The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 314

01963 400186

n LewisManning Hospice Care has opened a new day hospice at Swanage Cricket Club Page 6

£100,000 appeal launched for new dementia nurse

AN appeal to raise more than £100,000 for a second Admiral Nurse dementia specialist in Purbeck has been launched at Wareham Rugby Club.

It follows a similar campaign seven years ago which raised £150,000 to employ Rachel Murray, Purbeck’s first Admiral Nurse.

Rachel, speaking at the meeting at the rugby club, attended by more than 30 people, said the Purbeck Admiral Nurse service had received 247 referrals in the last 12 months.

She added that the number of people living with dementia in Dorset was expected to rise by about 40% in the next 10 years, with the biggest increase expected to be among those living with severe dementia, with the most complex needs.

“The energy shown by Dementia Friendly Purbeck is sadly not reflected in all communities – the only reason I am here is because the local community identified a need to improve dementia care and had the drive to make it happen,”

she said. “This role is all about collaboration and working together.

“We set up a meeting centre at Wareham Hospital which worked really well until Covid, but then the Swans Rugby Club stepped up and provided its premises for us to use for free – we are really lucky to have such a supportive community in Purbeck.”

The appeal to raise funds for a second Admiral Nurse has

started strongly, with Dementia Friendly Purbeck committing £22,000 from its own funds to kickstart the campaign.

At the launch, Swanage woodworker George Smith, who lives with dementia, contributed £335 in proceeds from selling his woodcraft.

Stoborough Village Pantomime donated £1,000, as did Swanage and Purbeck Rotary.

Wareham Lions has also pledged £1,500 to the appeal.

Jean Gibb, who was responsible for starting the group in Swanage and the driving force behind fundraising for the first Admiral Nurse, attended the launch and officiated at the cutting of a campaign cake made by Jenny Huntley.

Dementia Friendly Purbeck said it would like to thank the donors and says it appreciates their early support. The group will be working hard to raise more funds over the coming months.

THE BCP Home Library Service can deliver books free of charge to local people who enjoy reading but are unable to get to their local library due to poor health or mobility. The service offers more than 150,000 book titles, fiction and non-fiction, large print books, audio books and e-books, and information

leaflets. Visits are usually monthly and carers can also use the service.

For more information, call David Tozer on 07811 787963 or email david.tozer@ royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk, or call the Dorchester office on 01305 236666; e-mail bcphomelibraryservice@ royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

open hours: Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm

Campaign supporters turned out in force for the appeal launch at Wareham Rugby Club where a “campaign cake” was cut

Wareham Wednesdays set to help good causes

GOOD causes the Lexi May Trust, Allison Campbell Trust, Will Does and Allsort’d will be the beneficiaries of this summer’s Wareham Wednesday events.

The opening night, on August 7, will have a Masquerade Ball theme and feature mixed party band Tudo, supported by dance troops from Splitz Studios and Wareham Folk Dance.

The evening will benefit the Lexi May Trust, which supports children in Dorset with terminal illness or life-limiting conditions.

Fun and frolics are promised in the second Wareham Wednesday event on August 14 when the Muddlecombe Men, helped by Jack Sparrow and his motley crew, try to fight off the invading “Pirates” from Poole.

Keeping to the Pirate theme, The Captains Beard will provide the main musical entertainment – in their own words: “A company o’ travelin’ troubadors on a quest te bring the finest o’sea shantys and

forebitters to the ears of all who’ll listen.”

The evening will be dedicated to the Allison Campbell Trust (ACT), which offers support to palliative patients in Purbeck.

Another fun event is in store on the third Wareham Wednesday on August 21 with a wheelbarrow race.

The route has yet to be decided but will feature hay bales and other obstacles for competitors to navigate.

The evening will be dedicated to the #Willdoes charity, dedicated to the memory of William Paddy, a sporty, charismatic youngster who grew up near Swanage, but who sadly died at the age of 14.

Thousands flock to see tank in action

The #WillDoes bus will be at the event and Fever Street and the Hanging Baskets band will supply the musical entertainment.

FeverStreet play an eclectic mix of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Soul, while the Hanging Baskets band serve up cover versions of everything from John Prine and Ronnie Lane to The Faces and Bob Dylan.

The final Wareham Wednesday on August 28 will feature a raft race and the musical entertainment including a 30-strong choir from Allsort’d, the local not-for-profit community interest company which helps young adults with learning disabilities.

The headliners are Macbusted, a tribute act to noughties supergroup McBusted, with songs including Five Colours in Her Hair, All About You, Obviously, Year 3000, What I Go to School For, Sleeping with the Light On and Air Guitar.

To help make this year’s Wareham Wednesday events a success for the good causes being supported, visit the Wareham Wednesday Just Giving page, https://www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ jude-marquet.

was an important prize when it was seized by the Allies in 1943.

THOUSANDS of visitors attended Tiger Day at The Tank Museum in Bovington to see the world’s only running Tiger I tank in action.

The German Tiger 131 tank runs only twice a year on Tiger Day in April and September and attracts visitors from all over the world.

Museum curator David Willey said: “The Tiger 131 is the most famous tank in the museum’s collection and

“Over 80 years from its capture, the Tiger 131 is still fascinating crowds and playing an important role in telling the story of tanks and the people that served in them.”

Highlights of the day included a battle reenactment and Second World War tank display, including fellow Hollywood film star Sherman Fury, in a unique demonstration of historic tanks.

The 4,500 visitors at the sell-out event were also able to get up close to the vehicles in the arena and see live artillery firing.

Crowds turn out for a ‘Pirate Night’ Wareham Wednesday last year

‘Mind the pigs’ – they’re doing a valuable job

PIGS have been returned to the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve to help wildlife thrive.

The woolly pigs will roam the central section of the area across the expanse of Hartland Moor, Stoborough Heath and the Arne peninsula.

They will root and dig in the soil, helping to create patches of bare ground and improving the habitat for many of the species which make a home on the heathlands.

Peter Robertson, of the RSPB, speaking on behalf of the seven organisations which manage the Purbeck Heaths, said: “Contrary to what people might think, small areas of bare ground are fantastic for wildlife.

“They provide nesting sites for many creatures, including sand lizards, ants and solitary bees and wasps, and seeds which can struggle to germinate in an unbroken sward can germinate there.

“Also, the dark soil warms up quickly in the morning sun, making a perfect place for reptiles and insects to bask.

“So, these bare patches are a key part of the mosaic of habitats that makes the Purbeck Heaths such an important place for wildlife.”

The pigs are intelligent, curious and docile, but people are asked not to feed or pet them.

Peter added: “The problem is that many people are fascinated by the pigs. But if visitors treat them like pet animals – feeding and stroking them – they will begin to associate people with such attention.

“The pigs will then run up to anyone expecting to be fed, and they can be quite demanding if they think there is food. This can be alarming, especially as they are fairly big animals.”

Visitors are advised to keep their distance and to keep dogs on a lead – especially when piglets are present as the sows will be protective of them.

Visitors should also not feed, call or pet the pigs and keep walking and moving so the pigs will ignore them.

Wareham Masonic Hall, Howard Lane

Tuesday 5 30pm & 7pm, Wednesday 9am & 10 30am

Jackie 07715 438 810

Wool The D’Urberville Centre

Wednesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm, Fridays 9.30am & 11.30am

Jane 07887 866 730

Swanage United Reformed Church, 112 High St Thursdays 9am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm

Trudy 07486 454 046

Poole Canford Heath Community Centre, Mondays 6pm & 7:30pm, Wednesdays 7:30am

Sadie 07545 379 045

The pigs will improve the habitat for many of the species which make a home on Purbeck’s heathland

Day hospice launched at cricket club

A NEW day hospice has been launched in Swanage.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care opened the service, at Swanage Cricket Club, last month.

Amy Coates, senior Purbeck staff nurse, said: “We are really pleased to be offering these additional services in Swanage, following increased patient numbers in the area and identifying this unique need for further support in the community.”

The Swanage Day Hospice will run every Friday from 10am-3pm and will

accommodate around 10 patients.

Some are new patients and some currently attend the Lewis-Manning’s Wimborne facility but would benefit from being able to access services closer to home, part of the hospice’s long-term care strategy.

“Each week, the services offered will rotate between complementary therapies, creative art and occupational therapy,” Amy added.

Day hospice clinical team manager, Debbie TallickWyatt, said: “This essential

new service will mean that we will need more volunteers, in particular patient drivers, to assist our patients in getting to our day care in Swanage.

“Anyone interested in the opportunity to become a Lewis-Manning volunteer is urged to get in touch.”

Maggie Hardy, a now retired past-Purbeck NHS manager, said: “I’m delighted that Lewis-Manning is working with the cricket club and they are able to support the charity in such a wonderful building.

“There will be other local groups using the location, including the Parkinson’s Support Group. There is great synergy here for the community.”

One patient, Brian, added: “I’m excited to come here in Swanage on Fridays now instead of Wareham on a Tuesday – this is closer to home.

“This gives me somewhere to go and something to do to get out of the house. And it gives my wife, who is my full time carer, some peace.”

Fellow patient Rod added: “In everything I have done throughout my life I have always felt the need to try to be useful. Lewis-Manning helps me do this.

“I feel I want to support the others in the group, support my wife by giving her a break, while I can enjoy some exercise and any activities.”

Clare Gallie, chief executive at Lewis-Manning, said: “We are delighted to bring another important end of life service to Swanage.

“Our local charity is here to support people with lifelimiting illness and is already helping patients and their families at home and closer to home.”

Swanage Day Hospice runs for five hours every Friday

Dog walker saved woman in river rescue

DOG walker Edward Bryant, of Wimborne, has received a commendation after rescuing a woman from the River Stour.

Edward had been walking his dog, Reggie, one day last June, when the pet became agitated and drew his attention to a woman in the water.

Edward called a neighbour to bring a ladder, and knowing that firefighters were on their way to help, entered the river and helped the woman to get back onto the bank.

He received a chief fire officer commendation from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire

Officer Ben Ansell – pictured with Edward – at the service’s annual awards ceremony held at Tidworth Garrison Theatre.

CFO Ansell said: “These commendations mark the appreciation of the Chief Fire Officer of meritorious conduct, that is above and beyond the call of duty, by staff, volunteers, partners or members of the public.

“Every year, I receive a number of nominations, and I was delighted to formally recognise Edward for his swift and courageous actions.

“Without them, I have no doubt that a life could have been lost.”

The site

Bowling alley set for demolition

WEYMOUTH’S landmark former bowling alley is set be demolished after plans were approved.

Plans to knock down the building, in St Nicholas Street, were approved by Dorset Council’s area planning committee last month.

The council said the decision marks the “next step in regeneration plans for Weymouth’s waterside economy”.

In January last year, £19.5 million of Levelling Up Funding (LUF) was awarded to Dorset Council.

Sign language tour of author’s birthplace

THE National Trust ran British Sign Language tours last week at Dorset author Thomas Hardy’s former homes to mark Deaf Awareness Week.

A further tour will take place at his birthplace, Hardy’s Cottage, on Thursday, May 23, at 10am.

The property, built by his great-grandfather, was where

Hardy wrote Under the Greenwood Tree and Far From the Madding Crowd.

Elizabeth Flight, partnership and programming officer, said: “Thomas Hardy has such strong cultural associations for the people of Dorset.

Weymouth Bowl is one of several key areas in the town selected for development, including the site at North Quay where the former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council offices stood, the peninsula, the piece of land currently used as car parking beyond the Pavilion and land to the west of the marina.

“The unanimous approval today enables Dorset Council to prepare plans for the site’s long-term future use,” a council spokesperson said. “While plans for the site are drawn up, as a short-term measure the site will be levelled and used as temporary additional car parking. “This is not the long-term intention for the site.”

Demolition work is expected to begin later this year, they added, with the cost of demolition and creation of a temporary car park set to be about £400,000 – paid for through the Levelling Up funding.

Brownsea Island yoga sessions

YOGA sessions and forest bathing are on offer on Brownsea Island this summer to help visitors relax and unwind.

Yoga teacher, Sonja Lockyer – pictured– will lead a one-hour session, followed by a picnic breakfast, every Wednesday from 8am-10am from May to July and again in September, weather permitting.

A new forest bathing trail is a tranquil and beautiful spot at Cambridge Woods, on the north-west side of the island.

Forest bathing is the Japanese practice of being immersed in nature in a mindful way, using the senses to derive benefits for physical and mental health.

“We are always looking for ways to improve accessibility and help as many people as possible enjoy the places where he lived and wrote.”

Further BSL tours will be held later in the year at TE Lawrence’s former home, Clouds Hill, on Wednesday, June 19, at 11am, and Hardy Monument, on Saturday, July 13, at noon.

To book a place on any of the tours, email Elizabeth at elizabeth.flight@nationaltrust. org.uk.

in St Nicholas Street, Weymouth, will be levelled and used for car parking before being re-developed

Hardy’s Cottage in the spring.

PHOTO: National Trust/ Arnhel de Serra

Runs raise £2,000 for hospice

RUNNERS taking part in two fun runs organised by Wimborne Rotary Club last year raised £2,000, which has now been presented to children’s hospice Julia’s House.

The Caribbean Summer Fun Run, run on the hottest day of the summer, together with the Santa Stour Fun Run in December, attracted hundreds of runners.

Julia’s House fundraiser Katie Thompson with Rotarian Neil Hutchinson (left) and Wimborne Rotary president Graham West

Katie Thompson, a Julia’s House fundraiser, attended a Rotary lunchtime meeting to speak about the work carried out at the hospice.

Rotary president Graham West presented her with a cheque for £2,000 and said:

“We are pleased to have raised this amount for Julia’s House and I would thank all the runners for turning up to enable us to raise this impressive sum.

“I would also thank all the volunteers, including those from Julia’s House, Wimborne Football Club and sponsors for making the events possible.”

Schools poster competition promotes ‘green’ awareness

PUPILS at schools in Wimborne are taking part in a poster competition aimed at fostering awareness about recycling, rubbish bins and climate change among young people.

The competition is being organised by Wimborne Minster Town Council in collaboration with Planet Wimborne.

Young artists are being invited to visually represent Wimborne Minster’s dedication to the environment.

A4 posters will need to be submitted by noon on Friday, May 24, to Wimborne Minster Town Hall for the attention of Councillor Jeff Hart.

Entries should include the name, age, home address and school of the participant on the reverse of the poster. There are

three age categories: first school, middle school ages and secondary school.

Cllr Hart said: “The Wimborne Minster School Council has urged the council and Planet Wimborne to organise this competition to underscore the importance of recycling and climate change awareness. Wimborne Minster is a beautiful town, but its charm can be further enhanced if we all prioritise environmental conservation.”

All entries will receive certificates to acknowledge their contribution and book tokens will be awarded to the winners of each group.

The winning entries will be displayed at the school council meeting in the council chamber on Tuesday, June 11, at 4pm.

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Exciting find and a slice of life under Cromwell

IN 1982 a missing portion of the Minutes of the Dorset Standing Committee was discovered at Kingston Lacy, home of Dorset’s largest landowners, the Bankes family. This came as a great surprise, as no-one knew it existed.

The Minutes cover the period when Parliament under Oliver Cromwell ruled the country. King Charles I was exiled from court and would eventually be executed.

Standing Committees were set up in every county to run local government and exert control over the people. Anyone who opposed Parliamentary rule was heavily fined or had homes and property confiscated.

Dorset’s Civil War history is rich in incident with the sieges of Corfe Castle and Lyme Regis major events in the history of that conflict.

Tim Goodwin, an expert on the period, has transcribed this fascinating piece of ‘lost’ history, which along with related material, is set to be published by Dorset Record Society.

When Ralph Bankes died in 1981, he left Kingston Lacy and its estates in Purbeck to the National Trust.

Beside the paintings, furniture and other works of art which became available for the public to see, the house also contained the Bankes Archive, a major collection of documents dating from the

A new

book about life in Dorset during the English Civil Wars, when Parliament and Oliver Cromwell ruled, is the subject of a new book published by Dorset Record Society. Secretary ANN SMITH writes about the era and how the fascinating text came to be found at Kingston Lacy

1600s to the 20th century.

The archives were taken to Dorset History Centre, where they were catalogued and made available to the public.

It was during this process that the missing portion of the Minutes was found. The main portion from 1646-50 was published in 1902, but the section covering March and April 1646 was an unexpected and exciting find.

The Minutes record the daily business, including charges for feeding Parliamentary soldiers, seizing

DORSET Council is urging people to apply for a free food waste bin, if they are not already composting.

“All types of food can go into your food bin, including all cooked and uncooked food, fruit and vegetable peelings, meat and fish bones, tea bags and

written by women. Their menfolk were away fighting, imprisoned or in exile abroad. Their wives remained behind to keep an eye on their houses and land, or in many cases, to petition the Standing Committee for the return of their property and relief from heavy fines.

The Minutes and letters are written in 17th century handwriting, which is not easy to read. The original documents have been damaged in places, which makes them even harder to decipher.

Dorset Record Society has published them in a hardback volume in modern typeface.

horses from local people for the military, selling the goods of people whose property had been confiscated, cutting down their timber and harvesting their crops.

Parsons were also ejected from parishes if their beliefs did not conform to Puritan standards and encouraged locals to pass on intelligence about their neighbours.

The Civil War-era letters of members of the Strangways family form the second part of this book. They are almost all

coffee grounds,” said the council.

One of the reasons food waste should be disposed of in this way is because it is heavy and creates large amounts of greenhouse gases.

“Food collected from these bins is taken to a facility in

Tim Goodwin’s book, Dorset in the Civil War, was the first to be published on the subject since 1910 and was well received.

He has been fascinated by the history of Dorset, especially in the 17th century, since moving to the county in 1988 and continues to research the period.

The book is published by Dorset Record Society, price £14.95, and is available from Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP.

The launch event is at Dorset History Centre in Dorchester on Saturday, May 18, at 2pm and everyone is welcome.

Dorset where the process creates energy,” the council added. “This means your food waste can help create energy in a sustainable way, without burning fossil fuels.”

To apply for a waste bin visit dorset-self.achieveservice.com/ service/Lost_or_Damaged?

The sieges of Corfe Castle – above – and Lyme Regis were major events in the English Civil Wars

Oliver Cromwell led Parliament’s forces in the English Civil Wars

Under New Ownership

Longthorns Farm Wareham is a multi-award winning camping-glamping site directly next to Monkey World. Specialising in back-to-nature family breaks, dogfriendly, with fantastic amenities such as a large shower and toilet block made from recycled plastic from used coat hangers, an on-site farm shop, The Purple Pig bar-cafe, an evening hot food menu throughout the Summer holidays, Alpaca experiences and an awardwining Wedding venue. Plus a large range of farm animals for guests to see, feed and learn about, We have our woodland to explore and even a secure dog paddock for dog exercise.

Richard and Debi with their 5 young children have been live in Managers of the farm for three years and are delighted to announce the successful purchase of the business as the new Owners.

“Coming from a Wedding-Glamping business background this is the perfect fit for us, the children love working and helping us run the business and we’re so excited for the future of Longthorns Farm.

My favorite event is our two-day Christmas Market in November 9th-10th, We love Christmas and this event is so family-friendly, free to come, and over 40 local suppliers, Always a lovely fun friendly atmosphere” Says Debi.

Keeping nature at the heart of our site we are ecofriendly using eco-friendly cleaning products, a large reusable water source, upcycling and reusing as many products as we can.

Family-friendly and cost-efficient, An electric pitch for a family of four for 5 nights is just £185!! OPEN MARCH-DEC.

01929 401539 enquiries@longthornsfarm.co.uk www.longthornsfarm.co.uk

Bikes roar into care home

MOTORCYCLES, music and memories were on the menu when Upton Bay care home in Hamworthy held a classic bike show.

Members of the local community, residents, families and bike enthusiasts joined for a nostalgia-filled afternoon, with vintage and new motorbikes, in the car park.

The Top Hat Bikers and Independent Bikers brought along a range of motorcycles including Honda, Kawasaki, Harley Davidson, and some vintage models.

Vici performed rock ‘n’ roll songs to complement the occasion, and the home’s chef put on a spread, serving hot dogs and hot cider, along with hot and cold drinks and biscuits.

Evelyn Sanders shared a special memory, reminiscing about one of the bikes she owned when she was 18 years old.

community come together and enjoy this fantastic event.

General manager, Mevin Sohorye, said: “It is so lovely to see so many of our local

“We are so grateful to all the bikers, including the Top Hats, who brought their wonderful machines for us all to look at.”

June, a resident at the home, said: “It was a brilliant afternoon, everyone had a wonderful time.

“The bikes were beautiful and I loved talking to all of their owners.”

Incredible art, world class music and much more at Purbeck Art Weeks Festival 2024

Experience the vibrant canvas of creativity at Purbeck Art Weeks Festival 2024! From May 25June 9, immerse yourself in a celebration of art in all its forms. You can enjoy a rich tapestry of open studios, exhibitions, and events that showcase the immense talent of Purbeck’s artistic community. Grab your PAW brochure now from local outlets across Purbeck to plot your trail.

Start your journey at Rollington Barn where you’ll find our collective exhibition featuring a plethora of artists, pop-up workshops and daily demonstrations, plus delicious treats at the Love Cake pop-up cafe. And there’ll be plenty of surprises along the way, including a remarkable 24 ft ‘Water Bottle Tree’ making an appearance at various secret locations across Purbeck. But that’s not all! Feast your senses at PAW’s concerts in the evenings. Revel in a celebration of summertime with Gawain Glenton and In Echo, indulge in the

diverse repertoire of I Fagiolini, or be enchanted by the melodies inspired by birdsong from the Fieri Consort. Don’t miss Helen Charlston and Toby Carr for a delightful journey through English songs of centuries past, and The Gesualdo Six’s breathtaking musical concert, inspired by the ancient service of Compline, spanning from the renaissance to the present day. PAW President and internationally renowned sculptor Philip Jackson will also be giving a talk on the Changing Face of Beauty. Tickets are live, so secure your spot at purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk

Food plus music at country park

A TASTY festival is on offer at a Dorset food festival in June – just ahead of Glastonbury!

The Upton House Food & Music Festival is set to take place at Upton Country Park between Friday, June 14, and Sunday, June 16.

Organisers promise a “family day out in beautiful surroundings with food and drink from around the world”.

Alongside an array of international street food, there’s a tasty bill of top UK tribute acts, with free kids’ entertainment, arts, crafts and, for the brave and hungry, novel eating contests.

“Upton House Food and

Town’s D-Day tribute

THE courage and sacrifice of those who took part in the D-Day Landings in Normandy in the Second World War 80 years ago will be remembered in a series of events in Wimborne.

Wimborne Minster Town Council has organised the events on Thursday, June 6, in partnership with the Minster, Wimborne Royal British Legion, Museum of East Dorset and other local groups.

Music Festival is all about serving up a more-ish mix of top notch food and brilliant

performances by Wimborne Community Theatre at different times and locations in the town.

n From 3.50pm, a proclamation by town crier Chris Brown followed by performances by The Land Girls – 1940s-style duo, Andy Kennett – rock ‘n’ roll singer, local choirs and a reading of the winning entry from the National School Poetry competition, all on a stage at Willow Walk (next to Waitrose).

n Church service at the Minster at 5.30pm and bell ringing at 6.30pm.

n Readings of original poems by children in local schools as part of the National School Poetry Event at 11am.

n D-Day and Dorset presentation by local historian John Smith at Allendale House, East Dorset Heritage Trust (£6 admission).

n Wartime re-enactment

n A procession from the town square led by the Quarterjacks marching band at 8.15pm to Wimborne Cemetery.

n An international tribute read by the town crier at Wimborne Cemetery at 9.15pm, followed by the lighting of the beacon, and ending with a cannon firing by Wimborne Militia.

For more information, contact Gary on 01202 881655 or email gary.mason@ wimborne.gov.uk.

make of this year’s line up, it’s the strongest yet,” said festival organiser, Serena Wren.

Three-day family weekend tickets are available from £34, with single-day family passes starting at £26.

Tribute acts on offer include homages to the likes of Queen, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse, Madness and The Killers.

On the food front, top-rated producers such as Southbournebased pop-up Texas barbecue experts, Sobo Smoko will feature, alongside drinks from the likes of Poole’s Shanty Spirit seaweed vodka.

The site opens from 5pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

music at an affordable price – we can’t wait to see what the people of Poole and beyond

Pre-paid on-site parking is available and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. For bookings and more information, visit www. uptonhousefoodand musicfestival.com.

Upton House Food & Music Festival is at Upton Country Park in June

Andrew’s action thriller

ACTOR and voice teacher

Andrew Cutbert, from Swanage, has turned author, releasing a new book called Coelacanth.

Andrew – pictured – grew up in South Africa, where part of his novel is set, but has lived in the UK for over 50 years and in Swanage since 1998.

He trained as an actor at RADA and worked as an actor for some years, before retraining as a voice teacher in 1993 and then teaching at RADA.

His novel is an action thriller that begins with the discovery of a variant of the coelacanth by a local

fisherman, who is murdered because of his find.

Readers, along the way meet a cast of characters including Dan Weir, an expat South African visiting from London, marine biologist Helen Liebowitz and an Iraqi scientist.

Dan returns to the UK at the end of the novel and takes his young daughter on holiday to Swanage, but she is abducted from Studland beach, before a dramatic conclusion.

INDIVIDUALS in Dorset who need to talk to someone about their mental health can call the friendly, professionally-staffed round-the-clock helpline, NHS Connection.

The helpline will be answered by a professional in mental health care, who can listen vand advise about the caller’s concerns, or worries they may have about friends or family members. Phone: 0800 6520190.

Author at village library

AUTHOR Jane V Adams will talk about her book, Nature’s Wonders, at Corfe Mullen Library on Friday, May 17, from 6-7pm.

Jane will be in conversation about herself and her latest book for the National Trust, Nature’s Wonders: 50 Magical Moments

That Define Our Seasons.

The book, accompanied by Jane’s pictures, takes readers on a sensory jaunt through the seasons.

To book this free event, visit corfemullenlibrary@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or message the library via Facebook.

Shield your home from Care Costs & Inheritance Tax with a Living Trust.

A Living Trust, is a legal arrangement that allows you to protect your assets, including your home, from care costs along with potential inheritance tax implications. Here are a few key points to consider:

1. Asset Protection: By transferring ownership of your home and other assets to a living trust, can help protect them from certain creditors and potential claims, including care costs.

2. Care Costs: Placing your main home into a living trust can ring fence the property from any potential future care costs. Thus, protecting your inheritance

3. Inheritance Tax Planning: A living trust can be part of an estate planning strategy to minimize inheritance tax liability. By placing assets into a trust, they can be excluded from your taxable estate upon your passing, potentially reducing the amount of inheritance tax your beneficiaries would owe.

4. Reversable Nature:

One of the advantages of a living trust is that it is reversable, meaning you can make changes to the trust or remove your home from the trust during your lifetime. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances or wishes.

5. Trust Administration: When you establish a living trust, you typically designate yourself as the trustee alongside one to three other trustees. Thus, maintaining control over the assets and allowing you to continue using and managing them as you did before. Surviving trustees take over the administration of the trust upon your incapacity or death. The effectiveness of a living trust in achieving your specific goals will depend on your individual circumstances. Oakwood Wills offer a free consultation in the privacy of our own home. Tel 07832 331594 email: info@oakwoodwills. co.uk

118 years of the ‘Annual Veast’

THE Society of Dorset Men held its annual county dinner at the George Albert Hotel, Evershot, near Dorchester.

This traditional event is commonly known as the “Annual Veast” in the Dorset dialect and is the highlight of the society year.

It has been held for the past 118 years, firstly in London, where the society started, and from the 1960s within the county.

Society president, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, and his wife, Lady Emma Fellowes, attended, together with nearly 100 members and their guests.

The principal guests were Angus Campbell, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for

Dorset, and Mrs Campbell.

Dinner was followed by the ceremony of the ‘Blue Vinny’ cheese with Anthony Harrison reading, in the Dorset dialect, a short verse which pays homage to the traditional Dorset cheese.

The cheese was paraded into the ballroom by the hotel chef, received and tasted in the traditional manner by the president, who then took a glass of whisky with the chef.

The annual greetings of love and support for the King and the royal family were sent in the Dorset dialect and read to everyone.

The reply was read by the president followed by the loyal toast.

The guest speaker, Lord

Griffiths of Burry Port, spoke about his experience and his connection with Dorset through Portland stone being used in many buildings he had spent his past career in.

He also gave a short history of the many different facets of his diplomatic career.

A raffle raised £185 for foodbanks across the county which help members of the community.

The Hambro Challenge Cup, the society’s annual golf trophy, was awarded to Rob Bonnett for his outstanding performance at the annual golf match at Came Down golf

course at Dorchester.

Special guests at the Society of Dorset Men’s annual county dinner

Chris Goodinge, society events organiser, arranged the evening along with the hotel, and master of ceremonies for the evening was Anthony Harrison, town crier of Dorchester, who conducted proceedings with humour and authority.

After an enjoyable evening, many guests stayed overnight at the hotel to enjoy a hearty breakfast before travelling home on Sunday morning.

Information about the society can be found on its website at www. societyofdorsetmen.co.uk

Traditional foster care vs Parent and Child

Parent and Child Fostering –The Facts

THESE are two different types of fostering, and although the process and principles are the same, they both aim to achieve different outcomes. Parent a child is a far more transactional relationship where the carer helps the parent make a bond with the child, whereas a traditional foster carer will become much closer to the child building a stronger relationship with them over a longer period.

The outcome for a young person in care is to provide an environment where they successfully complete their education and become a contributor to society. Integrating into a family life is important for a child in care, as the foster carers will commit to that child brining them into their family. Traditional foster care can at times be unplanned when there are emergency placements, should the carers choose to opt for such placements. However, parent and child is rather a planned role and the planned breaks following placements can often fit well into busy lifestyles. You may choose one 12-week placement per year or multiple depending on your needs.

path to measure the rewards, however the rewards could be considered much greater when it comes to building a strong relationship and bond to a child over the course of years. It is not always easy to define the natural length of a foster placement and it can be determined by the planned outcomes for the child. If they will return to family or whether the plan is to remain in care until 18.

There are of course many similarities but also differences between each type of fostering and one person may be more suited to one than the other. We find that not many people consider becoming a Parent and Child Foster Carer and are not aware of it as a service.

When deciding on a new chapter of life and a new direction, it is nice to know the ‘ins and outs’ to help us make informed decisions, in this month’s article we will be giving you all the information you need. However, should you have more questions we are just a phone call away! To be a parent and child foster carer, you will need to be confident in looking after newborn babies and have some experience, tips, and tricks that you can pass on to the new parent. It is also vital that there is always a carer available for support and guidance. In your home, you will be inviting in a parent and their newborn baby, therefore need a big enough spare room to accommodate their needs, such as a bed, changing area, and cot for the baby. The placement is normally short-term and lasts up to 12 weeks, this can vary depending on the requirements of the placement. You may be thinking, how about the rewards that come with being a carer? Well, many rewards can be acquired, the satisfaction of passing on your knowledge to new parents, enabling them to integrate into a community, and promoting the nurture of a newborn. On top of that pay can start in the region of £850 per week. To become a carer, the approval process takes 4-6 months, and a social worker will guide you through your journey. Once completed Footprints offer you the continued guidance, support, and training to ensure you have full confidence in your role. Not every child comes into this world with well-equipped and prepared parents, therefore need some help to get them on their way. In your role as a Parent and Child Foster Carer, not only will you help with the care, but you also will help develop the parent in the areas of money management, and household skills helping them build the confidence they need to live independently.

If you are sure that you want a short-term placement and have experience in caring for babies parent and child could be a good option. To provide knowledge and benefit and see a quick development, unlike traditional fostering where placements can be a lot longer and you stick with a child throughout their growth and adolescence.

The need and demand for carers in the field of Parent and Child is rapidly growing and to ensure that we as a nation provide the best support possible, we need more carers. If you think that you can provide a safe and supportive home for such placement, Footprints would like to hear from you.

The rewards of Parent and Child are quite instant, as you will see within 12 weeks a large development of child and baby where you set them on a pathway to independence. With a foster child this may be a longer

We have an excellent team of social workers at footprints that have extensive knowledge about fostering placements and they would be happy to share more information, so you can choose what is right for you. Get in touch today: 01202 573408.

News from Wareham Town Council – April report

By Julie Bradshaw

WAREHAM Town Council

had an end of term feeling in April – a number of councillors were absent, a possible new councillor popped in and the mayor chaired her last full council meeting.

The end-of-year financial figures will be presented to the new council with some recommendations from the town clerk.

Firstly, sufficient funds may be available to pay for the re-build of Howards Lane toilets rather than a Public Works Loan.

Secondly, the use of reserve funds should be considered – for example, combining Upgrade of Recreational Facilities and Skate Park

would result in a healthy fund.

Dorset Councillor Holloway reported that the Speedwatch team would be operating later in April and that the Family Hub at Wareham Youth Centre had taken on the Community Fridge and other surplus food and was now the local registered body for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

A paid museum manager has been recruited. Dr Paul Willis comes with much experience and enthusiasm to the role and will, no doubt,

play a big part in the museum’s 50th anniversary events later this year.

Dorset Council welcomed the request from Wareham Town Council to take ownership of the former Middle School playing fields and the council’s resolution will go forward to the new Dorset Council.

Nothing will happen about the over-bright LED street lighting until the new financial year.

The town clerk reported that communication between the town council office and the police had improved with police calling on the office for information and sometimes being informed about incidents of which they were

Cllr Turner thanked councillors and staff and said she felt it was now time for the older generation to give way and that she was pleased to see new candidates coming forward.

A vote for town councillors on May 2 chose 16 councillors out of 17 candidates – eight Liberal Democrats and nine Independents.

Everyone is invited to the annual town council meeting on Tuesday, May 14, and the next full council meeting date will be available on the council’s website, www. wareham-tc.gov.uk, or by phoning the town council office on 01929 553006.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

Wax Away Ear Care

Mayors at The Minster for thanksgiving service

CIVIC dignitaries from several towns and parishes attended a civic thanksgiving service at The Minster in Wimborne hosted by the town’s mayor, Councillor Diann March.

Local organisations, displaying their standards, took part in a short parade

from Church House to The Minster.

The Rev Canon Andrew Rowland led the service, after which guests enjoyed tea, sandwiches and a slice of cake. Wimborne Militia concluded the event with a cannon-firing competition.

The First Fluid Art Retreat Comes to Dorset Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October

Hosted by established UK Fluid Artists, Julie Vatcher and Chris Schneider, this will be a weekend packed full of inspirational talks and creative workshops.

The retreat is aimed at anyone who loves to be creative. This is such an exciting art technique that is accessible to all abilities and utilises the wonderful paint affects you can achieve with fluid paint to produce unique and contemporary works of art.

The venue, Sandyholme, is situated just five minutes walk from Studland Beach. All meals and refreshments are included, and you have the choice of booking with shared accommodation or without accommodation.

Visit our website for more information and to book: ukfluidartevents.co.uk

PHOTO: Marilyn Barber

Airport set to carry more than 1m passengers

BOURNEMOUTH Airport is gearing up to welcome an influx of passengers, with summer just around the corner, as its schedule gets into full swing.

May traditionally marks the start of the holiday season for the airport and this year is no different with a raft of summer flights to Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands starting from Bournemouth in the coming days and weeks.

The airport, which was ranked in the top three UK airports for customer service last year, has a total of 37 destinations in 19 countries for 2024, with more seats on offer than ever before.

This year it expects to handle more than one million passengers for the first time since 2008.

Tour operator TUI has added a second aircraft and 60,000 seats this summer with flights to Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Rhodes, Zante, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Menorca, Antalya and Dalaman all taking off in May.

TUI’s flights to Majorca and Paphos started in March, and TUI flies year-round to Tenerife from Bournemouth.

Ryanair meanwhile has 20 destinations on offer, with flights to Zadar, Bergerac and Carcassonne starting in May,

and a new service to Nantes starting in June.

Another new service, to Agadir in Morocco, started in April, along with seasonal flights to Budapest, Venice, Girona, Majorca and Murcia in March, all running until late October.

Ryanair currently flies year-round from Bournemouth to Malta, Krakow, Wroclaw, Faro, Edinburgh, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga and Tenerife.

The airport’s continued growth means owners Regional & City Airports is investing about £5 million this year in upgrading facilities.

And next year promises to be even bigger, with jet2.com and Jet2holidays recently announcing 16 destinations for 2025, having chosen Bournemouth as its 12th UK base airport. Those routes are on sale now.

Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “The airport continues to go from strength to strength, with TUI’s second aircraft based here this summer, new routes from Ryanair and the arrival of Jet2 next year all offering even more choice to local people.

“I would like to thank everyone who has chosen the travel with us this year and we look forward to welcoming you to Bournemouth Airport.”

World Première

An opera in four seasons Composer: Paul Carr Librettist: Euan Tait (After Thomas Hardy) 23, 25 July at 19.00 | 27 July at 14.00 Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum

TUI is flying to Crete from Bournemouth this summer

Cryptic crossword

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro

Across

8 Fabulous creature having run-in possibly about firm (7)

9 Forgetting name, recall original musical (5)

10 Rough sponge a nitwit held back (5)

11 Piece on dress in part of old ship (3,4)

12 Making easy element in party touring island, inspired area (12)

Killer Sudoku Pro

16 Abundant source surprisingly lent for phony (4,2,6)

Down

1 Part round line in bedcover (5)

2 Outdated type is around ground (8)

3 African citizen in this way facing African country (6)

4 Catch stump (4)

5 Hear in quake rupture (6)

6 Type of music, source of joy I have condensed (4)

20 Striking plant that’s cultivated in exposed edge of rock (7)

23 Scoundrels start to exclaim and swear (5)

24 A writer in Greece and player on computers? (5)

25 Appropriate start in Turkey (7)

Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

7 Bishop, say, showing benevolence for all people? (7)

13 Devilish youth in slim pullover (3)

14 Fascination in growth from account? (8)

15 By the sound of it, cast is finished (7)

17 Model for astronomers or engineers on railway (6)

18 Legal deed worse in review when probed Conservative (6)

19 Transport British rock singer (5)

21 Rotting meat in flat (4)

22 US poet left out course of action (4)

History

Museum displays tank pioneer’s stolen medals

TWO medals recently donated to The Tank Museum at Bovington belonged to the man without whom the tank might never have existed.

Walter Gordon Wilson possessed the creative mind that led to the tracks of the first tanks running right around their distinctive rhomboid shape. It is remarkable that his medals have ended up at the museum because they were stolen many years ago.

But recently they emerged and Walter’s grandson, Brigadier Henry Wilson, took possession of them and made the donation.

They are now on display along with the very early tanks that Wilson was responsible for helping design.

When Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty during the First World War pushed for ‘landships’ to be created, Wilson was put in charge of testing.

With William Tritton, of the agricultural manufacturing firm Fosters of Lincoln, he worked to create what would become known as the tank.

He is credited with inventing numerous key features, notably the track design for the test vehicle Little Willie, now on display at the museum.

He also invented Little Willie’s rhomboid successor ‘Mother’ with the tracks running around the whole vehicle.

Later, he improved the gear system in the Mark V tanks so a single operator could drive them, rather than a team of four as with earlier designs.

Tanks would enter the fray in

the First World War on September 15, 1916, and would become a vital weapon in the allies’ victory.

Reflecting their leading role, Walter Wilson and his partner Sir William Tritton jointly received the largest financial award from the post-Great War Royal Commission for Inventors for their work on the tank.

The donated medals are the War Medal – awarded to all those who served in the First World War – and the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).

The CMG was awarded in June 1917 in recognition of Wilson’s contribution to the war effort.

The fact that Wilson was the only leading player not to receive a knighthood or higher honour may well have something to do with his uncompromising character.

David Willey, curator of the museum, said: “These medals might be modest in one sense, but they are of great significance and importance to us because of whose they were.

“Without Wilson’s drive, creative mind and problemsolving skills, the story of what became known as the tank might have been very different.

“It is extremely generous of the family to donate the medals which will help us tell the story of how the ‘landships’ were turned from an idea into reality.”

Brigadier Henry Wilson, grandson of the inventor, said: “My grandfather’s medals had been missing since stolen in

1954, so it was fortunate that I heard they were being put up for sale.

“Thanks to the vendor’s cooperation, the medals were returned to the family.

“Due to Walter’s pioneering role in the invention of the tank, I felt that The Tank Museum was the appropriate home for them, so we decided to donate them.

“My grandfather, after a brief early spell in the Royal Navy, studied mechanical science at King’s College, Cambridge.

“Always an innovative thinker, he became involved with early powered flight before building his own motor cars, the Wilson-Pilcher, from 1901 to 1904. He then worked on designing commercial vehicles for Armstrong-Whitworth before his leading war-time role in the tank story.”

Wilson was born in Ireland in 1874. At Cambridge he met Charles Rolls – of Rolls-Royce fame – and acted as his

mechanical engineer on several occasions.

He teamed up with Percy Sinclair Pilcher, a glider pioneer, and designed and built a lightweight engine for Pilcher’s new triplane named The Hawk.

Tragically, Pilcher died in a crash at Stanford Hall, near Rugby, on September 30, 1899, before the engine could be fitted.

Had this not happened and the venture had succeeded, as experts believe it would have, they would have achieved powered flight five years before the Wright brothers.

One example of the WilsonPilcher veteran car remains in private hands today participating regularly in the London-Brighton run.

After the First World War, Wilson patented the epicyclic pre-selector gearbox which was built by the family firm Self-Changing Gears Ltd at Coventry for over 40 years.

Walter Wilson died in 1957.

Museum curator David Willey with test vehicle Little Willie and (inset) Walter Wilson’s medals

Walter Wilson was an uncompromising character

Wilson’s grandson Brigadier Henry Wilson with the medals

Sergeant got a ‘bit singed’ in the thunderbox

IN 1958 my Royal Engineer Troop was supporting the Grenadier Guards, who had been sent to quell the terroristinfested Panhandle district of Cyprus. We found ourselves harbouring in broken country where our sections were quickly deployed to the rifle companies while I established my small headquarters near Battalion HQ. The first thing and, indeed, one of great importance, was to site the thunderbox.

“Where would you like it, sir?” asked my transport corporal.

“That spot by the trees looks well drained, nicely concealed and has a pleasant view,” I replied. So, my fine oak portable lavatory was erected under a Karib tree so that, when enthroned at dawn, I could view the mountains of Turkey 40 miles distant.

The next day the corporal reported that the thunderbox must be moved as it was “full up”.

“Full up,” I gasped. “With only five of us here?”

“’Fraid so, sir. It’s them Guards sergeants using it.”

This was an insult of the highest order. An officer’s thunderbox is a very private thing – although I allowed my own soldiers access to it, it was gross insolence for outsiders to intrude. The proximity of the device to the Guards sergeants’ mess was clearly too great a temptation. Regretfully, I ordered it moved westward, some 60 paces.

Alas, next morning it was found to be “full” again. This really was too much, and I was of a mind to report the matter when the corporal, a devious but ingenious man, suggested an

by Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE, former British Army officer, explorer and author. John also founded Operation Raleigh and the Scientific Exploration Society

alternative plan to deter trespassers.

“You may recall, sir, we captured some home-made explosive yesterday,” he smirked. “Might I suggest that we place a minute quantity, with a booby-trap switch, beneath the toilet, to be operated by anyone seating himself thereon?”

The idea appealed. “What about us?” I enquired.

“We shall leave a safety pin nearby. All engineers, before seating, must replace the pin,” he replied.

It was an hour after dark and I was on duty in the battalion operations room when I heard a dull “boom” followed by a cry of “medical orderly, medical orderly.” When the padre relieved me, I asked what the medic had been called for.

“Oh! One of the sergeants sat on a stove – bit singed, I gather!” replied the vicar.

Back at our lines, I found my men grouped about the thunderbox, or the remains thereof. The hessian screen lay on the ground and the shattered timbers were scattered around. The black plastic seat was 15ft away and the roll of soft white paper trailed sadly across the field. The pungent smell of explosive was heavy in the

night air.

“About 21.00 hours, sir,” reported the corporal, Sapper Rampling. “And I perceived a light bobbing across the field. Stand to, lads, I say. Here comes the enemy.

“We see the light go behind the screen and a few seconds later there is a bloody big bang.” The wreckage told the rest.

“Then there’s t’bloke rolling about in t’smoke,” said Rampling, in his strong Lancashire accent, continuing the tale. “He can’t get up quick like, cos ‘is trousers is round ‘is ankles and ‘ee’s lost ‘is belt.”

“Was he badly hurt?” I enquired with concern.

“Well, ‘ee was making bit of fuss like, but I think it were just shock,” replied Rampling.

It took all next day to rebuild the thunderbox, but it was never the same. A week later, after a long cordon and search operation, most of the battalion regrouped at the main camp. My sections came in and, having arrived in the middle of the night, were not familiar with the layout. Unfortunately, a sapper was discovered on the Grenadiers’ commanding officer’s thunderbox by the battalion adjutant, with whom I had already crossed swords on other matters. “One of your wretched men is on the colonel’s thunderbox,” he screamed. I was tired and

considered there were more important things to worry about at that moment. “I’m sorry,” I grunted, but the adjutant continued to rave. “For Pete’s sake,” I retorted, “I’m always finding Guardsmen on my thunderbox, and we have a way of dealing with them.”

For a moment I thought he would have a seizure. “You, you, you have a way of dealing with a Guardsman”, he stammered.

“Yes,” said I. “We blow them up”.

The colonel then appeared.

“Sir, Blashford-Snell has been blowing up guardsmen,” blurted out the adjutant.

“Really,” said the CO, looking mildly interested.

I explained what had happened, hoping that I sounded more confident than I felt.

“Hmm,” muttered the senior officer, looking stern. “Can’t have that, can we?”

“Certainly not”, snapped my tormentor with obvious satisfaction.

Poking me with his walking stick the Colonel said slowly: “Your punishment, young man, is that you must write the story for our regimental magazine.”

Signed copies of John Blashford-Snell’s recent book, From Utmost East to Utmost West are available priced £19 including UK postage. Contact jenny@ses-explore.org for further details.

Lieutenant John Blashford-Snell (centre) with his Sapper Troop in Cyprus and a pile of confiscated homemade explosive devices

Telling It Like It Is

Sign up to save Wareham’s pedestrian level crossing

SOME hot news from Wareham. Many of you have raised the issue of Wareham’s level crossing and the need for a permanent solution to keep the ground level crossing open. We have since been trying to establish the current position.

In December 2022 Michael Tomlinson MP explained that discussions were taking place, stating that “it was made clear, once again, that alternative options that would lead to the closure of the crossing are not acceptable and that automation of the crossing remains the best option long term. The question of automatic barriers needs to be addressed and addressed positively. This was conveyed strongly to Network Rail. Network Rail appear willing to conduct a feasibility study into automation, which would be a very welcome and positive step forward. Since the meeting, I have written to Network Rail asking for this assurance in writing and I know that Dorset Council have also restated their position in favour of automation…I have raised this matter with Ministers, including with the Minister for Rail and will continue to do so.”

This was a great reassurance to residents at the time.

We then heard in March 2023 that an independent consultant was being commissioned to look at electronic options for the Wareham Level Crossing.

In December 2023, we heard that the feasibility report had not yet been released. It is now over a year since the study was commissioned but we have heard from Dorset Council that it does not yet have a copy of the report.

So who’s dragging their feet? Network Rail? Michael

By David Hollister

Tomlinson – who clearly now has other fish to fry – Dorset Council? Certainly not the good people of Wareham who are still working on this problem. The only thing we can hope for is that Network Rail is washed away in the new Government’s promised clean-up. But the Augean stables come to mind and there is a vast amount of “detritus” to clear. And who knows about the future of Dorset Council? Or even Michael Tomlinson? Or – for that matter – me!

After the local elections and with a general election happening soon, this is a good time to raise the issue with councillors and MPs. The good folk of Wareham have therefore started a new petition in support of retaining the ground level crossing in perpetuity.

Please sign the petition and pass the link on to others to sign. It’s on change.org and reads:

Petition · Save Wareham’s Ground Level Pedestrian Railway Crossing · Change.org

The petition will also be available for signing in the post offices in North Street and Carey.

JUST returned from two weeks in the Spanish sunshine. Couldn’t help but notice how much over the past few years Spain has picked itself up by its bootstraps, cleared a vast amount of litter, repainted lots of road markings and generally made Spain a nicer place to walk and drive in. Road sweepers and their machines are everywhere!

Compare this with the down-at-heel feel of the UK. “Great” Britain, so busy meddling in other people’s

affairs that our own infrastructure is crumbling. Friends here have said to me – recently – that they are ashamed to be British. Look around you. And weep at the degradation that successive governments have thrust upon us. Why is it always us that has to help fix Ukraine, Israel, provide homes for the “boat people” while leaving our own ex-service personnel out in the streets?

I’m sure it’s all very worthwhile but most of our ex-European neighbours are having a good laugh at our expense.

Why do the people choose to come to the UK when they have travelled through perfectly safe countries on the way?

Could it be that the welfare benefits are greater here? And why? Have we become a nation of softies, always pleased to display our feelings and “Christian” principles on our sleeves – all frilly skirt and no knickers?

Let’s be rid of immigration regulations and let in the vast quantity of foreigners who want to do the jobs that so many English citizens feel are beneath them. Let them work and provide for their families with their heads held high instead of keeping them locked up at our expense in hotels, redundant military facilities, boats bound for nowhere?

I want to see queues for jobs, not queues for immigration visas and work permits. Because with their heads held high, they will contribute to our failing economy rather than being obliged to draw benefits from it.

And as regards Rwanda! Hutu political and military extremists orchestrated the

killing of about three-quarters of Rwanda’s Tutsi population, leaving more than half a million people dead. Many Hutu who attempted to hide or protect Tutsi, as well as those who opposed the genocide, were also killed. And that was in 1994! Rishi Sunak was 14 at the time. Short memory? Rwanda is ‘safe’ and has been for only 30 years.

ISEEM to recall that our Police and Crime Commissioner came out just before the election and warned everyone not to buy, borrow, use or even think about powered pavement scooters. Well, he had to, didn’t he. His job is/was to uphold the laws of the land no matter how stupid or outdated they are.

Here in Spain, scooters are everywhere, offering their users a quick and easy way to get from A to B. Generating little or no pollution. I don’t see a huge queue of people at A&E having been run over. Might be a good idea for scooters to have an “audible means of warning” as indeed do cycles. They do, don’t they? Not that I’ve heard a bicycle bell for many years, but this is one law that the Police see fit to ignore!

AND finally, on the subject of Police Commissioners. If we have a new one, then welcome! Come and talk to us in Swanage and in Wareham and let us know your intentions. Coffee’s on! If we still have David Sidwick, then the people will have entrusted you with a few more years in which to do all those things which we hoped you’d do and which you undertook to do, things which haven’t happened yet.

Lookout volunteers from all walks of life

By Nick Reed

PEOPLE are often quite surprised to hear that watchkeepers are all volunteers. This has definite advantages but, as with many organisations which rely on volunteers, there are times when we need to do a recruitment drive.

We currently have spaces for new members at our St Alban’s Head Station.

Despite being part of the maritime search and rescue community, having a background in sea is not a prerequisite. While we do have ex-Royal Navy and Merchant Navy watchkeepers, many of us had roles that had nothing to do with the sea.

Within the two stations we have watchkeepers who were teachers, engineers, local government officers, managers, health service workers and prison officers.

Some of us are active in water-related pastimes such as sailing, canoeing and diving, while others openly admit that they prefer to watch the sea from the shore!

Probably the most important attributes are a calm and methodical approach to things and a willingness to learn.

If you would like to train as a volunteer watchkeeper, please contact us at volunteering@ stalbansheadnci.co.uk. Training is carried out on the job with the support of training mentors and comprehensive national and local training manuals.

IF you want to find out more about our work, an ideal time would be to pop up to the Lookouts over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend. The “Hatch” at St Alban’s Head will be open on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday for light refreshments, while “tea and

PHOTO: Swanage Coastguard

an excellent view of Swanage and Poole Bay.

If either station has a concern about a vessel heading in the direction of the other station, it’s a simple matter of a phone call to give them a heads up.

IT makes a pleasant change to be writing this month’s article with the sun shining through the window and no storm being on the horizon! The good weather is bringing people out on the water and along the cliff paths, and it’s been good to welcome visitors to the Lookouts to tell them about what we do. Perhaps the weather is beginning to turn for the better.

It’s not just people appreciating the weather, our canine companions love going for “walkies” and not much beats a trip to the coast.

cakes” will be on offer at Swanage on the Sunday and Monday.

Our two stations are part of a network of 60 National Coastwatch stations. Operational around the British Isles. They range from Fleetwood in the north west, through Wales, to the south and east of England and up to Filey, in north Yorkshire. These stations are operated by more than 2,600 volunteer watchkeepers.

The common link that brings such a diverse group of people together is the desire to give something back to the community. One of our local watchkeepers summed it up when he said: “The attraction is the wonderful outlook on the ever-changing weather and sea conditions, the camaraderie and, most of all, the feeling that one is being of use to the community.”

Another said: “I have felt safe knowing we have teams of dedicated people, who work tirelessly to keep our coastline safe. So, I decided to join them and be part of that unique team keeping our coast safe and secure, whether you are in a large vessel, yacht, dinghy or a family on the beach or walking the cliff top. I am there so they can always feel safe!”.

The two stations work closely together, taking part in local events such as the Swanage Fish and Food Festival and Swanage Carnival and, occasionally, having joint training evenings. During an operational day we regularly communicate with one another. Situated high on the top of St Alban’s Head, watchkeepers have a superb view from Anvil Point and beyond in the east to Portland Bill in the west. The Swanage Station complements this with

Worryingly, several recent incidents have seen the rescue services called out to dogs going over the cliffs. Thankfully, all the incidents have had a happy ending. The most recent incident at Peveril Point saw the dog scramble back up to meet the Coastguard Rescue Team as they set up their equipment.

Sadly, this is not always the case, and many dogs die each year after running over cliff edges. Dogs are easily distracted by all the exciting sounds and smells on a coastal walk and often want to chase a bird or an animal.

It’s safer to keep your dog on a lead when out walking along the coast. It’s also better for the local wildlife, especially during spring and summer when ground-nesting birds are breeding at the coast.

If your pet gets stuck on a ledge, in mud or is swept out to sea, don’t go after them – most dogs make it back safely, but you might not. The safest thing to do is call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

This is Swanage NCI and St Albans Head NCI looking forward to meeting you and listening on channel 65. NCI Out.

Many dogs die each year after running over cliff edges, although this one scrambled back up at Peveril Point to be met by the Coastguard Rescue Team as they set up their equipment

Politics

Candidates from different worlds

LLOYD Hatton, Labour Parliamentary candidate for South Dorset, has been knocking on doors throughout the constituency. Swanage has been no exception. Lloyd has spoken to residents and voters alike at our street stalls, and canvassed across the town.

Lloyd, born and raised in Weymouth, attending local schools, Holy Trinity and All Saints, knows what life is like for those of us born without the of benefit of wealth and privilege. He has a clear message for voters – it is time for a change. We need a new Government. We need a new MP.

Unlike Lloyd, our sitting Conservative MP, Richard Drax – or, to give him his full name –Richard Grosvenor Plunket Ernle Erle Drax, educated at Harrow – has been invisible. He has not been seen campaigning on the streets of Swanage, or in

Weymouth and Portland.

One of the wealthiest MPs, worth at least £150 million, the largest individual landowner in Dorset, Richard Drax still owns the Drax Hall Plantation of 617 acres on Barbados. His family’s wealth was historically largely derived from its involvement in the slave trade. Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the University of West Indies, has described Drax Hall as a “killing ground”.

The Observer reported in 2022 that Richard Drax had gone to Barbados to meet with its Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, to face her demand that he hand over all, or part of, the Drax Hall Plantation.

The motion lamented that 30,000 slaves are estimated to have died at the Drax Hall Plantation and other Drax Plantations across the Caribbean.

In 2023 an Early Day Motion was put forward in the Commons, supporting Mia Mottley in her endeavour to take back ownership of Drax Hall.

Unlike other representatives of former slave-owning families, most notably Laura Trevelyan, Richard Drax has made no formal apology or offer of reparation to the people of Barbados. He has not followed the example of the Church of England, which this year has decided to set up an in perpetuity investment fund to address the legacy of slavery with an initial payment of £100m, nor that of Lloyds of London, which in 2020 apologised for its role in the slave trade.

The people of Barbados still feel the pain of the slavery that

has disfigured their island. A recent proposal by the Barbados Government to pay up to £3.2m for the Drax Hall Estate for housing angered such a wide swathe of opinion there that Mia Mottley put the plans on hold. In a YouTube statement to Barbadians made on April 23, she reasserted her demand that Richard Drax pay reparations.

Barbadian MP and former minister Trevor Prescod is reported in The Barbados Daily Nation as saying Richard Drax should not be paid “a cent”.

Sugar cane is still harvested at Drax Hall – the plantation is worth an estimated £4.7m, just one more asset for our wealthy MP. Lloyd Hatton and Richard Drax come from two different worlds. Dorset people need a man who comes from their world – Lloyd Hatton.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

Defence spending good for jobs

WHEN I first moved to Dorset more than 20 years ago, I regularly heard distant rumblings in the evenings. Were these thunderstorms that didn’t quite reach my village? No – this was the sound of our armed forces training across the Dorset countryside. I spent my teenage years in a military town, but the special forces tend to be quieter! I have never served myself –though I enjoyed CCF at school – and I am always in admiration of – and incredibly thankful to – those who dedicate their lives in protection of our country.

The Prime Minister has recently announced the biggest strengthening of the UK’s national defence in a generation, with a fully funded plan to grow the defence budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. Autocratic states like Russia, Iran and China are increasingly trying to undermine democracy, and we need to be ready. The investment will focus on key high-tech capabilities,

including air defence missiles and anti-armour munitions, in addition to continued investment in artillery ammunition.

This will support new high quality jobs and economic growth across all of the UK – and I know that Dorset will be part of that. My good friend the Defence Procurement Minister has confirmed this week that Lulworth is doing night trials as part of this work – so if you hear night-time rumblings, you can be sure that our armed forces locally are at the cutting edge of our technological innovation.

missiles, more than 4 million rounds of small arms; and boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats.

We will also continue to support Ukraine, and have recently announced our largest ever package of munitions and equipment for Ukraine. This includes 400 armoured, protected and all-terrain vehicles; more than 1,600

But we know that Ukraine also needs humanitarian support – which is why we have delivered over £357 million of humanitarian assistance including frontline air, shelter and clothing, and £8m to support the most vulnerable, including women, girls and people with disabilities.

I am also proud to be part of a Government that provides support for veterans, and we have a dedicated Veterans’ Minister in the Cabinet standing up for those who have served. For veterans, the Open University has asked me to highlight that applications for The Open University’s Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships

Fund for 2024/25 are now open. This fund provides access to free OU education as well as tailored careers and disability support to those injured in, or due to, military service. You can find out more on its website, https:// www.open.ac.uk/courses/ fees-and-funding/disabledveterans-scholarship-fund.

As always, if you have an issue you need help with, please do get in touch – email me at michael.tomlinson.mp@ parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216. You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Facebook, www.facebook. com/michael4MDNP, or my website, www. michaeltomlinson.org.uk, where there’s lots of information, including support with the cost of living, and support for veterans.

MICHAEL TOMLINSON

Conservative MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

Chris Bradey

Michael Tomlinson

Lib Dems are in buoyant mood

THE recent local elections showed a groundswell of support across the county for the Liberal Democrats. On doorsteps across South Dorset, I heard time and time again that we were, by quite some margin, the most visible party during the run-up to the local elections. We had a lot to talk about with the electorate and we learned huge amounts about the needs of local people and local communities. Our newly elected councillors will be fighting hard for their communities and will always be keen to listen to their needs.

The Liberal Democrats are buoyant. Our MPs are doing fantastic work in Westminster on a wide range of topics, from the need for proper funding for rural councils all the way through to tackling the biggest issues on the international stage, especially the current conflict in Gaza. Two south west based Liberal Democrat MPs, Sarah Dyke and Richard Foord, are

giving their constituents a strong voice by passing on the needs of their rural communities in Westminster. I intend to do the same.

Sarah Dyke has demanded to know why urban councils get more funding per head than rural councils despite rural services being more expensive. She celebrated Earth Day by speaking in parliament to share the great work charities and businesses in her constituency are doing to cut the use of single-use plastics. She also highlighted the great work of a veterans’ breakfast club and challenged the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, to explain what the Government is doing to support community-focused initiatives for veterans across the UK. The Conservative minister paid tribute to the volunteers

involved but did not offer any support to these initiatives in his response.

Matt Bell

Richard Foord pushed the Government to ensure international cooperation regarding defence spending. He also called for a fairer funding settlement for childcare to close the rural/urban divide. He voted against the Conservative’s efforts to weaken duties on Ofwat, the body that regulates the privatised water and sewerage industry. Meanwhile, spats within the Conservative party rumble on to the detriment of good governance. We saw this during the recent Dorset Council elections. The Conservative Leader of Dorset Council, Spencer Flower, featured in the Financial Times telling Conservative MPs to stay away from the campaign and

commented he cannot remember the last time Rishi Sunak visited the county. The Swanage Conservatives issued a lengthy letter to residents describing themselves as “angry, upset and frustrated” while lamenting negative aspects of “government conduct and the behaviour of MPs” within their own party, who they stated have brought the Conservative Party into “disrepute” and behaved “squalidly”. It seems even local Conservatives have lost their belief in their MPs and their ability to govern appropriately to meet the needs of the British people.

I, along with all Liberal Democrats, will always maintain my focus on visiting, listening to and representing local communities, and providing them with a strong voice to create positive change.

CLLR MATT BELL Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South Dorset

Robin Boultwood took this photo at Wareham Market recently

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Corfe Castle

46.19 acres (18.69 hectares)

A 3-bedroom farmhouse and traditional range of outbuildings offering an exciting renovation opportunity (subject to planning consents) with far-reaching views over the Isle of Purbeck.

For sale in four lots. Formal Tender, closing 7 June 2024. Freehold. CTB D.

Lot A – The Farmhouse; Lot B – 31.82 acres pasture land and buildings; Lot C – 5.39 acres of pasture land; Lot D – 8.98 acres of pasture land.

Guide £1,600,000 (whole) Morgan Clement, Wimborne 01202 843190

East Stoke

0.6 acres (0.24 hectares)

An exceptionally spacious house standing in open countryside with garage and planning permission in for triple garage and office. Currently arranged as a main house with an annexe, the property has previously been run as a successful B&B, and offers a rare opportunity to purchase a house with such versatility. Freehold. CTB G.

Guide £1,300,000

How panto cash was shared out

THE latest Stoborough Pantomime finished earlier this year to well-deserved local acclaim – oh, yes it did!

This time it was Puss in Boots and again six shows were inflicted on our local audiences.

Indeed our audiences are always part of the show and they often make more racket than the performers.

Stoborough Pantomime is a real local institution and has been entertaining? audiences for over 40 years.

This bi-annual event provides a home for incredibly talented performers, the best group of young actors in the country and even elderly twits who couldn’t even spell the word thespian!

The community raised £5,700 for local good causes and the cast wanted to let everyone know just where all this money was going: £500 went to Stoborough School PTA and £500 to Stoborough Nursery; £1,000 to Dementia Friendly Purbeck; £1,000 to Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund; £1,000 to Dorset Mind Mental Health Support Charity and £200 to The Wareham Food Bank.

We also gave a donation of £1,500 to Stoborough village hall in grateful thanks for our use of the hall for the pantomime performances and our rehearsals.

The next pantomime will be in February 2026 and, be warned, we are looking for some new actors and actresses for this next show!

Jethro (Second baddy)

It’s

great to see phone box back

WHAT a positive surprise the other morning, to see the phone box had returned to the centre of Studland village.

This iconic British design has almost completely gone from our 21st century environment.

Well done to the people of Studland village for restoring the phone box and putting it beside a traditional post box, just a black cab and a Routemaster bus to go – only joking!

To find it has a large map of Studland inside is the icing on the cake – what a sensible and helpful idea.

Perhaps Swanage Town Council could do the same, with a phone box by the transport hub at Swanage railway station, with a street map of Swanage to help visitors get their bearings.

Tim Deacon Swanage

Slow going on road to Corfe

I used to like to go to Corfe

But now I’m at a loss

It takes me half an hour

Just to get through Harman’s Cross.

The 30 mile an hour rule

Has made the journey worse

My sat nav thinks I’ve changed my mind

And goes into reverse!

I know that it’s a safety law

To save pedestrian souls

But then I never see one, Just all those signs on poles! I crawl along the empty road

And all around I look

To help me pass the time next trip...

I think I’ll take a book!!

For more poetry come to the

PAW open mic poetry night at The Globe Inn, Swanage, on Monday, June 3, 7.30pm-10pm.

Martin Hobdell Swanage

Columnist’s views are outdated

I AM appalled by Purbeck Gazette columnist David Hollister’s comments in the April 1 edition.

Being someone who works in public service, his comments can only be part of an April Fool’s joke

His misinformed opinions and 1940s Great British Empire views are completely outdated and insulting to the working people in the country.

Jason Alden Via email

Dennis Hill still a keen artist at 99

IT is with great sadness that members of Broadstone Art Society have said goodbye to their longest-serving member, Dennis Hill who, at 99 years old, was still an enthusiastic artist coming along to paint both inside at the club and in the summer, painting en plein air.

Dennis joined the club in 1956 and was both chairman and president. He painted in watercolours, acrylic and oils. He was also very generous and donated many paintings to

charity.

He was very talented and gave encouragement as well as constructive advice to many members.

Dennis had his artwork accepted at the Royal Institute, Royal West of England Academy, Royal Marine Artists and the Royal Water Colour Society.

A selection of Dennis’s paintings will be on show at Broadstone Art Society’s next exhibition from Saturday, May 25, to Sunday, June 2, at the Youth Centre in Moor Road, Broadstone.

Linda Malin Broadstone Art Society

Volunteer appeal for folk festival

WIMBORNE Minster Folk Festival will be taking place from Friday to Sunday, June 7- 9, and we look forward to welcoming thousands of people into the town as usual.

However, a festival such as ours cannot run without the help of volunteer stewards to assist in manning information points, helping with events and generally assisting visiting members of the public.

A number of events in Dorset have been cancelled in recent years due to a lack of volunteers.

Although we are not in a critical position, we still require a few extra volunteers to help on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

Even if you can cover just one three- to four-hour shift, that would be of great help, in particular Saturday afternoon when we need a certain number to cover the parade for it to take place.

Please help us to keep this wonderful festival going.

If you may be able to assist, email paulfolkfest@wmff.co.uk with your availability. Thank you.

Paul Gunovsky Project manager

In the picture (from left) Fairy Pernicia, Jasper, Jethro and The Ogre Grimgrab in Stoborough Pantomime’s Puss in Boots

Health & Wellbeing

Top tips to help you sleep better

SLEEP is essential for your physical and emotional wellbeing. While it’s normal for sleep to fluctuate, if you’ve been having difficulty sleeping for three months or more, it might be time to seek help, especially if it’s affecting your daily life.

An occupational therapist can help you work through challenges you’re facing to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. Here is some expert advice from members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

n Think about what you do each day and how you feel WHAT you do and how you feel throughout the day impacts your sleep. Have you been outside? Getting out in the daylight helps regulate your circadian rhythm and helps your brain make melatonin, which helps you sleep better at night.

Have you been active? If you haven’t moved enough, or if you feel overloaded by sounds, lights or touch during the day, your body will be in a state of stress, making it much harder to get to sleep.

n Think about what else is going on in your life

IT may be helpful to look at the bigger picture of what brings stress or anxiety into your day and start from there. Feeling stressed throughout the day due

to other aspects of your life can trigger your body’s ‘fight or flight mode’. This is when your body is feeling overwhelmed, so releases adrenaline to manage the stress. It can have a negative impact on long-term wellbeing and sleep.

n Have a consistent routine

THE key is to go to bed when you’re tired and get up around the same time each morning. Your body clock can then fall into its own rhythm. Think about what you eat and drink in the evening and avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime. Alcohol and drugs may help you feel more tired in the short term, but they affect the quality of your sleep.

n Create a wind-down routine

A WIND-DOWN routine can help slow your body and mind down. Parents often do this for children, but it works for adults, too. This could include having a warm bath, brushing your teeth, getting into your pyjamas or listening to music. It’ll help get your mind and body ready for bed. Consider having a morning routine too, which will help your body regulate its circadian rhythm.

n Limit the use of devices before bed

IF you use your devices in the

It’s good to have a consistent routine before heading to bed

evening, think about switching them off half an hour before you go to bed and doing something different like reading or listening to an audio book. Research has shown that reading a book helps create more calming hormones than reading on a screen. If it’s not possible to put down the device, try changing the settings on your device to ‘dark mode’.

n Focus on your breathing CONCENTRATE on slowing your breathing down. This will help activate the network of nerves that relax your body after periods of stress and danger – known as your parasympathetic nervous system. Taking slow, deep breaths focuses the mind on the here and now. You could try different breathing techniques, such as box breathing or listening to guided sleep meditation, sleep stories or different sounds, such as white noise.

n Distract yourself

IF your brain is active, try a

distraction technique like going through the alphabet and naming girls’ names beginning with A, B, C, and so on. Or use the ‘the’ technique – say ‘the’ to yourself repeatedly for a few minutes until you drift off. Better still, list all the things you’re thankful for. Concentrating on something in this way can help quieten other thoughts and help you become calm enough to sleep.

n Don’t force it

IF you struggle to get to sleep, it’s okay to get up – instead of lying there worrying about not sleeping. Have a hot drink, read, do something you find boring, or watch some television – we always hear ‘no screens’, but if a rerun of Friends helps you to relax, it’s fine. Sometimes, 20 minutes out of bed doing something else, and not worrying about sleeping, is the best way to reset and get good quality rest.

n For more information or to find a registered occupational therapist, visit rcot.co.uk/sleep.

Health & Wellbeing

Feeling the benefits of less refined sugar

By Daisy Campbell

FORGIVE me for bringing up

the word “sugar”. I know eating less refined sugar is now plastered everywhere and can be very annoying, but I can’t help but want to share with you how eradicating it from my life has been brilliant and life-changing. Most of us know, or we pretend not to, that refined sugar has no benefit to us. It is incredibly addictive, it ages us, weakens our immune system, damages our cells, disrupts our hormones, makes us put on weight and can cause low mood, but is completely and utterly delicious!

After a battle with long Covid, picking up every bug going around and constant low energy, I began to investigate my diet and how I could make changes to help me feel stronger and more resilient. I started by taking refined sugar out. The first two weeks were testing but after three or four weeks the

benefits were flooding in. Apart from better skin and losing weight, I have noticed fewer low moods, getting colds and flu hardly ever and much more energy and confidence. The wonderful thing is that once it becomes an unconscious habit, you don’t crave the sweetness anymore and it starts to feel easy and normal. I promise you that’s true.

We are all different. Some

prefer cold turkey, while others need a more gentle approach and that, of course, is fine. Even just swapping your teaspoon of white sugar in tea with honey is a good start. Cutting out processed food, which often hides a lot of sugar, is also a wonderful way to begin. Whatever way you feel to take it on, you are doing your body so much good. And, of course, there are those moments, usually at tea time or after supper, when

the pull for something sweet is strong. I have a few favourites I reach for when those moments come.

One of them, which is quick and simple, is a date or two, split gently down the middle and stuffed with a few smashed up nuts of your choice, that have been coated in melted coconut oil. If I’m desperate, I drizzle very dark chocolate over the top and put it in the fridge or freezer to cool off and become almost like a Snickers bar! It is wonderful and very sweet.

The other is to whizz up the thick coconut cream that sits at the top of a tin of coconut milk, with a few frozen berries and a few dates and pecan nuts. Sensational, just like ice cream, almost.

The important thing to remember when making changes is to be gentle with yourself and that it takes time. Particularly in these unsettled times, it has never been more important to be in a strong and resilient state inside, giving yourself the best chance to fend off the external stress and chaos.

n Daisy Campbell is a fully certified health coach. For gentle guidance and coaching, phone 07740 864 616.

Red clover gentle but powerful herb

By Fiona Chapman

AT last, it seems to be warming up a bit – if you manage to get out of the wind. I go out every day to look at where I have planted all my wildflowers and herbs and feel depressed. I think the endless rain has rotted everything. All that is coming up are thistles, nettles, and buttercups. My wild garlic patch is patchy and the new English bluebells I planted have got lost in cleavers and grass.

My husband wanders around muttering that I could have avoided it all if I had kept the whole thing mowed to within an inch of its life –which, yes, I could have done, but what about the wildlife?

It is an exciting time of year – spring, and as I tramp around Dorset, I am noticing lots of medicinal plants beginning to come out.

The leaves of the Meadowsweet can just be seen. The Hawthorne (May) is beginning to flower. The Elder trees have small immature flowers. Mint and Cat Mint are coming up. In my garden – as opposed to wildflower patches – Lily of the Valley–Convallaria majalis – is out, for the heart – a schedule 20 –poisonous– herb. Burdock leaves are growing bigger overnight as are the leaves of Comfrey and Borage. Yarrow

and what I hope are California poppy leaves are appearing.

In one of the bare patches that spent most of the winter underwater, I have cleared the few nettles and thistles that haven’t drowned and sown clover.

Trifolium pratense, or red clover, is a lovely gentle, but powerful herb. The coumarins in the plant help to thin the blood and it has an affinity with the glands of the body, aiding lymphatic congestion and breaking down cysts. This thinning action is good for high cholesterol and general circulation with claims that it improves nutrition to the brain.

It is particularly good for

dry skin conditions, including psoriasis, dermatitis, urticaria and eczema. Red Clover is used to calm the nervous system and for hormone regulation. The flowers are mainly used, and you can have it as a tea or in a tincture.

I shall be watching closely and guarding it carefully as when my husband gets onto that mower, which, admittedly is rare, everything in the garden cowers. My longed-for herbal paradise that I planted is, I think, going to be a bit of a pipe dream, so I must protect what I can!

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

Daisy Campbell felt she lost weight, had fewer low moods and had more energy and confidence after giving up sugar

Home & Garden

TRUST BROADVIEW TO CREATE THE WOW

FACTOR IN YOUR HOME

TRUST BROADVIEW TO CREATE THE WOW FACTOR IN YOUR HOME

As we look ahead to the warmer months, we’ll soon be turning our attention to our gardens and the prospect of spending more time outdoors.

As we look ahead to the warmer months, we’ll soon be turning our attention to our gardens and the prospect of spending more time outdoors.

Whether that’s simply relaxing or entertaining friends and family, our gardens are a focal point, particularly in the Spring and Summer months. What better way to make the most of your time outdoors, than by creating an outdoor living environment with Broadview thanks to their louvred roof pergola systems and garden awnings.

Whether that’s simply relaxing or entertaining friends and family, our gardens are a focal point, particularly in the Spring and Summer months.

Runner beans all summer long…

something heavy.

open the roof and side screens for the perfect al-fresco space. As well as their range of pergolas, Broadview also offer fully cassetted retractable awnings that can be installed to your property for added shade.

open the roof and side screens for the perfect al-fresco space. As well as their range of pergolas, Broadview also offer fully cassetted retractable awnings that can be installed to your property for added shade.

The time for sowing broad beans has probably passed, but runner beans also germinate now quickly and soon catch up with any April-sown varieties raised under glass.

Broadview has an extensive range of awning models to choose from, each with their own features and all can be operated by either Somfy remote control or a manual crank handle.

Broadview has an extensive range of awning models to choose from, each with their own features and all can be operated by either Somfy remote control or a manual crank handle.

By Sally Gregson

What better way to make the most of your time outdoors, than by creating an outdoor living environment with Broadview thanks to their louvred roof pergola systems and garden awnings.

ONE of the joys of growing your own veg is the opportunity to pick lots of beans.

With one of the largest ranges of outdoor living systems in the South and manufactured by the Belgium based industry leading brand Brustor, every system from Broadview can be custom designed to fit your property. Outdoor pergolas with rotating and retracting roofs operated by remote or app control, along with weatherproof side screens and heaters can effectively create an extra indoor room, outdoors!

With one of the largest ranges of outdoor living systems in the South and manufactured by the Belgium based industry leading brand Brustor, every system from Broadview can be custom designed to fit your property. Outdoor pergolas with rotating and retracting roofs operated by remote or app control, along with weatherproof side screens and heaters can effectively create an extra indoor room, outdoors!

Made with a beautifully crafted aluminium frame of superior quality and a weather-resistant fabric cover, the awnings provide stylish shading for your sunny patio. Available in any RAL colour and with the addition of LEDs and heating, Broadview has the perfect solution for you.

Made with a beautifully crafted aluminium frame of superior quality and a weather-resistant fabric cover, the awnings provide stylish shading for your sunny patio. Available in any RAL colour and with the addition of LEDs and heating, Broadview has the perfect solution for you.

Watch out for little mice, however. They tend to wait until your back is turned and then help themselves to a bean-feast.

Alongside of this, it’s not just the structure alone that Broadview can provide. Their specialist design-team work alongside a wide range of suppliers across the South who offer outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, fire pits and garden landscaping– all of which can help to create a stunning outdoor living environment that can be used all year round.

Alongside of this, it’s not just the structure alone that Broadview can provide. Their specialist design-team work alongside a wide range of suppliers across the South who offer outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, fire pits and garden landscaping– all of which can help to create a stunning outdoor living environment that can be used all year round.

Beans of all shapes and sizes are among the easiest things to grow, be they dwarf French beans with tender, rounded pods like pencils; rich pale bread beans that bridge that hungry gap between the winter vegetables and the abundance of summer; or simply runner beans in a row.

They all reliably produce plenty of nourishing beans to eat all summer.

No more leaving guests outside to entertain themselves while you nip back into the kitchen to prepare the next course or organise the next round of drinks, with an outdoor kitchen positioned within your new outdoor structure, you really can make the most of entertaining this year. What’s more, thanks to either sliding glass walls or integrated screens, the structure can be completely enclosed and with the great addition of heating and lighting, it can be used in all twelve months of the year. As the temperature drops, simply slide the glass shut and you can create a cosy and sheltered area within your garden, protected from the elements. Or, in warmer weather, all you need to do to make the most of the sunshine is

No more leaving guests outside to entertain themselves while you nip back into the kitchen to prepare the next course or organise the next round of drinks, with an outdoor kitchen positioned within your new outdoor structure, you really can make the most of entertaining this year. What’s more, thanks to either sliding glass walls or integrated screens, the structure can be completely enclosed and with the great addition of heating and lighting, it can be used in all twelve months of the year. As the temperature drops, simply slide the glass shut and you can create a cosy and sheltered area within your garden, protected from the elements. Or, in warmer weather, all you need to do to make the most of the sunshine is

However, it’s easy to let them all get rather too big. As any of the beans get over-sized they become chewy and stringy, so it’s well to pick them while

they are young.

After all, the shops can’t afford to sell them when they are small and sweet. And picking them encourages the formation of more beans. So, keep picking them and keep them coming.

So put a line of small-gauge wire-netting in a tunnel all along the row, remembering to block the ends.

And it’s not just Broadview’s range of outdoor shading solutions that can offer shield from the Summer’s sun and glare; they have an innovative range of internal window coverings from motorised blinds to plantation shutters and also specialise in solutions for large-shaped windows including apex and gable end windows, to roof lanterns.

And it’s not just Broadview’s range of outdoor shading solutions that can offer shield from the Summer’s sun and glare; they have an innovative range of internal window coverings from motorised blinds to plantation shutters and also specialise in solutions for large-shaped windows including apex and gable end windows, to roof lanterns.

Many homeowners think that their complex shaped windows prevent them from being covered with a blind, but worry not, you can still enjoy the beauty of an apex window with the coverage of a seamlessly fitted shade.

Available in an endless range of colours and materials, along with robust, colour matching hardware and cutting-edge technology, Broadview’s bespoke blinds will allow ample natural light to flood into your home but offer shade when you need it. Now is the perfect time to give your indoor and outdoor space a makeover. Broadview Shading Solutions, a family run business based in Dorset, are celebrating 55 years in business this year.

There can be little so frustrating as waiting for the seedling beans to sprout only to discover they have all been stolen while you were elsewhere.

Many homeowners think that their complex shaped windows prevent them from being covered with a blind, but worry not, you can still enjoy the beauty of an apex window with the coverage of a seamlessly fitted shade. Available in an endless range of colours and materials, along with robust, colour matching hardware and cutting-edge technology, Broadview’s bespoke blinds will allow ample natural light to flood into your home but offer shade when you need it. Now is the perfect time to give your indoor and outdoor space a makeover. Broadview Shading Solutions, a family run business based in Dorset, are celebrating 55 years in business this year.

It’s just the right time to sow a row of French beans now in early May. The ground has warmed up and the danger of frosts has for the most part gone. If a sudden late frost threatens, cover the emerging row with fleece held down with

Keep the row watered during dry spells, and if necessary, thin the seedlings to about 15cm apart in rows about 30cm apart.

Their expert team specialises in helping you to create the perfect shading solution for your home, from concept to completion. Contact our team today 01202 679012 or visit their website: www.broadview.co.uk

Their expert team specialises in helping you to create the perfect shading solution for your home, from concept to completion. Contact our team today 01202 679012 or visit their website: www.broadview.co.uk

Too close and they don’t crop as well, and too far apart and you’ll wish you had put them closer. And you’ll be eating beans all summer long.

Beans of all shapes and sizes are among the easiest things to grow

More to creating a ‘wildflower meadow’ than letting the grass grow

By Sally Gregson

AT last our lawns are greening again and reminding gardeners that they need attention. Now is just the right time to top dress the grass with a fertiliser formulated for spring – a spring dressing.

Ensure it is spread evenly over the sward, and that rain is forecast within a day or three.

A good spring dressing will also contain a broad-leaf weedkiller to eliminate any daisies, dandelions and docks that seem to pop up from nowhere. And it should also contain a moss-killer, which is especially important on heavy soil after this winter of interminable rain.

If moss is a chronic feature, it might be wise to consider an entire drainage system this winter. Ask around for estimates

Before committing to what seems like a good measure to avoid mowing the lawn every week, ask friends and neighbours who have tried it.

However, if your soil is basically light and sandy, and poor in nutrients, then turning it into a wildflower meadow would be a lot easier than trying to keep the grass green during a hot summer.

of cost.

After all the expense of maintaining a lawn is beginning to pall, the idea of ‘No Mow May’ can seem very tempting. It has been catching on of late. Allowing “wildflowers” to germinate and grow where they would otherwise have been eliminated in favour of grass, is quite a revolution.

There’s quite a lot more to creating a “wildflower meadow” than simply letting the grass grow. The routine Sunday mow may seem unnecessary, but meadows do need a lot of maintenance. And they would need cutting and raking off at end of the summer.

The sensible message is to make the most of your garden’s natural conditions – dry, sunny, well-drained soil is ideal for making a meadow; and rich, heavy ground is probably better covered in lawn.

If so, be prepared to invest in good drainage, to prevent acres of moss and standing water. Our weather is only going to get more extreme. Go with the flow. It’s easier and better in the long term.

Allowing “wildflowers” grow in favour of grass has become popular

Battling Swans go down

Swans 1

Sturminster Newton United 3

SWANS suffered a defeat at Day's Park against title contenders Sturminster Newton United in the Dorset Premier League.

Swans played some neat passing football against the visitors, who played a strong, very direct and effective style.

Swans’ Cody Moore was a constant danger on the right

Pryor goal seals the great escape

Swans Reserves 1

Portesham United 0

SWANS Reserves clinched another season in Dorset League Division 2, defeating Portesham United at Day's Park in a close fought game.

Swans created the better chances with Blake Hughes, Willcocks and Peacock just missing the target.

Both sides battled hard for the breakthrough goal and Swans keeper George Taylor produced a superb save to keep the scorews level.

Willcocks was just off target with a header following a corner.

Swans vastly improved in the second half, creating chances with Peacock missing the target when well placed.

Swans continued to dominate and the breakthrough came courtesy of defender Stephen Pryor with a free-kick from 25 yards.

The goal proved to be the winner and enabled the Swans Reserves to move up two places to safety.

FOOTBALL

hand side with his pace and went close twice with a shot just over the bar and then denied by keeper Crane.

But the Cherries took the lead on 12 minutes when Aaron Lane-Leney ran through and lobbed keeper Taylor.

Swans responded three minutes later with a superb leveller from Ocean Smith who hit a vicious shot from 25 yards

that Crane could only palm into the top corner.

In the second half both sides missed and created chances in an end-to-end contest.

The Cherries produced the breakthrough on the hour when Ashley Clark headed home from close range.

Swans pushed hard for the equaliser and went close from a well worked free-kick by Marcus and Ocean Smith, but the latter was off-target with his

finish.

The visitors secured the points in the last minute when George Coleman dispatched a penalty following a foul.

It was a very entertaining match under the lights at Day's Park, Swans giving a fully committed display in their final game.

King on the oche for England Juniors race to catch carp

TEN juniors took part in the fourth round of the Dorchester & District Angling Society Juniors points match series.

The weather was cold and overcast as the participants went about catching as many carp as they could during the four-hour match.

Match winner, with a weight of 167lb 9oz, was Austin Scott-Kennedy who now leads the championship with 79 points.

Not far behind in second was reigning champion, Jack Copp, with 162lb 4oz.

In third with 151lb 5oz was

ANGLING

Jack Cryer.

The next junior event is at Harbourbridge Lake in Chickerell on Saturday, May 11.

Details are available on the junior section’s website at ddasjuniors.co.uk.

Information on the Todber Manor Fishery can be found at todbermanor.co.uk.

For junior information, email juniors.sec@d-das.com, and for membership information visit www.d-das. com.

Austin Scott-Kennedy now leads the championship

SWANAGE Cricket Club’s former captain and player Ricky King has been enjoying success at darts.

Ricky represented England in a darts international against Scotland and won his match in the 12-player team event.

Ricky – pictured with dad, Tatty – is waiting to find out if he has been picked for the

next match when the team is reduced to six players.

The club’s five youth and women’s and girls’ teams all started their respective league campaigns last month.

The four Saturday sides have enjoyed a productive start to the season, despite the inclement weather.

Team: G Taylor, Olly Smith, B Smith, C Dyke, S Pryor, C Brassington, C Lee, M Smith, C Moore, S Peacock, Ocean Smith. Subs: D Cavendish, C Magnier, B Hughes. Star man: Charlie Dyke.

Team: G Taylor, C Furmage, C Dyke, J Goldsack (capt), S Pryor, M Dunster, T Parrott, S Willcocks, S Peacock, B Hughes, D Cavendish. Subs: R Lock, R Moss, L Sullivan, Z Arp, S Grygiel. Star man: Stephen Pryor.

Cricket legend in the spotlight

AN air of expectancy filled the air as Kumar Sangakkara walked into a packed Dorset Cricket Society meeting at Hurn Bridge.

Sangakkara retired from international cricket in 2015 as the second-highest run scorer in all formats and having captained Sri Lanka.

He was also in the teams which reached the final of the 2007 and 2009 Cricket World Cups and the 2009 and 2012 ICC World Twenty20s.

A recent past MCC president and now chairman of the MCC’s World Cricket Committee, he moved to rural Dorset two years ago and has already engaged with the Dorset 50s and the local cricket scene at Shillingstone.

Kumar said that in his

childhood he also was proficient at tennis, swimming and badminton, but it was the team nature of cricket that made him prefer it over tennis.

Despite his retirement, his passion for the game was clear and his enthusiasm in asking thought-provoking questions back to the audience was appreciated by everyone.

One memorable response was to a question about the popularity of different formats of cricket.

He replied that cricket, like all other sports, must be allowed to develop.

He wondered whether it would be better to maintain the more traditional parts of the game and slowly but surely lose the large audience cricket has, or to allow more radical formats

like T20 to be showcased to win favour with a younger generation of fans.

Sangakkara spoke at length about his career on the international stage, playing in four World Cup finals and facing some of the finest bowlers of his era, such as Glenn McGrath, Jimmy Anderson and Shane Warne.

He gave the audience a demonstration of how Muttiah Muralitharan bowled his doosra delivery and how he learned to read him from behind the stumps.

Sangakkara spoke about the devastation of the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami which cost 46,000 lives in Sri Lanka and the impact it had on the cricket team.

The Sri Lankan team were playing a match on tour in New Zealand when their mobiles became red-hot with activity.

On his return to Sri Lanka, Kumar visited the devastated coastal area and virtually every building had been washed away.

In one place a fishing boat was lodged 40 feet up a tree.

He was also with the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 when they were attacked en route to a match in Lahore while on tour in Pakistan.

Gunmen shot at the bus and a bullet hit his teammate.

When he turned to see the source of the cry of pain, a bullet flew millimetres past his ear.

Sangakkara noted that although he was in shock, he tried to accept the incident and move on.

He said life could end at any moment, and therefore you should enjoy every second.

Since retirement, he has worked as a commentator for Sky Sports.

His eloquence, deep understanding of the game and ability to articulate insights have made him a natural fit for the role.

Kumar gave his fee to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

CONTRIBUTED

Field & Stream

‘To

sit under a may tree on a warm, sunny day with blossom and birdsong above

is perfect for me’

By AJ Selby

“The may reigns in hawthorn lands and the world is full of birdsong.” Anon. MAY, may. Yes, my favourite month is upon us and the blossom from the may tree, also known as the hawthorn, is covering those shrubs that were skeletal just a couple of months ago. The flowers have appeared earlier this year, in common with many other plants, and I hope for a dazzling display again, although I have never seen one to beat 1975 when the hedges looked bedecked with snow.

The blossom has an almost sickly scent, but it’s one that will always confirm a time and place, as does the elderflower in late June. Most may trees are white but pink ones make a lovely contrast to the usual colour. They are an insect magnet, too, and to sit under a may tree on a warm, sunny day with blossom and birdsong above is my idea of perfection.

The other blossom I absolutely adore is the wisteria,

which usually flowers towards the end of May and can cover old houses with its beautiful purply-pink flowers which hang like small chandeliers. Of course, blossom doesn’t have to be spectacular to be enjoyed and field, forest and hedgerow are all showing their best. Our native deciduous woods are carpeted with bluebells – a sight seen in few other places in the world – around half the bluebells globally are found in the UK.

They are a sign of ancient woodland and consequently have many folk tales linked to them – it is said that if you hear a bluebell actually ring like a bell, then you will be visited by a bad fairy and then die! It is also said that you can watch fairies hiding among the flowers, and if you wear a garland of bluebells you are unable to tell a lie.

My favourite spring flower is a small, humble white flower that has five pairs of petals that split into two and is found in hedgerows at this time of year

– the greater stitchwort, and it just shouts ‘spring’ to me. Where old woodland has been cleared, bluebells will often remain in the hedge bottoms and their blue is a lovely contrast to the white of the stitchwort and the butter yellow primroses. Blue, yellow and white is a great colour combination. It’s great fun learning wildflowers and a country walk with a handy pocket guide is all that is needed – my book of choice was the Observer’s book of wildflowers. In my early teens I spent countless hours identifying as many species as possible in field and forest and once I became proficient I got deeper into botanising and splashed out £3 on the 1974 edition of W Keble Martin’s Concise British Flora in Colour. The Rev Martin was a priest and botanical illustrator who spent 60 years compiling his opus magnum using careful fieldwork and first-class painting skills.

Born in 1877 in Oxfordshire, he was educated at Marlborough and studied Greek Philosophy and Botany at Christ Church College, Oxford. He led an interesting ecclesiastical life and

The blossom from the may tree, also known as the hawthorn, is covering those shrubs that were skeletal a couple of months ago

aged 90 he had four of his designs for wildflower stamps issued by Royal Mail. Two years before, when he was 88, he had his Concise Flora published and I note on the internet that copies are available from around £40 to over £100 – I wish I had bought two and put one away unopened!

Lots of field guides are available, some listings by flower colour, others by habitat, but whichever one you chose, the hobby is addictive as you find more and more to identify. You will also see that most of our favourites have more than one name, and some of the variations are regional. So, garlic mustard is Jack-by-theHedge, dandelion is wet-the-bed – and a French equivalent –wild garlic is ramsons, arum lily is Lords and Ladies, the cuckoo flower is lady’s smock – and milkmaids – and our May flowering cow parsley is also wild chervil – and Queen Anne’s lace and keck.

It’s a fascinating pastime and one that you can pass on to the younger generation to inspire enthusiasm in those to come after us.

Funding boost for hedgerows project

A PROJECT surveying Dorset’s miles of hedgerows has received a funding boost.

The Great Big Dorset Hedge initiative, which seeks to register and improve hedgerows across the county, is organised by the Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) charity. Now, the scheme has

received a welcome boost in the form of a £6,000 grant from Dorset CPRE, the local branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Dorset CPRE trustees agreed a funding request for the project to sustain the momentum as they manage further growth and in recognition of the ambition

and potential of the project.

“Hedgerows are a crucial part of our ecosystem and biodiversity here in Dorset,” a spokesperson said. “The project plans to grow throughout 2024.

“So far, more than 2,000 volunteer hours have been dedicated to hedgerow surveys, provided by more than 150

active volunteers.”

He said the group hopes to increase surveys from 20km of hedgerow a month, to closer to 50km.

More volunteers are being sought to help grow the scheme – to find out more, and sign up, visit www.dorsetcan.org/hedge/ volunteer.

Blooming elegance

By Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham

ONE of the jewellery trends for 2024 is flowers, yet the origins of floral jewellery can be traced back to ancient civilisations such as Egypt, where flowers held deep symbolic significance.

Ancient Egyptians adorned themselves with floral-inspired ornaments, often incorporating motifs of lotus lilies and papyrus.

These floral adornments were not merely decorative but held significant religious and cultural meanings.

During the Middle Ages, floral jewellery became romantic, with motifs like roses and lilies symbolising love and purity.

The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of interest in botanical themes, with jewellers crafting intricate pieces inspired by nature's beauty.

In the 19th century, Queen Victoria's love for nature and sentimentality saw a surge in popularity for floral symbolism, and jewellery became a means of expressing emotions and sentiments, with pieces

featuring roses symbolising love, violets representing modesty and lilies signifying purity.

Floral motifs were an essential feature in Art Nouveau jewellery, as designers drew inspiration from organic forms and shapes.

Exquisite pieces featuring sinuous vines, delicate blossoms and flowing lines captured the essence of the natural world.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, contemporary designers draw inspiration from nature, creating bold and innovative pieces.

Moving away from traditional flowers such as roses, daisies and carnations, they have incorporated more exotic flowers such as hibiscus and orchids.

Chanel, Dior, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co have all been inspired to create their own stunning floral collections.

From classic floral motifs reimagined in precious metals and gemstones to avant-garde interpretations using unconventional materials, floral jewellery remains a timeless favourite.

This Portuguese amethyst and diamond bracelet – lot 254 – is estimated at £10,000£15,000

Bracelet could sell for £15,000

DUKE’S Auctioneers Fine jewellery, watches, accessories, wines and spirits auction takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, June 12-13.

The auction offers a curated collection of exceptional variety, including treasures for long-time jewellery collectors and first-time buyers alike.

The sale begins with fine jewellery on June 12, followed by watches, accessories, wines and spirits on June 13.

The five pillars of the auction: jewellery, watches, accessories, wines and spirits are each marked by pieces of high quality and exceptional beauty.

A highlight in the jewellery

section is a Portuguese amethyst and diamond bracelet in 18ct gold, set with three principal step-cut amethysts, encircled by a border of old mine-cut diamonds, reposed in pinched collet settings of silver. This heavenly piece is set to make £10,000-£15,000 at auction.

Fine jewellery continues to hold a command over the auction world.

With pieces wreathed in beauty and quality, it’s no surprise it continues to be a popular and bountiful auction.

More jewellery, watches, accessories, wines and spirits in Duke’s upcoming auction can be found on its website at dukes-auctions.com.

Floral jewellery remains a timeless favourite.

Business

Podcast explores world of working in care Business Awards are go!

DORSET disabilities charity, Diverse Abilities, has launched a new podcast offering an insight into the care industry.

The Reasons to Care podcast, hosted by Clare Rochford, children’s team manager, and Michelle Turner, deputy manager in the charity’s supported living team, takes a look at the world of working in the sector.

They will be joined by guests including colleagues from across the charity, family members of people supported by the charity and local businesses, telling uplifting stories with the aim of motivating and inspiring.

The podcast aims to reach those who are interested in working for the charity, volunteering, fundraising or simply looking to learn more about what goes on in health and social care.

Reasons to Care will look to give listeners a unique insight into what it is like to work in care, the variety of roles available and the opportunities for career progression.

Michelle Turner, deputy manager for supported living at Diverse Abilities, said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity to record this podcast and speak

to a wide range of people linked to the charity.

“We can’t wait to do lots more! Many people don’t consider a career in care, and we want to change this by telling people about the variety of roles available, the training they can receive and how they will make a huge difference to the children, adults and

families we support.”

The podcast has been produced locally, with Podcast Labs, which has built its team and agency in Poole and Bournemouth.

Kelly James, managing director and co-founder of Podcast Labs, added: “We are really excited to launch the Reasons to Care podcast with Diverse Abilities.

“The conversations really give you an insight into the charity, and there’s some really great stories.

“There’s nothing else like this out there that explores the care industry from this perspective, so we really are offering something unique.”

Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ podcast to find out more and listen to Reasons to Care on all podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Podcasts.

NOMINATIONS are open for the 2024 Dorset Business Awards.

The event, organised by Dorset Chamber, aims to recognise the best of business across the county, with 10 categories now open for entries.

Chamber chief executive, Ian Girling, kicked off the awards with guests, former winners and festival partners at the Dorset Museum and Gallery in Dorchester.

Two new categories are included this year – Social Impact, and Digital and Technology.

The free-to-enter contest is returning for its second year following a sell-out event in 2023 which came after a four-year hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ian said: “The Dorset Business Awards are go. We

have so many exceptional businesses in Dorset who deserve to be recognised for their innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the local economy.

“The prestigious Dorset Business Awards are the perfect way to not only acknowledge their excellence but are also a fantastic celebration of the thriving, diverse and supportive business community we have in the county.

field.”

Award categories unveiled at the launch event are: Best New Business Award; Best Place to Work Award; Community Partnership Award; Customer Experience Award; Digital and Technology Award; Environmental Impact Award; Export Business Award; Future Leader Award; Scaleup Award; Social Impact Award.

“Our independent panel of judges includes experts and leaders from across all sectors, looking to review the entries and celebrate the leaders in their

Ian Girling, chief executive of Dorset Chamber

The awards are open to all business in Dorset and are part of the Dorset Business Festival 2024, a fortnight-long event featuring networking, thought leadership and celebrations during an itinerary based around an Expo, Conference and the awards.

It follows the success of last

year’s inaugural three-day event, when more than 1,000 businesses took part.

Lester Aldridge is the Premier Festival Partner for the second year running, with Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth & Poole College, Dorset Council and YMCA Bournemouth returning as Festival Partners.

EV specialists ElectriX have also come on board as a partner for this year’s event.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on October 10 at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth as the grand finale of the festival.

Entries close on June 13 and can be submitted online, via the chamber website.

Visit https://dorsetchamber. co.uk/awards to enter, meet the judges and to find out more Dorset Business Awards.

Clare Rochford and Michelle Turner, of Diverse Abilities

Family electronics store goes solar

By editor@dorsetbiznews.

co.uk

A WIMBORNE electronics store is turning to solar energy to power its hundreds of domestic appliances, televisions and home cinemas.

Dacombes of Wimborne, a family business founded in the 1920s, has been working with Low Carbon Dorset, a green grant initiative for businesses run by Dorset Council.

Matt Renaut, managing director of Dacombes, said: “With air-conditioning, lighting, TVs and displays, our electricity drain equated to having three kettles boiling all day long. I used to have to sit down before opening our monthly electricity bill. The increase in the last few years has been alarming!” With further energy price hikes on the horizon. Matt applied for a grant via Low Carbon Dorset, a process that took five months from grant application to completion.

Steven Ford, Dorset Council’s corporate director for Strategy, Performance and Sustainability, said: “Officers from our Low Carbon Dorset programme have worked closely

with the team at Dacombes to help them make significant strides in reducing their environmental impact and boosting their energy efficiency.

“Free technical advice and a grant from the programme has helped Dacombes install green measures which are expected to significantly reduce their carbon footprint, lower their energy bills and support future green initiatives.”

Empower Energy has fitted a 41kw system made up of 99 solar panels, in an array which it designed and will maintain.

Mark Wingrove, business development manager for Empower Energy, said: “This was a complex project utilising five roof elevations.”

But the challenge was certainly worth it.

Matt Renaut said: “Even in the poor weather we’re experiencing now, we’re still generating enough energy during the day to power our store during its opening hours.”

Mark Wingrove added: “Unlike domestic energy users, there’s no price cap protection for commercial organisations, so managing the soaring costs of

Ladies keep business light

BUSINESSWOMAN and networking guru, Shelley Barker, has launched a local networking group at Hyacinth House care home in Wimborne.

Ladies Who Latte, founded more than 10 years ago, is a networking initiative for women in business and is a relaxed, less formal approach to networking.

There are no formal speakers and no membership fees – just a chance to enjoy a tea or coffee and mingle.

Shelley, who spent 25 years in banking, said: “I

enjoy networking and feel that women in business face different challenges to men.

“So, whether you have 15 minutes to pop in, or you stay for two hours, I hope you will find it a well-earned break and a chance to meet other like-minded women, build friendships, share ideas and most importantly gain motivation, inspiration and confidence from other entrepreneurial women.”

The meet-ups take place at Hyacinth House on the fourth Thursday of every month, 10am-noon.

Dacombes was founded in the 1920s but is moving with the times

energy bills with no idea of what the industry is going to do is a huge strain on cashflow.

“Dacombes is now enjoying independence from the grid, in control of its own usage and costs alongside helping to reduce its environmental impact.”

In addition to the solar panels, Dacombes now has two EV van chargers and a Tesla battery. It also uses a heat pump for all heating and cooling, along with energy-efficient lighting and equipment.

ARMISHAWS SMALL MOVES

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‘Moggy’ sold to help hospice

THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised for a Dorset hospice after a classic British car, a 1966 Morris Minor Traveller, was sold at auction.

The estate of Ian Stone, a former trustee and vice-chair of the board at Weldmar Hospicecare, Dorchester, donated the vehicle for sale.

The traditional Almond Green 'Moggy', with ash wood framework and leather interior, made £7,100.

The car had been owned by Mr Stone for 14 years before his death last year and had been his passion outside of his work with the hospice team.

His widow, Vivian Stone, donated the car to the charity to raise funds for the hospice.

She said: “Being a trustee of Weldmar was hugely important

to Ian.

“Shortly after he retired, he joined the board and loved visiting, seeing the staff and being part of a wonderful charity.

“When diagnosed, he wanted to spend his last days at Weldmar, where they cared for him so well, as well as looking after me, too.”

South Western Vehicle Auctions (SWVA) in Poole waived all fees and commissions on the car’s sale so that all the proceeds went to the hospice.

Owen Shepherd, classics specialist at SWVA, said: “The Traveller came with a comprehensive history file including old paperwork, invoices, MOT certificates and so on.

“It also had the original

driver's handbook and operation manual.

“In nice clean condition, we were glad it reached above guide valuation, reaching over £7,000.”

The funds will be welcomed by the charity which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It costs about £30,000 a day to run Weldmar Hospicecare and all funding provides specialist end of life care to people in Dorset living with a life-limiting illness such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart disease.

Two months of works on minor routes

ROADS in Wimborne, Dorchester, Gillingham and Sturminster Newton will be among a host to be closed during repairs over the next two months.

Dorset Council has revealed works set to take place throughout May and June on minor routes in the county.

The roads have extensive defects including uneven surfaces, sunken areas, potholes and cracking.

Repairs known as in-situ recycling are now set to be carried out, reusing the existing

road materials to repair the structure of the road.

Households and businesses affected are informed by letter in advance of the work, to be carried out by SPL Ltd.

The programme includes some weekend working but no working on Bank Holidays, the council said, with signs on site providing up-to-date information.

Due to the size of the machinery used, roads need to be closed for the work. Closures will be from 7am to 7pm.

Work is set to be carried out

in the following Dorset roads:

n Lower Road, Stalbridge: May 10 to 14

n Parkgate, Stoke Wake: May 14 and 15

n B3143, Duntish, Dorchester: May 14 to 24

n Hole House Lane, Sturminster Newton: May 22 and 23

n Nyland Lane, Gillingham: May 23 and 24

n Church Lane, Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury: May 24 to 28

n Church Road, Silton: May 28 to 30

n Huntingford Road, Gillingham: May 30 to June 1

n Cuckoo Hill, Yetminster: May 31 to June 4

n Berne Lane, Charmouth: June 3 to 7

n Barrowland Lane, Toller Porcorum: June 8 to 14

n Access road to East Bexington Farm: June 15 to 19

n Rodden Lane, Weymouth: June 18 to 23

n Petersham Lane, Gaunt’s Common, Wimborne: June 24 and 25

n Horton Road, Wimborne: June 21 to 25.

Drivers beware deer straying on road

RECENT flooding has forced deer to move nearer to roads in Dorset – with an increased risk of traffic collisions.

Dorset Council has placed

signs in areas where deer are known to cross roads but said:

“Deer are unpredictable and travel in groups, so if you’ve seen one, another could follow

very quickly.”

The highest risk times are between sunset and midnight, and the hours before and after sunrise.

After dark, use full-beam when there is no opposing traffic.

But dim your headlights as startled animals may ‘freeze’ rather than leaving the road and

do not over swerve to avoid a deer.

Drivers who hit a deer should pull over at a safe place, then call the police, giving as precise a location as they can, as the police have specialists who can attend the scene.

Do not try to assist or move the deer as this can put drivers in danger.

This 1966 Morris Minor Traveller made £7,100 at auction

Arts & Entertainment

Theatre announces panto production

THE Lighthouse in Poole has announced perennial favourite Sleeping Beauty as its panto this Christmas.

The show will be produced by the same team that brought the house down with Aladdin last year and the UK Panto Awards Best Pantomimenominated Cinderella in 2022.

Sleeping Beauty will be written and directed by CBeebies star and Lighthouse favourite Chris Jarvis.

“It’s a real thrill to be coming back to Poole with a classic fairytale that’s filled with fun and magic the whole family will love,” said Chris.

Robbie’s college concert

THE Robbie McIntosh Band will be playing Blues-influenced originals and covers when they visit the Bay Theatre at Weymouth College later this month.

McIntosh – pictured – who plays acoustic and session guitar, is a sought after session musician who has featured on recordings for big names such as Roger Daltrey, Mark Knopfler, Norah Jones, Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker and Kirsty McColl.

He was also a guitarist with The Pretenders – with whom he played at Live Aid in 1985 – and continues to tour and record with leading lights in music.

His band features Steve Smith (keyboards and vocals), Steve Wilson (bass

Sleeping Beauty follows the traditional story about the beautiful Princess Rose who, at her christening, is cursed by Carabosse, the bad fairy, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel before her 18th birthday and drop down dead.

That horrible spell is changed by fairy godmother Sunbeam, so that if Rose pricks her finger on a spinning wheel, she will fall asleep for 100 years unless kissed by a handsome prince.

Rose is sent to live on Brownsea Island only returning to the castle on the eve of her 18th birthday when the curse

and vocals), Pete Hope Evans (harmonicas), Paul Beavis (drums), Jody Linscott (percussion) and Hannah Robinson (guitars and vocals).

Weymouth College Music students will present a complimentary set of cover versions and originals.

The gig is on Thursday, May 23, and tickets priced £15 – £12.50 concessions – are available on the door or in advance from the Bay Theatre box office, via the Weymouth College website or on 01305 208702.

will expire, but Carabosse has a terrible plan to spoil the day…

As the story unfolds, audiences will meet the bumbling King, the zany Nanny Nutkins and court jester Happy Harry, who is actually the most sensible of them all.

Chris said: “The Poole audience is so warm and generous, and every year the challenge is to top the year before, so we’ll make sure we’ve got all the traditional feelgood panto fun with loads of jokes and plenty of local references.”

Lighthouse are Poole-based production designer James

Royalists and

Roundheads at museum

THE Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne is going back to a divisive period in England’s history for its new exhibition.

Rebellion and Revolt, which runs until October, highlights the English Civil War of the 1640s and the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, two national struggles which had a big impact on Dorset.

The exhibition looks at the difficult choices ordinary people faced in choosing sides – the Roundheads, champions of Parliament and a Protestant monarchy, or the Cavaliers,

Smith and choreographer Daniel Donaldson Todd are also returning to Poole.

“We’re so excited to be planning the show already,” Chris added. “Sleeping Beauty will be a real spectacle with great movement, incredible lights and brilliant music that mixes hits and classic disco – a real feast for the eyes and ears.

“All of which is key to the Poole pantomime, but the story is really important as well, particularly with Sleeping Beauty because you have to have a real baddie in Carabosse, a determined Prince and a Princess who is never a victim. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Sleeping Beauty will run from Thursday, December 12, to Sunday, January 5, and tickets are available now at www.lighthousepoole.co.uk and on 01202 280000.

loyal to King Charles I and the Church of England – as well as the battles and bloodshed.

Young visitors can enjoy a new themed trail around the museum, free crafts and ‘decide your side’ dressing up.

Little Explorers Mini Musketeers, a morning of fun children’s craft activities, is on Tuesday, May 28.

History buffs will also enjoy the Battle for Wimborne reenactment staged by the English Civil War Society in May.

And in September, the Wimborne Militia will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

For more information on the Rebellion and Revolt exhibition, visit www.museumofeastdorset. co.uk.

THE journalist and broadcaster Nick Wallis is visiting the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne tomorrow (Tuesday, May 14) to talk about a subject much in the news right now, the Post Office scandal.

Nick has written and made television programmes on the subject over the course of a decade.

He has based his talk on his book, The Great Post Office Scandal, from which he will read excerpts. He will also take part in a question and answer session.

Lucy has a feeling for landscape

A NEW exhibition at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury, offers a rare chance to see the distinctive work of painter Lucy Erskine.

Lucy, who lives near Sherborne, was born in London and spent part of her childhood and her teenage years in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

In 1987, after studying with Nera Simi in Florence and at the Byam Shaw and Chelsea Schools of Art, she was one of 10 UK art students selected by Brian Sewell to take part in a ‘Young Masters’ exhibition at the Solomon Galleries in

Dover Street, London.

It was early recognition that marked the beginning of a successful career.

She has had exhibitions at several London galleries, as well as the Nico Malan Opera House in Cape Town and the University of Stellenbosch, and has had paintings selected for several Royal Academy summer shows.

In the new show at Gallery On The Square, her accurate and skilful draughtsmanship focuses on the landscape of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, as well as South Africa, and includes a retrospective element.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, May 25.

THE ninth annual Cursus Festival, being held on the spring May Bank Holiday weekend on Cranborne Chase, is a small festival with a big reputation for good music and friendly vibes.

This year’s line-up features Mista Trick, Black Water County, 3 Daft Monkeys, Millie Manders & The Shut Up, The Freeborn Brothers, Gecko and Skimmity Hitchers, and many more live acts and DJs.

The festival on Myncen Farm is family-friendly with a dedicated DIY Den activity area for children to make friends and explore different skills.

The DJ tent, rural craft demonstrations, campfire and tuk-tuk rides make for a diverse and fun experience.

Full information about the festival, held from Friday, May 24, to Sunday, May 26, can be found at www. cursusfestival.com.

DRUG CLUB - ARTHUR COATES & KERRAN COTTERELL - GOOD HABITS THE TROUBLE NOTES - TASHKEZAR - MARVARA - SUTHERING - HANNAH SAUNDERS & BEN SAVAGE - AMICA

DUEA - THE GREAT MALARKEY - DANGER GOAT - TWO MAN TING - GABRIEL MORENO AND THE QUIVERING POETS

THREEPENNY BIT - AAYUSHI - 14 WOLVES - GOOD TROUBLE - QUINNS QUINNEY - ANNA RENAE- PISKEY LED DEN MILLER - ARQUEBUS TRIO - THE ASHEN KEYS - DIRTY BIG CANAL DANCE BAND - IGLOO HEARTS- LAURA LOH

DEVON YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE - MEGAN LINFORD - MUSTARD ALLEGRO - RACHEL HILL - PLUS LOADS MORE!

Lucy Erskine is currently exhibiting in Poundbury

Big names playing guitar festival

PURBECK Guitar Festival, starting later this month, promises a diverse range of performers, from Spanish classical to jazz, blues and rock. The event, organised by Purbeck’s Love it Local, features:

n Juan Martin – internationally famous Spanish live performer, composer and recording artist best known for flamenco and several other genres. He has 20 albums to his credit and his repertoire is extensive. He is at Lady St Mary Church, Wareham, on Friday, May 31.

n Carlos Bonell – English classical guitarist of Spanish origin. He has been described by Classical Guitar magazine as “one of the great communicators of the guitar world”. Founder and artistic director of the London International Guitar Festival, and veteran of more than 20 albums, he is celebrated for his performances of Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez. He is at Lady St Mary Church, Wareham, on Saturday, June 1.

n Martin Taylor MBE – British jazz guitarist and recording artist who has performed solo, in

groups, guitar ensembles, and as an accompanist, including 11 years with Stephane Grapelli as replacement for his idol, the late Django Reinhardt. He is at Lady St Mary Church, Wareham, on Saturday, May 25.

n The Dorset Guitar Society Orchestra – established 1984 to promote guitar music with ensemble performances, master classes and workshops. This highly acclaimed 20-piece group will feature at Kingston Country Courtyard’s Guitar and Tapas evening on Tuesday, May 28. More concerts are planned all

Village art group’s showcase

LOCAL artists are planning two exhibitions in Broadstone this year with the first at their pop-up gallery venue at the youth centre in Moor Road starting next month.

Visitors will be able to view

the latest original works depicting styles from Figurative to Abstract and from the Observed to the Imagined, including 3D pieces.

A special category of art influenced by music will also

Spotlight Diary

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for the May 27 issue is NOON on May 20. Call on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net

MAY 2024

Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on.

SATURDAY

10am - 4pm FREE ENTRY Dorset Vegan MegaMarket Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th May 2024 Main Entrance, Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, DT1 1TY email : wdveganevents@gmail.com

18:30 WHIST DRIVE AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, Rectory Classroom, Swanage. Every Saturday. Tea and coffee provided. Very friendly group. Contact Richard: 01929 553516

be featured and a variety of greeting cards will be available.

Prospective members of Broadstone Arts Society are welcome, as the group is recruiting new members.

around Purbeck featuring promising local guitarists, with several local pubs and bars, including Wareham’s Duke of Wellington, Horse & Groom and Not Just Sundaes hosting gigs during the festival week.

Any local establishment which would like to put on a gig or concert during the event, should email Love it Local at info@loveitlocal.org.

Tickets are available from AF Joy outfitters at 35 North Street, Wareham, or online at https:// visitpurbeckdorset.co.uk/ purbeck-guitar-festival.

For more information about artists, exhibitions and membership, visit the society’s website at www. broadstoneartsociety.com. The exhibition runs from Saturday, May 24, to Sunday, June 2, and a second exhibition is planned in the autumn.

Back to the 70s with Carrott and ABBA

EVERGREEN funnyman and possessor of one of the best-known Brummy accents, Jasper Carrott is promising two nights of comedy and music heaven for theatregoers this month.

His show comes with a generous portion of music from the Strictly ABBA tribute group who will be

covering all the best-loved ABBA numbers like Dancing Queen, Waterloo and The Winner Takes It All.

Jasper Carrott is at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Monday and Tuesday, May 27 and 28, at 7.30pm. For tickets, phone 01202 885566 or visit www. tivoliwiborne.co.uk.

SUNDAY

10:00-12:00 26th May TABLE TOP SALE AT CAREY HALL, Mistover Road, Wareham BH20 4BY. 14:00-18:00 2nd June CAREY HALL COMMUNITY PARTY, Mistover Road, Wareham BH20 4BY.

Bring a picnic, tables and chairs provided. Steve Whale entertains, tea, coffee and raffle. Entry free, donations welcome for Carey Hall Charitable Trust.

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