Letters

Letters Please save Sherborne’s minor injuries unit

A few days before Christmas a couple of years ago, I was in the shower when, without warning, the toughened glass door exploded. I was left naked, wet, bleeding from a dozen places and surrounded by shattered glass. I was deeply thankful that it happened when I had family in the house. While daughter mopped up the blood and water, I was patched up by granddaughter who is firstaid trained. However, she insisted that I get a professional check. So the following morning I went down to the Yeatman’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) where I was seen after a modest wait. The nurse was concerned about possible embedded glass, so I went round the corner to X-ray, and returned shortly afterwards with a clean report. The nurse tidied me up with better dressings than I have at home and sent me away with warnings of the signs of possible sepsis, and a request to return for a checkup after Christmas. I greatly appreciated this excellent service. The MIU provides a muchvalued service to Sherborne. Sadly but understandably it was closed during the pandemic. But we are now told that it may never reopen. That would be a very sad loss to the town. It would also be counter-productive for the NHS, as the additional load would be thrown to the GP surgeries and Yeovil A&E, who are already overloaded. Councillor Jill Warburton and the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital are trying hard to ensure this does not happen. So this is an appeal to the medical authorities: Please save our MIU. Mike Keatinge Sherborne 62

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

n I would like to thank Gillingham Community Christmas meal very much for delivering a Christmas meal with all the goodies to me on Christmas day, It was very much appreciated. Thank you. Ann Whitmee

n In 2018 I visited the Amager Blake heat and power waste plant in Copenhagen with my daughter, a landscape architect, to review the structure and environmental impact on the landscape. The project includes a sports complex consisting of a ski slope, climbing wall, picnic area and parkland. It produces 0-63MW electricity and 157-247 MW district heating. It provides more clean water than it uses. Sulphur emissions are reduced by 95.5% and NO by 95%. This beautiful complex is on the edge of Copenhagen, we approached it on foot but unable to find the entrance we enquired directions from a young mother with two small children. She invited us to walk with her as she was going home just near the entrance to the plant. We asked her if she had concerns about living so near to a waste plant with young children. She replied that it was a beautiful place to live surrounded by parks and sport facilities. Her housing was superior and provided with clean heat and energy from the plant. I asked, if she felt happy with the sciences provided to her and she replied: “We trust our Government”. Dona Evans East Knoyle

n I am not going to enter into a ping-pong correspondence with Chris Loder, MP, about wreath placing and removal at the Cenotaph. Quite simply, I believe that the decision to remove Extinction Rebellion’s wreath was one for the police, not for Chris. After all, controversial things happen when private citizens take matters into their own hands – for example, statues are pulled down. However, in his reply to my letter, Chris wrongly assumed (BVM, 18/12/2020) that I do not believe there is a time and place for protest. I do. In fact, I seem to have spent much of the last decade protesting; for example against Andrew Lansley’s NHS reforms, and the austerity policies largely responsible for the growth in food bank numbers from virtually zero in 2010, to approximately 2000 today. I willingly accept that Chris did what he thought was right. Personally, I think his time would be better spent urging his government to ensure that jobs are secure and appropriately paid, that benefits, during and beyond the pandemic, are adequate, and that much more effort is put into building genuinely affordable social housing. Only if steps such as these are taken will the need for food banks reduce (it is worth noting that many people who use food banks are not unemployed, but are in work). Gordon Morris Leigh

Readers’ photos

My friendly robin waiting for his breakfast on New Year’s Eve. From Caroline Francis, Blandford Forum. New Year's eve 2020. Walkers enjoying a cold, crisp morning on Hod Hill (taken on iPhone) Mark Thistlewood Corrections and clarifications

Yeovil College is offering pioneering virtual taster sessions to prospective students during the coronavirus pandemic. These sessions form part of a second information event, to enable young people to make informed choices about their futures. The event is being held on Tuesday, January 19, between 4pm and 8pm. CEO and principal Mark Bolton said: “Yeovil College is the springboard to your future career, and despite the difficult circumstances, we are determined to showcase our wonderful campus, teaching experts and offer. “First and foremost, we will keep our community safe, enabling and supporting our partnership schools to maintain a positive learning environment and rhythm. “This is a fantastic time to be a student at Yeovil College. “We are implementing significant campus improvements to revolutionise the way we teach and how students learn. “We will have a 21st century teaching and learning space to support the future workforce of our community, rivalling the very best college facilities in the country.” A varied range of subjects across every curriculum area relevant to local industry and business opportunities, are available at the college, including A-levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, university qualifications, professional and technical qualifications and the new T-level. Yeovil College is among the first in the country to offer T-levels in the second wave from September. The crib scene at the Conduit in Sherborne was actually installed by Sherborne Rotary, not Sherborne Castles Rotary (NBV Dec 18). The Castles group was formed as a separate evening group in the 90s, whereas the crib scene was first placed at the Conduit in 1952.

Virtual taster evening at Yeovil College

By Miranda Robertson

Education Senior marketing officer Sarah Gorman said: “There is no need for fancy technology to join this event. “All you will need is a phone, laptop or PC with an internet connection. “The virtual experience will enable you to immerse yourself into the world of Yeovil College, with more than 400 documents and videos available for you to watch, so you can truly understand what all the courses involve.” The event will showcase lessons, tasks and activities and lecturers and teaching staff will be on hand throughout the night via the live chat function, allowing visitors to engage and ask questions. Careers teachers will also be present throughout the evening. Register your place at the event at yeoviljanopen house.vfairs.com. 63