The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

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Pictures courtesy of Phil Cutler Photography and Gillingham Carnival.

Gillingham Carnival…

Pictures courtesy of Phil Cutler Photography and Gillingham Carnival.

Shaftesbury celebrates!

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE lined the streets for Shaftesbury Carnival, showcasing the pinnacle of creativity, engineering and the incredible work undertaken by dedicated volunteers.

Chairman Rich Mullins said: “What a comeback for carnival! After a two-year sabbatical because of the pandemic, the people of Shaftesbury turned out in their thousands to support the town and carnival.

“We closed the high street all day for the first time – inviting people to shop local and experience wonderful live music, dance and aerial performances, and our three processions from the afternoon onwards really showcased what carnival is all about.

“We had one of our best ever turn-outs, with the band parade a highlight for so many.

“The processions were packed full of local and Wessex entries – the day was a joy from start to finish. With 2022 being the first carnival without long-standing chairman Ray Humphries, we hope we did him proud.

“Thanks to the generosity of the crowds, we raised a fantastic £3,140 over carnival day, which will be split between Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury Town Band, BOOBs of Shaftesbury, CarLink and Fontmell Under 5s.”

The committee wishes to thank every person that attended, gave and supported the carnival and look forward to doing it all again on Saturday 30 September 2023.

ELMS under threat

THE GOVERNMENT HAS moved to reassure farmers after claims it is set to scrap schemes designed to protect the environment.

Among the initiatives said to be under threat is the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), which was set to pay farmers for sustainable practices, as well as creating wildlife habitats.

The news comes as the government moves to end EU legislation and set up new ‘investment zones’, which wildlife groups and former ministers fear could see environmental pledges scrapped.

But a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “The environment, farming and economic growth go hand-in-hand and we want to support our farmers to produce high-quality food and enhance our natural environment.

“We are not scrapping our farming reforms, including the Environmental Land Management schemes.

NFU President and Salisbury resident, Minette Batters, said the organisation backed the review of policies.

“We’re pleased the government is reviewing the framework to help ensure farm businesses are supported through the current economic challenges and can make progressive decisions to boost growth and farming’s contribution to the nation,” she said.

The ELMS scheme took some six years to create, with many farmers signing up to pilot schemes to be eligible for funds and have been left questioning what the future of the initiative will be.

Cash and booze taken in Puddletown Rugby Club burglary

CASH, A BOTTLE of booze and a pipe were taken during a break-in at a Dorset rugby club.

Police are appealing for information after three people entered the clubhouse and changing rooms of Puddletown RFC, in Piddlehinton. The incident happened some time between 2.25am and 3am on Monday, 26 September.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said other damage was also caused at the clubhouse and changing rooms.

“A quantity of cash was stolen, as well as a bottle of alcohol,” they said.

“Damage was caused to the buildings and a pipe was removed, which caused flooding.”

PC Mia-Isabella Bowditch added: “This burglary has had a significant impact on a local business and we are doing all we can to identify those responsible.

“I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity around the relevant time to please come forward.

“I would also like to speak to anyone who may have any CCTV footage to help our enquiries.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Dorset Police via the website at www.dorset.police.uk/ contact or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55220157224.

Inclusion hubs for SEND children

An extra 228 school places for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) could be created after multi-million pound investment approved The plan prioritises the programme of projects at existing special schools and setting up inclusion hubs at mainstream schools.

Inclusion Hubs will support children with SEND so they can access education in mainstream schools, with newly designed hubs at the heart of schools for children to access specialist support.

The Inclusion Hubs will grow to deliver more than 100 places over the next five years, according to Councillor Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for children, education and early help.

“We have developed these ambitious plans to create more specialist provision and we want all our children and young people to have the best possible chance to learn in a setting that is suited to their needs,” he added.

“Currently some children and young people with SEND must travel a great distance for educational provision, sometimes far from home. This is because there’s not enough specialist provision available in Dorset.

“We aim to build on the capabilities of our mainstream schools to support more children and young people with SEND, which will ensure more children can attend a local school and receive their education locally.”

Independent provision is more expensive than the provision Dorset Council can provide at one of its own special schools, so the SEND Capital Strategy also aims to reduce these costs in the longer term by increasing local provision.

Fake discountenergy texts alert

Criminals are sending text messages purporting to be from

UK government about

bill discounts.

If you receive a message stating you are owed or eligible for an energy bill discount as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme, do not reply or click on any of the links contained within it.

The links lead to genuinelooking websites that are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

You do not need to apply for the Energy Bill Support Scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.

If you receive a suspicious text message forward it to 7726 (it’s free of charge). If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it’s found to be malicious. www.cyberaware.gov.uk

Pumpkin patch opens

Dorset Country Pumpkins near Blandford opens for business tomorrow (Saturday 15 October) and again on Sunday in the run-up to Halloween.

The opening weekend at Longclose Farm in Milton Abbas will also include a craft fair, a display of modern and vintage tractors, a farm animal area and refreshment vendors.

The pumpkins have been grown from seed in the greenhouse and planted in the pumpkin patch without the use of herbicides or pesticides. A mix of varieties has produced different-sized orange and white pumpkins.

After the opening weekend Dorset Country Pumpkins is open from Saturday October 22 to Sunday October 30.

No booking is required and parking and entry is free. Pumpkins are priced according to size.

Musical meet-ups

A new group for musicians of all ages, abilities and styles is planning to meet monthly in Melbury Abbas village hall…

Shaftesbury and its surrounds is home many musicians, but although there several specific groups and clubs in the area, there’s nowhere for musicians and singers to meet informally – until now!

A new group is planning to meet monthly at Melbury Abbas village hall, to enable people of all ages, abilities and styles to get together over tea and cake. You’ll be able to exchange ideas and skills, learn about different styles, even practise together in an informal setting.

The emphasis is firmly placed on common interest rather than any specific type of music, avoiding the kind of atmosphere some people find difficult. It will be a welcoming setting for people who want to enjoy the company of others with a common interest, to learn from one another and to listen or play.

The first meeting is at Melbury Abbas village hall on Sunday 23 October between 2-5pm. It will be a ‘get to know you’ event. So come and bring your instrument – or don’t, it’s up to you.

For more details or chat, call Lesley on 07926 625108.

Blackmore Vale’s spookiest spots

The spookiest time of the year is nearly here, so what better time to contemplate the Blackmore Vale’s creepiest places – where grey ladies and ghostly hounds roam, and mysterious mists and unexplainable events occur. We can’t claim to have listed them all – but here are a few tales to chill the blood…

by Faith Eckersall

Folke Church

A funny thing is said to have happened when they started building Folke church in Broke Wood. It was claimed that each night, the work was disturbed, with materials and building stones being moved to another location – where the church stands now. Who was the culprit? Some claim it was the fairies, others say it was Old Nick himself, attempting to prevent the building of the church that now stands proudly in the village. There is a similar legend about Lewcombe Church, too.

notorious and corrupt former steward of Eastbury House – he flogged off parts of the building for cash before shooting himself when the owner returned – and the legend started to build.

Allegations of nocturnal horror were bandied about, and stories began to emerge of Doggett’s ghost loitering near the house’s gates, awaiting a phantom carriage and horsemen, who return him to the house to re-enact his suicide.

Following the discovery of the body in the church, it was reported as being dealt with in ‘the accepted way’ and the Tarrant Gunville Vampire was (allegedly) no more.

possessed a hoard of gold. His ghost is claimed to appear on the location of the staircase where he was killed.

Tarrant Gunville

In 1845, workmen involved in the demolition and re-building of Tarrant Gunville church were shocked to discover that a body buried many decades before had barely decomposed. Creepier still, it had a healthy complexion and was also said to have two sharp, ‘vampire’ teeth… Add to this the fact that the cadaver was believed to be of William Doggett, the

Blandford Forum

As befits such an historic town, Blandford Forum is positively packed with phantoms.

A Woman in White supposedly haunts the town’s Barracks (she was alleged to be a nurse who had been raped and killed in the area), whereas a Lady in Black and a highwayman shot dead in a robbery in its courtyard are said to haunt the Crown Hotel.

There is also a ghost rumoured to haunt the Bridge over the River Stour, near The Crown, as well as a phantom dog.

Pimperne

For a small place, Pimperne certainly packs a spooky punch. The road between the village and Letton Hill is said to be haunted by a phantom hound, who runs by, accompanied by the sound of dragging chains. Meanwhile, a ghostly hand is said to crawl around the village churchyard, searching vainly for its owner. The hand is said to have belonged to a trumpeter and poacher called Blandford, who lost the body part in a fight. Blandford’s hand was buried in Pimperne churchyard but Blandford is thought to have been buried in London.

Holford

The Plough Inn proudly proclaims that Virginia and Leonard Woolf spent part of their honeymoon, in the pub. But did they know about the ghost who is reputed to haunt the place? Affectionately known as Roberto, the cloaked apparition is said to be a Spanish merchantman who was fatally robbed by locals, who believed he

Wincanton

The highly-regarded Uncle Tom’s Cabin Pub is said to be the oldest in Wincanton and is also famous because fantasy novelist and Discworld creator, Sir Terry Pratchett, used to enjoy a drink there. It’s also reputed to be haunted by several spirits, including one of a little girl, who is said to have appeared in a photograph, and whose giggles can be heard. The manifestation was the subject of a 2019 episode of Help! My House is Haunted

Shaftesbury

Proud home to the Grosvenor Hotel, said to be the fifth most haunted place in the UK, this historic town is a reportedly also home to a whole slew of spooks, apparitions and unexplainable phenomena.

According to reports, the Grosvenor Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of aChris Downer; Trish Steel; Ken Grainger; Mike Faherty; Mike Searle; Fernweh; Jonathan Hutchins; Chris Downer; Mike Searle

naughty child, who pulls at guests’ bedding, as well as a monk, who is alleged to have been seen in the cellar, and a Grey Lady, thought to be a former nun.

A ghostly monk is said to haunt Shaftesbury Abbey – he is said to be the guardian of a lost treasure trove, and the ghost of King Edward is rumoured to haunt the ruins at night. Meanwhile, on Gold Hill, the ghosts of two men, leading the body of Edward the Martyr on a cart, has been reported. The route is said to be the one taken by the body of the murdered King, to his burial.

Melbury Osmond

The childhood village of Thomas Hardy’s

mother, Melbury Osmond has quite a few legends associated with it. It’s been claimed that words engraved in the church imply that by simply visiting, you will enter heaven 120 days more quickly than normal, although evidence of this is hard to find. St Osmond’s church also displays a carving of Abraham’s ram, caught in a thicket, and a barn in the village is said to be haunted by a White Lady. The village was also home to the horrific-looking Dorset Ooser, a grotesque mask of a human face with horns emerging from its head, said to have been used in May Day rituals. A copy of this artefact lives in Dorset museum – the original, which was in possession of Thomas Cave of Holt Farm, mysteriously

disappeared, around 1897.

Nearby Melbury Bubb is also said to be haunted – by the ghost of Farmer Baker, who was murdered on Bubdown Hill. Legend has it that the spirit of the unfortunate victim can be seen every 10 November – the anniversary of his demise – when he appears, driving a horse and cart. Those who venture into the tiny village’s church will also find a little mystery too; the font there is carved with animals – all hanging upside down…

Sherborne

Every St Michael’s Eve, on 28 September, the tragic ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh is said to appear at Sherborne Castle and wander the grounds. Other apparitions in the area include a ghostly child as well as hunting horses.

If you need somebody to rely on in later years, perhaps to take over making decisions on your behalf, that person will need your formal written authority.

This authority is given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney Lasting Powers of Attorney are documents that, when registered, mean you have given another person legal power to deal with financial decisions for you, or medical and welfare decisions.

At Winterborne Legal Services we can help you to put suitable protection in place in your Lasting Power of Attorney, so that you can be comfortable giving power to your children.

Making a Lasting Power of Attorney can be a big leap of faith for you, if you have any questions we are ready to help.

Please call us on 07860 772274 or email

Charity car wash brings in the cash

STAFF AND RESIDENTS at Trinity Manor care home in Sherborne and the town’s firefighters have come together to raise hundreds of pounds for the Fire Fighters charity with a car wash.

Home services adviser Rebekah Goddard, the wife of a firefighter based at Sturminster Newton, got the home team to bake cakes and treats, and along with daughter Grace and administration manager Becky King set up a refreshments table at the fire station for customers to enjoy refreshments while they had their cars washed.

The event, not held for the last couple of years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, raised £1,128.92 in donations.

Sherborne firefighters and Trinity Manor care would like to

Go Alice!

CHARITY WORKER ALICE Chapman, who could be seen training in the Shillingstone area in the run-up to the London Marathon, completed the event in 4 hours 15 minutes.

Alice, who would like to thank her sponsors, has so far raised £1,900 for Armed Forces charity the SSAFA, which has provided practical, emotional and financial support to services personnel and their families since 1885.

Alice would appreciate any donations wellwishers can make to support SSAFA – contributions are welcome up to a month after the marathon. To sponsor her visit tcslondonmarathon. enthuse.com/pf/ alice-chapman-90408

She is holding a jumble sale with tea, coffee and cake on Sunday 30 October from 11am-1pm at Durweston village hall.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney, and do you need one?

DIVORCE AND CHILD CUSTODY – AGREEING A RELOCATION FOLLOWING A DIVORCE

Advertisement Darren Francis, Associate Solicitor

Sometimes, usually when a relationship breaks down, the parent with day-to-day care of their children may wish to relocate, either to another part of the United Kingdom (UK) or to another country.

Written Agreements and Mediation Supportare a Sensible Starting Point

Any proposed move needs to be carefully thought out by the parent choosing to relocate. It is always advisable to try and obtain the written agreement of the other parent fi rst, if possible, and to iron out the fi ner details of any proposals.

Whether you or your ex-partner are planning a relocation, any proposals must be reasonable and consider a wide range of factors such as location, schooling, fi nancial arrangements, and agreeing time with each parent.

In certain cases, where the child is considered old enough to express their feelings, these can also be taken into account.

If you are on speaking terms with your ex-partner, then matters can be agreed between you, but should be carefully documented. If you feel that you may need help or guidance to reach an agreement, then Family Mediation is a sensible fi rst step.

Child Arrangements Orders can provide Certainty and Finality

However, if matters become acrimonious or complex, then either parent is entitled to make an application to the Court to try and achieve certainty and fi nality.

If you have already been involved with Court proceedings on this issue, then the Court may have made a Child Arrangements Order to dictate living arrangements or, if a child is going to another country, a Specific Issue Order to allow legal removal.

How Professional Legal Advice can help It is always sensible to get legal advice at the outset as what may appear straightforward may not be possible and removing a child permanently from the jurisdiction of England and Wales, without the other parent’s consent, is a criminal offence.

Seeking legal advice from a solicitor can make all the difference by empowering you to make informed decisions, as well as giving you peace of mind on your rights and what costs may be involved.

If you have any questions concerning arrangements for children upon separation, please contact us to discuss matters with one of our family experts.

We have offices in Bournemouth, Cranborne Chase, Crewkerne, Dorchester, Parkstone, Poole, Swanage and Wareham.

Applications now open for Dorchester Market Car Boot Fund

THE DORCHESTER MARKET Car Boot Fund is open for applications from community and voluntary organisations.

generated by weekly car boot sales held in the town will be distributed to local community and voluntary organisations to benefit projects operating within or supporting residents living in the area.

The 2022/23 car boot fund is now open and will close at midnight on Saturday, 12 November. Decisions will be made at the end of November and groups will be notified before the Christmas break. In 2020, over £13,000 was handed out from the fund, which is jointly run by Dorset Council and Dorchester Town Council.

Among the organisations who received funding were Bradford Peverell Village Hall, which received £1,000 towards the replacement of its roof, and Homestart West Dorset, which received £1,500 towards its running costs.

Councillor Molly Rennie, chair of the Dorchester Market Car Boot Grant Panel, said: “It was wonderful to award over £13,000 to these local organisations. We recognise the hard work that they do to make lives better for others.”

An application form and additional guidance can be found on the Dorset Council website at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

Hard copies of the application form can be collected from Dorchester Town Council at 19 North Square. For more information and guidance contact Fiona Thomas on 01305 838459, or email communities@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

St Michael the Archangel, Mere

LIFE AT ST MICHAEL the Archangel, Mere, is continuing, the lack of a vicar not stopping the congregation from worshipping, growing and putting on activities. Two new churchwardens, Elizabeth Howden and Richard Wilson, have been legally appointed.

A baby and toddler group has started in the Grove building on Tuesday, 9.30-11am. Toys have been acquired and coffee machines purchased!

Every two to three weeks a churchwarden and parishioners are visiting a local church to chat, share stories and be inspired by each other. Anyone who would like to can sign up. So far visits have included Queen Camel, Sturminster Newton, Wilton and Wells.

The church hosted the Great Mere Bake Off in the summer with the judges coming from the

Lavender Blue Bakery in Gillingham and Angel Lane Tea Rooms in Mere. Ellie Portnell was Mere’s Star Baker with an Eton Mess inspired sponge.

A Quiet Day was held at the end of August at Hilfield Friary, near Dorchester, during which members spent a peaceful day in thought and prayer.

Townsfolk have been asked to donate blankets to help people who may struggle in cold homes this winter. It is hoped to start handing them out in October and November. Anyone who would like a blanket should phone Elizabeth on 863424.

Anyone who would like to go along to the church on Sunday at 8am or 10.30am would be made welcome. The services offer an opportunity to be with others, pray, sing and reflect, and chat afterwards while having a cup of coffee (10.30am service).

Donate your jewellery and raise funds for a good cause

UNWANTED AND BROKEN jewellery and watches are still wanted to help raise money for the Breast Cancer Unit appeal at Yeovil Hospital.

More than £100,000 has been raised in this way out of the £2,203,667 already coined in towards the £2.5 million target.

If you’d like to donate call Maggie on 01963 250108.

Family Law Advice

Family Law Advice

We realise talking about divorce or separation is very personal and so we are offering virtual appointments by Zoom. As an alternative, we offer a one off FREE telephone appointment for initial advice on Wednesdays 9am – 1pm

We realise talking about divorce or separation is very personal and so we are offering appointments at our offices. For new clients seeking initial advice a FREE appointment can be booked on Wednesdays 9am – 1pm.

book an appointment please call us on 01747 852377

To book an appointment please call us on 01747 852377

The Dolphin facelift plans

Pub group hopes to give listed building a bit of TLC, including new signage, a lick of paint and improvements to its outside space

PLANS TO REFURBISH a town centre Blandford pub have been submitted.

Bidwells, on behalf of the Stonegate pub group, has applied to Dorset Council for permission to overhaul the Dolphin, in East Street.

The scheme would see new flagstones and an external television installed in the courtyard, new external signage and repainting on the outside of the Listed building, as well as the refurbishment of the toilets and redecoration inside.

“The proposals essentially involve modest alterations and general refurbishment and redecoration of the interior and exterior of these existing public house premises as part of the applicant’s refreshment and enhancement of these premises,” the application said.

It says the refurbishment of the pub is required to continue to attract customers.

“During the continuing difficult

economic climate, the application site has suffered from lost revenue and the proposals have been designed as a key element of the applicant’s investment into improving customer facilities at these premises,” it goes on.

“It is important that the site enhances, updates and improves upon its customer offer and attraction, otherwise the site could continue to suffer serious detrimental effects on the ability to attract customers, thereby subsequently further affecting sales and viability to the detriment of the continued economic viability of the public house.”

It adds: “The importance of outdoor facilities has become only too apparent throughout the Covid pandemic and the consequential restrictions on the operation and trading of the hospitality and leisure sector.

How the front of the Dolphin, on East Street in Blandford, could look if the refurbishment plan is approved

“Whilst legal restrictions have been relaxed for now, customer demand for al fresco facilities is unlikely to dissipate in the foreseeable future, regardless of whether or not central government restrictions are ever to be reimposed.”

Council planners are now consulting on the scheme before making a decision.

For more details, and to comment on the scheme, log on to www.dorsetcouncil.gov. uk and search for application reference P/ ADV/2022/05761.

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No charges after death of rare eagle

An investigation by Dorset Police into the death of a rare white-tailed sea eagle in North Dorset will not result in criminal charges

THE PROBE, WHICH included Dorset Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), was launched after the bird was found on private land at a shooting estate in January this year.

A post-mortem revealed the bird died after consuming rodenticides, a type of pesticide regulated by the HSE.

However, Dorset Police later said the investigation ‘could not confirm if any criminal offence had been committed’.

At the time, the decision was criticised by some animal welfare groups, including the RSPB, which said it was ‘baffled’.

Since then, Dorset Police said it had carried out a review of the investigation, and again concluded there were no grounds for criminal action.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: “Following the report of the White Tailed Sea Eagle being found deceased in January 2022, the matter was initially investigated by Dorset Police alongside Natural England and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

“Following further communication with partner agencies, a review of the investigation was commenced by experienced detectives.

“As part of the reinvestigation, further lines of enquiry were identified and we engaged with the wildlife crime lead from the CPS. However, following consultation with Natural England and the HSE, the review concluded that, although there was very high levels of rodenticides in the bird, there was insufficient evidence to prove an offence of wilful poisoning by an individual.

“Therefore, in line with national guidance, the matter remains under investigation by HSE.

“Evidence from a post-mortem examination concluded the White Tailed Sea Eagle died as a result of consuming those rodenticides, which is a type of pesticide regulated by the HSE.

“Wildlife crime remains a key objective of the recently expanded Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, who will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders to investigate criminal offences and bring offenders brought to justice.”

An HSE spokesperson added: “Further to the enquires made to date, we are making enquiries to check that rodenticides are being stored, managed and used in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions and any relevant restrictions.”

Taking the plunge

Legal eagles at Dorset law firm Ellis Jones have raised thousands of pounds for a good cause

STAFF FROM ELLIS Jones have so far raised £4,611 for Dorset-based children’s hospice charity Julia’s House after jumping at Netheravon, base of not-for-profit organisation the Army Parachute Association (APA), near Salisbury.

The seven-strong Ellis Jones team included partner and head of dispute resolution Lauren Day and marketing and events manager Georgina Wright.

Legal placement student Howard Hasan, legal assistant Sandra Dakanyte and administration assistant Sam Smith also took part, alongside two friends and family members in Sian Smith, wife of Ellis Jones managing partner Nigel Smith, and Chris Holt.

Following training, they jumped from a Cessna Caravan aircraft at 13,500 feet –two miles – above the Wiltshire countryside, with freefall taking about 45 seconds at speeds of up to 120mph.

The tandem jumping team was in the safe hands of association military instructors who have had parachuting experience in some of the most challenging

environments in the world.

Team captain Georgina Wright said: “It was an exhilarating experience to do this skydive. We all had a fantastic time and the atmosphere was electric. Everyone was very nervous and excited in the build-up but all were so thrilled afterwards.

“It was so heartening that we were able to raise such a good amount for this brilliant charity. Julia’s House delivers practical and emotional support for families facing unimaginable heartbreak – the knowledge that their child may not live into adulthood.

“The charity provides frequent, flexible care for children with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and supports families in their own homes, in the community or at hospices and gives their parents a much-needed break.”

The charity’s community fundraising assistant, Alex Wilcox, said: “We are

indebted to the team from Ellis Jones and their supporters for such generosity. We rely on public donations, fundraising and legacies for 95 per cent of the money needed to run our vital service.

“Every penny counts.”

Top: Ellis Jones partner Lauren Day smiles during her skydive; Inset: The skydiving team from Ellis Jones at Netheravon (from left) Lauren Day, Chris Holt, Georgina Wright, Sandra Dakanyte, Howard Hasan, Sam Smith and Sian Smith

Crown Meadows planning proposal

Dorset Council planners are considering an application to build a temporary trailer park on an area of natural beauty next to the river Stour

by Nicci Brown

HUNDREDS DESCENDED ON a public exhibition promoting a controversial planning application to build a trailer park for Ukrainian refugees on Crown Meadows, between Blandford and Bryanston.

They were met at the entrance to the Blandford Parish Centre by members and supporters of the Bryanston Park Preservation Group, established some years ago under the banner of ‘Save Our Crown Meadows’ to fight a proposal by the then owners the Crown Estates to include housing development of the site within the North Dorset Local Plan, a proposal which was eventually rejected in 2014.

The majority of visitors to the day-long exhibition on Thursday 29 September came voicing their opposition to the new scheme put forward by the new landowners, Bryanston Estates and the Rothermere Foundation, who were represented by their

agents Savills.

Over 100 objections have been received by Dorset Council to the application, which was submitted in July this year and is now being considered by council planners. Savills said the exhibition was an opportunity to present their proposals in more detail to the local community and hear local concerns. They stressed that the change of use of the Deer Park Farm being sought was only temporary, the improved biodiversity of the site when the trailers were removed after five years, and the urgency to provide refugee accommodation.

But objectors fear what has been dubbed a ‘Trojan horse’, which in the long-term will be followed by the previously rejected housing development sought for the site, and accused the applicants of ‘cynical ploy’ and abuse of the plight of Ukrainian

refugees, one of whom is currently a guest of opposition campaign leader John Cook and his wife Lexi.

Svitlana Nazankevych said Ukrainians staying in this country needed to be somewhere they could find work, and would not want to be grouped together in an isolated community that limited their opportunity to integrate. The majority, she said, wanted to return to their own country and join other family members as soon as they could, and some already have.

Members of the Bryanston Park Preservation Group with, right, John and Lexi Cook either side of their Ukrainian guest Svitlana Nazankevych

Water, water, everywhere…?

Sara Cross of Gold Hill Organic Farm in Child Okeford told the NBVM about the challenges posed by climate change and how the farm coped with water shortages during this year’s record summer heatwave

by Brian MacReamoinn

Remember the scorching temperatures this summer? The nationwide heatwave, which saw the mercury reach over 40°C at one point, represented a threat to livelihoods as well as life. In particular, farmers across the country were affected by the unprecedented weather conditions. One Dorset farm devised its own unorthodox method of coping during the prolonged drought.

Gold Hill Organic Farm stands on 60 acres in the village of Child Okeford. The couple who manage the operation, Sara Cross and her husband Andrew, are very conscious of working in the midst of climate change and, like many others, have noticed warmer winters and fewer insects and birds around.

“For us as vegetable growers, climate change has extended the season both ends. Crops are being harvested earlier and later in the season.” A striking observation is that 15 years ago peppers finished in October but now Gold Hill is still growing them into December.

“We have tried to do our best to mitigate and offset our carbon footprint through various projects,” Sara said. They have a rainwater harvesting system and two sets of solar panels at the farm, and eight years ago they planted 12,000 trees.

“Of course,” as she pointed out, “our rainwater harvesting system only works when it rains.”

Impressive setup

In terms of storage of rainwater, the farm boasts two main12,000-litre tanks, plus two 8,000-litre tanks for collecting water from polytunnels and a 3,000-litre tank that takes rainwater from outbuilding roofs, In addition, there is a hole in the ground with a pump that can collect field run-off up to two days after rain, which gets pumped into the 12,000-litre tanks. It takes 24 hours of rain to fill the tanks, which will last a week when used to water all the polytunnels.

It’s an impressive setup and in normal times it works very efficiently. But these aren’t normal times. “We haven’t used them since May, and had to use mains water instead,” said Sara.

All hands to the pump

This summer’s extreme conditions meant transporting by tractor large amounts water in container units to the vegetable fields. An enthusiastic team of volunteers – family, friends, and customers – gathered to help

with watering and weeding.

“I am sure most local dog walkers have seen us down in the fields with our 2,000 litres of tap water carried down in tanks on the trailer, spot watering with watering cans. It’s very efficient in terms of water usage, but not in manpower!

“It’s embarrassing how low-tech we are,” admitted Sara, “but talking to our workers, who are very aware of climate change, they point out it is a very efficient way of watering without pulling resources out of rivers or streams that are already low or using sprinkler systems that waste a lot of water and also nurture weeds.”

Water loss

There’s a theory that watering in the morning or at night alleviates water loss. According to Sara, it’s marginal whether it can make a difference. “With the wind making transpiration higher, any gains have been marginal. Although there is a time restraint and fitting into the planting schedule means we end up having to water when it fits,” she said.

Watering at night, however, does have an unexpected benefit, in Sara’s eyes. She commented that it was like a kind of meditation, slowly watering in the evening as the temperature was cooling down – a relaxing, contemplative task.

She noted the various ways to alleviate

water loss. “Mulch is a good way to retain water, but if the mulch gets very dry, rain will just run off.

“It might be inefficient to use watering cans labour-wise but imagine the weeds or water loss if we used sprinklers.

“The weeds cluster around the watered plants not between the rows. We think, but aren’t certain, that a bit of weed growth can actually keep the soil moist compared to total bare earth. Also a few weeds may confuse pests like the flea-beetle, which loves this very dry weather, or cabbage

The people behind the produce

The Crosses have farming in their blood, though both originally began in livestock, not vegetables.

Andrew was born on the farm which was then a dairy, and went to Seale-Hayne Agricultural College. Helping on the well-known organic vegetable grower Charles Dowding’s farm spurred him to change direction. So, in 1987, at 24, he converted the operation from cows to organic vegetables.

Sara attended Berkshire College of Agriculture and then worked for 10 years on various livestock farms. She did two stints with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), one of which was on a small Indonesian island. No vet, no artificial inputs, no refrigeration, no machinery. Vegetables were grown on raised bed systems and everything raised ‘organically’. When she returned to the UK, she heard about Andrew using raised-bed systems, and went to work with him. And that’s how she met her husband.

Andrew and Sara Cross beside the pair of 12,000-litre tanks, part of their rainwater harvesting system at Gold Hill Organic Farm

Gold Hill was one of the first farms in the South West to gain ‘organic’ status from the Soil Association. Starting on 1 acre with 47 raised beds and one tunnel, it has expanded to 4 acres of field vegetables, 35 acres permanent pasture in a mid-tier stewardship scheme, and 20 acres woodland. There are still the same number of raised beds today (47), along with 11 tunnels.

white butterflies, which seems to be the only butterfly surviving as its food source is being kept alive.”

Another device employed is a ‘leaky pipe’ made from recycled tyres, which slowly drips water next to the plants. It can be put under Mypex woven polypropylene groundcover or mulch.

Effects of climate change

Although there is no water supply in the vegetable fields, in the past the growers could time the planting of crops with the seasonal rains because it could be guaranteed to rain at least once a week. They would water plants when they were first planted, but that was all.

The consequences of climate change are altered weather patterns, which have played havoc with land cultivation. This has affected agricultural operations both big and small. The recent summer heatwave, which lasted several weeks, also placed Gold Hill’s system under extra strain.

Sara explained the watering system they had to use this year to help establish newly planted crops… “Firstly water the lines, then plant, then immediately water again, then water again two to three days later. After that it’s up to nature. The plants were just clinging on. They looked quite shrivelled at that third watering, but the next day they looked jaunty in their rows.

But established plants also need watering too, “To try to stop a plant bolting and going to seed through panic to propagate and survive,” explained Sara.

Unfortunately, this approach didn’t work for their spinach. The sweetcorn, too, was small and only one cob, occasionally two, appeared on each stem. Sara said the team threw water over the fennel on five and three days before harvest but, on the day of harvest, 50 per cent of the crop had bolted. So, two weeks later, they watered the next batch but harvested them earlier at half the size before they bolted. The net result was disappointing: they still lost 50 per cent of their yield.

Sara conceded that at least they had got something to show for their endeavours. She sympathised with other people around the world; after all this is a global problem affecting everyone. “It must be heartbreaking in any country seriously starting to suffer from climate change, to see all that effort put into producing food just shrivel up.”

A happier note was sounded when it came to the polytunnels. Most of the vegetables thrived there, giving good yields and taste on the tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines. This year the farm’s squashes, beetroot, kohlrabi, and most of the tunnel vegetables have done extremely well.

Of course, different crops are affected

Above: A family affair – the Crosses

watering lines before planting; Right:

differently by exceptional heat. During the worst days of the heatwave, it was too hot even for the peppers and tomatoes. Peppers on every plant went soft and wrinkly and the ones facing the sun at the end of the tunnel were scorched dry. “I’ve never seen anything like it!” exclaimed Sara.

“Also, most of the cabbage family, kales, spring greens, and broccoli have much tougher leaves this year.”

There have been some benefits, she did say, in that sunshine will always produce sweeter tasting plants.

Future plans

Climate change will continue to exert influence on growing vegetables. “It is unpredictable – either we are having too much rain or too little rain so the best type is mixed farming,” Sara said. “We are lucky we are on a small scale, a very mixed enterprise which makes it more manageable.”

As to the immediate future, she confirmed they are making plans to install water storage down by the vegetable field so they won’t have to take water containers down on the tractor again.

Gold

The return of Verve

Verve held its third wellness festival on Saturday 17 September, in the beautiful grounds of Hatch House, Tisbury by Katrina Ffiske

THERE WAS A buzz of energy and happiness throughout this glorious sunny day. Everyone was incredibly relaxed, wandering around, sitting on hay bales, listening to live music, and meeting and chatting with like-minded people.

There was a programme of yoga, fitness classes, meditation workshops, nature walks, talks, pop-ups and live music. Extra classes included gong baths, breathwork and Vinyasa flow, and African dance.

Those who wanted to shop were treated to stalls from Bramley (bath and products created locally near Hatch House), Ebo (skincare and well-being products), Angie B (yoga mats and bolsters), NEST (a private early-years consultancy), and Glow Yoga Studios. Lifestyle medicine physicians Dr Helen Pickup and Dr Toby Williams were on hand to offer individually tailored programmes to achieve health

goals or needs.

Throughout the day there were talks including statistician Nic Marks on happiness and Belinda Kirk on the connection between adventure and wellbeing. Festival-goers wandered in and out of tents, including Harriet Combes’s The Red Tent, which had a steady flow of women popping in for informal talks on menstrual cycles and fertility issues.

There mutterings that everyone would like next year’s event to be a two-day festival, as camping is also included, it seems a pity not to stretch it out to two days.

Congratulations to Anna Hayward for organising a fantastic festival. As I left they were preparing for an evening of music with DJ sets from Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Radio 6), Will Streetwise (Shindig Festival, Ghetto Funk) and DJ Emma (BBC Radio Wiltshire, 1BTN). www.feeltheverve.com

Support in a time of change

Community support is now available in the Blackmore Vale for women who want guidance with all things menopause-related

MANY WOMEN STRUGGLE to lead a ‘normal’ lifestyle when perimenopause and menopause enters their lives, sometimes with a range of debilitating symptoms.

Monthly peer support group meetings have been set up recently at Abbey View Medical Centre in Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton Medical Centre. They meet in Shaftesbury on the second Friday of each month and Sturminster on the fourth Friday of each month, both from 5-6.30pm.

The meetings are free and friendly, open to all women, and not only offer support but also inform women about the complexities of what is happening to their bodies during

this time of change.

The aim is to provide information and guidance on how important menopause self-care is, including lifestyle, diet, exercise and sleep, as well as alternative therapies and Hormone Replacement Therapy, to reduce and control symptoms.

Group meetings are run by local menopause and wellbeing coach Rowan Chambers who, after her own turbulent years of perimenopause, re-trained as a menopause support coach under the guidance of specialists Newson Health.

Rowan, who was asked by the Blackmore Vale Partnership GP practice to become a volunteer ‘health champion’ to run menopause support groups, said: “I feel passionate about helping other women navigate their personal menopause journey. No-one should have to suffer as I did.”

Rowan suffered chronic fatigue and was unable to work for months due to severe brain fog and muscle pain and had to get specialist help. She is now seeking to give as much support and guidance to as many women as possible.

“It’s essential to get help where it is so desperately needed, because so many women are needlessly struggling, and it affects not just the woman herself but all her family and close contacts,” she added.

To mark World Menopause Day the group is holding a support meeting at Guggleton Farm Arts in Stalbridge on Tuesday 18 October at 5pm.

All enquiries to menopausehelp.dorset@ outlook.com, or look for Dorset Menopause Support on Facebook.

Above: Harriet Combes outside The Red Tent, from which she dispensed informal talks

Below: Lucy from NEST (left), and Aimee Strongman (right) from Glow Yoga Studios

Gillingham Library gets moneysaving makeover

Solar panels and LED lighting among a raft of measures that will see the library save £40,000 a year in energy bills

ECO-FRIENDLY MEASURES at Gillingham Library are saving around 13 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Dorset Council says the cuts are the result of installing solar panels and a new building management system at the Chantry Fields site.

The panels mean the building, which also houses the museum, will benefit from zero-carbon electricity, while the management system helps heating work more efficiently, the council said.

Improvements at the Gillingham facility are among a raft of energy-saving measures at libraries across the county, ranging from the use of more efficient LED lighting to advanced building management systems.

The steps form part of the council’s response to the climate emergency and are expected to save more than £40,000 a year in electricity and gas costs.

Cllr Ray Bryan, the council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: “I am delighted to see the steps taken to reduce the carbon footprint of our library service. Not only will these measures take us closer to our

net-zero goal, but they will also help protect our libraries from the rapidly rising electricity and gas prices.

“Reducing running costs will help us continue to deliver the wide range of services through our libraries that are so important to so many across Dorset. And at the same time accelerate our shift away from fossil fuels towards a cleaner future.”

With around 30 per cent of the authority’s emissions coming from its buildings, projects like this will play a vital role in helping Dorset Council reach its target of becoming a carbon-neutral council by 2040, Cllr Bryan added.

There’s a buzz in the Vale

As more of us are discovering the Zen-like joy of keeping bees, our intrepid reporter donned a bee suit to find out more about these fascinating and essential insects

by Deborah Gingell

BEES ARE PART of the life source of the human population – responsible for pollinating one third of our food.

Albert Einstein is reported to have said: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.”

Sceptics say this cannot be proved, but there seems to be an increasing buzz in the air, as more and more people are taking up the hobby of beekeeping.

Marvin Collins, a member of the Yeovil Division of the Somerset Beekeeper’s Association, confesses that his bees are something of an ‘all-consuming hobby’, although says his wife Susan calls it more of an obsession.

But after spending a delightful afternoon in his sunny cottage garden, it is clear how passionate he is about these insects.

So, with a certain amount of trepidation I donned my bee suit, tucked my trouser legs into my wellies and had my wrists gaffertaped into my Marigolds!

Walking, David Bellamy-style through the trees and into an opening in Marvin’s garden, we entered a clearing to an apiary (group of hives).

It felt like the calm before the storm, with each little wooden house containing an average of 50,000 bees. I can be a bit of a coward when a wasp comes within breathing distance of my face, but Marvin put me at my ease as he lifted the lid on one of the hives and the air was alive with the sound of buzzing!

Feeling amazingly calm, my first taste of being an apiarist instilled a new-found confidence in me. I actually felt quite brave, and I am pleased to say I survived unstung.

Public service

Marvin is often called upon to help when an unwelcome swarm of bees needs removing from places like chimneys and trees.

One of the most unusual SOS calls he’s had was from staff at Yeovil Cemetery, who were halfway through a funeral service when a swarm of bees attached themselves to the coffin.

“The pallbearers were walking down towards the burial site when the queen came and landed on the coffin and the swarm then landed,” he said.

“It was a little bit embarrassing as they had to put it down very quickly and then gave it a rather wide berth.

“They rang me up and I shot down there as quick as I could, got it sorted and took the bees off and put them into a hive.”

Raw, local and lovely

Marvin said that honey is a wonderful, natural product and the benefits of eating locally-made honey is numerous.

He said his wife used to suffer from a severe hayfever allergy, but since she started eating a spoonful of honey each day her reactions have dramatically reduced. To help with allergies, you need to consume local, raw honey to ensure the allergens native to your area are present.

Did you know that honey is renowned for its health-giving properties? Stir a spoonful into your hot tea to soothe a sore throat, or make a hot lemon drink with added honey to reduce the lifespan of a cold. Honey is a natural antiseptic – smear it on cuts and grazes to improve healing.

Unprocessed honey boasts unique flavours that are lost when industrialised. In this case, it appears buying local is better, not only for your health but because it reduces polluting carbon footprints and saves resources. Marvin supplies honey to a number of nearby retail outlets.

Helping the garden helpers

All of us can help to keep the bee population thriving by filling our gardens with native species of colourful, insectattracting plants.

Marvin and Susan have created a bee haven in their delightful garden, which is bursting with a host of plants including lavender, sedums and Japanese anemone.

Buddleia, ceanothus and lilac also rate highly in the bee attraction stakes alongside foxgloves, honeysuckle and snapdragons, not forgetting the humble dandelion, of which my own garden features heavily!

So, if your interest has been sparked and beekeeping is something you would like to learn more about, then the Yeovil Division of the Somerset Beekeepers Association will be hosting a Beginners Course from January to March 2023 with tutors Bill Patterson and John Carnegie.

This will comprise 10 weekly sessions at Queen Camel Memorial Hall followed by some taster practical visits in the Spring with some hands-on involvement as the weeks go on.

For further information, email Bill at patterson_32@sky.com or google Yeovil Division of Somerset Beekeepers Association and fill in an online form.

From top: Marvin’s bees, up close; Deborah shows off her new-found bee-wrangling skills; Marvin fires up the smoker, used to subdue the hives before inspection

Dorchester remembers

A war memorial in Dorchester has been extended to include many

Dorset Council’s Memorial Corner project, to the front of County Hall, is now complete.

And the tribute, which includes the existing War Memorial area, has been completely renovated and extended to include nine new panels in memory of frontline workers who lost their lives during the pandemic.

The project was initiated by Dorset Council Chairman, Cllr Val Pothecary, and was commissioned to improve the existing War Memorial area at County Hall and to include a special Covid memorial space.

The work includes a new and accessible paved seating area with refurbished walls, steps, and planters.

The new Covid memorial panels were designed by local Portland artist Ellie Newbury,

and the whole area was designed by council landscape architects and co-ordinated by Bridget Betts from the Environment Advice team.

The area was dedicated on Wednesday, 28 September.

“The recent Covid pandemic affected all of us in one way or another and it’s important to show our respect and give thanks to those who selflessly gave everything in the care of others,” said Cllr Pothecary.

“Memorial Corner will be a place where we can reflect and remember those that we tragically lost during that difficult time, as well as a place to remember those who bravely fought during wars and conflicts.

“The new memorial is part of a project to renovate and improve the existing War Memorial area.”

Sherborne

Poppy Appeal

Royal British Legion Sherborne is launching this year’s Poppy Appeal on Thursday 27 October outside Sherborne Abbey. The collection period will run through to Remembrance Sunday on 13 November. Any enquires should be made to Poppy Appeal organiser Andrew Norton on 07769 407130.

Dorset Steam Fair cancelled

THE GREAT DORSET Steam Fair will not take place in 2023, it has been announced.

Organisers of the event, which traditionally runs across the August Bank Holiday weekend at Tarrant Hinton, confirmed the cancellation in a statement, citing ‘significant and spiralling increases’ in costs.

The shock news comes after the 2022 event was hailed a success by organisers, with thousands turning out for the fair.

The board of directors for the event said the decision was made with ‘great sadness and disappointment’ after a ‘thorough review of the 2022 show’.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make,” they added.

“While the 2022 event has been a fantastic and resounding success, it has been mired by significant and spiralling increases in contractor and infrastructure costs and the costs associated with meeting the necessary regulatory and statutory compliance.”

They said they, like the entire event industry, were still feeling the financial effects of the

pandemic, as well as the aftermath of Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

The board added: “The likelihood is that event costs will continue to rise in 2023, compounded by the emergence of the cost of living crisis.

“While we appreciate that this will come as a surprise to many, given the success of the 2022 event, as organisers of a large scale major event we are acutely aware of the financial unknowns moving into 2023 with further cost increases likely and our regular customers, exhibitors and traders also feeling the financial squeeze.

“It is not prudent or sensible to hold the show next year and in order to safeguard and preserve the future of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, we believe this to be the right decision to enable us to continue to run a high-quality event in 2024 and beyond.”

They thanked supporters of the event and said it was set to return in 2024, running from 22-26 August.

Tickets are set to go on sale in the Autumn of next year.

A walk around… Poyntington

Gillingham solar farm plans under review

AN APPEAL OVER the refusal of plans which would see a solar farm built on more than 90 acres of countryside near Gillingham has concluded.

An application for land at Park Farm was refused by Dorset Council’s planning committee in January on the grounds it would harm the surrounding landscape and heritage assets, including the Kings Court Palace moating site and Gillingham Forest Deer Park.

However, developer Low Carbon appealed, calling for the decision to be overturned. Planning inspector Phillip Ware was called in to review the refusal of the scheme.

In closing arguments delivered at the appeal on Wednesday (5 October), Mark Westmoreland Smith, for Dorset Council, said the authority accepted the need to provide renewable energy.

However, he said the proposed scheme was not ‘appropriate’ in the setting, as prescribed in the local plan for the area, and the benefits of the scheme did not outweigh the factors cited in the refusal.

Mr Humphries, for Low Carbon, said progress in developing renewable energy sites had been slow.

“This decision is an important litmus test,” he added.

“Are we as a society serious about meeting the challenge of climate change, or is it just talk?”

He said the council’s own climate strategy said it would need around 19,000 acres of solar sites to achieve a ‘fair share’ of renewable energy, meaning the need for farms like that proposed ‘is huge’.

“Even with future improvements in solar array performance ... the number of schemes needed is just enormous ... we’ve got to be realistic about that,” he said.

The need amounts to several hundred solar farms of the size proposed, he added.

Mr Ware will now consider the arguments of both sides before releasing a decision.

Soak up the stunning scenery as you walk with r etired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

THIS IS A tiny village with some stupendous views. Park near the church, which is worth a visit. Then head eastwards along the road, pausing at the telephone kiosk to see if there are any irresistible books stacked within.

You’ll soon come to a cross roads. Cross over and continue eastwards along a lane leading uphill, which joins a bridleway leading northwards onto a strip of Access Land about a mile long and 100 yards wide. It runs along the top of the ridge of Poyntington Hill on the county boundary with Somerset, in which County Poyntington used to be. The ground appears never to have been cultivated and so, in season, should be full of interesting wild flowers.

Continue northwards enjoying the extensive views for nearly a mile until you meet another bridleway which takes you downhill to the left, westwards, to the B3145 road. Cross over and walk along the bottom of a coombe leading gently upwards to the north west

between steep banks.

On your left is a tiny stream, which is the upper end of the River Yeo.

After about half a mile you enter a large tunnel under a road. This leads you to another road on the parish/county boundary. Turn left and head uphill to the south west and you’ll soon join the road that runs over the tunnel. Continue southwards along the road for a mile, up and down hill. You’ll get a good view of the ridge you walked along earlier.

Eventually you’ll get to a cross roads where you turn left and head eastward downhill back to the village. After a raised pavement, there’s a gateway into the grounds of the village hall, which appears to be quite ancient. In another furlong you’ll be back at your car.

Mike Searle / Poyntington

Stay warm,

During the cold winter months, Care South will be welcoming new residents to stay warm, safe and cared for in its care homes. Families and friends are also welcomed to visit their loved ones to share in the Food, Fun and Friendship on offer at each care home.

Whether you’re looking for a short stay, a change of scenery to give you and your family members a break, or a new home, Care South’s care homes offer comfort, security, and peace of mind.

75 residents and is one of Care South’s homes, a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of residential and home care across the south of England.

Fern Brook Lodge care home in Gillingham

Compton Abbas airfield changes hands

Film director Guy Ritchie has bought the landmark Compton Abbas Airfield - which neighbours his Wiltshire estate

THE HUGHES FAMILY, which has owned the site near Shaftesbury for 34 years, has announced it will be taken over by the star’s Ashcombe Estates Ltd and will be formally handed over on February 1 next year.

In a letter to airfield users, Mr Ritchie assured them the transition would be as seamless as possible, with café and licenced airfield facilities remaining.

Mr Ritchie’s brewing company, Gritchie, is based at the neighbouring estate and he said ‘some of the storage and workshop activities which currently take place at Ashcombe Farm’ would move the airfield site.

There will also be ‘improvements to the buildings and infrastructure’ carried out in a ‘sympathetic manner’, with users consulted, he said.

Announcing the sale, Clive, Margaret, Emma and Laura from the

Hughes family said they ‘would like to thank each and every one of you who has visited and been a part of life at the airfield’.

“Selling the airfield has been an incredibly difficult decision to make as it has been the focus of all our lives for so long, and we are certainly going to miss everyone who made our time there so enjoyable,” they said.

“However, we feel that now is the right time to hang up our hats, and we are looking forward to seeing some

exciting developments unfold under the new owners.”

Events planned before the takeoverincluding an Aero Jumble and Christmas Fly In - will continue, they added, while events booked in for next year will also be honoured.

Meanwhile, writing personally to ‘staff, residents, aviators and the wider community’, Mr Ritchie said Ashcombe Estates would continue running the facility ‘in the spirit that has been curated by the Hughes family over their years of ownership’.

“We will continue running the airfield for both resident and guest aircraft,” he said.

“Resident aircraft can continue to rent hangar space here. We will keep the cafe and bar running so that it will remain a regional destination for families.”

He said the firm hoped to continue operating a flying school at the airfield, but would need an external provider.

“There will be a carefully managed transition period with the Hughes family to ensure that nothing is rushed,” he added.

“As discussions develop, we will keep you up to date with plans and ensure there is opportunity for regular dialogue.”

FASHIONS &LINGERIE

Care

Help us raise money

Dates for your Diary

with

Read

READ EASY, WHICH offers free, one-to-one coaching to adults who struggle to read, says possibly seven in 100 people in the UK have difficulty reading.

Team members, friends and supporters spent a day in Lidl in Shaftesbury running a ‘Raconteurs’ event in which they read out loud from their favourite books. Lots of shoppers stopped at the information pod.

Next it was on to Marnhull village hall, where the group welcomed Shaftesbury’s Mayor Piers Brown, individuals who have learned to read with the group, some of the coaches and members of the public.

Helen Slater, director of the Irlen Centre, gave an interesting talk about Irlen Syndrome. In this condition the brain

cannot cope with skills like reading graphs or copying information from books or screens. Those affected may misread words, skip words and lines, read more slowly and confuse letters and words that look similar. These symptoms can be treated by using coloured filters in glasses or contact lenses.

The final event was a fundraising fathers and sons run from Shaftesbury Library to Gillingham Library, through Kingsettle Wood, Motcombe and the fields past King John Palace to Gillingham. The four runners completed it in a little over an hour.

Holly Ridout, the group’s publicity officer, said: “We must thank the libraries for welcoming us, a great team of marshals who helped us in Motcombe, and friends,

coaches and team members who came forward to marshal for us.

“You can still sponsor the runners (pictured above) on JustGiving – go to the search page and type in ‘Runners – Andy, Rollo, Barry and Barnaby’.”

At Healthcare Homes,

believe our dedication to exceptional care

us stand out from the crowd.

Our attentive and thoughtful staff are committed to looking after your family like they would their own, catering to their every need and supporting them to enjoy later life.

Our care homes offer the highest standards of care where dignity

respected, and where talents and interests are encouraged. With a range of residential, nursing and dementia

on offer, Healthcare Homes is the ideal choice.

Book now for Christmas at Stourhead, a winter wonderland with new installations for 2022!

The National Trust’s Palladian house and garden is preparing to wow visitors for another year with the return of the glittering trail between 25 November 2022 and 1 January 2023. This family-friendly magical festive trail in Stourhead’s unique gardens will be filled with larger-than-life illuminations, all choreographed to a soundtrack of much-loved seasonal music.

Matthew Findlay, Head of UK Trails for Sony Music/Raymond Gubbay Ltd, said: “We were thrilled with the fantastic response from visitors who enjoyed the trail last Christmas and our planning and preparation for 2022 is already well underway. Look out for some new surprises this year.” Be transported into a winter wonderland in this unique landscape. Discover the iconic Christmas Cathedral created with more than a thousand pea lights woven into the forest landscape. Marvel at the ‘sea of light’, neon stars wrapping trees and stunning Super Nova. Pause to reflect at the mesmerising, flickering flames in the fire garden, enjoy the larger-than-life light installations and don’t forget to wave at Father Christmas along the way.

Independent street food vendors bring a

delicious twist with tasty treats on offer. Complete your walk under the stars with a *spiced winter warmer or *hot chocolate shared with friends and family. Everyone loves toasting a marshmallow over an open fire and the artisan *marshmallow stall gives visitors the chance to warm their hands and enjoy this sweet outdoor tradition. Christmas at Stourhead provides a special way to celebrate the festive season with an unmissable outdoor experience. The trail is designed for all ages and is accessible for all to enjoy.

Christmas at Stourhead

The after-dark illuminated trail through festive gardens from 25 November 2022 to 1 January 2023. Open from 4.30pm, last entry 8pm, closes at 10pm. Closed 28/29 Nov, 05/06/24//25 Dec. Advanced tickets from:

Adult £21.50, Child £15.00 (Age 3-16), Family £71.00 (2 adults + 2 children). Parking £8 per car, free for National Trust members when booked in advance.

christmasatstourhead.seetickets.com

ON SALE – EARLY BOOKING ADVISED CHRISTMAS AT STOURHEAD

The magical after-dark illuminated trail

Our loose Canon

Celebrating the life of an inspiring missionary and evangelist, Brother Andrew by Canon Eric Woods

Back in about 1970, as a young undergraduate, I was given a paperback copy of an autobiography entitled God’s Smuggler, by a Dutch missionary called Anne van de Bijl. Perhaps because of his Christian name – common for men in parts of the Netherlands and meaning “eagle” –he was always known in the Englishspeaking world as Brother Andrew. I found the book and, more especially, the life and work of Brother Andrew totally inspiring. He died last month, aged 94. His story is well worth the telling.

He was born in 1928 in the north of Holland, the son of a blacksmith. During the German occupation in World War II he ran a kind of ‘one boy resistance force’ harassing the occupiers with fireworks and putting petrol in their diesel tanks. He enlisted in the Dutch army in 1946 and was posted to Indonesia in the Dutch East Indies, where he was shot. He was cared for by Christian nurses. Their example changed his thinking and his way of life, and he trained as a missionary and evangelist in Scotland. In 1955 he visited Poland under

the pretext of attending a youth conference. He took with him a quantity of religious tracts, and – giving the official tour group the slip – made contact with the underground church. That taught him the truth about the suffering of believers behind the Iron Curtain.

So he became “God’s Smuggler”, and embarked on a career of travelling to areas of the world where the Christian churches were banned and Christian believers oppressed. In Europe his battered VW Beetle was always full of Bibles in the appropriate languages. When he went further afield, his suitcase bulged with them.

He was waved through by a Chinese customs officer who probably didn’t even know what a Bible looked like. In communist Cuba he found no harassment, but had to emphasise that he was a Dutch missionary, not an American. In Albania he was frustrated by the good manners of the people: whenever he “accidentally” left a Bible on a counter or a restaurant table, someone would chase after him to return his “lost” property. In Uganda, where the President Idi Amin had the Anglican

Archbishop, Janani Luwum, murdered in 1977, Brother Andrew discovered he was also on the dictator’s hit-list. He took Bibles to war-torn Lebanon in the 1980s, and in the 1990s he worked tirelessly to support Christian communities in the Middle East being persecuted by Islamic militants.

Brother Andrew was knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, but the honour of which he was most proud was the discovery, after the collapse of the USSR, that the KGB had a dossier on him running to over 150 pages. But they had never been able to stop his work. He remains an inspiration to me, and I hope that younger Christians will read some of his books to be equally inspired in their faith. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash

Operation Christmas Child

Total Energy Services is preparing to send off shoeboxes filled with gifts for the 2022 Operation Christmas Child appeal

Last year’s Operation Christmas Child appeal was a huge success thanks to the generosity of the local community, who donated so many thoughtful gifts along with many beautifully knitted items (which are perfect for children in the winter months).

Operation Christmas Child is a project of the Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian International Relief Organisation. Shoeboxes are filled with small toys and useful items then shipped to children around the world affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, famine and disease.

How can you help?

Total Energy Services will be filling and delivering shoe boxes containing a range of items for children of all ages.

Any gifts would be very much appreciated. Boxes will be collected nationally from 14–21 November 2022, so gifts to be with Total Energy Services by 31 October to ensure enough time to pack up the boxes and deliver them to the local church.

Gift suggestions include:

✔ Toys: including cuddly toys, dolls, toy cars, musical instruments, yo-yos, balls, small puzzles, sticker books.

✔ School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks, solar calculators, colouring and picture books

✔ Hygiene items: toothbrushes, bars of wrapped soap, combs and hairbrushes, face flannels

✔ Accessories: hats, gloves, scarves, sunglasses, caps, socks, T-shirts, flip-flops, hair accessories, jewellery sets, watches, wind-up torches. Knitted items are greatly appreciated for many of the conditions for the children are very harsh.

Do not include:

✘

Toothpaste, lotions or liquids

✘ Used or damaged items

✘ War-related items

✘ Food (including gum) or seeds

Religious or political literature

Medicines, aerosol cans or sharps

Stories from Moldova

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe; some of the shoeboxes prepared by Total Energy Services were among the three lorry loads sent from the UK last Christmas.

Artiom (2) and Stas (8) have a disability that affects their mobility. Therefore, all the family’s money is spent on medical bills with nothing spare for presents. When Artiom and Stas received their shoeboxes, they described the gifts as “sent from heaven”.

How to donate

Simply drop your items off in a bag to Total Energy Services, Unit 1, Uplands Way, Blandford Forum, DT11 7UZ. (The company is based on the Uplands Industrial Estate at the top of Blandford, just off the bypass.)

You do not need a shoebox – Total Energy Services will supply, pack and deliver the sealed boxes to the drop off locations.

Any questions, please call 01258 472132 and ask for Holly Lamb, or email holly@ totalenergy.co.uk

A) Rolls Royce B) Rolls Joyce C) Rolls Away

Recognising excellence with scholarships at Leweston

Each year Leweston School is proud to award scholarships which recognise and encourage students with talent, potential and who we believe will make a significant contribution to the life of the school.

At Leweston, Scholarships are available for academic excellence and in art and design, equestrian, music, drama, sport and pentathlon. There are also two boarding scholarships open to students looking to join Sixth Form and boarding for the first time.

The scholarship programme at Leweston is diverse with award holders given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and to take up leadership roles across the school.

There are scholars’ projects and workshops run by many of the Departments. Art scholars produce work for display in the school and dedicated exhibitions; music scholars perform regularly as members of musical groups

and soloists and sports scholars are supported with personalised mentoring and training programmes. Many Sixth Form scholars lead clubs and activities for the younger pupils.

One of our most recent scholars, joining Sixth Form this September, is Tom, Year 12 who this month has become U17 Laser-Run World Champion, as well as being part of the Gold medal winning team.

photos: Nuno Gonçalves Photogra phy

If you would like to find out more about Leweston’s scholarship programme please contact Andrea Hulme on 01963 211015 or visit the website www.leweston.co.uk.

The deadline for Sixth Form Scholarship applications (Year 12 entry) is Friday 11 November 2022.

11+ (Year 7) and 13+ (Year 8) applications are due by Friday 6 January 2023.

Get your Autumn booster jab now!

Around 450,000 Dorset residents are being encouraged to sign up for Covid-19 booster jabs and give their immunity a lift before the worst of the winter sets in

The autumn drive to boost immunity against Covid-19 is under way, with a large initial take-up in Dorset.

Thousands of people have received their jab since the autumn booster programme kicked off at the start of September, including some of the most at-risk residents who are housebound or live in a care home.

Nearly everyone in Dorset has a vaccination site within 20 miles of where they live. Sites include vaccination centres, community pharmacies and GP practices.

In Dorset 450,000 people are eligible for the autumn booster including: residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older

adults; frontline health and social care workers; all adults aged 50 and over; people aged 5-49 in a clinical risk group; people aged 5-49 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression; and people aged 16-49 who are carers.

This winter will be the first time the effects of both Covid-19 and flu in full circulation will be apparent as people go about life as normal, and some sites will offer jabs against both at the same time.

Ravin Ramtohal, lead GP for the vaccination programme across Dorset, said: “Getting your Covid and flu vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter. Anyone who is

invited to take up both an autumn booster and flu jab, is encouraged to do so as soon as you can to give maximum protection.”

Eligible people may be contacted in several ways including a national NHS letter, NHS text message, by their GP and/or by their employer (for health and social care workers).

Information on where to get

a Covid-19 jab and how to book it is available on the Covid-19 vaccination webpages www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/ covid-19-vaccinationservice#1a98bfd1 Bookings can be made via the National Booking System www. nhs.uk/conditions/coronaviruscovid-19/coronavirusvaccination/book-coronavirusvaccination or by calling 119.

Quality for all seasons

Here at Four Seasons, we take pride in our history. The shop opened over 35 years ago and has had a well-respected name in Sherborne ever since. We have a longstanding reputation for quality, which is something we continue to deliver under our recent new management.

The store is now headed by Zoë, and she, along with the Four Seasons team focus on carrying on the legacy.

One of the things that sets us apart from other stores is our customer service. We believe that every customer deserves to be treated exceptionally well, which is why we go above and beyond to make sure everyone who walks through our doors feels welcome. Our team is passionate about providing every customer with a great experience.

At Four Seasons, you’ll find classic pieces that will never go out of style. We carry timeless fashion from UK and international brands making you look and feel great, no matter the occasion. We carry a wide range of sizes, from UK 8 (EU 36) to UK 22 (EU 48), and we believe that fashion should be accessible to everyone, no matter their size or shape.

Whether you’re looking for a formal dress or something casual, we have something for everyone.

Then & now: Cricket in the Vale

by Lottie Hayton

THE FIRST WRITTEN record of cricket dates to the late 16th century, though some sources identify earlier versions of the game as far back as the Saxon period in south-east England.

While it was originally a children’s game, as it spread across England from the 17th century it was increasingly taken up by adults. In this issue we look at some of the Blackmore Vale’s own cricketing history, with archive images shared by cricket clubs, Stour Provost and Compton House.

Compton House Cricket Club, the oldest in Dorset, treasures its heritage. This extends even to the dart board, which has reportedly been in the same place since the early 20th century, when a shot was accidentally discharged creating a hole in the clubhouse, which the board still covers today.

Club Chairman Stuart Casely credits the club’s success both to its location in a comparatively dry spot (meaning fewer incidents of rain stopping play) and to a strong community spirit.

The latter survived even the Covid-19 pandemic when players and supporters rallied to ensure the club met the health and safety requirements required to open for six weeks of the 2020 season.

Compton House has made a concerted effort to focus on youth development. They are accredited to run the England and Wales Cricket Board’s All Stars coaching scheme for five- to eight-yearolds, ensuring generations to come will enjoy the sport.

One element of continuity since the club’s beginnings has been the pavilion, originally a sheep shearing shed, which you can see in the background of many of the photos.

Now well into their 153rd year however, Compton House have made plans for an exciting new pavilion, which they hope will ensure members continue to have the best cricketing experience for at least another 150 years.

You can find out more about Compton House Cricket Club online at www.comptonhousecricketclub.co.uk

Photos: Compton House Cricket Club

Right: The double nets were installed in 2019 by club members;

Far right: Freddie Jones has been at the club since he could hold a bat, and is currently an under-10 county cricketer

Although a younger club, Stour Provost Cricket Club is no less proud of its community spirit and has proven resilient through some tough times.

Founded by Humphrey Brown in 1983, the club played their first game in 1984 against ‘Port Rejects’ (teachers and parents from Port Regis School). It enjoyed some years of success, playing 30 fixtures a year at its height and winning a couple of local six-a-side competitions.

In 2010, when player numbers dwindled and it became clear the necessary infrastructure was lacking, it seemed the club might have played its final match.

However, in 2014, a few enthusiastic remaining members began to re-invigorate the club. After a 2019 memorial match in honour of Ivor Jones, treasurer, club secretary, and the driving force behind the club throughout the 1990s and 2000s, drew enough players to form two full teams, it was clear the club was back on track.

Like Compton House, Stour Provost has put a lot of effort into youth cricket, starting Dynamos cricket training for mixed juniors in 2021, which has led to a team of those juniors playing as a ‘Ducklings’ team in some softball matches this year. Not ones to take themselves too seriously, Miles Jones, Club President, told us the club’s badge is a golden duck due to the number of ‘ducks’ (when a batsman is dismissed without scoring a single run) they get as a team.

While their focus is clearly on enjoyment of the game rather than counting runs, Stour Provost have still put in a lot of work to ensure continued growth and success.

Through local fundraising and national grants they have raised the money for new double nets, which they then built themselves.

And these investments are paying off; increasing club runs while keeping enthusiasm high, as the club continues to attract and unite players of all ages.

Only this year one of their adult players, Cameron, put on a 60-run partnership with Freddie Jones, an u10 county cricketer who has been at the club since he could hold a bat and is the first county player the club has helped train.

Above: A photo from 21July 1984 shows the Stour Provost cricket team at their first home match; Below: The presidents match from 1 September 1985

Above: Stour Provost’s Dynamos, pictured in 2021;

Photo: Mandy Jones, Stour Provost Cricket Club

Support is always within reach...

New mental health campaign is launched to support people in rural North Dorset

Almost a quarter of Dorset’s population live in rural areas and, for those who are struggling or facing mental health difficulties, that can sometimes feel isolating. Recognising that, Dorset’s Suicide Prevention Group has launched a new campaign to remind people that wherever you are, and whatever you’re facing, support is always within reach.

The new campaign encourages people to talk more openly about mental health, and will provide signposting and mental health training to people in areas of rural Dorset, including Gillingham and surrounding area.

Trevor Cligg is a farmer in Dorset who has faced mental health difficulties: “A lot of people out there are struggling. Some withdraw and others, like myself, hide in plain sight. But talking about it is the biggest thing you can do to help –to whoever, be it your family, your friends, counsellors, doctors. Just talk about it.”

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to friends or family, you can speak to your GP or contact any of these free support services, which are onhand to help 24/7:

• Dorset’s

Jon Bartlett moved to North Dorset recently, and said he was surprised by the support available to him: “As someone with a long-established diagnosis, skilled in managing it and on a stable medication, I didn’t need all the help that was offered but I was genuinely surprised how many groups/events were going on. There seemed to be something for everyone and certainly plenty of people ready and willing to help.”

Sophia Callaghan, Public Health Consultant at Public Health Dorset, is the co-chair of Dorset’s Suicide Prevention Group: “Dorset has some wonderful rural communities but if you’re having a tough time, it might feel like help is far away,” she explains. “Our Suicide Prevention Group works in partnership to help those in crisis and signpost to the support that is available across our county – because wherever you are, you’re never alone.”

“Help is always available, whether it’s through a friend or family member, your doctor, or simply a listening ear on a helpline. You can also contact Dorset’s brilliant social prescribers through your GP surgery to access activities and support in your area. You might be surprised at what’s happening nearby – there are wellbeing activities, friendly groups and drop-in services across Dorset.”

Suzanne Green, Programme Lead for Mental Health at NHS Dorset, urged people to look out for others too: “It can be tough for people to admit they’re struggling. If you’re worried about someone, don’t be afraid to ask how they are. And remember, we often say we’re fine when we’re not, so ask again if you’re worried. Even if they don’t want to open up then and there, they’ll still know you’re there for them.

“The Samaritans have some great advice on how to spot when someone is struggling, how to support others and how to listen at www.samaritans.org”. Find out more about the Within Reach campaign, as well as support and wellbeing activities in some of Dorset’s rural communities, at www. lightonmh.uk/withinreach

Please remember, that support is within your reach in Dorset

Public Health Consultant, Sophia Callaghan

Letters

Taxes: you get what you pay for

Taxes are very much in the news but are only ever described as a burden, especially by politicians seeking re-election.

I think of my taxes as my contribution to, for example, the NHS, the vaccination programme, properly funded schools and apprenticeships, well maintained roads, police forces, our very own weapons of mass destruction – Trident, libraries, parks, a fair justice system, paying for adult social care and provision for childcare so Mum can go to work.

The list is longer than that, but can we have all of them and somehow not pay tax or pay less? Nonsense, unreal – it is time for politicians to stop promoting the myth that we can pay less and less tax for the same or more public services, and for us to be less selfish and more realistic.

Commentators on the current economic situation note that personal debt is much higher than 30 or 40 years ago, so is the national debt, as is government debt and corporate debt.

Any connection to the wonders of paying less tax? Here is a thought, spend 25 to 30 years paying off your mortgage and 15 years later when you need social care you have to sell your home because thanks to lower taxes the government has no money for social care. What a bargain. Your children do not inherit. Mrs Thatcher promised that once we all owned our own homes and most public utilities had been privatised ‘wealth would cascade down the generations’. Now it looks more likely that debt is going ‘to trickle down’ to the next generation.

Richard Foley Tarrant Hinton

The disgraceful comments by Simon Hoare, quoted as he often is in The Telegraph: “This inept madness cannot continue,”

in response to the Government’s policy announcements, confirm my view he is unfit to be a member of the Conservative party. Indeed, his left views expressed in his column in The New Blackmore Vale (16 September) endorse my belief.

A self-confessed supporter of Rishi Sunak, and no doubt embittered by his defeat in the leadership election, he shows nothing but contempt for the constituents he claims to represent in north Dorset.

Despite this, in my view being a predominately Leave constituency, he does not support the local and national democratic vote and has done everything in his power to frustrate the vote to leave. How he remains chairman of the Northern Ireland Committee beggars belief.

The pound has made a strong comeback against the US dollar in the last two days. The IMF and the EU are trying to blame us for their woes. No one mentions that the Euro has been in deficit to the dollar for weeks and through their own policies Europe and the EU are on the point of collapse. They only stay afloat by breaking their own rules. Germany has long abandoned Green policies and continues to open coal mines. Mr Hoare should hang his head in shame for his blind support of this artificial organisation.

The UK is responsible for only one per cent of world carbon emissions.

His woke support opposing fracking, another policy shredded by unfounded scaremongering; support for a windfall tax on energy companies, which would totally discourage prospecting; and opposition on the higher tax rate shows him to be a Liberal Democrat, no longer closet.

That is the party he should stand for and before the next General Election. No doubt he supports the totally irrelevant vanity project that is HS2. He reckons on his significant

majority to return him to the House as a Conservative, which he is not. Simon Hoare is a representative of Simon Hoare. Give us Lord Frost as a candidate.

Jeremy Bloomfield Gillingham

While promoting the annual concert in aid of Save the Children’s Emergency Fund, I have been heartened to meet numerous people who support our endeavours.

Having volunteered for charities for the past 64 years – 49 for Save the Children – I could write a book about the different reactions to charity giving. However, two recent experiences have prompted me to write in.

For the first time in my long

experience of circulating posters, to my astonishment and dismay, one shop in Sherborne demanded £1 a week to display details of the concert in aid of the charity’s work in Afghanistan, Somalia, Ukraine and Pakistan.

When I suggested that there was a difference between me, perhaps, personally wishing to sell honey and requesting support for a charity, I was firmly told the shop’s policy was the same for everyone – charities received no concessions. My family and several friends have therefore decided we will no longer patronise the shop.

However, after such a disappointment I have good news! The following day my car broke down in Yeovil – clearly,

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall – justsocaricatures.co.uk

the battery was flat. A kind couple stopped to help and phoned garages, but as none was able to assist me, eventually I decided to take a taxi home to Sherborne.

I was therefore relieved to find TOMS Travel waiting outside M&S. Thankfully, I had the £18 fare with me. As we drove, I explained my predicament to Tom. He immediately stopped the car, checked his boot and announced he had jump leads to hand. Within a few minutes my car was roadworthy.

I offered Tom £20 to thank him, but he politely refused payment, saying it was his pleasure to help me. However, after much persuasion he agreed to accept £10, on the grounds the remaining £10 go towards the Save the Children concert.

His attitude confirms my continuing faith in human nature – what a contrast to my reception in Sherborne’s shop.

Anne Dearle via email

It is very frustrating, in fact, horrific, to read rationalisations in The New Blackmore Vale regarding climate change and attempts to mitigate the damage it is now and will continue to cause. Because we have allowed such ideas to flourish as fact, it is now too late to stop its effects. We can only hope to try to ensure social justice for the millions of people who will lose their property, ways of life and in many cases their lives. There is a concept for those governments who consider their own comfort and the ‘natural beauty of our country’ over the damage done to other nations by climate change – Environmental Genocide.

The argument made that we cannot obtain sufficient energy using renewables is a straw man argument. First, it ignores the fact that we have the capacity to greatly expand our use of renewable energy to dramatically reduce our carbon emissions by such measures and that it is the quickest way to do so. Second, it ignores the reality

that we cannot continue to use energy as we have been doing and will have to cut back in any case. This is the reality that people are unwilling to face. It is convenient for governments to lie to their constituents that they can continue to use energy as always and make no changes to their lifestyles.

Renewable energy is now nine times cheaper than gas. We are an island nation, surrounded by ocean waters and constant wave action. And yet we hear little talk about wave energy and we have to ask why that is? Energy independence can be reached as easily by cutting our energy use as well as using renewables. We know that insulating can save massive amounts of energy. A wellinsulated home can reduce an energy bill by thousands and can last for the life of the building. This solution would reduce our dependence on foreign oil and gas, reduce fuel poverty and at the same time cut our carbon emissions.

We seem to be accepting as fact that since we want to use as much energy as we like, we need to get that energy however we can. We don’t want to see our beautiful countryside disturbed with windmills or solar farms. But what we cannot lie to ourselves about is the fact that there are natural laws governing our choices and nature will have its way, no matter what we ‘want’. The environment will degrade, sea levels will rise, animal and plant diversity will diminish, and in many parts of the world these effects will be life destroying.

And there are massive costs to ignoring the problem. The National Trust has just named five properties that it will not be able to save due to rising sea levels. Cardiff, Windsor and parts of London have been listed as among the most at risk of flooding by 2050. This will be true for anyone living near coastal and river areas. Levels could rise as much as two metres. Even a Conservative Government estimates this to

cause £130 billion in damage, £47 billion in London alone, without taking measures such as flood defences into consideration, which do not come without their own price huge tags.

Instead, we are fed disingenuous discussions about how we must use gas/oil/coal because we need more power than wind/solar alone can provide. How childish. Mother Nature couldn’t care less about our ‘needs’. Political and economic arguments are meaningless when people’s lives are being destroyed, as is already happening around the world. We will have to account for our actions or lack of them.

Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews Blandford

I so agree with the letter from Kate Gordon-Smith (The New Blackmore Vale, 16 September). I avoid shopping in Shaftesbury now and go to Salisbury, so many times I have struggled with getting a parking ticket.

Why do they not want people shopping in their town?

Jenny Lucas, Zeals

The article by Jane and Michael Martin (The New Blackmore Vale, 30 September) draws attention to the serious threat to the viability of rural churches, supposedly ‘the backbone of the Church of England’.

Canon Woods is lucky never having had to deal with the financial obscurity of the Diocese of Bath and Wells – the response of the Diocese which he described as ‘short and anodyne’ is typical of the refusal of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) to enter a meaningful dialogue on its expenditure of our parish shares.

The current proposal to deal with a deficit budget is to reduce the number of clergy. This would reduce the number of services in parish churches with a consequent reduction in parish incomes which would increase the shortfall in collection of the parish share.

Canon Woods’ alarm at the ‘growing army of ecclesiastical managers and middle-managers’ is well placed and it will not surprise him to learn that the staffing costs of the DBF do not bode well. The £2.4m budgeted for 2022 would support 45 priests – either there are a lot of DBF staff earning what priests cost or some salaries must be high.

Charles Brook Castle Cary

I would like to comment on the article ‘Is there a future for rural churches?’ (The New Blackmore Vale, 16 September) and Canon Woods’ excellent reply. I for one certainly hope so.

Some years ago, when I was living in Somerset, my wife and I took an elderly aunt from the north of England who was staying with us for a day out to Wells – and to visit the cathedral, duly paying the entrance fees.

After having a tour inside, and on leaving, a lady asked us if we would we like to see ‘The Old Deanery’ and garden?

We decided to take up this offer and duly walked across the green to the building and through the gate. After seeing the garden, we went inside and viewed the ground floor – we were then directed upstairs.

I had the shock of my life! I commented ‘what is going on here?’ as there were many desks, all with computers. ‘Oh,’ the lady replied, ‘this is where we run the Diocese!’

I was staggered and not impressed. Is this all necessary? I did not see all the staff because they were presumably on their lunch break. I can see where a large percentage of the Parish Share is now going.

Michael Frost Sherborne

Richard Wood complains about ‘unnecessary house building’ (New Blackmore Vale, 30 September). I thought it was widely known that there is a severe shortage of housing in this country – and county.

Gilbert Archdale Sturminster Newton

Education

Full house at abbey for prize giving

Sherborne Abbey played host to an evening celebrating student success as The Gryphon School held its annual prize giving ceremony for last year’s Year 11 and 13 students.

More than 100 youngsters received awards during the evening, and the abbey was full as parents and family joined the students to celebrate their achievements.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of the Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust, of which The Gryphon is a founding member, presented the awards. Students performed several musical interludes, including Josie W.

who sang a solo, Holly M. who played a flute solo, and Esme E. on piano.

A huge range of achievements were recognised in the ceremony, including awards for subjects, academic achievement, contribution to school life and personal achievement where students have excelled despite difficult circumstances.

The Year 13 students have now left The Gryphon to take their next steps and head of Sixth Form Paul O’Donnell said: “It was fantastic to see all our amazing Year 13 students again – they performed utterly

superbly in their A-levels and BTECs and this was just a small way for us to say well done.

“It is fantastic to see students going on to such a wide variety of courses and locations at university, apprenticeships in really varied fields, or taking a gap year before progressing onto further study.

“The results were superb across the board, but the fact that so many students achieved straight A* and A grades was unprecedented. Aidan Hoggan, Bella Whitmore, Lucy Jones, Oliver Barrett and Katie Copp even went a stage further and achieved three A* grades.

“All our Year 13s have been a fantastic credit to the school and I look forward to hearing about their many successes in the future.”

Headteacher Nicki Edwards said: “Our annual prize-giving is a celebration of our Gryphon ethos of living life in all its fullness. The atmosphere in the abbey is so special and we were delighted so many students joined us as we recognised their academic achievements and personal progress. We would like to thank Sherborne Abbey for its support in delivering this memorable event for our students”.

Gold star for sport

Pupils and teachers at St Mary’s Primary School in Bradford Abbas are delighted to have been awarded the Sports Mark Gold Award.

The national award recognises and celebrates the opportunities and experiences the children receive in sports and health education.

Youngsters make wishes come true

Pupils at Semley C of E Primary School have covered the distance of five marathons between them to raise money for a good cause.

The youngsters ran in class groups around a track

mapped out by the parent association and raised about £1,300 for the Make a Wish Foundation.

Pupils did the fundraiser to support one of their teachers who ran for the charity in the London Marathon at the weekend.

Make-A-Wish UK helps grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Headteacher Emma Grunnill said: “Our staff work incredibly hard to ensure that our pupils have expert tuition and quality experiences in sport. I am delighted that the hard work, commitment and achievement of the staff and children has been recognised. A huge well done and thank you to them.”

More

at The Gryphon School received awards at Sherborne Abbey

King Henry VIII and the colourful history of the parish register...

by Laura Manning

The Blackmore Vale Family History Group welcomed the secretary of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society to open its new season of talks at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, when Ted Udall gave an entertaining and illuminating presentation on ‘Parish Registers: A Social History’.

It is hard to overestimate the amount of information contained in these registers but, as Ted explained, they are ‘not the whole truth’.

Henry VIII introduced the registers in 1538 after he became Head of the Church of England and incumbents were ordered to record baptisms, marriages and deaths. However, widespread scepticism surrounded the order – perhaps it was to herald a new tax? The official explanation was to ensure that lines of sanguinity were adhered to – certain relationships were not permitted then which are not regarded as problematic nowadays. As always, laws were easier to enforce in London than in more far-flung parts of the country. And, as ever, local people devised ways to pay lip service to the decree – while, generally, ignoring it.

From time to time, laws were enacted requiring every entry into the new register to incur a charge – this was waived for paupers and thus a generous minister was sometimes inclined to write the letter P

next to entries, which indicated that the family was unable to pay the fee. Penalties were levied against defaulters with half of the fine being paid to the informant.

Under the Henry VIII law, clergy were required to enter the details of all church activities into their register on a Sunday, after the morning service. However, weddings, funerals and baptisms could have happened at any time throughout the week – it is probable that many entries were not made and were forgotten about due to adherence to the Law.

Ted showed examples of register entries – including one from Gillingham in which the vicar confirmed that the unfortunate person who had committed ‘self-murder’ was interred, as the law required, away from the main church burial ground between the hours of 9pm and midnight. However, by this time (1834), the requirement to drive a stake through the heart had been repealed.

It is worthwhile taking the time to translate any Latin phrases and entries researchers may find in a parish register – at a time when few people could read or write in English, the clerics felt safe in inserting sometimes scurrilous remarks into the register. Several humorous examples were given – including one from Shillingstone Parish Register in

which the vicar was exceedingly rude – in English – about two people he had just married.

It was not until 1753 that the format of recording marriages was standardised and parishes were obliged to record more than the bare facts, for example, not just the names of the people getting married. As the church was required to buy these special books from the Government, many preferred to use every page of their current register – although most did, then, enter all the required details. Marriages could now only take place by banns or by licence – and this had to be noted. The names of witnesses were also required, along with the names of the fathers of both the bride and the groom. These details make family history research much easier, of course.

Ted explained where parish

registers are now kept and how they may be accessed –although some were destroyed during the Civil War. He said ‘typos’ are a feature of any modern transcription – his advice was to read the transcription and compare with the original document, if possible.

• The group’s next meeting is on Wednesday 19 October at 7pm in The Exchange – an earlier start than usual. The speaker, Dr Penny Walters, who is attached to Bristol University, will talk about UK censuses from 1801 to the present. Members are looking forward to hearing about the 1921 census taken after the First World War and the flu epidemic – the data from this was only released this year. Further details from blackmorevalegroup@gmail. com or Felicity Harrison on 01258 472942.

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The vicar was extremely

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had just married

Shllingstone Church of the Holy Rood

JUMBLE SALE LYDLINCH

VILLAGE HALL DT10 2JA

Saturday 29th October at 2pm Tea , cake & raffle raising money for new roof

PRIZE BINGO. MAIDEN

NEWTON VILLAGE HALL Sat 12th Nov. Doors Open 2pm. Eyes Down 2.30pm. Raffle, Children's Games, Tea And Cake. All Welcome.

THE IVY CLUB AUTUMN

SALE. Maiden Newton

Village Hall Sat 19th Nov at 2pm.

Bric A Brac, Nearly New Tombola, Raffle. Homemade Cakes And Produce. Tea And Biscuits. Lucky Squares. Admission 50p.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING. Every Thursday, St Michael’s Scottish Country Dancing Club, 7.30 – 9.30pm at the Davis Hall, West Camel BA22 7QX. Always a fun evening - come along and give it a try – a warm welcome assured! No partner needed. First two visits free, £2.00 per session, £1.50 for members. See website www.stmichaelsscdclub.org or contact elspeth_a_wright@hotmail.com

A RHYME FOR TEA TIME

With Shaftesbury’s Fringe Poet – Marigold Rumble Cream Tea and Poetry Saturday 22nd October 3.00pm to 5.00pm

St. John’s Church Hall (top of Church Hill, Enmore Green) £5.00 to book contact Jo Churchill on 91747 850432 or Jean Parker on 01747 685583

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING

Tuesday 15th November 6-8pm

NATIONAL GET ONLINE WEEK: Come and meet Tarryn Shillingford from Barclays Bank to discuss your online banking needs. Shaftesbury Library Monday 17 October 10:00am12.00noon.

WILTON VINTAGE FAIR

29 October 2022 10am-3pm

Michael Herbert Hall Wilton SP2 0JS £1 entry

KNITTING AND CROCHET WORKSHOP. Keen to start a new skill or revisiting a favourite pastime? Our friendly and helpful Knit and Natter group are here to help and share the enjoyment of knitting and crochet. All ages and abilities are welcome. Just drop in and have a go! Shaftesbury Library Saturday

22nd October 10:00am12.00 noon.

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR, ANGELA MCALLISTER, returns to Shaftesbury Library for a fun filled Spooky Storytime with spooky crafts to follow. Saturday 29 October 10:30am - 11:30am.

JUMBLE SALE at Marnhull

Royal British Legion, Sodom Lane, DT101PR on Saturday October 22nd. Doors open at 10.15

TALK BY GENERAL

DAVID LEAKEY. Black rod to speaker John Bercow. Cucklington Village Hall. Friday 28th October. Bar opens at 7pm. Sandwiches. Contact briantrueman100@ gmail.com or 07398 980487 Tickets £10

SAVE THE DATE

Family Fun Day Out Sunday November 13th 2022

The Portman Point to Point Badbury Rings

ROCK AND ROLL, listen have a dance, tea and cake & raffle all £3. Tuesday 18th October 2 til 4pm Vicarage school room Gillingham

COUNTRY LINK SOCIAL

GROUP. Fresh air, fun, food and friendship. Tel. Andy 01225 834834 or Val 01749 342918 www.country-link.org.uk

Events Guide

LYN'S BINGO AT MARNHULL

Royal British Legion on Monday October 17th. Eyes down 7pm

Dorset Farmers Markets

Shaftesbury, 1st Saturday of the month

1st October, 5th November, 3rd December

Sherborne, 3rd Friday of the month 21st October, 18th November, 16th December

Wimborne, 3rd Saturday of the month 15th October, 19th November, 17th December

Relaunching in October Poundbury, 4th Saturday of the month

22nd October, 26th

CAROLYNE MORAN

Early Bird tickets available @badburyringspointtopointcourse

- EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS -

CAROLYNE MORAN

CAROLYNE MORAN

The Gallery

- EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS -

- EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS -

Shaftesbury Art Centre SP7 8AR

– 25 October open daily 10.am - 4pm

The Gallery Shaftesbury Art Centre SP7 8AR

The Gallery Shaftesbury Art Centre SP7 8AR 19 – 25 October open daily 10.am - 4pm

– 25 October open daily 10.am - 4pm

Please contact Carolyne

For invitation to private view

Please contact Carolyne

October 5-7

Please contact Carolyne

invitation to private view on

October 5-7

For invitation to private view

October 5-7 pm

Prize helped Kit become an award-winning author

Author Kit de Waal, who comes to BridLit next month, won The Bridport Prize two years in a row for her flash fiction.

The competition was established by Bridport Arts Centre founder the late Peggy Chapman-Andrews in 1973. It’s now one of the most prestigious literary contests in the world.

De Waal won the Bridport Prize in 2014 with her flash fiction story Romans 1 Verse 29, Sins of the Heart and again the following year with Crushing Big. She returned as a judge in 2017.

Her first novel, My Name is Leon, was published in 2016 and shortlisted for the Costa Book Award and won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year. It has been adapted as a one-hour film for BBC 1.

The Guardian wrote: “De Waal excels at bringing out the humanity of characters leading

small lives on the fringe of huge social and political forces, struggling bravely not to be crushed by them.”

She’s now in the spotlight with her memoir, Without Warning and Only Sometimes – Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood. She was on Radio 4’s Start the Week last month – it is on the iPlayer www.bbc. co.uk/programmes/m001byjc – discussing Birmingham with Tom Sutcliffe, alongside Richard Vinen and Liz Berry. And her memoir was a Radio 4 Book of the Week – www.bbc. co.uk/programmes/m001b3yn

The memoir is stinging yet warm-hearted. In a household of opposites and extremes, and caught between three worlds – Irish, Caribbean and British in 1960s Birmingham – de Waal and her siblings knew all the words to the best songs, caught sticklebacks in jam jars and

braved hunger and hellfire until they could all escape.

Without Warning and Only Sometimes is a story of an extraordinary childhood and how a girl who grew up in house where the Bible was the only book on offer went on to discover a love of reading that inspires her to this day.

De Waal’s The Trick to Time, published in 2018, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and she has also published a short story collection, Supporting Cast. She is editor of the Common People anthology, and co-founder of the Big Book Weekend festival.

She is at The Electric Palace, Bridport, on Friday 11 November at 6.30pm, in conversation with Lisa Blower, an award-winning short story writer and novelist whose debut novel Sitting Ducks was shortlisted for the inaugural

Arnold Bennett Prize, and longlisted for The Guardian Not the Booker 2016.

Lisa is senior lecturer in Creative & Professional Writing at Wolverhampton University where she continues to champion working class fictions and regional voices.

n For tickets phone Bridport Tourist Information Centre in Bucky Doo Square on 01308 424901, email bridport.tic@ bridport-tc.gov.uk or online at bridlit.com

Folk star plays intimate venue

Irish singing sensation Daoiri

‘Derry’ Farrell is returning to the White Hart, Bishops Caundle, after performing to a packed house a year ago.

Daoiri’s meteoric rise through the world of folk and traditional music has seen him tour the world with his interpretations of his native Irish songs. He has also twice won the BBC’s prestigious Folk Singer of the Year award.

Daoiri, who possesses an outstanding voice but is also a fine bouzouki and mandolin player and guitarist, normally plays concert halls and arts centres, so this is a rare chance to see him at such an intimate venue.

Tickets for the concert on Thursday October 20 can be reserved via John Waltham on 01963 362890 or email jhnwaltham@yahoo.co.uk

Seed detective uncovers secret histories of veg

Award-winning film and television producer Adam Alexander will share tales of seed hunting and the history behind everyday vegetables at Castle Gardens in Sherborne next week.

He will be talking about his latest book, The Seed Detective, in The Butterfly House on Friday 21 October. Adam, who has been seed hunting for 30 years and is a board member of Garden

Organic, will explain the importance of continuing to grow rare and endangered heritage and heirloom vegetables and saving their seeds.

Registration for this free

event is through www. eventbrite.co.uk Doors open at 6.30pm and free refreshments will be provided by The Walled Garden Restaurant before the event starts at 7.30pm.

Arts

Half-term entertainment

Powerful storytelling, captivating puppetry, enchanting music and a sprinkling of magic are promised when The Selfish Giant visits Cerne Abbas village hall this half-term.

Classical concert celebrates the sea

Members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will be celebrating the sea in a special concert at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton.

From the Hebrides to Padstow features 14 players from across the orchestra performing an evening of specially arranged music from Handel’s Water Music and Mendelsohn’s Fingal’s Cave to sea shanties, Beatles classics, Malcolm Arnold and even an instrumental arrangement of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.

The concert is part of

Artsreach’s autumn season, and its director Kerry Bartlett said:

“We are always thrilled to give rural communities the opportunity to host and hear these incredible musicians, and we are especially excited to present a larger ensemble with this wonderful nautical recital for our audiences to enjoy this autumn.”

From the Hebrides to Padstow is on Thursday 27 October at 7.30pm. For more information and tickets phone 01258 475137 or visit www. artsreach.co.uk

Halloween fun at Shire Hall

The Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester will be hosting spooky Halloween fun during the school October half-term.

The museum brings over 200 years of justice and injustice to life with interactive galleries, the cells and courtroom.

Children can make slippery slime from 10am-3pm each day from Monday October 24

to Saturday October 29, and around the museum families can enjoy a spooky trail and creepy crafts.

Half-term events begin on Saturday October 22 with pumpkin carving. Three sessions are on offer at 11am, 1pm and 3pm and the cost is £5 – booking is essential.

For more information visit shirehalldorset.org/whatson

Bristol’s two leading family theatre groups, Soap Soup Theatre and Tessa Bide

Mirror images

The inimitable Living Spit will be walking the tightrope of taste and decency in Chetnole with a slice of poorly researched history in its acclaimed show Adolf & Winston London, 1939. Winston Churchill looks in the mirror, realises only he can steer our great nation through its darkest hour and steels himself for the hard road ahead.

Bristol, 2022. Howard Coggins looks in the mirror, shaves, realises he looks a bit

Productions, are joining forces to explore an unusual friendship and how even the grumpiest giant’s heart can melt when spring finally comes.

The show is on Wednesday October 26 at 3.30pm and tickets are available from the library on 07823 778758

like Winston Churchill and steels himself to break some bad news to his good friend, Stu.

Bristol, 2022. Stu Mcloughlin looks in the mirror and realises he’ll have to grow a little moustache.

Howard and Stu are not afraid to tackle the big subjects in an essentially inconsequential way. But will either of them escape from this war alive?

Adolf & Winston is at Chetnole village hall (phone 07966 177789) on Sunday 16 October.

The show is suitable for those aged 16-plus – further information and tickets are online at www.artsreach.co.uk

Members

Spooky

Arts & Entertainment

Literary festival attracts big names

Visitors to the tenth Yeovil Literary Festival will be spoilt for choice with the chance to see more than 50 well-known literary figures, comedians, celebrities and exciting new writers.

The festival takes place between Thursday and Monday, 20-24 October, with events at the Octagon Theatre, Westlands Entertainment Venue and Yeovil Library.

The full-up line includes Liz McConaghy, Tom Kerridge, Delia Smith, Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall, Melanie C, Hugh Bonneville, Anton du Beke, Dr Thomas Halliday, Amy Jeffs,

Janice Hallett, David Parker, Ben Okri, Simon Mayo, Brendan O’Carroll and Rich Hall.

The festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary, attracts writers, speakers and thinkers to entertain, inspire and enlighten audiences, with more than 6,000 tickets sold for the 2021 event.

Adam Burgan, one of the festival directors and arts and entertainment venues manager at the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, said: “Yeovil Literary Festival has established itself as a major leading literary festival

for the South-West and I am thrilled we have been able to put together such a fantastic line-up for this year.

“Not only does the festival bring writers, speakers and thinkers to our doorstep in Somerset, it inspires the listeners of authors to pick up a book to improve brain connectivity, reduce stress and have a positive mental impact. All the directors and I hope you all can find much at the Yeovil Literary Festival to entertain and inspire you.”

The festival is a not-forprofit partnership between the Octagon Theatre and Westlands

Entertainment Venue – part of South Somerset District Council – Waterstone’s, Yeovil, Yeovil Community Arts Association and Somerset Libraries.

Yeovil Literary Festival thanks sponsors Symonds & Sampson, Laceys Yeovil, The Gardens Group, Grace Productions, Yeovil Community Arts Association, Chalmers & Co and Great Western Railway.

Visit yeovilliteraryfestival. co.uk to view the full 2022 Yeovil Literary Festival line-up and to book tickets or phone the box office on 01935 422884.

Snooker legends open to question

Snooker aces Jimmy White and John Virgo are coming to the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil this autumn.

They will play a few frames and talk the audience through their illustrious careers on and off the table, providing an insight into everything from Jimmy’s six world championship runner-up finishes to his world seniors

championship win.

The audience will also have the chance to put their questions to Jimmy and John in a live and unfiltered question and answer session.

Snooker Greats is on Sunday 6 November and tickets are available to purchase from the venue’s website octagontheatre.co.uk or when calling the box office on 01935 422884.

Vaughan Williams anniversary concert

Purcell at chapel

Cherubim Chamber Choir and String Ensemble will perform a programme covering all aspects of Henry Purcell’s music, under conductor Greg Skidmore, at the Wardour Chapel, Tisbury, on Sunday 16 October at 6pm. Everything from the tuneful semi-operas of King

Arthur and the Fairy Queen to Dido’s great lament, via well-known anthems, tavern songs and string music, with harpsichord and organ, will be on offer.

Tickets priced £12-24, children free, are available from www.cherubimtrust.org/ purcell

Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir (pictured) is giving a special concert, together with violinist Christina Scott, at Sturminster Newton Parish Church on Saturday 15 October.

The concert features some of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ most loved choral works to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth, including his Mass in G Minor

A special arrangement of The Lark Ascending for choir and solo violin forms the centrepiece of the evening, in

which the choir takes on the orchestral accompaniment.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets priced £14, £2 under 18, are available from the choir’s website, www.bschoir. org.uk, and at the door.

PHOTO: Ash Mills

Enjoy baroque music in the rococo splendour of Wardour Chapel

Joyce Ringrose –artist and teacher

by Nicci Brown

A retrospective exhibition is being staged of the work of a well-known Dorset artist, teacher and potter who worked out of the pottery she established in Blandford St Mary.

Joyce Ringrose was many things to many people, as well as mother to her five children, Ali, Karen, Simon, Giles and Janet.

Daughter Ali, who has organised the exhibition with Jo Dyton at the Hatch Gallery, Christchurch, said: “She was sister to Tony, and auntie, grandmother, great-grandmother and a good friend to all she knew.

“While bringing up a large family, she strove to maintain a balance in her life, enabling her to enjoy her passions of painting, ceramics, swimming, singing, gardening and managing a

vegetable allotment. In addition, she was involved in CND and nuclear disarmament movements. Family and friends remember her well for being a wonderfully imaginative and experimental cook, too!”

Over the years, Joyce became a well-established Dorset artist, holding exhibitions at galleries around the South-West.

The exhibition will be on view in the Hatch Gallery until

Arts &

Carole’s Bake Off journey ends

SHERBORNE baker Carole Edwards has left the show.

The 59-year-old was selected to leave the Channel 4 bakery programme after struggling with challenges involving steamed puddings, served with an accompaniment of their choice, and baking a lemon meringue pie.

She ended up with eight collapsed puddings and failed to impress with her pie, leading to judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood selecting her to leave.

After her disastrous effort with the puddings, the Dorset baker said: “I know you said no more disasters but I think I’ve done this one in style.”

Meanwhile, in the technical challenge, Carole’s efforts did not impress the judges.

And her showstopper, a

Strawberry Fields-inspired effort could not save her from the chop.

After the decision was revealed, Carole said she was delighted to have gone as far as she did in the competition.

“I’m very proud of myself,” she said.

“I came here to achieve something as I get older.”

Folk

London theatre on the doorstep for just a tenner

“You can’t get better than a National Theatre production –so why not bring them to Shaftesbury?”

That was the view of Hugh Notley, who co-ordinates live screenings at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, which has unveiled a programme of National Theatre shows being streamed to the venue.

National Theatre Live sees many of the renowned company’s productions beamed to venues across the country, now including Shaftesbury. And Hugh said it was quite a coup for the centre. “It’s pretty amazing really because usually, for anyone to go to the National Theatre it means going to London and paying £150 for

tickets,” he said.

“But here, we charge a tenner and we have basically the whole programme from now until March.”

The scheme started in style last month with a sold-out showing of hard-hitting drama Prima Facie.

“When you get a decent crowd in it makes it all worth it,” Hugh said.

“It’s worth it for the community, people are enjoying it, it’s all worthwhile.

“There are a lot of people who do a lot of work here, all volunteers. And for us to get something like this is a real boost, financially as well as for

a small theatre like ours.”

The next NT Live screening at Shaftesbury is on 30 October, with comedy Jack Absolute Flies Again, by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris.

On 27 November, Chekov’s The Seagull will be shown, followed by Cinderella by the Australian Ballet on 10 December.

The new year will see the theatre screen The Crucible on 5 February and Othello on 25 February.

All screenings start at 7pm. For more details, and to book tickets, phone 01747 854321, or log on to shaftesburyartscentre. org.uk

Home is where the heart truly is

Following previous tours with Brilliance and The Iranian Feast, much-loved touring theatre company Farnham Maltings brought its new production, The Syrian Baker, to Dorset last autumn and, following three sell-out performances and rave audience reviews, is heading back to Dorset this month to share its outstanding production once more.

With almost five per cent of the world’s population on the move, desperate to get away from trouble, The Syrian Baker is a story of two people who have decided to go home despite the state of their country.

This show is a human story about going home, knowing

where you belong and how small actions can make a big difference in one’s life and in re-building a community. It is a piece about humanity, hope and courage told with affection, irrepressible humour and bread.

Farnham Maltings has created a new play about the world for village halls – expect an evening in the company of friends with stories, freshly made bread, Syrian coffee and Mamoull like the ones from the Caffe Plaza in Homs old town.

Written by Kevin Dyer and directed by Gavin Stride, The Syrian Baker was awarded Play of the Year at the 2022 Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards.

Farnham Maltings visits Portesham village hall (phone 01305 871035) on Friday 28

October and Sturminster Marshall village hall (phone 07903 057427) on Saturday 29 October in partnership with Artsreach, the county’s touring

arts charity, supported by Dorset Council and Arts Council England. Full details and tickets can be found online at www. artsreach.co.uk

Beauty and the value of kindness

Acclaimed performers The Devil’s Violin have created magical performances which have dazzled audiences all over the UK and beyond for 15 years.

Following successful tours of Dorset with A Love Like Salt in 2013 and The Forbidden Door in 2016, The Devil’s Violin are returning with a new show, The Beast in Me

Imagine a world where the lines separating humanity and

animals have blurred, in which dark forests contain refuge as well as danger, and where blood is not always thicker than water...

The Beast In Me features a woven tapestry of stories from long ago about people’s perception of beauty and the value of kindness. Epic narratives are brought to life by storyteller Daniel Morden with sublime stringed accompaniment from musicians

Sarah Moody (cello) and Oliver Wilson-Dickson (violin).

Expect a charming, chilling and thrilling evening’s entertainment.

The Devil’s Violin will perform at West Stafford village hall (phone 07968 633834) on Friday 21 October, Shillingstone village hall (01258 860319) on Saturday 22 October and Drimpton village hall (phone 01308 867617) on Sunday 23 October.

Further information and tickets are available from Artsreach online at www. artsreach.co.uk

Shaftesbury Library will be welcoming the town’s very own real live mermaid Nerissa to the children’s section on Saturday 15 October from 11am-noon. She will entertain the children with mermaid tales and fun activities.

The Syrian Baker was awarded Play of the Year at the 2022 Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards

• Shaftesbury Quakers

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

• Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 10am. BH21 5LZ.

• 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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Holy Communion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Blandford Methodist Church: Morning worship Sunday 10.45am, followed by refreshments and chat in the hall – everyone welcome. Thursday 10am-noon – coffee morning, everyone welcome. Friday noon-2pm – lunch club for over-55s at £5 – phone 07817 505 543 to book. If you have a prayer request or are feeling lonely and need to chat, phone 07799 516735. For more details visit www.candwmc.org. uk/

• Fancy a coffee?: The churches in The Donheads, Charlton, East Knoyle, Semley and Sedgehill now have a team of friendly, approachable people available to offer home visits. Contact Revd. Kate at rector@ benofbart.org.uk, 01747 830174.

• Sherborne Abbey tours: Everyone is welcome to join the tours which last 45 minutes to one hour. They run on Tuesday at 10.30am and Friday at 2pm until the end of November. No charge is made and booking is not necessary – visitors can turn up and the guide will be waiting near The Abbey’s porch.

• Taize services: Half an hour of prayer, meditation and music on the second Sunday of the month at 6.30pm, Cheap Street Church, Sherborne. Everyone welcome. This informal, ecumenical service is based on the Taize Community’s worship founded by w Roger in the 1940s in Burgundy, France.

Taize music has become part of the worshipping life of churches worldwide.

• Sherborne Abbey organ recitals: Monday at 1.30pm.

Autumn recital series: 17 October – Kyoko Canaway, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Free entry, retiring collection, all welcome.

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

• Sherborne Abbey shop: More volunteers are sought to join the friendly team, especially as it is hoped to open the shop on Saturdays. Two shifts: 10.30am-1pm and 1-3.30pm, no experience necessary, training given. If interested please see manager Phil Prout, leave contact details at the Parish Office or email shop@sherborneabbey.com

• Christian Aid Sherborne branch: The branch, which has not been able to function fully since the pandemic urgently needs a new chairman and secretary. The jobs are not too demanding but bring lots of joy and companionship. Contact Jane Craw by phone on 01963 251527 or by email at jane@ jubileecottage.plus.com

• West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church 16 and 23 October, worship at 4pm; 30 October 3pm, United Service. A warm welcome to all. Phone 01935 850838 or email Geoff. mead@yahoo.com

• St Mary's Stalbridge: Morning services will now start at 9.30am. 16 October – Harvest Festival Service; 23 October – Holy Communion.

• Lower Stour Benefice: October services. Sunday, 16 October, 9.30am, Harvest Communion – Spetisbury; 9.30am, Harvest Service –Charlton Marshall; 11am, Morning Worship – All Saints Langton Long; 11am, Harvest service – Tarrant Keyneston. Sunday 23 October, 9.30am, Communion – Charlton

Church

Marshall; 9.30am, Morning Worship – Spetisbury; 11am, Communion (BCP) – Tarrant Rushton; 11am, Communion –All Saints Langton Long. Sunday, 30 October, 10.45am, Communion – All Saints Langton Long; 4pm, Songs of Praise – Charlton Marshall Parish Centre.

• 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. 16 October – Clapper Chaos (handbell group) and Gordon Amery (Gillingham Methodist Church), programme TBC; 30 October Lyndon Ford (Fareham), programme TBC. For details and updates visit the website at www.musicatgmc. org.uk or phone 07817 379006.

• Longburton Village Café: Held in the village church of St James, the cafe provides tea, coffee – free refills – and great cakes, for just £1.50 and will be open on Tuesday 18 October from 10.30am- noon.

• Sherborne Munch: St Paul’s is running its lunches for families over half-term –Tuesday and Wednesday 25 and 26 October – and is looking for volunteers to help. Anyone interested should contact St Paul’s Church office on 01935 816444 or admin@ spcsherborne.co.uk

• Sherborne Abbey flower arrangers: New arrangers with some experience are needed. A demonstration/workshop is being held in the Lady Chapel on Saturday 15 October, 10.30am-noon. Email Julie Mahoney at flower.arrangers@ sherborneabbey.com

• Holnest Church: Join us for a home-cooked roast Sunday lunch in aid of the upkeep the church on Sunday 6 November 12.30pm at Glanville’s Wootton village hall DT9 5QF. Twocourse lunch £15 for adults, £7.50 for children. Tea and coffee included. Bring own wine or drinks with glasses. Booking essential – phone Graham on 01963 210632.

Items for Sale

NEW FLUFFY BUNNY TOY.

Ideal xmas gift for baby £15. BRAND NEW LIGHT BEIGE/CREAM HANDBAG. £12 Phone 01935 412892

PINE WARDROBE FOR SALE, good condition, ideal for child’s bedroom, £35 Ono Tel: 01935 426011

BISSELL SUPREME

SWEEP, TURBO Floor Sweeper. Model 4105E Rechargeable, Hardly used..£10. Tel 01963 33160

‘INTERIORS’ MAGAZINES

100+ back copies. Perfect for interior design students. £20.00 buyer collects. 01747 830371

SPIRAL RABBIT GUARDS for hedge plants. 130 for £25. Tel 07962 130562

2 SOLID PINE BEDSIDE

CABINETS £30 foe both 1 black clothes rail approx.6ft long £20 Buyer collects. 07555 110148

COPPER 5 MINUTE CHEF

OMELETTE maker, little used £15. plz call 07843 725938

MAGAZINES: 1950s-1980s, Do it yourself, car, motorbike, 177 in all. Buyer collect Shaftesbury. Offers: 01747 631392.

VILLAGER C

WOODBURNER STOVE

VGC including new set of bricks £250 01722 790832

SOLID PINE 12 BOTTLE WINE RACK with cupboard underneath £50. Rare vinyl LP records (nothing under £5). 16 x Brass horse brasses £25. 18 x Hardback books, Kings & Queens of England from 1066 £25Telephone Tony 07598 982824

MEN’S STUBURT

WATERPROOF GOLF

SHOES. Size 7 Black/Red. Soft Spikes + Spare Spikes & Laces Almost New. £50 01935 851076

PAIR OF 70’s ATTRACTIVE

LARGE BROWN CERAMIC VASES Boulton Pottery, Devon 10.50”H Brown Glaze/Black Leaf Design £15 01935 851076

SOLID PINE, KITCHEN

TABLE & 4 chairs, good condition, sturdy. Table 122 X76 cm. Buyer to collect.01963 364632 / / 07969 193915. £50

LARGE WICKER LOG

BASKET in nice condition ideal beside an inglenook fire place. £25. Contact 07970 568679

HOME GROWN DRIED FLOWER BOUQUETS from £10. Photos 07519 130010

BROTHER AX110 ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER. Good working order with box and user guide £50 01935 812456

BABY COT ON STAND that can rock, with mattress £25 Travel cot £15 Tel: 01963 250090

BLACK GLASS 3-SHELF TELEVISION STAND. Perfect condition. £10. 01963 363978/ 07891 177741

FIBER-OPTIC CHRISTMAS TREE. 5ft. £10 01963 363978/ 07891 177741

SOLID OAK KITCHEN CUPBOARD doors and drawers. Ideal upcycling. Various sizes, all fixtures. £10 each. 01747 822345

TRIO PEKIN BANTAMS

Blandford £50. 01258 830521

SPARE WHEEL AND TYRE for Ford Fiesta size 19550/15 £50 call 01963 31656

CONTROL PANEL FOR HIVE heating. Battery powered remote control fixes to wall and can be set to operate from car etc. £20 01935 389181

ELECTRIC SEWING

MACHINE as new hardly used. 40 pounds one, Tel 01725 552297

LOVELY STAMP COLLECTION Gt Britain 1959-1970 in album Tel 01747 822422 selling cheap £30

XXL LARGE WOOL & CASHMERE Italian Gent’s Coat – cost £200 brand new, fantastic Winter bargain Tel 01747 841088 – 07855 820332 £45

2 MESS TENTS, "Cotswold Twelve", in olive canvas with groundsheets, peg/rope kits & frame tubes. Some spares. £50 the lot. 01963 23572

BOSCH DISHWASHER –

12 piece settings – VGC £50 ono – Tel 01963 364632 / 07969 193915

FRIDGE LG UNDER COUNTER. Good working condition. £35. Tel. 01258 451035

CARAVAN COVER, breathable, 14 feet -17 feet £30 Tel 01747 822345

FLOOR STANDING

DISPLAY CASE height 47” £25 01747 840830 Single mattress ex condition 30”- 72” £25

PINE WARDROBE for sale

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20

Elite’s ties too close for comfort?

Recent events may have left you wondering what on earth is going on with the Tory Party’s lurch to the right. The potential consequences could not be more alarming.

In the US the far-right seized control of the climate debate and went on to effectively crush Obama’s attempts at introducing legislation to tackle global warming. The Republican Party was dragged further to the right by wealthy fossil fuel interests including ExxonMobil and Koch Industries.

Donations were made to the campaign funds of politicians who were prepared to oppose climate legislation, and media articles were published that sowed doubt about climate change. Funds were also given to right wing think tanks that lobbied government, including the Heritage Foundation to which Margaret Thatcher once delivered an approving speech.

Ken Huggins on behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

Here in the UK our new Prime Minister has just stated her intention to expand the fossil fuel industry. She is an ex-Shell employee and of the £420,000 given to her leadership campaign £100,000 was from a former BP executive’s wife. As chief treasury secretary in 2018 she met with US think tanks that

opposed Obama’s climate legislation. As international trade secretary in 2019 she gave a speech to the Heritage Foundation, praising it just as Thatcher once did. Her new director of strategy worked at a lobbying firm founded in 2016 by David Cameron’s own director of strategy. It is now the subject of a legal action by the Good Law Project after it was awarded £580,000 of covid contracts without a competitive tender.

Donations to our new Chancellor’s 2019 General Election campaign included those from fossil fuel investors and advisers. He was once a political consultant to a hedge fund manager who makes money betting on the rise and fall of currency values. After delivering his first so-called mini-budget the Chancellor attended a private champagne reception, where guests

included hedge fund managers and property developers who are donors to Tory party funds. Just part of normal treasurer events according to the Tory party chairman, who has also just advised anyone struggling with the rising cost of living to either cut their consumption or go and find a better-paying job.

The accusation is not that our politicians are taking bribes. Nor that it is wrong for government to consult industry on matters of legislation. Rather it is that we need to be aware of the danger of too close a relationship between industry leaders and government minsters, and the undue influence that can result.

We must avoid an oligarchy where control is wielded by an elite group of individuals and corporations. We must have democratic government – of the people, by the people, for the people.

High street and local democracy

Although it is tempting to crow about national politics right now, I want to use this column to focus on an issue literally close to my heart, being a Shaftesbury resident, and that’s the state of the town’s high street.

Before all non-Shastonians turn the page, stick with me please. What the town is going through and the lack of action on the issue from Dorset councillors should strike a note of concern all through the Vale.

As you may be aware, Shaftesbury high street is really struggling. Nearly a dozen shops have closed this year. While the town thrived during the Covid-19 enforced pedestrianisation, trade has collapsed since this ended last summer.

The town council voted in favour of permanent pedestrianisation in June 2021. Like many residents, I wanted to know why nothing has

happened on the matter since. So, I sent a Freedom of Information request (an FOI) to Dorset Council to ask them what meetings the person responsible for Highways, Travel and Environment, Cllr Ray Bryan, had on the matter since June 2021.

The answer? No meetings on pedestrianisation. And therefore – unsurprisingly – no action.

What is interesting, though, is that Cllr Bryan did have three meetings on the town’s Thursday market between August and November 2021. Yet he didn’t invite either the Shaftesbury Mayor, Cllr Brown, or the town’s two Dorset councillors, Cook and Beer. Curiously, the meetings were attended by councillors from Blandford and Purbeck. He even held one of the meetings in Shaftesbury and didn’t invite anyone from the town.

What we are seeing here is local democracy failing. It’s often been suspected that the unitary administration out of Dorchester has little time for what town and parish councils have to say. We have proof of that now. Not just in the FOI response, but in the inaction concerning the number of shops closing on the high street, and

the deferral of any further consultation until the summer next year.

Other towns and parishes should take note. Don’t expect Dorset Council to act on anything you vote for.

Criticism is not just reserved for the Tory administration in Dorchester though. What have the Lib Dem county councillors achieved on the issue, on behalf of the town they represent? By the looks of it, they’ve not even secured a meeting with Cllr Bryan. Perhaps Mike Chapman, on behalf of Liberal Democrats across the Blackmore Vale, could elaborate in his next column?

Labour is committed to handing real and lasting economic and political devolution across our towns, communities and to people across the country. And we would at least be banging the door down in Dorchester to make sure we got a meeting.

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

Consent, fracking and planning…

What does local consent mean? I wonder how it might apply to fracking. I remember the debate on energy being curtailed by the superglue incident back in April. The upshot remains that in Dorset three fracking licences are in the wings. Do we believe there should be more public discussion and consensusseeking before any of them are taken up?

Consider housing and development, too. The public line on the delay to the Local Plan is the need to address the multitude of responses from the consultation plus the impact of Covid-19 and resource shortfalls. Well, help is apparently on the way as government announcements suggest that the nonsensical topdown housing targets will be abandoned. It is understood, too, that much of the loosening of the planning system mooted in the 2020 White Paper will

Mike Chapman on behalf of Liberal Democrats across the Blackmore Vale

return. It is also understood that Dorset Council is pitching to be involved in the Investment Zone initiative. Historically, though, Dorset has struggled to achieve the necessary level of land with development consent to meet its obligations. This has meant that many if not most

Neighbourhood Plans have lost much of their weight despite the Herculean efforts of those that put them together. So, how do we move from a position where those most local of plans are overridden to a position where a public consensus could be a driver for faster, better development? The trick could be much more open and transparent processes wherein communities are part of planning rather than merely have it done to them. We do have the technology but I am not sure the will is there.

I repeat the question – what does consent look like? Locally, does it mean that councils with a majority from way-back-when in a different world believe they already have a mandate? Nationally, I know that our new PM believes she has a mandate for all sorts of things which, if it exists at all, came only from a slim majority of Tory members.

Fortunately, the MPs who didn’t vote for her are more than her overall majority in the Commons. Nonetheless, the smoke from the bonfire of regulation hangs heavy in the autumn air and some dimly lit figures can be heard muttering the usual mantras and performing their ritual war dances.

The sad, sad thing is that there won’t be the money for many of the supply side and infrastructure reforms that really are needed. Improving the NHS, Social Care, Education, Transport, Defence, The Environment, Agricultural support…the list is a long one and not much of it attracts much private money. Growth in Quality of Life or Growth in Economic Volume? Right now, you can’t have both. The proof will lie in the Spend side of her equation and the sums that today don’t add.up.

Major issues with good mini-budget

Politically, I’ve known better months. The 45p element of the fiscal event was unwise – the economic rationale was tendentious and politically it was bound to be completely toxic. I would say the same for the banker bonus issue. They cast an unfortunate and unnecessary shadow – a long one I fear – over the bulk of the mini-budget which was good and likely to command widespread support. In particular, record and highly necessary government intervention as we all, householders and businesses, face massive energy cost hikes thanks to public enemy number one, the criminal and international pariah Vladimir Putin.

I strongly suspect the proposition that benefits should shrink in real terms to help balance the books will not come to pass. I absolutely believe we should get people into work and

off benefits and that work should pay. I commend the focus on growth that will help do so – it is overdue. However, I also believe people should not face destitution which they would if welfare does not keep up with inflation. Book balancing will require, I suspect, some level of public service trimming but if you’re on the breadline there’s nothing

to trim.

The war in Ukraine is going far better than many of us dared hope thanks to the valiant efforts of Ukraine’s armed forces. I know and have shared vodka with quite a few of them, including one, a father of two, killed in action in March. The UK government is rightly in the first division of Kiev’s supporters. Our advanced weaponry and training, including much conducted locally, will make a considerable difference in pushing Putin out of the territory he invaded in February. Crimea though is a far, far harder proposition. I do not believe Putin will ever give up Sevastopol. It would surely be the end of him.

I’m personally grateful to Putin for one thing – the sanction he’s put on me and several of my colleagues. It’s a badge of pride, a bit like featuring in the honours list.

More seriously, we must thank Putin for ending decades of torpor and navel gazing by NATO which, post-1989, was scratching around for a role. The organisation, resolute and united, has stood against the aggressor and is proving decisive, even though not one of its soldiers has been anywhere near the frontline.

Putin has driven two highly capable new members into the NATO fold. Our message to the poor, benighted Russian people is clear – we wish you well and want to be amicable and co-operative partners, but imperialism and wars of conquest have no part in a shared European future. If you persist with them, you will lose with tens of thousands of your young men killed to service the vanities of your appalling leadership. I salute the bravery of ordinary Russians calling time on Putin and his cronies. Bring it on.

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison

Looking outwards vital for UK

In the words of that famous Australian TV programme’s theme tune – ‘neighbours; everybody needs good neighbours…That’s when good neighbours become good friends.’ Never has a truer sentiment been expressed. Fairly regularly an email pops into my inbox concerning one neighbour being upset by the actions of their neighbour. My first piece of advice is always – predicated on the assumption that you both want a quiet life – have you spoken to them about it face to face? Some have but haven’t made the progress they’d like to see hence they turn to me, but an amazing number haven’t had any conversation. When they do, the problem resolves itself.

International relations are no different. To paraphrase Churchill, jaw is better than war.

For some, Global Britain means Isolationist Britain. Standing alone. It doesn’t and it never has. World problems cannot be addressed, still less

solved, by unilateral action. Climate change, movement of people, fostering democracy, defence, security, a values-based international system are all best addressed through the goodwill and action of the collective.

Harnessing the common response of our neighbours. Making the

impact of the whole outweigh that of the individual parts. When we left the EU, the then PM made clear we were not leaving Europe. The UK was, is and will remain a European country. We have a shared history, culture and set of values. I think we have demonstrated that, as we have done in a previous century, regarding corralling support for Ukraine.

Our closest neighbours lie to our south and west. While we all cherish, and benefit from the Special Relationship with our American cousins, it is a selfevident fact of geography, trade and history that the Special Relationship cannot be our only relationship. It is why the relationships that our permanent seat on the UN Security Council, leading role in NATO and the King’s position as Head of the Commonwealth are so important. The widespread commonality of our language and institutions such as the World Service are also key.

I have been heartened in recent

days to see the Government focus on rebuilding relations with the Republic of Ireland and with Europe. Leaving the EU, of course, meant a recalibration. It did not mean obliteration. So, I welcome the change in tone from Ministers towards the Republic of Ireland and seeking a negotiated and jointly accepted outcome to the Northern Ireland Protocol. We need to be the closest of friends with the Republic building on the ground-changing impact that the late Queen’s State Visit to Ireland began. The PM’s attendance at the new European Political Community meeting is also to be welcomed. The broad coalition of countries in attendance to discuss Ukraine, energy supply and other key issues underscored that one can be European without being a member of the EU. Let us hope that this now ushers in a new chapter in our relationships with our European partners and allies demonstrating that, in the words of the song, neighbours can indeed be good friends.

Investment Zone would be welcome

The RSPB once held a precious place in our national fabric – one of universal respect and enormous support. I still have my RSPB coffee mug from the days when I was an avid supporter!

It is my opinion that the RSPB must take care not to destroy its reputation for being an advocate of birds and nature, as I fear it will lose credibility for suggesting the Government is attacking nature without substantiating it. The same can be said for Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) attracting headlines such as ‘Dorset’s wildlife at extreme risk’ and ‘Destructive proposals’ following the Government announcement that Dorset might have an Investment Zone. I have long lobbied for investment and welcome the Investment Zone, but I also believe such accusations are unfounded and unjustified.

The much-needed economic

focus on Dorset that the Government is now showing does not and will not be affecting nature in West Dorset and in response to an interview I gave with the BBC two weeks ago, the RSPB said its campaign was based on ‘talk about relaxing planning rules and releasing land

to development’. There is no evidence other than hearsay, when these Investment Zones are simply geographical areas where trading conditions are made easier, where taxes are simplified or reduced and economic regeneration is encouraged – and we need it, hugely – and I know, from the detailed discussions I have had in Dorset that there will be no effect on nature.

Dorset, believe it or not, has one of the worst areas for poverty in the region, if not the country. In West Dorset, Covid-19 was thoroughly devastating to our local economy affecting thousands of people in a way that has not been reported. We lost about 18 per cent of our businesses during the pandemic, about 6,500 businesses before reduced to about 5,400 afterwards. Week after week, I have made the case to make sure we get the attention we deserve

for economic investment and for our council tax to be more equitable with other areas in the country, and I can’t tell you how welcome this Investment Zone is for us.

What we should be concerned about currently – in terms of nature – is that the worst bird flu outbreak in British history is upon us, right now. Thousands of birds are being culled because of this disease all over the country – including entire farms of turkeys. Responsible nature reserves are closing their gates to visitors, and we should be doing what we can to reduce this threat to all birds because the risk of avian flu to our bird population here is massive – the scale of mortality is unprecedented. One that gives me huge cause for concern and one where I would ask everyone to consider what you can do to help reduce the impact of bird flu.

Conservative MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

Conservative MP for West Dorset

Chris Loder

E T N E C N O A T Y A R T R A E R A U Q S G N I H N U H S E O W N R E W O T O K O E R T R E W O T Y K S X E T N U T D T E L I T E R E S I D E N C E L W U H A N C E N T E R U P L A L M A S T O W E R L T C O N N T H E M A R I N A T O R C H W W Z I F E N G T O W E R R E R I T H E P I N N A C L E E W E E A F I L A H K J R U B R T

R I N C E S S T O W E R R E

L T R E W O T E S O R D A A

A Z A L P L A R T N

in tech obsessive (4)

Contain at home tip about daughter (7)

Down

Former female tennis player with change of direction gets to lose vitality (7)

Pursuit to entertain a frequented joint (5)

A hotel resident overlooking street is fit (4)

Noted US general holding line for crowd (7)

After getting converted own mostly keen faith (2,3,4,2)

Note largely sumptuous characteristic of old architectural order? (5)

Slip by group ignoring book on mission (6)

Loosen a French piece of neckwear (5)

Become comfortable in finest leather (6)

Heavily built thug bringing men trouble in Georgia (7)

Warm again backward woman’s brewed

Cut piece of brisket cheerfully (4)

Get a load of papers for hearing (7)

Young woman enthralled by Arab island and Asian sheep

Fluid rests uneasily around top of shoulder giving pain (11)

rising movement in the sea too (2,4)

Fighter with speed gets to change abode

More secure having dispelled fears (5)

Inhospitable house with set of steps in wall

Greek that is beginning to feel aspect of bereavement (5)

A hero transfixing Britain – and the Britain old (6)

description of revolutionary activist? (2,5)

surprised by first sign of knowledge in

Supply excessively nosh to cover lunch’s opening (5)

obsessive

at home tip about daughter

A medal wanting name gets one eagerly excited (4)

Mixed bag a Winter Points winner

The first Winter Points match was fished at Upper Colber and it fished well despite a dawn frost and a strong upstream wind that made good presentation difficult.

More than half the 22-strong field put over 5lb in their net and it was good to see some nice roach weights as the bream were conspicuous by their absence. There is still no flow and the clear water is still a

problem with pike attacking hooked fish.

Dean Walters won the match with 14lb 8ozs of roach, rudd, perch, dace and gudgeon – a proper mixed bag from the downstream end of the last section. Second went to Ian Paulley from the second peg below Dunns Mouth with 13lb 1oz, again a mixed bag of fish, and third was Dennis Corry with 10lb 4oz from the first swim in

the lower field. All fished with a variety of baits over loose fed hemp and groundbait. No one bait proved outstanding on the day but maggot and caster, pinkie and worm were most effective.

There were four section prizes, in downstream order – Steve Harvey with 9lb 13oz: Andy Miller, 7lb 4oz: Mic Hurst, 6lb 9oz; and Jeff Sibley with 8lb 6oz.

Away day blues for North Dorset

Walcot 1st XV 32 NDRFC 1st XV 23 by Andrew Wallace Clune North Dorset 1st XV travelled to Bath-based side Walcot for what was to be another tight fixture.

The first quarter saw the teams exchange penalties with the right boot of scrum-half Sam Jones taking North up 6-3 before Walcot crossed the whitewash for the first time for a converted try to give them a 10-6 lead.

North responded with a converted try of their own when outside centre Jake Cannings went through a hole in the centres then wrong-footed the full back to dot it down under the posts. Walcot kicked a penalty at the close of half-time so the teams went to the break

locked at 13-all.

Walcot showed their intent in the opening minutes of the second half, using the wind, through the skilled boot of fly-half William Andrews. He was the pick of both teams, keeping NDRFC pinned in their own 22 for most of the second half.

Under constant pressure, North conceded two tries so the gap extended to 25-13, but with nine minutes left Sean Perry found space down the righthand flank before connecting with Adam Trevis who got the try.

Jones added the extras to once again bring North into contention, especially after Jones added another three points with a penalty.

In the closing minutes of the

match, however, Walcot scored through an intercept try, and then from a kick return from the full back, Jake Whitby, to deny North a losing bonus point with the referee blowing time with the score 32-23 to Walcot.

n The 2nd XV fared much better in Westbury where they accounted for the home side 30-14 with strong performances from Rich Miller, Ben Stokes, Toby Davies and the inside backs Tom Johnson, Ryan Riglar and Marcus Higgs

Tom Hooper was the Gritchie Brewing Company Man of the Match for the 1st XV and Ben Stokes for the seconds while Tom Judd received the Wilhelm Von Dasspiel Perpetual Challenge Shield for achieving maximum available game time.

Table tennis

Blackmore Vale Table Tennis League.

The winners in Sturminster & Hinton Angling Association’s open competition in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. The match was fished on the club stretches of the River

Stour between Upper Colber and Fiddleford. In the picture (from left) are winner Gary Taylor who weighed in with 42lb 12oz; Nick Ewers (13lb 8oz); and Andy Miller (11lb 12oz).

Emily training at high altitude

Emily Shaw from Winterbourne Houghton is sharing her love for running with children in Nepal on her gap year.

The former English Schools 3000m Champion and England international cross-country runner is passing on much of the experience gained while training with Wimborne AC, where she has been a member since 2015.

The ex-Bryanston pupil is working with the charity Right4Children. Emily, 18, is co-ordinating a project in six Nepalese schools under the banner Right2Run.

Emily said: “I believe that everyone should have the right to play sport – young and old, girls and boys.

“We see time and time again that sport has the power to break down socioeconomic barriers, cultural norms and inequalities, and the simplicity of running makes it accessible to all.”

Right2Run supports teachers and pupils and delivers weekly running sessions which cover skills, drills, games and even nutrition. Emily is using the knowledge gained as an athlete in Wimborne to coach in Nepal.

She is also drawing inspiration from female Nepalese international mountain runner Mira Rai who she has met in Kathmandu. Mira has launched an initiative

sport

to support five female athletes a year from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their skills as future trekking guides.

Emily is currently working hard to raise money for 150 pairs of training shoes, along with other sports kit, for the children she is

working with.

For anyone who would like to contribute the details are: ‘Children4ChildrenNepal’, bank sort code 40-52-40, account number 00022077. State your donation is for Right2Run.

Emotional tribute to runner Chris

by Paul Russell

Emotions ran high at Henstridge Parkrun when members of the Dorset Doddlers and Gillingham Trotters running clubs paid an emotional farewell to long-term member Chris Cussen.

Chris was popular in both clubs and well known for always being there to help

with many of the events the clubs have organised over the years, including the Wessex Ridgeway, of which Chris was race director for several years.

Dorset Doddlers chairperson Jane Ward said: “Chris meant so much to so many people, not least in the running community. He was always supportive and always

bringing his wonderful sense of humour. We have many fond memories of Chris at Parkrun, at the Grizzly race, and at the Doddlers 3 Peaks Challenge. He lives in our hearts and in the wealth of fond memories.”

Chris was a regular at Henstridge Parkrun where he was a ‘tail walker’ for the event, often accompanied by

his four-legged friend Luca. It was a fitting tribute that so many members walked the course as ‘tail walkers’, some even brought their dogs, a touch Chris would have loved.

Chris’s daughter Emma said after the event: “Dad would have loved how many Doddlers and Trotters went today. It’s wonderful to know how loved Dad was.”

Shaftesbury Ladies go down in FA Cup

Shaftesbury FC Ladies 1 Warminster Town FC Ladies 3 by Avril Lancaster

Shaftesbury Ladies put up a good performance in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup 2nd qualifying round at Coppice Street

against Warminster Town.

Bex Fry opened the scoring in the second minute before Katie Baines levelled with a stunning 20-yard shot that rocketed past Abi Footner in the Warminster goal.

Millie Spratt from the spot plus a good finish from Sophie Kelly put the South West

Premier outfit into the next round.

Shaftesbury put up a good second half showing with Baines and Nikki Castle working hard to try and get the ‘Rockies’ back in the tie.

The Ladies’ next home game is against Dorchester Town on Sunday 16 October.

Emily Shaw is in Nepal and seeking to raise money for sports kit for children she is working with

Antiques & Collectibles

Items with Royal link make £2,800

Clarke’s October auction found favour with bidders far and wide, with bids in the room, on the phone and on internet platforms.

A pair of Indian silver photo frames featuring images of his highness Maharaja Holkar Yestwant Rao II of Indore and Maharaja of Kolhapur Shahaja II, both consigned along with a display of Indo-Persian Mughal steel-headed arrows from a Dorset family who were presented with them direct from the Indian royal family, both sold to a London buyer for £2,800 including premium.

In the automobilia section a group of photographs and ephemera featuring the A J S works rider R L G Graham, consigned by a family member, sold to a collector for £170. A wonderful collection of pre-

and post-Second World War Alvis car sale brochures from a Dorset family achieved just over £1,000.

A fine selection of French animal bronze figures, fit to grace any desk or country house hall table, achieved strong prices ranging from £20 to £900.

The Asian market still features strongly with numerous UK and overseas buyers vying for more than 200 lots with top honours going to a Chinese blue and white bowl and cover for £500.

Clarke’s is taking entries for all future sales and any enquiries for consignment, probate or insurance valuations and part- or full house clearances should phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109.

Fine wine in auction

Advertiser’s

cellared.

The auction includes cases of Piper Heidsieck champagne, Chateauneuf-duPape, Chassagne-Montrachet and Vosne-Romanee, to name but a few.

The stock from a New Forest independent wine merchant’s shop features in Charterhouse’s auction on Wednesday 2 November.

“There are hundreds of bottles off red and white wine, along with assorted spirits such as Conker Gin, most of which are being sold without reserve,” said Richard Bromell. “This represents a fabulous opportunity for bidders to stock up some great wines ready for dinner and other parties over the festive season and into the New Year.”

All the bottles and cases were bought as stock for the independent wine merchant this year so are in great condition ready to be enjoyed rather than being poorly

The wine and spirits are being sold in the Charterhouse Salerooms –buyers can bid there or live online via www.charterhouseauction.com where all the lots will be available in due course.

Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for its November specialist auctions including Asian Art on 2 November followed by Silver, Jewellery and Watches on 3 November and with Antiques and Interiors on 4 November.

For valuations, help and advice on these auctions contact Richard Bromell and the team at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset on 01935 812277 or via info@ charterhouse-auction.com

Clothes, hats, shoes, fabrics and more besides

Acreman St. Antiques Auction Sherborne is holding its specialist Textile, Fashion & Apparel Auction on Friday 21 October with viewing on Thursday 20 October 10am5pm.

This is predominantly a one-owner sale of mostly clothing from the Victorian and Edwardian era, 1920s to 1950s, up to 1970s and 1980s. Hats, shoes and fabrics from the 1960s and 1970s and antique fabrics and lace are also on offer.

Acreman is holding its General Antiques & Collectors Auction on Friday 28 October with viewing on Thursday 27 10am-5pm. It will include jewellery, silver and watches, paintings and prints, ephemera including stamps and postcards, coins, Oriental items and collectables.

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

Acreman can take in everything from single items and complete collections up to full house clearances at competitive rates. It also offers free valuations every

Collection of vintage hats

Wednesday 10am-4pm on items individuals are considering for auction at Acreman Auction, 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3PH.

EDWARDIAN

Folk

Victorian silk and lace

Duke’s last call for coins and medals

Duke’s of Dorchester is inviting final entries for its Coins and Medals auction on Friday 18 November.

Some exceptional lots have already been consigned including an October 1918 Military Cross group awarded to Temporary 2nd Lieut John William Willey DLI, who signed up at 17 and under age. On 24 October 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for re-organising his battalion after his commanding officer was wounded. The attack successfully continued thanks to his level headedness and quick thinking. The collection will come to auction estimated at

£800-£1,200.

An exceedingly rare Second World War Submariners DSM, another highlight of the auction, is estimated at £2,400-£2,800.

It was awarded to Petty Officer Charles Payne, who having survived the sinkings of HMS Pandora and HMS Olympus, even swimming seven miles back to Malta, was killed onboard HMS Traveller aged 31.

Anyone who owns coins or medals and would like confidential free advice or more information about the auction should phone Julian Smith 01305 265080 or email julian.

PASTIMES

This 1918 Military Cross group awarded to Temporary 2nd Lieut John William Willey DLI is being sold by Duke’s Auctioneers

Hardy fellows from plains of southern Africa

by Sally Gregson

As the days shorten, the temperatures cool, and the garden starts to shut down for the winter, there are fewer flowers to greet a sunny autumn morning, fewer to make into bunches for the kitchen table or cheer a gardener’s heart. But Schizostylus is one such. The unpronounceable name has recently changed to Hesperantha, bringing muchneeded relief to those who ‘hate Latin names’. In truth there is never a ‘right’ pronunciation. Plant names are not a language. Hesperantha flowers right at the end of the year, starting in September as the nights lengthen, opening its flowers

from the bottom of the stem up to the tip around Christmas time. Often our autumn gales and heavy rain damage these special flowers, so many people cut off the spikes and arrange them in red and pink bunches for the house.

They are plants of the South African plains, growing in the wild on the banks of streams among grasses. And that is where they excel. Despite their exotic heritage, they are tough plants. They are completely frost-hardy here in the UK, although they prefer a slightly less-than-damp soil, and bright open sunshine.

All summer, hesperantha make lots of foliage that mostly

Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’

resembles grass, but with wider leaves. In the wild their flowers are mostly shades of coral red and pink. But European plant breeders have selected out some good, strong colours and named them. There’s H. coccinea ‘Major’ with light coral-red flowers at a typical height of

Home & Garden

50cm, which quickly bulks up to form a wonderful colour contrast with the royal-blue flowers of Ceratostigma, or the variegated leaves of Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ as it reddens for autumn.

Then H. coccinea ‘Jennifer’ has been selected for its strong coral-pink flowers that stand out among faded blue grasses such as Panicum ‘Prairie Sky’ with its china-blue leaves. And H. coccinea ‘Pallida’ whose palest pink flowers are streaked with white shows up well beneath the last flowers of that repeatflowering rose, Rosa ‘Mutabilis’. The pinks glance off each other throughout the remainder of the autumn.

Hesperantha are easy to propagate – divide the dormant rhizomes in spring. Re-plant the divisions into retentive garden soil enriched with plenty of garden compost, allowing space for them to expand, and water them well to settle them. And wait for next autumn.

It’s tree planting time again!

by Sally Gregson

Now, a few weeks and months after the last fiery breaths of the drought, it’s time to take a salutary look back at the situation in the garden. The heat and desiccating winds have left a legacy of poorly plants. Some trees lost their leaves rather too soon, while others have simply died.

A quick way of working out which parts of a seemingly dead tree are merely biding their time, is to use the thumbnail test. Scratch a centimetre of skin off the top of a brown stem. Is it brown underneath? Try halfway up the length of the branch. Is it brown underneath? And then, as a last hope, scratch the top skin off the lower limbs or branches. Is it still brown underneath? This exercise repeated all over will give you an idea of the living shape of what remains. If the conclusion is negative, and the tree is doomed, dig it out completely, removing as much of the root

structure as possible. Only then turn buckets-full of garden compost into the hole.

And then find a new tree. In these long, dark evenings it is a pleasure to trawl through the websites and catalogues to find a tree which will tolerate the given conditions. Be careful to analyse exactly whether the soil is basically heavy clay, loam, or free-draining sand.

October is the ideal time to plant a tree, especially in light, sandy soils – it will/should be watered naturally throughout the winter and get itself established. In heavy soils, it’s better to wait until spring when the soil is not waterlogged and is beginning to warm up. Loam soil is a gardener’s delight – it can be worked at any time during the winter.

In light soils, including loam, cherries and almonds enjoy drier roots. For heavy soils it might be better to consider crab apples, Sorbus commixta or hollies. Check your choice

online, especially favouring the RHS website for accurate information.

Another important factor is the amount of light and shade a tree will tolerate. Acers, Cercidiphyllum and Cornus are happy in light shade. And Yew – Taxus baccata – will grow away in draining soil in dark shade.

Dig a big hole, at least twice the size of the root-ball of the

Japanese Acers growing in the shade

bare-root tree; position it in the hole at the same depth it was potted; place a stout stake at a slanting angle into the prevailing wind and tie it in; back fill with the soil and compost and water it very well immediately and every dry week or two.

Its roots will steadily move out into its new home, and it will leaf up next spring to bring you joy.

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Garlic Pansies & Polyanthus Roses, Perennials & Shrubs. Stockists of Kings, Franchi and Fothergill Budget Seeds, Potting Compost. Large selection of pots. Open daily 10am– 3 pm. Langton Long Blandford Forum Dorset DT11 9HR. Telephone 01258 452513

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Pets

What does being a veterinary nurse involve?

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

Veterinary nurses are essential members of the veterinary team and they bring their own unique skills to enhance the running of the practice and to patient care. A love of animals and their well-being is essential but the ability to learn and interact with their owners is also important.

Being a veterinary nurse involves many varied skills. These can range from cleaning and administration work through to inpatient care, anaesthetic monitoring, nurse appointments and lab work.

A minimum level of exam grades are required to enrol on the course and, because it is such a practical qualification, employment by, or attachment to, a practice is a requirement. Nursing qualifications are either at degree level, with periodic work placements, or as an apprenticeship with day release to college. Further qualifications in critical care or physiotherapy,

for instance, are available and it is a requirement for all qualified nurses to complete further training each year.

Veterinary nurses are not trainee vets. They are a profession in their own right and provide unique skills which are different to vets. There is a lot of overlap of skills, but they are generally more involved in the individual care of animals in the practice for operations or as inpatients.

Being a vet nurse requires a level of responsibility and self-motivation. While vets are the decision makers in terms of treatment decisions, nurses are involved in this decision making and their perspective and experience can help in formulating a treatment plan.

Nurses also have a lot of ‘face to face’ contact with clients running nurse clinics where, typically, they will do post-op checks, claw clips and give advice on worming, fleas and diet. Many practices require nurses to be competent at

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Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.

Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border

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Veterinary nurses are not trainee vets – they are a profession in their own right. PHOTO: Arvydas Lakacauskas/Pixabay

reception and telephone answering. Good communication, within the team and with clients, is essential.

Salaries generally start at minimum wage – or may even be apprenticeship wage – until qualification and, even then, salaries frequently lag behind those of human nurses despite the extensive skill set most vet nurses attain. However, overtime is usually paid for in addition to basic salary and opportunities within industry or more specialised fields increase earning potential.

It is important to realise that the negative aspects of the job

KOI CARP,all sizes from £5 Tel 07745 898265

LOOKING FOR GOOD HOME FOR TWO BLACK KITTENS age 4 months all vaccinated and wormed .Preferably to go together . Call 01963 32231 for further details

PEDIGREE LABRADOR PUPPIES for sale, wormed and microchipped, will make excellent working dogs or pets, blacks and yellows, both parents hip/eye tested and can be seen, £950 phone 07800 755862 / 01458 253156

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involve dealing with suffering, clients’ powerful emotions, euthanasia and unsociable hours such as night-time emergencies and weekends. These aspects are often balanced by the pleasure of seeing the recovery of a sick animal or the gratitude of a relieved client.

Becoming a vet nurse is a rewarding job and allows you to work with, and care for, animals all day, and you will feel like you have achieved something at the end of each day. But it can be stressful and upsetting, and the level of education and work required is not always balanced by the salary paid.

FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER PUPPIES. Microchipped and jabbed. Excellent temperament. Parents, hips and eye checked. Loving homes only. 07736 886736

C

Mid Dorset Branch Cats Protection

CATS LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES

Arlo (two). Very affectionate lovely boy who would fit into most families

Kittens. We have kittens available. If you would like to register interest, please visit our website and fill in the enquiry form, www. cats.org.uk/ blandford Please do not phone as we are all volunteers and can’t always answer. Thank you.

Hattie (one). Looking for an understanding home

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. n Grey tortie female, missing from Weymouth since July. n Grey male, missing from

Downwood, since 27 September n 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. n Pale ginger tabby/white, Stalbridge, currently being fed by finder.

We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10 and DT11, SP7 and SP8, and BH21. Phone: 01258 268695.

Tip #25 How to provide mental stimulation – nosework

by Helen Taylor

Using a portion of your dog’s food – if dry fed – or low-value healthy treats, throw a treat a few metres away with your dog watching. As he runs to get it, say ‘find it’. Repeat this many times, gradually introducing more difficulty – for example, different floor colour or surface, and more distance.

Once he understands and reacts to the cue –which, to him, should mean ‘it’s worthwhile to use your nose now’ – start making it harder. Hide multiple pieces of food – in easy places to start with – when he’s not looking, then encourage him to search the whole room by following your hand.

Watch his body language closely. When he does a ‘hook back’ – a ‘double-take’ as he goes past something and then registers the smell and doubles back – help and encourage him to search that area, and always celebrate his finds.

Put food under a yoghurt pot – initially with him watching – and encourage him to find it. Add other pots and set it up with him out of the room. If your dog is toy-motivated, you can also do most of these exercises using a toy as the ‘bait’ and/or the reward.

n Helen Taylor BSc(Hons) ADipCBM; Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB); ABTC register of Clinical Animal Behaviourists and Animal Training Instructors; full member APBC and APDT (881); phone: 07951 985193; help@helentaylordorset.co.uk; www.helentaylordorset.co.uk

Exciting entries in food awards

by Barbara Cossins

The 2022 Love Local Trust Local Awards are just beginning. Some of the finest Dorset food producers alongside some exciting new ones are all in this year’s entry mix. We have some wonderful stories from the 2022 entries, all with their own inspiring journeys to tell the wider community.

Just a few days ago, we gathered all our sponsors to do a blind tasting and sample the food from the award entrants. Delicious chocolates, melt in the mouth brownies, crunchy macaroons, delicious cheeses, real milk, incredible honey, home-made gin, beer and wine were all in the mix.

So now for the hard part as the judges will give up their valuable time and visit all our awards classes throughout October and November. They will also judge the other classes including Conservation &

Sustainability, Business Growth & Development, Farm Shop and Hospitality.

We shall host a presentation evening and dinner at Dorset College of Agriculture, Kingston Maurward, on 9 February 2023 to celebrate the winners’ achievements. Everyone is welcome and more information and full details of how to attend will be on the website soon.

With the global food challenges we’re facing at the moment, it’s even more important to help tell the stories

and promote these local, independent businesses that put their love and soul into everything they produce. It is a never-ending job to get one’s head around social media – and extremely time-consuming – so I can see why people shy away from it, but it’s a necessary evil for all businesses in today’s world. Building new websites is yet another expense when businesses face these rising costs, so rest assured, we will be telling their story for them. We don’t want all these amazing Dorset producers to be the best kept secret around. Let’s tell the world!

Remember how the Love Local Trust Local label all began? It was back in 2018 at our Open Farm Sunday when members of the public were telling us they wanted to support British local food producers but didn’t know who or what they could trust

anymore. That was when we set about doing something about it. A label created for farmers by farmers.

It will be our turn again in 2023 to host Open Farm Sunday and I’m expecting it to be bigger than ever. People are interested in everything that is local and we will be showcasing what we have right here in Dorset. So a date for your diary is Sunday 11 June 2023. Make sure to find out which farms near you are open on that day, as it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the farmers and hear their stories.

And don’t worry, I will keep reminding you, as I know it’s a little way off.

Keep eating local everyone. n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local; www.thelangtonarms.co.uk; www.rawstonfarmbutchery. co.uk; www.lovelocaltrustlocal awards.co.uk

CELEBRATING SOMERSET GOODNESS, TEALS OFFERS RESPONSIBLY SOURCED GOODS FROM FANTASTIC LOCAL PRODUCERS.

At Teals, you’ll find a light and airy restaurant with an all-day rolling seasonal menu of delicious dishes prepared in our own kitchen from local produce. Our food to-go counter offers freshly made seasonal salads and beautifully crafted deli fare. Not forgetting our West Country-roasted organic barista coffee and cakes galore.

Explore our gift shop, which is stacked with independent label and eco-friendly gifts and an array of inspiring food, drink and lifestyle books and gifts.

Our foodmarket shares the season’s bounty from local growers and producers, alongside our butchery, cheese counter and bottle shop showcasing local ciders, spirits, wine and craft beers.

We’re so much more than a delicious meal, we’re a destination shopping experience set in beautiful surroundings with a traditional orchard.

look forward to meeting you soon!

OPENING TIMES

Food Market/Gifting/Food

Comforting bake for colder nights

by Rebecca Vincent

As the evenings draw in and get cooler I love a nice comforting bake, and this creamy gratin with swede and turnips hits the spot, both tasty and satisfying. Swede and turnips aren’t usually at the top of people’s favourite vegetables but give them a chance!

Swede is a great source of vitamins C, E and the B vitamins, potassium, calcium, magnesium and fibre, and contains small but notable amounts of phosphorus and selenium.

Turnips have a similar nutritional profile and are good sources of vitamin C, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.

Swede and turnip gratin (Serves 2-4)

½ medium swede

1 medium turnip

½ medium white onion

1 garlic clove (finely grated)

Leaves from a small bunch of thyme

150ml double cream (or plant-based cream)

Pinch of salt and black pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 180

Swede and turnip gratin is great served as part of a roast dinner

degrees. Peel the swede and turnip, cut lengthways and finely slice using a mandolin or carefully by hand. Peel and finely slice the onion.

Mix the garlic, thyme and pepper into the cream and set aside.

Layer the slices of turnip, swede and onion in an ovenproof dish. Halfway through pour over half of the cream mixture – giving it a stir first to ensure the flavourings are evening distributed. Continue to layer the vegetables, aiming to

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finish with a layer of swede, and pour over the remaining mixture. Cover the dish with tin foil and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and return to the oven for a further 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the top is golden.

Lovely served as part of a roast dinner!

As some of you may know I have The Wellbeing Centre at Cole’s Yard in Wincanton, and we are hosting our first half-day

retreat on Sunday 6 November. The Lantern Retreat with Kate Ward and myself will include pilates, relaxation, breathwork, some nutrition tips, crafts and refreshments, and will run from 2.30-5.30pm.

For more information or to book please email Kate on katewardmassage@gmail. com

n Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons); BANT-registered nutritionist; phone: 07515 019430; www. rebeccavincentnutrition.co.uk

Enford Farm Shop

Durweston DT11 0QW

Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more.

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in fresh that week.

BBQ packs also available.

Half a pig approx £120.

Chicken feeds etc available.

Open Wednesday to Saturday 8.30am-4pm.

Outside shop with self service for essentials open daily 8am-8pm

Health & Wellbeing

How to beat procrastination

by Alice Johnsen

Many years ago we were repairing a barn. It was not an easy job and there was a lot of what can best be described as ‘faffing about’. One of our team suddenly declared: “You just have to get in among it.” We all knew what he meant and the barn was fixed.

It’s a phrase that has stayed with me.

When faced with challenging, demanding, fiddly or just plain boring tasks, we procrastinate. Anxiety grows. The thoughts preceding the task become bigger than the task itself, not to mention distracting and stress-creating. But when we actually start the task our focus shifts away from anticipation to the task itself, whatever it is. We become engaged and in the present by doing rather than thinking how much we didn’t want to do something because we’re

absorbed both mentally and physically.

The procrastination before the doing can happen in so many parts of our lives. Starting a difficult conversation. Starting a new job. Starting your revision. Starting a new business or fitness plan. The list is endless, but the point remains the same. Anticipation is usually worse than the event.

How else can we help ourselves if something like this is hanging over us? A mindset I use regularly with clients is breaking things down to

smaller tasks or phases. To quote Henry Ford – he of Ford Cars and, as my newsletter readers will have read last week, he of the creator the five-day week from what was originally a six-day week: “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”

So, if you have a task lying ahead of you that is worrying you and becoming bigger in your mind than you know it to really be, try that approach. Try breaking it into phases and setting a target for each phase so you can monitor your

progress. With all the distractions of 21st century life, we need all the help we can get to focus and complete tasks. Which leads me to my third top time management tool which is setting a limit for tasks.

Accepting the theory any task can fill any time allowed, by setting yourself a realistic time limit for a task you can really help your focus and productivity.

n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne; phone: 07961 080513; email: alicejohnsen.co.uk

Breaking a large task down into manageable chunks can help get it done PHOTO: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: The phantom of the forest

by Susie Curtin

It is not often that I set out into the woods with an agenda, but I have recently discovered a part of the forest that is home to a goshawk, and I feel sure on such a bright sunny autumn day as this, that if I sit here quietly from my vantage point in its territory, I will be rewarded with another brief glimpse of its magnificence.

For those of you who have been fortunate enough to witness the gymnastic, shapeshifting flight of this large hawk darting through the tree trunks, you will know why I have been left wanting more.

In a lifetime of bird watching, I have barely seen these mysterious hawks despite always looking out for them whenever I have been out in extensive woodlands.

Although they are the largest of all our hawks, they are the most secretive and elusive, thus their nickname of ‘phantom of the forest’.

But last week, just by chance, I happened to spot a pair flying tandem here over the treetops, their distinctive broad, barred wings clearly visible against the blue sky.

Then, beneath the canopy, I watched in awe as one of them sped effortlessly through the

branches and tree trunks, folding and unfolding its wings and tail as it did so.

With its storm-grey back, fierce crimson eyes and a flash of white barring, twice the size of its sparrowhawk cousin, it was unmistakable.

Then, like a phantom, it vaporised amid the conifers and was impossible to detect again. It was over in a couple of seconds, but the thrill of that moment stayed with me for days. A goshawk is the epitome of ‘wildness’.

These extraordinary birds were once driven to extinction

in the UK, and they are still the most persecuted of our birds of prey, for they are ferocious hunters taking pheasant, corvids, pigeons, squirrels and rabbits following a long agile chase or a sudden ambush.

Deliberate re-introductions and falconry escapees have enabled the population to recover slightly, but still there are only about 400 breeding pairs.

Late morning has now become late afternoon, and I have only had a momentary glimpse of my hawk through the birch canopy – a sighting that left more doubt than certainty.

Was that really them?

My attention is drawn to the late flying dragonflies, the speckled wood and comma butterflies that grace the path, a solitary red kite and a pair of buzzards that soar on the thermals and disappear.

The spotted flycatchers have

left for home in tropical Africa and there are just a handful of swallows to be seen as autumn draws in.

Eventually, I call it a day, gather my belongings and follow the track alongside the field margin.

As I turn the corner, still feeling slightly disappointed at not having had a good sighting, there before my eyes is a white hart and a small herd of fallow deer. They stop to look at me before trotting deep into the undergrowth.

Immediately my disappointment gives way to gratitude – such an unexpected delight to end the day. Perhaps it is enough after all just to know that my hawks are here whether I see them or not. It has still been a therapeutic, peaceful day immersed in nature.

n Dr Susie Curtin, email curtin.susanna@gmail.com

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Health & Wellbeing

If Napoleon had this cream, history may have been different…

by Fiona Chapman

One of the highlights of walking in the woods in autumn is coming across glossy, tactile and richly coloured horsechestnuts or conkers.

I so understand the obsession of little boys – and girls in my case – of finding the biggest, strongest one to play conkers in the playground. Sadly, you are probably not allowed to do that anymore. Now I just pick them up and rub them – they are rather like worry beads and very comforting to hold.

Aesculus hippocastanum is the glorious Latin name for the tree. The hippocastanum being the ‘horse’ bit of the name. The bark and the conkers themselves have been used for many years as a herbal remedy for varicose veins, haemorrhoids and venous insufficiency. Edward Bach also used ‘white chestnut’ flower remedy for circling, obsessive thoughts and insomnia. I use this flower essence lots and it really can just calm the mind if you have it in some water by your bed, allowing sleep to come. I will often put it into sleep mix tincture as well, particularly

when the brain needs calming.

There have been extensive clinical trials on Aesculus. It can be taken internally to help relieve any congestion in the veins where there is a dull aching and full feeling, particularly around the liver, where it will help with any headaches associated with congestion of the blood. In specific cases it can be used for high blood pressure. It is very astringent and the tincture can really make it feel as though all your cells shrink and pucker up.

I mostly use it in creams for varicose veins and haemorrhoids with good results. I use a calendula oil base with aesculus tincture mixed with witch-hazel water and then add lavender and frankincense essential oils. I also like to add

a little bit of capsicum oil which is definitely slightly off-piste! Chilli is excellent for stagnating blood – it relieves pain and itching and will help to shrink down the vein. If using it for haemorrhoids, it unquestionably takes your mind off the pain of the piles and is a remarkably quick and soothing cream.

It is said that Napoleon was

suffering from incredibly painful strangulated piles, constipation, cystitis and exhaustion before the Battle of Waterloo – all of which are linked. History may have been very different if he had had an effective cream for his piles! n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

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The horse-chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum

PHOTO: WikimediaImages/Pixabay

Motoring

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS

ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

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Conditioning

Cars

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Motoring

2018

miles, Audi drive select, 19in alloys, Audi Exclusive carpet/floor mats/leather package (Valcona leather), S-line sport seats, S-line suspension, front & rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, satnav, full service history

2018 (18) MITSUBISHI ASX 1.6l Petrol, manual, 5dr, 115 BHP, SUV, ONLY 12,900 miles, FULL service history, air con, 18in alloys, Android & Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, DAB radio, cruise control, keyless system, panaramic roof, satnav, Rear view camera ……… £13,995

2017 (17) TOYOTA YARIS DESIGN 1.3l Petrol, 2dr, ONLY 13,000 miles, manual, 98 BHP, 16in alloys, air con, Bluetooth, cruise control, reversing camera, multi-information display, service history, £30 road tax……… £11,495

MOTORBIKES WANTED Non runners and Unwanted Phone Keith on 07966 213344

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

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

VW TRANSPORTER VAN

1987 E Reg for sale. MOT. Partially converted into camper van. Great project for summer 2023! £3,000 ono. 07872 171111

TRANSIT DIESEL CREW

BUS. Ex fire brigade long wheel base diesel 54,000 miles W reg £800. Similar for spares £500. 07813 864844

SMALL TRAILER MESH

SIDE £200 ono. 07963 507532

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

2005 VW POLO DUNE 1.2 Petrol Manual Silver, only 82K miles! FSH, 12 months MOT, Air Con, BBS Alloys, PAS, Electric Windows, 45mpg, Great Condition. £2650 ono. 01747 824348 / 07907 830264

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2018 (18) FORD ECOSPORT 1l Petrol, SUV, 5dr, 35,000 miles, manual, 123 BHP, 17in alloys, cruise control, Ford DAB navigation system, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, automatic lights, keyless start, full dealer service history……. £11,995

2009 (09) BMW 320D CONVERTIBLE 2l diesel, 2dr, manual, 18in alloys, 175 BHP, full service history, M-Series interior, Bluetooth w/voice controls, heated front seats, wind deflector, rear parking sensors, 87,000 miles……. £6,495

2019 (68) PEUGEOT 108 COLLECTION 1l petrol, manual, 2dr, ONLY 8,000 MILES, 1 private owner, FULL service history,

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003

Notice of application for the GRANT of a PREMISES LICENCE

Proposed licensable activities: Sale of Alcohol off the premises

Name of applicant: Cameron Cavendish Fine Wines Ltd

Address of Premises:

UNIT 3 CHERITON FARM, MARSH LANE, SOUTH CHERITON, SOMERSET, POSTCODE: BA80BJ

Date by which Responsible Authorities and other persons may make representations: 27th October 2022

A record of the application made to the Licensing Authority will be kept on a register at the address given below and the register may be inspected during normal office hours. All representations regarding this application MUST BE IN WRITING and sent to:

South Somerset District Council Licensing Department

The Council Offices

Brympton Way Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and is subject to an unlimited fine on summary conviction for the offence.

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Announcements

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT PAUL HAWTREE & SEBASTIAN HAWTREE

have applied to Dorset Council for a new premises license in respect of Riverside Garage

West Stour

Gillingham

Dorset

SP8 5RJ

For the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 06:30-22:00 Monday to Saturday and 07:30-22:00 on Sunday.

Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations in writing to, The Licensing Section, Dorset Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ within 28 days from the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected during normal office hours at the above address, or online at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk

It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (£5000).

Announcements

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is given that The Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society Ltd. has applied to Dorset Council for a new premises license in respect of “1855”, formerly the NatWest Bank, Market Cross, Sturminster Newton, DT10

1AT for the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 9.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Monday to Saturday each week. Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by e-mailing: licensingteamb@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or writing to: Licensing, Dorset Council, County Hall, Colleton Park, Dorchester Dorset DT1 within 28 days from the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected by contacting the licensing Section during normal office hours or on: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/406629 It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum fine on summary conviction is unlimited. DATE 22nd September, 2022.

THANK YOU

THANK YOU MAURICE HENRY LARCOMBE

Maurice’s wife and family wish to thank all those who attended his funeral and celebration of his life.

Donations for WELDMAR HOSPICECARE were £700.

Sherborne and District Branch RNLICollection Week

Sherborne Branch RNLI collected recently (26 September - 1 October), outside Sainsbury's, Waitrose, the Post Office and Castle Gardens in Sherborne. They would like to say a huge thank you to each and everyone who donated and are absolutely delighted to say that they raised an amazing £3,639.56 for which the RNLI have been extremely grateful.

MEMORIAM

BRIAN AUDLEY - 10th October 2013

The passing years never take away the sorrow of losing you.

I think of you every day, and my love is always with you. All my love darling. Jean and all the family x x

DEATHS

HILLABY

Joan Ann

Peacefully on 4th October, 2022 aged 91 years. Beloved wife of John and much loved aunt. All enquiries to A.J. Wakely & Sons, Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

DEATHS

DAVID EDWARD ENGLAND

Aged 91 of Sturminster Newton sadly passed away on 6th September. A much loved Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad. Service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday 17th October at 10.40am.

DOREEN MARY POTTS

Who died peacefully on Thursday 29th September. A celebratory service of Doreen’s life will be held in St. John’s Church Hindon on Friday 4th November at 12.00 noon.

All are welcome to share this remembrance of Doreen. Please wear colourful clothes.

DU PRÉ, MARGUERITE

Died peacefully at St. Denis Lodge Shaftesbury on 17th September 2022.

Thanksgiving service at Tisbury Methodist Chapel on Friday 21st October at 11 am. No black to be worn please. Cheque donations in Marguerite’s memory for Tisbury Surgery c/o Chris White Funeral Directors 12 South Street, Wilton, SP2 0JS

PIKE Ann Rose

Passed away on the 8th October 2022, aged 83 years.

Loyal Wife to her late Husband Leslie, loving Mother to Nicholas, Christopher and Matthew, Mother in Law to Rosie and Tracey, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Funeral Service to be held at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday, 1st November at 2 pm. Family flowers only please but donations, if desired, to Dementia UK. Personal messages, memories and donations may be made online at www.oharafunerals.co.uk

Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors 01202 882134

NOYES Roger

Died peacefully on 1st October, 2022, aged 83.

Much loved husband of Pippa for 61 years, loving father to David and Amanda and devoted Groger to Harry, Robert, Toby, Lucy and William. Funeral and Service of Thanksgiving will be held at Sherborne Abbey on Wednesday 19th October, 2022 at 1.00pm. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of Roger for British Trust for Ornithology and Sherborne Abbey, may be left at the abbey or sent c/o A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ. Donate online at www.ajwakely.co.uk

DEATHS

PORTER Sheila Mary

Died at home on Saturday 1st October aged 75 years. Dearly loved wife of Charlie and sister Jean. Beloved aunt of Claire, Jane and Louise, adored great aunt of Ben, Ella and Amy. She will be sorely missed by all her family and friends. Private family funeral at her request

MARILYN WINTER

Beloved wife of Trevor passed away peacefully at home on the 25th September, age 72. Funeral at Yeovil Crematorium on the 25th October at 12 noon (no black clothing). Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to Weldmar Hospice Care (www.weldmarhospicecare.org)

KEN NOTLEY

Passed away peacefully on 25th September, aged 93. Much loved and sadly missed. Father, grandfather and greatgrandfather. Funeral service to take place at Methodist Church, Sturminster Newton, on Wednesday 19th October at 12pm. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Care of Peter Jackson Funeral Services, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB.

PETER PITMAN

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Peter Frederick Pitman on the 4th October aged 81 years, formerly of Milborne Port, Stalbridge and Gillingham. Peter was a loving Partner, Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad who will be sadly missed by all his family and many friends. Peter’s funeral service will be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Tuesday, 25th October at 11.20am, followed by refreshments at the British Legion Club, Gillingham. Family flowers only please, but donations welcome for The Donkey Sanctuary or Cancer Research UK. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757.

LEONARD GEORGE COOPER (LEN)

Passed away at home on 4th October 2022, aged 83. A much-loved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will be sadly missed by so many friends and family. Funeral Service at All Saints Church, Maiden Bradley on 27th October 2022 at 2 pm. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to The Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital can be sent to L.C. Hill & Son, Water St, Mere. BA12 6DZ

RAY PITMAN

Formerly of ‘Joans Shop’ Henstridge

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ray on Monday 26th September 2022. A Funeral Service will be held at Henstridge Parish Church on Tuesday 18th October at 11am, followed by a Wake at Henstridge Village Hall. Family and Friends all welcome. Family flowers only, donations if desired to Henstridge Primary School. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High St, Henstridge BA8 0RB.

NELLIE MARY TARBIN

on 4th October 2022 peacefully in Blandford Community Hospital, aged 93 years of Tarrant Gunville. A much loved wife to the late Roy. Also a loving mum, nan and great nan who will be sadly missed by all family and friends. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Wednesday 26th October at 11.00am. No flowers please but donations if desired for Dorset Deaf Children's Society may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or send cheques payable to the charity c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

SUTTON

John Christopher of Sturminster Newton

Passed away peacefully in Yeovil District Hospital on 1st October, 2022, aged 91 years.

A beloved husband of the late Ivy and much loved dad to Ann and her husband Chris. Funeral Service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium, on Monday 24th October, 2022 at 11.20am. Family flowers only please.

Donations in memory of John for the R.N.L.I. may be sent c/o A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ. (Please make cheques payable to the charity)

MICHAEL JONES

Passed away unexpectedly at home, on 12th September, aged 74 years. Dearly loved husband of Linda, much loved father of Nathan and Matthew, much loved brother to Joanna, beloved Granddad of Aurora, Wilf and Pandora and loved cousin of Caroline and Cynthia. A Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Michael’s life to take place at the Church of St. Mary Shroton on Friday 28th October at 11.00am. Private Cremation. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, for The British Heart Foundation. Donations may be made online at www.funeraldirector.co.uk/michael-jones or sent to Lesley Shand Funeral Service, 28 East Street, Blandford, Dorset DT11 7DR

DEATHS

MOORSE

Douglas Frederick

Peacefully on 1st October after a very comfortable stay at Fir Villas. A dearly loved Husband, Dad and friend to many. Funeral service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday 27th October, at 12:00 noon. Enquiries to Brister & Son Funeral Directors Tel:01935 812647

MARGARET HAZEL HAMMOND

Passed away peacefully on 24th September 2022 in Alderney Hospital, Poole, formerly of Shaftesbury. A much loved mum to Richard. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Wednesday 19th October at 1pm. Family flowers only please but donations if desired to The Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or send cheques payable to the charity c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

MICHAEL FRANCIS "Mick"

Sadly passed away after a short illness on the 13th August. A much loved husband to Mon, Father to Michelle, Brad, Greg and Jordan and Grandad to Ash, Beth, Tyler, Ava, Harley, Maisie and Flynn. A private funeral has already taken place, thank you for the kind donations to Marie curie.

We would also like to thank the staff at Shaftesbury Memorial Hospital, Caroline from the Weldmar Trust and Wendy and her team from the Marie curie. Please accept this as our personal acknowledgement.

BRIDLE MARGARET ROSE (nee Percy)

Passed peacefully away on 29th September 2022, at her home in Puddletown, aged 91 years.

Much loved mum to Ruth and Andy and a very loving grandmother to Jason and Nick.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Margaret’s funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Puddletown on Wednesday 19th October 2022 at 11.30am. Family flowers only please but donations made in Margaret’s memory will be equally divided between Puddletown Church and Puddletown Surgery and may be sent by cheque made payable to Woods Dorchester Ltd, 11a Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset. DT1 1EW. Telephone 01305 250425

PAULINE SUSAN ANN BIRD née PALMER "Sue"

On 26th September 2022 passed away peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital aged 77 years of Shaftesbury (Formerly of Zeals). Much loved wife to the late Gerald, also a loving mum to Donna & Kevin, mother in law, sister, nan & great nan. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday 25th October at 11 am. Family flowers only but donations if desired to The Stars Appeal, SDH may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or send cheques payable to the charity c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

Family Run Caring & Efficient • Private Chapels of Rest Personal Day & Night Service

“Golden Charter” Pre-paid Funeral Plans available Memorials in Stone Marble & Granite, etc.

Shaftesbury (01747) 853532 imerefield@aol.com

Gillingham (01747) 835335 www.mhfd.co.uk

“Ridgemount”, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU

A

A J Wakely& Sons

Wakely& Sons

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963

Pre-payment

Please

Recruitment

GILLINGHAM SCHOOL, DORSET

Hardings Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QP

dorset.co.uk

EXAMINATION INVIGILATORS

We are looking for examination invigilators to work in the examinations office; no previous experience is required. Please apply on line via the school website (https://www.gillingham dorset.co.uk). We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and will require the disclosure of any criminal convictions: the school will also conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. We look forward to receiving an application form from you.

ADMINISTRATOR/TELEPHONIST. Required for Stalbridge

company. Flexible Hours. Call Peter on 07971007551.

ATALIAN SERVEST HAVE VACANCY for a part time warehouse day cleaner at Sigma Aldrich, Gillingham. Hours: 08.00-11.00 Monday-Friday. Pay £9.50 ph. For further information please contact Mark Smith on 07468 693240.

*PART-TIME HOUSEKEEPER REQUIRED*

Live-in or live-out position for an independent, experienced housekeeper to run an informal 6-bedroom house in Moor Crichel to a high standard. Responsibilities include:

•Daily cleaning

and ironing

care & dog sitting

maintenance & ensuring the household is in full working order

Approx. 20-25hrs. 5 days/wk. Competitive salary with benefits.

Financial Planning Administrator

Location: Sherborne

Full Time

We are looking for someone who is ultra organised, enjoys problem solving and has a keen eye for detail to join our friendly team.

The Financial Planning Administrator’s main role within the team will be to implement the investment recommendations made by the Financial Planner This involves reviewing a client’s investment portfolio and actioning the advice in the most tax efficient and timely manner. Dealing with investments on a daily basis, we are looking for someone who is a logical thinker and enjoys working with numbers

Candidates will ideally have some experience in financial services and/ or administration, but all the skills required will be taught on the job.

A full job description can be found here: https://www.ffp.org.uk/careers

To apply, please send your CV with covering letter to Sam Clark Email: sam@ffp.org.uk

Address: Etheridge House, Barton View Business Park, Sheeplands Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4FW

Telephone: 01935 813322 Website: www.ffp.org.uk

Sandroyd

Co-ed Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Cleaner/Domestic Assistant Required Now

We seek a cheerful, energetic and hardworking individual to be part of the School’s cleaning team. Term time only. Meals provided during working hours.

For further details, please contact: Rupert Burnell Nugent, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD

01725 516329

Closing date Friday 14 October

Interviews the following week

Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post involves contact with children and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK government. As such, a number of mandated pre employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suita ble for work with children. Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview. Finally, candidates should be aware that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

We are recruiting

The care we provide at both The Old Rectory in Stalbridge and Bramley House in Mere and the care that we provide in the community is second to none. Our residential care homes offer excellent care within a true homely environment offering a safe haven for vulnerable people living with dementia and age related conditions. Our residents move safely about our homes and gardens and are encouraged to lead a full and active life.

To many of us the working life inside a residential care home is a mystery, at best you probably have a vision of older people bored and sitting in a circle of chairs and at worst its the thought of providing personal care with toileting and incontinence!

This view could not be further from the reality. Care homes nowadays, especially the smaller family run ones, are a vibrant bustle of busy care workers, all involved with making the lives of the occupants as enjoyable as possible. This is no mean feat, as we all know from examples of friends and relatives in our own lives, the effects of old age can be severe. But, nevertheless, the roll of a carer is to get the best possible outcome for the enjoyment of life for all in their care.

The reality is that life in a good family run care home is exactly like life in any large loving family home; fun, caring, supportive happy, sometimes sad, but overall, a great environment to work and to be part of.

‘In the late eighties, in my very first care job, it was this feeling of ‘family and team togetherness’ that inspired me to dedicate my career to care. Now, several decades on, I have never looked back and every day I still enjoy being able to provide care for those who need it so much’.

Richard Wagner (Director)

Relief cook

Care

Care

Recruitment

Come and be part of our team, Mulberry Court is

Every day will be different while working with us at Mulberry Court – you could be going on day trips with the people we support to places such as Ascot, Longleat, Monkey World, or even a local farm to hang out with the alpacas! We’re situated right next to a garden centre and take regular trips to their café for lunch. We love gardening, arts and crafts and competitive games and sports, and never pass up the opportunity for a barbecue. Music is so important to us, and we have lots of in-house discos with karaoke, as well as trips to music festivals and concerts!

If this sounds like a job for you, here’s a bit more about us.

We are Salutem Care and Education, and Mulberry Court is one our residential services based in Gillingham. As part of our

support team, you’ll be working with adults with varying degrees of disabilities and helping to promote their independence and choice through meaningful activities and experiences. We enable the

individuals we support to achieve their goals and aspirations while living as independently as possible. We would describe the nature of our work as so much more than ‘just’ a job. Working at Mulberry Court feels like spending time with family where everyone is supported. There’s nothing more rewarding than making a positive impact and difference to the lives of the people we support.

Recruitment

J B GARDEN SERVICES. We are looking for full time Garden maintenance operative to join the team. Experience is preferred but not necessary. Apprentices may apply. Tel 07929 094811 CV to jbgardenservices@live.co.uk Holwell Dorset

ELECTRICIAN REQUIRED: WD Ritchie LTD - Blandford based building firm specialising in disabled adaptations require a Self-Employed Electrician to carry out electrical adaptions/installs for various projects within domestic properties. Regular on-going work around 2-3 days per week on average. Must be fully qualified and able to issue certification and sign off work as necessary. Must be CIS. Weekly payroll payments on production of invoice & certification. For further details, please contact Lionel Parker 01258-456513

PART TIME PA/PROPERTY MANAGER wanted for small farming/holiday letting business. Flexible hours, from home or Shaftsbury base. Bjdar31@gmail.com

*FULL-TIME COOK/HOUSEKEEPER REQUIRED*

A lovely Witchampton-based family is looking for an experienced housekeeper to manage their home to a high standard. Duties include:

•Cooking healthy meals

•Meticulous cleaning

•Laundry care

•Dog care & Dog-sitting Live-in or Live-out. References essential. Competitive Salary. Please call 07957 828898 or email:sliiproperty8@gmail.com

CARER NEEDED 3 evenings pw Gillingham 01747 229893

JOBBING BUILDER. Required for Stalbridge based company. Must be use to groundworks. Full driving licence. Call Peter on 07971 007551

CRACKMORE GARAGE small friendly company looking for full time Vehicle Technician/MOT Tester

Required £24,500-£36,500 please send CV to crackmorgarege@gmail.com or contact 01963 251221

EXPERIENCED GENERAL FARM WORKER, Full/Part time, Upton Noble, 07809 601341

STONECUTTER/ LABOURER required near Winterbourne Stickland. 47 hours per week PAYE.

07796 792064

BUTCHER REQUIRED

with minimum 2 years experience. Full time at Pamphill Butchery, BH21 4ED. Competitive salary. Call Ed on 01202 857137 or info@pamphilldairy.co.uk.

ADMINISTRATOR SOUGHT FOR SHAFTESBURY

OFFICE. Would suit Legal Secretary. Pay dependent on experience. Flexible hours (with a minimum of 30 per week). References essential. Please call 07742 419491

MOBILE CLEANER

REQUIRED. Must be over 25 for insurance purposes. Dorchester and surrounding areas. 25 hours per week + overtime. Training provided. 07788 593040

PROPERTY MANAGER

We are looking for a Property Manager for Cranborne Estate. Cranborne is part of a family-held business centred on the village of Cranborne in Dorset. We own, manage and derive our income from property and land. We aim to be vibrant and forward-looking, and to balance a history of 400 years of family ownership with the requirements of the future.

We believe in providing vibrant communities for people to live and work in. We own and manage 130 residential properties in the village and surrounding countryside. We further manage a growing number of commercial properties: retail premises such as a pubs, a garden centre and brewery to schools and nurseries. Our community supports over 400 jobs and the Estate believes strongly that commercial and social value are of equal importance.

If you have experience in managing property and want to work in our small property team and for a vibrant and forwardlooking modern business, please do get in touch.

An attractive package is offered. Please send for a job brief to: Gavin Fauvel, The Estate Office, Cranborne, Dorset, BH21 5PS or email info@cranborne.co.uk

COUNTER ASSISTANT WITH FOOD HANDLING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE. Full time at Pamphill Butchery, BH21 4ED. Call Ed on 01202 857137 or info@ pamphilldairy.co.uk.

EVENING CLEANER

REQUIRED, 3 hours per evening. Monday-Friday. Key position, training provided. £10 ph. 17 miles from Dorchester. For further information emails toniedwards709@gmail.com

STONECUTTER/ LABOURER REQUIRED near Winterbourne Stickland. 47 hours per week PAYE. 07796 792064

A FULL/PART TIME COOKS position has become available at Wheathill Golf Club. Competitive rates of pay, weekend work included. Please email your CV or any questions to wheathillgc@btconnect.com

CALF REARER REQUIRED ON DAIRY FARM near Templecombe.

7-10am and 3:30-5:30pm. Please call 07971 486911.

CHRISTMAS POULTRY PROCESSORS needs for first 3 weeks of December, to help with plucking and evisceration jobs, good rates of pay, friendly family farm between Wincanton and Bruton. 07812 009364

BLANDFORD COMMUNITY FOODSHOP 'NOURISH' MANAGER required. 25hrs/week. See https://faith-works.org. uk/get-involved/job-vacancies/ for more information.

FULL TIME DENTAL NURSE/TRAINEE DENTAL NURSE required to join our friendly team. We welcome applications from experienced and qualified dental nurses, people who are considering embarking on a career in dental nursing, or from applicants aged between 16 and 19 years who are looking to train under a modern apprenticeship scheme. Excellent career development opportunities. Please contact Tracey White at Sturminster Dental Care on 01258 473397 for further details and an application form. Closing date for applications is 24/10/2022

Bricklayer wanted

For Construction Company based outside Shaftesbury. The rate of pay is commensurate with experience and standard of work. Negotiable with a good rate available for the right person. Experience in general building and ability to undertake other areas of construction would be an advantage. If able to run a small project, then all the better and would be reflected in the pay rate Ring Andy on 07979210074 or email andy@sandsltd.biz for details.

SITUATIONS WANTED

HGV2 DRIVER 30 YEARS experience requires work. Full time/part time. Nights out UK/European. Tel John on 07800 507880

Elisabeth's Ladies In Waiting

Bespoke companionship care & hospitality Self employed professional lady. with experience and passion to support and enable over 60's to lead a full and enriched life. Weekly domestic help & care Cooking & Hospitality Holiday respite care Holiday companionship Life enrichment at home or away, Bucket list

Excellent portfolio of references Contact Elisabeth Painter 07950361722

Recruitment

Patient Services Care Co-Ordinator Team Members required- Full or Part Time Closing Date: 14.10.2022

The Blackmore Vale GP Partnership based across sites in Shaftesbury, Sturminster, Marnhull & Fontmell are looking to expand our patient service admin team.

You will become part of our dynamic team, helping to provide help and support to Patients, Clinicia ns and other team members

These roles are full or part time and across sites, we are currently open 8 6.30 Monday to Friday, hours are negotiable.

If you have a ‘can do’ attitude and would like to join our amazing team, please head to our websites vacanc y page on the link below to view the job description and apply.

Vacancies Careers Jobs (blackmorevalesurgery.co.uk)

For more information, please contact Laura.grant@dorsetgp.nhs.uk Direct Line 01258 474513

MERE SURGERY

We are looking to recruit enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our teams at Mere Surgery

Successful candidates will have strong interpersonal, customer care and organisational skills. Ideally, candidates will have previous general practice experience although training will be provided. Flexibility to work additional hours for holiday and other absences is essential.

ADMINISTRATOR

12 hours per week

The successful candidate will work on a job share basis within a small team and provide secretarial, data processing and administrative support.

Ideally the candidate will be able to work these hours over two/three sessions per week, have medical terminology knowledge and IT skills although training will be provided.

RECEPTIONIST

12 hours per week

Working front of house, successful candidate will assist patients contacting the surgery and processing requests.

Candidates must be flexible to work a combination of shifts including 0830 1700.

To see the job description and person specification please visit the vacancies section on www.meresurgery.co.uk To apply please send a CV and covering letter to: Michele Mason, Practice Manager, Mere Surgery, Dark Lane, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6DT or alternatively email: michelemason@nhs.net

Telephone: 01747 860001

Applications to be received by: 12 October 2022

Interview date: 19 October 2022

Field

Close at hand, the basket stood with nuts from brown October’s wood

by A J Selby

Ask any group of people to name their favourite season and many will plump for spring or summer.

For some, however, the autumn holds a special place in their hearts – this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. No other time of year demonstrates the irresistible urge in our DNA to see us through the winter to come. Blackberries and cobnuts, damsons and chestnuts, all picked to preserve and keep for the coming cold weather – in the garden produce is frozen or stored, in the kitchen jams and chutneys are bottled.

Our far distant ancestors dried the meat of wild animals and made warm clothing from their fur. Our more recent ones lived or died by the bounty of the harvest and how many fat cattle and sheep they had to survive the winter. As Shakespeare writes in The Tempest: “Earth’s increase, foison plenty, barns and garners never empty.” Foison means a rich harvest. We are lucky to have no such worries but the primeval urge is still ingrained in us to stock up and eat comfort food to ready our bodies for the winter and leaner times.

We can now enjoy autumn for the spectacular colours across our landscape and we are fortunate to have several places in the area to see this rich tapestry – Stourhead, Longleat, Duncliffe, to name but three. The colour formation in leaves is a complex process involving

Air Rifles

photosynthesis, the reduction of water in the leaves through a process whereby the leaf veins close off, and the pigmentation process of carotenoids – orange and yellows – and anthocyanins – reds and purples. In autumn the shortening days causes the slowing down of chlorophyll production. This fades the green colour while at the same time the yellow and orange carotenes that are masked by the green in summer become visible, and the sugars trapped in the leaves as they die back are converted to anthocyanins bringing out the red hues.

Most English woodlands are shaded yellow through orange to brown, with mostly the maples, viburnums and dogwoods offering reds. But what shades they are? The pattern of the different species, especially when viewed from afar, creates a stunning effect that only nature can offer us. On a clear and crisp morning as the mist rises from the valley and is burnt off by the rising sun, the vista of mature deciduous

woodland is a thing of inherent beauty.

Venture into those woods and take in its calmness as the bird song, so intense in the spring, is muted to almost complete silence. As you feel the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet be careful not to tread on emerging fungi. After a warm summer, the autumn rains and the residual heat in the ground are a perfect combination for the fruiting spores of a myriad of different fungi, from tiny, nay almost invisible species, to the larger and more familiar ‘toadstools’. They will grow where there is any decaying matter, from leaf mould to rotting timber to open grassland.

Many of our popular mushrooms are both poisonous and wonderfully named. The red toadstool with white spots of Disney fame is the fly agaric – poisonous and enchanting. Then there is the panther cap –a beautiful brown cap dotted by numerous white-ridged spots, the funeral cap, Satan’s boletus and the destroying angel – was there ever a better named fungi? It is ghostly white and not that common. The best known and the biggest killer is the death cap. The medical summary for the symptoms, both for the death cap and the destroying angel is: effects will start several hours after eating. It begins with severe vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pains. Then follows what appears to be a full recovery. A few days later you’ll die of kidney or liver failure! There is no known antidote and 90 per cent of

GAMEKEEPER WITH OVER THIRTY YEARS EXPERIENCE plus references seeks small shoot to either rent or run alongside the landowner within easy reach of Mere, Wiltshire, call Gary if of any interest on

people who ingest it will not survive. This mushroom has caused the most recorded fatalities in the UK. They have a pale olive-green cap, white gills and a bulbous base with a white collar. Be careful. Be very careful.

However, if you know what you are doing there are many delights to forage for. Giant puffballs are unmistakeable and are found in pasture, and can be sliced steak-sized, given a minute each side in a dry pan, then dipped in beaten egg and breadcrumbs and re-fried. The scarlet elf cups are found on decaying wood and are stemless and look just like the ears of an elf. Blewits grow in rings in pasture and are easily identified by their beautiful thick violet stems and are used in casseroles and stews. Big fat ceps are a culinary delight and sold in markets on the continent, as are golden chanterelles and parasol mushrooms.

My favourite is the shaggy ink cap – found in grassland, it is a small cone-shaped fungi that matures from the ends of the hood, turning ink-black and melting upwards until just the stem remains. And finally, the field mushroom – not as common now as in the past but a real bounty when it shows itself. Due to the poisonous nature of some fungi, always be sure of your identification before eating or ask an expert. There are some amazing flavours and textures to be enjoyed but, and I can’t emphasise this enough, safety first.

DISCOUNT AIR GUNS, new & used, spares, repairs, tuning, sights and night vision.

823981,

Autumn holds a special place in many hearts

Joe/Pixabay

Look out girls, Humphrey the Ram is warming up!

by Tria Stebbing

The time is running away with us and the evenings are drawing in. Nature is providing us with an assortment of goodies over the field currently, although the weather has thrown us a wild card in what we are foraging.

In the last few years the sloes have been plentiful – this year, however, we are looking at a much-reduced crop. It was not worth risking them and waiting for the first frost, so they have been picked and popped in the freezer, ready to be added to gin for a Christmas tipple.

We have a bumper crop of Rosehip, more than we have ever seen, so I am currently experimenting with making syrup. Rosehip is known for its high vitamin C and antiinflammatory properties –easing the pain in a farmer’s stiff joints can only be a good thing.

The hedgerow is a vibrant shade of red, with a hint of

blackberry, but the blackberries have gone over, leaving plenty for the birds to finish off. They were early and very sweet back in August – we have loads left on the bushes, but sadly they are bitter and dry.

The other surprise has been the crab apples, apples in general seem to have done very well – as you drive through Dorset you can’t help but notice the glut of apples in the trees and on the ground. The sheep love the windfalls and small amounts can be fed along with carrots to boost vitamins before the ram going in. Our girls have them as a treat, mixed in with their ewe nuts.

We topped both fields a few weeks ago, when the ground was like brown dry parched dust. It has paid off as we now have paddocks of lush green shoots. It is a good time to spray the thistles as we are grazing the flock on summer grazing currently away from the field.

The thistles need to come out as they ruin a bale of hay and when in situ in the field, the sheep graze around them wasting a valuable patch of grass, leaving prickly tufts sticking up seeding themselves and making more.

The village has its Apple Day in the community orchard next week, a community coming

together to celebrate a great year for the apple and a chance to press them and make delicious apple juice. Harvest festival is being celebrated in local churches and it is for us a moment to prepare for the next stage at the field – the introduction of the Ram. Look out girls Humphrey is warming up.

WOLVERLANDS

NFU

Farmers in Ukraine who have faced up to the horrifying and devastating challenges of the Russian invasion have collectively been named as the NFU’s 2022 Farming Champions of the Year.

award was announced at the Farmers Weekly Awards, which took place in London on October 6.

Despite the invasion by Russian troops that started in February this year, Ukrainian farmers across the country have continued to grow food, look after their animals and secure their livelihoods.

Speaking via video at the ceremony, Andrii Dykun, chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council, accepted the award on behalf of all Ukrainian farmers and thanked the UK for its support.

Mr Dykun explained many Ukrainian farmers had lost everything, “particularly farmers in occupied territories who have experienced Russian soldiers destroying farms, stealing machinery and equipment and preventing farmers from sowing their crops.”

Presenting the award, NFU president Minette Batters said: “No-one has earned this award more than the farmers of

farmers

Ukraine who have endured eight months of hell since the Russian invasion began.

“We often describe farmers as a community. More often than not we mean a British community. But this has been a time where farmers have demonstrated we are a global community as we all want to show support for our fellow farmers in Ukraine who are going through an ordeal which we in Britain find impossible to imagine.

“It’s true that we are facing unprecedented inflationary challenges at home, but we are not seeing our livestock bombed and burnt alive, our fields becoming landmine death traps – and we’re not facing the horror of whether our friends and family will make it through the day.

“The horrific war in Ukraine has also exposed many countries, including the UK, that have failed to take the role of food production and food security seriously.

“This award normally goes to a person who’s gone above and beyond, but this year we wanted to show solidarity to all our farming friends in Ukraine and we look forward to the time that we can present this award to them in person.”

Conyers

CONTRACT

HEDGE CUTTING,

FLAIL HEDGING HEDGE

Andrii Dykun, chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council, said many Ukrainian farmers had lost everything.

PHOTO: NFU

Farming

The risk of acorns this autumn

by Alice Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Livestock Health

Like other farm vets and farmers, I often find myself thinking about the weather. Many people may think we all just like a good moan about when it is too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry, and perhaps they are right! However, there is also method to this. While we have no control over what it throws at us, we can at least monitor it and make predictions as to how weather changes may affect the land and animals we work with.

There is currently an abundance of acorns on our oak trees, and it is important to be aware of this especially after stormy and windy weather. Acorns are a real risk to ruminant animals. Ruminants include cows, sheep, goats and deer. They are herbivorous animals which have four stomach compartments, the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Food such as grass and hay pass through each chamber to get digested.

It seems acorns are very palatable to ruminant animals and once they get a taste for them, they often consume large quantities. Acorns contain tannins, and when digested in the rumen produce acids that are highly toxic. These acids can cause ulcers in the gut which leads to colic and diarrhoea, but they also cause damage to the kidneys. The functioning kidneys remove other toxins from the blood into the urine, but with acorn poisoning this function is impeded, which leads to further toxin build

up, blood poisoning and eventual death.

If you keep ruminant animals, it is best to graze them away from oak trees at this time of year, certainly when grass levels are low, as they may be tempted to find these alternative food sources. Look out for signs of colic, diarrhoea, depression, dehydration and sudden weight loss. If acorn poisoning is suspected, remove the animals from the source, offer fresh water and hay, and call your vet immediately.

Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote, but we can offer support treatment, to rehydrate the animal, and support the

kidney and gut function. We can administer activated charcoal which helps line the gut and absorb toxins. We can also give intravenous fluids to support the kidney function and effectively attempt to ‘flush’ out the toxins. We can also administer pain relief and gut relaxants to relieve the colic. However, time is of the essence and treatment is only likely to be successful when cases are identified early. Unfortunately, even then it can often be too late, so prevention is better, and I would urge everyone who has animals grazing near oak trees to remain vigilant.

CALL DUCKS AND CRESTED DUCKS, various colours, £5 each Telephone Sophie on 07444 892321

5 POLL DORSET SHEARLING ewes. 07917 774940.

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

VARIOUS AGE DEXTER

Cattle and Rare Breed Pigs available for sale 07769 323429

Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

Please call the office on 01258 472314

Please call the office on 01258 472314 www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

Please call the office on 01258 472314 www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

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

Acorns, now abundant on oak trees, pose a risk to cows, sheep, goats and deer

PHOTO: Julita/Pixabay

Farming

Energy measures get cautious welcome from farmers’ leader

The Government’s energy support package for business has received a cautious welcome from the NFU.

Prime Minister Liz Truss has revealed business energy costs, like those of private households, will be capped for the next six months.

The move comes as prices continue to escalate amid the cost-of-living crisis and the war in Ukraine.

After the first three months of the price guarantee, the scheme will be reviewed in a bid to identify sectors requiring additional support.

Responding to the news, NFU president Minette Batters

said she welcomed the plan –but also urged the Government to consider what comes next.

“We welcome the detail announced in the energy support package which will provide a much-needed cushion for farmers, growers and food businesses which are vulnerable to high wholesale energy prices,” she said.

“Given the package does not cover limits on standing charges, it’s essential the Government continues to assess the full impact that energy bills will have on business confidence and production.

“We also need urgent clarity on what support will be

available for food businesses after the initial six-month period.

“Energy plays a core role in the production of our food and throughout the food supply chain, from fertiliser production and heating glasshouses and livestock buildings, to baking bread and keeping facilities clean.

“We simply can’t produce the food the nation needs

without affordable energy.

“Because of this close link between energy and food, the Government must prioritise access to affordable energy for food production and the food supply chain.

“Continued support will be key for curtailing food price inflation going forward and ensuring the provision of affordable, nutritious, climatefriendly food for the country.”

NFU president Minette Batters says the Government needs to consider what comes next after it revealed business energy costs will be capped for the next six months. PHOTO: NFU

Farming

Busman’s holiday in France

by Ruth Kimber

We have done the maize harvesting – this makes an excellent nutritious silage for the dairy cows. Our yield was down due to the hot dry summer, albeit maize doesn’t mind it hot, but it was even too much for it this year, just not enough rain to keep the plants growing.

We have just returned from a holiday in France – we have a friend who farms in the Loire Valley where we spent a few days. He grows all sorts of interesting things, haricot beans, red onion squash, but the main enterprise is maize for seed. It’s a very complicated process and involves a lot of planning between the growers. It’s important to avoid cross-pollination of varieties. When the plants flower, it is hoped that weather conditions will ensure the male plants pollinate the female plants at just the right time. After, the male flowers are cut off and discarded to prevent further pollination. Then the female flowers are cut off to prevent any cross-contamination with another variety. It is inspected regularly and if a crop has too many male flowers left, they have to be picked by hand – this is always the case as more male flowers can

appear after the first cut has been done, involving lots of hands. Casual seasonal labour is short in France just like here in England.

The price paid depends on not only the quantity produced but the quality and germination results. This year the French maize seed farmers have suffered badly from the weather – the sun and wind have to be just right for pollination, and there were simply too many days of very hot sun. The yield, quality and most certainly the germination will be badly affected.

When the cobs are ready for harvest, a cob picker picks them mechanically, they then are fed into a conveyor which take them into a machine to stripe of the outer husk. In a good year most of the husks come off cleanly, however not always, so a group of people have to pull out the ones which are not clear of husks and send them round again. Paul and I did this for a couple of hours – it’s pretty intense as you can’t relax for a moment. After this, the clean cobs are sent off to the co-operative where they are dried, keeping each grower’s crop and variety separate. It really made us appreciate how much work and care goes

into producing our maize seed. It is a costly crop to grow and with this year’s disappointing yields, I guess it will reflect in next year’s price to us, their customers.

Our friend, Yves had dairy cows, lovely looking Normandy cattle. However, he reluctantly decided to sell the dairy as the price he was getting, just like here, was not enough to pay the bills. He was telling us that by the end of the year France will have not enough milk for the home market. Our milk price is much better now, but not enough to halt the exodus of still more dairy farmers. With rising prices of inputs, the margins are still tight.

When we returned it was lovely to see our cows out grazing and the turkeys enjoying the autumn sun. Our order book is open for Christmas, and it looks like whatever else happens, people are determined to have a good Christmas meal. n Kimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn; Linley Farm Charlton Musgrove BA9 8HD Phone: 01963 33177; www.kimbers farmshop.co.uk info@kimbersfarmshop. co.uk; opening times Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-5pm; Saturday 9.30-4pm.

Fair and consistent pricing

Ruth Kimber learned about farming maize in France on holiday

SOUTH DORSET PLANT & MACHINERY AUCTION

Thursday 20th October

Druce Farm, Druce, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7SU

5 Tractors, 7 Telehandlers, Loading Shovel, 6 Excavators, Pick-Up, Farm Machinery & Miscellaneous

Including: Valtra T194 Active, T174 Versu & N174 Active, NH 7740 & MF

Tractors, Claas Scorpion 746, Merlo P38.13, P38.12, 2 x P28.8L, 2 x Manitou 735-120LSU Telehandlers, Hyundai HL770 Loading Shovel, NH E35B Mini Digger, Hyundai R210-9, 2 x R140-9 & 2 x Hyundai R80 Offset Excavators, Isuzu Rodeo Denver Pick-Up, Claas 3500 & 3600 4 Rotor Rake, Krone

4 Rotor Rake, Claas Single Rotor Rake, Claas 51 Trailed Forager, Stewart

&

Silage Trailers, Richard Western 14t & Ken Wootton

Grain Trailers, McConnel

Plough, Kverneland

Leg Shakerator, Kverneland RW100 Variomat

Semi Mounted & Kveneland

Kuhn

Power Harrow,

Rev. Ploughs, Sulky

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Somerton Guide

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The

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Will Tremlett, Anabel Merriman, Giles Wreford Brown, Chloe Barrett, Victoria Salter

European Removals

Emergency Storage

House price rises slowing: Halifax

RISES in house prices are slowing, according to The Halifax.

The mortgage lender said the UK housing market overall was also showing signs of slowing, with rising interest rates also set to exert 'significant downward pressure' on prices in the months ahead.

Prices had risen 9.9 per cent in September, The Halifax said, the slowest rate since January, and had remained 'largely flat' since then.

The news came as the mortgage market saw significant disruption following Chancellor Kwasi Kwartang's mini budget last month.

The statement, announcing a raft of tax cuts amid the cost-of-living crisis, resulted in scores of mortgages being withdrawn by lenders, and rates rise.

Recent data showed from financial information firm Moneyfacts showed the average interest rate on a two-year fixed term mortgage was 6.3% - a level not seen since 2008.

A similar rise has taken place in the five-year fixed term mortgage, which has has an average rate of 6.19%.

Although mortgage rates have been rising in recent months, they saw a sharp increase

following the mini-budget.

Uncertainty over future interest rates after the mini-budget also led lenders to pull more than a thousand mortgage deals from the market.

The Halifax said that house prices dipped slightly in September, falling 0.1% from the month before, with the typical UK property now costing £293,835.

Kim Kinnaird, director at Halifax Mortgages, said that even before the fallout from the minibudget, its figures suggested that the housing market "may have already entered a more sustained period of slower growth".

"Predicting what happens next means making sense of the many variables now at play, and the housing market has consistently defied expectations in recent times," she added.

"While stamp duty cuts, the short supply of homes for sale and a strong labour market all support house prices, the prospect of interest rates continuing to rise sharply amid the cost of living squeeze, plus the impact in recent weeks of higher mortgage borrowing costs on affordability, are likely to exert more significant downward pressure on house prices in the months ahead."

House price rises are slowing, says The Halifax PICTURE: Canva