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Pocket Rocket Ruby –European champion!

Ruby White, the 15 year old from Dorset, is the newly-crowned European Champion All images © Courtenay Hitchcock

In September Dorset teen Ruby White travelled to Italy to compete in the EUBC Junior Boxing Championships – and won gold. Laura Hitchcock reports

Ruby White, the 15 year-old Stalbridge teenager who stands just five-foot-tall, travelled as part of the England squad to Italy in September for a week-long knockout tournament, and had four bouts in her Under 48kgs category. ‘I think people underestimate me, because of my size. They don’t notice my power and my strength,’ she says. She won two of the bouts by stoppage; the quarter and semifinals were won on points. ‘I knew the semi would be the hardest opponent. I wasn’t worried about beating her, but I knew she was the biggest challenge – she was strong, a good boxer. The others were … easier?’ Ruby may have felt the semi was a tougher bout, but England Boxing’s Matt Halfpenny reported on the final: ‘Ruby arguably produced her best performance of the championships in the final with an outstanding showing against Azerbaijan’s Narmin Alizada. The Sturminster Newton club boxer was quick out of the blocks, forcing two standing eight counts in the first round and a further count in the second before the ref stopped the contest to give the Three Lions their first gold.’ BV readers may well remember

Ruby, who was spotted as a seven year-old by her coach Shaun Weeks at his Sturminster

Newton boxing gym. When Ruby with the celebratory poster which hangs in her gym Champion Ruby White with XX at home in Stalbridge

she was 12 she participated in the biggest female amateur championship in Europe, and won the ‘Best Prospect’ award (The BV, May 21). Later last year she was selected at the England Boxing National Schools Championships as ‘Female Boxer of the Tournament’ – from all classes – by the England Talent coaches (The BV, Oct 21), and invited to join the GB Pathways squad.

Corruption in the sport

Ruby’s dream since she first picked up a pair of boxing gloves was to win Gold at the Olympics in 2028. But amateur boxing has recently suffered a major blow with the announcement the sport will not be included in the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A 2021 independent investigation into the 2016 tournament in Rio de Janiero confirmed more than

Ruby in the Sturminster Newton gym with her title belts and golden gloves

ten suspicious matches were likely corrupted as part of a “bout manipulation” scheme in place at the event. The report details how “compliant and complicit” referees and judges, acting under a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience” created by the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA), corrupted the boxing tournament. An Olympic medal is the most coveted prize for any amateur boxer and has been the starting point for many of the big names in the professional ranks. Now a number of Olympic boxing teams – including Team GB – have taken to social media to start a campaign to ensure boxing is included in the programme for the 2028 games. ‘I always dreamed of being in the Olympics,’ says Ruby ‘I was so upset when I heard. My dream is maybe gone. Now the aim is that when I age into the Youth category I can go to World Championships. Hopefully I’ll still be in the England squad when I go into Seniors in 2026, and I can then box in the Commonwealth Games. With no Olympics, if I can get a Commonwealth title, or win a World title, then that still gets me off to a good start when I turn professional. I don’t want to go pro too early, you really need to win something big to start your career. ‘But I have a feeling that boxing may be brought back – the 2028 Olympics are in Los Angeles, and boxing is massive in America. Imagine having the Olympics in a country where it is one of the biggest national sports and not actually having any boxing in it?’

Teen spirit

How does life as a normal teenager fit around such a dedication to her sport? ‘When I’m in training camps, like the eight weeks I did in Sheffield every weekend in the lead up to the European Championships, I can’t do anything else.’ Ruby said ‘But when I’m not at camp, I work Saturdays and Sundays, and I cover odd shifts during the week too. And of course I get to see my mates. I’m going out tonight! I’m in Year 11, it’s the year we all go to parties! ‘But yes – if I have a bout coming up obviously I’m sensible. ‘My friends are so proud of me, so supportive. They all watch my bouts, and I never get any stick from anyone at school.’ Ruby acknowledges the impact on her family, and on Shaun, too: ‘It’s not just the time taken up in driving me around. The finance side is tough. I don’t have a sponsor. We’ve set up a GoFundMe page, which I’m really grateful to people for donating through, it really helps. But when I have to travel to Sheffield for the GB training camps it’s £180 each trip just for the fuel. If it’s just a one-day training session there’s no accommodation provided, and it’s a five hour journey each way. And then obviously there’s travelling for bouts etc. We have to find that, plus any equipment I need. I do worry about it.’

A new future

With the massive rise in awareness around women’s sport in 2022, does Ruby think the women’s football team has helped the women’s boxing audience?

‘Yes. Definitely. The England team has such a big support system. They’re all over every social media. And I loved that meme this summer: “Men: Football’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming, football’s coming home… “Women, 60 years later: ... For goodness’ sake, I’Il get it myself.” ‘I loved that! But the knock-on effect is that women’s sport is finally becoming mainstream. It’s not just football, it’s rugby, cricket … and in boxing. Sky Sports’ main Saturday Night Fight in October was an all-women show for the first time. And the O2 was packed! That just wouldn’t have happened even a few years ago.’ Coach Shaun agrees ‘Without a doubt Ruby’s prospects are very different from those she would have had even five or six years ago at the same stage.’ So what’s next? ‘I have a bout in November against a boxer from Switzerland. Then on the first weekend in December I’m in another international tournament, the England Boxing Women’s Winter Box Cup in Manchester.’

If you feel you can help with sponsorship of Ruby or SturminsterABC let us know and we’ll put you in touch.

Ruby’s titles:

• 2 x MTK Lonsdale Box Cup • National Cadet Champion • Bristol Box Cup Champion • Riviera Box Cup Champion • 3 x MTK Lonsdale Box Cup Champion • 3 x Western Counties Junior Champion • 3 x National Junior Champion • 2 x Golden Girls (Sweden) Box Cup Champion • GB Three Nations Junior Champion • European Junior Champion Ruby hopes the Olympic committee will reverse its decision to remove boxing from the 2028 Games.

Yetminster’s silenced chime

Villagers are raising funds so that their 300 year old faceless clock can ring out again again to welcome the new King. Roger Guttridge reports.

We now have a once-in-ageneration opportunity to get the clock striking again

Silence may be golden but not at Yetminster, where the historic faceless clock on St Andrew’s Church tower no longer chimes. The clock dates from the mid17th century but is particularly prized for its late Victorian addition – a carillon that plays the National Anthem every three hours. This rare and possibly unique feature was added by benefactors in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In about 1670, Thomas Bartholomew set up in business in Sherborne as a clockmaker, whitesmith* and blacksmith. The first records of the family appear in the Sherborne church records in 1674 with the baptism of Thomas, son of Thomas and Anne. The couple had a large family of 19 children. The Bartholomews continued as clockmakers in Sherborne for three or four generations; the last, Josiah, dying in 1792. One of the first turret clocks that Thomas Bartholomew made was for Yetminster church. His name is on a small brass plate attached to the clock with the names of the churchwardens who commissioned it. Thomas Bartholomew used the frame of a much earlier clock, from around 1600.

A silenced chime

It worked well until last year, when wear and time forced its silence. Now the village has launched a crowd-funding appeal to raise enough money to restore the clock and carillon to full working in order in time for the coronation of King Charles III next spring. The work, to be carried out by clockmakers Smith of Derby, will include replacement of worn parts and an improved winding system. The total cost is expected to exceed £25,400 plus VAT. Churchwarden Clare Lindsay says: ‘The tower clock is a muchloved and familiar part of our lives and the sound of the bells ringing out over our houses and the fields beyond has been greatly missed over the last year. ‘We now have a once-in-ageneration opportunity for the whole village, with their families and friends, to get the clock striking again and chiming out for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.’ The clock enjoyed a brief break from its silence earlier this year when the National Anthem was

St Andrew’s church in Yetminster is famous for its chiming clock - and yet it has no clock face. Image: Michael Day played manually for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. More than 80 per cent of the restoration cost has already been promised by various charitable trusts and other organisations but that still leaves £5,000 for the village to raise. By mid-October they had already raised more than £3,000 of this and are hoping to collect the rest in time for repairs to start at the end of November.

To donate, visit the project’s Just Giving page here or you can email either treasurer@ yetminsterpcc@gmail.com or contact churchwardens Clare Lindsay and Geoff Goater on churchwarden. yet@gmail.com.

* A whitesmith is a metalworker who does finishing work on iron and steel such as filing, lathing, burnishing or polishing; it may also refer to a person who works with “white” or light-coloured metal or it can be a synonym for tinsmith.

Give a hen a home!

Ex-commercial hens are being given a happy retirement by local volunteer Haidy – do you have room for some girls? Rachael Rowe reports

Haidy Mansfield has quite a job on her hands. She volunteers for the national charity Fresh Start for Hens (FSFH) and each year she helps rehome hundreds of ex-commercial chickens from her collection point near Sturminster Newton. Haidy is one of around 100 volunteers at the charity. ‘I am part of the farm teams going in to collect hens that would be going for slaughter. The charity works hard to build relationships with producers, asking them to consider giving their hens a chance at retirement.’ Haidy’s next rehoming day is 26th November All images: Haidy Mansfield

It started with self-sufficiency

Haidy and her partner originally decided to rehome some hens to have their own steady supply of eggs, to be more self-sufficient. The hens happened to come from intensive commercial cages, and the chickens did not look good (see video below). Fleur had been trampled at the bottom of a crate and Belle wasn’t expected to survive the night, Haidy said. But both made a dramatic transformation in Haidy’s care, and were the start of her journey to creating Belle & Fleur from her Sturminster Newton home, raising awareness and working to rescue intensively farmed chickens. There will be some who are puzzled by a ‘retired’ hen; all laying hens are slaughtered at the age of 72 weeks, just as their production ability decreases. The carcasses are worth very little and are usually sold for dog food, or cheap processed meat products. FSFH works closely with British farmers to buy the hens from the caged, barn and free range systems just before their slaughter date. They are then rehomed with volunteers to live out their lives in comfort. Is there a reason a lot of these hens don’t end up in our supermarkets? ‘Laying hens do end up in the human food chain,’ said Haidy ‘usually as cheap reclaimed meat or baby food and also as pet food. But the hens from the intensive commercial systems are rarely in decent condition. Consumers often have misguided perceptions of happy hens in fields and open barns. That simply is not the case for the majority of commercial egglaying hens. As a result of tight margins and the low driven pricing, feed quality is often reduced over the laying cycle so by the end all the nutrition goes into producing eggs, and not into muscle (meat) or feathers.’ So how many hens are there to potentially rehome? ‘FSFH rehome about 70,000 hens, 3,000 ducks and 1,000 cockerels each year. In 2019 the industry estimate was 42 million laying hens in the UK; chickens being

rehomed through charities is a drop in the ocean.’ FSFH only rehomes to people wanting hens as pets or companion animals. The lucky ones find new homes in gardens, allotments, and even residential care homes. While the hens obviously appreciate their newfound freedom, living it up in style, the rewards for their new owners come in the form of entertainment as well as the companionship you might expect from a more typical cat or dog pet. You may even get some eggs. The charity will not rehome to people using the hens for commercial purposes, or those selling them on.

A hen’s needs

If you are tempted to rehome a few hens, you’ll need some space and they do like company. ‘We advise a minimum of three hens are rehomed together.’ said Haidy ‘For three birds I would say a minimum of 3mx2m for a run, with a height of 2m. That way you can have levels and some cover overhead. Also, access to some free range time as often as possible.’ Haidy currently has ten rehomed hens herself, and is clearly an advocate for the rehoming movement. ‘It is an amazing experience. These rescue hens

Haidy Mansfield with some of her own girls have taught me so much and have led me on this journey to raise awareness of the truth of the intensive egg industry. I am now vegan and proud that this transition has been inspired by learning the truth of what it means to be a laying hen in an intensive commercial system.’ The charity has Animal and Plant Health Agency approval for rehoming chickens and has reduced numbers in the light of current biosecurity restrictions.

If you are tempted to welcoming some ladies into your lives, Haidy’s next rehoming date is 26th November. Feel free to contact her with any questions or register your interest on the Fresh Start for Hens website: freshstartforhens.co.uk

Why a Small Corner of Somerset is the Silicon Valley of Cheese

For three consecutive years, the Supreme Champions at the Virtual Cheese Awards have come from within five miles of each other. Rachael Rowe reports

Keen’s Extra Mature Cheddar has been awarded the Supreme Champion of Cheeses at the Virtual Cheese Awards

Cheese producers in a small corner of South Somerset are celebrating. The Supreme Champion of Cheeses at the Virtual Cheese Awards (VCA) has come from the Templecombe and Wincanton area for the last three years. In fact, all the winners are based within five miles of each other and, to celebrate, have just launched a Supreme Champion Hamper containing all those awardwinning cheeses (perfect gift for a cheese fan?). The winning cheeses are Feltham’s Farm’s Renegade Monk (2020) and La Fresca Margarita (2021), and Keen’s Extra Mature Cheddar (2022). So what is going on? Penny Nagle, from Feltham’s Farm, which produces two of the supreme championship cheeses, explains the importance of the Virtual Cheese Awards and how they are transforming the artisanal cheese industry. ‘They were started during the lockdown by Sarah De Wit, who has worked in the cheese industry for years. During the lockdown, everything was shut down, so there were no competitions for artisanal cheeses. Contests are one of the ways we test cheeses, but there was nothing in the pandemic.’

Virtual tasting?

‘Small artisan cheesemakers typically don’t have huge marketing budgets, so awards are very important to us.’ Penny says. ‘There are now more than 400 British and Irish cheeses in the VCA Awards. ‘All the cheeses are judged online live so you can see what is happening, and it is totally transparent.’ How can a cheese be judged online? Once, the idea would have been laughed at, but it transpires it is absolutely possible and has transformed the world of the artisan cheesemaker. If you want to see for yourself, the judging is available on the VCA website. Who needs Netflix when you can watch cheeses being judged? However there’s a serious point to this way of promoting cheese. Says Sarah De Witt: ‘Normally, when judges are judging cheeses, they are in a room by themselves; you don’t get to see what goes on, what is said. But these awards have turned the whole thing around.

The BV magazine, November ‘22

NEWS We work with cheese experts like Nigel Barden, and everything is recorded. People can see exactly what others are saying about the cheese, so you get this valuable feedback. And, of course, if you are going to an awards ceremony, you can’t take everyone. By doing it online, the whole farm or dairy can see and learn and celebrate. Penny also appreciates the learning from the VCA Awards. ‘You can hear what people are saying about our cheese and the feedback from professional experts. It’s an amazing system, and you learn so much.’

Keen’s and Feltham’s Farm have launched a Supreme Champion Hamper containing all the award-winning cheeses

Is it Blackmore Vale grass?

The 2022 supreme champion Award went to the Extra Mature Cheddar from Keen’s Cheddar, a fifth-generation cheesemaking family farm. So what is it about this corner of Somerset that produces Supreme Champions? George Keen talks about the alchemy of the cheesemaker. ‘Cheese is fermented concentrated milk, and the alchemical skill of the cheesemaker is to capture all the quality of the milk in the cheese. Milk is so complex that a skilled cheesemaker can make any style of cheese just by managing the fermentation with temperature, drainage and time. However, no two cheesemakers will make the same cheese. It’s all very personal!’ There must be something else for the supreme champions to be located so close? George has some thoughts: ‘It might be the crops we can grow in the Blackmore Vale which in turn produces the quality of milk that makes the best cheese? Or the community of local artisan cheesemakers who inspire new styles of cheese? Or perhaps just happenstance!’ Penny gave her own thoughts on the unique local success. ‘We have this huge ecosystem here in Somerset where we can get the best milk right on our doorstep. There’s also a creative vein, with a lot of people interested in milk quality. Keen’s have a wonderful heritage, whereas we at Feltham’s are non-traditional cheesemakers. But we all need to be near the supply of milk – all our milk for Feltham’s

A recent tasting at Durslade farmshop, featuring Feltham’s Farm cheese drizzled in Durslade’s own honey and served on coffee grounds to bring out the flavour cheese is from a single herd at Godminster. We do still get variations in the milk, such as when cows are fed silage instead of grass. The milk really tells you what to do. ‘We also have people around us who know about cheese. For example, Carolyn in the Truckle Truck is an evangelist for promoting cheese (see The BV, Oct 22). And then we have excellent farm shops and supermarkets such as the Udder Farm Shop, Kimber’s, Durslade (their honey is perfect with La Fresca Margarita), and Dikes. That local network keeps cheese going in the area. We also have brilliant cheesemakers. And finally, we have a good local council that knows how to fund and promote rural businesses and what they need. Somerset is the Silicon Valley of cheesemaking – it is an exceptional place for the industry. There’s a fantastic milk field and it’s high quality. So it’s not surprising that all the cheesemakers are here!’

To order a Supreme Champions Hamper, see Feltham’s Farm website.

The BV magazine, November ‘22

NEWS

Much more than food

Last month, Blandford Food Bank celebrated ten years of supporting the community – and it is more needed than ever. Rachael Rowe reports

Alongside. Together. Courageous. Faithworks chief executive Alistair Doxat-Purser used these, three powerful words to describe the community involved with establishing Blandford Food Bank as organisers and volunteers gathered to celebrateten years of supporting people. ‘We started by simply giving food. But now there is a whole range of support when people come to get that food. I say alongside because although we are a food bank, you make it a place where people who come in downhearted can leave with their heads held up; where we are able to tell someone “It’s OK.” ‘And together, because so many people are taking time to collect, pack, welcome, make tea and give support. And you’re courageous because when life seems down we should not lie down and accept defeat.’

Used by thousands

Blandford Food bank is currently needed to support 2,000 people Images: Rachael Rowe

Blandford Food Bank manager Gail Del Pinto, Mayoress Chris, Mayor of Blandford Cllr Colin Stevens, and High Sheriff of Dorset Sibyl King

Blandford Forum’s food bank started out in 2012 on an industrial estate on the edge of the town with a team of nine people. They started simply with food. For six years, the Methodist Church hosted the food bank, as the service needed to be close to the town centre. Today it is based at the United Reform Church on Whitecliff Mill Street. Manager Gail Del Pinto was one of the first volunteers and is still with the food bank. ‘Before the pandemic, we saw 900 people a year. In 2020, through the lockdowns, we had 4,300 people coming here. And this year, we have 2,000. The need is increasing. We have over 70 care organisations referring people to the food bank. We also have a debt advisor, because so many people need help out of that downward cycle.’ The church building is a bit of a rabbit warren, with rooms leading to more space. There’s a welcome area where people can get a cup of tea and talk to a volunteer. And then there are rooms stacked with crates of tinned food, shopping trolleys piled high, and an open space. But there’s also a profound warmth, welcoming people to its heart. The regular debt advisory team can change people’s lives by giving them help and advice to get free of owing money. That input can be critical. There are always people to listen, and there are many different reasons people need help from a food bank. For example, Victim Support works alongside the

Thanking the volunteers

The High Sheriff of Dorset, Sibyl King, thanked the volunteers: ‘The way you do this work with such compassion and dignity for the people is overwhelming. We all look after our own families, but you chose to look after other people as you would your own family.’ Colin and Chris Stevens, the Mayor and Mayoress of Blandford, were also at the celebration to thank the community for the work they had done and continue to do: ’The whole of Blandford has got behind this,’ said the Mayor. Chairperson of Blandford Foodbank, Brook Maccallum, said: ‘We launched in October 2012, and since then it’s been incredible. I find it humbling to think about what has been achieved in the town. The teams are incredible.’ Manager Gail Del Pinto described the work, giving powerful insights from a client’s story and how they see people in what is a terrible crisis for them. She gave an example where a lady had been supported through a challenging time with food and financial advice. ‘It takes a single dialogue to unlock that key.’ Liz Evans, Amanda Perroni, Penny Ross, Gyda Warren, Phyllis Williams and Wilma Bromilow were given long service awards at the event.

Looking forwards

They might be celebrating the last ten years, but the food bank is not standing still. There are plans for 2023 to create a shop at the rear of the church, making the best use of space. Nourish Community Shop will sell highquality food at low prices. So, for example, a customer can get ten items

‘Before the for a nominal pandemic, we saw sum (£3.50 was quoted at the 900 people a year. event). People In 2020 through will be able to the lockdowns, get support that rose to 4,300 and advice from a range of people. In 2022 organisations there are 2,000’ within the central room in the building. The team is also advertising for a paid debt advisor to meet demand. What the Blandford Food Bank has done is nothing short of remarkable. It’s also a reminder that any one of us could need it support one day.

More information on the Blandford Food Bank is here.

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