The Purbeck Gazette (06/02/23)

What’s inside this issue...

About the Purbeck

n Above: Meet Barbara, who is still living independently at the age of 108. Page 4

n Right: How Swanage became a home for the Blues. Page 11

Heritage line stalwart Alan calls it a day

A VOLUNTEER who set up Swanage Railway’s first signalling school – and helped ensure the safe operation of its trains as a signaller and signal box inspector on the Purbeck heritage line - has retired after 31 years of dedicated service.

Alan Greatbatch, 68, became a Swanage Railway volunteer in 1991 when he set up a school on the line, to train the first signallers ahead of the first signal box being built.

In 1991, the Swanage Railway only ran passenger trains on three miles of line from Swanage to Harman’s Cross and the first signal box would not be brought into operation until 1997. Four signal boxes have now been built on the heritage line.

Growing up in Poole, Alan’s 44-year working career was spent on the main line railway as a signaller between Brockenhurst and Dorchester, a signalling manager and a mobile operations manager after he joined British Rail at Bournemouth station in 1971.

That was when British Rail ran freight trains to Wimborne and West Moors, via Poole and Broadstone, and when a branch line ran from Maiden Newton down to Bridport in west Dorset. Alan retired from Network Rail at Bournemouth in 2015 as a mobile operations manager.

As a volunteer signalling inspector on the Swanage Railway for 20 years, Alan visited the heritage line’s signal boxes every week to see the signallers and sign the train register which records all train movements and is the official record of a signal box.

Alan, from the Branksome

area of Poole, said: “I am very proud of what we have achieved on the Swanage Railway over the years in rebuilding the line against the odds.

“I am one small cog in a massive machine and without all the other people, it would not have happened.

“I volunteer on the Swanage Railway because I enjoy it, I believe in it and because of those original determined campaigners who battled against the odds to be allowed to rebuild the line and then worked so hard to slowly rebuild it.

“The most enjoyable part of my job has been seeing people achieve their dream of becoming a signaller, which involves training and sitting an exam every two years. Being a signaller is enjoyable because you are keeping our train passengers safe.

“If someone had told me in 1967, when our beloved steam engines stopped hauling trains in southern England for British Rail, that in 2022 I would be in a mechanical signal box pulling semaphore signals for steam engines, I would not have believed it, but that’s exactly what we are doing on the Swanage Railway, which is fabulous.

“The past 31 years have flown by – I don’t know where the years have gone. It has been a challenge but also fun and I have worked with many good people.”

During his 31-year volunteer career on the Swanage Railway, Alan has signalled thousands of trains between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage, as well as trains from the national railway network on

to the award-winning heritage line.

Swanage Railway Trust chair

Gavin Johns added: “Over the years, Alan has helped to train, mentor and examine more than 100 signallers and he has been an excellent role model and example to our team of volunteer signallers in their training and continuing

development as they signal trains safely and efficiently.”

Compiled by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage

Solar and Tidal Predictions - Feb'23

At a special gathering to mark his retirement – attended by Swanage Railway volunteer signaller colleagues past and present - Alan Greatbatch was presented with a framed photograph showing him at work signalling trains in Corfe Castle signal box.

Solar & Tidal Predictions - Jan '23

Compiled by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage Peveril

Solar & Tidal Predictions - Mar '23

Alan Greatbatch at Corfe Castle station signal box

PHOTO: Andrew PM Wright

108, but Barbara’s still an independent lady

By Lorraine Gibson BARBARA

Rawlin is 108, making her one of the oldest people in the country.

She was born in 1914, the year the First World War broke out, and when suffragette demonstrations were widespread with one protester, Mary Richardson, vandalising a Velasquez with a meat cleaver in London’s National Gallery. It was the year when Ernest Shackleton set sail for Antarctica on the Endurance, The Times newspaper cost a penny, a car cost £700 and a pint was thruppence.

Barbara’s longevity in itself is reason for celebration, however, what’s more remarkable is that she lives independently in her Wimborne home, with minimal extra care, walks regularly and gets her own lunch.

When her daughter, Joy, told her I wanted to chat to her, she said: “Oh, I don’t think I have anything interesting to talk about.”

So we began with how she was born in 1914 in Vancouver, Canada, to an aristocratic Irish family, then came to England as a toddler, where she was cared for by nannies and her earliest memories far from signify a long life ahead.

“As a child, I was very ill with tuberculosis and had a terrible accident. I fell into a bath of hot water. We were all in the nursery and the nanny had filled it with very hot water.

“We were told to sit quietly and have our supper but we didn’t. It was naughty of me, I was very disobedient. My brother gave me a tickle, then a push and into the bath I went.”

Thankfully, Barbara survived that incident, but caught measles, whooping cough and TB.

“I was away from school for

two years. I was sent to the north for better air. I was absolutely isolated. Nobody wanted to see me, they thought it was catching. I was only ten and I wasn’t given any books to read or anything. I had a nurse who looked after me, then I lived with an uncle and his wife who were not frightened.”

Again, Barbara, who has a strong faith, lived to tell the tale and returned to her family in Tunbridge Wells. “It was there that I found the Lord – my father asked if I’d like to go to a bible class and I said ‘yes’.

“I remember I saw, over the door, the words ‘go forward’, so I did. I was 16.”

The articulate centenarian says she later went to

caught one of the last ferries back.”

Arriving in London with a pound, Barbara now in her 20s, had a choice – go to Cornwall where her family now lived, or stay and get a job. She chose the latter.

“I worked in St Mary’s Hospital and was making beds when the first air raid sounded.”

From her bedroom in St Mary’s, she witnessed aerial Spitfire dogfights overhead and

casualties being brought in below. “It was very frightening,” she said.

Made head of the hospital kitchens, she frequently saw the Queen Mother. “She came often. We’d pass her going up and down the passages. She used to bring the princesses.

“She brought the Queen of Greece once and asked if they could have some cake. We’d made Victoria sponge in large quantities, so we gave them some. The Queen of Greece wanted to know how it was made and came down to the kitchen.

“They [the royal family] would come for musical evenings at the hospital. And at the end of the war, we had a celebratory dinner for them. Bananas were just coming back in so we decided to give them those. They started to turn brown, so we hid them by making banana custard.”

The woman with ‘nothing interesting to talk about’ also mentions watching from the medical students’ viewing gallery above the operating theatre as Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin and whose lab was in St Mary’s, was presented to the Queen Mother.

Later she ran a B&B and married widower Athol Rawlin, making her mum to two step-children, one just a baby. “A lovely man. It was difficult at times, and through that, I got Joy.”

Athol was a sergeant major in the Marines and they lived in Malta and Singapore before returning to England.

When asked for her tip for a long and happy life, she said: “Read your bible and come to know the Lord.”

Barbara is one of only 175 people in the UK aged 108 or over.

Barbara Rawlin in her 30s

Barbara Rawlin 108, who lives in Wimborne, walking at Pamphill

Bake Off star to visit

WINNER of the 2022 Great British Bake Off contestSyabira Yusoff - will be trading flour for firepower in Dorset.

The star baker will be at the Tank Museum in Bovington to judge the venue’s 100th Birthday Baking Battle, on February 26.

And Syabira revealed the trip will not be her first time at the museum - as she is a tank fanatic and has visited her favourite vehicles in Bovington before.

The 32-year-old, a cardiovascular research associate at King’s College London, said she was delighted to have hugged her favourite tank - the Panther - on her last trip to Dorset, pictured inset.

“My interest in tanks was inspired by an online WWII simulation game, which I play to relax and which has also

taught me a lot about leadership,” she said.

“The game enables me to operate tanks so I just had to go and see them in real life at the Tank Museum and was amazed at how big they are.

“I even hugged my favourite, which is the Panther, but I didn’t get to see the famous Tiger 131, as it must have been in for repairs, but hopefully I’ll see it when I return on February 26.

“I didn’t expect the museum to be so vast and to have such a huge collection of armour.

“It really was a great day out and I can’t wait to go back again. I watched Tankfest on YouTube and am really looking forward to attending the live event in the summer.”

For more details and to enter the competition see https:// tankmuseum.org/events/100thbirthday-baking-battle.

The rewarding days as a Foster Carer

Some would say that every day is rewarding when a Foster Carer, one of our carers highlights that each day is different but there is nothing more rewarding than providing safety and security:

“Supporting a vulnerable child, helping them to grow and develop and watching them change, seeing them learn to trust you and them knowing that you are there for them no matter what. This is the greatest reward”

The rewards as a foster carer are somewhat guaranteed, for some of our carers, it brings a huge sense of achievement when they are approved as foster carers receiving their first placement. One family speaks fondly of their first day of being carers with a placement of three children – For certain That very quickly became a lively household! “It made me cry with joy” and “it made my heart sing” are common feelings from those brilliant carers that feel such a deep sense of pride when realising how they help change lives every day. Watching their foster children attend school, make huge leaps in learning, or achieve something they have never done before is what can be expected as a Foster Carer.

There are of course some lows to accompany the many highs of being a carer, following in the next article we cover not only the highs but also some of the lows from our own carers’ experiences.

1.5 miles from Swanage 01929 427644 www.villageinn-swanage.co.uk

Winter Warmer Discounts (Offers run from Jan until Feb 28th) 10% off all food & drink at the Village Inn: Including breakfast served daily between 10am - 11.30am & main menu served daily between 12.00 - 2.00pm

5.30pm - 8.00pm

(Excludes functions & special events)

Please note that The Village Inn will be closed from Feb 6th - 10th.

Come and take a dip in our indoor heated pool.

All adult swims include a free hot drink, tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Junior swims will include a free soft drink (excludes bottled drinks).

Drinks available from the The Village Inn.

Valentine’s Specials

Alongside our full Village Inn menu we will be running a Valentine’s themed specials board on Saturday 11th & Tuesday 14th

(Booking recommended but not essential)

On SATURDAY 18th FEBRUARY The Village Inn will be hosting a charity event in aid of Motor Neurone Disease

We are very happy to be supporting this fabulous charity. Come and join us for an evening of great music & food with King of Klubs aka Al King’s Disco and buffet to include lasagne, curry & vegetarian option. A raffle with many prizes to be won will take place on the night. Doors open at 7pm.

TICKETS £20.00 available from Ulwell Holiday Park reception 01929 422823 100% of every ticket sold going to The Motor Neurone Disease Association.

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with The Purbeck Gazette & Wild Coast Silver...

For your chance to win simply answer which of these is a well known saying:

Enter via our website, purbeckgazette.co.uk/comps

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Gardening experts open to question

GARDENERS will be able to gain expert advice at a Gardeners Questions event at St George’s Church Hall, Fordington, later this month.

The event, in aid of the Children’s Society, features guest speakers Simon Goldsack from Holme Gardens, Wareham; Nigel Hewish, from Kingston Maurward; and Bob Hollister, from Country Garden Plant Sales.

Questions will be taken from the audience at the start of the evening and the panel will do their best to answer all of them.

The charity’s Dorchester

branch is again staging the event, after two years absence because of the Covid-19 pandemic, on Thursday 23 February at 7.30pm.

Tickets priced £8 are available from Nicoll World Travel, 23 High Street, Dorchester, or places can be reserved with Jane Culliford on 01305 264360 and Dorothy Maggs on 01305 262436.

Reservations are advised, although a limited number of tickets will be available on the door. Coffee and home-made cake will be served during the evening.

Cyclist injured

A CYCLIST was airlifted to hospital after a crash near Wareham.

The incident happened near The Silent Woman pub on Bere Road, Coldharbour, at around 7.45pm on Thursday evening (January 19).

It involved a white Citroen Dispatch van, driven by a local man in his 50s, and a male cyclist from Poole in his 30s. The cyclist was air lifted to hospital with serious injuries.

PC Tracey Downer, of the

Dorset Police traffic unit, said: “I am appealing for any witnesses to the collision who have not yet spoken with police to please come forward.

“I am also keen to hear from anyone who may have relevant dashcam footage that could assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police online via www.dorset.police.uk/contact, by email to scit@dorset.pnn. police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident 55230009837.

THE Wareham Whalers presented a cheque for £1,500 to help fund activities for young people in Wareham, Wool and Corfe Castle when members visited a youth club run by Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation in Wareham.

PHOTO: Sue Kemp Photography

Top names for harbour fest

THE Hoosiers, Lightning Seeds and Cheeky Girls will top the bill at this year’s Poole Harbour Festival.

Thousands are expected for the three-day event, at Baiter Park, which runs from July 28 to 30.

A host of other bands, A-list DJs, classic tributes and the best music talent the BCP region has to offer will also feature on a bill of 50 acts across four stages.

“Everyone needs a lift at the moment so we’ve gone all out to make sure Poole Harbour Festival is the party the town deserves,” says festival organiser, Ben Dyas, of Immense Events.

“We’ve actually cut prices with a very special launch offer of weekend family tickets at just £42 - that’s little more than a tenner each for three days of the best live music on the shores of Poole Harbour.

“Single day adult tickets are only £13 and just £20 for the whole weekend.”

Best known for midnoughties hits like Worried About Ray and Choice, The Hoosiers scored a number one in 2021 with the football charity single Route 66, while fellow headliners The Lightning Seeds, pictured, are fronted by songwriter Ian Broudie who co-wrote the classic football anthem Three Lions, as well as indie classics Pure, The Life of Riley and Lucky You.

Meanwhile, Transylvanian twins The Cheeky Girls need no introduction to pop fans, having caused a sensation with their number two debut single Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) in 2002 and its top three follow ups, Take Your Shoes Off and It’s A Cheeky Holiday securing their current status as TikTok comeback queens.

Also billed are 1990s

hitmakers Space revisiting their best-known hits Neighbourhood, Female of the Species and Begin Again and back by popular demand come Bristolian dance fusionists, Dr Meaker.

A strong line up of crowdpleasing tributes includes performers playing Queen, Foo Fighters, Prodigy, Guns N’ Roses, REM and Coldplay, as well as a DJ bill topped by the one and only Brandon Block, with cut-n-paste king Jaguar Skills, original Junglist Nicky Blackmarket, Bournemouth’s own Freeze and other dance scene movers and shakers.

Leading local live music merchants including the ferocious Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Filta, Saints of Sin and everyone’s favourite four string slingers Mother Ukers will also appear.

Away from the music, free children’s entertainment will

run throughout the weekend with the return of the amazing dinosaur shows, alongside Mad 4 Animals, Mr Merlin, Krazy Kev and Jules the Entertainer, as well as street performers and the popular circus skills workshops.

The festival will also showcase a selection of street food and a wide choice of local ales and ciders at the bars.

Poole Harbour Festival opens at 5pm on Friday, noon on Saturday and 11am on Sunday, closing at 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday.

Tickets are available now at www.pooleharbourfestival.com.

M argaret Green Animal Rescue Show our rescue pets they are loved

Do you have space in your home and heart for Lucy and Fin?

LUCY and Fin are just one of the gorgeous pairs of rabbits currently searching for their forever home at our Church Knowle centre.

They are a very friendly duo who absolutely adore having a cuddle and spending time together.

They love being around their carers and we know they would bring a lot of happiness to their new family.

If you have plenty of space for this sweet pair and could offer them the loving home they truly deserve, please contact the team at Church Knowle, BH20 5NQ –churchknowle@mgar.org.uk to make an enquiry.

To meet the other rescue

animals in our care looking for their special someone, please visit www.mgar.org.uk/ rehoming

Support with sponsorship

DID you know that you can sponsor one of the wonderful rescue animals at our Church Knowle centre for just £5 a month?

It’s a great way to support the animals in our care and to make a positive impact to a local charity.

In return for your monthly donation, you will receive twice yearly updates from your chosen animal about their adventures and how your donation is making a

difference.

Not only is this the perfect treat for yourself, but you could also gift a sponsorship package to a loved one this Valentine’s Day!

Please visit our website to meet our sponsor animals and download a form today –www.mgar.org.uk/support

Eat and Meet helps Heroes Haven

A SWANAGE group formed to give residents the chance to meet up and enjoy some lunch and entertainment has handed over more than £800 to charity.

The Eat and Meet gathering takes place each month at the British Legion in Swanage and organisers said it has two main aims.

“Firstly, to provide those attending an opportunity to meet or make friends and enjoy some conversation and company over a lunch,” they said.

“Secondly, over the course of the year, through raffles, games

and donations to raise money for a local charity.”

In 2022, the group raised £828.68 for Heroes Haven Swanage, a purpose-built lodge which provides affordable holidays for disabled, injured and visually impaired serving and ex-serving members of the Armed Forces, their immediate family and carers.

Eat and Meet organisers Roy and Norma Hoppe presented the money raised to Steve Churchill, representing Heroes Haven, during the Christmas meet.

Charity’s snowdrop walk for bereaved parents

A SNOWDROP walk for bereaved parents who have lost their babies will take place this month.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS

Charity is hosting its annual Snowdrop Walk at the Upton House and Country Park on Saturday, February 11.

Starting at 10.30am, people can write

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messages and tie them to a ribbon before hearing a selection of readings and poems of remembrance before walking to the ‘winter borders’ to tie a ribbon around a tree to remember babies loved and lost.

The free event starts at the Drawing Room at Upton House and refreshments will be available afterwards.

Plumbing and heating for self-builders

SINCE Pinevale’s inception in 2003, much has changed in the world of plumbing and heating. Specialising in working with self-builders, here’s what one of Pinevale’s customers has to say.

“I would highly recommend Pinevale who worked with us on our new build home. They offered an excellent, straightforward, professional, reliable service with good engagement from Ian and the team both during and after the build, all of which we found invaluable in guiding us through the process as first-time self-builders.”

Plumbing and heating has become far more technical, with ever-more complicated legislation. Pinevale’s managing director, Ian Brazier, says he needs to learn faster than his team to keep him at the forefront of technology within the industry.

Early involvement from trades is key to any successful home project and now, more than ever, plumbing and heating is taking a major role. Self-build

customers are looking for a cohesive finished product but are unsure how to plan for it.

They often want to integrate renewable energy sources into their home but the myriad of options can be confusing and sometimes not practical or cost-effective.

Pinevale can help separate out the various elements that make up a new installation, which helps the client’s decision making process.

Key decisions include the heat source, the heat emitters, the piping system, the hot water system and renewable energy sources.

When considering bathroom sanitary ware and kitchen appliances, Pinevale’s input will help ensure a cohesive finished product that every customer needs.

Considering all of these elements at the start of a project will ensure a solid infrastructure plan. This will help avoid issues later on, not just during the build but also after completion – think warranties and future service maintenance.

•

SPRING is a support service for anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss, no matter how long ago.

To help parents and families through the worst possible time in their lives, events like the Snowdrop Walk provide the Dorset community with a moment in time to remember.

• Complete refurbishments: heating, hot and cold water systems

• Full project management on all new build/ refurbishment projects

• Gas Boiler swaps: 10 year warranties available

• Under oor heating : design, supply, install, maintain and fault nd

• Plumbing & Heating Surveys/Technical Advice

Swanage residents and Eat and Meet organisers Roy and Norma Hoppe (left and right) with Steve Churchill representing Heroes Haven

FEBRUARY can be such a lovely time of year here at Durlston Country Park. With hope that the worst of winter is almost behind us, the park can feel very different from one day to the next.

A morning walk can be host to some early birdsong emerging from the Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Hazel hedgerows, including the sounds of Song Thrush, Dunnock and Chaffinch. The odd appearance of a Robin or even a Bullfinch can also be a pleasant addition to a morning stroll.

In the day, make sure to keep an eye out on the water as dolphins can be spotted from the cliffs. Don’t forget to let the Rangers know if you spot any, as we love to hear when

day may bring out a Brimstone or Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, which is always a joy to see, or even a basking Adder.

February is host to some fantastic events and guided walks, and, of course, we’re prepared for February halfterm. ‘Ranger Paul’s Lost Tools’ activity trail will be running from Saturday 4 February until Monday 20

trail to help explore the park.

Artist Mark Page will be returning with a kids’ drawing workshop on Tuesday 14 February, so make sure to book your spaces.

The Rangers will be hosting Wild Wednesdays on 15 February, in the learning centre with drop-in craft and activities from 11am–3pm. They’ll also have their ‘Delinquent Dinosaurs and Fantastic Fossils’ kids’ activity on Thursday February 16 to book onto.

To top things off we have a ‘Glass Engraving Workshop’ taking place at the Learning Centre from 11am–12.30pm on Saturday 18 February for everyone (ages eight-plus). There’s so much to do at Durlston this half-term!

Skies Discovery Site, is a great place for stargazing. With two dates in February for our brilliant astronomy evenings, this month is perfect to explore the night skies! It’s £3 per person and there’s no need to book, but make sure to check the website on the day for cancellations as it is weather dependent.

Whatever your reason for coming to Durlston this February, make sure to pop into the castle reception and explore the five different trails around the National Nature Reserve, then have a coffee in our cafe or browse our shop.

For more information on events and more visit our Durlston website www. durlston.co.uk and the Seventhwave café website 7eventhwave.com

Durlston Country Park has a lot going on in February

Best of the blues heads for Swanage

A FESTIVAL celebrating the best of the blues is set to return to the Isle of Purbeck this year.

More commonly associated with the deep south of the US, the genre has established a firm link with the UK south west in the form of the Swanage Blues Festivals, in March and October.

The events see world-class musicians from around the globe descend on the town to provide weekends of top tunes and discussions of all things blues-based.

It all started in 2000, when keyboardist Stephen Darrington moved to Swanage.

Seeing town venues struggling through yet another recession, Steve approached local pubs and restaurants with the notion that if various venues would agree to collaborate and book blues music over one weekend, a ‘big town blues party’ may be had, encouraging visitors and helping town coffers at the quietest times of the year.

One blues weekend a year swiftly became two, extending the tourist season for those in hospitality.

Hugely popular with not only artists, organisers say a new wave of visitors has been introduced to Swanage through the

blues, boosting bookings with local accommodation providers and keeping retail tills ringing throughout the town during both blues festivals every year.

“As an idea I came up with to try and help local establishments raise additional revenue when times were bad, Swanage Blues Festival has grown beyond my wildest imaginings,” Steve said.

“We have kept it local and on the same original format – each venue taking part runs their own events, I simply discuss what performers may suit them and get the bands booked in for them.”

He said new venues are always welcome, as in October 2022, when the Swanage Conservative Club came aboard, and at the festival in March, The Showbar at the Mowlem will be joining in too.

The success of the event, according to Steve, is down to many factors.

“While many of the visiting artists play to stadiums and large venues (with an equally large ticket price), Swanage offers something uniquely different and appealing

to both musicians and music lovers alike,” he said.

“Artists gather, reconnecting with old friends, creating new collaborations and performing to fans, young and old.”

Venues and establishments involved can book national acts through Steve at a fraction of the usual booking cost, bringing some of the best blues acts in the country to Swanage to meet-up, enjoy a short ‘working holiday’ and perform.

“The more venues, the merrier,” Steve added. “Helping the local economy was always the idea behind bringing the blues to Swanage and optional ‘Blues Wristbands’ are available to show your support for the festival and cost just £15, which helps cover some of the costs involved.

“Each event is run by a tiny not-forprofit limited company. Entrance to most venues is permitted without a wristband, thus enabling everyone to attend.”

The 2023 festivals run from March 2-5 and from October 5-8. See www.swanageblues.org.

Thomas Heppell is set to perform in Swanage

Picture: Matt (Minus Tone)

£120,000 machinery stolen in raid

by Lorraine Gibson

DORSET Police are appealing for information from the public as they investigate the theft of high-value machinery from a works site in Purbeck.

The items were stolen from a site off Morden Road near Wareham between 12pm on Saturday 14 January and Monday morning 16 January.

Machines stolen include a Keto 150 HD harvester head, an Indeco IMH8 forestry mulcher, an Intermercato TG25 grab with CPR8 rotator, a TMK300 tree shear, a cone splitter, a hydraulic cone splitter, a fuel

pump and hand tools.

Police Community Support Investigator Chris Hardy said: “We are carrying out a number of enquiries into this incident, which has resulted in the loss of more than £120,000-worth of equipment. I am appealing to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area to please get in contact with us. I would also like to hear from anyone who comes across machinery similar to that described being offered for sale in unusual circumstances.”

If you have information contact Dorset Police at www.

Out Of The Blue

WELL, February already. We hope you are now all over the festivities and focused on the new year ahead – I know we are, staying committed to improving our community by listening and acting upon what you have to say. Please keep your concerns coming in by taking ten minutes to fill out the pri-ority surveys at www.surveymonkey.co.

uk/r/PurbeckEmail

So, what have we been up to? Well, between 6 December 2022 and 6 January 2023 we dealt with 378 occurrences in Purbeck, of which 125 were recorded crimes and resulted in 47 arrests.

We have received several reports of burglaries to outbuildings and sheds, so we would like to reit-erate our crime reduction advice around burglaries. We always encourage people to join Home Watch/Neighbourhood Watch or even consider becoming a co-ordinator.

Home Watch isn’t just about crime, it’s about looking after vulnerable neighbours, being involved in the community and perhaps being aware of those who are more likely to become a victim of crime than others.

Visit www.dorset.police. uk/media/1477/security_ advice_pack; www.dorset. police.uk/media/1484/ sheducation_2012; www. dorset.police.uk/help-advicecrime-prevention/homeproperty-belongings/ protect-your-home/

We have also received reports of poaching. We ask that if you see suspicious vehicles or peo-ple/torchlight in fields/areas where they shouldn’t be, you call the police and report it at the time, rather than waiting for the next day – we are then able to send officers to the area at the key time. We take incidents and reports of

dorset.police.uk/contact or call 101, quoting occurrence number 55230007748.

Alternatively, independent

charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously at Crimestoppers-uk.org or on Freephone 0800 555 111.

value your support and comments. You can also see our latest priorities and upcoming events at www. dorset.police.uk/ neighbourhood-policing/ purbeck/

poaching/rural crime very seriously, but we need the public to tell us where they are happening so we can build up a picture of where the incidents are occurring and plan accordingly.

And finally, if you need Dorset Police, please contact our police enquiry centre by calling 101 or email 101@ dorset.pnn.police.uk. Always call 999 in an EMERGENCY when there is a risk of HARM or a CRIME in progress. Alternatively, call the free CRIMESTOPPERS line on 0800 555 111.

You can also use our website to report a number of issues, from full crime reports to lost property – just visit www.dorset.police.uk/ do-it-online/

Don’t forget to visit us on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/Purbeckpolice, and Twitter –@ PurbeckPolice – we really

Why not register on Dorset Alert? By registering for the free Dorset Police community messaging alerts, you will receive information on local crime and incidents where we believe that sharing in-formation with you will help to prevent further offences occurring; crimes and incidents where you may be able to help by providing vital information; current crime trends; crime prevention advice and Safer Neighbourhood activity; and opportunities to meet the team. You can also receive news from our partner agencies such as Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards, and com-munity safety messages.

Please come along to our meet the team events – dates and locations can be found on the website. We’d love to see you there.

How to protect your home from care costs

Nobody likes to think about getting old, but it is certainly worth thinking about if you value your home. That is because your house could very well be sold by the local council to pay for your care fees.

As an example, let’s say you own a home jointly with your partner and you live there until one of you dies. The surviving partner continues to live in the house until they must go into a care home run by the local authority. At that point, the local authority will assess the surviving partner for care fees. If their capital and savings are worth more than £23,250, they will have to fund their own care.

Councils place a charge on the property, which is paid when the house is sold. Alternatively, you may be required to sell the house immediately to raise the cash. Money raised from the sale of the house will fund your care until your savings get down to £23,250. That won’t leave much of an inheritance for your family and loved ones.

There are two solutions to the problem available to you. One is a will trust which protects 50% of the value of your home from care costs. The second is a living trust which shields 100% of the property. Both are relatively inexpensive to put into place. Every trust is administered by trustees, the trustees can be the partners or surviving partner and children.

The situation won’t get better over time. The UK’s fastest-growing age group comprises those aged over 85. Councils will face even more pressure on budgets, leaving them with little choice but to continue to sell people’s homes.

To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594

The main thing to remember with trusts is that because you do not own the assets held in the trust in your own name, it is more difficult for those assets to be taken away from you or from the beneficiaries of the trust.

Chris Tennant, Oakwood Wills

Registered Charity No. 1120193

2km & 4km obstacle course for all abilities!

Upton

News from Wareham Town Council – January report

By Julie Bradshaw

DORSET Council (DC) proposes to increase council tax by just under 2 per cent and the Adult Social Care Precept by a similar amount.

DC set the tax base for Wareham at an increase of .87 per cent.

Wareham Town Council has decided to make the increase 2.82 per cent to maintain services without dipping into the town council’s reserves.

The proposed budget is available in the agenda of the January full council meeting.

EV chargers have been installed in Bonnets Lane car park. The refurbished play areas are open with just minor fixes to be carried out. Warm Spaces are in Not Just Sundaes, TuesdayFriday 2-4pm; the library, Monday 2.30-4.30pm; and

Carey Hall on Wednesday 10am-noon and Friday 2-4pm (bingo).

The council is advertising for an administrative officer and a caretaker/grounds operative.

It has proved impractical to site a tourist information desk in the Corn Exchange, but the manager and trustees of Not Just Sundaes are amenable to keeping tourist information provided it takes up little space, for example, a touch screen tablet and the popular local map. Visitors also benefit from the knowledge and helpfulness of those who work in Not Just

Sundaes. The council received a grant from DC and will pay a contribution towards the electricity and internet connection as well as keeping the website updated.

Provision is to be made in next year’s (2024/25) budget for a replacement cricket wicket –the community is to be consulted on the possibility of an outdoor table tennis table at Hauses Field but there is no money in the forthcoming budget for a skate park.

The town council will take over the lease of Conniger Lane car park from the Joint Burial Board. If the management of the car park proves to be lossmaking or detrimental in any way to the council’s interest, the

agreement can be terminated.

One councillor has not attended meetings for six months and has not given apologies so is now disqualified leaving a vacancy which, since there is over six months until the next election, can be filled by co-option.

For more information on this and other town council business, phone the office on 01929 553006 or visit the council’s website, www. wareham-tc.gov.uk

The town council’s next meetings are on Tuesdays 7 March and 18 April at 7pm in the council chamber at the town hall. The public is welcome to attend.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

Treating people as individuals and delivering truly person-centred care is central to everything we do.

Welcome to The Old Rectory Care Home

Situated close to Swanage on the Jurassic Coast, our family-run home has light and airy rooms, many with grandstand views over the hills of the Isle of Purbeck. We offer short and long-term residential care and work closely with a community matron and other multidisciplinary services. We cater for those over 60 years of age and for those with health conditions including dementia and palliative care.

The Old Rectory, is now fully open after an extensive refurbishment. We take pride in our events schedule, the great home-cooked food and warm and friendly home for our residents.

If you are interested to speak to us about you or a loved one becoming a resident please call Sally on 01929 425383, she will be pleased to discuss any requirements or to show you around.

RESIDENTIAL CARE | DEMENTIA CARE | RESPITE CARE | END OF LIFE CARE

Go Halves at Monkey World this half-term!

Kids’ tickets are half price from 11-19th February

Bring your little monkeys to the park and see over 260 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes!

Most primates have been rescued from unbelievable cruelty or neglect, but at Monkey World they can enjoy the company of their own kind in safe and natural

living environments. Some are even part of breeding programmes for endangered species.

Combining fun with conservation, half hourly keeper Q&A’s are available to explain all about man’s closest living relative. Visitors can see the stars of TV’s

Advertisement feature

‘Monkey Business’ and ‘Monkey Life’, then ‘monkey around’ in the south’s largest Great Ape play area for children with its huge variety of swings, slides, and climbing frames. There are several food outlets available at the park, or visitors are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy lunch in the beautiful surroundings.

Visitors can choose to support the parks rescue work further by adopting a primate. This means you get an annual pass to the park for a whole year, as well as 3 magazines a year, a photo, certificate & access to exclusive adoptive parent only events!

For more details please see our website www.monkeyworld.org Alternatively, email apes@monkeyworld.org or call 01929 462537

‘Carer figures don’t tell whole story’

THE number of unpaid carers in Dorset fell between 2011 and 2021 according to Census data released this month.

The fall, from 11.9% to 9.7% of the population, means a total of 35,498 people are counted as caring for a family member, friend or neighbour in the county.

However, while the number has fallen, those providing a ‘significant amount of unpaid care’ – over 20 hours a week –has increased.

In 2011, 1.3% of Dorset residents provided 20-49 hours of unpaid care a week and 2.5% provided 50 or more hours. In 2021, that has increased to 1.67% and 2.9% respectively.

The Carer Support Dorset charity said the number of hours people spend caring for someone is important because studies show that an intensive caring role can have a detrimental effect on a carer’s health, wellbeing, and ability to work.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the reason the total number of unpaid

carers may have fallen could be because of how the question was framed and the fact the Census was carried out during the Covid pandemic, when households couldn’t mix and people may not have been able to carry out their usual caring duties.

There were also a higher number of deaths among elderly people, reducing the need for care.

Carer Support Dorset provides support to unpaid carers in the county.

Leanne Hubbard, interim CEO, said: “We are surprised the overall number of unpaid

carers has dropped since 2011.

“The wording of the question will likely have had an impact – in 2011 people were asked if they look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours and others.

“In 2021 they were asked if they look after, or give help or support, to anyone because they have a long-term physical condition or illness, or problem related to old age.

“We were less surprised that the number of people providing large amounts of care to someone has increased so dramatically. This tallies with what we are hearing from carers. Providing more than 20 hours of care every week, often alongside work and other family commitments, takes its toll, especially since the pandemic and with the increased pressures on the NHS and social services. Respite opportunities are vital to allow carers to have a break.”

“We encourage all unpaid carers to register with us to find out what help we can offer.”

Eliza Atyeo, of Verwood, cared for her dad following his

diagnosis of terminal cancer until he died in September 2022 and currently works for BCP Council as carers commissioning officer.

“Many people take on a caring role as it is considered ‘something you just do’ as opposed to a formal role,” she said. “Many people fail to identify and recognise that they are unpaid carers, meaning they struggle along without support.

“My father’s decline was fast, and I felt like I was in a bubble for the duration of it, watching someone I love, slowly leave. My sadness comes when I think that for so long I went without any formal help, because I believed I should be able to manage.

“I often find myself thinking, ‘how did I manage to continue working through all that?’, but the power of the human mind is an amazing thing. My experience gives me strength. I am proud that from diagnosis to death I was my dad’s carer.”

Contact Carer Support Dorset on 0800 368 8349 and visit carersupportdorset.co.uk.

Carer Eliza Atyeo looked after her father after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer

Sunflowers raised hospital funds

SUNFLOWERS brought a ray of fundraising light to a county charity.

Organisers of The Dorset Sunflower Trail, held at the foot of Maiden Castle last summer, made a significant donation to the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) Kingfisher ward.

This was the second year the farm has supported the hospital, following their first event in

2021, which raised funds for the Dorchester hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

The trail was organised by Maiden Castle Farm’s Hazel and Richard Hoskin in aid of Kingfisher ward and also the Cherkasy Hospital in Ukraine.

And Hazel met with staff from the ward on January 18 to hand over a donation of £6,350, with the same amount going to

the Cherkasy Hospital.

Phil Wylie, a Paediatric Consultant at DCH, collected the second donation on behalf of Cherkasy.

Dr Wylie’s association with the Ukrainian town goes back over 25 years, initially helping them to improve hospital IT and educational resources.

Contact was re-established last year because of the war and this donation will be used to send medical supplies to several hospitals following requests from local doctors for items which are in short supply.

After discussing the situation with Dr Wylie, the Hoskins family were happy to contribute to this support through their sunflower event.

Maiden Castle Farm’s 2022 Sunflower Trail was also supported by Dorchester Town Council (DTC), who ran a ‘Summer of Sunflowers’, a series of related fundraising and activities in Dorchester, raising a further £90.

Staff on the Kingfisher ward also planted their own sunflowers last summer to brighten up the ward for their patients and families, with materials kindly donated by Poundbury Gardens.

Hazel said: “To create a different effect in 2022 we planted Linseed on the field

above the sunflowers which gave the appearance of a huge Ukrainian flag of blue and yellow while the Linseed was in flower.

“Although the hot and dry weather meant that the sunflowers didn’t grow as tall as last year, on the upside it did mean that our visitors had an amazing view of the Dorset landscape and of Maiden Castle next to the farm.

“We want to thank everyone who came to see the Dorset Sunflower Trail and supported the event which made all the hard work well worth it.”

Matilda Manley, tourism development officer at Dorchester Town Council, said: “We were thrilled to be part of this event. We had so much interest from local businesses and shops in Dorchester and from the local community to get involved.

“We are already thinking of other ways we can help and are looking forward to working with Hazel and her family to make this project even better this year.”

And Simon Pearson, head of charity at DCH, said: “We are so grateful to Hazel and her family for all their hard work in organising this event for a second year, and to the town council for their extra support.”

Phil Wylie and Hazel Hoskin with staff from Kingfisher children’s ward at Dorset County Hospital

The Purbeck Gazette

VIP stockists

Woman killed in scooter crash

A WOMAN died after a crash involving her mobility scooter and a motorbike.

The woman, in her 90s, was involved in a crash with a motorcyclist on Hoburne Lane, Christchurch, at the junction with Primrose Way at around 11am on Monday (January 30).

Dorset Police are now appealing for witnesses, or anyone with dashcam footage, to come forward as they investigate the incident.

A police spokesperson said the rider of the scooter sustained ‘very serious injuries’ and sadly died at the scene.

Her family has been informed, they added.

The male motorcyclist was taken to hospital for treatment.

Road closures were put in place while investigations into the incident were carried out.

Police Sergeant Gareth Thomas, of the traffic unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the woman who sadly died in this collision.

“I am conducting enquiries

establish the full circumstances and would ask any witnesses, or motorists who may have captured either the mobility scooter or the motorbike on dashcam footage prior to the collision, to please come forward. Also, I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while the road closures are in place. These are necessary to allow us to carry out a thorough examination of the scene.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/contact, by email to scit@dorset.pnn. police.uk, or on 101, quoting incident number 55230015273.

BOVINGTON

Community Stores

BLANDFORD

Tourist Information Centre

BEACON HILL

Royal Heights coffee Shop

BERE REGIS

Bartletts Stores

Maces Stores

BRIANTSPUDDLE

Briantspuddle Shop

CANFORD MAGNA

Garden Centre

CORFE CASTLE

Corfe View Visitor Centre

Railway Station Village Stores

CROSSWAYS

Co-op Post Office

HAMWORTHY

Allways Fryday

Co-op

Hamworthy Central Convenience

Kings Fish & Chips Shop

Library

Mayze Hairdressers

Morrisons

Post Office

Premier Blandford Stores

HARMANS CROSS

Foleys Garage

St Michaels Garage/BP

HOLTON HEATH

Clay Pipe Inn

KINGSTON Scott Arms

LANGTON MATRAVERS

Langton Village Stores

LYTCHETT MATRAVERS

South Lytchett Manor

Caravan Park

The Bakers Arms

LULWORTH

Lulworth Visitor Centre

NORDEN Farm Shop Train Station

PUDDLETOWN

Community Library

Spar

SANDFORD

Co-op Food & Petrol Station

Sandford Premier

STUDLAND

Studland Stores

SWANAGE

Ballard Stores

Budgens Supermarket

Coastal Park

Conservative Club

Co-op

Costcutters

Durlston Castle

Jenkins Newsagent

MacCalls Newsagent

Nationwide Building Society

Post Office

Rudges

Spar

Swanage News

Tourist Information Centre

Traditional Barber

Train Station

Triangle Garage/Texaco WH Smiths

TINCLETON

Tincleton Church

TOLPUDDLE

Tolpuddle Creech Farm Shop

ULWELL Village Shop/Inn

UPTON

Aldi

Co-op

Lytchett & Upton Council

Spar

Upton Library

Upton News & Wine

WAREHAM

Chipperies Fish & Chips

Conservative Club Co-op

Horseys Newsagent

long John’s Fish & Chips

One Stop Farwells

Premier Stores

Purbeck Library

Purbeck Mobility Centre

Purbeck Sports Centre

Sainsburys Train Station

Wareham Laundrette

WEST HOLME West Holme Nurseries

WINFRITH NEWBURGH Post Office

WINTERBORNE

WHITECHURCH

Lady Bailey Caravan Park - 73

WINTERBORNE

KINGSTONE

Village Hall Phone Box

WOOL

Gillets Spar Shop

The Hidden Deli

The crash happened in Hoburne Lane, near Primrose Way

We have to pay to get the public services we desire

By David Hollister

HOW very sad to learn of the passing of June Ranger, Swanage’s leading lady and dance teacher.

I remember taking my five-year old to her classes at the Millpond Rooms all those years ago. I remember going to her wonderful concerts at the Mowlem and enjoyed seeing our children, who she’d managed to tame and teach discipline, along with dancing. June, you will be missed – we will not see your like again as you were a total ‘one-off’.

So sad also to see the Old Stables tearoom shutting its doors as Alison is retiring after all that hard work – again, my memories of Alison, her welcoming smile and her lovely food go back several decades through several local premises, all of which benefited from her gentle touch and pleasant hosting skills. I wish you well, Alison.

The indefatigable Steve Darrington has plans for the 37th Swanage Blues Festival well in hand. It’s on 2-5 March and a list of acts and venues is now on Facebook – too many to mention here but I’m sure you’ll find music and a venue right up your street.

Swanage Blues is independent, not-for-profit and depends entirely on the sale of support wristbands to pay festival expenses. Venues are

autonomous and may require wristbands to be worn. Show your appreciation and financial support by purchasing a support wristband.

You can order wristbands and programmes for the 37th Swanage Blues Festival online for despatch. Prices and instructions are on its website. Nowhere else will you find as much great music and four days fun for so little outlay!

LAST month I gave you a few safety hints relating to your mobile phone. Just one more – if you’re lost while out walking or stranded with a broken-down car and your mobile is out of juice or has no signal, this simple tip might save your life.

Change the voicemail message on the phone to a message that gives your approximate location, the time, date, your predicament, any injuries and where you are –also who to call or any special instructions.

The best part is that even if your phone dies completely, anyone calling you will hear your message and know what to do to bring help.

DO you use the BCP car parks at Old Orchard, Hill Street or Poole Central car park? Now wash your hands! The reports of filth, faeces, urine, used needles and

so on defy description and show that BCP’s claims that they’re regularly cleaned, are ambitious to say the least. It can’t maintain the car parks but seems to have oodles of government money washing around to waste on cycle lanes no-one uses.

Having lived a part of my early life in beautiful Bournemouth, I’m disappointed and disgusted to read and see what it has become. Not just the car parks but the ‘gardens’ and other public areas, the rough sleepers and ‘beggars’ who don’t get moved on by the few police that are left.

Yes, we have a policing problem here in Purbeck too, and let the state of beautiful Bournemouth be a warning to you that without proper policing we will end up just the same.

IT’S not the ‘bloody Tories’ or the opposition, it’s every one of us that refuses to pay enough tax to keep the nation’s infrastructure working, to provide sufficient police to protect us. Everyone seems to want something for nothing these days, but be warned, you’ll end up getting nothing for something.

Too many people living off the ‘compensation culture’ have devalued the law to the point where many of us have no faith whatsoever in the police, the courts and the whole ineffective justice system.

In a day when you can get a pizza delivered in 15 minutes, how come it takes several hours to get a policeman to attend a break-in? How come that all you’ll get when they do attend, after the evidence has gone cold, is a crime number?

Have we ever been told of the follow-up to the gang of ‘outsiders’ who terrified and robbed three of our local

children in May last year? Was anything recovered? Was anyone jailed?

So, I say to the Police and Crime Commissioner, who has his begging bowl out about this time of year for just 15p on the Council Tax, no, no, 1,000 times no. If we’re going to pay you for protection, then protect us. Because right now it would seem to be taking our money under false pretences.

Don’t waste our money on ‘initiatives’ and PCSOs who don’t have the power of arrest. Don’t waste last year’s Council Tax on policemen chasing ‘illegal’ number plates or posing for photos in the beautiful Purbeck sunshine.

Answer crimes with action rather than crime numbers. Get out and solve some crimes. Pay the policemen you do have properly, give them the powers they need and stop being forever afraid that the force will be sued by some smart-arse ambulance-chasing legal firm which defends the indefensible, often at the taxpayers’ expense. How do they sleep?

Isn’t it strange that ‘essential workers’ are among the lowest paid workers we have? When the manure hits the airconditioning, it’s those on the lowest wage that are expected to crack on, putting their health and families at risk.

Surely those very people are now more important than the highly paid senior officers that are tucked up safely in their beds while the nurses and ordinary coppers are working to the point of despair, while being obliged to use the foodbank?

No. Applause every Thursday is no longer enough. When I was working in a local band many years ago, we had a saying ‘don’t clap, just throw money’. Same now applies.

Town needs a ‘Tidy up Czar’

I DO regular volunteer litter picking along the beach and around Swanage and am constantly horrified by the amount of litter left about. On Sunday 22 January I picked up 12 dog poo bags along North Beach up to the end of the concrete path. Five piled in one spot, others tossed up into the banks and some just left on the ground or on walls. This was after I cleared them all the previous Sunday and lo and behold there were another dozen on Sunday 29 January.

I am a dog lover, although I do not have a dog because of the tie involved in looking after one, and yes I’ve heard the old adage that it’s only a minority of irresponsible dog owners who leave the bags, but from my perspective as well as from that of my litter picking colleagues, simply too many are left around for it to be considered a minority.

I cannot fathom the sneaky, underhand mentality of dog owners waiting until no one is looking and then dumping the poo bags.

If they are going to have a dog they should take on the

responsibility for their pet and put the bags in the litter bins, which all accept dog poo bags.

What do they think happens to the bags between ‘walkies’? Do they think a poo bag fairy takes them away?

It would be a trivial task for dog owners, who walk all the streets in the town, to take a carrier bag and a litter picker and pick up the litter they come across on their walkies, or might that be below their dignity?

Unfortunately, putting up signs requesting placing poo bags in the bins are none too effective. Perhaps dog owners consider themselves part of the ‘entitled’ elite, who do what they please.

Litter in general in Swanage is pretty bad, a fact disguised by the litter picking activities of the Swanage Beach Buddies and the Swanage Landers. The council litter pickers do a good job but it is not enough. Many street gutters are choked with litter and leaves, as are many drain grids, which gives the potential for flooding.

I pay higher council tax for my 1970s house in Swanage

READER’S PICTURE

than my sister pays for her Victorian mansion in Ealing, west London, and her streets are cleaner.

I am proud to be a resident of Swanage, but I am embarrassed by the scruffy state of the town, its litter and the rather poorly kept public gardens.

This is a holiday and day trip destination town, and to ensure it maintains its popularity, and in turn its prosperity for the town’s traders and residents, the council must, in the words of

the Duke of Edinburgh, ‘get its finger out’ and do its job.

I accept this is a rant but I must get someone’s attention to see the problem and do something about it.

I am happy to do more than my current litter picking to help but I think the town needs a ‘tidy up Swanage’ czar with enough power to make things happen.

Phil Madsen Cauldron Crescent, Swanage

Swanage go down to leaders

Wimborne 43

Swanage & Wareham 18

By Ron Butler

SWANAGE & WAREHAM had a short journey to top of the table Wimborne and after a hard-fought first half Swans were outdone by the Wimborne three-quarter line towards the end of the game.

Swans soon saw the effect of Wimborne back line, as from a scrum the ball was passed along the line to the winger who scored in the corner after three minutes.

But Swans dominated in the loose and from a maul Swans

loose forward Matt Roberts powered over the try line to level the scores.

After the re-start, from a line-out, the ball was passed along Wimborne’s threes to the winger who went in at the corner.

Swans had a penalty on the Wimborne 22 which Tom Munns converted.

Wimborne scored a third try through the winger but just before the interval Swans pushed the Wimborne pack backwards and scrum-half Conor Maog scored out wide, making the score at half-time

Wimborne 15 Swans 13.

Swans were on top for the first ten minutes of the second half but from a scrum a Wimborne centre broke clear to score under the posts and the try was converted.

After a Swans scrum close to the Wimborne 22, winger Olly Dillon scored in the corner.

But then it was all downhill for Swans as Wimborne’s three-quarters scored three converted tries in nine minutes. Swans: R.Ferguson, O,Dillon, T. Munns,E.Dimescio, S.Bowen, S. Woolley, C.Moag S.Kitkat, C. Foskett, C.Peters, P.Mercer, M. Seaton,M.Roberts, G. Climie, J.

OTHER RESULT: Wimborne 2nd XV 44 Swanage & Wareham 2nd XV 14

n THE referee called off the match between Swanage and Wareham Walcot with both teams warming up and only half an hour before scheduled kick-off, with none of the Swans’ three pitches fit for play.

Swans: R Ferguson, O Dillon, T Munns, E Dimescio, S Bowen, S Woolley, C Tomes, SKitkat, C Foskett, S Waterman, P Mercer, M Seaton, J Jenner, C Moag, J Casey, N McMath, L Spyers, M Spencer.

Casey, N.McMath, J,Blackmore, M. Spencer.

Robin Boultwood took this photo recently on a fine day at Corfe Castle

Arrow words

Crossword

Wordsearch

Double K Words

2 1 9 8

Brain chain

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.

sudoku Brain

Cryptic crossword

Across

1 Son is engulfed by junk mail for a brief period (5)

4 Broadcast namely disrupted treat (7)

9 Scale for moving in the open air (2,6)

10 Time in the past recalled for Roman garment (4)

Down

2 Seed providing thrill (5)

1 Son is engulfed by junk mail for a brief period (5)

4 Broadcast namely disrupted treat (7)

3 Miserly sort goes off holding restricted number of products (7)

9 Scale for moving in the open air (2,6)

10 Time in the past recalled for Roman garment (4)

5 Notice one on sidelines, unmotivated employee? (5-7)

6 All found in bars? (5)

11 Energy in fancy choir of an admirable kind (6)

11 Energy in fancy choir of an admirable kind (6)

12 Cutting instrument provided in joint largely (5)

12 Cutting instrument provided in joint largely (5)

13 Stop not right for US outdoor party (4)

15 Eggs round Virginia (3)

16 Blooming endless freshwater fish (4)

17 Better disclosed activity (5)

21 Posh car kept by slim owner (4)

13 Stop not right for US outdoor party (4)

7 Brainy type, say, source about leader of Germany (7)

15 Eggs round Virginia (3)

8 Shrink in terms of work? (12)

16 Blooming endless freshwater fish (4)

14 A party not favouring any company? (7)

17 Better disclosed activity (5)

16 Cheese put in apricot tart (7)

19 Ignore mostly exotic cook, silly person (6)

21 Posh car kept by slim owner (4)

19 Ignore mostly exotic cook, silly person (6)

22 I start to dislike existence showing sameness (8)

18 Wander following back of depot, place valuables (5)

22 I start to dislike existence showing sameness (8)

20 Musical group caught in old film (5)

23 Note on ME city containing meal ultimately firm to eat (2,5)

24 Speak about lieutenant that’s witty (5)

23 Note on ME city containing meal ultimately firm to eat (2,5)

24 Speak about lieutenant that’s witty (5)

Across

1 Son is engulfed by junk mail for a brief period (5)

4 Broadcast namely disrupted treat (7)

9 Scale for moving in the open air (2,6)

10 Time in the past recalled for Roman garment (4)

11 Energy in fancy choir of an admirable kind (6)

12 Cutting instrument provided in joint largely (5)

13 Stop not right for US outdoor party (4)

15 Eggs round Virginia (3)

16 Blooming endless freshwater fish (4)

17 Better disclosed activity (5)

19 Ignore mostly exotic cook, silly person (6)

21 Posh car kept by slim owner (4)

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and boldlined 3x3 box. No digit maybe repeated in any dashed-lined cage, and each dash-lined cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage. For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage

22 I start to dislike existence showing sameness (8)

23 Note on ME city containing meal ultimately firm to eat (2,5)

24 Speak about lieutenant that’s witty (5)

2 Seed providing thrill (5)

3 Miserly sort goes off holding restricted number of products (7)

5 Notice one on sidelines, unmotivated employee? (5-7)

6 All found in bars? (5)

7 Brainy type, say, source about leader of Germany (7)

8 Shrink in terms of work? (12)

14 A party not favouring any company? (7)

16 Cheese put in apricot tart (7)

18 Wander following back of depot, place for valuables (5)

20 Musical group caught in old film (5)

For the solutions, see page 44

Local Plan hold-up has consequences

ONE side-effect of the new unitary Dorset Council when it came into being in 2019 was to bring five Local Planning Authorities (LPA) into one. Some work was then needed to move from several different systems/web interfaces to a common platform but that has now been completed fairly successfully – although the chosen interface leaves some things to be desired.

However, despite moving to one council and hence one planning department, the rules governing development, that is the existing adopted Local Plans (LP), remained in effect.

In 2019, most of these plans were already somewhat long in the tooth and contained policies which, depending on your viewpoint, were no longer fit for purpose. For example, the combined Weymouth & Portland/West Dorset plan had

same. Hence the opportunity to have a single brand spanking new Local Plan for Dorset Council was heralded as one of the justifications for combining into a unitary authority.

As stated by Dorset Council (on its website): “Adopted Local Plans guide new development and determine planning applications.

“We are working on a new Dorset Council Local Plan to be adopted around spring 2023. The adopted local plans for the former council areas are in place until the new local plan is adopted.

“Reviews of the existing local plans have stopped except for the Purbeck Local Plan. This is currently at examination.”

Unfortunately, the Purbeck

No problem, I hear your all say, we will have a new Dorset Local Plan this very spring, Dorset Council says so!

But no, we won’t – the ruling Conservative Cabinet recently decided that Dorset Council’s inaugural Local Plan won’t now be ready until 2026. In a somewhat Kafkaesque response to LibDem councillor David Tooke when asked why the delay at a recent committee meeting, the cabinet member for planning (Cllr David Walsh) stated:

“There is no delay…I don’t want the word ‘delay’ used, because there isn’t a delay.”, a view that was endorsed by Cllr Spencer Flower, Tory Leader of Dorset Council.

In the meantime, we are stuck with outdated policies

affordable housing availability, and by being ‘out of date’, provides opportunities for developers to ‘bend’ the rules, especially if the original legacy district and borough council Local Plan areas fall behind in having a five-year housing supply.

We must get homes that are affordable built, but planning isn’t just about housing. It’s about making sure our areas grow in a way that best meets the needs of our communities, now and in the future.

That means having or building the right infrastructure to support sustainable development, and thinking ahead to accommodate changes in our way of living and working.

However, nothing is going to happen for another three years, and we will all suffer the

Nick Ireland

Citizens Advice steps up to the plate in face of the cost-of-living crisis

CITIZENS Advice helped 2.4 million people last year, with more than 60 million visiting its online advice pages.

The Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee recently quoted an advice co-ordinator saying Citizens Advice was “just about the only face-to-face service left – everything else is online, or a phone-line that never answers”.

East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice offers free, confidential and impartial information and advice to those needing it. Fully trained volunteers and staff respond to queries about benefits, debt, housing, employment, energy saving and consumer issues.

Citizens Advice in Purbeck – together with other Citizens Advice offices at county and national level – also campaigns to influence policy makers and service providers in order to address the issues which clients bring to advisers.

For example, in 2022 East

Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice recommended ways in which the energy efficiency of homes might be improved, and fuel poverty reduced.

There can be no doubt that in Purbeck – and in South Dorset as a whole – there is deprivation and inequality. A recent series of programmes on BBC South Today highlighted how Weymouth and Portland were ‘forgotten towns’, with few opportunities for youngsters, low wages and precarious employment.

In 2018, South Dorset had the lowest social mobility of all 533 English constituencies.

In parts of Swanage, 29 per cent of children under the age of 16 live in relative poverty – 25 per cent in absolute poverty. Nine per cent of Purbeck households are fuel poor. Housing costs are rising year

by year – rents in Purbeck in 2021 increased at the highest rate in the country. With the average yearly wage in Purbeck at £25,000, the multiple for buying a house is 12 to one, compared to eight to one nationally.

The median price for a house in Swanage in 2022 was £336,000 – in Corfe Castle and Langton Matravers, £543,000.

Around one in five properties in Swanage are second homes or holiday lets. No wonder the 2021-22 East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice annual review identified housing as a top issue, with 1,634 cases addressed by advisers. Lack of security of tenure for renters is a very real anxiety.

The top issues locally reported by Citizens Advice in 2021-22 reflect the challenges being faced by hard-pressed

families and individuals in Swanage and Purbeck.

There were 3,641 cases involving benefits (excluding Universal Credit), 3,222 cases utilities and communications (broadband, etc), 1,635 cases Universal Credit, 1,613 cases debt and 1,127 consumer goods and services. Some 4,778 clients were helped – face-to-face, over the phone or by email.

We use the term ‘cost of living crisis’ – yet those bland words mask how hard it is for so many to get by. The Financial Times writes of ‘the steepest fall in living standards on record’. Yet we are told that raising the wages of all those who were praised as key workers and heroes during the pandemic is ‘unaffordable’.

Citizens Advice volunteers and staff are at the sharp end of life in Purbeck today. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

Planned council tax hike would cost Band D household £1.41 a week

WELL folks, it’s that time of year again. Council tax. Everyone’s favourite topic…. Dorset Council is one of the top ten highest charging council tax collecting authorities in the country and we are extremely keen not to be!

So, we have been really focused on transforming our processes to save your money and have already saved £76 million since our formation in 2019.

The council proposes to increase council tax next year by just under two per cent and to levy the adult social care precept of two per cent.

This is less than the maximum five per cent increase

outlined in the Government’s Spending Review in December 2022 and well under the current rate of inflation.

To give you a better idea of what this means in the real world, this increase would be equivalent to £1.41 extra a week for a Band D property.

But what do we spend your money on?

And what are we doing to try to spend it wisely and save it where we can?

Our council’s total net budget for 2023-24 will be £348 million. We provide about 450 different services to just under

380,000 residents including social care, children’s services, waste and recycling, highways, parking, planning, housing, environment and culture – to name just a few!

Our proposals are in contrast with many other councils nationally, which face the prospect of cuts to services, such as library closures and reduction of road maintenance, to balance their budgets. We aren’t doing that, in fact, we are working on improving those frontline services for you and with you.

Ideally, we wouldn’t increase

council tax at all, but we have to make sure the services we provide you with are funded, and we’ve worked really hard to ensure that the rises in council tax are below other pressures that we know people are facing.

Importantly, in your council tax bill will be a breakdown of what your money is being spent on by the people you elected.

The budget setting process will complete in full council 14 February 6.30pm for final approval.

LAURA BEDDOW

Councillor for West Purbeck & Dorset Council cabinet member for cultrue, communities & customer service

Laura Beddow

Chris Bradey

Record year for company start-ups

FIGURES just released show that more new businesses were established in Dorset during 2022 than in any previous year to date – making it one of the UK’s most successful counties.

A total of 8,427 new formations were registered in Dorset during the last 12 months, an increase of 11.1 per cent on 2021 when 7,584 were recorded. This brings the number of registered companies in the county to an all-time high of 61,217.

The statistics are taken from the Inform Direct Review of Company Formations, using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics.

Bournemouth formed the highest number of new businesses (2,291), followed by Purbeck (2,040) and Poole (1,466).

Inform Direct managing director John Korchak said: “It is great that Dorset can celebrate a record year for the number of new businesses established.

“The last few years have been turbulent for businesses, with inflation and a cautious economic outlook following the impact of the pandemic.

“However, in these figures we see evidence of the ambition, creativity and resilience of entrepreneurs in Dorset, as well as the benefits from the county’s support for a range of enterprises.

“This positivity is mirrored in the overall picture for the UK which saw a record number of new companies established during 2022, exceeding 800,000 for the very first time.”

The UK saw 805,141 new companies, compared to 771,617 in 2021, which represents an increase of 4.3 per cent and brings the total number of companies to 5,236,227.

Dissolutions of UK companies totalled 578,679, down on 2021 when 606,912 were recorded, suggesting that new and existing businesses are adapting to survive in a post-pandemic business environment.

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Economic review of 2022

A DISMAL year for financial markets, 2022 is one many would rather forget. Despite inflationary pressures already in play, financial markets remained optimistic early on, carrying stretched valuations into the year that ultimately buckled as events unfolded.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a key turning point of 2022, leading to significant increases in energy and food prices globally, driving headline inflation numbers to their highest levels in 40 years. China continued to grapple with difficulties in its property market and a growth restricting ‘Zero Covid’ policy, all while posing a real threat to Taiwan. In the UK, political turmoil unfolded on the back of an ill-fated mini-budget, causing concern for the pension fund industry and a return to bond buying by the Bank of England. The Eurozone looked to struggle most as the bloc sought to diversify away from its reliance on Russian energy. While not immune, the US economy remained resilient and the dollar advanced, with many expecting a shallow recession in 2023.

Much of the year’s focus was placed on the actions of central banks with the US, UK and European Union all experiencing aggressive interest rate hiking cycles in the face of elevated inflation figures. Having expected inflation to be transitory in the latter stages of 2021, central bankers pivoted this stance, raising rates through 2022 at the fastest pace since the 1970s.

Markets settled in the fourth quarter with the new Sunak-Hunt leadership providing stability, inflation figures broadly coming in lower than expectations and central banks slowing the pace of interest rate rises, which are expected to peak in the coming year.

Heading into 2023 there feels reason for optimism regarding the outlook for financial markets. Much comes from the poor performance of 2022, pricing in the worst economic outlook for 2023. With an upcoming recession the consensus view, the focus is likely to be on the severity in the earlier stages of the year before

attention turns to the speed of recovery later on. As always, where financial markets lead, economies will follow.

Many areas of attraction for the year ahead come as a result of the 2022 sell-off, with bond markets a prime example. With interest rates higher and the credit risk premium having widened, corporate bonds are attractive again with yields at levels not seen since the financial crisis. More importantly, many areas of the market have begun to offer positive inflation-adjusted yields with little credit or interest rate risk.

Donna Garner Purbeck Gazette February 6 2023 27 purbeckgazette.co.uk

In equities, attention is expected to turn to earnings performance in the coming quarters with valuation compression the significant driver of recent share price declines. In many developed markets, especially the US, multiples are back to somewhat sensible levels with quality dividend growers likely to be back in favour alongside the more depressed small and mid-caps for higher risk investors with long-term outlooks. Looking east, emerging market equities hold attraction, especially in China, where share prices look poised to head higher on further relaxation of restrictive Covid-19 policies and stabilisation of the property market. Should corporate earnings come in better than currently priced by markets, there remains scope for share price rallies through the year.

While optimistic in our outlook, we remain realistic regarding the pace of recovery, expecting a shallower U-shaped profile. With the long term in mind, the New Year offers investors the opportunity to reassess financial plans and potentially put sidelined cash to work at attractive levels.

KATE SPURLING, investment manager, Redmayne Bentley

Phone: 01202 714 450; kate.spurling@redmayne.co.uk

Kate lives in Swanage and is based at Redmayne Bentley’s Bournemouth and Poole office

n The value of investments and any income derived from them may go down as well as up and you could get back less than you invested.

07714 289408

Postponement of Making Tax Digital for Self Employed

The government understands businesses and self-employed individuals are currently facing a challenging economic environment, and that the transition to MTD for ITSA represents a significant change for taxpayers, their agents, and for HMRC.

That means it is right to take the time needed to work together to maximise those benefits of MTD for small business by implementing gradually.

The government is therefore announcing more time to prepare, so that all businesses, self-employed individuals, and landlords within scope of MTD for Income Tax, but particularly those with the smallest incomes, can adapt to the new ways of working.

The mandation of MTD for ITSA will now be introduced from April 2026, with businesses, self-employed individuals, and landlords with income over £50,000 mandated to join first.

Redmayne Bentley is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Members of the London Stock Exchange. The Redmayne Bentley Bournemouth and Poole office is located

The ins and outs of the Inshore Forecast

By Nick Reed

IT’S always encouraging to get feedback about what we write, and several people commented about the article I wrote in October in which I talked about the Inshore Waters Forecast, asking for more information.

The Inshore Forecast, as it is more commonly referred to, is issued four times a day, by the Met Office, and is one of the most useful planning aids for anyone going afloat. As well as being online, the Inshore Forecast forms part of that iconic British institution, the Radio 4 Shipping Forecast.

In order to fit in with radio time constraints, the information is condensed and follows a set pattern. It begins with the wind, followed by the sea state, the general weather and finally the visibility.

The forecast below is a typical one for our coastline during February.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis –Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or south-west 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Drizzle and fog patches at first, occasional rain later. Poor or very poor, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South-west 3 to 5, backing south 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers. Good.

Our coastline is split into 19 areas to help make the forecast as local as possible. It extends up to 12 miles offshore and both our stations lie within the Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis forecast area.

The wind information gives the direction of the wind and its strength. The direction is the

where the wind comes from, hence the reason a southerly wind is warmer than a northerly wind.

Wind strength is given a number on the Beaufort Scale. Named after its designer, Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, the scale describes the force of the wind by a series of numbers from 0 to 12. 0 is calm while 12 is classed as a hurricane.

If a wind over force 6 is predicted, the forecast starts with a strong wind warning. Winds over force 8 are classed as gale force and have their own specific warnings. A gale warning often will often include the words imminent, soon or later to describe how quickly the gale will arrive. Imminent means in the next six hours, soon between six and 12 hours, and later after 12 hours.

Winds rarely stay in exactly the same direction, and during a forecast they are often described as veering or backing. Veering means the wind changes in a clockwise direction while

backing means a change in an anti-clockwise direction.

The sea state makes use of the Douglas Sea Scale which was devised by the English Admiral H P Douglas in 1917, while he was head of the British Meteorological Navy Service. Its purpose is to estimate the sea’s roughness for navigation. The Douglas Scale bases its description on the height of the waves using a series of descriptive terms and the forecast in this article describes sea conditions being moderate or rough. This would equate to a sea with waves from 1.25 to 2.5m for moderate and 2.5 to 4m for rough. I often think that Douglas must have had a touch of a poet about him as he described the roughest sea –with waves over 14m – as phenomenal. Surprisingly, phenomenal seas might occur around our coast two or three times in a winter, usually off Cornwall, the west of Ireland or Scotland and in the northern North Sea.

Although not mentioned in

the Inshore forecast, the Douglas Scale also has a second series of codes that look at swell waves. The waves described in the forecast are often referred to as ‘fresh waves’ and will be formed by local wind conditions – the stronger the wind, the bigger the waves. There are also large rolling waves that were formed by distant weather conditions – for example, a storm in the mid-Atlantic. These travel across the ocean and are often referred to as the ground swell. These can interact with local waves creating much rougher seas than are forecast.

Local conditions can also affect sea conditions. Both our stations overlook tidal races, and the combination of seabed topography, wind and tide can create hazardous seas in specific locations.

The weather conditions in the inshore waters forecast are fairly self-explanatory. We are all familiar with rain, drizzle, fog and mist. In contrast to Douglas’s poetic terms such as phenomenal, meteorologists seem a fairly dour bunch as the best description of the current weather is fair. During our long hot summer it somehow felt wrong to write fair in our observations, rather than something like absolutely marvellous!

The last part of the forecast describes the visibility. As with the other components of the forecast the words used have very specific meanings. Good means a visibility of more than five nautical miles; moderate from two to five nautical miles; poor from 1,000 metres to two nautical miles and very poor less than 1,000 metres.

This is St Alban’s NCI and Swanage NCI listening on Channel 65 and wishing you south-west 2 to 3, smooth, fair, good. NCI out.

Sea state very rough PHOTO: St Alban’s NCI

Visibilty good but fading

PHOTO: St Alban’s NCI

Novelist’s blue plaque was on wrong property

By Neill Child Wareham Museum volunteer

“IT was a rather noteworthy country town…it wore its antiquity with a sort of pride…it kept the impress of mediaeval feet, in the days when it had 16 churches and a castle to boot”.

Many Purbeck Gazette readers will have noticed in North Street a blue plaque relating to a stay in Wareham by Mrs Craik, who wrote the above passage as part of a description of Wareham – called Kingcombe in the book – in her novel Agatha’s Husband.

The plaque has recently been removed, not because she didn’t visit the town, but because it was on the wrong property!

Dinah Maria Mulock, as she was before her marriage in 1865, was born in Stoke-onTrent in the Potteries in 1826.

In 1841 John William Pike married Mary Mayer, also from the Potteries. John was one of the Wareham-based family of clay merchants who supplied

pottery manufacturers with Purbeck ball clay. The couple settled back in Dorset, and it could have been a connection with Mary that brought Dinah Mulock to Wareham.

Agatha’s Husband was published in 1853 and it wasn’t until 1857 that she wrote her most celebrated novel, John Halifax, Gentleman.

The indications are, therefore, that she visited before 1853, to have been able to set a novel in the Purbeck area.

It has been assumed that she stayed with William Joseph Pike, who was certainly living in North Street in 1851, but to me the Mary Mayer connection seems more likely.

In 1851, John and Mary were living in Parkstone but they may have moved to Wareham before Dinah’s visit. In 1861 they were living in Westport House, since demolished to build the council offices.

Dinah Craik wrote one more novel, for children, set in Purbeck. Published in 1855, The

Little Lytchetts involves the clay mining industry.

That book describes the tramway the Pikes built to transport clay from the pit now known as Blue Pool to Ridge Wharf: “Here Lias stopped the

spring-cart, to let a train of clay wagons pass across the road. They glided on first slowly, then rapidly…there was no need of a locomotive, they ran the whole three miles by the impetus of their own weight.”

Civil war talk and more at museum

THE Museum of East Dorset at Wimborne Minster is offering visitors the chance to ward off the winter blues with its upcoming events programme.

Half-term is just around the corner and youngsters can enjoy a morning of Valentine’s Day themed crafts, stories and garden trail for £3.50 on Tuesday 14 February.

Author Neil McLocklin will give a fascinating talk about ‘The English Civil

War – People and Places in Dorset’ on Monday 6 March at 2pm – admission is £7.

Local members of the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society will be able to help people researching their own family history on Saturday 18 March between 1-4pm – just take along your own research and laptop or tablet. The cost is £5.

For further details on these events and to see what else is on offer, visit

museumofeastdorset.co.uk

Profits from all these events will help support the running of the small, local

museum.

The museum and tea room is open from 10am4pm, Monday to Saturday.

Author Mrs Craik – Dinah Maria Mulock before her marriage – may have visited Wareham through a link to Mary Mayer. Both were from the Potteries but Mary moved to Dorset after marrying into a family of clay merchants

Honda scores awards double

HONDA achieved a double success at the 2023 What Car? Awards.

Jazz won the Small Car of the Year title and the Civic the Family Car of the Year accoalde, while the new Civic Type R was shortlisted for Hot Hatch of the Year award.

Vehicles are tested on UK roads and at What Car?’s dedicated test track.

Honda Jazz is a small car big on features with anti-fatigue seats, a large carrying capacity of up to 1,205 litres with ‘magic seats’, and an infotainment system with seamless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “The Jazz’s mini-MPV shape gives it one of the most spacious interiors of any small car, while incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to

its practicality.

“The driving position is another strength, thanks to an elevated seat and slim windscreen pillars.

“And the car’s hybrid tech combines impressive real-world fuel economy with peppy performance.”

The 11th generation Civic which Honda launched last year is a family favourite, with its full hybrid performance and dynamic drive.

Steve added: “The Civic has the measure of all its family car rivals, not least due to its low running costs, effortless performance and smart interior.

“That interior is one of the most spacious in the class, too, and features some of the most user-friendly controls.

“And the Civic is great to drive, because its steering is precise, and the suspension manages to blend tight body

control with a settled ride.”

Rebecca Adamson, head of automobile at Honda UK, said: “To begin 2023 with two award wins is a great achievement for Honda, and being recognised at the 2023 What Car? Awards is a fantastic

badge of honour.

“Both models are key to our brand, with the Honda Jazz being our top-selling model and the Civic now in its 11th generation – I very much look forward to seeing the success continue.”

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Why seasonal affective disorder is more than just the ‘winter blues’

AT this time of year, you might hear people talking about seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short. More than simply the ‘winter blues’, SAD is a form of depression that affects people during a particular season.

Although people suffer from SAD in the summer, typically it is more prominent during the winter months.

Symptoms

People suffering with SAD might exhibit a number of the following symptoms:

● Persistent low mood

● A loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities

● Irritability

● Feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness

● Feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day

● Sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning

● Craving carbohydrates and gaining weight

● Difficulty concentrating

● Decreased sex drive

● Becoming less sociable. For some people, these symptoms can have a significant and detrimental impact on their daily life.

The GP surgery

ACCORDING to MIND, if you also suffer from other mental health problems, you might find that things get worse at times when you’re affected by SAD.

You should contact the GP if you think you might have SAD and you’re struggling to cope, or if you are worried about your health. The GP will carry out an assessment that will include checking your mental health.

You may be asked about your mood, lifestyle, your diet, patterns of sleep and how your thoughts and behaviours change with the seasons.

They may also ask whether your symptoms prevent you

from carrying out normal activities and whether there’s anything in your personal or family history that may be a contributory factor, such as a family history of depression. Causes

THERE are no exact answers to why people suffer from SAD during the winter. One theory suggests the lack of sunlight can have an adverse effect on the hypothalamus, stopping it from functioning properly.

This might lead to an increase in production of a hormone called melatonin, which controls your sleep/wake cycle and is responsible for making you feel sleepy.

Lack of sunlight might also decrease production of serotonin. As this hormone affects your mood, appetite and sleep, it is thought this reduction can lead to feelings of depression.

It can also affect your circadian rhythm, your body’s natural ‘clock’ may not function properly, which can result in symptoms associated with SAD.

Treating SAD

IT is not always easy to diagnose SAD. The main indicator is if the symptoms have occurred at similar times of the year for at least two years or more, and if periods of feeling well follow the periods

of depression.

There are a number of treatments available. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that SAD should be treated in the same way as other types of depression.

Your GP will talk you through the options and decide which ones are best suited to your particular circumstances.

Lifestyle changes –exercising regularly can be beneficial, and if you do it outdoors you will increase your exposure to sunlight.

Counselling – talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Medicine – your GP will talk you through what is available should they feel you would benefit from taking a course of antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Be clear on possible side effects and how long it takes for the medicine to begin working.

Light therapy – this uses a special lamp, or light box, that is designed to simulate exposure to natural sunlight.

Although light boxes are very popular, NICE is undecided on their effectiveness in treating SAD. Light boxes will not be suitable for everyone, so ask your GP for

advice.

Living with SAD can be very difficult. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from SAD, as well as visiting the GP, there are a number of things you can do at home to help with your symptoms.

For example, you can try and get as much natural sunlight as possible, whether through exercising outdoors or even going for regular walks.

Try and bring as much natural light into your home as you can and sit near windows whenever possible. Try different methods of de-stressing and learning to relax. Find one that works for you.

Be open with your friends and family. Explain to them how you feel and how your feelings and behaviours change during the winter months. Articulating your feelings can help you understand yourself better and it will help the people close to you offer better support.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding overloading with carbohydrates. Where possible, learn to recognise and avoid stressful situations.

Keep a diary. This can be helpful in the short-term as a means of recognising the signs that you are struggling, but long-term it can help with diagnosis and working out what helps alleviate your symptoms. If you need to talk

● Samaritans – call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

● SANEline – support for people experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else. 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).

● Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day).

● Contact Mind’s Infoline on 0300 123 3393

● Ask your GP for details of support groups.

Several organisations offer advice if you’re suffering from SAD

Your Health Matters

Dorset HealthCare’s monthly round-up

Mental health support is available when you

LAST year continued to be a challenging time for people’s mental health. And as we work our way into 2023, the new year can sometimes be a tough time for people feeling low or depressed.

Our Access Mental Health services are here to provide support for people who are struggling to cope, anxious or feeling they are heading towards a crisis. And provide easy and flexible ways to get the help you need, no matter what your situation or the time of day.

We have face-to-face support available in the evenings and there is someone at the end of a phone 24 hours a day. You can talk to mental health staff and peer specialists – people with their own lived experience of mental health

issues – and get the right support and advice.

Services available include:

n Connection – a 24/7 telephone helpline (0800 652 0190) for people of all ages which can provide direct help or signpost to a range of other services

n The Retreat – drop-in service run in partnership with the Dorset Mental Health Forum which provides a way for over-18s to talk through problems with a mental health worker or peer specialist face-to-face. The Bournemouth Retreat is open from 4.3011.30pm every day and Dorchester’s Retreat is open from 4.30-11.30pm, SaturdayWednesday. Online support is also available

n Community Front Rooms

– face-to-face drop-in support

Rachel Ciantar

service for over-18s in Bridport, Shaftesbury, Wareham (Thursday-Sunday, 2.15-9.45pm) and Weymouth (every day, 2.15-9.45pm). Virtual support is also available. They are run by local charities – The Burrough Harmony Centre (Bridport), Hope (Shaftesbury) and Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (Wareham and Weymouth) – and are all staffed by mental health and peer support workers.

Last year the Connection phone line received between 4,500 to 5,200 calls a month. One caller to the service said:

“The lady listened, kept me calm, and reassured me that I shouldn’t feel a burden. After speaking with her I felt a lot better. The people on the end

of the phone made me realise that they are available to help me no matter what.”

And a visitor to the Retreat added: “The person I spoke to really could relate to what I was going through and understood what I had been through. He gave me the advice I needed, but also listened like I needed.”

We understand how hard it can be to ask for help, but please do call or visit us as we really want to listen and are here for you 24/7.

Visit our website for all the details – www.

dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/ access-mental-health

LAURA EKELUND

Dorset HealthCare’s crisis and acute community services manager

need it, no matter the situation or time of the day

Purbeck Get in touch

FINLEY’S CAFÉ AND FISH & CHIP SHOP ARE HIRING

We are an established, local, family business situated in beautiful Lulworth Cove and are currently looking to fill various roles.

We require a cook, fish fryers, front of house and general kitchen assistants.

We are looking for happy, hardworking, enthusiastic team players, who take pride in their work.

Full and part-time positions are available, with no split shifts. Good rates of pay, pension scheme, holiday pay, uniform, meals on duty, and a 10 % discount.

For more details please email finleys.lulworth@btconnect.com or call Claire on 01929 400711.

The Blackmore Vale Ltd continues to enjoy great success and we are looking for an experienced Account Manager

You will be managing a regular client base as well as generating new business selling into various magazines. Previous sales experience is required and you should be hungry for success.

The role is a hybrid of working from home/office and out and about within the Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire areas. You must own your own vehicle – a mileage allowance is paid.

Previous sales experience

Hungry for success

Hours are Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm. Salary is dependent on experience.

If you’ve got what it takes to be part of this fantastic team, please send your application to debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net

Closing date for applications is Friday 24th February 2023.

Mosaic

We are seeking fully qualified counsellors/therapists as sessional workers in North and West areas of Dorset and Purbeck. If you have experience of working with bereaved children, young people and their families and would like to be part of our friendly and supportive team, please contact us for further information and an application form.

Requirements: Counselling qualification and CPD certificate in working with children and young people. Minimum of 1 year post qualification. Experience of working with children, young people and families. And a driving licence.

Climbing roses have simple demands

by Sally Gregson

PERHAPS the archetypical flower of any English garden is the rose. More pages have been written, more photographs taken and more songs sung about the rose than any other flower. And yet roses are becoming less widely grown than ever before. Perhaps it’s the pruning, which is tackled below, or perhaps it’s the prickles, with which not all roses are adorned, or perhaps they are just contrary to the ‘natural, untamed’ look of modern borders.

Climbing roses are much simpler to grow. They just need good, improved soil, mostly in sun, and somewhere to climb. The growth potential can vary quite a lot. From the relatively short variety Rosa Souvenir du Docteur Jamain with its velvety red flowers produced in mid-summer, through the rambling R. Brenda Colvin with clouds of creamy, semi-double flowers in June and July, to the humungous R. Paul’s Himalayan Musk which would smother a house if left to its own devices, although its millions of small, pale pink flowers would take your breath away.

Many of the more popular climbing roses have weak necks, which is an entirely desirable trait. If all the flowers on a climbing rose looked up to heaven, what would we earth-bound mortals have to admire? Rosa Zéphyrine Drouhin has

semi-double, deep pink flowers that gaze down from above with quantities of perfume. Most usefully, La Zéphyrine has no prickles at all. So she could be planted by a doorway and would not reach out and grab every passer-by as they came and went. At the opposite extreme, R. Mermaid has big, beautiful, lemon-yellow single flowers. And long, vicious thorns that would tear any passer-by to shreds. She might be very useful on a boundary fence. Rambling roses do just that – they ramble all over any neighbouring shrub

and cover it with blossom in summer. If you have the space, try mixing Rosa Veilchenblau with its grey-mauve flowers, double white R. Rambling Rector and the crimson Chevy Chase. They flower over the course of about six weeks depending on the summer. In autumn R. Rambling Rector has small red hips that dance over the whole plant until the birds have feasted on them all. Prune back any flowered shoots in autumn, and allow the long, new wands to get ready for another glorious summer.

Pruning subject of great debate and controversy

by Sally Gregson

PART of the fun of getting the garden ready for summer –preparing the soil, composting the rotten leaves, tying in the climbers, is pruning the roses. However, no subject seems to provoke as much debate and controversy as whether and when to prune roses.

There is a whole school of thought that embraces hedgetrimmers, and ‘begone with all the fiddling about’. Others feel pruning is an art form to be taken very seriously. It can all get confusing. But there are a few simple guidelines.

Essentially pruning anything encourages growth. And if it’s done too early, that is before February, the new young growth is likely to be hit by those

damaging frosts of late winter. So, if very cold weather is in the forecast, stay your secateurs. For once-flowering roses – that is the old-fashioned shrub roses that have a single, glorious few weeks of flower in the summer – it is quite often better to leave them alone and unpruned. But if they are getting leggy and in need of treatment, approach them with a sharp pair of secateurs and stout gloves, take out any dead or damaged shoots, and those that are chafing one another. Remember that the flower-buds are carried in the top three buds of any shoot.

For those roses that repeatflower all summer, prune them in February, removing any overcrowded wood and thin,

leggy shoots. Reduce the remaining shoots by up to two-thirds of their length to encourage basal growth. Then shape the bush into the form of an open bowl. This allows air to circulate and prevents fungal disease. Finally, give them all a good feed of rose fertiliser. Alternatively, there is the method whereby the long, growing, potentially flowering shoots are tied into hoops. This causes the shoots to ‘break’, that is, to flower, all along the horizontal stem. The result is far more flowers. This especially works well with singleflowering roses. Those shoots that have flowered can be cut back in late summer and newly grown shoots tied in to replace them. The result is spectacular.

In autumn Rosa Rambling Rector has small red hips that dance over the whole plant

Jewellery – the language of love

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

FEBRUARY 14 is Valentine’s Day, continuing a tradition that began before the time of the Roman Empire.

Gifts include flowers, especially roses, and chocolates, but the most lasting gift of love

gemstone associated with an engagement ring.

Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the very first diamond engagement ring in 1477 for Mary of Burgundy, and so a tradition was born.

The diamond is an excellent choice for this type of ring, which one would hope would

in yellow or white gold, or platinum.

Designs range from the classically simple to the wildly elaborate – it really is down to the personal preference of the recipient, so it’s wise to check beforehand!

It is said to expect to spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring and this is where considering buying antique can become a very attractive option.

For instance, the ring pictured above is a French Edwardian diamond ring that

we were delighted to buy in and costs £665.

A pre-loved or antique diamond ring can be considerably cheaper than a new ring and has a story all of its own.

Couples we have met at Heirlooms have particularly enjoyed the fact that they are continuing a love story! And that’s really romantic, don’t you think?

WANTED

Coins and Coin Collections

07754 058850

of Sherborne (near the Abbey)

Thirty years of dealing in antique and Collectible Toys.

Top prices paid for all types of model railway, die cast cars, early Action Man and Star Wars, Scalextric, Meccano, unmade Airfix kits etc. Those magical makes; Hornby, Dinky, Triang, Spot-On, Corgi, Subbuteo, Britains, Timpo plus plus plus

This French Edwardian diamond ring is for sale at £665

How to get the most out of your air fryer

IT seems like everyone loves an air fryer right now – and if you’re interested in exactly how much money they can save versus a traditional oven, check out the 23 June 2022 episode of Sliced Bread on BBC Sounds.

But as well as saving you cold hard cash, air fryers promise to pep up your culinary repertoire. A little inspiration wouldn’t go amiss…

The consensus from air fryer converts is that when it comes to potatoes, they really can’t be bettered – and the secret to to the perfect air fryer chip is to remove starch and liquid before cooking.

To create crispy chips for four people, peel and chop 450g of Maris Piper – or another floury variety – potatoes. Soak in cold water for five minutes, drain and refill the pan with boiling water. Add a teaspoon of salt and bring back to the boil. Boil for seven minutes, then drain and gently pat dry. Leave to cool for ten minutes. Set the air fryer to 200°C, coat the raw chips with groundnut oil then transfer to the cooking basket.

Cook for 20 minutes, checking after ten minutes to give the basket a really good shake.

The standard potato’s more colourful cousin, sweet potatoes, make delicious fries but are quite difficult to crisp up. Play around with coatings like fine polenta, liberally seasoned and added after you’ve coated your fries in oil. There’s no need to par boil them first, simply cook at 180°C for 15 minutes, giving them a gentle shake halfway through the cooking time.

Die-hard air fryer fans cook

whole meals in theirs, layering up various carbs, protein and vegetables to cook efficiently with minimal washing up. Something like steak and chips will cook in under 20 minutes with minimal intervention.

Oily fish is particularly suited to air fryer cooking – which cooks the outside of foodstuffs more quickly then the centre ensuring a seared fillet that stays tender and flaky. Their natural oil content keeps the fillets deliciously moist, all they need is seasoning with salt and pepper and a light dusting of

your favourite herbs or spices. Salmon and veggies, air fryer style

Serves 2

• 2 skin-on salmon fillets

• 2tbsp olive oil

• salt & pepper

• 2 courgettes

• 1 red onion

• 1 red pepper

• fresh thyme

• half a tsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp tartare sauce

Method

1 – Pre-heat your air fryer to 200°C.

2 – Slice the courgettes into discs about the thickness of a pound coin. Place in a bowl.

3 – De-seed the pepper and cut into chunks the same size as the courgette slices. Add to the bowl.

4 – Peel the onion, remove the top and the root then cut in half from top to bottom. Chop each half into slices the same thickness as your courgette. Add to the bowl.

5 – Drizzle the vegetables with all but half a tsp of the olive oil, season well with salt and pepper and sprinkle with thyme leaves.

6 – Rub the remaining oil onto the salmon, and season well.

7 – Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, in one side of the air fryer basket and the vegetables in the other.

8 – Cook for ten minutes. Plate up and garnish with tartare sauce.

Comfort food for a cold winter’s night

By Lorraine Gibson

FEBRUARY days and long nights cry out for a cheering plate of comfort food.

Why not try this easy recipe for a warming cottage pie topped with delicious slices of sweet potato in place of the usual mash?

Not only do you get the familiar hearty filling, but an orange ‘lid’ that embraces the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!

Cottage pie with sweet potato

Prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour

20 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

500g British beef mince

1 onion, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced 1 Oxo Beef stock

cube

1 tbsp tomato purée

11/2 tbsp plain flour

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

3 thyme sprigs

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled 1 tbsp unsalted butter.

Method

1 – Heat 1⁄2 tbsp oil in a large pan or casserole dish over a high heat. Add the beef and fry for four to five minutes, until browned.

Remove from pan, add remaining 1⁄2 tbsp oil, lower the heat to medium and fry the onion, celery and carrot with a pinch of salt for ten minutes, until softened. Meanwhile, mix the stock cube with 500ml boiled water.

2 – Return the beef to the pan, add the tomato purée and cook for one minute, then

stir in the flour and fry for one minute more. Add the stock, Worcestershire sauce and two thyme sprigs and simmer for 25-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, thinly slice the potatoes and put in a bowl. Cover with boiled water; set aside. Drain and use kitchen paper to pat dry, then lay out on more kitchen paper to finish drying.

3 – Pre-heat the oven to 200C, gas mark 6. Melt the butter. Tip the beef and gravy into a medium oven-proof dish. Toss the potatoes with the butter and leaves from the remaining thyme sprig. Season and arrange over the beef. Bake for 30 minutes.

Cook’s tip

SCATTER grated cheddar over the potatoes halfway through baking to give the pie a nice cheesy crust.

Recipe: Waitrose

PHOTO: Malidate Van/ www.pexels.com

Chilli festival announces returnand plea for foodies to get growing!

THE Great Dorset Chilli Festival has announced a return for 2023.

The event will take place at the Stock Gaylard Estate, near Sturminster Newton, on the weekend of August 5 and 6.

And organisers are promosing a weekend of ‘great food, music, entertainment and competitions, with a bit of added spice’.

To get foodies in the mood, the festival has launched a chilli-growing competition - with seeds needing to be sown now for a summer fruit.

The festival’s Chilli Plant Growing Competition will be judged at the event, so amateur gardeners should be sowing their chilli seeds now.

“Judging is taken very seriously, and the competition is fierce,” said festival director, Miles Halton.

“But the joy is that anyone can take part, and anyone could win. It’s always worth having a go.”

The competition is in two classes: Class 1 is only for the chilli variety “Dusk”, a really pretty bushy chilli plant with masses of fruit ripening to red and purple.

Class 2 is the open class into which any chilli plant can be entered.

Plants are judged on appearance, development, condition and fruiting.

Judging is by two respected commercial chilli seed growers, Michael Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds (Sea Spring Seeds developed the hot Dorset Naga chilli) and Matt Simpson of Simpson’s Seeds (as seen on TV shouting “grow, damn you” at his chilli plants).

The winner of each chilli plant

Aldi bringing ‘Magic Bags’ to all stores

ALDI shoppers will soon be able to pick up bargain bags at stores in Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset.

The budget supermarket has announced it is rolling out the Magic Bags scheme across the UK.

Magic Bags are available to shoppers for £3.30, but contain at least £10 worth of food which is approaching sell-by or use-by dates.

A partnership with the world’s largest surplus food platform, Too Good To Go, has enabled the move, the chain said, and comes after a trial scheme last year.

To get a Magic Bag, shoppers can download the free Too Good To Go app and search for their nearby Aldi store, before reserving a bag to collect from the store at an allotted time.

The nationwide roll out is expected to save a further 4,000 tonnes of food from going to waste annually, the supermarket said, and will form a key part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to cut food waste.

In addition, all of Aldi’s UK stores will continue to donate surplus food to local causes.

Liz Fox, corporate responsibility director at Aldi UK, said: “Rolling out our partnership with Too Good To Go is another way of allowing us to cut down on food waste, while also offering customers in Somerset the opportunity to pick up our food at even lower prices.

“With the rising cost of living impacting so many, Too Good To Go offers a simple and accessible way for consumers to save money and reduce waste.”

competition class will receive a £50 gift voucher from local instore and online cookware and gardening retailer, Harts of Stur, who are based in Sturminster Newton.

Sea Spring Seeds has also provided the festival with a limited supply of Dusk chilli seeds to give away.

For a copy of the rules and to claim your seeds, email info@greatdorsetchillifestival. co.uk.

The Dusk chilli, left, will be in the spotlight at the Great Dorset Chilli Festival

Symonds & Sampson

Merley House near Wimborne is the venue for Symonds & Sampson’s first property auction of 2023 to be held on 2nd March and with a diverse and impressive catalogue of property and land spanning an area from Bournemouth to Cornwall.

The benchmark is high following a 100% success rate at our December sale, but auctioneer Mark Lewis is confident. “The media might try to talk the market down, however the reality for many types of property and land is that demand is high. The lure of building or renovating your own home is as strong as ever, which bodes well for the many properties for renovation we have in the catalogue.

Woodland and agricultural land attract interest from local buyers, those looking for their piece of English Countryside, and investors.”

Of particular note is Wesper Farmhouse in Sturminster Newton. Built in 1947 and believed to be the first house built in the town after WWII, it’s now on the market for the first time in 96 years! The 3-bedroom house in 2.17 acres has wonderful views to Hambledon Hill to the rear and is a very exciting prospect for a buyer with imagination.

Similarly, a substantial detached Edwardian house in private grounds of 0.54 acres in Broadstone is a rare opportunity to modernise a wonderful character property.

Properties for modernisation in Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall are entered in the auction, which also contains a first for Symonds & Sampson, a barge. ‘La Perniche’ is a 40m steel vessel built in France in the 1930’s, which has seen service as a commercial barge, a river cruiser in Burgundy, and most recently as a restaurant berthed in Falmouth.

Head to our website to see all the lots entered, or call into your nearest Symonds & Sampson office to collect a copy of the catalogue, graced with a beautiful painting by Angie Rooke.

1 Merriefield Drive

La Perniche

Wesper Farmhouse

Land and Woodland at West Moors

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday 11th February | 10am – 1pm

The Kemps, East Stoke, Wareham, BH20 6AL

Come along to view this exciting development of these 3 double bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury homes with outstanding countryside views. Prices from £450,000. EPC B. Open house offer of £10,000 towards Stamp Duty. Contact us today to arrange your appointment.

Symonds & Sampson Wimborne 01202 843190

Goadsby Wareham

01929 552206

Cloudbusting aim for authentic Kate

By Lorraine Gibson

“I COULD have been listening to Kate herself,” the words of British drummer Preston Heyman describing Kate Bush celebration act Cloudbusting.

And he should know – he played drums for the real Kate, famous for unforgettable hits like Wuthering Heights, Babooshka – and Running Up That Hill, which unexpectedly won a whole new generation of fans when it was used to great effect in series four of hit television show Stranger Things.

Cloudbusting formed in 2012, long before any suggestion that Bush herself would ever perform again, to present her songs as faithfully to the original recordings as possible.

They stage an impressively

authentic live experience featuring all the hits and, interestingly, some of the talented musician’s lesserknown songs, some of which have never been heard live before.

The band isn’t a ‘tribute’ in conventional terms, as no one’s pretending to be Kate or impersonating her, instead the focus is all about the authenticity of the music.

Testament to this is that many of Kate’s original collaborators from stage and studio have joined the band for performances.

Cloudbusting are at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Friday February 10.

Tickets are available online priced £23.10 at www. tivoliwimborne.co.uk or from the box office at £21.

Guitar man sure knows how to play the blues

By Lorraine Gibson

AS a musician, when you’re supporting big-hitting performers like Van Morrison, Ringo Starr and Buddy Guy, you have to be at the top of your game.

Which is where Laurence Jones, one the UK’s hottest guitar players, happens to be right now. His passionate riffs, classic guitar solos, catchy songs and distinctive cross-over sound have seen him voted Young Artist of The Year in the British Blues Awards three years running and got him into the British Blues Hall of Fame.

An amazing achievement for Jones and his band who have also supported Status Quo, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Walter

Trout and many more.

Having graced the stages of some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including The Royal Albert Hall in London and The Carnegie Hall in New York, it will be a rare treat to see them in action at the Tivoli, Wimborne.

Laurence Jones plus support Blue Nation, are appearing on Saturday 11 February at 7.30pm. Tickets are available online at www.tivoliwimborne. co.uk priced £22 and from the box office at £20.

Laurence Jones is set to appear at the Tivoli in Wimborne

Classic films in all their glory

By Lorraine Gibson

AN eclectic feast of classic films on 35mm film is coming to The Regent in Christchurch as Dirt in the Gate Movies –Dorset’s specialist 35mm film exhibitors – presents a new programme of celluloid favourites in all their original glory.

Forget watching era-defining cinematic treasures such as Jaws or Cinema Paradiso on DVD in your lounge and see them as they were intended to be seen, at the cinema, on the big screen with all the colours, sounds and details that made them so acclaimed in the first place.

After a screening of the celebrated 1980 comedy Airplane!, starring Leslie Nielsen, recently, next up is James Cameron’s The Abyss (15) on Friday 10 February, offering film fans a rare chance to see his 1989 special edition version of the tense alien thriller.

Sent to recover nuclear weapons from a sunken US submarine, a team of deep-sea oil riggers and Navy Seals

discovers alien life in this watery adventure which, despite underperforming at the box-office on its theatrical release, has gone on to earn critical success and is now recognised as a major technical achievement.

Director Cameron’s extended cut, which can be experienced on 35mm for one day only, plays up its cold war context and restores his intended ending. Tickets are £10.

Other films in the schedule include RoboCop and Logan’s Run. Watch this space for dates.

Menopause revisited on the high seas...

THE sequel to Menopause: The Musical, the original ‘ultimate girls’ night out’, is coming Lighthouse Poole later this month.

Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through Menopause fast forwards five years to catch up with the same four characters for tales of their lives, loves and losses as they set sail on the high seas.

The show is billed as an ‘hilarious, heartfelt, reassuring and unflinching look at the joys of menopause

and friendship’ and features parody songs about hot flushes, memory loss and ageing gracefully – or not!

Members of the cast are Mary Byrne (X-Factor), Jessica Martin (Copycats), Rebecca Wheatley (Casualty) and musical theatre star Susie Fenwick.

The show is at Lighthouse Poole on Tuesday 28 February at 7.45pm – for tickets and information phone 01202 280000 or visit www. lighthousepoole.co.uk

Theatre, Cinema & Function Rooms

Book

THE MOWLEM OPEN DAY 2023

• Saturday 11th February, from 11am to 4pm.

We are excited to open up The Mowlem for Swanage residents, businesses and visitors to meet staff, volunteers and trustees on Saturday, 11th February. On the day, there will be information stalls upstairs in the community room, talks and demonstrations on stage in the auditorium and activities in The Showbar. Visitors will also be able to learn more about our vision and aims for The Mowlem.

LIVE SHOWS & MUSIC:

• Artsreach Present She’Koyokh

- She’Koyokh is an international, virtuosic and award-winning band comprising seven expert musicians who play klezmer and traditional music from the Balkans and Turkey.

Friday 3rd at 7.30pm.

• Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years - Critically acclaimed as one of the greatest tribute shows in the world, Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years will take to the stage with iconic songs inc. The Sound of Silence, Mrs Robinson, The Boxer and the smash hit Bridge Over Troubled Water. Friday 10th at 7.30pm.

• The Addams Family - The Swanage School return to The Mowlem, bringing you the kooky, upside-down world of the Addams Family. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th & Saturday 25th at 7.30pm. Matinée on Saturday 25th at 2.30pm.

EVENTS IN THE SHOWBAR

(upstairs at The Mowlem):

• Rob Mill’s Trackside Cooptimists plus DJ Paul Angel

Led by Baritonista Rob Mills, The Cooptimists present a fundraising evening on behalf of Food For Thought Purbeck’s new Mobile Larder. Expect Funky, Jazzy Grooves, Live looping, Saxophones, Bongos, Congas, Afro beats, Latin rhythms & good vibes! Saturday 18th Feb at 7.30 pm - FREE ENTRY, donations encouraged!

MOWLEM VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS

• ‘Formation’ - The next Visual Arts exhibition is from Sally Maltby. Moving to the Jurassic Coast was a revelation to Sally, who has always been fascinated by rocks and their formations and the colours and history, expressing the seemingly permanent affected by accelerated erosion.

The exhibition will be free to explore from January 27th through March 21st.

MOVIES:

• Empire of Light (R). A moving drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times. Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s.

Friday, 27th January through to Thursday, 2nd February at 7.30pm (excluding Sunday).

• A Man Called Otto (15). Based on the comical and moving New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticising and judging his exasperated neighbours. Saturday, 4th February through to Thursday, 9th February at 7.30 pm (excluding Sunday). Monday Matinée on Monday 6th at 2.30 pm

• Empire of Light

• Living (12A). In 1950s London, a humourless civil servant decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis. Starring Bill Nighy.

Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd February at 7.30pm.

• The Fablemans Film (12A). Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Michelle Williams. Monday, 27th February through to Thursday 2nd March at 7.30pm, Monday Matinée on Monday 27th at 2.30pm.

am in The Showbar.

• The Flower Club will meet on Thursday, 16th February, at 9 am in the Community Room.

• Health Qigong Fitness with Penny meets every Wednesday at 2pm & 3.30pm during February in the Community Room.

• Slimming World is held every Wednesday through February at 6 pm in the Community Room.

• She’Koyokh

Spotlight Diary

Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for 20 February is NOON 10 February. Call Lizzie Wilmot on 01963 400186 or email lizzie@blackmorevale.net.

KEY: * = Start time not known or n/a; Ffi = for further information; Sw = Swanage; Wm = Wareham; VH = Village Hall, Telephone code 01929 unless otherwise stated.

FEBRUARY2023

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

EVERY MONDAY

09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH.

09.30 Under 2.5 years old group. Till 11am. at Parish Hall, Wm.

09.30 Adult Modern line dance: Corfe Castle Village Hall: Free taster session: Call 01202 243803. Email purbeckdancestudio@gmail. com

09.45 Toddler Club URC, Swanage. Till 11.15.

10.00 Table Tennis Club Methodist Ch. hall, High Street, Swanage. Steve: 424591; Malcolm: 427695.

11.30 Adult beginners Latin American & Ballroom Line dance (you dance solo): Corfe Castle Village Hall: Free Taster Session: Call 01202 243803: Email purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com

13.00 Play and Learn at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 2.45pm

13.00 Under 1s and Tums at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 3pm.

13.45 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club meets at Furzebrook village hall until 16.00. New members and visitors welcome. Free trial sessions and coaching. Call the secretary on 07597 782613.

14.00 Pins and Needles at Harmans Cross VH.

14.00 Swanage Digital Champions. Support people in the community to use the internet and gain basic online skills. Booking essential on 01929 423485.

14.00 Swanage Disabled Club meet until 4pm. Meeting place All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell, Swanage. Transport available. Call Mrs Daphne Saville on 01929 425241.

16.00 Colour Me Happy. Adult colouring session at Swanage Library. Drop in.

16.45 Soccer Skills Swanage FC First Sch children £1. Till 5.45. 425175.

18.00Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Swanage. Free cardio tennis taster. Till 7pm.

18.30 Wareham Youth Club years 8 to 9, Wareham Youth Centre.

18:30-19:30 Ladies & Girls Touch Rugby. Swanage and Wareham M&Y. 07940 222327

19:00 Purbeck Chess Club. Corfe Castle Village Hall. Free taster sessions. All levels welcome. FFI Steve 552504

19.00 Swanage Youth Club. School year 10 and upwards. Till 9.30pm.

19.00 Wareham Choral Society meet Lady St.Mary Church, Wm. Till 9.30. New singers always welcome. 01202 632678.

19.30 Purbeck Village Quire rehearse at Wm URC Church. New/ visiting singers (no audition necessary). String & wind players also welcome. 288045 or 480737.

19.30 Wm Folk Dance Club Stoboro’ VH. All welcome. 07749 853815. Email: warehamfolkdance@gmail.com.

19.30 Swanage Air Cadets meet at Air Training Corps HQ, Court Road, Swanage. Cadets age 12+. Email: oc.2185@aircadets. mod.

20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Swanage.

EVERY TUESDAY

09.30 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club. Painting and sketching. At the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Swanage. Till 1pm. Outdoors in summer. Gina on 421689.

09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 11.30am.

09.30 Kiddies Corner Mother & Toddler Group (term time only) No fee - donations welcome. Purbeck Gateway Church. 551415.

09.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. 553718.

10.00 First Steps Parent & Toddlers’ Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 11.30am during term time. Sylvia Garrett 425420, office hours.

10.00 Wareham Croquet Club meet at the Recreation Ground until 5pm. New members and visitors welcome. Call Tony on 01929 550190 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@hotmail.com.

10.00 Sandford Toddlers at Sandford Community Hall, till 11.30am.

10.00 A Place Of Welcome at 103 High St. Swanage. Friendly drop-in for everyone, providing a free cup of tea or coffee, a listening ear, conversation and basic information. Everyone welcome, whatever the circumstances. Until 12 noon.

10.30 Employment Hub at Swanage Library. Until 12.30pm. Book via

Skilla dn Learning on 01202 262300.

10.30 Swanage Walking for Health Group starter walks (15-30mins). Start from the Mowlem Shelter on Swanage Seafront. Get back into the Swanageing of things gently! 481000.

10.30 Wareham Walkers. Convivial health walks for mainly older people, of up to two hours in and around Wareham, ending with coffee at a local tea room or pub. www.wareham-walkers.org.uk or call 552933.

12.00 Nature Tots (0-4yrs) at Bovington Memorial Hall Garden. Until 2pm.

13.45 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club meets at Furzebrook village hall until 16.00. New members and visitors welcome. Free trial sessions and coaching. Call the secretary on 07597 782613.

14.00 Swanage Walking for Health Group. Walks of 60-90mins, various locations. Walks are very social, for a range of abilities. Walks start from car parks at Studland, Corfe, Arne, Durlston, Langton, Acton, Worth and Kingston. 481000.

14.00 Swanage Town Walk. Local historian takes walks lasting 90 minutes. Meet outside the Museum in the ‘Square’. Contributions welcome.

17.30 Wareham Youth Club year 6, Wareham Youth Centre.

17.30 Wool Youth Club year 6, D’Urberville VH.

18:00 - 20:00 Rugby training - give it a try! Girls training U12’s - U18’s. Swanage and Wareham M&Y. Call Sophie 07743 896360.

18.00 Swanage Youth Centre Girls’ Night (Yr 8+) Till 10pm.

18.15 Swanage Cricket Club Practice till 8.30pm.

18.30 Swanage Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840.

19.00 Wareham Youth Club year 7, Wareham Youth Centre.

19:00 - 21:00 Rugby training - give it a try! Adult training, all ages welcome. Swanage and Wareham M&Y. 07581 454986

17.30 Wool Youth Club year 7, D’Urberville VH.

19.00 Wareham Air Cadets meet at Air Training Corps HQ, St Martin’s Lane, Wm. Cadets age 12+. Email: oc.2185@aircadets.mod.

19.30 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Swanage. BH19 1AZ. Till 9.30pm. All welcome! 425074.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

09.45 Corfe Wool Workshop Corfe VH, East St. Members £1.50; nonmembers £2.50. Till12.00. 427067.

10.00 Adult Improvers Latin American & Ballroom dance class: St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage: Call 01202 243803: Email purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com.

10.30 Play and Learn at Kids of Wool (BH20 6DY) until 12 noon.

10.30 Books and More – Swanage Library. Reading & discussion group.

11.00 Adult Intermediate modern line dance: St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage: Call 01202 243803: Email purbeckdancestudio@ gmail.com.

12.00 Adult Beginners Modern Line dance: St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage: Free taster session: Call 01202 243803. Email purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com.

13.00 Studland Toddler Group at Studland Village Hall until 2.30pm.

14.00 Herston Senior Citizens meet Herston Hall, Jubilee Rd, Swanage. All welcome.

14.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 3pm. With Penny at the Mowlem Community Room, Swanage. 07969 925502.

14.30 Local Historian walk around Swanage, lasting 1 1/2 hours. No need to book, just turn up in Swanage Museum, contributions welcome.

16.15 Swanage Football Club U-7s training til 5.15pm. £1. 426346.

17.15 Swanage Football Club U-9s training til 6.15pm. £1. 426346.

17.30 Corfe Castle Youth Club years 6 and 7, Corfe Castle VH.

18.00 Wareham Youth Club year 10 up, Wareham Youth Centre.

18.00 Planet Purbeck (aged 11 up), Wareham Youth Centre.

18.00 Wool Youth Club year 8, D’Urberville VH.

19.00 Corfe Castle Youth Club year 8 up, Corfe Castle VH.

18.00 Swanage Youth Club. School years 7 and 8. Till 8.30pm.

18:00 - 19:30 Rugby training - give it a try! U12’s - U16’s. Swanage and Wareham M&Y. 07799842225

18.30 Swanage and Wareham Hockey Club Junior (6-14yrs) Training, Wm Sports Centre. Until 7.30pm. Email: Swanagewarehamhockey@outlook.com.

19:00 - 21:00 Rugby training - give it a try! Ladies training Swanage and Wareham M&Y. 07940 222327

19.00 Wareham Depression Support group. Second and fourth Wednesday each month at Not Just Sundaes, South Street, Wareham. BH20, until 9pm. John: 01929 556315 or 07871 727278 or email: johnoneil905@yahoo.co.uk.

19.00 Swanage Town Band meet for our weekly practise in the Swanage Methodist Church. New musicians warmly welcomed. Please call David Cook (musical Director) for further informaiton on: 01929 422909.

19.00 Purbeck Runners have a club run every Wednesday. See purbeckrunners.co.uk for details.

19.00 Swanage & Wareham Depression Support group. Meets weekly alternating between Swanage and Wareham. Please call Mary 01929 426896 or email Nick on nickviney@hotmail.com (AMENDED)

19.30 Swanage Musical Theatre meet Swanage Bay View Complex Rehearsal Room. All welcome. 426161

20.00 Swanage Youth Centre Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 10pm.

20.15 Dorset Buttons Morris Practice. URC Hall, Wm. 423234/421130.

20.30 Wm Swanageimming Club Adults. All standards + stroke improvement. Till 10pm.

22.00 Swanage Youth Centre Club Night (16+) Till 11.59pm.

EVERY THURSDAY

09.00 Swanage Painting Club. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Swanage. Friendly group. New members including beginners welcome. Till 1pm. Jane on 01929 427078.

09.30 Play and Learn at Chapel Lane, Swanage, till 11am.

09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Streche Road, Wareham, until 12 noon.

09.30 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Swanage. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 11am.

09.30 Sensory Play for under ones, at Bovington Centre until 10.30am

10.00 Wyvern Savings and Loan Credit Union opens until 12 noon at Not Just Sundaes, South Street, Wareham, opposite the Library. A secure place to save and loans available at fair rates. Call in for a cuppa and a chat, or call 01305 268444.

10.00 Wm Parent and Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45am. 556806.

10.00 A Place Of Welcome at 103 High St. Swanage. Friendly drop-in for everyone, providing a free cup of tea or coffee, a listening ear, conversation and basic information. Everyone welcome, whatever the circumstances. Until 12 noon.

10.00 Tea, Coffee, Biscuits at Queensmead Hall, Swanage. Til 11am. Admission 50p.

10.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Wareham Library till 12pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups and charities.

10.00 Wareham Croquet Club meet at the Recreation Ground until 5pm. New members and visitors welcome. Call Tony on 01929 550190 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@hotmail.com.

10.30 Midweek Market Morning Service URC, Church St, Wm. Prayer requests to Revd. Simon Franklin 556976.

10.30 Woodworking with Bernard and Terry at the Purbeck Workshop in Wool. The Workshop provides craft activities free of charge to those touched by cancer - friends and family are welcome too. D’Urberville Centre, Collier’s Lane,Wool. www. purbeckworkshop.org 07757 776907. www.purbeckworkshop. org Phone: 07794 479208.

11.00 Sensory Play for 1-4yrs old at Bovington Centre, until 12 noon.

11.30 Home Producers Market. Wareham. Every Thursday from 7am to 11:30 in the United Reformed Church, Church Street, Wareham.

13.30 Under 1 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Anti-natal mums welcome. Till 3pm. 552864.

13.30 Toddler Group. All Saints’ Church, Swanage. 423937. Till 3pm (term times).

14.00 Swanage Town Walk. Local historian takes walks lasting 90 minutes. Meet outside the Museum in the ‘Square’. Contributions welcome.

14.00 Wareham Happy Cafe. Friendly conversation, talks, activities and some fun to put a spring in your step! Everyone welcome. Held at the Not Just Sundaes Cafe in South Street, Wareham. BH20 4LU. From 5th March 2020 onwards. FREE. Until 3.30pm.

14.15 Swanage Over-60s Meet in the Rectory Classroom, Swanage, Swanage. All Welcome.

17.45 Swanage Youth Club. Learning Difficulties and disability (age 11-25) night. Till 7.30pm.

18.00 Wool Youth Club year 9 up, D’Urberville VH.

18.15 Swanage Cricket Club Practice till 9pm.

19.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 8pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. 07969 925502.

19.00 Purbeck Arts Choir meet for rehearsals, with conductor David Fawcett, at St Mary’s School, Northbrook Road, Swanage. SeptMay. All welcome. For more info call Liz Roberts 01929 481419.

19.15 Wm Town Band Brass & Woodwind players welcome. Ffi, call: 551478 or 01202 242147.

19.30 Swanage Youth Club Youth Action (year 7 - sixth form). Till 9.30pm.

EVERY FRIDAY

08.45 Coffee @ 112 - Drop In For Coffee! Catch up with friends at 112 High Street (United Reformed Church) in Swanage. Cake and bacon butties. Fair trade stall. Donations for ‘Besom in Purbeck’ and church funds.

09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30am. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. 07969 925502.

10.00 Table Tennis Club Methodist Ch. hall, High Street, Swanage. Steve: 424591, Malcolm: 427695.

10.30 Do you want to volunteer in Swanage? Meet the team at the Volunteer Bureau in Swanage Library! Until 12.30pm.

11.00 Swanage Library Rhyme Time, ages 0-4, until 11.30am.

11.00 Toddler Time For Under 5s And Carers. Wareham Library. Stories, songs and crafts. Every Friday, including school holidays. 01929 556146.

13.45 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club meets at Furzebrook village hall until 16.00. New members and visitors welcome. Free trial sessions and coaching. Call the secretary on 07597 782613.

14.30 Younger4Longer exercise with daisy chain fitness. Chair-based exercise in Wm United Reformed Church. Julie 558139 or email jbrad@uwclub.net.

18.00 Purbeck War-Game & Model Club. Royal British Legion, Swanage. 426096.

18.00 Swanage Youth Centre Club 12-13 (Yr 7-9). Till 8pm.

18.00 Purbeck Youth Choir at the United Reformed Church Hall, Swanage. 8-18 years old. Till 7pm. Jay Buckle on: 07947 866945.

18.30 Swanage Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840.

19.00 Swanage Youth Centre Seniors Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 9.30pm.

19.30 Informal Lesbian Social Group meets each Friday for fun, laughter and to make new friends. Ffi, contact Karen by email at: outinpurbeck@gmail.com.

20.00 Swanage Youth Centre Live Bands (as advertised) Till 10pm.

20.00 New Adult Beginners Latin American & Ballroom dance class at The Swanage school (main hall): Call 01202 243803: Email purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com.

22.00 Swanage Youth Centre Late Session (Yr 9+) till 11.59pm (members free).

EVERY SATURDAY

08.00 Purbeck Runners meet at the Mowlem, Swanage. 4/5 mile run.

09.00 Swanage CC U11 - U15 Practice till 10.30

09.00 Swanage Self Defence FUNdamaentals for ages 4-12 years at Swanage Methodist Church, Swanage. For a FREE taster session, contact Ian on: 07888660225 or email: SwanageSMA@gmail.com and quote ‘Purbeck Gazette’.

09.30 Swanage CC U9 & U10 Practice & Kwik Cricket till 10.30am.

10.00 Tea, coffee and home-made cakes in the Parish Hall on Wareham Quay during the Community Market. Til 2pm. Bric-aBrac stall weekly. Christian bookstall most weeks. All welcome.

11.00 Lego and Megablok Mayhem at Swanage Library, until 12 noon.

18.30 Whist. Come and join us at the Reading Room, Church Hill, Swanage. Call Richard on 01929 553516.

EVERY SUNDAY

09.00 Purbeck Runners meet at the Mowlem, Swanage. 8+-mile run.

09:30 - 11:30 Rugby training - give it a try! U12’s - U16’s. Swanage and Wareham M&Y. 07799842225

10.00 Arts and Crafts Market at the Mowlem in Swanage. A wide range of local art for sale, including pottery, glass, cards, fabric and much more! To book a table, or for more info, call Tony on 01929 421321.

10.30 Stoborough Baptist Church – would love to welcome you for meeting. For details please call 01929 550309 or website www. stoboroughbaptistchurch.co.uk.

10.30 Dorset Button Rapper is teaching its traditional sword dance from the North East of England. Five men in a ring joined by double handled steel strips form intricate patterns! No experience necessary. Meeting at Sandford Scout Hut, Tyneham Road, BH20 7BQ.

BOOKS HARDBACK, FOUNTAIN PENS, coins and stamps. Cash paid. Tel Mr Jones 01202 733550

ANTIQUES WANTED

furniture, paintings, glassware, ceramics, studio pottery, Asian art, records. Call Jerry 07906 530054

WANTED Coins and Coin Collections 07754 058850

WANTED VINYL RECORDS, Classical Jazz Rock etc Call James 07970 769946

GOOD CONDITION VINYL RECORDS WANTED Larger collections preferred No classical please, cash paid 07831-266478

30 Years Experience

01929 208095 07833 590308

07922 069 270 01202 743860

STAMPS & COINS wanted by collector/ investor. I am very keen to purchase large or small collections at this time.Tel Rod 01308 863790 or 07802 261339

Puzzle solutions (from pages 22-23)

Arrow words

Brain chain (hard)

MARCH

Swanage Blues Festival, 2nd - 5th March

Swanage Railway - Spring Steam Gala, 24th - 26th March

APRIL

Carnival Classic Motor Show, Sunday 23rd April

MAY

Swanage Railway - Diesal Gala, 12th - 14th May

Pirate Festival, 27th - 28th May

Purbeck Art Weeks, 27th May - 11th June

JUNE

Fairy Festival, 1st - 3rd June

Sea Rowing Regatta, Saturday 10th June

Fish Festival, 17th - 19th June

Swanage Railway - ‘Roads to Rail’, 23rd - 25th June

JULY

Coastal Rowing Regatta, Saturday 1st July

Swanage Jazz Festival, 7th - 9th July

SISATA Outdoor Theatre - The Tempest, 22nd - 24th July

SWANAGE CARNIVAL WEEK! 29th July - 5th August

AUGUST

Rotary Summer Craft Fair & Fete, Thursday 10th August

Swanage Lifeboat Week, 11th - 20th August

SEPTEMBER

Music by the Sea, Saturday 2nd September

Swanage Folk Festival, 8th – 10th September

Swanage Railway - Classic Steam & Vehicles, 8th - 10th September

Planet Purbeck Festival, 15th – 24th September

Swanage Supervets Rowing Regatta, Saturday 30th September

OC TOBER

Swanage Blues & Roots Festival, 5th – 8th Oc tober

Candles on the Beach - Lewis Manning, Saturday 21st October

Purbeck Film Festival, 13th - 29th October

CHRISTMAS IN SWANAGE

Artisans on the Beach, 25th November - 1st January

Swanage Christmas Lights Switch on, Saturday 25th November

Swanage Railway - Christmas Events, 2nd - 24th December

Swanage Rotar y Christmas Market, Saturday 2nd December

The Boxing Day Dip! Tuesday 26th December

For more information contact the Swanage Information Centre on 01929 766018 or welcome@swanage.gov.uk. For more events throughout the year see our website ‘Visit Dorset’ and search for Swanage Events.