Letters

Advent calendar collected £20,000

On Christmas Eve at 2.00pm in Saxon Square, Rotarian Tim Skinner welcomed spectators to the closing performance of the 2022 Christchurch Living Advent Calendar (CLAC). He said that CLAC 2022 had continued last year’s success, with 24 surprise performances raising some £20,000 for the 24 local charity beneficiaries. CLAC had delighted audiences ranging from 50 to 200 people with daily performances in 24 town centre venues by 24 talented local artists or groups – all sponsored by local organisations! This was a notable achievement, and he gave enormous thanks to all involved including especially the Primrose Charitable Trust as prime sponsor. Tim then introduced the surprise performers for the occasion, the Christchurch U3A Vintage Brass Band, above, who played Christmas music to an appreciative audience, many of whom joined in with the Christmas carols. The Deputy Mayor gave enormous thanks from Christchurch Town Council to the organising group of Christchurch Rotarians and local volunteers, led by Jan Banks, who had brought the event to the town for a second year. It had raised the profile of the town, and of all the organisations involved. She closed CLAC 2022 by wishing a Happy Christmas and New Year to all involved. Anyone interested in learning more about Rotary is invited to visit: rotary-ribi.org/clubs/ homepage.php?ClubID=648

Richard Reader Christchurch Rotary

Come and join our town guild

New members are welcome at Verwood Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild. At the first meeting of the New Year members were entertained by Morgan, Ivan and Eric with a Call My Bluff Bygone Quiz. This made for a fun and very informative afternoon during which ladies learned the history and purpose of many strange farm implements! Tea and cakes were served up, along with a raffle and a book sale. The next event will be a Coffee Morning to lift winter spirits. Plus the Dorset Federation is holding a Social with refreshments and entertainment and a General Knowledge Quiz in March. For Guild information ring Judi on 01202 053264.

Linda Pearson Verwood

OFF THE WALL...

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

Thinking caps on for quiz

Wimborne Community Theatre is inviting local quiz groups and individuals to a fundraising Quiz Night on February 22, to support future theatre projects. As always, it promises to be a fun and entertaining evening of questions on a wide range of subjects from easy to challenging, and everything in-between. Come as an individual and join a group, or come as a group of up to six. The entrance fee includes buffet at your table, prizes and raffles. Visit wimbornecommunity theatre.co.uk and facebook.com/ wimbornecommunity theatre. Cost: £8 on the door, cash or cheque. Bar available. Please reserve a place as soon as possible. Doors, 7pm for 7.30pm. Colehill Sports and Social Club, 108 Wimborne Road, Colehill. For further details and to book, contact me on barbarahart414@ gmail.com or on 01202 884201.

Barbara Hart Wimborne

Free digital advice at library

If you need help online or using a tablet, computer, or mobile, visit our Digital Champion at Corfe Mullen Library. Digital Champions can help people to get online. They can give advice on many digital queries, such as setting up and using devices: including phones, tablets, and PCs. Sessions are free. They run every Monday from 10:30am-1:00pm. Sessions must be booked, so please book a slot (1:1, 40-minute session) by calling the Digital Hotline on 01305 221048 or contacting Corfe Mullen Library on 01202 659755 or corfemullenlibrary@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

Jessica Burford Corfe Mullen Library

stouravonmagazine.co.uk Relive the glory days at museum exhibition

As part of its ongoing ‘East Dorset Celebrates’ exhibition, the Museum of East Dorset Museum is delighted to welcome several members of the 1992 FA Vasewinning football team to the museum. Head along to enjoy a chat with the former Wimborne Town Football Club players and perhaps reminisce over happy memories together. You can re-live the match itself, which will be projected onto a screen, and you’ll also have the chance to play interactive games and win prizes. Kick-off will be at 10am tomorrow, Saturday, January 14, and is likely to last into the afternoon. This is a free community event and everyone is welcome. Entry is via the Tea Room, not through the museum, and museum entrance is not included.

REMEMBER ALL THIS? Enjoy the chance of a day reminiscing at the Museum of East Dorset

Pictures: STEVE BELASCO

Platinum Award-Winning Care 2022

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

“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 Comfort &elegance

Loyal staff

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Annual Poole Harbour Canoe Club Photo competition Results – 2022

Out of the hundreds of photos that are submitted to the monthly competition on Facebook, the best 50 or so are selected. Members then have a chance to select the ‘best of the best’! Paddle club comp is picture perfect Out of the hundreds of photos submitted to the monthly Poole Harbour Canoe Club Photo Competition on Facebook, the best 50 or so are selected. Members then have a chance to select the ‘best of the best’! The competition has always aimed to encourage more people to take a camera whilst out paddling and capture those unique moments that we can only experience on the water; whether it be wildlife we encounter, awesome coastal views or just amazing weather. It has helped people put more thought into their photos and get much better images. The voting takes account of the ‘likes’ it received in the monthly competition, the votes cast (choice order) after release of the video and the frequency of an image being selected in the final voting in which voters could vote for just three images; this is shown in the ‘point accumulated’. The voting system has evolved to remove as much of the subjectivity at the judging stage as possible. They are available for viewing at: youtu.be/2_bRWlk4SAY.

These have been available for viewing for the last few weeks on YouTube BILL RICHMOND https://youtu.be/2_bRWlk4SAY The aim of the competition has always been to encourage more people to take a camera whilst out paddling and capture those unique moments that only we can experience on the water; whether it be wildlife we encounter, awesome coastal views or just amazing weather. It has helped people put more thought into their photos and get much better images as a result. The voting takes account of the original ‘post popularity’ in terms of the ‘likes’ it originally received in the monthly competition, the votes cast (choice order) after release of the video and the frequency of an image being selected in the final voting in which voters could vote for just three images – regardless of the positional choice given by voters – and this is shown in the ‘point accumulated’ . The voting system has evolved to remove as much of the subjectivity at the judging stage as possible. The Winners for 2022 are…

1st 2nd 3rd

Position

Commended 1st Commended 2nd Commended 3rd

Photo number Photographer Points accumulated

14 45 Rosemarie Gwynne Bill Richmond 197 174

05 35 Jonny Boakes Steve Jones 164 125

8 6 Michael Howlett Tom Richards 124 122

JONNY BOAKES Facebook Competition Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1083902641635184/

MICHAEL HOWLETT

Hannah’slife changingweight lossjourney

NickiEdwards,The CambridgeLadyismoving toWimborneonJanuary6th

“Duringlockdown,after achangeofjobandin anunhappymarriage,I wasreallystrugglingto feellikeIwasgood enoughandIhadshut downinside.Ifounda counsellorandmylife startedtoturnaround.I leftmymarriage, movedouttothe countryandstartedmy healingjourney. Myweighthadbecome outofcontroloverthe previous15yearsorso, whichInowrealisewas becauseIwasfeeling overlookedbymy husbandandafter havinghad3children. FrommynewhomeI startedexploringmy surroundingsand drovepastNicki Edwards’very brightlycoloured (pink!)branded careverytimeI wenttothelocal supermarket. After5monthsof promisingmyselfI wouldcallthe numberonthe car,Ifinallyfelt ready.After yearsandyears offeelinglikeI wantedto loseweightI finallyfeltreadyto taketheplunge andIremember feelingsohappy andexcitedtoget started.Ifinallyfelt incontrol.This wassuchan empoweringfeeling. MeetingNickiand discoveringherenergy andenthusiasmforThe 1:1Dietwasvery inspiringandwehitit offstraightaway.Nicki advisedmetoreduce myintakeofcarbsand increasetheamountof waterIwasdrinking beforeIstartedthediet andIfeelthismade startingreallyeasy.I wassodeterminedthat Ireallydidn'tfind followingthediet difficultatall.Ifollowed theplanreligiously(I fellinlovewiththe peanutbarswhichare delicious)anddid exactlyasIwastoldby Nicki.Shewasonhand tosortoutany problemsorquestions astheycroppedupand herextensive knowledgewasso valuable.She encouragedmethe wholeway.Sheissuch aninspiration. Losingweightforme hasbeenlifechanging. Ihavenowlost5stone andhavesomuch moreenergy.Ino longerfeeltiredand stressedallthetimelike Iusedto.Ihaveeven joinedthegymand enjoygoingtoclasses.I wassoexcitedthedayI startedrunningand nowIlovethattoo.

Mygoalwastofind myselfagain.Ihad madesomanymassive changestomyandmy children’slives,andI feltlikelosingweight wasthelastthingleft formetoachievetoget backtobeing thepersonIwas before.Iwanttomeet someonespecialand liveahappylife together.Ifinallyfeelas ifI'mreadytostart datingandenjoyinglife again”….Hannah.