The New Blackmore Vale Issue 75 (04/08/2023)

The New Blackmore Vale

The New Blackmore Vale

Festival

Packham adds his support to Dorset COP

Jean marks her 100th birthday in style Page 9

Thorncombe Woods team celebrates Green Flag Page 4

What’s inside this issue…

• Page 16: Shaftesbury’s recent Fringe Festival is declared a resounding success by visitors and performers alike

• Page 11: Sturminster Newton looks forward to Riverside Family Festival this September

• Page 19: Discover more about Dorset’s eco-friendly flower festival

A ray of sunshine

Care home grants the wish of one resident to meet her favourite weather presenter

A 92-YEAR-OLD in Sherborne got to meet one of her screen heroes when he dropped in for a visit.

Mary Tompkins is a big fan of ITV

he would be delighted to pop round.

So it was that Mary ended up sharing a cuppa and a chat with her screen favourite.

Activities officer at The Hayes, Vicky Feltham, said: “We started a Wishing Tree last September when Care Dorset took over The Hayes.”

Vicky’s fellow activities officer, Bev

Green flag awards for Vale sites

Natural spaces around Dorset have gained prestigious Green Flag status

FIVE sites in the Vale have been awarded Green Flags: Stour Meadows, Milldown, Thorncombe Woods, Black Heath and Hardy’s Birthplace.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, and is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that care for these sites.

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:

“I am thrilled to hear that once again Dorset’s country parks and green spaces are being rightly recognised as some of the best in the country.

“Regularly spending time in the outdoors has proven benefits for health and well-being, which is why it is so important that we take all the steps necessary at our countryside sites to maintain the high standards associated with the Green Flag status.

“These sites will also play a critical role in our efforts to make nature bigger, better and more joined up in our county.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in achieving these Green Flag Awards.

“Country parks and nature sites are vital green spaces for the community in Dorset, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do

Trustees needed

Hospital charity hopes to continue good work across the community – can you help?

FRIENDS of the Yeatman Hospital is looking for trustees, volunteers and members as it continues valuable work at Sherborne Hospital and beyond.

Formed in 1951 with the aim of educating the public about the needs of patients at Sherborne Hospital, the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital has since extended its remit across the urban and rural communities of Sherborne.

The charity has supported the Sherborne Hospital by providing

so much to ensure they maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces

equipment and improving life for patients and staff alike. “Sherborne has been very generous in providing funds for the charity to use and we continue to build on this generosity to make the Yeatman Hospital a facility of which we can all be proud,” said John Stokoe CB CBE, honorary secretary of the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital.

“That support from you, the people of Sherborne, is now enabling us to extend out reach into the community.”

The charity is extending its mission, supporting the health and well-being of the community to reduce pressure on the hospital. It plans on tackling issues that can lead to health problems among older members of the community, those living with social deprivation, and young people who may be feeling excluded, anxious or traumatised.

It is supporting bereavement counselling groups, community centres including Rendezvous, and schools.

“We are providing funds for a mental healthcare nurse at The Gryphon School, mobile phones for bereavement support counsellors, gym equipment for the children requiring specialised support at the Harbour Vale School, and additional staff and improved facilities at the Rendezvous,” said John.

To meet these challenges, the charity has a skilled board of trustees with a diverse range of expertise gained in healthcare, education, business or personal experience.

“This group of dedicated and committed people couldn’t function effectively without our wide and far-reaching network of Friends, who not only support the Charity financially through annual membership subscriptions but freely give their time to help organise and run attractive fund raising events,” said John.

If you’d like to support the charity, as a friend, volunteer or trustee, you can find out more online at www.friendsoftheyeatman. org.uk or by emailing johnstokoe2@btinternet.com

Thorncombe Woods volunteers and staff celebrate Green Flag status

Repair, reuse, recycle

Save items from landfill by using your friendly local repair cafe

BLANDFORD Repair Café, based at the original Scout Hut in Eagle House Gardens, is helping people and the planet one repair at a time.

Carole de Saram and her daughter Emma relaunched it in December 2021, after it was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has since gone from strength to strength.

“It all started with a phone call from Emma, who was at COP26 in October 2021,” Carole said. “We talked about making a real difference to our environment in Blandford by saving items from landfill.

“Since the relaunch, the Blandford Repair Café has saved hundreds of items from landfill, built up a team of 40 volunteers, welcomed many people to the friendly cafe and developed strong links with Blandford Food Bank and other community groups.”

The Repair Café runs every month to restore and repair items and provide advice, and has repaired everything from bikes, lamps, vacuum cleaners and toys to kitchen appliances, iPhones/ iPads and clothes.

It has also become a community hub with

one-to-one sessions to help individuals write CVs and job applications, and provide free haircuts.

Donations are regularly used to buy food and toiletries for Blandford Food Bank.

Carole said: “I’d like to thank my amazing team of volunteers, especially Tamsin Holloway for all her help with administration, organisation and cake baking.

“A big thank you to Blandford shops and cafes for their support and raffle prize donations.

“Many thanks also to Unite, the union, for its generous donation to purchase PAT testing equipment. From September, we will have trained volunteers to repair and PAT test items.”

The Repair Café is always looking for new volunteers and for individuals to help in the cafe.

Carole added: “Please join us on Facebook to keep up to date on what we are doing.”

Morris practice

THE Wessex Morris Men will be dancing at a pub near you over the next couple of months…

August 14

7.30pm Sea front, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JF

9pm Talbot Arms Hotel, Uplyme, DT7 3TF

August 21

7.30pm The Red Lion, Weymouth, DT4 8TR

8.15pm Harbour, Weymouth, DT4 8DR

9pm The Kings Arms, Weymouth, DT4 8TJ

August 28

Noon White Horse Inn, Litton Cheney, DT2 9AT

1pm Crown Inn, Puncknowle, DT2 9BN

3pm Freshwater Beach Holiday Camp, Bridport, DT6 4PT 4pm The George, West Bay, DT6 4EY

September 4

7.30pm Commencing around the Martyrs Tree / Tolpuddle village centre

8.15pm The renovated Old Tolpuddle Chapel

Every Monday thereafter until April, the Wessex Morris Men will be holding practice sessions at Pulham village hall (opposite the Halsey Arms, DT2 7DZ), between 8pm and 10pm.

It’s the ideal time for anyone curious about Morris dancing to have a go. It may come as no surprise that the Morris men retire to the Halsey Arms afterwards to wind down – it’s traditional!

If you want to know more, simply turn up any Monday evening or email the bagman, Ray Dyson, bagman@wessexmorrismen. co.uk, with any questions.

Craft & flower show

ENTRIES are being accepted to the Stalbridge Garden Society annual craft and flower show.

The show takes place on Saturday, August 19 at Stalbridge Hall, with doors at 2pm and the prize giving at 3.15pm followed by a raffle. Entry to the show is £1 for adults, with children under 16 going free of charge.

A printed schedule of classes and entry forms are available from Dike & Son, Stalbridge Pharmacy, the Murco garage, Grace Haine Eyecare and Williams Florist.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday, August 16.

Stalbridge Garden Society is only a small group but full of enthusiasm. “We are trying to capture a community feeling; we really want to get the village united and bring back the ‘old village feel’ that we once had,” an organiser explained.

“Through lockdown we came to realise the therapeutic effect gardening and being outside has had on us, our mental health and well-being. We want to encourage more people to start to enjoy being in their gardens, however big or small they are. We want to show that gardening can be fun, whether you are a pro or a beginner!”

Top fibre provider

A BLANDFORD-based broadband firm has picked up a prestigious national award.

Wessex Internet was named UK Fibre Provider of the Year at a leading industry awards ceremony in London.

The Dorset company also won the Best Rural Provider category for the second year running, in recognition of its work across Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

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Judges said they were impressed with the company’s customercentric approach after significant investments in customer service and network upgrades, meaning the local provider’s customer satisfaction scores are industry leading.

In addition, judges noted the company’s rapid growth and exceptional dedication to bringing full fibre to rural communities.

Hector Gibson Fleming, Wessex Internet CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to have won these two awards.

“The hard work and dedication of so many people across our business is the reason we’ve managed to beat the majors in our industry from across the UK to win these fantastic awards.”

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A357 works delayed

WORK on the bank of the River Stour bordering the A357 has been delayed due to nesting birds in the area, Dorset Council has announced.

Work was due to start on July 24 to prevent the road subsiding, with soil nailing set to take place in September. However, an ecologist has found clear evidence of nesting birds in the area. A council spokesperson said “Given that the project involves removing the willow trees on the bank slope so we can prepare for soil nailing, we have opted to delay these works until after August when the birds should have left, and the trees can be removed safely.”

Just the ticket

Festival of literature features a host of bestselling authors

DORCHESTER Literary Festival takes place October 14-22, with tickets going on sale at the end of August.

The exhilarating fiction line-up includes returning favourite Victoria Hislop, dazzling debut and Dorset based novelist Joanna Quinn (The Whalebone Theatre), and the brand new thriller from ITV’s political editor, Robert Preston. Not to mention one of Britain’s best beloved poets, Lemn Sissay MBE, reading from his witty and uplifting new collection, Let the Light Pour In

On the non-fiction front, best-selling geographer Tim Marshall confronts the new frontier, Space, whilst Ferdinand Mount takes a close look at the world of dictators in Big Caesars and Little Caesars

Anglo-Saxon history is brought to life in technicolour by Dr Cat Jarman in The Bone Chest while Daniel Finkelstein’s memoir Hitler, Stalin, Mun and Dad tells a miraculous story of survival. Other best-selling authors include Louise Minchin, Ray Mears, Tim Spector, Justine Picardie and Damien Lewis.

For more information and tickets visit dorchesterliteraryfestival.com

Cerne Sheep Group

ON Monday August 14 (6.30pm for 7pm), the members of Cerne Sheep Group will be visiting Higher Dairy Priory House, Shapwick (DT11 9JL) to look at Ali Tory’s prizewinning Hampshire Down sheep before some of them go off to Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show. After viewing the sheep, members will adjourn to the local hostelry – The True Lovers Knot at Tarrant Keyneston. CSG signs will be displayed.

CERNE Sheep Group supports, educates and entertains about 30 local shepherds (with flocks large and small). New members are always welcome. For more information contact Jill Hole by phone (01929 459450) or email (jill_ hole@outlook.com).

Dorset’s climate commitment

Organisers of Dorset’s COP 23 hope to inspire the community to tackle the climate change crisis

WILDLIFE expert and environmental campaigner Chris Packham is backing an event in Dorset aiming to speed up moves to tackle climate change.

BBC Springwatch host Mr Packham, who lives in neighbouring Hampshire, has given his support to Dorset COP 23, which will take place at Dorchester Corn Exchange on September 9.

Dorset COP (Conference of the Parties) 23 has been put together by three climate action groups from the county with the aim of ‘spurring the local community into urgent action to combat the threats posed by climate change and ecological collapse’.

Zero Carbon Dorset, the Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) and Sustainable Dorset have joined forces for

tackling the problem.

Laura Baldwin, environmental campaigner and former Olympian, who will open the conference, said: “This event is not only ground-breaking but also of huge importance – not just for Dorset but for community activists everywhere.”

Giles Watts, a coordinator with Dorset CAN, said: “This ground-breaking, community-led event is an attempt to apply the power of the international COPs to local issues and so galvanise Dorset into faster action to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.”

The event hopes to attract people and organisations from across Dorset and will close with a declaration of intent to mirror those issued at the international COPs.

The ‘Dorchester Declaration’ will be a commitment to act, advocate and lobby for action on climate change and the environment across the county and will follow a series of talks by high-profile speakers, as well as workshops, short talks,

for organisations to collaborate.

Chair of Sustainable Dorset, Jenny Morisetti, said: “This event, a first in the UK we believe, will be Dorset’s opportunity for the community to network and have its say on climate and ecological issues.

“It will raise the power and reach of Dorset-based organisations by fostering collaboration, supporting the spread of vital information, and helping organisations to act locally in a way that puts people at the heart of decisions.”

Co-founder of Zero Carbon Dorset, Mark Chivers, added: “While Dorset is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, from rising sea levels to the loss of local species unable to cope with the rising temperatures, globally others are already suffering the consequences of climate change; losing their livelihoods, homes and even lives.

“But by raising awareness of the urgent need to act locally and demonstrate the depth of community commitment to tackling the crises we aim to secure action from all stakeholders and spur both Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils to take the lead suggested by the Government’s own Climate Change Committee.”

A walk around… Stourton Caundle

Soak up the scenery as you walk with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

STOURTON Caundle is a pretty village in a valley about half way between Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton. There are some good views of the surrounding countryside along our route.

Park near the church, which is worth a visit. Then walk north along the road to a crossroad where you turn left and head west for a mile, crossing a few contour lines until you reach the parish boundary at Ramilles Farm at the corner of Plumley Wood.

Turn left down a byway that takes you south past Woodrow Farm, then down through Lower Woodrow to cross a couple of

streams and then head uphill along a footpath crossing a field to join a bridleway, Holt Lane, at the top. Turn left and follow the lane eastwards. Be warned that it can get rather muddy.

When you reach a farm yard, leave the bridleway and take a footpath across a field, then two more fields going down to the valley bottom and past a couple of large ponds in an ornamental garden to join a bridleway which you can go up and down to explore, then join the village road.

It might be worth going a short way south down the road to see if the Trooper Inn is open. When I visited, it was closed because of flooding. Then head north along the road back to your car.

You’ll have walked about four miles.

Left to right: Neil Smith Mark Chivers Jenny Morisetti and Giles Watts

100th birthday party is Jean’s cup of tea

Centenarian and tea enthusiast celebrates big birthday with friends

A TEA-TASTING afternoon proved the perfect way for a former seamstress to celebrate her 100th birthday at a care home in Sherborne.

Jean Picton-Turberville reached her centenary having lived for several years at Colten Care’s Abbey View.

Known as an enthusiast for a great cup of tea, a smiling Jean watched as the home’s best bone china cups and saucers were brought out for her birthday party.

Her tea connection goes back to just after the Second World War when she lived in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, with her husband, a manager in the tea industry.

Abbey View staff arranged a tea-tasting experience for Jean and party guests. After sampling the various offerings, Jean naturally chose Ceylon as her personal favourite above others including Darjeeling

Platinum Award-Winning Care 2022

We have been awarded this much sought after accolade for our work with Gold Standards Framework Exceptional

and Earl Grey.

Sara Foster, of the companionship team at the home, said: “Jean’s children were born in Ceylon, before it became Sri Lanka, and she remains very proud of her connection with the country and the tea trade.”

In her working life, Jean was a seamstress for the London clothing brand The White House in the 1950s.

Among her duties was making baby and toddler dresses for wealthy and titled families with many items produced for overseas orders.

Jean’s link with the firm was rekindled last year when, thanks to some behind-thescenes work by Sara, contact was made with current managing director John Delliere.

He sent Jean a surprise birthday greeting including a bouquet and a personal letter of congratulations.

“I was so surprised to hear from The White House,” said Jean. “It was long ago

but I still have happy memories of my time there.”

Sara added: “It was a joy and privilege to help Jean celebrate her 100th birthday. She was thrilled to receive her card from the King and was inundated with flowers and cards from family and friends.

“Your staff are exemplary in every way. They care for my every need, showing genuine kindness and always go above and beyond the call of duty. The excellent chef caters for my special diet - all cooked to perfection. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Comfort & elegance

Current resident

Loyal staff

Stunning views

Bright, airy spaces

Yewstock pride

School presented with award for its outstanding efforts enabling pupils to speak out on LGBT+ issues and experiences

PUPILS and teachers from a school in Sturminster Newton have won an award for celebrating LGBT+ Pride, presented by two stars of the hit Netflix show Heartstopper.

Actors Corinna Brown and Tobie Donovan presented school pupils and teachers from Yewstock School and College, a community Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school, with the Pride Group of the Year award at the Just Like Us charity awards.

The school won the award for going ‘above and beyond’ to help LGBT+ pupils feel safe and celebrated, showing outstanding efforts to platform the voices of all its Pride Group members.

Yewstock School’s Rainbow Alliance meets weekly to learn about and discuss LGBT+ topics, read stories, do group activities – and the group has even hosted assemblies on LGBT+ inclusion for the wider school community.

Yewstock School and College staff champion Naomi Culley said: “All of the students that take part in our Rainbow Alliance work so hard to go above and beyond to organise events in school to raise awareness of diversity and the importance of inclusion for all students in our school.

“Our students represent many other students across the country and worldwide, who are trying to find their place in the world and to be true to who they are.”

Shielding Your Home & Estate from Care Costs with a Living Trust

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Nobody likes to think about getting old, but it is certainly worth thinking about if you value your home. That is because your house could very well have a charge placed upon it or sold by the local council to pay for your care fees. If a person’s capital and savings, including equity in their home, is worth more than £23,250, they will have to fund their own care.

A living trust can shield your home and estate from care costs in the following ways.

Placing your main home into a living trust ring fences the property from any potential future care costs. With a living trust, you can be both a trustee and beneficiary. You can maintain control over your assets even after you pass away. You can specify how and when your assets should be distributed to your beneficiaries.

Other benefits of the trust include the avoidance of probate upon the property and the protection from both divorce & creditors for your beneficiaries. The situation won’t get better over time. The UK’s fastest-growing age group comprises those aged over 85. Councils will face even more pressure on budgets, leaving them with little choice but to continue to sell people’s homes.

To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594.

The main thing to remember with a trust is that because you do not own the assets held in the trust in your own name, a charge cannot be placed upon the home.

Chris Tennant Oakwood Wills.

Yewstock School staff and pupils collect their award and pose with Heartstopper stars Corinna Brown (far right) and Tobie Donovan (far left)

Family festival

There’s plenty of fun to be had for all the family in aid of local and national charities

FUN for all ages is promised when the Riverside Family Fest is held later this month at Riverside Meadows, Sturminster Newton.

The festival is raising money for Children with Cancer UK and local charities The Vale Pantry in Sturminster Newton and The Big Yellow Bus Garden Project in Shillingstone.

Now in its second year, the event aims to provide an affordable day out and bring the community together.

The festival features two tribute bands – The Twerzels – a Wurzels tribute – and The Magical Mystery Four – a Beatles tribute – and The Replicas, a local rock band.

The Steamship Circus Workshop will provide free entertainment, and Punch and Judy will be on offer for younger festival-goers who can also enjoy a bouncy slide and 45ft bouncy fun run, and see creepy crawlies.

The event will also have lots of stalls with a bar, Mexican food, burgers/hotdogs, ice cream and doughnuts on offer, along with a cake sale.

Dog lovers can take their pets along and enter them in a fun dog show, and Sturminster Boxing Club will be challenging all-comers at tug-of-war.

The organisers would like to thank the sponsors and volunteers, including Stur Action, Wessex Internet, ABP, Stalbridge Linen, Gap, Mogsons Waste, Wessex Cleaning, Friars Moor and Vintage Tipple Trailer.

The Riverside Family Fest is on Saturday, August 19, from 2-10pm. Tickets are £7.50 for adults (children under 16 free of charge) and are available from The Vale Pantry and Eventbrite (with booking fee) tinyurl. com/235vrw22

JEWELLERS

Bank holiday fun

THOUSANDS of people are expected to turn out for a traditional village fete next month.

The event, at Donhead St Andrew, will run between 1pm and 4.30pm on bank holiday Monday, August 28, at Stoney Hills Field, in Sands Lane.

Last year, organisers said the fete attracted nearly 2,000 visitors from nearby communities and further afield.

More than 200 villagers from the Donhead St Andrew area are involved in putting on the event.

Highlights include a 40-plus vehicle vintage and classic vehicle show, with an annual dog show at 3.30pm.

There is a non-stop barbecue, beer and cider tent and cream teas on offer, with lots of seating to enjoy vintage jazz from The Sunset Cafe Stompers.

“Stalls at the fete are always very well stocked and include cakes and biscuits, preserves and chutneys, plants and gardening equipment, fashion and accessories, books, pictures, prints and frames, toys and games, gifts, jewellery, CDs, DVDs and records,” they added.

New this year are a number of displays including alpacas, willow weaving and bonsai growing, they said.

“It all adds up to an afternoon of fun for all ages and the fete supports very worthy county and local causes.”

Last year saw more than £20,000 handed to good causes after the fete. This year its’ supporting both Wiltshire and Dorset Air Ambulance Services, Salisbury Hospice, Tisbus, Happy Gathering and St Andrew’s Church.

Polar explorer

Maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound will be talking about his investigation of the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s polar explorer Endurance this September

SIR Ernest Shackleton left England in 1914 to lead an expedition to cross the Antarctic continent via the South Pole. Once in the Weddell Sea the temperature plummeted and the sea froze. After passing an Antarctic winter on the ice it was hoped spring would bring relief. It didn’t, and movement of the ice began to crush the ship. On November 1915 she finally sank to a depth of 10,000 feet.

The survival and recovery of everyone over a year later has become the stuff of legend.

But what of the ship Endurance, apparently lost for ever?

Enter Mensun Bound, ‘the Indiana Jones of the deep’ and one of the world’s leading maritime archaeologists.

With advances in sub sea robotics, Mensun felt it might be possible to find Endurance. It took two expeditions and the second one, last year, after much danger and privation did succeed.

Mensun documented his discovery in his best-selling book The Ship Beneath the Ice, and is coming to Batcombe at 6.30pm on September 14 to give an illustrated talk about the result of his adventures. Tickets are £17.50 each, which includes a glass of wine and canapés, available from Eventbrite tinyurl.com/374y2umh

All proceeds will go to the Batcombe branch of the Royal British Legion.

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SUNDAY LUNCH

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Boost For Residents As Local Broadband Provider Reduces Full Fibre Broadband Costs

Wessex Internet, the local provider of ultrafast full fibre connectivity has updated its range of residential broadband packages to offer faster download speeds and enhanced services at new lower price points. This comes against a background of national providers, such as BT and Sky, introducing high mid-contract prices in April. Uswitch reported that the BT 2023 mid-contract price rise of almost 15% was the largest ever seen for broadband in the UK*.

Available to both new and existing residential customers, Wessex Internet’s refreshed full fibre broadband services includes two new packages:

• Full Fibre 250 – its lowest priced unlimited broadband package at £39.50 per month, providing customers with 250Mbps download speeds and 125Mbps upload speeds.

• Full Fibre 500 provides customers with lightning-fast downloads of 500Mbps and upload speeds of 250Mbps for £55 per month – with the added bonus of Wessex Internet’s WiFi Promise. Ideal for customers living in older and larger properties that may struggle with the reach of WiFi signal. It provides customers with up to two extra broadband hubs free of charge if they can’t get at least 15Mbps in every room of their house.

Furthermore, Wessex Internet has reduced the price of its premium Full Fibre 900 package to £79 per month saving customers £60 a year, while increasing their upload speeds to 450Mbps.

The company’s introductory package, Full Fibre Lite, remains at its current monthly cost of £29 per month. Chief Commercial Officer, Jez Allman, said: “We know the local communities we serve are concerned about the cost of living. Therefore, we decided the buck the industry trend of raising prices for existing customers by introducing these new packages available. This demonstrates our commitment to offering more value, quality and peace of mind.”

*https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/bt-announce-price-hikes-what-can-consumers-do/

Golfers on course for charity cash

Rodney Hawkins Annual Memorial day scores a hole in one for charity

by George Jeans

A GOLF tournament raised £1,135 for local charities. Presentations were made at the Stourton and Kilmington Home Guard Club. The main trophy was bagged by Simon Crab, with Richard Strong in second. The longest drive was Nick Howel’s. Richard Czemerda won nearest the pin.

Nigel Ore won the much coveted ‘last’ cup – he was suffering with a bad back.

Clockwise from top left: Simon Crab with the Rodney Hawkins trophy; Nick Howell, longest drive; Richard Czemerda, nearest the pin; Richard Strong, second place

The party’s not over ’til the recycling is done!

The ‘clinkety clink’ of glass bottles is a satisfying sound when we put out the recycling, and summertime get-togethers often lead to more glass to dispose of.

Please pop all your empty glass bottles and jars, including perfume bottles and cosmetic jars, in your green recycling box (NOT your wheelie bin). Keep metal lids on, but please remove plastic lids or spray tops.

To stop the box getting too heavy, you can put it out every fortnight

if you need to. Extra glass will be taken if placed in a sturdy container (not a bag) that can be easily lifted and emptied by one person.

Broken drinking glasses and Pyrex items can’t go in your recycling box as they melt at a higher temperature. They should be wrapped in newspaper (or cardboard) and placed in your rubbish bin.

Window panes, mirrors and lightbulbs should be taken to your Household Recycling Centre.

Fringe benefits

Visitors and performers declared the recent festival a roaring success

SHAFTESBURY came alive with music and performance over the weekend as the 2023 fringe brought hundreds of visitors to the town.

The Shaftesbury Fringe 2023 saw dozens of performances and special events take place in venues across the town, with everything from folk walks to funky fashions, music to mindfulness featured.

And organisers said the event had been a big success – despite some trying weather across the weekend.

A spokesperson said organisers had been ‘blown away by the love shown for Fringe’.

“It takes a lot for performers to turn up and do their thing in our small Dorset town, where this year rail strikes and wild weather added an extra layer of challenge, but the

overriding message is that they do so because of the warmth of the welcome they receive,” they said.

And they had a special message for fans who endured the bad weather on Saturday to enjoy the celebrations.

“You didn’t let the horizontal wind and rain on Saturday put you off – if anything, you seemed more determined than ever to show your support – and the performers and venues can’t thank you enough for it,” they added.

The organising committee thanked everyone who helped make Fringe 2023 happen, from sponsors and venues to performers and public.

“See you all in 2024,” the spokesperson said.

Huge donations support Fete!

Record donations have been received for Pen Selwood 68th Traditional Fete, on Saturday 5 August from 12 noon. There will be a Toy Stall, Pre-loved Clothing and Books Stall, free children’s entertainment by Circus Skills and a toy tombola, and face painting. Your 50p Grand Draw ticket might win £200 cash or one of many other great prizes!

There’ll be great bargains on White Elephant, Vintage, Glass, Kitchen, Electrical & Ornaments stalls or rummage area.

There’s live music, a Flower,

Produce & Craft Show, barbecue, Pen Pub tent, or Teas at the Village Hall, and marquees and gazebos will keep you dry if there’s rain! Proceeds will go to charity. Parking is available – what3words - graph.lipstick.digested. Only assistance dogs on Fete Field please, and no entry before the noon opening.

For latest updates please visit www.penselwood.ning.com

Robin Hood with a twist!

Acting troupe brings a breath of fresh air to

an old tale

THREE Inch Fools are dusting down their musical instruments and heading to Sandford Orcas, near Sherborne, with their calamitous take on the legend of Robin Hood.

Beneath the Major Oak, an inept troupe of three actors gather to tell the story of Britain’s best-known folktale. The only problem is, no-one can agree how the story ought to go!

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As each actor battles to tell their own version of the legendary tale, Robin must use every string to his bow to bring his band of merry misfits together.

The open-air performance is presented by Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach at Higher Orchard on Tuesday, August 15, at 7pm. Gates open for picnics at 6pm and a licensed bar will be serving drinks.

Tickets and further information are available from 01963 220208 or online at www.artsreach.co.uk.

Summer photo comp

CALLING all enthusiastic photographers!

Send us your amazing summer snaps of the Vale, bathed in sunshine – or not, as the case may be!

from Sherborne

In return, your picture could be the cover star of an edition of the New Blackmore Vale later this summer – and you could pick up a trophy for your efforts.

Send your summer snaps to tilly.gratton@blackmorevale. net before August 31.

Photo by Dakota Roos on Unsplash

Health and happiness

Wincanton’s healthy living centre is welcoming visitors to its open day this month

THE Balsam Centre is throwing open its doors to visitors on Tuesday, August 15, between 10am and 2pm.

Pizza making, cake baking, craft activities and a mini beast hunt are just some of the activities on offer at the open day.

“We’re often told we’re Wincanton’s best-kept secret,” said event organiser Kelly Starr, who is also the Balsam Centre’s Children, Young People & Families Manager, “so we decided we should do something about it! We want people to know that we’re here for everyone in the community.”

The Balsam Centre, whose registered charity name is the Wincanton Community Venture, was established to reduce inequalities, and provide health, social and cultural opportunities for individuals and communities in Wincanton and the surrounding area. Founded almost a quarter of a century ago, the Centre is best known today for its work in supporting the community’s

mental health but, as Kelly points out, that’s only part of the story. “There’s a huge amount that happens here, from our thriving Men’s Shed to health walks and fitness classes such as Pilates and yoga.”

While the Open Day will offer plenty to keep families occupied, including two fun cookery sessions (pre-booking required) and some maths-based physical activities provided by Somerset Skills & Learning, the organisers are keen to point out that the event is not solely aimed at children. In addition to the Men’s Shed, people will be able to stop by the ‘Chat Café’, which welcomes people to drop in for a chat over a drink or a light lunch. Visitors will also be able to take a tour of the Growing Space, the Balsam Centre’s sister charity which, through a range of gardening activities, helps to de-stigmatise health issues and encourage socialising between different or isolated community groups. Finally, an information hub will signpost details of all the services offered by the Balsam Centre, including the work it does in partnership with Somerset’s Open Mental Health Alliance.

“For a centre that aims to be open to everyone in the community, there’s a certain irony in holding an Open Day,” said Kelly, “but there can be all kinds of reasons why people don’t make use of our services. We hope our Open Day will give people the nudge they need to come in and find out how they can get involved.”

For more information on the Balsam Centre Open Day, visit the Balsam Centre’s Facebook page or balsamcentre.org.uk/whatson. html#events.

Unfolding stories

A TOURING exhibition of textile art by South-West based group CQWest makes its final stop at Shaftesbury Arts Centre this month.

New member Wendy Jump, who is exhibiting with the group for the first time, took her inspiration from Shaftesbury’s beautiful historic buildings.

Wendy said:

“Shaftesbury’s town centre is attractive and inspiring to the visitor and artist. The old buildings such as the town hall and the church towers make interesting sights to sketch. The town hall was built in the 1800s and still acts as the centre for the local street market on Thursdays.”

The exhibition runs from August 16-29 at The Gallery, Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Bell Street, SP7 8AR and is open daily from 10am until 4pm. Entry is free. For more information see www.cqwest.uk.

Verandas can be open, partially or fully enclosed with sliding glass doors, or solid glass sides. Louvred Roof Pergolas are perfect for shading and when closed completely watertight, by adding side screens they protect you from sun, wind and rain. Add heating and lighting to both and they are perfect for all year round outdoor entertaining. Keeping you warm and dry on the chilly late summer evenings so you can enjoy the company of friends into the small hours as well as being usable in the winter. Both are stand-alone products or can be attached to the side of your home.

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40th Birthday Sale! Greek myths

THE Last Baguette is set to bring its riotous and ridiculous outdoor family theatre show Pandora’s Box to Winterborne Stickland Sports Club.

Flower power

Leading British bed retailer, Beds Are Uzzz is excited to be celebrating 40 years in business this summer. Over the anniversary period, we’re taking a trip down memory lane as we look back at how the business has grown and changed over the past 40 years, before shedding some light on what exciting new prospects are on the horizon.

Goofy gods, hilarious heroines and daft deities star in this gallop through Greek mythology for all the family by Sunday Times award-winning playwright Tiff Woodsmith.

Last Baguette producer Sydney Robb said: “We make visual theatre and believe in the power of fast-paced physical comedy and silliness to talk about important issues of our times.”

The show is on Wednesday, August 16, at 6pm with gates at 5pm for a barbecue and a bar will be open.

Children can take part in a relaxed theatre workshop ahead of this performance from 4-5pm.

From the sales, through to the delivery, Beds Are Uzzz has always been committed to providing excellent customer service. Over the years, they have paid close attention to detail on the customer front, resisting the temptation to open large and impersonal ‘barn’ style showrooms, and instead focusing on smaller boutique stores with well thought out displays that give customers a comfortable and supported shopping experience.

Pandora’s Box is performed as part of Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach’s summer programme and tickets and further information are available online at www.artsreach. co.uk or from 01258 880920.

While the in-store shopping experience has always been a key aspect of Beds Are Uzzz success, as retail space and customer

Blooming marvellous ideas, tips and tricks to save the planet

HOLLOWAY Farm in Shillingstone is the venue for a new, fun and family friendly festival, organised by Eveline’s Flower Farm and the Dorset Lavender Farm Project.

shopping behaviour has evolved, as have Beds Are Uzzz. Over the years, they’ve experienced a shift in customer purchase behaviour, recognising that the majority of customers research the product or brand they’re interested in purchasing online, prior to visiting the store. In 2015, Beds Are Uzzz began trading online, reaching new audiences and supporting customer purchase preferences.

The Dorset Eco-friendly Festival aims to showcase the beauty of locally grown and cut flowers, and to promote sustainable flower arranging methods.

Talks and demonstrations will be staged in the festival marquee with soulful acoustic musical entertainment in between.

Flower farmers across Dorset will talk about how to grow cut flowers, and florists will show how to arrange flowers without the use of floral foam.

Fresh and dried flower installations will be displayed all around the festival site.

The Dorset Lavender Farm project will serve refreshments with home-made cakes,

The dotcom boom isn't the only change that Beds Are Uzzz has seen over the past 40 years. The bed retailer recognises that now, more than ever, customers truly appreciate the health and lifestyle benefits of quality sleep. Customers are prepared to spend more time and invest in choosing the right product. And, really this has been a significant contributor to Beds Are Uzzz's continual growth. As a specialist bed retailer with knowledgeable and experienced staff, they are able to provide the level of service that customers really

scones, pastries and drinks for a donation, and visitors can take their own picnic.

The children’s corner will provide fun, hands-on sensory activities for younger visitors, such as lavender bag making, dried flower crafts and den building.

shopping from the Enchanted House Beds range, a new brand that will be hitting stores this year, as well as updated Vispring studio displays in all stores. Supporting their commitment to excellent customer service, Beds Are Uzzz is set to develop faster distribution throughout the UK.

Many local producers and people from the craft market will have willow crafts, pressed flowers, plants, soap and wax melts for sale.

The Dorset Eco-friendly Festival is on Sunday, August 20, from 11am-5pm and tickets priced £5 are available from Eventbrite tinyurl.com/mw4ntycu

And, on top of that, Beds Are Uzzz are celebrating the anniversary year with a revamped new logo, a shiny new website and some fantastic offers and savings for customers, across a great range of brands. Head over to their website to find out more.

Eva Steinredere from festival organiser Eveline’s Flowers

Loose change changes lives

Pennies from NHS pay packets add up to more than £20,000 for Dorset charity

NHS workers have raised more than £20,000 for a charity that helps poorly young people and their families – by sparing a penny of their wages.

Each month, staff at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust have donated spare pennies from their monthly pay packets to Julia’s House, which provides clinical, practical and emotional support for families with a child suffering from a life-limiting illness.

The money has been raised over the last 12 years through the Pennies from Heaven scheme, which rounds down people’s take-home pay to the nearest pound, diverting surplus pennies to a good cause.

And Mike Bartlett, deputy CEO at Julia’s House, said the NHS workers’ contributions were gratefully received.

“Some parents liken having a child with a life-limiting condition to being on a permanent rollercoaster, when even a typical day can suddenly become a

terrifying blue-light ambulance journey to the hospital,” he said.

“We are there to help families with the most challenging and toughest of days, as well as being there to ensure they’re able to make the most of every day.

“And our respite care enables them to rest, spend time with other siblings, go out as a family or even have a date night – not easy when you are caring 24/7.

“This highly individual and vital care wouldn’t be there without the support of amazing people like the staff at Dorset HealthCare.

“This kind of regular income over a long period of time is invaluable to Julia’s House, especially during tough economic times. A huge thank-you goes from these families and everyone at Julia’s House.”

Leanne Mercer, staff benefits coordinator at the Trust, said: “Our staff pick three charities each year to support, and Julia’s House is chosen each time – it’s a fantastic charity which supports the child and the family.

“We are pleased we can make a difference to a very worthy local cause and be part of something doing good.

A life well-lived

Unique send-off for businessman included a grave dug by his own machinery and a convoy of tractors

THE founder of Bartlett Contractors at Hinton St Mary, Roger Bartlett, commonly known as RB, had a grand ‘send-off’ when his funeral was held on July 14.

A convoy of tractors followed the successful businessman’s coffin from the funeral directors in Sherborne to Hinton, where he was buried.

The coffin was collected from Bracher Bros in Sherborne by a lorry and low loader featuring a picture of Roger on Nelly, the first tractor he bought for the company, and pictures of tractors, plants and animals.

That was followed by the convoy, led by Rema Belia, an International 1056 tractor, one of the first vehicles Roger bought for the firm and driven by his grand-daughter, Molly.

Ten tractors, some with members of the family at the wheel, followed back to the business’s headquarters for private time for staff and family members.

The coffin was then transferred to a vintage trailer pulled by Nelly, driven by Roger’s son Robert, and taken through Hinton St Mary to St Peter’s Church, followed by staff and family on foot.

Mark Paull, a former member of staff, read Roger’s eulogy and after the service, the coffin was loaded back onto the trailer to be taken to the graveyard where Robert had dug a grave, as had been Roger’s wish, using a company mini-slew.

The mourners walked through an avenue of tractors and mini-slews which created an arch to a tent for a large party to celebrate Roger’s life and achievements.

“Pennies from Heaven is such an easy way for our staff to donate to charity. Each month any spare pennies from their pay gets deducted and goes into the charity pot. We would recommend more local organisations take part to fundraise for charity in a really simple way.”

In total, Dorset HealthCare has raised more than £49,000 for various charities through the scheme, earning the Trust a gold award quality mark from Pennies from Heaven, which demonstrates dedication and support to society.

For more information about Pennies from Heaven visit www.penniesfromheaven. co.uk, and for more on Julia’s House, see www.juliashouse.org

Young swimmers make a splash

Sherborne schools swimming gala was a fantastic end to the school year for children

PUPILS in Years 4, 5 and 6 from four Sherborne Area Schools Trust schools competed in the annual Sherborne area swimming gala, hosted at Oxley Sports Centre.

Children from Thornford Primary, Sherborne Primary, Sherborne Abbey and Buckland Newton were joined by pupils from nearby All Saint’s Primary in Bishop’s Caundle, as they competed in a series of swim races.

The events included

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freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and a relay, with individual winners receiving certificates, and the scores added up to crown the overall winning school.

Sherborne Abbey won, and deputy head Jason Howells was delighted as this was the first time the school had ever won this event.

Teacher Ruth Layton, from Sherborne Primary, who organised the gala, said: “This was a fantastic event – it was wonderful to see the children all trying their best and representing their schools.

“Swimming is such an important skill, and we want to thank the team at Oxley Sports Centre for hosting our event and ensuring it ran so smoothly.”

Conservatories, Solid Roofs, Bi-Folds, Sealed Units, Windows, Doors, Fascia, Soffit & Guttering

Conservatories, Solid Roofs, Bi-Folds, Sealed Units, Windows, Doors, Fascia, Soffit & Guttering

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Showroom in Orchard Park Garden Centre,

Gillingham, SP8 5JG (Showroom by appointment only)

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Gillingham, SP8 5JG (Showroom by appointment only)

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Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-12pm

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Gillingham, SP8 5JG (Showroom by appointment only)

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Showroom in Orchard Park Garden Centre, www.valecraft.co.uk

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Showroom in Orchard Park Garden Centre, www.valecraft.co.uk

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Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-12pm

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Top: Swimmers from Thornford School; right: pupils from the winning school, Sherborne Abbey; left: competitors from Sherborne Primary

Church heads to agricultural show

The church tent will once again be making an appearance at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show

THE Church Tent is a familiar site on the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show Ground.

The tent is run by volunteers from the Church of England churches in Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Stour Vale. Head to the tent for a friendly welcome, the chance for a sit down, coffee, tea and homemade cakes.

Putting up and taking down marquees is carried out by church volunteers. The collection of all the catering equipment, tables and chairs is heavy work and supported by

the Shaftesbury Carnival Club, for which the church is very grateful.

This year the church’s rural chaplains will also be in attendance,

who are familiar faces at the Salisbury livestock market. Come and explore the links between faith and farming.

Because of the ongoing cost of living problems, refreshment prices will stay the same as last year. All profits are given to charities and their details will be on the promotional board.

Choir tour

CHORAL evensong in country churches is promised when the Laudemus Choir visit Dorset.

The choir, led by former King’s Singer, choral director and composer Jeremy Jackman, will serve up a wide-ranging and different repertoire over a week of services.

The choir, which originated at the Wimborne Arts Festival in 1991 and has returned each year, operates as an annual summer course, singers coming from all over the UK and some from overseas.

It will visit churches in Bere Regis (August 15), Milton Abbey (August 16), Cerne Abbas (August 17), Shapwick (August 18) and the Minster in Wimborne (August 19), all at 6pm.

Rev Angus Mayhew; Anna Hardy, Salisbury diocese; Jo Churchill, church organiser, with Thomas the church dog; Nick Hill, G&S show secretary, Rev Richard Kirlew, rural chaplain

Our loose Canon

Social interaction declines with every person replaced by ‘AI’

by Canon Eric Woods

I HAVE known Chris Loder, Member of Parliament for West Dorset, since he was 11. Back in September 1993, he was a brand-new student at The Gryphon School in Sherborne, and I was a brand-new Foundation Governor. Although I frequently disagree with him about matters political, I count him as a good friend. It distresses me, sometimes, just how much opprobrium is heaped on his shoulders, and those of our other elected representatives in this county.

But now, blast him, he has stolen my thunder in his column here in the July 21 issue. I had intended to write about the proposed closure of rail ticket offices across the country, but Chris got in first. Given his 20-year career in the industry, he is far better qualified than I to comment. If he no longer thinks that South Western Railway “is a reputable operator with any concern for rural Dorset”, then I can only say “Hear, hear!” Perhaps, however, I can still add a little to his –entirely convincing – narrative.

Many folks in Sherborne and surrounding villages will remember Colin, in the Sherborne Station ticket office, with great affection. He retired, I think, some years ago, but we always made a point of buying our tickets when we knew Colin would be on duty.

He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the timetable. He always knew when delays were expected because of work on the line, or the wrong kind of leaves, or the wrong type of snow. Most importantly of all, he knew how to navigate the labyrinthine complexity of ticket charges. Has anyone, anywhere, outside of the Byzantine Empire, ever devised anything more ridiculously complicated than rail fares? I remember Colin once advising me, when I asked for a return ticket to Waterloo, to buy a return to Salisbury and then a return from Salisbury to Waterloo. He saved me pounds.

No wonder today’s train operators want to get rid of people like Colin. They want us either to wrestle with the internet or a machine at the station. I don’t care how advanced “AI” has become – it has a long way to go before it catches up with Colin.

I’m not convinced by the Unions’ complaint that these plans could cost 2,000 jobs. How many gas lighters were put out of work when our streets were no longer lit by gas? But I do worry about the loss of human interaction. Vulnerable groups such as those representing the elderly and the blind are up in arms about it. But isn’t this latest plan just another piece of a dehumanising shift taking place across society which is eroding our daily contact with other people? Closed banks, self-checkout in supermarkets, constant pressure to do everything online: for many people, there is now no longer any opportunity to enjoy even a minute of social interaction in the course of a lonely day. And that impoverishes us all.

Photo by Craig Whitehead on Unsplash

A Summer Of Fun At Dorset’s Top Family Theme Park!

Adventure Wonderland is the perfect destination for family fun in Bournemouth this summer! There is so much to enjoy during your next visit including all your favourite rides and attractions! Make a splash on Jungle Falls log flume or ride the waves of the Ghostly Galleon. Fly high on the Flying Elephants and get in a spin on the Turbo Teacups! Jump for joy on The Buccaneers Bouncer! and relax in The Caterpillar’s Sensory Garden.

Your ticket also includes the huge indoor play centre, Wild Thing!, Alice at the Movies crazy golf, Pony World animal area and explore the Alice in Wonderland Maze. Take your seats in The Theatre for our brand new show, ‘Tik Tok Time!’ Starring Alice, the Queen of Hearts and Mr Rabbit!

It’s a summer full of event-ure! Adventure Wonderland will also be welcoming some very specials guests during the summer holidays. Come and see Peppa Pig on 10th August and Chase from Paw Patrol on 24th August 2023.

Adventure Wonderland - memories made here. Book your visit now. Visit www.adventurewonderland.co.uk

Keep on trucking

A COUPLE from Fovant have gone the extra mile to do their bit for Ukrainian forces fighting in the war against Russia.

Sam Lowings and Halyna Dobosh spent four days driving 3,000km to Issacea in Romania on the border with Ukraine to give their Nissan pick-up vehicle to the Ukrainian military.

‘Yuri’, who works for the Odessa flotilla of the Ukraine Navy, greeted them with customs clearance documents and a plaque from the Odessa fleet and a special flag.

Sam, who met Halyna at the opera in Odessa three years ago, said the pick-up will be checked out and used in the defence of Odessa port.

Sam (centre) is pictured with Halyna and ‘Yuri’.

Primary plans

A VILLAGE primary school is applying for permission to build a new building to house nursery and reception classes.

The scheme would see a ‘two-classroom modular’ building developed on a former car park at Keinton Mandeville Primary School.

The car park area is redundant after an extra parking area was developed as part of the Lakeview housing development in the village.

As well as the building, the application outlines plans for a dedicated play area for the nursery class, as well as a canopy connecting the pre-

designed to meet space standards, as outlined by the Department for Education (DfE) and the building would also house toilets for adults and for each class, a kitchenette, storage, changing room and a lobby/cloakroom.

“As part of the Lakeview development, a larger surface car park has already been provided for the school to the west, and the existing car park becomes obsolete,” the application said.

For full details of the application, and to make comments, log on to www. somerset.gov.uk and search for

A taste of Gillingham

Argentinian students spend a day at Gillingham School to improve language skills and experience English education

THE Languages department at Gillingham School organised for a group of Argentinian students to spend a day at the school as part of their two-week language trip to England.

They were given a tour of the school by Year 8 students, helped in Spanish lessons and shadowed Year 10 students.

“Much fun was had, and many friendships were formed,” said a

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Better connected

Support for those with care needs and their carers…

THIRTY years after it was set up to offer a supported meeting place for older people, Sherborne Connect now enhances the wellbeing of dozens of individuals aged 18 to 100.

Sherborne Connect – previously known as The Shielings – was opened on July 29, 1993, by Mrs Pat Hymers, the chair of Dorset Council

The service became known as Sherborne Connect in 2015 when it changed from supporting purely older people to catering for the needs of anyone over the age of 18 with an assessed need.

Between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, the converted Victorian house in The Avenue is abuzz with people enjoying cooking, quizzes and crosswords, arts and crafts and reminiscence sessions to promote mental stimulation.

As well as providing fun and companionship for people who use the

service, Sherborne Connect provides families and carers with invaluable respite care and the peace of mind their loved ones are being expertly supported.

One family member said: “My wife was diagnosed with having dementia about three years ago. She became very depressed and withdrawn after that.

“She started going to Sherborne Connect and since then she’s been much happier.”

Anne Towler (pictured) came to Sherborne Connect purely to access the assisted bathing service and discovered company and companionship.

She said: “I started coming in January 2022, because after breaking my hips I wasn’t able to get into my bath.

“The first time I was lowered into the special hydrotherapy bath they have here it felt like heaven!

“I’ve been coming weekly ever since for a bath and I also stay on for cooking, arts and crafts, music, singing and board games.”

Jackie Baker worked for the service as a

care assistant, from the day it opened in 1993 until retiring at the age of 60. She then returned as a volunteer until 2020.

She said: “It’s so valuable for people who find it difficult to get out and about themselves. They can be picked up by our transport, enjoy the day with us and make friends – and this in turn gives valuable respite to their families and carers.”

The hidden prince

Family secrets and Royal links make for a fascinating examination of an extraordinary life and the repercussions of illicit love

by Katrina ffiske

ROBERT Glasbury grew up in 1970s Herefordshire, part of a normal farming family with a normal background, or so he thought.

But after the death of his grandmother, Rose Powell (Davies), in 1998, he learnt that his grandfather was the late Duke of Windsor. “It was quite a shocking revelation, that my grandmother had had an affair with the Duke of Windsor,” Robert told me. “It’s amazing to think that my father had also kept it a secret until his mother died. It was a relief for him to tell us that he was actually the son of Edward VIII, later known as Duke of Windsor. He wanted his story told, but only once he had passed away.”

Robert now lives in the Woodford Valley with his wife Suzan, and has recently published The Hidden Prince (The Non-Royal Royal). The book is based on the memories of his father, Roy Albert, and grandmother Rose. It also includes evidence from letters and the diaries of Jean Hughes, who was a close friend of Rose.

“My grandmother was an excellent seamstress,” Robert told me. “She lost her first husband in a drowning accident. It was very hard to get another job if you were a widow, so she returned to her maiden name, Davies. The family lived on a farm in Herefordshire. King George V used to shoot in the area and was a familiar figure, so it seemed a natural step for Rose to ask the Palace for a job. Taking her first train trip to London she had an interview at the Palace, met the staff and spent an afternoon doing samples of her embroidery. She was offered a short-term position, so leaving her son, Jim, in Herefordshire with her parents, Rose left to work with a small team on Queen Mary’s dresses.”

Arriving at Buckingham Palace, there was a problem with the servant’s sleeping quarters so they had to sleep at York House, St James’ Palace, the residence of Edward, the Prince of Wales.

“Rose was a beautiful, confident, young woman,” Robert said. “She found a good friend in Jean Hughes who she worked closely with, telling her all her adventures, which Jean recorded in a detailed diary. Not one to obey rules, Rose would wander around York House and sneak around the corridors and by chance met the Duke of Windsor one night. Obviously intrigued by this pretty bumptious girl, she was invited back to his room.”

Jean’s diaries describe a girl who fell madly in love with the Prince. Rose would sneak to his room almost every night and on return would chat about the intimate details of that evening with Jean. The affair lasted a short time, within which Rose fell pregnant. Many girls might have disappeared and kept the pregnancy a secret. “Rose approached the Prince and asked him what he was going to do about it. At the time she believed that he was madly in love with her, so it was hard when she was ignored. Rose had to leave her position and return home, but before leaving she had approached Major Hardinge, Private Secretary to the Prince, who agreed that Rose would be helped.”

With the return home came money from the palace. There is no evidence of Rose having to sign a contract with the Royal Household to keep quiet, but this fund encouraged local farmer Arthur to marry Rose and take on her first son, Jim, and Roy Albert.

The story of how Arthur battled with the Palace for extra funds to pay for the child and his upkeep is a fascinating read.

The Duke of Windsor’s son, Roy Albert, continued to be quietly acknowledged with finances and gifts. “My father told me how four times a year a tall, slender man in a dark suit, and bowler hat would visit the house,” Robert said. “He would pull up in a big fancy car, park it on the road and, with his head held high, walk towards the house in a military fashion. The man handed Rose an envelope and said he would see her again in four months’ time. When my poor father asked what was in the envelope he was slapped sharply across the face. ‘Just remember the only thing you will ever be is Arthur’s son,’ she said.”

Sadly, Rose and Arthur’s marriage was a loveless one. It is as if Rose had met her one and only true love, and happiness could not be found after him. “She became quite a hard, strong-willed person, it must have been very difficult for her to live with her secret. My poor father was bought up to feel shame and he never understood why. Rose had four more children and my father was always the odd one out. It seemed so unfair; it was because of him the family received money, which enabled Arthur and Rose to buy the farm with a large house.”

“The Royal family were always very kind to Rose and Roy Albert,” Suzan told me. “We believe that it was Queen Mary who sent the money and gifts. Rose even sent a picture of Roy Albert’s wedding (in 1956) to the Duke. Edward replied in a letter, saying how nice it was to see the picture of Roy Albert and his young bride, and after the wedding the funds did come to an end for Rose.” In a photograph of the wedding Rose is seen wearing the fur coat that Edward gave her during the weeks of the affair.

We will never know the complete truth of what happened, but the book reveals many more intriguing facts: including details of a visit to Roy Albert’s farm in the 1960s from Lord Mountbatten; how the family received a title from the King; and how Roy Albert managed to speak to his father over the telephone. There is even a photograph of a letter from King George V recognising the Duke of Windsor’s “mischief” with Rose.

Suzan and Robert showed me an extraordinary heart-warming photo album put together by Roy Albert. Beside family photographs of himself and his family are photographs of the Duke of Windsor on his own, with family or with Wallis Simpson. It is unclear where these photographs came from.

The Hidden Prince (The Non-Royal Royal) by Robert Glasbury is available from chalkstreambooks.com, Amazon, Waterstones, and the local library.

Author Robert Glasbury reveals details of the affair between his grandmother Rose (pictured below) and the Duke of Windsor

Bestival is a blast!

THE big names delivered when the family friendly Camp Bestival, staged over four days at Lulworth Castle, celebrated its 15th birthday.

The iconic Grace Jones performed back-to-back hits in a headline set which included six outfit changes, while Craig David provided a memorable TS5 set for the closing party.

Vocal powerhouse Sam Ryder thrilled crowds with hits including Space Man while dressed in a bejewelled space-themed jumpsuit, and Confidence Man, one of the hottest acts of the last year, brought their feelgood party anthems to Dorset.

Pop icons Melanie C and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and indie favourites The Kooks, helped make it an event to remember,

as did East 17, who wowed the audience with a festive set complete with their 1994 Christmas number 1 Stay Another Day.

One of the highlights of the weekend was DJ Gok Wan’s spectacular entrance scattering rose petal confetti from a giant light-up heart more than 50ft in the air.

Younger visitors enjoyed entertainment from family favourites Dick & Dom, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Junior Jungle, Bluey and Mr Tumble.

And Cirque Bijou delighted crowds each night with entertaining performances of their new All You Need is Love Show.

The festival had an Animal Snap theme in which costumed revellers dressed as their

favourite species met up – and tying in with the animal theme the event partnered with the World Wildlife Fund.

Those looking for family downtime enjoyed the Slow Motion wellness area with everything from ice baths and

meditation to yoga sessions and sleep retreats.

n Early Bird Weekend Camping tickets for Camp Bestival Dorset 2024 went on sale on Friday at this year’s prices –visit www.campbestival.net/ tickets

The crowds turned out in force at the Camp Bestival festival at Lulworth Castle, where youngsters had lots to do (top) Among the big name performers were The Kooks (above) and Dick & Dom, Mel C and Sophie Ellis-Bextor (below)

• Lower Stour Benefice: Sunday, August 6: 10.45am Together Communion at Blandford St Mary. Sunday, August 13: 9.30am Communion at Blandford St Mary; 11am Communion at Langton Long; 11am Family Service at Tarrant Rushton.

• Holnest Church: Sunday, August 13, 6pm, holidaythemed Songs of Praise with popular hymns and a selection of readings. A warm welcome awaits all, holidaymakers included. Tea, coffee and biscuits afterwards.

• Digby Memorial Church Hall: The Julian Group is not meeting in August. Its next meeting is on Wednesday, September 13, 4.30pm-5pm.

• Sherborne Abbey: Organ recital, Monday, August 7, Timothy Uglow, Worksop College. This is the last recital in this series – a new series will start mid-September.

• Sherborne Abbey concerts: In September several concerts will be held on Saturdays in the abbey at 7.30pm. The band of the Grenadier Guards performs on September 23 (6.30 pm) and the London Welsh Male Voice Choir on September 30.

• Friends of Sherborne Abbey: An outing to Wells on Tuesday, September 12, is open to everyone, including those who aren’t Friends. The coach will arrive in Wells late morning giving visitors time to wander/ shop/have lunch. The cathedral tour is at 2.30pm and is followed by a ‘Loft Cream Tea’. The party will attend Evensong at 5.15pm. The cost is £28, including coach travel, the tour and afternoon tea. Places should be booked by August 18. More details from Joanna.Sams@ sherborneabbey.com

• Longburton Village Cafe: On Tuesdays, August 15 and 19, 10.30am-noon in the village church of St James. The cafe provides tea, coffee – free refills – and great cakes, just £2.

• Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 11am. BH21 5LZ.

• Blandford Methodist

Church: Sundays – everyone is invited to Sunday services at 10.45am and to stay for refreshments. Thursdays –coffee and a chat from 10amnoon. Fridays – lunch club for the over-55s from noon at £5 per meal. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book. The church is anxious to offer help to all those in need – call church steward John Cornish on 07799 516735 or leave a message.

• Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Churches in The Donheads, Charlton, East Knoyle, Semley and Sedgehill: A team of friendly people are available to offer home visits. Contact Revd. Kate at rector@ benofbart.org.uk, 01747 830174.

• Gillingham Methodist Church: Sunday recitals 3pm (about one hour). Admission free, retiring collection. Superb two manual William Sweetland organ restored and enlarged in 2006/2009. Video screen. For details and updates visit the website at www.musicatgmc. org.uk or phone 07817 379006.

• Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Horton & Chalbury village hall: Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church.

• Kingston Lacy: Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service.

• Our Lady’s RC Church, Marnhull: Mass Sunday, 9.30am and 6pm.

• Shaftesbury Quakers (Society of Friends): Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB.

• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel.

Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.

• St Benedict’s RC Church, Gillingham: Sunday, 11am.

• Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints’ Wardour Catholic Parish: Sunday Mass times –Sacred Heart, Tisbury 9am, coffee after Mass; All Saints’ Wardour 10.30am.

• St John’s (CofE) Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury: Service every Sunday at 11.15am; parish communion on the first Monday of the month; prayer services every other Sunday.

• St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton: First, third and fourth Sundays – 11am Holy Communion; second Sunday – 9.30am Morning Prayer; fifth Sunday – 11am Benefice Holy Communion; second and fourth Sundays – 6pm Evensong; Wednesdays – 10am Holy Communion.

• St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary: First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion.

• St Thomas’, Lydlinch: Second and fourth Sunday, 11am Holy Communion. Third Sunday, 6pm Evensong.

• Shapwick: Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion.

• Sherborne Quakers: Meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall.

• Witchampton Church: Third Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Sherborne Community

Larder: Held in the grounds of St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Close DT9 4DU every Friday 9.30-10.30am. The Larder is run by volunteers and facilitated by FareShare. It functions through membership and is aimed at helping people make their money go further by reducing their shopping bills. Membership does not exceed £5 a week and in return members receive at least three times that value in food and sundries. To sign up visit on a Friday or request a form from FSSouthern Central@fareshare.org.uk

• Sherborne Abbey visitors: The abbey is open to visitors Monday to Saturday 8am-5pm and on Sunday 11am- 5pm. The abbey may close when private services are taking place.

Sherborne Abbey: Organ recitals on Monday at 1.30pm, free entry, retiring collection, everyone welcome. Monday, June 12, Peter Bray, assistant organist, Sherborne Abbey.

• Sherborne Abbey guided tours: Tuesdays at 10.30am and Fridays at 2pm, will run until Friday, December 1. No charge is made for tours but donations are appreciated. The guide will be waiting near the porch. Larger groups should contact the parish office to arrange a convenient date/time.

DOG SHOW, LYDLINCH

DT10 2JA

Novelty classes. Sunday 6th August. 12pm

Refreshments available

CHILD OKEFORD ART TRAIL IS BACK !

25th - 28th August 11am - 4pm

21 artists on show

BRUTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S 98th

ANNUAL SHOW

Saturday, 19th August. Sports hall, King’s School, Bruton staging exhibits 8 - 10.30am Doors open 2.30pm

Prize presentation 4.30pm/Refreshments available/Admission £1

Children and members free

The New Blackmore

STOUR VALLEY DOG RESCUE, Family bingo at Henstridge village hall, Friday 11th August, Doors open 6:30

Refreshments available.

SATURDAY 12th & SUNDAY 13th AUGUST

INDOOR / OUTDOOR

MARKETS

The Town Hall, Shaftesbury 9 - 4.30/5pm

Supporting Weldmar Hospice & Dorset Somerset Air Ambulance

RIVERSIDE FAMILY FEST

19th August 2-10pm Tribute bands free circus workshop bouncy slide stalls dog show food Bar & more

CREAM TEAS AND PRODUCE STALL at Sixpenny Handley St Mary’s Church SP5 5ND on the 27th August at 2pm - 4pm

SEASIDE SAFETY STORY, craft and dressing up with Karen Towner from DWFR. Shaftesbury Library

Monday 7th August 11am - 12noon.

HONEYBUNS POP-UP SHOP

Sat 5 August 9.30am to 12 noon

Not quite perfect gluten free cakes at perfect prices Dairy free/vegan options. Stock up your freezer. Pre-orders call 01963 23597

www.honeybuns.co.uk/popupshop

Honeybuns, Naish Farm, Stony Lane, Holwell DT9 5LJ

SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2023

blackmorevale.net

CUDWORTH St. Michael’s Church TA19 0PR Summer Market, Wednesday 16th

August 10.30 – 1pm

Admission £1. Cakes, produce, raffles, tombola etc.

CREAM TEAS BY THE RIVER

every Sunday in August 2-4

30 Damerham Village Hall

SP6 3HN In aid of St George’s Church

HOUSE-CLEARANCE

SATURDAY AUG 12.

House, gardening, books, golf, fishing and garage items. 10am to 4pm. The Old School, Church Hill, Stalbridge, DT10 2LS.

Place your classified advert today

CLASSIFIED

01963 400186

GREAT DORSET

CHILLI FESTIVAL

Stock Gaylard DT10 2BG 5 & 6 August

DUNCLIFFE GARDEN CLUB

SUMMER SHOW. East Stour village hall SP8 5JY. Saturday 19th August 2pm. Entry £1, Children free. Teas, cake, raffle, arts and crafts display.

LYN’S BINGO AT MARNHULL ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

on Monday 7th August Eye’s down at 7pm.

Stalbridge Garden Society Craft & Flower Show

Saturday 19th August ‘23

STALBRIDGE HALL DOORS OPEN 2:00PM

Prize Giving 3:15pm, followed by Raffle/Auction

Adults £1 Under 16s free

HILLSIDE PARISHES

FETE & DOG SHOW

Saturday 5th August 2.30 pm

Village Hall, Ibberton DT11 0EL

SHERBORNE DIGBY HALL

MONTHLY MARKET

1st Saturday of Month.

August 5th , 10am-3pm

Antiques, Arts, Crafts, Food & More Tel: 07717 454643

Gutchpool Farm Workshops

SUMMER MEADOWS LINOCUT PRINTMAKING

July 27th, 10am - 4pm. £90 with lunch included

-Design, carve and print your own lino block with local artist Sarah Robinson.

-All your unique prints to take home.

-Delicious homemade lunch provided along with tea and cake.

CREATIVE WRITING WITH NOVELIST SUSAN ELDERKIN

September 9th, 16th and 23rd, 9:30am - 1pm £180 for all three mornings including lots of tea & cake.

-Three creative writing mornings with novelist Susan Elderkin.

-Fiction, non-fiction or a blend of both.

-Grow in confidence with your writing and get your project off the ground. -Tea and cake provided.

Book through our website or give us a call: www.gutchpool.com | 07836 763701

Gutchpool Farm, Dorset SP8 5QP

Stars come out for folk festival

TOP music stars and lots of activities for all the family will be on offer at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival later this month.

Headlining are Devon folk royalty Seth Lakeman, poprock band The Magic Numbers, singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner and Grammy-winning Texan singer Sarah Jarosz.

The bill also features Radio 2 favourite Kathryn Williams, foot-stompers Sheelanagig, Bristol’s Americana singer Lady Nade, explosive big band The Destroyers, Irish folkies

The Jeremiahs and bluegrass revisionists Old Baby Mackerel.

They will all be at the event at Purbeck Valley Farm off the A351 between Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross alongside party band Quinns Quinney, shanty combo Wareham

Whalers and Dorset’s popular oompah pop specialists Bierfass Band.

Festival director Catherine Burke said: “The festival is loved by everyone because there’s loads for kids to do,

Art to be enjoyed

AN eclectic range of art created by Blandford Art Society members and artists from around Dorset will be on show when the group holds its annual open exhibition.

The event is at The Blandford School in Milldown Road (DT11 7SQ) and will also include work by young artists from the school.

Each year a bursary is awarded to the most promising student from the school.

The exhibition runs from Monday to Saturday, August 14-19, 10am-5pm daily, and free parking is available at the school.

loads for parents and loads for the old folkies!

“We have four evenings and three full days of outstanding, original young folk, roots and world music across five stages thanks to a brilliant musical line-up.

“Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is so much more than just a great music festival.

“There is also an unprecedented number of activities for children, a huge

craft area for adults, a perfect location and a great selection of real ales and ciders.”

Activities for all ages include ceilidhs, workshops, comedy, crafts, healing area and fire shows.

Children’s activities include storytelling, theatre workshops, fun crafts, puppet shows, bubble displays, baby/toddler rhyme time sessions, face-painting, bouncy castles, fancy dress, maypole dancing and Morris dance workshops.All children’s activities are free of charge.

The festival runs from Thursday, August 17, to Sunday, August 20.

A spokesperson for the group said: “We invite you to come and browse, admire, discuss and debate, talk to the artists, buy if you wish and above all enjoy.”

LIVE music in the open air is on offer at Athelhampton House and Gardens with 21st Century Queen.

They’ll be performing all the hits from Bohemian Rhapsody to Under Pressure and Don’t Stop Me Now. 21st Century Queen play on Saturday, August 19, at 7pm – for tickets visit www. seetickets.com or phone 0871 220 0260.

British folk with Anna’s personal twist

SINGER and multiinstrumentalist Anna Tam is returning to perform at Shaftesbury Abbey Gardens tomorrow (Saturday, August 5).

Anna gives traditional British folk songs her own loving personal twist.

She sings with a clear bright voice and accompanies herself on a selection of traditional and historical string instruments including the nyckelharpa, viola da gamba, hurdy gurdy, cello, piano and whatever else she can find.

Her approach to the folk

tradition is centred in the stories the songs tell and the people who lived them.

Those who heard her concert at the Abbey Gardens last year described it as a magical experience.

Tickets are available from the abbey shop priced £10 adult, £8 concessions, £8 FOSA and £5 students. Phone: 01747 852910.

Gates open at 5.30pm with the concert at 6pm – concertgoers should take a chair or blanket, and drinks are available from the bar.

Anna Tam is performing at Shaftesbury Anbbey Gardens

The Magic Numbers (above) and Seth Lakeman (left)

YEOVIL Literary Festival this autumn is set to welcome a host of big names to discuss their recently published books.

Among them are Deborah Meaden, Sarah Beeny, Noel Fitzpatrick, Chris Packham, Kate Mosse, Ian Dunt, Roger McGough and Tommy Jessop. The festival will run at Westlands Entertainment Venue and Yeovil Library between Thursday and Monday, October 26-30.

More events are being confirmed by the Yeovil Literary Festival team.

Adam Burgan, one of the festival directors and arts and entertainment venues manager at The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, said: “July is always an exciting time of the year for Yeovil Literary Festival because it’s when the first names go on sale

and we start to see things really ramp up for an exciting festival in October.

“The names that have recently gone on sale really give a flavour of what is to come, with insights from entrepreneurs, fearless extraordinary women, historical novelists, best-selling crime novelists, political journalists, poets and actors.”

The festival is a not-for-profit partnership between Somerset Council’s Westlands Entertainment Venue, Library Services and The Octagon Theatre, as well as Waterstones and Yeovil Community Arts Association.

The festival brochure will be available in September – for tickets visit www. yeovilliteraryfestival.co.uk or phone the box office on 01935 422884.

Big names at literary festival Village artists show work

SIXTY guests and most of the artists attended when Milton Abbas Art Group opened its annual summer exhibition in the Reading Rooms in the village with a private view.

The group’s 12 members presented an enjoyably varied mixture of work covering many subjects and styles.

These included traditional oil paintings, contemporary works in oils and acrylics, watercolours and drawings, art photography and digital art on canvas, plus cards, prints and other craft items.

BRIDPORT Museum in South Street in the town runs a weekly talks programme.

Events coming up this month are:

n Monday, August 7: A talk by Professor Karen Hunt on Bridport and Women’s Suffrage: A Forgotten Story.

n Monday, August 14: A demonstration and talk by Dave Willis on Ropemaking.

n Monday, August 21: A talk by Professor Karen Hunt on Stories from the Outworkers Ledger.

All talks are 5pm for 5.30pm and tickets are £5 from the museum shop.

Hunny Bunnies

Clockwise (from above left) Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, Sarah Beeny and Noel Fitzpatrick will be at the Yeovil Literary Festival

Fan favourites and stories from a 50-year career

THERE’S a purity about Iain Matthews’ voice. And it’s mirrored by the integrity of his career. The singer-songwriter has never been seduced by fame. His focus has always been on creating music that captivates the ear, the mind and the heart.

Born Ian Matthews McDonald, June 16, 1946, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, he soared to prominence in 1967, as a founding member of folk-rock band Fairport Convention.

In that pioneering band, Matthews created exquisite harmonies with first Judy Dyble, then Sandy Denny.

After two years, he left and formed Matthews Southern Comfort. They enjoyed a huge

hit with their stirring version of Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock.

One of the outstanding solo albums Matthews recorded during his years in Los Angeles was 1973’s Valley Hi, produced by Michael Nesmith.

Matthews has fronted bands such as Plainsong, Hi-Fi, No Grey Faith, More Than a Song and a Dutch jazz combo, The Searing Quartet.

After working for a while in A&R, in 1987 Matthews returned to performing and recorded as a solo artist for a time, mostly based in Austin, Texas.

Since returning to live in Europe in 2000, he focused again on his now all-Dutch ensemble, Matthews Southern

Comfort, and his seemingly never-ending stream of solo recordings.

Matthews’ latest album releases include A Bakers Dozen, his most recent solo effort, and Fake Tan, recorded in Norway two years ago with Norwegian icons the Salmon Smokers.

A collaboration with British writer Ian Clayton in 2019 produced his highly praised memoirs Thro My Eyes, making several music book industry end-of-the-year lists.

MUSICAL JOURNEY

Iain Matthews was a founding member of Fairport Convention

These days Matthews prefers to focus more on acoustic solo shows, where he tells stories and plays many fan favourites from his 50-year career. He said: “I have nothing more to prove and this approach to live shows gives me an instant rapport with my audience and room to relax and breathe and reflect.”

Iain Matthews is at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Thursday, August 17. For tickets visit www. tivoliwimborne.co.uk

WITH IAIN MATTHEWS ORIGINAL MEMBER OF FAIRPORT CONVENTION

THE BOHEMIANS THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING QUEEN TRIBUTE

17th

SOUNDS OF PHILADELPHIA & MOTOWN

AYNSLEY LISTER & HIS BAND

School’s out for three heads

I REALLY enjoyed going to Piddlehinton fete the weekend before last. A really enjoyable event and one that is at the heart of village community. I remember organising the church fete in Holwell when I was 15 to raise money for the church tower! How time flies.

Very unusually, I have attended three farewells in quick succession for esteemed headteachers this last week or so and I am very sorry to see them leave us in Sherborne. Nicki Edwards, the headteacher of the Gryphon School and Ann Marie Kampf, the headteacher of Sherborne Abbey Primary, along with the Abbey School’s deputy, Jason Howells.

All three have given tremendous service to us and our children in and around Sherborne. They have achieved wonderful things for our community, and I am very sorry to see them leave us and send them all my enormous thanks

for their work here in our community and our best wishes for their next chapter.

On Thursday last week, I visited Dorset County Hospital

(DCH) and was delighted to meet so many doctors, nurses and other staff throughout the hospital. During my time as your MP, I’ve been very supportive of our county hospital, and getting tens of millions of investment into DCH, and was very pleased to see in action work to the emergency department taking shape with the demolition of the old Damers School site.

Parliament rose for summer recess last week and it’s always nice to be able to spend more time here at home in the constituency and see people. Just before we ‘broke-up’ last week, significant progress was made towards banning singleuse plastics – a campaign I have actively championed since my election in 2019. The Environmental Protection Regulations 2023 for England will restrict the supply of single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays, and will ban the

supply of single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene food and drink containers, including cups.

I am very pleased to be directly involved in advancing this secondary legislation through Parliament, and it has been exciting to work alongside my colleagues who are equally passionate about making a change in this area. It is clear legislation is needed to support and ensure that all businesses move to more sustainable alternatives to single use plastics. Ongoing voluntary action is having an impact, but regulation is needed, not least because we have so much plastic waste that as a country we are continuing to ship abroad for processing –something I strongly believe needs to end. This ban is expected to be enforced from October 2023 and I will continue to push for this outcome.

Farage: ‘Bank behaved disgracefully’

SOME good news on the economy with inflation falling more than expected. There seems to be an expectation in the media that the Government will cook up some sparkly hand-outs well in advance of the general election. Don’t bank on it. All the indications are that PM Sunak is focussed on getting the economy right after the pandemic and energy crisis. We all want tax cuts but may have to wait a wee bit longer.

Nigel Farage isn’t my cup of tea, but the way Nat West/ Coutts Bank has behaved towards him is nothing short of a disgrace. I’m delighted my ministerial colleagues are taking prompt action to rein in the banking sector.

Banks must not decline banking services to law abiding people just because they do not

share their ‘values’. If we don’t stop this madness now there will be no limit to the businesses and services that can arbitrarily decide they don’t much like a particular sort of customer and send them packing. In this dystopia, customers not professing a particular world view would be cowed into submission or face ruination.

It’s reported that the chief executive responsible for Nat West’s behaviour is paid more than £5 million a year. If you’re a junior bank official on a modest salary you can be allowed a mistake or two. If you’re the boss on that sort of money you cannot. I’m not sure a simple apology cuts it.

To be fair, banks have been encouraged to behave in this heavy-handed way by the UN

concept of ‘Politically Exposed Persons’. This notion is apparently to prevent money laundering by those supposedly at risk of bribery and corruption because they are seen as powerful. The UN believes PEPs need special scrutiny by banks to make sure they aren’t up to no good. Presumably, it’s chiefly worried by less enlightened realms. In this country over-zealous banks have gone for special scrutiny of the high-profile UK salariat – politicians, senior military folk, judges and civil servants and their families. In this censorious environment, Nat West/Coutts decided to have a go at Farage on very dubious grounds. The good old BBC, of course, was quick to weigh in. Both have ended up eating humble pie, as well they should.

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire

Dr Andrew Murrison

Conservative MP for West Dorset

Chris Loder

Ticket offices: ‘Wrong time for change’

LIKE many, I am concerned by the proposals to remove staff from train station ticket offices. North Dorset only has one train station at Gillingham and it is used very regularly indeed.

It is too easy, or potentially too lazy, to presume that anyone over a certain age is incapable of using technology or is threatened with an attack of the vapours when confronted with a screen. More and more people of all ages are using tech to make purchases, including pre-buying train tickets. The necessities of Covid accelerated the march of the ‘silver surfer’. I think of my own mother-inlaw, now in her late eighties, who is perfectly happy purchasing items from her iPad. She is not alone.

However, we are, as in many areas of our lives, going through a period of transition – when a tried and tested way of doing something evolves into another way of achieving the same aim. We see examples all around us – making a doctor’s appointment, renewing our car tax, paying household bills, how we bank, emailing when just a

few years ago we would have written.

The problem with any transition is not the change per se – it’s that not everyone will move at the same pace and/or at the same time. So, service providers are left with the conundrum of either abandoning modernisation and maintaining the status quo or

driving it forward in the preparedness of losing some customers/users along the way.

North Dorset has a considerably high number of retirees within its population. As I reference above, not all of them are averse to deploying technology, as is the case among those who would classify themselves as being disabled. So, the challenge is, what to do during the interregnum or transition period.

To me it seems simple and I have made my thoughts known through the consultation process. In the ideal world, ticket offices should remain staffed – there is neither downside nor inconvenience to the travelling public in so doing. If this is not possible then passengers, without fear of being fined or in any way penalised, should be able to purchase a ticket either on the train or at the point of destination.

What the service providers cannot do is provide only one option, that being purchase via IT. Still worse would be to

default to the position of presuming that all travellers know well in advance that they are going to travel. Discounts and offers should not be the sole preserve of those who know when they are going to travel.

Part of the advertising campaign of the railways is the spirit of exploration and excitement that comes with travelling by train. Spontaneity should be part of that mix allied to the opportunity to enjoy offers and discounts. In summary, the arbitrary and comprehensive removal of staffed ticket offices is probably ill advised in general but is certainly wrong at this time.

The consultation process has been extended and I would encourage people who share my concerns or who wish to submit their own travelling issues etc should do so. You can visit transportfocus.org.uk or email schedule17@transportfocus. org.uk – remember to put your address and local station – or write to – freepost so no stamp required – RTEH-XAGE, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend-on-Sea SS1 9PZ

West Dorset MP said migrant barge ‘cannot be deemed safe’ amid checks

A DELAY in asylum seekers boarding the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge, moored off the Dorset coast, came after one county MP said the vessel ‘cannot be deemed safe’.

Initially, the Home Office said up to 50 migrants would be housed on the Bibby Stockholm, at Portland Port, from Tuesday, August 1.

However, on the deadline day, amid reports of failed fire safety checks, Transport Minister Richard Holden (Con, North West Durham) said he ‘can’t put a timeframe’ on when the first residents would move in.

He told Sky News: “I can’t put a timeframe on it.”

“The checks are going to take as long as they’re going to take. It’s important we get these things right,” he added.

It was understood checks might be completed by Wednesday (August 2), ready for the arrival of ‘male’ migrants, in a bid to cut the use of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.

The Home Office previously confirmed

an initial plan to house 50 men on the Bibby Stockholm, increasing to more than 500 in the coming months.

However, there have been protests against the mooring of the barge at Portland, as well as opposition from local MP, Richard Drax (Con, South Dorset).

And last month, fellow county MP Chris Loder (Con, West Dorset) said the barge ‘cannot be deemed safe as no risk assessment can be provided’.

In a letter to the Home Secretary and Baroness Vere (the Minister responsible for the Marine and Coastguard Agency), Mr Loder requested either the Bibby Stockholm is stopped, or that the necessary risk assessments are provided.

He also outlined concerns relating to overcapacity of the barge, which was designed for 250 people.

Conservative MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

‘No saving our way to prosperity’

I SAT ‘telling’ outside a couple of polling stations most of the day on that by-election day of days now two weeks past. Well done Sarah Dyke and team. Well done, indeed. It was good to see and hear the warmth so many people showed towards Sarah.

If such sensible, capable, open and honest people stand and win, then there is hope for politics. If tribalism, excess religiosity, nationalism, oligarchism – and we do have our own oligarchies – the old school tie is still going strong – or any other ism, starts to hold sway then we end up with the mess they have in Israel or the criminal pseudo-democracy of a Russia.

Couldn’t happen here? I give you the rise of Corbyn. I give you Johnson and Truss and their various crews, to say nothing of Brexit. I give you the Rwandist response to immigration and the tin-eared response to an NHS so

short of funds and so bizarrely organised that it cannot motivate and keep its people. We also have to contend with the absence of rural public transport and a rail network that is the rolling stock, sorry, laughing stock, of the

industrialised world. Oh, and an under-resourced planning system that is wide open to political and commercial influence.

The present plan seems to be to minimise tax and provide minimum services or, in the case of global warming, minimise ‘green crap’ costs in the hope the big polluters elsewhere can deliver.

It is a simple truth, though, that you cannot save your way to prosperity. You cannot deliver excellence if you are scrimping and saving. You cannot create housing without building houses. You cannot control mass migration unless you tackle it at source, and you cannot save the planet by assertion alone.

We seem to be constitutionally averse to coming together as a nation to set a long-term path but there is now, more than ever, a strong case for proportional

representation – the proper representation in the government of this land of all the people in this land.

There is no case to be made for the present system. Please don’t give me the ‘strong government’ argument. This present government is in thrall to its right wing and is abusing its huge majority obtained on the back of Johnson’s economies with the truth. It has become grotesque. Governing for the minority that put you there is not the solution. Harnessing the astonishing talent of all the people of this country is the right solution.

Such an ‘I’m-cross-butessentially-optimistic’ sentiment came through from the many who stopped to chat outside the polling station. I had to keep glancing skyward, though. Not for comfort nor inspiration but because, like this nation of ours, I had nowhere to shelter if it rained…

Three elections – and everyone won!

LABOUR won handsomely in Selby and Ainsty, a seat that it took on similar boundaries in 1997 and throughout the New Labour government.

The Liberals did very well in Somerton and Frome, not just getting their nose in front but destroying the Tories and the lines of destruction left by the disgraced David Warburton.

Conservatives were cock-ahoop at not losing in Uxbridge, a seat Labour hasn’t won since the first Harold Wilson government in the 1960s.

The Greens won too, apparently, increasing their vote in every constituency. I’m sure even the SNP won somehow.

But what do these elections actually tell us?

Well, firstly, the tactical voting was ‘near perfect’, as noted by Professor John Curtice. All this talk about electoral pacts – which will get you expelled if you’re a party

member – is rendered unnecessary. Voters are an intelligent bunch and with the help of admittedly depressing ‘so and so can’t win here’ leaflets, they are working out who to vote for to beat the

Tories, without the need for other candidates to stand aside.

This trend will surely be troubling our local blue MPs across Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and the urban constituencies on the south coast.

More troubling is the campaign ran in and the reaction to the Uxbridge by-election. I’m sure most people are sick of hearing of ‘ULEZ’ by now, but just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, it’s the Ultra Low Emission Zone that is being implemented in Greater London. It means it costs Simon Hoare £12.50 a day to drive into Westminster if he’s in a diesel older than 2015. Be careful with those tickets, Simon!

ULEZ was originally a Tory policy – Johnson first implemented it as mayor. Yet Labour determined to run a by-election campaign that not

only ignored the scheme’s genesis, but failed to defend it as a policy that would prevent many children dying every year from poor air quality in the city. It was a poor campaign strategy, and I hope Labour learn from it.

The lesson the Tories are taking away meanwhile is that they think they can win a general election by using ‘green’ as a wedge issue, making it a cost-of-living matter and battering Labour with it.

This is depressing. The world is boiling. Climate change should not be politicised. We have little consensus in our politics. Saving the planet was the one thing. The fact is a key tool to tackle climate change is to make polluting activities cost more than greener alternatives. To make people and companies pay for the carbon they emit. If politicians aren’t bold enough to continue this, we will be doomed.

Mike Chapman on behalf of Liberal Democrats across the Blackmore Vale

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

Stonehenge tunnel ‘long overdue’

THE New Blackmore Vale’s interesting article of July 21 on the decision to give the goahead to the Stonehenge tunnel quotes the leader of the opposition to the scheme, Tom Holland, a professional historian.

So am I, and I find the opposition illogical verging on hysterical.

Leaving aside the selfevident fact that the A303 is the main traffic artery between London and the Westcountry, and that the thrombosis arising from its stop-start state wouldn’t be allowed in any other major European country, Mr Holland claims that the ‘disgraceful’ scheme will ‘permanently disfigure Britain’s most significant and sacred prehistoric landscape’.

Quite how this will result from removing a trunk road with nose-to-tail fume-belching traffic from the setting of Stonehenge and putting it out of sight in a two-mile tunnel is completely beyond me.

The tunnel solution was produced as a response to a previous scheme that would simply have widened the existing road to a dual carriageway – good for traffic flow but certainly bad for the setting – and one which rightly attracted a lot of opposition.

The tunnel scheme has been long in preparation and has the support of relevant bodies such as English Heritage and the National Trust.

It will not be a ‘monstrous white elephant’ but a very necessary and long overdue infrastructure scheme. Why look this gift horse in the mouth?

Roger White Sherborne

I AM relieved and delighted that, at last, the Stonehenge tunnel looks as if it will go ahead – New Blackmore Vale, July 21.

It does seem that a lot of thought has gone into the

planning to avoid the destruction of important sites and views.

I would like to put Tom Holland, an historian whom I respect, along with all the other objectors to the scheme, into single-occupancy cars and make them drive, every day for a week during rush hour, along the Stonehenge section of the A303 in both directions, finally heading for London on a Sunday afternoon.

I think one or two of them might just change their minds.

It once took me 90 – that’s not a misprint for 19 – minutes to do the four-mile stretch past the monument.

If the surrounding area is so rich in archaeological treasures, why haven’t they been excavated so that we can at least see the reasons for our driving misery?

I am very interested in history and don’t wish us to despoil any artefacts of real value, but we live in the 21st century and have to accommodate that fact.

A dual carriageway along that section of the A303 would go a long way to alleviating the hellish experience of the current traffic jams.

Elisabeth Ingles Bruton

I HAVE just returned from Sherborne station having purchased my rail ticket to London – Ann was on hand to issue my ticket.

On leaving the station I took time out to read the notice about proposed changes to ticket offices.

Evidently South Western Railways feels that closure of this ticket office will ‘modernise the railway and bring it more in line with modern consumer expectations’.

I must admit to puzzlement at this thinking, and I am sure I am not alone.

Does closing the ticket office mean the closure of the waiting room and toilet – facilities that

should be available to rail travellers.

None of it makes sense to me – perhaps I’m just not modern enough!

On another matter, while having a moan, can traffic lights be returned to the junction of Cornhill/Kit Hill.

When exiting Cornhill to Kit Hill it is impossible to see what traffic is coming down Kit Hill – it is a blind spot when trying to look left.

I believe two accidents have taken place there already.

I don’t understand why the traffic lights were removed – it doesn’t seem logical to me, but then these days I find a lot of things difficult to comprehend!

Maggie ForbesBuckingham Sherborne

I WAS impressed by Chris Loder’s column ‘Railway company’s getting it wrong’

– New Blackmore Vale, July 21

As MP for a rural constituency, he opposes the ridiculous plan to close station ticket offices – as a doggedly loyal Conservative MP he is unwilling to criticise the government which came up with the plan.

And so we get the magnificently misleading circumlocution: “SWR has had to propose to government how it wishes to reform station operation,” as if it’s just something that has happened, rather than: “The Government has ordered SWR and other railway companies to draw up detailed proposals to close ticket offices.”

Protest is not going to be effective if we don’t dare to admit who is responsible.

Neville Morley Castle Cary

I READ with interest the letter from Lindi d’Abrumenil – New Blackmore Vale, July 21 – complaining about ‘battered and dangerous traffic calming schemes’.

They are indeed battered, but the only danger comes from unobservant and impatient motorists.

Firstly, the correspondent complains about an installation – opposite the almshouses in Zeals – which has a metal pole which ‘becomes invisible’ on dark evenings.

I suggest a trip to the opticians may be in order, as the whole installation is directly under a street light, this being a 30mph stretch of road.

The keep right bollard has been demolished – presumably by an unobservant or careless motorist – and a temporary replacement is an even larger keep right sign.

In order to pass a car driving test, a motorist MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate at 20 metres – 66 feet, or about five standard car lengths.

It is legally required to maintain this standard of vision at all times while being a licence holder.

Letters on a number plate are generally 50mm wide, whereas the keep right sign is 12 times wider, and therefore visible from more than 200 metres for someone with the legal minimum eyesight standard.

Secondly, ‘Give Way’ markings are painted on the road surface 10 metres ahead of the installation.

Surely more than enough information for a competent motorist to be able to negotiate a traffic calming measure – it just needs a little more observational effort.

As a driver-trainer using this road fairly regularly, it is noticeable that few keep within the speed limit, more especially so at each end of the school day, hence the need for the traffic calming.

Philip Hastings Via email

IT was with sadness I heard a few weeks ago that Michael Cannon had passed away. My sympathy is extended to Sally

and other members of his family.

I first made the acquaintance of Michael in early 2018 when I approached him about purchasing Sherborne House. At that time, he decided not to do so and gave me his reasons.

However, towards the end of that year he did indeed purchase the house through a trust he set up. I was then fortunate, soon afterwards, to meet him and Sally at the house, to be shown around the really run down building and to hear about his plans for its future.

We then remained in intermittent contact via email and conversations when we met in the shops or at the garden centre. I witnessed the change in ideas for the building and was able to support, as a minor player, his ideas with the relevant authorities.

It was a real joy a few weeks ago to have another visit and to see the progress made to date. It is impressive. Clearly no expense has been spared and the work ensures the conservation of what is probably the most important secular building in Sherborne after the two castles.

It is, therefore, a real tragedy that Michael has not seen the completion of the project, but one hopes he felt secure in the knowledge of what it will be like finally.

He is leaving a wonderful legacy for the town and indeed the county. The opening of The Sherborne should be a fitting memorial to him and, of course, to his mother who was, I understood, the inspiration behind what he wished to achieve.

Peter Neal President, Sherborne and District Society CPRE Sherborne

HATS off to Sturminster

Newton Town Council for its new Church Street parking meter.

Pay by credit card, which is fine, but crucially no app to wrestle with, no need to remember your car registration – and annoy the person behind

by having to break off and check – and seemingly not over expensive.

Good thinking, and another reason to shop in the town.

John Young Durweston

I WOULD like to thank Phillip Browne for his letter and the New Blackmore Vale for publishing it in the last edition.

I am 79 and our household has tried and is still trying to do something for our children and grandchildren – tree planting, solar thermal, PV panels, walking short distances and so on – but we are still in a minority.

The stark message to our children and grandchildren is you are not worth the cost or any inconvenience of doing anything about what is going to wreck your environment and lives.

Our political and corporate leaders have totally failed all of us and continue to fail us.

As for the so-called Christian churches which claim that God gave us this planet, they watch it burn and say very little or nothing.

Let greed and selfishness be our principles and our children and grandchildren inherit the consequences.

The dumbest thing about this failure is that the green options we will not adopt give very fast results that immediately save money, even if you don’t care about the future of our children – not only selfish but plain stupid.

Richard Foley

A concerned grandfather Via email

THE imagined letter from the future from Philip Browne’s grandchild – New Blackmore Vale, July 21 – complains about the severity of climate changes being endured by him/her.

It neatly coincides with yet more stark warnings from scientists and contrasts with the rowing back of actions being taken by our politicians, especially Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives.

Flowers ‘on a busy street’

I WAS struck by the hollyhocks growing by the zebra crossing near Waitrose in Sherborne.

When my dad’s hair was beginning to thin, he used to say to me ‘grass doesn’t grow on a busy street’, and

Not content with giving the go ahead for a new coal mine in Cumbria, the £1.3bn – billion! – A303 road tunnel involving thousands of tonnes of one of the least green products, concrete, is now to proceed.

The lower emission initiative brought in by the Conservatives to reduce deaths from air pollution in London is endangered because it upsets motorists.

Jane Godley Sturminster Newton

NICE try, Philip Browne – New Blackmore Vale, July 21 – with your assumed letter from your grandchild on climate change, but all too late I’m afraid.

“Nothing I do will make a difference,” says one, says 66 million in the UK, says 11 billion in the world.

Governments such as Germany, Brazil, China, Australia and, of course, the USA and the UK etc, are already backtracking on green promises of real action under pressure from electorates who

he would likely tack on one of his old Dorset phrases ‘these know’, which he liked to trot out occasionally.

If he was still around today, I could say to him ‘ah but hollyhocks do!’.

These determined flowers are growing right next to the zebra crossing in Sherborne.

Barbara Elsmore Sherborne

know what the future holds for their children but prefer to ignore it.

Indeed, I find that parents are some of those who care least about climate change.

Maybe best to give in and join those who don’t care –whatever did the planet do to deserve the human race?

Gary O’Brian Poole

Nature’s Philosophy

Nocturnal birds in sibilant causerie

Forest creatures in distant revelry

While nature’s blanket dims their rivalry

And stills the air to peaceful reverie

How brief is this tranquillity

As hostile meetings in darkened shrubbery

Remind, if only momentarily

That man alone enjoys in camaraderie

Victor Timmons

Arrow words

Crossword

Funny English Place Names

Across 7 Disperse (7)

9 Telling a porky (5)

10 Artificial hair (3)

11 Fabled (9)

12 Continental sea (5)

14 To the side (7)

16 Bewitch (7)

18 Small particle (5)

19 Better than (1,3,5)

20 Cooking dish (3)

21 Nephew’s sister (5)

22 Additional helpings (7)

Down

1 In general (2,1,5)

2 Performed vocal music (4)

3 Taken without permission (6)

4 Jupiter or Mars (6)

5 Argue (8)

6 Unattractive (4)

8 Ordinances (11)

13 Kept out (8)

15 Similarity (8)

17 Deciduous flowering shrub (6)

18 Ferocious and aggressive (6)

19 Uncle’s wife (4)

animals (4)

20 Enclosures for domestic animals (4)

4

3 2 6 1 7 4

3 1 7 8

Brain chain

Antique furniture in 900-plus lots Watches from iconic makers

CLARKE’S Auctions at Semley is offering more than 900 lots, including fine traditional antique furniture, when it holds the last of its summer sales next weekend.

Clarke’s has three functional and decorative Globe Wenicke modular bookcases, which have been used in offices and gentleman’s libraries from the beginning of the 20th century, each estimated at £100-£200.

An unusual early Victorian architect’s plan table would be ideal as a home office desk or hallway console table.

A stylish burr walnut Davenport and a Queen Anne-style figured walnut bureau bookcase, both decorative and practical, could suit a more bijou space.

Sets of chairs, dining tables, card tables and chests of drawers will also be for sale,

This 19th century percussion cap coastguard’s pistol is estimated to sell for £260-£300

along with items including ceramics and glass, paintings, rugs, books and garden items.

A colour catalogue can be found on Clarke’s website or at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com. Viewing is this Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-5pm.

For entries into Clarke’s future sales, enquiries for probate and insurance valuations, and part or full house clearances, phone the offices on Kingsettle Business Park, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, on 01747 855109.

Clarke’s Auctions

Auctioneers & Valuers

Antiques & Collectibles Sale

Friday 11th & Saturday 12th August

Viewing Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th August and open for live bidding

DUKE’S Silver, Jewellery, Watches and Coins auction takes place on Wednesday, September 13.

It already features pieces by iconic makers such as Cartier, Breitling, Rolex, Omega, Tudor and Patek Philippe, but last entries are now being invited.

The spring sale was a huge success with more than 85% of the 530 lots selling.

Highlights were a sapphire and diamond pendant originally from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) sold for £16,900 and an 1847 Queen Victoria Gothic silver crown which made £4,680.

iconic dark blue steel hands is estimated to sell for £2,000£4,000 in the September auction.

The sale will also feature the customary selection of precious gems – diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds mounted on gold, platinum and silver.

Duke’s is inviting final entries for its September auction of silver, jewellery, watches and coins

A Patek Philippe Ellipse 18ct gold wristwatch complete with

And a decorative late Victoria silver trophy by Walker and Hall, 1900, is estimated at £1,500£2,000.

For more information on the sale or to arrange a free valuation for auction visit Duke’s website, www.dukes-auctions.com, or call its office on 01305 265080 to make a confidential appointment with a specialist.

Charity Antiques Valuation Day

Saturday 12th August 10am-1pm

At Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, DT2 7LG

With Duke’s Auctioneers £2 per item Raising funds for Weldmar Hospice Refreshments available

-

Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9BU 01747 855109

enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk

A 19th century French silver three-piece coffee set by Fray Fils. Estimate £200

£300 Colour catalogue available at the-saleroom.com & easyliveauction.com

Hospital appeal lots coin in cash

ACREMAN St Auctioneers had a successful two-day auction at the end of July.

A small Chinese gilt Buddha sold for £950 and jewellery also performed well with an antique 18ct cross set with topaz making £1,700, an impressive 14ct star sapphire and diamond ring selling for £2,600, and an antique 18ct snake bracelet set with diamonds and ruby eyes for £1,200.

Watches also achieved good prices with a 1964 Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual wristwatch with original box making £2,800, a vintage 18ct gold cased Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatch in its original box £1,000, and a bi-metal gents Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso wristwatch £2,200

Acreman also sold more than £4,000 of jewellery and watches

on behalf of the Yeovil Hospital New Breast Cancer Unit Appeal. The total achieved so far is more than £150,000.

Acreman’s next two-day auction is on Thursday and Friday, August 24-25. The catalogue and bidding are available online through easyliveauction.com and Thesaleroom.com

Anyone who has anything they would like to consign should contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 50874, or email auction@ acremanstreetantiques.co.uk

Acreman holds a valuation day every Wednesday 10am4pm, where it offers free valuations on items being considered for auction at Acreman Auction, 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PH.

ACREMAN ST. AUCTIONEERS

& VALUERS SHERBORNE

General Antiques & Collectors Auction

Thursday 24th August

Jewellery, Silver & Watches Auction

Friday 25th August

Viewing Wednesday 23rd August 10am-5pm

Lots of dummies

A COLLECTION of more than 20 ventriloquist dolls are some of the more unusual lots in Charterhouse’s collector’s auction on Thursday, August 31, and Friday, September 1.

“I visited the owner in Devon and on the way back am sure a few of them made rude observations on my driving!” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.

Charterhouse is now accepting entries for its summer auctions of classic bikes, cars, coins, medals, stamps, collector’s items and automobilia.

Richard and the Charterhouse team can be contacted for valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne. Phone 01935 812277 or email rb@ charterhouse-auction.com

Specialist Free Valuation Days

Hammer £950

Catalogue available to view through thesaleroom.com & Easyliveauction.com

We are now consigning items for our August auction and our specialist sales

For all enquiries please contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 508764 auction@acremanstreetantiques.co.uk

Consignment Days in Sherborne

Monday 12th Pictures, Maps, Books & Postcards

Tuesday 13th Silver, Jewellery, Watches & Clocks

Jewellery, Watches & Silver 7th

Wednesday 14th Model Cars, Trains, Dolls & Toys

Chinese & Japanese Ceramics & Items 8th

Thursday 15th Medals, Militaria, Coins & Stamps

Model Cars, Trains, Dolls & Toys 9th

Friday 16th Asian Ceramics & Works of Art

33 & 45 rpm

Records & Film Posters 10th

Classic Motorcycle Auction 28th October

European Ceramics & Glass 11th

Classic Car Auction 11th November

Classic & Vintage Car Autumn Auction

Further entries now being accepted

Classic Motorcycle Autumn Auction

The Long Street Salerooms Sherborne DT9 3BS

Further Entries Now Invited

Ventriloquist dolls being sold by Charterhouse in Sherborne

Antiques & Collectibles

Next Sale

European Ceramics & Glass; Clocks & Instruments; and Selected Antique Furniture & Objects

Saturday 16th September

For a full list of our specialist sales please see our website

FOR

For free verbal valuations please contact

Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9AN 01747 855122 www.semleyauctioneers.com

and South Kensington, London

Five Figures For Damaged Chinese Vase

After a successful July sale there were many exciting items which caught bidder’s eyes. A notable mention was lot 84 - A damaged 19th century Chinese vase with repair around the rim. The porcelain vase measuring 63cm tall decorated in a celadon ground with underglaze blue and copper-red, featuring dragons chasing flaming pearls amidst cloud scrolls. The vase sold for £10,400 with premium, selling to an online Chinese bidder. So why so expensive? This specific style of decoration featuring both underglaze blue and red together is a notoriously difficult technique to master as it requires precise control of heat in the kiln combined with expert preparation and knowledge in the use of copper oxide. We’ve all seen the typical blue and white porcelain vases, but with the added red it really is a special item, so do be on the lookout!

An 18th century Chinese gilt bronze Buddha, 10 inches high. SOLD

£30,000

Antiques & Collectibles

Locally consigned guns exceed estimates on international market

HOLTS

FREE VALUATION DAY

HOLTS Auctioneers are the leading specialists in fine modern and antique guns.

Thursday 3rd & 31st August

NFU Mutual

The Creamery, Station Road

Sturminster Newton

HOLTS, ‘one of the leading auction houses for fine modern and antique guns and militaria worldwide’ has for many years sold items consigned by local clients on the international market.

It currently auctions close to 20,000 lots a year, often well exceeding estimates.

Holts would be pleased to give auction estimates on items from a ‘best’ London gun to a loft find.

Recent good examples are a WW Greener 12-bore ‘Royal’ hammerless ejector shotgun which sold for a very satisfying

£3,900 against an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.

And a rare example of a Kolibri, the world’s smallest central fire semi-automatic pistol, sold for £3,100 against an estimate of £1,200-£1,600.

David Thurgood, Holts’ westcountry agent, holds regular local valuation days, including at Sturminster Newton and Charmouth.

To find out more about the next ones in the area or to discuss a valuation or home visit, David can be contacted on 01297 306123 or via email at westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com

WANTED VINYL RECORDS, Classical Jazz Rock etc Call James 07970 769946

WANTED Classic Cars & Motorbikes. For private collection Call 07885 373113 or 01278 431244 Graham

We’re coming back

Just like the Old Days

PASTIMES

of Sherborne (near the Abbey)

Thirty years of dealing in antique and Collectible Toys.

Top prices paid for all types of model railway, die cast cars, early Action Man and Star Wars, Scalextric, Meccano, unmade Airfix kits etc. Those magical makes; Hornby, Dinky, Triang, Spot-On, Corgi, Subbuteo, Britains, Timpo plus plus plus

Telephone: 01935 816072

Mobile: 07527 074343

Dorset, DT10 1BD

To book an appointment, arrange a free valuation or home visit please contact:

David Thurgood - 01297 306123 westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com

www.holtsauctioneers.com

We have moved to new premises –ready to welcome new and old customers. I have a large private collection of French and English antique furniture, antique architectural items, interesting antiquities and objects d’art for home et gardens. I return to Dorset monthly with fresh items from my collection. Open 7 days, but please check as I may be away on delivering.

I look forward to your visit!

Auctioneers of Fine Modern & Antique Guns

Sea hollies are spiky fellows

by Sally Gregson

CLIMBING through the sand dunes on holiday we often come across some really interesting plants. One of the most beautiful is the sea holly (Eryngium). With its viciously spiked leaves it offers quite a defence against grazing animals – and against idle pickers of flowers.

Many sea hollies come from the Mediterranean, from Italy to Greece and Crete, through to the coast of North Africa. But one of the most spectacular species, very different from its cousins, E. agavifolium, is a giant from Argentina. A plant, or two or three, of this form would make a magnificent centre-point for a dry bed in full sun. Its leaves are fleshy and spiked, and the whole plant is very tall. It cries out for attention, despite its indifferent colour.

Some of the European species are especially beautiful. Eryngium alpinum, as its name suggests, is from the Alps and the Jura mountains growing on limestone crags in full sun. It has the most decorative, finely divided ‘collar’ or bracts, around the central boss of

flower. The whole dome is an azure blue fading to silver at the outer edges.

Secure in their inhospitable thorns, sea hollies have nevertheless been bred and selected for colour, shape and flower-shape. One of the most decorative is E. bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ that has been selected for its deeply electric-blue flowers that stand out against the steely, spiky foliage. It is a showstopper.

Eryngium variifolium is a North African species that is evergreen in a mild winter. It has viciously spiny flowers that would keep a mad dog at bay and are nevertheless shining silver and startlingly beautiful.

These varieties are all perennial in a freely-draining soil in sun but there are some more ephemeral forms.

Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’ is a legendary biennial form. The story varies but it is usually said that the 19th/20th century plantswoman Miss Ellen Willmott was known to drop seeds of this form surreptitiously from her pocket when she visited a garden.

Some say it was an

anonymous blessing, a sign of the great lady’s approval, of the garden and its owner – while others remarked that it was a sign that Miss Willmott thought the garden ‘could do better’,

perhaps with a dose of her sea holly. Either way, the Eryngium would add a distinctive benison to the garden. And it was a sign that Miss Willmott had visited. She was there.

Plants for beach-like gardens

by Sally Gregson

THE beach is where everyone under the age of 10 wants to go for a day out or for a traditional English summer holiday at this time of year. And those of us who are older too like to bask in plenty of hot, sunny weather or lie in the shade of a parasol on the beach. The children are happy in the sea, fish and chips for supper and ice creams on tap.

But many of us gardeners would prefer to be inland in the cool of an English garden.

However, if your garden resembles a beach all summer – hot, dry and sandy – it’s a good thought to look at some privately-owned seaside gardens while you’re there. The most successful embrace the

wild open shore, grow seaside plants such as sea hollies (Eryngium), Californian poppies and sea kale (Crambe maritima), and disparage the lush shrubs, the herbaceous borders and the well-mown lawn of country gardens further inland.

Successful seaside borders are an extreme example of how to manage a well-drained, hot site. Drying winds are, of

course, just as common inland and present problems which seaside gardeners tackle routinely. Those plants that survive the beach are well adapted to drought conditions.

Grey-leaved sub-shrubs such as santolina, lavender and rosemary are adapted to salt-laden air and dry, freedraining sites. They make a good framework for other, more ephemeral flowers.

Blue-flowered rosemary sits well alongside marigolds and borage can rest its blue head on its branches in summer. A stand of Crambe cordifolia – the cousin of the sea kale, with its starry, white flowers looks airy and light behind bearded blue Irises and old-fashioned pinks.

And dog-roses intertwine

merrily with perennial peas and Rosa rugosa hybrids. The tall, purple-flowered Rosa rugosa ‘Roseraie de l’Hay’ can make quite a statement throughout the summer, and its white-flowered sister, R. rugosa ‘Alba’ produces fat, red hips all summer long. They would each need a dollop of well-rotted manure in winter, but these Japanese roses are very windtolerant.

The whole garden would still need the attentions of someone to weed and feed the patch in winter, and it would need a thorough soaking every so often in summer. But planting appropriate plants in such extreme conditions brings the reward of happy flowers and healthy shrubs.

Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage at Dungeness

The Alpine sea holly is especially beautiful PHOTO: PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay

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Medieval manor house up for sale

THE founder of the luxury Mulberry fashion brand has put his medieval manor house near Glastonbury up for sale with a price tag of nearly £4 million.

Abbots Sharpham, which is Grade II listed and comes with 44 acres of park land, was bequeathed to the Abbots of Glastonbury in 1191 by King John.

Owner Roger Saul, 72, said: “The 14th Century stone manor house in which my wife Monty and I have lived with our children is more than a home, it is a major source of inspiration for me.

“My first collections for Mulberry were very much inspired by its traditions, architecture and history.”

The manor house has glorious gardens, an indoor swimming pool, tennis court, outbuildings, two cottages, stone stables with residential planning, a deer park, cider orchard and meadows.

Roderick Thomas, of Roderick Thomas Estate Agents, which is marketing the house, said: “Abbots Sharpham is a splendid property of significant historical importance, featuring remarkable architectural details reflecting the various

centuries of its evolution.

“With six reception rooms, an orangery, a farmhouse kitchen, domestic offices, an estate office, eight bedrooms and five bathrooms, the house offers abundant accommodation and presents an exceptional

opportunity to acquire not only a remarkable home but a wonderful piece of a history.”

As well as the main property, a farmstead and a further 200 acres of the estate are available in separate lots.

Puzzle solutions (from pages 42-43)

Brain chain

Brain chain (hard)

Arrow words

Abbots Sharpham is for sale at a guide price of £3,950,000

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New food hall at county show

THE best of local produce and more will be showcased in a huge new food hall at Dorset County Show being held near Dorchester in September.

The 60 metres by 24 metres hall will have everything from brownies to beer, pickles to pork and cider to sourdough, plus English wines, local gins, cheeses, olives and more.

One of the show sponsors, Justin Langham, from Langham Wine Estate in Crawthorne, near Dorchester, said: “Dorset’s farming community is rightly proud of its produce.

“The new food hall at this year’s Dorset County Show is an exciting opportunity for us to celebrate the world class food and drink we make here, and we’re delighted to be a part of it.”

Show organiser James Cox said: “Our county is bursting

with wonderful food and drink producers, and now in one area, we’re delighted to bring over 100 together at the Dorset County Show ranging from small producers just starting out to more established names.

“Our aim is to put the consumer in contact with the producer and get to know more about local and artisan foods.”

The food hall will sit alongside a new food and drink area where visitors can enjoy hot and cold treats under picnic marquees.

Mr Cox added: “This area has more of a festival vibe with colourful flags and live music.”

The Dorset County Show is on Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3. Tickets are £19 in advance until August 26 and entry is free for children. To book, visit the show’s website at www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

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How Wimbledon got it wrong

by Barbara Cossins

IT’S always joyous watching celebrities and Royals enjoy the tennis at Wimbledon in their finery – and, it is hoped, under some British sunshine!

Large events such as Wimbledon should be taking the opportunity to showcase what is grown and produced in the British Isles.

It was incredibly sad to hear that Wimbledon was serving plant-based cream made from soy cream, coconut cream and cashew cream this year –alongside dairy cream.

Plant cream is an imitation of dairy cream made without any dairy products in it. It’s typically produced by grinding plant material into a thick liquid into which gums are added to imitate the viscosity of real cream.

Now, you might think there’s nothing wrong with this, and there’s not if you like to eat this

sort of thing or have an intolerance, but I think it’s a shame to use ingredients we don’t grow in this country for the base of these sort of products.

Here in Dorset, we grow oats that are turned into oat milk and made into products like custard cream that can be used as a substitute for the real deal.

Wimbledon is famous for strawberries and cream and a glass of Pimm’s, almost as famous as the tennis itself.

A quintessentially British event like this should be supporting British farmers.

Making a cream from imported plants that have travelled many hundreds of miles makes zero sense and is not complementary to a British

institution.

In the USA it cannot be called cream. All plant-based products must be labelled as a beverage – and rightly so, in my opinion. Farmers are working hard to combat climate change and carbon emissions, and it’s important events like Wimbledon should help spread awareness of climate change and the importance of using home grown products being produced by local British farmers.

Being in hospitality myself, I know the importance of catering for everyone with their dietary requirements and choices. However, we all must be on the same page – we can’t

put restrictions on British farmers, fishermen and food industries to reduce their carbon emissions and then fly in so much from abroad to make up for the shortfall.

July 6 this year was the busiest day ever for commercial aviation with 134,386 commercial flights tracked by flight tradar. Thousands more would not have been counted into these numbers. These airborne vehicles are like small cities in the sky, so remember there are an awful lot of carbon emissions you can’t blame the poor cows for!

Support your local farmers, stop this nonsense and buy British wherever possible. n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local, www. lovelocaltrustlocalawards. co.uk; Rawston Farm Butchery www.rawstonfarmbutchery. co.uk; The Langton Arms www. thelangtonarms.co.uk.

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB SERVING FINE FOOD AND DRINKS

Peter and Karlene are delighted to invite you to the Plough Inn at Manston and look forward to seeing you soon.

We are delighted that our renovation and expansion project has been well received by customers as have our food and beverage offerings. After a very long search, we now have a fully staffed kitchen and offer our full lunch and dinner menu every day from Tuesday lunch until Sunday lunch. We are closed after lunch on Sunday and all day Monday. We offer a wide range of beers, cider, wines and spirits as well as a range of non-alcoholic options.

A Pub With Warmth And Atmosphere

The bar and snug have been refreshed but retain all the old features that made this cosy area so attractive. And, by popular demand, we have a new wood burning stove to provide atmosphere and warmth whenever needed! We have a completely new kitchen, beer cellar and new male, female and disabled washrooms. The old conservatory is now an insulated garden room and we have a new dining area which can accommodate a further twenty guests.

Hearty Food And Distinctive Drinks

By experimenting with our menu and listening to our customers we have developed a popular menu ranging from light snacks to exciting specials and everything in-between. Please look at our menu and see if you can spot your favourite country pub meal. For Sunday lunch, in addition to our full menu, we offer a traditional roast with all the trimmings. Our range of drinks has evolved in response to customer demand and caters for all tastes. But most importantly we have built a wonderful team to look after you all and ensure a great experience at the Plough.

We hope to see you soon, Cheers, Peter & Karlene

Nurturing emotional resilience may

by Alice Johnsen

LIKE many, I was gripped watching the recent men’s singles final at Wimbledon. I’ve always been a fan of Novak Djokovic. I find his mental strength completely fascinating.

To watch the match play out was to watch a game of

mental strength just as much as to watch a game of supreme physical fitness and skill.

Supreme is the word and that level of grit, strength and amount of training is, probably fortunately, not required for most of our lives.

Emotional resilience, which

is made up of grit, flexibility and coping ability, is a mental strength we all need in spades. Without a level of selfbelief and a desire to overcome the obstacles we face, we would achieve very little. So, we must nurture our emotional resilience and allow ourselves to believe in it.

the name Apatura means deception and is given to the butterfly for the fact that the purple iridescence can only be seen from certain angles. In comparison, the female purple emperor resembles a white admiral and can be easily confused with it.

These enigmatic butterflies are almost impossible to see, they live at very low density in specific locations and scorn the avid butterfly watcher year after year as they fail to make its acquaintance.

Central to what emotional resilience is, is our willingness to adapt in order to keep progressing. For example, to move on from the disappointment of a cancelled plan and create plan B so your day is not ruined, just changed. Or something much bigger, like coping and

the sun to break through. All eyes and binoculars linger over the tops of the trees above this little car park. One hour becomes two, and still, we wait for just a glimpse of the purple magnificence. Walkers come and go, bemused by this motley crew of strange people.

His majesty, the purple emperor is an elusive beauty

Meditations in nature: In search of royalty

by Susanna Curtin

TIME is running out to meet the royals. July and early August are my favourite months for butterfly walks. For it is now that all the big, blousy butterflies are in flight – the silver washed and dark green fritillaries, peacocks, brimstones and commas.

But it is the admirals and the emperors that are the jewels in the crown. Red admirals are a common garden visitor. These large, bold butterflies are widespread and fly from March right through the year. I have even seen one in my garden on Christmas Day.

Their white cousins, however, are much more secretive. They reside in shady

woodlands in the south of England and can only be spotted from late June to early August. It is their delicate flight you notice first with short periods of wingbeats followed by a long glide. I love to watch them grace the dappled sunlight of woodland rides and clearings in search of brambles and their favoured honeysuckle on which they lay their eggs. Without doubt, they are one of our most charming butterflies.

But then, there is the elusive beauty of his majesty, the purple emperor (Apatura iris), with whom no other butterfly can compete. With iridescent purple wings, it is the size of a small bird and is the UK’s largest butterfly. In Greek mythology,

And that is why I have got up early this morning to head for the woods to try for the sixth year running to glimpse this charismatic insect. I am not alone. There are others who await his presence, and they have all come with offerings for the King. In a well-versed ceremony played out in large woodlands in southern England, logs are positioned, and a breakfast table is laid that consists of the most revolting, rancid dollops of food you could imagine, such as rotten bananas, fox or dog scat, stinking shrimp paste, horse manure and pickled mudfish. All because unlike other butterflies who leave their tree-top playground to feed on flowers, the emperor only comes to ground in the mornings to feast on muddy puddles and minerals found in dead, rotting creatures.

I take a step back from the smell and the group of people whose cameras are ready and poised, just in case one should deign to descend from the oak and sallow, and the honey dew from which it feeds. We wait for

While I fidget from one foot to the next, I ponder how peculiar it is that we go to such lengths to see an insect that beats us every time. But just as despondency is setting in and I think about leaving, a large dark shape comes into view and drops down low enough for me to see it stretch out its wings and linger high on a sallow leaf. Holding my breath in anticipation, I shout out ‘there’s one!’. Urgent cries of ‘where? Where?. But it’s pointless, I dare not take my eyes away to look for markers as I pathetically try to explain the twigs and branches in which my binoculars are fixed. Sadly, the angle of vision makes it impossible for me to see the royal purple, but I know instinctively that this is a purple emperor. Suddenly, it folds its wings shut, turns to the side to show its intricate shape and then – gone.

Feelings of relief at having seen one immediately turns to disappointment, for I have still not seen it in all its purple glory. I still can’t quite say I have met royalty. Maybe it’s good that we don’t always get what we want. For the desire to see this butterfly in all its glory will provide me with yet another lovely day out.

n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin.susanna@gmail.com)

be a life’s work...

adapting to life after the death of a loved one.

Once it was believed you were either born with emotional resilience or you weren’t. Now it is known we can develop, improve and increase it throughout our lives.

It is the combination of personality traits, the environment we live in and how we learn from the difficulties we face that builds our resilience. To nurture this feature is a life’s work –there’s no high point you hit at a certain age.

So, the next time you face a challenge, a disappointment or a difficult situation, maybe pause and make sure you are aware of all the different ways you could react and choose your reaction deliberately.

Ask yourself what is the

best way forward. What keeps you moving towards your goal? Which decision will cause the least disruption? Which choice will make you feel stronger and will you be glad you made?

As I have said many times, all these aspects of our mental health are interlinked. If we tweak one area of our life –let’s say how you start your day – the effects ripple out across the board.

If you take steps to boost your emotional resilience by considering your reaction to that cancelled plan before you react, your overall wellbeing will benefit. It’s like a constantly changing jigsaw when one small piece affects the whole picture.

n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne (07961 080513; alicejohnsen.co.uk)

CARE FOR OAPS including nail cutting, shaving, massage, sleep over care. Joyce, 07591 760333

Emotional resilience, which is made up of grit, flexibility and coping ability, is a mental strength we all need in spades

Soothing chamomile great for digestion

by Fiona Chapman

I HAVE a chamomile bed which I lovingly weed and tend to, particularly in the spring when after the winter lots of weeds seem to take root. (Not that I should be calling them weeds as most of them are chickweed, with is also a very important herb.) However, for chamomile to thrive, the bed needs to be clear. I just love the smell if you brush past it or stand on it. I find it quite heady and relaxing making, which is just what chamomile should be.

Matricaria reticulata (chamomile) is a wonderful herb, particularly for children and the elderly where it can calm tummy irritability caused by nerves and over stimulation. It will help to soothe restless

children and alleviate symptoms of colic. It is an extremely safe herb and can be made into a mild tea and given to quite small babies in drop form.

It really is for the digestion, helping with irritable bowel syndrome, flatulence, bloating and inflammation of the intestinal tract, which will often keep people awake at night without them necessarily being aware that it is an unhappy stomach causing the problem. I had an extremely bad night recently from over-eating too late. Stupidly I was so busy tossing and turning and trying to sleep, I forgot that I would have been much better getting up and making myself a cup of chamomile tea.

It is used for insomnia and

anxiety associated with nerves and irritability. It is also used for those suffering from asthma and hay-fever, and can be combined with nettle and elderflower to make a hay-fever tea. I do prefer to use it as a tea – rather than a tincture – and my own chamomile is quite potent. It is quite bitter which is why it is good for the intestines as it stimulates bile from the liver and gall bladder to be produced aiding digestion while calming the mucous membranes of the digestive tract.

It is used typically in many creams and lotions for skin infections, thrush, haemorrhoids, boils and itchy skin. It can also be used in the mouth for sore gums. As with all my herbs, I am hopeless at harvesting it as I feel so sad cutting the flowers off just as they are coming out, but when I need a soothing cup of chamomile tea it is well worth it.

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

Starting off by operating once a month it will give those with MS and their carers an opportunity to meet, share experiences and get advice as well as having refreshments and cake. The days and times are not yet finalised because we want to reflect your needs and wishes. It might also be possible to bring in speakers and, for those who wish, go for a swim.

www.oxleysc.com

We are also looking for volunteers who might be able to help with the organisation of this new venture.

Please call Graham Brown on 07813829474 or email graham5711@aol.com for more details.

Our Swim School is expanding, spaces now available

Chamomile tea PHOTO: congerdesign/Pixabay

LANDROVER FREELANDER

2 GSTV4. Blue. Diesel. Bullhitch. 120,00 miles £3,250 ono. 07929 235301

PEUGEOT 206 - 2003. 50K miles. manual, Full MOT. VGC. Drives well. £1900. 07983 985553

MONDEO 2012 1.6 PETROL

TURBO. Silver. MOT Jan. 70,500 miles. Good condition. £3750 ONO. Tel 01747 823931 Gillingham.

ROVER 45 1990 12 months

MOT. Good all round condition. Excellent runner. Must be seen to appreciate. £795 ono. 01747 822345

STORAGE FOR CARAVANS, boats and cars at Enford Farm near Blandford. 01258 450050 / 07704 813025

MOTORBIKES WANTED

Non runners and Unwanted Phone Keith on 07966 213344

UNWANTED VEHICLES bought for cash ●Mot failures

●Nonrunners ●Unfinished projects ●end of life scrap vehicles ●minimum of £200 paid for complete vehicles. Call Ryan on 07474 737577

CLASSIC MAZDA EUNOS

NA6CE Mk1 ROADSTER, 1991, automatic, hard top, anti-roll bar. Restoration project but still reliable runner (MOT to October ‘23). £1,800 ONO.

Frome. 07460 312400

OLD, INTERESTING & CLASSIC CARS wanted pre 1990s Any condition including unfinished projects Cash/ Transfer Please Phone Paul 07890 096907

Peacemarsh Garage

est. 1997

Peacemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4HB www.peacemarshgarage.co.uk

2018 RANGE ROVER

SPORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

2015 15 VW GOLF MATCH (AUTO) 31K MILES

2013 13 PORSCHE CAYMEN

2006 06 VAUXHALL MONARO 5.7 V8

COUPE (MANUAL) 56,000 MILES

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

Bodyshop open for all repairs and restorations, from small scratches to complete resprays, insurance work welcome.

Servicing, Valets, MOTs, Bodywork Hankook & Laufenn Tyre Dealership, Competitive Rates

We don’t buy any car…but we might buy yours

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

Diagnostics

Bodyshop open for all repairs and restorations, from small scratches to complete resprays, insurance work welcome.

Air conditioning

Valets

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

MOTs – class 4, 5 and 7

Courtesy Cars

Diagnostics

Diagnostics Air Conditioning

Air conditioning

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Courtesy Cars

Valets

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Concessions for Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Courtesy Cars

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

David Cahill trading as Cahill Welding Services LTD of Unit 5 & 6, The Saw Mills, Middlemarsh, Nr Sherborne, DT9 5QW is applying to change an existing licence as follows: To keep an extra 2 goods vehicles and 6 trailers at the operating centre at: Cahill Welding, The Marsh, Henstridge Airfield, Templecombe BA8 0TN. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice.

A guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.

Wishing our beautiful granddaughter a very happy 18th birthday. Love Nanny Di and Grandad Colin xx

MEMORIAM blackmorevale.net

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

Alan Blencowe trading as C21 Scaffolding Limited of 52 Trims Cottage, Newton, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6NY is applying to change an existing licence as follows to add an operating centre to keep 2 goods vehicles and 0 trailers at The Yard, Chaldicott Barns, Tokes Lane, Semley, Dorset, SP7 9AW.

Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representators must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice.

A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

Custom Tree Care Ltd of 17 Milton Abbas, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 0AT is applying for a licence to use Unit 3, Hillside Business Centre, Manston, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1EY as an operating Center for 1x goods vehicles . Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the website: infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/

01963 400186 www.blackmorevale.net

In Loving Memory MICK FRANCIS

Who left us on August 13th 2022. A cherished husband to Mon and a guiding light to his children, his legacy of strength, kindness and wisdom continues to inspire us. Forever missed, forever loved, we carry his spirit in our hearts xxxxx

DEATHS

LEGG

Norman Frederick Herbert

Passed away peacefully at the Glen Care Home, Shepton Mallet on 5th July 2023 aged 93 years. Much loved husband of Doris, father of Peter and Marcia, grandad to Chantel and founder member of Castle Cary Bowls Club. He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. Thank you to friends for your many cards and kind messages of sympathy.

GWYNETH (GWYN) OLIVER

Passed Away On 14th July 2023 at Blandford Grange Care Home Formerly of Flanders Close, Marnhull. Much Loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Funeral has already taken place

Donations in Gwyn’s Memory for the Alzheimer’s Society may be made via Colin J Close Funeral Service https://www.close-funeral.co.uk

Macey Palmer

DEATHS

LAMPERT Edward (John)

Aged 75 years of Galhampton. On the 19th July 2023 peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. Dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

Funeral Service at Mendip Crematorium on 14th August 2023 at 12:30pm.

Family flowers only please.

Donations for Yeovil District Hospital can be sent to Harold F Miles Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES Tel: 01963 440367

To place an obituary or remembrance advertisement in The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

please call us on:

01963 400186

or email:

www.blackmorevale.net

BRIAN MELDRUM

Died on 19th July at Longbridge Deverill N/H aged 70 years, of Buckhorn Weston. Finally released from the imprisonment of dementia. Greatly missed by family and friends.

A huge thank you to the nurses and carers for their superb care in his final days.

Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Wednesday 16th August at 12.00 noon.

Family flowers only. Donations for Dementia UK, Countrymen UK or Mindful Memory Cafés may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU.

GWENDOLINE KNOX

Formerly of Gillingham

Died Peacefully on July 6th 2023 at ST Catherine’s Care Home, Frome.

Funeral Service at ST Mary’s Church, Wareham on the 17th August 2023 at 11am.

Family flowers only. Donations if desired, for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance; May be sent to Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QL.

Interment taking place at Hillview Cemetery, Wareham.

ROY PIKE of Todber

Passed away peacefully on July 11th at Dorset County Hospital aged 81.

Dearly loved partner, Dad, Grandad and great Grandad. Cremation has already taken place. A celebration of Roy’s life will take place at St Andrews Church, Todber on August 10th at 2.30pm. No flowers please but donations if desired to go directly to Dorset and Somerset Air ambulance

DARE GAIL

née Armitage

Died at home on 20th July 2023 aged 81. Dearly loved wife of Michael, sister of Alec, mother of Kate, Tessa & Sophie.

Proud grandmother of Emily, Antonia, Tom, David, Chloë, Eva, Ben & Ollie. Private funeral. Donations to St Margaret’s Hospice

SHARON BRYANT née Ratcliffe

Passed away peacefully on the 17th of July 2023, aged 64 years.

Funeral service will take place at Sherborne Abbey on the 10th of August at 1:30pm. Respectful attire with a splash of colour.

ANTONIO GRAZIANO

Maria would like to express her heartfelt thanks to her children, grandchildren & great grandson for their love and unwavering support following the death of Toni. Thank you to all those who attended his funeral, for the cards, kind messages of sympathy and for the donations received for Henstridge Primary School amounting to £569.51. Thanks also to Lavinia at Peter Jackson Funeral Services. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement.

BRIAN ERIC BEAVEN

Peacefully on the 26th July 2023. Brian aged 86 years of Gillingham, formerly of Trowbridge. Dearly loved Husband, Dad, Grandad and Brother. Funeral service at St George’s Church, Langham, Gillingham on Friday, 18th August at 11am.

Family flowers only please, donations if desired for St George’s Church or Parkinson’s UK.

C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757

Develop new skills on adult courses on offer in North Dorset

A HOST of courses are being launched in Shaftesbury and Gillingham to help people learn new skills.

From learning Spanish to discovering psychology or brushing up on art skills, Skills & Learning - the BCP and Dorset councils’ adult education service - is offering a raft of courses this autumn.

Courses are also on offer in Sherborne, Blandford and Sturminster Newton.

For full details of what is on

offer, and how you can try them out, log on to www. skillsandlearningace.com and to enrol, call 01202 123444, or email enquiries@salbcp.com.

Meanwhile, Skills & Learning are seeking an art tutor two evenings a week, and a BSL tutor to teach one evening a week, both based in North Dorset.

If you think this fits your skillset, they’d love to hear from you using the details above.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

AE Jolliffe & Son, Ferndown

Lesley Shand, Blandford

Lesley Shand, Corfe Mullen Ives & Shand, Parkstone

Recruitment

SIGMA ENGINEERING

Vehicle Technician

Full time (Monday–Friday) Classic cars, engine rebuilding etc

Gillingham info@sigmadorset.co.uk

THE SIX CHURCHES OF CAM VALE seek an experienced ADMINISTRATOR

Self-employed, part-time position - 9 hours/week Office in Queen Camel

Previous ecclesiastical experience preferred For further information please apply to: admincamvale@gmail.com

blackmorevale.net/jobs

RELIEF MILKER REQUIRED for alternate weekends for 180 autumn calving Holsteins from the beginning of September. Buckland Newton area. Contact Nick 07980 293417

BENCH JOINER with experience wanted for a small modern workshop, varied and interesting work. Salary negotiable. Contact 01935 872806 or julian@jbennettjoinery.com

PART TIME HOUSEKEEPER IN LOVELY ESTATE near Gillingham 12 h week,3 mornings including Monday ,experienced and references £15/hour 07824 862356

GARDENER NEEDED in East Knoyle 3 hours a week, to include hedge cutting, weeding, lawn edging, digging, pruning and digging. 07743 824049

CAFE ASSISTANT – SHERBORNE

The famous Sherborne Station Cafe has a part time vacancy. Hours flexible but some weekends involved.

Some cafe experience required.

Come and join a fantastic team!

Call Trish 07517 099547

FJ Chalke are recruiting!

We are looking for a qualified Vehicle Technician to join the team in our Gillingham Service & MOT centre on either a full-time or part-time basis.

If you are a hard-working and enthusiastic individual, with an NVQ Level 3 Vehicle Technician qualification (or equivalent), we want to hear from you!

In return, we offer competitive salaries, ongoing training and support, and a whole host of other benefits. (Valid UK driving licence required).

For more information, visit www.fjchalke.co.uk

To apply, send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@fjchalke.co.uk

FJ Chalke & Vale Motors

Bryanston is a unique community, and there are many opportunities for staff across all departments to make an invaluable contribution to the success of the school. We offer a competitive remuneration package in a fantastic working environment, with benefits including free meals on duty, training and development opportunities, life assurance, and much more.

GROUNDSPERSON

blackmorevale.net/jobs

HERDSPERSON REQUIRED

We are a 4th generation dairy farm near Castle Cary Milking 300 autumn calving cows @ 7500 litres in a 10 week block 28/28 parlour, fantastic grazing infrastructure and simple housed winter routine, grazing for 9 months of the year. We are looking for someone to help us out with all livestock work. Must have good attention to detail and a passion for livestock.

We provide a good salary, house & a great place to work alongside our settled team. Please call or email George07934 407915, gjwagriculture@gmail.com

A.P.STEPHENS & SON LTD

Require Multi-Skilled Labourer. Full time. Blandford Call Luke 07818 297152

WE’RE LOOKING FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR BUSY, FRIENDLY OFFICE IN TARRANT HINTON

Administrators play a vital role in supporting the daily operations and ensuring the smooth functioning of various administrative tasks within our financial services company

The hours are flexible, pay is dependant on ability and experience

Skills required:

Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities

Strong attention to detail and accuracy

Computer literate and proficient in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Excellent organisational and time management skills

Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively

If interested, email CV and covering letter to mail@savvyfp.co.uk

Are you a passionate and professional Groundsperson looking for your next career move?

Our beautiful grounds are a proud asset to our stunning school estate and provide an inspiring natural setting for pupils, parents, staff, and visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

We are seeking a Groundsperson who has a collaborative approach, exceptionally high standards and a good understanding of grounds and pitch maintenance and other estate duties. We are looking for someone who enjoys working within a team setting, communicates well and has a positive work ethic.

MINIBUS DRIVERS

Full-time, year-round September start

Bryanston is launching two new minibus routes for our pupils, and we are seeking drivers to assist in this fantastic venture.

This service will involve transporting pupils safely to and from School via designated routes, and the job will also involve general care of the vehicle before and after each run.

For more information, please visit www.bryanston.co.uk or contact recruitment@bryanston.co.uk

Closing date for both roles: 8th August 2023

Bryanston is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the DBS.

PART-TIME VACANCY IN DAIRY FARMING ENVIRONMENT

National Milk Records plc is looking for enthusiastic people to become part-time, self-employed Milk Recorders and Samplers visiting dairy farms in the Shaftesbury, Wincanton & Dorchester areas. The work involves taking individual cow milk samples and updating computerized records.

Hours will vary (includes early mornings and afternoons) and amount of work can be tailored to the individual. Own transport is essential. Perfect work if you enjoy the outdoor life.

Please contact: piplo@nmrp.com for more details.

Closing date: 16/8/2023

PART-TIME WORK SHORT DRIVE from Shaftesbury

2 days pw August. Assisting individual at private country house. Sorting and filing confidential papers. Absolute discretion. Good initiative, attention to detail, neat writing. Suit recent graduate. Apply with CV to lizpope@me.com

DOMESTIC HELP REQUIRED, experience preferred. Hours to suit. Good pay, cheerful household. North Cheriton area. Tel: 01258 808381

WORKSHOP ASSISTANT AND SITE FITTER required for busy joinery workshop in Stalbridge. Assisting with fitting on site, and in the unit with glazing and possibly spraying of joinery. Previous experience not essential as training will be given, but some carpentry knowledge would be useful. Full time, 42.5 hours per week. Telephone Mark on 07719 636450

FULL-TIME GARDENER. Private estate, Gillingham. Email adamcwillcox@gmail. com to apply.

CLASSIC CAR

SPECIALIST IN MERE area looking to recruit a new member to the team. Good general understanding of automobiles and an automotive passion is required, with the ability to embrace learning new skills. Please contact Adam Gallaway on 01747 860715.

Recruitment

DAIRY PERSON

REQUIRED to work with cows milked by robots. Varied work everything from calving cows to tractor work. Small friendly supportive team. Accommodation available. Dorset/Somerset border. Tel 01935 812170

Recruitment

FREESTONE & CO.

Chartered Accountants

One The Centre, The High Street, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4AB Telephone (01747) 822856 | Email: mail@freestone-co.co.uk www.freestone-co.co.uk

Would you like to join a small friendly practice?

We are looking to recruit new team members.

Accounts Senior / Accountant

You will have responsibility for your own client portfolio and be the first point of contact for your clients. You will prepare accounts, individual and corporate tax returns, VAT returns and other related tasks and will preferably have had previous practice experience.

Hours are negotiable for the right candidate, full time, part-time, or school hours available; part remote working available.

If this sounds interesting, we would love to hear from you.

Email CV and covering letter to nicola@freestone-co.co.uk

Receptionist / Office Administrator

You will be responsible for the smooth running of the office. You will be the first line of contact to visitors, customers, and vendors in person, online, and via telephone.

Your duties will include managing company correspondence, inventory of office supplies, data entry, P.A. duties to the principle, inhouse bookkeeping, arranging meetings with clients, managing in and outgoing post & records, addressing any maintenance issues and other ad hoc duties as required.

You will need to be able to work without supervision, have exceptional customer service skills, be able to handle confidential information and possess excellent time management skills. Working hours by negotiation but a minimum of 20hrs required.

Email CV and covering letter to julie@freestone-co.co.uk

blackmorevale.net/jobs

for day and boarding children aged 2-13, in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

We are seeking to recruit to the following roles:

FOOD SERVICES ASSISTANTS

KITCHEN PORTERS

SPORTS CENTRE ADMINISTRATOR

The successful candidates can expect competitive rates of pay and benefits; and to join an exceptional working environment and staff team.

For full details of the roles and application procedure, please visit our website - portregis.com/vacancies

Early applications encouraged

Port Regis (Charity No: 306218) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS and safer recruitment vetting checks.

ADMIN ONE DAY PER

WEEK in farm office near Blandford, experience with Xero software an advantage

Call Jill 07976 959689

FULL TIME SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Servicing Folding Dining Tables in schools

Full training given Clean driving licence Good rates of pay. Immediate start for right person

Contact peter@ innovatethegroup.co.uk

SALES / MARKETING ASSISTANT

REQUIRED to make telesales calls to existing and new customers + Mailchimp support strategy.

SAGE 50 and angling experience beneficial but not necessary - we’ll teach you all you need. Permanent, 30 hours / week + benefits. Contact sales@fishingmatters.biz

CLEANER WANTED.

3 hours weekly, morning or afternoon. Donhead. Tel: 07801 707274

THE STORY PIG: CAFÉ & FRONT OF HOUSE

SUPERVISOR (Part Time, includes weekends)

Lavender Keepers, Great Pit Ln, Sherborne DT9 4FG

The Story Pig is a cafe outside Sherborne, owned and run by James and Charlotte Hull; known for friendly service, homebaking, free range pork and spectacular views.

We are open Thursday-Sunday through the summer. James and Charlotte seek support with running the cafe; including set up, serving customers, and closing up.

If you have a strong work ethic, great attention to detail, love people and working in a team then please contact James: 07802 443905/ jameshull777@gmail.com

Sales Administrator

We are looking for a someone to join our small, friendly team based in Wincanton. Confident, enthusiastic, and outgoing with a desire to provide exceptional customer service and generate sales.

You will be the first point of contact for our customers wishi ng to place an order or deal with their enquiries, either by telephone or email. A friendly telephone manner, excellent computer skills with an eagerness to learn. An interest and knowledge of food would be beneficial.

Six days a week. 25-30 hours per week. Hours could be flexible. Email: careers@finefoodco.co.uk .

Rockies face Bournemouth in league season opener

by Avril Lancaster

SHAFTESBURY open the Wessex League Premier Division campaign with a new look side and aiming to improve on last season’s 13th place.

The league season starts on Tuesday, August 8, with a home fixture against Bournemouth FC. Shaftesbury won that 3-0 last season before achieving a league double with victory at Victoria Park.

This is followed by a home game against United Services Portsmouth on Saturday, August 12, who won 2-1 at Shaftesbury last time out – although the Rockies won 4-2 away in January.

The Rockies host Portland United on Tuesday, August 15 – the opposition will be buoyed by their 3-3 draw at Shaftesbury last season after being 3-0 down.

Then it’s a trip on Saturday, August 19, to Hamble Club, 3-2 victors last season.

Shaftesbury face a midweek

Wincanton running wildcats sessions for girls

IT’S not just the Lionesses roaring this summer.

Wincanton Town Ladies Football Club have teamed up with the Football Association and Weetabix to get Wildcats on the pitch this summer.

Aimed at girls aged between five to 11, Wildcats sessions are running at Wincanton Sports Ground every Saturday throughout the summer and the first session is free. After that it

FOOTBALL

trip to Brockenhurst on Tuesday, August 22, where Shaftesbury went 2-0 up in April, then 3-2 down, before top scorer Ash Pope salvaged a point at the Meadens Skoda Arena.

Shaftesbury have lots of quality in the side with Brett Pitman, Ash Pope, Asa Philips, Luke Holmes and Lee Francis, among others, but are well aware that these sides will arrive with some optimism from their previous endeavours in North Dorset.

Managers Jim Milligan and Luke Burbidge have a strong squad that includes Ashley Wells and Liam Farrugia as rocks at the back, complemented by Conal Morrison and Aaron Roberts from Wimborne Town.

Goalkeeper Shane Murphy provides Southern League South & West Division

experience and Cameron Beard is back from Bashley to nail things down.

Supporters are looking forward to seeing the qualities of Dominico Pansear-Dower and Joe Wickham is retained, and the ever dependable Billy Maybury and Louis Kellaway create a solid backbone to the team. Former Ipswich Town star Pitman is another exciting addition.

That could prove invaluable with a varied pre-season that pitches the Rockies against top opposition in Salisbury, Bath City and Weymouth and Poole Town, plus Westbury United, the marker having achieved Southern League South & West status.

The FA Cup draw has given the club an away day at TWL Division 1 Brislington on Saturday, August 5. It will be an immense cup tie with the Bristolians clear winners of the First Division in 2022/23.

THE latest Ranston Evening Cricket League culminated in a very competitive game in the well attended cup final held at Shroton Cricket Club.

Shroton set a good score of 189-2 (M Doble 86 not out, M Pyke 58) after 20 overs and Stalbridge just failed in their chase by posting 168-5 (W Coleman 68, C Warne 24, C Anstee 2-13).

The league competition gave each team 10 games with Shroton coming out on top with seven wins followed by Marnhull as runners-up with six wins.

The committee is looking for new clubs to join the league for the 2024 season. Contact Terry Warder at terryjwarder@gmail. com

costs just £3 a session.

The fun training days take place between 9.30-10.30am and are for girls of all abilities – newcomers are especially welcome.

To find out more visit Wincanton Town’s website, www.wtlfc.co.uk

The first of the summer’s Big Day events featured face

paint, temporary tattoos and lots of doughnuts, accompanied by the first game for England on the large screen.

As England’s Lionesses continue to do well in the tournament, it is hoped there will be more events and matches for young fans to cheer on.

WINCANTON Golf Club

results:

Ron Smith Trophy – July 25: 1 Richard Strong nett 67; 2 Kees Schouten nett 73 ocb; 3 Chris Dibben nett 73.

Seniors Back Nine Medal –July 25: 1 John Westaway nett 37;; 2 Derek King nett 40; 3 Alan Rogers nett 43 ocb; 4 Reg Gazzard nett 43.

Monthly Stableford – July 29: 1 Nigel Orr 37; 2 Richard Czemerda 35 ocb; 3 Rab Clyde 35.

GOLF

CRICKET

Book Online

classified@ blackmorevale.net

C.B. Brett

Old Market Car Park, Hound St, Sherborne, DT9 3AB 01935 812107

COCKER SPANIELS

KC Reg, FI,Chipped, Working Parents £1,200. Tel: 07891 305052 Gorcombe Fm

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

PUPPIES. KC registered. One black boy, one yellow girl. Ready for new home 17th August. 07429 117479

LOVELY MINI DACHSHUNDS

2 boys and a girl, smooth and fluffy. Ready now for family home. PRA clear, microchipped... gorgeous! 07393 988911

Phils Happy Dogs

Dog Behaviour Expert

I get called in after dog trainers have been.

I have never put a dog in a crate.

I work in silence.

I will control any situation with your dog.

Single visit specialist. Any dog, any age, any issue.

Visit my website for more information.

Covering

phil@philshappydogs.co.uk

07721 094 494

www.philshappydogs.co.uk

BLACK KITTENS. Ready now £40. 07887 692394

GUINEA PIGS FOR SALE

Males £10, females £20. Tel: 01963 458199

PET SCANNING AND MICROCHIPPING service

Fully insured. Contact Sarah on 07769 323429

KOI CARP 6” to 18” large stock from £4 Tel 07745 898265

PURE BRED BRITISH SHORT HAIRED KITTENS. Beautiful colours. 07799 296502

PRETTY PYGMY GOATS. 2 gelding, 2 girls. aged 1-3yrs. @ £60 each. Tel: 01747 830263

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

DEADLINES

Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday.

Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION

Loving homes needed for cats and kittens in our care.

For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: cats.org.uk/blandford (Formerly Blandford & Sturminster) Sponsored by Longmead Veterinary Practice Ltd

Pets in association with Phil’s Happy Dogs www.philshappydogs.co.uk

MID DORSET BRANCH CATS PROTECTION Cats looking for new homes

n Bagheera (eight years). Lovely boy looking for a quiet home with no children or other pets

n Tommy (14 years). Everyone who meets Tommy falls in love with this charming fella

n Misty (four years). Loving, on her own terms, looking for a garden to explore in a safe location

n Bean & Boo (two months). Bundles of fun looking for a home together

BEHAVIOUR TIPS

n Peggy (14 years). Likes fuss on her terms. Sweet old girl who acts younger than her age

n Poppy (three years). Looking for a quiet home and someone with the patience she needs to come out of her shell

n Honey (four years). Looking for a quiet home in the country away from busy roads

n Lulu (three years). Sweet girl who is a little nervous but looking for a home in which she can blossom

We also have kittens which will be looking for homes in the coming weeks –please get in touch to register your interest. Outdoors cats looking for homes – farms, stables etc

For details, please call our helpline on 01258 858644 or visit our website www. cats.org.uk/blandford.

LOST CATS

If you have lost a cat, please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook. Please make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed.

FOUND CATS

If you regularly see a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call – it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner.

BUSYPETZ

EVERYTHING FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS

Food for our furry family members, cats, dogs, rabbits, guineau pigs, birds. Grain-free, vegetarian, frozen, gluten & sugar-free chews, natural treats. Soft toys, leather toys, leads & collars, coats, cool & heat pads, veterinary bedding, shampoo, towels... even microchipping!

Come and browse with a friendly chat... and if you don’t see what you want please ask!

“Every time we’re anywhere near Busypetz, Pebbles takes me to lovely Vanessa.” Anja C

Tip#45: Learn to earn – practical techniques

by Helen Taylor

MAKE a list of everything your dog wants, needs or enjoys and start noticing when he wants or needs them. These could include: going in the garden, greeting a person or dog, getting in or out of the car, having lead on or off, sniffing a lamp-post, having a toy offered, dinner or a treat, getting on the sofa, having a door opened.

Next time he wants something, gently ask him to do something for you – something he already knows how to do – for example, a sit, down, paw or watch me – before he is given it. If he ignores you, simply walk away without doing what he wants, then re-try with the same or a different cue a couple of minutes later.

Repeat this until he does as asked. Then immediately praise him and give him what he was asking for – for example, release him, open the door, give the food, offer the toy, remove the lead and so on.

Doing something for you in return for something he wants is like saying ‘please’ rather than demanding something. Note that for welfare reasons, affection should be ‘free’ some of the time – as long as he is behaving politely.

n Helen Taylor is a qualified, accredited behaviourist, a certified clinical animal behaviourist, a registered practitioner with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council and is a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (no 881). help@helentaylordorset.co.uk; www.helentaylordorset.co.uk

Busypetz, the home of cool pet products – now open!

I’m Vanessa Nash, some of you will know me for microchipping pets across the Blackmore Vale and selling pet products for near on 20 years. I have now started my own micro pet shop, where you never know what you’re going to find in our widening range...

We have our own grain-free Cat & Dog biscuits – Wyke Canine & Wyke Feline, Shapes & Gravy bones, Wild & Caged bird seeds, Rabbit & Guinea Pig food plus bedding and all that stuff pet shops sold years ago, I also stock natural treats, and Woolly Bullies natural wool cat toys.

Paleo Ridge frozen foods with more frozen to come, Handmade Apawtiser dog biscuits mean you

Advertising feature

can treat your dog at coffee time and they also make peanut butter jars (safe for dogs) and Maks Patch vegetarian grain, gluten & sugar free chew treats.

We do KONG & other soft toys, Miro & Makauri natural leather toys, leads & collars, Hi-Viz coats, cool or heat pads, pet bed pads, veterinary bed, shampoo & towels and more.

Microchipping for cats & dogs available by appointment.

See us on Stand K48 at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show next to Cheriton Country Canines

Should I get a reptile as a pet?

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

REPTILES are fascinating animals and their behaviour and metabolism vary significantly from mammals and other pets we are more used to owning. But is a reptile suitable as a pet?

The answer to that is ‘it depends’. Almost all reptiles kept as pets in this country are not native to the UK. This means that our climate often does not provide the conditions they need for optimum health. Even within a type, such as snakes, each species will vary significantly in their requirements.

Reptiles are entirely dependent on their environment for their metabolism and they rarely get ‘sick’ overnight, unlike dogs or cats. Once a reptile looks unwell, they have usually been deteriorating for weeks, months, or, in the case of very long-lived species such as tortoises, years.

To keep your reptile healthy, it is essential to research their needs properly before getting them. Investing in the required equipment is essential and not cutting corners is really important. You may think that small variations in temperature range or keeping a UV bulb for longer than the manufacturer’s recommendation are not significant, but the effects are

cumulative and will have long-term effects.

You also need to plan for the future. Tortoises can live for 70-plus years and can easily outlive their owner, so planning for the distant future is important. Reptiles may start out small but planning for their future requirements as they grow is also essential. A leopard tortoise can grow to 13-16kg and boa constrictors can grow up to 3m in length.

A few very elderly tortoises still survive in the UK which were exported from the Mediterranean as babies and young adults in the mid-20th century. Most of these remaining individuals have adapted to sub-optimal husbandry and survived despite this but it is important to remember that thousands more died before their time due to lack of knowledge leading to lack of appropriate husbandry.

Almost all reptile illness is due to their environment. It often has multiple subtle causes that all combine, such as a sub-optimal diet, incorrect supplementation, a variable temperature range and incorrect humidity. Horsfield tortoises, for instance, commonly carry a herpes virus but they may only develop respiratory symptoms if they lack suitable ventilation and air movement.

Once a reptile presents to a

vet, they have often been unwell for a long time and treatment, as well as reversing underlying changes, can be difficult or impossible. In fact, correcting underlying environmental conditions can increase the animal’s metabolism, accelerating the deterioration leading to death before an improvement is seen.

A commonly seen multifactorial condition is metabolic bone disease. This is a slowly progressive condition which oftens presents as weakness, reduced appetite and activity, and spontaneous fractures. Once investigated x-rays will often reveal multiple historic fractures with varying degrees of healing. Incomplete shedding leading to toe and tail tip loss, and eye and ear infections, can also be seen.

To prevent problems please

pay attention to details. Ensure you measure and record temperature ranges and the temperature at basking points. In winter, it can be hard to maintain a minimum temperature at night when the overall house temperature falls. Follow guidelines on hibernation to ensure optimal chances for good recovery. Be vigilant and you are more likely to notice subtle changes. Regular weighing and careful handling can pick up on problems early.

If you are going to get a reptile as a pet, please remember that they are entirely dependent on you for their welfare and lack of attention to details leads to illness and poor quality of life. Good welfare can easily be maintained by well-informed care.

Boa constrictors can grow up to 3m in length PHOTO: ambquinn/Pixabay

Tortoises can live for 70-plus years

PHOTO: Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay

CLASSIFIED ADS

RECLINER ARM CHAIR. £470. Buyer to collect. 07904 236661

CHAPPELL PIANO Upright 1200mm ht. Black finish, good condition £750. Matching stool £50 01258 863465

2 x WHEELED TEAK GARDEN STEAMERS, plus bespoke cushions. Good used condition. £160 the pair (new £300 each). Sherborne area. 07885 678834

DEVILBISS ST1 MOBILITY SCOOTER by Complete Care Shop

Purchased new Nov 21 (£569) – never used-still boxed - opened only to charge battery £150 collect only Hazelbury Bryan – 01258-817688

SINGLE SOFA CHAIR BED. excellent condition. £50. 01722 329989

LOVELY BIG HANDBAG/ HOLDALL. 17” x 10”. Red Leather VGC. £15 ono. 01963 350118

RONSEAL FENCE LIFE. 2x5 litre tins of Medium Oak new and unopened. £12 for both.

07747 098126

HAY RACK 76cm x56cm £5 Tel: 07743 731685

FOLDING PICNIC TABLE, open size 80cm x 150cm. Fold to 80 x 75cm. £25 Tel: 07812 104086

SUN LOUNGERS – Two folding reclining chairs with floral padded cushions. Good condition. £18 each. 07980-379232

6ft HANDLE £15

10ft keep net with bank stick £15 large landing net £15. Small landing net £5. Tel: 01935 476815

ROUND OAK DINING TABLE and chairs all in good condition Tel 07751 016907 (Milborne Port)

RECORD PLAYER Garrard Model SP25 Mk.III. Excellent condition, full working order. No amplifier or speakers. £40. TEL:01747 812071

SILENT NIGHT 3FT MATTRESS. Firm. V.G.C. £20. 01935 507375

BRAND NEW SHIRES Blenheim

Strong Leather Lungeing Cavesson. Cob size £40 ono. Tel: 01935 834270.

GENTS BICYCLE. Good condition. £85. 01722 329989

LADIES BICYCLE. Excellent condition. £95. 01722 329989

LARGE KENNEL WITH RUN

12ft x 4ft plus outside run 7ft x 7ft. Buyer dismantles. £150. 01963 440741

1 x GENTS BICYCLE, 2 x ladies bicycles. Good condition. 01258 473211

SEASONED ENGLISH OAK PLANKS (9” x 2” x 7ft) x 4 and various other sizes. £200. 01258 473211

RANGE MASTER 110 COOKER. Gas hob. Electric ovens. Cream. Good working order. £400 ono. 01258 472331

AA 1001 WALKS IN BRITAIN BOOK £10 and 2 x photoshop CS3 book plus DVD £6. 01202 692730

SEARS CRAFTSMAN 10” Radial Arm Saw on Table 240v Single Phase Working with decent blade. £50 07791 807631 Frome. Buyer collects.

SMALL DUCK/CHICKEN HOUSE with a drop front, wire run approx. 48”(L) x30”(W) with rain cover, more info. £45. 01258 817445

WOODEN SPIRAL LIBRARY STEPS. Excellent condition. £50. 01258 861032

250 MARLEY ROOFING TILES

6” x 10”. NEW. £50. 01747 840835

MECCANO SET 4 £18 and Meccano Site engineering set 5 £20, both have book of models Tel: 07891 987809

PETROL LAWNMOWER Self Propelled Will Need A New Cable At Some Point £40 07707 112910

FIAMMA THERMAL WINDSCREEN COVER

Ford Transit after 2014 (Motorhome) £45 01258 817688 (Hazelbury Bryan)

BAMBOO DIDGERYDOO’S x 2. Bargain at £ 8.00 each. Collect from Kington Magna. 01747 83 88 82

FLYMO CONTOUR ELECTRIC GRASS STRIMMER. Hardly used. £25. 01747 229148

BOX OF 60 ASSORTED DVDs and 14 Playstation 3 games. £50 ONO. 01747 853913

GINA BACCONI DESIGNER

OCCASION DRESS, very pretty soft pink lace, size 10, never been worn, still with labels. £50 Milborne Port 07786 514697

HETTY VACUUM CLEANER. £50. 01747 826209

SINGLE BED WITH FOLDING

LEGS and mattress for sale £10. Hardley ever used. 07802 294445

PUZZLES COMPLETE; Gibson, Raven & Wasgij £2.50 each 01747 851296 evenings only.

CHILDS JOHN DEERE ride-on peddle tractor with trailer, unwanted Xmas gift, NEW £50 Tel: 01935-421682

ZANUSSI LARGE CAPACITY

FRIDGE 185 tall. 6 shelves & veg drawer. Great family fridge excellent condition £35 01935 872217

LARGE HABITAT SOFA BED with removable soft cream cover. Fold up arms to make it look like a sofa. Great condition, all washed and ready to go. £40 - Shaftesbury 07468 252785

WHITE BIRD CAGE 3ft x 1.6ft x 1.25ft. £50. 01747 860822

WANTED GARAGE SPACE for one vehicle. Horsington, North or South Cheriton. Please contact 07714 152955

WANTED

All militaria bought British/Foreign Single items or collections Contact Tim on 07904 082997

10 x 1000 PIECE JIGSAWS, Ravensburger, Gibson etc, various themes. £20.00 ono. Tel: 01747 826085

CHILD’S SNOOKER/POOL TABLE 180x100 cm. Reasonable condition. Free to collect. Marnhull 820135

2 X NUMBER STOP LOCKS, with keys, for car steering wheels. £40. 01963 31930

WHEELCHAIR DAYS, lightweight, vgc, £50 Tel: 07487-605434

5-WHEELER FOLDING MOBILITY WALKER vgc £50 Tel: 07487-605434

MORPHY RICHARDS SPIRALIZER EXPRESS, model no: 432020. Brand new, boxed, unused. £25.00. Tel: 01747 855775

BELL & HOWELL LIGHT WEIGHT CORDLESS lawn strimmer. Only used once. £25 ono. 01258 820908 (Marnhull)

OLD TOOLS LARGE QUANTITY mostly imperial. £30 01935 812328

LARGE LEATHER BUTTON back armchair nearly new vgc £50 ono 01258 450233

JIGSAW PUZZLES - LARGE PIECES. Bits & Pieces HOP etc. 300, 250, 200. £5.each. Call 01747 812071 evenings.

OLD BOOKS BOUGHT. Will call by appointment entirely without obligation. Bristow & Garland 07392 602014

GUNS WANTED FOR CASH ALSO GUNS FOR SALE

Field & Stream

Time to bring in the harvest

by A J Selby

“You must give to get. You must sow the seed before you can reap the harvest.” Scott Reed AUGUST – and that means harvest time. From mid-July to October there is a crop to reap or something to pick, be it from field or garden, a culmination of up to a year of work. The combines start to roll across the acres of winter barley, sown the previous autumn, and that is usually followed by winter wheat and winter oats with spring barley somewhere inbetween, depending on the summer. In ‘normal’ years the spring barley will grow steadily and produce a decent crop, albeit a lower yield than winter barley, but some years when the weather is against it – a cold, late spring, a very dry summer – it yields very little with some plants barely a foot high. A couple of tons an acre of winter barley and three tons an acre of winter wheat is a decent harvest, although good wheat growers on ideal ground will top four tons an acre. The combine has a ‘header’, the tray out in front, that contains a side-to-side cutter bar which gives the corn a haircut just above soil level. A reel then combs the stalks and heads into the guts of the machine with the help of a

horizontal auger. Once inside, the ‘threshing’ takes place, separating the ears of corn from the straw stalks, which are ejected out of the back of the machine in tidy rows.

The corn – the actual wheat, oats or barley ears – is funnelled into a big bin which can be emptied in one go into a trailer running alongside via an auger, or, in big fields, the trailer will often run alongside the combine and it will empty as it is harvested. Average acreage cut can vary between 40 acres and 80 acres a day – with huge machines in East Anglia topping 100 acres a day – depending on the width of the header, the density of the crop and the field size. Smaller fields mean downtime moving from one to another.

This, however, is in optimum conditions with a standing crop and a shining sun – a wet summer puts a different slant on the job. Corn can fall over in the field, known as ‘lodging’, and this needs to be skilfully combed back up and into the machine. This slows the process down considerably and at the other end of the harvest, the farmstead, damp corn will need to be dried before it can be stored otherwise it will rot. Ideally it needs to be harvested below 20% moisture

and stored at 13%. In a good summer the corn harvest will be finished by late August – in bad years it can still be awaiting the combine in October. In really wet summers the ears start to sprout and re-grow new plants while still standing in the field – a financial disaster for the grower.

What happens to the harvest?

The yellow rape of spring is harvested for its oil, rapeseed oil becoming more and more popular for cooking at home. Barley, of course, goes into brewing but there are different varieties that are more suited for this process than others, so the seed corn is sold as ‘malting’ barley for brewing. The ordinary barley mainly goes for animal feed, as does the ordinary wheat harvest with the best going for bread making. This is called ‘hard wheat’ as it has a high gluten content which gives the dough more elasticity and bread that holds its shape when baked. Feed wheat is known as ‘soft wheat’. Oats are used animal feed and porridge, and the standing crop has very long straw, making it a difficult crop to harvest in wet years.

The straw is used mainly for animal bedding with barley straw the softest, wheat straw the hardest and oat straw the most

edible, although both wheat straw, and barley straw in particular, are used to feed livestock, the fibre helping digestion. Harvest hasn’t changed for 100 years with the crop taken off and stored away the same as it ever was. However, the machines used most certainly have with horse-drawn reaper-binders a century ago replaced by hightech machines today with GPS tracking and a cab that allows the driver absolute comfort for a long day of driving. The first combine that I drove in the late 1970s was a Massey-Ferguson with an 8ft header, which was the smaller of the two combines on the farm and was used for some very small fields of 15 acres or less. It had no cab, and I would finish the day covered in dust during a dry spell, but for a lad on the farm in his late teens I wouldn’t have swapped it for a drive in a Ferrari – this was the ultimate farm kit.

I did get to drive a New Holland with a 14ft cut and a cab a few years later but I probably wouldn’t recognise the inside of the cabs of today’s machines if I ever had chance to sit in one. It is a pleasure to watch them working and clear a field, so if you get the chance, lean on a gate and watch modern technology at work.

Lambs’ day out at pre-school

by Tria Stebbing

SO, the day came to make the promised visit to Panda Preschool in Blandford.

We had no game plan other than to arrive at the pre-school in a calm orderly fashion and introduce the children to the lambs, taking farming out into the community.

Clearly the lambs got wind of the plan as they were nowhere to be seen when we arrived at the field to collect them. Having just been weened away from their mothers we thought they would be pleased to see us. The hillside home of the flock is very steep when you are in a hurry and can’t find the lambs, and seemingly

there are lots of places to hide. As with every flock, some are more friendly than others and we had already planned which lambs we were aiming for – the quietest, the non-jumpers and the smallest. Time was ticking by when we found them at the furthest part of the field, and so we grabbed the first four and loaded them in the truck.

Driving through the Dorset countryside you begin to wonder what they think. Having only ever lived in a small, very secluded village, what do they make of all the noise, houses and people?

They certainly let everyone know they were on a road trip judging from the funny looks as we went

on our way.

On arrival at Panda, we pulled up at the big gates and unloaded the lambs. No fear or holding back, they skipped merrily into the playground to meet the little people. The little people being far more fearful stood back and let the four-legged friends find their way. Into the sand pit, over by the slide and onto the forest area, the lambs were on good form.

I took some sheep cake with me and some of the children came over to feed Blue, who positioned himself nicely on my lap for optimum snacking.

It was lovely to hear the children’s observations of the lambs, using new words for

describing their new friends. Animals unite us all and bring out our caring side – the children formed a common bond enjoying the company of the lambs and vice versa. I could not work out who was more upset that it was time to go – the lambs came back quite willingly, I thought, and slept all the way home.

Back in the paddock the lambs ran up to those left to graze, and not wanting any more cake, they made for the shade to sleep off the excitement. It is lovely to take our passion for farming into the community to show the farmers of the future how therapeutic animals can be and hopefully sustain farming into the future.

Close up look at farming in France

by Ruth Kimber

WE were so lucky, while the early July weather was wet and cold here, Paul and I were in France for two weeks. We took our caravan and stayed some of the time with our old French farming friends, parking up in their yard among the chickens and ducks!

Yves was an exchange student, coming to us 35 years ago. Our neighbour and fellow farmer’s wife Susan Keen, who was a language teacher, had arranged the exchange as part of the twinning programme between Wincanton and les Rosiers and Gennes.

We have been firm friends with the Sauleau family ever since, having made many visits to Saint Clements des Levees, the village just outside Les Rosiers.

The farm had been based on dairy, milking 30 Normandy cows and followers. But, like here, the price of milk was just not enough to justify the hard work, and not enough to employ a worker. Yves made the decision to sell the herd two years ago, which was hard as the family had been milking cows there for centuries.

However, this has given Yves time to concentrate on the crop side of the business. Growing maize and haricot beans for seed, pumpkins, sunflowers, wheat and grass on the rich fertile soil of the levees along the River Loire.

Many crops are grown in this area – onions, beetroot, various flowers and more grown for seed. This is a complex process, avoiding cross-pollination with a carefully planned planting programme agreed between the farmers. Then, as the flowers grow, they must be managed to avoid the cross-pollination –after the flowers set, some of the male part of the maize is removed. This is partially done by machine, but to ensure a completely clean cut, the crop has to have hand-pickers go

The sunflowers were at their best, with fields of brilliant yellow across the countryside PHOTO: dkatana/ Pixabay

through on several occasions.

Just like here, seasonal workers are key to success. Later, Yves will need an army of help to cut and harvest the pumpkins – these are destined for food, not Hallowe’en.

We spent a week further south, at Saintes, an old town beside the river. We stayed on a municipal campsite, a lovely leafy, roomy site, and enjoyed chatting with many nationalities.

We went to the east and explored the La Gironde estuary where oysters are farmed, a fascinating area, with oyster beds all along the coastal flats. Lots of shacks were selling the oysters for eating there or taking home. It takes three years to grow an oyster and many stages must be managed,

moving the oyster from plate-like things to mesh pillows and, as they grow, dividing them to allow more room. It’s quite a labourintensive operation. We enjoyed an oyster and mussel supper overlooking the estuary as the sun went down.

As farmers we really enjoy investigating other farming methods and are never bored at looking at the farmed landscape. The sunflowers were at their best, with fields of brilliant yellow across the countryside. However, there is less wildlife, from what we could see. There are very few hedges and ditches once you leave Normandy – the crops are very clean, the field margins small and not many trees in the landscape away from towns or plantations.

It was lovely to be away, but nice to return home to our island.

n Kimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn. Linley Farm Charlton Musgrove BA9 8HD; phone: 01963 33177. www. kimbersfarmshop.co.uk info@ kimbersfarmshop.co.uk. Opening times Tuesday-Friday 8.30am5pm, Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm.

Insurer’s £6,000 Home-Start donation

NFU Mutual agents and staff at Sturminster Newton have nominated Home-Start Blackmore Vale to receive a donation of more than £6,000 from NFU Mutual’s national £1.92 million Agency Giving Fund.

The rural insurer launched the fund, which is now in its fourth year, to help local frontline charities across the country.

The Agency Giving Fund is part of NFU Mutual’s £3.25 million funding pledge for local and national charities in 2023 to assist with recovery from the pandemic and to help tackle the impact of the rising cost of living.

The donation to Home-Start Blackmore Vale will help it provide free, confidential support to families who are struggling on the North Dorset

area.

Scheme manager Chelsey Gowen said: “Over the last 12 months Home-Start Blackmore Vale has seen an increase in demand for its service of about 15%.

“As a result, we need to recruit and train more volunteers to support families.”

Chelsey added: “The money from the NFU Mutual Sturminster Newton will help cover the costs of training and supporting new and existing volunteers working with families.

“We rely entirely on grants and donations to continue our work, so we are so grateful for this donation.”

Judith Green, agent at NFU Mutual Sturminster Agency, said: “We are extremely proud to have nominated Home-Start Blackmore Vale for this

donation and are delighted to be able to support the vital contribution they make to our community.

“NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund was first created in 2020 in response to the pandemic, and this ongoing support is helping to change

Home-Start Blackmore Vale office manager Chelsey Gowan received a cheque for £6,000 from Judith Green, agent at NFU Mutual

lives, providing both emergency support and building long-term resilience.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for Home-Start Blackmore Vale should email the office at office@ homestartblackmorevale.org.uk or phone 01258 473038.

Sturminster Agency

The Importance of Farm Budgeting: Cultivating Financial Success

Budgeting plays a pivotal role in rural business, enabling farmers and landowners to manage their resources effectively and make informed financial decisions. It serves as a roadmap, helping to navigate the complexities of production costs, revenue generation, and future investments. Chris Powell delves into the significance of budgeting and its impact on achieving financial success.

1. Managing Production Costs: Farming involves a huge variety of expenses, such as seeds, fertilizers, equipment, maintenance, and labour costs. Budgeting enables farmers to allocate their resources efficiently, identifying areas where cost reductions can be made without compromising productivity and efficiencies. By carefully tracking expenses, farmers can identify inefficiencies, streamline operations, and optimize their production processes.

2. Revenue Generation and Profitability: Budgeting facilitates revenue projections and helps anticipate potential income sources from crop/ livestock sales, property lets or diversification projects. It provides realistic sales goals, assesses pricing strategies, and identifies further diversification or expansion opportunities. This leads to informed decisions about investments, loans, and marketing efforts to maximize profitability.

3. Financial Stability and Risk Management: Farming is

inherently susceptible to market fluctuations, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances. Effective budgeting empowers farmers to plan for contingencies, build emergency funds, and mitigate risks. By accounting for potential risks, such as crop failure or price volatility, businesses can develop risk management strategies and secure their financial stability in the long run.

4. Decision-Making and Future Planning: Budgeting serves as a framework for informed decision-making and future planning. It helps evaluate the viability of new projects, assess the impact of adopting new technologies, and identify opportunities for growth and diversification. By having a clear financial

picture, businesses can align their operational goals with their financial capabilities, ensuring sustainable development.

In the dynamic world of agriculture, budgeting is vital for achieving financial success. By effectively managing production costs, generating revenue, mitigating risks, and making informed decisions, businesses can cultivate financial stability, optimize resources, maximise opportunities and thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

Chris Powell.

Chris Powell. Rural Partner, Symonds & Sampson, Devizes 01380 710535.

TOPPING AND HAULAGE

All types of fencing Tel: 01747 855198

FLAIL MOWING.

Paddocks, rides, scrub, brambles. 01747 870704 or 07786 261967

PORTER CABIN. 12ft x 8ft. Water tight. No longer needed. Free to collect. 01963 458199

8 JACOB BREEDING EWES for sale. 07949 273364

CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE, old, unwanted caravans, cars, trailers, vans etc. Garden machinery, tractors, scrap metal. Yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, dismantling and gas cutting service. Please call 01935 873169 or 07368 380477

Mob: 07966 244536

Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry

Pneumatic fittings

Air brake fittings

Hose clamps

Hydraulic Hoses

Quick release couplings Pressure wash hoses + lances

Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked Variation of oils

Mobile service available

We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. We won’t be beaten on price.

Call us on 01749 813957 or 07971 012628 or find us at www.southwesttyreservices.co.uk

WELSH SecA 12.2hh grey leadrein pony, gelding 14yrs looking for forever home. Experienced homes only £1,200ono Tel 07792 278568

QUALITY HAYLAGE and hay available in 3ft, 4ft, 6ft square bales. From £25 per bale collected. Delivery available. Call Mark 07860 759996 or 01300 345293

Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk

Scrap

Weighbridge

TOP PRICES PAID

Skips/HAIB lorry available for onsite collection

Tel 01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243

Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF

RECYCLED CRUSHED CONCRETE and tarmac road planings. Delivery possible, Large quantities available. 07971 988443

TYRES AROUND LTD

Mobile Service

Agricultural Specialist

Over 35 year’s Experience

NIGEL MARTIN 07921 929891

EVERY WEDNESDAY

SALE OF FAT CATTLE, CULL COWS. DAIRY CATTLE & CALVES PRIME, CULL AND STORE SHEEP.

FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS – WEDNESDAY 9th AUGUST

FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF REARED CALVES – WEDNESDAY 16th AUGUST

EVERY FRIDAY – SALE OF STORE CATTLE

MONTHLY SALE OF TB RESTRICED CATTLE MONDAY 14th AUGUST

LICENSES MUST BE OBTAINED ONE WEEK BEFORE SALE

SALE OF BREEDING & STORE SHEEP WEDNESDAY 23rd AUGUST FOR

Public Auction Dispersal - for S Day of approx 700 lots

GATORS, GARDEN RECLAMATION, PLANTS, STONEWARE, FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT

Inc: Large Stone Figures, Assorted Clay, Stone & Plastic Pots, Qty Staddle Stones, Stone Pagoda, 3x Marble Domestic Baths & Wash Basins, Stone & Cement Urns/Pots, Sun Dials, Metal Garden Arches, Cast Iron Pillars & Lattice Work, Wire Deer Ornaments, Vintage & Garden Wheel Barrows, Fibreglass Columns, Garden Furniture & Benches, Tree Benches, Oak Stumps, Mature Plants in Tubs inc Olive, Palm, Variegated Holly & Box, Gravel, Pebbles, General Builders Stone, Pillar Caps, Capping & Corners, Kerbing, Pan & Stone Roof Tiles, Stone & Bricks, Patio & Paving Slabs, Plastic Outdoor Flooring Tiles, Dowdeswell Rotavator, Dowdeswell Road Brush, Snow

Plough & Charterhouse PTO Lawn Spiker for compact tractor, Digger Buckets, Dump

Skips, Side Shift Forklift Headstock, IPC Tanks, Plastic Fuel Tanks, Stone Cutting & Vintage Saws, 450kv Transformer, Large Engine, Scorpion & General Generators, Law

Mowers & Chain Saws, Horse Trap, Outdoor/Indoor Portable Stage, Wooden & Metal Beams, Timber, Lamp Post, S/S Slide, Landrover Back. NB: Lots not subject to VAT.

AT BRAESIDE FARM, NUNNEY CATCH, FROME, BA11 4NX

SATURDAY 12th AUGUST 2023

Commencing 10.30am. Viewing 9-5 Fri 11th & Morning of Sale from 9am

FORTHCOMING DATES - Catalogues online or tel 01373 831010 (3):

Tues 12th Sept – Farm Machinery near Warminster

Thurs 21st Sept – Collective Machinery, Frome Market – Entries Invited

FARMS & LAND For free Marketing Advice contact Martin Hemmett 01373

455060, Ross Whitcombe 01458 834288 or Hannah Pole 01761 411010

FARM & RURAL FINANCE Contact your regional agents:

Chris Eden 01373 831010, Tori Osborne 01934 740055, Nick Oliver 01458 834288 www.cooperandtanner.co.uk/forthcoming-sales

Farming

JDG Structural Steel Ltd

Steel frame buildings for agricultural, industrial and equestrian enterprises

Pre-cast concrete wallings panels supplied and erected

Roller shutter doors supplied and fitted

All steel frames are designed, fabricated & erected to conform to current CE markings

Tel: 01747 811711

Mob: 07860 570258

Email: johnguttridge@aol.com

Email: Info@jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk.

www.jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

ON-SITE DISPERSAL AUCTIONS

Saturday 5th August at 10.00am

Rylands Farm, Boys Hill, Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5PS

Charity Auction of Classic and Vintage Tractors, Farm Machinery, Workshop Items, Bygones and Miscellaneous.

Entries to date include: Nissan Juke, Massey Ferguson 135 with Cab, Ferguson TEF20, 3 x Fordson Super Majors, International 444, International B275, Leyland 272, Land Rover Series 3, Various Ploughs, Cultivators, Cambridge Rollers, Parmiter Post Driver, 16ft Chain Harrows, Fosters 6’ Topper, Various Tipping Trailers & Bale Trailers, Transport Box, Dung Fork, Drum Mower, Lely Hayturner, John Deere Conventional Baler, Bomford Offset Topper, McConnel Hyreach Hedgetrimmer, 4cyl Diesel Engine, 4 Wheel Horse Drawn Cart, Horse Drawn Trap Cart, Chicken House, Ferguson, Fordson and International Tractor Spares, Ride On Lawn Mowers, Workshop Tools, Galvanised Tanks, Cast Iron Fireplaces, 12ft x 6ft Deer Gates, 10’ x 8’ Garden Shed, Quantity of Timber, Fencing Stakes, Bental Corn Mill, Riveted Troughs, Belle Cement Mixer, Karcher Steam Cleaner, etc. In all some 350-400 Lots expected. No online bidding.

Saturday 19th August at 10.30am Land at Bedchester, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0JR

Dispersal of Land Rovers, Tractors, Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment and Miscellaneous.

Including: Land Rover 90 with Tipping Back, 2 x Land Rover Discovery TD5, Land Rover Series 3, Leyland 253, Ferguson TEA20, Cushman 2166 Mule, Torro Mule with Tipping Body, Wrigley Motor Truck, Homemade Garden Tractor, Ransomes Crawler, Aveling-Barford Road Roller, Ifor Williams 16’ Tilt Bed, 16’ Flat Bed and Box Trailers, Wessex Livestock Trailer, Kidd 6’ Topper, Fleming 8’ Offset Topper, Mowers, Cultivators, Chain Harrows, Saw Bench, 15kva PTO Generator, IAE Cattle Hurdles, Race Gate, Dehornign Crate, Water Troughs, Field and Yard Gates, 10’ Shipping Container, 2 x Fuel Stations, Workshop Tools, Strimmers, Chainsaws, etc. In all some 600 lots.

Online bidding through www.symondsandsampson.co.uk

Tuesday 22nd August at 5.30pm

Goathill Farm, Goathill, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5JD

Dispersal of Valtra N121 Loader Tractor, Farm Machinery and Livestock Equipment

Including: Valtra N121 with Quicke Q65 Loader, Browns 4m Aerator, Fleming 8’ Lead Roller, Norton 10t Trailer, Bale Trailer, AG150 Sawdust Dispenser, Bucket, Shear Grab, 30kva PTO Generator, Deucinox Pasteuriser 120ltr, SCR Heatime System, 12 x Calf Group Hutches with Pens, Wydale Creep Feeders, Hay Racks & Feeders, Ironworks Sheep Turnover Crate, CCTV system, Calving Gate, Parlour Fan & Mats, etc.

Introduced items: Major 2600gln Vacuum Tanker, Redrock 2500gln Vacuum Tanker, Kverneland LD85 5f Rev Plough, etc. Further entries welcome.

Yeovil | 01935 382909

Thornicombe, Dorset Guide £800,000

A level and gently south facing block of loam overlying chalk arable land. Situated in a very tranquil location with access over a long track the land boasts far-reaching views and offers great Natural Capital potential. 106.97 ac (43.29 ha) in total.

Andrew Tuffin | 01258 472244

Winterborne Kingston, Dorset Rent £10,000 pa

A converted traditional building providing 115.13 sq m office/ workshop accommodation, situated on the outskirts of the village.

Rupert Williams | 01202 843190

Marston Magna, Somerset

A block of predominantly arable land offered on a 3.5yr Farm Business Tenancy. Available as a whole or up to 5 lots by Informal Tender, 12 noon on Thursday 31st August 2023. 177.78 ac (71.94 ha) in total.

Greg Ridout | 07817 517467

symondsandsampson.co.uk

92% success rate Average 24% above guide

PROPERTY AUCTIONS

Lots in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxford, and Shropshire.

Entries welcomed for our monthly autumn auctions:

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Mark Lewis FRICS Senior Partner and Auctioneer

Graham Barton MRICS Auctioneer

Alice Wood BA Hons Auction Admin

Morgan Clement MRICS Surveyor

Meredith Holmes MNAEA MNAVA Head of Auctions

Meredith Holmes 01202 843190

Graham Barton 01297 33122

Mark Lewis 01258 473766

£600,000 Wincanton

£500,000 Bourton

Charming attached period cottage of immense charm and character with generous off road parking and wonderful garden. Light and airy sitting room, dining room with wood burner, country kitchen with Aga, utility room, downstairs shower room, three bedrooms, family bathroom, summer house and modern office/studio. EPC Rating: E. Freehold.

Thinking of moving?

£157,500 Wincanton

Individual one bedroom house tucked away within a short walk of amenities. Open plan living room/kitchen, bedroom, en-suite shower room, small private courtyard and allocated parking. EPC Rating: E. Leasehold 994 years.

BRUTON £225,000

NEW INSTRUCTION

Due to recent sales success we require more properties to meet the demand from buyers looking for a home in Wincanton, Bruton, Mere, Stalbridge, Milborne Port and the surrounding villages. If you are considering bringing your property to the market we would be delighted to provide you with a free market assessment and valuation.

NEW INSTRUCTION

£235,000

Please call 01963 34000 to arrange an appointment or email wincanton@hambledon.net

and en-suite. Spacious lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, private garden, garage and no forward chain. EPC Rating: C.

£105,000 to £190,000

WINCANTON £145,000

JUST RELEASED – An exciting development of newly converted apartments forming part of a handsome period building situated in the heart of Wincanton. There will be a total of fifteen apartments with the first nine now released. A wonderful opportunity to reserve one of these delightful homes. Predicted EPC: C Leasehold.

An attractive two bedroom mid terrace house situated in a small close on a mature development. Spacious sitting room, kitchen/diner, bathroom, easy to maintain garden, allocated parking, ideal investment or first time buy. EPC Rating: C.

WINCANTON 01963 34000

Shaftesbury 01747 851151

WINCANTON £226,500

Attractive two bedroom semi-detached Grade II Listed period cottage situated close to countryside walks. Stunning living room with feature arched window, en-suites to both bedrooms, cloakroom, charm and character. EPC Rating: D. Freehold.

An exceptionally well presented three bedroom semi-detached house with stunning far reaching views over Wincanton and countryside beyond. Sitting room, stylish fitted kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, cloakroom, driveway and garage alongside property,

£450,000

WINCANTON £179,950

A spacious two bedroom semi-detached house situated on a popular residential development. The property is presented in excellent order and enjoys the benefit of a car port, long driveway, enclosed garden, sitting room, fitted kitchen, conservatory and potential to extend (STPP). EPC Rating: D.

Individual brand new three bedroom detached house offering living accommodation in excess of 1500 sqft. Large hallway leading to a light and airy living room looking onto the garden, stylish kitchen/diner with integrated appliances, utility room, study, cloakroom, en-suite, bathroom, off road parking and countryside views. EPC Rating: TBC. Freehold.

HAMLET LETTINGS

01963 34006

Wincanton

Gillingham

Gillingham

House prices fell by highest rate in 14 years: Figures

HOUSE prices fell by 3.8 percent in July, according to a new report.

The drop, reported by Nationwide, means prices fell at the fastest rate in more than a decade.

The lender said the drop was the biggest decline since July 2009 and that it was the result of mortgage interest rates remaining high, making affordability a challenge for buyers.

The figures showed the average price of a home in the UK stood at £260,828.

Chief economist at Nationwide, Robert Gardner, said first-time buyers on an average wage, who had saved a 20% deposit, would see mortgage payments account for 43% of their take home pay, based on a mortgage rate of 6 percent.

He said while the housing market had been subdued in

recent months, the ‘vast majority’ of homeowners should be able to afford higher payments.

“In particular, unemployment is expected to remain low (below 5%), and the vast majority of existing borrowers should be able to weather the impact of higher borrowing costs, given the high proportion on fixed rates, and where affordability testing should ensure that those needing to refinance can afford the higher payments,” he said.

PROPERTY TO LET

1 DOUBLE BED 18ct cottage to rent. £760pcm. Shower. 1/4 acre sunny garden. Parking. Melbury Abbas. 07791 674305

PROPERTY TO LET

INDUSTRIAL UNITS to let, ranging from Small to Large, available at Gibbs Marsh Trading Estate, Stalbridge, DT10 2RX.Contact: 07768 993222

SOUTH CHERITON

Asking price £750,000 Agricultural tied dwelling in South Cheriton comprising five bedroomed chalet style bungalow set in fifteen acres with an outbuilding. EPC D Please call Morton New on 01747 824547 for more information

UNIT TO RENT - Opportunity at Gold

Hill Organic Farm

The unit is fitted with food standard wall coverings, three washing up sinks and stainless steel tables.

Main area is 22ft x 9ft (7m x 3m), has an enclosed built in lean-to with 9ft x 9ft (3m x 3m) storage area for dried goods, freezers etc.

Ideally we are looking for a bread/condiment/patisserie enterprise to sell produce to our farm shop/cafe. Rent £300/month

www.goldhillorganicfarm.com

SELF-CONTAINED ACCOMODATION on quiet farm near Yeovil 01935 891817

ROOM TO LET in Mere. Single/Double. Contact: 01747 861312

WORKSHOP/OFFICE, SMALL INDUSTRIAL UNIT TO LET. 24hr access, 340+ sqft, well lit, please ring for further details - 07811 551161

SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR SALE

Tel: 01258 472288. Mob: 07977 936109

New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks

1 BEDROOM SELF-CONTAINED ANNEXE, 2 miles from Blandford. Ample private parking References required. 07816 291103