The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 180

January 2015 Issue no. 180

Magazine archive at:

Banish Those Winter Blues! Pg28-34

WWII Veterans Fought For YOU. Pg21

Colossal Chestnut Soup. Pg38

Tribute To Moyra Cross. Pg9

WISHING OUR CUSTOMERS A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SALE STARTS JANUARY 2nd Swanage Post Office, Kings Road, SWANAGE. BH19 1ER 01929 422 461

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 January edition of your Gazette!

Hats and coats at the ready! Winter is really here! All hail 2015!

Hopefully you’re all having/have had a fantastic Christmas. If you’re lucky you’ll have friends and family around you, enjoying the festivities and relaxing together during some welldeserved time off work!

Personally, I’ll be cooking at the wonderful Rotary Christmas Breakfast in Swanage on Christmas Day, where people who find themselves alone over Christmas gather to enjoy good company and a nice hot breakfast. Well done to the fantastic Rotary Club who organise this event each year. You’re a good lot and surely make a real difference with the work you do.

Our feature this month is ‘Banish those winter blues’, giving you details of local sales, special offers, ways to get fit for the new year and so on. As always, please do support our local shops - without your custom, they’ll disappear, and so will we!

As usual, we have tons of community news, views and events in our pages this month, so settle down, have a good read, and keep up-to-date with what’s going on in Purbeck.

Look after yourselves, keep wrapped-up warm and enjoy the start of a brand new year!

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 JAN‘15 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 31

Low -00.53 01.45 02.33 03.18 04.01 04.40 05.16 05.48 06.22 ------00.16 01.13 02.06 02.55 03.42 04.27 05.12 05.57 ------00.35

High 05.32 06.35 07.29 08.15 08.55 09.32 10.08 10.42 11.13 11.41 -00.27 01.08 02.05 03.28 04.46 06.47 06.10 07.29 08.16 09.01 09.47 10.32 11.19 -00.33 01.26 02.26 03.37 05.02 06.21

Low 12.32 13.25 14.13 14.59 15.42 16.22 16.59 17.32 18.02 18.32 06.50 07.28 08.16 09.15 10.22 11.49 12.50 13.43 14.33 15.21 16.06 16.50 17.34 18.19 06.43 07.31 08.34 09.49 11.04 12.10 13.07

High 18.14 19.09 19.55 20.05 21.13 21.41 22.26 23.00 23.29 23.55 12.14 12.44 13.42 14.48 16.11 17.26 18.20 19.09 19.55 20.11 21.25 22.11 22.56 23.43 12.08 13.01 13.59 15.08 16.28 17.49 18.54

Low ----- - FM -- - ST ---19.07 19.48 20.39 21.45 23.07 NP ----- - NM -- - ST --19.06 20.04 21.05 22.22 23.32 NP ---

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

Swanage Town Council Meetings - January 2015

Council Finance & Performance Management Policy & Planning Transport

Mon 5th Fri 16th Mon 19th Wed 21st

7pm 9.30am 7pm 2.15pm

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 - January 2015 Planning & Transport Human Resources Amenities Planning & Transport Council

Mon 5th Mon 12th Wed 14th Mon 26th Tue 17th

7pm No Public 7pm 7pm 7pm

Purbeck DC Meetings - Open to public - January 2015 Overview & Scrutiny Group Council Policy Group Planning Board

Tue 6th Tue 13th Wed 21st Wed 28th

9.15am 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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See www.purbeckgazette.co.uk or drop into the office Tuesday or Thursday

The Purbeck Gazette

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View from the Lookout, by Robin Boultwood

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS/IT COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Banish Those Winter Blues!

Corfe Pupils Meet With veterans Gazette Gardening, with Simon Goldsack John Garner writes - Agglestone Rocks My Wartime Memories - Brian Guy writes New Archaeology Gallery For Museum Purbeck’s Housing Problems Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes Tribute To Railway Pioneer FOOD The Gourmet Peddler HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Sydenhams YOUR PICS

48 41 8 2 57

17b Commercial Road Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

THE OFFICE IS NOT OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC.

ADVERTISERS ONLY PLEASE!

Editorial Enquiries: Editor, Nico Johnson 01929 424239

ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

28-35 21 45 47 20 44 18 8 9 38 51 4 36 44 54 60 24

Advertising Sales:

at: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk Joy Lamb 01929 424293 or email: ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE

See our website shop at: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk for rate card, booking & payment Prices from £25.80 (inc VAT) Discounts available

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 FEB IS 12pm, FRI 9th JAN

The Purbeck Gazette

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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.

FEB edition deadline: 12 noon Fri 9th Jan

Afrikids Need Your Help Dear Editor, I am writing this having returned from Ghana recently. Ghana and all the bordering countries are currently free of Ebola and hopefully they will remain so. It’s been very touching to be the subject of people’s concern, but West Africa is an enormous region and Ghana does not have many direct links or trading links with the affected areas, so we were able to travel there with confidence.

Being home again it is wonderful to hear that the international community is now responding to the dire needs brought about by this dreadful virus which seems so inhumane in its nature; I am sure that many of your readers will have played their part in that response and hopefully by the time this letter appears in your newspaper the spread of the virus will have been contained and reduced sufficiently for everyone to feel the crisis threatening us all is behind us.

If that is the case can I just ask your readers not to forget that the countries of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) have been severely affected by this terrible epidemic even as it appears to be coming under control. Whilst we were in Ghana the leaders of those countries met in Accra and pledged huge amounts of money, material and human resources to support the three badly affected countries.

Like their fellow ECOWAS members, Senegal and Nigeria, who had successfully contained outbreaks of Ebola and were at that stage declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation, all the countries involved were having to divert resources to protect themselves and in effect the rest of the world from the further spread of the virus. Added to this was the loss of trade, tourism and support for development projects, which were cancelled as the world drew away so afraid of becoming victims of the suffering they saw in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

In some small way we saw the impact of that upon the organisation we work with, Afrikids Ghana. Two important fund-raising groups who felt they could no longer travel to Ghana this autumn withdrew from their planned trip and activities. The effect of this was to see some projects and developments, which are all moving towards sustainability and independence of UK support, stumble and contract in their progress whilst the 140+ dedicated Ghanaians who are working so hard to achieve this had to reach into their own meagre resources to try to remain on track and to help their African neighbours.

If, as I am sure we all hope, the immediate Ebola crisis is dying down and, if your post-Christmas finances will allow, please don’t forget the organisations working in West Africa which you normally support will need their funds replenishing.

If you are interested in knowing more about Afrikids in particular, please do look at their website www.afrikdis.org and see if you would like to support one of their progressively sustainable and independent projects.

Yours sincerely, Alison Eastctott, Swanage P.S. A big thank you to the organisers of the Swanage Jazz Festival, who yet again chose Afrikids as a charity to support.

Art Workshop Open Day Dear Nico and Joy, Thank you for coming to the Art Workshop’s very first Open Day recently.

I am delighted to have new art premises in Commercial Road, near the Gazette office, in this friendly part of town.

The Art Workshop is for “Art making, Available to All”, by offering affordable sessions and using a variety of art materials. The new Art Workshop has been described as “a beautiful experiential place”, and I hope that people will enjoy coming to learn new skills, make art, and relax.

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

Thank you again for welcoming the Art Workshop to Commercial Road, and calling in to our Open Day. We are looking forward to seeing you again.

With best wishes, Suzanne Dominy, Art Workshop.

Cycle Lane - A Cyclist’s View Dear Editor, I’d like to respond to John Newth’s letter in the November Gazette about the new cycle lane from Wareham to Bakers Arms. As an experienced cyclist, I certainly applaud the good intentions when new cycle lanes are constructed but, in reality, they usually offer little or no ‘benefit’ to most cyclists. I suppose this is why he still see cyclists using the road.

There are a number of reasons for this. As Mr Newth acknowledges, the cycle path (like so many others) covers only part of the route, obliging the cyclist to use the road anyway. Paths are shared with pedestrians, who are often unaware that they are walking on the cycle section. Where the paths cross side turnings, the cyclist is obliged to stop and give way to traffic from all directions, often having to dismount to cross the junction, whereas they would have right of way if using the main road.

I sympathise with Mr Newth’s view that, when the taxpayer has paid for a facility, it’s a shame if it’s not used. He states “is anyone trying to force such cyclists to use the cycle path” I’m not sure whether he means that someone should be forcing them, or whether he means that they are under no legal obligation to use them? Either way, I’m afraid he doesn’t have the right to accuse at least two cyclists of causing an inconvenience and possibly danger, just because they are using the road. That’s not to excuse any abuse he was subjected to, but really – what did he expect after initiating such confrontations?

I also think it’s a bit rich to blame the occasional cyclist for traffic congestion. What about the continually increasing number of cars on the road and the lack of new routes or additional lanes?

I fear the reality is that many cycle paths are provided because councils have to prove their green credentials, not because they are of much practical use to cyclists. Having said that, I think the Wareham cycle path will be useful for younger and less experienced/confident cyclists, e.g., getting to school.

Yours faithfully, a Wareham resident.

Hidden Needs Trust Fundraising Dear Editor, My name is Rachel Goodfellow and I am a Foundation Governor and parent at Trent Young’s Endowed Primary School near Sherborne, a Trustee for the Yeovil Opportunity Group and a Somerset Total Communication Coordinator and tutor. I am writing to ask for your support and participation in an important fundraising event for the Hidden Needs Trust.

The trust helps to raise funding for Opportunity Groups which provide specialist preschool play and education for children with additional needs including children with Autism, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Global Developmental Delay. The opportunity groups are all registered charities and have been working with children and their families in Somerset and Dorset for the past forty years.

From 25th June 2015 to 1st July 2015 I will be running/walking 215 miles around Dorset to raise much needed funds. The route, which includes nearly 100 miles of coastal path, passes through much of the Purbeck Gazette distribution area. You can find full details of the proposed route and timings of events on the website www.hiddenneedstrust.org Schools, businesses, sports centres, communities, churches, authors, and others throughout Dorset and Somerset are directly involved promoting the event by organising awareness days and setting up activities in their immediate areas to raise money for The Hidden Needs Trust.

Increasing awareness leads to increased inclusion of children and young people with disabilities in everyday activities we all take for granted.

You can send donations to the Hidden Needs Trust c/o Yeovil Opportunity

The Purbeck Gazette

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Square & Compass Worth Matravers. 01929 439229

LIVE ACTS FOR JANUARY Sat Sat Fri Sat

10 8pm Nual & Kit 17 8pm Fish and Bird 23 8pm Phillip Clouts 31 8pm Ewan Mclennan

We wish all customers, old and new, a fantastic New Year! May 2015 be a good one! www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

Basildon Centre, Summerlands Hospital, Preston Road, Yeovil BA20 2BX or visit their website.

Rachel Goodfellow, by email.

Hospital - Wonderful News Dear Editor, Swanage Hospital What wonderful news that The Swanage Cottage Hospital will remain open.

Now, with an experienced Matron, staff and our Doctors, they could make it the envy of the South, or even the country, with improved facilities rather than the continual travel to Poole.

I’m sure this could be done – remember the Dorset county motto “Who’s Afeared”? – I always remembered this in my travels around the world.

Hubert E Beavis, Swanage, by hand.

Jazz Festival Charity Donations Dear Nico, At the 2014 Swanage Jazz Festival, £1,678 was collected at various venues and the street parade and was donated to three overseas childrens’ charities and Julia’s House Hospice in Corfe Mullen.

A further £2,500 has been donated to various charities from Jazz funds. The charities benefitting are Swanage ATC-£100, Swanage Food Bank-£200, Purbeck Instrument Loan Scheme-£200, Medecins Sans Frontieres-£1,000 and Jazz Services UK-£1,000.

The Jazz Club Committee would like to thank all those volunteers who helped make the event such a success as well as all the local traders who gave their support and last but not least The Swanage Town Council and staff whose help and facilities made the whole thing possible.

Mel Norris and Fred Lindop (Swanage Jazz Festival)

Coffee Morning Success Dear Nico, A big thank you.

I had a coffee morning to raise money for the Air Ambulance as a thank you to them for air lifting me to Southampton Hospital. They were so kind.

I am astounded at the support I got – I raised £665.00.

I could not have done it without help from so many. I am so very lucky to have such a wonderful family and friends and live in such a caring wonderful place.

I thank you all.

God Bless.

Pauline Dorland, Swanage, by hand

Church, Swanage. As friends of hers ever since she moved to the area with her husband over forty-five years ago, we thought readers might be interested in some details of her life: Trained as a secretary, at aged sixteen she was interviewed and appointed by Ronald Cross at an insurance company, eventually marrying him in 1960.

Once she retired to Swanage with Ronald (known as Roger) in 1969, she was very involved with many local organisations. In particular, her arrival coincided with the proposal to close the railway line and they both took part in the protests, later becoming founder members and working as volunteers for the Swanage Railway Society.

She was made an honorary life member in 1985 and continued to work in the shop for many years after that. She was chosen to name the first Virgin train ‘Dorset Voyager’ on its arrival here on the restored line in 2002 (see page 9).

Although widowed in 1992, Moyra maintained a busy life. Her numerous activities included being president of the Durlston WI and group chairman of the twelve local WI societies. She was a long-term active member at St Mary’s Church, often reading the lesson and greeting visitors.

Another of her special interests was the Purbeck Society, of which she was a past chairman and committee member. She was also a supporter of both the Heritage Centre and the Mowlem.

All things which affected the Swanage community were of interest to Moyra. She will be much missed.

Howard and Sylvia Oliver, by email.

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Moyra Will Be Missed Dear Editor, As so many people now live to a great age, when they pass away it is important to remember how much they did for their local community.

One such person was Moyra Cross, who died recently aged ninety-two.

Well over a hundred people attended the funeral service at St Mary’s

21 South Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4LR, 01929 554207 www.heirloomsofwareham.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

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Still No Room At The Inn Dear Editor, Your readers may like to know the outcome of my research into the local availability of night shelters for the homeless.

I am officially informed that this is the responsibility of local councils though social services, but that their provision is limited to long term housing. Except for the Pilsdon Community in the Marshwood Vale, N.W. of Bridport, (one night only), there is therefore no ‘direct access’ to night shelter anywhere in Dorset, including Bournemouth.

Is there anyone able to offer anything suitable, say a barn, to meet a need which is likely to increase?

Or is there still no room at the inn?

Andrew Salmon, Wareham via email

Not A Shame - A Disaster Dear Editor, I support Pete Silver in all he has said about the new huts. I do however disagree on one point – it’s not a shame, it’s a disaster. Ken Mason with support from all family members.

Kenneth Mason, via email.

The Ideal Place Utopia – ‘Imaginary Perfect Place” Come with me, if you will, to a place Where life rolls along at an easy pace No sickness, no hate, no monetary worries Just love and peace where nobody hurries It’s in your soul, your heart, your mind Look hard, it’s amazing what you’ll find Once you’ve reached your destination Stay there! Relax! Enjoy elation!

From Marie Neilson, Swanage.

Heartfelt Thanks For Help Dear Nico, This is a big ‘thank you’ to some wonderful people. On 4th November I was walking in Arne woods with the Swanage ‘Walking for Health’ group. It was a beautiful afternoon, with the gold of bracken and autumn leaves, and the waters of Poole Harbour glinting through the pine trees.

I took a photo, and hurrying to catch up with others, I tripped over a tree root which was probably hidden by the golden leaves (!) and went a cropper onto my hip.

The group were wonderful, especially two of the walk leaders who were at the rear of the group of walkers. It was obvious that I had a serious injury, and it was far too painful to sit or to lie, so I decided that I would be better standing on my one good leg. These two men gently got me upright, and then held me securely until the ambulance crew arrived. Two ladies also stayed and kept us all going during the long wait by talking about anything and everything.

The ambulance was unable to drive into the wood, so the crew walked to find us and asses the situation. By the time they appeared I was beginning to wilt. I had thought that we had all stood there for 30 - 40 minutes, but learned later that these two amazing men had held me secure - and warm - for an hour and a quarter!

So my heartfelt thanks to both the Johns, and Jane and Janet too, for keeping

THE SEWING BOX Garment Alterations and Repairs Daisy May’s Arcade 2 Kings Road East Swanage

Tel: Sarah 07922 738335 me going for all that time and preventing me from getting hypothermia.

As I feared, I had fractured my hip, and received skilled care on the Trauma Unit at Poole Hospital. Now I am enjoying being at home, and continue to receive excellent support and care from the ‘Pink Team’, i.e. the Purbeck Integrated Community Rehabilitation Team.

So I am writing in grateful acknowledgement of the professional care I have received from all the medical and nursing staff, and the wonderful support and practical help too from my family and friends.

Best wishes, Brenda Enticknap, by email

Disgust At Man’s Actions Dear Editor, Purbeck Shooting School This is the first public letter I have written. I do so because I am disgusted by the determined efforts of one man, with the wholehearted support of the PDC planning officials, to close a highly regarded business which has been in existence for twenty years.

I agree completely with the thoughts of David Hollister in last month’s Gazette. His humorous comments hit the target very well.

I am delighted that Graham Brown was successful in stage one of his action in the High Court.

Good luck to you Graham.

Mrs Mary Parsons, Bere Regis, by email

‘Jobsworth’ Threatens School Dear Editor, Purbeck Shooting School I cannot believe what I read in your last edition with regards to Purbeck Shooting School on Puddletown Road, Wareham.

Since when was democracy so completely thrown out the window? The complaints of one or two people can surely hold no power when weighed against the vast number of people who utilise the school, and who also live in near proximity, without complaint?

But no, in this case, it seems that PDC have gone completely overboard and need a good talking to by someone who has something called ‘common sense’. One or two moaners (who quite obviously moved to the area in full knowledge that there is not only a shooting school nearby, but also army firing ranges, blasting out god-knows-what two or three times a week), have seemingly gained far more of an audience than they should ever have been granted, and the school is now in jeapordy of closing down.

I am fascinated to know exactly what grounds PDC have to try and close this local business down - as far as I am aware, shotguns have made exactly the same sound since the day they were invented. If the noise was not a problem in the 1990s, and throughout the 2000s, then why on earth is the sound of a shotgun firing suddenly ‘too loud’ for a shooting school, all these years later? You honestly could not make it up, could you?

I am at a complete loss of words to try and explain what is behind this, and can only imagine that the ‘complainant’ has something on PDC, or else why would they listen?!

The Shooting School provides training and a practice area for a sport which is a countryside pursuit. Where else do the council suggest the thousands of licence holders practise, if not at the school? In their back gardens? In public areas? On the beach? Local playgrounds? Utter madness.

I understand that the school has also had a very long history of supporting local charities, and has raised significant amounts of money for charity.

How dare this ‘jobsworth’ at PDC Planning threaten Mr Brown’s business, the livelihood of his staff, and the safety of all those wishing to shoot. And a public servant too - although they seem to forget that all too readily.

Regards, Paul N, by email.

The Purbeck Gazette

MATT HILLAN Building Alterations & Maintenance

All Trade Aspects Undertaken Free Estimates Fully Insured

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LONG LET - NICE ROOM Large room in Swanage. Would suit responsible person.

£242p.c.m. plus bills

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Please call: 07957 574578 or 01420 561396

Happy to help and advise

(Regret, no DSS or pets)

Why Not Try ‘Twinning’?

Dear Editor, It’s a New Year so why not try something different for 2015? Swanage Town Twinning Association was founded to promote friendships between German and British towns after the war. You would be welcome to join us at any of our free meetings, held at 7.30pm in the hall at All Saints Church.

We visit our twin town of Rudesheim on alternate years and are always generously hosted and entertained whilst we are there and many friendships have been made.

This year it is our turn to host our friends who are coming to stay in Swanage for six days in September. There will be an official welcome, a coach trip to Portsmouth Dockyard, free time to enjoy the activities of our Folk Festival weekend and a farewell party.

When we visit Rudesheim we stay free of charge with hosts and enjoy many activities so this is our chance to return the hospitality to our friends in Germany.

Membership is £10 per adult, £20 per family and new members are always welcome.

Our programme for 2015 is as follows:Monday 12th January – Discovering Dorset Part 5 with the very amusing Reverend Stewart Timbrell.

Monday 9th February - The Army in Dorset (including Tyneham) Monday 9th March - Annual Meal at The Village Inn. Monday 18th May - Musical Evening.

Monday 8th June – A talk on Purbeck Ice cream, Monday 9th November - AGM. To raise funds we will also be holding a Murder Mystery and Meal in April, a summer special in July and A Halloween Evening with 60s music in October - watch this space for more details!

If you would like to find out more about our group please ring Jean (Membership Secretary) on 423657 or Ruth (Publicity and Fund-raising) 422785.

Yours Ruth, Swanage Town Twinning Association.

‘Free Wall’ For Swanage

References & deposit required

thanks go to everyone involved, especially Raymond Brown contractors who installed the wall. I would like to stress that pavement funds were not spent and that Y-Axis is prepared to fund the rest of the well-used facility for our youth.

Street Art is a culture that has been around for years but is more popular than ever before. It is not for everyone to appreciate, but then neither was Picasso I suppose.

The Free Wall will provide a way for individuals to express themselves, and to be proud of their work. I spoke with 5 young street artists visiting the park from out of town who were excited and impressed that this facility had been provided in Swanage.

I have many conversations with local residents whose grandchildren now enjoy visiting because of the great facility we have at King George's Park.

In all the years I’ve been involved I can number the complaints against the faciity on one hand. The young people respond well to our respect and in turn respect their Park.

CCTV in the area is a constant deterrent for anti-social behaviour and any unwanted 'graffiti' will be whitewashed.

It is hoped that the schools and local artists will use the wall and it will be a source of enjoyment for our community.

Yours sincerely, Lorna Haines (fundraiser Y-Axis)

Hospital Receives Donation Dear Gazette, Two donations of £250 each were recently handed to Wareham Hospital (for the rehabilitation ward) and The Friends of Dolphin - Poole ( a charity providing free boat trips for disabled persons who cannot access normal pleasure craft).

The donations were the winnings from regular teams participating in the weekly Tuesday Music Quiz held at the Duke of Wellington public house in East Street, Wareham.

Thank you.

Marje Heath, Wareham, by email.

Wool Poppy Thank You Dear Readers, Together with my wool shop, "Not just Wool", in Lytchett Minster we have raised £1220 from the sale of my crocheted poppies.

Arrangements are in hand for the "Help for Heroes" fund to benefit. Our thanks to all who purchased Thank you, Nigel Beviss, by email

SELF STORAGE UNITS Dear Editor, I am writing on behalf of Y-Axis Skatepark and the young people of our town and beyond.

I have been involved with the fundraising for Swanage Skatepark for 11 years and it has been time well spent, it’s a privilege to see young people using and enjoying the park every day of the year. The idea of a Street Art ‘Free Wall’ has always been part of the plan and I’ve spent many hours researching this culture and project.

I was so pleased when the local authorities and Police found a way of making the Free Wall happen earlier than our funds allowed. My sincere

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The Purbeck Gazette

8

Oh, What A Lovely Year!

A

David Hollister writes...

nother year’s come and gone. Time to reflect on the many good things that have happened in Purbeck in 2014! Now I don’t really care what colour the Government is – but under this lot we have not only had the Swanage School but also two brand new primary schools in Swanage, and one in Sandford. That’s four new schools in a year; four more than we ever got in any one year that I can remember.

For many years we were the largest town on the South Coast without its own secondary school. Now at last we have The Swanage School which, according to all the reports I hear and read, is going from strength to strength under the expert guidance of headmaster Tristram Hobson and his team. Their school motto “omnia vinces perseverando” means “Perseverance overcomes all things” and that’s certainly true in this case.

We had our share of whingers on ‘Facebook’ complaining that we had a perfectly good senior school in Wareham – which we have – so why was it necessary? 400 children not being transported ten miles each way, that’s just one of numerous reasons. And of course the usual ranting about Michael Gove – but it was in his time as Education Secretary that the Swanage School was opened.

The new St.Mark’s school at Swanage has been built in the 8-acre grounds of the old ‘middle school’, replacing the old building at Bell Street, which had certainly done sterling service. Although it’s mostly a brand new building, they have cleverly utilised virtually all the Purbeck Stone from the old building with only a very small amount of new stone being needed! This is a purposeful, safe and happy school where children love to learn, and is fully inclusive, catering for children of all educational abilities and needs.

Perhaps the Local Authority could have used some education in Common Sense when they designed the access to the adjacent schools. If the entrances had been conjoined, there would have been need for only one school crossing, one set of traffic lights, and children leaving the senior school would not have been obliged to cross the opening of a busy lane.

But we got what we got – and I hope that every single morning, the headmasters of both schools explain to their children the importance of using the crossings sensibly and safely.

The Sandford St Martin’s Primary School has always been there and has enjoyed outstanding Ofsted reports – but their amazing new building was opened in autumn 2014 and has raised their profile substantially and brought their range of facilities slap bang into the 21st Century.

Underpinned by their Christian foundation, it prepares children to meet a constantly changing world, giving them the necessary skills to contribute to society and lead happy healthy lives.

The new St Mary’s Catholic Primary school at Northbrook road, again replacing an outdated building in the heart of Swanage, teaches its children to value and appreciate everyone, to try their best at everything, to develop the ability to work independently, and to listen with respect to one another. This latter quality seems sadly missing amongst adults in this ‘me first’ day and age. So let’s hope that St. Mary’s children take this lesson into later life. One can only hope that in time, the 30 mph speed limit – which ends sadly short of St. Mary’s school – will be extended past it, and that perhaps a pedestrian crossing will be constructed at a suitable location for children to cross in safety. The Corfe Castle primary school

new buildings were completed in 2013, but are still light years away from the old school buildings which they replaced. The school crossing makes it safer for the children but I’m glad I haven’t got those LED lights under my bedroom window, flashing all night! Well done also to the PTA who have raised funds to pay a ‘lollipop person’ when the DCC decided that they no longer cared about children’s safety.

But apart from four new schools, what else have we achieved in 2014?

We have a new Lifeboat Station under construction, thanks to the valiant fund-raising efforts of our local team. I might not have always agreed with a local fund-raising campaign, but I take my hat off to them for what they have done, and salute all members of the Swanage Lifeboat team for everything they do. Swanage Lifeboat is a credit to the whole district.

The Railway is now going through to Wareham – that was made official this autumn. At last, the restoration of the service which was so cruelly terminated in 1972 when – allegedly - evil men ripped up the track and sold it for scrap… Congratulations to the team at Swanage Railway, for persistence in the face of adversity and for managing to screw money out of Dorset County Council! We have to hope that the new service will not only go from Swanage to Wareham, but – and the word here is “service” – will stop at Herston, Harmans Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden as well.

Through trains will not be acceptable to the villagers, especially those who have worked so hard on the infrastructure.

We are getting a new 30mph limit in Harmans Cross, thanks to the tireless efforts of Councillor Ron. He is also campaigning for a proper bit of pavement to link up the 200-yard dangerous bit, but I guess someone will have to be killed there before DCC decide to allocate the funds. After some of my (well-researched) articles and (outspoken) opinions, I gather that I have been nominated…

Great news for those not fortunate enough to have their own home.

At last, the ‘affordable homes’ subject seems to be staying above the parapet and becoming Council policy. Not perhaps welcomed by builders, developers and indeed local residents, the ‘affordable homes’ scheme may well result in a few less youngsters leaving Purbeck. Every site proposed seems to have its detractors, but at least the good folk of Langton Matravers have the chance of solving their ‘homeless’ problem in one fell swoop……..

The A351 has been re-surfaced this year. OK, perhaps not to our satisfaction, but at least it’s been done and the worst of the potholes filled in. We now have the benefits of wider pavements in Wareham and Sandford, so that the pedestrians can walk at least two abreast in safety without risking being run over by cyclists.

Our libraries have remained largely unscathed at Wool, Wareham, and Swanage. Corfe Castle has become a ‘community library’ and let’s raise our glasses to the volunteers who brought this about. Our recycling centres still remain open, despite the new ‘kerbside collections’ which crazily seem to use four lorries instead of one.

So all in all, a great year for Purbeck. I expect that there will be plenty of controversial issues in 2015 for me to ‘tell it like it is’ about and in the meantime, I wish both my readers a very Happy New Year.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Tributes Paid To Railway Pioneer

Tributes Paid To Determined Swanage Railway Pioneer Since The Late 1960s Who Has Died At The Age of 92 ollowing her death at the age of 92, heart-felt tributes are being paid to a lady who had been a determined Swanage Railway veteran and pioneer since the late 1960s and who campaigned for and volunteered on the growing steam railway for more than forty years.

Devoted to the cause, Moyra Cross was one of a handful of communityspirited volunteers who stood in Station Road, Swanage, in all weathers back in 1969, gathering signatures for a petition against British Rail closing the ten-mile branch line from Wareham.

She was a pioneering member of the Isle of Purbeck Preservation Group in 1969 – which was formed to prevent closure – and then the Swanage Railway Society from 1972, as well as the Swanage to Wareham Railway Group, which were formed to rebuild the much-missed line.

A founder Swanage Railway member and volunteer who knew Moyra for almost forty years, Peter Frost said: “Everyone owes a huge debt of thanks to Moyra, and her fellow campaigners, for volunteering to stand up in the community in the face of opposition during the early days – as well as for such a magnificent contribution in making the Swanage Railway so successful.

“Moyra’s contribution to the Swanage Railway over so many years will never be forgotten. She was, and is, an inspiration to the generations of Swanage Railway volunteers who follow in her footsteps,” added Peter, who grew up in Corfe Castle and played on the branch line as a child

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during the 1960s.

In September, 2002, Moyra helped to officially name a new multi-million pound inter-regional Virgin express train ‘Dorset Voyager’ at Swanage station along with fellow stalwart Swanage Railway volunteer Stan Symes.

Swanage Railway Trust Chairman Gavin Johns paid tribute to Moyra: “Everyone was saddened to learn of Moyra’s death as she was a muchloved and appreciated long-standing supporter of the Swanage Railway, who was always dependable and devoted to the cause for more than 40 years.

“She had been an active volunteer providing countless hours of practical support to the Swanage Railway which we truly appreciate. We extend our condolences to her family at this sad time but take heart in the knowledge of the unwavering support that she gave to the Railway and the town of Swanage,” he added.

Moyra and her husband Ronald – known to everyone on the Swanage Railway as Roger – moved to Swanage early in 1969 after the pair retired from a large insurance company in London. Moyra was one of the first volunteers in the fledgling station shop at Swanage when it first opened in 1976, at the start of the railway’s rebuilding, while Roger was a volunteer restoring carriages and wagons.

Moyra was on duty in the station shop at Swanage in 2009 when the first diesel and steam trains ran from London down to the Purbeck seaside resort for the first time since 1972 and 1967 respectively.

Attended by her family and many friends across the community, Moyra’s funeral took place at St Mary’s parish church in Swanage – opposite the restored railway station – on the afternoon of Wednesday, 3 December, 2014.

It was followed by a private burial at the Godlingston cemetery in Swanage, within sight and sound of the rebuilt railway for which she worked so hard for more than forty years, where Moyra rests next to her late husband who died in the early 1990s.

New volunteers, in many roles, are always welcomed by the Swanage Railway with full training given. For an informal chat – and to find out more – contact volunteer co-ordinator Mike Whitwam on 01929 475212 or email ‘volunteer@swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk’.

Photographs copyright: Andrew P.M. Wright. Thanks Andrew!

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The Purbeck Gazette n Saturday 29th November we held a Christmas Market at St Mary’s church in Lytchett Matraver, which was buzzing with activity. We would like to thank all those who gave up their time to make this event such a success especially The Rose and Crown for donating the mulled wine and Tescos for donating the Fancy Dress prizes.

Visitors were drawn to the church by the sound of our church bells and then enjoyed Christmas music from some of our choir and musicians.

Our Christmas characters for the Fancy Dress included angels, an elf, a Christmas pudding and a donkey.

Did you see the Christmas baubles hanging on the yew tree outside our closed 13th century village church at Lytchett Matravers? It was a sad day when we had to close the church for services due to the lack of a heating solution.

We will reopen at Easter when the weather should be warmer but we still need to find a solution and the funding for our heating issues.

It was a beautiful day for the Market but the stall holders outside were warmer than those inside. We raised a wonderful £800 for the church, of which donations for a bauble were specifically for our heating fund.

Those who donated towards the fund were given a Christmas bauble to write names or messages. These lovely baubles now hang on the yew tree outside the church.

Can you help us fill the tree with baubles? (Phone our treasurer on 01929 459551 to make a donation)

O St Mary’s Market Success

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Wareham - Hemsbach Update

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bout thirty people attended our Christmas party. John Barclay gave some anecdotes about his foreign travels. We sang some carols and played bingo.

We had a “bring and share” supper on well decorated tables with Christmas lights.

We now have enough people to make our holiday by coach to Hemsbach next year viable. The trip is from 22 to 28 July.

We will travel through the Channel Tunnel with an overnight stop each way.

Robin Brasher, Publicity Officer of the Wareham-Hemsbach Society

Firearms Surrendered In Two-Week Campaign

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gun surrender campaign has ended in Dorset with more than ninety weapons handed in.

Dorset Police ran the two-week campaign between Monday 3 November and Sunday 16 November 2014 to encourage anyone holding an illegally-held firearm to dispose of it safely.

The initiative was aimed at local people in the community who wished to hand in unwanted firearms and help take guns out of circulation permanently.

It also gave licence holders the opportunity to surrender weapons they no longer had use for.

A total of ninety three firearms were surrendered to stations across Dorset during the campaign. This included: Thirty one handguns, eleven air rifles, twenty seven shotguns, seven air pistols, six BB guns, four replica guns, five rifles, one humane killer and one bird scarer. A large amount of ammunition was also handed in.

Operational Support Superintendent Nicky Searle, from Dorset Police, said: “We are extremely pleased at the success of this firearms surrender and would like to thank everyone who took part.

“The vast majority of these surrendered firearms were not being used in criminal activity. Our aim is to stop guns falling into the wrong hands.

Every gun given up is one less that poses a threat or that criminals can potentially get hold of.

“I would like to remind residents that Dorset is a very safe place to live with very low levels of gun-related crime. Levels of illegally held firearms are low but this surrender was a real opportunity for members of the public to relinquish any weapons that may be outside the law.”

Individuals taking part in the campaign received an amnesty for possession of the firearm at the point of surrender/handover to a lawful authority. It did not provide immunity from prosecution if the weapon was found to have been used unlawfully.

A small number of firearms handed in during the gun surrender will be submitted to The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) for examination.

Any guns that are proved to be linked to a crime will be kept as evidence and retained for any future court case proceedings.

A previous firearms amnesty staged in Dorset in 2003 saw more than three hundred firearms handed over to police.

This included starting guns, BB guns, air weapons, shotguns, pistols and rifles. A quantity of ammunition was also surrendered.

The Purbeck Gazette

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St Mark’s Dedication Service Dedication service for our new building – St Mark’s CE VA Primary School, Swanage. n Friday 14th November, the Right Reverend Dr Graham Kings, Bishop of Sherborne, visited St Mark’s CE VA Primary School to lead the dedication of our new building and grounds. The service was attended by all staff, pupil and governors, along with representatives from local councils, support groups and other schools.

Tracy Jones, the new Headteacher, and Mrs Marion Marchant, Chair of Governors, expressed their thanks to all involved in the many years of planning and supporting of this project and for the fabulous school that the children now enjoy. The children then led prayers, readings and sang beautifully, thanks to Mrs Jane Joy, our music teacher.

Whilst The Bishop of Sherborne blessed the school and unveiled our temporary commemorative stone, the oldest living pupil of St Mark’s, Mrs Irene Makin at 94 and Sean Pride, the youngest at 4, were also involved in the blessing of the time capsule, to be buried in the school grounds.

Over the last few weeks we have opened our doors to families, ex-pupils and members of the community and this final service was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the school that we are all so proud of.

The children loved the old school and miss the intimacy of the small building, however any child at our school will tell you about the difference the grounds, space, ICT, Music and classroom provision has made to us all.

Anyone who missed these dates but would still like to see the school would be more than welcome to ring the school office and make an appointment.

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The Purbeck Gazette

New Year’s Eve In Swanage - A Statement Following on from recent discussions between local police, Swanage Town Council and the LVA, which led to a Gazette article and commentary by David Hollister in ‘Telling It Like It Is’ last month, we have a full statement from Angie Downer, Purbeck Section Commander 1996 - 2006, which explains the history and the points which are currently being argued......

SWANAGE NEW YEARS EVE - IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!! wanage New Year’s Eve will go out with a bang as always when the lifeboat station fires the annual signal to mark the occasion. It will happen because in Swanage it has always happened - and no one organises it or arranges it. However I am very surprised that Dorset Police are suddenly adopting such an intransigent and uncooperative stance by trying to force the LVA and town council, or even the Carnival Committee, to take on the management and organisation of this event (together with all the exorbitant associated costs). Swanage New Years Eve is not an organised event, there are no organisers - it is a happening, an episode, an occurrence, a phenomenon. I should know because I was in charge of the policing for ten years before I retired.

To understand why this ‘phenomenon’ happens in Swanage one needs to know the history of this reoccurring incident which no one arranges.

(I keep saying this because it is important). It just happens. I was posted to Swanage as the Purbeck Section Commander in 1996 already having twenty years operational police experience and I had already been living in Swanage for two years. I quickly learned from local residents how this event had emanated and changed over the years. Locals will know this better than me.

Many years ago it was just the Swanage residents who met up in the town centre pubs. Children especially enjoyed the occasion, dressing up in fancy dress and mothers decked their children’s prams in Christmas baubles and decorations. No police attended because there was no need. The local celebration was such a success that a number of residents invited family members to come to Swanage to celebrate New Year with them in the town centre. This was a happy, joyous occasion. Dear George Willey described it as ‘Mardi Gras’.

But the word spread. Problems started to occur in the early 1990s when coach companies outside of Swanage saw a lucrative source of revenue.

They started multiple journeys to convey mainly young revellers to Swanage from Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, and North Dorset.

Soon revellers were being bussed in from Southampton, London, Bristol, Birmingham and other places. I was told that flyers were seen on the Paris Metro!! Hence the evolvement of such a large number of people suddenly being deposited on Swanage town centre on New Year’s Eve necessitated a police presence.

Core police responsibilities are to protect life and property, prevent and reduce crime and to take action against persons who seek to break the law. There is also a common law obligation in keeping the peace. With these principles in mind, my predecessors provided a police presence due to the large number of people invading the town. Due to the large number of people and to ensure public safety, temporary barriers were installed by the police at 8pm, effectively closing Station Road, Institute Road and the Lower High Street.

Many of these infiltrators brought their own crates of alcohol and what had originally been a quiet and friendly local gathering of Swanage residents, soon became a drunken mayhem. One of my predecessors even invited outside caterers to set up food stalls, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc in the lower High Street to try to reduce the effects of the drunken behaviour (one could effectively argue that Dorset Police suddenly became the first and only ‘organiser’ in this Swanage phenomenon!!).

I shall never forget being in charge of my first New Years eve in December 1996. Temperatures went down to minus 12 degrees at Swanage pier but the Lower High Street was packed with young people, many in scant fancy dress. Most were not locals and what was plainly evident was the lack of local families and children. At 5pm in the morning I remember standing on top of a mountain of rubbish and broken glass outside the White Swan.

I saw and had experienced that the potential for public disorder was very significant and this had to be a police priority in future years, therefore after meetings with senior police officers, a much increased police presence was sent to Swanage over the next four years. At my request the LVA worked closely with me and served drinks only in plastic glasses. Glass bottles were banned and I liaised with the coach companies to prevent bottles of alcohol being brought into the town, and also to encourage them to collect and to take their passengers out of town as soon after midnight as possible. For four years we policed Swanage hard to prevent escalation of any public disorder and to reduce and eliminate incidents of criminal damage and assault. Those were tough years.

The year 2000 was the watershed. Bournemouth Council organised a

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big Millennium event at Pier Approach with bands, music and fireworks.

Weymouth Council also arranged a New Years event at their seafront.

Hence the coach companies took their passengers to these organised events. There were still a lot of people visiting Swanage that night, but the potential for public disorder was significantly decreased. The pouring rain helped as well (rain is always a police officer’s best friend). I also noted the sudden return of families to the Lower High Street. Since 2000 the establishment of organised events in other towns has helped to keep a lot of drunken troublemakers out of Swanage.

Police forces across the country had always worked with their communities at local events, temporarily closing roads for a carnival procession and working with the event organisers. It was an excellent way to promote community policing and no charge was made or even considered. However an incident in another police area in about 20012002 caused concern at ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) level and is the catalyst for the current police attitude.

At a public organised event, a carnival I think, there was an incident whereby someone sustained an injury. Initially they looked to suing the event organisers but when this was not successful they sued the police force because they had been assisting the event organisers….

And they sued the police successfully. In response ACPO advised all Chief Constables not to be involved in any way with the organisation of an event, unless there was a need for a police presence, for which the organisers would have to pay. Hence when a football match is arranged the organisers have to pay for a police presence. You will remember the Swanage Air Show - the organisers had to pay for the police presence.

Ensuring public safety at an ‘organised’ event is not the primary role of the police - it is the role of the event organiser, as is the very expensive public liability insurance. The ‘event organisers’ may be liable for the consequences when things go wrong particularly if there are defects in the planning or control of the event. The ‘organisers’ responsibility for maintaining public safety can best be accomplished if there is no crime and disorder at their ‘organised‘ event. Equally, the police role of preventing criminality and disorder can best be accomplished when public safety is assured.

With this in mind, in 2002 I met with the County Council Solicitor and the District Council Solicitor to discuss the police legal status at a nonorganised event. Their advice was clear that where an event happened and there were no event organisers, the police must resort to their core responsibilities and police the event in a responsive mode, according to the changing situation at the time; and at that time make any Dynamic Risk Assessment and respond proportionally. With this advice in mind I provided a police patrol presence in the town and I removed the automatic deploying of road closures.

A proportionate response was adopted and all roads were kept open as long as possible. Road Traffic Regulations give police the authority to close a road for emergencies, in cases of temporary obstruction or incidents of short duration. The Solicitors advised me to adopt this response. If large crowds did not gather then no temporary road closure would be implemented. Hence from then onwards each year traffic flowed throughout the town on New Years Eve. If, shortly before midnight, large crowds assembled and temporarily obstructed the Lower High Street just before midnight, I was able to implement a temporary short term road closure for public safety until shortly after midnight when the crowds dispersed and the traffic flowed again. - A common sense solution to a non-organised event and which was good community policing to support the people of Swanage. There are a plethora of reports and operational orders with Dorset Police outlining the history of this event and the agreed legal advice.

If Dorset Police continue to try to force the LVA, Swanage Town Council or the Swanage Carnival Committee to adopt the organisation of this event, the associated costs would be prohibitive. The policing will then have to be paid for because it will have become an ‘organised’ event!! It would probably eventually be abandoned due to costs and restriction, but the event would still continue and would once again become a nonorganised event because the people of Swanage will still celebrate New Year’s Eve in their Lower High Street.

This argument is causing disaffection between the police and the people of Swanage and could cause significant damage to community relations.

There is no need whatsoever for this intransigence when a simple common sense solution is already in place.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Looking After Your Family’s Eyes In 2015 are detected the better. At around the age of 45 is when the majority of people find difficulty reading and doing close work and most will probably require reading glasses for the first time.

For the over 60s, a yearly examination is recommended because of the increased incidence of eye disease, for example cataract.

If you, or any of the members of your family, haven’t had an eye test recently and you value great vision, call I J Brown Opticians 01929 422220; we will provide you with the best professional eye care available.

W

e all rely on our eyes and good eyesight in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Yet our sight is something that we often take for granted.

Having a regular eye examination with an optician (optometrist) is a vital health precaution and the best way to make sure your eyes are healthy.

More than just identifying whether your eyesight needs correcting, the eye examination will check the general health of your eyes both internally and externally to detect any underlying health problems and sight-threatening conditions which may go unnoticed until it is too late to save your sight.

It is important that the whole family have their eyes checked regularly.

Unless otherwise advised they should all have an eye examination every two years. Some people may need more frequent checks depending on their age and medical history.

For children it is important to have a full eye examination as early as possible, certainly before starting school, as the sooner any vision defects

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The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Memorial In 1925

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here has been much talk recently regarding the newly-rebuilt Memorial in Swanage. Many feel that it has not been built properly, whilst others feel that the developers have done a great job at rebuilding. Recently Clifford Brown and his wife dug out this old picture to share with you, from 1925.

The picture clearly shows that the memorial had a bit of a ‘lean’ even back then, prior to the enclosing wall being added in later years. Thanks Cliff!

R.N.L.I. Crew Profile Grant Walkey Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Crew

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first became involved with the RNLI in 2002, when the charity took over the lifeguard service in North Cornwall. I always wanted to be part of the RNLI family and to help save lives at sea and always wanted to be a volunteer crew member.

Over the last twelve years I have had too many favourite memories of my time with the RNLI to list, but being welcomed into Swanage lifeboat crew was up there.

I also work full time for the RNLI as a casualty care trainer, ensuring the volunteer crew have the essential casualty care training, which provides them with the expertise and knowledge to be able to provide emergency on the scene lifesaving treatment.

The Purbeck Society Dear Nico, I would be very grateful if you could bring this to the attention of your readers. I am delighted to report that at a well attended EGM on November 28th, the motion to dissolve the Society was withdrawn and a lifeline has been given for the Society’s future.

A Steering Group, comprising Collette Drayson, Karen Delahay, Jane Gladding and Lesley Kennedy was voted in to look at how the Society should refocus to be relevant in the 21st century and to recommend any necessary changes to the Rules, for ratification at the AGM to be held on 10th April 2015 at the Mowlem.

The Steering Group will take the lead but I, and other members of the existing Committee, will be giving support where we can.

I am also very pleased to report that after the meeting, a volunteer has offered to take on the role of Treasurer. At the time of writing, the Steering Group has begun its work. It has already been agreed that Society

I also volunteer for the charity’s Flood Rescue Team, responding to incidents of inland flooding around the UK. Within all my roles, I love the camaraderie among my team mates and the ability to help people. Whether it’s a tow back in or administering lifesaving medical interventions.

As the build of our new lifeboat station begins in the New Year, I am really looking forward to the updated and modern facilities.

The arrival of the Shannon will be a tremendous moment and I know the crew will welcome the ability to reach the casualties who need our help that much quicker. membership will continue as hitherto, subscriptions remaining at £5 per head; please send subs or membership enquiries to the Acting Membership Secretary, Jane Gladding at 59, Rabling Road, Swanage, BH19 1ED. The Steering Group has expressed its intention of planning a programme of visits, speakers and, possibly, other events with a view to keeping all our existing members and attracting new ones.

Ideas of subjects for talks and places to visit are being collected, more are very welcome - please send your thoughts and ideas to any members of the Steering Group or to me at mikestollery@btopenworld.com.

If you are a member and have not received the recent Newsletter please contact either Jane Gladding or me.

We expect to produce the next Newsletter for members in late February/ early March together with the formal notice of the AGM and the relevant papers. Meanwhile, please keep a look out for announcements of future meetings and events in the Gazette.

May I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, one in which the Purbeck Society will go forward with renewed strength and purpose.

Sincerely, Mike Stollery, Chairman

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Carnival 2015

Swanage Carnival Theme for 2015 will be Superheroes! reparations for 2015 are well underway. One of the most important decisions the Committee is faced with early on during the preparations is to choose the Carnival theme. The theme is the focus of the carnival procession and forms the basis of our popular Carnival Programme.

At the last monthly meeting the Committee voted from a selection of nominated themes and Superheroes came out on top.

We hope the theme will inspire adults and children alike to get their thinking caps on for their Carnival floats, so come on all you budding super sleuths, start making those crime busting costumes now!

As we enter 2015 we start taking bookings for stalls. One of the key aims of the Carnival Committee is to support local businesses therefore we prioritise businesses in our region when selecting the stalls and offer a discount for those wishing to take a pitch for the full eight days.

If you would like to be involved please visit our website from 1st January 2015 to download the booking form and submit it as soon as possible.

P

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

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The Purbeck Gazette

16

Out Of The Blue

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e all hope that you have had an enjoyable and safe festive period. Many of you may sigh with relief now that Christmas is over and life returns to ‘normal’.

However, now that you have opened your presents, please make sure that you continue to keep your home secure, use your alarm if you have one and keep valuables such as computers, tablets and so on, out

of view if you leave the house.

Please also beware of cold callers at your door and if you have any doubt as to their intentions please call Police. For those of you with elderly neighbours, please make sure you keep an eye on them. Unfortunately ‘rogue traders’ do target the elderly and vulnerable populations within our communities – if you see anything suspicious, or something that just doesn’t feel right, then call the police.

Many people feel worried about calling us, thinking that they might be wasting our time, but this really isn’t the case and we would rather be called and potentially prevent someone being defrauded out of thousands of pounds, than not be called at all.

Sergeant Jane Mooney attended the Swanage Coastal Change Forum on the 3rd December in conjunction with other blue light emergency services, the Environment Agency and the local and district County Council representatives. Sgt Mooney provided information from a police perspective on what residents can expect from their emergency services with regards to planning should there be a ‘weather emergency’ or Swanage be cut-off. Her presentation was very well received and residents can

be assured that contingencies are in place through the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP).

Your SNTs are planning several bike marking sessions throughout January, we will be advertising the dates on our Facebook page and on the Dorset Police website. If you would like your bike security marked, then please look out for these dates and bring your bike along. Security marking is free – a unique number is etched onto the frame of your bike using a special compound which is then registered on a database.

Finally we would like to say a big thank you for the positive responses and feedback which we have received on Facebook. Purbeck officers really appreciated the display of public support, it’s always nice to hear.

To contact Dorset Police please call our police enquiry centre by dialling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency when there is a risk of harm or a crime is in progress. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 (mobile phone tariffs may apply). Remember if you See Anything Suspicious (SAS) call 999.

For the latest information on what your local police are doing follow our social media, Twitter - @PurbeckPolice and Facebook – facebook.com/ Purbeck-Police, we really value your support and comments.

Purbeck Safer Neighbourhood Team

Swanage Fire Station Update

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elcome and happy new year to all!

Here is this month’s look at what has been happening at Swanage Fire station; operationally we haven’t been very busy which is great! We like to know that you are all making sure you are safe against fire.

We have however attended the following incidents: Five false alarms Two property fires (one of which was a small electrical fire in the roof of the church at Kimmeridge) One Chimney fire One stand by move to cover Wareham One special service call to an unknown chemical drum that was washed ashore on the beach.

One of the fires that was attended was a chimney fire. I would just like to remind all households that have open fires of the dangers you need to avoid. Regular cleaning of your chimney or flues will eliminate the buildup of soot and clear obstructions such as bird or animal nests, leaves and debris. Chimneys should be swept: • At least once a year when using smokeless fuels • At least once a year when using bituminous coal • Every three months when using wood • Once a year when using oil • Once a year when using gas Make sure you are not at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning by having appliances installed and serviced by competent engineers, never block air bricks, vents or flues and fit a carbon monoxide detector.

• Don’t use flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin to light your fire.

• Don’t burn paper or rubbish.

• •

Do not overload the fire with fuel.

Go into the loft occasionally, when the fire is alight, to check for smoke from cracks, defective brickwork or mortar joints.

I would like to finish this month on a very important subject that not many people think of and that’s - how would you get out of the home if there was a fire? Below is some information that you might like to read and make your escape plan just in case the unthinkable happens.

Get out, stay out and call us out - the key to planning a safe escape. If a fire does happen, it could save your life if you have made an escape plan, explained it to everyone in the household and practiced it! Involve everyone who lives in your home, including children, older or less mobile people and any lodgers.

Here are some tips to help plan your escape from fire: The best escape route is the normal way out of the house.

Think of any difficulties you may have getting out e.g. at night you may need to have a torch to light your way.

Choose a second escape route, in case the first one is blocked.

Keep all exits clear of obstructions, like bicycles.

If there are children, older or disabled people or pets, plan how you will get them out.

The main thing is to keep yourself safe by getting out of the building. If you can’t escape, you’ll need to find a room to take refuge in. This is especially important if you have difficulty moving around or going downstairs on your own.

Once in the room, dial 999 and call the fire service. Close the door, roll up bedding, cushions, anything to hand and place them on the floor by the door to prevent smoke coming in through any gaps. Open the window and shout for help, stay by the open window, if you have contacted us we will be there soon. Our Control operators will stay on the phone with you, tell them exactly where you are, and our priority will be to save you as soon as we arrive.

Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept and always keep them there. Make sure everyone in your household knows where they are.

Stay Safe and remember to test your smoke alarms weekly.

Phil Burridge, Station Commander

The Purbeck Gazette

17

PURBECK ELECTRICAL 61 High Street, Swanage. (next to the Red Lion)

01929 424177

I can’t decide which of the beautiful, vintage lights at Purbeck Electrical I like the best....

They have such a selection and more modern ones too... brighten your home this winter with more lighting! They also have wonderful electrical goods too.....

Swanage’s New Charity Helper...

Swanage has a new visitor to help raise money for local charities. emo is a vintage 1966 VW Splitscreen and has recently raised £40 for the British Legion on Remembrance Sunday.

It will turned into a Christmas Bus over the festive period, raising money for Swanage Hospital and other projects are in the pipeline.

Maria Munn, the van’s owner, is an award-winning landscape and underwater photographer and will be dressed in fancy dress as well, so if you are a beginner and would like any photo tips, then just pop along to see her.

More information can be found on her Facebook Page, SwanageSplittie or on her website at www.purbeckvisions.co.uk.

N

Come and be dazzled!

The Purbeck Gazette

18

Top Twenty Unaffordable Places To Live....

urbeck is fourth behind only the Cotswolds, Bath and Exeter in a list of the top twenty most unaffordable places to rent in the South West, the National Housing Federation has revealed.

New research shows that Cotswold in Gloucestershire is now the most unaffordable place in the region to be a private renter - with private rents swallowing up almost half (47.9 per cent) of people’s hard earned wages.

Other places such as Bath, Exeter and Purbeck are not far behind, with renters spending over 44 per cent of their salary on rent before they’ve covered any other bills. Renters in East Dorset, Bristol and West Somerset are also struggling, with private rent taking up over a third of their income.

The figures for Purbeck show that the ratio of private sector rents to incomes is now 44.6%, based upon average monthly private sector rent of £758 and average earnings of £20,394.

For East Dorset (in fifth place) 43.1% with average rent of £858 and average earnings of £23,899.

Poole (eighth Place) 38.4% with average rent of £786 and average earnings of £24,580 North Dorset (eleventh Place) 37.2% with average rent of £685 and

average earnings of £22,084.

West Dorset (nineteenth Place) 35.4% with average rent of £729 and average earnings of £24,679.

This follows official figures showing that private renters now spend twice as much of their income on their housing costs as homeowners do.

The cost of renting from a private landlord is making it increasingly difficult for those trying to save to buy their own home, and for families. A recent YouGov poll for the Federation found that almost a third (31%) of parents in England who rent privately say housing costs prevented them from getting their children into their preferred school and 46% think it’s unlikely their children will be able to afford to live in the area they’ve grown up in.

Research by the National Housing Federation also found that private renters are becoming increasingly dissatisfied, as one in five (21%) in England say housing is an important issue in deciding how they vote in the next general election – compared to just 8% of homeowners.

Not only do private renters face an uphill battle to get on the property ladder, they also have less chance of securing an affordable tenancy as not enough investment is going in to building more social housing.

Overall, a shortage of affordable homes, rising house prices and stagnant wages is leaving many people struggling to make their income cover the cost of their rent, as well as other essential bills. The National Housing Federation is warning that unless the shortage of affordable homes is addressed, rents will continue to rise and more people will see more of their wages eaten up by the cost of renting.

Jenny Allen, External Affairs Manager for the South West at the National Housing Federation, said: “Private renters today are getting a raw deal and are paying the price for a housing crisis that’s been decades in the making.

“Unless we build the affordable homes we desperately need, ordinary working families and young people will continue to struggle to pay their rent, and will have less and less money left to cover basic bills like food and heating.

“We need a long term plan from politicians to put this right. We’re calling on all political parties to commit to end the housing crisis within a generation.”

Affordable Housing Setback In Purbeck

Not Just Sundaes Update

recent Government decision to change national planning policy could affect the number of affordable homes built in Purbeck.

The ruling, which came into force on 28 November 2014, means that Purbeck District Council can no longer require any contributions towards affordable housing (either financial or actual houses) from developments of ten houses or fewer.

Councillor Mike Lovell, Housing and Development Spokesperson for Purbeck District Council said: “Affordable housing for young people and families is crucial to the future of our communities. Many people are struggling to afford a home so this news is very disappointing. With land in short supply, housing developments in Purbeck are often small, so this new policy removes a large number of potential future affordable houses.”

The new government policy includes an exception for sites in rural areas where the Council will be able to collect a financial contribution towards affordable housing from developments of between 6 and 10 houses.

However, this will not come into effect in Purbeck until 2017.

Councillor Lovell continued: “The concession for rural areas does help, although many of the sites in Purbeck’s villages are for less than five houses, so this will still make the provision of affordable housing extremely difficult.

“Additionally, the District Council will not be able to implement this policy for rural areas until it completes its review of the Purbeck Local Plan in 2017.

“That means until that time no contributions will be payable on any developments of fewer than 11 houses.

“Whilst this will not be good news for the delivery of much needed affordable housing in the District, it may help to stimulate the development of market housing locally”.

echnology Tuesdays arrive at Not Just Sundaes! Have you got a tablet, smart phone or laptop but don’t really know what you are doing?

Are you one of the lucky ones who received a new ‘device’ for Christmas, grabbed a bargain in the January sales, or already had something but are unsure how to use it?

Then we may well have just the answer for you! Not Just Sundaes have been approached by Mark Gracey from local internet and web solutions company, Flavourfy Online Solutions, to run some FREE Technology sessions for the local community.

After we reopen from our Christmas holidays on Wednesday 7th January 2015, where we hope that all our staff and volunteers can benefit from a truly well-earned break, we will be launching our new ‘Technology Tuesdays’. Sessions will include open ‘Techno surgeries’ where you can drop in with your device and ask Mark a specific question and he will try to help you. Specific workshops on ‘Getting to know your ipad’ and ‘Getting to know your iphone’ will run through the main features, apps, settings and how to get the most from your device.

Workshops on ‘Internet basics’ will cover the basics of being online and give an overview of the main online services. If you wonder what the difference is between email and instant messaging, or whether Facebook or Twitter is for you, then this workshop is for you. All workshops will be run on Tuesday mornings but you will need to book your place in advance as places are limited.

To find out more information about these free workshops and other events that are happening in the space, take a look at our website (www.notjustsundaes.com), take a look at our Facebook page (Not just sundaes Community Café), or pop in and see us in South Street, Wareham (opposite the library).

P

A

DEADLINE FOR FEB EDITION: NOON, 9TH JANUARY

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The Purbeck Gazette

THE SWANAGE ARMY LINK 2

014 was of course the start of a rolling programme of events to mark the centenary of the start of World War 1. If you do get the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum in London, it is well worth a visit, and following the re-opening of the Museum last summer, there is a dedicated area for the ‘Great War’, and of course a separate floor which captures the events of the Holocaust.

Entry is free, but it does tend to be very busy, especially with booked school trips, so plan ahead!

Each of us has our own view on war, conflict and then remembrance. As with most things in life, the knack is a healthy and sustainable balance. By the time you read The Gazette, the New Year will have commenced, and I for one will be looking forward to another long, hot summer!

Plans for 2014 had included a celebration on Armed Forces Day, and the unveiling of two stone plinths, donated by the Royal Corps of Signals, near to the War Memorial. As the sea-front building work fades into our memory, the Army has been keen to ensure that the Grant for the plinths is not lost, and so advance arrangements have been made, and I thank Stan Bonfield for his assistance.

Regrettably, it will not be possible for the Regiment to march through Swanage on Armed Forces Day 2015, which will be Saturday 27th June, although there will be a military presence in the town on the day and also a Race to Rhudesheim fundraising event hopefully on the sea-front.

The good news is that although plans are not quite finished, I am endeavouring to seek agreement between all parties so that 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment might march through Swanage at 1100hrs on Saturday 25th July, immediately prior to the start of Swanage Carnival 2015.

PURBECK’S RAILWAY

F

ollowing a very successful 2014 Swanage Railway is looking forward to and planning its activities and events for 2015. The new year promises to be another exciting and busy one with programmes to attract both enthusiasts and families alike.

There are the traditional galas with Steam Galas in April (17th to 19th) and October (16th to 18th) and the very popular Diesel Gala in May (8th to 10th).

From 4th -11th December 2015 we shall once again be running our Carol Train. Last year this event was in great demand. June 20th sees our Music Train “The Sixties Express” take to the rails with a tribute to the music of the1960s.

Of course December will see the appearance of the Santa Specials.

These grow in popularity every year and are an ideal event in the lead up to Christmas.

Activities planned for the Armed Forces Weekend in June (27th to 28th) and Halloween in October (30 to 31st) as well as the traditional post Christmas Winter Warmer event (28th December) present a very diverse and enjoyable year ahead on the Railway.

Purbeck Cirle On Friday 16th January 2015 Brian Jackson will present a slide show entitled “Railway to Portland 1865 - 2015’ Prior to Brian’s presentation the Purbeck Railway Circle will hold their Annual General Meeting.

The Circle meets in Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross at 7:00 for 7:30pm EVERYONE IS WELCOME For other information regarding the show and/or the PRC please contact the PRC General Secretary, email:- gensec@purbeckrailwaycircle.org.uk

19

There are still a few matters to go through, but I thank those at the Town Hall, Dorset Police and members of the Carnival’s Executive Committee who have helped out so far; fingers crossed!

Last winter I applied to the Ministry of Defence for a grant to assist raising the profile of links between the Armed Forces and the local community. This initiative was channelled through Dorset County Council and I am pleased that we received £5,085 for a number of small projects.

These will be progressed during the winter, and one will see an exhibition of photographs showing the contribution made by soldiers, and many others, supporting the rebuilding of the Swanage Railway over three decades.

Many of you know that I served the Colours for twenty five years, but as the Royal British Legion’s Parade Marshal for Swanage since 2008, I am keen to support all aspects of the Armed Forces within in our community; serving members of HM Forces or not, their families, or cadets – indeed there is no precedent!

Over the years, I have had many discussions over a pint of Ringwood, but I am now keen to more formally gather any ideas or views that you may have, in particular on how we as a community support the now annual, and national, Armed Forces Day. So, how do we inform others of any special events (to mark D-Day etc)? Would you join a small team of Armed Forces Ambassadors (all you really need is enthusiasm, and a rather big smile); should we ensure every single war grave in Swanage is informally adopted by a member of our community?

If you have any thoughts or ideas, please contact me on: frank.roberts1@virgin.net. Thank you, Frank.

The Purbeck Gazette

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My War-time Memories.

By Brian Guy

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eert. The war in the Netherlands.

At this time we had been issued with our invasion version of the Dutch Guilder. I went in to a local shop and bought something, the old Lady asked me, was the money good? “Yes of course” (invasion money was looked on with deep suspicion by the local population!). Ah! Though she was not too sure, because she got a very large jar, gave me the change for a two and half Guilder note in one cent pieces.

I went outside and there was a little boy sitting against the wall, I took off his Dutch cap, and poured 240 one cent pieces into it; at that time it was worth a week’s wages. Now, I have a feeling that the little boy will remember the soldier who gave him quite a lot of money. The very real danger of the enemy counter attack had now become serious.

I was given the task of preparing explosive charges to blow the front of the buildings and to prepare the bridges for explosive demolition.

The Dutch people watched this intently, it did nothing for their peace of mind, had the enemy advanced we would have blown the bridge and the buildings for a road block.

Luckily, in the end, it was not necessary. Having been the first troops to capture this small Dutch town, we now departed leaving the town to settle back into its own routine. Operation Market Garden. Hurry! Hurry!

The pressure for us to keep going was very important. The Airborne had been on their own at Arnhem for some time and were desperate for help, but, sometimes the companies just had to stop to refuel and reammo. Heading north on the eastern side of the country, we harboured for a while in a monastery. The White Brothers, at Euvelwegen, near Gemmert. We arrived on “about” the 25th of September and had to get the company into some sort of shape.

While we were there, the Brothers invited us to a football match. Now I know this sounds ridiculous, but it did happen, not only that, but the Brothers in their thick long white habits, tied with a thick white rope round their waist, ran the legs off of us, and gave us a beating. That evening our officers managed to find a couple of barrels of beer and supplied the food, and we had one evening where everyone did their party pieces. Oddly the Brothers provided the cigars.They seemed to have a plentiful supply.

They insisted that we should have a real bed to sleep in that night and that they would give up their beds for us. Inside of a large building were lines of open topped cubicles, all laid out in a row, inside of each cubicle was just a bed! No doors and with a small amount of bedding, very sparse indeed.

The company, so used to sleeping in holes in the ground, and in the open air, found the beds hard and very uncomfortable, many of us had very little sleep at all, but we could not refuse their kind offer or hospitality.

To thank them for their hospitality we built them a small bridge across a stream in their grounds.

Recently I found that the bridge is no longer there, it was for twenty five years, but as a memory of those times they have put up a stone post, where the bridge was built on one evening in 1944 and where it used to stand. Quickly we moved on again, always heading north towards Arnhem.

Linden. Holland. Ahead, the German Forest.

The company had now moved to Linden near the town of Mook on the 1st of October, ready for our invasion of Germany across the Mass, opposite the Reichwald forest; an operation that we all dreaded. Fighting in a forest against prepared positions was going to be a blood bath. At night, we could see the flicker of continuous shellfire and the rumble of distant guns as the Airborne suffered a fierce onslaught from the enemy.

It was possible to feel the ground vibrating from the heavy shell fire at Arnhem. At that time, the company had run out of everything, food, fags, petrol, everything.

The road behind us, in places, just a single road heading north, had been cut by the enemy and all our supplies had to be transported all the way from Normandy, because the Germans fought hard to hold, and deny us the use of the channel ports. Food and something to smoke now filled

our thoughts. The captured German food kept us from starving; we all had to live on the rations we had captured from a German supply base with tons of the stuff. Horrible, horrible - that is the only way to describe the food. Tins of German herrings that looked like anti-tank mines from the outside, and tasted like nothing on earth inside. German cigars, they were just cabbage leaves with the outside leaf being tobacco, they tasted like what they were, cabbage leaves.

Our food was bad but the German’s was awful. After smoking his cigars we searched around and found some home grown tobacco hanging in an outhouse, curing. We tried wrapping the tobacco leaves in toilet paper to make a roll-up and some sort of cigarette. Cough, splutter, it was even worse. On our way north, still in the east of the country, we had travelled through terrain that was all pine forests and sandy soil. I remember that as the battle grew ever closer, the fear of battle had again started to invade our souls. Just before we arrived at Mook and Linden we had stopped at a small village and a young Dutch girl had invited me to sleep that night in her home. She took all of my filthy clothes and washed them all, then showed me where I would be sleeping.

They had a small bungalow that had been divided into two sections, one for them to live in, the other, was for the pig. It was spotless, and that is where I slept, in the pig’s room! I shall never forget that bloody awful stench of pigs to the day that I die. I found it impossible to sleep, and when the morning came, thankfully, we set off immediately for the North again. Me, well I was left clutching a large bundle of soaking wet clothes that I slung into the back of the transport and probably never used again.

The village was near Nijmegen. There we came across a clearing in a pine wood where the paratroopers had landed. The clearing was covered in bright yellow silk recognition scarves, a peculiar sight.

The Island. It’s quite remarkable how quickly one is looked on as an experienced and war wise veteran, even at the tender age of nineteen.

It may have had something to do with all the fresh, young faces that had joined the company, inexperienced newcomers. The land between Arnhem and Nijmegen was known as the Island. It was an area of land with two rivers running round it, a particularly nasty place at that time.

One of our officers called me in and told me to get a motor bike and get out as far as possible on the Island, towards Arnhem, then find a place to harbour the company. Setting off, I soon came to the Nijmegen bridge, big, grey, and long. An infantry man stopped me saying “do you have to go further mate? Jerry keeps floating sea mines down the river hoping that one will collide with the bridge and blow it up.” He pointed upwards to where there were infantry men up in the girder work, armed with rifles and machine guns waiting to fire on any mines seen floating towards them. Orders is orders!

I revved up the bike and set off at speed to join the headlong rush.

Early in the morning it had been cool and misty, later as the sun came out it became a beautiful warm autumn day. Stopping to look at my map case, one would not have known there was a war on, except for the sound of gunfire ahead, and we had got used to that by now.

Let me stop here and thank those that bought my book ‘Cameos of War’ which enabled me to contribute £700 towards BLESMA to help our young men.

Not least our lovely surrogate daughter; Maureen Saunders, who, bless her, supplied the envelopes. Thank you very much.

Next. Alone on the island on the road to Arnhem. England and home now so far away. Swanage seemed like another place, in another time.

Will I ever get home?

Cameos of War - although the original print run has now sold out, Brian is planning another print run as there is still a demand for his book. If you wish to pre-order a copy, please provide us with your full name and contact details at the Gazette - email: ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

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It Was YOU Who We Fought For Pupils from Corfe Castle Primary School meet Clifford Brown and Brian Guy, two of our local WWII veterans

O

n Tuesday 2nd December, two of our surviving WWII veterans, Clifford Brown and Brian Guy, visited Corfe Castle CE VC Primary School.

Upon arrival, the veterans were heartily welcomed in assembly by the school performing ‘We’ll meet again’, and a fantastic tribute to Glenn Miller.

After the performance, the younger children went off to class, and the older children (the Fireflies) gathered around Cliff and Brian to hear about some of their experiences and adventures during the war.

Brian spoke at length about some of the military campaigns he was involved with, and gave the children details about where they slept, what they ate and what jobs they had to do day-to-day. He explained about Sword Beach and D-Day, and gave them an eye-witness account on the fight for Pegasus Bridge. The children had numerous questions, wanting to know what it was like leaving family and friends behind, did they have a choice about going to war, how much time off did they get, did they lose many friends and so on.

Cliff told the children about his amazing survival when his ship was blownup at sea. Cliff clearly recalls checking the instruments in the engine room on-board at 10pm, and then remembers nothing until hearing a voice the next day exclaim ‘He’s alive!’ before he was dragged out of the sea and

onto a destroyer. Cliff was one of only five survivors from the ship, and sustained a number of injuries from the explosion. He had been in the sea, unconscious, for over eight hours before he was rescued.

After the talk, the children had a chance to look at the veterans’ medals, some mess tins, copies of old newspapers from the time (which Brian had brought with him), and pictures of Cliff as a young man before he set off to war at the tender age of nineteen.

Both veterans feel it is vitally important to maintain a ‘living link’ between the younger generations and the surviving veterans whilst there is still time. Having ‘real’ people explain what it was truly like will hopefully make the younger generation not only understand, but also grow-up with the realisation that war exacts a terrible price, and should be avoided at all costs. Only by accepting and learning about the mistakes of the past can we hope to have a different future for mankind.

As Cliff says - he entered the war because he had no choice, but whilst there, he fought for home - for the generations yet to come, for their freedom to be themselves, to live in a free country - our country.

A huge thanks to Corfe Castle school and all the children for being such wonderful, welcoming hosts, and to Brian and Cliff - the future looks bright if the children we met are anything to go by! Nico Johnson

Children welcomed Cliff and Brian by singing ‘We’ll meet again’, and a wonderful medley celebrating Glenn Miller.

Children (from Fireflies) gather round Cliff and Brian and look at old photographs, newspapers, medals, mess tins and badges.

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

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School Admission Deadline Looming

D

orset parents are being reminded that there are only a few weeks left to apply for their child’s reception school place.

Children born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011 should start school in September 2015, and parents have until 15 January 2015 to apply for a school place.

Dorset County Council handles school admissions for the county and is reminding parents that they must apply now to be in with a chance of securing a place at one of their preferred schools.

Cllr Toni Coombs, Cabinet member for education at Dorset County Council, said: “With Christmas nearly upon us, we want to make sure that parents don’t forget to send us their applications. Starting school is a major milestone in a child’s life and I cannot stress enough how important it is that families apply on time, as submitting an application late affects the likelihood of being allocated a place at a preferred school.”

All the information, including an online application form, is available at www.dorsetforyou.com/schooladmissions. Alternatively, families can call 01305 221060 for an application pack to be sent out in the post.

If parents apply online they will be able to view the outcome of their application on dorsetforyou.com next 16 April 2015.

Ladies & Gents pure new wool-lined Moccasin Slippers in stock!

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The Purbeck Gazette

On Top Of The World!

YOUR Pictures.....

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!

Ballard Down to the Isle of Wight, by Annie Whitehouse

View from Clavell, Kimmeridge, by Annie Whitehouse

Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival, Kingston, by Anne Elford

Winter Tree, by Denise Exon

Stag on the tracks, by Danny Hathaway

The Purbeck Gazette

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Swanage Area Senior Forum S

Scams! Scams! Scams!

wanage Area Senior Forum is holding its first meeting of 2015 on SCAMS. Fraudsters operate scams by post, telephone, text, email, websites as well as by unwanted doorstep callers.

It is a serious problem for many residents, including vulnerable older folk. The anxiety and misery that is caused is only increased by a sense of powerlessness in how to deal with this escalating problem.

We invite residents to come and listen to Tim Evans, Senior Trading Standards’ Officer from Dorset County Council at our next meeting on Wednesday 14 January 2015. He will make a presentation on how widespread the problem is in Dorset, how to deal with all forms of scamming, and prevention.

He will be complemented by an officer from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, (CAB) sharing their knowledge and linking in the legal aspects of Scams. You will have time to share your own experiences and ask questions afterwards.

Here’s just one example from our bulging postbag on the subject: “Just taken a call from someone purporting to be conducting research on behalf of my bank. The caller knew my name and my bank. I declined to take part and called my bank.

They had received a number of calls from other customers who had been approached by this so-called ‘researcher’… Dialled 1471 which revealed caller had withheld number.”

Let’s find out from the experts how we in the community can join together to fight to minimise and eradicate the worst aspects of these dreadful frauds that affect so many of our lives. See you there: Wednesday 14 January – 7pm Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Ave, Swanage Good parking. Refreshments served at 6.30pm.

York House CARE HOME

SWANAGE 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

Single en-suite rooms available Please contact Manageress for coloured brochure on

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

SWANAGE AREA SENIOR FORUM

Passionate about our community

SCAMS and YOU!

Doorstep callers - postal - Telephone calls Emails - Websites - Texts

Learn how to DETECT and DEAL with them from TIM EVANS, DCC Senior Trading Standards’ Officer and a Citizens’ Advice Bureau Advisor

WED 14 JANUARY - 7PM

Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Ave, Swanage Parking available & refreshments from 6.30pm

JOIN US - TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

The Purbeck Gazette

27

Purbeck Good Neighbours Newsround.

Don’t Struggle on Your Own It’s a brand new year – the Christmas decorations are coming down and now is the time we all need a big clear out. You don’t need to struggle on your own.

We have over 100 local volunteer Good Neighbours who can spend a couple of hours with you helping to sort out cupboards, wardrobes etc. and get rid of any unwanted things to charity shops or the recycling centre. Maybe you have a problem with going out in the winter – our volunteers can do your shopping for you.

If you are over 50, and living in the Purbeck area, our Good Neighbours are ready to take your call if you need some help at home. Our volunteers usually live close by and we can arrange them to give you a call back and arrange to lend you a hand. All we ask is a small donation, minimum of £2, to help with our expenses.

We are waiting for your call on 01929 424363 or email: purbeckgoodneighbours@yahoo.co.uk As we enter another year we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our generous volunteers and supporters a Very Happy and Healthy 2015

New Temporary Homes In Swanage Derelict bakery transformed into much-needed temporary housing for local people in Swanage n old derelict building, once the former site of Herston Bakers in Herston, Swanage, has been converted by Raglan Housing into two much-needed temporary homes for local people. The new accommodation was officially opened at the end of October at a ribboncutting ceremony attended by members of Purbeck District Council and Raglan Housing.

The property in Swanage High Street, has been extensively refurbished and reconfigured to provide a self-contained, one-bedroom ground-floor flat and a two-bedroom maisonette on the first and second floors above.

The new fully-fitted, energy-efficient flats are exclusively for local people needing temporary accommodation while they wait for permanent affordable rental homes to become available in the community.

Raglan worked with Purbeck District Council to deliver the scheme which is centrally located close to shops, schools, public transport and local services and amenities. The association has other affordable housing developments at Weighbridge Court in Swanage and nearby Harman’s Cross, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers and Studland.

Councillor Mike Lovell, Housing and Development Spokesperson for Purbeck District Council, said: “Meeting the housing needs of local people is one of the key priorities of Purbeck District Council. “There is a serious housing need in Purbeck, so I am pleased we were able to work with Raglan to transform a once-derelict building to provide two much-needed temporary homes.”

Photo: Cutting the ribbon are (L-R): Raglan Regional Business Development Manager Lynda Lines; Raglan Chief Executive Nicholas Harris; Purbeck District Council General Manager of Public Health and Housing Services Phil McStraw; Purbeck District Council Cllr Beryl Ezzard; Purbeck District Council Housing Manager Fiona Brown.

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The Purbeck Gazette

BANISH THOSE WINTER BLUES!

It’s January - bleak mid-winter. The wind is biting, and we don’t want to go out.

Hibernation calls.....

However, Purbeck never sleeps, and there is always something worth braving the chill going on, just a hop, skip and jump away from where you now sit.

Eateries are offering delicious winter menus, gather-up friends and family and avoid the dreaded washing-up by eating out this January.

Some local retailers have January sales on - we all love a bargain, so that’s one thing that may see us don our hats and scarves and head outside for a browse. You could also opt for a new hairdo, or a beauty make-over, guaranteed to make you feel great!

Don’t forget the house - spring cleaning beckons, and we have just the people to help you!

January is also the time where many of us choose to get fit, to turn over a ‘new leaf ’. Our local sports centre has some great deals on, or why not try your hand at Yoga?

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Focus On Health In 2015

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I

t’s never been easier to put your health first!

With a wide range of opportunities for physical activity and healthier lifestyles, the Purbeck Sports Centre’s team can help make fitness your priority this year.

Conveniently located in the centre of the district, the Sports Centre hosts an extensive range of daytime activities, including swimming; supervised gym sessions; table tennis; racketball; squash; stretch and conditioning; and body tone.

Sessions cost £3.30 for Diamond Discount card holders or £4.50 for non-Diamond Discount cardholders For details about all of the Sports Centre’s activities, visit www. dorsetforyou.com/purbecksportscentre or telephone 01929 500 000 SPECIAL JANUARY OFFER! Enjoy a FREE tea cake with any large hot drink, 9am to 4pm (January only). Please bring this article with you to claim the offer.

Kate Smith, ITEC

BANISH THE WINTER BLUES!

KAESO FACIALS MASSAGE Come and enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating facial! NO Parabens, mineral oils, sulphates or propyline glycol. Alternatively, relax, unwind and get rid of those aches and pains with a full body massage.

KATE ALSO OFFERS: HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY, WAXING, MANICURE, PEDICURE, SHELLAC

Kate Smith is available at: RubyTuesdays Tilly Mews, Swanage Call Kate for details on 07505 313179

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BANISH THOSE WINTER BLUES THIS MONTH AT INNOVATION

with lots of fantastic offers at the salon during January!

MANICURES and FACIAL BEAUTY TREATMENTS are HALF PRICE with Talia; GELLUX POLISH HALF PRICE WITH Lydia; HALF PRICE HAIRCUTS for kids under 18 YEARS with Lydia; Get a FREE CUT and BLOWDRY or CUT SHAMPOO and SET with Lydia when you have any colouring or perming service with her.

There’s also 10% OFF all STYLE and CARE products too.

Spot our new advert on the ferry or at the Tourist Information Centre, take a photo and show us, or put it on Facebook, and get 10% off your next appointment at INNOVATION. Check in on Facebook whilst you’re at the salon and Receive a FREE travel size Style or Care product.

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Stunning Designs Here In Purbeck

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vamy Designs is a family run, local business, complemented by our own team of experienced fitters.

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Bedrooms and Office furniture are supplied, fitted and are available in various styles from traditional to modern.

We appreciate the importance of a good reputation and are proud to be members of the Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme.

As a team we undertake designing and every aspect of installation including cabinetry, plastering, interior renovations, plumbing, boiler installations, tiling and decorating.

Emma and Martyn are happy to call out to your home to take notes of your ideas and measure the room before entering the details into our 3D design programme.

We then supply an itemised quotation including all the materials and labour, and are happy to re-plan and re-price until you are happy with the proposed project.

Our own team of fitters remove your old fittings (recycling appliances to a local charity where possible), complete any interior building alterations before plastering, plumbing and electrical works are undertaken.

We can then supply and install your kitchen or bathroom materials including worktops, sink, taps, heating, tiles, appliances, storage solutions and complete the project with our decoration service.

We will project manage your home improvements from conception to completion.

Why not brighten up your new year, and your home, by calling in to our showroom for a free no obligation quotation and see what offers we have available throughout January.

Refresh Your Home!

Happy New Year to one and all! hat a great time of year to ‘banish those winter blues’ by spring-cleaning your home.

Here at Purbeck Furnishing we have everything you need from a new roller blind for the bathroom, to a luxury carpet for your bedroom, maybe a pair of curtains for the lounge or a bouncy new bed for the children. We have a great range of styles and colours to suit all.

With carpets from £9.99 and vinyls from only £7.99, we can cater for any budget. We offer a full fitting service, with free estimates and advice on all flooring.

Need help? Take advantage of our personal service where we will arrange to move furniture and take up your old flooring.

On our great range off beds we offer: free delivery, free set-up and free removal of your old bed. We can cater for all pockets, with prices starting at just £399.00 for a double bed. Come and take look.

Come and have a look at our brand new range of fabrics from Hardy’s and Simpson Interiors.

This is the perfect time to shop, while our sale is in full swing and take advantage of our genuine 20% off all our prices in January.

You can be sure of a warm welcome and expert advice with over twenty five years in the business!

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SALE TIME

20% OFF* CARPETS & BEDS CURTAINS & BLINDS *Conditions apply

Tel: 01929 422703 61 Kings Road West, Swanage

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Ideal For Your Super Little Family!

by David Hollister

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nce upon a time, Nissan made an adequate but boring 4-door family car called the Almera. Then they stopped. Not many people noticed. But heads began to turn when they brought in the brilliant Qashqai crossover which rapidly became one of the UK’s best-selling cars. Then – as the Qashqai was perceived by some people as being ‘a bit big’ they brought in the Juke, a really quirky little brother to the Qashqai. We had the superb Nissan Note and the reliable little Micra, the hopefully forgettable Cube, and the amazing all-electric Leaf.

But still no 5-door family saloon. Well, that omission has at last been remedied by the introduction of the Pulsar, a family-size 5-door hatchback aimed directly into the market occupied by the Astra, Golf, Focus and Hyundai i10. And a newcomer more than able to fight for its corner of the market.

It’s not exciting. But it’s competent, well-equipped, ever so safe, spacious, economical, and a real pleasure to drive. For our annual trip to Derby to visit old friends and find the bits of shopping we can’t get locally, it was the perfect car and I was really pleased when Westover Nissan offered the loan of the 6-speed Pulsar Acenta 1.5 dci for a long – well actually a very long – weekend. We put 550 miles on it and returned a very acceptable 55.5 mpg, compared with the claimed 78.5 mpg in the brochure. That’s only 70% but in its defence, I should explain that we never use motorways, preferring the ‘pretty way’ with consequent town traffic, delays, lots of miles in 3rd in slow moving traffic, and … oops… I kept forgetting to change into 6th. That’s how quiet it is! And its only chucking out 94gm. km of CO2 so it’s an ideal Company Car. 0-62 takes 11.5 seconds, pretty good for a 1.5 Diesel, and the alleged maximum speed is 118 mph. You need to use the gears intelligently to get the maximum performance; it has enough ‘grunt’ to get you out of trouble but not enough to get you into trouble – if you see what I mean!

It’s incredibly relaxed to drive, quiet and comfortable. Little or no road or engine noise. The rear passenger leg-room is class-leading; better indeed than many larger cars, even with the front seats racked all the way back.

There are lots of useful storage areas; the boot space is superb, plenty of room for all our suitcases and shopping, without having to fold the split rear sets down. Only when we returned to Westover and tried to cram it all into our little Mazda did we fully appreciate how spacious the Pulsar’s boot really is…….! Yet it has a compact footprint of only just over 4 metres, making it easy to park and to slip into small gaps.

The Acenta is ‘half way’ up the range. It comes with Forward Emergency Braking – that’s a first for me – with an excellent ‘stop-start’ system, tyre pressure monitoring system, push-button engine start, automatic lights, automatic wipers and Dual Zone climate control. All the stuff you’d normally expect to find in a more expensive car. A great 6-speaker audio system with full Bluetooth connectivity. We didn’t have the Nissan Connect sat-nav system – that’s standard in the next Pulsar in the range, the N-tec.

But I loved the idea of just leaving the key firmly attached to my belt and being able not only to start the car but also to lock and unlock the doors just by being there; a real plus-feature to a serial car-key loser like me !

The N-tec has the reversing camera, whilst the top of the range Tekna has every bell and whistle you could wish for, including the Moving Object detection, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot warning system, which I first experienced in the Note (Gazette December 2013). Our Pulsar Acenta (pictured) was fitted with the (optional extra) rear parking sensors,

smart 17” black alloy wheels, and co-ordinated body side mouldings adding about £1500 to the basic on-the-road price of £19,245.

The visibility’s excellent, all the controls are easy and ergonomically located, the seats are comfortable and well-adjustable. We got out of the Pulsar after four hours still feeling fresh and ready to party. And that’s on A-roads. I should explain that after being trapped in a few ridiculously long motorway queues, usually following other people’s accidents, I have developed a total antipathy to motorways as once you’re stuck, you’re stuck, regardless of need to catch a plane or indeed to use the loo. It’s actually become a phobia and is the first thing I program into any sat-nav.

But on the up-side, I get to see a lot of our beautiful countryside and don’t get buzzed by idiots in the fast lane. Our sunny journey home through the countryside only took 4 hours compared with the M3-M25-M1 version which takes only a little less if there are no delays. And every mile was a pleasure in the Pulsar. Thank you, Westover. PS Sorry it came back so dirty…..!

One thing we discovered when we got to Derby City Centre was the Parksafe secure car park – normally about a tenner for the day – was FREE all day Saturday; the City Council were doing their bit to encourage early Christmas Trade. A really great idea which I offer, at no charge, to any local Councils who might be reading this column……

Westover Nissan currently offer either a £1500 deposit allowance and 4.0% APR on PCP, or 3 years 0% APR HP with a 50% min. deposit (full details on request) . Plus 3 years free servicing – which is probably worth in excess of £500. Great deals from a great dealer.

You really need to try this for yourself. Contact Paul Hughes, the sales manager at Westover Nissan, on 01202 532100. Ask for a brochure.

Arrange a test drive in this super little family car, ideally suited to your super little family!

As expected, with a General Election in the offing, party leaders are making all sorts of promises about new roads, motorways, etc. Now I’d actually vote for someone who instead of wasting taxpayers’ money digging tunnels under historic monuments, committed £15 billion to repairing the roads which we do have, rather than tearing up any more green fields. Maybe Mr Osborne should remember that there are voters down here ‘in the sticks’ as well……

Strange how the price of a barrel of oil has come down; $140 in 2008, now down to $60. Yet the price of petrol at the pumps remains at a ludicrous £5.40 per gallon. Still, I suppose that’s a bargain compared with beer………..

And finally. Thank you to Nico for allowing me to write this column and to Joy for nagging me when copy date comes round; thank you most sincerely to our ongoing Motoring page sponsors – the Westover Group – and thanks to all the dealers who have kindly provided cars to review. There’s not one I haven’t enjoyed. But most of all, thank YOU for continuing to read my stuff; a very Happy New Year to both my readers……..

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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WHAT CAR 2014 - HIGHLIGHT FROM DAVID’S STEERING COLUMN REVIEWS OF TEST DRIVES DURING THE YEAR January -Toyota Auris Touring Sports – retailing at around £21,500.

David says “Hybrid Synergy Drive, legendary across the Toyota range simply because it’s so good. This is an outstanding example of tomorrow’s technology. It’s everything you’d expect from Toyota and a good deal more.”

February- Mazda 2 1.3 84ps Venture edition – less than £13,500 on the road.

David says “This little car does what it says on the tin; it’s cheap to tax, cheap to run, cheap to insure, pleasantly quiet, well equipped, and will cruise nicely at all legal limits.”

April – Nissan Juke n-tec 1.6 – on-the-road price £16,395.

David says “Probably the best bells and whistles that you’re ever likely to find on a car of this price. If you’re ‘iffing and butting’ about your new car, then the Juke is most definitely worth not just a look but a proper test drive.”

June – Seat Ibiza 1.2. 5 door – Around £13,400.

David says “This model had lots of goodies, including cruise control, computer etc, pretty good for a cheap car.

All in all, a pretty efficient, pleasant little car.”

August – MG3 Style - £9,999 David says “And at the top of the range for this car – you still get a pound change from ten grand. Astonishing.

Absolutely astonishing how so much equipment, such great style, and so much fun can be had for £9999.”

September – Hyundai i-1 0. - £9,610 on the road, plus £495 for metallic paint.

David says “It’s a ‘must have’ for anyone looking for a small, inexpensive, easy to drive, cheap to run, smart and reliable small five door car. It simply ticks all the boxes.”

December – Toyota GT86 - £28,500 David says “The next generation of the classic sports car experience. Old-style sports-car feel, coupled with – but no overwhelmed by – 21st century technology. If you want out-and-out sensation and Fun with a capital F, then buy a GT86.”

You can read all the above reviews in full on our website www.purbeckgazette.co.uk.

Just click on the relevant edition and turn to the month’s Motoring section.

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Food

The Gourmet Peddler The Bikemonger Cooks....

Colossal Chestnut Soup

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his is a firm family favourite at Bikemonger Mansions, a hearty soup that is very welcome at this time of year.

There are two ways to do this recipe: either buy a packet of preshelled chestnuts or roast up chestnuts and spend a long time attempting to peel them.

But you will find that your efforts are rewarded if you use fresh chestnuts, you can certainly taste the difference. However you will be sick of the task and will have bits of shell under your finger nails.

Recipes for chestnut soup vary quite a lot. I’ve tried ones that are not much more than a potato soup with a chestnut on top. So, in this recipe the other veg used turn the nuts into a soup, but do not over-ride the chestnut flavour.

I also like to add a small amount of cayenne pepper; this gives it a constant warming background flavour, which adds to its winter soup credentials.

The French chef at the Black Swan makes a really great Madeira sauce.

We had a chat about his sauce, and influenced by his greater knowledge... there is now a generous slug of Madeira wine in this too.

Whilst making this my thoughts turned to croutons. I love croutons but find them a bit small and insubstantial. Why can’t we have big chunky croutons?

We can now; I have now invented the “Colossal Crouton”!

Ingredients Butter About 300g of Chestnuts 2 carrots chopped 2 parsnips peeled and chopped A few things of celery (are they branches?) chopped... Sticks, they are sticks of celery.

A pint or two of chicken stock (hold some back, play around with the consistency of the soup) Good slosh of Madeira wine Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more if you can handle it.

Single cream.

A big bit of bread and some olive oil

What are we going to do now...?

Soften up the all the veg in a saucepan with the butter, don’t fry.

Add the chestnuts, saving a few for garnish later.

Add the chicken stock and cayenne, and cook gently for half an hour.

In goes the wine Blend it until smooth And then stir in some cream.

Garnish with some chestnut chunks.

For the colossal crouton; simply get a big bit of bread, drizzle all sides with olive oil, grind on some salt and pepper and give it 10 minutes in a medium oven until crispy.

You will need to turn it a few times to get an even tan.

Next month... No idea, but there is talk of wild mushrooms locally. My next adventure sees me racing in Arizona and surfing in Mexico, and I have heard about the Mexican fried fish breakfast taco. Actually going surfing in Mexico in the winter is pretty dumb. The sea temperature is the same as Kimmeridge Bay is now, but with the added drama of sharks, bandits, and third world poverty.

The Purbeck Gazette

All Change For The New Year At Clavells

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he saying “out with the old and in with the new” takes on a different meaning for us at Clavells this year. Gillian and Annette Hole are hanging up their aprons, and retiring from Clavells at the end of January 2015. Little did we know seven years ago when we took it on how much the business would grow and develop into the award winning Café and Restaurant it has now become.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time at Clavells but now feel it is right for the younger generation to take over the reins completely. Emma plus baby Ralph and her sister Lucy look forward to welcoming you in the New Year.

Annette and I would like to thank all our customers, friends and fellow staff for their support and custom over the years. Rest assured we will still be seen driving the ice cream van back and forth to the bay and will be on hand to help out when required!

Gillian

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Purbeck Products PURBECK PRODUCE

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i everyone!

I’m writing this on the morning after the Station Road Christmas Market. The buzz was great. The weather perfect. And Purbeck Producers were out in force. Not just our block of eight in Station Road, but also a trio of Drayson/ Simpson girls and Gary and Tina in different parts of Commercial Road. Lucky thirteen indeed.

Congratulations to Swanage Rotary, ably assisted by Kay from Chococo, for organising this event which really starts the Christmas season in Swanage with a bang.

After the busy-ness of December, we take a break in January and our first market of 2015 is on Saturday February 14! We have some exciting new producers joining us for this New Year.

First, we have Swanage Dairy bringing fresh milk, cream and other delicious dairy products. You may be interested to know that Swanage Dairy are supplied by Craig’s Dairy at Weymouth, who collect milk from four of the largest local Purbeck dairy farms. So by supporting Swanage Dairy, you are supporting these farmers and, of course, a local Swanage business.

Then we have recently welcomed Julia from Swanage Bay Fish. Her fishcakes have only been on offer for the last couple of markets but she has sold out both times. Come early on the 14 February to give them a try.

Finally among our “new” producers is Jules and her fudge. She has actually been a member of the group for some time but a very tough year has meant

FARMERS’ MARKET We would all like to wish you a very happy New Year!

Our next market is on

SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 9AM-1PM

COMMERCIAL ROAD, SWANAGE New for 2015: Craig’s Milk from Swanage Diary and Fish Cakes and Pies LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS

www.purbeckproducts.co.uk she has been unable to come until recently. It was lovely to have her back.

We believe that Purbeck Products markets are the only place where you can be sure that you are buying local fresh food and artisan products made by local people. We also know that everything we sell is of the highest quality.

Thank you to all of you who regularly support us. We will be in Commercial Road next to Chococo on the second Saturday morning of every month and extra days (Bank Holidays and half terms) at Putlake Farm. Please come and meet us!

Nick Viney, Director

Swanage Christmas Market Goes From Strength To Strength

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wanage’s Christmas Market, entirely organised by volunteers, has grown enormously in the last few years. This year boasted over sixty stalls, the best yet. Spread out down Station Road and through Commercial Lane and Commercial Road, this year’s market brought record crowds to the town.

The weather was perfect; dry, clear and sunny, with a nice crisp Christmas chill in the air. Santa was in residence, checking whether children had been naughty or nice, and locals offered a huge array of craft items and handmade goods on their stalls. The Purbeck Producers were on-hand, with a bevvy of delicious local produce and foodie delights to tempt everyone.

Live music was provided throughout the day to keep everyone’s spirits up, and the whole atmosphere was one of cheerful goodwill and seasonal excitement.

A huge well done to those who organise the market each year - namely David Pike, the Rotary ‘Elf’ (pictured, middle), along with Doug, Bob, Mo and other members of the Rotary Club, who are excellently assisted by Kay from Chococo.

You all do a fabulous job on behalf of the town, and from reading all the positive feedback on Facebook on the day of the market, I’d say you all excelled this year! Thank you!

The Purbeck Gazette

ISA Update

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n the December Autumn Statement/Pre-Budget Report, the ISA subscription for the 2015/16 tax year was announced. This will be up to a maximum of £15,240 and can be in a mixture of Cash and Stocks & Shares subject to the overall maximum of £15,240. The amount has been increased from the 2014/15 limit of £15,000 in line with inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The amount that can be subscribed to Junior ISAs has also increased in line with inflation and will be £4,080.

A major bonus announced in the Autumn Statement was that from 6th April 2015 it will be possible for a surviving spouse or civil partner to inherit the ISA wrapper from their deceased spouse/partner. Clearly, as happens now, Inheritance Tax will still need to be paid as before if applicable. However, it does mean that the tax wrapper around ISA investments can continue, which could be hugely advantageous, as at present, as soon as someone passes away, the ISA wrapper is lost and although the cash or stocks and shares can continue to be held or can be sold or transferred, they lose their special ISA status on death.

ISAs have undergone a number of other changes recently which are summarised as follows: Annual subscription limits have increased from £11,280 in 2013/14 to £15,000 in 2014/15 and then £15,240 in 2015/16.

Whereas until 1st July 2014 there were separate limits for cash and stocks and shares held in ISAs, holders are now able to hold up to the maximum limit in a mixture of cash and stocks & shares and could, for instance, have 100% of the ISA allowance in cash.

Since 1st July 2014 it has been possible from the proceeds of Stocks & Shares ISAs to be transferred to Cash ISAs and still remain within the ISA wrapper. Previously only transfers from Cash ISAs to Stocks & Shares ISAs were permitted.

Due to the more flexible ISA pot which is now permitted, cash in the Stocks & Shares element no longer needs to be held solely for the purpose of investing in qualifying investments in the ISA. In addition, any monies in ISAs will receive gross interest with no tax payable. That contrasts with the ISA rules until 1st July 2014 where the interest on cash held in a Stocks & Shares ISA was taxed at a flat 20%.

From 1st July 2014 it was possible to purchase certain retail bonds with less than a five year maturity, certain core capital deferred shares issued by building societies.

Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is an investment manager with Charles Stanley, Dorchester office – (01305) 217404 – kate.spurling@charles-

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Autumn Statement Summary

The Chancellor of the Exchequer pulled out a few surprises in his Autumn Statement. The most eye-catching is the reform of stamp duty land tax (SDLT), which is payable by purchasers of land and property.

The changes should reduce the SDLT payable on 98% of transactions which complete from 4 December 2014 onwards.

Small businesses should be pleased with the £1,500 business rate discount for small high street shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

All employers will benefit from the zero rate of employers' national insurance for workers aged under 21, which is to be extended to apprentices aged under 25 from April 2016.

People employing carers in their own homes will qualify for the employment allowance with up to £2,000 per year.

Where an ISA is passed on to the surviving spouse or civil partner on death, the tax shelter for the savings will be preserved.

For individuals, personal allowances rise to £10,600 from 6 April 2015, tax rates generally remain the same and we see the abolition of the so called Death Tax on undrawn pensions.

stanley.co.uk

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

Quality Signs Traditional and Modern methods and styles.

01929 481215 kevin_vicars@outlook.com

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Law Firm ‘Pivotal Role’ In Local Railway

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Dorset law firm has won praise for its ‘pivotal role’ in securing a historic lease allowing Swanage to be linked with the main London to Weymouth railway line.

Ellis Jones Solicitors acted for Swanage Railway in the complex negotiations with Dorset County Council and Network Rail.The local authority had acquired three miles of additional track-bed just south of Wareham to Furzebrook, the start of the existing Swanage Railway, from Network Rail.

Dorset County Council has now leased that land to the Swanage Railway on a 99-year lease, as well as the existing six and half mile line which was on a shorter lease. It means that a forty year dream to have passenger trains running again on the main line from Wareham and then on to Corfe Castle and Swanage could become reality by next year.

Peter Sills, Chairman of Swanage Railway Company, said: “Securing a 99year lease was one of the key elements in realising our ambitions to have passenger trains running on the main line to Swanage. Ellis Jones played an absolutely pivotal role in this.

“It means a large piece of jigsaw puzzle is now in place and we can now press ahead with the major work, including track restoration, needed for the next stage of this historic project.”

Nigel Taylor, a Partner with Ellis Jones and Head of the Commercial Department, said the lease negotiations had been long and complex.

He added: “In such circumstances, it’s often critical to have a speed of response from your client. Swanage Railway, and in particular Gavin Johns (Swanage Railway Trust Chairman), and Mick Stone (Swanage Railway’s lands and property specialist), were superb in this respect.

“Swanage Railway has been a client of Ellis Jones for more than ten years and we’re proud to have acted for them on such a historic lease.”

Work on preparing the track-bed for the running of passenger trains is now well underway and includes: • Track restoration, including replacing about 1,700 wooden sleepers.

• Repairs to bridges • Managing the clearance of six miles of embankments – much of which is located in heavily protected sites of special scientific interest.

• Examination and repair of six miles of lineside fencing as well as a level crossing and road-rail interchange west of Norden station.

• The overhaul of a passenger carrying diesel multiple unit to mainline operating standards.

It’s hoped the first trial passenger train service will begin running in the autumn of next year.

Picture captions: [Train 1] Full steam ahead: Peter Sills, Chairman, Swanage Railway Company (right) and Nigel Taylor, Partner, Ellis Jones Solicitors, celebrate the granting of

the historic 99-year lease.

[Train 2] Well chuffed: Peter Sills, Chairman, Swanage Railway Company (left) and Nigel Taylor, Partner, Ellis Jones Solicitors, celebrate the granting of the historic 99-year lease.

The Purbeck Gazette

Trading Standards

Starting the New Year with a broken Christmas present? ow that presents have been unwrapped and you’ve fought your way through the sales, some of you will have found that something given or received isn’t as expected. Or perhaps that sales bargain has turned out to be broken, shoddy, misdescribed, or even downright dangerous, well, help is at hand.

The Citizens Advice consumer helpline and website is your first port of call to obtain independent, confidential and impartial advice about any type of consumer problem. The helpline will help you identify whether you are due a refund or replacement and whether you can seek compensation for any loss you have suffered.

Not only do you get clear, practical consumer advice but importantly for Dorset County Council Trading Standards Service, it is the way for you to report something to us. This is because we work in partnership with the Citizens Advice consumer helpline and automatically receive daily referrals from them letting us know why people are getting in touch. During 2014 Dorset Trading Standards received over 600 notifications a month about Dorset businesses. From these referrals we look to identify problem traders who need investigating to keep Dorset fair and safe.

We also have access to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline national database and that means that we are able to gather information and intelligence to identify emerging trends that may affect Dorset. We can then use that information to focus our efforts on the things that really matter to you. The more calls the helpline receives, the better the intelligence picture becomes.

We also want to work to keep Dorset’s economy growing. We know that many businesses want to do the right thing but perhaps need a bit of extra advice and support to be able to do that. We look to identify those businesses too and we offer that advice and support. So this New Year if you’ve bought something not as expected then let’s resolve to use the Citizens Advice consumer helpline to help sort out our consumer problems and to report things to Trading Standards.

Call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

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Flower Gone - New Leader For DCC

County councillors agree new leadership arrangements embers of Dorset County Council decided on Wednesday 3rd December to elect Cllr Robert Gould as their new leader.

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A special full council meeting was called to vote on this issue after it became clear Cllr Spencer Flower was unable to continue with his leadership duties following police charges under the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr Gould is taking the role on a permanent basis and he has named Cllr Peter Finney as his deputy. Cllr Gould is the Conservative county councillor for the Sherborne division. He is the current deputy Leader and Cabinet member for corporate resources. He is also Leader of West Dorset District Council. Cllr Finney who represents the West Moors and Holt division is the county’s Cabinet member for environment and economy.

Cllr Gould said: “It was essential for the council to act quickly to deal with this issue and it is a great privilege to take up the role. I intend to continue in the clear direction we have established for our important work to help boost the economy of the county and promote the health and wellbeing of Dorset residents.

“I will be considering the make-up of the Cabinet to ensure we have a strong leadership team for the vital work of transforming services at a time of unprecedented budget reductions.”

Verwood county Cllr Spencer Flower became Leader in May 2013, but has relinquished the role following charges over alleged failures to declare an interest in a property company.

A plea of not guilty to the charges was entered at Bournemouth Magistrate’s Court and the case has been adjourned to 24 April 2015.

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The Purbeck Gazette

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New Archaeology Gallery At Dorset County Museum Archaeology Gallery at Dorset County Museum being redeveloped in spring 2015 he Archaeology Gallery at Dorset County Museum is currently being redeveloped as part of a £250,000 project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Landscape Partnership Scheme and the South Dorset Ridgeway Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Upon its completion in summer 2015 the new gallery will become the visitor centre for the South Dorset Ridgeway. Ultimately it will link in with information panels to be displayed along the ridgeway itself helping visitors explore the AONB and understand the sites that can be seen there today.

“This is a very special project for us,” said Jon Murden, director of Dorset County Museum. “The archaeology of Dorset is the history of over 10,000 years of human habitation in the county – our collections are nationally significant and cover the entire period from paleolithic times to Saxon and Viking Dorset.”

When the new Ancient Dorset Gallery (the new name for the former Archaeology Gallery) opens at the Museum, the centrepiece will be a special display of the Viking skeletons found during the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road in 2009.

During the initial work (December to March 2014) the existing gallery will be open but artefacts from some display cases will be removed for conservation. Other key objects will be redisplayed in the museum during this time. The design of the new gallery will ensure that when work starts on the Museum’s planned Collection Discovery Centre, the improved displays will be moved into the new extension at minimum cost.

While the work is being undertaken, visitors will be able to enjoy a special spotlight loan from the British Museum of three jadeite axes and some mace heads from their own collection. Dorset County Museum’s own jadeite axe will be displayed alongside these loans.

For further information visit www.dorsetcountymuseum.org.

Dorset County Museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

Clearing the Decks ome surfaces become very dangerous in winter with a thin layer of algae which can lead to hazardous slips and possible broken bones.

Now is a great time to clean paths, patios and decks.

Pressure washing is great fun and very satisfying and you can hire a machine from your local equipment hire shop. The high pressure water jet strips the layer of algae off the surface, improving your grip and brings back the colour to the surface. Another benefit is that after rain the surface will dry much more quickly.

Pressure washing is fantastic on natural stone and brick but be careful with concrete slabs and wooden decking. The pressure of the jet is so high it can strip off the surface of the slab exposing the aggregate and reducing the colour of the slab.

The answer is to clean the slabs with the jet a little further from the surface so it is powerful enough to remove the algae but not damage the stone.

With wooden decking the jet can lift some of the wood fibres if used too close to the surface. For decking it would be better to use a patio or deck cleaning product such as Jeyes Fluid.

Some say January is quiet month in the garden but dedicated gardeners know that ‘a stitch in time, saves nine’ and jobs done now get you ahead

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of the game when it really does get busy in March. Christmas is out the way, the last leaves are finally off so let’s get outside, get some fresh air, do a few jobs and come back in feeling virtuous!

January in the Garden. Spring is not far away so:

• • • • •

Plan your seed purchases Potatoes can be purchased and chitted Clean and sterilise the greenhouse Clear and compost leaves from the borders and mulch if you have not already done so.

Enjoy the Snowdrops

The Purbeck Gazette

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Wildlife Review of the Year The very wet early part of 2014 produced a slow start to wildlife watching on land except for a Water Rail on 21st January, obviously displaced from its usual flooded wetlands to arrive on our wet meadows instead. The first Swallows arrived on 31st March while Wheatears turned up on 2nd March.

It was an amazing year for Orchids, with the meadows covered in thousands of Bee, Common Spotted and Pyramidal Orchids.

The dry and warm summer allowed the butterflies to flourish with big increases in the numbers of Lulworth Skippers and Marbled Whites across the Country Park.

Off the coast Bottlenose Dolphins were seen on a number of occasions, with some fantastic sightings of pods of 12 leaping and swimming in April off the Globe. Sightings in August coincided with the launch of our Dolphin Text Alert while September and October have seen Grey Seals in the area.

The last highlight of the year was a Hoopoe hopping around the grass just outside the offices, this exotic bird really should have been in Spain!

To keep up to date with the latest wildlife sightings, read the daily Ranger’s Diary on Durlston.co.uk ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition A new exhibition, opening at Durlston on the 14th January,

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takes a look at how the Jurassic Coast fits into a global family of the most amazing cultural and natural sites on earth.

Be amazed as the story unfolds of baking deserts, giant sea creatures, colossal eggheads and at least 5 million grannies!

Curated by the World Heritage Team the exhibition will be open daily until the 5th February.

January Events If you want to blow away the cobwebs after New Year, then why not join one of the many events taking place at Durlston in January.

Highlights include a guided bird walk on the 11th, with top birder Hamish Murray, an evening of stargazing on the 24th January, a chance to explore Durlston’s curious Victorian past, with a guided walk on the 25th and several ‘behind the scenes’ tours of the Castle.

To find out more about these, or any other events, visit www. durlston.co.uk Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition Until the 11th January, come along and enjoy an exhibition of work by Short Courses students from the Arts University.

Featuring work including photography, textiles, model-making, ceramics and fashion, the show should feature something for everyone.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue

appy New Year from all our staff and animals! Thank you so much to everyone who donated a shoe box full of treats and toys for our rescue animals.

Your donations made a huge difference to the cats and dogs in our care over the Christmas period.

If you have been thinking about volunteering for some time, but weren’t sure how to get involved – now is your chance! Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to do something amazing and help abandoned and unwanted animals.

From cat cuddling to dog walking, there is something for everyone. We also need lots of help at events so if fundraising is your thing, please get in touch!

It will be a busy year for Margaret Green Animal Rescue, as we enter our 50th anniversary year. The Margaret Green Foundation Trust was first established in 1965 at our beautiful site in Church Knowle. Since its beginnings, the charity’s aims have changed very little and today we care for over 1,200 animals every year.

To find out how you can get involved, visit www.margaretgreenanimalrescue. org.uk or call 01929 480474.

We hope to see you very soon!

The Purbeck Gazette

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Agglestone Rocks!

(Well there’s only one really, but in order to utilise a tired pun I’ve taken the liberty of pluralising the site. Probably not really worth it and don’t expect there to be more than one rock in the vicinity. There isn’t.)

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by John Garner

his month I’m devoting a whole article to a rock. Rocks are a very significant thing in Dorset as the coastline forms part of a world heritage site devoted to rocks and fossils. But the one I want to focus on is Agglestone Rock.

Agglestone rock is also known as the Devil’s rock and mythology would have you believe that the Devil threw it from the Isle of Wight with the intention of taking out Corfe Castle or some other monument that he or she was cheesed off with. A tad far-fetched you may think, but no less believable than the smug promises of cold eyed politicians in the run up to the election. All sorts of pledges will be made over the next few months backed up with a grin carrying all the sincerity of a bond villain stroking a cat, pledges that will be abandoned the very day they become elected on the ‘well we would do it, but there wasn’t any money left’ ticket. A cursory glance through recent history will show that it was always thus and that only the faces change. So until the day when an elected public servant fulfils his or her promises, I’m going to believe in the mythology of a diabolical geezer lobbing rocks at the mainland to demonstrate his or her displeasure.

Ahem. Cough. That feels better.

Agglestone rock has been there for much longer than us and it’s reassuring to know that it will no doubt be there long after we leave. So. Agglestone rock sits on a mound of sandy ground on Godlingston Heath, a short stroll inland from the myriad pleasures of Studland and it weighs the best part of 400 tonnes. Sounds a lot but in rock terms it’s in the pebble category really. However, pebbling doesn’t sound nearly as impressive as bouldering so let’s call it a boulder. Still lifting one up and throwing it across the open sea is not an easy task. A strong fellow, the devil. But a crap aim.

In fairly recent times it’s toppled over from whence it originally landed hence the name, as to Aggle is to wobble. Whilst it represents a great spot in its own right with stunning views all round, it also is a good place for boulderers to climb. Bouldering is climbing without ropes at relatively low levels and there are any number of ways of traversing or climbing up the various faces of Agglestone rock that make it a destination in itself, but also a stop off point for a sit down on a long stroll or a pause on a mountain bike ride before launching off again in whichever direction you please.

Agglestone is a sandstone rock and sits in a bed of sand. In a few thousand years it may well have shrunk and turned into a bigger pile of sand, but for now its standing semi tall. This does mean that at least if you fall off the rock you’ll probably have a decent landing onto a soft bed of sand.

Other sandy things around there are the lizards you probably won’t see.

These are called sand lizards and are most likely to be visible in April or May. In fact, the internet tells me that there’s an excellent chance of not seeing all six species of our native reptiles on and around Agglestone rock, including smooth snakes. On a warm summers’ day clambering up

rocks surrounded by lizards and snakes it might be easy to assume you were climbing in Yosemite National Park or some other prime climbing destination from around the world. But probably you’ll just feel like you’re on a heath in Dorset, which is just fine. Other non-sandy things you probably won’t see are Dartford Warblers, but for the purposes of this imagery let’s ignore the native birds you won’t see and concentrate on the more exotic reptiles you won’t see instead. Another sandy thing you will see is sand, but that seems quite obvious. However, an ‘I-spy book of spot the sandy things in Dorset’ that didn’t include sand would be a very negligent book indeed, so there it is.

Sit atop the rock and you will see Bournemouth bay and The Isle of Wight, although why the Devil was on the Isle of Wight and why he was so cross with the builders of Corfe Castle is a difficult one to fathom. I suppose he could have been on his holidays, but I’m not sure even the devil could have afforded the ferry fee to the Isle of Wight back in the day. Perhaps that’s the real reason he was so cross.

As with the exploration of any sight of interest, Agglestone needs to be treated with respect. As I only have a rudimentary understanding of climbing at present, there is still plenty to explore in terms of pathways up the rock itself. I only hope it doesn’t tilt any more once I’m on it.

Climbers are told to take great care of their environment. This involves the usual warnings about littering and respect for the surroundings, but also about how to clean rocks using soft brushes and not harsh abrasive ones to aid your grip. I’m just going to climb and not worry too much about my rock husbandry. A great deal of the appeal is in the simplicity of just turning up and climbing without the need for stacks of equipment.

I’m planning a day out. I’m going to cycle from my house to Agglestone rock. I’m then going to climb for as long as the tendons in my fingers can take it. Then I’m going to sit on top and enjoy the view. Then I’m going to have my lunch and make sure I don’t leave any mess. Then I’m going to cast an eye out for all the wildlife that’ll be hiding from me and possibly pretend I caught a glimpse of something semi-exotic. Then I’ll cycle home and fall asleep in a big chair. Sounds alright, doesn’t it? Cycling, climbing and eating. Another sporting event brought to you by the alternative triathlon society. If you add sitting and pondering, this could almost be a Pentathlon. What Olympians we all are. Suggestions of other alternative triathlons will be dutifully accepted.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Cinderella Comes To Swanage!

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his is the well-loved tale of Cinderella and her nasty, vindictive and facially-challenged step sisters Sam and Ella, written and performed

by Swanage Drama Company.

The lovable Buttons battles with his unrequited love for Cinderella while Baron Hard-up, bankrupted by his stepdaughters, is hounded by bailiffs Snatchitt and Grabbitt.

Meanwhile Fairy Godmother, assisted by Pixienose and Elfin Safety, tries to outwit Sam and Ella in order to transport Cinderella to the Ball to meet Prince Charming.

Join us for this family pantomime simply bursting with jokes, music, dancing and pure silliness.

The 18th Purbeck Film Festival!

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ublic money for the arts in Dorset has always been in short supply but paradoxically sparsely populated Purbeck manages to play host to not one but two folk festivals, two Blues Festivals (take a bow, Mr Darrington), an Arts week, a Jazz Festival - which this year enjoyed a sold out 25th anniversary (bows please Fred Lindop (Artistic Director) and Treasurer Mel Norris) and, last but very much not least, a Film Festival which is now the longest running rural film festival in the UK. (Film statisticians tell us the average Film Festival closes after two years.

Where did we go wrong?). There’s a common thread – all these events are substantially volunteer run.

PFF has the good fortune to have a major movie star among its most enthusiastic supporters. Wareham resident Edward Fox, star of dozens of international films as well as TV series and single plays, graciously opened this year’s festival; two weeks of wall-to-wall films in more than thirty venues. (from pub to village hall to film theatre). In wishing the Festival well the amazing Mr Fox, most unJackal-like, is pictured on the opening night with long time Rex Box Office star, Jocelyn Bernard. And the Festival went every bit as well as Mr Fox hoped. Audiences, in spite of the austerity

which this year reduced national cinema ticket sales severely, was once more over 5000 admissions.

Notable coups for the Festival on the first weekend were the appearances of Lord John Julius Norwich and the director Christopher Miles who launched what was to be a series of old and new films – either by Italian directors or set in that magnificent country. The showing of ‘Roman Holiday’ for example (Oscar winning Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck) was accompanied by an exhibition at Durlston Castle of photos of Miss H, kindly lent by a Swanage super-fan of the Belgium-born star. As well as bang up to date Italian films, two sixty year old black and white films, ‘Miracle in Milan’ and ‘Bicycle Thieves’ were greeted by audiences with prolonged applause. Not for nothing have they been nominated as among the twenty greatest films ever made.

Highlight 1. Swanage resident Brian West was the DOP (Director of Photography) on a number of international films made all over the world and he modestly participated in a fascinating Q and A before the showing of his wonderful Australian film ‘Wake in Fright.’ Thank you Brian. What a film.

Highlight 2. The growth in the number of Purbeck villages hosting films.

And some, partly because of their participation in PFF, now show films through the year. A hand please in that respect for Langton, Hamworthy and Harman’s Cross.

Highlight 3. The Purbeck Shorts Night. (Shorts in this case are films ten minutes long max). To make an evening twelve films will suffice. How many directors from Uruguay to China offered their Films to the PFF this year??

2000!!! And all of them were watched before a selection was made. (Hats off to Andrea Etherington and Woody (Square Eyes) Harding for devotion beyond the call of duty).

Released too late to be in the Festival, the British Film, ‘Pride’ (the true story of Gay Pride activists supporting a beleaguered Welsh mining village through the Miner’s strike) was shown at the Rex to a sell out and wildly enthusiastic PFF audience.

It was introduced by one of its stars (you can’t move for them in Wareham), Freddie Fox. Child of Edward and of his luminous actress Ma, Joanna David, Freddie, on this evidence, looks to have a highly promising future.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Strictly Come Folk Dancing!

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id you watch Len and Lucy on BBC4 recently on ‘Dancing Cheek to Cheek: An Intimate History of Dance’? In three programmes they demonstrated the oh-so-stately Minuet and mentioned that John Playford published books of the dances that were being taught by the Dancing Masters to the Courts, going back to 1651.

They described how the Waltz and the Polka arrived on the British Dance floors from the Continent and how the ‘Animal Dances’ and the ‘Charleston’ arrived from America in the 1920’s. We learned that social dancing took Britain by storm after WW2, with ‘Mecca’ ballrooms being opened up across the country.

Two local clubs in Purbeck offer YOU the chance to enjoy doing a range of English Social Dances, known generally as Folk Dances – a step-up from Barn Dances in fact! Our dances are performed in ‘sets’ of three, four or five couples, or long sets down the room, square sets for four couples or circular sets.

We draw on: dances published by John Playford and danced in the Courts from the 17th century onwards, dances described by Thomas Hardy and

by Jane Austin in ‘Pride and Prejudice’, country folk’s dances collected

by Cecil Sharp (who founded the English Folk Dance Society in 1911) and modern dances, which are still being devised in Britain and the USA. The Swanage & Langton Matravers Folk Dance Club, founded in 1924, meets in Langton Matravers Village Hall on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm and the Wareham Folk Dance Club meets in Stoborough Village Hall on Monday evenings, also at 7.30pm.

Both Clubs very much welcome new members – with or without partners.

Instruction is given, so to get over the New Year ‘Blues’ do come along and give it a whirl! The Swanage Club re-starts on 6 January and the Wareham Club on 5 January. Contact Mike Walshaw for Swanage on (01929) 421 913 or Mary Horlock for Wareham on 422 730.

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big thank you to local lady PAM, who very kindly knitted a new jacket for Bubs, one of our office dogs, for Christmas! Thanks so much Pam - she loves it and is now warm!!

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The Bishop Reviews

The Purbeck Gazette

Literary expert and our in-house Book Reviewer, David Bishop, writes....

Ruby Ruse by Freya Boyesen his is a moving account of the tragic and unforeseen death of a daughter. Sasha, who was in her early twenties and living in Berlin at the time.

Sasha was a troubadour, a free spirit who lived for, and by, performing as a singer/songwriter and had played in several countries including the USA. She had an abundance of talent and probably it was only a matter of time before she was ‘discovered’. I know Freya, and knew the outcome, but still found myself caught up in the depths of anxiety and suspense during the days of the coma because this book is just so well written.

I had expected a purging, but this is a magnificent purging. Sasha fell victim to one of the hazards of her occupation, but as Freya says “It was a small window in which you had made a big mistake.” Freya goes on to ask “Is there a manual out there, some kind of instruction book explaining how to survive your heart being torn from your chest, because if there isn’t perhaps someone should write one?”.

Well, someone has, and every parent, bereaved or not, should read it because you will love your children just that little bit more.

Published by Paragon this book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Book Depository. Freya hopes to do a local book launch in the New Year. ISBN978-1-78222-298-9.

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Prisoners of a Shadow World - Eric Johns took this book down to Salcombe for a week, slightly peeved at having to take ‘work’ with me, and was delighted to discover I could not have chosen a better holiday read. The book follows the exploits of LouisPhilippe, an eleven year old French boy, during the outbreak of WW2.

His parents are in the resistance and he becomes involved in the world of espionage, rescuing a young Jewish girl from a holding camp near Paris, and helping his Mother escape to England following a betrayal.

On a deeper level it is a boy coming to terms with growing up surrounded by violence, deceit and death, and the burden of responsibility for the slightest mistake. It works on all levels and like Harry Potter this book will appeal to all ages.

Had you asked me, I would have said it would be impossible for a novelist to still get mileage out of this material, but Johns succeeds only too well and I will be buying more of his books in this Spoils of War series, of which Home Front is the first and this the second.

Johns has also written more than twenty books for children and young adults. Available generally in paperback ISBN 978-1-291-74905-2.

David Bishop

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Final Age, A Child’s Eye - Alexander Ford lexander Ford is a local author, who apparently penned much of ‘Final Age’ on his phone, which is an achievement in itself. ‘Final Age’ takes the ‘standard’ zombie-style story and tells it from the perspective of ten-year-old survivor, Michael Archer.

After losing his father to a deadly virus caused by an earlier solar flare (the virus in this case is spread after catastrophic solar flares hit Earth), a second solar flare involves Michael swiftly losing his mother and sister, leaving him alone in a terribly frightening world.

Battling to survive while avoiding a selection of nightmarish monsters, Michael meets several travel companions, each with their own story, in his search for surviving members of his extended family.

‘Final Age’ is a good futuristic yarn, told simply. It will be enjoyed by anyone with a leaning towards a good zombie/horror story. My only problem throughout the reading experience was Alexander’s apparent inability to down-grade his vocabulary and writing style to a realistic level at which a ten-year-old may write. The story is peppered with entries taken directly from Michael’s journal, and as yet, I have never met a ten-year-old who would write entries such as: ‘....I wonder what could cause a man to live his life acting purely with cold logic where most would be guided by morality?’.

A small nag, but something which did jar with me whilst reading as each journal entry appeared - I didn’t find one that particularly resonated with a ten-year-old, but the story was very readable, nonetheless.

Priced at £7.99, published by Vanguard Press. ISBN: 9781843869566. Available at New and Secondhand Books in Station Road, Swanage.

Nico Johnson

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Looking Forward To A Swanage Therapy Centre Happier And Healthier Get Fit New Year!

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ow is the time to make new resolutions and set yourself new goals physically and mentally.

Grasp the moment and take advantage of your local team of complementary therapists at Swanage Therapy Centre: Get advice on all your health and fitness issues.

We provide a wide spectrum of fully integrated complementary health services for the area. We can treat most health problems and our aim is to keep you fit and active whatever your age.

The founders Mel Taylor, Chiropractor and Pam Jolliffe, Physiotherapist and Pilates teacher, specialise in treating and preventing your mechanical aches and pains. They deal with problems from arthritis to sciatica, tension headaches and muscular strains and sprains. So come and see them if you enter 2015 with a painful groan!

If your challenge is to get more fit and active our Massage Therapists are here to help you, offering Sports, Deep Tissue, Indian head, Pregnancy and Holistic massage. We also provide Aromatherapy massage and the wonderful Hot Stone and Warm Bamboo Therapies; all guaranteed to loosen your knots and soothe aching muscles.

For people with digestive or fertility problems, try out our Abdominal Sacral Massage.

If your feet have taken the strain in fashion shoes over the festive period we have foot specialists providing Chiropody and Reflexology.

For your general health and well-being and to stimulate your body’s natural healing process, Traditional Acupuncture can provide a huge boost both mentally and physically.

Christmas, New Year and financial difficulties could all create extra personal and family problems. Our Counsellor and Psychotherapist provides a completely confidential service.

If losing weight or stopping smoking figures as part of your New Year resolutions then perhaps our Hypnotherapist can make your progress easier.

We have a new therapist who has just joined the team, Rebecca Ferrary – offering treatments in Sports Therapy Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, Holistic Massage and Reflexology.

For more information or to book an appointment please call the centre on 01929 426506 or visit our website www.swanagetherapycentre. co.uk

For 2015!

with Swanage Therapy Centre 5 Court Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1JB

T: 01929 426506 www.swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

CHIROPODY Rachel Ciantar

Home Visits & Clinic Appointments Comprehensive foot care - Diabetic Patient’s Care Biomechanics & Orthotics Registered with Society of Podiatrist & Chiropodists, HPC Registered

Contact 07979 840542 NEW PATIENTS £5 OFF FIRST TREATMENT

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

SHIATSU Japanese Acupressure Therapy by

Nichola Morgan B.A. Dip. Seitai Shiatsu (Japan)

Christmas Greetings Gift Vouchers Available SWANAGE (01929) 427289

The Purbeck Gazette

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Kate Smith, ITEC Edith Mason-Hubacher I.T.E.C. M.I.P.T.I B.A.U.K.

NEW TREATMENTS!

Eyelash & Eyebrow Tinting - Eyelash Perming & Lifting Kaeso Natural Facials

Qualified Bowen Practitioner Indian Head & Neck Massage

HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY, WAXING, FACIALS, MANICURE, PEDICURE, SHELLAC, EYELASH & EYEBROW TREATMENTS

Gift vouchers available

RubyTuesdays Tilly Mews, Swanage

Telephone: 01929 424956 or 07967 978 695 for details

Kate Smith is available at:

Call Kate for details on 07505 313179

Hello From Swanage Medical Practice Thank you!

I hope that you all enjoyed an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas! It certainly has been busy in the surgery in the lead up to Christmas, ensuring that all the prescriptions are signed and that our patients are well looked after over the festive period.

The doctors at Swanage Medical Practice wish to say a big ‘Thank you’ to everyone involved in these efforts, both within the surgery and in the wider health community also.

New Year, New You I am sure everyone’s minds have turned now from festive fayre to considering The New Year and possibly a new them! New Year is a fabulous time for turning over a new leaf and trying to take steps towards making a happier healthier you!

Change for life It may seem that all doctors talk about is asking people to give up smoking, drink less alcohol, encourage people to lose weight and move more, but actually, there is a genuine reason we repeat ourselves.

It is not that we are playing a broken record; it is because we genuinely believe, and the evidence supports, that these simple steps are one of the best ways to improve your health and happiness.

Support We also appreciate that trying to lose weight or stopping smoking are real challenges, and we at Swanage Medical Practice are here to help support you along the way.

Smokestop If you are keen to stop smoking you can pop in to any of the pharmacies in Swanage and join the Smokestop programme and receive your nicotine replacement treatment.

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Healthy weight If you are seeking support to lose weight then please ask for a ‘Healthy Weight’ referrral form from reception and return the signed form to reception.

Health checks If you are aged 40 to 74 and have not already had a health check within the last five years you may be entitled to a free NHS health check.

If you are already seeing the doctor don’t forget to ask, or alternatively book a health check appointment with one of our nurses.

Healthy corner If you are curious to know your blood pressure, or weight please pop in and use the scales and blood pressure machine in the new healthy corner in the waiting room.

Happy outside And most importantly don’t forget how lucky we are living where we do, with such amazing outdoor opportunities on our doorstep.

I have just taken a bracing walk along the beach and it certainly is food for the soul!

Dr Claire Lehman (pictured)

Improved Care For People With Diabetes

orset County Hospital has pledged to further improve services for people with diabetes who have problems with their feet.

Diabetes UK has recently highlighted concerns about the rates of amputations among patients with diabetes, saying that many could be prevented. Dorset has seen a significant reduction in amputation rates over the last few years, but the team at DCH are committed to lowering that further.

Service improvements have already made a difference and diabetes consultant Dr Adeel Ghaffar says more developments are planned. He said: “We have two new vascular consultants and I joined the diabetes team this year. We are really starting to see the benefits of the changes we have made since the summer. We now have a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of professionals dedicated to the foot service. That team includes a diabetes consultant, vascular consultants, podiatrists, orthotists, an orthopaedic consultant, orthopaedic practitioners, microbiologists and radiologists.

We discuss cases together and hold a fortnightly clinic for patients which acts as a one-stop shop, so there are fewer separate waits and referrals.

This reduces clinic attendances by as much as two thirds as the patient can see all the relevant specialists on one occasion. The whole process is now much quicker and effective for patients – the patient is very much at the centre of everything we are doing. Patients now wait two weeks to see a vascular consultant in a dedicated clinic rather than previously waiting several weeks. Prompt decisions can be made and potentially limb-saving treatment expedited.”

“Although we are pleased with the progress we have made, we know there is still a lot of work to do. We currently run a foot clinic four days

a week. We want to increase that to five and reduce waiting times further.

We also don’t currently have a podiatrist who sees patients in hospital so we are hoping to put that service in place too.

Dr Ghaffar explained why diabetic patients often have problems with their feet and why sometimes this can lead to amputation. He said: “Dorset has been highlighted as having high amputation rates in the past, but our rate is coming down significantly thanks to the improvements in services.

We were seeing around 30 to 40 leg amputations a year in West Dorset several years back – in the last 12 months we have had 10. Unfortunately there will always be amputations because sometimes people don’t seek treatment early enough because of the nature of the symptoms. Also, the underlying problems caused by the diabetes and poor circulation means that even with the best care, in some patients there is little that can be done to prevent an amputation.”

“With diabetes you will also often have a poor blood supply so when you get an injury the blood flow doesn’t increase as it should and you don’t heal well. It’s really important that people with diabetes check their feet every day, looking for breaks in the skin, and seek medical attention promptly regardless of whether they think the foot problem is serious or not.”

Diabetes Telephone Helpline Extended As part of the improvements for patients with diabetes, the Diabetes Nurse Specialists are extending their telephone advice service to include weekends and bank holidays. If people are unwell or have concerns about their diabetes over the weekend when they cannot access advice from their GP or practice nurse, they can call the diabetes team on 01305 255342 between 8am and 5pm.

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Matron’s Round - Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

Pictured: Our new Matron, Matron Donna

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aving just recently been appointed to the position of Matron of Swanage and Wareham Hospitals, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

However firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone that I have met for their warm welcome and support during my first two weeks.

Special thanks go to Darren Wickwar who has been the interim Matron until my start and to Jane Williams for her hard work as Matron to ensure that I inherited two very different but incredibly caring hospitals providing high standards of care for all patients.

I join Dorset Healthcare having worked at Dorset County Hospital for the last seven years as a Senior Sister managing a 32 bedded acute medical ward. Having qualified in 1987 from Southampton my career has taken me from Southampton to Bedfordshire and finally back to Dorset where I have settled with my family.

Having worked in many acute settings and also at Weldmar Hospice in Dorchester, I am so looking forward to working within the community Hospitals.

During my interview for this position I had to give a presentation describing what I would achieve in my first thirty days, the challenge particularly for me is remembering everyone’s names, but the guarantee that I was able to give my interviewers was that all staff, patients, families or carers would meet Matron and I intend to be a very visible presence on both sites.

One thing that has struck me in my initial two weeks is the pride and loyalty of the staff and patients and their carers and I am determined to maintain that philosophy as Matron.

Until next month, take care.

Matron Donna

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!

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Sport

The Purbeck Gazette

The Final Voyage...

Tribute to Donald John Hardy 22.7.1936 to 22.10.2014 wanage Sea Rowing Club is mourning the loss of one of its most senior and distinguished members, Don (the ‘Admiral’) Hardy.

Don passed away in October after a long illness which he fought against to the end – and has left a gap in our club that will be very hard to fill.

Don joined the rowing club when it formed in 2001. Having been in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and in and out of boats all his life, he was a good seaman and liked to share his knowledge in his own distinct fashion.

Many of us remember the time when the yoke of one of our gigs snapped during the World Championships on the Isles of Scilly in 2003. Improvising in atrocious weather, Don managed to employ a wooden ‘thole’ pin to steer the boat. His quick-thinking and resourcefulness ensured that the crew could carry on.

Don loved all aspects of the rowing club, from social rowing to coxing and competing in regattas. He was a loyal and dedicated volunteer who always turned up to offer help. In addition, he never missed the opportunity to dress up for fun events and Swanage Carnival.

Rowing with Don was never dull. He wanted all rowers to love and appreciate the wonders of our coastline, so he would always point out interesting wildlife, or pause just to admire the scenery.

It was a joy and a privilege to benefit from his knowledge and expertise.

Don was born and bred in Swanage, and as a child he spent many hours with his father,

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developing a lifelong love for the sea and countryside. He then went on to make his mark on several other sporting clubs in the area.

As a young man, Don played football (in fact he played until his 50th year!).

He also played cricket for Studland for many years, and would go out of his way to make sure there were enough players for the Sunday games (often ‘recruiting’ in the local pubs the night before!).

He always ensured that younger players were given the opportunity to develop their cricketing skills with many going on to become feared batsmen and bowlers within the Dorset league.

He helped form a badminton club at the Methodist church in Swanage which ran for over forty years and again, he would go out of his way to encourage new players. Don also had a lifelong passion for fishing, and was a member of the Swanage Angling Club. He was never happier than when doing something that involved a boat!

So, from all of us, Don, bless you and thank you. You will be sorely missed…but never forgotten.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Swanage Bowlers

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hatever the weather Swanage Bowlers enjoy their game indoors at Swanage Bay View Holiday Centre.

Situated alongside the gym we feel we are also keeping fit and in a friendly competitive environment. In the inter-club leagues the men are still performing well in the Over 60s league and the ladies have won the majority of their matches.

Just before Christmas we had our very own Pavilion Players performing (using the term loosely) Dick Whittington - Oh yes they did!

This was an unusual and hilarious experience (and I am talking about the cast), our meal on the night being fish and chips followed by Purbeck Ice cream.

In January we are having a Chinese Experience (food - no travel involved) and Curling is on the agenda for February which will be a new experience for everybody!

We should be delighted to hear from anyone interested in joining us.

We will bring warmth to your winter together with healthy exercise.

Telephone Jean Thomas on 426795 for more information.

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club Ltd

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wanage & Wareham continued their unbeaten run on the 8th November when they had to travel to Wimborne for a Dorset/Wilts cup semi-final. Following heavy rain in the morning the game was in doubt, but eventually it went ahead, played in atrocious conditions.

However from the kick off Swans won the ball and Charlie Rowberry ran in their first try. Captain for the day, John Sheldrake, added a try later on giving Swans a 12pt lead. Wimborne replied with a converted try, but flank forward Matt Roberts put Swans 19pts -10pts up before Charlie Parish added a penalty to give Swans a 22pts – 10 pts victory.

The following Saturday, the visitors to Bestwall were Corsham, and Swans managed to score 90 points for the second time this season. Tries came at regular intervals, with Swans’ two wingers, Charlie Rowberry bagging five tries and Val Valemei scoring two. No.8 Joe Desmond also added two tries, with debutant second row Peter Pring adding one. There were also tries for full back Callum Baird, Matt Roberts, centre Mike Cottrell, and fly half Charlie Parish. Parish also added ten conversions giving Swans a 90pts – nil score line.

It was a different game on 22nd November as Swans had to travel away to Bath based Walcot, who were third in the league, so a tough game was envisaged. Swans were first on the offensive, and after five minutes No.8 Joe Desmond crashed over the line. However Walcot’s three-quarters brought them back into the game, scoring two tries to give the hosts a 12pts – 5pts lead. But before half time a try each by Rowberry and Parish restored Swans advantage at 12pts – 15pts.

Swans kept the ball in the forwards, and ten minutes into the second half full back Callum Baird broke through to score a converted try. With five minutes to go hooker Jack Fielding completed the scoring giving Swans victory by 12pts – 27pts and retaining their lead at the top of Southern Counties league.

On the last Saturday of November the opposition was Salisbury in the final of the Dorset/Wilts Cup played at North Dorset’s ground in Gillingham.

Salisbury were first on the score board, a couple of penalties giving them a 6pts lead. From a line out Swans’ hooker Jack Fielding reduced the arrears by 5 pts and a Charlie Parish penalty put Swans ahead by 8pts-6pts. Just before the interval Salisbury managed a try in the corner, giving them a11pts – 8pts lead.

The second half was tough, with very few opportunities to score, but an interception by Salisbury winger Tom Pottage gave Salisbury an 18pt -8pts advantage, before in the last minute Swans flank forward Jesse Scott scored a converted try, leaving Swans with their first defeat of the season, but it was in the cup, so they will now have to concentrate on winning the league.

On 6th December Swans played a home league game against Wimborne, and continued their league form, winning by 21pts – nil, with tries by Charlie Rowberry, Joe Desmond, and Chris Tomes, with two penalties by fly half Charlie Parish.

Main fixtures in January 1st Swans Veterans v Wimborne Veterans Home 12.00 pm 3rd Swans 3rd XV v Bournemouth 3rd XV D/W cup Home 2.00pm 10th Swans 1st XV v Midsomer Norton SC(S) Away 2.15pm Swans 2nd XV v. New Milton 2nd Home 2.15pm 17th Swans 1st XV v North Dorset SC(S) Home 2.15pm 31st Swans 1st XV v. Supermarine SC(S) Away 2.15pm Swans 2nd XV v Bridport league D/W2 Home 2.15pm Ron Butler (Publicity Secretary)

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Swanage Football Club

his month saw us launch our very own lottery and at a cost of only £5 a month to join, it’s an absolute bargain. To run a Football Club is a very costly experience and we as a committee are constantly looking for different income streams. The 500 Club does not only benefit the Club but every participant has a chance of a cash prize every month.

Swanage 500 club is simplicity itself to join and every subscriber gets the chance to win in the monthly draw. Members MUST BE over 16 years old to join and pay by standing order (cheques are accepted for annual payments only, no cash payments will be accepted).

All you need to do is decide how many numbers you want, provide your details and complete the Standing Order Mandate form and hand it back to a club official to be entered into the monthly draws. You will receive a confirmation email or letter confirming your monthly draw numbers and the winners will be posted on the club website after each draw: swanagefc.com.

Participating in the 500 club will be a great way you can help the Club keep its head above water and will be benefitting every member of the club, over 130 youth players and more than 50 senior players, as we strive to improve all aspects within Swanage football Club.

The 1st team recently played Dorchester Town who currently play their football in the Southern League premier division,four leagues above us.

This Dorset Senior Cup game was a real big game for us and although losing the game 6:0 we weren’t disgraced by any means. The league form for our 1st team has suffered of late and although losing their last 4 games, they have for the most part been games that could have gone either way. We really need to go on a winning run, similar to this time last season and be more consistent.

Our Reserve side, under the Leadership of Simon Kidby and Paul Yerby, appear to have turned a corner. Having not won a game all season they’ve now won their last two games and are looking to climb up the table in Dorset League 1. The Reserves is made up of some older more experienced players and a few youngsters who have progressed through our youth system.

Walking football since it was introduced two months ago has become a popular event at the Club, although we are still looking for new members.

We meet on a Tuesday between 10am and 11am at a cost of £2:50. We can see this becoming really popular over the forth coming months and at a cost of only £2:50 it’s well worth checking out.

At the other end of the age scale mini kickers, football for 5-8 year olds on a Saturday morning is very popular and at only £2:50 for an hour’s coaching this is money well spent.

As I’m sure you’re aware it was 100 years since the Christmas Day truce where both the German army and the British army put down their arms and played a game of football in no mans land. To remember this anniversary the Football Association have encouraged Clubs to participate in staging different events. Wareham Rangers and ourselves decided to get together for some matches with all our youth teams and mix the players together.

Between the two clubs we have 250 youth players, so this was a big

The Purbeck Gazette

event to organise. Hopefully by the time you read this column you would have seen an article in the Daily press and we are hoping for BBC South today to cover the day as well.

Please come and support the Swans whenever you get the chance, check our website for fixtures and all the other goings on, on and off the field.

COME ON YOU SWANS! John Peacock

The Purbeck Gazette - Proudly Supporting The Swans

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Swanage Tennis - The A-Team!

wanage’s Mixed 1 has made a faultless start to the winter season and are proving to be a team ready to dismiss any challenge from even the very best of opposition. This great form is due to the depth and quality of their current squad, consisting of some of the most talented and dynamic players Swanage has ever had to offer.

This formidable team swung straight into action taking on Hale Gardens at home. The standard of the Swanage pairs quickly dawned on their opponents as they swiftly snuffed out any hopes Hale Gardens had to get involved in the matches. Swanage pairs, Jo Kiddell/Andy Mutter and Meg Mutter/ Mike Angell marched to a clear victory, winning 4:0 rubbers.

But Swanage’s form and dominance this season is also apparent away from home. Jo Kiddell/Mike Muir and Deborah Miller/Andy Moore took on close rivals Virgin Active away and had to contend with a new surface as well as a talented second team.

The teams played indoors on carpet which should have suited the home teams more than their visitors. Swanage quickly adapted to the unfamiliar surface and enjoyed games full of lengthy rallies without the usual distraction of the weather. The comfortable environment led to another comfortable victory for Swanage winning again with 4:0 rubbers.

Other results: Ladies away Sandleheath – Meg Mutter/Sam Christmas and Diana Dyer/Wendy Clark, won 3:1 rubbers.

Photo: Mixed 1 at Virgin Active. Deborah Miller, Andy Moore, Mike Muir and Jo Kiddell (from left to right)

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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 Feb is noon, Mon 8th Dec 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.

January 2015

Thurs 1st * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

Fri 2nd * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

14:30 Film - The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (12A) At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill.

For: Members Essays, and favorite images. Plus a New Year Buffet. Visitors welcome. ffi Colin Brixton – 423841 Sat 3rd * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Swanage Station for a walk through New Swanage and along the chalk ridge to Corfe Castle. Return to Swanage by bus or train. Ffi 01929 422795.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:30 Film - The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (12A) At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

Sun 4th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

15:00 ‘A Winter Celebration’ Presented by The Mayday Singers at St Georges Church, Langton Matravers. The programme covers some 300 years of music and includes many favourites alongside lesser -known special treats. Entry is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the Richard Ely Trust, which supports local young musicians, some of whom are hoping to be there as well.

You are warmly invited to join us after the concert for seasonal refreshments.

Mon 5th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Tue 6th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Wed 7th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Kingston Church for circular walk via Swyre Head, viewpoint, Kimmeridge and Bradle Farm. Ffi 01929 422554.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Thu 8th *

Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Fri 9th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

19:30 Pantomime - Cinderella At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

Sat 10th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion.

09:30 Freebay Tabletop Sale At The United Reformed Church, Swanage. Free table, free entry. Refreshments. To book a table call Elizabeth on 01929 422406.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Heron Drove Car Park on north side of B3082 for circular walk around Badbury Rings and Kingston Lacey Droves. Ffi 01929 288761.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:00 Purbeck Parkinsons At All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell rd, Swanage. Ffi: 01929 425970 14:00 Pantomime - Cinderella (Matinee) At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

19:30 Pantomime - Cinderella At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

20:00 Nual & Kit Live music at The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 11th * Arts University Bournemouth Exhibition At Durlston Castle. Includes Photography, textiles, textiles, ceramics and fashion. * Guided Bird Walk At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Mon 12th 11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Tue 13th 11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:00 Purbeck Parkinsons At All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell rd, Swanage. Ffi: 01929 425970 Wed 14th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at tank viewing area south of Lawrence of Arabia’s Cottage for walk around Moreton Plantation and village. Ffi 01929 425165.

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11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:00 Stoborough WI Meeting At Stoborough Village Hall - - talk on ‘The Work of Biotrack’ by Sarab Levett from 2 - 4 pm. Competition is ‘Guess the animal tracks’.

19:00 Swanage Area Senior Forum At Emannuel Baptist Church. Scams and You! Learn how to detect and deal with doorstep callers, with Tim Evans, DCC Senior Trading Standards Officer.

19:30 Clothes Swap Night At The White Swan, Swanage. Bring your good-quality unwanted clothing items along to the White Swan, Swanage, and join in with our ‘swapshop’! One ticket given per item given-in to swap. Tickets can be ‘spent’ on other items bought in on the night.

Thu 15th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle. * Fondue Feast At The Scott Arms, Kingston. Booking essential, £14.95 a head, min two people. £10 deposit per person.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

19:30 Langton Village Hall Event At the Village Hall Langton Matravers. Mrs Joyce Meates will give a talk on ‘Studland through old postcards’ All welcome .

Members 2.50; non members 3.50 Fri 16th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

13:30 Alexander Technique Free Introductory Workshop at Wareham Library at 1.30 and again at 3.30 pm. To book a place at one of these workshops, please contact Kate Brailsford 07798 791985.

19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill at 7.30pm. For: the Dorset Cup - Dorset Industry’ and the 3 in 2 Cup ‘Open’ Competitions. Judge: Brian Tarling Visitors welcome. ffi Colin Brixton – 423841 ----------------------------------------19:30 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets at Harman’s Cross Village Hall for a slide presentation entitled “Railway to Portland 1865 – 2015” by Brian Jackson plus the PRC Annual General Meeting. Doors open 7pm. No admission charge; donations welcome. Ffi 554765. EVERYONE WELCOME 19:30 Pantomime - Cinderella At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

Sat 17th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Volunteer Recruitment Day at Swanage Pier Come and find out how you can get involved. Ffi: 01929 425866.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Kingston car park for circular walk to Swyre Head via Polar Wood and return. Ffi 07871 100714.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:00 Pantomime - Cinderella (Matinee) At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

14:30 Bingo At the D’Urberville Hall, Wool.

19:30 Pantomime - Cinderella At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £9 Adult, £8 Concessions, £5 Children. Ffi: www.mowlemtheatre.com - 01929 422239.

20:00 Fish and Bird Live music at The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 18th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Mon 19th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Tue 20th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:30 The Purbeck Assoc of the National Trust, Illustrat At All Saints Church, Ulwell Rd, Sw. ‘Dorset Properties’ – James Graby talks about furnishing some National Trust properties in Dorset; Till 4.00pm. All welcome. £3.00 incl refreshments. Ffi 01929 427300.

Wed 21st * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at car park at the end of Durnford Drove, Langton for walk to Spyway Barn, down to Dancing Ledge return via Priests Way. Ffi 01929 450164.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

14:30 Studland History Group Meets in the Village Hall for a talk by Elli McDonald, “Living With A Changing Coastline”. All welcome. Ffi 01929 439245.

Thu 22nd * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Purbeck U3A Meeting Points At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. “The Mary Rose, Past and Present” Non members very welcome. The Purbeck U3A is a registered charity.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Fri 23rd * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

The Purbeck Gazette 20:00 Phillip Clouts Live music at The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 24th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle. * Stargazing At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Kimmeridge Quarry CP for circular walk to Kimmeridge Bay, and coast path to Swyre Head, returning across Smedmore Hill. Ffi 01929 421039.

11:00 ‘The Changing Year’ Exhibition At The Gallery at 41, Corfe Castle.

Sun 25th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Purbeck Antiques & Collectors’ Fair At Furzebrook Hall, Furzebrook, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5AR. Delicious homemade lunches and cakes.

Admission £1 Adults including free entry into prize draw to win a £10 voucher.

Free Parking. Disabled Access. Further details:- 01929 761398 Mon 26th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

Tue 27th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

19:30 Dorset Industrial Archaeology Society meeting held in The Dorset Room, Colliton House, Colliton Park Dorchester (opposite County Hall). The Society’s January meeting is a members evening with short presentations. Non-members welcome (small donation suggested). Further details from: 01305 785968 or 871863.

Wed 28th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet outside Knoll House Hotel for walk via Godlingston Heath, Bramble Bush Bay, South haven Point and back along the beach. Ffi 01929 422554.

Thu 29th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

19:00 Celebration of Purbeck Game Night At The Scott Arms, Kingston. Booking advised for a three course set menu, £18.95 per person, £10 each required.

Fri 30th * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

Sat 31st * ‘Wonders of World Heritage’ Exhibition At Durlston Castle.

09:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Acton car park (09:05 No.40 bus from Swanage) for linear walk back along coast to Swanage. Ffi 01929 288761.

14:30 Beetle Drive At the D’Urberville Hall, Wool.

19:30 Wareham & District Archaeology & Local History Soc At Wareham Town Hall. Talk by Dr. David Reeve. ‘The Development of Saxon Wimborne’. Visitors Welcome, £2.

20:00 Ewan Mclennan Live music at The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229

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

The Purbeck Gazette

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 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 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: 481000 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: 481000.

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 18.15 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 their NEW venue, St Mark’s CE VA Primary School, High St, Sw. Parking on-site. All singers welcome! 423729 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.

59

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, vegetables. Coffee & biscuits available.

10.00 Sw Tennis Club 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. Royal British Legion, Sw. 426096.

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.

The Purbeck Gazette

60

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