News

Latest news suggests newspaper rumours that David Beckham was hot favourite to buy the site were as wide of the mark as the former footballer’s infamous penalty miss against Turkey in 2003.

Dorset Council have agreed to pay £10.05 million for the

55-acre site which includes a swimming pool, tennis courts and other facilities as well as a greatly extended Victorian mansion. The price is above the agents’ guide price of £7.5-£9 million.

In a statement confirming the purchase, Cllr Tony Ferrari, holder of Dorset Council’s Economic Growth, Assets and Property Porfolio, said: ‘We are always looking at ways of improving delivery services for Dorset children and adults, and the purchase of the St Mary’s site will help us achieve that. ‘We are very ambitious for the

site and are determined that it should remain an asset to our community.

Council Leader Cllr Spencer Flower added: ‘This is a significant investment and I’m pleased we’ve been able to

Dorset Council are promising a major public consultation after confirming their multimillion pound purchase of the St Mary’s School

site at Shaftesbury. by Roger Guttridge

secure it for the benefit of our community. It is suitable for a broad range of services and community uses, which could include provision for Dorset children, supported living for our Dorset care leavers, provision for adults with disabilities, as well as a possible site for businesses to boost our local economy and more besides. ‘We are committed to working with local people and stakeholder groups to get the mix of activity right so together we can achieve great things for this site and our community.

‘I realise people are asking how we can afford it, but this is a clear example of investing to save in the longer term. ‘I don’t want to pre-empt any decisions about the site, as we want to work with local people and groups first, but building a facility like this from scratch would cost considerably more.

‘This is a unique opportunity and a very exciting chance to create something new that will greatly benefit our community.’

The digital Blackmore Vale understands that a steering committee has already been formed and is expected to meet early next month. the site, one of the steering committee’s members, Shaftesbury Cllr Tim Cooke, told the local radio station This is Alfred: ‘I have not heard anything to suggest that housing is in any way a possibility. ‘I will be pushing to make sure that all the facilities are kept intact.’

Cash-strapped Dorset Council is expected to borrow from government funds to finance the purchase.

An unusual aspect of the deal is that Dorset is buying a property in Wiltshire – although St Mary’s Catholic girls’ school has always been regarded as part of Shaftesbury. The house – formerly Coombe House – was built in 1886 as a country retreat for Liberal MP and vinegar magnate Mark Hanbury Beaufoy. It was a hotel in the 1930s and a US Air Force rest home in the Second World War before becoming St Mary’s Convent in 1945. North Dorset MP Simon Hoare welcomed the purchase.

‘It’s great news,’ he said. ‘I know the site well and it will add an important new base for the council to deliver services in the north. The site has limitless potential and its purchase should be welcomed across the county.’

Clare Balding visits Dorset to interview local sculptor for BBC Radio 4

Clare Balding recently visited Sculpture by the Lakes, a sculpture park near Dorchester, to interview its owner and world-renowned sculptor, Simon Gudgeon, for the BBC Radio 4 programme, Ramblings.

The recording, which took place in December 2020, involved the pair walking a five-mile trek from Moreton to Sculpture by the Lakes, in Pallington, whilst Clare interviewed Simon on his fascinating journey to becoming an internationally-recognised sculptor. Having discovered his passion and talent for sculpture at the age of 40, Simon has enjoyed a meteoric rise to success, with pieces favoured by royalty and rock stars alike.

Prince Charles has one of Simon’s sculptures in the grounds at Highgrove and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given one by Sandringham staff as a wedding present. Rock royalty Nick Mason, founder member of Pink Floyd, has a couple too.

In 2011, Simon opened the doors of his 26-acre Dorset home to the public. He has transformed the grounds of his home into a sculpture park, Sculpture by the Lakes, providing an idyllic setting for his pieces. The park is open for most of the year and is a haven for art lovers and nature lovers alike.

Over the half day recording session, Clare and Simon walked from St Nicholas Church in Moreton, through the local woods, and all around the sculpture park – discussing Simon’s life story along the way.

Simon Gudgeon said: “Recording with Clare was an absolutely fantastic experience. We explored some very interesting topics in the interview, and she was great company. When we got back to Sculpture by the Lakes, we had a really good look around the nooks and crannies of the park, including the gallery and the café. She has some very nice things to say about the chef’s quiche!”

The Ramblings episode will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the coming months. The programme sees Clare Balding join notable and interesting people for a walk through the countryside and has seen former guests such as former Home Secretary David Blunkett, naturalist Steve Backshall, comedian Dom Joly, and anthropologist Alice Roberts.

NEWS

Over 2,600 Local Residents Vaccinated Last Weekend

Last Saturday, the 9th January, over 1,000 patients and staff received their first coronavirus vaccine at Sturminster Newton medical centre, in a joint operation between Gillingham Medical Practice and the Blackmore Vale Partnership.

On the same day, all care home residents in Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury and many NHS staff in the community also received their first dose of the Covid vaccine. Practice Manger Karen Rhys exclaimed “We couldn’t have

done this without amazing teams of clinicians, admin, domestic and volunteers. I have genuinely never seen such hard-working teams in my life”

GP-led sites in north Dorset are continuing the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination at speed to the county’s most vulnerable people. Primary care networks (groups of local GP practices) have worked closely together to develop detailed plans to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations in their wider community locations. By the end of this week, every care home in the Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sturminster Newton area has received their first dose, along with all over 80s, as per the Government’s instructions.

GPs, nurses, pharmacists, support and logistical staff, other primary care staff, and those in the wider health and social care system have been working at immense speed to make it happen.

Dr Simone Yule is a GP and Clinical Director for the Blackmore Vale Partnership. She said

“The vaccination roll-out is continuing to gather momentum and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved for their help in making this happen, I’d also ask anyone who is invited to accept the offer and come along to get their jab, not just to protect themselves but to reduce the risk to others.”

Dr Kathryn Mounde was one of 3 partners from Gillingham Medical Practice who helped administer the vaccines on the day ‘’Thank you to the patients for their understanding and for helping us to make it a positive day! The gratitude of the patients was overwhelming. We look forward to seeing more of you over the coming weeks. An enormous thank you to our extraordinary team of invaluable volunteers who worked tirelessly all day. You are amazing! ‘’

Amongst the first to be vaccinated was 80 year old Andrew Tinsley from Wyke, Gillingham who said ’’Everything was extremely well organised. I was kept well informed and was very pleased to be able to have my vaccination. I felt very safe with socially distanced seating whilst I waited for the 15 minutes after my jab and thought the whole set

In Sherborne, a similarly large scale clinic at the Digby Hall was a joint effort by the combined forces of the Sherborne Area Network, which comprises The Grove

up was absolutely excellent’.

Medical Centre, The Apples Medical Centre and Yetminster Health Centre. Staff from all surgeries were taking part in this fantastic event, and vaccinated over 1200 over 80s and health and social care staff.

Carolyn Loosen from Sherborne got in touch with The Blackmore Vale to praise the clinic staff and volunteers

“My husband today was given the vaccine in Sherborne at Digby Hall thanks to the Sherborne surgeries. I have to thank all concerned especially those assisting car parking who also personally saw that the infirm were assisted up/ down kerbs or they helped pushing wheelchairs. It was so well run.”

Dr Rob Childs from The Grove medical Centre wrote “We are delighted to report that our first Covid vaccination clinic went very well.” He continued “All three practices are working extremely hard at the moment to ensure that we get as many patients vaccinated as soon as we can, but we are still open on

our practice sites. If you have any other health concerns, please contact your surgery as normal.”

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Patient Participation Group at The Grove Medical Centre, Sherborne told us “The Primary Care Network asked if our local Patient Participation Groups would take on the task of safely controlling patients arriving at the clinic. We have been overwhelmed by the offers of help - over eighty volunteers within the community which is most welcome as we are all in this for the long haul. Following our first round of clinics we have received comments via Facebook from as far away as Australia thanking us all for how well we have looked after their elderly parents whilst they attended the clinic.

Outside of the large central clinics, many local GP practices will continue visiting care homes during the week to ensure both residents and staff can receive their vaccination, and there will be further vaccination clinics at the central locations by appointment only.

Carol Tilley, Managing Partner at the Blandford Group Practice told me “by Friday 15th, the practice team will have completed 2,750 patients and front line workers vaccinations in 7 days. Will be working with our nursing team to start vaccinating housebound patients as soon as NHS England gives us permission to start.”

Carol echoed the view of every Practice Manager and GP I spoke to, adding

“I wish to publicly thank all of our staff and our fabulous volunteers. Our extended team has worked weekends, given up days off and generally pitched in to do whatever is needed, regardless of their usual role. Not only have they done this for the recent high profile Covid vaccination programme, but they also have provided over 7,000 flu vaccinations in the autumn / winter and have been working flat out since the Covid crisis began, with no let up. They are heroes and I applaud them all.”

PLEASE DO NOT call your GP surgery for a vaccine appointment. They will make contact as they are able to invite you to attend. The teams are working tirelessly to contact eligible patients to arrange appointments as soon as they become available.