The New Stour & Avon - Issue 98

What’s inside this issue...

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Cover: Beech avenue, Wimborne

New chapter after ‘miracle’ in town

Santa was kept very busy at Wimborne Community Garden with two fundraising events.

The Forgetful Santa promotion was a trail around Wimborne shops for children to identify items which Santa had left behind on the premises while shopping. The shopkeepers had agreed to leave the relevant items in their window display. Many thanks go to Wimborne Library, Colehill Library, Museum of East Dorset and

Optique 2000 for selling and receiving back entry forms.

The lucky winners were Ben Bristow who is on holiday from his home in New York and Charlie O’Gorman from Wimborne.

The Visit Santa’s Woodland Grotto at the Wimborne Community Garden was an extremely popular event. The volunteers, led by Sandi Cooke, had constructed a magical pathway festooned with fairy lights for the children to approach Santa’s

Grotto. The Grotto itself was decorated with candles and starry lights, drawing gasps of wonder from all. Santa greeted the children while he sat beside a welcoming fire and told them a festive story before handing out presents. Many thanks go to Tails From The Woods for their assistance.

Photos are of Santa arriving through the Woodland and with his two elves (Nicole Bennett and Florence Hampton) in his Grotto.

There was a ‘Christmas miracle’ at Ferndown Plus adult social care service, after grinches who took festive books meant for a charity sale left colleagues heartbroken. The 20 Christmas-themed books were donated by the public and exhibited on a stand placed outside the day service. For 14 years, money from sales, which rely on ‘honesty boxes’ goes to charities chosen by colleagues at the Service. But when admin officer Carol Jones went to bring in the stand, she found the books had been taken with no payment. Manager Sue Thorne said: “As soon as word got out to the local community about what had happened, donations of books came flooding in. “We had so many we were even able to donate some to the local British Legion! We’d like to thank everyone for their donations and kind words.” So far £1,567 has been raised this year for 33 donations.

Many young cooks enjoying the broth!

Children in Ferndown with special educational needs and disabilities have participated in fun and educational cooking classes, thanks to Local Alliance Groups funding.

The funding has supported the delivery of five engaging sessions during the school holidays for 10-15 children aged between five and 13 years. The sessions were introduced to address a significant gap in holiday activities for the age group, providing meaningful opportunities for children and families alike.

During the sessions, children have had the chance to make afternoon tea, cook pizzas, and bake cupcakes. Each child has been provided with aprons, chef hats, and bowls to take home, encouraging them to continue practising their new skills outside of the sessions. The programme has not only offered enjoyment for the children but has also fostered valuable social opportunities among parents, particularly those caring for children with additional needs.

sessions

with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

The programme has received overwhelming positive feedback. Due to increasing demand,

The programme was made possible with funding from Dorset Council.

This enabled Ferndown Family Hub to buy all the necessary resources for the activities.

There are six local alliance groups in Dorset. The groups agree on priorities and create plans to improve things for children and young people in their local area. To find out more, contact catherine.sharpe@dorsetcouncil. gov.uk.

The sessions were led by a parent who understands the unique challenges faced by families of children

for children without additional needs will be introduced this year.

MP attends building society’s 50-year celebration

The MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, visited Nationwide’s branch in Wimborne to help them celebrate 50 years of the building society on the high street.

Ms Slade met with branch manager Robert WakefieldCoombes, and toured the branch to see first-hand how the team supports the local community.

The branch has been at the same spot on the square since it first opened in 1974 as the Ramsbury building society. The visit was part of a week of celebrations, following a party with the mayor and Wimborne Business Improvment District.

The cofounders of Dorset Children’s Foundation also attended the celebration after the branch raised £525 for the charity in a raffle.

Mr Wakefield-Coombes and Ms Slade also discussed the newly-introduced Safe Spaces initiative available in the branch, offering free support for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. The initiative, launched by domestic abuse charity Hestia, offers anyone who asks, access to a private room with support to deal with domestic abuse – including use of a phone if they need one and the chance to contact family, friends or specialist support.

Safe Spaces has launched in more than 400 Nationwide branches.

Ms Slade also learned about Nationwide’s branch promise, which says that everywhere that Britain’s biggest building society has a branch, it will still be there until at least 2028.

Carols in the Cornmarket raises £1,100

For only the second time in 18 years, Carols in the Cornmarket was held inside the Minster due to bad weather.

But this did not stop people, who came in large number, from attending.

The singing was accompanied by Broadstone Community Concert Band and the Minster Choristers. The event was sponsored by Wimborne BID and Optique 2000.

A collection taken for Wimborne Minster funds raised £1,124.

Next year’s event will be held on Friday, December 19.

Solve a problem like Maria!

You watched it over Christmas... now it’s your chance to be in it!

Wimborne Musical Theatre Society have announced that their next major musical will be the Sound Of Music, to be performed at the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne, from June 12 to 14, 2025.

They will be holding open auditions as they search for talented adults and children to take on leading and supporting roles in Rogers and Hammerstein’s muchloved musical.

Or perhaps the role of Captain Von Trapp has your name on it?

Or maybe you see yourself belting out Climb Every Mountain as Mother Abbess?

of enthusiasm to the roles!

So why delay? Make the Sound Of Music one of your favourite things to do in 2025! If you’d like to register for auditions, email the society on info@ wimbornemusical. com. Please note. You must register prior to auditioning. The closing date for registering is this Sunday, January 12, 2025.

The auditions for both adults and children will be taking place at the Merley Community Centre on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Could you be the next Maria?!

The Society is also keen to cast local children in the roles of the Von Trapp children.

Children must be aged seven or older at the time of their audition and be willing to bring buckets

The Sound Of Music will be performed at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne, June 12 to 14, 2025, at 7:30pm, with a matinee at 2:30pm on June 14. (Facebook: facebook.com/ wimbornemusical; Instagram: wmtsofficial; TikTok: @wimborne musical).

A sad tale of struggle

This year has been particularly difficult for all rescues, struggling to cope with the increasing demand for rehoming places.

Waggy Tails Rescue is currently at capacity and the calls keep coming. We’ve had more than 800 requests for rehoming and are only able to help a small number of these. Emergencies from Social Services and the police often pose a problem and they can turn up late at night with a dog that needs safety and shelter. We had hoped that our new property would increase

capacity but the planning application refusal by Dorset Council has stopped that and we will retain our Sanctuary whilst we sell the farm and then look to our future plans. With so many mouths to feed at the moment, we are putting out a seasonal wishlist for good quality dry food, tins of Chappie, Dentastix and soft treats. This can be seen at waggytails.org.uk

Any gifts can be delivered to the Sanctuary or call the office on 01202 875000.

Waggy Tails Rescue Wimborne

Get in the swing at Allendale

Jazz At The Allendale, a free to enter concert organised by Wimborne Rotary, is once again returning to Wimborne’s Allendale Community Centre.

The concert, featuring Swing Unlimited Big Band, will be on Monday, February 3, at 7.30pm.

The South Coast’s foremost 17-piece big band, Swing Unlimited Big Band, will present a varied programme which will include a broad repertoire of swing, jazz, and contemporary music, from the golden age of swing through to the present day.

Admission is free with tickets only available at the doors, which open at 7.00pm.

As usual there will be a retiring

collection which will benefit Dorset Rural Music School, Youth Music Wessex, and other Rotary-supported charities.

Wimborne Rotary president, Sue Young, says: “Wimborne Rotary is pleased to once again present this annual charitable concert, the proceeds from which will support two very worthwhile and local music related charities and other charities which Rotary supports.

“This concert always attracts a large and appreciative audience, and we look forward to welcoming them and are confident they will have an enjoyable evening.”

John Gully

Wimborne

Thank you for your support

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to your readers and the community for their invaluable support of LewisManning over the past year. Your generosity and commitment have made a profound difference, enabling us to achieve remarkable milestones in enhancing palliative care for our community. We have: Developed Hospice At Home for Poole & Purbeck, bringing care directly to families in need, in their own homes.

Strengthened our Closer To Home services across East Dorset and Purbeck, ensuring more accessible support. Supported more than 1,300 patients, offering comfort and dignity during their most challenging times.

Expanded our offerings to include Occupational Therapy, providing vital support to improve quality of life. Enhanced our Complementary

Therapy services, addressing the holistic needs of patients and their loved ones.

Developed our Family Support services, now extending to children and young people, recognising the importance of supporting the entire family.

Our Patron and HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Michael Dooley has recently said:

“These achievements were recognised when I presented this amazing charity with the Social Impact Award at the Dorset Chamber of Commerce business awards; this is testament to the outstanding work that LewisManning Hospice Care does.

“Huge thanks to everyone who supports this very worthwhile, innovative charity”.

We are determined to build on these successes and extend our reach even further.

With your continued support, we can achieve even more.

Thank you once again! Clare Gallie

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

2025... a political vacuum?

I was struck by how different the views of the four parties were, in this edition of the Political Round-up - ’twere ever thus, I suppose.

Labour fills its article with its standard blurb, defending the indefensible and so full of aspirations rather than actions; although ‘finding £22bn extra for the NHS’ was an interesting way of describing an oppressive tax hike.

The Conservative blurb was one out of the Labour-in-opposition playbook, largely complaining about Labour’s rather dubious start.

Reform gave us a lovely ‘pat

your unwanted household items FREE of charge.

on our back’ storyline, devoid of any policy but thankfully, at least not mentioning their onetrick-pony leader at all.

The LibDems are just ‘so nice’, but at least they try and infuse a little local interest into their patter, making me feel a bit warmer.

2025 already looks like a political vacuum to me, based on these inputs, so I’m going to concentrate on non-political matters and make the most of it. Happy New Year to one and all, of whatever political persuasion you are.

Chris Wilkinson

Ferndown

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Dedication of hospital volunteers honoured

The Friends of Victoria Hospital, Wimborne honoured the dedicated volunteers who work at their charity shop and at the hospital with a special celebration tea at the Little Pickle Café, Walford Mill.

These volunteers are the heart and soul of the charity shop and hospital, contributing their time, energy, and joy to support a meaningful cause.

The shop, known for its welcoming atmosphere and friendly team, sells quality second-hand clothing and other goods.

Since relocating to a larger, brighter space, the shop has seen a significant boost in profits, thanks in large part to the enthusiastic efforts of its volunteers. Other volunteers work at the hospital itself – in the X-ray department and tending the garden.

This enables greater support for the Victoria Hospital, which is cherished by the Wimborne community.

Jeff Hart, Mayor of Wimborne Minster and a trustee of the Friends, expressed his admiration.

He said: “What a great job these shop and hospital volunteers do.

“They turn up every day and are making a real difference for the patients at the hospital.

Platinum Award-Winning Care 2022

We have been awarded this much sought after accolade for our work with Gold Standards Framework

“They’re reliable, hard-working, and good fun - thank you, volunteers.”

The Tea celebrated the contributions of these individuals who are making a positive impact on both the hospital and the community it serves.

The short entertainment was provided by the Significance Sign Choir, providing a selection of Christmas music in their own unique way.

And the Friends said a fond farewell to Melanie Fawcett, pictured above, who left her role after seven years as a trustee.

During that time she played a key role

as a member of the finance committee. Melanie said she enjoyed her time with the Friends and knew how valued the hospital was to the local community. David Pope, president, thanked Melanie for her invaluable help over the years and wished her well for the future.

“Your staff are exemplary in every way. They care for my every need, showing genuine kindness and always go above and beyond the call of duty. The excellent chef caters for my special diet - all cooked to perfection. I couldn’t ask for anything more.” Current resident

Exceptional Care in Stunning Surroundings

Live life better... every day at Spetisbury Manor

Use your spare time to go back in time

If you’re thinking of putting some of your spare time to good use this year, how about being a Victorian maid for a day?

Or would you fancy being a World War hero or fierce Roman soldier?

Wimborne’s Museum of East Dorset is appealing for volunteers to join its Learning and Education team.

The museum’s new Learning and Family assistant, Rachel Simpson-Fernandes is keen to hear from anyone who can spare a couple of hours a fortnight to support the museum’s burgeoning on-site schools programme.

Rachel explained: “I’m looking for some wonderful new learning volunteers to join my team.

“No experience is necessary as full training and mentoring is provided.

“Every session also has a detailed delivery plan that is easy to follow.

“All I need is people with a passion for history, who love the magic of museums and how they enrich children’s lives.

“And if you fancy dressing up as a Victorian

housekeeper or Roman soldier - even better!”

Themed workshops at the museum cover more than 2,000 years of British history, from Stone Age to life as a Roman, Victorian living and the World Wars. Role play and activities are tailored to suit age groups

and include a chance for children to experience cooking in the museum’s Victorian kitchen and life as a scullery maid in the washroom.

The museum has the kitemark of the prestigious Sandford Award, the only nationally-recognised award for heritage learning in historical settings and was given to the museum for its outstanding contribution to on-site sessions for schools and its Hands-On History educational resources offered to schools on a loan programme.

Rachel added: “It’s a huge amount of fun working with the children who are split into small groups so they can all enjoy our experiences.” If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Rachel via learning@ museumofeastdorset.co.uk.

£2.3million park project is well under way

The first phase of a £2.3m project to restore and conserve Upton Country Park has been completed. The work is part of the Discovery Project, funded by the Parks for People programme, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, alongside funding by BCP Council and the Friends of Upton Country Park. It aims to celebrate the heritage of the park by restoring, conserving and interpreting the historical features and landscapes. Work so far has created a ‘more accessible, sustainable and vibrant attraction that will engage new and existing visitors through stimulating opportunities for learning, participation and inclusive interpretation’, a spokesman said.

The 108-hectare park is owned and managed by BCP Council and includes

a 200-year-old Grade II*

Georgian-style mansion house, formal gardens, parkland, woodland, tenanted agricultural land and borders an internationally-recognised shoreline.

The Discovery Project, which started in February 2020, aims to create a legacy across three main themes – heritage, people and landscapes.

Cllr Richard Herrett,

portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations at the council, said: “Upton Country Park is an amazing attraction much loved by residents and visitors to the area and we are thrilled with the results of the Discovery Project.

“I love that it is open until dusk every day all year round, the fantastic events, the amazing grounds and

biodiversity and of course all the exciting outdoor childfriendly activities.”

During the first phase, historic views have been reinstated, reconnecting the house with its unique shoreline setting, while boosting biodiversity through wildflower meadows and nectar-rich borders.

Improved drainage has also revitalised key horticultural areas, benefiting surrounding trees and shrubs.

Visitors can now explore new and restored pathways, enhanced shoreline trails, and the Lookout bird hide overlooking Holes Bay Nature Park, an internationally-recognised Ramsar and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Heritage assets such as the Stable Yard and Kennels have been carefully renovated, while the Pleasure Grounds benefit from new infrastructure.

Political round-up

The six milestones we have to reach

Firstly can I wish all readers a happy New Year. We make much of this celebration of the Gregorian calendar. I find the midwinter solstice the more profound event, grounded in the cycle of the Earth around the Sun. Whichever, we are provided an opportunity to gather our thoughts and look forward.

In that vein, I’m going to look forward with the ‘milestones for change’ the Prime Minister announced in December. They have not been chosen because they are easily delivered, but with relentless focus will drive real change by the end of the Parliament.

Any one of them would be challenging but taken together they are the most ambitious and honest plan for Government in a generation. They will galvanise efforts across Government and beyond and allow the public to track our progress.

Labour’s Plan For Change sets six milestones that working people can feel by the end of this

Parliament. They are:

1. Higher Living Standards across the country, measured by Real Household Disposable Income per capita. So, working people have more money in their pocket as we deliver the fastest growth in the G7.

2. Rebuilding Britain, with 1.5m homes over the Parliament and planning decisions made on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects.

3. Ending hospital backlogs by meeting the NHS standard of 92% of patients waiting fewer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment.

4. Police back on the beat, with 13,000 more officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles and a named officer in every community through our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

5. A best start to life for children, with a record proportion of fiveyear-olds starting school ready to learn, allowing teachers to focus on the whole class. That means

75% hitting the Early Years Foundation Standard at age 5, up from 67% currently.

6. Secure, home-grown energy, with bill payers protected as we deliver Clean Power 2030.

These milestones are underpinned by our unwavering commitment to the foundations of good government:

Economic Stability: Meeting our fiscal rules and taking a responsible approach to public finances, so that the Government does not borrow to fund day-today spending and net financial debt is falling as a share of the economy. Only in doing this can we grow our economy while keeping taxes as low, and inflation as stable as possible. Border Security: Restoring order to the asylum and immigration systems, delivering lower net migration, clearing the asylum backlog to end the use of hotels, increasing returns and reducing small boat crossings.

National Security: Working with our international partners, we will act to prevent harm; disrupt threats; respond effectively to incidents; and recover swiftly. No policy commitment matters unless we uphold the first duty of any government: To keep the country safe.

I will try and provide updates on these milestones as the year progresses.

Defend local people from central government

With so many outstanding problems to resolve, the Government’s choice of priorities is perverse. While desperately seeking to find a solution to the lack of growth in the economy the Government has chosen to concentrate instead on reorganising local government. Few of my constituents will have any enthusiasm whatsoever for plans to impose an additional tier of local government on top of Dorset Council. Therefore, it is almost beyond belief that the Liberal Democrat leader of Dorset Council has expressed his unqualified support for such a change. In a press release just before Christmas he said that ‘The establishment of the Heart of Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority represents a fantastic opportunity to have a champion for the Wessex region’. That statement was made without any public consultation and despite an earlier attempt at imposing regional government

for our area having been overwhelmingly rejected. That proposal included the imposition of an ill-conceived regional planning straightjacket to subvert Green Belt protections and create unrealistic arbitrary housebuilding targets. Worst of all those rejected proposals and their latest reiteration represent a fundamental assault upon local decision making and democracy. Reinforcing concern about the undermining of local democracy, an earlier statement by Dorset’s leader, Nick Ireland, on November 29 stated that ‘Once an outline of proposals has been agreed with central government, we will need to share these with residents and will be seeking feedback on the detail of any arrangements as part of a formal consultation’. That is the wrong way round. Residents should be consulted first.

They are already suffering under the consequences of the creation of BCP and Dorset

Unitary Councils and the enforced abolition of district councils. Proposals to abolish Christchurch Borough Council, for example, were opposed by 84% of residents in a local referendum. Despite that strong local expression of opinion, the Government ignored the people and carried on regardless.

A similar process of denying local democracy must not be allowed to be repeated. Our Dorset and BCP elected councillors must urgently start defending local people against central government. Meanwhile, the reality of the consequences flowing from the reckless tax increases in the autumn budget still has to be addressed. Agincare, a well known and highlyrespected provider of social care across Dorset, has written to me to express concern about the consequences of the Budget upon its ability to continue delivering essential public services which include homecare, live-in care, care homes and supported living. For Agincare alone the additional costs imposed by the Government amount to £2,130 for each of its 3,500 employees. Preventing Agincare being forced out of the market by the attack on social care providers must be prioritised.

Conservative Christchurch & East Dorset CHRIS CHOPE MP

Dorset Labour GREG WILLIAMS

Reform UK surges above the Conservatives

Boxing Day saw Reform UK surge past the Conservatives to become the UK’s secondbiggest political party by membership; this comes off the back of a new poll that has Reform UK leading the Tories in national voting intentions. In Dorset, we are seeing massive increases in both our membership and those wishing to volunteer to be a part of the party. Most interesting is that we are attracting people from all political backgrounds. My sincerest thanks to everyone who has joined the party in Dorset over the last few weeks and put their faith in Reform UK to bring about the change our country desperately needs. Be assured, we will deliver for you. 2024 was just the very start and 2025 will see our newly-launched branches campaigning in every constituency in Dorset as we

set out our positive and radical agenda for change.

If you would like more information on your new local branch, please do email me and I will be glad to put you in touch with your branch chairman and local team.

n The child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs scandal is, without any question, one of the worst episodes in our country’s modern history.

The crimes themselves, utterly shocking in their depravity, and the industrial scale of them are incomprehensible. It is perhaps the starkest illustration of how the experiment of multiculturalism has, beyond any question, failed.

Labour’s refusal to grant Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into said historical child sexual exploitation is categorically

wrong and has sparked strong condemnation from Reform UK. Even the Conservatives were outraged - that was until it was pointed out that they had also refused Oldham Council’s request an inquiry in 2022. After decades of failure by Labour and the Tories to properly get to the bottom of what has gone on in our towns

and cities across England, it is time that we had a full and transparent government-led inquiry, that leaves no stone unturned, and spells out to the British public, in plain English, what has happened, how it was allowed to happen and, importantly, why virtually none of these men have been deported under the last Tory government despite many having dual nationality.

The Telegraph has written a superb article titled ‘How the grooming gangs scandal was covered up’.

The report makes for very difficult reading but if we are to bring the truth into the light and get real, lasting justice for the victims of these crimes we are going to have to confront very difficult truths, something prior Tory and Labour governments have failed to have the moral courage to do. Reform UK will be different.

We expect big legislation changes in 2025

It is hard to believe that I have now been your MP for six months. The days and weeks have blurred together - even with the winter break - as I have got to grips with casework on every topic from housing to tax issues, pensioner poverty to child maintenance.

I have been working to deal with individual cases, but also with the strategic changes and systemic failures that need addressing to improve the lives of residents and drive the success of local businesses and organisations. I encourage all readers to get in touch whenever you need support. My team can signpost you, and we can help unblock delays in complaints systems. We hope to be moving into our constituency office this month, giving us a postal address and phone number.

Working together in one place will help ensure no corner of Mid Dorset and North Poole is left untouched.

On that note, I have already

visited many community organisations and schools, mentioning in my pre-Christmas article how varied these communities are, despite their proximity. I am keen to meet with parish councils this year around my London working commitments.

The parliamentary week is relentless, and I want to reassure readers that if you do not see the House of Commons chamber full, it does not mean - contrary to popular belief - that MPs are in the bar! We have countless select committee meetings, allparty parliamentary groups and one-to-ones with organisations throughout the day.

Less well known is the second chamber - Westminster Hallwhere debates take place, often clashing with the main chamber. These can be more relevant to local people so MPs must change their timetable constantly to respond to competing demands. When not in attendance, we listen to or read debates so we

Liberal Democrat Mid-Dorset & North Poole

VIKKI SLADE MP

can respond to residents. I try to attend all that relate most closely to the needs of constituents and to my, and your, priorities. We are only six months into what is likely to be a five-year parliament. 2025 is the year we can expect government to start delivering bigger pieces of legislation. I will be watching for: Real change in social care and developments for medical

conditions like MND and prostate cancer, the 10-year NHS plan, and the review of special educational needs and national curriculum. I’ll also be paying close attention to the devolution paper and any plans supporting town centres.

I will also have in mind those who helped me on my journey into this role, not least my good friend Bob Williams, who served on Dorset County Council from 1985 and then for Broadstone on Poole council until 2003.

I recruited him for the Chamber of Trade when he lost his seat, and I credit him for being the first person to ask me to stand. Alongside my predecessor, Dame Annette Brooke, I owe Bob a huge debt of gratitude and for his work as a councillor, and since, through the Chamber, Christmas Parade and the Broadstone Choir; he will be sorely missed.

I wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year and repeat, please do contact my office if there is help we can provide.

Reform UK Dorset TOM GARGRAVE

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Antiques & Collectibles

15th Model

16th Picures,

17th

Cornish ring is in the pink

A pretty pink sapphire and diamond cluster ring is one of the many lots already entered into the Charterhouse specialist two day auction of silver, jewellery & watches on January 29 and 30.

John Snape of Charterhouse said: “The market for jewellery, silver and watches remained strong at auction throughout 2024 and we are looking forward to a strong start this year”.

The owner, who lives in Cornwall, inherited this rare pink sapphire and diamond ring from her grandmother several years ago. Although she enjoys owning

the ring, working outdoors with horses and other animals does not give her much opportunity to wear it so she took advantage of the Charterhouse specialist valuation days held at their Sherborne salerooms and was pleased to hear the £2,000-£3,000 auction estimate.

n Richard Bromell and the Charterhouse Team can be contacted for specialist advice and valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, 01935 812277 or via rb@charterhouseauction.com.

MP praises company at opening ceremony

A new manufacturing facility that will produce up to £19m-worth of products annually has been officially declared open in Poole.

PBH Manufacturing has consolidated four other sites - three in Poole and one in Blandford - into the new 44,151sq ft facility at Broom Road.

Once production is fully up to speed, manufacturing in Poole is expected to represent 50 per cent of the forecast £38m annual turnover of its parent group, Poole Bay Holdings.

The business, founded by Martyn Bright and Mike McKenna 24 years ago, is one of the UK’s leading B2B (business to business) eCommerce and catalogue marketers and manufacturers of business products.

The new manufacturing facility, which employs 70 people, was officially opened by Bournemouth West

MP Jessica Toale whose constituency includes the site.

Addressing staff and invited guests after touring the site

she said: “Facilities like these are so important to our local economy.

“When I speak to people about this area their immediate reaction is that it’s seaside and retirement.

“But it’s my absolute privilege and honour to tell people about the really vibrant local economy that we have here.

“It’s companies like yours that are really pushing to make things and grow our economy in Britain.”

Mike McKenna, chief executive, said: “This facility looks fantastic and is a credit to everyone here.

“In a short while, manufacturing will represent 50 per cent of our turnover which I think is staggering.”

The company, which employs 226 people, is part of the Made In Britain organisation.

Double Glazing Repairs

Milestone for mental health facilities

A ‘steel signing’ ceremony has marked a major milestone on two building schemes which will greatly enhance services for Dorset residents struggling with severe mental health issues.

The event celebrated the final steel beam being put in place on new inpatient facilities under construction in Bournemouth and Poole, run by Dorset HealthCare and funded by the Government’s New Hospitals Programme.

The first project will see the creation of an eight-bed high psychiatric intensive care unit for children and young people at Pebble Lodge in Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth.

This will be the first of its kind locally and will mean seriously-ill young people can be cared for close to home instead of being sent for specialist treatment elsewhere – potentially hundreds of miles from family and friends.

The second development, at St Ann’s Hospital in Sandbanks, Poole, will provide a replacement adult unit alongside additional adult mental health inpatient beds with improved accommodation (ensuring all patients have their own rooms) and a new ‘place of safety’ suite for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

Dorset HealthCare was

allocated more than £70million for the new facilities, which are being built by Kier Construction and are on course to open in 2026.

Representatives from Dorset HealthCare, the New Hospitals Programme and Kier all signed the beams to mark completion of the buildings’ steel frames.

Morad Margoum, the Trust’s service director for children, young people and families, mental health and learning disabilities, said: “It’s great to see these facilities taking shape.

“Once complete, they will allow us to care for seriously-ill local people

close to friends and family in purpose-built, modern accommodation.

“This will greatly reduce the need for out-of-area placements and improve people’s chances of a full recovery.”

Executive delivery director for the New Hospitals Programme, Darren Crook CBE, added: “It was a privilege to join our partners to mark this milestone in the construction of these new facilities, backed by more than £70million in Government funding, which will be transformational in delivery of mental health care for patients and their families

across Dorset and the wider region.”

A dedicated web page with further information is available at dorsethealthcare. nhs.uk/about-us/futuremental-health. It features design images and more information about how these facilities will improve mental health services in Dorset.

Pictured are, from left: Paul Williams, Dorset HealthCare head of capital delivery, Morad Margoum, Dorset HealthCare - service director, Cheryl Parsons, Kier regional director Southern and Darren Crook, NHP executive delivery director.

WHY SHOULD I MAKE A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY?

You really should make provision in advance for the possibility of you becoming incapable of managing your own financial and welfare affairs during your lifetime. This is increasingly important as the risk of mental incapacity grows through longevity or a stroke or other illness or accident.

At the time the LPA is made, the donor must be capable of understanding its nature and effect for it to be valid. It may be neccessary to make seperate LPAs, one dealing with ‘property and affairs’ and the other to cover ‘personal welfare’ decisions.

PROPERTY & FINANCIAL AFFAIRS LPA

This is designed for you to appoint attorneys to make a range of decisions including the buying and selling of your house and other assets, dealing with your tax affairs, operating bank and building society accounts and claiming benefits on your behalf.

These can be used with your consent while you still have legal mental capacity and also by the attorneys if you lack capacity to make decisions.

HEALTH & WELFARE LPA

Attorneys appointed under this document can make decisions relating to your living accommodation and care, consenting to or refusing medical treatment on your behalf, and on day-to-day matters such as diet and dress. This can only be used, however, if you have lost the capacity to make decisions for yourself.

CONVENIENCE

You do not have to make two or more visits to a local solicitor instead (at no extra charge) and within a 10-mile radius of Wimborne I can visit you to sign off the LPA documentation. I am contactable 9am-7pm... 7 days a week!

EXPERIENCE

As a local retired solicitor with over 45 years’ experience, I carry indemnity insurance for LPA & WILLS & PROBATE matters having made over 500 LPAs.

CONTACT ME NOW...

for a friendly “jargon free” - “no obligation” telephone chat to discuss your Will & LPA & Probate requirements: 01202 883293 / 07415 512148.

Musical teen’s heartfelt tribute to Nan

A talented young singer-songwriter is turning grief into generosity with the release of a deeply-personal song dedicated to her late grandmother.

Katie Russell, aged 19, hopes her music will not only honour her Nan’s memory but also raise funds for Forest Holme in Poole, the local hospice that provided care and support to both her Nan and family during their most challenging times.

The song, titled A Christmas Song To My Nan is a touching tribute that captures the love, loss, and lasting impact of her grandmother’s presence in her life before she passed away at Forest Holme when Katie was just 11 years old.

Katie has used music as a way to cope with the death of her Nan, especially as her neurodiversity impacted her grief, leading her to write songs as an outlet to help find a new perspective on life and build resilience.

She first performed the song when she appeared as a guest on Forest Holme’s Life & Loss podcast series.

Katie said: “My Nan was my biggest supporter and my closest friend.

“Writing this song was my way of keeping her spirit alive and saying thank you for everything she taught me. The care and kindness we received from Forest Holme during her final days meant the world to us, and I wanted to give something back.”

The single was officially released on December 16 and is available on streaming platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music and iTunes. Proceeds from the song will be donated directly to Forest Holme Hospice to support their ongoing work providing compassionate

end-of-life care for patients and their families.

You can watch Katie performing on YouTube via tinyurl.com/NanSong or listen on streaming platforms Spotify, Amazon and YouTube Music.

Home is finalist for major architectural award

A new care home near Sandbanks has been named as a finalist for a prestigious national award championing its architectural design.

Marjorie House in Crichel Mount Road, which opened to new residents in September this year, is the only care home in Dorset to be a finalist in the Healthcare Design Awards.

The home is owned and operated by Care South, a not-for-profit charity which runs homes and home care services across the south of England.

The team are hoping to scoop the Best Architectural Design trophy when the winners are announced in London next month.

Teams from Faber Technical Ltd, Bluesky Design Interiors, Parsons & Joyce Contractors Ltd, Calcinotto, Morelec and Troika worked on the design and build of the stunning 50-bed home.

Marjorie House was designed in an Art Deco style, to be in keeping with the style of homes in the local area, with

50 ensuite, fully-furnished bedrooms in a variety of sizes, styles and boasts beautiful views across Poole Harbour.

The building was created using modern materials with renewable energy sources such as solar panels and heat pumps.

The Healthcare Design Awards celebrate new-build, extension and regeneration projects of all shapes and sizes which make a positive impact on people’s lives, whether that’s residents, staff, patients or visitors.

Cooking... with Martha Legg

Tortellini pizza bake

I love pizza... it was one of the things that I learned to make at school and I often use the recipe still. B ought pizzas seem to have a lot of additives in them, so are not that healthy.

Martin found this alternative on line, and believe me, it really does taste like pizza!

He was happy to make it, and said he will repeat it! From my point of view, the only downside of this recipe is the addition of capers - I hate them!

They were in a fish pie I had once in a pub and I bit down on it, urgh! I couldn’t taste the rest of the meal at all.

So now, I make Martin count the number of capers he puts in so that I can look for them and take them out. Rather that, than spoil my meal.

The mix of melting mozzarella and the tomatoes really make it taste like pizza.

We were talking about the best pizza we had had and he said his was in Florence.

I quite like the idea - which

Method:

Pop a pan of water onto a boil and preheat the oven grill to medium/high.

In a grill-safe pan, add a little olive oil and sweat down the onion and garlic with a pinch of salt for a few minutes.

Add the balsamic and cook for another few minutes until softened.

Add the whole cherry tomatoes, the sun-dried tomatoes, a pinch of oregano, and capers. Cook on medium heat until the tomatoes start to burst.

Carefully press the tomatoes to

Morning of food, fun and friendship

More than 100 care home residents, care at home clients and staff from across Dorset enjoyed festive music and dancing during a special coffee morning at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.

Care South’s AFC Bournemouth Christmas Coffee Morning is an annual highlight for residents at the not-for-profit care provider’s 11 Dorset-based care homes, as well as clients supported by Care South’s Care at Home Bournemouth office. The event was also attended by some retired former Cherries players,

to whom the residents chatted over festive treats, including hot drinks and mince pies. Residents listened to performer

Bee Chumley who sang a host of Christmas favourites, and children from Pokesdown Primary School who sang a number of Christmas carols, with which everyone joined in.

Simon Bird, chief executive of Care South, said: “It was so heartwarming to see our residents and care at home

clients come together to enjoy laughter, singing, and dancing. “Watching their smiles as they sang and danced to the music, including them joining in a conga around the room, truly captured the joy of the event and the wonderful performance from the children of Pokesdown Primary School was simply brilliant.”

New Year, New You: Prioritise your health

Here’s part two of how chiropractic care and sports therapy can play a key role in helping you feel stronger, move better, and live pain-free and why these treatments should be a cornerstone of your health routine in the New Year.

Why Start Now?

The New Year is an ideal time to start your health journey because it sets the tone for the months ahead. Chiropractic care and sports therapy can help you:

Stick to Your Resolutions:

Many people abandon their fitness goals due to pain or injury. Regular care helps you stay on track by keeping your body in top condition.

Break Free from Chronic Pain: If you’ve been living with discomfort, there’s no better time to seek relief. Addressing pain now will improve your quality of life and energy levels.

Prevent Future Problems:

Early intervention is key to preventing small aches or imbalances from becoming serious issues down the road.

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

At Wimborne Wellness Centre, we understand that true health isn’t just about the absence of pain—it’s about

thriving. That’s why we take a holistic approach, combining chiropractic care, sports therapy, and lifestyle advice to help you achieve your goals. From tailored treatment plans to preventative care, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Tips

for

Maintaining Your Health in the New Year

Stay Active:

Incorporate movement into your daily routine, whether it’s walking, yoga, or strength training.

Listen to Your Body: Don’t ignore aches or pains—they’re often your body’s way of signaling an issue. Seek professional care early.

CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY TREATMENTS

We strive to give every patient the absolute best chiropractic and massage care , as well as providing outstanding customer service. We are a motivated team passionate about getting you better and enabling you to live a pain free life, getting you the best version for you !

Conditions we can treat:

• Migraines

• Lower Back Pain

• Joint Pain

• Frozen Shoulder

• Tennis Elbow

• Neck Ache

• Sports Therapy

Sports Therapy Consultation And Results Session Is £65

Prioritise Recovery:

Include practices like stretching, massage, and rest days to allow your body to heal and recharge.

Stay Consistent:

Consistency is key. Regular chiropractic and sports therapy sessions will help you maintain progress and prevent setbacks.

Conclusion

The New Year is a time of renewal, and there’s no better way to start than by investing in your health.

Chiropractic care and sports therapy offer a powerful combination to relieve pain, improve performance, and enhance your overall well-being. Don’t wait for pain or injury to take action - proactively care for your body and make 2025 your healthiest year yet. Contact Wimborne Wellness Centre today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward a better you. Your health journey starts today. We would like to wish all of our wonderful patients a Happy New Year, and we can’t wait to help more of our beautiful community in 2025.

Active residents celebrate busy season

Moors Manor Care Home, in St Leonards, got in the Christmas spirit by visiting Bournemouth Christmas Market.

Residents and staff had a brilliant time looking at the stalls and admiring the beautiful Christmas trees and lights displayed throughout the gardens.

General manager Gemma Chalkley said: “We absolutely love being able to take our residents out and about to visit Bournemouth Christmas Market, it makes us all so happy to experience events like this.

“It was a fantastic day and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”

Rita Potter, a resident at Moors Manor, said: “How lovely to be able to visit places like this and enjoy the atmosphere, it made us all feel so Christmassy!”

And the staff, residents,

relatives and the local community came together to enjoy a Christmas Fete. There were all kinds of stalls on offer manned by volunteers, friends and family and plenty of local stallholders attended to sell their wares.

These included cakes, craft items, skincare, homemade cards, and many more. There was also entertainment from Nigel Reville who performed many of the Christmas classics.

The team at Moors Manor care home would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who either manned a stall, donated a raffle prize or came along to support the home.

There was a fantastic atmosphere and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Gemma Chalkley said: “We’re dedicated to making sure that our home is a hub of

the local community, and this event, along with everyone’s hard work, has definitely paid off.

“It was a resounding success! “I’m so proud of everyone involved, it was a fantastic team effort.”

Caring Mervyn recognised for his

A care home worker in Poole who helped raise almost £25,000 for charity has been recognised for going the extra mile for his care home.

Mervyn Knights, the hospitality development and standards manager at Upton Bay care home in Hamworthy, created a cook-off event which saw the managing directors of five divisions of Barchester Health, which runs Upton Bay, go head-to-head to find out who can create the best dish.

The event was described as a great success by Barchester Health, with the MDs producing ‘amazing dishes of an exceptionally-high standard’.

Almost £25,000 was raised for the Barchester Charitable Foundation which helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their area.

Mr Knights’ efforts saw him crowned National Foundation Champion of the Year in the Barchester Care Awards 2024.

“I can’t believe I have been named the national winner,” he said.

“I am so proud and so thankful to

everyone who nominated and voted for me.

“It means the world to be recognised for doing something I am so passionate about.

“The foundation does such vital work, I’m so happy I was able to play a part in helping so many people.”

General manager of Upton Bay care

home, Mevin Sohorye, said: “This is such a fantastic achievement, the whole home is so proud of Mervyn.

“He is so dedicated and always go the extra mile.

“The Managing Diredtors’ Cook Off was such a wonderful idea and he organised the whole thing brilliantly.”

Mervyn is pictured collecting his award.

include your name and address

Crowds defy weather to light up lives

Hundreds of people gathered to remember their loved ones as Forest Holme Hospice’s annual Light up a Light event was held in Poole Town Centre for the first time. Due to adverse weather the event, which was sponsored by Dawsongroup Finance, was moved from Falkland Square to inside the Dolphin Shopping Centre, giving the local community the opportunity to come together to remember their loved ones, with guests including the Mayor of Poole. Forest Holme Hospice provided activities during the day for families in the centre, including two performances from Poole and Parkstone Productions, before the main event at 4pm which included readings and carols led by a 115-strong choir featuring local singers from the Citrus Singers, the Sing and Grin Choir, Balance Choir and the Academy Singers children’s choir.

Claire Cooper from the charity team

at Forest Holme, said:“Light up a Life is such a poignant occasion and it was wonderful to see such a fantastic turn out, especially given the terrible weather.

“We welcomed both familiar and new faces, all coming together to reflect on

the cherished memories we’ve shared with loved ones.

“We’re so grateful to everyone that has supported the event, especially the Dolphin Centre for accommodating us at the last minute, and to everyone who attended.”

County’s Home-Start volunteers celebrated

Staff, volunteers and supporters at local families charity Home-Start Wessex came together to celebrate the achievements of their volunteers and to thank their fundraisers and supporters. Home-Start volunteers offer friendship, practical support and advice to families who are facing difficulties, including poor mental health, depression, disability, domestic abuse, bereavement, isolation and multiple births. Over the last year, the charity has transformed 1,682 lives, helping a record 501 families. In October 2023, sister organisation Home-Start West Dorset became a victim of the funding crisis. Home-Start Wessex immediately extended its reach to support families in the area, and now covers an area with a population of more than 650,000, including many pockets of high-level deprivation.

CEO Kathy Fryatt-Banks highlighted some of the

charity’s achievements over the past year.

She said: “Since 2022, we have doubled the number of families we have supported.

“We have doubled our geographic reach to include West Dorset and have generated 100% more income than we did two years ago, and we have grown from running four groups in 2022 to 12 specialist family support groups.

“Altogether, we have made a

difference to 1,682 lives.

“We regularly receive letters and comments from families we have supported, who say that the support came at a time when they felt so vulnerable.

“But there is plenty more work to do and there are still hundreds of families we need to help.

“The issues with families have changed considerably, especially since the pandemic.

“There are many more high levels of complex issues with families.

“Our staff and volunteers need to be able to support families in the way they need us to, delivering support which is bespoke to them.” Home-Start Wessex’s service is in more demand than ever. If you could commit to 2-3 hours each week to help, contact heidi@ homestartwessex.org.uk.

Return of much-loved Muddy Dog Dash

Excitement is building as LewisManning Hospice Care announces the return of the much-loved Muddy Dog Dash to Upton Country Park on Saturday, March 29. The fun-filled, family-friendly event invites dog lovers, adventure seekers, and supporters to tackle a muddy obstacle course whilst raising funds for an incredible cause. Now in its third year, the Dash offers a choice of two exhilarating routes, 2.5km or 5km, featuring obstacles like muddy ditches, tunnels, wiggle poles, and the ever-popular tyre runs and ramps. This year introduces exciting new features, including a Doggy Disco and Colour Rope Jumps.

Whether you walk, jog, or skip, this event is all about having fun and creating memories - all while supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s vital work for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The event village will feature plenty of entertainment for participants and spectators alike, including live music and entertainment by HOT Radio,

Delicious food and drinks from the Upton Country Park Tea Rooms & Kiosk, meet-and-greet Bluey the Dog mascot, (£5 per photo), craft and cheer stations for younger attendees and enthusiastic supporters and the opportunity to stay dry, if needed. All funds raised will go towards supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, a charity that has been providing care for over 30 years to people across

Poole, Purbeck, East Dorset and West Hampshire. From day hospices to bereavement services for patients, every step, and wagging tail, helps them to continue their mission to bring comfort, care, and compassion to people when they need it most.

Sign up now to secure your spot at lewis-manning.org.uk/muddy-dog-dash. The first 100 sign-ups will receive a free T-shirt!

Home & Garden

Hannah’s horticulture...

January can be a tough and long month for many, and includes what has been coined as ‘Blue Monday’ - the day when supposedly most of us feel at our worst. My suggested tonic to you is get outside when you can, top up the vital vitamin D we all need and often don’t get enough of, and titivate in the garden (or go for a walk/run/ cycle instead - anything to get you outside and get those endorphins going).

So, a few answers to questions to give you the oomph to get out there!

My veg patch is looking bare, is there anything I can be planting/doing now to get it going?

YES! You tell me you’ve planted onions which are growing strongly - great. There are a few things you can also do at this time of year, both for early crops and

as prep for a summer harvest. The first is mulching and enriching the soil.

Now is a great time to add enrichment to the soil where you might like to grow beans and peas, or courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn. etc. Adding a layer now will suppress weeds (and look good!), and allow the winter chill to break down the manure/mulch as well as provide a warm blanket to encourage the worms and organisms underneath to come up and digest the enrichment for you, which is exactly what we want to happen.

You can also sow broad beans now.

Even if you don’t enjoy them, they provide excellent cover and enrich the soil

Hannah Hobbs-Chell is a horticulturist and garden designer/consultant. If you have a question for her, email:hannah. hobbschell@outlook. com including a picture if relevant

due to them being legumes. Legumes draw inaccessible nitrogen through their unique symbiotic relationship with bacteria, and this is then transformed into a molecular format that other plants can absorb.

I’m sure your neighbours will appreciate a crop of broad beans if you don’t like them, too!

You can also plant winter lettuces and spinach under cover or under fleece, these will give you a good cut and come again early supply of green goodness in your diet. I’ve read so much confusing info about clematis and pruning, I don’t have a clue when, how and if I should prune - help!

Ah yes, clematis are lovely but they aren’t the easiest to understand and, wrongly pruned, can lead to a poor flower performance or flowers in the wrong places. I’ll do my best to make it easy!

Us horticulturists have

determined by their flowering period:

Pruning Group 1: Prune mid to late spring, after flowering and once the risk of frost has passed – these are all your winter flowering fellows, so if your clematis is flowering with its main flush around about now, this is the group into which it falls.

You don’t generally need to prune these guys unless you want to thin out or renovate prune. Just remove any spent flower heads if you have the patience!

You prune the other two groups in February:

Pruning Group 2: These guys flower between May and June with large flowers. They generally don’t need much pruning; they flower on short shoots from last year’s growth so prune back to roughly where you want the next flower to be. You can prune after the first flush of flowers too in this manner to extend the flowering season.

Pruning Group 3: These guys are your later flowering fellows that bloom on long new shoots from the previous year’s growth.

Prune in February down to 30cm.

You can also prune back as

Group 2 if you like too, they will throw out shorter shoots for the second bloom of the year, but still longer that Group 2!

That’s it from me, and if you need some pure January blues busting, horticultural salaciousness, dive into online and book-based seed catalogues, order those flower show tickets, and take a look at some new design ideas you might like to try!

Home & Garden

Last chance to recycle your Christmas tree

Have your Christmas tree recycled – for a good cause.

Diverse Abilities is taking bookings for its annual Christmas tree recycling service sponsored by Waste Management Facilities. The charity will be celebrating 10 years of collecting trees from the community to be sustainably recycled while raising money for the charity.

Diverse Abilities will collect trees until this Sunday, January 12, from East Dorset Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Ringwood. Collections can be booked online for a suggested £10 donation.

Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ trees for a full list of areas from which trees can be collected.

But be quick!

Super snowdrops in Ferndown

Last year I opened my garden to share my collection of snowdrops, in aid of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, writes Jane Norris. Relying purely on donations for entrance, tea and homemade cake and soup with freshly-baked bread, I raised £1,750.

I am planning to do the same in 2025.

Once again my garden will be open in aid of the air ambulance, at 10 Ryan Close, Ferndown, BH22 9TP. It will be open from Thursday, January 30 to Sunday, February 2 and from Thursday, February 6 to Sunday, February 9, from 11am to 3pm.

There will be snowdrops for sale and there are 140 carefully named snowdrops.

On Sunday, February 2, Dorset Perennials will be selling hellebores.

Soup, cake and hot drinks will be available for a donation in aid of Dorset and Somerset air ambulance.

Gardens gift grasses to community groups

Working with its charity the Knoll Gardens Foundation, Knoll Gardens has been gifting grasses to local community groups.

Specially selected for each location, the grasses aim to help create attractive spaces to benefit the community and promoting wellbeing.

Set up in 2008, the Foundation seeks to better understand the relationship between the Gardens’ naturalistic style, its wildlife and the wider environment.

Through this understanding the Foundation shares useful and practical information with others.

This year trustees were delighted to visit two projects that they have supported, at Kingston Maurward College and Wimborne Community Garden.

At Kingston Maurward the College’s talented students have designed and created a beautiful winter moon garden, to lift the spirits even in the coldest

NOW ON

months. The spectacular display, injecting colour on the darkest days, includes clever use of stems, berries and winter flowering shrubs, but the stars of the show are the striking ornamental grasses, which hold their seed heads high long into the winter months.

At Wimborne Community Garden The Foundation provided grasses for the sensory garden, designed by one

of the Community Garden’s talented volunteers.

This was particularly important as the Garden is associated with Beaucroft College for students with additional needs.

Groups interested in working with the Knoll Gardens Foundation can find out more and get in touch via knollgardens. co.uk/foundation.

Farming & Environment

A day at the farm with

Sharon Boden

Sharon is a member of staff at High Mead Farm in Longham, Ferndown. High Mead is a working farm run to promote the benefits of engaging with animals, soil and nature. We create purposeful roles for our co-farmers, young people and adults, to help bring about a sense of well-being and self-worth many have never experienced before. Due to Safeguarding, the farm shop is the only area currently open to the public.

Wishing all our readers a very happy New Year, and very best wishes for 2025. Whilst we were closed to our Co-farmers over the Christmas week, the animals still needed tending to and so the staff still worked to ensure the animals and horticulture were well looked after. As we go to press, we had our first cold snap of 2025 which ties in very nicely with us talking to you about kindling. We started making kindling 12 years ago as a therapy for our Co-farmers and a way of providing fuel for the fires. For those of you who use kindling for fires, have you ever wondered how we turn donations of pallets into kindling? There is a lot of skill and manpower needed in getting a bag of kindling, involving hand/eye co-ordination, as well as education in using different tools. The pallets need to be sympathetically taken apart using a device to break them into strips of wood which is then de-nailed. These processes, although they sound straightforward, need to be done carefully. It is fascinating to watch our Co-Farmers first tackle a pallet and struggle with the process, and then develop their skills and confidence after watching another Co-farmer and, in turn,

they become experts. The next stage is sawing using a saw horse, turning the pallet strips of wood into smaller piecesanyone who has used a saw knows there is skill and patience required in getting a straight line.

Finally the pieces of wood are broken into smaller pieces.

In the early days a friend of the farm, Dave, came up with the design for our first hatchet-kindling machine and we have been using this ever since, along with others which we make on the farm. With the opening of the Farm Shop

kindling has become very popular and you can get a 5kg bag for just £6. We estimate that in the winter we sell a tonne and even that is not enough to meet demand, but thanks to a grant from Wessex Water, this year we will be able to enlarge the wood bay to enable more kindling to be made and help educate more co-farmers and school groups.

Maximise Optimax visits

We were lucky to have Becca from Boehringer Ingelheim come to visit us recently to give us some training on running calf health ‘Optimax’ visits. The concept is based on the lean-management techniques first utilised by Toyota in streamlining their production processes in the car manufacturing plants. The idea is to have an overview of a production process - inthis case calf rearing - and make it more efficient.

The process involves an on-farm walk-through of the route a calf takes through the process: Dry cows, calving pen, colostrum harvesting and feeding, calf pens and milk feeding.

The visit works best when all the staff who are responsible for any of the steps of calf rearing, and the routine vet, can all participate. Whilst walking through the process, the group collectively identifies the steps involved, the things that work well, inefficiencies and responsibilities. Once finished, the group sits down and maps out the process, identifying a solution for each issue identified. The ideas can then be sorted based on the impact they would have, and the time/financial cost they would involve.

This helps create a focused list of action points which should be achievable to work through because everyone has been involved at each step to discuss what can and can’t be changed. The visit is a more holistic overview of the process, and should get everyone on the team involved, and give them a chance to put forward problems and settings in a situation where reasonable suggestions can be talked over by the team. Whilst Becca was visiting we carried out Optimax visits on two

by Rebecca Price BVetMed MRCVS

farms, and all agreed that it gives an opportunity to review the whole process and create realistic targets. Once the initial visit has taken place the work can be reviewed regularly - at routines or herd health planning visits with the view to work through the list of action points.

If you’re interested in getting involved with an Optimax visit, give us a call at the practice or speak to your routine vet.

Although we carried out the training for dairy youngstock, the process can be carried out for any aspect of management system – mastitis control, milking parlour routine, etc.

Farming & Environment

Our family looking after your beloved pet from beginning to end with care and compassion every step of the way

• 100% Individual Cremation Service

Our family looking after your beloved pet from beginning to end with care and compassion every step of the way

• Collection service from home or your vets

• 100% Individual Cremation Service

• Farewell Room for your final goodbyes

• Collection service from home or your vets

• Your own pets’ ashes within 3 days

• Farewell Room for your final goodbyes

• Keepsakes, Urns, Caskets & Ashes Jewellery

• Your own pets’ ashes within 3 days

• Keepsakes, Urns, Caskets & Ashes Jewellery

friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk

farmoffice@friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk 01258

friarsmoorlivestockhealth

Concert farewell for music stalwart

The end of 2024 saw Wimborne Choral Society celebrate the end of an era with a wonderful concert in Wimborne Minster.

The sell-out final concert in the 47-year tenure of Christopher Dowie, left, as founder and musical director featured choruses from Bach’s B Minor Mass, Chris’s own quirky, humorous and moving orchestral tribute to his family, ‘Domestic Suite’, and concluded with Mozart’s Requiem, dedicated to the memory of Michael Dowie (1972-2020).

As well as the choir, the concert also featured Wimborne Chamber Orchestra, organist Sam Hanson, and vocal soloists Jaqueline Foan, Catherine Murray, Michael Aitkenhead and Hugh Sutton, all of whom are regular contributors to the society’s concerts.

At the end of the evening, audience and performers alike paid tribute to Chris’s long service to the choir and to music in the town of Wimborne Minster, in particular his special role as founder and long-term leader of the society.

Floral tributes were offered, a prestigious ‘Fellow of the London College of Music Lifetime Achievement’ award was presented to Chris, and a final musical farewell was played in his honour: Edward Elgar’s ‘Salut d‘Amour’, a piece written by Elgar for his wife; appropriate as the choir have also expressed their deep thanks to Pauline Dowie’s immense support and contributions over many years.

Put your unwanted gifts to good use

If Santa got it wrong this year and didn’t bring you quite the gifts you were looking for, Wimborne’s Museum of East Dorset could put your unwanted presents to good use. The town’s museum is a charity and organises many fundraising events throughout the year with all proceeds going to help sustain the running of the award-winning museum. It also helps support many community engagement programmes such as the museum’s Reminiscence Outreach programme, which helps stimulate those living with dementia. Experienced museum volunteers visit care homes and day centres with memorabilia and objects. The museum also supports Wimborne Food Bank and provides crafts and activity sessions for underprivileged children.

Director Francessca Hollow said: “If anyone has an overload of new and unwanted toiletries, biscuits, sweet tins, wine, please consider us.

“Unwanted, unopened and duplicate gifts – we’d love to put them to fundraising use.”

You can drop off donations to the museum shop which is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.

Celebration of song for mayor’s charities

Wimborne residents and music lovers are in for a treat!

Join in with a A Celebration Of Song on Wednesday, January 15, at 7:00pm at the Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne.

The special event will feature five talented choirs: Jubilate, Local Vocals, Vivamente Voices (pictured), Live Harmony, and Wimborne Minster Choir - performing a wide range of uplifting and inspiring songs.

Tickets are £10, and proceeds will go to the mayor’s charities: Victoria Hospital and Planet Wimborne. There will be a raffle and licensed bar.

Mayor Jeff Hart said: “Please do come along to support the charities and enjoy the music,

the atmosphere, and the community spirit.” Tickets can be purchased from Gary Mason at gary.mason@wimborne.gov.uk or 01202 881655.

Journey Back To The 1990s

Relive the era of Britpop, Cool Britannia, the Spice Girls, Lara Croft, Power Rangers, Pokémon, Trainspotting and Teletubbies.

Come and experience the fashion, toys and the music that shaped the decade.

Follow the 90’s Family Trail | Dressing up box 90’s style Toy box 90’s style | Dress up as Spice Girl Geri Harry Potter | Cher from Clueless | Playtime with Sonic the Hedgehog, My Little Pony and more...

50% off for locals!

Monkey World is kicking off the New Year by thanking the locals who support the park year round, with half price off entry during January!

From the 2nd to 31st, anyone with a BH, DT or SP postcode will benefit from 50% off the entry price to Monkey World. Come and see over 230 primates of more than 20 different species, including the world’s largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa. Most primates have been rescued from unbelievable cruelty or neglect, but at Monkey World they can enjoy the company of their own kind in safe and natural living environments.

Book online for a further 10% off gate prices! www. monkeyworld.org

ELO EXPERIENCE

AA ups electric fleet

The AA has reinforced its drive towards net zero by 2035 by adding 30 fullelectric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to its ever-growing, low-carbon roadside service fleet. Last month, the organisation entered 15 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and 15 PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) Ford Transit Customs into its roadside service fleet. This will be the first m ajor trial of plug-in vehicles in the organisation’s core yellow roadside assistance vans and the vehicles will operate in strategic locations across Britain including Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool and London. The iconic yellow vans will undergo a series of structured tests while in use in ‘realworld’ conditions.

eet Stuart & Caz the founders of Scratch Heroes Ltd and GleamPro Valeting and Detailing on the Longmeadow Industrial Estate.

Tests will include the practicality of home and strategic charging, efficiency tests when laden with patrol technical equipment, core stock and recovery equipment whilst retaining a focus on customer and patrol comfort.

All patrols in the trial will have chargers installed at home to enable low-carbon ways of working with both home and on-the-go charging supported by the organisation’s partners at Rightcharge.

Both models of the Ford Transit Custom will be capable of towing with the PHEV van having a full compact recovery trailer (CRT) set-up.

The BEV model has a range of up to 236 miles but initial usage predicts a range (which includes towing) of approximately 120 miles.

Together with their team they are equipped with over four decades of experience in the car detailing industry, their motivating force is to provide Wimborne, Verwood, Ferndown and the surrounding areas with high quality vehicle detailing, ceramic coating, bodywork restoration & SMART Repairs from their central hub which is conveniently located in Three Legged Cross.

“Our passion for cars & continued investment in our purpose-built facilities, staff training and specialised equipment, ensures we are able to deliver a 5 star service for all our customers.”

So, If you have a vehicle that needs some TLC then Pop in and see them! They are open everyday Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5 and by appointment at weekends

Units J & H/I on the Longmeadow Industrial Estate, Three Legged Cross BH21 6RD & don’t forget to take along your £25 off voucher!!

Mobile phone and speeding fines rising

Following the release of Home Office data showing that fines for using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving increased by 33% in 2023, while the number of speeding tickets issued across England and Wales reached a record high of 2.7million, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “We are incredibly concerned that drivers using hand-held mobile phones behind the wheel has risen by a third in a year.

“While this shows that officers are rightly targeting the offence, drivers are still far too tempted to play with their phones when driving.

“At the same time, cases of careless driving have risen by 18% and speeding fines are at an all-time high.

“Drivers need to know that forces are applying the law

and bad behaviour will be caught either in person or on camera.

“While cameras and new technology have an important role to play in road safety, these stats clearly show that we need more cops in cars to police the roads. Recently, the Prime Minister said he would hire 13,000

new officers, PCSOs and Special Constables. At least 1,000 should become traffic officers to help improve road safety and stop poor driving in the act, before something tragic occurs.”

n The AA recently called on the Home Secretary to

appoint 1,000 new roads police officers to improve road safety and help tackle wider crime.

As part of their manifesto, Labour pledged to recruit thousands of new police officers to tackle neighbourhood crime.

The AA believes 1,000 of these new recruits should form part of the road traffic section of forces across the country.

The request, which was part of The AA’s own Motoring Manifesto, follows AA analysis of the latest police workforce statistics released by the Home Office.

As of March 31,2024, there were 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales, a drop of 1,022 officers from the highest point on March 31, 2016 (5,237).

Comfort 5dr. New shape, 90bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, reverse camera, sat nav, park sensors, cruise, auto lights & wipers, road sign assist, hill holder, 25,300 miles .......................................£10950

2012 (62) Ford Ka 1.2 Studio 3dr. 69bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, simple basic small car with low running costs, only £35 a year road tax, 50mpg economy, cambelt has been replaced, only 73,700 miles .............................................£2950

2014 (14) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium X AWD 4x4 SUV 5dr. 163bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, 4 wheel drive, leather, heated seats, sat nav, parking sensors, auto park system, reverse camera, sunroof, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, road sign assist, hill holder, electric tailgate, cambelt replaced, 92,500 miles ....................................................................................... £7450

2013 (63) Ford Tourneo Connect 1.6TDCi Zetec 5 Seat MPV 5dr. 95bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, very useful van derived car with 5 seats & a massive boot, sliding side doors, tailgate, hill holder, Bluetooth, heated front screen, cambelt has been replaced, 107,800 miles ......................................................................£6500

2020 (69) Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0TDCi Titanium 320 L1 H1 Automatic 9 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, automatic gearbox, 8 seat plus driver, reversable seats for conference or forward facing, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, heated front seats, park sensors, cambelt replaced, 97,000 miles .................................................................. £21500 + VAT = £25800

2020 (69) Ford Transit 2.0TDCi Trend 350 MWB MR L2 H2 11 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, 10 seat plus driver, 2 front seats, 9 rear seats, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, heated front seats, hill holder, cambelt replaced, 90,200 miles ..........................£19500 + VAT = £23400

2013 (63) Honda Jazz 1.4i-VTEC ES Plus 5dr. 99bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, cruise control, flat folding rear seats, small car with very spacious interior, 75,500 miles ............................................................................................................£5250

2016 (66) Mazda 3, 2.0 SE-L Nav Automatic 5dr. 120bhp, petrol, automatic gearbox, sat nav, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, road sign assist, heated seats, hill holder, 75,900 miles ...............................................£8450

2019 (19) Toyota Yaris 1.5VVTi Icon Tech 5dr. 111bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, only 8,500 miles, sat nav, reverse camera, parking sensors, cruise control, hill holder, auto lights & wipers, main beam assist, collision detection, road sign assist, 8,500 miles ................................................................................................£11750

2017 (17) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRi 5dr. 100nhp, petrol, manual gearbox, parking sensors, hill holder, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, collision detection, road sign assist, 63,500 miles ..............................................................................£6250

2018 (67) Vauxhall Mokka X 1.4T Design Nav SUV 5dr. 140bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, high seating, sat nav, parking sensors, cruise control, hill holder, auto lights & wipers, 31,100 miles ............................................................... £9650

2016 (66) Vauxhall Mokka 1.6CDTi SE 4x4 SUV 5dr. 136bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, 4x4, high seating, leather, heated seats & steering wheel, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, park sensors, hill holder, 65,500 miles .......................£7250

Arrow words

Wordsearch

Condiments

Crossword

(5) 9 Syntactically correct (11) 15 Positions (7)

16 Laid out, as a book (7) 17 Grows crops for a living (5) 19 Specks (5) 21 Orbit (5)

22 Cache (4)

Sudoku

Across

Killer Sudoku Pro

Down

1 Lousy unction spilt without interruption (12)

1 Lousy unction spilt without interruption (12)

8 A line backing strange revolutionary wall decoration (5)

8 A line backing strange revolutionary wall decoration (5)

9 Red coat tailored in ornamental style (3,4)

9 Red coat tailored in ornamental style (3,4)

10 Old musical instrument, we hear, in sack (4)

10 Old musical instrument, we hear, in sack (4)

11 Miles tramped around island in France making one weaker (8)

11 Miles tramped around island in France making one weaker (8)

14 Comedian with hard rather than large dairy food (6)

14 Comedian with hard rather than large dairy food (6)

15 Some beast at icecap is not moving (6)

15 Some beast at icecap is not moving (6)

17 Hearing about universal religious books in turn in lesson (8)

18 Small car popular in Michigan (4)

17 Hearing about universal religious books in turn in lesson (8)

20 Manage deliveries with letter (7)

18 Small car popular in Michigan (4)

20 Manage deliveries with letter (7)

22 Large ox is working behind entrance to barn (5)

22 Large ox is working behind entrance to barn (5)

23 Typical rich criminal defending ring – feigning truth? (12)

23 Typical rich criminal defending ring – feigning truth? (12)

Killer Sudoku Pro:

1 Manic co-pilot stirred up difficulty (12)

Down 1 Manic co-pilot stirred up difficulty (12)

2 Most limited pointer found in comfortable residence (9)

2 Most limited pointer found in comfortable residence (9)

3 Move along furtively with sun out in lounge (4)

3 Move along furtively with sun out in lounge

4 Upper-class fur of practical value? (6)

4 Upper-class fur of practical value? (6)

5 Tamil scrambling aboard pick-up truck is last (8)

6 General in Liege at regular intervals (3)

5 Tamil scrambling aboard pick-up truck last (8)

6 General in Liege at regular intervals (3)

7 Role narcotic plays – characteristic of some prisons? (12)

12 Genuine critic’s caught out in work around North (9)

7 Role narcotic plays – characteristic of some prisons? (12)

12 Genuine critic’s caught out in work around North (9)

13 Urge among English in this way to get coffee (8)

13 Urge among English in this way to get coffee (8)

16 Concern about to be resurrected in occupation (6)

19 Short account of a late party? (4)

21 See material held by creative lyricist (3)

16 Concern about to be resurrected in occupation (6)

19 Short account of a late party? (4)

21 See material held by creative lyricist (3)

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and boldlined 3×3 box.

No digit may be repeated in any dashed-line cage, and all the digits in each cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

SEN Learning Support Assistant –Shaftesbury

(35 hrs per week, term time only, actual salary £22,169 to £24,005 per annum)

We would like to hear from you if you have a passion for supporting pupils with SEMH (social, emotional, and mental health) difficulties and those with a range of neurodiverse conditions including autism. Ideally you will have experience of working as a Teaching Assistant or Learning Support Assistant with children who have additional complex needs. We will consider Teaching Assistants from mainstream schools looking to further their career within Special Education and those with a passion for helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning.

Our staff benefits include Enhanced Pension Scheme (10% employer’s contribution), use of gym and pool (set times), Death in Service and Healthcare Plan. Call 01747 449 858 to request a full job description and application form or visit our website to apply online: https://coombehouseschool.org.uk/about/ recruitment/

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 7th January 2025. (We may commence interviews prior to the closing date, so please don’t delay in making an application.)

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.

WIMBORNE MINSTER

We wish to appoint a second verger at this Major Church. 32 hours/week with opportunities for overtime 5 days/week including a half day on Sunday

The role could be split into two or more p/t roles

Full details on the Minster website or from parishoffice@ wimborneminster.org.uk

Port Regis is a delightful preparatory school, for day and boarding children aged 2-13, in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

We are seeking to recruit to the following roles:

CLERK TO GOVERNORS

FINANCE GOVERNOR

HEAD OF GYMNASTICS

NURSEY TEACHER

KITCHEN PORTER

SWIMMING TEACHER

Applications are invited from candidates who are forward-thinking and big-hearted, who model great drive and enthusiasm.

The successful candidates can expect competitive rates of pay and benefits; and to join an exceptional working environment and staff team.

The role of Finance Governor is an unpaid position on the non-executive Board of Governors. The successful candidate would be joining an already strong team of Governors within the School’s Finance Committee and be required to attend two Governor meetings per term (Finance and the full Governing Body).

For full details of the roles and application procedure, please visit our website - portregis.com/vacancies

Early applications encouraged

Port Regis (Charity No: 306218) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS and safer recruitment vetting checks.

No New Year cheer here for Magpies

Wimborne Town 2 (0)

Winchester City 4 (2)

Iain Fullerton writes from the New Cuthbury.....

Many of the 723 hardy souls who braved a cold, blustery afternoon to watch this game perhaps wished they had chosen last-minute Christmas shopping in a warm indoor mall instead!

After a fairly bright opening 10 minutes, including two shots flashing just wide of the visitors’ goalpost, the home side were totally outplayed for the rest of the match, except for two consolation goals in injury time at the end.

The opening goal after 17 minutes came when a welltimed through-ball allowed a one-on-one situation with the home keeper, who was deftly

rounded and the ball then calmly rolled into the empty net. Just two minutes later, a penalty was rightly awarded to the away side, who doubled their lead when Caborn was fortunate to knock in the rebound after the penalty was well saved but fell straight back to him. Although Wimborne forced several corners before the break they failed to threaten the visitors. Indeed, they were lucky to not fall further behind before the break, as only only a reflex block with his legs by the home stopper at his near post, prevented a larger deficit at the interval.

Unfortunately, the second half continued in similar fashion, with Caborn stroking home calmly at the far post, before

completing his hat-trick with a second penalty.

With the added time board raised to indicate five more minutes, the home side managed two goals, some reward for Will Fletcher, who got both and was perhaps the only home team player

who played to the standard expected by themselves and their manager, Tim Sills.

The New Year period will have a big influence on Wimborne retaining their Southern League Premier South status for the 2025/26 season.

DORSET AIRPORT TRANSFERS

An airport transfer and taxi service that serves Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Do you need an airport, cruise, port transfer or any other destinations covered? Just call us for a quote

Well-deserved win in foul conditions

The Fly Fishers made their annual pilgrimage to Manningford Trout Fishery inWiltshire for their Christmas celebration match. It just so happened that Storm Daragh made an unwelcome appearance at the club. Weather conditions were atrocious, so much so that several members chose to remain in the warmth of the lodge and not venture out into the teeth of the storm.

Puzzle solutions

Vicious winds and bitinglycold temperatures made for difficult fishing to say the least.

Casting was almost impossible and the low temperature combined with wind chill meant some anglers found it a real challenge. It was down to Gary Austin (pictured) to lead the way. This 7lb 15oz brown trout tipped the scales in his favour for a well-deserved win.

Brain chain (hard)

Busy month for county cricket society

It was a busy November for the Dorset Cricket Society.

First to the crease was renowned sports broadcaster Garry Richardson, near right, who has recently retired from the BBC after exactly 50 years working for them. Initially Garry worked for his local BBC radio station in Reading and graduated to headlining the BBC Today programme.

Two of his sporting highlights were how he managed to interview US President Bill Clinton during a rain break at Wimbledon which went live not only to the centre court crowd but also on air worldwide for the BBC. He was also the first person to interview Nigel Mansell after his epic win at Silverstone in the 1987 British Grand Prix having followed Nigel’s lap of honour on the back of a motorcycle to get his scoop!

In retirement Garry will continue to work on shows with his great friend Richard Stillgoe.

The following week the Society welcomed former Gloucestershire, Somerset and Durham cricketer David Graveney to Hurn Bridge.

UK Removals

All houses great and small! A worry-free service from planning, packing to completion.

The younger member of the famous Graveney cricketing family with his father Ken and uncle Tom. David had a career spanning 22 years and amazingly was the first Gloucestershire cricketer to go to play for their great local rivals Somerset! After Somerset he was invited to captain Durham where he had three years playing with the likes of Ian Botham.

In 1989 David managed the rebel tour to South Africa then he had a spell as

chief executive of the Professional Cricketer’s Association. He was then invited to become an England Test selector, ultimately becoming chairman of selectors. David is still involved in cricket as a selector for the England under-19s squad. After our annual break for Christmas/ New Year and annual lunch our next speaker for the DCS at Hurn Bridge on Thursday, January 16, at 1.45pm will be Christine Drew, Dorset County Cricket Club secretary and scorer.