Purbeck Gazette- 21/11/22

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Main picture: stevebelasco.net

‘Help us devise masterplan for seafront’

RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say over the future of Swanage seafront.

Swanage Town Council (STC) is working with the Dorset Coast Forum to create a Swanage Seafront Masterplan.

The document is a long-term working strategy that will provide a vision to inform the future management of the seafront, covering the area from Swanage Pier to the stream at Ocean Bay and including green spaces, seafront areas and the beach.

During the current phase of the project, the Dorset Coast Forum is seeking the views of residents, visitors, and businesses as to how the seafront can be improved.

Cllr Mike Bonfield, STC’s strategy lead, said: “It’s all about what people – locals, businesses and visitors – would like to see in the future for the seafront. It’s a long-term plan so it all won’t happen in a year but we’re starting with finding out what people want.

“I really would urge everyone to fill in the survey as this is the chance to get in early to give us your ideas and make your views known.”

People can fill in a dedicated

survey, which asks you for views on the masterplan, online at https://www. dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/ swanage-seafront-masterplan. Paper copies of the survey are available from Swanage Library and Information Centre.

Meanwhile, a range of events are being held to raise awareness of the scheme and to encourage people to take part. They are:

November 26: Swanage Switch on the Lights – Seafront Masterplan stall.

November 29: Seafront Masterplan Workshop – calling all the creative people in Swanage! Herston Village Hall 5.30pm-7pm. Sign up via Eventbrite.

December 1: Seafront Masterplan Workshop – calling all the business owners and entrepreneurs in Swanage! Emmanuel Baptist Church 5.30pm-7pm. Sign up via Eventbrite.

December 3: Swanage Rotary Christmas Market – find out the latest Coastal Protection Scheme news.

December 13: Sustainable Swanage Volunteer drop-in, 7pm-8.30pm, Herston Village Hall.

Have your say over boundaries

THE public is being urged to have its say on proposed changes to MP constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for England has launched a final consultation on revised proposals for constituencies.

The month-long consultation, gives the public a last opportunity to send in its views on the proposals.

The commission has taken into consideration more than 45,000 comments sent in by the public during the previous two stages of public consultation, and has changed nearly half of its initial proposals based on this feedback.

The independent review of all constituencies in England was requested by Parliament. The number of electors within each constituency currently varies widely due to population changes since the last boundary review, with new plans rebalancing the number of voters in each ward.

A third and final consultation on the new map of revised constituency proposals is open from now until December 5 for people to have their say.

After this final consultation has closed on December 5 the commission will analyse the responses and form its final recommendations. These will be submitted to Parliament by July 1, 2023.

In Dorset, a number of alterations to boundaries are recommended, though no new constituencies created or others removed.

Many of the proposals would see constituencies altered to match current council ward boundaries and to bring numbers into the ‘acceptable’ ranges.

For full details of the plan, and to submit comments on the new map, log on to https:// www.bcereviews.org.uk.

Santas set to go on the run for Wimborne charity trek

WIMBORNE is set to be invaded by Santas once again – on the run for a good cause.

The Santa-Stour River Fun Run comes to town on Sunday, December 4.

Organised by Wimborne Rotary, the event aims to raise funds for local children’s charities.

Starting at 10am from Wimborne Football Club, in Ainsley Road, entrants and spectators can utilise free parking, with runners able to choose from either a 2.5km or 5km course, with routes running alongside the River Stour.

Wimborne Rotary president

Ron Franks said people could enjoy a new route for 2022.

“With an interesting new route for runners this year, I am delighted that Rotary is able to mark the start of the festive season with our traditional Santa Fun Run,” he said.

“We hope that runners will enjoy this fun event while at the same time supporting our fundraising for Julia’s House.”

He also urged people to register to take part before the event.

“Please do register if you plan to enter so that we can be fully prepared to welcome your participation,” he added.

Entry costs £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s, with all proceeds going to local charity Julia’s House.

Entrants should pre-book by registering at www. wimbornerotary.org/giving.

There will also be limited places for those who turn up on the day, but with pre-booking guaranteeing a place.

All entrants will receive a free Santa suit and a mince pie. Whether entering as an individual, a family or as a team, runners are also encouraged to fundraise for their own favourite charities by seeking sponsorship.

Children’s Remembrance lessons

YOUNGSTERS in Purbeck got creative while learning about Remembrance Sunday and the significance of the poppy.

Tops Day Nurseries across the county took part in a variety of activities for Remembrance Day.

Pre-school children at Tops Christchurch, at Priory Hall, had a go at creating their own poppies using different materials like red and green playdough as they learned about why it is worn.

And at Tops Day Nurseries Corfe Mullen, in Blandford Road, youngsters created seed paper

poppies to plant next spring. The seed mix contained a variety of wildflowers, including poppies.

Shaye Jaques, nursery manager at Tops Corfe Mullen, said: “The children really enjoyed making their own poppies and were very interested to find out why we wear them.

“It is so important to teach the children about Remembrance Day because it is one of the most important days in our history and it helps them to understand the world around them.”

Santas during previous runs in Wimborne

Picture: Wimborne Rotary

Lighthouse wins vital £300k boost

THE Lighthouse in Poole is celebrating after securing vital funding for the next three years.

The Kingland Road facility has retained its status as a National Portfolio Organisation after Arts Council England confirmed its continuing financial support of the arts and entertainment venue.

The award, of £348,510 per year for the next three years, accounts for about eight per cent of the annual income of Lighthouse, which bosses say will enable it to continue to deliver a wide ranging and great arts and entertainment programme for the communities of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the wider region.

Chief executive Elspeth McBain said the funding would support creative talent development, providing learning and education opportunities for young people through partnership schools and Lighthouse Academy programmes, as well as supporting professional artists to develop their craft and reach wide and diverse audiences in the future.

“Lighthouse is enormously grateful for the ongoing support of Arts Council England and is proud to retain its status as a National Portfolio Organisation in this challenging time,” she said.

“This news has come at a crucial moment as, in common with venues across the country, Lighthouse is still in recovery from the pandemic and that recovery remains a priority.

“Audiences are returning, but not yet at the same levels pre-pandemic, and venues are facing a perfect storm of increased operating costs, a cost-of-living squeeze on audiences, soaring energy prices and deepening economic hardship, so there are enormous challenges ahead.”

Theatre lovers unite!

A GROUP that takes theatre lovers to performances across the south west is looking for new members.

The Dorset Theatre-Goers’ Club, based in the Swanage and Wareham area, runs trips to theatres across the region, picking up members and taking them by coach to matinee performances in places such as Bath, Chichester, Guildford, Winchester, Southampton and more.

Now, they are keen to hear from anyone interested in finding out more about the group, which has been in existence for around 30 years.

“We transport our members to beautiful theatres around the south of England in comfortable Excelsior coaches,” a spokesperson said.

They said recent and upcoming trips include visits to the Theatre Royal in Bath to see Fisherman’s Friends – The Musical and a December trip to see the English National Ballet performing Raymonda at the Mayflower in Southampton.

“Every show is a matinee performance, so never late home,” the spokesperson added.

For more information call 01929 425458 or email carp46@yahoo.com.

If you’re enthusiastic about the arts and think you might be interested in joining us we would be keen to hear from you. For more details about PAW and how to apply please go to www.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk

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Your Gazette news online, as it happens

THERE is now a new and exciting way to get the latest Purbeck news.

Your Gazette has launched a new and improved website to bring you the latest news, as it happens, 24 hours a day.

Of course, your magazine will continue to be published exactly as it is now, but the internet gives you an extra way to get your news, views and more, from wherever you are.

You can check out the new website at www.purbeckgazette.co.uk.

Publisher, David Armishaw, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the continuing success of the Purbeck Gazette.

“The new website is by no means a

replacement for our much-loved print product, but it gives people the chance to get all the news from their community whenever and wherever they want it.

“It’s another exciting way for the people of Purbeck to keep up to date with what’s happening.”

Sections on the new website include news, announcements, arts and entertainment, education, business and more – and you can also read a digital edition of the magazine.

Advertisers will also be able to make their bookings via the website, through an easy step-by-step process.

The launch of the Gazette website means it joins others in the stable of publisher Blackmore Vale Ltd, including blackmorevale.net, stouravonmagazine. co.uk and salisburyandavon.co.uk.

Model town devotees stand down

TWO members of the Wimborne Model Town management committee have stood down as attraction’s season draws to a close.

Iain Stevenson, left,

chair, and marketing services provider Greg Hoar, right, are stepping down after the completion of the charity’s 70th year of events.

Both joined as trustees in 2012 with Iain

later becoming chair, overseeing financial improvements leading to reinvestment in infrastructure and new exhibits, including the Wareham Bears.

He remains as a volunteer. Greg became general manager in 2015 and latterly marketing services provider.

He is now going to ‘assist other organisations’.

Fresh appeal for play area

A FUNDRAISING appeal to revamp a play area that helps children with neurodevelopmental conditions has been launched.

The effort, by the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, hopes to raise £75,000 for new playground equipment at Poole Hospital’s child development centre (CDC).

The centre, used by more than 2,000 children each year with neurodevelopmental conditions, offers a multiprofessional approach to the assessment and treatment of pre-school children with a variety of developmental needs in Poole, Bournemouth and beyond.

The team there offers a family-focused service that

provides a safe and childfriendly environment and developmental play specialists who work with families to plan and deliver care that will enable their children to fulfil their potential. The centre also hosts school-aged clinics for children with possible neurodevelopmental conditions including cerebral palsy, down syndrome, learning disability and sensory integration difficulties.

Caroline Fawcett, lead health play specialist at University Hospitals Dorset, said: “The replacement of this equipment will make a huge difference to the children who access the facility for diagnosis, therapy, assessment and play.”

Visit www.uhdcharity.org.

Kids play survey

KIDS’ play is on the agenda as BCP Council seeks the views of residents.

So if you are fed up with – or have suggestions about – where children play, take the survey and help shape a new draft play strategy for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The council says recognising the importance of play for people of all abilities inspired them to invite the opinions of residents on all its play spaces, including skate parks,

playgrounds, ball courts and bike tracks.

It is keen to hear from those who use them, so not just parents but grandparents, carers, skateboarders, cyclists and residents who live close to relevant areas.

The survey, which closes on December 5, has an interactive mapping tool so you can have your say on the parks that matter most to you.

Visit haveyoursay. bcpcouncil.gov.uk/play.

Specialists Tracey Fordham and Jemima Judge at the play area Picture UHD NHS Charity

Pride as Charlie makes debut on TV’s Masterchef

A CULINARY whizz from Dorset is among the hopefuls in TV cooking contest Masterchef: The Professionals.

Charlie Jeffreys is among those battling it out to be crowned the winner of this year’s series, which got under way on BBC One earlier this month.

The 24-year-old is senior chef de partie at the prestigious, three Michelin-starred Alain Dicasse restaurant at The Dorchester in London.

But before making his way amid the bright lights of the capital city, Charlie cut his teeth here in Dorset.

And the glamour of the TV studio will be a long way from his humble beginnings, as a pot

washer at the Yalbury Cottage Hotel at the age of just 14.

A spokesperson for the hotel, near Dorchester, said they “couldn’t be more proud” of their former apprentice.

“Please join the whole Yalbury Cottage team in supporting Charlie and cheering him on as he takes on this mammoth challenge,” they added.

The show, which sees professional chefs go head-tohead over six gruelling weeks of competition, is set to be the latest challenge for Charlie.

Judge on the show, top chef Marcus Wareing, said contestants should be prepared for a stern test.

“The hunt for the 2022

champion is on and we’re ready to push these chefs as far as they can go,” he said.

“The sky’s the limit as far as I’m concerned and that trophy is just waiting to be claimed.”

And host Gregg Wallace said he was excited ahead of the new competition.

“What a thrill to get these

kitchen doors open again and welcome a new generation of professional contenders,” he said. “I’m ready to be dazzled and ultimately reveal the next incredible cooking talent.”

Masterchef: The Professionals is on BBC One on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings.

Masterchef hopeful Charlie Jeffreys

Picture: BBC

Equestrian effort lands coach award

AN EQUESTRIAN coach from Dorset who started work in the community after a family tragedy has won a prestigious national award – and been shortlisted for another – for her work supporting young people.

Stephanie Buchanan, manager and chief coach at the RAC Saddle Club in Bovington, was presented with the BHS Changes Lives through Horses (CLtH) Coach Awards last week at a ceremony attended by BHS President, Martin Clunes OBE.

The BHS Annual Awards programme celebrates individuals and organisations who have gone the extra mile on behalf of the equine charity and the equestrian world.

Stephanie was recognised for her dedication to her participants’ personal growth and development after she integrated the CLtH scheme at Bovington to help local children who, for various reasons, need

additional support, are disengaged or disadvantaged, or at risk of being excluded from education.

Stephanie became drawn to the BHS scheme following the sudden death of her 14-year-old nephew, Will.

“After he died in 2019. I helped my sister, Les, establish a charity, #WillDoes, a year later,” she said.

“The charity helps raise money to fund initiatives that help young people and we have raised an incredible amount of money. However, when I saw the BHS scheme I knew that I could do even more and help young people by introducing them to the ponies and horses we have on our yard.

“Horses have an incredible capacity to heal and inspire and many of the children we work with have never touched a horse before, but by spending time and communicating with them

they become more open to the people around them and recognise that they can

Maggie,

work,” she said.

Victoria, Paul and Ellie who have done most of the

Stephanie with her award and inset, with Martin Clunes

Pictures: BHS

Crime in county up by 5 per cent

CRIME rose by five percent in Dorset in the 12 months ending June 2022, according to new figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows the number of estimated crimes compared to the previous 12 months – when much of the country was still experiencing lockdown and other restrictive rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The numbers show the largest increases were in sexual offences (22 per cent) and theft from the person (22 per cent), followed by robbery (14 per cent) and miscellaneous crime (14 per cent).

Areas where crime fell included bicycle theft (-21 per cent) and non-residential burglary (-18 per cent).

The figures mean Dorset is ranked the sixth safest area in England and Wales, based on crime, with a national average

crime increase of 12.5 per cent.

David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said the increase was predicted due to the restrictions in place during the previous 12 months.

“I am really pleased to see that Dorset has gone up to sixth in the ratings for being one of the safest counties in England and Wales,” he said. “It is my aim to make Dorset the safest county and so seeing us go up in the ratings is both validation for the work that is happening in the county and good news for the people of Dorset.

“Despite crime figures going up, I am pleased to see that they are less than half the rate of the national average here in Dorset, with reductions in crime across

many of the areas directly related to my police and crime plan, including stalking and harassment and anti-social behaviour.

“I am particularly pleased to note that there has also been a considerable drop in both business crime and community crime over the last year. I would like to thank all the officers, staff and volunteers involved in keeping our residents and communities safe and I vow to continue to work alongside the chief constable, as well as all our other invaluable stakeholder partners to make Dorset the safest county.”

Elsewhere, the figures show drug offences were down 16 percent, although residential burglary increased by nine per cent.

Chief Constable Scott Chilton, pictured, said: “Dorset continues to be one of the safest counties in the country to live and visit and the rise in crime experienced here post Covid-19 pandemic, compared to other parts of the country, has seen the force move up another place to be the sixth safest area in England and Wales.

“We will continue to strive to be the safest county in the country and remain driven to relentlessly pursue those criminals who cause the most harm to our communities, keeping people safe and putting victims first.”

“In the past 18 months, Dorset has moved from nineth safest county to sixth safest.

“We are seeing less crime, bringing more offenders to justice, reducing anti-social behaviour and seeing reductions in community and business crime.”

Quarry project wins research prizes

A RESEARCH project investigating the link between sand lizard breeding habits has scooped top awards.

The biodiversity project, carried out by a team of students from Bath Spa University at Hanson’s Masters sand quarry in Dorset, won the UK research stream of the Quarry Life Award 2022.

The project, which investigated the sand properties required for sand lizard breeding to inform the creation of receptor sites, claimed the £5,000 first prize at an awards

ceremony held at Hanson’s former sand and gravel quarry at Middleton Hall, Tamworth.

This year is the fifth time Hanson’s parent company Heidelberg Materials has held the Quarry Life Award, which is run every three years in more than 20 countries.

The research stream of the competition, aimed principally at academics, scientists and research groups, focuses on scientific projects that increase knowledge of quarry-specific ecology and/or lead to improved biodiversity,

landscape, or water management. The Bath Spa University project investigated the existing habitats at Hanson’s Masters site with the potential to support nationally important populations of the rare sand lizard, aiming to create, restore and enhance appropriate areas

within the quarry for breeding, including suitable sand for egg laying. The project also impressed the judges of the international award, winning the Habitat and Species category at the ceremony hosted by Heidelberg Materials in Brussels and scooping a further €10,000 in prize money.

Stewart Jones, Hanson’s national sustainability manager, said: “The judges felt that the Bath Spa University project was robust, transferable and delivered biodiversity value to the quarry and to science.”

Tasty offerings at Athelhampton fair

THE best of Dorset food and drink will be celebrated at an event this weekend.

The Food and Drink Christmas Fair will take place at Athelhampton House and Gardens on Saturday and Sunday November 26 and 27.

Running from 10am to 3pm, members and guest stallholders will be offering a range of ‘locally made food, drink and artisanal gifts – all wrapped up in a fabulous location, served with festive music and tasty seasonal treats to sample and

How to protect your home from care costs

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

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

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

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

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

To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594

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

Chris Tennant, Oakwood Wills

buy’, according to a spokesperson. “Whether it’s a hard-to-find local cheese, funky craft ales, seasonal treats, interesting liqueurs, a unique piece of jewellery, or perhaps something beautiful or functional made from upcycled

items – there are plenty of gift ideas, stocking fillers and hot food and drink to keep you going.”

They added: “Plus, it’s a great way to support your local producers and makers.”

Book via athelhampton.com.

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Team members with their prize

Super snaps win gardens competition

DID you know that Britain’s gardens occupy more space than all our nature reserves put together?

So how can we best share our gardens with nature, and how can you help?

Being thoughtful about how we design and maintain our gardens – with wildlife in mind – is one of the key aims of the Knoll Gardens Foundation, the charitable arm of Knoll Gardens, near Wimborne.

Through its committed team of volunteers, the charity helps support the care of Knoll Gardens, offers educational activities and events to the local community and also undertakes regular wildlife surveys.

Engaging with local community groups is a priority

for the foundation, and over the summer they have offered free garden access to a number of local art and photography groups, inspiring artists and photographers to capture their own view of wildlife among naturalistic planting at Knoll.

An exhibition of some of the photographic work to come out of this collaboration was displayed as part of the foundation’s recent open day.

Lauren King, from bh photography club, captured the winning image and was presented with two annual passes for the gardens by foundation chair Rowena Jecock.

The charity also has big plans for the future, with projects to better help visitors understand and learn from their

wildlife-friendly approach, to inspire more people to adopt sustainable gardening practices at home, and to realise the potential of further recording opportunities of the wild ‘flora and fauna’ at Knoll.

Meanwhile, the foundation is seeking a new trustee to join its

friendly team, specifically someone with a background in ecology, to advise on survey/ research methodology.

If you would like join the foundation team as a trustee or volunteer, get in touch by email to foundation@knollgardens. co.uk.

Lauren with her winning picture, right, and receiving her prize from Rowena Jecock

Telling It Like It Is

‘Please stop clicking and use local shops!’

By David Hollister

WELL, here we go into another autumn/winter – the leaves and apples are falling from the trees, and spring seems a long time away. Probably because it is!

As I get older, the need to work on my garden doesn’t diminish, just the energy and enthusiasm for going outside getting wet and cold.

I see that the Covid-19 statistics seem to show a local increase in ‘cases’, but I find myself asking, “How do they know”? The government has stopped issuing free test kits, and indeed actually finding test kits has been problematic.

Has the government stopped caring? Or have they been too busy examining their own navels and stopped pretending that there is anything that they or we can do about Covid, or indeed that they really care?

Do they still collect data, or is it now all algorithms and figures taken from the clock on the wall?

The leading symptoms of Covid-19 seem to be a sore throat, severe headaches, lethargy and maybe a blocked or runny nose – symptoms which in the past we would have written off as just another cold or dose of flu.

It was suggested to me that “you only have Covid if you test for it – otherwise it really is just a cold”. Hmmm.

Have you noticed that only a tiny minority of people now

wear masks in shops, public places, restaurants etc? Only in the doctor’s surgery and at the vaccination centre and the airport have I been obliged to don my mask and I have done so willingly and gratefully.

So what happened to masks? I never did understand that I needed to wear a mask to walk into a restaurant but was able to remove it as soon as I sat down. I’m sure the virus is just as virulent at table height as at standing height!

So I had both my jabs and my booster and tried to be sensible and responsible. And then I caught Covid-19. I don’t know where or from whom.

I woke up one morning feeling unwell, took a test, proved positive and spent a week with a throat so sore that I was unable to speak – even down a microphone – followed by a week ‘working from home’ with lots to do and no enthusiasm to do it. Isn’t daytime TV awful!

Thankfully, after two weeks I tested clear and resumed the rest of my life, grateful I didn’t develop ‘long covid’, as a few of my friends did. So I’m not writing off the dangers of Covid, just questioning the way the government dealt with it.

“Track and Trace”... Think of the number of hospitals that the £37 billion spent on that could have built, or the number of nurses and doctors that could have been trained and

employed. Think of all the other money handed out to companies and cronies for inappropriate or even non-existent PPE. Coupled with the ban on wedding celebrations and – worst of all – on relatives being prevented from attending the bedsides of dying relatives.

So many sad stories. The tiny black-dressed figure of the Queen, attending the funeral of the only man she had ever loved, with no children or relatives sitting there to comfort her, coincidentally on the same day that parties were being held at Number 10. So many of my own friends passed away during ‘lockdown’ with no funeral or remembrance services.

The best thing that can be said about lockdown is that it not only brought us clean air and clear skies for a while, it also made many of us change our working patterns for ever.

Yes, I worked at home as an accountant and columnist, but never thought I could do my radio show there. Yet ‘Home Alone’ ran for more than six months!

Our son used to travel into Canary Wharf five days a week. Now, thanks to high-speed broadband and four screens in his home office, he has saved £5000pa for that awful hour’s tube journey at each end of a difficult day and only goes in once a week. And consequently he can spend those two hours each day with his family.

Yes, we as a family have been amazingly lucky. And I do appreciate many of my readers have not been so lucky and have suffered dreadfully from both the disease and the restrictions. My heart goes out to them all.

Meanwhile, I was disappointed to read that ‘roadworks go on despite safety fears’, referring to Wessex Water’s inappropriate closure of

the B3351 Studland to Corfe Road at exactly the same time the ferry was away for its planned annual refit.

It is disappointing the county council either didn’t realise the importance of this closure or was unable to stop Wessex Water from going ahead.

To the Wessex Water spokesman who said “everything possible has been done to minimise the impact to the community” and quoted advice from the county council that “work has been planned to take place away from the busy holiday season” and who studiously ignored the repeated pleas of Studland Parish Council to think again: YOU DISGUST ME.

We have all had so many good things come out of this summer: the successful carnival in Swanage; Wareham’s success in the South and South East In Bloom competition; and so many other good things many of which have been featured in this excellent magazine.

Here at Harmans Cross we had the busiest fete ever; congratulations to the new organisers who totally tore up the records and brought in an amazing £12,000 towards the village hall funds (the village hall is a registered charity and depends on its annual fete and general letting income to meet all its overheads and keep the buildings in good order).

We were also able to make a donation to “WillDoes”.

Believing the summer had not only brought in hordes of tourists but also lashings of money, I was disappointed to learn from a recent radio guest – CEO of one of our major tourist attractions – that many Swanage businesses were significantly down, either as a result of the after-effects of Covid-19 or as a result of fear of the oncoming recession.

So now more than ever I say to you, dear reader, please patronise our local shops. Stop ‘clicking’ and realise that every local business is someone’s baby, someone’s livelihood, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The Perfect Gift for all Lovers of Dorset

Downstream Dorset, River Tales and Local History

Downstream Dorset River Tales And Local History

By Mary Van Coller

192 pages full of snippets, facts, place names and colour photographs

Available for £19.95 +p&p online at www.downstreamdorset.co.uk www.countrybooks.biz

Supporting the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service

Published by Spiral Publishing Ltd & Country Books

is a colourful journey of discovery along the many rivers and streams flowing through beautiful Dorset. Starting at the source of each river, Dorset author Mary van Coller, follows the waterway to its mouth, showing the derivation of place names and revealing fascinating information about people and events past and present. Together with her husband Ryan, they have travelled throughout Dorset searching for springs and mouths of rivers. They have verified facts, listened to stories and taken many beautiful photographs. Downstream Dorset will inspire readers to explore Dorset, chat with local people and enjoy nature. There are blank pages at the back of the book to record notes and your own memories. An ideal gift for all Dorset lovers!

(20% of royalties is donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Information about their service is included near the front of the book).

Coffee events help with wellbeing

ADULTS struggling with their mental health, addictions and daily wellbeing can now talk through their issues and find solutions over a fortnightly cup of coffee in Poole.

Coffee Connection – a drop-in support hub at Serenitea Café on Ashley Road – is run jointly by Dorset HealthCare’s Poole Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) and Dorset’s Essential Drug and Alcohol Services (EDAS).

The Thursday evening sessions take the form of a ‘talk and share’ supper group, hosted by a qualified therapist who provides expert input, with discussions and a range of activities designed to support self-care. There are also opportunities to hear from speakers and undertake training which can lead to qualifications.

The project is the brainchild of CMHT leader Lulu Dajani and Michele Lyall, deputy chief executive at EDAS.

And it became a reality after earning funding support through Dorset HealthCare’s annual staff innovation competition,

Dragons’ Den.

Lulu said: “Since we started Coffee Connection in the spring, it has already benefited and motivated many adults in Poole who are experiencing problems with mental health.

“Daily wellbeing has improved for those who struggle to prioritise things and can end up feeling overwhelmed.

“Some have signed up to other courses about health and wellbeing and mixing with other members of the community, while others completed training to develop their sense of purpose and self-confidence. There is something for everyone.”

Participants have not only gained confidence, made new friends and reduced their social isolation, but some have gained accredited qualifications.

Adults under the care of Poole CMHT can attend. Anyone interested who is not under mental health care can book a place on 01202 733322 or by emailing michele.lyall@ edasuk.org.

Raising voices and money for charity

by Lorraine Gibson

TAKING the phrase ‘put your money where your mouth is’ literally, the award-winning Wimborne choir Vivamente Voices will be doing just that when they perform a Christmas concert in aid of a local charity.

Over the last two years, the choir has been supporting Mosaic, the organisation that supports bereaved youngsters, and the singers’ fundraising efforts have raised a grand total of almost £4,000.

Mosaic, based in Blandford, was founded in 2007 to bridge a gap in bereavement provision across Dorset.

Prior to this, support for grieving children and young people was only available from

hospices after the death of someone suffering from a long-term illness.

The charity supports younger people who have lost someone special.

The festive concert marks Vivamente Voices’ last performance for Mosaic and they want it to be unforgettable.

The concert, a variety of uplifting and jolly festive music – with a vibrant guest performance from Witchampton Ukulele Orchestra – is at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 3, at St Nicholas’ Church, Corfe Mullen. The event includes a raffle and tickets cost £10 via vivamentevoices@gmail.com or on 01929 781777. For more details: vivamentevoices.org.uk.

BOVINGTON Community Stores

BLANDFORD Tourist Information Centre

BEACON HILL Royal Heights coffee Shop

BERE REGIS Bartletts Stores Maces Stores

BRIANTSPUDDLE Briantspuddle Shop

CANFORD MAGNA Garden Centre

CORFE CASTLE Corfe View Visitor Centre Railway Station Village Stores

CROSSWAYS Co-op Post Office

HAMWORTHY Allways Fryday Co-op Hamworthy Central Convenience Kings Fish & Chips Shop Library Mayze Hairdressers Morrisons Post Office Premier Blandford Stores

HARMANS CROSS Foleys Garage St Michaels Garage/BP

HOLTON HEATH Clay Pipe Inn

KINGSTON Scott Arms

LANGTON MATRAVERS Langton Village Stores

LYTCHETT MATRAVERS South Lytchett Manor Caravan Park The Bakers Arms

LULWORTH Lulworth Visitor Centre

NORDEN Farm Shop Train Station

PUDDLETOWN Community Library Spar

SANDFORD

Co-op Food & Petrol Station Sandford Premier

STUDLAND Studland Stores

SWANAGE

Ballard Stores

Budgens Supermarket

Coastal Park

Conservative Club Co-op Costcutters

Durlston Castle Jenkins Newsagent

MacCalls Newsagent

Nationwide Building Society Post Office Rudges Spar

Swanage News Tourist Information Centre

Traditional Barber Train Station Triangle Garage/Texaco WH Smiths

TINCLETON Tincleton Church

TOLPUDDLE Tolpuddle Creech Farm Shop

ULWELL Village Shop/Inn

UPTON Aldi Co-op Lytchett & Upton Council Spar Upton Library Upton News & Wine

WAREHAM

Chipperies Fish & Chips Conservative Club Co-op Horseys Newsagent long John’s Fish & Chips One Stop Farwells

Premier Stores

Purbeck Library

Purbeck Mobility Centre

Purbeck Sports Centre

Sainsburys Train Station Wareham Laundrette

WEST HOLME West Holme Nurseries

WINFRITH NEWBURGH Post Office WINTERBORNE

WHITECHURCH

Lady Bailey Caravan Park - 73 WINTERBORNE

KINGSTONE Village Hall Phone Box WOOL Gillets Spar

Vivamente Voices will perform on December 3

Appeal to locate fall helpers

I HAD a fall outside the old Post Office on Friday, October 28, and two young mothers with their babies in pushchairs came to my assistance and stayed with me until the ambulance arrived.

They would not leave me until they saw I was taken care of.

In my state at the time, although I know they were sisters, I didn’t ask their names and addresses.

Could I, through your column, ask that they contact me please on 01929 289337.

Thanking you in anticipation.

FRANCES TIMBERLAKE

‘General election is needed now’

AT last we have something politicians from opposing parties can agree on, along with two-thirds of the public according to recent polls: the urgent need for a general election.

Dorset Labour’s Greg Williams has put the case for this and Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope has expressed the same view elsewhere.

Yes, they have different reasons and hope for different results from an election, but isn’t that how democracy works?

Everyone knows that we don’t have a presidential system, i.e. we elect a party not a leader.

But everyone also knows that our system was never meant to produce three leaders in as many months, constant turmoil and endless U-turns, all with no opportunity whatsoever for the public to give their verdict.

An election held next year would give the current government enough time to show us, the electorate, what

their new policies are, and go some way towards restoring the global reputation we once had for democracy and fairness.

LUCY NANKIVELL

Thank Goodness For The Royals

Thank goodness we’ve got The Royals;

They’re worth all our troubles and toils; They sit at our nation’s peak; Even though they’re part German part Greek; And take all our billions in tax; By posing beneath Union Jacks.

What else would we do with that wealth?

Just waste it upon National Health?

Or fritter it all on the poor? On charity cases galore?

No, that’s when our British blood boils; Thank goodness we’ve got The Royals!

With apologies to Royalists, but this is a subject which is not given much attention.

MARTIN HOBDELL Swanage

FURTHER to the report by the House of Commons Health Committee, which found that patients no longer have relationships with their GPs, I can indeed confirm that I am no longer a person – just a number on a long practice list.

It seems my needs do not matter, my lack of a mobile phone and ‘apps’ make me a nuisance and I am put off seeking medical help if at all possible.

I have several medical problems but have never bothered doctors unless urgent. I was raised to believe that you only made an appointment with a GP if symptoms were serious.

My recent experience has led me to the conclusion that I should remain quiet and at home self-medicating until I reach a point where I cannot continue and then go to an overworked accident and emergency department in a crisis, possibly not to recover.

That should free up more practice space and, as I am only a number, it will matter little to

anyone except my family and friends.

Speaking to others I have found they too are experiencing similar problems with these ‘IT solutions’, from appointments to repeat prescriptions.

What a sad state our once fabulous health service is in.

NAME, EMAIL SUPPLIED

WITH the new Budget coming, or an Autumn Statement as it is known, I think it is shocking how little people seem to know about how it will affect them – and the services they use, often on a daily basis.

I’m sure these letters pages will be full of complaints when bus services are cut, potholes are not filled and grass verges not trimmed, without realising that it’s because of a massive cut in funding from central government.

We seem to accept many cuts when they sound complicated but fail to equate that with the impact it has locally further down the line.

ANDY BARTON

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

‘I am now just an NHS number’

‘Budget cuts will affect all of us’

This stunning picture of Wareham Forest was captured by reader Jeff Laidler, who is also a member of the Dorset Camera Club. Send your Purbeck pictures to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Anomalous (5)

Attempted (5)

Etch (7)

Finger jewellery (4)

Far-fetched (10)

Typing movements (10)

Something to wear with a suit? (3)

Tread the boards (3)

Worker (8)

Talking to a god (7)

Pay increase (5)

Conceals in paper (5)

Capacity (4)

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.

actor by right gets large yacht (7)

Approaches Arab among three bridge players (5)

Popular assistance backed for Asian country (5)

Heart of matter in military authority, it’s said (6)

Old man and jazz singer getting Spanish dish (6)

Have enough to pay for a car reportedly (6)

Curved instrument namely close to flimsy article (6)

Unspoken diplomacy touring Italy (5)

Greek character with a number quietly in bars? (5) 24 Ban English doctor on classic ship (7) 25 Mad heads (4) 26 Good opinion about fine ground (7)

Down

2 Turned getting injury (5)

3 Large-scale art work shown by popular place for trains covering a pair of lines (12)

4 Regret over English knight with a brilliant discovery (6)

6 Paradisal place largely hot without time gets dismissal (5-2)

7 Game with desire for quiet producing surprised expression (4)

8 Is sparing holding money in share certificates (7)

9 A blueprint of work is disadvantageous (12)

14 Incitement to disorder first off in form of a book (7)

16 Tendency when parking’s missing for transport (7)

Across

1 Joint with futile bias overturned? That’s right (11)

18 Harsh always within confines of submarine (6) 21 Some demonic or giant dog (5)

22 Put favourable slant on short ride (4)

Across 1 Joint with futile bias overturned? That’s right (11)

Send message to artist with daughter I love (5) 10 Writer backed song for Roman god (7)

Most substantial lagers drunk with time (7)

Cricket side with ambition at a stretch (2,3)

Fare system alternative – it helps in making courses? (4,9)

Arrange again wild trees (5)

A sport held in Manchester suburb usually (2,1,4)

man that’s played percussive instruments (7)

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

9 Send message to artist with daughter I love (5) 10 Writer backed song for Roman god (7) 11 Most substantial lagers drunk with time (7) 12 Cricket side with ambition at a stretch (2,3) 13 Fare system alternative – it helps in making courses? (4,9) 16 Arrange again wild trees (5) 18 A sport held in Manchester suburb usually (2,1,4) 20 I tip man that’s played percussive instruments (7) 21 ME citizen with Irish – a leading question? (5) 22 Barrel yet was almost knocked over for cold drink (6,5)

Suffer having deficient energy (7)

Figure of speech too much for the French and English (5)

Party unsettling Italy showing purpose (13)

Endorse mobile accessory over breaks (7)

See exercise for worthless type (5)

Increase significantly airport fee formulated to cover landing principally (11)

Armed police force angered emir after unrest (11)

Part of theatre to decline? It’s a hidden difficulty (7)

South Africa custom for stuffed meat (7)

Exotic dance held in Assam ballroom (5)

The great electric car dilemma

I HAVE owned a car for more than 30 years now, and apart from an occasional company car

I have typically bought one from AutoTrader or more recently Facebook Marketplace.

When I was first elected to the council in 2011, I took the plunge and bought a nearly new car from a dealership – finally paid off about seven years later.

That car has now done almost 200,000 miles and I am trying to keep it on the road, as I can’t face the idea of buying another petrol or diesel car and the cost of an Electric Vehicle (EV) – especially one that can transport a family of six – is eye watering.

The used EV market is limited and replacement battery costs are pretty expensive, so it is hard to know if it is a risk worth taking.

The fuel and road tax savings makes the investment in a home charger worthwhile, but range anxiety is the problem.

Early models could never cope with university trips and family visits to the other side of the country and there is no way we could repeat our European road trips to the Netherlands or Switzerland.

A new car would be lovely, and get me as far as 250 miles (enough for a meal stop). Enthusiasts tell me the savings are so great that the up front cost is worth it.

But the most I have ever paid for a car is £17,000 and with an

EV costing double this how can I justify such an enormous purchase during a cost-of-living and energy crisis?

That is assuming I could even buy one with year-long waits some manufacturers have on their vehicles.

Then there’s the issue of lithium mining and the carbon footprint of new vehicles, whatever their fuel. Are EVs even the answer? Should we wait for solid-state batteries? Hydrogen? Or car share instead?

The government says it will stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2030. That is just seven years away and with some manufacturers taking production away from the UK there is a risk the supply of new cars will become a problem.

Without proper investment in battery technology, charging infrastruture and research into reducing the environmental impact of all new cars the uptake won’t be high enough to meet this target.

Reaching Net Zero by 2050 has been partly predicated on this, and it makes you wonder whether the Conservative government really understands what needs to be done to actually meet the targets it has set.

The electric vehicle dilemma is similar to that of cycle lanes. You need the infrastructure first

or people won’t change their behaviour, but if you put in the EV chargers (or bike lanes) people grumble that they are unused.

If everyone had electric cars and vans, we would need chargers on every street. Should we really be cluttering the streets with hook ups?

For those with driveways it is fairly clear the responsibility lies with the homeowner (or tenant), but for homes without off-street parking this is a far more complex problem.

Taking up valuable pavement space is inappropriate, but on-road charging needs some sort of device that will reduce parking spaces and could see vehicle owners pay more than those who can access domestic priced electric, which is inequitable.

So home charge device with channels in the pavement could be the solution – if people use them properly and they don’t cause a trip hazard, or impact on those with disabilities.

That’s before you consider the grid capacity issues that are seeing councils unable to add charge points to the network –another conundrum for councils to ponder. And what if the future isn’t lithium batteries and councils spend a fortune on that infrastructure? You can see the problem.

So what will I do? Well, the

second car has gone – replaced with an electric moped for my husband. No road tax, low insurance and 20p charges via a 3-pin plug! Its range is just 30 miles but its only for round town and it’s reduced the strain on the family workhorse.

Next is an investment in an electric bike, so the car will only go out when there isn’t an option – long journeys, a full week’s shopping or when it’s full of children!

Hopefully my workhorse will last another year and although I feel guilty about the emissions I hope the government will act.

Liberal Democrats have been calling for VAT to be cut on electric vehicles and tax breaks to help make their manufacture more economical.

We need council support to fund charge points and a huge expansion of car clubs and car sharing as well as investment in low cost, reliable and frequent public transport so driving isn’t always the only option.

Doing the right thing for the planet is rarely straightforward, but when it involves spending more than the average annual salary it is not surprising people need to take their time to act.

While we ponder those major changes there are other ways we can and must change our lifestylest.

VIKKI SLADE Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Mid Dorset and North Poole

Vikki Slade

Photo: Menno de Jong, Pixabay

Now to deliver on our commitments

SINCE my last column, British politics has had more changes.

But we are now in a time of greater stability. I am very pleased that Rishi Sunak is our new prime minister. I believe he is a talented and hard-working MP who has the skills and experience to tackle the big issues that we face, such as a global energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the impact of Covid on our economy and health service and high inflation.

He and I entered Parliament at the same time and I will continue to support him wholeheartedly.

As I write, people are preparing for Acts of Remembrance across the UK.

While we remember those who died in defence of our country, I know many people will also be thinking of those who are still fighting for freedom in Ukraine.

I know our new prime

minister will continue our support for Ukraine, including military training and arms, and support for refugees.

As part of my role as solicitor general I recently had a meeting with Ukraine’s prosecutor general where we discussed the UK’s ongoing support for the prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group and the work the UK government is funding to train Ukrainian judges on domestic war crimes trials.

The Veterans All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has just launched a short nationwide survey to gather information on the individual experiences of UK veterans when dealing with ‘Veterans UK’. If you have experience of

this, please do contribute your view at https://forms.gle/ oib1BhkTFrUohSGp9.

In the constituency I have been out and about, visiting local businesses and meeting residents. With business owners in Wimborne we discussed the challenge of rising energy bills, and I am pleased the chancellor has put in place more help to non-domestic customers with a discount on energy use for at least six months. This will help businesses, charities, and other places such as schools, hospitals and care homes.

One such organisation that will benefit is Tops Day Nursery in Bearwood, which I opened recently. We also planted an apple tree, which seems to be a bit of a theme – I also planted a tree with the

mayor of Wimborne in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

My aim – and the aim for the whole of the government – will be for a laser-like focus on delivering on our commitments. I am determined to play my part as the Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole.

I continue to hold regular surgeries in the constituency so please do get in touch if there is something you need help with.

Email me on michael. tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216.

You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Twitter @Michael4mdnp or Facebook www.facebook.com/ michael4MDNP, or on my website www.michaeltomlinson. org.uk.

Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole

We must ensure no child goes hungry

A REPORT by the Food Foundation reveals that one in four households in the UK with children experienced food insecurity this September.

Put simply, this means children went hungry.

The charity, Chefs in Schools, reports schoolchildren pretending to eat out of empty lunchboxes. Craig Johnson, founder of Launch Foods, a Glasgow Charity providing free lunches for 300 schoolchildren a day, says: “People are talking about an approaching crisis. There is already a crisis”.

Purbeck is a beautiful part of Dorset, and Swanage a seaside town loved by so many visitors. But there are families here who struggle to make ends meet – and for those families, just getting by is more and more difficult. Even with the energy price cap, hard pressed households in Swanage face an 80 per cent rise in energy bills. We all know, too, that things

may get worse before they get better, with food inflation a particular worry for many families. The cost of food in the UK increased by 14.6 per cent in the 12 months to September 2022, up from 13.1 per cent in August. This is the highest rate of increase since at least 1981, with prices of eggs, milk and cheese being among the biggest upward contributors to this.

There have been some great initiatives in Swanage – cookery clubs, school breakfast clubs, a community pantry addressing food waste, and a hard-working food meeting the needs of people deemed ‘extremely food insecure’.

But it can be a struggle for the food bank to keep up with demand, and research shows that there are likely to be four times as many people here who

are ‘food insecure’, on top of those who access the food bank.

Office of National Statistic figures state that there were 501 Swanage households in receipt of the Universal Credit in February 2022, and 45 per cent of people receiving universal credit here were in work.

This indicates a likelihood of at least 1,000 people in Swanage – given a national average of 2.4 people per UK household in 2020 – at risk of being hungry in the months ahead.

Dorset Council’s own analysis confirms there are many households in Swanage living from day to day, hard pressed and struggling to pay for food and heating.

Parliamentary statistics in the House of Commons library paint the same picture. According to the Constituency

Dashboard, there are significant pockets of child poverty in Swanage.

It is heartening, therefore, to see cross-community, crossparty work taking place on the ground to support food insecure families and individuals in Swanage.

A meeting took place recently on Zoom which was attended by Swanage Town councillors, representatives of local community organisations, churches and schools to consider what might be done.

Contact has been made with FareShare, a national network aimed at relieving food poverty and food waste in the UK.

Further meetings are planned. I am sure all of us will wish this work well, and share its aim that no child in Swanage should go to school hungry.

CHRIS BRADEY

Chairman, Swanage and Rural Purbeck Labour Party

Chris Bradey

MICHAEL TOMLINSON

Michael Tomlinson

Volunteers and charities hook up on website for gig economy employment

AN ONLINE job-matching platform celebrating its first anniversary has expanded to include voluntary work.

The move is expected to help charities and community groups desperately seeking volunteers.

Titled “gigr”, the platform is likened to a dating website for job seekers and is designed specifically for the gig economy. It was launched by Poole businessman Iain Robertson.

Business owners across a range of industries such as hospitality, delivery, cleaning, care, customer service and construction post jobs specifying the role they need filling, the experience required, the location and whether it’s a one-off ‘gig’, temporary or permanent.

Job seekers precisely matching these criteria then receive a live notification, view the details of the job and apply with one click.

Mr Robertson, who is the former headteacher and joint proprietor of Buckholme Towers School in Commercial Road, Poole, devised the online platform.

After leaving the world of education in 2018, a year before the school went into administration and then closed, he took up an office job. After realising the traditional Monday to Friday 9-to-5 model of employment was not working for him, the father of two started taking one-off jobs – or gigs – in offices, couriering or manual labour.

He said: “The biggest challenge was finding the gigs.

“I knew they were out there, but I had to trawl the internet, sometimes for hours, to find exactly what I wanted, when I wanted it.

“Then when I did find an advert for a suitable job, nine times out of 10, it had gone.

“It seemed crazy. In a world

of smartphone technology, it should be at my fingertips.”

gigr now has 2,000 users registered and operates nationwide.

Iain, 57, said: “gigr has grown steadily in the first year.

“It took six months to get the first 500 users and the last 500 users came in a month.

“Five hundred was our first milestone and then 1,000. The next is 5,000.”

Iain had been in discussion with Parkstone United Reformed Church in Ashley Cross about extending gigr to people seeking voluntary work – or charities and community groups looking for volunteers, and he introduced the feature after being contacted by volunteer worker Daniel Parkin.

Daniel, who only took up volunteering and community work during lockdown, said he came across the online job-

matching platform by accident.

Now a Trustee of Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation, he previously was a key volunteer with Surplus4Dorset.

The Parkstone Christadelphian Church initiative provided free surplus food to people and families in need in the BCP area.

Daniel, who works as an independent financial adviser with Strategic Solutions Financial Services, said: “The challenge we had was attracting volunteers.

“There were two main reasons to speak to Iain.

“How do we get volunteers but also how people who want to volunteer can be put in touch with charities and community groups.

“I was approached by one person who had been given a week’s leave by their employer

to do voluntary work.

“But they had no way of finding out where to go or what to do. I think gigr is a brilliant idea and I love it.

“I’m keen to promote it to community groups and also push it to the likes of JP Morgan to say this is where your staff can look to find volunteer positions.”

Iain said: “gigr is working. People are finding jobs and getting matches.

“The majority of the demand at the moment is in the hospitality sector but other sectors such as delivery, cleaning, labouring and security work are busy.

“I’m always looking for ways of expanding and growing gigr but also how we can give back. This is the perfect opportunity.”

Iain Robertson, founder of gigr

Shop opens for tabletop gamers

A SHOP and cafe for tabletop gamers has opened in Poole, The Achroma shop and café at Dolphin Quays has been established by a group of friends who set up the independent and self-funded Realm Runner Studios to bring something fresh and progressive to collectible card games.

They invented and released their first product last year, titled Achroma: The Curse of Curdle Hill, and the shop provides a location for enthusiasts to meet and play.

Sitting somewhere between Pokémon and Magic The

Gathering, Achroma has attracted a diverse player base. Tens of thousands of Achroma cards have been sold and more than a thousand app users registered.

Tabletop gamers can visit the shop to see and buy Achroma products. They can also play the game and hang out with other like-minded gamers.

The shop doubles up as the Realm Runner Studios HQ, meaning the Achroma team are on hand to answer any questions

Big interest in business awards

ENTRIES for the new Purbeck Business Awards are exceeding expectations.

Organiser MW Events says the number of nominations has surpassed the expected numbers in the month since the awards were launched in late September.

The awards are described as grassroots businesses awards that focus on promoting the range and quality of local firms. Entry is free, and the entry form is simple. Businesses can enter as many categories as they want. The judging also breaks the mould, with judging online and even the judges do not know who the other judges are.

Nigel Reeve, of MW Events, said: “Local businesses and

The Achroma and Realm Runner Studios team

Late comeback effort falls short

SWANAGE and Wareham had to travel to Avonvale, who play in Bathford in Somerset.

After a close start, a fine move after 12 minutes saw winger Harry Spyers go in for a try close to the posts. Steve Woolley converted.

However, straight from the kick-off a catch/drive by the hosts resulted in a converted try to make it 7-7.

Three penalties to Avondale took them into Swans’ 5m line and another catch/drive saw them score in the corner.

Ten minutes later Avonvale repeated this, and just before the

interval the hosts scored a try by a winger in the corner.

So at half time it was 22-7 in favour of Avonvale.

Swans started well in the second half with a move by the three quarters sending Swans’ other winger brother to Harry Spyers, Luke Spyers in at the corner after 43 minutes.

However, Avonvale responded five minutes later

with a converted try to make it 29-12.

Swans replied on the hour with a converted try by prop forward Jack Jenner following a push-over try. Woolley added the extras.

Swans gave away a penalty under the posts, making the score 32-19 after 70 minutes.

Three minutes later another push-over try by Swans this time by captain James Casey, which Woolley converted, brought Swans’ score to 26 points. But a mistake close to Swans’ posts enabled Avonvale to score another converted try,

making the score 39-26. In the last minute another push-over try – this time by replacement hooker Craig Foskett – and conversion by Steve Woolley ensured that Swans picked up their second bonus point, leaving the final score Avonvale 39pts Swanage & Wareham 33pts.

Swans team: R.Ferguson, L. Spyers, W.Slack, M.Spencer, H.Spyers, S.Woolley, C.Tomes, S.Waterman, J.Daniels, J.Jenner, M.Seaton, G.Climie, L.Hardy, C.Moag, J.Casey, S.Kitkat, C. Foskett, O.Peters.

RON BUTLER

Cricket’s Phil spills on life’s thrills

CRICKET legend Phil Tufnell, pictured centre, had guests in a spin during the Dorset Sporting Club’s autumn lunch.

The cricketer-turned-TV-personality shared memories and anecdotes from his time in the game, as well as colourful tales from his TV and media career, during the event at Rick Stein’s restaurant in Sandbanks, Poole.

The lunch was sponsored by law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors, which has a branch in Swanage.

Nigel Smith, managing partner at Ellis Jones, said: “Phil was absolutely brilliant company. It was a privilege to have such a legend of the game and born raconteur with us for a very entertaining afternoon.”

Tufnell – nicknamed ‘the cat’ – played 42 tests and 20 one-day internationals for England.

Swans win with last kick of the game

SWANS were home to near neighbour Blandford, and just like the previous week Swans got off to a fast start, let the game go in the middle part of the match, but came good in the final period.

After a couple of penalties to Swans, from a line out the ball was moved outside and centre Tom Munns scored close to the posts after five minutes. Steve Woolley added the extras.

Swans were guilty of giving away penalties and after twenty minutes a catch/drive move by Blandford had them scoring a try in the corner to make it 7-5. Severn minutes later

Blandford scored their second try in the corner, and this time it was converted.

And three minutes later a breakaway by Blandford resulted in a converted try under the posts making the score 7-19 in favour of the visitors.

Swans replied six minutes later with a driving maul with wing forward Conor Moag touching down. Woolley converted.

But just as Swans were on the attack an interception by a Blandford centre had him scoring under the posts making the half-time score Swans 14, Blandford 26.

The second half started with a couple of penalties to Swans and after a series of phases the ball came out to fly half Steve Woolley who scored close to the posts. He converted himself to make it 21-26.

Blandford came back into the game but Swans’ defence held firm. Just after the hour mark, Swans replacement centre and debutant Sam Bowman scored out wide making the score 26-all.

Swans continued to attack and as the time ran out a couple of penalties were missed. However, in the last minute Swans had another penalty halfway out and this time SteveWoolley converted with the last kick of the game leaving Swans victorious at 29 points to Blandford’s 26.

Swans team: R.Ferguson, M. Spencer, T.Munns,E .Dimescio, W.Slack, S.Woolley, C.Tomes, S.Kitkat, C Foskett, S Waterman, G.Climie, O. Andrews, B.Dennett, C.Moag, M.Seaton, H.Hadd, L.Hardy. S.Bowman.

Early learners save cash and are safer

IT IS said the average learner driver at 17 years of age needs 45 lessons to pass their test – at a cost of more than £1,500.

The average cost of an hour-long on-the-road lesson is around £35, and with the cost-of-living crisis and a backlog for available driving tests over the summer, passing quickly and at the first time of asking has never been more important.

So could starting to learn to drive before the age of 17 help make it easier to pass?

According to new research by Young Driver, the UK’s largest pre-17 driving school, it turns out 74 per cent of more than 100 driving instructors questioned said Young Driver past pupils who started their learning journey before the age

of 17 needed fewer on-the-road lessons to be safe and skilled enought to pass their test.

The driving school also questioned 650 past-pupils to find out how many on-the-road lessons they had received at 17 before they passed their test. Young Driver past-pupils took on average just 19 professional lessons at the age of 17 before passing their test – compared to the national average of 45.

Seventy-six per cent said Young Driver lessons had helped them pass their test more easily, with 68 per cent feeling they needed fewer on-the-road lessons because of the grounding they already had.

Interestingly, enabling young learners to pass their test more quickly did not lead to a compromise on safety. In fact,

the data demonstrates the opposite is true.

On average, 20 per cent of new drivers in the UK have an accident in the first six months after passing their test. For Young Driver past pupils that figure dropped to less than four per cent.

Sue Stait, head of marketing at Young Driver, said: “The idea behind Young Driver and pre-17 driving tuition came from a Swedish study back in the 1990s which showed a huge reduction in the accident rate for newly qualified drivers who

had started to learn at a younger age. It makes sense that starting to learn earlier – with less pressure – can help create neural pathways in the brain for the ‘mechanical’ elements of driving.

“Practice makes perfect. Then when it comes to 17, those ‘beginner’ driving lessons aren’t necessary – it can be more about learning to read other road users and situations, along with hazard awareness.

“That grounding can give them the basic driving skills needed to safely control a car.”

Photo by Alex Jumper, Unsplash

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas on Swanage Pier Festive Cheer at Seasons Green

This year we are in full festive swing. We have live music, Christmas donkeys, be entertained by Christmas characters and a chance to visit the big man himself, there is something for everyone!

‘Lighting up Lives’ is also back. In 2021 the stunning display of Lights on the iconic Swanage Pier made it possible for hundreds of people to fondly remember loved ones and celebrate those around us. This year there will be a special lighting up ceremony with live music and entertainment on Friday and a display that promises to be bigger and brighter than ever.

TIVOLI THEATRE

You are invited to dedicate a light to someone special or a group of people you want to show you appreciation to. Your light will shine brightly as part of a stunning installation on Swanage Pier throughout December and your dedication message will feature on our shine a light webpage.

Following the HUGE success of last year’s spellbinding pantomime Sleeping Beauty, Made to Measure Productions are delighted to be back at the Tivoli eatre this Christmas with an exciting new production of ALADDIN!

For full details visit - www.swanagepiertrust.com/events

Starring Britain’s Got Talent Star COURTNEY JACKSON as the hilarious Widow Twankey, with a wardrobe of outrageous costumes that must be seen to be believed! Wimborne Favourite TEGEN JONES will be weaving

magic over the Tivoli as the magical Scheherazade and seasoned pantomime performer LEE REDWOOD will have the audience in stitches as the hilarious Wishee Washee!

e show will feature INCREDIBLE special e ects from internationally-acclaimed illusionists e Twins FX – giving the biggest panto WOW factor in all of Dorset! Prepare to be amazed as Aladdin soars over the audience on his amazing Flying Carpet, with no strings attached!

So hop on your magic carpet and join us this Christmas at the Tivoli for the best value, most spectacular pantomime in Dorset!

Seasons Green in Corfe Castle is a treasure trove well worth exploring, especially at this time of year. Full to bursting with festive cheer, they’ve plenty of gifts and Christmas decorations, as well as gift wrap, ribbons, raffia and cards. Their perennially popular 3D Pop & Slot Advent calendars make for a healthier alternative to a chocolate one, and are so much more fun - for adults and kids alike. Of course there are plenty of art and crafts, and handmade items from local makers: We especially like their range of handcrafted men’s gifts in both leather and wood. There are also wreaths and wreath making kits; fairy lights and candles; kids gifts and homewares; ladies accessories and jewellery; stationery and toiletries, and a cute range of Christmas socks. They are open every day, or you can shop online from the comfort of your armchair - with a free ‘Click and Collect’ option - at www.seasonsgreen.co.uk. They’ll even wrap your gifts and post them direct to your recipient.

Service like that rivals Father Christmas himself!

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s Disability charity, is looking forward to hosting a number of Christmas events this year.

The festive event schedule kicks off with a Wreath Making Workshop hosted by Edwards Florist at The Beehive on Wednesday 23 November. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a beautiful wreath ready to decorate your door at Christmas, with expert tuition and a seasonal atmosphere. Tickets are £55 per person and include all materials to make the wreath.

On Wednesday 7 December, the 2021 Great British Bake Off contestant Maggie the Seaside Baker, will be sharing her tips for making the perfect Christmas pudding whilst you mix along with her and the rest of the group. Tickets are £30 per person and include all the ingredients to make a delicious Christmas Pudding.

Just a few days before Christmas, the charity with be hosting its annual Carol Concert in the spectacular surroundings of Wimborne

Countdown to Christmas

Minster. The concert takes place on Wednesday 21 December from 6pm, and entertainment will come from Razzamataz Bournemouth, Sound of Soul and Lucy Donovan. The concert will be hosted Blair Crawford, the founder and president of Hope FM, with readings from Christine Bueno, Former Deputy of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Maggie the Seaside Baker, and John Smith, Chair of Diverse Abilities.

Lucy Rowley, events fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, said: “We are really getting into the festive spirit and are looking forward to the two Christmas Workshops we are holding at The Beehive in Poole. It’s great for those who want to get creative and make something special in the run up to Christmas. We are hoping for a big turnout for our Carol Concert, we’d love people to come along with their friends and family for a fantastic evening while supporting children and adults with disabilities in Dorset.”

Countdown to Christmas

Mum lost 3 Stone and found a new career!

I started my slimming world journey because I was fed up with feeling frumpy and constantly tired. I have a gorgeous (both inside and out) bunch of friends and they love to take selfie when on a night out. Looking back on them the next day I felt like I always stood out as the Fat one!!

didn’t lose the weight I needed and start to lead a healthier lifestyle. It was at this point my journey took a new route and one which has led me to become a slimming world consultant and help other people to find ways to eat healthier and become their happy weight.

e show will feature INCREDIBLE special e ects from internationally-acclaimed illusionists e Twins FX – giving the biggest panto WOW factor in all of Dorset! Prepare to be amazed as Aladdin soars over the audience on his amazing Flying Carpet, with no strings attached!

So hop on your magic carpet and join us this Christmas at the Tivoli for the best value, most spectacular pantomime in

Since then, I have continued my journey and have recently been rewarded with my 3 stone award and I could not have done this without the support of my group and my consultant.

TIVOLI THEATRE

Following the HUGE success of last year’s spellbinding pantomime Sleeping Beauty, Made to Measure Productions are delighted to be back at the Tivoli eatre this Christmas with an exciting new production of ALADDIN!

With being a Mum to two young children and having a fulltime and demanding job there have been times where I have found healthy eating hard, especially when it came to trying to find time to cook meals from scratch. This is where the Slimming World ready meals and planning really helped. During the week I intended to go for quick easy meals that I knew all the family would enjoy such as Spaghetti bolognaise and Chicken curry. At weekends when I had more time, I would be more experimental and have found new family favourites like tuna pasta bake and Beef moussaka and on a Saturday morning I particularly enjoy a treat of potato cakes with smoked Salmon and poached egg on the side.

The joy of Slimming world is that nothing is off the menu and all your favourite dishes can be food optimised.

Starring Britain’s Got Talent Star COURTNEY JACKSON as the hilarious Widow Twankey, with a wardrobe of outrageous costumes that must be seen to be believed! Wimborne Favourite TEGEN JONES will be weaving

When my Dad passed away very suddenly earlier this year, I started worrying about my own health and what could happen if I

I call them my “Slimming world family”. Without their understanding and encouragement, I would not have been able to achieve this amazing weight loss. I no longer worry about my health or being the fat friend in photos. My consultant is so warm and empathetic really understanding of peoples struggles and how life events can impact on your slimming world journey. Everyone’s journey is different.

I am really looking forward to starting a Slimming World Group at The United Reform Church on a Thursday evening (starting 29th December) and being the new Slimming World consultant for Swanage and helping others through their slimming world journeys.

For more information or an informal chat please call me on 07486 454046. - Trudy

magic over the Tivoli as the magical Scheherazade and seasoned pantomime performer LEE REDWOOD will have the audience in stitches as the hilarious Wishee Washee!

Countdown to Christmas

A SLEIGH RIDE TO CHRISTMAS

Christmas Market

As ever, you’ll find Rotary’s bustling Christmas Market in Swanage Town Centre on Saturday 3 December. We’ll be in Station Road, starting at 10.00 and finishing by 4.00. There will be sackfuls of Christmas gifts, festive music, food and drink, and the unmissable Santa’s Grotto for children.

Christmas Mail

We can also deliver your Christmas cards to local friends and family. You can find our postboxes at Harlees Fish & Chips in Station Road, Swanage; Corfe Bakery; Trevor’s Deli in Langton; Studland Stores; and Ballard Stores. We’re open daily between 11 and 4, from Friday 2 to Friday 16 December.

Christmas Shop

Fingers crossed, we’re hoping to have a Christmas Shop again in Station Road in the run-up to Christmas. So keep a watchful eye out for us. Who could resist our home-baked puddings and cakes?

Santa Sleigh

SWANAGE

Saturday 26 November

Switch on Swanage 3 pm • Town Centre

Thursday 1 December

High St • Jubilee Rd • Shirley Cl • Bell Street • Marsh Way • Ash Cl • Priest’s Rd •

Purbeck Vw • Panorama Rd • Hillview Rd

magic over the Tivoli as the magical Scheherazade and seasoned pantomime performer LEE REDWOOD will have the audience in stitches as the hilarious Wishee Washee!

Friday 2 December

Kings Road W • Locarno Rd • Argyle Rd • Hanbury Rd • Court Rd • High St • Princess Rd • Howard Rd • Linden Rd • Newton Manor Cl • Cecil Rd • Morrison Rd • Hendrie Cl

• Findlay Pl Saturday 3 December

Christmas Market Station Rd

Monday 5 December

High St • Townsend Rd • Richmond Rd • Manwell Rd + Dr • Osborne Rd • Queens Rd + Mead • Mount Scar • Gordon Rd • Priests Rd • Hoburne Rd • Foxhill Cl • Mariners Dr • Cowlease Tuesday 6 December

e show will feature INCREDIBLE special e ects from internationally-acclaimed illusionists e Twins FX – giving the biggest panto WOW factor in all of Dorset! Prepare to be amazed as Aladdin soars over the audience on his amazing Flying Carpet, with no strings attached!

Ulwell Rd • Whitecliff Rd • Moor Rd • Parsons Cl • Hill Rd • Redcliffe Rd • Ballard Wy • Bay Cr + Cl • Streche Rd • Ballard Rd • Gainsborough Care Home • James Day Md

Wednesday 7 December

Victoria Av • Whitecliff Rd • Smiths Farm • Prospect Cr • Rabling Rd • Northbrook Rd • Walrond Rd • De Moulham Rd • Rempstone Rd • Cranborne Rd • Ilminster Rd • Gilbert Rd Friday 9 December

Days Rd • Holmes Rd • Sydenham Rd/Bay Vw • Casterbridge Cl • Higher Days Rd • Shaston Cl • Shottsford Cl • High St

So hop on your magic carpet and join us this Christmas at the Tivoli for the best value, most spectacular pantomime in Dorset!

Saturday 10th December

Swanage Co-op, 10 am-4 pm

Monday 12 December

Bell St • Victoria Ave • Ancaster Rd • Aigburth Rd • High St • Steer Rd • Hillsea Rd • West Dr • South Rd • Newton Rise • Newton Grange Cl • Cow Lane • Wills Rd • High St

TIVOLI THEATRE

In just a few days’ time, Rotary’s legendary Santa Sleigh will once again be delighting children and adults as it weaves its merry way around the streets of Swanage, Langton, Worth and Corfe. There will be Christmas carols (of course), sweets for smiling children, and big waves from Santa Claus as well as from our pointy-hatted elves with their collecting buckets.

Tuesday 13 December

Dolphin Ct • Cauldron Barn Rd • Cauldron Meadows • Cauldron Barn Park • D’Urberville Dr • Anglebury Ave • Northbrook Rd • Greensands Wy • Brickyard Cl • Wessex Wy

Wednesday 14 December Burlington Rd • Victoria Rd • Ulwell Rd • Seaward Rd • De Moulham Rd • Bonfields Ave • Northbrook Rd • Battlemead • De Moulham Rd • Cauldon Ave • Beach Gardens • Gannetts Pk • Vivian Pk

Come to the kerbside and join in the fun — whether you’re in your onesie, your workday clothes or have just thrown a warm coat over your jim-jams !

Following the HUGE success of last year’s spellbinding pantomime Sleeping Beauty, Made to Measure Productions are delighted to be back at the Tivoli eatre this Christmas with an exciting new production of ALADDIN!

Light up your street by wishing the neighbours a happy Christmas, and give generously to Rotary’s charities. Locally, your donations will help support our community’s pre-schools and schools, organise the Silver Saturday Tea for our more senior citizens, develop the sporting and musical talents of Purbeck’s young people, and assist the Food Bank.

Monday 19th December Herston Yards (provisional, not yet confirmed)

LANGTON MATRAVERS

Thursday 8 December Capston Fld • High St • Tom’s Fld Rd • Old Malthouse Ln • Durnford Dr • Gypshayes • The Hyde • Steppes • Lower Steppes • Nine Barrow Vw • Steppes Hill • Serrells Md • Three Acre Ln

CORFE CASTLE

Friday 16th & Saturday 17th December

Crazy4Corfe

Here’s a day-by-day summary of where the Sleigh will be (weather permitting):

Starring Britain’s Got Talent Star COURTNEY JACKSON as the hilarious Widow Twankey, with a wardrobe of outrageous costumes that must be seen to be believed! Wimborne Favourite TEGEN JONES will be weaving

WORTH MATRAVERS

Thursday 22nd December Worth Matravers, Carol Singing, 7-8.30 p.m.

Belvedere Singers prepare to ‘Ring Christmas Bells’

Swanage-based choir ‘Belvedere Singers’ is looking forward to performing a fabulous mix of music to ring in the festive period. They would love everyone to join them for what promises to be a most enjoyable evening, on Saturday 10th December at 7.30pm, at St. Mary’s Church, Swanage.

The choir’s concerts are known to provide ‘something for everyone’ and this year is no exception; there will be many popular carols, some with organ accompaniment and audience participation. Concert-goers can also look forward to some well-known Christmas songs, plus a Ukrainian carol which the choir, always up for a challenge, will attempt to sing in its original language!

As always there will be a retiring collection. This year’s beneficiary will be Purbeck Connect Ukraine, a local charity which aims to provide help and support for people who have come to Purbeck to flee the war in Ukraine.

Tickets are just £7 (under 18’s free) and are available from choir members or on the door.

Major health benefits of mushrooms

By Fiona Chapman

IT IS mushroom and toadstool season, and the damp weather has really encouraged all the fungus to grow and amazing mushrooms are popping up all over the place.

I have a very healthy respect for mushrooms as they can be deadly. I will pick field mushrooms, making sure they peel, and fry those up –delicious with butter and a pinch of salt.

Any others I leave well alone and just enjoy looking at. One day, I will go on a course to learn how to identify mushrooms as they are extremely beneficial for us humans and vitally important to the environment and communication between trees and other plants.

Herbalists use lots of medicinal mushrooms as they really are very powerful, mainly because they are fantastic for our general immunity.

Many have been shown to help with all sorts of cancers either as prevention or run alongside conventional medicine to treat cancer. They can help with side-effects from

chemotherapy and radiotherapy and stimulate the white blood cell count – white blood cells being our disease-fighting cells.

Just eating normal mushrooms is good for you but shitake, which you can buy in supermarkets, is great for its anti-cancer and anti-viral properties, as well as for cholesterol control.

I use gandomera lucidum or reishi quite a bit, which traditionally was known as the ‘mushroom of immortality’. Again, it is used for cancer treatment and prevention.

It is also very good for allergies as it not only tackles the underlying over-activity of the immune system to substances the body should be

able to tolerate, but it has anti-histamine and antiinflammatory properties.

These anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory substances can benefit those with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

Reishi is good for liver disease, cardiovascular and respiratory health, as well as insomnia and anxiety. It helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and has blood-thinning effects, so is contraindicated if on anti-coagulants.

You can buy it as a powder but it is disgusting – says me, who is quite used to eating all things bitter and unpalatable. I find the best way to take it is as tincture but you need to make sure it has been processed properly.

There are water-soluble properties in the mushrooms which are very important and then oil-soluble substances which are extracted by alcohol, so you need to make sure you buy a dual extract tincture. nFiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

Shitake mushrooms

Photo by Connie Tucker, Pixabay

Nature is medicine as I remember mum amid chaos of late autumn

by Dr Susie Curtin

TODAY the sky is the colour of my mood – dark, heavy and full of tears.

But knowing that nature is my medicine, I automatically reach for my walking boots.

For going out is a way of getting ‘in’ and releasing the grey mischievous thoughts that dampen my spirits. Even just a few minutes of walking in this beautiful autumn countryside and I know I will feel lighter and freer.

Heading up the fields towards Duncliffe Woods, my feet crunch over shining piles of acorns. I have never seen so many.

Above my head the oak trees are still wearing their green coats, only the edges of their leaves are painted in turmeric hues. As yet, we have had no frost to colour them crimson.

It was the warmest October I have ever experienced but still I am surprised by the muted autumn colour. Apart from, that is, the pink orange of spindle berry flowers, the ruby red rose hips that gleam from the hedgerows and the cinnamoncoloured bracken that is spicing

up the understory. The unexpected spots of colour in life that bring us joy.

As I reach the summit of this ancient conical landmark that towers over the vale, the grey clouds part just for a minute and sunbeams streak through the trees – their wet leaves glistening with tiny crystals as the light gently embraces the dew. I think of my mother and smile. It is ten years to the day that she died, a decade of time that has rolled past me.

Although she loved the autumn hues, she thought it a messy time of year and would vigorously sweep the leaf-litter that ‘untidied’ her garden.

Instead, I cherish the chaos of falling leaves and the carpet of colour they lay. Autumn reminds me of how beautiful change can be.

Moving closer to my favourite beech trees, I notice the abundance of fungi flourishing in the warm damp weather.

Magical and mistrusted, fungi belongs to a biological kingdom all of its own. There are about 80,000 known species that also include rusts, molds and mildews.

They are the principal decomposers in nature and come in an astounding array of shapes and colours that decorate the woodlands, helping to regenerate the nutrients of decaying matter, bringing new life from old and allowing root systems to connect and communicate underneath our feet.

Being here on top of the Vale

leaning against these ancient old trees, I too feel connected to something greater than the chores and tick lists of the everyday.

A lovely poem by Angie Weiland-Crosby reminds me of how ‘everyone needs a place to retreat, a spot where the world goes quiet enough for the soul to speak’. I had made time to remember my dear mother and used this incredibly peaceful place to lift my spirits.

Now steadily making my way home to work in my garden, I vow to plant some winter violas and pansies to bring cheerful spots of colour and deter the winter grey.

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

This season marks change

Main photo by Valentin; acorns, below, by Julita, Pixabay

Pick the right tree to light up your Xmas

WITH the festive season just around the corner it is almost time to choose your Christmas tree and begin decorating it.

Having a decorated tree in your house to celebrate Christmas is a long-standing tradition and there are many options to pick from.

Pot grown

Pot-grown Christmas trees are one of the most sustainable Christmas decorations and can be enjoyed year after year.

A pot-grown Christmas tree is one that has been planted in a pot as a seedling, which means the rootball remains intact and has very little disturbance.

Once the festive season has ended your pot-grown tree will make the perfect addition to any balcony, patio or garden all year round.

Pot-grown trees can be planted on into a larger pot or be planted in the garden.

Cut trees

Cut Christmas trees have been grown in the ground and then cut off at their root system at ground level.

They are cheaper alternative and a better choice if you are unable to store or plant a pot-grown tree.

There are many varieties of cut tree to choose from, but the two most common varieties are Nordmann fir and Norway spruce.

The Nordmann Fir is the most popular variety of Christmas tree in the UK. It has a traditional full shape with glossy, thick needles. It is often called the ‘non-drop tree’ which like all cut trees cannot be 100 per cent true, although its needle retention is much better compared to other varieties.

The Nordmann Fir is also much more resilient to heat than other varieties, which allows you to have a warm and cosy home without the worry of your tree dropping its needles as often. Its soft foliage makes it a joy to decorate, and it is a great choice if you have children or pets.

The Norway spruce is considered by many to be the traditional Christmas tree. It is a bushy, symmetrical tree with sharp needles, known for its

lovely fragrance and its strong branches making it the ideal tree to decorate, but it requires regular watering to keep its needle drop to a minimum.

n Rudge’s Garden Centre has a wide range of Christmas trees available – both cut and pot grown – as well as many other Christmas decorations.

Photo by Jarkko Mänty, Pixabay

Brighten up winter with colourful gems

WITH winter approaching and the colourful autumn leaves blowing away, the winter months can feel a little lacklustre.

However, the gemstones representing the month of November are some of the most colourful yet affordable jewels on the market.

The birthstones for November are citrine and topaz. While citrine is a rich, orangey yellow colour reminiscent of sunny summer days, did you know that topaz can come in a wide array of different colours?

Topaz is most commonly blue and pink, from the palest ‘ballet’ shoe peachy pinks through to vibrant fuschia pink, yellow, pale blue and the desirable teal-coloured London blue topaz.

While not one of the four precious stones – diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire – it is growing in popularity as its colour can replicate some of these more expensive stones with the benefit of being more affordable in a much larger size.

“These days clients are looking for statement pieces that are robust enough for

day-to-day use without breaking the bank,” explained Amy Brenan, jewellery valuer and owner at Heirlooms in Wareham.

“We have a wonderful selection of large blue topaz pieces in the shop set in silver and gold and priced between £100 and £500 – perfect for a special Christmas gift.”

And if you do not want to brave the cold and blustery winter weather, you can always shop for the perfect piece of jewellery by phone or online.

“We have a huge amount of jewellery on our website for sale, but we are only at the end of the telephone if you need some help finding the perfect

Go retro with Cavallini

TO COMPLEMENT our vintage and retro furniture we also stock vintage style greeting cards, posters, puzzles and tea towels from Madame Treacle and Cavallini & Co.

The greeting cards by Madame Treacle are designs created from vintage images and ephemera, inspired by French perfume bottle labels to seed packets, elegant wallpaper to railway posters.

Many different elements are reworked and recreated into bright, vibrant contemporary designs, a fusion of the old and new. An abundance of flora and fauna

feature alongside images such as clocks, beehives and antique maps, all embracing the vast wealth of art and design in this beautiful world past and present.

Since 1989 Cavallini has been producing the highest quality of gift and stationery products, drawing inspiration from their archives – from 19th-century anatomical charts to mid-century travel guides, from maps to botanical plates, the collection spans hundreds of years and preserves a vast variety of both everyday ephemera and rare, iconic images.

The original Home Guard volunteers

ON DISPLAY in Wareham Museum is a large formal photograph presented to Lieut. L.Sturdy 1st Vol Battn, Dorset Regt by the NCOs and Men of the Wareham Detachment, dated July 1919.

It shows a group of soldiers in First World War British army uniform, but it is clear that many of the men are above age for normal military service and the caption shows they are volunteers.

In the First World War there was no direct equivalent to the WWII Home Guard, but back then – just as in 1939-40 –many men who were unqualified to join the regular forces also wanted to serve.

Soon after the outbreak of war in September 1914, a Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps was founded and the Dorset Volunteer Corps was inaugurated on December 3, 1914, in Dorchester.

Funding was by public subscription. Many members supplied their own rifles, no uniforms were worn and they

Food & Drink

Chubby chuffed

CORFE Castle Club steward Brian Varney – known to regulars as Chubby – was celebrating after learning his club had been judged Wessex and Channel Islands Club of the Year 2022 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

He is photographed here receiving a certificate from John Chambers, right, chairman of the East Dorset branch of CAMRA.

drilled in the grammar school.

Their function was to guard local important sites – later this would include the Holton Heath Cordite Factory.

They were identified by a red armlet with the royal initials ‘GR’, but at first the military authorities were reluctant to take any responsibility for these units. Eventually in September 1916 the corps came under control of the War Office and uniforms and weapons were issued.

These were described as ‘assorted obsolete rifles’, but officers were commissioned and men would be paid when called for actual military service.

HQ remained in Dorchester and units were required to carry out fifteen drills every month. By 1917 modern rifles had been issued.

In early 1918 after the collapse of Russia, the situation on the Western Front was desperate and there were real fears of a German invasion.

Special Service Companies were formed from the volunteer corps. In June 1918, one

hundred men from Dorset were sent to guard the East Coast for three months, and they included seven men from Wareham –Private C. Groombes, aged 64, being the oldest.

In August 1918 a battalion camped for a month at Trigon, the Sturdy family estate west of Wareham, for intensive field training and it is possible that is when our picture was taken.

Giles Sturdy identified his relative Lieut. Leonard Sturdy (6th from left, front row), and Jess Macy, an NCO (4th from left, front row) but we do not

know the names of any others. Can anyone pick out any family members in the group? If so please let us know.

Parades were cancelled and stores withdrawn on November 14, 1918, and the units were disbanded apparently without any ceremony on March 6, 1920.

The museum has now closed for the winter. You can contact us via Facebook, by emailing info@wtm.org.uk or by leaving a message on 01929 553448.

TIM SALTER Wareham Museum

Do you know anybody in this photograph?

PHOTO: Robin Boultwood

JEFFREY Holland (Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M’Lord) returns to Lighthouse Poole on Saturday November 26 in And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel, his sell-out one-man show about friendship, memories and a couple of remarkable lives.

Set in the bedroom of a sick Oliver Hardy, the show takes place during Stan Laurel’s visit to the dying man. Reflecting on their success as the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy, this is a funny and touching look at one of the great cinematic partnerships.

Jeffrey Holland has become a well-known face in some of the UK’s most iconic television shows including Dixon of Dock

Green, Are You Being Served, Crossroads, Dad’s Army and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.

His breakthrough role was as Spike Dixon, the camp comic at the Maplin’s Holiday Camp in Hi-de-Hi!, in which he appeared with Paul Shane and Su Pollard. He was also a regular performer in Russ Abbot’s Madhouse before going on to appear again with Paul Shane and Su Pollard in You Rang, M’Lord? and Oh, Doctor Beeching! – two hugely popular sitcoms also penned by David Croft and Jimmy Perry, the writers of Hi-de-Hi!

For tickets and further information about the show call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk.

Jeffrey Holland as Stan Laurel

We’re going to rock around the clogs

By Lorraine Gibson

A

CLOG-DANCING

, step-dancing quintet is bringing a uniquely-exuberant style of traditional English music to a trio of rural Dorset communities.

Gadarene, described as a ‘hidden gem of the English folk scene’, will perform their high-energy blend of dance rhythms and old English tunes, combined with a virtuosic musicianship that is bound to dispel the winter gloom and get audiences tapping their trainers, if not their clogs.

Through Artsreach, the charity that brings cultural events to rural areas, the band will revitalise traditional numbers by adding their own ideas and modern dance grooves.

Drawing on genres like pop, rock and funk, the arrangements aim to fulfil their mission of taking obscure 18th- and 19th-century dance tunes and reworking them to get modern-day audiences up and dancing to them.

Weaving in clog and Dartmoor stepdancing, Gadarene’s sound comes courtesy of Matt Norman on mandolin, Laurel Swift on double bass and clogs, Jon Dyer on flute, Nick Wyke on fiddle and Si Paul on drums.

While touring Dorset, Matt is also offering the opportunity to join his Dartmoor Stepdance workshop.

The distinctive dance originates from north-east Dartmoor and is performed on a small board that emphasises the rhythms of the dancers’ feet.

The one-off workshop – for any level of dancer – is at 5pm-6pm ahead of Gadarene’s concert at Cerne Abbas Village

GADARENE DATES:

n Morden, Thursday December 8. Call 01929 459217.

n Halstock, Friday December 9. Call 01935 891744.

n Cerne Abbas, Saturday December 10, 07823 778758.

Hall. Places cost £5 and advanced booking on the dedicated number below is essential.

Gadarene in action

Arts & Entertainment

Book

LIVE SHOWS & MUSIC:

• Karen G’s Christmas Show - Karen G and guests will take to the stage to sing all your favourite Christmas songs. There are a few surprises planned, so don’t miss out! Friday 2nd December at 7.30pm

• Snow Angel - Artsreach present a shamelessly festive cabaret show celebrating all that is Christmassy! Subversive, anarchic, and darkly hilarious, Snow Angel is a Christmas show that threatens to blow the cover off Elsa and Anna, The Snowman and a poor little drummer boy. Friday 9th December at 7.30pm

• Santa Saves Christmas - Join Jack, Dasher the Reindeer and Pompom the Penguin for this festive, musical, interactive adventure as they meet Father Christmas at his home at the North Pole and help Santa Save Christmas!

Friday 23rd December at 2.00pm

EVENTS IN THE SHOWBAR

(upstairs at The Mowlem): No events are planned for December, but our opening hours have changed.

• Monday to Thursday: 6 pm to 9 pm

• Friday and Saturday: 6 pm to 10 pm

• Sundays: Closed MOWLEM

VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS

Festive fun with an unusual twist

A ‘SUBVERSIVE, anarchic, darkly hilarious and shamelessly festive’ show is heading to The Mowlem next month.

Diva, temptress, vocalist and acrobat Charlie Bicknell has teamed up with soprano Louise Innes and pianist David Harrod for a night of comic cabaret as part of the Snow Angel Christmas show.

“Expect the unexpected in this mad-capped, joyous and at times preposterous evening of festive frivolity with a tiny sparkle of magic that will delight the unhinged and charm the pants off everyone else,” said a spokesperson.

“From Michael Bublé and Tiny Tim to Frozen mashups and the return of the small and ever-popular Eskimo – Santa will never be the same!”

Charlie Bicknell became a household name playing Delilah in BBC2’s This Life and subsequently starred as Scout in Ben Elton’s West End hit Popcorn.

Continuing to work as an actress for the National Theatre and rep around the UK, Charlie then moved into cabaret and circus, performing all over the world.

Louise Innes is a versatile operatic mezzo soprano who has sung at venues including Covent Garden Opera House, Scottish Opera and Festival Hall to name but a few.

The production will come to The Mowlem in Swanage on Friday December 9, starting at 7.30pm. For more information, and to book tickets, log on to www.themowlem.com, or call 03336 663366.

• ‘On Stage’. Pantomimes, plays, ballet and concerts; local groups and professional companies – Tony Kerins has been drawing at live performances in The Mowlem Theatre since 1986. Our third visual arts exhibition will showcase Tony’s work and be open to the public from Friday, 2nd December, through Tuesday, 17th January 2023

MOVIES:

• The Banshees of Inisherin (15) Saturday, 3rd through to Thursday, 8th December at 7.30 pm (excluding Sunday), Monday Matinée on 5th December at 2.30pm.

• Living (12A) Saturday, 10th through to Thursday, 15th December at 7.30 pm (excluding Sunday), Monday Matinée on 12th December at 2.30pm.

• The Bishop’s Wife (U) Friday, 16th December at 2.30pm, Wednesday 21st through to Friday 23rd December at 7.30pm.

• Matilda The Musical (PG) Saturday, 17th, Sunday 18th and Monday 19th December at 11.30am, Tuesday, 20th December at 2.30pm, Wednesday, 21st, Thursday 22nd and Saturday 24th December at 11.30am, Tuesday, 29th through to Friday 30th, December at 2.30pm, Saturday, 31st December at 11.30am.

• The Menu (15) Movie is subject to change - please check listings on www.themowlem.com Saturday 17th through to Tuesday 20th December at 7.30pm (including Sunday).

CLUBS & SOCIETIES:

• The Making Memories Dementia Friendly cafe is 6th & 20th of November at 10.00am in The Showbar. On Tuesday 6th December there is a showing of ‘Holiday Inn’, the 1942 musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

• The Flower Club will meet on Thursday 1st December at 9am in the Community Room.

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

• Baharah Dance Classes at 6.30pm on Thursday 1st, 8th and 15th November in the Community Room.

Charlie Bicknell stars in Snow Angel

Spotlight Diary

Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £6 plus VAT per entry, per month.

The deadline for 5th December is NOON 28th November

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.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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

EVERY MONDAY

09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH.

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

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

09.45 Toddler Club URC, Swanage. Till 11.15.

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

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

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

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

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

14.00 Pins and Needles at Harmans Cross VH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Swanage.

EVERY TUESDAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

dn Learning on 01202 262300.

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

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

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

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

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

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

17.30 Wareham Youth Club year 6, Wareham Youth Centre.

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

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

18.15 Swanage Cricket Club Practice till 8.30pm.

18.30 Swanage Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840.

19.00 Wareham Youth Club year 7, Wareham Youth Centre.

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

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

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

EVERY WEDNESDAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19.00 Wm Bridge Club at the Library, South St. 552046.

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

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

19.00 Purbeck Runners meet at Beach Gardens Pavillion, Swanage.

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

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

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

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

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

EVERY THURSDAY

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

09.00 Carey Crafters meet every Thursday at Carey Hall, Mistover Road, until 12.30pm (come anytime between). No age or gender restriction. All crafts welcome – we have a wide variety!.Come along and share your craft or learn a new one! Contact Donna on 07870 993311 or Helen on 07368 352737 for further information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18.15 Swanage Cricket Club Practice till 9pm.

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

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

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

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

EVERY FRIDAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18.30 Swanage Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840.

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

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

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

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

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

EVERY SATURDAY

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

09.00 Swanage CC U11 - U15 Practice till 10.30

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

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

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

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

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

EVERY SUNDAY

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

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

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

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

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

Hours are

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

Closing date for applications is Friday 30th November.

Left to right: Bridget Legg, Imogen Judd, John Savage, David Price, Neal Wilson, Rosie Thorpe