Purbeck Gazette 287

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EDITORIAL

PAUL Jones

Editor-in-chief

WE love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

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

About the Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette prints every fortnight and delivers throughout the region from Swanage to Dorchester, Lulworth to Bere Regis. The Purbeck Gazette is published by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. All editing, graphic design and lay-up is completed in-house by The Blackmore Vale Ltd.

The Purbeck Gazette is printed by Blackmore Ltd of Shaftesbury. The Purbeck Gazette website is managed and edited by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. Blackmore Vale Ltd also publishes The Purbeck Guidette, the Purbeck Visitor Guide. All rights reserved. All layouts copyright Blackmore Vale Ltd. No reproduction without permission.

OUR TEAM: The Gazette team consists of: Lloyd Armishaw, Debi Thorne, Donna Garner, Jane Toomer and Julian McLeod.

Poole Harbour oil spill: Reports and reaction to the incident on pages 4 and 5, and Telling It Like It Is, page 18

Joy Grounds, who taught generations of youngsters in Wareham to swim, has died aged 92 – page 10

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The legal stuff... Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this magazine, but the editor is unable to accept responsibility for any omissions or errors that may occur. The inclusion of any article or advertisement does not constitute any form of accreditation or approval by the editor.

No part, written or visual, of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the editor.

Blast from the railway past

MORE than 50 years after he was a passenger on the final Swanage to Wareham rail journey, Peter Frost drove the train as the service returned.

In January 1972, then aged 13, Mr Frost was aboard the final train before the service was cancelled.

But on Tuesday, April 4, he was the driver and conductor as a 90-day trial of the route got underway.

It will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until Sunday, Sepetember 10, with passengers able to travel from Swanage to Wareham, connecting with mainline services.

The first train leaves Wareham at 11.19am and the last return journey sets off from Swanage at 4.20pm.

“After so many years, here we are,” he said. “There was a trial service to Wareham in 2017 and it was hoped that it would also happen in 2018 but that was shelved due to cost.

“I think we should have bitten the bullet and gone ahead with the trial back then.

“However, getting this far now has been achieved by a pioneer spirit – it’s a stepping stone to providing a full heritage service to Wareham and beyond.”

Also on board was Swanage Railway Trust director Peter Sills who, as a 13-year-old, also travelled on the last British Rail

passenger train from Swanage to Wareham – and still has his ticket from that last journey.

The 65-year-old took in the route with his own son, Frederick, 16.

And the conductor guard on the first day of the diesel train service to Wareham was Trevor Parsons, chair of the Swanage Railway Company.

“This is our first trip to Wareham with our own Swanage Railway diesel units,” he said.

“It’s taken a lot of work to get them operational, as heritage trains do literally take a lot of tender loving care.”

Operating through the summer months, the service will allow visitors to Dorset to reach Wareham, before using the service to Swanage or Corfe Castle for the day.

Adult return tickets cost £25, which chair of the Swanage Railway Trust, Gavin Johns, said was dictated by the operating costs of the railway, as well as the fact the scheme received no government subsidy.

“The pricing is determined by the heritage steam service and the operating cost,” he said.

Solar & Tidal Predictions - April '23

Peveril

“Discounts are available. But what is really needed for the future is financial support to reduce the fare price – all the options are on the table.

“We’re doing this trial to test

the service. We’ll then gather all the data and then discuss the next steps with key stakeholders like Dorset Council. As a charity we don’t have the resources to service the full cost.”

For more information, and to book tickets, log on to www. swanagerailway.co.uk

May '23

Solar and Tidal Predictions - Feb'23

Solar & Tidal Predictions - May '23

Solar & Tidal Predictions - May '23

Peveril Ledge, Swanage

Over half a century after being scrapped, the SwanageWareham rail link has been revived for a trial run over the summer season

Swanage Railway Trust director Peter Sills with his 1972 last British Rail Wareham to Swanage train ticket

PHOTO: Andrew PM Wright

The diesel train service will run four days a week until September

PHOTO: Andrew PM Wright

Safe to swim after oil spill

PEOPLE are being advised they can swim in waters around Poole Harbour following an oil leak.

A leak from a pipeline operated by Perenco at Owers Bay on Sunday, March 26, saw about 200 barrels of an oil and water mix enter the water.

People were advised to avoid using beaches in the area and not to bathe in the waters.

However, the Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) now say it is safe.

“As a result of the progress of the clean-up operations, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revised previous advice and indicated that people are able to once again use the beaches and water in the Poole Harbour area for recreational use,” they said.

“This includes swimming, bathing and watersports. Pets are now safe to walk near the water in the Poole Harbour area. The public are, however, requested to stay clear from

Owers Bay.”

PHC said it will continue the clean-up operation and urged anyone who sees oil on the water to report it to Harbour Control on 01202 440 230 or via pooleharbourcommissioners@ phc.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is in the process of removing the signage at harbour beach areas and slipways that previously advised visitors not to swim in those areas.

In the Dorset Council area, signage is being removed from the Studland beaches, Knowle Beach, South Beach, Ferry Road and Shell Bay that previously advised visitors not to swim in those areas until further notice.

Fishing and/or netting for fish in Poole Harbour can also resume.

“Those fishing should avoid any areas of the harbour which are evidently contaminated with

oil (spill site),” the PHC added.

“Any fish found to be dead, dying or visibly contaminated with oil residues should not be consumed or marketed.

“Shellfish harvested from Poole Harbour from Sunday, March 26, onwards should not be relayed or marketed. This advice regarding shellfish remains unchanged, due to the difference in metabolism

between fish and shellfish.

“BCP Council and Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (SIFCA) have carried out sampling of shellfish from the aquaculture grounds in Poole Harbour and are awaiting the results of this testing, and further assessment by the FSA, to inform the position regarding shellfish.”

a small discharge is unacceptable’

IT may be back to business as usual for the tourist industry but among the many Purbeck residents still concerned about the longer-term impact of the leak are qualified marine biologist Doug Skinner from Swanage and environmentalist Emily House from Kimmeridge.

“Even a ‘small’ discharge is unacceptable and can cause massive damage,” said Doug.

“As a concerned individual, who is knowledgeable on the marine environment, I feel that where we have such an important environment like Poole Harbour, we should stop all drilling immediately and demand compensation for the tourist industry and local fishers, especially for clams and shellfish which filter the water.

“Swapping the drilling for the installation of clean wind

turbines is the answer if we want to protect our local environment.”

Emily said: “Oil spillages or leaks cause immediate damage to the environment

and surrounding areas and dramatically affect the food chain with long-lasting effects, and there’s no quick and easy fix. In my opinion, more precautions should be put in

place by companies like Perenco while authorities like Poole Harbour Commissioners should employ harsher penalties and closer monitoring.”

200 barrels of an oil and water mix entered the water in the spill

‘Even

Marine biologist Doug Skinner and environmentalist Emily House

100% clean-up is impossible

THE oil spill across Poole Harbour last month was truly shocking.

This blunder will, of course, pollute our waters and destroy local marine life.

Following any oil spill, we know that it is impossible to 100% clean up and restore the impacted coastline.

The oil company responsible for this spill – Perenco – will need to outline to the public exactly how this toxic leak occurred and explain how a repeat fiasco will be avoided.

This cannot become the new normal.

But the spill in Poole Harbour raises some broader questions as well.

How do we stop sewage dumps and oil spills from ruining our beaches and rivers? How do we protect our amazing coastline from becoming more and more polluted with plastic?

Man rescued from 70m down cliffs

A MAN was rescued from Dorset cliffs after an emergency call.

The victim was picked up from 70 metres down a cliff near the White Nothe after reports he was trapped at around 2.30pm on Tuesday, April 4.

A spokesperson for the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said: “The casualty was conscious but suffering breathing difficulties, and due to the nature of the call, fire control remained on the

And how can we effectively hold to account those responsible for shielding our local environment from harm?

Far too often, untreated sewage contaminates our oceans and rivers.

Across Dorset, and beyond, we have seen some real horror stories with water companies treating our blue spaces like an open sewer. We cannot go on like this.

I worry that our local MPs, the water companies and big polluters alike are simply not up to the job of protecting Dorset’s coastline or taking responsible steps to clean up our beaches, ocean and rivers.

In Dorset, we are so fortunate to have one the most scenic stretches of coastline in the whole of the country right here on our doorstep.

We can never take this for granted – now it’s up to us to protect it.

Lloyd Hatton Weymouth

telephone for a considerable time providing support and reassurance to the casualty using call handling techniques and communication to liaise with crews to assist with locating the casualty in a remote area.”

Specialist equipment was used to get to the man, who was checked over by paramedics at the scene.

A spokesperson for the Wyke Coastguard CRT, who also attended the incident along with the Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team, said: “The casualty was recovered to the cliff top by DWFRS. [He]was then checked over by paramedics and given the all clear.”

The White Nothe rescue operation

PHOTO: Wyke Coastguard CRT

Health & Wellbeing: Hub to offer one-stop services to families

A NEW health and wellbeing family hub is set to open in Swanage after getting the go-ahead from council chiefs.

Plans for the opening of a Health and Wellbeing Family Hub at Chapel Lane have been approved by Dorset Council’s Cabinet.

The hub is set to be part of a network of Family Hubs offering one-stop services for families, two of which have already been launched in other parts of the county.

It will be operated and delivered by the Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust and supported by Swanage Town Council in partnership with Dorset Council.

The council says it will enable children’s and adults’ services to be ‘delivered differently and will enable wider usage of the under occupied Chapel Lane site for community benefit’.

It will see a community asset

transfer of buildings on the Chapel Lane site from Dorset Council to the Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust.

Cllr Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for children, education, skills and early help, welcomed the decision, saying Dorset was at the forefront of delivering family hubs.

“This proposal supports the strategic objectives of the council to create strong, healthy communities,” he said.

“We recognise the devolution of assets to local communities,

particularly to town and parish councils and voluntary and community-based organisations, can make a significant contribution to enabling them to be stronger, more resilient and to support services within their local areas.”

Cllr Peter Wharf, the cabinet lead for adults’ services, added: “This proposal will enable the development of a joined up inter-generational approach to service delivery in Swanage through the creation of a Family Hub that better meets the needs

of the local community and supports the delivery of children’s and adults’ services commissioning strategies.”

Bob Foster, chair of Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust, said it will provide a place for people to gather.

“We’ve never had anything quite like this in Swanage before and the hub will be a great place for people of all ages to gather and meet socially, as well as to access essential services,” he said.

“There will be a community cafe which will be open every day and having a reception desk means that visitors can get help to find what they need both in person and by phone. In many cases the help they get will be provided at the hub itself or very locally.”

And Cllr Mike Bonfield, chair of Swanage Town Council’s community services committee, said a range of groups and services would be represented at the venue.

“As well as things like maternity services, debt advice or support with mental health, we hope that community groups such as Dementia Friendly, Link Visiting (befriending people in isolation), Swanage Stroke Club, and MS Purbeck will provide services from the hub,” he said.

Friendly face of the Home Library Service

EILEEN Osgood has been bringing literature to book lovers – and been a friendly face – for 15 years.

She has been a volunteer with the Wool Home Library Service, bringing books to people who can’t make it to the library.

Eileen originally joined the WRVS as a volunteer with her husband and was recently presented with the service’s Long Service Medal for her efforts.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it,” she said. “I have met so many interesting and fascinating people over the years, and being able to continue volunteering has

helped me, too.

“The volunteer team here at Wool Library are fantastic, and it’s great to be part of both the library volunteers and the Home Library Service’s team.”

The Home Library Service is provided by Dorset Library Service and delivered by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers.

Books and talking books are chosen individually for each person and delivered every three weeks, providing not only fresh reading materials on a regular basis, but also a visit by a trusted volunteer.

Anyone unable to get to the

library and who would like to receive a regular free delivery of books should get in touch by phoning the RVS office on

01305 236666, or emailing maria.jacobson@ royalvoluntaryservice. org.uk.

The Family Hub will be based at Chapel Lane in Swanage

Eileen Osgood shows off her Long Service Medal

Charity fundraiser at the Kings Arms

HUNDREDS of pounds was raised for the Allison Campbell Trust (ACT) at the Kings Arms, Wareham, on a rugby Six Nations Super Saturday.

The pub made a donation for every bowl of chilli sold, a competition was held to guess the first try scorer and a raffle with prizes ranging from a tonne of firewood to a jar of bath salts helped raise £500.

Organisers would like to thank everyone who contributed any of the 40 raffle prizes and to those who bought tickets.

ACT works solely in the Purbeck area and aims to support district nursing teams caring for end-of-life patients who choose to die in their own homes.

It provides a range of items the NHS cannot fund which make a difference to patient comfort and quality of life.

Magic of the movies at historic castle

ACT is entirely run by volunteers, so every penny donated goes to those who need help.

Anyone who would like to stage an event in aid of the ACT, or help raise funds, should contact admin@theallison campbelltrust.org.

Police warn boat owners

BOAT owners in Christchurch have been warned of ‘suspicious activity’ in the harbour.

An alert has been sent out by Dorset Police flagging activity in the Quomps area of Christchurch Harbour.

“A small number of boats appear to have been boarded and some have been

damaged,” said PC Alison Roberts. “At this time the investigations are ongoing, however please ensure that you remove any valuables from your boats and remain vigilant.

“Please report any suspicious activity or crime that has taken place.”

Anyone who sees suspicious behaviour or has been the victim of crime should contact police on 101 or via the Dorset Police website.

CINEMA alfresco will be coming to 17th century Lulworth Castle (above) this summer.

Luna Cinema will be presenting Top Gun: Maverick (12A) on Tuesday, August 8; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (PG) on Wednesday, August 9; and

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (PG) on Thursday, August 10.

Movie fans can take their own blanket and seats or opt for a limited availability premium director seat. Tickets must be booked in advance from https://www. thelunacinema.com/cinema/

Nigel from Skatenotbored in Wareham won his own prize in the raffle and is giving it to a local youngster

Christchurch Harbour, where boats appear to have been boarded

‘Serious reservations’ over barge plans to house asylum seekers

DORSET is set to be home to the first berthed vessel in the UK to be used to house asylum seekers.

The Home Office says the vessel, at Portland, will ‘reduce the reliance on expensive hotels and deliver a more orderly, cost-effective and sustainable asylum accommodation system’.

However, critics of the plan say Portland Port is not a suitable location.

Dorset Council said it had ‘serious reservations’ about the scheme and opposed it.

It was continuing to ‘press’ the Home Office for answers about the scheme, it added.

The Home Office said the new plan was ‘an important step in progressing the Prime Minister and Home Secretary’s priority to stop the boats’.

The government has announced that surplus military sites will also be used to accommodate migrants who have entered the UK illegally.

The barge, called the Bibby Stockholm, will be berthed in Portland Port and will accommodate about 500 single adult males while their asylum claims are processed.

The Home Office said it will provide ‘basic and functional accommodation, and healthcare provision, catering facilities’, with security in place at all

times.

Migrants are due to be moved onto the Bibby Stockholm in the coming months, with the Home Office in discussions with other ports.

It said it expects ‘further vessels will be announced in due course’.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “The Home Secretary and I have been clear that the use of expensive hotels to house those making unnecessary and dangerous journeys must stop.

“We will not elevate the interests of illegal migrants over the British people we are elected to serve.

“We have to use alternative accommodation options, as our European neighbours are doing – including the use of barges and ferries to save the British

taxpayer money and to prevent the UK becoming a magnet for asylum shoppers in Europe.

“All accommodation will meet our legal obligations and we will work closely with the local community to address their concerns, including through financial support.”

Chief executive of Portland Port, Bill Reeves, said: “We are keen to play our part in the national effort to house some of the thousands of people needing accommodation.

“We encourage everyone in the community to approach this with an open mind and help us show other areas just how successful this type of initiative can be, both for the migrants and the local community.

“There will be close cooperation with local agencies, including the health and emergency services during the preparations for the vessel’s arrival and its operation. We will also work closely with local community and voluntary groups.”

Bibby Stockholm will be operational for at least 18 months and stay berthed in the port during that time.

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the Home Secretary’s announcement this afternoon, confirming that the Home Office wishes to proceed with its plans

to house asylum seekers in floating accommodation at Portland Port.

“Dorset Council’s position has not changed. We still have serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario and we remain opposed to the proposals.

“However, the council will continue to support and acknowledge the concerns of our residents and local businesses.

“There are a number of questions which the Home Secretary’s announcement does not address, we will continue to press the Home Office for answers and await further information.”

Writing before the announcement, Portland MP Richard Drax (Con) said the scheme was ‘unworkable for many reasons’.

“We have no idea who they will be, or where they are from,” he said.

“The scheme is unworkable for many reasons and I’ve already told the Home Secretary that.”

After a meeting with port bosses and the council leader, Mr Drax said: “What was discussed is strictly confidential, but I learnt enough to chase the Home Secretary for more information, which to date I’ve only received from the press.”

FLOATING HOME Portland Port and the Bibby Stockholm, which will accommodate about 500 single adult males

Richard Drax, Conservative MP for South Dorset, says the scheme is ‘unworkable’

New service helps deaf get in touch

DEAF people can now communicate with Dorset Council in real time using sign language, thanks to a new system.

The council has partnered with SignVideo, enabling the deaf community to communicate using British Sign Language (BSL) when contacting the authority online or in person.

SignVideo is an online video interpreting service that connects users with a qualified

BSL interpreter and relays their query to a customer advisor.

Cllr Laura Beddow, portfolio holder for culture, communities and customer services at the council, said: “I am really proud that we are now providing this service for those in our deaf community.

“It is important that we provide everyone with equal access to support and information so that no one misses out.

“So, I am delighted that we

Dozens of apartments planned for The Maltings landmark

MORE than 70 apartments could be built if plans to develop a landmark Dorchester building and the surrounding site are approved.

The scheme would see The Maltings, a Grade II listed building on the Brewery Square site, renovated to provide the apartments, as well as a ‘community’ space.

Meanwhile, Maltings Muse – a new, five-storey residential building with 30 apartments and associated parking – would be built alongside.

The applicants, Brewery Square Development Company and Halo Developments, have been involved in previous work at the Brewery Square site and say they ‘seek to ensure the proposed development builds on the success of Brewery Square’.

On plans for The Maltings, the application said: “The proposed development repurposes the vacant Grade II listed building, The Maltings.

“This is key to the proposed

development as it symbolises the past use whilst utilising the building for modern use.

“The development also incorporates high quality landscaping.”

It added: “The proposed development includes a flexible space that can be used for community or commercial purposes.

“After discussions with local residents, the applicant recognised that there was a lack of a community space within the wider Brewery Square masterplan.”

This would be in the form of the basement floor being available ‘as a community centre or other meeting/activity

have partnered with SignVideo, to enable deaf people to contact us in a way that suits them. We are always looking to improve accessibility, remove barriers and provide inclusive services that are designed for our communities and their needs.

“We want to make communicating with us as easy as possible for everyone, and this is positive step towards achieving that.”

SignVideo can be accessed on a Smartphone or tablet using

the SignVideo app, or on a computer when visiting dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/contact-us

Users need to set up an account and once signed in can select ‘Dorset Council’ from the directory. They will then be connected to a BSL interpreter who will translate their query to a customer advisor.

The free service is available online from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm. It can also be used for emergency calls outside those hours.

place’.

The ground floors to the fifth floor would be for residential use, with 46 apartments being built – 21 one-bed, 24 two-bed and one three-bed.

Parts of the building would be demolished, with alterations made and extensions built.

Maltings Mews would be a new, rectangular building on the same site, including parking on the ground floor.

Floors one to five would house 30 apartments – four one-bed and 26 two-bed.

However, the Victorian Society has criticised the scheme - it says the loss of parts of the Maltings building and alterations to the internal structure would make it seem the structure was ‘lost’.

Conservation adviser Connor McNeill said: “The loss of substantial parts of the historic structure and subdivision of significant internal spaces would harm understanding the building as a historic maltings.

“Its substantially intact

exterior would be disfigured by alterations – especially inserting new windows and roof lights.

“Ultimately, this intensive development would mean the Maltings was, in essence, facaded.

“The new buildings would hem in the listed buildings, increasing the impression that the historic buildings are lost within a new development, rather than forming the focus of it, as they ought.”

Connor said Dorchester ‘must protect its listed buildings and conservation areas, which make historic places unique’.

“The new block of flats should be able to fund redevelopment of the Maltings themselves in a much less intensive way for commercial or community re-use which would not require such a high level of intervention,” they added.

For more details on the plans, log on to dorsetcouncil. gov.uk and search for application reference P/ LBC/2022/05474.

Shape of things to come?: How The Maltings and Maltings Muse could look IMAGE: BSDC Halo Developments

The Maltings and Maltings Muse site in Dorchester PHOTO: Google

Joy taught generations of youngsters how to swim

SWIMMING teacher Joy Grounds, who brought up ten children in Wareham, has died at the age of 92.

Joy taught a friend to swim at the age of 14 and, excited by the achievement, taught generations of youngsters in the town to feel safe in the water for more than 50 years.

She worked with great passion, never once cancelling a class or forgetting the name of a pupil, all free of charge.

Joy, whose husband Joe was also a swimming teacher, wanted her students to be happy and confident, and with patience and encouragement, she helped them overcome every obstacle.

As the years passed, she taught the children and grandchildren of her original pupils, and she trained

swimming teachers as well. In 1993, Joy was honoured to be appointed president of the Swimming Teachers Association, an international post, and developed a new set of award badges.

In recognition of her work, she was invited to a Queen’s Garden Party, which meant a great deal to her.

Joy leaves nine children, 22 grandchildren and 22 greatgrandchildren.

A funeral will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Poole BH12 0QW on Tuesday, April 18, at 10.30am with the wake at 1pm at The Springfield Country Hotel, Wareham BH20 5AL.

Showcase for nature’s riches

PURBECK’S natural riches and its exciting future are set to be celebrated by community group Sustainable Wareham in an event this weekend at Wareham town hall.

Experts from several wildlife and environmental groups working in the area will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions with displays and films.

Topics being explored will include the UK’s first ‘super’ national nature reserve on the Purbeck heaths; plans to reintroduce wild beavers; the ospreys breeding in the area for the first time in more than 300 years; and the white-tailed sea eagles now flying over our wetlands.

There will be intriguing insights into the Wareham Arc, an enormous land and river regeneration project that has recently won Government

backing; major rewilding schemes already under way and the bountiful marine life, including endangered seahorses, that can be found on Purbeck’s shores.

Vicky Charles, from Sustainable Wareham, said: “We have been exploring what has been happening to protect and enhance our fabulous environment here in Purbeck.

“We found that amazing work is being done by a whole range of groups such as Dorset

Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the National Trust, as well as local landowners and attractions like Carey’s Secret Garden and the Blue Pool, which boost biodiversity and help our resilience to climate change.

“We believe this is a good time to share our excitement with the wider community as possibly many people living here are unaware of the terrific things that are going on around them. We hope lots of them will come to our fair.”

Vicky said the area around Wareham is the only location in Britain where all six native reptiles are found.

She added: “On our doorstep is one of the most biodiverse areas in the country with over 450 species that are rare, threatened or endangered.

“It’s also the home of 65 special wild flowers, over half of which are scarce.”

The fair is on Saturday, April 22, between 10am and noon, and refreshments will be available.

Visitors will be able to pick up a new leaflet produced in collaboration with Visit Wareham, which provides information about all local nature and wildlife destinations and how to get there.

For more information, visit the website https:// visitwareham.com/nature-andwildlife-wareham-dorset/

Joy Grounds was appointed president of the Swimming Teachers Association (left), and in the pool

Experts representing wildlife and environmental groups will attend a fair at Wareham town hall PHOTO: Brian Mounsher/Pixabay

Police appeal on shop incident

A MAN spat in the face of a shop worker after being asked to leave a Poole store.

‘Defib’ ready to save lives

A LIFE-SAVING defibrillator has been installed at Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance’s office in Wimborne.

The automated external defibrillator (AED) has been mounted to the outside of the charity’s office to provide

members of the public with a life-saving resource in the event of a medical emergency.

The AED can be accessed 24 hours a day and provides clear step-by-step instructions to help save someone’s life if they have a cardiac arrest.

Police have issued a CCTV image (right) of a man they would like to identify in connection with the incident, which happened at about 2pm on Thursday, March 2.

A man entered the Home Bargains store at Redlands before being approached by a member of staff, who told him that he was not allowed into the store due to previous incidents involving abuse toward staff, police said.

As staff escorted him out of the shop, he turned around and spat at the victim’s face.

Police Community Support Investigator Chris Hardy, of

LOW COST SECURE SELF STORAGE

Poole police, said: “This was a very unpleasant incident for the member of staff to have to deal with while they were simply doing their job.

“We have been carrying out enquiries and I am now in a position to release a CCTV image of a man we would like to identify as part of our investigation.

“I would urge anyone who recognises him to please contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55230033216.

They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Litter pickers could win a lotto

LITTER pickers in Dorset could win a £100 prize for doing the right thing, thanks to a new lottery competition.

Dorset Council and LitterLotto have joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at tackling littering – and to reward people doing their part to keep the county clean.

The partnership will see users of the LitterLotto app given the opportunity to win an additional £100 each month, on top of £1,000 weekly jackpot and spot prizes already available.

LitterLotto uses gamification to encourage citizens to dispose of litter properly and has been making waves in the fight against littering.

The app allows users to keep tabs on the amount of litter they dispose of as well as a chance to win a prize on each submission. Each entry also goes into the draw for the

weekly and monthly jackpots.

The scheme was launched in Dorset last year and has already seen local residents win cash prizes.

Cllr Laura Beddow, portfolio holder for culture, communities and customer services at the council, said: “Anything that helps us tackle the blight of litter in our beautiful county is worth supporting, and the LitterLotto initiative is a brilliant way to use technology to incentivise the use of our street bins and encourage people to not drop litter.”

Simon Jacobs, director at LitterLotto –aka ‘The Lord of Litter’ – said: “I’m proud to see LitterLotto and Dorset Council working together to keep Dorset looking its best and expand its already excellent campaign on responsible binning.

“The partnership will bring innovative

solutions and make a positive impact in the community, while also making the experience fun and rewarding for everyone.”

The app has received positive feedback from users, who have praised the experience as both fun and rewarding.

“This is just the beginning and we’re excited to see what the future holds for our partnership with Dorset Council and how it will help us in our mission to create a cleaner and more sustainable world,” Mr Jacobs said.

Cllr Beddow added: “I urge everyone to download the LitterLotto app to their smartphone and get involved. It’s quick, it’s fun and you could win a prize just for popping a piece of litter into a bin.”

Search for LitterLotto on your smartphone to download the app.

Care home’s thank-you gift

A CARE home effort has boosted toys available to younger generations at a Poole nursery.

Team members and residents at Care South’s Dorset House raised £100 for Muddy Boots Nursery School and the children who regularly visit the home.

The fundraiser was spearheaded by activities lead Sam Baker, who wanted to show staff and residents’ appreciation to the nursery.

Money raised went towards outdoor summer toys which were presented to the nursery after children were invited to the home for an Easter egg hunt.

Garden toys, including a water table, footballs, goals, and bat and balls, purchased with the money raised, were presented to the nursery.

The home also handed over a range of second-hand toys, including a toy car and scooter, an activity cube with a slide and ride-on toys.

Sam said: “The children always bring smiles to residents’ faces and often inspire conversations about their own children. They bring innocence, fun and creativity into the home.

“We are always amazed at

how well behaved they all are, and they really mean a lot to residents in our care, so we wanted to raise some money to show our appreciation.

“On average, the nursery has around 25 children attending each day with 10-15 visiting the

home at any one time.

“We raised enough money to buy some garden toys for the children which we cannot wait to see being put to good use.”

A Muddy Boots Nursery School spokesperson added: “We are so grateful to Sam and

the team at Dorset House for this very generous donation.

“The toys that we have received will provide so much fun to the children at the nursery.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Dorset House care home and the children enjoy interacting with the residents upon our visits.

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Easter egg hunt and the many chocolate goodies they found.”

Team members and residents at Care South’s Dorset House bought toys for children who attend Muddy Boots Nursery School. The youngsters were invited to the home for an Easter Egg Hunt

Dog dash coins in the cash

MORE than 200 people and their pooches joined in LewisManning’s Muddy Dog Dash at Upton Country Park and raised a whopping £12,000.

Participants took on a 2km or 4km obstacle circuit, which consisted of hurdles for hounds, woofderful weave poles, pawesome ball pits, pooches (water) pools, jumps and humps and a perfectly placed Dog Bar by Nurturing By Nature halfway around the course, for dogs and their owners to take a quick break and well deserved water!

Visitors could also peruse stalls including dog food, pets clothing, pet portraits and more.

Runners and their furry friends enjoyed a warm-up hosted by Sparky from Hot Radio and the station gave out spot prizes donated by Running Free, including Best Dressed and Muddiest Contestant.

Ruth Wright, area fundraiser at Lewis-Manning Hospice

Care, said, “We are absolutely ecstatic that so many people from our community came out on the Sunday to have buckets of fun and laughter, while raising vital funds for our hospice.

“On behalf of all the staff, volunteers and patients I want to say a huge heartfelt well done and thank you to everyone who took part and supported this event.

“£12,000 is a huge amount to raise and will help so many of our patients, their loved ones and carers receive the care they need and deserve.

“There have been so many supporters of this event, from our incredible sponsors Barratt Homes, as well as Care South, Nurturing By Nature, Hot Radio and The Old Boys Club.

“Without their help and support the event wouldn’t have been as brilliant as it was.

“We cannot wait to run this

event again next year at Upton Country Park, so make sure to follow Lewis-Manning Hospice

Care on social media and you can be one of the first to sign-up. The first 100 sign-ups get a free T-shirt!”

Lewis-Manning Hospice

Care would also like to thank

Pukka Pads, Running Free, local Tesco and Asda supermarkets, Jollyes pet store, Curly Creator Co, Cribb Tyre & Battery, Capital Barriers & Temporary Fencing, Makro, Barking Barbers, Polygon Pets, Oscar Pets, Idris & Pals and Katherine Cromwell Artist.

Lewis-Manning’s Muddy Dog Dash raised £12,000 for the hospice

Tourist area car parks targeted for charge rises

PARKING charges at Dorset Council-run car parks are increasing – but only in tourist areas.

The council says new rates will be seasonal, with some only increasing for the spring/summer period, coming into effect from April 28.

Some on-street pay and display rates will increase for non-permit holders on busy seafront roads, while prices in the council’s other car parks will not rise, except for some six-hour stays in multi-use car park areas used by larger vehicles such as coaches, large motorhomes and lorries.

Meanwhile, there will be no increase in the cost of on-street parking permits for residents,

with short stay and flexi car park permit prices also remaining unchanged.

Tickets purchased in the afternoon for longer than the chargeable period in that day will roll over into the next day, after free overnight parking.

Car park charging periods will not change, remaining at 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday inclusive, unless specified as 24 hours.

Elsewhere, new multi-day tickets will enable holidaymakers to buy one ticket that can cover the whole of their stay, rather than having to purchase a new ticket each day.

And a new, three-hour option in short stay car parks previously

Protecting your home and assets with a Living Trust.

Everyone needs a will, but a will does not protect your assets. One of the most efficient additions to your will is a living trust. A living trust has many benefits and protects your hard-earned legacy. Let’s consider some of the benefits below...

Avoiding probate: By placing assets including your home into a living trust, those assets can pass directly to the beneficiaries named in the trust, bypassing probate.

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

Control: With a living trust, you can be both a trustee and beneficiary. You can maintain control over your assets even after you pass away. You can specify how and when your assets should be distributed to your beneficiaries.

Protects your bloodline: Your legacy is protected from remarriage and divorce, protecting both your surviving partner and children’s legacy. Asset protection: A living trust can protect your assets from creditors in the case of bankruptcy etc, divorce settlements, and other claims against beneficiaries and yourself.

In these days of uncertainty its best to plan wisely and protecting your legacy for family and loved ones. To discover more about living trusts, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594

limited to two hours, aims to give more time for appointments, shopping and eating.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said income from car parking is reinvested into the running of the parking service and maintenance of car parks and on-street parking places, with any surplus spent on highway improvements and public transport.

“We have designed the tariff increases so they have the least impact on Dorset residents and workers, while bringing in extra income to help us meet the rising costs of running our parking service and maintaining our car parks,” he said.

“The increases are limited to those car parks mainly used by visitors to the area, and encourage people to stay longer to enjoy all Dorset has to offer.

“They also continue to provide good value for money – when setting the new prices, we ran a comparison with charges in

neighbouring areas and similar visitor destinations and our car parks are still some of the cheapest. We have also frozen charges for residents’ permits and the prices of our short stay and flexi use car park permits are unchanged.”

As well as changes to tariffs and parking rules, all car park and on-street pay and display machines are being replaced by the end of the summer.

The new machines provide customers with more payment options, including cash, card, Apple Pay and Google Pay and online app. Wi-fi will also be improved in car parks with poor phone signals.

Cllr Bryan said: “We understand the importance of ensuring that all payment methods are as easy and convenient as possible, so we’re taking steps to address any potential connectivity issues. Any car parks with poor phone signal will be fitted with wi-fi hotspots, allowing customers to connect and make payment quickly and securely.

News from Wareham’s annual town meeting

By Julie Bradshaw

A NEW town clerk, a new deputy town clerk and three staff leaving led to a reorganisation of roles prior to more recruitment.

Sadly, Chas, who had been our street cleaner, died not long after he retired.

The replacement service provided by Dorset Council was unsatisfactory, so the town’s grounds team has taken on cleaning the busier streets.

This will help the town council and Wareham Community Growers in the National Britain in Bloom competition this year following its Gold in the regional rounds last year.

The town council has kept the precept increase to 2.87%. Visitor information will be available in Not

while the council decides on how to best communicate with visitors and local people.

There has been an increase in vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Members of the public were urged to ring 999 if they see a group engaged in anti-social behaviour or looking likely to cause damage.

A greater police presence in Wareham, especially after the loss of a very good PCSO, would be welcome, as would the reinstatement of a skate

park. CCTV has been upgraded.

The council has installed electric vehicle charging points in its Howards Lane car park.

The Red Lion hotel, owned by Greene King, is under offer.

Two businesses are to open soon in North Street and South Street.

If people want to keep the town vibrant, they need to patronise their local services and shops.

Joyce Spiller, from Purbeck Youth Community Foundation, announced that the youth centre

will become a family hub providing support to families with children from conception to adulthood.

It was agreed that a successful youth club helps the whole town.

The Mayor had 181 engagements during the year, though he did not say whether that included a puncture in Howards Lane car park!

It did include unveiling a plaque for 1,000 years of St Martin’s Church and the official opening of the four refurbished play areas on March 25.

The next council meetings are on Tuesdays April 18 and May 30 at 7pm in the council chamber.

Sandbanks topped as priciest location for a seaside home

A DORSET location has been knocked off the top of a list of the UK’s most expensive seaside hotspots.

Sandbanks, in Poole, was previously the most expensive area when buying a seaside house in the UK.

However, the latest figures from the Halifax Seaside Town Review show it has been bumped off the top by Salcombe.

Homes in the Devon town cost an average of more than £1.2 million, with Sandbanks reaching £952,692, according to the data.

Aldeburgh, in Suffolk, makes up the top three with an average price tag of £794,492.

Across the UK, the average cost of a seaside

home more than doubled between 2012 and 2022, rising by 56%.

In Salcombe, the increase was 123% (from £558,538 to £1,244,025).

At the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest seaside homes are available in Greenock, Scotland, where properties cost an average of £97,608.

Nine of the top 10 cheapest locations are in Scotland, with only Newbiggin-by-theSea, in the North-East of England, making the list from elsewhere.

Looking at growth, Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight, showed the largest increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, with prices rising 53% to £611,816.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

Harry gets his gate after a 20-year campaign

CAMPAIGNER Harry Alexander has persuaded Dorset Council to install an accessible gate on a popular path between Worth Matravers and the South West Coast Path, between Chapman’s Pool and St Aldhelm’s Head.

The new gate opens up the obstructed path, which was blocked by a difficult stile, and a padlocked gate with barbed wire.

Harry, a correspondent of the Open Spaces Society, Britain’s oldest national conservation body, had lobbied the council about the issue for 20 years, as

the route was impassable by anyone with impaired mobility.

The path provides access not only to the national trail but also to a beautiful sunken garden to the south, which is managed and maintained by families of those lost to war. It is set in a magnificent stretch of countryside.

Harry said: “I am delighted at last to have achieved this improvement, which will enable the path to be enjoyed by many more people.

“It is also a superb place to sit and take in the fabulous views.”

20%

OFF EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The old gate (above) and the new version (below) on the path between Worth Matravers and the South West Coast Path

Telling It Like It Is

Questions after oil spill

AN accident waiting to happen? The oil spillage brought out the legions of people who had apparently forgotten about the existence of the Wytch Farm oil field – the biggest in Europe and right on our doorstep – but who all had their post-event say on social media, everything from ‘close it down’ to ‘find someone to blame’. Point totally missed.

This has happened. Some 200 barrels of ‘fluid’ leaked into Poole Harbour before someone from Perenco noticed and raised the alarm. To be fair to Perenco, it acted swiftly and gathered a team of post-event experts who have been trying to undo some of the damage and who issued all sorts of placatory press releases. “This cannot be allowed to happen again”. That’s government-speak for ‘oops’

Just to clarify: One barrel = 35 Imperial gallons or 160 litres. 200 barrels = 31,720 litres; 15% of that is crude oil, so that is 4,758 litres of oil spilled. We are assured the remaining fluid is ‘water’. Half fill your bath, put 10 drops of oil in and see how quickly it spreads right across the whole surface! Now think 4,758 litres in a harbour full of wildlife in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A lot of reassuring words, but I want to look at the points everyone seems to be avoiding so far.

Poole Harbour is home to six adult seals, has anyone checked on them? 11.2 million visitors came to Poole, Sandbanks beaches, Studland and the Purbeck coast last year. Will this oil spill deter some from coming back this year? Will some of the spilled oil settle on the silty harbour seabed? Will the oil spill affect Poole Harbour shellfish?

Thousands of people come to rake the sands exposed while the tide is out for cockles in

By David Hollister

Poole Harbour every summer. Can they come? Safely? Should they eat the cockles? How will the oil spill affect local professional bass fishermen who make a living on licences to fish bass in the harbour. Can the bass be eaten? How will the oil spill affect local fishing charter boats?

How will the oil spill affect Poole Harbour’s micro eco system and the marine environment in general? How will the oil spill affect the fish nursery and protected areas where the famous sea horses live?

Will the beaches around Sandbanks and the Purbeck coast lose their blue flag status?

As I write, I have just (April 4) received a statement from Poole Harbour Commissioners:

“As a result of the progress of the clean-up operations, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revised previous advice and indicated that people are able to once again use the beaches and water in the Poole Harbour area for recreational use.

“This includes swimming, bathing and watersports. Pets are now safe to walk near the water in the Poole Harbour area. The public are, however, requested to stay clear from Ower Bay.

“PHC will continue the clean-up operation. Should anyone see oil on the water, sightings should be reported to Harbour Control on 01202 440 230 or via pooleharbour commissioners@phc.co.uk

“Fishing and/or netting for fish in Poole Harbour can also resume”.

Sorry, but this statement doesn’t make me feel any less concerned for the wildlife.

EVER wishing to deter our summer visitors, the county council has decided in its wisdom to

increase the cost of on-street parking with effect from the end of April. It says it has designed the tariff increases so they have the least impact on Dorset residents and workers, while bringing in extra income to help it meet the rising costs of running our parking service and maintaining our car parks.

The increases are apparently limited to those car parks mainly used by visitors to the area, and encourage people to stay longer to enjoy all Dorset has to offer. They also continue to provide good value for money – when setting the new prices, the council ran a comparison with charges in neighbouring areas and similar visitor destinations, and our car parks are still some of the cheapest.

The council has also frozen charges for residents’ permits and the prices of our short stay and flexi use car park permits are unchanged.

In Swanage, the main off-street car parks are owned by the town council and despite recent price increases, still remain much better value than those operated by Dorset.

ALL car park and on-street pay-anddisplay machines are being replaced across the Dorset Council area, with completion this summer. This will ‘improve reliability and provide a better service for residents and visitors’. The new machines provide customers with more payment options, including

cash, card, Apple Pay and Google Pay and online app. Wi-Fi will also be improved in car parks with poor phone signals.

I’m really impressed by the writer of this press release who has managed quite successfully to mask the fact that parking on Shore Road is increasing by a massive 72%, making it one of the most expensive places in Dorset to park a car.

He will go far. He should write political speeches. In short, the one-hour parking charge on Shore Road goes up from £2.50 to £4.30.

And if you can afford anything once you’ve parked, then have a nice day.

AND finally. Ferry off – short term – for a chain repair. Out come the experts demanding that a bridge should be built.

I wish all you bridge advocates would grasp reality and think about passing ferries, yachts, unsuitable ground on either side, the cost of acquiring a big chunk of Sandbanks and the charges that would have to be imposed to pay for it.

Swanage – in the overall scheme of things – just isn’t that important. Sorry. We are a pleasant, charming and rustic backwater adequately served by a rustic, charming and unreliable little ferry. And it isn’t as if there wasn’t another way round!

Think Sydney Harbour Bridge and imagine it dumped in our AONB.

Make more time for yourself...

The Dorset Concierge

The Dorset Concierge is a business and lifestyle concierge based in the heart of Dorset. Using our expert local knowledge we offer a range of services to cater for your every need.

But what does a concierge actually do? Simply put, if you’re short of time and need help, we can assist with getting jobs done quickly, efficiently and to the highest standard.

This can be things like organising a special gift or event for a loved one, taking the hassle out of your next holiday by setting up your travel or completing those all important errands that you keep putting off.

If you live outside Dorset, we can help you too. The Dorset Concierge can keep your holiday home looking great by organising cleaning services, coordinating tradespeople to maintain your property and even fill your fridge ready for your next visit.

We do a lot to help businesses. Think of us as your personal assistant while you focus on running the business. This could be taking care of your travel needs, managing your busy schedule and supporting a positive company culture by setting up perks and events for your employees.

The Dorset Concierge is passionate about providing the highest customer service.

Our friendly and local team has many years experience and is here to help you anytime, anywhere. Feel free to get in touch, then sit back and relax!

‘Quintessentially English’: A look at cottage gardens

IF you’re heading back out into the garden this spring, and you are looking for a new project, why not create a beautiful, scent-filled, traditional cottage garden style planted border.

When most people think about cottage gardens, they imagine an idyllic, thatched cottage with a picket fence and a bountiful display of colourful blooms, or a scene from times past, such as the decadent gardens featured in the likes of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton.

Rather than a formal herbaceous border, with a slightly more structured approach to layout and colour, a cottage garden tends to take the form of a romantic mishmash of

By Sue Butterworth

colourful plants, laid out more informally and planted closer together.

Most cottage garden –herbaceous – plants are easy to grow, and the good news is, that there are no hard and fast rules to follow. The choice of individual plants and colours is almost endless and the only thing that needs a little bit of thought is the eventual height and spread of each plant, so that smaller plants aren’t hidden or overshadowed by taller ones.

Most herbaceous plants are relatively inexpensive compared to some other garden plants, so planting a mixed border can be achieved at a modest cost. Most will also come back bigger and

stronger the following year, making them very costeffective.

We have complied a brief list below, suggesting just a few of our favourite plants for cottage gardens.

Hardy geraniums – perfect for the front edge of any border. They spread well to fill gaps, have a prolonged flowering season and are available in several colours.

Delphiniums – standing tall and proud at the back of your flower bed, these impressive columns of colour provide a real focal point. They also make great cut flowers.

Lupins – a real gardener’s favourite – lush, green, attractive foliage from which vibrant spires of pea-like flowers emerge in a wide range of striking colours.

Campanulas – admired for their attractive bell-shaped flowers and their long flowering season. These flowers are particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Peonies – you’ll struggle to find a more attractive flower in the garden. Peonies have soared in popularity during recent years and it’s not difficult to understand why. With a huge selection of colours available,

I

Most herbaceous plants are relatively inexpensive, so planting a mixed border can be achieved at a modest cost Purbeck

many with delightful scents, these garden beauties are a real show-stopper in any border.

Lavender – one of the most recognised plants in any traditional cottage garden. Loved by all pollinating insects, these plants produce an abundance of delicate flowers on tall stems. Plant along a path or doorway to fully appreciate their calming scent.

Aquilegia – also known as Granny’s Bonnet, these oldfashioned cottage garden plants produce bonnet-shaped flowers on tall, graceful spurs in early summer. Left to their own devices, these plants will self-seed, year after year.

Roses – no cottage garden is truly complete without roses. Grown as the centrepiece of a border, trained up the side of the house, or left to ramble along a hedge of fence, roses with their abundant blooms, vibrant

A new garden year is springing to life

Lupins have vibrant spires of pea-like flowers which emerge in a wide range of striking colours

colours and heavenly scents are true champions in all gardens they grace.

Happy gardening!

SUE BUTTERWORTH

Sue is in her 24th year at Goulds Garden Centre. She is the plant manager for this busy store and has been sourcing plants for awardwinning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show since 2018. She is an avid gardener, leading to numerous Britain in Bloom awards including a first.

Create container fit for a new King

THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will kick off National Gardening Week 2023 on Monday, May 1, for a week of gardening across the UK, in the lead up to the coronation of King Charles III.

This year the theme for National Gardening Week is ‘Create Your Coronation Container’ as the RHS calls on people to celebrate King Charles and his love of horticulture by creating colourful planting schemes in whatever available space they may have, whether that be a window box, a hanging basket or even an old pair of wellies.

The King is known as a champion of the environment and an ardent supporter of the nation’s passion for gardening, so the RHS is inviting people to produce jubilant planting schemes to mark the beginning of his reign.

Participants are encouraged to let their imaginations run riot

in concocting colourful displays, whether they feature a nod to the King in the form of his favourite flower, the delphinium.

The RHS is calling on those who get involved to share images that capture the coronation spirit on their social media channels, using the hashtag #nationalgardening week.

National Gardening Week is the nation’s biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK.

The RHS hopes that as many people as possible – whether that be community gardening groups, schools, organisations, families or individuals – will get involved.

For more information about National Gardening Week, visit the RHS website at www.rhs. org.uk/nationalgardeningweek.

AFTER Easter our gardens are full of spring colours and scents.

Wonderful spring-flowering daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, anemones, early perennials and more lighting up beds, borders and pots.

Beautiful new spring foliage and shoots appear on all the trees, shrubs and plants, as a new garden year springs into life, bees, birds and insects busy pollinating and nest building.

Now is the best time of year to plant, so prepare your gardens, beds, borders and pots for spring and summer planting.

Remove old and dead plants and refresh soil with compost and fertiliser ready to plant all your new seeds, bulbs and plants.

A visit to your local nursery

PLANTS DIRECT

garden centre will inspire your choice of plants and colour – they will be fully stocked with a large range of trees, shrubs, roses, perennials and seasonal plants for all your beds and borders.

Staff with friendly helpful advice are always available.

Vegetable plots and beds can now be readied and planted out.

As the cold frosty nights disappear all your tender tomatoes, courgettes, beans and plants can be planted for summer crops.

Lawns can be weeded and fed to bring on a healthy green sward for summer.

Patios cleaned and all your pots and baskets planted ready for long summer days ahead.

weird house facts 9

THINK you know about property? Here’s some homeowner QI from the team at Armishaws Removals.

1 Mail order houses

YOU think Amazon is good? Well, the famous US mail order catalogues produced by Sears & Roebuck didn’t just deliver to your house, they delivered your house! Between 1908-40 it sold and dispatched about 70,000 self-assembly house kits to people looking to build their own property – take that Grand Designs!

2 Brassed off

THE ions in brass and copper door handles have anti-bacterial properties that can kill germs, so it might be worth reinstalling those period doors.

3 Tree-mendous

A STUDY conducted by Lancaster University found mature trees in gardens by busy roads can reduce air pollution by up to 50% and deaden road noise by 6-10 decibels. And that’s not all, trees have also been shown to reduce stress, increase positivity and help speed recovery from illness.

4 Right Royal residence

BUCKINGHAM Palace wasn’t originally

a royal residence. Built by the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, King George III bought it as a town house for his family in 1793, but it was his son George IV who made it his official residence. When George’s brother took the throne, he wasn’t so keen and offered it to Parliament –Westminster had recently burned down –but it politely declined. Queen Victoria, however, loved it and subsequent monarchs have made it their official London gaff ever since.

5 Great outdoors

IF you prefer something more rural, the world’s largest tree house was built in Crossville, Tennessee, in 1993. The house had 10 floors, covered 3,000 square metres and was supported by six oak trees. Horace Burgess spent 14 years building his dream home that even included an indoor basketball court! But in 2012 local fire marshals closed it down as the wooden structure posed a fire hazard.

6 Mouse house

LOCATED in Conwy, Wales, Britain’s smallest house is just 182cm wide (5ft 9in), 304cm deep and 312cm (10ft 2in) high. Built in the 16th century the two-storey

n It’s said that houses with black doors sell for the most money and houses with yellow doors the least. In Scotland, homeowners traditionally painted their doors red when they had paid off their mortgage

house’s last occupant was 6ft 3in fisherman Robert Jones. The house is still standing and is now a tourist attraction.

7 Plant PLANTS like bromeliads can remove over 80% of impurities from the air. House plants can also help reduce humidity.

8 Paint it black

US property website Zillow found that houses with black doors sell for more money.

9 Not yellow

SIMILAR UK studies have found houses with yellow doors sell for the least amount. In Scotland it was traditional to paint your front door red to celebrate making the final payment on your mortgage.

For more house facts and moving tips, head to Armishaws.com

LOVED AND LOATHED

Buckingham Palace did not always find Royal favour but Queen Victoria loved it and subsequent monarchs have made it their London residence ever since.

PHOTO: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay

‘Policing has gone from strength to strength’

I REFER to issue 285 of the Purbeck Gazette, and the article by David Hollister entitled ‘Watch out! There’s a thief about!’

I am firstly saddened to hear that a member of our community has been victim of a burglary. I am reassured that this victim contacted Dorset Police direct, as that will have alloVwed a thorough investigation to take place. Burglary can be truly devastating and when tools or machinery are stolen there is a larger impact on a person’s ability to earn a living. That is why I wholeheartedly support Dorset Police in their determination to put victims first and bring offenders to justice.

I do not agree with some of the subsequent comments made by Mr Hollister which are simply unhelpful, so I am keen to provide a comprehensive and factual response.

Turning to the comment that the situation is unlikely to improve ‘until police numbers increase,’ the Government’s Police Uplift Programme is on course in Dorset, and we have surpassed our target of 167 additional officers and the number of officers in the Rural Crime Team has increased three-fold in the last year or so.

I challenge the comment that Dorset Police is ‘toothless’. Over the last year, policing in Dorset has gone from strength to strength – we are now the sixth safest county in England and Wales – up from 10th, dwelling burglary has gone down by 17%, non-dwelling burglary by 22%, anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents have gone down by 10%, rural crime has reduced by 43% and rural engagement has increased by 33% – and I want all this good work to continue.

Across Dorset, Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams have been developed specifically to target those offenders who pose the most risk to our communities. The teams manage and build local intelligence around community concerns and their work has

been invaluable in Police operations such as Operation Viper – where dozens of drugs arrests have been made on the back of information gathered by these teams.

There have been major in-roads made into strengthening neighbourhood policing, with the successful roll-out of the Force’s ASB operation, Operation Relentless, which continues to make a difference for Dorset’s communities, augmented by the additional officers recruited as part of the Police Uplift Programme. Op Relentless has also been supported by my own Op Relentless Community Fund –set up to fund solutions to tackle ASB in local areas.

Turning to the comment of ‘taxes’ it must be stressed that funding for all this good work is crucial and I have lobbied hard, in ever changing political circumstances, to get more government funding for Dorset.

I have made no secret of my frustration that Dorset Police is one of the lowest funded Forces in the country and I am intent on changing that. The lobbying is working as, for the first time, the National Funding Formula will look at issues such as seasonality and sparsity which adversely affects Dorset. We need this fairer split as some Forces only have to fund 20% of their activity from precept – Dorset Police needs to fund 50%.

As you will appreciate, I would much rather not have to ask for funding, but I do want to be able to keep on ensuring success, and safety, on behalf of the communities of Dorset. I want to keep on delivering my Police and Crime Plan and the local policing priorities which were set as a result of extensive consultation with the community. I want to be able to say in a year’s time that Dorset is one of the top five safest counties, that we have cut crime and ASB even further, that we have driven out even more drugs gangs from our county and that we continue to make Dorset

safer than ever before.

Finally, taking the comment regarding the new Police Headquarters building, this is just one part of the wider Estates Futures Programme, which will secure and future proof the Dorset Police estate for another 30 years. The programme will deliver a range of benefits to communities. It will ensure that police teams are located in the right places and have access to the necessary equipment and technology to maximise their time out in communities.

The current headquarters was built in 1958 with a 30-year life expectancy. Some 65 years on it is costing more and more to maintain and is unsuitable as a work environment. The fixed build cost of £14.5 million for the new headquarters was made public at the Police and Crime Panel in January 2023.

I hope this reassures you, Mr Hollister, that I am committed to making every penny count and making Dorset the safest county in England and Wales. When I campaigned to become Police and Crime Commissioner, I often talked about making the police crimefighters again and after nearly two years in office I am pleased to see Dorset Police taking robust action and cutting crime rates in many areas.

Being your Police and Crime Commissioner is an immense privilege and I shall continue to serve the people of Dorset to the best of my ability to make Dorset the safest county.

David Sidwick Police and Crime commissioner

Levelling Up Our Land

When I heard we were levelling up our land

I hoped that it was true

Not just for the North and South But other people too I hoped we’d level black and white

So black lives really matter I hoped we’d level City jobs

So Fat Cats don’t get fatter

I hoped we’d level rich and poor

To make them both as wealthy I hoped we’d level sick and ill With funds to make them healthy

I hoped for sex equality

So women equal men

Pensioners with proper care

To feel more young again. Nurses paid like bankers

Fairer rules galore

Feasts instead of foodbanks

Homeless housed once more Royals and beggars levelled Lords and servants too I heard we’re levelling up our land...

I wonder if it’s true ?!

Martin Hobdell Swanage

Shore Road views

I HELD a poll on the Swanage Facebook site about keeping Shore Road closed to traffic.

Some 68% of the respondents want Shore Road to remain closed to traffic between the Mowlem and Victoria Avenue; 22% want it open; 8% want it one way; 2% want the whole sea front to be closed to traffic.

Robin Brasher Swanage Coastwatch

column is a super read

WE are regular readers of your excellent local newspaper, the Purbeck Gazette, and read it from cover to cover each fortnight.

To my initial surprise the most interesting regular feature is the National Coastwatch column, written by Nick Read. We are not sailors, so thought it wouldn’t be of relevance, but his articles are so interesting and full of useful and fascinating insights, it is a highlight of the paper.

Nick is to be congratulated on his ability to convey what can be quite technical information in a readable, engaging way that makes every article so interesting and enjoyable.

Long may he continue to find topics to write about.

Julian Dent Swanage

Tuppy’s in the swim for good causes

By Lorraine Gibson

TAKING a health-boosting plunge is one of Tuppy Hill’s favourite pastimes, so she uses her love of swimming not just for fun and exercise, but to help raise cash for charity.

She began supporting the Swimathon challenge with her brother after several family members, including their mum, dad and three grandparents, had experienced cancer.

Out of the blue, however, Tuppy’s mission to help others was almost sunk.

“In 2017 I began experiencing tummy problems myself. I put them down to IBS and the fact I had a stressful job, but when I saw blood in my stools, I went to my GP. I was referred to hospital straight away and a colonoscopy revealed a tumour in my bowel.

“Hearing that I had cancer was absolutely awful,” said the 61-year-old. “I was in complete denial. I thought I was going to die.”

So worried was she that something might happen to her, she and her partner of 30 years, Ian Metcalfe, decided to get

married.

“I had chemotherapy at Poole General Hospital and took a drug called capecitabine. The tumour disappeared and it was decided that I didn’t need surgery but was put on a ‘watch and wait’ programme.”

In 2018 the tumour returned, so she had an operation to remove the cancerous tissue and was given a stoma. For a keen bather, it was a real blow.

“I was trepidatious about swimming for the first time with my stoma in case it leaked and I was very conscious of a bulge inside my swimming costume. However, the staff at my pool were so supportive and gave me the courage to get back in the water.

“I was advised to do a couple of lengths but managed six and thought, ‘I’ve done it now!’ I built up from there. Swimming is my go-to, in the pool or the sea, two or three times a week, enabling me to keep some levels of fitness, another key weapon against cancer.”

Tuppy hopes sharing her story will inspire people and now she’s back in the water,

ready to swim 15k in May at Canford Sports Centre to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie, and she’s urging others to sign up for Swimathon 2023.

As rising energy costs put some community pools at risk of closure, as well as supporting vital causes, £2.50 from each Swimathon entry will go to help secure the future of these pools.

Tuppy said: “It’s such a fun and simple way to encourage people to dip their toe in the

water and get swimming. I hope swimmers of all ages and abilities will grab their caps and costumes to help.”

n SWIMATHON will be held from May 12 -14 across Dorset and the UK, including Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre; Ferndown Leisure Centre; Rossmore Leisure Centre; Weymouth Swimming Pool; Blandford Leisure Centre; Oxley Sports Centre, Sherborne; and Poole Swimming Pool.

Hospital changes the rules on masks

MASKS are no longer mandatory at a Dorset hospital. Dorset County Hospital, in Dorchester, has announced it will no longer require staff, visitors and patients to wear masks as cases of Covid-19 are falling across the county.

Many other healthcare settings in the community, such as GP surgeries, have already stepped back from making masks compulsory, the hospital said.

Surgical masks will still be available in main entrances for anyone who wishes to wear one – and anyone suffering from symptoms such as coughing or sneezing is encouraged to wear a mask to protect others from infection while in the hospital.

Meanwhile, masks will still be required in some clinical areas to protect patients who have lowered immunity.

There will also be a requirement to wear masks and

enhanced PPE (personal protective equipment) in any areas treating certain respiratory infections, the hospital said.

Dorset County Hospital’s chief nursing officer and director of infection prevention and control (IPC), Jo Howarth, said: “Our priority remains patient safety. Although masks will no longer be mandatory in most clinical areas, we will still be following IPC guidance to

keep vulnerable patients safe.

“Mask wearing will be a personal choice for people visiting most areas of our hospital and we will still have masks available at entrances for anyone wishing to take extra precautions.

“Our usual IPC guidance about washing or gelling your hands remains crucial in minimising the spread of infections within the hospital environment.”

Making a splash: Dorset bowel cancer survivor Tuppy Hill is taking part in Swimathon next month to raise funds for charity

A passion for flowers

ARE you looking for something a little different to transform your interior living or business space? Maybe you’re looking for the perfect gift or experience, or that stand out style for your wedding Day? Look no further than Dorset Dried Flowers.

Catherine Nix established her My Scented Home business in 2016 while bringing up her four children and looking to earn extra money for Christmas. She started making ‘crafty’ cards and gift items on a budget by foraging and using inexpensive items. The business grew over the years, but she soon realised her passion lay with ‘faffing around with flowers’.

She has recently rebranded her business Dorset Dried Flowers and her vision is to be the go-to person for dried flowers locally and nationally.

Catherine is based at Sandy Hill Workshops, tucked behind Corfe Castle railway station. She has a studio and workshop where she creates beautiful bespoke pieces made from dried flowers which work in harmony with the seasons. She loves that her products are cost-effective and sustainable for her clients.

She recently picked up the Green/ Eco Business accolade at the Purbeck Business Awards. Catherine recycles packaging and uses seeded paper for the parcel note her customers can plant to grow fresh flowers.

Dorset Dried Flowers offers inspiring, individual creations from a variety of hundreds of natural flowers and textures to create beautiful and unique backdrops for her customers’ homes or within the hospitality and retail industry.

Catherine has designed stunning large-scale installations from dried flowers such as chandeliers and arches. She has been asked to create many commissioned pieces, including an eye-catching dried flowers chandelier featured in the Daily Mail.

She has also been recognised for

Donna Garner visits Catherine Nix of Dorset Dried Flowers

her achievements on Australia’s Today morning programme for her aromatherapy-scented hand-tied shower bouquets. The bouquet can be placed in the shower behind the shower head and is designed to provide a blend of fragrances to suit the individual’s aromatherapy needs, such as scents to de-stress.

One of Catherine’s niche areas is wedding flowers – she has recently been commissioned to co-ordinate a gothic-style wedding with the bride’s bouquet being mounted on a sword. Nothing is impossible for Catherine.

She co-ordinates everything for the couple’s special day from dried flowers arches, bespoke décor for the venue, table centrepieces and runners, buttonholes, hair crowns and slides. These memories of the day can be kept forever for the couple and their loved ones to cherish, one of the beauties of using dried flowers. If they get dusty, the trick is to give them a quick blow dry.

Catherine’s wreath workshops are a fantastic experience for those with creative flair or in need of mindfulness time. She is an engaging host and you just don’t want to leave. It is a lovely workshop space – open the door and see fantastic views over Corfe Castle. In summer, workshops are held outside among the trees, a perfect spot for a get together with friends or for those who want to impress someone with a gift experience, as vouchers are available.

For those who prefer working from the comfort of home, wreath-making kits are available to order online. Wreath-making is a very relaxing pastime, which has become extremely popular, including corporate team building day workshops.

FLOWER POWER

Catherine Nix at work – she is based at Sandy Hill workshops, tucked behind Corfe Castle Railway Station

Diamonds – the Earth’s treasure

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

THE diamond is one of the most spectacular gemstones, and they have been forming ever since Earth began.

It is the birthstone for April and is said to represent love, purity and commitment, which is why it is so frequently used in engagement and eternity rings.

The largest ever diamond, called the Cullinan diamond, was discovered in 1905 in South Africa.

It was a whopping 3,106 carats and was given to King Edward VII who commissioned diamond experts, Royal Asscher in Amsterdam, to cut the huge stone into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones.

The three largest stones form part of the Crown Jewels and are available to view in

Diamonds are the birthstone for April

the Tower of London.

Another famous diamond is the Krupp diamond, probably better known as the Elizabeth Taylor diamond.

This incredible stone, 33.19 carats, was bought by Richard Burton in 1968 at a cost of $307,000.

After Taylor’s death, it was sold at auction in 2011 for $8,818,500. It was said to be her favourite ring – and no wonder!

SAS man’s medals

DUKE’S in Dorchester is inviting consignments for its Medals and Militaria and Asian Art Auctions, both taking place in May.

Both sales have seen spectacular results in the past with an exceptional CGC group of eight reaching £156,000 and a fine Chinese coral-ground bowl with superb provenance making £221,000 last December.

An important British Empire Medal Group to Staff Sergeant

D North 22nd SAS, one of the founding members of the newly re-formed regiment in the post-war years, is already consigned. It is coming to auction with a pre-sale estimate of £8,000-£10,000.

Valuations for auction are free of charge and an appointment with one of the Duke’s specialists can be arranged either online or at home at your convenience.

For more information phone 01305 265080.

The Krupp diamond was also cut by Royal Ascher, whose Ascher cut design is recognisable by the cropped corners typically at a 45° angle, giving them an angular shape with a unique design of 74 facets.

This allows for light to be absorbed, giving the brilliant sparkle and rainbow effect.

Other spectacular cuts from Ascher include Oval, Brilliant, Cushion and Pear.

As you would expect, diamonds are the most expensive gemstone because of the process involved in bringing them to market – diamond mining is phenomenally expensive.

Because of this, the diamond is one of the Earth’s true wonders and whatever jewellery design it is featured in deserves to be treasured.

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Tenants facing huge energy bills hike

IN recent months we have all seen terrifying increases in our energy bills and heard reports of households taking drastic action to pay their bills and reduce their consumption.

Thankfully, I had built up an energy bill credit, or Christmas would have been cancelled in our house. Our monthly bill was eight times that of two years ago – though having adult children home from university, short days and late nights, and lots of Christmas cooking will have contributed to that!

As spring approaches, and the weather warms, people will be thankful that things are getting better – although prices are increasing again, at least demand falls at this time of year. But not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief.

I have spoken to many residents in recent weeks who live in social housing, many of them elderly and on extremely low incomes who have just

received their service charges for the coming year.

Their bills have increased by up to 400% with one local supported living development seeing its monthly bills increase by £448. That is not the rent increase, it is the increase in the apartment’s share of heat and light plus the communal energy bill for the shared lounges, hallways and lifts.

The providers might argue that those tenants have been underpaying for part of the last year as people with their own meters have seen their prices rise month on month. Looking at those numbers and the fact that these increased prices will be baked in for the forthcoming year as wholesale prices fall, that is simply not credible.

These are SOCIAL housing providers, and they are providing homes for vulnerable

people, usually those who are elderly or have disabilities, and often live on a meagre pension or benefits.

One problem seems to be that their power contracts are commercial and not domestic, plus these buildings have not been fitted with improvements such as solar panels or heat pumps. The reduced anxiety that inclusive rents gave tenants is now leading to some of the most vulnerable in our society facing eviction.

This is a national scandal. MPs must act urgently – we need commercial energy contracts re-viewed, not just for housing providers but also small businesses who are stuck in agreements that could bankrupt them; we need a proper windfall tax that covers the refining and sale of oil and gas as well as extraction with

We must be good ancestors

I OFTEN visit the RSPB Reserve at Arne. I find peace among its trees, and although not a twitcher or birder, I find joy in watching the birds on the water, or simply following their fight through the pure country air. There are always surprises – a glimpse of dragonflies above a pool, or of a stag among the bracken. We are fortunate to live in such an area of beauty, with such a range of wildlife.

It was a shock, therefore, to learn that on Sunday, March 26, 200 barrels of ‘reservoir fluid’ spilled from a leaking pipeline into Poole Harbour. The fluid came from the Wytch Farm Oil Field, once managed by BP, since 2011 by Perenco UK. Reservoir fluid is a mixture of 85% brine and 15% oil. Its spillage into Poole Harbour, with its rich mix of eco-systems of reedbeds, woodlands, salt marsh and lagoons, was a reminder of how our continuing

dependence upon fossil fuels puts at risk the natural word.

Wytch Farm is the largest onshore oil-field in Western Europe. Oil and methane leave the field by pipeline, liquefied petroleum gas by tanker. In September 2013, in response to applications made by Perenco UK to Dorset County Council, the operational life of the field was extended to last to 2037, beyond the original end-date of 2016.

Perenco is owned and run by a multibillionaire, Francois Perrodo – his family runs 3,000 oil wells across the world, operating in 16 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Cameroon and Gabon.

In 2022, Perenco was alleged by Investigate Europe – a multi-national team of journalists from 11 European countries – of being responsible

for 167 pollution incidents and huge methane emissions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2022, The Guardian reported that Perenco sued the government of Peru over its plans to establish a reserve for indigenous peoples in an area estimated to contain at least 200 million barrels of oil. The leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador said: “Our forest is our home – if they continue destroying it with their roads, wells, chainsaws and oil flares, they will kill us, too.”

There have been at least three pollution incidents spanning ten years at Wytch Farm, the i newspaper reports – the current spillage, an incident in 2013, and one in

the taxes invested in retrofitting, so no-one lives in fuel poverty and we can reduce our carbon footprints; we need a commitment from housing providers not only that no-one will face eviction because of such charges. They must find ways to absorb them because such debt will have a direct impact on tenants’ health and wellbeing.

The Government cannot blame Covid and Ukraine any longer for its failings. These crises affected the rest of Europe, but we do not see vulnerable people there facing losing their homes because energy companies are making vast profits.

The Government must put people first before we see deaths, not just from the cold but from debt.

2020.

On Perenco’s website, the first words you see are: “Oil remains an adventure”. Reading those words I think instead of what polio vaccine pioneer Dr Salk asked of us: “Are we being good ancestors”?

Well respected Portland councillor Giovanna Lewis and her fellow Green campaigner Amy Pritchard were recently released from HM Prison Bronzefield. They remain undaunted in their determination that we should be good ancestors. They do not regret refusing to be silent in court about climate change.

Giovanna reported that she had been well-received by the women on her wing. She is determined to be a good ancestor – at whatever the cost. She and Amy face a re-trial next year.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

Chris Bradey

VIKKI SLADE Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate –Mid Dorset & North Poole

Vikki Slade

Purbeck Gazette April 17, 2023 29 purbeckgazette.co.uk

Green light on rail crossing study

THE work of a Member of Parliament covers local and national matters. Both are equally important and I take both sets of responsibilities equally seriously. At the time of writing, we are in the Easter Recess, which allows for more time to devote to local matters here in Dorset. I meet residents, businesses and organisations throughout the year and recess is no exception.

I believe that Members of Parliament have important roles in helping with local matters. Many issues here in Dorset are dealt with by our local councils and local councillors. MPs also have a role to play in supporting elected representatives and working together on the issues that matter. A prime example of this is Wareham level crossing.

This ongoing issue has been concerning residents for a number years and needs to be resolved in a suitable manner.

Residents have made it clear that access across the railway lines needs to be maintained and that any closure of the crossing is unacceptable. I agree. To do so would be to split the town in half and make access much harder. Clearly, safety on the track is fundamentally important but a long-term solution needs to be found to end the uncertainty and worry that any potential closure is causing to the community in Wareham and Sandford.

response with more than 1,200 individual responses returned. It is clear that the town considers this an important issue.

Michael Tomlinson

I have been working with Dorset Council, local councillors and many residents who are united in wishing to see a safe and accessible crossing remain. I recently asked local residents for their views on this matter and was delighted to receive an overwhelming

The request of Network Rail is simple – please consider all options to retain the crossing, including the use of automated crossing gates that are in use elsewhere. Local community leaders met Network Rail on site and pressed once again for this solution to be considered. I formally wrote to Network Rail requesting a feasibility study into automated crossing gates. I am pleased that this request has been granted and will be eagerly awaiting the result of its study.

This issue has been ongoing since before I was first elected as an MP in 2015. I have raised it with successive Rail Ministers, including a visit to

Wareham from then Minister Chris Heaton-Harris. I will continue to work with Dorset Council and everyone in Wareham as this remains a key priority for the town and is a key part of my role as the local MP.

Alongside this, I continue to hold regular surgeries in the constituency, so please get in touch if there is something you need help with, or if you’d like me to visit your organisation or business. Email me on michael. tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216. You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Twitter @Michael4mdnp or Facebook www.facebook.com/ michael4MDNP or on my website www.michaeltomlinson. org.uk

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Dogs need physical exercise to stay healthy, maintain their weight and prevent boredom, and taking your dog for a walk is a great way to provide them with the exercise they need.

Depending on the breed, age, and health of the dog, the amount of exercise required will vary. But all dogs need some level of exercise every day.

Dr Emma Scales-Theobald PhD, dog behaviourist at Pooch & Mutt, said: “Walks provide dogs with a variety of sights, sounds and smells that stimulate their minds.

“Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and a walk can be a great opportunity for them to explore new environments and engage with their surroundings.

“A lack of regular walks can

lead to a range of issues, such as obesity, boredom and behavioural problems.

“Therefore, it’s important for dog owners to make time for regular walks to keep their furry friends happy and healthy.”

Dr Emma’s walking tips:

1 – Walk at least once a day for 30 minutes: The frequency and duration of walks for a dog will depend on several factors, including age, breed, size, health and individual needs. Generally, dogs should be walked at least once a day for 30 minutes to an hour.

2 – Monitor your dog’s behaviour: It is very common for dogs to ‘ask’ to go for a walk through specific behaviours to indicate they want to go for a walk, such as bringing their leash to their owner, sitting by the front door, or even whining. It's important

for dog owners to pay attention to their dog’s signals and respond appropriately.

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MICHAEL TOMLINSON Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset & North Poole

How to make the most of

WITH her 60th birthday on the horizon, Rachel Woodward Carrick set herself a challenge.

It was to achieve something she felt passionately about. In her own words: “The small, simple things you can do to make your life a little bit happier, a little bit healthier and a little bit easier as we grow older.”

Firstly, Rachel set up Happy Silver People, the name partly inspired by the REM song, Shiny Happy People. She started making videos for her own YouTube channel, including short interviews with inspiring silver people.

Then Rachel collated useful and interesting articles and stories in the Happy Silver People magazine on Flipboard.

And, finally, the big one. Her own book – Happy Silver People: How to make life happier as you grow older.

It runs to more than 260 pages, some 60,000 words and

By Dorset Biz News dorsetbiznews.co.uk

is available now on Amazon and through her website.

Rachel, who is college director at Bournemouth University International College, said: “I couldn’t find anything anywhere that gave me a manual of how to become the older person that I wanted to be.

“There are books about gentle ageing, health-specific or how to live to be 100. Mine is about making the best of life.”

The book has six main themes with the first letter of each subject heading spelling out the word Silver when added together:

Stimulating your senses

Inspiring yourself

Looking after yourself

Valuing others and the world around you

Enjoying and experiencing

Re-energising and reconnecting

Rachel said: “What I find is that putting these things into

practice definitely does make a difference and will give you the right kind of mindset as you grow older.

“We can’t deny the fact that there are going to be very difficult experiences ahead –bereavement, loneliness, financial difficulty, you may feel isolated, your health may suffer.

“It’s about preparing yourself as best as you can to meet those situations and embracing old

age. I find it frustrating that people see old age as negative.

“But actually how fortunate we are to be growing older when so many people don’t have that opportunity and we can still keep making the most of it.

“In the book I deliberately talk about people who may not have their health, mobility or a lot of money. “It’s not just for just people who can get out and

Rachel Woodward Carrick with her book Happy Silver People

PHOTO: DorsetBizNews

getting older

do things. It’s a very inclusive book.”

As author Rachel is described in the book as an ordinary person who has had an unusual life.

One brother, Robert, lost his fight with cancer just before he turned 12, while her youngest brother, Hugh, had Down’s Syndrome and suffered a fatal heart attack when he was four.

Her father, Bob Woodward OBE, founded the CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) trust. He went on to raise more than £100 million for various charities.

Mikhail Gorbechev, the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, described him as ‘one of the world’s greatest humanitarians’ while former PM David Cameron said her father was ‘a truly unsung hero who takes our breath away’.

Bob Woodward died in 2019 at the age of 85.

Rachel, who received the first copy of her book last November on the day after she turned 60, said her life experiences had inevitably influenced her approach to the book.

She said: “The charity [CLIC] was very much about making something positive from something very sad.

“It was trying to find a focus and put your energy in a positive way.

“The same goes for getting older. Underlying it all is a positive mindset and trying to maintain it with whatever life throws at you.

“We have to future proof ourselves as much as we can. I think having been through it

when I was much younger I can envisage more easily what it might be like as I grow older.

“Age isn’t a barrier. There are opportunities that open up when you’re older which might not have been there when you were younger. Time being a key one when you’re retired.

“We need to think about the older person we’d like to be and the kind of things we can do – and there are lots – to help ourselves get there.”

Rachel, a Board member of Bournemouth Town Centre BID and a voluntary vice-president for Young Lives vs Cancer (previously CLIC Sargent) said she was very encouraged by the response to her book.

She said: “I feel very reassured and proud now because of the feedback I’m getting. I’ve had a lot of very positive feedback, especially men, which I hadn’t really expected. Some is really powerful.

“Different age groups are reading it as well. Some have bought it and given it to their parents who are in their 70s or 80s and they’re getting a lot from it.

“The book took nearly 18 months to put together. It was very daunting and I found the writing very challenging.

“The approach I took was to keep it quite light-hearted in order to reach a wide audience and it seems to have worked.” n Rachel will share some of the strategies and tools which have enabled her, and fellow authors, to find the time to write books at the inaugural Bournemouth Writing Festival on Saturday, April 22, at 11.30am.

Trust’s £400,000 grants to charity

By Dorset Biz News dorsetbiznews.co.uk

A GRANT-GIVING charity has revealed it has now donated more than £400,000 to LewisManning Hospice Care since its partnership began 30 years ago.

Talbot Village Trust’s grants have aided a series of key projects, allowing the hospice care charity to increase its visibility on the Isle of Purbeck.

They have included opening a charity shop in Swanage and launching a pilot mobile clinic scheme in 2021 to bring hospice services closer to patients’ homes.

The grants have also helped Lewis-Manning relocate to a more centralised location in Poole to extend and develop the hospice’s services.

The funding has had a significant impact on the hospice and the services it provides to help those with life-limiting illnesses, and their loved ones.

The Swanage charity shop has proved particularly popular with customers. Since opening in July last year it has generated £73,000 in sales.

The amount could fund the running of the Hospice at Home service for four months in the local area. Additionally, a lymphoedema service in Boscombe and four community hubs, to bring hospice day care closer to homes, is now in operation in Wareham, Swanage, Corfe Mullen and Wimborne following the success of the Trust-funded mobile clinic scheme piloted in 2021.

Because of the charity’s

supporters, Lewis-Manning has been able to grow its clinical team from 11 to 27 and subsequently expand its free of charge services to include bereavement and family support, complementary therapy, a virtual day hospice and a Hospice at Home provision.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care chief executive Clare Gallie said: “Thanks to the Talbot Village Trust and all of our incredible supporters, more people and their loved ones across east Dorset and Purbeck at end of life are able to receive important care and support from Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

“In 20/21 our patient contacts exceeded 8,000, more than double those of previous years.

“The Trust’s support has helped us towards meeting the ever-increasing demand.”

Talbot Village Trust chairman Nick Shaftesbury said: “We are so proud to have had the opportunity to support Lewis-Manning Hospice Care over many years with various projects. Our purpose is to support organisations in the community that are making changes for the better. LewisManning Hospice Care is without doubt certainly achieving this. The team at the charity do such an incredible job to provide local people with both the important physical and emotional support they need.”

As one of the area’s leading benefactors, Talbot Village Trust supports up to 60 causes each year. The average grant size is £16,000.

Arrow words

AMY SCHUMER

ANGELINA JOLIE

CHARLIZE THERON

DANIEL CRAIG

GEORGE CLOONEY

HUGH JACKMAN

JAKE GYLLENHAAL

KEVIN HART

Crossword

3

Movie Stars

LIAM NEESON

MARK WAHLBERG

MELISSA MCCARTHY

PORTMAN ROBERT DOWNEY JR

BULLOCK

Brain chain

Jumbo sudoku

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

Killer sudoku

Brain chain (hard version)

Cryptic crossword

Across

Across

1 Threatening look in lake behind flat-bottomed boat (5)

1 Threatening look in lake behind flat-bottomed boat (5)

4 Learned type beginning to hide amid discordant carols (7)

Down

2 Reason about treatment (5)

4 Learned type beginning to hide amid discordant carols (7)

3 Spring almost gets to arrive for reception

5 Strange inaction from seal (12)

9 New summary report round, say, at home (8)

6 Readily available – like some beer? (2,3)

10 Dupe kept back stolen goods (4)

9 New summary report round, say, at home (8)

10 Dupe kept back stolen goods (4)

11 Change concerning group of students (6)

7 Article by doyen misjudged as harmless

12 Hint merely with seconds to go (5)

11 Change concerning group of students (6)

12 Hint merely with seconds to go (5)

8 Information about element from a bin commuter ransacked (6,6)

13 Expert about mass provides perfect example (4)

15 Charm oddly in English river (3)

16 Tiny duke gets undesirable plant (4)

19 Servant new yet volatile (6)

21 Request parking by meadow (4)

22 Bad store sadly is very expansive (8)

13 Expert about mass provides perfect example (4)

14 One working at last? (7)

15 Charm oddly in English river (3)

16 Tiny duke gets undesirable plant (4)

16 Reportedly feeble US lawyer over year, period for work? (7)

17 Tree not quite revealed in marshy offshoot of lake (5)

18 Long for twelve months close to sun (5)

20 Some din as allowed regarding a hooter?

19 Servant new yet volatile (6)

17 Tree not quite revealed in marshy offshoot of lake (5)

21 Request parking by meadow (4)

22 Bad store sadly is very expansive (8)

23 Agricultural storehouse managed by Arab in borders of Germany (7)

24 Road transport in recurring series of changes (5)

23 Agricultural storehouse managed by Arab in borders of Germany (7)

24 Road transport in recurring series of changes (5)

Across

1 Threatening look in lake behind flat-bottomed boat (5)

4 Learned type beginning to hide amid discordant carols (7)

9 New summary report round, say, at home (8)

10 Dupe kept back stolen goods (4)

11 Change concerning group of students (6)

12 Hint merely with seconds to go (5)

13 Expert about mass provides perfect example (4)

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

15 Charm oddly in English river (3)

16 Tiny duke gets undesirable plant (4)

17 Tree not quite revealed in marshy offshoot of lake (5)

19 Servant new yet volatile (6)

21 Request parking by meadow (4)

22 Bad store sadly is very expansive (8)

23 Agricultural storehouse managed by Arab in borders of Germany (7)

24 Road transport in recurring series of changes (5)

Down

2 Reason about treatment (5)

3 Spring almost gets to arrive for reception (7)

5 Strange inaction from seal (12)

6 Readily available – like some beer? (2,3)

7 Article by doyen misjudged as harmless (7)

8 Information about element from a bin commuter ransacked (6,6)

14 One working at last? (7)

16 Reportedly feeble US lawyer over year, period for work? (7)

18 Long for twelve months close to sun (5)

20 Some din as allowed regarding a hooter? (5)

For the solutions, turn to page 45

M&S uses its loaf to cut food waste

MARKS & SPENCER is coming up with novel ways to reduce food waste in its stores across the country.

One idea, to reduce bread waste, sees unsold baguettes and boules, baked in store daily, filled with garlic butter and sold as frozen garlic bread priced from £1.

The scheme has been running in 253 stores and is being expanded to an additional 125 outlets this April.

Since its launch in 2020 2.1 million of the re-purposed loaves have been sold, and the range is being extended to include San Francisco Sourdough Garlic Bread (£3) and West Country Cheddar and Red Leicester Garlic Cob.

M&S’s upcoming Family Matters Index, based on interviews with more than 5,000 UK adults, reveals that seven in 10 are making an effort to live more sustainably due to the

cost-of-living crisis. Of those, 85% are prioritising reducing their own food waste.

M&S has pledged to halve food waste by 2030, and redistribute 100% of its edible surplus by 2025, as part of its Plan A sustainability roadmap.

Catherine David, director of Collaboration and Change at the Waste & Resources Action Programme charity, said: “It’s great to see a simple and effective idea grow in this way. Bread is the second most wasted food item in UK homes with the equivalent of more than one million loaves binned every day. As a short shelf-life item, bread can also become surplus at the end of trading so giving a second life to a surplus loaf is an excellent way to reduce waste, make our food go further and feed families.”

As well as expanding its frozen garlic bread scheme, the retailer is taking several steps to

reduce food waste including:

n Partnering with Neighbourly: Donating 57million meals to charities by partnering with Neighbourly since 2015, where store teams work closely with their local communities to ensure edible food sur-plus is redistributed.

n 25p Banana bag scheme: Since launching in 2021, more than 500,000 banana bags have been sold, offering a minimum

of three ready to eat bananas along with two recipes.

n Best before dates: Last year, M&S removed best before dates from more than 300 fruit and vegetable products to help tackle household food waste.

n Sparking Change tips and inspiration: Helping customers to reduce food waste with Love your leftovers recipes, and tips on batch cooking and storing food to make it last longer.

Garden Gate Tea Room

Sunday 21st May 3pm

Full a ernoon tea to include….

A selection of nger sandwiches

Scones with Clotted cream & jam

Homemade cakes

Plus a tea or co ee of your choice

Tickets £21.00 Bookings only

To book please contact us directly by phone, Facebook or pop in and see us

M&S is filling unsold baguettes with garlic butter and freezing them –and since 2020 2.1 million of the re-purposed loaves have been sold

Follow the famous names who have enjoyed a warm Knoll House Hotel welcome!

Knoll House Hotel is a family and dog-friendly hotel nestled in acres of beautiful heathland on the stunning Jurassic Coast overlooking Studland Bay.

There are plenty of adventures to be had for all the family, with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool (which is open April-September), golf course, tennis courts, children’s adventure playground, and cinema room - local residents can use the facilities by booking a day retreat which also includes lunch or afternoon tea.

Visitors are invited to savour the property’s rich history having played host to notable guests over the decades; these include Roald Dahl, Sir Winston Churchill, and children’s author Enid Blyton who, during the 1950s and 60s, took a particular shine to the hotel and would visit three or four times a year. It’s well documented that the spectacular sea views and local surroundings provided inspiration for

her Famous Five novels. Come and see for yourself!

Booking is required for afternoon tea, Sunday lunch, and the day retreat.

Imposter Syndrome: Maybe fake it

By Alice Johnsen

HERE’S an issue you will probably have heard talked about but do you know how to deal with it for yourself? Read on to see how you can make yourself feel better about Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent inability to believe you’ve really earned your success or place. The feeling that you shouldn’t be there or you’re about to get found out as a bit of a fraud. One theory says Imposter Syndrome starts when we are children, constantly looking to the grown ups in our

lives deciding things, doing things, organising things while we just play. I’m not sure how much I go along with that but then, I’m no scientific guru.

Another theory, which I really buy into, is the way we know ourselves inside and out. You know you to a deeper and more thorough level than anyone else, even your best friend. You know all your doubts and anxieties. Others only see the parts you allow them to see.

What can we do about Imposter Syndrome?

Here’s something to tell

yourself when you are next feeling this. Every one of us has common characteristics. We all operate and react in similar ways. When you feel you don’t belong, consider for a moment that at the start of that day, everyone you are now with went through a similar routine. Maybe they had a shower, had sex, lost their car keys, tripped over the dog and burnt the toast. No matter how seemingly successful others are, at the end of the day we are all just another human being. Keep reminding yourself of this important fact and move

through those feelings of not belonging slowly. Step by step push yourself to be a bit braver and more accepting of yourself and always remember, while you can see all of you, everyone else is limited to the bits you allow them to see. They see your finished product but only you see the messy, self-doubting journey. Remember, every one of us is full of doubts, so to feel such anxieties is not weak or wrong. It is absolutely normal. Perhaps, at times, it is necessary to enable us to give that bit extra, to succeed in a challenging

How herbs can help cope with stress

By Fiona Chapman

STRESS is such an over-used word, but a totally underappreciated condition.

I often find that those with chronic stress are the ones that hide it best. For some reason there is still a stigma attached to any type of mental health and we feel inadequate or looked down upon because we are finding it hard to cope with life.

People when asked how they are, are often flippant because: a – people aren’t really interested;

and b – to start to talk about what is going on may mean they start to unravel and God forbid we do that – stiff upper lip and how embarrassing to start crying in front of someone else. Chronic stress, however, leads to so many health problems from skin and digestive issues to more serious ones like cancer and Alzheimer’s, to name two. Half the time we probably do just need someone to talk to who will understand, and often,

problems shared are problems halved, or at least sometimes put into perspective.

We can do lots of things to help ourselves as well. Eating healthily is one and extremely important. Plenty of exercise in fresh air is another – there is nothing more calming than a good walk and the sound of bird song. Getting your heart rate going stimulates serotonin, your happy hormone.

Sleep is nearly always an issue, as the more stressed you

are, often the less sleep you get, so you start needing crutches like alcohol in the evening to relax and coffee in the morning to get you going after a sleepless night of worry – exacerbated by the alcohol. The coffee makes you more anxious and so the cycle carries on.

There are lots of herbs, too, that can help, called nervines, and I find that almost always they are needed in some sort of capacity. Skullcap (Skutellaria lateriflora) is purported to

until you make it?

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent inability to believe you’ve really earned your success or place

PHOTO: Tumisu/ Pixabay

situation.

Perhaps, also, it’s sometimes a case of ‘fake it ’til you make it’. Convince yourself and

restore the nerves, as are green oats and oat seed (Avena sativa). Lime tree blossom and lemon balm are also good, along with lavender, rose and Valariana officinalis.

Chronic stress is also exhausting and depletes the body of energy resources, often because you cannot digest because you are constantly in fight or flight mode. I would then recommend some lovely

others will follow.

n Alice Johnsen is a life coach. Phone: 07961 080513; visit www.alicejohnsen.co.uk

tonic herbs such as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Schisandra chinensis, Borage, Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) or Panax ginseng, all of which strengthen the whole body allowing us to adapt and cope with what is thrown at us along life’s path.

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

NICK GADENNE

Passed away suddenly on the 16th of February 2023 in the Western Cape South Africa. Much loved and hugely missed husband of 50 years of Julia. Dad to his precious boys, Tim and Nathan. Big brother to Philip and Sue. And “Gramps” to Evie, Ethan, Eva and Tia. A Thanksgiving service for Nick’s life and 70 years in Swanage will be held on Friday 21st of April at 2pm at the Swanage United Reformed Church. All welcome that knew and loved him. No flowers please….but scatter a few wild flower seeds somewhere lovely.

DORSET FOOT CLINIC

Brothers medal with England

HANDBALL brothers Joe and Alex Trent, from Corfe Mullen, have achieved success with a British age group team at an international tournament in central America.

Joe, 21, has moved from Denmark to Portugal to play for a senior team in Lamego, while his Alex, 18, is playing in Denmark for a year after finishing his A-levels.

They were both selected for the U21 GB team which competed in a World Cup qualifier in Costa Rica last month and were excited and proud to represent their country.

Joe and Alex started playing handball at Lockyers Middle

HANDBALL

School before joining local club Poole Phoenix, then went into South West Regional Academies and the England youth team.

The competition in San Jose was a qualifying tournament for the Junior World Handball Championships, and taking on host nation Costa Rica, Australia, Cuba and Guinea, the British team won three out of four matches.

The top three teams were on the same points, but Great Britain missed out on a World Cup place due to goal difference, leaving them with a credible third place.

Swanage all set for new season

SWANAGE Bowls Club have new Ladies and a new Men’s captains for the 2023 season – Julie Lomas-Smith and Clive Bryceson.

New president Brian Beeston has chosen Swanage Hospital as his charity for the year.

The season begins in April with the club’s opening day match and then practice sessions begin in earnest.

The club also welcome several clubs on their preseason tours for friendly matches.

Swanage Bowls Club have

BOWLS

seen a surge in interest in mixed competitions and will have teams in four Bournemouth and District Mixed Triples leagues. Club knock-out competitions will be hotly contested.

They also have informal roll-up sessions, weekly club evenings and regular club events, including a Coronation game and afternoon tea.

The club are holding two free ‘Have a Go’ sessions for

anyone interested in trying out the game – anyone who would like to go along should wear trainers or flat shoes.

These sessions are on Sunday, April 23, and Sunday, May 14, starting at 10am and 2pm.

The club at Beach Gardens would love to see budding bowlers – anyone with questions can phone Barrie on 01929 421162.

For information

throughout the season, visit the club’s website at www. swanagebowlingclub.org.uk and Facebook page.

Then email ed@ purbeckgazette.co.uk

Crime fighting at sailing club

SECURITY marking will be on offer at Lilliput Sailing Club in Poole Harbour on Sunday (April 22) from 11am.

Police cadets will be marking paddle boards, kayaks, nav equipment, trailers and so on free of charge with selectaDNA.

Marking equipment makes it less desirable to steal and easier to return to the owner if it is taken.

Alex Trent (left) and brother Joe wearing their bronze medals

The British U21 team celebrating at a tournament in Costa Rica

Fight against speeding enters the grey zone

NEW ‘stealth’ speed camera vans are set to be rolled out on roads across the UK.

The vehicles will be matt grey, as opposed to the current vans which are white, or even sport luminous orange and yellow stripes.

It is not currently a legal requirement for drivers to be warned of speed cameras.

The unmarked vans are being trialled by Northamptonshire Police, and should it prove to be a success, they could be introduced across the country.

This will be achieved by re-wrapping the current range of police-marked speed vans with the matte grey colour.

It is hoped the move will

stop drivers slowing down, before accelerating once they have passed the device.

Following the trial announcement, founder of car tech company Road Angel, Gary Digva, said: “Introducing these undercover mobile speed camera vans is a positive step forward in reducing the amount of speeding drivers on UK roads.

“Motorists should be aware that other police forces across the country, too, could be rolling out these covert camera vans and should watch their speed wherever they travel.

“The safest way to drive is to assume that every van you see on the road is carrying a speed camera – then you’ll

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“Although there is certainly still a long way to go to stop speeding vehicles and the number of fatalities and injuries it causes, I hope that deploying these vans will mean motorists will think twice before putting their foot down.

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A grey speed camera van – the vehicles are being trialled before potentially being rolled out across the country.

PHOTO: Road Angel

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Travel through the wardrobe to Narnia

IN a modest terraced house in a modest street in Rodwell lies an unknown world!

Walk through the door and find yourself in a labyrinth which takes you on a journey through all the emotions of life in the art of Janet Hall.

“In my work as a lay minister, I have marvelled at how people come through so many experiences and at their resilience in rising again from brokenness.

“Our circumstances are different, yet the same emotions affect us all.

“This theme of the ups and downs of life came to me as I was walking a labyrinth recently, for such a walk is never straightforward.

“All seems to be going well for a while until an obstacle

forces us to go back on our tracks, sometimes for quite a while.

“Eventually we get back to a path which moves us in the right direction, and then another

blockage.

“A bit like life really!

“As you walk from room to room you will experience all life’s joys and sadness, as an immersive installation, walking

the labyrinth through my own home.”

Janet has always been interested in art but never had the time to engage in it seriously until retirement in the early 2000s.

She began nervously attending a course in her own village and was amazed at the passion which suddenly overwhelmed her.

Since then, she has done many courses, the most recent being with the Studio Art School in Upwey, and experimented with many styles and media at her studio in Weymouth.

Her work has been in exhibitions and in past years she has been part of both Purbeck Art Weeks and Weymouth’s Open for Arts events.

The forthcoming exhibition runs from Saturday, May 27 to Sunday, June 4, 2-7pm, at 11 Kempston Road, Weymouth DT4 8XB.

For more information contact Janet on janethall103@gmail. com or 01305 839737

Tickets are going fast to visit the king of Lahore or attend the marriage of Figaro... at the Dorset Opera Festival!

The Dorset Opera Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024 – so expect something special! But then every year is special at the home of Country House opera in the South West – and 2023 is no exception!

Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro is undoubtedly one of the greatest operas ever written but the piece that’s getting everyone talking is Massenet’s Le roi de Lahore (The King of Lahore).

This spectacular work will involve an international cast of singers - many of southAsian heritage.

Dorset Opera supports talented young singers who are about to embark on a career in the music profession. With generous support from The Steel Charitable Trust,

the company gives full bursaries to chorus singers under the age of 25, who live, study or work in Dorset.

Regular opera-goers are snapping up tickets, with some 70% having been sold already! To encourage children and young people to opera, the ultimate artform, Dorset Opera offers £10 tickets for under 25s in full time education – an initiative sponsored by expert chartered financial planners, Bottriell Adams LLP.

Both operas are on offer at the end of July when summer evenings are balmy and perfect for outdoor picnics or 4-course Opera Dinners. The Pimm’s will be flowing along with champagne from Pol Roger or English sparkling wine from Dorset’s own awardwinning Langham Estate…

Don’t miss the social event of Dorset’s summer. We look forward to seeing you there!

Artist Janet Hall is opening her home to visitors

The Ladies Chorus from Gounod’s Faust Interval picnicking on the Bryanston lawns

Purbeck stone in spotlight

PURBECK stone is the subject of a talk by Treleven Haysom at Corfe Castle village hall on Friday (April 21).

Purbeck is one of the few places in Britain where stone has been quarried continuously since the Norman Conquest.

Stone from the band of Purbeck marble can be found in many of Britain’s most famous

buildings, such as Westminster Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral.

Purbeck stone was also used for bridges, walls, cottages, harbours over the last 1,000 years. Purbeck provided not only the stone but also many of the stonemasons who produced the remarkable carved stonework we see today.

The Haysom family have

quarried in Purbeck since the 17th century.

Treleven ‘Trev’ Haysom was born Langton Matravers and began working for his father at St Aldhelm’s quarry in 1959.

He is steeped in the history and traditions of Purbeck stone. An expert in the stone beds and fossils within them, he has a Cretaceous fossil named after

Art is a family affair

THE work of seven artists spanning four generations of the same family is the latest exhibition at Lighthouse Poole.

Family Lines begins with the drawings of Rita Senior, a draughtswoman in the aeronautical industry and mother of five who returned to full-time education at Oxford University in the 1960s at the age of 40.

Her daughters, printmaker Sally Winter and painter Clare Rose are both working artists, as are Sally’s sons Ben and Tom and their children, painter Sam and printmaker Millie.

The exhibition is on show from Wednesday, April 19, to Sunday, June 25.

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

Mr Ordinary and the women in his life...

THE award-winning Milton Musical Society is set to perform Kipps – The New Half A Sixpence, a feelgood show for the entire family, at The Regent in Christchurch.

The stage musical is based on the 1905 novel Kipps by H G Wells and the original 1963 musical.

Arthur Kipps, an orphan, is an over-worked draper’s assistant at Shalford’s Bazaar, Folkestone, at the turn of the last century.

He is a charming but ordinary young man who, along with his fellow apprentices, dreams of a better and more fulfilling world.

Kipps unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society, but it confuses everything he thought he knew about life.

Watching him wrestle with his new identity is his childhood companion and not-quite girlfriend Ann Pornick, who

sees with dismay how Arthur is being made over in a new image by the beautiful and classy Helen Walsingham.

She is always there with helpful hints on how Arthur could improve himself and make his life richer and more meaningful, if only he would believe in himself, and listen to her.

Both these young women love Arthur – there is no doubt about that – but which should he listen to?

With the help of his friends, Arthur learns that if you want to have the chance of living the right life, you need to make the right choices.

Kipps – The New Half A Sixpence is at The Regent from Wednesday to Saturday, April 26-29, at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

For tickets priced £17 and £18, depending on performances, visit www. theregent.co.uk

him – Dorsetodon Haysomi!

He is the author of the definitive book on the subject published in 2020 which draws on the knowledge and experiences of generations of the Haysom family.

Everyone is welcome to attend the talk and admission is free, with a collection for a local charity at the end.

Village pub music date

QUINTESSENTIAL acoustic music is on offer when Hicks and Goulbourn perform at The Drax Arms, Bere Regis (BH20 7HH).

Fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Steve Hicks and singersongwriter Lynn Goulbourn have a mutual love of folk, jazz, roots and acoustic genres.

Their musical partnership has taken them to all corners of the UK, and Germany, France, the Netherlands and the USA.

Tickets for the concert on Tuesday, April 25, are only £5 – to reserve a seat email pipthebass@btinternet.com. Doors open at 7.30pm and the concert is at 8pm.

Soulful song from back in the day

THE Christians, who enjoyed huge acclaim in the 1980s and early 1990s, are coming to the Tivoli in Wimborne.

The group’s string of soulful yet socially aware hits included Forgotten Town, Ideal World, Born Again, Harvest for the World, What’s in a Word, Hooverville, Words, Father, and The Bottle.

They are still headed by enigmatic lead singer Garry Christian – the band name comes from the brothers’ name

and has no religious connotation – and are currently enjoying a revival touring successfully in the UK and Europe.

The Christians will be performing their well-known back catalogue and one or two favourites selected from newer albums at the Tivoli on Friday, April 21, at 7.30pm.

Tickets from the box office are £27.50, while tickets purchased online at www. tivoliwimborne.co.uk incur a £2.75 booking fee.

In the picture (from left) Clare Rose, Ben Winter, Millie Winter, Sally Winter, Sam Winter, Ben Winter

Sax player Tom has mixed with the best

DORSET-RAISED Tom

Waters is playing a homecoming gig with his band Electric People at Dorchester Corn Exchange later this month.

Tom, 22, has spent most of his life in music, accompanying his Dad Ben, Mum Ruth and sister Molly from a very early age on tours with Charlie Watts, Jools Holland, Ronnie Wood and other well-known blues and jazz musicians.

The young Waters children would travel on the tour bus, go to the sound checks and soak up all the sights and sounds.

Tom got his first sax after travelling to Edinburgh at the age of five to see his dad play with Rocket 88 and hearing Willie Garnett and Don Weller, two of the UK’s finest sax players, play for the first time.

Charlie Watts was so impressed he let Tom do a few tunes with the band despite his tender age.

Charlie invited Tom to Hyde Park to see the Rolling Stones in 2013 – and organised a saxophone lesson with top sax players Bobby Keys and Tim Ries, who also presented Tom with a new sax to help him on his way.

Tom attended school at Broadmayne and Puddletown when the family lived in Owermoigne but left secondary school to tour with his father – his mum teaching him where she could and the rest of his education being done by distance learning.

Tom did 900 shows worldwide between the ages of 13 and 16 and in that time also got to play with second-line bands from New Orleans –Southern Komfort Brass Band – chart-topping pop bands from Canada – Broken Social Scene – and the great Keito Saito in Japan.

He was offered a place at the prestigious Purcell Schools of

Painter Teresa on show

A NEW exhibition at Gallery

On The Square, Poundbury, offers a rare chance to catch up with the recent work of Dorset painter Teresa Lawton.

Teresa is an artist firmly rooted in Dorset and the South-West, but her work can be found in collections all over the world. Her paintings have been acquired by a number of well-known figures, including singers, songwriters and playwrights, as well as by the chief executive of Christie’s and

the chairman of Phillips Auction House London/New York.

Born in Dorset and a graduate of Winchester College of Art,Teresa lived for some time in Cornwall during her developing years as a painter, and the mid 20th century St Ives artists have always been an influence throughout her career. She is an associate member of The Penwith Gallery, St Ives.

The exhibition at Gallery On The Square runs until Wednesday,May 3.

Music in London aged 16 and there met his good friend Jack Thomas, who now plays drums in the Electric People. The pair have played in many different bands and went on to The Royal Academy of Music together.

Tom played virtually every night while living in London and became a regular at Ronnie Scott’s, The 606 and countless other clubs.

Ben, who lives in Sherborne, said: “Touring regularly from a young age led Tom to meet all sorts of musicians around the country and one was Marcus Praestgard-Stevens, at Coolham, a modern wonder of the world. How can any 18-year-old play the guitar that well? He is a

virtuoso and Tom is delighted to have him in the band.

“It also led to him meeting the last piece of the jigsaw, the great Artie Zeitz, playing the Hammond like he has six hands. He plays right-hand solos and left-hand pads and then plays the bass –remember, there is no bass player in this band – with his feet.

“This is almost a lost art, and when Artie has two Leslie speakers on the stage and a Hammond organ, it is one of the biggest sounds around.”

Tom has an impressive CV having recorded with The Rolling Stones and Sir Ray Davies, played in the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, and performed hundreds of sell-out shows worldwide.

It is hoped the homecoming show will be a special night, celebrating the music he loves – blues, rock, jazz and electric.

Local legends The George Hall Trio will be special guests for the night and will open the show at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday, April 28, at 8pm.

Tickets priced £22 are available from tomwaters.co.uk

Tom Waters, of Electric People, is playing in Dorchester

Teresa Lawton is exhibiting at Gallery On The Square, Poundbury

e home of Country House opera in South West England featuring renowned soloists, a full orchestra and a large chorus of emerging young artists

Marquee bar | Picnics | Formal Dining

Jules Massenet

LE ROI DE LAHORE

Sung in French with English surtitles

Conductor: Jeremy Carnall | Director: Ella Marchment 26, 27 July at 19.00 | Matinée: 29 July at 14.00

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO

Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Conductor: José Miguel Esandi | Director: Paul Carr 25, 28, 29 July at 19.00 | Matinée: 27 July at 14.00

Coade eatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum

Box O ce: dorsetopera.com

07570 366 186

Spotlight Diary

in association with: Karl’s Kabs – 07751 769833

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 May 1 is NOON on April 17. 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.

APRIL 2023

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

MONDAY

18:00 - SWANAGE TENNIS CLUB at Beach Gardens, Swanage. Free cardio tennis taster. Till 7pm.

19:30 - WAREHAM CHORAL SOCIETY. Lady St.Mary Church, Wm. Till 9.30. New singers always welcome. 01202 632678. warehamchoral@gmail.com

TUESDAY

18:30 - STUDLAND YOGA at Studland Village Hall. Beginners and experienced practitioners are all welcome. Until 8.00 pm Call 07932 180327 Email yogawithsemra@gmail.com

THURSDAY

09:30 - SWANAGE TENNIS CLUB at Beach Gardens, Swanage. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 11am

FRIDAY

14:30 -

Wanted

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

Farming

High Quality 5 string meadow hay bales available £35 available Bales of paper shredding, ideal for 07714 289400

Puzzle solutions (from pages 32-33)

Edition 287

Brain chain (hard)