Letters

Time to demolish old police station

Edition 15 of the New Stour & Avon magazine contained a letter by Mrs Shepherd of West Moors who commented on Wimborne’s old police station and its potential use as a site for housing, which I thought was most valid. In addition, your article on page 49 regarding the eyesore known as Pippins was excellent. I thought it appropriate to write to the council on the matter and their reply and my original email to them are shown below. I suspect many readers would appreciate the points raised and the authority’s response. Here is my letter: Two articles have appeared in the New Stour & Avon magazine, covering the above referenced properties. Pippins is due for demolition which quite correctly is referred to as an eyesore. Good. The old police station is also referred to in the Letters section, asking why it hasn’t been used for housing and adding it’s been empty for quite a long time and it’s a crying shame that it’s standing empty knowing that there is an ongoing housing crisis. Whatever its occupancy has been, this building falls into the same definition as Pippins, ie is a complete eyesore, has become enveloped in a mass of unkept bushes and weeds, hasn’t been painted in years and is generally in a right state. It was a cheap low cost building from day one, of absolutely no architectural merit whatsoever – not the sort of building suitable for a town like Wimborne. Eye Sore is the operative phrase. This building is long overdue for demolition and is a great potential site for appropriate housing/flats. Maybe you can reflect on this, as I’d be interested to hear your formal response. Reply: Thank you for your recent email regarding Pippins and the Police Station. We have today received the Application for the Demolition of Pippins. As of yet, we have not received any application relating to the Police Station, therefore we are unable to comment on this. Kind regards, EasternTeam BusinessSupportforPlace DorsetCouncil

OFF THE WALL...

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

Another hedgerow gone

Cycling past the house building on the fields near Parley Cross, I noticed the entire length of mature hedgerow had been ripped out and destroyed. This has been here at least 40 years and supported a rich diversity of birds, insects and small mammals. Also several cherry blossom trees have been removed, these are covered in bees in the summer. I cannot understand why these huge building companies seem to have very little regard for the environment. Their carbon footprint is increased everytime they destroy another tree. I am sure the people buying those houses would prefer to see a wonderful hedgerow rather than a very busy polluting road. Susan Williams Ferndown

What a beauty, beauty, beauty!

It’s great to see theatres and entertainment venues reopen. We like to support local places, but there’s only so much beauty one can take in. Three local theatrical groups are putting on the same panto. That’s without the expensive professional theatres. Come on get organised... I know we have missed you but one beauty in the area is surely enough! Brian Cox Verwood

Poppy Appeal’s £30,000

May I offer my sincere thanks to everyone for their support for the Poppy Appeal during Remembrance fortnight. I am delighted and humbled to report that the current figure for our area is £30,238.24. This is a truly magnificent gesture to the past and present members of our Armed Services and their dependants. It shows that their service and present and future mental and physical health needs are recognised and supported by Wimborne and the surrounding villages. My grateful thanks to all of the volunteers who helped man the gazebos in Wimborne, to all of the establishments that willingly took in a collecting tin and box, and to everyone who donated to this very worthy cause. Thank you. Dave Keig Poppy Appeal Organiser

Band creating a Stur

Thank you so much for the editorial on the Sturminstrels, in the Stour & Avon magazine... the article was great and very much appreciated. However, the photo was of the old band members, which does not represent the band as the set up now! Please would it be possible to publish the one attached in the Stour & Avon Magazine again, as we are reformed and would wish to have the current band members portrayed. Thank you. Lyn Wilton Band Manager

‘The rose looks fair but fairer it we deem’... (Bard)

There are many things we should be glad to see pass from the Victorian times such as the workhouse being replaced with today’s welfare state and today’s advancement in medical treatments. But one thing the Victorians were very good at was their knowledge and cultivation of roses. The Victorians assigned symbolic meanings to flowers, with many having been in knowledge from ancient times. The Victorians would consult dictionaries to choose and interpret the appropriate flower to send, wear and display. Different rose colours provided different meanings. That mania for flower dictionaries may have also passed but the fascination with flower symbolism, and the rose in particular, remains. The red rose is one everyone knows and is regarded to mean passion and desire for us incurable romantics. A white rose stands for a fascination and new beginning that is often found at weddings and funerals. A yellow rose stands for platonic friendship, to cheer up or congratulate a close friend. A pink rose is more versatile, they can be used on almost every occasion. A pale pink rose is a good choice for the beginning of a romance while becoming a darker shade as a romance becomes more established. Historically, the red rose was associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Myth holds that when her lover, Adonis, was wounded, she pricked her foot on the thorns of a white rose in her haste to run to him. Her blood stained the roses red, turning the red rose into a symbol of incredible passion and romantic devotion. Mike Fry Upton

Why there was no Remembrance parade

Statement by the Branch Chairman of Wimborne Royal British Legion

Since Remembrance Sunday there have been a few people querying why there wasn’t a parade. As you know the branch is run by volunteers and the planning of all activities for November start in the previous January. This includes contacting over 20 local organisations, meetings with the town council, risk assessment and liaising with the Minster regarding the service – the list is endless. On Remembrance Sunday, the branch then provides guidance and stewarding of the parade, church service and wreath laying on Minster Green. Unfortunately, we were unable to start our planning this year until June and at that time the capacity in the Minster was reduced from the usual 600+ to 120. We agreed with the town council to therefore have a smaller, but still proper, Remembrance Sunday and we can confirm that the town council did not ban or cancel the parade. We, like many charities, have suffered, not only financially, but with the number of members and in particular with volunteers to assist with the large amount of planning for both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. As a rough calculation about 300 hours of meetings and work is needed. So we need more people to come forward to help, in particular those who were very vocal in complaining there was no parade. We will be approaching those first to help. Without new volunteers for our branch committee it is unlikely there will be a parade next year. We need you to help! Please contact the branch by visiting the RBL Club. Mark Lee Branch Chairman Wimborne Royal British Legion

Twinners twin with Rotary

Fordingbridge Rotary and the Fordingbridge Twinning Association have amalgamated. The event manifested itself as a joint meeting, with Alison Ayling, chairman of Fordingbridge Twinning Association, giving a talk about twinning and Vimoutiers (Fordingbridge’s twin town in Normandy), all culminating with a formal invitation from Camembert Rotary (a suburb of Vimoutiers) to join the town’s celebrations next July, of the 40th anniversary between the joining of Fordingbridge and Vimoutiers. The evening was introduced by president Will Peak and David Hales, followed by Alison. Rotary was honoured by the attendance of Helen Tague (recently voted Citizen Of The Year), who is now president of Fordingbridge Twinning Association. For further details of both Fordingbridge Rotary and Fordingbridge Twinning, contact Derek Ayling on 01425 650770, or email: Hippotrain@ BTInternet.com Ferndown Community Support CIC is once again spreading the Christmas cheer. Following the great success of last year’s efforts, FCS has launched its Christmas 2021 activities. One of these is to deliver 90 ‘Santa Sacks’ to deserving children from the schools in Ferndown and West Parley, and secondly the ‘Great Christmas Front Garden Competition’, sponsored by Meyers Estates Ferndown. Hannah Hobbs-Chell of FCS said: “Having delivered 90 Santa Sacks last year, we realise the importance and obvious need to support those less fortunate, and our sacks contain essentials such as stationary and toiletries, as well as toys and educational items such as board games and books.” For a donation of £20, you can secure a sack for a young person, or you can donate an amount of your choosing. Visit: ferndown communitysupport.org.uk. Business sponsorship is also being sought, with support so far from Meyers and Tesco. The Great Christmas Front Garden Competition invites all residents to enter their decoration and illuminating efforts into the friendly competition, with first, second and third prizes equivalent to £65, £40 and £20 respectively. Judges will be looking for creativity, fun, ingenuity and overall wow factor! So there’s opportunity whatever the budget and style. There were some cracking entries last year, with stiff competition, so the organisers and judges look forward to seeing what people come up with this year! If you see a great display in the area on your travels, you are welcome to enter them in the competition too.

There’s room in Broadstone

The next family Pop-in at Broadstone United Reformed Church will be held on Saturday, December 11, with the theme ‘No Room at the Inn’. Activities will include making a Christmas wreath, snowmen out of marshmallows and Christingles which will be lit at the Christingle celebration at 12.15pm. All are welcome to drop in from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The church is located at 1, Higher Blandford Road, Broadstone. Details from minister Rev Andy Hall on 01202 698638.

FERNDOWN FUN: Part of last year’s Front Garden competition and, inset, preparing the Santa Sacks

Community support at Christmas

Charity seeks more youth workers

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, is looking for new youth support workers and night support workers due to an increased demand for its respite services across the county. Applicants will be working at Lily’s Place, a respite home in Poole for children with physical and learning disabilities, Lawford Lodge, based in Hamworthy to provide respite care for teenagers and young adults moving to the adult social care system, and Shapes, providing domiciliary care in the home across the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole conurbation. Claire Stacey, Children’s Full and part time roles are available across the Children’s Team and all necessary training is paid for, so no previous experience is necessary. Staff at Diverse Abilities also benefit from a cycle to work scheme and access to hundreds of high street, restaurant, and travel discounts through its employee benefits programme. The team has seen an increased request for its services since the beginning of the pandemic and it has continued to rise with the easing of lockdown. Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ careers for further details.

Four days of free parking in town and village car parks have been announced by New Forest District Council. It kicks off on Saturday December 4, as part of the support for Small Business Saturday, and continues on Saturday and Sunday, December 18 and 19. Councils can also request one other free day’s parking to coincide with local events. For instance, parking in Fordingbridge will be free on Saturday, December 11, to support the Christmas Glow event at Roundhill. NFDC has also announced that its new ‘Parking clocks’ have gone on sale. A clock for short-stay car-parks is £30, the Long Stay Annual is £140 and the Quarter Long Stay Clocks are priced £40. Contact the council at newforest.gov.uk/ parking

Calendar of carols at the Minster

Following on from last weekend and the Advent Service by Candlelight, the Minster will be hosting a number of Schools and Organisations Carol Services throughout December:

Friday 3rd Dorset Women’s Institute Service

Saturday 4th the Wimborne Choral Society Concert takes place Friday 17th Carols in the Cornmarket Sunday 19th the Minster’s own Carol Service by Candlelight at 6.30pm

Christmas Eve The Crib Service at 3.00pm with Midnight Mass at 11.00pm

Christmas Day there are two services, 8.00am Holy Communion and at 9.30am a Family Celebration with Holy Communion

Full details of all Events and Services in the Minster can be found at wimborne minster.org.uk.

Sunday 5th The Hurn Court Opera presenting “Christmas Box Of Delights” in Church House Hall Saturday 11th the Bournemouth and District Concert Band are staging a concert

Monday 13th Dorset Police Carol Service which is followed by the ever-popular Broadstone Community Concert Band giving a concert

Saturday 18th The Minster’s Carol Service for Shoppers at 11.00am

Busy return for craft fair

The return of the Wimborne Craft Fair, organised by Wimborne Rotary, was welcomed by crafters and the public alike. This year’s fair, held at the Allendale Centre, was very quickly fully subscribed by crafters and the Minster Hall filled with stalls greeted visitors to the fair. There was a steady flow of visitors all day and with free entry, a collection of donations from members of the public, together with other funds raised from the day, resulted in a total of nearly £650 being raised for Rotary charities.

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