Valley News August 2022

E E FR

Issue 182

August 2022

for Whitechurch, Whatcombe, Clenston, Stickland, Houghton, Turnworth & Milton Abbas

Turnworth Village Event Simon Hayter

Helping to inform and unite the Community

EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS

Turnworth Village Event Phil Dade

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EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS

HILLSIDE PARISHES FETE & DOG SHOW Village Hall, Ibberton, DT11 0EL Saturday 6 August • 3.00pm

They will keep you on the phone sometimes for hours and very often request you to leave the phone live and off the hook. They may also bombard you with telephone calls over several hours.

The offenders will then ask you to assist with their investigation and will request you to go to the bank and withdraw several thousands of pounds. They will ask you to keep this to yourselves as if you tell anyone it will jeopardise the investigation.

If you have a mobile, they will ask you to keep the line open when you travel to the bank and when in the bank so they can listen to your conversation. They will instruct you to tell lies to the bank when they ask you questions about the reasons for your withdrawal.

On your return home they will ask you to read out some serial numbers on the bank notes and will tell you that they are counterfeit. They will then do one of two things: The offenders may ask you to package up the notes and will provide an address to send the package to. They will tell you to go to the post office and send the package special delivery. On your return from the post office, they will ask you for the tracking number, allowing the offenders to track the package themselves.

Or The offenders may send a courier to your home address and they will ask you to use a password. The courier will give you the password when picking up the package, as they will be part of the scammers’ team.

If you have been subject to this scam or a similar one, please contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.

To find out more about fraud, its many types and how you can report it follow this link: h t t p s : // w w w . s e r v i c e . p o l i c e . u k / a d v i c e / a d v i c e - a n d information/fa/fraud/?frc=55 or visit Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or on 0300 123 2040.

CHURCH SERVICES FOR AUGUST SUNDAY 7th 9:00am Turnworth (Communion) 10:30am Whitechurch (Communion) 10:30am Stickland (Morning Worship with FB live-stream) SUNDAY 14th 9:00am Stickland (Book of Common Prayer Communion) 10:30am Milton Abbas (Communion) 10:30am Clenston (Book of Common Prayer Communion) 4:30pm Houghton (Cafe Style) SUNDAY 21st 10:30am Stickland (Communion) 11:30am Whitechurch (Cafe Style) SUNDAY 28th 10:30am Houghton (Communion with FB live-stream) 10:30am Turnworth (Morning Worship) 6:00pm Milton Abbas (SoulSpace)

Scam Alert Dorset Police is urging the public to remain vigilant following reports across the country of scams where the offender is purporting to be a police officer or from a bank.

The offenders will contact you by telephone, pretending to be a police officer or a member of bank staff. They quite often know your name and which bank you bank with.

The offender will either state that they have a suspect in custody who has been using your bank details or that your bank account has been compromised and that the bank staff are involved, are corrupt and are giving out counterfeit notes.

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and to fill in the (quick and easy) details form required for you to sign up as a volunteer. Further training by the police will be provided for all volunteers.

The speed of traffic in the village is an on-going concern for many villagers. The Community Speed Watch aims to educate drivers who exceed the speed limit by volunteers recording vehicles' details and reporting the information back to the police. It aims to keep communities safer. The owners of vehicles detected speeding during a Speed Watch monitoring sessions will receive a letter from the police. Vehicles which are detected speeding in the village on 3 occasions will receive a visit at home from the police. Excessive speeding in the village will also trigger a formal Police Speed Watch to operate. We hope a Community Speed Watch in our village will deter drivers from speeding by highlighting the issue. Volunteers are needed to run sessions by recording speeds and vehicle details. We will only require an hour or two of your time each month to help make this a successful and effective project. The job is not onerous one and training is available. If you would be interested, please contact the Parish Council at wsticklandpc@gmail.com.

As part of our ongoing communication in the village the Parish Council would like to expand the village website winterbornestickland.org.uk by adding a directory of Local clubs and associations, Local businesses and Local meetings.

This will be a free service to inform parishioners of what is happening and available in the village and surrounding area. We hope that this will be an ongoing update with notices available to send to those who sign up to the village newsletter on the website.

If you wish to be included in the directory please can you send a brief summary of your club, business or association to wsticklandpc@gmail.com for the attention of Councillor Dunn. This will also form the basis of a ‘welcome pack’ to those that move into our lovely village and surrounding parish.

The Council is in the process launching an email-based newsletter with details of planning applications, local news, clubs, events and matters of local interest.

Please sign up with the a simple form on the website where residents will be able enter their email address (GDPR compliant) so can have easy access to the newsletter and local information and news. Go to www.winterbornestickland.org.uk/newsletter Please do sign up, so we can all benefit from better understanding of our community.

The Parish Council is keen to extend the coverage of the website with local and interesting information. If any residents have ideas on what we might include or have historical information, please do get in touch with the Parish Council by email wsticklandpc@gmail.com.

The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday 25th July at 19:30 in Pamela Hambro Hall. It will be really good to see you.

More information can be found on the website www.winterbornestickland.org.uk.

Editorial In this month’s edition, we are delighted to publish another article from Annie Thom. Many readers will understand that Annie’s experience of life during the war had an enormous impact on her; she was one of our earliest contributors and it is very pleasing to welcome the latest contributions - two last month, and one this month. We hope you enjoy reading this month’s contribution as much as we did when we received it. Thank you, Annie.

We continue to hope that someone might come forward to offer to continue with, or replace, the Valley News, but we have to report that we have heard nothing so far. We have heard some comments where people have expressed sadness at the announcement made last month, which we have appreciated. If we make it as hoped to the December edition, it will be the 186th that we have produced!

As Covid infections continue to rise - both locally as well as nationally - we were heartened today to hear that there are confirmed plans now to provide a further vaccination booster in the autumn, for all over 50 as well as those vulnerable and also those working in health and care settings. It seems as though the rapid increase in infections - up nearly 30% - in recent weeks is becoming a cause for concern, especially as there are new variants being identified. As always, the advice is to remember that Covid hasn’t finished with us yet!

We hope that everyone will enjoy the summer, and that the current heatwave doesn’t cause too many significant problems. If you’re going on holiday this year, we hope you aren’t faced with too many disruptions. Perhaps we could have one more round of holiday photos - taken with a copy of the Valley News - from your location?

We’ve had some amazing destinations shared over recent years, and we would be happy to publish these again this year if we receive them.

The Valley News Team

Winterborne Stickland Parish Council We are please to reveal the new logo for the village and Parish Council. The purpose is to provide a focal point, a sense of community and identity and be instantly recognisable as being ‘Stickland’.

The last meeting of the Parish Council was on 27th June at Pamela Hambro Hall and the minutes are available at winterbornestickland.org.uk/meetings and the notice board by St Mary’s Church, West Street, Stickland.

Business included discussions on the success of Winterborne Stickland Sports & Social Club and Pamela Hambro Hall’s organisation of the celebrations for the Queens Jubilee.

Further discussion was conducted concerning River Winterborne and clearing of the Water Lane, Clenston Road and the village green sections of the river as all need clearing of weed. A date was set for the Water Lane clearance - Wednesday 27th July 6pm. Please do come along to help, as we need volunteers to make this work for the village.

It was also agreed to ask our current grass contractor to strim the foliage from the riverbank at the village green in preparation for the clearance. It was also requested that from Spring 2023 strimming of the riverbank at the village green is added to the grass cutting contact as a regular maintenance job. Outsourcing the task of stream maintenance was discussed, and the Council will investigate this idea further. The build-up of the silt by the village green was discussed, Dorset Council Highway have been out numerous times and are not forthcoming with taking on the work and addressing the issue.

Also discussed was the ongoing issue with speeding in Stickland.

The Parish Council are in the process of setting up a Community Speed Watch in the village with several willing volunteers. We are still in need of more volunteers to make this project work, please email the Parish Council Clerk at wsticklandpc@gmail.com or attend the next Parish Council meeting, which will be held on Monday 25th July at 7.30pm at the Pamela Hambro Hall, to find out more details

Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th July at 7pm in the Old School Room. With 6 Councillors, Clerk plus 3 members of the public present Items discussed included cancellation of the Village Meeting to arrange a village committee to deal with Community Benefit Grants from the Solar Farm & Eco Hub Project on the 15th due to lack of info/advice from Dorset Council and wait until further advice is obtained.

The application to change the PC bank account to another bank is in progress.

The Jubilee Tree and plaque project is progressing and in addition it was agreed to purchase the replacement bench in Fields Close with a Steel Jubilee Bench also.

The damaged planters will be discussed at the next meeting to decide on their replacement with something more substantial to help prevent vandalism.

Correspondence included information from Dorset Council on hot weather advice on the possible level 3 heatwave alert until 19 July with links to Gov.UK & NHS web sites.

Also advice that Dorset Council’s Adult services is undergoing p6 4

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fundamental changes not seen for many years.

Also people most urgently in need of housing help from Dorset Council are being better prioritised with new single points of contact and a triage system, moving away from different phone numbers and email addresses based on where people live, to just one number and two email addresses.

The local Community Speed Watch (CSW) which is being restarted is due to be at Dunbury Academy’s Summer Fete on July 20th July where police CSW Coordinator and camera van etc hope to be present to publicise this.

There will not be a meeting in August with the next being held on Wednesday 14th September in the Old School Room at 7pm.

For further information please contact the Clerk Rob Turley email: winterbornewhitechurch@dorset-aptc.gov.uk

inconvenience caused. For out of hours care or advice during closures, please call 111. In the case of an emergency, call 999.

Hot weather advice With temperatures rising over the summer months, it’s important to think about how to stay safe in warmer weather. In the UK there are over 2000 deaths each year which are heat related.

Signs of heat exhaustion include headache, dizziness and confusion, loss of appetite or feeling sick, excessive sweating (or not sweating even though you feel very hot) and a high temperature of 38C or above. If you’re suffering from heat exhaustion, it’s important to try and cool yourself down by resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water.

If you, or someone you care about, is likely to be affected by extreme weather conditions, you can sign up for email alerts from the Met Office that will tell you when extreme weather is expected.

Some groups of people are more likely to be adversely affected by weather conditions, including older adults, babies and young children, and those living with long term health conditions. www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-copein-hot-weather/ www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/ www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails Holiday advice Whether you’re going overseas this year, or planning to stay closer to home, the fitfortravel website has brilliant information about how to choose a sun cream, who is most vulnerable and the other preventative measures you can take to make sure you stay safe in the sun. The fitfortravel website also has a wealth of information about health issues that can occur on holiday and ways that you can stay safe while travelling. If any kind of travel is in your plans, it’s well worth having a look. www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-healthadvice/sun-safety and www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice

Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall Hall maintenance is still ongoing, maintenance includes a new fire exit pathway, new guttering, new entrance porch, new arch window and painting the hall outside. Lots of little bits have now been done including ordering some new front doors.

If anyone can provide us with a quote for any of the work listed above, please get in touch.

A few dates for your diary: Bingo, there is no bingo in August, next Bingo is Sat 17th Sept.

Coming up in August we have a quiz night on the 6th, Entry is £2, teams of up to 6 people, cash prize for winning team, bar open, please book your table.

On 20th August we have a Race night with a fish & chip supper, this event must be booked, tickets are £10.

Another event which must be booked is Steve Marks Live tribute on 24th Sept with buffet, tickets are £10.

If you have not tried New Age Kurling on Thursdays at 10am then please do pop along, all welcome its lots of fun.

Crafty Natter is fortnightly, pop along with or without a craft, chat, drink tea, make friends. Learn to crochet, knit etc. we have crafters happy to show you how. Next sessions are 12th & 26th August and 9th & 23rd Sept.

We are thinking of running a pop-up tabletop sale so please keep an eye on social media for details.

If you are a band that can play new year, or a DJ please get in touch as we are planning a new year party.

Please see our new website for details of all events & activities.

Our hall is a great venue for your private hire too.

100 Club Winning numbers: July: 55, 66, 34 info.wwvh@gmail.com • 881416 •www.wwvillagehall.com

My best holiday, my best friend Summer 1950. My father needed a trepan operation to relieve him of some broken bones in his sinuses, injuries sustained while a prisoner in the concentration camp of Buchenwald. While he was going to recuperate, my mother thought it best to scatter us, my four brothers and I, under the care of various friends and family members. I ended up doled out with acquaintances my parents had met while my father was taking the waters at a spa in the Pyrenees.

I had never met my new wards and, while at the airport waiting for them to take me to their house in Algeria, I was most anxious about this new adventure. I was only eleven years old and none of my friends had ever experienced this kind of situation. All I knew was that I was going to spend the next three months with these total strangers. (In those days, French schools closed between June 30th and September 30th). We were going to stay in their large estate surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and hundreds of citrus trees near the town of Mostaganem. I was going to have a companion, their granddaughter, Gabrielle, same age as me.

After a long wait in the airport forecourt, hugging my mother and getting quite frightened by the unknown, we turned round to the noise caused by the spectacular arrival of my new people. I didn't even know their names! Madame was voluminous, surrounded by colourful scarves flowing around her, clicketing-clacketing along in extraordinary stilettos, gesticulating her crimson nails to make her husband hurry. “Ah! My darlings, sorry we're late. Cello was the problem. Nothing to worry about now!"

"What do we have here? Come here mon petit chou!" I was pulled into the flurry of scarves, a smacking kiss landed on both my cheeks, my face was pressed into a wrinkly cleavage, my breath taken away by her heady perfume. Monsieur, sporting a cream linen suit and colourful cravat, merely shook my hand, raising his Panama hat. I was rooted to the spot! After rushed good-byes and a few tears, we were on the plane, first flight in my life. I found myself sandwiched between two gigantic bottoms.

The noise, the heat, the smell of Kerosine mixed with the heady perfume made me feel quite sick! Lift off! I sank into my seat, I feared my ears were going to burst. After the plane levelled off, the warning p8

Milton Abbas Surgery Wellbeing Team Groups Looking for something new to try this week? Why not come along to one of our Wellbeing Team groups? Activities on offer so far are: Walking Group on Tuesday and Thursday mornings Line Dancing on a Monday p.m. at the Whitechurch Village Hall Nurtured by Nature on a Thursday p.m. at Luccombe Hub Farm For more information about the above activities please pick up a leaflet from Reception, or go to our Wellbeing Team page on the surgery website www.masurgery.co.uk. Please come along to enjoy some company and a good laugh! No need to book a space, just turn up on the day.

There is also our surgery allotment group that meets on Thursday mornings which is open to patients who feel that they would benefit from some time outside with nature and a little company. If you would like to join our allotment group, please let Reception know and they will pass your details on to Kelly our Social Prescriber.

Alternatively, please send an email to miltonabbasssurgery@nhs.net for the attention of Kelly.

If you are interested in becoming a Health Champion with the surgery, please just let us know.

August Bank Holiday The surgery will be closed for the August Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th August. We apologise for any 6

C.W. ABBOTT & SON

Bedding Plants Roses Perennials and Shrubs Stockists of Kings, Franchi and Fothergill Budget Seeds Potting Compost Large selection of Pots Open daily 10am to 3pm Langton Long, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 9HR • 01258 452513

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of a tropical storm came on the tannoy. Soon the plane started to dance around. Lightening hit the fuselage and some passengers screamed as we took a brief dive. We passed through the clouds.

Everything calmed down. “How can the pilot see where he is going?”

I wondered. My whole body was shaking. Finally, after a long descent my stomach didn't appreciate much, the plane bumped along to a stop. The crowd of passengers inched its way towards the front opening in a very uncivilised way. When it was my turn to say goodbye to the cabin crew, I suddenly felt the extraordinary heat coming through the door opening. “Wow! Do people live in that sort of temperature?" I asked myself. The air hostess told me I was a brave and well-behaved girl. “See you on the way back!” she added.

I couldn't bear to think about going through such journey again.

Formalities over, we came through the airport and, there she was, in all her splendour, Gabrielle. Roughly the same size as me, with fabulous copper coloured hair down to her waist, pure white skin covered in thousands of freckles, bright blue eyes and a skimpy flowery dress blowing in the wind. I wondered what she thought of me. I generally took it that I was not particularly interesting to look at. My brothers always called me ugly and fat. After a moment of hesitation, she lunged at me, we embraced. That was it! We were friends. I was so relieved!

The Summer months went like a flash. I didn't find myself thinking about home much. We were so busy! Every day was exciting on the estate. Although we were constantly under some form of supervision, we felt free to explore and roam at our pleasure. We could ride and race ponies, mules, donkeys and camels, leaving us quite sore at times. We went to the most marvellous beach several times a week with Gabrielle's grandmother after she finished her daily cello exercises. I learnt how to make chameleons change their colour. We made camps under our mosquito nets and had midnight feasts even during our afternoon rest. Gabrielle's freckles were getting browner and more numerous whereas my tan deepened to a level my mother would be jealous of. Our days were full of laughter, music, good food and deliciously refreshing drinks.

My time in this paradise was coming to an end. I was wondering how I would cope back home with my pesky brothers and my scary father. I knew he'd got through the operation and was better now but what did "better” really mean?

Towards the end of September, there had been a storm at sea and the coast was littered with unusual debris. On my last day, we decided to go to our favourite beach for a final swim and maybe look for jetsam left behind by the waves. Gabrielle's grandmother brought a book and sat at the top of a dune under her favourite tree where she could keep an eye on us. The shoreline was covered in algae of all kinds. Gabrielle and I rushed down to the festering mounds of seaweed. Our feet sank in the rotting mess, releasing horrid smells and thousands of sea hoppers jumping wildly in all directions. We tried to catch them in flight, but we were laughing too much. Our attention turned to the long broad kelps lying on top like giant brown ribbon pasta. We started to drape ourselves with the slippery weeds pretending we were preparing for a fashion show.

At one stage, I felt one of the weeds pull at my leg, so I put my hand down to release it and now my arm was being tugged under. A few yards away, Gabrielle was still laughing and dressing herself in the smelly things.

My laughter dried up in my throat and I could feel my heart pounding. Ever watchful grandmother noticed something different in my behaviour. I shrieked and lifted something heavy and alive out of the watery debris. An octopus? A beast holding on to my arm and leg. Its head now very close to mine. Its orange beak was snapping repeatedly in my direction. The octopus let go of my leg, flailing its tentacle to try and take hold of my body. “Keep your arm up and swirl it round”, cried the old lady. "It's only a baby!" My whole body went into action and, finally, the beast flew off only to land next to my friend She shrieked as well but the animal seemed to slither away in a split second. Gabrielle and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, like we always did.

Back to the airport the next day, Gabi held my hand all the way.

We were going to miss each other so terribly! We promised to write every week. We talked about going back to school. We ran out of

words in the end. As we parted at the airport, red eyed and sniffling, we both admitted that this had been the best holiday ever.

Annie Thom

Unwelcome Request Hi Lina I’m on leave until 17th but thought I would let you know that there is a spider in my bathroom, living under the sink-unit cabinet (closest to the door). Would you be able to deal with it at some point please? Have a good week. See you on the 18th, Vicky x I read the message again. I’m not really keen on spiders, they give me the jitters.

Vicky works for the military and should have been well placed to deal with the spider herself but, as she qualifies as one of my best ever housemates, I feel obliged to sort the issue. I don’t like killing spiders, preferring to catch them in a long-stemmed glass and put them outside. I usually turn the lights off, fooling myself that they will stroll off to some other dwelling to make a new home.

There is no time like the present so I climb the stairs and tentatively scan the room prior to entering. My pulse is racing slightly. Vicky didn’t indicate the size of said spider, and the bigger the spider, the more fear I will experience. I see nothing. It’s probably the wrong time of day so I take the easy way out, dismiss my duty and return to my rightful place on the sofa.

At bedtime I climb the stairs, eyes scanning the staircase, ceiling, walls, as our unwanted guest could easily be on an eight-legged stroll around the house for all I know. Pulse racing again, and having seen nothing, I cautiously approach Vicky’s bathroom door. The light from the landing enters the bathroom and sure enough a little black beastie scuttles across the floor, to safety under the sink unit. Had I blinked I would have missed it. Out of sight but not out of mind I retire to my bedroom with slightly less fear of this shy little creature.

A day or two passes by, with no sign of our scary little friend.

Then, one afternoon I see what looks like two thin spidery legs stretching out from under the cabinet. Are they legs, or dog hairs?

I take a piece of tissue and slowly slide it towards them. My heart is racing now and I wonder if I’m having a full-blown palpitation attack.

As the tissue touches his spindly limbs they dart back, quick as a flash, under the sink so yes, they are his legs.

My dog Lottie, ever curious, has joined me and is aware that something is amiss. She sniffs at the cabinet a few times until I call her away, concerned that she may be causing fear to the spider.

LouLou the rescue cat, not wishing to be left out, is peering through the staircase spindles in wide eyed wonderment. Our spider housemate is outnumbered now, which is an unfair fight, so we leave the scene and continue with our day.

It’s the day before Vicky is due home so the pressure is on.

Although I have visited our little friend on several occasions since Vicky went on leave, I haven’t managed to coax him out any further than his daily offering of a rather fine pair of legs.

I have so little time to deal with him, so I creep tentatively up the stairs. On reaching the landing I crawl on hands and knees towards the bathroom door, left slightly ajar since my last visit, and covertly peer around the door casing. There he is, half his body basking in sunlight which is streaming through the window. I stay completely still. “There you are my shy little friend,” I whisper. With that he darts back under the cabinet. Relieved, I retreat from the war-zone and head back downstairs with Lottie at my side, leaving LouLou gracefully sashaying between the banister spindles, not the least bit interested in our spider.

It’s now the evening before Vicky returns, and I am thrilled to announce that the problem has been solved.

Message to Vicky: Hi Vicky, I have been stalking our new eight-legged housemate without success for the whole week, so the only solution I can come up with is that we welcome him to our family of rescue pets.

I will take responsibility for his wellbeing and any vet bills that may occur during his time with us.

We are all very much looking forward to your return, and hearing all about your much deserved holiday. Lina x ps: I’ve named him Idris Chrissy Adamson 8

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CROSSWORD Compiled by Nick Donnelly There are two sets of clues, Cryptic and Concise, but remember, you cannot mix the clues as the cryptic answers are different to the Concise ones.

CRYPTIC Across 1. Extreme young bird endlessly becomes cocaine socialists (7,4) 10. Symbol found in some tottering pagoda from the East (5) 11. Creepy vegetarian works vacant piece in central video (9) 12. Split furrow from Alan, say (9) 13. Support calm novice (5) 14. Even births well, if it is what it is (6) 16. Vegetable soldiers make poor farmers (8) 18. Origin of traditional roofer cured meat after hand out (8) 20. Sign of iron age mining? (6) 23. Riffle hitch (5) 24. Sick bachelor blocks mountainous country dweller (9) 26. Close shave for addled earthling trading lunar opening for final horizon (4,5) 27. One of Odin’s informers has new after party - (5) 28. Cowls for after dark, I hear, improve ones social standing (11) Down 2. Extra electricity on hill (5) 3. Essential intimacy with endless spirit of easy virtue (7) 4. Equip an American lawyer with weapons for invasion force (6) 5. Groups of cardinals are fellow workers missing a uniform (8) 6. Sang froid here in France with cape (7) 7. Confused pig spent diamond, say, for crossing river (8,5) 8. Capital found in brothels in Kibbutz (8) 9. Giving new label about social group when Yankee at home with golf (13) 15. Disagreement before Saul prepared utensils (8) 17. Unknown German eight mixed gin during Cowes week? (8) 19. Live within giant countryman (7) 21. Check space apart from crack (7) 22. Snub’s not dark (6) 25. Enraged having lost India, swallowed ecstasy, survived (5)

CONCISE Across 1. Reading the same backwards and forwards (11) 10. Go in (5) 11. Carpenter, for example (9) 12. Becoming less light (9) 13. British composer (5) 14. Bunny (6) 16. Squirmed (8) 18. One seeking release (8) 20. Sharp tasting (6) 23. West Indian religion (5) 24. Fast growing evergreen (9) 26. Newspaper article (9) 27. Russian revolutionary (5)

28. Covered up something inconvenient (11) Down 2. Player (5) 3. Middle Easterner (7) 4. Specify (6) 5. Indoor garden room (8) 6. Chunk of glacier (7) 7. Considerate (13) 8. Imported illegally (8) 9. Preambles (13) 15. Reverse rotation (8) 17. Author of sacred songs (8) 19. Legume pest (3,4) 21. White wine (7) 22. Local regulation (3-3) 25. Move to music (5)

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across 1. Colonel 5. Mustard 9. Assuredly 10. Dream 11. Anoraks 12. Sacking 13. Transmitter 16. Ale 17. Rut 18. Muhammad Ali 20. Savages 22. Larnaca 24. Intro 25. Antipasti 26. Sadists 27. Soybean Down 1. Characteristics 2. Lasso 3. Normans 4. Ladysmith 5. Mayas 6. Sidecar 7. Americana 8. Demagnetisation 14. Activated 15. Templates 18. Maggots 19. Atrophy 21, Swags 23. Aisle CONCISE Across 1. Admired 5. Shamble 9. Tolerance 10. Close 11. Lineage 12. Doormat 13. Excessively 16. Koi 17. Yes 18. Generic drug 20. Hoodlum 22. Houdini 24. Leith 25. Americana 26. Solidly 27. Tendons Down 1. Artillery shells 2. Milan 3. Rereads 4. Dandelion 5. Steed 6. Anchovy 7. Bookmaker 8. Electric guitars 14. Custodial 15. Earthiest 18. Galahad 19. Caution 21. Meaty 23. Idaho

COPIES AVAILABLE FROM DEADLINES for the SEPTEMBER Edition

WHITECHURCH St. Mary’s Church, East Farm Shop MILTON ABBAS Post Office, The Hambro Arms, St. James’ Church, Steeptonbill Farm Shop, Milton Abbas Surgery STICKLAND St. Mary’s Church, The Crown BLANDFORD Tourist Information Centre, Hall & Woodhouse Visitors Centre ONLINE issuu.com/valleynewsdt11

Adverts (Business and Events) WEDNESDAY 10th AUGUST ads@valley-news.co.uk Articles and all other copy MONDAY 15th AUGUST news@valley-news.co.uk Late submissions may not appear until the following edition 10

Polly 'Bs' Local lady doing: Holistic Treatments, Massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Ear Candling.

Also Beauty Treatments Facials, Waxing, Eyebrow/Lash tinting.

Manicure and Pedicure Nail cutting and Hard Skin Removal.

Appointments available during the day and evenings.

Some treatments can be done in your home.

Ring Pauline on 01258 880084 / 07760 303332 Gift Vouchers available.

The Winterborne Stickland Solar Fund Committee would like to remind residents of Winterborne Stickland that funding is available for community projects.

Applications for funding should be emailed to sticklandsolarfund@yahoo.com Decisions are made every 2 months.

The basic criteria are that ideas should have benefit to the community. A committee of volunteers select successful projects.

Jenny Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers

Accounts and tax returns for self-employed, companies and personal tax.

Initial meeting free of charge.

The Studio, Cothayes House, Ansty, DT2 7PJ admin@jennybarnes.co.uk Tel: 01258 268050

With an expanding business, we are always on the lookout for extra help with our cottage ‘change-overs’.

We can offer variable and regular work especially on Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays, to suit.

All you need to bring along is a sense of humour and a ‘can do attitude’.

Tel 01258 880558 • Mobile 07789 376588

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Jasmine Cars 07495 922821 Comfortable, Spacious Estate Car Experienced Lady Driver Local, Hospitals, Airports, Seaports Any Distance Just Ask For A Quote

07495 922821 jasmine.cars@btinternet.com jasminecarsdorset.co.uk

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Lawn Mowing • Hedge Cutting Parties, wedding receptions, meetings and Garden Maintenance • Garden Clearance any function that needs a bit of space.

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23 May Grove, Charlton Marshall, jplegg48@googlemail.com

Winterborne Whitechurch Old School Room is available to hire.

Chimneys Professionally Swept

This beautiful large room, ideal for parties, meetings and family or community gathering.

Come and visit to appreciate the charm of this lovely venue.

Full kitchen and cloakroom facilities.

Disabled friendly.

Booking charges £7 per hour.

Liz Platten 881650 lizplatten@hotmail.co.uk

Stickland Framing ALL FRAMING OPTIONS UNDERTAKEN PHIL HARLOCK 4 West St, Stickland Blandford, Dorset DT11 0NT Telephone: 01258 881290 philharlock@hotmail.com

Counselling and Psychotherapy

James Fisher 01258 690 446 Email: James@jamesfishercounselling.co.uk ADVERTISING RATES 1 year (11 issues) 1 issue Size cm (300dpi) Full Page £550 £56 19 x 27 Portrait Half Page £293 £30 19 x 13 Landscape Quarter Page £160 £17 9¼ x 13 Portrait Eighth Page £105 £11 9¼ x 6¼ Landscape Email: ads@valley-news.co.uk AD DEADLINE: 10th of the month prior to publication

Contact Mark Watson on: Tel: 01300 308653 Mobile: 07437 054185 Problems Solved Fast

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Fully mobile Village Barber We come to you and pay cash for all cars, bikes, motorhomes, vans etc. Salon quality treatments in the It really couldn’t be simpler. comfort of your own home Please call Don MacLeod on Facebook : 01258 839209 / 07782 189555 The-Golden-Cut www.halcyonmotors.co.uk (Milborne St Andrew) 07830 760619 VN Team: Advertising: Treasurer: Distribution: Layout: Printing: Payments:

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Carolyn Walsham Janet Snook Sue Eggar & Angela D'Silva Mark Steele Purely Print 01258 459977

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All advertising to be pre-paid. Cheques payable to ‘Valley News'.

Internet Bank Transfers now accepted.

Small Ads: Private sellers only. Small ads will be included for a donation and confirmed for publication when the donation is received.

Events: Events in the Valley News area will be included for free with a basic listing. Normal advertising rates will apply for boxed ads.

Articles: Send by email to news@valley-news.co.uk or by hand/post to Jageroma, Clenston Road, Stickland DT11 0NP Please include name & contact number in case of any queries.

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It’s finally goodbye to Stickland

Bowled over What do you do on Thursdays from 1 o’clock to 3 thirty?

We are a small band of intrepid locals who play Short Mat Bowls at Stickland in the excellent Pamela Hambro Hall.

No formal dress code or pressure to play in leagues, we are simply a friendly group of individuals from the Blandford, Whitechurch, and Stickland areas enjoying a bit of competition, banter and bowling.

Would you like to join us? No previous experience necessary!

Bowls are available and all you need are flat shoes or thick socks and a desire for some entertainment!

Ring Francis Dennett on 880129, David Humphreys on 07931 574007 or turn up on a Thursday. We will be pleased to see you.

After living in Stickland for 73 years Madge Stranack has finally agreed to sell up and move to Hamworthy to live with her son Dennis and his wife Laura.

July 2nd saw Family, Neighbours and Friends hold a small goodbye party in the garden at No 4 Downfield to say farewell and in a way pleased that she had finally decided to move because despite always and still wanting to remain fully independent at the age of 97, living alone was now becoming a little difficult in such a large house. She insisted on spending her 97th Birthday on June 13th at her home which we were only too pleased to oblige as we knew it would be extremely hard for her to leave the home she shared for so long with her husband Eddie and where she raised me and my brother Robert.

Madge attended the Village school as did her mother, Robert and me all being taught by amongst others Mr Nex, the head master.

She also worked in the Busy Bee Stores for many years always willing to help the villagers make their daily purchases. Sadly all shops in the valley are long gone!!

Over the years she has made many friends, and with many relations, most sadly now passed, also living in the village Mum certainly had a very happy life in the valley, we know she will settle in at Hamwothy but she will never forget her long residency in Stickland, her only regret is that she will have to say goodbye to her beloved piano which she was given by her Mum and Dad when a child. Regrettably she cannot find a new home for it at Hamworthy: can you help?

Dennis Stranack, 01202 242809

Keep Fit This coming September, we have been going for 45 years.

It is a general exercise for all parts of the body from feet to head and all parts inbetween. We use music ranging from classical, country, through to Pop. We also use equipment such as scarfs, gymballs, canes, hoops and clubs as a movement at the end of class. It is suitable for all ages, using controlled, slow working of muscles not used on a daily basis.

We are at Whitechurch at 7.30pm on a Wednesday.

Mary Fripp, 880416

Welcome Bats to your Garden Flitting out of the rising darkness like shadows, these nocturnal mammals are as charismatic as they are misunderstood. Britain is home to 18 species of bat, the largest being the noctule which weighs 28g. The smallest, the pipistrelle, weighing as little as 5g, is known to gobble up more than 500 insects in an hour. Whether you are watching them skim over a river or in woodlands, flying overhead, the sight of a bat quickens the heart.

Bats are most active in the summer months when they come out of hibernation to hunt insects, give birth and raise young. The best time to see them is when it is warm and dry, around sunset or sunrise. While some bats fly relatively high, others are found closer to the ground – not venturing far above the trees or flying low over grassland and water.

To really experience the bat’s world, it’s worth borrowing a special detector to hear the high-frequency clicks and buzzes of bats using echolocation to hunt. Not only will you be able to hear how many bats are around you, but the frequency of the calls lets you identify bats in the dark.

Love them or hate them, bats create great atmosphere in your garden. If you are lucky, they will fly around your garden at dusk, sometimes coming quite close.

How to attract Bats to your garden Plant flowers that release scent in the evening to attract moths and, ultimately, bats looking for an insect-meal in your garden. Scent releasing plants also give us the pleasure of sweet perfume, striking silhouettes and luminous glow. As with other flowering plants, location is key. Although they give off their scent at night, they still need the right daytime conditions.

In addition to providing the right flowers for moths and their caterpillars, you will be encouraging a whole range of fluttering friends.

Some plant suggestions below: Night-time nectar providers: Argentinian vervain, Common jasmine, Evening primrose, Globe artichoke, Hebe, Honeysuckle, Ivy, Miss Willmott's ghost, Tobacco plant Foodplants for caterpillars of moths: Fuchsia, Common hawthorn, Currants, Hazel, Holly, Stinging nettle, Sweet rocket Other suggestions to consider: Reduce chemical use and keep hard landscaping (gravel, decking, etc.) to a minimum, to provide accommodating habitats.

Don’t be too tidy. Leave areas of long grass and wild plants, and don’t clear up dead plant matter at the end of the year, as these are excellent habitats for caterpillars and pupae. Together we can make space for bats.

On behalf of Dorset Wildlife Trust

Hello from Corfe Mullen Well hello again! I'm writing this in mid July during our heatwave! I just wonder what the weather will be like when the August issue comes out! Personally, I do hope it will be cooler. I can't cope in the heat, and neither can our two little Pomeranian dogs, they have thick coats and need to stay cool. Leo, the black youngster likes lying between doorways - he can then benefit from the draft coming through! Lilly on the other hand, prefers to find a dark place beside a settee in a room where the curtains are pulled across to stop the bright sunlight coming in. Odd, because we have a lovely cool kitchen floor - probably too hard to lay on for a long time!

I've had two rather pleasant visits to the Valley in July. My son Ian and I and Reuben came over to Houghton church to indulge in a full English breakfast (or in my case - a continental breakfast) while supporting the fund-raising for the church. What a super idea! We both enjoyed the food and the company and little Reuben enjoyed sharing our food and then going for a walk afterwards!

The second visit was when, with a special friend, I came over to Stickland church for the Book of common prayer and communion service, which was lead by none other than Matt Smith, who is doing two weeks rural placement in the Valley. He comes from our church here in Corfe Mullen and we wanted to support him in his work. He is such a kind person and I do hope some of you got to meet him.

So - two lovely experiences and I hope there will be more to come!

God bless you all. Heather Sims 15

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