The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 172

Editor’s note...

Welcome to the May edition of YOUR Gazette!

The sun is shining and summer is approaching fast! Our gardens are coming alive and we all seem to feel a bit better!

May brings us the tremendous Purbeck Art Weeks festival - a fortnight of glorious Purbeck arts and crafts, with tons of artists’ studios open to welcome you in for a browse. We have once again teamed-up with the festival organisers, and bring you the festival four-page pull-out in our centre pages.

We also feature some of the galleries and artists who are here ‘all year round’ in our usual Arts section towards the rear of the magazine.

The fracking debate continues to rage, with many letters on the subject this month. It seems most of you don’t want fracking, nuclear, wind or anything else here, so we’d love to know which exact currently-available technology you’d like to see right here in Purbeck, providing our electricity. Word in the office is that faced with Navitus and fracking, many of you are suddenly warming to the idea of reactivating the nuclear station at Winfrith.

Who’d have thought it?!

Get out there in the warmer weather and enjoy our beautiful isle!

Every

The clue is in the heading above - these are our reader’s letters. They are NOT articles, they are letters. By you. Our readers. They are not our letters, they are yours - your letters. Simple!

Please send all letters to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk with ‘letter to the editor’ in the email subject line. Please do not exceed 350 words. If handwritten, please ensure it is short and legible.

PLEASE DO NOT DUPLICATE LETTERS TO OTHER PUBLICATIONSWE DO NOT PRINT MULTI-PUBLICATION LETTERS.

JUNE edition deadline: 12 noon Fri 9th May

You Can’t Fool Me!

Dear Editor,

I look forward to the April edition of the Gazette each year; the April fool articles are always amusing. The Ark Royal being tied up at Swanage Pier as a prison ship was a classic and then there was the conversion of Corfe Castle! After such lovely bits of humour I was a little disappointed by this year’s item. A sound idea but expecting us to really believe that you found an expert on fracking who then tried to persuade us that there are no associated evils to this process, when we all know this not to be true, was rather pushing the bounds of credibility. Nice try but I hope for better next year.

Not so amusing, however, was the alarming news about the nuclear power station above Swanage. Whilst the Queen will be disappointed not to make a financial killing by selling off the sea bed in Swanage bay for use as a wind farm, the residents will be relieved that the monster turbines are not now coming but a nuclear power station instead, that is unthinkable. I trust there will be a protest committee set up at once to campaign against this. Thankfully, the proposal affects Swanage; I would not want this in my backyard here in Wareham.

Whilst writing I would also like to put on record that I am fundamentally against any change to the education system that might bring our youngsters better facilities and learning opportunities. I am also against any change to a refuse collection system that insists I put my bin out with the handle facing the road to make it easier for the collectors; in my day the dustmen used to come round the back of the house and collect our dustbin and then return it there. Whatever next? Soon they will be using drones to photograph me in the shower!

Yours, in protest. Peter Orchard, Wareham

It’s No Joke

Dear Editor,

Every year I await your April edition of our Gazette.

Imagine my reaction when I discovered in this year’s publication there is no clear April Fool’s joke.

I hope this is not another example of political correctness gone mad in which it is unacceptable to fool anybody.

Chris Medlicott. Swanage, by hand.

April Fool - Maybe Not?

Dear Editor,

Experimental Nuclear Reactor For Swanage

I have to say that was a very impressive April fools this year, I fell for it hook line and sinker, but it does make you wonder maybe, not in Swanage or the surrounding areas, if this is a possibility.

I would hope if this was ever to happen, all you campaigners against the wind farms, solar farms etc. would fight against this.

I myself think renewable energy is a very good idea and I am not against the wind farms or solar farms. I understand there are worries on the environment impact and tourism impact of a wind farm, but would you prefer to see a turbine up than a nuclear power station near your town. There are lots of stories about turbines killing bats and birds, but before a wind farm is built there are environmental surveys carried out to reduce this from happening, and the scare mongering of a turbine falling on to your house – really the chances of this happening are very slim!!!!!

Yes the turbines would be visible from your house and town, but will they really reduce tourism, I for one would still visit a town if it did or didn’t

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Inadditiontotheweekends,theyareopeneverydayduring thefollowingtimes(allareinclusive): dates 3-5May2014and24May -1 June2014

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have a wind farm in it, what difference does it really make.

We need to start thinking about the children that live in our communities and their children in the future, because at the end of the day they are the ones that really matter and who have to live with the consequences of our actions and choices. By saying no to wind, solar etc we may be saying yes to nuclear without realising it.

Mrs Stokes (Address withheld on request)

Fracking

As mentioned last month when introducing Chris Faulkner’s article on ‘Fracking Facts’, we’ve previously had a lot of letters from readers on the subject of fracking, some scare-mongering and devoid of facts. We’re not saying that we are in favour of fracking - Gazette Towers is in favour of energy - we publish using electricty, and are doomed without it. We also like TV, lights and heating. This month we have more letters on the subject of fracking, so here’s hoping this month’s contingent of writers provide accepted, factual evidence to back-up their opinions. Or, is it a case of simply ‘not in our backyard, although we still demand constant power?’ Windfarms, fracking, oil wells, nuclear - we all need electricity NOW - unless you’re fully intending to disconnect your house from the grid? Do let us know if that’s you!

Scientific references and documentation with regards to fracking can be found on page 50 of this month’s edition.

Oil Production Since 1930s

Dear Nico,

On the evening of the 9th April, I, with many others, attended the Swanage Senior Forum to discuss: “Fracking: To be or not to be? – that is the question”. The general consensus from those present was that it should ‘NOT’ be at any cost.

I reiterated to those present that the Isle of Purbeck is sitting on the largest on-shore oil/gas field in Europe and had been producing oil since the late 1930s at Kimmeridge, and since the 1980s at Wytch Farm - now that Wytch Farm is ‘de-pressurized’, water has to be pumped down to float the oil out, ergo the ‘F’ word, Fracking - yes, at Wytch Farm. (NB Wytch Farm is the second largest electricity consumer in the South next to Heathrow).

Those present seemed to blame their local government councillors for not rejecting fracking outright, which prompted me to put to the meeting; “The Isle of Purbeck should vote for independence from the UK.” This suggestion was well received by the meeting.

Robert Owen

Retired oil pollution and oil recycling consultant, who advised BP/Wytch Farm on their Environmental Impact Study.

Frack Off In Purbeck

Dear Nico,

With reference to last month’s article by an expert fracker; globally or in Purbeck; which misses the pivotal point that we are plundering this planet for another fossil fuel on the road to climatic nowhere.

Professor James Lovelock, in his recent report to the U.N., sites the relevant decline in the world’s forestry and the growth of needy cities with burgeoning populations where one in five people don’t have enough to eat. Like he says, ‘Who would want to live there?’

A smug looking bloke in a hard hat against blue sky might convince some by way of flawed science. Or a fat bribe cheque for £10,000 for those dwelling in close proximity to fracking wells, might be reassurance enough for many. You could print a picture of some sad old smiling hippy like me playing his guitar beneath a ‘Frack off in Purbeck’ banner – it might be just as convincing.

Two April Fools articles in one issue, brilliant.

Yours sincerely, M J K Hamilton, Swanage. By hand.

Square & Compass

Amanda

He’d Say That, Wouldn’t He?

Dear Editor,

So fracking is the answer to our energy problems? Just a minute, I thought Navitas Bay was!

How kind of Chris Faulkner to take time to allay our fears. Fracking is ok for us, ‘cause it’s ok for the U.S. and as he says, “there isn’t a single reputable study or verified claim that indicates environmental damage.”

Well he would hardly say that there was, as the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of a fracking corporation in the U.S.A. (Google Breitling Corporation for further information). Let’s face it, his company is in business to make money, and lobbyists, in turn, are paid to guide governments along the correct commercial track. Or am I being naïve?

People in Sussex have already shown how it is possible to block the development of a fracking site. Homeowners and land owners around the planned drilling site at Furnace Wood, to the west of Fernhurst, have all refused permission for the energy company to drill under their property.

The drilling site is now almost landlocked as companies need to drill down and then radiate out horizontally. Greenpeace lawyers have revealed that it is unlawful for companies to drill under property without permission, unless a statutory right exists. Drilling without permission is trespass. It also appears that the Government is looking to revoke this trespass law. Re-read Chris Faulkner’s statement and make up your own mind.

But before you do, have a look at the Greenpeace link : https://secure. greenpeace.org.uk/wrongmove Type in your post code, look at find out more, and have a good look at the Supreme Court rulings in 2010.

The choice is yours. Alan White, Swanage

Turn The Thermostat Down

Dear Editor,

There is growing concern about the possible environmental damage that fracking may cause. Now that it is feared that dependency on Russian natural gas in some European countries is becoming a potential danger, it is not surprising that some governments are looking to fracking as an alternative supply from local sources.

Although the UK obtains only a small proportion of natural gas from Russia, our government nevertheless looks to natural gas from fracking in Britain as being in the national interest; as a good substitute for coal in power stations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, because it contains less carbon than coal.

In the 1990s our government replaced much of the coal used in power stations with natural gas in the so called ‘dash for gas’.

This added to the substitution of natural gas for coal derived gas in domestic and other forms of heating in the 1970’s. These changes have enabled the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.

Unfortunately carbon dioxide is not the only ‘greenhouse gas’ that influences climate change. Natural gas is twenty four times more potent. No gas pipelines are free from leaks. Before natural gas was introduced into the UK pipelines, leakage rates were already unacceptably high and likely to increase with natural gas. Since then much progress has been made to reduce leakage rates; but they are still about 4%.

From a climate change perspective, this makes natural gas more damaging than coal. By treating natural gas as the least damaging for climate change, a fundamental mistake was made because the effect of leakages has been ignored.

Consequently, it would compound this serious mistake to proceed with fracking, even if leakage rates could be further halved to 2% or less, which

is virtually impossible.

I understand that no European country is more than 30% dependent on Russian gas. Any danger from a total loss of gas from Russia can disappear quickly and easily by merely reducing space heating temperatures by three degrees celsius. Such an action would reduce consumption by 30%.

President Putin would be seriously mistaken in thinking that gas dependency is an effective political weapon; because it isn’t. Governments importing Russian gas should not be developing fracking urgently as a means of security. Nothing more than a slight reduction in room temperatures is all that is needed.

Best Wishes, John Davis. Swanage. By Hand.

Cowboy Has Vested Interests

Dear Nico,

In response to your April article about fracking by Chris Faulkner- ‘Wow!’, what a man!

You can tell by his picture what an honest and open face he’s got! I changed his hard hat to a Texan cowboy hat, and he looks just like J.R.Ewing with some kind of vested interests. All those qualifications – and all from the gas and oil industry – fancy that!

Having exploited his own country with another carbon-producing process he wants to come and ravage our country too! I lost count of the number of times he talked about ‘stories’. I note that he didn’t actually state that anyone of them were untrue. If anyone doubts the veracity of the accounts given by people in America harmed by the process, go to the website called ‘the harmed’ and check out the details. If it is safe why are the chemicals being changed? How much water exactly is used? And exactly what percentage of the chemicals are going to be put into the earth beneath our feet?

Mr Faulkner said nothing about the number and size of the lorries roaring down our streets, poor residents of Swanage High Street, Steer Road,

Wills Road, Priests Road and Panorama Road - all part of the proposed route. ‘A gallon of milk falling off a shelf’ can give you quite a shock… vibrations eh? Enough to shake up the earth and release those carcinogenic chemicals – to where exactly? The Building Society Santander will not give mortgages to people seeking to buy in a fracking area.

I wonder why? Where exactly are the unusable ‘by products’ going to be stored Mr Faulkner on our land in great poisonous lakes or what? Ask why the major city of New York will not allow fracking within one hundred miles of that city, nor is fracking allowed in France or Germany. Speaks for itself really doesn’t it? Extraordinary that the advertisement for the new outdoor nursery school at Durlston should be published opposite the fracking proposition.

Do people realise a flare will be burning 24 hours a day, burning what we don’t know. I hope those small children don’t suffer breathing problems as a result - just a thought.

Finally, money and jobs. What a lure in times of austerity, but no money on earth can buy us clean air and clean water once they have been contaminated forever.

I dare you to publish this, Nico. Beryl Hopkins. Swanage, by hand.

Dare, Beryl??! Interesting, seeing as my personal opinion has at no point been in the public domain - I may also be an ‘anti-fracker’, for all you know!

Old Drilling Disasters

Dear Nico,

In reference to comments raised in connection with exploratory drilling at California farm.

I can clearly remember the previous attempt at drilling there. They abandoned it because they used up or lost the very expensive drilling lubricating mud that they had to use as none came back in return. Then it emerged out in Durlston bay over a few weeks to cover the pretty seaweeds that we have and confirming the information from the local families of stone masons about the twisted and fractured rock strata in the area.

In fact my memory stretches back to a time when a large quantity of blue plastic drums were buried in the quarry there. I hope that they are not disturbed.

Yours truly, Andy Weeks, Swanage, by hand.

Puppets Of Big Business

Dear Editor,

I attended the ‘information meeting’ on at the British Legion on March 25th to hear what Infrastrata had to say about the 50m high gas rig that is set to go ahead at California Quarry.

After having been bored witless by their speaker for about an hour my B.S. antenna started to come up. Infrastrata, we were told, have no idea if there is any gas at this site at all.

Really?! And then we were told that they have no idea of the location or size of the processing plant that would be needed if gas is found - are we really supposed to believe that too? And, apparently, there will never be fracking undertaken at this site. This was stated at least twenty times, so I wonder if we could have that promise in a binding legal document?

This project is clearly a terrible blight to have landed on our doorsteps with the very real prospect of us all suffering severe visual and irreversible ecological disasters with nothing to benefit the local community other than a few shallow bribes. Dorset County Council, we heard, had no chance of resisting this planning application because of direction in favour from the Conservative Government.

Labour’s MP candidate for South Dorset, Simon Bowkett, stated that he had not made his mind up as he did not know enough about it. Articulate man, running to be our MP, and no idea what to think of it all?

Hummmmm. And the Labour Party’s position on fracking is currently? Undecided. Well! What a coincidence!

How many more crimes against us do we have to endure before people wake up to the fact that MPs are merely the puppets of their parties, and the major parties are merely the puppets of big business?

Making choices between those parties at election time is a farcical illusion of choice.

Andy Kirkwood, by email.

Statements Need Challenging

Dear Editor,

I chose to move to Swanage because of its seascape. Like millions before me, in generations innumerable, I cherish the distant uncluttered horizon that the sea provides. I need it, consciously and subconsciously, as Ms Tuson observed in her letter published last month, and I am not alone, now and throughout history.

No one living in Bournemouth, Sandbanks, Studland and Purbeck has chosen to live with a daily view of a vast industrial complex, i.e. the proposed Navitus windfarm.

Yet despite this truth, I have heard time and time again the following statements in support of this very real and imminent possibility:

1. ‘Wind turbines are beautiful.’ This subjective judgement is as valid as is its opposite. However, nobody has actually ever seen the number and height of the wind turbines massed on this unprecedented scale and height, up to 240 of them, each one far taller than Tennyson Down on the Isle of Wight, so it is impossible for anyone to judge its possible beauty or lack of it. Against this subjective judgement of a theoretical notion is the firm knowledge that the natural, unpolluted seascape has been cherished by mankind for millennia.

2. ‘Energy has got to come from somewhere.’ This is true. It is also true that we should each and all enter into a national and international discussion of how to conserve energy and how and where to produce it, not simply accept the proposal of a business which aims to create revenue for its shareholders by selling us electricity that our taxes will help it create. Offshore wind power is well recognised to be the most staggeringly expensive form of electricity generation - is this really how we want to produce it?

3. ‘You just don’t want it in your own back yard.’ While this too is true, I do not want a windfarm sited anywhere as close to land as Navitus proposes with this one, just 14.6 km from Swanage - especially when our government recommends that no turbines be built closer than 22.2 km from land. It is also true that as this proposal does affect our backyard, we have even more right to investigate and question its need than anyone else. Is it really necessary to build it in the back yard of a densely-populated area of outstanding natural beauty, an internationally recognised heritage site and a tourism-based economy? Is this really the best place to site a huge industrial complex?

4. ‘It’s going to happen anyway. There is nothing you can do about it.’ This is the saddest argument of all - it signifies a complete lack of belief or faith in the idea of democracy, an ideal which this country has fought long and hard, civilly and internationally, to defend.All over the world, people are fighting, and dying, to create democracy in their countries. This statement reveals not only a laziness and lack of social responsibility, it reveals a lack of historical understanding and respect for who we are and for what we have fought to create.

These four statements are at large and need to be challenged. Just as it is said that we get the government we deserve, we will also get the seascape we deserve.

We are the first generation to ever have the choice to keep it or lose it.

Elizabeth Read Wilson

Art Deco Vintage

Georgian Gems

High St, Swanage

01929 424697

Humans - A Tropical Species

Dear Editor,

How I enjoyed reading Richard Tasker’s well researched and informed letter; Welcome to “Navitania”, April’s Purbeck Gazette.

Most of us know that when modern life evolved over 500 million years ago, CO2 was more than ten times higher than today, yet life flourished. Humans are a tropical species, we evolved at the equator in a climate where freezing weather did not exist. The only reasons we can survive these cold climates are fire, clothing and shelter.

Ice ages extinguished most life, even a slight reduction in surface temperature would turn the northern grain fields of Canada, Russia and Europe into frigid deserts, whereby millions of humans and animals would starve.

We are fortunate to live in a natural warm interlude after the recurring ice ages of the Pleistocene Era. The modern warming has evaporated moisture and discharged carbon dioxide from the oceans. This increase in atmospheric plant nutrients has increased crop yields and caused widespread greening of the planet that can be detected by satellite. These benefits for biosphere are ignored by climate alarmists who appear to dislike everyone who do not see CO2 as a the most serious threat facing humanity.

I remain Editor, yours faithfully, Mike Fry, via email

Blot On Landscape?

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing with regard to the wind turbines that have been erected ‘under the hill’, namely at Godlingston Manor Farm and Knitson Farm, near Swanage.

I understand that these turbines only contribute to the energy that is required for their farms and domestic use. I also understand that the Godlingston turbine was turned down by the planning committee but accepted on appeal. I believe that the planning authorities have very few resources to fight a case such as this. This turbine has been erected in an area of outstanding natural beauty on National Trust land. Land that was given to the Trust in order that it should be preserved for the nation. As a National Trust life member I object strongly to the Trust giving permission for the erection of this turbine, and it will surely set a precedent for others to be installed in the future.

Both turbines are a shocking blight on the landscape, they present a death trap for the birds, and each only produce enough energy for one farm and family. How were they ever allowed?

Yours sincerely, Sarah Bibra. Ed’s note - see page 48

Happy

Dear Nico,

01929

01929

The new Godlingston Manor wind turbine has provided a helpful visual reference for the huge Navitus Bay wind farm proposal.

The rotor of this turbine is about one tenth of the size of an 8MW turbine’s rotor, so at one mile range it has the same apparent diameter as one of the Navitus Bay turbines at ten miles.

This means that from most of Swanage, the Godlingston rotor appears about the same size as, or smaller than, the closest Navitus rotor would appear from, say, Peveril Point. (This applies in the general area on or south of the A351; Northbrook Road out to Battlemead and most of north Swanage wherever Godlingston can be seen). Remember that there would be 122-194 offshore turbines. If you think that the Navitus Bay turbines would be just tiny dots on the horizon, check out Godlingston first. There is just one chance left for the public to influence the Navitus Bay proposal, which we think is a bad plan in the wrong place for various reasons, not just its visual impact. You can find out more at www. challengenavitus.org.uk .

Andrew Langley, Challenge Navitus

Criticising Your Letters...

Dear Editor,

I wonder if you will allow me to make some mild criticisms of your letter writers and regular ‘feature’ contributors.

Firstly, they seem to be unable to be succinct and instead produce long rambling items, which are frankly off-putting to read. This problem is then made worse by your very small print which must surely present particular difficulties to pensioners. Secondly, the subject matter of many pieces tends to be rather trivial and mundane. There is a lot of tittle-tattle lengthy pontificating and weak humour, but sadly there are no monthly letter on culture, the arts or politics, even on a local level.

Thirdly, many contributions are rather parochial. For example, even on the long-running issue of wind farms, despite some wider discussion nobody seems to have raised the more fundamental problem of excessive population growth, which means that more and more oil supplies or windfarms are continually needed. Population control is therefore the ultimate ‘green’ priority and ironically it would answer both sides of the argument as it would lead to fewer windfarms and a lessening of oil production.

Of course, it’s a controversial political, but with every first world person using one hundred times as much oil as a third world one, it’s an issue that should be taken up even locally – but not in a long letter!

Your sincerely, Alison Hatford, Wareham.

Dear Editor,

`I see in your April issue, another nuclear reactor has been proposed, for ‘Swanage’ this time!

Do they not realise, it is not the production, but the distribution that causes the ‘problem’

How do you maintain a vast network of pylons and wiring in the face of fast dwindling fuels and materials? Soon it will be ‘on your bike or walk’ When even the battery car comes to a standstill because of shortage of materials to make batteries. Resources of the earth are used up and even substitutes are hard to come by.

It is back to nature whether we like it or not. The population is growing and arable land is disappearing under concrete and housing estates. I would support wind turbines, if they were reliable, to produce when needed. They could be placed close to where needed.

Why are there no nuclear cargo ships or cruise liners? Look at the snob value if we went by nuclear-powered cruise liner to Barbados and did our bit to save the earth. It has been used by submarines why not ships?

That is where rivers with flowing water are useful. Power can be widely distributed and is close to towns and villages, running day and night, more in winter when more power is needed. A kind of wind turbine driven by a water wheel supplying the local net and able to help out, if needed, by local nets manned by local labour.

At ninety one I can only dream.

Yours truly. H Bittner. Wareham.

Message In A Bottle

Dear Editor,

Message in a Bottle

As readers of the Purbeck Gazette are probably aware, the Lions Club of Swanage has placed “A Message in a Bottle” in the Health Centre, Therapy Centre, Dentists and many of the local shops.

The Lions Message in a Bottle is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal medical details in a common place where they can easily be found in an emergency. The information is kept in a bottle. The bottle is kept in the fridge where the emergency services will be able to find it in the event of being called to your home. They will know you have a bottle by two labels—one is fixed on the inside of the front door or the main entrance to your home and the other to the door of your fridge.

If you already have a Message in a Bottle it is vitally important that you keep your records of your medical details up to date, so please remember to check them regularly so if necessary, any helpers can obtain accurate information.

If you don’t have a bottle and would like one, why not call in to your local chemist, medical centre etc. who will be happy to supply you with one? Pauline Wisker (Welfare Officer), Swanage Lions Club.

No Longer Amused

Dear Editor,

On Saturday, 29 March, we were sitting in our conservatory late afternoon, and were amused to see a strange object fly overhead, along the line of houses about 20’ above the roof line.

How surprised we were to see this object pictured in your April edition and named as a Quadhopter that takes photographs. We were no longer amused.

The following Wednesday at 8.15pm, we saw this again over the back

field, and now would like to know who owns this invasive machine. It was obviously not doing any ‘official business’ at the times mentioned. It was interesting to see ‘Big Brother Watch’ on breakfast news this morning, Friday 4 April, discussing a similar, but larger device being used at Gatwick Airport which could invade the privacy of the surrounding area. At least the locals there would know what the machine was for and who was running it.

At the moment there is no control and it is very concerning. I totally agree with Robert Owen’s concerns and hope that the authorities consider these drones seriously and come up with a solution to suit all parties. I am sure they are great fun, but not when they are hovering over your house and garden.

Yours sincerely, C Jones, Stoborough

Dear Nico,

Thank you for publishing the letter from D.Langford on rook behaviour in the January edition, followed by the lovely letter on rook intelligence from Lynne Sandham in February. Whilst my garden doesn’t normally attract rooks, I have often been impressed on my travels by the apparent thought processes that must be occurring in the brains of other corvids such as crows and ravens.

There is plentiful evidence around the world that these species have the ability to untie knots, zippers and Velcro, generally when searching for food, and in Yellowstone National Park, ravens, at the top of the crow family and a candidate for most intelligent bird, have learned to cooperate with each other when raiding bear-proof trash/litter bins for picnic leftovers. I can recall an occasion at Grand Geyser where more than one hundred people had patiently gathered over two hours waiting for the next eruption when a raven arrived and perched, teacher-like, facing the expectant seated crowd, then ‘spoke’ as though offering an apology for the delay on behalf of the park authorities!

I frequently see members of the Corfe jackdaw population in daylight hours, but not ravens, and wonder if any Purbeck residents can confirm whether ravens are still roosting at Corfe Castle, or indeed nesting there annually. They were reported to have done so in 2008.

Returning to the more expected bird brained behaviour, one of the dimmest incidents I have seen involved RSPB’s symbol, the avocet, being distracted from protecting its young in Norfolk to chase woodpigeons which posed absolutely no threat (despite their great size) whilst marsh harriers were not far away. Apparently this past season has seen more of Brownsea’s wintering avocets favouring the creeks of north Purbeck. Yours sincerely, Paul Lear, Wimborne

Ed’s note: We can confirm that Ravens are still in Purbeck Paul - I regularly see (and hear) them flying over out near Corfe.

Totally Locally For Purbeck

Dear Editor,

Recently on a trip to Yorkshire I came across a social enterprise which might have a real benefit for Swanage. Totally Locally started in Yorkshire five years ago but now has reached Christchurch and Lymington in this area, as well as towns in Australia and New Zealand.

It was set up as a hobby project by a couple of friends who work in business consultancy, branding and marketing. It supports local enterprises with a free branding and marketing campaign for their town. It is used by volunteers to promote local shopping, celebrate the high street, create community events and lift the local economy. It is run by local businesses and individuals, not councils or business associations. It was behind a ‘Valley of Lights’ project in Calderdale in Yorkshire after serious flooding in summer 2012, when local markets and festivals were

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held, as well as lantern parades which attracted thousands. This showed the town was up and running and open for business. (Incidentally, does Swanage have a disaster plan for its businesses so they could do the same and get up and running in the event of flooding in future?)

The toolkit for a town’s campaign is available for free at http://totallylocally.co.uk/

There’s a load of information in the free kit, but they also supply other services outside this for which there may be a cost. I do not have a shop, but I value all the local shops in Swanage and Purbeck and hope this might be useful for them. Incredible Edible is another project which might be of interest locally. This started five years ago in Todmorden and there are now over 200 projects globally. Dorset is one of the few counties that does not yet have one.

The aim is to provide good local food for all through activities such as (re)learning skills from growing to cooking in schools and adult education, community growing of vegetables, herbs and fruit, planting orchards in public areas, collecting unused produce from gardens for distribution, developing productive gardens for social housing and supporting local businesses.

In schools the aim is to foster a reconnection with where food comes from; how it’s grown; how it’s transformed by processing and cooking. Courses run by the Todmorden project include pruning, grafting, permaculture and bee-keeping. There are aquaponics projects, history projects and schemes for young people to grow and sell produce.

Each project varies. Lots of information can be found here: http://www. incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/ a nd on associated network and Facebook pages.

Kind regards,

Susie Clark

Purbeck Mobility Superstars

Dear Editor,

I would like to make readers aware of the fantastic people who run the Purbeck Mobility shop, based in Wareham. Both Sue and Bob have gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping me to modify my Dad’s mobility scooter into a more comfortable machine.

My Dad likes tractor shows and so required a scooter with large, pneumatic wheels to give a comfortable ride over undulating terrain. His existing scooter had large wheels, but they were solid tires, which gave a very hard ride.

Sue and Bob donated some old pneumatic scooter wheels to me for free, as I was struggling to find any suitable or affordable options. I have since had some hub adapters engineered, and voila! One comfortable off-road scooter!

I had tried a lot of other mobility shops in Dorset, but none were as helpful or as understanding. I cannot praise Sue and Bob enough. Their efforts seems to be more about helping people, rather than making large profits - a refreshing change from the norm.

So if you have any mobility needs, give Purbeck Mobility a try. You are sure not to be disappointed.

Regards, Colin Froud, Bovington.

Town Still Filthy!

Dear Editor,

We have recently returned from a weekend break in Swanage and were amazed and disgusted that no improvements have been made by the council in emptying rubbish bins along the front and at other locations since our visit last year when we remarked on the filthy state of the town..

Last weekend bins were overflowing from early in the day and by the evening piles of bags were placed alongside the bins enabling seagulls to scatter the rubbish far and wide by the morning.

This rubbish was still not cleared by mid morning although we did see one public spirited elderly person donning gloves and clearing the rubbish

adjacent to an overflowing bin near Beech Gardens.

Surely it is not too much to ask Swanage Council to keep the town clean and tidy for visitors to enjoy?

If this complacency continues I fear visitors will shun Swanage and spend their cash elsewhere.

Yours sincerely, John Young via email

LOONCE EARNNCE

Dress making

Ladies & mens alterations

Loose covers

Antique upholstery

Boat & caravan upholstery

Selling costume jewellery

Medal mounting & framing

Further Police Complaints

Dear Editor,

After reading The Purbeck Gazette issue number 169 February 2014 AND issue number 170 March 2014, there seem to be quite a few Dorset residents who are unhappy with the Dorset Police and the complaints system associated with it.

Following an incident before Christmas whereby I was intimidated and threatened by a physically violent and verbally abusive man who was potentially armed (being the bearer of a section one firearms licence), a man supposed to display decorum and be an upstanding pillar of our community, as a Justice of the Peace. Immediately following this incident, I tried to report it to Dorset Police.

I have since telephoned a number of times and left messages in order to make a statement but my calls have, as yet, never been returned. I was however once connected to a Sergeant in Wareham station who was extremely indifferent and disrespectful and because they had received a few calls from my number, he really wasn’t very interested. Many calls wouldn’t have been necessary if anyone had had the common decency to return the first call! I contacted my local M.P. who, like Annette Brooke with the previous writer, was fantastically supportive and compassionate and immediately wrote to the Chief Constable, Debbie Simpson, laying out my case. He also suggested I contact Martyn Underhill, Dorset’s Police & Crime Commissioner, which I have done and received a letter of acknowledgement.

The next step is to make a formal complaint to the IPCC but if the word of the previous writer is anything to go by and the system isn’t as independent as we would like to believe, then perhaps there is little point in this and once again, the Dorset Police get away without policing their region to the extent that we, as tax payers, expect.

One has to question, who looks after who in this egalitarian society?

Name & address withheld on request

Dear Editor,

Spring is here, and that means wild animals will be searching out safe, warm, dry places to nest and raise their young. Inevitably, this means that some will come a little closer to people than they might like. There is no need to panic and call in pest controllers.

There are simple measures that can be taken to encourage unwanted guests to leave without harming them. And it is best to do this as soon as they are seen to be taking an interest in attics or garages, rather than waiting until there are babies to evacuate, too.

Animal Aid has a series of free information sheets that give useful tips on deterring birds, squirrels, rodents and foxes. You can order these from info@animalaid.org.uk or by calling 01732 364546.

Kate Fowler, Animal Aid

Dear Editor,

I think it is disgusting that our buses are to be cut because of government cuts to the county. We are particularly unfortunate here in Dorset as people from all over the British Isles come here on holiday and can get free bus travel.

On several occasions I have not been able to get on the bus to get home with heavy shopping and we have had to pay to get a taxi.

I think that we should have stuck with the original idea that your bus pass gave you free travel in your own area and then we would not have this problem now.

K Leigh. Swanage, by hand.

Ferry - Mean-Spirited

Dear Nico,

I wish to complain that by not announcing the reduction of discounts on books of tickets from April 1st anywhere on route or on the Ferry Company’s website, they are being underhand and treating customers very badly. What other conclusion can people draw than that they are mean-spirited and money-grabbing by deliberately keeping quiet on their increases in charges?

I would imagine that they have a statutory duty to notify customers of such increases. If so, they should be deferring their increases until they have given proper notice.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Dexter, Studland, via email

90 Years Of Dancing

Dear Readers,

Happy 90th Birthday

90th birthdays are no longer unusual, but perhaps this one is. On Sunday the 13th of April the Swanage and Langton Matravers Folk Dance Club held its 90th birthday dance at Langton Matravers Village Hall.

Valerie Webster, a well-respected national caller, led the club members and some dancers from local clubs in a fine celebration of ninety years continuous dancing at Langton. Rod and Frances Stradling provided live music. The last dance was “Dancing Ledge”, written by Valerie to celebrate the event.

Folk dancing was started in Langton by the WI in 1924. Miss Dymond was the caller with piano music provided first by Miss Sybil Lander and then Mrs Sheppard until a gramophone was purchased. The rent for the parish hall was then 6d a session and as it became more popular dancing took place twice a week.

When Miss Dymond retired, Miss Gilbert took over the calling and several times there was dancing around Swanage Bandstand during the summer months with the Swanage Legion Band playing. This stopped during the war years, but dancing in Langton continued. Miss Gillian Oates ran the club from 1947 until she retired in 1991 when Mrs Muriel Edmonds took over. Mrs Edmonds ran the club until 2006 when Mrs Ann Faulkner took over.

English Folk Dance can be readily seen in the Jane Austin period dramas. The dance from Pride and Prejudice, Mr Beveridge’s Maggot, where Elizabeth Bennet flirts with Mr Darcy, is a favourite at Langton and is often danced.

The regular club night at Langton is Tuesday from 19.30 to 21.45. The cost is less than a pot of tea in any local cafe and halves on joining. Many club members also dance at Stoborough with the Wareham Folk Dance club on Monday 19:30 to 21.30. Parking at both venues is easy, convenient and free and at both clubs new members, with or without experience, will be warmly welcomed.

Tony Aellen, Langton Folk Dance Club.

WPM Residential Lettings

If you need to Let or want to Rent, contact WPM. We offer a personal service to Landlords & Tenants

23b Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF.Tel: 01929 426200 Web: www.wpmlettings.co.uk Email: wpm.tiller@virgin.net

Heart-Felt Thanks From George

May I, from the bottom of my heart, express my sincere thanks to Nico, David Hollister and everyone at the Gazette – and to Linda Welsh especially – for organising the evening in my honour, and for the amazing book containing so many comments,

Everyone appeared to have enjoyed the splendid buffet provided by Rotary. You and others must have spent hours in the compiling of the book, which I and Beata will always treasure, and which for me represents perhaps the

Certainly it is a great milestone in a life in which I have enjoyed, reporting and recording Purbeck’s activities and history, its life and its people here; in all, about the Purbeck I love and to which so much of my life has been dedicated.

To the above, to those who spoke words I shall never forget, and to all who attended, my heart-felt thanks and gratitude. George Willey, by email.

Carpets Select, a local company employs skilled, local labour, and is a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

Good Home Wanted...

David Hollister writes...

Many of you will feel that as I don’t live in Swanage itself, I have no right to comment on matters pertaining to Swanage. So actually, the following article – stimulated by the ‘Swanage Local Plan’ and the Purbeck District Council’s published ‘Sustainability Appraisal’ – is of no actual relevance to me, so why don’t I just shut up and go on moaning about potholes and Council Officers’ salaries.

Well, it’s because a lot of my friends and colleagues live in Swanage; it’s because I have worked here most of my life and play a part in many of its activities. And trying to find 1000 words to write about Harmans Cross would not only be difficult and boring to the readers, but would reinforce the general belief that I’m a total NIMBY.

The vision set out in the consultation document is for new affordable family housing allowing local people to live and work in Swanage. How sad, therefore, that the only area shaded pink earmarked for ‘affordable housing’ is actually on the allotments where residents who are not fortunate enough to have their own gardens can actually grow their own food and enjoy leisure time doing so. Of course, the allotments could always be “re-located”; the leaflet suggests ‘new individual plots, an improved water supply, drainage and road access, shared facilities including composting toilets and even a “club house”. I’m sure that most of the allotment holders are cleaning their shovels right now and asking ‘where do I sign?’

The remaining seven areas shaded blue with potential for ‘homes’ (as opposed to ‘affordable homes’) suggest a total of 1207 dwellings on 27.4 hectares of land. The suggested options include significant development in Northbrook Road, hence the letter in last month’s Gazette from Mr S.Ede, a resident of North Swanage, suggesting that “North Swanage people should voice their concerns NOW and say a resounding ‘NO’ …”

Well, as the Famous Eccles said in the last Goon Show of all “Everybody’s got to be somewhere”. So I ask Mr Ede – if not there, then where? If not now, then when? You have your home; I have my home; but other people need homes too. Look in the Estate Agents’ windows; there’s no shortage of ‘market housing’ here in Swanage, so actually what I’d rather have seen is every one of the blue areas to be shaded pink, with the suggestion that we build what people NEED as opposed to what some people WANT.

In the ‘Social and Community’ section of their leaflet, the planners suggest “we need facilities for improved health care, social care provision, employment and training support, and all weather recreation facilities”. All very laudable. In an ideal world. Which this ain’t. We need homes first and foremost.

The recent PDC ‘Affordable Homes Strategy’ document acknowledges that there’s an acute shortage of affordable housing in Purbeck, and a corporate priority of the Council is to meet the housing needs of local people. Section PLP1 of that document requires any developments with a net increase of two or more homes on sites with a size of over 0.05ha to provide 50% affordable housing. So I’d guess that on this basis, of the potential 1207 homes, at least 50% will be affordable. But actually, without decimating any more green belt, Purbeck already has adequate homes right here, right now. They are neatly labelled ‘Second Homes’. Owned by those who can afford them, and many of whom make little or no contribution to the life of the area. ‘Houses’ are investments. ‘Homes’ are places for people to live. And every home sold

to a Second Home Owner is a home that’s taken out of our local housing stock. We have empty flats, we have empty houses, and we have homeless people. Doesn’t seem very fair, does it?

Research I did several years ago is still pertinent today; your average young local family – even with both working – simply can’t amass the deposit required for even the tiniest flat in Purbeck, and wouldn’t meet the income criteria needed for a mortgage. Wages are low and most of their money is going out on rent.

For those of you who don’t subscribe to Facebook, you’re really missing out! There are several local ‘Facebook groups’ with a multitude of various views on ever-changing topics, and some really excellent local photos. I didn’t realise there was so much photographic talent in Purbeck! But just occasionally, it gets a bit heated. Recently, I’ve been accused of being a right-wing Tory, a bleeding-heart Liberal, a rabid socialist, a UKIP supporter, and much much more. So I guess that getting flak from all sides actually means that I’m getting my point across. Which is that party politics have no place in local government and no place in local magazines either. Here at the Gazette, Nico does a great job in balancing input from all sides of the political spectrum. The local elections are almost upon us (May 22nd) and I’d urge everyone who has a vote – use it! In years gone by, people died for the principle of ‘one person one vote’ and if you don’t use your vote then actually you have no business in complaining about what the Council does or doesn’t do. But tear off the ‘political’ labels and vote for the candidate not the rosette. I’ve long been an advocate of voting being compulsory, as long as there’s a box to tick “none of the above”. And if “none of the above” wins, then they should dump all the candidates and run it again until someone shines through. A Councillor’s main duty is to their electorate, not to a party; they should strive not only in the interests of their own ward, but in the interests of the whole district. And to represent the interests of their district at county level. But maybe I’m going a bit too far here ………

Many years ago, I stood for Council under the Swanage Residents’ Association banner; our motto was ‘party politics have no place in local government’ and ‘the wishes of the people, as expressed’. We didn’t do too badly! Got a lot done – but not nearly enough. But now the Swanage Residents’ Association appears to be dead and buried; in 2010 as they could find no-one to join their Committee and take on the executive roles, shamefully, they closed it down. There’s clearly a vacancy for a strong Purbeck Residents’ Association to act as a pressure group to stop Councils riding roughshod over our views. All the ‘consultation’ that goes on these days seems to me to be simply the pre-cursor of the Councils doing exactly what they – or their political masters – want to do.

“Residents” doesn’t just mean retired people with nice little houses in Woods Edge or in New Swanage, but also people in affordable homes. People just struggling to make ends meet. Even people whose “residence” is a camper van parked somewhere different each night.

So to all of you – especially those who think you’re disenfranchised – go out and vote. And stop ‘keeping your head below the parapet’. Your District needs an active and strong Residents, Association. Get out there and dig one up.

APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE - LICENSING ACT 2003

LICENSING ACT 2003 - PREMISES LICENCE

NOTICE is hereby given that Wareham Wednesdays of 20 South St, Wareham, has applied to the Purbeck District Council for the issue of a Premises licence in respect of The Quay Car Park, South Bridge, BH20 4LP

The proposed application will permit Wareham Wednesdays Events e.g. to supply alcohol, to permit extensions on special occasions, to allow occasional music and dancing, to permit service to residents, to sell hot food and drink late at night, etc.,

The application will request business hours as follows Saturday & Wednesday Nights 17.00 until 23.30 for July and August of each year

Any person wishing to make representations in respect of this application should do so in writing addressed to Licensing Department, Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, BH20 4PP, before 12/05/2014.

All representations will be made known to the applicant. The register of the licensing authority is maintained at Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Wareham, where the application may be inspected Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm

It is an offence punishable by fine on summary conviction, knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application.

Signed: Jude Marquet on behalf of Wareham Wednesdays, 12/04/2014

Not on your Nellie...

Nellie and I think it’s a shame they way they have demolished Swanage middle school and erected an industrial estate on the site. I mean to say, it’s all very well encouraging local enterprise but where will the children go for an education? I suppose there is always the old grammar school, it’s a rather nice building and renovating it would surely cost far less than building anew? Less traffic too.

I doubt very much that Prince Charles would approve. Like him or not, he is at least aware of the link between the quality of an environment and subsequent quality of those inhabiting it. What a statement to make to visitors to our lovely town, delayed for half an hour at the proposed new double pelican crossing they will have ample time to absorb the intriguing idea that we Purbeck islanders, caught in a Dickensian timewarp, pack our children off to a factory for the day.

I have to admit Nellie and I have a bit of soft spot for old Charlie Windsor, displaying as he does most of the lovable attributes of a true English eccentric. I know that for the heir and spare he needed to marry that Sloane Ranger whose name I forget, but we all make mistakes do we not? And he gave us Poundbury, which attracted a raft of criticism (probably from architects who design new schools) and can still inspire heated debate, but in recent months Nellie and I have been enjoying the odd day out there, revelling in the sheer scale and uniqueness of it all. We even ventured to eat in a rather eccentric bistro which opens one night a month, serves one dish and offers one bottle of wine in each colour. There is even a pocket-sized Waitrose where you can park right outside and not a single horrid trolley sullies the view. They even give you a free newspaper with your purchase. The whole Poundbury experience is akin to being on a very civilised film set after the crew have gone home.

Of particular interest to me is that, apart from the main thoroughfare that sadly bisects the estate, there is a total absence of road markings and signage. And I mean total. And it is a salutary lesson. A mandatory 30mph exists by virtue of the spacing of street lighting, but there are no posted signs and indeed there are plenty of areas where thirty would be too fast, but everybody naturally drives at a reasonable speed. There are no yellow lines restricting parking at all, and guess what… everybody parks sensibly! There are no white lines at junctions, nor down the middle of the roads, yet drivers manage to remember to keep to the left and avoid colliding with one another. It is a breath of fresh air, not a traffic warden in sight, and an idea that could well be implemented elsewhere.

Nellie made a rather interesting observation about the plethora of largely unnecessary signs lining our highways along with the casual acceptance of huge electricity pylons and extensive telegraph paraphernalia, as opposed to all the fuss being made over the visual impact of the inevitable windfarm. But I did warn her it might not go down well in the pages of the Gazette.

Weighed down by debt

A day in the life of Michelle Smiley before CAP...

I wake after another night of bad sleep and nightmares. I feel sick with the pressure so the last thing I want to think about is breakfast. After dropping Larni at school I visit my partner Charlie in hospital. When I get home I find red letters on the doormat, along with a card from a bailiff. I can’t relax, I am on tenterhooks.

I keep my shoes on so I can escape at any time. Larni wants to play outside but I won’t let her; I don’t know who will be on the doorstep. The phone rings all evening. I try to tell them I don’t have any money but they won’t listen. I don’t know what to do about my debts. I can’t imagine how I can get out of this mess, it feels so overwhelming having to worry about money and Charlie.

I can’t get a job as I am too depressed and I am ill all the time. I have a drink to try and forget my debts but it makes me morbid. I fight to control dark thoughts, as I know I couldn’t leave Larni alone. I don’t get undressed for bed because I can’t relax. I fall asleep in the chair, still wearing my clothes. Then a friend mentioned CAP and that’s when Nick and Ann came over. They said CAP would deal with it all, come up with a budget for me and even talk to my creditors so I don’t have to. They took a massive burden off my shoulders.

Before they left Nick offered to pray for me; I found myself saying yes and I felt very peaceful. Somehow I knew it must be God. I learnt that when I prayed I felt like God was looking after us.

From then on I disciplined myself to stick to the budget and do the things I had to do to sort my debts out. Life is a thousand times better now. I can sleep and I am not afraid.

No red letters or threats; all that has gone. I have felt supported and valued through this whole process. It took me twenty months of sticking to the budget to become debt free and I have a savings pot for emergencies.

Christians Against Poverty have opened a Debt Centre at Emmanuel Baptist Church working in BH19. Do you know anyone struggling with debt? The number to ring for free help is 0800 328 0006, or phone our Debt Centre Manager, Christine North, on 07443 600 829

Out Of The Blue

Cop Calendar

Cop of the month for April is PC Barry Ashdown. Barry has been a police officer for nearly sixteen years and has been working in Purbeck since 2002. Barry is a very committed individual and co-ordinates the Duke of Edinburgh Awards group in Corfe Castle, inspiring in excess of fifty young people. Barry is a fully qualified mountain leader, police motorcyclist, search officer and he is ropes trained (meaning we dangle him off the edges of cliffs!).

Our very active and very brave PC Barry Ashdown also does his bit for good causes. He is going to attempt to cross the English Channel wearing a bowler hat! Following the first sight of good weather after Easter, Barry and two friends will kayak the long way from Omonville la Rogue (nr Cherbourg) back home, hopefully to Swanage. In short a tidal journey of sixty-five nautical miles and about sixteen hours of paddling (don’t worry he has a waterproof for the bowler). He is raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Money raised so far is over £6000. If you can spare any donations or want to follow what Barry is doing, please follow the links on the ‘Bowlers to You’ website. http://www.bowlerstoyou.co.uk/ We will keep you posted on this adventure so keep an eye out for updates.

Crime update:

Looking back at March we had 113 crimes (exactly the same number as last year) and 746 calls to police regarding issues in Purbeck.

As we head into the nicer weather thefts from vehicles parked in beauty spot car parks will rise. Officers will be patrolling these areas but we can’t be in all places at all times. Please take all valuables with you. Our officers will be looking out for vulnerable cars so don’t be surprised if you get a letter from us or a leaflet on your vehicle if you do leave your vehicle unlocked and/or valuables left inside. Don’t let complacency ruin your day.

Another reminder about young people, hopefully they will pry themselves away from games consoles and other electronic devices and venture out into the nice weather. If, however they react badly to the sunlight and start being antisocial then we will have to deal with this. Our officers will be on the prowl and if they have to deal with a young person they will take their details, parents will receive a letter and possibly a home visit from a police officer. If they come to notice three or more times we involve the council ASB officer and could look towards taking more formal action and speaking to social services and housing. On the flip side, please be tolerant and accept young people do want to socialise and they may do this in public.

To contact Dorset Police please call our police enquiry centre by

dialling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency when there is a risk of harm or a crime is in progress. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 (mobile phone tariffs may apply). Remember if you see anything suspicious (SAS) call 999. We have Operation Sweep running and will give it our full attention. Follow our social media, Twitter - @PurbeckPolice and Facebook – facebook.com/Purbeck-Police, we really value your support and comments.

Purbeck Safer Neighbourhood Team

Hi and welcome to a look at what has been happening at Swanage fire station during March,

Operationally it’s been a bit quiet, we’ve attended an acetylene cylinder that was washed up on the beach below the Grand hotel; with our colleagues from the Coastguard and police we set up a 200m exclusion zone around the cylinder and then arranged for it to be removed by specialists. We have attended one road traffic collision, (RTC) at Wytch roundabout, with a crew from Wareham fire station, four false alarms, a lift rescue and a heath fire near the Purbeck golf course. This required the attendance of both appliances and Landrover from Swanage, the Unimog heath fire specialist appliance from Wareham and two further Landrovers from Bere Regis and Hamworthy fire stations. Wednesday 19th March was an unusual day, with fire crews in Purbeck attending three fires involving gorse and heath in one day. Experiencing heath fires in March is not unusual as the lighter evenings encourage more people outside. There is then a trend that the number of deliberately set fires on the heathland increases. If you see anything suspicious whilst out enjoying Dorset’s open areas, please report it to Dorset Police or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you come across a fire on Dorset’s heath please call 999 and request we attend.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to take extra care when enjoying our heaths and open areas. If you are a smoker, extinguish cigarettes fully

before disposing of them – never ever just throw them away lit. Similarly, don’t throw them out of car windows – the result could be 50 or 100 firefighters tackling the subsequent blaze.

That’s it for the operational side, I would now like to let you know about one of the teams within DFRS that perhaps you don’t hear too much about, and that is our technical fire safety team. This team is tasked to enforce The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In England and Wales, if you are an employer or owner, you are responsible for fire safety under this Order. This legislation ensures people in and around your non domestic premises are safe from fire. I am a specialist in this field and we carry out audit on all types of commercial premises. We ensure that the responsible person has carried out a fire risk assessment, and ensured that if any risks have been identified they have reduced that risk to the minimum. We will also ensure that you have all the correct fire safety equipment eg. fire alarms, extinguishers and emergency lighting.

If you are the person responsible for a business, block of flats or community meeting room and you would like to find out about what your responsibilities are under this legislation then Emma Turner, our Business and Partnership Engagement Officer, will be running a briefing session at the council offices in Wareham at 2pm on the 6th of May. To book a place please email Emma on businessadvice@dorsetfire.gov.uk or for further information contact Emma on 01305 252785

That’s all for now, stay safe and test your smoke alarms!

Phil Burridge, Station Commander

Wareham Rotary

The Rotary Club of Wareham held its annual Daffodil Party at the Wareham Parish hall for local pensioners. Over sixty people attended and had a wonderful tea served to them by the members of the Rotary Club of Wareham and Rotary’s Inner wheel.

The guests played Bingo and after tea they were entertained by rotary member Maurice Turner on the organ and Jack Haworth, a member of the Lady St Mary Church Choir, the Wareham Choral Society and The REX players who sang, with the audience joining in when they knew the words. Each pensioner was handed a bunch of daffodils as they left. Transport was provided by members of the Rotary Club and the Lions club.

Blood Pressure Day 17th May

The Rotary Club will hold their annual Blood Pressure day on 17th May in the Wareham Town Hall between 9am and 12 noon.

For the eleventh year running, Rotarians and representatives from the Stroke Association will be saving lives by hosting blood pressure testing events in their local communities. Members of the public can have their blood pressure checked free of charge in a bid to raise awareness of the link between high blood pressure and strokes.

The Rotary Dorset Bike Ride in Aid of Cancer Research UK

The Rotary Club of Wareham have organised their third bike event in aid of Cancer Research on Sunday 7th September starting from Longthorn Camp site Bovington. This year they have added a new 100 mile Dorset Etape for the hardened cyclist with additional routes for all the family of 10, 20, 30, 50, and 75 miles.

There are many prizes to be won for those raising sponsorship including a new bike plus £50 bike vouchers donated by Cyclexperience, 6 months membership to Springfield Leisure club and Spa and a special cycle jersey.

Last year they had 500 entries and raised nearly £30,000 and the club hopes to raise much more this year. You can enter at www.dorset-bike-ride.co.uk What is Rotary and how to join?

Wareham Rotary is an organisation of men and women who give up their time helping the local community, raising funds for charities and local good causes. Not only is a great way of helping others, but it is also a great way of making friends and having a great time. If you would like to know more, or if you would like to join please check out their web site www. warehamrotary.co.uk or telephone David King on 01929 471087.

Celebrating ‘Mr Swanage’

On Friday 21st March, a wide and varied selection of people from Swanage and Purbeck gathered at Swanage Conservative Club to pay homage to ‘Mr Swanage’, aka George Willey.

George’s first journalistic job was with South Wales Argus, after which he spent time at Durham County Press as Chief Reporter. He then stopped off in Swanage in 1953 on his way to London to work as a political reporter.

George never made it to London, and has remained in Purbeck to this day, over sixty years later.

Having become an ‘honorary local’ some thirty years ago (!!), George gained the title ‘Mr Swanage’ in recent years, having spent so much of his life dedicated to the town, its people and its organisations.

George originally worked at the Swanage Times, which was part of the Poole & Dorset Herald group. Many remember George’s office, a converted guardhouse from WWI, near the railway station in Swanage.

The Swanage Times eventually disappeared, and George began working for Southern Newspapers, at the Swanage and Wareham Advertiser. George remained a solid feature of the Advertiser with his Tilly Whim column (which was started whilst George was at the Swanage Times), not just for years, but for decades. He was ‘offered’ retirement in 2013 from the S&W Advertiser and ‘Tilly Whim’ is no more.

During his decades in Swanage, George joined pretty much every group and organisation possible, dedicating himself to such a wide and varied selection of activities it’s a wonder he ever managed to write anything at all!

In order to pay homage to George and acknowledge all that he has done for Swanage and indeed Purbeck over the years, the celebration evening at Swanage Conservative Club was organised by Linda Welsh, and a callout for tributes and memories of George was sent far and wide. Many responded with stories and remembrances of their own, and Linda spent many painstaking hours putting the memories and photographs that were submitted into a beautiful, leather-bound tome to present to George.

Representatives of the Rotary Club, Walking Group, Town Twinning Group, P.I.S.S., Swanage Carnival & Regatta, Swanage Chamber of Trade and many other local societies attended, to pay homage to a great man and to share some personal, and often highly amusing memories of George.

A huge thank you to Linda for her outstanding work with the ‘Tome of George’ and all the organisation. Thanks also to Caroline (beautiful flowers!), Mary and everyone else who helped make the evening a success.

Thank you George - your strength of character is something that pervades Purbeck - you are as much a part of our fair isle as the rock we build our houses from. Irreplaceable, and certainly never to be forgotten....

Charity Auction Raises £7,500

On 15th March the Lions Club of Swanage and the Swanage Lifeboat Station held a shared event, a 50/50 Charity Auction, at the Old Malthouse, Langton Matravers.

Due to the generosity of many people in local businesses, also others from further afield, and private individuals who donated hand crafted items, paintings, tickets to events and even holidays, we were able to offer a fantastic selection of lots. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

The evening was well attended with plenty of enthusiastic bidding from those present.

We would like to thank our two auctioneers, John Corben and Oliver Miles, who rose to the occasion, whipping up lots of excitement with a huge amount of humour. Everybody had a very enjoyable evening even if they returned home with lighter pockets!

The event raised over £7,500 pounds, an amazing amount. The Swanage Lifeboat Station is using its half towards the cost of the new Lifeboat House. The Lions Club of Swanage is sharing its half equally between the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and the Lewis-Manning Hospice.

On behalf of Swanage Lifeboat Station and the Lions Club of Swanage, we would like to thank the community for their support.

Linda Welsh and George Willey

George Willey and Hugh Elmes

George Willey speaking to the audience

David Hollister hosting the evening

Viking Alert For Corfe Castle!

Viking and Saxon armies march into Corfe Castle in May seeking brave young recruits!

Saxons and Vikings – Siege of Wareham over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday May 3-Monday May 5) takes us back to the year 876 when marauding Vikings captured the nearby town.

Watch as King Alfred the Great’s Saxon army battles the invaders in full scale re-enactments, visit King Alfred’s Court, meet craftspeople in the Saxon Village and sign up for Young Warrior Training if you dare.

There are more chances to join the ranks in Saxon and Viking Academy (Saturday 10-Sunday 11 May, Saturday 17-Sunday 18 May, Saturday 24-Sunday 25 May).

Become a Saxon or Viking warrior, find out what it was like to wear the armour, see the weapons and learn the skills in interactive sessions. Entry to the events is included in the normal price of admission to the castle.

Purbeck Volunteers Honoured

the commitment given by these special people.

“Volunteers are essential to the quality of life in our towns and villages and make a positive difference to all of us.

received recognition from the Chairman, Councillor Bill Trite. Representatives from the Purbeck towns and parishes which nominated volunteers told Councillor Trite and guests about the dedication, energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers.

After presenting each volunteer with a scroll as a mark of their achievement, Councillor Trite said: “I am extremely impressed by what I have heard tonight – it is very humbling and brings home the extent of

New To Swanage! The Sewing Box

Hello, I’m Sarah and I have recently opened a dressmaking, alterations and repairs business in Daisy May’s shopping arcade at 2 Kings Road East, Swanage. From shortening trousers, to restyling wedding dresses – this is the place to bring all your sewing needs.

“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to have been involved in the Volunteers of the Year scheme and to thank personally all those who give so freely of their time and efforts.”

Eleven parishes and towns across the district nominated volunteers who were congratulated in front of more than 50 people. Councillor Trite concluded: “With continued reductions in funding for local authorities, we are going to need more people like these in the future.”

I then worked as a freelance seamstress across the county, which included work for the BBC, ITV, museums, films and stage productions. I was also employed by a national dry cleaners as a tailoress trainer. So root out those garments at the back of your wardrobe with the broken zip, or that need taking in or shortening, bring them along to me and I’ll help you to wear them again.

I am open 9am to 5.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday. I close for lunch 1pm to 1.30 pm.

Tel:Sarah

I was taught to sew from an early age by my mum and grandmother, having been fascinated by how they could turn fabric and wool into wearable garments.

After finishing school I completed a seamstress apprenticeship at a church furnishers. I enjoyed learning so much that I returned to college and gained an HND in the history of dress and costume.

Our Modern World

Ella Marray (14), recently joined us at Gazette Towers for a fortnight’s work experience. As well as wading through masses of grammar whilst here, Ella was set the task of researching the rise of modern technology during her lifetime and was asked to write-up her findings.

Ella is pictured (left), having attended the office suitably dressed as a pirate for World Book Day!

Roaming through the Papuan jungle, there are people dressed only in beaded necklaces and loin cloths. Their arms are full of wooden bowls, pots filled with fruit and the occasional pet pig scrambling to escape. The Kowai family are moving house, to a lovely property thirty metres above the ground, level with the tree canopy.

Once up there they light a fire to celebrate, as they do every night in order to keep warm. Looking over the vast landscape the father says: “Looking at the view, with the fire burning, we are so content living in this beautiful forest!”

Across the globe we find ourselves in the midst of the Venezuelan rainforest. A gaggle of giggling children from the Piaroa tribe runs past. They’re out catching their lunch, on the menu today: the Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula. Since the age of five these children have learnt to catch enough spiders for a decent meal, in just a couple of hours. Back at home they toast the creatures of our nightmares over a fire.

Here in Purbeck, we find ourselves in a house in rural suburban Sandford. It’s a beautiful day, with sunshine and clear skies. But from the inside of the bedroom you’d have no idea; the blinds are down. A boy sits on the floor, hood up, staring at a small flashing screen. The sound of a blaring football commentary fills the room, but the only sound coming from the boy is the occasional shout of “Yes!” or “Dammit” and let’s not forget: “Mum! I’m hungry”.

That boy is my brother. In my lifetime, technology and the internet have advanced vastly. According to a survey taken in 2014, thirty six million adults own a computer and I regularly see small children on the train with tablets in their hands. During fourteen years, technology has changed and so has our society. I’d like to explore how we’ve been shaped by technology and ask - does it make for a better world?

It all started in 1964, when Britain received its first ever home computer. As shown on BBC’s Tomorrows world, you were able to receive daily schedule updates. This ginormous machine was seen as revolutionary for its time, but due to the cost of £39 a week (when the average person earned £39 a month), it failed to take off.

Fast forward to 1995 and Brit Tim Burners-Lee has just invented the World Wide Web. This fantastic invention took off like a storm and the amount of

R.N.L.I. Crew Profile Peter Foster

RNLI Swanage Appeal Chair

Peter has been involved with the RNLI in Swanage for around seven years, having started as a volunteer in the town’s RNLI shop before becoming Visits Officer at the lifeboat station and then Chairman in October 2011.

In March 2013 he became Chair of the Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Station Appeal, a role which sees him leading a team of dedicated fundraising volunteers to raise a whopping £200,000 towards the new lifeboat station needed to house the town’s next lifeboat, a state of the art Shannon Class lifeboat.

It’s a volunteer role, which at times become a full time occupation but Peter is keen to put something back into the Swanage community, he says; ‘I have always loved Swanage, as a youngster during the early sixties my parents brought me here by train, and I have many happy memories of being on the beach, where I now enjoy playing with my three grandchildren.’

‘It’s extremely important to me to be able to put something back into the Swanage community who have given me so much.’

‘As a charity, the RNLI is dependent on its volunteers who come from all walks of life. From the fundraisers who provide the funding to ensure

users in that year was a whopping forty million. Since 1999, numbers have increased dramatically, with 2,405,518,376 users this year - and counting! So, what do we use it for? The most common answer seems to be social networking. Facebook especially, with over four million users. My generation use social networking online as a way of communication. The teenage stereotype is that we’re stuck inside all day, on computers or phones, so when asked what came before social media, I had no idea! I decided to investigate this and asked several people aged thirty upwards ‘What came before social media?’

The main answer was that children and teenagers went outside more and fitness levels were much better. With my school’s insistence that I grudgingly take part in Physical Education until sixth form, I don’t think our fitness is that bad. But I must admit the call of online fandoms does make the outside world less appealing…

So, what’s next in the evolution of technology? Virtual Reality is up-andcoming - technology that transports you to different 3D environments of your choice, without leaving your chair. Companies and research teams have made great leaps in this field. Oculus have developed a gaming headset, with the most realistic environments yet!

But what’s really exciting is the Taste Simulator, a headset that replicates the eating experience. The headset sends signals that reproduce the four taste components through an electrode on the tip of the tongue. This device is being put to good use, helping people recover from eating disorders.

Seeing how far we’ve come with technology, our society is looking advanced, isn’t it? Until there’s a permanent, worldwide power cut that is… Our livelihoods are dependent on electricity. No electricity equals no lighting, no running water, no heat and no household appliances. A trip down to Co-op for more supplies won’t be that helpful either as supermarket freezers are, you guessed it, electronic.

Meanwhile back in Papua, the Mowai family have just got back from harvesting fruit and hunting and are now sat round the fire of their tree house having dinner. They will probably never know of the power cut as their lives exist without the ‘assistance’ of electricity.

That’s how I leave you, with the thought that although ancient tribes may be endangered now, electricity is a delicate thing - one major, long-term power cut and our roles would reverse. How would we, inhabitants of the ‘modern world’, cope?

‘It is important for humanity these people exist. They remind us that it’s possible to live in a different way. They’re the last free people on the planet.’ Jose Carlos Meirelles, FUNAI.

the volunteer crew have the appropriate training and equipment to carry out their lifesaving roles, to the volunteer crew themselves who go out in all weathers and conditions to help save those in trouble at sea, and everyone in between.’

‘It gives me great pride to be able to play my part and having reached the half way mark in the fundraising appeal for the new Swanage lifeboat station, I am very proud of the support we’ve received so far from the people of Swanage and beyond.’

The Swanage School

The Swanage School was a hive of activity over the Easter holidays as they moved from their temporary home at Harrow House to their purpose-built school on the High Street. Seven lorry-loads of equipment was moved from Harrow House, and hundreds of tables and chairs, lockers, sports equipment, hi-tech IT desks and more have been delivered.

Kier have worked since May last year to complete the new home of The Swanage School on target, ready for the start of summer term. The buildings provide stateof-the-art spaces for teaching and learning, including an art studio with panoramic views across the hills, four science labs and a fully-equipped DT workshop.

The extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities will also be available for clubs and community learning outside school hours.

The school opened in September 2013 at Harrow House. It prides itself on being academically rigorous, with smaller class sizes and outstanding teachers, and where every child is well-known and learning is fun.

Headteacher Mr Hobson says “We’re so thrilled with our new school buildings and we know our students are going to love learning in them. They have been designed for the community to benefit from too, so we’re looking forward to showing visitors around and letting them see the wonderful work our students have produced in the short time we’ve been open.”

He also extended a warm welcome to all members of the community to view the school on the Opening Day which takes place on Saturday 17 May from 12 noon.

Wareham - Hemsbach Update

About eighty people came to the Wareham-Hemsbach barn dance at Furzebrook Village Hall on Saturday 5th April in the evening. The Arish Mell band played the music and Chris Hall did the calling.

The ‘Strip the Willow’ dance at the end was the liveliest one. Most people took part in the dancing. We brought our own food but drinks were available from the serving hatch.

On Monday 7th April we had a fire safety talk at the Carey Hall. A film showed how a smouldering chair could turn a room into a raging inferno in three minutes.

The basic advice was to get out of the building and to call the fire brigade. The talk was useful for people hosting our friends from Hemsbach in August.

Robin Brasher, Publicity Officer of the Wareham-Hemsbach Society.

My War-time Memories.

By Brian Guy

Goodwood. Blood-soaked. Goodwood.

This was it! This was to be the great attack that would lead to the break out. We were to smash through the enemy lines in one great armoured left hook round Caen. Then into the open country beyond; in this position we could employ our tank strength and engage the enemy on our terms.

Well! That is what was supposed to happen. Lots of preparation had taken place. We had moved away from Caen and on July the 15th, we crossed over the Orne, where the company harboured in a field near Heronvillette, to be immediately greeted by a barrage of shell fire during the night. Not a lot of damage though as we were now well dug in. Mr Trench, our platoon officer, gathered us together and briefed our little band on exactly what was to take place, Now! I remember this briefing very well because it was interrupted by the sound of approaching tanks. The noise got louder as they appeared round a bend in the road.

First came a Sherman tank followed by a captured German tank, with another Sherman behind. After this little episode, a sigh of relief. The briefing from Mr Trench gave us a complete run-down of our objectives in the coming battle. We were to move out to the left flank, and take the scattered villages and then try to take Troarn, but the main task was to secure our left flank from any incursions from the enemy.

The night before this attack, mosquitoes descended on us in great avenging hordes and created absolute mayhem. Men with swollen faces and infected arms and legs, desperate to get some relief. I poured the paraffin out of a storm lantern over my arms legs and head, got in my foxhole, and as night came, so did the shells. I have taken the trouble to describe this battle in more detail because for some reason, I found this action more frightening than anything that I had experienced before.

A beautiful summer’s morning, on July 18th, RAF and USAAF began a bombardment of the ground in front of us. Two thousand heavy bombers, Lancaster’s and Flying Fortresses pounded the enemy areas, supported by seven hundred and twenty artillery guns, plus two thousand fighters and fighter bombers. As this mighty attack went in, the ground trembled and shook as a huge cloud of dust and smoke rose over the target area. The enemy by now, saturated by bombing and shelling.

Eighth brigade, with our platoon up, led off as usual. We moved out with our half tracks and carriers through what looked like a “moonscape”. We felt that with that bombardment, nothing could stop us. We took the Chateau De Escoville, then took Touffreville and Sannerville and the lateral road to Touffreville. We then consolidated in the area of TouffrevilleSannerville-Bannerville before our attack on Troarn. I remember this time as one where we were shelled and mortared constantly, with the added discomfort of a barrage of moaning minnies, and machine gun fire. But most of all, what I found so frightening, were the shell airbursts. I do not think that I have felt so much fear before, or after. I do know that there are many others who looked back on Troarn with dread.

In the middle of this battle, harboured in an orchard where we had been under fierce fire, we had to unload boxes of explosives. They were brown in colour and rolled up in grease proof paper. Unfortunately, they had become unstable and had started to show small beads of liquid explosive on the outside, very dangerous and to be handled with great care!

Synergy Donate

Then the trouble really started. Stonked and straddled with enemy fire, above ground at one time was suicidal. It seems that the enemy had retired before the bombardment and then had come back in again. Surrounded by dense green countryside, we had no idea where the fire was coming from. Harboured in an orchard, we were subjected to a severe pounding. In the middle of this one of our men went off his head with fear, and had to be restrained; he had his commando knife in his hand and presented a danger to us all.

I remember three men tackling this man as he ran crazily around the orchard brandishing his commando knife. Picture this if you can: the company vehicles drawn up in the orchard, with bren gun carriers, and half tracks, plus one or two three ton lorries loaded with explosives and mines, then as the mortars, shells, and machine gun fire raked the orchard trees, amongst all that mayhem, these three men tackling a mad-man intent on stabbing someone. In the end they brought him down with a flying tackle, the three of them sat on him while they tied him down. Meanwhile our officer was striding about exhorting us to fire back, that is, until a lump of shrapnel took off part of one hand. He then took cover with the rest of us, minus half a hand. Not cowardice! Just plain common sense, when the stonking is that severe, it is impossible to live under such saturating fire. The object of battle is not to give your life for your country, it is to make the enemy give his life for his country. This hammering continued for a few days. Our objective of taking Troarn was never realized.

This part of Normandy, it appeared, the enemy was going to defend at all costs. While we were gathered together, a moaning minnie mortar landed right amongst us, but fortunately exploded with a split in the casing, so that it produced no shrapnel. I have talked to others who were there at Troarn and their response is “don’t mention that bloody place”.

All the while three British Armoured divisions raced for the high ground of the Bourgebous ridge, behind Caen. Infantry travelled on the back of the tanks, as these three armoured divisions raced for that high ground. On the way they got caught up in a horrendous traffic jam, trying desperately to get through the “Moonscape” with a very narrow clear path through the mine fields. The leading tanks were miles ahead, while the tail was caught up, unable to move.

The tangle was so severe, that not even wounded were allowed back, they had to wait until it could be cleared. As the tanks approached the ridge, they were met with the withering fire from a screen of tanks and anti-tank guns, 88s. The bombs had not reached the forward positions and the Germans round the Bourgebous ridge were not touched. As the tanks drove on through this narrow spearhead, they were attacked by anti-tank guns from both flanks. Then attacked head on by the defensive fire of the 88s from the defensive shield. The thrust forward faltered, and then died out after a day or so.

I have heard it described as the “death ride” of the armoured divisions. We did not have enough infantry to clear up as we went and our tanks paid a terrible price! Our losses? Never given officially, but it has been reliably given as 400 tanks lost, some were recovered, but at the same time the whole area was covered with the black oily columns of smoke that rose into the sky from all our burning tanks.

There was one great saving grace about this battle. The Germans were forced to bring their armour around Normandy from the American battle front to the British army sector, because of the danger of our breakout, thus stripping the American sector of German tanks, leaving it easier for the yanks to break out.

When the Americans broke out, their flying columns spread out across France and then in conjunction with the Americans, the British turned north to envelope an entire German army in what was to become known as the “Falaise pocket”, but more of that later in these memoirs.

Why did we do away with a perfectly good school at Herston? Then.. why did we replace it with what seems to me to be a steel grey architectural monstrosity?

Will they have armed guards at the gates? Just my opinion! Big Grin!!

The Swanage Food Bank was lucky enough to be chosen by Synergy Housing for a generous donation of £3000 pounds, which we greatly appreciate.

We shall use the money to improve storage facilities for the Food Bank donations, in addition to providing basic essentials for each food parcel provided.

The photo shows members of the Food Bank team receiving a generous cheque from members of the Synergy Housing Association.

ORaising Funds In Memory Of Connie Moore

Connie (pictured, left) died suddenly on January 19th this year, having contracted bacterial meningitis.

Connie was known to many in Swanage, having spent her early years living here and later visiting in school holidays and weekends.

Connie was a beautiful, bright 16 year old.

She attended Bournemouth Grammar School where she was regarded by the Headteacher as “a lovely, gentle natured girl with impeccable manners; always bright and bubbly she had a wonderful laugh, much appreciated by all her many friends”. He also recalls that Connie was a talented singer out of school.

Connie had a zest for life and was an active member of the Funky Little Choir. She had a wide circle of fantastic friends and was much loved by her family.

Her death has utterly devastated them all and they miss her terribly.

As a tribute to Connie and to raise funds into researching meningitis and bringing and end to this terrible, fast-acting disease, thirty-three of her friends and family are running the BUPA 10K in London on May 25th in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

So far they have raised over £9,000 but their aim is to raise in excess of £15,000, which would beat all records for the charity for this event.

They feel that this is the least that Connie’s memory deserves.

If anyone would like to remember Connie by helping to prevent future tragic deaths from meningitis then they can donate at the Purbeck Gazette offices, or online at http://www.justgiving.com/ Kathleen-Moore2 or http://www.justgiving.com/Amy-Moore4

Anyone who wishes to understand more about Meningitis should contact the Meningitis Research Foundation: www.meningitis.org

Speak Out For The Hungry!

n Thursday 3rd April, year 5 of St. Mary’s RC Primary School, Swanage presented speeches for the CAFOD project, ‘Speak up for CAFOD’ to local dignitaries of the town council as well as local representatives of Fair Trade and Christian Aid. The speakers’ peer group were part of the audience as each pupil had him or herself written a speech. Year 4 were invited too. It may be their turn next year!

The topic was ‘Speak out for the Hungry’, or how can we give the hungry a voice. The speakers presented their work clearly and with diction. Every person heard what they had to say. The co-writers stood with the speaker to support them. All stood with dignity and poise. Well done everyone. We are proud of you.

Ally Patrick, the Swanage town Mayor, presented prizes of CAFOD water bottles and stationery to the speakers. The Mayor said she believed that there were many public speakers of the future here. Fair Trade coffee, tea and cake were enjoyed after the event, whilst Year 5 mingled with the guests.

As the CAFOD education volunteer who worked with Year 5, I can say that we are all proud of what these youngsters achieved and delivered. Thank you to their teacher, Mrs. Meteau and Head teacher, Mrs. Lake.

Although this was not a fundraising event, the audience donated about £25, which the children of year 5 aim to send to CAFOD through a purchase from the CAFOD world gifts catalogue. Bea Taylor. CAFOD Education Volunteer.

RAILWAY PURBECK’S

Swanage Railway Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival

May 9th to 11th will see Swanage Railway hold its 9th annual Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival.

The highly popular 3 day Diesel Gala has an intensive 3 train service operating between Norden Park & Ride, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross and Swanage from 8:00am until midnight on the Friday and Saturday - and from 8:00am until 7:00pm on the Sunday.

The “Bankes Arms” at Corfe Castle will again be the location of this year’s “Dorset Beer Festival” where a variety of local beers and ciders will be available while watching trains arriving and departing from Corfe Castle

The Diesel Gala’s Friday and Saturday evenings will see a “Beerex” train service and Wessex Belle “Bistro” dining train in full operation. Advance booking on the dining train is highly recommended having been very popular in previous years.

This year’s Diesel Gala supported charity is the RNLI’s £200,000 Swanage Lifeboat Station appeal for a new lifeboat and lifeboat station.

For details of Diesel Gala locomotives, updates and pricing please visit Swanage Railway website www.swanagerailway.co.uk or by phone 01929 425800.

Purbeck Railway Circle

On Friday 9th May, Hugh Compton will deliver a talk entitled “Waterloo to Wenford Bridge” The Circle meets in Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross at 7:00 for 7:30 pm.

Tea/ coffee/biscuits and a railway-oriented raffle as usual.

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME

For further information please contact the General Secretary: tel: 01929 554765 or email gordonjakes21@btinternet.com

Stallholders Refused Entry To Market

Swanage Market traditionally opens on the Tuesday before Easter.

Until recently, run by Ensors (who were awarded the tender by Swanage Town Council), the market brings a variety of goods to town every Tuesday. Fresh bread from Bridport, fresh fruit and vegetable, plants, clothing, footwear, cheesesyou name it, you’ll usually find it at Swanage Market.

Not this year, however. At the end of last year, Swanage Town Council decided to offer the market out to tender again, allegedly in the hope of charging even more to the company lucky enough to win the tender. 2013 was a struggle for Ensors to run the market and cover costs during a year when the weather was awful, so it was a great surprise that the council considered remarketing the tender at all.

Then, having become embroiled in the Seafront Stabilisation Scheme (which had been planned for some time, as we reported last year), Swanage Town Council failed to offer the tender for the market in good time, meaning that there is currently no market.

We requested a comment from Town Clerk, Martin Ayres, on the subject, and he told us: “The market tender has been advertised at the earliest possible opportunity given the other demands on the Town Council’s resources. It had been planned to go through the process earlier this year, but you and your readers will appreciate that the Council’s priority has had to be managing the seafront works. The closing date for the tender (was) Wednesday 19th March and depending on the number of bids to evaluate a decision should be made by the Council in early April. Whilst it is therefore unlikely that the market will be open for the Tuesday before Easter weekend, as has been usual practice in recent years, it is certainly the Council’s intention to have it up and running at the earliest possible opportunity and well in advance of the main summer season.”

Early on the traditional first day of market trading in Swanage, stallholders

turned out as usual, arriving at King George’s in order to set-up their stalls. One trader drove down from Bath, one stayed overnight in a B&B, having travelled down from London. Others brought fresh, baked goods with them - all had suffered expense in order to get to the market on time. They were met by a Town Council employee, who informed them that they would not be allowed to set-up their stalls as there was no market. They was obviously some debate over this, and undoubtedly some anger as stallholders felt completely let down. Their livelihood was being taken away without so much as a phone call to warn them beforehand.

Questions regarding the way Swanage Town Council run the market are now being widely discussed, not just locally, but by stallholders at markets throughout the county. Many are questioning why a tender is required in the first place as many town councils run their markets themselves, sending an employee to collect pitch fees mid-morning - lost cost, and any profit stays with the council. We have been informed that both stallholders and council employees have offered to collect pitch fees at Swanage this year so the market can go ahead, but to no avail.

Whilst other counties such as Somerset are opening market trading up, and encouraging new, relaxed street markets to open and flourish (check out Crewkerne’s new street market), Swanage Town Council’s inability to act in this instance can only be described as incompetent, to the detriment of the town and the market traders who have supported us to date. Utilizing the excuse of ‘being busy with the seafront stabalisation’ to explain the detriment caused to the stallholders and to the town as a whole would not be unacceptable in the private sector, and is not acceptable from a Town Council. They are tasked with running the town as a whole, and are not expected to ignore all else in favour of a singular issue, particularly when a couple of hours to deal with this at the appropriate time was all that was required.

If time was an issue as the stabalisation project ran into difficulties, then surely Ensors, who had previously run the market, could have been allowed to continue for this year to avoid disruption, and the possibility of losing the stallholders to other markets?

Picture shows some of the market traders who arrived to set-up, before being turned away.

Saxon Church Repaired

Agrant awarded by Dorset Historic Churches Trust has helped Lady St Mary’s Church in Wareham to carry out vital repairs that were deemed essential in the church’s Quinquennial Inspection.

The Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) grant of £5,000, alongside grants from the Erskine Muton Trust, All Churches Trust, Viridor Credits, the Talbot Village Trust and local fundraising activities helped to meet the £57,500 required for the work.

The renovation included redecorating the interior of the church and installing a new lighting system. The work was supervised by Ecclesiastical Architect Chris Romain, based in Fordingbridge.

According to tradition, St. Aldhelm (639-709) founded Lady St Mary’s Church and, although added to, it remained untouched until 1841. Even today, parts of the building date back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The next stage of the renovation project will include the installation of a new tenor bell, a new heating system and substantial repair work to the organ.

Picture (L-R): Deanery Representative Louise Haywood, Church Wardens Paddy Bartholomew and Pat Cherrett, DHCT Marketing Committee Chairman, Jeremy Selfe and Rev Jackie Maw

ELECTION TIME!

It’s election time again, and time for us all to make a choice as to who will be running things on OUR behalf from now on. Always remember that these are the people you are voting in to take control over YOUR town or village - local elections are not necessarily about party politics (although they have their place, obviously), it’s more about the person standing, who they are and what they stand for.

Are they active in their local community? Do they really care about the community? Are their ideas sound? Do they have the energy and ability to get the job done? All parties were invited to place an advert this month.

A number of elections are taking place on 22 May 2014 in Purbeck.

European - South West Region

District wards* - Bere Regis, Creech Barrow, Langton, Lytchett Matravers, Swanage South, Wareham, West Purbeck, Winfrith Parish councils* - Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle, Arne, Bere Regis, Chaldon Herring, Church Knowle, East Lulworth, East Stoke, Langton Matravers, Lytchett Matravers, Morden, Moreton, West Lulworth,Winfrith Newburgh, Worth Matravers

* Elections will take place where seats are contested.

So, how many of us do vote?

Below are figures for voter turnout in previous elections:

General Election 2010 – Dorset South 68.50% (Higher than the UK average of 65.1%)

Dorset County Council Elections May 2013 - 36.41% across the four wards of Egdon Heath, Purbeck Hills, Swanage & Wareham.

(In voter numbers this equated to a total of only 9926 people from the 27260 who were eligible to vote)

Purbeck District Council May 2012 – 35.91% of voters for the 8 seats contested.

And finally – for the European Elections in 2009 a disappointing 34.7% of the UK electorate bothered to vote.

onThursday May 22nd

Cherry Bartlett

Clare Moody

- yourLabour candidate forPurbeck District Council - yourLabour candidate forthe European Parliament

“Only by uniting will we build the better, fairer, Britain we deserve.”

Ed Miliband

Book Review!

Swanage & Around Through Time by Steve Wallis

Published in 2013 by Amberley Publishing of Gloucester, this is the ninth book in the ‘Through Time’ series by Steve Wallis, senior archaeologist at Dorset County Council.

The series is based in Dorset but extends to adjacent counties. This book is described as ‘a fascinating selection of photographs which trace some of the many ways in which Swanage and its surrounding areas have changed and developed over the last century.’

Wallis has chosen a selection of early photographs of Swanage and the surrounding areas and paired them with recent photographs taken by himself from, wherever possible, the exact standpoint of the original photographer.

Some of the results are so accurately positioned that the experience is akin to looking at those old ‘Spot the Difference’ competitions found in newspapers and magazines. Each pairing is accompanied by a short paragraph of explanation and information.

The town is covered, as is the bay and Durlston Park. Corfe and Studland each get a chapter, and Langton, Worth and Kingston share one.

The book is well presented in paperback and would make a welcome addition to your shelf of local-interest books.

Possibly a little pricey at £14.99, ISBN 978-1-4456-1532-5.

Available at New and Secondhand Books in Station Road, Swanage.

David Bishop

Through The Keyhole Swanage Town Council

Our Gazette correspondent details the goings on in recent council meetings.....

Swanage Council Meetings March/ April 2014

The seafront stabilisation scheme (alongside that of the Council car park at Broad Road ) was always going to be the most ambitious and expensive project in the Council’s recent history, but for reasons far beyond the Council’s control (see below) the initial cost of £2.1 million has ballooned by up to a further £750,000. Any cost overrun is sure to attract critics and this project is no exception. However, readers may care to check out social media for some of the criticisms and make their own judgement about the fairness or otherwise of the local opinionatti. It occurs to me that if being wise after the event were an Olympic event a gold painted pillar box would have our name on it.

‘What are they doing to our beautiful Swanage?’ a local woman overheard as she watched the many mud-covered contractors at work on the seafront in March. What they are doing to save your beautiful Swanage, madam, and why, is what the Council have been at pains to explain. At the risk of boring those who have taken the trouble to find out what is going on (rather than throwing blame in all directions), allow me to go through the sequence of events that have led us here.

Over a period of twenty years or so, the land masses that are the Recreation Field (plus the green land above the Broad Road Carpark) have been slipping slowly but surely downhill. The evidence for this – constantly cracking pathways, weakening and leaning stone walls, and damage to the war memorial. Cost of repairs until this year – approx £15,000 annually. In 2012 to avoid any further year on year throwing of good money after bad, the Council ordered the design of a scheme which would a) Stabilise (and grade) the land mass by using the newish technique of ‘soil nailing,’ a combination of steel rods supported by concrete, driven into the land mass at a suitable depth. b) Replace the obsolete and increasingly expensive-torepair wooden beach huts with a double tiered concrete structure: this structure being backed by a strong concrete retaining wall which would further stabilise the clay mass behind. c) At a later date it was decided to replace the antiquated toilet block with a state of the art facility. And d) Replace the ice cream kiosk.

Experts dug bore holes to ascertain the geology, though as it turned out the varied geology beneath meant the probes did not reveal all.

An artistic impression of the scheme was shown to the public in March 2013 and seemed to please most residents (above). It was hoped that the project would begin in late summer 2013 and be finished by late spring 2014. To this end an urgent planning application was made to Purbeck District Council. This application was the subject of considerable delay and STC eventually decided to go ahead using different powers. Work started. Then came the following unwelcome events. (Some or all of these events, local critics assert, should have been foreseen by STC and its Contractors).

Swanage Town Twinning

Our Annual Dinner at the Village Inn in March was a great success, thirty seven members enjoyed good food plus a warm and happy atmosphere, allowing long standing members to get to know our newest members.

We have a “ Pot Luck Supper” on the 12th May when we all take a plate of food to share and final details of our forthcoming visit to Rudesheim am Rhein will be discussed with great excitement. Each member pays for all their own travel expenses but will be hosted by members in Germany. This will be reciprocated on the return visit from Germany to Swanage next year.

Friday 21st March was a very special evening at the Conservative Club for our own George Willey, a founder member of our Twinning Association. The evening was organised by Linda Welsh, and a large leather-bound, embossed “Book of Memories” was presented to an emotional George.

Judge for yourselves, please, dear readers. Old gas mains were uncovered that were shown on no plans and whose existence was denied by the relevant Gas authority.

Their safe removal set the whole project back a couple of weeks late in the year. Also found and adding to the instability of the landmass were hundreds of tons of spoil, dumped onto the area, it is assumed, by Edwardian housebuilders working along and around what is now De Moulham Road. And then the rains came. December, January and February? The wettest three month period since UK records were taken. Rain, rain, rain.

In that period of 100% saturation, the Recreation Field landmass moved seawards not inches, but nearly a metre. At the site, opinions as to what to do were varied, but some site workers believed that the visual evidence before them indicated the field’s height should be reduced even further. Called to the site the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors from the relevant subcommittee assessed the situation, bravely bit the bullet and committed themselves to further work and further financial outlay. However the fact that the site had to endure maximum stress during the winter period 2013/14 paradoxically ensures that the site’s future safety is now substantially more assured than it would have been. And as to a cost overrun, virtually the same money is now being spent as if everything to do with the site had been known on Day One. However, the massive budget for this project will have a serious effect, it is all too obvious, on the Council’s finances.

The new plan means that, as I write, the war memorial is being removed piece by piece and with maximum care so that the clay beneath it can be removed. General work has resumed, as readers will have observed, in improving weather and at a pace. It is now thought that while the Carnival procession route will have to be modified (the Carnival Committee has been very understanding) and that the new beach huts are unlikely to be ready until late in the summer, the toilet block will however be ready for summer customers.

The whole site will be reasonably presentable by the time the children arrive in numbers.

This superb volume contained photographs, letters, anecdotes and so on from members of the many organisations George was involved with, plus many from all walks of life. People were then invited to give their memories, many of which were personal and some hilarious.

The evening was compared by a very adept David Hollister, who sung George’s praises for his unstinting loyalty to Swanage, remembering all the times George was the voice of many Regattas and Carnivals, Christmas Markets and more, often done in biting winds at the top of some high perch or other.

David, who is following on in George’s footsteps, admitted he was a hard act to follow. Thank you Linda for organising such a fitting tribute.

A note to enter in your diary, we have a Barbecue planned for Saturday 12th July in the grounds of All Saints Church, Ulwell Road at 4pm. Also don’t forget for more information go to our website on www. swanagetowntwinning.co.uk

Janet Enoch, Vice Chairman & Publicity Officer

Rotary Update

A Great Birthday Present for Rotary

Rotary recently celebrated its 109th birthday and what made it special was the news that due in no small part to our efforts, India and nine other Asian countries are now Polio free. The eradication of polio has been a major project for Rotary since 1979 when clubs throughout the world started providing polio vaccines to countries that had no polio programme. However, it was in the 1985 when Rotary joined with the World Health Organisation to mount an ambitious programme to eradicate polio in the Americas. This was a great success and proved the catalyst to the seemingly incredible goal of eradicating polio worldwide.

The End Polio Now campaign has been a phenomenal success and has been recognised as an example of how Non-Government Agencies can do things that might prove to be politically impossible. It has been characterised by Rotary members giving of their own time and money to travel to countries and take part in immunisation programs alongside local Rotarians and health workers. The nature of Rotary involvement has also meant that other organisations have got involved and pledged help. In particular the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to the campaign – providing Rotary could match it. With the help of the public we were able to do this and that provided the final impetus to make a large part of Asia polio free.

So why is this important to us in Purbeck? We have been struck when collecting for the PolioPlus campaign how many people remember growing up with memories of people suffering from polio and the spectre of seeing rows of iron lungs being used to treat them. Several have even talked about their own experience of contracting the disease and the blight it had on their childhood and family life. Basic humanity wants us to ensure this doesn’t happen elsewhere. However, polio knows no boundaries and as one health professional said “Polio is only a plane ride away.”

We are not quite there yet – polio is still endemic in three countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. As you can imagine it’s a challenge to persuade people to allow the programme to operate in these countries and the recent murder of WHO workers in Pakistan bought home the cost of trying to make the final step. Rotary and their partners are not giving up and will keep pushing until this terrible disease is eradicated. Pictures: local Rotarians went to India to help in the immunisation programme that helped make India Polio Free (defined as no new cases for three years!).

ISAs/NISAs

In December, the ISA subscription amounts for the 2014/15 tax year were announced. These were up to a maximum of £11,880 in a Stocks & Shares ISA, up to a maximum of £5,940 in a Cash ISA (subject to an overall maximum of £11,880 per eligible ISA holder) and up to a maximum of £3,840 in a Junior ISA.

These limits therefore came into effect from 6th April 2014. In the March Budget, the Chancellor announced some far reaching changes to the ISA rules, which I summarise below.

As from 1st July 2014 a total of £15,000 can be subscribed to an ISA for the 2014/15 tax year. This will be called a New ISA or NISA. Importantly, this total can be in Stocks & Shares, Cash or a combination of the two. The maximum Junior ISA subscription will rise to £4,000. The more generous concession towards the treatment of cash in ISAs was particularly welcomed by many savers.

Existing ISAs and NISAs will also become more flexible. At present, those holding Cash ISAs can transfer cash in their Cash ISA into a Stocks & Shares ISA and still maintain the monies within the ISA wrapper. However, it is not currently permitted to move monies/investment proceeds from a Stocks & Shares ISA into a Cash ISA. This will all change after 1st July 2014 when unlimited movements between Cash and Stocks & Shares elements of NISAs will be permitted, whilst still maintaining the monies within the NISA wrapper.

Because the NISA is a flexible ISA ‘pot’ containing Stocks & Shares and Cash, cash in the Stocks & Shares element no longer needs to be held solely for the purpose of investing in qualifying investments in the NISA. In addition, any monies in NISAs will receive gross interest with no tax payable. That contrasts with the current ISA rules where the interest on cash held in a Stocks & Shares ISA is taxed at a flat 20%.

From 1st July 2014 it will also be possible to hold some additional investments in the NISA and it will be possible to purchase certain retail bonds with less than a five year maturity, certain core capital deferred shares issued by building societies and certain investments that do not satisfy the current ‘cash-like test’ for ISAs.

With over 24 million adults holding ISAs and over 300,000 children with Junior ISAs, these rule changes could benefit a huge number of savers/ investors.

Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is a stockbroker with Charles Stanley stockbrokers, Dorchester office – (01305) 217404 – kate. spurling@charles-stanley.co.uk

Charles Stanley & Co Limited is authorised by the FCA and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

‘HMRC Landlord Search’

HMRC is writing to letting agents in the UK, asking them to provide details of the properties they have let in 2012/13, including the amount collected per property and the addresses of the let property and the landlord.The letting agent is given just 60 days to provide the information, or face a penalty of £300, and further penalties of £60 per day for additional delays.

The agent also can’t refuse to provide its customers’details on the grounds that such personal information is protected by the Data ProtectionAct 1988, as the tax law overrules the Data ProtectionAct in these circumstances.

If you have received such a request from HMRC, we can help you provide the information in the form demanded - which must be on a pre-defined spreadsheet.

If you think your overseas property will never be found by theTaxman, think again. HMRC is using its‘connect’programme to search holiday property rental websites for UK residents who are letting overseas properties.

If you live in the UK your overseas rents should be declared in the UK, as well as to the local tax authorities. Even if you make no profit from the property. you still need to show all the income and expenses on your tax return.

The MKLPartnership,

Phone: 01929 425552

Trading Standards

Why is it that sales representatives always ring just as you sit down to dinner, or knock on the door just as you step into the bath? Is there anything you can do to try to stop it?

It’s not illegal to cold call in itself, unless you have already told the business that you do not wish to be contacted by them.

If they are contacting you by telephone then caller display on your phone can help; if you don’t recognise the number, don’t answer it. But what if friends and family have witheld numbers – you don’t want to miss their calls.

We recommend registering your telephone number with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This is a free ‘opt out’ service which records your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls from UK based companies.

Once registered, report any persistent callers to the TPS – you’ll need to know what company they have called from and when they called. UK companies that persist in calling TPS registered telephone numbers can face large fines. A local company was recently fined £37,992.00 following action taken by Trading Standards for ignoring residents’ wishes not to call them.

Stopping cold callers at the door, unfortunately, can be more difficult. Most Trading Standars Services provide ‘No uninvited doorstep traders’ signs which can be placed near a front door or gate. If the brave salesperson continues to knock – feel free to point to the sign and explain that you do not agree to anything on your doorstep. If they refuse to leave, they should be reported to the police.

It may help to complain in writing to the head office of the company if their representatives continue to come back. Make it clear that you do not want any further visits and keep a copy.

The Telephone Preference Service can be contacted on 0845 070 0707 or www.tpsonline.org.uk.

To request a doorcard or report a business that persistently cold calls contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06

Spidey! By Derek Bourgeois

Wild birds at Arne.

Donna Derrick

Swanage Bay.

Wareham River. By Evie Binns (13)

Purbeck Good Neighbours - Monthly Update

Spring is here at last and the Spring Bank Holidays are upon us. So it is good to get into the garden.

If you are finding some garden jobs difficult to do, a Purbeck Good Neighbour can help you to set up your garden furniture, sweep a path or take a couple of bags of garden waste to the recycling centre for you.

We can also help indoors as well. Maybe you would like help sorting your filing and papers; we can help with that too. Or spring-clean a kitchen cupboard or wardrobe.

Whenever you need some help call for a Purbeck Good Neighbour on 01929 424363 and we will do our best to help you.

A BIG THANK YOU to the volunteers who have thrown themselves into the project with such willingness.

If you would like to be one of a great gang of Purbeck Good Neighbours do email us on purbeckgoodneighbours@yahoo. co.uk or call the Helpline - 01929 424363

Swanage Area Senior Forum

Swanage Senior Forum asked: “Fracking in Purbeck: To Be or Not To Be?”

Over sixty people attended the Forum’s meeting on 9th April. Our guest speaker, with over twenty years experience in the field, gave us an informative presentation on the issues concerning Hydraulic Fracturing for Shale Gas (Fracking).

He explained how Shale Gas fracturing differs from oil reservoir fracturing and showed examples of consequences for residents, wildlife and the environment which followed the intensive Shale Gas drilling operations in the USA. Showing pictures of existing fields, he illustrated how Swanage and the surrounding area could be affected by fracking and additional and heavy traffic.

His view was that for a very short term return, there could be negative impacts on our environment, farming, food production and general community.

He also suggested that there are alternative methods of generating energy, such as those being implemented now in Scotland, Denmark and Germany. The lively discussion which followed reflected audience concerns, and a debate on our future energy needs which will no doubt become more intense.

At the moment no fracking for shale gas is taking place here, but fracking licenses for Dorset were issued in April 2013. If an application to proceed with fracking is granted the wider community will no doubt decide what, if any, action should be taken.

Is fracking essential and inevitable or are there more effective ways of generating our energy needs or using less? What are the alternatives and why don’t we adopt them?

We will be following the debate, and the audience was encouraged to write to their DCC Councillors if they felt strongly enough about the issue.

Passionate

JUNE MEETING - AGM

* Elections for our Committee (new blood welcome)

PLUS

*Leading Rep. from DCC’s Adult Care Services will speak on “Integrated Health & Social Care”

See June issue of The Purbeck Gazette for Meeting Date

Maths Fun At Wareham St Mary Primary School

Wareham St Mary Primary School Hold First Annual Maths Week

Wareham St. Mary Primary School has just held its first annual Maths Week. Representatives from Barclays, Mathletics, The Purbeck School and the Konflux Theatre Company have all contributed to a fantastic week’s worth of maths based activities.

Children have been: printing thumb prints to find out exactly how big a million is, problem solving with the Purbeck school, weighing ingredients for cooking, measuring for making, exploring mathematics in art, and discovering where our money goes with our friends from Barclays.

The children had a truly busy week exploring mathematics and how we can apply our learning in the real world.

“The school was buzzing with children and staff really enjoying maths.” Lin Goldsmith, Head teacher.

The children said: Arben: “It has all been great fun - doing lots of different maths in lots of different ways.”

Rebecca: “Making a million thumbs prints has been an enormous challenge.”

Ashley: “It has made me think about how I spend my pocket money.”

Driven To Distraction

by David Hollister

To many parents, this may be confirmation of something you have long suspected. A new study has suggested that children pose a greater distraction to drivers than using a mobile phone at the wheel!

The research involved an analysis of twelve families with children over a period of three weeks, in which all their car journeys were monitored by four cameras installed in their vehicles. In total, 92 trips were analysed, looking for any evidence of potentially distracting activity undertaken by the driver, such as looking away from the road for more than two seconds. On many occasions, drivers looked directly at their children or checked on them in the mirror.

In 90 of the 92 trips studied, the team detected distracting activity on the part of the motorist, with the average parent taking their eyes off the road for three minutes and twenty two seconds, during a sixteen minute trip. The recordings showed that children travelling in the rear seats accounted for twelve per cent of all potentially distracting activity, compared to mobile phones, which were responsible for one per cent.

While these actions alone increase the risk of a crash, other distractions included talking to a child, reaching round to assist a child or in more extreme cases, actually playing with them while en route.

Seems to me that children these days have become sacred cows, which in my dictionary suggests considered to be exempt from criticism or questioning and I simply cannot understand modern parents’ obsession with ‘keeping them entertained’ for 24 hours a day.

When we took James on a car journey as a small child, he had a few toys in the back, the incessant “Wind in the Willows” tape which we all knew off by heart, but most of the time he looked out of the window (seat-back DVD players hadn’t been invented), took in the delights of the countryside, watched the other traffic, and usually joined in the grown-up conversation. Were we lucky? Or did he really believe us when we told him that if he made too much noise or acted stupid, we’d put him in the boot.. ? Of course, using a mobile phone in other than ‘hands free’ mode has been an offence since 2007. This offence can also include other handheld items such as satellite navigation systems, laptops and so forth.

If you are overseeing a provisional driver and you are a passenger in the vehicle, and you’re using your mobile phone, this too can amount to a “mobile phone offence”. It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile even if you’ve stopped at traffic lights, or are stuck in a traffic jam, or are in a car park! All these situations are covered by the legal definition of ‘driving on the road’. But new laws, currently under consultation, would also criminalise a number of other careless driving offences, including eating a sandwich, drinking from a bottle or a take-away cup, or lighting a cigarette behind the wheel! A new penalty of three points on your licence and a £90 fine would be introduced for such breaches.

Other offences to carry the new £90 fine and three penalty points include

cutting up other drivers, driving at excessive speed and needlessly hogging the middle lane on a motorway. New drug-driving laws are also being discussed, but no plans are being made to lower the current drink-drive limit.

If you have been caught committing a mobile phone offence, you could receive three penalty points. You could also be issued with a fine of up to £1000. If you have been caught committing this offence and you are driving a vehicle for eight or more people, you could be issued with a fine of up to £2500. If you can show that you were using your mobile phone due to an emergency, and it was dangerous or unreasonable to stop, this can be used as mitigation.

The ‘safety mafia’ believe that all phone calls distract drivers’ attention from the road. But apparently not as much as having kids in the car. So the rest of us road-users without kids would actually appreciate it if the scope of the offence could be widened to include fines and penalty points for “playing with or supervising children whilst driving”. A third conviction should result in the children being confiscated. Because – parents – it’s actually their lives that you’re putting at risk. As well as mine.

Summer’s on its way (allegedly) so here are a few blatantly obvious hints – not, of course, for you, but for the other silly people…..

The AA say – “It’s easy to lose your car keys in sand on the beach or take the remote control for a swim and then find that car doors won’t open. Salt in sea water can ruin electric circuits and render transponder keys useless. Most cars will have an alternative method of entry if the remote key fails but it’s better to keep keys safe and dry in the first place”. Transponders are upward of £150; not a good way to start your holiday!

Seriously, if you’re off on a summer trip and you end up in a traffic jam, don’t forget to keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge as well as your own…High temperatures can aggravate existing cooling system problems such as low coolant level, leaking hoses and broken electric cooling fans, which can all result in overheating and expensive damage.

A few hints from the AA – “If the fan’s broken it will soon become apparent when you meet slow moving traffic and engine temperature soars. Check the coolant reservoir level regularly. Look out for wet or white staining on coolant hoses.

Check the fan by running the car to normal temperature and allowing the engine to idle for five to 10 minutes - the cooling fan should cut in automatically”. A hint from me – if you’re hot, bothered, tired and angry, get out of the car and walk round it three times, breathing deeply. Better still, crack open a beer and get your wife to drive.

Advice on summer holiday driving economy - if you must carry luggage on the roof, use a properly designed aerodynamic roof box to reduce drag. Alternatively, load luggage on a roof rack as low as possible and wrap it tightly in plastic sheeting.

If you’re staying in one place for your holiday, take the roof rack or box off when you get there - you’ll save fuel on day trips. Open windows cause extra drag; try air vents first, particularly on a motorway.

Once your air conditioning has cooled the inside of the car, you may be able to turn it down or off. Don’t use the air conditioning if doors or windows are open.

One of the most obvious yet least-considered ways of saving fuel is simply not to carry round anything you don’t need. The winter shovel, towrope, snow chains and wellies can go back in the garage!

Have a look in your boot and ask yourself – do I really need all that ‘stuff’! Or indeed, all these children……..

Moonfleet Cars Ltd

2010 (60) FIAT 500 1.2 LOUNGE 3DR HATCH

, Red,ABS,Air bags,Air con, Electric windows & mirrors, Blue & me with USB port, Remote locking, Stop/Start,Alloys, Service History, One owner, 26k miles.

2010 VAUXHALLMERIVA1.4 5 DR MPV

2010 (60) VAUXHALLAGILASE 5dr HATCH.

, Met brown,ABS,Air bags,Air con, Electric windows & mirrors, Cruise control, Remote central locking, Radio/CD, Service history, One owner, 34k miles White,ABS,Air Bags,Air con, Electric windows and mirrors, Remote central locking, Radio/CD, ONLY17k miles, service history.

2012 (12) VAUXHALLASTRAL6 SRI 5dr HATCH

. Met grey,ABS, Air Bags,Air con, Electric windows & mirrors, Rear tinted windows, Trip computer, Cruise control, Front fogs, Remote central locking, Radio/CD, Service history, ONLY12k miles, Front & rear Park ast.

2011 (60) VW POLO 1.4 SE 5dr HATCH

. Metallic Grey,ABS,Air bags,Air con, Electric windows & mirrors, Remote central locking, Radio/CD, Esp, Service history, 46k miles.

£6595

£6695

£10495 £7895

Food The Gourmet Peddler

Caveman Stack

This past month I have stumbled across a diet, and when I say diet I don’t mean a lose weight diet, I am referring to a “hey, let’s eat this way” diet. Anyway, it’s called a Paleo diet, taken from the word Palaeolithic, a period 2.6 million(ish) years ago when humans first started making tools and generally being cavemen.

It’s based on the theory that our digestive system has not changed since then, and our diet was fine then, so why change?

I can think of a few reasons why:

2.6 millions years with no change to the digestive system? Really, mine has changed since my birthday night out last month.

Diet was fine 2.6 million years ago? Right, when we lived to the grand old age of 20 years.

So ignoring all of this, let’s crack on.

Basically you can only eat the types of food that were around 2.6 million years ago.

So this is nuts, berries, vegetables, grass fed meat, and fish. And you must avoid: beans, potatoes, fruit juice, alcohol, bread and grains, and dairy.

I guess cavemen had not started farming and didn’t have the nerve to milk a mammoth. So, based on this we have a delicious and healthy cavemen burger recipe.

You will need

Chicken breast (ideally organic)

Sesame seeds

Bacon (ideally organic)

2 big Portobello style mushrooms (per person)

Red pepper

Basil or spinach

Sweet potatoes (apparently they are not actually potatoes)

Avocado

Onion

Garlic

Tomato

Lime juice

What to do:

Cut the sweet potato into chunky chips, par boil for 5 minutes. Then add to an oiled baking tray.

Slice the chicken breast along its length to make 1cm thick breast “steaks” flap some sesame seeds over the breasts. Place on an oiled baking tray.

Slice the pepper down its length to make big slab-like sections of pepper, add to baking tray.

Add a couple of slices of bacon to the tray.

Season everything on the tray with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Give it 20 minutes in an oven at around 200c, but keep an eye on it, some things will cook quicker than others. Make sure the chicken is cooked.

Guacamole: simply finely chop some onion and garlic, add to a bowl with some chopped tomatoes and the avocado, a slosh of lime juice and mosh the whole lot up by pressing down firmly with a fork.

You have just made your own fresh guacamole sauce.

Presentation: use the two portabella mushrooms as you would a burger bun, stack up the chicken, bacon and peppers, add some spinach or basil leaves, a dollop of the guacamole. I use a cocktail stick to secure it all. The sweet potato chips go on the side.

I’ve cooked a few meals now with this Paleo diet theory, and they are great, I feel good and they are nice and healthy.

But I am not following this religiously for every meal as I know that knocking out a lot of carbohydrates from your diet can quickly make you feel weak, and how can you outrun a sabre tooth tiger when you are weak?

Charlie The Bikemonger

Purbeck Products

By Hester Viney

This month sees a return to the producers’ old stomping ground, Putlake Farm. The business has been acquired by Karen Cobb and Steve Legg, who are welcoming the markets back on public holidays and for special events. The first will be on Saturday 24th May.

The producers first traded at Putlake in 2008 and while business has migrated to the town in intervening years, everyone is pleased to have been invited back under the new management.

“Karen and Steve are keen to get back to the place being a busy adventure farm, which we obviously really like.” says regular producer, Kath Best. “It’s great to be able to support a local business too” she adds.

Phil Samways, located in nearby Acton, is glad there’ll be an opportunity for Langton, Worth and Acton locals to visit a market closer to home.

“We’re hoping we’ll see some of our old customers” he says, “it’ll be good to be back!”.

In other market news, we’d like to brag a little about the success of Jurassic Cottage Food’s recent triumph in The World’s Original Marmalade Awards. Gary and Tina were awarded a Bronze award for their lemon marmalade and a Commended for their orange with orange liqueur marmalade. Artisans and amateurs sent over 2000 jars from around the world to the contest in Dalemain, Cumbria.

Gary and Tina are of course delighted, saying “These are golden awards for us in more ways than one! Our preserve pans are at the ready to make lots more jars, so please come and try them at the market”.

Your next opportunity will be on the 8th May on Commercial Road, or at the aforementioned bank holiday market at Putlake Farm on the 24th.

Organic Veg, Meat & More To Your Door

Riverford delivers awardwinning organic food fresh from Wash Farm in Devon straight to your door. There’s nothing Riverford doesn’t know about fruit and veg (they’ve been growing it for more than 25 years) but the farm has plenty more to offer.

Choose from a range of weekly organic essentials like eggs, milk, meat, juice and cereal, and even wine and chocolate when you need a treat. Delivery is free and you don’t need to be at home. You’ll want to make the most of all that fresh seasonal food and Riverford makes it easy. With each delivery your local vegman or lady brings recipes to inspire your cooking. Forget boring boiled vegetables – rediscover how they can be the star of the show in dishes such as sweet roasted roots and grilled courgettes with tomato and basil dressing.

Riverford’s website www.riverford.co.uk is bursting with even more recipes. And if you ever run out of ideas, just call your local team or the farm for help.

Ordering is easy and flexible. You can swap between boxes whenever you like and if a box doesn’t suit, you can make up an order of your favourite fruit and veg and other goodies.

Organic vegboxes start from just £10.85 with free delivery. Find out more at www.riverford.co.uk or call the farm on 01803 762059 and take us up on our special offer.

Get Ready For THE BIG LUNCH!

There’s plenty of time for people in Dorset to get involved with this year’s Big Lunch on Sunday, June 1, when the UK’s annual gettogether for neighbours takes place.

The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim of the Lottery-funded event, which is now in its sixth year, is to get as many of the 63 million people in the UK as possible to have lunch with their neighbours once a year.

Big Lunches needn’t be complicated or expensive; they can be any size or shape and can take place anywhere where neighbours can get together, from streets and gardens to parks, allotments and community centres.

The key ingredient to any Big Lunch is people, as those who take part help to create friendlier communities where residents start sharing more, from conversations to ideas, skills and resources.

There is still time for people to start planning! To help make the process easy, The Big Lunch has created free packs, which include posters, invitations, an inspiration booklet and other materials to help people get started.

Packs can be requested online at: www.thebiglunch.com where there is plenty of additional advice on practical questions such as contacting the

Bovington Colossal Cake Sale

Ateam of Help for Heroes volunteers from Bovington Thrift Shop will be putting their baking skills to good use as they take part in the Help for Heroes Colossal Cake Sale on Thursday 1st May 2014.

The Thrift Shop is located next to Bovington Camp, and is used to helping many good causes throughout the year, whether it be raising money for new local hospital equipment or to support guide dogs for the blind.

Being an army based shop, the Help for Heroes charity is close to many of the staff’s hearts and a lot of their customers are fans of the charity, so they were inspired to take part in the Colossal Cake Sale this year for the second time running.

Thanks to their efforts, there will be a wide range of cakes and tasty treats on offer, and the JJ Cake Company in nearby Corfe Mullen has even agreed to create a special cake which will be raffled on the day (pictured).

council to close a road, to ideas to make each event truly unique.

Rod Curtis, who has organised Big Lunches in Wareham, said: “We’ve had two fantastic Big Lunch events so far and the events were so successful that The Big Lunch has become an annual tradition for the town.”

Research shows that that there are many benefits to having a Big Lunch. More than 60% of organisers say having an event in their community made them feel less isolated and 86% of the 3.65 million people that took part in last year’s Big Lunch reported a positive long-term effect in their neighbourhood as a result.

Sir Tim Smit KBE, Founding Director, Eden Project and co-Founder of The Big Lunch said: “The Big Lunch is all about getting together and having fun. It doesn’t have to be a big event, even a small get-together in your garden or on your street is a great way to get neighbours talking, sharing conversation, skills, resources – and, of course, the vital ingredient – food.”

“It’s not too late to take part in this year’s event on 1 June so why not sign up now for your free pack and get your own event started.”

The Big Lunch is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and partnered by Halifax, ASDA and StreetClub by B&Q.

Open Gardens

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human;

and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.” Thomas More

Winfrith Newburgh Open Gardens

The pretty village of Winfrith Newburgh, with its thatched and listed buildings, will be throwing open its gardens for the Bank Holiday on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May, noon to 5pm on both days.

Twelve gardens will be open, ranging from small to large, formal to informal and including the Manor House and the wildlife garden of Cobblers Cottage, which has been featured on TV and in Dorset Magazine. See the flowers, admire the veg and say hello to the ducks!

Home-made cream teas and cakes will be available, when you need to rest your feet in between gardens. The beautiful and historic St Christopher’s church will be holding a flower festival.

Crafts, plants and books will also be on offer, to make this an event with something for everyone.

The event is being organised to raise money for the refurbishment of the Village Hall including the provision of disabled and baby changing facilities.

Plant Heritage at Athelhampton

MDonations of around £6 are suggested – at 50p a garden, very good value and free parking too!

Tickets available on either day from Winfrith Village Stores (DT2 8JN) or the Village Hall. Winfrith Newburgh is between Dorchester and Wareham, off the A352.

Piddlehinton Open Gardens Weekend

Come to Piddlehinton on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June, from 11am to 5pm and enjoy visiting gardens of all sizes. Riverside Gardens, Farmhouse Gardens, Cottage Gardens and Tiny Gardens. The Millennium Green will also be open to visit and enjoy.

Tickets to visit the gardens are £5 for adults and children under 16 go free (ticket price covers both days). Free car parking.

Coffees, Lunches, Take-away picnics and Afternoon Teas will be available at the Village Hall, located in the centre of Piddlehinton.

To celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday 15th, there will be a Sport Themed Floral Display in the village Church, which will be open on both days. Children’s Scarecrow Activities are planned and there will also be Plant and Preserve stalls.

Profits from the weekend will be divided between Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, the village Church, Hall and Millennium Green.

Piddlehinton is set in the beautiful Piddle Valley just five miles north of Dorchester on the B3143 and we look forward to welcoming you to come and enjoy time in our lovely village.

Any enquiries to 01300 348835 or www.piddlevalley.info.

any specialist nurseries and the Plant Heritage stall, providing interesting plants, often not available from garden centres, at reasonable prices. Free entry to Plant Heritage members and £5 concessionary entry fee to RHS members and non-members with a Plant Heritage voucher (standard entry price to house is applied without a voucher).

Entry includes full access to this beautiful house and garden and to the plant fair. A good licensed restaurant and free parking at the venue. Plant Heritage - Dorset Group. Sunday 4th May 10.30am – 3.00pm Spring Plant Fair at Athelhampton House near Puddletown.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue

Meet Snowy, he’s a gorgeous one year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, who really deserves a forever home.

Snowy is full of character and he is deaf; he can be quite a clown at times but he’s very bright. He has been learning hand signals and is now doing really well with his training.

Snowy enjoys being around other dogs but he is very bouncy so he will need to live with a similar dog.

Due to his bounciness, he could live with children aged 10+ and a cat who is comfortable with dogs.

Call 01929 471340, email lf@ margaretgreenanimalrescue. org.uk or see our website for further details: www. margaretgreenanimalrescue. org.uk

Challenge Navitus Challenges Planning Application

Achallenge under the Planning Act could result in rejection of the Navitus Bay wind farm application. Challenge Navitus claims the developer failed to consult adequately on significant impacts.

French and Dutch-owned developer NBDL has now filed its planning application to build the huge Navitus Bay wind farm off the coasts of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but the public consultation has been criticised by opponents Challenge Navitus for not informing people adequately on key impacts of the scheme.

The local community group has lodged its detailed objections with the planning authorities.

The Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State for communities and local government, now has four weeks to decide whether to accept NBDL’s application for examination, which could eventually lead to permission being granted in 2015.

“The public has a right to expect a clear objective and realistic description of the likely significant impacts of the proposal,” said Dr Andrew Langley of Challenge Navitus.”

“We think NBDL’s consultation failed to meet that standard in key areas. As a result of incomplete, unclear and even misleading information, people have been ill-prepared to respond on some of the impacts of this massive development.”

“We now look to the Planning Inspectorate to ensure that the public will become fully informed before any examination of NBDL’s application begins,” said Dr Langley.

Criticisms levelled at NBDL by Challenge Navitus include:

• Visualisations that under-represented the visual impact of the proposal;

• An incomplete, inconsistent, unrealistic and unclear presentation of the socio-economic impacts. For example, the financial benefits of the scheme were valued in a different way from the potentially negative impacts on tourism, which made them impossible to compare.

• Adverse conclusions in NBDL’s own surveys, such as potentially up to a third of visitors staying away during construction years and an 11% drop in number during wind farm operation, were not highlighted in the consultation and nor was their effect on the existing local economy.

• Port operations are an essential part of an offshore wind farm with diverse environmental impacts and they should have been fully assessed and consulted. However, only the socio-economic benefits were estimated, without any commitment on where those benefits might actually arise.

• The special analysis of impacts on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site was missing from the consultation.

“NBDL’s consultation had some serious flaws and fell short of what the public deserves,” said Dr Langley. “The deficiencies can be rectified only if the application is rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.”

For further information: David Lloyd 07785 998537 or Dr Andrew Langley 01929 480084.

The Godlingston Wind Turbine

Dear Editor,

I would just like to write and thank the many people in Purbeck who have taken the time to comment on my post about our wind turbine at Godlingston.

I have been amazed at the overwhelming support I have had, with comments such as:

“Good for you! I actually think they look quite majestic and renewable energy is the ONLY way to go.”

“Think they are an excellent idea! Can’t understand why people are against them! Well done.”

“Good for you Ben, from here at the top of Langton, the one at Knitson looks very graceful and not at all imposing, so I’m sure yours will be the same.”

There have understandably been a couple of people on the Facebook sites, and I mean only a couple, who have disagreed with the whole principle of wind turbines. However, these people have kept their comments to the subject in hand and not been rude or personal to me. Unfortunately the only nasty and personal attacks have come, ironically, from three people I count as friends! So thank you.

Just before the comments start coming in, I thought I would explain that in line with the conservation policy we have here at Godlingston and with the complete backing of the National Trust, we have installed a relatively small wind turbine. This will provide power for the farm and heat the ancient Manor house, as well as provide an income for the farm business as a form of diversification.

Some people love them, most people don’t mind them and a few people hate them. To the latter I am sorry. We cannot ignore renewable energy. Incidentally, we sited the turbine (after two planning applications) on the advice of the AONB team.

In that time we only had one objection for each planning application from a member of the public. Both objections were from the same couple. As with the recent gorse burning, I am more than happy to chat to anyone who wishes to see the turbine up close or anyone who has issues about what we are doing.

There have been a few comments regarding the effect on wildlife. We did in fact spend thousands on environmental studies to make sure we sited the turbine away from the flight paths of both bats and birds, and we even checked for the Great Crested Newt (environment, not flight path)! Contrary to what people might think, we were in fact commended for our work by the AONB team.

I have put together a time lapse video of the turbine going up. If you Google

me, Ben Bowerman, you will be able to find it on YouTube amongst my children’s music and the famous ‘Henry the Calf”!

Thanks for reading this. Ben Bowerman, Godlingston Manor Farm, Swanage.

First full time day nursery in Swanage ‘after nine years’ opening at Durlston Country Park

For the first time in nine years Children’s Nature Nursery will be the first day nursery in Swanage offering parents full-time childcare all year round since the closing of the last provision.

Based at the Learning Centre of Dorset County Council’s stunning Durlston Country Park, Children’s Nature Nursery opened on the 22nd April from 8am to 5pm for children 2 ½ to 5 year-olds and will be open all year including half term holidays taking away the need for Swanage working parents to travel as far as Wareham, Corfe Castle or Poole to take their children to a day nursery.

Probably the only nursery in the country with panoramic sea views, Children’s Nature Nursery at Durlston also has two Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ sister nurseries located at Avon Heath Country Park and at Lymington in the New Forest. The nursery at Durlston will follow the ‘Kids Love Nature Approach’, a unique early years education pedagogy developed by its

founders Ben Walliman and Alex Shepherd. When asked ‘what makes the Kids Love Nature Approach so unique and valuable to young children?’

Ben Walliman explained:

“The Kids Love Nature Approach provides an environment of synergy between indoor spaces, the near, the far and the great outdoors. Our mission is ‘to connect children and families to nature’ to set them out on a journey that will last them a lifetime.

“We complement the outdoors learning at Children’s Nature Nursery with a high quality indoor nursery environment that enables all aspects of early childhood to flourish in the modern world.

“Our approach draws on the best aspects of early years practice taking on our inspiration from the Danish Forest Kindergartens, Montessori and Reggio Emilia. We do this through being completely child centred in everything we do allowing children the time and space to become absorbed into their learning.”

Ffi: 01929 505018

Fracking - Scientific References

The debate on fracking continues to rage locally, despite fracking (which is a technique) being used in Purbeck at Wytch Farm over the past few decades - with virtually no complaint from locals. Many incomers have no idea that they live next to the largest on-shore oilfield in western Europe, situated on the Rempstone Estate. People calling for a ‘Frack Free’ Dorset fail to see the irony, sadly. Any arguments against further fracking locally (including fracking shale gas fields - remember fracking is the name of a process which is widely used, and is not specific to shale gas) need to be made logically to stand-up - ie, the local infrustructure is not suitable, terrain is filled with quarries and mines, thus making it unsuitable, and so on.

Leading on from industry-expert Chris Faulkner’s article last month on what ‘fracking’ actually is as a process, and the internationally and scientifically-recognised risks, below you will find some detail from recent professional and scientific reports, including excerpts from the Royal Society’s report on Shale Gas Extraction in the UK from 2012.

Who are the Royal Society? In their own words: “The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine.

“The Society’s fundamental purpose, reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.”

“The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant, and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science in many research areas.”

“The Royal Society is the national Academy of science in the UK, and its core is its Fellowship and Foreign Membership, supported by a dedicated staff in London and elsewhere. The Fellowship comprises the most eminent scientists of the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth.”

You’ll be able to Google all of the information below, should you wish to.

The Royal Society Report - Shale gas extraction in the UK: a review of hydraulic fracturing 2012

Page 17: 1.8 The UK policy context

The UK has experience of hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling for non-shale gas applications. Over the last thirty years, more than 2,000 wells have been drilled onshore in the UK, approximately 200 (10%) of which have been hydraulically fractured to enhance recovery. The combination of hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling allowed the development

of Wytch Farm field in Dorset in 1979.

Page 54: Local planning conditions can also address aesthetic impacts, as well as contributions to local noise, traffic and air pollution. The UK has the experience of best practice to draw on. Wytch Farm oil field is located in one of the world’s most famous regions of outstanding natural beauty and of special scientific interest. This includes the Jurassic Coast and World Heritage sites; designated wetlands of international importance; and national nature reserves. Post-operations site restitution may also be included as a condition of the planning permission.

Bloomburg report 06/09/13:

Wytch Farm is a field developed by BP Plc (BP/) more than thirty years ago. It’s one of several deposits around England that’s produced oil through the years using both horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, techniques that campaigners say will pollute the environment if used in shale fields.

As the government pushes for a U.S.-style energy boom from shale to spur Britain’s sputtering economy, it can bolster its case pointing to Wytch Farm’s safety record.

“What’s been done at Wytch Farm is perhaps a big example of how the industry can operate,” said Simon Lockett, chief executive officer of Premier Oil Plc (PMO), a London-based explorer that owns thirty percent of the field. “What you’ve got to do is to be extremely vigilant as an industry to make sure that you don’t mess up.”

The local authority, Dorset County Council, stated in 2012, Perenco SA, the French company which took over the field from BP in 2011, should be allowed to continue pumping until 2037, judging there will be no significant impact on the environment.

Report: SHALE GAS EXTRACTION AND ‘FRACKING’

James Verdon, University of Bristol, Natural Environment Research Council

FRACKING IN THE UK: A HISTORY

• 200 fracking operations conducted onshore UK

• Used for oil, geothermal energy, coal-bed methane

• E.g.:

• Beckingham, Lincolnshire: oil field, 1988 (with horizontal drilling)

• Wytch Farm oil field, Dorset (with horizontal drilling)

• Rosemanowes, Cornwall, 1977-1980: geothermal energy project

• Airth, Falkirk, 1997-2003: coal-bed methane

New Starfish Recorded At Kimmeridge!

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) staff and volunteers are delighted to have discovered a species of starfish on the seashore at Kimmeridge that has never been recorded there before.

The small cushion starfish (Asterina phylactica) was found by a group of volunteers in rockpools during a seashore exploration on one of the lowest tides of the year in the first week of April.

Marine Awareness Officer, Julie Hatcher, said: “This delicate cushion star is normally found along the west coast of Britain or further south in Portugal and the Mediterranean. It has never been recorded this far east in the UK, but may become more common here as a result of climate change.”

The discovery was made during a thorough exploration of the shore by volunteers taking part in a PANACHE project activity. Last year a furrowed crab carrying eggs was discovered at Kimmeridge for the first time, and more new species are expected to move in as climate change affects their distribution.

The discovery of this species is an example of the amazing discoveries which can be found by getting local people out onto the seashore, and this sighting along with other information collected by volunteers will help identify important marine life areas which need protection.

Julie added: “PANACHE is about discovering what lives on the seashore and keeping an eye on it, letting us know about the changes and flagging up any problems the wildlife might be facing. People along both sides of The

For more information about marine events, visit www. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events, or phone 01929 481044.

Channel are taking part and sharing their experiences. It’s an exciting time in marine conservation and this is a way anyone can be actively involved.”

Photo: Small cushion starfish ©Julie Hatcher

Time And Tide Wait For No Man

By John Garner

Ihave entered a 10K swimming event. I have entered a 10k swimming event. No. Even second time around it still sounds completely ridiculous and utterly unachievable. I have the best part of six months to get ready and train. Let’s hope the training is more systematic than the training I did for my bike ride from here to Switzerland a few years ago. That training revolved around a lot of thinking and worrying. And eating. Virtual training except for the eating which was very real.

Virtual training is not the same thing as real training, especially as far as muscles are concerned. From what I’ve read a 10K swim is the equivalent of a marathon for a runner. This makes me feel worse. I can’t imagine I could complete a marathon either. Maybe I should work on my imagination as well as my fitness. And my positivity. I’ll stick to the original training plan of eating everything I can though.

That said, I like to have something to aim at even though the pleasure of outdoor swimming is often reward in itself. This is because the only thing I dislike more than hard work is people pointing at me and laughing because I failed at something. Hey. Just to be clear. I’m not paranoid, but that doesn’t stop people laughing and pointing you know (probably Woody Allen). Not that I’m a stranger to failure. I like to feel I’ve whole-heartedly embraced failure in my life. Failure has become a friend and companion over the years. Almost a creed by which to live. Peter Ustinov’s school report comes to mind. Something along the lines of ‘Ustinov sets himself exceedingly low targets, which unfortunately he seldom attains’. My aim is merely to survive and complete the event. Two proper swimmers last year did the event doing butterfly. On hearing this I read further and noted that a couple of people have swum the channel doing butterfly. Most swimmers’ attempts at butterfly result in rapid exhaustion and unplanned submersion within about three thrashes of the water. I’ve yet to complete a length of the pool doing butterfly. Whilst I’m sure this as largely down to technique, covering these sorts of distances doing butterfly is completely mind boggling. Covering 10k doing front crawl makes my mind feel a bit boggled to tell the truth.

When I cycled to Switzerland on a one geared bike a few years ago. It was nowhere near as gruelling as I thought it was going to be. I’m hoping against hope for the same thing here. The difference with cycling is that if you stop you can get off the bike for a while. In the water if you stop you sink. One results in a sit down, a ham and cheese filled baguette and a Café Au Lait, the other results in drowning. However, it’s amazing what a person can do and I’d be amazed if this person can do a 10k swim, but hanging concentrates the mind wonderfully, as has

been said. I’m definitely going to have the image of the man who crossed the channel doing butterfly in my head as I swim. It’s going to be part of my motivation. That and a heart stopping monster English breakfast at the end. I’d like to combine my training with a growing fascination with the moon. Not so easy, I hear you say. Well here’s what happened recently by way of meandering towards the link between swimming 10 kilometres (no, still sounds preposterous), and the moon. My dog went missing on a walk the other day. Only for a short time. My initial instinct was that Noah was in the neighbourhood rounding up animals for his big sailing expedition, such has been the biblical scale of the deluges round here this winter, but I dismissed this theory for a number of reasons.

Firstly, said dog no longer has any reproductive apparatus, although to watch him digging around within his nether regions with his nose of an evening, you begin to wonder if he’s really accepted this completely. The surgical procedure that made said organs disappear has, therefore, rendered him useless in a ‘keeping the species going’ scenario should the waters finally subside. Secondly, he turned up with a well gnawed KFC box about ten minutes later and was reluctant, to say the least, to give up the scraps. And finally, the rain has stopped for a sufficient period of time to allow the sun to appear for longer than an hour a day. With the clearing of the skies has also come some spectacularly clear moons and in this frankly ridiculous fashion, I arrive at the fascination I was originally talking about. The moon. To my generation an extraordinary thing, the first landing on it being broadcast around the world sparking the interest of everyone who witnessed it. I am reading ‘Nocturne’ by James Attlee at present and a marvellous tome on all things moon related it is. I have a plan to marry the twin interests of the moon and outdoor swimming by…wait for it… swimming outside under a full moon.

My reader at this point is probably metaphorically thumbing the yellow pages for the number of a helpful analyst of some description to kindly pass on, but I’ve done it once before and a brilliant experience it turned out to be. The next full moon I could swim under is on the 14th of May. Clouds permitting of course. Or rather no clouds permitting. If you’re going to give it a go, make sure you’re not on your own.

If you want some more information you could do a lot worse than consulting the www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/ which will give you advice on how to make this a safe thing to do. These splendid people give out excellent advice on all subjects to do with swimming in the real world. In the meantime I intend to take inspiration for my swim where I can. Be it from people swimming butterfly across the channel to my dog’s perpetual and hopelessly optimistic search for disused take away boxes and his nadgers respectively. We all need something to aim for. Mine is a 10k swim. My dog’s is a forlorn search for something he vaguely remembers owning a while back. Both seem equally unachievable at present. Anyhow. Let training for the 10k swim commence. Nope. Still makes no sense to me at all.

P.S. While we’re at it (Moon stuff that is. There’s no swimming in the poem) read ‘Full moon and Little Frieda’ by Ted Hughes. Writing of the highest quality.

Dorset Badger Cull Plans Dropped

Following the announcement made by MP Owen Paterson, Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is pleased that the Government’s badger culling policy is not currently being rolled out to further areas in the UK, including Dorset.

The failure of the pilot culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire, which were met with strong public opposition, has strengthened the need to explore alternatives to badger culling. In March, a debate in the House of Commons saw 219 MPs vote in favour of the Government to drop culling, with only one who voted against the motion.

DWT wants to see the eradication of the devastating disease Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and understands the serious implications for farmers who lose stock as a result, but believes there are more effective and reliable ways of controlling the disease, such as better biosecurity, badger vaccination and, in the long term, cattle vaccination.

DWT’s Director of Conservation, Imogen Davenport, said: “Dorset Wildlife Trust does not view this as a victory and is very sympathetic to farmers who suffer as a result of the devastating Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) disease.

However, scientific study has concluded that badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to the control of bTB in cattle. We believe that there are alternative ways to control the disease and we welcome Defra’s announcements in relation to these measures.”

A five-year badger vaccination programme started last year started on selected DWT reserves, which will continue in 2014 and beyond to demonstrate there are viable alternatives to culling.

Despite DWT’s successful appeal to start vaccinating badgers, more funds are needed to cover the costs of the five-year vaccination programme. We are reliant on public support for this.

To donate from a mobile, simply text BADG13 and £(amount) to 70070, or you can find more information and donate online by visiting www. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/badgers.

Photo credit:

Top - badger being released after vaccination, by Sam Stewart.

Right: Wildstock.

Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

As the 100 year commemoration of the First World War starts in earnest, the RHS and the Royal British Legion are encouraging people to plant poppies. The poppy is such a poignant reminder of our forbears sacrifice and it is well worth growing in its own right as a beautiful flower.

Each Poppy flower goes on to produce 1000’s of tiny seeds which fall to the ground and will only germinate when there is light getting through to the soil surface. This means in established grass or woodland the seeds can lie dormant for many decades. In Flanders fields where the repeated heavy shelling and explosions turned the soil over, the poppy seeds were able to germinate en masse producing the amazing red displays on the battlefields. The seeds take about eight weeks from germination to flower so you still have plenty of time to sow your own. They will germinate on virtually any bit of bare ground. All you need do is scratch the soil surface to create a seed bed and then broadcast the poppy seed.

If you would rather plant a poppy that will come up year after year you could plant some of the Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale) which are large showy flowers up to five inches across and come in a range of colours from red through to orange, pink and white. Each has a black centre to the flower creating a striking contrast with the petals.

... and Peonies

Another early flowering perennial which shows off in May and June is the herbaceous Peony (pictured above right). For decades it was the must have plant in any herbaceous border but in the 1980’s its appeal waned until a

few years ago when people are once again being attracted to its flamboyant and often scented flowers. The borders at Holme will be displaying both poppies and peonies during May.

Tasks

• Apply lawn weed and feed if you want a rich green pure grass lawn

• Stake herbaceous borders with hazel twigs to support tall perennials such as Delphiniums

• From the middle of May it’s normally safe to start planting out half hardy bedding plants such as Petunia, Salvias and Antirrhinums

Arts & Entertainment

Swanage Jazz

The twenty-fifth Swanage Jazz Festival takes place from Friday 11th to Sunday 13 July. The Festival has established itself as a major event in the national jazz calendar, and gives the people of Purbeck a chance to hear a selection of the best in jazz today.

The main venues feature more than fifty bands and some of the names you might hear in the leading clubs and art centres of Britain, mixing established stars and up and coming stars of tomorrow. The Festival works on a ‘stroller’ basis – weekend or day tickets cover all four venues.

Topping the bill on Friday night are the brilliant singer and comedian Ian Shaw and Dave Moorwood’s Big Bear Stompers. Saturday headliners are the fantastic Keith Nichols Blue Devils, back by overwhelming demand, and Reed Breed, a five sax swinging modern band lead by Festival vice-president Alan Barnes. Sunday features Amy Roberts and Richard Exall’s Magnificent Seven, and a festival all stars line-up, with some of the best loved musicians in British modern jazz, including Don Weller and Art Themen.

Other top names include the Darius Brubeck Quartet, led by Dave’s pianist son; singers Tina May and Lee Gibson’s “Sophisticated Ladies”, featuring songs sung by the great jazz singers who have inspired them; American saxophonist Greg Abate, playing a tribute to Charlie Parker; top gypsy guitarist Fapy Lafertin with his Quartet; Richard Pite’s amazing and amusing 100 Years of Jazz in 99 Minutes; Arun Ghosh’s Indo-Jazz Quintet; Steve Graham’s Classic Jazz, and the inspiring jazz and blues singer Pauline Pearce. There’s also an extensive fringe programme of free events around town, in several pubs and open air venues, plus the parade on Saturday morning (10.30am from the station) and the gospel service at the Methodist Church on Sunday at 10.30am. Pictured: Aran Ghosh

Museums At Night

Family Fun on Museums at Night in Dorchester

The evening of Saturday 17th May is a very special one in Dorchester as it is when all six of the town’s museums plus two other heritage attractions join together for Museums at Night. It’s a fantastic night out for all the family. Dorchester is probably unique as a town in having so many magnificent museums – The Dinosaur Museum, The Tutankhamun Exhibition, The Dorset County Museum, The Teddy Bear Museum, The Keep Military Museum, and The Terracotta Warriors Museum.

These are joined on Museums at Night by the Roman Town House and Max Gate. Entry to all eight heritage attractions in Dorchester is only £10 for a family of two adults and up to four children for the evening, when bought in advance. Museums at Night tickets for this fantastic value family night out can now be purchased at any of the participating museums, the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre and Max Gate. Tickets can be bought on the night but cost £12. Museums at Night really does offer something for everyone whatever your interest. So whether it’s Tutankhamun or Romans, Thomas Hardy or teddy bears, dinosaurs or Dorchester’s local history, the Dorsetshire Regiment or terracotta warriors of a much earlier age, it’s there to be explored. During Museums at Night, you can visit some or all of these for an extraordinary low price.

New for this year is a Museums at Night Trail where all those who follow the trail, find the answers to the clues and solve the puzzle, will be entered in a prize draw. Museums at Night is sponsored by Dorchester BID, Battens solicitors, Lam-Art Exhibition and Display, and Advantage Digital Print.

Impossible God

IMPOSSIBLE GOD

one man play

at Swanage, High St Methodist Church

Saturday 10th May 7.30pm

FREE Admission

Refreshments available Info tel: 01929 422421

As part of his nationwide tour, actor Mark Topping is staging his one-man performance of the play ‘Impossible God’ on Saturday 10th May at 7.30pm, at Swanage High Street Methodist Church.

Admission to the play is FREE, refreshments will be available and there will be a retiring collection in aid of the church hall roof repair fund.

Mark Topping says “The drama is a powerful exploration of events at the heart of Christianity, whilst you are taken on an imaginative journey”.

Mark Topping has toured England, Wales and Ireland for the last five years playing John Wesley in ‘An Evening with John Wesley’ and ‘My Own Familiar Friend’.

He has also appeared as John Wesley on BBC TV’s ‘Songs of Praise’ and ‘Flog It’.

The devotional book

‘An Impossible God’ was written and adapted for the stage by Mark’s father, author, actor, broadcaster and Methodist Minister, Frank Topping.

We look forward to welcoming you all on the night!

‘A Dorset Woman At War’ Dorset County Museum

Dorset Museum commemorates First World War with new exhibition

A Dorset Woman at War: Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915.

31 May to Saturday 15 November 2014

Summer 2014 will see a special exhibition at Dorset County Museum commemorating the centenary of the start of the First World War. The exhibition will focus on the story of one Dorset woman, Mabel St Clair Stobart, exploring her life and the role she played during the epic retreat of the Serbian army in 1915.

The Museum has a collection of unique photographs recording Mabel Stobart’s experiences in Serbia. They trace her intrepid journey from the tented field hospital she established near the front line and the relentless 250 mile trek through the Albanian mountains to her final escape from Scutari.

Her story is exceptional, not only for the adventures she experienced but because she was motivated by bettering the lot of women. She led her mission to Serbia in the face of opposition from another famous Dorset figure, Sir Frederick Treves, who felt there was no place for women in the Serbian conflict.

The photographs of Stobart’s adventures are highly graphic and do not flinch from the horrors of war. When Kodak developed them for her subsequent lecture tour of America, they were so impressed that they were blown up, mounted and hung in the Kodak head office.

The exhibition will reveal the extraordinary story of a powerful and determined woman who frequented the salons of London Society but was also a feminist, playwright and farmer.

A Dorset Woman at War opens on 31 May 2014. Opening times at the Museum are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

PArt In Purbeck All Year Round

urbeck is now recognised throughout the UK as a leading centre for the arts, competing with St Ives, which has traditionally been seen as a haven for those dabbling in their artistic side.

Throughout Purbeck you will find a plethora of artists and crafts people, offering a diverse range of quality items for sale. Tucked away down narrow lanes, in woodland, and near the shoreline, studios can be stumbled upon around every corner, each with a busy artist, craftsperson, stonemason or ceramacist in residence.

For many years, the annual Purbeck Art Weeks Festival, held in May, has showcased the wide range of artistic talent in the area, bringing many visitors to Purbeck during the fortnight-long festival. It is an ideal opportunity to visit each individual artist’s studio, and offers a rare glimpse

into the homes and working spaces of those creating Purbeck art. Whilst PAW festival brings a shining spotlight onto our artistic culture once a year, art in Purbeck is available all year round, allowing those lucky enough to be in residence a fabulous choice when it comes to purchasing an original and unique piece of artwork.

We are delighted to offer our readers a fantastic four-page pull-out for this year’s PAW festival (page 35-38). In addition this month, we bring you a selection of local businesses within Purbeck who would be delighted to see you throughout the year, who offer a varied range of works, incorporating local artists and craftspeople.

So get out there this month, take a tour around the PAW festival open studios and visit a gallery or two. Purbeck art is there to be celebrated!

The Gallery at 41

Steve and Chris Clarke at The Gallery at 41 in Corfe Castle specialise in the work of Dorset artists. ‘Dorset has so many talented artists and we are delighted to be able to show such a fine selection of work.’ said Chris.

Living in this beautiful county inspires the painters to capture the colours, shifting light and variety of Dorset, as well as their travels further afield with easel and sketchbook.

The gallery shows work by David Atkins, Lucy Best, Vicky Finding, Felicity House PS, Mike Jeffries, Richard Price ROI, Judy Tate and Edward Vine.

Local sculptor Moira Purver

ASWA shows wonderful figurative work that has a feeling of living energy and Sue Lansbury explores our relationship with the landscape and the passage of time.

The gallery also has beautifully crafted, glass, ceramics and jewellery by local makers.

The gallery has changing exhibitions throughout the year. Usual opening hours are from Tuesday to Saturday and Bank Holidays 11am to 5pm. During Purbeck Art Weeks every day except Tuesday.

The gallery will always try to assist in finding the painting or sculpture you want and will be happy to make a special appointment to view work.

The Gallery at 41, 41 East Street, Corfe Castle, Wareham, BH20 5EE.

QIt is not a franchise or part of a chain and does not buy in work from catalogues. Instead it works with individual artists who share the owner’s passion for the area. Much of what it offers is unique to Quarr. The mainstay of the gallery is painting, both original and in reproduction, and photography, but three dimensional work also features, as well as mosaics.

An important part of the gallery’s mission is recognising that its clients are here to enjoy themselves. Visits to Swanage are often a family affair and they welcome children. Sandy shoes and muddy boots are a normal part of the Dorset experience so far as they are concerned.

Swanage has come a long way from when it was a town of basic B&Bs and a holiday consisted of a week or two enduring wind, rain and wasps on the beach. Artists have always lived here, but the number has grown and the number of places where you can see their work has shot up. They range from galleries like Quarr to cafes with art on the wall and for sale. The remarkable thing about contemporary Dorset artists is their diversity. Unlike some places that are associated with a particular “school”, all attempts to squash them

into a single category fail.

Bringing together work from a number of artists that can hang harmoniously in the same space is therefore not easy. Paintings at Quarr are chiefly lively and colourful, in oil or or acrylic, but quieter more reflective work is also shown.

uarr gallery was established with the simple aim of giving as many people as possible the opportunity to see and buy work by some of the best Dorset artists.

At the Sansom Gallery we have been scanning and printing to a professional standard for artists for the last seventeen years and we offer the best one-stop destination for all artists requiring these services in the area.

We also offer a superior framing service, for which we use only the best possible materials, with a large range of choices for glass, mountboard and frame mouldings.

Hand-finished frame decoration is gladly undertaken, along with picture and painting restoration.

On display in the gallery you will find an ever-changing range of work from

Sansom Gallery Stoneworks

StoneWorks is a unique gallery in the heart of Purbeck featuring stone sculpture and carvings by local artists, as well as gift items, such as candle holders, mirrors, bowls, coasters and jewellery, all made from stone.

Coming up to our one year anniversary, we are pleased to be able to showcase the talent of these local stone sculptors and carvers. Each one has their own distinct style, thus making StoneWorks a gallery of diverse sculpture and carvings, as well as other unique pieces made from stone, such as a coffee table made from Purbeck marble and stone, and a backgammon board made from Portland stone.

In addition to our collection of stone works on permanent display, we also have guest Artists showing their various methods of medium.

We are currently exhibiting paintings by Kit Glaisyer, from Bridport, one of a new generation of painters that is reinventing the landscape genre.

In July and August, we will be featuring talented local photographer Andrew Bannister, who truly captures the beauty of the natural environment around us.

Please come in for a browse and appreciate the variety and versatility of art that StoneWorks gallery has on offer.

various professional artists and photographers. We also have a selection of original oils and watercolours, plus limited and open edition prints from well known local artists including Anna Macmiadhachain, Antonia Philips, Judy Tate and Heather Gibbons.

Pop in and see us to discuss your requirements as an artist; whether requiring a quality print service, framing for sale items or exhibitions, or to discuss framing in the gallery.

Browsers are more than welcome at anytime, so do call in to view the current items displayed. Art is there to be enjoyed by all, and we are more than happy for visitors to call in and simply enjoy the works of art on display – with no obligation to purchase anything.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sansom Gallery.

Little Green Gallery

The

The gallery displays the delightful work of several talented local artists, each one complimenting the other with fantastic watercolour landscapes and wildlife paintings.

The gallery, which has a clean and fresh contemporary look, also stocks a large range of unique gifts in all price ranges.

Do pop in and see us at anytime of the year for that inspirational gift or a beautiful painting to adorn your wall.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Emotional Freedom Technique

at Swanage Therapy Centre

Would you like to change something in your life but are not sure how?

Swanage Therapy Centre is delighted to announce that Cathy Feiner has recently become a qualified AAMET Practitioner of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

EFT is often referred to as ‘tapping’, or ‘acupuncture without needles’. It is non-invasive and is easy to learn and apply.

Cathy also holds a Master and Advanced Diploma in NLP, Life Coaching and Clinical Hypnotherapy and is a licensed practitioner of the ‘Phil Parker Lightning Process’.

These therapies all help you learn how to be more effective at what you do; leaving past problems behind and helping you to achieve the things you really want in your life. They offer a fast and effective way to overcome a whole range of issues.

One (or a combination) of these therapies are ideal for assisting clients to resolve issues such as:

• Emotional wellbeing

• Trauma

• Illness

• Phobias

• Weight issues

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Happiness

• Motivation/setting and achieving goals

• Sleep

• Life enhancement

All sessions at Swanage Therapy Centre are one-to-one, lasting approximately one hour per session (allow extra time for your first visit). Clients generally see Cathy for between one and three sessions, depending on what it is they want to achieve.

Cathy will work with you with care and integrity. All sessions are confidential.

To make an appointment with Cathy at Swanage Therapy Centre please call 01929 426 506 or see our website at www. swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

For further information please visit www.feinerlife.co.uk.

New to

Swanage Therapy Centre Swanage Therapy Centre Emotional Freedom Technique

Waxing Electrolysis EyeBrow Shape

Eyelash/Brow Tint Eyelash Extensions Gel Nails Manicure Pedicure Indian Head Massage Massage Aromatherapy Dermalogica Facials & Products

Hartland Stud, Soldiers Road, Norden, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 5DU

www.corfebeauty.com

The beautifully spacious new studio is on the ground floor, with plenty of parking and refreshments available in the reception. This relaxed, tranquil environment and the welcoming, experienced therapists make Corfe Beauty the ideal place for your beauty treatments and relaxing therapies.

Welcome! Jane would like to welcome two new therapists to her team, Alison Rumble and Jenny Rose. Alison and Jenny are well qualified, experienced therapists and you can expect a lovely warm welcome from them.

The expansion of the team will enable Corfe Beauty to offer a wider range of treatments and longer opening hours. A referral service for non-surgical cosmetic treatments is also available.

Mention the Purbeck Gazette and receive a 10% discount off of any treatment and £5.00 off a Dermalogica product of your choice. Book in for a complementary skin care consultation, analysis and receive a sample pack.

THE NEW CORFE BEAUTY TEAM ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

Corfe Beauty is located at Hartland Stud, halfway between Corfe Castle and Wareham. Turn off the A351 Corfe to Wareham road into Soldiers Road, which is opposite the Half Way Inn Pub and follow the signposts.

The Corfe Beauty team, pictured below: Left: Jane Burrows, Middle: Alison Rumble, Right: Jenny Rose.

Nanette - Mobile Hairdresser

Appointments available Weds & Thurs only

Tel 07872 997915

10% off all hair services

Throughout May 2014 with this advert. Offer ends end of May 2014.

email: nanette.hairdresser@yahoo.co.uk

Matron’s Round

Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

Hello again from Swanage and Wareham Hospitals!

Having to spend time in hospital can be a very worrying time whether you are the patient or relative. This month I’d like to inform you all about one of the most common concerns we hear about, which is being discharged.

Normally when a patient arrives with us, the whole team, which includes doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and a social worker, will begin to develop a plan for treatment, including discharge or transfer on.

We aim to do this within 24 hours of a patient’s arrival. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can start to allay any fears and concerns and work out what is the best course of action to take.

Staff will want to discuss arrangements for discharge with the patient, their relatives and carers as appropriate. This will help to ensure that they have everything needed for a safe recovery when they return home.

The date of discharge will be affected by:

• How quickly health improves while in hospital

• What support a patient will need on discharge

• In our hospitals patients can often need more specialised care after leaving us, these include those who:

Charity Hair Chop!

Dear Editor,

My daughter Kirsten, after having grown her hair for her wedding which takes place later this month, will be having it all chopped off for charity in July. Two charities will benefit.

The first being Heroes Haven in Swanage, which provides holidays for injured service personnel in a specially adapted caravan here in Swanage.

The second charity to benefit is The Little Princess Trust, which is a charity that provides real hair wigs for children suffering hair loss, to which she will be donating her hair.

If you would like to sponsor Kirsten or donate to these wonderful causes, please pop in to INNOVATION in Kings Road West, Swanage where there will be a sponsor form or we will accept any donations, or telephone the salon on 01929 423294, for more details.

Thank you in anticipation.

Kind regards, Nicolette Churchill

Pictures: Kirsten, front and back.

• Have ongoing health and social care needs

• Need community care services

• Need intermediate care

• Are being discharged to a residential or nursing home

So, as well as the hospital staff, discharge or transfer often involves other healthcare professionals such as your GP or community nurse. Other organisations outside of the NHS may also need to be involved, for example, local authorities or independent and voluntary organisations. There is also the need to organise medication. Sometimes medical devices and equipment are needed at home, which we can help to arrange.

On the day of discharge it is helpful if a friend or relative is available to collect the patient and to help make sure they have everything needed. Alternatively, for those who require hospital transport, we are able to arrange this.

I hope that this article helps to reassure that all procedures are in place at both our hospitals to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. Until next time, take care,

Matron Jane

Sport Swanage Searowing Club Update

As the weather improves and the longer evenings have arrived, the Club’s activities are getting into full swing. The new Boathouse facilities have allowed us to attract many more junior rowers and it is very positive to see it so busy with young people being coached by Brian Norman and other Club members into getting fit and in developing their rowing techniques, and then getting out to row on the water.

Junior rowing takes place on a Monday evening at 6 o’clock - if you know any young people who would like to take part, bring them to the Boathouse to see what is going on. Grown-ups who want to try their hand at rowing can come on a Saturday at 10:30am or a Tuesday at 6pm – for more information see the website www.ssrc.org.uk

The rowing and regatta activities are also getting busier with crews training for the World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly over the first weekend in May. At the first Championships held in 1989 there were just 19 Pilot gigs, but at this 25th anniversary event there will be around 140 gigs taking part, showing how the sport has grown in recent years. A considerable amount of work goes into preparing and maintaining the wooden gigs to enable others to row them, and the Club is very appreciative of the efforts of Nick Harris and everyone who helped over the winter months to get them ready for the season. Early regattas are an opportunity to see how well the other clubs are preparing and Swanage Sea Rowing Club sent crews made up of club members with a variety of experience to take part in Weymouth’s March Regatta, along with nine other gigs from the south west including Portland, Bridport, Hayling Island

(Hampshire), Torridge (north Devon) and Bristol.

Although many of the A crew rowers weren’t available, our B and Veteran crews stood in with some excellent and consistent results; the Ladies A race coming 3rd, The Ladies B race a 4th, the Mens A race a 3rd, the Mens B a 2nd, the Ladies Vets a 3rd and the Mens Vets a fantastic 1st place. Also in May on the weekend of the 24th, SSRC will be hosting our regatta, which will be a wonderful opportunity to see these traditional boats racing in Swanage Bay. Not all events are out and out races, and a couple of crews rowed from West Bay to Lyme Regis in April, which takes in some fantastic coastline and is a great way to get fit at the same time.

The Club attended the Annual Parish Assembly in April, along with other local organizations, which gave the Club an opportunity to let others know how well the Club is doing, the difference the Boathouse has made to our members, and to thank the Mayor, the Town Clerk and the Councillors for their support in making the project such a success over the past few years of fundraising and planning.

Report by Barnaby Quaddy

Swanage Tennis Club treated local children and their families to a fun March.

Head coach Nathan Fowler and a host of club members engaged youngsters and parents of all ages in a variety of free tennis based activities. Coaching drills, games, refreshments were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

On the same day a very strong Swanage mixed 1 team were hosts to Ferndown. Swanage quickly took control of the meeting – stifling any effort by Ferndown to get on the scoreboard. Jo Kiddell and Mike Muir held every game in both of their matches winning in straight sets. Deborah Miller and Tony Saunders were equally impressive, gaining another comprehensive win: 6:0, 6:0 and then 6:1, 6:2.

The Ladies team encountered several very close contests, most notably a home match against Milford. Swanage’s Sam Christmas and Diana Dyer had to dig deep to take the first set from the Milford’s first pair, 6:4 but cruised to victory in the second. The pair went on to win their second match 0:6, 6:2 and won a tiebreak.

Swanage’s Wendy Clarke and Bridget Burtwell fought well in both of their matches but just lost out firstly on a tiebreak and then 3:6, 3:6. This led to draw in terms of rubbers and sets and after some discussion about the number of games achieved by each side, Milford claimed a victory of two games.

Other Results

Mixed 1 Southbourne (rain abandoned after two sets)

Ladies’ –Southbourne – 2:2 rubbers (Swanage lost by 6 games). Mens’ – Wimborne 0:4 rubbers

Swanage & Wareham RFC

Charity Day on 10th May

Swans are holding their annual Charity day in aid of the two charities, the national Help for Heroes and the local Heroes Haven hospitality complex in Swanage, on the 10th May.

Present on the day will be a children’s fun fair, a selection of Army vehicles, face painting, barbeque, two bars and much, much more.

The day will start at around 10.30am, with a hockey tournament which will continue all day, featuring at least six teams (more are in the pipeline). There will two rugby matches in the afternoon, a Swans Presidents XV v. An Army XV, and a Swans Select XV v Marines XV.

In the evening, local troubadour Jim Etherington with be performing in the clubhouse, everybody will be welcome to hear Jim perform. There will be collections for the two charities on the day.

Ron Butler (Publicity Secretary)

WWe would like to thank all who donated money and the local businesses in Wareham who donated prizes. A

essex Water football team along with Wareham Conservative Club, held a charity football match and grand raffle at the club after the match and raised £1,500 for Forest Holme Hospice in memory of the late Sarah Adams.

cheque was presented on Sunday 13th April 2014 at Wareham recreation ground.

‘Richieoneleg’ Reaches Swanage!

Richard Hunt is a Royal Navy veteran amputee who is attempting to kayak around the entire coast of the UK in aid of BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association) - a distance of some 2300 miles. This will be the first time that this has been done by an amputee (or anybody for that matter) using a sit-on-top kayak. Richard will also be attempting to break Helen Skelton’s solo kayaking distance record, which currently stands at 2010 miles (for Comic Relief Amazon River).

On Wednesday 9th April, Richard came ashore at Swanage, working his way around the UK in a clockwise direction, having originally started his epic voyage in Portsmouth.

Upon arrival, Richard was greeted by a small group of locals who had heard about his journey from social network sites (pictured), and who turned up to await his arrival. Lill Drivers was there with her children, and greeted Richard with some lovely sausage rolls, which were much appreciated after more than seven hours and 32.5km travelled in a kayak!

Steve Churchill of Heroes Haven in Swanage had previously offered Richard and his support team overnight accommodation at Heroes Haven, the log cabin especially built for injured servicemen and women by the amazing people of Purbeck. Richard arrived in Swanage at around 4pm, and after a comfortable night at the Haven, set off again first thing on Thursday morning, heading towards Weymouth.

The charity that Richard is raising money for is Blesma, who help injured service men and women come to terms with terrible injuries which include loss of limbs and sight. They organise rehabilitation events, which include skiing, diving, sailing, and parachuting (amongst others) to help the injured realise that there is life after debilitating injury.

Richard was injured whilst serving in the military, which eventually led to him losing his left leg from above the knee. Blesma helped Richard come to terms with this and have been there for him ever since.

If you’d like to follow Richard’s journey, you can keep-up with him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ TheGreatPaddleRound?fref=ts

You can check his website: http://www.thegreatpaddleround.co.uk/ You donate online at: http://www.justgiving.com/richieoneleg

Medals For Purbeck At European Duathlon Championships

TriPurbeck athletes were racing for Great Britain in the European Duathlon Championships in Horst, Netherlands in April. First up in the long distance event was Planet X sponsored athlete Fran Bungay whose 65min 15km first run put her in 2nd place behind Denmark’s Melina Olsen.

Swanage Bowling Club

With our indoor season behind us we reflect that our small town was well represented in Dorset County Indoor Bowling circles. Our Club’s treasurer, Terry Buck, was the County President and one of our members, David Thomas, was named Personality of the Year. For the first time our men entered the Over 60’s League, which resulted in an outstanding semi-final at Dorchester, where they were narrowly defeated. This bodes well for them in their second year.

With our canopy completed, as well as new decking, we are looking forward to many events, including a Hog Roast for President’s Day in August. The President’s (Brian Beeston) Coffee Morning and our first game outside (ladies versus gents) followed by chicken and chips is always enjoyable. Our new lady captain, Sue King, who has many years’ experience playing at county level, expressed her hopes and encouragement at a well attended pre-season ladies meeting, where she explained her concept of helpful informative sessions to take place on Monday afternoons throughout season.

Our next Open Day, on Saturday 3rd May at 10am, is for the introduction of the game to anyone willing to give it a try without charge or commitment,

In the sprint event Derek and Sharon Bardsley were both racing in the 60-64 category, with Sharon hoping to go one better than the silver medal she won in 2013.

A storming first 5km run of 20min 38sec took her away from her British and German rivals and strong bike leg in windy conditions gave her an unassailable lead, coming home for the gold medal in 1hr 15min, 3minutes faster than last year when most other athletes were slower due to the conditions.

Derek also finished an excellent 6th in the men’s race.

Anyone interested in triathlon should go to www.tripurbeck.com for more information about the club and we are running a junior triathlon at Milton Abbey school on 17th May.

which last year resulted in several new members. It looks to be a busy summer with internal and external leagues and friendly games with visiting clubs scheduled.

For friendship, fun and fitness give us a try. For more information telephone Jean Thomas on 426795.

A strong bike split from the TriPurbeck athlete took her away from the German athlete in 3rd and the rest of the field so that she was able to secure the silver medal on the second run – an excellent early season marker for the long distance triathlon specialist.

Swanage Football Club

The senior sides completed their first away campaign under manager Alan Lay recently, with a 3-1 victory against Sherborne reserves.

The eight wins that the Swans have picked up on their travels this season is the most by any side in the league, although we’d expect that to change and this is a massive testament to the way the players have adapted to a new manager and a new way of playing.

With five league games left, all at home and against all three title contenders, the first team has a chance to effect who wins the title. With 5th place Mere Town also due to visit Days Park, picking up points against the title contenders will give us the opportunity to have our own little cup final over 5th place.

For the first team to finish anywhere in the top seven will be a fantastic achievement after one win in the first eleven games, but having met all the objectives Alan and the coaches have set them this year, including winning two respect awards for their behaviour on the pitch, finishing as high as possible is important and will give us the confidence and momentum to push for even higher next season.

The Youth side of the Club have all but finished their fixtures for the season and, by the time you read this, will definitely be finished. We

can boast that two of our sides won their prospective leagues. Our U12s, who are competing in Dorset League 2, have had a tremendous season under the management of Jamie Smith. They have so far played sixteen games losing just the one game and reaching the Quarter Final of the County Cup. This team has some real talent on show, and are a real asset to the Club’s future. Along with the U12s our U11 side has won their Division 4 title.

They also have a similar record losing only the one league fixture. Dean Slavin, theU11 manager, has had some hard selection issues with so many players he’s had a hard job keeping all the players happy with the amount of football they play. The Club has come up with a solution to this problem and as of next season will be running two sides at this age group, the other team managed by Karl. This will mean all the players will get a lot more game time. All of our other youth teams are carrying on next season we are also adding another two younger teams to keep the continuation of teams going.

As previously stated in earlier articles, on the 1st team’s last home game of the season against Hamworthy Recreation on the 3rd May, we are inviting all the sponsors of the club and all players who have ever played for us to be our guests for the day here at Day’s Park and to enjoy our facilities.

We have started to improve the playing surface here at Day’s Park; we have purchased a second hand cylinder mower and the pitch has been fertilised. Our groundsman John Peacock is grateful to Chris Harvey from the Isle of Purbeck Golf Course for his help and advice and to Paul Newell for helping out in the long list of jobs we have to get through. In the future it’s our ambition to have major fixtures like Cup Finals and Dorset Representative games here at Day’s Park.

Over the last few years we have entered a float into the Carnival procession. This year the youth section is again entering one and is to be joined by the seniors. We have fully supported the carnival over a number of years now with bucket collections and will be doing so again this year. This is a real asset to our town and we feel honoured to help out in any way we can.

To keep updated with everything to do with the Swans check out our website www.swanagefc.com

COME ON YOU SWANS! John Peacock, Press Officer

Purbeck Marathon Benefits Good Causes

The second year of the iconic Purbeck Marathon has been marked with not only a rating of The Best Marathon in the UK (according to Runner’s World), but the Purbeck Marathon has also succeeded in donating increased sums to local charities and voluntary organisations. One of the founding principles of the Purbeck Marathon is to generate profits that can be distributed to local good causes. A promising start was made in 2012 with £1,500 distributed to local charities supported by the Swanage Regatta & Carnival.

The success of the Purbeck Marathon 2013 has meant that we have been able to increase donations to charities through the Swanage Carnival & Regatta, local volunteer organisations and the 2013 Chairman’s Charity, Help for Heroes, with £4,000 being distributed.

The Dorset children’s hospice Julia’s House has also been a beneficiary with the Purbeck Marathon very pleased to hand over a substantial cheque. Normally resident in Swanage, the disabled son of one of the Purbeck Marathon’s marshals is a regular resident at Julia’s House (pictured, right), providing a welcome break for his parents. The Purbeck Marathon is very pleased to support this excellent local charity.

Alongside the donations given by the Purbeck Marathon, many runners have raised funding for charities through sponsorship of their own runs. For 2014, the Purbeck Marathon will be offering charity places. These places can be purchased by charities and offered to runners in return for

a guaranteed level of sponsorship. They will also have a presence at the finish on Swanage seafront in an intended “Charities Village”.

The organisers have announced that entries for the Purbeck Marathon 2014 on 14 September are already open, with details available at www. thepurbeckmarathon.co.uk.

The number of entries accepted has been increased for 2014 in view of the event’s rating of the Best Marathon in the UK in 2013 and entries are already coming in very fast.

This marathon is a community event, put on by volunteers in order to share our favourite runs with you and to raise much needed funds for local charities and good causes.

Spotlight Event Diary

Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £5 plus VAT per entry, per month. DEADLINE for June is noon 9th May

KEY: * = Start time not known or n/a; Ffi = for further information; Sw = Swanage; Wm = Wareham; VH = Village Hall, Telephone code 01929 unless otherwise stated.

MAY 2014

Thu 1st

* Help for Heroes Colossal Cake Sale At The Thrift Shop, at Bovington Camp.

Fri 2nd

13:00 Open Gardens At Knitson Old Farmhouse, Near Corfe Castle, BH 20 5JB

Cream Teas in aid of RNLI. A mature cottage garden with exceptional views, nestled at the base of chalk downland. Dogs allowed.

18:30 Isle of Purbeck Model Railway Group Meets at Furzebrook Village Hall, Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR. Entrance £2, children 50p. For further information contact Terry Jenkins -07960 691479.

19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill at 7.30pm. AGM and Presentation of Trophies. Visitors welcome. ffi Colin Brixton – 423841

20:00 Kelley McRae Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sat 3rd

09:00 Art Show At Harmans Cross Village Hall, by Harmans Cross Art Group. 9.00am to 4.30pm. Inspired Paintings, Quality Prints, Unique Cards, and delicious refreshments. Entry 50p.pp (children free), in support of HXVH funds.

09:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Northbrook Road Layby, then drive (car sharing) to Pentridge for all day walk across open countryside. Ffi 01929 422554.

10:00 Table Top Sale/ Coffee Morning At the Catholic Hall Swanage. A few tables are available, please contact Pat Wright 421864.

13:00 Open Gardens At Knitson Old Farmhouse, Near Corfe Castle, BH 20 5JB

Cream Teas in aid of RNLI. A mature cottage garden with exceptional views, nestled at the base of chalk downland. Dogs allowed.

14:30 Highwood Garden Open Day At Charborough Park, halfway between Bere Regis and Wimborne on the A351. Entrance through any of the three lodges along the park wall with the Stag Gate. Ample car parking. Tea and other refreshments, admission £4, children (6-16) £2. Only guide dogs permitted. Open in aid of Wool Pre-school Playgroup.

19:30 Bingo At the D’Urberville Hall, Wool - fund raising for the Wool Carnival 2014. Email: stev018@taktak.net

Sun 4th

09:00

Art Show At Harmans Cross Village Hall, by Harmans Cross Art Group 9.00am to 4.30pm. Inspired Paintings, Quality Prints, Unique Cards, and delicious refreshments. Entry 50p.pp (children free), in support of HXVH funds.

13:00 Open Gardens At Knitson Old Farmhouse, Near Corfe Castle, BH 20 5JB

14:00

Cream Teas in aid of RNLI. A mature cottage garden with exceptional views, nestled at the base of chalk downland. Dogs allowed.

Open Gardens Heron’s Mead, East Burton, Wool, BH20 6HF Home made teas in aid of Dorset Air Ambulance 1/2 acre plant-lover’s garden full of interest from spring bulbs through to abundant summer perennials. Wildlife attractive, especially butterflies and bees. Dogs allowed.

14:30 Highwood Garden Open Day At Charborough Park, halfway between Bere Regis and Wimborne on the A351. Entrance through any of the three lodges along the park wall with the Stag Gate. Ample car parking. Tea and other refreshments, admission £4, children (6-16) £2. Only guide dogs permitted. Open in aid of Harlequin Care.

Mon 5th

12:00

13:00

Wareham-Hemsbach Society Meet at Tyneham Car Park for a picnic and a wander around the village. Contact Robin Brasher 427015.

Open Gardens At Knitson Old Farmhouse, Near Corfe Castle, BH 20 5JB Cream Teas in aid of RNLI. A mature cottage garden with exceptional views, nestled at the base of chalk downland. Dogs allowed.

14:30 Highwood Garden Open Day At Charborough Park, halfway between Bere Regis and Wimborne on the A351. Entrance through any of the three lodges along the park wall with the Stag Gate. Ample car parking. Tea and other refreshments, admission £4, children (6-16) £2. Only guide dogs permitted. Open in aid of SSAFA Forces Help (Purbeck Branch).

Tue 6th

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham “President’s Evening” with Ken Ayres Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822

Wed 7th

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Pamphill Common car park for a walk through bluebell woods and historic cattle droves around Kingston Lacy. Ffi 01929 422795.

14:00 Stoborough WI At Stoborough Village Hall. A talk by John Ives on “Zero Gravity” and the benefits of research carried out by the European Space

Agency. Guests welcome. Ffi contact Mary Wheeler on 01929 551196.

19:30 Wareham-Hemsbach Society Talk by Dorset Fire and Rescue. At Carey Hall, Mistover Road, Wareham. Contact Robin Brasher 427015.

Fri 9th

19:00 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets in Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross at 7:00 for 7:30 pm. Hugh Compton will deliver a talk entitled “Waterloo to Wenford Bridge” The Circle Tea/ coffee/biscuits and a railway-oriented raffle as usual. EVERYBODY IS WELCOME For further information please contact the General Secretary: tele: 01929 554765 or email gordonjakes21@btinternet.com

20:00 Bayou Seco Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sat 10th

09:00 Purbeck Produce Farmers’ Market At Commercial road, Swanage. Local produce from local producers. Ffi: www.purbeckproducts.co.uk

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at car park for Hardy’s Cottage for circular walk via Kingston Maurward, Lower Bockhampton, and Puddleton Forest. Ffi 01929 424218.

10:00 Plant & Table top sale At the Town Hall (Wareham) from 10am to 12noon. There will be a raffle, tombola, plant sale, Bric a Brac, books and other stalls.

10:30 Purbeck Railway Circle At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. The Swanage Railway presents a Model Railway Show as part of their Diesel Gala EVERYONE WELCOME. No admission charge; donations welcome. Ffi 554765.

14:30 Highwood Garden Open Day At Charborough Park, halfway between Bere Regis and Wimborne on the A351. Entrance through any of the three lodges along the park wall with the Stag Gate. Ample car parking. Tea and other refreshments, admission £4, children (6-16) £2. Only guide dogs permitted. Open in aid of Swanage Sea Rowing Club.

19:30 Belvedere Singers Special Spring Concert at St. Mary’s Church to mark Helen Attfield’s retirement after 14 years as Music Director. Proceeds in aid of CanCare. Tickets available from Choir members, Corbens or at the door: £10 (includes interval refreshment); children under 12 free. More info: 423729.

19:30 ‘Impossible God’ A one man play At Swanage, High Street Methodist Church. Free admission, refreshments available. Ffi: 01929 422421.

Sun 11th

09:30 United service for the start of Christian Aid week At Lady St Mary Church Wareham with Martin John Nichols, Christian Aid Area organiser from Exeter and renowned singer and songwriter. This will be a united communion service. Collectors needed for Wareham and Sandford if you can help please contact the Wareham Parish Office 550905.

10:30 Purbeck Railway Circle At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. The Swanage Railway presents a Model Railway Show as part of their Diesel Gala EVERYONE WELCOME. No admission charge; donations welcome. Ffi 554765.

12:00 Open Gardens Puddledock Cottage, Scotland Heath, Norden, Near Corfe Castle BH20 5DY Light refreshments. Originally a quarryman’s cottage, now newly renovated it now stands in the centre of a large lovingly created garden with streams and ponds, edged with nectar rich plants which attract a myriad butterflies and bees. Dogs allowed.

Tue 13th

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham “AGM & Trophy Presentations” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822

Wed 14th

09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Corfe NT Centre for walk along Purbeck Way to Norden and Furzebrook Road. Return via West Hills to start. Ffi 01929 426926.

14:00 Stoborough WI At Stoborough Village Hall. Birthday Party - lunch 1pm

19:30 Studland WI Meets at Studland Village Hall. Resolutions for the AGM. Karen Wright. “Winter Trip to Norway”. Competition: Holiday Souvenir.

19:30 Swanage Evening WI Meets at the Mowlem Community Room on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, at 7.30pm. Jacky Smith, ‘History of American Barbed Wire’. Guests welcome.

Fri 16th

20:00 Amanda Shires Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sat 17th

09:00 Wareham Rotary Club Blood Pressure Day At Wareham Town Hall. Have your blood pressure checked for free.

10:00 Books, Coffee and Cake At Moreton Village Hall (DT2 8RF) 10am to 12 noon FREE ENTRY Huge selection of books for just 25p a book. Home made/ grown produce and crafts too . Donation of books always welcome. Make a morning of it in Moreton - visit Lawrence of Arabia’s Grave and the beautiful

etched glass windows in the Church. For more details contact Maeve 01929 463221 or moretonvillagehall@talktalk.net website: www.moretonvillagehall. btck.co.uk

10:00 Swanage Garden Society Plant Fayre at the Catholic Hall.

10:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Tollard Royal church for 9 mile walk to Win Green Hill and Berwick St. John, returning to Tollard Royal. Ffi 01929 422554.

12:00 Swanage School Opening View the new school and facilities, student demonstrations, refreshments and cream teas. Ffi: www.theswanageschool. co.uk

14:00 Smedmore Open House and Gardens Open Day Open today to raise funds for the E.Dorset & New Forest branch of THE MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION. Stalls selling Plants, Crafts, gifts, Tombola, Hoopla & much more. Then relax in the Courtyard with tea & home made cakes. A great day out in Dorset! Entrance Fee £5.00 (children under 16 free). POST CODE FOR EVENT LOCATION BH20 5PG Email: meldan59@btinternet.com

14:00 Annual Flower Festival and Street Fayre In the village of East Holme. During the day we will be holding a dog show registration on the day, Swanage Town Band will be playing. There will be cream teas, a raffle, duck racing, tombola and much more. The fun starts at 2.00pm. We are also have pitches for car booters at £5.00 per pitch please contact Joy Allan on 01305 853421 to book a pitch.

17:00 Museums at Night At The Dinosaur Museum, The Keep Military Museum, Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorset County Museum, The Roman Town House, Terracotta Warriors, The Teddy Bear Museum, Max Gate (3.30-5.30pm only). All museums specially open from 5pm to 9pm. Family tickets £10 in advance, £12 on the night.

19:00 An Evening with Stewpot At The Legion. A great night of entertainment for kids of all ages. It is 50 years since pirate radio started broadcasting as well as 50 years since the first TOTP. Stewpot talks about both plus his time at Radio 1 and 2 plus Crackerjack and many more. Expect a few games plus a Q&A as well. The evening will be rounded off with a disco featuring loads of hits. Email: rockahulaclub@aol.com

19:30 Bingo At the D’Urberville Hall, Wool - fund raising for the Wool Carnival 2014. Email: Steve18@taltalk.net

20:00 Tumbling Bones Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sun 18th

14:00 Tumbling Bones Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

14:00 Smedmore Open House and Garden With lawn games in the garden, stalls, refreshments including cream tea and live music from Replay come and enjoy this hidden jewel on the Jurassic coast. Adults £5, accompanied under 16’s are free. Email: mark.howlett@weld-hospice.org.uk

Wed 21st

10:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Lulworth Castle car park for a level walk covering the castle grounds and Coombe Heath. Ffi 01929 424462.

19:30 Wareham & District Archaeology & Local History Soc Meets at Wareham Town Hall. Talk by Bill Moore - The Mary Rose Recovered. Visitors welcome £2.

Thu 22nd

20:00 Club AGM At The Conservative Club, Swanage. All members welcome to attend.

Fri 23rd

* Beer & Music Festival At The Kings Arms, Stoborough. Over 25 real ales, ciders and perries. Ffi: 01929 552705 or www.thekingsarms-stoborough.co.uk

19:30 Swanage Garden Society At Herston Hall. David Boag, ‘The Life of a Wildlife Photographer ’.

20:00 Fabian Holland Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sat 24th

* Beer & Music Festival At The Kings Arms, Stoborough. Over 25 real ales, ciders and perries. Ffi: 01929 552705 or www.thekingsarms-stoborough.co.uk

09:00 Purbeck Produce Farmers’ Market At Putlake Farm, Langton Matravers. Local products from local producers. Ffi: www.purbeckproducts.co.uk

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet in centre of Moreton for a circular walk via Jubilee Trail, Culpeppers Dish and Moreton Forest. Ffi 01929 425165.

19:30 Bryan’s Saturday Dance At Furzebrook Village Hall. Enjoy Sequence, Ballroom, and some Line Dancing. Tea, coffee and biscuits. £3 entrance. Ffi: 01929 551332.

Sun 25th

12:00 Winfrith Newburgh Open Gardens Twelve gardens open, home-made cream teas and cakes, raising money for the village hall. Donations of around £6 suggested (50p per garden). Free parking.

13:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at entrance to Swanage Bay Holiday Park in Panorama Road for a circular walk around the Durlston nature reserve. Ffi 01929 425165.

Mon 26th

* Beer & Music Festival At The Kings Arms, Stoborough. Over 25 real ales, ciders and perries. Ffi: 01929 552705 or www.thekingsarms-stoborough.co.uk

12:00 Winfrith Newburgh Open Gardens Twelve gardens open, home-made cream teas and cakes, raising money for the village hall. Donations of around £6

suggested (50p per garden). Free parking.

Wed 28th

10:00 Sewing Machine Demos At Stewart’s House of Fabric, North street, Wareham. Free draw to win a sewing machine!

17:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet by Kingston church for a circular walk to Corfe Common and back. Ffi 01929 480224.

20:00 Corn Potato String Band Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Fri 30th

20:00 Charlie Hayes & Jack McNeil Live Music at The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi 01929 439229 or www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Sat 31st

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735

10:15 Swanage Walking Group Meet at South Down NT car park above Ringstead Bay for a circular walk to Spring Bottom, and Osmington Mills. Return via coast path. Ffi 01929 480224.

19:30 Beetle Drive - fun for all ages At the D’Urberville Hall, Wool - fund raising for the Wool Carnival 2014. Email: steVe018@talktak.net

19:30 Harman’s Cross Village Hall Dance American Supper. £3 Entry, raffle, coffee, tea and biscuits. Proceeds to local Macmillan Nurses Cancer Relief. Ffi: 01929 551 332.

WEEKLY EVENTS

EVERY MONDAY

09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH.

09.30 Notelets Music Group for under 5s at Parish Hall, Wm.

09.45 Toddler Club URC, Sw. Till 11.15

10.00 Mowlem Indoor Market at the Mowlem. Home grown/made produce – cakes, pies, veg plants etc. Quality clothing, jewellery, per products and lots more. Open until 16.00

10.00 Table Tennis Club Sw FC All ages/abilities £2.50 Till noon. 480093

10.30 Extend Exercise Class to improve strength, balance & flexibility. At Furzebrook VH. Donations welcome. Ffi: 471490

13.30 First Steps Group for early walkers up to 2 years old at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 3pm Ffi: 552864

14.00 Pins and Needles at Harmans Cross VH.

14.00 Swanage Disabled Club meet until 4pm. Meeting place alternates between Catholic Hall & Queensmead Hall, Sw. Transport available. Call Mrs Daphne Saville on 01929 425241 ffi.

16.45 Soccer Skills Sw FC First Sch chldn £1 Till 5.45. 425175

18.00 Sw Tennis Club Snr Club Session. 426312

19.00 Wareham Choral Society meet URC Meeting House, Chch St, Wm. Till 9. New singers always welcome. 554229/553460

19.00 Swanage Youth Club. School year 10 and upwards. Till 9.30pm

19.00 Whist. Come & join us at the Reading Room, Church Hill, Swanage. Ffi, call 07984 968733

19.00 Purbeck Chess Club. Mortons House Hotel, Corfe Castle. Ffi, call Brian Beard 425988

19.30 Purbeck Quire rehearse at Wm Methodist Church. New/visiting singers (no audition necessary). String & wind players also welcome. Ffi: 423505 or 480737.

19.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. Ffi: 553718.

19:30 Badminton & Table Tennis Club, Adults, Swanage Methodist Church Hall. Small friendly club. All levels welcome. Til 10pm. 07917 473390

19.30 Wm Folk Dance Club Stoboro’ VH. All welcome. 553519/422730

20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Sw.

20.00 Sw Conservative Club WHIST & DARTS. Sw. All welcome

20.00 Herston Hall Management C’ttee Bingo

EVERY TUESDAY

09.00 First Steps Toddler’s Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 10.15am. Ffi: Tom Bullock on 421767, office hours, or tom@swanagemethodist.org.uk

09.30 Kiddies Corner Mother & Toddler Group (term time only) No fee - donations welcome. Purbeck Gateway Church. 551415

09.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. Ffi: 553718.

10.00 Sw Tennis Club Associate Club Session. Till 11. 426312

10.00 Short Tennis at Sw FC All ages & abilities £1.50 Till noon. 425175

10.30 Swanage Walking for Health Group starter walks (15-30mins). Start from the Mowlem Shelter on Swanage Seafront. Get back into the swing of things gently! Ffi: 475692

10.30 Twins Group - for Mums with Twins run by mums with twins at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 12 noon. Ante-natal mums expecting twins welcome. Ffi: 552864

11.00 Guided Church Tour at Bere Regis Parish Church. Volunteer-lead tour of this wonderful medieval church. No charge, but donations gratefully received.

13.00 Baby and Toddler Group at Harmans Cross VH.

14.00 Swanage Walking for Health Group. Walks of 60-90mins, various locations. Walks

are very social, for a range of abilities. Walks start from car parks at Studland, Corfe, Arne, Durlston, Langton, Acton, Worth and Kingston. Ffi: 475692.

14.00 Harman’s Cross Village Hall Art Group Till 5

14.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls. Furzebrook VH. Roll-up session, all standards welcome. Ffi 401799

17.00 Sw Tennis Club Junior Session till 6pm. 426312

18.00 Sw Youth Centre Girls’ Night (Yr 8+) Till 10

18.00 Yoga - gentle at Swanage Arts Centre, Commercial Rd, Sw. £6 for 70 mins or £20 per month. Private lessons also available. Ffi call Johanna (certified Yoga teacher): 07892 680360

18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Comm’ty Room. 423497

18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 8.30pm

18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 423497

19.00 The Mayday Singers rehearse at The Old Malthouse, Langton. New members very welcome, contact Paul Baird 07802431012

19.30 Swanage Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at Swanage Day Centre, High Street, Swanage. If you want help to stop drinking, you are welcome. Or call 01202 296000 for more details.

19.30 Sw & Langton Folk Dance Club Langton VH. Ffi: 424252

19.30 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at All Saints Ch, Ulwell, Sw. All singers welcome! 423350

20.00 Sw Regatta & Carnival Assoc Bingo Herston Leisure, Herston Yards Farm, Sw.

20.00 Sw Conservative Club Bingo, Pool & Snooker

20.00 Carey Hall, Wm Bingo

20.00 LEAGUE POOL at the RBL Club, Sw.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

09.00 St Mark’s Toddlers Group, St Mark’s Church, Swanage. Herston, Sw Till 11am

09.45 Corfe Wool Workshop Corfe VH, East St. Members £1.50; non-members £2.50. Till12.00. 427067

10.00 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome. Equipment supplied. Till noon.

10.00 Little Fishes Baby and Toddler Group. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Term time only. Until 11.30am. Ffi: Alex on 07904 412067.

10.00 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Offering peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till 12 noon. Ffi: 552864

11.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Swanage Library till 1pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities

12.30 Young Parent’s Group at Wareham Children’s Centre, Streche Road, Wm. Ffi: 552864. Till 2pm. Transport Available.

13.15 EBC TOTS meet Emmanuel Baptist Ch, Victoria Ave, Sw. Til 2.45. £1 per child.

14.00 Herston Senior Citizens meet Herston Hall, Jubilee Rd, Sw. All welcome

14.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 3pm. With Penny at the Mowlem Community Room, Sw. Ffi 07969925502

16.15 Swanage Football Club U-7s Training til 5.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346

17.15 Swanage Football Club U-9s Training til 6.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346

18.00 Swanage Youth Club. School years 7&8. Till 8.30pm

18.45 Sw Hockey Club Training Wm Sports Centre. Till 8. 424442

19.00 Sw Town Band rehearsals. Town Hall Council Chamber. Till 8.30. 426926

19.00 Wm Bridge Club at the Library, South St. 552257

19.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club Roll-up evening Furzebrook VH. 401799

19.30 Swanage Musical Theatre meet Swanage Bay View Complex Rehearsal Room. All welcome. Ffi: 426161

19.45 Badminton Group meet at the Purbeck Sports Centre until 9.15pm for games of mixed doubles. Ffi, please call Kate on 01929 421806 or email katespurling@ btinternet.com

20.00 Sw Youth Centre Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 10

20.00 Sw Royal British Legion BINGO. High St, Sw

20.15 Dorset Buttons Morris Practice. URC Hall, Wm. 423234/421130

20.30 Wm Swimming Club Adults. All standards + stroke improvement. Till 10

22.00 Sw Youth Centre Club Night (16+) Till 11.59

EVERY THURSDAY

08.30 Wm Home Producers Veg, cakes, plants, flowers, handicrafts. URC. New producers/helpers welcome. Till 11. 553798

09.00 Swanage Painting Club. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Friendly group. New members including beginners welcome. Till 1pm. Ffi: Jan on 01929 480471

09.30 Pottery Classes held in Wareham. Till 11.30am. For details contact Rachel 01929 480455 to book 15pw.

10.00 PEEP for 2 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. A six week course in early childhood learning. Please call to book a place on 552864. Till 11.30am

10.00 Wm Parent & Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45. 556806

10.30 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club Drop In Coffee Morning. Arts Centre, Commercial Rd, Sw. Til 12 noon. Come see find out what the Arts Club does.

10.00 Wool Country Market D’Urbeville Hall. Cakes, preserves, plants, crafts, vegetables. Coffee & biscuits available.

10.00 Sw Tennis Club Associate Club Session. Til 11am. 426312

10.00 Tea, Coffee, Biscuits at Queensmead Hall, Sw. Til 11am. Adm 50p

10.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Wareham Library till 12pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities.

10.30 Harman’s Cross Village Hall Chinese Art Group

10.30 Mid-Week Market Morning Service URC, Church St, Wm. Prayer requests to Revd. Simon Franklin 556976

13.30 Under 1 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Anti-natal mums welcome. Till 3pm. Ffi: 552864.

13.30 Toddler Group. All Saints’ Church, Sw. 423937. Till 3pm (Term times)

14.00 Life drawing classes at Harmans Cross Village Hall from 2pm till 4pm. For further information, ring 427621.

14.15 Sw Over-60s Meet in the URC Hall, High Street, Sw. All Welcome.

15.00 Guided Church Tour at Bere Regis Parish Church. Volunteer-lead tour of this wonderful medieval church. No charge, but donations gratefully received.

17.45 Swanage Youth Club. Learning Difficulties and disability (age 11-25) night. Till 7.30pm

18.00 Five High Singers, United Reformed Church Hall, Swanage. 11 - 18 years. Till 7pm

18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 9pm

18.30 Swanage Sea Rowing Club Circuit Training at Swanage Middle School. Ffi: 07776 201455

19.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 8pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502

19.00 Purbeck Gateway Club meets at Wareham Youth Centre until 9pm. Purbeck Gateway is a club for adults with learning difficulties. We meet during term time and have fun! All welcome. Ffi: Lew on 552173. Email: Lewisbell1@aol.com

19.15 Wm Town Band Brass & Woodwind players welcome. 551478/01202 242147

19.30 Short Mat Bowls in the Durbeville Hall, Wool. All standards welcome, till 9.30pm. Ffi: 552682

19.30 Sw Conservative Club Line Dancing

19.30 IoP Arts Club Choir meets till 9.30pm at Swanage First School (NOT Dec 14, 21, 28, Jan 4, Feb 22, Apr 5,12) till May 10

19.30 Swanage Youth Club Youth Action (year 7 - sixth form). Till 9.30pm

20.00 Swanage Conservative Club Shove Ha’penny

20.00 Herston Hall OAP Committee Bingo Sw

EVERY FRIDAY

09.00 Stay & Play at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 10.30am. Ffi 552864.

09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502

10.00 Sw Country Market at Community Room, The Mowlem, Sw. Till 11.30 Free. New producers / growers always welcome.

10.00 Table Tennis Club Sw FC All ages/abilities £2.50 Till noon. 480093

11.00 Toddler Time For Under 5s And Carers. Wareham Library. Stories, songs and crafts. Every Friday, including school holidays. Ffi: 01929 556146

14.00 Pottery Classes held in Corfe Castle. 2 - 5pm. Call Rachel 01929 480455 to book. £10pw

14.30 Short Mat Bowls at Durbeville Hall, Wool. Till 4.30pm. All standards welcome. Ffi: 552682.

18.00 Purbeck War-Game & Model Club. Lower Salvation Army Hall, Kings Rd East, Sw. 426096 (shop hours)

18.00 Sw Youth Centre Club 12-13 (Yr 7-9) Till 8

18.00 Sw Tennis Club Senior Club Session. 426312

18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 423497

19.00 Sw Youth Centre Seniors Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 9.30pm.

19.00 Swanage Scouts meet during term time at the URC Church Hall, Sw. Open to boys & girls aged 10-14 years. Ffi: swanagescouts4th@hotmal.co.uk

19.30 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome. Equipment supplied. Till 9.30pm. £3.

20.00 BINGO & TEXAS Hold’em Poker at R.B.L. Club, Swanage.

20.00 Sw Youth Centre Live Bands (as advertised) Till 10pm.

22.00 Sw Youth Centre Late Session (Yr 9+) till 11.59pm (members free)

EVERY SATURDAY

09.00 Sw CC U11 - U15 Practice till 10.30

09.30 Sw CC U9 & U10 Practice & Kwik Cricket till 10.30

10.00 Men Behaving Dadly - Group for Dads/Grandads/Male Carers & their children at both Wareham and Swanage Children’s Centres till noon. Bacon sandwiches available! Call 552864 to find out what’s happening where this week and to book a space.

10.00 Tea, coffee and home-made cakes in the Parish Hall on Wareham Quay during the Community Market. Til 2pm. Bric-a-Brac stall weekly. Christian bookstall .most weeks. All welcome for a warm-up and a friendly chat.

20.00 Herston OAP Committee Bingo at Herston Hall, Sw

EVERY SUNDAY

* Gay Women’s Walking Group meet most Sundays for a walk around Swanage and beyond. We’re a friendly, supportive group for gay or bisexual women. Ffi: 07964 659100 or email outandabout.purbeck@gmail.com

09.45 Skyscrapers Children’s Group at Swanage Methodist Church Hall. Including a cooked breakfast, games and fun bible stories, ages 0-11. Ffi: Tom Bullock on 421767, office hours, or tom@swanagemethodist.org.uk

10.00 Arts and Crafts Market at the Mowlem in Swanage. A wide range of local art for sale, including pottery, glass, cards, fabric and much more! To book your table, or for more information, call Tony on 01929 421321.

10.30 Stoborough Emmanuel Baptist Church meet at Stoborough First School, Stoborough. All very welcome.

13.00 Sw Royal British Legion BINGO. High St, Sw.

13.15 Sw Conservative Club Members Draw