Letters

Letters So much of interest in new magazine

Although I have read and used the BVM since moving to Dorset in 2000, I frankly often found little of interest in it and spent only a few minutes scanning through it every week. My complaint now is that there is so much of interest in the new fortnightly version that reading it is taking up too much of my time! Seriously though, I am so impressed with the quality and variety of the content. Congratulations on producing such an excellent publication in difficult circumstances. Michael Sumpster

n Just to say how good it is to have the BV back again. It is an excellent publication and it’s great to have it in the old format. Good luck to you all. Juliet Cooper Donhead St Andrew

n Dear Editor I thoroughly enjoyed north Dorset MP, Simon Hoare’s article about his ‘firm’ message regarding the vote on free school meals for disadvantaged children. (Accidentally placed under west Dorset MP Chris Loder’s byline – apologies – Ed) Essentially, he was so firmly against the policy of his own party, that he …erm…. abstained on the vote? Feel free to explain further, Simon. I’m a little confused over your Orwellian ‘doublethink’. I wonder how strongly he’d have to feel to actually vote against the proposal. Ah, I see the problem. A cynic would, doubtless, wrongly, say he was perhaps more concerned with his own advancement within his party than with disadvantaged kids. Aside from this hilarity, great mag – and your headline for 68 There once was a vicar from Gillingham... I hope you might publicise my current project for Salisbury District Hospital’s Stars Appeal. Inspired by my neighbour Anne Kings’ efforts with her book Button Cottage Lockdown, I’ve produced an illustrated book of limericks. Each book costs about £1 to print and another £1 to post. Any donation above those figures will go to the Stars Appeal for Salisbury District Hospital. To arrange collection or posting I can be contacted by phone on 01747 833734 or by email at c.b.marsh10@gmail.com. Revd Colin Marsh Gillingham

Hoare’s article was genius. Keep up the good work. Andy Palmer Mappowder

n First, Congratulations on our fantastic magazine back. My partner is related to Julie Bennett, (Stardom for blind gran in TV ad, P1). She is such a inspirational lady –nothing gets in her way. When we get down or miserable in these lockdown days just give a thought to Julie and how she has turned her life around. We all love her. Jenny Lucas

n Having just returned from several weeks In France I have just picked up my first “hard copy“ of the magazine. I expected it would be a few pages of content. However, with over 90 pages it shows the hunger from your advertisers and readers for local news and advertising content. I should say that being in the middle of two weeks lockdown it will be read avidly! I wish you well. Roy Roberts Okeford Fitzpaine n With the lockdown we were deprived of our voice but now, thanks to BV, we have our forum back. We were sold (but had no choice in the matter) the merger of Dorset Councils on the basis of economies of scale and costs reductions. Since then, council tax bills have increased. Although limited to 3.95% for 20/21,a rise of 7.4% was imposed for 19/20. From what I could gather at the time, we were levelling up to Bournemouth and coastal towns, who of course benefit from far greater facilities than ourselves. In East Stour, we have little street lighting or footpaths and no traffic calming measures or traffic lights with the A30, in a village that, at times, resembles a race track. Neither do we have adequate public transport, unlike Bournemouth. The increased parking charges reported by BV last week are another example of ‘levelling’ up. Maximising income should not be an immediate objective in these times when local businesses are struggling to survive and have maintained, in many instances, a magnificent service during this current period. Councillor Ray Bryan needs to get out more, but not, I would suggest, to a Bournemouth beach, where so many of the latest infections may have arisen, judging by the number of covid patients in hospital in a region that is still relatively safe and responsible. Jeremy Bloomfield, East Stour n Determined not to be defeated by the wretched covid my village set about looking outside the box to find a way to commemorate our thanks, in a positive way to the millions of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may have the opportunity of freely writing to this remarkable magazine and expressing my thoughts. The very idea that Remembrance Sunday might be cancelled filled me with horror and the very thought hurt as much as suggesting we postpone Christmas – a ludicrous idea. We had a very moving service at the village cross, with just a

handful of people present laying wreaths and planting crosses and saying the remarkable words and prayers, whilst Union flags were flown at half mast throughout the village with the rest of the villagers marking their respect by standing at their doorways at 11 o’clock for the two minutes’ silence. So all’s well that ends well and the freedom of speech reigns supreme! Della Jones MBE Winterborne Zelston

n Are there any Subbuteo players in the Blackmore Vale area who fancy a friendly game after lockdown is over? We’d play to very simple rules and the principle would be 95% on having fun, 15% on winning (under FA rules, all football percentages have to add up to 110). If you haven’t ever played, it’s a wonderful, easy to play game. Just come along and give it a go. If you are interested please let me know on mchugh_hill@hotmail.com Geoff McHugh

n It is a delight to have you back. I was reminded by your picture of red hot pokers in your last edition of something that happened during the war. My mother and a friend were discussing the naming of cows – Buttercup, Daisy... then the question came up as to what to call bull calves. “I know,” chipped in evacuee Maureen: “Red Hot Poker!” Being a small child I could not understand why all the grownups burst out laughing! A few years later the penny dropped and it has made me laugh ever since. Perhaps this will make some of your readers have a little giggle, it does me whenever I see a certain flower. Blanche Miller Semley We found this funny little man in our potatoes, with the face already on it! My nephew is obsessed with it because it looks just like his snowman soft toy Jake Channon Stalbridge Weston

Core! Is it Jimmy?

n Further to Teddy the Potato picture , I had to send this Apple picture of “Jimmy Durante“ may a “peel” to older readers. Regards Jim Green Note: The editor, who was mightily confused, added the handy googly eye so readers won’t have to squint at Jim’s apple as she did, then Google Jimmy Durante...

n A big "thank you" to all the people who contacted me about the article you printed about my family. I have been able to learn a lot more about the family and have had contact from someone whose mother was a Pester. I have been able to pass on this information to Di, who is delighted with the result. It was great to hear from Andrew who is a member of the Pester family. Mary Wright

n With a worldwide crisis in full swing, there has been a major lull in the fundraising operations of the Sturminster Newton & Gillingham Branch of the The Royal Air Forces Association. No saturation raids on superstores. No patrols to politely knock on doors for donations. No cheese festival to engage in friendly fire and, limited sorties to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Nonetheless, courageous crews initiated valuable skirmishes. Donations, gifts, sales and monies owed to us from previous victories secured over £5,000 towards the £8m spent annually on welfare for those that serve, have served and their dependents. Our heartfelt thanks go to those who willingly and generously gave. To businesses that allowed our static tins to loiter on their counters. Sadly, a well earned 48 hour pass had to be delayed to next year! C’est la vie! Ad Astra. Tony Edmunds

Corrections and clarifications

From edition 4, Page 16: In an article on Anne Kings collecting pearls to raise money for the Poppy Appeal, the email address should have been annemkings2@btinternet.com and the Post Office postcode SP8 4AA. Page 59: West Dorset MP Chris Loder’s column was not written by him, but north Dorset MPSimon Hoare. He voted against free school meals, and Mr Hoare abstained. Huge apologies for the mix-up. Treewise: Many thanks to the kind soul who fielded calls for our advertiser after we got a digit wrong!