Salisbury & Avon Gazette 14.11.22

Pictures: Finnbarr Webster

‘Full of medieval splendour’: City named among the best places to live

IT’S official – Salisbury is one of the best places in the UK to live. Our city has made the cut in the 2023 list of most desirable locations- produced by lifestyle website, Muddy Stilettos.

The list was compiled by comparing everything from the cultural offering of places, to restaurants, schools and house prices, in association with estate agent and property consultant, Strutt & Parker.

On Salisbury, the judges said: “As Salisbury has a cathedral, it’s a city – one full of medieval splendour, windy streets, Gothic architecture, a large market square that plays host to festivals and markets and a cluster of funky independent shops and restaurants.

“Plus, it’s only a few short miles from the ultimate heritage attraction, Stonehenge – so when you’re bored of shopping, eating and drinking you can hot-foot it there and commune with your inner druid.”

The guide details a number of eateries and pubs in the town, including the 14th century Haunch of Venison - one of Wiltshire’s oldest pubs.

Also mentioned are the range of independent traders in the town, from womenswear boutique OsoBoutique to Casa Fina, which stocks ‘an elegantly curated range of vintage china and antiques and independent gifts and homewares’.

Susi Mason, owner of Casa Fina, said: “I think Salisbury is a fabulous place to live.

“It’s so well situated. You can easily get to the New Forest of to the coast, and if you want to go to Bristol or London, it’s easy.”

But it is the community that makes it special, she added.

“It’s got a fantastic community. As a business, we have really discovered that, through Novichok (the poisoning scandal in 2018) and Covid, the community really supported everyone in the city, which is great.”

For culture, the judges cited Salisbury Playhouse Theatre, Salisbury Arts Centre and the Salisbury International Arts Festival, which all come under the banner of Wiltshire Creative.

Award-winning gallery, cafe, shop and event space Fisherton Mill also gets a mention.

Founder and editor-in-chief of Muddy Stilettos, Hero Brown, said: “When people decide to move, they’re searching for more than just a house - they want a home, a lifestyle that works for them and their family, and if they’re strategic, a long-term investment too.

“Our 2023 Top 250 Best Places to Live guide will give

them that extra reassurance they need to make their search easier in these difficult economic times.”

Average house prices in Salisbury stand at £326,181 over the last year, according to Rightmove, with terraced properties selling for an average of £293,491, flats for £194,138 and semidetached properties for £310,845.

Elsewhere, schools are also praised, with the likes of Leehurst Swan and Godolphin, both prep and senior, Chafyn Grove, and Salisbury Cathedral School, as well as Bishop Wordsworth School and South Wilts Grammar School all getting a mention.

Elsewhere in Wiltshire, Warminster, Marlborough Malmesbury and Sherston make the list.

For more details, and to see the full list, log on to https:// muddystilettos.co.uk/bestplaces-to-live.

Salisbury has been included on the list due to culture such as the cathedral, top, and independent businesses such as Fisherton Mill, above, and Casa Fina, run by Susi Mason, above right

New birthing centre promises mums and babies ‘home away from home’

A NEW birthing centre at Salisbury District Hospital aims to give mums a ‘home away from home’.

The hospital’s Maternity Unit is now home to the New Beatrice Birth Centre, run by experienced midwives, providing a middle ground alternative to the traditional labour ward or home birth.

The centre, which received its first mothers on Monday (October 31), is intended to offer a safe, friendly environment suitable for women who have had a healthy pregnancy and are expecting to have a straightforward birth.

Women can choose to give birth in the centre even if for first babies.

The centre provides a relaxed environment for labour and birth with two spacious rooms, with plenty of amenities, including a birthing pool, comfortable birthing aids such as balls and mats, and aromatherapy.

There are also state-of-the-art facilities such as screens to connect to devices via Bluetooth or USBs and adjustable lighting, while the entrance has been improved and a garden provided for mothers and visitors.

Joanne Hayward, director of maternity and neonatal services, said: “Our new Beatrice Birth Centre really has been a labour of love.

“This midwife-led centre improves our offer to pregnant women in our community as they contemplate their birth plans.

“The superb facilities provide a wonderful, caring and safe place for women to choose to have their baby.

“The community midwife will discuss with mothers-to-be where they would like to birth their baby and if the Beatrice Birth Centre is the right place for them.”

The Beatrice Birth Centre, along with a new entrance and reception, and courtyard garden

have been made possible thanks to funding from the Local Maternity and Neonatal System and £260,000 of funding from the Stars Appeal, the hospital’s charity.

Three local peopleMargaret Smith, Joan Joyce and Jean Finniss - who left gifts to the Stars Appeal in their wills, helped to pay for the new facilities and have been recognised on a plaque within the Centre alongside other Stars Appeal donors.

Mrs Finniss’ husband helped cut the ribbon at the official opening.

£15k of jewellery taken

POLICE have released an e-fit, pictured right, of a person they would like to trace in connection with the theft of £15,000-worth of jewellery.

The items were taken from a property in Millbrook Road, Salisbury, some time between

10.05am and 10.50am on Monday, October 24.

The suspect is described as a white male, aged in his late 30s, of slim build and carrying a small rucksack.

“If you can help with our enquiries, or have doorbell footage or CCTV from the area around that time,

please get in touch,” said a police spokesperson.

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 101 and quote incident number 54220112188.

Alternatively, people can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dave Cates, of the Stars Appeal, thanked everyone involved in making the project a success.

“We are incredibly proud of this wonderful Birthing Centre that, along with the new entrance and garden, will help thousands of local families welcome babies over the years to come,” he said. “None of this would be possible without our supporters and we are so grateful to Miss Smith, Mrs Joyce, Mrs Finniss for their exceptional generosity and to everyone who has contributed towards this project.”

Mr Finniss and Eiri Jones, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust non-executive director, cut the ribbon

Picture: Harley Shearstone

Plan for new 24-bed ward at hospital submitted

PLANS for a new, 24-bed inpatient ward at Salisbury Hospital have been submitted.

The Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has submitted the application to Dorset Council, which would see the new ward built on the current site, in Odstock Road.

It would see a new, twostorey building constructed in place of two older, single-storey wings, as well as some small green spaces on the current hospital site.

The plan comes after the Trust secured government funding for the wing, which must now be completed before

March 2024 in a bid to address Covid backlogs in care.

“The site is located within the central part of the existing Salisbury District Hospital site and there is a high degree of visual containment from the existing hospital buildings,” the application said.

“There would be a slight loss in the overall area of external green space as a result of the proposed development, although this would be offset by the replacement of aging and slightly dilapidated buildings with a new, purpose built hospital ward.”

Planning firm Stephenson Halliday, which has submitted

the application on behalf of the Trust, said the new wing would not impact on views, except for those already on the site.

“The only notable effects on views would occur for users of the hospital site itself, including those visiting, living and

working there, and for recreational users of byway BRIT16 which passes through the hospital site to the east of the proposed development,” the application said.

“There would be no notable effects on landscape and visual receptors or designated landscapes outside of the Salisbury District Hospital,” it added.

People can now comment on the application until December 2, before it is considered by Dorset Council planners.

For more details, log on to wiltshire.gov.uk, and search for reference PL/2022/08225.

h r i s t m a s

Two older blocks would be demolished as part of the plan

Apprentices visit £27m river site

APPRENTICES got to see how theory is put into practice during a visit to a £27 million project in Salisbury.

Civil engineering apprentices from Wiltshire Council took in works at Salisbury River Park.

The park is a transformative project that will reduce flood risk to more than 350 homes and businesses in the town, as well as providing major ecological, amenity, walking and cycling benefits, as well as significantly improve biodiversity, according to the council.

The £27 million project is a collaboration with the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council and Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Seven apprentices, all studying civil engineering, were able to observe the ongoing construction work at Central Car Park and Fisherton Recreation Ground.

In addition to the major earthworks that are required, they also saw temporary cofferdams installed in the channel, which are watertight structures to enable permanent structures to be built within them in a dry area and works to widen the river channel through the Central Car Park area.

Representatives from the council’s project team and the Environment Agency were on hand to answer any questions the apprentices had.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for transport, waste, Street Scene and flooding, said: “One of the key aims in our Business Plan is to increase opportunities for young people to develop their skills and to address the skills gaps that exist in some of our industries.

“This is a great example of working together with a partner organisation to enrich the learning experience of our young people.

“Visiting ‘live’ projects in the county not only provides a greater understanding of the aims of such schemes and why they are important to support local communities and towns but also shows the breadth of projects they could become involved in encouraging them to stay with the council or at least in the county once they become qualified.”

One of the apprentices on site, Rhiann Surgenor, said: “As

an apprentice, visits such as this are useful not only for our development as technicians and engineers but also to witness first-hand a project in which multi agencies are collaborating for the benefit of the local community, tourism and its wildlife.

“It gave us the opportunity to ask questions on how they are addressing flooding matters and

design will transform the area into an appealing space for all and I am grateful to know that further visits are planned so that we have the opportunity to follow this project through all phases.”

Paddy Bradley, CEO of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The priorities of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) include supporting regeneration projects which improve the lives of residents and developing a talent pipeline of skilled individuals who will help our local businesses to thrive and grow.

discuss how all parties have minimised the impacts of the project.

“Site visits are important as it gives apprentices a chance to get to grips with how these are being implemented on the ground and to also witness how projects develop.

“As a local resident myself I have a keen interest in how the

“The visit of the apprentices to the Salisbury River Park is a good example of these priorities being delivered. The SWLEP is a major supporter of the River Park development and is delighted to see apprentices from across the area deepening their understanding of how such a significant project is implemented.”

For more on the project, log on to www.

salisburyriverparkphase1.com.

The group was made up of civil engineering apprentices from Wiltshire Council

Taxi fares rise is approved

TAXI fares are set to increase in Wiltshire amid rising fuel costs for drivers.

Wiltshire Council has agreed to raise a tariff for Hackney Carriages in the county by 10% to help drivers meet the cost of rising fuel prices.

Tariff 1 applies to licensed Hackney Carriages with up to four seats, from 7am-9.59pm each day, except for Sundays and public holidays.

The change, which will come into effect on December 1, will mean that after the first 1/10 of a mile, the Tariff 1 journey will increase from 20p each subsequent 1/10 of a mile, to 22p.

All other tariffs – which cover vehicles with more than four seats, all vehicles between 10pm and 6.59am, Sundays and all public holidays – will remain as they currently are, with no increase in the price.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for transport, said: “It is never an easy decision to increase taxi tariffs and there is no perfect solution to this issue, but we felt that this change was the best compromise to support taxi drivers, while also protecting customers.

“By raising Tariff 1 but keeping all other tariffs as they are, we are able to help drivers and operators to meet the rising fuel costs, while also ensuring

that customers – particularly those that take taxis at night –do not have to pay more and can safely make their way home after a night out.

“In our Business Plan we have committed to have vibrant, well-connected communities and growing economies, and we need a public transport network that works for our communities as part of that.”

The council has also agreed to merge different taxi licensing zones around the county into one single licensing zone that covers the whole Wiltshire Council area.

This means any licensed Hackney Carriage can operate anywhere in the Wiltshire Council area, rather than being restricted to a part of the county.

To find out more about taxis and tariffs in Wiltshire, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/licencespermits-transport.

Three arrests in probe as baby dies

THREE people arrested in connection with the death of a five-week-old baby have been released on bail.

From the Salisbury area, the child, was admitted to Salisbury District Hospital on September 1, but sadly died on September 9.

On Tuesday, November 1, an 18-year-old woman, a 23-yearold man and a 54-year-old woman were arrested by Wiltshire Police in relation to the investigation.

“They have now been released on bail pending further investigation,” said a Wiltshire Police spokesperson.

“Our enquiries continue.”

‘We cannot be complacent over crime figures’ amid increase

Wiltshire PCC, Philip Wilkinson

CRIME in Wiltshire rose by 10.5 percent in the 12 months to June 2022, according to new figures.

The force says the figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reflect a return to volumes close to pre-Covid levels.

Rates of residential burglary in the Wiltshire force area showed a 19.7 percent increase, which came after Wiltshire Police announced they have joined a national pledge to make personal visits to all victims of domestic burglary.

Prior to the pledge, officers were attending approximately 90 per cent of all reported residential burglaries, to meet with victims, secure potential evidence and provide vital reassurance.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Minty said: “We fully

recognise the profound impact that a burglary can have on victims and that is why we have joined the national pledge to meet every victim of these crimes.

“Your home should be your safe haven and to have somebody violate your home can have a long-lasting impact and can feel incredibly upsetting and unsettling.

“These latest figures show why it is more important than ever that we ensure our officers are attending reports of burglary at the earliest opportunity, not only to provide reassurance to victims, but to increase the chance of preserving potential evidence to support a prosecution and ensure criminals are put before the courts.”

The statistics also show a decrease in crimes where a knife has been used of six percent, but an increase in crime involving the possession of a knife of 48 per cent.

ACC Minty added: “As an organisation we will continue to work closely with our partner agencies and the Police and Crime Commissioner, to make improvements in better educating the public - in particular, young people – of the dangers of carrying a knife, and the harm they could inflict on others.”

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said: “Now we have seen the first set of annual figures which don’t include a lockdown period, it is no surprise there has been

an increase in crime and, in particular, a rise in burglary,” he said.

“Wiltshire Police cannot be complacent about this increase, as it is higher compared to similar areas across the country.

“Its commitment to visit all victims of home burglary is much welcomed to ensure we are tackling this issue head on.

“Residents need to have confidence this commitment, alongside improved investigations, better victim support and improved evidence gathering, will mean more successful prosecutions.

“Our residents deserve an effective, quality, efficient frontline service – and my role, as PCC, is to scrutinise force performance to ensure that happens.”

Police chief to stand down in 2023

THE Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, Kier Pritchard, has announced his intention to retire from his role next year at what will be the end of his 30 years’ service.

Kier, who has been Chief Constable since March 2018, said he would stand down in June 2023 in order to ‘look to the next stage of my life with my family’.

“I have served with Wiltshire Police for my entire career,” he said. “The opportunity to lead

this Force as Chief has been the greatest privilege of my professional career.

“It really has been an honour serving the communities of Wiltshire. This county is very close to my heart – it is my home, it is where my family have grown up, and it is also where I followed in the footsteps of my late father in joining Wiltshire Police at the age of 19 in 1993.

“Taken together, we have provided over 60 years of

continued public service.

“It has always been my intention to retire at 30 years’ service so that I can look to the next stage of my life with my family.”

As the chair of the Local Resilience Forum in the county, Chief Constable Pritchard has helped guide partner agencies and the Force through the challenges of many major incidents, including the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kier Pritchard is standing down

Picture: Wiltshire Police

£250 will ensure a lovely Christmas

THE first winner of your Salisbury & Avon Gazette’s £250 supermarket giveaway has been revealed.

Martina Morling entered the Lidl competition last month, answering correctly that Salisbury Cathedral had featured on the front page of the magazine.

And the mum-of-three, who lives in Salisbury, said the win was very welcome with Christmas coming.

“It will certainly help in tough times, but I will be buying something nice for Christmas,” she said.

“My children have urged me to be sensible, but it will help us have a nice time.”

David Armishaw, publisher of your Salisbury & Avon Gazette, said: “We’re delighted Martina is the first winner of our competition.

“We hope she and her family enjoy it and it helps them have a lovely Christmas.”

The next winner of the £500 giveaway will be announced in the next edition. Visit

Martina with her £250 prize

salisburyandavon.co.uk/comps for details - and look out for more competitions soon.

Salisbury Hospital communications team celebrates national award

SALISBURY NHS Foundation Trust’s Communications Team has scooped a top prize in NHS Communicate’s annual awards. The awards recognise the achievements of communicators across the NHS and celebrate innovation in the sector.

The team won the Internal Communications and Staff Engagement Award for the Trust’s ‘Reflections of a Pandemic’ project. The judges said they were ‘blown away’ by this ‘inspiring’ project.

Dave Roberts, head of communications, who initiated the project, said: ”I am delighted that this project, which was a labour of love, has been recognised by the NHS community. Its impact has been deeply felt by staff across our Trust and within our community.

“So much of what we heard and read about during the pandemic was statistics and

facts, this project explored and acknowledged how it felt to work as part of the team that managed the pandemic at the hospital. The writing captures the feelings and impact on our staff at work and at home throughout that time.”

The ‘Reflections on a Pandemic’ project began in spring 2020 when poet Martin Figura was commissioned to write poems based on his interviews with staff across the hospital about their pandemic experiences, at work and at home. The series became a collection published as ‘My Name is Mercy’. Martin also conducted poetry writing workshops with staff and groups in the community.

He went on to perform the poems in videos and at staff events, such as the Trust’s Staff Awards in 2021, and at ‘We Reflect’, the special service

which took place in March 2022 that was held by the Trust and Salisbury Cathedral with carers from across the area to mark the second anniversary of the start of the first national lockdown.

This service included original writing from Paula B Stanic who captured how lockdown felt from the perspective of a caregiver, a child of an NHS worker and someone who was cared for. Two of the poems were also recorded by Stars Appeal

Stacey Hunter, said: “The project and the resulting emotional and inspiring poems captured the psychological challenges that our staff faced and coping as best they could at work and in their personal lives.

Martin Figura’s poems resonated with our staff and provide a testament to their resilience.”

The project was made possible with funding from the hospital’s League of Friends and Stars Appeal charities.

‘My Name is Mercy’ is available to order at https:// fairacrepress.co.uk/shop/ by-martin-figura and from the League of Friends shop.

Patron, Oscarwinning actress Olivia Colman. CEO

Inset: Cover of My Name is Mercy (photo: Monaya Abel) Martin Figura created poems for the project

Meet the innovators of the future

THE next generation of innovators, creators and problem solvers from across Wiltshire were in Salisbury this week for a special event. Primary school children attended Wiltshire Council’s Learning Resources Hub STEAM FAIR 2022.

The event is designed to inspire young people and attracted 1,200 youngsters and support staff to County Hall on Tuesday, November 8.

They were able to explore a wide variety of stands and exhibits from external providers and be inspired by curriculumlinked STEAM activities.

The event, organised by Wiltshire Council’s Learning Resources Hub, was supported by Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub and The James Dyson Foundation and followed two previous hugely successful STEAM Fairs held in 2018 and 2020.

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) influences nearly every part of our daily lives and is an area of industry set to grow rapidly in the future.

“Within this developing environment, where robotics, artificial intelligence and

virtual reality will be the new reality, it is essential that more pupils, from a very young age, engage with and are excited by STEAM.

“This event supports Wiltshire Council’s commitment to ensuring that all young people get the best start in life but also our commitment to ensuring Wiltshire has a thriving local economy supported by a skilled workforce.

“I hope that the children and the teachers that attended had fun and were inspired by the possibilities and opportunities that studying science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics one up to them.”

The exhibitors at this year’s STEAM event were: Learning Resource Hub, Artbytes, Army, Discover Materials, EDF Energy, Energy Sparks, Graphic Science, Immersive Dome Experiences, National Highways, Oh Bots Ltd, PodPad Studios Ltd, Primary Science Teaching Trust, QinetiQ, QuestFriendz, RAF Brize Norton, REME Museum, Roche Court, Rolls Royce, SW Regional Crime Unit (Cyber Crime), Sirius Astronomy, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, The Arts Society, The Dyson Foundation, Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Lib Dem vote surges in by-elections

CITY and county council by-elections in Salisbury ended in victory for the Liberal Democrats.

The Salisbury St Paul’s ward on both Salisbury City and Wiltshire Councils was left vacant after the sad passing of Councillor Mary Webb in August. Cllr Mary Webb was a dedicated public servant and St Paul’s resident.

Victory in the by-elections means both seats were gains for the Lib Dems, as Cllr Webb was a Conservative.

Newly-appointed Wiltshire Councillor, Sam Charleston, and new City Councillor, Lynne Blackwood, both received 60% of the vote in a resounding poll victory for the party.

Sam said: “I’m humbled by the overwhelming support people in my home ward have shown to Lynne and me.

“We will endeavour to work hard on behalf of St Paul’s and all its residents.”

Despite national polls showing a surge in Labour vote after the demise of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, this was not reflected in Salisbury.

It was the Lib Dems who benefited from a collapse of the Conservative vote, which dropped by 15.6%.

In the Wiltshire Council election, the Lib Dems saw an increase of 34.8% (64.8% of the vote), with the Tory vote falling by 15.6% (16.6% of the vote). Labour’s vote dropped by 3.3% (18.5%).

“The result last night shows once again that Liberal Democrats in Salisbury are the

only challengers to the Conservatives locally and nationally,” Sam added.

The Liberal Democrats now hold 28 seats and are the largest opposition group on Wiltshire Council, with the Conservatives in overall control, with a total of 60 seats.

Sam Charleston and Lynne Blackwood – front and centre – lead the Lib Dem celebrations

Pupils and staff from Heddington CofE Primary School with Cllr Laura Mayes, Cllr Ross Henning and Cllr Richard Clewer, of Wiltshire Council

Are you brave enough to walk on hot coals or across broken glass for charity?

SALISBURY Hospice Charity is in search of a team of brave individuals to face their fears, and take on the charity’s Fire and Glass Walk, in front of Salisbury Guildhall on Friday, February 17, 2023.

As fearless fundraisers, you will brave either or both of these daring challenges:

Fire walk: walk 15ft over hot coals at 550 degrees Celsius!

Glass walk: walk barefoot across hundreds of razor sharp broken glass bottles.

This challenge will leave you feeling empowered. If you can walk across red hot coals or razor sharp glass, you can do anything. It sounds tough but don’t fear, you will be supported by UK Firewalk, one of the UK’s leading Fire and Glass Walk companies.

Walkers will receive intense training from Scott Bell to be able to perform these unique mind-over-matter experiences. Scott is the twice Guinness World Record holder for the ‘Greatest Fire Walking Distance’ by walking 328 feet on burning coals. So don’t worry, you’ll be in safe hands.

Abi Blake, the event fundraiser said: “After the huge success of our first Fire Walk in 2021, we are so excited to bring this challenge back to the Guildhall Square in Salisbury with the addition of a glass walk.”

This is truly the ultimate mind over matter challenge. Whether fire walking or walking across shards of broken glass is already on your bucket list or something you have never considered doing, it is an

exhilarating way to challenge yourself to do something different while raising much needed funds for Salisbury Hospice.

For more information visit: www.salisburyhospicecharity. org.uk

Photo credit: Donald Capewell

Steve the Stick gets Royal approval

SHREWTON author Steph Johnson has received Royal approval for her first book after receiving a letter from HRH Camilla Queen Consort. Steve the Stick is Steph’s first

adventures have you been getting up to Steve?”

The real Steve eventually turned up one morning on top of the toy kitchen.

The story is written in rhyme

HRH Camilla Queen Consort.

“I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw a picture of our Queen Consort wearing a stick insect brooch, which I discovered was gifted to her by her father before she joined the Royal family,” said Steph.

“I sent her a copy of Steve The Stick, saying that I couldn’t help but feel that Steve was on another adventure when I saw him with a beautiful silver sheen sitting so gracefully on her shoulder. I added that I hoped the book would be enjoyed by herself and other members of the family.

self-published children’s book. The character is based on her son’s pet stick insect, Steve, who like his namesake in the book also escaped from his tank.

“As a mother of two young children I spent a lot of time walking and bobbling my youngest Lily to sleep and I would frequently walk past Harry’s pet stick insect ‘Steve’ in his tank and think, what

and is illustrated by Sarah Hobbs, who lives in Frome.

learning curve and I am so proud for achieving this while raising our family and being able to share this achievement (and of course the story) with my children Harry and Lily.”

Steph says the feedback and reception to Steve The Stick has been wonderful, including from

“To my utter surprise I received a letter emblazoned with the Buckingham Palace stamp. Enclosed was a wonderful note thanking me for the copy of Steve and that she was very much looking forward to reading it with her grandchildren.

“How could you not be utterly delighted with such a special letter landing on the door mat.”

Steph has been invited to local schools and playgroups to read her book. “I truly can’t explain that feeling of reading my story to the children and seeing their engagement as they live the adventure of Steve and then question their own pets/ toys antics.”

Steve The Stick is available online at Waterstones. If anybody would like signed copies (perhaps as a Christmas present gift), Steph can be contacted at stephjohnsonstories@outlook. com. She can also be found on Instagram as stephjohnsonstories.

Fans of Steve the Stick will be delighted to hear that Steph’s next book, ‘Nicholas Ridiculous’, features the true adventures of the family’s home-hatched duck.

Probus Club of Sarum elects new president after Roger’s farewell

PROBUS Club of Sarum held its AGM at the White Hart Hotel recently and elected its first new president in three years following the trials and tribulations of the covid pandemic.

The meeting thanked outgoing president Roger Ballard for holding the ship steady during very trying times.

Reverend Peter Matthews (pictured on the right) has been elected as new president.

The meeting was followed by a members lunch.

The club meets every other Friday at the White Hart Hotel.

Its members are retirees who value intellectual stimulation as well as a sociable atmosphere.

Each meeting features a talk on a topic of interest, presented either by one of the members or an outside speaker, followed by a small amount of business.

Meetings end by noon and members can stay for Lunch afterwards (booking necessary). New members are always welcome.

For more information on the group and upcoming meetings, call 01722 392043

What are Lasting Powers of Attorney and why do I need one?

Like Wills, lasting powers of attorney (LPA’s) are an essential part of estate planning. Why? While wills only come into effect once a person has died, LPAs are effective if someone is still alive but no longer able to function normally.

LPAs allow you to nominate a trusted person called an attorney. They can make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so. An LPA gives the attorney the authority to act on your behalf. Both financially and with matters pertaining to your health and care. It goes without saying that attorneys must be people you trust.

But what happens if someone doesn’t have an LPA? If you lose mental capacity a bank would freeze all accounts – including any in joint names. Even family members would not be able to access them at first.

Obtaining access to the accounts requires a long, drawn-out application to the Court of Protection, and this is a far more expensive process than getting an LPA in the first place.

There are two types of LPA document – one that covers financial matters and the other health. You should get both types of LPA drawn up as soon as possible, well in advance of when – or if – they might be needed.

Book an appointment with a Maplebrook Wills by calling 07832 331594

“Without a ‘lasting power of attorney’ document created in advance, families can find themselves locked out of an ailing loved one’s finances and facing a complicated court process to be appointed their ‘deputy’, with fees running into many thousands of pounds.”

Chris Tennant, Oakwood Wills

Future looks bright for popular plant shop following recent relocation

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

POPULAR houseplant shop

BotanicFolk has relocated to a trendy shipping container space in Brown Street, Salisbury. Charlie Gale, director and owner of BotanicFolk, explains the reasons for the move.

“There was a cost of living crisis which engulfed the country, causing the footfall for my business and other traders to fall. Electricity fees also rose, and I have a lot of perishable stock, so I decided to close my shop on Fisherton Street.

“I then met an investor, Amanda Newbury, who owns Brown Street. She invited me to join her team at Brown Street, and we have now made a lot of exciting plans for spring. There is a garden space and event space at Brown Street and over the winter, we are hoping to do

artisan markets with bands playing and other activities.”

The space presents many opportunities. “This evolving space will change significantly over time as there is plenty of scope for opportunity. There will hopefully be festive markets in the lead-up to Christmas based here in the courtyard at Brown Street. And the event space will be the larger location for our terrarium workshops.”

When reflecting on how customers have responded to the move, Charlie says: “They appreciate that they can still come to buy plants from us. We are also designing merchandise, such as bags, temporary tattoos, and mugs.”

But that’s not all Charlie offers. “We also offer a repotting service where people bring their plants along so I can make them all healthy again.

People like someone to do the repotting for them as they are often nervous to do it themselves – people really care about their plant babies.

“I remove the old soil, rinse the roots and place new soil in the pot. The look on their faces when they know their plant is made as good as new makes it all worthwhile.

“We also offer an online click-and-collect service and local hand delivery.

“I am excited about moving BotanicFolk to Brown Street and am looking forward to all the events we will have here that the previous location was too small to support.

“Christmas will be big for us and I can’t wait to provide people with new plants to gift to their loved ones over the festive season.”

botanicfolk.co.uk

Charlie Gale decided to move his business premises because of rising costs and a decrease in customer footfall

‘Time for change was frittered away’

AS I write, another climate summit is underway in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Another year has gone by since the last one, COP 26 in Glasgow, and once again the world’s heads of government are gathered together making high-sounding promises of action to limit the climate change which is destroying our planet’s life support system.

Once again the UN Secretary General and the world’s top scientists are warning that we are on the brink of a global catastrophe with time running out ever faster, and once again the politicians are promising too little too late, with no guarantees that even those inadequate promises will be kept.

Our addiction to fossil fuels is not just the cause of the climate crisis: it is also the main driver of our current cost of living crisis.

Russia has shut off the gas supply to the EU, but that is only a problem because we have not built enough wind turbines or installed enough solar panels, or insulated our homes and other buildings, and because our privatised electricity market links the price of electricity to the price of gas. And

Brig Oubridge Green campaigner from Salisbury

Whatever we may think of their methods, born of frustration and desperation, the “Just Stop Oil” and “Insulate Britain” protestors are right in their demands. The time that once existed for a gradual and painless transition has been frittered away.

because our politicians chose to carry on with business as usual, and put off the sensible actions they could have begun over 30 years ago when the first climate summit took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

None of this is any consolation to those like myself who have spent 40 or more years warning of this crisis through the Green Party and other environmental organisations.

There is no pleasure in saying “we told you so” while knowing that we failed to get our message across, and that our grandchildren’s generation will have to pay the price.

The radical action we now need is simply common sense. Instead of spending billions to inadequately subsidise fuel bills, we should confiscate the unearned windfall profits of the oil, gas and power giants and permanently cut fuel bills by insulating every home and investing in the renewable energy of wind, sun and tide which has zero fuel cost.

We must invest in enough cheap or free public transport to make the private car redundant, drastically cut transport emissions and restore healthy clean air. We must cut consumption and waste by making things to last and be repaired, not thrown away. And the richest must pay their fair share, not be given endless tax cuts.

The solutions are simple and obvious. What we need is the political will to implement them. Unfortunately, there is no sign as yet of that coming out of the beanfeast in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Christmas Trees

Lack of leadership and legislation over climate and environment

HAVING lunch with friends this weekend, it was hardly surprising that the topic of climate change and the environment came up in conversation. It was interesting to hear someone mention, many small businesses are clearly eager to reduce their carbon footprint but are asking “… but what are we supposed to do?”

I have to say I felt concerned, but not surprised given the unbelievable lack of leadership and action taken by our government in spite of frequent claims to be taking climate change seriously.

As leaders from governments around the world gather in Egypt this week to track progress across the globe in slowing down global warming and climate change we will no doubt hear scientists emphasising the need for a greater sense of urgency. The death toll continues to rise as a consequence of extreme weather conditions, there can be no doubt we need to be doing more than simply listening to what they have to say.

We actually need to show a lot more commitment and action. The dithering of our most recent PM over whether or not to attend the COP 27 Climate Summit says it

all. Talk is cheap but actually effecting change requires investment and action – in other words leadership.

So let’s consider some of the indicators of the UK commitment to achieving our crucial net zero target by 2030.

• “Nearly half of all the UK’s offshore wind capacity is owned by state-owned or

majority state-owned foreign entities.” (Sky News 26.09.22)

• Shell was allowed to get away without paying any tax on their record profits from the sale of fossil fuel by virtue of committing to investment in developing a capacity to produce even more fossil fuel closer to home.

• “Substantial evidence obtained by the BBC, which shows that Drax is cutting down carbon-rich forests while receiving billions in green energy subsidies.” (Energy News Live 07.10.22)

Thérèse Coffey was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 October 2022. One her first acts in her new role was to announce that the government plan to publish legally binding targets for air quality, water health, nature and waste management on October 31 were to be delayed, but gave no new date for publication.

No targets, no guidance, no action. There is a desperate need for stronger leadership, and there is a pattern here, which if is allowed to continue, will inevitably accelerate further deterioration in our environment.

‘Now it’s time for climate ambition’

LAST week, I attended an extraordinary meeting of Salisbury City Council to review the government’s approach to climate change, in particular its stated goal to reach net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

As councillors tussled over our answers to various questions, including ‘What are the biggest barriers you face in decarbonising?’, I was left with a sense of impending doom.

In its June assessment, the UK’s independent adviser on tackling climate change, the Climate Change Committee, stated that ‘Current [government] plans are unlikely to put us on track for Net Zero by 2050’. It went on to detail areas where the government has credible plans to make progress (electricity supply, transport), and others where we are woefully behind (low carbon heating, energy efficiency).

The Climate Change Committee tracks government progress on a monthly basis and currently states ‘only 39% of the required emissions savings are backed up by credible plans or policies’.

Confronted with 300 indicators for tracking progress in reducing emissions, I find myself pondering: when will we stop asking

how to address the climate crisis and instead transition into real commitment and action?

Take the current energy crisis. Due in part to the war in Ukraine, we have all seen an immense jump in the cost of heating our homes and businesses. Rishi Sunak, as Chancellor, responded by lending households £400 to help with the cost of heating this winter, costing £60bn. This payment neither makes a significant difference to families who have seen their bills skyrocket, nor, importantly, does it address the fundamental issue of our cold, energy inefficient homes.

A national programme of home insulation, higher energy standards for new builds, and a rapid acceleration in heat pump installation would help to address the net-zero target while at the same time making it cheaper to keep our homes warm. It would also reduce the UK’s exposure to tyrants like Putin.

Another example is car dependency. We know this is a key way to address the climate crisis and improve air quality in Salisbury. Yet, according to the Climate Change Committee, ‘Public transport costs have risen faster than car travel, and there are no clear plans to address this’.

The expertise is out there in organisations such as Sustrans and best practice models exist. Investment in more reliable public transport and measures to make walking and cycling safer have the dual benefit of reducing carbon and making our communities healthier and more pleasant places to live and work.

It is time to stop searching for solutions and to start implementing the ones we know work. It is time for real ambition from our government – a national programme to urgently address the climate crisis.

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

Victoria Charleston Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Salisbury Constituency

Salisbury’s first zero waste shop offers buyers sustainable choices

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

SALISBURY doesn’t have many zero-waste offerings, but Celeste Skinner, founder and owner of Blueberry Den is hoping to change that.

“The premises in Winchester Street opened 14 months ago, but Blueberry Den began at the end of 2019,” she said. “Most people heard about the shop during lockdown when it was online only, and customers were getting all their plastic-free essentials and refills on their doorstep.”

Values and ethics are central to the philosophy of Blueberry Den. “At Blueberry Den, we focus on sustainability. We offer high-quality items that are ethically sourced, fairly traded and made from sustainable materials using renewable energy.

“We try to deal directly with other small business owners who share similar environmental values and offer affordable plastic-free alternatives as much as possible. We encourage everyone to buy better and buy less. Because with high-quality products, less is more.”

When it comes to stock, Celeste has a lot to offer. “We

have a large selection, from food cupboard essentials to refillable cleaning products and natural skin care.

Most people associate Blueberry Den with refills –perhaps because most customers now realise how easy it is to reduce plastic waste that way. But we have so many lovely products. There is something for everyone, even if you are not considering cutting down on waste.

We are based in the city centre on Winchester Street and are open from Tuesday to Saturday. We also offer a delivery service for SP1 and SP2 postcodes and UK-wide shipping.

Collaboration is another value that drives Blueberry Den, as the business seeks to work with the quickly growing set of boutique shops in the vicinity.

Celeste says she is “planning an exciting collaboration with other Winchester Street businesses, which will be revealed soon. Since 2020, Blueberry Den has also had a refill point at Stable Wick Farm Shop in Downton, “which is the perfect match for us in the area

In-Excess raises over £75k for Hospital Stars Appeal

SALISBURY’S In-Excess has raised over £75k for the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal.

The money has been donated by the company as well as being raised via the dinosaurs at its store on Netherhampton Road.

Visitors pop a £1 coin into the machine and then watch the dinosaurs move and listen to them roar, bringing kids (and adults!) great amusement while raising funds for the Stars Appeal.

Owner Carl Chambers, said:

“Over the years our brilliant customers have helped us raise this great amount of money for our fantastic hospital. Our donations have gone towards a breast screening cancer unit, the new Birth Centre and many more key fundraising projects.

“I am proud to continue to help our local hospital which provides such a great service.”

Visit In-Excess on Netherhampton Road to see the dinosaurs and help with the fundraising.

and an incredibly supportive business of everything we do.”

Celeste also has big plans for the festive season. “Like many other shops, we will be open on certain days for late-night shopping. This will be a different Christmas for many, and I am hoping our gift vouchers might help. These

Salisbury Hospice Charity Christmas Tree collection

IN return for a donation to the Hospice, the Charity will collect real trees from homes and businesses, and take these to local farms that help with the chipping and composting, or in some cases they are used as food for alpacas and goats.

Salisbury Hospice exists to support patients with terminal and life limiting illnesses. The Charity needs to raise £1.5 million each year of the £2.9 million annual

could then be redeemed for food or other essential items that some might be struggling to get – all you have to do is bring your empty containers, and we will fill them up for you.

“We hope to help people change small habits to make a big difference in the world.” www.blueberryden.co.uk/

running costs. This would not be possible without the generous support we receive from our local community.

After costs, 90% of all monies raised will go to Salisbury Hospice Charity, the remaining 10% will be distributed to charities in the local community.

Collections will be made between January 13-15, 2023, in the following postcodes: SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP9 and new for this year SP11 7, SP11 8, SO20 6, SO20 8

Registrations open on November 15 and close on January 8. Charityxmastreecollection.com

Celeste Skinner started Bluberry Den as an online shop in 2019. It’s early success has transferred to its current Winchester Street store

Yoga Stuff open and already proving a serenely successful business

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

YOGA teacher Ilona Burns has opened Salisbury’s first yoga shop in The Maltings.

“Since I started yoga teaching, many of my students and friends found buying online very frustrating,” Ilona recalls. “Either because there was too much choice and no advice, or they would purchase something only to find it wasn’t what they wanted. As a result, students asked me to buy their equipment and clothing. I’ve wanted to create a welcoming yoga-themed space for a while, which gave me the focus.

“Now we have been open for a while, we have many loyal customers. We just started stocking pilates gear for local students and have expanded our clothing range. We also have many different items to aid meditation, such as sage and palo santo and a selection of meditation cushions, stools and blankets. And the cherry on the cake is Dirty Cow’s dairy-free chocolate which we now proudly offer.”

Ilona continues to offer her classes, as this was where her passion for yoga began. “None of our classes are the same,” says Ilona. “From Monday men’s classes with Panthera Dance Co to gentle Friday morning yoga at Breamore Village Hall, there is something for everyone.”

Despite the increased costs of living, Yoga Stuff remains serenely successful. “We have many happy return customers and are so grateful for how quickly word spreads about Yoga Stuff. We love hearing someone tell us they discovered us via a friend or family member. Our chai tea is particularly popular now with the colder weather too. And we will soon release our clothing line for men and women.”

So what does Ilona have planned for Christmas? “We are opening late on Thursdays and throughout December. Plus, we will

offer spiced apple juice and mulled wine and delicious mulling syrup so you can make your own at home. We are creating an area of the shop filled with stocking filler gifts, and secret Santa presents to make your festive shopping a doddle. We also offer a wrapping service. Keep an eye out for our festive window display, which will go up on November 12” https://www.yoga-stuff.co.uk/

Trethowans named one of The Times’ Best Law Firms 2023

LEADING law firm Trethowans, which has offices on London Street, Salisbury, has once again been named as one of The Times Best Law Firms – the newspaper’s annual list of the top 200 legal practices in England and Wales.

Put together by international market research company Statista, the list is based on responses from thousands of solicitors, who vote for their most highly regarded lawyers and firms across a range of categories covering business, public and private client services.

Solicitors cannot vote for themselves and can only vote once in the survey, which is then used to create a definitive list of the most respected lawyers and firms in the industry.

Talking of the achievement, Trethowans’ managing partner Mike Watson, said: “We’re thrilled to have made The Times Best Law Firms list once again. “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and

congratulate our hardworking team, who always go above and beyond to ensure we provide excellent service for all our clients.”

The award comes shortly after Trethowans was recognised in the Legal 500 last month, achieving top tier status in the renowned legal directory for services in Corporate and Commercial, Licensing, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence (claimant) and Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate.

Trethowans was also recommended by the Chambers Guide 2023, with multiple teams ranked including a UK ranking for its defendant personal injury work.

The firm has been offering legal services to businesses and individuals in the south for over 150 years with offices in Southampton, Salisbury, Poole, Bournemouth and Winchester.

To view the Times Best Law Firms 2023 in its entirety, visit: https://www.thetimes. co.uk/article/best-law-firms-9kh6q236r www.trethowans.com/

Ilona Burns was inspired to start her business by the students who couldn’t find the right equipment elsewhere

Trethowans’ managing partner Mike Watson

Three generations of history, craft and love, woven in

Steeped in three generations of history, Bakhtiyar has long been a respected leader in the Persian and Oriental hand-knotted carpet trade. Headed by internationally renowned carpet expert Masoud Mazaheri-Asadi, he and his son Koroush continue to carve a new path for the industry bringing the historic beauty of Persia to homes around the world.

Spend time with Bakhtiyar’s specialists and you will quickly discover their passion and love for the craftsmanship of the carpets they source. As an authoritative figure within the industry, Masoud is often invited to share his expertise and insider knowledge with media outlets such as the BBC to discuss the ever-changing market. He also advises auction houses, insurance firms and institutions to identify and value Persian rugs and carpets. But we would be remiss to say that is

all we do, we carry out general carpet repairs for clients, whilst also working with many historic organisations to clean and restore carpets, bringing them back to life, in some cases removing 200 year old stains.

At Bakhtiyar we believe that no carpet is ever a lost ruin, beyond repair. As the Persian Poet Rumi once said “where

there is ruin, there is hope for treasure”. Our team of highly skilled cleaners and restorers, based in our London Warehouse, carry out repairs using the traditional knotting methods to fully restore rugs to their former glory, taking wool dated from the same period as the rug, to perfectly match the rest of the piece.

We invite you to join us at our winter exhibition in the beautiful Mintern Barn at Luccombe Farm in Dorset.

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th of November 2022 Open 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily

We will be showing a large selection from our extensive stock of hand woven Persian carpets, runners and kelims ranging from antique to modern pieces.

Persian food will be served daily with all proceeds raised being donated to Alzheimer’s charity.

MINTERN BARN, LUCCOMBE FARM, MILTON ABBAS, BLANDFORD FORUM, DORSET, DT11 0BE

Directions: Approach the exhibition at Luccombe Farm from Winterborne Whitechurch (A354), using the signed Milton Abbas Road. Ample parking is available and Mintern Barn is wheelchair accessible.

“Where there is ruin, there is hope for treasure.” Rumi

Youth Adventure Trust celebrates 30 years of helping school children

achieve more than you think you can. I’m continuously inspired by the young people we work with and am looking forward to celebrating their achievements over the past 30 years.”

As well as hearing from Tim, guests will also hear a first-hand account about the charity’s work from a young person who has recently completed its mentoring scheme. The event will live up to the charity’s adventurous name, designed to showcase how outdoor adventure combined with one-to-one support has been lifechanging for almost 2,000 vulnerable young people from Swindon and Wiltshire over the past 30 years, including many in the Salisbury area. In that time, the Youth Adventure Trust has facilitated over 428,000 hours of participation in outdoor activities – the equivalent of 39 hours every day for 30 years.

Young people in our communities need these invaluable opportunities to get outside, build resilience, develop confidence and ‘be children’ more than ever before.

Becky, a current Youth Adventure Programme participant, said: “My ongoing aim is that I carry on doing adventurous stuff and always believe that I can do it. A memory that I’m taking away with me is that I’ve met new people and done stuff I’ve never done before and now believe in myself.”

Below right: Tim Fitzhigham, the first and only person to row the English Channel in a bathtub

SWINDON and Wiltshire-based charity, the Youth Adventure Trust, is kicking off its 30th anniversary celebrations on Friday, 25th November with its inaugural Adventure Dinner.

The evening promises to be ‘no ordinary charity dinner’, bringing the outdoors indoors to both highlight the importance of the Trust’s work and inspire guests to find their own adventurous side with an after-dinner talk by Tim Fitzhigham, the first and only person to row the English Channel in a bathtub.

Tim is a record-breaking adventurer and a friend of the Youth Adventure Trust. He brings humour, humility and a true sense of adventure to the evening.

Mark Davey, CEO of the Youth Adventure Trust, said: “Tim’s tales of crossing the English Channel in a bathtub are the epitome of everything the charity stands for – resilience, facing adversity, stepping out of your comfort zone and realising that you can

Letters

Support for Spitfire location change

Below is a response to the letter published in the last issue from David Willoughby regarding the location and position of the Spitfire on Castle Street, Salisbury:

“Yes! As a teenager working on Spitfires during the war. I would like to see it moved to a better location.”

Stan Gordon, aged 95

Tables of 10 cost £700 or individual tickets can be purchased at £75 each. Tickets include a drinks reception with canapes, a two-course meal with wine on the table, after-dinner speaker, campfire hot chocolates and marshmallow toasting, an adventure auction with some amazing prizes up for grabs, as well as some fun adventurous activities to keep everyone entertained through the evening.

All funds raised on the night will help the charity continue to run the Youth Adventure Programme and its Mentoring Scheme. For further information or to book tickets please visit www. youthadventuretrust.org.uk/adventure-dinner or contact Natalie Levin on natalie.levin@youthadventuretrust.org.uk or call 07944 666412

Above: The Trust has provided life-changing experiences to school children across Wiltshire, including many in the Salisbury area

ARUNDELLS - Silver & Glass Jewellery with Fiona Ingram- Thursday 1st December, 6pm-8:30pm Create

ARUNDELLS - Willow Reindeer Workshop with Charlotte Moreton- Friday 2nd December, 10am-4pm You’ll make a measured wire frame from aluminium wire and build it up with soaked willow to weave into a lively reindeer that you can bring out year after year

Further restrictions imposed to try and curb bird flu as outbreak spreads

ALL birds must be kept indoors from Monday (November 7) until further notice, as efforts to curb the spread of bird flu continue.

The UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, ordered mandatory housing measures for the whole of England, legally requiring all bird keepers to keep their animals indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures, regardless of type or size.

The order extended mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to ‘very high’.

“We are now facing this year, the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England,” the chief vet said.

“The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.”

Over the last year, the UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of avian influenza, with more than 200 cases confirmed since late October 2021.

The introduction of the housing measures comes after the disease was detected at more than 70 premises since the

beginning of October, as well as multiple reports in wild birds.

“Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence,” Ms Middlemiss said.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you must keep your indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

“Evidence shows that housing birds reduces the risk of kept birds being infected with bird flu.

“However, housing alone will not protect birds and all keepers must still follow the other enhanced biosecurity measures mandated by the AIPZ at all times to protect their flocks and prevent the risk of future outbreaks which is circulating in wild birds.

“Housing combined with stringent biosecurity measures can provide even greater reduction in risk.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advice remains unchanged, that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

NFU Poultry Board chair, James Mottershead, said: “As poultry producers, the health and welfare of our birds is our number one priority, and these housing measures alongside the existing additional biosecurity requirements will help minimise the impact of avian influenza on the poultry sector.

“These measures apply to all poultry keepers, whether you have one hen in the garden or a large poultry business, and I urge everyone to remain vigilant.

“This is a really challenging time for the British poultry sector but producers are doing all they can to protect their birds and to maintain production of poultry meat and eggs, especially as we approach Christmas.

“The NFU will continue to work with the government and the wider supply chain to minimise the impacts of avian influenza, both now and in the future.”

Inset: UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss has ordered mandatory housing measures for bird keepers. The measures cover the whole of England Main photo credit: Hana Oliver/Unsplash, below: Brett Jordan/Unsplash

Step into the last days of autumn – there’s still nature to see...

By A J Selby

T he summer sun is fading as the year grows old, and darker days are drawing near Justin Hayward Forever Autumn NOVEMBER is a great walking month. The countryside is putting itself to bed and we can watch the decline and decay from day to day as we head towards the dead of mid-winter.

Fresh air is, of course, very therapeutic and so, to me, is a warming drink at the fireside at the end of a leisurely ramble. As the leaves fall so the trees take on a starkness that gives them a sense of individuality that is absent in summer when the green canopy merges into one. Learn the different trunk characteristics from the smooth beech to the patterned oak and gaze up high into the tree tops and marvel at these ‘lungs of the planet’ that sustain life from the largest mammals –including us – to hundreds of invertebrates and trillions of micro-organisms in the soil below.

A recent walk took me into the New Forest to enjoy the magnificent stands of woodland ablaze with autumn colour that takes one’s breath away. This time of year the commoners – local smallholders in the main – are allowed to let their pigs out into the forest – although much of the ‘forest’ is open heath – to forage for beech mast and acorns. This is called pannage and is a centuries old tradition, with the pigs eating acorns that can be poisonous to horses. They also dig up a few juicy roots and stems which helps to fatten them for the end of the year.

The clocks have changed and we are all too aware of the limited daylight hours as we drift towards the winter solstice. Don’t let this put you off enjoying nature – there is plenty to see at dawn and dusk as well

as listening to what the darkness offers. Owls, of course, are night birds and the ghostly sight of a barn owl drifting across farmland, caught in the glow of the moon still excites me. The tawny owl will hoot across a stand of trees and the screech when close up will make you jump. Listen for the rustle of the undergrowth as you stand still and try to work out what creature it might be.

And, of course, look at the sky on a clear night. Away from light pollution the Milky Way is a stunning band of trillions of stars and is best observed prostrate on a blanket with a decent pair of binoculars. I can recall camping in the 1980s in New Zealand in wild countryside and on a crisp, clear night I was blown away by the intense beauty of the night sky.

A quick check on the internet can tell you what planets will be in view at any given time – see the brightness of Venus low down near the horizon at dawn or in the early evening sky, or the faint red of Mars. Good binoculars or a telescope will show Jupiter’s

rings and red spot and there are plenty of star clusters and nebula to view in the constellations, such as in Taurus and Orion. The Orion nebula, known as M42, sits just below his ‘belt’ and can be seen with the naked eye in unpolluted skies in winter, and even better with an aid.

Taurus has one of the earliest objects identified in the night sky – in the 1700s – known as M1 the crab nebula, located near the horns and the famous Seven Sisters, the Pleiades cluster with seven stars visible to the naked eye. Back on terra firma and walking into the old wood on one of those still, dull afternoons, the silence is almost deafening. Not a sound comes from the trees so the other senses are enhanced – the smell of the decaying leaf mould and the sight of small details that are missed at other times of year. The wren busying herself in the undergrowth, the contrasting greens of moss and lichens on tree bark, the bracket fungi jutting out of tall trunks, and the activity of small insects in rotten branches, scattered about

like so much driftwood. This month also brings its share of dreary days, when the sun fails to smile at us and the sky is as grey and still as the heron on the lake.

The poet Thomas Hood captured these melancholy days in verse, which I make no apologies for repeating from time to time:

No sun – no moon!

No morn – no noon –No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day.

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member –

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birdsNovember!

The countryside is busy putting itself to bed in November

PHOTO: Peter Mayer/ Pixabay

Farming

Agri-turf podcaster publishes 80th podcast on his 80th birthday

SALISBURY freelance journalist and podcast producer, Chris Biddle, published the 80th episode of his popular Inside Agri-Turf podcast on October 27 – which also happened to be his 80th birthday.

The podcast, which features interviews and conversations with leading figures involved in the farm and turfcare machinery industry, was launched by Chris during lockdown in 2020.

“I had recently retired from 30 years of editing and publishing business magazines,” he said, “and was bored during lockdown so decided to explore the rapidly growing podcast market. I taught myself recording techniques and more importantly audio editing, and after a few tentative trial episodes, published my first podcast interview in July 2020.”

Subsequently, the podcast, which Chris describes as a niche production for a specialist audience, has gained a rapidly growing listenership in the UK and in more than 30 countries.

“I try to find stories that have the machines and people involved in food production or in the upkeep of sports and recreational facilities at its heart, but that will also appeal to a wider audience.”

His podcasts have featured topics such as the environment,

mental health issues, recruitment, management of sports stadiums,succession in family businesses, diversity and much more, and has featured guest contributors for the UK, mainland Europe, the US and New Zealand.

One of the most widely downloaded episodes featured celebrated US commentator, Corey Doctorow reflecting on the theft from a Ukraine farm machinery dealer by Russian troops of a large quantity of John Deere tractors.

After being transported over 900 miles to Chechnya, it was discovered that not only had the Ukraine dealer tracked their progress via GPS – but on arrival all the tractors had been remotely disabled.

For the 80th episode on his 80th birthday, Chris returned to the early 1990s shortly after he had launched a business magazine, Service Dealer, from his offices in New Street, Salisbury.

One of the most inspiring stories at that time featured an entrepreneurial engineer who had a contract to supply accessories to a major garden tractor manufacturer which was cancelled overnight.

Undeterred, he decided to take them on and build his own

garden tractor which he designed and put into production within three months. The newly launched brand, Countax, was the brainchild of Harry Handkammer, who went on to be awarded BBC Business Survivor of the Year Award in 1990. Chris chats with Harry about how Countax went from concept to market leader in a couple of years and subsequently was acquired by Ariens, a major US lawn and garden manufacturer.

Chris has a long association with Salisbury. He attended Salisbury Cathedral School and is the son of the late Steve Biddle, former Mayor of

Salisbury and Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire. He spent his early career with Ford Motor Company and in the family tractor and turf machinery dealership of A Brewer and Co Wilton (now C&O Tractors), before going into publishing.

He lives in Salisbury with his wife Trish and is a Fellow of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) and a member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists.

The couple celebrated Chris’s 80th birthday with a family lunch at the Fox and Goose at Coombe Bissett.

https://inside-agriturf.com

Second reading of Rights of Way Act delayed until 2023

THE NFU has successfully campaigned to delay the Countryside and Rights of Way Act: Second Reading until at least March 24, 2023. It was presented as a Private Members’ Bill by Caroline Lucas MP representing the Green Party to amend the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Amendment) Bill.

The second reading was scheduled to take place at the end of October, but has now been delayed. Although Private

Members’ Bills rarely become law, the NFU has lobbied MPs asking them not to support the bill but instead to ‘promote managed and responsible access to the countryside’.

Bills have a small window during which they can pass and so any delay could prove crucial.

A statement on the NFU website read: “Farmers are crucial in managing our iconic landscapes, now and for future generations. We understand our

vital role in providing access to the countryside and know the significant benefits to the wellbeing of society as a whole. However, it is vital that any access must be handled in a responsible and managed way.”

The bill, if passed, would grant members of the public access to extended areas of the countryside. They are currently allowed to walk in areas of open country, including on mountains, moors and downs, as well as on 160,000

miles of footpaths and bridleways in England. If extended, the public might have access to land owned by farmers which might include productive farmland.

The NFU’s position is that access to the countryside should be available using a modern and adaptable public access network, one that meets the news of both the public who want to enjoy the natural world and the businesses that produce food and manage the land.

Chris Biddle in his home studio where he records his podcasts

SALISBURY Young Farmers (YFC) club has enjoyed a very successful year after reopening in January.

Among the club’s many achievements during the course of the past 10 months, they won Wiltshire’s club of the year, national club of the month, were placed in many competitions across the area and took part in a county rally.

The club presented its own set of trophies at its Harvest Supper in September:

Isobel Green and Guy Mitchell (not pictured) shared the trophy for most competition points for a junior or intermediate; Clover Crosse, the club treasurer, won the most competition points for a senior as well as the Matt Weeks Challenge Cup for best

senior member. Jamie Pottow, the club’s chairman, is pictured holding the Club of the Year shield that was awarded to Salisbury YFC earlier this year. Will Thomlinson, the club’s vice chairman, was awarded the Flamstone Farm cup for

Leader’s Member. Adam Damant is pictured with the Bright Seeds cup for best junior member.

The club is looking forward to another successful year with plenty of exciting activities. More details of what the club

offers members and of this year’s programme can be found on Facebook (Salisbury & District Young Farmers Club) or Instagram.

The club can be contacted via email at salisburyyfc@ outlook.com

Left to Right: Isobel Green, Clover Crosse, Jamie Pottow, Will Thomlinson, Adam Damant

November: Maintain and prepare

WITH halloween and bonfire night behind us, it really is time to start thinking about those winter months ahead.

Jobs for the latter half of November include general garden maintenance, tidying up your trees and preparing your fruit and vegetables for weeks ahead.

General maintenance

Bonfire night may be over, but those with larger gardens may well still light a fire to rid themselves of excess leaves and debris. It goes without saying that you should check all bonfires before lightning to make sure all wildlife is safely cleared away. Hedgehogs love a pile of leaves. Your fallen leaves can also be collected and left to decompose to create mould for later use. Bedding plants and annuals that are over can be added to the compost bin. When you can and while it’s still possible, continue to mow the lawn but raise the heights of the blades to leave your grass longer than the

summer. It will also make it easier for you to cut.

Your garden infrastructure will also need some love.

Caring for trees

Grab your hardy gloves, it’s time to tool up, for this is the pruning hour. Sorry, it’s a bit late for halloween. But with the sap retreating down into trunks, you can safely take your loppers and secateurs to most things deciduous.

You are looking to remove anything dead, diseased or damaged, but with an eye to the aesthetic. Look out for any branches that are rubbing against or growing around each other because these will be damaging the bark. Word of caution, you can’t undo pruning, so take your time. Do not prune evergreens and also avoid plums, cherries, apricots and almonds.

Vegetables

The cost of living crisis and rising awareness around sustainability

has led growing numbers of people to try growing their own fruit and veg.

If you have an area of land dedicated to vegetables, it’s worth putting down a plank of wood on areas you will be walking. This prevents the soil becoming too compacted.

Spread rotted manure on beds you won’t be using over the winter and add organic matter to heavy soils that you will continue to use.

Parsnips will have sweetened by now and are ready to pick after the first frost. Top-heavy brassica plants can be protected from the wind with stakes and by drawing up soil around their base.

Protect the crowns of globe artichokes from frost by wrapping the base of the plants in straw. The Jerusalem variety can be cut down now with the tubers stored in a bucket of dry compost.

Broad beans and early mangetout varieties like Oregon Sugar Pod need to be protected by a cloche – leave the ends open for ventilation. If you want a continuous supply of herbs then you’ll need to bring them indoors, you can also grow winter lettuce varieties in a warm greenhouse.

Top-heavy brussels sprouts can be supported with sturdy canes – make sure you pile earth up around the stems for extra stability in the high winds of winter. Cabbages, kale and other hardy brassicas need to be protected from aerial threats by

netting. Plant garlic, shallots and onions in free-draining soil or raised beds, then cover with fleece.

Fruits

Dormant is a key word at this time of year. Mare clumps of rhubarb can be divided once dormant, similarly currant plants can be planted out as bare roots, as can raspberries and your edible hedging.

Enrich the soil with well rotted manure or garden compost before planting.

Remove strawberry runners and dead leaves. Blackberry canes that fruited this year can be cut back to the soil, new ones can be tied. We’ve entered the period where fruit trees, think apple and pear in particular, can be pruned. But do not prune your plums yet.

You will also need to use grease bands on tree trunks to prevent wingless female winter moths climbing up and laying their eggs in the branches.

Photo by Piotr Łaskawski/Unsplash

Wipe-clean dog leads idea brought about pet shop idea for family

A NEW pet shop has opened in Wilton.

Lucky Leads is an inspiring shop filled with treats, bandanas, toys, food and even pet-themed scarves and earrings, aiming to provide pets (and their humans) with natural treats and products that won’t cost the earth.

I went to Wilton to meet Michelle Ditton who has set up the shop with her husband Tom.

The shop is so beautifully set out you initially think you are walking into a gift shop. Walls are lined with stylish wooden panels, buckets of delicious looking snacks are neatly set out on wooden shelves, it takes a while to register that everything is for four footed creatures.

Michelle was born and bred in Salisbury, she used to be a bus driver for Reds and then, after her daughter, Rebecca, was born her life took a change:

“I went back to dog walking, when Covid came along, my work continued as I walked the dogs belonging to key workers. Hygiene was a priority, I was handling so many different leads we were worried about

spreading infection, so I started making wipe-clean leads.”

These leads are bright and colourful. Michelle makes them on her kitchen table from BioThane, which feels like leather, but has a PVC coating which makes it easy to wipe clean. All Michelle’s clients wanted one of her leads, they were so popular, she decided to open a shop.

It seems that whenever Michelle is faced with a problem, she takes it upon herself to sort it. Unhappy with the dog snacks she was giving the dogs she decided to source her own.

“There are many affordable natural treats out there, and I have sourced as many British producers as I could find,” she said.

There is colourful bunting throughout the shop – I soon discovered that these are locally made bandanas for dogs. Michelle also has locally made little bags for dog snacks:

“They stop people’s pockets from getting crusty from old treats!”.

Michelle and Tom’s enthusiasm is wonderful and they are very keen to listen to the residents and locals of Wilton to hear

what they want. “Already we have been asked to stock food for bearded dragons, snakes and specialised turtle food.”

With Christmas around the corner Lucky Leads is full of fun things to give your dog loving friends. Suppliers include Anco, Poppy’s Picnic, Jane & Su for beautiful fabric makes, Rosewood and much more.

Lucky Leads, 14 West Street, SP2 0DF www.luckyleads.co.uk

Words and photos by Rosie Redwood

Michelle, Rebecca and Tom Ditton

Below right, Michelle has sourced as many British producers as she has been able to find

Could you give a forever home to one of these potential best friends?

DAISY

Breed: French Bulldog Age: 8+ Sex: Female

Daisy is a sweet little lady, almost nine years old and is looking for companionship in a loving, relaxing home.

She struggles when left alone so would love her new family to be around most of the day to help her settle.

Daisy could live with another calm dog of a similar size after successful introductions at the centre, she has also previously lived with a cat and hamster and could do so again.

She would prefer a home with calm, sensible children

BUFFI

Breed: German Shepherd cross Age: 8+ Sex: Female

Beautiful Buffi is a sweet older lady who is looking for a calm and quiet adult only home. She’s an anxious girl who can find things quite overwhelming but once she’s built a bond, she’s a loyal companion who loves to be with people.

She struggles being left so would love her new owners to be around for company and

6 BEAUTIFUL KENNEL CLUB

REGISTERED GREAT DANE

PUPPIES, 2 boys and 4 girls , mantle and harlequin . For information 07767 862353

STAFFY PUPS KC REG. Chipped & jabbed. Ready now £1,350. 07706 874466

HUNTAWAY X COLLIE PUPPIES. Ready now. 07551 409615 / 07973 661515

aged 12 and above and is deaf and has struggled with housetraining so would benefit from patient owners who can work through this with her. For this reason Daisy will also need her own, secure garden.

BOOGIE

Breed: Beagle Age: 8+ Sex: Male

Boogie loves food a little too much and often becomes uncomfortable at the possibility of sharing, so it is advised any new home isn’t open plan and he can have a room such as a utility of his own for mealtimes.

Typical of his breed he is quite the scavenger! Boogie is happy to have dog friends out on walks but would ideally be the only animal in the home so

he can have all the attention.

He would love his own garden so he can continue his hobby of sunbathing, but he would prefer a quieter set up so would be better suited to an adult-only home.

For more details about all of the dogs featured, log on to www.dogstrust.org.uk, or contact the Salisbury Dogs Trust centre on 0303 003 0000

cuddles. She is sound sensitive so a quiet home environment away from lots of hustle and bustle would be ideal. She could potentially live with another dog pending successful mixes at the centre.

ARCHIE Breed: Crossbreed Age: Two Sex: Male Archie is looking for an experienced adult-only home, with owners who are used to a sensitive dog and has the time to give him the chance to turn into the most amazing dog.

He could share his new home with a confident calm dog, that does enjoy playing, after successful meets. Archie has shown previous guarding behaviours so is not suitable to be around children, but is having training to help him feel more relaxed around resources and reduce the fear of them being taken away.

MUCKY PUPS DOG GROOMER

Friars Moor Sturminster Newton Contact Gloria 07784 332682 muckypupsfrance@yahoo.com http://muckypups-bee-online.com

15 years experience in dog grooming

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPS.

Liver and White. 4 bitches and 4 dogs. Kennel club reg. Legal doc with certificate. First vaccination and micro-chipped. Ready after 24/11/22. 3 generation pedigree. Would make good workers or family pets. Further details and pictures 07932 061202. Westbury, Wiltshire. £850

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation

Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.

Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border

Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

Across

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t

Cryptic crossword

Start to display with endless abundance scrawled drawing (6)

Part of wintry landscape in Arctic I cleared (6)

On reflection, clear figure (3)

Support classic Jaguar, a perfect model? (9)

Check edge on pavement reportedly (4)

Cure for poison toted in a jungle (8)

Popular section of Greece? (3,6)

Across 1 Start to display with endless abundance scrawled drawing (6) 4 Part of wintry landscape in Arctic I cleared (6) 8 On reflection, clear figure (3) 9 Support classic Jaguar, a perfect model? (9) 11 Check edge on pavement reportedly (4) 12 Cure for poison toted in a jungle (8)

Down

1 Separate awkward date and companion

2 Posh wine that’s drunk about right for proprietor’s outfit (9)

3 Staffordshire town reported unauthorized disclosure of information (4)

Popular section of Greece? (3,6)

Dismay about return of very old Republican for endorsement (8)

5 Nervous bride left in Anglican church – worthy of belief? (8)

6 Shout gets to carry oddly (3)

Dismay about return of very old Republican for endorsement (8) 19 Criticism when time’s run out for being ill (4) 21 Good man stuck in fence is a legal professional (9)

European mountain among phenomenal peaks (3)

Across

My robe is fashioned as a natural starting point? (6)

Start to display with endless abundance scrawled drawing (6)

Most advanced set sold out lacking bit of scruple (6)

Part of wintry landscape in Arctic I cleared (6)

On reflection, clear figure (3)

Support classic Jaguar, a perfect model? (9)

Check edge on pavement reportedly (4)

Cure for poison toted in a jungle (8)

Popular section of Greece? (3,6)

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and boldlined 3x3 box. No digit maybe repeated in any dashed-lined cage, and each dash-lined cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage. For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage

Criticism when time’s run out for being ill (4)

Good man stuck in fence is a legal professional (9)

7 It puts on an equal basis still British monarch (6)

10 Harmonious type of character (9)

European mountain among phenomenal peaks (3) 24 My robe is fashioned as a natural starting point? (6)

13 Start alcoholic drink imbibed by a trio getting tipsy close to home (9)

14 Youngsters are in this party after an electoral defeat? (8)

Most advanced set sold out lacking bit of scruple (6)

16 Talk with bad temper I rejected, incoherent talk (6)

Separate awkward date and companion (6)

Posh wine that’s drunk about right for proprietor’s outfit (9)

17 Take part in winter sport above untidy place or omit this? (4,2) 20 Some for a longer exam (4) 22 Lift gown mostly (3)

Staffordshire town reported unauthorized disclosure of information (4)

Nervous bride left in Anglican church – worthy of belief? (8)

Shout gets to carry oddly (3)

It puts on an equal basis still British monarch (6)

Harmonious type of character (9)

Start alcoholic drink imbibed by a trio getting tipsy close to home (9)

Youngsters are in this party after an electoral defeat? (8)

Talk with bad temper I rejected, incoherent talk (6)

Take part in winter sport above untidy place –or omit this? (4,2)

Some for a longer exam (4)

Arts

From Spitfire Sisters to Beatlemania the Arts Centre ends the year in style

THE Arts Centre in Salisbury has announced a series of spectacular concerts that look set to offer music lovers a rocking end to 2022.

Vocal harmony trio The Spitfire Sisters wish they could sing festive tunes all year long, but they save it up to share with you at the most wonderful time of the year. Join them as they perform their favourite holiday songs to get you ready for the Christmas season.

Bells will be jingled and merriment will be made, as they awaken the Christmas spirit with a sack full of Christmas classics.

Tickets start at £19.50, from https:// www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/ salisbury-arts-centre/the-spitfire-sisterssp185403/

Beatlemania

Friday, 2nd December, 8pm

Limehouse Lizzy

Friday, 18th November, 8pm

Limehouse Lizzy continue to keep the spirit of Celtic rock icon Philip Lynott and his band Thin Lizzy alive, well and dominating stages worldwide. The band have also added a tribute into their show to ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist (and world-renowned solo artist) Gary Moore.

From their Official PRS award, performing for Virgin Atlantic in Barbados, TV appearances (Arena on BBC2 among others), and to actually being recruited to record and tour by members of the original Thin Lizzy, Limehouse Lizzy have just completed their 28th year with their most explosive show and critically acclaimed line-up yet.

Despite international tours (UAE, Germany and previously USA, Scandinavia, Caribbean etc.), corporate clients (Mitsubishi, NatWest) and even book appearances (The Rocker, Send In The Clones), they finished 2021 with a full UK tour with original Glam-rock legends The Sweet, and started 2022 with a string of their own European tour dates.

Tickets start at £21.50, from https:// www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/ salisbury-arts-centre/limehouse-lizzy/

The Spitfire Sisters

Saturday, 26th November, 8pm

Roll up, roll up, for a rip-roaring magical musical tour through the back catalogue of the world’s greatest ever band. Every song is a winner in this note-perfect musical love letter to the Fab Four.

New Year’s Eve with The Deloreons

Saturday, 31st December, 8:30pm

Come and celebrate New Year’s Eve this year at the Arts Centre with The Deloreons, plus local support. Your ticket includes a glass of fizz on arrival – please dress to impress.

The Deloreons originally formed in 2005 as a small and lively three-piece pub band. Since then they have gone on to work at thousands of weddings, events and corporate functions throughout Europe.

John, Paul, George and Ringo take to the stage one more time as the supremelytalented cast revive all 17 of their No1 hits, including: She Loves You; Can’t Buy Me Love; A Hard Day’s Night, Help!; Day Tripper; All You Need is Love; Hey Jude; Get Back, and more.

From their mop-top beginnings to the psychedelic highs of Sgt Pepper and beyond, all the biggest hits feature. The most authentic production on tour brings The Beatles to life, live on stage.

Stunning attention to detail – from the original musical instruments and stitch perfect costumes even down to Lennon and McCartney’s on-stage banter –combines with superb vocals and sublime musicianship.

Money can’t buy you love, but it can get you seats for an evening to remember featuring the biggest and best songs ever recorded, performed live in concert.

Tickets start at £21.50, from https:// www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/ salisbury-arts-centre/beatlemania/

The band has also held residencies on board P&O and DFDS Ferries and in 2012 and 2013 they headed to the French Alps, playing huge party nights around various venues including the world famous Rond Point in Meribel.

In 2012, The Deloreons headlined the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in Salisbury with 10,000 people partying, singing and dancing along.

The Deloreons then went on to sell out Salisbury City Hall three years running with their 80s Party Nights and in 2017 headlined ‘Live at the Farm’ with more than 4,000 guests in attendance in aid of Salisbury Live.

The Deloreons know exactly how to get the party going with well executed covers of some of the best known party hits from across the decades. Their musicality, vocal arrangements and high energy performances make them more than just a typical cover band.

Age Guidance: Suitable for ages 18+ (16+ accompanied by an adult).

Tickets start at £25 from https://www. wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/salisburyarts-centre/new-years-eve-with-thedeloreons/

Driftwood sculptures are proving a lifeline for Salisbury artist

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

CREATIVITY is a lifeline for many and Taff Hughes, a 77-year-old retired artist living in Salisbury, is no exception. He lives by himself and occupies his time by creating beautiful, sinewy pieces of sculpture made from ivy and hazel wood.

“I find them on Harnham slope or the racecourse,” said Taffy. “I strip them down by removing the bark, which can take up to 20 hours for larger pieces, and varnish them. Many pieces are made from driftwood from the river Avon. I don’t want to sell some because they are just too beautiful to give away, and I am so proud of them.”

When asked if all his pieces are made from ivy, Taff replied: “Some are made from hazel wood, which I boil and twist into different shapes by curling it around my finger. The hazel is more artistic and delicate, but the result is stunning as you can create striking shapes.”

Taff’s interest in sculpture began over 20 years ago, following his involvement in a car accident: “Twenty years ago, I was driving home from work on Dorchester bypass. A young driver hit me from behind, and I crossed the crash barrier. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I couldn’t feel my legs.

“The van had flipped over, so an ambulance and fire engine came, and they turned it over so it was upright. They put me on a stretcher, but one of the paramedics dropped me a few feet to the ground. Immediately after I fell, I felt pins and needles in my legs as the feeling returned.

“The doctor said I was lucky they dropped me, as it jerked my back in a way that meant it returned feeling to my legs. I went to a rehabilitation clinic with my back hunched and difficulty walking.

“After six months I was as good as new, and after 18 months, aged 60, I returned to work. One day, I was out with my

grandchildren and saw a piece of ivy wrapped around a branch. I took it home, cleaned it upand that’s where it all began. I have no training in carpentry or art.

“I retired at 63 because I had lymphoma. I am in the early stages of dementia. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have my hobby. It keeps me going and I’d be lost without it. I am always available at home if people want to come in for a chat and to look at my art.”

Taff can be reached on 07856954310

Taff creates his sculptures from ivy and hazel

The stories of Salisbury’s women through the ages finally being told

HER Salisbury Story is an exhibition at The Salisbury Museum, inspired by the Her Salisbury Story project and website, aims to bring the city’s heritage alive through the exploration of women’s narratives, celebrating the lives of women past and present.

The aim is to ‘write in’ women’s experiences of Salisbury, ensuring women’s contributions are seen and valued as intrinsic to the city and its development. The project was started in 2020 by the Soroptimist International of Salisbury – an organisation that aims to transform the lives of women through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.

The criteria for inclusion in the project is that each of the women will have been born or lived in Salisbury and its environs and/or have made a significant contribution to Salisbury or the wider community. These contributions include social, political, cultural, and economic.

The exhibition explores a selection of the women’s stories,

some of which can be found on the Her Salisbury Story website. These include the fascinating story of journalist Dorothy Lawrence, who was the only woman to go to the western front in the First World War.

A journalist by trade, hungry for a good story and determined to do her bit, Dorothy set out for the Western Front in 1915, with little more than a passport, a pencil and a bicycle. Disguised as a man, she managed to attach herself to the Royal Engineers 51st Division, 179th Tunnelling Co.

Other stories include that of Anne Bodenham, tried and executed for being a witch in 1653; Elihonor Sadler, a ‘trulie virtuous and religious’ philanthropist whose devout and charitable life is marked by a memorial in Salisbury Cathedral; Lady Jo Benson, voted as the woman who has contributed most to life in the city; society hostess and Mayor of Wilton, Edith Olivier; fashion designer Georgina von Etzdorf; stonemason Robyn GoldenHann; Tracy Daszkiewicz, whose

courage and professionalism prevented the tragic Novichok incidents of 2018 from becoming a much greater disaster; as well as an inn-keeper, cutler, painters, nurses, business women and more.

With objects largely drawn from the museum’s collection, this exhibition will be a must-see for anyone interested in women’s histories, local history, and the development of the city of Salisbury.

Her Salisbury Story has published the stories of 80

women on its website, organised a successful writing competition in partnership with author Cornelia Funke, developed Her Salisbury Footprint, a heritage trail and tourist map. It is also working with the Civic Society to increase the number of blue plaques celebrating women. Team members are currently offering guided walks and talks to local organisations.

Exhibition runs from November 12 to April 16, 2023, normal charges apply. www.hersalisburystory.com

Singer Toyah wows with her narration of Peter and the Wolf

ON Saturday, November 5, 450 people turned out to hear singer and actress Toyah Willcox narrate Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, with Salisbury Cathedral’s assistant director of Music John Challenger taking on the ‘orchestral’ role with the famous Father Willis organ.

The evening was a relaxed affair. Children were free to move about and many sat on huge carpets laid out in the Spire Crossing.

The event was expertly compéred by Steve Abbott, a counter tenor in the Cathedral choir and the director of Salisbury Cathedral’s Youth Choir.

Using the big screen, Steve and organist John Challenger gave the audience a short tour around the organ, then after two pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns including The Swan from the Carnival of the Animals, Toyah took to the stage. From the Cathedral’s magnificent pulpit in the Spire Crossing, she delivered a dramatic and entertaining narration of Peter and the Wolf – and the hapless duck who was swallowed whole – perfectly mirroring John Challenger’s witty take on the famous symphonic fairytale for children.

After the concert Toyah and John were surrounded by fans,

old and young, wanting autographs and to share their

memories both of Toyah and the music.

Edith Olivier sitting outside Daye House Credit: The Salisbury Museum.

Secrets revealed as Irish cat stars in local Grandma’s first published novel

TOWARDS the end of the first year of the pandemic, Writing Magazine inserted a list of publishers actively looking for specific material.

Buried in the middle was a small ad from Gill Books in Dublin seeking children’s books with an Irish interest.

“Not unlike most folk on the vulnerable list in this country, I was under house arrest at the time so I started to do a bit of research,” said Pam Henry, who lives just outside Salisbury.

“Shortly after our first non-Christmas, I had completed the first of what was originally a series of five chapter books told in the first person by a centuries-old Irish cat and aimed at the mid-grade age range. The stipulated submission was duly sent off to

Gill Books sometime early in 2021.

“They very kindly wrote back that they liked it but it wasn’t for them. Being stubborn, as I am, and having done all that work, I decided to give one more Irish publisher a try.

“On Easter Monday I emailed the first chapter of the first book to Currach Books. The managing editor obviously had a quiet moment over the holiday because the very next day I received a response from him saying that he liked what he’d read and could he please read the whole thing.

“Following some to-ing and fro-ing on email and a Zoom meeting, he preferred the five to be condensed into four and asked how long it would take

me to re-jig the first book and write the other three.”

Pam signed a contract with Currach Books in July 2021 and

finished the remaining three books by early 2022.

The first in the series, A Saucer Full of Secrets, was published on August 1 and is now finding its way out into the world, in bookshops and on all online outlets.

“I've just returned from my first book tour in and around Dublin, where I had a whale of a time visiting bookshops and doing signings.

“They want me to go back again next spring, with a view to visitings schools and libraries to meet some book readers as well as book buyers.

“I'm also getting a mention in Writing Magazine shortly, as their Magazine is what kickstarted my success story.”

A Saucer Full of Secrets is published by Currach Books.

Hunchback of Notre Dame finds his way to St Paul’s Church

MUSICAL Theatre Salisbury will present its version of Disney’s The Hunchback Of Notre Dame in the beautiful surrounds of St Paul’s Church in the heart of Salisbury from November 22-26.

The theatre group is an amateur dramatics society that has been performing around Salisbury for over a century. The group has been slowly rebuilding its numbers following the pandemic and has performed at a number of local events over the past year – from Carol singing outside care homes to performing in the local market square and a one-off concert at St Mark’s Church.

In July, the group made its return to the main stage at Salisbury Playhouse performing The Full Monty, eliciting positive feedback and support from the local community.

The amateur cast is drawn from a wide range of age, experience and knowledge but all have been working hard to bring this Victor Hugo Novel to life. The youngest member performing in the cast is 10-yearsold while the oldest is over 80.

Production director, Peter McAuley said: “It has been an amazing experience to bring people from all walks of life together twice a week to work on something they love while also allowing us to socialise and

spend time back face to face.

“We are also super excited to be bring this musical to life, not in a theatre, but taking it to a beautiful medical church, and although the St Paul’s Church has been modernised it still holds all its original character and charm with stone pillars and beautiful stainless windows which will all add to the atmosphere of the beautiful musical.

Previously known as Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society, the society’s major activity is to produce fully-staged and costumed musical shows but we also perform in concerts and offer workshops and social activities for members.

Its repertoire varies, from Broadway shows to contemporary musicals, as well as the much-loved Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Sarum Lights - Renaissance photo special

Cathedral lit up by spectacular Sarum Lights – Renaissance

SARUM Lights – Renaissance, the light and sound spectacular created by Luxmuralis, the team behind the Cathedral’s hugely successful light shows in 2020 and 2021, had its opening night on November 8.

Premiering installations and projections that take visitors on a spellbinding journey into the world of the great Italian Renaissance masters and reflect on the extraordinary period in European history that bridges the gap between the Middle Ages and the modern world, Sarum Lights - Renaissance ran from Tuesday, 8th to Saturday, 12th November.

Speaking ahead of the opening night, Canon Kenneth Padley, canon treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral and chair of the Arts Advisory Panel said: “Salisbury Cathedral is a place where openness and welcome are important and this is a way of demonstrating that openness.

Thousands of people come through our doors over the next few days to explore the building and a remarkable period of creativity and invention.

“The Cathedral itself is an enormous artwork from the 13th century and it is a place where art has remained relevant right to the present day. We have regular exhibitions and installations, most recently tapestries by Grayson Perry and we also have our own permanent collection.”

Peter Walker, artistic director, Luxmuralis said: “Salisbury Cathedral is a remarkable building and it’s always a privilege to come and work in spaces like this. They offer the opportunity to tell stories in contemporary ways and have always been places where craft and art is brought to public attention. Our aim is to create a very special, immersive experience where art and the building go hand in glove. The art is really in three parts – one is the

building, two is the work we do to create the experience and the third is the visitor and their response to the work.”

Running from the late 1400s to the 1600s, the Renaissance was a time of major transformation, producing artists, architects, musicians, philosophers and scientists who remain household names. Sarum Lights – Renaissance offered visitors an opportunity to encounter the period anew through music and images projected onto the Cathedral’s West Front, in the Cloisters and in the main Cathedral building – or to simply pause, reflect and enjoy the projections as they evolve around them, transforming and enveloping the gorgeous medieval spaces.

Luxmuralis is a collaborative team made up of artists from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines, dedicated to creating work across multiple media and presentation formats.

Headed up by sculptor and artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper, the

primary purpose of Luxmuralis is to take art onto the streets and provide access to visual artwork in unexpected places, both public and workspaces.

With clients ranging from councils and heritage buildings to corporate spaces, this diverse team seeks to explore the development of the fine art tradition through new media and place the medium in an art historical context.

Salisbury Cathedral’s art exhibitions form part of the Cathedral’s outreach and engagement. The Cathedral’s pioneering arts policy seeks to use the medium of visual art to inspire and allow contemplation of the Cathedral from a new perspective, to increase our spiritual impact and enhance the experience of Salisbury Cathedral for visitors and worshippers alike.

Specific objectives of its arts policy is to present art which: seeks to present the Gospel in new ways to all who encounter

the Cathedral engages, sometimes challenges, but always opens up exploration of our shared humanity and fullness of life brings more visitors – and returning visitors – to the Cathedral and the Close creates possibilities for a wide range of people to engage with art.

Working to ensure that opportunities are inclusive and relevant provides opportunities for stimulating educational and participatory activities for schools, families, adult groups and individuals.

Sarum Lights – Renaissance was designed to use minimal power, with low energy/LED lights replacing the usual Cathedral lighting, ensuring no more power than usual was used in the display. The Cathedral itself also uses LED lighting, and has its own power generating solar panels.

To see more photos from this spectacular event, turn to page 48

Sarum Lights – Renaissance by Luxmuralis lighting up the Cathedral Credit: Finbarr Webster

Sarum Lights - Renaissance photo special

Salisbury

Credit all photos: Finbarr Webster

England star bowler Wood presents Farley CC Awards

Farley cricketers enjoyed a very special guest at their recent annual awards dinner, with winners announced by England fast bowler Mark Wood.

The paceman is currently playing in the T20 World Cup in Australia, so couldn’t make it to Salisbury’s Ox Row Inn in person. But with the assistance of Farley player and England physio Craig De Weymarn, Wood recorded a series of videos – laced with a touch of his trademark humour.

First team captain Marc Burton was on the receiving end, as he picked up the bowling award, with Wood pointing out that as skipper he “gets to bowl at all the best times”.

De Weymarn himself announced the clubman of the year award, in a video filmed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

There were also video appearances from Farley players currently around the globe, as well as bouquets for scorers Jakki Knight and Emily Burrows.

Club president Gwyn Blenkinsop was master of ceremonies, and thanked all participants for their contributions to a memorable evening.

1st XI Batting Award –Archie Ayling

1st XI Bowling Award –Marc Burton

1st XI Captain’s Player of the Year – Rob Loader

2nd XI Batting Award –Harry Jenkins

2nd XI Bowling Award –Jake Hand

2nd XI Captain’s Player of the Year – Rob Feeney

Clubman of the Year – Craig Burrows

After a solid season on the pitch, the club is looking ahead to next year, with plans to expand the junior section and introduce women’s softball. Farley has also secured a new sponsor, East Brothers Timber Ltd of West Dean.

Top: the current England physio Craig De Weymarn is a Farley CC player. Mark Wood (right) presented the awards remotely

Dutton brings in new faces to help lift Salisbury FC

New Salisbury FC boss, Brian Dutton has endured a tough start to his reign with only one win to show so far, a solitary 2-0 win agsainst Hanwell Town.

The club has seen a number a number of personnel changes recently with stalwarts Charlie Davis and Darren Mullings leaving to focus on adventures, while former Aston Villa defender Callum Rowe has joined permanently, with Bristol Rovers midfielder Jerry Lawrence joining on loan.

Rowe made one first team appearance for Villa against Liverpool, setting up the club’s only goal in a defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup. He has also played for Exeter City and Yeovil Town.

Lawrence has joined on a month loan after signing a two-year professional contract with Bristol Rovers. Although only 17-years-old, he has already played for the first team this season.

Secretary of State saves Larkhill racecourse from closure

LARKHILL Racecourse has been saved thanks to the intervention of Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP.

The historic point-to-point racecourse was due to close

next year if an agreement was not reached with the Ministry of Defence which owns the land.

Having stood for 75 years, the course has become a much-loved and integral part of the point-to-point racing season.

Racing was due to continue for the 2022/23 season but its future beyond was uncertain.

That was until the Secretary of State for Defence was made aware of the course’s fate and recommended the lease be renewed immediately.

A source told The Daily Telegraph that the minister was very aware of the MODs responsibility as custodians of the land, not only to ensure our forces are well prepared but also so that the communities who have farmed and used the land for centuries can continue to benefit.

Andrew Ritchie, Larkhill Racecourse chairman, said: “We are immensely grateful to the Secretary of State for Defence,

Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, for his intervention to save Larkhill Racecourse by directing that a new lease be renewed with immediate effect.

“We would like to thank all those who have helped to achieve this brilliant result for the local, racing and military communities.”

There was a real fear among race-goers that the entire point-to-point season might fail if Larkhill closed, especially the winter season with the course holding six of the 12 meets.

A further statement will be issued in due course when further details have emerged. Next fixture is The Hursley Hambledon Hunt at on November 27.

Footloose winning at Larkhill last year, ridden by owner Arron Butterfield

Nineteen south Wiltshire pubs voted into latest CAMRA good beer guide

with their Good Beer Guide certificate by Ian Turner, chairman of the Salisbury & South Wilts branch of CAMRA.

“We are delighted to be voted into the Good Beer Guide,” said Martin, who has been at The Pheasant for three years. “I go to a lot of trouble to keep my beers just right. Freshness, a minimal stock and regular cleaning are all crucial.”

The Pheasant also serves a range of excellent traditional English food from its kitchen, which is run by Julie. Martin is a hugely experienced landlord having been in the pub trade for 29 years, 14 of them in Salisbury. The Cranes took over The Pheasant in November 2019, just four months before the Covid-19 pandemic began. He admits that running a pub has been tough going, first with the periods of lockdown resulting from Covid and now with soaring energy prices.

Ian Turner, chairman of the Salisbury & South Wilts branch of CAMRA, said: “We are lucky to have so many good pubs in the area and inclusion in the Good Beer Guide is a tremendous accolade for the very best of them. The Pheasant is an excellent example of a really cracking good local with a selection of well-kept real ales.”

Altogether, 140 pubs in the area covered by the Salisbury & South Wilts Branch of CAMRA were eligible for inclusion in Britain’s premier guide to real ale, with CAMRA members choosing only the top 19.

NINETEEN pubs in Salisbury and south Wiltshire have been voted into the 50th edition of the Good Beer Guide published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). They were selected for the Good Beer Guide by local CAMRA members with personal experience of pubs in the area.

The pubs include The Pheasant Inn in Salt Lane, Salisbury whose landlord, Martin Crane and his wife Julie were presented

The full list of south Wiltshire pubs can be found in the 2023 edition of the Good Beer Guide. The 50th edition of the guide has been updated to make it more user-friendly and accessible. As well as 4,500 of the best real ale pubs in Great Britain, it includes a comprehensive breweries section. The guide costs £16.99 plus postage and packing and is available from the CAMRA website. https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-good-beer-guide-2023/

The Carriers Arms is travellers choice

THE Carriers Arms, Stockton has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travellers’ Choice award winner.

The award celebrates businesses that have received great traveller reviews from diners around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, The Carriers Arms stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to diners.

Landlords David and Karen Foster, said: “Having taken over the pub in January we were keen to bring the excellent cuisine and hospitality that we had built a reputation for at The Bell Inn in Wylye to The Carriers Arms. Repairing the reputation of the pub as one that welcomes all guests that walk through our doors was a high priority and this award demonstrates that we have achieved this.

“Of course, hospitality is nothing without a great food offer and we are blessed to have an outstanding mother and son chef team Karen and Joe who produce

wholesome food that is always a hit with our customers.

“We endeavour to source ingredients locally, with our meats coming from Walter Rose (Devizes), our fish and seafood from Premier Fish in Downton and fresh vegetables from Harvest Fine Foods. We adopt the same approach with our drinks offer with gin supplied by Spirit of Codford, lager and pale from the Blonde Brothers in Steeple Langford, cask ale from Keystone Brewery in Berwick St Leonard and, of course, there is usually a cask ale that we produce ourselves on sale.

“We would like to thank all of our customers who have taken the time to write such positive reviews for us. We are glad that they enjoyed the hospitality that we offer and it is reassuring to know that the hard-work and changes that we have made to The Carriers Arms are appreciated.”

Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer at Tripadvisor, said: “Congratulations to the

2022 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Winners. The awards recognise the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: your guests. Ranking among the Travellers’ Choice winners is always tough – but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it’s using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff,

“I’m impressed by the steps you’ve taken to meet travellers’ new demands. You’ve adapted brilliantly in the face of adversity.”

Ian Turner (left), chairman of the Salisbury & S. Wilts branch of CAMRA, presents a Good Beer Guide certificate to Martin Crane, landlord of The Pheasant, Salisbury, and his wife Julie.

Photograph: Roger Braddick

Tis the season of winter warmers and the wonder of whiskey liqueurs

Words by Neil Henty

YOU’LL have noticed the weather has turned. Yes, I know it’s still pouring with rain, but it’s definitely got windier and chillier. At home, the question of turning the heating on has been asked more than once and rugs and blankets are populating the living room.

This time of year is preparation season, or should that be preservation season... We tackled sloe gin in the first issue but there is no reason not to experiment further. Bottle of spirit, some fruit lying around, a bit of sugar in the cupboard. It’s a recipe for something, that’s for sure.

While I do like a good whiskey, I have on occasion been known to drink a bad one or two, but that’s another story. Vodka lends itself well to steeping fruit that can gradually imbue the clear spirit with its colour and taste, but other spirits are less easily tamed.

Gin is tricky because of the many botanicals all fighting for your taste buds. Whiskey is another beast altogether. There are some who like a mixer. We’ll move on quickly.

There are also some who insist on a drop of room

temperature water to help open up the oils.

But for want of winter warmer there are a number of ways to combine fruit and whiskey to arrive at a very pleasant sipping drink.

I first came across a whiskey ginger liqueur from the Lyme Bay Winery. It was a little bit of a revelation. A birthday present I wasn’t expecting that became a staple whenever I was passing that way.

The ginger and whiskey worked well together, tempered with an overtone of honey.

I always thought I would like to make my own version and there are quite a few recipes out there. My favourite so far comes from the Larder Love website. Essentially, most recipes call for whiskey, citrus fruits, root ginger and sugar.

Some, like the Larder Love version, require a herb as well, in this case a stick of rosemary.

Measurements vary depending on just how much citrus twist you prefer. You can use any combination of orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit (pink or red). Likewise, sugar can be replaced by honey though you might want to experiment with the quantity.

It is a fairly quick liqueur to make, both in terms of preparation time and how long it takes before you can enjoy it.

Recipe

So, if we base our drink on the Larder Love recipe, you will need:

500ml scotch whisky

1 unwaxed orange

1 unwaxed lemon

1 unwaxed lime (or you can swap one out for grapefruit) 2cm piece of fresh root ginger, grated (again, adjust for taste)

A sprig of fresh rosemary (optional) 225g granulated sugar or an equivalent amount of honey.

You’ll also need a 1ltr kilner jar. Make sure you get a good one that has a strong seal as you’ll be shaking the mixture everyday for a week, and you don’t want to let the liquid escape (I speak from bitter, or rather sweet, experience).

Have your jar (sterilised first) ready. Pop in the rosemary stick if using, pour in the whiskey (use whatever you prefer here), pour in the sugar or honey. Peel and grate the ginger then add to the jar. For each citrus fruit, pare the rind, then add that and the juice to the jar.

Seal the jar and give it a good, vigorous shake. Then place it in a cool, dark cupboard. Every day for the first week, shake, shake, shake, really giving it a good going over. The aim is to dissolve the sugar into the liquid.

Once all the sugar has dissolved, leave the jar alone for another week (if you can for two more weeks, I know, I didn’t). Then strain through a muslin cloth into a pouring jug and use a funnel to fill your chosen storage bottles.

A delicious winter warmer that even non-whiskey fans will enjoy (responsibly, of course).

Tasty vegetable broth, quick and easy

IF you want to be fancy you could call this a pot au feu sans beouf. Raymond Blancis a big fan of the beefy broth version, but you can make a hearty version using seasonal chunky vegetables.

And it is pretty easy. I’m sure the beef version in a Paris restaurant would require approximately 4 days and 74 stages just to get the stock right, but there’s a cost of living crisis and winter is coming.

You can adapt this anyway you wish. Different vegetables (squash, swede etc) cut in different ways, different stocks and seasoning. Parsnips are in their prime right now, so make use of this often

underappreciated veg. You want all the hard veg to be cut roughly the same size.

Recipe

2 large carrots, peeled and cut

2 large leeks, white and light-green parts only

2 large or 3 medium parsnips, peeled, halved lengthwise if large 1/2 medium head of savoy cabbage, cut into 4 wedges, each with some core attached

2 flat-leaf parsley sprigs, plus 1tbsp chopped for an optional garnish Just over a 1ltr of chicken stock/broth or vegetable stock if you want the recipe to be

fully vegetarian/vegan Salt and pepper to season.

What to do

Simply put all of the vegetables, parsley sprig and stock into a large heavy pot and bring it to the boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender but not falling apart.

This stage takes approximately 20 minutes. Once cooked, season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley (if you wish).

A hearty, super tasty vegetable broth, with no beef in sight.

Credit: Lawrence Aritao/Unsplash

Parsnips are healthy and hearty

HEALTH benefits of parsnips

A source of potassium, fibre and vitamin C, one 80g serving is one of your five-a-day.

Parsnips are rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre and can help promote healthy digestion. They promote a good mix of beneficial gut microbes and are good for gut-related problems such as reflex.

There are certain diets that advise avoiding root vegetables because of their simple carb content. But when eaten whole, their fibre and water content may help to curb appetite.

They are a good source of active plant compounds such as flavonoids that have anti-

inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer properties and can help modulate blood pressure (think heart healthy). Which sounds like a very good reason to roast some parsnips or make some parsnip soup.

They might even make you feel good. Falcarinol can protect against fungal infection and have a calming effect. One serving contains a fifth of your daily vitamin C and contains a powerful package of antioxidants as well.

Add to that an assortment of minerals such as calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. What’s not to love?

Market Square move paying off for city sandwich bar

SINCE its move to the market square in March this year, the Naked Bagel sandwich bar has gone from strength to strength.

Owner Rory Clark said of the move: “I established Naked Bagel in June 2019. I had spent the last 10 years as a chef and wanted to start my own business in the food sector and the time was right.

“After two years, we had the opportunity to move as our lease was up. We took the gamble of moving to the market square during the pandemic.

“This was the first year without Covid restrictions, and so far we have been really pleased with Salisbury’s reaction to our move to a more visible location. We can now accommodate people inside and out with seating. We had many BBQs and other events over the summer with the extra space.”

How does Rory keep the menu as fresh as the ingredients? “Our menu is always evolving and being updated. We regularly have specials and new additions, like

the healthy but filling poke bowls, which have been very popular as a hot offering.”

And new additions to the menu aren’t all Rory has planned for the future. “We now have a full alcohol licence and are planning monthly food challenges, more BBQ’s in the market square next spring and the Bush Tucker Trial, which involves trying many different delicacies you will never have tasted before. It almost becomes an endurance challenge, like I’m A Celebrity! It takes place at Naked Bagel on November 24 and costs £5 to enter.”

Rory’s passion for bagels doesn’t end there. “The future is looking great. And we are expanding to external catering with weddings booked already. We advise people to book us while you can, as you never know how busy we will be in the future.”

Credit: Michael Fouser/Unsplash

Words and photo by Tristan Ovington

Winners of the 2022 Salisbury BID window competition announced

THE countdown to Christmas is well and truly on now that the winners of the much-anticipated Salisbury BID Christmas Window competition have been announced.

Three lucky Salisbury businesses have won the chance to have a festive window display created by one of the designers seen in the BBC’s Interior Design Masters.

Designers Fran Lee, Amy Davies and Dean Powell will return to the city as Christmas begins to give three businesses a Christmas makeover.

The windows of Allum & Sidaway on Minster Street, Captive Worlds on Crane Street and Maul’s Wine & Cheese Bar on Fish Row will be dressed by the designers in their finest festive decor.

Fran will be taking on Maul’s Wine & Cheese Bar, Amy will be working with Allum & Sidaway and Dean will be crafting the window dispay at Captive Worlds’.

The public are encouraged to watch the winning festive creations being unveiled on November 18.

Reacting to the news, John Arnold from Captive Worlds said: “I am very appreciative to have been chosen out of so many great Salisbury businesses for this festive occasion.

“I’m really looking forward to having a professional craft our window display which will hopefully bring some Christmas joy to the people of Salisbury. We have a large window space so there’s a lot of opportunity for creativity!”

Andy Maul commented: “The creative juices have already been flowing between myself and Fran and we are so confident that what she will produce will be amazing!

“Fran has really taken the time to understand our values and ethos as the home of wine

and cheese for Salisbury and we cannot wait to show off her window display.”

The team at Allum & Sidaway jewellers were delighted to have been selected as one of the lucky winners. Manager Luke Pope said: “We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with Interior Design Master Amy Davies and can’t wait to see the festive transformation that this talented professional will bring to our striking building.”

Susi Mason, owner of Casa Fina and Salisbury BID Director, has been instrumental in bringing the competition together. “BBC Interior Design Masters brought so many

people to the streets of Salisbury when it was aired in March so Salisbury BID thought that it would be fabulous to invite some of the designers back for a return visit. I’m sure everyone will love to see the creativity that they’ll bring to the city.”

Fran has also created a handy ‘Christmas Window Top Tips Guide’ which is available to BID businesses in Salisbury to help them create their own special designs.

Clockwise from top left: Allum & Sidaway, Creative Worlds, Maul’s Wine and Chees Bar, designer Fran Lee will be working with Andy Maul to design the bar’s festive window

Anchor partnership will spread help for community groups bringing people together through food

MORE than £33,000 has been distributed by the Wiltshire Community Foundation to small charities and voluntary groups across Wiltshire thanks to a new partnership with Anchor Butter.

Anchor Butter has joined forces with UK Community Foundations, the umbrella organisation of which Wiltshire Community Foundation is a member, and donated £100,000 to establish the Anchor Community Connection Fund.

Alongside two other foundations, Wiltshire has been selected to distribute these funds to support groups who use food to bring people together and strengthen local connections.

Among the groups helped is The Pantry Partnership in Salisbury, which has been awarded £5,000 to support families struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Director Fiona Ollerhead said the money will help support several projects – these include regular shared meals for Ukrainian refugees to help keep them connected with their culture, enabling volunteers to cook meals using donated food to be shared with families, and ‘Cook and Eat sessions’ which are a GP referral service for older, isolated or recently bereaved people, which helps them make new friends and learn useful skills.

In thanking the foundation for the grant, Ms Ollerhead said: “As well as those receiving support, we have 35 volunteers, many of whom are older people who benefit from the social interaction and opportunity to contribute to their local community.”

St Michael’s Community Centre in Bemerton Heath,

Salisbury has been awarded £3,00 to upgrade its kitchens so that it can help meet the demand for the low cost meals it serves in its increasingly busy Community Café.

“We see the growing need in the community for families which consist of many singleparent families who can’t work and exist on benefits,” said fundraising coordinator Howard Tranter.

“Given the rising cost of living and especially increased food prices we know there is a need for affordable healthy meals to help those in poverty.”

The grant will help towards installing new, more hygienic, kitchen surfaces and buying a commercial dishwasher for the kitchen, which also provides affordable meals for a lunch club every Thursday for older

people. Centre volunteers also operate a community fridge, which supplies fresh fruit and vegetables donated by supermarkets and community gardens.

Anchor spokesman, Stuart Ibberson, said: “Food has always been at the heart of community life in Britain and cooking and enjoying food should be accessible for everyone.

“This is why we’ve partnered with the UK Community Foundation to connect local communities and ensure that as many people as possible have access to cooking skills, food education and friendship.

“Through the partnership, we aim to spread a bit of food

positivity in neighbourhoods across the nation.”

Wiltshire Community Foundation joint chief executive Fiona Oliver said: “We are delighted to be a member of this partnership and proud that Anchor is entrusting us to use its money where it will make the most impact.

“In the midst of the current crisis, access to healthy food as well as support, advice and companionship have never been more important so we are thankful that Anchor has chosen to do this.”

To find out more about Wiltshire Community Foundation’s work and how you can help, visit: wiltshirecf.org.uk

Pictured: The Pantry Partnership in Salisbury has been awarded £5,000 towards it work from Wiltshire Community Foundation, thanks to a tie-in with Anchor Butter

History

National Trust members continue support for Stonehenge Tunnel

MEMBERS have voted against changing the National Trust’s position regarding the Stonehenge Tunnel project at its recent AGM.

The project has proved controversial with many groups, such as the Stonehenge Alliance, set up to oppose it.

More than 127,000 members voted on six resolutions and elected seven new members of the National Trust Council at the charity’s AGM which was held at the Bath Assembly Rooms on November 5.

The resolution was proposed by Dr Kate Fielden and seconded by John Adams, OBE, both of whom are members of the Trust and supporters of the Stonehenge Alliance. Resolution 5 Stonehenge, which called for the Trust to drop its support, was not carried with just over 30,000 members voting in favour, but over 81,000 voting against. A spokesperson for the National Trust, said: “The

existing traffic-clogged A303 severely damages the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, impacting hundreds of ancient monuments as well as wildlife. This cannot continue. The Trust cares for over 840 hectares of the landscape, and has been a proud custodian of this special place for nearly a century – a role we take extremely seriously. We support the government’s plan to remove most of the harmful existing A303 and place it in a tunnel deep underground.”

René Olivieri, chair of the National Trust’s Board of Trustees, said: “We are grateful that so many of our members were able to join us at our Annual General Meeting, either in person or online, and we would like to thank them and the many thousands of other members who took the time to vote on the resolutions and for new Council members. The Board of Trustees will reflect on the outcomes of the voting and we will be back in

touch with members through our usual channels in the coming weeks.”

She added: “It is very important to me that we listen to and consider diverse views on our work and future. We are privileged to have such dedicated and passionate people supporting the National Trust.”

Ahead of the AGM, the Stonehenge Alliance’s website asked opponents of the tunnel to

write to the Trust to change its support for the project. It stated that the Trust should only consider ‘road building as an option of last resort, and certainly not through a World Heritage Site’. Adding that: ‘Under any other circumstances it is almost unthinkable that an independent, national conservation body would support a major infrastructure scheme so harmful to a World Heritage Site’.

THE Portable Antiquities Scheme was set up to allow members of the public to record their historical finds. It is managed by the British Museum in England and works with at least 119 national and local partners, and delivers through its network of 40 locally based Finds Liaison Officers, the PAS Central Unit (based at the British Museum), National Finds Advisers, interns and volunteers.

It plays an important role in advancing knowledge, telling stories of past communities and furthering public interest in the past. More than 1.5 millions that were found by chance by ordinary people (many through metal detecting) have been recorded and saved in some way for posterity. Finds that would otherwise be lost.

One such find was made to the north east of Salisbury. A cast copper-alloy seal matrix of medieval date, c. 1300-1400. The matrix takes the form of a pointed oval with a flat reverse. The front carries a representation of the Virgin Mary carrying a child (presumably the baby Jesus) standing in front of a decorated alter. Mary is wearing a crown and the child has a halo.

Around the figures, an inscription reads SIgILLUM SUB DECAnAT ECCL’IE SARI which can be read as ‘seal of the sub-dean of the church of Salisbury’. The seal is approximately 51mm long, 32mm wide, 2.8mm thick and weighs just over 21 grams.

John Cherry, former keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum, has suggested that this intriguing find may actually be a forgery that would have been a contemporary of the

original. This very fact adds an extra layer of mystery to the find. It was noted as ‘an interesting find’ by the records and donated to the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.

In the year to date, just over 1,500 finds from Wiltshire have been recorded with the scheme. If you find something in the local area, contact 01722 332151 or PAS@salisburymuseum.org.uk

Credit: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum

Antiquity Scheme unearths the rogue traders of medieval life

Unveiling of plaque marks site of First World War woodland memorial

AN official unveiling was due to be held at 3pm on Sunday, November 13, of a new memorial at Castle Hill Country Park in Laverstock & Ford Parish.

In 2018, on the centenary of the end of the First World War, trees were planted at Castle Hill Country Park which have now become a woodland memorial to those who gave their lives fighting for their country. Now, as the woodland matures members of The Land Trust, which leases and manages the site, will be returning to place a memorial plaque marking the significance of the site.

A 100-year-old chestnut ‘monolith’ was sourced from Stourhead Estates on which the memorial has been installed.

Parish councillor, Lesley Waller who has been involved with the development of a public open space behind Bishopdown Farm, said: “Daily, we are reminded of the horrors of war by the situation in Ukraine, so it is timely to think about all the people who sacrificed their lives during the First World War, whether at the frontline or on the home front.

“Planting the first oak tree in this wood, back in 2018, was an honour for me, one I treasure. We will remember them, and we do.”

In March 2019, Barratt Homes transferred the Country Park to Laverstock & Ford Parish Council. Following consultation with residents the name Castle Hill Country Park was chosen. The history of the area and proximity to Old Sarum

A 100-year-old chestnut ‘monolith’ was sourced from Stourhead Estates on which the memorial has been installed

Credit: Laverstock & Ford Parish Council

Hillfort and Old Sarum Airfield, formed a large part of the design, while interpretive Iron Age play features, a miz-maize, and a memorial woodland were included in the features formed by re-profiling 15 hectares of the site with approximately 90,000 tonnes of spoil from the Riverdown Park development for habitat creation.

Today, Castle Hill features popular walks and running routes, a much-loved dog agility field, a trim trail, a play park, picnic area, ball sports court, a mountain biking area, and the memorial woodland; a peaceful spot for catching sight of birds of prey and planes landing and taking off from the nearby historic Old Sarum Airfield.

Hannah Bosence from The Land Trust, said: “We are pleased to help care for and maintain the memorial woodland. Not only will it help create a wonderful habitat with the native species provided by the Woodland Trust, but it also helps all of us remember how lucky we are to enjoy our freedom to explore our open spaces, thanks to the efforts of those who have gone before us.”

While not technically fulfilling the requirements for a designated ‘Country Park’, Castle Hill Country Park was the name chosen by residents of Laverstock & Ford parish during consultation on the future of the chalk downs and farmland area not included in development plans for building houses on the site known as Bishopdown Farm.

This happened once it was decided to preserve the open space as a green barrier between Bishopdown Farm and Ford.

The country park, located on former farmland, provides fine views across south Wiltshire as far as Salisbury Plain to the north and the fringes of the New Forest to the south.

https://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/castle-hill-

Authors meet at Boscombe Down

THREE aviation authors met up for a chat at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (BDAC) recently.

BDAC welcomed Rod Priddle, whose major tome, Wings Over Wiltshire, has long been a classic and must-have book for any aviation enthusiast.

In the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) section of the collection, Rod was joined by David Berryman, whose continuing series of well received books

cover the history of airfields in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and North Wales during the second World War.

Also present was Terry Grace, whose books include, Stonehenge, Sheds and SunGaps which covers the evolution and demise of Larkhill Airfield, and a biography of pioneering aviator Horatio Barber.

The trio were joined by Roger Green and Tim Cornish, both of whom were

instrumental in curating the RFC collection when it was first donated to the museum a few years ago, and which is now recognised as the best and most comprehensive RFC collection in the country.

In the afternoon, some of the group visited the London Road Cemetery, where Tim Cornish led a guided walk, visiting Commonwealth graves of RFC and RAF staff who died while serving at Old Sarum Aerodrome.

Tim’s knowledge of each person commemorated, made for a most excellent and informative tour.

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection remains one of the best attractions in the Salisbury area and is the perfect day out for anyone with even the slightest interest in aviation and is especially enjoyed by families with children, all of whom appreciate being able to get up close and climb in some of the most historic aircraft.

Sarum Lights - Renaissance photo special

Credit all photos: Finbarr Webster

Text message service launched by Council to support mental health

A NEW Wiltshire Council-commissioned partnership will provide critical timely support for anyone in Wiltshire struggling with their mental health.

It will be delivered by Mental Health Innovations, the charity that powers the national service called Shout.

The 24/7 text messaging support service will provide free confidential support for anyone in Wiltshire who is struggling with their mental health. As it is free, it will not appear on anyone’s phone bill.

Wiltshire Council has commissioned the service locally using money from the government’s Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant, which can be used for projects that provide a ‘better and more integrated response to physical and mental health issues’.

To use the service, people should text the word ‘WILTS’ to 85258. This will start a text conversation with a trained volunteer who will aim to get the person texting to a calm and safe place, with a plan of what they are going to do to support themselves moving forward. This will include providing information about local support services where required.

Wiltshire Council will receive anonymised information about the type of support that is being accessed which will provide valuable insight and help inform how local services are delivered.

The service has been available since November 2, which was National Stress Awareness Day – a day in the calendar that aims to raise awareness of the effects that stress can have on people in their daily lives.

The national Shout service has had 1.6 million text conversations with children, young people and adults in the UK, averaging approximately 2,000 conversations each day – 86% of Shout service users felt that the conversation was helpful.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “Sometimes people who are struggling with their mental health don’t speak out or seek support. Shout provides a support outlet

that is completely confidential and discreet, while ensuring the texter gets access to expert local information and guidance.

“As stated in our Business Plan, we want to support people and help them adopt healthy behaviours, with a real focus on mental health. It’s a challenging time at the moment for lots of people, particularly with the high cost-of-living, so we hope this service provides some reassurance that we are ready to help anyone who needs us, so please get in touch.”

WILTSHIRE Mind has been awarded a two-year Community Partnership Grant from NHS Charities Together and RUHX for an innovative pilot project aimed at providing a direct referral route from selected county GP surgeries to free counselling for adults and young people – reducing the waiting time and providing equity of access for those seeking support.

The pilot project will offer

therapeutic counselling support to those who face anxiety, stress, mild depression, worry, low confidence, anger or grief.

The grant will cover the cost of the trial for two years.

The trial is expected to start just before Christmas 2022. If successful, it’s hoped it could be rolled out across Wiltshire.

For more information contact Paul Mills, Wiltshire Mind CEO, at paul.mills@ wiltshiremind.co.uk.

The 24/7 text messaging support service will provide free confidential support for anyone in Wiltshire who is struggling with their mental health Credit: Jonas Leupe/Unsplash

Hospital scoops biodiversity award for transforming green spaces

SALISBURY District Hospital has announced that it has won this year’s national NHS Forest award for successful ways to support biodiversity.

NHS Forest inspires and supports healthcare sites in transforming their green space for health, wellbeing and biodiversity.

Each year, at their autumn conference, they present awards to NHS Forest sites that have created inspiring green spaces and used them in particularly innovative ways.

Over the past three years the hospital has worked hard to achieve greater engagement and understanding of the natural environment in and around the site, which extends to approximately 21 hectares in its countryside setting.

Key was the production of a full colour nature guide, complete with illustrations, scientific information and seasonal calendar, written by staff member James Macpherson.

The hospital’s Facilities Waste and Grounds Team has mapped and created a strategy for protected wildflower verges, and ArtCare, the hospital’s arts in health service, has created a walking guide to public footpaths and natural spaces around the hospital.

There are also monthly nature walks for staff and the public, species surveys, creative activities and online resources.

As part of the Well-City Salisbury project, ArtCare has partnered with artists to host an eight-week course providing activities for mental health referral participants.

Working with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, a CAMHS garden to support younger mental health patients has also been developed at the hospital.

Staff, patients and visitors are now more connected to the natural environment, the grounds are better managed, wildflowers are flourishing, including bee orchids, and staff have relaxing outdoor spaces to visit during breaks.

Gemma Heath, sustainability manager at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Thanks to dedicated and collaborative working between nature groups, staff member James Macpherson, ArtCare, and the Facilities Waste and Grounds team, I am delighted that the hospital has won the national NHS Forest Award for Successful Ways To Support Biodiversity.

“The natural environment is an important part of our hospital site and has a vital role to play as we work towards a greener NHS.

“It provides staff, patients and visitors with increased wellbeing, helps reduce carbon emissions, supports habitat and species conservation,and encourages education.”

Number of job ads including salary falls to six-year low, research shows

THE number of job advertisements disclosing the salary on offer has slipped to a six-year low, according to new research.

Job site Adzuna looked at 80 million job ads advertised on the website in the past six years to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of salary transparency in the UK and across the globe.

It found that the UK has the highest rate of salary disclosure out of 19 job markets analysed in 2022, with three in five job ads disclosing an intended salary or salary range.

“That said, over the course of the last six years, there has been barely any progress, and the country is showing early signs of a slowdown, with the proportion of advertised vacancies including salary slipping to a six-year low,” a spokesperson said.

It said there was a North/South divide in salary transparency.

Yorkshire & Humber is most straight talking, with 63% of job ads disclosing pay,

while London (55%), Scotland (49%) and Northern Ireland (28%) are the most secretive regions.

Interestingly, London has been cited as having both the worst ethnicity pay gap and worst gender pay gap, suggesting a correlation between a lack of transparency and inequality.

In the South West, the number of job ads

revealing the salary on offer was 58.3%, a drop from 67.2% the previous year.

Sector-wise, Charity & Voluntary is the most transparent sector, while Creative & Design is the most secretive. About one in three job ads of creative and design roles featured salary information in 2022, down from 48% a year ago, the firm added.

Other worst offending sectors include Scientific & QA, with just 34.1% of job ads disclosing a salary, and Retail (37.2%).

The Energy sector has seen the biggest fall in the proportion of job ads with a salary, down -20.6 percentage points to 38.6%, followed by Creative & Design.

Healthcare & Nursing fell third fastest, slipping -10.9 percentage points to 60.2% in 2022, followed by IT which was down -10.8 percentage points.

“Falling transparency in these latter two sectors could have consequences on hiring, as companies failing to disclose pay rates could miss out on candidates amid skills shortages,” the spokesperson added.

Employers value ‘soft skills’ when interviewing potential recruits

EMPATHY and a sense of humour could be the most important ‘soft skills’ for people seeking a job, according to a new poll.

A survey of 1,000 hiring managers commissioned by recruitment firm Michael Page revealed 77 percent were on the lookout for much more than just technical attributes when someone sits down for an interview.

The survey showed 62 percent had hired someone who showed emotional skills like sincerity and respectfulness, even if there were better technically qualified candidates.

However, 63 percent said they believed prospective employees often forgot to demonstrate their personable and human sides in interviews and focussed too much on their skills and qualifications.

“The pandemic really drove home the importance of soft skills and taught businesses how crucial it is to invest in a workforce that possesses more than just technical ability,” said Doug Rode, from Michael Page, pictured.

“Now, with a turbulent economic landscape impacting businesses across the

country, attributes such as a willingness to learn, flexibility and a sense of humour are all highly desired by hiring managers who know that personal qualities can impact a company’s overall success.

“Too often, candidates talk themselves out of applying for a certain job because they worry they don’t have every single skill, but this research clearly shows that employers are willing to overlook that for the right candidate.

“It’s easy to upskill once someone is in role, but traits like teamwork, empathy and friendliness are crucial attributes that you

can’t necessarily teach.”

According to the research, almost half (49 percent) of employers said they would take on a prospective employee who would complement the team.

And 36 percent said when an interview finished, they often knew whether they would be offering the job to that person.

Mr Rode added: “Over the past few years, technology has fundamentally changed the traditional recruitment process – particularly through virtual interviewing.

“One of the key benefits of this is that companies are able to widen the net to secure talent from further afield, increasing diversity and creating opportunities for previously untapped talent pools.

“However, whether virtual or in person, interviewers will be keen to get a sense of the soft skills candidates can offer their business.

“Now, more than ever, demonstrating the desire to develop and futureproof their skills, being willing to learn and able to solve problems will give most candidates an edge over purely technical ability.”

DRIVER REQUIRED

Full time & part time

For further details telephone 07813 209841

LOVELY CLEANER

WANTED. 3 hours weekly barn conversion near Horsington. Please text brief details 07973 346 747

TRAINEE LANDSCAPER

Your chance to join an award winning landscaping team and learn all aspects of the industry. We are based near Sherborne. A full driving licence is essential, as is a willingness to work hard in a sometimes challenging environment. Email to tell us why you would fit this role. paul@original-landscapes.co.uk

HINDON COMMUNITY SHOP

Is our shop in the heart of the village, and we are wanting to recruit an additional paid staff member. The successful candidate will be working with the sub PostMistress, and will also help in the day-to-day operations of the shop. Previous experience of Post Office procedures will clearly be an advantage, but all necessary training will be made available.

Flexibility will be a key need but the role is estimated to require around 22 hours over 3 days per week, with an occasional weekend shift.

To apply or enquire about this position, please contact; Mrs Sue Warren on 01747 820321 or by email; suzywarren@aol.com

Acreman St. Antiques Auction SHERBORNE

We are looking for someone to join our team in an administrative capacity to deal with enquiries by phone and email, postage and packing, payments and also some listing and photography of lots. An interest/knowledge of antiques would be preferable, and you would need to be computer literate.

PART TIME | 2-3 days per week | Mon -Sat 9.30-4.30

Please reply by email to Gill Norman auction@acremanstreetantiques.co.uk

Part Time Housekeepers Required

A beautiful Sporting Estate in Dorset seeks experienced Housekeepers to start as soon as possible. Discretion and good attention to detail is essential. Working as part of a great team, duties to include; general cleaning and polishing of rooms to a very high standard, care of fine furnishings, wardrobe management, laundry and ironing. Flexible hours, good rate of pay and car driver essential.

Part Time Front of House staff also required

We are looking for professional FOH staff to help serve on breakfast, lunch and dinner. Flexible hours, good rate of pay and car driver essential.

For more information please contact: Claire 07384471126

Recruitment

CRACKMORE GARAGE small friendly company looking for full time Vehicle Technician/MOT Tester Required £24,500-£36,500 please send CV to crackmoregarage@gmail.com or contact 01963 251221

DRIVER & PORTER REQUIRED

Martin Bros Removals Ltd is a well - established company based on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. We offer a full removal service plus individual item carrier service within the UK. We are currently looking for honest and reliable full time/ permanent staff for the following positions:

DRIVER

Salary: £29,000 - 31,000 p/a

Competent, confident driver (LGV or VAN)

Capable of working on own or part of a team

Excellent personal presentation & hygiene

Literate with good English language skills

Full UK licence required

Bene ts:

Fortnightly pay Pension scheme Holiday On-site parking Uniform

PORTER

Salary: £24,700 p/a

Capable of working on own or as part of a team

Literate with good English language skills

Excellent personal presentation & hygiene

Bene ts: Please send CV to Dan Green at orders@martinbrosltd.com for any further information.

Fortnightly pay Pension scheme Holiday On-site parking Uniform

Three cheers for Dorset’s specialist auctioneer of classic vehicles!

FIRST cheer: despite the gloom and despondency around us, DVCA is putting together another exciting sale of Vintage and Classic Vehicles for its next sale on Thursday 24 November.

Second cheer: we may be changing government officials more regularly than our clothing, but the stalwart crew at DVCA really do keep calm and carry on – despite Covid-19 and electricity bills, they remain resolute to produce another full and informative catalogue.

Third cheer: for the friendly welcome on offer to those who phone or drop in to DVCA’s enclave in rural Stalbridge. You can admire the range of classic vehicles entered for the next sale or discuss your own prospective entry.

Those enthusiasts unable to visit are recommended to view the website and follow the new entries as they arrive –go to dvca.co.uk

These include: n A highly usable 1948 Austin 16 De Luxe Saloon plus another for restoration

n A dream of a 1952 Bentley Special carefully created by a chartered motor engineer, plus a 2003 Arnage R Saloon n A rare 1972 BMW 2002 which can be run road tax free n A 1956 Ford Consul Mk I, with a bench seat for cosying up to nicer passengers n A choice of a 1977 Series III Land Rover or a 1992 Range Rover Vogue for rural rambles.

n Pre-war Morris lovers will appreciate the 1933 Minor Two Seat Tourer and the 1931 CMS Two Seat Tourer with the overhead cam engine that can surprise the MGM types. If a post-war Morris is preferred, look at the enhanced 1966 Traveller n The 1965 Renault Caravelle was squeezed in too late for the last sale but with hard and soft tops and seating for four it should find a new home on 24 November n The 1933 Lynx Tourer will offer open air motoring, as will the 1927 Lea Francis M Type powered by the Meadows engine n A Rolls-Royce selection will appeal to those still left with a little dignity in their motoring habits. DVCA will offer a 1954 Silver Dawn, a 1935 20/25 and 1947 Silver Wraith, some needing more work than others, but remain assured upmarket projects for those who can afford to heat their winter workshops.

So lots of reasons to keep cheerful and look forward to the spring of 2023 – at least for a classic motor car enthusiast, thanks to Dorset’s own DVCA.

Advertiser’s announcement

DVCA has this 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn for sale in its Thursday November 24 auction

House prices fell for the third time in four months, Halifax figures show

HOUSE prices in the UK fell for the third time in four months in October, according to new figures.

The Halifax House Price Index showed the average cost of a property dropped by 0.4 percent for the month.

It was the sharpest fall since February 2021, the lender said, and took the average house price to a five-month low, of £292,598.

Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax Mortgages, said: “While the pace of annual growth also continued to ease, to +8.3% compared to +9.8% in September, average prices remain near record highs.

“Though the recent period of rapid house price inflation may now be at an end, it’s important

to keep this is context, with average property prices rising more than £22,000 in the past 12 months, and by almost £60,000 (+25.7%) over the last three years, which is significant.

“While a post-pandemic slowdown was expected, there’s no doubt the housing market received a significant shock as a result of the mini-budget which saw a sudden acceleration in mortgage rate increases.

“While it is likely that those

rates have peaked for now –following the reversal of previously announced fiscal measures – it appears that recent events have encouraged those with existing mortgages to look at their options, and some would-be homebuyers to take a pause.

“Understandably we have also seen consumer caution grow, as industry data shows mortgage approvals and demand for borrowing declining. The rising cost of living coupled with already stretched mortgage affordability is expected to continue to weigh on activity levels.”

She said the upcoming Autumn Statement could also point to a ‘slower period for house prices’.

“While certain longer-term, structural market factors which support higher house prices – like the shortage of available properties for sale – are likely to remain, how significantly prices might ultimately adjust will also be determined by the performance of the labour market,” she added.

“Currently joblessness remains historically low, but with growing expectations of the UK entering a recession, unemployment is expected to rise. While it may not spike to the same extent as seen in previous downturns, history tells us that how this picture develops in the coming months will be a key determinant of house price performance into next year and beyond.”