The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 298

What’s inside this issue...

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07714 289408

EDITORIAL

Account Manager Jane.toomer@blackmorevale.net 07714 289411 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 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.

Springwatch’s Megan set to headline ‘green’ festival

TELEVISION wildlife

presenter Megan McCubbin will be headlining the opening weekend of this year’s Planet Wimborne Green Festival.

The zoologist, conservationist and environmental activist is well-known for her appearances on Springwatch and Animal Park.

She will be sharing her passion for wildlife at Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne in You, Me & Nature on Sunday, October 15.

Megan’s interest in nature stems from a childhood growing up around wildlife and working at the Wildheart Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight, which specialises in the rescue and rehabilitation of ex-circus animals.

Megan’s talk is at 5pm –doors open 4pm – and

refreshments, eco displays by local schools and community group stalls will be on offer, along with an opportunity to buy a signed copy of Megan’s new book, An Atlas of Endangered Species.

Tickets are £10 adults and £2 for 18 and under – 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult – and are available online via Eventbrite – www. eventbrite.co.uk – or by cash payment at Wimborne’s Fair Ground shop.

The festival runs from Saturday, October 14, to Saturday, October 21, and as in previous years, features a host of green-themed events and activities for all ages.

Visitors can get involved in art and craft sessions, a green town trail and tree planting.

They can also find out what Kingston Lacy is doing to go

Duck race boost for Wimborne in Bloom

THE 23rd Wimborne in Bloom Duck Race raised nearly £1,600 towards ‘In Bloom’ funds.

The Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Diann March, and town crier Chris Brown, together with members of the Wimborne in Bloom Committee, launched the ducks into the River Allen with the first duck crossing the finishing line behind the Rising Sun in East Street in less than 15 minutes.

Once again, to meet the demand for tickets, some of the ducks were ‘co-owned’ as it would have been impractical to

green, how local hero and record-breaking long-distance swimmer Oly Rush is fighting plastic pollution, and how people’s clothes, accessories and home furnishings can be upcycled, recycled and made stylish.

Compiled by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage

opening on the Minster Green on Saturday, October 14, at 10.30am.

Solar & Tidal Predictions - Mar '23

That event will also feature Wimborne Community Theatre, exhibitions by local green groups and apple pressing.

05:05 10:34 17:27 22:59 06:21 19:54

05:47 11:15 18:09 23:38 SP 06:23 19:51

Town mayor Cllr Diann March and Eloise Flinter from Lush will perform the official

06:28 11:56 18:50 06:24 19:49

00:18 07:09 12:37 19:32 06:26 19:47

00:59 07:50 13:19 20:16 06:27 19:45

For details of all events, see Planet Wimborne’s website, www.planetwimborne.org, or Facebook page.

increase the number of ducks to beyond 1,000. Four of the winning ducks were ‘co-owned’ and the full list of results is:

1 Brenda Hare-Brown, £50; 2 Barbara Dean and Keith Sheppard, £25 each; 3 Elsie Dean, £10, 4 Barbara Robinson, who gave her £5 winnings to Wimborne in Bloom; 5 Kirsty Whitfield and Terry Wheeler, £5 each; 6 Julia and Geoff and Lara Soto £5 each, the latter gave her winnings to Wimborne in Bloom.

Ted Daniel and Carl Hurren, who owned the last duck home, both received a bottle of wine.

12:20 17:37 NP 06:33

00:56 06:31 13:30 19:29 06:35 19:34

& Tidal Predictions Sept/Oct 2023

05:42 10:58 17:57 23:08 06:46 19:18

06:09 11:22 18:24 23:31 06:47 19:16

06:36 11:48 18:52 23:59 06:49 19:14

07:06 12:18 19:26 06:50 19:11

Solar & Tidal

Megan McCubbin is giving a talk at Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne as part of the Planet Wimborne Green Festival

Loco’s (nearly) ready to roll

Six-year, £650,000 restoration project

A VICTORIAN steam locomotive that has taken six years and £650,000 to restore to full working order has rolled into its new home on the Swanage Railway.

Built in 1893 to a design by renowned locomotive engineer William Adams, London and South Western Railway T3 class No 563 was donated to Swanage Railway Trust by the National Railway Museum in 2017.

Commissioning and testing work will now begin on the T3, the locomotive operating on its own and then hauling carriages, before the footplate crews that will operate No 563 are trained to drive and fire the Victorian locomotive.

Its return in the coming months will see No 563 pulls its first passenger train in 75 years, in the year marking the centenary of the Southern Railway and the 185th anniversary of the formation of the London and South Western Railway.

The 81-tonne T3 arrived by road at Swanage Railway’s Norden station, north of Corfe Castle, where it was reunited with its restored tender, before the locomotive was taken by rail to its new home at Swanage.

and efforts that has helped us finish this fairytale story.

“We are immensely grateful to our generous supporters for their donations, contributions and faith in the T3 project that have made this achievement possible as well as providing a source of encouragement along what has been a challenging and ambitious journey.

“It has been wonderful to engage with so many likeminded people and build a community around the locomotive, so we can’t wait to show them the results.

“The next step will be for our engineering team to start the important process of commissioning and testing the T3 before we start training the footplate crews that will operate No 563.”

tip-top condition and is looked after in the long-term.

“We are already looking at ways of making the locomotive more sustainable by, for example, investigating methods of protection against corrosion on the inside of tender water tank which will reduce future maintenance costs.

563 Locomotive Group chair Nathan Au said: “The completion of the ambitious T3 restoration project has been a culmination of hard work and determination over the last six years and we want to thank the individuals and parties that have been involved with the overhaul for their hard graft

Swanage Railway Trust chair Gavin Johns said: “The Trust was honoured when the National Railway Museum donated the T3 to the Swanage Railway in 2017 and now, thanks to a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of members – supported by our generous donors – we will be able to enjoy the sight of a T3 hauling passenger trains through the Isle of Purbeck for the first

time since the 1920s and 1930s.

“The triumph of the T3 restoration project is wonderful British railway enthusiasm at its very best – actively recreating history, which is especially timely as we start to plan to celebrate 200 years of our nation’s railway history in 2025.”

The last survivor of its T3 class, London and South Western Railway No 563 had travelled a total of more than 1.5 million miles when it was withdrawn from service by the Southern Railway Company in August, 1945 – the advent of the Second World War in 1939 extending the locomotive’s working life.

563 Locomotive Group treasurer Steve Doughty said: “The 563 Locomotive Group will continue to raise funds to ensure the T3 remains in

“Other initiatives will also include ways to provide education and historical context to the T3 so we will keep asking for vital donations to help make this possible.

“No 563 is a splendid direct link to the Swanage Railway’s Victorian past – back to the early days of the London and South Western Railway in the 1880s and 1890s.”

Started in November 2017, the ambitious project to restore the T3 has cost £650,000, with work on the Victorian locomotive being carried out by specialist contractors at the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and at the Swanage Railway’s Herston engineering works on the outskirts of Swanage.

To find out more about the locomotive, to make a donation or start a standing order, visit 563locomotivegroup.co.uk.

The T3 arrived by road at Swanage Railway’s Norden station, north of Corfe Castle, where it was reunited with its restored tender, before the locomotive was taken by rail to its new home at Swanage

PHOTOS: Andrew PM Wright

Crews will now be trained on the footplate of No 563 before it returns to use

Nathan Au

Step forward in turning Middle Beach back to nature

THE next stage in a project to remove all man-made structures from a popular Purbeck beach was set to start this month.

As part of the scheme, the National Trust is removing the concrete foundations of a former cafe, toilets and other structures from the undercliff at Middle Beach, Studland.

Work was set to get under way on the removal on September 11, taking around two weeks.

The buildings themselves were removed in April because the cliff below them is gradually falling into the sea.

A new food outlet, the Salty Salt Pig, and toilets were built further inland.

Over time, the Trust said its vision is that the site will ‘rejuvenate to form a beautiful natural cove that locals and visitors can enjoy’, as well as being ‘an enhanced habitat for wildlife, including rare sand lizards’.

Tracey Churcher, National Trust general manager for Purbeck, said: “We had to remove the buildings because erosion was chipping away at

the cliff underneath them and they would have become hazardous.

“We need to do this work while it’s still safe to access the site.

“Studland’s whole coastline is constantly changing, but especially at Middle Beach where erosion is accelerated by heavy rainfall and storm surges.”

The work to remove the foundations of the buildings was delayed until September to minimise the impact on beach-goers during busy periods, and to avoid disturbing sand lizards during the egglaying period.

“We apologise for any unavoidable disturbance caused by these necessary works,” Tracey added.

“The cafe, toilets and footpath to the beach will remain open, and we hope to complete this phase within a couple of weeks.”

The last phase of works, to remove the collapsing stone gabion baskets and rock armour that were built as sea defences, is planned for next year.

Wareham Choral Society

“Music for Remembrance”

Sat 4th November 7pm

Lady St Mary Church Wareham BH20 4ND

Patron

Rt Hon David Mellor

KC

Conductor

Hazel Ricketts

Organist

Paul Ellis

Jenkins -The Armed Man (choral suite)

Fauré - Requiem

For their financial support for this concert, thanks to: The King’s Arms, Stoborough https://thekingsarms-stoborough.co.uk/

Ticket prices: £12.50 - accompanied under-18’s FREE! online https://www.warehamchoral.uk email warehamchoral@gmail.com

Phone 01202 632678 or Joys in Wareham. Tickets also available on the door at £15

The Middle Beach Cafe in Studland has been demolished

PHOTO: Google

Travel week pushes ‘greener’ transport

MOTORISTS in Purbeck are being encouraged to give up their car for a day or more in the first ever Purbeck Active and Sustainable Travel Week.

Local people will be encouraged to explore ways of travelling more sustainably through a programme of events.

The travel week, which coincides with the Planet Purbeck Festival – September 15-24 – and World Car-Free Day – September 22 – seeks to highlight the benefits of going car-free, including reduced air pollution and improved public safety.

Incentives include ‘try before you hire’ sessions on push and e-bikes, discounted bike hire, free puncture repairs and the chance to make drinks using a ‘smoothie bike’.

Guided walks, information on how to travel to places using public transport, on foot or cycling, will also be on offer.

The activities will be centred on Purbeck Park in Norden –September 15-17 – and Burnbake Campsite –September 23.

Organisations including the

National Trust, Sustrans, Sustainable Swanage, Planet Purbeck, Dorset Climate Action Network, Corfe Castle Parish Council Environment Group, Purbeck Transport Action Group, Sustainable Wareham and Cyclexperience have put the

programme together.

Nick Ward, chair of Purbeck Transport Action Group, said: “Purbeck Park has great potential as a transport hub. Free parking will offer people an opportunity to leave the car and try the alternative means of

travelling round Purbeck – train, bus, cycling and walking.”

Ross Kempson, of Cyclexperience, said: “As a local business advocating active and sustainable travel, we’re proud to be part of co-ordinating this event.

“We have an incredible, nationally important landscape to explore locally on bike and we hope as many locals take us up on our 50% discount hire offer. We are also offering drop-in bike maintenance sessions.”

Alex Brocklesby, of National Trust in Purbeck, said: “Purbeck is one of the most nature-rich places in the UK with the first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve, the Purbeck Heaths.

“It’s vital to encourage active and sustainable travel to benefit both nature and people so organisations have come together to offer this programme of events to residents and visitors – a range of fun, informative, active ways to explore the car-free options, with added bonus of discounts and freebies.”

The event will also promote car-free options such as the £2 bus fare and ‘catch the bus’ month, the introduction of Beryl bikes in Studland and the 2RN bus to Arne from Wareham or Purbeck Park with a recent extension of the service until the end of September (Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday).

Screenwriter booked in for library date

SCREENWRITER Tim John will be giving a talk at Corfe Mullen library later this week.

He will give an insight into writing for film and television, and will hold a question and answer session.

Tim penned the National Film Awards’ Best British Film, A Street Cat Named Bob, as well as a host of other film and TV titles.

He has also written a book about his time being a screenwriter in Hollywood, titled Adventures In LA-LA Land.

The event is on Friday, September 22, from 7-8pm and entry is free but places should be booked with the library on 01202 659755 or email corfemullen library@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Purbeck Active and Sustainable Travel Week coincides with Planet Purbeck Festival and World Car-Free Day

Hospice offers a chance to remember

LEWIS-MANNING Hospice

Care is inviting people to reflect, celebrate and remember loved ones at its Candles in the Community events this autumn.

The events are:

n Candles on the Lake - The Kitchen, Poole Park, on Saturday, October 7

n Candles on the Beach –Swanage Seafront, on Saturday, October 21

n Candles on the GreenWimborne Minster, on Saturday, November 18

Event organiser Hannah Garrett said: “We were overwhelmed by the response from our local communities at last year’s Candles on the Lake and Candles on the Beach events, and in response to public demand, we are thrilled to launch a new location for this year - Candles on the Green in Wimborne.

“These will be unique, memorable and meaningful

Lewis-ManningHospice Care’s Candles in the Community events are being held in Swanage, Wimborne

events where families and friends can come together to reflect, celebrate and remember loved ones.

“While the events are emotional, the overriding feeling of community spirit always outweighs any sadness.

“The occasions provide real energy of hope and

and Poole

togetherness.”

Local choirs and The Salvation Army will perform at each event and include a short reflective reading, while creating a magical display of lights.

The Candles in the Community events are free to attend but supporters are

encouraged to make an online donation for a candle(s) before the event at www.lewismanning.org.uk/candles, alternatively candles will be available on the night.

For anyone who would like to add a personal dedication to their candle, facilities to write a message will be available.

Donations will be used to fund Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s Bereavement and Family Support and other services across the community, allowing it to support patients and their families from diagnosis of a life-limiting condition, through to end of life and bereavement.

Three people’s donations could cover the cost of a one-hour phone call or visit, providing support to a grieving family.

To find out more about the Candles in the Community events visit https://lewismanning.org.uk/candles/

‘Biggest ever appeal’ for hospital’s new facilities

A £2.5 MILLION fundraising appeal to help emergency care patients and their families at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has been launched.

The Dorset County Hospital Charity launched the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal at the 2023 Dorset County Show.

The three-year appeal is funding major enhancements to the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, shortly to commence construction at DCH.

Extra facilities for the new unit include relatives’ overnight accommodation and a patient garden, as well as rest accommodation and welfare facilities for clinical staff.

Additional facilities will also be funded for the new Emergency Department, as well as artistically designed elements in both new units to ‘help create a sympathetic and healing environment for the benefit of all’.

The new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, funded through the government’s New Hospital Programme, will be built in a bid to significantly increase capacity and transform the experience of patients.

It is the largest capital

investment at the Dorchester hospital since it opened on the current site in 1998 and will provide custom-built, state-ofthe-art facilities in both departments.

Dr Steve Meek, consultant emergency physician in the DCH Emergency Department, said: “Last year our Emergency teams looked after over 50,000 patients – the facility was

originally built for less than half that number – just 22,000.

“We know attending the Emergency Department as a patient can be a stressful experience and a cramped layout and crowded waiting areas can create more anxiety.

“In the new plan both the capacity and layout of the department will be greatly improved.”

Dr David Quick, a consultant in anaesthetics and critical care medicine, said: “The new Critical Care Unit will provide a facility that is purpose built to enhance the care for patients, to provide families with support and access to their loved ones and provide an environment for the staff to work to their full potential.”

Dorset County Show chair Nicki Ralph selected Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency & Critical Care Appeal as the event’s Charity of the Year.

Show organiser James Cox said: “The experiences of our chair Nicki and her husband have highlighted the fact none of us know when we may need critical care.

“To have state-of-the-art resources on hand at our local hospital makes us incredibly fortunate.

“We’re delighted to fundraise for this fantastic cause.”

Simon Pearson, DCH head of charity, said: “This is our biggest ever fundraising appeal, which will significantly enhance patient care and staff welfare.

“To make this appeal successful we need the support of the local community.

“There will be many opportunities for individuals, community groups and local businesses to support the appeal over the next three years and we invite anyone interested in finding out more to contact us directly.”

To find out more about supporting the DCH Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, visit www.dchcharity.org.uk or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk.

Dave Underwood, Jo Howarth and Dr David Quick at the Dorset County Show charity night

Members of the Dorset County Hospital Emergency Department team

Airport lands in top five

BOURNEMOUTH Airport has been praised in a report by consumer group, Which?.

The airport, in Christchurch, ranked in the top five UK airports and has received ‘Recommended Provider’ status from the consumer group.

The recognition comes as part of Which?’s annual airport survey of its members, seeking their feedback on a variety of airport experiences.

A customer score was calculated based on a combination of overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend.

The consumer champion also asked travellers to report how long they spent queueing at security.

Bournemouth Airport had a customer score of 75%, putting it among the top five airports in the country, and received

four-star ratings in five categories.

These included queuing at check-in, baggage reclaim and customer experience received from airport staff.

The airport also had one of the shortest reported security waiting times at 13 minutes.

And it had fewer flight cancellations than any other airport in the survey, at just

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57%, alongside Heathrow’s Terminals 4 and 5.

Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see Bournemouth Airport recognised as one of the top three airports in the UK for customer experience in this survey conducted by Which?

0.1% from May 2022 to April 2023.

The top five UK airports, according to Which?:

1 Liverpool John Lennon – 82%

2 London City – 78%

3 Southampton – 77%

4 Bournemouth – 75%

5 East Midlands and Newcastle – 72%

Bristol Airport scored 55%, while Gatwick North scored

“The esteemed ‘Recommended Provider’ status is a resounding vote of confidence not only in our airport but, most importantly, in our dedicated staff who consistently go above and beyond for our passengers.”

Bournemouth Airport is owned and operated by Regional & City Airports, part of Rigby Group plc, and has flights to 35 destinations in 18 countries.

For more information, visit www.bournemouthairport.com.

ASHLEY BLINDS

Bournemouth Airport was praised in a report from Which?

Ted and Dulcie mark 67th anniversary on the water

A COUPLE marked their 67th wedding anniversary in style – by fulfilling a long-held desire to take a trip through Wareham on the river.

Ted and Dulcie, residents at Upton Bay Care Home in Poole, finally got to take to the water recently.

Thanks to the efforts of Upton Bay staff, who worked with the Friends of Dolphin

Boats, the pair, along with friend June, took to the water.

“We are overjoyed to gather together to celebrate the remarkable 67th wedding anniversary of Ted and Dulcie,” an Upton Bay spokesperson said.

“Their enduring love for each other and their cherished town of Wareham has been an inspiration to us all.

“Throughout their incredible journey, there was one dream that had remained unfulfilled for Ted and Dulcie – a scenic river trip through the beautiful town of Wareham.

“Both Ted and Dulcie, along with their dear friend June, had always longed for this experience but never had the opportunity to make it a reality.”

They said they were ‘immensely grateful’ to the Friends of Dolphin Boats for its help in making the couple’s dream come true.

“Their selflessness and generosity have made this celebration even more meaningful, highlighting the power of community and the beauty of friendship,” they added.

Small foodbank with big heart

THE Corfe Mullen Community Foodbank is set to mark 10 years of helping local people in need this autumn.

The operation got off the ground thanks to a donation from Engage Mutual, opening to the public in November 2013.

That came thanks to the initiative of Heather Booth, who went on to volunteer at the foodbank and went on to become honorary patron.

Tracie Jackson, a volunteer for 10 years, said: “We are not doing much to mark the event

– we don't agree with spending valuable funds in that manner.

“But a Duke of Edinburgh student has volunteered to create some display boards, so we are running a simple open morning, so people can see what we do.

“We offer more than just bags of food as we also give out our recipe bags and our famous activity packs!”

Saturday, November 18, from 10am-noon at the foodbank’s base in the hall at St Nicholas Church.

The open morning is on

The foodbank stayed open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and only closes on Good Friday – it is open on Wednesday and Friday, 10amnoon.

Opening times are changed over the Christmas period to ensure families who need

support receive it.

Tracie added: “Our local community in Corfe Mullen keeps us topped up, along with the school, play groups, nurseries and churches. It really is a case of the community helping the community.

“In its first year the foodbank helped 54 families – last December alone we helped more than that, which shows a need. We are not as big an operation as other local food banks, but we are just as big on heart.”

Upton Bay care home residents Ted and Dulcie on their river trip through Wareham (above), and with friend Jane and Upton Bay staff and boat crew (above left) before setting off

On Track for improved mental health

THE first guest speakers have been announced for On Track, a wellbeing event being run by The Tank Museum at Bovington along with World Mental Health Day.

The event features speakers and expert-led workshops designed to support armed forces and emergency services personnel, veterans and their families.

Guest speakers include Steve Cuss from AFC Bournemouth, who will share how the power of football can support mental health.

Steve is head of Community Sports Trust and manages the

Woman’s Team – the Cherries.

He will be joined by Major Pat Burgess MBE DSc, whose ‘plain and simple’ mindfulness techniques have been taught across the defence industry, prisons, schools and even Glastonbury Festival.

Jess Sterling-Yateman is returning to the event after her moving talk in 2021 to discuss the challenges of living with a parent with complex mental health issues after serving in the Armed Forces.

Former Royal Marines Sergeant Danny Cole will also be sharing his lived experience with PTSD.

Shielding Your Home & Estate from Care Costs with a Living Trust

Nobody likes to think about getting old, but it is certainly worth thinking about if you value your home. That is because your house could very well have a charge placed upon it or sold by the local council to pay for your care fees. If a person’s capital and savings, including equity in their home, is worth more than £23,250, they will have to fund their own care.

A living trust can shield your home and estate from care costs in the following ways.

Placing your main home into a living trust ring fences the property from any potential future care costs. 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.

Other benefits of the trust include the avoidance of probate upon the property and the protection from both divorce & creditors for your beneficiaries. The situation won’t get better over time. The UK’s fastest-growing age group comprises those aged over 85. Councils will face even more pressure on budgets, leaving them with little choice but to continue to sell people’s homes.

To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594.

The main thing to remember with a trust is that because you do not own the assets held in the trust in your own name, a charge cannot be placed upon the home.

Visitor experience general manager Rosanna Dean said:

“Armed Forces and emergency service personnel can face unique risks and challenges to their mental health.

“The On Track event gives these individuals techniques and peer-to-peer contacts to help build their coping skills and positively impact their lives.”

Exhibitors will include Models for Heroes, Dorset

Police and Al-Anon, and the event will be livestreamed on YouTube for those who are unable to attend in person.

Admission to On Track on Thursday, October 5, is free for serving Armed Forces, veterans and past and present emergency services staff. Normal admission charges apply to other attendees. Pre-booking is required. For more information see www. tankmuseum.org/on-track.

On Track is a wellbeing event being held at The Tank Museum

Chris Tennant Oakwood Wills.

Hospice patients’ art to go on display in two-week fundraising exhibition

ARTWORK created by day hospice patients in Purbeck will go on show at an exhibition.

The New Wave Gallery in Swanage is hosting the display, featuring pieces by people attending Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

The free, Purbeck-themed exhibition is set to run from September 30 until October 14, and will be opened by hospice Patrons Mike and Pam Jeffries at a special private viewing on September 29.

Creative art therapists Rachel Ford and Karen England, who run the sessions, said: “We received the kind offer of the free exhibition space from Gina Marshall at the New Wave Gallery and leapt at the change to showcase the amazing work from our patients.

“Creative activities are a big part of the day hospice service and provides our patients with an opportunity to reengage with art or take up a new skill.

“We find that this gives them purpose, a sense of achievement, allows them a choice and gives them some control back in their lives.

“Activities can be facilitated to meet patients’ needs. We do so much, such as drawing, sketching and painting using a wide range of materials. We also do work with clay creating sculptures and ceramic artwork.”

They said all pieces in the exhibition will be for sale, with proceeds going to Lewis-

Manning Hospice Care.

But moreprojects are on the way, Rachel and Karen said.

“We’ve also been doing some larger scale installations and have had great fun producing a 6ft ice cream cone created out of paper maché and wire,” they said.

“One single patient completed the paper machée and painted the entire cone.

“Others have created smaller life size cones to be a part of the larger installation.

“The patients were asked, ‘What flavour ice cream does Lewis-Manning represent to you?’ For example, one particular patient chose Tutti Frutti saying, ‘It’s a mixture of flavours, representing the real mix of patients, staff and volunteers at the hospice and how accepting everyone is of each other, it doesn’t matter who we are, what we are, all are welcome’.

“Another patient chose Raspberry Ripple, described as ‘smooth but with bumps!’

“A Wareham patient who is blind, following a stroke said that he wanted to paint and he has created a beautiful drawing of a boat on the water ‘goose winging’.”

“We’re urging people to come along and

Camping season closing

TIME is running out for campers to pitch up for a once-in-a-season experience.

National Trust-run Brownsea Island is only welcoming campers until the end of September.

The island’s campsite boasts views across Poole Harbour to the Purbeck hills.

There is access to the beach from the campsite and plenty of walks, as well as the Watersports Academy, offering kayaking and paddle boarding sessions.

For more details, email brownseaislandcampsite@nationaltrust. org.uk.

Farming

enjoy looking at our patients’ creations and celebrate their creativity. There will be so much to see…we’ve turned paintings in to local landmark post cards, sketchings, paintings, key rings, tie dye T shirts and we even have a fabulous, knitted Punch and Judy puppet theatre, including several characters and the sausages – it’s brilliant, a must view.”

Jackie, a regular hospice user, said: “I love learning to do the artwork, I’ve been encouraged to pick up a paint brush for the first time, I’m always up for a challenge and I’ve now even bought my own acrylic paints to use at home.”

Wimborne patient Lyndon added: “I didn’t ever imagine myself doing paper maché or that it would be so therapeutic.”

Dorset’s smallest museum gets a big makeover to wow visitors...

IT may be Dorset’s smallest museum, but Corfe Castle Town Trust Museum at Corfe Castle still attracts more than 50,000 visitors a year.

Its displays, however, had not been changed for a couple of decades and were looking a little forlorn before a recent overhaul.

Now, thanks to the efforts of a volunteer team over the past year, it has been redisplayed to help it pack a punch with visitors and locals.

The volunteers team have worked with the Jurassic Coast Trust to research and redisplay the museum’s dinosaur trackway, and commissioned paleo-artist Mark Witton to create a large-scale visualisation of the Iguanodon, based on the trackway’s footprints.

Designers have been commissioned to create new graphics featuring high quality photographic and artistic images, and some interactive elements have been introduced, including an audio-quiz featuring intriguing Dorset dialect phrases.

New artefacts, from a Civil War cannon ball to an original 1500s stained glass window from Corfe Castle, have also been showcased.

Louise Haywood, chair of Corfe Castle Town Trust said: “It’s been rewarding to redisplay our gem of a museum and share the history of Corfe Castle village through new artefacts and reinvigorated displays.

“We’re definitely the small

museum with a big story to tell!

“We’ve really appreciated the guidance and support of Dorset Council’s Museum Development Service which has enabled us to access conservation, interpretation and design expertise.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming lots of new visitors over the coming months.”

Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Culture and Communities said: “Dorset has an amazing range of museums, of all shapes and sizes, and it’s great to see our

small volunteer-run museums Wmaking such significant strides to improve their offer and appeal to visitors.

“Corfe Castle is one of our county’s most historic villages but it’s also a really thriving community, so it’s fantastic to see that both young and older people from the area have been involved in researching and creating these exciting new displays.”

The museum is housed on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall at Corfe Castle – the smallest Town Hall in England – and is open every day with free entry.

Clealls Stores in West Street, Corfe

The blacksmith’s shop

Beekeepers’ appeal on voracious predator

BEEKEEPERS in East Dorset are appealing to members of the public to help them stop the highly predatory Asian hornet becoming established in this country.

The insect is a major threat to honeybees and other pollinators and has been seen in large numbers this year.

Now members of the public are being urged to report sightings of the Asian Hornet, which they may see on walks eating insects or feeding on fallen fruit or ivy flowers.

More Asian hornets have been detected in the UK this year than in the previous six years combined.

Their nests have been found in Dorset and Hampshire in the

last few weeks and they are spreading across the south of England.

Diane Drinkwater, chair of the East Dorset Beekeeping Association, said: “At this early stage of the Asian hornet season, which goes on into the autumn, it is extremely worrying to see so many cases.

“We must act now to stop them from getting established in this country.

“Reports from Europe and Jersey indicate that this is an exceptional year for Asian hornets with record numbers of queens and nests.

“We urge the public to join forces with beekeepers to protect our honeybees and other pollinators from this voracious

predator.”

More than 1,000 beekeepers across the country are part of elite teams trained to provide emergency support to the National Bee Unit’s (NBU) hornet hunters.

Hornet sightings are filtered by the NBU, part of Defra, and teams of bee inspectors deployed to track hornets back to their nests, which are then destroyed.

The Asian hornet – Vespa velutina – is slightly smaller than native European hornets, has yellow legs, an orange face and brown body with one yellow stripe.

Just one Asian hornet can hunt down and eat 300 honeybees a day and their habit of hawking –hovering – outside the hive stops the bees from collecting nectar and pollen to feed themselves.

Europe suffers huge pollinator losses from this predator and it is feared if they get a foothold in the UK

honeybees and many other insects will be decimated here, too.

“They are the greatest threat to beekeeping since the Varroa mite was discovered more than 30 years ago,” Diane added.

British Beekeepers’ Association trustee Julie Coleman, who lives in Kent where many of the hornets have been discovered this year, said the huge rise in cases was likely to have several reasons.

“The fact that we seem to have a cluster around the coast in Kent, also Dorset, Plymouth, Weymouth and Hampshire, makes me think they are coming across on the wind,” she said.

“And there could have been an overwintered nest in Kent which has sent out hibernating queens in the autumn.”

It is important not to approach or disturb a nest. Asian hornets are not generally aggressive towards people but can be when they perceive a threat to their nest.

Anyone who suspects they have seen an Asian hornet should report it immediately using the phone app Asian Hornet Watch or the online reporting form at https://risc. brc.ac.uk/alert.

php?species=asian_hornet

Health trust wins award for support it offers nurses

WORK to embrace and support internationally-educated nurses in Dorset has led to a prestigious award.

Dorset HealthCare is the first NHS trust in the county to be acknowledged for its dedication to welcome international nurses and midwives, with the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award.

The initiative aims to standardise the quality and delivery of pastoral care for international staff across the country and is awarded to trusts which demonstrate they meet a set of high standards for best practice, and are committed to supporting international colleagues at every stage of their recruitment and beyond.

Maria Thomas-Smith, international recruitment lead at Dorset HealthCare, said: “We take great pride in this award. We are committed to supporting our wonderful international nurses from the start of their journey and throughout their career, enabling them to excel in their roles.

“And we are very grateful to our international colleagues for their feedback and assistance, enabling us to continually improve what we do.”

Christy Thomas, a mental health nurse from India, has been with the Trust for a year.

She said: “I am very happy to be part of team Dorset HealthCare. From the day I

passed the interview up until now, I have had tremendous support and guidance from the Trust.

“It has made my journey much easier, and I thank everyone who has helped me along the way.”

Internationally-educated nurses can find out more about joining the Trust’s team

delivering community and mental health care across Dorset by emailing dhc.international recruitment@nhs.net.

More information about the award can be found on the NHS England website at www. england.nhs.uk/ nursingmidwifery/internationalrecruitment/nhs-pastoral-carequality-award/

Mental health nurses (from left) Reshmi James, Jiss Varghese and Christy Thomas Dorset PHOTO: HealthCare

Raise £75 for 75 years of NHS

WALKERS will be stepping out for a hospital ward close to their hearts at Upton Country Park next month.

They will be walking 3km, 5km or 10km in the Walk for Wards event for the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, choosing which ward or department they would like their donations to go to.

That may be to support a ward that provided them with care, in memory of a loved one or simply to show support to family and friends that work for the NHS.

The event will support the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals by funding new and innovative equipment and state-of-the-art buildings outside what the NHS funds.

Fundraising officer Amy Beauchamp said: “We’re delighted to be back with this

fantastic event again this year.

“As we celebrate 75 years of the NHS, we would like to encourage participants to set themselves a fundraising target of £75.

“We know fundraising isn’t always easy, so we hope a minimum target of £75 feels achievable.”

The event is family friendly with all routes accessible for all ages and abilities, and dogs are welcome, too.

The main event sponsor is Hot Radio, which will be playing music throughout the day, and Rapid Relief will be providing a light bite for everyone to enjoy.

Coles Miller solicitors and Think Signs are also supporting the event.

Hot Radio commercial director Alan Smith said: “We are excited and proud to be part of this amazing event.

Kayaking Trips Around Swanage Bay and along the Jurassic Coast.

(Sea Kayak and Personal Performance)

Old Harry Rocks Sea Kayak Adventure Kayak and Paddle Board Hire.

“We’re creating our own team of Hot Walkers which is made up of staff, our presenters, volunteers and our listeners.

“We aim to raise as much as we possibly can and have some fun along the way.”

After crossing the finish line, participants can enjoy live music, entertainment and refreshments while relaxing in

the grounds by Upton House. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children, and little ones under five can get involved for free.

Walk for Wards is the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity’s flagship fundraising event and is on Saturday, October 14, at 11.30am- 4.30pm.

Serious message to protest with a ‘sense of humour’

WIMBORNE has hosted its first ever ‘Human Poo Chain’.

The spectacle was part of a sewage protest with a ‘sense of humour’ staged by environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion Wimborne.

Campaigners and members of the public held placards with synonyms for the word ‘poo’.

They stood in line at locations around town and sang poo-themed songs.

“We want to alert our community to Wessex Water’s continuing pollution of our rivers, seas and bathing areas,” said local resident Judy Wateridge.

“I’m outraged that our water company dumped raw sewage in the River Stour 531 times in 2022.”

Figures released by the

Environment Agency show that water companies in England and Wales dumped raw sewage into rivers at least 375,000 times in 2022 according to analysis by Top Of The Poops.

Only 14% of English rivers are of good ecological standard.

Local writer and actor Tony Horitz added: “Raw sewage is dumped because water companies haven’t updated the ageing sewage network.

“Instead, they pay millions to shareholders and in bonuses to directors and managers.

“This is totally unacceptable.”

The campaigners say they will continue to stage protests to raise public awareness until Wessex Water stops discharging raw sewage into rivers, seas and bathing areas.

In the picture (from left) are Dawn Gibson, Jodie Brown, Joanne Higgins and Rye Buffery

The Waste Group expands with the aim to recycle 100% of your waste

The Waste Group are pleased to announced the acquisition of Ideal Skip Hire (Southern) Ltd as of Monday 10th July.

Taste of India on Independence Day

Based in Wareham, The Waste Group is a local family run skip hire business that has branched out into aggregates, asbestos disposal and grab hire.

A POOLE care home celebrated Indian Independence Day in style, with one resident in particular enjoying the day.

Trade customers can tip all types of aggregates and waste at their existing recycling centre on the Puddletown Road in Wareham.

Upton Bay resident Kathy had a special wish to mark the day, having visited India six times, developing a love for the people and the culture.

Ideal Skip Hire (Southern) Ltd is based in Swanage and has a long tradition of providing skips and aggregates to the local Swanage and Purbeck area. Their existing recycling facility on the Victoria Avenue Industrial Estate will still be open and running as usual.

She has explored various parts of India, including the Pink City of Jaipur, where the city was painted pink to welcome Queen Victoria, as well as iconic places like Agra, home to the majestic Taj Mahal.

For further information about The Waste Group, please visit www.thewastegroup.co.uk or contact us on 01202 247716

Upton Bay care home resident Kathy (centre) at Tandoori Upton Bay

daughter Debbie and activities co-ordinator Melody, had a delightful lunch at Tandoori Upton Bay, indulging in a selection of Indian food.

“The event was organised by Karen, the activities lead, who transformed the private dining room with an Indian theme and music,” a spokesperson said.

“The celebration continued with an afternoon of Bollywood dancing, reminiscing over Kathy’s photographs, and enjoying tea and cake.”

Kathy said: “It was a truly wonderful day, evoking cherished memories.”

The Waste Group’s aim is to strengthen customer service through great relationships whilst implementing an improved fleet and new technology. A full range of aggregates are available to purchase from the recycling facility on the Victoria Avenue Industrial Estate.

During her visits, Kathy has

Kathy even once had the pleasure of staying at the famous Marigold Hotel, a unique establishment with only one hairdryer for the entire group.

also enjoyed the hospitality of a five-star hotel in the heart of Jaipur.

On this memorable day, Kathy, accompanied by her

India officially became independent of the UK under the conditions of the Indian Independence Act in 1947 on August 15.

It is a public holiday in India, where the Prime Minister raises the national flag and addresses the nation.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING LANDFILL. Working with waste doesn’t have to be wasteful. We currently recycle at least 98% of all our waste through our dedicated waste recycling & processing facility, helping to protect the environment.

Telling It Like It Is

‘Welcome camper vans to Swanage!’

THE final seven years of my education were spent at Swanage Grammar School with its awesome red-brick façade and its dominating weather-vane.

Awesome, because on the day I arrived, I was a mere 4ft 8inches; the school and most of the other boys were significantly larger!

The building, alas, was allowed to fall into disrepair and finally succumbed to the demolition crew. Fortunately, the weather vane – if not its surround – was rescued and after various negotiations and discussions, was mounted on the superb ‘new’ Swanage school building as the school celebrated its tenth year. It occurred to some of us, after the vane was mounted, that perhaps those who achieved that task had perhaps missed some of their geography lessons at school as north appears to be somewhere else.

Alas for the late Arthur Gaskell, a Geography teacher who I wouldn’t have swapped for all the tea in Belgium.

ONCE again, grumblings about camper vans parked up on the roadside. And once again this appears to be a missed opportunity for Swanage Town Council, who need to see camper vans as a potential revenue-raiser.

Set up overnight bays, provide electric hook ups and waste disposal facilities. Make the campers welcome in a way that will bring them – and their money – back into town.

By David Hollister

‘Welcome to Swanage,’ the sign says – so let’s welcome campers, caravanners, and allcomers. Let’s not rip them off for street parking.

ONCE again, Purbeck people have shown how amazing they are!

The pier turnstile now belongs to the town. Due to your generosity, they have raised enough funds to get it back and renovate it to full working glory. But why was this necessary?

How come the Pier Trust either sold it, or scrapped it, all those years ago?

How many other items of Swanage’s history are lying unwanted in council yards, or overgrown with weeds. Once so proud, now disdained?

THERE is a new disabled crossing at the bottom of Swanage’s Panorama Road. Strategically placed so that if the disabled person goes right towards town, they’re stopped by the narrowing footpath. And if there’s a car parked, they will have to go out into the busy road to get past.

Note too the unsightly Tarmac which is becoming a feature of so many of Purbeck’s pavements in an area where Purbeck Stone is still plentiful. So, how about a campaign to Rip Up Tarmac?

Trying to cross the road at the bottom of Northbrook Road after heavy rain can be difficult and dangerous. And it’s been like it for years. Passing traffic cannot help but splash pedestrians or swerve

dangerously.

After years of nagging away at Dorset Highways to cure the puddle at the foot of St Michael’s Hill, they seem to have sorted it. So now let’s write to them and nag them to provide proper drainage at the foot of Northbrook Road before someone is hurt.

Surely it can’t be that difficult given the proximity of the stream at King George’s field – or even the sea?

Disabled visitors to Swanage beach benefited for most of the summer by wheelchair mats to enable access to the sea. The summer has gone, and so have the mats. Maybe another few weeks might have been appropriate?

ARE you more concerned about global warming, or the visual impact of solar farms on the countryside? Why don’t we do what they do on the continent and have these located in all supermarket and local authority car parks?

As well as providing electricity, they could provide shade for the vehicles in summer and protection in the winter, especially when you’re piling in the shopping into the back of the car! Or even a stage further; make it a condition of all planning applications that all roofs are constructed with sufficient solar panels to power the building beneath?

I’m increasingly disappointed to see the rise in popularity of electric cars. Yes, current fossil fuel emissions are causing a problem which could destroy the planet in our lifetime. But the ‘hidden’ costs of electric cars cannot be avoided. The children working in the lithium mines and the vast amounts of CO2 produced by the mining and transportation of this dwindling commodity.*

The total failure of governments in the UK and worldwide to provide sufficient ‘green’ electricity to feed the

needs of the electric vehicles of the next decade. Surely, the answer must be to encourage the motor industry to pour billions into cleaning up internal combustion engines rather than billions into electric cars?

Electric vehicles can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of pounds heavier than internal combustion engined vehicles because EV batteries are so much heavier.

So how long before they realise that most public car parks are made of questionable concrete and will be unable to cope with layer upon layer of electric cars?

If this isn’t so, perhaps the car park builders should have been building our schools? How much CO2 is being generated by the authorities struggling to build a suitable infrastructure to charge everyone’s electric cars after 2030? At Ferrybridge services, electric charging points are now powered by diesel generators! Is this the tip of a rotten iceberg?

And what do we do with the spent batteries at the end of the vehicle’s life? Can’t burn them without creating noxious gases? We could bury them as a legacy to our grandchildren?**

It’s time the Government stopped this political ‘greenwashing’ and owned up that actually, they haven’t a clue about saving our planet; all they are aiming to save is their jobs.

* Ed: For balance, studies have shown an electric vehicle will achieve environmental ‘parity’ with an internal combustion engine (ICE) at around 20,500 miles.

** Ed: Again, for balance, current processes mean up to 90% of electric vehicle batteries are recycled, giving batteries a second, third and fourth life.

EV batteries have also been shown in studies to last up to 420,000 miles - and are improving all the time.

See https://blog.evbox.com/ for information and data.

Quick Wins

Quick Wins for Adding Value Before Selling

1 REDECORATE

Redecorating is the most popular home improvement and adding a lick of paint can be done at a relatively low cost. Neutral colours are most appealing to house buyers and can go a long way to giving your home a new lease of life, so do not be afraid to pick up the paintbrush.

2

FIX SUPERFICIAL DEFECTS

While unlikely to be the clinching factor in a house sale, small problems and defects can create an impression of a house being run down or not well cared for. Bigger issues (like damp) should not be covered up as they will show on a survey and come back to haunt you later on.

• Peeling paint

• Dirty walls, especially near door frames & light switches

• Dripping taps

• Mouldy sealant in kitchens or bathrooms

• Limescale build-up on kitchen and

• Broken lightbulbs

3 THE FRONT DOOR

First impressions count and the front door of your home can say a lot about the

it looks new by giving it a power wash or fresh coat of paint. Even a new doorknob, house number or name plaque can help. Try to make your front door look smarter than your neighbours’ to help your property stand out.

4 DECLUTTER

Never underestimate a tidy, clean room and pay special attention to high-impact rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom. You should also consider whether there’s too much furniture in each room as it can make the property feel smaller.

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Ben is happy to discuss any customer requirements and o er specialist advice, and work with local authorities to produce appropriate results for a property. Ben aims to re ect his passion into each and every project he undertakes.

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5

If you’re not at home, preset the heating to come on ahead of a scheduled viewing. Potential buyers will want to know that your central heating works well and feel comfortable in your home if it’s cold outside. Good lighting will also be essential on a drab day so having lamps on in dark corners will help. It’s better for the viewing to take place in daylight but if a potential buyer is lights on.

6

GARDEN APPEAL

If you have a front garden, spend a little time sprucing it up. A few plant pots and a clear pathway can make the front of your

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Services offered include:-

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Competitive rates with a free no obligation quote. Available for short notice work.

Willing to work weekends if required.

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Photo: Darren Richardson on Unsplash

Quick Wins

impressions. Out the back a well-designed garden can add a great deal of value, it should feel like an extra space for entertaining or relaxing, rather than an expanse of grass. It’s essential to trim borders, clear pathways and cut back any overgrown trees or bushes, particularly if they block direct sunlight into the property. An area of decking creates a sense of bigger usable living space and three per cent of

homes sold in 2019 were even found to have a summerhouse in the garden, giving owners more space to relax and entertain in the brighter weather.

7 CREATE A DRIVEWAY OR OFF-ROAD PARKING

In some areas of the country, the ability to park close to your front door comes at a huge premium and therefore, if you have the to increase value.

8 LOOK SMART AND BE ENERGY EFFICIENT

Smart home technologies are increasingly important to buyers - just advertising the could be enough to encourage buyers. Statement systems like multi-room music

Double glazing will also help retain heat (and keep noise out). Smart technology such as Hive, which gives mobile control over heating systems, is a feature worth considering. If a home improvement moves up a band it could add thousands to the sale price!

9

MAKEOVER THE KITCHEN

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You are welcome to visit and see their products being made, ask any questions and take a sample of wood. Wooden Gate Makers have an excellent reputation, with over 550 glowing reviews on Checkatrade.

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Quick Wins

All your lighting needs under one roof…

Poole Lighting is one of the UK’s leading supplier of domestic lighting. Designed with passion in the UK and ethically sourced throughout the world, you will find our products in the UK’s best high street and internet retailers. Typically, our product is retailed by our customers using their own

brands but we also have over 75 years of experience with our own specialist lighting brands of Endon, Interiors 1900 and Saxby. 28 years ago we opened The Factory Shop in the middle of beautiful Poole in Dorset. We are proud to bring you fantastic end of line products that are no longer available on the high

street at incredibly low prices. We are open 6 days a week Sunday to Friday and you can also visit us online WWW.POOLELIGHTING FACTORYSHOP.COM where you can buy direct with confidence and as well as your statutory rights all of our product is guaranteed by us from 12 months plus.

‘Health checks’ are vital on our waterways

IN August, I first publicly urged our Member of Parliament, Richard Drax, to campaign for annual ‘health checks’ across our coastline and riverways to go ahead without delay.

Nearly a month later, there has been nothing but silence from our elected representative.

This is desperately disappointing. We all know that our world-renowned Jurassic Coast and rivers across Dorset have fallen victim to disgusting sewage spills.

Time and again the big water companies are dumping untreated sewage, and we are all paying the price for this act of vandalism.

This is why yearly ‘health checks’ are crucial. Conducted by the Environment Agency, a check-up allows us to determine the true scale of the sewage spills scandal, and identify where the ecological damage is worst.

In short, these checks make it much easier to stop the spills.

Despite tens of thousands of toxic spills nationwide each year, this Conservative

FACTOID OF THE FORTNIGHT

OVER the next 12 months, there will be a lot of discussion surrounding who will be the next incumbent of Number 10 Downing Street.

But did you know, the house we all recognise as the home of the Prime Minister was, until around 1730, a private residence?

It had been lived in by the likes of the Countess of Yarmouth, Lord Lansdowne and the Earl of Grantham.

The final private resident of 10 Downing Street was a Mr Chicken.

Then, King George II presented the house on Downing Street - as well as another overlooking Horse Guards - to Sir

government has scrapped annual ‘health checks’ –ludicrously proposing that they instead take place only every six years.

Sewage spills could put a dent in our local economy, threaten livelihoods and cause irreparable damage to the environment. The Government has acted in a wholly irresponsible way.

Our local Member of Parliament must wake up and take this problem seriously. As a top priority, he should call on the Government to re-instate yearly ‘health checks’ as soon as is possible.

READER’S PICTURE

Robert Walpole, who held the title First Lord of the Treasury and effectively served as the first Prime Minister.

Walpole refused the property as a personal gift and asked the King to make it available as an official residence to him and to future PMs.

Walpole moved in on September 22, 1735, once work to combine the Downing Street townhouse with the property overlooking Horse Guards had been carried out.

So the next time someone new moves into 10 Downing Street, spare a thought for Mr Chicken...

There is simply no credible reason for our elected representative to fail to campaign for a return to annual checks.

It’s time to stop the spills.

Lloyd Hatton Weymouth

MPs have lots of time off

MP Michael Tomlinson’s article about the Parliamentary Recess – Purbeck Gazette, April 21 –reminded me of just how much time off our MPs have – over 25% of the year.

It also reminded me that they

have no job description and are therefore not actually required to do anything at all!

Including turning up for the afternoon starts in the Commons.

Meanwhile, they don’t have to have any qualifications but receive three times the salary of our nurses, as well as other perks and expenses.

The journalist Owen Jones once wrote that MPs should be paid the average wage of the population so that they can better empathise with ordinary people.

It might stop us from regarding them as corrupt, self-serving parasites and would surely help with ‘levelling up’! Name and address supplied

Twinners’ picnic on the green

THE Wimborne-Valognes Twinning Association held a picnic on the green at Pamphill in another leap of faith in the weather!

The sun came out and we had a very pleasant afternoon picnicking, chatting and playing boules.

There were no prizes but we brushed up our pétanque skills in case they are needed on our next exchange visit at the end of September when a group from Wimborne WVTA travel to Valognes on the Cherbourg peninsular.

Graham Richards Wimborne

Purbeck Gazette photo contributor Robin Boultwood has been out and about, and spotted Batman help keeping the streets of Swanage safe recently.

RAAC crisis ‘sheer incompetence’

THE RAAC crisis surfaced just as the last edition of Purbeck Gazette was set to be published and by the time this appears in print, there may have been significant developments, but one thing we do know right now is that the timing could not have been worse.

The start of the autumn term is the most stressful part of the school year for teachers and heads, getting the buildings ready for the new intake, checking all the tech, induction for new staff and planning a term’s worth of lessons.

For pupils there is some anticipation and excitement, tinged perhaps with a bit of anxiety, as they prepare to move into a new school or a new class.

So it beggars belief that the Government announced just before the start of the term that a large number of schools in England have defective buildings which must not be

used. Oh, and there is no funding to cover the hire and construction of temporary classrooms!

With school budgets under more pressure than ever before, beleaguered head teachers now need to somehow magic up funding to mitigate and then rectify the defects.

Of course, it would be understandable if this problem had only just come to light, but the Department for Education has known about the potentially defective concrete since 1994, and knew the concrete used only has a lifespan of 30 years. It’s a type of lightweight aerated concrete that was presumably conveniently cheap to use at the time.

means to rectify the fault. So it is not new information that emerged.

At the time of writing, some 147 schools are now listed as needing to take immediate mitigating action because of the RAAC in their buildings.

In some cases ceilings can be propped up as a temporary measure –although getting that done will be disruptive and will take some time – but others will have to close – four are currently listed as teaching ALL pupils online – or replace whole rooms immediately.

between 1950 and 1990 have been inspected and declared RAAC free.

Later buildings are now also being inspected together with other council assets such as care homes, libraries and offices. I’m assured that BCP is doing the same and it’s likely that our hospital trusts are undertaking similar surveys on their estates.

Undoubtedly any necessary repairs will have to come from existing NHS Trust budgets.

In 2018 it sent some vaguely worded warnings to schools but did not provide any advice or

Dorset appears to have escaped the immediate crisis. While Dorset Council has considerably less responsibility for schools due to academisation, those school buildings for which it still has responsibility for and dating

Given the timing of the announcement, and that it is clearly politically damaging to the Conservative Government, the conclusion must be that it had decided to sit on the information but then had to react swiftly when it finally realised that people’s lives were in danger.

In other words, sheer incompetence.

NICK IRELAND

On behalf of South Dorset Lib Dems

Minister lobbied on level crossing

OVER recess I have had the chance to spend some more time in Dorset, including meeting constituents, charities and businesses. We have recently returned to Parliament, and then I’ll be back in Dorset in a few weeks for the conference recess.

I was delighted to meet Huw Merriman, the Minister of State with responsibilities for railways, at a recent visit to Wareham station. I was pleased that Cllr Carol Turner, Mayor of Wareham, was able to join me.

I lobbied the Minister about the ongoing issues at the level crossing and was pleased to have the opportunity to clearly state the need to get this matter resolved. The Minister was updated about the survey I conducted earlier this year

which received more than 1,200 responses. The survey revealed that a huge majority of respondents remain concerned about the future of the level crossing. Many people also backed my campaign for a full feasibility study into automated gates to ensure safety and access across the crossing. This request was made to Network Rail and this was agreed to, however the results of the study are still awaited. The visit allowed me to show the Minister just how seriously the community is taking this issue and that it will not go away until a suitable solution is found. I was hugely grateful for the time given by the Minister. He was very understanding of the issues we face in finding a long-term way forward. He understood the need to make

progress so that this issue doesn’t drift on endlessly.

Following the meeting, I have written to Network Rail urging them to complete and release its feasibility study. No other options should be considered until the issues around automated gates are resolved. This appears to be possible elsewhere and we need to understand if this is possible at Wareham station.

I appreciate that this appears to be making slow progress but I will continue to push wherever

possible and with the continued support from the local community, I remain confident a good outcome can be achieved. If you have an issue that needs resolving, please do get in touch – my team and I can’t promise miracles, but we will do our best to help. If you need to get in touch, you can contact me via email michael.tomlinson. mp@parliament.uk or call my office on 01202 624216.

MICHAEL TOMLINSON

Conservative MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

Nick Ireland

Michael Tomlinson

Rail minister Huw Merriman (centre) visited Wareham station

‘No level playing field in our schools’

I WAS a headteacher of a secondary school in Bournemouth for 12 years. It was a job I loved. I treasure the memories I have of my staff. They worked incredibly hard, always putting students first.

Some of our students were from one-parent families, many from families which were loving yet hard pressed – both parents working long hours to pay for high rents and to put food on the table.

We all held true to one central belief – that every student should be enabled to aim high, to make the most of their talents and potential.

I remember how I used to wait every year for our examination results. Schools – and headteachers – are judged by their results, as well as by Ofsted reports.

I remember the students coming in for their results – their joy when their results met their

expectations, their unhappiness when this was not the case.

My staff made a difference – we improved our GCSE results – we saw our students take up courses in sixth-form colleges and at universities. This year, I was proud to speak on a picket line to Ashley, now a paramedic, saving lives in South Dorset.

Yet analysis of this year’s results shows that UK schools are not all on a level playing field. I knew this myself when running my school.

£43,000

THE average deposit for first-time home buyers was more than £43,000, according to figures from the recently released 2021-22 English Housing Survey.

Armishaws Removals & Storage gives a rundown of the key figures from the Office of National Statistics latest annual report.

n The average age of first-time buyers was 34.

n The average first-time buyer deposit was £43,693.

n On average homeowners spent 22% of total household income on mortgage payments, up from 18% in 2011-12.

n Private renters – not including those in social housing – forked out 33% of their income on rent payments.

n Just 7% of English households did not have internet access.

widening education inequalities between the private and state sectors. Some 47.4% of A-level entries in the fee-paying sector were graded at A and A*, compared to 22% in state schools and 25.4% in academies.

UK state schools have faced 10 years of underfunding in real terms in the run-up to 2020, with a teacher retention and recruitment crisis meaning in too many classrooms non-specialist teachers are teaching mathematics, science subjects and modern languages.

This year’s results confirm

It is surely ironic to call schools like Winchester College, with its fees of £15,300 a term, or Eton, charging per year more than £46,000 per pupil, ‘public schools’. Rishi Sunak gave £100,000 as a gift to Winchester College, where he was head boy. Any Parent Teacher Association of a cash-strapped state school would give their eye teeth to have such a benefactor.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that in 2020-21 public schools spent almost double per pupil – 92% more – than state schools.

A few days before the start of

the winter term, more than 100 state schools face immediate closure because they are built of sub-standard materials. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers – traditionally a hardly radical union – says rightly that this is the result of a decade of swingeing cuts to spending on school buildings.

Perhaps one should not be surprised at the fact that state schools have been so underfunded by the Conservatives.

Some 62% of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet went to public school. Some 20 of Britain’s 55 prime ministers were educated at Eton. Perhaps we should look to the example of Finland, where all education is publicly funded and results are among the best in the world.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

to get on housing ladder

n The largest group of owner ‘types’ in England at 41% were couples with no dependant children. 24% of owners were lone females households, while lone males accounted for 15%.

n 62% of private renters – 2.8 million households – and 27% of social renters – 1.1 million households – said they expect to be able to buy their own property in the future.

n Average household sizes rose from 2.2 persons to 2.3. This was a decrease from 2.4 in 2019-20.

n There were more first-time buyers during the 2020 lockdown than in 2021. While there were 852,000 during the first year of the pandemic, the number dropped by 100,000 the following year.

n Households with savings decreased from 68% to 64%.

n 9.3 million households were

considered by the Government to be ‘underoccupied’, having two or more empty spare bedrooms.

n 81% of homes had a garden or private outside space, while 13% had a shared plot.

n 99% of houses and bungalows had outside areas, compared to just 57% of flats.

n About 1.8 million households had moved home in the previous 12 months. Some

620,000 were moving in or out of privately rented accommodation, 363,000 were new households and 361,000 were owner-occupiers.

n General ‘happiness’ was on the up. The average life satisfaction score in English homes increased from 7.3 to 7.5. The score of those thinking ‘life is worthwhile’ rose from 7.6 to 7.8 and happiness increased from 7.2 to 7.5.

The latest English Housing Survey has been published PHOTO: Nattanan Kanchanaprat/Pixabay

Chris Bradey

Oliver’s a knockout on the float

DORCHESTER & District Angling Society have held the final match in their junior float-only knockout series that ran throughout the summer.

The winners of the three qualifying rounds – Jack Copp, Josiah Wells-Parkes and Oliver Smith – plus the highest weight runner up – Jake Taylor –competed for the chance to be crowned the 2023 champion on the Stock Pond at

Revels Fishery.

A wide variety of fish species in an even wider range of colours were caught from the start of the two-hour match on an overcast but mild late summer’s evening.

Oliver Smith retained his title of Knockout Champion with a winning weight of 10lb 6oz, Jack was second with 9lb 9oz and Josiah third with 9lb 6oz. Jake, who started late, had an enjoyable evening with 5lb 14oz.

For more information go to ddasjuniors.co.uk; membership information www.d-das.com; fishery information at Revels Fishery and tackle shop on Facebook.

Swans off to a flying start

Dorchester 13

Swanage & Wareham 38 IN their first game of the new season, Swans travelled to Dorchester, and after a tough first-half pulled away in the second to come away with a comfortable victory.

Swans started the first-half by giving away a series of penalties, putting them on the back foot, but the defence held out until the 15th minute when a penalty in front of the posts saw Dorchester’s fly-half Alex Peel

convert. Penalties to Swans took them into the host’s 22 and after a couple of phases Swans number 8 Kirk Jones powered over the line.

Dorchester continued to attack as Swans gave away more penalties and a move by the home side saw winger Brook Legg cross the line. Peel added the extras putting the hosts 10–5 ahead at the interval.

Swans transgressed again

THE England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has given the green light for the Dorset Cricket League to become the 32nd ECB Premier League in the country, after several years of consultation.

CRICKET RUGBY

from the restart and Peel scored the penalty. Swans responded with a move down the right and wing-forward Matt Roberts went over the try line, Steve Woolley converting.

A move along the Swans three-quarters to winger Sam Bowen five minutes later saw him beat the defence to score in the corner and Woolley added the extras.

Swans were on top and as the hosts tired Swans dominated the scrums, and from one scrum

replacement wing-forward Jonny Blackmore crossed the line, Woolley converting. Swans should have increased the lead but instead of using the backs the forwards kept it to themselves.

Swans number 8 Jones added his second try, then from the restart Swans moved the ball out to full-back George Crouch who went in for Swans’ sixth try out wide. Woolley added the extras with the last kick of the game.

New structure for grassroots game

played ‘out of county’, particularly in the Hampshire and Southern Leagues.

The restructured league will come into operation next summer and aims to improve standards on and off the field.

Clubs’ grounds and sustainability will need to meet a range of criteria for their first teams to compete in the top divisions, but teams will still gain promotion based on performance, although facilities will be taken into account the further they progress.

The new structure will initially see fewer teams in the top two divisions, but it is hoped to return to ten-team divisions by 2026.

The move recognises that lots of young players in Dorset have switched to clubs in other leagues, and that some clubs have

In the long-term it is hoped more players in the county team will be playing in the Dorset League.

Cricket Dorset Ltd managing director Ben Skipworth said: “This is a massively exciting development in the grassroots game and should provide a highly competitive environment for our best club players to thrive.

“It is a testament to the efforts of the committee, especially Alan Graham, to finally realise this level of league being in place in the county.”

Dorset Cricket League chair Peter Constable said: “I’m really pleased that Dorset have finally been accredited with

being an ECB Premier League after many years of hard work, not just by members of the management committee but also member clubs in raising the standard of facilities, grounds and playing strength to get to the level required by the ECB.

“We understand there will be some upheaval initially but hope this will soon be behind us as the whole league structure settles down in future seasons.”

He says he recognises that the new status focusses on the top divisions but is conscious the league must continue to provide for all clubs.

He said: “It is vital that we don’t forget the smaller clubs with teams in the lower divisions, as they are pivotal to the survival of cricket in the county and give all players, whatever their age or ability a place to play.”

Holt United 6 Swans 0

THE Swans suffered a heavy defeat against the Jewson Dorset Premier League champions on a blistering hot afternoon at Petersham Lane.

The Swans were 3-0 behind after 20 minutes with goals from Ali Garard, George Lane and Corey Elwick.

Swans keeper Hibbs rescued his side with a couple of smart saves.

Swans debutant Dan Reeks was always dangerous on the break but unfortunately was left isolated.

A minute into the second-half Kyle John-Clement struck number four to end the game as a contest and it was now a case of damage limitation for the

FOOTBALL

disjointed Swans.

Reeks went close but his shot was tipped over by Holt’s keeper Lucas Goad and Marcus Smith was just off target.

But the Bulls heaped more misery on the Swans with goals from Lewis Sainval and Garard with his second and his side’s sixth.

It was a disappointing day for the Swans against a well balanced Holt United team.

Swans star man: Jake Sreams.

Team: T Hibbs, Olly Smith, B Smith, J Towers, J Streams, J Hughes (A Merredew 80), E Steele, M Smith, C Moore (L Sullivan 76), D Reeks, Ocean Smith (B Hughes 70).

had a disappointing

Subs: L Sullivan, A Merredew, B Hughes.

Swans 2

Wimborne Town Reserves 3 SWANS suffered their first home defeat of the season

Champs hit Swans for six Swans win eight-goal thriller

DPL Cup preliminary round

Shaftesbury Reserves 3 Swans 5

SWANS got through to the DPL Cup first round following a hard-earned victory against Shaftesbury Reserves at Cockrams.

Swans made the worst possible start when the hosts capitalised on a defensive error after 15 seconds scoring through Mitchell White.

Merredew had a great chance but was denied by the host’s keeper, Viney. Swans keeper Hibbs produced a good stop but was powerless to deny the Rockies’ second from close range through White again following a corner.

Remy Coddington was

starting to worry the home defence with his pace and went close with a couple of shots which brought the best out of Viney.

Ocean Smith was next to go close following good work from Coddington, but Coddington reduced the arrears with a vicious shot from the edge of the box.

However, Curtis Lane again capitalised on another defensive error to score his side’s third, putting Shaftesbury 3-1 ahead at half-time.

Two minutes after the restart Swans reduced the arrears when Coddington scored his second before he went close again following good work from Olly

Smith.

The hosts had a big chance to increase their lead but Swans keeper Taylor Hibbs produced a brilliant double penalty save to deny Lane.

The Swans were reduced to 10 men when Lightbown-Smith received his second yellow card, which seemed to spur the visitors on, and Ocean Smith just missed the target.

Swans grabbed the equaliser when Ocean Smith side-footed home following a cross from Blake Hughes which keeper Viney misjudged.

Swans were now in the ascendancy and scored two further goals through star man and Bermudian international Remy Coddington, making it

against a young and talented side at Day’s Park in The Jewson Dorset Premier League. Swans’ goals came from Conor Magnier, bagging his first for the club, and substitute Blake Hughes.

four on the night for him, to secure Swans’ passage into the next round. It was a determined and gritty performance from the revitalised Swans.

Swans play Bournemouth Sports in the next round of The DPL Cup at Chapel Gate on September 23.

Swans star man – Remy Coddington. Special mention – Taylor Hibbs.

Team: T Hibbs, Olly Smith, T Lightbown-Smith, B Smith, S Pryor (J Towers,46), C Magnier (C Dyke,80), J Hughes, D Keates, Ocean Smith, R Coddington, A Merredew (B Hughes 65).

Subs: C Dyke, B Hughes, J Towers.

Reserves go down by odd goal in nine

Piddlehinton United 5

Swans Reserves 4

SWANS came out on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller in their first game of the season in Dorset League Division 2.

The hosts struck first but Sam Peacock scored twice to put Swans ahead at half-time.

The Swans occupied the driving seat when Matt Dunster scored a third, but the hosts

stepped up a gear and responded with four goals for a 5-3 lead before Simon Page reduced the arrears.

Swans star man Sam Peacock.

: G Taylor, J Bassett, D

M

J

S

R Lock, S

D Cavendish, S Grygiel, C Furmage. Subs: Z Arp, B Russell, T Johnson, R Moss, L Sullivan.

Team

Sumner,

Dunster,

Page,

Crosland,

Peacock,

Swans

day against well-balanced Holt United PHOTO: Swanage FC

THE PURBECK MAGAZINE

Cryptic

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.

Across 6 Fine and light enchantress (5)

7 Type with a noted listing? (6)

9 First person to record in test group of three works (7)

10 Republican in mess that’s severe (5)

11 Outlaw bonnet in Philadelphia (4)

13 Salad ingredient also placed around support for dish? (6)

15 Tanned former Prime Minister (5)

Down

1 Agree strike with independent, upper-class figure (3,2,3)

2 Church body perhaps lacking a sign of approval (5)

(5)

(4)

3 Old records in yard left after five (5)

4 Create trend (7)

5 Rank sign of emotion, it’s said (4)

6 Healthy police in popular terms meet the required standard (3,3,4)

16 Tiresome person penning two notes previously (6)

17 House in southeast Michigan (4)

20 Caterpillar, say, found in regular vase (5)

22 Odd article from France and America with uranium and aluminium (7)

23 Moore, maybe, starts to signal early end (6)

24 Supply food around terrace (5)

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

8 Cleric at work around hour supported by diarist (10)

12 Valuable material for electric fences (3)

13 Duo additionally in hearing (3)

14 English queen entering a time for appointment that’s sufficient (8)

Pause at home – or offence there? (5-2)

told (4)

Home & Garden

Planning for next spring

By Sally Gregson

IT may seem counter-intuitive to think about filling pots and containers for next spring in the middle of September, but now is the time to order those special bulbs for a flowery future. Mail order nurseries are sending out their catalogues, full of glorious spring flowers, many of which are unavailable at the garden centre.

Collections of Alliums may tempt you into the onion family,

if you haven’t already indulged. They come in a huge variety of sizes, colours and seasons, and some of the prettiest are the later-flowering smaller varieties.

Allium cernuum is an easy one to grow in a well-drained site in sun. It flowers in the summer with pretty heads of lavenderpurple, or white flowers in the case of A cernuum White Master, that nod from 45cm stalks and attract tumbling bees. They hang upside down to get

at the delicious nectar inside the flowers.

Closely related to the alliums are the Dichelostemma. They are hardy and tough enough to grow and flower in a freedraining soil in sun. Their flowers are like delicate little cigars atop 45cm stalks, and are another bee plant. Try D. Ida-Maia with its spectacular red, yellow and green cigars, named, apparently, after a Californian stagecoach driver. In the wild, hummingbirds pollinate them.

One small nursery specialises in the Alec Gray hybrid narcissi that are small, tough, but rare in cultivation. The variety N. Segovia is a very beautiful miniature daffodil with glistening white

petals and small, flat, lemon cups. And N. Jumblie is a hybrid N. cyclamineus hybrid with long yellow trumpets and reflexed petals. They look quite startled to see you. Both are short-stemmed: 15cm and 20cm in height, flowering in April. They would fill a small pot, or mix them with other small bulbs such as Chionodoxa or Scilla. If spring seems too far off, fill those pots with hardy cyclamen. C. hederifolium is in flower right now and will continue in a shady spot until the autumn. Half-hardy cyclamen that are a little larger in stature are also excellent, but they would need to be put somewhere under protection for the winter.

Making more of a good thing

By Sally Gregson

AFTER this summer’s damp days and cooler temperatures, our pot and container plants are in need of trimming back to a healthy node, or leaf-joint. Ideally a dull cloudy day right now is the best time to take cuttings of any that have good shoots of soft wood.

Ideally, choose a shoot that does not have a flower or bud at its tip, and cut it just below a leaf-node where the stem is swollen. This part of the stem is like a motorway junction – full of nutrients and hormones that are queuing to get off and on the road. The congestion blocks their passage and increases the likelihood of rooting.

Remove the bottom leaves and take out the tip, which is where different hormones cause

the plant to make flower, at the expense of making roots. Dip the prepared cutting into hormone rooting powder. It’s better to tip the powder into the lid and discard it when the job is finished.

Fill a clean pot with a 50:50 mixture of potting compost and sharp grit and insert the cuttings around the edge of the pot,

firming them in with your fingers. Label them with the name, number and date the cuttings were taken to provide feedback for a later occasion. Water the pot of cuttings well to settle the compost, drain and place inside a clear plastic bag. Blow into the bag and close the top with a tie. This prevents the bag’s sides from touching the

cuttings, which causes fungal disease to strike. Place the cuttings pot somewhere shady where you can keep an eye on them. Open the bag and inspect the progress of the cuttings regularly. Once the cuttings ‘perk up’ test one by very gently touching the cuttings. After two weeks there should be some resistance. If so, open up the bag. Water only if necessary. The cuttings should all have rooted, or not, by the end of September when the pot can be removed from the bag. When the roots emerge from the bottom of the container, pot up the cuttings. But if they have not sufficiently rooted after the end of October keep them somewhere frost-free over the winter and pot them up in February.

TREE CONTROL Tree & Garden Services

Dip the cuttings in hormone rooting powder and insert

Thrifty ways with watercress

IN the middle of a cost-ofliving crisis, everyone could benefit from healthy but thrifty recipes to make food and money go a little bit further.

These tasty ideas, developed by Dorset-based The Watercress Company are ideal for meals for a family of four.

All feature that original superfood, watercress. Packed with more than 50 vital nutrients and minerals and gram for gram more calcium than milk, more folate than a banana, more vitamin C than an orange and more vitamin E than broccoli, watercress is a fantastic addition to any meal to boost its health credentials.

Watercress is also rich in iron and in Vitamin A – nearly twice as much as spinach – and because of the high levels of vitamin C and A it possesses this iron is more easily absorbed than most other plant-based irons, making watercress an essential addition to any vegetarian or vegan diet.

So, make the most of the money in your pocket and the everyday ingredients in your cupboard with these tasty, satisfying recipes.

Warming Watercress Goulash

Serves 4

Prep time: 15 mins

Cooking time: Min. 1hr, can be slow cooked for longer if desired

Ingredients

600g diced beef

1 onion, chopped

2 bell peppers, sliced

2tbsp paprika

1 tin chopped tomatoes

1 vegetable stock cube

2 carrots

80g Watercress, chopped

Method

1 In a large pan, fry off the onion, peppers and carrots, allowing them to soften.

2 Then add the beef and paprika– while this browns, prepare your stock with 500ml boiling water.

3 Add the chopped tomatoes and vegetable stock to the pan, bring to the boil and then leave to simmer. We recommend cooking for at least an hour (you can always transfer to the oven if you need the hob space)

4 Before serving, stir through the watercress and allow to wilt.

Serve with mash potato for a filling, cheap eat!

Red Lentil ‘Coconutty’ Dahl Serves 4

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 25 mins

Ingredients

250g Lentils

400g Chopped Tomatoes

400ml Coconut Milk

80g bag Watercress, Spinach & Rocket, chopped

300g White Rice

2tbsp Curry Powder

1 red onion, chopped Oil

This recipe can be adapted to taste – if you prefer things a little spicier, use a hot curry powder or add some chilli flakes.

Method

1 In a deep, frying pan, gently fry the red onion in a little oil until soft. Add the curry powder and the lentils, allowing them to soak up any leftover oil and plenty of flavour.

2 Add the chopped tomatoes and coconut milk and allow to simmer for about 15 mins.

3 Meanwhile cook your rice as you usually would.

4 Add the chopped salad leaves to the dhal and allow to wilt

while you plate your rice, then serve up and enjoy!

This can be frozen and reheated to enjoy later – whether you are saving leftovers or batch cooking.

Corned Beef Hash Serves 4

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 35 mins

Ingredients

300g Potatoes, diced

1 tin corned beef, chopped

80g bag of Watercress, Spinach & Rocket, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Serve with either veg or baked beans

Oil

Method

1 Par-boil your potatoes for around 7 minutes before draining the water – they should be slightly softened but still hold their shape.

2 In a large, heavy-based pan, fry off the onions in a glug of oil until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and allow to cook for about 30 seconds.

3 Then add the potatoes, corned beef and salad leaves – apply pressure with a spatula or fish slice. Occasionally turn the mixture but try not to disturb it too much.

4 Add the Worcestershire sauce and push down on the mixture again. By this point, it should all be nicely browned.

5 Serve with either baked beans or some cooked from frozen veg for a cost-effective dinner.

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: Once in a blue moon

By Susanna Curtin

IT is late evening, and I am driving home along country roads. Although it is a cloudy night, the sky is surprisingly bright, and I can see the undulating contours of the hills in the distance and the patchwork hedgerows of the fields.

It is then that I recall the news that tonight’s full moon is a ‘super blue moon’. I am suddenly eager for the clouds to part just a little so that I can admire the shining giant orb. It will be 2037 before we are graced with another opportunity to see this relatively rare occurrence.

Bound together forever by gravity, the moon travels around the Earth in an elliptical orbit forming an elongated circle. Thus, there are points where it is the furthest away from Earth (252,088 miles), and points where it is closest (225,744 miles). When it is at its closest point and full, it is known as a super moon.

If you have ever seen a rising super moon you will know just how huge and beautiful it looks as it slowly floats up beyond the horizon. As well as super, tonight’s moon is also ‘blue’.

A blue moon is a full moon that appears twice in a month. This occurs every couple of years as the moon takes 29.5 days to

complete its cycle from being ‘new’ to ‘full’. If there is a full moon on the 1st or 2nd of a month then it is likely to be followed by a second full moon at the end of the month.

No one really knows why it is called ‘blue’ – perhaps coming from the old English word ‘belewe’ meaning ‘betrayal’, as why would a month have two full moons? There are, however, rare cases where the moon does look blue due to dust particles from volcanic eruptions, but generally a blue moon has that same grey, dusty hue that we are all familiar with as the rocks on the moon consist of magnesium, iron, feldspar and other grey minerals.

Given its size relative to the Earth, our moon is the fifth largest satellite in our solar system. It is the brightest object in the sky after dark and without its steadying presence on Earth’s axis, life here would be far less agreeable. It affects our tides, time and light, and therefore also the navigation, migration and reproduction of animal and plant species.

There has also been much speculation about the ways the moon affects human health and behaviour, and folklore and mythology is rife with tales of the moon’s

power over us.

Although there is little scientific evidence to support correlation with the lunar cycle and menstruation, birth rates, hospital admissions, crime, accidents or suicide rates and so on, it is not beyond belief that the light from the moon might affect our production of melatonin, which influences sleep patterns that in turn influence mood and thus human behaviour.

As I reach my house, I can see the clouds briefly part, and there, just for a minute, the super blue moon slides into view in all its splendour. Reaching for my binoculars, I can make out the craters and the wonderful rainbow colours around the halo of clouds as the light from the moon is refracted.

Then it is all gone, obscured again by the weather. Had it been clear, I would certainly have spent time in my garden with a warm drink, bathing in its soft platinum light. I am convinced the moon has healing qualities. I am certainly excited and uplifted by its presence, and I notice its absence and its phases. But mostly, like any other aspect of life on Earth, it affects me deeply just because it is utterly awe-inspiring and beautiful.

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

Thursdays 9am, 5.30pm & 7pm

How to handle feelings of guilt

By Alice Johnsen

SO the summer is drawing to a close. School bells are tolling and trainer-familiar feet are being squeezed into squeaky new shoes. (Always at the last minute. Why?).

I’d put good money on the fact that some of the plans you had for the summer went well and some are just a dusty memory on an overlooked part of The List.

It’s the same for all of us. Yet, every year, as we wave our children off to their new school years, we feel a twinge – or more – of guilt. Fact: mothers are the best at feeling guilty. As I considered this recently I decided to find out why this is and to see what we can do about it. Because no-one is helped by feeling guilty.

Guilt is about feeling self-conscious and distressed about what we perceive to be our responsibility for a negative thing. That could be a bad thing happening or a good thing not happening we believe because of us.

Guilt is created in the pre-frontal cortex of our brains. That’s the logical bit that is also

responsible for processing everything we’ve learned or done each day. How well this happens is seriously affected by how near to bedtime you use your smart screen. A bit off topic I know but one of my bugbears.

But those are important points. This emotion, guilt, is being created in the logical part of our brains because of a feeling of distress and selfconscious knocking any logical thoughts into the long grass.

And there’s the helping hand out of guilt. When you find yourself feeling guilty about something that did or didn’t happen over the long summer months, stop and take a step back. Can you reframe that situation from a more logical perspective? As if you were looking at it on behalf of someone else. Does that help ease the guilty feelings?

Can you apply reason and see the triggering situation in a new light where you can accept either it wasn’t such a big thing or it was unavoidable. Or ‘everyone survived so we can move on’. When we are consumed by guilt, all those

MASSAGE FOR MATURE/OAP MEN AND WOMEN, in the comfort of your own home. Or my studio in Bournemouth. Phone Melinda on 07934-172306

sensible thoughts get pushed off the stage, to no-one’s advantage. I suppose managing guilt is about maintaining reason over emotion. Being able to do that supports us in not only managing guilt but also stress and anxiety. I’ve written

about maintaining reason over emotion before concerning different areas of my work, so if you’d like to know more, please email me.

n Alice Johnsen is a life coach (07961 080513; alicejohnsen. co.uk)

Managing guilt is about maintaining reason over emotion

PHOTO: Jerzy Górecki/Pixabay

Health & Wellbeing

How healthy are you?

Autumn is the perfect time for a healthy living reboot. Holidays done, children back at school, the treats and trips of summer over. Time to take stock and make some lifestyle changes. Perhaps lose a few pounds or start exercising regularly. Maybe a bigger change like giving up smoking. This is where LiveWell Dorset, your local, council-funded FREE health and wellbeing service,

really can make a difference. Its team have the skills and expertise – and the tools - to help you succeed – including weight-loss vouchers, smoking quit kits and 1-2-1 coaching.

LiveWell supports Dorset adults who want to manage weight, stop smoking, move more or drink less. It takes just a few minutes to register, and you can do this by phone or online. LiveWell’s advisors

will talk through the options and make a personal action plan to help you achieve your goals. One of the most popular choices is coaching - six sessions with a behaviour change specialist to help you change the way you think about your health, ditch old habits and form new healthy ones, tackle any barriers between you and success.

If you are looking to lose weight you may be eligible for LiveWell’s kick-start programme that includes weight loss vouchers for 12 free weeks of slimming group support. This can also be combined with coaching sessions to reinforce new eating habits.

Smokers have lots of options to choose from including nicotine replacement packs with gum or patches, vape kits, and even a place on an Allan Carr Easyway one-day quit course worth £300 which can be done online or in person.

Go in a smoker, come out a non-smoker!

Making a lifestyle change can be tough on your own but with LiveWell on your side, you’ll have the support you need to succeed.

Visit livewelldorset.co.uk or call 0800 840 1628. How healthy is your lifestyle?

Get your LiveWell score – scan the advert on this page or visit: https://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/ are-you-living-well and take the quick check quiz.

Antiques –the ultimate in recycling

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

IF recycling, upcycling, repurposing or any practice that helps reduce waste and saves the environment is important to you, investing in antiques should be of interest!

There is something really special about buying a pre-loved antique piece of jewellery that has its own unique story.

In fact, we often welcome brides-to-be to our shop who are actively looking for an engagement or wedding ring that has some history.

They love the thought of adding their own love story to the ones that have gone before.

Antique is anything over 100 years old and in the jewellery world any piece made of hard-wearing metals like gold, silver or platinum that has been looked after is the epitome of sustainability.

You’re extending the life of the piece, plus antique and vintage jewellery hasn’t been mass produced, so you are continuing the journey of something that was made using

old fashioned methods and thus reduces the carbon footprint of the item.

Repurposing a piece of jewellery is also very ecofriendly.

We redesign many antique items of jewellery where maybe the customer doesn’t like the style of an inherited ring or necklace but, in consultation with us, can create a new design featuring the original metals and stones but in a more contemporary setting.

When shopping for antique jewellery, you may want to consider whether your shop of choice has an Environmental Policy.

At Heirlooms, all but one of our jewellery suppliers is British, which means we are reducing emissions in the way the products are transported to us.

We’re also very proud that every one of the workshops we use – watch, clock and goldsmith – is within a 20- mile radius of our shop in Wareham.

We also use recycled metals in our jewellery repairs where possible and appropriate.

Asian art in demand

THE wild elegance and eternal craftmanship of Asian art drives to usher in a new epoch in the auction world.

Asian Art continues to be a colossus in the industry with bidders from every corner of the globe competing for priceless artefacts, ranging from Ming to Qing Dynasty.

Proof of its growing prestige lies in the success of Duke’s previous Asian Art sale, in which a Chinese coral-ground bowl sold for 212,500, inclusive of buyer’s premium.

The beauty of the artefact is

striking – the exterior vividly painted in sanguine red, nestled in a bed of blossoming flowers.

It is of no surprise artefacts like these continue to enchant buyers, with such history and grace.

Consignments are being invited until October 27 for Duke’s Asian Art sale taking place on November 29.

An exceptional group of early Chinese ceramics from the Walden family are highlights, including a magnificent pair Tang Guardian figures.

John Walden was a noted collector and active member of the Oriental Ceramic Society from the 1950s.

For more information on the sale or to organise a free valuation for auction visit Duke’s website, www.dukesauctions.com, or phone the office on 01305 265080.

Business Awards: The finalists are...

THE finalists have been chosen in the Dorset Business Awards, as the event returns for the first time since 2019.

A panel of respected and experienced business leaders judged the entries in each category.

Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “Each entry for the Dorset Business Awards tells a unique story of the commitment, dedication and focus of businesses from all sectors across the county.

“We’ve seen innovative start-ups, SMEs demonstrating impressive scaling and companies delivering thoughtleading operational excellence.

“Entrants have shown true dedication to the customer experience and are creating great places for people to work.

“We’ve seen how businesses are embracing sustainability, inclusivity and their

communities, and are collaborating to create a better world.

“Collectively, the entries have again shown how businesses in Dorset are committed to creating a vibrant and positive business culture.

“Congratulations to our 30

GOT A STORY? Then email

Ex-football

boss

stars in care group’s TV ad

By dorsetbiznews.co.uk

FORMER Premier League football manager Harry Redknapp is set to feature in a new TV advert for Luxury Care Group.

Harry will appear in the new advert for the group, which runs homes in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, alongside his wife Sandra.

welcoming environment.

“We are thrilled to have Harry and Sandra Redknapp on board for our television ad,” said Juliana Brasil, director of digital operations and marketing of Luxury Care Group.

The pair take viewers on a journey through the group’s homes in Dorset, walking hand in hand and highlighting the amenities, personalised care and

“Their warmth, authenticity and love for one another perfectly align with our values of compassion and excellence in care.

where the winners will be announced.

The finalists are:

n Best New Business: Bridge Health & Wellbeing; Impressions Care; West Peak.

n Best Place to Work: Grapevine (Telecoms & IT); Hendy Group; Think Research.

n Community: AFC Community Trust; Hendy Group; Strategic Solutions Financial Services.

n Customer Experience: Wessex Internet; Marsham Court Hotel; Rose Engineering.

n Environmental Impact: Blackmore Ltd; Charles Trent Ltd; Suttles.

n Future Leaders: Hannah Arkell; Lauren Poole; Ryan Cooper.

n Global Business: DDC Dolphin; REIDsteel; Sontronics.

n Inclusivity & Diversity in the Workplace: The CRUMBS Project; Marsham Court Hotel; Send4 Ltd.

finalists who represent the talent and innovation of Dorset business.”

The three finalists from each category will take part in the Dorset Business Festival Awards gala dinner on Thursday, October 12, at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth,

n Scale Up: Individuality Swimming Ltd; Lewis-Manning Hospice Care; Mar-Key Group. n Technology: CrowdComms; ESET UK; RNLI College.

Tickets for the conference are available at www. dorsetchamber.co.uk/festival/ conference

“We believe that their presence in the ad will resonate with families and individuals seeking the very best for their loved ones.

“Our highly acclaimed media partner, Top Cat Media Group, helped us bring this vision to life, effectively capturing the essence of Luxury Care Group’s commitment to providing

exceptional care and enriching the lives of residents.”

The new advert will air across a number of channels in the region, with the aim of promoting Luxury Care Group’s homes in the area.

Harry and Sandra Redknapp film the ad for the Luxury Care Group

The launch of the Dorset Business Awards (from left) Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling, president Caron KhanW and partner Grant Esterhuizen

By dorsetbiznews.co.uk

WORK is now complete on the revamped soft play area at the StreetLight Project in Wimborne – thanks to support from Talbot Village Trust.

It comes as part of a longrunning relationship between the two charities, with this latest grant of £6,700 representing the trust’s third donation to the centre – which also features a skate park and community cafe.

Andy Putt, director of the StreetLight Project, said: “Talbot Village Trust has been very supportive over the years.

“They were not only fundamental in the development of our original soft play area in 2020, but also provided funding towards the installation of sound-proofing in 2017.

Play area gets revamp – with help from trust Tank Man’s story told in new book

“Improving our soft play has changed the lives of many parents who simply cannot afford such activities for their children on a regular basis.

“We wish to thank the trust for its continued support, as it’s allowed the centre to become a

By dorsetbiznews.co.uk

THE Tank Museum is preparing to publish the biography of one man’s service with the Tank Corps.

Albert ‘Bert’ Baker is a name regular visitors to the museum will recognise from the Tank Men Exhibition, where he is featured alongside the Graincourt Gun, his prize from the Battle of Cambrai.

In 1991, a single notebook containing Baker’s experiences, which he recorded sometime after the war, was donated to the museum – it was from this that his grandson, Jonathan Baker, was able to tell Bert’s story.

Jonathan said: “Bert was no more prepared to fight in a war than any of the countless thousands of others who streamed into army recruiting offices in the autumn of 1914.

“His life up to that point had been confined to a small family

dairy in south London.”

Initially Baker served in the trenches, but his wartime story is inextricably bound up with his service in the tanks. “Tanks had a painful infancy,” said Jonathan. “But as an officer in the Tank Corps, he featured in two actions that helped establish it once and for all as a frontline weapon – winning a Military Cross in the first and a bar to it in the second.”

“The book is also a social history,” he added. “Growing up in the newly emerging suburbia of London, the ins and outs of running an urban dairy and his own post-war involvement as a chemical analyst in the efforts to produce milk that was safe to drink.”

n Tank Man – The Life and Times of Captain Bert Baker, by Jonathan Baker is available to pre-order from www. tankmuseumshop.org

better resource for the community.”

The new play area is free to use and can accommodate up to 15 children. It includes separate sections for both babies and pre-schoolers, with a slide, steps and soft padding.

Caroline Cooban, chief executive officer at Talbot Village Trust, added: “The StreetLight Project is a fantastic community hub.

“It brings young people and their families together to either learn or improve their skills in the skate park, explore the soft play area or simply to relax and enjoy a coffee.

“It’s great to see how our support has enhanced the project’s facilities, encouraging fitness, fun and social gatherings.”

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The Talbot Village Trust gave £6,700 to improve the soft play area at the StreetLight Project in Wimborne

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Salisbury & Avon Gazette Stour & Avon Magazine The New

Car production looking up after the Covid years

UK car production surged in July, rising 31.6% on the same month the previous year to mark the sixth consecutive month of growth, according to the figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

76,451 units rolled off factory lines as UK car makers continued their recovery from recent difficulties, notably global chip shortages, to deliver the latest models to buyers at home and overseas.

Despite this growth,

however, output remained 29.4% lower than pre-pandemic July 2019. Manufacturing output for the UK rose 13.7% to 13,187 units in the month while exports increased more than a third (36.1%) to 63,264 units, representing by far the bulk of all production in July.

More than eight in ten (82.8%) cars made were shipped overseas, with the top destination markets being the EU, US, China, Japan and Australia.

Combined they accounted for

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Production of the latest, high-tech hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continued apace, with combined volumes rising 73.9% to 30,180 units and representing almost two in every five (39.5%) cars made in July.

Since January, UK car makers have now turned out more than 200,000 of these vehicles, almost double the number produced in the same period last year, and a total of 526,619 cars overall, an increase of 14.2% year-on-year.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Six months of

growth shows that British car production is recovering and, with electrified models increasingly driving volumes, the future is more positive.

“Recent investment announcements have undoubtedly bolstered the sector but global competition remains tough. If we are to attract further investment and produce the next generation of zero emission models and technologies, we need a coherent strategy that supports all aspects of advanced automotive manufacturing.”

The figures come after the latest independent production outlook predicted 860,000 units this year, an uplift of 10.9%.

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Arts & Entertainment

Man with a gift and the sick in search of a cure

THE Lighthouse Theatre in Poole is set to host a production of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer by London Classic Theatre.

Frank Hardy has a gift. A gift of healing. A frayed banner hangs outside a desolate village hall. The sick, the suffering and the desperate arrive from out of the wind and the rain. They come in search of restoration, a cure.

Through the 1950s and 1960s, Hardy and his wife, Grace, travel to remote corners of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Accompanied by manager Teddy, they move from village to village, bringing an unpredictable mix of theatricality and the spiritual.

Friel’s masterpiece uses four enthralling monologues to interweave the stories of these three intriguing characters.

Faith Healer premièred at Longacre Theatre, New York in 1979, before opening in London at Royal Court Theatre in 1981.

London Classic Theatre artistic director Michael Cabot said: “I’ve wanted to direct Faith Healer for many years.

“It’s such a wonderful, complex piece of writing, with beautifully realised characters and Brian Friel’s remarkable use of language. It draws you in, surprises, intrigues and ultimately takes your breath away.

“We have assembled a cast of three extraordinary actors – Paul Carroll, Gina

Costigan and Jonathan Ashley, with whom I’m delighted to be working.

“Faith Healer is one of the great plays of the 20th century, arguably Friel’s masterpiece, and I can’t wait for us to bring it to life.”

Faith Healer is staged on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 28, 29 and 30 at 7.45pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

For tickets and information phone 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk –age guidance 14-plus.

Apples, Romans and Vikings

VISITORS to the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne will be able to get their apples ‘juiced’ at an event next weekend. They can take along their apples from home to crush and juice in a Roman-style apple press – just take along a suitable receptacle.

Visitors will also be able to take a look in

the centre’s Roman replica forge building and garden, complete with graffiti copied from Pompeii.

A Roman water wheel, an experimental construction volunteers helped to build from an archaeological find from the Thames, is an ever popular attraction.

Families can also enjoy have-a-go

Panto tickets already selling fast

By Lorraine Gibson

LONG before the summer clothes are packed away and the last burger’s been prised from the barbie, people appear to be thinking about the ‘P’ Word… It seems the most magical time of year has already started as Wimborne’s Tivoli Theatre is already reporting recordbreaking ticket sales for its panto this year – and that’s on the back of successes with its previous Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty shows.

Made to Measure Productions, returning with a new, super-sparkling production of perennial favourite, Cinderella, promises a magical Winter Wonderland, a couple of adults-only dates, spectacular effects, wicked Ugly Sisters trying to prevent Cinderella from getting her happy ever after and ‘the biggest pantomime Wimborne has ever seen’.

It says: “Book your seats now – before the clock strikes midnight – otherwise, not even the Fairy Godmother will be able to magic you up a ticket.” Polish off a summer spritzer or buff up your innuendos? You decide.

Now, where’s my sunglasses? Tickets can be booked online at www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk

at history centre

activities, a Viking Living history camp and combat demonstrations, storytelling, and hot barbecue, tea, coffee and cake.

The Apple Weekend is on Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24, 10am to 4pm, and entry is £10 adults, £5 children, under-fours free. Park in Cranborne Middle School car park. No dogs on site.

Brian Friel’s Faith Healer is lauded as ‘one of the great plays of the 20th century

Arts & Entertainment

THE West End actor playing Aladdin in this year’s panto at Lighthouse Poole is set to enter a whole new world.

Benjamin Armstrong will be making his panto debut in the title role in the show being staged in the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

“I’ve only seen one panto in my life, so I’m very new to the whole panto scene, but I’m excited to start with something as big as Aladdin in Poole,” he said.

“It was nice stepping into Aladdin’s shoes for the first time at the photo shoot – they felt pretty comfortable to be honest.

“And, oh my gosh, the carpet was so magical – it genuinely looked like it was flying. It was really good fun. When I was on it, I felt like a superhero!”

Benjamin trained at the Royal Academy of Music on a Disney Theatrical Productions Scholarship, graduating with a Master’s in Musical Theatre in 2021 and going on to appear in a variety of productions all over the country.

Aladdin is written and directed by Chris Jarvis, who will also be appearing as Widow Twankey, and features Ionica

Adriana as Princess Jasmine and Bournemouth-born Josh Haberfield as the comic character Wishee-Washee.

Pantomime Award winners

Andrew Pollard and Alim Jadavji, whose winning double act as the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella last year stole the show, are returning to play the villain Professor Pocus and Genie of the Lamp respectively.

“This will be my first time working with everyone,” Benjamin added.

“I don’t know a great deal about the show yet – other than I’m ziplining through the audience, which I’m really excited for – and from what Chris has been telling me, although the panto of Aladdin is slightly different to the story everyone knows, the kids and the families will already know the character and will have an understanding, so they’ll be on our side.

“I’m looking forward to spreading some good Christmas joy and laughter. Every show will be a completely different experience with whoever is in the audience and I’m sure we’ll all be playing on stage, making each other laugh, having a good time.

Mountain bike ace on lifetime in the saddle

“It’ll be hard work but great fun. I feel like it will be a very silly few weeks – I’m really excited to get to work!”

Aladdin opens on Thursday,

ONE of the biggest personalities in mountain biking, former world champion mountain bike trials rider, GMBN’s Martyn Ashton, is coming to The Regent in Christchurch.

Martyn was already a legend of the sport before his 2012 Road Bike Party video and its sequel propelled him to even greater prominence. Despite a life-changing back-break in 2013, he has continued to explore what’s possible on a bike.

In Bike Party, Martyn will take audiences through an entertaining look at his life on bikes.

Tickets for the event on Wednesday, October 4, at 7.30pm are priced £19.50 – £16.50 concessions. Visit www.theregent.co.uk/event/75940

December 7, and runs until New Year’s Eve.

Tickets are on sale at www. lighthousepoole.co.uk, or phone 01202 280000.

Tribute serving all Led Zep’s classics

LED Zeppelin tribute band CODA are set to perform at The Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne.

The four-piece’s show features a selection from all the classics including Whole Lotta Love, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll and Black Dog.

There’s also Led Zeppelin live rarities such as When the Levee Breaks, Ramble On and Wanton Song, and acoustic songs such as Going to California and That’s the Way.

CODA play on Saturday, September 23, at 7.30pm with tickets online from www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk

Benjamin Armstrong will be playing the title role in Aladdin

Arts & Entertainment

A

in Dorchester

War and peace: A couple’s changed lives

A STAGE play set in Dorset that tells the story of a couple caught up in war-time struggles will be performed at The Corn Exchange in Dorchester later this month.

The new adaptation of Devina Symes’ novel Stronghold of Happiness tells the enduring love story of local couple Peter and Ella Samways, who each experience lifechanging conflict – Ella on the home front and Peter on the battlefront – and the consequences of Ella’s trauma.

Reunited, their story deals with the aftermath of crisis as they make sense of their changed lives.

The play and the novel tackle strong themes of abuse that make them unsuitable for a younger audience, a spokesperson for the production said.

The play begins in 2005 when the older Peter and Ella are invited to watch a rehearsal of their story, which the local drama group has chosen to perform.

Devina Symes said: “I wanted to tell a story that turned

Live on Stage:

• Artsreach Presents: Tiger Lady

- A fast-paced story a story of grit, love and danger from internationally award-winning theatre company Dead Rabbits, featuring two humans and a tiger in a production which prompts us to look at our lives and desires more closely. Thursday 12th October at 7.30 pm

Purbeck Film Festival 2023:

Please see purbeck lm.com for full details of the festival –tickets for the lms showing at The Mowlem can be booked at themowlem.com

• Opening Gala Reception: Friday, 20th October at 6.30pm

• One Fine Morning (15): Friday, 20th Oct at 7.30pm

• 84 Charing Cross Rd (PG): Saturday, 21st Oct at 7.30pm

• Punch & Judy Man (U) + Special Guest: Sunday, 22nd October at 7.30pm

• New Zealand Double Bill: Boy (15): Mon, 23rd Oct at 6.30pm

• New Zealand Double Bill: The Piano (15): Monday, 23rd October at 8.30pm

• Rimini (18): Tuesday, 24th October at 7.30pm

• Brother (15): Wednesday, 25th October at 7.30pm

• Corsage (15): Thursday, 26th October at 7.30pm

• Hopper - An American Love Story (12A) + Special Guest: Friday, 27th October 7.30pm

• French Double Bill: Other People's Children (15): Saturday, 28th October at 6pm

• French Double Bill: Full Time (12A): Saturday, 28th October at 8.30pm

• Once Upon A Time In The West (12A): Sunday, 29th October at 6.30pm

• Matinee: Women Talking (15): Monday, 30th October at 2.30pm

• Pretty Red Dress (15): Monday, 30th October at 7.30pm

• Decision To Leave (15): Tuesday, 31st October at 7.30pm

• Polite Society (12): Wednesday, 1st November at 7.30pm

• Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (PG): Thursday, 2nd November at 7.30pm

• Close (12A): Friday, 3rd November at 7.30pm

the tables on the usual narrative about war and look at the unspeakable traumas and conflicts sometimes experienced by vulnerable women left at home.”

Nuanced writing about the Home Front has become increasingly popular in recent years, with novels including Atonement and Human Voices capturing the traumas, tragedies and complex ethical dilemmas in the lives of women at home.

All proceeds from the performance will go to West Dorset Women’s Refuge Welfare Committee.

Harry Cockerill and Tilda Sansom will play the young couple, while Barry and Chrissie White will play the contemporary couple.

The performance is being sponsored by Purple Business and Personal Accountants, Poundbury, Dorchester.

The production at the venue in High East Street is on Saturday, September 30, at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 from WeGotTickets.com, or on the door, subject to availability.

• Purbeck Shorts Competition: Saturday, 4th November at 6.30pm

Movies:

• A Haunting in Venice (12A) - Hercule Poirot investigates a mysterious murder while attending a Halloween seance at a haunted palazzo in Venice. Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dornan and Michelle Yeoh. 2nd – 5th October at 7.30 pm2nd October at 2.30 pm

• Oppenheimer (15) - Epic biopic telling the story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, directed by Christopher Nolan. 13th & 16th – 19th October at 7.30 pm - 16th October at 2.30 pm

• The Old Oak (15) - A landlord risks losing his pub in a previously thriving mining community, and tensions rise when Syrian refugees are placed in empty houses nearby. Directed by Ken Loach. 8th & 11th - 14th October at 7.30 pm - 11th October at 2.30 pm

In the Showbar: Events in The Showbar, upstairs at The Mowlem:

• Saturday 7th October – Swanage Blues Festival - 4pm: Foot-stomping dance rhythms with Back Porch & 8pm Thomas Heppell Band, nominated for 4 UK Blues Awards 2024

• Sunday 8th October – Swanage Blues Festival - 1.30pm: The Terraplanes, Winners of 2023 UK Blues Awards ‘Emerging Blues Act’ Full details of Swanage Blues Festival can be found at swanage-blues.org

• Saturday 14th October – Push The Pull Door - Live music from 8pm, bar open from 5.30pm.

• Wednesday 18th October – Oscar’s Quiz Night - £1 per person, up to 6 people per team, prizes to be won! Doors open 6pm, quiz starts at 8pm

The Showbar is open Friday & Saturday 5.30pm-10pm & Sunday-Thursday 5.30pm-9pm and later for events

Mowlem Visual Ar ts Exhibitions

• ‘The Dreaming Lens’ - Paul Je eris o ers a personal perspective on the landscapes of Purbeck, using close-up photographs or unusual forms of lighting as a way of revealing small imagined dramas in the natural world. The exhibition runs to 17th October, Monday – Saturday 5.30pm – 9pm and whenever the theatre or Showbar are open.

new adaptation of Devina Symes’ novel Stronghold of Happiness will be staged at The Corn Exchange

Spotlight Diary

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for October 2 is NOON on September 29. Call on 01963 400186 or email adverts@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.

SEPTEMBER 2023

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

MONDAY

18:30 - 19:30 NEW ADULT BEGINNERS MODERN LINE DANCE class at St Edwards Church hall, Swanage

Contact Donna Diebelius F.I.S.T.D T: 07518 056149 E; purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com

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

19:45 - 20:45 NEW ADULT BEGINNERS LATIN AMERICAN & BALLROOM DANCE class (you dance with a partner) St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage. Contact Donna Diebelius F.I.S.T.D T; 07518 056149 E; purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com

TUESDAY

19:30 - WAREHAM CAMERA CLUB: Parish Hall, Wareham unless zoom Visitors welcome £3 For zoom link contact club website www.warehamcameraclub.co.uk

03-Oct Speaker John & Di Tilsley‘Canada Revisited’ 10-Oct ‘Open’ Projected Digital Image ‘Knockout’ & ‘Duncan Trophy’ Print Competition 17-Oct Zoom Talk - Adrian Davies ‘Nature Photography – Telling a Story’ 24-Oct Speaker - Local Photographer Jack Lodge ‘The Landscape Photography Process’ 31-Oct Theme Print & Projected Digital Image Competition - ‘The Intimate Landscape’

19:30 - 21:45 SWANAGE AND LANGTON MATRAVERS FOLK DANCE CLUB at Langton Matravers Village Hall BH19 32 MI

English Country Dancing every Tuesday evening rom 7.30 to 9.45. Experienced dancers and beginners welcome with or without a partner.

THURSDAY

9:30 - 10:30 NEW ADULT BEGINNERS MODERN LINE DANCE class at The Scout Hut, Wareham

Contact Donna Diebelius F.I.S.T.D. T; 07518 056149 E; purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com

10:30 - 11:30 ADULT BEGINNERS LATIN AMERICAN & BALLROOM LINE DANCE class (you dance solo) At The Scout hut, Wareham

Contact Donne Diebelius F.I.S.T.D T; 07518 056149

E; purbeckacnestudio@gmail.com

FRIDAY

9:30 - 10:30 NEW ADULT BEGINNERS LATIN AMERICAN & BALLROOM LINE DANCE class (you dance with a partner) Corfe Castle Village hall

Contact Donna Diebelius F.I.S.T.D T; 07518 056149 E; purbeckdancestudio@gmail.com

SATURDAY

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

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Country house hotel in St Agnes

7 Days – Sun 7th to Sat 13th April

The Isles of Scilly

If you are on a budget look away now!

5 Days – Weds 8th to Sun 12th May Around Rutland Water

England’s smallest county

5 Days – Mon 27th to Fri 31st May

Norfolk – River & Rail

2 Steam Trains & 2 River cruises Sat 8th to Sat 15th June

Scotland –Beautiful Bute Amazing landscapes and sea-views

7 Days – Tues 6th to Mon 12th Feb

AUSTRIA – Snow Tour

Riding the Arosa Express Train

5 Days – Mon 22nd to Fri 26th April

HOLLAND “Tulip Train” Steam train through Bulbfields

10 Days – Sat 18th to Mon 27th May

SPAIN – The Pyrenees

4 Train rides & 2 Boat cruises

8 days – Sat 22nd to Sat 29th June

AUSTRIA – High Alps

Exploration on an epic scale!

8 Days – Sat 6th to Sat 13th July

FRANCE - The Dordogne

Breathtaking landscapes

5 days – Thur 26th to Mon 30th Sept

FRANCE Gardens & Chateau

Enhanced by Candlelit 4

8 Days – Sat 19th to Sat 26th October

ITALY –The Impossible Coast Gulf of Poets & Cinque Terre