The New Blackmore Vale Magazine - Issue 85 by The Blackmore Vale Limited

Edition 85

FREE EVERY FORTNIGHT

Friday, December 22, 2023

The New Blackmore Vale www.blackmorevale.net

An unusual nativity takes up residence on one Vale farm

Page 6

Wessex Morris Men celebrate a bumper charity donation Page 14

AND THEY’RE OFF! Motcombe’s runners turn out in force for festive fundraiser Page 28

Santa pays an early visit to Mere Page 21

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

What’s inside this issue… Announcements Antiques & Collectables Arts & Entertainment Business Church Equestrian Events Farming Field & Stream Food & Drink Health & Wellbeing

67-71 42-45 34-35 32 36 83 30-31 79-83 78 60-61 62-64

Home & Garden Items For Sale / Wanted Letters Local Services Motoring Pets Politics Property Puzzles Recruitment Sport

46-51 66 33 52-59 65-66 76-77 37-39 84-87 40-41 72-73 74-75

Time to get into shape – marathon route released ahead of next year’s run Page 7

EDITORIAL Paul Jones - Editor in Chief We love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing newsdesk@blackmorevale.net or calling 01963 400186

Lloyd Armishaw Publisher newsdesk@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

Kye Harman Sports Editor sports@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

Lorraine Drake Distributor lorraine_drake@icloud.com 07850 529937

ADVERTISING Debi Thorne Sales Director Debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net 07714 289409

Lynsey Swaine Account Manager lynsey.swaine@blackmorevale.net 07714 289416

Jane Toomer Senior Account Manager Jane.toomer@blackmorevale.net 07714 289411

Rachelle Cooper Classified Adverts adverts@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

ADDRESS: 3 Alfred's Way, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9RU

ONLINE : www.blackmorevale.net

Vale garden centres scoop best in show for Christmas displays Page 12

Plans for cutting-edge centre at Yeovil Hospital get the go-ahead Page 19

CLASSIFIED ADVERTS: adverts@blackmorevale.net - 01963 400186

Editorial deadlines are the Wednesday the week before publication. Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week before publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday. Classified ads may be accepted after this, however these will be subject to space.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

The Gryphon School hosts students’ COP

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CLIMATE change was on the agenda for students who follows politics, it isn’t hard to see that it from 12 schools across Dorset and south Somerset at has become increasingly difficult to discuss, a special event at The Gryphon School in Sherborne agree or even compromise on climate change. last week. “Gen Z, despite making up 30% of the world The event, held at the conclusion of the COP 28 population, often feel unheard and powerless. climate conference in Dubai, was co-hosted by The “We felt by holding a COP, it would encourage Gryphon sixth-form student Liv Bowditch and students to lead and get involved in climate teacher Charlotte Cavallaro. discussions – to think innovatively about tackling Schools each represented a different country and global warming, while working collaboratively students discussed what issues their country was and diplomatically to reach a solution. facing and negotiated with the other countries “The Sustainable Careers Fair allowed students The Gryphon represented. to learn about renewable energy from an expert sixth-form Students aged 10-18 took part and discussed speaker, propose increased investment in student Liv Bowditch topics such as oceans, energy, forests, food and renewable energy in the mock COP, then walk next speaks at the cities, addressing a packed hall. door and speak to universities or businesses about mock COP IF ORDERED IF ORDERED BY 5PM UPTO 5PM 20 MILES UPTO IF FROM ORDERED 20 MILES BA12 FROM BY6HB 5PM BA12 ON UPTO ALL 6HB 20 ITEMS ON MILES ALL OVER FROM ITEMS £200 BA12 OVER (IN STOCK 6HB £200ON (IN ITEMS ALL STOCK ITEMS ONLY) ITEMS OVER £200 (IN STOCK ITEMS ONLY) Peter Littlewood fromBYthe Young People’s Trust careers inONLY) renewable energy!” for the Environment, Doug Skinner from Greenpeace, Charlotte Cavallaro added “It is days like this Seb Brookes from The Eden Project Portland and Asher Budwig that make teaching the best and most important job in the world. HISENSE from Lola’s Cupcakes delivered keynote speeches. “Led byHISENSE an 18-year-old, young peopleHISENSE came together to discuss LHD32D33TUK LHD32D33TUK In the afternoon the event held a Sustainable Careers Fair, with the complex issue of climate change. LHD32D33TUK 2 YEAR 2 YEAR YEAR universities including Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff and Cambridge “Phasing out fossil fuels is now almost a2 certainty, and education WARRANTY WARRANTY WARRANTY showcasing their sustainable courses, and companies such as must keep pace to ensure our young people enter the workforce as £179.99 £179.99 £179.99 Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, RSK and Lush discussing green career leaders of this transition. opportunities. They were joined by Dorset Council, Footprint “Offering Sustainable Careers Fairs as Liv has done for our SIEMENS SIEMENS KG34NVW24GB KG34NVW24GB Architects, Sherborne Repair Café and DeFashion Dorset, to name students today, is groundbreaking and the educational networks we SAMSUNG SAMSUNG SAMSUNG UE40J6300YEAR you 5 YEAR butUE40J6300a few. UE40J6300have created are strides in the right direction. 5Thank to AKXXU40 AKXXU40 AKXXU40 WARRANTY WARRANTY Liv Bowditch, who chaired the summit, said: “As an 18-year-old everyone who joined us for this fantastic event.” CURVED CURVED CURVED

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Parents speak of their ‘precious daughters’ killed by speeding driver

Libby and Maddie North died in the crash, near Frome, on July 25. Picture: Avon & Somerset Police

THE parents of Maddie and Libby North have paid an emotional tribute to their “innocent, precious daughters”. Verity and Jason North shared a powerful personal statement made to the court which jailed Thomas Lenthall for 10 years over his dangerous driving that caused the tragic, fatal crash on July 25. At the sentencing of 40-year-old Lenthall, of no fixed abode, Bristol Crown Court heard how Verity and Jason “everything changed” after the tragic loss of Maddie, 21, and 17-year-old Libby. Verity and Jason’s statement read: “Tuesday, July 25, was the day before our daughter Maddie’s graduation. She, her sister Libby, and the whole family were so excited and proud. She was graduating as a teacher, achieving her childhood dream. “Family were invited, the party was arranged, everything felt perfect. “The evening of the 25th, Maddie and Libby popped out for a Coke, and they never came home. “It is every parent’s worst nightmare, their lives were taken. Our innocent, precious daughters, at such young ages, were just beginning to live their best lives and fulfil their dreams. “In a heartbeat, everything changed. They had been killed by the reckless dangerous driving of another. “We and our family and our daughters’ friends are devastated and still in disbelief of this cruel tragedy and what the new reality is in our lives without them. “That night, the horror of seeing our daughter’s faces on the location app stationary at the scene of the accident, driving to the scene and pulling up beside the police officer asking if he could help

me. “He tried to divert me [not realising we were family], but I said I needed his help. I told him my daughters were showing that they were along the stretch of road. “He asked my name, and once he heard it, his face changed only to be told my daughters were involved and it was fatal. “I remember thinking ‘what did I just hear?’ “How do you comprehend those words? Our world fell apart in that instance as the police drove me home to break this tragic news that has literally broken our hearts. Everything we lived for, our beautiful daughters, was gone. “Calling a close family member in the middle of the night for help and assistance, in shock and disbelief. Our world was in pieces. “Making phone calls to family members close by and overseas, the screams of shock and tears we will never forget. Our girls gone. The most vibrant, fun-loving, beautiful girls … taken. “The emotional impact this has had on the family is beyond words. We still have no words, we remain in disbelief since that very day. “Our children, our teenagers, our young women. Gone. “Ask me how I feel, ‘I feel numb’. Ask Maddie and Libby’s cousins how they feel, they are ‘heartbroken and numb’. The same for aunties and uncles – ‘heartache and pain’. Maddie and Libby’s friends are also heartbroken. “The sleepless nights, pain and losing our world and the people we were before this tragic night. Going over and over what happened. Being unable to carry out day-to-day tasks, being unable to even think about returning to the jobs we once loved. “Getting out of bed is painful, having to live this nightmare over and over again every day. Our futures have been destroyed. “[Thomas Lenthall] has robbed us of seeing Maddie as a teacher and Libby as a nursery teacher. They loved their jobs very much.

“[Lenthall] has stolen the chances we would see them marry and see them as mothers – making us proud grandparents which they both wanted very much. Gone. “Cousins bereft and heartbroken from the closeness they had, the fun, the laughter shared over 21 and 17 years of growing up together. They were both loved so much. All gone. “As parents, you live and breathe for your children, you work hard to give them your best. Our home was a happy home, always full of music, laughter and mischief. Gone. “Our home is so painfully quiet now, our family home has changed forever. Our lives ripped to shreds. “Since the moment we heard the news of our girls, there is a deep piercing pain our hearts. Waking in the middle of the night, feeling guilty we couldn’t protect them both. “Wishing they would burst through the door and jump on the bed. Hearing their phones constantly beeping, their laughter, their voices and hearing ‘mum and dad’. “We just want it to be just as it was. We go through a plethora of emotions daily – anger, frustration, sadness, heartache and pain. Some days it is just too hard to bear – hoping you are not missing us as much as we are missing you. “Never, ever did we think we would have to plan funerals for our girls in our lifetime. How we did that and got through the day, I will never know. “The tears, sobs, wails, and heartbreak of that day, I can still hear as clear as day today. “From the dangerous, reckless, irresponsible, stupid actions of another forced us to have this reality, one that will never heal. One we will never get over. “Our hearts are broken forever. This tragedy has taken the privilege of being Maddie and Libby’s mum and dad away. “The pain cannot be explained, only felt. All we lived for, gone, as our family and everyone who knew and loved them do our best each day to exist without our beloved girls. “We now do not know what our future looks like, nor how we move on from what has happened. “We want justice for our girls and hope that is given fairly and in deep reflection and compassion of what losing our precious girls has done to us and our family.”

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Help your ambulance service this winter THE South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging communities across the region to use its services responsibly this winter, as it prepares for a challenging period. As winter approaches, flu and other respiratory illnesses are expected to rise; freezing temperatures and ambulance handover delays are set to compound the problems faced by the ambulance service. SWASFT has developed an extensive winter plan, and its leaders are asking communities to help us to help you by following the below steps: • Only call 999 when someone is seriously injured or ill and their life may be at risk. For example, if someone is unconscious, not breathing or is bleeding heavily. • If you’re waiting for an ambulance, please don’t call 999 back unless the patient’s condition has deteriorated or you no longer need an ambulance. • For non-life-threatening emergencies,

visit NHS 111 online, call your GP or get advice from a pharmacy. Wayne Darch, Deputy Director of Operations at SWASFT, said: “We know this winter is going to be very challenging for us, which is why we’re urging local communities to use our services responsibly, and choose the right care for them. “We want to be there for everyone that needs us in a medical emergency, to ensure this, we need to have crews available for patients with the most life-threatening conditions. Please only call 999 if someone is seriously injured or ill, for anything else, please contact NHS 111. “I would like to thank our people and NHS colleagues who will be working throughout the winter to help keep us all safe and well. Should you need their support, please be kind to them, they are working hard under huge daily pressures.”

Dr Paul Johnson is Chief Medical Officer with NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “There are many things people can do over the winter months to help themselves, their families and local health and care partners, including getting vaccinated against flu and COVID and making sure they have the right medicines at home to treat everyday ailments, but by far the most important thing is to use the right service at the right time. “Our website staywelldorset.nhs.uk contains information for people so they can make an informed choice if they need medical help.”

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Put the bins out!

Dorset Council has confirmed refuse collection days – and any changes – in the build-up to the big day and into the new year. “Our rubbish and recycling collections over the festive period will be different from your usual day of the week,” a spokesperson said. “Our collection days will return to normal from Monday, January 15.” A calendar of usual days – and revised dates for bin collections has been published to help households plan.

Revised bin collection days over Christmas and New Year in Dorset:

Away in a manger

TOM and Vicky Christopher created this pig nativity at Crib House Farm, Manston.

Family Advice Family Law Law Advice

We realise talking about divorce or separation is very We realise talking about divorce or separation personal and so we are offering appointments at our is very personal and so we are offering virtual offices. For new clients seeking initial advice appointments by Zoom. As an alternative, we FREE can be booked offer a a one offappointment FREE telephone appointment for on Wednesdays 9am – 1pm. initial advice on Wednesdays 9am – 1pm To book an appointment please call us To book anonappointment please call us on 01747 852377 01747 852377 Offices in Shaftesbury – Sturminster Newton – Gillingham

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Usual collection day

Revised collection day

Friday, December 22

no change

Monday, December 25

Wednesday, December 27

Tuesday, December 26

Thursday, December 28

Wednesday, December 27

Friday, December 29

Thursday, December 28

Saturday, December 30

Friday, December 29

Tuesday, January 2

Monday, January 1

Wednesday, January 3

Tuesday, January 2

Thursday, January 4

Wednesday, January 3

Friday, January 5

Thursday, January 4

Saturday, January 6

Friday, January 5

Monday, January 8

Tuesday, January 9

Wednesday, January 10

Thursday, January 11

Friday, January 12

Saturday, January 13

Collection days will return to normal from Monday, January 15. No garden waste collections will take place from Christmas Eve until Monday, January 8. Household recycling centres are open from 9am to 4pm daily, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when they are closed. Meanwhile, households are being reminded of other changes to collections over Christmas. “We will collect up to two extra sacks of rubbish beside your bin on your first rubbish collection after Christmas Day,” the spokesperson added. “Extra recycling, including glass and food, will be collected on your recycling collection day, provided it has been separated correctly and placed in a suitable sturdy container (no bags) that can be easily lifted by one person.” Dorset Council does not collect Christmas trees of any kind with rubbish or recycling at the kerbside.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Road closure A MAIN road in Gillingham will be closed for more than three weeks in the coming months. Temporary closure notices have been issued for the B3081 Shaftesbury Road for between January 15 and 30, and again from February 5 to 16. The closure, which will see the road closed at all times between the Ham Roundabout and Cole Street Lane, is to allow MATA Construction Ltd to carry out “gas connection works”. The diversion route while the B3081 Shaftesbury Road in Gillingham is closed

Yeovil street robbery A TEENAGER had his mobile phone stolen during a robbery in a Yeovil street. The incident happened at around 4.55pm on Wednesday (December 13) afternoon in the Highfield Road area. Police are keen to hear from any witnesses, or motorists that may have relevant dashcam footage, that could help enquiries. “The victim was walking in the Highfield Road area when he was approached by an unknown man who made off with the his red mobile phone,” an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said. “Fortunately, the victim was not physically harmed during the incident.” The thief made off in the direction of Chelston Avenue, they added, and is described as white, in his early 20s, about 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall. He was wearing a black hoodie and saggy trousers of the same colour, both of which had red block writing on them. House-to-house and CCTV enquiries are being carried out, the spokesperson went on. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 and quote incident number 5223304415, or online. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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blackmorevale.net

Good for the body and the brain

Christmas cracker A CHARITY concert contributed to more than £6,000 raised this year by SERO for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. In late November, almost 80 people gathered at the village hall in Child Okeford to hear Geoffrey Horton sing Christmas music, accompanied by James Smith on keyboards. As well as being a professional bass-baritone of many years standing with international experience, Geoff is a great raconteur and he interspersed the music with tales from his life. The audience was encouraged to join in with some of the songs, which they did with gusto! There was a silent auction, raffle prizes and floral Christmas arrangements (made by the SERO committee) for sale. Proceeds from these and bar sales meant that, together with tickets, SERO raised more than £1,600 that evening. The event was organised by local charity SERO, raising funds for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. During 2023, SERO has raised more than £6,000 for Julia’s House. Thanks to the Big Give Christmas match funding, Julia’s House now has £11,000 from SERO to continue its excellent work.

Happy Christmas!

Words and picture: George Jeans RESIDENTS of Lynch Close enjoyed their Christmas party at The Walnut Inn, Mere. They travelled there in style thanks to local youth group Seeds for Success, who kindly provided the residents with a mini bus for the trip.

SOUTH Wilts Ramblers will be heading out for a New Year’s Eve walk, followed by a quiz in Cathedral Close, Salisbury. The short, slow-paced walk will be suitable for accompanied children, the elderly or infirm, and can be negotiated with pushchairs, wheelchairs, scooters and mobility scooters. The starting point is on Choristers’ Green outside Mompesson House at 10.30am. For a digital copy of the quiz email alperalan8@gmail. com; paper copies will be available at the start of the walk. Everyone is welcome including non-Ramblers members. A spokesperson for the group said: “Come along for a warm welcome, meet your local walking group, get some fresh air and work up an appetite to justify some further overindulgence in the festive season.”

A thrilling read

BEAR Hoskins, an intrepid history teacher with a rare passion for national borders, sees his third excursion in the latest novel from Gillingham author Ted Winter. The Curious Pathways of Persistence completes a triology of novels about Bear Hoskins, taking him to the Swiss city of Basel, where the proximity of the borders with France and Germany adds to the intrigue. Bear’s visit to an art centre evokes memories of a special relationship from his student days. When he arrives in Switzerland for a summer holiday, his tranquillity is soon disturbed. An unexpected encounter and a shared dilemma lead him on a quest to help piece together a fifty-year-old art mystery. Bear finds himself immersed in a mission of stealth alongside a determined competitor. His elusive movements and seemingly clandestine behaviour stir the curiosity of colleagues and pupils alike as the new school year unfolds. Bear’s zeal for crossing national borders is rekindled as he confronts his own personal history and delves into secrets of wartime Europe. Author Ted Winter specialises in light-hearted, feel-good fiction for adults and older teenagers. “My creative writing journey started as a challenge from my wife to write a short story,” explains Ted. “I composed a jovial account based on some holiday experiences in Portugal and an amusing train journey to a border town. My first novel, The Enigma of Four, was the result. “Constructing novels continues to be a compelling experience. Writing has been a fascinating journey that might not have happened but for lockdown. I am currently working on a slightly more serious novel with different characters, but who knows? The Bear Hoskins trilogy may yet be extended.” The Curious Pathways of Persistence is available at Amazon, or direct from Olympia Publishers olympiapublishers.com.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Marathon effort

Blackmore Vale half marathon and fun run to raise funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance THE Blackmore Vale Half Marathon (BV½) and Fun Run (5¼ miles/8km) will take place at 11am on Sunday, February 4, starting and finishing at Bishop’s Caundle Recreation Ground. The Blackmore Vales LIONS Club (BVLC) is organising both events. The BV½ will follow the same route as previous years. The Fun Run, returns after a four-year absence. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is the major charity beneficiary for money raised. The BVLC is expecting some 200 or so people to attend both runs, and hope that residents will make a note of the date and ask friends, family, neighbours and other visitors to drive carefully and considerately. As such, the BVLC has released a map of the route. To help you work out when runners might be in your area, it is estimated that it will take them between 2 hours and 3.5 hours to complete the course. If you’d like to take part in either race, you can find out more at bvlhm.yolasite.com and register online at www.runbritain. com/races. To help on the day, be a sponsor or join the LIONS call 0845 833 7423 or visit bvlions.yolasite.com.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

blackmorevale.net

Spring into action East Dorset Heritage Trust’s programme of events and courses for 2024 is packed with interesting activities

IF you’re looking for something a bit different to stimulate your interest in the New Year, take a look at what’s in store from East Dorset Heritage Trust. Allendale House on Hanham Road in Wimborne Minster (BH21 1AS) will be hosting a variety of talks throughout the year, including: • February 19, Dorset Wildlife Trust Wild Woodbury (by Seb Haggett). Learn about Dorset Wildlife Trust’s community rewilding project • March 8, The Story of Bessie Coleman (by Jan Aagaard-Frandsen). On International Women’s Day learn about the first black African/American woman to achieve a pilot’s licence and an international flying licence. • March 25, Chocolate Cream Killer (by Steve Herra). The gruesome story of murderer Christiana Edmonds, who

carried out a series of poisonings in Brighton in the early 1870s. If you enjoy getting out and about, the Trust offers a variety of guided walks through the stunning countryside of west and north Dorset. • January 2, Eggardon Hill and Powerstock. A beautiful walk surrounding the village of Powerstock on the edge of the Dorset Downs. • February 22, Shapwick, Spetisbury and the River Stour. Explore and stroll the lanes and meadows of Shapwick, passing through Badbury Rings and Spetisbury. • April 25, Bluebells at Woodyates. A 9-mile walk through a succession of woods with spectacular bluebell displays. The Trust also offers a selection of practical and sociable courses and workshops throughout the year. Learn something new, or brush up on old skills. • Writing for pleasure (John Jenkins). Whether you want to write your life story, develop a useful second income

or graduate to a full-time occupation, this course will encourage you to get started and answer the basics. • Painting for improvers (Jason Pizzey). A series of six classes to which you will bring your paintings and be nurtured in a supportive environment. • Crochet for beginners (Liz Norman). Learn how to create the traditional ‘granny square’, chain stitch to form a circle, treble crochet and create corners plus how to change colour. Watch as your creation grows before your eyes. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn a modern languages – the Trust offers conversational workshops and courses in Italian, French and Spanish. Technophobes will appreciate the one-to-one IT sessions designed to help you master new skills and get online with ease. The East Dorset Heritage Trust has been serving the community for over 30 years. Call in to Allendale House to find out more, email info@edht.org.uk or call 01202 888992. More details can be found online at www.edht.org.uk.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Look out for Lloyds Pharmacy scam emails PEOPLE are being warned of a scam email being sent purporting to be from a pharmacy. Scammers are currently targeting people with fake Lloyds Pharmacy emails, according to Dorset Police. The emails falsely claim that by signing up for LloydsDirect you can easily manage prescriptions and get free delivery. “These emails contain links designed to steal personal and financial information, or install malware,” said Damian Cranny, Dorset Police fraud protect officer. “The fraudsters have made the emails appear more genuine by including LloydsDirect/NHS logos and Trustpilot reviews. “However, these emails are fake. Do not click any links, provide info, or sign up through these emails. Double check directly with your pharmacy if unsure.” He added: “Stay vigilant against pharmacy-themed phishing campaigns trying to steal personal information or distribute malware. Verify legitimacy official channels over through 60 bed frames before engaging.” available

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Generous TWO long-standing volunteers at Blandford Fashion Museum have savings hung up their costumes, tidied away their wig on combs and put their display pins back in the box for a final time. luxury Stella Walker, the museum’s costume andbeds display manager, and Jean Longley, the group visit co-ordinator, were recognised for their efforts at the volunteer Christmas lunch. Stella had been with the museum since it opened in 1996 and was curator of the costume collection and responsible for the museum’s displays and exhibitions for nearly a decade. Her knowledge of the costumes, textiles and accessories was second to none and she will be greatly missed by the museum’s team. Jean played an invaluable role organising group visits to the museum and her networking skills will also be missed. The museum would like to wish both women well in their ‘retirement’, although as trustees they will still be keeping a beady eye on the museum’s activities going forward.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Best in show for Vale garden centres

“I’m in awe of our team at The Gardens Group every year, as everyone pulls together to create something magical; always bigger, better and more eco-friendly than the year before,” Louise said. “To win the top prize in the GCA Christmas Competition once again is so rewarding for us all, but to take second place as well, not to mention Poundbury Gardens finishing higher than ever before, makes 2023 the most special year of all. We’re always striving to enhance the experience, while helping our customers to reduce the environmental impact of their celebrations, so to have this recognised by our industry means a great deal to us.” The decorations incorporate heartwarming themes including a frosty Christmas walk, a gingerbread house, an enchanted forest and a peaceful Christmas. These magical winter wonderlands feature more eco-friendly initiatives and products than ever before, including walkways constructed using repurposed and recycled materials, glass baubles, twinkly LED lights, recycled candles and plastic free toys. The Gardens Group’s Christmas displays are open to the public seven days a week until Christmas Eve, at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester.

Sherborne garden centre scoops first prize for its fabulous festive displays, closely followed by second place for Yeovil THE Gardens Group is celebrating after Castle Gardens in Sherborne was awarded first prize for its Christmas displays (above) by the Garden Centre Association. The national Christmas Competition also saw Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil take second place. The Gardens Group director, Louise Burks, began planning the displays in January. It took three weeks to construct them, with details kept top secret until the big reveal.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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BCHA, which will provide 24/7 support at the site. Staff will work closely with Dorset HealthCare’s community mental health teams, as well as other partners such as GPs and social care workers. Due to open in January, the facility has been made possible by the generosity of both the Pepperell Blackmore Vale Society – which donated the property to the Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital – and the Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital charity, which now owns Pepperell House and has leased it to Dorset HealthCare. Patients will stay in the newer part of the building, formerly used for sheltered accommodation. Options for using the older, Grade 2 Listed Building section are still under consideration.

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Community recovery for mental health patients A NEW ‘step-down’ mental-health support facility is to open in Shaftesbury, the first of its kind in Dorset. The Dorset HealthCare site, at Pepperell House in Bleke Street, will provide accommodation for up to eight people ready to leave local mental health inpatient care and reintegrate with the community. It will allow patients to continue their recovery within a community setting, building up the skills they need to regain their confidence and independence. For up to 12 weeks, people will be supported to self-manage their mental health, helping them to lead a normal life and reduce the chances of being re-admitted to hospital in the future. And the arrangement will also free-up badly-needed inpatient beds for local people requiring intensive mental health treatment. The step-down service will be run by

David Emery, Dorset HealthCare’s Hospital to Home service lead, said: “This is a crucial step forward in the development of local mental health services. “The unit will provide high-quality support for people leaving hospital, helping them readjust before they return home or move to other accommodation in the community. “Pepperell House is an ideal location, a great place for people to work towards their recovery goals. We are very grateful to the Friends for making the building available, and we will seek to ensure that the service respects the needs of town centre residents.”

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Morris charity cash THE Wessex Morris Men collected £135 for charity at their annual pre-Christmas charity dance-out in Blandford Forum. “We were very lucky with the weather,” said a spokesperson. “We enjoyed a few dry hours and treated the public to some festive morris dancing (some to festive tunes) at several spots in the town before retiring to the Stour Inn for a well-deserved lunch and obligatory liquid refreshment.” A total of £135.10 was collected on behalf of New Opportunities for Community and Support (NCOS), set up by the Blandford local councillor and deputy-mayor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke. Local author and Wessex Morris Man Gerald Killingworth (on the left) and Wessex squire David Chiplen present the collecting box to the councillor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke outside the Stour Inn

BV Lions provide Christmas perks for Vale Pantry A CHARITY that provides those in need with vital food supplies has received a Christmas boost from the Blackmore Vale Lions Club. The Vale Pantry helps hundreds of families each year, providing food packages and running a cut-price shop in Sturminster Newton, has been handed a donation by the club. A spokesperson said it was a charity “close to Blackmore Vale Lions Club’s heart”. “The Vale Pantry is about helping local people through difficult times,” they said. “It’s part of the fabric of the Blackmore Vale, avowedly local, helping local people.” A cheque of £400 was handed over from the Lions to boost the pantry’s Christmas appeal providing “those little extras most take for granted at Christmas”. “Blackmore Vale Lions were delighted to make a grant towards this project and a group from the club went along to present a cheque for £400,” the spokesperson went on. “Money raised in the Blackmore Vale going to a Blackmore Vale charity for Blackmore Vale people.” For more on the Blackmore Vale Lions Club, visit bvlions. yolasite.com, and for more on the Vale Pantry, see www.valepantry. co.uk.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Break-in at football club

YEOVIL Town Football Club was broken into in the early hours of Wednesday, December 13. The club has issued CCTV images taken at its Huish Park ground at around 2.40am. “This has of course been reported to the police but if anyone feels they have information regarding the identity of culprits pictured we would greatly appreciate you emailing commercial@ytfc.net in complete confidence,” they said. It is not known what, if anything, was taken during what the club called “various break-ins”.

Teens arrested after Street robberies

TWO teens – aged 14 and 15 – have been arrested following three robberies in Street last month. In each of the incidents, the victims were approached by a group of youths who demanded they hand over belongings and assaulted them. “The incidents have had a significant impact on them,” an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said. The two boys were arrested on suspicion of robbery on November 30 and have since been released on bail while enquiries continue. “As part of our investigation, we have been reviewing CCTV footage and carrying out house to house enquiries,” the spokesperson added. Anyone who can help should call police on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223292091, or complete an online appeals form. They can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Yeovil Town FC released CCTV images from Huish Park

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

Visible police presence Armed officers and police dogs will be on patrol in Dorset

POLICE teams – including armed officers and police dogs – will be out and about on Dorset streets this Christmas in a bid to help people enjoy the festive period. Officers from a variety of policing teams are out and about this season, patrolling many busy areas, the force said. Neighbourhood policing teams, officers from the Operations command – such as firearms officers and dog handlers with their four-legged colleagues – as well as other specialist teams, will be patrolling in crowded areas to provide reassurance to the public. Chief Inspector Darren Harris, of Dorset Police, said: “As part of our policing activities throughout the season, we will be visibly patrolling in many areas where hopefully a lot of residents and visitors are enjoying what Dorset has to offer during this festive period. “People may also see our firearms officers

Book your Christmas tree collection

BLANDFORD Young Farmers will be collecting and recycling used real Christmas trees on January 6 and 7. Collections will take place in and around Verwood, Wimborne, Cranborne, Blandford, Poole, Dorchester and surrounding areas, for a suggested donation of £10. All money raised will be shared between Blandford Young Farmers and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Book now to save stress in the new year – call or text 07877 697343, or email blandfordyfc1@ hotmail.com. (Please make sure all decorations are removed before collection.)

blackmorevale.net being on foot patrol. “There is absolutely no suggestion that there is any increased risk to our county or any specific events. This way of patrolling just gives them a greater flexibility to respond to incidents. “During our high-visibility patrols we are also assisted by our council colleagues, including CSAS officers (community safety accreditation scheme). We very much hope that everyone is able to enjoy the festive season – our officers are here to deal with anyone seeking to cause disruption. “Please approach them if you have any concerns or something doesn’t feel right. Everyone can play their part and look out for each other – trust your instincts.”

Treasure seekers take note

DO you have an interesting object you would like to know more about? Ciorstaidh HaywardTrevarthen, who is part of Dorset Council’s portable antiquities scheme, is returning to Sturminster Mill & Museum in the New Year to tell you more about any curious objects of archaeological significance that you might have found. She will be at a finds day on Thursday, January 25. Book an appointment between 10am and 11.30am by emailing finds@dorsetcouncil.gov. uk or take your chances at the drop-in session from 11.30am–1pm.

Wimborne coins in the cash for Save the Children THE streets of central Wimborne were crowded with generous people enjoying the community atmosphere created by the Save the Children Christmas Parade. In its 34th year, the Parade overcame logistical challenges and enjoyed unseasonably sunny weather. The good people of Wimborne and beyond brought their children to enjoy the merrygo-round and tell Father Christmas their wishes.

Alison Preston, retiring chair of Save the Children Wimborne, said “A huge thank you to all those who took part, many of whom return year after year: to the marshals and especially to Susie Gatrell, who put the parade together, and the Save the Children committee.” The parade raised £1,800, all of which will go to the essential work of Save the Children both in the UK and abroad.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Students see benefits of volunteering Sixth-formers discover that paying it forward pays off as they help out in the community

SIXTH-FORMERS at Gillingham School have been working hard to build links with the local community, in a project led by assistant head of sixth-form, El Little. Over the course of the school year, all students will undertake a half term of volunteering, aimed at developing confidence, communication and community awareness, and having a positive impact on local residents. The project is part of a wider personal development programme in the sixth-form, which also includes building leadership skills and providing enrichment opportunities. Last term saw students visit residents at Fern Lodge Care Home and spend time chatting with them. Two of the youngsters are members of TLW Dance Company in Shaftesbury and staged musical and dance performances. Sixth-former Poppy Marshall said: “It was so interesting

finding out about the residents’ lives before they came to the care home. I found it really uplifting and it always really brightened my day.” Care home staff said residents looked forward to the visits and loved the singing and dancing. Members of the school orchestra, led by head of Music Liam Carey, visited the care home on the last day of term to put on a Christmas music performance. Individuals and tutor groups also helped the Rotary Club Shoebox Appeal by putting together shoe boxes to be sent to children in eastern European countries for Christmas. They promoted the appeal in the school, raised funds for donations, and organised the delivery and collection of boxes to be sent off. Further charity events have taken place in school, led by students, to raise funds for local organisations. Students have also picked litter in Gillingham town centre on Wednesday afternoons, allowing them to interact with members of the local community. They are grateful to the Dextra Group for its support with this project. Group CCO, Natasha Ward, arranged the provision of hi-vis jackets and lanyards with the school logo and the slogan Gillingham School Serving the Community. Over the coming months, the sixth-form is planning to extend the community project further and engage with other local organisations to add to links between the school and town.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Have your say on public transport Council is canvassing opinion about how easy it is to travel around the county, whether by public transport, private car, bike or on foot

PEOPLE are being urged to have their say on making active travel easier in Dorset. Dorset Council wants to make it easier for more people to gain the benefit of active travel, whether walking, cycling, or wheeling – using a wheelchair, mobility scooter or similar aid. The council says making trips like getting to and from school, commuting to work, visiting town centres or enjoying the local area will benefit residents’ health, independence, pockets and the environment. To help it develop its Active Travel Infrastructure Plan, the council is running a short survey to find out what routes are important to people and what prevents residents from walking, cycling or wheeling in their area. Initially, views are being sought on a

network of routes in eastern and southern Dorset – the most densely populated parts of the council area. However, future plans will look at links in more parts of the county, so the council is keen to hear about other locations. Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: “We know that children want to be able to walk or cycle to school, while their parents, grandparents and carers benefit from being more active for their everyday trips too. “Residents and visitors alike want to explore Dorset’s countryside and enjoy our towns without needing to get in the car for every trip.” Many residents don’t have the choice of a car, the council said, with more than

23,000 households in Dorset – one in seven – not having access to a car, according to the 2021 Census. “Residents without a vehicle are often users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters,” Cllr Bryan said. “Uneven, narrow pavements and missing crossings can prevent them from moving safely around their area, limiting their independence, with resulting impacts on their health and happiness. “Being able to walk, wheel and cycle more easily can reduce air pollution and improve our own mental and physical health and wellbeing, even in small doses. “Please have your say by taking part in our short survey. Your input will help Dorset access more funding from the government so we can make getting around their local area easier for everyone.” People can take part in the survey on the Dorset Council website, or they can request a survey in an alternative format or a paper copy by emailing activetravel@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, or calling 01305 221883. The survey will be open until January 18.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Coming soon: cutting-edge hospital centre Somerset council has approved plans for a new development at Yeovil Hospital

PLANS for a new diagnostic centre at Yeovil hospital have been given the green light. The state-of-the-art facility is set to provide more than 70,000 diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments a year, with work on the site expected to begin in February, before it opens in winter 2024. The NHS said patients in Somerset and north west Dorset will receive quicker diagnostic tests, thanks to the additional capacity the centre will provide. Open seven days a week, it will provide radiology, endoscopy, cardiology and audiology diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments. The Yeovil Diagnostic Centre will be the second stand-alone diagnostic centre in Somerset – alongside a facility in Taunton. David Shannon, director of strategy and digital development for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is very exciting news and gives us the go ahead to begin building work in early 2024. “It will be the second community diagnostic centre in Somerset. The Taunton Diagnostic Centre opened in September 2021 and has had a dramatic effect on waiting times for planned diagnostic tests. “Quick access to diagnostic tests is essential for providing good timely care and this new community diagnostic centre will give patients, particularly in the east of Somerset and west Dorset, quicker access to diagnostic tests that inform their diagnoses and

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treatment.” Dr Cen Thomas, a consultant radiologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Rapid access to diagnostic tests will help save lives and this new community diagnostic centre for Yeovil and surrounding region will help to achieve this.” Bernie Marden, chief medical officer for NHS Somerset, added: “This is a fantastic step forward in the development of this vital centre, which will expand our diagnostic capacity bringing about a step-change in diagnostics for patients in Somerset. “We’re already bringing down long waits for patients, but this centre will make a big difference in our ability to diagnose people quickly and get them through to treatment.”

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Flying visit

Thank you Graham!

CHILDREN at Sherborne Primary School were excited when a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter paid a surprise visit. Pilots Lt Cdr William Thornton and Lt Cdr David Lilly landed on the school playing field and met and chatted to the pupils. Lt Cdr Thornton’s son Gabriel is a pupil and he was excited to see his Dad touch down at the school. Head of school Felicity Griffiths said: “This was a magical experience for the children – seeing a real helicopter land at school was an amazing surprise! “We’re so grateful to the brilliant pilots, and to RNAS Yeovilton, for all their efforts in pulling this together and delivering some festive joy.”

PUPILS at Chilmark Fonthill Bishop C of E Primary School have said a fond farewell to Revd Dr Graham Southgate, who has led collective worship assemblies at the school for many years. Graham delighted the children with stories about his love of gardening and shared his fondness of Brussels sprouts! Pupils and school governors presented Graham with gifts including a sprout cookery book and a seasonally decorated stalk! Graham is taking up a new post as Rector of the Upper Stour and Maiden Bradley in the New Year.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

Our loose Canon

Lamenting the loss of yet another High Street bank… Is the endless race for profits leaving us behind? by Canon Eric Woods BACK in 1969, aged 18, I proudly opened my first and only current account with Lloyds Bank on what was always known in those days as “The High”, in Oxford. The branch, which still exists, is now known as at 1-5 High Street, Carfax, Oxford. At least it is still there. I have been with Lloyds ever since. With one or two lapses in my youth, my current account has been in credit for the last 55 years. These days it even makes a little bit of interest. I have also been grateful for in-branch consultations regarding savings plans and investment advice. On the whole, the “Black Horse” has served me well. Now Lloyds has rewarded my 55 years of loyalty by closing every branch within about a dozen miles of me. When first we began to explore Sturminster Newton as a possible retirement destination it had three High Street banks. Now it has none. But at least the Lloyds Mobile Branch Service situated by the Library gave the possibility of a person-to-person service once a fortnight. Now I have received a letter to say that at the end of May the Mobile Branch Service will disappear altogether from

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Sturminster Newton, Mere, Wincanton and Winscombe. After 55 years, I regard that as the most massive kick in the teeth. I wonder for whom those closures are made – and I don’t just mean Lloyds, but also Barclays and Nat West and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). For their customers? Don’t be silly. Not for ordinary customers such as you and I. But for its executives and investors, yes of course. For whom else? Don’t imagine for a moment that they exist for the likes of you and me. But isn’t that really rather sickening? I am totally amazed that we take these closures and crippling reductions in services so passively and amicably. It must have something to do with English Good Manners. Personally, I am left seething. Of course I could try to move entirely to internet banking. But I happen to doubt my ability to do so accurately. I am not a natural “silver surfer”. More importantly, I have profound doubts about the safety of on-line banking, not least from hackers and fraudsters. And sometimes one simply needs to talk to a Human Being! I would like to remain with the service to which I joined-up over half a century ago, and which has presumably made more out of me than I have made out of it. Does that make me a dinosaur? If so, so be it. But have you noticed that the Black Horses don’t seem to feature so much on the television anymore? They have raced on far ahead. They are no longer “by our side”. They have galloped on into limitless fields of profitability which leave the rest of us behind.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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Christmas cheer FAMILIES in need in the Sherborne area this Christmas have received a helping hand after Sherborne Primary School rallied the local community. Some 165 Christmas boxes were delivered to the families of children who receive free school meals at the school and Sherborne Abbey Primary School. Families received a box of food from Hunt’s Foods Store, as well as toiletries, and an additional bag of food supplied by Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. Every child receiving a box was given a bag of presents donated by the Hidden Needs Trust to ensure they have something to open on Christmas Day. This is the fourth year Sherborne Primary has organised this project – last year it fundraised to include energy vouchers during the cost-of-living crisis. This year it expanded the appeal to enable it to supply boxes to families from Sherborne Abbey Primary as well, which was a huge undertaking, with volunteers helping to pack the boxes and bags of shopping. In total the appeal raised nearly £12,000

in goods and funds to help support families who need it this Christmas. Donors met at the school last week to see the boxes before they were delivered, and they were joined by the LordAngus Campbell, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, former Lieutenant of Dorset, Mayor of Sherborne David Birley, executive Angus Campbell. headteacher Ian Bartle, and Felicity Griffiths, head of school at Sherborne Primary Sherborne Primary’s PTA also stepped in to support vouchers organised by these families at Christmas, and would not former Mayor of Sherborne David Birley have been possible without the generous worth £60 a family, which can be used at a donations from local businesses and the range of independent shops in Sherborne, organisational skills of David Birley. with stores able to claim the money back “It has been wonderful to see so many from them. people work together on this fantastic These include food shops, cafes, a project and shows what a compassionate butcher and gift shops, so that families can town we are so fortunate to live in.” use the vouchers to buy what is most School staff volunteered to deliver the needed. boxes after school last week in their own Ian Bartle, executive headteacher of both time, to ensure all the boxes get to the schools, said: “This will mean so much to families that need them.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

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Ukulele orchestra supports local charities to the tune of nearly £2,000 CHRISTMAS is a time for giving, and this year Shroton Ukulele Band has given £1,800 to charities after playing 33 gigs for care homes, women’s institutes and at street fairs. This year the band has supported a variety of mainly local charities including

Julia’s House and BADco – Brave and Determined Company – in Shaftesbury, and Blandford Food Bank. It has also donated to causes dear to the hearts of individual band members, such as the Phyllis Tuckwell children’s hospice – to which one band member has given all his busking money for the last 35 years – Bowel Cancer Research UK and the Forever Hounds Trust, which is devoted to the care and re-homing of rescued ex-racing greyhounds. Each charity received up to £250, except BADco, which got £500. BADco has only been running just over a year and is dedicated to funding life-saving early intervention counselling

for young people suffering from mental health challenges. So far 80 youngsters nationwide have been helped. Siobhan McFeely, the partner of band member Andy, recently ran a gruelling 185 miles in six days in appalling conditions in the Outer Hebrides to raise money for BADco, coining in £2,750, which the rest of the band felt inspired to add to. The band considers its activities a ‘triple whammy of loveliness’ – members enjoy playing music together, audiences enjoy listening and charities benefit from the money raised. The band only charges £60 for a onehour concert with between one and eight players. It meets for practice every Monday at Shroton village hall at 4.30pm and new gigs and new members are welcome, or anyone interested can just go along and listen. For more information, contact Saskia at sdarell@hotmail.com or Judy at judithtwodogs1@gmail.com.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

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Fresh plans for 135 new homes on field site in Blandford submitted UP to 135 new homes could be built on land near Blandford. A planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council by David Locke Associates on behalf of Hallam Land Management for a site of around 5.7 hectares, north of Ward’s Drove, Blandford St Mary, pictured right. The application says a “mix of house types” would be built on the site, including affordable homes, as well as green space. It promises a “sensitivelydesigned scheme which respects the site’s urban edge and its landscape setting”, near the current St Mary’s Hill development. Access to the development would come from the A350 Bournemouth Road, the application said, with the North Dorset Trailway from Ward’s Drove running through the site.

“A key feature of the proposals is the integration of the North Dorset Trailway from Ward’s Drove at the southern boundary through the site to the northern boundary, where it is planned to continue through the adjacent development to a new controlled crossing at grade of the A354 Blandford Bypass,” it said. “The new route away from its current alignment on the A350 will create an attractive, convenient and direct pedestrian and cycle connection that can be used to access local services and facilities and make it more attractive as a long distance recreational route.” A “robust, high quality, sustainable residential development” is planned, the application added, with “good connections to local services and community facilities in Blandford St Mary and

Special delivery? Royal Mail struggles to get through Somerset’s flooded roads, leaving some villages cut off for nearly two weeks

VILLAGERS in Somerset left without mail for 11 days have been told it was due to flooding. People in areas around Babcary and Cary Fitzpaine received no post for over a week at the start of December. In one case, a card sent on November 29 – first class – didn’t arrive until December 12, 13 days later. Royal Mail said the delays were due to flooding around the villages. The lack of deliveries came after the company blamed a “high levels of vacancies” at the delivery office in Yeovil for a lack of post in August. “Again, we’ve not had any post delivered for days and days,” said one resident. “And when we did get it, our post – 19 pieces of mail – had been left with someone down the road and they brought it up.” “It costs £1.25 to send something first class and to get it almost two weeks later is ridiculous,” they added. But Royal Mail said regular deliveries would now resume after storms hit Somerset roads. “A number of villages in the area were severely affected by the recent flooding and were inaccessible for days at a time,” a spokesperson said. “However, the villages affected by the floods have since had

How the scheme, on land near Blandford St Mary, could look, inset

Blandford Forum”. For more details, and to comment, log on to www. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for reference P/ OUT/2023/07266.

Chris Loder with staff from Royal Mail’s Sherborne delivery office

regular deliveries and there is no backlog of mail in those areas.” Meanwhile, MP Chris Loder (Con, West Dorset) has met postal staff at Sherborne’s Royal Mail Delivery Office to thank them for their continued hard work. Mr Loder visited the premises ahead of the Christmas period – the busiest time of the year for the Royal Mail. “It’s been most insightful to visit Sherborne Delivery Office, which is where the majority of parcels and post is sorted from the town and surrounding villages,” Mr Loder said. “The team at the delivery office work hard all year round, and this is especially so in the lead up to the Christmas period.” He added: “I’m very grateful to all the staff for their continued efforts to ensure households in and around Sherborne receive their post and parcels before Christmas Day, and I wish all the team a very restful break.”

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

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Appeal helps older people living in poverty Grants available to support older people through the winter thanks to charity appeal

SOMERSET Community Foundation (SCF) has raised more than £125,000 in just over a month since launching its Surviving Winter Appeal, thanks to the generosity of local people. Somerset has about 10,000 older people living in fuel poverty, almost double the number last year, and Somerset Community Foundation is seeking to raise £175,000 to help older people with their fuel bills PHOTO Audrey Large

the donations will help them heat their homes. Grants of up to £500 are now being disbursed around the county. Laura Blake, SCF’s philanthropy director, said: “We’ve been astounded by the magnitude of support we’ve received for the Surviving Winter appeal so far this year, particularly in light of the cost-of-living crisis. “This year the demand is greater than ever before, and a record number of older people now need our help to cope with the bitter winter months ahead. “We’re incredibly grateful for every single donation we’ve received – without your support, we know lots of older people in Somerset would be suffering in silence during these long, cold winter months.” SCF is seeking to raise more money – its £175,000 target would allow it to help about 800 vulnerable people across Somerset get through winter. To donate online, visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949 and select option 1 to use a credit or debit card (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm). Alternatively, send cheques made payable to ‘Somerset Community Foundation’ – write ‘SW’ on the back – to Somerset Community Foundation, Yeoman House, The Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN.

Seasonal sing-along Choir teams up with mental health charity to release a Christmas album with a twist

ROKiT Choir have been singing their way into the Christmas season in aid of mental health charity BADco. The choir have teamed up with Shaftesbury-based The Brave and Determined Charity (BADco) to spread holiday cheer with their first CD. “Mental health is a cause the choir is very passionate about supporting,” said Mark James, ROKiT’s founder and choir director. “One of the reasons the choir was formed and does not hold auditions or turn anyone away is we understand the positive effects that singing can have on your mental wellbeing.” ROKiT choir was formed five years ago and is made up of choirs from Gillingham, Blandford and Wincanton, and hosts all age ranges and abilities with an emphasis on having fun. “Making an album with the choir has always been a goal of mine,” Mark said. “They work so hard at the music. It is great for them to have a way of being able to hear it for themselves and share it with friends and family without having to wait for live performances.”

ROKiT have hosted many charity events and raised more than £10,000 for causes from local to international appeals such as the Ukraine and Turkey Earthquake appeals. However, it was a personal tragedy that affected one of its members that led to it teaming up with BADco. Mark added: “When you talk about it, you find out that so many people have been affected by mental health. This could be personally or through a family member that has suffered. “With this album we hope to be able to raise enough funds to allow BADco to put as many people through one-to-one counselling as possible. “This is definitely the time of year we need to think of those that are suffering.” The choir has funded the production costs of ROKiT Around the Christmas Tree. Sherborne School gave the space to record in and Howard Bullivant from The Ice House Studio, helped record and mix the track, so that all the profit goes to BADco. The album is a collection of fun Christmas songs, some of which have a bit of a twist. Bridge Over Troubled Water also

features and Mark said: “We wanted a song that sums up the charity and there really isn’t any better than this.” CDs are available from Coles Yard in Wincanton and Sherborne, Riversmeet leisure centre in Gillingham, The Factory Outlet shop in Blandford and The Black Cactus Café in Shaftesbury. All have agreed to sell the CD for no commission. The album is on CD and can be downloaded from www.rokitchoir.com. Anyone who would like to find out more about BADco services should visit www. badco.uk.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

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9 Stone Lighter And Living Life To The Full Emily had joined Shaftesbury slimming world group after a car accident had left her with osteoarthritis in her ankle, her consultant had suggested that losing weight would help with the pain. Emily said ‘I felt welcomed straight away And in my first week I lost 9lb, I couldn’t believe I was able to eat delicious food I enjoyed before my weightloss journey but in a healthier way! Still enjoying Burgers and Pizza and curries, just by making a few swaps!! My kids are very fussy eaters but they enjoy meals like Spaghetti Carbonara, FakeAway KFC so we can eat the same meals. I was terrible for diving into the kids snack box or crisps. I hardly snack now because I am full from having a balanced meal that keeps me full instead of something that didn’t fill me up!

Blandford Methodist Church Thursday 5.30pm, 7.30pm Tracey 0777 630 9982

Sturminster Newton The Exchange Monday 5.30pm & 7.30pm Gail 07748 643783

Blandford Corn Exchange Wednesday 8.30am, 10am, 11.30am, 5.30pm, 7pm Tracey 0777 630 9982

Blandford Corn Exchange Tuesday 6pm Debbie 07415 565 185

Shaftesbury Royal Chase Hotel Thursday 7.30am, 9am & 10.30am Jane 07525 157 302

Shaftesbury Royal Chase Hotel Thursday 6pm & 7.30pm Gail 07748 643 783

Since losing weight she can now keep up with her two children Elliot 7 and Matilda 4, and enjoy adventures together. Emily hasnt had to take any osteoarthritis medication in months and is so much more confidence. ‘I am so much happier and just wish I had done it sooner’.

Mere Lecture Halls, Salisbury Street, 7.30pm Sally 07429 360215 Sherborne Wednesday 9am Raleigh Hall Digby Road Sally 07973 665167 Gillingham Youth Community Centre Tuesday 9.30am & 11am Lorraine 07771 013728

Gillingham Gilligham Social Club Hardings Lane Tuesday 5.30pm, 7pm Jane 07525 157302 Wincanton Memorial Hall Wednesday 5.45pm, 7.30pm Debbie 07415 565185

Somerton Somerton Group The Club @ Somerton Gassons Lane Mondays 5.30pm & 7.15pm Shelley 07786011728

Sherborne Raleigh Hall Digby Road Tuesday 5.30pm Sally 07973 665167

Please contact local consultants as Christmas times may be different.

Puddletown Village Hall Thursday 7pm Julie 07871 821 928

Yeovil Park House, 45 The Park (Opposite Sydney Gardens) Yeovil, BA20 1DF Tuesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm, Wednesdays 3.30pm 5.30pm & 7pm Thursdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

News

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Pictures by Jamie Randall

Fancily dressed and fleet of foot!

DOZENS of intrepid runners braved the showers for a festive event. The 2023 Motcombe Santa Run took place on December 3, with scores of people taking to the roads, setting off and finishing at the Memorial Hall. Fancy dress was the order of the day, with Santas, snowmen and even Christmas presents donning their running shoes. The event, organised by the Motcombe CofE Primary School PTA, raises money for school projects, such as the spiritual garden and outdoor learning spaces. A spokesperson said: “A massive thank you to all those who came to the annual Santa race,” they added. “What a wonderful turnout in rainy conditions. A fantastic buzz and wonderful donations, support and you lovely bunch, the runners.” n Donate onlone at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ thegreatmotcombesantarun2023

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 blackmorevale.net

News

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Events

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Glasto hands £3.7m to good causes MORE than £3.5 million has been donated to charity by the Glastonbury Festival. Organisers have praised festval goers for their support as the event, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, backed a “range of incredible causes”, including in Bristol, Yeovil and in the Pilton area. “It is thanks to your support for the Festival that we have been able to make substantial donations to help those facing challenges across the world,” a spokesperson said. “By the end of 2023, we will have made payments of over £3.7m to charitable causes and campaigns. In addition to this £3.7m, thank you to everyone who donated to the Oxfam Crowdfunder DEC Appeal which raised more than £1m towards the Syria-Turkey Earthquake response, and our

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

online auction raised £116,000 for the Trussell Trust.” The festival, which next years takes place from June 26 to 30, is partnered by charities Oxfam, WaterAid and Greenpeace. But it also backs a raft of other causes, at home and abroad, in 2023. “In response to the humanitarian crisis currently affecting the Middle East, we have made a donation towards the Red Cross’s Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal to provide immediate and urgent medical support for all those in need,” the spokesperson went on. “We have also supported War Child with a donation towards their work in that region and for

other children affected by war in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.” National charities working with young people experiencing homelessness and charities tackling poverty such as Fareshare, Foodcycle and Beauty Banks have also benefited, alongside charities helping asylum seekers. And in Bristol, the festival supported projects including Young Bristol, Black2Nature and Feeding Bristol. In Pilton and surrounds, the festival backed enrichment projects for primary schools and community food banks, as well as donating towards the new Breast Cancer Unit at Yeovil Hospital and other Somerset NHS charities.

It’s panto time in Charlton Horethorne! Oh no it Sturminster Newton isn’t! Oh, New Years Day Vintage & Classic yes it is! Vehicle Run 2024

GILLINGHAM CRAFTS, Artisan Christmas, Shaftesbury Town Hall, Sunday 17th December 10am - 4.00pm FREE ENTRY

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A FROG and a prince will be coming to Charlton Horethorne Village Hall next month. Amateur dramtics group CHAPS (Charlton Horethorne Amateur Pantomime Society) will be staging a production of The Frog Prince, written by Stephen Duckham and directed by Ross Lund, from January 18 to 20. Tickets go on sale online from Boxing Day, and at the Village Shop in early 2024. Shows get underway at 7.30pm, with a matinee on the Saturday at 2pm. Online tickets are available at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ chaps-panto subject to a small handling fee, or in person at the shop, costing £8 for adults, £4 for children, or £20 for a family ticket admitting four.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Events

blackmorevale.net TABLE TOP SALE, 27th January, DAMERHAM VILLAGE HALL, SP6 3 HN, 10 SELLERS 10am Book at info@damerham.org, £1 BUYERS 11am Refreshments, For Hall Funds CHRISTMAS FAIRS Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd Dec The Town Hall, Shaftesbury 9am - 4.30pm/5pm Lots of amazing items for sale under one roof. Supporting Weldmar Hospice and Dorset Somerset Air Ambulance

CRAFT FAIR December 22nd The Town Hall, Shaftesbury 9am - 4.30pm Perfect Christmas shopping locally & under one roof. Supporting Weldmar Hospice and Dorset Somerset Air Ambulance

INTRODUCTION TO GARDEN DESIGN COURSE. 8 weeks starting - Monday 15th January 7-9pm Shepton Montague Village Hall Contact 07762 607679 SUNDAY JANUARY 14th 3-4pm Poetry and music to celebrate the natural world- a Quaker response. Cheap Street Church, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ Free admission, refreshments provided. Donations to Sherborne Foodbank sherbornequakers@gmail.com

SIXPENNY HANDLEY VILLAGE HALL New Year’s Eve Party Village Hall, Common Road SP5 5NJ Sunday 31 December | 8.00 pm - late £15 | ticketsource.co.uk | Bar | Snacks. Information: 6dhandleyhall@gmail.com

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Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th January INDOOR STATIC TRACTOR SHOW

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Tractor, implement, trade stands, toys, models & books, etc. AUCTION on Sat 27th by HJ Pugh & Co. RAISING MONEY for local charities Sat: 8:30am - 4pm & Sun: 9am - 3:30pm Contact: Mike 07976 535762 If an entry form is needed by post please ring Marcie Tel: 01747 822662

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Santa’s making a list and checking it twice — fantastic festivemaking familya fun andchecking incredible value money! Santa’s list and it twice — for fantastic festive family fun and incredible value for money! But spaces are But spaces are selling fast so early booking is highly selling fast so early booking is highly recommended to avoid recommended to avoid disappointment. disappointment.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Business

New president for chamber’s landmark year by dorsetbiznews.co.uk A NEW president has taken the helm as Dorset Chamber looks ahead to its 75th anniversary year. Tony Brown, managing director of Ferndown-based Y-not Finance, received the chain of office at the chamber’s annual meeting. He succeeded outgoing president Caron Khan and will be supported in his role by new vice-president Gareth Sherwood, chief executive of Bournemouth YMCA. About 100 members attended the annual meeting and heard of a successful year despite the challenging business environment. Chief executive Ian Girling

said the chamber’s achievements over the past 12 months included the first Business Festival of its kind. Dorset Chamber was also named as one of the top five chambers of commerce in the UK during 2023. It celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024. Ian, who has just marked his first decade as the chamber’s chief executive, said: “It has been another successful year. “Our highlight of 2023 was the Dorset Business Festival, a four-day celebration that included a networking launch, a major conference and expo, and the return of the Dorset Business Awards. “With a footfall of over 800

blackmorevale.net businesses, this was the largest and most ambitious project ever undertaken by Dorset Chamber. “A huge thank you goes to our amazing team and to all of our festival partners. “You can expect to see the festival return in October 2024 over a two-week period. “It’s been extremely challenging for businesses over the last four years with unforeseen global challenges. “We will continue to do our absolute best for our business community.” Dorset Chamber is to refresh its face-to face events in 2024 and introduce new services to bring in more commercial income streams. The chamber, which has more than 650 members, runs as a business on a not-for-profit basis and is not heavily subsidised through publicly funded support. It has an 85% membership retention rate. New president, Tony Brown, said: “Dorset Chamber has long been a beacon of collaboration,

innovation and growth. “As we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, I am eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and work collectively with each and every one of you, to help move our chamber to even greater heights.” The annual meeting also included board and ambassadorial appointments: n Matthew Fretten, of Frettens LLP, as honorary solicitor. n Lesley Fox, of Mazars, as honorary treasurer. n Helen Stacey, managing director of Aspire Jobs, as chair of the Dorset Chamber Ambassadors. She also joins the board of directors. Following the annual meeting at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel, the chamber held its Christmas lunch for nearly 200 people – one of the highest attendances for many years – when £1,744 was raised from a raffle for Diverse Abilities.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Letters

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Bus service: A case of use it or lose it

THE 58 bus provides an essential service between Yeovil, Sherborne, Milborne Port and Wincanton, connecting with the railway at Yeovil Pen Mill and Templecombe. But it is threatened with withdrawal because the operator says not enough people are using it, particularly in the middle of the day. So this really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’. We may be left with just the Y4 running only once every two hours and not at all on Saturdays. The obvious uses are for people getting to work, hospital appointments and shopping. For those of us in Sherborne, it is a quick 15 minutes to the middle of Yeovil, with no hassle about parking. For those further east, it is an easy trip to Sherborne, with the Greenhill stop close to the Yeatman Hospital and the top of Cheap Street. But one could be more adventurous. Why not take the bus from Sherborne to Milborne Port and enjoy a country walk back over the hill via Oborne or Poyntington, or down the valley by Pinford? Government subsidies mean it only costs £2 – and, of course, bus pass holders pay nothing. Why not give it a try? Mike Keatinge Sherborne Transport Action Group

Homes Standard and developers IT is surprising that the Shaftesbury-Gillingham B3081 will be closed for over three weeks for the installation of gas mains. The Government’s stated aim is that no new homes should connect to the gas network from 2025 as part of the Future Homes Standard. Instead, homes should be equipped with energy-efficient insulation and heated by a low-carbon heating source.

Are the builders trying to beat the Future Standard’s introduction and leave new homeowners with a heat source that will have to be replaced by 2035 when gas boilers are scheduled to be banned? Henry Merritt Shaftesbury

Bottoms have it in deer stakes THE illustration of a ‘muntjac’ deer accompanying A J Selby’s article – New Blackmore Vale, November 24 – shows a fallow ‘pricket’, a young male with his first pair of unbranched antlers. While photographers often favour a portrait of the head, all the species of deer found wild in Britain can be reliably identified by their backsides. A humorist in the Forestry Commission once got a taxidermist to mount a series of deer bums on wooden shields to emphasise the point! George Darwall Via email

Marie Curie can provide support CHRISTMAS can be challenging for many of us, but for families experiencing dying, death or bereavement, it can often feel impossible. People who are grieving may find the festive season particularly tough and emotionally draining, as that’s when we often miss our loved ones the most. Many families may also be facing the last Christmas with a loved one or the first without them and not know where to turn to help get them through the season. Marie Curie is here for anyone with an illness they are likely to die from and those close to them. Our free support line and webchat is open over the festive season, including Christmas

Day and New Year’s Day, offering practical and emotional support on everything from symptom management and day-to-day care to financial information and bereavement support. Our trained support line officers are there if you need support or a listening ear, as well as our telephone companion service that offers regular calls at a time that suits you. Additionally, for people across the south west, Marie Curie’s bereavement companions will still be making phone calls as usual throughout the festive period. Any readers who need support over Christmas and New Year are encouraged to contact Marie Curie free of charge on 0800 090 2309. Alternatively, visit mariecurie. org.uk/support to chat online. Matt Williams Marie Curie associate director, Information and Support

Local interests will trump party I WAS slightly confused, then angry, when I read Simon Hoare’s column – New Blackmore Vale, December 8. His article talked about his appointment as Local Government Minister at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. I checked it wasn’t April Fool’s Day and a Conservative government wheeze to cheer us all up during these difficult times. We all know that the true expectation of the Levelling Up policy is a vote-winning carrot to appease the north of the country for lack of funding and investment. So why appoint a Conservative MP from one of the most southern constituencies of the country? We are North Dorset and

therefore meet the criteria, what a great sound bite – the North is being represented in the Conservative Party’s manifesto. Mr Hoare is trying to justify his appointment for the benefit of our constituency, like when he chaired the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. When are we going to get someone who will represent and address the real issues: the problems we still have with our roads, rural crime, poor bus services, the lack of schools, doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies and dentists, the disjointed planning and house building. Just to name a few that affect us all every day and with no apparent solutions. Cut the waffle and show us tangible solutions to these problems. My vote next year will be based on the person who best represents North Dorset rather than their party. This will be a risk and major change in how I would normally base my vote. Jonathan Evans Buckhorn Weston

Far-right protests ignored by MP CHRIS Loder’s article – New Blackmore Vale, November 24 – mentioned, quite rightly, the Palestinian protesters, whose behaviour during Remembrance weekend was beyond the pale. He neglected, however, to mention the appalling behaviour by far-right protesters and their clashes with the police near the Cenotaph, and elsewhere in London, that took place during the same weekend. Although right to criticise the bad behaviour of some proPalestinian supporters, Chris’s failure to mention the rightwing protesters was also beyond the pale, and sadly reminiscent of Suella Braverman’s approach to balanced reporting. Gordon Morris Leigh

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Arts & Entertainment

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Portrait of an ‘extraordinary artist’ WORK by one of the most celebrated sculptors of recent times is now on show at Dorset Museum in Dorchester until next spring. Dame Elisabeth Frink, the first female sculptor to be elected a Royal Academician, produced more than 400 sculptures in an illustrious career, including a large number at her Woolland studio in Dorset between 1976 and her death in 1993. Works in A View from Within, the first exhibition dedicated to Frink’s time in Dorset, showcases more than 80 sculptures, drawings and prints. It also includes a re-creation of her Dorset studio featuring her tools and the working plasters that formed the basis of some of her most well-known bronze sculptures. Visitors can see a selection of personal possessions, including letters and photographs.

The dying wishes of her son, Lin Jammet, were that the entire Frink Estate and Archive be given to the nation, and Dorset Museum received more than 300 works in 2020, making it one of the largest public collections of Frink’s work. The Frink Estate gifted 31 bronze sculptures, more than 100 prints and drawings, along with several original plaster sculptures, studio tools and equipment. Works in the exhibition are drawn from this collection, as well as from the Frink Archive at Dorset History Centre, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art. Elizabeth Selby, director of collections and public engagement at Dorset Museum, said: “Elisabeth Frink was an extraordinary artist who explored what it meant to be

Dame Elisabeth Frink had a studio in Woolland in Dorset

human through her work. “This exhibition will portray Frink in a more intimate light, revealing her inner world and the major themes she explored in her sculpture, prints and drawings. “We are thrilled to be able to display more of the works we acquired from the Elisabeth Frink Estate in 2020, and explore Frink’s connections

with Dorset, where she lived and worked from 1976 until her death in 1993.” Executive director Claire Dixon, who joined Dorset Museum this summer, said: “The museum was transformed by a multi-million-pound extension, but we now need to engage with enough visitors to ensure its survival, as the museum has struggled to recover from the impact of the pandemic and more recent cost-of-living crisis. “Exhibitions like this form a crucial part of my vision for a sustainable future for the museum, encouraging repeat visits and providing access to exceptional collections and stories that relate to Dorset but also have wider connections that make them relevant to all.” n Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within, runs at Dorset Museum in Dorchester until April 21, 2024.

Although it is not currently a legal requirement, please consider wearing a face covering to protect yourself and others when visiting the Tivoli.

MADE TO MEASURE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT OUR RECORD BREAKING PANTOMIME

CINDERELLA

Friday 15th December - Monday 1st January Various dates and times – check with Box Office Tickets Adults £19/under 16s £15 1 in 10 tickets free - available via Box Office Plus 3 ADULTS ONLY performances (ages 16+) Friday 29th, Saturday 30th December & Tuesday 2nd January 7.30pm

Tickets £19

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

RAVE ON – THE ULTIMATE 50s & 60s EXPERIENCE Friday 12th January 7.30pm, Tickets £23 (Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

LOS PACAMINOS FEATURING PAUL YOUNG

PLEA S KE E CHEC EP KI OU NG WEBSR ITE

NAPOLEON (15)

5th, 8th, 9th & 10th January 7.30pm Matinee 9th January 2.30pm Tickets adult evening: £8 Adult Matinee: £7 U16s: £6

A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE

Saturday 6th January 7.30pm Tickets £30

SUPREME QUEEN

Thursday 11th January 7.30pm Tickets £29

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER

MILES JUPP: ON I BANG

THE GARY FLETCHER BAND

Saturday 13th January 7.30pm, Tickets £30

(12A) 15th & 16th January 7.30pm Matinee 17th Jan 2pm Tickets adult evening: £8 Adult Matinee: £7 U16s: £6

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

AIN TS REM A E S T S LA Wednesday

17th January 7.30pm Tickets £25

Thursday 18th January 7.30pm Tickets £20.50

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Arts & Entertainment

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Shakespeare on the big screen STAR TURN Jason Donovan is playing Lighthouse Poole – but not until February 2025 on his Doin’ Fine tour

Jason’s rolling back the years NEIGHBOURS icon, musician and movie star Jason Donovan is bringing his latest tour to Dorset – but not until 2025. The star, famed for hits including Too Many Broken Hearts and Especially For You with soap co-star Kylie Minogue, will bring his Doin’ Fine 25 show to Poole’s Lighthouse theatre on Friday, February 21, 2025. Doin’ Fine 25 is set to be a “spectacular celebration of his remarkable career in music, theatre, film and TV, taking fans on a journey through 35 years of hits on stage and screen via his energetic and unique live performance style,” a spokesperson said. Jason himself added: “I am

so excited about this tour. My performing career has been an incredible ride, and I can’t wait to celebrate it by performing the songs that have been such an important part of my life. “It’s going to be a fantastic show, and I look forward to sharing all those special moments with my fans.” Tunes expected include from stage shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Rocky Horror Show and Grease, as well as nods to his TV work like Neighbours, Strictly Come Dancing and more. For more information and ticket details, call 01202 280000.

Sounds Country A COUNTRY Night In Nashville is returning to the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne in the New Year following a sell-out show in 2023. The show re-creates a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of Country music. The audience will be transported on a musical journey through the history of Country, featuring songs from its biggest stars. Dominic Halpin and the

Hurricanes showcase hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton to the Dixie Chicks, and Willie Nelson to Little Big Town. This celebration of Country music features songs such as Ring of Fire, Crazy, Follow Your Arrow, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Need You Now, 9-5, and The Gambler, to name just a few. A Country Night in Nashville is on Saturday, January 26, 2024 – for tickets phone 01202 885566 or visit www. tivoliwimborne.co.uk.

LOVERS of Shakespeare can enjoy a pre-New Year treat with a screening of Romeo and Juliet at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. The National Theatre production, made just for the screen in 17 days during lockdown in the Covid-19 pandemic, stars Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley. Buckley is riveting throughout and O’Connor banishes all memory of his crabbed Prince Charles in The Crown. Emily Burns’ adaptation is sleek and at times feels lean but that is a necessary sacrifice for tension and pace. Director Simon Godwin gives the 90-minute film a sense of movement and plays with theatrical artifice in deft and brilliant ways. Romeo and Juliet is screened on Saturday, December 30, at 7pm with tickets from

Movie hopes for screenplay A SCREENPLAY based on a novel by a Dorset writer has been published. Second World War story Stronghold of Happiness by Devina Symes from Dorchester is about a fictional family and their struggles and successes during wartime. It has already been made into a play, most recently performed at the Corn

Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley as the hapless lovers – his foppish reserve contrasts with her tousle-haired earthiness PHOTO: Rob Youngson

Shaftesbury Arts centre box office and the centre’s website, www.shaftesburyartscentre.org. uk Exchange in September, but now the author wants to see it on the big screen. Publisher Tim Saunders said: “It’s a gripping story and apart from the wellresearched history and a sprinkling of romance, there’s a very strong message about how women can overcome abuse. “Overall, it’s a good news story and we need more of those. I shall be targeting selected television and film production companies.”

25 Jan - 3 Feb

Saturday 30th Dec

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Church • Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 11am. BH21 5LZ. • Blandford Methodist Church: Sundays – everyone is invited to Sunday services at 10.45am and to stay for refreshments. Thursdays – coffee and a chat from 10amnoon. Fridays – lunch club for the over-55s from noon at £5 per meal. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book. The church is anxious to offer help to all those in need – call church steward John Cornish on 07799 516735 or leave a message. • Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Cheap Street Church, Sherborne: Taize service – half an hour of prayer, meditation and music on the second Sunday of the month at 6.30pm. Everyone welcome. • Digby Memorial Church Hall: Messy Church on Friday, December 22, 10am-noon. Christmas-themed art and craft activity session, all ages from four-plus, to be accompanied by an adult. No charge. • Digby Memorial Church Hall: The first Mothers’ Union meeting of 2024 is on Friday, January 24, at 10am in the Griffiths Room. Visitors will celebrate by sharing in the Eucharist followed by the annual meeting. Everyone welcome. • Gillingham Methodist Church: Sunday recitals 3pm (about one hour). Admission free, retiring collection. Superb two manual William Sweetland organ restored and enlarged in 2006/2009. Video screen. For details and updates visit the

blackmorevale.net website at www.musicatgmc. org.uk or phone 07817 379006. • Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Horton & Chalbury village hall: Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church. • Kingston Lacy: Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service. • Lower Stour Benefice: Sunday, December 24 – 10.45am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Blandford St Mary; 5pm Carols by Candlelight at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton; 11.30pm Midnight Communion by Candlelight at St Mary Church, Charlton Marshall. Christmas Day, December – 10.30am Christmas Day Communion at St John The Baptist Church, Spetisbury; 10.30am Family Service at St Mary The Virgin Church, Charlton Marshall; 11am Christmas Day Communion at All Saints, Langton Long. Sunday, December 31 – 10.45am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton. Coffee and cake – Spetisbury 10-11.30am first and third Monday each month; coffee stop – Charlton Marshall Parish Centre 10.30am12.30pm, Tuesday to Friday. • Lillington: All morning services at Lillington now begin at 9.30am. • Our Lady’s RC Church, Marnhull: Mass Sunday, 9am and 6pm. • Shaftesbury Quakers

CASTLETON CHURCH HOLDS BCP SERVICES every Sunday at 11.15am. For further details visit Sherborne Abbey web-site. You will be very welcome

Book online: blackmorevale.net Email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

(Society of Friends): Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB. • Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. • Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints’ Wardour Catholic Parish: Sunday Mass times – Sacred Heart, Tisbury 9am, coffee after Mass; All Saints’ Wardour 10.30am. • Shapwick: Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. • Sherborne Quakers: Meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall. Everyone welcome. • St Benedict’s RC Church, Gillingham: Sunday, 11am. • St Gregory’s, Marnhull: Sunday services 8am and 10am. Other services please visit the website at www. stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk • St John’s (CofE) Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury: Service every Sunday at 11.15am; parish communion on the first Sunday of the month; prayer services every other Sunday. • St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton: First, third and fourth Sundays – 11am Holy Communion; second Sunday – 9.30am Morning Prayer; fifth Sunday – 11am Benefice Holy Communion; second and fourth Sundays – 6pm Evensong; Wednesdays – 10am Holy

Communion. • St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary: First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion. • St Thomas’, Lydlinch: Second and fourth Sunday, 11am Holy Communion. Third Sunday, 6pm Evensong. • West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church (BA22 7QB). Sunday, December 31, 3pm — United service. Phone 01935 850838 or email Geoff.mead@ yahoo.com • Witchampton Church: Third Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints, Wardour: Christmas masses. Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, Sacred Heart Tisbury – First Mass of Christmas, carols at 5.30pm, Mass at 6pm, Midnight Mass at 11.30pm. Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, Sacred Heart, Tisbury – Mass at Dawn 9am; All Saints’ Wardour (SP3 6RH), Mass of the Day 10.30am. • Sherborne Abbey: A new series of organ recitals will begin in January on Mondays at 1.30pm. • Sherborne Abbey: UK Railtours carol service on Saturday, December 23, at 2.30pm. Everyone welcome. • Sherborne Abbey: Volunteer stewards are needed to help steward events/concerts in the abbey. Anyone interested should contact the parish office. • Sherborne Community Larder: Held in the grounds of St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Close DT9 4DU every Friday 9.30-10.30am. The Larder is run by volunteers and facilitated by FareShare. It aims to help people make their money go further by reducing their shopping bills. Membership not more than £5 a week – members receive at least three times that value in food and sundries. To sign up – referral not needed nor is it means tested – visit on a Friday or request a form from FSSouthernCentral@fareshare. org.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 blackmorevale.net

Hope, at last, on heavy vehicles PLEASED – thanks to local ‘weight watchers’ – we’re making some significant progress towards weight restrictions on heavy vehicles through villages around Warminster and Westbury. It was encouraging to hear the Highways Authority’s plans in Maiden Bradley on Friday. Our Wiltshire villages were built around cart tracks in a gentler age. Today six-axle monsters are shaking them to bits. Goodness, getting things to change takes time, but now there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Rejoice! In my various roles I’ve travelled widely in the Middle East. My experience makes me very reluctant to jump to easy conclusions about what’s to be done or who’s to blame. I do know that Israel is surrounded by hostile states, many of which have almost entirely expelled their once vibrant Jewish populations. It is constantly

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison threatened, as we saw on October 7, by terrorist groups like Hamas, Islamic State and Hezbollah, whose mission is to kill Jews and eradicate Israel. I so want to see civilians in Gaza safe. I met lots of Gazans when I visited the strip as a

Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton & Frome Sarah Dyke My bill would help those in Somerton & Frome ensure reliable access to workplaces, schools and colleges in larger towns and cities such as Yeovil and Bath. The bill is set to have

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Foreign Office minister. They left a deep impression on me. They don’t deserve Hamas or its quartermasters in Tehran. Given Hamas’s cynical use of them, and knowing the lengths Tel Aviv goes to avoid noncombatants, I don’t underestimate the challenge of eradicating Hamas. But I urge Israel to continue to do all it can to relieve the suffering of innocents and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, much of it I’m pleased to say from this country. One of the most rewarding things I have done as a defence minister this year is steer the Government’s response to a review into how gay people in the Armed Forces were abused and mistreated in the final decades of the last century. I was serving in the Navy at the time and recall that it wasn’t good at all. Lord Etherton, who chaired the review, made 49 recommendations which are

now being carried out. I’m happy to say the Defence of today is very different to the Defence I joined back in the day. For the LGBT community, ethnic minorities and women I very much hope and believe we are in much better place. Back then my two serving daughters would certainly never have been able to serve as they do in front-line roles. After a rather sad year for my family, Jenny and I are having a very quiet Christmas at home. Having traditionally sent out hundreds of MP Christmas cards, this year I’m donating to charity instead. But my best wishes to all I have the privilege to represent are no less warm or sincere. Let us hope and pray that 2024 brings us at home and those in more troubled realms overseas peace and prosperity. To that end I pledge my own poor efforts in Westminster in the months ahead.

its second reading on Friday, January 26. I have also kick-started my campaign on farmers’ mental health. I took the opportunity to press the Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy on the serious mental health challenges farmers face and I hope to meet her soon to discuss how we can best support farmers and farm workers to develop robust mental health strategies. I also spoke in the Liberal Democrat spokesperson slot on a debate about water company executive bonuses. It is disgraceful that water company bosses are continuing to pay themselves big bonuses while they pour sewage into our waterways. I am extremely concerned by allegations United Utilities wrongly downgraded sewage discharges to the Environment Agency in order to be able to charge consumers

millions more next year. This behaviour would be criminal and needs a criminal investigation to get to the bottom of it. When I was lead member for the Environment at Somerset Council, I worked hard to ensure that our environment is protected and I will continue to do this in Parliament. This Government has allowed water companies to treat nature with utter contempt and it is time to take urgent action to reverse the damage they have allowed. I have also been hard at work in Somerton & Frome and met with the Langport Transport Group about the proposed Langport/Somerton train station. I will continue to press the Government for urgent updates on the project. As always, if you would like to get in touch you can write to me at sarah.dyke.mp@ parliament.uk.

Bid to protect rural bus services I WOULD like to begin this column by wishing every reader a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. It has been an interesting and exciting year for me, in which I had the great privilege of becoming the MP for Somerton & Frome. This is the honour of my life, and I shall continue to work hard on behalf of my constituents next year. When I speak to residents, I am often told about the difficulties people face trying to get to work or school using public transport. Several bus routes in the constituency are under threat, which will only make the situation worse. It is for this reason that I tabled the Public Transport (Rural Areas) Bill last week. This bill would introduce minimum service levels of public transport in rural areas to sites of employment and education.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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New animal exports rules in pipeline BEFORE I proceed, I’d like to wish all readers of the New Blackmore Vale a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Whatever your plans are over the festive period, I hope you have a very restful and enjoyable break. This month has seen the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill to Parliament. It’s a flagship piece of legislation which will ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter and fattening. At the time of writing this column, the Bill has already received its first reading and is scheduled for its second reading on December 18. Readers of the New Blackmore Vale may recall that, in 2021, my Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act was signed into law. As I’ve been a vocal campaigner for the animal welfare cause, I was especially pleased to see my bill pass into law.

Conservative MP for West Dorset Chris Loder

As a result, the maximum penalty for certain offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 has been increased tenfold, from six months to up to five years. It ensures that the punishment equals the severity of the crime and serves to deter would-be animal abusers. Alongside my bill, the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will provide additional safeguards. The bill will stop animals enduring unnecessary stress,

exhaustion and injury on long journeys. It’ll also permanently stop our well-cared for farm animals being loaded onto a lorry and sent thousands of miles by land and sea to a destination in southern Europe – or even further afield, with reports that these animals go on to be slaughtered – not even in continental Europe, but in places such as Libya and Lebanon. In addition, the bill will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically in high welfare UK

slaughterhouses, reinforcing our position as a world leader on animal welfare, boosting the value of British meat and helping to grow the economy. In other news, it was a pleasure recently to visit the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Sherborne to meet postal staff ahead of the festive period. It was most insightful to see the process behind the distribution of post and parcels to Sherborne and the surrounding villages! The team at the delivery office have been working exceptionally hard this month to ensure our post and parcels are with us before Christmas Day. I’m grateful to all the postal staff at Sherborne and wish each of them a very restful Christmas break. As always, if you’d like to contact me about any of the above, or have an issue or concern over the festive period, please do email me at hello@ chrisloder.co.uk. You can also keep up to date with all my news on my website at www. chrisloder.co.uk.

Thinking of those missing at Xmas IT seems like only yesterday that I was writing, ‘so this is my final column of 2022’. I cannot believe that I am the only one who is saying – where in the name of all that is Holy has this year gone? It really has flown by. Christmas is a time of great joy for many. Families come together (sometimes invited; sometimes self-invited) and the rituals of Christmas unfold. Happiness, gifts, food and good cheer abound. In the darkest days of the Winter season a little light shines. However, we are all conscious that that is not the case for everyone. The lonely and the destitute obviously come to mind; and, rightly so, they should remain in our

Conservative MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

thoughts. For many, Christmas Day is made worse because the presumption is that everyone else is having a ‘simply wonderful time’. A great friend of mine

succumbed to cancer at the start of the month. She loved Christmas with a childlike enthusiasm. She will be much missed by all who knew and loved her. Christmas will not be as

bright for her family and friends because her joy and love has been taken from us. We are not alone in having to deal with bereavement and my heart and prayers go out to all of those who reach for the hand of a loved one only to find a void created this year; but, hopefully a cherished memory too which can bring comfort and solace. So, what do I wish my constituents this Christmas Season? A happy one? Of course. A prosperous, safe and secure 2024? Without doubt. But I also wish you comfort, peace and soulful tranquillity. However you spend it, may it be a time of renewal and spiritual refreshment. A Happy and Peaceful Christmas to you all.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Politics

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‘Stop protecting private landlords!’ THE number of households in temporary accommodation in England is at its highest since records began as charities call on the “out of touch” government to ban no-fault evictions and accelerate social housebuilding. Section 21 evictions, enabling landlords to evict renters at short notice without having to give a reason is a leading cause of homelessness. Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, in response said the government would address the housing crisis by allowing shops, takeaways and betting shops to be turned into living spaces and changing planning laws to allow more home extensions. These “grand ideas” are typical of the sticking plaster ideas of Rishi Sunak’s government. However it is the loss of a private tenancy that is the leading cause of homelessness, according to the housing charity Shelter. Instability in the private rental market, exacerbated in the short term by rising interest

Gerald Davies, on behalf of Dorset Labour

rates and mortgage increases caused bypayment Liz Truss, has led to steep rent rises and landlords deciding to sell their properties. The number of households being issued with no-fault evictions has risen in the past year, with a 21% increase. Also the number of families living in hotels past the sixweek legal limit has reached another all-time high, jumping from 670 to 1,840 in a year, a 175% increase. Those living in hotels are often in cramped

conditions and have no access to basic cooking or washing facilities. But in this article I want to focus on rural homelessness – this has been closely examined by the CPRE – the countryside charity – who have found that the highest amount of rural homeless is in the South West region where the numbers of people accepted as homeless by their local council has risen by 36% over the last five years. These figures only capture those persons known to the

local council and do not include the hidden homeless – in my own village there have been instances of people living in a mini bus in one case and, in another, people were living in a summer house in the back garden. The CPRE also found that there had been a similar upward trend in rural rough sleeping where there was a rise of 24% in just one year. The only way this housing crisis can be tackled is through the building of significant numbers of truly affordable homes for purchase and for social rent. This requires a major change of emphasis by government and this is never going to come under this current government. Poor housing conditions causes other outcomes such as: poor health; poor educational attainment; unemployment and can lead to increasing crime as well. For too long this government has protected private landlords – why – because the majority of Tory MPs are private landlords!

Have your say over Somerset budget NOW is your chance to have your say on how Somerset can address its financial emergency. Somerset Council has launched a consultation over possible changes to the budget in a bid to address a funding gap of around £100 million in the 2024/25 financial year. Residents and businesses are being urged to put forward their views and ideas on how the council can save - and raise - money. The results of the consultation will help influence Councillors as they look to set a balanced budget in February 2024, the council said. Leader, Cllr Bill Revans (Lib Dem, North Petherton), said: “I urge everyone to take part in our consultation, read through the information, understand our challenges, and have your say. “We are facing very difficult decisions – this is not where we want to be. But we must face the reality of what is, fundamentally, a broken system of local government funding nationally.

“The cost of delivering our services, particularly social care, is increasing at a much faster rate than our income. “This means we have to consider every available option to plug our budget gap, including increasing fees, reducing operating costs and finding savings across all areas. “Before we make any decisions, it’s important we listen to our residents, especially when those decisions will affect people across Somerset.” In November, the council’s executive declared a financial emergency, with an in-year overspend for 2023/24 of £27m and a projected budget gap for 2024/25 of £100m. To close the gap and balance the budget next year, a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including council tax, will need to be considered, the council said. But councillors say this alone will not close the budget gap and plans to fundamentally change the council’s systems

and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up. The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced or even stopped - and the public can have their say and put forward their suggestions. Meanwhile, Cllr Revans said the council was continuing to lobby central government for increased funding for local authorities across the country who are facing financial pressures. “We are continuing to lobby Government to address the financial crisis facing local councils,” he said. “Just last week the County Councils Network published a letter sent to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and signed by myself and 32 other council leaders from all over the country.” The budget consultation will close on January 22. For more information - and to take part - visit https://www.somerset.gov.uk/news/ have-your-say-on-council-budget-setting.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 BLACKMORE VALE

THE NEW

MAGAZINE

Edition 85

Z 10

Arrow words

Branded card game

Become set in ice (6,2)

More certain

Crossword

Resistance unit

Couple

L1 2

4 3

Extraordinary

10 ‘Scream’ director, Craven

Not as many

London Chinatown district

As well as

Morals

Nil

Location

Home publishing (abbr)

Greek letter before chi

Fabled bird

Deadlock

Foes

Hero

12 12

1313

15 15

1616

19 19

14 14

17 17

21 21

20 20

18 18

22 22

‘Dash!’

Plain-living More cheery US sect

Biological building block (inits)

Prescribed amount

It may be Miami, NY or Cyber (inits)

Not at home

Malt beverages

Wordsearch K O T C U Y C H L N A R R U P O T A C M T T E S E U A E R I W E R S D R S E R U W P E S W

E E H E Y S N A O K E R U A A

BEETROOT CAPSICUM CARROT FENNEL GARLIC MUSHROOM OKRA PEPPER

Vegetables

U B E F K E E P K A A E P C M E N A O P R N M R I P E P A C E F D P U I P M K M O P E E M U M R U M U A A T C M T E R C

B U E T C R Y N I R N R O E H

C E Y T R P Y R T I R O H S E

Down 1Down Takes in a child (6) 12Takes in a child (6) (8) Deliberate damage 23Deliberate Rend (4) damage (8) Chemical 34Rend (4) twin (6) Disciple (8) 45Chemical twin (6) As far as(8) (2,2) 56Disciple Cling 67As far (6) as (2,2) 13 Wages 7 Cling (6)(8) 14Wages Fault-finding (8) 13 (8) 15 Encumbrance (6) 14 Fault-finding (8) 17 Fashions (6) 15 Encumbrance (6) 18 Male child sponsored at a baptism (6) 17 Fashions (6) 20 Decorated, as with a sugary 18 Male child coating (4) sponsored at a baptism (6) 20 22Decorated, Taverns (4) as with a sugary

Across

Across 8 Cover with cloth (5) 8 Cover with cloth (5) 9 Ceased (7) 9 Ceased (7) software (7) 10 Computer 11 Slack (5) 10 Computer software (7) 12 Bird 11 Slack (5)scarer (9) 14 Actor’s (3) 12 Bird scarerprompt (9) 15 Opposite of ‘hi’ 14 Actor’s prompt (3) (3) 16 Attending once 15 Opposite of ‘hi’ (3) again (9) 19 Healing-hands therapy 16 Attending once again (9) (5) 21 Drained (7) 19 Healing-hands therapy (5) 23 Appeared (7) 21 Drained (7) 24 Curtain call cry (5) 23 Appeared (7) 24 Curtain call cry (5)

E I R K I O C A P O R C I R S

A P L E O C O N T H O D R T T

R N S R R C E T S R A O H O N

PUMPKIN RADISH ROCKET SWEDE SWEETCORN TURNIP WATER CHESTNUT YAM

K O E T S E M F A O T G A M U P M P R C I A I T S N U A U T

Sudoku

coating (4) 22 Taverns (4)

9 2 4 8

7 3

2 4

7 6

1 7 1 3

7 4

2 4

8 7

5 8

2 4

Brain chain 21

RESULT

+31

-17

÷5

+18

×2

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Z 10

Jumbo sudoku

1 5 9 7 5

8 3

2 4

1 7 3

3 9

6 9

8 5

10 10

8 2 6

4 1

6 5

2 1

Edition 85

MAGAZINE

3 7

Cryptic crossword 9

THE NEW

BLACKMORE VALE

9 2

7 3 8

7 1 4 6

2 8 4 7

15 14

9 5

19 1

19 6

8 9

Across Do Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as Across Down 2 A fr 1 I rave wildly about politician, extortionate 10 11 2 (7) A friar getting support is scared (6) 3 Wri 1 I rave wildly about politician, extortionate parasite each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t Writer about hotel (5) and luxury parasite (7) flat 5 Poster 3over longwith time worry showing old saying cross the thick black lines.

Killer sudoku 10

Brain chain (hard version) 100

flatcompanion (9) 5 Poster over long time showing old saying9 (5) 4 Tak Greek with left in terrible diner – 6 Use 4 Take(13) place again in store currently (5) 9 Greek with companion left in terrible diner and – relatives 13 7 Ing 10 Ingenuity shown byDruids, husband backing 6 Useless oddly (3) care in and relatives (13)12 7(8)Ingratiating and dull figure detaining asop 10 Ingenuity shown by husband backing care retreat in 8 Str 11 First creature leaving area soprano (6) 15 (4) retreat (8) 14 pro 12 Sanction a refined zither to be played around Killer Sudoku 8 Struggle about West recalled for recipien 1112First creature leaving area (4) 11 Intr circle (9) 16 Place numbers 1 to 917 18 programme? (6) 12 Sanction a refined zither to be played around 13 Gro 16 Only measure of distance when short of 11 Intricate and zany bet in ground (9)14 No circle (9) once each into every time (4) 13alcoholic Grotesque andand filma genre 16 Only measure of distance drinkfigure at home hot one(6) dan row, column andwhen short of17 Ponder 14 Note time (4) 15 A s endlessly (8) that’s discordant around clubhouse 19 bold-lined 3x3 20 box. sta 19 one Cool oligarch at work hiding dance music (6) name regarding 17 Ponder alcoholic drink at home and a hot 18 Tem order15 in time (13)in a place for drivers in a relaxed A son endlesslyNo (8) didgit may be 20 Hea 21 Stupid sentimentality state (2,4) fundamentally lacking 19 Cool oligarch at work hiding name regarding repeated in any substance (5) 18 Temperamental old British theatre actor order in time (13) 21 dash-lined cage, and 22 22 Step yet to be arranged in work as a 21 Stupid sentimentality fundamentally lackingprinter20(7)Head first lacking in idiot (3) 16 all the digits in any substance (5) addinup to as a 22 Step yet cage to be must arranged work Across Down printer (7)the value shown in

1 I rave wildly about politician, extortionate 2 A friar getting support is scared (6) parasite (7) that cage. 3 Writer with worry about hotel and luxury 5 Poster over long time showing old saying (5) flat (9) 9 Greek with companion left in terrible diner – 4 Take place again in store currently (5) 19 and relatives (13) 6 Useless Druids, oddly (3) 10 Ingenuity shown by husband backing care in 7 Ingratiating and dull figure detaining a retreat (8) soprano (6) 11 First creature leaving area (4) 8 Struggle about West recalled for recipient of 12 Sanction a refined zither to be played around programme? (6) circle (9) 11 Intricate and zany bet in ground (9) 16 Only measure of distance when short of 13 Grotesque figure and film genre (6) time (4) 14 Note that’s discordant around clubhouse in 17 Ponder alcoholic drink at home and a hot one dance music (6) endlessly (8) 15 A son in a place for drivers in a relaxed 19 Cool oligarch at work hiding name regarding state (2,4) 7 order in time (13) 18 Temperamental old British theatre actor (5) 21 Stupid sentimentality fundamentally lacking 20 Head first lacking in idiot (3) substance (5) 22 Step yet to be arranged in work as a printer (7)

RESULT

×3/10

+99

-37

+58

×1/3

For the solutions, 72 turn to page 84

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Antiques & Collectibles

blackmorevale.net

Churchill statue sells for £62,500

And this little piggy went to auction…

A CHARMING little Devon pottery pig is one of hundreds of lots being sold by Charterhouse in Sherborne on Thursday and Friday, January 4-5. “We had some staggering results throughout 2023 and it is great to start the year with this two-day auction full of lovely lots,” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house. The Exon Wemyss pig is decorated with pansies, measures just 11.5cm high and is estimated to sell for £150-£250. The pig, with all the other lots and live internet bidding, is available on www. charterhouse-auction.com Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for its specialist auctions of silver, jewellery and watches in February, with classic

Richard Bromell with the little Exon Wemyss pig

cars and classic motorcycles in March. Richard Bromell and the Charterhouse team can be contacted for advice and valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, on 01935 812277 or via cars@charterhouseauction.com.

THE curtain closed on Duke’s second century, with the conclusion of its most recent 200 Years sale, marking a major milestone in the auctioneer’s long and illustrious history. The 200 Years auction, with titanic names such as Oscar Nemon, Jenny Montigny, TS Eliot, Paul de Lamerie, Thomas Hardy, TE Lawrence and more, served as both a triumphant finale and a forerunner to a new age for the auctioneers. One highlight of the sale was a magnificent Oscar Nemon statue depicting Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine Churchill, which sold for £62,500, including buyer’s premium. The piece echoed a similar Duke’s sale earlier in the year – another statue of Churchill

ACREMAN ST. AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

To advertise your auction house in The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

AUCTION GENERAL ANTIQUES, JEWELLERY, SILVER, WATCHES & COLLECTABLES

contact

SHERBORNE

Friday 29th December No Physical Viewing.

Please see the catalogue online through easyliveauction.com & Thesaleroom.com

Debi Thorne Sales Director

Debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net

C1900 Steiff bear Hammer £1,300

Catalogue available to view through thesaleroom.com & Easyliveauction.com We are now accepting items for our January auctions.

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

Opportunity to feature editorial to showcase your Auctions

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 blackmorevale.net

Advertiser’s announcement

Antiques & Collectibles

Lots to choose from in Clarke’s three-day sale

This Oscar Nemon statue depicting Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine Churchill sold for £62,500, including buyer’s premium

sculpted by the great Oscar Nemon, which sold for a gargantuan £260,000. The next step in Duke’s long journey will begin in January 2024 with another major auction in Sporting & Natural History, flanked by Interiors and Avenue sales. Duke’s is inviting entries for

its January Sporting & Natural History auction – get in touch to organise a free and confidential valuation with one of its specialists either through enquiries@dukes-auctions.com or on 01305 265080. A full list of the Duke’s auction calendar can be found on its website. JOHN WRIGHT BARKER (1864-1941)

‘Puppy Days’ oil on canvas 91cm x 120cm SOLD FOR £21,250

CLARKE’S Auctions at Semley would like to wish its local clients a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Its next sale is on December 28, 29 and 30 when it offers a variety of items including a stunning pair of 18ct gold Chanel diamond earrings, a beautiful Art Deco platinum pave set diamond brooch, an early 19th century 15ct gold pearl cluster necklace and a fine quality green jade double gourd pendant, expected to fetch more than £2,000. In the collectibles section, prospective buyers will find fine bronze sculptures including steeplechase examples, Grand Tour pieces, Intaglio seals, portrait miniatures and a

wonderful 19th century sixdivision decanter box with a set of gilt-decorated bottles. The watch section has examples from Rolex, Omega, Breitling and Longines, and the clocks section features a good selection of longcase clocks including a 19th century chinoiserie example and an early 19th century English drum clock. A selection of mid-century furniture includes five Ray & Charles Eames designed aluminium group chairs, each being sold separately, a stylish Le Corbusier style LC4 chaise longue and more modern furniture including an OKA Lantau faux shagreen and gold Continued on next page

Clarke’s Auctions

Auctioneers & Valuers

Christmas Antiques & Collectables Sale 2024 Auctions: Avenue Auctions Interiors Sporting and Natural History Interiors Sandford Orcas

Sale Thursday 28th, Friday 29th and Saturday 30th December Viewing Wednesday 27th December from 9am to 5pm

16th January 25th January 15th February 29th February 6th March

Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889-1982) - Study of Goldfinches Amongst Flowers - oil on board. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000 Colour catalogue available at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com

Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park, Duke’s Brewery Square Dorchester Dorset DT1 1GA

CONFIDENTIAL VALUATIONS Tel: 01305 265080 enquiries@dukes-auctions.com www.dukes-auctions.com

01747 855109

enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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

CLASSIFIED ADS

Place your ad today call

Rachelle Cooper Phoenix Witt-Tower Classified Ads

01963 400186

Antique & Classic Clock Repairs & Restoration Longcase Clocks a speciality Antique Clock sales

Clocks Unlimited

Tel: (01935) 423233 Mobile: 07974 520545 bclocksunlimited@aol.com www.clocksunlimited.co.uk

WE BUY RECORDS, COLLECTIONS LARGE AND SMALL Call BILL 07967 816506 or 01747 811100 Email: bill@tunes.co.uk

blackmorevale.net

Three-day auction Continued from previous page dressing table or writing table. For the traditionalist there is a Chippendale Revival style display cabinet on stand, a fine quality Edwardian bow-fronted display cabinet and a pair of French fruitwood marquetry panelled bedside tables. Viewing is on Wednesday, December 27. To arrange home visits or arrange valuations of items for consignment into this or future sales, or for any other valuation queries, phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 at the main offices on Kingsettle Business Park, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9BU.

An original JS Fry & Sons ‘Fry’s Pure Concentrated Cocoa’ pictorial enamel sign. Estimate £100-£200.JPG

BUSBY Auctioneers & Valuers Accepting entries for our

Next Sale Stamps, Books, Pictures & Prints, and Antique Furniture & Objects

Saturday 27th January 2024 For a full list of our specialist sales please see our website

2024

Fine Art & Antiques Jewellery & Silver Sporting & Militaria General Sales Next sale:

General Sale Thursday 1st February

A Chinese carved celadon jade archaistic ewer.

SOLD FOR £37,000 For free verbal valuations please contact Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9AN 01747 855122 www.semleyauctioneers.com and South Kensington, London

House clearances arranged Probate & Insurance valuations Free no obligation valuations Contact info@busby.co.uk 01308 420 100

The Old Hemp Store North Mills Bridport DT6 3BE

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 blackmorevale.net

Holts ends the year in style as rare hammergun wows bidders

Antiques & Collectibles

THE year ended in fine fashion at Holts with the live winter auction. A total of 90% of lots sold, including a J&W Tolley 10-bore ‘Giant Grip’ double-barrelled hammergun. The lot, a fine example of an interesting (if shortlived) 1877 patent and a good representative of a period of gun making where innovative design was at its height, made a respectable mid-estimate hammer price of £1,800. A Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle, rare to be found in .22 short calibre, captured the imagination of the crowd, far exceeding its £600 to £800 estimate to realise a hefty £1,300 on the day. The first auction of 2024 is planned for March and consignments are being accepted now, with the next local valuation day at the NFU offices in Sturminster Newton on January 16. For full list of venues, see the Holts website, or to book an appointment contact David Thurgood by phone on 01297 306123 or by email to westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com.

NYD MON 1 JAN 24

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine DEADLINES

Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday. Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.

I have a large private collection of French and English antique furniture, antique architectural items, interesting antiquities and objects d’art for home et gardens. I return to Dorset monthly with fresh items from my collection. Open 7 days, but please check as I may be away on delivering. I look forward to your visit!

Come and see the collection at: The Antiques Barn, Unit 7 and 8, Woodrow Dairy, The Common, Hazelbury Bryan, DT10 2AH

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden

blackmorevale.net

Hospital garden gets top rating - again! A GARDEN designed to make time in hospital for dementia patients as comfortable as possible has been recognised with a top award. In 2015, Yeovil District Hospital’s dementia and delirium team was awarded funding from the National Lottery to develop a safe and enclosed garden for patients to visit off the ward, but still connected to the hospital. Since then, the team has worked closely with senior hospital gardener Adrian Goldring to maintain the green space. And their hard work has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which has rated it as Level 5 – Outstanding, for the third year running. Kirsty Withers, a specialist matron and a lead for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s dementia and delirium service, said the rating meant a lot to everyone at the hospital. “We’re very proud that our garden has been recognised by the RHS in this way for the third year running,” she said. “The judges always say they’re looking for that originality and I think our garden is unique in so many ways. “It’s unprecedented for a hospital to win

Caroline Barnes creative health coordinator, Aidan Sinnott - senior healthcare assistant, and Kirsty Withers specialist matron and head of the dementia and delirium service and inset, gardener Adrian Goldring

it three years in a row, and just for us to be recognised at this local level is really important for the town too.” Eight years ago, the hospital’s dementia and delirium team and arts team worked in partnership with the former district council, whose landscaping team helped with both the design and sourcing of the plants. “The garden has a lovely seating area

and a really nice canopy, which provides shade in the summer, as well as cover during the rainy seasons – very much needed if this month is anything to go by,” Kirsty added. “It’s not just the summer that our garden blooms either, as in winter, there’s a selection of interesting sculptural pieces, such as mosaics, and even some metal flowers – why not pop down to take a look when you have a spare five minutes? “We use it for tea parties, and of course we decorate it over festive periods – we’ve been busy decorating the garden’s Christmas tree over the last week or so. “Our team also uses the garden to take patients who’ve become agitated or confused on the ward, giving them that much needed space to calm down in a quiet and tranquil environment.” Hospital gardener Adrian said he was over the moon with the news. “This year is unprecedented as we’ve done something nobody else has ever – winning the award three years in a row,” he said. “It was a real pleasure to take the team of judges around the garden and it gave me a real sense of pride, both personally, and as part of our wider team.”

Find your local Hunt Forest Group branch at

Tilshead

High Street, Tilshead, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 4RX•Tel: 01980 621 114 AUTHORISED DEALER

Dorchester

Unit 51, Enterprise Park, Piddlehinton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7UA •Tel: 01300 348 881 Email us at info@huntforest.com Visit us online at www.huntforest.com Hunt Forest Group stock a variety of brands including

AUTHORISED DEALER

Find us on social media at

@huntforestgroup

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden

blackmorevale.net

Welcome to Wooden Gate Makers! BEAUTIFUL WOODEN GATES & GARAGE DOORS

Wooden Gate Makers supply a wide variety of styles in both hardwood and softwood from our workshop in Poole, Dorset.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE. 01202 670770

sales@woodengatemakers.co.uk Unit 1, Slader Business Park, Witney Road, Nuffield Industrial Estate, BH17 0GP

www.woodengatemakers.co.uk

Machine or Hand-Lay Local Authority Approved ESTABLISHED 1988

All aspects of Surfacing Roads Drives Footpaths Drop Kerbs Resin Bond Drives

Call for a free quote

01747 820234

The Depot, Longcross, Zeals BA12 6LJ info@cgtarmac.co.uk www.cgtarmac.co.uk

Landscaping, Groundworks and Garden Maintenance, Specialists in Patios, Fencing, Driveways, Walling, Ponds, Turﬁng Free Quotations amralphlandscaping@gmail.com Tel: 01747 631471 www.ralphlandscaping.co.uk Mobile: 07921 637227

Tree Tree Surgery. Surgery. Reductions. Reductions. Felling. Felling. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Woodchip Woodchip supplies. supplies. Family run business Family run business since since 1946 1946 Tel: 01963 250005 Tel: 01963 250005 Mobile: Mobile: 07976 07976 934 934 252 252 www.bandgdown.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden

blackmorevale.net

Treecare Co. Tree Specialists

TREEWISE

TREE STUMP REMOVAL

Experts in all aspects of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL

Pruning, bracing, shaping. Preservation of mature trees. Hedge cutting. Trees supplied & planted. Landscaping & maintenance. Heavy duty winch hire available. Tree Surgery BS.3998 Contractors to local authorities.

WOOD CHIPPINGS FOR SALE

NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations. Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

Free Quotes & Advice Tel/Fax: Shafts 853512 Mobile: 07831 262083

Closeboard, panels & sheds supplied and fitted. Gates made to measure.

Sherborne Fencing Ltd Tel: 01935 814272 Mobile: 07814246332

GARDEN RESCUE Tel 01747 821726

GUTTERS CLEARED • • • • • •

Windows, Fascias, Soffits, Gutters cleaned, Repairs, Free Estimates 07788-376752

Established in 1976

At TreeCare we care...

(Established 1997)

Tree Surgeons TREE WORK

For all your fencing and decking needs

Felling Section felling Pruning/shaping Hedge cutting Scrub clearance Stump grinding Planting £10M public liability insurance

ASH DIE BACK SPECIALISTS

HOUSE CLEARANCE Plus Sheds, Attics, Garages & Gardens Quality Items Offset Registered Waste Carrier

Tel: 01258 440838 or 07853 275379 enquiries@back2market.com

LANDSCAPING

Fencing Patios Sleeper walls All hard landscaping

Vale Tree Surgeons Limited www.valetreesurgeons.com Tel: 01747 228484 Mob: 07770 833734 High quality, traditionally made furniture. Residential and contract upholstery in the Dorset area since the 1980s. Visit the Workshop & Showroom Unit 2b Sunrise Business Park, Blandford Forum Dorset, DT11 8ST Hours: 9am – 4:30pm Mon to Fri

ON ORDERS PLACED BEFORE THE END OF FEBRUARY WINTER OFFER 1 20% off wing chairs (not inc fabric/leather)

WINTER OFFER 2

Wing chair in selected plain, wool mix fabrics, only £995

01258 455397 office@minsterfurniture.co.uk www.minsterfurniture.co.uk

We are closed from 23rd December, reopening on 2nd January 2024

www.

.com

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden

blackmorevale.net

Plant lightens dark depths of the winter months by Sally Gregson

SOME plants seem to be seriously disorientated. Arum italicum in particular appears to have confused winter with summer – it produces its beautiful, shining leaves towards the end of the autumn. They extend and grow well throughout winter, and then once spring arrives and turns into summer, those leaves fade back and the plant concentrates its efforts on turning its huge, light green spathes into vivid orange berries. These are the ‘Lords and Ladies’ and ‘Cuckoo Pints’ of childhood walks in the woods. The Arum’s flowers are very

A. italicum ‘Chameleon’ produces beautiful shining leaves towards the end of autumn

small and almost hidden around the base of the dark, fleshy spadix that appears in the centre of the light green-yellow spathe. The male flowers are usually above the female flowers at the base of the spadix. This almost primitive-looking structure appears during the early summer, followed by eyecatching, bright, orange berries. Arum italicum is probably better planted in a wilder patch of garden – the birds love to gorge on the berries and do what birds tend to do, producing

TOOLS / EVENT / SHOWROOM DB WOODWORKING TOOLS for used hand tools. Showroom above Stalbridge Joinery 07739 416402

CHRISTMAS TREES & HOLLY WREATHS FOR SALE, CHRISTMAS TREES, Up to 14ft, Holly wreathes, Holly and mistletoe, Next to the railway bridge, Motcombe. SP7 9HU, Open 7 days a week from 27th November, 01747 850129

01963 400186

lots of seedlings. These may or may not have better leaf markings than their parents. They are all different. Arum italicum ‘Chameleon’ has green leaves, splashed with white markings, and wide, light green margins. And A. italicum ‘Pictum’, or A. italicum ‘Marmoratum’, is better known for its glossy, dark green leaves, neatly veined in white. These shiny, emerald leaves are wonderful companions to a host of winter-flowering plants such as the snowdrops and

crocuses, and keep good company with evergreen Sarcococca humilis and Mahonia. Plant one or two good specimens alongside the hybrids of oriental hellebores, or Christmas roses, together with a few Cyclamen coum to provide a good winter composition. And for a shady spot in the dark depths of winter, these glittering green leaves, and brilliant berries, lighten the darkness. For a time winter loses its edge.

SELF DRIVE DIGGER and Dumper Hire 01258 861647

TOOLS WANTED. Cash waiting. 01747 850474

DRYSTONE WALLING AND LANDSCAPING www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123

CURTAINS AND BLINDS MADE TO MEASURE Curtain alterations Tel. Sue Marsh 01747 853680

JAMES AYRES DORSET TREE CARE Specialist Tree Workers All kinds of trees expertly felled, topped and pruned. Hedge cutting. All rubbish cleared. Licensed waster carrier. Fully insured. Tel: 01747 850129 Mob: 07951 284639

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden WANTED Dave buys all types of tools Call 01935 428975 ASBESTOS REMOVAL Garages, Sheds, Lean to’s, Roofing and Cladding Collection and Dismantling BY Registered Hazardous Waste Carrier Call 07973 444620 or 01722 414478

blackmorevale.net WELL ROTTED MANURE £60.00 a transit load. Contact Roger on 07885 826396 or 01202 826502 2 INDUSTRIAL UNITS FOR RENT Approx 1800 sqft each 3 phase possible Melcombe Bingham 07725 910364

FOR COPPICING, PRUNING, woodland clearance, leaf blowing, hedge cutting, strimming etc. Call David the Electric Gardener on 07786 658708 LANGTON NURSERIES (C W Abbott & Son) Seed potatoes, Bare root hedging and fruit trees, Garlic, Autumn onion sets, Fruit Trees, Perennials & Shrubs, Large selection of; stoneware, terracotta and glazed pots, Wild Bird food 20kg £14.50, Stockists of Kings, Franchi and Fothergill Budget Seeds, Potting Compost. Open daily 10am– 3 pm. Langton Long Blandford Forum Dorset DT11 9HR. Telephone 01258 452513

LAWN MOWING AND HEDGE CUTTING SERVICES, Shaftesbury-Blandford & local villages. Please call Trevor 07970 012130 MAN WITH MICRO-DIGGER & 1.5ton digger, stump grinder, Garden clearance, patios, fencing, decking, landscaping, driveways 30+ years’ experience Contact Ken 07882 441873 / 01963 32034 PETER PORT UPHOLSTERY. A Local Family Run Business, Offering a wide range of services including foam cut to size. 01747-228384 Peterportupholstery@googlemail.com

OUTDOORS TREES R US

COUNTRY BYGONES & COLLECTIBLES

Tim, 01725 517268 or 07311 478301

SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS

Multi-Award Winning

TREE & STUMP

REMOVAL SERVICES

No More Stumps Ltd specializes in expert tree and stump removal services. Reclaim your space with our professional team today. Contact us for a free quote!

Call Now 07305 070870

Our 5

Promise!

Fully Insured

Small and Large Loads Tel: 07973 871708 Evenings: 01935 825506

Fully Qualified Smartly Dressed Site Left Clean Guarantee

www.nomorestumps.co.uk

classified@ blackmorevale.net

LOGS BLACKMORE VALE LOG SPLITTING AND CHIPPING - Your local mobile service 07760 469411

Rural, garden & agricultural itembought & sold

Book Online

Get your garden ready for spring. Trees, hedges, patios, turf & fencing call Peter 07976 667130

GOOD QUALITY DRIED BARN STORED WOOD FOR SALE Also any garden clearance. For more information please contact Andy 07773 254174

LOGS R US 1 ton pickup load of logs £100 double load £160 dumpy bag £70 All hardwood 07790 404593 01258 818081 SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS £180 double load, £100 half load 01258 880892, 07980 036250

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

SEASONED LOGS DRY BARN

Experts in all aspects of

20 miles radius of Sherborne

Call Sherborne 01935 815534

• Hedge cutting services • Hedge reduction & removal • Hedge & tree planting Competitive pricing - fixed rate. Based in Shillingstone, we cover all of Dorset, parts of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Get in touch for a Free Quote, or to discuss.

LANDLINE: 01258 721552 | MOBILE: 07833 475565 Email: info@hambledons.co | Website: www.hambledons.co

WINDOWS RESTORATION OF YOUR WOODEN WINDOWS, DOORS AND SO MUCH MORE. Embrace the old don't buy new. Ask me first and see what I can do. Tel: 01747 822537 Mob: 07554 654982

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Home & Garden

blackmorevale.net

Propagating ferns – an interesting job for a dull, damp day by Sally Gregson

AS the year draws to a close and the days get shorter, there are still a few interesting jobs to occupy a mild afternoon. Some ferns, such as Polystichum setiferum, could be propagated on a dull, damp day. Polystichums, in particular, make tiny fernlets in the axils of their leaves at this time of year. A close examination of examples growing in the garden will reveal little knobbly growths which are easy to use to increase the stock. They take about a season to grow to a size that can be planted out.

One way to prop’ them is to pin a leaf of fernlets down to the ground to make close contact with the soil, marked with a stick, and left until the spring. Alternatively, a more ordered method is to ‘prop’ the fernlets individually. First fill a small seed-tray with a 50:50 mixture of potting compost and horticultural grit. Then, using a sharp pair of secateurs, remove the entire leaf from the plant and cut it into sections, each with a little bit of stem and a fernlet. Insert them individually into the compost in rows, pinning

Polystichums can be propagated at this time of year

them down if necessary, with a piece of bent wire. (Oldfashioned hair-grips were ideal). You may need to anchor the fernlets with additional grit to ensure they stay put. Then label the tray with the name of the fern, the number of fernlets taken and the date, and water it well. Place the tray where heavy rain and hard frosts will not

disturb them – under the greenhouse bench is ideal. And keep it watered. The little ferns will have made some roots well before spring and can be potted up individually into 9cm pots. Keep these shaded and relatively frost-free until the late summer when they can be planted out into the garden to make a green, ground-covering carpet of feathery foliage.

Get Ready, Steady, Cook For 2024 Order Everhot cooker from now until 31.01.2024 to take advantage of free delivery and installation worth

£420.00

For more details call or visit us in our showroom.

01747 811 141

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL Book online: blackmorevale.net

Bryan G Paulley Ltd Oil Tank Services Domestic & Commercial

REPLACEMENT TANKS INSTALLATIONS RE-SITING TEMPORARY TANKS EMERGENCY PUMP OUTS BUNDED /SINGLE SKIN METAL TANKS/FUEL STATIONS ABOVE GROUND OR BELOW MOLING SERVICE FOR BELOW GROUND UTILITIES COMMERCIAL BOILER REMOVAL

CALL NOW FOR YOUR PERSONAL QUOTATION

Tel: 01963 363870

24hr Emergency, Leaking Tanks or Oil Spills 07836 502683

ALL IRONWORK. Handrails.Gates. Railings. Repairs. Restoration. 01258 880301 SW BUILDING & RENOVATIONS All aspects of building and plumbing catered for. Tel: 07970 437786 e: swbuildandrenovation@ gmail.com

HANDYMAN, reliable and experienced Call Chris 07413 678076 Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication. COLIN LEA CARPENTER / BUILDER No VAT - call 01747 590117 07708 467601

CHARLIE IVE BUILDING & CARPENTRY. Extensions, renovations, kitchens & bathrooms. 07388 441638. Charliecarlyleive@gmail.com

New build, refurbishment, restoration, extensions, garden buildings. Free estimates. Call Dom on 07399 649628 www.escape totheoffice .co.u k

B.LUCAS General builder

25+ Years Experience, City & Guilds Qualified Extensions, Renovations, Alterations, New Build, Plastering, Floor and Wall Tiling, Brickwork, Blockwork, Stonework and Patios, Fencing and Decorating.

FREE estimates, No VAT 01747 228827 07809 362919

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL

SUB-LIME

25 years experience in modern and traditional property restorations. All general building works undertaken, specialising in lime rendering, pointing and plastering.

NO JOB TOO SMALL NO UP FRONT COSTS NO VAT Call Steve Taylor: 07855 787857 or email steve.sublimeplastering @gmail.com

DORSET WOOD TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS

Oak Timber Framing Bespoke Timber Building Traditional Building Specialist inc All Building WorklAll aspects of Lime External and Internal Rendering/Plastering/Repointing Lime Crete Flooring Chimney Rebuilds and Repointing

www.dorsetwood.co.uk

All aspects of traditional building work undertaken External & internal lime works Full restoration service for older & listed properties Bespoke extensions, disabled & granny annex conversions - from planning to completion Cob work - new & repairs Oak timber framing Project consultation service

Contact Dave Welsh 07838 654468

djwelsh@btinternet.com

T F PLANT

Sand, gravel, cement and topsoil supplied

Trade & DIY. Supplied loose or collected. Small or large loads also bulk bag materials & small handy bags. Muck-away service of inert materials Trusted family-run business, ring for enquiries

01747 826107

TF Plant, 8 Brickfields Industrial Estate, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4JL

Serving all your interior & exterior maintenance needs

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

Traditional builders specialising in older and listed properties Call Dave Welsh 07492181788 or 07838654468 www.dorsetlime.uk dorsetlime@gmail.com

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

LTD

FRANKS MAINTENANCE GROUP

•Alterations •Renovations •Carpentry •Kitchen Fitting •Bathroom Fitting •Wall/Floor Tiling •Plastering •Hard Landscaping •Painting & Decorating •Plumbing •Electrical

Dorset Lime Ltd

Book online: blackmorevale.net

Architectural Services Planning & Building Applications for New Build, Extensions and Conversions

01747 822162

Our advice is always free

enquiries@bell-architectural.co.uk

General building Extensions/Renovations Loft conversions Oak frame buildings Groundwork/Landscaping All your property needs

www.amlcarpentrybuilding.co.uk Mobile: 07979 527379 email: alanlewisaml@aol.com

• Plant Hire • Groundwork’s • Drainage • Concreting • Landscaping • Driveways Wrightgroundworks@gmail.com Commercial, domestic & agriculture

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL

Damp Control Timber Treatments Dry Rot Condensation Control 30-Year Bonded Guarantee

Tel: Wincanton 01963 202382 Mobile: 07881 504426 Email: maplepres@aol.com www.maplepreservation.co.uk

KBB KITCHEN FITTER, all aspects of kitchen fitting undertaken. 30 years experience, free estimates given. Tel: 01963 364550 or 0789 0841827

Steve Guppy Home Maintenance & Improvements

Fully Insured Tel: 01747 590584 Mob: 07812 106 513

J&C Handyman Services

Plumbing Door hanging & skirting boards Painting & decorating Guttering and facia clearing Shed erecting & repairs and replacement Flat pack furniture Fencing Shelves & curtain rails Pointing etc... No job too small. Please call with your requirements.

01963 364457 07368 516658

ASA ARCHITECTS. All drawings for planning and construction. 07770 421624 Free consultation

lassified advertising

place your ad today email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

PROPERTY DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT/ refurbishment and renovation. Call Tim 07793 837073

Limited Fully Insured, Free Survey Failed Double Glazed Units UPVC Windows and Doors Shower Screens, Balustrades T: 01747 631899 / 07708 180306 e: shaftesburyglass@gmail.com w: www.shaftesburyglass.co.uk

To place a classified ad in the Local Services section email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

dorsethandyman26@gmail.com www.jchandymanservices.com

GROUNDWORKS

For complete professional service and advice with

For all aspects of domestic outdoor improvements, site clearance, concrete breaking, extension footings, drive construction and resurfacing, concrete bases, drainage, landscaping and disposal of spoil. 1 metre wide mini digger and 6 tonne excavator with experienced operator. Established over 35 years. For complete professional service and advice with a free no obligation quote, call Graeme Sheaf:

07968 968 869 Wincanton

EV Car Installations

Building Construction Specialists

Home extensions | Barn Conversions Cottage Renovations | New Build Homes Project Management Established over 40 years Phone: 07979 210 074 / 01747 855 280 E: andy@sandsltd.biz w: www.sturgessandsturgess.com

Concrete & Floor Screed Mixed On site Any Quantity Delivered Sand Gravel Stone Cement Blocks etc Supplied Loose or in Big Bags Good Quality Top Soil in Stock

Now available... Rockery Stone

Competitive Rates 01747 853687 or 01747 855630 www.hardimanconcrete.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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CARPETS / CARPET FITTERS J.SHAW EXPERTS IN STONEWORK, BRICKWORK, RENDERING, PAVING & DRIVEWAYS AS WELL AS TIMBER BUILDINGS. ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING AND LANDSCAPING UNDERTAKEN. 07920 514403

01963 400186

CHIMNEYS

CHIMNEYS MARTIN SIMMONDS CHIMNEY SWEEP Friendly, Reliable, Professional 07368 250305, 01747 590799 STEVE ADAMS CHIMNEY SWEEPING HETAS registered woodburner and flue installer. Birdguards and cowls 07932 655267 K.SANSOM CHIMNEY SWEEP Brush & vacuum APICS registered 01963 370038

B SNOOK CHIMNEYS Problem chimneys solved. Brush and Vacuum. Also replace chimney pots and bird guards. Insurance cover £5 million. Donhead 01747 828904

From Only

£55

Smokin Nicely Chimney Sweeps NACS certiﬁcates issued Chimneys and Flues Extremely clean service Fully insured (£5m) CCTV

01258 455251

Tel: smokin.nicely@hotmail.co.uk smokinnicely.co.uk

SOLID FUEL INSTALLATIONS LTD accredited installers from the competent persons scheme for wood burners, multi fuel stoves, chimney liners and twin walled flues. Sweeping chimneys, birdguards & cowls. Fireplace alterations to your needs, chimney works including pointing. 01749 677440 - 07921 074602 solidfuel3@aol.com www.solidfuelinstallationsltd.co.uk

Specialist Wood Burner Installation Co. Building and plastering jobs undertaken all at affordable prices No chimney no problem Twin wall bespoke metal chimney systems Chimney stack rebuilds, repair, leak fix Relining flexible liner existing stove installations False fireplaces Professional and highly recommended company with 5-star reviews

Call now for a free survey and advice. 07521647885 WWW.STOVEANDCHIMNEYSOLUTIONS.COM

CLEANING

SHINY STOVES OVEN CLEANING Ovens,Ranges, Aga’s, etc. Independent Family Run Business Covering The Blackmore Vale Area

Tel 01935 592461 Mob 07875 272401 www.shinystoves.com

HOME AND OFFICE CLEANING, IOSHH COSHH DBS CERT. FAMILY BUSINESS EST 2015 15 mile radius of Gillingham. westcountrycaretakers@ yahoo.com or 01747 685591

COMPUTERS & TECH DEREK ETHERINGTON BSc(Hons). PC/Mac, Repairs, Networks, Websites, Tuition. Free local callout. 01963362403 07855287150 http://www.dcenet.co.uk

Joseph Crocker Computers Custom built gaming & office PCs Desktop & laptop repair Help with mobile devices General computer and IT advice

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL 01963 23669 07484 690824

josephcrockercomputers.co.uk

COMPUTER MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS Purchase advice, Virus Removal, New PC Setup/ Installation, Internet Connection, Upgrades, Computer/Software Tuition Call Gregg on 01963 370713

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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COMPUTERS & TECH

DOMESTIC APPLIANCES

Get connected. Stay connected.

PROPER DOMESTICS

WiFi • Email • FaceTime • WhatsApp Skype • Google • eBay • Amazon Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

R Laptop R Tablet R Smartphone R desktop PC

APPLIANCE REPAIRS & INSTALLATION

01747 416059

www.properdomestics.com

• Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable help • Keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues for free over the Internet • Sell online easily, quickly and reliably

• Buying advice, setup and installation

I’m Phil Hudson, your local tech expert and trouble-shooter. I’ll come to you and sort things out, at a time that suits you. Or you can drop off your machine at my workshop for quick, efficient care and maintenance.

Call me now on 07805 783147 DECORATION, FLOORING & CARPENTRY LJB CARPENTRY & BUILDING SERVICES. Extensions, loft conversion, garden make-over, office removals, rubbish clearance. Mere VAT registered. 07543 814320. ljbcarpentry@ qualityservice.com

Painting & Decorating Local Quality Painter & Decorator.

35 Years Experience FREE Estimates. No VAT

Call Richard on

Tel: 01258 880670 Mob: 07825512627 ‘Your home in safe and capable hands’

PHILIP STIRK Painting, Decorating & Property Maintenance Free Quotations/No VAT Tel. 01747 825725 or mob: 07984 524446 Email: philipstirk@btinternet.com

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine DEADLINES Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday. Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.

John Banham’s

Property Service REFRESHING Bathrooms & Kitchens

Upgrades and Carpentry Decorating services Refreshing sale and rental upgrades Handyman projects Plumbing repairs Tiling services Contact: John Banham

Office: 01747 838 087 Mobile: 07768 190 131 email: refreshingrenovations@gmail.com

COUNTRY CARPENTRY Doors, repairs, general maintenance etc Call Nick on 07887 358570 GENERAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES, Painting & Decorating, Carpentry, Interior/Exterior. For free quote call Tim 07793 837073

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

LOCKSMITHS & GARAGE DOORS

Sectional Doors / Roller Doors / Up and Over Side Hinged / Personnel Doors Spares & Accessories Installation / Servicing Automation / 2 into 1 Conversions Insulated Garage Doors Call 01963 363782 or 01258 472830 www.dorsetgaragedoors.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

blackmorevale.net Stonehenge Services 1/8:Layout 1

11/8/22

MOTORING SERVICES

15:15

Page 1

FRANKS

LTD

•Boiler Replacement •Boiler Servicing •Gas, Oil & LPG MAINTENANCE GROUP •General Plumbing •Bathrooms Installations, •Landlord Certification servicing and •Solid Fuel Stove maintenance Installation and

LTD

ELECTRIC MOTOR REWINDS AC, DC, Traction & EX Motors Generator Sales, Service & Repairs Pump & Gearbox Repairs Brook Motor & Control Gear Stockists

Unit 4 Faraday Road, Churchfields Industrial Estate, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7NR

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

Servicing

HEATING AND PLUMBING

S TONEHENGE SERVICES

PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE

TEL 01722 414161

www. stonehengeservices.co.uk

To place a classified ad in the Local Services section email:

MUSIC PIANO TUNING, repairs, sales of reconditioned pianos.Julian Phillips BA CGLI. 01258 471194

SHERBORNE GUITAR TUITION 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com

Clarinet & Saxophone

PIANO, VIOLIN, THEORY TUITION at your home. Highly qualified teacher. Adults and children welcome. Beginners to advanced. Dr Thomas Gold 07917 835781

PEST CONTROL Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

SPECTRUM PEST CONTROL

Ex-Professional plays as Soloist and Busker for Weddings and Special Events

Wasps, Rodents, and all other pests humanely dealt with. All forms of bird and rodent proofing undertaken.

www.robertchalke.co.uk

Technician. Member of the British Pest Control Association T: 01258 721462 M: 07379 405080

01749 813625 Robert Chalke

PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE Call 01963 400186 to advertise in Local Services

adverts@blackmorevale.net

ABBEY DRAINAGE UNBLOCKING DRAINS

• Sinks • Toilets • Sewers • Downpipe • Installation of new drains • Manholes and gully’s • Repairs to existing drains • CCTV Surveys • HP Jetting • No dig Relining

Call David: 01747640188 07587238563

Septic Tanks, Treatment Plants & Soakaways Problems with your sewage system? Need to replace your septic tank?

Speak to your local experts FOR ALL YOUR DRAINAGE NEEDS

• Blocked Drains • Drain Repair/Relining • CCTV Surveys for Drains • Drainage Investigation • Septic Tank Installation/Repair • Sewage Treatment Plant Installations/ Services 24 HOUR DRAIN CLEARANCE Office: 01747 859203 Mobile: 07453 319391 Email: Info@wefix-drains.co.uk

01747 823731 or 07970 484890

Established 1980

www.dorsettreatmentplants.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE

BLANDFORD DRAINS

D&T Plumbing and Heating

Family business Established 1996

Oil servicing and repairs, plus all other aspects of plumbing and heating carried out

DRAIN UNBLOCKING CCTV SURVEYS SEPTIC TANK EMPTYING

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696

01258 452500

MJ HPPS LTD Plumbing and Heating Contractors

General Plumbing Oil/Natural Gas/LPG Installations Bathroom and Kitchen Installations New Boilers and Cylinders Underfloor Heating & Renewables Landlord Safety Certificates All workmanship guaranteed, along with manufacturers’ warranties.

Office: 01747 829222 Mobile: 07900916810 Email: mike@mjheat.co.uk

OKEFORD HEATING LTD

• PROFESSIONAL • TRUSTED • RELIABLE • • OIL AND GAS HEATING INSTALLATIONS • • BOILER REPLACEMENT AND SERVICING • • LANDLORD’S GAS SAFETY CERTIFICATES • • BESPOKE PLUMBING AND BATHROOM DESIGN •

Shaftesbury 01747 812335 Mobile: 07971 865496 123456 128053

email: okefordheating@yahoo.co.uk

REMOVALS / STORAGE

The New

Blackmore Vale

Magazine

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Connecting you with local customers To advertise call: 01963 400186

Book your free quote today. Blandford 01258 447005

Dorchester 01305 231267

Shaftesbury 01747 440426

Sherborne 01935 316221

Warminster 01925 984459

Wincanton 01963 34065

www.armishaws.com

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Local Services

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ROOFING

WASTE & HOUSE CLEARANCE Clive Smith Waste Transfer Note.qxp_Layout 1 01/10/2020 09:33 Page 1

I cover all aspects of roofing work, gutter replacement, cleaning and repair work

SKIP HIRE

SKIP HIRE Waste Transfer Note

Smiths Triangle, Fifehead, St Quinton, Sturminster Newton, DT10 2AW (Also disposal site) www.clivesmithskips.co.uk Email: clivesmithskips@hotmail.co.uk

Tel: 01258 860 166 Mobile: 07974 822243

• Felt Roofing Specialist • Tiling, Slating and UPVC • Velux Windows • No Job Too Small • Insurance Work • Leadwork

Waste Carriers Number: CBDU112820 Permit Number: EPR/JB3101KP VAT Reg Number: 634 6316 44

• No Asbestos • Do not move skip • No Plasterboard/Gypsum • No Fires in Skip • No Sludge • NO Fridges/ Freezers • Tyres • Gas Bottles • Toxic Solvents • Paints and Liquids

CLIVE SMITH Customer

(See Condition 17 overleaf).

Driver

Address

ANYTIME

01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243 S.I.C Code: 38110

place your ad today

CUSTOMERS ORDERING VEHICLES OFF THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY DO SO ENTIRELY ON THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY

IT IS DANGEROUS TO TRANSPORT AN OVERLOADED SKIP, THIS INCLUDES BOARDS TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE LOAD. THE DRIVER MAY REFUSE TO REMOVE AN OVERLOADED SKIP AND/OR AN EXTRA CHARGE WILL APPLY TO COVER COSTS.

Vehicle Registration

Friendly Service Free Estimates Mobile 07973 248319 scott@scottmilesroofing.co.uk

lassified advertising

Ticket No:

Date ________________ ALL AREAS COVERED ONLY • AVAILABLE • LEVEL LOADS ALL SIZE OF SKIP PLEASE RING

PLEASE NOTE

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696

Clive Smith Ltd.

PLEASE NOTE

Tom the Roofer

Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

Skip Size

Description

2 Yrd

Mixed Con, Brick

170107

4 Yrd

Concrete

170101

DELIVERY

6 Yrd

Soil & Stone

170504

8 Yrd

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170904

EXCHANGE

DATE

COLLECTION

Rob’s Clearance • • By signing this form I confirm I have fulfilled my duty to apply the Waste Hierarchy as required by Regulation 12 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. PRINT NAME __________________________________ WHITE - OFFICE

YELLOW - CUSTOMER

SIGNATURE ________________________________

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS (SEE REVERSE)

House, shed, and site clearance Rubbish removed

• Recycling carried out • Good/interesting items bought for cash • Friendly and reliable

01747 839751 or 07956 414896

email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

CHRIS LANGLEY FLAT ROOFING BLANDFORD Specialist in Hi-performance felt & GRP. All of our work is GUARANTEED. All types of roofing professionally carried out. PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF ALL ORDERS.

FREE D AN QUOTESATES ESTIM

01258-450879 | 07855-402799 Clangley12@aol.com

Inside/Outside work

Electrics Plumbing Painting/Decorating Tiling Email: Charles.white40@aol.co.uk

Call: 07788 724616 or 01935 712046

adverts@blackmorevale.net

HOUSE CLEARANCE Plus Sheds, Attics, Garages & Gardens Quality Items Offset Registered Waste Carrier

TILING

THE HANDYMAN

To place a classified ad in the Local Services section email:

Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine Expand your customer base

call to advertise

01963 400186

Tel: 01258 440838 or 07853 275379 enquiries@back2market.com www.

.com

WINDOWS & DOORS BLACKMORE WINDOWS AND DOORS. Locally based company in Stalbridge with 25 years experience. All your window and door needs undertaken, from repairs to replacement. Contact Terry on 07514224712 or find me on Facebook and WhatsApp. FREE QUOTATIONS

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Food & Drink

blackmorevale.net

Support your local foodbank this festive season!

by Barbara Cossins

CHRISTMAS is the best time of year for getting together with family and friends that we don’t see enough of! To enjoy eating and drinking lots of lovely local seasonal Dorset produce together over the festive season. What could be better? Amid all this happiness I would like to bring to your attention the needs of your local food bank at this time of year and the monumental task they all face. They’ve always worked hard and done a great job, but it’s been even more demanding over the last few years. The number of families and individuals food banks are supporting and providing food for is, quite frankly,

unbelievable. Sadly, since Covid, the world’s multiple wars and the cost-of-living crisis, the number of people using food banks has doubled, which highlights just how important they’ve become. From January to November 2023, our local food bank in Blandford has given out 580 food parcels to the local community, taking care and supporting 918 adults and 483 children. Those figures are more than worrying. February and March are tough months for food banks, as less food is often donated, as everyone tightens their belts. Please remember that if you have leftovers in your home from Christmas celebrations,

More people have been using foodbanks since the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis PHOTO: extremis/Pixabay

then it would be very appreciated if you pass it on to a food bank. If your food is still in date, then it is the place to give your excess supplies to. They especially need tins of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and sauces, as well as tea, coffee and UHT milk. Anything with good nutritional value is invaluable to food bank stocks. I hate wasting food in any form, so just have a quick look on Google and find your local

food bank. I’m an avid supporter and know they will be very appreciative of anything edible that can help and make these challenging times a little easier. Happy Christmas everyone! n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local, www. lovelocaltrustlocalawards. co.uk; Rawston Farm Butchery www.rawstonfarmbutchery. co.uk; The Langton Arms www. thelangtonarms.co.uk.

Season’s Greetings from... THE CLOCKSPIRE Don’t miss our Festive Menu Served until Friday 29th December. Wednesday to Friday Lunch & Dinner and Saturday Lunch. Not available 24, 25 & 31 December. 2 Courses £38.00 • 3 Courses £45.00

Don’t miss our Festive Afternoon Tea

Served throughout December. An elegant way to spend a Winter afternoon! £38.00

And join us from 10th January For a new set menu offering exceptional flavour and extraordinary value. 2 courses £22.00 • 3 courses £28.00

Thinking of bringing friends and family? Here’s a handy guide to our opening hours this festive season. Friday 23rd December - open Christmas Eve - open for lunch only Christmas Day - fully booked Boxing Day - closed Wednesday 27th December - closed Thursday 28th December - open Friday 29th December - open Saturday 30th December - open New Year’s Eve - open for lunch only New Year’s Day - closed Please note - The Clockspire will be closed from 1st January for a New Year ‘glow-up’. We look forward to welcoming guests again from 10th January.

Join our mailing list for the latest news and events from The Clockspire

Scan me to find out more about The Clockspire

01963 251458 • www.theclockspire.com Gainsborough, Milborne Port, Sherborne DT9 5BA

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023 blackmorevale.net

star Brewer steps in to Watercress of salad show provide company at Christmas by dorsetbiznews.co.uk HOME alone this Christmas? Then independent family brewer Hall & Woodhouse would like to hear from you. The Dorset-based business is to open the doors of more than 50 managed houses in its pubs estate to tackle loneliness on Christmas Day. It is offering a complimentary three-course meal for locals who will be spending Christmas alone this year as part of its Community Christmas Table initiative. More than 300 people are expected to benefit, coming together with people in a similar situation to enjoy a free Christmas lunch with a drink of their choice and some jolly community spirit. In Dorset, The Olive Branch, Wimborne, and The Smuggler’s Inn, Weymouth, and several other pubs will have tables reserved for six people on Christmas Day. Matt Woodhouse, regional manager for managed houses at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “The community sits at the heart of our purpose at Hall & Woodhouse and making everyone feel at home in our pubs is something we strive to

achieve every day. “We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some, and the day can be shadowed by grief and loneliness. “With that in mind, it’s important to us that we offer a warm and welcoming space to be on Christmas Day for those who find themselves alone this season. “Collectively across the estate, we anticipate that the value of this investment into the communities we operate in will be over £25,000, as we hope to support hundreds of people in need.” Places for Hall & Woodhouse’s Community Christmas Table initiative are secured on a first come, first serve basis, with waiting lists available in case of cancellation. Guests can request a seat for themselves or be nominated by another party. To get in touch, simply call, email, or direct message one of the participating pubs on social media.

IT may be cold outside but there’s always room for a healthy salad, perhaps as a light lunch or tasty side dish. This salad from Grace Edmonds of the Watercress Company is simple to prepare. Peppery watercress contains more than 50 vitamins and minerals. Watercress & Asparagus Salad with Parmesan Sauce (pictured) Serves 2 as a side Prep time 10 mins Cook time 5 mins Ingredients

Food & Drink 100g asparagus tips 40g watercress Parmesan, flaked or grated Mixed seeds For the dressing 1tsp lemon juice 1tbsp Dijon mustard 1tbsp olive oil Pinch black pepper Method • Cook the asparagus in boiling water for a few minutes, until it is vibrant green. Remove and allow to dry and cool. • Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients and stirring. • Arrange the salad ingredients on a plate, sprinkle with the grated cheese and mixed seeds before drizzling with the dressing.

Book online: blackmorevale.net Email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

Enford

Farm Shop Durweston DT11 0QW

Half a pig approx £130. 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. Chicken feeds etc available. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm.

01258 450050 More than 300 people are expected to enjoy a complimentary Christmas meal at 50 of Hall & Woodhouse’s pubs

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: In the bleak mid-winter

blackmorevale.net

MID-WINTER is upon us. Bouts of icy weather are interspersed with rain and floods, creating a constantly changing landscape. The trees, in particular, have a desolate beauty this time of year, with their skeletal branches, like arms, reaching out against the skies beyond. Sometimes they appear white and crisp against an icy blue, but today they look like charcoal drawings, dark and smudged in the foreground of the racing grey clouds. Sliding along this muddy path today, I am accompanied by flocks of fieldfare and redwing that dart from tree to tree, just keeping ahead of my footfall, while large flocks of pigeons and rooks sweep across the sky in battalions. Turning through the gates into the next field, I notice large brown hunched shapes dotted all over the barren mud. Buzzards. I count 36 of them feasting on the abundant earthworms. I can’t help smiling as I watch them charm the worms to the surface by doing a

little dance with their feet. This gentle stomping imitates the sound of rain thus attracting them out to play in the wet. A nutritious ‘buzzard lunch’ is then more easily served. Out in this wilderness, the idea of Christmas seems far away. That is, until I look up to see a line of poplar trees laden with mistletoe. As children, we would try climbing high enough to gather this winter bounty. Not for its beauty or its mystique, but to sell to our fellow school friends, for it was made for Christmas kissing. Unfortunately, I was never brave enough to scale the heights and gain from the profit. This familiar festive plant has evolved to live in broadleaved trees and is particularly visible in winter when the trees are bare. It is a poisonous, parasitic, evergreen shrub that decorates the top branches like giant pompoms that can grow up to a metre wide. The berries, that appear between October and May, are a good food source for winter

thrushes who play a vital role in distributing the sticky seeds that adhere to their beaks as they gorge on the waxy white fruit. The seeds then travel with the bird and eventually stick to the bark of neighbouring trees where eventually they grow. Although mistletoe uses photosynthesis to survive, it also takes water and minerals from its host, thus damaging a tree’s own growth over time. Many of our Christmas traditions, including decking the halls with holly and ivy, and the use of mistletoe on the door, have their roots in Pagan traditions. The Druids, priestly members of Celtic society, celebrated the festival of Alban Arthuan on the winter solstice, and it was then when they ceremonially gathered the mistletoe from the oak trees. For this unusual plant was thought to have magical abilities regarding fertility, love and protection from evil. Why we should kiss under the mistletoe is not entirely clear. But it is thought that it

derives from a Norse legend. The goddess of love, Frigga, had a precious son named Balder who was the god of innocence and light. In an attempt to protect him, Frigga demanded that all plants and creatures swear an oath not to hurt him. Sadly, she did not include mistletoe as she forgot that it grew high in the trees. The god of evil and destruction, Loki, found out about this and made an arrow from a sprig of mistletoe. He then tricked Balder’s blind brother into accidently using the mistletoe arrow to kill Balder. The death of Balder meant the death of sunlight and long winter nights in the north. Frigga’s tears fell onto the mistletoe and turned it into white berries. She decreed that it should never cause harm again but should promote love and peace instead. From then on, anyone standing under mistletoe would get a kiss. With thoughts of the long winter night ahead of me, and the end of my walk being nigh, I make way for home towards the warmth and light of Christmas. Perhaps I will get some mistletoe this year after all! n Dr Susie Curtin, email curtin. susanna@gmail.com

by Fiona Chapman IT is the season of overindulgence again. However much I tell myself to not overdo it, I still do! Everyone has their own special weakness – mine are nuts. I could eat them by the tonne, and do sometimes, but seriously live to regret it. Overdoing them is like putting ‘bitty’ concrete in my stomach. They are indigestible, usually because I have eaten them so fast, so not chewed properly, and they sit like a brick making me feel simply terrible. This always reminds me of the gut/brain link. My stomach feels heavy and awful, so consequently I – or my brain makes me – feel claustrophobic, bad tempered and exhausted. I

feel like my digestive juices have just given up and my stomach is ‘cold and heavy’. In Ayurvedic terms it would be called too much Ama – toxic overload – and not enough Agni – digestive fire – and in traditional Chinese medicine, it would be Spleen Qi deficiency. If you look at your tongue in a mirror and it is a bit swollen with teeth marks on the side – scalloping – and a crack in the centre, you will probably have Spleen Qi deficiency and find it difficult to digest certain foods. This is when herbs come into their own. Bitter herbs aid digestion. They stimulate the liver and gall bladder to produce bile which helps to break down food. Cynara scolymus –

Artichoke leaf – helps the liver break down fat. Berberis vulgaris, Arctium Lappa, a warming bitter, and Artemesia annua, stimulate digestion and help the liver to process toxins. It is amazing how affective these tinctures are. You feel your stomach warming up and start moving, and that cold, heavy feeling dispels. If you know you are going to over-indulge, it is an idea to have these bitters about 10 minutes before eating to stimulate the bitter receptors in your tongue, which tells your liver and gall bladder, as well as your pancreas, to get working. If, like me, your intentions are good, but your will power is abysmal and you go for some

industrial overeating, you can also have some Foeniculum vulgar – fennel – which helps to dispel bloating – again it is lovely and warming on a ‘cold’ stomach. I have a tincture which I knock back rather like a digestif, but you can put fennel and cardamon seeds together with fresh mint in a teapot and make a good strong tea for the same effect. Another good digestif is laughter, being relaxed and exercise, so enjoy the holidays and who cares about a spot of over-indulging – it’s just right for these gloomy, rainy days! n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist, email Pellyfiona@gmail.com.

Bitter herbs to aid digestion

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Health & Wellbeing

blackmorevale.net Advertising Feature

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known as Urban Mobility Objects. The purpose of the vehicles is to allow for carpooling, support visits, client assessments and for use by their care teams. Air pollution from older and especially diesel vehicles poses a real threat to both public

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health and the health of the environment with older vehicles emitting more toxic pollutants into the air. Most care is provided in suburban settings, often with short journeys in stop-start traffic. GoodOaks has pledged to take measures to look after the local and global community and believe it is imperative to raise awareness and encourage people to care about reducing their carbon footprint. Co Founder Ben Ashton: “We take caring for the planet very seriously and we are committed to continuously improving our sustainability practices and seeking innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. As part of this project, we are installing electric charging points at our offices. We aim to prove the concept in our office in our Bournemouth and Poole branch before rolling it out across our network.” GoodOaks provide Live-in and Visiting Homecare to clients in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. For more information please call 01202 125882. Our local team of care professionals adapt and work to support you in your own home. They can help with:

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Health & Wellbeing

When the chips are down by Alice Johnsen

SO, you’re doing your best and most of the balls are still up in the air. But then there’s a shift and apparently out of nowhere it feels as if too many things are going wrong. At this point, several things start happening. Our attention is drawn to all the negatives – and we notice fewer of the positives. Emotion kicks in and pushes logic to the side, affecting our reactions and decisions. Because we are running on emotion, our sleep might start suffering which affects our ability to cope during the day and we end up feeling more anxious and drained, having achieved less at the end of each day so, guess what, we sleep badly again and on it goes. If this is happening to you, the first step I urge you to take is to do things one at a time. To focus on things one at a time. To not worry about the whole or the bigger picture but tackle your mountainous life step by step. Make a point of noticing the good stuff.

Focus on things one at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed PHOTO: Robin Higgins

You can help yourself here by practising gratitude. I’ve written about this many times because it works and it’s easily done. At the end of each day, look back on what’s happened

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and pick out the good stuff. Three things – or more – that you are pleased about, made happy by, excited by or just grateful for. When the pressure’s on, it’s

blackmorevale.net all too easy to be swept up in a wave of negativity, so that is all we see, but the good things will still be there if you look deliberately. There are many other tools that can be used in situations like this and I have shared them previously. No doubt I will be sharing them again next year but why am I writing this now? Because Christmas can be a challenging time for many. A 10-year-old boy once told me when it comes to Christmas, you’ve ‘got to be jolly’. Hooray for the joyful innocence of young children. Of course, adults know being jolly is not always possible. So if you are struggling this Christmas, I hope these words help you to think through the challenges in a calmer and effective way. One last thing. If you are living through a really tough time remember, it is one part of your life. The tough phases do pass. There will be joy and happier times ahead. n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne (phone: 07961 080513; email alicejohnsen.co.uk)

QUALIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST Contact Millie 07766 812805 millie.hypnotherapy@icloud.com

Place an advert in our Health & Wellbeing section Call: 01963 400186

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Motoring

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How to avoid the Christmas traffic... AROUND 21 million trips will be made in the great Christmas getaway of 2023, according to a new study. Drivers are planning journeys in the festive period in the last week before the big day, with 60% (12.6 million) crammed into the final three days before December 25. The figures come from a survey of 2,100 drivers by the RAC and transport analytics firm, INRIX. With Christmas falling on a Monday in 2023, figures show leisure traffic levels will climb slowly the week before, then jump by a whopping 43% from 2.2m on Thursday (December 21) to 3.2m on Friday. Between December 22 and Christmas Eve, there are set to be an estimated 13.5m trips, up 20% on the same period last year. The companies said that although Christmas Eve getaways match ‘Frantic Friday’ (December 22) trips - at 3.2m Friday will be far busier, as those heading off for festivities share the roads with commuters and parents collecting children from school. Roads will also be busy on Christmas

Day and Boxing Day with an average of 3.5m trips expected, but serious delays should be less of a risk without the normal mix of commercial, commuter and school traffic, the analysis said. The worst traffic queues, bringing delays of up to an hour, are expected along the M25 clockwise between the M23 for Gatwick and M40 for Birmingham on December 23, the survey warned. Meanwhile, drivers heading anticlockwise between J17 and J12 on the same day should also prepare for longer waits, of around half an hour. Further afield, the M1 north between

Woburn and Daventry, and the M6 south from Wigan to Stafford, will be hit the hardest with delays in the run-up to Christmas Day. The survey said how most major routes during the pre-Christmas weekend will be busiest between noon and 2pm, with the best times to travel being before 11am and after 6pm on both December 22 and 23. RAC Breakdown spokesperson, Alice Simpson, said: “Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, there’s no need for drivers to use annual leave for getaway trips as they can travel over the weekend before. “For that very reason, our research suggests these days will be the busiest times to drive, so we urge people to set off as early as possible on Saturday and Sunday.” Bob Pishue, INRIX transportation analyst, added: “On average, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season, while travellers around Greater London could experience more than double typical drive times. “Our recommendation is to avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps to minimise holiday travel traffic frustrations.”

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

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15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 8ST 15B Sunrise Business Higher Shaftesbury Road 15B Sunrise Business Park,Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 Tel: 01258 459798 Blandford DT11 8ST8ST Tel: 01258 459798 Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com Tel: 01258 459798 Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Motoring

blackmorevale.net

John’s Caravans

Mobile Caravan Servicing & Repairs Please call

01747 853114 or 07546 548017

Keeping you on the move...

MERCEDES E300 HYBRID 2012 49k miles. Only £20 tax. Black, tan leather, Mercedes service.

£9,800 01747 811004

VAUXHALL ASTRA DIESEL. 2007. 110,000 miles. One owner. Regularly serviced locally. MOT until end Sept ‘24. £1,000 01747 811207 / 07939 231738

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

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

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

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

Over Over Over 3030 30 years years years experience experience experience

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www.kpcleisure.co.uk www.kpcleisure.co.uk www.kpcleisure.co.uk

Items for sale CLASSIFIED ADS

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

ELECTRIC BIKE, excellent condition. £250. Tel: 01935-475762

NEW CHILDREN’S BIKE (10yrs +) 100.00 Tel: 07706 954184

FOR SALE: FULL LENGTH FREE standing beech mirror £20, grey rattan clothes basket with lid £10. a pair of 3 shelf, bare pine unit 31” tall, 19.5 “ wide £20 for pair. 07803 435 244

COBRA T24 petrol Tiller vgc £99 - Tel: 01460 929580

Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

GENTLEMANS MOORLANDS SHEEPSKIN Coat. 3/4 length. 42” chest. DGC £50 Tel: 01258-472650

TIPPER TRAILER TWIN WHEELS needs new floor. Sensible offers. Tractor Trailer used for timber hauling Sensible offer. 4 BF Goodrich TA Tyres LT225-16 £80 each +VAT Fordson Major front mill loader £1,800 +VAT Electric Power Hacksaw £100 +VAT 50 vented 1,000kg Log Bags good condition. £1.50 each +VAT Bush Hog old but still works £100 +VAT Engine Lift £200 +VAT Tel: 07770 778740

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LOVELY DOLLS HOUSE with people and furniture. for Christmas. £45. Tel: 07980-146315 4 WHEELED ROLLATOR DISABLED WALKER . brand new. £50 ono, 07522 007423 DINING TABLE - seats 6 (+2 with insert). From USA 1960’s. No chairs. Elegant but one scratch. £50 Tel. 01458 44 32 64

PANASONIC MICROWAVE, G.W.O £20.00 Tel: 01258-472331 3 WHEELED ROLLATOR DISABLED WALKER brand new £50 ono 01935 431387 LARGE QUANTITY OF MECCANO, also brass telescope and stand. Offers. Tel: 01747-822836

Classified Adverts

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household items only classified@blackmorevale.net

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS TOY FARM YARD FOR SALE £10. Tel: 07588-053555

FOR SALE: HY-PRO TABLE TOP FOOTBALL. Age 5 + as new boxed. Kept at grandparents. £10. Ideal Xmas gift. Plz call: 07843 725938

WANTED WANTED All militaria bought British/Foreign Single items or collections Contact Tim on 07904 082997

OLD BOOKS BOUGHT. Will call by appointment entirely without obligation. Bristow & Garland 07392 602014

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Announcements

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SEASON GREETINGS THELMA GREEN

DAVID & WINNIE HOLLOWAY

wish all family & friends a very Happy Christmas and New Year

JOAN HUSSEY

would like to wish her family and friends and very Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year xxx

Vi Mowlem

wishes family and friends a very Happy Christmas

of Fontmell Magna would like to wish all her family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

SEASONS GREETING FROM MICHAEL PIKE,

no cards this year. Best wishes to all my friends and relatives. Donation being made to The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance

SEASONS GREETINGS Martin, June and the volunteers of Shaftesbury Car Link wish all our customers a Peaceful and Safe Christmas and Happy New Year

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OPENING TIMES

We will be closed from 12.00 noon on Friday 22nd December 2023 until 9.00 a.m. on Tuesday 2nd January 2024

OPENING HOURS FOR 2024 From 1st January 2024 our oﬃce hours will be Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. WEEKENDS AND BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED Any calls, emails, texts or other communication methods will not be responded to outside oﬃce hours. Pre-booked hospital and medical trips can be undertaken outside these hours. Sha�esbury Car Link is a Community Interest Company No. 1509979.

www.sha�esburycarlink.co.uk 07763 426664 sha�esburycarlink@gmail.com

PUBLIC NOTICES GOODS VEHICLE OPERATOR’S LICENCE Trading as Wessex Internet Ltd of Ranston Farm, Shroton, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8PU is applying to change an existing licence as follows. To add an operating centre to keep 10 goods vehicles and 0 trailers at: Everley Top, Everley, Blandford Forum, DT11 8PT Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyments of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, S86 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.

PUBLIC NOTICE LICENSING ACT 2003 Notice is given that Hayley Ann Bridge has applied to Dorset Council for a new premises licence in respect of The View Coffee Shop, Milton Abbas Sports Field, Milton Abbas, DT11 0BB for provision of alcohol (on and off) generally between the hours of Monday’s, Wednesdays, Thursdays (08:30 – 17:00), Friday, Saturday (08:30 – 20:00) and Sundays (10:00 – 16:00). Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by e-mailing: licensing@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or writing to, Licensing, Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ 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 via email or phone on 01305 838028. 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: 15th December 2023

IN MEMORIAM LANGDON VERONICA HELEN Died 23-12-2014 Another year has flown by since you left me. You are always in my thoughts, and I miss you as much as ever. Your loving husband, Richard xxx

SUZANNE NORTON 27th December 2019 – aged 61 years Not a day goes by when you are not loved and missed. A heart of gold stopped beating and those incredible Chiropractic working hands rested. God broke my heart to prove he only takes the best. Leaves and flowers may wither, the sun may set, but my heart that loved you dearly is the one that won’t forget. Loving husband Mack

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Announcements

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DEATHS ANNE FOOT Aged 83 years, passed away peacefully at home in Stourton Caundle after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Much loved wife of Ray. Private funeral, donations if desired for Parkinson’s UK. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge. Tel: 01963 362570

SANDRA YVONNE LUFFMAN On 11th December, 2023 suddenly and unexpectedly in Salisbury District Hospital, aged 61 years, of Shaftesbury. A much loved Wife to Terry, Mum to Chris, Jon and Katie and Nana to Emma and Max. She will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Thursday 4th January 2024 at 1.00pm. No flowers please but donations if desired for The Stars Appeal, SDH may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

OLIVER SIMON Died suddenly but peacefully on 6th December. Funeral 4th January 2024 at 11am. All are welcome to attend. For details contact Peter Jackson Funeral Services - 01963 362570

HATCHER Vera Olive Aged 90 years of Wincanton. On 29th November 2023, peacefully at St Benedicts Nursing Home, Glastonbury. Private cremation has taken place. Enquiries to Harold F.Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone. (01963) 440367

HERBERT BRYSON On 1st December 2023 passed away peacefully at home with his family around him aged 93 years. The funeral will be held on Thursday 11th January 2024 at 2.00pm at St Gregory’s Church, Marnhull, followed by burial in Marnhull Cemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to the British Heart Foundation which may be left at the church after the service or made online at www.bhf.org.uk Funeral Director – Bracher Brothers, Gillingham, Tel: 01747 898267

HUBERT FREDERICK CARD On 29th November 2023 peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital aged 80 years. Of Motcombe. Husband of the late Shirley, a much loved Dad to Shaun, Andrew and the late Pat, a loving Grandfather and Great Grandfather. Funeral service takes place at St Thomas Church, Melbury Abbas on Tuesday 9th January 2024 at 11.00am. Flowers welcome or donations if desired for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

HOFF June Mary Peacefully on 28th November 2023, aged 88 years. At The Cedars Nursing Home, Shaftesbury. Formerly of Poole and Sherborne. Beloved wife of Brian. Much loved Mum, Mother-in-Law, Nan, Nanna and Sister. Funeral service has taken place. Donations in memory of June are for www.dsairambulance.org.uk www.dogstrust.org.uk

John Turner John of Stalbridge Timber, sadly passed away at home on 4th December, aged 81 years. Loving Husband, Dad, Step-dad, Grandad, Great-Grandad and friend. Funeral Service at St Mary’s Church, Stalbridge on Thursday 11th January 2024 at 2.00pm. Family flowers only please, but donations if desired for Cancer Research UK or MS Research may be sent to Grassby and Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BB, Tel: 01258 471024 or made online by visiting www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk

MULLINS Myra Passed away on 4th December 2023. Aged 91yrs. A much loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral service at Salisbury Crematorium, on Friday 5th January 2024, at 12 noon. Family flowers only. Donations may be left at the crematorium, or sent direct to Cancer Research, www.cancerresearchuk.org

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Announcements

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DEATHS MICHAEL GEORGE HEMSLEY On 26th November 2023, passed away in Southampton General Hospital after a long illness bravely borne, aged 81 years. Of Ashmore. A much loved husband to the late Tisha and loving brother to Jennifer. Funeral service takes place at St Nicholas Church, Ashmore on Wednesday 10th January 2024 at 11.00am. No flowers please but donations if desired for Dementia UK may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

THOMAS A.J. BRAIN (TOM) Tom passed peacefully at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury on Sunday, 10th December 2023 aged 89 with his wife, Pat, at his side. A much loved Husband, Dad, Grandad, Great Grandad, Brother, Uncle and Friend. He will be sorely missed. Funeral service to take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Tuesday, 16th January at 12 noon. Black not mandatory. Family flowers only please, but donations if desired for The Royal Air Force Wings Appeal. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, High St, Gillingham, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757

KATHLEEN RUBY JEANS Phyllis Vera Chatfield Peacefully on the 3rd December 2023. Vera aged 94 years of Sturminster Newton. Wife of the late Jim. Much loved Mum, Gran and Great Granny. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Wednesday, 3rd January 2024 at 2pm. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for Dorset Health Care Charitable Fund District Nurses Sturminster Newton. C/o peter Jackson Funeral Services, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel 01963 362570

DOROTHY TITE, passed away peacefully in Lancashire, after a short illness, at the age of 99years. Sadly missed by all the family

SHEPARD, Marion Passed away peacefully at Millbrook House on the 5th December 2023, aged 87 years Much loved wife/mother/grandmother/great grandmother. She will be deeply missed by all who loved and knew her. A celebration of Marion’s life will take place at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton on Monday 8th January 2024 at 12:30pm followed by a committal service and wake at The Longbarrow, Harbour View Crematorium BH16 6AN at 2:30pm. Wear a splash of colour in the memory of Mum Family flowers only please but donations, if desired in memory of Marion for British Heart Foundation and Dementia UK can be sent c/o Woods Funeral Services, 11a Icen Way, Dorchester, DT1 1EW Tel: 01305 250425 or online at www.woodsfuneralservices.co.uk

On 11th December 2023, peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital aged 94 years. Of Shaftesbury. Much loved wife of the late Ron and a loving mum, granny, great gran and great great gran who will be sorely missed. Funeral service has taken place. Donations if desired for The Friends of St James may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

To place an obituary or remembrance advertisement in

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

please call us on

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Announcements

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Mail delays ‘due to flooding’, says Royal Mail, as villages wait 11 days VILLAGERS in Somerset left without mail for 11 days have been told it was due to flooding. People in areas around Babcary and Cary Fitzpaine received no post for over a week at the start of December. In one case, a card sent on November 29 - first class - didn’t arrive until December 12, 13 days later. Royal Mail said the delays were due to flooding around the villages. The lack of deliveries came after the company blamed a “high levels of vacancies” at the delivery office in Yeovil for a lack of post in August. “Again, we’ve not had any post delivered for days and days,” said one resident. “And when we did get it, our post - 19 pieces of mail - had been left with someone down the road and they brought it up.” “It costs £1.25 to send something first class and to get it almost two weeks later is

Post boxes in Babcary and Cary Fitzpaine, inset, are among those people have complained about

Pictures: Google

ridiculous,” they added. But Royal Mail said regular deliveries would now resume after storms hit Somerset roads. “A number of villages in the area were

severely affected by the recent flooding and were inaccessible for days at a time,” a spokesperson said. “However, the villages affected by the floods have since had regular deliveries and there is no backlog of mail in those areas.”

FUNERAL DIRECTORS To place an obituary or remembrance advertisement in

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01747 860 361

please call us on:

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Announcements

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The work will be focussed around the Fairfield Road car park in Dorchester

Picture: Dorset Council

Road closures planned as work to improve Dorchester streets revealed A BUSY Dorchester road is set to be made safer for pedestrians when work gets underway in the new year - with routes closed and diversions in place. From Monday, January 8, and into February, construction work will start in Fairfield Road to improve safety and accessibility, Dorset Council has confirmed. The road, part of Fairfield car park and running between Weymouth Avenue and Maumbury Road, is well used by town visitors, but has no footpaths or pedestrian routes. Meanwhile, parked cars block visibility and two-way traffic passes through. Serving the car park, the road is used by people accessing Brewery Square. The route also forms part of the signed pedestrian route between Dorchester West and Dorchester South railway stations for passengers changing between services on each line. The council said the work will: n Create a wide footway along the length of Fairfield Road n Provide safer crossing points across Fairfield Road at junctions n Install a new access into the car park directly from the railway station (from Copper Street) n Provide better street lighting on Fairfield Road

n Create a pedestrianised space at the busy eastern end by restricting vehicle access Signs will be erected in advance of the works to notify drivers. Work is planned to be finished by Friday 16 February. While the work is taking place, all businesses and Dorchester markets will be open as usual, but people may need to access these using a different route that will be marked, the council said. The work will take place in three phases. n Phase one – Maumbury Road end of Fairfield Road - January 8 to 19: Maumbury Road will be closed southbound from Great Western Cross to, and including, Fairfield Road access – a diversion route will be signed for drivers to use Great Western Road Fairfield Road access will be available from Weymouth Avenue Fairfield Car Park access will remain available from Upper Fairfield Road n Phase two – Weymouth Avenue end of Fairfield Road - January 22 to February 2: Temporary three-way signals will be in place on Weymouth Avenue (and Copper Street) Fairfield Car Park access will only be available from Upper Fairfield Road (or via the access gate next to Market Café)

Weymouth Avenue access into Fairfield Road will be closed n Phase three - final footway, surfacing and finishing works From Monday, February 5: Fairfield Car Park access will be available from Maumbury Road/Fairfield Road Vehicle access will no longer be available from Weymouth Avenue onto Fairfield Road Localised works on Fairfield Road will require some footway closures Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment at the council, said: “The current arrangement is difficult for less mobile people and those using buggies or mobility scooters, as well as train users with heavy luggage. “This will create a safer and more pleasant route for people who use this busy part of the town.” The work is being funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) through the Active Travel Fund, which supports schemes to improve conditions for people on walking, wheeling or cycling. Working with Dorchester Town Council, Dorset Council said more improvements are planned for the pedestrianised eastern end to enhance the area, including planting and benches, in the coming months.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Recruitment

blackmorevale.net/jobs J B GARDEN SERVICES, we are looking for full time Hard Landscaper, to join the team, we are looking for an experienced candidate, or an individual looking to add to their skills. Tel 07929 094811 cv to jbgardenservices@live.co.uk Holwell Dorset

WANTED: experienced home help for retired couple, no cleaning. References please. Start after Christmas. Sherborne. Tel: 01935-817556

CARER REQUIRED. STURMINSTER NEWTON. Weekends only. Morning & evening. 2 hours/day. Tel: 01258 472047

HILLS BODY & MOT CENTRE SHERBORNE LEVEL 3 NVQ MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN & MOT TESTER REQUIRED FOR IMMEDIATE START RATES OF PAY FROM £16.00-£20.00PH CONTACT 01963251221

ADMINISTRATOR REQUIRED for a small local charity; part time, self-employed, working from home, with travel to quarterly meetings around Dorset. Needs strong organisational and office skills, with experience in admin. Email tollardgreen@gmail.com

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

HEALTH CARE SUPPORT WORKER (BANK) – Synergy Complex Care is currently recruiting for a Healthcare Support Worker to join a team supporting our client, a disabled veteran who has severe MS, in the Shaftesbury, Dorset area. Must be adaptable, broad minded with a sense of humour. Duties include, but are not restricted to, all personal care and hygiene tasks, hoisted transfers from bed to chair, helping with eating, light domestic duties and driving; some cooking may be required. Must be a dog lover. Experience preferred. Full training provided. Salary range £12.50-£16.25 per hour. Call 07922 423211 or 0117 403 7878

01963 400186

Electricians We currently have vacancies for Electricians and Approved Electricians. You will be responsible for working on a variety of projects around the surrounding area, with opportunities to work across the country. The ability to work as part of a team with a positive and flexible attitude is essential. For more information, please visit our website;

Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Part Time Minibus Driver Required for January

We are looking for a driver to join our team to collect pupils and drop them off. Part time. Term time only. Meals provided during working hours.

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JOBS GROUP

For further details, please contact: Rupert Burnell-Nugent, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD Tel: 01725 516329 bursar@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.org

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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 suitable 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

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Sport

Huge weights in Christmas match by Graham Howard DDAS junior secretary DORCHESTER & District Angling Society’s Junior Christmas match is always a fun event to round off the year, with all the juniors fishing getting a prize and no one going home empty handed. The frost gave Homeground Lake at Todber Manor a nice ‘Christmasey’ feeling, but it was minus three degrees and so very cold. Eight juniors wrapped up warm by their parents, sat in the wintery sunshine to compete for the Christmas Match Trophy, and practice had shown that very big catches were on the cards. Jack Cryer proved that correct by weighing in a new Junior Match record weight of 200lb 7oz, a fantastic effort on the feeder all day. In second was Josiah Wells-Parkes with 168lb 15oz, and third was Jack Copp with 155lb 12oz.

ANGLING

Jack Cryer with part of his 200lb 7oz catch at Todber Manor

It was a fantastic finale to a great year and the junior section would like to thank everyone who helped them in 2023. For more information, go to ddasjuniors.co.uk or email juniors.sec@d-das.com, and for fishery information go to todbermanor.co.uk.

blackmorevale.net

Tight game in local derby sees North Dorset on top By Barry Dimmack Sherborne 14 – North Dorset 17 ON December 16, North Dorset travelled to Sherborne for a local top of the table Derby match, much anticipated by both teams. The opening period was spent with both sides testing each other until Tom Stewart and his dancing feet made a fantastic break from his own 22, weaving through Sherborne`s defence and scoring an unconverted try in the corner. First blood to ND 0 -5. Sherborne were quick to respond with a well worked try of their own under the posts to take the lead at 7 - 5. The game proceeded going this way and that until North Dorset engineered a good try, with the ball passing through the hands of half the team to put Ryan Boardwell over in the corner and bring the half time score to 7 - 10. The 2nd half got underway with great vigour but neither

side being able to add points until the dancing feet Tom made another break from the 22 to put Jake Cannings away to run half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. and bring the score to 7 - 17. Sherborne piled on the pressure on the Dorset line but North Dorset maintained a very robust determined defence before they finally scored. Back to 14 - 17. The last quarter saw North Dorset defending their lead with all they had and despite Sherborne`s best efforts they were unable to breach it and Dorset were the victors in this hard-fought match. Final score 14 - 17. This was an exciting match between two of the top teams in the league and more than lived up to everyone`s expectations. As this match was played with a mighty team effort it was difficult to pick a Player of the Match. But it was finally decided to award it jointly, to Tom Hooper and Charley Lacey.

Rockies bid to keep points coming in busy period FOOTBALL By Avril Lancaster Shaftesbury 3 - Hamble Club 1 SHAFTESBURY moved to 53 points at the top of the league after a win over Hamble. But with the chasing sides having games in hand it was imperative to keep piling on the points with an eighth win in a row with six of those being in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division. Skipper Steve Walker headed in Liam Farrugia’s corner to give Shaftesbury the lead. Braydon Douglas then set up James Johnson to level things up with a good finish. Shaftesbury responded quickly with Farrugia’s corner being headed across the face of goal by Walker for Brett Pitman to head in.

Henry Newman had previously made one of the saves of the season, tipping a piledriver from Pitman over the top of the bar. Pitman’s 33rd goal of the season arrived in the 35th minute after being set up by the returning Greg Peel. Hamble had a couple of good chances in the second half, bringing good saves from Shane Murphy. Pitman, Peel and Luke Holmes all had chances for the ‘Rockies’ in what was quite an uneventful second half. James Johnson was sent off for Hamble and Billy Maybury - on his 100th ‘Rockies’ appearance - was sinbinned, with both sides ending the game with 10 men. Shaftesbury now prepare for the Dorset

derby with Sherborne Town at Raleigh Grove next Saturday. Pictured is Cameron Beard, who was presented with November’s player of the month trophy by joint manager, Jim Milligan.

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Sport

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Sherborne players head county pack PLAYERS from Sherborne Golf Club took the top five positions and two more spots in the top 10 in Dorset’s Order of Merit Golf Series. The competition was planned to take place on eight courses, including Sherborne, but the event at Came Down was cancelled due to bad weather. Typically, more than 60 golfers competed in each round before its conclusion earlier this month at the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

GOLF

Sherborne players Kevin Redman won the overall Order of Merit title with David Taylor 2nd, Nigel Blackmore 3rd, Terry Pettifer 4th, Ian Eades 5th, Peter O’Brien 8th and Jim Allen 9th. Some 16 members from the men’s section of the Sherborne club took part in the Order of Merit organised by the Dorset County Golf Association. The association seeks to provide affordable, competitive

golf to all male members of Dorset golf clubs, while raising funds for junior golf across the county, under the Dorset County Golf Union’s Growing the Game initiative. This year the Order of Merit Golf Series raised £5,700 for the junior game in the county. Anyone interested in finding out more about the 2024 Order of Merit Golf Series should visit the DCGU’s website at www.dcgu.org.uk/dcga where information will be available soon.

Members raise £6,105 for good cause by Rebecca Thompson FUNDRAISING efforts which coined in more than £6,000 for Prostate Cancer UK were celebrated at Wheathill Golf Club’s presentation evening. The total included £1,400 raised by Jen Warmington and Kate Cleverley when they took on the Big Golf Race, which involved playing 72 holes in one day, back in May. All the sections in the club put in a huge effort, pulling out all the stops for this worthy cause. In the picture (from left), holding a

cheque for £6,105, are lady captain Jen Warmington, seniors captain Ian Barrett, club captain Gerry Morgan and ladies club champion Kate Cleverley.

World cup winner Jerome Kaino set to visit Clayesmore School in January WITH rugby hitting the headlines on a weekly basis and the debate rolling on about excessive contact in the professional game and at school boy level, Clayesmore School says it has taken their own game to new levels to ensure a safer way to play. The school and it’s sporting staff believe safe play begins with coaching the tactics and skills of lesser contact play. Now, they’ve enlisted expert help and forged a partnership with Stade Toulouse, to learn from the most successful club in European history on their style of evasion-based play. The school is welcoming Stade Toulousain along with Bath RFC and two other schools in the

RUGBY SW region, Monkton Coombe and KESBath to Dorset the on January 12 to share their ideology and training with coaches and pupils. The school is opening its doors to welcome other rugby fans. Among the rugby stars attending will be two-time World Cup winner and All Black Jerome Kaino - a coup not just for the school but for rugby in the South West. n For more information on rugby at Clayesmore School, log on to the website, at www.clayesmore.com.

TENNIS

Club’s silver celebration

THE main business at Stourpaine Tennis Club’s annual meeting was celebrating the club’s 25th birthday. Chair Annabel Newham baked a special silver anniversary cake topped with 25 candles, which were blown out by Felicity Cox, one of the club’s founding members and still on the committee. The club’s courts are at the foot of picturesque Hod Hill. For more information contact Felicity Cox on 01258 454840 or email stourepainetennis club@gmail.com Swim Fit & Multi-Sport Swimming Club

Coached swimming sessions for junior swimmers with four split ability lanes for: • Swimming for fitness in a relaxed and friendly environment. OR • Tailored sessions for competitive multi-sport swimmers who want to improve their technique, speed and endurance.

Monthly cost for:

1 session per week: £30 2 sessions per week: £52 3 sessions per week: £65

Session Times:

Monday: 6.45pm to 7.45pm Wednesday: 5.45pm to 7.15pm Friday: 6pm to 7pm For further information, contact Darren White on Email: darrenwhite644@gmail.com/ Tel: 07778301817

Location: Leweston School, Sherborne DT9 6EN

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Pets

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How to avoid a vet visit over Christmas by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice CHRISTMAS can be a stressful time for us as well as our pets. Houses full of new people who may be noisy and not used to interacting with pets can lead to problems. Planning ahead and preempting potential problems can really help. The use of child gates and no-go areas can limit unsupervised access and ensure pets have areas that are safe for them to sleep undisturbed. Young pets need lots of sleep between episodes of play and their interaction with children should be managed to avoid them getting over tired and possibly ‘grumpy’. Small puppies and kittens are easily injured if accidentally dropped by an enthusiastic child. Older pets may have arthritic pain or be less tolerant of cuddling and this can lead to accidental bites when children can’t read the

warning signs. The most common reasons we see pets over Christmas is for gastroenteritis and accidental ingestion of inappropriate foods, alcohol or objects. Dogs are much more sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol than people. Avoiding sudden changes in diet or extra treats can help reduce the risk of vomiting or diarrhoea. We want to treat our pets because ‘it’s Christmas’ but feed everything in moderation to avoid causing problems. Ingesting inappropriate foods or foreign bodies often happens due to the abundance of extra food and new presents scattered around. The presence of children increases the risk of items being left lying around and it may be better to ensure pets are safely shut away until areas can be ‘made safe’. Stress responses can be reduced by allowing pets to have their own safe area where they will not be disturbed.

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all our lovely customers. We will be closed Christmas & boxing day & New Year’s Day otherwise open our usual hours.

The festive season with visitors, noise and disruption can make for a difficult time for pets PHOTO: WOKANDAPIX/Pixabay

Having a radio playing constantly can offset the extra noise produced by temporary house guests. Adaptil, Feliway or Pet Remedy can be helpful to reduce anxiety levels. The tree, its decorations and wrapped gifts underneath it are all a potential risk. You may not know what is inside a pre-wrapped present and the contents could be a risk if chewed or swallowed. Cats especially are fascinated by Christmas trees and can chew electric light wires or be injured if the tree falls over. Posted presents coming through the letter box may

include chocolate or other toxic contents and may be chewed by inquisitive pets. Visiting family may bring pets which are unused to your pets and a different environment. Fights may break out due to resource guarding or increased overall arousal and stress levels. Supervision and keeping animals separate can reduce the risk of injuries occurring. We all want to enjoy Christmas and an unexpected vet visit is not usually on the list of enjoyable events, so anything you can do to reduce this risk is worth planning for.

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KITTENS FREE to a good home. Tel: 01747-828736 SCOTTISH TERRIERS FOR SALE, 4 girls available, KC registered, microchipped, excellent pedigree and temperament. Ready for their new homes middle of January. Please contact 07879 690722

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm & Saturday 10am to 1pm. 18 Broad Robin, Gillingham SP8 4PJ, opposite the Onestop Parking available. Email: enquiries@busypetz.co.uk Web: www.busypetz.co.uk Facebook: Busypetz

To advertise in our pet section call 01963 400186

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Pets

blackmorevale.net

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION Cats looking for new homes n Polly and Leo (14 weeks). Sweet, affectionate and playful, they need a home together.

n Chloe (five years). Needs an adult-only home with someone who can read her signals.

n Lollipop (11 years). Looking for a rural home with no other pets where her diet can be controlled.

We also have kittens which will be needing homes in the coming weeks, please get in touch to register your interest. Outdoors cats looking

for homes – farms, stables and so on. 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, by phone or Facebook. Please make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed. FOUND CATS If you regularly see a cat in your garden or road that you do not think has a home, please give us a call – it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner.

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION Loving homes needed for cats and kittens in our care. For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: cats.org.uk/blandford (Formerly Blandford & Sturminster)

Sponsored by Longmead Veterinary Practice Ltd

Tips for a smooth festive season with your dog by Raychel Hill THE holiday season can bring about challenges for our canine companions, so here are my tips to take some stress out of the festive period! Most importantly, all dogs need a safe place, this may be a crate or simply a room where they can retreat to and not be disturbed – or use an opened pen as a room divider. This is even more important around the festive season as you may have guests, young children visiting or tempting food. To prepare your dog, provide them enrichment in this space as it is important to build a positive association before using it to separate them from the festivities. Some festive food can be dangerous to dogs, so keeping these out of reach is a good idea. Sweets, chocolates, liquors, mince pies and Christmas cake all contain ingredients that can make dogs very ill. Cooked bones can splinter and cause internal damage when eaten, so it’s best to keep these out of reach. You may also want to think about preventing access to the tree – especially if it’s your dog’s first Christmas or have presents containing these ingredients underneath. If your

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation

Christmas tree is dog-friendly you can use positive reinforcement training techniques to teach them to ignore the tree. Next, focusing on what you want your dog to do is essential – giving them stuff to do will help keep those pesky paws out of trouble and help them settle. Furthermore, if you are planning on having many guests in your home, this could be overwhelming. Calming enrichment can be great for excitable dogs to help redirect their behaviour, or for nervous or reactive dogs, ensure they are secured in their safe place – it is not worth the stress to you or your dog! It is essential your guests understand how to interact – if appropriate – with your dog, to help it feel confident or stay calm. Remember that it’s important to read your dog and know when they are in a social mood or not to advocate for them – stress signals to look for include a half-moon eye, tense body/face, tail low/high, lip licking, yawning. n Raychel Hill BSc (Hons) MA CCAB APBC-CAB FABC ABTC-

CCAB is owner of Pet Peeves Animal Behaviour & Teaching; www.petpeevessomerset.co.uk.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and thank you for supporting the work we do. Should you need us over the Christmas period, we will be available to collect or receive pets which have passed, and as always, we are here to help

Christmas Opening Hours Christmas Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Closed Boxing Day . . . . . . . . . Emergency – Out of Hours Service Wed 27th – Fri 29th December . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am – 6pm Sat 30th December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am – 12pm New Year’s Eve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Closed New Year’s Day. . . . . Emergency – Out of Hours Service

Telephone: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Field & Stream

blackmorevale.net

Soggy conditions make life hard for smallholder by Tria Stebbing THIS autumn will go down as being dire for us. As I write, it has been touch and go getting to the field because the rain has been relentless and the river has burst its banks. When you live in rural Dorset, there is always a way to get from here to there, which usually involves a single vehicle track with nail-biting sharp bends. Not so this time – a combination of road closures, floods and hedges being cut has almost thwarted our attempts to get to the wee beasts. Once at the field, which now resembles a bad year at Glastonbury, walking down to the herd is like an old episode of It’s a Knockout. It is amazing how much can get into your welly boot through the minutest split, and once the mud is on your socks, it all starts to get very cold. The Highlands are used to the conditions – which has been a bonus – their owners, not so much. The TB test complete, it is time to move them to higher ground and less mud. I envisage a repeat run on Valentine evading the stock trailer for as

long as he can and then doing a spectacular jump to escape. The sheep enjoyed the very brief cold snap and had a frosty fleece for a few mornings. The fleece, now very thick, keeps them insulated, and they are looking really well. We moved the rams to higher ground behind the big house – the frost diminished the grazing substantially, so they needed a new place. They are in sight of the ewes and have taken to calling them from across the paddocks. As the farming year reaches its end, we look back and wonder if next year will be better. So many of the jobs we had planned haven’t happened because of the weather or other reasons. We diversified into cattle and all of the extra work they bring, and cut down on sheep numbers to restore balance. Luckily, we made the right decision to cut and bale the hay in June, the one hot and sunny spell, and did not wait for another – a good choice as we would still be waiting. The lambs faced a shortage of essential medication to protect them against Pasteurella,

HOUSEHOLDS can book in a collection for their real Christmas tree – and help a Dorset charity. People can have their tree collected in January 2024 in return for a suggested minimum donation of £10 per tree to Weldmar Hospicecare under its Christmas Treecycle scheme.

Collections will be made between Saturday, January 6, and Monday, January 8, in the Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Blandford, Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Beaminster and Bridport areas. The initiative is again supported by the locally-run Trinity St Christmas Trees, which will be making the collections on Weldmar’s behalf, alongside Weldmar volunteers, and helping to dispose of the

Tria Stebbing with one of her Zwartbles lambs

our quest to secure some for them led to an epic cross-county mission. As I prepare to take a break from work, I am pleased to report that at the weekend the cows were finally moved away from the mud and onto a much drier hillside paddock. It was an epic task, muddy, cold, and Valentine performed as we thought he would, but it is at last done and the paperwork is completed. Already I have everything crossed for at least a little bit of snow, with the animals all now within walking and feeding distance, my romantic side dreams of the perfect photo, Highland cows covered in the white stuff. We all know that the harsh

reality is different, we can but dream. They settled well into their new home, the calf had not seen sheep before and was very excited by them. The sheep not so, choosing to run together in a tight huddle despite the fence separating them all. We will spend our Christmas morning along with other smallholders and farmers, getting up early to check on the livestock. Giving them an extra scoop of food and carrots before retiring to enjoy the sloe gin provided by the hedgerow. Season’s greetings to all our followers, may your Christmas, however you spend it, be safe and warm. Tria, Chris, Sebastian, Belle and Baby Bell, the Zwartbles and the hairy big dog.

trees in an eco-friendly manner. Fiona Hansford, fundraising lead, said money raised through the scheme will make a significant difference for those who need the charity’s care. “This will be the sixth year of running Weldmar’s Christmas Treecycle, and each year it has grown, every donation for every tree collected means that we can continue to provide specialist care for adults in Dorset living with a life-limiting illness, and support for their loved ones,”

she said. “I’m looking forward to going out and helping with the collections again this year.” Tamzin Hyde, from Trinity St Christmas Trees, added: “As a Dorset-based Christmas tree grower and retailer, we are delighted to be partnering on this scheme with Weldmar once again.” To book a collection date, or find out more about volunteering with tree collections, log on to weldmarhospicecare.org/trees.

Tree recycling scheme to help charity

ROUGH SHOOTING/ STALKING to let. Tel: 07811 837061

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Farming

blackmorevale.net

Friars Moor Livestock Health is opening a new branch based at Hamish’s Farm Shop and Café, Closworth

New year and a new branch for Friars Moor by Eleanor Livingstone, senior veterinary lead at Friars Moor Vets WE are very excited to share that in January we will be opening a new branch of Friars Moor Livestock Health based at Hamish’s Farm Shop and Café, Closworth, just off the A37. We will be open from 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday, with a full pharmacy facility. This expansion will allow us

to better serve our clients in the west of our area with more conveniently located medicine collection facilities and face-toface interactions with our vets and support team. We hope more than anything to provide a welcoming environment where farmers can pop in and see us for a cup of tea and a chat and set the world to rights! Our experienced team of

farm vets, vet techs and foot trimmers will be ably supported by our new branch manager, Caz, who may well be a familiar face to many of you in the farming community with a history of veterinary support and a flock of sheep of her own. The team working from Closworth will share their time between their existing commitments in the Blackmore Vale and beyond, and our new venture at Hamish’s, supported by the entirety of the wider Friars Moor team. We are incredibly proud of the independent and personal service that we provide to our farmers and pride ourselves in quality of care throughout the whole experience from our

admin and pharmacy teams to our vet and vet tech services. Our team across our whole area includes experts across all fields including our four level 4 NACFT foot trimmers, several vets with a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction, a certificate holder in sheep health and production, and a specialist in small ruminant health and production. Throughout the team we have wide and varied interests including in cattle and sheep lameness, milking sheep and goats, mastitis and parlour function, youngstock management, nutrition, genetics and farmer training and education. As our existing year draws to a close, we are very grateful to reflect on the relationships we have with our clients, and the successes we have shared, both big and small. We thank all of our clients for their continued support and look forward to sharing our exciting year ahead with the opening of our new branch and the relocation of our main branch to our newly developed site at West Stour. We wish you all a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Conyers

Country Outfitters

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3 West Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7AW jay@conyers.biz www.conyers.biz Tel: 01258 452307 Mob: 07973 642278

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Farming

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…………… New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

FORE SALE blackmorevale.net

Farming

21 for Christmas dinner – and the day the king ………………………………… lost his head... by Ruth Kimber FIRSTLY, can I thank you all for reading my article and the kind comments I receive. I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas. Our Christmas will be spent at home with most of the family, 21 of us. We shall enjoy a traditional roast turkey, play games and, I hope, have a walk. The grandchildren came and decorated our tree, and put tinsel and baubles all around the house and on the deer I made at a willow workshop held at the farm shop’s new barn. Daughter Hannah, grand-daughter Grace and I had a lovely time creating our little herd! One special job given to a grandchild is arranging the Crib

with the holy family on a bed of hay. When I was a child we had the same figures, arranged in a wooden box making a stable complete with a little concealed light. It was my father’s job to select some sweet-smelling hay, another of the smells of Christmas I remember. Well, one year, our tortoiseshell cat thought it would make a perfect nest to have her kittens! The figures didn’t completely escape damage. One of the kings lost his head and to this day it has to be stuck on a cocktail stick inserted in his body! The older grandchildren came and helped dress the nativity figures ready to install

on the make-shift stable on a trailer, which is now outside the farm shop. Christmas work is in full swing, the turkeys are looking great and the task of matching bird to customer has been done, not always easy. Some years they are too big, some years too small, and there are always gaps in weights, however hard we try when selecting the poults to match desired weights at maturity. However, our customers are understanding if their free-range bespoke bird does not exactly match their order! The parlour work is making good progress now, the milking time is quicker, good for man and cows, but we’re still waiting for a date to install the new three-phase meter. All the cattle are in their winter quarters, most inside but about 40 outlying on a lovely dry field. We wish we had more land like that one as beef cattle really do well in the fresh air, as long as they have shelter in bad weather. We take silage to them and our Angus are very suited

SDAY 20

growing lovely thick winter coats. We are heartened by the number of people planning their family get togethers, sharing a special meal and spending time together. The world would be better I feel, if there was more time to talk, walk and share, and less time spent on screens, whether that is televisions, games or phones. There’s room for both, but, as always, balance is key. n Christmas and New Year opening times: Kimbers Farm Shop, Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn. Collection of orders, Friday and Saturday, December 22-23, and shop open. Christmas Eve. 9am-2pm. Closed December 25-27. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 28-30, 10am-4pm. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January 2-4, to give our staff a well-deserved rest! Open for business as usual Friday, January 5. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all our lovely customers, thank you for your support throughout 2023.

SALE O LIC th …………… ESDAY…………………… 27 SALE O NFU sets out stall ahead of election THE NFU has published its manifesto ahead of the next general election urging all political parties to support policies which back British food and farming. The manifesto leads with new research which demonstrates how much food and farming matters to voters in the run up to the election, with strong appetite for greater government support to boost home-grown food production. The research shows that: n 84% think food production targets are either as important or more important than environmental targets for farming; n 82% say it would be a good

idea for the government to set targets to increase British food production; n 66% think that the parties’ plans on farming will be one of the issues that affects who they vote for at the next general election; n 66% think that a commitment to a long-term plan for food and farming will be an important factor in who they vote for at the next election. A key ask outlined within the manifesto calls on the next government to match the existing target-led ambitions for the environment and climate mitigation with similar ambitions for Britain’s food Continued on next page

TOCK

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WEDNESDAY 27th DECEMBER–MARKET ALL SECTIONS SALE OF FAT CATTLE, CULL COWS. DAIRYFOR CATTLE & CALVES th DECEMBER - NO MARKET FRIDAY 29 PRIME, CULL AND STORE SHEEP.

WEDNESDAY 3rd JANUARY – MARKET AS USUAL ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

… …………………… EVERY FRIDAY – SALE OF STORE CATTLE

th …FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER – MARKET AS USUAL

th JANUARY SALE OF WEDNESDAY 10PIGS FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF – WEDNESDAY 6TH PIGS SEPTEMBER th OF REARED CALVES WEDNESDAY SALE 17 JANUARY FORTNIGHTLY OF REAREDSALE CALVES – WEDNESDAY 13TH MONDAY 22nd JANUARYSEPTEMBER SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE

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MONTHLY SALE RESTRICED CATTLE MONDAY 18th FOR ADVICE ONOF ALLTB CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL SEPTEMBER BRADLEY TOWELL 07496 263916 TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401 LICENSES MUST BE462288 OBTAINED WEEK BEFORE SALE TOM ROGERS 07384 ROSSONE WHITCOMBE 07815 985737

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Farming FLAIL HEDGE TRIMMING, Hedge Laying All types of fencing Tel: 01747 855198 SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR SALE Tel: 01258 472288 Mob: 07977 936109 New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks

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blackmorevale.net TRACTOR & HEDGECUTTER, 07711 980871 HEDGE LAYING & PLANTING, coppicing. Experienced crew available call 07929 995747 JT HEDGELAYING AND PLANTING all grants undertaken for anymore information please contact James on 07939 262639 FOR SALE, WHITE DAVID BROWN 990, good engine, working condition, suitable for small holding or yard scraper tractor. £2200 ono. Tel: 07813-710546

Book Online classified@ blackmorevale.net

Continued from previous page security, by also setting targets for food production. NFU president Minette Batters said: “Food is something that connects us all – we cannot live without it. “All our research shows that the British people really value our farmers and growers for the work they do day-in, day-out to feed the nation. Their support has been vital during the turbulence of the past few years with the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the cost-ofliving crisis and increasing periods of drought and flooding. “Shoppers want to be able to go into a supermarket and have the option to buy quality, high-welfare, environmentallyfriendly food and we know the availability and affordability of food is high on people’s minds. “But with food production under increasing pressure – not least from record production costs and the biggest shake up in agricultural policy since 1947 – we need policies in place that support British farming, with all Whitehall departments developing policy through the lens of food production. “We know that the rural vote

will be important in this election, but it’s clear that across the country, people living in towns and cities also want to know how parties plan to boost sustainable, home-grown food production as well as care for the environment and tackle climate change. And our data shows it will influence who they vote for at the ballot box. “As a country, there are multiple priorities and challenges, and this manifesto shows that food security must be one of them, with our farm businesses supported to invest and grow for the benefit of everyone. “We must not fall into the trap that we can simply import our food needs from other countries – we’ve seen that approach fail before with empty supermarket shelves and we know there is strong public opinion against importing food from elsewhere produced in ways that would be illegal here. “That’s why we are asking for targets for British food production, just as the government has rightly legislated for targets on the environment, green energy and climate change. Food has to be given the same status.”

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QUALITY HAYLAGE, hay and straw. 3ft, 4ft and 6ft bales. Collect or delivered. Call Mark 07860 759996 or 01300 345293

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Farming

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Andrew Tuffin Lucy Carnell Head of Farm Agency Somerset 01258 472244 01935 382901

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135 acres

Will Wallis Dorset 01305 236572

New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Property

blackmorevale.net

Plans for landmark Frome shop

PROPERTY TO LET OFFICE/STORAGE TO LET. From £24p/w. Work units 1250 sq ft £55 p/w Tel: 07811 837061

SELF-CONTAINED ACCOMODATION on quiet farm near Yeovil 01935 891817

BUTTS POND STUR NEWTON INDUSTRIAL UNIT Approx’ 2800sqft PLUS yard/parking from April. Approx 80% warehouse / 20% offices/utilities. To register interest send company details including proposed activity to: admin@pejep.co.uk

SOUTH CHERITON Asking price £750,000 Agricultural tied dwelling in South Cheriton comprising five bedroomed chalet style bungalow set in fifteen acres with an outbuilding. EPC D Please call Morton New on 01747 824547 for more information

Puzzle solutions

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9 1 3 6 8 7 4 2 5

2 7 5 4 1 3 9 6 8

1 3 2 9 7 8 5 4 6

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3 8 9 7 2 5 6 1 4

5 2 4 3 6 1 8 7 9

Killer sudoku 10

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2 6 3

1 10

5 6 3

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1 8

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6 3

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Brain chain 21

Brain chain (hard) 100

129

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(from pages 42-43)

Edition 85

Jumbo sudoku

Cryptic crossword

9 2 5 8 4 3 7 2 3 7 5 1 2 8 6 8 7 1 4 9 1 4 7 8 9 3 4 1 3 1 6 1 5 7 6 8 7 5 2 3 4 1 6 5 9 5 9 6 3 9 3 1 4 5 8 4 8 6 2 6 9 2 4 7 5 7 2 2 5 3 3 2 4 8 96 8 9 6 9 29 7 1 6 3 8 4 8 7 5 5 2 8 7 5 3 1 9 7 1 4 1 8 2 6 7 1 4 4 6 6 2 5 6 3 3 9 8 7 4 5 9 1 3 5 2 9 3 4 3 2 4 7 1 3 9 8 2 7 5 2 1 1 8 6 2 5 6 9 1 3 9 7 5 9 8 6 7 4 8 2 8 4 6 8 4 3 4 6 2 9 3 2 7 5 6 5 8 1 1 4 7 2 5 7 9 4 5 1 7 9 4 7 3 8 3 7 4 1 5 6 1 6 2 9 8 3 18 9 3 9 5 62 5 1 3 8 2 4 6 7 6 7 8 1 5 1 3 4 2 3 5 9 9 4 2 8 7 6

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

shelving were sourced from local farmers and the main counter from a pub,” the application said. “The store has allegedly not been re-painted since it opened 100 years ago.” “The overall build quality could reasonably be described as low and the condition currently defective,” the plan went on. “The lack of maintenance likely contributes to the current condition of the building.” For more details - and to comment on the application log on to www.somerset.gov.uk and search for application reference 2023/2181/FUL.

01963 400186

A LANDMARK Frome building - built as a corn merchant in 1920 with parts left largely unchanged ever since - could soon see new life as a shop, offices and a house. An application has been submitted to Somerset Council to overhaul the former Moore & Toop building, in Christchurch Street West. The scheme would see the shop front preserved, with office space created to the first floor, and a one-bedroom dwelling built to the west end. Submitted by Robinson+ Ltd on behalf of T Hamilton, the application said the building was of unusual construction and was built by Mr Moore in 1920, apparently “from scavenged materials”, including steps to the rear rooms from a Bath tram. “Many of the hoppers and

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

hapman

oore

For the Complete Property Package. Agents for Residential, Commercial, Property Investment & Management. Sold

New Instruction

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Chapman Moore would like to wish you A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Our Ofﬁce will be open between Christmas & New Year All our Properties are on Rightmove & On the Market

STALBRIDGE

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Price £725,000

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MERE

Leasehold Price £245,000 C

No Forward Chain Price Reduction

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Leasehold Price £165,000 B

Townbridge House, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4AA Telephone/Fax: (01747) 822244 E-mail: chapmanmoore@btconnect.com See all our properties on www.rightmove.co.uk & www.zoopla.co.uk

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Property

blackmorevale.net

The Loft Tisbury 01747 442500 www.ruralview.co.uk

LD SO

LD SO Wiltshire - Offers in excess of £2,000,000

Wiltshire - Guide price £1,350,000

A beautifully renovated converted barn situated down a private track in an idyllic rural location.

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LD SO Wiltshire - Guide price £950,000

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New Blackmore Vale, December 22, 2023

Property

blackmorevale.net

The Loft Tisbury 01747 442500 www.ruralview.co.uk

LD SO

LD SO Wiltshire - Guide price £925,000

Wiltshire - Guide price £695,000

A superbly presented family home situated in an exclusive setting.

A well-presented period home with character features.

LD SO

LD SO Wiltshire - Guide price £630,000

Wiltshire - Guide price £595,000

A charming extended period cottage with outstanding far-reaching views.

A most attractive period cottage set in a pretty conservation village.

LD SO

LD SO Dorset - Guide price £565,000

Wiltshire – Auction Guide price £260,000

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Warminster 01925 984459

Wincanton 01963 34065

THE SOUTH WEST’S

LEADING REMOVAL SERVICE

www.armishaws.com

HEARING LOSS? EARACHE? BLOCKED EARS? EARWAX REMOVAL SPECIALISTS

Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton Medical Centre Old Market Hill Sturminster Newton DT10 1QU

Check availability & book at: earwax.co.uk

Shaftesbury

Abbey View Medical Centre Shaftesbury SP7 8DH

0800 422 0156

info@earwax.co.uk