The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 178

November 2014 Issue no. 178

Let’s Skydive! Pg22

Purbeck Christmas Challenge. Pg39

Hospital Saved! Pg21

No Fracking Says Chris. Pg58

SWANAGE & PURBECK

Swanage Associated SaT

TAXI

Taxis

Call Martin

07969 927424

Telephone (01929)

421122 or 425350 Station Approach, Swanage. BH19 1HB

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The Purbeck Gazette

Editor’s note...

W

elcome to the November edition of YOUR Gazette!

Scarves and gloves at the ready the cold is on its way! Our November edition sees the start of our annual ‘Purbeck Gazette Christmas Challenge’, where we ask all of our readers to support the local economy by shopping, partying and eating out in Purbeck this year over the festive period.

Pretty much everything you could need is available right here on your doorstep, and by the time you add on costs of travelling elsewhere to shop, it makes sense to stay local.

Don’t leave everything to the last minute this year - get organised!

Get your Christmas parties booked in now, start thinking about gifts for friends and family, and decide whether you want to cook on Christmas Day, or book at a local restaurant or pub. Whatever you need, there’s a local business sure to be able to help.

I obviously survived the Skydive - not a broken limb in sight! It was an amazing, mind-boggling experience, and you can read more about it on page 22. Thanks so much to all the generous people who sponsored me (or did you just want me to take a flying leap?!).

The money raised will be put to good use by the charity ‘Children Today’, and will make a difference to a child somewhere near us, which is great news.

Keep warm, don’t be boring, and have a great month!

FREE CAR STICKERS THIS MONTH! Collect from our office in Commercial Road, Swanage on Tues or Thurs!

YOUR Community Magazine 20,000 copies (15,000 door-to-door)

Swanage - Dorchester Lulworth - Bere Regis Over 10,000 MORE copies than our closest competitor! All YOUR news, views & events - written by LOCAL people - a real community paper, produced FOR YOU DAILY NEWS WEBSITE FOR PURBECK: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk What happens, as we get the news in, online, FOR YOU.

Public Notices & Information

TIDE TIMES NOV‘14 Peveril Ledge, Swanage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Low

High

Low

High

Low

---00.51 01.38 02.24 03.08 03.51 04.32 05.12 05.52 ------00.01 00.48 01.31 02.11 02.51 03.31 04.11 04.52 05.34 06.20 ----

02.57 04.21 05.28 06.25 07.14 08.00 08.42 09.23 10.02 10.42 11.21 -00.31 01.23 02.22 03.28 04.34 05.31 06.16 06.55 07.32 08.18 08.46 09.24 10.05 10.50 11.40 00.09 01.12 02.25

10.26 11.35 12.30 13.19 14.05 14.49 15.32 16.14 16.54 17.34 18.12 06.32 07.17 08.19 09.51 10.55 11.49 12.34 13.15 13.54 14.34 15.13 15.53 16.33 17.13 17.57 18.44 07.12 08.19 09.48

15.53 17.06 18.07 18.59 19.44 20.25 21.04 21.43 22.22 23.03 23.45 12.06 12.56 13.54 15.00 16.08 17.11 18.01 18.41 19.18 19.53 20.29 21.06 21.45 22.28 23.15 -12.39 13.53 15.19

22.56 23.58 NP ---- - FM -- - ST ---18.52 21.38 20.51 23.13 23.12 NP -------- - ST ---19.41 20.55 22.21

ST=Spring Tide NP = Neap Tide NM=New Moon FM=Full Moon

Swanage Town Council Meetings - November 2014

Tourism Council Transport Policy & Planning General Operations

Mon 3rd Mon 3rd Wed 12th Mon 17th Fri 19th

10am 7pm 2.15pm 7pm 7pm

Please check the Town Council’s website www.swanage.gov.uk or call the Town Hall on 01929 423636 for the latest information.

Wareham Town Council Meetings - November 2014

Planning & Transport Council Policy, Resources & Finance Wareham In Bloom Amenities Planning & Transport Museum

Mon 3rd Tues 4th Mon 10th Wed 12th Wed 19th Mon 24th Tue 25th

7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7.30pm

Purbeck DC Meetings - Open to public - November 2014 Overview & Scrutiny Group Standards Committee Council Policy Group Planning Board

Tue 4th Wed 5th Tue 11th Wed 19th Wed 26th

9.15am 2pm 7pm 7pm 9.15am

Meetings are subject to change. To double check, see: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/ meetings/purbeck and see ‘dates of council and other meetings’

About The Purbeck Gazette & Purbeck Media Ltd The Purbeck Gazette prints 20,000 copies every month and delivers throughout the region from Swanage to Dorchester, Lulworth to Bere Regis. The Purbeck Gazette is published by Purbeck Media Ltd. All editing, graphic design and lay-up is completed in-house by Purbeck Media Ltd. The Purbeck Gazette is printed by Blackmore Ltd of Shaftesbury and distributed by Tudor Distribution Ltd of Poole.

The Purbeck Gazette Daily News and Gazette online website is managed and edited on-site by Purbeck Media Ltd. Purbeck Media Ltd also publishes The Purbeck Guidette, the Purbeck Visitor Guide.

All rights reserved.

OUR TEAM: The Gazette team consists of: Nico Johnson, Editor, Joy Lamb, Sales & Accounts Executive, David Hollister, Columnist, John Garner, Columnist, Charlie Hobbs, Columnist. Kim Steeden, Spotlight Diary Editor, David Bishop.

VOLUNTEERS: A massive thanks to our volunteers, whose help is invaluable each month with proof reading. They are the very professional: Gerry Norris and David Holman. Thank you both so very much!

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Sunrise over Wytch Lake, by Ben Buxton

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS/IT COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Come Play With Traffic! New Year’s Eve Gazette Gardening, with Simon Goldsack John Garner writes - Big is the new small My Wartime Memories - Brian Guy writes On Top Of The World Purbeck Christmas Challenge Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes Through The Keyhole - Swanage Town Council FOOD - What’s Cooking In Purbeck Feature and The Gourmet Peddler HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Sydenhams YOUR PICS

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The legal stuff...

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this magazine, but the Editor is unable to accept responsibility for any omissions or errors that may occur. The inclusion of any article or advertisement does not constitute any form of accreditation or approval by the Editor. No part, written or visual, of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the Editor.

DEADLINE FOR DEC IS 12pm, MON 10th NOV

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LULWORTH RANGE WALKS & TYNEHAM VILLAGE OPENING TIMES The clue is in the heading above - these are our readers’ 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 PUBLICATIONS WE DO NOT PRINT MULTI-PUBLICATION LETTERS.

Dec edition deadline: 12 noon Mon 10th Nov

Beautiful Words Dear Gazette, Walking the South West Coastal Path near Polzeath last month, a small deviation, to enjoy the view and a flask of tea, was most unexpectedly rewarded with the view, and the memorial, pictured left.

To learn that these sofamiliar words of Laurence Binyon were written in the first year of the First World War, and were inspired and composed at this point in Cornwall, was surprising, and most moving.

Regards, Roger and Yvonne Free

N.C.I. Involvement Dear Nico The St Albans Head station of the National Coastwatch Institution was involved in the abortive attempt to save a pensioner who fell from the cliffs near Winspit while walking the Coast Path in October.

A member of her party ran almost a mile to the station to raise the alarm and the two watchkeepers on duty, Philip Atlay and David Dorrell, at once alerted the coastguard.

Philip stayed in touch with the coastguard throughout the incident, while David went to the site of the accident in a high-visibility jacket to help guide the rescue helicopter.

The casualty was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital but, sadly, was dead on arrival. Philip and David were later commended by the coastguard for their contribution to the rescue attempt.

NCI supports HM Coastguard by keeping a visual watch along UK shores.

Its trained watchkeepers assist in hundreds of life-threatening incidents every year.

Everyone in NCI is a volunteer and the organisation is funded entirely by contributions from the public.

Best wishes, John Newth, by email.

Childish Name Calling Dear Editor, I’ve just been reading Andy Kirkwood’s letter in the October issue of The Purbeck Gazette (‘Stop’ Making Movies).

How rude! Presumably here’s a man seeking to encourage and influence local opinion to agree with his point of view regarding the subject of gas rigs in Swanage Bay. Yet to achieve his aim he employs sarcasm and displays downright rudeness and a lack of manners with his comments regarding Swanage councillors. I would have thought this approach counter-productive.

I do not know any of the Swanage Town councillors referred to in his letter (or indeed Mr Kirkwood), so I cannot say how well or indifferently they perform their duties serving the town. But I would think Mr Kirkwood owes them an apology for his comments.

Robust, democratic debate is to be encouraged. But childish name calling... really?

Neville Langford, Spring St, Wool.

The Lulworth Range Walks and Tyneham Village are open to the public every weekend with the exception of: 15/16 November 2014 In addition to the weekends, they are open every day during the following times (all dates are inclusive): 20th December 2014 - 4th January 2015 Tyneham School & Church exhibitions open 10am -4pm whilst open DATES CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE Ffi, please call 01929 404819

Thanks To Simon & Jane Dear Editor, Purbeck Classic Car Rally With regard to the recent article in respect of the above (page 22, October 2014), my wife and I, supporters of this event since its inception nine years ago, like others, bring along our classic cars for a fun day and a very good cause.

This entire event was started and built-up by Simon and Jane Holmes through their hard work, enthusiasm, good will and contacts with many people.

Surely some recognition and mention of them by name should have been included. Without them this special day would never have started and we feel they really do deserve some personal thanks.

Henry and Anna Staveley-Hill, by email

With Inenarrable Cromulence Dear Editor, Please could you say a big thank you from me to Phoebe for a very entertaining article in the October Gazette (Dead words and how to bring them back as Zombies, Oct edition). Writing this at the age of only fifteen, her talents bode well for a very interesting life ahead.

Wishing Phoebe the very best.

Yours with inenarrable cromulence, Rowland Hughes, Cauldron Barn Road, Swanage. By email.

Seafront - Abomination!

Dear Editor The Mowlem - was it all just a dream?

In early September I enjoyed one of my infrequent visits to Swanage, arriving in the centre of town by steam train. It was a day of Ss - sunny summers day, souls out strolling, sunbathing, shopping, sipping coffee, sipping tea, smiles on faces, sounds of the sea sweeping up on the sand - all so beautifully captivating and embracing and with the panoramic and limitless backdrop of the (pre Navitas) ocean.

All was at peace with one and the world; a time for daydreaming, for drifting off into the land of make believe.

I felt a sensation of pain and disappointment coming over me. Why was this? What could I see? Oh no; that frightfully awful monstrosity - The Mowlem building is still there, offending my very being and continuing to blight the very core of the seafront and the wider wonders of this lovely Victorian town with its fine period buildings.

Why oh why has no-one yet torn down this abomination?! The Mowlem - an eyesore from wherever you look at it, both by way of what it is and where it is. That great and good man, John Mowlem, would surely be turning in his grave were he to return to witness this aversion in his name. How on earth this particular building ever saw the light of day is baffling my subconscious.

Surely there are enough good townspeople and true who could come together one dark and cold winter’s night, armed with a cunning plan, sledgehammer, pick axe and the odd wrecking ball or three to leave the structure as it deserves to be - a pile of rubble by the first grey dawning of the new day?

It is autumn; winter is shortly upon us. Gird your loins good people, sharpen your resolve, take up your cudgels, meet-up in conspiratorial confines, slink around in the shadows, strike hard and true!

Hurrah; Le Mowlem est mort; vive le Mowlem! Honour his name; let a wonderful new building of period style, character and charisma rise like a Phoenix from the debris; one that resonates to the history and charm of

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the town; a building of which your benefactor and all of you can be proud, to stand back and admire. On; forward; achieve!

Suddenly I return to the land of stark reality - the last train out of town is about to leave! I take a last merciless glance at that offensive and intrusive concrete box, board the train - and return to the calm and Saxon serenity of unspoilt Wareham.

Maybe it was all really just a dream. Who knows?

Robicer, by email

Walking Group Set Sail

Dear Readers, With three blasts on the ship’s whistle, the Waverley reversed out of Swanage Pier on Tuesday 16 September for a circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight calling at Yarmouth. The highlights of the trip were going past the Old Harry Rocks, passing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay and then the approach to Yarmouth pier with the Wightlink ferries.

On board were twenty-one members of the Swanage Walking Group.

With four and a half hours ashore there was time to walk to Alum Bay. As the coastal path at Colwell Bay is tidal we had to walk to Alum Bay and catch the no 7 bus back to avoid a long diversion.

The first part of the walk was along the Robert Hooke trail, named after a scientist from Freshwater, where the trees gave a welcome shade. Here there were boards giving information about the planets and there was a splendid view of Hurst Castle. King Charles 1 spent the night there before he was imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle.

We paused for an ice cream break at Colwell Bay where the sandy beach and clear sea tempted people to paddle. Another shady walk took us to Totland Bay where we walked along the promenade to Widdick Chine.

By the old lifeboat station was a rhyme about tides. A stiff climb over Headon Hill with its purple heather rewarded us with a wonderful view of Alum Bay with its coloured sands and the Needles.

The sight of the no 7 bus inspired the group to speed up for the last few hundred yards. We arrived at Yarmouth 45 minutes before the Waverley came which gave some of us a chance to sample some Goddard’s Ale, brewed in the Isle of Wight, at the King’s Head.

Back on board the Waverley we adjourned to the restaurant where we took over two tables and had some fish and chips with a glass of wine.

The three hour return trip via Poole provided a romantic setting for some hugs before we landed at Swanage Pier at night.

Yours sincerely, Robin Brasher, by email.

Mr Garner’s Glib Stupidity?

Dear Nico, In your October issue is an interesting and entertaining article about Wareham Forest by John Garner. However, in the middle of the piece appear these words: ‘...the right wing militias patrolling the roads and trying to force people to cycle on the cycle path provided by their hard earned taxes seems [sic] to be gathering an alarming and frankly baffling impetus.’

It is Mr Garner’s readers who have a right to be baffled, on several counts.

First, isn’t he pleased that there is now a cycle path along most of the A351 from the Bakers Arms to Wareham station? I do not know the cost of the works, which took many months, but they almost certainly ran well into six figures.

Second, at least twice a week I see a cyclist on that stretch of road, causing congestion at busy times and obliging cars to swing out to pass him/her.

Is anyone trying to force such cyclists to use the cycle path?

I don’t think so, but it is surely reasonable to ask why they are causing inconvenience and possibly danger by not using the facility provided at such cost and for their benefit. Twice I have done so, but have been answered with a torrent of abuse, including language to make even my hardened ears blush.

Third, Mr Garner implies that people paying ‘hard earned taxes’ are somehow open to criticism and don’t have a right to see that their money is spent on facilities that are needed and used.

Fourth and most baffling, anyone who feels that cyclists should use the path provided for their safety is apparently ‘right wing’.

Let’s be charitable and put that one down to political naivete, but it is the sort of glib stupidity that surely has no place in a journal as excellent as yours.

John Newth, Wareham, by email

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CMS Electrical Repairs Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Tumble Dryers, Electric Cookers, Fridges, Freezers Colin Shailer 01929 554809 07711 165062 c.shailer@sky.com

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Boxing Day Charity Auction

Dirty Dog Owners Responsible

Good News!

Pete and Carol are pleased to say that the Boxing Day Charity Auction has returned! Over the years this event has raised many thousands of pounds for both national and local charities. All money raised this year will be split between CanCare and Swanage Hospital.

If you feel you have anything you could donate please bring it along on the day to our new venue, The Kings Arms in Langton, from 1:30pm onwards (ready wrapped if possible). Alternatively, please give us a ring on 01929 426061 and we will gladly collect.

No electrical items please unless new and in original box / packaging.

Many thanks, and we hope to see you all there!

Pete and Carol Burgess, by email

Dear Editor, Don’t blame us bears!

I was amused by John Garner’s article on Wareham Forest, very droll. However, like all too many dog owners, John has one massive blind-spot.

Anywhere within fifty yards of an access point one will see, nay often trip over, massive amounts of dog faeces. In his article he made no mention as to whether his dog made a deposit, they often do, and he certainly made no mention of picking it up, they all too often don’t.

Many dog owners seem to think that once an article has exited the rear end of their dog it is no longer anything to do with them but it IS their legal responsibility to clear it up if it is in an area to which the public has access.

There are no dirty dogs, only dirty owners.

The problem is one of enforcement. It would be very difficult to get the Local Authority to accept responsibility, they would say that Forestry Commission land is private property, which is true.

However, the public has access by definition to Public Footpaths, mostly in existence before the Forestry existed, so that they are the responsibility of the local authority A Cold Harbour resident (name and address supplied)

Green Festival Success Dear Nico, Over the weekend of the 20th-21st September, The Little Green Festival was held at California Barn and Campsite outside Swanage.

Held initially to highlight conservation works to be carried out in the area of California Farm as part of Wild Purbeck’s Pond Project supported by Dorset Wildlife Trust and FWAG (Farmers and Wildlife Advisory Group), the event grew to include other green issues such as renewable energy, recycling of waste and re- use of materials and products.

That all sounds very dull to some people, but boy did we have fun and a very enjoyable weekend in the sun. With music provided by various bands, many doing so for free to support the event, good local food, a bar and entertainment for the children (and their parents!) everyone has commented on how it should be an annual event.

Stall holders including Burngate Stone Centre teaching visitors how to carve, Sarah Wootton discussing the benefits of bee friendly gardening and beekeeping and artists displaying works, joined other stallholders who deemed it a success.

Unfortunately the company planning to install an exploratory gas rig adjacent to the farm, (Infrastrata) declined the invitation to attend to display information regarding their plans.

However they are holding an information event at the Mowlem between 2-8pm on the 27th October. I would like to thank all those that offered their time and energy to the event and indeed all those that came along to what turned out to be a very enjoyable weekend.

Donations from campers, stall holders and those parking their cars raised £374.50 towards the £1500 required to extend ponds used as a breeding habitat by the existing great crested newts.

Yours, Karen Delahay, California Barn and Campsite, Swanage

Beautiful Blooms Brighten Days Dear Editor, On Sunday 21st September the Dorset Federation of Horticultural Societies held their flower and produce show at Tarrant Keyneston.

At the end of the show the exhibitors agreed that any flowers etc. not required for future use could be collected up and given to local Residential and Nursing Homes.

The upshot was that York House, The Clifftop and the James Day homes benefited from some lovely blooms and bunches of flowers to brighten the residents’ days ahead.

A sincere thank you to the societies that make up the Dorset Federation of Horticultural Societies.

Yours sincerely, The Swanage Garden Society.

Sailing Success For Grandson

Dear Editor, My husband and I have been living in Swanage for sixty years now, enjoying both the sea and the countryside!

During this time we have become life members at Swanage Sailing Club and joined the ‘Friends of Durlston’.

It now gives us great joy to have two of our grandsons, Sam and Ben, being members of Swanage Sailing Club and to have them achieving so much success.

They have been representing Great Britain for quite a time now. In spring 2013 Sam went to Croatia for the Laser Radial Youth Europeans and Ben to the Irish Nationals GBR Team.

In the summer of 2014 in the World Championship in Poland, Sam came 62nd out of 160 entrants.

In July 2014 as part of the Laser 4.7 National Squad in Oslo Norway, Ben came 29th out of 130 entrants, and in August 2014 at the Laser Nationals in Largs, Glasgow, Sam came 3rd overall in the standard rig and won two trophies for best results on particular days, and Ben came 19th in the Laser Radical Class-1st Junior under 16.

Margaret Whaley, Swanage, by hand.

The Purbeck Gazette

MATT HILLAN Building Alterations & Maintenance

All Trade Aspects Undertaken Free Estimates Fully Insured

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Lander THE SEWING BOX Colin Memorials

Garment Alterations and Repairs

01929 427296 07971 690817

Daisy May’s Arcade 2 Kings Road East Swanage

Happy to help and advise

Tel: Sarah 07922 738335

More Bus? Less Bus! Dear Nico, Reference Wilts & Dorset No. 40 Bus Winter Timetable.

Use it or lose it!

This is a heads up to all the people in Purbeck who use the No 40 Bus. After holding our breath, thinking maybe the service would be curtailed, we were pleasantly surprised to see in the new timetable that the Evening Service for the Autumn/Winter from 21st September will continue with the exception of Sundays. This is the only public bus service from Poole to Swanage; via Upton, Lytchett Minster, Organford, Sandford, Wareham, Stoborough, Corfe Castle, Kingston and Langton Matravers.

Please be aware that the subsidy by the Dorset County Council for the evening service has been withdrawn. “More Bus” who own and run the No 40 Bus, can, as it is now running as a commercial, i.e. standalone business, decide if it is viable to run the evening service. It very much depends on the numbers of passengers using the No 40 (I believe it to be twenty passengers per journey) whether it will continue throughout the winter months until April 2015.

More Bus may change the timetable with only fifty-six days (eight weeks’) notice, so it is crucial that if you want to keep it in service, please use it or it may be lost for ever.

This is a very fragile, on the edge situation, so we need to keep it for those who rely on it for work, visiting relatives and accessing leisure.

Yours faithfully, Cllr Beryl Ezzard, Chair – Purbeck Transport Action Group

Spread The Word Dear Editor, Swanage & Purbeck Bus Campaign: The Latest Many of you have signed the petition to Save Rural Bus Services in Swanage & Purbeck. I would like to take this opportunity to give you an update on the situation as it stands.

Earlier this year, Dorset County Council removed over £200,000 of subsidies from local bus routes, including the no. 40 Breezer route - the essential bus service that connects Poole and Swanage via Wareham and rural Purbeck. Consultations were held over service savings - including the option to reduce evening services.

I have been contacted by local workers and students who rely on these services, as well as by older people and disabled people, concerned that they could see their options for travelling reduced, increasing their isolation. Some working people have told me that the cuts to this service mean they now have to choose between living in their current home, or staying in their current job.

Any service reduction is because bus subsidies have been reduced significantly from Dorset County Council. To be fair to the Council, they are having to make these cuts because central government are asking local government to reduce its costs by up to 40% in the lifetime of this Parliament. (Meanwhile, central government is reducing costs by just 13%!)

So what can be done?

I fully understand that Dorset County Council has some extremely tough choices to make. However, I do wonder if Dorset are subsidising the wrong routes - while not appreciating the vital role that services like the No. 40 evening service provides. I am asking our Councillors to look carefully at which routes are still receiving subsidies, and to test what evidence has been used to make those decisions.

Our petition to save the No. 40 evening service is growing fast. Once we hit 1000 signatures, we can present the petition to Dorset County Council, and it will trigger a debate at a meeting of their Full Council.

In the longer term, there are other options I shall be exploring with Purbeck

supplied in Granite, Marble & Purbeck Stone Memorial Renovation undertaken and Inscriptions added I will make a home visit at a time to suit you

01929 423787 423787 // 07593166867 01929 07593166867 colin.1949@hotmail.co.uk

District Council. When new developments are built, local councils now receive special levies from the developers.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is designed to give councils resources to invest in infrastructure that helps to support growing communities. Traditionally, these funds have been used to support new roads, cycleways, play areas or school budgets - but there is no reason why it could not be used to support local public transport.

So please, spread the word - this is a policy decision we can influence and change, but only if we all act as a whole community.

Sign the petition, share it with your friends, and tell us your story if you or your family will be affected by these cuts.

Thank you for your support so far. I look forward to speaking with many of you again in the near future.

Best wishes, Simon Bowkett. Call: 01305 831722 Email: info@simonbowkett.co.uk

Couldn’t Have Done Better Dear Editor, End of an Era. Veterans of the Dorset Regiment gathered together on the 27th September at the Drill Hall, Poundbury Road, Dorchester, which could be the last formal event in its three hundred year history.

The occasion was to launch a new book by Christopher Jary ‘They Couldn’t Have Done Better’ the story of the regiment 1939-1967 in war and peace.

After the presentations about two hundred old comrades sat down to lunch and a natter.

The book follows the fortunes of the four battalions of the regiment. The 1st Battalion served in Malta, the landings in Sicily and Italy, returning home to take part in the Normandy landing.

The 2nd Battalion served in India and Burma. The 4th and 5th Territory Battalions were involved in the landings in Normandy right through to Germany.

Amongst the veterans were Bill Chutter who is one hundred years old and served with the 1st Battalion. Ron Beale, Cliff Lloyd and myself, all who served with the fourth battalion.

I hope all who read this new book will be proud of their county regiment.

Yours sincerely, Harry Carter, Swanage, by hand.

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Who Will Bell The Cat?

O

David Hollister writes...

nce again, the subject of ‘affordable homes’ has reared its head.

The uncomfortable fact is that there are still numerous people of all ages in the Isle of Purbeck who aren’t fortunate enough to have a home of their own or a home on which they pay a reasonable rent. Over recent months, various surveys have been carried out to identify “Rural Exception Sites” i.e. land on which houses can be built, outside the current building lines. Rural Exception sites should be adjacent to the current settlement boundary, close to shops and buses, and have “good access”.

The ‘Parish Housing Needs Survey Report” published by PDC concluded that of the households responding, 82% were in favour of increasing the provision of local affordable housing, 11% were not in favour, and 7% expressed no opinion.

The PDC’s ‘affordable homes strategy’ enables significant numbers of affordable homes by allowing a small number of market houses on rural exception sites, and imposes obligations on developers requiring any developments with a net increase of two or more homes on sites with a size of over 0.05ha (600 sq.yd), to provide 50% affordable housing. Their survey concludes that social rented housing is most suited to Purbeck, because even ‘affordable homes’ for sale are still way out of the price-range for ordinary people, especially those starting out in life.

The new 200-house development at Worgret Road, Wareham, provides 50% ‘affordable housing’ of which around 90% are scheduled to be social rentals. Whatever your views on the AONB, the increase in road traffic, or indeed the damage this might do to the habitat of the wide-mouthed frog, you’d have to be pretty hard-hearted to oppose the construction of ninety social rental houses in an area with a proven need. Hats off to the PDC Planning people for getting this to the construction stage.

A developer in Swanage wanted to build about thirty five properties, including seventeen ‘affordable homes’ which he hoped to sell to local people at up to 60% discount on market price, with future sales and transfers protected by covenant. The Planning Authority say “we have to wait three years until the ‘Swanage Local Plan’ has been finalised”. That’s three years before any construction actually starts. Other Rural Exception Sites have been identified in Swanage and we have received – and published – correspondence from householders concerned at the proximity of these sites to their own investments (sorry, ‘homes’).

So now we have a developer in Langton Matravers who has put forward a scheme at Spyway Orchard which seems to be ruffling feathers in the local community. The scheme is on a piece of land which he has owned for around fifteen years and on which he originally hoped to build one large house in which to retire, with a garden and a field for his pigs and chickens. It was suggested to him by PDC that this piece of land was too big for just one house, and that it should form the basis for an ‘affordable homes’ development.

I spoke with the developer who showed me his plans and drawings, documents regarding tree preservation, flood risk assessment, drainage strategy, and even the effect on badgers. From these documents it is clear that he is applying for permission to build sixteen social rental properties, six open market rental properties, and two shared ownership properties.

All of these to be constructed and managed by a Housing Association. He is also asking for eight houses which can be sold on the ‘open market’, i.e. that’s the ‘profit’ bit which makes it worth his while. His personal contribution towards local ‘affordable homes’ is giving up 75% of his land, which is significantly higher than the 50% required by the PDC policy.

The plans call for around forty sycamores to be felled but also indicate that approximately the same number of trees will be planted once the development is complete. My main concern lies with access; the view at the junction from Durnford Drove into the High Street appears potentially dangerous for an increased volume of traffic. DCC Highways Department’s report hasn’t yet been submitted but one can almost guarantee that they’ll be in favour, because thirty two new homes will generate significant revenue, which seems to be their main criterion.

As I was unable to attend the public meeting in Langton Matravers, a colleague attended and took notes from which it appeared that many of the speakers were more concerned at the location of any sites for affordable homes than with the actual fact that such homes were needed.

The good thing that emerged from the meeting was the formation of the Langton Matravers Affordable Housing Community Working Group, which has set up a website at http://ah-langtonmatravers.org/ on which they clearly state as their main aim “we believe providing homes for the local community is the most valuable thing you can do to help ensure the future of your village”. The Echo report includes a quote from a resident “our research indicates that other options remain viable and that others may yet present themselves”.

Whilst applauding the concern and efforts of the good people of Langton Matravers in seeking to investigate all potential sites that could be used to meet the need of affordable housing, and striving “to meet changing housing needs over time in a sensitive and responsive way”, surely the proposed development at Spyway Orchard is a ready-made way to solve Langton’s affordable housing needs inasmuch as the plot already fits the PDC’s definition of a Rural Exception Site, is already being offered for this purpose, and – most important – could be started immediately rather than shelved indefinitely like the Swanage proposals seem to have been. Any new sites which are put forward will have to go through all the planning and consultation stages from scratch, and will themselves generate opposition wherever they are sited.

Every year’s delay in constructing these homes means that more families will be forced to leave the villages and towns in which they were born, and denude our ‘retirement community’ of the young people that we so desperately need to retain.

My main concern about ‘social properties’ is that they should be made available to Purbeck people, and that whilst one person or family in Purbeck needs a home, the Councils and Housing Associations should be prevented from bringing people in from other areas. Poole, Hamworthy, and Turlin Moor must sort out their own problems without adding to ours.

So – on balance, and realising that if this was proposed for my own back yard I too would be desperately concerned – I have to conclude by asking “If not there, then where? And if not now, then when?”

The Purbeck Gazette

9

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Not on your Nellie...

L

ast bank holiday Monday Nellie and I were taking our usual route out of town, up Ulwell Rd to the Golf Course and then left down to Corfe, and we were most thankful to be travelling in that direction.

Approaching from the opposite direction we spied a lycra clad cyclist struggling up the last incline before the panorama viewpoint lay-by, closely pursued by a car towing a caravan.

Nothing special there, you might think, but the caravan was trailed by around fifty cars, and yes we did count them. Clearly, at no point since leaving Corfe had the caravan felt able to overtake the cyclist, and at no point had it occurred to the cyclist to pull in and let the accumulation pass. Sometimes, I just feel like giving up.

While we are on the subject of madness on our roads, we recently passed the anniversary of the introduction of on-the-spot fines for tailgaters and lane hoggers. Now the immediately apparent madness here is that one is potentially dangerous while the other is mildly annoying, although tailgating need never become dangerous as it can be easily avoided by the simple expedient of pulling over and letting the ‘gater go past.

In the real world it happens that sometimes people are in a bit more of a hurry than we are. The trouble is that, except for one person in Belfast, I can find no statistic of anyone actually being fined or ‘reeducated’ for these offences.

Back in March of this year the online magazine Auto Express used the Freedom of Information Act to contact all the Police Authorities requesting statistics and found that 5472 motorists had been pulled over for these offences, mainly in Scotland and Nottinghamshire, but cited no convictions.

The results were hampered by many authorities classifying these offences as either driving ‘without due care etc.’ or ‘inconsiderate’ driving, and by the fact that five authorities do not even stop drivers for inconsiderate driving as they have no facilities for education courses.

Another reason, of course, might be that there are no police on our roads any more, only traffic officers. In any case, how is tailgating defined?

When following a vehicle which slows or brakes for no apparent reason I have often inadvertently closed the gap, and the IAM recommend that one should hang back until an opportunity for an overtake presents itself and then close the gap until poised for the overtake.

But surely the best opportunity for ridicule presents itself when a police vehicle observes that most common of occurrences, a lane hogger being tailgated…!

They can’t pull them both over.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Suttles Takes On 40th Employee

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sle of Purbeck and Poole based company Suttles, local employer to sixty-three staff, has just taken on its fortieth Purbeck area employee, trainee lorry driver Rhys McAlpine from Wareham.

As part of his role, Rhys is being sponsored to take his class 2 LGV licence and gain his Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), and will then be issued with his Driver Qualification Card (DQC). Rhys is initially gaining on the job training. Once he has passed his LGV licence, he will become one of fifteen Suttles lorry drivers delivering online and phone orders of aggregates, as well as picking up inert muck from demolition sites, which will then be recycled at the Suttles plant.

Rhys McAlpine, Suttles’ trainee lorry driver said: “It’s great that local company Suttles is able to sponsor me for my LGV licence training as part of the job. I look forward to becoming one of the lorry driving team

once I’ve passed!’

Chris Suttle, a director of Suttle Stone Quarries, said: “The Company is really keen to employ people locally wherever possible. Out of sixty-three staff employed today, sixty-two are based in Dorset with forty of those based in the Purbeck area.”

Chris went on to say: “Our lorry drivers are key to the company. They take real pride in their job, providing great customer contact and have well maintained, damage-free vehicles.”

For further information about Suttles, call 01929 439444 or go to www.suttles.co.uk Photo. Rhys McAlpine, Suttles Trainee Lorry Driver

Swanage Consultation - Assessment Underway

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eedback received during the recent Swanage Local Plan consultation has been analysed by Purbeck District Council.

The Swanage Local Plan is being produced by a partnership between Purbeck District Council, Swanage Town Council and the Swanage Town and Community Partnership.

The consultation took place earlier in 2014 when residents and businesses had their say on issues and options for future development in Swanage.

The District Council received 883 responses, representing a return equivalent to approximately 8% of the town’s population - which is considered very good for a planning consultation.

Councillor Mike Lovell, Housing and Development Spokesperson for Purbeck District Council, said: “This was an important first stage for people to help develop the Local Plan for Swanage. The District Council was very pleased with the response and, overall, we received broad support for many of the options proposed.

“However, there was no clear consensus about what people preferred in

relation to where new houses should go, and the consultation also raised questions and concerns which the District Council will need to address.

“The District Council will continue to work with partners so that it can find a way to balance the views of local people with the future needs of Swanage as it prepares for the next stage of the Swanage Local Plan’s development”.

The Council sought views on a number of issues, including preferred locations for new housing, affordable housing for local people and improved shopping facilities.

A full technical assessment of the various options is now under way and the council will report on the next steps in the autumn. There will be a further opportunity to comment before the Council submits the Swanage Local Plan to a Planning Inspector for independent examination.

Find out more about the Swanage Local Plan and read the Issues and Options consultation report at www.dorsetforyou.com/swanage-local-plan

WaterAid Donation

Y-Axis Skatepark

T

he Rotary Club of Swanage and Purbeck are pleased to have made a £500 donation to WaterAid as part of their ‘To be a girl’ project.

This donation will be doubled by The UK Government under their Overseas Aid Programme as our donation was received by WaterAid before 9th September 2014.

The ‘To be a girl’ project aims to provide clean readily available water supplies to many locations around the world. These locations have, in the past, relied upon women and young girls travelling great distances each and every day, sometimes over very rough terrain, in order to supply their communities with water for drinking, washing and toileting. This has meant that young girls have had to miss school and consequently they grow up lacking a proper education and having very few opportunities available to them in life.

This summer, as a result of their campaign, ‘To be a girl’, and with the help of the UK Government, WaterAid hopes to re-write the life experience of some 130,000 young girls around the world enabling them to attend school and their whole community to live a healthier life with clean drinking water, simple toilets and hand-washing facilities.

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wanage skate park is now in its 11th year and continues to serve the young people of Swanage, the surrounding villages and, of course, visitors. I have even been informed that more children are coming to Swanage on holiday with their families because there is a skate park.

Our community stall at the market continues to raise substantial funds and provides a useful opportunity to engage local people with the project.

Thanks go to the town council and market manager for allowing me to continue, and to any residents who supply my stock and often find themselves tempted to make a purchase!

Three new pieces of equipment were installed for the August holiday at a cost of £23,500 and have been much appreciated by all who have waited so patiently. One BMX rider has confessed that he has been challenged by the new ramps and now wears a helmet! Whilst the park is looking good it is still not finished. We are hoping to order and install at least five more items to complete the recent ‘street course’ and provide some smaller jumps for learners, at an estimated cost of £45,000. Please contact me on 07790 549553 if you are able to contribute to this final phase or indeed if you would like to donate a specific piece of equipment. I would love to hear from you.

With thanks, Lorna Haines (Fundraiser)

The Purbeck Gazette

11

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Bovington Newsletter

Newsletter October 2014 New Community Room Cologne Road Bovington he group has been in consultation over the past few months and working extremely hard on Charity status. Regrettably due to ill health our application has not been submitted and until we receive approval, which can take up to forty days from submission, we are unable to sign a lease with Purbeck District Council or arrange a Grand Opening!

In the meantime, we continue to fundraise and I am pleased to say the ‘Mr & Mrs’ on the 4th October was great fun. Thank you and well done to everyone who bravely took part. Congratulations to Josh and Brady the overall winners. Special thanks to Paul, our fantastic entertainer, and Ashley, who had the difficult task of keeping score!

We are grateful to The Muddlecome Men who mustered up even more entertainment during the interval. In appreciation a game of ‘Heads or Tails’ raised £35 for their chosen charity, The Motor Neurone Disease. Many thanks to Mel at The Black Bear Pub, Wool, and Stuart Palmer Plumbing for their continued support and generosity. Finally, on behalf of The New Community Room at Cologne Road, ‘A big thank you to everyone who helped and supported the evening’. A grand sum of £331.60 was raised.

To date we have raised £2133.40 and are extremely grateful for all the support received. We know we need to continue to raise funds and would welcome fresh ideas, donations, and more volunteers to join our very friendly group.

Please start planning now how you would like to hire the room, which will be ideal for your hobby, meetings and small groups. The cost will be £4 an hour to the general public and £8 commercially. For more information, please contact Keith Norris 07825 264344 email: keith. norris@helpandcare.org.uk or Sharon Palmer 07881 533311 email: info@ stuartpalmerplumbing.co.uk Thank you all, from the Cologne Road Community Group

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It has never been easier to get into debt but the way out is anything but easy - unpaid bills, final demands, insistent phone calls, bailiffs on the doorstep, eviction threats …

It is scary; however, Debt Relief Charity CAP (Christians Against Poverty) does more than supply free practical help; they negotiate with creditors and design a budget for each client.

CAP exists to help anyone with debt problems through a range of solutions. We are there to support and help clients as they work through the months maybe up to five years to become completely debt free.

Clients understand that it’s not just about keeping to the budget agreed with CAP’s debt advisors in Bradford but about coping with worry, discouragement and days when motivation to stay with the programme is low.

A team of volunteers help ensure that no one has to go through the process on their own. “As a volunteer was I apprehensive on the first visit? Yes. Am I good with figures?

No; all the number-crunching is done in Bradford. I am bound to confidentiality and undergo DBS checks and safeguarding training. I need to be a good listener and totally non-judgemental when visiting the client as often or as little as they would like” Discover more at the 10.30am Swanage CAP Sunday service followed by coffee and chat on November 16th at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue.

Christine North, Swanage CAP Manager 07443 600829 or call CAP on 0800 328 0006

SWANAGE LIONS

50-50 SALE

Of household items, bric-a-brac, furniture, books, toys, etc.

At the Catholic Hall, Rempstone Rd, Swanage

Goods in: Mon 3 & Tues 4 November Sale: Wed 5 to Sat 8 November 10am - 4.30pm Bring in unwanted quality items, small furniture, etc. and we will sell on a 50-50 basis.

Make some cash for yourselves, and help raise money for charity! ***Donated clothes accepted*** For further details, or to arrange collection of light items, call 01929 421696

The Purbeck Gazette

12

VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY REQUIRED

On the gate, in the shop, with maintenance, giving talks, fundraising or office admin.

If you can spare a few hours a day, or a week, then please come and see us and have a chat about how you can get involved, or please call us on: 01929 425866

The Swanage Pier trust Registered Charity No. 290397

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Your Pier Needs YOU!

wanage Pier attracts thousands of visitors every year and the income it generates all helps towards the running costs, but finding the extra money to cover the growing maintenance is becoming difficult.

The Victorian structure could not survive without the vital support provided by the ‘Friends of Swanage Pier’. The ‘Friends’ help the Trust to keep the Pier up and running, and without their support the Pier would struggle.

You could become a ‘Friend of Swanage Pier’ and for just £12 a year you could stroll on the fantastic Pier all year round! We will even send you a quarterly newsletter to keep you up to date. How about it? You could also get involved with our fundraising events or help by volunteering your time. Please get in touch.

For more details about how to become a ‘Friend’ please see the website www.swanagepier.com or call us on 01929 425806.

Pictured are volunteers from Princecroft Willis chartered accountants in Poole, preparing to paint the Pier railings during ‘Paint the Pier Day’ on Saturday 27th September 2014.

Housing List Residents MUST Re-apply

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esidents currently on the housing lists in Borough of Poole; North Dorset District Council; Purbeck District Council; West Dorset District Council; or Weymouth & Portland Borough Council are being asked to reapply to the housing registers.

This is because the councils, which form the Dorset Choice Based Lettings Partnership, have reviewed the policies which set out how social housing is allocated.

Registration takes place from 29 September until 11 November 2014, and the new allocation policy will take effect from 17 December 2014.

Councils are writing to all applicants currently on the housing register and asking them to re-register before the 11 November deadline. Residents who do not re-register by 5pm on 11 November 2014 will no longer be on the housing register. The changes that affect all the councils which form the partnership are: • A requirement for a local connection to the authority area being applied to in order to be able to remain on or join the register • Applicants that are deemed to have the financial means to address their housing situation will be unable to remain on or join the register

• Applicants who are adequately housed will no longer be able to remain on or join the register In addition to these changes, each of the partners has made their own specific changes to local connection rules, banding reasons and bedroom size calculations.

Residents who no longer qualify for a place on the register will still be able to access help and support including assistance with referrals to other housing options or support to keep people in their homes.

Residents will need to complete the registration form online at www. dorsethomechoice.org from 29 September.

Residents who do not have internet access at home will be able to access the website from public computers at local libraries and council offices. If they are an existing tenant of a social landlord, they may be able to access computer facilities at their social landlord’s offices.

Residents who have queries, or who need assistance with the online reapplication process, can also contact their local council: Purbeck District Council – 01929 556561

NOT advertising is like winking at a beautiful lady in the dark and expecting her to notice....

If you want customers to notice your business, then you’d better call Joy on 01929 424293 and book your space in our hallowed pages now, hadn’t you?!

The Purbeck Gazette

13

Domestic & Commercial Work Undertaken APPROVED CONTRACTOR

Swanage Probus Club

01929 425528/07976 691128

Swanage Boxing Day Swim ‘14

T

he Purbeck Line railway will be the first heritage railway in the Swanage Probus Club world to run over an electrified (retired professional & businessmen) line, Mike Stollery told members of has room for a few the Probus Club of Purbeck at their October lunch meeting at a Swanage new members. hotel. Mike, a club member, who Monthly lunch meetings was standing in for the scheduled Good speakers, speaker, said the implementation of the Purbeck Line service next year companionship. would amount to a tremendous Apply Secretary, tel: achievement.

01929 424377 Mike outlined some of the problems that had been dealt with by the Swanage Railway in its progress towards running daily trains to connect with the main line. Millions of pounds had been spent, including £3million paid out by the County and District councils to Network Rail last year and £1.47 million from the Coastal Community Fund, which was being used to upgrade three miles of line between Norden and the junction at Worgret.

He said a new signal cable had been installed from Corfe to Worgret. This meant that the signaling systems on the Swanage branch would be linked to the new Network Signal Centre at Basingstoke.

Infrastructure works to be installed included a new level crossing where the line crosses the former BP road at Norden. Mike stressed that the current heritage railway underpinned the planned Purbeck Line services and its future would not be jeopardized by the new services.

Mr Stollery was thanked by club president Mr Roger Livingstone, who stressed that the club had many more interesting speakers to come and he hoped that this would attract new prospective members.

Air Cadets Raise Funds

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n Saturday 13th September, cadets from 2185(Wareham & Swanage) Air Cadets did a Bag Pack in Sainsburys in Wareham.

They raised £374.75 for the Battle of Britain Wings Appeal which supports RAF personnel, past and present and their families in time of need.

T

he hugely-popular Swanage Boxing Day swim is getting closer!

Organiser Julian Wood is already preparing for this year’s event, and the benefiting charities are being chosen. Hundreds of people are expected from all over the region, suitably adorned in fancy dress, to take the plunge on Boxing Day. The proceeds from the 2014 swim will be split between Children Today, who provide grants that enable families with disabled children to purchase necessary equipment, and a second charity, yet to be decided.

Last year the swim raised over £3000, which was split between Swanage Town & Herston Football Club and DCODE. Those wishing to take part in the Boxing Day Swim this year need to collect their sponsorship/entry forms from Country Foods, Station Road, Swanage. You then need to work out your fancy dress for this year - we’ve had sharks, nuns, disco dancers, fairies, onezies, cowgirls, christmas puddings, animals and of course, the obligatory Father Christmas! What will YOU wear this year?

Let’s see if we can beat last year’s total - we’ll see you there!!

The Purbeck Gazette

14

R.N.L.I. Swanage Station Update Work to begin on construction of the new Swanage RNLI lifeboat station ovember will mark the start of one of the RNLI’s biggest construction projects when work begins on the new Swanage lifeboat station. Over an 18-month period, the existing boathouse at Peveril Point will be demolished and a new facility will then be erected in its place. This will house one of the charity’s new state of the art Shannon class all weather lifeboats and serve the station for at least the next 80 years.

Designed by Dorset based team, consulting engineers Smith Foster and architects Morgan Design Studio Ltd, the new building will stand in exactly the same place as the old station that was constructed in 1875. As well as housing the Shannon class lifeboat, it will co-house the station’s D Class inshore lifeboat and provide modern facilities for crew training, office space, a warm changing room with toilets and showers and a workshop for the mechanic.

Christopher Refoy, RNLI Estates Construction Manager, says the project will be an exciting challenge for everyone involved: ‘This project has taken some considerable time to come to fruition.

Building construction in the maritime environment is always interesting, and at times extremely challenging for both the designers and our Contractors. This project has its own particular characteristics, not least of which is the immensely constrained site. This is a huge challenge for both our Contractor, BAM Nuttall, and for our volunteer crew who will maintain the lifeboat service at Swanage without interruption throughout the duration of the works.’

The new boathouse will represent a £3.5 million investment, which will be met by the many generous donations made to the charity by the public, including some that have been left in legacies specifically for building projects. Over £200,000 of which has been raised by local RNLI fundraisers through the community, money which has been raised through local events, personal challenges, and overwhelming support from other RNLI fundraising branches.

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Buddy Scheme Success

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ommunity Wessex is working in partnership with Dorset County Council to continue providing support to families in Dorset who need a break.

Community Wessex, the social care service provided by regional charity Autism Wessex, is offering the Buddy Scheme to families who need support allowing them to access a 1 hour session for just £7.

Jo Pattison, Area Manager for Community Wessex said: “We want families to be aware they can access our short break service for this reduced cost.

A break, however short, can be invaluable so we are encouraging families to get in touch with us so we can assess their needs.”

The scheme will take children, aged 8-18, out on short breaks including sporting activities, going to the cinema and much more, to provide family members with respite and to also give a child who needs support an

Christopher continues: ‘Before building work can begin, the site for the temporary crew accommodation and contractor’s compound needs to be prepared.

In November, work will begin in Swanage Boat Park to install the accommodation units that the lifeboat crew will use as temporary facilities, along with the Contractor’s accommodation and a unit to temporarily house Swanage Angling club. It is currently planned that the lifeboat station will become operational from its temporary accommodation in December, and demolition of the current lifeboat station will start in January.’

Throughout the duration of the build, both of Swanage’s lifeboats will remain fully operational.

Neil Hardy, Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, says: ‘There’s no pretending that the next 18 months are going to be easy. The demands on the Coxswain and volunteer crew are going to be enormous and I thank them in advance for their patience and goodwill. But we will come out of the project with a superb new lifeboat station that will be a delight to the RNLI team here and a vital investment for the future of the RNLI in Swanage.

‘We’re spending this month clearing out the current station of nonoperational items and putting them into storage. Our temporary buildings arrive at the beginning of November and we’ll then spend time moving into these and transferring over our operational equipment ready for the start of the build.’

Because of the need for space for the temporary facilities, Swanage Boat Park will be closed from the end of October 2014 to spring 2016 when the build is completed.

The public slipway will remain open subject to the on-going construction work. Where possible these periods of closure will be posted in advance on a dedicated website www.swanageboatpark.co.uk.

Via the website, boat users can also opt to be kept up to date by email or by following @Swanageboatpark on twitter. opportunity to have a fun filled support session with a choice of activities.

Jo continues: “We know how tough life can be for some families, either needing respite care or simply finding activities for children during the summer holidays. We want to buddy up with anyone who needs support and offer any help we can.”

The Buddy Scheme will offer Dorset families a carer for just £7 for an hour. Young people who have health needs, a mental health illness, physical or learning disabilities or sensory impairments can access the scheme.

If you want to access the scheme contact Community Wessex on 01202 853000 to book your session.

The Purbeck Gazette

15

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

The Purbeck Gazette

16

Through The Keyhole Swanage Town Council Our Swanage Town Council Gazette correspondent’s Final Farewell....

Open letter to the Mayor and Swanage Town Councillors. reetings. This letter will be my final piece on local council matters. Walking home on the night of the last, and appalling, Council Meeting (not your fault), I ran into some ‘Friends of Swanage Hospital,’ fellow campaigners, who had been attending our AGM at the Mowlem.

With delight they informed me that the new Chief Executive of Dorset HealthCare, Ron Shieilds, had confirmed to more than 130 ‘Friends’ that Swanage Hospital would now definitely remain open. Great news! That led me to reflect on Swanage Town Council’s part in that particular campaign which has kept the Hospital open (a happy but far from guaranteed outcome) and indeed those other campaigns that have sought the Council’s active support in recent years.

As Councillors know better than most, in spite of its sometimes sleepy appearance, Swanage is pretty good at campaigns. Swanage Town Council itself, so often maligned by some, has backed most of them and this has gone a long way in securing the aims of these campaigns. To your credit it made little difference when the campaigns were led by people of entirely different political beliefs.

Let me remind you of five local campaigning victories. First the campaign to fight Dorset County Council’s decision to close the local Day Centre. You Councillors were persuaded politely but firmly by relatives and friends of the frail and elderly users (and other campaigners) that these day services were vital to the town’s elderly and their carers.

Thereafter campaigners didn’t sit in Swanage Town Hall moaning at the local Council (whose decision it most certainly wasn’t), they went to where the cuts were being made – the DCC offices in Dorchester!!!

And campaigned!! Result? – any day of any week you will see the much – appreciated Dennis in his DCC bus collecting older citizens from their often otherwise empty homes and taking them for a day of greater stimulation and a hot meal. (With the cuts to local services promised after the next

G

General Election, I don’t have to remind you Mayor, Councillors and readers, keep a sharp eye out for news on that Day Centre.)

Then there was the Campaign to reverse the private owners’ disastrous decision to close the James Day Care Home at Ulwell. When asked, MP Richard Drax (Con) declined any involvement - it was a question of market forces, he told campaigners. Swanage Council (also Con), did not take the same view, thank the Lord, but strongly supported the campaign. Result – a year after its closure a refurbished James Day Care Home was re-opened (in the presence, in the foreground , of the smiling MP) and is now thriving.

Next the Campaigns which grew following the NHS threat, first to Swanage Hospital’s Minor injury unit, and then to the very existence of the hospital.

You will perhaps recall yourselves, Councillors, being photographed among the thousand or more who gathered both inside a packed Mowlem Theatre and outside in hundreds on the pavement – the biggest crowd, I believe, ever gathered in Swanage (see page 21 for image).

And to be fair, MP Drax came to the party on this matter in a House debate on Cottage Hospitals. Result – a thriving local hospital –still under-used but that is another matter. And since last Monday its immediate future guaranteed.

Then came the Swanage Recycling Centre campaign, when after being told that the town’s facilities were to be withdrawn and we’d all have to traipse to the other side of Wareham with our rubbish, the Campaigners, backed

by Councillors, fought and won. so that a brand new recycling centre now proudly graces our town.

Finally the campaign by locals to reinstate, after many years, a full secondary school curriculum in a purpose-built school. Massively supported by Councillors. Result? – well, it’s open on the edge of town with its first year intake hard at work. (at least that’s what parents will be hoping).

Result. Result. Result. Result. Result.

All the Best, Former Commentator on Council matters.

Ed’s note: We would like to offer our sincere thanks to our correspondent for spending a significant amount of his time over the past few years attending council meetings, researching and writing-up a column for your information. Like our other Gazette volunteers, we are eternally grateful for the time and effort put in to help keep our community informed. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be here!

Wareham Town Council Update Julie, our new Gazette correspondent, details the goings on in recent council meetings.....

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ho would be co-opted for the casual vacancy of Wareham Town Councillor? The first applicant had been a councillor before and thought that a person should be involved in their locality; the second bubbled with enthusiasm to increase the engagement of the community; the third, having organised local events, now was keen to be useful in a more general way and thought that change could be good.

Wareham’s new councillor is Marian Cotton.

Account of Wareham Town Council Meeting September 2014.

County Councillor Mrs B Ezzard reported that the Trigon fire had burned for three days giving out obnoxious but not toxic fumes, that the extent of the fire was limited because only one part of the site is used at a time, and that the fire could have been caused by trespassers or the sun and a glass bottle.

Councillor Ezzard urged people to use the evening service of the No. 40 bus so that it isn’t discontinued as threatened.

On receiving the financial statement, councillors queried the high cost of drain-clearing works and it was explained that some of this may be claimed from the installers of the new toilets as it appeared to be builders’ debris at the heart of the blockage.

Councillor Osmond spoke on behalf of Wareham In Bloom Committee.

The Saxons had to fend off the Vikings, the Saxon roundabout has to cope with thieves, vandals, deer and moles and the South and South East in Bloom judges would face the wrath of Councillor Osmond if they didn’t award Wareham a Gold award!

At this point, the new councillor was co-opted, all the candidates were thanked for applying and all of them encouraged to re-apply for the May 2015 Town Council election.

Mayor Carol Turner reported that the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded Wareham a grant of £9,400 for World War I commemoration and this was to be divided between the Lady St Mary Church Flower Festival, the Royal British Legion, the Town Museum and the Wareham Choral Society.

The public consultation by the Dorset, Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authorities prompted councillors to ask that a representative of the local fire service come to a briefing meeting to explain the options and implications before making their decision.

With one amendment, Councillors agreed on the Town Clerk’s suggested message of congratulations to be sent on vellum with a town crest to the Board of Selectmen of the town of Wareham, Massachusetts, which celebrates its 275th anniversary of incorporation as a town in 2014.

After some remarks about parking meters (don’t want them!) and supermarkets (if it’s in the town as in Blandford, people use its car park and shop in the High Street too. If it’s on the periphery, it’s necessary to have something else happening in the town to bring people in e.g. twiceweekly markets and Hat Festival in Bridport). The meeting closed.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Wareham Town Council at 7pm on 4th November in the Council Chamber, Wareham Town Hall.

The Purbeck Gazette

The Best Village Shop

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t’s official! Against stiff competition, Winfrith Village Stores has won the Dorset’s Best Village Shop award. Organised by Dorset Community Action and sponsored by CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) the prestigious award was presented to Pascal Surret on 18th September.

Rupert Hardy, CPRE representative, revealed that when he made an incognito visit to the shop he was delighted by the attentive staff and welcoming atmosphere. He admired the presentation and variety of the stock on offer; the prominence of local products; the appetising deli counter and bakery and the excellent window displays. He was also impressed by the shop’s efforts to meet the needs of the local community by offering a delivery service, a monthly newsletter, a good website, a loyalty card scheme, and supporting local charities.

Pascal took over the management of the shop eighteen months ago, giving up his successful career as a London banker with a clear sense of purpose. Involving the local community and staff as much as possible, turning the shop into a thriving social hub, somewhere to buy delicious treats, as well as a useful place to buy a carton of milk or a loaf of bread, was part of his dream.

Pascal said ‘None of it would have been possible without a great team of helpers, and the support of the local community, and that is why I am donating the prize cheque to the refurbishment of the local village hall.’

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The Purbeck Gazette

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My War-time Memories.

By Brian Guy

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efore I start this month’s episode of the memoirs of WW2 - I have some good news. Nay! Excellent news, especially for the elderly residents of Swanage and Purbeck. It would appear that there is life amongst us yet. Why? Well I have just had an invitation in my email inbox to join a Swingersclub.co.uk.... Oh dear!

Stone me! That message cheered me up no end, so I would like you all to visualise this in your mind. If you can.....

Imagine a disabled 89 year old driving up to the Swingers club venue. Sticking his disabled Blue badge in the windscreen, and slowly struggling to his feet with the help of his elbow crutches. Are you still with me? Accepting this invitation to join the Swingers Club, my wife of 82 will accompany me.

Still wearing the apron that she wore while cooking the lunch. She will also be carrying my daily dose of various medicines.

The mind boggles. But at the same time if there are any of you 80/90 year olds that want the Swinger’s address, I can find it for you .. !!! What puzzles me is how these people managed to estimate my virility. Do they know something that I don’t? My tummy hurts from laughing.

Let me take this opportunity to say thanks on the behalf of the Normandy Veterans to the Swanage Railway, and all those involved in making it a day out for the veterans when we collected yet more commendations recently. With a special mention to Mr Watts for his tireless work. Then to Nico of the Purbeck Gazette for her very friendly, and unstinting help in so many ways. Bless You Nico.

Now to the far eastern end of the Normandy battle zone.

Again, before I continue with the battles in Holland, there is one Normandy episode that I recall as being the most fearful. Near where we had harboured there was a hill that looked down on the enemy position.

Far away at Vire, there was a ‘railway gun’, a huge thing; it was too big to put on the road, and when fired, it hurled huge shells at this hill. It was possible to hear it coming for some time before the mighty explosion occurred. Huge amounts of earth were blown sky high every time the shell landed. About this time our CRE (Colonel of the Royal Engineers) came to see this unkempt and scruffy bunch. Tiger Urquhart. DSO. R.E. A fine imposing gentleman was our Tiger. His reputation of conducting a private war with the enemy was well known. Sometimes to be seen crawling back to our forward troops, who were amazed to find the Tiger had been out in front of them. “How do you men feel about staying at the front line all the time so that you can get into action quicker?” he asked. We told him “Fine, if you can sustain the casualties.” Yes! Tiger had his way. We moved right up in front of the enemy and dug in on the side of the hill that was being bombarded. In full view of the German paratroopers below, who gleefully watched as we made ourselves sitting targets, give them their due, they did at least wait until we were all there before proceeding to blast us with everything they had. We spent the next hour cowering in our foxholes that were dug in record time, while all around us, all hell was let loose.

A continuous rain of fire right over the top of us. While crouching in my foxhole, head between my knees, another Sapper jumped in on top of me, boots first, shaking like a leaf, “Let’s run, let’s run” he yelled. Now I do not know where he thought we were supposed to run to, how he managed to get into my hole without being killed I do not know, but he kept trying to get me to join him! No way! A little while later he fled. Now, that was the only time I saw a soldier break and run under fire. I do not know where he thought he was going, but I understood his reasons only too well. This was also the time that I discovered that there is a very infectious disease called ‘Panic’. I did not succumb to this infection, but I did feel the fear he was transmitting, it was a powerful infection that one so easily could catch. After being missing from the Company for some hours, he rejoined the company. Nothing was said.

After that severe bashing, we were withdrawn to our old harbour area, we could then sally forth into what ever was required, from a secure base. Glad to get out of that hell-hole alive and in one piece, my cosy idea that life was to be easier, and less menacing was fast disappearing,

not helped by the knowledge that we had facing us, a German paratroop company. We knew from past experience that they would give a good account of themselves.

Let me break off for a moment if I may. Let me tell you about the British Limbless Ex-service Mans’ Association. This is a charity that looks after, and backs up those young men who lose limbs in the service of our country. The book I wrote, Cameos of War, tells the story of the battles in Normandy, and onwards to Arnhem, the bridge too far.

This 89 year old set himself the task of raising money for this charity, one that does such stirling work for our men and women who pay a heavy price for our land. The book costs just £11 and can be bought at the Purbeck Gazette, or at my home in Bell Street. I am member of BLESMA. I understand only too well what lies ahead for those that lose limbs, and are disabled. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Onwards! The great battles in Normandy, now all that behind us. A great many of our friends had paid the ultimate price. Sword, The blood soaked Chateau de la londe. Hillman. Pegasus bridge. Caen. Goodwood.

Vire. The Falaise pocket. All now memories of the past. The great chase across France into the lowlands had taken place. Now we were into Holland. Before us loomed many great new battles. Operation Market Garden, The bridge too far, Nijmegen, Euvelwegen, Marheeze, Lindon.

So many new names. Operation Aintree.

Many more young men were to give their lives in this great flat wet land of sand and conifers. The war in Holland was a savage and ferocious affair. A bitterly fought series of actions. The last episode described the assault crossing of the Escaut canal, and we were now heading for Weert. That awful night of September the 18th-19th when we crossed the Escaut canal had now passed, sadly, more of our friends were left behind. We advanced along the north side of the canal, heading for the town of Weert.

We occupied this Dutch town by the afternoon of September 22nd, luckily, with not as much opposition as we expected. A small town with the canal running through the centre with a railway line that was raised up from the surrounding countryside. We harboured in Weert, then repaired the canal bridge, then added another bridge across the canal on the 23rd/24th of September. Here the line between us and the enemy was virtually non existent, it appeared that we were the only troops in the town, and there was a very real danger that if he made a determined thrust we could not have held it.

First we lost our water wagon, same as in Normandy, he took the wrong turning and was never seen again, then the odd man disappeared at night by the railway line, taken by German patrols we think. The Dutch people gave us a marvellous welcome, but it seemed to me that they were not absolutely sure the liberation was here for good! Apart from military bridging it was fairly quiet.

To be continued. There is a picture on the internet of the blown bridges over the Weert town canal, I was underneath in a boat inspecting the damage when it was taken.

Later..(does that little boy remember me?) And stone me.. I slept in the same room with a pig!

Thank you Dinah for the photo, and your flag waving efforts on the platform.

Brian’s book, Cameos of War, is available from the Purbeck Gazette in Swanage, priced at £11. All profits will go to BLESMA. Get yours now while stocks last!

The Purbeck Gazette

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New Theme For New Year’s Eve In Swanage!

‘Come Play With Traffic’

Photo: Bad quality picture taken from flat above the Fish Plaice, the Square, Swanage, NYE in mid-1990s, showing street completely filled with thousands of party-goers. Pic: NJ.

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ew Year’s Eve has traditionally been an occasion to celebrate in Swanage, with an organically-grown gathering taking place every year in the Lower High Street, complete with the widest range of fancy dress you’re ever likely to see.

Over the past sixty years or so the Lower High Street has been subject to an ‘unoffical’ road closure to ensure the safety of the thousands of revellers who arrive from all around the UK to see in the new year in Swanage. A sensible precaution as it would be unacceptable to allow the passage of traffic through a street filled by thousands of party-goers on foot.

This ‘unofficial’ road closure policy was then revoked by our local Police Inspector and more recently locals have had to take responsibility for this unofficial, unorganised gathering by arranging (and paying for) an official road closure and insurance.

Much of the responsibilty has fallen on the owners and managers of public houses in the Lower High Street, one presumes because they are businesses open during the hours in question on New Year’s Eve. As the event has never been organised nor advertised (it grew over the years by word of mouth alone), the dumping of the responsibilty for this ‘event’ and the safety of the general public attending on to local business owners is frankly unacceptable, and is not within the remit of running their own individual businesses.

Having discussed the issue at great length over the past year, the members of Pubwatch have released the statement below with regards to New Year’s Eve 2014: “It is with great disappointment and regret we at Pubwatch have concluded that it is beyond the capacity of any individual to apply for a road closure on New Year’s Eve. In view of this circumstance, each individual at each premises will need to undertake their own risk assessment to insure the safety of their customers on New Year’s Eve, paying particular attention to the fact that Inspector Gaffney has stated that the road will not be closed.

We wish to continue working together with local councils, members of the public and Dorset Police Authority to provide a safe and vibrant New Year’s Eve for all to enjoy.”

At the time of writing, there will be NO road closure of the Lower High Street for New Year’s Eve in Swanage this year. There is the usual expectation that several thousand people will travel from far and wide to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Swanage, with the added excitement of being able to do this in 2014 whilst attempting to dodge serious injury or death in a road that will remain open to traffic throughout the night. Yes, it beggars belief, but that’s the situation we find ourselves in.

We would never suggest (in the light of a complete absence of common sense and a lack of protection of the public by the police) that a local farmer may wish to let his tractor and trailer ‘break down’ outside the White Swan at around 8pm on New Year’s Eve, thus completely blocking the Lower High Street and closing it to traffic until the morning.........

Sponsor Karen & Debs To Walk The Sahara!

Karen & Debs Sahara Desert trek for Meningitis Now aren Smith and Debs Turner are trekking across the Sahara Desert in February 2015 to raise money for Meningitis Now. We will trek for four days, with six to seven hours walking a day.

We will be part of a group accompanied

by Berber guides with camel handlers.

This will be a very challenging trek, but one to remember.

With all your kind donations we will help Meningitis Now continue to save lives and rebuild futures.

I would like to thank the businesses of Swanage for donating raffle prizes, they have been very kind.

Any further donations would be much appreciated.

With thanks from Karen and Debs.

Donations to www. virginmoneygiving. c o m / t e a m / karensmith33

K

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

You Won!! The Hospital Is OURS!

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IT’S OFFICIAL: WE KEEP SWANAGE HOSPITAL! he Friends of Swanage Hospital held their AGM at the Mowlem in October, and the new Chief Executive of Dorset HealthCare, Mr Ron Shields, was given a very warm reception by over 130 local people attending when he officially confirmed that Swanage Hospital will definitely be staying open.

Two years ago, in no uncertain terms, the local community rejected plans to close our hospital and this latest news was greeted by an audible sigh of joyful relief throughout the theatre.

Jan Turnbull, Chair of the Friends, gave an update on the Purbeck Project: the main proposals being the setting up of an integrated health and social care team, reconfiguring the use of beds in Swanage and Wareham hospitals so there are more available for respite and end of life care, for example, bringing more services to us so we don’t have to travel out of the area unless it is an absolute necessity and working more closely with the voluntary sector where appropriate.

It was great news, but the community needs to know when it will become a reality and how it will all work.

As Jan said: “We want the commissioners to understand how important this process has been for us, how stressful, worrying but ultimately satisfying because the end result will mean security for the staff and patients in the knowledge that our hospital is safe.”

The Gazette says: ‘Well done to ALL of you who have fought so hard to retain our local hospital - gifted to the people of Swanage. All of us appreciate the extreme efforts that have gone into retaining this vital local institution, and we all support and congratulate you.”

“An additional thank you to every single person who attended the protest at the Mowlem (pictured, right) - people power all the way! It certainly got the message across!”

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James Smith Donate To Margaret Green

A tombola was also held and the total raised for the animals was £322.

Caron Lane, General Manager of the charity, said: “We are very grateful to the Dorset Funeral Plan and Douch Family Funeral Directors. The limousine full of balloons was a great draw for people – and we had nearly 2,000 visitors. We rely on donations to function and every penny goes to care for the animals.

Pictured from left to right. Malcolm Green of James Smith Funeral Directors in Swanage, Caron Lane from the charity, and Mark Alder and Jonathan Stretch from Albert Marsh Funeral Directors.

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he Margaret Green Animal Rescue Centre in Dorset is over £300 better off thanks to the Dorset Funeral Plan.

The plan is run by Douch Family Funeral Directors and the company attended the charity’s Companion Dog Show and Family Fun Day in Church Knowle. Staff brought one of their limousines, filled it with balloons and asked visitors to guess how many there were.

The person who guessed nearest to the correct answer of 169 won a £50 meal voucher for The Scott Arms in Kingston – and will be chauffeured there in the limo!

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Not Just Sundaes Saying Thank You

t Not Just Sundaes we are very proud of our fantastic team of volunteers and were just looking for the perfect excuse to do more than just say thank you.

Recently we had our chance, at the second of our Annual Volunteers Evening. All of our wonderful team was invited along to hear updates about the project, chat with one another, enjoy a fantastic meal and receive a small token of our thanks.

We are so proud of our team that we have nominated them for the ‘Volunteer team of the year’ at the Dorset Volunteer Awards; along with

individual nominations for some of our extra special helpers.

We are always looking to recruit more volunteers to our team. We seek those with warmth and a positive outlook on life. You may genuinely enjoy working directly with people, and would relish serving in the café or helping to organise one of our new activity groups.

Whatever your skills, we would love to hear from you, if you can spare some time on a regular basis to be a part of our team, call in to Not Just Sundaes, South Street, Wareham and say hi, or take a look at www. notjustsundaes.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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The Purbeck Gazette

On Top Of The World!

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t horrible-o’clock on the morning of 26th September, three rather nervous people set off from Purbeck in the early morning gloom, heading for Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury.

Myself and Ian Davey (Seventhwave Restaurant, Durlston) had been raising sponsorship in aid of Children Today, and having achieved our sponsorship targets, the day had finally arrived. We were accompanied by last minute ‘impulse’ jumper, Nathan Yates of Wareham.

Arriving at the airfield at 8am, we waited for the cloud cover to lift, and for the day to brighten-up as the GoSkydive staff set-up. After registering, we completed a training session, and were then kitted-out in our jumpsuits and harnesses, before boarding the plane, where we were clipped onto our instructors, and the final safety checks were made.

Ian Davey was first out at 10,000ft (almost two miles up!). My stomach certainly did a turn as I watched Ian being manouvered towards the hatch, before he dropped away at great speed through the clouds. Nathan went next, and finally it was my turn to be gently ‘hung’ out of the hatch. This was the point I had thought panic might set in, but my instructor was so calm and professional that I felt completely safe, and before I knew it, we were away, flying at around 120mph towards the earth far below.

It was a mind-boggling experience - my brain didn’t know what to make of it at all. The freefall/skydive part was absolutely amazing - it wasn’t cold, I could breathe easily, and flying was absolutely exhilarating! I wasn’t so keen on the parachute part - stopping so abruptly mid-flight wasn’t popular with my stomach, and nor was some of the swirling/turning that followed.

Suffice to say I landed with a mouthful of sick - clamped jaws keeping it in to save my instructor from a faceful on the way down! Despite the unpleasant mouthful, the experience was almost indescribably amazing.

Ian and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored us on behalf of Children Today - a small charity who provide grants to families with disabled children to enable them to purchase badly-needed equipment. Together we raised over £1200, plus Gift Aid. Another big thank you goes to the wonderful team at GoSkydive, Old Sarum, Salisbury, and especially to Michael French, my instructor, for being the epitomy of calm, collected gorgeousness! Also huge thanks to my photographer for such wonderful shots and video of my dive.

Ian, Nathan and myself are heading back to the airfield in May 2015 to undertake the highest jump you can do (without an oxygen supply) of 15,000ft. We will be accompanied by several Purbeckians who feel like taking on the challenge too, including friends currently battling illnesses, family members, and a few local business owners to boot!

If you fancy sky-diving for charity sponsorship or just for yourself, get in touch with the GoSkydive team on 01722 567 131, or see the website at: www.goskydive.com

CONGRATS TO KAREN BONIFACE WHO ALSO COMPLETED A JUMP ON OCTOBER 4TH IN AID OF THE ROY CASTLE LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION.

Top: Nico (Editor) almost two miles high, looking down on the earth.

Above: Nico with Instructor and Red Devils team member, Michael French (Frenchie), heading to earth at aprox. 120mph.

Above: The Purbeck Team; l-r: Nathan Yates (Thatcher, Wareham), Nico Johnson (Gazette), Ian Davey (Seventhwave Restaurant, Durlston).

The Purbeck Gazette

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YOUR Pictures.....

The Purbeck Gazette

Send us your pictures to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk Original files ONLY please, as they come straight off the camera with NO alterations. Some mobile phones may not produce useable pictures due to low resolution. Remember to include your name in the email!

Avocet on Brownsea Lagoon, by Anne Elford

Honey Bee Nest in the blackberries, by Denise Exon

My twisted carrots, by Ben Buxton

Field Parasol in Wareham Forest by Michael Cooper

Paddle Steamer ‘Monarch’ at Wareham by Ben Buxton

Red Squirrel by Allan Clarke

Resting On Houns-Tout, by Michael Cooper

Sunset from Heaven’s Gate towards Kimmeridge, by Tim Crabb

The Purbeck Gazette

Keep Warm This Winter!

P

urbeck Fireplaces was first established in 1996 with premises in the High Street, Swanage. We have since relocated to 21 Commercial Lane (near Chococo) where we have a fully stocked showroom complete with a Villager Esprit working display stove.

We can also, if required, provide a fully Hetas approved installation service for our appliances. All our stoves are from British manufacturers with the exception of Dovre, a Norwegian company, who have been manufacturing cast iron stoves for sixty years and who are able to offer a five year guarantee on their castings.

From the South of England we are able to offer woodburning and multifuel stoves and fires from Stovax, based in Exeter, and from sister company

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Purbeck Fireplaces Woodburning & Multi-fuel Stoves HETAS approved installation service Flue components & liners Twin wall Flue Systems 21a Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset Tel: 01929 426770 / 07800 843399 www.purbeckfireplaces.co.uk

Gazco we can supply a full range of gas fires and stoves.

Arada, producing Aarrow and Villager Stoves, have a superb range of locally produced stoves, with both companies keeping a comprehensive range of spares, even for their out of production models, ensuring their stoves are kept working long after others have become obsolete.

Aarrow are also currently the only manufacturer to offer a lifetime guarantee on the body of their stoves. Woodwarm in Cullompton, Devon produce the premium range of Fireview stoves, each hand-built to order.

These fantastic stoves will always give a clear view of the flames, thanks to their large double glazed doors and pre-heated secondary air system.

We also have Jetmaster open convector box fires, for those who want a traditional open fire, with the improved efficiency of a convection system.

Making fires since 1951 with over 750,000 sold worldwide. Based in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Out Of The Blue

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elcome to the November edition of Out of the Blue. Yes, it’s that time of year again, with the clocks having gone back and the days getting shorter and shorter, autumn is well and truly here.

From a policing perspective, October has been a steady month.

Crime is still down 13% (at the time of writing) since April on the same period last year.

We have noticed an increase in seasonal crime, with poaching incidents on the rise. We would ask any business owner that is approached with the offer of cheap game not to chance it and to only buy from your usual accredited supplier. If you are approached with offer of cheap game and venison, then please get as much information as possible and let us know by calling 101, or reporting it anonymously via Crimestoppers.

We cannot stress enough the importance of being seen while out on the road whether as a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist. It is essential that you have good working lights at both the front and rear.

If walking on unlit roads, wear light colours and take a torch and walk against the flow of traffic. While it is dark, it’s important to think about

crime prevention at home. Keep doors and windows locked and if your lights are on, then curtains closed! It is all too easy to see inside and what valuables you have on display.

Apart from our Purbeck Police Facebook and twitter accounts, you can keep up to date with all the crime in your area by becoming a subscriber of Dorset Alert. A new and modern approach to Ringmaster, this scheme allows you to subscribe to the crime updates that are of relevance to you. Schemes include Homewatch, Horsewatch, Farmwatch, Shopwatch, and the list goes on. You can elect to receive updates via email, text or phone call.

For more information and to subscribe to the scheme for free, visit dorsetalert.co.uk

Swanage Fire Station Update

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elcome to this month’s look at what has been happening at Swanage Fire Station.

Operationally we have attended eleven emergency call outs since my last report. These have included two calls to assist our ambulance colleagues, four false alarms at different properties around the town, two standby moves to cover Wareham and Westbourne areas whilst they were dealing with other fires and lastly a small fire on Priest’s Way involving a straw bale on fire in the hedgerow.

As the weather gets colder, I would like to just spend a little time talking about how you can keep yourself safe from fire. Firstly smoke alarms - the more you have, the safer you’ll be. You should have one on each floor – best on the hall and landing ceilings. If you only have one smoke alarm and two floors, put it where you would hear it if you were asleep - on the

ceiling at the top of the stairs leading to the bedrooms.

Installing your smoke alarm is easy to do and only takes a few minutes; just follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If it’s difficult for you to do, ask a family member or friend to help you. Don’t be tempted to have a go yourself if you feel unsteady or unsure - you could fall and injure yourself.

The best and safest thing to do is request a Home Safety Check from us by calling 0800 038 2323.

We will visit you at home and fit or replace smoke alarms if appropriate, and give advice on cooking safety, electric blankets, chimneys, and much more.

Smoke alarms need to be looked after too - test your alarm once a week by pressing the test button until it sounds. Once a year change the battery (unless it’s a ten-year alarm). Twice a year open the case and gently vacuum the inside using the soft-brush attachment to remove dust from the sensors. If it doesn’t open, vacuum through the holes. After ten years it’s best to get a whole new alarm.

That’s all for now. Stay safe and remember to test your smoke detectors!

Phil Burridge, Station Commander

The Purbeck Gazette

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01929 42 5588 Any Queries email: york.house@hotmail.com 8/10 Cauldron Avenue, Swanage, Dorset (Registered Dorset County Council Level 3 Care)

CONTINUING NEXT MONTH:

PURBECK CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE! Support your local shops or lose them!

Encourage our readers to shop with you this Christmas Call Joy to book YOUR space NOW on 01929 424239

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Please contact Manageress for coloured brochure on

ee

Single en-suite rooms available

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York House Rest Home, situated in a pleasant position opposite the pleasure gardens, and a level walk to sea front and town.

24 hour care and attention. Permanent or respite care.

Private and funded residents welcome

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SWANAGE

.07

CARE HOME

£3

York House

The Purbeck Gazette

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Purbeck Good Neighbours Newsround Could you be a Purbeck Good Neighbour?

Are you able to do occasional simple tasks for someone locally?

We Are Two! We have now been running for two years and have managed to help over 200 older people in the Purbeck area.

Our volunteers always surprise us with their enthusiasm in helping others and have turned their hands to all sorts of different skills.

We would like to have a get together in December for our sponsors and volunteers as a thank you celebration, so watch out for the December News Spot for more information.

If you live anywhere in the Purbeck area and can spare some time to help a neighbour who lives nearby with a small task – we’d love to hear from you! We do not do heavy work or continuing care.

We only do small one-off tasks.

For more information:- contact our Central number: 01929 424363 or email: purbeckgoodneighbours@yahoo.co.uk

Swanage Area Senior Forum

Learn from the past – And look to the future. or our November public meeting on Wednesday 12th November, The Senior Forum has much on offer.

David Haysom, the renowned Swanage historian, will show us a selection of photographs and postcards from the Swanage Museum’s archives, showing Swanage in the Edwardian period and up to World War Two. He will introduce and talk us through the slide show and take any questions and responses from you. Come and see how many parts of the town have changed, but others have not. Note also the changing modes of transport and dress over the years. Happy and thought-provoking memories.

Jan Turnbull, Chair of Friends of Swanage Hospital will update us on various health issues including the latest exciting news on the future of Swanage Hospital, including the extra services that are being proposed.

There will also be news and information on a new ‘dementia friendly’ initiative in Swanage, plus Dorset County Council’s proposals on the future of Adult Day Centre Services.

So learn from the past – and look to our future in this wonderful part of the country. Come along to The Emmanuel Centre, Victoria Avenue at 7pm. Refreshments and parking available. We look forward to welcoming you, whatever your age!

F

SWANAGE AREA SENIOR FORUM

Passionate about our community

OPEN MEETING WED 12 NOVEMBER 7pm The Emmanuel Centre, Victoria Avenue, Swanage David Haysom, Swanage Historian, presents: Postcards of Swanage from Edwardian to WWII times and Jan Turnball, Chair of Friends of Swanage Hospital with the latest health news JOIN US - TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

The Purbeck Gazette

28

Caveat Emptor

by David Hollister

A

recent survey suggests that 11% of adult consumers are considering buying a used car in the next six months. The average spend will be £6636. So where will you go to spend your £6636? Numerous options are open to you; a ‘main dealer’ such as Toyota, Nissan, Ford, etc; a dedicated and licensed used car dealer such as Moonfleet Garage or St Michaels Garage; the ‘small ads’ in your local daily or weekly paper; Ebay, Auto Trader, or even a car from a nearby lay-by with a bit of paper stuck in the windscreen.

Your main dealer and indeed your dedicated used car dealer has too much to lose to risk selling you a ‘lemon’; the car you buy will be warranted, fully serviced, safety-checked, and been subject to an HPI check to make sure that it isn’t the subject of a Hire Purchase agreement or been rebuilt from an insurance ‘total loss’. The dealer will also be subject to all sorts of Trading Standards regulations which are there for your safety. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 governs dealers’ legal obligations to consumers with regard to the quality, fitness and description of the vehicle being sold, and offers consumers the right to redress when something goes wrong A car bought from a trader may cost more than buying privately but there can be benefits - if things go wrong, you are legally entitled to expect that the car is of satisfactory quality, fit for its purpose, as described, and roadworthy.

If you buy from a trader at a distance (for example an internet sale) and there is no face-to-face contact then you may be entitled to a seven day cooling-off period. If you buy privately, you will have fewer legal rights. How do you know that this is a genuine private sale and not an unlicensed trader saving himself the cost of a premises and indeed the cost of complying with the regulations? How do you know that the car hasn’t been clocked, written off, stolen, or subject to a finance agreement or a ‘log book loan’?

How do you know that the seller isn’t actually someone with a criminal record for fraud, or for selling unroadworthy cars?

You don’t. So next time you’re considering a reasonably priced car from the roadside, or indeed from the internet, ask yourself the above questions.

And go to a licensed dealer instead. At least you can sleep nights after parting with your £6636!

Classic cars have a somewhat retro charm for some people (personally I can’t stand them), but part-worn tyres have no charm whatsoever. They’re usually dirt-cheap, and statistics show that UK motorists buy an estimated four million part-worn tyres every year.

Campaign group TyreSafe investigated the sale and condition of these cut-price, part-worn tyres in the UK, and were horrified. They found a thriving market in illegal, and in some cases lethal, second-hand tyres being sold to unwitting, cash-strapped families. Tyres which might have been kerbed, inner cords damaged, have unplugged punctures patched on the inside. A steel wire runs through a tyre just like the bones in your body; if the rubber has been damaged then metal can be exposed and perish from the inside.

Yet these part-worn tyre retailers aren’t selling in secret – they have premises on busy high streets and their products are plastered all over the Internet. They also litter big-name auction sites, like eBay. Of course you wouldn’t ….. would you?

Amazing and unacceptable traffic delays at the temporary traffic lights on the way into Swanage where they’re allegedly building a new pedestrian crossing for the children from the new Swanage School. I say ‘allegedly’ because most times when I’ve been stuck there in a queue, no-one actually appears to be on site. Like every other roadworks in the UK, it seems that the work takes 10% of the time, and that the Health & Safety, Lunch Break Regulations, and Human Rights of the one man doing the job always take precedence. We came down the M3 last week. About two miles

of it had no roadworks. I should have bought shares in the companies making traffic cones.

And whoever sanctioned the red-brick walls of the paths leading from the main pavement to the crossing? In an AONB, where if you applied to build a red-brick dog-kennel you’d be laughed out of the Planning Department!

Much concern at the proposed increase in the price of the Sandbanks Ferry from £3.50 to £4.50. I had to use a magnifying glass to read the Public Notice in Another Publication, but actually it does say – at the bottom – “It is not the Company’s intention to fully implement this increase in tolls charged until April 2017. Details of the proposed phased implementation…..are detailed within the application.

The Ferry Company’s website states “Since 1983, the present owners have ploughed back over £7.5million into the Company. This investment will ensure a first class service for present and future users and, not least, it has secured the employment locally of nineteen full time, ten part-time and up to eight seasonal employees”. As someone who remembers the sad state of the Ferry in the 60s and 70s, I’ll go along with that. And it’s unreasonable to expect them to keep their prices static in the face of increasing overheads, insurance costs, wage rates, etc.

So what they propose is this. Charges for cars will go from £3.50 to £3.80 on 1st April 2015 (8.5%), up to £4.10 on 1st April 2016 (7.8%), and up to £4.50 on 1st April 2017 (9.8%). That’s way above the anticipated UK rates of inflation (4%) but I’d guess that their argument will be that their costs – repairs, maintenance etc- are higher than inflation, so this is what they need to do to keep the thing afloat.

On a trip from Swanage to Bournemouth Square, the ferry saves around 12.5 miles. HMRC’s approved mileage allowance – including fuel, repairs, depreciation and all running costs - is 45p per mile (that’s £5.62) but their Advisory Fuel Rate for an average car is 16p per mile – so the ferry saves £2.00 at a cost of £3.50. Yet I’ll still use the ferry because I love the rural drive, waiting in the fresh air in some of the country’s most beautiful countryside, standing on the top deck getting my cobwebs blown away, and avoiding speed cameras and nasty delays on the ‘road round’.

But then I don’t have to use the ferry for work, or to go to college, on a daily basis. This must be a huge overhead for those who do. The good news is that discounts will be available on books of 10 tickets for cars; the current rate is 10% but by 2017 this will have increased to 20%. So in 2017, a £4.50 ticket bought in advance in a book of 10 will cost £3.60.

That’s only 10p more than the current daily toll. A book of fifty tickets will be discounted by 24.4%. I know it’s an outlay we don’t need, but from April next year I’ll be buying tickets by the 10, at least!

There’s a public enquiry in Studland Village Hall at 10am on Tuesday 11th November where interested parties are invited to go along, to contribute and to listen and learn.

Hope to see you there!

Wanted Cash Buyer Seeks Motor Vehicles. £100 - £10,000 prompt collection & settlement. Mature polite buyer.

No pressure or obligation. Often better than part exchange offer.

DVLA paperwork completed.

Classic & left hand drive motors especially wanted. Best prices paid.

07967 245172 www.blue-moon-cars.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

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The Purbeck Gazette

30

Collective Investments Vol. 2

C

ollective investments are one way for new and/or small investors to get into the stockmarket. They are also a way of generally gaining diversification in a portfolio and/or investing in areas that it would perhaps be risky or impractical in which to buy individual shares.

The most common collective investments that individual private clients use are investment trusts, unit trusts and OEICs (Open Ended Investment Companies). Last month I wrote about investment trusts and this month, I am writing about unit trusts and OEICS. Unit Trusts Unit trusts have a trust rather than a company structure and issue units instead of shares. They are ‘open-ended funds’ i.e., the unit trust managers can create extra units when demand is high and cancel units when they are sold. The actual size of a unit trust fund is, therefore, constantly changing.

The value of a unit is simply the value of the underlying investments plus any cash held divided by the number of units in existence. Unit trusts are bought and sold directly with the managers (or your stockbroker or financial advisor can arrange this for you).

Unit trusts typically operate on a 5 ­- 7% spread between creation and cancellation prices which is much higher than the difference on investment trusts. Consequently, private clients may find it is more advantageous to purchase units via their stockbroker or financial advisor as they often have arrangements in place where they can get a substantial discount on purchases which they pass on to their clients.

Open Ended Investment Companies OEICs are a hybrid of unit and investment trusts and are a more recent innovation. They have a company structure like investment trusts and therefore issue shares, but are ‘open ended’ like unit trusts. Their most notable feature is that they have a single pricing structure i.e., the creation/buying and cancellation/selling price is the same. A number of unit trusts are now changing their structure to become OEICs. Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is an investment manager in the Dorchester office of Charles Stanley (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.

RTI Late Penalties There was an extension last month for the introduction date of late filing penalties for RTI. This was extended from 6th October to 5th March for any employer with under 50 employees.

VAT on International Sales When you sell services to businesses in other countries, the sale will generally be outside the scope of UK VAT. You don't charge VAT on your invoice, but you need to report the value of that sale as part of the total in box 6 on your VAT return.

There are exceptions to this general rule for services connected to land, live performances, catering or passenger transport.

If the sale is to a VAT registered business in another EU country the sale must also be reported on your EC Sales list. If your customer is not a business, or is not VAT registered, the sale should not be included on the EC sales list.

However, from 2015 sales of various electronic services, broadcasting or telecoms to non-business customers could affect your liability to register for VAT in the customer's country.

If your customer is located outside of the EU, you don't report the sale on the EC sales list, but the value of the sale must still be added to the total to be declared in box 6 on your VAT return.

Quality Signs Traditional and Modern methods and styles.

01929 481215 kevin_vicars@outlook.com

Book advertising at: www.purbeckgazette.com

The Purbeck Gazette

Don’t Miss The Self-Assessment Deadline!

L

ucia Couse Tax and Accountancy Services is now offering 20% off your existing accountancy fees for all new clients.

Lucia is a chartered management accountant with a Master’s degree in Management, and has over 14 years’ experience with a diverse client base from various business types and industries, as well as clients requiring a personal tax return.

Lucia’s accountancy and tax service is always tailored to your needs such as the flexibility to meet with you in the daytime, evening or weekends.

Working from a home office means that a high quality service is affordable, with self assessment tax returns costing from just £120.

Are you self employed? Lucia can be at hand to do your bookkeeping, invoicing, tax returns or all three. From keeping track of your finances on a regular basis, to ensuring the VAT and annual tax deadlines are met, as well as ensuring any available tax relief or deductions are utilised, you can be assured support when it is needed.

For limited companies, Lucia can also provide a service which most suits your needs, from annual company accounts, monthly management accounts and corporate tax returns, whether you need just a little help or more comprehensive assistance, support will be tailored to your requirements.

For more information please go to www.luciacouse.com to read client testimonials, services offered and much more.

PARCEL DELIVERY WARNING!!

O

n 2nd October, I returned home to find a red parcel card on my doormat from DPD UK. It stated that my parcel was in my shed. I hadn’t ordered anything, so it wasn’t my parcel.

I checked the card to get DPD’s phone number so I could advise them - no contact information on it whatsoever. I drove up the road to get a signal (I live in the back end of nowhere and rarely get a signal) to check their website, and finally got a number. I called, and the customer service rep (ha!!) said they couldn’t do anything whatsoever to recover and redeliver the parcel to the correct address. I was basically told to bin it.

In anger, I tweeted them - then followed a ridiculous set of tweets over nearly three weeks, where the online customer service rep kept promising to collect the parcel and deliver it to the correct address.

As of today (20th October), it’s still sat in my shed. Getting very damp.

Our advice to Amazon, who paid DPD to deliver the parcel, is to find a company who is actually capable of delivering, and switch providers.

Our advice to you, the customer, is to request that another company deliver your goods! Editor

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Trading Standards

The Purbeck Gazette

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ood neighbours stop rogue traders is the message from Dorset County Council trading standards this November during National Consumer Week.

Latest research shows that nationally there could be as many as 170,000 incidents of doorstep crime each year. Doorstep criminals exploit vulnerable residents by convincing them to pay for shoddy or incomplete repair work, charging extortionate fees for their services, or threatening residents who do not pay. The good news is that doorstep crime is low in Dorset and with your help we’d want to keep it that way.

The ‘Good neighbours stop rogue traders’ campaign focuses on preventing doorstep crime by encouraging neighbours, family, friends and carers to look out for those most at risk in their communities.

Good neighbours stop rogue traders by looking out for the following signs: Traders have been cold calling in the area; A builder’s van is parked nearby, particularly one that doesn’t include a company name or contact details; Building or maintenance work on your neighbour’s garden or house starts unexpectedly; Poor quality work is visible on the roof, driveway, or property; Your neighbour appears anxious or distressed; Your neighbour visits the bank, building society, or post office more frequently, particularly if they are accompanied by a trader.

If any of these signs are familiar then why not: Ask your neighbour in private - in person or on the phone - if things are OK; If they are displeased, suggest calling a relative or carer on their behalf; Note any vehicle registration numbers; Keep hold of any flyers you have received through your door; Ask if the trader has left any paperwork and put it in a clean food bag for

later use as evidence.

Report non- emergency information to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06, or Dorset Police on 101. In an emergency call 999 Why not display one of our new ‘We do not deal with uninvited traders’ door stickers to deter doorstep trading? You could pass supplies to your neighbours too.

We’ve made them for you, so pick up a pair of stickers from your district or borough council office reception, from most libraries, through the Neighbourhood and Home Watch network, by phoning the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or by completing an online form at dorsetforyou.com/uninvited-traders to have them sent out to you.

The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

Christmas Challenge Christmas is coming! Businesses throughout Purbeck are busily readying themselves in preparation to provide you with everything you need for a glorious Christmas.

Your job, dear reader, is to support them in their endeavours and take up the ‘Purbeck Gazette Christmas Challenge’!

Can you purchase everything you need for a great Christmas right here in Purbeck?

We think so, and we challenge you to give it a go this year!

We have an excellent range of retailers, offering a mind-boggling array of goods, amazing local produce and foodie delights, fabulous service providers, talented arts and crafts people, and a wide selection of entertainment to enjoy.

We are also lucky enough to boast a great range of party venues, so there is simply no excuse to cross the water and spend your hard-earned cash elsewhere!

Look after your local community - take-up the Christmas Challenge!

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The Purbeck Gazette

34

PURBECK’S RAILWAY

A

fter a very successful and exciting summer Swanage Railway’s attention now turns to its winter and, in particular, its Christmas activities.

December 12th sees the return of the Carol Train. This is the second Carol Train to be run on the Railway and will again feature the local choir, Harmony Rocks from Harmans Cross led by their musical director Clare Perris. In addition to the well known favourite sing-along Christmas carols Clare will be leading the choir as they perform less well known ones. The choir will be supported by local musicians.

The Carol singing will take place at the festively decorated Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle stations and also on the return at Swanage Station.

Tickets for the event a very limited so you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

Further details and ticket prices can be found on the website.

Why not step back in time to enjoy the romance of travel whilst enjoying a traditional Christmas Luncheon on board the Railways dedicated dining train. Bookings are now being taken and space is limited so book early.

See website for details.

Purbeck Railway Circle.

The PRC will meet as planned on Friday 14th November but due to unforeseen circumstances we are currently sourcing an alternative presentation to that originally publicised.

The Circle meets in Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tea/coffee/biscuits as usual.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. For other information regarding the show and/or the PRC please contact the PRC General Secretary, e-mail:- gensec@ purbeckrailwaycircle.org.uk

Colonial Christmas

T

his Christmas why not celebrate with something different. Knoll Beach Café at Studland Beach will be celebrating Christmas with a menu selection from India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The menu includes minted New Zealand lamb, local char grilled seafood and tandoori chicken kebabs, which can be enjoyed while taking in the beautiful views across Studland Bay. Prices range from a main course at £10.95, 2 courses for £16.95, 3 courses for £22 and 3 courses and a glass of wine for £25. This special Christmas menu will be served from the 1st to 22nd December and booking is essential, please call 01929 450305.

Traditional Christmas food will also be served.

The National Trust’s Knoll Beach Café at Studland has a fantastic location right on the beach and the team work hard to ensure that the ingredients are as local as possible. The seafood served at the café is sourced from West Bay, Dorset and the chicken is from the nearby Rempstone Farm.

The National Trust volunteer team grow vegetables at the Currendon garden and supply the café regularly with fresh ingredients. “Ensuring our food is supplied as locally as possible is really important to us and ensures it is as fresh as we can get it” says Catering Manager, Shirley Jarman. Knoll Beach Café is open 7 days a week; visit the website for year round opening times. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/studland-beach Photo by Will Wilkinson. (National Trust volunteer photographer)

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Commercial Road Traders & Swanage Rotary Club invite you to our Christmas Fair!

The Commercial Road traders and Swanage Rotary Club are joining together once again to put on one fantastic Christmas Market for the whole town to enjoy.

Featuring a host of stallholders from across Purbeck, offering a wide range of goodies, this will be a great community day out!

Christmas Fair

STALL HOLDERS

10am - 4pm

There are a FEW stalls left for the Christmas Market.

If you are local and would like to join in and sell on the day, please contact Doug on 01929 423199 or email him at: wendyanddoug@btinternet.com.

First come, first served!

Please tell Doug at the point of booking if you will be providing your own canopy, or if you would like one provided. There is a small additional charge for a canopy. The charge made for stall space is to cover the cost of the road closure - no profit is made by the organisers, who arrange this event for the community.

ALL stallholders will be allocated a stall location by the organisers.

Sat 6 Dec Stalls & Local Traders offering a wide range of Local Arts and Crafts, Wreaths, Gifts, Jewellery, Chocolates, Bags, Food, Soaps, Cards, Toys, Fabrics, decorations and much, much more!

LIVE musical entertainment all day The Purbeck Producers will also be with us!

Come and join in at Commercial Road, Tilly Mead & Station Rd in Swanage!

Switch-On Swanage invites you to

Join us for the Grand Switch-On of

Swanage’s Christmas Lights!

Saturday 29th November at 4.30pm, Swanage Station The Grand Christmas Raffle will take place prior to the switch-on (fabulous prizes to win!).

Tickets available from the T.I.C. and from our marquee outside the taxi office on the day.

There will also be a Tombola Stall. Look out for more information on posters in November!

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

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Little Green Gallery - Artworks and crafts in Swanage EXHIBITION Exciting new originals and prints

by Hamish Murray and Tony Kerins.

6th - 24th December 10-5pm PLUS - Contemporary gifts with a difference; hand-blown glass, jewellery, ceramics and much more!

Little Green Gallery, 38 High Street, Swanage. BH19 2NX Telephone: 01929 421758 Email: Barbara@littlegreengallery.co.uk www.littlegreengallery.co.uk

Teresa Lawton At Acathus Gallery

T

eresa is known for her beautiful abstract paintings, and has work in collections from Beijing to New York. Born in Poole, she studied art in Bournemouth and Winchester.

On leaving college she set up her studio in Corfe Castle, and worked for many years in Purbeck. Although she now lives in Upwey, she maintains strong links with the area.

Teresa explores her ideas by simplifying form, space and colour. She builds up a deep, rich polished surface of oil paint, before this surface is scored, marked and re-organised to create a sense of calm and order.

Some of her favoured colours include dark red, russet, and brown as well as a cooler range of grey, blue and white – the white can be almost luminous, sometimes hard and flat like bone.

The Acanthus Gallery is next to the Rex Cinema in Wareham. It concentrates on showing exciting, abstract paintings by exceptional artists who, in the main, live and work in Dorset. It has ceramics by some of the country’s leading potters and has a reputation for unusual, contemporary designer-maker jewellery.

Website: www.acanthusgallery.co.uk Email:info@acanthusgallery.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 10.30-4.30, Closed Wednesday and Sunday

Swanage Christmas Charity Mail I

think this must be my seventh year of writing to your readers reminding everyone that as we approach the festive season it is time to launch the 2014 Lions Club of Swanage ‘ Christmas Charity Mail’ appeal.

During those years a vast army of volunteers from our community have helped to collect in, sort and deliver nearly 41,000 Christmas Cards. Those of you who have used this service have enabled us to raise and donate around £15,000 to many local charities and projects.

This year’s Christmas Charity Mail starts on Monday 8th December and the final collection of mail will be Tuesday 16th December, at noon. So, you only have eight days in which to send your local Christmas greetings.

The main collection point will again be at Tawny’s Wine Bar in the High Street, open daily from 9.30am until 3.30pm (not Sunday). Other post boxes and payment pods will be at Poppies Café, Putlake Farm, Langton Matravers; Dragon’s Bakery, Corfe Castle; Moonfleet Garage, Harmans Cross. The Village Hall in Studland will take in post on Thursday 4th and 11th December only.

I am pleased to announce a new collection point at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue, Swanage, for those in the community who live in the Herston area. The cost per card remains at 25p.

We only deliver post to Swanage, Langton Matravers, Acton, Worth Matravers, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Church Knowle, Harman’s Cross and Studland. All cards will be delivered after 16th December.

This year’s beneficiaries of the proceeds are ‘CanCare’, a Swanage-based charity that supports cancer patients and ‘Harlequin’, a Dorset charity which provides holistic care for the unpaid carers in our community who look after family members with long-term health problems.

The Christmas Charity Mail only survives because you, the community, volunteer your time to help us with the collecting in, sorting and delivering of the post. With Christmas being a shifting bank holiday, the postal dates this year mean that our local A.T.C. will be unable to provide their usual delivery service in Langton Matravers. I am looking for new volunteers who could cover this area and also Worth Matravers.

Each year some volunteers find their circumstances have changed and can no longer help. So, if you feel you can spare a little time, please pick up the phone and contact Paddy or David on 01929 424975. Come and join our band of helpers!

Remember a card with a Christmas message brings happiness and joy to others. Please come and support us by sending all your local cards through the Christmas Charity Mail . You will be helping the community to raise much needed funds for two local deserving causes and it’s only 25p per card. Help us to help others! Paddy Rideal.

The Purbeck Gazette

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GET SHOPPING! Stylish Warmth

SHEEPSKIN • LEATHERGOODS • BASKETWARE

SKINMATES 48a High Street • Swanage • 01929 424432

SHEEPSKIN & LEATHER✶ ✶GLORIOUS WINTER IS COMING! Sheepskin slippers Sheepskin mitts Sheepskin hats Lambskin gloves Leather gloves

T

he word ‘emporium’ is often used, but rarely is it totally relevant to that which it describes. In the case of Skinmates in Swanage High Street, you’d be hard pressed to describe the amazing selection of quality goods for sale in this long-standing Swanage shop.

Owner, Ray has been serving the town of Swanage for decades, stocking a mind-boggling array of superior sheepskin products and leatherware.

From genuine sheepskin rugs, to moccasins, slippers, mitts, gloves, suede bush hats, belts, bags, wallets, and much much more, there’s no ‘collection’ of sheepskin or leatherware goods within a driveable distance that can compete with Ray’s selection.

Gifts For ALL!

R

emember the summer Air Show and the Battle of Britain memorial flight - the Lancaster, the Spitfire, the Hurricane- the roar of the mighty Vulcan and the superb flying display of the Red Arrows?

All are remembered with our official Royal Airforce gentlemen’s gifts of key rings, mugs, cufflinks, pen sets and clocks. Perfect for the budding aviators.

We can also offer an exciting new range of solid silver jewellery set with natural gemstones of labradorite, rose quartz, amethyst and opalite. All are beautifully presented in gift boxes and sure to delight the lady in your life without breaking the bank.

For those of you who have their sights set on the vistas of the world or heavenly bodies, we can offer quality binoculars from £8 to £400 and Astro Scopes from £49.

New for 2015 The Opticron Vega - a truly lightweight performance binocular available in 8X, 10X and 12X magnification. Rubber armoured, waterproof and multicoated performance in your pocket.

Great spec, great price - from £55 to £65 with a five year warranty.

Leather bags Leather purses & wallets Leather belts Suede bush hats Chamois leather

Ladies & Gents Pure Wool Lined Moccasin Slippers

LARGE SELECTION OFLUXURIOUS BRITISH SHEEPSKIN RUGS ALWAYS IN STOCK FULLY WASHABLE SINGLES & DOUBLES COMPETITIVE PRICES • PERSONAL SERVICE

Now that the winter winds have started blowing, why not pop into Skinmates and check out the array of sheepskin items which will help you keep warm?

And if you are looking for a perfect Christmas Gift – who wouldn’t be delighted with a lovely pair of sheepskin slippers or mitts.

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PURBECK ELECTRICAL

61 High Street, Swanage. (next to the Red Lion). Tel: 01929 424177

WIN this fabulous Roberts Revival Analogue Radio for Christmas!

Spend over £20 in November and up to December 24th to be entered in our Special Christmas Draw.

Winning ticket will be drawn at midday on Christmas Eve!

Come and buy Christmas Gifts, Christmas Lights...... household items, white goods, electrical items, phone chargers, even ordinary light bulbs and have a chance of winning this wonderful prize.

For fabulous gifts and extraordinary lightening, come to Purbeck Electrical Be amazed!

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Emmanuel Baptist Church

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER, 10am till 2pm, fantastic CHRISTMAS FAYRE at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue.

Lots of beautiful hand-made gifts on sale plus delicious home made cakes and puddings and Christmas Coffee Shop open for scrumptious festive food!

Entry is free - more info from 427706

Cards For All!

E

stablished over twenty years ago in Swanage, Sues Cards and Gifts has always been the first place to go for the best range of cards at the best prices.

Two years ago we moved from under the Mowlem to a bigger shop at 11 Institute Road, just 100 yards away. To the many loyal customers who have stayed with us following the move, we offer our thanks, and to those new customers who have yet to find us, our friendly and helpful staff extend a very warm welcome.

We now have four rooms with the largest range of cards in the area, also a huge selection of banners, balloons and party paraphernalia.

As an independent retailer we are not tied to one supplier so the cards we offer are extremely varied to suit all tastes, and if you can’t find what you want we have the contacts to be able to locate it for you.

At this time of year you will probably be spending a lot more on cards … come and see how much you can save at Sues Cards.

More Than You’d Imagine..

S

wanage Tourist Information is situated on Swanage Seafront, where we welcome all visitors and locals alike. Our friendly staff will be delighted to help you with any information you need. Our Christmas card, wrapping paper and gift selection is provided by cards for good causes which pay 70p in the pound to the allotted charities. We have a wide and varied range of charities to choose from.

Why not come and see our large selection of books on local walks, history or geology? The Centre has brochures on attractions, activities, walks, history trails and offers a postal service on some publications. Gift Vouchers are available.

Don’t forget we do bookings for Crossway Travel holidays, Mayflower Theatre, Lighthouse Theatre as well as many events at various local venues.

If you are holding any events please see us to advertise your event or become an agent for ticket sales.

Come and see our event information, what and where to go during the winter and Christmas season. Bookings for Tennis can be made from our office during the winter season. This year our Charity Christmas board is for Swanage Cancare who provide support for cancer patients and their families.

Come and put your card on the board for your neighbour and friends and pay what you would to do such in the charity pot, we hope to choose a new local charity every year. Our coffee morning for Macmillan raised £451.59, thank you everyone for attending. Look forward to seeing you soon.

The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

Magical Toys

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needs. We look forward to seeing you soon.

ynn and Ray welcome you to Cloud9.

This being our first year it’s all new to us.

After a few changes at Cloud9 we still specialise in quality toys from playmobil, Bigjigs, Melissa and Doug play role costumes, preschool educational Vtech, to being stockist for orchard toys and streets ahead for your doll’s house

Brother Sewing Day

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tewart’s House of Fabric and Wool are delighted to take part in the ‘The Purbeck Christmas Challenge’ with its aim to help you buy locally in the lead up to the festive season and we want to make things easy for you!

We’ve started stocking wool, knitting needles and patterns as well as all our beautiful cotton fabrics and our middle room is now chockablock with all the colours of wool you could imagine.

Jean is planning classes for beginners and the more advanced in knitting and crochet alongside all her and Debs usual sewing classes.

If you’re thinking of buying a sewing machine come and see the latest sewing, quilting, embroidery and overlocking machines first hand. From sewing machines suitable for beginners, through to high-specification semiprofessional embroidery machines. We’re getting ready for our autumn Brother Sewing day on Friday 14th November and we hope to see you there. There will be the usual popular free prize draw! See you at the shop!

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Kate Smith, ITEC

NEW TREATMENTS!

Eyelash & Eyebrow Tinting - Eyelash Perming & Lifting Kaeso Natural Facials HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY, WAXING, FACIALS, MANICURE, PEDICURE, SHELLAC, EYELASH & EYEBROW TREATMENTS

Kate Smith is available at:

RubyTuesdays Tilly Mews, Swanage Call Kate for details on 07505 313179

Your Skin - Our Care FACIALS ermalogica has a solution to every skin problem and your Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist can’t wait to help guide you to your customised regime.

You will receive a personalised prescription that will pinpoint your skin’s needs. Targeted skin care means faster results and the confidence that you are only using the products you need.

GETTING STARTED IS EASY! Jane, Alison and Jenny at Corfe Beauty are Dermalogica trained skin care specialists and are ready to help. For your free skin care analysis appointment and a sample pack of products - please call or text 07885 589581 or email jane@corfebeauty.com Corfe Beauty offers a range of beauty treatments and complementary therapies - take a look at our website www.corfebeauty.com We are located at Hartland Stud which is opposite the Half Way Inn on the A351 Wareham to Corfe Castle road.

The spacious ground floor premises has plenty of parking and refreshments available in the reception area. This relaxed, tranquil environment and the welcoming, experienced therapists make Corfe Beauty the ideal place for your Beauty Treatments and Relaxing Therapies.

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CORFE BEAUTY Corfe Castle 07885 589581 Christmas Gift Vouchers Available 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

CORFE BEAUTY AT HOME This autumn we launch Corfe Beauty ‘ In Your Home’ - If you cannot get to us, we can come to you for treatments in the comfort of your home.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO CORFE BEAUTY! Jane, Alison and Jenny

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Delicious, festive foodie delights, prepared by the best restaurants, cafes, retail outlets and public houses in Purbeck.

Just for you.....

Delicious Christmas Menu AVAILABLE NOW Pre-bookings only from Dec 1st - Dec 24th Gluten Free Menu Available 2 courses £17.50 3 courses £21.50 Please call in or email us for the full menu!

Email: email@blackswanswanage.co.uk

The Black Swan Inn, 159 High Street, Swanage. 01929 423846. www.blackswanswanage.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

Three Generations B.CURTIS LTD Of Quality Traditional High Class Family Butchers

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he Curtis family have been butchers for three generations. In the past sixty one years we have provided quality meat to the people of Wareham & beyond.

When Basil Reginald Curtis started the business back in 1951, he insisted on selling only the finest quality produce he could buy. This still holds true today, where our policy is to only sell the best. This is why we source Mathers Black Gold Beef direct from Aberdeenshire, Purbeck Lamb and Purbeck Pork from a local farm.

Likewise, our poultry is the best money can buy. Farm Turkeys, Geese, Ducks and Chickens.

The rest is free from any antibiotic growth promoters.

We also produce many homemade products. Sausages (only using the finest natural skins), dry home-cured bacon (all cured on the premises), pies, pates, faggots, black pudding and our famous Christmas puddings.

Our high quality meats and attention to detail have formed the key to our success everywhere, from local trade to nationwide accolades.

Get your Christmas orders in soon!

Let the team help you arrange the best Christmas feast ever, with a selection of high-quality Curtis goodies!

Merry Christmas to all from the team.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR THE VERY BEST IN: LOCAL DRUG-FREE FARM POULTRY (TURKEYS, CHICKENS, DUCKS & GEESE) SPECIALLY SELECTED ABERDEENSHIRE & PURBECK BEEF

FINEST LOCAL PURBECK PORK & DORSET LAMB HOME CURED GAMMONS (RAW OR COOKED) LOCAL VENISON & PHEASANTS HOMEMADE PORK SAUSAGES CHIPOLATAS & SAUSAGEMEAT PORK PIES, GALA PIES & GAME PIES OX TONGUES, SALT BEEF & PICNIC HAMS WIDE SELECTION OF LOCAL & CONTINENTAL CHEESE & HOMEMADE PATES

Wishing all of our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

B Curtis Ltd, 19 West Street, Wareham 01929 552478 C Hallett, 25 North Street, Wareham 01929 552022 www.bcurtis.co.uk

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Warmth By The Waves

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alloween has been and gone, the trick or treaters have retreated back indoors and the costumes have been put into storage, which can only mean one thing - Christmas is now upon us!

No matter how much we deny it, Christmas is a favourite time of year for many of us. Trawling the streets, serenaded by the sound of Carol singers, then home to wrap lots of amazing gifts. Family get togethers, social catch ups or an intimate evening in front of a toasty fire whilst the wind and snow whistles around outside.

Well, I can tell you, it is certainly our favourite times of the year! Set in a unique position on the peninsular of Durlston Point with panoramic sea views, there is something magical about sitting by the open fire whilst treating yourself to some tasty Christmas treats, watching the waves crash into the rocks by the Zigzag whilst tucking into a Christmas meal with friends or family.

We are running our two and three course Christmas menu this year from 29th November through to the 30th December (excluding the 25th & 26th). Prices range from £12.50 for our children’s option, with many dishes able to be tailored to suit dietary requirements - there is a dish for everyone.

No reservations needed for lunch and group bookings welcome in the evening. Alternatively if you are looking for a venue to hire, then why not discuss your options with us, whether it be a staff party or you want to be the host with the most.

With so much flexibility, why not come and join us for the festive season.

See you all soon! The Seventhwave Team.

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F

Deliciousness!

our & twenty blackbirds are locally based caterers whose bespoke menus and events are heavily influenced and inspired by the abundance of wonderful local and regional ingredients and producers.

Renowned chef and company founder Toby Wood, and his enthusiastic team specialise in all aspects of corporate & domestic catering large or small, including grand openings, fully licenced bars, weddings, christenings, funerals, special events and home and holiday cottage dining, With the Christmas season soon upon us, Four and Twenty Blackbirds is the perfect caterer for all your celebrations, be it an office party, seasonal buffet, paella, wild game barbeque or one of Toby’s infamous feasting menus in the comfort of your own home. Home cooked gift hampers and Christmas treats will be available for local delivery throughout December.

In accordance with the seasons, Toby will be running a series of themed ‘Grub Clubs’ in various venues across Purbeck and will kick off with ‘Fruits of the forest,’ a locally sourced and foraged feast to be held at the Castle Inn, Corfe Castle; Tickets £25 in advance.

In partnership, with bush-craft and adventure experts, Land & Wave, Four and Twenty blackbirds will also be running ‘Deer in a day’ courses throughout the venison season. The morning will be spent in the woodland kitchen learning to butcher, preserve & smoke venison, followed by afternoon of cooking skills and a lot of eating!

For all enquiries, including all our forthcoming events, courses and ‘grub clubs’ please call 07983213585 or email:fourandtwentydorset@gmail.com

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It’s coming to that wonderful time of year again!

If you would like to come and celebrate with us, we are now taking bookings for Christmas Parties.

For menus, and further information, please contact us on 01929 480177 or go to www.nordenhouse.com.

Norden House, Norden Farm, Norden, Corfe Castle. 01929 480177 www.nordenhouse.com

Worth Tea Rooms

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twinkly, sparkly welcome awaits you at Worth Matravers Tea & Supper Room throughout the festive season.

Diana and David can cater for Christmas parties throughout December, for up thirty people, with a lunch/dinner party menu which is sure to delight everyone (£22 for two courses, £27 for three).

They are taking bookings now for their fabulous Christmas day lunch (£65 per person); and for a New Years’ Gala Supper (£75 per person) where you will be treated to a spectacular five course meal taking you up to the final course of cheese and bubbly to be served at midnight.

During the evening there will be an entertaining foodie quiz and other light entertainment.

lly d Fu nce e lic

Lunches, Afternoon Teas and Suppers

Lovely lunches, vintage afternoon teas and evening meals Thurs - Sun 11am-4.30pm, Fri & Sat nights

Booking NOW for Christmas parties, Christmas Day and New Year’s Gala Supper Please call to reserve tables

Tel: 01929 439368 By the duck pond at Worth Worth Matravers Tea & Supper Room will be open throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday, and will then be closed from January 2nd for five weeks, reopening during the 2nd week of February.

Tel: 01929 439368

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Family-Friendly Local Reopens Its Doors

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7th October saw local boy Jamie Perry with partners Zanda Birne and Mark Windsor reopen the doors to the Sandford Pub. Work over the first stage of the refurbishment has seen the inside getting a major refurbishment along with the back gardens and a new area ready for Private Venue Hire starting in 2015.

We still have several ongoing projects which include the renovation of the childrens’ area, animal sanctuary and planning for a sixty foot decking area to go outside the front of the pub.

Jamie Perry, spokesperson for the Sandford said,” I can’t wait to get the doors open as we have put our hearts into this project and really want to run a pub that is for the local community first and foremost. We have a lot of ideas and one of the first is setting up a local weekly trade morning where people can come and bring their homemade or home grown items to sell or trade to other locals” Inside the pub we have renovated the snug where we want to offer a warm welcome with a good selection of light bites and classic bar meals, complemented with great real ales and ciders.

Or go through to our new restaurant where couples, families and groups alike are all welcome, with a wide selection of homemade food served all day, available seven days a week from 12 noon through till late.

Head Chef Mark notes that “As all our food is homemade we can easily cater for all groups of customers, especially those with dietary requirements like coeliacs, dairy free and vegans”.

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Kingston Christmas Tree Festival

Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival, KINGSTON CHURCH, Thur 27th Nov – Sun 30th Nov fter the great success last year, we anticipate an even bigger event with more local people choosing to display a tree. Lots of businesses and organisations from the Purbeck Villages were able to promote what they do ( 30+ trees last year). This year it will also be possible to have Family Trees, so why not start to plan how you and your family might like to decorate your tree? As some people missed out last year, we again will offer viewing on 4 days starting at noon on Thursday 27th Nov until Advent Sunday 30th Nov. Admission is free with donations to Julia’s House, Weldmar Hospice and Kingston Church. There will be a warm welcome and plenty of seasonal refreshments, also music performances by local singers and musicians. The Tree of Remembrance is always very poignant.

Opening times : Thurs 12noon – 4pm, Fri 10am – 4pm, Sat 10am – 4pm, Sun 10am- 4pm This year we are also looking to make available some Nordmann trees if preferred, as the intention is that each tree will be re-used afterwards for display at home, in the office, at work, outside the hall, (wherever your group chooses) for the whole Christmas period. Contact Judy Forgan before 10th Nov if you wish to sponsor and decorate a tree. Space may have to be limited so please let me know soon via email (judyforgan@hotmail.co.uk). Trees are supplied by Norden Farm and the Church supplies all the lights. Sponsors can provide their own choice of decorations and theme.

The Christmas Tree Festival will also incorporate a Benefice Advent Service with plenty of audience participation from approx 3.15pm to prepare our hearts for celebrating Jesus, the real meaning of Christmas. Our thanks to all contributors across the Purbeck Villages who enable this event to take place.

Christmas Music Concert Wed 3rd December 7pm St James’ Church, Kingston This year our Christmas Concert will be midweek so please come and enjoy a stunning evening with a range of performers, soloists, instrumentalists and a larger choir.

Their seasonal music, with Kingston’s exceptional accoustics, will create a wonderful Christmas atmosphere in candle light amid the twinkling trees. Please come early to be sure of a good seat. Free admission with donations to various charities. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served so please give generously to these worthwhile causes.

Judy Forgan, Kingston PCC

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Food

The Gourmet Peddler The Bikemonger Cooks....

Beetroot, Feta & Vodka Soup

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his is a very simple seasonal recipe that I thought about whilst on my cycle ride across Iceland this summer. It was one hell of a ride: we expected it to be tough, hey it’s Iceland it’s going to be icy at least. To our adventurous delight it involved wading across freezing rivers, days in the volcanic desert, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, the Northern Lights, and even a hurricane. Our drinking water came from puddles and rusty old oil drums doubling as horse troughs at abandoned stables. It’s a brutal place made nicer with the occasional hot spring and a plastic bladder of single malt. Top Touring Tip: We decanted the whisky from the bottle into a bladder to save weight, single malt chosen due to strength to weight ratio, pretty smart eh? Other than the hot volcanic springs, Iceland nearly killed me.

Did you know the Icelandic folk have the highest life expectancy in the world at 82 years. I suspect this is because they never try to cycle across the highland deserts, preferring the security and comfort of incredibly large off-road monster trucks. Another reason is their damned clean and healthy diet. Also, they had prohibition ‘til the 1980s. No booze, and even now the beer in the shops gets no stronger than 2.25% (yes 2.25%, that is not a typing error). But they make up for this with a noble history of illegal stills and fine vodkas made from pure arctic water. And this vodka is one of the ingredients in this month’s recipe.

Beetroot, the other main ingredient, was originally developed by the Romans, which is the case with many of our vegetables. I’m told they are incredibly good for you, claiming to be high in: calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, folic acid and also a good source of fibre, manganese and potassium.

The recipe: This is a really hearty, yet refreshing, and intensely colourful soup. Oh seriously, I should mention that the colour of the soup does not change through the digestion process. I’m being too subtle. Look, it changes the colour of your wee and poo. Don’t be alarmed, you are probably not dying.

Ingredients...

5 good sized beetroots. Peeled and chopped.

A couple of onions. Peeled and chopped Two hearty handfuls of tomatoes. Quartered.

Good Vodka Some feta cheese Beef or chicken stock A hand blender

What to do...

Grate some of the beetroot and save for garnish later.

The rest of the beetroot gets chopped up and thrown in a saucepan, with the chopped onion, and some olive oil. Cook on a very low heat for around 10 minutes; keep it moving, you are not frying, just softening up.

Meanwhile place the chopped up tomatoes in an oven dish and grill the pants off them. They are done when they are soft and blistered.

Throw the tomatoes into the saucepan with the onion and beetroot.

Add a pint or so of stock Simmer for fifteen minutes Bother it with the blender until smooth. Maybe add more water if it’s too thick.

Now stir in a very good slosh of Vodka. The vodka will give it a clean and refreshing sharpness.

Serve in a bowl; I had some walnut bread on the side. That was a good move.

Garnish... Crumble lots of feta cheese over the top, and the grated raw beetroot from earlier.

Next month... I now have the goat meat, unfortunately too late for this month, so next month will be very local scotch goat eggs.

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Purbeck Products

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t’s that time of year again when our thoughts are turning to preparations for Christmas.

Purbeck Produce members, as family people, are well aware of the cost of this annual celebration and that is why our produce is good old fashioned quality and value; we can compete with the large supermarkets on many of our products on price.

The difference with Purbeck Products versus the supermarkets is that you can meet the producers, see the products, know where it was reared, grown or baked and know that you are keeping local people in work.

Christmas orders are now being taken for turkeys, pork, lamb, venison, vegetables, cakes, puddings, quiches, bread and wreaths. If you want to treat yourself to a pre-Christmas meal at home, then contact Farm Cottage Kitchen who can offer a delicious homemade meal delivered to your door.

Janine Drayson can provide her beautiful cards, calendars and gifts to help with those special presents. You can also catch up with us on December 6th at the Swanage Christmas Market (pictured above), which just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

We would like to thank Hester for all her support over the last few years and wish her every success at college.

Karen Welsh

PURBECK PRODUCE FARMERS’ MARKET COMMERCIAL ROAD, SWANAGE

on Saturday 8th November 9am - 1pm Orders now being taken for Christmas LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS

www.purbeckproducts.co.uk

Dear Charlie Bikemonger.

THANK YOU for working with Nick to get my old bike back on the road - hugely appreciated!

I shall take your stickered advice, and learn to ‘Toughen up Princess’!! Ed.

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Suttle Family Gain Extra Reassurance Of ‘No Fracking’ From Infrastrata

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dditional reassurance has been gained by the Suttle family that no fracking will take place on Swanage’s California Quarry site as part of InfraStrata’s oil and gas exploration.

Although the original lease agreement for the land at California Quarry, signed between InfraStrata and Chris Suttle, did not include any intention of InfraStrata to frack on the site, additional reassurance has been gained by the Suttle family, as an underlining of the original agreement.

Chris Suttle commented “We understand that the worry of fracking taking place on the site has been brought up locally, so we approached InfraStrata, who were more than happy to provide an additional legally binding letter to us, confirming that no fracking for shale gas would take place on the site either now or in the future. Although this doesn’t alter what InfraStrata have always intended to do on the site, we hope that this written agreement might provide extra reassurance to those who might have had any worries.”

Chris went on to say “We have always been committed to making a positive impact on the local area and economy, whether that is to employ people locally through Suttles, or invest in new machinery that will reduce the carbon footprint. We believe that the local area will also benefit from this project in the future, too.”

Dr Andrew Hindle, CEO of InfraStrata plc, said: “InfraStrata has always intended to use conventional drilling methods at California Quarry and we are happy to underline our commitment not to employ fracking, either now or in the future.”

The Infrastrata Portland Rig, the same as will be used at the Swanage site.

InfraStrata plc is holding a public drop-in information event about the project on Monday 27 October 2014, from 2pm to 8pm at the Mowlem Theatre in Shore Road, Swanage.

Wildlife Gardening Expert Backs Campaign

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orset Wildlife Trust’s new wildlife gardening initiative, ‘Make Wildlife Welcome’ has inspired support from writer and wildlife gardening expert, Kate Bradbury (pictured, bottom right). Her book ‘The Wildlife Gardener’ will be offered as a free gift to those who join the campaign.

Kate Bradbury is Wildlife Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and is already gardening for the benefit of wildlife. She has been named a ‘Make Wildlife Welcome hero’ by DWT. Kate said, “UK gardens collectively take up more space than all of Britain’s nature reserves. But we need to connect them. Simply by enabling hedgehogs to pass under fences, digging a pond or growing trees and shrubs to create corridors for birds, and planting flowers for bees and other pollinators, we can help create local habitats for wildlife.

The ‘Make Wildlife Welcome’ campaign is a fantastic campaign to get behind, and by getting together to help local species, we can achieve a lot for wildlife.”

Anyone who makes a pledge to Make Wildlife Welcome in their garden will be kept up to date with practical things that can be done throughout the winter, to help create a haven for wildlife all year round. They will also receive wildflower seeds, free literature and downloads, and expert advice and information from Dorset Wildlife Trust – all year round.

James Haldane from Dorset Wildlife Trust said, “There are an estimated fifteen million gardens in the UK, and even if only a small percentage of the population ‘Make Wildlife Welcome’, it would make a huge difference to the survival of wildlife this winter. It’s something the whole family can get involved in, and you don’t have to be an expert to get started.

Kate’s book is a great source of information for novice gardeners and is also filled with useful tips and advice for more experienced gardeners. We are delighted that she is supporting our campaign.”

To receive your free book and make a pledge to help wildlife for just £3 a month, we have everything you need to get started, or support an established wildlife friendly garden.

Visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/mww to make your pledge to help wildlife. Keep up with stories, tips and information on Twitter @ DorsetWildlife #makewildlifewelcome.

Photographed: Wildlife Garden at Kingcombe © Sally Welbourn Inset: Kate Bradbury

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Big Is The New Small

by John Garner

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few months ago, should anyone read this or have any memory of what’s happened in these columns before now, I mentioned that I had entered a 10km swimming event down the River Dart.

I’ve just completed it and it was great. I won’t rattle on about how marvellous it was, but it’s good to know you can do all sorts of things if you put your mind to it.

It has, however, left quite a gap in my weekly schedule as I no longer feel quite the same compulsion to charge down to the beach and thrash around for an hour or two as the guilt of not doing so isn’t so great any more.

I still intend to swim outdoors for as long as the weather and temperature allow, but at my own leisurely pace and to take in the surroundings more intently, rather than swimming with a purpose as a necessity to avoid the humiliation of being hauled out the River Dart sobbing because I couldn’t possibly go on any further. Swimming down the Dart was amazing as I’m told it is a very beautiful stretch of water, but I’ll have to check this on the photos, because I didn’t really have much of a chance to take in the surroundings if I’m honest. I also found I spent far too much time and energy fretting about all the little stuff. Would I oversleep? How much food should I eat en route? How fast should I go at the start? Utter nonsense and designed to help in no way whatsoever with the actual swim.

Which clumsily brings me to the reason for this month’s wittering. And that is that these little things are one of a number of small issues that have plagued me recently and I write here to implore you to worry not about the little things in life and get on with enjoying the whole. Sometimes it’s better just to barrel along in blind acceptance than look at things too closely.

Here are a few examples that have been confusing me over the last few weeks. They hopefully serve as a warning about looking at things too intently. Or they could just be the meanderings of a nearly insane man who has ingested too many chemicals whilst swimming in the semi-wild, effluent-soaked waters of our splendid estuaries.

So here are some cautionary examples. Let’s start with a sign I saw the other day. Well more of an instruction really. Saturday morning found me hovering outside Wareham post office with a letter in my hand. Onlookers may have noticed a perplexed chap shifting from foot to foot approaching one side of the post box, retreating and then approaching the other side.

(Well. You may well not have seen this if you were outside Wareham post office on Saturday morning, but this is how it has played out in my mind ever since.)

There are two slots for postage outside Wareham Post Office. One says ‘All Mail’, the other states ‘All Other Mail’. I looked down at my letter. It was a letter to the bank. Should this go in the all mail slot or was it better placed in the all other mail slot?

What indeed should go in the all other mail slot that doesn’t go in the all mail slot? I couldn’t decide. I looked around and everybody seemed to be going about their business as normal. Some even brushed past and confidently popped their correspondence into what they clearly had worked out was the appropriate slot for their postage with barely a thought. I should have asked one of them for advice. I didn’t. I should have headed inside and requested guidance. I didn’t. What I did was slowly slip the letter back into my pocket and sidle away. A day or two later I dropped the letter off directly at the bank myself. Phew. A close escape.

It could have been disastrous.

Something else caught my eye last week. Whilst driving, quite possibly to the bank to post my letter, I noticed another sign. This sign advertised the legend ‘Affordable Acupuncture’. Now the benefits of acupuncture are probably wide and far reaching. A little research has shown that it is possible to cure any number of ailments and problems by having small needles professionally inserted into various anatomical regions. I haven’t partaken myself, probably because the phrase ‘having small needles professionally inserted into my body’ doesn’t sit well with my minimal pain threshold. But then I shouldn’t knock it because I haven’t tried it. And therefore I have absolutely no idea at what price acupuncture becomes affordable or not.

How do the people advertising know how much I can afford? Is the whole acupuncture industry linked in some way to mind reading? Could the stress brought about by worrying about the pricing structure of acupuncture lead me to seek out a cure in the form of an acupuncturist? And if so, how much should I pay for the treatment?

This latent worrying is not a new phenomenon. Years ago a student at a school where I worked asked why the teachers all had new insulated mugs with lids on. I stated that the lids stopped spillage and the insulation was integral so that the mugs could keep warm liquids warm and cold liquids cold. Hmmm, he pondered. ‘And how does the mug know which to do?’

A perfectly reasonable query I would suggest and one that demanded a rational explanation one would think. I pointed him in the direction of the Science department and quickly exited the building, pausing only momentarily to hand in my notice before he could seek me out and press me further.

All fascinating stuff I’m sure you’ll agree, but if there’s one thing to take from what you’ve just read it is this. Forget the small stuff. Generally it is small stuff because it doesn’t really matter. We worry about the small stuff at the expense of just getting on with enjoying our lives and surroundings.

The swim happened regardless of my anxieties. The mail will get there one way or another and the acupuncture industry appears to be progressing just fine without my patronage. And I’m sure that the chap who was confused about the insulating properties of thermal mugs has found his way in the world regardless of the answer he eventually found.

More cod wisdom from the Purbeck Philosophy guru next month.

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Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

Healthy Soils leads to healthy plants he top four inches of your soil should be teeming with life and if you treat it right, you will be rewarded with stronger, healthier plants and more flowers.

The best way to achieve a healthy soil is to add a generous amount of compost or other source of bulky organic matter to the soil surface at least once per year and now is the time to do just that.

Adding a two to four inch surface dressing to the soil (mulching) before winter helps to; • Insulate the soil against cold weather and therefore protect overwintering plants.

• Encourage beneficial bacteria and Mycorrhizal fungi which recycle nutrients for the plants to use and helps protect plants against attack from pathogens.

• Improve drainage and soil aeration on heavy clay soils.

• Retain water and nutrients on sandy and silt soils.

• Reduce annual weed germination and make subsequent weeding easier With all these benefits it is no wonder plants perform better.

The best way to treat your borders is to first do your autumn tidy by cutting back summer growth of perennials, clean up any leaves and weeds, carry out any autumn divisions and plant your bulbs.

Then start by spreading your own compost (as long as it is free of weeds such as couch and bind weed) on the cleaned soil.

When you run out of your own you can supplement using one or other of the following: • Well-rotted horse or farmyard manure • Recycled garden waste compost such as Eco Tree and Shrub or Eco Mix compost • Well composted leaf mould • Spent mushroom compost (do not use on acid loving plants such as Azaleas) Holme for Gardens are running some great offers to help with your autumn mulching.

November Tasks Net your pond to keep the leaves out.

Regularly clean up leaves from your lawn to prevent disease.

Transplant shrubs now if you need to move them.

Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs such as Buddleia, Weigela, Deutzia etc

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Holme November Offer Eco Mulching Composts £4.49 / bag or 5 bags for just £15 Even bigger savings on bulk bag deliveries. Call 01929 554726 for a quote Pictures for article: Above: A mulch has many benefits and it looks good too.

Below: Freshly mulched border

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‘Light, Life and Landscape’ – wildlife artists exhibit at Durlston Castle From 26 October to 23 November, Durlston Castle near Swanage will host an exhibition of new paintings and sculpture by internationally-acclaimed artists Bruce Pearson and Anne Shingleton.

The wildlife and landscapes of Dorset and Durlston Country Park, owned and managed by Dorset County Council, have inspired the artists’ work. Durlston Castle’s stunning fine Foundation Gallery will be a fitting backdrop for watercolour and oil paintings, relief and monotype prints, and drawings and studies from the wild, from Abbotsbury swans, to Studland seahorses and Durlston’s nesting seabirds.

Anne Shingleton grew up in Dorset and is renowned for her mastery of the animal form and of light and luminosity. The exhibition will feature not only her paintings, but also her animal bronzes. Anne said: ‘I am delighted to be showing my work in my home county of Dorset. After 32 years of living and working “under the Tuscan

Sun”, the Mediterranean sunlight has taught me much about painting colour and light. It has been a wonderful challenge to return and paint in oils the animals and landscapes that were my focus for etchings in my student days. The Abbotsbury Swannery is a favourite haunt of mine, resulting in a large body of work on the Mute Swan. My next project is naturally a large bronze swan.’

Former President of the Society of Wildlife Artists, Bruce Pearson said: ‘It is incredibly exciting drawing new inspiration out of old experiences, seeing new forms coming to life from halfforgotten ideas. After almost 30 years as a professional artist, creatively - these are the most exciting times of all.’

Cllr Colin Jamieson, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for community services, said: ‘The beautiful countryside and wildlife at Durlston make a perfect setting for this exhibition, which will be a treat for anyone who loves wildlife, Dorset or great visual art.’

Margaret Green Animal Rescue Get crafty for Margaret Green Animal Rescue! f you enjoy, knitting, sewing and other arts and crafts, we want to hear from you! We will be selling Christmas gifts and beautiful hand crafted items at fairs and events throughout the Christmas season.

The sale of the items will raise much needed funds for Margaret Green Animal Rescue. Examples of the type of items needed are knitted or crocheted blankets, hand crafted cards, homemade aprons, cushions, bunting and any other creative item you can think of!

Perhaps budding photographers could take pictures of our beautiful local countryside and donate small prints that we could sell. The choices are endless!

If anyone has wool or other craft items they can donate to the people who are making these items it would be greatly appreciated. We know there is a lot of talent out there so please get in touch and help us raise funds for Margaret Green Animal Rescue.

People can drop off their crafts at either of our centres: Church Knowle, Wareham, BH20 5NQ or Lincoln Farm, Winterbourne Kingston, DT11 9BP. Contact Nikki at community@ margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk or by phone on 07522 366736 for more information!

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SURPRISE SUPER-STAR GUEST!

Swanage Children In Need

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wanage Drama Company are presenting a concert for Children in Need on Friday 7th November at 7.30pm at the Mowlem Theatre Swanage.

All the proceeds of this concert will be going to Children In Need and all of the performers are giving their time free of charge.

The acts will include the winner of ‘Swanage has Talent, the famous ‘Boyonce’ act, plus many, many more.

So do come along and have a fun evening with us and help us raise some money for Children in Need!

Tickets are available from the Mowlem in Swanage for £6 (adult), £5 concessions and children. Tickets are expected to sell fast, so get yours now!!!

WWI Remembered The Purbeck Gazette

WWI remembered: Purbeck voices raised to support Heroes Haven and the British Legion St. Mary’s Church, Swanage, Saturday 8th November 7.30pm n this Centenary year of the commencement of WWI, The Purbeck Arts Choir and Orchestra together with soprano soloist Helen Ostafew and the newly formed Purbeck Arts Youth Choir present a programme of moving and uplifting music.

Paul Mealor’s song ‘Wherever you are’ (first performed by Gareth Malone’s Military Wives group), ‘The Call’ (Regina Spektor), and ‘Hero’ (Mariah Carey) together with music by Elgar, Walton and Parry form the first half of this concert followed by “The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace” by Karl Jenkins.

The evening is in support of Heroes Haven, Swanage and the Royal British Legion.

Tickets are £10 on the door or £9 in advance from Corbens, choir members or Liz Roberts 01929 481419.

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Twinning Concert Concert Saturday 1st November at 7.30 p.m.

CS will be singing Michael Tippett’s “A Child of Our Time ”, twice. This work will be sung on Ist November in Dorchester with our twinning towns’ choir from Luebbecke, Germany and Bayeux, France.

A week before, DCS will join the other choirs in Luebbecke to sing Tippett’s masterpiece as a commemoration of the start of the First World War – the not-so-great war that was to end all wars. “A Child of Our Times” is a memorial to the innocent victims of war and the choruses of Negro Spirituals are the hymns of the oppressed.

Director Christine Page says “It will be poignant, especially in this time of conflict, to sing the story of all persecuted and displaced peoples”.

As part of the celebration to the re-uniting of Europe post-1945 we will also sing together a No Man’s Land carol – Stille Nacht ( Silent Night ) for North German Radio, to be played at Christmas time in all three countries.

This reminds us of the moment in war when troops from both sides, German and British, observed a truce on Christmas Day in 1914 to play football and sing carols, including Stille Nacht, to show that even in war humanity can shine through.

Concert 1 November, 7.30pm. at St. Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester. DT1 2HL. Contact Anthony Gannon on 01305 262005

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Acupuncture & Zero Balancing Bodywork With Alan Hext

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lan Hext practices Traditional Acupuncture and Zero Balancing bodywork at the Swanage Therapy Centre, drawing upon over 30 years of clinical experience.

He trained with Professor JR Worsley, a key figure in the transmission of acupuncture to the West and Dr Fritz Smith, the founder of Zero Balancing.

Alan assisted Dr Smith, aged 85, when he taught in England this summer.

Alan has taught both disciplines internationally.

I continue to be impressed by the therapeutic value of acupuncture to improve people’s health, as well as aiding their ability to adapt to the stresses and changes in life.

The strain of such experiences as moving house, losing close loved ones or recovering from an illness which has drained you, can tax our strength and may frequently benefit from the support of treatment.

At the first session I like to take a thorough case history whereby the details of the nature of your condition can be understood in the wider context of your life. Chinese medicine treats the individual who is suffering with ill health rather than simply identifying symptoms and addressing those.

This means that the response to acupuncture serves your general wellbeing in the process of your recovery.

My interest in serving people utilises the ways classical acupuncture insightfully recognised the interaction of body and mind in a way which transcends the separation which frequently characterises modern medicine.

The founders of the Swanage Therapy Centre also use needles in their practices, often addressing a structural, physical level of need. They may refer patients to me where there is a complexity in the case or there is emotional distress which may benefit from a different approach.

I am a member of the largest professional organisation of acupuncture practitioners in the UK, the British Acupuncture Council. Their website www.acupuncture.org.uk has details of acupuncture’s effectiveness in many situations.

For more information or to book an appointment please contact Swanage Therapy Centre on 01929 426506

Craniosacral Therapy

Alexandra Troy CTET Developed by an osteopath for gentle, deep effective release and realignment in the body for all kinds of pain and discomfort For further information please call: 01929 424911 or 07970 595103

www.cranial-swanage.co.uk

Advertise your Health or Beauty Service HERE! See www.purbeckgazette.co.uk for rates

Swanage Therapy Centre

Acupuncture & Zero Balancing Bodywork We look forward to seeing you!

T: 01929 426506 www.swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

CHIROPODY Rachel Ciantar

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Matron’s Round

Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

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ello again from Swanage and Wareham Hospitals.

Firstly I would like to congratulate all the staff who entertained the community with the pantomime, “Swanella”.

On a more sombre note and with Remembrance Sunday approaching, I wanted to share some information that Pete Lacey in MIU at Swanage Hospital told me about.

“Frederick Mcmahon Hardman (Freddie) was the only son of Captain J.W.J.Hardman and Frances Hardman of Lattice House, Sherborne.

Captain Hardman served with the 1st Royal Dragoons and lost his life in The Boer War.” “This left Mrs Hardman to bring up her only son Freddie alone.

He attended Durnford School in Langton Matravers before going to King’s College, Cambridge.”

“He enlisted in the 4th Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers in 1912 and gained a commission as a Second Lieutenant. When war broke out his battalion, which was part of The Territorial Force, was sent to France. He had the misfortune to lose his life on the 27th October 1914.”

“He is remembered on the Le Touquet Memorial in France.

Unfortunately he has no grave. He is also remembered on the Durnford School memorial.”

“Mrs Hardman was determined to remember her son in a positive way.

She endowed a sum of money to fund a bed at Swanage Community Hospital which was run by a charity at that stage. A brass plaque was fixed over this bed to remember Freddie.”

“Over a period of years and with the coming of the NHS, this plaque was taken down and placed in storage.”

“The story seemed so poignant that when one of the current MIU nurse practitioners found this plaque he took it home to restore it. It now has pride of place in the Minor Injuries Unit and has a poppy placed upon it each year at this time.”

“A sad story but despite happening nearly 100 years ago he will not be forgotten. We have just heard from the Tower of London, who have informed us that on Monday 27th October, Frederick’s name will be read out when that evening’s Last Post is played at the Tower.”

Lastly, I would like to invite you to join us at Swanage Hospital for our Autumn Fayre on Saturday 29th November from 10am to 12 noon.

Then in December there will be a Christmas Raffle at Wareham Hospital with tickets available from the reception desk. The draw will take place on Friday 19th December.

Until next time, take care.

Swanage Hospital Minor Injuries Unit Open 7 days a week from 8am - 10pm If you have an injury, we’re here to treat it!

Call us on 01929 421329.

We’re here for YOU, so use our services!

Malnutrition In Dorset

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orset has been recognised for the pioneering work between health and social care to combat malnutrition. Sue Hawkins, care catering services manager at Dorset County Council was named as one of the top 50 people by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) and Health Service Journal (HSJ) for her work to combat malnutrition.

‘The Care Integration 50 Awards’ was set up to celebrate the 50 most influential people involved in the integration of health and social care services and identify the people who are doing the most to overcome historical organisational barriers to create a new care system.

A panel of judges assessed candidates on a number of criteria.

A key factor was how innovative their approach to health and social care integration had been, and if the work had improved services for people who rely on them. The winners were also judged on the effectiveness of

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Edith Mason-Hubacher I.T.E.C. M.I.P.T.I B.A.U.K.

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their leadership and whether their work had achieved a positive impact on services in their local economy.

Sue Hawkins was praised for her commitment to create strong links between the NHS, Public Health and the wider community to introduce the malnutrition universal screening tool into community settings.

The screening tool allows either health or social care staff to take action if a person is malnourished.

Catherine Driscoll, director for adult and community services at Dorset County Council, said: “Malnutrition in older people is a much more common problem than many realise, and with our aging population, will only continue unless we take action.

“We have been working hard in Dorset to promote nutritional care, and the endorsement from the LGC and HSJ for our work is an honour. We hope this means that more people will see and benefit from the work we have done.”

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Sport

SSRC Enjoys The Last Events Of The Rowing Year

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eptember and October are the last of the major events of the rowing calendar with the Men’s County Championships at Newquay on the 20th September and the Great River Race the following weekend in London. Each year the competition seems to get tougher and the number of crews larger, and the County Championships are the final event where all the clubs gather together to show how they have shaped up after a season’s rowing.

A fortnight after the Ladies weekend, the Men rowed on the 20th September in fantastic weather which made for fast times around the course. Of the 90 entrants the B crew struggled to find their form and finished 67th, but the A crew came a well- deserved 19th with just seconds separating the top gigs.

The following weekend SSRC put in 3 gigs in the Great River Race rowing 22 miles up the river Thames from Millwall to Ham. The river is closed to other traffic and some 330 boats of all shapes and sizes set off in classes to row upstream with the tide; this year – probably because the race came after the County Championships – there were a record 47 pilot gigs entered, including 2 from Poland! After a crowded start, the men’s veteran crew in Winspit pulled away and rowed hard for the finish, whilst the crews in Peveril and Old Harry enjoyed a slightly more leisurely pace.

This is a really spectacular event with the course rowing under 28 bridges and past some of the most famous landmarks, and a fantastic way to see London. After two and a half hours Winspit came home with an excellent result as the 4th gig, with Old Harry and Peveril crossing the line some time later, and a great day was had by all crews.

On the 3rd October, SSRC held its AGM at the Conservative Club. Martin

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Steeden was returned as Chair, having steered the Club successfully through a period of significant growth and development in the past three years.

Many of the members were also recognised for their achievements and commitment to the activities of the Club and for building a sound base for future growth. The Club always welcomes individuals with skills to help the future development, and it isn’t necessary to row to become a Trustee. If you would like to discuss how you can help the Club, please contact Gill Jennings on 01929 424144.

New Captains For The Dorset Golf Club

he Dorset Golf and Country Club held its Captains’ Drive In recently – an event that heralds the arrival of the club’s four new captains, while signifying the start of the club’s golfing calendar.

On a day peppered with thundery showers, three new captains stepped forward to drive their ball down the fairway. Men’s captain for this year is Paul Schmeider who without hesitation smote the ball 283 yards into the middle of the fairway, Lady Captain Vicky Kardas and Senior Captain Tony Key couldn’t quite reach the standard set by Paul, but between them they amassed a total of 928 yards which included a 260 yard drive by the Junior Captain on a previous day.

Monies raised by the event, for guessing the distances driven, have provided a great start to their chosen charity, the Victoria Education Centre in Branksome Park, Poole. The charity offers specialised education, therapy and care for young people aged from 3 – 19. Children and young people who attend Victoria have physical disabilities or complex medical conditions and many have additional needs including communication difficulties, learning difficulties and sensory impairments.

Junior Captain for the second year, Callum Ward, was unable to take part in this year’s event – he was busy with the Junior team representing the club in the finals of the Royal British Legion Junior Golf Challenge In Northampton.

Swanage Bowlers

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ur transition to Indoor Bowling at the Swanage Bay View Complex (next to Joe’s Gym) took place early in October after a very successful Outdoor Season when our ladies won the County championship of the Edna Paisley League and Mike Keats reached the County Champion of Champions semi-finals at Shaftesbury.

Our Club competitions’ winners were as follows: Ladies Singles: Gill Bryceson. Pairs: Jean Broadbent/Jean Thomas.

Handicap Singles: Uta Keats Men Singles: Dave Hogsflesh. Pairs: Dave Hogsflesh/Graham Smooker.

Handicap Singles: Ollie Thake Levi Cup: Mark Coburn. Mixed Pairs: Gill/Clive Bryceson Australian Pairs: Graham Smooker/Terry Buck.

Our Winter social evenings, held once monthly at the Pavilion, Northbrook

Road, began well- attended on 18th October with a 60’s Extravaganza with DJ, appropriate music, buffet and photo quiz ‘Who do you think they are?’

With the October trial sessions under our belt, we continue to be very happy to hear from any interested party, whether it be individuals or groups, to come along.

If you like the sound of us and the idea of some good recreational activity in a friendly environment during the winter months, please call me, Jean Thomas, on 426795.

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Purbeck Marathon Increases Charitable Donations

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he Purbeck Marathon is celebrating more records in 2014 as the success of this year’s event means that we are able to increase our charitable donations to £6,000, a 50% increase on 2013. A community event where the local community is able to benefit from the donations is one of the founding objectives of The Purbeck Marathon and we are very pleased to be able to continue this and increase the amount donated.

As in previous years, we are very pleased to provide a large donation of £2,500 to the Swanage Regatta & Carnival which they can distribute amongst their chosen charities. These are local schools, voluntary organisations and charities. We are also grateful for the assistance that Swanage Regatta & Carnival provides to The Purbeck Marathon.

Each year we are supporting a designated Chairman’s Charity. For 2014, we have been supporting the Lewis Manning Hospice and we are pleased that we are able to give them a sizeable donation. Lewis Manning also had a number of runners in the Marathon, who have raised additional funding for this excellent cause. Forest Holme Hospice and Autism Wessex also had runners in the race and The Purbeck Marathon will be sending them cheques that will be in addition to the amounts that these runners have been able to raise.

The Purbeck Marathon is also extremely grateful for the help of other voluntary organisations without whom it would not be possible to stage an event of this quality and complexity and we will be including them.

These include Raynet, Swanage Railway, Kimmeridge Emergency Response Volunteers and Margaret Green Animal Rescue. We would also like to note the incredible assistance provided by Swanage Coastguard, St Albans Coastguard and Kimmeridge Coastguard. The unique nature of

The Purbeck Marathon means that the support of such organisations is integral to race safety although, fortunately, we did not need to make significant use of their services.

We will be presenting cheques at a special evening on 22 October at L’Artishe in Swanage. This will form part of a photographic evening where winners will be chosen for The Purbeck Marathon’s photographic competition. Amateur photographers were invited to submit two photographs, one focused on running and the other on the landscape.

More details of this evening are available on The Purbeck Marathon Web site and Facebook page.

Rose Clarke, Race Director for The Purbeck Marathon, highlighted the importance of raising funds for charity: “Ever since The Purbeck Marathon was founded in 2012, we have seen fundraising for local community organisations and charities as one of our three main objectives. Our other objectives are organising a high quality running event and showcasing what Purbeck has to offer. We are extremely pleased that we have been able to increase our level of donations and include additional worthy organisations. What’s more, many of the runners were running for charity so many more organisations will have benefitted from this event.”

The organisers have already started planning the next event which is scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2015. Entries will be available from 15 October 2014 through www.thepurbeckmarathon.co.uk.

The 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.

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Football Club

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wanage & Wareham rugby club have played their opening pre-season friendlies, the first was against a higher league placed Trowbridge, which they only lost by 17pts -19pts because Trowbridge managed to score one more conversion. Swans scored three tries with efforts by winger Karl Barton, wing forward Kirk Jones, and full back Callum Baird.

Charlie Parish kicked Swans’ only conversion.

Swans welcomed High Wycombe to Bestwall on the 30th August, who play in Southern Counties(North), a similar standard to Swans. However, although Swans started well running in 8 pts early on, with a try by flank forward Jesse Scott, and a penalty by Phil Graves, the heavier High Wycombe forwards soon took control, and the visitors eventually ran out winners by 8pts – 22pts.

At the same time Swans 2nd XV were playing a round robin event against three other teams from Blandford, Wimborne, and Weymouth. Swans 2nd XV drew with Blandford, and then beat both Wimborne, and Weymouth to come out top on the day.

On the 6th September, the visitors to the John Proctor Memorial ground were Sevenoaks, from Kent, who play in the London league, and once again it was a tough battle for Swans. The visitors opened the scoring after only five minutes with a converted try, but ten minutes later Swans replied with a push over try scored by no. 8 Joe Desmond.

Phil Graves added the extras to make the score 7pts each. However before half time the Sevenoaks left winger went in for his second converted try as the visitors led by 7pts – 14pts at the break.

Sevenoaks scored another try after 50 minutes, Swans replied with a try by replacement full back Paul Dunsford, so Sevenoaks won by 12pts – 21pts.

MAIN GAMES IN OCTOBER(all 3pm.)

4th Swans 1st XV v. Dorchester (D/W Cup) Home Swans 2nd XV v Marlborough (D/W Cup) Home 11th Swans 1st XV v. North Dorset league Away Swans 2nd XV v North Dorset league Home 18th Swans 1st XV v Supermarine league Home 25th Swans 1st XV v. Sherborne league Away Swans 2nd XV v Salisbury 2nd XV league Home Ron Butler(Publicity Secretary)

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Swanage Football Club

f you haven’t heard already, we have exited the FA Vase. The team can hold their head up high though for a fantastic performance and they only lost the game 4:3 on penalties.

We started the game well and went into the lead with a goal from Swans centre forward Graeme Rose, only to concede just on half time. The second half was a very even affair and in the final minute of the game we were very unlucky not to go through as a shot from captain Paul Best came back off the post only to land in the goalkeeper’s arms. Was it going to be one of those days? Extra time passed and penalties ensued.

Step up our young 16 year old goalkeeper Taylor Hibbs.

With Swanage missing their first 3 penalties we looked to be dead and buried. Taylor had it all to do. He threw himself down to his right to brilliantly save and then saved the next with his feet. With US Portsmouth missing the next we were back in the tie, only to miss our next penalty and US scored theirs to win the tie 4:3 on penalties.

Although losing the tie, the club (the lowest ranked club left in the Vase) have enjoyed competing in the FA Vase this season and are already making plans to enter again next season.

This season our Reserve side are finding it tough in Division 1, losing their first 5 games. Manager Simon Kidby remains upbeat and has confidence in his squad. This season Simon has introduced a number of players from the youth set up and is looking at this season as one of rebuilding and transition.

We are aiming to stay in this division if at all possible, but it won’t be the end of the world if we are relegated. Dorset FA, along with a number of other Football Associations across the country have introduced an U21 league. This is a great opportunity for us to integrate our up and coming youth players into the adult side.

This league is played midweek so only clubs with floodlights can compete. So therefore, we are in a group competing against the biggest clubs in Dorset: Weymouth, Dorchester, Wimborne & Poole Town. The manager of this team is Club Chairman Mark Watson and a few weeks ago he took his side to Wimborne Town and came away with a credible 1:0 win.

The fixtures are only one game a month and this month we welcomed Dorchester Town to Day’s Park. The game was played at a frantic pace with real quality. Swans took the lead but quickly conceded 3 goals to go into the break 1:3 down.

The second half was dominated by us and we eventually ran out 4:3 winners.

This is a good place to watch the up and coming Youth players across Dorset.

As mentioned earlier, we are in the U21 floodlight league and our

The Purbeck Gazette

floodlights are a cause for concern.

We have a few problems with bulbs not working and some other issues with them and we would be really grateful if a local electrician could help us out in the repair or maintenance of these lights.

As regular readers are aware, we are a club run by a group of volunteers and money is often a stumbling block, so for an electrician to help us out and come and look at our lights would help the club immensely.

Some free publicity and advertising can be arranged and, as we are all aware, the best form of advertising especially in a town like Swanage is word of mouth.

The Club’s website www.swanagefc.com is going from strength to strength and we are now regularly ranked in the top 50 websites on the Pitchero site. There are 100’s of clubs on this site and for a club of our size to regularly be in the top 50 is no mean achievement.

The rankings are worked out by the number of hits each site achieves and our site has regularly been in the thousands hits per week. Other ways of keeping in touch with everything at the club are on our Facebook page and both of the clubs official Twitter Feeds @Swanagefc & @Swanagefcyouth COME ON YOU SWANS! John Peacock Picture: 16 year old Taylor Hibbs saving a penalty Vs US Portsmouth in FA Vase

The Purbeck Gazette - Proudly Supporting The Swans

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Under 12s Hockey Club

ockey is fast and fun game that improves fitness and self confidence.

The new hockey season starts on Wednesday September 10th, and the vibrant Swanage and Wareham Hockey Club Junior Section are recruiting new players.

The club caters for players between 6 and 14 years old with training, matches and tournaments for all players.

Training sessions are every Wednesday in term time on the astro pitch at Purbeck Sports Centre. Under 10s training session from 18:00 to 19:00, Under 12s from 18:00 to 19:30, and Under 14s from 18:30 to 19:45.

If your children would like to have a go and see if they like hockey, their first session is free. Just turn up on a Wednesday in sports kit and trainers (hockey sticks can be provided) or for more information contact the Junior Lead Coach, Simon Goldsack, srbgoldsack@aol.com Picture - Under 12s Squad with coaches Des and Nikki

Swanage Cycling Club Swanage Cycling Club was set up earlier in the year and our aim is to get all ages, sexes and abilities riding together in our beautiful local area.

The club caters for both road cycling and mountain biking in a relaxed and social environment.

If you fancy joining us please get in contact through our Facebook page or our Twitter page, @Swanagecycling.

Hope to see you soon.

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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 Dec is noon, 10th Nov 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.

NOVEMBER 2014

Sat 1 *

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Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 Modern Warfare At The Tank Museum, Bovington. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Tanks in action display, hands on experience with rifles, talks, craft activities and trails. Ffi: 01929 405096 - tankmuseum.org 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Studland NT car park for circular walk via Agglestone, Godlingston Heath, Ballard Down, Old Harry Rocks and Studland.

Ffi 01929 421039.

10:30 Hallowe’en Trail At Studland Beach. Take part in craft activities and follow the clues left by the spooky creatures to claim a prize. Ffi: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ studland-beach Sun 2nd * Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 Modern Warfare At The Tank Museum, Bovington. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Tanks in action display, hands on experience with rifles, talks, craft activities and trails. Ffi: 01929 405096 - tankmuseum.org 10:30 Hallowe’en Trail At Studland Beach. Take part in craft activities and follow the clues left by the spooky creatures to claim a prize. Ffi: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ studland-beach Mon 3rd 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 19:30 Wareham-Hemsbach Society At Carey Hall, Mistover Road, Wareham.

Swanage Railway talk by Mike Stollery. Contact Robin Brasher 427015.

Tue 4th 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham - “Theme Competition – Humour” Visitors welcome. Ffi: Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 Wed 5th * Bonfire Night - Torchlit Procession from the crossroads to Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club on Bestwall Rd, Club bar open, food stalls, BBQ, live music and fireworks.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 50-50 Sale At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Household items, bric-a-brac, furniture, books and toys. Goods in by 3 & 4th November. Ffi: 01929 421696.

10:15 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Sika Trail car park, 500m SW of the Silent Woman PH for a walk through Wareham Forest and across Cold Harbour Heath. Ffi 07950 164877.

Thu 6th 09:45 Humphries Kirk Meet & Greet At Wareham Town Hall. Various talks throughout the day. Ffi: 01929 552471.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 50-50 Sale At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Household items, bric-a-brac, furniture, books and toys. Goods in by 3 & 4th November. Ffi: 01929 421696.

19:30 Swanage Regatta & Carnival AGM At The Purbeck House Hotel, Swanage. All are welcome to attend.

Fri 7th 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 50-50 Sale At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Household items, bric-a-brac, furniture, books and toys. Goods in by 3 & 4th November. Ffi: 01929 421696.

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 A Concert For Children in Need At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Swanage Drama Company presents.

19:45 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting At Wareham Day Centre, Bonnets Lane, Wareham. A meeting on the first Friday of every month to answer any questions

about alcohol misuse and alcoholism. Proffessionals and members of the public concerned about family or friends are welcome to attend. Free. Ffi: www. westdorsetaa.org.uk

Sat 8th 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 50-50 Sale At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Household items, bric-a-brac, furniture, books and toys. Goods in by 3 & 4th November. Ffi: 01929 421696.

10:00 Autumn Fayre At Swanage Hospital. Cakes, pickles, seasonal produce and other goods. Coffee and cake!

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet outside Mowlem theatre for a circular walk, via Peveril Point, Durlston Head and around Durlston Country Park. Ffi 01929 422795.

19:30 Purbeck Arts Choir Remembrance Concert At St Mary’s Church, Swanage.

In support of Heroes Haven and the Royal British Legion. Tickets £10 on the door (£9 in advance). Students and children free. tickets from Corbens or call 01929 481 419.

Sun 9th * ‘Freebay’ Tabletop Sale At URC Church, Swanage. Free table, free entry.

Refreshments available. To book a table and ffi: Elizabeth on 01929 422406.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 Tue 11th 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham - John Ives - “USA South West National Parks” Visitors welcome. Ffi: Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 Wed 12th 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Maiden Castle CP, Dorchester for an all-day walk taking in the Iron Age Hill Fort, the Hardy monument and Martinstown.

Ffi 07990 542203.

14:00 Stoborough WI At Stoborough Village Hall. Autumn and Winter colour in the Garden - Simon Goldsack.

19:00 Swanage Area Senior Forum Open Meeting At The Emmanual Centre, Victoria avenue. David Haysom presents: Postcards of Swanage from Edwardian to WWII times and Jan Turnbull, Chair of Friends of Swanage Hospital with the latest health news.

19:30 Studland WI Meets at Studland Village Hall. Mr EricWatson. “Northern Corsica Isle of Beauty”. Competition: Snapshot of best island holiday resort.

Thu 13th * Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle. * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 Fri 14th * Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle. * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 Brother Sewing Machine Open Day At Stewarts House of Fabric & Wool. Ffi: www.stewartshouseoffabric.co.uk or 01929 551191.

19:30 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets at Harman’s Cross Village Hall for a presentation entitled “Shifting Clay: North Purbeck’s Extractive Industry” by Clare Randall, Museums & Education Manager Swanage Railway. Doors open 7pm. No admission charge; donations welcome. Ffi 554765. EVERYONE WELCOME Sat 15th * Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle. * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham.

09:30 Freebay Tabletop Sale At The URC Church, Swanage. Free table and entry. To book a table, or Ffi: 01929 422406.

10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel

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Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Sherford Bridge on B3075 road for an easy winter walk, mostly on good paths around Morden Bog and Wareham Forest.

Ffi 01929 425165.

10:00 Stoborough WI Christmas Fair At the Corn Exchange in Wareham.

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 14:00 Wareham Remembers - Exhibition of Memorabilia In The Parish Hall, Wareham.

17:00 Public Meeting with Simon Bowkett At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Meet Labour’s prospective parlimentary candidate for South Dorset.

Ffi: 01305 831 722.

19:30 WW1 Commemorative Concert In Lady St Mary Church at 7. 30 p.m. Elgar, Ireland, Butterworth, Goodall- Eternal Light, Lark Ascending, Readings -Stories of local people. Conductor -Nigel Groome - Violinist -Poitre Kopec.

19:30 Wareham Choral Society At Lady St. Mary Church, Wareham. “Wareham in the War” Exhibition and concert to commemorate World War 1. New members welcome. Ffi: 01929 459319.

Tue 18th 09:00 Purbeck Produce Farmers Market At Commercial rd, Swanage. Local produce, from local producers. Ffi: www.purbeckproducers.co.uk 10:15 Exhibition- Coffee Morning At the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Chat to painters as they paint. Everyone welcome. FREE. 14:00 New Christian Spiritualist Church At The Community Hall at Queensmead Swanage.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham - “An Evening with Tony Worobiec” Visitors welcome. Ffi: Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 Wed 19th 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Ballard Stores for a figure of eight walk up via Ballard Down, Dean Hill, Studland & return via the Glebe estate. Ffi 01929 424462.

14:30 Studland History Group Meets in the Village Hall at 2.30pm for a talk by David Haysom and John Patrick from Swanage Museum, “Sources and Resources”.

All welcome. Ffi the Secretary 01929 439245.

19:30 Wareham & District Archaeology & Local History Soc Meets at Wareham Town Hall. Talk by Prof. David Hinton After the Romans - SE Dorset and SW Hampshire AD 400-900 Visitors welcome £2.

Thu 20th 19:30 Langton Matravers Preservation Society Meet in the Village Hall. Reg Saville will be giving an illustrated talk on the History of Langton House and Spyway. All welcome , members £2.50 , non members £3.50 Sat 22nd * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum. * O’Hooley & Tidow Wareham Music Festival at The Corn Exchange. Ffi: www. wareham-music.org.uk 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Elm Tree Inn car park Langton Herring.

Circular walk via Elworth. Possible pub lunch. Ffi 01202 684135.

10:00 NSPCC Christmas Fair At The Catholic Church Hall, Swanage. Admission £1 incl. coffe and mince pies!

Sun 23rd * Life, Light & Landscape Exhibition By Bruce Pearson & Anne Shingleton. At Durlston Castle. * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

14:00 Bridal Boot Fair In Wool. A chance for 2014 Brides to recycle their bunting, accessories and wedding props with the future brides of 2015. Local businesses offering Wedding Services will also be there for a chat. Updates via Woolbridge Flowers on Facebook or call 01929 405174. Join us at the D’Urberville Hall in Wool where this is plenty of free parking. Email: Woolbridgeflowers@gmail. com Mon 24th * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

Tue 25th * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

19:30 Dorset Industrial Archaeology Society Meets in the Dorset Room, Colliton House Colliton Park, Dorchester (opposite County Hall).“Poole’s Mysterious Shipwreck Decoded” is the subject of Gordon Lepard’s lecture to the Society this week. The shipwreck is said to be the most significant find since the ‘Mary

The Purbeck Gazette

Rose’. Non-members welcome (small donation suggested). Ffi: 01305 785968 or 871863.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham - “League Competition No 2” Visitors welcome. Ffi: Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 Wed 26th 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Challow Hill free CP for walk along the Purbeck way up Rollington Hill, down to Little Woolgarston and back via Corfe Common. Ffi 01929 450164.

Thu 27th * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

Fri 28th * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

Sat 29th * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

09:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Corfe NT Visitor Centre for walk along chalk ridge to Povington Hill viewpoint on the Creech to East Lulworth road. Ffi 07871 100714.

10:00 NSPCC Christmas Fair At Wareham Town Hall - Books, Cakes, Bric-a-brac, Tombola, Raffle, Refreshments Email: rwadams0@btinternet.com 10:00 Christmas Gift Fair In Corfe Castle Village Hall, 10am - 4pm. Lots of original and interesting ideas for Christmas. Lunch, coffee and snacks available. In aid of CC Christmas Festivities - Lighting up Corfe for Christmas. Entry £1 includes a raffle ticket. Ffi: 01929 480447.

10:00 Christmas Fayre At Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue. Lots of beautiful hand-made gifts on sale plus delicious home made cakes and puddings and Christmas Coffee Shop open for scrumptious festive food! Entry is free - more info from 427706 10:00 Spectacular Christmas Bazaar At the URC, Swanage. Stalls, lunches, and Father Christmas in his magical forest from 12 noon.

16:30 Swanage Christmas Lights Switch On! Join ius for the Grand switch and Raffle. Raffle tickets available from Swanage TIC and marquee outside the taxi office on the day.

Sun 30th * Teresa Lawton Exhibition At The Acanthus Gallery, 12a West Street, Wareham. * Phyllis Wolff Exhibition ‘Landscape & Identity’, an exhibition of contemporary paintings. At The Dorset County Museum.

WEEKLY EVENTS

EVERY MONDAY 09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH. 09.30 Under 2.5 years old group. Till 11am. at Parish Hall, Wm. 09.45 Toddler Club URC, Sw. Till 11.15 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 13.00 Play and Learn at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 2.45pm 13.00 Under 1s and Tums at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 3pm 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 19.30 Swanage Badminton Club at the Swanage School, till 9.30pm. Ffi: 07986 653219 20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Sw. 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

The Purbeck Gazette

Bullock on 421767, office hours, or tom@swanagemethodist.org.uk 09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 11.30am.

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 Sandford Toddlers at Sandford Community Hall, till 11.30am.

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 11.00 Guided Church Tour at Bere Regis Parish Church. Volunteer-lead tour of this wonderful medieval church. No charge, but donations gratefully received.

12.00 Nature Tots (0-4yrs) at Bovington Memorial Hall Garden. Until 2pm 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: 421913 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 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 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Offering peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till 12 noon. Ffi: 552864 10.30 Play and Learn at Kids of Wool (BH20 6DY) until 12 noon.

11.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Swanage Library till 1pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities 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 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 Play and Learn at Chapel Lane, Swanage, till 11am.

09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Streche Road, Wareham, until 12 noon.

09.30 Sensory Play for under ones, at Bovington Centre until 10.30am 10.00 Wm Parent & Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45. 556806 10.00 Wool Country Market D’Urbeville Hall. Cakes, preserves, plants, crafts,

71

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 11.00 Sensory Play for 1-4yrs old at Bovington Centre, until 12 noon.

13.00 Studland Toddler Group at Studland Village Hall until 2.30pm.

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 Rectory Classroom, Swanage, 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 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 Herston Hall OAP Committee Bingo Sw EVERY FRIDAY 09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 09.30 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 Swanage Library Rhyme Time, until 11.30am.

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 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 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.

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JIM BAGGLEY BUILDING SERVICES Ltd Renovations, Alterations, Extensions, New Cut Roofs, Loft Conversions, Upvc Windows & Doors, Carpentry & Joinery

Tel: 01305 852311 or 07879 817662

Email: jessjim@baggleyltd.wanadoo.co.uk

PURBECK PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE Central Heating Installation, Cylinder Replacement, Solar Panels, Power Flushing of Heating System.

Boiler Services/LGSC. Bathrooms. Drain Jetting.

Installers of

Swanage based Window & Door Company FENSA

Windows - Doors - Bi-fold Doors - Conservatories Fascias - Soffits - Guttering - Cladding Garage Doors - Window & Door Repairs Misted Sealed Units replaced UPVC - Aluminium - Timber Ggfi Insurance back guarantee 10 years guarantee

Carpets, Vinyls, Laminate Wood Jez Astells owner/fitter jez.astells@gmx.us

All areas covered - Free Estimates

Home Selection Service M: 0775 4263885 No Job too Small or Big T: 01929 450617 Supply & Fitting or Fitting Only

01929 550858/07831 312740

For a free, no obligation quote contact us on: Office 01929 424199 Mobile 07538 950 230 Email - redhillwindowsltd@hotmail.co.uk Web - www.redhillwindowsltd.co.uk

purbeckplumbing@yahoo.co.uk

20 years experience working in Purbeck

Contact Stephen Iles 31269

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING

75

Freestyle Flooring Carpets Vinyl Tiles Wood

CJS LANDSCAPES & Garden Maintenance

Many Years Experience

Landscaping Driveways Patios Pathways Hedge cutting Fencing Turfing Garden jungles cleared

Ian Campbell 01929 554292 or 07802 667250

All Garden Waste removed Free Advice Free Estimates Fully Insured Over 20 years experience

G&B

Full builds - Extensions - Loft Conversions Plumbing - Heating - Electrics Groundwork - Roofing

Call Craig J Smith on: t: 01929 551660 m:07534 217032

From concept to completion - 35 years in the building trade

Cjs Landscapes www.cjslandscapes.co.uk

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Highest standards guaranteed Fully certified & insured No hidden charges & no VAT Call Steve at Pile-Up on 01929 553861 or 07974 529017

General Building Services Ltd

Tel: 01202 624588 - 0777 3421184 email: gandb_generalbuilding@sky.com

LYTCHETT MINSTER JOINERY LTD Specialising in purpose-made hard & soft wood joinery Staircases, Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Gates, Traditional Skirtings & Mouldings Over 25 years experience

Call Steve Rawlings: 01202 622441 or email: steve.1226@live.co.uk

Brian & Penny Armstrong

Decorators Insured & guaranteed 01929 552483 / 07743019590

Coastal Plumbing & Tiling For a friendly, reliable service, call Steve on: 07951 249299 / 01929 475632

City & Guilds qualified 23 years experience

NOT advertising is like winking at a beautiful lady in the dark, and expecting her to notice...

From only £126 plus VAT for SIX MONTHS, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a better deal Call Joy on 01929 424293 to book

Delivering The Gazette every month

Need an EXTRA INCOME? Reliable adult distributors required in SWANAGE! Call or email Tudor NOW for further information on:

01202 813630 or mail@tudordistribution.co.uk www.tudordistribution.co.uk

Man & Van available available to to hire hire

Rubbish Clearance Clearance Rubbish House Clearance Half the price of a skip Half the price of a skip andand wewedodoall thework! work! all the

07767 479438 Fully licensed & insured