Salisbury & Avon Gazette 13/03/23

Top: Row over popular park cafe page 4

Above: Artwork in honour of Stars Appeal supporter page 5

King Charles meets Ukrainian troops during combat training exercise

HIS MAJESTY The King visited Ukrainian military recruits undertaking training in the South West of England at the end of February.

His Majesty watched a short defensive training exercise by recruits who were undertaking a combat course ahead of their return to fight in Ukraine.

The British Army’s Chief of General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen, accompanied His Majesty, and was given a brief outline of the training being delivered before witnessing a demonstration of some of the skills the recruits had been learning.

He said: “It was an honour to join His Majesty The King in meeting Ukrainian recruits undertaking vital training in the South West of England today.

“This is an international training effort being led by the UK and partner nations and has seen over 10,000 Ukrainian

recruits complete the programme.”

His Majesty also met many of the Ukrainian recruits and their interpreters and also spoke to some of the military personnel from 1st Battalion Irish Guards and the Ranger Regiment who delivered the training, along with those who have joined forces

with the British Army, including instructors from the New Zealand, Australian and Canadian forces.

Company Second in Command, 1st Battalion The Irish Guards, Captain Freddie Bradshaw said: “To hear that The King was coming to visit today was very exciting, not

only for the Ukrainian recruits but also for those of us who are training them. It means a lot to us all to know that he is interested in what is taking place here.”

The course is 35-days long and trains the recruits with two primary principles providing the backbone of the training –survivability and lethality.

The recruits are being taught how to survive in a hostile environment and how to use deadly force against their adversaries. Key focus areas include basic fieldcraft, medical care, marksmanship and weapon handling.

Most of the recruits have little or no military experience when they arrive on the course, though some have experience fighting on the frontline.

The UK, along with its international partners, has trained just over 10,000 Ukrainian recruits in the last six months.

World Book Day sees literary interest sky rocket!

His Majesty met with Ukrainian troops who are currently undertaking a 35-day training course

YOUNGSTERS swapped good reads, heard from authors and recited poetry during a week of activities to explore the beauty of books. The lessons, at Hillside First School, culminated on World Book

Day (March 2), when the children gathered for a special aerial photograph in the school grounds.

Activities running through the week included a book swap event, an author visit,

poetry recitals by each class, a World Book Day assembly and ‘shelfie’ photos from the children.

Children and staff are pictured above –as well as the aerial photo.

Row over Victoria Park cafe after current operator’s bid is rejected

A ROW has erupted over the future of a popular Salisbury cafe.

The Wood Bar, which has been running the concession in Victoria Park since April 2021, has been told it will no longer be running the facility from next month.

Salisbury City Council turned down The Wood Bar’s application to trade at the concession for the next three years.

The council said it has agreed the concession with ‘another trader’ and that the decision came after The Wood Bar indicated it did not wish to pursue a three-year contract during correspondence in January, a claim disputed by the owners.

In an emotional post on Facebook, The Wood Bar said it was ‘upset and outraged’.

“We took an empty disused building in Victoria Park and transformed it into the beating heart of the park and created a community which we will hugely miss,” it added.

It went on: “Despite spending considerable amounts of money on the site and staying open throughout the winter months, providing a much needed space for the community, the council (is) booting us out without reason.

“Over the last few months Salisbury (City) Council (has) been directly contacting other cafe businesses, encouraging them to apply for our current site.

“This is following the council using our

pictures to advertise the park location to other potential businesses. Appalling behaviour.

“We are absolutely appalled at Salisbury City Council, we have been an ideal tenant always paying our rent on time. Salisbury City Council has just hugely damaged a local independent business and put multiple jobs at risk.”

The council said The Wood Bar was made aware in September 2022 the concession would be for a three-year period from 2023 onwards.

“In February 2023, the Wood Bar told the council they did not want a three-year concession. Therefore, the concession opportunity was advertised more widely. More than one application has been received for this concession,” a spokesperson said.

Advice for families struggling with the cost of living crisis

THE cost of living crisis is affecting many families and individuals in the Salisbury area. Rising food prices, high energy costs and increased interest rates are causing real hardship for many.

Help is at hand from the Community Money Advice team based in Salisbury. Part of a national organisation, they offer free, confidential and non-judgemental advice and support for people struggling with their finances and debts.

Recently, for example, they were able to help someone who had left the forces and found himself in debt. CMA was able

to help him negotiate with his creditors and also ensure he was getting all the benefits to which he was entitled.

CMA South Wiltshire is the only organisation offering face-to-face help, which can extend to more than one session if the need arises.

Derek Holloway, the chair of the local group, said: “Our trained advisers are on hand to offer advice, help and support to anyone worried by their financial situation, and it’s free. We’re only a phone call away.”

For more details, send an email to hello@CMASouthWilts.org.uk.

“The council has agreed the concession with another trader. This applicant is proposing a more favourable arrangement, albeit at the basic same fee.

“They are proposing to enhance the site and engage with the local community more actively. They will start trading before summer.

“The council understands The Wood Bar is disappointed by this decision. It is regrettable that officers of the council had been unfairly accused of unprofessional behaviour on social media. These accusations are entirely unfounded. The council has a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying and harassment.”

The Wood Bar responded, claiming it wrote to the council after a break-in January 2023 requested discussions over a shorterterm lease.

“Without replying to us, the following day Salisbury (City) Council changed the process without notice from a tender opportunity to a lease application process, advertising our site publicly, using our pictures and using wording in the lease document to imply we’d left or were leaving,” they said.

They added: “We had not expressed intentions to leave at this point and were simply negotiating a shorter lease.”

The Wood Bar confirmed it had gone on to submit an application for the full three-year concession, but had missed out.

New pool recycling points

BROKEN goggles and punctured armbands can now be recycled at Wiltshire swimming pools.

Residents can now deposit previously unrecyclable pool accessories at pools including in Salisbury.

It is estimated the average pool generates roughly 15kg of waste every two to three months. Now, pool equipment and accessories can now be collected, recycled and reused to make new products.

The Leisure Loop Recycling Scheme is in place at four swimming pools across Wiltshire (Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury,

the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham, Trowbridge Sports Centre and The Vale Community Campus in Pewsey) for objects such as flip flops, goggles, floats, armbands, kickboards, pull buoys and swim caps.

Once collected, the items are sorted and separated into material type (foam or plastic) and then into colour. The material is then shredded into tiny pieces and washed to create a new raw material.

This created raw material is then used to create new products for the industry - such as flip flops - thus closing the ‘leisure loop’.

The Wood Bar, in Victoria Park, will close before April 1

Artwork unveiled to honour the legacy of Stars Appeal supporter

A DEDICATED supporter of the Stars Appeal who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds has been honoured with a special artwork.

Michael Beck Esq BEM, who passed away in November 2021, raised over £450,000 during 18 years of fundraising for The Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s Charity.

This was through his amazing efforts collecting at the Hospital and across the local community, and taking on dozens of sponsored walks, often accompanied by his wheelbarrow ‘Wally’ and supported by his many friends.

Michael’s fundraising played a major role in funding many Stars Appeal projects including Salisbury’s first dedicated

Breast Unit, the Children’s Unit, state-of-the-art scanners, recreational activities for Spinal Unit patients and cancer support programmes. He also inspired many others to donate and fundraise themselves.

How to protect your home from care costs

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

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

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

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

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

To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594

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

Chris Tennant, Oakwood Wills

fundraising like Michael’s, which was just incredible.

“This artwork expresses our gratitude to Michael and celebrates his life and his selfless work. We continue to miss him and remain forever grateful to him.”

Dave Cates, of the Stars Appeal, said: “Michael’s legacy very much lives on. Every single day hundreds of people are benefiting from facilities that he helped fund. We simply wouldn’t have them without

The artwork was unveiled on Thursday, 2nd March by his friends and fellow Stars Appeal bucket collecting team members Keith Noble and Emma Fortescue in the presence of Michael’s daughter Jane, Stars Appeal ambassador Dr Anna Barton, who cared for Michael in hospital, and others who had fundraised alongside him.

The artwork can be viewed in the main corridor of Salisbury District Hospital, opposite the pharmacy.

Dr Anna Barton, Emma Fortescue and Keith Noble with Michael Beck’s daughter Jane Brine at the unveiling of the artwork in the hospital

Probus Club of Sarum hears Parents at War talk

PROBUS CLUB of Sarum recently welcomed author David Bickerton, who had a riveting as well as heartwarming story to tell.

The actors in the story were his father and mother and it was set against the backdrop of World War II. David put the story together based on their surviving 143 love letters.

His father Don was a civil servant who joined the Navy as a 22-year-old volunteer in 1939. He took part in the Dunkirk evacuation as a member of RNVR. He later experienced the sinking of the Bismarck on the cruiser Dorsetshire.

David’s mother, Linda, joined as a 20-year-old volunteer the WAAF in 1941. She became a radar operator serving eventually at five different RAF stations. Don and Lda first met briefly in 1942 and could only keep in touch through correspondence.

After promotion to Lieutenant, Don took command of a minesweeper joining the 25th Flotilla bound for Gibraltar. Minesweepers had to form the spearhead for beach landings.

During his war service, Don was, therefore, part of six allied landings – the first in North Africa, the last in the south of France. There, he and his crew were welcomed and celebrated by the local resistance who provided the ship’s crew with a ‘Pact of Friendship’.

Throughout these tumultuous times, Don and Linda were only able to keep in touch through their letters. Don was able to propose marriage via telegram to Penzance. Their marriage lasted 65 years until Don’s death aged 90. The club meets every other Friday at the White Hart Hotel. Guests and new members are always welcome. 01722 392 043

World Book Day encourages adults who struggle to read

LOCAL CHARITY Read Easy South and East Wiltshire used World Book Day 2023 to encourage adults who struggle to read to come forward and ask for help.

Team leader, Julia West, said: “We asked people who know of friends, employees or family members who cannot read, to pass on the Read Easy South and East Wiltshire phone number 07942 382318, and encourage them to make a call that could transform their lives. Give someone the gift of reading. There is no charge and it could change their life.”

World Book Day is an annual event that aims to inspire children to read for pleasure and read together with their families.

But parents and grandparents who cannot read are not able to provide this support for their children and their learning, with many missing out on the important bonding time that comes with sharing a bedtime story.

The BBC1 documentary ‘Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51’ followed The Repair Shop presenter and dad Jay Blades as he learnt to read with Read Easy.

Like many other parents who struggle to read, Jay had never been able to read his children bedtime stories. The highlight of the documentary was when Jay reached his goal of being able to read his teenage daughter one of her favourite childhood books.

There are thousands of adults in Wiltshire who, like Jay, struggle to read. For them, everyday tasks such as booking a doctor’s appointment, reading road signs or doing the food shopping can be incredibly challenging.

Read Easy South and East Wiltshire offers free and confidential, one-to-one coaching, from trained volunteers.

Coaches and learners meet twice a week at approved local venues, or online, to work for just half an hour at a time through a structured, phonics-based reading programme.

Julia West added that, those who struggle to read should not feel embarrassed about coming forward and asking for help: “There are lots of different reasons why people don’t learn to read in childhood.

“For some it may have been a lack of support from their own family or school, for others it may have been undiagnosed dyslexia.

“People should not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. We are friendly, welcoming and here to help, whatever your age. It will be just you and the coach, no-one else need know.”

Jonathan is one of Read Easy’s success stories. He started the Read Easy programme in 2020 when the country went into lockdown.

He found it frustrating not being able to help his children with home-schooling. Now, he can read with his family, enjoys reading novels and has a new-found confidence in himself and in the future.

He said of the support he received: “More than anything I want to know I have achieved something in life and to show my kids that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

“Most importantly, I want to see the smiles on their faces when I read to them. It’s such a massive achievement for me and nothing makes me happier.”

Read Easy South and East Wiltshire are also looking for more volunteers to enable them to help more adults in the area, both as coaches and management team members.

If you could spare a few hours a week, please get in touch.

For more information about learning to read please contact Clare on 07921 059 976.

To volunteer with Read Easy, please contact Ann on 07850 034 759, email sewfullteam@ readeasy.co.uk or visit:

https://readeasy.org.uk/groups/read-easy-southeast-wiltshire/

Read Easy South and East Wiltshire offers free and confidential, one-to-one coaching, from trained volunteers for adults who want help with learning to read or to become more confident readers

Prison officer sent inmate underwear during ‘intimate’ relationship

A FORMER prison officer who sent underwear to a criminal has been jailed.

Rachel Martin, of Woodvill Road, Salisbury, engaged in an ‘emotional and intimate relationship’ with prisoner Raymond Abraham while working at HMP Guys Marsh, near Shaftesbury.

The 25-year-old was been sentenced to one year and four months in jail at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday (February 28).

The court heard Martin embarked on the relationship despite knowing it created a conflict of interest and contravened the working practices of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Between November 1 2020 and March 8 2021, Martin sent a parcel addressed to the prisoner containing a quantity of high value designer clothing and footwear, the court was told.

She also supplied him with items of female underwear and wilfully communicated with him on a mobile phone.

Martin advised him how he could dispose of the phone, saying ‘If anyone comes, you’ll just have to flush it’ and bought a top-up for the device.

She also encouraged and assisted communication with two other prisoners on

mobile phones that she failed to report they were in possession of, the court heard.

DI Alastair Quinn, of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), said: “Rachel Martin had a clear duty to report her association with a serving prisoner and the possession of phones – if she had done so, appropriate steps could have been taken to stop further contact and prevent it from developing into a relationship at an early stage.

Prolific burglar jailed

A BURGLAR who targeted Salisbury homes while the owners walked their dogs has been jailed.

Mark Griffiths, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail on February 3 after admitting a series of raids at properties in Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Griffiths pleaded guilty to eight dwelling burglaries across the region during 2022, including two daytime burglaries in Wavell Road, Salisbury, and Millbrook Road, Salisbury, both in October.

He targeted the properties after the owners had left the addresses to walk their dogs, before stealing a number of high value items, the court heard.

On November 29 last year, officers from Wiltshire Police’s Fortitude Team arrested Griffiths in Melksham after he had just committed a burglary in Winchester.

He was found in the house by the homeowner who had returned, and through investigative work and forensic evidence, Griffiths was identified as being involved in the Millbrook Road burglary.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to committing several burglaries.

DC Mark Welch, of the Fortitude Team, said: “Burglary is one of the most impactful crimes on victims as it invades the privacy and sanctity of the home, a place where people should feel safest.

“It can have a lasting impact and it is crucial that these offences are thoroughly investigated and offenders brought to justice.

“Griffiths was a serial burglar and often waited until he knew the owners were out of the house before entering.

“I’m pleased that he will now be behind bars.”

“However, she chose not to do the right thing and instead took active steps to hide her relationship and the communication she was engaging in.”

SWROCU’s Counter Corruption Unit worked with HMPPS and the Crown Prosecution Service to build a strong a case against Martin.

Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said: “We will never tolerate those few prison officers who break the rules for their own personal gain and undermine the safety of our prisons.

“Though the vast majority of officers carry out their duties to the highest standards, we will always take the strongest possible action against the small minority who fall foul of the law – including those who engage in illicit relationships.”

Anthony Johns, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “As a prison officer and person acting in public office, she was in an important position of trust.

“Martin would have known that her actions represented a clear breach of that trust, created a serious conflict of interest, and entirely compromised her position.

“People who act otherwise than in accordance with their duties in public office will be brought to justice.”

Rachel Martin has been jailed for 16 months Picture: ROCU

Mark Griffiths has been jailed for four and a half years Picture: Hampshire Police

Wessex Community Action awarded prestigious sector accreditation

WESSEX Community Action has been given a prestigious accreditation for its work supporting the voluntary sector.

Following a rigorous assessment, the group has been awarded a Local Infrastructure Quality Accreditation by the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action after assessors interviewed staff, trustees and stakeholders.

The assessors looked at how WCA demonstrates leadership and advocacy, creates partnerships, supports increasing the sector’s capacity and encourages volunteering.

The charity, which works all over Swindon and Wiltshire, supports community groups with training and guidance to help make them more resilient, represents the voluntary sector in dealings with council and health leaders and runs forums for small groups and charities to give them a stronger voice.

Chief executive, Amber Skyring, said: “I’m very proud that we have been successful in this and pleased for the staff. The accreditation reflects our value and impact in supporting local, voluntary, community,

and social enterprises across Wiltshire, and will further instil confidence in the high standard of service that we deliver.

“We are delighted because we have delivered an extraordinary level of services and support to the community over the last few years, despite having to navigate a pandemic and the cost of living crisis.”

She said the assessment had been a useful exercise. “It was an opportunity for us to look at what we are doing and what evidence we are collecting to show that we provide that level of support, so it was like a check and balance for us as much as reassuring anyone that comes to us,” she said.

One aspect of the group’s work which came in for praise was the Wiltshire Volunteer Managers Steering Group and Forum, which it runs to provide a platform for volunteer managers and coordinators to share knowledge and discuss opportunities.

Mrs Skyring said: “It’s an example of the high quality support we give to the voluntary sector and it is great that the work of our Partnership and

Engagement Lead Anita Hansen has been recognised.”

Maddy Desforges, CEO of NAVCA, which is the national membership body for local infrastructure organisations, said: “We’re delighted Wessex Community Action has achieved the LIQA. We know that local voluntary and community work thrives when it can access the right support.

“Achieving the LIQA means local charities, community groups and those who want to

get involved in volunteering can be assured the services they access will be effective and high quality.”

Mrs Skyring added: “It is really pleasing we’ve been recognised in this way because we see ourselves as cheerleaders for the voluntary sector. This quality mark will really help people feel reassured when they knock on our doors and ask for something that they’re going to get good quality advice and support.”

95% of youngsters get first choice secondary school

A TOTAL of 95% of families have been offered their first choice of secondary school for pupils starting in September.

Wiltshire Council has confirmed 98% of families were offered one of their three secondary school preferences.

The council said early indications nationally were that the trend will show a decrease in the number of families being offered their first choice of secondary school.

However, in Wiltshire, the total receiving their first choice remained unchanged from 2022.

The total number of applications received decreased slightly, due to the number of children in the cohort transferring to secondary school in

September 2023 being lower than in 2022.

In total, 5,087 applications were received - 166 fewer than in 2022.

The majority of parents applied online, with 99% or 5,087 submitted digitally, and just 47 paper applications.

Parents and carers who have applied online will be sent an email confirming the school place offer for their child, if they have selected to receive their decision via email.

If they have selected to receive their decision via the Parent Portal, then parents will need to log back into the Parent Portal to view the outcome.

All parents and carers have until Wednesday, March 15, to confirm they wish to accept or decline the place they have

been offered.

Parents who have submitted a paper application will receive a letter confirming the outcome of their application which will be posted out to them on March 1.

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Choosing the right secondary school for your child is such an important step and I’m pleased that once again Wiltshire families will have good news about their preferred schools.

“These healthy figures are possible due to the careful planning and strategic thought that our officers invest to ensure there are sufficient places for this September but also for the years ahead. I wish all our pupils and their families the best as they can now look ahead to September.”

Wessex Community Action Chief Executive Amber Skyring, centre, with Partnership and Engagement Lead Anita Hansen, right, and Operations Manager Linda Cantillion-Guyatt

Repair work continues on historic Poultry Cross

Words by Tristan Ovington SALISBURY’S ICONIC

Poultry Cross is currently undergoing repairs following the damage caused by motorist Luke Gamblin crashing into it on May, 21st 2022. The Grade 1 listed monument on Minster Street is being repaired by Salisbury Cathedral’s Works Department.

Salisbury Cathedral clerk, Gary Price, told the Gazette what was being done and how it feels to keep history alive.

“One of the buttresses was damaged by the car,” explained Gary. “We need to remove the loose stones and replace them. However, because the scaffold was up, which requires special design before we erect it, we decided to do some of the cleaning work to top half of the stone work. The scaffold is due to come down on March 27 and it will go up again in 6-12 months to do the remainder of the cleaning.

“We inspect the Poultry Cross every five years to see if it needs minor repointing, cleaning and repairs. The repairs are funded by the City Council.”

For those interested in becoming stone masons, working at Salisbury Cathedral is the crème de la crème of stone masonry roles. But you

News

Easter holiday camps for youngsters

YOUNGSTERS can learn about everything from robotics to cooking at a series of event during the Easter holidays. Wiltshire Council will be running FUEL camps during the break and is encouraging families with children eligible for benefit-related free school meals to sign up.

At FUEL camps, children receive a nutritious lunch each day and are given the opportunity to take part in a range of practical, physical and hands on activities including robotics workshops, circus skills, sporting sessions, Olympic kit, talent shows, and arts and crafts workshops.

will have to put your time in first, as it takes two years of college study and two years at Gloucester University to acquire the necessary qualifications.

Many of the team of nine stonemasons working for Salisbury Cathedral have at least 20 years of experience and work on local churches and stately homes, as well as the cathedral.

And how does it feel keeping history alive? “It’s a big honour to work on the Poultry Cross,” replies Gary. “It’s nice to do something different and conserve the cross.”

The Poultry Cross, constructed in the 14th century, is the only remaining cross (others were the Cheese Cross in the present Cheese Market area, Barnard’s Cross (livestock) at the junction of Barnard Street and Culver Street and another which designated a market for wool and yarn at the east end of the present Market Place near the War Memorial) where business was conducted.

This makes the Poultry Cross an important part of Salisbury’s rich history that continues to attract tourists to the city.

Two camps for young people with special educational needs and/or a disability are also taking place at Springfield Community Campus in Corsham and at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury.

FUEL Easter camps will take place over four days, from Monday, April 3, until Thursday, April 6, between 10am and 2pm in Amesbury, Calne, Chippenham, Devizes, Melksham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Marlborough and Westbury.

Applications for the Easter FUEL camps close on March 22. See www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ leisure/fuel-programme.

Arrest after man spotted on CCTV in Salisbury garden

A MAN has been arrested after CCTV showed a person behaving suspiciously in a Salisbury garden.

Police were called to an address in Harnham at around 9.30pm on Sunday (February 26) following a report a man had been seen acting suspiciously within the garden on a security camera.

“Officers attended the scene but there was no sign of the suspect,” said a Wiltshire Police spokesperson.

“CCTV was viewed which showed the garden shed being broken into as well as

two storage units.

“A clear clothing description of the suspect was circulated to officers in the area and searches were conducted. A man matching the description initially evaded police in Netherhampton Road but was stopped near to the entrance to Town Path, by the Mill pub.

“A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of burglary and taken to custody for further questioning,” they added.

“Further enquiries were conducted in the local area which found further properties on

the same stretch of road had also been broken into.

“Enquiries remain ongoing.”

A/Sgt Andy Windsor said: “Thanks to the vigilant resident who reported their initial concerns, officers were able to attend the area quickly and extensively search the area. I am pleased we have one man in custody for questioning. We will be continuing our enquiries today and would ask any residents who believe their home or garden outbuildings were targeted overnight to contact us immediately.”

Before and after photos showing the restortion work in progress Credit: Salisbury Cathedral

Big changes at the top of policing in Wiltshire as new chief gets started

KIER Pritchard has left Wiltshire Police after five years at the helm.

One of the longest serving Wiltshire Police Chief Constables, he has led the force since 2018 and served in the county for his entire 30 years in policing.

He followed in his late father’s footsteps by joining Wiltshire Police at 19 years old and has held the position of Detective at each rank of the organisation.

He started in post on March 5, 2018, coinciding with the declaration of a major incident further to the Salisbury Novichok nerve agent attack.

This proved to be the largest major incident the force and local partners have ever experienced and dominated global news for many months.

He said: “To have had the opportunity to lead the force that I have dedicated my entire professional career to, has been the greatest privilege.

“Right from joining as a new recruit in my teens to now, I have always found policing to

be equal parts challenging and rewarding.

“Policing, by its very nature, is constantly evolving to keep pace with new and emerging demand but the core values have always remained the same for me – to serve and protect with compassion and integrity.”

As chair of the Local Resilience Forum in the county, Chief Constable Pritchard

helped guide partner agencies and the police through the challenges of many major incidents, including the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More recently, he has overseen the implementation of a significant body of work to improve the service the force provides.

“While I cannot shy away

from the challenges the Force is facing and the improvements we need to make, I remain immensely proud of all of the officers, staff and volunteers at Wiltshire Police whose unrelenting dedication to public service is inspiring,” he said.

“I am confident that the path the force is now on will see necessary improvements made and ultimately result in a better quality of service to our communities in Wiltshire.

“Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, our fantastic communities across the county and my family.”

New Chief Constable, Catherine Roper, took over on Monday, February 27.

Chief Constable Pritchard will move, on attachment, to the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) where he will begin the handover of his national portfolio – the Emergency Service Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) - before retiring from policing in June.

New chief constable outlines three priorities

THE new chief of Wiltshire Police has put safer public spaces, violence and burglary at the top of her agenda.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper outlined her priorities in an open letter to Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, Philip Wilkinson.

She said having taken over at the helm on February 27 after Kier Pritchard stood down, she had already spoken to hundreds of officers and intended to meet more in the coming weeks.

And finding ways to work more effectively were on the agenda, she said.

“I have already required a review of each responsibility area to ensure that our systems and processes can be streamlined and impactive – taking unnecessary demands out of the system, and ensuring our police officers, staff and volunteers can maximise their time working within communities, and

with our partners and stakeholders,” she wrote.

“I have established three key priority areas for operational delivery: Safer Public Spaces, Violence and Burglary.

“I will be expecting my teams to provide the best possible response to all demands for service, but these three areas will be our focus.

“I recognise the strides forward made under the principles of ‘Victims, Investigations, Vulnerability’ previously established within Wiltshire Police.

“However, I believe these need to be applied in a more focused manner in order to be most effective.

“In support of the Police & Crime Plan, these priority areas will respond to the concerns of our communities – and ensure people feel safe both inside and outside of their homes.”

Kier Pritchard has left his role at Wiltshire Police

New Wiltshire Police Chief Constable, Catherine Roper

Mum diagnosed with breast cancer to Walk for Wards to thank hospital staff

A MUM who was diagnosed with breast cancer has signed up for her first Walk for Wards for the Stars Appeal to thank the ‘amazing’ staff at Salisbury District Hospital who cared for her.

Claire Parker is raising money for the Stars Appeal funded Breast Unit and has chosen to do the 10k route at Walk for Wards on Sunday, 9th July at Wilton House with her partner Lee Taylor and friend Hayley Sandell.

The 44-year-old from Bourton, Dorset, who received her cancer diagnosis in September last year at the Breast Unit, said: “The staff there were just amazing and I can’t thank them enough. They had me in quickly and went through everything step by step, I can’t fault the care.

“I wanted to do the walk to raise money for the unit so they can get any new equipment they need or enhance the unit further so it can support more people.”

The Breast Unit is the first-ever dedicated unit for breast patients at Salisbury District Hospital. It provides dedicated diagnostic equipment along with treatment and counselling rooms in a dignified environment.

It also means that diagnosis and follow-up care can be

handled in one place rather than patients having to go to different departments in the hospital.

Recalling the day she received her diagnosis, Claire explained: “It was a huge shock. My first thought was my two boys, who were 16 and 15 at the time. You think the worst when you hear that word. But the consultant told me they caught it as early as they could and it was very treatable.”

She was able to get her diagnosis on the same day as having a mammogram. She says it made it easier having that in a

MP’s Ukraine support

SALISBURY gathered to mark one year since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dozens of people were at the Guildhall on February 24 to honour the efforts of Ukrainian people who have fought off the invasion for 12 months.

They gathered in the square, where a sculpture by Standing With Giants has gone on display, showing support for the plight of Ukraine after the invasion.

Among those gathered was Salisbury MP, John Glen, who said: “This morning I marked the anniversary of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine outside the Guildhall.

“Salisbury and the UK still stand strong with the people of Ukraine.”

Elsewhere around the country, a minute’s silence was held at 11am to pay tribute to Ukraine and its people.

dedicated unit. “It is nice to have it all in one place rather than having to wander around the hospital,” she explains.

She also praised the ‘lovely’ breast care nurses who were always at the end of the phone when she had any questions or was worried about anything.

“It makes a big difference. They tell you that you can ring them any time of the day for support. You get given lots of different information, which

you don’t always take in at the time, but they are just at the end of the phone. That support is great,” adds Claire. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Claire has finished her radiotherapy treatment and is currently on medication.

She is ‘looking forward’ to taking part in the hospital charity’s flagship fundraising event this summer, which is free to enter. There are three distances to choose from – 3k, 5k and 10k – and walkers can fundraise for their chosen ward or department.

Helena Sinclair, of the Stars Appeal, said: “We’ve had fantastic support for this year’s Walk for Wards so far with nearly 250 people signed up already.

“We’d like to encourage everyone to get signed up and help us support patients like Claire by funding projects that make a real difference to patients, their families and staff at the Hospital.”

For more information about Walk for Wards visit starsappeal.org/event/walk-forwards

Claire has set up a JustGiving page, to make a donation visit: www.justgiving. com/fundraising/claireparker68

Claire Parker with her partner Lee Taylor Right: The start line at Walk for Wards 2022

Credit: Simon Ward

Mr Glen joined the demo at the Guildhall

Outside expansion plans for popular A30 roadside deli and restaurant

A LANDMARK eatery outside Salisbury could soon boast a new kiosk, outside seating area and an awning.

The Thyme & Tides deli and restaurant, on the A30 London Road at Firsdown, has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council for various changes to the site.

Part of the venue’s large car park would be converted to an outside dining area, including the kiosk, awning and seating.

Awning blinds would also be installed on the main building, formerly The Haven, the plan says.

“The site has recently been purchased by the owners of Thyme & Tide Deli in Stockbridge (Hampshire),” the application said.

“They are proposing to create an outside eating area on the land to the end of the existing car park, and also propose to install awning blinds to the front elevation of the existing restaurant building.”

The outside seating area would feature a ‘timber-clad’ kiosk serving tea, coffee and

light snacks, with timber decking covered by the awning providing a seating area.

It would be available between May and September, the plan said, and only in the daytime.

Meanwhile, plans for the main building are also outlined.

“To protect users of the restaurant from direct sunlight, it is proposed to install new awning blinds to the front elevation of the building,” the application said.

The blinds would be fully retractable, it added, as well as hedging and fencing installed to screen the eating area from the A30 and surrounds.

People can comment on the application, reference PL/2022/02789, at www. wiltshire.gov.uk until March 28.

New 130-pupil SEND school to open in Wiltshire

A NEW free school to provide 130 places for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will be created in Wiltshire following a Department for Education announcement.

The new school for children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) will be for children aged 4 to 19-years-old.

The school will help to address the growing numbers

of SEND places needed in Wiltshire.

The DfE will fund and build the school which is likely to open in 2026. Its current location is being determined and will be shared as plans progress.

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills said: “Every child and young person deserves their school to be a place where they can learn and thrive. Wiltshire

Council is committed to having the right specialist support for pupils with SEND so they can enjoy their time at school, and this is good news for our Wiltshire children.”

Cllr Jane Davies, cabinet member for SEND said: “We already have allotted significant investment to creating extra SEND places but this DfE commitment to building a new school for SEND pupils is a very welcome addition and will

help address the need for SEMH provision. We will be sharing more news with parents and carers as plans move forward.”

The news follows on from the Council announcing that the Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL), a free school for SEND pupils, will open in September 2023, after Reach South Academy Trust signed its official funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education.

The application - outlined in the picture below - hopes to see an outside seating area, kiosk and shelter installed at the Thyme & Tides deli and restaurant, on the A30 at Firsdown

Trethowans welcomes employee moves in commercial property team

LEADING Salisbury-based law firm Trethowans has announced a promotion and welcomed a new joiner in its commercial property team.

Mary Mowbray, who started at the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2012, has been made a senior associate in the commercial property team.

She helps look after some of the firm’s largest clients and works with pension funds, landlords and other businesses and individuals with commercial property needs.

Mary is also responsible for supporting junior members of the team with their career development.

She said: “After starting out as a trainee at Trethowans, 11 years ago, I’m delighted to have been made senior associate and have learnt so much in that time.

“All staff and management are friendly and approachable, everyone is made to feel valued

and the firm offers excellent opportunities for career progression. Part of my role involves supporting junior team members with training and I love watching them progress.”

She is joined in the commercial property team by Jamilly Sueth, who has been appointed as a legal executive.

Originally from Brazil, Jamilly began studying law and working as a legal assistant in a government department for legal aid there in 2018.

In 2019 she entered an exchange program in the UK before moving here permanently. She is currently studying for her degree in Law at the University of Essex.

Jamilly said: “I’m so excited to join the team at Trethowans and continue my journey to train as a solicitor as I enter the second year of my degree.

“I can see the firm is constantly encouraging its members to progress and

offering various opportunities to grow. I feel I have a lot to look forward to in 2023.”

Trethowans was recently named one of The Times Best Law Firms for 2023 – the newspaper’s annual list of the top 200 legal practices in England and Wales.

The firm was also recognised in the Legal 500 for 2023, achieving top tier status for its services in Corporate and Commercial, Licensing, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence (claimant) and Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate. www.trethowans.com.

Long-standing music store closes its doors after 60 years

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

AFTER nearly 60 years of business, the manager of Musicroom Salisbury announced on social media that he had “got the final word that our shop, along with all Music Room stores will close [its] doors for good on the 17th of March.”

Musicroom Salisbury was previously a music shop under the name Stangers, and before that Percy Priors, before being run under the Musicroom chain.

As for the reason for the closure, Tom Venvell, managing director, UK and Germany at Hal Leonard Europe, the company that owns Musicroom, said: “With sales and profitability impacted by challenging market conditions, and costs continuing

to rise, we need to make these changes.” According to the company’s website, the large London store will remain open to deal with refunds and other customer queries.

However, despite these allegedly challenging market

conditions, there have been many customers in Musicroom Salisbury since they announced the closure. Many of these were young people with their parents, suggesting the next generation would have been likely to patronise the shop if it had remained open.

When one anonymous gentleman, eyeing the music books, was asked his view on the closure, he simply answered: “I was really sad. I have been coming here for years and I don’t know where I will go to buy guitar strings and sheet music now.”

Members of Salisbury band Carsick also had strong feelings about the closure. Joe (vocals/ guitar) said: “It’s a real loss for the city – I got my first guitar

from that place and too many packets of strings to count. Super friendly staff too, so a real shame to see it go.”

Jack R (guitar) also had early experiences of learning the guitar: “I used to sit in there and play guitar for hours when I was a kid. It’ll be sorely missed.”

Tom (drums) said: “It was the only place I could get drumsticks in a pinch when I needed them!” While, Jack H (bass) added that it was sad, “especially so soon after the closure of the Plug N Play rehearsal space. The Salisbury music scene will be hit hard this year.”

The manager of Musicroom Salisbury declined to answer enquiries from the Salisbury and Avon Gazette about the closure.

LtoR: Jamilly Sueth, Jenni Wicheard and Mary Mowbray

Budget must help small businesses

Additional reporting and photo by Tristan Ovington

THE FEDERATION of Independent Retailers has urged the chancellor of the exchequer to address a number of factors that are threatening the very existence of many smaller retail businesses.

The Federation’s national president, Jason Birks, has written to Jeremy Hunt with a list of issues to be taken into consideration ahead of the Spring Budget on March 15.

The letter comes after the Federation added its calls to those of other trade associations urging the business secretary to look again at the latest energy help (EBDS), which does not provide enough support and is not targeted appropriately.

Mr Birks said: “The energy relief scheme is simply not enough. Support needs to be targeted for small businesses feeling the biggest impact of the

energy crisis. The government must look at the way it can target support to these businesses and support them during this time of crisis.

“We also want to see the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Ofgem encourage energy suppliers to help the most vulnerable business customers renegotiate or ‘blend and extend’ their energy contracts to better reflect lower wholesale energy prices.”

Other concerns raised on behalf of the Federation’s 10,000-plus members include the rising price of goods, which is likely to result in a further increase in retail crime; the current labour shortage; and the proposed deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland.

He added: “The Fed is also calling on the government to provide support to small businesses that are being

affected by the rising cost of fuel. It will ultimately put people out of business.

“It is essential that the chancellor considers all these points for the spring statement. Independent retailers are continuing to struggle, and it is vital that they receive adequate support from the government.”

Local business owner. Pierre Barton Pink, of art supplies shop Compleat Artist, said that the local government could be doing more. “Local government could be working with and supporting small businesses, including with their energy bills, to help Salisbury maintain its character and attract more tourists.

“These small shops are the backbone of the town, offering local, well paid jobs and teaching people new skills.”

But Pierre also feels help is needed from other sources. “Energy companies should look to do what they can to support small local businesses which help sustain them.”

Pierre was also concerned with the clarity of the message from Mr Birks. “The intention for these changes must be clear in order for progress to be meaningful to Salisbury’s business community.”

Pierre Barton Pink, owner of Compleat Artist in Salisbury

Bringing local produce to market

WITH local farmers competing against mass-produced products, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find good quality local products in Salisbury. This is why Jane Howard, 64 and Sarah Hutchinson, 63, formed their own delicatessen stall, Ginny’s Dairy.

The story began when friends Jane and Sarah moved back to Salisbury to find so few market stalls. “We knew there was a niche for selling local cheeses to the people of Salisbury. But when we looked at the price of setting up a shop it was so expensive we decided on a stall instead.

“As a result, Ginny’s Dairy became a limited company in early August 2022. Our aims

were to help support the Salisbury local produce scene and local cheese making farmers.”

Whatever your palette, the Ginny’s Dairy girls have you covered, offering cheeses made from cow milk, sheep milk and goat milk, all made in Wessex, apart from the Stilton.

Ginny’s Dairy, named after Sarah’s late cheese champion mother, also provides cheese biscuits – both Scandinavian and Argentinian style – which are also made in Wessex.

These are complemented by award-winning butters made in Dorset with either sea salt butter or cracked black pepper. And that’s not all!

“We also have Alison Kirkonel, based in Little Dunford, who makes chutneys and jams,” says Sarah,

excitedly. “She makes seasonal chutneys like rhubarb and ginger or red onion marmalade. And last but not least, we sell Ginger Pig Pies from a renowned London company.

“What we remind people is that mass-produced cheese is not made with love. Our cheeses are produced using milk made by the same farmers who make the cheese.

“When milk is transported and mixed with other types of milk it affects the flavour and quality and the cows, sheep or goats are not always free range.

“Local farmers care about welfare and ensure their animals are happy which leads to amazing tasting cheese.

“We would like to create more delicatessen stalls in the Wessex area and continue expanding our range of cheeses

and biscuits according to customer demand and changing tastes. We are also looking to start a list of recipes to hand out with orders, that may one day become our own recipe book.” Ginny’s Dairy can be visited at Maltings market (Friday), ginnysdairy.co.uk, info@ ginnysdairy.co.uk

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

Co-owner of Ginny’s Dairy, Jane Goward

“They really, really do just hate work”

(Gavin Williamson secretary of state for education, October 2022)

DEBATE over the government’s handling of the pandemic has recently been reignited by Daily Telegraph journalist Isobel Oakeshott’s decision to publish private WhatsApp messages between the health secretary Matt Hancock and secretary of state for education Gavin Williamson at that time.

I have a specific concern about one WhatsApp comment in particular which is offensive, unjustified and indicates lack of respect for the teaching profession. During negotiations with the teaching unions over the re-opening of schools at a time when infection rates were still incredibly high, Gavin Williamson sent a message stating “…I know they really really do just hate work…”

Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it showed “an appalling lack of respect for teachers” at a time of national emergency when unions were trying to engage constructively with the government. Appalling, but sadly not surprising.

The government’s refusal to engage in negotiations over pay and conditions with the nursing profession, ambulance drivers, post office workers and rail workers reveals a lack

Cllr John Wells Labour Chair of Environment and Climate Committee (Salisbury City Council)

of respect for public sector employees that is not confined to the teaching profession.

Throughout the challenging times of the pandemic when teachers, nurses, ambulance drivers, rail workers, post office workers and many others continued to maintain essential public services, unselfishly putting themselves and their families at considerable risk of potentially fatal infection, the government urged everyone to show their respect and admiration for key workers.

I spoke to our postie on the doorstep about the high infection rates in the sorting office as he continued to go into work, and to teachers anxious about shielding vulnerable relatives while keeping schools open for children of

key workers. It seems barely credible that those same key workers have been accused of not caring about the very people they continued to serve at considerable personal risk when they decided to take industrial action over pay and conditions. Pay that is not even close to keeping abreast of inflation, or even more significantly, pay increases in the private sector.

Typically, little is said in the media about teachers’ industrial action being driven not just by pay, but the funding of childrens education, or nurses and ambulance drivers concerns over patients’ safety, or rail workers’ concerns about passenger safety.

Poor pay and conditions are not only failing to appropriately reward hard working and dedicated staff, but will continue to exacerbate the growing recruitment crisis putting even more pressure on the existing workforce.

Isobel Oakeshott may have acted unprofessionally in publishing some private messages, but I for one am more concerned about the thinking behind the action taken by senior government ministers in managing our key public services. After all they are the people making decisions which define our future and we need to be able to have trust in their honesty and integrity.

‘We need to tackle gender inequality’

THIS week, my daughter chose ‘Malala’s Magic Pencil’ by Malala Yousafzai from Salisbury Library. It tells Malala’s story in a way that, at three, she can start to understand.

Of course, we have already read it at least four times since it came home with us. While taken with the idea of a magic pencil that can change the world, my daughter is confused by the little girl who does not attend school but instead sorts rubbish into piles at the dump near Malala’s house. Malala’s father explains to her, “Because, Jani, in our country, not everyone sends their daughters to school.”

My almost-four year old cannot comprehend a world where she does not get to start school in September. I am relieved that we live in a society

Victoria Charleston Lib Dems Parliamentary Spokesperson for Salisbury Constituency

where gender inequality has been banished from the classroom. And yet, for me, this achievement is only the beginning.

Wednesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day: a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women - an annual call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

One area of equality I am particularly passionate about is the right to be able to go to

school without fear of harassment or sexual abuse.

An Ofsted report published in June 2021 noted that ‘sexual harassment and online sexual abuse … incidents are so commonplace [in schools] that they see no point in reporting them’. And, according to End Violence Against Women (EVAW), a third of girls surveyed ‘do not feel safe from sexual harassment at school’, while 80% of girls think schools need to do more to support young people’s sex and relationships education, and to tackle sexual harassment.

‘Upskirting’, ‘nudes’, and ‘catcalling’ are the thin-end of the wedge, and it’s frighteningly easy to see the line between these common forms of abuse and the horrors committed by

men like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick.

Terrifyingly for my daughter and her peers, this Conservative government is not linking the two together, never mind tackling abuse in our schools.

The Government needs to appreciate that early intervention, properly equipping our teachers with the ability to teach about consent, healthy relationships and recognising your own toxic behaviour, is of paramount importance to changing the tide on violence against women and girls.

We need to educate a generation on how to behave towards one another. It is not enough that our daughters have the privilege to go to school, unlike Malala’s cohort in Pakistan, they deserve to go to school safely, free from harassment.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust CEO to retire after 33 years dedicated to the wildlife and people of the county

AFTER 33 years of dedicated service and amazing achievement for the wildlife and people of the county, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s chief executive Dr Gary Mantle MBE has announced that he will retire this summer.

At the helm of the Trust for more than half the time since its formation in 1962, Gary has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the communities, landscape and nature of Wiltshire to create a more sustainable future for wildlife and people.

He has also made a tremendous contribution to conservation nationally and internationally, working closely with other Wildlife Trusts and forging strong partnerships with many other charities, public organisations and influential people to magnify the impact of the Trust’s work.

Gary Mantle said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to have led the trust for so long. Together, we have achieved so much. In 1990, we had under 3,000 members and just eight staff. Today, we have more than 23,000 members, 26,000 social media followers and nearly 150 staff.

“We have acquired many nature reserves, building up our land under management for nature to more than 1,200ha across more than 40 reserves.”

As Wiltshire Wildlife Trust celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2022, the trust has reflected on its many achievements, both in Wiltshire and nationally.

The original primary objective set by the founders when it was established, to ensure there is nature left in Wiltshire for everyone to benefit from and enjoy, has been achieved.

However, many new, tough challenges have emerged. Over the decades, the trust has risen to the challenges and increased its ambition, repeatedly adapting its strategy and ways of working to tackle the most pressing challenges.

For example, it now has a wellestablished farming operation that helps to manage its reserves for nature; and its thriving education and wellbeing teams provide people with the knowledge and understanding to lead more sustainable lives and enable them to benefit from nature.

With the climate and biodiversity crises, and major concerns about the threats to environmental legislation, the challenges

have never been greater. While so much has been achieved, the need for the trust to play a key role in improving the prospects for nature and the environment at a landscape scale is clear and abundant.

Led by Trustees with a wealth of recruitment and leadership experience, the trust has put in place a process and timetable for recruiting Gary’s successor. It is confident that this prestigious, high profile role will attract outstanding candidates.

The new appointee will take up the post in the summer; Gary has kindly offered to provide advice and guidance to ensure a full handover when the new CEO joins.

Gary will retire leaving the trust extremely well-positioned to meet this need, having led the preparation of the new 2023-2030 strategy. The three key headline goals of the strategy, are that: nature will be

in recovery; people will be taking action; and nature will be valued, to address enduring conservation and sustainability priorities head on.

You can read Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Strategy to 2030 at www.wiltshirewildlife. org/strategy.

Top: Gary Mantle has seen the Trust’s membership grow from 3,000 to 23,000 during his tenure

Right: Gary with the then Prince Charles on Lower Moor Farm

Forest Research to manage new climate change hub aimed at the forestry sector

THE GOVERNMENT has launched a Climate Change Hub to support landowners, woodland managers and forestry practitioners in addressing climate change threats. The initiative is a joint venture between Defra, Forest Research, Scottish Forestry and the Welsh Government. It centralises the latest resources, information and guidance on climate change adaptation.

It has been launched because of the unprecedented projected rate of climate change – from warmer summers to more frequent extreme conditions such as drought periods and heavy rainfall events. And because of the real need for immediate action to improve the resilience of forests and woodlands, and to protect the benefits that they provide, including carbon sequestration.

The Climate Change Hub will be managed by Forest Research. As stated, it will centralise and distil the latest information and UKFS (United Kingdom Forestry Standard) guidance on climate change adaptation to encourage uptake of adaptive practice by forest and woodland owners and managers. It will provide concise information about risks from the changing climate, how to identify suitable adaptation measures and examples of how other managers are implementing adaptive practice. There is no single recommended approach to climate change adaptation, as each woodland has different objectives and conditions. To enable managers to make informed decisions for their own woodlands, the Climate Change Hub also includes detailed guidance through the decisionmaking process, step-by-step,

Green light

for limited use of beekilling pesticides

IN JANUARY, Defra announced plans to relax restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides for use on sugar beet should a certain threshold in the predicted spread of a damaging virus be reached.

Emerging sugar beet seedlings are vulnerable to beet yellows virus which is caused by predation from aphids. In 2020, 25% of the national sugar beet crop was lost, costing £67m of total economic loss across an industry that creates nearly 10,000 jobs.

including information about the online tools available to support risk management and species choice.

Forestry minister, Trudy Harrison, said: “Trees and tree management are crucial parts of our plan to reach Net Zero by 2050, and resources such as the Climate Change Hub support the forest industry to make better, more informed and ultimately more sustainable decisions when it comes to tree planting and woodland management.”

Forestry Commission chief executive, Richard Stanford, said: “Climate change will affect our trees, wood and forests. We need to ensure that our management practices ensure they thrive for the long-term to ensure all the benefits they provide are maximised. Trees are a critical part of our endeavours to tackle climate change; trees are the most efficient and cost-effective method of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The Climate Change Hub will allow all of us to see this critical information in one place for the

first time, enabling land managers and foresters to make the best decisions for our planet on tree and forest management.”

Woodland owners are encouraged to plant and manage more diverse and resilient woodlands of varying ages and species in the face of climate change.

To counter future extreme weather risks from severe storms to drought, forests and woodlands should have a broad range of trees at different ages, from seedlings to trees to vary the size of our trees. Larger, more mature trees are more susceptible to severe winds than younger trees, so promoting the growth of trees of varying ages helps to strengthen their collective resilience.

The Climate Change Hub supports the government’s wider Net Zero strategy and follows commitments set out within the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan to improve the UK’s mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

https://www.forestresearch.gov. uk/climate-change

However, the use of neonicotinoids under any circumstances is controversial. They are highly toxic to bees and other pollinators and their use is ordinarily banned.

Defra has attached strict conditions to the authorisation, including only allowing application if independent modelling predicts a virus incidence of 63% or above. If the virus threshold is not met, then the neonicotinoid treated seed will not be used.

When the threshold is met, limited use is allowed with further strict conditions applied to minimise risks to the environment.

It was announced at the beginning of this month that the threshold for use had been met.

The decision has been met with opposition. Joe Llanos, policy and information officer, The Wildlife Trusts, said: “This is hugely disappointing, and we are concerned that this decision signals that the use of toxic neonicotinoids is once again becoming routine.

“The performance of last years’ sugar beet crop suggests that drought likely had a far greater impact on sugar beet than virus infection in 2022.”

Poole lighting shines a spotlight on low prices

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Twenty eight years ago, we opened The Factory Shop in the middle of beautiful Poole in Dorset. We are proud to bring you fantastic end of line products that are no longer available on the high street at incredibly low prices.

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Minister urges uptake of sustainable farming initiatives and practices

DURING HIS speech to the annual NFU conference, food and farming minister Mark Spencer urged farmers to take advantage of payments made for taking part in sustainable practices.

The minister began by emphasising his own roots as a farmer in Nottinghamshire, before exploring the many challenges that farmers are currently facing.

But his speech was very much focused on how farmers must take up the mantle of sustainability in a bid to ensure the land can be passed on to future generations in a healthy, productive and profitable state.

“We all want to keep our focus on the opportunity we now have to secure a sustainable, productive, and profitable future for farming. So that we strengthen the resilience of our environment, our businesses and our communities, while improving the prosperity of the food sector for every generation to come.”

The minister made it clear that the farming sector was at the heart of the government’s environmental targets.

“I urge you to get involved with the initial phase of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. We kicked off the scheme in the summer, starting with soil health. We’ve started making

payments in our new Sustainable Farming Incentive on a quarterly basis instead of annually, making more options available very soon. I hope that you are taking advantage of the support that is available for your business.

“Not just to halt the loss of species in our country by 2030 and then reverse the decline, but to reach net zero by 2050, to make sure we have cleaner air, and clearer and more plentiful water, and less pollution, and that we are better prepared for episodes of flooding and drought in a changing climate, as well as helping us to meet our commitment to report to parliament on the state of our nation’s food security at least once every three years, so we maintain and enhance the strong farm to fork system that makes our food and drink so special –and a real engine for our economy as well.”

The minister said that the level of funding available to farmers would remain unchanged from the government’s manifesto commitment – two-point-four billion pounds, “with all the funding from planned, steady, fair reductions in BPS made available to farmers though a combination of one-off grants and ongoing schemes, as we pay you to take action through

our environmental land management schemes.”

The minister confirmed that a new additional payment of £20 a hectare for the first 50 hectares was available. “That’s up to £1,000, in addition to the payments you’ll receive for the work you to do improve your farm and the environment, available for everyone joining from the start of our 2023 offer, and applied to everyone who is already taking part – so early adopters get the same benefits, with the smallest farms feeling the biggest difference.”

He also pledged that more standards would be added to the Initiative, with all in place by the end of 2024.

“Already, we’ve added six further ways farmers can be paid to take action in 2023, that’s double what we said we’d do this year. Each action is good for the farm, good for food production, and good for nature, helping you reduce costs, making your operation more efficient and resilient, as well as helping you do your bit as part of our national effort to reduce emissions, and helping you improve water quality and help wildlife on your farm as well, so more farms of all shapes and sizes can make doing their bit for the environment part of their business plan.”

in 2023, now is the time to do it. It is easy to apply, it is fair and flexible, and it makes business sense – and as we broaden the offer, there is something in it for all kinds of farms.”

The England Woodland Creation Offer will become part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme from 2025. Payment rates for the scheme had seen an average increase of 10% for revenue payment rates for ongoing activity like managing habitats, and an average increase of 48% for capital payment rates – for one-off projects such as hedgerow creation, to help meet with the rising costs.

“I encourage you to take a look at the details. We have published details of the action we will be backing through Countryside Stewardship as well, as we expand the scope of both schemes in 2023 and 2024, so you can decide what is right for you, and plan ahead.

“With over 30,000 agreements in our improved Countryside Stewardship scheme – that’s a 94% increase. I think that is the right thing to do to make sure we hit the accelerator on the benefits we want to see for your businesses and for the environment as well, without wasting time reinventing the wheel, and there are more than 250 options across the two schemes – so there will be something for everyone and every farm.”

07714 289400

“So, if you’ve been considering joining the scheme

In addition, the minister highlighted the first 22 Landscape Recovery pilot projects that are up and running. “All these projects have working farms involved, and overall the scheme has had a neutral impact on food production, something we will continue to monitor. These projects are helping to restore nearly 700 kilometres of rivers – and protecting 263 species.”

High Quality 5 string meadow hay bales available £35 available Bales of paper shredding, ideal for

Consultation launched on registration rules for bird keepers in Britain

DEFRA has announced plans to consult on registration rules for bird keepers in Great Britain as part of the government’s plans to tackle the spread of avian influenza.

The new rules would apply to all keepers, no matter how many birds they have. At present only those who keep 50 birds or more are required by law to register. They would also be required to update their information on an annual basis.

Under the proposal, bird keepers will need to provide information including their contact details, the location where birds are kept and details of the birds (species, number and what they are kept for).

In a joint statement the Chief Veterinary Officers from

England, Scotland and Wales said:

“These proposals will enable us to have a full picture of the number and location of birds kept across Great Britain and make it easier to track and manage the spread of avian disease.

“This information will also help inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio.”

By registering their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), keepers will ensure they receive important updates such as any local avian influenza outbreaks and information on biosecurity rules to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian influenza.

Registration will enable the government to communicate with bird keepers quickly, to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza, and limit the spread.

The new rules would cover owners of backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon fanciers, but would not affect pet birds kept entirely inside a domestic dwelling, such as a parrot or

budgie kept in a cage indoors and which never leaves the property other than to visit a vet.

British Poultry Council Chief Executive said: “We welcome this consultation as a means of ensuring the GB poultry register is fit to support both government and industry efforts in mitigating the ongoing impacts of avian influenza.

“Registering your poultry is an effective way of monitoring and controlling the spread of disease to protect the national flock. We, as ever, urge all poultry keepers to remain vigilant for signs of avian influenza in their birds.”

The consultation will run until 31 May. https://consult.defra. gov.uk/poultry-register/ all-birds-registration2023/

‘There’s no evidence for reflexology’

IN your puff piece about reflexology (February 27)

Katrina Fiske says: “How can someone touching pressure points on my feet possibly help? There was only one way to find out - I made an appointment…”

Wrong, the way to find out is with a properly controlled clinical trial.

A great many such trials have already been done. And what do they show?

They show no consistent good quality evidence that reflexology is effective.

Practitioners will no doubt point me to lots of trials with positive conclusions, but I have to draw their attention to the words “good quality”.

Most trials do not control adequately for observer bias and placebo effect.

Readers can see a review of such trials here: https://bit. ly/3Ykk3KJ.

The diagram of pressure points on the feet is based entirely on imagination, and science has never validated it.

I am sure that a foot massage is pleasant and relaxing, but any such effects have nothing to do with so-called reflex points.

It is highly misleading to publish an article which makes medical claims that are clearly nonsense. This is not journalistic balance.

LES ROSE West Harnham, Salisbury ‘We will return’

WE are aware that there has been correspondence in the paper about our concert in St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury in January.

We know that heating old churches is challenging and it is great to hear that the new heating system is now working much better.

Even when cold in temperature, we really appreciated the warm welcome

Picture of the week

from the church, Shaftesbury Arts Centre and the audience.

The acoustics of St Peter’s are wonderful and we very much hope to play there again.

MIRANDA DODD

On behalf of Salisbury Baroque

Hope for pub plan

WHAT an excellent idea by villagers to try and re-open their local pub (‘Village pub could reopen under community asset plan’, February 27).

Our locals are disappearing all the time, according to Camra, as people choose to drink at home, or not at all.

Most pubs now devote most of their space to diners, rather than drinkers, and focus on food rather than ales etc.

It’s completely understandable, but we must also accept this means vital community hubs are being lost forever.

Growing up in a village, the

pub is the background to many of my memories, from Christmas parties to birthday celebrations. It was the venue of choice for so many things, along with the village hall.

I do hope this plan can be successful, so the people of Netherhampton have the chance to form such memories, as we did all those years ago.

Cheers!

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

EU deal was best

SO, Rishi Sunak thinks Northern Ireland is now the most exciting economic zone in the world, thanks to his postBrexit deal with the EU.

Why does he say this? Well, because NI has secured ‘privileged access, not just to the UK home market, which is enormous, but also the EU single market’.

Wow, they are lucky. If only we could all enjoy such

conditions and become so exciting, with access to the single market, as well as the ‘enormous’ UK market.

The problem is, we did have all that, as a member of the European Union.

In saying what he said about NI, the Prime Minister finally admitted what no other Brexiteer has been able to; that the best deal for the UK economy was to stay in the EU.

Surprisingly, I haven’t read of many of Mr Sunak’s fellow Brexiteers remarking on this observation, because it must uncomfortable for them to finally admit our vote to leave is doing untold harm to our economy and future prospects.

Whether you think we should have left or not, Mr Sunak has given you the truth, something in short supply since before the 2016 referendum.

Let’s hope the deal is a big success for NI, the UK and EU.

S WRIGHT Salisbury

This stunning picture of Salisbury in the snow was captured by Martin Cook. Send your pictures of Salisbury and surrounds to newsdesk@salisburyandavon.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Salisbury chef into semi-finals of Michelin-star judged competition

By Faith Eckersall

A FORMER Salisbury schoolboy has won the chance to compete for one of the world’s most prestigious culinary titles.

Max Davies, who now lives and works in Edinburgh, has got through the first round of the 2023 Roux Scholarship for young chefs.

Max, who lived in the village of Ludgershall and attended primary school there, underwent a rigorous selection process in early March.

H was tasked with submitting a written recipe using prescribed ingredients, including a striploin of dry-aged beef, a beef offal ingredient and Belgian white chicory.

These were submitted anonymously to the judges, who included Michael Roux Jr, Alain Roux, TV star James Martin and Angela Hartnett OBE, whose restaurant is in t he Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest.

“When they tell you the basic ingredients you are constantly thinking ‘what shall I do’ because you have to produce something that you would be able to create in the time-frame if you’re called to produce it in the next round,” said Max. His recipe included keeping the beef rare and searing the chicory.

For the regional final, which was due to take place in Birmingham and in Ealing,

London, on March 9, competitors had two-and-a-half hours to cook their dish, as well as produce a dessert from a mystery box of ingredients given to them on the day.

The judges will be looking for recipes and methods which demonstrate the best balance of creativity, taste, style and practicality in the finished dish.

If he is selected Max, who works at Aizle in Edinburgh, will go through to the finals, in London on April 3.

Max, who decided to become a chef after his grandfather bought him his first set of chef’s whites and knives, said: “I

know some of the other chefs taking part and they’re all really high calibre but I won’t get much time to see what they’re doing, because I’ll be concentrating so hard on my own work.”

Winners of the Roux Scholarship have frequently gone on to win Michelin stars, as well as work in the world’s most highly-regarded restaurants.

www.rouxscholarship.co.uk/

Manor Farm Butchers is located in the beautiful village of Burcombe near Salisbury in Wiltshire. The shop has been trading since the early 80’s and in 2013, we were lucky enough to take on the running of the shop. We are Steve and Katie Hannon. Steve has been a member of the team in the shop since 2002 and Katie came on board in 2016.

Fresh, local meat

Free-range chicken

Homemade sausages & burgers

Gluten free sausages

Homemade pies, scotch eggs, quiche & pate

Locally made cakes

Home cooked Wiltshire ham

Home cooked pasties, sausage rolls & pork pies

Curry sauces & tasty accompaniments

Pickles, chutneys & sauces

Homemade faggots

Free-range hens eggs

Duck eggs

Smoked fish and fish pate

Selection of seasonal vegetables

Selection of cheeses

Dog food and bones

Come and meet our friendly team and see what delicious delights await you:

The Acorn House Bakery makes luxury bespoke treatboxes filled with artisan handmade cookies, chocolate truffles and fudge. All our shortbread cookies can be decorated with your own personalised message. Prices start from £25 + delivery. Treatboxes are sent via Next Day courier delivery. Terms & conditions apply.

hello@acornhousebakery.co.uk @acornhousebakery_by_helen

@acornhousebakery_by_helen

Gilcombe Farm Shop ~ Bruton ~ 01749 813710

Above: Max and Left: one his dishes

You Can Find The Freshest Catch On Any Of Our Market Locations

Sturminster Newton Street Market (Mondays)

Salisbury Charter Market (Tuesdays and Saturdays)

Dorchester Market (Wednesdays)

Portswood Church (Fridays)

Swanage Market (Fridays)

Wareham Market (Saturdays)

Greenslade Fish is run by Tim Greenslade.

Tim, a fishmonger from Poole, has been running fish stalls on local street and charter markets, across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, since 1999. He opened his first shop, on Kingland Crescent, Poole High Street, In December 2020.

The Greenslade family have been a well-known name around Poole since the 60s. Tim himself has been part of Salisbury Market since he was 16, learning the fish trade from his Aunty Lyn. She handed the baton over 6 years ago. This means the Greenslade name has been part of Salisbury Market for well over twenty years.

Tim is now treading in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great grandfather, who started a wholesalers in Hamworthy. The business quickly grew from buying small amounts of fish to sell door-to-door to supporting the many local fishermen by distributing their day's catch across the country. This continues to this day with Tims 95-year-old grandfather, Kenneth Greenslade, still running things with his sons, Michael (Tims's father), and Laurence (Tim's UNCLE).

07912

t.greenslade2@gmail.com

www.greensladefish.co.uk

Sense of community at the heart of pizza restaurant experience

WHEN PIZZA VENTI opened its doors for the first time in 2020, owner Alex Popescu had one goal which was to create a welcoming restaurant that treated its customers like family.

“We treat our customers as friends and guests in our home,” he told the Gazette. “The idea from the very beginning was to move away from the transactional idea of eating out and actually making our guests feel like they are in their own home, but with us cooking, saving them from the hassle.”

It was his way of ‘giving back’ the country and community that had made his own family welcome nine years earlier. Alex explains that Pizza Venti will never be just a business, but a big family that embraces the community’s needs and to be there for everyone.”

For many, this would be just talk. But for Alex and Pizza Venti, working within and supporting the local community goes far beyond words.

This is Alex’s first venture into the restaurant and takeaway business as an owner. However, he spent a number of years working for Pizza chains, learning all about the trade and gaining an understanding of what he would not do should he ever get the opportunity to run his own place.

Pizza Venti is that place and while he hopes one day to expand to other localities, he is concentrating on making Pizza Venti the go-to pizza place in the Salisbury area. And it is working. Rated best place to eat in Salisbury and number 1 on TripAdvisor for more than a year, Pizza Venti is gathering quite a reputation.

What’s the secret of a good pizza?

Freshness. Fresh dough and local ingredients to be exact.

“Our dough recipe is a 100-year-old secret. It is created

by us every day, but originally comes from Italy, from an old pizzaiolo master,” explains Alex. “The secret of any good dough is freshness. It is hard work and a lot of attention is given to the growing process. We grow our dough depending on the season, from 24 to 72 hours in cold weather. You don’t hurry if you want a great thing.”

Vegetables are bought locally with Alex making good use of the Saturday market in Salisbury. There is a zero tolerance rule to frozen food in the kitchen. What isn’t bought locally is sourced directly from Italy, because, “on the pizza side of business, they are the best.”

The pizza ovens use kiln dried wood, which “gives an amazing taste to our pizza”. It takes about one hour each morning to reach a temperature of 500 degrees, which cooks a pizza in two and a half minutes, and a calzone in four and half minutes. Timing is crucial, 20 seconds too long and you risk a burnt pizza.

What’s cooking?

When it comes to popularity, the residents of Salisbury are fairly diverse in their tastes. With more than 35 types of pizza on offer, as well as the Create Your Dream Pizza option, there is something for everyone.

But if one pizza stands above all others it would be the Salisbury Foodie Signature, which was created by the company’s local chef, James Butterfield. The Foodie Signature features a plain base with pepperoni, gorgonzola, walnuts, rocket and mozzarella cheese. Which sounds amazing and probably tastes better.

But what is Alex’s personal favourite? “I’m a meat lover, but my favourite is our Buffalo Special, which is vegetarian, but with added prosciutto crudo on top.”

It would be impossible to talk about pizza without mentioning the P word. We all have a stance on whether pineapple is acceptable on a pizza, but as you might imagine, Alex is definitely in the ‘yes, delicious’ faction.

“It is actually something I love very much,” explains Alex. “The juice from real pineapple in combination with the dough, trust me, nobody regrets it. At the same time, I hear and respect everyone’s desire.”

What do customers request?

“I have to admit that I do make some crazy combinations but many of our guests have given me the opportunity to try new combinations. The one that stands out was pineapple with fresh chilli. The guest loved it.”

When customers wanted an alternative to garlic bread, the suggestion was usually chips.

Taking a logical step forward, Alex introduced roast potatoes. “I listened to feedback and we brought roasted potatoes for two reasons: they are healthy and because we can offer quality, we don’t use oils or anything else beside the real wood fired oven to cook in our kitchen. The roasted potatoes with red onion and smoked bacon are lush.”

Sweet pizzas are also on offer. With Nutella pizzas one of Alex’s best sellers. While some customers may be unfamiliar with the concept, Alex has many more ideas on the horizon, including what he will only reveal as a ‘cocktail pizza’. Watch this space.

Inspired by the community Working to help the local community is a vital part of the Pizza Venti ethos. “I’ve always helped as much as I could in life,” explained Alex. “It brings me greater satisfaction than anything else in life. Pizza Venti has been just a tool to reach further and help more.”

Alex has collaborated regularly with local food banks to help with the cost of living crisis, but had to stop at the end of last year because of the threat of Pizza Venti becoming the latest casualty of the current economic crisis.

“When it comes to charity organisations, I’ve witnessed what Salisbury has and we collaborate with local charities because they are the ones that make a difference and they deserve all the support they can.”

Plans are already in place to support various organisations during the spring and summer, including weekly pizza drops to Alabare for those sleeping rough.

“We are big supporters of Salisbury Hospice due to their commitment to what may be the hardest moments in our life. We sponsor Salisbury Suns basketball team, Laverstock and Football club, the kids team and collaborate with Salisbury Rugby on any occasion we can to support them.”

What drives Alex and Pizza Venti is not a desire for monetary wealth, but the wealth of human kindness. All of which stems from the idea that the restaurant is a home and customers are guests.

“My father always said, where two people eat, there is always room for a third one. We do not look to get rich, we look to make a difference and a positive one.

“I feel blessed to be part of a community that gave me the inspiration to do this. I need to thank Janey Ebel, a trustee of quite a few charities, who inspired us through her work in the local and international community.

“We aren’t rich, never have been and as someone told me, with all the projects we run, we will never get rich. But I get something money couldn’t bring, a pure happiness to know my work matters.”

Somerset butcher, The Blackmore Vale Butchery established butchers since 2006 offers a superb award winning butchery service for small holders and farmers in and around Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire areas. Winning awards such as “Best Farm Business” and outstanding contribution to local food development in Dorset are just a few recognitions the butchery have gained over the past 16 years of trading!

The butchery services are a much needed help to the local community of small holder farmers especially if they are looking to have their very own livestock produce to consume as well as sell direct from the farm gate either in a farm shop or via local farmers markets.

Our local abattoir C&S meats have recently decided to close their butchery depot down to concentrate on offering a fantastic service in the abattoir side of their business and the Blackmore Vale Butchery will work along side them to make sure it is a smooth operation to collect the carcasses then to hang and to butcher at The Blackmore Vale Butchery depot near Henstridge. The team of butchers are ready to answer your needs from dry ageing of beef carcasses to making gluten free produce!

Food For Life Supplier Certified Organic Certified With

The Soil For

Enjoy great food at an award-winning café in the heart of Salisbury

HOUSED in a beautiful converted Victorian grain mill in Salisbury city centre, Fisherton Mill is the south of England’s largest independent gallery, awarded ‘Best Art Space in Wiltshire’ in the 2022 Muddy Stilettos Awards.

Set over two floors the Mill retains many original features which add to the atmosphere. Within the Mill sits the awardwinning Gallery Café, a haven for discerning foodies.

The Gallery Café received a Muddy Stilettos Award for the ‘Best Café in Wiltshire 2021’ and was a finalist in the prestigious Observer Food Monthly Awards 2022.

The café serves delicious barista coffee and a great selection of homemade cakes. Lunch is light and modern using fresh produce prepared to order, with healthy choices for children. There is Mediterranean style courtyard seating for those finer days and canine companions are very welcome at the Mill.

Around the courtyard and on the first floor are creative studios where you can visit artists and designers at work, take in the exhibitions in the Main Gallery or try your hand at a new skill with one of the many workshops on offer.

Fisherton Mill can be found through the archway in Fisherton Street, mid-way between the Market Square and Railway Station, close to the central car park. Look out for the orange flags above the archway entrance.

Salsa verde

THIS wonderfully versatile sauce is simple to make, but like all of the best ‘staples’ there exists an infinite number of subtle variations depending on who makes it and where it is made.

Some varieties have the look of pesto, while others, especially if you choose to make it using a pestle and mortar, have a rougher and more rustic feel.

I have followed the base recipe from Tracklements which makes 1-2 jars (which will keep for a week in the fridge)

● 4tsp capers, drained (rinse)

● 2 cloves of garlic, peeled

● 6 fillets of anchovies (salted)

● 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

● 4 tbsp olive oil

● A small handful of fresh chopped parsley

● A small handful of fresh basil

leaves, washed

● 1 rounded tsp fresh mint leaves, washed

● ¼ tsp sea salt

● 1 ¼ tbsp Dijon mustard

You can include stale breadcrumbs, either dry or soaked in vinegar to bulk up the sauce. Some areas of Italy add eggs or potatoes for the same reason.

You can really adapt the sauce to your own palette and serve with just about anything –pasta, grilled chicken, pot au feu, fish, cold meats, cheeses, on a thick slab of fresh bread with butter. You name it, salsa verde will improve it.

If using a food processor, this couldn’t be easier to make. Simply add capers, garlic, anchovies and vinegar then pulse. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until you achieve your desired consistency. Some recipes suggest adding the oil slowly while pulsing.

Kingman’s Butchers take pride in providing top quality meat products to the community of Amesbury and surrounding area. Kingman’s always strive to provide quality products at prices to please.

We carefully select premium quality meats so that you can have the best meal possible. Our sausages, burgers, faggots, pies and scotch eggs are made right here in the shop. We have agreements in place to get most of our game birds, rabbits and venison wild from the surrounding area.

Our meat is sourced locally when appropriate and our steaks are traditionally dry aged on the bone here in the shop then cut to your specifications.

Thu: 09:00-16:00

Buying from a butcher’s shop isn’t like being in a supermarket. You have total control over the product you receive. If you only want two lamb chops for tea, you can have just two. Do you want Dave to bone them for you? No problem at all! If you want twenty of your favourite sausage flavour but nine inches long and chipolata thickness – we’ll make you some up in the next batch!

Like us on Facebook to be kept abreast of our ever changing stock and special offers.

01980 622155 Kingsmans.co.uk

The greatest love story of all time

NEW WOLSEY Theatre and Wiltshire Creative, in association with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, have announced the full cast and creative team for Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, adapted for the stage by Emma Rice.

When a chance encounter in a train station tearoom kindles a timid, yet passionate, love affair between a married doctor and a suburban housewife, the two are forced to question if it’s worth risking everything for the sake of love.

Tender and joyous, this show has all the drama of the original masterpiece with added live music, comedy and spectacle, taking you on a rollercoaster ride through all of love’s beautiful complications.

Brief Encounter opens on 4 April at Salisbury Playhouse, with previews from 31 March, and runs until 22 April, before touring to New Wolsey Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and finally Northern Stage.

Chief executive/artistic director of New Wolsey Theatre, Douglas Rintoul, directs Nicola Bryan (Myrtle Bagot), Hanora Kamen (Laura Jesson), Jammy Kasongo (Dr Alec Harvey), Samuel MorganGrahame (Albert Godby), Tom

Self (Fred Jesson/Stephen Lynn), Lucy Elizabeth Thorburn (Beryl), Luke Thornton (Stanley) and Chioma Uma (Dolly Messiter).

The production features lighting design by Jessie Addinall, sound design by

James Cook, set and costume design by Jess Curtis, video design by Daniel Denton, casting by Debbie O’Brien, wardrobe supervision by Margaret Lock and choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, with music direction, orchestration and additional music composed by Tom Self.

Douglas Rintoul said: “I’ve been itching to direct Emma’s adaptation since I saw the original production. It’s a hugely playful and spirited take on the most romantic love story ever told – Emma’s work is thrilling Event Theatre for today’s audiences, so it was a perfect choice for my first big show at the New Wolsey Theatre.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Wiltshire Creative again and I’m proud that this Ipswich made production will be seen by audiences across the UK with our brilliant partners.” https://www.wiltshirecreative. co.uk/whats-on/main-house/ brief-encounter/

Sixpenny Sessions welcome Steve Knightley Footballers in strange places

THE SIXPENNY Sessions team is delighted to announce that Steve Knightley, one half of folk supergroup Show of Hands, is bringing his one man show ‘Unlock Me & Other Lockdown Laments’ to Sixpenny Handley Village Hall on Friday, 24th March (doors and hot food at 7pm, show starts at 7.30pm).

In his brand new one man show, Steve Knightley will perform material that surfaced over two years of isolation and inactivity.

Songs such as ‘The Bristol Slaver’ and ‘You’ll Get By’ were refreshed by headlines and current affairs, while classic covers, such as ‘Forever Young’ and ‘The Boys of Summer’ struck a chord with the thousands that tuned in to his online content lockdown.

Insights, anecdotes and a bunch of new songs will attempt to chronicle and draw a line under an extraordinary episode in all our lives.

Described by The Independent as ‘formidable operators in the roots arena. A class act’, Show of Hands is undeniably one of the strongest current forces in acoustic music.

Penny from Sixpenny Sessions, said: “We feel very

fortunate to have a musician of Steve Knightley’s calibre coming to our next Sixpenny Session. If you haven’t experienced his unique blend of folk and rock acoustic music, we would urge you to do so. We can guarantee you’ll have a great evening.”

Tickets cost £20 via www. eventbrite.co.uk – search for Sixpenny Sessions – or from Clarkes the Butcher on the High Street.

There will be hot food (vegetarian option available), costing £5, for sale prior to the event from 7pm plus a bar.

All profits from the event will be distributed to worthy causes within the community. www.facebook.com/6Dacoustic. live or at: sixpennysessions@ gmail.com

An author who’s family live in Salisbury has published a book with the backing of a former Liverpool and England player. Marc Gee’s book is called Kissing the Badge. The book is full of stories of people meeting professional footballers in strange or unusual situations. From Maradona to Figo to Rooney, the book is full of legends of the game and the everyday fans who bump into them.

Forwarded by the former Liverpool player and current Sky Sports football commentator, Jamie Carragher, all proceeds from the book’s sale go to underprivileged children.

You can order the book online at mike@jamiecarragher. org

Memory and reflection underpins The Graduate Art Show 2022

Review by Penelope Andrews

I ALWAYS love a graduate show. The private view last week for the latest exhibition hosted by David and Nic Christie at the Vanner Gallery was as tasty and colourful as Lily O’Brien’s Desserts Collection.

Elena Campbell’s untitled acrylic on canvas is a fine front piece in the first room which can be viewed from the road. Swirls of flat ice-cream colour entice you off the pavement, but once inside all is a wonderful smorgasbord of extreme variance of texture, material and colour, stylishly presented against the pure white walls and original features of the 18th century gallery space.

Guest curator Dina Bulivina worked with David on the show in Salisbury. Dina has worked as exhibition coordinator at Ekart Bureau Gallery and on many international projects. When David visited The Graduate Art Show during Frieze London in October 2022 he knew he had to bring this down to his gallery.

Victoria Charlton and Dr Anand Saggar have showcased the work of young artists for many years and now launched The Graduate Art Show in 2022 to continue this work presenting graduate pieces from universities and colleges across the UK. It is a selection of 24 of these works that were hosted in the Vanner Gallery.

I wish I could understand William Brooks’ statement about his piece, Radio Artefacts. I kept re-reading, loving the mix of art and science, but had to admit defeat. Luckily, that didn’t stop this mixing of data and art being a texturally exquisite treat.

Looking at the work is the visual equivalent of placing a square of neatly cut fudge in your mouth and feeling the granular cuboid dissolve. The charcoaled, flat, grainy zinc plates have razor-sharp edges; you can almost hear the noise of the metal slotting into the rectangles precisely cut from the board for them.

The piece is proportionally excellent, the instinct of sizing is excellent here. The zinc has the properties of lead pencil, and shimmers as I move. In terms of the imagery etched on the surfaces, I can’t stop myself seeking a vista. I see a view of hills and church steeples, Italian Cypress, cityscapes. That these images are the result of radio transmission is apt. The etched areas give a visual sense of white noise.

Terracotta and porcelain have been combined by Anda Albu in an ingenious mix suggesting the texture of felted wool with its cut edge precision and rough surface. The rolled shapes look deceptively fragile, as if they will sloop to the floor at any moment. They are incredibly satisfying objects, moreish and desirable.

But now I am lost beneath the surface of Greg Howard’s Untitled. Oil on Canvas is giving nothing away and is a massive understatement when you look into the work. The colour is exquisite. It is not red, not orange, not really rust. Blood-like, it is subtly reminiscent of Rothko and the solid block of colour pulls you towards itself.

The paint is not ‘perfectly’ applied to the edge, but reveals a glimpse of the white weave of the canvas. This is a pleasing touch which gives interest. The pigment has been scratched on, folded on, or added in other ways with the echo of material memory. Something else was once here and has left its mark, but I have no clue what.

Jason Stirland has given us the ghost of a house with his exhibit, a memory recreated by LiDAR technology. No Running has found a beautiful medium to capture such a subject. LiDAR technology works in a similar way to radar, but uses the reflected light of a laser to plot the dimensions of an object and then recreates a 3D representation. The application is used in meteorology, significantly during

the 1971 Apollo 15 mission to map the surface of the moon, and in surveying and map making.

Jason has captured one moment from the 3D imaging of a home he knows well as a piece of art. The detail created by the technology is fine and the colour and texture reminiscent of chalk pastels. He chooses black for the background which adds to the disconnected dreamlike state of the drawing, the odd white fleck giving a sense of the piece floating disjointedly among the stars.

This is an idea excellently delivered; the recreation of childhood spaces – what bliss! A dreamlike sketching of a house, here a painted wall, here brick, skirting boards, light effects, shadows, net curtains, flowers, detailed down to each individual leaf. I spent a long time in front of the work, drawn into the nooks and crannies of the building.

Intrusive Instances on File has a neat science experiment vibe in keeping with the subject matter. Oliver Murdock has placed plates of glass standing slightly slanted in slots in wood, each etched with words criss-crossing the flat plane, creating a misty haze of what on closer inspection reveals itself to be obsessive thoughts written out in a pretty, curly script. They are like the memories of different sentences, separated out as if to make sense of them.

The accompanying screen print of these texts layered in black and red hangs on the wall nearby, the black representing the words of one participant in a conversation, the red the other. It’s a thoughtful, wellexecuted graphic, teasing out a confused and feverish exchange into neat, cold expression.

By sectioning these thoughts out in glass, Oliver is attempting to show a more legible conversation to the viewer. When I speak to him about the work, he also talks of remembrance and of place.

These are just a few of the pieces that caught my attention, but there are many more to be explored if you care to take a stroll to the gallery situated next to the gate of the Cathedral grounds.

The show has left me contemplating the theme of remembrance. I find this curious, however. Who would have thought these young people would choose to be looking backward when it is so evident from the standard of this work that they have so much to look forward to.

Intrusive Instances on File by Oliver Murdock

Arrow words

Across 1 Working (11)

9 Suffer stoically (4,3,4,2)

10 Openly (8)

Feeling Great

Down

2 Greek letter after upsilon (3)

Down

3 Finally understands (8)

2 Greek letter after upsilon (3)

4 Walk like a baby (6)

3 Finally understands (8)

5 Mined rocks (4)

4 Walk like a baby (6)

5 Mined rocks (4)

6 In respect of (2,7)

7 Wide open in amazement (5)

6 In respect of (2,7)

7 Wide open in amazement (5)

8 Excessively theatrical (5)

11 Converted, as in faith (4-5)

13 Parasol (8)

16 Maxim (5)

17 Inhaler target (6)

18 Enumerate (5)

21 Busy doing nothing (4)

23 Mourn; repent (3)

1 2 2 9 3 7 6 8 8 4 6 5 5 6 9 7 1 3 2 8 6

Festival returns to Chalke Valley

With so much uncertainty in the world, history has never been more relevant.

THE DAILY Mail Chalke Valley History Festival, one of the UK’s most successful and popular summer events, returns this year from 26 June to 2 July.

This unique festival, which takes place in Wiltshire, looks set to attract huge crowds of all ages, with every visitor keen to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the past, and eager to learn more about the history of years gone by, while improving their understanding of what is happening in the world today.

For the first time this year, the entire programme will be themed, enabling visitors to find the talks and events they are interested in more easily, and to also encourage a little curiosity too. The six distinct themes are: Environment; Conflict; Politics; Science and Exploration; Sport; and Society and Culture.

Over the course of a week, the festival will host over 200 talks and panel discussions on leading issues of the past, present and future. These will take place across five fabulous venues: the 750-seater main tent, the 350-seater second tent, the Outdoor Stage, Speaker’s Corner – where speakers can talk in a more informal setting – and new for 2023, the Stove Tent, an intimate 100-seater in the round, with a central wood-burning stove – just perfect for cosy later-night events, a little live music and some atmospheric storytelling.

Visitors to the festival will, as always, be spoilt for choice. Household names such as Simon Sebag Montefiore and Antonia Fraser will be taking to the stage in the speaker tents, while some of the most talented and vivacious historians, raconteurs and actors will be entertaining the crowds with a blend of inclusive hands-on activities and demonstrations.

Just one of the big draws in the programme will be former

prime minister John Major who will be talking about politics, both past and present. The BBC’s international editor, Jeremy Bowen, will also be making his festival debut when he discusses the making of the modern Middle East, and Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee is bound to fuel debate as she examines the true state of class in Britain.

James Holland, chair of the festival, said: “This is a more integrated programme than ever before, and one that reflects the extraordinary times in which we’re living. We want everyone who comes here to have a brilliant time, and to enjoy themselves, because there’s such an incredible range of things to see and do.

“But we also hope they’ll be able to learn a great deal as well, and that our events will help people to contextualise what’s happening in the world right now.”

Each day around the festival site, throughout the day and evening, performance artists will be sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge about their chosen subjects. Back-to-back entertainment, for all the family, will include Edwardian adventurer Adam Schuch-desForges who will be regaling the crowds with his alter ego’s hilarious (mis)adventures from the Golden Age of Exploration.

Dr Kate Vigurs, who became a huge festival-favourite last year, will be capturing the audience’s imagination again, this time with some astonishing women’s stories from history. Meanwhile, over in the speaker tent, ground-breaking writer Peter Frankopan will discuss his major history of how a changing climate has dramatically shaped the development and demise of civilisations across time.

Having received a standing ovation in 2022, the festival is delighted to welcome back Bill Browder who returns to talk about Russian money-laundering, state-sponsored murder and surviving Vladimir Putin’s wrath.

For those who are keen to learn more from World War II veterans, two remarkable ladies will be sharing their memories on the stage this time: Betty Webb will be recounting tales of her code breaking work at Bletchley Park, and Olga Henderson will explain what life was like as a child in a prisoner of war camp.

The Chalke Valley History Festival for Schools will take place on Monday, 26th and Tuesday, 27th June and will feature a wide range of curriculum-based subjects, delivered by the very best historians in the land. Speakers already confirmed include Tracy Borman on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth 1, Jeremy Jennings on

the French Revolution and Hallie Rubenhold on the untold lives of women killed by Jack the Ripper.

Over 15,000 children have attended since the schools’ festival launch and each year more and more students are inspired to engage with history in new and exciting ways.

Huge living history encampments will be constructed around the festival site, and these will range from the Iron Age through to the Cold War. The medieval encampment will be the centrepiece of the festival and is not to be missed.

There will also be live music every day, special activities for children and families, as well as everything you’d expect from an English summer festival set in the glorious rolling chalk landscape of ancient Wessex: delicious locally-sourced food and drink, lots of shopping, more books to buy than you can shake a stick at, camping under the stars, and just the occasional crack of musketry, the thunder of hooves or the boom of cannon fire.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday, 25th April.

Meanwhile, over 200 fascinating talks, given by incredible historians and entitled ‘Chalke Talk’, can now be heard on the Chalke Valley History Festival podcast. www.cvhf.org.uk

Main : The festival attracts visitors from all over the region (credit: Ash Mills) Insets: Living history reenactments take place all throught the festival (credit: Martin Cook)

Antiques & Collectibles

When dreams of loot go bust

EVERYONE dreams of walking into an antiques store and picking up something that turns out to be worth a great deal more than they paid for it.

Whether that’s a jewel picked up in a car boot that turns out to be a priceless diamond, or a painting that magics into an early Turner. But what about something from antiquity?

This week I have stumbled upon a number of examples of Roman sculptures being unearthed in unusual places.

My favourite story took place in 2020, as reported in The Independent. A woman scouting through a ‘thrift store’ in Texas, USA, found a bust underneath a table. She paid the princely sum of $34.99 for the sculpture which she thought looked Roman.

Indeed, that’s exactly what it turned out to be, a 2,000-year-

old bust of the Roman general Drusus Germanicus, the adopted son of Roman emperor Tiberius and father of Roman emperor Caligula, dating back to the first century AD.

However, although the woman had made a lucky find, the story had a cautionary tale. After approaching Sotheby’s in London, an expert identified the statue as one that had gone ‘missing’ from a museum known as the Pompejanum, in Aschaffenburg, Germany following damage during World War II.

As it is illegal to sell stolen art in the USA and unwilling to keep hold of an artefact that had ‘made its way’ to Texas after the war, the lady in question made the appropriate calls and the bust is due to be re-housed in Germany this year.

Win £150 to spend on unique Jurassic jewellery

Organ recitals celebrate women composers at Cathedral’s pre-tour choir concert

ON SUNDAY, 5th March, Salisbury Cathedral’s organists marked Women Composer Sunday with a performance of three organ pieces composed by women.

Held on the Sunday nearest to International Women’s Day (8 March), Women Composer Sunday coincides with the Cathedral’s pre-tour concert, a fundraiser for the choir’s upcoming tour in the Channel Islands. The following works were featured:

Nocturne, one of only two organ pieces written by Germaine Tailleferre, the only female member of Les Six, a celebrated music group that included Poulenc, that drew its inspiration from the poetry of Jean Cocteau and the music of Erik Satie.

Attende, Domine by Jeanne Demessieux, one of the few women to achieve stardom in the male dominated early C20 organ world and the first female organist to receive a recording contract.

Demessieux was signed up by Decca in 1947 and left a rich legacy of recorded music.

Air from Organ Suite by the American composer Florence Price, the first female Black composer to have a symphony performed by a major US orchestra and the author of over 300 works.

Price’s Air from Organ Suite was one of the pieces played by the music team during the vaccination sessions at Salisbury Cathedral in 2021.

David Halls, director of music at Salisbury Cathedral said: “Traditionally, the pre-tour concert gives the home audience a chance to hear some of the music that will be played and sung on the tour, but we felt it was also important to mark the extraordinary, and often unsung, contribution women have made to music.

“Regardless of race or gender, these three women were exceptional musicians and as a Cathedral that has championed female voices and introduced the first English Cathedral girls choir to sing on parity with the boys, it is fitting we mark the day.”

Organ soloists for the concert were assistant director of music

John Challenger, the mastermind behind the Cathedral’s recent Planets concert, and Christopher Too, Salisbury Cathedral’s organ scholar. Christopher was recently appointed the Organ Scholar of Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral, a role he will take up in September.

Other works featured in the concert included Allegri’s Misere Mei Deus with its soaring top ‘C’s, God so Loved the World by Stainer, Parry’s Lord Let me Know Mine End

and the Latin Magnificat Op 164 by Stanford.

The Pre-tour concert was the start of a busy spring schedule for the choir which will be singing for services, concerts and workshops on Guernsey and Jersey between 27 March and 1 April, and returning to perform The Crucifixion by Stainer in the Cathedral at 19.30 on Wednesday 5 April, part of the series of services and music

Prayers held for Ukraine in Cathedral’s Trinity Chapel

ON FRIDAY, 24th February, prayers were held in Salisbury Cathedral’s Trinity Chapel to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Revd Anna Bishop from Salisbury Methodist Church and Canon Nigel Davies, Salisbury Cathedral’s Vicar of the Close, led the service at which prayers for peace and justice for Ukraine were said.

Candles in the colours of the Ukrainian flag were placed on the chapel altar, which stands beneath the Prisoners of Conscience window, to remind us both of the suffering of those who are caught up in the war and to offer hope.

Salisbury chorister performing during the recent pre-tour concert

Credit: Finbarr Webster

Main: Revd Anna Bishop from Salisbury Methodist Church

Top: Canon Nigel Davies

Above: Lightning candles

Credit: Finbarr Webster

Pet dogs cost farmers £273,000 in the south west region last year

RESEARCH carried out by NFU Mutual has revealed that many dog owners are unaware of the dangers caused by their pets chasing farm animals.

The survey revealed that nearly two thirds of dog owners (64%) regularly let their dogs off the lead in the countryside and that 39% admit that their dogs do not always come back when called.

And while just under half of the 1,100 dog owners surveyed were convinced that their pets would never be capable of injuring or killing livestock, 64% admitted that their dogs had chased animals when out on a walk.

Many dog owners are unaware that even if their pet

doesn’t make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion caused by being chased can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry. Young lambs can also become separated from their mothers.

The cost of dog owners failing to control their pets was revealed in claims data which put an estimated cost of dog attacks on UK farm animals during 2022 of £1.8m.

The estimated cost in the south west region last year was £273,000.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “It’s clear that a significant number of dog owners are blinded by their love for their pets and believe that they would

never chase, attack or kill livestock.

“We’ve heard reports from farmers that dog walkers are becoming more distracted, often on their mobile phones with their pets out of sight and are seemingly unaware of the carnage their dog could cause.

“The Covid-19 pandemic saw a boom in dog ownership as many people purchased puppies for the first time, yet these may not have been trained properly or be familiar with farm animals.

“It is concerning that these now fully-grown dogs will be visiting farmland as we get into spring at a time when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable.”

With many dog owners planning to visit the countryside as the weather improves and at a time when sheep are at their most vulnerable, NFU Mutual is calling for them to:

● Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle

● Be aware that even small dogs can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals

● Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers

● Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby.

Salisbury’s top rated physiotherapy practice receives a royal commendation

HIS MAJESTY’S LordLieutenant of Wiltshire made a special visit to Salisbury on Friday, 24th February to officially open Salisbury & South Wilts Physiotherapy.

This event celebrated the growth and success of Harnham Physiotherapy Clinic over the past 10 years, culminating with the new clinic opening last September. The event was also supported by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Hoque, and President of the Salisbury & District Chamber of Commerce, Mr Daniel Rhind-Tutt.

After meeting nine members of the 12 strong team and taking a tour of the clinic facilities, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton, said: ‘Physiotherapists are an absolutely vital part of our community and you should be so proud to have achieved what you have done and it’s obviously terrifically professional and successful. Not only is it good for Salisbury but also for Wiltshire as a whole.”

Clinic director, Marie Roberts said: “Opening the clinic was a milestone moment for the team to be very proud of and that the clinic’s top rated, five star local reputation has

taken 10 years of hard work and dedication to build. This has involved an impressive expert team working consistently and at an exceptionally high level.”

The new clinic innovatively utilises off-season changing rooms at the Salisbury & South Wilts Sports Club and is a perfect symbiotic relationship benefiting both parties. The community rehabilitation team continues to operate as “Harnham Physiotherapy

Community Rehabilitation” assisting those who cannot make it to the clinic, at home or in various care settings.

The clinic also has strong ongoing relationships with local care homes and provides regular exercise classes for Wessex Care (Holmwood, Little Manor, Kimberly East & West), Barchester (Wilton Place and Milford House) and Harnham Croft. The team also provides exercise classes for Olivier

Place in Wilton supporting independent living.

With 11 diverse practitioners, the clinic is the largest and most diverse private physiotherapy team in Salisbury offering a wide range of services including:

● Musculoskeletal physiotherapy;

● Neurological physiotherapy;

● Respiratory physiotherapy;

● Hand therapy;

● Community rehabilitation;

● Functional rehabilitation;

● Falls prevention;

● Orthopaedic rehabilitation;

● Oncology rehabilitation;

● Treatments for dizziness. They also provide health promoting talks in various settings and free health promoting self help publications e.g. chair based exercises for older people, and a posture guide for schools and businesses.

Clients come from far and wide for some of the more specialist services.

To contact the clinic please ring 01722 501010 or visit www. salisburysouthwiltsphysio.co.uk

Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton, pictured with deputy mayor, cllr Hoque, and president of the Salisbury & District Chamber of Commerce, Mr Daniel Rhind-Tutt, clinic director, Marie Roberts and staff members

Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton, meets the clinic’s staff

Ways to cut down on alcohol intake

EVEN if you don’t think you drink too much, when taken over a week or month, the amount can make a big difference.

Any reduction in the amount you drink will have benefits. Not only for your health, it will also help boost your energy, with weight loss and will save you money.

If you drink every evening, one of the easiest ways to cut down is to have a drink-free day, or perhaps a few days each week. If you need support to do this, the NHS has an app dedicated to making it easier to cut down on drinking – Drink Free Days can be downloaded from relevant app stores.

The NHS recommends the following steps to cutting down:

● Have a game plan – use the Drink Free Days app to set yourself a weekly unit target

and stick to it. But if one week you do go over your limit, don’t stop trying – next week is a fresh start.

● Switch from the stronger stuff – choose drinks that are lower in alcohol. Try lighter beers – under 4% ABV. Or try swapping some or all of your drinks for no or low-alcohol alternatives.

● Stick with it – it might take a bit of time to get used to the change from your usual choices.

● Shake up your social plans – going for drinks is not the only way to see friends.

● Set a booze budget – sticking to a budgeted amount for alcohol can be a good way to drink less. If you are going out, try taking only the exact cash, or set up a spending alert on your card.

● Write off the rounds – being involved in rounds makes it

easy to end up drinking more than you meant. Try to avoid them if you can and do not feel like you have to say yes to a drink just because someone else is buying.

● Only wine and dine – waiting for your evening meal before you have a drink – and having your first only once you’ve started eating – is another simple way to help you cut down.

● Beat boredom – if a drink is a way you handle boredom or stress, try finding something else to do instead. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and simple things like cleaning, a new hobby or DIY can be a good way to occupy mind and body. It is important to remember that there is no completely safe level of alcohol intake other than none at all. The current guidelines are that you should

drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across three days or more, or six medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or six pints of 4% beer.

The health benefits of reducing your alcohol intake include having lower blood pressure, a lower risk of stroke, hypertension, cancer and liver disease and having lower cholesterol levels. You will see noticeable improvements in your mood, memory and quality of sleep.

This will leave you feeling better when you wake up, with better-looking skin, feeling more energetic. And because alcoholic drinks are high in calories, removing it from your life can help you lose weight. Always seek advice and support from medical professionals. You can find out more from the NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/betterhealth/drink-less/

Recruitment

Full-time Live-in Caretaker/Dog Sitter/Domestic Help Required

Suitable for a single person or a couple (with additional job opportunities available for a partner if required e.g. driver, household maintenance, estate work, depending on experience).

Detached 3 bed cottage, own enclosed garden . Next to isolated farmstead in beautiful rural position, Dorset. Council tax, utilities paid plus £ negotiable (PAYE)

Flexibility essential – non regular and variable hours. Experience of dog care essential. Happy with domestic chores, errands, home cooking, laundry. Regular periods working alone. Other staff kept.

Experience in similar role in a private household desirable. References essential. Own pets considered. Own car essential. Start from April or negotiable. Apply with full CV to gfp.office@btinternet.com

10 irritating buzz words revealed

THE most annoying ‘buzz words’ used in offices have been revealed in a new survey.

With more workers now returning to the office, whether it be the old normal or the start of a new hybrid working model, how we interact with our colleagues in an office environment is pushing its way back to the top of our workday thoughts.

From slacking at work to leaving the office sink a mess, we all have colleagues’ habits that annoy us.

Happily, however, we also have traits we value more highly in a colleague, from being a good listener to making new starters feel welcome.

To discover the most desirable and undesirable behaviours in fellow work colleagues, technology solutions company Brother surveyed more than 1,000 workers based in an office, work from home, or work under a hybrid working model.

The most desirable traits were being a good listener, making new people feel welcome, offering to help at busy times and having regular catch-ups for morale.

Least desirable traits included a lack of personal hygiene, not doing their work, leaving the kitchen, desk or communal area in a mess and interrupting.

Other discoveries included the fact one in five workers had left a job due to an annoying colleague. One in 10 had changed jobs after a friend left the company.

But the most irritating phrases are sure to cause some consternation in the offices. The Brother survey revealed the following made the list:

1: Holibobs (29%)

2. Teamwork makes the dreamwork (27%)

3. Giving 110% (25%)

4. Happy Hump Day (25%)

5. Happy Fri-yay (25%)

6. Touch base (24%)

7. Nice to e-meet you (22%)

8. Beer o’clock (22%)

9. Go the extra mile (19%)

10. Think outside the box (19%)

Record numbers returning to work

A RECORD number of people entered, or returned, to work between July and December last year, according to new figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people who moved out of ‘economic inactivity’ - defined as people not looking for work - fell over the six-month period.

It came after a rise in the number during and after the Covid pandemic, which experts largely put down to older people taking early retirement.

The ONS said the new figures were driven by people in the 16-24 age group, as well as 50-64-year-olds returning to work, as well as a rise in part-time workers.

Darren Morgan, from the ONS, said in the last three months of 2022 fewer people remained outside the labour market altogether, with some moving straight into jobs and others starting to seek work again.

“This meant that although employment rose again, unemployment also edged up,” he said.

The news came as economic growth is earmarked as a priority for the government, with a Budget expected on March 15.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, pictured, previously caused a stir recently when he urged people aged over 50 to return to work.

He told The Times: “You can have an enormously rich life by continuing to make a contribution to the economy. It doesn’t just have to be about going to the golf course.”

Required to join our friendly team at Fowler Fortescue in Fonthill Bishop. We are looking for a confident and organised individual who is willing to get stuck into a busy role where no two days are the same. A proactive individual with outstanding attention to detail, excellent IT and communications skills both written and verbal, with a positive hard working attitude. For a full job description or to apply with your CV please email: enquiries@fowlerfortescue.co.uk

Chefs wanted to cater for workers at Glastonbury Festival from May to July

JOBS at the Glastonbury are being advertised – with people being warned it is not just an ‘easy way into the festival’.

The festival, which runs at Worthy Farm in Pilton between June 21 and 25, is calling for chefs and kitchen/service assistants to work before and during the event.

Chefs roles run from May 26 until July 14, while the kitchen/ service assistant positions run from May 27 to July 14.

Both roles are full-time, paid positions.

Sandroyd

Co-ed Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Cleaner/Domestic Assistant Required Now

We seek a cheerful, energetic and hardworking individual to be part of the School’s cleaning team Term time only

Meals provided during working hours.

For further details, please contact:

Rupert Burnell-Nugent , Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD Tel: 01725 516329

bursar@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.org

Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children This post involves contact with children and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK government. As such, a number of mandated pre-employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suita ble for work with children Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview Finally, candidates should be aware that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020

The chefs details read: “Successful applicants will be expected to work prior and during the festival as crew catering will be open during this time.

“The role will involve catering for large numbers of people including meals for people who are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.”

Kitchen/service assistants will ‘involve assisting the catering manager and chefs by performing duties such as food preparation and front of house service’.

“There will be a specific area for you to camp while working here and food, showers and washing machines will be provided,” the festival ad said.

“A crew welfare area will also be available to you during your time working for Glastonbury Festival.”

Applications for both roles are to be submitted before March 31. For more details, and an application form, log on to www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.

Beware of gritters as cold snap hits

AS Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire brace themselves for possible snow this week, drivers are being urged to give gritting vehicles time and space.

The message, from National Highways, comes with more cold weather and snow forecast by the Met Office, and where conditions determine gritting vehicles need to go out, they will spread salt where needed.

It also follows the recent Know the Zones campaign launched by National Highways to help road users understand the blind spots HGV drivers face from passing and overtaking vehicles.

In a recent survey commissioned by the authority, while nearly three quarters of people said they take extra care when overtaking a HGV, 36 per cent said they did not know how many blind spots a HGV had. Thirty-six per cent also admitted feeling nervous when passing.

National Highways manages 4,500 miles of A-roads and motorways and can call upon around 530 gritters in extreme weather conditions.

Darren Clark, severe weather resilience manager at National Highways, said: “As our gritting teams go out to spread salt on the roads, our message is simple to all road users: ‘Please be patient and give us the time and space to do what we need to do to keep you safe.

“If you are going to pass us, please do so courteously, pass us safely and legally, or even better, if you are able to stay back, you will actually help the salt on the road activate even more quickly by crushing and breaking it into the road surface which benefits everyone.

“It’s worth remembering too, we are not gritting all the time. Some of our fleet may come off at particular junctions or return to depots while other vehicles take over, lowering any inconvenience to motorists.

“We are once again totally committed to working around the clock on these seasonal

operations to keep all road users safe and thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Gritters have been going out whenever needed during the winter season and teams across the country have been monitoring Met Office weather forecasts along with regular road weather forecasts from meteorological experts MetDesk to determine when they need to go out to spread salt.

Darren added: “Not all roads will need treating on any given day. Gritters may need to go out in some regions if road temperatures are expected to fall below +1 degrees C, and if there is a risk of ice forming, but not in other areas if conditions are not as cold.

“National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated - whenever it is needed. We are armed with the latest technology, forecasting intelligence and years of experience to help us make informed decisions about where and when we need to spread salt to help keep road users safe in even the most adverse weather conditions.”

RAC Breakdown spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said: “With a sudden switch to considerably colder conditions, the potential for vehicle breakdowns increases significantly. If a car struggles to start, the battery either needs charging – by taking it for at least a 30-minute drive – or is a sign it’s about to fail and will need replacing.

“It’s vital tyres have plenty of tread as good grip is essential in cold conditions. Any tyres that are well-worn and approaching the legal tread limit should be changed as a matter of urgency.

“Drivers should also ensure their tyres are free of damage and are inflated to the correct pressures. We also strongly recommend drivers check their cars’ oil and coolant levels and top up if necessary.”

New venue for popular antiques fair

THE new fair for Grandma’s Attic at Eastleigh proved to be a huge success on New Year’s Day.

The fair, which for over 35 years had been held in Winchester and on bank holiday Mondays through the year, had always been a hugely popular and well attended event.

But due to the unsuitability of the new Winchester Leisure

Centre, Grandma’s Attic Fair made the decision to move just under eight miles down the road to the fantastic Places Leisure Centre at Eastleigh, on the outskirts of Southampton.

The new leisure centre can hold up to 300 stalls in its Sports Hall, and has more than 400 free parking spaces on site.

Free on-street parking is also available adjacent to the venue.

This year’s fair opened at 8.30am with more than 100 people queuing.

By 11am more than 1,000 people had been in and at close of business, the fair had just over 1,500 through the door.

There were many compliments from both stall holders and visitors, with some stallholders stating they had record takings.

The next fair at the venue is on bank holiday

Advertising feature

Monday, 10 April, followed by August bank holiday Monday, 28 August.

For more information, please visit the website at www. grandmasatticfairs.co.uk, or give Chris a ring on 01202 779564 / 07960 502508.

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Event celebrates Ukrainian refugees as they adapt and settle in the area

ON FRIDAY, 3rd March, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) hosted an event at Salisbury Guildhall to celebrate the achievements of 50 Ukrainian refugees, one year on from the start of the conflict.

The women, who are now based in and around Salisbury, have successfully completed courses through the IRC’s UK Programmes, and the event included a graduation ceremony in which the women collected their certificates.

Anna shared her reflections of the day, saying: “Today, it’s a nice atmosphere here. Lots of Ukrainians are here and lots of English people who are helping us and supporting us. I’m very happy to be here and to meet and to receive a lot of kind attitudes and very funny events [games] happening here.”

The Ukrainian women had all completed a 10-week Orientation for Newcomers course, which provides support on navigating life in the UK, including how to access local services, such as the NHS, and understanding their rights and responsibilities.

Anna said she found the course “very useful”, and said that they taught her: “Important

stuff in the UK, like how to live here, how to study, how to rent an apartment, some information that I didn’t know about.”

Many of the women have also completed a Job Readiness course, providing personalised CV and cover-letter support, job research and application support, and mock interviews, to set themselves up to secure a job in the UK.

Olena said that she learnt a lot from the Job Readiness course and that she is now applying for a job: “I am applying now, making my CV. I finally understand the difference between types of contracts, that makes a lot of sense that I had never known before.”

Having just passed the one-year anniversary of the conflict, the event also served as a moment of reflection and the group came together to create paper aeroplanes in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, writing their wishes and hopes for the coming year inside.

Olena shared that the group are now “so close to each other”, and described the day as having a beautiful atmosphere.

Emery Igiraneza who is the Acting Head of UK Programmes at the IRC

explained the importance of providing this kind of support to refugees: “When refugees don’t have the information and tools needed to navigate their new country, it hinders their ability to rebuild their lives and means UK society cannot benefit from the diverse strengths and contributions of new arrivals.

Integration and employment support is key to empowering refugees with the confidence and knowledge they need to navigate life in the UK, to acquire new skills for the labour market, and to thrive in their local communities.

Having recently expanded the programme to include Ukrainian clients, we are so pleased to be able to host a graduation event in Salisbury to celebrate the achievements of

The event was a celebration of all the refugees have achieved since coming to Salisbury, but also offered a time to reflect on the anniversary of the start of the conflict in Ukraine

our incredible graduates and their communities.”

The IRC began programming in the UK in 2021, drawing upon experience of running refugee integration programmes in the USA and Europe, to help refugees rebuild their lives here.

Initially, the programmes primarily supported Syrian and Afghan refugees, and most recently expanded to launch the Ukraine Response Project in summer 2022 to support newly arrived Ukrainians as they rebuild their lives in the UK.

The programmes work in partnership with local councils, and now offer sessions in English, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Russian and Ukrainian to refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Sudan and Ukraine.

Credit for all photos: Tetiana Volkogon

Buyers from New Zealand power property auction in the South West

SYMONDS & SAMPSON’S first property auction of 2023 took place in Wimborne on 2nd March with some competitive bidding contributing to the sale of £4 million worth of property for our clients.

“We launched the campaign in early January”, explains auction manager, Meredith Holmes, “and enjoyed immediate interest from far and wide.

Over 300 people downloaded

the legal packs and we had developers, speculators as well as private individuals all bidding at the sale.”

Among the most notable sales were:

● A building plot in Shaftesbury sold at 12% above guide

● Cottages in Ilminster, Blandford and Crewkerne sold at up to 8% above guide

● 2.33 acres of pasture land near Gillingham sold for

£235,000 – 135% above guide

● A property near Penzance in Cornwall sold for £215,000 – 43% above guide. Auctioneer Mark Lewis reported considerable interest for a farmhouse in Sturminster Newton. “We had over 60 viewings; buyers were undeterred by some structural issues and the gavel fell at 31% above guide.”

“We admire the commitment of a buyer from New Zealand, who joined the auction by telephone even though it was 3am their time. “They were

successful in bidding to purchase a 1930’s house on the edge of Blandford, and we very much look forward to meeting them when they collect the keys!”

Symonds & Sampson’s next auction is on 20 April in Sherborne, and we are inviting entries for our May & June auctions. Please contact our auction team for further information and to discuss whether this method of buying and selling could work for you.

Mark Lewis 01258 473766; Meredith Holmes 01202 843190; Graham Barton 01297 33122

The property in Sturminster Newton bought recently by a buyer from New Zealand Advertising feature

House prices rose by £14 in February

THE average house price in the UK rose by just £14 from January to February, according to new figures.

Property website Rightmove said the increase was the smallest they had ever recorded - but said it was good news for many.

“We’re heading into the busiest season of the year for home-movers. More people start their search for a new home in spring, and we start seeing more properties listed for sale,” a spokesperson said.

“Which means we also usually see average asking prices rise at this time of year, too. This is because new sellers can price their homes for a competitive buyer market.”

The average house price was now £362,452, they said.

“Although this is the smallest increase from January to February that we’ve ever recorded, we see it as an early sign of a more positive housing market for homemovers in the year ahead, as we’re not seeing significant price falls that some were

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predicting for this year,” the spokesperson said.

Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove, added: “The big question this month was whether we’d see new sellers increasing their asking prices, which is what we usually see as we approach the spring selling season.

“This month’s flat average asking price indicates that many sellers are showing restraint when pricing their homes.

“We’re moving into a slower-paced market. Buyers will take longer to find the

right home at the right price due to the higher cost of repaying a mortgage.”

However, Rightmove said many buyers are ready to get on with their moves, with the number of potential buyers making enquiries to estate agents rising by 11% in recent weeks, compared to the same period in 2019, the last time we saw a ‘normal’ housing market.

Tim added: “Estate agents are now reporting they’re increasingly seeing buyers who have more confidence and more choice, albeit with revised budgets to accommodate mortgage rates.

“It’s a positive sign for the housing market to see many first-time buyers getting on with their moves.

“Average mortgage rates have edged down, but some first-time buyers will unfortunately still be priced out of their original plans.

“They may need to look for a cheaper property, save a bigger deposit, or factor higher monthly mortgage repayments into their budgets now.”

(from pages 36-37)

Arrow words

Brain chain (hard)