Business

By Adrian Fisher MBE I have just come back indoors from my annual summer treat of watching the Shooting Stars Twice a year the earth passes through the Perseid belt of asteroids, but the summer one around mid August is much warmer to watch than around mid February. I went out into the garden, sat down on a bench, and relaxed. My eyes of course, but also my mind. A solitary owl was hooting for several minutes and then stopped. The entire night sky was visible to the naked eye, initially with no wisps of cloud cover. Here in Durweston there is not a single artificial light to distract. My eye caught a moving light in the sky, steadily moving across in the direction of Pimperne. It was the International Space Station. I had forgotten how fast it moves, which of course it needs to do, to encircle the earth every fifteen minutes. My eyes adapted to the much lower levels of light, so that I could clearly see the stars, and also the sweep that is the Milky Way. The stars, though visible, are much fainter that we accustomed to see in our visually attention-grabbing world of video and phone screens. Yet here I was, using my naked eyes, just as the builders of Stonehenge or Hod Hill would have done thousands of years ago. This continuity is very precious, and we are the custodians of this heritage. No spectacles for them, and mercifully none needed by me either. The human eye is such a miracle. 83% of the information that comes to our brain is by sight. Our eyes are truly the windows of our bodies to the world around us. And then, almost immediately above me, there went a shooting star! It was all over in perhaps

At night in Durweston, within the Universe Investment half a second. Yet in that time, my eye had detected it, moved firm unveils by attention to the moving object, and allowed me to watch staff changes that final quarter second before it flared and disappeared from An independently-owned sight. Keenly I was now on full investment management alert for the next. I did not have business with offices in long to wait. Then came London and Dorset has another, in much the same part announced four new hires of the sky. and promotions. And then I waited. I gradually Fund and portfolio manager began to realise that there was Church House Investment no point or pleasure actively Management has assetstrying to scan the sky, but rather under management in excessI relaxed with my eyes open, waiting for something that might suddenly appear briefly, moving fast. The silence was achingly beautiful. I listened intently, but here I was in utter silence, in Southern England. I did not hear the sound of any vehicle even in the distance, the whole time. Nor, sadly, not a single fox, hedgehog or badger, but of £1 billion. The firm says the global pandemic – and how even the most robust financial plans have been tested –highlighted the importance of effective investment management. It expects the need for advice to grow. The promotions and new then I was in my garden. additions to the team are: The church bell struck four n Andrea times. It has not rung for over a Steel, year, doe to Covid restrictions pictured, that prevented it from being promoted to wound up. Now we have it Head of back again. A reassuring Private REMOVALS & STORAGE friendly part of the life of the Clients for the village, The sound of the South West. She continuity of worship since the will work closely with the first priestly incumbent in 1295. Relationship Managers and There went another shooting Client Services team, star, this time lower in the sky, operating out of the shooting downwards towards Sherborne offices. Blandford. All over in less than n Appointment of Ben a second. Stevens as Associate Client I had seen three, and was very Manager. Previously athappy. The night was warm Investec for five years he

ARMISHAWS SMALL MOVES Its not the size that matters it’s the way you move it! Armishaws operate a 昀eet of small removal vans throughout Dorse Somerset and Wilshire catering for those clients who only need a small removal but still want the expertise provided by a larger removal company. With prices ranging from £300 for a local move our services are tailored to meet your needs. t, enough that i did not feel any coolness let alone feeling cold. I was alone in every sense in the universe, with just the surrounding dark trees to define my horizon. What a beautiful experience, right here where I live, where I pursue my creative livelihood. Anyone who has not experienced such wonders cannot understand the full inspiration that living in the countryside brings. will support the work of the Relationship Managers in the Dorset office. n Vanessa Short joins the Client Service Team. She has a wealth of customer service experience, having previously spent four years with Battens Solicitors. n Mike Green takes up the position of Operational Assurance Manager, which involves running the governance processes relating to Church House’s

Blandford (01258) 453898 Shaftesbury (01747) 828680 I had gone out into the range of six investment funds. night to

Andrew Diprose is the founder and editor of dorsetbiznews.co.uk, the No.1 business website in the county with more than 27,000 unique users.

By Andrew Diprose

Bournemouth Airport is celebrating its 80th birthday having started life as an RAF base in August 1941. RAF Hurn as it was then known, due to its proximity to Hurn village, was vital to the defence of southern England during the Second World War. It was used by both the RAF and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) until 1944 when it was transferred to civilian control and served as London’s transatlantic airport until Heathrow opened in 1948. Back then Pan Am operated a New York to Hurn flight five days a week, with a journey time of almost 18 hours because of various fuelling stops along the way. Fast-forward to today and Bournemouth Airport will serve in excess of 30 domestic and international destinations in 2020/21. More are being added all the time as it rebuilds its route network following the impacts of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. Managing director Steve Gill said: “It’s great to be marking our 80th birthday and who would have guessed that a wartime airfield all those years ago would grow into the modern, international airport we see today.

COME FLY WITH US: Managing director Steve Gill, centre and his team celebrate Bournemouth Airport’s 80th anniversary Picture: PAUL COLLINS

Reach for the sky: Airport is celebrating its 80th birthday

“Before the pandemic we saw year-on-year passenger growth of 20 per cent with an ambition to hit two million passengers within five years. “I believe that could still be achievable as the market

returns but right now we’re focused on the summer and upcoming winter season. “I do think the industry will bounce back relatively quickly and we’re seeing new routes being added all the time, the latest being new flights to Budapest in Hungary and Wroclaw in Poland from October and November with Ryanair. “Inbound visitors have been particularly strong from other parts of the UK including Edinburgh and Belfast, and that’s a reflection of the staycation market this year and the work we have been doing with BCP Council to promote inbound tourism and support the local visitor economy as restrictions have eased.” To meet growing demand

the airport has just launched a recruitment drive for more staff in security, handling, fuelling and cleaning. And it is gearing up for this week’s Bournemouth Air festival when the airport will be home to the aircraft making up the air displays from September 2 to 5. They include the Red Arrows on all four days, the Blades Aerobatic Display Team, RAF Typhoon, and the full Battle of Britain Memorial Flight comprising a Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire. Steve added: “The air festival is always a highlight of the year for the whole airport team and we take huge pride in looking after all the displays. “Having started life as an RAF base 80 years ago it’s fitting that we’ll be hosting the Memorial Flight once again.” To celebrate its birthday Bournemouth Airport will be running a series of competitions with the chance to win tickets, free parking, vouchers and much more. Details will be on bournemouthairport.com and social media. Bournemouth Airport is owned and operated by Regional & City Airports (RCA), part of Rigby Group plc. RCA also owns and operates Exeter Airport, Norwich Airport and Coventry Airport. It also holds management contracts for Blackpool Airport and Solent Airport.