Community

MARKET KNOWLEDGE

ABIGAIL THURSTON, GREEN GROVE DESIGNS

Welcome to The Sherborne Market! What brings you here?

Sherborne Market has an amazing, bubbly and buzzing atmosphere, making it a pleasure to trade at. It is a curated market, meaning that there’s plenty of variety from a bunch of amazing traders. When trading here you always come away feeling satisfied as it has such a community vibe to it. Everyone is your friend and supports you, wanting you to succeed just as much as they want to themselves.

Where have you travelled from?

We have travelled from Crewkerne in South Somerset, from one market town to another!

Tell us about what you’re selling?

We sell climate-positive, nature-inspired polymer clay jewellery which is all completely handmade. We make everything in small batches in order to stick to our strict zero waste policy. We are incredibly proud to be partnered with Ecologi where we fund 2 climate projects each month, while also planting a tree with every purchase both in person and online!

Where and when did it all begin?

I started on the website Etsy back in 2020 when Covid hit. After losing 3 jobs because of the pandemic, I decided it was the perfect time to start, after wanting to for so long. I found that working in retail had completely blocked and restricted me from being creative, which makes up a huge part of my personality! Being on furlough for a few months gave me the time I needed as well as permission to be creative, enabling me to finally kick start my business. We have since opened our own website.

What do you enjoy most about selling at markets?

I love the community spirit and meeting other traders and customers. People genuinely appreciate the work that goes into your products and support you all the way! It’s also fulfilling to be supporting a new(ish) market (est. 2019) that has deservingly grown hugely since I first started trading there, (plus, it gives us an excuse to go to Oliver’s for amazing coffee).

If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit?

Either Bake Box or Bayside Baker for amazing brownies, or Brothers Make who make products out of recycled plastic from the local community, schools and beach cleans!

Where can people find you on market day?

This month, we are on Half Moon Street. We hope that you can stop by and say hello!

greengrovedesigns.co.uk @greengrovedesigns

Image: Gill Clark

SHERBORNE RFC

Gary Lonsdale, Junior Fixtures Secretary

Sherborne RFC is a young, vibrant club established in 1980 by a rag-tag bunch of players in The Digby Tap. Chats became discussions, discussions became meetings, until eventually some friendly fixtures were organised with established local sides. These games were always played away as it was not until the next season, with the support of the Cricket Club and Sherborne Town Council, that they managed to gain a home pitch at the Terrace Playing Fields. From this small idea, the wonderful club we see today has developed. Renowned as a friendly and hospitable club, Sherborne RFC’s emphasis on enjoyment, involvement and good sportsmanship is

reflected right through to the youngest of our teams.

The senior 1st XV will play the 22/23 season in the Regional 2 Tribute South West league, kicking off their campaign away against Teignmouth RFC on 3rd September, with the first home game against St Austell on 10th September. The 2nd XV will play in the Counties 3 Tribute Dorset & Wilts Central league with their first match being home to Melksham on 3rd September. All supporters, young and old are encouraged to join us at the Terrace Playing Fields. Come for drinks in the clubhouse before enjoying an afternoon of exciting grassroots rugby.

If anybody feels they have hung up their boots too early, come for a tryout – this could be an opportunity to get involved again, please email contact@sherbornerugby.co.uk, for further details.

Age Grade Rugby A major focus of Sherborne RFC is its expansive and growing Youth and Mini sections, consisting of mixed teams from Under 6 (U6) – U11, the Minis and Youth Boys U12-U17 (Colts) and Youth Girls U12- U18. (Sharks). The Youth and Mini sections are chaired by our dedicated Chairperson, Caroline Durston. Being an English Rugby Football Union (RFU) accredited club we passionately champion its core values and operate with these at the heart of everything we do: Teamwork Respect Enjoyment Discipline Sportsmanship

We train every Sunday morning at the Terrace Playing Fields in Sherborne throughout the season. If we are not training, we will be hosting opposing teams or travelling to away matches. The Youth section also has training sessions throughout the week, to provide as much fitness and skill training as possible, to minimise injury and keep the players fit and motivated for their Sunday morning games. We also try to play the occasional Friday night game with local teams, which provides the always popular and unique opportunity, to play on the club’s 1st team pitch under the floodlights. This is thoroughly enjoyed by all involved, particularly on those wet and windy winter nights!

We are affiliated to the Dorset and Wilts RFU which runs a busy calendar of friendlies for all ages as well as league and cup competitions for the Youth Sections. Last year’s U12s (undefeated), U14s and U15s won their respective leagues, even after the twoyear hiatus over lockdown, demonstrating the great commitment shown by all the Sherborne RFC players, coaches and managers.

The teams also take part in other rugby events, such as Super Saturdays which see the teams join the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park or Bath at the Recreation Ground, for stadium tours, training from professionals and of course the chance to watch them play.

We are always looking for new players to join our teams and welcome any newcomers with open arms, this year we are particularly interested in anybody in the U14 (Year 9) age group. For further details drop us a line at contact@sherbornerugby.co.uk, or turn up at the clubhouse at 10am on Sundays from the start of the season (4th September).

Volunteers As with the majority of sports clubs, we rely on a dedicated cadre of volunteers, including coaches and managers for each team, committee members, essential admin roles, and kitchen and support staff. All volunteers having responsibility for children are DBS checked. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers for the many roles that need to be filled, in particular the vitally important team coaches and managers.

If you are interested, please email contact@sherbornerugby.co.uk and we will be in touch.

sherbornerugby.co.uk

Sherborne RFC Alumni We are proud to boast a number of elite players who have come through our training system and continue to play with the passion and love for the game they first developed here at the very earliest stages of their careers:

Will Carrick-Smith, Bedford Blues Ollie Devoto, Exeter Chiefs Tom James, Northampton Saints Tom Lawday, Harlequins Alice Lockwood, Bristol Bears Sam Nixon, Grenoble Jake Woolmore, Bristol Bears

OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER

Chris Loder MP, Member of Parliament for West Dorset

Image: Len Copland

Iwrite my column about three weeks before you read it, so there is a big caveat on this one that one week, let alone three, is a long time in politics!

Since being elected in December 2019, I don’t think there has been a single period of political calm and definitely not during July! But the reason for that turbulence changed in November last year from being about policy and government matters to being about Boris Johnson. And that was continuous until he declared his intention to resign on 7th July.

Slowly but surely, over this period the backbencher/ Prime Minster relationship has eroded through the political turbulence about personal issues concerning Boris Johnson’s integrity, ring condensed into a repeat cycle of just a few days, concerning the former deputy chief whip. For me, it was just not acceptable for a retired civil servant to have to correct the record from the Prime Minister’s office.

Back in January, I told West Dorset constituents of my view of the Downing Street parties. I appeared on national television and radio and I wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that my mission would be to restore trust

and honour to our government where that has been breached and now, I feel that we are now well on the way to pushing that reset button for the autumn.

It’s been a turbulent time. I first went to see the Prime Minister on 15th December last year to share my observations about things that needed to get better. And I have had numerous meetings subsequently in the hope that a turnaround might be possible. But it became clear, when I felt the need to write in the Sunday Telegraph, that change was needed, preferably organically, but in the end, it was by the wider party and when I opposed Boris in the vote at the beginning of June.

I know some people have thought that I should have been totally unforgiving and submitted a letter calling for the Prime Minister to go much earlier, but to be totally unforgiving is not an attribute I find readily. In the middle of 2019, this country was in gridlock. Parliament was thwarting the democratic will of the nation and with Mrs May in a political corner unlike anything we have seen before, certainly not in my lifetime.

Boris Johnson has gotten us out of that gridlock. He has indeed got many of the big decisions right. Even though I didn’t agree with some of his lockdown votes, the investment decisions about a vaccine have saved this country and many people from serious illness.

Heads of Government though are not simply interchangeable robots. They are human beings each with unique attributes and qualities that can make all the difference in world events.

Boris Johnson is no exception. And whilst his shortcomings have been discussed in great detail in recent months, it is true to say that Boris’ greatest strengths at the beginning became his greatest weaknesses at the end. I want to pay tribute to Boris for the successes and big decisions that have helped us with Brexit and the pandemic. Few others could have done that in my view. And there have been many other really good things that the Conservative government has achieved under his leadership. For example, ending live exports of animals for fattening and slaughter: a needless and cruel practice I have worked hard to put an end to. We have succeeded in the fastest vaccine rollout in the world, we are protecting British Steel, and we are now opening the doors for competition within our public sector procurements industry meaning small and micro-sized businesses will get a fairer bite of the cherry when it comes to competing for opportunities.

When you read this, we should be in the middle of a contest to choose the next Prime Minister. But amidst all the turbulence, I’d like to assure you that ensuring West Dorset’s voice is being heard is of primary importance and that we continue the work I have already been doing to see more of the same. £62.5m of investment into Dorset County Hospital, £4.8m investment in West Dorset schools and colleges alone, as well as major boosts to our AONB funding, apprenticeship schemes and so much more.

It is fair to say though, that we have seen unprecedented levels of bullying directed toward Boris. And I think it should be a matter that concerns us all, that the press, online and mob attacks have been relentless. Not because of a policy disagreement but because these extremist groups have wanted to bully and intimidate one person in the hope that they break. These are not behaviours we are used to in the UK and we need to be much more aware of them.

When I was first elected as a Member of Parliament, I said that serving my constituents will always be my primary purpose. It is with these thoughts in mind that I voted the way I did.

chrisloder.co.uk

EBBX is an independent non-profit networking group that brings together business owners from Sherborne and the surrounding areas. We meet for breakfast every other Wednesday morning, 7.00-9.00am at Castle Gardens, Sherborne.

New faces and visitors are always welcome, so whether you are running an established business or thinking of starting a new venture, please do join us for an opportunity to meet supportive, like-minded, local business people. Email our secretary to book your place at the next meeting: info@sherbornebusinessexchange.co.uk www.sherbornebusinessexchange.co.uk SHERBORNE

The Early Bird Business Exchange

“Win the morning, win the day”