The Purbeck Gazette 09.01.23

n Main picture – Care home chef wins at prestigious national awards ... Page 13 n Inset – High ropes plan for Swanage outdoor centre... Page 5

Veteran enjoys letter from The King

A WORLD War Two veteran got Royal approval for his efforts in a letter from King Charles III.

Gordon Forsey was an engineer during the 1939-1945 conflict, modifying gun and tank parts to take on the German army.

Now, Gordon, a Lewis-Manning Hospice Care patient, has received a letter from The King’s office recognising his achievements and contributions to the success of the war effort.

He was presented the lettercomplete with Buckingham Palace letterhead - by Lewis-Manning’s Volunteer driver, John Reid, who came dressed for the occasion in his RAF uniform and said a few words about Gordon, his life and his accomplishments to all staff and patients present, as well as Gordon’s son.

John said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to have presented Gordon with his framed letter, I knew it would mean a lot to him.

“I have been Gordon’s driver to and

from the hospice for a while now and had the pleasure of hearing the incredible stories he has to tell. They’re absolutely fascinating.

“It was great to see he’s finally received some recognition for his extensive work during WW2, he really is a wonderful man.”

Gordon’s son, Alan, added: “Thank you to Lewis-Manning for putting on this get together to celebrate my dad.

“It was wonderful to see him receive his framed letter and enjoy tea and cakes with him and the rest of the day hospice patients.

“I know Lewis-Manning and its wonderful nurses mean a lot to him and this just made it even more special. So, thank you again.”

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is in its 30th anniversary year, providing extraordinary care to patients and their loved ones facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset.

For more information, and to make a donation, log on to lewis-manning. org.uk.

Club aces jumpers

TENNIS players served up an ace display of Christmas jumpers during a special event.

The annual Swanage Tennis Club Christmas jumper tournament has become a fixture in recent years and despite traditional British winter weather, dozens of players were able to participate.

A total of 48 members turned out in their Christmas finery and took to the Santa Courts.

“There was a stunning array of

jumpers, headgear and socks –some in better taste than others,” a spokesperson said.

“We were delighted to see a number of newer members coming along.”

After hard-fought, but colourful match-ups, participants were treated to a range of homemade soups, bread and mince pies provided by the social committee.

For more on the club, contact coach Ryan on 07886 304114.

Solar & Tidal Predictions - Jan '23

01-Jan 04:00 11:16 16:53 23:37 08:09 16:13 02-Jan 05:09 12:15 17:54 08:09 16:14 03-Jan 00:33 06:12 13:07 18:48 08:08 16:15 04-Jan 01:25 07:06 13:56 19:35 08:08 16:16 05-Jan 02:13 07:54 14:41 20:17 08:08 16:17 06-Jan 02:59 08:36 15:25 20:55 NM 08:08 16:18 07-Jan 03:42 09:13 16:05 21:32 SP 08:07 16:20 08-Jan 04:22 09:47 16:42 22:05 08:07 16:21 09-Jan 04:58 10:19 17:14 22:37 08:06 16:22 10-Jan 05:29 10:49 17:44 23:05 08:06 16:24 11-Jan 05:59 11:16 18:15 23:32 08:05 16:25 12-Jan 06:31 11:45 18:48 08:05 16:26 13-Jan 00:05 07:08 12:20 19:27 08:04 16:28 14-Jan 00:45 07:52 13:04 20:14 08:03 16:29 15-Jan 01:33 08:45 13:59 21:10 08:02 16:31 16-Jan 02:34 09:51 15:11 22:21 NP 08:02 16:32 17-Jan 03:50 11:07 16:39 23:37 08:01 16:34 18-Jan 05:07 12:17 17:49 08:00 16:35 19-Jan 00:44 06:12 13:19 18:49 07:59 16:37 20-Jan 01:44 07:12 14:16 19:45 07:58 16:38 21-Jan 02:40 08:08 15:08 20:36 FM 07:57 16:40

22-Jan 03:32 09:00 15:57 21:24 07:56 16:42

23-Jan 04:20 09:49 16:44 22:10 07:55 16:43

24-Jan 05:06 10:35 17:29 22:55 SP 07:54 16:45

25-Jan 05:51 11:22 18:14 23:41 07:52 16:47

26-Jan 06:37 12:08 13:19 07:51 16:48

07:50 16:50

27-Jan 00:27 07:25 12:56 19:48

28-Jan 01:14 08:18 13:46 20:43 07:49 16:52

29-Jan 02:06 09:21 14:44 21:50 07:47 16:54

30-Jan 03:05 10:33 15:51 23:00 07:46 16:55

31-Jan 04:18 11:43 17:08 00:07 NP 07:44 16:57

Compiled by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage

Peveril Ledge, Swanage

Gordon with, left, driver John Reid in his RAF uniform and right, son, Alan

National Coastwatch – Eyes along the coast

Some resolution ideas from the NCI as we sail into 2023

I ALWAYS look forward to writing the January article as it makes me think of the coming year.

With lengthening days and the promise of warmer weather , thoughts turn to what adventures the following year might bring.

As a diver, January usually sees me looking over my diving gear to see what needs testing, what needs servicing and what needs to be replaced. Friends who have boats will no doubt be checking rigging and the numerous bits of rope and shackles that are needed to keep a vessel operational.

If engines are involved preparations will be made to arrange the de-winterising service, ready for the start of the season.

Being prepared before going to sea not only leads to a more enjoyable time but also to a safer time.

Perhaps a good New Year’s resolution for all water users would be to make basic preparations to ensure that our friends in the RNLI and the Coastguard rescue teams don’t have a busy season.

The RNLI ran a fantastic campaign several years called #Respect the Water. It has now been taken on by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) and aims to highlight the potential dangers of water and to encourage people to reconsider their actions and adopt safer behaviour.

At its heart is a desire to reduce the number of deaths by drowning and as a water safety organisation it’s something the NCI is keen to support.

Current drowning figures show a clear gender divide, with men accounting for the vast majority of those who die.

A lot of the messages in the campaign are primarily aimed at men, but the safety advice is just as relevant for anyone who

finds themselves in difficulty in open water, both at the coast or inland.

The #Respect the Water campaign can be summarised by two words, “Stay Safe”

Staying safe on the water is all about ensuring that we have the appropriate skills to undertake our activities. This might mean undertaking training with one of the national watersports agencies (eg Royal Yachting Association or British Sub Aqua club) or joining one of the local clubs, to gain experience that way.

It also means that we have the right equipment. A simple thing like wearing a life jacket or buoyancy aid should be second nature but, all too often, we often see people on the water without one.

Knowing the conditions we

are going to face when we go out is vital to staying safe. Back in October, I talked about the Met. Office’s Inshore Waters Forecast and this should be everyone’s first port of call before going afloat. Not only does it give the expected weather over the next 24 hours, it also gives us a heads up about the following day.

The weather along the Purbeck Coast can be extremely changeable and what can be calm and benign sea one day can be an angry maelstrom the next. There are also an increasing number of apps that you can use. Popular ones include XCweather, the intriguingly named Magic Seaweed and Wind guru.

The tide can make a major difference and finding out the times of high and low tide is

simple with a good set of tide tables. We’re very grateful to the Gazette for publishing the tide tables we produce, and you can find the tide times for Peveril Point in the front of each edition. Getting a copy of the Gazette every two weeks not only gives you tidal information for the month, but also gives you a good read! (We agree! - Ed)

Even with the best preparation in the world, things can go wrong and, when they do, having a way of calling the emergency services can be essential. The ideal method is a marine short wave radio. The safety channel, channel 16 is monitored continuously by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and a May Day call to them will bring a swift response. The MCA are the organisation that manages emergency response at sea and on the coast and would the ones that call out the lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams.

The big drawback about having a radio is that you need to be licenced to use it. Having a mobile phone is the next best thing. Calling for help at sea is the same as calling for help on land – ring 999 (or 112) and, instead of asking for the police, ambulance or fire and rescue, ask for the Coastguard. This will put you in touch with the local rescue coordination centre, which in our case is Solent Coastguard.

Both our stations will be offering refreshments on New Year’s Day so , if you want advice about preparing for the summer, why not pop along and speak to the watchkeepers? If we can’t help, I’m sure “we know a man who can”!

This is St Alban’s Head NCI and Swanage NCI wishing you a happy and safe New Year. Listening on Channel 65, NCI Out.

NICK REED

Conditions can change quickly along the Purbeck coastline

Picture: NCI

High ropes plan sparks concerns

PLANS for a new high ropes course at a Swanage outdoor centre have been submittedprompting objections.

The scheme would see a 12m frame constructed in the grounds of the Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre on Cobbler’s Lane, previously known as the Townsend Residential Centre.

Cumulus Outdoors took over the centre in October 2019, with the objective of expanding the facility to offer accommodation in combination with the adventure activity programmes, the application says.

Guests include local schools, such as The Swanage School, whose pupils undertake a residential stay at the start of their secondary school life to develop their team building skills and confidence.

“Swanage is a leading destination in the UK for outdoor adventure and residential field trips for children and young adults,” it adds. “It is well regarded as providing a wide range of outdoor activities in a challenging, yet safe environment.

“Outdoor adventure provides significant benefits to the Swanage economy through employment, services and increased spend in local shops.

“Companies such as JM Adventure, who will provide the Linear High Ropes Course,

are based in Swanage and further contribute to the local economy and community.”

“The course comprises a guyed metal frame structure upon which safety ropes can be fastened,” it explains.

“This allows participants to safely climb a tower, a series of blocks and a central ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ under the guidance of qualified instructors.

“The frame will be 12m in height and set in the centre of a flat plateau of land against a backdrop of mature trees. It will be constructed of galvanised steel (matt grey colour) which will appear recessive from wider views.”

However, some residents object to the plans.One commented: “It is too high and of ugly construction and an intrusion on the landscape.”

They added: “Over development and a long way from the charitable aims when the centre was first set up and there were much fewer young people on site.”

Another wrote: “An unacceptable amount of noise is currently being generated by the establishment to the considerable detriment of the neighbours.”

The application will be decided by council planners. For more details visit www. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search application reference P/ FUL/2022/07619.

How the high ropes installation could look

Picture: Blue Town Planning/Dorset Council

Candles on the Beach

On Saturday 10th December at 5pm, the Swanage community put on their woolly hats and gloves and came together to reflect, celebrate and remember their loved ones at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s spectacular ‘Candles on the Beach’ event. For a small donation, people were given their very own candle and the opportunity to write a personal message on their candle at the dedication station. Once tributes had been made, the imitation candles were placed on Swanage beach by the incredible team of Lewis-Manning staff and volunteers. As the night drew on, Swanage beach was illuminated with hundreds of glowing lights in memory of everyone we love and care about. The magical evening also included a heart-warming performance from the Singing for

Pleasure group, as well as the local talented singer, Karen G, followed by a touching speech from Jo Sharkey, Lewis-Manning’s Family Support & Bereavement Lead. Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s Director of Fundraising Tom

Goodinge said, “The Swanage community has been incredibly supportive towards the charity and

once again they went over and above to support and get involved with Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. All of our events, of course, could only be run through the hard work of all our incredible staff and volunteers and I would like to thank them for all of their time and generosity to ensure events like this are as fantastic as possible.” In total, the evening raised over £2,500 for the charity! These funds will help to ensure that Lewis-Manning can continue to provide extraordinary hospice care to people with a life-limiting illness, and support their families, this festive season. At the end of the night, all of the candles were safely collected by the dedicated team to be reused and recycled, as to not effect wildlife and keep the beach clean. Follow Lewis-Manning Hospice Care on social media or visit their website to keep up to

date with their upcoming events and see how you can continue to support the hospice this new year.

PS. Candles on the Beach will return for 2023! We cannot wait to see you there…

lewis-manning.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1120193

Nigel marks three decades of service

THE average house price was £53,000 and inflation stood at 6.88%.

The year is 1992 and Nigel Smith, pictured, has just become a partner at Swanage law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors.

Aged 28, he became one of the youngest equity partners in the country at the time and took his first step to become managing partner just seven years later.

Now, Nigel is celebrating his 30th anniversary of becoming a partner at the law firm.

His rise from trainee solicitor to managing partner has set in place a meritocratic and supportive culture at Ellis Jones, he said.

“I first started at the firm in 1986 as a trainee solicitor, known as an articled clerk back then,” said Nigel. “I was keen to progress and was given the opportunity to do so. At the tender age of 28, I became one of the youngest equity partners in the country and from day one I was very much part of the management of the firm. I assumed the role of managing partner in 1999 and was allowed to develop into that role.

“I am committed to creating

an environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve personal excellence and to giving everyone in the firm the opportunity to further their careers in the same way I was.

“That philosophy is reflected in the fact that more than a third of the partners and half of the associates in the firm started here as trainees. Long may that continue.”

He added: “There have been many changes over the past 30 years but the drive for excellence and commitment to the highest standards remains the secret to our success at Ellis Jones.I feel privileged to have reached this milestone and look forward to more years ahead leading the firm’s team of talented and dedicated lawyers, including many who have also given long and distinguished service.”

Nigel, who is married with three grown up sons, two step daughters and a grandson, qualified as a solicitor in 1988 after joining the firm in 1986.

He is a former president of the Bournemouth & District Law Society and won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dorset Legal Awards in 2018.

Dorset Police cadets?

COULD you help young people improve their understanding of the law, their communication skills and teamwork? If so, Dorset Police wants to hear from you.

The force is launching a recruitment drive for Police Cadet leaders to help make a difference to young people’s lives in the county.

Dorset Police has four volunteer police cadet units - in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth - that provide an opportunity for teens between 13 and 17 to learn about the law, police procedures and specialist police units, while developing a range of skills, including communication, interpersonal and teamwork.

A team of volunteers is needed to help run the scheme, with the police keen to recruit new leaders in Poole, Christchurch and the rural areas of Dorset to expand.

Leaders do not have to have previous police experience, only an interest in helping young people reach their full potential.

The role includes running weekly meetings, supporting outdoor activities and policing events.

Assistant Chief Officer Jo Mosley, director of people and support services, said: “Volunteering as a cadet leader can be an inspiring and enriching experience. Our cadet leaders not only assist with meeting our force vision and local policing priorities, but

they are instrumental in helping to develop, encourage and empower the young people of Dorset to have a voice and achieve things that they never believed possible.

“It only takes one adult to change one young person’s life forever and this is why we are recruiting more people to join our cadet leader team.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, said: “I have been fortunate enough to visit both Bournemouth and Weymouth Cadet Units and I have seen for myself the positive effects being a police cadet can have.

“The teenagers I have met were fulfilling useful roles in their communities and developing some essential life skills at the same time –learning how to communicate effectively, how to work

together as a team and how to think and act to the benefit of the wider community - all these skills will stand them in good stead for whatever they choose to go on and do.

“Since I have been in office, I have enthusiastically supported the cadet scheme to expand to include three more units and I would like to see this expansion continue, to give more young people and communities across Dorset the opportunity to benefit from the scheme, but for this to happen we need members of the community to volunteer to be cadet leaders. So if you are looking for a valued, positive, rewarding volunteer role within your community, please take a look at becoming a cadet leader.”

You can apply to become a Dorset Police Cadet leader by visiting https://recruitment-dcpdp.org/dorset-police-volunteers/ cadet-leaders.

Nice catch on coldest day of year

THE Poole and Wimborne Fly Fishers Christmas match took place as usual at Manningford Trout Fishery on what was officially the coldest day of the year.

In the match report, Gordon Wray said: “As we drove into the fishery in deepest, rural Wiltshire the temperature was minus eight degrees and, in a first for the fishery, half of the lake was frozen over.

“The ice, although not thick, meant that fishing was impossible on that side, so some of us – foolhardy – diehards took to the banks.”

Gordon added: “Again the weather thwarted us as the fishing line was freezing to the rods, making casting very difficult.

“That said, most of us were successful in catching some great fish, none more so than match champion Ian Hayward who hooked into two monster trout.

“His biggest weighed in at a personal best of 13lb 11oz, contributing to Ian’s club record of 28lb for a four-fish bag. Well done, Ian.”

Ian Hayward is pictured with one of his monster trout.

Club’s community award Charity boss talk

MEMBERS of Swanage Cricket Club were bowled over with pride after being presented with a prestigious trophy for the efforts they make to involve the whole town in the game.

The Dorset-wide Jack Douch Memorial Trophy for 'Cricket-in-theCommunity' was presented at the recent Gala Dinner.

This is to not only acknowledge the completion of the recent pavilion extension, but also, a second pitch has

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been laid to introduce more youngsters and women to the game.

The youth section has well over 100 members from five to 15 with both boys and girls benefiting from the knowledge & expertise provided by Fully-Accreditted ECB Coaches.

The club is extremely fortunate to have built-up close, long-term 'links' with a number of local businesses.

For more details on the club, visit www.swanagecricketclub.co.uk.

Need help with your heating and plumbing?

SINCE Pinevale’s inception in 2003, much has changed in the world of plumbing and heating. It has become far more technical, with ever-more complicated legislation. Pinevale’s MD, Ian Brazier, says he needs to learn even faster than his team to keep him at the forefront of technology within the industry. Early involvement is key to any successful home project and now, more than ever plumbing and heating takes a major role.

Separating the various elements will help with your planning and Pinevale can guide you through this process.

So what decisions do you need to make?

The heat source is a good starting point (gas/electric/oil/ biomass) and the heat emitters (radiators/underfloor etc). Next, the piping system. This could be

copper, multi-layer pipe or push fit- they all have their merits. Your choice of hot water system is very important- think combination boiler/system boiler and cylinder/heat pump/ solar thermal or even a hybrid!

Think carefully about renewable energy sources – are they a practical as well as ecological solution for you? We can help you decide.

Pinevale can also help you consider bathroom sanitaryware and kitchen appliances to ensure you end up with a cohesive finished product. By carefully considering all of these elements at the start of your project, you will have 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.

THE chief executive of a popular Dorset charity will be on hand to answer questions and talk about their work.

Nigel Mason, chief executive of the Margaret Green Animal Rescue, will be at Corfe Castle on January 20 from 2pm for a free talk.

“Many of us are aware of the work of the Margaret Green Animal Rescue centres, especially the one nearby in Church Knowle,” said a spokesperson.”

The talk is open to everyone.

Entry is free, with a collection for Margaret Green Animal Rescue.

QUALITY PLUMBING, HEATING AND HEAT PUMP INSTALLATIONS

• New build projects from bespoke designer builds to multi units

• 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

KEEPING DORSET WARM SINCE 2003

For more details on these and other services we provide Visit www. pinevale.co.uk Tel: 01202 795952

Pinevale Plumbing & Heating Limited. Reg 4678633 Upton, Poole BH16 5LE

Courses could add up to total budget success

By Lorraine Gibson

CAN’T put two and two together? Don’t know your fractions from your factors? You’re not alone. National Numeracy, a charity dedicated to improving the nation’s numeracy skills, says a shocking 49 per cent of the UK’s working-age population has the expected numeracy levels of a primary school child.

Maths affect so many aspects of our lives, so it pays to get number savvy. We can’t all be maths wizards but numeracy skills are more important than ever as we manage budgets in the face of double-digit inflation, the cost of heating a home up by 150 per cent and food prices up by 20 per cent.

Multiply, a government-

funded programme, is offering courses to people in Dorset aged 19-plus who don’t have maths GCSE at grade C (or equivalent). It’s designed to help adults’ numeracy skills and participants’ learning can be in person or online via tutorials given by friendly professional tutors.

The Get Number Confident courses include everyday maths, managing money and understanding data. Get Maths Confident for Work is for people wishing to enhance their employability by building maths confidence and is good preparation for future maths qualifications.

Multiply programme manager Hannah Ball said: “We are all faced with maths

problems every day, from working out our weekly household budget, energy and fuel bills, to finding the best value phone contract, comparing mortgage rates and deciding whether that supermarket multibuy offer is good value.

“But for many of us maths evokes feelings of insecurity and anxiety – not surprisingly research shows that almost 50 per cent of us struggle with

Finance firm’s staff in 12-hour workout to raise money for charity

PROPERTY finance specialists at a Poole firm traded mortgages for miles during a 12-hour

More than half of the team at MSP Capital ran, cycled and rowed in a continual collective triathlon challenge in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer.

Together they covered an equivalent distance of 330 miles using a treadmill, static bike and rowing machine at the Poole office.

Among those cheering them on as they raised a total of £6,800 was Liz Blunt, senior fundraising engagement manager at Young Lives vs Cancer.

“It was absolutely wonderful to come by the office and meet the fantastic staff from MSP Capital,” she said. “A massive thank you to them for their incredible triathlon.

“As a charity, we provide emotional and physical support to young people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and we help

their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.

“The amount MSP Capital has raised will make such a difference as we don’t receive government funding.

“We only have our social workers providing emotional, practical and financial support, our ‘home from home’ Jean’s House and grants such as a new crisis fund for Dorset families made possible thanks to supporters such as MSP Capital.

“The aim of the fund is to help those families who are struggling with rising cancer costs amid the cost-of-living crisis.”

The triathlon was organised by members of MSP Capital’s community committee, who provided supplies of bacon sandwiches and pizza to fuel participants throughout the day.

Martin Higgins, MSP Capital’s managing director, said: “The treadmill, bike and rower had someone on at all times during

even basic maths.”

Add poor numeracy currently costing the UK economy £25 billion a year and you get the drift.

Courses are flexible and can be used to improve basic maths skills or as a springboard to more advanced courses like GCSE.

Visit https://www. skillsandlearningace.com/ subjects/multiply-free-mathscourses/ for more information.

the triathlon.

“Team MSP kept moving constantly for 12 hours with no rest. Every participant was aiming for their personal best on each piece of equipment.

“It was wonderful to see the team pull together and support each other throughout the day.

“The buzz in the office was great fun and we are very proud to have raised so much money for a charity that is close to our hearts.”

The community committee organises a charity challenge each December.

Last year, a treadmill climb raised nearly £4,500 for Dorset-based children’s hospice charity, Julia’s House.

The team are pictured above left celebrating their hard work for Young Lives vs Cancer at their Poole base.

In the picture (from left) Multiply Learning co-ordinator Kate Holmes, Multiply programme manager Hannah Ball, Multiply marketing officer Olivia Girling, Multiply learning support officer Aimee Brown and business and finance manager Terri Clark.

charity fundraiser.

Top tips to beat the burglar

By Lorraine Gibson

DORSET Police remind us that many burglaries are committed by thieves gaining entry through unlocked doors or windows.

It’s not rocket science, we all know we should lock up every time we leave the house, but it’s easy to forget to check that entrances are secure. Use this ten-step checklist to help deter a burglar from targeting you.

1 Doors: Keep them locked, even when you’re home or in your back garden. Remove keys from locks as a burglar could reach through a letterbox or cat flap.

2 Alarm: Install a burglar alarm and ensure everyone in the house knows how to work it and uses it daily.

3 Windows: Close and lock! Also, draw curtains if you’ll be out when it gets dark or you’re going away.

4 Paths: Consider a gravel path/ driveway – it makes anyone

approaching the house easier to hear.

5 Shed: Secure tools and ladders to a heavy object if possible, ideally hidden from external view.

6 Fencing: At the back of your property, put up high fences or plant prickly bushes that would be difficult to climb over.

7 Gates: Ensure they can’t be climbed over and secure with

locks.

8 Milk and newspapers: Cancel deliveries.

9 Driveway: Before going away, ask a neighbour or friend to keep an eye. Ask them to park on your driveway or outside your house to make it appear that someone is home.

10 Lighting: Use timer switches and install night lights outside on pathways.

Help for those in crisis this New Year

IN recognition of the real struggle that so many local people are experiencing due to the relentless cost of living crisis, Coda, a Poole firm specialising in marketing for industry, is urging people to help.

Putting their money where their mouth is, they’ve already donated £4,000 to Poole Food Bank and Crisis so that they, in turn, can better help the community at a time when their services are at an unprecedented level of demand.

Their contribution to Crisis alone meant that as well as a Christmas lunch, 15 people will now receive ongoing support over what will be the coldest part of the new year.

Lorraine Gibson

Homeowners should lock up every time they leave their property

PHOTO: Kris/Pixabay

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival has released its first acts playing this year, and what a line-up it is already - with still more announcements to come!

Acts already announced to play at PVFF23 include Newton Faulkner, UK folk royalty - Seth Lakeman, Radio 2 favourite Kathryn Williams, the ultimate jumping Euro-folk group - Sheelanagig,

Maz O’Connor, The Destroyers, Old Baby Mackerel, and loads more!

Newton Faulkner will be playing at Purbeck!! Across his 15-year career, this chart-topping singer-songwriter’s sole constant has been his urge to tear down what came before, shed his creative skin and outrun industry dogma. He’ll be performing songs old and new, including his hit “Dream Catch Me”. Newton Faulkner has just launched his Guitar Academy and will be teaching a guitar workshop at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. What an incredible opportunity to learn from an amazing guitarist.

PVFF is a festival that’s loved by everyone because there’s loads for kids

to do, loads for parents and loads for the old folkies!

As well as four evenings and three full days of outstanding, original young folk, roots and world music across five stages, Purbeck Valley Folk Festival brings music workshops, sessions, Purbeck Rising (finding new talent), Purbeck Poetry Slam, children’s area (crafts, storytelling, puppet shows, theatre/games, circus skills, clowns), youth music workshops, craft area (including crochet, pottery, origami, blacksmithing, and candle, rope, jewellery and tutu making), and a healing area.

Tickets have been selling fast already with record numbers of festival-goers buying tickets for this year’s festival before they even left the site last year!

Locals in the BH29/20 postcode areas receive a big discount by selecting “Locals Residents BH19/20"”.

For more information please visit www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk

Care home chef triumphs at national awards

By Lorraine Gibson

DORSET care home chef Lorna Parsons had a taste of triumph when she was crowned Chef of the Year at the National Care Awards 2022.

Lorna, 39, who started working for Colten Care in 1998 as a part-time waitress at just 14, works at its Bourne View home in Poole and in 2002 became the company’s first apprentice chef.

“My heart was beating so hard in my chest as the presenter read out the nominees,” she said. “Then, when they announced I had won, it was just an absolutely fantastic feeling!

“I was with Colten Care’s hotel services manager Fergus Davitt, who gave me my job

here 25 years ago, and I was just thrilled to do it for him and everyone at Colten who has been a huge support to me and my career.”

Mr Davitt said the award was ‘richly deserved’. And he added: “Lorna shows immense dedication in all she does every day, I am so proud of her. I know she’ll be anxious to show the trophy off to the residents and is planning to put it on display in our reception at Bourne View so everyone can enjoy it. That’s the kind of person she is.”

The National Care Awards, founded almost 25 years ago, are organised by social care publication Caring Times Magazine and celebrate the best people in the long-term care

How to protect your home from care costs

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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

sector, highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide outstanding care.

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s chief operating officer, said: “The whole company is

immensely proud of Lorna, and I felt privileged to be there, to see her win and share her joy.

“I know her residents, who adore her as a person, as well as their chef, are also thrilled with her success.”

Lorna Parsons (centre) receives her Chef of the Year award from ITV presenter Matt Johnson and Jo Wildman, director of compliance, governance and quality Caring Homes

IT’S January now and the Rangers are cold! With so much to do before the year unfolds!

With Christmas behind us, we prepare for the year, And we’re very excited to see you all here.

Starting January 10 – Make your time at Durlston last Come to the gallery for an exhibition on ‘Durlston Past’ Discover the story of this lovely site Or just make a quick visit to warm the frost-bite!

On January 8 there is a rare treat

In the Fine Foundation Gallery, come take a seat Join us for a talk about Durlston ‘round the year

From geology, history and the wildlife found here.

January has a variety of wildlife to come across, So view at your leisure if you don’t mind the frost!

Guillemots and Razorbills may return to the ledges, While Song Thrush and Dunnock can be heard from

the hedges

Leaves are beginning to emerge from the ground, Making January a great time to have a look around, A warm evening may provide Badgers and Pipistrelle Bats, Or muddy walks, puddles (and a few cow pats!)

Are you looking to get active to start the new year? Check out our website on ways to volunteer, Work parties outside can cure January blues, We might let you borrow some steel toe capped shoes.

The Durlston Shed is doing fantastic work, With gardening, woodwork, and cake as a perk!

If indoors is your thing then volunteer at the shop, Serving customers, greeting visitors – the work doesn’t stop!

Towards the end of the month there’s a stargazing night, Take a look through the telescope for a starry sight, Orion Nebula and Galaxies can be seen on the night together, But make sure to call on the day in case of bad weather!

The Rangers are excited for a New Year at the Park, Despite the cold weather and evenings being dark, Whether you come as a visitor, bird-watcher or volunteer, The Rangers would like to wish you a Happy New Year.

ENERGY SAVING GUIDANCE FOR OLDER BUILDINGS

Proud as you might be to live in a Listed or historic property, doing so often comes with high running costs. Richard Mogg of Symonds & Sampson’s Survey & Design department has reviewed energy-saving guidance for older buildings recently released by Historic England. The report is based on evidence that has been gathered from the Listed Building Owners and Occupiers Survey undertaken by BMG Research, and YouGov research into the views of people living in listed buildings and non-listed traditionally built properties built more than 100 years ago.

Research revealed that

• 89% of residents are proud to live in a listed building and look after their homes.

• 27% of people living in older properties have already made changes to their roperty to reduce its energy and carbon usage.

• A further 42% would like to make these changes.

• 90% of those surveyed are committed to addressing climate change and energy - most having already installed low - energy lighting and thermostats to boilers and radiators.

• 23% of owners and occupiers find keeping warm in winter difficult, and of those

• 45% are concerned about the cost of making changes, and

• 33% are concerned about the perceived complexity of retrofitting and

• 54% suggest it would be difficult to find reliable guidance and information about how to retrofit their home – very much an area where Symonds & Sampson’s surveyors can assist.

Speaking of the findings, Catherine Dewar, Historic England’s Climate Change Programme Director, said: “People living in older properties – whether they are listed or not – are rightly proud of their home’s heritage, but they have told us that they need more advice on how to keep warm and comfortable in an affordable way, and play their part in getting to Net Zero by 2050. Our refreshed website guidance will help but there is much more to do to provide the information that people need to

make these changes to their homes”. Building Surveyor Richard Mogg agrees. “Finding a way to improve the efficiency of a listed building can seem daunting. On the one hand, you want to preserve the heritage of property for future generations, whilst on the other hand, living more sustainably and – particularly in the current economic climate - efficiently is at the forefront of our minds. There are steps that can be taken to improve the efficiency of older homes, some of which can be carried out without the need for planning permission, and we are only too pleased to visit your property to discuss steps that can be taken”. Richard and his colleagues within Symonds & Sampson’s specialist Survey & Design Department can help identify steps that can be taken, consents required, and even oversee the project if you so wish.

For first-hand advice on how to address the efficiency of your home, please contact them at the Wimborne Office on 01202 882103

Durlston Country Park has a lot going on in January

Photograph - The iconic Grade 11 Listed Deheers building on the harbourside in Weymouth, designed and converted to the highest specification by DJ Property and sold through Symonds & Sampson’s Poundbury Office.

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.

News from Wareham Town Council – December report

By Julie Bradshaw

FEELING chilly or looking for some company? Call in to the ‘warm space’ at the library on Monday afternoons and Not Just Sundaes between 2-4pm, Tuesday to Friday.

Dorset Council (DC) has installed two Fast EV charging points in Bonnets Lane car park. The electric capacity does not exist for Ultra Rapid chargers in this locality.

Volunteers for the Speed Watch team should contact Cllr Ezzard on 550138 or cllrezzard@wareham-tc.gov.uk. Training will be provided.

Michael Tomlinson MP met representatives of Network Rail and Dorset Council to put the case for an automated level crossing. The MP is also circulating a questionnaire to provide more evidence of public

support.

The town council is considerably poorer having paid for play areas’ refurbishment with both Drax and Carey costing more than agreed at the August amenities committee meeting.

The council voted to use Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies which it has accrued over several years and the Play Areas Reserve spend to reduce the Public Works Loan

Board loan and, thereby, the interest to be paid at a rate currently 4.5 per cent.

During the discussion and rejection of the suggestion of setting up a tourism steering group consisting of members from the council and elsewhere, a councillor questioned what had happened to the climate change group.

Tourism is in the remit of the amenities committee – a place for tourist information is

handled by the Buildings Project.

The Mayor was reassured that the budget includes a sum for the celebration of the Coronation on May 6.

Cllr Budd, on behalf of all councillors, thanked the town clerk and deputy town clerk who had in the first months of their appointments accomplished a lot.

The next town council meeting is on Tuesday 24 January 2023. The public is welcome to attend at 7pm in the town hall and further information is on the council’s website, www.wareham-tc.gov. uk, or from the office on 01929 553006.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

King’s Arms piles up the accolades

THE King’s Arms, Dorchester, has once again featured in the prestigious The Times and The Sunday Times Best Places to Stay list.

This is the second time the historic coaching inn has been featured in this definitive list of the best 100 hotels in the country. It first appeared within weeks of its opening in 2020.

The accolade is the most recent in a series of awards and acknowledgements for The King’s Arms. It has also recently been awarded a clutch of AA Rosettes, scooping four rosettes for accommodation and one rosette for food.

It has also been shortlisted in

the Best Hotel Category in the Dorset Tourism Awards and the Muddy Stilettos National Awards.

General manager Alexis Ross, who has previously worked with leading restaurateur Russell Norman at Polpo, said: “It’s been a whirlwind! The good news has been non-stop! We’re absolutely delighted. It’s testament to the huge effort the whole team puts in every single day. We couldn’t be happier.”

The King’s Arms, one of Dorchester’s most iconic and treasured landmarks, re-opened in September 2020 following a multi-million-pound

When it comes to Foster Caring what makes Footprints different?

Small, independent and trustworthy with high-quality support to all foster carers. That is the Footprints ethos. We are a strong and friendly team with outstanding values, where everyone strives to achieve the best for Foster Carers and children in care with specialist social workers on duty 24/7 to help carers in all situations, so it is effortless to pick up the phone to talk to one of the team.

Footprints was started 10 years ago by two highly experienced social workers, Vanda and Stephanie, who set out with one aim in mind, ‘to make a difference to children’s lives’. Having specialised in Fostering services for many years, the two knew that they could push boundaries to provide even higher levels of support to carers and children. It is safe to say after 10 years the two continue to stay true to their aim and ambitions having helped change the lives of over 150 children and young people by providing safety and security in the homes of Footprints Foster Carers. But don’t take our word for it! Stay tuned for some insights directly from the carers at Footprints, across a series of articles where we will delve into hot topics such as why our carers chose Footprints, the fostering community, and the following article exploring “the rewarding days as a Foster Carer”.

refurbishment by new owners the Stay Original Company.

With a history entwined with Thomas Hardy and a roll call of glamorous guests from former years, the opening of the rejuvenated Grade-II listed building marked a major step in the revival of the town’s historic high street.

The King’s Arms now boasts all-day eating and drinking, stylish public rooms and a

dedicated events space in the Casterbridge room. Upstairs are 30 splendid bedrooms.

The King’s Arms is part of the Stay Original company, the award-winning South-West based boutique hotel and pub group.

The King’s Arms sister property, At the Chapel in Bruton, was also listed in The Times and Sunday Times Best Places to Stay 2023.

The Kings Arms in Dorchester, re-opened two years ago after a multi-million pound refurbishment, is one of the town’s landmarks

Telling It Like It Is

Private life’s all on your phone

The decorations are down, the cards and wrapping are out for recycling and I hope your tree is headed the same way.

Did you register to have it taken away by Julia’s House? Once collected from local homes, the trees will be taken to Adventure Pirate, Lytchett Minster, and recycled as chippings for use around the site. This year’s Julia’s House Christmas tree collection included Purbeck, with bookings taken on the charity’s website.

By the time you’re reading this, you will probably have missed the registration date, but what a good idea – so make a note in your diary to remember it next year! All funds raised from the Christmas tree collection will help Julia’s House provide its lifeline of care for the most seriously ill children and their families in the local community.

Despite the protests on Facebook, 10 ‘dark sky standard’ low wattage LED lights will be installed along the pathway through Days Park with fittings designed to have 100 per cent downlight and no upward light, with a strong cut-off to the rear of fittings to enable low back light spill.

Swanage Council says: “Care has been taken to ensure that the installation of the new lamp columns are sensitive to the location of existing trees through site visits and engagement with Dorset

Council arboriculture officers.

These works, in conjunction with works planned by Dorset Council to install a new footway and dropped crossings in Ulwell, are part of a project to improve safety for pedestrian journeys to St Mary’s School.”

Now, I’ve always hated the idea of streetlights, which is why we made the choice to live in Harmans Cross where the only light pollution comes from a few private homes.

And normally I would have joined the campaign not to have lights in Days Park, but in the light of the fact that we now have a viable and thriving school up there, lots of new homes which I assume means lots of new children and young parents, enjoying settling in our beautiful town, we can no longer leave their safety to chance and a few torches.

It’s a shame that it has to be this way – but this is 2023 and not all those who walk the streets at night are harmless folk on their evening stroll with the dog. So – take a torch – or indeed, take a dog ! Or a pocket panic alarm. And peacefully

enjoy our parks and gardens.

And on the subject of safety, whether in the park, in the dark, walking the river or the beach, or out and about in town, here’s something all parents should do. Even if the kids protest. When your child is going out, use your smartphone to take a picture depicting what they looked like and what they were wearing when they left. Simply that in the unlikely and horrifying event that they don’t come back, you have a really recent photo to show to the police to aid them in their search. Scrap it the next day when they’re safe!

I trust that you all know the ICE phone number safety measure that you can all take – it stands for In Case of Emergency and should be entered into your contacts. For example, ‘ICEJohn 07775 755 075’ means that if you’re involved in an accident and the responders need to know who to contact, the number’s right there on your phone. Make sure your children – and indeed your elderly relatives – have it on their phones!

Funny, isn't it! In the 1960s and 1970s when we all preached Peace and Love and Freedom, if the Government had decreed that we should all have a chip embedded on our arm containing personal details, we hippies would have gone wild at this intrusion into our ‘privacy’ and some of us would have probably cut our arms off. Now, 95 per cent of us carry all this personal information about in our pockets! The ‘chip’ is called your mobile phone!

Another little mobile phone trick is to be careful about the information shown in ‘contacts’. Don’t disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid names like Home, Missus, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mum etc. Why? If your phone is stolen, the thief will not be able to text your family

and ask questions like “I’ve forgotten my pin number, can you remind me?” Or “what time did you say you’d be home”. And, most important, when a text asks for sensitive information, don’t respond, but immediately CONFIRM by calling back.

And finally, do you know which apps have unlimited access to your microphone and can hear you talking? And can then target advertising direct to you! Settings > Privacy > Microphone. Maybe you won’t want to turn it off. But maybe you will!

Ihad the privilege of interviewing Nick Viney from Worth Matravers on my radio show recently, to discuss the ‘warm places’ network being set up in Swanage and surrounding areas by the local council of churches. I’m sure a similar network will be in place in Wareham and Wool areas.

Basically, a spreadsheet showing which organisations open their doors to cold and lonely people when the weather is awful. Providing warmth, company, tea and coffee, sometimes soup and often free wi-fi. Just somewhere to go rather than huddle up over your electric fire alone. Make a friend, make a difference! And it’s much easier in the warm with a tummy-full of hot coffee! Go to https://www.swanage.gov. uk/NewsArticle.aspx and click on the link.

All through the Christmas period we have been blessed by the few kind souls who have turned out to bring us Christmas cheer –concerts, street markets, warm places, quizzes and special evenings. I raised my glass to them on Christmas Day and wished them happiness, friendship and success with their charitable ventures in 2023. As indeed I wish to you, dear reader!

PHOTO: Thorsten Frenzel/Pixabay

Monkey World is starting the New Year off with a promotion for all locals to the parks - half price off entry during January! From the 1st to 31st, anyone with a BH, DT or SP postcode will benefit from 50% off the entry price to Monkey World. Come and see over 250 primates of more than 20 different species, including the world’s largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa. 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 ‘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

Delight as Dorset lad Charlie makes final of MasterChef

By Lorraine Gibson

IT was a proud moment for Love Local Trust Local (LLTL) – the organisation dedicated to supporting the county’s producers – when Dorset’s

Charlie Jeffreys was named runner-up in the MasterChef: The Professionals finals.

“What a great achievement,” said LLTL’s Barbara Cossins. “Seeing him showcasing

wonderful crab and lobster from our shores and lots more loveliness from his Dorset upbringing – he was so proud of his roots.”

Barbara cites Charlie as being a great example of why Love Local Trust Local was founded in 2018 with the aim of telling the stories behind local enterprises and helping them promote their produce.

“It’s very tough at the moment in all areas of business, and it doesn’t look as if it’s going to be any easier in 2023,” she said. “We need to stick together and feel part of something that we can grow. No matter where you are, if you need help, we are all part of the Love Local family.”

The last couple of months have been busy ones for the organisation as sponsors and judges have been visiting the 2022 awards nominees and hearing their journeys firsthand.

Then on 9 February, this will culminate in an awards ceremony held – after what’s bound to be a splendid dinner – at Kingston Maurward agricultural college in Dorchester.

“It’s a night to celebrate our wonderful producers, farmers

and fishermen who are working hard to make some of the best produce in England,” said Barbara.

She added: “If anyone would like to come and support our evening or get involved and be part of this growing family, contact us on 07831 184920.”

The next step in the process will be showcasing the winners, all of whom are right on our doorstep. They’ll reveal not just their accolades but the stories that it is hoped will get them noticed by the public.

Barbara points out that campaigning and using social media are particularly hard and expensive for small independents trying to make a living.

“We need a voice to stand up to big organisations which dictate our prices and make the money while our producers struggle to make ends meet,” she said. “We are so lucky here in Dorset as we have some of the best produce in the country, so let’s get behind local businesses that need our support to keep them going, growing and producing for our tables.

“We should buy local – it’s better for our planet, keeps the carbon footprint down and is more sustainable.”

Winners in The Love Local Trust Local Awards 2021: Winfrith Bakery, Cerne Abbas Brewery, Lizzie the Baking Bird, The Open Air Dairy, Tarrant Valley Honey, The Book and Bucket Cheese Company, Gullivers Farm Shop & Kitchen, Portland Shellfish Ltd, Restaurant Les Enfants Terribles, Dorset Goat Meat Company and Bee Nice Blooms.

Fun, friendly and free for 2023: Walks at Avon Heath Country Park

By Lorraine Gibson

THE health benefits from getting out in daylight hours during the winter months are well documented and, since walking’s an ideal form of exercise for all ages and fitness levels, it makes sense to combine the two.

Walking can also improve your immune system, reduce blood pressure and anxiety, and lift your mood.

Good news, then, that a guided walk led by knowledgeable, friendly volunteers will be leaving from the visitor centre at Avon Heath Country Park every Tuesday at 2pm. Even better, it is free.

Choose from a 30-minute or one-hour guided walk and enjoy a relaxing time surrounded by the mood-enhancing sights and sounds of nature.

The trails are along gravel, hard dirt or sandy tracks, so your walking boots won’t get covered in mud and you can

grab a hot drink at the on-site cafe with your fellow walkers afterwards.

Avon Heath Country Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it is home to all six of the UK’s native reptile species and rare or endangered plant life. It’s cared for by a team of Rangers, all keen to share its beauty with visitors.

So get your walking boots on and walk your way to fitness this New Year. Be sure to arrive a little before 2pm to check in at the visitor centre reception and meet the team.

For more information phone the visitor centre on 01425 478082 (seven days a week, 10am to 4pm).

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

A BIG ROTARY NEW YEAR THANK-YOU

A BIG ROTARY NEW YEAR THANK-YOU

As a New Year unfolds, we’d like to take a moment to look back as well as forward. We want to say a very big thank you to everyone who has supported the work of Swanage & Purbeck Rotary in 2022whether through the generosity of your donations, sponsorships, or lending a hand with our various activities and events. We couldn’t do half as much without your kind help. With your support, we were able to send over three hundred Christmas shoeboxes to underprivileged children in Moldova, Romania and Montenegro, and to Ukrainian children who have found sanctuary in Poland. You’ve also given generously to the Rotary Santa Sleigh as it has toured the streets of Swanage, Langton, Worth & Corfe. And you’ve shopped at the Christmas Market, posted your

As a New Year unfolds, we’d like to take a moment to look back as well as forward. We want to say a very big thank you to everyone who has supported the work of Swanage & Purbeck Rotary in 2022whether through the generosity of your donations, sponsorships, or lending a hand with our various activities and events. We couldn’t do half as much without your kind help. With your support, we were able to send over three hundred Christmas shoeboxes to underprivileged children in Moldova, Romania and Montenegro, and to Ukrainian children who have found sanctuary in Poland. You’ve also given generously to the Rotary Santa Sleigh as it has toured the streets of Swanage, Langton, Worth & Corfe. And you’ve shopped at the Christmas Market, posted your

local cards via our Charity Mail, and purchased Christmas treats at our pop-up shop in Station Road.

local cards via our Charity Mail, and purchased Christmas treats at our pop-up shop in Station Road.

Thanks to you, we’ve already donated over £28,000 in the past year to many good causes, and in the coming weeks we’ll be looking at how we can provide further

Thanks to you, we’ve already donated over £28,000 in the past year to many good causes, and in the coming weeks we’ll be looking at how we can provide further

assistance to our local community in these challenging times.We’re also finalising plans for our Spring programme. On Sunday 5 February the local round of the Rotary Young Musician competition will be taking place from 2pm. at Swanage Methodist Church. And on the afternoon of 25 February, our very popular Silver Saturday will be honouring our community’s senior citizens with a slap-up afternoon tea at Emmanuel Baptist Church. We’re also planning to hold an open meeting in March to outline how we’ve been helping the

assistance to our local community in these challenging times.We’re also finalising plans for our Spring programme. On Sunday 5 February the local round of the Rotary Young Musician competition will be taking place from 2pm. at Swanage Methodist Church. And on the afternoon of 25 February, our very popular Silver Saturday will be honouring our community’s senior citizens with a slap-up afternoon tea at Emmanuel Baptist Church. We’re also planning to hold an open meeting in March to outline how we’ve been helping the

community and to thank everyone in person.

community and to thank everyone in person.

If you’d like to join us for any of these events, there is more information on our website: http://www. swanagerotary.org/cio

If you’d like to join us for any of these events, there is more information on our website: http://www. swanagerotary.org/cio

‘College has let down students...’

MY grandson, along with all other apprentices at Kingston Maurward College, were recently informed, midacademic year, that the college was no longer going to be running apprenticeships.

All, including my grandson – who is on an arboriculture apprenticeship – were emailed out of the blue and given just two weeks’ notice that the college would no longer be providing any provision for apprenticeships, and they were being relocated to Sparsholt College - 64 miles away.

The college said: “The current operating climate, funding rates and inflationary pressures are making it financially unviable for us to continue to deliver apprenticeships.”

As a retired teacher, I find it appalling that Kingston Maurward took on apprentices just over three months ago, at the beginning academic year, when its funding for the year should have been in place, and yet now must cease all provision because it has run out of money!

How, before September, was it not aware of its overall financial situation?

It is incomprehensible that an educational establishment with a duty of care has treated its apprentices, some as young as 16, in such an off-hand, thoughtless manner. Particularly when so many of these young people will already have suffered a particularly difficult few years due to the pandemic.

The only help Kingston Maurward has given to some apprentices is to forward their details to Sparsholt College in the hope there will be enough spaces to accommodate them, and a bus timetable!

It could be argued that my grandson is lucky. He, fortunately, has a very

supportive employer, which is doing its best to find a way to support its apprentices to complete their course. It recognises the importance of college tuition.

Kingston Maurward will argue that Sparsholt has agreed to fund a free bus for the students. The reality is this bus leaves Bournemouth – the starting point and 28 miles from Kingston Maurward – at 7am and takes over two hours to reach Sparsholt.

I am deeply concerned that many of the apprentices, particularly those living in the west of the county and those from low income families, will find it impossible to be in Bournemouth for 7am. How will they be supported?

Apart from the impact on the students’ lives, I don’t think this reflects well on the county! Hampshire, it seems, manages its funding to support an award-nominated college. Why isn’t this the case in Dorset? It’s heart-breaking to think that there will be no academic support in the county for future apprentices looking to go into agriculture and horticulturebased careers.

Also, where is the Government support for apprenticeships? How on earth is this supposed to encourage economic growth and ‘levelling up’?

MRS BOBBIE CHURCH via email

Light debate

THE lady (Purbeck Gazette, 19 December) who says she likes the LED lights that have been installed on Bon Accord Road and other streets in Swanage has missed the point.

The issues are with the excessive colour temperature and the amount of light spill from these obsolete luminaires.

Replacement directional

LED fittings that put light only where it is needed and not through people’s windows are available.

They are far more economical than these lights, because they do not waste energy by lighting areas that should not be illuminated.

More than 50 per cent of the light from these LED bulbs is wasted as light pollution.

Dorset Council has claimed there is no scientific evidence of a health risk from this kind of lighting, but Public Health England issued advice in 2016 to use warm-white LED street lights ‘to avoid potential adverse effects on melatonin production in the evening’.

Melatonin is a potent defence against cancer, so having its production suppressed by exposure to blue-rich light at night enhances cancer risk.

The scientific evidence showing this is there, if people would be responsible enough to study the subject before commenting.

Pedestrians would be perfectly safe walking home under modern directional warm-white LED lighting, without the lights being

intrusive or creating a health risk for every householder who has them installed in the street outside.

That is what I am calling for.

DR GAVIN RIDER

via email

Working titles

FOLLOWING on from David Prichard’s letter – Purbeck Gazette 19 December – about the Duke of Sussex, it is indeed bizarre that while spending much of their time publicly criticising the institution from which their titles derive – never, of course, the late Queen, whose last years they nevertheless didn’t scruple to blight – the Sussexes continue to use them, even whingeing that further titles haven’t been given to their children.

No doubt they are expecting an invitation to the Coronation, and will complain bitterly if they don’t get one.

Logic, consistency and emotional intelligence are not the Sussexes forte.

At least we can be grateful they aren’t Duke and Duchess of Dorset!

ROGER WHITE via email

Readers’ letters on matters of local interest are welcomed. Email them to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk along with your name and where you live. Please let us know if you are happy for your name and address to be printed. If permission is not obvious we may either use your initials or state ‘name and address supplied’.

One of the replacement LED lights in Swanage

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.

Cryptic crossword

Across

Recall excess fat around English husband showing interest (6)

At home, cool time for young child (6)

Detect pimple (4)

Oscar, serving man wearing conspicuous jewellery, is courteous (8)

Right-wing clubs taking wrong step for ideas (8) 11 Needs first off for colonists (4)

Across

Down

2 Take advantage of feat (7)

1 Recall excess fat around English husband showing interest (6)

3 High room belonging to the Greeks? (5)

5 At home, cool time for young child (6) 8 Detect pimple (4) 9 Oscar, serving man wearing conspicuous jewellery, is courteous (8) 10 Right-wing clubs taking wrong step for ideas (8) 11 Needs first off for colonists (4) 12 A poet excited about minute in time (1,5)

4 Force doors so possibly holding front of precious kitchen accessory (4,9)

5 Deceptive appearances about Italian eatery pictures (13)

6 Flog map possibly as aid for drivers (3,4)

7 Disadvantage when fishing, say, for musical composition (5)

A poet excited about minute in time (1,5)

Annul old record penned by engineers on a line (6)

Bird that’s pale following sun (4)

Tips shown by Frenchman among former elders say (8)

Annul old record penned by engineers on a line (6)

13 Underground worker on a lake gets ore (7)

Bird that’s pale following sun (4)

15 Explosion of crime in two areas in Western country (7)

Tips shown by Frenchman among former elders say (8)

Energy very much about urge to get coffee (8)

17 Use unprofitably part of a garment, we’re told (5)

Acclaim hospital before trouble (4)

Energy very much about urge to get coffee (8)

21 Acclaim hospital before trouble (4)

22 Confined space by a river storage place? (6)

23 Friendly in this way concerning people on reflection (6)

At home, cool time for young child (6)

Detect pimple (4)

Oscar, serving man wearing conspicuous jewellery, is courteous (8)

Right-wing clubs taking wrong step for ideas (8)

Needs first off for colonists (4)

A poet excited about minute in time (1,5)

Annul old record penned by engineers on a line (6)

Bird that’s

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

19 Moral sense in Elizabeth I contemplated

Confined space by a river storage place? (6)

Friendly in this way concerning people on reflection (6)

Purbeck village is named among the ‘poshest’ places to live in the UK

A PURBECK village has been named among the poshest places to live in Britain.

A new list of 54 of the UK’s poshest places to live has been compiled by The Telegraphand it includes Studland in Dorset, pictured.

The list was compiled using data such as house price data from Savills, costs of living and lifestyle benefits.

Places deemed ‘most desirable’ ran from Essex to Cornwall.

In Dorset, Studland was the only village featured, with an average house price of more than £970,000.

Frances Clacy, an analyst at Savills, said: “People want villages that have a bit of everything, from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure.

“Less well-trumpeted factors count too, such as the main road through the village should only lead to other villages.”

Village life has become more appealing, the stufy said, with home working becoming more achievable since the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 57 percent of estate agents working with Savills reported a rise in demand in the most desirable countryside locations, with 57% saying they were unable to buy where they wanted.

Elsewhere in the south west, Wellow in Somerset made the

list, with an average house price of £954,993.

The village of Rock in Cornwall, with an average house price of £1,080,534, benefits from a reputation forged in the 1990s, when Princes William and Harry holidayed there, while current residents include Gordon Ramsay.

n The full list of the 54 poshest villages in Britainand the average house price - as prepared by The Telegraph, is: Bedfordshire - Studham£700,494

Berkshire - Sunningdale£1,101,285

Buckinghamshire - Turville£1,463,240

Cambridgeshire - Hemingford Abbots - £829,437

Cheshire - The Alderleys£1,268,175

Clwd - Rowen - £363,214

Cornwall - Rock - £1,080,534

County Durham - Brancepeth£390,238

Cumbria - Hawkshead£460,001

Denbighshire - Llanarmon-ynlal - £290,118

Derbyshire - Edensor£670,644

Devon - South Pool - £999,000

Dorset - Studland - £972,831

East Lothian - Gullane£356,615

East Riding of YorkshireSutton upon Derwent£409,071

East Sussex

- Kingston-near-Lewes£792,339

Essex - Ramsden Bellhouse - £1,017,722

Fife - Elie - £349,951 Gloucestershire - Bourton-onthe-hill - £799,348

Greater Manchester - Haigh£257,020

Hampshire - Beaulieu£1,524,287

Herefordshire - Bosbury£452,954

Hertfordshire - Little Gaddesden - £1,333,501

Isle of Wight - Fishbourne£509,356

Kent - Ightham - £836,260 Lancashire - Great Eccleston£430,630

Leicestershire - Newtown Linford - £692,157

Lincolnshire - Uffington£467,548

Merseyside - Hightown£299,304

Monmouthshire - Shirenewton - £474,775

Norfolk - Burnham Market£826,770

North Yorkshire - Kirkby Overblow - £698,656

Northamptonshire - Church with Chapel Brampton - £681,450

NorthumberlandWarkworth - £289,459

Nottinghamshire - Colston Bassett - £786,955

Oxfordshire - Harpsden£1,307,182

Pembrokeshire - Newgale and Roch - £219,555

Perthshire - Strathtay£287,476

Rutland - Burley - £737,762

Shropshire - Cound - £454,587

Somerset - Wellow - £954,993

South Yorkshire - Cawthorne£512,288

Staffordshire - Shenstone£575,613

Stirling and Galkirk - Killearn - £315,927

Suffolk - Walberswick£832,131

Surrey - Shackleford£1,161,183

Tyne & Wear, Dinnington, £210,671

Warwickshire - Whichford£901,115

West Glamorgan - Oxwich£309,519

West Midlands - Barston£571,202

West Sussex - The Lurgashall, Lodsworth and Lickfold Triangle - £1,055,250

West Yorkshire - Scarcroft£630,325

Wiltshire - Avebury - £422,413

Worcestershire - Ombersley£435,943

Teen robbed of escooter at Poole bus station

A TEENAGER was pushed off his escooter and the device stolen at Poole bus station.

Police are appealing for information after the incident, which happened at around 7pm on Tuesday, December 27.

The 14-year-old boy was on his escooter at the station, by the Dolphin Centre, when he rode past a group of around 10 people – described as male, aged between 16 and 20 and all dressed in black clothing.

As he went past, one of the group pushed

the victim off his scooter, causing him to fall to the ground. A member of group then rode off on the scooter.

The stolen scooter was a black Pure electric scooter, value at around £500.

PC Kristian Budden, of Poole police, said: “We are conducting enquiries into this incident, and I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that might assist our investigation.I would also like to hear from

anyone who was driving in the area and may have captured anything on dashcam footage to help our enquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/ contact or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55220207826.

They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously via the charity’s website, or by calling 0800 555 111. Calls to Crimestoppers are free.

‘NHS vacancies tell story about pay’

BY the time this is published, we will have seen nurses in England strike for the first time in their history.

Perhaps the Government will have seen sense and engaged in negotiations to bring this to an end, but I don’t hold out any hope.

Recent polls have shown that most of the population support the strike action.

Many of us have either recent personal contact with the NHS or know someone who has, and we appreciate the hard work nurses and doctors consistently produce.

Most of us clapped during the pandemic for our emergency staff but clapping won’t pay the bills or fill empty posts.

Nursing as a profession has faced pay cuts for the past decade and under investment for longer, yet the workforce is seeing pressures never before experienced.

Nurses are worse off now

than 10 years ago, after years of pay freezes and below inflation pay deals.

Between 2011-21, Agenda for Change bands fell in value by an average of 11 per cent in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Urgent action is needed to tackle staffing pressures, sickness, burn-out and a growing backlog of undelivered care, and Governments across the UK must invest properly in a permanent workforce that meets patient demand now and in the future.

This includes adequate education and training for permanent staff, and making the profession safe and attractive by paying fairly.

Yet in 2020, the Government spent more than £6 billion on agency and bank staff in

England, the same Government that bought billions of pounds of useless PPE but can’t find £10bn for nurses.

Back 10 years or so, most trusts wouldn’t have paid more than 10 per cent of their staffing bill on temporary and locum staff, but now 20 to 25 per cent is becoming common.

That is unsustainable and any organisation carrying a high level of unfilled vacancies would look at the pay it was offering, but not this Government.

The Government has also refused to negotiate on pay and continues to argue that it can’t interfere in the so-called independent pay review body.

However, it isn’t independent because it has its hands tied, it’s given the envelope to work within by the Government.

Yet the train bosses and the

train workers agreed a deal that could’ve seen off the strikes on the trains at Christmas, but the Government intervened and blocked that deal.

I’ll end with a reflection from a healthcare professional who recently told me: “Our wellbeing is a sacrifice to deal with the inadequacies of the Government.

“They clap for us but don’t allow us to be considered for extra pay to repair the cuts of the last 10 years.

“They respect the work we do but stand outside, calling us liars for a situation not of our making.

“They are driving to sights beyond – if only their vision was adequate that they could actually see the consequences.”

Food for thought as crisis continues

THE measure of a community is surely how it reaches out to those in need of support, to the vulnerable or those in need?

For so many now, just getting by is a struggle. The BBC reported recently that food prices are rising at their fastest rate for 45 years – by 16.2% in the year to October, up from 14.6% in September. The cost of basic food items, such as cheese, eggs and milk, were surging. Energy and fuel costs also rose sharply, pushing overall inflation to 11.1%, the highest figure for 41 years.

Rising prices are hitting poorer households hardest - the Office of National Statistics says that they spend about half of income on food and energy, compared to around a third for those in middle incomes.

No wonder Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, is reported saying

“Winter looks increasingly bleak as pressure on prices continues unabated” – or Rachel Reeves, Labour Shadow Chancellor, that rising prices will “strike fear into the hearts of families across Britain”.

Yet, in Swanage, the initiative I mentioned in an earlier column (“We Must Ensure No Child Goes Hungry”, Edition 277) has shown our community is ready to stand up. Just six weeks after food campaigners and Cllr Debby Monkhouse, met at Java Coffee Shop to say something must be done, “Food for Thought Purbeck” has been set up under the umbrella of the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust.

A steering group, composed of town councillors, community

organisations, churches and schools, has been set up to oversee the initiative. A grant has been obtained from Dorset Council, whose community engagement officer has welcomed the project. Research, confirmed by Dorset Council’s own analysis, clearly confirms the need for “Food for Thought” in Swanage and Purbeck. In order to ensure a response which is timely and immediate, contact has been made with FareShare, a charity recycling good quality surplus supermarket food.

From January 2023, a FareShare Mobile Larder will visit Swanage once a week. FareShare members will be able to buy good quality food at a low cost, for example a bag of 20 items for a family of 4 or more will cost £5. Initially

membership of FareShare will be offered to families through schools. Food for Thought volunteers can signpost attendees to CAB for further support if needed.

Contact has been made with all four schools in Swanage, and also with schools in Langton and Corfe. Headteachers, keen to offer a good deal to their families, have already requested more memberships than one mobile Larder can accommodate. Many of our local schools already go the extra mile to pay for breakfast clubs out of shrinking budgets. Further contact with FareShare has indicated we may be able to secure a second mobile Larder.

As Anne Frank said, “No one has ever become poor by giving”.

CHRIS BRADEY

Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

NICK IRELAND

On behalf of South Dorset Lib Dems

Chris Bradey

Nick Ireland

Investors’ guides to Dorset’s opportunities

NEW guides to attract investment in Dorset have been published.

The documents, aimed at businesses and investors across the UK and abroad, showcase the potential for millions of pounds’ worth of opportunities to invest in the county.

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has published the five investment prospectuses, which are available to download free of charge.

They highlight more

than 50 case studies of transformational business success from Dorset, including companies such as Lush and Sunseeke.

Each guide covers a specific sector key to the Dorset economy: advanced engineering and manufacturing; agritech; financial services; marine; and digital and creative.

They have been produced by the LEP’s Invest in Dorset team, a group of economic development

Defence Battlelab at Dorset Innovation Park, Winfrith Newburgh, Wool, is a public-private initiative involving the Ministry of Defence. Inset, Vinita Nawathe, executive director of Dorset LEP

professionals who help clients identify opportunities for growth and expansion in the

county.

The team offers a support package that includes location and

labour market advice, assistance on securing funding, introductions to training and recruitment partners, mentoring, networking and help with relocating staff.

Dorset LEP executive director Vinita Nawathe said: “Investors and entrepreneurs need to understand what return on investment they can expect in our region.

“We have a great story to tell across a range of industries, with many businesses right at the cutting edge of high-growth sectors.

“Our guides explain why leading companies and organisations have based themselves here and the benefits that others can expect to enjoy if they follow in their footsteps.”

All the guides are downloadable from www.dorsetlep.co.uk

New Year’s resolutions

WHY not make it your New Year’s resolution for 2023 to review your finances? It doesn’t have to be an onerous task or a lengthy commitment, just setting aside a couple of hours could make all the difference to your day-to-day financial situation and your long-term plans. The areas you could look at are:

What is my income and expenditure?

YOUR income is probably known, but expenditure may come as a surprise. Sometimes the discipline of writing down everything you spend can help you realise what you are spending and where you can potentially cut down on day-to-day spending if you need or want to do so.

Can you make savings on your bills, such as cutting out unnecessary charges or unused commitments and can you lower the cost of necessities such as utilities or insurance while still maintaining the service you require? Have you any expensive loans or credit card debt which could be moved onto lower rates?

Can you set aside money each month for things that you need to pay for such as car expenses, household repairs and replacements and also luxuries like holidays?

If you are self-employed, are you setting aside money for your tax bill?

What is my current financial position?

WHAT is your cash position?

If you have an excess of cash over what you feel is a good buffer, are there better places that you could invest some of that money?

What are your current financial assets and are your investments working

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

efficiently? Do you need professional help managing your finances?

Am I using the tax allowances?

THE current ISA allowance is £20,000 and investments and cash in ISAs are free of Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The Personal Savings Allowance for interest income is £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, £500 for higher rate taxpayers and nil for an additional rate taxpayer.

Within these allowances, any interest income is tax free. The Dividend Allowance is £2,000 regardless of an individual’s tax rate and dividends totalling less than £2,000 are tax free.

Appropriate use of these allowances can help you ensure that your assets are as tax efficient as possible, and you may need to seek professional help for assistance with this especially as some of these rates and allowances are set to change in April 2023.

I hope this gives you some inspiration and a positive and useful thing to do as a New Year’s resolution, which could also potentially save you money.

With best wishes for 2023.

Kate Spurling, investment manager, Redmayne Bentley, Phone: 01202 714 450 kate.spurling @redmayne.co.uk

n Please note that tax treatment depends on the specific circumstances of each individual and may be subject to change in the future. Please note that our advisory services provide advice on all types of investment instruments that might be suitable for our clients, although we do not provide a universal financial planning service on non-investment instruments or products. Consequently, our advisory services are categorised as focused independent advice.

located at 139 Commercial Road, Ashley Cross, Poole, Dorset BH14 0JD. Follow us on Twitter @redmaynebentley and visit us on the web at www. redmayne.co.uk/bournemouth

The Rent a Room Scheme

The rent-a-room scheme is designed to help homeowners who rent-a-room in their home. If you are using this scheme, you should ensure that rents received from lodgers during the current tax year do not exceed £7,500. The tax exemption is automatic and if you earn less than £7,500 there are no specific tax reporting requirements. If required, homeowners can opt out of the scheme and record property income and expenses as usual.

The relief only applies to the letting of furnished accommodation and is available when a bedroom is rented out to a lodger by homeowners. The relief also simplifies the tax and administrative burden for those with rent-aroom income of up to £7,500. The limit is reduced by half if the income from letting accommodation in the same property is shared by a joint owner of the property.

The rent-a-room limit includes any amounts received for meals, goods and services provided, such as cleaning or laundry. If gross receipts are more than the limit, taxpayers can choose between paying tax on the actual profit (gross rents minus actual expenses and capital allowances) or the gross receipts (and any balancing charges) minus the allowance - with no deduction for expenses or capital allowances.

First car speaks volumes about you

IT’S official – if your first car was a Ford Focus, then you’re likely to now be among the highest earners in the UK, according to a new study.

Researchers from webuyanycar polled the nation’s drivers and discovered that our first cars could have a bearing on our current lives, with those who drove a Ford Focus most likely to have the biggest paychecks today – at £45,000 a year, compared to a national average of £31,000.

However, if your first motor was a Kia, as the research suggests, you’re likely to earn less than your peers later in life – a salary of £25,000 a year on average.

And that’s not all, as Kia owners are also the most likely to say they’re not at all satisfied in their careers – in fact, half (50 per cent) of former Kia drivers describe themselves as

unhappy in their jobs.

However, those who drove Kias remain optimistic overall, with 63 per cent describing themselves as ‘glass half full’ types, and today are often seen as funny (38 per cent) and intelligent (25 per cent).

Meanwhile, the most social Brits are likely to have driven an Audi A1 when they first passed their test, with 56 per cent describing themselves as extroverts, while drivers who first owned a Seat Ibiza are also social butterflies, with 55 per cent admitting they are far more extroverted than introverted.

Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar, said: “Many young people are excitedly looking ahead to a prosperous future and wondering what it might hold for them, who they will be and what career they will have. Little do they know,

If you’re the life and soul of the party, chances are you may have driven a Fiat Punto, according to webuyanycar’s research

they might already have the answers, just because of their first car.”

“Whether you’re at first car stage or dream car stage in life, our interactive quiz could predict where you are now or

offer a glimpse of the future in just three simple steps.”

The research of 1,500 British motorists also reveals that those who shy away from social situations are most likely to have first driven a VW Polo.

PHOTO: Volker Glätsch/Pixabay

Hospital staff honoured for end-oflife care at prestigious ceremony

STAFF at a Poole hospital have been honoured for treating patients with ‘dignity and peace’ during the final stages of life. Three wards at Alderney Hospital have been reaccredited by the national Gold Standards Framework (GSF), earning the Quality Hallmark Award for their outstanding end-of-life care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Guernsey Ward, which cares for people with physical health issues, was honoured, while Herm and St Brelades became the first local mental health wards to receive accreditation since 2018.

St Brelades also scooped the Ward of the Year award.

Alderney Hospital was one of 75 hospitals, care homes, hospices, primary

care practices, retirement villages and domiciliary care agencies from around the UK to receive the prestigious quality hallmark at the GSF Conference and Awards in London.

David Porter, acute mental health inpatient services manager at Dorset HealthCare, said: “This accreditation is fantastic news. It acknowledges our teams’ dedication to giving patients and their families the best possible care and experience, with people living out their final days in dignity and peace, supported by state-of-the-art facilities.

“An additional congratulations goes to St Brelades for winning Ward of the Year – an astonishing achievement which highlights the team’s hard work and commitment.

“The accreditation and award demonstrate what excellent teams we have at the hospital, and the fantastic care and facilities we provide for our palliative, end-of-life patients and their families. The ward teams are a credit to the hospital, and I am extremely proud of them all.”

For more about Alderney Hospital, visit www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk.

The St Brelades Ward team celebrate their award and below, Giorgia Costabile (Guernsey Ward), Charli Patrick (Herm Ward), Cherie Folkard and Caitlin Day (both St Brelades Ward) at the ceremony

Shining a light on children in care

WE applauded the renewed national focus on children in care following the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advert last month.

Entitled ‘The Beginner’, the widely screened TV ad – above – shows a man as he struggles to master skateboarding in the build-up to Christmas.

Viewers are left questioning the motive behind his perseverance until the final scene, as a social worker comes to his door with young teenager Ellie – who has arrived at her new foster home carrying her skateboard.

Across Dorset, about 1,000 children live in care with foster carers or in residential settings.

And we have a dedicated team who provide health support to these children and young people placed in the care of BCP Council and Dorset Council. The team helps youngsters with their physical and emotional health needs, as well as promoting

healthy lifestyle choices.

We were delighted John Lewis chose to raise awareness of children in the care system, as well as giving a long-term commitment to support the futures of those who have been cared for.

Our service supports more than 1,800 children who are in care or are leaving care to forge their own lives as adults. We also work alongside other health teams, social workers and carers to ensure they get the best possible support, to, it is hoped, make up for what they have missed out on so far.

Watch a short clip, which highlights the work of the Trust team and hear from 19-year-old Riley, who has received vital support from the service in recent years here: https://youtu.be/ u4LFHnDHFi8

For more information about the Children in Care Health Team in Dorset visit www. dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/ children-in-care

Rachel Ciantar

Jenna Pitt Dorset HealthCare’s Named Nurse and Service Manager for Children in Care Health Team

PHOTO: John Lewis

The importance of exercise: Why do I have balance problems and what can I do about it?

AS a physiotherapist, one of my roles is to advocate exercise and an active lifestyle. As well as specialising in neurological conditions I help people who have balance and mobility problems. This article will help you understand why you or someone you care about has developed balance problems and what can be done to restore balance and confidence. Ultimately, it is about prevention strategies for the future; keeping strong, flexible and maximising balance ability.

Balance can affect people at different levels. You may be walking coast paths and notice you are not as stable on uneven ground and stepping over a stile. Or you may find you are not as confident with every day activities like reaching into a low cupboard or carrying a hot drink upstairs. Either way, this is the time to act.

In order to maintain balance and stability, we need information from our eyes, skin, joints and inner ear. The brain collates all this input and then sends messages to our muscles to make the adjustments to maintain balance. A problem with any one of these systems will affect balance.

Why does our balance become more affected as we get older?

It has been found that muscle strength starts to diminish from the age of forty, meaning that with normal aging, people may not be as able to produce sufficient force in their muscles to regain balance if they trip or lose balance. In particular, the calf muscle becomes weaker and has been associated with falls in later life.

Tip - Strengthen your calf muscle by raising up onto your tiptoes.

As we get older, our reactions slow down, affecting the ability to adjust quickly enough to maintain balance. Furthermore, stiff joints and muscles make it harder to adapt. If we lose confidence in our ability, restriction of activities leads to further weakness and balance difficulties. The good news is there is lots that can be done to resolve these issues and restore confidence and mobility.

What can you do to improve balance?

Evidence shows that specific exercises can improve balance, mobility and reduce risk of falls in the future. Exercises and activities must be challenging enough to cause you to make small adjustments and slightly wobble but not so hard that you have to take a saving step. Safety Tip – Stand near to a wall or work surface when you are practising new exercises.

Standing with eyes closed, standing on one leg, walking on the beach or playing a sport like tennis where you have to change direction quickly are examples of progressive balance

challenges. Strengthening exercises to target muscles vital in balance should also be included in a programme, for example squats, coming up on to toes, sit to stand practice and core stability exercises.

At Dorset Neuro Physio we assess balance and strength to identify your particular problem then set up a specific exercise programme with challenges and goals. We provide home visits to build confidence in your everyday activities and outdoor mobility. We also offer clinic appointments and run a Dizzy Clinic at Swanage Therapy Centre.

Balance Classes

Our Balance Class takes place at 10.45am on Wednesdays at Swanage Therapy Centre. This is circuit-based, dynamic, high-level exercise class, providing the opportunity to challenge balance and build strength and confidence in a safe environment. Please call Holly Sizer on 07967 096742 or email holly@dorsetneurophysio.co.uk to find out about the exercise classes, book a 1:1 session or discuss your needs.

HOLLY

It’s time for a re-think on conifers

By Sally Gregson

IT often comes as a surprise that plants suffer the vagaries of fashion but it seems certain plants, genera, entire classes of plants can go out of fashion suddenly.

It happened to conifers about 30 years ago. Beds of ‘dwarf conifers’ and erica that had been so popular in the 1970s suddenly grew into conifer plantations with dead heathers at their feet.

And we had all heard of, if not grown, those green monsters, veritable triffids, called ‘Leyland Cypresses’. Every small garden, it seemed, was edged, if not surrounded, rather intimidatingly, by Leyland hedges. They grew at top speed to hide an eyesore, make a quick hedge, mark a boundary, and forgot to stop growing. They were bi-generic crosses that can often exhibit ‘hybrid vigour’. Leyland Cypresses very quickly became everyone’s nightmare.

And soon every innocent conifer was considered the same. Nobody trusted an entire

division of plant-life. We threw the baby out with the bathwater.

Now it’s time for a re-think. There are a few, very slowgrowing conifers that take up to ten years to grow larger than a metre in all dimensions. And some of them are very pretty.

There are the fat globes of Pinus pungens ‘Globosa’, for example, that reach 45-75cm in height and 60-75cm spread over ten years. They have fat stems covered in pale blue needles that extend in spring with

silvery-blue new shoots. They like sun and good drainage and would earn a place in everyone’s front garden underplanted with orange crocus or small species tulips.

Abies pinsapo ‘Aurea’ is another dwarf conifer that makes a golden mound. Over time its fat stems grow out in all directions like an anarchic pyramid. Each shoot resembling a large paw with fat fingers of green new growth in spring.

Then there’s Pinus strobus

The fat globes of Pinus pungens ‘Globosa’ reach 45-75cm in height and 60-75cm spread over ten years.

‘Tiny Curls’ that looks as if it’s having a bad hair day. Its needles are blue-green, twisted and contorted in a fascinating way. It slowly makes a shrub up to 1m in ten years and would look good in a container by a sunny front door. It can also be top-worked as a standard tree.

It’s worth visiting a small nursery that specialises in conifers to discover your own new ‘must-have’ plant. You are guaranteed to go home with more than one.

The ins and outs of sowing pelargoniums

By Sally Gregson

AFTER the pleasures and pains of Christmas are over and gone for another year, there is a hiatus, a lull, in festivities. It can come as a relief from the excesses to get out into the cold winter garden and spend a quiet time in the greenhouse.

Seed-raised pelargoniums, or ‘geraniums’, are a good way of filling summer pots and window-boxes with colourful flowers throughout the summer until the frosts.

A greenhouse that is heated to 4˚or 5˚c, so that it’s effectively frost-free, is ideal for raising ‘geraniums’. Lots of varieties are available to choose from such as ‘Black Magic Red’ that produces typically red

flowers over a crown of black-hearted leaves, that can be grown from seed.

Sow the seed just after Christmas or early in January into 12cm shallow pots, or a half-tray filled with proprietary compost tamped down lightly. Sow the seed individually, widely spaced. Cover it with a fine layer of vermiculite or sharp sand and label the container with the name and date sown. Place the container in a tray of water to absorb the moisture before standing it down to drain, then put it in a covered propagator placed in a warm, sunny place.

Once the seed leaves have emerged, open the ventilators of the propagator to air for a few

days, then gradually remove the seed tray from the propagator. Once the seedling roots are visible through the drainage holes, pot up the seedlings individually, placing them in a sunny, frost-free place and keeping them watered. A 9cm pot is ideal at first, potting them on throughout the coming spring, until they are big enough to leave the shelter of the greenhouse.

Once the frosts are past, harden off the young plants gradually – place them outside during the day, indoors at night for about a week. Keep the top growth pruned to shape the plants, encouraging them to make side shoots. And stand back and enjoy the success.

In with the old this New Year

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

AS the New Year starts, it’s a great time to take a look at your jewellery collection and look at any much-loved pieces you no longer wear because they’re broken but got put away with every intention to get them repaired.

Jewellery repairs have moved on since the 1980s and, due to modern technology, much more is now possible.

For instance, using a laser which allows the most delicate of items in metals, including base metals, to be mended.

This means a lot of costume jewellery, vintage and modern, can now be repaired.

Laser has no heat application, so it’s perfect for use in enamels or mother of pearl which could easily burn.

It is also possible to use other bits of your jewellery in the repair process – for example, we often melt old

wedding bands to make new shanks.

Sometimes, if a stone needs replacing, so will the claws that hold it in place.

Likewise, if a shank is split, it may need a replacement rather than a solder repair.

We would recommend that you find a specialist who can keep all repairs and restorations authentic, and who will go out of their way to keep the original integrity of a piece.

For instance, we use recycled metals to keep the gold colour to match the original, and we match the cut and colour of replacement stones.

Old-cut stones from the 19th century and earlier have a totally different appearance to modern brilliant-cut stones, so it’s important to get as precise a match as you can.

Breathing new life into something broken and never worn is an economical way to refresh your wearable, everyday jewellery.

Lots of goodies in store

– and online

QUIRKY homeware and giftware store @sixtyone’s sale is still on.

Why not drop into the shop at 61 High Street, Swanage – opposite Love Cake – and check out the new and pre-loved stock.

Alternatively, visit the website at www. sixtyonehighstreet.co.uk

Flexible working would become ‘default’ position under new plans

THE right to request flexible working will become available from ‘day-one’ of employment, the Government has proposed.

A consultation over potential changes to employment law was launched in September 2021, running until December of that year, to establish whether changes should be made.

It came after a pledge in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto committed to ‘encourage flexible working and consult on making flexible working the default unless employers have good reasons not to’.

More than 1,600 responses to the consultation were received and the Government has now issued guidance on which proposals it will take forward.

On making the right to request flexible working the

‘default’ position, the report said: “On the balance of the evidence provided ... the Government believes that making the right to request flexible working apply from the first day of employment is a proportionate step to take.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to work arrangements and it is important that the legislation remains a right to request, not a right to have.

“The Government believes that early conversations about flexibility in the job design, recruitment and appointment phases should be encouraged – and this measure will directly support that goal.”

In response to the consultation, The Phoenix Group said: “If we give this right to request flexibility from day one, we open up our culture

The consultation also asked for views on whether reasons to reject a request for flexible working should be altered, but based on feedback, it decided

against recommending that as a default position.

However, the proposals did include changes that would require employers minded to reject an application to discuss it with employees in a bid to encourage finding a workable compromise.

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.

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 27th January 2023.

DRIVERS

Zoopla first-time buyer tips for 2023

LOW mortgage rates have meant first time buyers could often afford a three bedroom semi with a double driveway and a big garden over the past two years.

But with mortgages more expensive - plus higher living costs - you might be wondering about your chances of stepping onto the property ladder in 2023.

Property firm Zoopla’s latest House Price Index shows buyers have been stepping back from the market, with demand down 50 percent against this time last year.

But a slower housing market can bring opportunities for first time buyers - if you know where to look and when to make your move.

Here are some tips on how you could step onto the property ladder in 2023:

n Look to flats for better

value for money

Price growth for flats has been much slower than for houses in the last 10 years. This means a flat could give you the chance to buy at a cheaper price for greater value for money.

n Put in an offer: sellers will be more open to negotiations in 2023

Sellers are now accepting offers 4% below asking price on average, which works out to a £10,500 discount on the average home right now.

n Keep an eye out for small drops in house prices

While house prices are up 7.2% over the last year - or £17,500 on average - price growth has stalled since the summer.

In the last 3 months, house prices have only risen 0.3 percent, compared to 2 percent in the summer.

And Zoopla expects to see

house prices fall in the first part of 2023, with annual price falls coming in by mid-year.

n What’s happening with house prices in the UK?

If you’re looking to buy in a high value market, this could give you the chance as competition eases and sellers start to reduce their prices to achieve a sale.

While you might find it harder to get a mortgage, buying remains cheaper than renting an equivalent home everywhere in the UK apart from London.

n Be ready to move quickly in affordable urban areas

In lower-value markets, there is still high demand as mortgage rate rises have had less of an impact.

But first time buyers have the advantage of flexiblity and the ability to progress quickly, which gains even more favour

among sellers in a softening market.

Richard Donnell, director of research and insight at Zoopla, said: “First time buyer demand is expected to hold up in 2023 as the rapid growth in rents makes buying look attractiveeven as mortgage rates increase.

“This is particularly the case in regions outside the south of England where mortgage repayments are lower than monthly rental costs, even with 5 percent mortgage rates.

“Rents are expected to rise further in 2023 adding to the impetus to buy. However, raising a deposit will remain the biggest challenge for first time buyers as the best mortgage rates will be for lower loan-tovalue mortgages.”

Whatever your situation, make sure you get independent financial advice before you go ahead.

M argaret Green Animal Rescue

Show our rescue pets they are loved

How your old Christmas tree could help rescue centres

THIS Christmas, we have teamed up with the wonderfully generous JSR Tree Care and Garden Maintenance to offer a fantastic option for disposing of your Christmas tree once the festivities are over.

For a suggested donation of £15, you can arrange for your tree to be collected if you live within the areas of BH19 or BH20. Alternatively, you could drop off your tree at one of our

of £5.

The trees will be broken down into wood chips, and these will then be recycled and re-used across our centres. All the funds raised through this

exciting initiative will go directly towards helping the rescue animals in our care.

You can drop your tree off at either our Church Knowle or Lincoln Farm centre in Dorset seven days a week, between 9am-4pm, or please phone 01929 781107 to arrange a collection from JSR Tree Care

and Garden Maintenance.

This is a wonderful way to support your local animal charity this winter and give back to rescue animals in need. Please visit our website, www.margaretgreenanimal rescue.org.uk, to find out how your support will make a difference.

Dorset rescue centres for a suggested donation

Vegetable hash great with leftovers

By Rebecca Vincent

FOR this recipe I’ve chosen two seasonal vegetables that tend to divide opinion, Brussels Sprouts and Jerusalem artichokes, but I hope you will give one or both a try for their nutritional bounty.

Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamins C, K and B vitamins, beta-carotene and potassium, as well as beneficial phytochemicals like glucosinolates.

Jerusalem artichokes are nutritionally dense – lots of minerals and B vitamins – but a lot of people tend to be put off because of their link with causing wind in some people. If you find you are susceptible, it is worth starting with just a small amount to enjoy their delicious nutty flavour and give your gut microbes a boost of prebiotic fibres.

Sprouts and artichoke hash (Serves 2-4)

6 leftover roast potatoes

1 medium Jerusalem artichoke

12 sprouts (fresh or cooked)

A selection of leftover vegetables such as carrot, parsnips, root mash, leeks, kale

1 garlic clove (finely grated)

½ tsp mixed dried herbs

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

Optional extras: leftover stuffing or pigs in blankets, lemon zest

Wash the artichoke, cut lengthways into quarters and then into thin, even chunks. Roughly chop the potatoes and vegetables – if using fresh sprouts, finely slice them.

Heat a large frying pan on a medium-high heat. Add oil, potatoes, artichoke and fresh sprouts if you are using them, stir occasionally for about ten minutes so the sprouts and artichoke start to soften. Then add in the garlic, herbs, your chosen vegetables and extras, and stir frequently as everything

Have a cuppa and help out town hospital

A DORCHESTER

restaurant is hosting community coffee mornings – and raising money for charity.

Luciano’s, in Brewery Square, is supporting Dorset County Hospital’s Greatest Need Appeal through its Monday morning coffee events.

Taking place every Monday from 9.3011.30am, the mornings offer customers bottomless teas and coffees, as well as a range of cakes and bakes, for just £5 – with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to the hospital.

The Greatest Need

Appeal is used by Dorset County Hospital to provide extra support where it is needed most – on wards and in specialist clinical units, and for the continuing enhancement of the hospital environment and facilities for staff and patients.

Restaurant general manager Kyle Hiener said: “I feel that with all the rising costs around us, our coffee morning Mondays give the local community a chance to get together and enjoy warm beverages and indulge in lovely cakes and bakes while supporting Dorset

warms through and gets a little colour.

Simple but lovely served with cold leftover roast turkey or ham, or a fried egg on top!

Sadly, this is my last column, after two years of seasonal recipes, and I wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to read and try my recipes. Whenever I’ve bumped into

someone in the greengrocers buying their ingredients, or speaking about a recipe they’ve already tried, it’s made my day!

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year!

n Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons); BANT-registered nutritionist; phone: 07515 019430; www. rebeccavincentnutrition.co.uk

County Hospital Charity.

“We have chosen The Greatest Need Appeal to show our support to areas in the hospital that may not always get all the funding they need.

“We welcome everyone – families and large groups and, of

course, we are dog friendly, so bring your furry friends as well. We offer gluten free and plant-based bakes and, of course, milk alternatives are available on request.”

The Monday coffee morning offer is open to

everyone and no booking is required.

For more information, visit https://lucianosrestaurant.co.uk/ dorchester, and for more on the DCH Greatest Need Appeal, see https:// dchcharity.org.uk/ greatest-need-appeal

Sprouts and artichoke hash is a nutritional bounty

Luciano’s, in Brewery Square, Dorchester, is supporting Dorset County Hospital’s Greatest Need Appeal

It would be hard not to fall in love with Dorset. With its easy charm and inspiring scenery, many have come to adore the beautiful county in all its glory. One person who would openly confess his love of Dorset was famed author Thomas Hardy who would likely share his fondness of the county with another love in his life. The lady in question was a certain Eliza Nicholls to whom Thomas Hardy was greatly attached. The two would spend as much time as possible together and loved to visit Clavell Tower which was built in 1830. The tower, noted for its circular structure, was built as an observatory looking out over the beautiful Dorset coastline.

Thomas Hardy was said to have used it as a destination for romantic walks with his first love, Eliza Nicholls, whose father was a Kimmeridge coastguard. His Wessex poems also include a frontispiece, hand-drawn by Hardy himself, of the tower.

Homage to Kate – cabaret-style

TRIBUTE is paid to the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music in An Evening Without Kate Bush, coming to Lighthouse Poole this spring.

The cabaret-style homage features the wildly wonderful voice and mesmerising performance of Sarah-Louise Young.

The actress, writer, director and internationally renowned cabaret performer has appeared in the West End with Julie Madly Deeply, Fascinating Aïda and La Soirée.

She has also been named one of Time Out’s Top 10 Cabaret Acts and voted Best Musical Variety Act in the London Cabaret Awards.

An Evening Without Kate Bush is back on the road following sold-out and critically

acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe runs, two Soho Theatre seasons and 2020-22 UK tours.

The show is being staged on Thursday 16 March at 7.45pm.

For tickets and information phone 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

‘The King’ played for laughs

THE usual mayhem and lots of audience interaction are promised when Spitz & Co present musical comedy Elvis in Blue Hawaii at venues in Dorset next month.

The show follows sell-out tours of Gloriator, Gloria In The Mist and Les Gloriablès. Award-winning Elvis impersonator Joe Reeve – best sideburns, GlosVegas 2014 –stars in his version of the classic Elvis film Blue Hawaii in the new production, while his long-time tour manager Josephine Cunningham is there to keep the show on the road – next stop, Vegas!

Kerry Bartlett, director of Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach, said: “Audiences have loved each of the

previous Spitz & Co tours and we are so thrilled to welcome the company back to Dorset for the first time since the spring of 2020.”

Elvis in Blue Hawaii is at Buckland Newton village hall (01300 345455) at 8pm on Saturday 14 January, and Wimborne Allendale Centre (01202 887247) on Sunday 15 January at 7.30pm.

Further information and tickets are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk

An Evening Without Kate starring Sarah-Louise Young Bush is at Lighthouse Poole

Elvis impersonator Joe Reeve stars in the musical comedy Elvis in Blue Hawaii

It’s showtime for Showaddywaddy

By Lorraine Gibson

“

WE love Showaddywaddy here at the Tivoli and they return in January 2023!” says the theatre’s manager, Charlie North Lewis.

The band will be rocking crepe soles and drape jackets in a riot of rainbow colours when they take to the stage to celebrate 50 years in the music business.

The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World tour may be an audacious title but Showaddywaddy, having survived and thrived for five decades and sold more than 20 million records, reckon they’ve earned it, and so do their fans!

Formed in 1973 in Leicester, they havve toured every corner of the world and this anniversary gig, flagged up as a dynamic and uplifting show, will feature all the greatest hits that have helped keep them in

the lime – not to mention lemon, pink and purple – light all this time.

Many of those hits reached number one in the European charts – Under The Moon of Love, Three Steps to Heaven, Hey Rock & Roll, When, Blue Moon, Pretty Little Angel Eyes – the list goes on.

So if You’ve Got What It Takes, just go for a little walk to the Tivoli and join them on Saturday 21 January at 7.30pm. Online tickets £30.25/£27.50; box office tickets £27.50/£25 – www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk

LIVE SHOWS & MUSIC:

• Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood - Swanage Drama Company is back! Get ready for a bucket load of laughs as they bring the family pantomime ‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’ to the stage at The Mowlem. Friday 13th, Sat 14th, Friday 20th and Sat 21st at 7.30pm, Sat 14th and 21st at 2.00pm

• 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. Fri 3rd February at 7.30pm

Whole world of music

HAILING from New England, USA, Windborne (pictured) specialise in close harmony singing, shifting effortlessly between dramatically different styles of traditional music.

Their musical knowledge spans many continents and cultures, but they remain deeply rooted in American folk singing traditions.

Windborne, made up of Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, and Lynn and Will Rowan, are coming to Morden village hall with Arstreach, Dorset’s touring arts charity, on Friday 20 January at 7.30pm.

Further details and tickets are available from www.artsreach. co.uk

• She’Koyokh

EVENTS IN THE SHOWBAR

(upstairs at The Mowlem): No events are planned for January. But please do visit us to enjoy a drink and the views during our opening hours. https://themowlem.com/showbar/

MOWLEM VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS

• ‘On Stage’.

MOVIES:

• Official Competition (15). Penélope Cruz & Antonio Banderas star as two egomaniacs commissioned by a millionaire to make a movie together in this sharp comedy skewering wealth, art, and pride. Monday 9th January and Tuesday 10th January at 7.30pm.

• Triangle of Sadness (15). Social hierarchy is turned upside down, revealing the tawdry relationship between power and beauty. An epic satire set against the world of fashion and the uber-rich with Hollywood star Woody Harrelson. Monday 23rd through to Thursday 26th January at 7.30pm. Monday Matinée on Monday 23rd January at 2.30pm.

• 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). Monday Matinée on Monday 30th January at 2.30pm.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES:

• The Making Memories Dementia Friendly cafe is Tuesday 3rd & 17th of January, at 10.00 am in The Showbar.

• The Flower Club will meet on Thursday, 19th January, at 9 am in the Community Room.

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

• Empire of Light

• Slimming World returns every Wednesday from 18th January at 6 pm in the Community Room.

• The Purbeck Society Annual General Meeting will take place on January 13th at 2.30 pm in the Community Room and will be followed by Chair, Peter Bowyer, talking about CPRE.

www.themowlem.com

Seventies rock ‘n’ rollers Showaddywaddy are coming to the Tivoli in Wimborne

Pantomimes, plays, ballet and concerts; local groups and professional companies – Tony Kerins has been drawing at live performances in The Mowlem Theatre since 1986. Our third visual arts exhibition will showcase Tony’s work and be open to the public until Tuesday, 25th January 2023

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 23 January is NOON 11 January. 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.

JANUARY 2023

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.

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

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

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.

19.30 Swanage Badminton Club meet at Swanage School, High Street, BH19 2PH, and play until 9pm. New members welcome.

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 feedonations 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 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.

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 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd. Peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till noon. 552864.

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.

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

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.

19.30 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. Sept-May. 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.

09.30 Little Fishes Baby and Toddler Group. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Term time only. Until 11.30am. Alex on 07904 412067.

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-a-Brac 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.

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.

ACORN LODGE ODDFELLOWS: Events all held at the Three Legged Cross Hall, Wimborne: Saturday, December 10, 1.30pm – Christmas buffet, £4. Contact social secretary Julia Taylor to book places.

DATE-SPECIFIC EVENTS

Monday January 16, 19.30 Talk by Sheila Watters on the Rodgett family of Sandford by Sandford Heritage Community Group. Sandford Labour Club, BH20 7BD. Entry £1.

Wednesday January 18, 19.30 Talk by Graham Knott entitled “Meyer. A rebel with a cause.” Wareham and District Archaeological and Local History Society, Furzebrook Village Hall, BH20 5AR. Entry £3 nonmembers.

THE ISLE OF MAN

TYROL