Letters

Are EU citizens still claiming benefits?

I agree with Lucy Nankivell (Letters, 221021) that we did not vote for a hard or soft Brexit – we were told out meant out. In other words, we voted to leave the EU without any ties. Maybe she ought to find out why nearly six million EU citizens have got leave to stay in our country but are not returning to this country. Many are still getting our taxayers’ money in benefits paid to them in their country.

Even our own Government, when asked, could not tell us how many EU Citizens are playing that game? In my opinion many are obtaining benefits from this country whilst working in their own country. Most of the industries she talks about did not bother to use people from this country they used cheaper labour from others, so that is their fault. Glad Brown Ashley Heath Where’s the political balance?

It is astonishing that you give space to Christopher Chope, MP, given his track record and, more importantly, because it enables him to peddle his Brexit right-wing rhetoric with pride. His comments, (S&A October 8), boasting about the ‘success’ of his Spartan Group typify this. Just where is there any political balance? Ronnie Rees

n We give space to the sitting MPs so they can communicate with the constituents that voted for them. Anyone is invited to respond through our Letters pages – Ed Thank you for the music!

We just wanted to pass on our appreciation of the lovely show called ‘Happiness’. Not a dull moment anywhere through the show and the cast

were so enthusiastic it was a complete pleasure to watch. Thank you all for a lovely evening on October 23. Ken & Joyce Hassall Recycling is still available

Re the news item on p50 of the latest New Stour and Avon, regarding petfood pack recycling, I’m not sure what supermarkets there are in Verwood but Tesco now recycle petfood pouches and I am told other stores do too. Mark Churchill Charlton Marshall

OFF THE WALL...

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

County responds to road safety campaign

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your magazine and to thank you for publishing my previous letters on the ‘campaign.’ I doubt we would have got this far without your help. In this sense you are truly a community voice, and are widely read, judging by the comments I have received. At long last I have had a reply from Dorset Council about the safety of children and their parents using the new school. As previously described, they have agreed to put ‘Slow’ markings on the Allenview Rd carriageway (presumably before the ‘blind’ bend). Regarding potential trafficcalming measures, speed indicator devices, and the extension of double yellow lines to cover the corner of Lacy Drive/Allenview Rd (a blind spot), DC have asked that Wimborne Town Council back these measures. Let us hope they do and the measures are implemented swiftly. A 20mph zone will be considered as part of a general review of the policy for such, and updates provided. I would like to thank Cllr David Morgan for his tenacious help and support in getting this far. Dr DS Biddle Wimborne

County WI going virtual

The Women’s Institute is branching out! The Dorset Federation is following a growing trend to offer an alternative means of becoming a member by forming a Virtual WI. Virtual WIs have been appealing to women who do not have a WI nearby, find it difficult to get to meetings, or have to move around the country with their job. It offers the same benefits as every other WI – fun, friendship, quality speakers on a variety of subjects, craft, cooking, and campaigning about issues that matter to women and their families. You don’t have to live in Dorset (or even in the UK) to be a member – so friends and relatives near and far could meet up. Anyone who is interested in becoming a part of this new venture should contact FederationSecretary@dorset wi.org for joining details. Amongst the many and varied Remembrance services and events across the region last week, one at the garrison town of Blandford took on an added dimension with the rededication of its war memorial plaques 100 years after their original installation. The ceremony, organised by Blandford Town Council, coincided and was combined with the Royal British Legion’s annual service of Remembrance for those buried in the Commonwealth War Graves at Blandford Cemetery. Broadcaster Peter Snow repeated the words of his grandfather General Sir Thomas D’Oyly Snow when he had unveiled the plaques in March 1921. Speakers highlighted the parallels between the Spanish Flu, which claimed so many lives worldwide at the end of the First World War – including many buried in Blandford – with the Pandemic which has claimed so many lives in the past 18 months. Armistice Day brought silence amongst busy stalls in Blandford Market Place. It was followed on Friday by a Schools’ Remembrance ceremony in the churchyard of St Peter & St Paul’s attended by staff and pupils of local schools, and the week concluded on Remembrance Sunday with the traditional gathering and laying of wreaths on the Corn Exchange memorials in the Market Place in the afternoon, after services had been held at the nearby Blandford Camp in the morning. Representatives from the camp paraded with those of the Blandford branch of the Royal British Legion, civic and uniformed groups and local organisations before taking part in a service of Remembrance in the Parish Church.

Market stall fundraising

A Blandford woman is raising money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the town’s foodbank with a table at the weekly market in the Corn Exchange on November 25, from 8am-2pm. Sylvia Gray runs a special fundraising stall. She would like food items for hampers on the tombola and items to sell, which she will split between the two charities. She said: “I’m going to split the takings with the foodbank this time, because it’s quite exceptional. It’s not just a foodbank it’s cheerful, it’s happy. “Everyone’s got items they don’t want, and I’ll take any food still in date and healthy. “We may be able to collect if it’s not too far.” Contact Sylvia on 01258 458279 or 07500 831628.

News legend rededicates plaques

All in all another gift in the wall

by Lorraine Gibson What does three quid buy you these days? A cup of coffee – if you don’t go too fancy, a Sunday broadsheet, and a chance to give a helping hand to someone who is homeless. In partnership with Faithworks Wessex, Christchurch Baptist Church has introduced a really cool idea idea for those who want to help disadvantaged people in the town but don’t really know how to go about it. They’ve installed a new contactless ‘giving point’ –basically, a cross between an automatic vending machine and a high-street cash machine – to encourage donations to help their mission to end homelessness in Christchurch. And it couldn’t be easier to use. Simply tap the graphic with your card or smart phone to give £3 and all the funds will go directly to the local Homelessness Partnership to support people with no home to call their own. It’s a safe, convenient and ridiculously novel way of using technology to help a very worthy cause and to help make a difference this festive season and beyond.

Daredevil volunteers, all members of the Hoburne Group Support offices in Christchurch, or their friends and family, have braved the world’s fastest zip line in their latest fundraising challenge for Diverse Abilities. The group travelled to Zip World in Penrhyn Quarry, North Wales, for Velocity 2, a zip wire which travels at speeds of more than 100mph and is described as the ‘nearest thing to flying’. The group raised more than £7,000, which will go towards initiatives to help support children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities across Dorset. Organiser of the charity challenge, Hoburne’s business support manager, Gary Gough, said: “Despite some nerves, the camaraderie from the team was fantastic. “We set a target to raise £3,000 this year for Diverse Abilities, so to raise more than £7,000 from one challenge is extraordinary. “Diverse Abilities is a charity doing hugely important work at a time when it has never been more essential and every single penny that has been donated is gratefully received by the extraordinary team.” Fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, Claire Cooper, added: “We’re so proud of all the hard work Hoburne Group Support has done with its fundraising –they never fail to come up with exciting ways of challenging themselves. “All the money raised makes such a difference to the people we support and their families, especially given how difficult the past 18 months have been for everyone.” You can still donate to the group’s Just Giving page by visiting: justgiving.com/ fundraising/hoburne velocity2.

ADRENALINE SEEKERS: The Christchurch team of Velocity 2 zip line heroes

Bettles Gallery PAINTINGS BY

PAUL JONES PAUL JONES

Roger Bettle LINDSEY COLE LINDSEY COLE FELICITY HOUSE FELICITY HOUSE

Roger Bettle

WINTER COLLECTION 2021

CERAMICS BY

Sasha Wardell

Mike Braisher

Mike Braisher

Nick Rees

Nick Rees

Ruthanne Tudball Nigel Eveleigh

27 NOV-23 DEC 2021

open 10.30am-4pm Wed-Sat

Explore a brand new Christmas Light Trail at Kingston Lacy from 3 Dec 2021 – 2 Jan 2022

A magical trail, featuring enchanting illuminations and classical Christmas tunes, will illuminate the beautiful garden of the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy. It’s the most wonderful time of the year when twinkling lights and seasonal sounds 昀ll the air with festive fun. Wrap up warm and be transported into a winter wonderland where you will discover sparkling tunnels of light, walk under giant baubles and beneath trees drenched in jewel-like colour. Spend time together and create everlasting memories as you wander between the specially chosen illuminations, all choreographed to a soundtrack of Christmas classics. Pause at the mesmerising 昀ickering 昀ames in the 昀re garden and don’t forget to glimpse Father Christmas along the way. Independent street food vendors bring a delicious twist to tasty treats on offer, maybe share a hot chocolate or spiced winter warmer with someone special. Christmas at Kingston Lacy provides a special way to celebrate the festive season with an unmissable outdoor experience. The trail is designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

The after-dark illuminated trail through festive gardens at Kingston

Lacy, 3 Dec 2021 – 2 Jan 2022 Open from 4.30pm, last entry 8pm and closes at 10pm. The festive trail is open on selected dates. Advanced booking: Adult £18, Child £14, Family £60 (2 adults & 2 children). Free entry for carers and children aged 2 & under. Parking £8 per car. Free parking for National Trust members when booking in advance. nationaltrust.org.uk/Kingston-Lacy Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 4EA

TICKETS NOW ON SALE - EARLY BOOKING ADVISED

The magical after-dark illuminated trail

A brand new trail filled with after-dark festive fun

3 DEC – 2 JAN

christmasatkingstonlacy.co.uk

Running selected evenings only

in partnership with

No need for Christmas panic

by Lorraine Gibson

newsdesk@stourandavon.net With wall-to-wall stories about potential shortages on the things we love about Christmas, we decided to check with our local retailers to find out whether stranded containers, reduced workforces and increasing costs would leave us feeling more bah humbug than ho-hoho this festive season. According to Trevor Phillips of Phillips Toys in Woolsbridge, Wimborne, our Christmas is safe – but it’s all about making it work by shopping wisely. “Shop smart this Christmas,” advises Trevor, whose familyrun toy company sells everything from brand-name toys and games to educational and even rare playthings. “There will be plenty of stuff to go round, it just might not be the latest thing as we haven’t had any big films or the kind of publicity that generates popularity; there’s almost no must-have new toys being marketed. “Be a wise buyer and if the thing you want is not available, look at the alternatives,” he suggests. “Be single-minded, search around for what’s similar, what might be a better option, even a better price. “Children don’t need piles of presents, and I’m a toy seller, they need family and a bit of fun – that’s what this year seems to be all about.” Trevor believes that most retailers should have enough products thanks to a surfeit from last year. However, he paints a gloomy picture of what appears to be extortionate price hikes in shipping container rates, which he says have definitely had a negative impact on variety and realistic delivery dates. “A container from China used to be $12,000,” he says. “Then, through lockdown, the price increased to between $15,000 and $18,000. “Then it shot up to $24,000 and is now back at $18,000, depending on time scales.” In a nutshell, when it comes to toys, the pressure of bagging that must-have item is off and yes, you can get toys but it’s a case of making the most of what’s available and finding the best prices. As for turkeys, staff at butcher shops, Paul Keating’s in Wimborne and J Mato & Son in Blandford, all say that there’s no need for ruffled feathers when it comes to the traditional Christmas-day centrepiece for many families this year. They agree that there is an ongoing problem with finding workers on the farms but they assure customers that their fresh turkeys will be on sale as usual. So what about the festive tree drought? There’s certainly not one in East Dorset. Moors Valley Country Park and Baskets in Bloom at West Parley are happy to report that their regular Christmas tree shops and bagging services will be ready to deck the halls from November 27, and there are plenty to go round. All the essentials are available locally, so all you need to do is add the cheer and take note of Trevor Phillips’ parting shot: “Don’t make yourself broke over Christmas, it’s just not worth it and none of us know what’s around the corner, so make the most of the friends and family time.”

Shipping is included at society

Members of the Dorset Branch of the World Ship Society are embracing the current situation by presenting all their 2021 and 2022 meetings as ‘hybrids’. ~Ships~Dorset~ are welcoming participants from anywhere, but are reaching out to the county’s ship

enthusiasts in particular. The group meets (with appropriate distancing) at The Centre in Ferndown, each month, and the events are simultaneously broadcast via Zoom to members who prefer to join in from home. Recent meetings have hosted speakers on maritime history and steamer preservation topics and upcoming events range from 1960s/70s passenger shipping to recent photo expeditions and look at shipping on the Clyde, in the Baltic and transiting the Panama Canal. Local organiser Steve Pink said: “If you are interested in meeting like-minded enthusiasts, to see some great images and hear from knowledgable speakers on ships, shipping and maritime history topics, it sounds like the place for you. “Do come along or join online – we welcome guests and visitors. “There is no obligation to join, but of course we hope you enjoy the experience and become a member.” Take a look at the Dorset Branch’s website shipsdorset.org for further information or you can contact ~Ships~Dorset~ via info@shipsdorset.org