The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

Welcome to the New Blackmore Vale

IT’S two years since the launch of the New Blackmore Vale magazine – and we want to say thank you.

This is our 53rd issue since we unveiled the publication in September 2020 and it has gone from strength to strength, thanks to your support.

The New Blackmore Vale reaches around 100,000 local people every fortnight and our dedicated team is determined to bring the latest, most relevant news and information to readers.

David Armishaw, of publisher New Blackmore Vale Ltd, said: “We have been delighted with the response from readers and advertisers alike to the magazine.

“We’ve been through the pandemic and more but continue to receive positive feedback as we aim to bring people news, information, features and advertising they want to read.

“It’s been a huge learning curve for us, but we are proud of our publication and it’s standing in the community.

“And that is down to you – our readers –and our loyal advertisers, who make it possible for us to keep you up to date with what’s happening in your community.”

Since the launch of the New Blackmore Vale, the company has gone on to launch the Purbeck Gazette and the New Stour & Avon The portfolio now reaches an estimated 500,000 people each month.

But it doesn’t end there. There are plans for a new magazine launch in Salisbury, hitting the shelves on October 17, as well as a magazine for Somerset.

Lloyd Armishaw said: “Our belief in local news for local readers has been at the core of the Blackmore Vale philosophy and we are so proud and thankful our readers agree.

“The support of readers and advertisers alike drives our team to make each edition better than the last. Thank you.”

Debi Thorne, advertising sales manager, said: “The feedback we get from our advertisers is overwhelmingly positive.

“Our publications get the response they need and our pages are full of the relevant news and information they want.”

Paul Jones, the newly-appointed editor in chief at Blackmore Vale Ltd, added: “Community is at the core of our work and our editorial team is proud of the response from local readers.

“We want to champion our area and people’s achievements and continue the New Blackmore Vale’s tradition of being the bible of the community it serves.

“Here’s to the first two years – and many more to come.”

For more information on The New Blackmore Vale magazine and the company’s other publications, log on to blackmorevale.net.

For advertising opportunities, contact Debi on 07714 289409.

Yours, the NBVM

Memories of HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Your tributes to and memories of the late Queen Elizabeth have been pouring in. Here’s just a selection of the wonderful stories and photographs we’ve received from NBVM readers…

Gone

by John Seymour

The stood in disbelief at what they now could witness there, They knew but could not yet accept the fact so raw and bare, Since laid before them was the truth of all so recent seen, Now for the first time understood – this was their dearest Queen.

For much had been the showing of events which bore the shock, And years of presence long relied when she had been the rock Upon which this fair realm and wide had stood in steadfast place, And she the constant which throughout had known no other face.

And though the thronging multitudes filed by it was still wholly strange

A surreal sight that there within she lay, which none can change, The thought that never more will she be here amongst us all, Was only slowly realised there in that silent hall.

Outside along the riverside the people came to voice, Their gratitude and last farewells for which they felt no choice But to attend this resting place to show respects and pause For just a brief and sombre chance to join this solemn cause.

From every corner and beyond they gathered queue on queue, Long lines of those compelled to mark the love which she was due, And welling sadness tinged with pride of all for us she stood, Peerless example of her vow lived as she said she would.

Then so as days slipped by we came to closure of so much, The pageantry and grandeur hid the truth that follows such magnificence. A funeral is grief and loss here seen, As there we knew the passing of our most beloved … Queen.

My small tribute to a Lady of extraordinary measure who went above and beyond the demands of an almost impossible role. My humble respects and admiration Ma’am.

Port Regis School

The Late Queen Elizabeth II visited Port Regis school, near Shaftesbury on 23 February 1991. At the time, her grandson Peter Phillips and granddaughter Zara Phillips were both at the school. During her visit the Queen planted a tree in commemoration and signed official photographs while children at the school gathered to greet her.

Vital role for local horsewoman

Captain Amy Cooper of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (RHA), on her horse Lord Firebrand, led the gun carriage as it conveyed the Queen’s coffin to the Palace of Westminster. Capt Cooper, 31 and from Motcombe, was selected by the commanding officer of The King’s Troop RHA to lead the gun team carrying the coffin.

Photographs courtesy Port Regis school

Photo by Sgt Jimmy Wise / UK

© Crown copyright 2022

In this picture sent in by Ned Sullivan, the late Queen Elizabeth II is pictured passing through Gillingham train station. David Wathen, Ned’s uncle and then town crier of Gillingham, greeted her.

Diamond Jubilee

Patrick Green writes: “I arrived early and attained a excellent advantage point at the entrance gate of the Abbey for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to Sherborne Abbey. The Queen passed me at a distance of 18in– if only she had turned round!”

A Mere subject

Caroline Cardozo was 11 when, in 1953, her mother took her and her sister to camp in Pall Mall, London, the night before the Queen’s coronation. Caroline’s mother had brought a little fold-up stool for her to sit on – this stool has since travelled the world with Caroline. In the family it is known as ‘the coronation stool’.

On 19 September 2022, 70 years later, Caroline travelled to Windsor with her cousins and great granddaughter. Arriving at the crack of dawn, Caroline took up her place beside the railings and sat on the stool that she has so carefully kept.

She returned home touched and exhilarated that she has lived through this

The Platinum Age

by Paul Hooley, MBE

THERE ARE CERTAIN events that occur during our lifetimes that are of such monumental significance we will remember, for the rest of our days and in the minutest detail, exactly where, when and in whose company we were when we became aware of their happening.

The events of 6 February 1952 remain etched in my mind with a clarity that astonishes me. The class of 10 year olds, of which I was a member, was typically noisy as we prepared for morning lessons. Within a nanosecond however, you could have heard a pin drop. The appearance of the Headmaster, Mr Piper, was an unusual occurrence but, as was the custom, we all immediately stood to attention.

From his demeanour and uncharacteristic hesitation I instinctively knew the Head was about to impart something of great importance. I was not wrong. “I am sorry to have to tell you” he began falteringly “that earlier today His Majesty King George VI died and I would like you all to remain standing in complete silence for a moment as a mark of respect to his memory”. After what seemed an eternity Mr Piper broke the silence with the words “We now have a new monarch – Queen Elizabeth II – God Save the Queen!”

At the Closing of Her Day

On 8 September this year, 70 years and 214 days later, that reign too came to an end as Queen Elizabeth II slipped quietly and peacefully away. In that now never-to-beforgotten moment I came to fully appreciate the true depth of Mr Piper’s feelings as, struggling to hold my own emotions in check, I informed my dear wife of the passing of our beloved Sovereign. We stood in silence for a moment before I, following the example set by my Headmaster 70 years earlier, voiced the words so many of us dreaded ever having to say: “We now have a new Monarch – Charles III – God Save the King”.

Over 600 years earlier, on 30 November 1601, in her final days and in failing health, Queen Elizabeth I addressed Parliament with what became known as the ‘Golden Speech’ of a ‘Golden Age’. In this address she stated with typical humility:

“I do assure you there is no prince that loves his subjects better, or whose love can countervail our love… and though God has raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown – that I have reigned with you loves… There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my subjects and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good

and safety than myself. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise, sitting in this state, yet you never had, or shall have, any that will be more careful and loving.”

Both Queens were 25 years old when they ascended to the throne and both their reigns were distinguished by their overwhelming sense of duty and a desire to serve their subjects. However Elizabeth II’s reign lasted 25 years longer than that of her illustrious predecessor, and she became the only Monarch in our island’s history to attain ‘Platinum’ status. Are then her life, times and achievements not worthy of being granted a higher position in the hierarchy of preciousness than the ‘Gold’ standard that has become synonymous with the name of the first Queen Elizabeth. I believe millions will think they are, and my great hope is that in the years to come Elizabeth II will be acknowledged as having been the ‘Platinum Queen’ and her reign, full of so many achievements and so much progress, as being worthy of the title ‘Platinum Age’.

Personal footnote

Fifty years after Mr Piper’s announcement, there was a greatly treasured occasion when Her Majesty graciously and literally touched my life. Having invested me as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, she thanked me for my service and shook my hand before pinning a medal on a chest swollen with pride. For a precious moment we were, to the exclusion of all others, the focus of each other’s attention. Throughout our brief encounter the smile never once left her face.

Following Her Majesty’s demise, and for the first time in many years, I opened the case to look at the award. It is beginning to tarnish, yet it will never be cleaned – at least not during my lifetime – for I realized that upon that token was the DNA of one of the most important people in our nation’s, if not the world’s, history who, as she had done so often throughout her reign, had honoured a humble and obedient servant with a humility that clearly demonstrated she truly was the Monarch with the common touch.

Caroline Cardozo with her great-grand-daughter Darcie Kerridge and the coronation stool

Samuel Day, who has cerebral palsy, is joining in with all his family’s activities thanks to Somerton & District Motorcycle and Light Car Club. Every year the club gives money raised at a charity motorcycle trial to a good cause and this year Samuel, 12, from Wincanton, was given £500 to help cover the cost of an X-Rover all-terrain buggy.

The buggy, which can be attached to a bike to allow family cycling trips, helps make everywhere more accessible so that Samuel and his family can be active together.

His mum, Katie, said: “We can go bike riding, walk through the woods, go to the beach and explore the coast as a family. It has made it possible to do so many more things outdoors together.”

Samuel is pictured (front) in the buggy with his sisters Pippa and Molly, and mum Katie, with, at the back (from left), Emily Boulton from the club, Samuel’s dad Jamie, Charlie Pattison from the club and club chairperson Sylvie Pattison.

Mission Possible for the air ambulance

OWNERS OF THE historic house Jo Sams and her husband Nigel Diment are holding the black-tie event on Saturday 8 October for the life-saving charity.

Tickets are on sale for the event which will include dinner provided by Molecular Magic and the Brighton-based Brass Monkeys combining live DJ sets with elements of live music playing favourite dance anthems and floor fillers.

Guests will be encouraged to support the air ambulance throughout the night, including through live and silent auctions.

Jo Sams said: “The DSAA are such a vital service for us all, yet they do not receive any direct government or lottery funding, relying solely upon the generosity of people like you and I. They help save lives and improve outcomes when we need them the most and it is this that drives our passion to contribute to their fundraising challenge through hosting the exciting gala ball at our home.

“Please help us raise as much as we can. You can do this by joining us for what will be a fantastic fun evening, chatting with me about sponsorship and/or advertising opportunities or making a donation using this link, www.collectionpot.com/pot/3008903. No matter how large or small every penny counts in making as many ‘Missions Possible’!”

DSAA fundraising manager Emma Jones said: “DSAA operates 19 hours a day providing a critical care service using our AW169 helicopter and critical care car. We also provide an enhanced care service for 12 hours a day using our outreach cars.

“Each life-saving mission our critical care team are tasked to costs about £3,000, so we are incredibly grateful for Jo and Nigel’s support in their mission to raise as much as possible.”

The reception starts at 6.30pm, with carriages at 1am. Tickets cost £90 and can be purchased individually or tables of ten are available for reservation. For enquiries and to buy tickets contact Jo Sams by emailing events@ilsington.house or by phoning 07919 488057.

Free school meals eligibility checker

Free school meals could save families up to £450 per child

THERE’S A LOT to think about now the children are back at school, so families on qualifying benefits are reminded to check if their child or children could receive a free school meal. It is easy to find out if you qualify for free school meals. Complete the confidential checker at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/free-school-meals or telephone 01305 221090. Parents in Somerset should call 0300 123 2224, and those in Wiltshire should go to parentportal.wiltshire. gov.uk to find out more and apply.

‘Mission Possible’, a gala ball being held at Ilsington House at Puddletown, is set to coin in the cash for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA)

Warning: energy scams

Over 1,500 fake emails have been reported in a month

ACTION FRAUD IS warning the public about a sharp rise in reports relating to fake emails purporting to be from Ofgem, the independent energy regulator for Great Britain. The emails claim that the recipient is due a rebate payment as part of a government scheme and provides links for the recipient to follow in order to apply for the rebate. The links in the emails lead to malicious websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

Over 1,500 phishing emails related to this scam have been reported via the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). All the emails display the email subject header “Claim your bill rebate now”. Offenders are using the Ofgem brand logo and colours to make the emails look authentic. However, the emails ask recipients to “apply for an energy bill rebate before September 2020”, which is what prompted many recipients to realise the emails weren’t genuine.

You can view examples of the fake emails by following @ CyberProtectUK on Twitter and Facebook, or instagram.com/ actionfraud.

Protect yourself

If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website.

Remember, your bank (or any other official source) will never ask you to supply personal information via email.

Forward any suspicious emails, even if you’re not certain they’re a scam, to report@phishing.gov.uk

For more information visit: www.cyberaware.gov.uk

Wimborne is planning for Christmas already!

The Save the Children Christmas parade will take place in Wimborne on Saturday 10 December, after its return last year.

The community event features bands, walking groups, floats, fire engines and vintage vehicles, and enjoys contributions from many local schools and organisations. The Mayor of Wimborne will be there as will the Snow Princess and, of course, special guest Father Christmas.

Children will be able to whisper their Christmas wishes to Santa at the East Dorset

Museum and he will give them a small early Christmas present free of charge.

This year’s event will be poignant, following the death of Margery Ryan from whose idea the first parade was held in 1989. What started as a handful of floats has grown to around 50 entrants, with a mini-funfair and music in the Square.

Anyone who would like to take part in the parade or help, including marshalling, should contact Alison Preston on 01202 889303 or Susie Gatrell on 01202 848897.

Exceptional Platinum Award-Winning Care Gold Standards Framework 2022

Exceptional Platinum Award-Winning Care Gold Standards Framework 2022

Cartoon capers

Cartoonists from all over the country – including the Blackmore Vale’s very own bagpiping cartoonist Lyndon Wall – headed to Shaftesbury recently for the Cartoonists Club of Great Britain convention…

The Cartoonists Club of Great Britain is the oldest cartoonists’ organisation in the UK and originated in 1960s’ Fleet Street. The convention gives cartoonists a rare chance to meet up in person, because they generally work at home alone.

The cartoonists enjoyed exploring in and around Shaftesbury, where they were hosted at the Ye Olde Two Brewers Inn in St James’s Street.

On the Friday of the convention they ventured out to Sixpenny Handley Brewery to enjoy a brewery tour and brewerythemed cartooning.

An open day was held on Saturday, during which members of the public could meet and engage with the cartoonists and see their work. The doodling didn’t stop there – by the end of a delicious meal at the pub, the paper tablecloths were covered in quirky cartoons.

On the Sunday the convention was

Marathon effort

Anyone who lives within a 10-mile radius of Shillingstone may have spotted charity worker Alice Chapman training for the London Marathon, which takes place this Sunday (2 October).

Alice works for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and will be raising money for the organisation which has provided practical, emotional and financial support to members of the Forces and their families since 1885.

This is Alice’s third marathon – she completed the last one about four years ago – and training after turning 40 has been challenging at times, although she has had the encouragement of 10-year-old daughter Olivia on longer runs.

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

The big cheeses in British cheese

The British Cheese Awards are set to return to the Bath & West Showground at Shepton Mallet for the biggest celebration of British cheese since the Covid-19 crisis began.

Among the 490 entries at the event on Wednesday 5 October are 20 new cheeses created since the awards last took place in 2019.

The 50-strong judging panel will be made up of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators, who will assess all entries from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in a single day.

Entries will be judged in individual classes during round one, as the panel decides on the Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners. During the second round, all Gold award winners from each category will be judged alongside one another to identify the category winners, before all category winners are judged during the final round to find this year’s Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion.

The 2022 Supreme Champion will be revealed during the British Cheese Awards Dinner on the evening of the event.

London Marathon runner Alice Chapman with daughter Olivia

Record-breaking beer festival fundraiser!

More than 1,500 beer lovers raised a glass and a record-breaking £13,638 for Dorset Mind at the Hall & Woodhouse Dorset Beer Festival this summer

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL beer celebration saw donations surpass the previous total of £10,900.

Dorset Mind chief executive Linda O’Sullivan said: “We’re extremely grateful to everyone that supported our charity partner’s festival. Held in our aid, this magnificent fundraising has come at a time where we’ve seen demand for our vital services rise – and so it will help us continue to support local people with one-to-one and group sessions, education and training across Dorset.”

Community roots

Toby Heasman, head brewer at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We are thrilled to have made such an impressive comeback after our two-year absence – due to the pandemic – and we were only able to achieve this through the loyalty and support of our local communities.

“Smashing our previous record is beyond what we predicted for this year’s target and we will raise a glass to thank everyone who attended and helped this become a reality.

“Being committed to enriching our communities from generation to generation puts our charitable activities at the very heart of business; we are well on our way to achieving our target of raising £1 million each year by our 250th birthday in 2027.”

Since launching in 2013, the festival has raised more than £64,638 for charities such as Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Macmillan Cancer Support, Blandford Opportunity Group, Alzheimer’s Society, Teddy20 and Together for Short Lives.

At the festival, guests gave by purchasing H&W’s own Badger Beer and a further 50 different beers and ciders from a range of other local brewers including 8 Arch Brewing Co and Cranborne Chase Cider.

Platinum Award-Winning Care 2022

We have been awarded this much sought after accolade for

work with

Standards Framework

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

Above: The Hall and Woodhouse Brewery, in Blandford Below: Paul Howes and Gary Hawkins were among the volunteers at the festival

Ride & Stride is a super success

Five Vale women raise £1,700 for Alzheimer’s Society

Five women have put their best foot forward and raised £1,700 for the Alzheimer’s Society in the Trek 26 Challenge around Stonehenge and Salisbury.

Lorna Julius, Cherry Rose, Gilla Primrose, Justine Kingsbury and Bryony Howlett, who were among 800 walkers raising money for the cause, took about eight hours to cover the course.

RECTOR OF SHERBORNE ABBEY the Rev Martin Lee sent the participants in Dorset Historic Churches Trust’s annual Ride & Stride off with a blessing.

Trust chairman Major General John Stokoe was also there to thank those taking part.

Hilary Leavey, one of the abbey’s Ride & Stride parish organisers, said: “Despite our deep sorrow at the death of Her Majesty I think it was the right decision to go ahead with Ride & Stride which raises badly needed funds for the maintenance of churches across Dorset.

“We are enormously grateful to those who contributed financially to the event, and to those who took part.

“One of our more senior participants walked a remarkable 17 miles during the course of the day. I suspect many younger people would be very hard pressed to achieve that but let’s hope some may try to do so in 2023.”

The women, from the East Stour, Marnhull and Sturminster Newton area, coined in the cash through several raffles with hampers from local businesses The Udder Farm Shop, Virginia Hayward, Friars Moor, Primrose Organic Produce and Chococo.

Lorna said: “It was so interesting to listen to walkers’ stories about their reasons for walking and then at the end see them achieve this massive challenge – with lots of blisters to show for it and aching limbs.

“The Alzheimer’s Society is such an amazing charity, and we are all so pleased to have helped to make a difference with all the support from raffle ticket buyers and the business hamper donations. It’s amazing what can be achieved when people pull together.”

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

(From left) Cherry, Bryony, Gilla, Lorna and Justine

Coming to a library near you this October, a busy calendar of events…

So much more than just a place to borrow books, local libraries also host a variety of fun FREE events for all the family

Anthea Allen, author of Life, Death and Biscuits, the inspiring memoirs of a critical care nurse on the Covid-19 front line, is giving a talk at Stalbridge Community Library on Thursday 6 October at 7pm, with wine and nibbles at 6.30pm. Tickets are £3 from Margaret Jackson on 01963 362038. Stalbridge Library. Friends, associate friends and library volunteers get in free.

Stalbridge Community Library has been a community-run library since 2013, entirely staffed and run by volunteers.

Sturminster Newton Library will be hosting a multitude of events this October…

On Thursday 27 October from 2:30–4pm, children can enjoy ‘Halloween Fun Time’ – various spooky activities! Suitable for children aged 3-plus. Booking is advised – visit Eventbrite online or call 01258 472669.

Every Monday morning from 10–10:30am (term time only), under-5s are welcome to sing alone at ‘Rhyme Time’; and every Thursday afternoon from 3–5pm, there’s ‘Lego Fun’ on offer for children aged 3-plus.

Every first Thursday of the month from 10am–12pm, Sturminster Newton Library Friends group host an informal coffee morning – drop in for refreshments and conversation.

Every second Friday of the month from 2:30–3:30pm, the library

hosts ‘Reminiscence’ – friendly chat to share fond memories over a cuppa. To find out more about any of the activites on offer at Sturminster Newton Library, please call 01258 472669.

Sherborne Library’s schedule of free activities includes ‘Easy BREEZY Activities’ for children on Saturday 1 October from 10–11am. Recycle a bread bag into a kite! Suitable for children aged 3-plus.

It’s ‘Halloween Family Fun Time’ on Tuesday 25 October from 2–3:30pm, with various spooky activities on offer! Suitable for families with children aged 3-plus.

If you want to develop your writing, you’ll love ‘Wild Writing’ – fun, friendly, free writing exercises with Sarah Acton for adults of all abilities. Pop along to the library from Monday 3 October for six weekly sessions from 11am–12:30pm.

On Friday 7 October from 2:30–3:30pm, Sherborne Library hosts ‘Small Mammals of Dorset’ – join Angela from Dorset Mammal Group to learn about our local mammals’ diets and lifestyles.

The library will host free health MOTs from the LiveWell Dorset team on Thursday 20 October from 9:30am–1:30pm. Drop by for a 10-minute wellbeing check and a chat.

Local author Christopher Carver will be revealing the inspiration behind his novels during his talk ‘From Fact to Fiction’ on Friday 21 October from 2–3:30pm.

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

Visit Greener Homes across the Vale

If you’re looking at ways to reduce the energy you use, cutting your carbon footprint and your energy bills, you’ll gather plenty of useful tips at the Dorset Greener Homes event.

Whether you are planning a new building, improving your current home, or picking up useful tips to cut down your fuel bills, you can talk to the people who have learnt from experience. The hosts are all willing to talk about what they’ve done and what they’ve learnt – and none of them are trying to sell you anything!

Colin Tracy, one of the organisers, said: “Some of the solutions are very ingenious, with energy saving measures from repurposed materials at very little cost, storing rainwater in tanks and zoning the heating in their homes. It is wonderful to see how people are making a difference.”

Plan your visit

Homes open around the Blackmore Vale include: Gillingham: See community buildings and one of the privately owned houses and hear about the features that support sustainable living. Threshold Cohousing Centre, Cole Street Farm, Cole Street Lane SP8 5JQ. Open Saturday 1 October, 3–5pm. Just turn up. Donhead St Mary: This three-bed detached house (built 2004) is now all-electric with new windows giving solar gain. 1 Dewey’s Place SP7 9LW. Open Saturday 8 October 10am–12.30pm; 2.30–5pm. Just turn up. Shaftesbury: 1930s terraced house now better insulated with green roofed extension, solar panels (pictured below right). Hosts exploring efficient use of gas heating. 51 Coppice Street SP7 8PF.

Open Saturday 8 October 10am–2pm. Just turn up. Shaftesbury: The community farm is run by a group of volunteers who grow food seasonally as naturally and sustainably as they can. Shaftesbury Homegrown, Breach Lane, SP7 8LF. Open Sunday 9 October 10am–1pm. Just turn up – on foot or bicycle as parking is very limited on the field.

Shaftesbury: Major ongoing works to this 1960s house include substantial insulation, new windows and internal remodelling for light and solar gain, air source heat pump. 1 Yeatman’s Close SP7 8LU. Open 8 and 9 October at 10am or 2pm for a tour.

Stour Provost: 500-yr-old former farmhouse that has been restored from semi-derelict state using traditional and renewable materials. Ground source heat pump, PV panels and Sonnen batteries. Hawkers Lane SP8 5LZ. Open Saturday 1 and Sunday 9 October 10am–3.30pm. Just turn up.

Fifehead Magdalen: South-facing house where hosts installed air source heat pump, solar panels and Tesla Powerwall. Hear about the link-up between Octopus Energy and Tesla. Appletree Cottage, Main Street. SP8 5RT. Open 1 and 2 October, tours at 10am, 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm. Please book through Eventbrite tinyurl. com/5n6kw97j. Click on ‘Register’ – it’s free.

Marnhull: 1970s house with improved windows and insulation, solar panels and Tesla battery. Weavers House, Burton Street DT10 1PS. Open 1 and 2 October, 10am–4pm. Just turn up.

Details of all the participating homes, times and booking instructions are at dorset.greenopenhomes.net. Open homes are free to visit and everyone is welcome.

Family Law Advice

Family Law Advice

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

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

To book an appointment please call us on 01747 852377

To book an appointment please call us on 01747 852377

Offices in Shaftesbury – Sturminster Newton – Gillingham

This October, be inspired by the environmental efforts of your friends and neighbours and gather practical advice from homeowners about how to adapt your house

Lost Summer, August 2022

Struck by the ‘false autumn’ happening in her family’s garden, a photographer reflects on the changes happening around us…

by Helena Miscioscia

It was August when I visited my family’s garden in Child Okeford, but it looked more like October and I was shocked to see so many brown crispy leaves already lying on the ground. I had read that the hot summer had ushered in what is known as a ‘false autumn’, in which some trees attempted to survive by conserving water and energy, effectively shutting down early for autumn.

Devon Wildlife Trust says “this ‘false autumn’ may be a sign of wider problems for wildlife in coming months…

When October and November do arrive the usual bounty of wild foods may already be depleted, leaving a real risk of scarcity

for birds and mammals.”

I thought about trying to capture this strange phenomenon through portraiture. My niece Evie was a willing model, and we entitled the series Lost Summer, August 2022. At first I thought she could symbolise false autumn somehow, tricking nature into thinking autumn had come early. But I realised that this wasn’t autumn after all, but a survival mechanism by the trees, so hopefully these pictures shows that Evie is the symbol of hope, of nature knowing what to do to protect itself.

I am not sure we will really know the effects of these long hot summers until next year, when we see which animals have made it

through hibernation. In years to come we may see that some tree species haven’t survived. We can all try to do our bit by being more sustainable every day, and speaking to our leaders to ensure climate issues are at the top of the agenda. Meanwhile, we have to hope that nature can adapt.

Bespoke kitchens, created to be the centre of your home

Planet Shaftesbury tackles light pollution

LIGHT POLLUTION WAS first identified as a problem by astronomers unable to see the stars in the night sky, but its consequences go much further.

Artificial light at night, especially bright white light, can disrupt our internal clocks and have profoundly negative effects on our mental and physical health, but this is just the tip of an iceberg of harm. Artificial light also disrupts the natural patterns of wildlife with devastating consequences from losing the ability to find prey and navigate. It is leading directly to the death of millions of birds each year and is the major driver of the insect apocalypse (studies suggest that 40% of insects will be extinct within the next few decades). What’s more, excessive light means wasted energy, contributing to our carbon

emissions and climate change. Shaftesbury has a track record of seeking to conserve biodiversity. Being close to the International Dark Sky Reserve on Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the town also has one of the best stargazing spots in the world on its doorstep. Light pollution is a concern for the town’s people and businesses. We must act now before it is too late. What can you do?

Simple fixes

Steve Tonkin, astronomy author, educator and local Dark Skies Advisor, says: “The solutions are at hand, are simple to implement, will have a net saving (of money, energy use and carbon emissions) and will not compromise security or our ability to safely work, travel and play at night.”

Steve is giving his illustrated talk, ‘The Right Light at Night’ at Shaftesbury Town Hall on Thursday 6 October, starting at 7.30pm (doors open from 7.15pm). Admission is free. Find out more about this and other Planet Shaftesbury projects at www.planetshaftesbury.org

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An illustrated talk at Shaftesbury Town Hall this October promises to offer illuminating solutions to the problem of unnatural light at night

International Dark-Sky Association/Steve Tonkin

David Phipp

David Phipp were established in 1972 as a family business with their first shop at Parley Cross.

Since then they have continued to grow and are proud to reach 50 years maintaining traditional values of very high customer service along with an enviable reputation for exceptional quality and choice of furniture across all the departments.

The David Phipp Autumn Anniversary Sale has savings of up to 50% off with additional special offers from leading brands throughout the showrooms.

David Phipp would like to thank all of their customers for their support over the successful 50 years of trading and welcome you to their 50th Anniversary celebrations.

A valuable archive

This page and opposite: stills from the annals of Shaftesbury High School capture students through the ages. Can you spot any familiar faces in the crowds?

by Faith Eckersall

From its smash-hit online film festival in lockdown, to a playwriting workshop for young people, to caring for an archive of documentary footage stretching back to 1905, the Windrose Rural Media Trust certainly lives up to its name.

Trevor Bailey, who helps run it from his Gillingham home, explains.

“The archive grew almost by accident, it started with people giving us their old film footage, things they’d acquired or shot, which covers a huge number of different aspects of life in our three counties”.

That footage ranges from the only known animation by Heath Robinson to a 1918 film made at the behest of James Ismay (brother of Bruce Ismay of Titanic fame), showing how a Dorset village community survived the impact of the First World War.

“We’ve used it in a whole variety of different projects which are relevant to the present as well as for nostalgia,” says Trevor.

Those projects include the week-long,

online film festival during lockdown which drew in a virtual crowd of 24,000. The work is popular with groups helping people with Alzheimer’s and with newcomers and established Dorset families alike.

They’ve also taken their show on the road to well over 200 occasions and their audiences, who runs into the tens of thousands now, always react appreciatively.

“People are most surprised about the changes in their area, even from, say, the 1960s until now,” says Trevor. “You tend to get different reactions – an awful lot of the rural population have come here quite recently and to them it’s a revelation, because they’ve never really encountered anything like this.”

Family ties

People with strong roots in Dorset tend to be the quieter ones but, says Trevor, occasionally, during a screening, people will recognise a person in the film and call out “That’s my granddad!”

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Windrose Rural Media Trust has been giving a voice to people living in the wilder areas of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire for 38 years

Some of the shows intersperse the footage with live interviews from people who lived and worked in the old days and occasionally, they have traditional music.

Other stand-out projects for him include oral history projects, video productions to assist people with mental health problems living in rural areas and a radio drama project, which was assisted by a Radio 4 playwright working with young people.

“We budgeted for six plays to be completed but ended up with 14,” says Trevor. “It nearly broke the budget but they had so much to say on so many subjects, from extreme fantasy to high social relevance, and only one person in the entire workshop dropped out – normally you’d get more. People really wanted to do it.”

He’s currently working on a project to help small local museums where people will be filmed talking passionately and knowledgeably about their favourite item in that museum. There is also a partnership with King's College London to produce a film about the history of the great historical pageant movement which began in Sherborne in 1905.

Funding drive

This lava flow of accomplishment is even more amazing when you consider that Windrose Trust actually has no formal

funding. “We work on a project-by-project basis, applying for grants and funding as we can,” says Trevor.

What he and his fellow volunteers would really like is some permanent funding: “Even £5,000 or £10,000 a year,” and younger volunteers to help carry the charity forward.

While they wait for this to happen, they can be supported by Gift-Aided regular donations and also by sales of DVDs and CDs of their projects and movies from their website shop.

Why history matters

And, in the meantime, Trevor is keen to explain the real importance of Windrose Trust’s perhaps less considered role in the community it serves.

“You can use the experiences people have in seeing what we do to get them to reflect on change in their own community,” he says. “We think this helps people to have a longer perspective about the place where they live.”

And that’s vital, because: “It lays the foundations for much more sensible decision-making today. It means you’re not just thinking about the here and now but looking at something in a much longer timescale.”

Find out more about the Windrose Media Trust at windroseruralmedia.org.

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Pre-loved books are perennially popular with Dorset residents

Who doesn’t love the history, the smell, the aesthetic of vintage books? Get your fix at the annual Sherborne Book Fair this October

by Faith Eckersall

When the BBC screened its epic production of War and Peace, a funny thing happened in Sherborne’s Chapter House Books.

“Suddenly, I had loads of people coming in and asking for a paperback copy,” says proprietor and self-confessed bibliophile, Claire Porter.

“Even though they could get it on their Kindles and e-Readers, it seems that because it was so long and so complicated, people wanted it in a physical version, so they could flip backwards and forwards between the pages and concentrate more.”

Running a secondhand bookshop gives you insights such as these, she says. “You can see what the population is like in an area from the books they choose. We have a lot of military history book sales and poetry is good, too.” These reflect the numbers of ex-military people who live around the Blackmore Vale and the love of literature in this part of the world.

Sales of art books may reflect the number of art groups in the area, but Sherborne-ites and others in Dorset itself seem less keen on local books, she’s noticed. “They don’t go as well.”

People are also less keen on buying books about Royalty although, with the sad death of the Queen, she wonders if that will change. “Booksellers are always being contacted and approached by people with book collections to sell,” she says. “One thing I’m

always being offered, although they don’t sell at all, are the illustrated publications for King George VI, or George V and Queen Mary. People seem to want to buy the mugs and things but not books.”

What does sell well? It depends on the person who’s doing the buying, but some sports books, perhaps the memoir of an early Olympic winner may do very well, as they can have short print runs with fewer copies available.

Claire, who studied finance but always dreamed of running a bookshop before she embarked on her chosen career, is definitely a book rather than an e-Reader person. One of the reasons e-Readers have gained popularity, she believes, is because: “New homes aren’t built to take books any more, you don’t have the little inglenooks and places beside the fire to put shelves in.” Not something you could accuse Sherborne’s venerable housing stock of lacking.

Those who love an actual book will be delighted to hear that Chapter House will be one of a number of bookshops and dealers attending the annual Sherborne Book Fair on 15 October.

The event has been running in the town for more than 40 years, and is another strong indication of the area’s appetite for reading, says Claire.

She champions secondhand tomes, partly for their ecofriendliness as a re-used item but also because of their sheer physicality. “I love the inscriptions you sometimes get in secondhand books; stuff like: ‘From Auntie Bunny to my favourite god-child’ and I love the smell of a secondhand bookshop,” she says. “There’s something very comforting about them and even when I was closed for a year during the pandemic, I could still come in here and be embraced by books.”

Sherborne Book Fair takes place on Saturday 15 October from 10am-4pm at Digby Memorial Hall. Find out more about Claire’s collections at chapterhouse-books.co.uk.

Blandford Autumn Fair

The Friends of Blandford Community Hospital are once again organising their big annual Autumn Fair at The Corn Exchange, Blandford.

Lots of tempting bargains will be on offer at the event on Saturday 29 October from 9.30am to about 3pm.

Suzanne Leighton, charity shops manager for the hospital friends, said: “We will be holding a raffle and have some great prizes, all donated by the local community including a three-course dinner at Plumber Manor, a round of golf for up to four at the Ashley Wood Golf Club, a £50 Hall & Woodhouse voucher, pamper hamper and many more prizes generously given by local businesses.”

A new range of Christmas cards will also be on offer at the fair and in the charity shops at Blandford and Sturminster Newton.

Claire Porter of Chapter House Books, Sherborne

(From left) Princess Ava Broom, attendants Jessica Nugent and Amelia Robert-Fuoco, Prince Kenan Robinson and pageboys Owain Murphy and Shelby Crew.

It’s a harbour full house!

Sherborne man completes mission to sail to every harbour in the British Isles after three and a half years

Three years and five months after leaving Dartmouth on his voyage to meet every harbour master in the British Isles, retired businessman Mark Ashley-Miller returned to his home port of Dartmouth on the final day of the Royal Regatta.

Mark, who lives near Sherborne, was welcomed back by Paul Britton, the 210th harbour master he has met on his odyssey sailing around the country clockwise. The journey has taken him into every nook and cranny of England, Scotland and Wales with a friendly welcome in more than 250 harbours and ports.

Highlights include sailing the Bristol Channel to Sharpness, into Liverpool Docks, visiting most of the Scottish Islands including St Kilda, rounding the top of Shetland, exploring far up many a river including the Tay, Forth, Tyne, Tees, Humber and Thames, and venturing into seldom visited harbours in north-east Scotland, The Wash, Essex and Kent.

Every harbour master he met has given Mark a fascinating interview ready for his forthcoming talks and book.

His return was organised by the chairman of Dartmouth Regatta, Ed Botterill, and Mark’s boat, a 34ft Nauticat called Good Dog, was invited to take part in the Jubilee Parade of Sail. Mayor David Wells joined the welcome along with assistant harbour master Jack Handley, who waved Mark off in March 2019.

Mark said: “It must be the slowest circumnavigation ever planned but I now know nearly every mile of the British coastline and urge people to explore our amazing country. As for a travel

guide, you could not ask for a more experienced person than a local harbour master!”

It is estimated there are nearly 300 harbour masters in Britain and Ireland, but no-one knows! Next year Mark hopes to finish the challenge by circumnavigating Ireland and visiting the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

So far he has raised nearly £20,000 for The Seafarers’ Charity.

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(L to R) Dartmouth assistant harbour master Jack Handley, Mark Ashley-Miller, harbour master Paul Britton, Dartmouth Mayor David Wells and Dartmouth Regatta chairman Ed Botterill

Power up your car in Sherborne

THE EXPANSION TO the existing electric vehicle (EV) charging network will see a combination of fast (22kW), rapid (50kW) and ultra-fast (150kW) charging units installed across Dorset – the latter allowing users to charge 100 miles in just 10 minutes.

Christopher Whitehouse, Dorset Council’s transport projects officer, was delighted about the newest installation at Old Market car park in Sherborne (pictured).

He said: “As project manager, it’s exciting to see the first charge point of this year’s ambitious installation programme go live. We hope this will encourage householders without space for

their own charge point to consider making the switch to an electric car.”

Increasing the number of EV charging points available to Dorset’s residents and visitors is a key action in the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and will be essential if Dorset hopes to meet the Government target of becoming a carbon neutral county by 2050.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “In rural counties like Dorset, car ownership is among the highest in the country.

“By increasing the provision of charging points, we hope to

the infrastructure needed to encourage more car owners in Dorset to choose electric vehicles.”

Points across the Vale

The new charging points, which are being installed by Joju Charging, are planned for the following locations in the Vale: Culverhayes car park, Sherborne; Station Road car park, Sturminster Newton; Church Lane car park, Blandford Forum; Old Market Yard car park, Sherborne.

To view the locations of all

Dorset’s charge points, visit www.zap-map.com

Plans to extend Dorset’s charging network further are taking shape, with the council announcing last month it had successfully secured funding to improve charging infrastructure in more rural parts of the county. This next phase is expected to begin in the new year.

For more information on electric vehicle charge points in Dorset, including where to find them, how to use them and how much they cost, visit www. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

The number of public charge points for electric vehicles is on the up, with the first new charging unit installed in Sherborne this month

A shipwreck with Vale connections

Dorset author and former commercial diver Kevin Patience has published a 70-page book on one of Cornwall’s tragic shipwrecks

The loss of the German sailing ship Hera cost the lives of 19 sailors with five survivors in early 1914. Kevin’s book tells the story of this magnificent four-masted barque’s history from its launch in 1886 to its sinking near Nare Head along the coast from Falmouth in the teeth of a howling gale.

The local doctor, Martin Clover, kept a ledger diary of the events of that night and his subsequent assistance to the German families who visited the grave of their loved ones.

Kevin’s interest in the Hera started in 1970 when, with members of the RAF St Mawgan Sub Aqua Club, he found the wreck. Nearly 50 years later he attended the centennial celebration of the sinking at Veryan church and met a woman who had been at the funeral as a baby. This led to months of research worldwide, during which Kevin discovered that a local photographer, Edward Bragg, had covered the funeral of the crew at Veryan church.

Family history groups and the census produced the interesting revelation that Edward and his family later moved to the High Street, Blandford Forum. After separating from his wife he returned to Cornwall, while his wife moved to Wonston where she died in 1923 and is buried in the churchyard at Hazlebury Bryan. Edward died in Cornwall in 1928 and is also buried at Hazlebury Bryan. Buy Kevin’s book for £10 including postage in the UK. To place your order email saburi@hotmail.com or phone 07974 350979.

Local MP Dr Andrew Murrison (pictured) got his hands dirty when he helped plant hundreds of saplings in a four-acrefield between Wardour and Tisbury.

Climate Change Activist planted more than 400 trees in March and is now planning another planting session on Saturday 15 October.

Find out more at www.climatechangeactivists.org/details

The return of a steam icon

The Flying Scotsman, the most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the world, is to visit Swanage Railway for almost three weeks this October

The 97-tonne A3 class locomotive, completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), will be on the Purbeck heritage line from Wednesday 19 October to Sunday 6 November.

Flying Scotsman, which cost £7,944 to build, was named after the prestigious London to Edinburgh express train service the locomotive helped to operate – the journey time being eight hours.

During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive in the UK to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.

A late 1940s Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage (known as Car 14), which Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in the USA in 2007 where it was a static bar, will be coupled behind No. 60103 Flying Scotsman

Swanage Railway’s volunteer commercial director Marcus Alldrick said: “The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the Railway has been successful in its bid to again host Flying Scotsman, which celebrates its centenary on 24 February 2023.”

The steam locomotive will be hauling passenger trains from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden from Saturday 22 October to Wednesday 26 October – with ticket-only access to stations for the public. It will be on static display at Swanage station on Thursday and Friday 20-21 October, and again from Thursday to Sunday 27 October to 6 November, with ticket-only access to visit the footplate.

Swanage Railway Trust trustee and Swanage Railway Company chairman

A walk around… Bishop’s Caundle

PARK IN THE lay-by on the A3030, not far from the church, which might now be open. Unusually it is build at an angle of about 70 degrees instead of east to west, 90 degrees, as has been the convention since the Synod of Whitby in 664AD. Maybe it’s on the footprint of an older, Celtic, church.

There’s a cemetery over the road and in it are quite a few graves of the Loder/Loader family (both spellings next to each other). Our MP, Chris Loder, confirms that this is his family’s nest.

Walk along the road to the north east for a short distance then turn left and head up a path leading northwards which takes you across several fields, crossing the parish boundary into Stourton Caundle, then, at Holtwood, turning left heading west following the parish boundary on the north side of Bishop’s Caundle Wood.

Now turn left and head south along Holt Lane for half a mile then take a path which takes you across fields east then south east

attendants serving champagne and canapés to passengers on board the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage, Pullman passengers will have a rare chance to enjoy the delights of travelling in style behind, and watching, the world’s most famous steam locomotive as it travels through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.”

Book your tickets to any of these events at more online at the Swanage Railway website www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events.

back close to the church. Cross over the main road and a short distance to the south west you’ll find a path leading south and crossing a field to meet Ryall’s Lane, which takes you east then, at a corner, carry on along a hollow way called Blind Lane.

On reaching the main road turn left and almost immediately take a footpath taking you back west to a hamlet, Caundle Wake, where you turn right, north, up a road for 100 yards then west along a footpath crossing fields and a road. Then turn right and head north along a path that takes you back to within sight of your car.

If you haven’t got lost you’ll have walked about 4 miles.

Mike Searle

Retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade guides you on an brisk exploration of Bishop’s Caundle, including an unusual church

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

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

Matthew Findlay, Head of UK Trails for Sony Music/Raymond Gubbay Ltd, said: “We were thrilled with the fantastic response from visitors who enjoyed the trail last Christmas and our planning and preparation for 2022 is already well underway. Look out for some new surprises this year.”

Be transported into a winter wonderland in this unique landscape. Discover the iconic Christmas Cathedral created with more than a thousand pea lights woven into the forest landscape. Marvel at the ‘sea of light’, neon stars wrapping trees and stunning Super Nova. Pause to reflect at the mesmerising, flickering flames in the fire garden, enjoy the larger-than-life light installations and don’t forget to wave at Father Christmas along the way.

Independent street food vendors bring a

delicious twist with tasty treats on offer.

Complete your walk under the stars with a *spiced winter warmer or *hot chocolate shared with friends and family. Everyone loves toasting a marshmallow over an open fire and the artisan *marshmallow stall gives visitors the chance to warm their hands and enjoy this sweet outdoor tradition.

Christmas at Stourhead provides a special way to celebrate the festive season with an unmissable outdoor experience. The trail is designed for all ages and is accessible for all to enjoy.

Christmas at Stourhead

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

Advanced tickets from:

Adult £21.50, Child £15.00 (Age 3-16), Family £71.00 (2 adults + 2 children).

Parking £8 per car, free for National Trust members when booked in advance.

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TICKETS ON SALE – EARLY BOOKING ADVISED CHRISTMAS AT STOURHEAD

The magical after-dark illuminated trail

Then & now: Fonthill Abbey

Built between 1796 and 1813 at Fonthill Gifford, this gothic folly, which was subsequently filled with art, was the brainchild of slaveowner William Beckford. By 1821, however, he was overcome with debts from the build, estimated at around £145,000 (approximately £15 million in today’s money) and put the Abbey up for auction.

September 1822 saw around 700 sightseers visit the abbey after it was handed over to auctioneer James Christie.

This year sees the second centenary of the scheduled auction date, 17 September 1822 and to commemorate Gold Hill Museum are putting on an exhibition ‘Fonthill Fever’ until 31 October.

Unfortunately the central tower collapsed in 1825, leaving little of the building standing today.

Left: An engraving of Fonthill Abbey, showing the Lancaster Tower on the left as it was at the time of the sale in September 1822, appeared in Delineations of Fonthill, now a collector’s item,

Photo courtesy Goldhill Museum Archives, produced by Shaftesbury printer, published by John Rutter

Far left: Lancaster Tower of Fonthill abbey in 2017, with a modern house belonging to Mr and Mrs Morant in the background

Photo courtesy Goldhill Museum

Left: Sidney Blackmore, Secretary of the Beckford Society and curator of Gold Hill Museum’s ‘Fonthill Fever’ exhibition with scale model of Fonthill Abbey, kindly loaned by Beckford’s Tower and Museum

Photo by Ian Kellet

Don’t despair, repair!

operation of the Repair Cafe, although if a specialist part is required to fix an item visitors will be helped to source the part.

IT USED TO be common for people to repair their possessions but the cheap convenience of buying a replacement has turned us into a throwaway society, where landfills are full of items that could be fixed and reused.

Gillingham Repair Café, which meets at the Vicarage School Room, is looking to turn the tide and repair items that would have otherwise been thrown away. The Repair Cafe is part of a global movement focused on repairing broken items destined for landfill.

At the Gillingham Repair Cafe a team of multi-skilled volunteers bring together their expertise at fixing a wide range of items including electronics, electrical items, bikes, phones, homewares, clothing, knitwear and more. Recent repairs include vacuum cleaners, printers, toys, clothing, wetsuits, school uniform, luggage and lamps.

Repairs are free of charge, with a voluntary donation to support the

Visitors are encouraged to learn how to fix their own items or enjoy refreshments in the Eden community cafe while they wait for their repairs to be completed.

Gillingham Repair Cafe opens on the second Saturday of every month between 12.30-3.30pm at the Vicarage School Room in Gillingham. The next event is Saturday 8 October.

Follow @gillinghamrepaircafe on Facebook and Instagram or email gillinghamrepaircafe@gmail.com to find out more.

Gillingham Repair Cafe aims to reverse the tide of our throwaway society, helping you save money in the process

Is there a future for rural churches?

With small parishes struggling to recruit and retain clergy, and many church buildings in desperate need of repair, those in rural congregations are questioning Church’s priorities by Jane Martin and Michael Martin

investment year. Eventually, after first refusing, it is now promising to spend some of its reserves on rural parishes. Whether this money ever reaches us is doubtful: it will inevitably be spent on the deficits accumulated by the dioceses.

THE COVID PANDEMIC had a devastating effect on the finances of the Church of England. It decimated what little reserves each deanery (the local divisions of the Church of England) had, as well as their constituent parishes. All of this has had a serious and long-term effect on rural parishes.

Money for the Church of England comes from several sources, but what each diocese relies on is the money collected from parishioners. In the halcyon days of yesteryear, the money collected by parishes was mainly used locally for upkeep of the church, the minister and local charity. Parishes also paid their diocese an annual ‘quota’ to cover the costs of clergy training, housing and pensions. Then the Church of England made some disastrous investments and lost billions. To overcome their losses, the Church of England turned the quota into a ‘Parish Share’ – a yearly tax based on the number of participants in church. Although dioceses may use slightly different ways of estimating the Share, basically the potential contribution of each parish is calculated from wealthy to poor and the Parish Share adjusted according to the diocesan formula. The amount paid to the diocese can be substantial. In our parish with a regular congregation of 40 this amounts to over £20,000. Over the years, poor financial planning and, more recently, Covid have exposed the failure to look after reserves, and the sometimes reckless expenditure by

some dioceses on new initiatives, most of which have failed to produce any significant results. Dioceses have found themselves facing serious deficits and have taken draconian action.

Selling off property

The first decision most dioceses took years ago was to sell-off their most attractive rural parsonages. More recently, they have slashed drastically the amount of money spent on training ministers (often candidates for the ministry have to pay for their own training). In the case of Bath and Wells, only £0.6 million out of an income of about £13 million is spent on training new ministers. The result of this cut is that there is a shortage of ministers and many parishes have vacancies – no priest of their own. The parishes most hard hit by this are the rural parishes, which tacitly have become almost expendable. The clergy are being asked to take on more and more parishes to cover the shortfall. Not unnaturally, many who want to preserve a life outside of their ministry have resigned, making the problem more acute.

Church or business?

The financial position of the Church of England is quite extraordinary. The published reserves of the Church of England were in excess of £9.5 billion last year. It paid its stockbrokers over half a million ponds in fees for a very successful

The Archbishop of Canterbury has just hosted the Lambeth Conference for all bishops and senior clerics worldwide and their spouses. One wonders what this has cost? We rely on the archbishop and the dioceses for two things: Spiritual leadership and clergy. During the Covid pandemic there was a marked paucity of leadership and even when the pandemic eased, we were locked out of our churches for private prayer. Although there is an acute shortage of clerics in the rural parishes, there was a concomitant expansion in the number of bishops. At present we have over 160 bishops in England; do we need that many? If only a small proportion of the money spent on bishops, archdeacons and their retinues was saved, more could be spent on rural parishes and keeping churches open.

An undervalued asset

Sadly, this is a very depressing story. Church of England membership is declining and will continue to do so. Unless the Church of England starts to recognise the importance of rural parishes, more churches will close and the income of dioceses through Parish Share will also decline. You will see more ‘festival churches’ only open at Christmas and Easter. There were also be more churches permanently closed or deconsecrated and sold off for alternative use. What is clear is that the Church of England is slowly letting rural churches wither on the vine into extinction. NB the views expressed are those of the authors.

Bath & Wells response…

The NBVM asked the Diocese of Bath and Wells for comment. It responded: “All of us individuals, parishes, deaneries and the diocese are experiencing financial pressures, but we are committed to finding our way through it together and growing God’s Kingdom in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.”

St Michael’s church in North Cadbury, one of the many churches in the Vale that’s suffering with the financial cuts from on high

Our Loose Canon comments…

We asked our man with the inside track on Church matters to add his thoughts to those of Jane and Michael Martin (opposite) on the matter of our struggling rural churches by Canon Eric Woods

I MUST BEGIN with a disclaimer. I have never lived nor worked in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and so cannot comment on the church scene in Somerset. But Jane and Michael Martin’s thoughtful article about the future for rural churches will resonate with Anglicans throughout the country. And I fear the pitifully short and anodyne response from the diocese will do nothing to allay their fears and suspicions.

I use the word “suspicions” because there is a deep-seated conviction in many congregations that the growing army of ecclesiastical managers and middle-managers – bishops, archdeacons and administrators – just don’t level with them about diocesan aims and objectives. Left in the dark, without any real attempt by the dioceses to explain either process or prospects, congregations dread losing their vicar or rector to another post or retirement. They know – because they see it happening around them – that any of the following can result. First, that the interregnum (the period between the departure of their parish priest and the arrival of the next) will be much longer that it used to be. I arrived in Sherborne in 1993, seven months after my predecessor left. There is one benefice near me where the recent interregnum lasted for the best part of three years.

Second, the diocese may try to amalgamate the benefice (which may contain several parishes) with another multi-parish benefice, thereby spreading the little bit of butter – the parish priest – ever more thinly. And then they wonder why no-one applies for the job.

Third, the diocese may try to have the smallest churches

declared redundant. I have myself heard more than one of those “middle-managers” describing these churches as “expendable”. They forget that, often built by the local community, these churches have been serving their parishioners for centuries, and still do. Look at the register of a tiny village church with a regular weekly congregation of fewer than 20, and you may well discover that in a single month it has touched the hearts and lives of over 500 people through christenings, weddings and funerals. And the village church is where people go to celebrate or commemorate national events, too, from the Platinum Jubilee to the death of Her Late Majesty. As the current Bishop of Exeter has said, “a small church is not a failed church, any more than a satsuma is a failed orange.”

An accelerated decline?

Meanwhile, the one thing of which those fearful congregations can be sure is that “no vicar” does not mean “no parish share”. Bureaucracy must be fed. Which is why it is scandalous that there are 42 duplicative diocesan bureaucracies in England. In 2020 only 9% of the Church Commissioners’ investment income of about £500 million was spent on parish ministry. Also in 2020, rural parishes, accounting for 24% of the population, contributed 44% of total parish giving.

I am suspicious that the managers and middle-managers of the CofE are trying to destroy what is still a viable parish system, offering vital, local, pastoral care. A closed church tells us one thing: the CofE is accelerating its own decline. It is all so unnecessary.

LATE

SEPTEMBER HAMMER

£2,200

£6,500

Could you be a Treacle Eater?

Treacle Eater Clog North-West Morris Dancers and musicians are making plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary – and seeking new recruits along the way…

The Treacle Eater Morris side was formed in 1983, and has danced at venues throughout Dorset and Somerset continuously since then. In addition to dancing outside pubs and by village greens as part of their summer programme, Treacle Eater has enjoyed Morris dancing weekends and festivals, and twinning events in locations from Cornwall to Derbyshire and in Wales, Jersey, France and Italy.

A rich history

The dances have their roots in the cotton mills of industrial North-West England, where dancers wearing brightlycoloured costumes and decorated clogs were a feature of carnival processions and Bank Holiday celebrations.

The loud and lively big band play traditional English folk music for the dancing on a

range of musical instruments including an accordion, melodeon, fiddles and drums.

Treacle Eater plans to make 2023 a season of celebration with dancing and music at great locations followed by good food and drink. In April, the group will celebrate St George’s Day and will go to Exeter to dance around the city and outside the cathedral as part of the Joint Morris Federation Day of Dance.

On May 1 the group will welcome summer by dancing on Ham Hill to greet the dawn at 5.30am. These events will be followed by fetes, festivals and frolics at various locations.

Join in the fun

Treacle Eater is inviting potential new dancers and musicians to a ‘Have a go at North West Morris Dancing’ evening on Monday 3 October

at 7.30pm at Rimpton village hall, Back Lane, Rimpton BA22 8AD (between Sherborne and Marston Magna). Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is necessary and trainers or similar footwear is recommended. More

information is available on the group’s website, www.treacleeaterclog.org.uk, or its Facebook page /treacleeaterclog. Alternatively, phone 07974 590927 to speak to Jenny or email secretary@ treacleeaterclog.org.uk.

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Magical tiny worlds

Leonard Martin, based in Charlton Marshall, Blandford, is a dolls’ house enthusiast. But he doesn’t collect them, he actually creates them, all built to a scale of 1:12. NBVM went to meet the craftsman behind this collection of miniature buildings

by Katrina Ffiske

LEONARD MARTIN’S GARDEN in Charlton Marshall is home to two marvellous sheds. This treasure trove of tools and tiny buildings is where Leonard spends most of his spare time, painstakingly crafting model worlds that exactly replicate reality.

On a trestle table in one of these sheds, Leonard has set out a line of buildings for us to look at: a 1930’s garage, an antique shop and a grand Knight’s Templar hall. The exteriors and interiors are all immaculate and the details are finely worked, from the post box on the wall of the garage to the tools lined up on the wall above the hand-made work bench, even down to a car door lying on the bench waiting to be mended. Shields and armoury, hand crafted and painted by Leonard, hang on the walls of the Knights Templar hall. The table is set ready for a meal; a stag’s head hangs above the mantlepiece. No detail is overlooked: the hand-moulded plaster ceilings are coated with 24ct gold leaf; the outside of the house boasts 720 quoin stones and over 4,000 mock stones made from cardboard.

Your imagination drifts to other worlds and other times as you peer through the doors of Leonard’s miniature creations…

A labour of love

Leonard spends 12 hours a day working on his models. If he can, Leonard will create all the items in his models from scratch, or commission another artist. “I am passionate about creating things and will always try to make things from scratch if I can,” he says. “I try to limit what items are bought. I like to mould, bake and paint the food. I will cast mouldings for the walls and paint them, and obviously I make the furniture.”

Leonard’s biggest project, Langdon House, houses hand-painted oils by an Egyptian artist; floor boards are individually laid and polished, marble is painstakingly painted onto carved pillars and stair cases are hand-made and carved.

Langdon House took Leonard 26 years to finish. “I think I probably spent more than a third of my life working on this model,” he explains. “I wanted to build something to commemorate my mother Pearl and my brother Kenneth, who sadly both died. In 1987 I drew a picture of my perfect home; I based it on the Georgian

style because I loved that period of architecture. And I spent the next 26 years creating what would become Langdon House, which is 6ft 2ins long and 3ft 6ins tall. It takes four men to lift it from room to room.”

Learned passions

Leonard was always creative. “My mother was a seamstress and had me doing crochet and needlework from a very early age,” he explains. “I am so grateful to her, because it gave me the patience you need to make miniature things.” This talent runs in the family – his brother, based in Gozo, spent 18 months hand-stitching the main stair carpet. The finished article was taken to Wilton carpets to be trimmed.

Early in his career, Leonard made displays for John Lewis. “John Lewis had the fourth floor in Bills of Bournemouth. The big event was Bills’ Christmas Grotto and the Easter Farm in the toy department. It’s amazing to look back at it. I created miniature farms and they would bring in live chicks, goslings and bunnies to run around the farm. It was so popular, people came from miles around.”

Leonard continues to spend hours in his garden shed making miniature buildings and objects, some of which are for sale. If you’d like to know more you can call

If you go down to the woods today

From a fungus that oozes a blood like substance to a beetle that lives in a cocoon made from faeces – welcome to the weird and wonderful wildlife of our woods

THE WOODLAND TRUST has compiled a list of ten unique, beautiful and in some cases rather gruesome species in our woods, many of which are under threat.

Some will be unknown to most, one or two may be more commonly recognised, but all have a unique tale to tell.

The Woodland Trust’s recent State of the UK’s Woods and Trees report showed that woodland wildlife is declining, and only seven per cent of our woodlands are in good ecological condition.

Alastair Hotchkiss, conservation advisor at the Woodland Trust, believes we need to act now to protect and restore nature. He said: “Now more than ever before, with the climate change and biodiversity crises, do we need to protect and restore the UK’s natural environments.

“These 10 species are just the tip of the iceberg of secrets that our woodland habitats hold. Every species can tell us a story, everything has a role to play, and we have so much still to learn. We must do our best to make sure we don’t lose them.”

themselves from as high as 30ft up a tree, with just their mother’s calls of encouragement as they tumble. One of many species that rely on the unique combo of woods and water, these birds are scarce breeders in the UK, but they roam across the UK during the winter.

the trunks of oak trees and sometimes on stumps. The species is an ‘ecosystem engineer’ – decaying the heartwood of oaks, hollowing out ancient trees and leaving the biscuit-like red rot inside to provide life to hundreds of other species of invertebrates and fungi, and holes for nesting birds and other tree-hole dwelling wildlife.

String-of-sausages lichen (Usnea articulata)

As the name suggests, this lichen resembles a miniature string of sausages, although their glaucous colour is less appetising. Despite its silly name, it tells a tale of a serious problem; like many lichens, the string of sausages is extremely sensitive to air quality and is mainly restricted to places well away from the worst of industrial pollution. Recent evidence has revealed that Usnea lichens have anti-cancer properties, effective against human breast and lung cancer cells.

Knothole yoke-moss (Zygodon forsteri)

This moss is globally rare, surviving at just three sites in Britain. This is because of its extreme specialism, another which is entirely reliant upon the variety of microhabitats provided by ancient and veteran trees – it is water-filled rot-holes in living trees that take this species’ fancy. Most of the trees it survives on are ancient beech pollards in the New Forest, and London outskirts like Epping and Burnham Beeches. A perfect example of why protecting our ‘living legends’ helps all sorts of other life forms too.

Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)

Pungent and a little indecent, some Victorians were so embarrassed by these woodland fungi that they would attack them with cudgels. Usually smelt before they are seen, the scientific name comes from its phallic shape which gave rise to several rude names in 17th-century England. It was used in medieval times as a cure for gout and as a love potion, and more recent scientific evidence has found it might have potential medicinal use for venous thrombosis.

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

A duck that lives in trees, nesting in natural cavities or old woodpecker nests, the one-day-old goldeneye chicks must hurl

The beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

Sticky and gruesome, beefsteak is a woodland fungus with the disconcerting appearance of a raw cut of meat. It even oozes a blood-like substance when cut. Usually found in broadleaved woodland, on

Eagle’s claw lichen (Anaptychia ciliaris)

Looking like the talons of an eagle clinging to a tree trunk, this species tells one story of the chain of doom facing many species. Once more common across the UK, it was hit by the loss of elms from our landscapes. Like many lichens it is sensitive to air pollution, from acidic sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to excessive enrichment from ammonia. It now faces the loss of trees to ash dieback, and is running out of options for the right sorts of trees in places with relatively clean air – restricting it to just a few places mainly in south west England and the Welsh borders.

Photos: Rachel Harries; Alastair Hotchkiss; John Bridges; Steven Heathcote;Trevor Pendleton; Paul Williams

Hazel pot beetle (Cryptocephalus coryli)

One of the UK’s rarest insects, reliant on wooded ‘ecotones’ – the transitions between more densely treed to more open vegetation with scrub, heath and scattered trees. Once widespread across southern counties, it declined greatly during the last century to become one of the UK’s rarest insects. The ‘pot’ is where the egg is laid and larvae live – in a

protective shell-like cocoon or ‘pot’, that is created using the beetle’s own faeces!

Wasp banded comb horn (Ctenophora flaveolata)

Mimicking something that could give a nasty sting, the wasp-banded comb horn is a harmless species of cranefly. Looking like a souped-up daddy long-legs, it’s a striking specialist of old wooded landscapes where its larvae live in the decaying wood inside big old trees.

stately homes, but these tend to be in well wooded landscapes. The bats like the cover and abundance of small insect prey in woods, where their manoeuvrable flight enables them to twist and turn in amongst trees with ease. At rest, it hangs Draculastyle, with its wings wrapped around its plum-sized body.

Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)

With its horseshoe-shaped nose, it’s like a flying symbol of good fortune in the woods, unless that is, you are a small moth, midge or mosquito about to be caught. Although many bats roost inside trees, horseshoe bats mainly roost in caves, mines and posh

Deceptive featherwort (Pseudomarsupidium decipiens)

Loose cushions of this shiny liverwort grow on the sides of rocks in very humid or boulder-strewn woodlands in western Britain and Ireland. Characteristic of UK temperate rainforest – a habitat under a multitude of threats, from air pollution to invasive rhododendron. Its British localities are its northernmost in the world, and it is also known from tropical Africa, South America and the Caribbean.

Welcome our winter thrushes

As the nights begin to draw in and temperatures start to dip, it’s time to say ‘goodbye’ to summer and welcome the imminent arrival of the flocking ‘winter thrushes’

by Jack Clarke, Marketing and Communications Officer, Dorset Wildlife Trust

Autumn brings the first wave of migratory redwing and fieldfare to our shores as they leave the biting cold climates of Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia, travelling south in search of food to gorge on through the winter months.

Fieldfare

The fieldfare (pictured left) is a large, colourful member of the thrush family and can often be seen in large flocks across the UK during winter. Fieldfares feed on the seasonal berries provided by holly, hawthorn and dog rose in hedgerows, woodlands, gardens and parks. Their distinctive plumage of chestnut-brown back, an almost-yellow and black breast, black tail and pale grey head, paired with the ‘chacking’ sound they produce makes the fieldfare relatively easy to spot and identify.

Redwing

The smaller of the two ‘winter thrush’ species, the redwing (pictured right) resembles the perhaps more familiar song thrush, though distinguishable by a bold white eye stripe and red hues along the flanks, under their wing. Like the fieldfare, the redwing is

Where to spot them

a social bird, seen flying in large, often mixed flocks across the countryside in search of berries and worms. When flocking together, you will be able to identify the redwing by its flashes of ‘red’ under the wing and their characteristic high-pitched ‘tseep’ sound.

Despite descending on our wintry countryside by the hundreds of thousands, many people don’t notice these annual visitors. Both the fieldfare and redwing are a common site throughout Dorset between autumn and spring, but your best bet at spotting these gregarious birds is in areas with open fields and hedgerows to feed from.

Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserves such as Kingcombe Meadows, Happy Bottom and Fontmell Down offer ample habitat for the winter thrushes to feed. But if you would like to try and entice these birds into your back garden, try planting berry-rich trees and shrubs, or simply leave out apples for them to feast on before they return to their European breeding grounds in early spring.

To find information on nature reserves visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust website at dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves.

NBVM chats with…

David Sidwick, Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset

Representing the voice of the public in policing is a huge job, but someone’s got to do it well… We caught up with David Sidwick, who’s been in the role for over a year now, to find out what he’s most proud of this far, and what he hopes to achieve in future

Born in Bournemouth, David Sidwick studied anatomical science at the University of Bristol. After graduating he joined the pharmaceutical industry as a representative working across Dorset. He’s been on the UK Management Board for Parke-Davis as CNS Therapy Director (Marketing Director) and achieved an MBA with Distinction from Manchester University, before setting up his own business facilitating the education of more than 17,500 secondary care consultants. In 2021 he was elected the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.

Could you explain the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner?

I am one of 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. The PCC acts as the voice of the public in policing and the overarching purpose of my role is to deliver an effective and efficient police service in Dorset. This is achieved by holding the Force to account on behalf of local people through my Police and Crime Plan. I spent three years consulting with the people of Dorset, really getting to know what they want and need from their police force; this information then helped shape my Police and Crime Plan, ensuring its priorities aligned with those of the people of Dorset.

vulnerability, support, and transformation. It didn’t have the words ‘cut crime’ as one of it’s four pillars, yet when I asked the people of Dorset what they wanted, they said they wanted crime, anti-social behaviour and the issue of illegal drugs addressed. That’s why I said it’s about making our police crime fighters again.

What about day-to-day police presence in the community?

The first thing I will say about police presence is that Dorset is getting more officers and I would expect to see the majority of these officers going into the community. Of the first 50 new officers we have had, 44 of them have gone straight out to work in communities across the county. This increase in officers will result in more of a presence in the community and residents feeling more connected to their local policing teams.

As a philosophy, I want to see much more connectivity and engagement from our officers. A programme of transformation is in place to ensure this happens.

not actual policing. The Police often pick up where there are gaps left by other agencies. For example, recently officers were dealing with a County Lines incident where a young person had been sent down from London on the train. The incident was dealt with and child protection services in London were contacted, however, they did not have a way to get the boy home. As a result, the officers from Dorset Police had to transport the boy back to London and ensure he was safe.

What constitutes rural crime?

There is no set definition of rural crime, however it can be very broadly classified as any crime or anti-social behaviour occurring in rural areas. Rural crime is often linked to organised crime groups who target and exploit rural communities across a range of crime types for example organised plant theft, livestock theft, burglaries targeting firearms, poaching and hare-coursing.

There are three reasons. Firstly, when I went out as a candidate with the response team, we went to a call and it took 20 minutes to get there, 10 minutes of investigation, 20 minutes to get back to the station and then 15 minutes to sort the paperwork. I don’t want Dorset Police being administrators, I want them out doing what the public expect them to do.

The second reason was that during my campaign we were in COVID, and the police were asked to police things like parties, which they are never normally asked to do as they are crime fighters.

The third and most fundamental reason was that I felt that we had had nine years of a Police and Crime Plan that talked about

Can you share any aspects?

The short answer is, very frankly. I have always maintained that I want to hear the reality of the situation and the force knows this. In fact, you reference the line “help me make our police crimefighters again” – that line originally came directly from a serving officer, not from your PCC.

I feel that there are very open lines of communication between me and Dorset Police. I’ve spoken to officers across Dorset, both as a candidate and since coming into office to give me an understanding of what the situation is and what the challenges are in the different departments. I have been out on patrol with neighbourhood policing teams, response officers, traffic officers, dog handlers and the marine section, amongst others, trying to really get an idea of what it’s like for front-line police in Dorset.

I think the biggest challenge I hear about is that a vast amount of work nowadays is

For me, rural crime means two things. Firstly, it’s those crimes that are unique to the rural area, things like hare-coursing and theft from farms. However, it also covers crimes that occur everywhere but are made worse and have a big impact because of the isolated living in rural areas. Things like domestic abuse, where we see an increase in the time it takes for victims to report and get help if they live in a rural area.

How many of the 20,000 new police across the country will we get in the southwest?

Dorset has been allocated an additional 184 officers over three years, and the force is on track to deliver this uplift.

How has the rural crime team been increased?

There has been a 400% uplift in resources to the Rural Crime team in Dorset since I became PCC.

In terms of numbers, the team previously consisted of two Police Constables (PC) and one Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). The increase now means that the team consists of a dedicated Inspector, Sergeant, five Constables, two Police Community Support Officers, a Neighbourhood Engagement Officer, three

Why choose ‘help me make our police crimefighters again’ as your campaign slogan?

How frankly have police departments been able to share their experiences and challenges?

Special Constables and three Police Staff Volunteers.

This increase in resources and capacity has extended the police’s reach and capability to fight rural crime.

How are you tackling farm thefts?

If we look at data from Dorset Police, so far this year there have been 44 thefts from farm premises across Dorset, this is down from 66 in August 2021. Although these figures are currently unverified, I am delighted to see such a large reduction.

The recent increase in the Rural Crime Team has meant that they are now equipped to take on serious organised crime groups. When a tractor is stolen and shipped across the channel this is organised crime and Dorset Police are now better equipped to address this. Recently, I witnessed £500,000 worth of equipment be returned to owners and you could see the joy when they got their property back.

I understand the detrimental implications theft from farms can have. A piece of equipment being stolen has a massive knock-on effect on farmers and their livelihoods. When equipment has been stolen, work cannot be done without hiring or buying new machinery. This is worsened by current supply chain issues that can result in long waits for new equipment.

Have you seen an increase in environmental disharmony and protests in your time as PCC?

I have seen an increase nationally, and I think it is disgusting that people think they can disrupt others’ lives by stopping them from being able to drive to work, drop their kids off at school or buy milk. People have the right to express their opinions but not at the expense of others. Luckily, it seems that

these actions are taken by the extremist few.

As a key instigator for the treatment of neuropathic pain relief to be brought into the UK, how do you feel about the classification of cannabis as a drug, when many have it for medicinal use?

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry assessing drugs, including cannabinoids for over 25 years, it is very clear to me that pharmaceutical preparations need to be thoroughly tested through clinical trials. Cannabis has not been able to satisfy the safety requirements to become a pharmaceutical preparation for common conditions. It is, however, prescribed by some secondary care physicians as a last resort when treating life-threatening or serious illnesses when all other licensed treatments have been exhausted.

The fact that it has not been able to become a commonly prescribed prescription medicine, coupled with new evidence of side-effects including mental health issues, cancer, birth defects and premature ageing, leads me to conclude that it should not be declassified. I believe there is a case for legislators to be ever watchful of the categorisation of this illegal drug.

It’s been a year since you were elected as PCC, what do you feel you’ve achieved in that year? And what are you tackling next?

I feel that I have achieved a great deal in my first year as PCC. Progress has been made towards every single priority within my Police and Crime Plan. After I emphasised to Dorset Police that ASB was an issue that needed addressing they have brought in Operation Relentless which

works alongside my Operational Relentless Community Fund to tackle anti-social behaviour in our communities.

As previously mentioned there has been a 400% increase in resources to the Rural Crime Team, something that I raised as needing to be done within my first 100 days in office. My office has also seen the implementation of the Rural Crime Reduction Board, which sees partners working together to prevent and reduce rural crime.

Dorset also now has its own dedicated and proactive operation to target drugs – Operation Viper, which is set to target criminality, take drugs off our streets, share intelligence and protect the vulnerable.

Operation Viper, along with Operation Scorpion, has been working to tackle illegal drugs and related crimes across Dorset and across county borders too.

I have three areas that are at the top of my list to continue tackling next year:

• Ensure we have a more effective solution for violence against women and girls, rape, domestic abuse and stalking.

• Fix the Future – we have some great kids in Dorset, but some get caught up on the wrong path. Fix the Future is about helping these young people get back on track. This involves things like the four fantastic Police Cadet units we have across Dorset as well as providing funding to support of educational establishments, youth clubs, local groups and charities working with at-risk young people.

• The issue of drugs and the harm they do. We have just seen the setup of the Combatting Drugs Partnership which brings together all organisations in Dorset that deal with substance abuse, and I am eager for the work of this partnership to begin.

I strongly believe that it should not be a small number of elite people deciding what happens. People should have a say in the institutions that play a big part in their lives. Policing, because of the power it yields, must be connected to the people it serves.

That’s why I think it is so important that people vote for their Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). It is the Commissioner’s responsibility to ask what the people want from their police and instil that into their Police and Crime plan priorities, then they must scrutinise the force to ensure these priorities are met.

Finally: Line of Duty or Hot Fuzz? Both – I’d like more Sergeant Angels and at least now everybody knows what OCG stands for.

You recently wrote ‘democracy is one of our most valuable institutions’ – can you explain what you mean?

Education

Youngsters grab second chance of exam success at key subjects

Learners from The Rendezvous youth charity based in Sherborne and Yeovil are celebrating more exam success.

The charity offers Maths and English functional skills to young people aged 16-25 who did not have exam success the first time round. Its young learners have passed a total of 132 modules in English and Maths this year, 24 achieving a full qualification at level 2, GCSE equivalent, Maths or English.

Julie Bartle, learning manager with The Rendezvous, who has been running the project for six years, said: “This is hugely significant to those young people we help. It means a second chance – even if they left school without their Maths or English, they can study with The Rendezvous and move on

positively to college or apprenticeships, and take their next steps in life.”

One happy learner was Szy Luszczynski, 22, from Yeovil, who did not get his Maths GCSE when he was at school but has just passed his Pearson’s Level 2 maths qualification. He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the email to say I had passed. This is genuinely going to open so many doors for me. It is absolutely wonderful. I’m so happy!”

The pass means he will be enrolling onto a college degree course in social care through his job as a support worker with Discovery and Dimensions. “Without the maths qualification that would be impossible,” Szy said. “It was the fact that it was face-to-face and one-to-one that attracted me, and that it was

free for my age.”

Szy, who is a care leaver, went to The Rendezvous in Yeovil last year after seeing a leaflet in his accommodation. He has never found Maths easy but he got on well with his Maths tutor and became really determined.

Szy added: “Mike, my tutor, was always extremely patient and very flexible – when I got a full-time job a few months ago we moved to online evening learning. That made me want to succeed even more and I started working really hard doing test papers and extra work. I would say to anyone, if you’re ready to help yourself, Rendezvous tutors will help you.”

Rendezvous welcomes any young person who has not managed to get their Maths or English this year, or any time,

to contact them. They will be matched with a volunteer tutor to work one-to-one, face-to-face in Sherborne or Yeovil. They need to be prepared to attend each week and do homework, but they will be supported in a pressure-free and kind environment. They will take the exam when they are ready. If they are 16-25 and not in education then it will be free and if they are 14-16 Rendezvous may still be able to help, though there may be some charges.

Anyone interested in learning, or who would like to be a volunteer tutor, should email Learning@therendezvous. org or text or phone 07485 913371 for more information, or fill out the form online, www. therendezvous.org.uk/youngpeople/learning/

School pupils’ artwork remembers the Queen

Pupils at Hanford School, Child Okeford, have been celebrating the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

A special commemorative service was held in Hanford’s Chapel, to which all parents were invited and at which Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s poem Floral Tribute was read.

School head Rory Johnston said: “Although Hanford observed the Bank Holiday, we had a number of girls who stayed at school – they watched the late Queen’s funeral with staff in the library and observed the two minutes' silence along with the rest of the nation.”

The school’s new Art Barn also became a hub of activity throughout the week as pupils made their own piece of artwork to commemorate the Queen.

The piece of work (left) was created by talented Year 8 pupil Flora.

How war-time bombing raid left 14 dead in sleepy village

by Deborah Gingell

A solitary bell rang out across Templecombe railway station to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War bombing raid that struck terror into the heart of the sleepy village and killed 14 local people.

On September 5 1942 a German Ju88 bomber dropped four bombs near the station, a busy strategic rail junction at that time.

Twelve people were killed instantly and two more died later as the station’s buildings, track and nearby areas were devastated in the attack. The blast injured many more, some seriously.

Shaftesbury town crier and railway enthusiast Cliff Skey came up with the idea of marking the event and brought together relatives of those who died for a poignant ceremony on the station’s platform.

He donned an air raid warden suit, complete with tin helmet, gas mask and first aid box, and rang his town crier’s bell in memory of those that were lost.

The Rev Kevin Rogers led prayers for the victims, many of whom are buried in Templecombe churchyard.

Mr Skey also recited a poem

written by local resident Nick Hudson and oversaw the planting of a peace rose in the station garden in the presence of about 60 people.

He said: “I was reading a book and noticed a bit about the bombing, and suddenly realised we were coming up to the 80th anniversary.

“I went and spoke with the vicar who was very interested but couldn’t get hold of the station committee, so left a note on the footbridge, which they found and then contacted me.

“It was a very moving memorial service, and it was good to mark such an important event in history.”

He said Templecombe railway station was targeted because it was one of the most important marshalling yards in the region where freight wagons were organised into trains.

“In the 1960s it was 14 tracks across, with two station buffets, a footbridge with a lift, two engine sheds and had a staff of 167 people, and was on the major route to many south-west stations,” Mr Skey said.

The bombing happened about 9.15am on Saturday September 5 1942, when a lone Ju88 bomber attacked

Templecombe and its station in an attempt to damage the rail junction.

The pilot misjudged his run slightly and the bombs intended for the railway line and buildings succeeded in hitting the track only once but caused extensive damage to homes and station buildings, involving serious loss of life.

The first bomb fell close to a terrace of houses in School Lane where Church Garth now stands and was followed by another which landed at the western end of the terrace near

the main road to Wincanton.

These two bombs destroyed two houses resulting in the loss of four lives.

The third bomb fell close to the Somerset and Dorset tracks at the platform and the fourth hit the Southern Railway blocking both lines and causing the death of eight railway men.

During the attack damage was caused to the station and terrace of houses on the north side of the Southern Railway line, Bridge House, St Mary’s Church and the United Reformed Church – known then as the Congregational Church – and two hotels in the village.

Both railway lines were blocked along with the A357 to Wincanton and many other houses and buildings sustained damage. The Co-op store in Church Hill was also set on fire by the second bomb.

Town crier and railway enthusiast Cliff Skey (above) donned an air raid warden suit, complete with tin helmet, gas mask and first aid box, and rang his town crier’s bell in memory of those that were lost at the memorial service attended by scores of people (top left and below).

Buying a parking ticket isn’t simple

As a local and regular visitor to the Bell Street car park in Shaftesbury, I find myself in a seething rage most Thursdays when it comes to what should be the simple task of buying a parking ticket.

Thursday is market day in Shaftesbury and therefore it is in the interest of NDDC to ensure that all parking payment stations are in good working order to promote tourism in our town.

However, depressingly, most Thursdays – and probably other days, too – all the coin machines are full and are unable to accept further coins.

This is irritating for two reasons. Firstly, the machines need to be emptied regularly, especially the night before market day, and secondly, I, as many others, like to pay by good, old-fashioned cash.

Other ways of paying – by phone or card can be extremely time-consuming, for reasons I have never fully fathomed, but have tried on numerous occasions, with limited success and much time spent.

Large numbers of people are always wandering about in the car park – all of us like headless chickens – trying to find a machine that will co-operate with us and allow us to pay, all wondering why on earth this simple task is so difficult.

Come on NDDC, can you please sort this out as a matter of urgency and our collective sanity.

Kate Gordon-Smith Via email

Has anyone else noticed that, slowly but surely, more and more businesses and shops are going cashless?

Why is this? They can’t use the excuse of the pandemic anymore, telling us that money is unhygienic. How have we survived all these years?!

The problem with a cashless society is that it is a surveillance society.

Banks, governments and tech

companies can monitor what you have earned and spent and can control it too. Like the sound of that?

A cashless society would make a huge difference to a lot of people’s lives, namely some elderly, or people who rely on cash, people who have no internet for banking. And the little things, like not being able to give your grandchildren a couple of pounds to spend on sweets or put in their money box, pop coins into a charity box, tip the binmen or postman at Christmas and put money in a card for a birthday ¬¬– PS –I’ve put your birthday money in your bank account. The list is endless.

Is refusing cash discrimination? I'd say so.

I suggest we start boycotting these businesses or fill your basket with goods in the 'card only' store, and when you get to the till and they refuse your cash, 'politely' say ‘no thank you’.

Unless you can’t wait to live in a world where notes and coins no longer exist?

Victoria Chapman Via email

The sad passing of our Queen reminds my family of my recently late great uncle, Howard Horace John Prowse Borer, a guard of honour at King George VI’s funeral in 1952.

Before the King's death, my great-grandmother wrote to the Queen – later the Queen Mother – asking for my great uncle to be discharged from the RAF owing to my great-grandfather's ailing health and the need of his assistance in the family business.

He could not be discharged but thanks to the Queen Mother forwarding the letter onto the appropriate authority, my great uncle was relocated to an RAF base nearer to home.

It was after this relocation that he was honoured to have been chosen as a guard of

honour at Windsor during the King’s funeral and was able to assist his parents also.

I suppose my great uncle was especially pleased not only to wait upon his King but also to have done something in gratitude for the kindness shown by the Queen Mother.

Kindness and compassion is clearly a family trait, as has been obvious in our late Queen. We remember all their late majesties with great respect and gratitude.

Matthew Thorndale-Finn Ryme Intrinseca

I had the honour of meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace when she awarded me the MBE.

I was terribly nervous having bought a lovely pair of blue

high heel shoes – a beautiful match for a new suit and handbag. When the audience was over, the Queen pushed me slightly back and tottering on those stilettos I nearly toppled over.

I have also had the honour of meeting the Princess Royal on many occasions, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret Rose. I have led a very blessed life and have been so fortunate with many lovely memories.

Della Jones MBE Blandford

Almost half the population has had a cold call or text about making a personal injury claim in the past year – and MPs now have a chance to put a stop to it.

The Data Protection and

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall _ justsocaricatures.co.uk

Digital Information Bill is currently being debated in Parliament and we are calling on MPs to include an amendment to ban cold calling outright.

Cold calls for personal injury are tasteless and intrusive. Most people contacted in this way are left feeling disgusted, annoyed and anxious – according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

The survey also found that 88 per cent of adults in the UK support a total ban on cold calls and texts from companies which tout for injury claims.

Current rules on cold calling have not prevented the exploitation of vulnerable people. Now is the time for MPs to act on this issue. It is what people want.

John McQuater president Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Just weeks are left to donate gifts, knitted items, hygiene and educational supplies to Operation Christmas Child via Total Energy Services.

A big thank-you to the huge number of people who have already left donations at our Blandford office and who have contacted us about how they can help. It is very much appreciated.

Donations must be dropped off to Total Energy Services by October 31. By ensuring all donations are received by this date – the earlier the better – it gives us enough time to top up the boxes with our gifts and fill and pack them ready to be dropped to our local church.

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

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

Operation Christmas Child is

a project of the Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organisation.

Shoeboxes are filled with small toys and useful items then shipped to children around the world affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, famine and disease.

Gift suggestions include: Toys – cuddly toys, dolls, toy cars, musical instruments, yo-yos, balls, small puzzles, sticker books.

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

Hygiene items – toothbrush, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel etc.

Other items – hat, gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, socks, T-shirts, flip-flops, hair accessories, jewellery set, watch, wind-up torch etc.

Knitted items are greatly appreciated for many of the conditions for the children are very harsh.

Do not include toothpaste, sweets, lotions and liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items; seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, sharp or fragile items. Please do not drop off items that will not fit into a shoe box.

For any questions, phone 01258 472132 and ask to speak to me, or email holly@ totalenergy.co.uk

Holly Lam Total Energy

Thousands of children and young people are subjected to horrific exploitation and abuse across the UK every year.

Predators groom children in person and online, then exploit them for sex or use terrifying threats and violence to force them into crimes such as money laundering or carrying drugs in ‘county lines’ operations. Some are forced to work in premises like car washes and nail bars, or to beg.

Development opportunity?

We received this flyer in the post – the other side had our address as ‘The Homeowner’ and had the banner headline: ‘Is your land or garden a development opportunity’.

We are sure in giving his special opening speech Simon Hoare MP for North Dorset will deplore the unremitting pressure for unnecessary house building in his constituency and will donate any fee to the CPRE.

Richard Wood Via email

Any child in any community, including boys, girls and trans and non-binary children, can be targeted for all types of exploitation.

In the South-West in 2020/21, child sexual exploitation was identified as a risk in 1,470 assessments of children referred to social services, while children going missing, which can also be a sign of young people being coerced into crime, was a factor in 1,130 instances. Gang involvement was highlighted in 720 assessments, and in 160 instances trafficking was deemed to be a factor – both are indicators of exploitation.

However, many children are too scared to tell adults what is happening or may not trust the services meant to protect them. That’s why during the week of Monday 3 October, The Children’s Society is running a ‘Look Closer’ Awareness Week. The Children’s Society’s #Look Closer campaign, supported by the National Police Chiefs Council and forces including the British Transport Police, urges not only professionals and parents, but also the public and businesses to be vigilant for signs of child exploitation and abuse and report any concerns. Everyone,

from commuters, and online gamers, to shoppers and people working in public-facing roles, such as transport, shop and hotel staff, can play their part.

This winter, the cost-ofliving crisis and financial pressures facing families may leave some children particularly vulnerable to grooming by perpetrators who offer them cash, food and gifts. Young victims may also be targeted with offers of drugs, friendship, love, status and even gaming credits.

Signs of exploitation could include children having large amounts of cash or unexplained gifts; appearing under the control of others; looking lost; or travelling alone at night. Children may seem upset, anxious or scared, but trauma can also make them appear angry or aggressive.

Anyone worried about a child should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. If there is an immediate risk to a child dial 999. If you are on a train text British Transport Police on 61016. Further advice is available from the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800500.

Mark Russell Chief executive, The Children’s Society

JUNE'S JUMBLE Saturday

15th October 2:30pm

Durweston Village Hall 07786 011321

STURMINSTER AND HINTON

CC AGM on Sunday 30th October at 6.30pm in the Swan Sturminster Newton.

TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER

7.30PM CRANBORNE

LOCAL HISTORY SocietyWhite Horses & Hill FiguresTony Painter Cranborne Village Hall, BH21 5PZ

CHEAP STREET CHURCH, SHERBORNE

November 7-13th, 10-12, 2-4, free admission

Loving Earth Exhibition, Quaker Art

Colourful textiles, natural world, climate change

DORCHESTER REPAIR CAFE

Bring your broken things for volunteers to repair. Details on Instagram/Facebook @ dorchesterrepaircafe

Next event is at The Shire Hall, 10-12 am 24 September 2022

THE FRIENDS OF STOUR

CONNECT AGM 18th October 6:30pm at the Friends of Stour view cafe. for more info email sheryn. friendsofstourconnect@ gmail.com

JUMBLE SALE

Saturday 8th October 2.30pm Buckhorn Weston Hall Tea - Cakes - Raffle

INDOOR MARKET

Saturday 15th october

9am - 4.30pm Shaftesbury Town Hall. Supporting Weldmar Hospice and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

QUILTING EXHIBITION AT THE EXCHANGE Sturminster Newton on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th. 10am-4.30pm. Supporting Local Charities.

WINCANTON & DISTRICT GARDENERS ASSOCIATION AGM

Friday 7th October at 7.00pm

Wincanton Memorial Hall Followed by a Talk www.wincantongardeners.co.uk

GLANVILLES WOOTTON CLAY SHOOT, Saturday

8th October, 25 Sportrap Glanvilles Wootton DT9 5PY 10am-4pm. Classes open, Farmers, Ladies, and Juniors £100 High Gun £75/35/15 in all classes, £5 Wads only. £10 Entry/Re-Entry

LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull Royal British Legion on Monday October 3rd. Eyes down 7pm

Events Guide

JUMBLE SALE

Mappowder Village Hall DT10 2EL

Saturday, 1st October at 2.30 pm plus Teas & Raffle Entrance 50p

BINGO

CHILD OKEFORD VILLAGE HALL

Friday 14th October doors open 6.30pm Eyes down 7.30 pm Charity 226233

Surprisingly, despite its high elevation, wide horizons and its area, Shaftesbury has no astronomy club.

We are two local amateur astronomers, who want to change this and set up a Shaftesbury star-gazing group for anyone who might be interested. No specialist knowledge or equipment is required. Our aim is simply to encourage people to enjoy the night skies.

We already have a venue just outside Shaftesbury with wide horizons, and plenty of indoor and outdoor space for meetings and observing sessions. We would now like other enthusiasts to join us there once a month to learn more about the night-sky through talks, night-sky observation sessions, quizzes and social activities.

If you would be interested in coming along or would like to find out more, you can get in touch with us at one of the following e-mail addresses: deyesaf04@gmail.com or nikydaley@yahoo.co.uk

to Dave on 01202

10am

Arts & Entertainment

‘Weinstein play’ weaves complex web

Review: World Wide Web at Salisbury Arts Centre

A Dorset writer’s gripping new play, inspired by the Harvey Weinstein case and by the birth of the #MeToo movement, has played to full houses in Salisbury.

In Linda Morse’s topical drama, World Wide Web, a promising young female artist becomes ensnared by dark forces in the shape of a powerful man and faces a moral choice which could destroy her future. A razor-sharp cast under the direction of Pete Talman, who also lives in Dorset, play out this tense situation.

The bare confines of the White Room in the Salisbury Arts Centre prove a perfect setting for the London art gallery in which the action takes place. Two artists await the opening of an exhibition of their work which will define their futures. The only props on an otherwise blank canvas are two empty crates. But the room soon fills with colour as the women discuss each other’s pieces hanging on the walls of the gallery. Minnie Goldchild (Tori Deffee), the established doyenne of the textile art world, makes generous comments about wunderkind Jess Riley (Holly Cassidy),

who is in awe of what she calls ‘a goddess’.

All appears set fair, but a court case is looming against the man behind the exhibition, Sir Humphrey Neville-Wright, brought by several young female victims. Jess explodes in anger at learning that this serial abuser of women is therefore funding her own work.

To her horror she further discovers gallery owner Annette Seymour (SarahJayne Wareham) and Minnie Goldchild herself have secrets – they are former victims of Neville-Wright, whom they playfully refer to as Humpty.

Ironically, Jess has been commissioned by #MeToo to produce a piece of political art for the opening and has depicted a malevolent spider at the centre of a huge web. She finds it impossible to reconcile her conflicting principles and threatens to withdraw from the exhibition.

As the three women try to resolve the issues, the certainty of youth clashes with pragmatism and bitter experience. And should art be political? The fluent direction of Pete Talman ensures the debates never become clunky and are neatly interwoven into the drama.

Holly Cassidy has Jess’s raw energy, while Tori Deffee is imperious yet sympathetic as Minnie, and Sarah-Jayne Wareham shows the vulnerability behind Annette’s efficient PR mask.

The exhibition opening is imminent and we meet the perceived monster at the centre of this web. Neil Gwynne captures Humpty’s oleaginous charm. As the clock ticks towards the opening of the exhibition, we witness his less charming side, as he lashes out at hapless caterers, the longsuffering Annette and even Minnie.

Annette’s wheedling PR approach fails to overturn Jess’s stubborn determination, but Minnie unexpectedly manages to convince her younger rival that there is a way which will ultimately turn the tables on their tyrannical oppressor.

The finale is set up nicely as we watch the carefully built façade begin to crumble. Jess begins to remove her art from the walls, followed by Minnie doing the same. As Annette gamely tries to maintain the status quo in the face of public humiliation, the two artists join forces and have the last word.

Brian MacReamoinn

Buzzcocks’ Hardy connection

Buzzcocks frontman Steve Diggle has revealed he was inspired by Thomas Hardy’s tale of Jude the Obscure.

The legendary punk rocker was speaking after headlining the Barnstomper Festival in Cerne Abbas.

His spirited and energetic set rolled back the years to when Buzzcocks hit the music scene in the late 1970s.

The Mancunian said afterwards it was a joy to drive through the Wessex countryside that he had imagined when reading Hardy as a youngster.

He said: “It was a barnstomping festival and a barnstomping crowd. We’ve a new album out called Sonics in the Soul and the crowd really enjoyed the new songs as well as the old ones.

“I read Thomas Hardy as a youngster and imagined the countryside as he described it, so it was a pleasure to visit Dorset again.

Buzzcocks frontman Steve Diggle was inspired by Jude the Obscure because he was an outsider looking in – like he said he was

“I was inspired by Jude the Obscure because he was an outsider looking in – like I was. He could see the glow of what was Oxford and had ambition to go there.

“I also loved Hardy’s poems and my song Mad Mad Judy was inspired by Hardy’s poem ‘Mad Judy’ – I added an extra

‘mad’.”

Diggle’s new song Manchester Rain was selected by Elton John to play on his Apple Music Show.

The two-day Barnstomper Festival is held at the Cerne Abbas Brewery and has gained a cult following. More than 20 bands played across two stages.

Celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer and campaigner on food and environmental issues Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is set to speak at Leigh Talks!

He will talk about how people’s food choices shape the planet, their future and themselves on Thursday 13 October at 7.45pm at Leigh village hall (DT9 6HL).

Tickets priced £5 are available from The Little Leigh Store, Leigh, www. littleleighstore.co.uk Doors open at 7.30pm and a bar will be available.

The third annual Templecombe Art Exhibition is being held on Saturday and Sunday 1-2 October at the village hall. The event will showcase the work of local artists and is in aid of Motor Neurone Disease causes. Cllr Sarah Dyke is opening the exhibition at 10am on Saturday.

Elvis’s story from start to tragic end

Elvis tribute artist Rob Kingsley will take fans on a musical journey from the superstar’s musical beginnings to his tragic end in a concert in Yeovil.

The show uses backdrop film screens, backing singers from a gospel church choir in Birmingham and costumes made by the same tailoring company in the USA that made Elvis’s costumes.

The show is a journey through time from Stuck on You, GI Blues, Blue Suede Shoes to Suspicious Minds and

American Trilogy.

Rob spent 14 years in the British Army before leaving the Royal Scots to pursue a professional singing career.

Ed Bonja, Elvis’s photographer and road manager for more than 1,000 concerts, said: “Rob Kingsley sings like Elvis, looks like Elvis, hell he even walks like Elvis, he even has on stage charisma that Elvis had.”

A Vision of Elvis is at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on Thursday 6 October.

Book lovers can enjoy big names

Book lovers have plenty of treats in store at the Dorchester Literary Festival, which runs from 15-22 October.

Events at the festival include a talk by best-selling crime and historical novelist Minette Walters on Monday 17 October;

bushcraft expert Ray Mears talking about his latest book We Are Nature, on Saturday 15 October; and Dorset-based Natasha Solomons talking about her best-seller I, Mona Lisa on Tuesday 18 October.

Other literary treats include Giles Milton

on his Checkmate in Berlin novel, James Hamilton talking about the painter John Constable, and a writing masterclass by best-selling crime writer Sophie Hannah.

For more details visit www.dorchester literaryfestival.com/events

Rob Kingsley turned professional singer after 14 years in the Army

Arts

Entertainment

Booker Prize contender to open festival

Mere Literary Festival, which raises money for charities in the town and surrounding area, has now been running for over 20 years, and continues to go from strength to strength.

This year’s line-up features a wide range of authors and organisers are thrilled that Maddie Mortimer, longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, is opening the event.

The five-day festival runs from Tuesday to Saturday 11-15 October with talks in three venues in the centre of Mere. Talks will be held on a Saturday for the first time making it more accessible to people who work during the week.

Fiction features in many of the 15 talks but there are also talks on wild swimming, cattle

farming, the painting of the Mona Lisa, making cider and the biography of murder, to name a few. Mere has several local pubs and cafes to visit between talks.

Programmes are being distributed to bookshops, libraries, cafes and other venues in towns and villages around Mere. Information is also available, along with links to buy tickets, at the website, www.mereliteraryfestival.com

How art will help refugee family

The Blandford Welcome Group is hosting an art exhibition to support a refugee family coming to settle in Blandford from the horrors war and the dreadful conditions of a UN refugee camp.

The Home Office has approved the group’s application under the Community Sponsorship Scheme and details are awaited of the family.

Artists and creatives were invited to donate an original painting or work of art for the exhibition at St Nicholas Church, Durweston, on Saturday 8 October at 7pm to raise funds – and about 100 pieces have been given.

Entry to the exhibition is free but every piece of art will be allocated a unique number and each will be selected randomly

and taken home by anyone who has contributed £30 for a ticket. The number of tickets matches the number of works of art on display.

The standard and provenance of each painting and work of art is high, and some are of considerable value.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. blandfordwelcome.group or contact Chrissie Anderson at music39uk@gmail.com or Marie Fisher at marie@ adrianfisherdesign.com

Ready, steady –it’s time to tango!

Tango Calor are one of the most exciting tango bands performing in the UK, appearing at tango dances and festivals up and down the country, including WOMAD, and next month the trio are heading to Dorset for three concerts.

Since forming in 2016, and in addition to accompanying visiting artists from Argentina, Tango Calor have staged concerts celebrating the music of Astor Piazzolla with chamber ensembles including players from Welsh National Opera.

Next month, Tango Calor will take audiences on a journey from the night clubs of Buenos Aires to the salons of Paris with their evocative performances of traditional and contemporary tango music.

Young and old, people who

enjoy dancing or those who prefer to listen, can expect an evening of songs and stories presented by Latin vocalist Indira Roman (Salsa UK, Roberto Pla), Mirek Salmon (Welsh National Opera, Moscow Drug Club), one of the few masters of the bandoneon based in the UK, and Dutch jazz pianist Daan Temmink.

Tango Calor head to Milborne St Andrew village hall (phone 01258 839060) on Friday 14 October, Buckland Newton village hall (phone 01300 345455) on Saturday 15 October and Langton Matravers village hall (phone 01929 423834) on Sunday 16 October.

Further information and tickets are available through rural arts charity Artsreach online at www.artsreach.co.uk

The Olivier Award-winning Russell Maliphant Dance Company is set to present Vortex at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

The new production is influenced by the works of Jackson Pollock and abstract expressionism, and follows Maliphant’s last project, Silent Lines, which toured the UK to critical acclaim in 2019 and is touring alongside Vortex this year.

The dance company has received two Olivier awards, three South Bank Show awards and four Critics’ Circle National Dance awards.

Vortex is at the Octagon Theatre on Wednesday 5 October.

Tango Calor are coming to Dorset for three concerts

Arts & Entertainment

Tiger tank making rare appearance

The world’s only running Tiger I tank is set to have a rare outing at Tiger Day at the Tank Museum at Bovington Camp.

Tiger 131 runs only twice a year, at Tiger Day spring and autumn, and always attracts huge crowds when it does.

Visitors on Saturday (1 October) will have the chance to see it in action in a 40-minute Second World War tank display, including its ‘Fury’ movie co-star, the Sherman tank ‘Fury’.

Visitors can enjoy an action-packed arena display, including the Panzer III, Comet, Chaffee and more, and can get up close to vehicles in the Tank Park and explore military history traders set among the museum collection.

Tiger Day autumn was postponed from

17 September following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Ticket holders have been contacted about the change in date – see the museum website for further details.

All profits from Tiger Day will go towards supporting the museum’s historic

Animal Magic: the strange and the familiar

An artist born and brought up in Dorchester makes a rare return to the town in October for a new exhibition of her distinctive paintings at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury.

Bridget Syms, who now lives and works in West Cornwall, is a painter of wildlife and domestic animals whose work extends from fairly straightforward animal portraits to entirely surreal images formed from dreams or flights of fancy.

From the time she could hold a crayon drawing and animals was Bridget Syms’s obsession, and her work is driven, she says, by a fascination for animals near and far “from the motorway crows and the owls that fleetingly hover on our peripheral vision to the ones I live alongside.”

Some of the more fanciful images derive, she says, “from things I may have read or even dreamed. But once I get an image in my mind I just have to get it down on paper.”

Bridget’s formal training began as studio assistant to the

painter Rod Hamer, where she gained the techniques and disciplines of classical drawing and painting.

A major influence is the work of the artists of the northern Renaissance, and the anonymous artists and craftsmen of the medieval period.

“I have always been fascinated by medieval drolleries, like the drawings found in illuminated manuscripts.

“And I just like painting animals,” she said.

The new exhibition of paintings by Bridget Syms is at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury, Dorchester, from 1 October to 5 November.

tank collection and ensuring that Tiger 131 can be kept in running order for years to come.

Museum curator David Willey said: “A significant amount of work goes into keeping the Tiger running and it is extremely fragile and liable to faults.

“During the war it took ten hours of maintenance for every hour the Tiger ran –now it takes the museum staff and engineers an astonishing 200 hours.”

The Tiger tank was a formidable weapon introduced by the Nazis and the capture of 131 allowed the Allies to understand exactly what had been unleashed.

Tickets may still be available – book online at www.tankmuseum.org/whats-on/ events/tiger-day

The Tank Museum will hold a 40-minute Second World War tank display

Air B&B by Bridget Syms

Artist Bridget Syms is exhibiting at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury

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.

• Fancy a coffee?: The churches in The Donheads, Charlton, East Knoyle, Semley and Sedgehill now have a team of friendly, approachable people available to offer home visits.

Contact Revd. Kate at rector@ benofbart.org.uk, 01747 830174.

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

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

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

• Sherborne Abbey: The abbey is open to visitors Monday to Saturdays from 8am-5pm and on Sunday from 11am-5pm.

The abbey may close when private services are taking place.

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

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

• St Peter and St Paul Church, Caundle Marsh: Harvest Festival service and afterwards a ‘bring-and-share’ supper on Friday 7 October at 6.15pm. The church – post code is DT9 5LX with signs for car parking off the A3030 – will be decorated with harvest produce and flowers. • Lower Stour Benefice: October services. Sunday, 2 October, 10.45am, Together Communion –Charlton Marshall. Sunday, 9 October, 9.30am, Communion – Blandford St Mary; 11am Harvest service – All Saints Langton Long; 11am, Family Harvest – Tarrant Rushton. Sunday, 16 October, 9.30am, Harvest Communion –Spetisbury; 9.30am, Harvest Service – Charlton Marshall; 11am, Morning Worship – All Saints Langton Long; 11am, Harvest service – Tarrant Keyneston. Sunday 23 October, 9.30am, Communion – Charlton

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

• Sherborne Abbey organ recitals: Monday at 1.30pm. Autumn recital series: 3 October – Paul Ellis, organist emeritus, Sherborne Abbey; 10 October – Stephen Bell, Ash; 17 October – Kyoko Canaway, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Free entry, retiring collection, all welcome.

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

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

• West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church 2 October 4pm – united ‘Sunday @ Four’, followed by tea; 9 October, Harvest Festival – 11am United all-age service, 4pm, ‘Harvest Praise’; 16 and 23 October, worship at 4pm; 30 October 3pm, United Service. A warm welcome to all. Phone 01935 850838 or email Geoff.mead@ yahoo.com

• St Mary's Stalbridge: Morning services will now start at 9.30am. 2 October – morning worship; 9 October – Holy Communion; 9 October –Evensong at 4pm; 16 October – Harvest Festival Service; 23 October – Holy Communion.

I will not support fracking in the UK

Liz Truss was not the candidate I backed. Well, you win some and you lose some. While disappointed Rishi Sunak did not win, I am, above all else, a democrat. So, I accept the result and will do all I can to support our new Government and help shape policy to the benefit of North Dorset.

Where I think the Government is getting it wrong – and all Governments do from time to time – I shall not shrink from speaking out and voting accordingly. I am, after all, North Dorset’s representative in Westminster not Westminster’s representative in North Dorset.

My in box has been pretty full regarding the relaxation of the moratorium on fracking. I am opposed to fracking on three fronts: first I am committed to delivering a zero carbon economy as quickly as possible – feeding the carbon appetite via fracking does not aid this endeavour; second because I have seen nothing from the geologists to assure me on the reliable safety of the process; and third, the timeframe in delivering fracking at scale in the UK to make any meaningful contribution to our easing our

current energy crisis is so out of kilter as to render any benefits redundant. Should there be a vote in Parliament I will not support fracking in the UK. In short, I shall stick to the manifesto pledge I was reelected on in 2019.

No-one could accuse the Chancellor of being anything other than bold. ‘Courageous Minister’ is how Sir Humphrey Appleby might have phrased it.

As a Tory I fundamentally believe that people who earn their money know best how to spend it. All because

Governments can tax does not mean it has to. Socialism has always taken a different view – Government knows best how to spend. As Mrs Thatcher once said, Socialism is fine until it runs out of other people’s money.

That said, my Conservatism is rooted in the common-sense, pragmatic, One Nation tradition. Not in an unwavering ideology where adherents deliver their philosophy irrespective of the external circumstances prevailing at the time.

Tax reductions should only ever be self-financing. There is no merit in robbing Peter to pay Paul – cutting taxes while hiking borrowing to pay for the cuts is not sensible. Someone, at sometime is going to have to pay the debt back. The cost of payback is only going to get steeper as interest rates rise, sterling falls/remains low and the UK does not look like a steady prospect to which to lend.

It’s true, exporters will benefit from a devalued £ but as most consumer purchases are from imports, costs will go up at the very time when the dragon of inflation has resurrected itself. Our war on

inflation should be Exocet and unrelenting. I hope it’s not too late to pivot to the pressing job at hand.

Do not ask me to defend or explain the removal of the 45p upper tax rate or Banker’s Bonus Cap – the scars of their involvement in the 2008 crash are still visible – because I cannot. Both were bad politics sending a caricature-confirming message of what some believe it is to be a Tory.

Like many, I also think there should have been some form of energy company Windfall Tax. They have, inadvertently, profiteered from the war in Ukraine. They had priced a tax into their balance sheets. We appear to have let them off, leaving UK taxpayers to ultimately pick up the tab for much-needed, and very welcome, financial support for energy customers.

I fundamentally approved of the Prime Minister’s commitment not to chase being popular for the sake of popularity. To take hard decisions and stick to them. Not to need to be liked. Let’s see more of that over the coming months.

Putin needs an off-ramp in Ukraine

An unforgettable fortnight in which we changed PM, lost our beloved Queen and acclaimed a King.

His Majesty’s surefootedness from his very first appearance as monarch bodes well for the future. He can be forgiven a slight show of irritation over pens and inkpots. Indeed, I and other Privy Councillors experienced ‘inkpotgate’ too when trying to sign the acclamation document at St James’ Palace. Otherwise, the series of events appeared faultless, a seamless transition and a fitting tribute to Elizabeth the Great.

On our first day back I spoke in support of better social care

to ease pressures on the NHS –a longstanding cause I’ve been

agitating about for a very long time. I’m pleased the new Health Secretary announced extra resources for social care and look forward to examining plans for their deployment. As I said, I can’t see how we can make progress without offering care workers a competitive salary and a recognisable career structure.

Also on the agenda, of course, was an update on Ukraine where the news is encouraging thanks to the incredible resistance of Ukrainians and Western resolve and support. However, as I said in the Commons on Thursday, given the aim is to liberate

Ukraine, not attack Russia or change its regime, a negotiated settlement will ultimately be needed.

Plainly Putin or whichever of his murderous lieutenants succeeds him will need some sort of off-ramp that he can dress up as a result to the Russian public. But Ukraine’s right not to cede territory to an aggressor has to be respected. As Kiev continues to advance and thus strengthen its hand, we need to think about what that looks like. The alternative is stalemate, years of bloodshed in a land that has seen centuries of it and the risk of a mis-step with potentially devastating consequences.

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison

Conservative MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

Politics

Wildlife faces a challenging winter

Two years ago we enjoyed our best home hazelnut harvest ever, with hundreds of nuts to enjoy through Christmas.

Last year was very different. Virtually all the nuts disappeared, with just a handful left to see us through the winter. The culprit appeared this summer, a squirrel digging furiously in the garden and every now and then emerging triumphantly with a hazelnut.

I fully accept the need to share some of our home grown produce with other creatures, and while so little was shared with us on this occasion, I appreciated the five hazelnut saplings that sprang up where the squirrel had missed some of its buried treasure.

This summer was very different. As the warm sunshine turned into an unwelcome heatwave and drought, our hazelnut bush lost half its

Ken Huggins on behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

leaves, and then the nuts began to drop. To beat the squirrel to the early harvest I picked them up but they were empty. Nothing. For us or the squirrel. There are other greatly reduced harvests this year. On the nearby Alners Gorse butterfly reserve the wild

blackberries are small and dry, the sloes are tiny and the elderberries are almost nonexistent. Slim pickings for those of us who like to forage treats from nature’s bounty, but we can obtain more food from shops. Spare a thought for the wildlife that will fail to survive this winter for want of enough to eat.

The UK is rated as one of the most nature-deprived countries in the world, largely due to the growth of intensive industrialised farming. Since 1950 we have lost 118,000 miles of hedgerow habitat and 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows.

Unsustainable use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides is destroying our soils, polluting our waters and crashing the insect populations that pollinate our crops. These devastating environmental costs are not included in the price of

cheap food.

We as consumers are not powerless. We can choose what to buy and what not to buy. We can choose to eat more seasonally and less highly processed food. And those who can, to support organic food suppliers whenever possible.

And spare a thought for the wildlife that will struggle to survive this winter. Put food out for the birds, and perhaps next year let some of your garden grow wild to provide a habitat for the insects and other creatures that life depends on.

And grow as many pollinator-friendly plants as you can. Perhaps join the River of Flowers project to help create beautiful food corridors for pollinators. Share ideas with friends and neighbours, join groups working to restore our wildlife and remember – you have the power!

What mini-budget does for families

The Queen was laid to rest last Monday. I watched the funeral procession return along Whitehall from my office window – so incredibly moving. If you would like to see my tribute, it is online, www.chrisloder.co.uk/ER

While mourning for our late Queen has occupied Parliament, I have been quietly working behind the scenes on pressing issues facing West Dorset today, with rising energy bills being a major concern, and I’d just like to explain what is happening.

On 8 September, our new Prime Minister established the Energy Price Guarantee. From October, the average British household will pay no more than £2,500 a year for their energy bills. This is guaranteed until October 2024, providing much needed certainty with savings of at least £1,000 a year for the average household.

Last week, the Energy Secretary revealed a series of measures to provide additional

support for businesses, schools, charities, libraries and other premises not covered by the Energy Price Guarantee, including capping electricity costs at 21.1p per Kilowatt Hour (kWh) and gas at 7.5p per kWh. This will give businesses security and peace of mind as energy costs previously looked to soar exponentially. The Energy Markets Finance Scheme has also

been introduced, which will ensure energy companies can avoid bankruptcy and potentially leave thousands of people without power, by ensuing they can access emergency liquidity to get them through turbulent times in the energy market.

The Chancellor outlined last Friday in his mini-budget new measures to assist families.

Income Tax is being cut to 19p for 31 million people from April 2023, a year earlier than planned, with the additional rate of income tax being abolished. A further 1.25 per cent cut in National Insurance will save workers about £330.

Stamp duty has also been cut – the nil rate threshold has been doubled from £125,000 to £250,000, and first-time buyers will now not have to pay any stamp duty if their property is worth up to £425,000 – up from £300,000. This means a typical family moving into a semidetached house, with a £50,000

household income, will save £2,500 on stamp duty, £560 on tax and a further £1,140 on their energy bills – about £4,200 in total.

Pubs and restaurants will be supported by a freeze on alcohol duty, and the Health and Social Care Levy is being cancelled. This will lower the national insurance contribution for workers across the country.

The Chancellor also announced 38 ‘Investment Zones’ are planned across the country. These will provide limited tax cuts and streamlining of red tape to encourage businesses to invest there and for small and medium enterprises to grow. Following relentless lobbying in Parliament, I tracked down ministers Lee Rowley and Dehenna Davison to make the case for Dorset to be included as one of these zones. Should this effort be met with success, it would be a major step forward in easing the tax burden on West Dorset residents.

Conservative MP for West Dorset Chris Loder

The Tories are going for broke

23 September 2022. The day the myth of Conservative responsible stewardship of the economy finally expired. It evaporated as the pound plunged to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985. It combusted as the cost of government borrowing, gilt yields, ballooned with investors dumping Britain’s debt. And it perished as international economists such as the former US Treasury Secretary mocked Britain for ‘pursuing the worst macroeconomic policies of any major country in a long time.’

I’m sure some bright spark will write in to say ‘yeah but Gordon Brown sold gold well cheap’ or contribute an alternative banality. Can I remind readers that the Tories have been in power now for 12 years? With every new Prime Minister, they want you to forget the negligence of the previous ones. Each Tory PM has brought forward a growth

strategy which the next one put in the bin as a failure.

The latest idea is an old, discredited one, straight out of the 1980s. It’s called trickledown economics. In a nutshell, make the richest richer, and they’ll spend and invest more of their money on everyone else. Indeed, this is exactly what Kwarteng has done. Despite all the headlines about tax cuts, the

Institute of Fiscal Studies confirmed that only those earning more that £155,000 will be better off with his changes. The rest of us? We’ll all be poorer. The inflation the Government is unleashing forces people into higher tax brackets. At the same time, the rising cost of goods and services eats away at the buying power of what the taxman leaves us. Indeed, only the Tory MPs who have second jobs will better off under their new leader.

There’s so much more to unpick this week I would need another column. Fracking? It’s back! And if you don’t like it, well, Rees-Mogg wouldn’t clarify in the House how communities will be consulted. It was even suggested he could deem it ‘national critical infrastructure’ so that communities can’t object. Our local MPs need to be across this.

What was missing this week? Any sensible plan for social care, or supporting the health service. What about a windfall tax on energy generators which are making 900 per cent profits at current wholesale prices? Nope. And where was the independent assessment from the Office of Budget Responsibility? It wasn’t allowed to release one. Meanwhile, Truss attacks the Bank of England and its independence.

All the interventions, such as the energy price cap, are just piling on to government debt. Truss and Kwarteng have doubled UK government borrowing this year with just a fortnight in power. We will be paying this off for decades. By 2026-27 borrowing will be a landslide £110 billion – 3.9 per cent of GDP – exceeding the 3 per cent limit for a country wanting to join the EU. The irony.

Nexus project sets a fine example

There are some interesting effects of teamwork. When of one mind and focused on a limited set of issues, teams can be affected by the ‘risky shift’ phenomenon. Backing each other up, urging each other on – leading to bolder, even courageous decisionmaking.

A good thing when an experienced, practised group comes together and there are proper controls in place.

Not so good, perhaps, when you have a new, largely untried team and are in a hurry to make an impression. With an 80-seat majority, the checks and balances seem to be limited to the ‘orthodoxy’ of the Civil Service.

Here in the Vale, we shall need to watch carefully as the regulatory environment loosens around housing and other development, perhaps even fracking.

All the while, monies for basic services tighten and the viability of our agriculture remains

threatened by uncertainty and soaring input costs.

Lib Dems run on the twin tracks of fairness and opportunity. No apologies for banging on about it.

Without opportunity and the endeavour it creates, there is no chance for fairness. Up the Corbyn end of things this equation was turned on its head

in the pursuit of impossible dreams which would only ever result in lowest common denominators.

Worse, though, is the rightierthan-thou, ‘growth is everything’ that we hear trickling down out of Downing Street. No common denominators there. ‘Every man for himself’ is the cry. Something that was shot down years ago.

Yes, the debate should be about generating growth rather than managing decline. That does not mean a free-for-all on banking bonuses and a bonfire of regulation.

Growth targeted through a due proportionality and sense of priority is what is needed. It is called consensus and it is practised by the more successful societies and organisations on earth.

Our version of democracy, however, is of a stilted kind and keeps producing these see-saws and the ‘risky shifts’ in policy that have not

served us well, have left us isolated and poorer than we should be.

Enough philosophy. Back to our local world but still on the positive page – some terrific thinking is coming out of Sturminster Newton’s ‘Nexus’ business incubator project whose launch happens on the evening of 10 October upstairs in the Emporium.

It brings together many parts of the community, including local business organisations, philanthropists and volunteers to create an environment for start-ups and fledgling businesses backed up by seasoned professional advice and support, including the potential for investment.

More on this as it develops. It is a cracking example of what can be achieved by working together and looking for a Highest Common Denominator. There’s an aspirational three-worder for you.

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

Mike Chapman on behalf of Liberal Democrats across the Blackmore Vale

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the

Cryptic crossword

Across

rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

7 Expensive garment, valuable material producing public indignation (6)

8 A lamp’s moved for liquid part of blood (6)

Thin strand put in window is perfect (4)

10 All quite feasible with energy after end of lecture (8)

Across 7 Expensive garment, valuable material producing public indignation (6)

Down

8 A lamp’s moved for liquid part of blood (6)

1 Build a ground close to superstore within earshot (7)

9 Thin strand put in window is perfect (4)

earshot

2 Firm getting ahead is a masterstroke (4)

10 All quite feasible with energy after end of lecture (8)

3 Show atonement about time restricting writer (6)

11 Teach lawyer to shift and to make progress possible (5,3,3)

11 Teach lawyer to shift and to make progress possible (5,3,3)

14 Intimate role among outsiders in dry social event (6,5)

writer

4 Leaders of Scottish parliament present in circle (6)

14 Intimate role among outsiders in dry social event (6,5)

18 Sudden misfortune finished gets to die down (4,4)

19 Lack of activity? That’s futile (2,2)

20 Some implicit rich characteristic of some fruit? (6)

21 Society with scope to bar new musical group (6)

Across

7 Expensive garment, valuable material producing public indignation (6)

8 A lamp’s moved for liquid part of blood (6)

9 Thin strand put in window is perfect (4)

10 All quite feasible with energy after end of lecture (8)

11 Teach lawyer to shift and to make progress possible (5,3,3)

Intimate role among outsiders in dry social event (6,5)

Sudden misfortune finished gets to die down (4,4)

Lack of activity? That’s futile (2,2)

Some implicit rich characteristic of some fruit? (6)

Society with scope to bar new musical group (6)

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

18 Sudden misfortune finished gets to die down (4,4)

5 Young man with joke in yard over a female artiste (4,4)

6 Change approval by duke (5)

19 Lack of activity? That’s futile (2,2)

20 Some implicit rich characteristic of some fruit? (6)

12 Waiter’s ordered around front of eatery so speak (2,2,4)

21 Society with scope to bar new musical group (6)

13 Astonish lead performer holding food up

15 Learner showing complete virtue presumably (6)

16 Most excellent artists supported by others

17 Assert cold line on purpose (5)

Down

Build a ground close to superstore within earshot (7)

19 Following garden, extra fencing (4)

Firm getting ahead is a masterstroke (4)

Show atonement about time restricting writer (6)

Leaders of Scottish parliament present in circle (6)

Young man with joke in yard over a female artiste (4,4)

Change approval by duke (5)

Waiter’s ordered around front of eatery so to speak (2,2,4)

Astonish lead performer holding food up (7)

Learner showing complete virtue presumably (6)

Most excellent artists supported by others (6)

Assert cold line on purpose (5)

Following garden, extra fencing (4)

Sport

North Dorset sew it up in quick time

North Dorset RFC 27 Swanage & Wareham 14 Smart rugby saw home side North Dorset victors after a strong first half performance.

The home side had almost the perfect start when Swanage kicked the ball out on the full at the start of the match.

A strong scrum, followed by a 50-22 from the boot of Robbie Samson for a line-out within the first minute was duly won, and North’s pack rumbled over the line with a well-executed rolling maul, Jaime Bettesworth claiming the try.

Sam Jones was next to score pouncing on a fumbled pass back from Swans as the North

Dorset pack put the shove on a scrum near the try-line. Jones added the conversion to his own try.

Utility player Sean Perry, who started on the wing, showed a clean pair of heels when given a bit of space and went in under the sticks for an easy conversion from Jones.

Not to be outdone by his opposite winger, debutante Owen Mawbey finished off a tidy piece of work from the backs who found space after the forwards had kept the pressure on Swans defence.

Just before the close of the first half, Sam Jones added three points from a penalty so that North Dorset went to the

break 27-nil up.

Although the home side did not add any points in the second half, strong defence from Adam Trevis, Will Willoughby and Eric Munezero kept driving the visitors back.

Hard running from Tom Hooper, Brad Bignell, Charlie Jobbling and Mawbey, and smart kicking from Jones and Robbie Sampson kept North playing rugby at the right end of the park.

The solid defence meant Swans were limited to a breakaway try to Harry Spyers against the run of play early in the second half and a well worked try from Dave Elford

that came off the back of a period of sustained pressure.

But clever rugby from North minimised the damage to their lead and they hung on to win 27-14 in a hard-fought match, that in the second half was much closer than the final score reflected.

Hooper, Trevis and Mawbey on debut put in strong performances, while Brandon Ward returned from injury and immediately made his presence known.

However, it was Sam Jones who was the Gritchie Brewing Company man of the match, while Ben Stokes, who was unlucky not to score, received the Dick Della-Giorno Cup.

Anglers help air ambulance charity

Sturminster & Hinton Angling Association, for the third year running, held an open competition in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Sonubaits supported the competition by supplying prizes of groundbait and mixing buckets.

Some 72 anglers competed on the club stretches of the River Stour between Upper Colber and Fiddleford and more than £1,200 is expected to have been raised.

Chairman Ian Paulley worked so hard arranging the match he did not have time to compete and Mike Cullen raised £280 from an auction of tackle gifts.

The winner was Gary Taylor who was pegged at Durrant, first peg above the

island, with 42lbs 12oz made up of six big bream and about 8lb of silvers caught on worm and caster. The second weight came from Sowley where Nick Ewers weighed in 13lb 8oz including two bonus fish, a bream and a tench, chopped worm being his successful tactic. Durrant again featured when Andy Miller had 11lb 12oz of roach and skimmers on caster, maggot and pinkie from the straight below the Recreation Ground. Fourth was Mick Jepson who had a mixed bag of small fish at 11lb 6oz caught on the whip with maggot from Upper Colber stretch. Nicky Collins continued his fine run of form with exactly 10lb including a 4lb tench from the downstream end of Sowley.

The match was divided into eight

Rockies score Vase win

by Avril Lancaster

Shaftesbury knocked out Combined Counties League Premier South leaders Badshot Lea in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase on penalties with the scoreline 1-1 in 90 minutes.

The ‘Baggies’ had won every game this season, so even with three wins on the bounce, Luke Middlewick’s team faced a difficult afternoon at Westfield Lane, Wrecclesham.

After an even first half, the home side took the lead in the 56th minute with Dean Rule finishing a good move when he curved

the ball round Konrad Symaniak. But Badshot Lea failed to turn up the heat after that and Luke Burbidge created space and scored a 77th minute leveller.

Shaftesbury put away all five penalties with Adwell Chipangura coolly slotting the last one home to put the Rockies through.

The match followed a 3-2 win at Laverstock and Ford when Sam Lanahan’s fine hat-trick saw off the Bulldogs at The Dell in the Wessex League Premier. Archie Lovegrove headed Laverstock level and they replied late on when Jacob Rawkins forced home a late consolation.

sections of nine – number 1 section, pegs 1-9 being the Upper Colber end.

Section 1 was won by Richard Chave with 9lb 3oz: section 2 by John Gatehouse with 5lb 12oz; section 3 by Des Shipp 5lb 12oz: section 4 by Bill Hanson with 8lb 15oz: section 5 by Gary Cross with 8lbs 9oz: section 6 by Ricky Searle with 7lb 12oz: section 7 by Martin Barrett with 7lb 11oz; and section 8 by Dennis Cory with 7lb 10oz.

The club would like to thank everyone who took part, the organisers and the farmers and landowners who allowed competitors to drive to their pegs.

The chairman will formally present the funds to the Air Ambulance in the near future.

Luke Delaney and Asa Philips celebrate

Hot shot Jilly’s double gold

Athlete Jilly Wallace from Upper Semley struck gold twice in the laser run world championships in Lisbon, Portugal.

Laser run is a discipline of modern pentathlon involving running and target shooting with a laser pistol, and Jilly took gold in the individual women masters category and the mixed team relay with Richard Wallace (no relation).

She said: “I can’t quite believe it. I was delighted to be selected for the team after winning the British Championships and I’ve been training just at home in the garden and doing sprints down

on Semley Common, but I had no idea what the international standard would be like.

“I just gave it my best and shot well and ran well –approaching the finish line I knew there were Spanish and South African competitors right on my shoulder, so I dug deep and pushed with everything I had.”

Jilly was part of a strong British Team competing across all age groups and her training partner Charlie Lane from South Brewham brought home a silver medal as part of the British three-man team event.

Jilly was an Olympic skier in the 1990s.

Shape up with Parkrun

Henstridge Airfield Parkrun, which has welcomed runners from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA, celebrated its fourth anniversary in suitable style – with a run!

The club are all about support, helping new runners and experienced members alike – whether for fitness, losing a few pounds, mindfulness or just as a way to meet new people.

The club also likes to mix things up with fun runs, events and challenges such as tu-tu day (running in tu-tus when the run falls on the 22nd of the month),

fancy dress, stopwatch bingo, alphabeteer, Cowell Club (attending 100 different events), and Staying Alive (run at three events starting with B and three starting with G).

The club are also looking for new volunteers and marshals. One of the organisers, Sharon Curtis, said: “Since covid, many volunteers have stayed away and without them being replaced it is becoming increasingly difficult to make sure the event is safe, as well as being timed.

“Parkrun is a phenomenon that is beneficial in improving health, mind and well-being,

and promotes a positive attitude.”

To get involved or if you are just thinking of running to get in shape long before any Christmas excess, contact henstridgeairfield@parkrun. com

The runs are at Henstridge Airfield, Henstridge Marsh, Templecombe BA8 0TN.

Golfers in winning frame...

Wincanton Golf Club results Seniors Monthly Stableford –16 September: 1 Ray Phillips 38, 2 Pete Starkey 37, 3 Philip Dewar 36 ocb, 4 Kees Schouten 36.

Ray Adsett Greensomes Trophy – 17 September: 1 Pete Anyan / Ross Chandler 37 ocb, 2 Ian Chandler / Rob Ley 37, 3 Rab Clyde / Matt Copperwhite 34.

Seniors Captain’s Cup– 20 September: 1 Neil Auckland 38 ocb, 2 Chris Mieville 38, 3 Kees Schouten 37.

Cat Protection Trophy – 24 September: 1 Chris Chapman 40, 2 Ray Hirst 36, 3 Richard Czemerda 34 ocb, 4 Jim Phillips 34, 5 Mike Taylor 34.

INTERESTED IN PLAYING LADIES HOCKEY?

Why not try your local Blandford and Sturminster hockey club? All abilities welcome - from Year 9 up. Ladies training night Thursday 8:00pm-9:00pm at Bryanston Astro, Blandford. Club contact info: bshc2007@hotmail.com Tracey Talbot 07477 621731

Jilly Wallace takes aim in Laser Run World Championships PHOTOS: Jo Lane/UIPM World Pentathlon

Henstridge Airfield Parkrun is inviting new runners to take part and looking for volunteers

Rural mental health matters

A MENTAL HEALTH outreach project is aiming to raise £250,000 to take support ‘on the road’.

Rural Mental Health Matters (RMHM) wants to hit the road in a bid to offer help and support to more people.

To do so, the social enterprise has launched the fundraiser to purchase a vehicle that will enable them to take their support to the communities that need it.

“We are passionate about supporting rural communities, and this mobile hub will allow us to reach and support the most remote locations and their communities,” said a spokesperson.

RMHM was launched in 2017 after a campaign to save mental health services in the area.

A social enterprise, it aims to address the inequality if mental health services in rural areas, and the group says a vehicle could be vital to providing more services in the future.

It is also keen to hear from anyone with experience in large fundraising projects who can help with their bid.

For more more information about Rural Mental Health Matters, log on to www. ruralmentalhealthmatters.co.uk, and to volunteer to help with the fundraising campaign, email RMHMatters@hotmail.com

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Advertiser’s announcement

October is set to be a busy month at Charterhouse in Sherborne.

Richard Bromell, from the auction house, said: “The phone has never been busier with valuations – people have been bringing items into the salerooms and we have been out and about clearing houses.

“With five days of auctions and lots estimated from £50 to £100,000 it looks to be an exciting month.”

The first auction is of classic and vintage motorcycles on Wednesday 5 October at Haynes International Motor Museum. Nearly 100 motorbikes are being sold, including the Yamaha TZ350 which won the Junior TT in 1983 estimated at £17,000-£19,000.

This is followed by an auction of pictures, books and sporting items on Thursday 6

October in which a print by Peter Soulages is estimated at £6,000-10,000 and a pair of Churchill shotguns at £3,000£5,000.

Charterhouse is selling a variety of antiques and interiors on Friday 7 October including an 18th century walnut bureau bookcase from Devon estimated at £2,000-£3,000.

The next week, on Wednesday 12 October, Charterhouse is back at Haynes for its auction of classic and vintage cars. The top lot is a 1935 barn-stored Bentley valued at £50,000-£70,000.

The Charterhouse Crew then have a short break until they auction the Hammond Collection of Microcars in Kent on Thursday 27 October. The star car is a 1965 Peel P50 three-wheel microcar estimated at £85,000-£100,000.

Antiques & Collectibles

Morris J-type ‘Roy’ for sale

Clarke’s Auctions at Semley is holding its final Classic Vehicle and Automobilia sale of the year on Friday 7 October.

The auction features a private collection of pre- and postSecond World War cars and commercial vehicles, including a rare 1935 Lancia Augusta, a 1936 Austin 10 Saloon, a 1947 Rover P2 Saloon and a wellloved 1967 Morris J-type converted to a living vehicle affectionately known as Roy. Roy was a regular attendee at the Dorset Steam Fair and other local classic vehicle events since the early 1970s.

The automobilia section includes a collection of Alvis

A 1935 Lancia Augusta estimated at £18,000-£20,000

sales brochures, mascots, advertising signs, original automotive artwork, badge bar badges, mascots and more.

Clarke’s Antiques & Collectibles sale will follow the Classic Vehicle sale on the Friday and continues Saturday.

One lot is a large Bombay silver photo frame containing a signed photograph of His Highness the Maharaja Holkar Yeshwant Rao II of Indore, India, and associated ephemera including a Cunard White Star luggage label dated 1951. The lot was presented to the vendor’s parents by His Royal Highness and is estimated to sell for £200-£400.

Land Rovers at Tank Museum

Duke’s Auctioneers is holding its Icons of Motoring, all Land Rover auction, at the Tank Museum at Bovington Camp next week.

The auction is the culmination of a charity fundraiser involving seven iconic series I, II and III Land Rovers driving about 22,000km from Chartwell in South Africa to Chartwell in the UK. Funds raised will develop sustainable opportunities for the next generation, focused specifically on food and water management techniques.

The auction has more than 30 vehicles, from the new, a Land Rover 110 Defender XS TD D/C Spectre Spec (£50,000 - £70,000), to a 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 County

Short Wheel Base TDI (£15,000-£20,000) and a 1998 Land Rover 110 V8 (£3,000£5,000). Vintage models include a 1950 Series I 80in (£40,000£60,000), a 1952 Minerva Licence Land Rover (£8,500£10,500) and a Land Rover 101 Forward Control (£17,000£20,000).

A printed catalogue is available alongside the fully illustrated version on Duke’s website. For more information or to order a catalogue contact Duke’s on 01305 265080 or email enquiries@dukesauctions.com. Vehicle fees are ten per cent plus VAT compared to 25 per cent plus VAT for automobilia.

The auction is on Thursday 6 October at 10.30am.

We’re coming back

Just like the Old Days

PASTIMES

of Sherborne (near the Abbey)

Thirty years of dealing in antique and Collectible Toys. Top prices paid for all types of model railway, die cast cars, early Action Man and Star Wars, Scalextric, Meccano, unmade Airfix kits etc. Those magical makes; Hornby, Dinky, Triang, Spot-On, Corgi, Subbuteo, Britains, Timpo plus plus plus Telephone: 01935 816072 Mobile: 07527 074343

A 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 County Short Wheel Base TDI is one

with Duke’s on

6 October

Brutalist pendant sells for £2,000

Acreman St Antiques Auction Sherborne had a very successful September auction with the Specialist Jewellery section achieving good results.

Among the lots an antique gold and lapis lazuli necklace made £1,200, a 14ct fancy link bracelet £1,300, an antique jade necklace £1,900 and a 1970s Brutalist gold and sapphire pendant £2,000.

A hammer total of more than £14,000 was achieved on behalf of the Yeovil Hospital New Breast Cancer Unit appeal.

An 1892 signed photograph of Queen Victoria sold for £1,000, a Mouseman nest of

tables for £500 and an earlier Mouseman stool for £750.

Acreman is holding its specialist Textile, Clothing & Apparel Auction on Friday 21 October (10am) and its General Antiques & Collectors Auction on Friday 28 October (10am).

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

Acreman can take in everything from single items, complete collections, up to full house clearances at competitive rates.

Home & Garden

Replanting after summer’s droughts

by Sally Gregson

October marks the beginning of autumn in our gardens. This hot summer’s droughts have wrought a deadly toll in the borders. Many plants that should have been growing away all summer have been struggling just to stay alive.

Despite any recent rain the soil will remain dry lower down making replacing and replanting lost shrubs and perennials quite a task. In heavier soils that, in part, retained some moisture the plants have noticeably coped much better, whereas in light, free-draining sandy soils some plants have just faded away completely. Beth Chatto’s mantra of ‘the right plant in the right place’ has been severely tested.

Some plants just seem to survive no matter what the weather. In sunny, heavier soils the Siberian Irises, dogwoods (Cornus alba), and Border Phlox, and many others, have repaid the occasional buckets of

water thrown at them in the hottest part of the summer by beginning to grow again now the weather is cooler.

It’s more difficult for plants that need light soil. They have put up with intense sunlight and desiccating winds, but no rain whatever has been fatal. Again, throwing bucketsful of water on the worst cases has relieved a few. And often with more ephemeral sun-lovers they will set seed and start again next year.

Some plants are just survivors, however, and it’s worth noting those in your garden for the future. Verbena bonariensis, those tall, light purple flowers that survive most conditions, are running happily to seed now, and the asters (Michaelmas Daisies and their ilk) are slowly returning to flower for the autumn.

Providing they have received the occasional bucket of water, they have survived. Just.

But one aspect of gardening

has had to be put on hold – that of moving perennials and shrubs to new homes within the garden, and planting newly acquired lovelies. Most gardeners have established a ‘waiting room’ for their new plants until this month when the weather gets cooler.

Now is the time to dig a deep hole for every waiting plant and half-fill it with garden compost.

Then empty a watering can into the hole to saturate the surrounding soil and squelch the new plant into the ‘mud’. Back-fill the hole with soil mixed with more garden compost, and give it a final watering to settle it in. In the warm damp soil it will quickly put out roots and get established. It will live to fight another year.

Magical plants for a shady garden

by Sally Gregson

That legendary gardener Vita Sackville-West once wrote about the complex flowers of Tricyrtis, the toad lily. She loved the delicate intricacy of the petals’ structure. From flat-bottomed buds the flowers open with six petals that are either intricately spotted or translucent. The reproductive parts of the flower, the stigma and stamens, are supported on an elongated style above the petals.

The Japanese name is onomatopoeic – ‘hototogisu’, which means ‘cuckoo’. Not that it flowers at the same time as the cuckoos appear, but the spotting is thought to resemble a cuckoo’s chest. Most species are native to Japan and are mentioned in traditional poetry – the spare, three-line ‘Haiku’. Hototogisu flower in September and October, and so indicate to

In its native habitat Tricyrtis

hirta grows horizontally on shady rocks in light, damp woodland soil. It has crossed with T. affinis, to produce T. x ‘White Towers’. This prostrate plant grows horizontally with bright green, slightly hairy, leaves and sports clean white flowers that show up well in the cool autumn shade of a woodland garden.

The most commonly grown species in this country, T. formosana stolonifera, the Toad Lily is, however, native to Taiwan. It grows in loose, leafy, moist soil, in light shade, and sports spotted, mauve-pink flowers. But the plant breeders have been at work producing many hybrids. There’s T. ‘Matsukaze’ whose very large flowers resemble purple-spotted spiders; T. ‘Shimone’ with exotic white flowers and deep red spots; and T. ‘Kohaku’ with large creamy white flowers and

purple-black spots.

And then there a few species with golden flowers, which may be occasionally available from specialist nurseries. T. latifolia has large, wide leaves and golden flowers with brown spotting. And T. macrantha, again with golden-yellow flowers. They are worth snapping up. Your garden will be enriched by such unusual flowers.

All Tricyrtis are magical autumn plants for every shady garden. Place a few near the path to intrigue an autumn visitor or under a light tree where the soil is moist without being boggy. Dot a few slug pubs about. The slimy ones are lager-louts who prefer beer to beauty. So, add an element of mystery to your garden, and you too will surely get hooked on toads, or should that be cuckoos?

the reader that the poem is set in early autumn. The subject matter is enigmatic – it’s about what is not said but implied.

Tricyrtis macrantha has golden yellow flowers

Iris sibirica ‘Silver Edge’ is good in difficult conditions

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Pets

The positive effect of pet ownership on human health

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

Anyone who has owned a pet will know the benefits they bring to our lives. They are uncomplaining companions, provide unconditional love and do not judge us for our lessthan-optimal decisions.

The health benefits to humans have been known and studied for many years. Some of the benefits are seen as reduced allergy development in children growing up with furry pets and the positive companionship they provide to the elderly.

The perception that living with animals may increase the risk of physical illness or injury such as catching psittacosis off a parrot or being scratched by a cat is real, but the health benefits appear to far outway these risks. In studies, people recovering from heart attacks recover quicker if they are pet owners than non-pet owners. Going for a walk with your dog provides many health benefits.

The mental health benefits are even more evident. Multiple studies have shown that pet owners have lower levels of anxiety and stress. People being treated for mental illness often respond better when an animal is involved in their treatment. Children who struggle to interact on a social level will often interact more with a pet or can express themselves better to adults in the presence of an animal.

A more appropriate term than ‘pet’, which is an animal kept purely for the pleasure of the keeper, is ‘companion animal’ which suggests a mutually beneficial relationship with acceptance of the desires and needs of that animal. It is important that we are aware of our companion’s own needs.

The human-animal bond is frequently a two-way process with dogs showing positive hormone responses to maintaining eye contact with their owners and the same response occurs in cats from

being stroked. This mutual benefit further improves the bond because both ‘parties’ receive positive feedback for their actions.

While this relationship is often two-way it is important to recognise that animals’ requirements, physical and mental, are not always the same as ours. A rabbit still benefits from the companionship of another rabbit and a cat may choose to live in a home without other cats by moving next door.

Overwhelming love can sometimes compromise the welfare of our pets and it is important to remember that decisions for their health and well-being must consider their

RETIRED DOG GROOMER/

needs and desires. To make this relationship a two-way process we must respect the natural requirements of our pets as individuals.

The loss of a pet can be as traumatic as the loss of a human family member and it is important to not underestimate the depth of this loss. Some pets hold an even more special place in our hearts and remain foremost in our memories years after their passing.

Our pets are often with us for a short time relative to our own lives and we must try to enjoy every minute of this time so that all the lovely memories and experiences live on long after their physical presence has gone.

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Going for a walk with your dog provides many health benefits and the mental health benefits of pet ownership are even more evident PHOTO: Светлана Бердник/Pixabay

CAN YOU BE A

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CATS LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES

Arlo (two). Very affectionate lovely boy who would fit into most families.

Hattie (one). Looking for an understanding home.

Millie (nine). Delightful tabby and white fluffy lady. She is a little shy but desperate to be loved.

Kittens. We have kittens available. If you would like to register interest, please visit our website and fill in the enquiry form, www. cats.org.uk/ blandford.

Please do not phone as we are all volunteers and can’t always answer. Thank you.

Tip #24: Mental stimulation

by Helen Taylor

For overall well-being, mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise. Done right, it will tire your dog out as much as running. This is because using their brains intensively is tiring and satisfying for dogs.

There are two main and very different ways to provide this and, ideally, both should be done. Firstly, reward-based training that requires the dog to think and concentrate so he can work out what it is that will trigger the reward through teaching new skills or further ‘shaping’ existing ones. ‘Incorrect’ attempts are not rewarded but must not discouraged in any way – or he may become reluctant to offer behaviours in future.

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

LOST CATS

If you have lost a cat, please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook.

Please make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed.

n Black female, missing from Blandford, since about July 25.

FOUND CATS

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

n Pale ginger tabby/white, Stalbridge, currently being fed by finder.

We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10 and DT11, SP7 and SP8, and BH21. Phone: 01258 268695.

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The second main way we can provide mental stimulation comprises structured nose-work. Finding or following one smell and distinguishing it from all the others that enter his nose requires a great deal of brain power and, as such, is very hard work. Analysis of scents is also highly rewarding as it results in the release of feel-good chemicals in his brain, so it can have a significant calming effect.

Next time, practical advice on how to incorporate mental stimulation into a dog’s day.

n Helen Taylor BSc(Hons) ADipCBM; Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB); ABTC register of Clinical Animal Behaviourists and Animal Training Instructors; Full Member APBC & APDT (881); Phone: 07951 985193; help@helentaylordorset.co.uk; www.helentaylordorset.co.uk

Food

Drink

Christmas turkeys have arrived but costs are constantly rising

by Barbara Cossins

Just when industries started picking themselves back up after Covid-19 and Brexit, we find ourselves back to square one with the energy cost.

Even after the new measures from the Government, it’s still madness trying to make things work.

After the pandemic, everyone was desperate to socialise and get back to some sort of normality and now people can’t afford to go out. It is inevitable that consumers will cut back on spending but I hope shoppers will focus on better quality food.

In 2012, we started our own butchery here on the family farm. I managed to persuade my husband James to let me have an old redundant shed in the farmyard and set about converting it into what is now Rawston Farm Butchery.

The farm shop came along a couple of years later when the public started turning up and asking to buy our meat for their homes and families.

We always support British meat. The butchery beef all comes from our own farm, the pork and lamb comes from Crib Farm in nearby Sturminster Newton and the chicken and duck is from Creedy Carver, poultry farmers based in neighbouring Devon.

The year I started the butchery was the same time the horse meat scandal happened, but it was only during Covid

that I found out the length people had been going to in importing it and disguising the fact it was horse meat. It was wrapped and presented as beef – it’s shocking and very scary that we don’t know what’s in a lot of the food on the supermarket shelves.

Christmas is coming and this year’s turkeys have arrived here at the farm. We always rear Christmas turkeys for our customers’ tables at home as well as buying and supporting other local turkey producers for our pub and restaurant. It is so important for us to know where

all our meat and food products are coming from if we’re going to eat and serve with pride.

I was horrified the other day when I was serving a delicious buffet for an 80th birthday lunch at my pub and a lady guest refused our local homereared turkey.

She progressed to telling me that she didn’t eat turkey or chicken because it was full of antibiotics and growth hormones – antibiotics are only used if animals are sick.

I had to firmly explain to her that this turkey was 100 per cent home-reared and it certainly didn’t contain any hormones or antibiotics.

Here in England our British farmers are not allowed to give hormonal growth promoters to animals and only give antibiotics when an animal is sick, so always check food labels when buying your meat. Checking its origin and making sure it has been produced here in the UK is essential as our British farmers have far higher

standards than nearly every other country in the world.

I’m sorry to use the word Christmas again, as I know it’s still early, but British poultry is going to be at a premium this festive season.

It will be a challenging time for poultry farmers this winter with electricity and grain prices still being very unsteady.

There is ongoing instability in the world market due to a combination of factors including the Ukraine war, climate change – some countries had failed crops because of drought – a severe lack of labour and, of course, the avian flu virus which is still a major problem with regular outbreaks occurring here in Britain.

I know people might think British produce is more expensive but buying imported food won’t help our UK farmers to survive, plus our food standards are so much higher here at home.

I was horrified to read in Farmers Weekly that our Government is looking to sign us into a trade deal with India.

Yes, we already import rice, grain, exotic vegetables and fruits from there, but we don’t need to be increasing these imports, especially as their food standards are much lower and they are still allowed to use a lot of sprays and pesticides banned in our homelands.

So please support local if you possibly can, every purchase helps support our local food producers, farmers and fishermen for now and the future.

If you are lucky enough to have a local poultry farmer or good local butcher, then buy your turkey and extras from them and get your Christmas order in early. It will all help. n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local and Love Local Trust Local Awards

British poultry, like these turkeys, is going to be at a premium this festive season, says Barbara Cossins

A winning way with aubergines

New Blackmore Vale, 30 September 2022blackmorevale.net 75 by Rebecca Vincent

I must admit I’m not really a fan of aubergines. They always look so pretty in the greengrocers, so I buy them and give them a go, but over the years I’ve struggled to find aubergine-based dishes I like. This dish, however, with them paired alongside mushrooms, has really helped me enjoy them recently. I hope you like it too!

Aubergines are a member of the nightshade family and come in lots of different colours, including purple, green, orange, yellow, and variegated.

Each is a great source of vitamins B1 and B6, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, folic acid and dietary fibre. The classic purple variety I’ve used for this recipe contains high levels of a beneficial polyphenol antioxidant from the anthocyanin family, nasunin, which is responsible for its colour.

Mushrooms contain vitamins B1, B3, B3, and B6, copper and selenium. They also contain vitamin D, and their levels can be boosted by leaving them in

the sun before cooking.

Mushrooms also act as prebiotics and help to feed the good bacteria in our guts.

Aubergine and mushroom stir-fry (Serves 4)

1 medium aubergine (diced)

2 large portobello mushrooms (or 4 medium) (diced)

1 clove of garlic (finely grated)

½ thumb-sized piece of ginger (finely grated)

½ tsp chilli flakes (or to taste)

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp soy sauce

2 spring onions spring onions (finely sliced)

Optional extras: chicken or tofu,

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sesame seeds

Heat a wok or large frying pan on a medium heat.

When the pan is hot, add the oil, garlic, ginger and chilli, and stir fry for a couple of minutes.

Add the aubergine, stirring well and continue to fry for a couple of minutes before adding the mushrooms.

Once the vegetables are tender – but not too soft – add

the soy sauce and spring onions for the last minute or so – you can add them earlier if you like your spring onions cooked through, but this way they retain a little freshness.

Lovely served with brown rice and sesame seeds to garnish!

n Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons); BANT-registered nutritionist; 07515 019430; wwwrebecca vincentnutrition.co.uk

Enford Farm Shop

Durweston DT11 0QW

Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more.

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in fresh that week.

BBQ packs also available.

Half a pig approx £120.

Chicken feeds etc available. Open Wednesday to Saturday 8.30am-4pm.

Outside shop with self service for essentials open daily 8am-8pm

Stir-fried aubergines and mushrooms are splendid served with brown rice and sesame seeds to garnish

Hunt’s Food Group acquires The Health Store brand and its assets

by Andrew Diprose, Dorset Biz News

A Dorset company which can trace its family roots back to 1912 and has grown into a business with a £110 million turnover has acquired The Health Store brand and its assets.

Chris Pole and Ryan Grant, from Interpath Advisory, joint administrators of Health Stores (Wholesale), announced the completion of the sale to Hunt’s Food Group.

The Sherborne-based company is a leading foodservice, retail and natural products supplier.

The transaction has seen 17 employees at Health Stores (Wholesale’s) base in Nottingham transfer to Hunt’s Food Group.

Mr Pole and Mr Grant were appointed joint administrators

of Health Stores (Wholesale) and Tree of Life UK on August 22.

The companies form part of the UK’s largest independent health food and wellness products distribution platform.

They supplied a broad range of third party and owned brand goods, food and drink, personal care, and vitamins, minerals and supplements.

A further company within the group – Health Made Easy

– was placed into administration on August 26.

Mr Pole, managing director at Interpath Advisory, said: “Hunt’s Food Group has an excellent reputation within the industry, and has broadened both its produce and service offerings in recent years to supply a wide-ranging customer base.

"We’re pleased to have concluded the sale of The Health Store Brand and its

assets to Hunt’s Food Group, ensuring The Health Store will continue to trade and providing certainty for those employees who will transfer to the new owners."

Thomas Hunt, managing director of Hunt’s Food Group, said: “We are delighted to progress with this opportunity and welcome The Health Store to the group. We look forward to working with the new team members from The Health Store and learning from their wealth of knowledge in the industry.

“This investment from the group brings greater choice to our customers and complements our commitment to having the most competitive, comprehensive range available. We have exciting plans for the brand and are looking forward to developing these in the future.”

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Health & Wellbeing

The super powers of Ashwagandha

As the days sadly draw in, I start thinking about much more wholesome and warming foods. Apple and blackberry crumbles and soups!

We should all be eating seasonally as our body needs all the lovely roots and tubers full of sugar and starches to prepare us for the long winter days. Soon I should harvest the burdock, marshmallow and elecampane as autumn is the best time to do so, when all the goodness of the plant goes down into the root.

I could also harvest my beautiful Ashwagandha plant, but I won’t – too much care goes into me bringing it in and out of the house before and after the frost for me to dig up its roots!

Withania somnifera or Ashwagandha, is grown

naturally in India and Africa where it is used medicinally. It is what we in the west term an ‘adaptogen’, which basically means it is a plant or herb that helps the body to adapt to its environment and so protects it from some of the outside stressors we are being exposed to.

I am a huge believer in the power of Ashwagandha. In India it is given as a food to children who are not growing well or are undernourished, and it is also excellent to take as we get older. I prefer using the powdered root to the tincture, as I think of it as an alternative to hot chocolate or Horlicks. As the name, ‘somnifera’ suggests, it is used to calm the body and mind, and a teaspoon of the powder in a warm nut milk at night can be very effective at inducing sleep.

It is a heating herb, so is not great to use if you are a hot, angry or in Ayurveda terms a ‘pitta’ person, but for the young and old, who need warming and nourishing, it is wonderful. It is usually a must for those with chronic fatigue syndrome or for adrenal burnout and is extremely calming for those who live on their nerves.

It is believed in India to give you the strength of a stallion and is used for men with low libido and low sperm count. It is also full of iron, so excellent for

those with anaemia and particularly women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

It has also been found in tests to have a positive effect on the thyroid so helping with hypothyroidism. It is used for rheumatic conditions, including RA and along with other herbs said to be good for fibromyalgia. I think we should all be taking it from about the age of 60!

n Fiona Chapman is a Naturopathic Herbalist (Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

by Fiona Chapman

Ashwagandha powder and root PHOTO: formulatehealth.com

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: The wonders of migration

by Dr Susie Curtin

It is the end of September, there are fewer butterflies on the wing, yet on my walk today I am accompanied by a Clouded Yellow. It is one of our migrant butterflies coming all the way to our shores from North Africa and Southern Europe, and can be seen almost anywhere in Britain feeding on clovers and common birds-foot trefoil. Here in Dorset, they mostly frequent chalk downlands where they mate and lay their eggs. In late summer their numbers increase as the new British-born butterflies mingle with the succession of newcomers. Unable to survive our cold, damp winters it is still unclear whether the new

generations of Clouded Yellows born over the summer return home like other migrant butterflies such as Painted Ladies and Red Admirals.

Looking at their fine features and paper-thin wings, it is hard to imagine how such a beautiful, delicate creature can navigate such large distances and be at the mercy of the elements. Winged migrations are indeed one of nature’s miracles – I wonder what tiny compass guides these fragile beings over land and sea, and what innate determination resides in their DNA, for there is no opportunity for them to learn from older experienced individuals.

Research suggests that

butterflies use the shortening or lengthening of the day as a cue to their travels. The caterpillars that grow when the days are lengthening become adults who fly north, but those born when the days are shortening know they need to fly south to find a food source for their own offspring. Although difficult for science to determine, butterflies seem to use the sun’s position to orientate them but at night, just like birds, it is thought they switch to using the earth’s magnetic field.

The theory is that birds, butterflies and even migratory fish have nanoscopic cells that

produce a substance called magnetite in their beaks, antennae or noses. Whatever they have, their navigation is so precise it allows them to return to the same area, or even nest site, year after year with a skill and an intelligence we find difficult to fathom.

Walking home, I wonder whether we also have a hidden desire to migrate to warmer climes, or to where the living is easier. There is an autumnal chill in the air and the nights are rapidly drawing in – how nice it would be to head south too.

Passing the church my eyes are drawn skywards, and there, circling above the tower, is a lone swift. Feeding on insects, and sleeping on the wing, swifts begin their journey to central Africa in mid-July before the night air becomes too cool for their food source. This young swift is late to leave and far behind his flock. I wish him luck on his long journey and look forward to the day when I am in the warm sunshine watching him circle above our church tower once again.

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

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Health & Wellbeing

Grief is the price we pay for love

I’m writing this just four days after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I am not a grief counsellor – these are my personal thoughts.

We all knew this day would come. Few can have failed to notice the change of pace and ability of our late Queen. And yet, and yet – we put the thought that this really would happen to one side. We buried it in the way we bury the thought of a parent or spouse dying.

So the news being released throughout Thursday culminating in the formal announcement of the death of our late Queen that evening brought about a collective sharp intake of breath.

Possibly it was a bit of a double shock. That was the first. The second is how much we have all been thrown into a state of grief. So many of us have been taken aback by how shocked we feel.

Such was Her role in our lives, we feel uprooted now. We have lost our leader, our role model, our constant figurehead. We have lost our Queen on whom we could rely for a calm strength.

But this is not our only grief. We all carry grief with us through our lives. Sometimes we don’t realise we are grieving but I don’t believe grief is a finite thing. It has no full stop. It can be triggered at moments

such as these and the feelings it generates are brought back to the surface of our minds and hearts. When it surfaces, it brings down our resilience.

As we live through these days of mourning, our routines, our everyday lives that we rely on for familiarity and stability, are thrown aside at a time when we most need them.

Finally, we should

acknowledge any death is a reminder of our own mortality. In this death, we are all ‘moving on a generation’. Moving towards our own turn, so to speak. For most of us, Queen Elizabeth was the only monarch we have known. King Charles III has nearly always been the Prince of Wales. As we become familiar with these changes –the natural course of events –

our reactions and feelings will become more measured. The grief we will always carry for HM Queen Elizabeth II will become part of the grief we all carry through our lives.

To quote the late Queen: “Grief is the price we pay for love”.

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

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by Alice Johnsen

Any death is a reminder of our own mortality.

PHOTO: Julia Taubitz/Unsplash

Motoring

2018

2019 (19)

gearbox,

2018 (68) Renault Clio 0.9TCe GT Line 5dr. 90bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, sat nav, partial leather, park sensors, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill start assist, bluetooth, upto 56mpg economy, 18,900 miles .............£9950

2014 (14) Renault Scenic 1.5TD Dynamique Tom Tom 5 Seat MPV 5dr. 110bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, high seating, large boot, partial leather, sat nav, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill start assist, individual tip & tumble rear seats, cambelt replaced, £20 a year road tax & upto 68mpg economy, 56,500 miles

£6450

2015 (65) Subaru Forester 2.0 XE 4x4 Station Wagon Estate 5dr. 150bhp, petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, large boot, tough & dependable 4 wheel drive, good ground clearance, heated seats, reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, bluetooth, hill start assist, electric sunroof, only 31,500 miles .......£14250

2018 (18) Vauxhall Astra 1.0 T EcoTech SRi 5dr. 105bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill start assist, bluetooth, DAB audio, touch screen, upto 58mpg, 32,000 miles

£10450

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2018 (68) Ford Transit Connect 1.5 EcoBlue L1 200 Limited Van 5dr. 120bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 2 seats, side door, bulkhead, ply lined, liner mat, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, heated front screen, heated seats, DAB audio, bluetooth, hill start assist, parking sensors, air con, 40,800 miles................................................................................£14500+VAT = £17400

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A4 TGM £350

2016 (66) Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T Tekna SUV 5dr. 115bhp, petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, sat nav, reverse cam, park sensors, heated leather, bluetooth, auto lights & wipers, cruise, hill start assist, lane & sign aid, 19,500 miles

……..£14,495

(18) MITSUBISHI

2015 (65) NISSIAN JUKE

………

£13250

2019 (69) VAUXHALL INSIGNIA ESTATE 2l Turbo Diesel, 5dr, 6 speed manual gearbox, 168 BHP, only 35,000 miles, 18in alloys, bluetooth, air con, cruise control, multimedia system w/satnav, full service history and still has balance of manufacturer’s warranty ………….. only £16,595

2017 (17) TOYOTA YARIS DESIGN 1.3l Petrol, 2dr, ONLY 13,000 miles, manual, 98 BHP, 16in alloys, air con, Bluetooth, cruise control, reversing camera, multi-information display, service history, £30 road tax……… £11,695

2018 (18) FORD ECOSPORT 1l Petrol, SUV, 5dr, 35,000 miles, manual, 123 BHP, 17in alloys, cruise control, Ford DAB navigation system, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, automatic lights, keyless start, full dealer service history……. £11,995

2009 (09) BMW 320D CONVERTIBLE 2l diesel, 2dr, manual, 18in alloys, 175 BHP, full service history, M-Series interior, Bluetooth w/voice controls, heated front seats, wind deflector, rear parking sensors, 87,000 miles……. £6,495

2019 (68) PEUGEOT 108 COLLECTION 1l petrol, manual, 2dr, ONLY 8,000 MILES, 1 private owner, FULL service history, 72 BHP, 15in alloys, 7in multifunction touchscreen, Bluetooth, DAB Radio, calvi blue & green fizz ambience, automatic headlights, reverse camera………£9,000

2011 (61) FORD FOCUS TITANIUM ESTATE 1.6l diesel, manual, 113 BHP, FULL service history, 18in alloys, Bluetooth w/ voice control, automatic headlights, cruise control, £84,000 miles, £20 road tax……… £4,995

2008 (08) AUDI TT ROADSTER 2l petrol, 197 BHP, full service history, RECENT Cambelt & water pump renewed, Adjustable steering column, alarm, alloys, Anti lock braking system, Central locking, drivers airbag, Electric mirrors, front electric windows, front fog lights, heated door mirrors, immobiliser, passenger airbag, power assisted steering, Radio/CD, remote central locking, side

Traction control, 100,721 miles……….. £5,495

manual,

18in alloys, 35,000 miles, full service history, Red/Black Stunning Leather/Alcantara Interior, automatic lights & wipers, rear camera, cruise control, NissianConnect, Bluetooth…… £11,695

2013 (13) FORD KUGA 2l diesel, 5dr, manual, AWD, 161 BHP, 17in alloys, Bluetooth w/voice control, full service history, cruise control, Start/Stop engine, heated window washers, automatic headlights, green tinted windows, 129,000 miles………£5,995

Motoring

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS

ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

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

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS

ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES

INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

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

Diagnostics

Air conditioning Valets

MOTs – class 4, 5 and 7

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Diagnostics Air Conditioning

Diagnostics

Courtesy Cars

Air conditioning

Courtesy Cars

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Valets

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Courtesy Cars

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 8ST

15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 459798

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Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

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Motoring

When

When it comes to taking a break, and even having a nap, the Highway Code is clear on this.

You can sleep in your car, but there are a few conditions you should know before you do.

So before you pull up and have a sleep, there are some circumstances of which to be aware.

Rule 91 of the Highway Code recommends taking a ‘Minimum break of 15 minutes after every 2 hours of driving.’

And if you’re feeling especially tired, it suggests drinking ‘two cups of caffeinated coffee and taking a ‘short nap’ for at least 15 minutes.’

Alison Ashworth from Ashworth

get caught napping

Traffic Act 1988, there are times where you could get into trouble for sleeping in your car in the UK.

Motoring Law says: “Whether or not you can legally spend the night in your car depends on several factors, such as where you’re parked, and whether you have any alcohol or drugs in your system.”

So, if you’re under the influence or parked somewhere you shouldn’t be, it’s illegal to sleep in your car. Under Section 4 and 5 of the Road

The act relates to driving or being in charge if you’re over the alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs The penalties are harsh. If you drive under the influence, you could face a maximum of a three-month prison sentence, an unlimited fine or a minimum one-year ban.

However, if you can prove you weren’t driving the vehicle while under the influence, you probably won’t get into trouble.

For example, if you don’t have your car keys on you while you’re in your vehicle.

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

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

MOTORBIKES WANTED Non runners and Unwanted Phone Keith on 07966 213344

2021 POWAKADDY FX7 GPS golf trolley w/travel cover, drink, scorecard & umbrella holders and winter wheels. £500 or nearest offer. Tel 07598-767589

UNWANTED VEHICLES bought for cash ●Mot failures ●Nonrunners ●Unfinished projects ●end of life scrap vehicles ●minimum of £200 paid for complete vehicles. Call Ryan on 07474 737577

2005 VW POLO DUNE 1.2 Petrol Manual Silver FSH, 12 months MOT, Air Con, BBS Alloys, PAS, Electric Windows, 45mpg, Great Condition £2,650 ono 01747 824348 07907 830264

PUBLIC NOTICE

Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011

Closed church of East Orchard St Thomas (Diocese of Salisbury)

The Church Commissioners have prepared a draft scheme providing for the sale of the closed church building of East Orchard St Thomas and part of the churchyard for residential use.

A copy of the draft Scheme may be inspected on the porch noticeboard at St Luke’s church, West Orchard SP7 OLJ. You may also access the draft Scheme on the Commissioners’ website from the link to draft schemes online at www.churchofengland.org/consultation or obtain or inspect a copy during normal office hours at the Church Commissioners’ office by applying to Adrian Browning.

Large print and/or audio copies are available on request.

A public drop-in session will take place on Thursday 13 October at Manston Village Hall DT10 1EX between 3.30pm and 7pm at which members of the Commissioners’ and Diocesan staff and the proposed purchaser will be available to answer any questions about the proposals.

Having considered the proposals you may make representations either in support or against the draft scheme by e-mail to closedchurches.reps@churchofengland.org or by writing to Representations, Closed Churches Division, Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ.

Please note that any communications received after 31 October 2022 cannot be treated as a representation.

For details of this process see www.ccpastoral.org. If you require further clarification about the draft scheme or process you can contact the case officer, Adrian Browning, on 01722 438664 or by e-mail: adrian.browning@ churchofengland.org

The Church Commissioners are a registered charity (number 1140097)

RUBY WEDDING

SQUIRES

TRUDIE AND PETE

With special love on their ruby wedding for the 9th October, from Mum, Gill, and Chris. Dad sends his love on the wings of a dove, God Bless. Xxx

Announcements

MEMORIAM

LAWRENCE (LAURIE) CHARD

A year has passed since we sadly lost you as a wonderful thoughtful friend; you are often in our thoughts.

John & Carol P

DEATHS

KATHLEEN NOAKE

Of Marsh House, Sherborne passed away peacefully on 14th September aged 88.

The funeral service will be held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Castleton on 7th October at 1:15 p.m.

DAVE FRAMPTON

‘Frampy’

Passed peacefully away at home in Okeford Fitzpaine on the 19th September aged 91.

Much missed by family and the community Funeral to be arranged.

BUTT THOMAS

Josephine and family would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of sympathy, attending Tom's funeral service and for donations received in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Please accept this as our personal acknowledgement.

SPILLER

Gordon Alfred (Danny)

Peacefully at Salisbury District Hospital on 20th September 2022, aged 86 years, of Gillingham. Beloved husband of the late Betty. Much loved brother, uncle, and brother-in-law.

ANNIVERSARY

DIANE AND VICTOR SNOOK

Congratulations on your Diamond Wedding Anniversary, the 6th October 2022, From Dereck and all the family

Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church Gillingham on Friday 14th October at 2:00pm, followed by private cremation. No flowers please. Donations if desired, for Stars Appeal can be made via www.tapperfuneralservice.co.uk or sent c/o Harbour View Crematorium, Funeral Home and Woodland Burial Ground, Randalls Hill, Lytchett Minster, Dorset, BH16 6AN Tel: 01202 630111

STEPHEN LANGDOWN

on 20th September 2022 suddenly at home aged 74 years of Shaftesbury. A much loved husband and dad. Funeral service to take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Tuesday 18th October at 2.00pm. No flowers please but donations if desired to Rett UK can 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

Announcements

DEATHS

ELIZABETH KENDALL

A Celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held at the Methodist Hall Gillingham on 7th October at 2.30pm.

A further celebration will be held at the Shaftesbury Meeting House, Shaftesbury on 22nd October at 11am Come and share your memories of Elizabeth. All Welcome.

PETER SMITH

Formerly of Glove Cottage Donhead St Andrew. Passed away peacefully on the 10th September at The Old Rectory Stalbridge.

Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium 11.00 am on 12th October Info. Merefield & Henstridge 01747 853532

COLIN (DOUGIE) CHARLTON

Formerly of Gillingham passed away suddenly at home in Bridgwater on September 14th aged 64 years. Beloved Son, Brother and Uncle he will be sorely missed.

A private cremation has already taken place.

BOULTON

Susan Josephine

Aged 69 years of Wincanton. On 17th September 2022, peacefully at Wincanton Community Hospital. A much loved daughter, mother, sister, aunt and friend. Funeral Service at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Wincanton on Monday 10th October at 12noon followed by interment in the Cemetery. Please wear a splash of colour if you wish. Family flowers only please, donations in memory of Susan are being invited for The Friends of Wincanton Community Hospital or St Margaret's Hospice, Yeovil. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone. (01963) 440367

Brian Tony BATTEN

Passed away peacefully at Joseph Weld Hospice Dorchester on Friday 2nd September, aged 64. Beloved husband of Anne, adored Dad, Grandad and brother, who will be sadly missed by so many friends and family. A true “Gentleman”.

A Celebration of Brian’s life, will be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, Glanvilles Wootton on Friday 30th September at 2.00pm. Donations are invited for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and may be made via: www.cottonfunerals.co.uk or enquiries to Cotton & Son: 01305 76 76 76

DEREK GEORGE STANSFIELD

Passed away peacefully at home on 31st August 2022, aged 78 years.

He was Assistant Organist at Sherborne Abbey (1967 - 1976) and Director of Music Lord Digby's & Foster's Grammar Schools in Sherborne; then at Croft House School, Shillingstone, and Organist & Choirmaster at the Holy Rood Church, Shillingstone (1982 - 1993) He will be sadly missed by all Funeral service to take place at St Mary's Church, Sturminster Newton on Thursday, 6th October at 14:00.

Cremation at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 7th October at 11:20. All welcome to either or both services. Family flowers only please.

Donations if desired for Parkinson's UK may be given as you leave the church or sent c/o Bracher Brothers, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset. SP8 4QL

FIANDER Andrew James ‘Andy’

Passed away suddenly on 6th September aged 76 years at Yeovil District Hospital. Husband, Dad and Grandad, Andy will be sadly missed. Funeral Service at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday 10th October 2022 at 11.20am and refreshments following at Sturminster Newton Football Club. Family flowers please, but donations if desired for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, c/o Grassby and Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1BB, Telephone 01258 471024, cheques to be made payable to the Charity or can be made online by visiting www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk

PORTER ALISON

‘Ali’

Alison of Okeford Fitzpaine passed away on 11th September aged 57 years.

Alison was loved and a friend to so many and will be sorely missed. Funeral Service at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday 3rd October 2022 at 10.40am and refreshments following at the Swan Inn at Sturminster Newton, Colours to worn please, purple preferred.

Family flowers please but donations if desired for Wear it Pink Breast Cancer Charity, c/o Grassby and Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1BB, Telephone 01258 471024, cheques to be made payable to the Charity or can be made online by visiting www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk

Announcements

DEATHS

REVD RICHARD PRIEST

Vicar of the Stour Vale Benefice, died peacefully at Salisbury District Hospital on 12th September 2022. Service of Thanksgiving to be held at Christ Church, East Stour on Monday 3rd October at 2.00pm. No flowers please but donations are welcomed for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the RNLI, c/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB or in person at the service.

EVELYN FRANCES WEBBER

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Evelyn Frances Webber (nee Reece) on 13th September.

Our dearly loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

A funeral service will be held at Poole Crematorium, Gravel Hill, Poole, BH17 9BQ, on Monday 3rd October at 2.30pm.

Friends and family are welcome.

Family flowers only please, donations, if desired for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, may be made online by visiting www.close-funeral.co.uk or cheques payable to the charity c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. Tel: 01258 453133

HAROLD (HAL) BURTON-JOHNSON

Sadly passed away on the 12th September 2022 at the age of 83 in Dorchester County Hospital. Precious husband to Ann and loving father to Phillip, Cherrie, and Julie and grandchildren Alexander, Amelia, and Jake. Funeral will take place on Friday the 7th October 2022 at 12.30pm at Poole Crematorium. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for cancer research payable to the charity at the Crematorium or care of Colin J Close Funeral Services, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU.

CLIVE JAMES PARK

Passed away peacefully at Musgrove Park Hospital on 1st September aged 68 years.

Beloved husband to Sally and father to Nathan. Will be sadly missed by his family and friends. Service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Wednesday 12th October at 1.20pm.

Donations if desired for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance c/o Bracher Brothers, Newell, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4EZ Tel: 01935 813479

RUTH CHURCHILL

Passed away at home on 27th August aged 95 years. Will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 14th October at 2.40pm.

Family flowers only but donations if desired for Sherborne Voluntary Ambulance c/o Bracher Brothers, Newell, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4EZ Tel: 01935 813479

REVEREND GORDON NEVILLE ELFORD

A Supernumerary Minister of the Yeovil & Blackmore Vale

Circuit. Passed away at Salisbury District Hospital, on 11th September, aged 83 years.

Gordon will be sadly missed by his loving wife Valerie, loving daughter Kate and by all his family and friends.

A Service of Thanksgiving for Gordon's life will take place at the Gillingham Methodist Church on Tuesday 18th October at 14:00.

Donations in memory of Gordon are for Christian Aid and may be sent to Bracher Brothers, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QL. A private cremation has taken place.

WESTON JOHN

Died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on 19th October 2022, aged 81 years.

Beloved husband of Kathy. Much loved dad of Karen and Stephen.

Loving grandad to Nicola, Sarah, Laura, Natalie and great grandad to Ella-Rose, Charlie, Amelia, Callie, Harry and Freddie. He will be sadly missed.

His Funeral Service will be held in The Long Barrow ceremony hall, Harbour View Crematorium on Tuesday 11th October at 10:30.

Family flowers only please. Donations, is desired, for Weldmar Hospice Care may be made online at www. tapperfuneralservice.co.uk

EDLYN BERNADETTE BETTY ANNE JONES

Peacefully at her home in Sturminster Newton on 12th September 2022. Bernadette aged 75 years. A dearly loved Mother and Grandmother. Funeral service at Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Marnhull on Monday 17th October at 9.30am. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for The MS Society. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0RB. Tel 01963 362570

PARRATT Cyril Kenneth

Suddenly on 10th September 2022 at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, aged 90 years. Formerly of Shapwick and of the DIY Shop, Dorset Street, Blandford. He will be sadly missed by all his Nieces and Nephews. Funeral Service to be held at St Bartholomew’s Church, Shapwick on Friday, 7th October 2022 at 11.30 am followed by interment in the Churchyard. Enquiries to Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors Tel: 01202 882134

DAVINA AUSTIN BELCHER

Passed away peacefully on the 8th September 2022. Davina was much loved, and will be sadly missed by all.

The Funeral Service is to take place at Yeovil Cremation on the 13th October 2022 at 1120. Any donations if desired in memory of Davina to go to Marie Curie, donations can be made direct to Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QL. Tel: 01747 822494.

COOK Bertram

Passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday 20th September 2022, aged 79 years.

Much loved husband to Ann, father to Caroline, Bryan and Simon and grandad.

He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday 4th October 2022, 11.30a.m. at Mendip Crematorium. Donations in memory of Bertram are invited for The Brain Tumour Charity and may be sent c/o A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310. Please make cheques payable to the charity.

TAYLOR Thomas Albert

Sadly passed away peacefully in Sherborne on 11th September, 2022, aged 91 years.

Dearly loved husband of the late Phyllis (Penny). Much loved dad, and grandad, who will be greatly missed by family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter & St. Paul Church, Charlton Horethorne on Friday 14th October, 2022 at 2.30pm.

KELVIN MARK VINCENT

Passed away peacefully at home on 20th September aged 50 years of Gillingham. A dearly loved husband, dad, son, brother, stepdad, uncle, grandad and friend to so many. Kelvin will be sorely missed by all. Funeral service takes place at St Gregory's Church, Marnhull on Friday 7th October at 12 noon, followed by a private family interment. Family flowers only please but donations if desired to Julia's House Children's Hospice, maybe made online at www. mhfd.co.uk or send a cheque made payable to the charity c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

Family Run Caring & Efficient • Private Chapels of Rest Personal Day & Night Service

“Golden Charter” Pre-paid Funeral Plans available Memorials in Stone Marble & Granite, etc.

Shaftesbury (01747) 853532 imerefield@aol.com Gillingham (01747) 835335 www.mhfd.co.uk

“Ridgemount”, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU

J

Choice of Hearses available including

Family flowers only please.

& Sons

24 Hour Service

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Donations in memory of Thomas, for Marie Curie or Weldmar Hospicecare may be sent c/o A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ.

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Land Rover Hearse

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 Wincanton Tel: 01963

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Richard Wakely,

Please contact Richard Wakely,

Pre-payment

– 24 Hour Service –

– 24 Hour Service

Pre-payment plans available

Pre-payment plans available

member of

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

dedicated team

Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Pre-payment plans available

Pre-payment plans available

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Recruitment

CRACKMORE GARAGE

small friendly company looking for full time Vehicle Technician/ MOT Tester Required £24,500-£36,500 please send CV to crackmorgarege@gmail.com or contact 01963 251221

We Are Hiring!!

We are looking for permanent full time employed BENCH JOINERS

Who can use their initiative and skill working to exacting specifications and drawings manufacturing a range of products using modern workshop machinery.

The ideal candidates will be able to deliver quality products while prioritising their work schedule to ensure smooth workflow through the various stages of production ensuring on time delivery to our customers.

01258 441030

INFO@KINGSSTAGJOINERY.COM

An attractive employment package is available for the right candidates including start up bonus, competitive rates of pay and regular overtime.

Sandroyd

Co-ed Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Cleaner/Domestic Assistant Required Now

We seek a cheerful, energetic and hardworking individual to be part of the School’s cleaning team. Term time only. Meals provided during working hours.

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

Closing date Friday 14 October Interviews the following week

Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post involves contact with children and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK government. As such, a number of mandated pre employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suita ble for work with children. Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview. Finally, candidates should be aware that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Bricklayer wanted

For Construction Company based outside Shaftesbury. The rate of pay is commensurate with experience and standard of work. Negotiable with a good rate available for the right person. Experience in general building and ability to undertake other areas of construction would be an advantage.

If able to run a small project, then all the better and would be reflected in the pay rate

Ring Andy on 07979210074 or email andy@sandsltd.biz for details.

Volunteer & Community Engagement Officer Salary: £25,000

STARS Dorset is an independent charity, working throughout Dorset to support anyone who has been affected by any form of sexual trauma. We have centres in both Poole and Dorchester.

We are seeking a dedicated, highly motivated, creative individual to provide support to our volunteer team across both centres.

The successful candidate will: Work with the Head of Operations to recruit and induct new volunteers

Provide day to day support to the volunteer team

Promote STARS Dorset at events across Dorset Help deliver our social media strategy

Full details and application can be found on www.starsdorset.org/jobs

Closing date: 5th October 2022

MILL ON THE BRUE ACTIVITY CENTRE, BRUTON

Chef Manager and Sous Chef required to join a friendly, capable team catering for mainly primary age children.

Experience of producing nutritious, delicious locally sourced, seasonal meals essential. Good work - life balance Ability to work on a multi-level site with stairs essential. Further info: http://www.millonthebrue.co.uk/staff/jobs-volunteering Applications by CV to: personnel@millonthebrue.co.uk

ADMINISTRATOR SOUGHT FOR SHAFTESBURY OFFICE.

Would suit Legal Secretary. Pay dependent on experience. Flexible hours (with a minimum of 30 per week). References essential. Please call 07742 419491

EXPERIENCED CARER REQUIRED

To join a fantastic small team providing 1:1 care 24/7 for 97 yr old gentleman in The Gussages. Must have experience with advanced dementia. Weekday/weekend shifts available. For further information please contact: 01725 552375

*PART-TIME HOUSEKEEPER REQUIRED*

Live-in or live-out position for an independent, experienced housekeeper to run an informal 6-bedroom house in Moor Crichel to a high standard.

Responsibilities include:

•Daily cleaning

•Laundry and ironing

•Dog care & dog sitting

•Organizing maintenance & ensuring the household is in full working order

Approx. 20-25hrs. 5 days/wk. Competitive salary with benefits.

Recruitment

ComprehensiveInduc�onTraining–Noexperiencenecessary

£21,000-£35,000perannum

Duetoexcep�onalgrowth,wehaveexci�ngopportuni�esfortelemarke�ngexecu�ves tojoinourteam.Nomarke�ngknowledgeorindustryexperienceisnecessary,manyof ourteamcomefromallwalksoflifeandweprovideafullandcomprehensiveinduc�on trainingprogrammethroughourownLearning&DevelopmentTeam.

Gunghoworkwithdynamicinterna�onaltechnologycompanies,whoengageour servicestodrivetheirsalesaccelera�onandgrowthprogrammesinEurope,Asia-Pacific &theAmericas.

Thisroleishighlyfocuseddiscoveringnewbusinessopportuni�esonbehalfofour clientsthroughbusinessdevelopmentac�vity.Thejobinvolvesresearching interna�onalfinancialcompaniesandcorpora�onsinterna�onally,whilstmaking outboundcallsandformula�ngemailstotargetedcompanies&individuals.

WeareheadquarteredinPoundbury,Dorchesterandwork4daysaweekmeaningeven full-�meemployeeshaveeveryFridayoff!

•4dayworkingweek

Tofindoutmore,pleasecontact

9250697andaskforourRecruitmentManager.

Recruitment

Ad Hoc Driver required for HNW Individual

Experienced driver sought for HNW Individual based near Wincanton. Must be reliable and available at short notice for trips to train stations, airports and occasionally Central London. If you have a clean driving licence and are confident driving in London we would be delighted to hear from you. For the right applicant a minimum number of hours will be guaranteed. Call: 07779 554662

Experienced Groundworkers/ Plant Operators and Bricklayers Labourer Required

Apply to: R B Snook Building Ltd

Kings Stag Mill, Kings Stag, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2AU

Tel: 01258 819900/07977 500749 or Email: info@rbsnook.co.uk

MERE SURGERY

We are looking to recruit enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our teams at Mere Surgery

Successful candidates will have strong interpersonal, customer care and organisational skills.

Ideally, candidates will have previous general practice experience although training will be provided. Flexibility to work additional hours for holiday and other absences is essential.

ADMINISTRATOR

12 hours per week

The successful candidate will work on a job share basis within a small team and provide secretarial, data processing and administrative support.

Ideally the candidate will be able to work these hours over two/three sessions per week, have medical terminology knowledge and IT skills although training will be provided.

RECEPTIONIST

12 hours per week

Working front of house, successful candidate will assist patients contacting the surgery and processing requests.

Candidates must be flexible to work a combination of shifts including 0830 1700.

To see the job description and person specification please visit the vacancies section on www.meresurgery.co.uk To apply please send a CV and covering letter to: Michele Mason, Practice Manager, Mere Surgery, Dark Lane, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6DT or alternatively email: michelemason@nhs.net

Telephone: 01747 860001

Applications to be received by: 12 October 2022

Interview date: 19 October 2022

Patient Services Care Co-Ordinator Team Members required- Full or Part Time Closing Date: 14.10.2022

The Blackmore Vale GP Partnership based across sites in Shaftesbury, Sturminster, Marnhull & Fontmell are looking to expand our patient service admin team.

You will become part of our dynamic team, helping to provide help and support to Patients, Clinicia ns and other team members

These roles are full or part time and across sites, we are currently open 8 6.30 Monday to Friday, hours are negotiable.

If you have a ‘can do’ attitude and would like to join our amazing team, please head to our websites vacanc y page on the link below to view the job description and apply.

Vacancies Careers Jobs (blackmorevalesurgery.co.uk)

For more information, please contact Laura.grant@dorsetgp.nhs.uk Direct Line 01258 474513

Sandroyd

Co-ed Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Minibus Driver Required Now

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

For further details, please contact: Rupert Burnell Nugent, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD

Tel: 01725 516329 bursar@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.org

Closing date Friday 14 October

Interviews the following week

Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post involves contact with children and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK government. As such, a number of mandated pre employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suitable for work with children. Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview. Finally, candidates should be aware that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Recruitment

EXPERIENCED GENERAL FARM WORKER, Full/Part time, Upton Noble, 07809 601341

ROOFING LABOURER

REQUIRED based in Stalbridge area. Please contact Roy on 01963 362325

PROPERTY & ESTATES ADMINISTRATOR

required to join our team at Fowler Fortescue in Fonthill Bishop. A hugely varied and interesting full time role, working closely with land agents and their clients in the management of country estates that include residential, agricultural and commercial property. The ideal candidate will have property management experience and be IT literate. For a full job description or to apply with your CV please email: enquiries@fowlerfortescue.co.uk

WANTED - PART TIME HOUSEKEEPER/MOTHERS HELP. Near Wincanton Hours/pay to be discussed. Contact: Annie 07791 786138

REQUIRED EXPERIENCED

FEMALE CARER(S) with GSOH and an abundance of patience!

ELECTRICAL PUMP ENGINEER

We are looking for an experienced electrical pump engineer to work with ou r industrial electrical and water engineering teams servicing and repairing water & wastewater treatment systems across the Southwest.

Experien ce of pumps, motors and basic control panels is desirable however training will be given

You must be physically fit and prepared to be hands on with our industrial plumbing teams

Ideally qualified to18th Edition IET Regulations, experienced, flexible and hold a full UK driving licence

You will be conscientious and self motivated. Happy to work alone and in teams and your wo rk must be to a high standard to maintain our reputation for providing a high quality service

In return, we offer a competit ive salary, minimum 8 hours pay for rain off days, a generous holiday allowance increasing with time served and paid travel to and from site We will provide transport, company phone (where necessary), full uniform and all necessary PPE. All tools and equipment will be provided by the company

We invest significantly in our employees and promote continuing professional development (CPD) within the business We encou rage our staff to train in new skills as well as maintaining existing qualifications

Operating from our head office in Dinton, this is a great opportunity to work for a well established professional company with a reputa tion for quality.

Please contact for an

pack closing date will be Tuesday 18 h October 2022

To join our small friendly team providing 1:1 care 24/7 for a 51yr old female with a learning disability and autism. Living in own home in Ashmore. Willing and able to work some w/ends and 24 hr shifts. For more info please contact 01747 811280 or 07843 830883

APPRENTICE GARDENER

We are looking for an apprentice gardener to work 3-4 days a week alongside an experienced horticulturist in a private house just north of Sherborne. Terms to be discussed.

Please call 07572 605707 for further information

STORES PERSON (FULL TIME) required for agricultural engineering firm based near Shaftesbury. Good rates of pay for the right candidate. Must be punctual, polite and have a can-do attitude. A background in agriculture would be advantageous. Call 07967 208754 for more details.

Experienced reliable butcher/shop person required 5 days a week to join the team in Blandford. Good people skills a must. For information call Stewart 07818 557047

PART TIME BARISTA/WAITRESS AT THE KINGS STAG COFFEE HOUSE, DT10 2AY. Training available. Will need weekend availability. Email Jade on coffeehouse@greenmankingsstag.co.uk to apply.

STALBRIDGE AND MARNHULL VETS

requires someone bright and cheerful for the role of receptionist, animal care assistant and cleaner. 4 days a week. Experience with dogs and cats (and humans) preferred. Further details of the practice at www.smvets.co.uk. Send letter and CV to info@smvets.co.uk Position could suit two part time applicants.

lovely Witchampton-based family is looking for an

housekeeper

high standard. Duties include:

manage their home to

healthy meals

cleaning

care

care & Dog-sitting

Live-in or Live-out. References essential. Competitive Salary. Please call 07957 828898 or email:sliiproperty8@gmail.com

We’re a family firm, for more than 20 years, based in Blandford. We’re proud to be the UK’s largest Organic Sheep’s Milk Yoghurt and Cheese producer. Have you got food experience? We’re expanding and have positions available within our friendly team.

If you’re interested in joining us, please send an email to: demi.sutton@woodlandsdairy.co.uk

Recruitment

The Larmer Tree Gardens, part of the Rushmore Estate located near Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, are recruiting for a full time caretaker / cleaner. The candidate will need to be experienced in maintenance and cleaning, be organised, have strong interpersonal skills, and be able to work comfortably on their own.

You will also be required to manage and order stock and materials, together with additional cleaning help and contractors as required. Flexible hours to include early starts and weekend working.

Salary: £22,000.00 £24,000.00 per year

Please send your CV and covering letter to enquiries@rushmoreuk.com

HERDSPERSON REQUIRED

We are a fourth generation family farm near Wincanton. We milk 280 cows and we need some help. We love dairy farming and plan to stick to it.

Keen family who try to get it right but recognise that sometimes it goes wrong

Usual family farm banter between generations! 9000 litres. Flying herd. AYR Calving. 24:24 parlour.

We need excellent stock skills, attention to detail and a good sense of humour.

We provide, a competitive salary, house and a good place to work.

Interested? Call Tom Down on 07796 550577 for a chat and more details.

Do you have a passion to work in the care sector?

If this sounds like you and you enjoy bettering peoples’ lives, come and join our wonderful care team. Our two care homes for the elderly are situated in Dorset. Our like-minded care teams make a real difference to our residents by bringing happiness and independence to their daily lives with respectful, reliable and compassionate care. We are currently looking for new candidates to join our happy and friendly care teams. These opportunities include:

• Day & night Healthcare Assistants • Chef or Cook

We offer competitive rates of pay, pensions, uniform and car parking. We will also help candidates to gain NVQ qualifications.

If you would like to talk to us about a career in the care sector we would be happy to speak with you.

Kelly on 07825 201999

‘When the world around you is in mourning, sit with your flock’

by Tria Stebbing

“Why do you have sheep?” Last Sunday, having just moved the sheep back to their paddock, a resident out walking stopped to watch and asked the question.

I had never thought about it much before, we just have sheep – doesn’t everyone? We started our sheep journey some years ago, initially to keep the grass down in the field. We saw an advertisement in the Blackmore Vale and went to buy a couple and came back with eight. Fast forward a few years and we are busy breeding to maintain our special breed by meeting the required standard as set by the Association.

Zwartbles originated in the Friesland region of Holland and are a rare breed traditionally used for meat and milk production. Their name simply means black with a white blaze. They were introduced in the UK in 1986 – interestingly, in 1978 only about 250 purebred Zwartbles were left in Holland.

A pedigree Zwartbles will have an uninterrupted blaze – white stripe – which is reasonably straight – it can go under the chin but not on the wool. Running from the crown of the head and down to the muzzle. What began as lawn mowers quickly became a hobby that is mildly addictive – the sheep have an amazing temperament,

individual personalities and are easy lambers.

For those spinners out there, the fleece is medium to fine with an excellent crimp along the length of the fibre. The colours range from dense black to chocolate brown with silver fleck through. It is a sturdy wool and can be used for blankets as well as outerwear and felting projects. We use ours to keep the mud down as the fleece also makes good mud mats.

They have provided focus for us through lockdown, company in times of despair and joyous moments, as well as occasional heartbreak. So good are they at mowing grass that we now send them out by request to other people’s paddocks to keep their grass down while we grow and bale our own for their winter feed. They provide entertainment for the local people in their home village and cuddles for precious grandchildren – and that is why we keep sheep.

The flock has become quite big now with grandchildren of our original few still flying the flag for the breed. I have taken time this week to sit with them and ponder on this last week’s events, and how the country will never quite be the same again. When the world around you is mourning, sit with your flock, I can assure you it is the best therapy you can get.

GAMEKEEPER WITH OVER THIRTY YEARS

EXPERIENCE plus references seeks small shoot to either rent or run alongside the landowner within easy reach of Mere, Wiltshire, call Gary if of any interest on 01747 861143

DISCOUNT AIR GUNS, new & used, spares, repairs, tuning, sights and night vision. 01747 823981, Gillingham

Zwartbles, which originated in the Friesland region of Holland, are a rare breed traditionally used for meat and milk production

Close encounters with the Royals

by Ruth Kimber

The Royal Family have always been great supporters of the rural community with a keen interest in farming. Over the years I have had the privilege of meeting the late Queen, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and Prince Charles, now King Charles.

My first time seeing the Queen was when The Invincible ship returned to Southampton from the Falklands War. We were there to welcome home our friend Phil Orme, who was serving in the Royal Navy at the time.

Then, about 2006, as Somerset County NFU chairman, I was invited to a lunch in Westonsuper-Mare, where the Queen was guest of honour. Many charitable organisations were in attendance – the Guides, Scouts, Red Cross and many more. When the Queen entered, her presence filled the room, a feeling I have never encountered before or since. I was sat only a few feet from her, and her beaming smile was memorable.

I was sat by one of her ladies in waiting, who told me the Queen had asked for a locally sourced lunch, and had sight and personally vetted the seating plan. The fact I was so close to her

Majesty was in recognition of my post in farming.

Since then, I have seen her in Yeovil and Bruton, taking grandchildren to see her as she visited the Westcountry.

I met King Charles while on holiday in Guernsey, where a celebration was going on and he did a ‘walkabout’ and happened to talk to Paul and me. He asked what we did and took a great interest in us as dairy farmers –his knowledge was excellent and we talked for some minutes.

We had another meeting with him at a hedge-laying competition at Home Farm, Highgrove, where Tom, our son, Graham our son-in-law, and Tom’s brother-in-law Stephen, as a team, were taking part.

King Charles is a practising hedge layer, being the patron of the National Hedge Laying Society, and he made his way all along the hedge and spoke to all the entrants. Our team was near the end, and we felt sure he wouldn’t make it all the way along, but he did. After he had chatted with our family, he turned to Paul and I and we walked across the field together, talking of all things agriculture.

In 1986, Paul and I and our

Frances Kimber, now Mrs Frances Gillett, presents Princess Anne with posy at the Bath & West dairy event 1986

youngest daughter Frances, who was two at the time, went to the Bath & West dairy event. We knew Princess Anne was to be there, and just as we were leaving, I took a bunch of flowers that we bought in the Church Harvest charity auction the night before, and wrapped them in silver foil. As we walked around the show, the flowers and Frances were spotted, and we were asked to present them to the Princess. Again, the knowledge, interest and approachability of the Princess Anne was notable. Furthermore, she was still carrying Frances’s posy when she left – we saw her that evening on the news boarding her helicopter still clutching the flowers!

Years later we attended an evening talk at Seale Hayne, University of Plymouth, by the Princess Royal. Then a few years

on again, I met her in Butchers Hall, London, at the launch of Ladies in Beef, held by the Worshipful Company of Butchers. Again, the Princess gave the address, demonstrating her deep knowledge and love of the agricultural and countryside world.

In our village, the parish council beautifully and professionally presented an area in one of the churches, a lovely floral display, lighted candles and the condolence book on a table with hand-embroidered linen cloth. Most fitting for the occasion.

The church prepared a lovely service on the Sunday after the Queen’s death. The church bells were tolled on Friday at noon in both our churches, 96 times –Paul and I did St Stephens and my sister Jean headed up a group at St Johns. This was repeated on Sunday afternoon with a ringing out of the bells at 4pm for an hour to acknowledge the ascension of King Charles. This time we enlisted Tom, Jen, Jess and children to help.

A memorable but sad time. n Kimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers & Somerset Trading Barn, Linley Farm Charlton Musgrove BA9 8HD; www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk; 01963 33177; info@ kimbersfarmshop.co.uk; open Tuesday–Friday 8.30am-5pm; Saturday 9.30am-4pm.

Mind/Body Coaching

www.thehealinghorses.org

“In order to heal, we need to feel”

My sessions include a number of healing modalities, breathing, movement, Nutrition, Energy healing, intuitive teachings & more, all alongside the healing horses.

SMALL SHEEP FLOCK DISPERSAL. 3 Two tooth ewes and 10 full mouth ewes. 01305 871780

WORK UNIT TO LET £46/ PER WEEK. Also, smaller units available Office/ Storage from £20/Per Week. Tel 07811 837061

SHEEP KEEP WANTED, 11 miles radius of Wincanton for a small flock of 50 head. 07564 277083

Farming

Tips for assisting calving cows

Alice EJ Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Livestock Health

The autumn calving season is well and truly under way, and I hope that for those who are busy with this, that the period is successful!

With most cows there is no need to intervene as they give birth unaided. But, like humans, the time taken varies between individuals. Despite the nerve-wracking wait, if the cow continues to make progress, with productive contractions, it is best just to quietly observe the process from a distance. Cameras in the calving yard are recommended.

A calving problem will become apparent if labour ceases, a cow is in distress, or the calf does not appear, despite strong contractions. It is therefore important that you are aware of when a cow started labour. This information should be communicated within a big team. Whiteboards in calving pens or team WhatsApp groups work well.

There are many causes for calving difficulties, and they can be associated with either the dam, the calf, or both. The only way to diagnose the problem is to perform an internal examination. I would always recommend wearing clean arm-length gloves – to protect both yourself and the cow from infection – and use plenty of lubrication to avoid damage. It is important that the cow is well restrained, in a calving pen, with plenty of room should she get down to push. For this reason, I would never calve a cow in a crush.

Examination of the dam could reveal an

obstruction of the birth canal, where the calf physically cannot pass. This could be due to a narrow pelvis, incomplete dilation, or a twisted uterus. A vet will be required in the case of a narrow pelvis or a uterine torsion. Where dilation is incomplete the cow may need more time, the calf position may need correcting, or she could have Ringwomb – which is rare in cattle and would require a vet.

Alternatively, progression can fail when the uterus stops contracting. A common cause is low calcium, which is needed for muscle contraction. This is common in older cows – four years plus – and oral calcium boluses at calving can help. Further measures should be discussed with your vet if several cows are

affected.

Examination of the cow may instead reveal a calf problem. Occasionally we find that some calves are just too big and must be delivered by caesarean. Other times we find a foetal deformity. But more commonly a calf or twins are just not presented or positioned correctly. If a calf is in the wrong position, it cannot engage in the pelvis. A calf needs to be in the pelvis to activate pressure-sensitive receptors which release hormones required for the next stage of labour. Without them the cow does not progress. Correction is key and either a cow will then continue herself or gentle traction may be required. Please do not hesitate to call us even if just for advice.

2 STERLING'S BLUE

FACED Leicester forsale

£300 Contact number is 01963 34305

VARIOUS AGE DEXTER

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire

Cattle and Rare Breed Pigs available for sale 07769 323429

LAVENDER PECONS

Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury

M&F. All ages. £10 each. Silver Appleyard ducklings m&f. 2022 hatched. Tel: 01258 817742

4 DORSET HORN 2 TOOTH EWES

Please call the office on 01258 472314

Please call the office on 01258 472314

Please call the office on 01258 472314

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

10 Poll Dorset 2 tooth to full mouth running with ram since July. Also Poll Dorset & Down stock rams. 01258 817423

Most cows give birth unaided but problems can arise with some animals

PHOTO: Reinhard Thrainer/ Pixabay

Last chance to apply for £500 agricultural student bursary

Agricultural students attending colleges in the South West have until October 28th to apply for a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursary.

The bursaries are open to level 1-3 agricultural students and apprentices at Bicton, Duchy, Bridgwater and Taunton (Cannington Campus) and Kingston Maurward Colleges. The £500 bursary to support course-related costs will be awarded to one student at each college.

Students should apply by submitting either a 500-word essay, 20-image photo essay, or 2-minute video or podcast answering the question ‘Why I want to be part of British agriculture’.

As well as the bursaries, Cornish Mutual is also supporting the wider farming community with its Future Farming Programme. Providing a blend of expert advice and real-life experience, the programme covers a range of topics including innovation, succession, mindset and environment.

Recently, it explored the importance

of mindset when faced with change and heard from Stephen Dennis, the South West Regional Lead for FCN, Somersetbased farm business consultant Gemma Sparks, and heard how and why one family farming business changed from beef and sheep to dairy production.

Advertisement feature

To learn more about the Future Farming Programme and to apply for the Young Farmer Bursary, visit: www.cornishmutual.co.uk/ future-farming-programme/ young-farmer-bursaries

Enya McMullan, Level 2 Stockperson Apprentice and winner of the 2021 Cornish Mutual Young Farm Bursary at Kingston Maurward College

BUILDINGS AND OR LAND WANTED to rent within 15 mile radius Stourhead. To house pedigree pigs and small fold Highland cattle. Any idea considered! 01985 844795 or 07866 417777

The large selection of high yielding milkers and dispersal sale cattle (including

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 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.

(BA) £1600 (2x) (CHX & AAX) & £1595 (HEX). Heifers to £1410 (BRBX). Others £1340 (BRBX) £1330 (2x LIMX) & £1300 (3x BRBX). GRAZING COWS (27) to £1300 (SIMX). Others £1235 (S/ DEV). SUCKLERS (12) to £1000. STIRKS (320) Steers to £1290 (LIMX). Others £1090 (CHX) £1080 (CHX) & £1050 (CHX). Heifers to £760 (AA). Others £730 (CHX) £705 (CHX) & £695 (BRBX). CALVES (580) - Beef Bulls to £400 (BRBX). Others £355 (2x) (AA & LIMX) £350 (BRBX) & £340 (2x) (BRBX & CHX). Heifers to £430 (BRBX). Others £400 (2x CHX) £330 (4x AA) & £290 (BRBX). Black & Whites to £155. (5310) SHEEP – STORE LAMBS (3180) to £126. Overall average £74.33. CULL EWES & RAMS (1784) Ewes to £240. Rams £185. Overall average £72.72. BREEDING SHEEP (274) to £144. Overall average £89.05. STOCK RAMS (36) to £300. Overall average £185.10. GOATS (36) to £153. Overall average £109.19. (79) PIGS – WEANERS (18) to £39. CULL SOWS & BOARS (7) to £105. STRONG STORES (54) to £178.

The West Country’s Gateway to National Abattoirs

Returns for Monday 26th September 2022

PRIME CATTLE (105) Steers UTM av 223.2ppk to 249.0ppk (2x) & £1,798.92. Others 246.0ppk, 245.5ppk & 238.5ppk. Others £1,793.34, £1,776.00 & £1,602.10. Heifers UTM av 221.2ppk to 256.5ppk and £1,626.21. Others 253.5ppk, 252.0ppk & 251.5ppk. Others £1,532.48, £1,489.32 & £1,475.37. BARREN COWS (45) Continental av 210.1ppk to 227.5ppk and £1,701.70. Native Beef av 176.3ppk to 204.5ppk and £1,464.93. Dairy av 151.5ppk to 181.5ppk and £1,466.52. FINISHED SHEEP Lambs (1055) ave 226.45ppk to 268.0ppk and £138.00. Others 266.0ppk (2x) 263.0ppk & 260.0ppk. Others £135.00, £134.00 (2x) & £133.00 (2x).

NOVEMBER:

AUCTION

Sale of

and incalf heifer portion of the 9,160

herd being 200 Holstein Friesians for

CIS recorded

(Removed from Beaulieu Wood

Dorchester, Dorset for convenience of sale).

Farming

LIVE DISPERSAL AUCTION

Tuesday 4th October 2022

Manor France Farm, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0QL Dispersal of 3 Tractors, Telehandler, Arable & Grassland Machinery, Livestock and Workshop Equipment, etc

Highlights include: John Deere 6630 Premium (08), Deutz Agrotron 150.7 Profi Line (07), Ford 4600 2wd (78), Merlo TF42.7 156 Telehandler (16), Ford Ranger Pick-Up (04), AS Marston 12t Grain Trailer, 2 x Ken Wootton 11t Silage Trailers, Marshall 28’ Bale Trailer, Marshall 2550gln Vacuum Tanker, Teagle Tomohawk 8080 Straw Blower, 20’ Lagoon Stirrer, Shelbourne 6m Grass Harrows, Cousins 6.3m Cambridge Rollers with Breaker Rings, Bamford 4m Combi Cultivator, Kongskilde 4m Spring Tine Cultivator, McConnel PA34 Hedge Trimmer, Ifor Williams 14’ Tri Axle Livestock Box, Large quantity of Livestock equipment including John Shepherd Feed Trailers, 12t & 5t Cake Silos, DP Agri Hoof Care Foot Trimming Crush, 2 x Bateman Cattle Crushes, Feed Troughs, Workshop equipment, Bygones, etc.

On behalf of David Coombes (retiring), online bidding available

SOUTH DORSET

Puddletown,

Sale of Tractors,

MACHINERY SALE

Grassland Machinery etc.

Highlights to date include: Valtra T174 & T194 Tractors, Manitou 735-120LSU, Hyundai 8t, 14t & 20t Diggers, New Holland 3t Digger, Merlo 12m, 13m & 17m Telehandlers, Hyundai 20t Loading Shovel, Isuzu Rodeo Denver Pick-up, West 1600 Dual Spreader, Kverneland 6f Rev. Plough, Kverneland 5f Rev Plough, Twose 10m Cambridge Rollers, Stewart 16t Silage Trailer, Richard Western SF14 Grain Trailer, AW 14t Silage Trailer, Ken Wotton 12t Grain Trailer, Sulky 3m Power Harrow Combi Drill, Kuhn 3m Power Harrow, McConnell 5-Leg Shakerator, Horsch FG 5m Cultivator, Vaderstad 5m Carrier, 2500g Slurry Guzzler, Claas Single Rotor Rake, etc.

Further

Contact Yeovil Office - 01935 382909

symondsandsampson.co.uk

Sutton Manderville

Thinking of Moving?

Due to continued sales success we urgently require more properties to meet the demand from buyers looking for a home in Wincanton, Bruton, Mere, Stalbridge, Milborne Port and the surrounding villages.

If you are considering bringing your property to the market we would be delighted to provide you with a free market assessment and valuation.

Please call 01963 34000 to arrange an appointment or email wincanton@hambledon.net

DOUBLE BED cream metal bed frame (head board)with fittings. £30.Buyer collects. Call 07840 223907

SMALL VICTORIAN CHAISE LONGUE suitable for restoration. Unusual & may be of value when repaired. Free. 01258 820710

FOLDING ALUMINIUM LADDER: Light household good condition. Complete with 2 platforms and stay. Full height 16'6" £50.00 01935 427831

CLASSIC BIKE MAGAZINES, 1985-1989; On Two Wheels, parts 4-53 and others, 95 in all, £50 ono, 01747 631392

JOHN LEWIS

2 STORAGE BENCHES £36.00 Tel: 01258 451065

LIGHTER

TEFAL

MAN'S M&S SHORT BLACK OVER COAT, also all wool checked sports jacket, both 42" chest . Hardly worn. £20 each.

DUBLIN RIVERBOOTS Size 10, never worn £49 Tel: 07936 107031

Worn £45 o.n.o. 01747 840473 ALTO SAX Blues JP141 £110 o.n.o (2 available) 01747 840473