The end of an era and a final splash for Abbey Swimming Club

It is with great sadness that the Abbey Swimming Club has had to permanently close after more than 30 years as a community swimming club. Located at the Milton Abbey School pool, the club had its first swimming session on Tuesday 14th June 1988. The club was run solely by volunteers – including the lifeguards, swimming teachers and all committee members. For almost 32 years (the pandemic forced a closure in March 2020) the club held four swimming sessions per week – members were aged from a few months to the over-80s.

The club ran children’s and adult’s swimming lessons, and for many years diving lessons, toddler swimming lessons, and aquafit. There were also regular galas at the pool – both competitive ones, and those for fun. The club had close links with Milton Abbas surgery and offered ‘back to fitness’ sessions for many surgery referrals.

But it wasn’t all about swimming – it was also a valued social club for its members. There were regular events to raise funds, such as New Year’s Eve barn dances, summer barbeques, skittles evenings and quiz nights. Since 2001 they have run the cream tea stall at the Milton Abbas Street Fair. The whole swimming community came together at these events. After COVID the club was hoping to re-open as before. Unfortunately, under new safeguarding rules Milton Abbey School could only allow the club to access the pool during some school holidays. Much searching couldn’t find another pool that offered the ‘community club’ facilities. In September 2022 the members reluctantly voted to wind up the club. On the evening of 18th January 2023, a farewell reception was held at the Milton Abbas Reading

Rooms. The club assets were distributed to the local charities chosen by club members and the following cheques were presented during the evening:

• £7,000 to Wimborne Wagtails – A Dorset based swimming club for the disabled. The cheque was received by the club chairman, Julian Vernon.

• £7,000 to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. The cheque was received by Becky Heath.

• £7,000 to Weldmar Hospicecare – A Dorset based charity providing specialist end of life care. The cheque was received by Marie Notley.

• £2,000 to Milton Abbas Street Fair. Cheque was received by chairman, Freddie Robinson.

Family support charity launches Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal

Home-Start Wessex is standing alongside local families with a new appeal launched this month. In a recent survey by Home-Start UK, 74 per cent of families said they were expecting to need financial support this winter. In 2022, Home-Start Wessex helped a record 300 families across Dorset and the borders of Wiltshire and Hampshire. Demand increased by 30 per cent as more families struggled to cope and needed their help. Volunteers provide practical, compassionate and emotional support to parents whose worries about finance are adding to the challenges of post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems and bereavement. Alongside one-toone support, they also run five family groups and weekly ‘Wellness Walks’ to help families get outside and connect with others whilst having fun and getting some exercise.

Kathy Fryatt-Banks, Chief Executive of HomeStart Wessex, said, ‘Parents from across the area are telling us how they are worried – heating is unaffordable, and they are missing meals to buy nappies and food for their babies. Times are tough for many, but please give whatever you can. Even a small amount will make a huge difference this winter.’

To donate, please visit their Just Giving page. You can also support families by becoming a Home-Start volunteer, ensuring that a family has the support they need. No qualifications are necessary, and full training will be provided. Contact Michelle by email, or via the website – homestartwessex.org.uk

Firstly, I want to take the opportunity for a huge thank you to all our customers who have supported us over the past year – both by coming to the shop and also attending our author events. We really appreciate your custom. For this month’s selection I thought I’d suggest two titles that came out late last year which may have been overlooked among the tinsel. They are well worth a look. Wayne.

ZEALS A biography of an English Country House by

Jennie Elias (£20)

Zeals, an English country manor house in Wiltshire, was filled with life, dogs, books, flowers and a grand piano in the Great Hall. It was a house for landed gentry – but is now on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. The house has medieval origins, but there were later additions; predominately those from the 19th century by Victorian architect George Devey, but also earlier changes in the 17th and 18th centuries. This fascinating house naturally has a rich history. Charles II took refuge at Zeals House on his flight to the coast. A family member was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell for daring to confront his parliamentary troops. The Chafyn-Grove family, later Troyte-Bullock inheriting in a sideways move, lived at Zeals House for 500 years until the mid20th century, when the fate of the estate mirrored that of many others in England.

Jennie Elias charts the joys and tragedies of generations of Zeals House residents, with characters ranging from haughty to charming and eccentric to prejudiced. There were of course failures through political levelling down and cultural change, but there were also many entirely of their own making. This definitive history also explores and celebrates the architecture of Zeals.

The Story of Art Without Men

by Katy Hessel (£30)

Can you name 20 women artists? If not, read this book. Who makes art history?

Did women even work as artists before the 20th century? And what is the Baroque anyway?

Prepare to have your sense of art history overturned, and your eyes opened to many art forms often overlooked or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan’s east side, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times – one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time by the creator of the website The great women artists. (if you’re on Instagram, do follow @thegreatwomenartists) “The Story of Art Without Men should be on the reading list of every A-level and university art history course and on the front table of every museum and gallery shop.” – Laura Freeman, The Times. “Passionate, enthusiastic and witty, this spirited history celebrates female artists without any dreary finger wagging.”

Signed copies available at Winstones, Sherborne.