Blackmore Vale Magazine 25/11/22

NBVM launches Secret Santa Present Appeal

“We are very grateful to the New Blackmore Vale magazine for launching their Secret Santa Present Appeal on behalf of Dorset County Hospital,” a hospital spokesperson said. All gifts to the hospital at are very much appreciated, and particularly by the Kingfisher Children’s

Then & now: Sturminster Mill

The picturesque Sturminster Newton Mill is one of several flour mills built along the River Stour. However, its position at the crossing point between the original Sturminster settlement to the north and Newton to the south makes it particularly crucial to the history of this area and the town it unites

by Lottie Hayton

THERE ARE MANY signs that the area around Sturminster Newton has long been farmed and settled. Just over a mile away sits the Roman villa at Hinton St Mary, while 300 yards upstream from the mill is a medieval six-arched bridge, and another 100 yards on is an even older ford. Both the bridge and the ford are overlooked by what was once Sturminster ‘Castle’ but is now the ruined 14th-century manor given to Katherine Parr by Henry VIII.

The mill itself is thought to date to the 10th or 11th century; the Domesday Book of 1086 records four mills in the area. Settlers have long recognised the opportunity for production that the natural environment here provides. The River Stour, crucial to the mill’s operation, drains a large area of the vale, sustaining a steady flow of water throughout the summer.

The river is dammed at the point where the mill has been built and its flow is maintained and controlled by a mechanism of hatches and a rolling bay. Harnessing nature is never simple; winter flooding has consistently been a challenge, as indicated by the flood levels carved in the wall beside the front door.

In the early 1920s, a flood swept away the weir and the old millers’ cottage nearby had to be demolished to provide building materials. The present L-shaped building has two wings, the conjoining of which speaks to another series of challenges and adaptations in the mill’s history. The south wing, last re-built circa 1650 on the ancient site, housed the traditional mill but the north wing was built in 1611 as a ‘fulling’ mill.

This housed the technology for fulling woollen cloth, with water-powered fulling stocks hammering the fabric until it was felted enough to become waterproof. It was from here that the Sturminster Newton mill drove the rapidly growing swanskin industry, which connected North Dorset with Newfoundland, discovered by John Cabot in 1497.

Swanskin was a warm and waterproof cloth, making it perfect for the harsh Newfoundland weather. Prior to the development of the railways there was little means by which to transport milk to the cities and so North Dorset agriculture was dominated

All photographs

courtesy

Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust

more by sheep than cattle.

The Blackmore Vale’s proximity to Poole, out of which much Newfoundland trade ran, similarly made it the perfect site for producing the cloth and, by 1793, approximately 1,200 people from Sturminster and the surrounding area were employed by the trade.

However, within the space of just a few years the trade collapsed, in part due to northern industrialisation and competition from new products. Interestingly, many of the cloth merchant families moved across to Newfoundland, explaining the continuation of dialect and surnames across the pond.

But back in Sturminster the only solution was to demolish the fulling mill and extend the grist mill, changing the building to its current form.

The pressure of competition continued to change the mill. Until the turn of the 20th century it was powered by two undershot water wheels, capable of a combined output of 12 horsepower. With the introduction of steam technology and the railway transport network, however, the mill needed an upgrade. In 1904 the two water wheels were replaced with a single water turbine, doubling the output.

Despite this and additional changes to the stones used for milling and the production of animal feed, in 1970 Blandford & Webb Ltd, operators of the mill, were forced to build a mobile mill and take the machinery out to farms. The mill itself was no longer needed and stood boarded up for 10 years.

Fortunately, its importance was recognised, and in 1980 the Mill Trust was formed with the aim of restoring the building to full working order.

Initially several tenant millers worked there to restore and operate the mill. However, with the tightening of health and safety regulations, they were once again threatened with closure and so in 1994 Pitt-Rivers estates, owners of the mill, and the Town Council allowed the Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust to manage the mill as a visitor attraction.

Today it still serves both the local community and those from further afield with events and exhibitions. That the mill has stood the test of time is testament to the generations who have constantly adapted and updated it to suit their changing world and the challenges it presents.

Thank you to the Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust (sturminsternewton-museum.co.uk) for providing us with access to their archival images and information on the mill.

Opposite page, from top: The mill in 2010; archive photographs from Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust; early 1900s, with the millers’ cottage in the background; This page, from top: Floods in 2000; Peter Loosmore surveys the incoming floodwater in 2008; archive photograph from Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust; a visit to the mill by the Harley Davidson Owners Club from Bridgwater in 2010

A warm, caring school

Shillingstone primary school headteacher is ‘delighted’ after inspectors rated it as ‘good’

SHILLINGSTONE C ofE PRIMARY School was praised as a ‘warm, caring school’ where ‘leaders are passionate and completely dedicated to enabling pupils to flourish’ after a recent inspection by SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools).

It was ranked as ‘good’ in all areas.

The school was commended for its ‘positive culture of aspiring to be the best you can be’, and for the ‘tangible sense of being a family’, with ‘passionate and inspiring’ leaders.

Headteacher, Jane Whitehouse-Sharpe, said: “I would like to thank the staff, governors, children and families for making Shillingstone CofE Primary School a very special place to be.

“We are delighted with the report and

how it highlights all the good work that goes on in our school. We are thrilled with to be recognised as ‘good’ for all areas.”

Shillingstone CofE Primary is part of the Sherborne Area Schools Trust (SAST), and CEO Colin Sinclair said: “Congratulations to our team at Shillingstone, whose efforts to deliver the best education possible for children are recognised in this inspection report.

“As an organisation we are pioneering the development of the Church Schools Flourishing programme alongside the Diocese of Salisbury, to ensure all our

church schools receive the support they need to truly thrive in each of the five domains of Flourishing: Purpose, Relationships, Leaning, Resources and Wellbeing.

“Shillingstone Primary’s recent SIAMS inspection is a true celebration of ‘Flourishing’ in our school community.”

NHS Liftshare launched

NHS staff in Dorset are being encouraged to share cars for their commutes – and offered priority parking in return

THREE ORGANISATIONS ACROSS the county have partnered to launch ‘Dorset NHS Liftshare’, a new service for workers. The joint initiative aims to reduce single occupancy commutes to and from the hospitals and other sites that make up University Hospitals Dorset (UHD), Dorset County Hospital and Dorset Healthcare.

The programme is accessible to more than 19,000 staff, supporting them to reduce travel costs while making a positive contribution to the NHS’s sustainability targets.

Stuart Lane, sustainability and carbon manager for UHD, said: “We in the NHS already support and prioritise more traditional ‘green travel’, such as cycling, walking and public transport.

“However, for some in more rural areas or with family commitments, car travel is currently their only practical mode of travel, so we had to think differently.”

Staff using Liftshare can access the system online and are partnered up with people on similar commuter routes. They are then given priority parking on the various sites.

Commenting on the project, Julie Furnell, managing director of Liftshare Group, said: “Staff commuting within England’s NHS are responsible for over a million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. This is a great opportunity to work in partnership across Dorset and for NHS staff to have a positive impact on the environment.”

Dorset NHS Liftshare follows the launch of the ‘EcoEarn’ app, another sustainability project in partnership across Dorset trusts.

The app encourages and rewards sustainable behaviour at work and home in the areas of energy saving, sustainable travel, health and wellbeing and waste reduction.

Christmas Fair returns to Shillingstone

Youngsters Isaac and Faith Young (pictured) are eagerly waiting to see Santa at the Christmas Fair being held at the Portman Hall in Shillingstone.

Jasmine Young, proud mum of the toddlers, is busy putting the final touches to the fair being staged on Sunday 27 November from noon-4pm.

Stalls will sell hand-crafted wooden items, original artwork, jewellery, candles, cards, Christmas items and lots more. The event will also feature a main raffle,

Christmas tree trail

The Blandford Forum Parish Church Christmas tree trail will run from Friday 2 December until after Christmas

This year all the trees decorated by the schools will be displayed in the church and although the church is under scaffolding the trees can be viewed during the evening of Blandford Yuletide Festival on December 2 and on Saturday 3 and 10 December from 10am2pm, when the church will be open.

All the trees decorated by community organisations will be in shop and business windows around the town.

It is planned to produce a video of all the trees so people can vote from far and wide. It will be possible to vote online and voting slips will be available.

The theme this year is ‘Joy to the World! The Lord has come. Let earth receive her King.’ As usual the categories will be Schools’ Tree – by public vote – People’s Choice and Mayor’s Choice.

For further information contact the church office on 01258 456260 or office@bfpc.org.uk

Christmas cake raffle, lucky bags, treasure hunt games – and the school’s PTA will be organising Christmas crafts for children.

Festive food will also be on offer and Debby Cole, of Absolute Catering, will be serving aromatic spiced mulled wine.

The parish council will present the village’s Jubilee Cup to this year’s winner, who has been voted for by the community.

The fair is sponsored by Acorn Builders. Funds raised will go to the Shillingstone Coronation Commemorative Fund.

Sturminster’s social supermarket is about more than simply food

Volunteers at the Vale Pantry are helping locals back on their feet and offering a lifeline to those in need

THE TRADITIONAL PERCEPTION of a foodbank is of people in need collecting a box of supplies to help them get by – then disappearing home.

But at the Vale Pantry in Sturminster Newton – the ‘social supermarket’ that operates a bit differently – the ‘shop’ is often just the beginning.

Trustee of the charity, Carole Jones, explains.

“It’s really not all about food – what else do we do?” she said. “Our aim is to provide support and help to get people back on their feet and to complete independence where possible.”

She said the charity works closely with the Citizens Advice service, referring people with issues around debt, benefits and more.

“We helped to set up a weekly support group for parents with high-needs children or children with autism, who meet every Monday morning at Stour Connect,” she said.

“This proves invaluable for a number of families, where they can get specialist help and advice, or simply share coping mechanisms. This group is known as the North Dorset Parent and Carers support group.

“We also identified a need to help a number of families with cookery skills and run regular recipe bags, with each containing every ingredient needed together with a step-by-step guild to prepare and cook a meal from scratch using fresh ingredients.

“This has a transformational effect in introducing new foods, building confidence and going forward, this often shows that people start making different food choices, using more vegetables and cooking from scratch.”

During school holidays, the Pantry runs a Children’s Cookery Workshop, giving youngsters the chance to lunch for their parents, who come along with them.

“This is huge fun and the children come accompanied by a parent – but parents just sit back and chat while the children prepare and cook lunch,” Carole went on.

“So far they have made their own pizzas, making the dough from scratch, they have made their own healthy pot noodles using fresh ingredients – they loved that – and they have made pumpkin soup and muffins before creating their own Halloween pumpkin face to place outside their front door.”

Healthy help

Meanwhile, the group was also successful in acquiring funding to help those with fibromyalgia and mobility issues, which is now allowing 24 people to receive a hydrotherapy session weekly for six months.

“We are hoping this will increase health and well-being, provide social interaction, and improve mobility.”

The Pantry is also able to provide budget coaching for those who find it difficult managing their money weekly or monthly, and when a crisis occurs, volunteers work with local charities in helping to acquire household goods – typically washing machines, fridge freezers, ovens, etc.

“We help with receiving and giving out children’s winter coats, bedding, duvets and much more,” Carole said.

But the challenges faced by Pantry users can also be turned into positives, she explained, with many getting involved with the charity itself.

“There are also a number of people suffering from social anxiety and depression, and to this end, we encourage people to come in and volunteer with us,” Carole explained.

“Gradually, we are increasing the number of our volunteers with users of the pantry and this is having the most transformational effect, with people feeling they have a purpose and feel part of something important.

“We all enjoy a great working relationships and much fun and laughter are had.”

It’s clear that whatever your perception of the Vale Pantry is, it falls far short of the work it is doing for the Vale community.

Reverse Advent Calendar

In the run-up to Christmas, the Pantry is running a Reverse Advent Calendar initiative in order to stock up on supplies ahead of the Christmas season, when demand is expected to increase enormously.

To take part, donors are encouraged to pick up an extra, cut-price item, each day in November, before taking their month’s collection to the Pantry at the start of December. All items are welcome.

For more details, or to apply to become a member, visit valepantry.co.uk.

The Pantry (35A Market Place, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AR) is open from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Wednesdays, from 8am to 6pm on Thursdays and from 8.30am to noon on Saturdays.

“Our aim is to provide support and help to get people back on their feet and to complete independence where possible”

Support for Dorchester residents

The Wessex Cancer Trust, a charity that provides free emotional wellbeing services to anyone affected by cancer, is coming to Dorchester to canvas residents

ITS TEAM WILL host an open day at Durnovaria Band Hall on Wednesday 14 December from 10am-1pm.

Anyone who has or has had cancer, is supporting someone with cancer or is bereaved is welcome to pop along for an informal chat about the types of emotional support they might find most valuable.

Colette Cowan, the charity’s head of services, said: “Wessex Cancer Trust is here to support anyone affected by cancer. We provide a range of wellbeing services, such as counselling, therapies and befriending at

our four support centres.

“We’ve identified Dorchester as an area where there’s a lack of cancer support. We’d love to meet anyone who thinks they might appreciate some support, so we can find out about their needs before introducing regular cancer wellbeing sessions in the New Year.”

The charity is also keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in volunteering. To find out more about this and the charity’s community services, go along to the open day. Alternatively, contact outreach project manager Katie Davies on 023 8067 2200 or email katie.davies@ wessexcancer.org.uk

Full house for bingo fundraiser

THE NUMBERS CAME up at a fundraiser in Wincanton for Yeovil District Hospital’s New Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

A bingo evening organised by Betty Whitmarsh and friends raised £574.61 which was presented to full-time fundraising volunteer Karina Parsons.

The well supported event also included a raffle and the sale of hospital crafts and treats.

Scrubs up nicely!

The National Trust’s conservation team at Stourhead, near Mere in Wiltshire, have completed a week of preventive work caring for objects inside the Pantheon, an iconic building within Stourhead’s world-famous landscape garden

THE PANTHEON, ALSO known as the Temple of the Gods, houses many historic artefacts, including the famous marble Hercules by sculptor Michael Rysbrack, a 2,000-yearold statue of Roman empress Livia Augusta, eight delicate friezes by Benjamin Carter, wrought iron gates by Benjamin Smith and a set of four benches designed specifically for the

Pantheon by the architect Henry Flitcroft in c1760.

Each of the collection items come under threat from what conservators call the ‘10 agents of deterioration.’ These are light levels, wear and tear, chemicals, pests, water, fire, humidity levels, temperature, loss, and custodial neglect. This is the second large-scale conservation temple clean of the year.

Peta Henley, Collections and House Officer, said “There are steps we take to manage deterioration over time. Each of the Pantheon’s items are meticulously checked, delicately cleaned, and all findings recorded on a condition report.”

Collection conservation, both built and natural, sits at the heart of Stourhead’s ethos, and the NT’s preventive conservation work can often be seen first-hand. This clean-up was more than a quick whip round with a duster, as Peta

“Within the Pantheon we have varied materials that require a certain type of cleaning and care. To clean the marble statues, we use a coarse bristle brush made of hogs hair that helps to flick the dust into a vacuum. For the delicate friezes we use a soft ponyhair brush, with the vacuums on a low suction and gauze over the nozzle; this prevents anything being accidentally vacuumed into the machine. For the metal

benches, we use a hogs bristle brush and Renaissance wax, which protects them from further deterioration.

“The four Pantheon oak benches are cleaned with a combination of brushes as they are both robust and delicate.”

Find out more about NT collections at www. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk

To find out more about visiting Stourhead go to www. nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

Photo: Tony Gill

Veteran’s star turn

Not a lot of people know this – but the Vale is home to a rising star of the big screen who recently worked alongside an Oscar-winning actor

THAT DASHING LEADING man is World War Two veteran Laurence Henry, who is set to make his unexpected big-screen debut alongside Sir Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson CBE – at the age of 100.

His journey to the film set started some 83 years ago when Laurence, who hails from Leeds but now lives in Sherborne, became an engineer with the RAF at the outbreak of the second world war and spent much of his service looking after Wellington bombers.

After serving in Africa and returning to Melksham, Laurence met his wife, Cymbeline. The couple went on to have seven children and later made the town their home, in the early 1970s, before returning up north and splitting their time between England and a villa in Spain.

Laurence returned to Sherborne after his wife passed away in 2001.

Fast-forward more than eight decades and a chance perusal of a casting call found by an acting friend looking for veterans took Laurence on a journey that ended in the

bright lights of movie making – in Camber Sands. The call was for The Great Escaper, which tells the true story of veteran Bernard Jordan, who in June 2014 absconded from his care home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France.

Bernard sparked a police search after fleeing the Hove facility and making his way to Normandy, where he joined other veterans to remember the D-Day landings.

And recreating the scenes at Normandy for the film is where Laurence came in.

“I was told about the film by a friend, who’s an actor, that they were asking for veterans for small, bit parts,” Laurence explained. “So I said, ‘why not?’ I had never done anything like that before, although I did some amateur acting, you know. I was a bit of a comedian.”

A fan of JB Priestley and George Formby, Laurence was determined to make his own mark on cinema.

And with the help of family, he made it to his first shoot on 29 September, in Twickenham, where he took part in scenes during a day of filming.

But it was the following month when Laurence got a full experience of the A-list movie actor life, when he came face-to-face with two-time Oscar winner Sir Michael, albeit in a rather unglamorous setting – a 400-mile round trip to Camber Sands, in East

Sussex.

Taking the opportunity of a lifetime, Laurence was keen to confront the legendary actor about something from his own service.

In 1952, Sir Michael was called up to do his national service and saw active service in the Korean War.

Due to the ongoing conflict, the likes of Laurence could not be decommissioned.

And staying true to his comedic instincts, the cheeky veteran was quick to remind the Knight of the Realm how that had impacted him. “I told him, ‘I blame you for the last years’ (of my service),” he said, jokingly.

“He was laughing and apologised – he is a lovely guy, he really is.

“He is a man of great character.”

Sir Michael even gave Laurence some acting advice when posing for pictures on-set, telling him to make sure he looked ‘at the camera’ in his distinctive cockney tone.

The pair went on to spend much of the three-day shoot in close proximity, as well as Laurence taking the opportunity to make more friends among the cast and crew.

However, there was one mix-up with the wardrobe department Laurence was quick to complain about – in true celebrity ‘diva’

Family Law Advice

We realise talking about divorce or separation is very

style. “They gave me an Army cap,” he said. “I said I wanted an RAF beret and they said, ‘it’s the same’! I said, ‘It’s not!’

“They looked everywhere to get me a beret and they did get one in the end.”

But overall, the long days paid off and Laurence is hopeful of making a mark in the final edit when the film is released. “I might be cut out,” he said. “But you never know.”

Away from his acting career, in recent years Laurence has given talks to youngsters at a local primary school in Hazelbury Bryan looking back over his 100 years and his experiences in the war, ensuring the conflict – and those who gave their lives – are not forgotten.

“A child asked me if I was ever afraid. I said I can’t remember being afraid. At night, with aircraft above, it could be frightening, but because of the camaraderie, there’s no fear. You were all in it together.

“They were brave boys,” Laurence adds, a tear in his eye.

On 26 October, Laurence turned 100. He received cards from King Charles III and the Air Chief Marshal, Sir Mike Wigston, chief of the Air Staff. He also received a card from the cast and crew of The Great Escaper, signed by Sir Michael.

In his card, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike wrote: “We owe an enormous debt of

gratitude to you and all your generation, who fought for our freedom in the Second World War.

“Your bravery and resilience impress us to this day.”

One thing is clear, whether Sherborne celebrity Laurence Henry makes the final cut of the movie or not, he has already left a lasting impression on his community and further afield.

He is a true hero – and it’s right that a lot of people know that.

Donate your Winter Fuel Payment

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) has launched this year’s Surviving Winter appeal, which encourages people who can afford it to donate some or all of their Winter Fuel Payment to help vulnerable older people stay warm and well

THE COST-OF-LIVING crisis means that this winter will be one of the toughest we have faced for decades. Many older people are already extremely anxious about rising bills and around 11,000 Somerset pensioners will find themselves living in fuel poverty this year, double the number in the same situation last year. The team at SCF know, from many years’ experience of running their Surviving Winter appeal, that many of the poorest pensioners may not turn their heating on at all, or will cut back on food to save money as they are forced to choose between heating and eating. And with everyday costs like food and fuel rapidly increasing, this winter will see many of our most vulnerable older neighbours struggling to cope. Many will stay at home to save money and will find themselves cut off from family and friends.

Around 800 older people in Somerset are supported through SCF’s Surviving Winter appeal every year with a cash grant to

support their energy bills. This year, the Surviving Winter grants are increasing from £300 to £500, and there will be even more help for people to buy essential items to stay warm and make their homes more energy efficient.

For many local people who don’t need their Winter Fuel Payment, donating it to the Surviving Winter appeal is an easy way to make a huge difference to the life of one of their neighbours.

Justin Sargent, Chief Executive at SCF said: “We estimate that at least 5,500 low-income pensioners in Somerset will not have enough money to afford to heat their homes sufficiently this winter. Cold weather causes hundreds of preventable deaths every year, with older people and those living in older or isolated rural homes most likely to experience the largest degree of fuel poverty.

“Thanks to the bright idea of one

generous pensioner, who asked us many years ago if we could get his Winter Fuel Payment to someone who needed it, we can make sure that hundreds of older people in Somerset are being supported to stay warm, safe and well every winter through our Surviving Winter campaign.

Help SCF reach their target to help at least 800 isolated and vulnerable older people stay warm, safe and well this winter.

If you would like to donate to Surviving Winter, visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949. A donation form is also available to download from the SCF website.

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis CBE is a long-time supporter of the Surviving Winter appeal

Coming soon to a library near you

Libraries around the Blackmore Vale host a range of FREE events for all the family… Shaftesbury Library boasts a bounty of new events to brighten up your winter. A exiting new Creative Writing for Well Being Group started earlier this month and runs every Thursday from 12-1pm. Bring your own writing materials and your imagination and meet like-minded people who are keen to explore their creativity. No experience in creative writing is needed.

The new Colouring for Wellbeing group meets on a Monday from 10.30am-12.30pm. No equipment is needed.

Also new from November is Cuppa and Company. Pop into Shaftesbury Library on a Monday and Thursday between 10.3011.30am for a chat and a brew.

Shaftesbury Library has plenty of activities for children during this coming festive season, beginning on Saturday 26 November with Father Christmas Advent Calendar making from 10.3011.30am. Call 01747 852256 to find out more.

Sturminster Newton Library has a busy schedule in December. On Tuesday 20 December from 2-4pm, the library will host a special Code Club session called ‘Magnificent, Merry Micro:bits’ for children aged 8-13 years alongside a parent/guardian.

On Thursday 22 December from 2.30-4.30pm, ‘Christmas Crafts and Creations’ is suitable for families and children aged 3 and up, as is ‘Twixmas Crafts and Creations’ on Thursday 29 December from 2.30-4.30pm.

Booking is advised for all events at Sturminster Newton Library – visit Eventbrite online or call 01258 472669

Sherborne Library will be feeling festive, with ‘Trees, Baubles

and Decorations’ on Saturday 3 December from 2-3pm, and ‘Wreaths, Robins and Reindeer’ on Saturday 10 December from 2-3pm, both for families and children aged 3 and up.

On Saturday 17 December from 2-3pm, Sherborne Library will host a festive quiz, with puzzles and colouring, for families and children aged 5 and up.

There’s a special Code Club session called ‘Magnificent, Merry Micro:bits’ at the library on Tuesday 20 December from 10am12pm, for children aged 8-13 years alongside a parent/guardian.

One last Christmas boost takes place on Thursday 22 December from 10-11am, when Sherborne Library will host ‘Snowflakes, Stars and Stories’, for families and children aged 3 and up.

Booking is advised for all events at Sherborne Library– visit Eventbrite online or call the library on 01935 812683

On Friday 16 December from 5.15pm-6.15pm, Gillingham Library will host Christmas Cheer with Gillingham Arts Workshop ‘Carols, Readings, and a Mummers Play’.

Then on Saturday 17 December from 10.30-11am there’s a SENsational story and play for 0-5s and their parents/carers, and on Thursdays 22 and 29 December from 11-12 Gillingham Library will be hosting Lego fun at Christmas for the family.

Get a last-minute fix of festive cheer on Friday 23 December from 10.30-11.30am with a children’s Christmas craft session to decorate a Christmas tree. Suitable for children aged 5-11.

Booking is advised for all events at Gillingham Library – visit Eventbrite online or call 01747 822180

Stay alert to scams

Citizens Advice offers tips for staying safe when shopping online in the run-up to Christmas…

WITH THE HOLIDAY season fast approaching, we are all looking for bargains – and many of them online.

Now, in a bid to protect cyber shoppers from scams and frauds, Citizens Advice in Dorset has released some top tips on how to shop safely on the internet.

Rovarn Wickremasinghe, chief officer at Citizens Advice Bridport & District, said: “With sales season fast approaching, it’s vital we recognise the red flags when trying to bag a bargain in the run up to the holidays.

“Anyone can be a victim of a scam, and even the savviest of shoppers can be left getting less than they bargained for. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed if you’re caught out. By knowing how to shop wisely, and what to do if something goes wrong, we can better protect ourselves and each other.”

Top tips for shopping wisely:

1Do your research: Before buying from a site you haven’t used before, spend a few minutes checking it out. See what people have said about the person

or company you’re buying from by looking at reviews on different websites – don’t rely on reviews the company has put on its own website.

If you’re worried that something you’ve seen online might be a scam, you can get help from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.

2Be wise to scams in disguise: If a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it’s branded but a lot cheaper than it appears on the brand’s website, it could be fake or a legitimate ‘look-a-like’ product. Either way, it might not be the quality you were hoping for.

3Ways to pay: Beware of a seller who asks you to pay by direct bank transfer. Bank transfers have limited protection if things go wrong, so avoid using them. You should only send and receive money through the online marketplace app or website using a debit or credit card, or via trusted methods of payment such as PayPal.

4Know your rights: If you’ve bought from a retailer you might be entitled to a replacement product or a repair of your faulty goods. You can even claim a full refund if you can prove the goods are faulty. If you’ve bought from an individual, perhaps via an online marketplace, you have far fewer rights. In fact, you have no right to return, so long as the goods are ‘as described’. Always be sure to take a screenshot of the description, and be sure to check and double-check before you buy.

5When things go wrong: Sometimes things just don’t go to plan. If you’ve bought something broken, damaged, unsafe or not what you expected then contact the seller and give them a chance to put it right. If that doesn’t work reach out to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. For free, confidential advice and support, call the Dorset Adviceline on 0800 144 8848 or visit www.citizensadvicedorset.org. uk to find details of your nearest Citizens Advice.

Heart of the village

VILLAGERS IN PULHAM have celebrated the launch of a public access defibrillator at the The Halsey Arms.

The event gave people the chance to see the device, ask questions, sign up for training and to volunteer as a runner.

Covid-19 delayed initial fundraising but within six months of launching the project this year, the device was installed –quite an achievement for a small village.

The British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the device, has a useful online training tool anyone can access – visit bhf.org.uk/revivr for a free 15-minute lesson on lifesaving CPR.

The project team would like to express thanks to everyone who has supported them and donated the funds - this includes local businesses, Wessex Morris Men - who hold practice nights in the village hall Pulham Church Fete and many individuals.

Thanks also go to Johnny Adams and the team at The Halsey Arms for agreeing to site the device at the pub and for hosting the launch event, PN Gray Electricals for installing it and to Crestmoor Training for providing training sessions for residents and workers in Pulham.

Local artist’s legacy for Hilton

KEEN-EYED RESIDENTS and visitors to Hilton may have noticed the shiny bright railings at the corner of Duck Street. Placed around where the stream runs under the road, they have replaced the sad and broken wooden fencing that had seen better days.

They were made and given by local artist and ironworker Charles Tibbey, who grew up in Hilton and returned to his parents’ home with his family almost 13 years ago. Several of his hand-wrought pieces can be seen around the village, including gates and cottage nameplates, and his balustrades, handrails and sculptures can be found across Dorset.

The railings were hand-made in steel, almost entirely using the traditional methods he has practised for 40 years. They have been galvanised to preserve the metal – hence the silver colour. Look out also for Charles’ signature stamp and tiny snake-like details which can best be picked out in the morning sun.

To ensure compliance with regulations, Charles liaised with the Highways Department which installed the railings. His design had the blessing of the parish council and is a nod to the style of estate railings seen all over Dorset, but with his own artistic twist.

Charles, who is now semi-retired, said: “I wanted to make something for Hilton, where the Tibbeys have lived since 1965. I saw that the fence was in dire need of replacement, and I was able to create something unique and lasting. This is a legacy – it will

A walk around…

Over Compton

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

THIS IS A short walk of about two and a half miles. Park at the roadside, I suggest the cul-de-sac, St Michael’s Close, to avoid obstructing the narrow road. Walk along the road that curves round to the north east for about 700 yards. Just past Glebe Farm, join a footpath along a driveway following the boundary with Nether Compton heading south east. Then turn right and follow a footpath south westwards along a hedge leading gently uphill to a wood that must have been recently planted as it doesn’t yet appear on the map.

After passing through the wood, the path goes downhill through parkland to the massive Compton House, which is much bigger than the adjacent church. The church is worth a visit and has lots of memorials to members of the Goodden family, who also have memorials at Fleet church. Like many churches I’ve visited on my

exploration of Dorset, this one is blessed with a colony of bees!

Follow the drive eastwards past the big house, curving round to the north east past a small lake on your left with a woody hill on your right. Carry on across the boundary into Nether Compton where you’ll reach the road opposite the village hall. Turn sharp right and follow Gore Lane, which curves south-eastwards . After a little over 100 yards, take a footpath on your right leading uphill to the south, then, at a crossways, turn right and follow a path along the contours to the west, re-entering Over Compton parish.

The path goes downhill and meets the one you were on before. Head west, back past the church and continue along the drive until you meet the road. Turn right and you’ll soon be back at your car.

Roger Cornfoot / geograph.org.uk

Blandford Hospital MIU to re-open after pandemic closure

The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Blandford Hospital has re-opened – but under new working hours

DURING THE PANDEMIC , Dorset HealthCare closed MIUs at Blandford, Portland and Sherborne hospitals to help manage the spread of Covid-19 and cope with staff absences. Opening times at Wimborne were increased to compensate.

As restrictions began to ease, Sherborne’s Yeatman Hospital MIU was re-opened five days a week, and now the Blandford unit will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9am and 5pm. Patients should call 111 to make an appointment.

The re-opening means collectively, MIU operating hours across the Dorset are back to what they were before the pandemic, but delivered differently.

The move comes as the NHS in Dorset prepares to provide urgent care during the

busy winter months.

Meanwhile, to help relieve pressure on emergency departments in Poole and Bournemouth, extended opening hours will also be maintained at the Victoria Hospital MIU in Wimborne.

Arrangements will be reviewed again in March.

Tim Hodgetts, Dorset HealthCare’s deputy director for integrated care services, said: “We’re delighted to make Blandford Hospital MIU available again for two days each week.

“We continue to urge anyone needing urgent medical help or advice to call 111 in the first instance, rather than just turning up at an MIU. This is our preferred route as it will help us to assess your condition and ensure you get the right support, at the right place, as quickly as possible.

“However, walk-ins will be accepted and assessed but may be directed to a more appropriate service or asked to return to the

MIU with an appointment time.”

Despite the partial closure of Dorset’s MIU network, attendances at available units have increased compared to pre-pandemic levels. Almost 93,000 appointments are projected for this year, compared with just under 57,000 for the whole of 2019.

Emma Wilson, head of urgent and emergency care at NHS Dorset, added: “Choosing the right care when you need it could mean you are seen more quickly.

“Our hospitals are really busy at the moment, so if you think your need is urgent but not a life-threatening emergency, then you could be treated more quickly by calling 111 and if you need face-to-face treatment, our network of UTCs and MIUs can provide this for you.”

Full details of Dorset’s MIUs are available at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/ miu

If

think you require urgent medical attention, please call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk

Steam Fair donates to The Greatest Need Appeal

Trailer rides enjoyed by thousands of people raised more than £21,000 for a Dorset charity

THE RIDES RUN at this year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair (GDSF) over the August Bank Holiday weekend, raised a total of £21,357 for The Greatest Need Appeal at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester.

The Greatest Need Appeal supports vital projects across all parts of the hospital, funding the areas where it is needed most: on the wards, in specialist clinical units and the continuing enhancement of the hospital environment and facilities for both staff and patients.

Martin Oliver, GDSF managing director, said: “The Great Dorset Steam Fair has always been committed to supporting our local communities and this year we

are honoured to raise funds for The Greatest Need Appeal at Dorset County Hospital which serves our community so well.

“We hope very much that the money raised will help to support patients in need.”

A team of volunteers from the hospital and the steam family worked together at the event, with trailer rides running from 9am to 9pm.

The rides gave visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with all the steam engines in the heavy haulage arena, with more than 12,000 passengers enjoying the trip.

Martin added: “I would like to thank Richard Pocock and Louise Hall (GDSF Charity Trailer Rides Section Leaders),

and everyone involved.”

Nick Johnson, CEO at Dorset County Hospital said: “Thank you for the incredible donation raised through the Charity Trailer Rides at this year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair.

“The Greatest Need Appeal will make a real difference to our patients and the staff who care for them. We are grateful to everyone who supported the hospital and enjoyed their time at the Steam Fair.”

Cheques & balances

West Dorset Vintage Tractor & Stationary Engine Club presents cheques totalling £6,500

THE SUM WAS raised at this summer’s popular annual West Dorset Vintage Rally held at the Melplash Showground – a vintage vehicle buff’s delight featuring stationary and steam engines, tractors and vintage cars galore.

The West Dorset Vintage Tractor & Stationary Engine Club (WDVTSEC) was founded 46 years ago, and has donated more than £85,000 to local charities and community groups since. This year donations have been made to: Weldmar Hospicecare (£2,000), Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance (£2,000), Bridport Sea Cadets (£500), Dorchester Central Scouts (£500), Charmouth Scouts (£500), Bridport Bandits (£500) and Shaun Parkman (litter/ bins) who generously donated his £500 to Weldmar.

WDVTSEC chairman, Tony Cawley, and president Loric Collins agreed that this year’s rally was a good one. “We’re always glad for the help on the day,” said Loric. “The Scouts helped with litter-picking, for instance. If all these people don’t help us out, we couldn’t put the rally on.”

WDVTSEC chairman Tony Cawley (back row third left) with chairman, Loric Collins (back row far right) with this year’s cheque recipients

Nick Johnson, CEO of DCH (far left), with Martin Oliver, Louise Hall and Richard Pocock (right), and members of the DCH charity team

The Perfect Gift for all Lovers of Dorset

Downstream Dorset River Tales And Local History

By Mary Van Coller

Fabulous Forum

Home-grown talent from Blandford took to the stage of the town’s Corn Exchange in Fabulous Forum, organised by Sam James and his team in support of local charities

by Nicci Brown

YOUNG AND NOT-SO-YOUNG artists from the Dorset Rural Music School included Gracee Seeley, Dairy Turner, Charlotte Haines, Brooke Wareham, Mary Chamberlain and John Goodman, who performed solo performances of songs from musicals including Chicago, Cats and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

And there were return visits from two of the performers in the last such concert in 2018 – solo artist and singer-songwriter Asha Menon (pictured right) and stand-up comedian Boyd James, who were then aged 12 and 11 respectively.

Other highlights included the pre-teen Dolly Mixtures, who closed the first half, and local favourites The Rokit Choir (pictured right), with a rousing finale.

Another star performer was a special guest from Ukraine, now living in Dorset, 18-year-old pianist Denys Voitsekhovsky, who stunned the audience with music from his home country.

The show also featured the announcement of the dates and name of the forthcoming return, at pre-pandemic

of pantomime to the Corn Exchange stage. The Wicked Witches of Oz is on stage on 13 and 14 January 2023, and the Fabulous Forum audience was treated to a special preview from two of its stars, Grace Seeley and Lizzy Chaisty, in a duelling duet.

Downstream

Dorset, River Tales and Local History is a colourful journey of discovery along the many rivers and streams flowing through beautiful Dorset. Starting at the source of each river, Dorset author Mary van Coller, follows the waterway to its mouth, showing the derivation of place names and revealing fascinating information about people and events past and present. Together with her husband Ryan, they have travelled throughout Dorset searching for springs and mouths of rivers. They have verified facts, listened to stories and taken many beautiful photographs. Downstream Dorset will inspire readers to explore Dorset, chat with local people and enjoy nature. There are blank pages at the back of the book to record notes and your own memories. An ideal gift for all Dorset lovers!

(20% of royalties is donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Information about their service is included near the front of the book).

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

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

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

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

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

Please call us on 07860 772274 or email christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk

Our loose Canon

On finding the real joy in the festive season…

by Canon Eric Woods

SOME CLERGY HATE Christmas. They condemn the commercialism of it, and they grumble darkly about the “once-a-year brigade” who only come to church during the Christmas season.

But I love it. I love the build-up to it, the growing festive atmosphere. I adore Christmas markets: all those little stalls selling beautiful craft work (and lots of glühwein!). The best we have ever visited were in Cologne, but the Winchester and Bath Christmas markets, back again this year, are great too. I enjoy thinking about presents – not lavish ones I can’t afford, but simple, creative ones which will bring real pleasure to their recipients. We enjoy seeing friends over the Christmas season, and although I am now officially “retired” I am looking forward to the services I will be taking on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But above all, I am always overwhelmed by the celebration of the real heart of Christmas, of the message of the angels and the coming of Christ into our world.

The key phrase is “when the time comes”.

I think the mistake many people make is to celebrate Christmas from the start of November (or even earlier), and leave so little space in which to find joy on the day itself. Small wonder that many complain about the flat feeling (not to mention the fat feeling!) that descends sometime on Christmas afternoon. Small wonder, too, that tempers fray and relationships fracture more during the season of goodwill than at any other time of year.

The answer is not to join Scrooge and mutter “Christmas? Humbug!” The answer is to prepare yourself to enter into the real Spirit of Christmas. That’s what the Church’s season of Advent is all about: not celebrating too early, but rather “going in heart and mind even unto Bethlehem”.

Advent, the first day of the Christian year, is this Sunday. Which means it’s time to think about our relationships. Christmas is all about relationships. If Christmas is about God’s love for us, it must also be about our love for others. Yet time and time again I have met people who tell me how

much they hate Christmas. Some have always associated it as children with domestic conflict, with violence in the home. And sadly, it’s true that there is more stress, tension, conflict and bitterness in the home at Christmas than at any other time. It is such a bitter irony that what should be above all a feast and festival of the family and of love is for so many a time of unhappiness, fear and pain. And even if our experiences are not as dramatic as that, our celebration of Christmas will always be hollow if we are civil to our neighbours and savage to our nearest and dearest. If there is bitterness or division within your family, if there is conflict and estrangement between you and someone close to you, then Advent is the time for healing, for putting things right. Go on – try it and see.

Photo by Max Beck on Unsplash

The show must go on

Next year’s Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show will be a twoday event, it has been confirmed

ORGANISERS SAY EXTENDING the August gathering, which takes place at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe, will help spread costs and ‘ensure its continued success’.

The show will run on Wednesday 16 August and Thursday 17 August 2023.

It comes after a successful 2022 event, which saw more than 25,000 people enjoy the livestock parades, agricultural and countryside exhibits, equestrian events, vintage machinery and cars, live bands, parachute team, motorbike stunt displays and more.

As well as offering day out for residents and visitors, the show has become an important date in the calendar for farmers and others in the agricultural industry.

More than 85 agricultural businesses took part in 2022, with a dedicated agricultural and rural section of the show created for the first time. However, rising costs and record numbers

bring logistical challenges and Giles Simpson, show chairman, local farmer and agronomist, said extending the event made it more cost effective.

“Despite the challenges of an incredibly dry and hot summer, the show was a huge success this year on all levels,” he said.

“However, running a one-day show is a risk and bringing all of this together for a single day is costly and even more so if it rains on that day.

“We’ve done the maths and our decision to make the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show a two-day event will help us make it more costeffective and even more financially viable by spreading the running costs over two days. It will also allow us to fulfil our commitment to secure

Music at Melbury

MUSICIANS of all kinds are planning to get together regularly after the first ‘Music at Melbury’ event at Melbury Abbas and Cann village hall.

Musicians who went along included guitarists, saxophonists, a drummer, singers and pianists. The group is for musicians of all styles, ages and abilities, professional and amateur.

The next meeting is on Sunday 27 November from 2-5pm at the village hall, located at the junction of West Lane and Redmans Lane (SP7 0BX).

Budding musicians are invited to experience playing with others.

For more info phone 07926 625108 or email musicatmelbury@gmail.com

STOUR GATE – THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR LUXURY RETIREMENT LIVING IN BLANDFORD

McCarthy Stone’s forthcoming Stour Gate Retirement Living development on Barley Place in Blandford Forum is set to offer a unique brand of living for over 60s who are seeking a fulfilling and independent retirement. Construction work on the old brewery site is well under way, where, once complete, 45 luxurious one and twobedroom, luxurious, low-maintenance apartments will be available. The development will also have plenty to offer the most discerning retirees, with stylish fixtures and fittings, including top of the range built-in appliances, set to be in every apartment. A House Manager will oversee the day-to-day running of the development, with a 24-hour emergency call system providing added peace of mind. A communal lounge will host regular events, ideal for forging new friendships, and homeowners will also be able to enjoy beautifully landscaped gardens. Local retirees are now being given the exciting opportunity to find out more about the forthcoming Stour Gate development at an exclusive Discovery Day at Crown Hotel on West Street,

Blandford, which is taking place on Wednesday 30th November between 11am and 4pm. Retirees who attend the event will be able to find out more about the development, look at plans and apartment specifications, as well as discover more about the range of flexible purchasing opportunities which will be available. Local retirees can also book in to speak to the experienced sales team and ask any questions about living at Stour Gate.

For further information or to book a place at the Discovery Day, call 0800 153 3076 or visit: www. mccarthystone.co.uk/stour-gate.

0800 310 0668

The Blackmore Vale remembers the sacrifices made and honours the fallen

Around the Vale, communities paid their respects to the armed forces and those who have given their lives to defend our freedom

Members of Blandford WI have been present at the Remembrance parade in the town centre ever since the group’s revival. (Left) This year, president Vicky Watkinson laid the wreath on the group’s behalf. (Above) Vicky Watkinson, treasurer Wendy Brown and secretary Sheila Chapman pictured next to the tribute to Jack Counter who was born in Blandford and won the Victoria Cross for bravery in the First World War.

Members of the Royal British Legion were among those to pay tribute to the fallen in Shaftesbury.

(Left & below) The parade and service in Wincanton was well supported, with standing room only in the parish church and lots of townsfolk on the street to watch. The Army Air Corp, which has the Freedom of the Town, was out in force and many of the town’s youth groups were involved.

Members of the Police, firefighters and youth organisations (including the Brownies, pictured here) gathered around the war memorial in Mere for the wellattended Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

PHOTO: Sue Jeans

All Saints’ Church, Castle Cary, was the venue for a service on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November, followed by a parade to the war memorial where a two-minute silence was held. Organisations associated with Castle Cary and Ansford laid wreaths to remember those who had died from the community. Wreaths were also laid at Ansford’s war memorial.

A wreath was also handed to a ‘Poppy Train’ arranged by Great Western Railway on Armistice Day and carried to Paddington Station where it was placed on the war memorial on platform 1.

Two local military historians –Wendy Furneux and John Ball – staged a Remembrance exhibition at St John’s Church, Charlton Musgrove, as a tribute to villagers who died in the Great War. The exhibition included a dossier on each individual who died, together with contemporaneous documents and other memorabilia.

Air ambulance honours excellence

Dorset

and Somerset Air Ambulance had a successful night during a national awards event

THE AIR AMBULANCE Awards of Excellence took place on 14 November, with the Dorset and Somerset service seeing winners in two categories and highly commended in another.

national scale.

“I am incredibly humbled to receive this Doctor of the Year award,” Dr Mew said.

“I’d like to thank all of the DocBike volunteers and trustees, my colleagues on the air ambulance and at Dorset County Hospital, without whom none of the achievements recognised by this award would have been possible.”

He said: “I am overwhelmed by the number of very kind messages of congratulations after receiving this award.

“I love fixing helicopters and feel proud to play my part in helping to save lives.”

Dr Ian Mew was named Doctor of the Year. An intensive care and anaesthesia consultant and an air ambulance doctor, Dr Mew has worked with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance for nine years.

He has been instrumental in transforming care that is provided to patients across the South West, and has hugely contributed to the development of injury prevention campaigns locally, regionally and on a

Busby, who has been the charity’s aircraft maintenance engineer for the past eight years, was a winner in the Operations Support Staff of the Year category for his dedication to his role.

Elsewhere, Pete Appleby was highly commended in the Critical Care Practitioner of the Year category.

Pete said: “I want to say thank you to all my colleagues and friends at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and beyond.” For more about Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance log on to www.dsairambulance. org.uk.

Campaign to cut emissions

Motcombe Primary School spearheads a community campaign to tackle vehicle idling in the village

THE SCHOOL AND local residents are concerned about emission rates, particularly at peak times at the beginning and end of the school day.

And to raise awareness this month they have been handing out information, holding an assembly and displaying a banner at the centre of the village, to encourage people to turn off their engines.

Headteacher Matt Barge said: “We’re hoping that by highlighting the issues this causes they will think again.”

Parish councillor Many Mason added: “The campaign is all about informing people of the negative consequences of leaving a car idling, especially outside school.

“We enlisted the children to let parents and carers know things such as letting your car idle for only one minute each day on the

school run generates enough harmful

“As

What do you know about Dorset’s orchards and apples?

Many of our old orchards have faded away, and with them their rich mix of local varieties and a long bank of knowledge of how to use them – especially in making cider

DO THE NAMES Neverblight, Buttery d’Or, Ironsides, Golden Ball, Maidens Blushes or Golden Knap ring a bell?

After researching cider apples for much of her life, Liz Copas joined with West Milton cider maker Nick Poole and they spent a decade sleuthing around old garden fruits, hedgelines and remnant orchards. Along the way they have rediscovered myriad varieties, and a rich history of the evolution of orchards and cider here. Was it French monks who brought cider making to south Dorset? By the end of the eighteenth century perhaps 10,000 acres of orchards existed across the county. In The Woodlanders Thomas Hardy talks of the distinction between bittersweets and John apples (those for the kitchen). Maps at the start of the twentieth century show almost every settlement surrounded by orchards.

Undervalued and perceived as ‘in the way’, many were removed after the 1940s, along with the wild creatures they supported.

Even as late as the 1980s orchards were not seen as assets, yet the loss of an orchard of tall trees means a loss of ecological diversity, community knowledge and the intricacy of local distinctiveness.

Thanks to the work of Liz and Nick, the found apples of Dorset are being propagated in Melplash Linden Lea mother orchard and spread again across the county. In time, every village could be home to Dorset apples.

Shaftesbury Tree Group and Planet Shaftesbury have invited Liz Copas to give an illustrated talk on The Lost Orchards of Dorset, at 7.30pm Thursday 8 December at Shaftesbury Town Hall. The event is free; visit www.planetshaftesbury.org

New Organiser for County Show

The Dorchester Agricultural Society, organisers of the Dorset County Show are pleased to announce the appointment of James Cox to the role of Show Secretary, tasked with organising the annual twoday County Show. James joins the Society with a background of agriculture and event management from the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show and previously, the Royal Bath & West Show. James’ family are strong supporters of the Dorset County Show with James contributing as a volunteer as early as just 13 years old.

James said “I am honoured to take up the task of putting together the County Show, and associated Events within the brand. There are lots of thrilling plans in motion for the 2023 County Show on the 2nd& 3rd September. We are determined to see the Show return on a high, being a showcase for Dorset rural life, both Agriculture and Countryside while offering a packed weekend to Visitors. The countdown is truly on”.

James succeeds William Hyde, who has returned to full time farming after a very successful six years with the Society. His contribution, both before Covid and making the adjustments to enable activities to continue since, have been greatly appreciated by the Society.

The Society has a full programme of Events scheduled for 2023 including a Tractor Run, Ploughing Match and the return of the Dorset Winter Show, with the highlight of course being the Dorset County Show. The 2023 Show will welcome a range of new features across the Showground accompanying a line up of Main Ring attractions and educational farming in the Fabulous Food & Farming Area. There will also be the return of competitions in Livestock, Horticulture, Equestrian and Homecraft. Craftsmen, delicious foods and local businesses to meet with local consumers and customers, existing and new as we come together for a celebration of Dorset!

Mrs Nicki Ralph, Chair of the Society, says ‘The Society welcomes James to his new role; he has considerable experience in the Show world and we look forward to a busy and enjoyable year.

We have an excellent team with James and Lisa, supported by our tremendous team of volunteers’.

The Society is currently recruiting an Assistant Show Secretary while the Show moves into an exciting new era.

Photograph: James Cox, new Organiser of the Dorset County Show

Church

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

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

• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holy Communion.

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

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

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

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

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

• Blandford Methodist Church: Sunday services at 10.45am followed by refreshments. Thursdays: coffee and chat with refreshments from 10am-noon. This is a ‘warm space’ for those wanting to reduce their energy bills for a morning. Fridays: Lunch club for over-55s from noon. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505 543 to book a meal – price £5. The Salvation Army holds its carol concert at the church on Sunday 4 December at 3pm. The church is anxious to offer help to those in need – call steward John Cornish on 07799 516 735. If leaving a message state name and contact details.

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

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

• Warm space: Cheap Street Church, Sherborne, will provide a warm and welcoming space with hot drinks, cakes, soup and rolls plus activities such as jigsaws and knitting on Thursdays up to 14 December, 10am-3pm. To volunteer to help in the kitchen, provide food or just sit and chat to visitors, contact Penny at pennylgardner@gmail.com

• West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church, BA22 7QB. Sunday 27 November, service at

3pm. A warm welcome to all. Phone 01935 850838 or email Geoff.mead@yahoo.com

• Lower Stour Benefice: Sunday 27 November – 9.30am Morning Worship – Spetisbury; 9.30am Communion – Charlton Marshall; 11am Communion –Langton Long; 11am BCP Communion – Tarrant Rushton.

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

• Christmas Tree Festival: Back again after Covid-19, hosted by Cheap Street Church, Sherborne, and organised by Sherborne Churches Together. A tree has been allocated and individuals are needed to help make the decorations. Contact Shirley Fry on 01935 389124 or the parish office on 01935 713777.

• St Mary’s Church, Charminster (DT2 9RD): Christmas tree festival 9-11 December. Opening times: Friday 9 December 3-6pm, Saturday 10 December 11am4pm, Sunday December 11 2-5pm. 5pm Sunday carols around the trees with mulled wine and mince pies. Light refreshments throughout plus Christmas gifts and Fairtrade stalls. Admission £3 (children free). Website https://stmaryscharminster.org.uk

• Longburton Village Cafe: Held in the village church of St James, the cafe provides tea, coffee – free refills – and great cakes, for just £1.50 and will be open on Tuesdays 29 November and 13 December from 10.30am-noon.

• Sherborne Good Neighbours: Annual meeting on Tuesday 29 November, noon-1.30pm at the Roman Catholic Church Hall, Westbury. To find out more about volunteering with Good Neighbours are welcome. Most requests are for transport to surgeries or local hospitals

but new drivers and volunteers prepared to visit and check on the housebound and help with shopping would be welcomed. If you can spare an hour occasionally contact chairman Mike Hatch on 01935 815806 or at m.hatch1471@btinternet. com

• Mothers’ Union: Next meeting on Friday 25 November in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall, Sherborne, 10am for 10.30am start.

• SCT Christmas Day lunch: Digby Memorial Church Hall, Sherborne, from 12.30-3pm primarily for anyone without family at Christmas. Traditional lunch – vegetarian option – no charge. To join in and/or volunteer fill in the form(s) at the parish office.

• St Leonard’s, Semley: Sunday 27 November, 6pm, Advent carol service – Hope for Dark Times.

• St Bartholomew’s Benefice: A warm place and a warm welcome at community cafes held every month – first Tuesday – St Andrew’s, Donhead St Andrew; second Tuesday – St John’s, Charlton; fourth Tuesday – St Mary’s, East Knoyle. Everyone is welcome 10.30am-noon.

• Holnest Church: The church (DT9 5PU) welcomes Stanchester Quire on 9 December at 7pm for a Christmas concert by candlelight. Free admission with donations welcome. Limited seating available –book on 01963 210632.

• St Mary’s Stalbridge: 27 November – Holy Communion 9.30am; 4 December – Informal Worship 9.30am; 11 December – Holy Communion 9.30am.

• Colehill Methodist Church: Members are collecting food to make up Christmas parcels for Blandford Food Bank but will be taking a break on Saturday morning, December 3, to welcome visitors for their Christmas coffee morning. Tea, coffee and the always-popular home-made cakes will be on offer at the Lonnen Road church from 10-11.30am..

BOXED SET 10 LEAD SOLDIERS. York and Lancaster Regiment. £50. 01747 840835

3 6FT CABINETS for workshop/garage. All 3 have twin doors & grey. £50. 01258 920565

42-PIECE BEAD NEW STAINLESS STEEL CUTLERY SET £25 Branksome Pottery handpainted 16-piece coffee set with plates, creamer & bowel £30 - 01202 892179

5

WORKING ELECTRIC

HEATERS 3 oil filled, 1 convector & 1 tubular £50. Ring Philip 01747 811806

CLASSIC NEW-MARKET

HORSE RUG. Unused £45. New Saddle-rack & schooling whip. Offers. 01747 830544

REPRODUCTION CASTIRON FIREBACK (from Kingsworthy Foundry)

Height-25 inches Width-33 inches £50 - 01963251386

PARROT CAGE 4 feet long x 5 feet high x 30 inches wide. Electric reclining chair & XXL microwave Tel 01747 841088 – 07855 820332. FREE.

LOVELY CLASSICAL GUITAR , fully strung ready to play , excellent condition, Lorenzo £30 ono 01747 822422

INSINKERATOR AIR SWITCH - new & in original packing £18. 01747 840908

5 STACKING TABLES £50. 01258 472425

MEN’S PAINTBALL Flatjacket & helmet. £45 ono. 01747 853913

ANTIQUE (1930’s) WALKER & HALL 3 LARGE SILVER PLATED SERVERS in silk lined presentation case. Unused £45. 01935 851076

ENGLISH QUEST FAMILY BOARD GAME Educational and fun BRAND NEW SEALED Ideal Christmas present - £15 01935 851076

CHILD’S MOUNTAIN BIKE for sale, 13 inch frame,£45 Ono. 07791 916017

PINE DOUBLE HEADBOARD - £8 Fire / Spit guard - £8 New ladies dressing gown, purple, medium - £10 Dress suit men’s, 44 inches long, trousers W33L - £15 01258 452703

LARGE DARK BROWN LEATHER SOFA, good condition. £50. 01258 454689.

SILVER PLATE 3 TIER CAKE STAND with pierced trays + cake slice £15 Vintage nutcracker/wood bowl with tractor spares ltd logo £10 - 01747 835680

CROQUET SET, in original wood box (50 + years old) complete with instructions on how to play. £30. 07731 843743

BREVILLE HALO HOUSE FRYER Never used £50 0147 826209

WHITE METAL BUNKBED with brand new mattresses -£50 ono. Dining-room sideboard, 3 shelf, glass top, dark wood -£15 ono 01935 428219

HICACHI CD PLAYER with radio compact with 2 speakers, VGC £50 01202 887173

MAGICOZY FLEECE BLANKET, brand new, still boxed. £15. Copper Quick Cooker, ideal for omelettes & pancakes. Used Once £15. 07843 725938

MODEL AX-110. User guide included. Sherborne area. £50. 01935 812456

MOBILITY SCOOTER, Silver Pride Colt Pursuit, excellent condition, new cost £3,680, selling for £1,000 ono 01258880724

GEORGE 3RD MAHOGANY

BUREAU: Draw fronts and drop flap with cross - banded edging, ditto interior drawers, with central motif on flap and interior. Possibly best you will find. £300 ono. Call 07731 843743

MRD-166 MUSIC CENTRE with dual external speakersturntable/radio/cassette and USB/SD slot - as new - £150 (buyer collects) 01747 853144

MANS E BIKE. As new £700 ono. 07933 633424

CASIOTONE CT/610 Electronic Piano. £200. 01747 840835

ELECTRIC RISER RECLINER tip-up armchair, excellent condition, beige, hardly used, cost new £1,386 can deliver £350 ono Tel: 01202 571839

MAXI COLD 150 LITRE COOL BOX. £130. 2 Larder fridges £40 each. Rice Trailer converted to sell milkshakes - good condition. £1750 ono. 01258 472425

Items for Sale

MEN’S EVENING SUIT. Waist 36 inches. VGC £20. 01202 677607

SOFA BED Good condition large size. Light brown cord material. Can deliver locally to Shaftsbury. £50.00. Tel 07517 990156 or 01747 228305

LLADRO PORCELAIN Large collection with different pieces - all offers considered. 07850 999899

ADJUSTABLE MOBILITY BED / single / as new / headboard / mattress £1200 ono 01747 861776

EDWARDIAN SALOON SUITE. Settee/armchairs/6 dinning chairs/piano stool/ table. £375.00 ono 01458 241771

SOLID WOOD PEDESTAL DINING TABLE & 4 upholstered chairs. Medium oak oval extending table 1150mm x 900 mm. Excellent condition. £285. 01747 860074

WANTED

WANTED - Bowling woods size 00 for lady member of local Bowling Club. Will pay up to £30 if in good condition with carry case. Tel: 01747 851796

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

ROUND PINE TABLE, 3ft diameter £10 01963 350118

PANASONIC CAMCORDER with carry case and original box with instructions. excellent condition. 01747 825104 £50. FREE NEARLY NEW CHUNKY SOLID SOFA BED 01258 920618

NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. Over 50 free to collect. Tel 01980 621111

HALFORDS 460LTR LOCKABLE CAR ROOF BOX. £30. 07988 421614

FLUTE for sale in velvet lined carry case vgc suitable beginner or second instrument. Overhauled since last used £45 ovno. Tel 01258 628121

GYM FORM SLIM FOLD TREADMILL As new, buyer collects £85 01747 870803

BATH CHAIR WITH REMOTE CONTROL (bathmaster delfis) VGC £65 01963 363712

CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL. Chestnut. NEW. Bargain. £125. Ideal Christmas present. 07906 951819

How my dog walk went badly wrong

EARLIER this month I was enjoying an afternoon stroll along the River Stour near Fiddleford Mill. It’s a walk I do regularly and my well-behaved Jack Russell knows the terrain well. She swims in places where she knows she can get out of –never in the main river. Surprisingly, for such a lovely day there weren’t many people about – I spotted a fisherman and one other dog walker.

I had been walking about half an hour and Daisy had been chasing a ball. Then in the blink of an eye the whole situation changed. Somehow the dog chased the ball into the river. I walked to the bank and suddenly realised there was a problem. The bank was steep, narrow, muddy and slippery. Daisy had gone down the bank – about 6 feet – slipped in and was trying to retrieve the ball, but her collar had caught on a branch under the water and she was being dragged down. I had to act quickly otherwise she was going to drown. I looked around to see if anyone was about – no-one. I had to go into the river to save her.

Fully clothed and with wellies on I went in up to my neck. I grabbed Daisy and pushed her up the bank and she scrambled back up to safety. But I soon realised I had put myself in a dangerous situation. I couldn’t touch the bottom of the river – I later learned it was about 12 feet deep underneath me. The sides were vertical and it was almost impossible to wedge my wellies into the mud. Tree branches, weed and debris were under the surface. Luckily, there was a secure tree root on the bank I was able to grab hold of.

My phone was in my pocket and I quickly retrieved it realising I should have left it on the bank before I went in. It was soaking wet. I tried to get out but there was no way it was going to happen without help. I shouted for about ten minutes

with no luck and then knew I had to ring 999. Would the phone work? Was there any signal?

Thank goodness it worked. I was put through to the fire and rescue service and the reassuring call handler stayed on the line with me. Then above me I saw a face on the bank. It was the fisherman I had spotted earlier. He had seen Daisy running about but no owner so he went to investigate. I felt a huge sense of relief at seeing another person – Mark the fisherman – and having the fire and rescue call handler on the line.

By this time, I had been in the water about 20 minutes. Mark tried to get me out but it was going to put him at risk so we waited for the rescue crew.

We soon heard sirens but it was about 20 minutes before they got to me because it was hard to give accurate directions – a dog walker had seen the situation and we had asked him to direct the rescue crew to the right spot.

After about 45 minutes in the river, with the fantastic help of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – Sturminster and Blandford crews – I was out of the water in no time.

With the help of family, Daisy and I got home, and warmed up.

I would like to thank the fire and rescue service, particularly the Sturminster crew, the 999-call handler, Mark, the unknown dog walker and my family.

A lot of people and resources were involved in my ‘rescue’ – about 20 people – and I know the outcome could have been very different if my phone hadn’t worked, if it had been later in the day, if it had been colder.

I have now downloaded an app called ‘what3words’ which makes it easier for rescue services to find you quickly if something happens – check it out. I walk with my phone fully

charged and secure in a waterproof zip-lock bag, and I won’t be playing ball with Daisy near any water!

It was scary and just goes to show that even on the loveliest days things can go wrong extremely fast. A big shout out to our brilliant rescue services! They even phoned me at home later to check I was okay.

Carly Hall Stalbridge

READING Revd Colin Marsh’s letter (New Blackmore Vale, 11 November), one has mixed feelings about ‘growth’.

Nothing can go on growing forever but people have been saying that about the economy since Robert Malthus predicted in 1798 that food production

could not keep up with population growth.

It is a bold commentator who will predict how far economic growth can or cannot go. But an organism which ceases to grow will generally decline and die.

We know we have growing demands on some parts of our public life, and in the medium term they can only be funded if we have some measure of economic growth.

Revd Marsh asks why we have ‘the length of queues at food banks’.

The first answer is that we have people sufficiently well-off to give to food banks. Wealth does indeed trickle down. And we no longer have the abject poverty which existed 100 years ago – at least in this country.

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall – justsocaricatures.co.uk

So, the essential question is: ‘What growth?’

We would want to see growth, for example, in medical research and provision, but perhaps not in holiday travel or hospitality which basically burn resources to no physical benefit.

We would want greater efficiency but on what would we use the resources released by efficiency?

If we want efficient use of resources, one should perhaps look to doing without that expensive cup of coffee or more toys at Christmas for children who have plenty already.

Mike Keatinge Sherborne

WITH respect, I do not need a lecture from the Revd Marsh on the hardships of the modern world (New Blackmore Vale, October 28) when many of these countries do not support their own populations and yet finance space research and nuclear weapons.

I grew up in a council prefab with rationing, including coal and sweets, until 1952 and did not see a banana until I was nine. We just got on with things. Overseas aid is often totally misdirected and I have experience of this.

He is right about outsourcing our emissions and this shows the hypocrisy of this country. The Greens and ‘woke’ brigade should be concentrating their effort and pressure on these countries – not only China and India but Germany and Australia etc.

The ridiculous cutback on energy sources at our disposal and total lack of reserves accentuates our vulnerability.

I don’t believe either Simon Hoare nor Jit Davies are seismologists but base their fracking ban alliance on nothing but scaremongering.

As to Jit Davies’ arrogant assumption that I am a member of the Conservative Party, nothing could be further from the truth.

And I certainly wouldn’t vote for the party of Mr Hoare and PM Sunak.

Search on for panel makers of the past

THIS embroidered panel was displayed on the wall in Blandford Town Council’s offices for many years before office refurbishment made it impossible to find a space big enough to accommodate it.

It was then moved to the town museum to be stored. When the frame was removed to fit it in the archives, a piece of paper was found pasted to the back saying the panel had been made and presented to the then borough council by Blandford WI in 1972.

Blandford Evening WI is researching records to try to find out who was involved in the panel’s construction. Searches at the County History Centre have revealed the panel was made for a National WI competition called ‘Green and Pleasant Land’ and that it won first prize before

Mr Hoare would not come clean on his Brexit intentions as he knew it would cost him votes in a constituency that voted 57 per cent Leave.

Resigning a peerage to run as an MP is totally legitimate and has precedence.

May I suggest the Revd Marsh, as a self-confessed ‘woke’, explains to Jit Davies what that is. I can’t think of a suitable quotation to embrace.

Jeremy Bloomfield East Stour, Gillingham

THE Yeovil Phoenix Bridge Club, having established itself this summer at Yeovil Golf Club, must now move to pastures new.

Construction work at the golf club means our bridge room will no longer no available and we will start afresh at Trent Memorial Hall (DT9 4SW) just a mile or two away – more details can be found on the Trent Memorial Hall website.

Our first day in Trent was set to be Thursday, November 24 and thereafter each Thursday at 2pm – as little change as possible to a time and place that has proved most satisfactory these past seven months.

We leave the golf club with sadness as our facilities there have proved popular and our

being displayed at the Ideal Home Exhibition.

On return to Blandford, it was presented to the borough council on May 16, 1972.

Blandford Evening WI would be grateful if anyone who can remember the panel being made – by themselves, family members, friends or neighbours – to contact us. The search is on for the names of these industrious, talented ladies who produced such an outstanding piece of social history. Any information can be left on Blandford Evening WI’s Facebook page or with the secretary on 01248 269294.

Sheila Chapman Via email

reception enabled us to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

We trust our regular playing members will continue to support us and are confident Yeovil Phoenix will remain somewhere where bridge

players of all standards can find an enjoyable game.

In particular, our assisted play section which has proved most popular will continue and the good news is there is now plenty of room for the club to grow and expand.

Events

CHRISTMAS BIZARRE Sat 10 Dec 10:30am – non, Frog Hole Farm, Gore Common SP7 0PZ. Gifts, cakes, Christmas treats, raffles, refreshments. Proceeds to: The Orchards with Margaret Marsh Churches.

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS FAIR Donhead St Mary Village Hall, SP7 9DQ

10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday 3rd 10.00am to 3.00pm - Sunday 4th December

CHRISTMAS MARKET FOR TEDDY 20 AT ENFORD FARM SHOP 10 December

In aid of childhood cancer Teddy20 Sleigh 10-4 Santa sleigh arriving for photos 12:30 onwards 20+ market stalls our own lamb hog roast and burgers and Christmas trees on sale too

AMBASSADOR’S BIG BAND

Mayor’s charity concert Corn Exchange, Blandford Saturday 10th December 7:30-10pm Tickets 01258 453955

DORSET FOOD & DRINK

CHRISTMAS FAIR Athelhampton

House Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 November 10am-3pm Book via www.athelhampton.com

FOLC CHRISTMAS TREE

FESTIVAL - enjoy the festive sparkle at Leigh Church, Leigh on Mendip on 10 and 11 December, 11.00am-4.00pm

NTSDA 6th December 2.30pm “A Christmas Invitation” by Tim Laycock. St Aldhelms Church Centre, Weymouth, DT3 5EW. Members £3 non-members £4

CHRISTMAS BINGO. Royal British Legion Shaftesbury and District Branch. Friday 25th November 2022 at the British Legion Hall, Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. There will be prizes and a Christmas raffle. Light refreshments available. Doors open 6.45 - Eyes Down 7.30p.m. ALL PROCEEDS TO THE POPPY APPEAL.

STURMINSTER CHORAL SOCIETY with Palida Choir

Benjamin Britten A Ceremony of Carols with sacred and secular Christmas music. Saturday 10th December 7:30pm St Mary’s Church. Sturminster Newton Tickets £10 (including refreshments) on the door; enquiries 01258 820755

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS FOOD AND CRAFT FAIR, Sunday 27th November at Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Gillingham, SP8 4HX, from 10-4. A brilliant family day, with over 60 handmade stalls, choirs, Children’s play area and Father Christmas. FREE ENTRY

LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull

Royal British Legion on Monday November 28th. Eyes down 7pm

CHRISTMAS FAIR STOUR PROVOST VILLAGE HALL Saturday 26th November 11am-2pm

STURMINSTER AND HINTON CC

Grand Christmas Bingo. Wednesday 30th November at the Exchange Sturminster Newton Doors open 6pm eyes down 7.15pm.

blackmorevale.net

SIXPENNY HANDLEY CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR & TEAS Village Hall, Common Road SP5 5NJ. Saturday 3 December, 10am - 2pm, Free entry. Information: 6dhandleyhall@gmail.com

SHAFTESBURY LIBRARY has plenty of activities for children during this coming “Festive Season”. Our programme of events begins on Saturday 26th November with Father Christmas Advent Calendar making from 10.30 – 11.30am. There is no need to book and the event is absolutely free. Come and join the festive fun!

START YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH THE STANCHESTER

QUIRE! Start your 2022 Christmas at a STANCHESTER QUIRE Christmas Carol Concert! We will be at Leigh, Thorncombe, Holnest and Sherborne in Dorset, East Chinnock, Bower Hinton and South Petherton in Somerset. For further details please visit our website www.stanchesterquire. org or email stanchesterquire1@ gmail.com or philwithsweets@ hotmail.com or phone Bonnie on 01935 822287

We look forward to entertaining you!

Advertising Feature

Blandford Fashion Museum

Did you know during Bath Fashion Museum’s temporary closure to move to new premises Blandford’s fashion museum will be the South West’s only dedicated fashion museum – and it’s here in Dorset!

Known in the fashion world as a “hidden gem” the museum showcases original historical costume from the late 1700s to 1980s. On current

display you can find all sorts of artefacts from bloomers, crinolines and gorgeous 1950s evening gowns (and for those in the know – a stunning Regency pelisse!).

Although we close for the 2022 season at the end of November the Museum has a celebration day on Saturday 26th November with free entry to all.

Come and see for yourself, we can guarantee a warm welcome from our volunteers plus a free mince pie, with every drink purchased, in our traditional tea room and we can promise you will want to come back.

blackmorevale.net

CHRISTMAS BINGO

Pulham Village Hall

DT2 70Z Sunday 4th December

Eyes down 7:30pm

GARAGE SALE 26th November

at 10am - 9 Alder Close Sturminster Newton, DT10 1AJ For Cancer Research UK

CHRISTMAS ROUND THE WORLD Gillingham Singers concert of carols from near and far. 3rd December 7:30pm St. Mary’s Church, High Street, Gillingham, SP8 4AW Tickets £10, free to children

WINCANTON & DISTRICT GARDENERS Assn Coffee

Morning. Saturday 26th November 10am - 12noon Memorial Hall Sun Lounge Everyone is Welcome

REPAIR CAFE Dorchester

SANTA’S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EVENING Saturday 26th November - Wincanton Community Hospital 4pm-8:30pm BBQ, St

CHRISTMAS STALLS with coffee at Village Hall, Lydlinch. Saturday 3rd December 10am-1pm. Entry £3 including coffee and mince pie. In aid of the Church.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

Fontmell Magna Village Hall Saturday 10th December 10am to 2.30pm. Local artisan and craft stalls. Free Entry

THE LIVE WELL DORSET TEAM is coming to Shaftesbury Library Thursday 1 December 9.30am – 1.30pm. Discover how small changes can make a big difference! Free event.

CUPPA AND COMPANY will be taking place every Monday and Thursday between 10:3011:30am in Shaftesbury Library. If you would like to come along for a chat and a brew, just pop in. We would love to see you. There is no charge for this event.

SALVATION ARMY CAROL CONCERT Sunday 4th December - 3pm Blandford Methodist Church, DT11 7HA Free Entry Badgers Velvet Underground 30 Designers & Makers Selling beautiful gifts in one venue Fashion * Beauty * Interiors Jewellery * Homewares * Art Ceramics * Food * Wine Find the perfect Christmas present

Sounds of a songwriting legend

THE music of Simon & Garfunkel is coming to Shaftesbury Arts Centre next weekend with the Sounds of Simon.

The two-hour show covers all Simon & Garfunkel and Paul Simon’s hits over a 30-year period, starting with The Sound of Silence, released in 1965, through to Simon’s experiments with world music from Graceland and beyond.

The performance is accompanied by archive footage of Simon and Garfunkel, allowing the stars to tell their own story.

Ben Bowden and Adam Ellis, who play the duo on stage, recently released their new live album, American Tunes. Adam enjoys the challenge of playing the songs.

over 30 years,” he said. “The evening will show how a songwriter practises and develops his craft.”

Ben recently featured on BBC’s The One Show, performing as Paul Simon and talking about the songwriter’s visit to England in 1965. It was on this trip that Simon reputedly wrote his hit Homeward Bound.

The Sounds of Simon are celebrating their 15th year of touring but this will be the band’s first appearance in Shaftesbury. “It’s great to come to new places and make old friends,” said Ben.

Tickets for the new show, Old Friends Together and Apart, on Saturday December

Casting call for community choirs

THE West End cast of Back to Bacharach are searching for a local community choir to join them on stage at The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, in the new year.

Back to Bacharach perform the songs of Burt Bacharach,

who is behind one of the greatest American songbooks of the 20th century and a legend of popular music. He has won six Grammy Awards and three Academy awards with more than 70 top 40 hits in the USA

and 50-plus top 40 hits in the UK.

To apply to join the West End cast of Back to Bacharach submit up to a two-minute video of the community choir with up to ten singers

performing That’s What Friends Are For and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

The closing date to submit videos is Friday 16 December – forward video links in the first instance to info@

“It’s great to take a songwriter as brilliant as Paul Simon and then track his development

The Sounds of Simon will be playing Simon & Garfunkel’s and Paul Simon’s hits

Familiar faces in panto

PANTO season will soon arrive at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil with what promises to be one of the most fun-filled pantomimes seen at the theatre in recent years – Dick Whittington.

Once again, the production will be written by Paul Hendy and produced by Evolution Productions – the same creative collaboration celebrating ten years with the theatre.

Familiar faces are being welcomed back with the brilliantly funny Jack Glanville, Thom Bradford, Kathryn Nash and Gordon Cooper set to tread the boards at The Octagon. Jack

and Gordon are well known at the theatre; Thom and Kathryn were both in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Nurse Nellie Saves Panto, so will be familiar faces to some.

This year the theatre welcomes to the stage for the first time the delightful Javana Forrest playing Alice and the dashing Daniel Parkinson playing Dick Whittington. Completing the principal cast is locally-born James Bamford who is Tommy the Cat.

Tickets start at £16 with family saver offers for some performances. The theatre is

staging 42 shows, which are selling out fast, some having already sold out.

Arts & Entertainment Pianist’s festive concert

Martin Hacker, marketing manager for The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, said: “We are really excited to welcome Evolution Productions back for its tenth production here at The Octagon this year and we expect it to be the best yet.”

Dick Whittington runs from Friday 9 December with the last show on Sunday 1 January 2023. Tickets can be purchased online at www.octagon-theatre. co.uk, by calling the box office

Game of Thrones star in Chekhov

CHEKHOV’S play The Seagull will be screened at Shaftesbury Arts Centre this weekend as part of the National Theatre Live programme.

The new production stars Emilia Clarke, best known as Daernerys Targaryen, the Dragon Queen, in Game of Thrones, who gives a fragile, almost childlike turn as Nina in her first West End performance.

The play is directed by Jamie Lloyd, soon after his hugely successful production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

Other standout performances include Daniel Monks as the tortured and

failed playwright Konstantin, and by Indira Varma, who plays his successful actress mother Arkadina. Her cunning and layered performance leaves the audience disgusted yet intrigued simultaneously.

Tensions boil over between Arkadina’s friends and

family, gathered in a dizzyingly hot Russian country house by a lake, as they discuss their failed ambitions and doomed desires for love.

The play is being screened on Sunday 27 November. Tickets priced £10 are available from Shaftesbury Arts Centre on 01747 854321 or visit www.shaftesburyarts centre.org.uk

PROFESSIONAL classical concert pianist Alex Wilson will be bringing the spirit of Christmas to St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury, in the run up to the festive season.

He has sourced piano works written by composers across Europe, telling Christmas traditions and stories from different countries.

The concert will include a carol sung by Sussex ‘mummers’, Romanian songs from the pagan winter solstice and a retelling of the Christmas story using traditional French carols.

Alex will also perform a Ukrainian shchedrivka, a New Year song that tells the story of a swallow flying into a household to sing of the wealth and happiness that will come with the spring.

The concert is on Friday December 9 at 7.30pm with tickets sold on a a ‘pay-whatyou-feel’ basis –with a suggested donation £10. Tickets are available on the door or at www.alexwilsonpianist.com

Emilia Clarke is in the National Theatre’s production of Chekhov’s The Seagull

1,500 jobs may go at troubled Joules

CLOTHING store Joules is heading for administration.

The chain, which has stores in Dorchester and Sherborne, said it plans to appoint administrators – putting more than 1,500 jobs at risk.

The move comes after the brand, based in Leicestershire, said rescue talks with potential investors failed to secure extra funds to keep the company

afloat. Retailer Next, which this month bought the made.com furniture retailer brand, had been in talks over Joules over the summer but failed to reach an agreement.

Plans for administration come after the company this month revealed disappointing trading figures, due in part to warmer-than-expected weather in the UK.

Joules was established in 1977 by Ian Joule, selling clothing and accessories at

equestrian and country shows. But after the firm was taken over by Tom Joule in 1989, the

Last call for town’s business awards

TIME is running out to enter or nominate a business in the Shaftesbury Business Awards.

The awards, launched in late September, aim to promote the range and quality of local firms.

judging will take place online. Nigel Reeve, of organisers MW Events, said: “Local businesses and SMEs help drive the economy in this country. Large or small, they are the backbone of the UK economy driving recovery and prosperity. Until recently business awards focused on larger-sized

businesses and covered large geographical areas. These are different. The focus is on local businesses.”

Entries close at 2pm on Monday 28 November, and the awards ceremony is at lunchtime on Thursday 26 January at the Grosvenor Arms Hotel in Shaftesbury.

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Joules in Sherborne – the company has another shop in Dorchester

PHOTO: Google

‘Reaching retirement age is not an ending, it’s the start of a new chapter in life.’

An exercise in smoke and mirrors

ON first glance, the budget –AKA Autumn Statement –wasn’t as bad as many people feared.

As I wrote in my previous column, the Government scares us all through threatening to sacrifice sacred cows like the triple lock on pensions or Sizewell C, but in the event deploys an intricate set of smoke and mirrors to hide the real pain.

On income, while the 20 per cent and 40 per cent headline rates may have not been increased, the thresholds at which people start paying them have been frozen in cash terms.

Yes, I know Gordon Brown used similar ‘stealth tax’ raises but, under him, people’s incomes and our public services were indisputably in a better state.

Conversely, with this Conservative government, we are all poorer. We are set to

experience the largest fall in disposable income since the late 1940s. The UK is the only country with an economy smaller than before Covid-19. Despite the rhetoric of a ‘recession made in Russia’, the fact is other G7 nations who are more dependent on imported

Russian gas are still doing better than the UK.

On public spending, the Government has broken its commitment in its 2019 manifesto and will run a budget deficit for day-to-day spending – rather than only borrowing for capital investment. It’s also shunted the bulk of spending cuts to – you guessed it! – after the next election.

The Autumn Statement wasn’t good news for local authorities either. A 5 per cent tax rise in Dorset seems inevitable, especially since Dorset receives no central government funding. While the reduction in business rates for small retailers confirmed in the Autumn Statement is welcome, that will also – unless I am misunderstanding something –reduce the amount of business rates Dorset gets to keep as its share. So expect a further squeeze on local authority

delivered public services.

Expect more of what Dorset Council is trying to do on library services. As Shaftesbury town councillor Andy Hollingshead has pointed out, its consultation on library opening hours doesn’t even allow you to say you want the library to open the same times as it does currently. Instead, you’re presented with a cut of 25-50 per cent in opening hours, and you can merely tick a box for when it remains open.

Finally, a little announcement. I have taken up a different job that requires me to be rather more circumspect politically. Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on your view – this means I won’t be able to write a column on national or party political issues anymore.

So, most of the Labour columns will be written by Alan Cross going forward. Thanks

It looks like a long, hard road ahead

THAT Autumn Statement warrants a word or two.

Whether or not it is necessary medicine, the casualties will be ordinary people in ordinary households suffering higher energy bills, higher Council Tax, higher mortgages and paying more tax because of frozen allowances – for years and years to come.

Add to this for many, worry about the costs of becoming old or less able, and concern that education and the NHS still need to catch up. What, pray, do we get for all this money we are paying over? Answer: less than nothing. Literally, less than nothing.

Next year we will all be seven per cent worse off and the services we receive are certain to be diminished in the future.

Liberal Democrats fought long and hard to raise tax allowances as the best way to protect the least well-off. We

now face the ludicrous position whereby someone on the new state pension is likely to be paying tax on it before the allowances rise again.

It is utterly underwhelming that while so many will see their mortgages rise steeply, banking bonuses and non-dom tax

breaks remain untouched, and the windfall tax measures stay relatively soft.

That JFK line “don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” has been rattling around in my head.

Even if we are in somewhat of a hole, I believe we should at least be positive and show willing. The follow-up question, therefore, is what is the bit that we can do, how can we in Dorset contribute to improving the nation’s productivity?

Perhaps by being in the active workforce longer –apprenticeship rather than non-vocational degrees and not retiring too early. We can retrain. The green economy is crying out for people to fit/refit green solutions. We can all enhance our digital skills. The CBI says that two-thirds of firms have digital skills vacancies.

Employers can take training more seriously – too many firms opt to recruit new talent rather than train internally. We can ask our schools to provide their charges with more insight into employment opportunities as well as further education. We can also volunteer to help coach or train once we have taken that retirement, perhaps even before.

It is tempting to follow the Elon Musk lead and suggest we could all work harder but that is not the issue. As always, the answer is working smarter. That applies to Prime Ministers and Chancellors just as much as to the people of Dorset.

Let us now see some properly integrated strategy, such as a meaningful manpower plan for the NHS, such as an integrated plan for renewables across all technologies to meet our zero-carbon obligations and to wean ourselves off fossil fuel dependency.

Mike Chapman on behalf of Liberal Democrats across the Blackmore Vale

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

Positive step on pumps petrol pricing

THE last two weeks have been busy in the House of Commons. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 9 November, I asked the Prime Minister to help take action with supermarket fuel chains like Morrisons charging a premium at their Bridport store, significantly higher than their other stores outside of West Dorset.

Since I brought this up, many people have been in touch to share that they have had similar experience. Including considerable differences between Morrison’s Bridport, Weymouth, Yeovil and Wincanton stores – sometimes up to 20p a litre! Considerable price differences between Tesco in Dorchester, Yeovil, Blandford and Poole, too.

The Prime Minister confirmed that he had instigated

a review by the Competition and Markets Authority into the fuel market to help address my concerns. A great step in the right direction and I’m looking forward to meeting him about that shortly.

That same day, the House of Commons also hosted a debate on levelling up rural Britain, in which I spoke of the need to address rural disparities and for a rural taskforce to address some of the issues I raised in my speech.

I spoke of the unfairness of young people in West Dorset having to pay to get to their sixth-form school or college, whereas young people in big cities do not have to shoulder such a burden. Education should be accessible for all young people and the costs of reasonable travel should not have to be a barrier for people.

Another issue I raised is of adult social care in Dorset. Over the last three years the number of patients discharged from Dorset County Hospital into adult social care to the cost of the council has risen roughly

threefold. About 70 per cent of our council tax in Dorset is spent on social care.

This week, I will be meeting the Prime Minister to discuss these issues, and will be looking forward to working with the Government to ensure Dorset receives its fair share of support.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his Autumn Statement last week. A number of announcements were given within the new budget to give cause for reassurance to the elderly. Firstly, that the triple lock on pensions is safe.

Funding for increased funding for schools has been safeguarded. With more financial help to address issues surrounding adult social care which are of considerable needs to us here in West Dorset and I look forward to seeing the

Remembrance and the generation gap

MANY of us gathered around a war memorial during the commemoration of Remembrance Sunday. You may have laid a wreath, said a prayer or simply paused for reflection. The overriding mood of that day is to look backwards. We think about the losses of life, hope and futures occasioned by two world wars and subsequent conflicts.

Over recent years we have also been urged to remember those serving today and making the timeless sacrifice in support of freedom and the collective values we hold dear. In so doing we remember that war, duty and sacrifice are not just an historical phenomena but with us – ever present.

I am perpetually worried by what I call inter-generational disconnect. Never has there seemed to be a time when there is a greater gap between the generations. There is a growing feeling among the young that older generations had a less

stressful time. A lifetime job, ease of getting on the property ladder, free student tuition has been replaced and has seen added to them geopolitical uncertainties, Climate Change and the pressures of work-life balanced occasioned by 24/7 access to IT.

Older residents see the younger generation as less

robust and resilient than theirs. Political correctness, ‘wokeness’ and the like all play into this.

Fewer families grow up around a few streets or village where the residual wisdom of grandparents, aunts, uncles and the like could be tapped into for reaffirming support. Families are farther flung and, as a result, young and old do not mix as much as once they did. This seems to lead to tensions, fears and a lack of mutual understanding. Both seem to speak a language alien to the other.

We discussed this recently when I hosted two meetings with local town councils and the Police and Police & Crime Commissioner. Something which arose from those conversations was the fact that we get most of our information about youth crime based on what is happening in the big cities. Too many believe that most young people carry

knives, are involved with drugs and hellbent on violence.

Dorset, like everywhere else, has issues with drugs and the criminality that flows from it, but we must not sleepwalk into thinking that North Dorset has anything like the scale of problems cities like London face.

That said, young people congregating en masse to simply ‘hang out’ can be disconcerting to older people. Mindless teenage vandalism degrades our built environment while exacerbating those generational tensions.

Returning to Remembrance Sunday and linked to the above paragraph, it’s always great to see cubs, scouts, guides, brownies and cadets on parade. Commemorating the past –ensuring the next generation ‘remembers them’ but also, subliminally, bridging the generational gaps. There is hope.

Conservative MP for West Dorset

Chris Loder

Conservative MP for North Dorset

Simon Hoare

Great to meet veterans in Falklands

FOLLOWING my return to the MOD as Minister for Defence People, I had a pierhead jump to the Falklands to represent the Government at Remembrance and the 40th anniversary of the war. It was a such a privilege to meet veterans of the conflict. It was also an opportunity to chat to some of the 1,700 service and civilian personnel and their families that we keep at Mount Pleasant to prevent a repetition of the Argentinian invasion.

At COP27 in Egypt the UK continued to take a leading role in attempts to clean up the planet. The energy crisis has shown how important it is to remove a reliance on cheap hydrocarbons from the equation, not least given the willingness of some producer nations to blackmail others. Much better to use the resources we and our neighbours have.

That means, for example, and in the short term, transition hydrocarbons from within our own jurisdiction and, increasingly, renewables, plus nuclear for baseload. I was encouraged by

measures in the budget to get this going but we really are going to have to move fast. I’m still plugging that interconnector with Morocco –it would quickly deliver reliable solar and wind power to our homes and businesses at a reasonable price.

No-one likes to pay tax and most people would prefer someone else to do the coughing up. However, after an economy-rocking pandemic, a full-blown energy crisis and an ongoing war in Europe, it’s a bit naive to imagine living standards would not take a hit. A hit is what we are now experiencing, as is every other country in the western world. However, the budget has protected things people say they want the most, notably healthcare and education. It has kept growth-boosting infra-

structure projects going and ensured that those with least are sheltered as far as possible from the worst of the downturn.

The Opposition has not offered an alternative beyond the ideological – for example, a full-frontal attack on independent schools and the prospect of open borders. Now I do understand the Opposition’s need to dangle some red meat in front of its activists. However, hammering independent schools as proposed would have dire practical consequences, including for many of my constituents wherever their children are schooled. In my patch it would certainly put more pressure on class sizes, likely challenge the viability of at least one big employer and lose a potent source of taxable foreign earnings. Not great.

Making farming fit for the future

WITH Putin’s warmongering having further exposed the fragility of the world’s food supply, it is worth reflecting on another Vladimir, Lenin, who wrote over 100 years ago: “Every society is three meals away from chaos.” During the Covid-19 pandemic people fought in shops over loo rolls, imagine the reaction if we were to run short of food!

Some Tory politicians think the UK doesn’t need to worry about growing its own food, because we’re relatively wealthy and can buy what we need from other countries.

North Dorset’s MP Simon Hoare recently wrote about the need to sustainably increase UK food production, but focused entirely on livestock farming and claimed there is no ‘argument to sustain’ a decline in the livestock sector.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has similarly written about how effective pastureland is as a carbon sink, and said that science does not support a

plant-based diet.

Can I respectfully suggest they need to look more closely at the evidence, perhaps starting with DEFRA’s reports on the UK’s food security and land use.

DEFRA acknowledges that the biggest medium- to longterm risk to the UK’s food production comes from climate change and other environmental

pressures like soil degradation, water quality and biodiversity. It also estimates that climate change will cause a more than tenfold increase in heat-stress for livestock, particularly in the South-West.

Livestock presently forms the major part of Dorset’s farming industry, but we can and must change that because at present we have to import so much of what we eat.

Animal farming is a hugely inefficient way of producing food, using large areas of land to produce relatively little food. About 71 per cent of UK land is used for agriculture, and 72 per cent of that is grassland for grazing. Most of the wheat, barley and oats we grow in the UK is used for animal feed, and we have to import almost half our fresh vegetables and a staggering 84 per cent of our fruit.

With the changing climate we cannot rely on other countries to be able to provide what we need.

Properly planned food production can go hand in hand with the restoration of the wildlife habitats of which we have lost so much. It is not an either/or situation.

Farming is the most important occupation, bar none. Without food we cannot survive. So we need to encourage younger people into the profession, and properly reward forward-looking and innovative farmers for their efforts. Where necessary they should be subsidised for producing all the varieties of food we need, and doing so organically in ways that regenerate the health of our depleted soils, make our waterways clean again, increase biodiversity and capture carbon. Our healthy future depends on it.

Statistics from: https://www. gov.uk/government/statistics/ united-kingdom-food-securityreport-2021/united-kingdomfood-security-report-2021theme-2-uk-food-supply-sources

Ken Huggins on behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison

sudoku

Cryptic crossword

TV worker supporting crude reforms (8)

Enter tripe for translation close to poor linguistic aide (11)

Down

1 Answer about odds on Germany (7) 2 Dark home supported by Kentucky (4) 3 Mistake producing Czech beer? (4,2) 4 A big book about hotel in reception (2-4)

5 Pretext by writer to make polite request (6,2)

6 Means of guidance not right to get source milk? (5)

10 9 8 12

Nimble pair in the Seychelles (4) 11 17

8 14 11 12

7 7 12 8

Answer about odds on Germany (7) blackmorevale.net

Sailors occupying part of ship? That’s the heart of the matter (6) 11 16 13

Recognize as valid account with learning (11)

Track showing old racing driver depressed (4,4)

Enter tripe for translation close to poor linguistic aide (11) 12 6

Track showing old racing driver depressed (4,4) 21 17

Strength, we’re told, in very small amount (4) 10 18

12 Two films about Cuba over time – and the rest (2,6)

13 Selfish sort obtained in site at work (7)

Wife with journalist wearing short upper garment, a posh jacket (6) 12

Across 7 Sailors occupying part of ship? That’s the heart of the matter (6) 8 Wife with journalist wearing short upper garment, a posh jacket (6) 9 Nimble pair in the Seychelles (4) 10 TV worker supporting crude reforms (8) 11 Enter tripe for translation close to poor linguistic aide (11) 14 Recognize as valid account with learning (11) 18 Track showing old racing driver depressed (4,4) 19 Strength, we’re told, in very small amount (4) 20 Place by Russian river of more than single character (6)

Strength, we’re told, in very small amount (4)

Place by Russian river of more than single character (6)

15 Fool to improvise on a jazz instrument (6)

Most senior English lieutenant entertaining some French (6)

16 Former British film director, one collecting awards? (6)

Most senior English lieutenant entertaining some French (6)

17 Being aware of having done wrong brings type of security, we hear (5)

19 Almost exemplary way of acting (4)

TV worker supporting crude reforms (8) 10

Most senior English lieutenant entertaining some French (6) 15 7

Place by Russian river of more than single character (6) 15

Recognize as valid account with learning (11) 33 21

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and boldlined 3x3 box. No digit maybe repeated in any dashed-lined cage, and each dash-lined cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage. For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage

Down 23 24

Dark home supported by Kentucky (4)

A big book about hotel in reception (2-4)

Means of guidance not right to get source of milk? (5)

Two films about Cuba over time – and the rest (2,6)

Fool to improvise on a jazz instrument (6)

Former British film director, one collecting awards? (6)

Being aware of having done wrong brings type of security, we hear (5)

Almost exemplary way of acting (4)

Honours even for North Dorset

By Andrew Wallace Clune NDRFC 1st XV 29

Ivel Barbarians 29

Melksham XV 31

NDRFC 2nd XV 10

ANOTHER week and another see-saw match at Slaughtergate when North Dorset 1st XV took on Ivel Barbarians.

North Dorset claimed first blood with an unconverted try to tight head prop David Stickland who scored after two minutes. But three minutes later Ivel scored and converted, before crossing for another

moments later to skip to a 14-5 lead after only 12 minutes.

North hit back through a long range try from Marcus Higgs who for the second week in a row hooked up to a lovely piece of rugby from Adam Trevis and Robbie Sampson at the back of a scrum. Sam Jones added the extras and North were back in contention again. They hit the lead when scrum-half Sampson bossed the scrum over the line and claimed the try, which Jones again converted.

North continued the attack

from the restart with fly-half Rylie Lewis regathering his own kick and linking up with Higgs who went in under the posts to give Jones an easy conversion. A lapse in concentration gifted Ivel a try immediately from the restart just before half-time to mean the score at the break was 26-21 in favour of the home side.

The second-half started just as the first-half finished with a disastrous restart for North that saw Ivel level the score. The remainder of the second-half

saw the teams trade penalties to close out the match 29-29. Pearce Seeds were matchday sponsors with their lunch and chose Marcus Higgs as the Gritchie Brewing Company man of the match.

The 2nd XV travelled to Melksham to take on their 1st XV who sat second in the league. North put up a brave performance but succumbed 31-10. The effervescent Michael Green returned for a cameo appearance at scrum-half and proved a handful for the

Puddletown pile up the points

By Ian Frizzle Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts South

Puddletown RFC 60

East Dorset Dockers 12

PUDDLETOWN started the day in sixth place with the East Dorset Dockers side one place below them, so a close contest was expected.

Both sides have been struggling for form this season and on a glorious afternoon at Greenfields the home fans were served up a treat with their side running in ten tries.

The opening spell was even until Brad Mulholland caught a poor Dockers’ clearance kick on the 22m line and ran past the defence to score wide on the right. Puddletown captain for the day Lucas Frizzle added the conversion, which kick-started The Villagers into action.

Veteran fly-half Baz Dovell showed a wonderful piece of

individual endeavour with a chip over the Dockers’ defence on the halfway line – the ball sat up nicely for him and he ran in to score from 40m out.

Puddletown were now putting the visiting defence under pressure. Brad Harris saw an opportunity from the 22m line and jinked through the Dockers defenders to score under the posts. Frizzle added the extras. With the home forwards on top, Dockers committed a ruck offence five metres from their own line.

Inside centre Tom Yeatman took a quick tap penalty and the ball was fed through to hooker Rhys Jenner who powered over to score a short-range try. Frizzle converted.

Yeatman was again the architect for the next try with a 40m outside break down the left flank before he popped the ball back inside to Brad Harris to

score his second try.

The last play of the half saw the Dockers make a rare foray into the home 22m, their fly-half creating a gap and gliding through the home defence to score under the posts. But he missed the conversion and the score at half time was 33-5.

The second-half continued in much the same vein with diminutive winger Andy Edmonds making a clean break down the left wing and neatly offloading to flanker Joe Malpas, who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try. The forwards’ dominance continued and from a line-out on the Dockers’ 22m line the ball was caught cleanly, the pack driving up to the try line before second row Sam Pomeroy dropped over the line to score an unconverted try.

Puddletown scrum-half and

captain Lucas Frizzle was next on the scoresheet after breaking down the left and scoring acrobatically in the corner. The home side’s ‘man of the match’ Tom Yeatman continued to create chances and after another outside break offloaded to replacement scrum-half Harry Pomeroy who scored an unconverted try.

Puddletown’s final try of the afternoon came through replacement centre Jake Carter who showed great pace and strength to break from the halfway line and split the Dockers’ defence to score under the posts. Ben Hooper added the conversion.

The East Dorset side continued to compete and eventually were rewarded with a well-worked try wide on the right, their impressive fly-half adding the conversion to make the final score 60-12.

Youngsters out in force in tournament

FAST action and old friendships and rivalries were put to the test in a good-natured tournament at Stalbridge.

The Handicap Singles title went to Chris Watkins who plays his league matches for

Stalbridge, with Adam Dewey of East Stour Wessex, a fine runner-up.

In the Handicap Doubles the winners were Keith Anthony and Warren Chalke from Child Okeford and Stalbridge Junior

respectively. Runners-up were Sue Boddington and Les Daxter, both from East Stour.

The tournament featured 27 players aged 13 to 82, including a good turnout of younger players from the Stalbridge

club. One to note was Warren Chalke who claimed victory in his first season, especially impressive considering he was playing against senior players.

Swimming club members in world champs

By Ashley Tomkins

FIVE Yeovil District Swimming Club team members celebrated success for Great Britain in the UIPM Biathle\Triathle World Championships.

Isobel Stacey, Lily Nutland, Bibi Abernethy, Katinka Thurstan and Joshua Hinton travelled to Madeira at the end of October, having qualified for the GB team earlier in the year, and competed against swimmers from 15 other countries.

This year’s course was very tough, featuring not only a sea swim but also a running course, part of which was through the soft sandy beach. GB came third behind South Africa and Egypt, fighting off stiff competition, particularly from the Czech Republic, Japan and France.

On the individual front Bibi Abertheny came 9th and Lilly Nutland and Katinka Thurstan came 15th in their respected age groups of the individual Triathle. Isobel Stacey came 8th in the mixed relay and 6th in the individual Triathle and Joshuan Hinton came 20th for the boys.

Back in the UK the YDSC Masters were celebrating after competing in the Swim England South West Masters Open Meet. YDSC had a strong team, some competing for the first time. Dan Card won silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke. Ryan Blake took bronze in the 100m

and 400m free events. New boy Hugh Broadribb finished with a stunning silver medal in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m and 200m events. Even YDSC’s coach Mark Ovens achieved his first sub-30 seconds (29.05s) swim in the 50m free.

The club’s younger swimmers were also busy competing at Exeter Swimming Club’s Lyndsay Powell swim meet. Star performer was Dexter Scott who won three golds, three silvers and two bronze medals for the 11-yearboys. Theo Perrin continued his fine form having come back from the national team championships with a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m breast. Florence Parsons, 11, did well in the 200m breaststroke, just missing out on a medal in fourth place.

Yeovil are now looking forward to their Christmas meet on 10-11 December at Millfield.

Yeovil Swimming Club cater for swimmers from around the age of eight and also have a growing master's squad for slightly older swimmers. Swimmers should be about stage 5/6 and above to be able to try out. Get in touch for more information and to arrange a free trial at membership.ydsc@ gmail.com

For more information about

Ladies soon on home turf

WINCANTON Town Ladies formed in January and their hard work has been visible on the pitch. They have yet to win their first match but have been involved in some exciting and close games.

They also look the part as Jeans Electrical of Mere are sponsoring their away kit.

The ladies are playing their home games at South Cheriton but hope to return to their home at Moor Lane early next year.

Rockies hot from the spot

By Avril Lancaster SHAFTESBURY

finally have a home tie after reaching the third round of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time and will face Brixham AFC from the South West Peninsula League at Coppice Street on Saturday December 3.

Shaftesbury won an incredible fourth penalty shoot-out at Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League Brimscombe and Thrupp after Luke Delaney, Cameron Beard and Bailey Rowe netted in a 3-3 draw.

They won 4-1 on penalties to progress a step nearer Wembley, their fourth victory on penalties in what surely

must be a record for winning on shoot-outs.

This followed an excellent 2-1 win over in-form Moneyfields in the Wessex League with Delaney and Addwell Chipangura on target, after Callum Laycock had given the visitors the lead. Delaney is becoming the people's champion in this part of North Dorset, putting in some marquee performances.

The Rockies cruised into the Wessex League Cup semi-final with a 4-0 win over Laverstock and Ford. Adwell Chipangura scored two quality finishes and Bailey Rowe and Luke Delaney were on target against the visitors, who had put Falmouth Town out of the FA Vase.

Shaftesbury looked fluent – manager Luke Middlewick's team is gelling after a difficult start to the season. The club have undergone some changes in personnel as they look to retain the Wessex League Cup.

Wheelers head for Spain, the sun and the hills...

WINCANTON Wheelers have completed their first – longawaited – training camp holiday in Cambrils, Spain.

Fourteen members enjoyed a week of warm sunshine and no rain with five days of escorted rides in and around the hills of Tarragona, just over an hour south of Barcelona. The camp was delayed for two years because

of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The club are fully inclusive and welcome riders of all abilities, including disabled cyclists. They now have more than 100 members and are planning the next training camp. Anyone thinking of taking up cycling or who wants to lend the club support can find out more at www. wincantonwheelers.co.uk

All set for bumper Christmas auction

CLARKE’S Auctions at Semley is preparing for its bumper Christmas sale to be held from Wednesday to Friday 28-30 December and is expecting more than 2,000 lots to be consigned.

This is historically Clarke’s busiest sale and lots of interesting items will be sold.

Among the furniture for sale is a George I walnut and laburnum inlaid chest-on-stand, a ladies late Victorian walnut kidney-shaped writing desk, 18th century oak side table, period oak mule chests and 17th century bible boxes.

The collectibles section features 17th century and later portrait miniatures, a novelty Edwardian silver jockey’s cap pin cushion, an antique autograph book belonging to master ship builder Oliver Lang with signatures cut from letters

This George I walnut and laburnum inlaid chest on stand is estimate to make £300-£500

including Sir Thomas Hardy and engineer James Watt.

Clarke’s is taking entries for all future sales and any enquiries should be made to Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 at the main offices on Kingsettle Business Park, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury.

Lady Eccles looks to tour again

AN 89-year-old caravan affectionately known as Lady Eccles is looking for a new owner in the next three-day Charterhouse auction.

“What a great-looking vintage caravan, full of old charm and she even has lead lattice windows for that quaint English country cottage on wheels look,” said Richard Bromell. “Sadly, the owner passed away recently and now she is looking to be re-homed.”

Lady Eccles was born in 1933 as an Eccles Model 35. Her first owner was Sir Rouse Boughton, who bought her from The London Caravan Company in Bond Street. At the outbreak of war, she was commissioned into the war effort being used by the Observer Corps until the

blackmorevale.net

end of the conflict. Sir Rouse died in 1962 and left the caravan to his daughter. She died in 1992 after which it was discovered by the vendors parents in a very sorry state and restored to its former glory.

Lady Eccles is estimated at £4,000-5,000 and will go under the Charterhouse hammer on Friday 2 December at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne (DT9 3BS). She is part of a massive three-day auction with model trains and other toys on 30 November; coins, medals and stamps on 2 December followed in the afternoon by Christmas gifts such as Omega, Rolex, other watches, silver and jewellery; and then antiques and interiors on Friday 2 December.

All the lots and viewing times will be available on www. charterhouse-auction.com

Charterhouse is taking further entries for its January specialist auctions of pictures, books, Beswick, Doulton and a selection of decorative arts and mid-century modern furnishings.

Jewellery and watches at Duke’s

LOOKING for the perfect Christmas stocking filler?

Duke’s of Dorchester is holding its biannual Jewellery and Watches auction on 8 December, featuring more than 750 lots of jewellery, wrist watches, pocket watches, cufflinks, designer couture and more.

Highlight jewellery lots include a Cartier art deco sapphire and diamond brooch, an emerald and diamond cluster ring and a diamond tennis bracelet.The auction also includes iconic watches – a gold Royal Oak Audmars Piguet,

stainless steel Rolex Daytona and an Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project.

But the sale is not all expensive watches and diamonds, and has a collection of Dunhill silver cufflinks with charming details, Scottie dogs, leopards and penguins.

Semi-precious stones and pearls can carry a more attractive pre-sale estimate without compromising quality. A pair of cultured pearl earrings are estimated at £50-£100, a leather shoulder bag by Aspinal at £40-£80 and a five-stone garnet dress ring set on a 9ct gold shank at £60-£100.

Viewing is from Saturday 3 December at Duke’s Dorchester Fine Art Salerooms in Brewery Square. A fully illustrated catalogue is available online at www.dukes-auctions.com

Lowry signed print for sale

ACREMAN St. Antiques has more than 800 lots on offer today (Friday, November 25) including nearly 300 lots of jewellery.

The sale also features furniture, including a pair of Maple & Co single brass beds; paintings, including an L S Lowry signed print; coins and banknotes, including a proof set of Jersey gold and silver coins; railway related items; and collectables.

Acreman is now accepting items for its 30 December auction and is taking in items for its specialist sales in the new year including Jewellery, Watches and Silver; Coins & Banknotes; Ephemera, including stamps and postcards; Textiles, Fashion and Apparel.

Anyone who has anything they would like to consign should not hesitate to contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 50874, or by email at

auction@acremanstreet antiques.co.uk

Acreman can take in everything from single items to complete collections and is able to arrange a full house clearance at competitive rates – and is happy to make house visits if required.

Valuation days are held every Wednesday 10am-4pm, with free valuations on items being considered for auction, at Acreman Auction, 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PH.

Acreman St Antiques thinks this L S Lowrey signed print could sell for £200-£300

Time is right to build your fruit cage

By Sally Gregson

AFTER such a dry summer when every bird and small mammal seemed intent on eating anything juicy, be it strawberries, raspberries or currants, fruit bushes were all stripped bare long before they were picked.

If there is space in the garden for a fruit cage, now is the time to build it, ready to thwart next season’s marauders.

Cages can be bought at the garden centre, but it’s much cheaper, and easy to construct a substantial fruit-cage with treated timber and fine-grade wire mesh. Off-the-peg cages all have to be put together anyway, so why not tailor-make your own to fit your garden.

Order treated timber cut to size that is guaranteed for ten years. Or cut it to size yourself and treat the cut ends. You can save a lot of work and money if the cage is the same size as the lengths of ready-cut timber, but the site may not allow for such pragmatism.

On the ground, mark the positions of the posts with spray paint, measuring carefully to ensure the cage is square. It is far easier and quicker not to have to adjust lengths of timber and wire-mesh to fit later.

It is recommended to set the upright posts in concrete, leaving two-thirds of the length above ground for stability, and burying the post by a third. That is a 3m

It’s easy to construct a fruit-cage with treated timber and fine-grade wire mesh

post would need to be set at least 1m in the ground, leaving 2m as the finished height, or thereabouts.

Attach the cross bars to the uprights, making a frame, then fix the cross bars over the top. Make a doorway with two more posts and a cross-bar. And make the door with battens and fine mesh. Fix it in place with two hinges and a simple hook-and-eye fastening.

When the framework is complete, use the finest galvanised mesh available. Birds are good at squeezing themselves through

Get set now for fruitful harvest

By Sally Gregson

THE sight of soft red fruit ripening in the sun is as mouth-watering – or beakwatering – to any passing bird as it is to us gastronauts.

Anyone who has tried to grow a crop of summer raspberries, strawberries or redcurrants knows from bitter experience that birds get up at sunrise, long before gardeners are awake, and eat every ripe berry. It can be extremely frustrating to expend lots of time and energy nurturing a crop of soft fruit only to find a few discarded pips in the morning.

The winter months are just the time to plant up a tailormade fruit cage with bushes of

favourites to thwart the raiders. But first, before planting anything, it pays to improve the soil with plenty of home-made compost or a load of well-rotted manure. It is possible in most areas to buy a delivered load of mushroom compost mixed with very well-rotted manure that is more or less sterile – that is it has no weed seeds. Spread a 5-10cm mulch over the entire area and dig it in when planting.

Some soft fruit is especially sweet and juicy, and almost unobtainable commercially. Autumn-fruiting raspberries are delicious and extra precious in September when they fruit in quantity ready for the freezer.

And plant breeders have turned their attentions to

tiny holes if the prize, that is your crop of raspberries, is sufficiently delicious. Plastic mesh is not rigid enough to resist snowfall. It will collapse in a heavy dump of snow and may bring down some of the hardworked timber structure in its wake.

Once the framework and door are complete, walk around the cage with a critical eye for gaps, especially where the cage meets the ground. If there is the smallest gap, raiders will get in and feast on the berries. And they can dig out any loose soil before you get up in the morning.

blackberries too. Of course, the wild ones are plentiful in the hedgerow, but try one or two huge black juicy Karaka Black and the taste is phenomenal. They burst with flavour.

Strawberries are always sought-after by birds, and mice, which are prepared to go to great lengths to feast on them.

Try growing a few in hanging baskets out of their way. The perpetual fruiting variety, ‘Mara des Bois’ is a hybrid between a modern cultivar and the wild alpine strawberry with a juicy, aromatic flavour. They are a speciality of French fruit markets and worth every moment with a watering can.

Birds get up at sunrise and eat every ripe berry, says Sally Gregson

PHOTO: Mike/ Pixabay

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Complex matters of the animal brain

By Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

THE brain is a fascinating and complex organ. We know its basic function involving nerves and electrical impulses, but how it processes experiences, responses and memories is poorly understood.

This lack of understanding leads to significant uncertainty in terms of outcome from brain damage. For instance, a mass such as a tumour may affect brain function in several ways. It can apply local pressure to surrounding tissue leading to loss of function, it can cause inflammation and reduce the working ability of other brain tissue and it can increase pressure within the brain affecting all brain activity.

Brain trauma can present as unconsciousness or altered consciousness. In animals this effect may be short-lived and many apparently normal functions can return quite quickly. The predictability of recovery is, however, impossible to define. Even with imaging, where the area of damage may be identified, the long-term effects can only be determined by patience and time.

Epilepsy can be due to multiple causes. Dogs can develop idiopathic – meaning cause unknown – epilepsy typically between the ages of one and six years and this is thought to be due to an electrical abnormality. Certain breeds are more prone than others. Anti-epilepsy medication is often very effective.

Underlying disease such as diabetes and liver disease can cause altered brain function and seizures. Toxin ingestion is also a possible cause. Very young dogs which develop seizures may have congenital causes – Chihuahuas and French Bulldogs for instance are prone to hydrocephalus which causes increased pressure within the skull. Older dogs which have seizures for the first time are more likely to have a mass

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start to affect surrounding brain tissue leading to other symptoms.

within their skull.

Brain tumours may initially cause subtle changes such as loss of co-ordination or localised seizures such as muscle twitching. Due to tumour growth more symptoms develop which can be multiple and can include significant changes in temperament making affected animals dangerous to live with.

Tumours which affect the pituitary gland within the brain are more common in certain breeds such as Boxers. These may cause multiple effects such as increased drinking or excessive hormone production affecting other glands outside of the brain. These tumours are often small and slow-growing and their hormonal effects can often be managed with medication. They can, however,

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Old dog vestibular syndrome is a common cause of weakness and inco-ordination in old dogs. This typically affects the balance system and its cause is usually unknown. It causes ‘flickering’ eyes – nystagmus –and a head tilt with many, but not all, cases spontaneously resolving.

CT and MRI scans allow for identification of any lesions present and allow better determination of prognosis. A dog which has had a subtle bleed or a small area of trauma may well recover fully. A tumour is likely to continue to grow and can cause progressive symptoms leading eventually to death. Symptoms may be controlled in the short term with anti-epileptic drugs and anti-inflammatories but are unlikely to prevent ongoing tumour growth.

Brain-related disease can be unpredictable and difficult to manage but investigation techniques exist to allow identification of the root cause and this allows planning for any future treatment that may be available.

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French Bulldogs (left) and Chihuahuas are prone to hydrocephalus which causes increased pressure within the skull

PHOTO: Alexandr Ivanov/ Pixabay

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Cats looking for new homes

Kevin, one. A very confident happy boy who needs to learn some boundaries

Sausage, five months. Very sweet natured little cat who loves being stroked

BEHAVIOUR TIPS

Theo, two. Very sweet and loving once he gets to know you

Fudge, four. Looking for an understanding home to call his own Trigger, two. Gorgeous chap that was found as a stray

Schnitzel, five months. He wants attention but is not quite brave enough to come forward for it yet

Tip #28: Puppy series – mouthing

MOUTHING is a normal and natural exploratory behaviour in puppies under five-six months, and it serves an important purpose.

It teaches ‘bite inhibition’ – the ability to subconsciously inhibit bite force if they are ever in a situation when they need to use aggression.

Shadow, one. Looking for a home in the country where she has outside space with sheds or barns

Cracker, five months. She is a very sweet natured little cat who loves being stroked

For details, please call our helpline on 01258 858644 or visit our website, www.cats.org.uk/blandford

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If you have lost a cat, please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook. Make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed. n White with black markings, male, missing since 11 November from

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If you regularly see a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call – it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner. n Ginger and white, male –

An adult dog with good bite inhibition is unlikely to break the skin of a person or dog, while a dog that is losing his bite inhibition can cause very serious injuries.

Mouthing is NOT an aggressive behaviour but reprimanding or punishing it can lead to aggression as this is likely to worry and/or frustrate the puppy.

So, encourage puppy to play with toys instead of hands – make toys more fun to play with – and if mouthing of hands is too hard, give him a tip-off by saying ‘ouch’ and withdrawing your hand gently.

If he repeats the hard mouthing, calmly end the play session for one minute by walking away. Over time, we do this to gentler and gentler bites so by the time he is six months old he is no longer mouthing. If clothing is mouthed, we end the session immediately – that is there is no tip-off – because we don’t know how hard he is mouthing!

n Helen Taylor is a qualified accredited behaviourist, a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist, a Registered Practitioner with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (no 881). help@helentaylordorset.co.uk;

Supermarkets squeeze egg farmers

By Barbara Cossins

WHAT can I say, there is a huge egg shortage. It’s a fact.

We need to look after our farmers, as the supermarkets are not doing anything to support them. It’s better to keep egg production going and help our egg farmers survive, here in England, rather than importing cheap eggs from abroad simply to meet customer demand.

We must pay a fair price for them to be able to do that. Our farmers can’t produce cheap food that’s real. Prices have gone bonkers because of the rising cost of production due to electricity, gas and grain prices, climate change, the war in Ukraine and Avian Flu, a huge problem for poultry farmers worldwide.

Supermarkets want to keep costs low and don’t want to pay our farmers enough to keep production going. They would rather import cheap eggs and let

our own farmers go to the wall. This is not the answer or a sustainable long-term solution ¬– it’s simply the big boys being greedy and forgetting about the real people behind the food on our plates.

We need to keep food production going. Our egg farmers get 78 pence a dozen, only 6 ½ pence an egg. It’s simply not enough to cover the costs, the margins are just too low for it to work.

There’s nothing left of most of our high streets. Most of our greengrocers have gone, as well as the fishmongers. This is because we have become a one-stop shopper at the supermarket. It’s easy and cheap – or we think it is. We’ve become lazy. And while I appreciate a lot of people don’t know any different than opting for a supermarket, as that’s what they see on the television and billboards, we need to change

our habits and support local, independent shops that are working incredibly hard just to keep going.

In countryside, farm shops are not as expensive as you think. The gap has closed dramatically. Yes, we are the equivalent of the ‘finest’ ranges, because we deal with fresh, quality produce and it’s all locally sourced, but if we want to support our hard-working communities this is where we need to shop. The latest food trend for pub and bar operators is the power of a plant. Well, as a farmer’s wife and daughter, I don’t want to see eggs made from plants. I don’t want to see vegan seafood and meat. I don’t want to see fish and dairy alternatives. I want real food from real birds, fish and animals that’s full of minerals, protein and vitamins because it’s had a healthy life itself.

I’ve been in the restaurant

trade for over 30 years and have seen a lot of fads come and go in the food we are asked for. Right now, it’s trendy to ask for almond, soya, rice and oat milks. Yes, some people are genuinely dairy intolerant, and I sympathise if you have a real allergy to dairy. And it’s nice to have an alternative from a taste perspective, but in my opinion cow’s milk is still the best as it contains all the good protein, vitamins and minerals we need. And it’s still cheaper than a lot of the trendier milk options.

We are paid 50p a litre from Arla when it leaves the farm – a good price compared to what we have been paid in the past. There was a time that water was more expensive than milk.

n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local; www. thelangtonarms.co.uk; www. rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk; www.lovelocaltrustlocalawards. co.uk

Super pairing for lovely winter slaw

By Rebecca Vincent

BOTH stars of this recipe hail from the nutritionally dense brassica family which includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale, but are a little bit different.

The brassica vegetables are wildly versatile and taste great steamed, stir-fried, roasted and even raw – kohlrabi and cavolo nero are no different. This recipe pairs them together with some bold flavours to create a lovely winter slaw.

Kohlrabi, despite looking closer to a potato than a traditional brassica, tastes like a slightly sweeter version of broccoli. It is a very rich source of vitamin C – boasting more than oranges – and a good source of vitamin B6, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese and anti-oxidants including carotenoids. Kohlrabi is also a good mix of soluble and insoluble fibre.

Cavolo nero, also known as Tuscan kale, black kale and

black cabbage, is a very dark leafy vegetable similar to traditional kale. It is a great source of folic acid, vitamins A, C, K and B, calcium, iron, manganese, copper and antioxidants including lutein.

Kohlrabi and Cavolo Nero Slaw (Serves 2-4)

½ medium kohlrabi

2-3 leaves of cavolo nero

1 medium carrot

½ medium red onion

1 tsp mustard of your choice

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

Handful fresh parsley

Pinch of salt and pepper

Optional extras: pinch of dried chilli flakes, finely chopped chives

Peel the kohlrabi, then take half of it and finely slice, and then cut the slices into matchsticks.

Cut the thick stems out of the cavolo nero and finely slice. Grate the carrot using a coarse grater.

Peel the onion, cut it in half

through the root, then finely slice one half. If you have one you can use a mandolin to finely slice the kohlrabi and onion.

Mix together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper.

Place all the vegetables in a

Brassica vegetables like kohlrabi and cavolo nero are wildly versatile and taste great steamed, stir-fried, roasted and even raw

bowl and pour over the mustard dressing and mix until everything is coated well.

Lastly, finely slice the parsley and mix through. Lovely served with leftovers from a roast.

n Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons) is a BANT registered

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Herb ‘destroys’ the taste of sugar

By Fiona Chapman

GYMNEMA sylvestre is an Ayurvedic herb which means ‘sugar destroyer’. This is because if you take it, it ‘destroys’ the taste of sugar. It does, too!

You need to take a dropperful in a very small glass of water, swill it around your mouth for at least ten seconds, gargle for another ten, and then swallow. This procedure is important as there are taste receptors all over your tongue, right down to the back of it, and the gymnema needs to get into each taste bud. You then eat sugar and you can’t even taste the sweetness.

This is obviously a brilliant herb if you have a sweet craving or sweet tooth and are trying to stop eating sugar or to lose weight. It is also very good for fat metabolism as it stimulates the pancreas to release bile which helps to digest fats. I would not however just

prescribe it if someone came to me saying they wanted to lose weight and would be extremely careful if that person was diabetic. It is no good just addressing a symptom and not the root cause.

Often weight gain is because you are eating the wrong food – fairly obviously – or not eating proper food, regularly.

Yoyo diets are notorious for being unsuccessful. Starving yourself puts the body into panic mode and any food it gets will be laid down as fat as it thinks it will need it for energy. Blood sugar levels then drop and invariably energy levels plummet so people reach for a sugary treat to give them a boost. This shoots the blood sugar up and provides a spike in energy which, after the sugar is burned up, leaves the body to crash down again and so a vicious cycle starts.

Eating regularly with preferably a protein breakfast

will stabilise the blood sugar and mean energy is released slowly so avoiding those horrible dips. Having three good meals a day – they do not need to be huge, really we should only really eat the equivalent size of our fist each meal – is important and, if you really want to lose weight, don’t eat after 6pm so all your food is digested before you go to bed.

Exercise is obviously vital,

not only aiding in weight loss but brilliant for the mood.

I am not quite sure why I am writing this coming into winter when all we do is crave comfort food and personally I can’t wait for mince pies – but, for the most part, for comfort, try and eat squashes and root vegetables instead of biscuits and cakes! n Fiona Chapman is a Naturopathic Herbalist (Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

Exercise aids in weight loss and is good for the mood.

PHOTO: StockSnap from Pixabay

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: A walk through time in the Avalon Marshes

By Susie Curtin

I FEEL like a change of scene today. So, I pack a picnic and set off for the Somerset Levels to wander through the nature reserves that collectively have become known as the Avalon Marshes – a name that honours the region’s Arthurian heritage.

This atmospheric landscape has wide open skies and is laced with golden reedbeds, peat-coloured pools, ditches and lakes that create a watery, shimmering wonderland that sits on the edge of civilisation beneath the shadow of Glastonbury Tor. It is one of the flattest places in the UK and is internationally important for wildlife.

I have decided to follow the Sweet Track, that was first discovered by a cutter in 1970 in the days when the main industry on the Levels was the excavation of peat. As well as artefacts, several other Neolithic tracks across the marsh, dating back nearly 6000 years, have been discovered. I haven’t walked this trail for years, not since my boys were at school studying history.

Now there is no one around, just me, the pitter patter of raindrops on my hood and the calls of wild geese. It feels like I am walking through time, accompanied by my memories and the thoughts of my feet following in the footsteps of ancestors – men and women slung with axes and bows and arrows, rather than binoculars and camera. I wonder what life would have been like for these ancient farmers out here in this damp, swampy land of peat and reed. The sunshine and showers that accompany my walk create an evocative light. With each passing shower, the collage

of coloured leaves beneath my feet and the water droplets on the trees glisten like jewels as the sunbeams replace the rain. Reflections in the pools come and go, and rainbows grace the skies, their arcs gradually getting higher as the sun lowers. Making my way towards my favourite hide, I am surprised to see Common Darter dragonflies basking in the mid-November sun, a sure indication of our warming climate. From the hide, I watch the pink feathery reed heads sway in the breeze and small groups of tufted ducks, gadwall and teal nonchalantly drifting on the water. Then, out of nowhere, I see the distinctive V-shape of a male Marsh Harrier as he effortlessly glides over the hide towards the reeds. They are the largest of our harriers. The males are silver, black and rusty red whereas the females are bigger and predominantly brown.

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This elegant and fascinating bird of prey has come back from the brink of extinction in Britain since 1971 when only one breeding pair was left. Habitat restoration, stronger legal protection and the decline in the use of DDT has brought them back to charm our skies with their impressive ‘sky dancing’ displays of courtship. Later, I encounter four more – all females with their pale orange heads and shoulders gleaming in the low light.

As I set off for home, the starlings are beginning to gather, and the sun has dipped beneath the trees. What a wonderful day I have had out in this mystical place of nature. Rainbows, memories and Marsh Harriers, what could be better.

n Dr Susie Curtin, nature writer and qualitative researcher; wildlife travel blog at rewildingjourneys.com/; email curtin.susanna@gmail.com

The elegant and fascinating Marsh Harrier (top) has come back from the brink of extinction. The atmospheric Avolon Marshes on the Somerset Levels (above) HAWK PHOTO: Светлана/Pixabay

The times have been a-changing…

By Alice Johnsen

I’M seeing a recurrent theme with clients at the moment. It’s about the recovery from lockdown. Not specifically the medical or logistical recovery, more the emotional one.

If you are finding it tough to re-establish yourself in this post-lockdown world and find yourself looking back on the good old days pre-Covid when we just got on with life and, looking back, it was pretty easy, you are not alone.

I’m not about to offer a great solution or even a quick fix. I don’t have one. But I wanted to share what I have been talking about with clients – the marathon that is the process of recovery we are now in.

During the lockdowns, while we faced unique challenges, loneliness, fear, frustration, there was also a feeling of ‘being in this together’ and a novelty. It was something we all had to adapt to together and we believed, most of the time, this

would be a short term situation which made it seem manageable.

But now, here we are in the long, slow and boring process of recovery. Furlough and home schooling have gone, working from home going. We’re back to how it was – although we’re not really. We’re left feeling we should just get on with life again but many people are not sure how to do that now.

Added to that, dynamics of relationships have changed in many partnerships because of the last few years.

The accumulation of causes of anxiety caused by recovery and ongoing uncertainty seeps into all parts of our lives and become draining and distracting.

Two clients just this week have told me they feel they have no plan. They feel unsettled and not sure where they should be heading.

We all have own limits and comparing ourselves to what we

perceive to be other people’s success stories is not helpful. I have written before about steps we can all take to manage stress and anxiety and in the next issue I will list the key ones for readers to refer back to over the coming months.

For now, please know if you

are feeling unsettled, not sure where you are going, distracted – you are not alone and even if you are taking tiny steps, you are moving forward and that is a good enough start.

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

Some people are finding it tough to re-establish themselves in the post-lockdown world PHOTO: soumen82hazra/ Pixabay

New trial will see drivers fined £130 for breaking 20mph speed limit

DRIVERS found to be exceeding a 20mph speed limit could soon be fined £130.

A first-of-its-kind speed enforcement trial has begun, being run by Wandsworth Council, which will see the them issue the fines rather than the police.

According to the council, once in force, motorists will be penalised if they exceed the speed limit on two busy residential roads in the borough, which are subject to numerous complaints from residents about speeding drivers.

The pilot scheme is going to work alongside existing Met Police speeding enforcement.

Council leader, Simon Hogg, said: “Speeding traffic is one of the biggest sources of complaints we receive from our residents.

“Ensuring drivers stick to the 20mph limit not only improves safety levels and encourages more people to walk or cycle, it helps reduce harmful emissions too.

“Until now, only the Metropolitan Police have had powers to enforce speed limits, but they tend to concentrate their resources on main roads and dual carriageways, whereas most of the complaints we receive are about people driving too fast along quieter residential streets. Our pilot scheme will focus on two residential roads where excessive speeds are

known to be an issue.

“If judged a success, we will look to make it permanent and carry out enforcement in other parts of the borough where we know vehicle speeds are excessive.”

The scheme will start this month, and will last for eight months, using a ‘experimental traffic order’.

Offenders caught on camera could receive a penalty charge notice with a £130 fine. This will be reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days. Drivers will not be given points on their licence or made to attend a speed awareness course.

RAC road safety spokesperson, Simon Williams, said: “One of the biggest complaints about 20mph limits is the fact they are rarely enforced which leads to poor

compliance.

“This scheme, on two stretches of road which currently have far too many speeders, has the potential to dramatically improve compliance which has to be a positive road safety step.

“While the thought of councils beginning to enforce speed limits instead of the police may be worrying to some, it could be just what’s needed to make 20mph limits more effective.”

“We would, however, like to see those drivers who speed excessively referred to the police for prosecution as they present a much greater risk to pedestrian and cyclist safety.”

Should the pilot scheme be a success, councils elsewhere could follow up with their own speed enforcement trials.

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2019 (68) PEUGEOT 108 COLLECTION 1l petrol, manual, 3dr hatch, ONLY 8,000 MILES, 1 private owner, FULL service history, 72 BHP, 15in alloys, 7in multifunction touchscreen, Bluetooth, DAB Radio, calvi blue & green fizz ambience, automatic headlights, reverse camera……......................................…£8,995

2009 (09) HONDA FRV EXI CDTI (Diesel) 6 speed manual 5dr, covered 90,000m miles with full service history, finished in blue/grey metallic with biscuit leather interior, very well appointed vehicle giving both performance and economy

THANK YOU

KELVIN MARK VINCENT 29.07.72 / 20.09.22

The Vincent family would like to thank all those who attended Kelvin’s funeral at St Gregory’s Church, Marnhull on 7th October 2022. In attendance were 400 mourners.

We would like to thank the reverend Gaenor Hockey for conducting a heartfelt service. We would also like to thank the funeral directors Merefield & Henstridge for their professional and dignified service. The money donated for Kelvin’s chosen charity Julia’s House Dorset amounted to £1891. Thank you all for your generous donations, also a big thank you to everyone who sent letters and cards of condolences received. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement.

IN MEMORIAM

GEMMA PALMER

On your birthday, 30th November. Missing you today and every day. In our hearts, you will always stay. Love Mum and Dad xx

GEMMA PALMER

November 30th. Thinking of you on your birthday Mum. Missing you always. Love Lillia, Macey and Evie xxx

VIC TOOGOOD

22nd November 2002

I can’t believe 20 years has passed since you left us. It’s quite a different world now. Wherever you may be, you look down and see. We think of you often and the happy times we had. Still miss you. Love Lyn x

Thorne, Larry

18/09/58 - 27/11/12

Ten years since you have passed. Though you are no longer with us, you will never be forgotten. In loving memory of a wonderful husband and father. With love Debi, Lauren and Ellen xxx

DEATHS

TOWNSEND WILLIAM KENNETH (Ken)

died peacefully at home, Ansford, on 31st October aged 93. Beloved husband of Lindsey, father of Sally and John, loved by daughter in law, Bridget, and grandchildren, Grace, Holly, George and David. Cremation has taken place.

TURNER Jean Annette

Jean Passed away peacefully on Wednesday 2nd November at Dorchester Hospital aged 79 years. Dearly loved wife, mother, granny and sister. She will be greatly missed by all her family and many friends.

Private service for Jean has already taken place. Donations if desired for MS Society may be given online www.funeraldirector.co.uk/jean-turner or by cheque sent to Lesley Shand Funeral Service, 28 East Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7DR. Telephone: 01258 453425

ANDY HART of Fifehead Neville

Passed away suddenly on 2nd November 2022, aged 69 years. A much loved Husband, Dad, Grandad and Friend. Funeral service to be held at Yeovil Crematorium on 29th November 2022 at 11:20am. All flowers welcome.

To make an online donation in memory of Andy, please visit his Tribute site at: www.funeralcare/co/uk/tributes-anddonations or send cheque made payable to British Heart Foundation. c/o Co-operative Funeralcare, 4 Market Square, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1FG. Tel: 01258 472073

JOHN PARSONS

on 4th November, 2022, passed away peacefully aged 76 years, of Shaftesbury. Much loved husband to Trish, loving father to Leigh and Keri and grandad to Max and Josh. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Monday 5th December at 12.00 noon. Flowers welcome or donations for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust or Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance can be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or send cheques made payable to either charity c/o Merefield and Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

COX, MILDRED

Peacefully at home on 5th November 2022, aged 93 years. Much loved wife of the late John, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. A Service of Thanksgiving will take place at St Mary’s Church, Puddletown on Friday 25th November at 12 noon. Donations made payable to Addington Fund or PCC Puddletown may be sent c/o Grassby Funeral Service, 8 Princes Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TW or made online by visiting www.grassby-funeral.co.uk

DEATHS

RAY BROWN

Passed away peacefully on 12 November 2022, aged 91 years. The funeral service will take place at St. Mary’s Church, Charlton Marshall on Tuesday 6 December 2022 at 11.30am.

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance c/o Colin Close Funeral Services, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford. DT11 7JU. Tel. (01258) 453133

SIDNEY ARTHUR STOCKLEY ‘ARTHUR’

Passed away peacefully on the 11th November 2022. Arthur aged 89 years of Sturminster Newton. A much loved Dad, Grandad & Great Grandad. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday, 1st December at 12 noon. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570

JUNE ROSE MERCER

Nee Bashford

Passed away peacefully at Fernbrook Lodge, Gillingham, on 31st October, aged 90 years.

A much loved mum, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be sadly missed.

Funeral service to be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 2nd December at 14:00.

Please wear a splash of colour. Family flowers only. Donations in memory of June are for Alzheimer’s Research UK and may be sent to Bracher Brothers, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QL. June’s family wish to thank the staff at Wisteria Carers and Fernbrook Lodge for the loving care given to their mum.

O’BYRNE

Desmond

of Chesham, Bucks, late of Hardy Close, Marnhull, Dorset. Passed away peacefully at Stoke Mandeville Hospital on 4th November 2022.

Beloved husband of the late Brigid; loving father of Maeliosa, Finola, Conor and Aisling; and wonderful grandfather and great-grandfather. Des and Brigid were stalwarts of the Marnhull Walkers and Blackmore Vale Ramblers, through which they made many great friends.

Desmond’s life was celebrated by family and friends on 24th November at his Requiem Mass at St Columba’s Church, Chesham, followed by cremation. All enquiries c/o Church View Funeral Services Tel: 01494 - 776777

BURTON Keith Desmond

Formerly of Glyn Farm, Donhead St Mary passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family on 10th November 2022 aged 84 years.

Loving husband, dad, grandad and great-grandad, he will be very sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral service to take place at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Longbridge Deverill at 12 noon. Family flowers only, donations if desired, made payable to ‘The Old Silk Works, Alzheimer’s Support’ may be sent care of Iles and Vincent Funeral Services, 14 The Cornmarket, Warminster, BA12 9BX

EDNA JENNINGS

Aged 94 of Fontmell Magna

Passed away at home on 5th November after a long struggle with dementia. Mother of 6, Grandmother of 9 and Great Grandmother of 6 Funeral to take place at St Andrew’s on Friday 2nd December at 12.30

HOWARD EDWARD HUNT

passed away in Canada on 14th July 2022, aged 90 years. Memorial Service to be held at St Mary’s Church, East Knoyle on Thursday 15th December at 12 noon. Donations in memory of Howard may be made to the Alzheimer Society, Scott Lodge, Scott Road, Plymouth, PL2 3DU or Alzheimers.org.uk

VICTOR VINING ˈVICˈ

Peacefully at home in Lydlinch on the 16th November 2022 aged 79 years. A much loved Husband, Dad & Grandad who will be greatly missed by all his family & friends. Funeral service at St Thomas à Becket Church, Lydlinch on Friday, 2nd December at 12.30pm. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for Lydlinch PCC or Weldmar Hospicecare. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB

PAULINE HINSLEY

On 7th November 2022 peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital aged 70 years of Shaftesbury. Wife of the late Patrick.

Much loved Mum to Mark and Kevin, Sister to Rob and a loving Nan to Jake, Kasey, Molly and Damon, who will be sorely missed by all family and friends. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday 6th December at 11.00 am. No flowers please but donations if desired to The Stars Appeal, SDH may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or send cheques payable to the charity c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

AGNETA HICKLEY

died peacefully on 18th November 2022, aged 96. Enquiries to Trotman of Shepton Mallet, 01749 880271

KEN WINKWORTH

Passed away peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital on 7th November aged 75 years. Dearly loved husband of Jenny, father of Nicola, beloved Grandad of Jessica and Ellie.

A service to celebrate Kenny’s life to take place at the Basingstoke Crematorium, RG25 2BA on 28th November at 2pm. No flowers thank you but donations if desired to Injured Jockeys Fund or via www.steelsfunerals.co.uk Richard Steel & Partners, Winchester

DuBuisson

MARK RICHARD GROSTETE

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected death of Mark Richard Grostete DuBuisson.

He died on Tuesday November 1st 2022 aged 60 years. Our beloved father, grandfather, friend, brother and uncle, he is so loved and will be so missed.

The funeral service will take place at Sherborne Abbey at 12.00pm on Wednesday November 30th, 2022.

Donations in memory of Mark for British Heart Foundation and Help for Heroes, may be sent c/o A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ.

Please make cheques payable to the charities, or donate online at www.ajwakely.com or donate to a charity of your choice.

FRANCIS HADDON Frank

On Wednesday 16th November passed away peacefully at home in Gillingham aged 93 years. Husband of Heather and a much loved Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad, who will be sorely missed. A Funeral service will take place at East Stour Church on Tuesday 6th December at 12 noon. The family requests no flowers but donations to the Weldmar’s Fundraising Team on 01305 261800, or online at www. weldmarhospice.org, who have been amazingly helpful and supportive.

WHITMARSH

Janeth ‘Jan’

Jan Whitmarsh of Gillingham sadly passed away on 16th November 2022, aged 84 years. Loving wife of Keith and a beloved mother and grandmother. Funeral Service to be held at Christ Church, East Stour on Wednesday 7th December at 11am. Family Flowers only please, but donations if desired for Alzheimer’s Research c/o Grassby and Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BB, Telephone 01258 471024 or made online by visiting www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk

THERESA HORAN

Passed away peacefully at home in Mere, on Monday 7th November, aged 82 years. A much loved lady who will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Tuesday 6th December at 12.40pm. Refreshments after at The George, Mere. Family flowers only, but donations in memory of Theresa are going to Salisbury Hospice at Home Charity and may be sent to Bracher Brothers, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QL.

GRAVE & MEMORIAL CARE

Please

Family Run Caring & Efficient • Private Chapels of Rest Personal Day & Night Service

“Golden Charter” Pre-paid Funeral Plans available Memorials in Stone Marble & Granite, etc.

Shaftesbury (01747) 853532 imerefield@aol.com Gillingham (01747) 835335 www.mhfd.co.uk “Ridgemount”, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Recruitment

HGV LIVESTOCK LORRY DRIVER WANTED

Andrew Frizzle Livestock Haulage Enquiries phone Andrew 07977 136863

SHEET METAL WORKER

VACANCY – Press Brake

Operator experience preferred but not essential. Keen eye for detail required. Full time position at small friendly company in Semley, near Shaftesbury. 01747 851060

PART-TIME LABOURER required for builder’s cleans. £15 p/h. CSCS card preferable. Gillingham 20 mile radius. 07821 639091

HOUSE KEEPER wanted near Cranborne Dorset, general domestic duties, dog sitting. No cooking. 3 bedroom cottage rent free. Beautiful but remote surroundings. Start January. salary negotiable. Apply to Its@Its-uk.com

Secretary Wanted

For The Mere Forest & Allotment charities to start in 2023. This is a part time, self employed administrative position that comes with a generous annual payment.

Applicant skills required: Computer literate. Able to use online banking Knowledge of Microsoft Office including how to mail merge. Have a basic underst anding of bookkeeping.

If you’re interested in applying, please send over a CV and /or covering letter to mereforest@gmail.com

GARDENER REQUIRED three days a week to help maintain greenhouse and gardens in the Shaftesbury area. Email CV and cover letter to gardensbyMR@ outlook.com

ROOFING LABOURER required based in Stalbridge area .Please contact Roy on 01963 362325

PART TIME MILK RECORDER wanted in the Shaftesbury area must have own transport and enjoy outdoor life. closing date 5th Dec. piplo@nmrp.com

EVENING CLEANER REQUIRED Monday to Friday 3 hours a night 6 till 9pm. Term time only. Milborne St Andrew. From £10 an hour. Mileage may be considered phone John 01305 261624

EXPERIENCED VEHICLE TECHNICIAN - Full time Monday-Friday- Classic cars- engine rebuilding etc.Gillingham Email: info@sigmadorset.co.uk

‘LIVE-IN’ DEMENTIA CARER Needed. Job-sharing. Sitting-room. TV. Separate bathroom. 07772 086099

CLEANER REQUIRED FOR TWO HOUSES , total of 5 hours weekly. Hourly rate to be agreed. References essential. 07939 569880

CHRISTMAS POULTRY PROCESSORS needs for first 3 weeks of December, to help with plucking and evisceration jobs, good rates of pay, friendly family farm between Wincanton and Bruton. 07812 009364

Portmore Electrical Limited are looking to recruit 18th Edition Qualified Electricians to join our family business.

All aspects of electrical installations undertaken in the Domestic, Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial sectors.

The successful applicants will have good communication skills, be able to work using own initiative and to tight deadlines, confident in working independently and as part of a team where necessary.

Candidates must hold ECS Gold Cards, C&G 2391 test and inspect qualifications or equivalent and a full clean driving licence.

Salary is negotiable depending on experience and qualifications, opportunities for additional hours are always available.

Benefits Include: Company Vehicle (business use only), Uniform, Telephone, iPad, Company Work Place Pension and 30 Days Annual Leave.

Full time, Permanent Positions.

Please send CV’s to admin@portmoreelectrical.co.uk or call 01258 458794 for an informal chat.

PART-TIME CARER / PA

East of Shaftesbury. For busy mother in wheelchair. Cheerfulness, kindness and flexibility more important than qualifications. Varied role as part of small team, with housekeeping, admin, personal care, meal prep, dog walks included. Strictly no smokers. 07790 524 241

MOSAIC – SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - REFERRALS

Hours 10-15 hours

Salary £5,200-£8,580 (£19,500-21,450 fte)

Base: Milborne St Andrew, Blandford, DT11

Would you like to join an enthusiastic, friendly team, working for a children’s charity in Dorset? The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Referral Team, dealing with schools, local authorities, parents and counsellors. Processing referrals and reports.

Requirements: Minimum 1yr administration experience

Excellent communication, telephone and networking skills. Excellent organisational skills and time management. Ability to work as part of a team Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office Closing date: Wednesday, 9th December 2022 Further details and application form available from: cathy@mosaicfamilysupport.org http://www.mosaicfamilysupport.org

GILLINGHAM SCHOOL, DORSET

Hardings Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QP h�ps://www.gillingham dorset.co.uk/

CLEANERS

(part �me, permanent & casual)

Cleaners required working from 0600-0800 and 1545-1745.

For further details and an applica�on form, please ring 01747 822222 and ask for Tina Hull. We are commi�ed to safeguarding the welfare of children and will require the disclosure of any criminal convic�ons

Gillingham School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimina�on a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share informa�on if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Experienced MSK Physiotherapist within Private P rac�ce

The successf ul candidate will be c onfident and happy working independently, managing referrals from a range of sources including GP’s, consultants and self referrals

Applicants must have: five years post graduate experience, excellent manual and rehabilita�on skills and strong communica�on skills

Acupuncture and Pilates skills are an advantage

Excellent remunera�on up to £45 per hour. We are flexible on working hours and days to fit around your commitments

Please send your CV and a covering le�er to the Clinical Director at info@physiofactor com

The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society is hiring for a Show Secretary & Events’ Organiser.

The role is to Manage all aspects of The Society especially the smooth organisation and running of its Events, The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show and Spring Countryside Show. This is alongside the management of the Event Venue, Turnpike Showground in Motcombe. The individual must be:

Innovative

For the full job description and to apply e-mail chairman@gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk or ring 01747 823955. This position consists of:

Shaftesbury area.

Includes large social area, kitchen and offices. High standards of cleaning/presentation required with the ability to work independently.

Hours Monday 9am-1pm. Friday 12-4pm

Some flexibility with working hours is possible. Please email ashofficesp5@gmail.com

Recruitment

Experienced/qualified Bench Joiner required for our high qualit y bespoke joinery workshop. Interesting & varied work. Must be able to work on own initiative. Immediate start. Competitive salary. For further details and an application form please contact: 0 01963 23219 or david@fcuffandsons.co.u k

We are a small children’s home for children 7-17 years, we are situated in Salisbury city centre We are looking for Residental Childcare Workers to join us.

If you feel you can be part of a team that creates a safe, nurturing, therapeu�c approach, with a caring family environment for young people, crea�ng a fun and loving home, giving our young people opportuni�es to develop and grow ensuring outcomes are at the forefront of all that we do, this is the job for you. We encourage development and support of our care team to get the best from them and for them.

Based on 37.5 hours a week. Experience preferred but not necessary, for those not qualified we provide a fully supported Level 3 Diploma in Residental Child Care which is a mandatory qualifica�on that has to be achieved in role.

£20,000 - £24,000 a year. 24-hour shi�s, extra pay for sleep ins - equa�ng to approx £3000 per year on top of your salary.

Be part of a team that are changing young people’s life’s.

Time is of the essence for hedge work

By Tria Stebbing

THE field remains beautiful, with autumn colours now a kaleidoscope of orange hues. The Ash has dropped everything while the Oak is hanging on to its leaves. We have two deer that have taken up residency under one of the oaks. They bask in the sun but remain vigilant, constantly watching and alert.

Hedge laying is again taking priority over the small jobs that usually take all the time. If you can imagine the hedge being a living corridor in which insects, birds and mammals nest, while at the same time acting as a barrier to stop the sheep from escaping, then you can see why we need to preserve it.

To the untrained eye it might look fine, it is after all a hedge, doing its job. The reality is that

it is getting thin, dying back in places and becoming top heavy, a lollipop hedge.

Him outdoors is shortly to spend his annual leave in the hedge, cutting nearly all the way through the pleaches in an uphill direction with his billhook and lying them down so they can thicken the base and send new shoots up, forming the new stronger hedge.

Different parts of the country have different methods of hedging as they have different needs – some hedges have a line of woven Hazel to finish off the top, ours remains rustic and functional. Time is of the essence again as hedge-laying after March is not allowed, as the birds and mammals will have begun to nest again.

As the field is currently resting with the sheep away on

Two deer have taken up residence under one of Tria Stebbing’s oak trees

summer grazing, it is a good time to do a bit of nettle pulling. Every year we think we have seen the back of them – and then whoosh, there they are. The sheep are not keen and do not graze patches with nettles, so we end up with areas that are

not touched. I do wonder why it is they love the wild garlic, though, surely nettles are nicer?

The sheep are looking good, there are rather a lot of them now, scattered in different paddocks around our home village. We are late lambing again next year, so the girls are grazing fresh long grass this week to flush through before Humphrey visits them next week. I think they are getting used to the weight of their sodden fleece, looking particularly curly at the moment – at least they are clean!

It is a quiet time at the field, time to step back and marvel at those colours.

SADDLERY SALE

4th December 10:30/3pm. Queen Camel Memorial Hall, BA22 7NF Dispersal, low prices, cash sales, bridals, rugs, jods and more. Entries invited. 01963 824287

Encouraging more women to choose agriculture

Attitudes have changed regarding women in farming, explains 2022 Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year winner Catherine Pickford. Speaking to the Cornish Mutual Farming Farming Programme, Catherine said: “When I first took over, people would ask for the farmer and walk straight past me, but now it is becoming more accepted. I have never considered it a big thing. There is no reason why women can’t do just as good a job as men.”

Catherine believes the opportunities for women are plentiful. “It depends on the person, but if you are keen, the opportunities are there. It’s not just milking cows, there are many other related jobs too. If you want something enough, it is up to you to go and get it.”

However, Catherine advises that the industry needs to be more attractive to all young people. To explore how the next generation of farmers are being nurtured, the Future Farming Programme also spoke to Duchy College.

“Gender does not impact your ability to work in agriculture, and we must actively communicate this to our students,” explained Cayley Wright, Level 2 & 3 Agricultural Apprenticeship Programme Manager. “We believe having female staff who are strong role models is an important part of encouraging more women to choose agriculture.”

As part of its focus on Women in Agriculture, Cornish Mutual also spoke to Devon young farmer Emily Pearse and Cornish young handler Merryn Philp about their farming journeys so far.

To read the articles in full, visit https://www.cornishmutual. co.uk/future-farmingprogramme/

Picture by Kathy Horniblow

Bovine TB – the implications (Part 1)

By Alice Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Livestock Health

WHEN writing about life as a farm vet, it is impossible to ignore one of the most costly and devastating diseases we deal with, and that is Bovine Tuberculosis. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire are in high-risk areas.

Every animal over 42 days of age must be tested every six months to monitor for this ‘Notifiable’ disease. This is also important because it is a zoonotic disease – can infect people. If TB is found in these herds, they must then have repeat whole herd tests every two months. This means that a high proportion of our practice workload consists of TB testing. On an average day we would have the same number of TB testers working, as we would clinical vets carrying out their routine vet work. We are lucky to have a dedicated team of TB testers and ATTs to deliver this service, and with the amount of tests required in this area our clinical vets also do their fair share of TB tests.

The testing takes place on two days, three days apart. The first day the animals receive

their TB test, a comparative skin test. The animal’s ID ear tag number is recorded, two patches of hair are shaved in the middle of the neck, above and below each other, and the thickness of the skin at these sites is measured. They receive a 0.1ml injection of both avian and bovine Tuberculin into the skin, at these sites. Three days later the animal is reexamined to see if there is any reaction to the injections. It depends on the size of the reactions and the difference between the two sites as to whether the animal passes – is ‘clear’, fails – is a ‘reactor’, or needs rechecking – is an ‘inconclusive reactor’. The avian injection site acts as a control, so if the bovine reaction is the same or less than the avian reaction then the animal is okay. But if the reaction to the bovine tuberculin injection is bigger then it becomes more worrying. Reactors are isolated and then removed from the herd and culled. Inconclusive reactors must be isolated from the herd and retested in two months. If they are inconclusive for a second time, they become a reactor. Herds with reactors are ‘shut down’ under movement restrictions which means they cannot freely

move stock on or off the farm.

One of the hardest things about being a farm vet is dealing with TB failures. The tests alone can be a stressful time for our clients as a lot of planning and extra labour goes into preparing for and carrying out a TB test. But the implications and reality of a failure can be devastating. Finding the disease means the end of a life for that animal, which is very upsetting for everyone. But there is also the logistical, financial and mental stress that comes with it too. Thankfully a lot of support is available for farmers and vets. There is a huge amount of information on the TB Hub – visit https:// tbhub.co.uk/ This website will also signpost you to great support resources, with freephone and e-helplines available through The Farming Community Network and The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. As vets we are keen to try and treat this disease as we would any other infectious disease, and by doing so this should include protecting animals from exposure to the pathogen. So, in part two, in the next edition, I would like to discuss what advice we can give to our clients to help them protect their animals from TB.

Dispersal of the ‘Muriel’ Herd of 62 Pedigree Holstein Cows for P Baker (Removed from Leighfield Farm, Swindon, Wiltshire for convenience of sale)

SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE. The Dispersal of the Classified Leamon Herd of Pedigree Holsteins (240 head) for CV Salmon (removed from Westholme Farm, Pilton for convenience of sale)

SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE. The Christmas Cracker Show and Sale of Freshly Calved Cows, Heifers,

Others £96. Overall Ave £67.10. BREEDING EWES (204) to £143 (2x). FRIDAY 30TH BREEDING EWE SALE (459) to £122. GOATS (11) to £187. Overall ave £92.64. RAMS (12) to £225 (2x). Others £136. FRIDAY 30TH STOCK RAM SALE (72) to £610 for a powerful shearling. Others £470.

The West Country’s Gateway to National Abattoirs Returns for Monday 2nd November 2020

Others £1980. (1167) STORE CATTLE & STIRKS - FORWARD STORES (828) Steers to £1700 (AA). Others £1575 (LIMX) £1555 (LIMX) & £1530 (SIMX). Heifers to £1655 (LIMX). Others £1530 (CHX) £1330 (SIMX) & £1290 (AA). GRAZING COWS (26) to £1170 (SIMX). SUCKLERS (23) to £950. STIRKS (339) Steers to £1165 (BRBX). Others £1080 (CHX) £1075 (LIMX) & £1000 (CHX). Heifers to £860 (BAX). Others £725 (CHX) £710 (CHX) & £705 (2x) (BRBX & CHX). CALVES (456) - Beef Bulls to £250 (BRB). Others £242 (BRBX) £240 (4x) (HEX & BRBX) & £235 (CHX). Heifers to £300 (BRBX). Others £245 (CHX) £240 (2x CHX) & £228 (LIMX). Black & Whites to £75. (5297) SHEEP - STORE LAMBS (4110) to £121. Others £120 & £119. Overall Ave £83.12. CULL EWES & RAMS (1144) Ewes to £255. Others £248 & £240. Rams to £240. Overall Ave £85.52. BREEDING EWES (18) to £130. Overall Ave £106.36. STOCK RAMS (11) to £180. Overall Ave £140. GOATS (14) to £158. Overall Ave £129.36. (211) PIGS – WEANERS (87) to £36 (12x). FORWARD STORES (104) to £158. CULL SOWS (18) to £92. CULL BOARS (2) to £82.

PRIME CATTLE (93) Steers UTM av 187.4ppk to 213.5ppk & £1,327.28. Others 209.5ppk, 209.0ppk, 208.0ppk & 206.5ppk. Others £1,293.63, £1,287.00, £1,283.12, £1,280.30 & £1,261.77. Heifers UTM av 180.7ppk to 214.5ppk (2x) and £1,310.50. Others 204.5ppk, 204.0ppk, 199.0ppk (2x) & 197.0ppk. Others £1,233.42, £1,205.05, £1,201.20, £1,168.50 & £1,138.32. BARREN COWS (56) Continental av 118.5ppk to 119.5ppk and £808.40. Others 117.5ppk. Native Beef av 103.6ppk to 126.5ppk and £906.75. Others 124.5ppk & 118.5ppk. Others £882.97 & £861.77. Dairy av 97.8ppk to 113.5ppk and £966.89. Others 112.5ppk & 109.5ppk. Others £945.73 & £914.63. FINISHED SHEEP (654) Lamb ave 202.94ppk to 231.0ppk and £115.00. Others 230.0ppk, 220.0ppk & 219.0ppk. Others £113.00, £108.00 (5x) & £106.50.

The

West Country’s

Gateway to National Abattoirs Returns for Monday 21st November 2022

PRIME CATTLE (92) Steers UTM av 221.8ppk to 255.5ppk & £1,784.54. Others 252.5ppk, 252.0ppk & 249.0ppk. Others £1,713.15, £1,653.96 & £1,605.80. Heifers UTM av 219.3ppk to 259.0ppk and £1,582.49. Others 258.5ppk, 255.0ppk & 253.5ppk. Others £1,527.96, £1,459.62 & £1,435.32. BARREN COWS (73) Continental av 178.5ppk to 210.5ppk and £1,724.80. Native Beef av 157.4ppk to 178.5ppk and £1,438.65. Dairy av 137.2ppk to 177.5ppk and £1,479.81. FINISHED SHEEP Lambs (772) ave 240.22ppk to 268.0ppk and £150.00. Others 262.0ppk, 254.0ppk & 253.0ppk (4x). Others £141.00, £139.00 (2x) & £138.00.

Farming Bird flu and cost of egg production

By Ruth Kimber POULTRY

farmers are suffering two-fold – the rise in production costs, energy and feed well outweighing the revenue received from the buyers, mostly supermarkets. Then the constant worry from disease, bird flu in particular.

The recent egg shortages were predicted months ago. Egg producers went to their buyers asking for 20p a box of six increase, which in most cases was passed directly on to the shopper but not paid in full to the farmer. The result is many farmers didn’t buy new flocks to ensure continuous egg production.

The clear risks were just too high. If a flock succumbs to bird flu, only the remaining live birds are compensated for and the substantial clean up costs and ban on restocking for 12 months are clearly very risky. Insurance cover is not available either. With cost of production outweighing revenue, and the risk of bird flu, it’s hardly surprising there are now shortages.

As for ourselves, as Christmas turkey farmers we will be relieved when our birds

are gracing the tables of our customers. They have been housed since the government directive but seem quite happy They have plenty of space and toys to play with and are enjoying fallen apples.

As to next year, we will have a family conference and see what to do. There is talk of vaccination and there should be a different approach to compensation and cleaning costs. This disease is not of industry making, and if the public are to be fed with poultry meat and eggs, the costs have to be met.

We have small independent producers supplying our farm shop and have good security of supply. We are taking orders now and look forward to our own family gathering.

Paul and I took our zero-mower up to Cheshire to the maker for repair – it had suffered damage when a stone was picked up and entered the blowing chamber. The mower is 24 years old, made of good thick quality metal to a simple design. We were pleased the engineer was confident he could repair it.

We were then invited to see another part of his business which was water precision cutting. It was incredible how water under enormous pressure can precisely cut all manner of things – marble, granite, carbon of any thickness. The machine has many applications and produces tiny and large parts requiring accurate cuts and holes etc.

We stayed with my cousins from Creamore Mill, the maker of fine wooden objects for sale in our shop. Another craft engineering wonder.

Interestingly both these businesses were headed up by farmers’ sons! It’s well known – farmers have to adapt, learn many skills, be able to make and mend and improvise. Many a business has been built on these beginnings.

We will return to Cheshire to retrieve our mended mower after Christmas ready for zero grazing the cows in February.

n Kimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn; Linley Farm Charlton Musgrove BA9 8HD; Phone: 01963 33177; opening times Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-5pm, Saturday

QUALIFIED | EXPERIENCED | PROFESSIONAL

Cotleigh, Devon Guide £1,995,000 (whole) An attractive arable/stock farm with a generous and versatile 5/6 bedroom period farmhouse, set in an accessible location. Courtyard of traditional barns with potential and a range of modern farm buildings. Ring fenced by an excellent block of arable/pastureland together with off-lying pasture. In all 121.00 acres (48.97 ha). For sale as a whole or in up to four lots. Freehold. EPC D. CTB F. Ross Willmington, Axminster 0297 33122

Turnerspuddle, Dorset 15.17 acres (6.13 ha) of arable land and woodland, for sale by informal tender in two lots on 20 December 2022. Lot A. An attractive parcel of mixed broadleaved and conifer woodland extending to 10.04 acres (4.06 ha), with direct road access. Guide £80,000 Lot B. A single parcel of gently sloping arable land extending to 5.13 acres (2.07 ha), enclosed by mature hedgerows. Guide £70,000. Will Wallis, Dorchester

Clapton Guide £275,000

Sherborne

East

Castle

Winterbourne