The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 326 by The Blackmore Vale Limited

What’s inside this issue...

Donna Garner Account Manager Donna.garner@blackmorevale.net 07714 289408

EDITORIAL

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Lloyd Armishaw Publisher ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk 01963 400186

Clare Govan Account Manager clare.govan@blackmorevale.net 07714 289407

New Beryl Bikes are proving popular after being launcvhed in Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth Page 17

Back in time with ‘Saxon warrior’

YOUNG time travellers from Langton Matravers saw their classroom studies come to life when they learnt about AngloSaxon times at Wareham Museum.

Pupils from St George CE Primary School, who have been studying Saxon times, spent a day at the museum with Saxon warrior, Ældorman Wulfhelm. They learnt about Saxon greetings and customs, food and drink, crafts and writing, and the importance of guard duty, through role play and storytelling.

The pupils also looked around the museum’s Saxon exhibition, learning about the artefacts and taking part in a range of fun arts and crafts

with a Saxon theme.

The Saxon warrior also escorted the pupils around Wareham, visiting Nationwide

Boost for boat fund

RESIDENTIAL and home care provider and registered charity Care South has donated £1,000 to Poole-based charity, the Friends of Dolphin.

The friends were chosen as the latest beneficiary of Care South’s Chairman’s 2020 Fund, set up to give back to community groups, services and organisations which directly benefit residents, staff and clients.

The Friends of Dolphin provides free, fully-accessible

boat trips around Poole Harbour to elderly and disabled people.

Residents have enjoyed trips out with Friends of Dolphin.

The charity’s speciallydesigned, full-accessible boat is crewed entirely by volunteers, with an experienced skipper at the helm.

The donation will go towards a new boat.

The Friends of Dolphin have so far raised £150,000 towards the £300,000 total needed to purchase the new small vessel.

building society to have his silver coined; St Martin’s Chapel – the Chancel and Nave are pre-conquest from the 11th century; a section of the Saxon wall that ends at the Quay – an important Saxon port; and Lady St Mary’s, built on the site of an 8th century Minster church.

Ældorman Wulfhelm (above and right) talks to pupils from St George CE Primary School, Langton Matravers PHOTOS: Jean Dixon

Wareham Wednesdays hand out £4,000 to four good causes

THE success of this year’s Wareham Wednesday events saw £4,000 handed over to four charities at a presentation evening.

Dave Burgess, chair of Wareham Wednesdays, presented the money at the event attended by charity representatives, members of the committee and volunteers.

Members of the public were asked in January which charities they would like to see benefit from Wareham Wednesday events and the Lexi May Trust, Allison Campbell Trust, #Willdoes and Allsort’d were chosen in April.

At the presentation, Dave said: “Thank you to everyone who has made this year happen, and happen so successfully.

“I am so proud that we are now handing over £1,000, yes £1,000 to each of the four charities chosen earlier in the year.”

The first Wareham Wednesday evening was dedicated to The Lexi May Trust.

Carly and Michael Hopkin founded the charity in 2016 after the death of their daughter from an inoperative brain tumour.

The Trust supports children with terminal illness or lifelimiting conditions in Dorset.

Carly said: “We made many wonderful memories with our daughter and we want other families to be able to do the same.

“Our hope is that every family will have the support they need to create the special memories that will be forever treasured.

“We aim to make this happen for every family who needs us.

“We have just received confirmation we have been allocated a beach hut at Swanage and this fabulous donation will be used to fund that beach hut.”

For more information about The Lexi May Trust, visit https://theleximaytrust.co.uk.

The second Wareham

Wednesday was dedicated to the Allison Campbell Trust (ACT).

Allison lived in Wareham for over 20 years and loved the Purbeck area.

She was much loved by her family and friends and when she died in 2021, Dave, her husband, decided to establish ACT in her memory.

ACT funds practical assistance for palliative patients in Purbeck in the care of Purbeck Primary Care Network.

Healthcare professionals can approach ACT for items, services or facilities not provided by the statutory authorities that could ease patients’ suffering or provide comfort.

Dave Nolan, Allison’s husband who heads up the charity, was grateful for the donation.

“Thank you so much to everybody involved,” he said. “This money will be used to continue our support to local palliative patients.

“We will consider any

request made to us, but typically we are asked for such items such as aromatherapy kits, essential oil diffusers.

“While soothing for the patient, they also work well to disguise unwanted smells!

“Another strange request might be for weighted sloths. While the weight sloth might seem an odd request, a patient told us recently that the sloth not only brings them comfort but will also be a comfort to their children on their passing.

“Thank you again Wareham Wednesday, keep up the good work!”

For more information on ACT, visit https:// allisoncampbelltrust.org/.

The third Wareham Wednesday evening was dedicated to the #Willdoes charity.

#Will Does was set up by Lesley Paddy in 2019 and is dedicated to the memory of her son, William, a sporty, charismatic youngster who grew up near Swanage and sadly died at the age of 14.

The charity aims to help young people achieve wellbeing by introducing them to sports and other activities to help them connect and engage socially.

It also seeks to help develop coping mechanisms to help manage anxiety and emotions, increase self-awareness, develop trust and relationships.

Lesley, commenting on the donation, said: “Thank you so much Wareham Wednesdays and to all the people who have donated.

“Last year we were delighted to launch our #Willdoes bus, a youth centre on wheels.

“It’s an informal place for young people to meet with their friends or chat to councillors in confidence.

“This wonderful donation will be put towards keeping the bus on the road in 2025.”

To find out more about #Willdoes, visit https://www. willdoes.co.uk.

The final Wareham Wednesday donation went to All

The Lexi May Trust, Allison Campbell Trust, #Willdoes and Allsort’d received donations

Sort’d, a the 30-strong choir and a not-for-profit community interest company based in Swanage which helps young adults with learning disabilities.

Katie Shilletto, with mum, Maria, received the donation.

Eddie Gillespie, director of vocational training and development at Allsort’d, said: “We have been thrilled to be working alongside Wareham Wednesdays. Our clients have had such a wonderful time.

“Now, in addition, they have

Bonfire and firework extravaganza in store

2024 is not over yet for the Wareham Wednesday team.

A bonfire and firework extravaganza on Friday, November 8, will include all the usual Wareham Wednesday fun with live music from Big Nite Out, children’s entertainer Krazy Kev and the return of the Simon Chainey Fire Show.

Funfair rides will be on offer for youngsters with a bar for mums and dads a bar, along with lots of food and sweet stalls.

The location is to be confirmed but is likely to be in the Wareham town area – check

Wareham Wednesday events would not happen without the help and support of many volunteers, not just on the days of the events but throughout the year.

This year’s annual meeting is at The Club, South Street, Wareham, on Tuesday, November 19, at 7pm.

Anyone who would like to play a part in all the good work Wareham Wednesday does is invited to go along –alternatively email wareham wednesdays@gmail.com.

Pub’s real ales get thumbs up

THE Sailor’s Return in East Chaldon has won a special award from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The pub, owned and run by landlords Tom and Amelia Brachi, won West Dorset CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers’ Pub of the Year Award.

The new award is for the pub in the area that serves the best cask conditioned real ale, but has different qualification criteria to the Pub of the Year award.

CAMRA members judged

the award throughout the year via the organisation’s ‘Whatpub’ website, awarding marks for the quality of their pint.

Tom said: “We’re very surprised but thrilled to be awarded this accolade!

“As much as it’s CAMRA members’ recognition of quality, hopefully it reflects well on some great people in the south west producing a lovely product.

“Bar one well known Irish product, all our beers, lagers

and ciders are made here on the south coast, and we want to support these great people without the need to look at larger or international brands.”

West Dorset CAMRA chair, Bruce Mead, said: “This is a new award for this year which

recognises the pub that serves real ale of the highest standard across the year.

“The Sailor’s Return is a thoroughly deserving winner, and I can’t wait to visit again soon, to sample one of their excellently kept beers.”

Puzzle ‘remarkable piece of history’

AN item brought in to a Wareham valuation event turned out to be a jigsaw dating back more than 150 years in ‘remarkable condition’.

The antique ‘dissected’ jigsaw puzzle, believed to date back to 1870, was uncovered during the charity valuation event hosted by the Max Beaumont Fine Art & Consultancy at the parish hall.

Members of the public are urged to bring along their items where Max himself will look them over, in return for a suggested £5 donation to hall funds.

And at a recent event, one visitor brought in their old map, which turned out to be a very rare find.

Crafted by William Peacock of London, the puzzle features a detailed map of

England and Wales.

And Max said it is considered a remarkable piece of history.

He said it was a “rare survivor in remarkable condition for its age”.

The first dissected puzzles were created in 1760 by John Spilsbury, using a

marquetry saw, he said.

“These early puzzles were made by mounting maps onto hardwood sheets and cutting along national boundaries, making them valuable educational tools for teaching geography,” Max added.

The puzzle’s owner was surprised to learn similar examples are housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and that the piece could be worth several hundred pounds to a collector.

Other interesting finds at the event included a collection of antique and modern coins, along with a pair of lava cameo earrings.

The next antiques valuation day is at Wareham Parish Hall on Friday, November 1, from 10am to noon.

Forest runners help dementia charity

FUN runners have raised more than £2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society in the latest of their annual runs in Wareham Forest.

123 runners of all ages and all fitness levels took part in the 17th ‘Together for Alzheimer’s’ 5k family fun run and walk, which started and finished at Birchwood Tourist Park.

First over the line were brothers Tom and Jack Williams in 20:11 and the first female was Lucy Raeburn in 22:37.

Local pilates instructor and

personal trainer, Alex Eversden, said: “Congratulations to them and everybody else who joined in with their own personal targets.

“Thanks also to all the great volunteers and sponsors who helped make this event such a success.

“So far we have raised over £2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, which does excellent work in helping those affected by dementia as well as research to find a cure for this devastating

disease. It is close to my heart, and it is wonderful that we can pull together and support this great charity.”

Donations can still be made to https://www.justgiving.com/ page/togetherforalzheimers2024 getfitwithalex@yahoo.co.uk.

The Sailor’s Arms publicans Tom and Amelia Brachi with Bruce Mead (centre) West Dorset CAMRA chair PHOTO Kylie Stroud

The jigsaw was brought in by a member of the public and valued by Max Beaumont

Literary event keeps it local but thinks bigger

THE Mowlem in Swanage is set to host a literary event featuring three authors with local links next month.

The event in The Studio, the newly refurbished community room, will see presentations by Gill Calvin Thomas, author of Vex Not Her Ghost; Jason Tomes, author of Swanage – An Illustrated History; and Eric Johns, author of several children's books, including the Freewheelers series.

Any profit from the event will go to two local charities, Dementia Friendly Purbeck and Purbeck Youth Music.

Purbeck Sounds will be talking to the organisers and authors before the event and interview the authors on the day.

Local schools have been invited to enter a bookmark competition in which children

can design a bookmark for their favourite book. Prizes for the best entries will be awarded on the day.

The literary event on Saturday, November 9, is the idea of Swanage-based reading

group Page Turners. The group would like to revive a literary festival held in Swanage many years ago, and it is hoped this one-day event with a local focus will encourage interest from the community as

well as visitors. Refreshments will be available throughout the day both from The Showbar and The Studio, where Swanage WI will be providing tea and cakes. Tickets are available from The Mowlem.

Authors all: Jason Tomes (above) Gill Calvin Thomas and Eric Johns

Investgation launched after three die in emergency incident at Swanage care home

THREE people have died in ‘unexplained’ circumstances at a Swanage care home.

Police were called to the Gainsborough Care Home, in Ulwell Road, by the ambulance service at just after 7.15am on Wednesday morning (October 23).

It came after the South Western Ambulance Service (SWAS) sent 10 crews to the site at around 5.20am.

Dorset Police said the deaths are being treated as unexplained and an investigation had got underway.

Four other people were taken to hospital as a precaution and other residents of the home were evacuated to a safe location.

“There remains a significant multiagency presence in place at the address and a cordon remains in place as we work with partners to carry out further enquires,” a Dorset Police spokesperson said.

“At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public.

“We understand this incident will have a significant impact on the Swanage community and our thoughts are with the families of those who have sadly died at this extremely difficult time.”

The news comes after firefighters were called to the scene by the ambulance service.

Four fire crews – from Swanage, Wareham, Westbourne and Poole – were sent to the scene along with a support vehicle from Dorchester and two crews from Winchester.

After the call, a Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We are working with Dorset Police, the South West Ambulance Service and other partners

“We are asking the public to avoid the area to allow the emergency services to deal with this incident.”

Meanwhile, the South West Ambulance Service (SWAS) said a Hazard Area Response Team, 10 ambulances and more were sent to the scene when the initial emergency call was made.

Mayor of Swanage, Cllr Tina Foster, said: “On behalf of Swanage Town Council I send my condolences to the families, friends and carers of those who passed away at Gainsborough Care Home earlier today.

“Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this incident at this difficult time.

“I would like to pay particular tribute to

Ambulance, police and fire crews were called to the Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage on Wednesday morning

Picture: Google

Sustainable Wareham recycling more

COMMUNITY group

Sustainable Wareham is offering locals the opportunity to recycle items that would be thrown away in a pilot Rethinking Rubbish event this weekend.

It will be collecting a range of items, in collaboration with Win On Waste, at Not Just Sundaes –Trading as Trinity Community Hub – at Trinity Church, South Street, on

Saturday, November 2, from 10am-11.30am.

Recyclers can take along: Babybel wrappers; cheese wrappers; corks – wine, champagne etc; dental waste – plastic toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads, interdental brushes; greetings cards; keys and padlocks; make-up – empty; rubber gloves and packaging; mobile phones; plastic

Students get to grips with coding

THOUSANDS of students, including at St Mark’s School in Swanage, took part in Dorset Coding Day.

This year’s record-breaking event saw more than 7,000 students, 68 schools, 73 teachers and 42 volunteers from around Dorset and the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) area get involved.

Dorset Council led the initiative with Barclays Digital

Eagles, supported by BCP Council.

Coding Day started in 2022 and is designed to promote digital skills among young people.

It was well received by schools, including by Rebecca Martin, head teacher at St Mark’s.

“Our students thoroughly enjoyed the coding activities provided by Barclays and

lunchboxes and drinks bottles – rigid type, refillable bottles, not the ones that go into regular collections; printer ink cartridges; stamps and coins; watches and jewellery – even broken; wires, cables and chargers; Yeo Valley ‘Yeo tokens’ – unredeemed.

Many of these items are recycled through Win on Waste’s connections with

Terracycle, and others. Stamps, old cables and greetings cards are used to raise money for charities.

Used blister packs will also be accepted, although that will be limited to 20 per person. A donation will be requested towards the £39 cost of funding a bag through Terracycle and the packs should be cut up to fit more in the bag.

Dorset Council,” she said.

“It was inspiring to see their excitement and engagement with the tasks.”

Cllr Richard Biggs, Dorset Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth, said: “I am pleased to see Dorset Coding Day go so well.

“It’s fantastic to encourage our young people into STEM careers by showing them what’s

More than 7,000 youngsters from across Dorset and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area took part in Dorset Coding Day

possible.

“This event is a great example of how we can inspire the next generation.”

Dorset Council would like to thank the volunteers who shared their time and expertise. Their contributions, including speaking to students about their tech careers and delivering assemblies, were invaluable in making the event a success.

East Burton Village Hall events

by Patricia Hook

AS well as yoga, kick-boxing, Mad Melodies Choir and fitness class, a board games session has begun every Wednesday, from 2pm to 4pm. No charge is made and tea and coffee is offered for a small donation. Lots of great games are on offer, some well-known and loved and some many may never have heard of, such as tiddle wink croquet, Mexican Train and Mancala.

Visitors are also welcome to bring their own games if they wish.

The Mad Melodies Pop and Rock Choir and keep fit sessions are being well attended and much enjoyed, as are the weekly yoga and kick-boxing sessions.

The monthly coffee and cake morning is on Friday, November 8, from 10am-noon, which now includes a book swap. Entry is free but with a donation requested for tea/

coffee and home-made cakes.

The hall would welcome enquiries from anyone who wants to start tai chi, karate or similar as the venue lends itself to smaller groups, as well as providing plenty of space for more active classes.

The hall is also looking for food van vendors, such as pizza, Thai, Indian, fish and chips and so on, to service East Burton village from the hall car park.

The venue can be hired for

private/personal events and anyone who would like to start a class –maybe art, drama or book club – is invited to get in touch on 01929 288020 or visit the website, ebvh.org.uk.

The whole hall can be hired, or it can be divided in half –with a kitchen for each half –and a smaller meeting room is available.

For information about events, hire rates, availability, booking and so on, do not hesitate to get in contact.

Ride out coins in the cash for DocBike

DOCBIKE’S annual motorcycle ride out last month raised more than £8,000 for the life-saving charity.

DocBike regional leads led separate convoys starting from locations in Dorset, Devon, Hampshire and Somerset, and after completing their routes, motorcyclists received a warm welcome at the Dorset Bike Festival in Bere Regis.

More than 600 people turned out at the festival, which featured displays, stalls from motorcycle dealerships, food, live music and a grand raffle with prizes given by local businesses.

The event also provided DocBike volunteers with the opportunity to engage with motorcyclists to raise awareness of its work and how bikers can upskill their ride.

They also shared how to keep injured motorcyclists alive until the emergency services arrive by attending a free BikerDown course.

Brett Callaghan, regional lead for Somerset and Avon, and deputy national director of DocBike, said: “This was the first time that we held the end point of our ride out at the Dorset Bike Festival, and we are delighted it was such a success.

“The DocBike charity receives no funding from the Government and relies on the generosity of the public to continue our life-saving work, so we are thrilled to have raised such a fantastic amount which will help towards our evergrowing operational costs.

“Leading the Devon, Somerset and Avon ride into the Dorset Bike Festival was an amazing feeling – you could really sense the atmosphere as we came down the driveway.

“I could not believe how many people were milling around the displays, food tents and, of course, the DocBike stands, and on top of that, the sun was shining!

“We hope to see this event

grow even further and become a ‘must do’ event for all motorcyclists.”

DocBike would like to thank everyone who came along and supported the event, and to extend its special thanks to

Military man’s talk

‘JERSEY in Wartime’ will be the subject of a talk by James Porter to members of Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild.

James is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, originally from Guernsey, and runs the Military History Group in

Wooders Campsite, Perfect Party Tents, Moore Speed Racing, Ducati Bournemouth and Destination Triumph Dorset, for organising the festival and end point for the ride out.

Dorchester.

The talk is at Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury (DT1 3DF) on Monday, November 11, and will follow a short business meeting at 2pm.

Visitors would be made very welcome – the charge is £3 – and tea and coffee will be available.

For more information, phone 01305 832857.

Exploring Purbeck – Bloxworth

by retired Dorset rights of way officer

Chris Slade

START at the church, which seems to be very big for the size of the village.

Walk east to the road junction, turn left and walk north along the road to Newport where you join a footpath heading east-south-east across a field to join a road that takes you south to East Bloxworth where you cross a road and head south along a bridleway through a wood and then curves left and right around The Knoll until you reach the main road, the A35.

Cross the road and follow the bridleway south along the parish boundary.

It enters the woodland and heathland of Wareham Forest.

After about half a mile you come to Woolsbarrow Hill Fort on your right.

It is Access Land across which you can roam to explore and enjoy the views.

Weave your way across it and make your way down the western side to join a

bridleway which takes you down to meet a road.

Turn right and head north-west along the road which crosses Bloxworth Heath, going up Sugar Hill. Take care of traffic.

After about a mile, past the peak of the hill, look out for a path on your right, which is not well signed.

It takes you in a straight line north to cross the A35, the line continuing until, eventually, it meets a road on the edge of Bloxworth village.

Cross the road and enter a field where you will soon find a stile in a hedge. This takes you onto a path which takes you onto a wider path leading back to the church.

You will have walked about six miles.

St Andrew’s Church, Bloxworth

PHOTO: Maureen Sutton/Google

Riders from Dorset, Devon, Hampshire and Somerset met up at the Dorset Bike Festival in Bere Regis

Nature project reaches out to youngsters

PUPILS have been immersing themselves with the natural beauty Purbeck has to offer thanks to the success of a year-long programme.

Sparked by concerns that young people across the area rarely connect with nature, the National Trust teamed up with environmental organisation Planet Purbeck to provide a range of nature activities to get pupils exploring.

The vision is for every child and young person up to the age of 25 to experience the area’s dramatic landscapes and wildlife.

The programme includes creating nature-centred schools, offering free family-friendly countryside conservation tasks, and providing trips to outdoor places, from beaches to working farms.

Alex Brocklesby, of the National Trust, who is coordinating the project, said the Purbeck Goes Wild programme in repsonse to children in the area rarely connecting with the natural world around them.

“The idea came off the back of some shocking statistics

about the number of Purbeck children who rarely or never get to connect with nature, even though we are living in one of the most biodiverse areas in the UK,” he said.

“This is partly due to schools not having the funding or resources.

“We want to address this, offering rich nature and outdoor experiences across Purbeck schools.”

A series of Purbeck-based challenges have also been added to the ‘Wylder’ app which gives fun ways for families to explore the outdoors.

Rob Waitt, of Planet Purbeck, said: “Our programme is about connecting Purbeck kids with Purbeck nature.

“People don’t care for things they haven’t experienced, so we want to help all local youngsters and their families to discover and enjoy the natural beauty on their doorsteps.

“There is also the opportunity for local people to join us as volunteers to help make our vision a reality.”

The partnership is keen to reach out to families, not just

children, so that the whole community comes together to care for Purbeck’s countryside and coastline.

Scott Johnson, a local forest school leader, runs inspirational nature and gardening clubs at schools and pre-schools.

He said: “I feel privileged to guide children on their learning journey into the natural world.

“It is incredible to see their awe and wonder, and to share magical moments with them.

“Many of these young people begin to connect with nature, then become role models and ambassadors for other children and families.”

The partnership is also keen to promote career pathways into conservation and outdoor activities, so that young people can gain work experience and know what options are available to them.

Sam Thompson, managing director at Cumulus Outdoors, said: “I grew up in Purbeck with the cliffs, beaches and rolling hills as my playground.

“At Cumulus, our aim is to share our local landscapes with others, especially younger generations.

“Hopefully this will inspire more youngsters to consider careers in the outdoors or nature, which will benefit the whole community and local economy.”

The organisations involved include conservation charities, landowners, outdoor activity providers, local community action groups and other businesses.

Find out more about the programme, and opportunities to join events or volunteer, at https://planetpurbeck.org/ purbeckgoeswild/

Adie speaking for hospital charity

JOURNALIST and broadcaster

Kate Adie will talk about her career and life in a fundraiser for Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.

Kate is best known for reporting from many of the world’s troublespots, including the Gulf War, Northern Ireland during the Troubles, wars in the Balkans and the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing.

She has received an OBE and the BAFTA Fellowship at the British Academy Television

Awards, plus a clutch of honorary degrees,

She has also written four books, her autobiography – The Kindness of Strangers; Corsets to Camouflage; Nobody's Child; and, most recently, Into Danger.

And she has presented the flagship BBC Radio 4 series, From Our Own Correspondent, for decades.

Kate was announced as

appeal patron for Dorset County Hospital Charity’s £2.5 million Emergency and Critical Care Appeal in April.

Dr Will McConnell, consultant at Dorset County Hospital, will lead the proceedings, at ‘An Evening with Kate Adie’ at Brownsword Hall, Poundbury, on Wednesday, November 20, at 7pm.

Kate said: “In my work, I’ve

seen for myself the need for emergency and critical care – and our local hospital deserves the best.”

Dr McConnell, consultant respiratory physician, said: “I am tremendously excited to be able to hear Kate's amazing stories about her life and career, which are even more relevant now, and to hear how she sees the future of journalism, the BBC and the health service, in the rapidly changing media landscape.”

Kate Adie

St Mary’s School youngsters enjoy a Nature Day

PHOTO: National Trust/Cathy Lewis

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Swanage Conservative Club opens its doors to non-members for the weekend commencing Friday 13th October

Swanage Conservative Club opens its doors to non-members for the weekend commencing Friday 15th to 18th November

The open weekend is from 13th to 15th October and is a chance for people to see what the club has to offer. Swanage Conservative Club is a social club and entertainment venue set in the heart of the town. Founded in 1885 the club is situated only 50m from the train and bus station. Refurbished in 2017 it is both comfortable and modern. We are proud of the facilities we can offer our members and with this in mind we would love to show these off to the local community.

also host charity and fun quizzes.

The open weekend is from 15th to 18th November and is a chance for people to see what the club has to offer. Swanage Conservative Club is a social club and entertainment venue set in the heart of the town. Founded in 1885 the club is situated only 50m from the train and bus station. Refurbished in 2017 it is both comfortable and modern. We are proud of the facilities we can offer our members and with this in mind we would love to show these off to the local community.

The club joins in and supports local events like Swanage Carnival, Lifeboat week as well as the Blues, Jazz, and Folk festivals. The club is proud to announce that it a finalist in the Club Mirror Awards 2023 and were hopeful that we will win an award at the finals in November.

Our restaurant is open for fresh cooked food Wednesday to Friday 12-2pm, we also offer rolls and snacks during the rest of the day. Basket meals available in the evening 6-9pm.

Come and see for yourselves with a warm welcome, well stacked bar and club price drinks and incredibly competitive food prices.

The club boasts two well-maintained snooker tables, darts boards and a large function room with bar, dance floor and stage which can be hired by members and non-members. We currently provide free live entertainment every Saturday, as well as weekly bingo and poker matches, we also host charity and fun quizzes.

Our restaurant is open for fresh cooked food Wednesday to Saturday 12 – 2pm, we also offer rolls and snacks during the rest of the day.

Come and see for yourselves with a warm welcome, well stacked bar and club price drinks and incredibly competitive food prices.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

The club joins in and supports local event like Swanage Carnival, Lifeboat week as well at the Blues, Jazz, and Folk Festivals. The club was proud to be jointly awarded Club Mirror Innovative Club of the Year for 2023.

The club boasts two very well-maintained snooker tables, darts boards and a large function room with bar, dance floor and stage which can be hired by members and non-members. We currently provide free live entertainment every Saturday, as well as weekly bingo and poker matches, we

Come and see for yourselves with a warm welcome, well stacked bar and club price drinks and incredibly competitive food prices.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

SWANAGE CONSERVATIVE CLUB

• Come and join us and look around the club!

• Benefit from members competitively priced drinks (pint Carlsberg £3.50) and food.

• Food service at lunchtime in our Restaurant and Bar.

• Benefit from members competitively priced drinks (pint Carlsberg £3.70) and food.

• Come and join us and look around the club! • Benefit from members competitively priced drinks (pint Carlsberg £3.50) and food. • Food service at lunchtime in our Restaurant and Bar.

• Function room available. Sports catered for snooker, pool, darts and shove halfpenny.

• Live entertainment every Saturday, plus bingo draws etc

• Function Room available. Sports catered for snooker, pool, darts and shove halfpenny.

• Live entertainment every Saturday, plus bingo draws etc

• The Club has free wi-fi service available to members and their guests.

Live entertainment every Saturday, plus bingo draws etc.

• The Club has free wi-fi service available to members and their guests. www.swanageconservativeclub.co.uk

•

membership £25 a

• Yearly membership £25 a year.

The club has free wi-fi service available to members and their guests.

Join on the opening weekend and recieve the rest of the year free of charge. Half price admin fee of £5. Usual yearly membership price £25.

DESPITE the weather being on the damper side, October and November are great times to visit the country park. As the seasons change from autumn to winter, so do the sounds, sights and atmosphere of the park. This autumn hosted an array of wildlife sightings including a ‘Hoopoe’ spotted at the bottom of the woods at the end of September, a couple of dolphin sightings and a fantastic example of a Red Cage Fungus found on the timeline outside the castle, just moments from the car park! We look forward to the different wildlife sightings that we will continue to have in the winter.

As we come into November, the Fine Foundation Gallery will show an exciting photography exhibition, Take a Dorset View, showcasing the

winning entries from the recent Dorset National Landscape/ Dorset Magazine competition, where people have shared photos of their favourite Dorset landscapes. This exhibition will be open until Wednesday, November 27, 10am to 4pm.

The gallery is still home to our ‘Rock Room’ as well as our cinema screens that show Durlston Through the Year, inviting visitors to discover more about Durlston’s nature, geology and history.

November is a fantastic month for events here at Durlston. On Saturday, November 2, we have another Glass Engraving workshop –this hour-and-a-half course will teach you the basics of the intricate art of glass engraving and is suitable for complete beginners to people who have

tried it before. On Thursday, November 7, we have a free, hour’s Castle Tour for visitors to learn more about Durlston’s Victorian past, then on Saturday, November 9, why not join us and the Wessex Astronomical Society for one of our Stargazing events? We have a new event on Sunday, November 10, where you can join us for a brilliant talk about Fossils from Dorset to Morocco with specimens to see and hold. Then, on Saturday, November 16, artist and printmaker Robin Mackenzie will host another Introduction to Linocut Workshop.

Towards the end of the month, there will be a Park to Pier Guided Walk, from Durlston Castle to Swanage Pier, focusing on history, geology and wildlife. For those

wanting a better idea of Durlston Country Park, we also have a Rough Guide to Durlston walk on November 28. Topping this off, Robin Mackenzie will return on Saturday, November 30, for a Make a Wood Engraving Christmas Card workshop, inviting individuals to learn wood engraving – and hand printing your designs! For more information on all events this November, visit www.durlston. co.uk/events.

We look forward to seeing you at the park. All the best from the Durlston Rangers. For further information on events and more visit our Durlston website at https:// www.durlston.co.uk/ Visit the Seventhwave café website at https://seventhwaverestaurant. co.uk/

Half-term fun at town museum

FAMILIES can look forward to free fun-filled activities this October half-term at Wareham Town Museum.

The museum will run a Spooky Lantern Making workshop for all the family on Wednesday, October 30 (11am-1pm).

Talented artists, Sarah and Patrick Collins, will help youngsters create their own ghoulish lanterns with creepy Halloween designs.

Children can learn how to craft pots just like the Saxons on Friday, November 1 (11am1pm).

Local ceramicists and teachers Anne and Jonathan Easterbrooke will guide youngsters through the process, teaching ancient techniques and sharing historical insights.

Councillor Marian Cotton, Mayor of Wareham, said: “Our council places a large emphasis

on our cultural sites to attract locals and visitors alike to visit, and these October holiday activities are a great excuse to visit Wareham Town Museum, whether you are a first-time visitor or a regular to our town.”

Cllr Lucia Kirk, also a museum volunteer, added: “We’re very pleased to be running these free activities at our museum.

“They are great for families to enjoy together, learning and having fun at the same time.

“We hope these activities will be well supported, so we put on many more in the coming months.”

The two-hour workshops are suitable for children aged five plus, who must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets – just for the children attending – must be booked in advance via the museum’s Eventbrite page.

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:

Events

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

Children can take part in a Spooky Lantern Making workshop and learn how to craft pots like the Saxons at Wareham Town Museum

Wheelchair user welcomes Knoll Beach improvements

A YEAR-LONG programme of enhancements has taken place to make Knoll Beach more accessible for less able visitors.

The upgrades include the addition of a new all-terrain electric beach wheelchair, a Changing Places toilet, a drop-off bay and an upgraded boardwalk.

The area already had some existing accessibility features such as standard accessible toilets, a daily hire accessible beach hut, Wheeleez Sandcruiser wheelchairs, ear defenders, sensory bags and a Tramper mobilty scooter for the journey to Old Harry Rocks.

The new drop-off parking bay allows drivers to stop briefly in front of the key facilities before finding a disabled parking space.

It is located in front of Knoll Beach office, along with the hireable beach wheelchairs and the wheelchair storage shed, and opposite the Changing Places toilet.

The new boardwalk runs in front of the beach office to the shop, cafe and across to the toilets and changing place, making it easier to access all areas.

The area now has a fleet of four wheelchairs with the addition of the Magic Mobility Xtreme 8 – an all-terrain chair that can be driven on the beach and is free to hire.

Andrew Clarke, who visited Knoll Beach recently, said: “I use an NHS-powered wheelchair which cannot go on the beach but would dream one day I could go along the beach like I used to.

“When I tried the beachpowered wheelchair, one of the staff walked with me until I got my confidence, then I went along the shore. It was amazing.

“I never thought I would be able to do this again”.

Mr Clarke added: “The Changing Places suite is also a massive help to me as it’s large enough to enter with my electric-

Boardwalk at Knoll Beach, Studland, and (inset) beach wheelchairs are available for free hire; the drop-off bay in front of facilities PHOTOS: National Trust/Fleur Castell and Sophie-Bolesworth

powered wheelchair and if I need to change, the shower is so helpful”.

Other free-to-hire wheelchairs include Wheeleez Sandcruiser wheelchairs.

The Changing Place toilet provides more space than a standard accessible toilet, allowing access with an electric wheelchair.

Town unveils new crest

MAYOR of Wimborne, Councillor Jeff Hart, has unveiled a new crest for the town council outside the town hall.

Bournemouth University student, Bella Bijou, designed the crest, which is inspired by the original emblem used by the former Wimborne Minster Urban District Council since 1894.

The urban district council was abolished in 1974, following the creation of the town council under the Local

Government Act 1972.

The design includes a pictorial representation of the Minster Church and features

Edward the Confessor’s cross, adorned with four martlets – a type of mythical bird without feet.

It is heated, has an adult-sized changing bench, shower, hoist, peninsular toilet and a height adjustable basin.

Emma Wright, visitor operations and experience manager, said: “We work hard to ensure everyone feels welcome here and have made accessibility a priority.”

She added: “It makes it all worthwhile when we hear stories like Andrew’s, and we are able to enhance someone’s visit.”

Wheelchairs are free to hire – non-monetary deposit requested – and a lock-up is available for wheelchair swaps. Booking is recommended by calling 01929 450500.

Basic training is provided for the all-terrain wheelchair and it can be attendant operated. Prior booking of accessible beach hut and Tramper is recommended by calling 01929 450500.

Sensory bags and ear defenders available from Knoll Beach office.

Riders get on their (Beryl) bikes!

RIDERS collectively covered 27,000 kilometres in the first month after the launch of Beryl electric assisted bikes in Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth.

More than 5,000 journeys were taken in the first month, from August 20, with the average journey being just under 5km.

Many people also enjoyed longer trips from Weymouth to Dorchester and return.

Cllr Jon Andrews, cabinet member for Place Services at Dorset Council, said: “I’m thrilled to see such enthusiasm for our new Beryl e-bikes.

“The scheme has exceeded all our expectations and proved a big hit with locals and visitors.

“They’re a great boost for the area and benefit the environment by offering a

viable alternative for travelling around.

“I’m delighted so many people have been getting out and about and, with the added benefit of the electric boost, riders are going further afield to enjoy Dorset by bike.”

The scheme has generated nearly 3,000 hours of physical activity so far and, according to industry calculations, the first month saved half a tonne of carbon emissions.

Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that over 27,000 kilometres have already been covered by Beryl e-bike riders in the first month.

“As a council, we’re committed to helping make our county more climate and nature friendly. And schemes like this are a great way of driving down

our carbon footprint.

“They also offer residents and visitors an excellent opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature.”

Beryl chief executive, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re delighted with the impact our Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland scheme has had in its first few weeks, with hundreds of people across the three areas already choosing to give shared sustainable transport a try.

“We’ll continue to work with

Electric assisted bikes have been greeted with ‘enthusiasm’, says a councillor, after their launch in Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth

our partner, Dorset Council, and listen to feedback from riders and stakeholders to help keep the scheme as fun, accessible and easy-to-use as possible.

“By doing this, we hope to continue having a positive impact on reducing traffic congestion and harmful carbon emissions while improving air quality and public health.”

The scheme has 121 e-bikes available to hire from a network of 30 Beryl bays across Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland.

Swans let lead slip in final minutes

by Ron Butler

Chippenham 2nd XV

Swanage & Wareham 33

SWANS had to make a long trip for an away fixture at Chippenham in their latest Southern Counties league game, but dominated the first half before the hosts came back in the second period, resulting in a high-scoring draw.

Chippenham started on the attack, and put Swans under early pressure, but Swans cleared their lines with a move by the threes and advanced into the Chippenham 22.

From a scrum, Swans fly-half Tom Munns worked his way over the try line under the posts. Full back Lewis Reeves added the extras after 12 minutes.

Swans continued to press the hosts and from a scrum close to the Chippenham line pushed the hosts over the line with second

RUGBY

row George Slack claiming the score. Reeves converted (0pts-14) after 18 minutes.

From the restart Chippenham put the ball deep into Swans territory and from a ruck the ball came out for the hosts to claim their first try after 21 minutes.

After 30 minutes a move by Swans backs, out to winger George Crouch, saw him score a try out wide. Reeves converted to take the score to 5pts-21 at the break.

From the restart Swans let the ball bounce into touch and the hosts won the line-out and scored a converted try two minutes into the half.

From the kick-off Chippenham collected the ball and powered through the Swans defence, enabling the hosts to reduce the deficit to two points

at 19pts-21 after 44 minutes. Swans sorted themselves out for a spell, and from a grubber kick through the hosts, George Crouch touched down after 51 minutes to take Swans to 26pts.

Chippenham put pressure on Swans defence and should have scored more but for Swans man of the match winger Olly Dillon who put in a tremendous bit of tackling.

But the score remained unchanged until on 68 minutes replacement fly-half Will Slack broke clear to score under the posts. Reeves added the extras (19pts-33).

In the last five minutes, Chippenham pounded the Swans defence and with three minutes to the end scored their next converted try (26pts-33).

In the last play of the game the hosts scored another try as Swans waited anxiously for the conversion out wide, but it was successful, making the final score Chippenham 2nd XV 33 Swanage & Wareham 33.

Swans: Lewis Reeves, George Crouch, Ed Dimescio, Matt Spencer, Olly Dillon, Tom Munns, Olly Peters, Steve Waterman, Taylor Snell, Nick Audley, George Slack, Duncan McDermid, Kian Salina, Tom Holland, Joe Desmond,Joel Andrews, Jay Phillips, Will Slack.

n OTHER RESULTS: Swans 2nd XV 25, Blandford 7; Lytchett Minster 2nd XV 26 Swans 3rd XV 29.

Club’s teams off to a flying start

HOCKEY

SWANAGE and Wareham

Hockey Club are enjoying a very good start to their season.

All four senior teams recently came away with impressive victories.

The Men’s 1s travelled to Winchester and secured a 5-1 victory. Despite the best efforts of the opposition, goals from Nick P, Ben and Sam rounded off a nice win on the road.

After four games, they are sitting 4th in the table.

At Purbeck, the Men’s 2s beat Salisbury 4s 5-3 with goals from Gavin, Nick (two), Oli and Julian. The victory leaves them 10th in a tough league.

The Ladies 1s beat

ANGLING

Tidy haul for Jack

by Graham Howard DDAS junior secretary

CHARLOTTE’S Lake at Harbourbridge Fishery in Chickerell was the venue for the tenth round of the 2024 Dorchester & District Angling Society Junior Championship.

The fishing was unaffected by cooler temperatures and overcast skies, but sadly the number of anglers was.

Waterside in a tight match that ended 4-3. Goals from Emily, Sian, Kate T and Daisie were enough to come out on top.

The Ladies sit comfortably in 5th.

At home, the Ladies 2s beat Bournemouth 4s in a close

fought local derby.

After going down 2-0, a goal from Nicole took Swans into the break 2-1 down.

Two goals from Liz G and Liz S followed. With three wins and one loss, the Ladies 2s are up to 2nd in the table.

Only seven juniors participated, so each angler had plenty of room, and as a silverfish only match, carp would not be counted.

Top weight and top angler on the day was Jack Copp with 21lb 9oz of shimmering roach and rudd.

Second was the everconsistent Alec Campbell with 16lb 2oz, and close behind in 3rd was a much-improved Josh Roe weighing 15lb 4oz.

With 75 points still on the table and only 22 points separating the top two, all is still to play for with three rounds to go.

For more information on DDAS junior events, contact Graham at juniors.sec@d-das. com, or visit ddasjuniors.co.uk. For fishery information go to harbourbridgelakes.com.

Jack Copp with his winning weight of 21lb 9oz

Swanage and Wareham Hockey Club Ladies 2s in action

Festival and Carnival back stations

I’D like to begin this month’s article by saying a big thank you to the Fish and Food Festival and Swanage Carnival for making NCI one of their charities. In mid-September, Swanage station manager, Martin Jones, and watchkeeper, Nick Reed, attended a presentation afternoon to receive a cheque from the Fish and Food Festival. Just a week later, Martin and St Alban’s Head watchkeeper, David Ridd, went to Swanage Carnival’s presentation evening, where they were given a substantial cheque to be shared between the two stations.

As a charity, NCI receives no external funding. Each station is responsible for its own fundraising. The money raised goes entirely towards the running and maintenance of the station. Without the help and support of organisations like the Fish and Food Festival and the Carnival, we would not be able to carry out the work we do.

We’d also like to thank the wider local community for their support over the last year. Your generosity at our bank holiday and other fundraising events helps us maintain our ‘eyes along the coast’, helps us keep our stations functional and allows us to invest in new technology to make us even more effective. Thank you, we couldn’t do it without you!

KEEPING on with the good news theme, I’ve just heard that our station at Swanage has just passed its Declared Facility Status (DFS) assessment. This is an annual event, carried out to ensure that all our stations meet the required standards to be

by Nick Reed

counted among the assets available to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). By achieving DFS, this puts us on a par with the local coastguard rescue teams, the RNLI lifeboats and the search and rescue helicopters.

The assessment is carried out by one of our national assessors who looks at what we’ve said we can offer the MCA to help with a search and rescue operation. It looks at what equipment we say we have and are competent to use – hence the declared part of DFS – as well as the ability of our watchkeepers to undertake an effective watch.

REGULAR

readers of this column will have picked up that I’m fascinated by the complexity of the tides that we experience. At certain times we get much higher and much lower tides than normal. This happens monthly when we have what is known as spring tides. These tides are caused by the way the Sun and the Moon line up with the Earth. At certain times of the year – normally around the

spring and autumn equinoxes – these spring tides are much larger. The orbits of the Sun, Moon and Earth are not perfectly aligned, and this means that every so often we get even bigger spring tides, and this is what has happened this year. The Moon is nearing its furthest position north or south of the equator at the same time as the September equinox when the gravitational pull of both the Sun and Moon align more closely due to the Earth's position. It'll probably be another 10 years before we see this type of low tide again.

Interestingly, some coastal scientists are predicting that the very low tides we experienced at the end of September may be the lowest anyone will see again, due to the sea level rise caused by global warming. The Met Office says sea levels are now rising by 3-5.2mm (0.1-0.2in) a year, more than double the rate of increase in the early part of last century. Tides are also affected by weather systems and with the predicted increase in storminess it’s likely that we will get more higher storm surges. Lower atmospheric pressure, typical of stormy weather, causes sea levels to rise slightly, while higher pressure can suppress tides. During storms, strong winds push water toward the coast, raising sea levels significantly. When these surges coincide with high tides, the result can be tides that are much higher than predicted.

Although we do not get such severe storms as those experienced recently in Florida, some notable storm surges have affected the UK. The most famous, and most serious, was the North Sea Flood in 1953. A powerful low-pressure system combined with a spring tide caused a storm surge to hit the east coast of England. Flooding affected more than 1,000 miles of coastline, and the storm surge killed a large number of people, with thousands more losing their homes.

During the winter of 2013/14 we saw several big storms affect the UK. In December 2013 a significant storm, caused by a powerful low-pressure system moving across the North Atlantic and the North Sea, caused sea levels along the UK’s east coast to rise by up to 2.5 meters (8 feet). Later that winter, the Valentine’s Day Storm, as it became known, caused flooding and damage all along the south coast, including Swanage. The storm was the culmination of weeks of storms, which had already weakened coastal defences and saturated the ground, leading to more severe impacts than a single isolated storm might have caused. One of the most dramatic consequences of the storm was the destruction of the Dawlish railway line, in Devon. The powerful storm surge and waves battered the sea wall, causing a section of the track to collapse into the sea.

This is St Alban’s Head NCI and Swanage NCI listening on channel 65, NCI out.

Swanage station manager, Martin Jones, and watchkeeper, Nick Reed, receive a cheque from the Fish and Food Festival

PHOTO: Mark Blanchard

Swanage station manager, Martin Jones, and St Alban’s Head watchkeeper, David Ridd, receive a cheque at Swanage Carnival’s presentation evening PHOTO: Swanage Carnival

Christmas tree festival dates

THIS year the Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church,160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, from Thursday, December 5, to Saturday, December 7, from 10am-6pm each day.

A Remembrance Service called ‘Lights of Love’ will be held on Sunday, December 8, at 4pm.

Visitors will receive a warm welcome and can wander through the trees, enjoy seasonal refreshments and listen to local talented musicians and singers.

There will also be activities for children of all ages and stories in the stable for younger children.

Admission is free of charge, but any donations will go to local charities.

This year we are supporting Dorset Air Ambulance and raising money for another Admiral Nurse for Dementia Care.

If you would like to book a tree for your group or organisation, the closing date is Monday, November 11 – and you should request a sponsor form from Janet Norley at administrator@emmanuelbc. org.uk or leave a message with your details on the church answerphone, 01929 427706.

Once again, we will have a Tree of Remembrance outside Emmanuel Baptist Church on which visitors can put named ribbons of loved ones they wish to remember at Christmas.

The St Aldhelm’s Christmas Tree Festival is being held at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers, running from Saturday, November 30, to Monday, December 2.

For further details, contact

Christmas trees at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Swanage

Sandy Garner on 01929 424431 or email sandy@gizimodo. co.uk; https://staldhelmxmastree festival.wordpress.com.

May these events bring us all joy as we celebrate the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Judy Forgan and Janet Norley via email

Time to honour artist’s memory

HELEN Galloway McNicholl, a world-famous artist who had trained at the Art Association of Montreal before spending two years at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, lived and worked in Swanage and is buried in Northbrook Cemetery, Swanage.

Her work was featured on the BBC1 programme Fake or Fortune, when her lost piece ‘The Bean Harvest’ was verified.

will be there as usual.

Poppython, in Swanage Royal British Legion, gets under way on Thursday, November 7, with a quiz.

Then on Friday, November 8, there will be a coffee morning, with ploughman’s lunch and charity stall, and live music from Vintage Dogs at 8.30pm.

On Saturday, November 9, we have a poppy craft fair – an eclectic mix of artisans’ arts, crafts, jewellery, cakes, candles, cosmetics, Christmas gifts and decorations, tombola, raffle and charity stall. Refreshments will be available and bar open.

Live music will be on offer from Total Madness at 5pm and MI3 at 8.30pm.

Everyone is welcome and entry is free of charge but you may be asked to donate to the Poppy Appeal.

Last year we exceeded £18,000 for which we are very grateful.

For more information, email podyfrog@aol.com.

Carolyn Hooper Via email

Parent and Child Fostering –The Facts

Just William...or Unjust William?

She was one of the late Bob Field’s favourite artists and has a pitiful grave.

Should Purbeck at least honour her memory with a plaque and improve the condition of her grave?

Thelma Deacon via email

Poppy Appeal fundraisers

SWANAGE Poppy Appeal is gearing up for the 2024 season.

Once again there will be a pop-up Poppy Shop in Station Road at the end of Harlees fish and chip shop – thank you Harlees.

The shop has official Poppy merchandise with all proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal.

Prince William says he wants to help the homeless

His own home came from luck of birth alone

If he really wants to help the homeless

Why not open up each Royal home?

Let the homeless fill the empty castles,

The palaces, the mansions, the estates,

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.

Let them share the riches of the wealthy

Welcome in the poor with open gates.

That would be the Christian thing to do

By someone who will head the Church one day –

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.

Don’t forget to say ‘hello’ to all our street collectors, very friendly helpers Pete and Paul

Prince William says he wants to help the homeless... Perhaps he means he’ll simply help them pray!

Martin Hobdell Swanage

‘Vaping isn’t harmless and should be banned’

SOME time ago I mentioned vaping. Now I have never vaped – I didn’t need it to stop me smoking 40 a day. That was a result of becoming a father and realising that you can’t be a good daddy in an iron lung. Yes, giving up was hard – I kept a packet of 20 in my pocket for a week, along with my favourite lighter, and got through a vast quantity of sherbet lemons. Would I have taken up vaping? No – because I bought myself a Ford Capri and paid for it with the money I was saving by not smoking! And my son was growing up every day in a smoke-free home.

But it seems to me the government is fully supportive of replacing cigarettes with vapes and encouraging people of all ages to fill their lungs with noxious fumes. And while cigarettes are hidden behind shutters when on sale, vapes are sold in gaily-decorated packages apparently to people of all ages.

A recent TV documentary suggested that more than one million people who have never smoked a cigarette have taken up vaping.

To some of us it appears the government does not have the guts to stand up to the nicotine lobby and is actively encouraging our little ones to fill their little lungs with poison. Perish the thought that commercial interests are standing in the way of commonsense.

Why is it that vapes are banned in 34 countries around the world, but not in the UK? The World Health Organisation is calling for a global ban but what does it know? The NHS website says: “to get the best out of it, make sure you’re using it as much as you need to and with the right strength of nicotine in your e-liquid”. Could it be that tobacco

by David Hollister

companies have found a new and colourful way to get you hooked on another highly addictive product?

I don’t deny that in some cases, vaping has helped people stop smoking. But at what cost to their health? Don’t fall for the suggestion that vaping is harmless. It isn’t.

A good friend of mine is still grieving for her husband who was poisoned by vapes in his later 40s. He had everything to live for, stopped smoking, but was unfortunately convinced that replacing cigarettes with vapes would be harmless.

Nick Gray died at the start of this year, leaving a distraught widow and a lot of friends who were totally astonished by his passing. This lovely, funny, fit and healthy man had only recently started using vapes rather than cigarettes. And now he’s gone.

Take vaping products off the market, impose a total ban on them, and somehow continue the anti-smoking campaign which was doing quite well before vaping became a craze. But no-one in ‘power’ – even with a 400-seat majority – has the nerve to even suggest it.

ISEE that many of the traffic problems we had last year are beginning to reappear. The puddle just past St Michaels was partially relieved by a bigger drain but now it’s back and just as dangerous. The puddle just past Foleys still overwhelms the pavement and causes pedestrians to walk in the road, just over a blind hill. Often in the dark. The dangerous access to the Langton Matravers turn-off was going to be discussed and replaced. Then Covid came along.

Where are the council Highways People in all this? Would someone from Highways

care to come along one day when it’s really raining and tell me what it is going to do to rectify the problem? Contract me c/o Purbeck Gazette and we can have an interesting morning checking them all out.

Last time, you said there wasn’t the money in the budget to fix a proper pavement at Harmans Cross, which makes me ask – once again – what’s the life of a Harmans Cross resident really worth in terms of pounds and pence?

I’M disappointed to tell you that I’ve come to the conclusion our ongoing campaign to get proper policing in Swanage was a waste of time. Promises were made at the last public meeting. Many were not kept and if they really thought we’d be happy with a part-time police station in an annexe off the town hall mostly staffed by PCSOs was what we were asking for, then they were deluded.

Once again, it’s ‘funding’ but as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was voted for by a majority at the recent election, I have to assume the general public was happy with what David Sidwick has achieved and accept the will of the majority. The PCC has a duty to consult on the level of the police precept that can be levied. The government sets a cap on what this level can be, and if the PCC seeks to set a precept above this, then the

PCC must hold a public referendum.

As the PCC’s office is currently more than £15 million in debt, with a significant proportion related to the construction of the new headquarters at Winfrith, I will personally take exception when, next March, the PCC holds out the begging bowl and wants more money for ‘policing’. Which they always do.

Did you get an invitation to the opening of the new Police HQ? Surely those of us who paid for it, albeit unwillingly, should at least have the chance to see it working. My invitation clearly got lost in the post.

FOR months I’ve been mentioning our new radio station in Swanage. Well, we made it! Up and running, broadcasting, 24 hours a day, with a really varied band of presenters with true local interests, not just a computergenerated top 300 playlist as would appear to be the case on some commercial stations.

So, for a varied output, look at the schedule on our website, tune in and see what we’re up to. If you like what we’re doing, tell your friends. If you don’t, then tell us. Only by receiving and acting on your feedback can we improve!

Go to ‘purbecksounds.com’, press the button to listen. Or enable your ‘Alexa’ by saying ‘Alexa – play Purbeck Sounds’. Our phone number is 07849 327777. We look forward to hearing from you, by text, WhatsApp. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you. Thank you for your patience. I really hope you enjoy what you hear!

Housing: Opportunities and obstacles

I’VE written in the Purbeck Gazette before about housing but it’s such an important topic that I make no apologies for revisiting it.

The lack of good quality, affordable housing affects us all, as it impacts on our economy, health service and children. Yet there has been no real change in the delivery of homes that are genuinely affordable for Dorset residents, with numbers built averaging about 500 a year –when Dorset Council’s Housing List regularly tops 5,000 families.

The new Liberal Democrat administration of Dorset Council aims to change that, with housing being one of our four key priorities. I previously mentioned the possibility of increased Council Tax being levied on second homes and that became a thing this year when the legislation went through. Dorset Council voted – as did

Reader’s Picture

most other councils – to implement this and it will take effect from April 2025.

The previous administration proposed to add the extra income – circa £10 million – into the general fund but a Liberal Democrat amendment in February this year managed to ring-fence 40% of the proceeds for the Housing Team. This, together with using councilowned land and some reprioritisation, will enable us to work with Registered Providers (RPs) to build more social housing and help prevent affordable homes being ‘lost’ when developers can’t find a housing association to take over the affordable homes they were forced to build.

We haven’t ruled out building houses ourselves and are also looking into compulsory purchasing land where promised development has failed to materialise. However, to build at

scale requires support, which has been severely lacking previously, from central government.

The new Labour government in Westminster has promised much with housing and we’ll see where that ends up. The headlines are doubling of statutory housing targets and that’s what they are proposing for Dorset Council. But the reality is that Dorset Council over its first five years hasn’t managed to even meet the previous target. Targets don’t build houses, developers and building companies do!

In Dorset we have more than 10,000 homes approved with planning permission, but the builders won’t put a spade in the ground until they know they’ll make a tidy profit and so they sit on the land until they deem the financial climate to be right. How Labour is going to solve this problem has yet to be

revealed.

Another much heralded announcement has been the proposed redesignation of some of the Green Belt into a new ‘Grey’ designation. Again, there is no real detail as to what this will mean and how it will make builders build!

While Dorset Council is somewhat hamstrung by national policy, we will through innovative policy and the new Local Plan, ensure that the needs of our residents are embedded into everything we do and work with RPs, Community Land Trusts, landowners and builders to ensure the houses that are built are genuinely affordable, sustainable, carbon neutral and in the right place.

Please lobby your new MPs to help make this happen.

NICK IRELAND

Liberal Democrat Leader of Dorset Council

PIG PATROL: Robin Boultwood took this photo at Hartland Moor, near Corfe Castle

Health: Fine words cost nothing

THE Isle of Purbeck is a beautiful place. Hundreds of thousands of visitors a year take home happy memories. Yet Swanage and Purbeck are geographically isolated from many key services in what is a dispersed rural county. Winding roads, badly congested in summer, link Swanage and Purbeck to larger centres of population, such as Dorchester. Links with Poole and Bournemouth are either by road, or by the ferry from Studland to Sandbanks. Bournemouth is the third most congested city in the UK. Geography puts residents and visitors alike at risk should they require emergency medical treatment. Labour town councillor Debby Monkhouse fought tooth and nail to keep open Poole Hospital A&E and Maternity Departments – now being closed and relocated to Bournemouth. Her campaign was supported by thousands of

Purbeck residents.

Jason Coppel KC, of the prestigious law firm Leigh Day, spoke at a Judicial Review in the High Court on campaigners’ behalf against the Clinical Services Review which proposed these changes.

He argued that re-locating these crucial departments to Bournemouth Hospital would cost lives. Ambulances travelling there would have to battle heavy traffic – the time taken eating into the ‘golden hour’ during which lives might be saved by timely treatment.

Although unsuccessful – as was an appeal – a referral to the Health Secretary led to a suggestion that there be a ‘local’ A&E at Poole. There are no plans for this in evidence. Moreover, ambulance response times continue to cause concern, and local health services provided by community hospitals are being withdrawn without

consultation. A further campaign led by Debby saved the Purbeck Paramedic Car, and she is now heading a campaign to restore Swanage and Wareham NHS Services that are under threat: https:// you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ restore-swanage-and-warehamnhs-services.

Residents and visitors alike welcome the call for the restoration of walk-in access to Swanage Hospital Minor Injuries Unit, and it being open from 8am to 8pm. The return of outpatient clinics, including rheumatology at Swanage, and Chemotherapy at Wareham, also receives warm support, as does the reform of the Urgent Care 111 system now in operation. Why should those using it be referred to Dorchester County Hospital or Bournemouth rather than to Swanage?

Also welcomed is the request to re-open the Swanage

Dentists’ NHS List – Purbeck is a Dental Desert.

Our new MP, Lloyd Hatton, is fully behind the campaign, as he demonstrated eloquently at hustings and in his election literature.

NHS Dorset promised to set up a Health Consultation Group for Swanage and Purbeck. Campaigners call for NHS Dorset to honour that promise.

What is needed is for NHS Dorset to provide – to quote the 38 Degrees Petition – “a vibrant vision for Swanage and Wareham Hospitals going forward, in line with the enhanced local services promised by the Clinical Services Review”.

Fine words mean nothing when they seem to mean in practice the very opposite.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair,

Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

A few thoughts on local housing

MANY of us with long memories of Labour governments have nevertheless been taken aback by the way this one has headed so quickly and resolutely for the rocks. Its follies extend well beyond the withdrawal of heating allowances for pensioners and don't require reciting here, but it's the early timing of that insult to the elderly which could well forever define Sir Keir's administration as surely as, say, the dual charge of 'Labour isn't working' stuck to Jim Callaghan's government in the late '70s. At the same time, the grim expectation is that some weighty tax rises are coming our way very shortly. We shall see.

Meanwhile, the unglamorous work of local government proceeds, with housing in Purbeck – and Dorset generally – again being declared ‘in crisis’. And so it is, and has

been, here and in many of the more ‘desirable’ parts of the country. Demand for quality retirement homes and other externally-derived demand in these locations inevitably push house prices beyond the reach of local people, who also face employment incomes which, ironically, reflect the very attractiveness of their area –with low-paid jobs in, for example, leisure, tourism, catering and the caring professions.

The disparity between incomes and house prices therefore becomes critical. If they're to avoid huge financial risks, councils have to address the problem by measures like supporting local community land trusts and inserting conditions in planning permissions that require a certain proportion of new dwellings to be ‘affordable’. Hardly radical solutions,

while even the meaning of ‘affordable’ isn’t fixed and varies. Dorset Council takes it as being at least a 20% discount on market values and market rentals. However, in Purbeck this only brings housing costs closer to the national average, benefiting a limited number of people and without affecting incomes. Moreover, developers are prone to claim that this discount element makes a scheme financially unviable, which can lead to yet more unwelcome outcomes for affordability.

The sale of council houses to tenants is often blamed for this perennial crisis, but I don't think it's as simple as that. As with many difficult questions, the answer is that it depends. In poorer parts of the country – I refuse to use the weasel-word ‘deprived’ because it implies a serious untruth about the people who live there – I've

seen dramatic improvements in quality and care of housing, stemming directly from the 'Right to Buy'.

It seems to be in the more 'desirable' places, like that in which we're fortunate to live, where the difficulty arises – and for rather obvious reasons. Perhaps we should look for geographic differentials within the 'Right to Buy', because in Purbeck we could certainly do with a limited injection of traditional, unsaleable council houses strictly for local people and essential workers. However, this isn't the great council house-building era of the late 1940s, the '50s and the '60s, so how the heavy cost of this would be met is quite another matter.

CLLR BILL TRITE Conservative, Dorset Council and Swanage Town Council

Antiques & Collectibles

Advertiser’s announcements

A timeless Georgian craft

by Amy Brenan, Director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham

THE origins of cut steel jewellery can be traced back to the Georgian period, particularly in England, where skilled artisans would handcraft each piece by cutting, polishing and riveting steel studs onto a base, often made of other metals.

The idea behind the intricate process is that the finished pieces looked like diamonds under candlelight but without the vast cost.

This unique style was created from sheets of steel pierced with a series of holes.

Small steel nail head rivets were then hammered into the holes in the steel sheet.

The process of hammering in the nails facets the heads and this is what creates a high polish and catches the light.

Because of this, steel-cut jewellery gained popularity during a time when

precious stones were less accessible to the general public.

Its popularity continued into the Victorian era, when intricate brooches, earrings and bracelets adorned with cut steel became highly sought-after by fashionable women.

The stunning necklace in the picture is for sale in my shop and is dated to the late George III period, circa 1800, and is in perfect condition, which is quite rare.

It is particularly special as it was never intended to be a collectable piece due to being made from inexpensive steel rather than a precious valuable metal such as gold or silver.

It was the costume jewellery of its day.

Many people confuse cut steel with marquisite, which is actually set in silver and is made by pave-setting lots of cut faceted pyrite stones close together, which was very popular in the 1940s and 1950s and is still made today.

Militaria collection auction highlight

DUKE’S has a spectacular double helix of sister auctions coming up, the Autumn Auction and Art & Design post-1880.

The Autumn Auction features an array of distinctive period examples including paintings, furniture, textiles, sculpture and silver.

A particular auction highlight is a collection of militaria belonging to General James Brind GCB.

The collection encompasses Brind’s life and rise through the military, from an oil painting of the general in his youth, to a photo during his years as a

colonel, to a miniature portrait after his ascension as a general.

The collection also includes his personal sabre and several medals earned from his campaigns.

The collection stands as manifestation of the Autumn Auction’s qualities, amalgamating historical significance, art, provenance and tradition.

The Autumn Auction is on

Wednesday, October 23, at 10.30am followed by the Art & Design post-1880 sale the following day.

Printed catalogues are available alongside the fully illustrated online versions. Viewing begins at Duke’s Dorchester Fine Art Saleroom on Saturday, October 28.

For more information on all upcoming auctions visit www. dukes-auctions.com

This necklace is dated to the late George III period

Christmas Countdown to

MONDAY TO SATURDAY

Tel: 01929 480701 www.clavellsrestaurant.co.uk

Clavells Restaurant, Kimmeridge, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 5PE

CLAVELLS SAMPLE FESTIVE MENU

CLAVELLS FESTIVE MENU STARTERS

STARTERS

Smoked Salmon | Spiced Parsnip & Butternet Squash Soup Prawn & Crab Cocktail | Salad of Smoked Chicken Wild Mushroom Risotto

MAIN COURSES

Traditional Turkey - Cranberry & hazelnut

Traditional Turkey | Grilled Seabass | Confit of Duck Leg Kimmeridge Pork Fillet | Butternut Squash, Lentil & Almond Wellington

Grilled

Confit

Served with chantenay carrots, brussels sprouts, honey glazed parsnips, mashed swede, braised red cabbage, & garden greens

DESSERTS

Served

Traditional Christmas Pudding | Apple Tarte Tatin Lemon & Elderflower Posset | Belgium Chocolate Cheesecake English Cheeses & Biscuits

DESSERTS

2 Courses £27.50 | 3 Courses £30.50

Available 25th November until 31st December Lunch times & Saturday evenings in December

& Biscuits - House chutney, celery & grapes (£3 supplement) V GF by request 2 Courses £27.50 | 3 Courses £30.50

Available 25th November until 31st December Lunch times & Saturday evenings in December (Please ask for other evenings for parties of 15 people or more)

(Please ask for other evenings for parties of 15 people or more) Not available Christmas Day Pre orders & a £5 deposit per head required

Not available Christmas Day Pre orders & a £5 deposit per head required

Call: 01929 490701 OR Email: enquiries@clavellsrestaurant.co.uk

Call: 01929 480701 OR Email: enquiries@clavellsrestaurant.co.uk

@The Old Stables

Delicatessen & Eaterie

“Abreath of fresh air in “Heart of Swanage”. A real deli, greengrocers and cosy cafe combination establishes an important new landmark in the seaside town.

Fresh local, British and continental produce delivered several times a week along with an ever changing unique menu everyday. Coffee and cake? This is the perfect place with lots of comfortable seating upstairs. Owned by a dynamic duo of sisters Agnieszka and Joanna, accompanied by a close knit family, making this place friendly and welcoming.

Order then exceptional service, this shop offers a wide variety of cold meats, cheese and order exclusive items you will not find in the supermarket. The owners make it the top priority to include as many natural and good ingredients products as they can in their store; organic isn’t taboo.

Cafe has locally roasted coffee and a wide selection of teas and delicious cakes.

There is something for everyone here and everyone will be welcomed with a smile.

P.S. If you are looking for an early start to the festive season, they are beginning a Christmas range soon featuring hampers and other interesting

price.

Also, you can find their stall at this year’s Christmas Market in Swanage. Please, follow on Facebook to see the latest offers.

Clavells

The Countdown to Christmas: A Magical Time of Year

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, there’s a sense of anticipation that stirs in our hearts. The countdown to Christmas has begun, and with it comes a season filled with warmth, wonder, and a touch of magic. Whether you’re young or old, the Christmas season invites us to slow down and appreciate the small moments that make this time of year so special. From twinkling lights to cozy décor, Christmas brings a little enchantment to everyday life.

One of the first signs that Christmas is on its way is the appearance of lights. Strung across rooftops, wrapped around trees, and illuminating entire neighbourhoods, Christmas lights transform our world into a sparkling wonderland. There’s something undeniably magical about driving through town or strolling down a street where every house is aglow, creating a sense of community and joy. These twinkling displays don’t just light up the night—they light up our spirits. The soft, warm glow of fairy lights inside our homes adds a comforting touch to dark winter evenings, making living rooms feel like cozy sanctuaries.

Christmas décor is more than just tinsel and ornaments—it’s an invitation to transform our homes into spaces filled with festivity and heart. From the moment we pull those treasured decorations out of storage,

Experience an exciting season of events at the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club! Advertising Feature

This October, join us for two special Purbeck Film Festival screenings: Bob Marley - One Love on Tuesday, 22nd October, and A Haunting in Venice on Thursday, 31st October.

On 2nd November, we proudly present our final Jazz Evening of 2024, featuring the remarkable Jo Harrop, whose unique voice has earned her wide acclaim. Plus, November brings back the beloved Soup and Sandwich Special—sure to keep you coming back for more!

As we approach December, get into the festive spirit with our Christmas Parties, daily Christmas Lunches, and a special Christmas Eve Brunch. Due to popular demand, we’ve added an extra Party date on 20th December!

For details and bookings, visit www.purbeckgolf.co.uk, call 01929 450361, or email iop@purbeckgolf.co.uk.

Christmas Countdown to

we’re setting the stage for memories, both old and new. The ritual of trimming the tree, hanging stockings, and arranging a nativity scene brings a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of Christmas that have passed.

This time of year, homes are filled with scents of pine, cinnamon, and gingerbread, evoking warmth and familiarity. Each ornament on the tree often carries a story, handmade crafts from children, vintage baubles passed down through generations, or souvenirs from special trips. It’s these personal touches that make every house uniquely festive, turning each corner into a small piece of Christmas magic.

And let’s not forget the wreaths and garlands that adorn doors and mantels, welcoming guests with their lush greenery and sparkling accents. For many, decorating is a family affair, a time to come together and celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

Ceremony of Carols

Wareham

choral society are excited to present the professional harpist Katie Salomon to accompany our choir for one of Britten’s best known and most performed works ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ and she will play several solo pieces throughout the evening. Katie specialises in classical crossover music and has performed at venues as diverse as Buckingham Palace, the Ritz and Wembley Pavilion Arena. We are also joined by the talented organist Paul Ellis. Our Christmas concert will include favourites such as ‘O Holy Night’ sung by the choir and many well-known carols for audience participation. We welcome everyone to join us for a celebration of Christmas and tickets ONLY £10 with accompanied under 18’s FREE from our website warehamchoral.uk or Joys Menswear Wareham.

Christmas at Knoll House

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Advertising Feature

The festive season at Knoll House is a truly special time, with a traditional, cosy setting and the most amazing sea views, guests can join us for Christmas Day lunch with all the trimmings, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations - we make sure everything is taken care of so guests can truly relax and enjoy the festivities! We also offer a range of festive party packages whether you’re celebrating with work colleagues, friends or family we have various spaces for hire to suit all budgets. Contact the team to discuss your requirements.

Win £150 of goodies!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Visit

Seasons Green Gift Shop & Gallery in Corfe Castle during November for the chance to win a hamper full of goodies worth over £150!

With plenty of gift ideas - including these gorgeous Nathalie Lete toiletries - locally-made art, crafts and products from British independent makers, you’re sure to find something special. Largely inspired by gardens, the countryside and coast, the shop is perfect for anyone that loves the natural world.

You can also shop online, ‘Click & Collect’, or even use their ‘Wrap & Send’ service to send your gifts direct to your loved one. www.seasonsgreen.co.uk

The with sea with celebrations guests offer celebrating have the

Enjoy the festive season at Knoll House, with the most spectacular views across Studland Bay.

Day Lunch - £90

Sudoku 3D puzzle

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

1 French in charge in dry continent (6)

5 Abandon some French monarch getting tense (6)

8 Day on newspaper is dreary experience (4)

9 Secretary with doctor detaining chaps in pedestrian place (8)

10 Free from dirt stadium in drought area (4,4)

11 Aid young dog losing lead (4)

KILLER Sudoku Pro

12 A Western capital located in hot island – or islands (6)

Down

2 Prescribed solution for mathematical equation (7)

3 Criminal noting without introduction measure of gold (5)

4 A mix top player represented roughly (13)

5 Revolutionary European opposing journalist crazy state concerning evolution (13)

6 Broadcast about home that’s ruined in an unspecified way (7)

14 Rule about date for medicinal dose (6)

16 Elegant young woman covering back (4)

Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box.

18 Dislike article introducing way of telling story (8)

20 Popular guide is not honest (8)

21 Leave out Oscar with German (4)

7 Some children alarmed regarding a vital organ (5)

13 Principal institute starts to view eagerly public records (7)

15 Leading affliction after turn is wearing away (7)

22 Strong wine’s drunk ending in lethargy (6)

23 Mourn lieutenant that’s penned last word (6)

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.

17 It might be observed among British Indians? (5)

19 Frenchman becomes weak when held up violent outbreak (5)

Health & Wellbeing

Mindfulness: What is it and how could it help you?

by Emma Holmes

IN today’s busy world, we can begin to feel stress, overwhelm and anxiety more quickly and frequently. One way to manage these challenges is to find support in the practice of mindfulness. Although mindfulness stems from ancient traditions, it can help us manage our emotions, thoughts and improve our general wellbeing in the modern day.

Mindfulness entails giving our full attention to the current moment and purposefully focusing on the here and now. It encourages us to observe our thoughts and feelings as they arise, without getting caught up in them. It is necessary to do this without adding our own judgements to the thoughts. Mindfulness helps create a sense of awareness and acceptance, allowing us to explore and view our inner world more easily.

There are many ways in which mindfulness can help with anxiety and stress. It can reduce overthinking, improve emotional regulation, increase self-awareness and help you

enter a more relaxed state.

Many people find themselves overthinking in times of anxiety and stress. By using mindfulness, individuals can train their mind to focus on the present rather than thoughts rooted in the past, or the future. Studies have been conducted to show just how effective it can be, and the results illustrated a significant reduction in overthinking after people began mindfulness practice.

When we think worrying thoughts we can begin to react

emotionally to these thoughts. To manage these responses, we need emotional regulation skills. Mindfulness promotes the awareness of our responses and the reduction of judgement attached to our thoughts. When we can view a thought without judgement, we no longer have to have a response to it. We can accept the thought as just being a thought and remain in a sense of calm.

By regularly practising mindfulness we become more aware of what is going on

within us. We can notice changes in our body, mind, mood and state. We become more attuned and can begin to notice the start of stress and anxiety before they become more out of control.

Mindfulness helps the whole body to be in a rested, relaxed state. The more often our bodies experience this rested state the better equipped we are to deal with more stressful moments.

There are so many ways to practise mindfulness, including body scans, meditations, breath work and mindful based tasks.

Lots of apps and books are available to help you start your journey. Counsellors and therapists can also guide you to find a practice that works for you. Mindfulness can be done in as little as a few minutes a day and can make a big difference to your life.

n Emma Holmes is a counsellor at Calm Seas Therapy and is based in Poole. She works online and in person (elholmes. counselling@gmail.com, phone 07442 662287). She is also the co-founder of Dorset Employee Wellness Support [DEWS] which supports businesses by providing counselling and wellness services. For more information, email DorsetEWS@proton.me.

Forces charity offers anxiety advice

UK Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes has launched a self-help guide to support people living with anxiety.

Though this free resource, accessible on the charity’s website, has been produced to support veterans and their

families, it is suitable for anyone who wants guidance on how to manage the condition.

Created by mental health experts alongside ex-service personnel with lived experience of anxiety, the guide contains a wealth of information and

interactive features to help understand worry, stress, anxiety and panic, and offers strategies to improve wellbeing.

Mike Icely, a Help for Heroes Recovery College peer support trainer, said: “The beauty of the self-help guides is that they’re

so accessible, informative and easy for anyone to follow. The best thing is they’re available 24/7 – you get to set your own pace.”

The self-help guide can be accessed on the Help for Heroes website at helpforheroes.org.uk.

Mindfulness helps the whole body to be in a rested, relaxed state

Meditations in nature: Endings and beginnings

by Susanna Curtin

I HAVE never liked ‘endings’. There is a sadness when something lovely comes to its finale. But without endings, there are no new beginnings. It’s a law of nature that life continually seeks places to prosper and germinate in a perpetuating cycle of existence. As my family would often tell me: “When one door closes, another will open” – a thought that has always brought some comfort. Although autumn is often described as a period when everything is coming to a close, it is really a period of new beginnings. As we light the home fires and hunker down for the chilly, dark evenings, the seeds of next year are already being sown by the autumn winds.

Today, after yet more rain, the crispy air and blue sky have enticed me out into the countryside for a long autumn walk. The colours are gradually deepening, more leaves are dropping from the trees and the vegetation that lines the verges of the lanes and paths is rapidly dying back, leaving the browning stalks and the white, feathery seeds of the willowherbs and thistles. Pushing through overgrown brambles on my way down to the river, I come across rows of umbellifer seedheads that are architecturally magnificent against the clear sky. Umbellifers are from the Apiaceae family, and are characterised by their parasolshaped clusters of tiny flowers. My favourites are the large headed hogweeds that dominate the hedgerows, the hemlocks and the wild carrots which have a denser flower and seedheads that curl into the shape of a

bird’s nest.

As I crunch through the autumn leaves beside the woods, I am reminded of my childhood and of the collages we used to make at this time of year with coloured leaves and seeds gathered from the forest floor. The chestnut-coloured conkers, the fine papery helicopter seeds of the field maples, sycamores and ash, and the acorns in their little cups were always my favourites. These were literally the seeds of my childhood that instilled in me a passion for nature that has lasted my lifetime.

Each individual seed is a unit of production that has all the components it requires to reproduce another plant. Inside its protective coating and nutritional tissue, is a ripened and fertilised ‘ovule’, and inside this, is an active embryo with its own tiny root, stem and leaf, just waiting for the right conditions to germinate. But first, they have to travel as far as they can. Seeds are distributed by wind, gravity, water and by animals and us.

Some plants, for example, Himalayan balsam, witch hazel and impatiens, even use ballistic means to propel themselves as far away from the parent plant as possible. This is when the seedpods dry out and split open, catapulting seeds far and wide to avoid competition with their other fellow seedlings. While most seeds have a relatively short lifespan, some, like our common poppies, have a seed longevity of up to 100 years and can suddenly burst into life when a field has been ploughed. Then, of course, there are the seeds that sail. Combing the beaches of Cornwall, I used to delight in finding ‘sea beans’ which are sufficiently buoyant

Inside each seed’s protective coating and nutritional tissue, is a ripened and fertilised ‘ovule’, and inside this, an active embryo with its own tiny root, stem and leaf, just waiting for the right conditions to germinate

seed pods that have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from the Americas. They are also known as ‘drift seeds’ and are produced by tropical trees that have overhung water.

When I eventually tidy my garden in preparation for next year, there will be something inherently rewarding about gathering, labelling and storing the prospect of future fruits and flowers, and also in planning and imagining my future garden. Many of the seed heads are so attractive that I like to leave them just for their structural interest, especially when adorned with winter frosts. They also provide a good food source for wintering birds. So, as this, anonymous poem recounts: “From tiny seeds, new life

springs, tomorrow’s joy in what they bring, roots take hold, the future’s bright, as in every seed, there is new light”.

It has been a beautiful day, and as I make my way home, I contemplate the philosophy of endings and beginnings. Buddhist philosophy would have it that endings and beginnings are a fundamental part of life and that we cannot escape impermanence –everything that has a beginning has an ending and vice versa. In nature, it is cyclical where the end of the day is just the beginning of night. The seeds of autumn are thus not the end of the grandeur but the beginning of the grandeur to come.

n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com).

Health & Wellbeing

Herbs and a scooter mishap in Greece

by Fiona Chapman

THE rain this week, as I write, has been Biblical. The worst storm for 100 years is hitting Florida. We need to listen to nature and realise we cannot defeat her but should support and live in harmony with her.

Likewise, we should listen to our intuition. On my last day of a lovely holiday in Greece, I woke up knowing I should not get on the scooter we had arranged to travel around. I ignored it, got on the scooter and came off it again at 25mph onto a Tarmac road.

I was helped by a lovely Greek taxi driver and two –rather attractive, so my husband said – girls who gave up an hour of their weekend to take me to

the medical centre. (I did notice lots of hugging going on between my husband and the girls, so that cheered him up!).

We had been on a walking holiday, which is one of the best ways to see the country, the habitat and any wildlife. (Sadly, not much of that).

As we walked, the whole air was scented by the most wonderful herbs.

Melissa pervaded the olive groves – it does not have quite the same scent and has smaller leaves than the UK version, but on further research it is an important Greek herb named after the nymph Melissa who nursed Zeus and discovered how to use honey – hence it signifying honey in Greek.

Melissa is used for those in ‘depressive states’ and, after smelling it, you can only feel calm and happy!

Lesser calamint smelt wonderful as we brushed past. This can be made into a tea for stomach upsets and wind and is said to make a man merry.

We also came across pokeweed, or Phytolacca, which, as my husband said, you only need to look at to know is poisonous. It is, if y,ou don’t prepare it properly, and is on the schedule 20 – restricted herbs list. It can be used in very small doses to treat several conditions, from gastrointestinal disorders to cancer.

A Greek tea can be bought full of herbs from the mountains

and valleys, often with a lot of sage, again abundant growing wild. Sage, among other things, improves memory and concentration.

I wish I’d had a cup of sage tea before I got on that scooter – I might have managed to concentrate better and not wobble off or had the sense not to get on it in the first place! n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com).

Pokeweed, or Phytolacca

All’s not well in the pumpkin patch...

GARDENERS at the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy Estate in Dorset harvested their pumpkins and squashes a month early and lost a significant amount of their seasonal crop because of this year’s changeable weather.

It was a pattern also reflected at the National Trust’s Arlington Court in Devon, and National Trust gardeners are attributing this to climate change.

The changeable weather is making gardening, particularly kitchen gardening, much harder for the trust’s gardeners as traditional dates for sowing and planting cannot always be relied upon.

It was the earliest pumpkins have ever been harvested at Kingston Lacy and only half of the normal crop survived.

Andrew Hunt, head gardener at Kingston Lacy, said: “Pumpkins need a long, hot growing season to do well. Unfortunately, we had a cold and prolonged spring, which meant that germination took

place later than normal and then the cooler and wetter conditions over the summer really haven’t helped.

“This, coupled with the cold, wet spell at the beginning of September, has brought the growing season to a much earlier end than normal.”

Meanwhile, slugs, which have thrived in this year’s wet weather, have eaten most of the

squashes at Arlington Court and this, alongside the bad weather, caused the loss of more than 150 squash and pumpkin plants — most of its crop.

Hannah Phillips, senior gardener at Arlington Court, said: “We’ve had an abysmal season for squash here at Arlington and that’s down to the poor weather— wet, cold spring with night-time temperatures

well below average far later into the year than expected.

“Normally, we grow a lot of squashes, but this year we lost the majority of the crop with only about half a dozen large pumpkins surviving, and this is down to the unpredictability of the weather due to our changing climate.”

Many National Trust houses and gardens create autumnal displays, provide seasonal dishes in their cafes and restaurants, and sell the remaining pumpkins and squashes to visitors. However, this year, there will be fewer to use at Kingston Lacy and Arlington.

Andrew added: “We are going to have to be more creative with our displays this year! We won’t have as many, and although we’re still going to be able to provide pumpkin and squash dishes in our cafe, they won’t be on the menu for as long.

“We are going to have to continue to review how the climate is impacting all of the produce that we grow here, and we may need to review the varieties in the coming years.

“If pumpkin harvests continue to fluctuate, we will have to adapt our growing methods.”

Food and drink at Tudor manor

DORSET Food & Drink Winter Food Fair is coming to Athelhampton House & Gardens at Puddletown next month.

The event will feature a ‘curated selection’ of more than 60 stallholders offering everything from local cheese, craft cider and chilli sauces to preserves, cakes and savouries – and a hog roast.

In the run up to the festive season, homewares, art, leather goods and homemade gifts for all budgets will also be for sale.

Musicians Blue Bridge, Barbara Gasior and Aaron Carter will entertain visitors over the weekend, and festival favourites Doctor Jazz will be playing on Saturday.

Dorset Food & Drink coordinator Caz Richards said: “The build up to the festive season can be heart-warming, but we’re ever conscious about how best to spend our money in an ethical and sustainable way.

“So we’re championing a ‘local Christmas’ and sourcing gifts and food from businesses on your doorstep.”

Caz added: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors where they will be able to buy something small and tasty or perhaps splash out on a unique foodie or artisan gift.

“Either way, we hope that visitors will enjoy meeting the producers, discover new products or stock up on their favourites.”

Caz said the most stallholders accept card payments but wi-fi can sometimes be a bit slow, so it is a good idea to take some cash.

Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair is on Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, from 10am-3pm.

Tickets are available at www. athelhampton.com and are priced £5 –£7.50 on the gate – under-12s free.

Surviving pumpkins and squashes at Kingston Lacy

PHOTO: Alex Dixon Photography

by Sally Gregson

THROUGHOUT the summer, despite the rain, the floods and a general lack of warmth and sunshine, many gardeners have been noting and ordering new roses. Mail-order nurseries have the most scrumptious lists –long, and often quite specialised. And if you have succumbed and ordered from them, the roses should start to arrive soon, well wrapped in strong paper bags. The regulations state that newly grafted roses should have

Planning and planting roses How to sow broad beans

by Sally Gregson

AS the peak season for harvesting our own vegetables draws to a close, it is time to think ahead, to early next spring, and the next harvest. Broad beans are one of those few crops that are all the better for having spent the winter growing slowly, expanding and making delicious pods.

If a row of Aquadulce ‘Claudia’ broad beans is sown in a sunny site before the end of the month, they will produce edible pods before the main avalanche of beans arrives, and with a bit of luck, beat the attentions of those dastardly blackfly. It’s an old-fashioned but green method of pest control.

Clean the projected seed-bed of all weeds, especially perennials like docks, nettles

three strong shoots and three root branches. Often the roots seem extremely long, perhaps too long for suffering backs. If they need shortening, use a sharp pair of secateurs to make a clean cut. This will promote branching of the roots at the cut, as if they were above-ground shoots.

Unwrap the roses as soon as they arrive and dunk the roots in a bucket of water until they are planted. Dig a deep hole in a suitably sunny spot where the

rose is to grow and incorporate plenty of well-rotted manure, garden compost or other fibrous organic matter. Position the rose as deeply as possible in the hole. It’s a good thing if the rose is planted too deeply – the flowering wood will be encouraged to root itself as well as the grafted rootstock. Fill the hole with the remaining soil mixed with organic matter, wiggling the rose around to ensure there are no air-holes around the roots.

in to your carefully prepared seed bed as soon as you leave. It is possible to buy small lengths of very fine wire mesh that can be fashioned into tunnels that just need a mesh door at each end.

Then firm it in with your heel, water it well to settle the soil around the roots and replace a layer of loose soil on top. Mulch the rose with organic matter and keep it watered. A handful of slow-release fertiliser works well at this point too. It won’t promote unwanted, instant growth but the nutrients will be readily available when they are needed in spring. By April the young rose should be shooting and even budding – all ready to fulfil its destiny.

and dandelions. These are all weeds of enriched soil and seem almost inevitable in a good vegetable garden of wellworked and manured soil. And while you are loosening their long roots, ensure the soil stays loose and well-drained.

Then with a line, mark out a staggered row either side of the string. Sow the beans with the scar facing up to ensure the seeds have good drainage. More seeds are lost through rotting off in damp soil than for any other reason.

Cover the seed with soil using a rake. Invert the head of the rake and tamp it down along the row. And label the row. It can look remarkably similar to all the other worked soil after a week or two of rain.

Then hungry little mice will come out from hiding and tuck

Broad bean seedlings being planted in rows

If these are unavailable, throw some netting on the seed bed. But be vigilant and remove it as soon as the beans germinate – which should be in

a week or two in the warm soil. Their seed leaves will soon get entangled in plastic mesh and it will be impossible to free them. With a bit of luck and a following wind, next spring you can enjoy lots of small, delicious broad beans picked before their leathery skins take over. A knob of butter and a sprinkle of sea-salt and the dish is ready to enjoy!

Lush visit just the job for students

by editor@dorsetbiznews. co.uk

LUSH Manufacturing in Poole, welcomed 150 students from local schools and colleges as part of the celebration of National Manufacturing Day, organised by Make UK.

The students engaged in practical activities designed to showcase the potential careers in manufacturing and STEM fields in Dorset.

The students, from Queen Elizabeth’s School, Magna Academy, St Edwards School, SWRAC and Linwood College, had the opportunity to make products in Lush’s Bubbles Department.

They also heard from experts in fields such as microbiology,

digital technology, 3D printing and spa, gaining insights into diverse career paths.

Lush, known for its fresh and handmade products, showcased its commitment to sustainability by introducing the students to its Green Hub, where they learned about environmental waste management and creating a circular economy.

Hayley Jones, careers advice and guidance manager at Queen Elizabeth’s School, highlighted the significance of the event.

“Our students always thoroughly enjoy and benefit from their experience on National Manufacturing Day at Lush” she said.

“It is wonderful for students to see how many different

career options there are within this area of Lush.”

Lush has been a staple of Poole’s manufacturing sector since 1995, producing more than 33 million products each year, including 13 million bath bombs.

The company is one of the largest employers in the area, with 690 permanent staff.

Daniel Hendey, Lush manufacturing director, said: “Being a handmade manufacturer means that people

are at the heart of our business – we believe in happy people making happy soap, and at Lush we take pride in the careers we are able to offer.

“We offer such a variety of career paths that as long as you have the ambition and drive you’ll find many an opportunity here.

“We’ve really enjoyed opening our doors and showing our local community how much we have to offer on National Manufacturing Day.”

Law firm’s newly qualified solicitors

THREE aspiring team members at a south coast law firm have qualified as solicitors, so bolstering its client services in two separate departments.

Ellis Jones Solicitors has welcomed the formal qualifications for Leah Sharman and Wai Chan in Banking & Finance Litigation, and Matt Rushent in Contentious Trusts & Probate.

The firm, which has offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Swanage, Broadstone, Wimborne and London, has a policy of providing training contracts and other professional development opportunities to encourage recruits to stay.

Leah is the first solicitor at the firm to qualify by passing the

Solicitors Qualifying Examination which she achieved through a two-stage assessment process.

She joined Ellis Jones as a conveyancing administrator in 2017 working her way up to become a fee-earning paralegal.

She became interested in litigation while studying for a legal practice diploma through the Chartered Institute for Legal Executives.

Leah said: “Studying while working full-time was definitely challenging, but I found that being able to apply what I was learning to real-life scenarios was very helpful. Ellis Jones have been extremely supportive with both my studies and progression through the firm, and I think that the experience I

have gained will be invaluable in my future career as a solicitor.”

After his law degree from the University of the West of England, Wai gained a Masters in Intellectual Property and Information Law at King’s College London.

He joined Ellis Jones’ Banking and Finance Litigation department as a paralegal in 2018 and started training as a solicitor in 2022.

Describing his approach to work, he said: “Litigation is a collaborative effort and every client deserves to have their individual circumstances and goals fully understood and appreciated. I adopt an adaptable and commercial mindset to resolving clients’ problems,

tailoring my approach to each case’s unique circumstances.”

Matt is the first trainee to qualify in the specialism of Contentious Trusts & Probate in Ellis Jones’ Dispute Resolution department.

He began his training contract in 2022 having worked at a top 10 accountancy and audit firm.

Matt said: “What has impressed me most is the culture of the firm, how much everyone enjoys being here, and how many partners and lawyers have trained with and stayed with the firm. Like many partners, associates and lawyers before me, I see my long-term future as being with Ellis Jones and hope to repay the firm’s commitment to me and my development in the many years to come.”

Students visited Lush on National Manufacturing Day

Olympics medallist inspires at opening of taekwondo centre

by editor@dorsetbiznews. co.uk

WESSEX Taekwondo

Association has opened its new performance training centre in Poole, marking the fulfilment of founder John Harrison’s 10-year vision.

Pete Miles, Mayor of Poole, attended the opening ceremony alongside Paris Olympics silver medallist Caden Cunningham, who led an inspiring seminar to nearly 40 youngsters and club members.

The mayor praised the centre’s community spirit. “What stood out more than anything was the strength of community spirit and the dedication of both the leadership and students,” he said. “This new centre is a real asset to Poole.”

Harrison, who invested £80,000 of his own money to transform the former warehouse into a multi-faceted sports facility, spoke of the long-term plans.

“We’re aiming to create a centre that focuses not only on taekwondo but also on overall wellbeing, with services ranging from sports psychology to fitness training,” he said.

“It has been brilliant to welcome Caden Cunningham along to our official opening and to host the seminar. He was totally inspirational.

“He gave a fantastic training session and talked to the kids about how to take the sport of taekwondo further.”

Cunningham expressed his

New face joins team at Lighthouse Poole

LIGHTHOUSE Poole has appointed Katy Griffiths to the senior management team as its new head of programming.

Katy has over 20 years of programming and leadership experience in the arts, most recently in Newbury as executive director and chief executive at the Corn Exchange, as well as 101 National Centre for Arts in Public Space and The Base.

Her previous roles include the Ambassador Theatre Group’s London theatre programmer, relationship manager (Theatre & Touring) for Arts Council England, joint deputy executive director of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester and a previous stint as executive director of the Corn Exchange (Newbury) Trust.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Elspeth [chief executive Elspeth McBain] and

excitement about supporting the centre’s mission. He said the gym is perfectly positioned to develop athletes at all levels and said that it was one of the best centres he had seen in the south of England.

The centre already houses

• PC & Laptop hardware upgrade & repair

• Windows & Apple Mac software issues fixed

• Virus and Malware removal and prevention

• Wi-Fi, Internet, Email, printer issues resolved

• Computer Cleanup & Health Check

• Data recovery & Backup

• Local with over 20 years experience

the team at Lighthouse,” said Katy.

“Having recently moved to the area, I’ve been really struck by just how well loved and respected Lighthouse is and the range of fantastic events and creative opportunities it delivers within the community. It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to help shape such an exciting and varied artistic programme, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Elspeth McBain said: “I am delighted to welcome Katy to Lighthouse as we complete our senior management team.

“She brings a wealth of experience to the post, and a great level of expertise in both commercial West End theatre, as well as the curation of more diverse and subsidised art forms. I am excited to see how the programme will develop under her leadership and look forward to working with her.”

Scott Langston’s Back2Fitness clinic and has further plans to expand its offerings to local sports teams and the wider community. Harrison’s team has also secured a £10,000 National Lottery grant for gym equipment.

Call Pete on: 01929 421989 or 07900 992110

Email: info@whizzbits.co.uk

www.whizzbits.co.uk

Paris Olympics silver medallist Caden Cunningham hosted a seminar at Wessex Taekwondo Association’s new training centre in Poole

Check tyres and have a safe TRIP

MORE than half (55%) of UK drivers do not always check their tyre tread before a long journey, new research from National Highways reveals as its new autumn safety campaign is launched.

In addition, more than a fifth (21%) of those who take long journeys and have broken down on the motorway, think their breakdown could have been avoided if they had conducted proper tyre checks before setting off.

Last year, there were more than 51,500 tyre-related breakdowns on England’s motorways and major A-roads, an increase of 14% since 2022. During October last year there were 4,053 tyre-related breakdowns, averaging around 131 incidents a day.

This autumn National

Highways has joined forces with Kwik Fit to spread potentially lifesaving safety tips. These include encouraging drivers to check both the tread and pressure of their tyres to avoid unnecessary breakdowns and reduce the risk of collisions. As the weather changes, drivers are reminded to have a safe TRIP: Top-up, Rest, Inspect and Prepare. The handy acronym is a checklist:

the importance of tyre safety, particularly ahead of long journeys. Breakdowns caused by tyre issues are not only inconvenient but can also be dangerous for both the driver and other road users.

Top-up – fuel, water and oil

Rest – every two hours Inspect – tyres and lights Prepare – plan your journey ahead and check the traffic and weather forecasts

Head of national road user safety at National Highways Matt Staton said: “These statistics are a stark reminder of

“We’re urging drivers to take a few minutes to check their tyre tread and pressure before setting off. It’s a small step that can make a big difference to your safety on the roads.”

Kwik Fit’s communications director Roger Griggs said: “While punctures are sometimes unavoidable, many tyre problems can be prevented with the correct maintenance. Drivers should regularly check tread depth and pressures, particularly ahead of long journeys. Having sufficient grip is even more important in

wet weather, and this will be severely compromised by low tread or incorrect inflation. Technology can provide drivers with an increasing range of safety features in their car, but the most critical factor will always be the ability to steer and stop effectively.”

Tyre safety tips

n Check your tyre tread: Ensure the tread depth meets the legal minimum of 1.6mm. If in doubt, use the ‘20p test’ – place a 20p coin into the tread; if the outer band of the coin is visible, your tyres may be unsafe. Failure to comply can result in £2,500 fine and up to three points on your license for each tyre below the limit.

n Check your tyre pressure: Refer to your vehicle handbook for the correct pressure and check tyres when they are cold for accurate results.

n Inspect for damage: Regularly look for cuts, bulges, or objects embedded in your tyres.

n Tyre Check: Kwik – Fit offers free no obligation tyre checks for those concerned about the condition of their tyres.

Town centre crossings set for upgrade

TWO pedestrian crossings first installed 20 years ago in Dorchester town centre will be upgraded – with work starting at the end of the month.

Dorset Council said the crossings at High West Street and High East Street are reaching the end of their maintainable life, and updated equipment will make them safer and easier to use.

Modern technology will improve traffic management, and the new operating systems will reduce the need for extensive digging during future maintenance.

The work will take place in phases:

n High West Street, pedestrian crossing near the Dorset Museum from October 28 for two weeks. During the work, signs will direct pedestrians to an alternative crossing nearby.

n High East Street pedestrian crossing, near the High Street, Fordington turning, from November 11. The council said it aims to complete this section by December 13, weather permitting. During the work, temporary signals will replace the existing crossing, so traffic flow is maintained and disruption kept to a minimum for drivers and pedestrians.

Councillor Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s cabinet

The High Street West pedestrian crossing in Dorchester will be upgraded PHOTO: Google Maps

member for place services, said: “We are upgrading these crossings as part of our ongoing traffic signal refurbishment programme.

“The equipment at these locations was installed nearly 20 years ago and modern signalling has moved on a lot in that time.

“Using the latest technology and installation methods, the

new crossings will improve the experience for pedestrians and the smart technology will adapt to current traffic conditions to keep traffic flowing.

“As the work takes place, we’ll keep disruption to a minimum but, as always, we thank you in advance for your patience.”

Central government will fund the work.

Arts & Entertainment

Hillfort is teens’ place to escape

FORT, a snapshot of rural adolescence set on a Dorset hillfort, will be coming to Langton Matravers on a tour of Dorset and Hampshire before being staged in London.

Away from dysfunctional families and small-town gossip, up on Fort, 15-year-old Viv and Daisy can be entirely themselves.

With so much beyond their control, Fort is their stomping ground. Their escape. Until the ghost turns up.

Tabitha Hayward started writing Fort on train journeys between Dorset and the Royal Court Theatre in London, where she was the only non-Londoner

on a playwriting course.

“Everyone says ‘write what you know’, and I’d always thought that was way too boring for me,” said Tabby.

“Until I realised no one else had grown up in a town with a cheese festival, or knew what a hillfort was, and that all the stuff which I’d found boring and frustrating as a kid was actually hilarious and brilliant and kind of moving.”

Fort, funded by Arts Council England, is Dorsetborn’s latest production, following Georgia and the Iceberg, and Pride last year.

It has recently been shortlisted for Masterclass’s

Pitch Your Play prize.

Director Rohan Gotobed, who has spent much of this year working at Badbury Rings Hillfort, said: “This play deserves to be seen – to be heard – to be experienced. It’s a genuine south west success story, having been developed through Poole Lighthouse’s Sanctuary Programme, Taunton Brewhouse’s Summer School, and The Script’s the Thing Festival in Dorchester, Fort shows what can be achieved by local artists in collaboration with supportive organisations.

“We can’t wait for audiences to meet Viv and Daisy.”

Dorsetborn will be touring

Dorset and Hampshire ahead of a limited run at Theatre 503 in London.

The dates and venues are: Allendale Centre, Wimborne, November 10; Dorchester Arts, November 12; Langton Matravers Village Hall, November 13; Ibberton Village Hall, November 16; Bay Theatre, Weymouth, November 20; Poole Lighthouse, November 21;, Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth, November 22; Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne, November 23;, and MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton, November 30. Fort is suitable for audience members aged 14-plus.

The creative team includes director Rohan Gotobed, designer Layla Bradbeer, producer Olivia Tetlow, and assistant producer Sophie Janssen, with the cast and further creatives to be announced soon.

Stunt men and women centre stage

THE next generation of stunt men and women can learn from some of the industry’s best at this year’s Purbeck Film Festival.

Is Maisie up to the job?

COMEDIAN Maisie Adam, well known from television shows such as Live at The Apollo, A League of Their Own and Have I Got News for You, is heading to The Mowlem in Swanage.

In her new show, Appraisal, she’s five years into her job as a comedian, so she’s due an appraisal. Maisie is appearing on Wednesday, November 6, at 8pm.

Meanwhile, Swanage Drama Company is performing its annual Evening of Entertainment, this year with the proceeds split

A special event, Stunt Saturday, is taking place on November 2 in Bovington and will give young people the chance to learn hands-on skills

between Children in Need and Dementia Friendly Purbeck.

The show features a host of local talent, the usual fun and laughter, singers, songs and sketches.

The show is on Saturday, November 9, at 7.30pm.

Other events at The Mowlem include Soul Street Production’s Elton John tribute

The Elton John Show on Saturday, November 15, at 7.30pm; and Alvorada, a quintet who play Brazilian instrumental music, on Friday, November 29, at 7.30pm.

Prima Facie (15), starring Jodie comer, is screened as part of National Theatre Live on Thursday, November 14, at 7pm.

from professionals in the industry.

Stuntwomen Annabel Canaven, who has appeared in Harry Potter and James Bond films, will be among those leading the session.

A number of films featuring stunt actors are being shown during the two-week festival, which finishes on Sunday, November 3, with The Rise and Fall of the Great British Stuntman being shown as part of Stunt Saturday.

James Cox, a committee member of the British Stunt Register, said: “Training up the next generation of stunt men and women is a real focus for us.”

performers through events like those being held at the Purbeck Film Festival.

Claire Burns, festival director, said: “This year we are celebrating those often overlooked heroes of film – the stunt men and women who take huge risks to enthral us with their ever more spectacular set pieces.”

A spokesperson for Film Hub South West, which supports a growing network of over 130 cinemas, film festivals, cross-arts venues and other film exhibition organisations, said:

The register, which has 480 people on its books, is keen to give the public more of an insight into the work of stunt

“Stunt Saturday will be a celebration of action films and the awe-inspiring skills of stuntpeople, whose athleticism and selflessness creates the magical world of action which we all enjoy on the big screen.”

Arts & Entertainment

Back to the war years for fact-based drama

THE Double Act drama group is set to present an explosive new thriller set in a Wareham pub in May 1942.

This Secret Isle, being performed at Corfe Castle Village Hall, is the latest of several fact-based productions set locally the group has produced.

It is the Second World War and the people of Purbeck are stoically enduring all the restrictions and deprivations that come with war with typical British resolve and humour.

The Isle of Purbeck contains well-guarded secrets that will prove vital to the war effort, such as the Telecommunication Research Establishment that is developing radar at Worth Matravers, and the giant Naval cordite factory at Holton Heath.

German bombers use Purbeck as a navigational aid and dump unused bombs there before they return across the Channel.

The Battle of Britain had taken place in the skies above Purbeck, which resulted in many downed and crash-landed planes in the fields.

Large swathes of Purbeck will become training areas as preparations for the invasion of Europe on D-Day begin.

Children play where they can, and where they shouldn’t, and take to collecting souvenirs that are not always safe nor appreciated at home!

Spies are arrested in Purbeck and a radio transmitter is discovered in an old disused quarry.

During all this turmoil the matriarch of a Wareham inn does all she can to keep her family safe, but even she has no real idea who is sheltering under her own roof.

Double Act has written and performed a number of factbased productions over its 30-year existence – from Tyneham Time Remembered,

The Clay Pipe – clay industry, Purbeck Line Up – Swanage Railway, Storm Child – stone industry, as well as its popular murder mystery walks every other summer.

In recent years more official secrets have been released and memoirs published adding to locals’ knowledge, so it was decided to set the play in a fictitious version of The Lord Nelson in Wareham at the end of

May 1942.

Virtually all the incidents depicted or referred to in the play did occur in the area during the time it is set.

The play uses some dramatic hindsight and sometimes condenses time, but great care has been taken to try to honour the lives and memories of the people of Purbeck who lived through a tumultuous period.

This Secret Isle is at Corfe Castle Village Hall from Thursday to Saturday, November 21-23, at 7.30pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets priced £10 adults, £5 children (under-fives free) are available from Corfe Castle Village Stores and at www. ticketsource.co.uk/double-actdrama-group.

A 10% reduction is available for groups of 10-plus online only.

DOUBLE Act drama group is

an amateur dramatic group formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of the Purbeck Community Theatre (PCT) and the Corfe Valley Drama Group (CVDG).

It has written and produced many unique and well received plays of local interest as well as performed entertaining classics for 33 years.

The group is based at Corfe Castle Village Hall and presents a major production in November each year.

Meetings are usually held on the first Monday evening of each month.

Since 2000 the group has run summer evening murder mystery walks that have become very popular and attract audiences from all over the country.

The group has won two prestigious South West NODA Awards: Homegrown Production – Kidnapped in 2016; and "Continued improvement under difficult circumstances in 2018. Its members come from all over Purbeck, cover all ages and enjoy an entertaining challenge with fun, social exchange and confidence-building benefits.

It is particularly proud of the large number of youngsters that have passed through its ranks over the years, some with learning difficulties, and all of whom have gained great benefit from dramatic expression.

New members are always welcome at any age r ability, with interests on or off stage.

Facebook –

DoubleActCorfeCastle; www. double-act.org.uk; doubleactdramgroup.co.uk.

ONE of the best modern jazz singers, Jo Harrop, is coming to Swanage Jazz Club this autumn. It is one of 12 UK dates she is playing to mark the launch of her new album, The Path of a Tear.

She will be performing with Paul Edis on piano, MD; Jihad

Darwish, bass; Peter Adam Hill, drums; and Harry Greene, guitar.

The Path of a Tear is billed as “an ear-watering slice of mid-70s soul with a sublime shot of jazz and a subtle twist of Americana”.

Harrop started as a session

singer with icons such as Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Enrique Iglesias and Gloria Gaynor, and has played renowned venues such the Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scott’s.

She recently made her USA debut with a string of shows at prestigious venues including

New York’s Dizzy’s Club – Jazz at Lincoln Center – and San Francisco’s The SFJAZZ Center.

Tickets for the concert at Isle of Purbeck Golf Club on Saturday, November 2, priced from £20, are available at www. billetto.co.uk, search Jo Harrop.

Members of the Double Act drama group behind This Secret Isle

Panto princess ‘a role model for young girls’

THE magic is stirring as the cast of Sleeping Beauty, this year’s pantomime at Lighthouse Poole, starts to take shape.

The show is written and directed by CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, who will also appear as Dame Nanny Nutkins, and produced by the same in-house team that has delivered award-winning hit pantomimes in recent years including Aladdin last year, as well as Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Isabella Kibble will play Princess Rose/Sleeping Beauty in her first panto since her role in the hit West End production of Witness for the Prosecution.

And Melaina Pecorini, who appeared in the long-running West End stage show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is Fairy Sunbeam.

Isabella is excited to be back on stage in panto, having made her professional debut in panto as a child.

“I just remember it being the most magical experience ever, so it’s nice to be able now to

Craft fair to help fix hall roof leaks

THE Winfrith Crafters have been knitting so many scarfs that the total length adds up to 23 metres (75 feet) –roughly the length of a tennis court.

The group is becoming known for its animal scarfs, which this year include a panda, a lion and a snake.

All this knitting, plus lots of stitching and sticking, is in aid repairing leaks in the Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall roof, currently being caught in a paddling pool in the roofspace.

The scarfs and many more items will be on sale at the group’s November craft fair.

Bags and toys, pop-up Christmas cards, jewellery, wood and glass items, plus

Christmas decorations will be for sale.

The event is on Sunday, November 3, from 11am to 4pm at Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall (DT2 8LR). Entry is free and tea, coffee and homemade cake will be served.

feistiness of Rose – I like to see a young woman being portrayed in that light.

“It is definitely the sort of role model that young girls and people need to look up to.”

Melaina is ready to cast a spell over audiences this Christmas as Fairy Sunbeam by drawing on her previous experience in Harry Potter.

“Everybody remembers Harry Potter and it was wonderful be a part of it for a whole year,” she said. “But now I’m excited to be here and playing Fairy – she’s a lot of fun.

“It’s nice to do something with people that are really passionate about it because it brings it to life.”

have a bit of a full circle moment and play Sleeping Beauty,” she said.

“From our first meeting, Chris was very enthusiastic and I felt very involved.

“I resonated with the

Angela does angst

COMEDIAN Angela Barnes, well known for her appearances on television and radio, is set to play The Mowlem in Swanage next spring.

Angela will be touring her new show, Angst.

Angela is a worrier. Whatever it is, she’ll worry about it. But don’t let that worry you – she’ll worry enough for the both of you.

The show has some stories of success and sound logic, but mostly features stories of unmitigated failure, a distinct lack of wisdom, a little bit of German and loads of jokes.

Award-winning comedian Angela’s last tour Hot Mess

Isabella and Melaina will join EastEnders and Grange Hill star Todd Carty, who will play King Tucker.

Sleeping Beauty opens on Thursday, December 12, and runs until Sunday, January 5. Tickets are on sale at www. lighthousepoole.co.uk or phone 01202 280000.

and radio, is coming to The

received critical acclaim and was filmed as a special available on ITVX.

Angela has also appeared on BBC’s Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and House of Games, Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and is a regular guest on Radio 4’s The News Quiz.

She also co-hosts the popular comedy history podcast We Are History.

The show is on Friday, May 2, and tickets are available from The Mowlem box office and the theatre’s website, themowlem. com. Strictly over-14s only.

Isabelle Kibble as Rose and Melaina Pecorini as Sunbeam PHOTO: Richard Budd

Comedian Angela Barnes, who is well-known from television

Mowlem

Arts & Entertainment

Gallery puts Purbeck in the spotlight

WORKS of art inspired by Purbeck are the subject of a new exhibition at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in Bournemouth.

Artists in Purbeck: Spirit of Place features more than 70 works from the beginning of the 20th century through to contemporary paintings.

The works are organised in themes, such as quarries and quarrying to the advent of the area as a destination for leisure and tourism.

They also focus on notable

landmarks and villages, such as Corfe Castle, Clavell Tower overlooking Kimmeridge Bay and the Great Globe at Swanage.

The artworks are drawn from the museum’s permanent holdings, alongside loans from private and regional collections, including the Government Art Collection, Southampton City

Spotlight Diary

Art Gallery and Pallant House Gallery.

The exhibition also brings together works from local collections, including Dorset Museum, Poole Museum, Corfe Castle Museum, Langton Matravers Museum and Swanage Museum.

Sarah Newman, manager at RussellCotes Art Gallery & Museum,

said: “We are delighted to present this exhibition, which celebrates the rich artistic legacy of Purbeck.

“The artists featured in this show have captured the unique beauty and character of this region in a truly inspiring way.

“We invite visitors to join us on this journey through time and discover the extraordinary works of art that have been inspired by Purbeck.”

Artists in Purbeck: Spirit of Place opened on Saturday and runs until March 16.

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for the November 11 issue is NOON on November 1.

Call on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net / Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on.

NOVEMBER 2024

WEDNESDAY

19:30 WAREHAM CAMERA CLUB

Parish Hall 7.30pm Wareham unless on Zoom Visitors welcome - £3 Zoom link available from website 05 November Speaker Phil Abraham – ‘Travels in the heat of Cuba and the Cold of a Scottish Highland Winter’ 12th, League2 - Open Print & PDI Competition. 19th Zoom Bella Kotk - ‘Creative Portraiture’ 26th Woodhouse ‘Nature’ prints, Bert’s Bole ‘Nature’ PDI’s Competitions

SATURDAY

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

Dick, Angel and a Jack of All Trades

DICK and Angel Strawbridge, from hit television series Escape To The Chateau, are bringing their Forever Home tour to Bournemouth Pavilion.

Over the past eight years, millions of viewers have been enthralled by the adventures of retired Lieutenant Colonel, engineer and chef, Dick, and his entrepreneur and designer wife, Angel.

Now, following two sell-out UK tours, they are heading back out on the road, sharing even more of the adventures and challenges of building and living their dream.

Forever Home is the charismatic couple’s biggest tour yet.

Alongside stories and laughs, the intrepid couple will do something a bit different by shining the spotlight on their audience with an interactive show.

Audience members will even have the chance to win a spot on stage to battle it out for the title of their town’s Escape to the Chateau - Jack Of All Trades.

Everything from icing a cake to plumbing and electrics, no

task is out of bounds, and it’s guaranteed to get messy!

Dick and Angel – pictured above – said: “Touring with our family has been such a joy, and we can’t wait to return to the UK to share the adventures and challenges of building and living our Chateau dream.

“This year, there’s even more fun as we kick-start our newest project searching for the UK’s ultimate Jack of All Trades. We can’t wait.”

Tickets for the show on Thursday, November 14, are from £28.75 and available online at bournemouthpavilion. co.uk.