Start: SY 447910 The walk starts at Eype’s Mouth Car Park at the end of Mount Lane.

1 From the car park, as you look at the sea (or west), head right, uphill and past the small holiday cottage on the cliff edge. Follow the coast path with sea views to your left and views to your right across Eype village and chapel. After the cottage, go through a kissing gate with a National Trust sign for Downhouse Farm and Thorncombe Beacon ¾ mile, which looms ahead. You’ll now see an impressive Bronze Age burial mound on the skyline to the right of the beacon, in an imposing position.

Keep ahead. Look out for thrift and other wild flowers along the path, with views back towards the Isle of Portland. Swallows skim the meadows here.

60 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

After approx. ¼ mile there is another kissing gate with a National Trust sign. Go through the gate then slight right onto a narrow sheep track across the middle of the field and away from the coast path. Keep on this track, curving around the edge of a bowl-shaped field to your left which now opens out beneath the beacon. You may hear stonechats along this part of the walk. Continue towards the burial mound in front of you. Just before you reach it, you will see a stile on your right to continue the walk but first it is worth visiting the mound and then onto the beacon for fabulous views towards Golden Cap which, at 191 metres (627 feet) is the highest point on the south coast. Thorncombe Beacon was the site of one of many beacons built in 1588 to warn of the Spanish Armada.

2 Retrace your steps back to the burial mound and then the stile (signed to Eype Down and Frogmore Farm) which is now on your left to continue the walk. From here there are also good views inland towards Colmers Hill. Go over the stile, keep the hedge and fence on your right then follow another sheep track along the field edge. Tremendous views continue all around with Seatown down to your left and Chideock behind. Keep walking towards a wood as the field funnels into a corner with a kissing gate. Go through this and then keep right at a fork, along the fence through a wood filled with sycamore. The path meanders downhill alongside the fence; look out for treecreepers at this point.

After a short while, you meet another path; turn left then right onto another path, then left down

towards the farm and Downhouse Farm café.

3 Go past the farm on your right and some houses on your left and you will then come to a stile on your right. Climb this to enter a field, with Eype village and chapel ahead. Cross this field, heading to your right and also to the right of a hedge protruding into the field, then go through a gate into another field, heading for the far corner towards the sea. Go through this gate, past a sign for Eype, then head slight left towards some houses and a wooden gate and stile. Just before the stile, cross a small wooden footbridge over a stream. After the stile, you find yourself on a track lined with some holiday cottages which soon meets the road. Turn right and head back towards the car park and the sea… for a swim! sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61

CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers

Forthcoming Auction Programme Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Wednesday 30th June Pictures, Prints & Books Thursday 8th July Mid-century Modern & Decorative Arts Thursday 8th July Antiques & Interiors Friday 9th July A Private Cellar of Wine Friday 9th July Classic & Vintage Cars Thursday 15th July Contact Richard Bromell for advice on single items and complete collections Valuations for Probate and Insurance The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com

Jacopo Chimenti, known as Jacopo da Empoli (1554-1640)

Affordable interior fabrics thefabricbarn.co.uk 62 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

01935 851025

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

www.fcuffandsons.co.uk

DESIGNERS AND MAKERS OF BEAUTIFUL FINE BESPOKE JOINERY SINCE 1897

History

TALL TALES Cindy Chant & John Drabik

H

igh on the ridge above Cerne Abbas, stands a little known 6ft tall Neolithic stone, called the Bellingstone. This Megalith may have been a marker, or perhaps used for ritual purposes, but in recent times it has become a ‘wishing stone’ used by generations of locals and visitors. Travelling pilgrims, taking their rest by this ancient stone, would have enjoyed a spectacular aerial view of the Giant on the opposite hill, before walking down to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey.

But what of this unique and intriguing, club-wielding, figure carved in the chalk hillside – is it really that old?

It is feasible that our ancestors, having the ability to dig massive ramparts, and move huge stones, could have created this impressive 180ft fertility image.

Growth and productivity were paramount in the lives of our pre-historic ancestors, and it is easy to imagine elaborate religious ceremonies imploring the various deities to help in this matter. So, was he a sacred symbol to ensure a productive harvest, and the healthy growth of the tribe?

There is no documentary reference to the Giant 64 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

until the 17th Century. However, this is not to say that something similar may have been created here by older civilisations, perhaps altered and changed through the centuries, and at times, allowed to grow over with vegetation.

There are numerous theories regarding the origins of the giant. He may have been carved as a devotion to a Celtic fertility god, or as a fierce ‘guardian’ to the local tribe. Some historians suggest the phallus was a symbol of luck and prosperity, in keeping with similar figures of this period.

It is not surprising he is associated with the ancients, as there are traces of settlements nearby, and just above the Giant’s head is an Iron-Age earthwork known as The Trendle. This site was used annually for maypole dancing - an ancient ritual with pagan roots. In recent times, on the dawn of May Day (Beltane), the Wessex Morris Men dance their fertility traditions here, accompanied by the huge horned Dorset Ooser, which is brought out for special occasions. After descending the hill, they dance in the streets below followed by wellearned refreshments in the taverns. The Ooser, we are

told, was there for ‘scaring away wives and children.’

Some historians have suggested he was re-shaped by the Romans, and converted into the figure of Hercules, brandishing a club and a lion skin. Others think it was not a cloak but a severed head dangling, by the hair, from his outstretched hand. Other stories are that he was a caricature of Oliver Cromwell, or that the monks created the Giant to poke fun at the notorious womanising Abbot, Thomas Corton, expelled from the Abbey for his misbehaviour.

Although the origins of the Giant are uncertain, and despite recent excavations, there are many traditions and tales about him, which have been kept alive through generations. Legend has it, a giant once roamed the Blackmore Vale, terrorising the inhabitants, eating sheep and ‘rashers of child’ for breakfast. One day, after gorging himself and taking his rest on a hill, the local inhabitants tied and pinned him to the ground with heavy ropes and killed him. To commemorate this victorious event, and as a warning to other giants, they cut the turf around the outline of the deceased figure.

On dark nights, he is said to rise from his slumber, and quench his thirst in the millstream below. On occasions, after smelling blood, he strides down the valley, bellowing ‘Fe, fi, fo fum…’ and referees the local, extremely bloody, Cudgel fighting contests. Sometimes, he would even stride over to Bullbarrow, claiming this to be part of his domain, and stretch himself on the grassy hill to watch the setting sun.

Majestically surveying the fertile lands around him, there is little doubt that the Giant represents ‘life force’, and some claim that there are healing properties within the surrounding area. What is certain, is that his obvious sexuality, and virility, were put to use in folk magic.

Did we mention his phallus being 30ft in length?

No wonder that so many stories regarding conception and pregnancies abound. Over the centuries, barren women wishing to conceive a child would ascend the hill and sit on the giant phallus. Spending the night there during a new moon would also guarantee conception. Young couples would have sexual intercourse there, to consummate their marriage, and maidens would walk around the Giant to ensure a good husband and a long and happy marriage.

It seems that many people know somebody who has benefited from their intimacy with this enigmatic figure. Thoughtfully, the National Trust have erected a fence around the site, fearing romping couples may wear out this poor old Giant.

FREE HOME VISITS Specialist Matthew Denney will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 29th July to value your objects & antiques

A VICTORIAN DIAMOND TIARA Estimate: £15000-20000 to be sold 22nd July 2021

Forthcoming July Fine Art Sales 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd July 2021 Consigning Now for our Autumn Sales FREE VALUATIONS ALSO AVAILABLE

Online | Phone | Email | Whatsapp To make an appointment call or email 01460 73041 matthew.denney@lawrences.co.uk Professional Valuations Available for Probate & Insurance Complete House Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged

lawrences.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65

History

LOST DORSET

NO. 13 LULWORTH COVE

R

David Burnett, The Dovecote Press

ecent newspaper photographs of the crowds at Durdle Door, and on Dorset’s beaches, are a reminder that its coast has long been a magnet for holidaymakers. The Cove’s popularity was well-established in Victorian times, due mainly to the Cosens paddle-steamers that plied between Bournemouth and Weymouth during the summer, at a stately twelve knots. Stops were made at various beauty spots – Studland, Swanage, Lulworth Cove, Osmington Mills – so their passengers could go ashore for refreshments. On the left is the aptly named Victoria, launched in 1884, requisitioned for service in both world wars, and finally scrapped in 1953. On the right is the Majestic, launched in 1901 and lost whilst minesweeping during the First World War. The only paddler still sailing is the Waverley, now afloat again after the installation of new boilers and, hopefully, due to return to the south coast later in the summer.

Lost Dorset: The Villages and Countryside 1880-1920, by David Burnett, is a large format paperback, priced £12, and is available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers. dovecotepress.com

66 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

THE BUSTLE

Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

T

his month’s object is an iconic piece of Victoriana; a woman’s bustle, or tournure, covered with black silk and stiffened with twenty horizontal whalebones and five vertical.

There is a black silk frill around the basal edge, which is gathered at the centre back. Internal eyelets and tapes allow for it to be laced and tied at the front, in the manner of a corset.

Though the bustle was first patented in 1857, the popularity of the crinoline prevented it from taking off until the 1860s. There had, however, been hints of its arrival with the appearance of ornate peplums and bows at the centre back of the waistline. As the stiff, caged petticoat evolved to unlikely proportions of up to six feet in diameter, this fashion then quite swiftly disappeared, since it was also dangerous, uncomfortable, and horribly impractical with many women losing their lives to fire-related incidents. Skirt fabrics were then swept up and gradually back, making the adoption of the bustle a necessary manoeuvre. They were worn on the lower part of the body and fastened round the waist, enabling the back of the skirt to be thrust out like a shelf from the small of the back with elaborate drapes and folds, leading to trains and complex ornamentation.

The original late 1860s bustles were small, worn low and made to provide extra support for the flowing drapery, producing a softer, rounded shape. Our bustle supports the skirt of a two-piece lichen-green, silk moiré dress, made c. 1870, and emphasises the tails of its bodice and large central bustle bow.

There followed an interim period where a more natural form was preferred, and the one-piece princessline dress fitted sheath-like over the hips; alternatively, there was a figure-hugging cuirass bodice and separate

skirt. Fullness at the back was achieved through the use of inner ties in petticoats. Around 1883, the bustle went through a reprise, becoming more rigid and architectural through the use of steam moulding to create a curvaceous contour, emphasising a narrow waist and exaggerating the shape of the buttocks. The ensemble was more restrictive than the crinoline; with its flat front and fastenings at the back of the body, the possibility of movement was less easy, and the wearer had to either push the bustle to one side in order to sit down, or perch on the edge of the seat, leaning forward.

The fashion became an object of satire, with Punch magazine featuring cartoons which portrayed women as snails or beetles. This more extreme style fuelled the burgeoning rational dress movement which argued for reform on the basis of health and comfort above all else.

As reformer Mary Haweis observed: ‘The heavy tail or confined train is not allowed to soften and enhance the movements of the body, but in walking will jerk at each step, increasing the lady’s resemblance to a clogged cow.’

By the end of the 1880s, even though to some women a dress without a bustle was inconceivable, many more were coming forward wearing diminutive versions or even none at all. While these quickly changing fashions were not adopted universally by all women, the bustle dress remains an extraordinary garment: Striking, provocative, immediately recognisable, and still a source of inspiration to designers today.’

Lydia Edwards, Fashion Historian.

Sherborne Museum currently remains closed; we will open as soon as it is safe for our volunteers and visitors. sherbornemuseum.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

Antiques

PROVENANCE

M

Richard Bromell, ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

ost items we auction have provenance or a tale to tell. The tale can be of travel, romance, happiness, of history, sorrow or loss. Now we have fully re-opened, people can bring in their antiques and collectibles to our salerooms for a free valuation during normal working hours. With these items, we are often told about the tales behind the items, with some tales holding more water than others.

Recently, a lady called in with a porcelain tea set, and with it came a tale to tell. It belonged to her great-great-grandfather. He sailed the seven seas in the merchant navy for decades and brought the tea set home from China during the Boxer Rebellion in the 1880s. This, of course, was all very interesting, but for me the tale had a few issues.

At school, I always enjoyed history. My love of history certainly contributed to my interest in antiques and then a career as an auctioneer. As my children like to point out, I was at school a long, long time ago, but at least I still remember some of what I was taught.

I am sure by now, my fellow historians reading this, will be shouting from the roof tops the Boxer Rebellion, although in China, was not in the 1880s, but 1899-1901. However, this was not the only fault I found in the tale. The largest fault was of course the tea set was Japanese and dated to the 1920s.

And then there are items with impeccable provenance such as a chair, a small oak box and a book entered into our two-day 8th & 9th July auction. The chair is unusual to say the least. It is made from antlers and decorated dogs heads on the arms and on the back. My first reaction was it dated to the mid-19th century. Thankfully my dating was spot on as the owner showed me an oil painting dating to circa 1850 hanging on the wall which featured not only the children of Field Marshal Lord Viscount Henry Hardinge painted in a room at the family estate South Park, Penshurst, but also the antler chair I was looking at!

Field Marshal Lord Viscount Henry Hardinge entered the army at 13, saw service in India, fought with Wellington throughout the Peninsular campaign and was British Commissioner at Blucher’s headquarters at Waterloo. Having had his left hand shot off at the battle of Ligny, he was not present for the battle of Waterloo two days later, after which Wellington presented him with a sword from Napoleon. He was appointed Governor General of India 1844-48, and finally Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Forces in 1854.

The antler chair had passed down through the family to the owner. The provenance is impeccable, and to make it even more watertight, if that is possible, also in the auction from the owner is an oak box. Bound in brass, to keep it safe when travelling and with a Bramah lock to keep the contents safe from prying eyes, the box also has a silver-coloured metal plaque inset in the top inscribed ‘Letters from Lt Gen Lord Viscount Hardinge’. Accompanying the box is a book written by Charles Viscount Hardinge titled ‘Rulers of India’ with a personal dedication from the author.

Proper provenance indeed. charterhouse-auction.com

68 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 70 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Co.ofLandscapers GARDEN DESIGN STUDIO

Take a moment to marvel

Following many months of satisfying work in the garden, July is a wonderful time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Every corner of the garden is bursting with colour and with regular visits from a whole host of creatures that will be thankful for your wildlife friendly gardening efforts, there’s so much to take in. So once the watering, weeding and pruning is done, take a moment to savour the best of the summer season.

With our social distancing measures in place, you can pick up your garden furniture, parasols and bird baths any day of the week:

Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR www.thegardensgroup.co.uk

thegardensgroup

Opening hours Monday to Saturday: 9am – 6pm Sunday: 10am – 4:30pm

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

Gardening

GARDEN VISITORS

Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

W

e are very lucky with our garden and the number of visitors that appear. In reality, they aren’t visitors, most of them think of the garden as their own and maybe think of us as being the outsiders. I’m talking about wildlife rather than humans, although, in normal times, we get a few of those too!

On the slithery front, there are plenty of slow worms around. We have areas of wild grass which they love and old walls which are perfect as hideaways. Grass snakes too are often seen, or more often the young rather than adults. Both of these are pleasing because they will be helping control slugs and they seem to be doing that job well.

We get spiky visitors too and a family of hedgehogs wander through most nights. These visits incur the 72 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

indignation of our rescue dog Joey, who sees their intrusion as the height of rudeness. He does a lot of woofing, which alerts Myla our black Labradoodle, but she only half-heartedly supports him! Hedgy curls up for a bit and then charges off at the earliest opportunity, fitting under the gate quite easily.

Furry residents appear as well. Field mice are seen quite often and then, the other day, a sleepy mouse appeared, which we think is probably a wood mouse. It would be nice to think we had dormice too and there are gnawed pips from our myrobalan cherry, which could be a sign, but no actual sightings.

A fiercer visitor is a weasel, whose family has been around for a long while. We managed to video it popping its head out of a pile of rocks a few years ago, but the last sighting was whilst I was catching up on some

Bokeholic/Shutterstock

"These visits incur the indignation of our rescue dog Joey, who sees their intrusion as the height of rudeness."

paperwork early one morning and heard a rustling. I kept very quiet and spotted him (or her – I didn’t like to ask) wandering along in one of our polytunnels. I must have stayed still because he gently mooched out the other end of the tunnel unaware that I was watching.

Feathered visitors are many and, for a number of weeks, I have been noting how early the dawn chorus starts. At the time of writing in early June, it’s now got to before 4am. I’m convinced that it’s the same bird that gets them all going and it never seems to have a lie-in!

Robins have always been plentiful and they like to use our kitchen as a feeding station as soon as the back door is opened! Sparrows have also set up home, as well as a pair of goldfinches along with blackbirds, thrushes, wrens and dunnocks. The peace was disturbed by a sparrowhawk who came through chasing a pigeon, who was smart enough to head into the shrubbery just in time to live another day.

Over alongside the river across from the garden centre are kingfishers and we were watching a green woodpecker feeding its chicks in an alder tree last week. I’m no birder, but garden centre manager Brian is always good at identifying what I’ve spotted and even he was impressed with the tiny firecrest that was whizzing around a few weeks ago.

Insect life too is plentiful and I once was working away in the garden in the early spring when I heard a scraping sound. I finally tracked it down to a wasp who was scraping the stalk of a dried-up stinging nettle, presumably for its nest! Wasps are much maligned but are good news for the garden as they eat garden pests.

They make the most extraordinary nests too. They become troublesome when food sources start to deplete in the summer and that is when they get involved in our al fresco dining.

We had a hornet looking for a nesting spot in the accounts’ office the other day. I turned off the lights to encourage it to head back outside but it decided that one of our files was perhaps the perfect spot to start a nest! The accounts team thought otherwise and I was delegated to suggest to the beast that its fortunes lay elsewhere. She went along quite happily and our suppliers whose names are between ‘H’ and ‘L’ are now able to be paid!

So, see this as an excuse to relax once in a while, sit very quietly and whilst you are enjoying your garden, you will see others enjoying it too. thegardensgroup.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

Now you can enjoy your garden all year long with our vast range of awnings, sun rooms, pergolas, wooden constructions and decking. Completely bespoke and fully customisable for every home or business. Our outdoor rooms can be free-standing or attached to your property. Call us on 01935 324377 or email us on info@sunroomsuk.com today for a free no-obligation quotation. If you would like to see more of our work, visit our website at www.sunroomsuk.com.

01935 324377 www.sunroomsuk.com

garden & planting design | expert gardening wildflower meadows Contact Stephen & Claire: 01963 441454 | hello@manyberries.co.uk manyberries.co.uk

White Hart Garden and Property Maintenance Marcus Smith

Mobile - 07762 798473 Home - 01963 23692

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

74 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

01963 371123 / 07791 588141 yenstonewalling@btinternet.com www.yenstonewalling.co.uk

WINDOWS

&

DOORS

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76 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

SHERBORNE BOWLING CLUB Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

L

awn bowls coincides with some of my earliest memories of the beach. After swimming in the sea off Greenhill, Weymouth, I would grab my towel and, shivering with cold, head to the warmest spot – the foothpath beside Greenhill’s bowling green.

There, I’d lay my towel on the baking hot tarmac and let the warmth seep into my body while I watched this extraordinary game. To an impressionable nine-year old, the serenity of these older men and women, dressed in their pristine whites, moving slowly and elegantly around an array of balls, was bemusing. It took me a while to work out exactly what they were doing but when I realised the skill and dexterity it required, I was mesmerised, which is why, when I was invited to visit Sherborne Bowling Club, I leapt at the chance. >

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

78 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Club President, Henry Paull, joined in 1994 and, as it happens, has played a match or two at Greenhill in his time. ‘That’s a lovely green by the sea,’ he adds. ‘I joined the Sherborne club when I was approached by Jack Dimond, who was one of the club’s originators. I was looking for a new sport after years of playing tugof-war and he invited me to come and play.’ In 2013, Henry had to pull out of playing because of a back injury but the club made him the president and he has attended every match in the last five years. ‘The more I got into bowls, the more I wanted to play,’ he says, ‘I still get the desire to go out there. It’s a game of tactics and depends on the weather; you get to read the green and how it has been affected by the conditions. I urge anyone to come and have a go,’ he adds.

It’s Wednesday night when I visit and that makes it what they call ‘umbrella night’. It has nothing to do with the weather and more to do with the fact that everyone is invited and they don’t have to turn up in pristine whites.

In fact, in the club house, it feels very much like a relaxed social evening, with some serious bowls thrown in for good measure. Ian Johnson is here, and, at 91 years of age, he is their oldest member. ‘I have always liked ball games – cricket, football, table-tennis – but now I have macular degeneration. I had a cataract operation two years ago, so I can’t play those games – but I can play bowls,’ he explains, ‘It’s another ball game and very social.’

Lawn bowls has something of a long history. The oldest bowling green is in Southampton and dates from 1299. As many of us know, Drake was reputed to be focusing more on his bowling than the Spanish Armada as it sailed up the English Channel in 1588. In fact, Henry VIII was a keen player, and he would be spitting

feathers if he knew about ‘umbrella night’. In 1511, he had decreed a ban on the sport for all ‘low-born’ and imposed a fee of £100 on any private bowling greens to ensure only the wealthy could play. Enthusiasm for bowls in Sherborne however was not to be doused.

A few centuries later, after Henry’s decree, a bowling green was created on the floor of the valley (now the lake) of Sherborne castle. Later still, and undeterred following the green’s watery end, the town’s bowling club found a new home on the castle’s croquet lawn.

Since then, the club has played on various sites around Sherborne including one next to Pageant Gardens, where the police station now stands. In 1981, a public meeting was held, and it was decided that the area in Culverhayes would serve them well. A playing surface was offered by Purse Caundle Manor and the gravel for the car park came from the film set of Far from the Madding Crowd, which was being filmed locally. After a lot of hard work from the likes of Jack Dimond and Phil Chidgey, plus the loan of a digger, the bowling club finally had a permanent home. It’s come a long way since the days of a wooden shed for a club house and, today, the green is pristine. ‘The green team do a fantastic job,’ says Chris Jones, the Ladies’ Secretary.

‘Phil Locke runs it with a team of four and they do the cutting every other day. They are the number one most important members of our 90 strong club.’

Coaching is also a strong part of this friendly club.

‘We would happily have juniors,’ says Chris, ‘if they’d like to join – and we are always open to new members.

At the moment, we have 11 new players being coached.

The beginners start with six lessons, where they learn how to bowl and the etiquette.’ Bowls is a very civilised > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 79

80 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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82 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

game, and the etiquette is exacting, although much of it is to ensure safety, fairness and preservation of the green from unruly bowls. To be fair, that’s not unlike most ball games but as member, Bev Plympton, points out there are a few quirks: ‘you’re either in with the L’s or you’re not.’ And the L’s are? ‘The ‘line’ you take when delivering a bowl. The ‘length’ you have, which is determined by your arm power, and the ‘luck’ – because on the day, it either goes your way or not.’ As well as being this year’s Lady County President, Bev is also a coach. I ask her what makes bowls addictive? ‘The challenge is pitting yourself against a strong player; it ups your game – a little like in tennis. If your game is perfect, you wouldn’t come back to it but the key is not to feel thwarted by the game.’

The 14th of July is Ladies Presidents’ Day where Bev will be hosting 40-50 lady bowlers and past presidents for a fun social afternoon. Then, in September, the club will be hosting the Ladies County Finals Days no matter what the weather. Bev is clearly proud to be president and wears the chain of office when officiating - ‘although I try not to let it dangle in the soup or cream tea,’ she says. She has also chosen the vital Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as the club’s charity for the year.

The matches are beginning and Bev and a few others leave the club house to take their place on the green. I bump into Brenda Phillips, who will be taking her spot at the national finals at Bowls England in Leamington Spa this August. You can see by her smile that she and everyone else is glad to be back to the club house post lockdown, to see old friends as well as return to the joy of playing. There’s talk of a tour to Hayling Island this year – ‘it’s very social,’ says Chris, ‘we play three or four matches and we have even had a few romances.’

This is clearly a very friendly club and as John Flynn, Mens’ Captain for the umbrella night, says, ‘My father was a keen cricket man and always said to me that bowls was for fuddy-duddies, so I was reluctant to join the club but after a few days I was hooked. There is tremendous camaraderie here and I’ve made a lot of new friends. We are out on the green all summer and what can be better than that?’

We all agree as he heads out of the clubhouse for the evening’s matches. The day’s sun catches the perfect, shimmering green and once again I am basking in the warmth, watching this extraordinary game. sherbornebowling.club sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 84 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

RE-OPENING JULY

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Please contact James and Charlotte | Tel 07802 443905 | info@thestorypig.co.uk The Story Pig, Lavender Keepers, Great Pitt Lane, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne DT9 4FG See more at www.thestorypig.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

Food and Drink

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

SESAME, DATE, CRANBERRY AND SPICE COOKIES

Image: Katharine Davies 86 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

I

n my early fifties, I broke my wrist and was given a bone density scan. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my hip, upper arms, and spine.

I needed to find ways to include as much calcium as possible in my diet and so began my recipe development.

A recently new ingredient that I have added to my cupboard is date syrup; it is used widely in Middle Eastern countries where dates are grown. It has the consistency of a thick honey and lots of health benefits; it contains antioxidants, vitamin A, B6 and C. It’s easy to digest and though a natural sugar, it’s low in fructose and it doesn’t spike like other sweeteners.

This recipe contains iron, calcium, copper and magnesium from the black treacle and date syrup. The dates contain polyphenols and are the richest source of these than any other dried fruits. Sesame seeds contain calcium and vitamin E and add a nutty crunch to these fruity cookies. The sweetness comes mainly from the dried dates, date syrup and cranberries – there is no added sugar. If you wish, you can make up a double batch of dough, as it will keep in a covered container in the fridge for a week – ready to bake another day.

Preparation time

15 minutes to make the mixture, 30 minutes to chill the dough, 18-25 minutes baking time.

What you will need

3-4 flat baking sheets (if you don’t have 4 sheets, then bake in batches), lined with non-stick parchment or silicone mats, and an offset spatula Ingredients

Makes 18-20 cookies 25g black treacle 25g date syrup 50g dark brown sugar 1 egg yolk 125g unsalted butter, softened 180g plain flour 3g bicarbonate of soda 4g baking powder 2 tsp mixed spice 1 tsp cinnamon 100g stoned dates, chopped 80g dried cranberries 80g sesame seeds

Method

1 Weigh the treacle and date syrup into a medium bowl, add the sugar and butter and beat until creamy.

2 Add the egg and mix until fluffy.

3 Add half the flour, bicarb, baking powder, mixed spice, cinnamon and fruit then stir until combined.

Add the remainder of the flour and stir until all combined, cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

4 Heat the oven to 180C, 160C fan, 350F, gas mark 4 5 Place the sesame seeds on a dinner plate.

6 Take a piece of dough about the size of a walnut and roll into a ball. Tip – to make the cookies all the same size, roll into 28g balls.

7 Flatten slightly on the work surface, then press into the sesame seeds on the plate, so each cookie is coated well.

8 Place on the baking sheet and then press down to flatten with the spatula – the cookies should be less than a centimetre thick and about 3-4 cm wide.

9 Bake in the oven for 18-25 minutes, checking after 15 minutes. The cookies are done when they are firm around the edges, evenly golden on top and on the base.

10 Leave to cool on the tray and when cold, pack into an airtight container.

Enjoy! bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87

Food and Drink

OPEN ARMS

T

Doune Mackenzie-Francis, The Queen’s Arms

he Queen’s Arms in Corton Denham has been a destination pub for years, and it’s now our time to prove ourselves as its new owners.

Simon and I have lived in the charming village of Corton Denham for fourteen years and have watched the pub grow and change under the management of Rupert and Victoria, followed by Gordon and Jeanette.

We’ve always loved it as our village local, spending many a sunny afternoon on the terrace with a pint, daydreaming of what we would do, given the chance to own it one day. When the Queen’s Arms came up for sale in 2020 it was an opportunity too good to miss.

In many ways, purchasing the pub during lockdown worked to our advantage. We were able to see how it was managed and learn under the guidance of Jeanette, who stayed on after the purchase and ran it on our behalf from July to December 2020. We then took the opportunity to close in January, during the last lockdown, to carry out a full top-to-bottom refurbishment.

Being a Georgian building there have been lots of unseen challenges we have had to tackle, including a ‘spaghetti junction’ of wiring, the need to replace all the windows, as well as a series of burst pipes, which resulted in the need for completely new plumbing. It now means we know everything will work and there will be no hidden surprises behind the walls. We can hit ‘reset’ and start from scratch.

Well, I say ‘start from scratch’ but in reality, it meant that the ground floor has been completely reconfigured to open up and connect the downstairs rooms, bathrooms have been moved to the side, double doors have been fitted to open on to the terrace and a ‘Pub Hub’ has been added. The Pub Hub will have a café feel to it: it’s a place where people can meet for coffee and pastries and somewhere I hope the village will congregate when using our re-fillable milk machine and buying freshly baked bread.

It’s our first foray into the world of pub management but we are not new in the culinary world.

I have a background in food and have a passion for local, sustainable produce. I spent eight years working at the renowned cookery school Leiths School of Food and Wine as their marketing and PR manager and I am 88 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

also a trained cook, having completed the prestigious family-run course at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. I realise that whilst I have a deep love and understanding of food, I’m not experienced in many areas of the hospitality business though, which is why I’m delighted to have a fantastic team to oversee the running of the pub.

Our Operations Manager, Sharky Patterson, started his career at Soho House before becoming the General Manager at The Beckford Arms in Wiltshire, then going on to take up a position as Assistant General Manager at The Newt in Somerset and overseeing its launch. He’s joined by his friend and long-term colleague Danny Emney, who has similarly worked at Soho House, The Beckford Arms, Roth Bar and Grill and The Newt in Somerset, having first met when they were at school together in Bruton and then have worked together almost ever since.

Completing the new picture is Johnny Jones, who has moved to us from The Bird in Hand pub in London to take up residence in Corton Denham as The Queen’s Arms’ new head chef. Jones trained at Fifteen Foundation, the charity-based cookery academy established by Jamie Oliver, and went on to work at London-based restaurants Bibendum, The River Café and The Berkeley Hotel, before helping to launch Koji with the former head chef of Nobu. He has also worked for the private client boxes at Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Jones’ menu for The Queen’s Arms will combine a modern take on British classics with European influences (being married to an Italian means his homemade pasta is authentically delicious!).

There’s plenty for us to do (I've not even mentioned the 10 newly decorated guest rooms!), and though it’s a very busy time right now, it’s exciting. Our three children have been helping out and are just as excited about it all as we are. Amidst all these changes, we want to remain loyal to the roots of the pub and keep its down-to-earth ‘we love dogs and muddy boots’ philosophy – the thing that first made us fall in love with The Queen’s Arms in the first place.

The Queen’s Arms reopens in July. To make an advanced booking please go to thequeensarms.com or call 01963 220317

Image: Katharine Davies sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Food and Drink

Valeria Aksakova/Shutterstock

90 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

FRESH PASTA

Johnny Jones, Head Chef, The Queen’s Arms Makes enough to serve 6-8 Preparation time: 45 minutes Cooking time: 3-5 minutes Ingredients

350g ‘00’ flour 120g whole eggs (approximately 2 eggs) 90g egg yolks (approximately 4 egg yolks) Pinch of sea salt Semolina/plain flour for dusting The dough

1 Measure flour into large mixing bowl, make a little well in the centre of the flour to weigh the eggs in the same bowl.

2 After measuring out the correct weight of eggs, add the salt and gently begin to mix the ingredients to bring them together. Tip – you can either mix with your hands or in a stand mixer, until a rough ball of dough has formed.

3 Knead the dough for a few minutes until smooth and completely combined.

4 Cover the ball in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge before using. Ideally 10-15 minutes or even longer if you have time.

Making pasta

5 To roll the dough out with a pasta machine, you need to first secure the machine to the table/counter.

Lightly dust the surface with flour and push your dough into a flat shape on the surface, otherwise the machine won’t be able to process it properly.

6 Adjust the machine to the largest setting and put the dough through at least 6 times. Fold the dough in half each time, before you put it through the machine - you are aiming for a very smooth finish on the dough. Once this texture has been achieved, you can start to go down in gradient on the machine 10>9>8>7 etc, until you have reached the desired thickness.

Tip – each machine is different so you will have to

gauge the thickness. If you are making straight pasta (tagliatelle or pappardelle) you can leave the dough to be slightly thicker than if you were to make ravioli, as you are doubling the pasta thickness once you close the pasta shape. If you do not have a machine, you can roll the pasta out as thinly as possible using a rolling pin and semolina flour (or plain flour) to stop it sticking to the table.

7 Once you have your desired dough, gently fold the pasta over three times and slice across the folded pasta, which will then unfurl to created tagliatelle strands.

8 When you are ready to cook, bring a big pan of salted water to the boil and gently place your pasta in.

Cooking fresh pasta is surprisingly fast, around 2-3 minutes, so watch out, it is very delicate so be gentle.

For ravioli… cut the whole length of pasta in half and place one half under a clean tea towel. Lay out the other half and using a teaspoon, place your filling at even intervals along one side of the dough, before using water and a pastry brush to dampen around the edge of the filling, then fold over the rest of the dough to envelope the filling, gently pressing down around the edges. You can then slice between the fillings for your ravioli.

It is important to note the need to have the filling ready, when making filled pasta. Otherwise, it will dry out and crack one closure of the shape.

Serving suggestions

In my family, we make fresh tagliatelle with cherry tomatoes, capers, black olives, fresh basil and a really good glug of extra virgin olive oil. I lightly fry the tomatoes until they start to break down and add the rest of the ingredients and cook for a further 2-3 mins then stir it through the pasta – very quick!

Raw pasta is so versatile; you can create any sauce of your preference. For filled pasta, I like to use ricotta, parmesan and lemon zest – it is a very simple but effective filling. thequeensarms.com

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

Food and Drink

AJAPSANDALI WITH BAKED SALMON Sasha Matkevich, The Green

Image: Clint Randall

T

his is our take on a Georgian classic. It’s an aubergine stew of sorts, packed with flavour and summer veg - the perfect dish for a warm afternoon. We use organic sustainably fed salmon. Alternatively you can use sea trout, which works just as well.

Ingredients

1kg salmon, cut into 6 portions 8 onions - 4 diced & 4 finely sliced 1 lemon, sliced 170ml olive oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 chilli, chopped 1kg aubergine, diced 3 red peppers, finely sliced 1tbsp tomato puree 400g chopped tomato 1 bunch basil, chopped 1 bunch parsley, chopped 1 bunch coriander, chopped Sea salt Black pepper Method

1 Place your salmon on a baking tray with the 4 diced onions and lemon, season with salt and pepper, give everything a good mix and cover with clingfilm, 92 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

then transfer to the fridge overnight.

2 For the ajapsandali, heat a large, heavy-bottomed pan on a medium heat and add 150ml olive oil.

Once the oil has heated up, add the 4 finely sliced onions, 2 garlic cloves and chilli. Cook until the onions become soft and translucent.

3 Add the aubergine and red peppers and continue to cook until the aubergine is soft (around 15 minutes). Add the tomato puree and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes or until thickened and incorporated with the other vegetables.

4 Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for a further 5 minutes. Whilst the ajapsandali is cooking…

5 Remove the salmon from the fridge, discard the lemon and put the onions to one side. Transfer the salmon to a baking sheet and cook for 8 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees. After 8 minutes, add the reserved onions, drizzle with 20ml olive oil and cook for 8 more minutes until the onions are soft and the salmon is cooked Just before serving, season the ajapsandali with salt and pepper and add the chopped herbs. Ladle the stew into 6 bowls evenly and top with baked salmon and onions.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

greenrestaurant.co.uk

A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

I

James Hull, The Story Pig

t’s 9 o’clock and the mid-summer evening sun is still beaming down on us. Charlotte and I walk handin-hand from our outside supper table to inspect our rows of lavender gently rolling down the steep bank.

Their heads held high and tinged with purple, they are about to burst into bloom and provide the spectacle that I have wanted for years, having named the farm Lavender Keepers – it was only a matter of time. This is our short moment together, strolling through into our garden that is alive with the sound of bees of all description – busily collecting nectar from our cottage garden that has really burst into life over the last few weeks. Looking across the lawn to the nearest group of pigs greedily finishing up their supper – jostling and pushing each other for the last morsel – the evening shadows are long and the promise of another amazing sunset beckons. Summer fills the air with the sweet scent of cut grass and flowers on the gentle breeze. As we walk, I try and restrain myself from weeding along the way. Charlotte wants me to focus my attention on her and the flowers – not the pesky weeds that peep through as soon as my back is turned!

It’s been another busy and varied day on the farm.

Starting early, as the morning sun was already beaming down with the promise of another scorching day, I fed the pigs first – it was still cool enough for them to enjoy their breakfast. During the heat of the summer, they seek out shade and water to keep themselves cool, covering themselves in mud if they can. Then, it was back to the farm to make sausages. Today, we made a thousand sausages for the next few days’ orders and markets. Although not my favourite job, it’s obviously a major part of what we do here at The Story Pig – I much prefer to be outside, so escape as quickly as I can.

We had a problem with our green energy supply today, too much sun beaming down was making our switches trip out, so a call to our electrician and a promise of a ‘Charlotte scotch egg’ quickly brought him to our rescue. Then, it was time for me to try and get our sheep into the cattle box and take them to a

neighbour to be sheared. All morning this had been in the back of my mind. There was a small chance that they would trot out of the field in a group of seven and meekly trot into the cattle box – a small chance – but instead, they preferred the other option, where they make the slightly overheated farmer run up and down the paddock, shouting, whistling, and sweating while they run towards the open gate, before taking it in turns to make a break for it. And then, patiently, wait for me to repeat the process. After half an hour of this in the full mid-day sun, me promising that’s it – the sheep must go, and Charlotte’s ‘get a bigger lawn mower James – it will be easier,’ I give up the running and decide on new tactics. It’s time to borrow the very heavy pig hurdles and make the biggest pen I can, so that they won’t even realise it’s a pen. Then, once they are in there, gradually pull and push the hurdles down the field until it’s small for them to have no other option.

It’s a battle of wills now; I’m not giving in – I will get them in if it kills me. Face red as a beetroot and dripping with sweat, legs covered in white stinging nettle spots, where I hadn’t noticed a small patch springing up behind me, I heave and pull. After another half an hour of me going slightly crazy, they quietly run in to the trailer – they know when they are beaten.

That was it, we drove down to the neighbours’ farm, they were sheared and home. No more dramas. I have let them back out and will just keep my distance from them for a few days until my farmer brain tells me once again that they are not so bad after all!

And guess what, the farmer now also makes the coffee in our new Lavender Keepers Café. we have been open three weeks and it’s going well. We are learning all the way; Charlotte is baking day and night; both Sten and I nearly look like sausage rolls with the amount we have had to test, but imagine, we got there! We are open and waiting to welcome you to our amazing spot any day – as long as it’s Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. thestorypig.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

Food and Drink

CHENIN BLANC David Copp

Stellenbosch, Cape Town

I

am not quite sure why my interest in white wines has developed as it has done in recent years.

Perhaps, it is a function of age. For whatever reason, I find myself wanting to write about yet another white wine variety, hitherto not so well known, but now producing attractive wines to compete with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.

Chenin Blanc, the white wine grape of the middle Loire, makes a range of stunning wines which, at their peak, produce the truly great wines of Savennières and Domaine Huet in Vouvray. If I was asked to list some of the finest wines I have most enjoyed, I would include Domaine Huet, developed by Gaston Huet but now owned by Antony Hwang – a highly successful American businessman whose interest in fine wine was stimulated by Istvan Szepsy in Tokay.

Against a background of renaissance chateaux, ancient towns and a majestic meandering river on its 1000-mile-long journey to the Atlantic, Chenin Blanc came of age and began to produce wonderfully zippy wines perfect with seafood as well as pork, chicken, 94 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

turkey and the finest cheeses of the region.

What is of particular interest to white wine drinkers is that over the last two decades Chenin Blanc has found itself a new home in the soils and climate of South Africa. In Swartland and Stellenbosch, outstanding growers such as Ken Forrester have shown how well they can compete with the best growers of the Loire and elsewhere. I believe the best is yet to come.

Chenin Blanc loves the warmth of the sun, but it also welcomes the cool currents of air that come up from Antartica. The Cape Doctor as the breeze is known, helps keep the acidity high and offers the additional benefit of warding off mildew and rot in wet weather.

Chenin Blanc is now the most widely planted vine variety in South Africa and growers are beginning to refine their wines making them a good match with Asian foods and sea food.

The popularity of the grape has grown because it has its own distinctive character and aromatic qualities.

California and Argentina have found some good sites for it and I for one will not be surprised if more suitable

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Afrikan Ridge Chenin Blanc, Finn stock/Shutterstock

Bergsig Estate, Coastal Region £7.50 Vineyards

growing areas are uncovered.

I think back to the 1980s, when Australian Chardonnay first hit our supermarket shelves. ‘Sunshine in a glass’ was the most commonly used caption for the print and poster ads. I would not be surprised if Chenin becomes more and more popular.

Whereas I still retain a soft spot for Riesling, particularly from the Moselle, I am always pleased to find a relatively new-to-me-variety, which offers freshness and flavour, to accompany our preferred foods - fish, white meats and creamy cheeses.

I like the freshness of Chenin Blanc: it retains its acidity well and I have found some really good wines at £6 a bottle. If you do find you like the variety, talk to your wine supplier about the next stage up in the offerings from South Africa and surprise yourself by looking at the late harvest wines and sparkling wines from the Loire. When Gaston Huet died, his wonderful vineyards were bought by Anthony Hwang, an American businessman whose introduction to fine wine was developed by Istvan Szepsy in Tokaj.

Made by Bergsig Estate who are based in

the Breedkloof area of Breede River Valley.

A great introduction to South African

Chenin Blanc. A fruity, dry wine full of

juicy melon, pear and citrus. More rounded than Sauvignon and less aromatic than a

Riesling – have a try!

‘Steen Op Hout’ Chenin Blanc, Mulderbosch Wines, Stellenbosch £12 Vineyards Absolutely everything you want from a delicious Chenin Blanc made from the

‘masters’ of this grape variety. A vibrant,

fresh expression with lively pear, apricot and subtle oak spice. It’s like nectar and

from the minute you open the bottle, undeniably South African Chenin Blanc. An absolute experience in a bottle for the price.

vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 96 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Still working throughout lockdown plus video consultations for anyone shielding tpetrainingandbehaviour.com Contact Sarah on 07769 705807 or sarah@thepetexperience.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97

Animal Care

KING OF THE TILL

Mark Newton-Clarke, MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeon

98 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

S

o, last Sunday, I called into the surgery at Swan House to look after the practice cat, BJ (stands for Blue Juice...don’t ask), as I do every weekend.

Instead of his usual vocal and tactile greeting, poor BJ couldn’t even raise his head from the pillow and had eaten nothing overnight. What’s more, there was quite a mess in his litter tray...and the bath. Grateful for small mercies, I did a clean-up but was far more concerned about his medical condition. Vomiting and diarrhoea are not uncommon symptoms in middle aged and older cats (though far more so in dogs) but as decomposing organic ‘stuff ’ is not attractive to most cats, the cause of BJ’s problems was not likely to be scavenging rotten food. Instead, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was much more likely, although there are plenty of other things that can cause similar symptoms.

However, BJ has a history of similar problems and so this seemed the most likely.

Although you might think a cat living in a veterinary practice for the last 16 years or so would have learned some manners – the opposite is true for BJ. Consequently, he was and is almost impossible to examine even with the expert help of a veterinary nurse, which I did not have on that Sunday morning.

A cursory examination therefore followed, happily without serious injury (to me, that is) and so, taking a deep breath, I injected a mixture of steroids under BJ’s skin. The injection contained dexamethasone, a drug that may be familiar to you as it has been employed as a treatment for human cases with serious Covid-19 infections.

After making sure some freshly cooked chicken was available, I left BJ to rest and gave him two litter trays, just to be sure. Later on in the day, I called in to see how he was doing and was met by a very different cat, all the food eaten and BJ looking much more like his normal bitey self. Since then, no further diarrhoea and everyone’s much happier.

So, how can a drug used to treat a form of IBD in cats be useful in severe Covid-19 cases in humans? The answer lies in the powerful anti-inflammatory activity of the steroids, a family of molecules derived from cholesterol that have been found in even the simplest of animals and many plants. As happens so often in nature, a basic atomic structure is modified to produce a wide diversity of function. Many of us think cholesterol is ‘bad’ even though it forms an essential structural part of every cell in our bodies and in different forms acts to control growth, sexual cycles, kidney function and

cellular metabolism. This is one flexible friend! The story of how steroids have been researched and developed into the therapies we use today is quite interesting and it all started during the Second World War. American intelligence learned that Germany had discovered a way of producing steroid hormones that could protect their pilots from altitude sickness. As a consequence, a huge impetus was given to research in the United States into the manufacture of steroids, necessary as their production from animal and plant sources was difficult and very expensive.

With none of our 21st Century technology, scientists in the 1950s somehow discovered that a species of yam contained a cholesterol-like substance that could be used as the starting point for the chemical manufacture of biologically active steroids. Determining the precise structure of any molecule seems simple these days but, back then, the structure of DNA had only just been discovered, through the tortuous process of making a crystalline form and shining X-rays through it. The pattern of scattered X-rays is dependent on the atoms present and their relative positions; this technique is called X-ray crystallography, unsurprisingly! So, the organic chemists made different compounds and the boffins analysed what had been made. These compounds were then tested on mice to see which had biological activity and breakthroughs in the treatment of leukaemia and arthritis were made.

At some point, a fluorine atom found its way into one of the newly-made steroids and when tested, this modification was found to increase the antiinflammatory activity by ten-fold. This is the drug we now know as dexamethasone and its use is not confined to cats and Covid. However, the anti-inflammatory steroids (known as corticosteroids, as they are made by the adrenal cortex) come with ‘issues’. Taking them for a long time, at high doses, causes a suppression of the patient’s own production, making them dependent on the drug. What’s more, the corticosteroids affect renal function, fat production and cause muscle loss.

Not sounding so rosy, now, eh? However, we now use the most natural form of the synthetic steroids, called prednisolone, at the lowest effective dose and, if possible, only every other day. In this way, side-effects are minimised and benefits maximised, restoring quality of life as much as possible. newtonclarkevet.com

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99

Animal Care

HOT AND BOTHERED Keith Jones BVSc MRCVS, The Kingston Veterinary Group

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t long last… the weather seems to be looking brighter and, hopefully, muddy paddocks are slowly becoming a distant memory. But there’s always something to think about throughout the year where horses are concerned. Here we look at how to care for your horse in the summer and things to consider at this time of year.

With the sudden change in weather, it is important to make sure your horse always has access to clean water and that their intake is monitored, as the heat will also dry out the grass and this may lead to colic.

Monitor your horse’s weight weekly, using a weigh tape, and adjust their feeding/turnout time accordingly. With warmer weather comes the pesky flies. Flies can carry disease and an allergic reaction can result from any fly bite; all flies can cause irritation and annoyance to both horse and the rider and so it is an important thing to consider when working or competing your horse.

Although there are lots of breeds of flies, there are a few in particular that are upsetting for horses.

Claudia M. Velasco/Shutterstock

Horse flies are particularly troubling for horses. They are most active on warm, sultry days and especially around woodlands. They are often quite large and their nasty bite leaves painful papules (pimples) and wheals (small lumps) that are irritating to both the horse and the rider. Horse flies rarely enter dark places, so offering your horse stabling can offer some protection.

Black flies are smaller in size and breed near rapidly moving water. Black flies commonly feed around the face and particularly in the ears where they trigger allergic skin reactions and are mostly active at dawn and dusk. Bites form as painful lumps often with pin prick areas of bleeding or crusting.

Midges are just 1mm-3mm long and hover in swarms at dawn and dusk. They are mostly seen around stagnant 100 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

water areas or ponds, so avoid these areas if possible.

Different types of midges feed on different sites of the body. A common feeding site is the mane and tail and can be a factor to the cause of sweet itch.

Sweet itch in horses, also known as pruritis, describes the unpleasant sensation that leads horses to bite, scratch or rub at their skin. This can sometimes be so strong that horses will cause severe damage to themselves or their environment. Pruritus is known to result from the stimulation of special nerve endings and receptors in the skin. The three main factors to induce the itchy skin is ectoparasites (biting lice), infections and allergies. It is vital that the treatment targets the cause of the pruritus and relieves the itch itself.

Preventative measures to reduce bites; use antimidge/fly turnout rugs and masks, apply a long-lasting fly repellent (spot test first to test for sensitivity), spray the stable with insecticide, eliminate areas of still water where midges might breed. Practise good hygiene around the yard, worm your horse against bot flies in the winter and stable your horse when the flies are bad.

areas. Ensuring fields have shady areas is essential, although it sometimes prove difficult to make sure your horse grazes in this area. There are equine sun barrier creams available; another option is to use a head and muzzle mask to provide some protection.

If you have a horse that is prone to sun-burn it is advised to stable the horse at high-risk times.

Sun damage can be underestimated in our country, and worryingly it can be just as harmful to animals as it is to humans. The pigmentation in hair and skin protects against the penetration of ultraviolet light, so any non-pigmented horse or a horse with white–skinned areas is prone to sunburn damage.

The horse’s face and heels are commonly affected

Worms also complete their life cycle more quickly during the warmer weather. It is now recommended that a horse’s worm burden should be monitored every 6-8 weeks through the grazing season and only wormed if appropriate. kingstonvets.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101

elizabethwatsonillustration.com

YogaSherborne Classes on-line, outdoors and inside (subject to guidelines) • Hatha Yoga • Relaxation and guided meditation Contact Dawn for more details 07817 624081 @yogasherborne hello@yogasherborne.co.uk Yoga Alliance qualified teacher

Muntanya is an independent trekking and outdoors shop offering clothing and equipment from major suppliers.

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Vacancies

Trustees and Volunteer Tutors Stunning new beauty and wellness salon now open in Trent.

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102 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Body and Mind

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Ambassador

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e all appreciate the value of speaking openly and honestly about mental health. It can reduce mental health stigma for everyone and make it easier for our loved ones to open up when they are struggling. The real question is: how do we start the conversation? How do we discuss mental health in the most effective and sensitive way? While different approaches may suit different people, here are some general tips for starting a mental health conversation.

Choose your moment

Before talking to someone about your own mental health or theirs, make sure it is at a good time and place. This means a time where you’re not in a rush, and somewhere you have privacy. It may be best to talk during one of your usual activities. Do you and your mate have a drink in the pub every Sunday?

Do you meet your sister for coffee regularly? Begin there. Talking in a familiar territory can help the conversation feel more natural, even if it is not something you usually discuss.

Ask twice

If you are concerned about someone’s mental health, or are just checking in generally, it is important to ask how they are doing twice. When someone asks us how we are, it is a natural habit for most of us to reply on autopilot, with a cheery, ‘Fine, thanks. You?’ As this is our default reaction, it is important to ask again, so the person being asked knows you really want to know how they are doing, and you’re not enquiring out of polite interest.

104 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

ChickenStock Images/Shutterstock

"When someone asks us how we are, it is a natural habit for most of us to reply on autopilot, with a cheery, ‘Fine, thanks. You?’"

Really listen

Be aware of your body language. Keep your arms and legs uncrossed and face them. Maintain a healthy amount of eye contact and really listen to the words they say. Do not interrupt or interject as soon as there is a pause in speech.

Once they have shared, paraphrase what they have said back to them to make sure you have understood. If they correct you, readjust your summary until they agree.

There is no ‘right’ thing to say

Many people worry about saying the wrong thing when someone tells them they are struggling. Remember, the main thing is that you are there to listen. Validate their feelings; don’t try to minimise their struggles, tell them you know how they feel, or give unsolicited advice.

Instead, tell them you can’t imagine how difficult their

situation must be, and you’re proud of them for facing it so bravely. Tell them you are there for them if they want to vent. Tell them you care about them.

Know when to seek additional support

Whilst talking is invaluable, there is only so much we can do as a friend or loved one. If they are experiencing mental health concerns that interfere with their daily functioning, encourage them to see their GP or reach out to a mental health service, such as a local Mind charity. If you are not sure if they need professional support, it is always better to be safe, so encourage them to talk to their GP. Visit dorsetmind.uk to find out more about 1-2-1 and group mental health services. In a crisis, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 105

Body & Mind

ARE YOU WEAKENING AS YOU AGE?

Image: Stuart Brill

Craig Hardaker BSc (Hons), Communifit

W

ishing you a wonderful sunny July! It is great to have restarted our over-50s exercise classes, after so long following Covid restrictions. Many individuals were nervous of restarting but as the classes have proven, they need not have been! We have had a great first month back and one area we have been focusing on recently is our strength training. But why is this important?

Strength training is really important regardless of age but becomes more important as we become older.

As a general rule, when we reach our mid-30s, our muscles start to weaken. Have you ever wondered why many sports players retire around this age? This isn’t because their ability has decreased, in fact completely the opposite – they are most likely to have become a better performer with experience. Their retirement is due to the body not being able to perform at a high intensity for long durations. Our weakening muscles play a key role in this decline and this process of dwindling is called sarcopenia.

The speed of weakening muscles can be slowed down significantly through strength training. Structured, targeted, and specific strengthening exercises are proven to keep us stronger for longer. It is very important to live a healthy and independent life – making sure we are able 106 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

to continue to do the things we enjoy.

So, knowing what happens to our bodies as we age, and the benefits of strength training – wouldn’t it make sense to put time aside to complete some exercises?

This can be the challenging part! Whether it is a busy lifestyle, work commitments or just simply that you’d rather meet a friend for coffee and cake – putting time aside can seem to be challenging.

Understanding what happens to our bodies, and what can be done to slow down the negative impact of the ageing process is half the battle. This education should be a motivator and provide the catalyst to help us to be proactive and not reactive towards tackling sarcopenia.

Exercising regularly is also very social, for many a very positive factor in relation to good mental health and is something that perhaps we haven’t done much of over the last sixteen months! Exercising with others also makes the experience more fun than when you exercise individually.

Many of our groups have formed multiple friendships over the years and socialise outside of an exercise environment.

Together, we can build social networks, have fun, stay strong both mentally and physically and most importantly slow down sarcopenia.

communifit.co.uk

Summer Holiday Activities Coming Soon

osc_info@sherborne.com

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 107

Body & Mind

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

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ast month, I wrote about my top tips for trail running. But I keep hearing the same recurring statement from clients who want to run:

‘I don’t need to do strength training.

I run, so my legs are strong already.’

With gyms now open and runners free of restrictions, 108 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

I thought it would be a good time to discuss how important being strong is for runners. Strength is a completely different adaptation than endurance and can go a long way to improve your running. Whether running a 5K or a marathon, you need to include strength training in your programme to ensure fewer injuries, to run faster and more efficiently.

If you are training for a race, plan both your

running injuries. Running is notorious for creating dysfunction in the hip, forcing the knee to compensate.

Performing an exercise like deadlifts to specifically target the hamstrings and glutes, can avoid some of those nagging injuries.

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

A recent study found that after a 40-week strength training programme, velocity at VO2 max increased significantly. What does that mean? It means that when you reach the point of maximum oxygen intake, your running speed should be higher.

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

Programming and exercise selection

Sportpoint/Shutterstock

endurance and strength training programmes.

Exercise selection is key: select exercises that will work best to produce optimal strength results and remain compatible with your running goals.

Benefits of strength training

1. Injury prevention – Improving strength helps runners prevent knee and hip pain and avoid many

Designing programmes for runners can be challenging. You need to build strength, but also need to avoid increasing your body weight because this can slow you down.

Stick to lower rep ranges for the more complex, compound lifts such as squats and deadlifts. Runners rely heavily on their quads and hip flexors, so include as many posterior chain exercises, such as hamstring curls and calf raises, as possible.

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

In conclusion, there are many benefits to adding some weight training to your running plan. Try it and just see how much progress you make. Good luck! spfit-sherborne.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 109

NEVER MISS A COPY If you enjoy reading the Sherborne Times but live outside our free distribution areas you can now receive your very own copy by post 12 editions delivered to your door for just £30.00 To subscribe, please call 01935 315556 or visit www.sherbornetimes.co.uk/subscriptions

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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 Teresa or Daniel on 01935 812647 100 Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AG Email: info@wsbrister.com www.wsbrister.com

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112 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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Home

ARCHITECTURE IS EVERYONE’S THING Andy Foster, Raise Architects

W

e struggle to make sense of Councillor Cruddas as her speech continues to break up. Now her image has frozen, and the chairperson moves on to Councillor Spellman, who asks, ‘how could a corrugated metal roof ever be considered appropriate next to a listed thatched cottage?’ Mrs Young, the head of planning, interjects, saying that the design is modern and provides a coherent solution. She also concedes that ‘councillors may have a different opinion.’

I’m listening to a virtual meeting of the planning committee. Under consideration is a proposal for a modern house in a historic rural village. Aside from the technical difficulties with the video call, things are going to script. The objectors have attempted to cram every possible reason to reject the proposal into their allotted three minutes. The applicants have demonstrated how reasonable they have been. The chairman of the parish council has emphasised that there has been a good level of local consultation. And Councillor Cruddas, who represents the village in question and is not a member of the planning committee, has made it clear that architecture is not her thing. Her only objective is to ensure a democratic outcome. She is sitting so firmly on the picket fence it is eye-watering.

It becomes apparent that the local objectors have mounted a fierce campaign in the village to stop the development. Unusually, the matter has been considered by the parish council on two separate occasions. Design meetings have been held with the architects to consider the proposals further, and this has led to some changes, including the introduction of dark timber wall cladding. But the tin roof, which is the source of most of the objections, is retained.

The parish council has voted and found the revised proposals to be acceptable. The objectors remain 114 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

convinced that a contemporary design is wrong next to this listed cottage, or perhaps anywhere.

Back in the planning committee meeting, the chair opens the debate up to further comment from councillors. One councillor is keen to replace some fruit trees that will be lost, even though this has already been agreed. Another raises the issue of flooding, even though the site is in a low-risk area.

But the subject to which everyone returns is what to make of the corrugated metal roof ? Councillor Birchall says that slate would be more appropriate, and that tin can be very noisy in the rain. While Councillor Trendle thinks corrugated metal is suitable in a rural setting, particularly given the nature of nearby farm buildings.

The members of the committee have a difficult decision to make, and the debate continues. On the one hand, the planning officers have recommended the

John Gollop/iStock

application for approval, confirming that it complies with planning policy. On the other hand, the members are aware of the strength of local opinion on the subjective question of roof aesthetics. They need to form their own view while also being aware of what is possible within the constraints of the planning system; a system that does not seek the best solution for any situation but instead asks if the proposed solution is satisfactory?

And, interestingly, at this moment of decisionmaking, there are no design professionals in the virtual room. The architects have previously put their case in a written design statement and save for the occasional clarification from planning officers, the proceedings are carried out entirely by elected representatives of the local borough. This characteristic – that architecture is public art – has always appealed to me. As an architect, I can argue my case. I can justify. And I can give historical precedent. As a member of the public, you can

respond by saying I hear you and I understand – but I still don’t like it.

Councillor Dawson has had enough of the debate and moves to propose that the application be approved. Councillor Piggott seconds the proposal, and this triggers a vote on the matter. One by one, the members of the committee give their response, and the application is approved unanimously – planning permission is therefore granted. Unfortunately, being an online meeting, we don’t get to see the inevitable elated response of the applicants nor the dejected looks on the faces of the objectors. It would be easy to think it a shame that the process results in winners and losers but, equally, it is right that people are passionate about the development of their place. In other words, architecture is everyone’s thing. raisearchitects.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 115

Coming to the market this month…

Lettings & Property Management

Nr Wincanton

Newly redecorated three bedroom cottage on farm. Sitting room with wood burner, modern kitchen, larder, boot room, shower room. Garage and parking, front and rear garden.

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

1 Horsecastles, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3FB T: 01935 816209 E: info@stockwoodlettings.co.uk

Nr Halstock Detached cottage, sitting room with wood burner, bespoke kitchen, cloakroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample parking, enclosed garden.

Stalbridge

Detached house, sitting room, study, dining room, conservatory, large kitchen, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, double garage, parking, attractive garden.

Detached modern house, large sitting room, modern kitchen/ dining, cloakroom, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, enclosed garden, garage and parking.

Sherborne

Nr Chedington

Two bedroom modern house, sitting room with doors opening to garden, modern fitted and equipped kitchen, two double bedrooms, modern bathroom, two allocated parking spaces. Offered fully furnished.

One bedroom flat on working farm, self contained accommodation, open plan kitchen/dining, double bedroom, bathroom with shower over bath, very well presented, private parking.

Yeovil

One bedroom purpose built apartment, sitting room, modern kitchen, bathroom with shower over bath, double bedroom with built in storage, garage and parking.

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DAVE THURGOOD Competitively Priced, High Quality Carpets, Vinyls, Woods & Rugs SHERBORNE SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Unit 12, Old Yarn Mills, Westbury, Sherborne, DT9 3RQ A family run business established in 1998, we promise a highly professional level of service Tel: 07733 101064 or 01935 817885 www.lsflooring.co.uk

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Legal

HOW TO CONTEST A WILL AFTER PROBATE John Osman, Senior Associate Solicitor, Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team, Mogers Drewett

L

osing a loved one is difficult but add to this a dispute and a sad situation can quickly become confrontational and complex.

Wills can be challenged for several reasons including: • If the deceased lacked mental capacity • The will was not properly executed/witnessed • There was undue influence on the person making the will • The will is fraudulent or a forgery • A family member who was dependant on the deceased has been excluded or not provided reasonable provision Once you have decided the grounds on which you wish to contest the will, there are various options available to resolve the issue.

Gather information

Unless there is going to be a coroner’s inquest, the GP or hospital should issue a medical certificate so that the death can be registered, and a death certificate obtained.

If there was a will, obtain a copy as it will allow you to identify the executors (the people who will be responsible for administering the estate) and who will benefit from the estate. If there is no will, then it is likely the rules of intestacy will apply.

Resolution

The first step is for a Letter Before Action to be served by the person challenging the will to the executors. The executors must respond and either accept, negotiate, or dispute the claim. If there is a significant dispute, then it may be that the only way to resolve the matter is to commence court proceedings.

118 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Inheritance Act Claims

Under the Inheritance Act 1975, a will can be contested within 6 months of ‘grant of probate’ being issued, if it fails to make reasonable provision for spouses or children. If a family member has been deliberately excluded from a will, then the person making the will should give reasons why that family member has been excluded in a note accompanying the will.

Caveats

A caveat is a formal notice that is lodged at the probate registry which stops the executors from administering the estate. A caveat can last up to 6 months unless appealed or extended.

A caveat can be put in place if there is a concern over the will authenticity. For example, if you believe the will is a forgery, or a more recent will exists or if the person who has been appointed as an executor is not a suitable person to undertake this task.

The grounds for removal of an ‘unsuitable’ executor are: Incapacity – if a physical or mental disability prevents them from performing their duties Disqualification - because of conviction of a crime resulting in imprisonment Unsuitability - because of serious misconduct or a conflict of interests Unsuitability is the most common ground on which applications for removal are made. The conduct must be serious such as stealing from the estate or causing loss, for example by making payments not authorised under the will or breaching the executor’s legal duties. mogersdrewett.com

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Finance

A HOLE IN YOUR BUCKET?

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

I

n my most recent articles for the Sherborne Times, I have been attempting to explain that real financial planning is all about ‘knowing your bucket.’ Your bucket, essentially, is the amount of money that you currently have, taking into account all future inflows and outflows, for the rest of your life. At FFP, we understand that the number one priority for nearly every client is the reassurance that they will never, in any circumstances, run out of money.

Using powerful financial planning software, it is usually a straightforward process to identify whether you will run out of money. The main driver is identifying the cost of your current and future lifestyles. If you have a big lifestyle, you will need a lot in your bucket; if you have a modest lifestyle, you will need less in your bucket. The driver behind your bucket is your lifestyle.

Understanding your bucket enables you to live your financial life more purposefully. Knowing where you spend your money, and what gives you the most enjoyment, can be empowering.

However, managing your bucket is not simply a one-off action. Our lives change; our preferences and desires change as well. Most people know that you can’t go to the gym once and then be fit for the rest of your life – you have to keep going. Real financial planning is an ongoing process, year after year after year.

In many respects, real financial planning is like sailing. When a boat leaves Weymouth for Lyme Regis, the captain has a plan prepared beforehand. On the journey, the boat will encounter unexpected winds and unexpected currents. In other words, they are constantly being blown off course and minor adjustments are needed along the way to reach the destination.

Real financial planning is similar. Sometimes, the journey is straightforward but occasionally, as the current pandemic reminds us, unexpected events occur. While we can’t control the wind, or a pandemic, we can control other factors. We can spend less, we can invest more, we can even take more (or less) risk. Regular review meetings help to remove financial worry from day-to-day living. Without having to worry about money on a daily basis, the opportunity to begin enjoying life opens up; after all, life is not a rehearsal. Enjoy life while you can – let your financial planner do the worrying for you! ffp.org.uk

120 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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

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

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 121

Tech

BANKING, SHOPPING & PAYING ONLINE James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers

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

details for the company because if something goes wrong then it may prove impossible to contact the company afterwards. If in doubt, then only use a brand that you are familiar with. Print, screen-shot or save the order email so that it can be the evidence you need if you must claim a refund later.

Mobile and online banking

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

Online banking has been around for many years now and most banks and building societies also offer apps which allow you to bank via your mobile phone or tablet with similar functionality. Despite what you might think, banks aren’t stupid! They make you use multiple layers of security and card readers or code generators to confirm unusual transactions. It’s pretty safe, so long as you don’t tell ANYBODY your login details and you make sure that if you ever change your mobile number or email address, you log in to their website and let them know as this will probably be their way of contacting you. I can see no reason not to do online banking. However, remember the golden rule: your bank will NEVER contact you and ask for any personal information over the phone or via email. If in doubt, hang up and contact your bank direct.

Before you buy

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

Never use a site that does not contain any contact 122 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

Protection

Methods of payment

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

Alternatively, you can make purchases using PayPal. This is a safe payment system that is free to the end user (that’s you!) but there is a small fee for receiving money.

With PayPal, you can send and receive money online, provided you have a valid email address. You simply sign-up and register your credit card or bank with them and they then act as a middleman. This service also allows you to use different currencies. PayPal also has a buyer protection feature, whereby you can claim for goods up to the value of £250 at no additional cost but only on the condition that you make your complaint within 30 days.

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Short Story

EARLY MORNINGS Marigold Verity, Sherborne Scribblers

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here was a time when as a busy mother, my early mornings revolved round the school run. Hurried breakfasts, gathering up schoolbooks and a rush to catch the school bus – or on late mornings, to chase the school bus!

Later, the children having grown and departed, the dog became my reason for an early morning exit from the house. The unofficial rendezvous for us dog walkers became the old quarry that had been converted into a public park. The newly planted trees were maturing, forming little woodland clumps. While paths wind uphill and down dale around the grassy interior.

There, punctually at 7.30 am, David would be seen, outside the entrance, sitting in his car and reading the newspaper, with his whippet looking anxiously out of the window, watching out for other doggie friends. David had a problem walking. He seemed to have developed poor circulation in his painful legs, so by walking his dog, we relieved him of his doggie duties.

He continued to read the paper and give us a summary of the daily news on our return from our round.

I remember that beautiful sunny morning in spring when the dawn chorus was particularly vibrant. The birds were clearly very busy claiming their territory or calling for a mate, yet looking towards the valley beyond, on the horizon were dark, forbidding clouds. That was the morning there was no David. I thought nothing of it, we all have ‘a lie-in’ some days.

As the black clouds swirled, sooner than expected, it started to tip down with rain.

We all scurried to the gate, to head home. As I exited the gate, I saw a couple of stationary cars, one car had its engine still running, and I watched the wipers swishing hypnotically. I wondered why the engine was running

124 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

yet the car remained stationary. Then, I saw the driver was on the phone.

Suddenly, an ambulance came splashing down the road, siren going with flashing lights. The car with the swishing wipers shot out and followed the ambulance, a blue light suddenly started rotating on the top of his car. He must have been a medic, I thought. We dog walkers wondered what kind of emergency had arisen.

Then, some hunch made me worry that that ambulance just might have been for David. Only the day before I was told he had been diagnosed as having blood clots close to his heart. I had to make a decision to check if he was alright. I put the dog in the back of the car and jumped in hastily and set off for David’s house. There, I saw what I feared. The car and ambulance were parked outside. Obviously, there was nothing I could do just then but wait outside.

I knew David’s neighbour would take his dog to her home and phoned her later that day. She told me David had collapsed on the landing as he was approaching the stairs. Fortunately, he had his mobile phone, so alerted her to call for help. Sadly, he died before reaching hospital, the blood clot had caused a heart seizure.

It doesn’t seem long ago that this all took place. I often think of David when I take my early morning walk. How punctual he was, his newspaper held up like a screen against the car window. His anxious little whippet is no longer there, looking out at the back of the car. I heard he has been adopted by a doggie friend and is having a very happy time. Up at the old quarry, the dawn chorus is still magical, and the leaves on the trees are burgeoning now. But things are not the same. We dog walkers miss David, his little whippet’s anxious face and our daily summary of the news.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 125

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Thank you for your support during this difficult time. Sherborne Food Bank relies solely on the generous food and cash donations from the community and is in urgent need of your help. Please consider adding the following items to your shopping trolley: • Anti-bac hand gel and wipes • Savoury biscuits • Cereals (Please no pasta or tinned soups and beans)

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www.sherbornefoodbank.org 07854 163869 | help@sherbornefoodbank.org 126 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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JUNE SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Work together (11) 9. Former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (5) 10. Bitumen (3) 11. Capital of Bulgaria (5) 12. Brazilian dance (5) 13. Strongholds (8) 16. A desert in south-western Africa (8) 18. Froglike amphibians (5) 21. Epic poem ascribed to Homer (5) 22. Tree of the genus Quercus (3) 23. Friend (Spanish) (5) 24. Forever (2,9) 128 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

DOWN 2. Sets of clothes (7) 3. Reptiles with scaly skin (7) 4. Relating to a wedding (6) 5. Staggers (5) 6. ___ pole: tribal emblem (5) 7. Dehydration (11) 8. Tolerant in one's views (5-6) 14. Pasta pockets (7) 15. Type of deer (7) 17. Birthplace of St Francis (6) 19. Posed a question (5) 20. Produce eggs (5)

Literature

LITERARY REVIEW Deborah Bathurst, Sherborne Literary Society

Actress by Anne Enright, (Jonathan Cape) £8.99

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Sherborne Times reader offer price of £7.99 from Winstone’s Books

his novel is written in the form of a biography. The ‘author‘ is Norah, daughter of a famous actress, Katherine O’Dell. Inevitably, the book is also an autobiography of Norah as the lives of mother and daughter are intertwined.

Norah is provoked into writing the book following a visit from a young woman, Holly Devane, who is writing her doctoral thesis about Katherine O’Dell. Norah, an author herself, is middle-aged with grown-up children of her own. Her mother, as well as being a famous actress and Hollywood star, is, by this time, probably best remembered for the notoriety she gained from shooting a producer in the foot and then being committed to a mental institution. Despite being accustomed to giving interviews about her mother, she is irritated by Holly’s use of the phrase ‘heteronormative’ and asking about her mother’s ‘sexual style’. Later that evening, her husband asks, ‘why don’t you write it yourself ?’

We are told about Katherine’s early life. The daughter of two actors who toured Ireland during the war, Katherine was at boarding school in Ireland but joined the actors during the holidays and took small parts in the productions, using her mother’s name of Odell. From the London stage she went to Broadway, where she became O’Dell and a redhead. Then, to Hollywood, glittering fame and an unconsummated Hollywood marriage that didn’t last.

Home was Dartmouth Square, Dublin, where Katherine, now a single mother, lived between jobs.

Norah was a much-loved child, her mother’s ‘miracle’

but the question as to who her father was weaves throughout the story. There is no doubt there was a loving relationship between mother and daughter but there are moments when Norah wonders if ‘Mother’ was yet another role acted by Katherine.

We get Norah’s view of Katherine through her eyes as a child, teenager, young adult and then as a mature woman. As Norah grows up, there is more about her own life and the men she knew as well as increased speculation about her mother’s life and the people in it. She lives through her mother’s period of fame and then the decline in her career as the film work stops and the younger theatre parts become less and less after the age of 40, observing the impact it has on her mother. Then there is the shooting followed by the court case, the committal to the mental institution and the period back home afterwards until her death. This all takes place against the background of life in Dublin during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and as Norah reaches adulthood, the ‘Troubles’ spill over from the North with the burning of the British embassy in Dublin after Bloody Sunday.

‘Anne Enright writes so well that she just might ruin you for anyone else...Stripped raw of any sentimentality, the result is a critique, a confession, a love letter - and another brilliant novel from Anne Enright.

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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

S

Monsignor Robert Draper, Church of the Sacred Heart and St Aldhelm

o, have you managed to find a way to smile when wearing a mask? When you pass a neighbour (perhaps still socially-distanced), you have probably worked out that it has to be a firm look and nod and raising of eyebrows – that’s how you show that you recognise the other and do so in a friendly way. I have been fascinated by how people acknowledge one another when the usual ways have been restricted. I noticed when hugs were again permitted, they tended to be somewhat tentative but there was a renewed genuineness.

I am sure we all have countless stories about what has happened over this last year and a half, but I find the most interesting ones are about how our ways of communicating have adapted and changed. Close relationships kept up entirely through email and telephone, and, of course, endless zoom encounters, the equivalent on social apps – lots for work and lots for socialising, and I am sure we all learned quite quickly how to manage the technology, even if we did not think we would ever need to get around to it. That, of course, is because we all suddenly realised that whatever else was going to happen, we still wanted to communicate.

I know we can often give the impression – or get the impression from others – that by and large most of us are self-sufficient and can take care of ourselves. But that is not true and never has been. One of the first things said about humanity in the Bible is significant: ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ (Genesis 2.18). Human beings are – by nature – social beings, we belong to one another, and an essential element of that is communicating with one another. That is why this time of pandemic has been so hard – we have not had the usual ways of communicating. But because it matters, we have all of us, I am sure, developed new ways of doing so.

I have been struck by how what would normally be a very limited encounter – in a shop or over the phone, now feels different. I am sure I am not imagining it, but both myself and the other person seem to have a real encounter, not just a business transaction – one person encountering another person. It seems we make more of an effort because we know deep down that it matters – that we have a need to communicate.

But it is communication at a much deeper level that has also emerged. We have always been polite and interested in one another, but the pandemic and the lockdowns have also produced an extraordinary amount of care and concern. Of people going out of their way to help others, to meet needs and offer help. This ‘love of neighbour’ is something real and tangible; it is communication at a much deeper level. We could almost call it communion – the idea that we actually belong together and together belong to the one ‘who holds all things in being’.

130 | Sherborne Times | July 2021

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