The New Blackmore Vale Magazine by The Blackmore Vale Limited

Edition 18

Friday, May 28, 2021

The New Blackmore Vale “I’ve missed my community during lockdown... Now with the New Blackmore Vale I have my community on my coffee table.” FREE Fortnightly Hardy cyclists braved the rain and thunder and embraced the North Dorset Cycle Ride. Some 480 soggy cyclists took part in the muchanticipated event, pushing through downpours and pedaling part or all of the grueling 55-mile route to reach Gold Hill. FULL STORY: PAGE 3

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What’s inside this week Announcements Arts & Entertainments Antiques & Collectibles Business Church Education Equestrian Farming Field And Stream Food & Drink Health & Wellbeing Home & Gardens Items For Sale Letters Local Services Motoring MPs’ Round-Up Pets

36-39 70-73 44-45 76-78 68 69 88 89-97 89 42-43 60-63 46-51 34-35 40-41 53-59 n All abourd for the Big Yellow Bus Garden project P10-11 n Super modeller Len’s grand designs: P16-17 n Remembering railway’s golden era: P24-25 73-75 66-67 Property 98-103 Recruitment 78-84 64-65, 90-91 Sport 85-87 52 Puzzles

Meet the Team Miranda Robertson

Lloyd Armishaw

Lorraine Drake

Editor

Publisher

Distributor

newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 400186

lorraine_drake @icloud.com Tel: 07850 529937

Debi Thorne

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Contact Us Advertising: adverts@blackmorevale.net Editorial: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Postal enquiries to: 3 Alfred’s Way, Wincanton, BA9 9RU Classified ads: classified@blackmorevale.net,

Karen Bate

Ellie Rose

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01963 400186 or online at blackmorevale.net Sport stories: sport@blackmorevale.net

DEADLINES The deadlines for advertising and editorial is the Friday before publication.However every effort will be made to include death announcements until the Tuesday.

Steve Keenan

Reporter sport@blackmorevale.net Tel: 07940 143223 Sue Kennington

Account manager sue.kennington@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 07714 289403

Ruth Armishaw

Commercial manager newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net

Hardy cyclists brave thunder and rain By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

With big smiles and high spirits, hundreds of soggy cyclists braved the monsoons and pushed through the gruelling 55-mile stretch of the North Dorset Cycle Ride organised by Shaftesbury Rotary Club and sponsored by BV Dairy. Blood was pumping as 480 cyclists cycled from Castle Hill to Gold Hill amid torrential rain and thunder to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK and local charities. One team, looking as though they had stepped out of the 1973 Hovis advert, were particularly water-logged in wet tweed and cloth caps. Rotarian Tim Cook said: “BV Dairy played a huge part in getting the event off the line. “Not only were they main sponsors, but they entered a

BAKER STREET: Some Hovis boys reach the top Pic by James Thrift

team of nine with the remaining staff coming out in full, to help with the smooth running of the day. “Shaftesbury Rotary Club would like to say a huge thank you, to BV Dairy, for having the faith in the event going ahead during the pandemic.” Bananas and satsumas, donated by Tesco, fuelled the soaking wet cyclists at the pit-stop on Bulbarrow Hill. Tim said: “Then there are all

the volunteers, friends, and family who take part very year, without them we would not be able to put the event on, so a huge thank you especially this year, despite the weather they stood there, keeping the cyclists’ spirits up by smiling and joking. “Lastly to the dedicated cyclists who turned up to take part in such adverse weather and who’s spirits remained high without one complaint. Thank you.” Rob Beale supplied the toilets at Castle Hill and at Bulbarrow. Travis Perkins supplied Hi Viz and barriers, Aqua Clean the covid cleansers, Signrite the signage and James Thrift, who battled the elements to take the photographs. If you took part and would like to view and order a few photos then go to optimisedimages .com/rotary_north_dorset _bike_ride_2021 n shaftesburyrotaryclub.org

n OAPs from Shaftesbury will be staying up all night for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint tonight. Residents of Homefarris House on Bleke Street will be taking on the 12-hour marathon from 8pm to 8am in two-hour slots. Veronica Sykes, 93, will be doing her bit, as will Don Reynolds, 84, who said: “I’ve seen some very sad sights of people sleeping rough at St Pancras and Kings Cross. I am delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile cause. We’re a lively community and I’m sure we’ll keep each other’s spirits high to get us through the night. Either that or keeping our brains active with a game of Scrabble or two!” Development manager Katie Garland said: “I am more worried about Don beating me at Scrabble than falling asleep!” The home is run by FirstPort, official partner to Centrepoint. To donate, go to stayup.centre point.org.uk/ fundraising/first port-stayup-team.

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RBL marks 100 years of support Wincanton Branch of the Royal British Legion held a short and small commemoration at the town’s War Memorial on Saturday, May 15 at 9am to mark the 100th anniversary of their founding. The Rev Alison Way, rector of Wincanton Parish Church St Peter and St Paul, led prayers and a wreath was laid by the branch chairman Rob Dickinson.

Market towns to get £440k improvements

Eleven market towns in South Somerset will receive grant funding for projects to improve the appearance of their town centres and the facilities they offer. The Creative Heart of Shaftesbury South Somerset District Council created Where established and new artists the Market Towns Investment Group exhibit their work (MTIG) in 2006 to ‘encourage better, Open: 10.00am – 4.30pm more constructive community planning’ Cygnet Gallery where towns would work together with Swans Yard, Shaftesbury SP7 8JQ partners on essential improvements. www.thecygnet.org.uk A series of new projects for these towns has been proposed and agreed by South The Cygnet Gallery is a Swans Trust Project. Charity no. 1063757 Somerset District Council, ranging from electric vehicle charging points, signage and a public toilet refurbishment. The projects will be match funded by the town and TAILORED HOME parish councils, enabling £439,988 improvements INSURANCE RIGHT DOWN to be completed. TO THE FINEST DETAIL The following projects have been approved: n Bruton – Station For high-value properties and contents, Road car park will be including valuables, ﬁne art and collections, revamped with a more choose NFU Mutual Bespoke home insurance. permeable road surface To discuss your high-value home and electric vehicle insurance, call Sturminster Newton charging points. agency on 01258 473299 or search n Castle Cary – Market NFU Mutual Bespoke House Project Phase 1. Refurbishment of the upper floor of the Market House including a kitchen. n Chard – Street furniture and public realm improvements. There will be new signage, Christmas lights and CCTV will be installed in the Boden J L Green & J L Pinder is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Street area. Society Limited. And an introducer to NFU Mutual NOW OPEN

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n Crewkerne – refurbishment of the public toilets in Falkland Square and some new Christmas lights. n Ilminster – An existing path leading to the town’s recreation ground will be regraded to allow pushchair and wheelchair users to access the amenities more easily. n Langport – Langport River Project marketing and health & safety enhancements n Martock – CCTV and wifi will be provided at the recreation ground and other areas in Martock, along with new benches and picnic tables and a memorial stone and plaque in the Remembrance Wood. n Milborne Port – Resurfacing of the entrance to the allotments and the renewal of the existing paths through the churchyard of St John the Evangelist. n Somerton – Improvements to the public facilities in the town centre. n South Petherton – Improvements to Lightgate Lane Recreation Ground, the Memorial Garden and the St James Street area n Wincanton – Skate Park and MUGA LED lighting installed. Jason Baker, Chairman of the Market Town Investment Group, said: “Working together within the district means that it becomes more feasible to deal with common issues that otherwise would not be addressed. The projects that have been approved/that are to be approved will help create sustainable and friendly market towns across South Somerset. “We are pleased to be able to support the market towns with not only their recovery but to allow them to continue serving their communities.”

Trust reassured on land & fund transfers By Nicci Brown newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The Community Land Trust formed last year to take control of some of the undeveloped Persimmon Home owned community land East of Shaftesbury has been assured that Dorset Council’s new protocol for S106 contributions will allow the transfer of land as well as funds. Councillor Peter Yeo, representing the Mampitts Lane Community Land Trust CIC, told the council’s May Cabinet meeting which accepted the protocol that the trust was set up to guarantee the delivery of the long overdue planning obligations of a community hall and play park at Mampitts Lane for which some residents have waited for over ten years. The trust’s bid to become the nominated s106 ‘third party

CONSIDERATION: Cllr Peter Yeo

body’ to take ownership of the land has the support of nearly 600 estate and local residents, as well as Persimmon Homes. He said the trustees wanted to ensure that community land trusts and community interest companies were given equal consideration and equal rights to Town and Parish Councils, when Dorset Council’s policy for allocating s106 land and s106 funds is resolved,

enabling the planning obligations on the East Shaftesbury Estate to be fulfilled. “This equal inclusion of community organisations is particularly vital in Shaftesbury as our Community Land Trust is the only ‘third party body’ who are guaranteeing to deliver these much-needed planning obligation Community facilities on this site and ensuring s106 funds are spent on their intended locations and purposes.” Portfolio holder for planning Councillor David Walsh confirmed that the allocations would apply to land as well as funds. In response to Councillor Karen Tippins’ request for an assurance that the people living east of Shaftesbury would receive the facilities they were promised in the light of what she described

as “the town council’s current track record of being exclusive and neglecting the east of Shaftesbury”, he said the protocol allowed awards to be made in an objective and fair way, and did not limit bids to town and parish councils. But he said the release of s106 funding to Shaftesbury Town Council for a 3G football pitch project had been supported by full council in December 202, and that flexibility was built in to the planning obligations to allow the original purpose of funding to be changed, subject to government regulations. GOLD HILL FESTIVAL Sunday 4th July Stalls Bookings 01747 853136 goldhillfair@hotmail.co.uk shaftesburyrotaryclub.org

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St Mary’s pupils set to return to the By Steve Keenan newsdesk @blackmorevale.net

In March 2020, the 215 girls at St Mary’s near Shaftesbury had their time there cut short when coronavirus shut the school. And they were never able to return. Three months later, the school went bust and was subsequently sold to Dorset Council. It was an abrupt end to an idyllic schooling for the girls, aged from nine to 18, taught at one of the best independent Catholic girls’ schools in the country. But The New Blackmore Vale can reveal they will have a chance to say goodbye – the council is planning a Farewell to St Mary’s event this summer. Pupils, parents and staff will be invited back to the school, which has sat empty for 15 months and still has stark reminders of how quickly it was abandoned. The event will probably be staged in a marquee in the 58 acres of grounds in July, ahead of work to convert the complex into a school for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND). I recently toured the school by invitation of Dorset Council, accompanied by Andrew Parry, head of the council’s children’ services. “The first time I walked into the school I saw a plate of chips still on the canteen counter,” he said. “There were books still open on the desks. It was like walking into the Marie Celeste.” Two school staff retained by the council have cleared notice boards and done a lot of cleaning, tidying up and ongoing maintenance. Contractors continue testing of emergency and lighting services. 6

SILENCE IN THE CLASSROOM: One of the empty classrooms at St Mary’s and, below, the school tennis courts, lockers, signs around the grounds and pottery in the textiles department

Old exam papers and other paperwork has been burned. But the residual debris of 75 years of school achievements were still starkly evident. In the extant arts and textiles room, dress designs rest on mannequins. There are half-finished felt hats, brushes still with paint on, cups in the sink. A Post-It note reads: “To be returned to Mrs Hodge (textiles) from Laura Williamson. Thank you.” Names are still on lockers and tens of thousands of

books still on shelves. There are 30 copies of Esther Hautzig’s The Endless Steppe in one classroom and skips of Latin text books. In the pottery kiln, there are unfinished pieces some pupils may want to reclaim in July. There may well be an auction of books and other equipment not required in the new SEND environment. The details are being worked on. Says Cllr Parry: “There is a sense of calm and peace in the school.

There is an opportunity to create something from the established footprint, at pace. “That sense of wellbeing and enjoyment of the environment very much resonates with me.” He said every effort will be made in July to return personal possessions to pupils, half of which were boarders or day pupils. “They just went home in lockdown and didn’t come back. I am very mindful of being respectful to them.” The school had been

‘Marie Celeste’ school to say farewell

PLANNING: Andrew Parry, head of the county council’s children’s services, at St Mary’s School

running at a loss for six years. It was, said Cllr Parry, “asset rich but cash poor – one of the reasons it shut down.” A sale fell through last summer, and though a ‘Save St Mary’s’ steering committee raised £370k, the school needed 130 girls for the autumn term simply to be viable. By then, most parents had withdrawn

support and placed their children elsewhere. But its importance to the girls and 120 staff was real. Catherine Ridge, a member of the Save St Mary’s committee, said last summer that St Mary’s “recognised each child as an individual and enabled them to thrive”. She added: “The closure of St Mary’s was not only devastating for the pupils

and teachers but also for the wider Shaftesbury community who were employed or provided services there. “To suddenly lose your livelihood without any notice and particularly in the current climate is devastating and my heart goes out to everyone affected.” Dorset Council has appointed Mark Blackman as the school’s Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Head of Shaftesbury School for seven years until 2019. Recruitment for a head is

under way, and the plan is to bring in the first 60 SEND children in January, with plans to build up to a 280 intake. Some £5m has been put aside to adapt the school to requirements. The school will also eventually be renamed, reflecting the council’s aim to establish it as a centre of research and study excellence as well as a school. While officially no decision has been made, a title such as The Shaftesbury School of SEND Excellence can be expected.

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Gardening group is blooming busy Wincanton and District Gardeners’ Association, for many years, have been planting flowerbeds and containers around the town twice a year to make the town look more attractive. This year once again a small band of happy gardeners have planted the summer flowering blooms in Wincanton with Inge Nicholls at the helm and helped by Colin Workman, Terry Graham, Richard D’Arcy, Chuck Downton, Phil Rodgers, Julie and Russell Eddington.

Time for The Great Escape! We would like to introduce you to Gold Hill Glamping, near Shaftesbury, offering Bell Tent Glamping and a wood clad lodge, on our working dairy farm. An ideal base for visiting family and friends, or come and try glamping yourself. There are just two bell tents, with comfortable double beds, bedding, wood burning stove and futons for extra beds/seats. Outside each tent you will 昀nd a 昀re pit/bbq, log seats, picnic bench with parasol and two deck chairs. There is a ‘kitchen shed’ complete with gas camping stove, cutlery and kitchen utensils. Each tent has it’s own eco loo and there is a hot shower in the farm yard. Bring your horse or pony! We can accommodate your horse if your would like to explore the fantastic bridlepaths and countryside nearby. There are plenty of pets here too. Our Shetland ponies love a stroke, there are pygmy goats and chickens to see and if you would like to see the cows being milked we can arrange this. All accommodation has stunning valley views, there’s a forest school and woods to explore complete with fairy doors, dens, rope swings and a mud kitchen. 8

The planting is done voluntarily and a grant from Wincanton Town Council each year covers the cost of the spring and autumn plants. Wincanton and District Gardeners’ Association is hoping to re-start its meetings in September with a social coffee morning and a members mini show, once the committee have held a meeting to decide if this will be possible. The annual meeting is on Friday, October 1 at 7pm in the Wincanton Memorial Hall.

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All aboard: Big Yellow Bus Garden By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Five pigs and some bees are the latest guests at an amazing community garden project between Blandford and Stur. The Big Yellow Bus Garden Project was launched five years ago after youth worker Paul Williams observed the transformational effects of working in the great outdoors on the kids he was helping. It is an extraordinary labour of love and altruism, for Paul has sunk thousands of pounds of his own money into building a fantastic resource for the whole community. Young people have benefitted, but so too have elderly people, people with life limiting conditions, people with mental health issues – and just your average Joe Bloggs, who come to enjoy working on the four-acre site. There’s no charge for anything here, no membership or registration. People just pop in and they can work, or just sit, take produce or cut flowers. It’s an oasis to help anyone and everyone. Paul said: “Five years ago I was running a project for young people including involving them in horticulture, and all of them gravitated towards nurturing plants. It helped them to focus on the task in hand. “I was approached by Dorset Council, who had a four-acre field on offer and after seeing the results we were getting they thought we could do something with it. “The site had been left abandoned for 10 years and was covered with thistles and dock leaves. But I climbed through the hedge and had a look. It was too 10

BLOOMING: Plants growing on the roof of the hide and, below, working on one of the garden structures, the wildlife pond and nurturing plants

big a site for just young people, so I opened it up to the whole community, with the idea that people benefit.” Paul has divided the site into three parts – one acre is a formal landscaped garden with a 14m wildlife pond, trees and flower borders and a firepit. One acre is turned

over to a community growing space. There’s a large polytunnel, a fruit cage is just going up and there will be oodles of food produced here, with people able to help themselves. The last area is a one-acre wildflower meadow with plenty of pollinators – ideal

for the rescue bees which moved in this week. Paul said: “You don’t have to have a problem to be here – there are myriad reasons why people come here. It’s an escape from whatever. “It’s currently funded from my deep pocket. I am a director at Equilibrium and I

Project is really going places now

GETTING ROUND TO IT: Youth worker Paul Williams, below, started the the project five years ago and has invested thousands of pounds of his own money in it

fund this from the profits, along with some grant funding from Tesco’s Bags of Help, Sherborne Country Fair and a legal firm in Blandford. “I still use it primarily for young people with mental health challenges, which are seeing an increase with

lockdown. Young people have suffered with isolation and the lack of routine. Their Xboxes are great when it’s not all they have to do. Even colleagues in mainstream schools are reporting kids having problems finding their feet again.”

Anyone who wants to get involved can just rock up at the site, which is off the trailway at Shillingstone. “You don’t have to book,” said Paul. “Just turn up and have a look at the jobs board and get stuck in.” Paul is hoping to build a shelter, particularly for

elderly people and wheelchair users who can get cold quickly. He already has a compost loo. The new shelter, or ‘classroom’ is expected to cost £20,000. Participants have just finished planting up the pond and they have 600 sunflower seeds to put in. The pigs are short-term guests, who are currently munching down an overgrown area. Hedgehog houses and bug hotels provide sanctuary for other critters. Paul came to Blandford in 1999 to run the youth centre. He was instrumental in building the skatepark and launched Treads youth advice centre. He’s worked with young offenders and says it’s being disengaged from school that’s often the crisis point. He now supports young people for any reason, and has recently succeeded in giving a teenager with a lifelimiting condition a new focus. He said: “He couldn’t see the point in living, having been told he would only live to his mid-20s. But now he’s just finished his second year at uni and having a whale of a time. “We don’t do anything with the family. We mentor youngsters so they can kick the arse out of life while they’ve got it.” The future looks bright for the project. Plans include planting verge wildflowers on the A357 and they are waiting to hear if they’ve been mentioned in The One Show’s Chelsea Garden competition. n Anyone who would like to get involved can find the project on Facebook, call Paul on 07850 036117 or email paul@eqcic.co.uk. 11

By Steve Keenan newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The Blackmore Vale branch of the RNLI is appealing for urgent support in order to fund its lifeguards on Dorset beaches this summer. The charity has been unable to fundraise at events for 15 months – but Dorset faces its busiest ever holiday season with holiday accommodation booked solid through the summer. The RNLI directly trains and pays lifeguards who will be employed at beaches in Lyme Regis, West Bay, Weymouth and Bournemouth this summer. In 2019, the RNLI helped more than 29,000 people on beaches across the country. “Fundraising to keep these beaches safe has been impossible during the last year of covid-19,” says Nick Chavasse, chairman of the Blackmore Vale RNLI. “We are expecting more families than ever to book holidays in Dorset this year.

RNLI in appeal to potential lifesavers

ON THE BEACH: It’s going to a very busy summer on the coast

People are excited to get away – and that is how it should be. But it is so easy to get into trouble by the water, for walkers to get cut off by the tide or for a paddling child to be swept out to sea. “The last year has been very difficult to do any fundraising but we are now faced with an immediate challenge to ensure the local beaches are properly manned with life savers in what

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promises to be an incredibly busy year for staycation holidays.” A survey by Visit England shows that more people (26%) have booked a holiday in the southwest than in any other region – Scotland ranks next highest, with 12%. Those from London, the southeast, Wales and West Midlands all put the southwest top of their list. Despite the lack of income,

the RNLI says it has made provision so that its lifeguards will be paid, between £9.50 and £11.40 an hour depending on their role. The training programme will build your skills, from how to handle equipment on the beach, to first aid and casualty care and successful applicants will receive continuous, on-the-job training. The RNLI is encouraging applicants to apply to summerjobs at rnli.org. Locally, the RNLI will have a stall at events this summer including the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show on August 18-19. The Blackmore Vale Branch also needs to recruit a new treasurer, after the untimely death of David Duvall, an exceptionally talented church organist in the Stour Vale Benefice. If you have an interest in joining the team, contact Nick Chavasse on 07919 026629 or by email: nrgchavasse@btinternet.com

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County ‘market leaders’ on climate Dorset Council’s handling of the climate emergency was defended at May’s Cabinet meeting by Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for climate and ecological change. He said the council were market leaders on what they had done and what they planned to do, and its representation at national conferences indicated the great quality of the team he had the pleasure of working with. “I take great exception to anyone questioning that,” he said. He said central government had been so impressed Dorset had received the third highest grant – £19 million, amounting to over £50 per head compared to Manchester’s £28 and Kent’s £14.66 – towards the £130 million needed throughout the carbon reduction plan to 2040. In answer to Councillor Shane Bartlett’s suggestion that the council tax burden to bring about the strategy was quite heavy, he said he hoped the majority of the total would come

from government, and that the £19 million was a good start. “It is a fantastic success story, and this for a council that is less than two years old.” “Experts think this is an easy thing to do, but we have a responsibility to spend tax payers money wisely. “It is now down to property and assets to deliver the £19million.” He said work on council property had now reached the design stage for county hall, schools and libraries, and other sites could be included at a later date, with building alterations to aid long-term running costs. “Since we declared the emergency we have provided businesses with financial support – £16.5 million – whilst also dealing with a pandemic. “We have changed gas and electricity supplies, and already started to replace vehicles and tools, as well as installing a number of EV charging units. “Hansons have invested in lowcarbon methods for road repairs,

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and we have saved on carbon emissions working from home.” He said the climate and ecological plan, which was two months behind schedule because of the pandemic and extension of the consultation period, demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm for changing the way they worked. It was ‘achievable and realistic’, but the public had to be part of the plan, because only one per cent of the county’s emissions were from Dorset Council. The plan was presented to Cabinet for recommendation to full council by the end of July, and Councillor Brian Heatley said: “We’ve produced an excellent carbon reduction plan which we should adopt now. “The biggest single thing that the consultation suggested we might have got wrong is the degree of urgency and the targets. It is a matter that is so urgent and important that even if the aspiration is unrealistic it is one we must have.”

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Do you recognise this sofa? If you do, you may want to send Weldmar Hospicecare a donation for the cost of clearing up your household waste. The charity, which cares for hundreds of terminally ill people in north, south and west Dorset each year, had to pay to dispose of this suit and a fridge-freezer after they were dumped at their Shaftesbury outlet last weekend. Go to weld-hospice.org.uk /donate to make amends...

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Open Fridge officially open and it’s By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

GOOD IDEA: The Open Fridge is in the Father’s Day Church car park and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Shaftesbury is heralding a novel way to cut food waste while giving townsfolk easy access to fresh, nutritious food after the Open Fridge was officially opened on Wednesday, May 19. Everyone from vulnerable families to peckish builders are invited to help themselves to free food, which has been donated by supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and people’s cupboards, which may be close to its sell by date, but would otherwise be destined for the bin. Unlike traditional food banks, anyone can take food out without limit – allowing easy access for fresh, nutritious food for all and thus removing the stigma, while mitigating food waste.

Shaftesbury Open fridge is also a social space, which helps connect the community. Helen Beecham has been the driving force behind Open Fridge which she has launched with the help of 15 volunteers, to reduce waste by making it readily available to everyone. Helen is the administrator for Open House, the charity which has been giving support and advice to the Shaftesbury community for six years, but Open Fridge is different in that it is tackling food waste by giving free food for everyone. “There are two reason why I launched this project,” said Helen. “The first reason is to reduce food waste so instead of people throwing food away, which may be close to its sell by date, they can donate it, and secondly, the

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Luxury hampers filled with delicious produce from Motcombe Community Shop will be raffled every Saturday morning between May 29 and June 19 to raise money for Salisbury District Hospital’s Stars Appeal. Last year, the shop raised £500 to help the Stars Appeal fund improvements to hospital services and patient welfare and this year Motcombe Community Shop is hoping to raise even more. And on June 21, the shop chairman Graham Dunlop, 74, will walk the marathonlength route through

Sedgehill, Semley, Donhead St Andrew and Chalke Valley to present the cheque to Salisbury District Hospital. Manager Kay Francis said: “On Monday June 21 (Freedom Day, if you recall) our shop chairman, Graham Dunlop, aged 74, will carry a cheque for the appeal’s takings from Motcombe Community Shop to Salisbury District Hospital, on foot.” To sponsor Graham or to buy raffle tickets go to justgiving.com/fundraising/m otcombe-community-shop.

Clean up and get litter picking! Litter Free Dorset are supporting Keep Britain’s Tidy Great British Spring Clean from May 28-June 13. Individuals, community groups, businesses and councils are joining forces to dispose of litter, recycling as

much as possible. Dorset Council Waste Services are also supporting the campaign by providing guidance and equipment for litter-picks. Email wasteteam@dorset council.gov.uk or go to litterfreedorset.co.uk.

giving away food and cutting waste food in the fridge is available to anyone who wants or might need it.” Since Helen has been highlighting the Open Fridge, a growing number of supermarkets, businesses and individuals are depositing edible food that would otherwise go to waste. Helen said: “We receive donations from supermarkets and since the word has been out, we have received food from restaurants and cafés. We received a call from a milkshake store who had a lot of milk which was close to its sell-by-date and would be thrown away who kindly asked if we would like it. We accepted and put it in our freezers.” The Open Fridge was officially launched by the Mayor of Shaftesbury Andy

Hollingshead who said: “I was delighted to be asked to formally open the community fridge at Open House. This is a wonderful initiative which will cut food waste, and which will help families. I am really hoping that supermarkets, the hospitality industry and private individuals will get behind this terrific project.” Anyone is invited to the Open Fridge and help themselves to free food, which will be available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 5pm in the car park of Father’s Day Church. If anyone would like to donate food, they are able to drop it in during the times Open Fridge will be manned by a volunteer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am12noon and 2pm-4pm.

Fears over electricity supply By Nicci Brown A review of grid capacity in Dorset in the light of the draft Dorset Local Plan and Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy proposals has revealed problems in a number of areas. Members of the Place Scrutiny Committee have agreed to seek a consultant’s report at a cost of around £50,000. Electricity providers, are currently drawing up Local Area Network Plans to guide future investment. The committee heard Dorset Council has set out its aims in the strategy, and in the first consultation on the Local Plan. It flagged up grid capacity problems, now being explored by provider (SSEN) including at North Dorset Business Park in Sturminster Newton, Brickfields in Gillingham, Grove Industrial Estate in Dorchester, industrial estates in Bridport, Dorset Innovation Park at Winfrith, Portland Port and the Granby in Weymouth.

Cllr Carol Jones, who some time ago flagged up problems in supply at the North Dorset Business Park, and in the town itself, asked if there should be a priority list, and if they could influence it. She was told that providers, who are legally responsible for the provision, developed their own priorities, but the consultants’ report would help the council work with them. The committee was told by Hilary Jordan, service manager for spatial planning, said historically consultation had been a bit lax, and comments had still not been received from the providers on the council’s Local Plan consultation. There are no proposals to fund capacity through the council’s own investment and lobbying of central government for funding could be needed. Corporate executive director for place Jon Sellgren said Dorset LEP was undertaking a complimentary piece of work because of fear of constraints.

WE’RE OPEN: Mayor of Shaftesbury Andy Hollingshead officially opens the Open Fridge with Nikki Hall of the organisation

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Deceptively spacious: Len’s grand By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

When Len Martin showed a photograph of Langdon Hall to a couple of friends he had recently met, they were in awe of this magnificent stately home, and believed it to be Len’s home. It was little wonder the pair were dumbstruck, this incredible building with its sweeping driveway boasts 16 statues, 138 balustrades, marble floors, Swarovski chandeliers and oil artworks painted by one of King Farouk’s artists, is indeed fit for a King. But the couple were even more surprised when Len revealed the incredible structure is only 42 inches high, 74 inches long and 27 inches wide, and was painstakingly created by Len over 26 years in memory of his late-mother. Indeed this jaw-dropping one-twelfth scale recreation of this impressive residence was indeed a labour of love with its fixtures and furnishings made of gold, luxury wood, sterling silver and genuine tiny oil paintings crafted by real artists. The mansion now sits in a log cabin in the garden of Len’s Charlton Marshall home, and if Len wants to move it, four strong people are needed for each corner so great is the weight. Len, who is a militaria dealer and before retirement had his own shop with half dedicated to dolls houses, said: “My mother’s maiden name was Langdon, so because I made this for her, in her memory, it made sense to call it Langdon Hall. “It took 26 years to complete and it cost £6,500 in materials. “It was indeed a labour of love and it is something to 16

SMALL WONDER: Len Martin’s amazing miniature building at his home in Charton Marshall. ‘I did think about putting a photograph in an estate agents’ window of a stately home for sale,’ he says

behold. “I thought I would sell it now, that is what I would like really. “It needs to be on display, so I did think about putting a photograph in an estate agents’ window of a stately home for sale.”

Langdon Hall features in a book entitled: The Country House of Lady Langdon: Welcome to the World of Miniatures, which boasts an array of stunning photographs. One might be forgiven for thinking this is where the

tale ends, but with little to do during lockdown and with Langdon Hall complete, Len turned his attention to creating a number of small scale grand designs to form a street. With plaster of Paris, paint and exceptional

designs are miracles in miniature

craftsmanship, Len set to work on creating a Tower House, and Tea Room, an old barn with beams and tiles, an antique shop, a village inn and coaching house and even a Marks and Spencer Penny Bazaar. “I made several buildings, in

fact I have been able to construct a whole street,” said Len, whose models and buildings have on occasion taken over the dining room table he shares with his partner Joy. “I have a workshop and a log cabin and I still need

more space!” Fully dedicated to getting everything perfect, Len has spent thousands of hours making individual bricks amounting to 2,500, crafting chimneys for each building and making real beams for the barn.

The model-maker is certainly making masterpieces in Charlton Marshall. n If anyone would like to make Len an offer for this grand mansion in miniature or the street, please give him a ring on 01258 489498. 17

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‘Humbled’ new PCC in pledge to his county Newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick for Dorset says he is ‘humbled and grateful’ to be elected by the people of Dorset. He said: “I’ve lived in this county all my life, my children were brought up here and my family goes back generations. It is therefore a great honour to represent all of you – and that of course includes those who voted for me in the recent PCC elections, as well as those who voted for one of the other candidates and those who didn’t cast a vote at all. “It’s also an honour for me to work with Dorset Police, which I know is a great organisation full of dedicated, hard-working people.” Mr Sidwick will be working on a new Police and Crime Plan for Dorset, to set out how to be the safest county in the country by cutting crime and putting victims first. He said: “It will have a major impact on how we make our communities safer, so later in the summer I will be asking the people of Dorset about what matters to you and what you think should be included in the plan. “Number one on my list is for the police to robustly focus on cutting

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Mark Goodbody BA. crime, from the violent crime – SOLICITOR (retd) which is thankfully rarer here than with more than 40 years experience in our big cities – to the constant grind of anti- social behaviour Mobile: 07768 894 166 Landline: 01258 860674 which blights communities and Email: GoodbodyAndCo@gmail.com makes people’s lives miserable. I Fees are modest and affordable - no VAT want people to see a clear Home visits at any time, difference and to feel safer. evenings and weekends included “I want to significantly increase the rural crime team and their capabilities, and I want to develop specific strategies to tackle problems affecting our rural communities such as burglary, anti-social behaviour and farm theft. “But above all, we’ll put victims and communities at the heart of everything we do, because it is for these people that we need to bring about change. We need to support all our victims, particularly older and more vulnerable people, but we also need to help build up strong and resourceful Mid term holidays, Up to 6 weekends a year, communities.”

School fundraiser a piece of cake Mere Pre School held a cake stall next to the Town Clock, raising £180 for the group. George Jeans said: “Over the past year Mere, as many small towns, have been very quiet at times. It was so nice to see people moving around the stall.”

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Reach for the STARs in disability initiative Dorset disability charity Diverse Abilities has launched a new service for siblings of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. STARs, standing for Supportive, Thoughtful And Resilient, is a 12-week programme of support, advice, and activities for those aged eight to 16. It aims to reduce the pressure they are under by providing an environment where they can access support and advice, but also take part in activities, make friends, and be themselves. A Children in Need grant of more than £6,500 has helped with the research and planning process, as well as supplies for activities. Clare Rochford, one of the Children’s Team managers at Diverse Abilities, has been leading the development of the service from her experience growing up with her sister who has a rare genetic condition called Smith-Magenis Syndrome. Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/stars to register and find out more about the service.

Spreading the word on tourism A leaflet exchange scheme was held this week to help South Somerset Tourism businesses spread the word. Tourism businesses in the area were invited to network with others and exchange their promotional materials to market their businesses across the district and beyond. The event attracted pubs, cafes,

restaurants, attractions and accommodation providers from South Somerset and over the borders, including Fleet Air Arm Museum, Haynes International Motor Museum, Cary Alpacas and Parrett Trail Bikes. The Somerset and Dorset National Garden Scheme attended, plus representatives from some market towns with local walking guides.

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A new campaign Light On is launching across Dorset to tackle the stigma of talking about mental distress and emotional struggle – particularly among men. A network of organisations including local businesses and the NHS have joined forces to put an end to men dealing with mental health difficulties alone and in the dark. It urges men to go beyond the banter and talk openly about how they are feeling and whether they are coping. It aims to train champions and ambassadors to spread the message. Local businesses, individuals, charities and sports clubs will be encouraged to join the Dorset Mind campaign. Andrew Coleman, founder of Light On says, “It is time to put an end to the silent struggle among men because of the taboo and stigma

about talking when you’re not coping very well. This silence is leading to pain, suffering and suicide – and it has to stop. This campaign will save people’s lives because it will make it OK for people to have a conversation and ask for help.” Andrew is one of a group of men who met through Dorset Mind and wanted to do more to help other men. Marianne Storey, CEO at Dorset Mind said: “Even more people than ever are struggling with mental distress, and it is essential that we create a county that is open and compassionate about talking about it. I believe Light On is going to save lives.” The campaign is set to run for five years. For more information please visit lightonmh.uk

Action call on Local Plan homes target By Nicci Brown newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Requests for Dorset Council to revise its assessment of the number of houses needed in the county in the draft Local Plan were met at May’s Cabinet meeting with the response that all comments made in the recent consultation will be considered before the final proposals are put forward for further public consultation. Cabinet member for planning Councillor David Walsh told Giles Watts of the Dorset Climate Action Group that all the data from submissions and feedback from the consultation exercise was likely to be published in July, and co-operative discussion was welcome with DCAN about the significant differences of professional opinion regarding the basis

for housing numbers to be used. Mr Watts said: “This is especially true with regards to the application of ‘exceptional circumstances’ and the fact that national housing needs have changed dramatically post Brexit and post pandemic.” Mike Allen of Sturminster Marshall further questioned the suggestion that Dorset needed to meet its own Government housing target of over 30,000 homes together with helping Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole meet their target with another 9,000 homes, requiring the release of “hundreds of hectares of Dorset’s Greenbelt land to developers”. He highlighted the pledge of the newly re-elected West Midlands Mayor to preserve local Greenbelt and challenge the 2014 Standard

Method of assessing housing need. He said the Office for Statistics Regulation had stated that reliance on that method rather than the more recent 2018 household projections produced by the Office for National Statistics meant that changes were not reflected in the statistics informing housing need, and over-estimation of population in certain age groups could drive targets in

a different direction to local priorities. Mr Allen asked how confident the council was that adopting the 2014 Standard Method in the Local Plan, without question or modification, would lead to a sound plan that balances properly the local need for houses in the next decades against protection of Dorset’s “cherished countryside and green spaces”.

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Dementia group’s £1.5K hospital gift Sherborne District Dementia Action Alliance (SDDAA) has donated £1,545 to the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital for dementia care. Michael Kay, JP, former chairman of the SDDAA, said: “At the time the SDDAA executive committee decided it was unable to meet its ambitions, it agreed the funds held by the association would be donated to The Friends of the Yeatman Hospital on the clear understanding they would be used to support the treatment of dementia

patients.” David Hayes, chairman of the Friends, said: “We are most appreciative and grateful to Michael Kay, Lizzie Kingsbury and colleagues at the SDDAA for entrusting the Friends with these funds to support healthcare treatment for dementia patients. “We are in ongoing discussions with the matron and senior management at the Yeatman to identify appropriate projects for which the funds can be used.”

Church organisation seeking treasurer

Sherborne Churches Together (SCT) is looking for a treasurer – just one hour per month. The treasurer would receive a levy from each church once a year and pay out about six cheques per year. If you can keep numbers in straight columns and add up, and if you are interested in supporting the wider Christian community in Sherborne, please contact John Bradshaw or email jb910@icloud.com.

Tea, cakes and a chat all in a very good cause The kettles were on, the cakes were tasty and the chat was lively as residents and staff at Abbey View in Sherborne and Newstone House in Sturminster TEA BREAK: Newton took part in Daphne Spurry Dementia UK’s biggest of times for families with annual fundraising drive – loved ones who need Time for a Cuppa. dementia care. It’s brilliant At Abbey View residents that Colten Care residents tucked into cupcakes and staff are doing their bit specially baked by home to help.” chefs in the green and red For more information shades of the Dementia UK logo while residents at about living with dementia, visit Colten Newstone House baked Care’s ‘Ask-an-Admiral and decorated cupcakes. Nurse’ at coltencare. Colten Care Admiral Nurse Kay Gibson said: “It co.uk/admiral-nurse. The Dementia UK helpline continues to be the most is 0800 888 6678. challenging and isolating

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Sky’s the limit for fundraiser Richard By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A former shop manager and baker who struggles to walk ten yards will be skydiving from 10,000 feet on Sunday to raise cash for the charity which helped him. Richard Holder, 47, of Sherborne, received the devastating news he had multiple sclerosis two days before his 40th birthday. It was particularly bitter news as he had given up a well-paid job as store manager for Tesco fairly recently and gone to work for a small bakery. He found himself quickly unable to work as he couldn’t stand for long and any physical work was impossible. But Richard wouldn’t be beaten, and in the last few years he has pushed himself to complete a series of challenges, raising between £15,000 and £16,000 for the MS Society and MS Trust. This Sunday he will be

SKYDIVING FUNDRAISER: Richard Holder, front, with pal Billy Beaumont

skydiving near Salisbury. He has already raised more than £2,300 for the MS Society, despite a fairly modest target of £450 – and he would love to raise more. He said: “I thought I was suffering from an old rugby injury at the time I was

diagnosed. I was trying to build up to run a marathon, but I kept tripping over on the flattest surfaces. “My GP sent me to an osteopath, but a couple of months later there was no change and I was referred to a neurologist.

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“I went through months and months of tests – MRI, blood tests, acupuncture… I was MoTed twice over. Then I had a meeting in hospital and the neurologist said if I was a betting man I’d say you had MS. “It was a shock. My wife and I left the appointment and went straight into a bar and grabbed a drink. “We’ve never known anyone who had it, so we had to do a lot of research.” Having come to terms with his diagnosis, Richard launched himself into a series of challenges. He pushed himself in his wheelchair for a mile, did a tandem bike ride with his friend Billy Beaumont, and run a raffle. He said: “The MS Society have been brilliant. “I’m quite looking forward to the skydive. I might feel different on the day of course.” To sponsor Richard, go to virginmoneygiving.co.uk and search for Richard Holder.

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WORKING DAY: A very early photograph of the stationmaster with eight members of the Shillingstone Station staff. (Note the two ladies in period dress on the left). The stationmasters that worked at Shillingstone Station include Mr. Courage between 1876 and 1914, George Coles between 1923 and 1933, Ken Davey in 1965 and Ken Forrester between 1965 and 1966 From the Keith Barrett Collection, courtesy of Alan Hammond

S e v e r n Tu n n e l

Gloucester

MANGOTSFIELD

BRISTOL

Opened 4.8.1869 Closed 7.3.66

Swindon

BATH

YAT TON

Combe Down Tunne l

Devonshire Tunnel

Newbury

Midford RADSTOCK Linked to FROME Untill 28.9.73 for Coal

Highbridge Wh a rf

BRIDGWATER NORTH

BRIDG WATE R

Opened 15.3.1858 Closed 29.10.51

Edington Jn Shapwick Cossington Bawdrip Halt Ashcott

BRIDGWATER EDINGTON JN Opened 21.7.1890 Closed 1.12.52p 1.10.54g

Summit 811.ft Masbury Halt

WELLS

FROME

Salisbury

Winsor Hill Tunnels

SHEPTON MALLET Polsham West Pennard

GLASTONBURY

Pylle

BASON BRIDGE - EVERCREECH JN Closed 7.3.66

Evercreech New

C ole for Bruton Taunton

Taunton

BATH - BLANDFORD Closed 7.3.66

EVERCREECH JN

WINCANTON Salisbury and London Waterloo

GLASTONBURY - TEMPLECOMBE Opened 3.2.1862

TEMPLECOMBE Henstridge

TEMPLECOMBE - BLANDFORD Opened 31.8.1863

Stalbridge Exeter

SHILLINGSTONE BLANDFORD Opened 31.8.1863 Closed 7.3.66

Sturminster Newton Shillingtone

S.R (L.S.W.R)

Corfe Mullen SB

Corfe Mullen Halt Broadstone Jn

Opened 14.12.1885

p = passenger g = goods

WIMBORNE

L.M.S (M.R)

Closed 11.7.20g 17.6.33g

Brockenhurst

Spetisbury Halt

Bailey Gate

OL Pa E rk s Br ton an e ks om B e L ’M W ond OU ate o T rl n H

BLANDFORD - BROADSTONE Closed 7.3.66p 6.1.69g

G.W.R

Scale

BLANDFORD - WIMBORNE Opened 1.11.1860

BLANDFORD Charlton Marshall Halt

SOMERSET & DORSET JOINT RAILWAY

Ce n

Stourpaine & Durweston Note:- HIGHBRIDGE - BASON BRIDGE Closed 2.10.72 g

Miles

BOURNEMOUTH WEST

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: The newly drawn S&D map by North Dorset Railway showing S&D connections from 1854 – 1966. (Some smaller lines and connections may have not been shown), and right, Shillingstone Signalman George Ainsworth and his wife Cicely receiving gifts from his workmates to reward 50 years loyal service on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&D) between 1915 and December 18, 1965. The group includes Len Farley, Bob Downes, Ivor Ridout, Roy Yates, Ron Jackson, Don Ridout, Will Savoury, Alan Cox, Station master Ken Forester, Don May, jack Bell, Bert Scammell, Reg Eaton, Bill Dryer and Jim Maidment. Inset left: Alan and Christine Hammond in 2021 From the Bob Downes Collection, courtesy of Alan Hammond

Another revelation is that individual families became socially extended family groups within their collective work-a-day routines at each station, so a name, such as Shillingstone, eventually became one of the many ‘families’ along 24

Reading and London Paddington WESTBURY

Chilcompton Binegar

Opened 3.5.1858 Closed 8.9.62p 20.5.63g

HIGHBRIDGE Bason Bridge

HIGHBRIDGE GLASTONBURY Opened 28.8.1854

/ Reading / and London Paddington

TROWBRIDGE

Wellow

Shoscombe & Single Hill Halt RADSTOCK

Midsomer Norton & Welton BATH - EVERCREECH JN Opened 20.7.1874

Burnham on Sea

N O RT H D O R SE T R A I LWAY 2 0 2 1

The heyday of the Somerset & Dorset Railway (S&D) has been brought back to life by Alan and Christine Hammond who have written ten books chronicling the times and lives of the passengers and railway employees in its final years. The emotional titles of each of the ten books, including The Heart of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, The Spirit of the Somerset & Dorset Railway and the Splendour of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, capture the serenity and generosity of all those connected with the much-loved railway line. During the 1990s, Alan interviewed hundreds of exSomerset & Dorset railway workers, who were working on the line in one way or another up until the time of closure in 1966, collecting their memories and stories along with many stunning photographs. Many interesting and fascinating intricacies of the Somerset & Dorset Railway procedures are explained in the books and punctuated with anecdotal and humorous events! Many of the railway staff came from established ‘railway’ families, where the cheerful and responsible lifestyle of serving the travelling public was handed down from generation to generation, sometimes stretching back to Victorian times.

the line! This ethos resulted in the way the line was still revered as the S&D long after it was swallowed up by British Railways following nationalisation in 1949. At the time of closure in 1966, many S&D staff were unable to be relocated to other regions and were forced to seek alternative

employment. However, as the years rolled by no one forgot their S&D roots whether they had been employees for a lifetime or had not long joined the railway. This family identity really was deeply ingrained and the travelling public soon missed their cross-country

the stories behind this historic railway WAITING ROOM: The families and lovely ladies waiting for the next train at Shillingstone Station in 1965

READY TO GO: The British Railway’s Class 5 No.73049 awaiting the down train before moving off from Shillingstone Station with the 15.40 Bournemouth to Bath train From the Keith Barrett Collection, courtesy of Alan Hammond

train journey and a most congenial public service. To delve into the pages of these books reveals a way of life that for those of us young enough to remember the railway when the steam trains passed by at the time took for granted until rationalisation took its toll. Thankfully those connected

with the railway were so enthusiastic that they took the photographs that adorn these books. Today North Dorset Railway in its endeavour to bring back a railway service to North Dorset has secured some 500 members and more than 100 working volunteers with 40

volunteering at Shillingstone Station, working on many projects to bring back the nostalgia of railway life during the 1950s and 1960s. A volunteer recruitment weekend is being held in August 2021 where anyone is welcome to volunteer to help rebuild this famous part of the S&D Railway.

n For more details go to northdorsetrailway.co.uk or on Facebook at S&DJR Shillingstone nAlthough the books are now out of print in their original form, they do from time to time come to light on the North Dorset Railway’s website Shilling stonestationonline.co.uk 25

Hospital’s Friends in volunteers plea The Friends of Blandford Hospital are looking for enthusiastic people to join their volunteer teams in their Blandford and Sturminster Newton charity shops. The shops are the charity’s primary source of income and are always bustling with activity. Fundraising co-ordinator Emma Sisson said: “We have a lovely team of volunteers in each shop but the last extraordinary year has led some of the longstanding volunteers to decide now is the right time to retire. We

are now looking to expand our shop ‘family’. “Volunteering in the shops is a fun, sociable activity. It is a great way to make new friends, learn new skills and of course, give something back to the community. We have lovely people working together and taking a pride in our shops’ success.” Pop into one of the shops for a chat with one of the volunteers, who can give you an application form. If you have any questions, then give Emma a call on 01258 451456.

The garden at Littlebrook Farmhouse in Belchalwell (DT11 0EG) will be opening on Sunday, June 13 to raise much-needed funds for Julia’s House children’s hospice. Jackie Abbott’s charming garden features a large pond area as well as fruit trees, formal terracing and vegetables all with spectacular views of the Blackmore Vale. From 2.30pm to 5pm visitors can wander at will and also enjoy tea and refreshments on the terrace.

Shirley Allum Fashions & Lingerie is now offering new season’s fashions and lingerie, with new stock arriving daily in sizes 8 to 28. There are lots of NEW exciting brands for the summer. Our trousers and jeans department is larger than ever with an enormous selection to choose from. Brands including, Brax, NYDJ, Robell, Sahara and Anna Montana just to name a few. There’s NEW mix & match from Mat De Misaine, Numph, Seasalt, Doris Stretch and more! Plus lots of hats and fascinators ready for the wedding season. 26

County’s councils facing big shake-up By Miranda Robertson A major shake-up of councils in Somerset could be on the horizon. Ballot papers will start dropping through letterboxes this week for a local poll on options for change in local government in Somerset. The local poll was agreed by all four district councils at meetings on Friday, April 30. The poll asks voters to choose between the two options being considered by Government to replace the existing five councils – county council and the four district councils: n One council for Somerset (“One Somerset” – the plan for a single council proposed by Somerset County Council) n Two councils for Somerset: Eastern Somerset and Western Somerset (“Stronger Somerset” the plan for two councils for Somerset – an Eastern and a Western Somerset council – proposed by the four district councils of Somerset). The poll is being independently run and verified by Civica Electoral Services on behalf of the four district councils. The ballot papers will be accompanied by two information leaflets – one on each proposal. Councillor Val Keitch, Leader of South Somerset

YOUR VOTE COUNTS: Cllr Duncan McGinty, leader of Sedgemoor District Council, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, leader of Somerset West and Taunton Council, Cllr Ros Wyke, leader of Mendip District Council, Cllr Val Keitch, leader of South Somerset District Council

District Council, said: “The reorganisation of local government affects everyone. It will have a profound impact on local services, individual and community prospects, local representation and health and wellbeing across the county. “Local people must be allowed to have the opportunity to have their say clearly and unambiguously. A properly organised, independently run public vote is the best way to ensure that happens. “I urge everyone to use their vote, whichever option they prefer. “The people’s choice must be respected.” The district council leaders

Your say on solar farm plan Mappowder Parish Council chair and founder of campaign group Save Hardy’s Vale David Horrell is urging New Blackmore Vale readers to write or email Dorset Council’s planning department with their views on a planning application for a giant solar farm in Pulham, before the public consultation comes to an end on May 31. If approved, the solar farm would be one of Britain’s

biggest – covering 190 acres on productive farmland. The application has been submitted by North Dairy Farm Solar Limited (c/o British Solar renewables). See the plans at Dorset Council P/FUL/2021/01018. Email Simon McFarlane at planningteamd@dorsetcounc il.gov.uk or write to Simon McFarlane Planning Team D, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZ.

have written to the Secretary of State to inform him of the poll and its dates and ask that the result of the poll be properly considered as part

of the decision-making process on the future of local government in Somerset. All votes must be received by 5pm on Friday, June 4.

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Garden gets in shape ahead of big opening HM the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell will be officially opening the Fontmell Friendship Garden on June 26. Green fingered villagers and friends in Fontmell Magna are working hard to encourage the green shoots to flourish before the garden is opened. Siân Highnam is now urging everyone to buy tickets for the Grand Raffle, boasting prizes including an original painting by Annie Field, bouquets from Pamplemousse and Daisy Delbridge along with Neals Yard products and an RHS Encyclopaedia of Plants.

Age UK North, South & West Dorset is offering free advice on benefits people aged over 50 could be entitled to and a free advice service, partnering with Nantes, Blanchards Bailey and Humphries Kirk, regarding Wills and Power of Attorney. The free Benefits Surgery is in Dorchester on June 24 and Bridport on June 2 and July 7.To book a telephone appointment for the legal service or benefits advice, ring Age UK North, South & West Dorset on 01305 269444. For more go to ageuk.org.uk/northsouthwest dorset/

Abbey re-opens

SPECIAL BRANCH: Green-fingered villagers at work on the garden

n The garden at Manor Farm, Knighton Hill, Sherborne DT9 6QU will be open on Monday, May 31 from 2.30-5.30pm. There will be teas, books and a plant sale in aid of St Michael’s, Beer Hackett. Entry is £5. Enquiries to 07961 080513

By Miranda Roberston newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Outdoor activities including clay pigeon shooting, target rifles, archery, fly fishing and more are on offer at a fundraiser for Dorset’s disability charity Diverse Abilities. Country Challenge has returned for its second year after raising £7,600 for the organisation in 2019. The event involves a tournament at Purbeck Shooting School near Wareham on Friday, June 25 from 9am until 5pm. Karen Hay, events manager at Diverse Abilities, said: “Last time we hosted this event, we had 12 teams battle it out to be crowned sharpshooters of the day – everyone learned new skills and had a great laugh along the way. It’s the perfect 28

Sherborne Abbey has reopened to visitors Mondays-Saturdays from 11am until 3pm each day. This arrangement will be reviewed again after the intended lifting of restrictions on June 21. The Abbey is currently open for Private Prayer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am until 1pm.

Enjoy the great outdoors ... for a really great cause balance of competitive spirit and fun so there’s no need to have tried any of these activities before.” Teams of four can enter for £500, which includes a breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and each activity will come with expert tuition to maximise chances of winning the grand prize – a wheelbarrow of alcohol. There will also be a prize for whoever has shown the best skill over the day. Graham Brown, managing director at Purbeck Shooting School, added: “We are proud to continue hosting this event with Diverse Abilities. We all know how

tricky 2020 was for businesses across the board, and to be able to welcome old faces and new to the school while raising money for a worthy cause is a step in the right direction for recovery.” Monies donated by each team can help to provide vital support at the charity including: n Hosting an evening at Awesome Nights, the youth club for 18 to 25-year olds, n A play session for 16 families at Coping with CHAOS, or n Taking a group of adults who attend The Beehive out on a trip along Wareham

River. Purbeck Shooting School was established in 1955 and has been voted as the Best Shooting Ground in the UK. The site occupies 80 acres of mixed heath land and conifer plantation. Founded in 1955, Diverse Abilities is the only charity that supports children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities, and their families, in Dorset. Visit diverseabilities. org.uk/country-challenge for further details and to register. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and the event is wheelchair accessible.

How YOU can help bereaved children By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A Blandford-based bereavement charity for children is desperately seeking volunteers to help raise vital funds to counter the covid-19 restrictions which have made a crushing impact on fundraising efforts over the past 15 months. Mosaic-Supporting Bereaved Children was established in 2007 to provide support for children and young people who had experienced the death of a loved one. The charity now supports some 300 children across Dorset each year. Mosaic offers bespoke individual therapy sessions to bereaved children and by working with the whole family, ensures the support has the best impact possible. Additionally, Mosaic run residential weekend programmes, family social events and activity days, from family picnics and Christmas parties to ice skating, sailing days and adventure days of high ropes and raft building! These activities are often be outside of the financial capabilities of bereaved families yet are a key part of allowing the families to create a peer support network of others who have been through a similar experience. At Mosaic, every child is invited to attend a residential weekend, usually held at Leeson House near

GET INVOLVED: Mosaic is looking for volunteers to help bereaved children

Swanage three times a year, which gives bereaved children and young people the chance to meet others, share their experiences, take part in activities and remember their special person and understand how to express the overwhelming emotions grief can bring, safely. These services would be impossible without the fundraising of local groups and people. This month many of the team will be taking part in #5kmay where you can walk, run, swim, skip or even hop 5k and then donate £5 and suggest five friends carry this on. If you would like to join in,

please go to runforheroes. justgiving.com/getinvolved?charityId=187323 or make a donation at justgiving.com/ mosaicfamilysupport Mosaic is running a Treasure Hunt over during half-term between May 29 and June 6. To enter follow Mosaic on Facebook @mosaicdorset or Instagram @mosaicfamily support or email info@mosaicfamilysupport. org The impact of the covid19 restrictions on fundraising has been significant so now restrictions are easing, the charity need to step up its fundraising activities and is inviting anyone who would

like to help to get in touch. A Mosaic spokesperson said: “Do you have a couple of hours a month to spare to support our events, or could you nominate Mosaic as a charity for your local business to support? Do you have an employee scheme at work which would help, or is your village having an event which we could attend and raise awareness and much needed funds? Maybe you own a business and would be happy to have a collecting tin there? If so, please contact us on 01258 837071 or info@ mosaicfamilysupport.org.” If you would like more information about Mosaic or able to support us in anyway please get in touch at info@mosaic familysupport.org or ring 01258 837071 For more information go to mosaicfamilysupport.org.

Fancy giving bowls a go? Well, here’s your big chance Sixpenny Handley Bowls Club (SP5 5NJ) is hosting an open event for Bowls England’s Bowls’ Big Weekend this weekend. From Friday, May 28 until Sunday, bowls clubs will be opening their doors to people

who want to try a new sport, have some fun and meet new people. The Sixpenny Handley club will open from 11am until 4pm this Sunday. Hon Sec Colin Chambers said: “The last 14 or so months we have all suffered

with our social activities, whether that be visiting sporting events, pubs, clubs, cinema’s, restaurants, friends, and families. “Well, that is all about to change. Nationally there are over 600 affiliated bowls

clubs with over 132,000 members, the pandemic has had a dramatic impact on these clubs as they have not only lost members through covid 19, but they have also been unable to recruit new members during lockdown.” 29

LETS get together and help each other out By Miranda Roberston newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A group who trade goods and services without the need for cash have enjoyed their first meeting of 2021. Dorchester and South Dorset LETS (Local Exchange Trading Scheme) has now grown to encompass North Dorset after another group folded a few years ago. The group started in the 90s, with the idea of replicating the success of other LETS groups around the world. Groups use their own currency – this group uses the Mart as it started in Martinstown – and trade with the help of a committee to manage their accounts. So for example, one member could use another’s help to tidy their garden, sending them Marts through the group’s accounting system,

LETS TALK: Dorchester LETS group’s first meeting of 2021

then earn those Marts back by baking another member a cake. The system works well – there’s a core cluster of members who regularly trade and others who are less active. The range of services on offer is incredible – everything from tuition to kayak hire, sewing to hypnotherapy is on offer. Members meet monthly for a

shared supper, with gorgeous food and trade items such as books, clothes and even furniture. Lockdown has been long and difficult for the group, but they are now gearing up to trade again. LETS member David Milner said: “A small number of LETS members met on a cold Saturday for the first social together for over a year. Everyone enjoyed the

fine view over Weymouth Bay and its cruise ships. Shared food made for a lovely lunch and it was great to see old friends, even if only a few of them. “There are LETS groups all over Britain enabling people to trade goods and services without using cash or credit cards. It is HRMC approved. “Recent trades have included osteopathy, gardening, books, coal and seedlings. The group is not only for business activities. “In pre-covid times regular social events took place – walks, harvest and new year’s parties, games afternoons, crafting etc and will do again once permitted.” Membership is £5 per year per family, or £3 for the unwaged. Go to dorchesterlets.co.uk for more information and to join.

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MP’s vaccine role a military operation

South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison has been demobilized after 10 weeks leading military vaccination teams of Navy, Army and Air Force medics in South and East London and the South West. The former defence and foreign office minister, a Surgeon Commander in the Naval Reserves, carried out and supervised thousands of Pfizer and Astra Zeneca first and second jabs. The military Vaccines Quick Reaction Force was set up to support the NHS vaccination programme. Speaking after picking up his

If you need help with essential transport (40p per mile), occasional shopping, collecting prescriptions, would like some company, help with letter writing or form filling and other neighbourly services, please ring Sherborne Good Neighbours between 9am and 6pm for a friendly voice and helping hand. Contact: Eileen (817405); Margaret (817306); Fiona (07989 238309); Christine (815806) or Monica (813153).

PCC election

HOLD STILL PLEASE: MP Andrew Murrison at the Salisbury vaccination centre

demob suit Dr Murrison said: “It’s a privilege to be involved in the mammoth task of protecting the public against covid. “I’ve been bowled over by the warmth with which military vaccinators have been met by their public and

our fantastic NHS colleagues who are doing the heavy lifting.” This is the reservist and ex regular’s second mobilization - he was called up in 2003, serving as a battle group medical officer near Basra in the Iraq war.

Campsite ideal for country show Shaftesbury Country Touring Park is a rural, friendly touring park set in the beautiful Dorset countryside, situated on the A30 between Shaftesbury and Sherborne, close to the picturesque town of Shaftesbury, renowned for Gold Hill which featured in the Hovis advert. There are two park areas, one of which is Lakeview, a 19-acre field which can accommodate the larger caravan or motorhome and of course tents of all sizes. and as the name suggests it hosts a fishing lake. All this makes for a relaxing holiday and we welcome dogs too. We are ideally situated near to local attractions including Longleat, Stonehenge, and close to the Dorset coast. There are also plenty of walks nearby where you can explore the beautiful rolling Dorset countryside and seaside attractions. The park is particularly close to Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show,

Everybody needs Good Neighbours

Voters in Wiltshire will go to the polls again on August 19 to vote for their Police and Crime Commissioner after Tory winner Jonathon Seed was disqualified for a historic drink driving conviction. Mr Seed withdrew after being disbarred by the Tory Party HQ in London because of the conviction in 1993 which needed to be declared on the nomination forms. The former hunt master won the election by 41,929 votes.

which is scheduled to take place this year on Wednesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 19. 31

Club serves up new courts Villagers in Marnhull are smashing the covid blues with an exhilarating round of tennis as the two resurfaced courts are playing host to a tennis revival. The village all-weather courts have been resurfaced and painted, ready for summer while Marnhull Tennis Club are embracing a surge in membership. Experienced players, complete beginners and those ‘rusty’ from not having played for many years are all joining the club and beating off the covid blues. Club spokesman John Seear said: “Also encouraging is the uptake in interest from youngsters (it seems we can drag them away from their iPhones!). With our junior coaching programme and club sessions we could produce the next Andy Murray. “The age range of our members spans an incredible 75 years from a buoyant

GAME, SET AND MATCH: Marnhull Tennis Club has experienced a surge in membership

junior section starting at sixyears-old to members in their 70s and 80s. Many members just enjoy arranging play with family or friends. Others take full advantage of the activities the club provides including professional coaching, club sessions for all levels including novices, league team play against local clubs and our own club tournament and social sessions. “Tennis is a great sport for all ages and at Marnhull Club you’re never too old (or

young) to start.” Marnhull has a number of annual membership categories, £12 for children and students, £45 for adults, £40 for over 60s and £95 for families. Membership includes all the cost of club activities and unlimited court access for individual play. Occasional players are able to ‘pay and play’ and short term visitors are able to buy monthly membership. For more information visit marnhulltennisclub.net or call John Seear on 01258 269743.

We are back

Our new website! It’s live! The NBV’s new website has hit cyberspace, and we think it’s super. In the nine months since we launched the New Blackmore Vale, we’ve responded to unexpectedly high levels of interest and we knew we had to get a more polished online presence. We know our advertisers have a massive response to their printed ads, but we also know that we need to offer people a place to put their listings online too. We aim to be the bible, after all. So, whether it’s an event you want to list, or your details in local services our new site aims to fulfil that need. You’ll also find our stories here, our regular columnists – all the content you enjoy from the printed version. Let us know if you’re anxious to see other sections. Go to blackmorevale.net

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 Air昀x kits etc. Those magical names; Hornby, Dinky, Triang, Spot-On, Corgi, Subbuteo, Britains, Timpo plus plus plus Telephone; 01935 816072 Mobile; 07527 074343 Covid safe for house visits, please call to arrange an appointment

By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

‘By feeding the birds all year round, you’ll give them a better chance to survive food shortages whenever they may occur.’ This is the message from the RSPB, the country’s largest nature conservation charity, which inspires everyone to give nature a home. And over the last three years, this is exactly what Clive and Kim Retter from Sherborne have done. Landscape gardener Clive and care sector key worker Kim placed bird feeders in their Liquid Amber tree and attached two feeders and a tray of water, to a special pole which they placed at the bottom of their enclosed garden. Since then the pair have attracted a flurry of small garden birds into their garden, feasting on the peanuts and seeds Clive gives them once a day. “The birds have given us so much joy,” said Kim. “We take part in the RSPB Bird Count and just love to sit in our garden, relax and watch the birds. It really is lovely.” But birdlife in the couple’s garden could come to an end after Kim told the New Blackmore Vale they had received a letter from Dorset Council, drawing their attention to excessive feeding and sending an image of a seagull. “We don’t get large birds on

GRUB’S UP: Clive and Kim Retter have welcomed birds to their Sherborne garden

Why feeding our feathered friends is causing a flurry

the feeders,” said Kim. “Certainly not seagulls. We have robins, blackbirds, thrush, starlings and sparrows which feed in the tree and on the pole, so in total about five feeders.

Clive always takes care to clear away the nuts and seeds from the ground if they spill. “I think it is so sad that we are encouraged to increase wildlife in our gardens, which we have done, with birds coming here regularly and many young birds, it would be a shame to have to take the feeders down.” Dorset Council has information on bird feeding on their website, which includes: “Feeding birds in gardens is increasingly popular and is valuable in conserving bird numbers. It also gives pleasure to many householders to see birds feeding in their garden.

However, some bird feeding can cause a nuisance to neighbours as birds can soil on washing, cars, seating, pavements and patios. Feeding birds can also attract rats and mice which may carry disease and be encouraged to enter your home. “Place feed into hanging bird feeders, top up feeders in the morning, but only half fill them, so that all the food is eaten before the evening, use only food natural to the birds such as nuts and seeds and keep feed in a sealed container. “Do not leave out large amounts of food on the ground or other flat areas and never leave food overnight.”

Physio patients at hospital to benefit from charity’s hard work Patients at The Yeatman Hospital will benefit from £18,000 for the physiotherapy department and muchneeded equipment which has been raised by the charity arm of the hospital. The Friends of the Yeatman will buy a Sky Climber stair climber, a HoverJack bed for District Nurses’ home visits and a Derma light 80 MED Tester UV skin

treatment. The group has allocated £2,000 to nurses for ancillary costs for two years. Chairman David Hayes said: “One of the inevitable impacts of covid-19 has been the pause on all capital projects at the Yeatman Hospital. We were delighted to be able to respond positively and quickly to the requests from Sherborne’s District Nurses and

the Yeatman’s Physiotherapy Department, to fund the purchase of much needed equipment.” Janine Duffett, Sherborne Integrated Community Rehab Team Leader said: “The Stair Climber enables us to move palliative patients up or downstairs when they are too weak, and help patients upstairs into bed if they are taken unwell.” 33

Our Loose Canon...

with Canon Eric Woods DL

Trinity – three for the price of one One of the Christian doctrines most troublesome to adherents of the other great monotheistic religions (e.g. Judaism and Islam) is that of the Trinity. God as Three and God as One. What gobbledygook is this? Well, if I were a scientist (which I’m not, though I’m married to a good one) I would tell you that apparent contradictions are commonplace in the scientific realm – such as parthenogenesis (‘virgin birth’ to simpletons like me), which occurs amongst many insects and some fish, birds and reptiles. Or there’s light as both waves and particles, which puzzled scientists for decades. They didn’t understand it, but they couldn’t deny it. And this is how science works – finding

hypotheses to account for the apparently inexplicable. Theology is not much different. So, how are we to begin to comprehend God as both Three and One, as we approach Trinity Sunday this weekend? Perhaps one way is to think of God as love (which he is). That means he cannot be solitary. Unrequited love is tragic – poets write about it and sometimes even die of it! Love must be given, and returned. The wonder and joy only begin when your love is returned. But – and it’s a big ‘but’ – it will not be complete unless the happiness it brings can overflow and be shared with others. And so it is with God. The Father’s love is poured out to the Son – ‘This

is my beloved Son’ – and returned, and is then shared with the Spirit. And that means shared with us too, for the Spirit is God’s gift to us: the very overflow of the divine life and the divine love. Love in its fullness and perfection must always be a trinity. A simpler analogy still. If you are a parent, you are a trinity. To your parents you are son or daughter. Your ‘better half” knows you as husband, wife or partner. Your son or daughter knows you as dad or mum. You are simultaneously son, husband and father, or daughter, wife and mother. These three identities are fundamental to who you are – but they don’t make you three people. You are three-in-one. So we cannot say all that we

mean by the word ‘God’ until we have said ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. Of course there is mystery here, but it is a deep and profound mystery with which we need to engage – or rather, which we need to allow to engage with us. The high priest of atheism, Richard Dawkins, was asked on Desert Island Discs why he had chosen mostly Christian choral music to take to his desert island. He replied that it created pleasurable ‘electrochemical impulses’ in his brain. It made me wonder what he says to his wife when we lesser mortals would simply say ‘I love you’! The Trinity is not about impulses in the brain. It is about how God loves, and how we love too.

White baby bath, little used £4. 07843 725938 Pair of staddle stones £75 01963 371239 Garden seat, £50 01963 371239 Cobra Rotary Mower, 4 stroke engine, 18 inch cut, little use, excellent condition £100 01258 453301 Cast iron garden roller. £15 buyer collects. Used double drainer, stainless steel sink with tap £30 07523 564678 Alloy gator wheel protectors fits up to and includind 29 inch alloys. Brand new in packaging £25 07523 564678 Cubii sit-down strider exercise machine. Little used. £28 ovno. 01747 821864. White motocaddy gold trolley, complete with charger, VGC £70 01747 860241 5 medium to large women’s wet weather suit, hardly used £15 01747 860241

Single adjustable bed with grab rails, cost over £1,000. FREE 01258 472534 Royal Doulton china, vgc, matching dinner, tea and coffee services, 01258 861032 £100 Robust 18inch circular wicker pet basket. £12 01258 861032 Aviary for sale 6ft x 3ft as new £100 01258 268810 Bosch Aquatak 1500 pressure washer trigger / handle gun. Brand new. Sealed. £65 01935 851076 Bosch aquatak 1500 pressure washer jet nozzle & cable holder. Brand new. Sealed. £35. 01935 851076 Men’s Cotswold black leather golf shoes. Size 7. Brogue style with fringe flap. Spiked. Almost new. £30 01935 851076 Panasonic Viera 42” plasma TV with freeview & cabinet. Good working order. Cost new £2,399. TH42PX60B. £100 01935 851076

English Quest family board game. Educational and fun. Brand new. Sealed. £20 01935 851076 Women's trainers, size 41. Ecco Terracruise, blue with elastic laces. Cost £95 new, hardly worn, £30. Sherborne 07767 863177 Double beech framed bed with mattress, as new, hardly used. £155 07894 988388 Wooden 4 door 2 with mirrors) wardrobe with 2 drawers underneath. £125 07894 988388 Nearly new curved Acorn Stairlift for sale in Child Okeford - one year old. Excellent condition. Acorn will survey your stairs and install for you. 3 month warranty included. £2,500 Quote ref.324370 Tel Acorn 0800 0739793 Craftsman made dolls house for sale, beautiful condition, 36inches wide x 31inches high x 14inches deep. Wallpapered, curtains

Items for Sale Television 27" Sony Bravia in good working order, selling due to new TV purchase. £30. Tel 01747 823168 200L plastic barrels, ideal water butts etc. £5 each. 07811 711655. Leather attache case, poss. military or official govt. 40s - 50s? Good condition £20. 01258 818219 Leather briefcase clasp top, poss. 40s - 60s, good condition £20 01258 818219 Cast iron parasol base, good condition £20 01258 451507 Rogerblack gold treadmill . £100. 01747 826654 Bedside cabinets x 2, as new 41cm x 40cm x 60 cm as new £20 each. tel 07894 988388 Tommee Tippee closer to nature microwave bottle steam steriliser, £10. 07843 725938 Boots C 16 heated rollers, £20 ono. 07843 725938 34

PUBLIC NOTICES LICENSING ACT 2003 Notice is given that TORYCOMB LLP has applied to Dorset Council for a new premises licence in respect of East Farm Shop – East Farm Lower Street, Winterborne Whitechurch Nr Blandford for the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 10:00 and 17:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 16:00 Sunday. (Seasonally 17:00 to 23:00 Friday and Saturday). Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by e-mailing: or writing to, Licensing, Dorset Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1UZ within 28 days from the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected by contacting the licensing Section during normal office hours or on . It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum fine on summary conviction is unlimited. DATE: 23rd May 2021

New adult majorette troupe

Recognise yourself in these pictures of Puddletown Majorettes in the 70s? If so, aren’t you lucky? You are now eligible to join Dorset’s very own adult majorette troupe. Former majorettes from days gone by are coming together to start an over-18s troupe. If you wanted to be a majorette

but never had the chance, you’re welcome too. There’s been a huge amount of interest in the new group from 18-yearolds up to a very active 80-year-old, so you’ll be in good company. Email butterflytwilightmajorettes@gm ail.com for more details.

Items for Sale and light fittings. £150. 01747 824063 Electric riser recliner tip up armchair double motor beige hardly used cost new £1,250 can deliver £375 ono 01202 571839 LPG cottage style fire, plus spare bottles, hardly used. £130. 01722 744287 Kinetico 2020c water softener. Good working order. £150 07485 586749 Segra Abu Garcia fishing rod. 7ft 9" 12lb £25.00 01258840824 Large stainless steel push top bin. 80cm high 38cm diameter. £25. 01258 840824 Red Giant Rock Bike shimano 21 gears. £40. 01258 840824 Black Giant 6000 ALUXX Bike shimano 16 gears rock shox front suspension. £40.00 01258 840824 5ft headboard in Colefax & Fowler dark pink with contrasting C&F Hydrangea quilted bedspread. £45 for pair. Collect only 07831 376524

Bloom large silk flower display 50cmx50cm. Yellow tones £20. Collect only 07831 376524. Bush record player. VGC. £15. Collect Only 07831 376524. Denon x 3 component unit: Audio Stereo Tuner, Amplifier & Tape Deck. £40. VCG. Collect only 07831 376524. Large F&M wicker hamper (67cm x 50cm x 45 cm). VCG. £15. Collect Only. 07831 376524. Atco cable electric rotary mower, model - Envoy 36, in good condition. Price £20 07523 515825. Stihl cable electric heavy duty strimmer, model FSE60 - £20. 07523 515825. Fitbike exercise bike, in good condition Price £20 Fitbike exercise bike, in good condition Price £20. Dog crate from Pets at Home, black medium single door. Base approx 92 x 59cm, height 62cm. Crack in

base otherwise good condition. £12. 01747 8120 Box trailer, 5ftx3ft fully enclosed. Lighting set and spare wheel, good condition £99. 07974 082293 / 01258 808313 Wardrobe, pine, good condition £35. 01258 808313 Exercise machine. Reebok GX50. Crosstrainer. Console gives heart rate and target rate. Very good condition £99. 01258808313 Over the mantel gold mirror, Laura Ashley, £50. 01963 440146. Conservatory furniture. One chair, two seater sofa and two tables, beige cushions, all excellent condition. £100. 01963 440146. Old charm oak table, 6ft x 3ft, 6 chairs, 2 carvers, tapestry seat bases. Also old charm tv cabinet £250 ONO 01963 365806. Mobility scooter for sale. Good condition, £400ono. 07563 893570

Ladies 17" Universal Mermaid leisure bicycle. Pink & Silver, wicker basket and Shimano gears. Lovely condition - £55 - Tel 07774 373007 Gentleman’s 21" Dawes Mojave leisure / touring bicycle. Green with Shimano gears and rear carrier. Lovely condition - £65 - Tel 07774 Heavy oak dining table, 4 matching chairs. Extends to 84 ins. Width 42". VGC £100 Buyer collects. 07747 784783. WESTWOOD RIDE-ON LAWNMOWER, 62 hours, VGC. V25 50HE, 2019, £3,750ono. 07588 053555

LADIES BIKE FOR SALE. Shimano Gears, Good condition £45 Call 01258 472200

Announcements BIRTHS

DEATHS

CONGRATULATIONS Paul and Sasha on the safe arrival of your beautiful baby boy, Noah Richie Albie Smith 16.05. 2021. Love from Mum, Sammie, Sam, James and Jessica xxx

SARGENT ALAN JOHN

BIRTHDAYS MRS BRENDA PIKE is 80 on 1st June 2021. Happy birthday from her husband and family

THERESE STICKLAND Happy 90th birthday. 29th May. Love from all the family x

IN MEMORIAM NICK & JACKIE Two years this year since you both left. The pain and heartache never goes away. But neither does the love.

DEATHS CHARLES HENRY FOX (JIM) Aged 86. Sadly passed away on the 18th May 2021 in Blandford Community Hospital. Sadly missed by his family.

Of Sherborne, formerly of Holnest Lodge. Passed away peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital 22nd April 2021 aged 88. Loving husband to Peggy, devoted father to Paul, David and Lynda, doting grandfather and great grandfather. Family flowers only please, but if you wish to make a donation in lieu, please send a cheque made payable to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance directly to Funeral Director C/O Stuart Foster Funeral Services Ltd, 27 Market Street Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HZ 01935 508971.

HALL LESLIE (LES) So very sadly passed away on 19 May 2021, at his home in Child Okeford. A much loved husband and father to both his late wife Joyce and son Brian, Les was also a highly respected and much loved friend to so many, leaving fond, indelible memories on everyone who was privileged to make his acquaintance. Les has endured a more than challenging 2021, in respect to his failing health, including a recent stay in Dorset County Hospital and as such a very special thanks must go out to Dr L-J Purcell, her medical support team and the pharmacies, for both Blandford and Child Okeford surgeries, who attended Les so caringly… Thank you all so very much!! Private funeral to take place due to covid restrictions. Family flowers only please but donations, if desired, for Cancer Research UK, may be made online by visiting 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.

HEATHER NUGENT Aged 91 years of Silton passed away 10th May 2021. Much loved and missed by all her family and friends. Private funeral, donations for Salisbury Hospice can be sent to L C Hill and Son Funeral Directors, 01747 860361

HIGGIN ANNE MARGARET Passed away peacefully on Monday 26th April, aged 95 years. Anne will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Donations in memory of Anne for Save the Children may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ

CARTER (NEE JOSLING) CAROLE JOSEPHINE of Corton Denham. On 2nd May 2021, suddenly but peacefully at her home. Cherished mother, nana and friend. Reunited with her beloved Barrie. Together in our hearts forever. Private funeral. A thanksgiving service for Barrie and Carole will be planned. Donations in memory of Carole are invited for Cancer Research UK or the British Heart Foundation. C/O Harold. F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone. (01963) 440367.

DAVIS LESLIE RICHARD Aged 91 years of Templecombe. On 20th May 2021, peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Private cremation. Donations in memory of Leslie are being invited for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone. (01963) 440367.

DAUNCEY ROGER THOMAS ELI Aged 95 years of Hornblotton. On 18th May 2021, peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. Private funeral. Donations in memory of Roger are being invited for St Peter’s Church, Hornblotton. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone. (01963) 440367.

Announcements GIGG MARGARET BERYL (OF WINCANTON) Peacefully at home on 17th May 2021, aged 77 years. Much loved wife of Barry, devoted mum to Sue, Shirl, Lorr, Nanny and great nanny. Private funeral. Donations in memory of Margaret for Dogs Trust may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310. Please make cheques payable to Dogs Trust.

ERIC JOHN FOSSEY (YORKIE) Passed away suddenly at Dorchester County Hospital on the 14th May 2021. The cremation has taken place. Please join Eve, Tracey and Donna at the Fiddleford on the 29th May at 3PM. Donations to the Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance.

ADAMS DENNIS Passed away suddenly on 2nd May, 2021, aged 91 years. Beloved father to Ross and Janet, and now reunited with the late Daphne. Donations in memory of Dennis for the Senior Lunch Club, may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ.

ANN LACEY Peacefully on the 15th May 2021. Ann, aged 79 years of Sturminster Newton. Wife of the late David Lacey. Dearly loved mum of Sarah and Tim, mother-in-law of Andrew and Helen, Gaggy of Tom, Sam and Sunny. Private funeral service due to covid restrictions. Donations if desired for Brooke. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services. Mons, High St, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570.

BARBARA JOSE GARRETT

WARREN RAY

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at the Church of St John the Baptist, South Brewham on Tuesday 22nd June at 12 noon, followed by a reception at Charlton Musgrove Village Hall. All are welcome. If desired donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to St Margaret’s Hospice either by cheque or online at st-margarets-hospice.org.uk

Died peacefully at home on the 17th May 2021 aged 87 years. Devoted father of Sandra, Michael, Adrian, Diana and a loving grandfather to Laura and Tamsin. Dearly loved partner of Valerie Bowditch and much loved by Louise, Katie and their families. Donations for Weldmar Hospicecare may be sent c/o AJ Wakely and Sons, 91 East Street, Bridport DT6 3LB

DAVID RUSSELL HALL ‘DAVE’ Passed away on 16th May at home. Much loved husband of Mary, father of Andrew and Susie, fatherin-law to Martin and grandad to Will and Evie. Dave will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Private funeral to take place. Donations, if desired for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, may be made online by visiting closefuneral.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

Death notices and memorials: 01963 400186

Pamela Johnson Our much loved mother Pamela Johnson of Sturminster Newton passed away peacefully at home on Thursday 13th May 2021. She is now at peace and reunited with her beloved husband Johnny. 37

Announcements DEATHS STICKLAND (NEE CORNELIUS) SUSAN JANE (SUE) Passed away peacefully at home with her family in Stroud on 5th May aged 74. Previous resident of Montacute and a much loved wife to John, she will be greatly missed. Due to current government restrictions attendance at the funeral is by invitation only. Donations in Memory of Sue may be sent directly to Cobalt, Linton House, Thirlestone Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AS.

MATTHEWS BRIAN Brian passed away at home on the 11th May, aged 85 years, and is reunited with his wife Gill. Brian has requested no flowers. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent directly to The Dogs Trust, 17 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7RQ. Because of current government restrictions, the funeral service is by invitation only.

ANTHONY GEORGE BARTLE ‘TONY’ Peacefully on the 9th May 2021 at Yeovil District Hospital. Tony, aged 76 years of Sherborne. A much loved husband, dad, grandad, great grandad and brother. Private funeral service due to covid restrictions. Donations if desired for the British Heart Foundation, C/O Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570

ALEXANDER GERALDINE ANITA

JAMES HENRY CULL "JIM" On 20th May 2021 peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital, aged 89 years of Shaftesbury. A much loved Dad to Andrew. Husband of the late Sylvia and Dad to the late Dee. Who will be sadly missed by all family and friends. Private family service. Donations if desired to The Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital may be sent to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

Peacefully on 9th May 2021 at home in Todber, aged 84 years. Beloved wife of the late Ron. Much loved mum, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt. She will be sadly missed, but forever remembered. Donations in memory of Geraldine, may be sent directly to: Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Landacre House, Castle Road, Wellington TA21 9JQ

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Announcements Funeral directors’ Q&A

PETER JACKSON FUNERAL SERVICES

This week Caroline Joyce, Funeral Arranger/Administrator for LC Hill & Son, Mere, answers our questions Why did you become a funeral director? LC Hill & Son is a family run business, I followed in my father’s footsteps. What is the best part of your job? Making a very difficult and sad time more bearable for our families We will go above and beyond for all our families and loved ones that are in our care What’s the hardest part of your job? Not being able to give the families what they would like through a pandemic due to the How are funerals changing? Restrictions that are in place. The pandemic has affected funerals a lot due to the number of mourners that are allowed. It is sad that some family members could not be there to say goodbye but we did offer webcasts so family and friends can

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join virtually to pay their respects on the day. Also with the restrictions on singing we have offered choral versions so that the family can sit, reflet and listen. L C Hill and Son Funeral Directors was established in 1952 by Leonard Charles Hill in Mere outside Warminster, Wiltshire. They offer an affordable prepaid funeral plan, Choice, so that you can arrange and pay for a funeral in advance. They are available 24 hours a day on the phone.

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Letters

I’d rather my taxes paid for SEND In his letter published on 14th May, I understood Jeremy Bloomfield to be critical of the fact that cost of supporting a child with specials needs equates to that of ‘leading public school education’. I suggest that a child with special needs is at least as deserving of this expenditure as someone who typically has many advantages in life already. I am very happy for my taxes, at whatever level, to be spent on supporting a child with special needs. By the way, I believe my taxes subsidise the running of public and private schools due to their being eligible for charitable status and this I do object to. Janice Blackwell Wincanton n Further to Mr Bloomfield’s letter in your last issue, I agree that the amounts of money spent on the children with special educational needs and disabilities mount up and seem eye watering, but I hope this might help shed some light on this area. The following must be considered by the council with regard to meeting each child’s needs; Home to school transport. This will invariably be a door to door service for many, possibly in specialist vehicles with a passenger assistant to care for the child’s needs in transportation. Given the geographical spread of special schools, even within Dorset, a greater distance is travelled by many, if not most. Class numbers in special schools are smaller, SEND Teachers are on average, paid more reflecting their specialism, dependent on a child’s EHCP requirements. There may well be further teaching assistants required on a one to one basis and in addition inputs from specialist practitioners such as educational psychologists, speech therapists etc. There may be specialist equipment needed adapted for each child, possibly adaptions required to school premises to support a child’s needs. 40

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

A key driver behind the need to expand our own provision in Dorset is a shortage of the right provision in special school settings (in fact this is a common issue for many local authorities) and the trend shows a growing demand. This has led to a premium for places in independent provision, which if left unchecked would cause Dorset Council to not meet our legal obligations to educational need and serious financial risk. Councillors are in full support of the acquisition of this site and believe it will become a real centre of excellence, not just for the pupils who will attend, but for the training of staff and support workers to further their development. To add respite care in addition gives the parents and careres of those with high need a real lifeline. The initial purchase of the site had to be made by a private bidding process I believe through the agents. I am quite confident that cabinet members would have been consulted at the time and as soon as the purchase had been made and the sale agreed it was made public. We really do have an excellent officer team at Dorset Council and they have our full support. I do hope this answers your

questions, but you are able to put a question directly to Cabinet to be answered in full and in public at their forthcoming meetings – you can find full details on the Dorset Council website. Carole Jones Councillor on Dorset Council for Sturminster Newton n I am saddened to see the BMV propagate the anti-vaxxing myth that smallpox can be spread by bedbugs and a lack of vitamin C in a letter from Alison Watson (14 May). This quack theory, popular in the earlier 20th century, has long been discredited and lives on mainly in the pernicious online propaganda against covid vaccination. A quick look at the official Government CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) site will remind people that “Smallpox can be spread by humans only. Scientists have no evidence that smallpox can be spread by insects or animals.” The WHO concurs. Vitamin C’s role is negligible. Only vaccination eradicated smallpox. Henry Merritt Shaftesbury n I write to express my concern about the letter (May

14) referring to the article about Benjamin Jesty which appears to support an anti-vaccination agenda. The letter is littered with fundamental mis-information about smallpox and the role of vaccination in the total eradication of the disease. Smallpox was a viral disease primarily spread by inhalation of airborne droplets through faceto-face contact, much the same as covid is transmitted. It could also be spread via bodily fluids and materials contaminated by them. Smallpox was not known to be transmitted by insects and animals. Smallpox can now only be found preserved in liquid nitrogen in a few laboratories. Because of vaccination, the last known case was in October 1976 and in 1980 the WHO certified its eradication. This was a triumph for vaccination and is no doubt somewhat problematic for those who lobby against vaccination. The vaccine itself was not without some element of risk, but its benefits hugely outweighed the costs. There was a risk of one in a thousand suffering a non-life threatening reaction while between one and two people per million suffered a fatal reaction. However the disease itself killed over a third of those who contracted it and left many survivors blind and most severely scarred. There are many parallels with the vaccines now being used to control, and hopefully eradicate the virus at the heart of the present pandemic which is causing multiple millions of deaths globally. There is a resistance to vaccination among some groups and at a time when world health is dependent on the successful vaccination of millions it is deeply worrying to see the publication of misleading material which appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine confidence in the process. Brian South Shaftesbury n Further to the article on

Letters rapid charging. As a layman I wonder if dealing with short range journeys in more highly populated areas would be more effective, especially for service vehicles and delivery vans. The discussion about rapid chargers in Shaftesbury makes me wonder who needs those chargers. It seems that an EV driver visiting Shaftesbury from within an arc from Exeter to Portsmouth passing through Bristol, Oxford and Reading would not need such provision. Even the lowest range vehicles could, if fully charged, complete a 125-mile round trip with over 20% to spare and not need any charging facility at all. So just who needs a rapid charger in Shaftesbury, and what would be the projected number of chargers required as the years pass? The notion that local authorities using my local taxes should be expected to fund this “infrastructure” is beyond me. I understand and accept central government providing financial persuasions to nudge the population into or out of specific behaviours but who provided the infrastructure for fuelling the internal combustion engine? I suspect it was the private sector. It would be interesting to hear about Planet Shaftesbury’s vision for the EV future and the charging infrastructure required if/when the majority of vehicles become electric. Andrew Gee Blandford Forum PS is it OK for EVs to park in charging bays and then “NOT” plug in or charge? And if a charging bay is out of service shouldn’t it be reclassified for everybody to use? I assume the answer to the first question is yes, and the second question no. PPS I’m not anti EV, there just isn’t one that meets my needs even close to my budget. n I write in response to the very interesting letter from Mark Pennell (14 May) concerning the priorities allocated to government spending. He criticises the increased amount devoted to defence and suggests what he believes to be more

Keeping abreast of weather These mammatus clouds, socalled because they look like udders, or breasts, were seen over Blandford. Greta Richardson

Glorious display in gardens

At a time when we have a little more time to enjoy our environment it is well worth walking through Pageant Gardens in Sherborne where there is the most glorious display of tulips. The gardens are beautifully maintained and a real delight for all to enjoy. many thanks. Elaine Edmonds, Sherborne worthwhile targets to which taxpayers’ money should be allocated; in particular to the NHS and to those areas that are suffering as a result of covid. It is widely accepted, if not perhaps universally, that a government`s first priority should be the safety and security of its people. If these are not at the top of the list then all other areas are put at risk. Since we have become a nation state we have been unable to guarantee our own security and defence and thus have been obliged to work within international alliances to do so. This requires us to pay our share, in the nature of an insurance premium. The general procedure on which calculations are based starts with the government declaring where

the national interest lies. This has most recently been done by the Prime Minister in the preamble to the latest statement on Defence and Security. The Intelligence Services then give their assessment of the threat to that interest after which the MoD produces its recommendations for the way in which we counter that threat. If there is any shortfall in our ability to do so, we seek to make up the balance in concert with allies and for the remainder there is a risk assessment showing the effects of not meeting any additional threat. It is worth noting that in assessing likely opponents, we plan against their capability, rather than against their intentions; the latter can change overnight.

This explains the particular point raised about our nuclear capability. While there are possible states who might wish us ill and who have nuclear weapons available, then we are duty bound to be able to do what we can to deter their use. If anyone were unwise enough to use the nuclear option against us they should understand that we have the ability to respond in a similar way. Timing too is important. It is unlikely that we will have the luxury of a `phoney war` period before hostilities in which to prepare as we did in the 1930s. Our Defence capability needs to be responsive, flexible and as credible as we can afford to make it; again in conjunction with allies. So there is unlikely to be time allowed for rearmament as we have had before. The old parable says `If you want peace, prepare for war.` Those who fail to keep their defences in good repair make a juicy target. John Parkes, Yetminster I wish Mike Nathan, Chairman of Tarrant Hinton Parish Council and all at 20's Plenty for Dorset the very best in their endeavours. Some drivers have difficulty maintaining less than 30mph (it is a maximum, after all). How you expect them to hold 18mph on all minor roads beats me? My commute was via Child Okeford (20mph limit through part of the village) and I took great delight in holding 18mph uphill going and down coming back - often followed by a line of seething motorists. May I suggest that we all help the police to expand Community Speed Watch? dorsetroadsafe.org.uk/enforceme nt-operations/community-speedwatch/ Mike, you will have to find some volunteers to help. Maybe get together with the other Tarrants and pool resources? I think SIDs are a useful reminder to those who care. The highest speed recorded on ours so far is 72mph – clearly some don't care. Richard King, Todber 41

Food & Drink

Cooking...

with Mrs Simkins

Hurry! Hurry! It’s Elderflower Time! Elderflower Cordial Creamy elderflowers, like fragile hydrangea heads, festooning the hedgerows are the essence of early summer and happily, you can bottle it! As aromatic as fine Muscat grapes with extra honey and citrus notes, elderflowers make the most perfect summer cordial. The season is short: from late May to early June, so rush out and gather your elderflowers while you can! For best results, gather blossoms on a dry, sunny day, choosing large, fully open ‘ripe’ creamy and gorgeously scented heads, with absolutely no trace of browning petals. Use immediately. Snip behind the heads with sharp secateurs at the first joint: the tree isn’t harmed and even gets a bit of a pruning into the bargain. Avoid taking all the flowers: leave plenty to develop into elderberries and to benefit wildlife. Gather the flowers away from heavy traffic and fume polluted areas.

Makes approximately 2 litres of concentrated cordial: dilute to taste 3 large juicy lemons, scrubbed, zest and juice Zest of 1 large orange, scrubbed 30-40 large elderflower heads 1½ -2 litres water, just boiled 1½ kg caster sugar (dissolves faster than granulated) Water to cover You will need 2 x squares of clean muslin and a funnel, plus 2 x 1 litre flip-top bottles or similar Grate the zest of the lemons and

Mum’s Kitchen... Apple and Oat Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce Serves 6 Ingredients: 3 or 4 apples, depending on size, peeled, cored and cut into rings 200g butter 200g light brown soft sugar 80g porridge oats 100g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 75ml milk 2 eggs, beaten Method: Preheat the oven to 180c, fan 160c. Put the sliced apples into a baking dish measuring around 20cm diameter and 6cm deep (or a 17cm x 21cm rectangular 42

dish. Put 70g butter and 70g sugar in a pan and heat gently to melt. Increase the heat and bubble for1-2 minutes until it becomes a sticky sauce. Pour over the apples and set aside. Save the empty pan too. Put 70g porridge oats in a food processor and whizz until coarsely ground. Add the flour and baking powder and pulse to combine. Put the remaining 130g butter and 130g sugar in the pan used earlier together with milk and melt and combine over a medium heat. Add to the processor with the eggs and whizz briefly to combine. Tip the oat sponge mixture over the apples, then scatter over the

the orange into a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from the lemons and refrigerate. Remove any insects from the flowers by shaking very gently: don’t attempt to wash them, the petals and scent are too delicate. Strip the flowers from the stems with a fork – or snip the little stalks close to the flowers with kitchen scissors – straight into the bowl with the zest. Pour over enough of the justboiled water to cover; you probably won’t need all of it, the

measurement is just a guide. Cover and steep overnight. The next day, strain through a muslin into a roomy saucepan. Add the sugar and lemon juice, and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Stir occasionally. Once the sugar is dissolved, skim away any scum and simmer gently for a couple of minutes. Strain again and pour into clean bottles (see below) using a funnel and the second muslin. Bottles and Storage Sterilised (sterilise with hot water or run through dishwasher) glass bottles look traditional: keep in the fridge and use within 2-4 weeks. Alternatively, freezing works well and means you can save some for Christmas: it’s always lovely to have some on hand at this time. Use plastic drinks bottles, well-washed and rinsed in hot water. For best results, drink within a year. Individual juice or smoothie bottles are excellent for freezing small amounts and defrost quickly. MrsSimkins.co.uk twitter.com/MrsSimkinsCooks email: info@MrsSimkins.co.uk

with Diana Holman

remaining 10g oats. Bake in the centre of the oven for 4050minutes. You may need to cover it after 30 minutes if it is

browning too quickly. Test with a skewer just through the sponge. Serve with cream, clotted cream or ice-cream.

Food & Drink

Apricots will have you feeling just peachy

Rebecca Vincent is a Wincanton nutritionist

Apricot season is upon us, and they are a welcome, bright, and fruity addition to any meal, or a delightful snack on their own! Apricots are a good source of vitamins C, A, potassium, iron, and carotenes e.g. lycopene and lutein, which give them their vibrant colour. Different colours in our fruit and vegetables give us different nutrients, that’s why we hear so much about the importance of “eating the rainbow”. It means we can get a greater variety of nutrients.

A few weeks ago, we started looking at herbs as sources of beneficial nutrients, and with the intermittent sunshine and showers (putting it mildly!) my herb plants have gone mad. This recipe will take advantage of two herb garden regulars currently growing in abundance: mint, and parsley. Mint, commonly used to help with digestive issues, also contains small amounts of vitamins A, C, potassium, and iron, as well as trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. Parsley is a particularly good source of vitamin K; 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley can provide 70 per cent of the recommended daily intake. It also

contains vitamins C, A, folate, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Herby Apricot Tabbouleh (serves 2-4) 2 medium apricots 70g quinoa, cooked to packet instructions 25g fresh parsley 10g fresh mint leaves 2 spring onions 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice Salt and pepper Optional: 1 small garlic clove (finely grated) Cut the apricots in half and remove the stones, then dice. Remove any thick stems from the ends of the parsley, then finely chop the leaves and finer stems, along with the mint leaves. Finely slice the spring onions. Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic, with a touch of salt and pepper. In the bowl you will be serving it in mix the quinoa, apricots, herbs,

ENFORD FARM SHOP Home reared Lamb along with locally produced meat, veg, fruit, deli and game. Follow us on Facebook for all of our latest deals and offers including weekly meat pack deals

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01258 450050 and spring onions. Lastly pour in the dressing, mixing well. Set aside for a few minutes before serving. Delicious served as a main with spicy meat or fish and salad, or as a light lunch with some grilled halloumi or tofu! Rebecca Vincent BSc BANT registered nutritionist rebeccavincentnutrition.co.uk

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Antiques & Collectibles

£3k watch among gems of auctions CLARKE’S AUCTIONS Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques & Collectibles Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12 10am start Classic Vehicles & Automobilia Sale Sunday, June 13 at 10am

An 18th century Chinese Export reverse painted mirror. Sold for £13,600

An Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts enamel plaque depicting a lady. Sold for £1,350

View lots at the.saleroom.com & easyliveauction.com

Please contact Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9BU enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk clarkesauctions.co.uk

Antique & Classic Clock Repairs & Restoration Longcase Clocks a speciality Antique Clock sales

Clocks Unlimited

Tel: (01935) 423233 Mobile: 07974 520545 bclocksunlimited@aol.com www.clocksunlimited.co.uk

we are OPEN Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm 1st Sunday of the month 10am - 4pm

A mini emporium of treasures with a quirky, tea room.

the old

GRAIN STORE

empo�iu

Clarke’s Auctions at Semley are getting ready for their bumper June sale with the Antiques & Collectables sale starting at 10am Friday, 11th June with garden and architectural items, rugs and textiles, pictures and prints & militaria. The remaining 500 plus lots of antiques, collectables, silver & jewellery etc will be sold on Saturday 12th and Sunday will see their Classic Vehicle & Automobilia sale. One of the star lots to be offered is a Breitling Navitimer gentleman’s chronograph wristwatch in original box with paperwork with a pre-sale estimate of £3,000 - £3,500. Within the silver section is a William IV repousse silver three-piece tea set with an estimate of £ 1,000 - £1,500 and in the furniture section a pair of Regency mahogany & leather upholstered library chairs with an estimate of £200 - £300. In the hope that the sun will soon be shining there is a teak Lutyen style garden bench estimated at £80 £120 and a Countax Hydrostatic C600H ride-on lawn mower with belt driven grass box, snow scraper and fertiliser spreader with an estimate of £700 - £1,000. The demand for all things destined for the man cave or garage doesn’t seem to diminish and Clarke’s Auction on June 12th is well placed to fill that gap on the wall, in the cabinet or on the garage floor, with over 300 lots consigned to go under the gavel. The lots include the very important BRDC member’s enamel badge issued to George Harvey Noble, who was one of sixteen heroic drivers and the last person to lap the outer circuit at Brooklands, piloting the Bentley Jackson Special at over 130mph, achieving the honour of being able display the 130mph badge. The collectors’ market for mascots and car badges is well catered for with numerous examples, including the desirable Horizontal Flying B Bentley mascot by AE Lejuene, which would have adorned the bonnet

contact: 07745 477795 or theoldgrainstoreemporium@outlook.com

@TheOldGrainstoreEmporium

The Old Grainstore Emporium | Shaftesbury Lane | Blandford | DT11 7EG

GOOD CONDITION VINYL RECORDS WANTED Larger collections preferred. No classical please, cash paid 07831266478

A Horizontal Flying B Bentley mascot by AE Lejuene. Est £200 £300

A Horizontal Flying B Bentley mascot by AE Lejuene. Est £200 £300An Art Deco Loys Lucha of Paris silvered and patinated bronze pot & cover. Estimate £50 - £100

of Cricklewood built cars of the WO era. All other areas for the automobilia collector are covered, with books, posters, brochures, signs, pedal cars, new old stock spares, lamps, model cars, petrol cans, Spitfire gauges, crash helmets and numerous other collectibles to tempt the collector. To arrange any home visits or to arrange valuations to value items for consignment into any of their future sales, or for any other valuation queries, please phone either Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 at the main offices on Kingsettle Business Park, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9BU. WE BUY RECORDS, collections large and small. Call BILL on 07967 816506 or 01747 811100. Email bill@rebornrecords.co.uk WANTED deactivated or obsolete calibre military weapons also unusual medals ect crimea war to 1945. Private collectors cash paid. Tel 01305 751618

Antiques & Collectibles A rare 1947 Vincent HRD Series-B Rapide in original condition, estimated to sell for over £30,000, is going under the Charterhouse gavel in their specialist auction of classic and vintage motorcycles on Wednesday 30th June. “We have seen and sold several Vincent’s over the years but it has been a long time since I have seen one in such original condition” Commented George Beale. “As we say, it is only original once, and with most having been restored over the decades this is a bike for the true collector.” Produced by Vincent HRD in 1947 this was, and still remains, a beautifully engineered and expensive 998cc motorcycle. Capable of over 110mph when new it was easily the fasted production motorcycle on sale anywhere. This Rapide was bought by the

SAME OWNER FOR 54 YEARS: A wonderfully original 1947 Vincent HRD Series-B Rapide, with later Watsonian sidecar, estimated to sell for £30,000-35,000 at Charterhouse

Rare Rapide under hammer owner 54 years ago in 1967. In wonderful original condition, exceedingly rare for a 74 year old motorcycle, it is still a matching numbers machine with owner fitting a Watsonian sidecar in 1991 and having had

It’s the real decoy

Acreman enjoyed a great sale, with decoy pigeons selling for £900, and a collection of paintings with a total price of over £5,500. Additionally, jewellery, silver and effects sold on behalf of the Breast Cancer Unit appeal at Yeovil Hospital totalled over £4,000 thanks to customers’ kind donations. With the lifting of lockdown the floodgates have opened, and items have been coming in thick and fast for their Friday, May 25 auction. They have a large collection of kitchenalia, including over 400 pieces of TG Green pottery, that is part of large deceased estate Acreman St Antiques Auction will be selling for the next few months. Also on offer this month is an extensive canteen of silverplated cutlery by Robert Beck Hester Bateman in a floorstanding cabinet with the original receipt from 1987 for £4,800, a Charles Horner silver 1903 teaset, and a Norman Foster 1980s Tecno glass and chrome dining table. Also on

offer is over 300 lots of jewellery and silver. They are now taking in lots for their June 25 General Antiques & Collectables sale, and also for their June 18 specialist Textiles, Fashion & Apparel sale, to include designer and vintage clothing, antique lace and linen, tapestries, sewing-related items, soft furnishings and fabrics. They are happy to give free valuations and appraisals on any items you may be considering for auction, and home visits can be arranged. They will take in from single items up to complete house clearances. For enquiries contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577/ 01935 508764 or auction@ acremanstreet antiques.co.uk

the engine re-built by legendary Vincent motorcycle guru Don Alexander in 1996/97. It comes to auction with a Vincent Owners Club certificate of authenticity, the factory works order form and engine

30th June

specification, an old green log book, several tax discs and numerous MOT certificates. Estimated at £30,000-35,000 in the Charterhouse classic & vintage motorcycle auction being held at The Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset on Wednesday 30th June this rare low ownership Vincent HRD Rapide in wonderful original condition is looking for a new owner. Charterhouse are now accepting further entries for this specialist auction of classic and vintage motorcycles on Wednesday 30th June and for their auction of classic & vintage also at Haynes, on Thursday 15th July. George Beale and the team of experts at Charterhouse can be contacted for entries at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 info@charterhouse-auction.com or via charterhouse-auction.com

10th June

15th July

Specialist Free June Valuation Days Model Cars, Trains, Dolls & Toys 1st Coins, Medals, Militaria & Stamps 2nd Silver, Jewellery & Watches 3rd Chinese & Japanese Ceramics & Works 4th

June 30th Classic & Vintage Motorcycles July 15th Classic & Vintage Cars Further entries now being accepted The Long Street Salerooms Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 • www.charterhouse-auction.com 45

Home & Garden TRADES

LOGS

Season Barn Dry Logs 20 miles radius of Sherborne

Tel: 01935 815534 LOGS LOGS WELL SEASONED HARDWOOD WELL SEASOND HARDWOOD Cut & split to your requirement Various size loads delivered from £140.00 1.6m³ Tel: 01258 857 824 | 07741 463 605 Card payment accepted

EMAIL: JAK.KIFF@HOTMAIL.COM

THE WHITE HOUSE STATION ROAD, TRADITIONAL & MODERN SEMLEY, UPHOLSTERY SHAFTESBURY, TEL: 07968 983176 DORSET, SP7 9AH

FRANKS MAINTENANCE GROUP Serving all your interior & exterior maintenance needs

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

•Alterations •Renovations •Carpentry •Kitchen Fitting •Bathroom Fitting •Wall/Floor Tiling •Plastering •Hard Landscaping •Painting & Decorating •Plumbing •Electrical

WANTED - Garden ornaments, garage clearance and also old tools wanted. Good prices paid, Mere 01747 860637

We have a huge range of gorgeous pots and masses of colourful plants to brighten your Bank Holiday! Come and visit us, Monday – Saturday 9am – 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm Milton on Stour, Gillingham SP8 5QA 01747 824015

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS: £145 double load, £85 half load. 01258 880892 07980 036250

LES BENHAM: Garden property maintenance. All hedge/tree work/ rubbish clearance gravel driveways/ pressure washing patio and fencing work fully insuranced/free quotes. 01258 458849/07788 907343 lesbenham@yahoo.co.uk / check a trade

LTD

LOGS R US: 1 ton pickup load of logs £90. Double load £150, dumpy bag £60. All hardwood. 07790 404593/01258 818081

ASBESTOS REMOVAL: Garages, sheds, lean tos,roofing and cladding. Collection and dismantling by registered hazardous waste carrier. Call 07973 444620 or 01722 414478

Home & Garden

TRADITIONAL BUILDING SPECIALISING IN STRUCTURAL WORKS AND FINE FINISHING

• • • • • • • • • •

Lime Works Masonry and Cob Plastering and Brickworks Façade Cleaning and Paint Removal - Thermatech Oak Framing Roo昀ng including Thatching and Stone Roof Tiling Sash Refurbishment and Joinery Workshop Stone and Wood Flooring Decorating and Interior Finishing Kitchen, Bathroom and Bespoke Fittings

CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Tel: 01747 832386 enquiry@stswithun.com | www.stswithun.com

Create your perfect kitchen with our designers in store Personal service – we know not everybody wants the same, we’re here to help you choose.

Shaftesbury: 01747 851 476 Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8PL

Specialists who will work with you to design a kitchen that covers practicality, functionality and more.

Warminster: 01985 219 200 5-6 George Street, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 8QA

A kitchen that is beautiful not just to look at, but to be in.

www.myhomemaker.co.uk

Your local kitchen and appliance specialists... 47

Home & Garden GARDEN SERVICES

(see also Local Services)

GRASS & BRUSH CUTTING

GUTTERS CLEARED Windows, fascias, soffits,gutters cleaned, repairs, free estimates 07788 376752

Orchards, paddocks, plantations etc.

ROTAVATING

Rough ground to seed bed

MINI DIGGER/SLEW and high lift DUMPER MOSS PROBLEM Scarifying, spiking & coring

PATIO & PATH CLEANING etc.

Call 01963 237890 24/7

Hopkins

Garden Services

GARDEN RESCUE TEL 01747 821 726

Grass Cutting Hedge Trimming Fence/Shed Painting General Garden Maintenance Garden Clearances One Off or Regular Visits

TREE SERVICES

TJ Allard Tree Surgery

Professional tree care, 15 years experience NPTC qualified & Fully insured

t Felling and removal t Crown reductions & thinning t Specialists in large trees t Tree dismantling & pollarding t Site clearance & mulching t Stump grinding t Fencing t Ground work Tel: 01747 838342 Mob: 07825786449

Tel: 07904 904740 LAWN SCARIFYING Moss and thatch removal. 01747 821 726 Landscaping, Groundworks and Garden Maintenance, Specialists in Patios, Fencing, Driveways, Walling, Ponds, Turfing Free Quotations

TREE SERVICES

amralphlandscaping@gmail.com Tel: 01747 850544 www.ralphlandscaping.co.uk Mobile: 07921 637227

TREE STUMP REMOVAL

Treecare Co. Tree Specialists

Pruning, bracing, shaping. Preservation of mature trees. Hedge cutting. Trees supplied & planted. Landscaping & maintenance. Heavy duty winch hire available. Tree Surgery BS.3998 Contractors to local authorities.

WOOD CHIPPINGS FOR SALE Free Quotes & Advice Tel/Fax: Shafts 853512 Mobile: 07831 262083 Established in 1976

At TreeCare we care...

TREEWISE OLD BYGONES & COLLECTABLES. Rural, garden & agricultural itmes bought & sold. Tim 01725 517268 / 07311 478301 RHS QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LADY GARDENER has availability in Sherborne and surrounding area. Please call Jennie 07894 866787 MALCOLM KELLY. Grass cutting and hedge cutting. All garden maintenance. 01258 817541 07717 368134

MAN WITH MICRO-DIGGER Garden clearance, patios, fencing, decking, landscaping, driveways. 30+ years’ experience. Contact Ken - 07882 441873 01963 32034 GARDENING MAINTENANCE, References gladly provided. 07731 646505 TOPSOIL always available. Barn stored, screened or as-dug. Small or large amounts. Tel: 01963 363208/07836 747895

Experts in all aspects of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations. Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

WELL ROTTED MANURE £50 per transit load. Phone Roger on 01202 826502 or 07885 826396

Tree Tree Surgery. Surgery. Reductions. Reductions. Felling. Felling. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Woodchip Woodchip supplies. supplies. Family Family run run business business since since 1946 1946 Tel: 01963 250005 Tel: 01963 250005 Mobile: Mobile: 07976 07976 934 934 252 252 www.bandgdown.co.uk

North Dorset Tree Surgeons We carry out all aspects of tree surgery, hedge cutting and stump grinding. Fully insured and NPTC quali昀ed.

Call Will today on 01747 854517 or 07872 970741 Professional

Experienced

Reliable

(Established 1997)

Tree Surgeons

Professional and experienced tree surgery and landscaping services to residential and commercial customers. We also offer a range of equipment for hire. Available 24/7 Free quotations Fully qualified team Full public liability insurance Safe Contractor Approved

Tel: 01747 228484 Mob: 07770 833734 www.valetreesurgeons.com Vale Tree Surgeons Limited, Gillingham SP8 4LX

Home & Garden

Gardening...

...with botanist Dr Dave Aplin

Dahlias to give you your daily ahhh... With the threat from frosts diminishing by the day the time for planting tender plants is fast approaching. The date after which frosts are unlikely depends on local experience. As a child I tended a riverside allotment with my dad, where the 10th of June is forever ingrained on my mind as that plot’s ‘safe date’. On this day, or immediately after, we would spend our time planting hundreds of exhibition dahlia plants, each marked by a four-foot bamboo cane and positioned in neat double rows. I started growing dahlias at ten, entering local, regional, and then national shows, then qualifying as a national judge. Dahlias, therefore, have a significance more than the flower alone, they carry happy childhood memories with my dad as he showed me how to garden. This is not unusual among gardeners; many have plants that convey precious memories. Dahlias can be incredibly ostentatious, if I had not grown up with them, I am not sure I would appreciate them today, as my personal tastes currently reside in less flamboyant blooms. Native to Guatemala and Mexico, the wild dahlia produces flowers with a single row of petals around a central yellow disc. They were discovered to be natural

hybrids, so in cultivation seeds taken from plants do not produce identical offspring. This led enthusiasts to hybridise and develop the flower. Dad gathered seeds from his plants, amongst them the following year he was lucky enough to produce a flower good enough to register, which he named after mum, Clara May (a native of Marnhull). Clara May, pictured, produces bright red flowers with spiky (cactus-like) petals that, unlike my mum’s hair, have split ends. Cultivars come in a vast array of sizes, shapes and colours, although blue is, and probably always will be, elusive. Among the many types are a classification known as ‘pompons’. These flowers on thin wiry stems resemble drumsticks 5cm (2”) across. At the other end of the scale, the type known as ‘giants’ produce blooms in excess of 30cm (12”) in diameter. There are tens of thousands of cultivars to choose from, but if you fancy trying your luck at a local show, then your fortune will be significantly improved if you select a known exhibition cultivar. The internet is a good source of information, but perhaps best is the vast array of specialist plant groups on Facebook. I’m not a huge Facebook fan, but it is certainly worth having an account to gain access to passionate plant enthusiasts who like nothing

better than to share advice for those less experienced, whether that be dahlias, chrysanthemums, sweet peas or begonias. soilvalues.com SCREENED TOP SOIL for sale - delivered - tel no: 01258 861046

Soil Testing Service Professional laboratory soil tests

• gardeners • landscapers • small holders

Wild昀ower meadows, veg, fruit, 昀ower, new & established gardens.

Fast, accurate & easy to interpret soil report within 7 days

www.soilvalues.com 07598 714 082

DAVE BUYS ALL TYPES OF TOOLS. Call 01935 428975

Open Bank Holiday Monday 10am-4pm for bedding and basket plants, geraniums, osteospermum vegetable plants and bouquets

Williams Florist, Station Rd, Stalbridge, Dorset DT10 2RQ Tel: 01963 362355 williams-昀orist.co.uk Normal opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm

Wooden Benches

Arbours Gazebos

Parasols

Hammocks

Loungers

BROIL KING

Sizzling BBQs just in... YOUR NEW FAVOURITE ‘RESTAURANT’ Built for the serious griller! See our range of quality gas, pellet and charcoal fired bbqs

In stock:

FIREPITS & CHIMINEAS

Bring the outdoors in with the largest range from Daro indoor cane furniture with more than 70 floor models on display, various colours and fabrics.

ALL READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

OUTDOOR LIVING Largest on ‘LIFE’ FURNITURE thecollection South Coast, All weather cushions Aluminium frames Containers arriving weekly Instant stock availability

30,000 sq ft Showroom

01202 579571 canfordmagna.com enquiries@canfordmagna.com Canford Magna Garden Centre, 170 Magna Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AP 50

CANFORD MAGNA GARDEN CENTRE Over 25,000 different outdoor plants pots | Compost | Paving | Aggregates

AMAZING SUMMER BEDDING NOW IN...

WEEKLY DELIVERIES OVER 400 OLIVE TREES, VARIOUS SIZES FROM ITALY AND SPAIN Exotic Plants, Palms, Delicate Acers, Specimens and Spikeys!

01202 579571 canfordmagna.com enquiries@canfordmagna.com Canford Magna Garden Centre, 170 Magna Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AP 51

Pets

Ask the vet... Are there any plants that I may have in my garden that are poisonous to pets ? Many plants have the potential to be toxic to our pets. Some which are edible for us can be poisonous to animals and puppies are especially prone to the risks of eating dangerous items because of their exploring nature. n Alliums include onions, leeks, chives and garlic. They cause irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal symptoms and, in severe cases, can cause red blood cells to rupture which can be fatal. All forms of these plants can be toxic including fresh, cooked and powdered products. n Grapes can be toxic. Recently the cause of this toxicity has been identified and is due to the presence of tartaric acid which is very toxic to dogs. This only develops in certain circumstances so that unaffected grapes do not appear to be poisonous and affected grapes are highly toxic even in small numbers. n Daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, crocus and iris bulbs are toxic.

Most parts of the plant are poisonous but the bulbs are particularly so. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea and in severe cases dehydration, lethargy and severe abdominal pain. Daffodils are the most toxic and eating them can even cause seizures. n Fertiliser can be toxic if eaten, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Compost heaps grow various types of fungi some of which are extremely dangerous if eaten. Fungi can produce mycotoxins which are potentially fatal. Some mushrooms and toadstools cause gastric upsets and can cause hallucinations. Bird food dropped on the ground can go mouldy and is also at risk of causing severe symptoms. n Cocoa mulch contains theobromine which is the same toxic compound present in chocolate. Many weed killers, insecticides, slug pellets and lawn feeds/moss killers are toxic and contact with them should be avoided until the instructions state that it is safe for animals to be allowed back in contact with treated areas. n Conkers and acorns are toxic if chewed. The stones from cherries, plums and peaches can also be toxic if chewed because they contain small amounts of

COCKER SPANIEL PUPPIES, 4 boys available. Very well bred, father is FTCH, available from 28th May 21. Call for more information 07503 905659

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

with Lynn Broom cyanide. Whole conkers or peach stones can cause intestinal obstructions with life threatening consequences. Corn on the cob are common causes of gut obstructions particularly following outdoor barbecues so be sure to dispose of them carefully. n Many shrubs can be poisonous or irritant and any symptoms developing after parts of a plant have been chewed should be checked out with your vet. n Lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Ingestion of even very small amounts of any part of the plant, either directly or after grooming pollen off their fur, can lead to kidney failure, seizures and death. Many plants are poisonous to cats. Luckily cats are more discerning about what they eat than dogs, although indoor cats are at a higher risk of chewing house plants and you should choose plants carefully if you have a cat. n Our gardens have the potential to be dangerous for our pets but if we are careful with areas of concern and particularly monitor what puppies and kittens have access to, we can limit these risks dramatically.

KC GOLDEN COCKER SPANIEL PUPPIES : 1 dog 1 Bitch 7 1/2 weeks Outstanding temperaments, well socialised, both parents working. Microchipped, vac. dew clawed, flead ,wormed, vet checked. Ready for good homes 1st June Mum can be seen with puppies 07789 633323 POA SPRINGER SPANIEL X MINI POODLE PUPS. DNA CLEAR & Kc reg parents. Microchipped,vaccinated and vet checked. READY NOW. 07707 646359 FOX RED LABRADOR PUPPIES FOR SALE. Both parents are KC registered and working. Puppies will be wormed, microchipped, and KC registered. £2,500. 07773254174 SILKIE COCKEREL, free to good home. Also, growers for sale. 01963 363476

LOST AND FOUND AND REHOMING Blandford & Sturminster Newton Cats Protection: 01258 858644 Monty (14) blue grey boy looking for a home in the country. No cats or dogs. Lost cats: Shaftesbury – black boy with blue collar missing since 7/5. Old Farm Garden Blandford – brindle tortie girl missing since 2/5. Blandford St Mary – recently shaved fluffy tabby cat may still have a bandage on his front leg missing since 29/4 . Shaftesbury – dark grey & white boy missing since 14/4 Found Cats: Station Road Gillingham Calico tortie (we think) n We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10, DT11, SP5, SP7, BH21 and now also in SP8 call 01258 268695 Tel 01258 858644 BEAUTIFUL Teddy Bear poochons. 4 boys. Mum + dad can be seen both in my home. health/DNA tested. DOG SITTER (with room at home) required for 2 easy dogs, a spaniel and jack Russell. Needed on an ongoing basis for ad hoc nights either mid-week or weekends. Shaftesbury area, please call 01258 471839/07742419491 DACHSHUND MINIATURE smooth puppies. 2 black boys ready 4th June. 07989 815960 MALE GUINEA PIGS, all colours, rough and smooth coated, 12 weeks to 1 year old. £10 each. 01963 458199

Local Services ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL

B.LUCAS

Architectural Services Planning & Building Applications for New Build, Extensions and Conversions

01747 822162

Our advice is always free www.bell-associates.co.uk

Quantity Surveying Estimating Surveying Building Dispute Resolution

DORSET WOOD TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS

Damp Control Timber Treatments Dry Rot Condensation Control 30-Year Bonded Guarantee

Oak Timber Framing Bespoke Timber Building Traditional Building Specialist inc All Building WorkGAll aspects of Lime External and Internal Rendering/Plastering/Repointing Lime Crete Flooring Chimney Rebuilds and Repointing

Tel: Wincanton 01963 202382 Mobile: 07881 504426 Email: maplepres@aol.com www.maplepreservation.co.uk

www.dorsetwood.co.uk Contact Dave Welsh 07838 654468

01749 813625

Robert Chalke Associates www.rca-qs.com SW BUILDING & RENOVATIONS swbuildandrenovation@gmail.com All aspects of building and plumbing catered for. Tel: 07970 437786 REPOINTING HOUSES, garden walls, rebuilding stonework, natural stone, brickwork, lime mortar simon 01747 835138 0r 07745 625617

djwelsh@btinternet.com

Davies & Sons – Builders All aspects of building works undertaken Over 20 years of experience FMB Registered since 2002 For a free no obligation quote Call Mark on 07525834551 or Email: davies.mark66@yahoo.com Find us at fmb.org.uk

Search for Davies and Sons or our postcode BA10 0DZ

To book your ad, call Debi on 07714 289409 or email debi.thorne@icloud.com

General builder

25 Years Experience, City & Guilds Qualified Extensions, Renovations, Alterations, New Build, Plastering, Floor and Wall Tiling, Brickwork, Blockwork, Stonework and Patios, Fencing and Decorating.

FREE estimates, No VAT 01747 228827 07809 362919

Steve Guppy Home Maintenance & Improvements

Fully Insured Tel: 01747 590584 Mob: 07812 106 513 ADS: 01963 400186

ECR Services All types of building and electrical work undertaken Fully qualified New builds Extensions Maintenance Attic conversions including rendering, plastering, paving and tiling Free on site estimates No VAT No job too big or too small

01963 364553 07966 496299 www.ecrservices.co.uk

Jeans

APPLIANCES

Electrical

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS: Washing machines, dishwashers, ovens etc, Call Darren or Jason 07979 976514

www.jeanselectrical.co.uk

Jeans of Mere, offer appliance repairs on most brands with fixed labour repair charges (parts on top)

CLEANING

Building trust with quality workmanship

We provide end-to-end communication, budgeting, staffing, organisation and project management to produce a solid, high quality building, every time. Our commercial projects include new construction and repairs or restorations.

Maple Building & Developments We’ll get the job done

FREE DESIGN SERVICE FOR DISPLAY ADS

CLEANER Efficient and organised. Satisfaction guaranteed. Refs available. Andrew 07838 377788

SHINY STOVES OVEN CLEANING

Call 01747 860215 ££££££ CASH PAID FOR

WASHING MACHINES

Ovens,Ranges, Aga’s, etc. Independent Family Run Business Covering The Blackmore Vale Area

Tel 01935 592461 Mob 07875 272401 www.shinystoves.com

DEAD OR ALIVE

07761 578482

Septic Tank, Treatment Plant, Soakaways Problems with your septic tank, soakaway or sewage system? Worried about the new domestic sewage legislation issued Jan 2020? Perhaps we can help... Established over 30 years we have the skill and know-how to cope with any job large or small, from repairs to full installation.

Why not call us on 01747 823731 / 07970 484890 Newhouse Farm Partnership, Colestreet Lane, Gillingham, Dorset

Local Services DECORATION, FLOORING & CARPENTRY

PHILIP STIRK PAINTING, DECORATING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: carpentry, wall tiling, guttering, general repairs. Free quotations / No VAT. Tel: 01747 825725 mobile: 07984524446. Email: philipstirk@btinternet.com

John Banham’s

Property Service REFRESHING Bathrooms & Kitchens

Upgrades and Carpentry Decorating services Refreshing sale and rental upgrades Handyman projects Plumbing repairs Tiling services Contact: John Banham

Of昀ce: 01747 838 087 Mobile: 07768 190 131 email: refreshingrenovations@gmail.com

REFURBISH YOUR STAIRS AND JOINERY NO OBLIGATIOND SURVEY AN PRICING

INSTALLATION BY OUR OWN TEAM

New of refurbished stairs using our contemporary glass or quality stop chamfered/ traditional turned newels, spindles, handrails and mouldings. WE ALSO MANUFACTURE BESPOKE DOORS AND WINDOWS

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! CALL 01963 400186

PAINTER & DECORATOR All internal and external work undertaken. For a local, friendly and reliable service call Adam Ditch: Mobile: 07941 642208/ Home: 01935 872894. adamditch@btinternet.com

DORSET LIME Specialists in all external and internal lime work. Lime crete flooring. All aspects of traditional building.

Call Dave or Dan 07492 181788

MUSIC

www.briggs-products.co.uk General building Extensions/Renovations Loft conversions Oak frame buildings Groundwork/Landscaping All your property needs Tel: 01747 851149 Mobile: 07979 527379 email: alanlewisaml@aol.com

LES BENHAM Painting services, property maintenance, domestic/ commercial. Inside or out Fully Insured/free quotes. 01258 458849/ 07788 907343 lesbenham@yahoo.co.uk /check a trade

SHERBORNE GUITAR TUITION 01935 389655 - ahiahel@live.com

Clarinet & Saxophone Ex-Professional plays as Soloist and Busker for Weddings and Special Events

01749 813625 Robert Chalke www.robertchalke.co.uk

Local, Quality Painter & Decorator 35 Years Experience Free Quotes • No VAT Call Richard on

Home: 01258 880670 Mob: 07825 512 627 ‘Your home in safe and capable hands’

HAIRDRESSING

01202 825 555

21 Black Moor Rd, Ebblake Ind Est, Verwood, BH31 6AX

PAINTING & DECORATING

PIANO TUNING, Repairs, Sales of reconditioned pianos Julian Phillips BA CGLI 01258 471194

MOBILE HAIRDRESSING. Angela Joy, Galhampton. City and Guilds qualified. 07956 673324 MOBILE HAIRDRESSER covering Shaftesbury and surrounding area. Call Angela on 01747 854188 FRIENDLY MOBILE HAIRDRESSING Shampoo & sets, perms, blow-dries, gentlemen & ladies. Rachel 07725 940611

Local Services HANDYMAN & GENERAL SERVICES

TAXIS

J & C Handyman Services

Plumbing Painting & decorating Shed erecting & repairs Flat pack furniture Shelves & curtain rails

Door hanging & skirting boards Guttering and facia clearing and replacement Fencing Pointing etc...

A & O Taxi

No job too small Please call with your requirements 01963 364457 07368 516658 dorsethandyman26@gmail.com www.jchandymanservices.com AN EXPERIENCED & RELIABLE HANDYMAN call Chris 01258 860826 / 07413 678076

COMPUTERS AND TECH

Get connected. Stay connected.

Gillingham | Mere | Shaftesbury

AOT... Always On Time Your local taxi service for Gillingham, Mere, Shaftesbury, Marnhull, Motcombe and surrounding areas. Short or long distance, airport transfers, school runs and more.

WiFi • Email • FaceTime • WhatsApp Skype • Google • eBay • Amazon Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Friendly, Punctual & Professional. Our taxi will be on time at the requested pickup point!

Laptop Tablet Smartphone desktop PC

Call us on 07882 712431 www.aotaxi.com • Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable help • Keep in touch with family, friends and

JASMINE CARS TAXI SERVICE 07495 922821

colleagues for free over the Internet • Sell online easily, quickly and reliably

• Buying advice, setup and installation I’m Phil Hudson, your local tech expert and trouble-shooter. I’ll come to you and sort things out, at a time that suits you. Or you can drop off your machine at my workshop for quick, efficient care and maintenance.

Call me now on 07805 783147 COMPUTER MAINTENANCE &

REPAIRS Purchase advice, virus removal, new PC setup/installation, internet connection, upgrades, computer/ software tuition. Call Gregg on 01963 370713

Comfortable, spacious and clean estate cars. For hospitals, airports, seaports and local work. Distance no object, day trips and special occasions. Lady driver available. For safe Covid-aware transport.

5 star Google rating. JUST ASK! www.jasminecarsdorset.co.uk jasmine.cars@btinternet.com

GARDEN SERVICES (see also Home & Garden) R&W FENCING SERVICES All types of fencing, agriculture and domestic 01258 880892 07980 036250

Joseph Crocker Computers

Custom built gaming & office PCs Desktop, laptop and mobile device diagnosis and repair General computer and IT advice

NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL 01963 23669 or 07484 690824 josephcrockercomputers.co.uk

DRYSTONE WALLING AND LANDSCAPING yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123

AERIALS & Satellite Direct Repairs & Installations - 7 days per week No VAT - Prompt & Friendly Service TOM MOSS Mob: 07931 727 961 Email: tommoss50@aol.com

ALL IRONWORK Handrails, gates, railings, repairs., restoration. 01258 880301 LAWN MOWING SERVICE Tel 01747 821726 SELF DRIVE DIGGER AND DUMPER HIRE, 01258 861647

FOREVER GREEN LANDSCAPES For all your landscaping/fencing requirements call Matt 01747 825134/ 07885 586716 Transforming gardens since 1994 GARDEN SERVICES CONTINUES OVERLEAF

Local Services GARDENING & LANDSCAPING (see also Home & Garden)

Machine or Hand-Lay Local Authority Approved

Concrete & Floor Screed Mixed On site Any Quantity Delivered

ESTABLISHED 1988

Sand Gravel Stone Cement Blocks etc Supplied Loose or in Big Bags

All aspects of Surfacing Roads Drives Footpaths Drop Kerbs Resin Bond Drives

Good Quality Top Soil in Stock

Now available... Rockery Stone

Competitive Rates 01747 853687 or 01747 855630 www.hardimanconcrete.co.uk

Call for a free quote 01747 820234 The Depot, Longcross, Warminster BA12 6LJ

info@cgtarmac.co.uk

D KING & SON Tree and Garden Services, 25 years experience, registered waste carrier, free estimates, all areas covered, no job to small, 07831 091239, david.king63@aol.co.uk

For all your fencing and decking needs Closeboard, panels & sheds supplied and fitted. Gates made to measure.

Sherborne Fencing Ltd Tel: 01935 814272 Mobile: 07814246332

www.cgtarmac.co.uk

Mullins Garden Services TREE & GARDEN SERVICES: all tree surgery, hedge and shrub work undertaken Big or small. 07435 220238 /01258 858888 Fully insured quality service provided

Lawn Mowing Hedge Cutting Strimming Clearances Please enquire on (M) 07585334780 or (H) 01258473502 for a free quote Covering Sturminster Newton and surrounding areas.

Local Services PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE GARDENER (beds, borders, planting).Qualified, DBS, refs. 01963 210421

NEED HELP WITH YOUR GARDEN? Call Tim for a friendly and reliable service. 01747 835278 07825 006013

L.DAVIS AND SONS: Garden clearance and garden design, Concrete bases, patios, gravel, fencing and much more. We also deliver compost, pots, bark, logs and other gardening products. 01458 241230 GARDENING SERVICES: Regular maintenance, pruning, herbaceous borders, wildlife gardens, RHS quals, insured, ref. available. Tel. 07877 413676

PEST CONTROL

Wasps, moles, rats, mice, squirrels etc. BPCA qualified Insured

T: 01258 721462 M: 07379 405080

Call Jim 07854 395112

enquiries@spectrumpestcontrol.co.uk

MOLE CATCHER AVAILABLE. Roy has 70 years' experience. 01963 32200, evenings

solidfuel3@aol.com solidfuelinstallations ltd.co.uk

PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE Phoenix Chimneys

& Property Maintenance Clive Young carries out Chimney Sweeping Solid Fuel Stove Servicing & Repairs All Chimney Work Birdguards & Cowls Repointing & Leadwork

Chimneys and Flues professionally swept. Extremely clean service. Keeping Dorset’s chimneys smokin’ nicely.

D&T Plumbing and Heating

Tel: 01258 455251 Email: smokin.nicely@hotmail.co.uk smokinnicely.co.uk

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696

LOCAL SERVICES CLASSIFIEDS: 01963 400186

Flushing

• Condensing and

Combination Boilers

www.quinnsheating.com

Office: 01747 829222 Mobile: 07900916810 Email: mike@mjheat.co.uk

FRANKS MAINTENANCE GROUP Installations, servicing and maintenance

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

•Boiler Replacement •Boiler Servicing •Gas, Oil & LPG •General Plumbing •Bathrooms •Landlord Certification •Solid Fuel Stove Installation and Servicing

Bryan G Paulley Ltd Oil Tank Services Domestic & Commercial

REPLACEMENT TANKS INSTALLATIONS RE-SITING TEMPORARY TANKS EMERGENCY PUMP OUTS BUNDED /SINGLE SKIN METAL TANKS/FUEL STATIONS ABOVE GROUND OR BELOW MOLING SERVICE FOR BELOW GROUND UTILITIES COMMERCIAL BOILER REMOVAL

New bunded tank installed for between £1300 and £1900 +VAT depending on size of tank. All areas. OFTEC Registered

Tel: 01963 363870

24hr Emergency, Leaking Tanks or Oil Spills 07836 502683

E: office@bgp-oiltanks.co.uk www.bgp-oiltanks.co.uk

• Natural Gas, LPG and Oil • Central Heating and Power

01258 446186 07973 183658

General Plumbing Oil/Natural Gas/LPG Installations Bathroom and Kitchen Installations New Boilers and Cylinders Underfloor Heating & Renewables Landlord Safety Certificates All workmanship guaranteed, along with manufacturers’ warranties.

Smokin Nicely Chimney Sweeps

Call 01258 455947

Oil servicing and repairs, plus all other aspects of plumbing and heating carried out

MJ HPPS LTD Plumbing and Heating Contractors

KDL PLUMBING & HEATING. ballvalves, taps, cylinders, tanks, showers, radiators, outside taps and more. Mobile 07475 128249

mandy4phoenixchimneys@gmail.com

A A FRAMPTON, seasoned hardwood logs, full load, 2.2 cu metres, £135, half load, £80. Dumpy Bags £55,Call 07860 242485, 01747 826408

HEATING AND PLUMBING

Rodents, insects and all other pests humanely dealt with. Bees re-homed if possible. Quali昀ed and Experienced Technician. Member of the British Pest Control Association

SOLID FUEL INSTALLATIONS accredited installers from the competent persons scheme for wood burners, multi fuel stoves, chimney liners and twin walled flues. Sweeping chimneys, birdguards & cowls. Fireplace alterations to your needs, chimney works including pointing. 01749 677440, 07921 074602

K.SANSOM CHIMNEY SWEEP Brush & vacuum. APICS registered 01963 370038

LTD

SPECTRUM PEST CONTROL

COLIN THE CHIMNEY SWEEP: Call anytime for a quote. Certificates available upon request. Fully insured. 01963 458199/07889 597741.

• Landlord’s Certificates • Bathrooms, Kitchens and

Tiling • All of the Blackmore Vale area covered

ABBEY DRAINAGE UNBLOCKING DRAINS Sinks

Toilets Rodding High pressure jetting CCTV Surveys No dig relining Septic tank and water treatment plant installation All repairs and renewals No call out charge

01747 640188 07587 238563

We cover all of the Blackmore Vale area

Local Services WASTE & HOUSE CLEARANCE

Clive Smith Ltd.

HOUSE CLEAR HOU CL ARAN ANCE CE Plus; Sheds, Attics, Garages & Gardens Quality Items Offset Registered Waste Carrier

SKIP HIRE

SKIP HIRE ALL AREAS COVERED ALL SIZE OF SKIP AVAILABLE PLEASE RING

Tel: 01258 440838 Or: 07853 275379 enquiries@back2market.com

CLIVE SMITH ANYTIME

20FT SELF STORE CONTAINERS AVAILABLE. £100 per month, minimum 3 months. Situated 11/2 miles from Podimore, off A303. Andrew 07932 657140

01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243

Rob’s Clearance

DY EE

01747 839751 07956 414896

STI

House, shed, and site clearance Rubbish removed Recycling carried out Good/interesting items bought for cash Friendly and reliable

All Size Skips Available K

AI G BRIT

HOUSE CLEARANCE PROFESSIONALS Including sheds, Lofts and Garages.

01202 855 349 - Discounts for saleable items -

Full muckaway service available, small or large loads inc grab lorries Tipping facilities at our premises Sand, gravel & top soil supplied Loose or in Bulk Bags

SK I

IR E

T F PLANT

Trade and DIY welcome Ring for enquiries

Gillingham 01747 826107

www.allcleanwaste.co.uk Registered with Dorset County Councils Trading Standards, licences with The Environment Agency.

Trusted family run business

REMOV ALS & STORAGE

Serving the West Country for 40 years SEPTIC TANK EMPTYING SERVICE The same team are still providing Pete White’s friendly service

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 Dorset, 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. Blandford (01258) 453898

Dorchester (01305) 783795

Shaftesbury (01747) 828680

Wincanton (01963) 34065

01963 370924 email: orders@wessexwaste.co.uk

Local Services

WINDOWS & DOORS

ROOFING

EPDM RUBBER ROOFING, The clean and easy way to renew or construct a 昀at roof. Available from stock at our depots in Yeovil and Dorchester. YEOVIL DEPOT 01935 700425

DORCHESTER DEPOT 01305 257828

sales@roo昀nggear.co.uk

dorchester@roo昀nggear.co.uk

www.roo昀nggear.co.uk

• Felt Roofing Specialist • Tiling, Slating and UPVC • Velux Windows • No Job Too Small • Insurance Work • Leadwork Friendly Service Free Estimates Mobile 07973 248319 scott@scottmilesroofing.co.uk

Based in Wincanton

Tel: 07931 583614 valesideroofing@hotmail.com Find us on

CHRIS LANGLEY FLAT ROOFING BLANDFORD Specialist in Hi-performance felt & GRP. All of our work is GUARANTEED. All types of roofing professionally carried out. PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF ALL ORDERS.

FREE D AN QUOTESATES ESTIM

01258-450879 | 07855-402799 Clangley12@aol.com

Tom the Roofer I cover all aspects of roofing work, gutter replacement, cleaning and repair work

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696

Quantum Locksmiths •24 Hour Call Out •UPVC Repairs •Key Cutting •Lock Changes •DBS Checked •No VAT

Replacement double glazing Shower screens Bespoke mirrors As cut bits of glass Polishing for mirrors and glass Toughened glass Balustrades Secondary units Horticultural glass Splashbacks for kitchens Covid screens UPVC windows and doors E E R FQUOTATION ...and much, much more Covering Dorset and surrounding areas

Call: 07900-196427 01258 721236 Email: info@quantumlocksmiths.co.uk Follow us on

If we can’t beat your quote, we’ll match it on...

Elite Glass & Home Improvements Sales@eliteglasscompany.co.uk

07933 521 675 59

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: First glimpse of dwindling species It was the 4th of May. Something made me look up, maybe that invisible thread of consciousness that connects us to the presence of other living things. And there it was, flying high betwixt and between the rainfilled bubbles of cloud; a sleek, sooty-brown shape with sickleshaped wings, my first swift of 2021. They are back and I am glad. These are the birds that herald the summer and whose departure I watch with sadness as they leave our shores in early August for their journey home to sub-Saharan Africa. Although I have always loved birds, the common swifts of my childhood seemed to blur with the more familiar swallows and martins that frequented our village. It wasn’t until years later when I found myself in the streets of Dubrovnik that I was

mesmerised by them as they flew, wheeling and darting by the thousands down the ancient narrow streets. How had I not noticed them before? Ever since then I have been in awe of their aerial supremacy. To me, they are the epitome of wildness living their entire lives in the air only stopping briefly to raise the next generation. Pairing for life, they sleep, eat and mate on the wing, reaching migratory altitudes of 10,000ft and speeds of 70mph, making them our fastest flyers. Their diet consists entirely of aerial plankton; tiny

Photograph courtesy of Paul Ash

insects and spiders carried in the winds. Swifts come from the family of Apodidae and are genetically more related to hummingbirds than they are the swallows or martins that they resemble. You can distinguish them by their larger size, their short-forked tail, and their crescent-shaped

wingspan. They are seen chasing each other high in the sky in the day but are best appreciated at dusk when they gather in ‘screaming parties’, something they seem to do just for fun. Since my first love affair with these mystical birds, their numbers have declined by over half due to the loss of nesting sites. I remember squadrons of them, 30, 40 or 50 birds gleefully screaming overhead, now a group of 20 is something to celebrate. As I write this, my eyes search the skies looking for that distinct silhouette. What is it to be so totally at home in the altitudes soaring above everything we know? To be that small and yet that strong to weather life’s storms; perhaps we have much to learn from them. Dr Susie Curtin curtin.susanna@gmail.com

Addiction is often rooted in fixing uncomfortable feelings I’m a mental health professional who works with most diagnosed mental health disorders; however for nearly 40 years I’ve specialised in substance use/abuse, addictions and dependencies. These include alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, sex, food, work, money, exercise, shopping, gaming, internet, social media, phone addiction and being in co-dependent relationships. I have worked in all areas including advice and information, education, harm reduction and treatment; plus treating the co-occurring mental health disorders that often underlie the behaviours such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, abuse and other traumas. So what does all substance use/abuse, addictions and dependencies have in common? Putting it simply, they almost always begin with FIXING UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS. These can range from boredom, physical pain, insecurities to acute emotional 60

turmoil – and anything in between. Whether it’s selfmedicating with alcohol, illegal or prescribed drugs; or a behavioural problem like disordered eating, impulsive shopping, excessive working, addictive gambling, endlessly scrolling the internet, smartphone addiction or getting into unhealthy relationships. All these behaviours give a temporary ‘high’ and can be a great distraction from one’s problems and emotions. However, it produces another problem in chasing that ‘high’ which can swiftly become habit forming, with very dire consequences to oneself and those around you. Putting it very basically, the brain and body gets used to the ‘high’ – but usually at a huge cost. So it becomes a rollercoaster of ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ – and as you’re already trying to escape uncomfortable feelings (lows), you naturally try and stay ‘high’ by doing the unhealthy things more and more. It becomes a

vicious cycle, that can soon spiral downwards and can completely take over your life; bringing misery and sometimes death. One quickly finds that you’ve lost control and your unhealthy thoughts and behaviours are controlling you. We can all be predisposed to having a serious addiction/ dependency. With continued use or habitual bahaviours, there’s been found to be a neurological change in the brain and alterations in the body’s physiology which feels like it removes our freedom of choice – it becomes an obsessive compulsive disorder and often you really can’t help yourself or what you’re doing. We become powerless and our lives become unmanageable. Our behaviours become more bizarre and the shame increases. Willpower alone isn’t enough to stop. Denial that one has a problem increases. The fear of the withdrawal symptoms, which can be horribly physically and mentally uncomfortable; mean

we continue. Families, loved ones, friends and one’s whole social circle and work life can be devastated. Relationships and trust break down. Dishonesty to oneself and others can become the norm. Sadly there’s still much misinformation and stigma attached to this hugely misunderstood condition. The scary thing is, no one wakes up one morning and decides to be an alcoholic, addict or dependent person – it just creeps up on you and before you know it you’re psychologically trapped and often physically dependent. The good news is, there is help available; but you’ll almost certainly need to seek professionals who are experienced and trained in treating addictions. Those affected by someone’s addiction and dependency usually also need help and support; as it can be a hugely traumatic experience for them too. n David Stanton is a psychotherapist and counsellor near Sherborne.

Health & Wellbeing

Technique to ease anxiety

ZEN HOUSE Life Coaching Do you feel stuck and unable to achieve your potential? Are you dreaming of a more fulfilling future? I can help to support you to achieve your best life on your own terms. Contact Sarah Eustance on 01258 458340 or 07743 418233, or email sarah@sarahjeustance.plus.com Visit www.lifecoachingsolutionsdorset.co.uk

FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE We have received funding from the National Community Fund to enable us to offer a telephone support line for anybody having trouble coping with these weird times that we are going through. What ever your problem, give us a call and our friendly counsellor will try to help.

The help line is available: Tuesdays Daytime 1 - 4 pm Wednesdays Evening 6 - 8 pm Thursday Daytime 12 - 3 pm

Telephone: 07714 550969 It’s good to share

David Stanton IAC ICPT ISOCS ISSUP

Psychotherapist and counsellor l Individual and group sessions l ANY issue sensitively and thoughtfully covered by consultant and trainer with more than 40 years’ experience l Confidentiality assured Go to edas-addictionservices.com or tatvacenter.com or call me on 07584 711488

PODIATRY CLINIC ST EDMUNDS Burton Street, Marnhull DT10 1PS NEW CLINIC

Julie Anne Smith DPodM MCPod hcpc registered Podiatrist T. 01258 821297 E. stedmundspodiatry@gmail.com

By Finola Brennan Yoga Nidra Instructor The Cedar Tree 07780 952395 the-cedar-tree.co.uk Yoga Nidra is a powerful technique where you learn to relax consciously. Although often referred to as yoga sleep its purpose is to take you to the state between waking and sleeping. It is a guided practice, where all you have to do is get comfortable, lie still and listen as you are guided, inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. The benefits are many, including deep relaxation, improved sleep, boosted immune system, relief from anxiety and depression and a soothing of the nervous system. Another aspect of this practice is the opportunity for you to form an intention that has a positive effect on your life. Writer and mythologist Joseph Campbell coined the phrase ‘follow your bliss’ – a beautiful concept meaning if you find the thing that brings you deep joy, you will be on your natural path in life, doing what you are meant to do. Of course the problem is most of us are way to busy to slow down to be able to figure out what our ‘bliss’ would be. Do you ever find yourself thinking ‘when this gets sorted I will be happy’? then whatever it is gets ADELE CLINCH, BSC, HCPC, registered chiropodist/ podiatrist. 01935 812231 Home visits in NW Dorset Sherborne sherbornepodiatry.com

sorted and you are happy... until something else needs sorting! Perhaps you have found yourself saying, ‘when I have more time, I will start that new hobby or ‘I will get fit once I have finished this project’ only to find there doesn’t ever seem to be more time and that project rolls into the next one. Does any of that sound familiar? We are constantly putting ourselves under pressure to do more, be better, be happier, be more successful, be healthier. The beauty of Yoga Nidra is, it is an extremely easy and accessible, guided practice which enables you to release the tensions that accumulate in the mind and body from all of these expectations, so leading you to feeling less stressed, healthier, and happier making it possible to find your bliss. Yoga Nidra can be practiced in the comfort of your own home using one of the many free recordings available. However when you first begin it is nice to do so WOULD LIKE TO under the MEET guidance of an experienced B.B. WIDOW, 80s, teacher, so no transport, WLTM they can unattached gent. ascertain the Similar age. N.S. best For occasional techniques outings/pub lunch. for you. DT9 area.

NATURAL PAIN RELIEF therapist in Gillingham

Bio resonance scan & treatments, Clinical reflexology & baby/toddler reflexology

T: 01747 826931

07749984215. MARTIN 63 meet lady 50-70, Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius. 01258 472910

yvonne@intelligenthealthclinic.co.uk Making Life More Comfortable!

Age Concern North Dorset (Sturminster Newton)

Your local charity for all age-related information and advice

01258 475582

Office open 10am - 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday info@acnorthdorset.org.uk

| www.acnorthdorset.org.uk 61

Health & Wellbeing

Lawn nuisance a powerful tool for healing and gut health Plantain is an abundant but rather ignored and, in the case of those who want a perfect lawn, reviled herb, but there are many species that are medicinal. Broad leafed plantain or Plantago major is also known as Englishman’s foot, because where Englishmen went in the world they unwittingly took plantain with them. It is a species that is always found on old tracks where the seeds are picked up and distributed by those walking by. They are recognisable for their thick, blade-like leaves with the veins travelling straight up the leaf and the flowers’ heads, which look like small bullrushes on tall, straight stems with tiny white flowers that give them a fluffy appearance. Plantago lanceolata is also medicinal and both of these are, “according to wise women, country folk, barbers and pharmacists” stronger and more effective than round

leaf plantain. Plantain is known for healing the skin and is best used fresh. If stung by an insect or nettle, pick a plantain leaf, chew it to loosen the juice and fibres and put it on the sting. Likewise, if you cut yourself whilst out walking, do the same and apply it to the wound. It is a herbal first aid plant. Tannins in the plant are astringent so help to stop bleeding and the silicic acid, mucilage and glycosides alleviate pain and promote tissue repair. A juice made out of plantain and applied

another species, is used for its mucilage. Psyllium husks soaked in water and then drunk are bulking agents and soak up water in the large intestine so helping to soften (as long as you also drink a lot of water) and form the stool, useful for constipation and IBS. They are prebiotic so enhance digestive health which promotes immunity. The husks are also said to lower high blood pressure and to improve lipid levels which helps with heart health. n I am doing consultations through my college either in person in London or via Zoom for £25. Please do contact me if interested. 07742 453285 pellyfiona@gmail.com

topically will ease eczema, red itchy skin rashes and ulcers. Chewing on the roots is said to help with toothache. Used internally as a juice, infusion or tincture, it will clear toxic heat and reduce inflammation. It helps move the lymph. It has an affinity with the lungs and will promote expectoration. It tonifies the urinary system, particularly the bladder so is used for Fiona Chapman is incontinence. studying naturopathy The seeds of and herbal medicine at the Plantago the College of psyllium, Naturopathic Medicine

Identify what you can and cannot change How often do you wish you could change things in your life? How often do you actually make those changes? I know, it’s easier said than done and we all have elements in our lives that we cannot change and up to a point must therefore accept. People, responsibilities, rooms in our homes, elements of our work you will have your own list of parts of your life that you wish were different but there are no ways of changing that you can think of. There are two steps you can take here. Firstly, you can identify what you can and cannot change. Shift the majority of your focus on to the former so you can take considered steps to make changes that will improve a situation. But, before you 62

accept and work round the latter, let’s also take that second step which is to check in with your mindset on those ‘blockages’. They are blockages not because you cannot change them but because of the way you are perceiving them. Your perception is something you can change even if you can’t change that particular situation. For example, if there is someone in your family or a

friend or a colleague who you cannot avoid but who you find overwhelming or just incredibly difficult, do you know why they are like that? So often, (read ‘nearly always’), it is because of something going on in their lives and nothing to do with you at all. By identifying and accepting that, it can make it so much easier to put a bit of distance (a barrier) between their actions and your reactions.

Back to the things we can change. Change can feel daunting but should not be feared. It is another word for progress or growth and they are both positive parts of our lives we should all embrace. As with so many things in life and as with so much of my coaching, I would suggest to any client wanting to make changes to their lives that the changes start small and are worked through piece by piece, as and when they can be absorbed. That way, change can be successful and longlasting. To quote Andy Warhol: “They always say time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.” n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne.

Health & Wellbeing

A walk around... LONGBURTON As its name suggests, this is a long village stretching about a mile along the A352. Park near the church, which is conveniently close to the Rose and Crown, and walk eastward past the Lodge and along the drive, crossing the parish boundary into Folke, to see the magnificent West Hall, which must be pretty ancient. Returning, just over the stream is a footpath that takes you westwards across a couple of fields with lambs and llamas to meet the road.

Cross the road and enter Spring Lane. The spring is in a well. At the end of the lane is the start of a footpath that curves round to the south and then meets another path that takes you west to a minor road. Turn right and head north, passing Leweston Manor Lodge, the entrance to the school drive. The drive is private but there’s a public footpath close by. When you reach the main road, turn right and head south through the village, noting the many houses and walls built of the local stone.

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

There is a pavement most of the way. Keep going past the pub and church until you get to Manor Farm on your right. If you’re adventurous and curious you could take the bridleway to the sewage

works but, for some reason, it’s rather moist! Instead, walk south west along Bradford Lane until, just past Dick Head plantation, you meet the minor road again. Turn right and head north for just over a quarter of a mile and join a bridleway leading east that takes you back to Manor Farm. Turn left and head back up the A352 towards your car, but pause at the bus shelter, which has a magnificent mural and a library full of second hand books.

Cancer support group gearing up for post-lockdown events By Karen Bate ‘No one should fight cancer alone and at SCARS we can and will find the strength to face the future together,’ says Tracy White, an inspirational cancer survivor from Stalbridge. Tracy launched the Stalbridge Cancer Recovery and Support (SCARS) group in 2014. Having survived cancer, Tracy found that beyond the treatment and final hospital visits, sufferers were often left feeling anxious and in need of someone to talk to about their ongoing worries and problems. Since 2014 SCARS has been meeting monthly in Stalbridge, with visitors offered a friendly, confidential and comfortable environment to take ‘time out’ and relax over a cuppa (and of course cake or biscuits!).The group not only welcomes current cancer patients or those who have recovered from cancer but also their family and friends who may find they also need support to come to terms with the life-changing effects of a cancer diagnosis on their loved ones and themselves. Last year and this have been particularly difficult for the group, however Tracy says the

SCARS Brew & Bake Event for Prostate UK in 2017 at The Hub, Stalbridge

group feel immensely fortunate having received a couple of donations from local supermarkets which has made life a little easier and allowed SCARS to support members with a Zoom meeting each month. And as restrictions are gradually easing, SCARS will be holding its first first-to-face group meeting in the Stalbridge Village Hall annex on Monday, July 26 at 2pm. Tracy said: “We cannot wait to welcome back our members and we look forward to welcoming anyone who may have been diagnosed or is undergoing treatment during the pandemic. “If you feel you could benefit from support amongst likeminded friends then do come along and see what we are about. Don’t be shy as we are all

very friendly and most importantly appreciate life and like to have fun as well!” The self-funding, peer support group generates income with various fundraising events throughout the year together with financial donations elsewhere. The treasurer keeps the accounts and holds a yearly audit at the end of every August. And while SCARS are not a charity, a yearly AGM gives the chance for an open discussion to look at areas which perhaps could be improved and for members to discuss matters they feel are important to them. Tracy said: “The funds are used to run the group, but also enable the group to give a small financial grant to members if they are struggling financially to cover travel for treatment or to aid them to attend holistic or

mindfulness treatments whilst undergoing their main cancer treatment, which can be a huge benefit when treatment feels never-ending.” SCARS is appealing for anyone who would like to volunteer or join the committee to get in touch. Tracy said: “SCARS are coming back with renewed energy, ideas and plans and you could be someone who could help us bring back some positivity and joy after such difficult and trying times. “If you feel you have something to offer and would like to become part of the SCARS committee and volunteers then we would love to welcome you along. We always have a need for volunteers to help run our local fundraising events. “It would also be amazing to have volunteers who could take on the role, with training, of the day to day updating and maintaining our website as well as a volunteer(s) who can continue to run and maintain the SCARS Facebook and social media platforms to enable us to have a presence for everyone.” Email contact.scars@ gmail.com, call 07961 027089 or go to scarscancersupport.co.uk. 63

Puzzles Arrow words British defence company (inits)

Crossword

Native American tribe

Opposite of to?

Summary

Type of rodent

Fault

Tendon injury (inits)

12 13

Earliest

14 Down payment

Internet

Goodbye, to the French (2,6)

Block

Aviator

Supplication

Large tanks

17 18

March

21 Equinox month (abbr)

Pal

Recipient

Tense

Brake part

Question responses

24 ‘How stupid!’

Verruca

Sixth sense (inits)

Across 1 Notice (7) 5 Collaborative online reference (4) 9 An Italian meal made from rice (7) 10 Sum of opposing die sides (5) 11 Temporary doctor (5) 12 Turfs out (6) 14 Nullify (6) 16 Decrease (6) 18 Elan (6) 19 Teach (5) 22 Single things (5) 23 Uncovers (7) 24 Pulls (4) 25 Stored away (7)

Gunk

Excitement

Wordsearch Breeds of Duck

R E S M H G N F G E E B N D T

W E O R O L N P N O B R U O B

E N V A U D N A L T E H S F T

L L G D E N D E R M O N D R F

BLUE SWEDISH BOURBON BUFF CAMPBELL DENDERMOND ELIZABETH GIMBSHEIMER GRESSINGHAM

S M A R M B N E I P G A M H B

H S I D E W S E U L B I U T S

H D E N H S H M R U E T L H T

A D S S H S S R L L T E E R L

R H T E B A Z I L E I N B U Q

L D A M S L E E N A G E F V M

E B I D F L B G E G I V U U H

Q G D L H P E E A E H H L E O

U F V D M M D R A L L A M L D

HUTTENGEM MAGPIE MALLARD MULARD RUNNER SHETLAND VENETIAN WELSH HARLEQUIN

I L L A Z E I E M S R R M R D

N E C S S W B M H D F D P L E

Down 2 Essential (5) 3 Approximations (11) 4 Bluish-purple (6) 6 Asks for (7) 7 Hotels or bars (4) 8 Extend the duration of (7) 10 Generalized representations (11) 13 Disrobe (7) 15 Catching up (7) 17 Religious leader (6) 20 Experience (5) 21 Bet (4)

Sudoku

7 5 5 8 1 5 6 1 3 8 7 1 4 6 5 7 3 4 7 3 9 1 5 2 1 7 4

For the solutions turn to page 90

Brain chain RESULT

+25

-75%

÷2

+49

-50%

Puzzles (for cleverclogs)

Jumbo 3D Sudoku

Cryptic Crossword 1

5 5

8 1

3 9 6

1 3

3 5 1

1 4 1 7 7 6 6 3

2 7

1 3

5 13

8 8

13+

8 5

20×

Killer Sudoku Pro: 27×

90×

11+

32+

189×

384×

63×

18+

12+

8÷

240×

3÷

21×

20+

35×

2÷

20+

Brain chain (Hard version) RESULT

109

+37

+50%

÷3

+110

-62

Can you solve these brain chains entirely in your head? Start with the bold value on the left of a chain, then follow the arrows and apply each operation in turn. Write the result in the box.

20+

Place 1 to 9 once each into every black-bordered 3×3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines. 15+

1 7 1 4 2 9

8 4

1 2

3 8

7 9 6 5

3 9

8 6 7 3

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3×3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dashed-line cage, and each dashed-line 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.

Across 1 By the sound of it, superfluous part of a garment (5) 4 One from Tehran, say, I organized with Scot? (7) 9 Miserable old racing driver is descending (8) 10 Measure of speed at sea is something problematic (4) 11 Good man about ship showing accent (6) 12 Bear a one-piece undergarment (5) 13 Advantage strengthened general in part (4) 15 Endless disorder in port (3) 16 State dislike (not half!) (4) 17 Deadly area for chap (5) 19 Protect Yorkshire city without consecutive trio (6) 21 Decline around North is slight problem (4) 22 Took off a note carried by timid eccentric (8) 23 A rani’s reviewed after time as imperial female (7) 24 Exploiting pride, say, in posh grandee 24 initially (5)

Down 2 Stop at early stage a book – or source of trouble? (5) 3 Genuine son in church getting religious education (7) 5 Comparison in affair, maybe (12) 6 Annoyed right off and exposed to view? (5) 7 Harmless article by individual carrying tips for diplomacy (7) 8 Notes diarist recreated in academic work (12) 14 Fixes limits of penalty in Germany, Spain and Sweden (7) 16 Second thin plate held up for dogs, maybe (7) 18 Alcoholic drink left by a German (5) 20 Extended period in retirement? (3-2)

MPs’ round-up

Bill to curb pollution is truely a breath of fresh air Since lockdowns first began, snatching a breath of fresh air in the Somerset countryside has become a glorious escape. A moment to reconnect with the real world. Yet for many less fortunate than us, that lungful of air isn’t so fresh. Astonishingly, air pollution is now the leading environmental threat to human health in the UK. Cleaning it up is an imperative, and we now have that opportunity through the new Environment Bill. The Government’s Clean Air Strategy was described by the World Health Organisation as ‘an example for the rest of the world to follow’, and the strategy indeed took the world by the hand to lead by example: from making sure new wood-burning stoves are cleaner and more efficient, to supporting farmers to use low-emission equipment. But, as we learn more about the impact of air pollution on our health, it’s clear the job

Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton isn’t done. Dirty air causes between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year, and last year the inquest into the death of nine-year-old Ella KissiDebrah ruled that toxic air from traffic was a cause of death, the first such ruling in the UK. If current levels persist, we’re estimated to see 2.5 million new cases of related health conditions such as asthma, strokes and heart disease. UNICEF calculates that one in three children in the UK are currently growing

up exposed to illegal levels of pollutants. And as well as the harm to individuals, the wider effect on public services and the economy is staggering. In total, air pollution is estimated to cause six million sick days each year and has a total social cost of £22.6 billion. Little wonder that two thirds of the public say they’re unwilling to return to prelockdown levels of pollution, having recently inhaled something noticeably cleaner. The landmark Environment Bill, which I hope will pass into law early in this new parliamentary session, will place the environment at the centre of decision making across government. An indispensable part of the bill focusses on setting an ambitious, legally-binding target to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the most harmful type of air pollution. Now I’m urging the Government to even further,

and to act on the recommendation of the coroner following the inquest into the Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death, by enhancing the Bill to enshrine in legislation the World Health Organisation’s current guideline limits on PM2.5. in line with the campaign by the Chair of the Defra Select Committee, Neil Parish MP. Make no mistake, this isn’t just about breathing in noticeably cleaner air. The health benefits from hitting that WHO target would be worth £6.8 billion per year. And that’s without considering the costs to the NHS and social care system from air pollution-related illnesses which we could avoid. 0I hope the Government builds on its global environmental leadership and paves the way to us all – not just those lucky enough to be here in Somerset - being free to truly enjoy our green spaces. In pure fresh air.

Our covid heroes need to be recognised As a local MP and in the course of my small part in the vaccine roll out, I have witnessed first-hand some of the heroic efforts played by volunteers and key workers. I’m therefore rolling out a scheme of my own to recognise and thank those who have acted as Covid Heroes over the last year. We all want to move on from the events of the last year and achieve a ‘new normal’. However, it’s right to recognise those in our communities who went the extra mile. They embody the local and national ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ spirit which has been key in keeping communities together during Britain’s largest peace time crisis. 66

MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison I’m inviting constituents to nominate volunteers, key workers, businesses, schools or other local organisations for activities which might include helping the

vulnerable by delivering food, medicines, and other essential goods to those unable to travel to shops; or providing support to the lonely and isolating. It could involve helping young people through the provision of online schooling, tutoring, or extracurricular activities while school premises were closed. It might mean keeping spirits up through community activities, lockdown quizzes or creative social event or adapting to the challenges of lockdown and the changes in demand for goods and services - pubs doing takeaways or deliveries for example. If you live in South West Wiltshire or would like to nominate an individual or

organisation based in the area for my Covid Heroes certificate of appreciation, please visit the ‘campaigns’ section of my website (www.andrewmurrison.co.uk /campaigns). It will only take a few minutes to submit your nomination. Back in the House, I got in early in the debate on the Queen’s Speech. I loath contributing online so attended in person. I raised social care, thrown into sharp relief by the crisis. I feel strongly that we need to end this parliamentary session with a concrete plan for adult social care that will end the appalling care lottery that has been a consequence of separating health and social care in the 1940s.

MPs’ round-up

Jabs, pubs, free trade deals and Mrs Fluffles For this week’s article I thought I might provide some headlines or snippets presented as bullet points rather than a focused article. The roll-out of the vaccine is phenomenal providing as it does protection and a sense of security for those who are having it. While my inbox was never inundated, those opposed to vaccinations have reduced in number to the point of invisibility. Perhaps this is as a result of the take-up numbers and the tumbling rates of infection i.e. the proof of the pudding being in the eating; n Talking to local retailers and those involved in the hospitality sector things are definitely looking up and all of our towns seem busier than they were pre-covid, especially in the midweek period. This is extremely encouraging as we all know the vitality of our market towns is so important to making North Dorset such a special place in which to live and work; n I am a champion of the

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare mission statement of the BBC to be an independent, quality, public service broadcaster. The addition to our soft power overseas that the World Service represents is incalculable. Yet the BBC is going through another of its tortuous internal navel-gazing exercises. The organisation needs to learn and modernise – and swiftly if it is to withstand growing calls to commercialise the broadcaster; n There’s been lots of talk in the media regarding a free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand. My first task with

BAACK FROM THE BRINK: Mrs Fluffles

regard to any proposals is to ask a simple question: is it good for North Dorset? Too often the debate freezes itself between the poles of Free Trader v Protectionist. The benefits of international trade are tangible – it creates jobs and has the potential to raise living standards. I am not a laissez faire free trader nor a protectionist. I believe in responsible trade where checks, balances and review mechanisms are carved into agreements. I have yet to be persuaded that a tariff-free option on meat is good news for UK farmers or for the campaign

for high animal welfare standards that we, rightly, believe to be important in the UK and should provide the basis for us to give real global leadership. I shall continue to monitor the situation as it evolves but those who know me know where my instincts lie. n On the subject of farming we have been bottle-rearing a few lambs for a friend. Yes, we have made the mistake of naming them. Sheep, as anyone knows, are depressives always looking for an opportunity to die and often in the strangest ways. Mrs Fluffles was one such lamb. We were having none of it. Some tough talking was issued. Milk drop by drop dispensed, vitamin block fed by nail tip. Three weeks later and Mrs Fluffles is gambolling around without a care in the world (I have yet to ask her her views on the Australian Free Trade Deal). As with so much in life: perseverance has paid off.

I’m campaigning to get our Saturday Special back Last week, the Government announced the creation of Great British Railways. As someone who started my working life on the railway between Salisbury and Exeter at the beginning of a 20-year career in the rail industry before election, I believe this initiative will properly sort out rail operations, end the fragmented rail network which the European Union required, and has the potential to hugely improve the value that railways can provide to the public. Railway improvements in West Dorset continue to be high up my agenda and some of you may remember when I introduced the summer Saturday train to Weymouth several years ago when I worked for the railway. I’m appalled at South Western Railway’s decision to

Weymouth station with fellow MPs and railway executives to get Weymouth and Dorchester South stations smartened up akin to what I achieved for Sherborne Station last year. Great progress has already been made at Dorchester West along with Thornford, Yetminster and Chetnole stations, so only Dorchester South to go before all of the West Dorset railway stations will be smartened up! MP for West Dorset n On Thursday for the first Chris Loder time for 14 months, I heard the rejoicing church bells of stop running it and I have made Westminster Abbey ring from it clear that we want that service my office. As a bellringer back because it offers such a myself, I love to hear that great day out for people from wonderful sound of bells. The Gillingham, Templecombe and Tower Captain of Sherborne Sherborne to Weymouth. Abbey tells me that they have On the subject of railways, I held started again this last Sunday as a rail summit last month at are many other churches. If you

ring too and are ever in need of a bell-ringer, I’m always happy to help if you’re short! Churches should also be reopening now, but I know many are feeling that coronavirus has driven a distance between us and our church life. Some tell me they feel bereft. But I hope we will be able to move forward and replenish our social and spiritual hubs. n And finally, my campaign to improve our roads and road safety across West Dorset continues. Particularly focussing on ‘cats-eyes’, white lines and signage to reduce accidents. I started my A-Roads Taskforce a few weeks ago and we’re looking as the speeding on the A30 between Yeovil and Sherborne and the A35 first. 67

Church Church services Shaftesbury Team Ministry Sunday 30th May 10am: St James’’ - Team Communion Sunday 6th June 9.30am: St Peter’s - Family Service 9.30am: St James’ - Parish Communion 11.15am: Margaret Marsh – Matins 11.15am: Enmore Green – Family service 6pm Motcombe – evening communion Team Office: 01747 853060 facebook.com/ShaftesburyCofE Church of England services in Gillingham & Milton on Stour Sunday 30 May 10am Holy Communion at St

Mary’s, Gillingham Sunday 6 June 10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Gillingham Sunday 13 June 10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Gillingham 10.30am Holy Communion at St Simon & St Jude, Milton on Stour Sunday 20 June 10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Gillingham Sunday 27 June 10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Gillingham 10.30am Holy Communion at St Simon & St Jude, Milton on Stour St Mary’s Church remains open for private prayer every

day of the week 10am-4pm. Blandford Methodist Church You are warmly invited to our Sunday services that start at 10.45 am with covid restrictions in place. Please pre-book your seat(s) by phoning 01258 577 030. We will return you call to confirm whether your seat(s) have been reserved. Please wear a face-mask and stay 2-metres apart from those not in your bubble. No singing for the time being. If you need our help then please leave your message on our answerphone 01258 577 030 and we will return your call.

n Mass times for Catholic churches in Marnhull on Sundays and Thursdays, 9.30am; in Gillingham on Sundays at 11am and Wednesdays at 10am St Mary’s, Stalbridge A Benefice service will be held in our church on 30th May at 10am. Our regular services are as follows: 1st Sunday - Holy Communion at 10am, 2nd Sunday - Evensong at 4pm, 3rd Sunday - Morning Worship at 10am. Everyone is most welcome to attend any service in the church. facebook.com/StalbridgeChurch

We will move mountains as long as we have a little faith with the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice

Vicar in the Vale We pray that we may have faith, but what is faith? Imagine this scene. It is the 17th c, snow is falling all around that will last for up to six months, there are no modern machines, no central heating, no cars, no electricity and you are living in a foreign land. Almost unthinkable to us but this is exactly what one my ancestors, Henri Leblanc, went through in the 1600s when he emigrated from France to Canada. He also committed the unthinkable for those times by marrying a native Indian girl from the Mikmac tribe rather than keeping to someone from his own background. The one thing that kept him going was his faith and just like Abraham in the Bible he was to see his faith fulfilled by having his descendants flourish. The Leblanc family is now one of the leading groups in Canada and to my knowledge there are 68

descendants in Australia, USA, France and of course with my family here in the UK. Abraham was 100 years old when God told him his wife Sarah would bear him a son and that he would father many nations. His wife was barren and also over 80. But he had faith and we know what happened. His life was changed, because although he believed it was impossible for him to father a child, a son was born. If he lived today the Government would think he should have just retired and faded away because he is over 65 and therefore of little use, but what do they know? In the Bible we hear Jesus saying that he is to die. So that’s the end of all the dreams for the disciples. But Jesus tells them that they must have faith. They must not turn away from him and all he has taught them. They must have the faith to establish his church and preach his Gospel throughout the world. So the word is faith. If we have faith then anything is possible, Jesus tells us that faith can move mountains. The impossible can become possible. The dreams that we have can become reality

and much, much more. Fifty years ago Martin Luther King began one of his most famous speeches by saying that he had a dream. He dreamt of equality and freedom. Today we have had a black president in the White House and although the dream of total freedom and equality is not yet there we pray it soon will be. It needed faith, and certainly King and his contemporaries had that faith. In our lifetimes we have seen marvellous advances in the treatment of illness. TB, smallpox and diphtheria are mostly eradicated and yet not so long ago they were killers. Of course there are many more complaints that have to be overcome, covid-19, cancer, diabetes, alzheimer’s and ebola to name but a few, but if we have faith then I believe that one day these too will be eradicated. One day there will be equality across the whole world, poverty will be wiped out, people of whatever race will live side by side without any problems, we will think of each other as children of God and not worry about where our ancestors were born, or what colour we are or

even what religion we follow, if any. We will only see another human being who is to be cherished. One day it will come. If only we have faith, one day the mountains will be laid low and the rough places made plain to quote from Isaiah. We have to be prepared to take that first step and have faith. If Henri Leblanc had failed to have faith in Canada I would not be here, if Abraham had not had faith then a dynasty would not have been born and the Jewish race would have been destroyed. If that had happened then we would not be able to know Christ. If Martin Luther King had not had faith then we would still see slavery and oppression across the world. So many things have been changed by people having faith. If we can have that faith then what can we change in our world today? Can we help eradicate poverty, could we stop wars and are we able to bring back prosperity not only to our own country but to all countries of this troubled world? The answer is of course yes, but to do it we must have faith. Let us pray for that faith and the courage to use it.

Education

Stories at schooltime for special Pyjamarama Day Youngsters at North Cadbury Church of England Primary School enjoyed a day in their jim-jams as part of the Book Trust Pyjamarama Day celebrating books and reading. Activities included writing and listening to stories, creating book covers and using books to go on a scavenger hunt for words. Even the staff joined in and the cuddly toys had a splendid day in school!

School with star alunmi opens for arts week Artwork produced by the talented teachers at Bryanston School will be showcased for the very first time during Dorset Arts Week from Saturday, May 29 until June 6. The art department will be running a series of special public workshops and hosting an open studio. The art department comprises of teachers and technicians who are all accomplished artists in their own right – from award-winning portraiture and abstract paintings to contemporary ceramics and mixed media art forms and the artwork on display will comprise an extensive selection of drawings, paintings, prints and sculptures. Bryanston is renowned as a fertile environment for the creative arts and has overseen the formative development of many generations of renowned designers and artists including Sir Terence Conran, Sir Howard Hodgkin, Richard Batterham,

Monday, May 31. Ceramics on Friday, June 4. Experimental print-making on Wednesday, June 2. Life drawing workshop on Saturday, June 5 (10am-12pm) Early booking is advisable and tickets are available at tickets.bryanston.co.uk.

Caroline by Jack Dickson

Head of art Doug Knight

Quinlan Terry and Lucian Freud along with Sophie Harley, Michael Armitage, Tessa Eastman and Coco Fennell. Head of Art Doug Knight said such active participation in one of the country’s largest biennial open studio events has been a long time in the planning: “For quite some time, we have been looking at different ways to support art development in the local community and to provide budding local artists with the chance to benefit from the diverse range of skills within our

team. Running dedicated workshops for all ages as part of the county’s most popular art event is the perfect opportunity. Dorset Art Weeks also provides our talented team with a rare collective opportunity to showcase their skills and latest works to a wider audience. “As a new venue on the event’s circuit in the heart of Dorset, we are all delighted to be taking part and really looking forward to welcoming visitors.” Workshops (10am-12.30pm): Experimental drawing on

Italian Courses Classes and private tuition

throughout the year CONTACT CHRISTINE JEWELS

01935 425958 www.italianlanguageservices.co.uk

Arts & Entertainment

Blake in a field of their own with harmonies Blake will perform at a concert being held at The Deer Park, Stock Gaylard, Kings Stag, on July 24. Award-winning soprano Camilla Foster Mitchell, born and bred just outside Cheselbourne, and daughter of farmer Giles Foster Mitchell, will feature alongside Blake’s lead vocalist Ollie Baines, whose godfather John Sunnucks lives in Child Okeford. The open air picnic concert will also feature the Piccadilly Strings – Dorset musicians who have played

NOVEL: Shaun Leavey LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Blake are at Kings Stag in July

with many of the UK’s top orchestras and recording sessions – and the hugely popular Blackmore Vale Brass quintet Since coming together in 2007 Britain’s number one harmony group Blake have had enormous success throughout the world with

over a million albums sold. From Lloyd Webber to Puccini, Sting to Mancini and songs from musicals and films there will be music for everyone. Gates open at 6pm, and the curtain rises at 7pm. Tickets at £40 a head are available from

Carmen see this concert: if you’re not too Bizet, that is Concerts in the West are bringing Creating Carmen, a new concert/play by Clare Norburn to three venues in July. On Friday, July 23 it will be at Bridport Arts Centre at 11.30am and then Ilminster Arts Centre at 8pm, then at The Dance House in Crewkerne at 7.30pm the following day. Bizet’s opera Carmen of 1875 is probably the most well-known opera for a fiery and colourful story. The opera is based on part of a novella titled Carmen written 30 years earlier by the French writer, Prosper Merimée. Creating Carmen is a concert-play created by award-winning writer Clare Norburn for Carmenco, a group which features Andrew Massey and Francisco Correa (guitars) with Emily Andrews (flute and mezzo-soprano). Nicholas Renton directs. Prosper Merimée led a colourful and rakish 70

CREATIVE: Creating Carmen is at three venues in July

existence with numerous love affaires of a dubious nature. This concert-play imagines how Merimée’s wild escapades gave rise to one of the most infamous femme fatale characters of all time. Go to concertsinthewest.org for more info and to book. Tickets: evening concerts: £15; Bridport: £12 (optional donation at all the concerts) Ilminster only: There will be suppers available before the

concert at 6.30pm - £18 per head – Sue Foreman of Somerset Kitchen (book by July 19). The bar will be open before the concert and during the interval for drinks. IAC & town parking & car parks. Disabled access to the concert. Students with a card: £5. FREE entry for children aged 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.

Tales of the desert from soldier turned novelist Sherborne resident Shaun Leavey has written a novel called The Camel Killer, in which the central character is a young Arab officer serving alongside British troops in the 1960s. It draws on Shaun’s own time as a young officer in Aden and South Arabia, his subsequent visits back to the Yemen (and to Eritrea) as well as family connections in Northern Ireland. Shaun (pictured above in South Arabia) said: “The novel seeks to tell the troubled story of the British Army’s latter years in Aden and South Arabia through the eyes of an Arab officer. It will come as little surprise to anyone who was a serviceman that the book includes some language that may make it unsuitable for – say – anyone of less than teenage years.” The novel has been privately printed. For every copy sold Shaun will be donating £5 to organisations (MSF and UNICEF) relieving famine in the Yemen. The sale price of the book including postage is £12. To order email s.leavey@btinternet.com giving your name and full address.

Arts & Entertainment

Henry V at Halstock

HOORAY HENRY: The Festival Players present Henry V at Halstock Village Hall on July 2

The Festival Players will present Henry V for one night only on Friday, July 2 at 7pm on Halstock Village Hall Field. Dorset’s rural touring arts charity, Artsreach, have hired the professional international theatre company to deliver the best in open-air Shakespeare. A bar and hog roast will be available from 6pm; bring a chair or rug and dress appropriately. Tickets must be booked in advance at artsreach.co.uk or on 01935 891744.

Bec says there’s something about Mary By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A show about Cornish highwaywoman, convict, mother and maritime adventurer Mary Bryant is galloping into Dorset for three open-air performances presented by Artsreach. Cornish actor Bec Applebee. Well known for her work with the internationally acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre, Wildworks, Dalla and the Tosta Band, Bec will be bringing Mary Bryant to life in the solo theatre show Oh Mary!. Mary was born in Fowey, Cornwall, in 1765 and after a stint of petty crime, she was arrested and found guilty of a violent highway robbery having stolen a bonnet and some money. Mary was sentenced to hang but was given a reprieve and instead, sentenced to seven years’ transportation to Botany Bay in Australia. On arrival, Mary was married to William Bryant, a

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE: Bec Applebee tells the story of adventurer Mary Bryant

fellow convict, and three years later the pair escaped to sea with their young family and a band of fellow prisoners. This was one of Maritime’s greatest escapes in an open cutter. Bec Applebee said: “Mary’s is an epic story of personal strength, bravery and loss, of an indomitable human spirit.”

Oh Mary! features specially commissioned tunes by Neil Davey and a soundtrack recorded by Dalla and Radjel, evocative narrative by Anna Murphy (Kneehigh, BBC Radio 4), choreography by Helen Tiplady (Cscape Dance) and direction by Simon Harvey (Kneehigh theatre). Oh Mary! will be performed:

Friday, June 25 at 7.30pm in Higher Orchard, Sandford Orcas. 01963 220208 Saturday, June 26 at 7.30pm in Milborne St Andrew Hall Field. 01258 839060 Sunday, June 27 at 2pm at Little Beerlands, Ryall. 01308 424922 Tickets must be booked in advance. Find out more at artsreach.co.uk 71

Arts & Entertainment

DWT reopens visitors centres with variety of art displays Dorset Wildlife Trust has reopened its visitor centres. The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge has some fresh new displays, including a stunning art exhibition by Weymouth artist and scuba-diver Sandra Stalker. Alongside this, a group of local divers and Having soldiered on despite three lockdowns, Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group refuse to ditch their annual January show. So, their latest production, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a truly ‘must see’ event and proof that well-loved tradition shines through in the toughest of times. This is the wonderful C S Lewis story of the Pevensey children. Evacuated during the Second World War, they move to an old house, with a professor and his terrifyingly strict housekeeper. There they discover a wardrobe, through which they journey to the land of Narnia where a magical age-old tale of good versus evil unfolds. Don’t miss this magical journey. There will be two three-day runs, performed by different casts and tickets purchased for the cancelled shows have been transferred to the same days and times with special arrangements for Sunday matinee tickets. nPerformances from July 8-17. For full details and to book, visit www.shaftesbury artscentre.org.uk Shaftesbury Arts Centre is proud to be joining together with The Gold Hill Festival and Shaftesbury Rotary Club for a ‘Curtain Up’ Showcase, a variety show of music, song, dance and entertainment celebrating live theatre and positive times ahead. This is a free event and there’s no need to book, you can just turn up at the gate. There will be donation buckets in 72

photographers are exhibiting a selection of their work, making normally unseen marine creatures accessible to all. The Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre will be taking part in Dorset Art Weeks from now until June 6, with a ‘Dorset Wildlife’ art exhibition, featuring art work

created by local artists inspired by the wildlife and natural landscapes in Dorset. The Taste* Café in the Chesil Centre is also open. The Kingcombe Centre near Dorchester has recently opened the new Humble Bee Café, which uses locally sourced ingredients to create a variety of snacks and

refreshments for breakfast and lunch. It’s ideal for a stop-off before or after a walk to explore the 450-acre nature reserve surrounding the Kingcombe Centre. To see opening times and directions to our visitor centres and nature reserves, visit dorset wildlifetrust.org.uk.

What’s on at the arts centre? Frankly, it’s Narnia business event. nDate: Sat July 3 Time: Doors open at 6.30pm and show starts at 7pm Venue: Barton Hill Recreation Ground Visit www.shaftesbury artscentre.org.uk for further details Box Office 01747854321

SHOWTIME: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Belle Street are coming to Shaftesbury Arts Centre

circulation, collecting for The Arts Centre, but the organisers know that times have been hard and will greatly appreciate anything you’re able to give while welcoming back live theatre to Shaftesbury. Take a picnic, chair or a rug and join in the fun. Government guidance that’s

Belle Street in The Garden Shaftesbury Arts Centre is inviting you to meet your friends and wander in a beautiful garden, with a glass of Champagne, taking in extensive views over the Blackmore Vale. All this while being serenaded by the delightful Belle Street singing trio. There will be stalls, raffle and great company. So please pop along to this fundraiser. nFriday 23 July 23 Time: To be confirmed - keep an eye on www. shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk Venue: 4 Boyne Mead Price: £12.50 Box Office 01747854321

in place at the time will be followed. Shaftesbury Arts Centre wish to thank Shaftesbury Rotary Club Do you Cook, Craft or Grow? for their If so Gillingham Country Market wants you! support in Come & join our friendly team. organising Make at home - sell with us. and putting More Information from June Whalley on this 01747 852983

Arts & Entertainment

Sturminster Newton shops hosting Dorset Arts Week displays By Jacqui Wragg of Sturbiz SturBiz (Sturminster Newton Chamber of Commerce) reacts when an opportunity arises to create an event which brings footfall into town to help our town centre businesses. In providing our very talented local artists who are participating in Dorset Art Weeks with additional display

space in the shop windows of our town we have not only created a mutually beneficial opportunity as we emerge from lockdown, we’ve also sparked enthusiasm for future town art events. With 17 locally talented artists displaying in 14 of our town business venues we have an exhibition for all to enjoy. So, why not visit Sturminster Newton during the half term

break and the bank holiday weekend and discover not only fabulous art, but the many enticing family owned independent businesses all waiting to provide you with a very special Stur welcome? Take a look at sturminsternewton.org.uk/event/dorset-ar t-weeks-comes-to-sturminsternewton/ for more information on the participating artists and town centre

venues. Additional information can be found on the SturBiz Facebook page. n An exhibition by artist Giles Penny at the Jerram Gallery, Sherborne will be held in May next year – not this month. We apologise for the error. See his works at gilespenny.co.uk

Motoring STORAGE FOR CARAVANS, BOATS AND CARS at Enford Farm near Blandford. 01258 450050 / 07704813025

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Motoring

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Push to keep town

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

By Karen Bate Shaftesbury Town Councillor Piers Brown urged members to back his motion to turn the temporary pedestrianisation of the High Street into a permanent fixture at the meeting on Tuesday (May 25). A majority vote would kickstart feasibility work to make pedestrianisation permanent if agreed by Dorset Council Highways team and the people of Shaftesbury, which will be followed by an official request from the town council for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to be put in place. Piers said: “The pedestrianisation of Shaftesbury High Street has been an amazing success both for businesses and shoppers. To go back to having cars racing through the high street, is

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CAR SALES

CAR OF THE WEEK

2019 (19) Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium Automatic 5dr. 82bhp, petrol, 4 speed automatic, only 3,900 miles from new, manufacturers warranty until June 2024, front & rear parking sensors, hill start assist, touch screen, bluetooth, air con, alloys, great value small automatic, 3,900 miles £9950 2013 (63) BMW 1 Series 1.6 116i M Sport Automatic 5dr. 136bhp, petrol, 8 speed automatic, great performance, M Sport body styling wheels & seats, parking sensors, bluetooth, climate control, auto lights & wipers, 67,500 miles. £9850 2016 (16) Citroen C4 Cactus 1.2 Flair Automatic 5dr. 82bhp, petrol, Free road tax & upto 65mpg, sat nav, touch screen, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, reverse camera, 62,800 miles £7250 2015 (15) Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6HDi VTR+ Automatic MPV 5dr. 120bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic, high seats, large boot with a low loading edge, parking sensors, auto lights & wipers, Free road tax, upto 74mpg, 31,300 miles £7650 2019 (19) Dacia Sandero Stepway 0.9TCe Essential 5dr. 90bhp, petrol, bluetooth, hill start assist, outstanding value car with warranty until July 2022, only 8,500 miles £8350 2017 (17) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, parking sensors, heated front screen, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, upto 65mpg, 33,700 miles £9500 2017 (67) Ford C-Max 1.5TDCi Titanium X MPV 5dr. 120bhp, diesel, partial leather, heated seats, auto lights & wipers, xenon lights, cruise control, sunroof, parking sensors, upto 68mpg, 22,800 miles £12000 2019 (19) Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium Automatic 5dr. 82bhp, petrol, only 3,900 miles from new, warranty until June 2024, great specification small automatic, front & rear parking sensors, only 3,900 miles £9950 2010 (60) Hyundai iX20 1.6 Style Automatic 5dr. 123bhp, petrol, automatic, high seating position, large boot, flat folding rear seats, electric sunroof, parking sensors, bluetooth, only 49,100 miles £4950

unthinkable. That is why I am starting a campaign to - Keep Shaftesbury Pedestrianised!” However, some residents say they have been affected by extra traffic through the lanes which run parallel to the town centre since the road closures have been in force. Bell Street resident Christopher Price says he agrees with the principle of High Street pedestrianisation, but it needed a carefully thought out traffic flow system. He said: “St James, which is affected by the current system, Bell Street, Angel Lane, Barton Hill and Victoria Street. All these streets have been affected in the last few months by the closure of the High Street. “That’s understandable at the moment because if you are going to have pedestrianisation it is a huge process to actually

2009 (59) Kia Rio 1.5CRDi Strike 5dr. 108bhp, diesel, £30 a year road tax, upto 62mpg economy, MOT - Jan 2021, clearance car as has a few minor marks around the body, 106,500 miles £850 2014 (64) Mini Hatch 1.5TD Cooper D 3dr. 114bhp, diesel, pepper pack, climate control, bluetooth, hill start assist, auto lights & wipers, Free road tax, upto 74mpg, 57,700 miles £6950 2016 (16) Renault Kadjar 1.2TCe Dynamique Nav SUV 5dr. 130bhp, petrol, sat nav, cruise control, hill start assist, lane aid, sign recognition, auto lights & wipers, 21,200 miles £9350 2015 (65) Renault Captur 1.5DCi Dynamique S Nav Automatic SUV 5dr. 90bhp, diesel, automatic, Free road tax & upto 72mpg economy, sat nav, touch screen, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, 35,500 miles £8750 2008 (08) Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 16V Automatic 4x4 Station Wagon 5dr. 138bhp, petrol, automatic, 4x4, side bars, leather trim, MOT - Oct 2021, clearance car as has a few minor bumps on bodywork, only 46,950 miles £4000 2013 (13) Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SE 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, partial leather, heated seats, heated steering wheel, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, 45,800 miles £4250 2017 (67) Vauxhall Astra 1.6CDTi Elite Nav 5dr. 136bhp, diesel, sat nav, heated leather front & rear, heated steering wheel, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, upto 58mpg, 82,500 miles £7650 2015 (15) Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi Match 5dr. 120bhp, petrol, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, F&R parking sensors, hill start assist, bluetooth, touch screen, 54,100 miles £9450 2014 (14) Volkswagen Passat 2.0TDi Executive Automatic Estate 5dr. 140bhp, diesel, automatic, sat nav, leather, heated seats, parking sensors, auto park system, reverse camera, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, hill start assist, touch screen, bluetooth, 49,100 miles £9350

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Motoring

pedestrianisation You need your trucks and vans on the road We’re here to keep them there work out a proper traffic flow process. “In principle I think it’s a good idea provided you get a proper traffic flow system throughout the central part of the town in Shaftesbury.” The Mayor of Shaftesbury, Andy Hollingshead, said: “Pedestrianisation has been hugely popular but it is a temporary measure. We now need to consider whether pedestrianisation of the High Street should become a permanent feature but a number of important questions need to

be answered first including access for buses, delivery vehicles and drivers with disabilities, and how traffic is to be managed in the Bell Street, Bleke Street and Barton Hill area. “Once we have answers to those, and other questions, then we can move forward to a wide ranging consultation with the public and businesses. However, it is important to remember that this will be the responsibility of Dorset Highways who will have the final decision on any proposals.”

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Business

SAY CHEESE: Marcus Fergusson and Penny Nagle with their award-winning produce. Above right, the cheese that proved a hit with judges and right, a mouthwatering cheese hamper

Cheese sweeps the board! By Miranda Robertson

A Spanish-inspired fresh cheese made in Templecombe has taken the crown as Britain’s Best Cheese at the Virtual Cheese Awards 2021. Marcus Fergusson and Penny Nagle started making cheese at Feltham’s Farm in 2017, having always been passionate about food – cheese in particular. Feltham’s Farm is an organic smallholding which aims to be as sustainable as possible. It runs on 40KW of solar panels and ground source heat, while all local deliveries are made in a 100% electric van. Oxford sandy & black pigs eat all the whey produced (making a very sweet parma-like ham) so there is minimum waste. The Virtual Cheese Awards launched last year to support and promote British cheesemakers during the first lockdown. Although the 2020 awards were organised very quickly, they still attracted over 76

300 entries and all the profits from the event were donated to support cheesemakers and farming charities. Feltham’s Farm’s Renegade Monk cheese took the top prize as a soft, blue, rind washed cheese. This year, judges included Adrian Boswell, Selfridge’s senior fresh food buyer, Dhruv Baker of Tempus Foods, Tracey Colley, Director Academy of Cheese and Chris Dawson, Marks & Spencer’s cheese buyer. They tasted the entries blind to decide on awards including Best Cheddar, Best Artisan Hard and Best Territorial cheese. Marcus and Penny again beat hundreds of entries to scoop Best British Cheese – this time with La Fresca Margarita, a fresh white cheese developed and launched during lockdown. La Fresca Margarita is a “queso fresco” (fresh cheese) made with pasteurised cow’s milk. Inspired by the pair’s travels in Latin America and Spain. Penny said: “Margarita

is Spanish for daisy, which grows in abundance on our marsh meadow, and this is very much a fresh daisy best eaten within a week or two of make.” Marcus said: “We are completely blown away by this win. La Fresca Margarita is a lovely queso fresco we developed over lockdown as a counterbalance to our pungent washed rind cheeses. We loved how it engaged the judges. There’s nothing like being able to see your cheese tasted blind by experts in front of everyone…” Awards founder Sarah de Wit said: “La Fresca Margarita was a worthy winner of this year’s Virtual Cheese Awards and consistently blew the judges away with its fresh melt-in-themouth flavour and citrus notes. It’s a beautiful example of a fresh cheese and the fact that the team at Feltham’s Farm only developed and launched this cheese in the Covid-19 pandemic, is testament to their superior cheesemaking skills.”

New award for resilience in tourism gongs 21/22 The 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards are now open and businesses from across the county are invited to submit their entries. The awards, now in their 9th year, cover all of Dorset and offer businesses the chance to win not just locally, but to progress on to the regional South West awards and – for matching categories – the national VisitEngland awards. There is a new award for Resilience and Innovation, as well as opportunities to submit entries for unsung heroes, new businesses, dog friendly, accessibility and sustainability. The awards are free to enter as they are supported by many sponsors and partners. Full details are at dorsettourismawards.org.uk

Business

Looking to successfully secure and enhance a healthy financial future? For a no obligation personal financial health check, just ask.

PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

30 Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, Dorset BH13 7LP Tel: 01202 830730 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315

Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.

Business

Spending priorities don’t match up with the public’s need Over the years, I have held maze days at schools in Britain and the United States. Two weeks ahead, teachers ask pupils to “make a maze on a tray”, and bring it along. This works wonders, since the day is already guaranteed to be a success. Parents become aware of the maze day, and often help their children. Everyone puts in time, effort and imagination before the maze day has begun. Wonderful things arrive using Lego bricks, pipe cleaners, balsa wood, cardboard and paint. I once suggested “little green scrubbies” cut into strips make nice model hedges, and probably caused local shops to run out of stock. On the day, we have a game where we learn a new form of maths. We then get the head teacher to come in, and try

challenges on the pupils. I start it off: “What’s two fives?” “TEN” they reply. “What's 15 times four?” “SIXTY” they all reply. “Over to you, head teacher!” I say. Then the fun begins. “What’s seven sevens?” “FIFTY!” they shout with relish. “What's eight nines?” “SEVENTY!” they shout with even more relish. Finally the penny drops with the head teacher. “Yes, you are right,”

he says, “It’s rounding arithmetic, and you are only allowed to use one number other than zeroes.” What possible use is this, you might ask? Try this: “The Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier cost 3 ....illion.” “Fibre Broadband direct to ALL 29 million UK premises costs £15 ....illion“ “4,000 miles of new roads over 5 years costs £27 ...illion.“ “330 miles of HS2 railway costs £106 ...illion”. “Dorset County Council's budget this year is £295 ....illion.” Questions: [1] What percentage of all these is for Dorset County Council? [2] Which is worth more to you: Fibre to EVERY premises in Britain, or the existence of HS2? Answers: £3 billion; £15 billion; £27 billion; £106 billion; £295 million.

Percentages: 2%; 10%, 17.8%; 70%; 0.2%. As a graph: the slice of the pie for 0.2% for Dorset County Council can hardly be seen. As a value judgement: HS2 costs seven times as much, and yet to the UK is perhaps seven times less valuable than Broadband FTTP (Fibre To The Premises). Thus one might surmise that broadband is 49 times better value for money than HS2. The crucial thing is the correct order of magnitude. It’s not that easy! I will be glad to arrange a maze day for the entire cabinet; I suspect some of them could benefit from learning more about orders of magnitude. n Adrian Fisher OBE is an award-winning maze designer from Durweston

Recruitment

Experienced/Skilled Ground Workers Required We are looking for skilled and experienced ground workers to work with our installation teams on our local water, drainage & civil engineering projects. Experienced in drainage installations including underground tanks and pipe laying, concreting, kerbing, etc. You will be confident working from plan and understand levels. Customer facing, conscientious and hardworking. You will be familiar with the operation of small plant and will hold a full UK driving licence. You will work from the Company Head Office in Dinton. Excellent pay and conditions for this permanent position. Please contact for an application pack Closing date will be Friday 25th June 2021 Mrs J Simmons M J ABBOTT LTD, Bratch Lane, Dinton, Salisbury SP3 5EB

Email: jules.simmons@mjabbott.co.uk mjabbott.co.uk (M J Abbott Ltd is an equal opportunities employer) 78

Recruitment CONTRACT HERDSPERSON – Nr Wareham Experienced, conscientious and reliable herdsperson required for 130+ cow dairy close to Wareham, Dorset. Friesian herd milked through a 16:16 DeLaval parlour. All year round calving. Parlour fed. Cubicle housed on straw. A.I required along with experience with foot trimming. 3 bedroom house available. Good time off and remuneration. Please email CV to info@amuco.co.uk FULL TIME MILKING ASSISTANTS REQUIRED near Shaftesbury, must be friendly, hard working, punctual. Full training will be given as sheep milking is unknown to many, working weekends on a rota within the team. Apply to vanessa@orchidmeadow.com FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL SALES NEGOTIATOR REQUIRED for busy estate agency Please apply with CV to chapmanmoore@btconnect.com

Or in writing to Sue Moore, Chapman Moore, High Street, Gillingham SP8 4AA

TEACHER: We are looking to appoint an energetic and enthusiastic teacher to inspire our children from September 2021. If you are passionate about providing the best possible education for children, and firmly believe you can make a difference, then we would love to hear from you. Visits to our school are warmly welcomed. We are looking for cover for two days per week, this would be a temporary contract. Closing date Monday 14th June 2021. For further details please contact Lisa Beavis St John’s Primary School, Weaveland Road, Tisbury, Wilts. SP3 6HJ Tel: 01747 870675 Email: admin@stjohntisbury.wilts.sch.uk School website: st-johntisbury.wilts.sch.uk Rayford Ltd of Dorchester have vacancies for: Schools Term Time Taxi Drivers EMPLOYED 20 hours a week. Full time & part time taxi drivers to include evenings and weekends (self employed) Contact 01305 269500 Email: andrew.rayford group@yahoo.com

Independent Day School for Girls and Boys from 2 to 13 years

Grounds/General Maintenance Person To maintain and develop all open areas and playing fields on campus, with additional general maintenance duties For an application form and further details, please visit www.dumpton.com/vacancies Closing Date for Applications 9am on Monday 14 June Dumpton School, Deans Grove House, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7AF Telephone 01202 883818 Dumpton School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

www.dumpton.com Registered Charity No 306222

MERE PRIMARY SCHOOL YEAR 2 TEACHING ASSISTANT An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified, experienced and enthusiastic teaching assistant to work in out Year 2 class. You will be working as part of a happy, friendly and motivated team. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS. Please contact Mrs Hyde on 01747 860515 or admin@mere.wilts.sch.uk for an application pack. Closing date 14th June '21 at 9am. F CUFF & SONS LTD Experienced/qualified BENCH JOINER required for our high quality bespoke joinery workshop. Interesting & varied work. Must be able to work on own initiative. Immediate start. Competitive salary. Further details and an application form please contact: 01963 23219 or info@fcuffandsons.co.uk PART TIME HELP WANTED: Repairing lawn mowers etc, ability to weld 01935 822032 07881 816867 EXPERIENCED GARDENER: for small garden maintenance company in Blandford area. Must have reasonable horticultural knowledge for work in private gardens. 01258 459 582 WANTED GARDENER & CLEANER for 2 hours, twice a week each. Blandford St Mary area. 01258 453702 ST DENIS LODGE RESIDENTIAL HOME Requires a part time care assistant. To include alternate weekends. Experience preferred but not necessary. Please call 01747 854596

PLUMBER MANOR HOTEL (Sturminster Newton) requires a permanent part-time bar person to join the team. Own transport, good sense of humour and adaptability essential. Some bar experience an advantage but training will be given. This is a longterm employment which would suit a more mature person. 2-3 nights a week 6-11pm (variable) and 1 shift at weekends. Email book@plumbermanor.com with CV STALBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL Assistant Town Clerk 10 hrs per week. Some flexibility required to cover holiday & occasional evening meetings. Good admin, IT & communication skills essential. Knowledge of Local Government would be an advantage however training will be provided. Starting NALC scale LC1 SCP 7-12 depending on experience. Send CV to clerk@stalbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk

Closing date 25/06/21 EGG PACKERS required to work as part of a team. Manual work so must be physically fit. Contact Paul 07967 388895 BRICKLAYER & LABOURER required to start immediately. Ring 07971 946537 HELP WANTED for feeding calves and general yard work, Monday-Friday, at Dairy Farm near Shepton Mallet. Mobile home available if needed. 07770 651086 SELF-EMPLOYED LABOURER REQUIRED Suit somebody who is keen, hardworking and enthusiastic. Call Simon on 07847 659881

PICTUREFRAMES.CO.UK/JOBS

Recruitment

FREESTONE & CO. Chartered Accountants

28 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX Sherborne@susiewatsondesigns.co.uk

INTERIOR DESIGN ASSISTANT We are looking for an individual with a passion for beautiful things and an eye for design. The position requires strong numerical and administrative skills, a highly organized person, good IT skills and attention to detail. A knowledge and understanding of measuring and preparing quotes for curtains and blinds would be preferable. 4 days a week with some Saturdays. Please email your CV to the above address

ACCOUNTS SENIOR Full time or part time position. Quali昀ed or quali昀ed by experience. Practice experience essential as this is not a trainee position. The role requires direct client contact and the management of your own work. Email CV and covering letter to nicola@freestone-co.co.uk

Plant Care Technician Covering interior plant maintenance at client sites around the South West. Based from our nursery near Sherborne. Full D/L required. Approx. 24-30 hrs per week. 01963 348420 or christina@superplants.co.uk

Quill Productions

Experienced Purchasing & Stock Control Manager

with excellent organisational & computer skills required for our busy warehouse. For full job description please email tc@quillproductions.co.uk

HOUSEKEEPER WANTED, Sherborne area. Mornings 9.30-1, afternoon 4.30-6. Cooking and general house duties. 07968 328360

Harvest Temporary Summer Work Cefetra Grain is looking for temporary summer staff to help during the busy Harvest Period. Laboratory Assistants - to work in the Laboratory and Grain intake, based in Henstridge, Somerset. The role will involve the testing of samples from lorries delivering into the stores as well as the testing of samples collected from farms. No experienced needed as full training will be given. Candidates will need to have a flexible approach to work, be prepared to work longer hours, split shifts, and weekends as necessary. Farm Grain Samplers - working remotely to collect ex-farm grain for testing in the laboratory. The role will involve liaising with farmers and the office to plan grain sampling routes. Once on farm the candidate will have the physically active job of climbing up grain heaps and spearing combinable crops. The role involves a significant amount of driving and could also include some laboratory and office work. These temporary positions will be available from early July through to end of September/early October. Please submit your application together with your CV by email to grain@cefetra.co.uk before 4th June 2021. Cefetra Grain, Henstridge Trading Estate, Templecombe, Somerset BA8 0TN (Tel: 01963 363162) 80

Recruitment

JOB VACANCY – TANKER WASH OPERATOR We are CIP Services and we are the leading milk tanker cleaning company in the UK with customers including Arla, Gregory & Wincanton – we clean the internal surfaces of tankers with our innovative automated machinery. We are looking to recruit a reliable, hard-working and well organised individual to join our busy team to help us meet the growing demand for our tanker hygiene services. The successful candidate would be based in our Wincanton truck wash depot and be involved in a wide range of duties including automated tanker cleaning, general housekeeping of our units, inspections and preventative maintenance. Any electrical or welding knowledge would be an advantage for the role – as would any prior experience in the dairy industry – but these are not essential as training will be given in all aspects of the job for the right candidate. Our Wincanton team work on a rota basis and benefit from generous overtime rates. A requirement for the job is a full, clean driving licence as travel to other sites (mostly in the south west) is a regular feature of the role. Occasional stays away from home are required from time-to-time for locations which are further afield. Any other licences - such as HGV - would be a bonus. Please send your CV and reasons for interest in the role to our Managing Director at mark@cipgb.co.uk HGV CLASS 1 DRIVER, based at Yeovil. Brick and block haulage and bulk work. 07967 747450 or 07540 305075 YETMINSTER HEALTH CENTRE PART-TIME PRACTICE NURSE www.sosimply.com

Ladies Online Fashion Brand

FULL TIME

Customer Sales and Dispatch Coordinator Main responsibilities: Showroom Sales Adviser; Picking and Packing Orders; Helping customers online & telephone sales; Stock management; Working as part of a team to tight deadlines. Desirable criteria: Customer service skills; Strong communication. The ideal Candidate needs to be adaptable and have a ‘can do, will do’ attitude and drive to achieve. We have an immensely fun and social environment to work in. If this sounds like you, we can’t wait to hear from you, please email your CV and covering letter to:

topsies1@btconnect.com So Simply Robell, Hinton Business Park, Tarrant Hinton DT11 8JF

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Practice Nurse to join our rural dispensing practice in a small idyllic village just outside of Sherborne. We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated, dynamic Practice Nurse to join our friendly team for 18 ¼ hours per week (over 3 days) Flexibility will be necessary to assist in covering annual leave and/or sickness. The ideal candidate will have experience within Primary Care, be adaptable, highly motivated and relish a challenge. However, we are willing to train and develop the right candidate. The post holder will provide a professional ‘best practice’ service without direct supervision and support the GPs in completing clinical audits; assist in achieving QOF targets and ensure that administrative tasks associated with clinical duties are complete. Salary is negotiable dependent on experience. Further details are available on the NHS Jobs website beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/A0786-21-0580 You may apply either online or send your C.V. and an accompanying letter to: marcus.pawson@dorsetgp.nhs.uk Closing date for receipt of applications: 13th June 2021

Recruitment

Independent Co-educational Boarding and Day School Nursery Prep Senior Sixth Form IndependentIAPS/GSA/CISC Boarding and Day School

for Pupils aged 4 -18 GSA/CISC

Full time Early Years/Nursery Driver Required Practitioner

Independent Co-educational Boarding and Day School Nursery Prep Senior Sixth Form IndependentIAPS/GSA/CISC Boarding and Day School

f for Pupils l aged d 44 18 GSA/CISC

Domestic Assistant Vacancies

Driver Required

PART TIME, TERM TIME ONLY

Leweston School is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Early Years Practitioner to join our thriving Nursery, which offers high quality childcare and education. We offer highly competitive rates of pay and generous holiday allocations, in addition to a package of benefits including delicious meals for staff, use of facilities and discounts on childcare. Working within our friendly and professional team, this is an opportunity for a well-qualified practitioner to help create a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 0 - 4 years. The ideal candidate will have a good working knowledge of the EYFS, strong communication skills and a passion to be an exceptional Early Years Educator. We are committed the professional development of our staff and there will be opportunities for progression. Applicants should be qualified to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, experience of working in a similar role is desirable. This is a full time role working 40 hours per week. Hours of work are between 7.30am and 6.15pm, Monday – Friday, in accordance with the duty shift rota.

For further information and to download an application pack, please visit our website https://www.leweston.co.uk/information/work-with-us

Closing date for Applications: 11th June 2021 Interviews: 18th June 2021 Leweston is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required. A Catholic Foundation which welcomes pupils of all Denominations Leweston School Trust is a registered charity number 295175

We are looking for organised, friendly and cheerful Domestic Assistants to join our committed Domestic team whose role is to ensure that the school is cleaned to a very high standard. The hours available are: Ref DV1: 0600 to midday Monday to Friday all year round (52 weeks). Ref: DV2 0600 to midday Monday to Friday term time only (34 weeks). Ref : DV3 1000 to 1630 Monday to Friday with a 30 minute unpaid meal break, all year round (52 weeks). Benefits include Free Canteen facilities, membership of Leweston Leisure, staff discount, holiday pay and free uniform. Rate of pay: £9.72 per hour (rising to £9.96 per hour in September), plus holiday pay for the 34 week role. For the all year round roles the holiday entitlement is 20 days per annum plus 8 Bank Holidays.

For further information and to download an application pack, please visit our website https://www.leweston.co.uk/information/work-with-us

Closing date for applications: 10th June 2021 Leweston is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required. A Catholic Foundation which welcomes pupils of all Denominations Leweston School Trust is a registered charity number 295175

ST OR PT, SALES PERSON for ice cream van, over 25, good rate of pay. Full training given. Call 07966 276612 VACANCIES Gardeners, routine garden maintenance and project work. Both FT and PT positions available. Wage dependent on experience/ training. All applications welcome. Contact countylawnsandtrees@gmail.com

VAN LOADER REQUIRED Crook and churn dairy, near Child Okeford need someone to help box orders and load vans on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1pm5pm. Please ring 01747 812000 or email crookandchurn@ btconnect.com for

application form.

Recruitment

90 jobs to be created in BattleLab boost By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A £5.7million defence building programme has completed the first building, with the completion of a 450 sqm workshop ready for defence personnel. The Defence BattleLab facility is a collaboration between the MoD, Dorset Council and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, and will include an Army BattleLab featuring an engineering workshop, a working and conference area for the Armed Forces and MoD. In its first decade of operating, the programme aims to create 90 new

local jobs and add £4million to the local economy. The Defence BattleLab, based in Winfrith, will enable the MoD to work with academic institutions, corporates and SMEs. The workshop will be joined by an additional 1,100 sqm office space with meeting and conferencing facilities to be completed this year. Considerable work is underway to encourage innovation to HARVEST HELP required for general meet defence tractor and farm work in Sixpenny Handley needs. The area. Please call 07836 665 725 MoD’s recently published We have vacancies for: Defence and Security Experienced Industrial Strategy, GRP Fiberglass which outlines Laminators/Finishers the MoD’s strategic and approach to the Trainee UK’s defence and security Laminators/Finishers industrial Full on site training will be given. sectors, says the Defence

For further information apply in writing or phone 01747 871232 Wessex Building Products Station Works Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6JT

BattleLab is a great opportunity to focus on specific challenges and new technology. Dorset boasts a particularly strong defence sector and is home to many MoD establishments, such as the Army’s Armoured Trial and Development Unit in Bovington, the home of the Royal Corps of Signals in Blandford, and the training area at Lulworth Cove which is used by all elements of the UK’s Armed Forces. Brigadier Matt Cansdale, British Army, Head Future Force Development, said: “We are delighted the BattleLab remains on course for completion this year despite recent turmoil. “This reflects a huge amount of excellent collaborative work from all the partners in this project. “The completion of this workshop is an important stepping stone and will allow us to start using this facility in its intended purpose of engaging with industry in a more collaborative manner. Future Soldier is the British Army’s plan to transform itself into an Army for the digital age. It is a bold and

transformative plan, and the Army BattleLab will be at the heart of how we deliver on this plan.” Cecilia Bufton, Dorset LEP chair, said: “Dorset LEP is committed to unlocking the skills of our future workforce to support initiatives such as the Defence BattleLab. “This commitment is included in our Local Industrial Strategy and our Dorset Investment Prospectus. “We look forward to connecting our regional network in support of the Army’s drive for innovation.” Cllr Tony Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property at Dorset Council, said: “The Defence Battlelab reflects Dorset’s historical links with the Army, forged over many generations, married with our current place at the cutting edge of technology. There are many strands that have come together to make Dorset the right place for the Defence Battlelab, such as Lulworth Ranges and 5G coverage, so it’s exciting to see institutions from different centuries brought together to deliver solutions for today’s armed forces. We’re pleased at the progress being made and I personally cannot wait to see the finished facility later in the year.” nA virtual preview is being held at Advancing Dorset in Defence, Security and Innovation Event on Friday, May 28.

kba require an

Advanced Bookkeeper with Payroll Skills plus an

Assistant Accountant with Tax Knowledge

Manufacturers of GRP Building Products

Further information and application details can be found on our website: www.kba.uk.com/jobs Closing Date for Applications: 30th June 2021

SITUATIONS WANTED CLEANER: Efficient and highly organised. Satisfaction guaranteed. Refs available. Andrew 07838 377788 PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT REQUIRED for fit, active, reliable guy with clean driving licence. 07760 776792

HOME HELP Sherborne & Yeovil. Personal care, companion, cleaner, dog walker and gardener. Qualified carer 8 years’ experience, holding current care certificate. Enhanced DBS and insurance. Call Susan 07463 382008 PRIVATE CARER AVAILABLE NVQ3 trained, Sherborne & surrounding areas. Excellent references call Debra on 07753 301530

SELF EMPLOYED CARER available for night care. References, insurance and Dbs. Please contact 07737283568

CLEANER AVAILABLE, Stalbridge area, refrences available. 07975 982947

Recruitment

The Marchant-Holliday School require a

Deputy Head of Care/Welfare We are an established independent residential school for boys aged 5-12, all of whom havean Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). We are looking to appoint a highly motivated, enthusiastic, resilient and well-organised person with significant experience of working with children with special educational/behavioural needs in a residential setting. The post holder will have at least 3 years’ experience in a supervisory capacity and hold the minimum of a relevant Level 3 Diploma with a willingness to complete a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care and Children & Young People’s Services within 2 years. You will have a comprehensive understanding of the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools and Ofsted requirements, be a strong team player with excellent written and oral communication skills. The successful candidate will have a genuine desire to promote the personal development of our pupils. The position requires shift work and sleeping in duties, remunerated at NJC rates. Salary in the range NJC Pts 22 – 28 (£27,041 – £32,234), dependent upon qualifications and experience. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required. Please visit the school’s website for a Job Description, Person Specification and an application form: www.marchant-holliday.co.uk If you would like an informal discussion regarding the role please contact the school and ask to speak to Yvonne MacCallum (Head of Welfare). Closing date: Monday 14 June 2021 Marchant Holliday School, North Cheriton, Templecombe, Somerset BA8 0AH

01963 33234 84

Sport

Unbeatable Wincanton win every game on way to title Blackmore Vale League May 12 Bradford Abbas 0 Wincanton Utd 2 Congratulations to Wincanton who won every game of the season, only the second team to do so since 2003. Provost Barbarians also achieved the feat in 2015/16.

Going into their final game, the hosts were looking to spoil the party and revenge a narrow 7-6 defeat at Wincanton earlier in the season. United started well and took the lead after former Bradford player Nick Hewlett struck a long range effort. The lead doubled shortly after a low effort

found the bottom corner and this woke Bradford up. A chipped shot went wide, appeals for a penalty were turned down and regular scorer Pete Crabtree skied an effort yards from goal. Ollie Hilbourne then had a header cleared off the line and was tackled when clean through

on goal. The second half was a scrappy affair and the game ended with a Wincanton penalty which Liam Norris tipped onto the bar. Bradford’s match report concluded: “Another great battle against a very good Wincanton team who deservedly go the season unbeaten.”

League determined to finish season Most football leagues in the region decided two months ago to scrap their seasons but one has persevered – the community-based Blackmore Vale Football League. There had been no BVFL games from December 20 until April 4, causing a huge backlog of fixtures. One team, Hazelbury Hornets, decided to call it a day but the nine other teams voted to continue. “We knew there was going to be disruption at the beginning of the year,” says Jamie Denne, media and marketing manager for the League. “But the priority was to get the league done, a tick in the box.” The FA granted a season extension to the end of June. Pitch availability was an issue but alternatives were found and there were no cup competitions to distract. The heavy schedule meant that on occasion, teams Dorset Senior Trophy final Blandford United 1 Merley Cobham Sports 5 Asa Phillips struck twice as Merley cruised to victory. Plenty had travelled down to support Blandford and the game started evenly, with United closest with a long range effort just over the bar. Cobham took the lead on 10 minutes through Matt Groves. Blandford responded, Brad and Taylor Pike causing problems and in the 29th minute, the Royals equalised when Cobham failed to clear a long throw and

JAMIE DENNE: “The good thing about this league is that you get a total mix of players.”

couldn’t raise a side and forfeited a match. But the season will end on June 13, a triumph particularly as the League had to abandon the 2019-20 season. Then, Wincanton United were poised to win the league. This season they have walked it, winning all 17 games. “You tend to get one good team that stands out but the good thing about this league the loose ball was struck home by Mike Johnson. It was Blandford’s best period of the game. But Dan Edwards hit the post for Cobham with a 20 yard drive before Phillips shot home on 40 minutes. Cobham started the second half with more composure. Lee Wilkins scored their third on 59 minutes. Blandford chased shadows, Phillips adding his second and Joe Wickham finished off. Cobham saw out the final 15 minutes to land the trophy, their 32nd consecutive win.

is that you get a total mix of players,” says Jamie. “There’s Wincanton, other teams who are all just friends and some teams in-between. Overall, there is a lot of experienced players.” The league has a proud history, being formed in 1914. Sturminster Rovers is the longest serving team in the league, having joined in 1992. In recent years, the number of teams has varied between five and 12. There is a high turnover, with only six of last season’s 10 teams returning this season in the same form. Indeed, after winning their final game, Wincanton United suggested on Twitter that the team may not return next season. “Final game of the season, and maybe of WUFC as we know it, was played last night, in a wet and cold Bradford Abbas...and made it

17 out of 17.” But Jamie believes there is great potential for the league next season and points out that the nearest Sunday league competitions are in Bournemouth and Weymouth. A Sunday league in Yeovil closed down eight years ago. Jamie is now inviting new entries for the 2021/22 season from communities who want to play men’s Sunday morning 11-a-side football from across Dorset and Somerset. “The main issue with running a team is player availability and the financial side of things,” he says. n Jamie is in the process of producing a detailed record of the BVFL’s history. If anyone has any newspaper articles, club badges or team photos relating to BVFL competitions, please email him on: BlackmoreValeFL @hotmail.com

Tisbury stumble at semi-final Dorset Senior League Cup May 22 semi-final Tisbury United 1 Sturminster Marshall 4 Tisbury were the quicker of the two sides to settle but Stur started to gain the upper hand, taking the lead on 25 minutes with a decent back post header from Jordan Fisk. They then took control of the tie seconds before half time. The Sharks started the second half with much more urgency

and their efforts were quickly rewarded when Marsh poked home from close range and the next 10 minutes saw them push hard for an equaliser. But Stur punished some poor defending with two late counter attacking goals. Despite the disappointment of losing a semi, the team can be proud of their campaign but ultimately on the day the best team won. Stur Marshall will meet Chickerell in the final on May 31. Dan Carter 85

Sport

Unwanted kit to help Gambia players The Dorset Cricket Board and Dorset League are asking clubs to donate any unwanted gear for shipment to Africa. The charity Sunshine with Smiles has for a decade been sending school items and sports equipment to Gambia, where cricket is one of the most popular sports. The DCB will collect the unwanted kit in June and July at three clubs across the county. “Most clubs have a lot of junior and senior cricket equipment sitting unused now that players tend to buy

HAPPY TO HELP: Blandford CC are supporting the plea to donate unwanted kit and equipment

their own. This is a good chance to clear out,” said a spokesman. Locally, Blandford CC have agreed to help. Contact Tom Snape on

07900 914406 to arrange a drop-off, ideally in large black sacks labelled Sunshine with Smiles. nThe popular English Cricket Board All Stars and

Dorset Premier League In aid of Ducks & Drakes Cancer Trust CRICKET May 15 Martinstown 38/2 Sunday 4th July at 10am - last start 2pm RESULTS Sherborne Plush Cricket Ground, DT2 7RQ LAST START 1pm FIBRE WADS ONLY PLEASE AND Match abandoned Individual Guns Individual Traps & Team Flush REPORTS Martinstown 5pts Teams of 4 or U16’s BBQ & Refreshments Sherborne 6pt BOOKINGS: 01258 472501 www.ducksdrakescancertrust.org.uk Rain caused the game to be abandoned midway through the 11th over with Sherborne having made a good start against the early league leaders. Both Martinstown openers had been removed SATURDAY for ducks, with Shane 26th JUNE 2021 Pulling and Josh Lawrence the wickets. 9.30am-3.30pm taking Sherborne, who did not play last weekend, have only completed one of three games this season and have Thinking of taking up a new hobby, 30 points. They sit mid-table why not give golf a try? with Martinstown top with Come and visit us at Henstridge Golf and Leisure 63 points, having won all three of their other games. Resort, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Division One Have a complimentary round of 9 holes, chat May 22 with other members and meet the Club Captain. Compton House 100 Hamworthy 309/3 Complimentary teas, coffees Hamworthy (20pts) beat and selected soft drinks. Comptom House (3) by 209 runs Book a Tee time to avoid disappointment A hammering for the Phone: 01963 362789 Sherborne team, who used nine bowlers to try and stem Email: admin@henstridgegolfandleisure.co.uk the tide of runs led by Jack Henstridge Golf and Leisure Resort Hector (102no). Chris Marsh Lane, Henstridge, Somerset BA8 0TG Haynes (31) and Joe Watts CHARITY CLAY PIGEON SHOOT

FRE GOL E F!

Dynamos coaching sessions for kids aged 5-11 have encouraged 1,298 children to sign up in Dorset, compared with 717 last year. More info: ecb.clubspark.uk/junior (26) made a good stand for the second wicket after opener Michael Harper was dismissed for a duck. Swanage 178-8 Marnhull 143-7 Swanage (18pts) beat Marnhull (7) by 35 runs A knock of 46 by Steve Kent coming in at number six steadied Swanage in a match reduced to 28 overs. The impressive Zach Caunt did the damage for Marnhull, taking 3-8 off six overs. But Marnhull made a disastrous start to their chase, losing three batsmen for just six. Puddletown 154/7 Stalbridge 148-9 Puddletown (19ts) beat Stalbridge (6) by three wickets A total of 148 off 40 overs was never enough although Stalbridge had to fight hard against a strong bowling attack. Adam Weir took 5-32 and Rob Snow 3-20 for league leaders Puddletown while James Lewis top scored for Stalbridge with 33. Lewis was also the pick of the bowlers with 4-36 but man-of-the-match Weir scored 42no and James Mitchell 48 to ease Puddletown home.

Sport

All change with four new appointments Shaftesbury have signed a fourman management team as they set out an ambitious programme for next season. The team has been brought in from Christchurch FC, with Shaftesbury manager Danny Holmes and his assistant David Walsh leaving the club progress for some while. Ollie Cherrett and Wayne Smith are the new joint managers, as they were at Christchurch, and they are joined by Chris Hart and Will Robinson assistant manager/coach and goalkeeper coach. Cherrett and Smith had recently resigned from the south coast club after it turned down the chance to take up a place in the Southern League. Under the joint managers, Christchurch

SHAFTESBURY BOUND: Ollie Cherrett and Wayne Smith in their last game at Christchurch Picture: Justin Parry

had the best points-per-game record of any club in the Wessex Premier over the last two

seasons. Cherret spent more than five years at the club and led Christchurch to the Sydenhams

Wessex Division One title and back into the Premier division. Joined at the club by Smith in 2019, the highlight of their tenure was the club’s best FA Cup run, which ended in the club’s first-ever televised match shown on the BBC against Dulwich Hamlet FC. In contrast, Shaftesbury were fifth bottom when 2019/20 was null and voided and fifth bottom again when 2020/21 was curtailed. Shaftesbury chairman Steve Coffen described them as “a couple of indifferent years” and thanked Danny Holmes, wishing him all the best for the future. And he added: “We really hope we can see the club make big steps forward and look forward to the 2021/22 season.”

Gills begin the climb back up the football pyramid Gillingham Town have started the climb back up the leagues with promotion to the Western League Division One. With the season curtailed by covid, the FA has pressed ahead with reorganising non-league football. Its move to shuffle teams to make leagues more localised, and save players and officials travel time and costs, was also based on how teams have fared in the last two part-seasons. Gillingham were lying fifth in the Dorset Premier when this season was called off, and third last season. The promotion will mean derbies against Sherborne, Wincanton and Warminster and

will give the club entry into the FA Vase and FA Cup. Three years ago, Gillingham were in the Western League’s premier division but a disastrous move to the new ground at Woodwater saw the club tumble two divisions. “Because of all the move’s associated problems, we had little choice but to voluntarily drop down,” says club secretary Paul Hill. The club’s former ground at Harding’s Lane was on heavy clay, causing many match cancellations in winter. The move to Woodwater was supposed to solve the problem. But Woodwater had not been

completed by the council, there were drainage problems and the club has spent £60k “just to be able to play football,” said Hill. Now the club is on the up, with support from local businesses and grants, which will also pay 70% of the cost of floodlights to be installed at Woodwater this summer. The club aims to boost attendances to more than 100, with plans to convert a standing area into a seated stand for 150 and build capacity to 300 spectators. A new clubhouse is also in the pipeline with work to start this summer. The new season will

start in early August, with evening games on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Added Hill: “We still have a lot to do, so please support our fund raising, starting with the Southampton legends game on July 16 and our music festival on July 17, both at Woodwater.” n Gillingham Town Ladies FC are recruiting players aged 16 or over as it looks to add a second team. Training takes place at Harding’s Lane on Thursdays at 6pm, with matches at 2pm on Sundays. Contact manager Steve Webber on 07914 851082 or email to webbersmw@aol.com

Rodriguez at the double to clinch semi-final place for Gills Dorset Premier Supplementary Cup: May 22 Holt Utd 1 Gillingham 2 Gillingham will be away to Hamworthy Recreation in the semi-final of the cup tomorrow. The other semi sees Merley Cobham Sports take on Balti Sports. Gill travelled to Holt needing a point to secure their spot but, as it turned out, Shaftesbury Reserves forfeited

their match vs Merley meaning Gillingham had already qualified. The game started with slack defending on the edge of the box gifting Holt a 1-0 lead. The second half started better for Gill with plenty of possession but they still couldn't break down a rigid back line. On 65 minutes, a triple substitution was made with Tom Jarvis, Elliott Bevis and Joe Paterson brought on to shake

things up. The changes had an immediate impact and Gill were level within three minutes after some great footwork from Aaron Rodriguez was capped off by a low shot into the corner. Holt started to tire and with 10 minutes to go, Rodriguez scored an almost exact replica goal with another cooly taken finish into the bottom corner. n The Dorset Premier League, which includes Blandford FC

and Sturminster Newton, is set to grow to 18 teams in the 2021/22 season. There are currently 16, with Corfe Castle FC having joined the league in place of Gillingham. The DPL is looking for two more clubs from five applications received, subject to ground specifications. Gillingham has been promoted from the DPL to the Western League Division One, where Sherborne and Wincanton play. 87

Equestrian

Trailer thefts on the increase in Dorset – tips for owners Do you own a horse, livestock or flatbed trailer? Dorset Police have seen a rise in the thefts of trailers across the county this year. In the last few weeks there has been a rise in trailers being stolen from rural premises in particular. Officers have outlined measures you can take to prevent your trailer from being stolen. n Record trailer serial numbers and photographs for reference – a picture of the stolen trailer or box will increase publicity prospects and recovery. n Putting your postcode on the roof of your livestock or

horse box is a good way of making sure that it is easily identifiable. Kits can be brought cheaply. n Have your trailer marked with a security marking scheme such as Datatag and other options are available. Insurance discounts are available for fitting certain devices to machines. Check with your insurer for more details. n Machines fitted and registered with certain security markings are four times less likely to be stolen and six times more likely to be recovered. n If your trailer or box is fitted with Datatag make sure that it is

registered to you especially if you have brought this secondhand. Update details at datatag.co.uk/owner.php n Trailers should be security marked and secured using a wheel clamp and hitch lock. Consider using a security posts to secure. n Consider an appropriate ground anchor with strong high CEN rated padlock and chain. Don’t always trust the standard hitch lock that comes from the manufacturer as these can be bypassed by thieves. n Consider removing the wheels if it’s not going to be used for a while, locking the

wheels away in a different place. n Make sure if you have a trailer fitted with a security registration sticker such as the TER Sticker (The Trailer Equipment Register) that your details are current and up to date with them. n Trailers can also by secured by reversing up to a solid object such as a wall and then placing a bucket or other heavy implement over the hitch. n Fit an alarm. Report suspicious vehicles or callers on 999 if the vehicle or occupants are seen committing crime or phone 101 or via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk.

Eventing team keeps it in the family By Jade Leahy Team Rimmer Eventing, based at Fontmell Parva, is well known in the area and in the eventing community. The team comprises mum Jo, daughter Jess, grooms Lucy Stranger and Hannah Pearce and ten international and national event horses. Jo came to Dorset in the 1990s to take up a teaching post at Claysmore, where she met husband Daniel. When their children were young, Ed (now 16) and Jess (now 19) Jo took the plunge to follow her passion for competing and coaching. She took on the yard and 20 boxes at Fontmell Parva with fellow eventer Joe Roome which led to their enduring friendship. Jo nurtures the talent of horses and pupils alike. Her daughter Jess began her career with the Pony Club. Under her mother’s wing she has groomed at internationals since she was 12, she represented the southwest at the U!8 championships three years in a row, was on the Junior Development Squad and is currently on the U21 Youth Development Squad. Currently on a gap year Jess works parttime at Fox-Pitt Eventing. She recently rode her top horse, Diamond Bobby, to victory in an 88

Nations Cup team. They were aiming for Badminton in 2020 and 2021, but covid restrictions meant the prestigious event was cancelled on both occasions. Jo loves the exhilaration and variety of training for eventing, as well as helping her pupils achieve their goals. She says she should have perhaps reduced her workload by now but her 5* successes led to her being sent some talented horses to ride so isn’t handing the reins over to Jess quite yet! Find out more by following Team Rimmer Eventing on Facebook. Jo Rimmer and Issac Newton and right, Jess Rimmer and Diamond Bobby

OIU21 trial at Bicton. Jo has built a solid reputation for sourcing and producing young stock. Notable examples are Coolys Luxury, who she found in Ireland and sold on after finishing third in his first CCI3*L in France. He went on to do do 5 Badmintons and Burghleys. Finnegan’s Whiskers and Jo achieved five double clears at CCI4* level before he went on to become a Grand Prix Showjumper. When asked what she thinks makes a good event horse she said: “Athleticism with a good jump, correct

conformation and most importantly, trainability.” Her greatest successes have been with Isaac Newton, sent to her to produce and sell as a cheeky young horse. She sold a share to Anna Slight, and nearly sold him to America after jumping clear around Blenheim CCI4*s. Anna and Jo and Fontmell Parva’s head girl Stacey Blunn were delighted when Isaac didn’t pass his USA vetting as this enabled them to keep him. Jo and Isaac Newton have gone from strength to strength jumping around two CCI5*s and being on a British

EQUINE CLASSIFIEDS 2 STABLES PLUS 2 ACRE FIELD FOR RENT. (2 further stables and acreage maybe available) Hazelbury Bryan On secure farm Cottage and workshop available by separate negotiation £200pcm 07734 059190 PADDOCKS For all your paddock & field maintenance, call Mark 01747 821271 or 07810 540725

Field & Stream

New website A new website and membership system for Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association is set to go live for the forthcoming coarse fishing season. The preferred method of subscription is through the online portal, which will allow the club to manage membership more easily. It is also the committee’s intention to use electronic communication so, wherever possible, an email address should be provided. Those wishing to renew or begin membership should go to s-haa.co.uk and follow the links. For those with difficulties in completing the process without support from family or friends, some help may be available from the club. In these circumstances, please ring in the first instance Simon McCreary, Hon Sec on 07493 260462.

CPRE Somerset’s star chair Journalist and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup is the new President of CPRE Somerset (Campaign to Protect Rural England), succeeding Roger Martin. Mariella is keen to champion the work of the countryside charity which works with rural communities to protect, enhance and celebrate the Somerset countryside. Growing up the countryside, Mariella moved to Somerset over a decade ago and is often broadcasting her afternoon Times Radio show from her home just south of the Mendip Hills. Mariella said: “I’m honoured to be joining CPRE Somerset at a time when the value and importance of our magnificent rural landscapes, for our physical and mental

NEW CHIEF: Mariella Frostrup

well-being and in pursuing more sustainable lifestyles has been highlighted as never before. It’s exciting and challenging to take on this role as we try to imagine what the future will look like. How we embrace expanding rural communities

post the pandemic while conserving the land and landscapes that we all have deep-rooted connections to and is our children’s legacy has never been more imperative.” Chris Lewis, Chair of CPRE Somerset said “We are thrilled that Mariella has agreed to be President of CPRE Somerset. She has a genuine love of the countryside and a real understanding of the issues facing rural communities today. “She will be a fantastic ambassador for our charity, helping to raise our profile and thus increase the effectiveness of our work. We look forward to working with her in the months and years to come.”

Lambs are nearly as big as their mums now THE FIELD with Tria Stebbing

I think there is a danger that this could become a regular moan about the weather. We have been experiencing biblical amounts of rain since I last wrote. The flock on their summer grazing stand like beacons on the hillside braving continuous bouts of torrential rain, thunder, gales interspersed with a very occasional sunny day. The lambs have reached the time to wean them away from their mums. The ewes are beginning to lose condition and the lambs are growing at an amazing rate, Juggernaut looks comical trying to make himself small enough to squeeze underneath mum for a drink of milk as he is now nearly as tall as she is. First of all, we need to round

them all up for a health check and a top-up of Pasteurella vaccine. The lambs are at risk at this time as the stress of being removed for weaning can result in the pathogens invading the lungs, leading to septicaemia or pneumonia. Although they look in top condition it is better to be

safe. The lambs will be moved a mile up the road to a lovely small field where they can be watched closely and given lots of fuss. The ewes will continue to graze the paddock which has become their summer home. In an ideal world we would take the ewes back to indoor shelter for a while so they do not develop mastitis, by drying them off and restricting feed and water the milk will dry up quicker. The weather is damp and by putting the ewes away we would risk other bacterial infections, so it is a question of juggling the weather conditions. I will be keeping a close eye on my beloved Disney princess, she has been a good mum to her triplets, but out of all the sheep she is probably the most vulnerable as her body condition has dropped since lambing despite me targeting her with extra treats. Sheep chess will then step up

a notch as we will soon have to separate the ram lambs from their sisters. At ten weeks old they already know what to do to impress the ladies and are perfecting the curled lip Flehmen look as well as chasing their sisters relentlessly. The rams are being halter trained in the hope that one day country shows will restart. We are thinking about showing at Shaftesbury and Gillingham – watch this space. The field remains in its dormant state, the grass has only just started to grow, and the wild orchids are late. The pond had been very dry in April but has certainly topped up in the last few weeks. It will be interesting to see if the damselfly are late and if the glow-worms are on track for an appearance in the middle of June. We really need some warmth now to harness all that rainfall into growing and catching up. 89

Farming

Master beekeeper speaks out on hives By Karen Bate A master beekeeper from Shillingstone has told the New Blackmore Vale that part of the ground-breaking B-Lines project, aimed to reverse the decline in bees, is ‘wrong’. In our last edition, the story ‘Scheme is the Bees Knees’ covered the B-Lines project – a landscape-scale solution aiming to reverse the decline in bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. The BeeWayzz project is one of the first and is creating highways of appealing plants to pollinators across the Blackmore Vale. These corridors, roughly in the shape of flower petals, will radiate from the Bere Marsh central hub at Shillingstone to follow little used country lanes, bridleways, public footpaths and ancient droves so populations are given a better chance to expand and re-populate. Part of the plan will also see the promotion of the ‘natural art of beekeeping’ by building top bar hives. Elaine Spencer White, secretary to the BeeWayzz Hub, said: “The Hub is also promoting greater interest in the little

A top bar hive

known art of natural beekeeping – maintaining hives but leaving the honey for the bees so they grow healthier and stronger and thereby arresting declining populations among various species. We want to encourage greater interest in nurturing bees rather than taking their honey. To do this we have a five-year plan to train people in the skills of building the right kind of hives, known as top bar hives, and then passing on these skills to others. “Natural beekeeping is an ancient craft which has almost died out and we are intent on reviving it.” However, Master Beekeeper Lesley Gasson says the inference top bar hives are

somehow more ‘natural or better for bees’ is incorrect. She said: “Professor Tom Seeley, who has studied bees all his adult life, says bees in their natural state live in holes in trees, about five metres above the ground and swarm, depending on the level of pheromones in the queen and live in an area of one colony, to one acre or more. “As soon as you collect a swarm and put it in a hive of any sort you are interfering with bees’ natural behaviour. Top bar hives are a few feet from the ground, they are not as well insulated as trees as the wood is thin; there are often more than one hive to the acre and so robbing between hives occurs and diseases can be passed on. “There are a number of exotic pests which destroy bees which have been introduced to this country by humans; one of these is varroa. Bees have no defence against varroa in this country. If they are isolated in their natural condition their chances of getting varroa are reduced but still possible. With a top bar hive you cannot inspect for the diseases introduced by varroa,

starvation or foul brood diseases. Top bar hives can become a source of infection to managed colonies which may be only a few hundred yards away. “In the old days people kept bees in skeps, which are a sort of straw basket. They encouraged bees to swarm and then killed the original colony from which they took the honey. By collecting the swarm they ensured that they still had a colony of bees for the coming year. “If people are interested in keeping bees they should enrol in a course which follows the syllabus recommended by the British Beekeepers’ Association and learn to keep them in a disease-free sustainable way. It is because we care for our bees in managed colonies we have ensured that they survive and thrive pollinating the countryside and giving us a measure of honey. “We never take all the honey but just as a cow gives farmers milk and all of it does not go to the calf so beekeepers harvest honey leaving enough for the bees to survive the winter however long.”

Puzzle solutions (from pages 64-65) Sudoku

2 3 7 6 9 5 8 4 1

1 9 8 3 4 7 5 6 2

Crossword

6 4 5 8 1 2 7 9 3

7 5 4 9 2 6 3 1 8

3 8 2 4 7 1 6 5 9

9 1 6 5 3 8 4 2 7

4 7 1 2 5 3 9 8 6

8 2 9 7 6 4 1 3 5

5 6 3 1 8 9 2 7 4

P R O L O N G

Brain chain 15

P U N T

O B S E R V E A S I I S O T T O I I L O C U M E J A T E G A T E L A I P V I G O U R N N I N I T S E X N S U G S S T A

W I N E V I C T E S S

S T E R E O T U T Y A P O S E T S H E

I N E N S S U E N D O R E E S S D

Any problems with these puzzles? Email newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Arrow words B F A U R V E T O E W S D E P O B R O A N P A Y E E S W A R T

E E S S E P

O V E R V I E W

P O I R L R O R A T S T I T E R S D O H G O O H Y P E

Farming

Swarm to us

Opportunity for RELIEF MILKER - North Dorset 2 WEEKENDS PER MONTH block spring calving - ONCE A DAY MILKING 270 cows new Waikato 24/48 parlour good renumeration for reliable candidate with experience. Overnight accommodation if required. Contact: s.hemsworthfarm@gmail.com or Sophie on 07866 915305

By Lesley Gasson, secretary of the North Dorset Beekeepers Association

‘A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon and a swarm in July isn’t worth a fly’. These are the old sayings about swarms and they are true to a certain extent. May is the main month for swarming but no sensible bee will go out in a swarm if the weather is cold, wet, and windy. Swarms like a warm, still day with the chance of finding a warm, secure home that is weather proof and about 40 litres volume. We have had weather more like April than May lately so many of the expected swarms are late this year. Beekeepers are happy to collect swarms to help the public. We are volunteers, we do not charge for collecting a swarm but we are also human. We cannot climb trees holding a swarm collecting box or skep; we cannot scale chimneys or other unreachable places so if the swarm is out of reach

we won’t be able to help you. We need to make sure that it really is a swarm of bees. Often bumble bees make their nests in bird boxes, or mouse holes or compost bins. We do not collect bumble bees. Wasps also nest in sheds, attics, and places secure from the weather. We do not deal with wasps. The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) has a website which tells you where the nearest beekeeper is to you who will collect a swarm. Your local beekeeping association (North Dorset Beekeeping Association ) is happy to collect swarms if they are accessible. So when you ring, we need to know where the swarm is, when it arrived and how big it is. The number to ring is 01258 861690.

13+

20+

27×

90×

5 6

3 32+

189×

35×

5 63×

1 4

8÷

8 3

240×

3 3÷

20+

21×

18+

12+

4 1

384×

5 2÷

20+

Brain chain (Hard) 109

146

CONCRETE RAILWAY SLEEPERS For cow tracks / retaining walls. Contact Ricky or Robert at Liquiline Limited 01258 830324 www.liquiline.co.uk 5 FOUR MONTH OLD ANGUS STIRKS, named sires, all males. 01749 812222 / 07842 142435 SHEPHERDING SERVICES, all routine sheep work undertaken, any size flock. Call Alan 07968 049218

20×

11+

FENCING, TOPPING, HAYMAKING AND HAULAGE. Please phone Andrew 01747 855198

Jumbo 3D Sudoku

Killer Sudoku Pro 15+

WANTED BARN, YARD OR LAND for sale or to let, anything considered (to continue working and completing a project) Call Steve 07470 750294

219

183

2 9 1 6 4 7 5 25 8 7 6 7 9 5 6 9 7 6 5 8 1 5 4 7 1 4 1 8 8 6 8 2 3 4 8 4 1 3 8 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 1 1 7 1 8 9 9 2 5 3 2 6 4 9 9 2 7 6 9 3 1 8 9 5 5 6 4 7 64 2 5 9 8 47 6 4 2 9 7 7 3 2 6 5 9 5 4 1 8 6 3 2 1 3 5 4 8 5 2 1 1 3 7 6 8 9 8 7 9 6 4 8 2 7 2 2 9 3 5 6 5 7 3 3 1 1 1 5 7 4 5 3 9 1 4 8 5 2 1 3 7 9 4 9 9 7 6 8 6 4 6 8 4 9 6 8 2 7 5 7 6 4 1 3 5 8 2 5 2 6 8 3 1 8 9 6 1 3 2 2 7 4 2 1 9 1 3 8 4 7 5 4 6 3 7 5 5 8 9 69 3 6 4 7 95 1 7 1 2 3 4 8 1 3 4 2 2 7 7 8 6 5 2 9 9 6 1 4 3 5 8

CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE, old, unwanted caravans, cars, trailers, vans etc. Garden machinery, tractors, scrap metal. Yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, dismantling and gas cutting service. Please call 01935 873169 or 07368380477 3 PRONGED BALE SPIKE, £125 ono. 01749 850356 IFOR WILLIAMS P7E TRAILER 7ftx4ft Excellent condition £975 Enquiries 07707 475328 WHOLECROP FOR SALE 10.5 Ha Barley/Pea mix. Milborne Port. 07967 634706 TRADITIONAL HEREFORD BULL, pedigree proven, ideal native breeds, not Holsteins or Continental. 01747 830335

Any problems with these puzzles? Email newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

121

Cryptic Crossword W A I S T B I D O W N H R C S T R E S R E D G E E F E L L I A S N A G E E T S A R I

D I S S E R T A T I O N

I R E L L A T I I O N S H M I P A

A N I A N A N K N O T E D E D D Y N A V E R N H I E L D M I T A T E D L I U S I N G

Farming G R E E N S L A D E TAY L O R H U N T

Forthcoming Dairy Sales

Sedgemoor Auction Centre

Telephone: 01278 410250. Email: livestock@gth.net SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE NORTH PETHERTON, SOMERSET, TA6 6DF (M5, J24) Thursday 3 rd June at 10.15am

North Petherton, Somerset, TA6 6DF (M5, J24) Telephone: 01278 410278 www.gth.net

The Dispersal Sale of the Classi昀ed “Dinnaton” Herd being

383 PEDIGREE HOLSTEINS Comp: 243 Dairy Cows & Heifers Inmilk &/or Incalf; 60 Calved Heifers and 80 Incalf Heifers

* CIS HERD AV: 8,870KGS. 3.4%BF; 3.22%P; SCC=171 * HERRINGBONE Parlour; CUBICLE Housed * YOUNG COWS: 269 1st – 3rd Lactation * 115 Excellent & Very Good Classi昀ed Cows * CALVING: Mar-Jun (106); Jul-Oct (128); Nov-Feb (125) * SIRES INC: Accelrapper, Bankroll, Dewars, Galaxy, Hiro, Jetstream, Kimball, Kingpin, Lambda, Mayday, Mogul, Tampa, etc. * SERVICES TO: Calumet, Casper, Dalliance, Dreambig, Harvest, Kingboy, King Doc, Pharo, Summerfest, Totem, etc.

For DC Dennis & Son Ltd (Removed from Fardel Manor Farm, Ivybridge, Devon) ** Live bidding on MartEye, please register in advance at gth.marteye.ie ** JUNE Thurs 17th SEDGEMOOR AUCTON CENTRE. The MidSummer Collective Dairy Sale of Freshly Calved Cows, Heifers, Youngstock & Bulls. To include The Dispersal Sale of 130 Holstein Friesian Dairy Cows and Heifers for GM &amp; AM Habershon (Removed from Moorhouse Farm, Chippenham, Wiltshire). ** Further Entries Invited **

Forthcoming Deadstock Sales SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE Wednesday 2 nd June at 10:30am Sedgemoor Collective Machinery Sale (350+ anticipated lots to include misc. items)

(07) MLT 634-120 LSU Turbo MANITOU; International 434 TRACTOR; (08); Tafe 35DI OIB TRACTOR; Ladini 8880 4WD TRACTOR; (14) Shelbourne Reynolds POWERMIX PRO 11; 10T Salop Grain/ Silage TRAILER; Fraser 6T Grain TRAILER; 3T Tipping TRAILER; (17) IW 14ft TA510 Tri Axle LIVESTOCK TRAILER; Transport BOX; Vicon VARISPREADER; McConnel PA24 HEDGETRIMMER; Lucas Castor+ 30R; Fahr HG360 Conv BALER; IH 445 BALER; NH D100 Square BALER; Mchale 991BE Round Bale WRAPPER; Vicon 217 MOWER; Vortex 2.8m Flail MOWER; Landmec 5’6 Twin Drum MOWER; Kuhn M420 Fert SPINNER; (15) Claas Volto 52 TEDDER; Krone 6 Rotor TEDDER; JF Stoll 4 Rotor TEDDER; Teagle 6ft TOPPER; Dowdswell 3.2M Disc HARROWS; Heavy Duty SUBSOILER c/w Crumbler; Wood Chuck Sand DISPENSER; 2x PZ HAYBOBS; Hay TURNER; 2x Cultivator WINGS; 2x Cultivator Spring TINES; Browns Bale SQUEEZE; Flat 8 Bale SLEDGE; Flemming Shear GRAB; 2x Browns Flat 8 GRAB; Farmhand Flat 8 GRAB; Browns Bale GRAB; 2T Manitou BUCKETS; JCB BUCKET; Sutton Bucket BRUSH; Parmiter Post BANGER; IAE Foot Trimming Cattle CRUSH; IAE Creep SHELTER; 20ft & 10ft CONTAINERS; etc.

Items to be delivered Tuesday 1st June between 9.00am - 4:30pm

** To be sold from the rostrum in the hall to adhere to social distancing ** Live bidding on Marteye, please register in advance. 1% Internet Bidding Surcharge.

TOTAL STOCK FOR THE WEEK 5390 Stock from across the West Country, sold to buyers from throughout the Nation

Returns for Saturday 22nd May 2021 DAIRY CATTLE (65) Heifers to £2000. Others £1960. Cows to £1800. Others £1580. (1147) STORE CATTLE & STIRKS - FORWARD STORES (732) Steers to £1400 (LIMX). Others £1380 (LIMX) £1370 (AA) & £1350 (1x LIMX & 1x BRBX). Heifers to £1395 (LIMX). Others £1295 (AA) £1280 (BRBX) & £1210 (LIMX). GRAZING COWS (15) to £1080 (HEX). SUCKLERS (9) to £1550. STIRKS (406) Bulls to £1160 (LIMX).Steers to £905 (CHX). Others £895 (BRBX) £845 (2x SIMX, 2x HEX & 1x LIMX) & £840 (CHX). Heifers to £965 (LIMX). Others £925 (LIMX) £855 (LIMX) & £840 (LIMX). CALVES (427) Beef Bulls to £500(CHX). Others £458 (SIMX) £440 (CHX) & £435 (BRBX). Heifers to £450 (CHX). Others £380 (BRBX) £375 (BRBX) & £368 (1x CHX & 2x BRBx). Black & Whites to £300. Others £255. (1352) SHEEP - STORE LAMBS (397) to £164. Others £145 & £136. Overall Ave £98.35. CULL EWES & RAMS (484) Ewes to £197. Others £178 & £162. Rams to £147. Others £138 & £136. Overall Ave £103.33. GOATS (36) to £166. COUPLES (129E & 213L) Doubles to £350 (£116.67/life). Singles to £248 (£124/life). Overall Ave £74.90/ life. BREEDING EWES (92) to £155. ORPHAN LAMBS (37) to £61. Overall Ave £38.22. (82) PIGS – WEANERS (14) to £42. Overall Ave £33.43. CULL SOWS & BOARS (15) to £102. FORWARD STORES (53) to £156. The West Country’s Gateway to National Abattoirs

Returns for Monday 24th May 2021

PRIME CATTLE (77) Steers UTM av 204.8ppk to 222.5ppk & £1,615.79. Others 221.5ppk, 220.0ppk & 219.0ppk (2x). Others £1,612.02, £1,536.36 & £1,525.57. Heifers UTM av 203.2ppk to 226.5ppk (2x) and £1,399.44. Others 225.0ppk, 217.0ppk & 216.0ppk. Others £1,383.92, £1,371.93 & £1,351.35. BARREN COWS (64) Continental av 128.5ppk to 164.5ppk and £1,401.54. Others 153.5ppk. Others £1,109.03. Native Beef av 99.6ppk to 129.5ppk and £957.13. Others 123.5ppk. Others £883.19. Dairy av 117.2ppk to 138.5ppk and £1,131.43. Others 137.5ppk. Others £1,124.75. FINISHED SHEEP (2174) Hogg ave 264.59ppk to 316.0ppk (2x) and £160.00. Others 303.0ppk, 302.0ppk & 298.0ppk. Others £158, £157.50 & £154. Lamb ave 312.11ppk to 335.0ppk and £160.00. Others 332.0ppk, 330.0ppk & 328.0ppk. Others £158, £156 & £155 (2x).

Forthcoming Special Sales For full COVID-19 rules on market attendance and up to date sales list please refer to our website https://www.gth.net/sedgemoor-auction-centre MAY Sat 29th........ Monthly Sale of Native Store Cattle 10am Ring 2 Sat 29th........ All sheep sections return to a Saturday market today. Sat 29th........ Special entry in the Dairy Section of 12 Incalf Heifers. Due June-August to sexed semen. 12,500kgs herd average. All dams Johnes Free. IBR & Lepto Vaccinated. BVD & Johnes Monitored & 9 Crossbred Incalf Heifers 8m to dairy bull. Mon 31st....... Normal Monday Market Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Prime Lambs & Killing Ewes JUNE Fri 4th........... Special Early Season Catalogued Sale of Breeding Ewes 3pm Sat 5th.......... Monthly Catalogued Sale of Organic Store Stock 10am Ring 2 Sat 5th.......... Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 10am Sat 12th........ Monthly Catalogued Sale of Suckler Cows, Calves, Heifers & Bulls 12.30pm Ring 1 Sat 12th........ Collective Catalogued Sale of Purebred Poultry 12 Noon Sat 26th........ Dorset Down Sheep Breeders’ Association Annual Breed Sale of Registered Dorset Down Sheep (Breeding Females & Rams) from Registered Flocks within the Flock Book at 12.30pm Sat 26th........ Special Catalogued Sale of Haltered & Unhaltered Show Potential Cattle 11am Ring 3 Wed 30th...... Orange Market Dedicated Sale for bTB Restricted Cattle. Store Cattle – 15 Months & Over, Prime Cattle & Barren Cows. Stock to be booked in with the market of昀ce by 23rd June. Licences to be obtained from Truro Trading Standards on 03000 200301 or CSC.TBlicensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk Sale commences 4.30pm

Farming

Wildlife pond dug Ruth Kimber’s Farmer’s Diary Joy of Joys, the Kitchen at Kimbers is now open for business and welcoming back our customers old and new! So, our site is fully open once more, the farm shop, Trading Barn and finally the Kitchen. Well, we’ve got the rain! Probably enough for now, farmers are so dependent on weather and rarely are completely happy with what’s delivered! Silage making will be later than usual this year, so when conditions are right and the grass is ready, it will be all systems go. Once grass goes to seed, the food value starts to deteriorate, which in turn, affects milk production and growth rates. The silage made now is the basis of the cattle’s food for next winter and the ability for the farmer to feed the herd. The old country saying of ‘oak before ash, only a splash, ash before oak a jolly good soak’, our oak tree’s leaves are well out, the ash trees on the farm are still bare. So, from this we will look forward to a dry summer. These old sayings often hold some truths; we will see! One of our tractors had an intermittent fault. Sometimes it would start, sometimes not, lose power – go into limp mode, appeared not to get to

temperature. None of us could see why. On one of its good days, it was driven down to Dorchester, put on a diagnostic computer program, which showed a dashboard thermometer fault and diesel had got into the wiring. Most kit on farms are very technical, long gone are the days when a farmer could lift the bonnet and sort it out! I’m sure there is a place for less complicated tractors. We have dug a wildlife pond, well James Bird, a local contractor (J&C Bird) has for us, so all the recent rain not only gave the fields a much-wanted drink, but started to fill our pond. As I have said before, our farm is heavy clay, so the pond needed no plastic liner, James ‘puddled’ the clay, smearing the sides to create a seal, it was like watching a sculptor at work, not with a chisel, but a digger with a swivelling bucket on the front, quite amazing and very skilful. My friend, a potter, was very excited to see the ‘pure clay’ and collected some for potting. Hopefully it will be good to work with. n Kimbers’ Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn, BA9 8HJ on B3081 (Wincanton Race course road) Summer opening times: Tues-Fri 8.30am-5pm Saturday – 9.30am-5pm

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Farming

Welcome back to the nightjar moths and beetles. It has long pointed wings with a long tail, helping it to skim at speed over its habitat, and this has given the bird a spectral image and supernatural reputation. The males mark their Spring being a tough act to Mob: 07966 244536 territory with what is described as follow, God created June a ‘churring’ sound, something Spirits are lifted as we move into Hydraulic Hose Specialists and like bad static on an old transistor June, with warm sunshine Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, radio when searching for Radio (hopefully), long days and Luxemburg! Automotive and Transport Industry everyone in good spirits. I love They are not common, fewer than the late evenings after warm Pneumatic fittings Quick release couplings 5,000 pairs arrive here annually sunshine when the residual heat Air brake fittings Pressure wash hoses + lances of the day lingers on and it’s but we are, however, blessed in Dorset in having a healthy possible to sit outside with a glass Hose clamps Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked population of these fascinating until after 10pm. On one of these Hydraulic Hoses Variation of oils birds. Many years ago when evenings every summer I take Mobile service available camping in the New Forest, I saw myself off to one of the wild one fly across the face of the full heaths in the south-east of the moon, just like those photos that county such as Upton Heath to sometimes appear in the press of hear, and hopefully see, the a plane crossing it. I didn’t have a elusive goat-sucker. camera (no mobile phone This bird, known more cameras in those days) but commonly as the nightjar, was probably wouldn’t have been said to feed on suckling goats, quick enough even if I had one. hence its name. It spends a few short months here every summer, However, the image of the sharp wings and long tail traversing that lying low all day on a branch or Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF in leaf litter perfectly yellow disc has remained long in Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk the memory. Get yourself down camouflaged with its mottled, grey-brown streaked to the heathland or the RSPB Air Ri昀es reserve at Arne on one of their plumage blending & Air Pistols into its surroundings. organised nightjar evenings and enjoy the experience. wanted As dusk falls it June is the month to get out and swoops silently Any make or model about and enjoy so much that is across the heath and ND Any condition WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE on show; bird song (in particular through the trees Call 07970 742471 catching insects, Genuine Herd Dispersal (Ceasing Milk Production) the dawn chorus), butterflies and 80 (Mainly HB) Friesian Holstein Dairy Cattle dragonflies everywhere, bats in the evenings Viz: 40 In-Milk Cows Country Outfitters flitting around the house, (Justin J Frampton) R.F.D.13D 14 In-Calf Heifers (Due Aug/Sept) New or Secondhand a profusion of Shot & Air Guns, Rifles 18 Bulling Heifers wildflowers in hedges and Repairs. 11 Dairy Youngstock 5-6mo Game, Coarse & and meadows, swifts, Sea Angling Equipment swallows and martins on Monitored through Milk sampling for Ibr, Bvd, We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at the wing catching Lepto & Johnes, Cubicle Trained all year Calving Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, insects, elderflower, dog Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 7,000 Ltr ave Concentrate in Parlour rose and wild tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. (Catalogues in Preparation) We won’t be beaten on price. honeysuckle peppering Est 1886 Contact Trevor Rowland 07968 480 401 the hedgerows, Call us on yellowhammers belting or 01373 830033 3 West Street, Blandford Forum, or 813957 01749 out their ditty ‘a-littleDorset DT11 7AW SATURDAY 12TH JUNE bit-of-bread-and-no-chee 07971 012628 jay@conyers.biz www.conyers.biz Graded Sale of Traditional and Rare Breeds of se’, and skylarks blasting or find us at Tel: 01258 452307 www.southwestyreservices.co.uk out their never-ending Poultry Mob: 07973 642278 song from high in the Contact Nick Hill 07741 591 575 skies. It’s a wonderful or 01373 830033 time of year to be alive.

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Farming

Former Wild Paths traineeship candidates

Picture by Rachel Janes

Gain new skills in Wild Path scheme gaining formal qualifications and a bursary, the trainees will receive training in transferable skills to enhance their future employability and consolidate their learning, by working with trust staff. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Wild Paths coordinator Colleen Smith-Moore said: “This scheme will give those interested in wildlife a real insight into working in conservation, from wildlife survey skills, to gaining their chainsaw qualifications and leading engagement activities. “After they have completed their 10-month-long placement, trainees will have the skills and confidence to take their careers forward in the workplace. “The wildlife trusts involved are delighted to be part of this programme, and are grateful to National Lottery players, who have helped make it happen.” The wildlife trusts are keen to reflect the diversity of the British community within their workforce and applications from people from disadvantaged backgrounds or under-represented groups, for

example people with disabilities, from the LGBTQ+ community or from ethnic minorities are

particularly welcome. More information about the scheme and how to apply is at

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/WildPaths

Y E IR N A IE D G Y H

Ten new trainees to protect wildlife and wild places are being invited to apply for the Wild Paths training scheme. The scheme is run in collaboration with the South West Wildlife Trusts and training will begin in September after a year’s break due to covid. This is the final year for National Lottery Heritage funded traineeships. As part of its Skills for the Future programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has enabled five Wildlife Trusts in the South West to train 20 aspiring conservationists since 2018, in response to skills shortages within the South West conservation sector. The scheme will appoint 10 new trainees to start in September 2021. Traineeships will be based at Avon Wildlife Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Each will focus on practical conservation, working with volunteers, and engaging people and communities with their natural heritage. As well as

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01258 818239 www.quillproductions.co.uk 95

Farming

Warmer weather and the need for fly control By Alice Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS, of Friars Moor Livestock Health After a cold, wet spring, it finally looks to be warming up, which will be a welcome change for all. But at this time of year, there can be a downside to the temperature rise. Certain parasites on farm will start to thrive in these conditions and so it is important to recognise this risk and put in place preventative measures, early to avoid too many problems. Cattle and sheep are both troubled by flies, which are not just a physical irritant, leading to reduced feed intakes, weight loss and poor yields, but they also spread infections such as

most infections. Flies will survive over winter and in years where we experience a milder winter, we tend to see greater fly populations the following spring and summer. We then tend to see more fly related disease due to this higher survival rate. Flies start breeding in March and will continue to do so throughout the summer, so it is Independent veterinary important to services for livestock in get a Dorset, Somerset and protocol in place early Wiltshire to avoid the Collection points for livestock population medicines and supplies at Sherborne, from Sturminster Newton, Blandford and escalating Shaftesbury out of control. Please call the office There are on 01258 472314 several biological, www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

For those whose TV volume is now at 50!

summer mastitis, eye infections and cause blowfly strike (maggots) in sheep. There are over 20 different types of fly that affect livestock in the UK. Some feed on sweat and secretions whereas others bite and feed on blood. Notably head and face flies are responsible for the spread of

38 The High Street, Wimborne BH21 1HT Tel: 07514 417556 8.30am – 4.30pm

COME FOR A FREE 1 HOUR HEARING TEST!

chemical, and physical options available, and these can work in combination. But all work best when started early, and the fly population therefore remains low. Chemical treatments containing deltamethrin or permethrin can be applied directly to the animal to kill the flies on contact. These tend to be the most effective method but must be reapplied regularly through out the season. When available ear tags impregnated with cypermethrin can also be used. Fly populations tend to build up quickly in indoor systems and we have found on some farms biological fly control has worked well to not only reduce the fly population but also limits the number of chemical treatments used. “Friendly flies” are delivered in bags containing the harmless friendly fly larvae. They are distributed, fortnightly, around muck heaps and slurry, areas where nuisance flies breed. Cleverly the friendly flies parasitise the nuisance fly larvae with their own eggs, which upon hatching will kill the nuisance fly larvae before they can develop. Physical control methods such as walk-through fly traps are used widely in America and may well prove useful here, again reducing the need for chemical methods.

For those farmers who drove tractors in the 70s!

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We will welcome you all with open ears! 96

Farming

ONLINE AUCTIONS:

Thursday 3rd June at 11.00am Cleave Farm, Wilmington, Honiton EX14 9SG

Current Collec琀ve Sale running from 24th May and closing from 7pm on Tuesday 1st June

Genuine Dispersal of 6 Tractors, Grassland Machinery and Livestock Equipment Machinery including:

Case CX80 with Loader, Interna琀onal 895, 956XL, 1056XL, Massey Ferguson 20F with Loader and David Brown 990 Tractors, 2014 HiSpec 1350gln Vacuum Tanker, 2017 HiSpec 10m³ Rotor Spreader, 2006 Marshall 21’ Bale Trailer, WFD 7m³ Rotor Spreader, Marshall 6.5t Drop Side Trailer, Teagle XT48 & AT22 Fer琀liser Spreaders, Einbock 5m Grass Harrows, Claas Disco 2650C Mower Condi琀oner, Claas 4 Rotor Tedder, Kverneland TA752 Single Rotor Rake, McHale HS2000 ROudn Bale Wrapper, Kidd 280 Topper, TA510G Livestock Box, etc. On behalf of RD & SA Patch (Auc琀oneers selling the farm)

Online Timed Genuine Dispersal of the En琀re Collec琀on of Modern, Classic & Vintage Cars, Motorcycles, Land Rovers, Tractors and Lorries including a large quan琀ty of Spares, Parts, Tools and Miscellanea

Tuesday 11th June at 5.30pm Hook Valley Farm, Wincanton BA9 8BQ Genuine Dispersal of Tractor, Grassland & Livestock Equipment, Miscellaneous and Bygones. Machinery including:

Massey Ferguson 135 with Loader, Vintage Seed Drill, Vintage McConnel Hedgetrimmer, 16’ Parmiter Chain Harrows, Twose 8’ Ballast Roller, ETC Mil 8t Tipping Trailer, Albu琀 Dung Grab, 6’6 Loader Bucket, Alo 150 Shear Grab, Lagoon S琀rrer, Ca琀le Crush, Logs, Household Bygones, etc. Contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467 or Rachael Holder 07772 310482

Viewing Days: Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June 11.00am – 3.00pm Vehicles will be started strictly at 12.00 noon only Highlights: 38 Cars (Land Rovers, Jaguars, Fords, VW, Lexus, Mercedes, Toyota, Mitsubishi, etc.), 7 Motorcycles (Yamaha and Honda), 3 Tractors (inc. Case Maxxum 140 with Loader), 2 Lorries (Bedford 3 ton 4wd and GMC 6wd), Kawasaki ATV, etc.

On behalf of the Late Kelvin Pike

2021 STANDING STRAW AUCTIONS Annual sale of 7,000ac. at Durweston, Blandford to be held on Friday 2nd July – Entries welcome Annual sale of 1,500ac. Wynford Eagle, Dorchester to be held on Friday 9th July – Entries welcome

FORTHCOMING ON FARM SALE DATES: FRIDAY 11th JUNE - SOUTH SOMERSET Dispersal Sale of Massey Ferguson 135, Grassland Machinery, Livestock Equipment & Bygones SATURDAY 19th JUNE - NORTH DORSET Dispersal Sale of 2 Tractors, Telehandler, Grassland Machinery & Livestock Equipment TUESDAY 29th JUNE – SOUTH EAST DORSET On Farm Dispersal Sale of 7 Tractors, Merlo Telehandler, Farm Machinery & Livestock Equipment

Contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467 or Rachael Holder 07772 310482

VALUATIONS | AMC AGENTS | PLANNING | RURAL AGENTS

Property

WILTSHIRE LONDON

TE IN ND FO ER RM 9 J AL UN E

DORSET DEVON HAMPSHIRE SOMERSET

Henstridge

Guide £425,000

Dorchester

Guide £675,000

A substan al 4 bedroom detached house situated at the end of a popular culdesac on a mature residen al development within walking distance of ameni es. EPC=E.

A detached 4 bedroom house situated in one of the town’s most desirable areas, oﬀering considerable opportunity to improve. EPC=F.

Sturminster 01258 473766

Dorchester 01305 261008

Blandford Forum

Guide £450,000

Milborne Port

Guide £350,000

A wellpresented 4 bedroom detached house in a cul de sac loca on, with a rac ve private garden and open outlook. EPC=C.

A charming period village co age with 3 recep on rooms, 2 bedrooms, pre y gardens, oﬀ road parking and a garden studio. EPC=E.

Blandford 01258 452670

Sherborne 01935 814488

EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PUTS

Symonds&Sampson HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST DONT JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT...

LETTINGS

PLANNING

BUILDING SURVEY

PROPERTY AUCTIONS

Property

QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL

Tarrant Hinton

Guide £700,000 An a rac ve and beau fully presented 3 bedroom village co age, burs ng with character and with pre y gardens with a lo over the garage. EPC=F.

Okeford Fitzpaine

Blandford 01258 452670

Sturminster 01258 473766

Cann

Oﬀers in Excess of £625,000 A charming, renovated co age with 2/3 bedrooms, deligh ul gardens and paddock in a wonderful posi on with superb views. In all 1.04 acres. EPC=E.

East Coker

Sturminster 01258 473766

Sherborne 01935 814488

“

OIEO £925,000 An impressive individual 4 bedroomed house with well propor oned accommoda on, garage/workshop, a rac ve gardens and paddock totalling 1 acre. EPC=B.

Guide £595,000 An exci ng opportunity to acquire this beau ful and very interes ng 3/4 bedroom Grade I Listed house with 1.36 acres of its own gardens. EPC Exempt.

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SALES

LETTINGS

$_-mh o ķ ; 1o Ѳ7 mo| _- ; -vh;7 =ou -m |_bm] lou; =uol o u 1olr-m Ķ -m7 ; -u; 7;Ѳb]_|;7 |_-| ; -vh;7 o |o -1| =ou v bm |_bv l- ;uĸ SB February 2021 symondsandsampson.co.uk

AUCTIONS

Property lodestoneproperty.co.uk lodestoneproperty.co.uk

Fr Our Ofice: Shaftesbury We may stay true to traditional values when it comes to high quality personal service, but our unique modern sales and marketing methods put us on the map with buyers looking to purchase in the area. With a dedicated sales progressor, local specialist viewing team and an online global reach of over 100,000 a month, our team is well-placed to help make your next home happen. Call Simon or Ali in our Dorset Oﬃce for a free market appraisal.

FOR SALE

UNDER OFFER

FOR SALE

Fillybrook

Flintstones

The Old Rectory

Detached period house in the sought-after village of Quarr

Contemporary house with rural views located in Winterborne Whitechurch

Spacious period property located in Glanvilles Wootton

FOR SALE

UNDER OFFER

Newleaze Lodge

6 Lyons Walk

The Old Rectory

Quintessential cottage in the rural village of Mappowder

Grade II listed townhouse in the centre of Shaftesbury

Large period property on the edge of the rural village of Mappowder

bruton@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01749 605099

shaftesbury@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01747 442577

wells@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01749 605088

Property

Guide prices are smashed at frantic livestream auction Symonds & Sampson has held many very successful auctions in the past, but the livestream sale on 21st of May set new highs Auctioneer Mark Lewis said: “It was a perfect storm of having the right lots at the right time, and everybody now seems to be well versed with the livestream system. “We were delighted to welcome Graham Barton of Homes under the Hammer fame to the auction. He joins the firm bringing great experience and will be running our Devon and Cornwall auctions in the future. “At its peak, over 600 people were viewing the livestream, with huge interest in the variety of lots and seeing over 4,500 legal documents downloaded prior to the sale.” Notable results include: n 9 acres of land at Cucklington sold at £15,000 p/acre, 71% above guide n 30 acres of land at Maiden Newton sold at £10,000 p/acre, 33% above guide n 11 acres of land at Fiddleford sold at £16,800 p/acre, 30% above guide n 127 acres of moorland on Dartmoor including

n Pink Cottage, a 2 bedroom cottage in Sturminster Newton sold for £138,000, 38% above guide

n Gable Cottage, a lovely Grade II Listed cottage in Fontmell Magna sold for £389,000, 30% above guide

Sheep’s Tor sold for £150,000 following international publicity n 7 acres of land at Osmington sold at £42,000 p/acre, 141% above guide n A building plot at Stoborough near Wareham sold for £344,000, 53% above guide n Park View, a semidetached cottage at Woolland sold for £243,00, 40% above guide n A character cottage in the heart of Axminster sold for £130,000 n A commercial opportunity in Yeovil sold at 5% above guide The most excitement

however, was for the final lot of the day, 4.68 acres at Horton near Wimborne. Over 250 people showed interest in the legal pack, 70 people registered to bid at the auction, and following frenetic bidding the hammer fell at £68,000 p/acre - a record 255% above guide. As you can imagine there are a lot of disappointed bidders with finance arranged or cash to spend, so, if you have any property suitable for our next livestream auction on 23 July please contact Mark Lewis 01258 473766 or Meredith Holmes 01202 843190.

n 13 acres of land at Melplash sold at £21,000 p/acre, 136% above guide

LOVELY 1 BEDROOM FLAT with parking. In Gillingham, near station. Available immediately, £625pcm. 07768 568944. GROUND FLOOR TWO BED HOLIDAY FLAT. WEST BAY, telephone 01963 23456

New website capitalises on city exodus A Westcountry estate agent aims to capitalise on a fresh appetite for south west living post lockdown, with a new lifestyle website. Lodestone Property, an estate agency operating across Somerset and Dorset, has launched Lodestone Life, (lodestonelife.co.uk) – a lifestyle guide to the Westcountry, informing and entertaining the growing numbers who are anxious to make their home in the South West while supporting the company’s ever-inventive sales and marketing strategy.

“We are witnessing an exodus from city living,” says Lodestone co-founder, Sue Macey. “It’s driven by the pandemic and supported by new trends in homeworking. As a result, there’s an incredible rush on property in the South West. And with that comes a demand for information about moving here and settling here.” Last year, before the pandemic hit, Lodestone produced, printed and distributed its first ever lifestyle magazine, also called Lodestone Life. But the changes brought by coid and the surge in

demand from outside the region convinced the company that its content marketing efforts should be digital as well as print. “Visitors to our property website have tripled in the last year,” says Sue. “We currently see more than 16,000 unique visitors each month and many more repeats, so Lodestone Life has been created to cater for that demand, providing a helpful lifestyle companion to a house move.” The new digital publication is a source of relocation inspiration and practical advice. Towns and

villages are investigated. Local services are highlighted. Businesses are profiled. It’s a place where you might learn about local schools, sports facilities, places to eat and drink, garden designers, architects or artists. The major feature interviews are written by Cath Rapley, a former commissioning editor at The Guardian and Observer. For example, for the launch of Lodestone Life, Cath has interviewed Lynne Franks, the celebrated publicist, who these days lives in Wincanton. 101

Property

Memb No: A101 REMOV ALS & STORAGE

We are a family run business since 1973, providing a service locally, nationally and internationally including a European service for full and part loads.

Local and National Removals Container Storage Packing Service All Full Time Operatives Personal Service Covid advance planning for your removal to keep you secure plus remote survey option

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Containerised Storage

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“Moving at the highest standard no job too big or too small

”

Branches throughout the UK Blandford (01258) 453898

Dorchester (01305) 783795

Gillingham (01747) 828680

Shaftesbury (01747) 828680

Sherborne (01935) 433341

Warminster (01985) 215991

Wincanton (01963) 34065

Yeovil (01935) 433341

Head Office: 01963 34065 email: enquiries@armishaws.com www.armishaws.com 102

Property

hapman

oore

For the Complete Property Package. Agents for Residential, Commercial, Property Investment & Management. Sold

Sale Agreed

GILLINGHAM

Sale Agreed

MILTON ON STOUR

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

Det 2 Bed Kit/Din Gdn Gge Pkg

No Forward Chain

Price Reduction

Price £320,000

Price Reduction

GILLINGHAM

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

FF 2 Bed Com Gdn Pkg Age Res

Sold

New Instruction Shared Equity

Price £89,950

GILLINGHAM

Det 3 Bed En Gdn Gge

ET 3 Bed 2 Rec Ut Loft Space Gdn

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

Ter 2 Bed Clk Gdn Pkg

Price Reduction

Sale Agreed

Price £250,000

Price Reduction Viewing Recommended

Price £260,000

Sale Agreed

N/A

Price £110,000

GILLINGHAM

MERE

GILLINGHAM

Central 1 Bed Retirement Apartment

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

Attached 2 Bed Clk Gdn Pkg

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

Sale Agreed

Freehold Investment

Price £110,000

Sold

Price £263,500

To Be Let

GILLINGHAM

More Properties Required Contact Andrew Bonnet or Sue Moore

Freehold – Currently Let

Grd Floor Commercial Unit Pkg

Price £152,500 + VAT C

Rent £5,250 pa IR&I Terms TBA

Townbridge House, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4AA Telephone/Fax: (01747) 822244 E-mail: chapmanmoore@btconnect.com See all our properties on www.rightmove.co.uk & www.zoopla.co.uk

103

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

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