Business

Blandford firm collects Christmas gifts

Following on from the success of last year’s Christmas shoebox appeal, Total Energy Services along with some much-appreciated supporters have managed to fill 50 shoe boxes. 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 which are shipped to children around the world affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, famine, and disease. Total would like to say a huge heart-warming thank you to all those who very kindly donated. This included a vast collection of beautiful hand knitted scarves, hats, gloves, jumpers, and knitted toys as well as bought items such as socks, flannels, school supplies, toys and much more. A spokesman said: “We were truly touched by the amount of donations we received this year together with our own contribution of essential supplies we were able to bring joy to so many children in need. “We can only imagine this becoming more successful each year as awareness spreads. “So again, a huge thank you.” The shoeboxes are shipped to over 100 countries across the world. Inside each of the shoeboxes they have placed a barcode and by February they will be told where the shoe boxes went. Since 1993 nearly 200 million children have received a shoebox in over 170 countries around the world. Holly Lamb, of Total Energy Services said: “This year we were delighted to be able to pack and send off 50 shoeboxes. It would not of been possible without the generosity of the local community and it brings us immense pleasure to be able to spread a little joy this Christmas. Especially to those in less fortunate circumstances.” Get involved! If you would like to get involved in the 2022 appeal or find out more information you can either contact Holly: holly@totalenergy.co.uk or call 01258 472132.

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Businesses mark anniversary

Manufacturing and engineering businesses in Yeovil, South Somerset and West Dorset marked two years of a Yeovil Chamber initiative with a networking event M-Hub held the event at the new aerospace facility in Yeovil, iAero – a purposebuilt 2,398 m2 research, design and innovation facility, with canapes and talks. The event was extremely well attended with presentations from; n Neil Discombe, Garador on M-Hub and the last two years n Paul Hickson, Strategic Commissioning Manager for Somerset County Council talking about the new iAero facility n David Ralph CEO of LEP, about the winder reginal manufacturing perspective n Nick Whitney from Leonardo about supply chain and Leonardo’s new logistics centre n Nick Golding, Director od SWMAS about the support that is available for NetZero M-Hub is now looking forward to the 2022 calendar of tours and networking events, the first of which is being hosted by Gooch & Housego PLC in Ilminster in February. If you are interested in attending or becoming involved email mhub@yeovilchamber.org.

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with dorsetbiznews.co.uk Celebrate and protect our Commonwealth

By Adrian Fisher MBE

Wednesday, December 1 2021 will remain one of the most memorable days of my life. It was the day Marie and I went to Windsor Castle, and I received an MBE from the Princess Royal for services to International Trade and to the Creative Industries. The honours system is a celebration of all that is best about our country, and of thousands of people each year whose individual lives have made a difference. There are seventy investitures each year; I was one of sixty-nine recipients that day, drawn from all walks of life. There was the fire and rescue area manager who handled the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury; a Jewish Priest who has taken many groups to Poland to visit Nazi concentration camps, with profoundly lifechanging effects on each person; a Muslim police sergeant who had pioneered improved community relations in Birmingham; a head teacher from Northern

HONOURED: Princess Anne presents Adrian with his MBE

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Certum International, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0EU Phone: 01749 326226 Email: james@certuminternational.com Web: www.certuminternational.com Ireland teaching pupils from both sides of the sectarian divide. The singer Tommy Steele was one of three to be knighted. Every recipient and their guest were fascinating to meet; many were wives or husbands, sharing the occasion and richly deserving to be there. In the Grand Reception Room, a band was playing all afternoon. When it was my turn, I was ushered in and announced by name. I walked forward and nodded my head. Princess Anne placed the MBE insignia on my lapel, and then we spoke informally for about four minutes. She was genuinely interested when I described the international opportunities in the Creative industries for our young people. She was immensely gracious. Marie was able to watch from about five paces away, across the room. The Order of the British Empire challenges the direction of our national destiny. The insignia is inscribed “‘For God and for Empire’. It is paradoxical that Britain is ranked one of the least religious countries in the world, with an Empire that became a Commonwealth in the 1960s. Even that Commonwealth is being eroded, with The Prince of Wales abroad .last week attending the transition of Barbados into a republic, and China actively providing loans there. China is specifically targeting Commonwealth countries, where their debt entrapment activities are on a scale three times greater than towards non-Commonwealth nations. Gaining no benefit, Sri Lanka lost a piece of its territory to become a strategic Chinese naval base, having been sold a seaport on unrepayable terms. We must respond through trade and strengthening our bonds; our values are immensely more attractive. This is the challenge that Britain faces. We need our institutions to celebrate what is finest in our nation, and our resolve to strengthen worldwide our cultural, kinship and livelihood ties, especially with Commonwealth countries. Our nation is headed by a family. There is a palpable sense of duty, service and unflinching loyalty among its active senior members of Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince William as they represent the Queen. We were not there as tourists; this was Windsor Castle at work, performing its role in the life of the nation. Every member of staff welcomed us warmly and expressed their congratulations. I was there on merit; Princess Anne was also there on merit, having competed in the Olympic Games, and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for her lifelong work with Save the Children. On that day at Windsor Castle, she was in every sense one of us.