E E FR Issue No. 131
Dec 2017 & Jan 2018
for Whitechurch, Whatcombe, Clenston, Stickland, Houghton, Turnworth & Milton Abbas
Autumn in Charity Wood Frances Ellis
Helping to inform and unite the Community Š Valley News 2017
Content may not be reproduced without prior permission of the contributor
Editorial
News from the Milton Abbas Surgery
Looking for inspiration for this month's editorial took research back to the Valley News edition from 10 years ago. This was our second Christmas/New Year edition, so this year is our twelfth! Inspiration needs to come from somewhere‌ In it we had some extracts from an even earlier magazine - from 20 years previous to that! It mentioned that a quiz had been held in the Pamela Hambro Hall that had attracted 75 people to a very successful evening. So, thirty years ago, there must have been less to watch on television, fewer other activities away from the home, less pressure on everyone's time, or‌ whatever the reason, there was a wonderful turnout. At the same hall in the middle of November this year there was a village knockout quiz in the style of University Challenge. Not everyone was as 'universally challenged' as everyone else, however, and a team of three people won the quiz - and a splendid hamper of prizes. This was an enjoyable evening, but thirty years later, there were about half as many in the hall. The point of the comparison is not to complain about the lower attendance - far from it! - but to say that there was a wonderful feeling of camaraderie and enjoyment. It can sometimes be a little disappointing when events are not as well attended as one might hope, but there remains a strong spirit of community throughout which continues to be commented upon, and appreciated by, those who live here - or come just for the activities. Long may it continue. At this time of year it is important to recognise the kind services of our delivery team, who manage to get the Valley News out to our readers with remarkably few delays. For this we are very grateful and thank you most sincerely. We must also remember that we are dependent on our advertisers, without whom we would have to charge. Their support is also much appreciated, and we know that many of our readers make use of the services advertised as a first port of call - thank you for this as it helps to secure their adverts for the future if they get your support. Finally it is time to close with our best wishes to all our readers and thanks for your support throughout the year. We hope you will enjoy a Happy Christmas and New Year festive season, and look forward to being back with you in February. Make this a Community Christmas meet up with friends, family and neighbours (perhaps especially those who might be on their own) to share good times. As with presents, it's often those who give who get as much enjoyment as those who receive.
As we hurtle once again towards Christmas (where does the time go?), I thought I would reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. As you know, we have struggled all through 2017 with staff shortages in our dispensary, but hopefully by the time you read this we will be up to full capacity and will finally have a new dispensary manager in place. We have had other staff changes this year: both Rick and Margaret retired after many years working at the surgery and we miss having them around. Charlie has been appointed as our new Healthcare Assistant and you will see her both in the surgery and in the community. We continue to be impacted by changing our clinical system which is still bedding in. Our patients have been supportive of us during the changeover, generally understanding that things are still taking a little longer as we all get used to how it works. Despite all of the challenges that 2017 has brought, the team at the surgery has continued to provide an outstanding service to our patients. Each staff member has done what they can to help their colleagues, and I am proud to be a part of such an amazing, hardworking and caring team. A reminder that we will be closed over Christmas and New Year on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th December and Monday 1st January. Remember that you should call 111 if you need advice during closures or 999 in the case of an emergency. Finally I would like to wish you a happy Christmas and a healthy 2018. Gillian Brindle, Practice Business Manager
news@valley-news.co.uk News from the Blandford Surgeries Repeat prescriptions and medicine reviews Have you ever been told you need a medication review before collecting your next repeat prescription? It is your responsibility to check when your medication review is due so that your regular prescription can be dispensed on time and as needed. A medication review is a discussion about your prescription medicines and held with a suitably qualified clinician, such as a doctor at Eagle House Surgery, or doctor, nurse or pharmacist at Whitecliff Surgery. It is important to have your review to ensure your medication continues to be right for you, to give an opportunity to voice concerns and to ask any questions (it may be useful to write these down in advance). As many of us struggle to remember what we are taking, and why, it is useful to bring your medicines with you. The review appointment can easily be booked in advance and can be done over the telephone or face to face. Several medicines require regular blood tests or blood pressure checks. It will save time if you arrange these before your review. Please check the medication review date as a matter of routine. It is clearly shown on your repeat prescription. If you're not sure of the date, just ask the pharmacist when you order your next month's supply. Finally, your medication review is a good opportunity to make sure any unwanted medicines are taken off your repeat prescription and any unwanted medicines that you already have in your possession are taken back to the pharmacy for safe disposal.
The Valley News Team
Winterborne Whitechurch Play Park The Play Park refurbishment planned by the Parish Council was officially reopened on Wednesday 8th November. Sonia Honeywood cut the ribbon to open it as she did for the original opening of the play park.
Winterborne Whitechurch 100 Club - November 1st 74 Paul Lowe 2nd 55 Trevor Parsons 3rd 50 Sarah Fisher The Parish Council would like to thank everyone who gave their time helping in removing the old equipment including the wood chip surface. Thanks also to those who gave their time in filling out the many forms to acquire funding from Viridor and Tesco, and those who donated money towards the project with a new slide tower and a bird nest swing. This is the first stage of the refurbishment as the local school Dunbury Academy have since suggested that they would like to purchase some more equipment such as a second tower with adjoining bridge to add to the new one purchased by the Parish Council.
Stickland's Christingle and Christmas Crafts We're doing something different this year! You are all welcome to bring your families to St Mary's, Winterborne Stickland at 3.30pm on Sunday 3rd December for tea, cake and a chat when we will have a Christingle/Christmas crafts session. At 4pm, we will have a short Christingle service where we will light up our candles. Our Crib and Candlelit Carol service will be in Church on Christmas Eve at 4pm. 2
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Around the World
A Giant Tortoise enjoys reading his copy of the Valley News, Praslin Island, Seychelles Picture by Sue Eggar
Valley News at John O Groats with Sue Fielding
Karen Marchant in Tallinn, Estonia and Richard in Warnemunde, Northern Germany.
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Autumn for various charities including Durweston School PTA, Teddy 20 and Longmead Community Farm. As you are hopefully aware, all profits from all of our productions go to charity and at the time of writing, this year's Murder Mystery has raised ÂŁ1,000 for the Blandford Opportunities Group and ÂŁ1,000 for Durweston Primary School PTA. In addition to donations of money, we have also bought radio equipment for the Junior Park Run at Moors Valley Country Park. Many of you will have heard of "Park Run", 5km runs every Saturday which take place all over the country but did you know that there are also a series of Junior Park Runs, 2km run/walks for 4 - 14 year olds which take place every Sunday? We hope to return with a new pantomime next year but we do need some new players, both on-stage and off. So if you are interested in acting and/or singing, or you would like to help out back-stage, front of house or help with scenery/prop building, please get in touch - either through our Facebook page (The Valley Players Winterborne Stickland) or by emailing info@valleyplayers.co.uk. We will also be holding an open meeting early in the New Year. We hope children will be able to take part in future pantomimes. As you can imagine, there are many rules and regulations that we need to follow. The group has appointed a Safeguarding Officer, however, if anyone of school age is taking part in a performance then we will need to appoint a licenced chaperone to look after them. A chaperone must be someone who is only in attendance in that role and cannot take part in any of the performance. A chaperone will need to be in attendance for every rehearsal and performance. Chaperones need to be licensed by the County Council and will have to attend a short meeting at County Hall as well as completing an on-line "Child Exploitation" training course. Potential chaperones will also be subject to DBS checking. If you are interested then please let us know (ideally, we would like 2 or 3 people). As there is no pantomime, we are hoping to put on a comedy play in the spring as well as presenting a new Murder Mystery in May/June.
Artsreach We are really pleased to have Charlie Bicknell with her latest show, "Fallen Angel" coming to entertain us at The Pamela Hambro Hall on Thursday, 25th January. Charlie made her Artsreach debut with 'No Angel' back in spring 2017, wowing audiences with her humorous and darkly original songs. Diva, temptress, vocal sensation and acrobat Charlie Bicknell is a force to be reckoned with. With a rebellious joie de vivre and acrobatic antics, and accompanied by pianist David Harrod, expect a wicked night out! (Suitable for ages 14+) Charlie first became a household name playing Delilah in BBC2?s 'This Life', and subsequently starred as Scout in Ben Elton's West End hit 'Popcorn'. Continuing to work as an actress for the National Theatre and rep around the UK, Charlie moved into cabaret and started to devise her own work, performing all over the world; from the living room of the Portuguese Embassy to the Sydney Opera House and The London Hippodrome. Don't miss this chance to see an international cabaret star in OUR Village Hall. In the meantime, we wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Keep up with other Artsreach promotions at www.artsreach.co.uk. Graeme Gale 880920
Milton Abbas Local History Group The Word War I group have now started to plan their exhibition for 2018 in the Reading Rooms. They are now researching the activities during the war and would love to involve more people in this, so if you would like to help or have any ancestors who were in WW1, do please get in touch. The Old Town project group will be meeting in the Reading Rooms in future. Members are busy researching some of the tenants who are named in the survey of 1770. Names such as Wellstead, Gover, Drake, Lovell, Lillington, Woolfrey. A full list of names is on our website. We are in touch with people in Canada and Australia who have ancestors that were also in this survey, and we are sharing information with them. Our website (www.miltonabbashistorygroup.com) continues to grow and there are currently 40 pages active, and a blog which is kept up to date. You can also join our Facebook page which has 33 members and growing. Just type in "Milton Abbas History Group". One of the visitors to the website has been researching The Retreat, and he believes that it was used by Benedictine monks 1899 - 1901. He will be giving a presentation at our meeting on 6 Dec and we are very much looking forward to meeting him. This will be an entirely new perspective on the history of Milton Abbas which we were not previously aware of. One of our members recounts his father telling him that monks at the turn of the 19th century used to process down to the Abbey with candles - an evocative memory. We know that at this time the Abbey was lit by gas light and we also know the location of the gas holder. We are not sure how the gas was produced - probably by coal collected from Blandford Station. Bryan Phillips gave a presentation on the roads that Joseph Damer, Lord Milton moved. The first writ was issued in 1763 and changed the course of three roads. The Jurors reported to the Quarter Sessions that this would be of no damage to "passengers and travellers". The roads concerned have been plotted on the old and new maps. Further road closures were to follow in 1769, 1791 and 1804. These moves, together with the move of the old town, left Milton Abbas the quiet and secluded place it is today, and was the death knell to the thriving community that previously existed. Our next meeting will be on Wed 6th Dec, at 7pm in the Reading Rooms. Paid up members can enjoy free mulled wine and mince pies. There will be a charge for visitors. NOTE THE NEW EARLIER TIME.
Sid Hamster Said Sid Hamster, "I really do feel, that tonight I'll go out for a meal." So later that night. Well before early light. He did several miles on his wheel. At last Sid the Hamster he stopped, and onto the sawdust he hopped. Sid stopped and froze. At the end of his nose, was a peanut that someone had dropped. Sid Hamster was filled with delight. He placed the nut in his pouch out of sight. Then up a long ramp, Sid Hamster did tramp. Then again up another short flight. Sid followed his nose to the top, and there, at the end he did stop At a bowl of fresh food, Which he sat and he chewed, and the rest in his pouches did pop. Said Sid Hamster, " I really do feel, that was a most excellent meal. But it's now getting light. I must bid you goodnight, " and he scurried back home on his wheel. Jackie Grearson
Update from Heather Greetings from Corfe Mullen. My husband, Des, has been busy doing loads of improvements to house and garden, and I've been potting up new plants and discovering new things growing. Every time I plant something, I'm digging up endless bulbs I didn't know were there, so we should have a magnificent show in the spring. It's so easy just to pop into Wimborne on the bus - only 11 minutes' bus ride, and the buses run every 30 minutes. So we are settling nicely into our new home. May we take this opportunity to wish all our friends in the Valley a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. Heather and Des Sims
The Valley Players It is with regret that The Valley Players announce that there will be no pantomime this season. This is due to a few reasons. It has been a very busy year for many of the company (it doesn't help when both your daughters decide to get married in the same year!). We have also committed to a series of Murder Mystery performances throughout the 6
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The Winterborne Valley & Milton Abbas Benefice The baby Jesus simply needed to be loved, cared for and protected. In that first Christmas, God gave everything of himself. His gift to us was his love, his peace, his joy. He came to share our human life so that we might understand his presence with us and his love for us. The only way he could do that was to begin an earthly life as one of us. He could only arrive as a newly born baby - where we all started. None of the things God gave to the world can be bought or sold. All of the things God gave can be embraced by human kind. They can be found as we learn to follow his way. There are two elements to the way, the first is to love God and the second is loving our neighbour as much as we love ourselves. Some people think that bitterness, bullets and bombs are the way forward. Communities are neither built or enriched by these things. History shows us that, perhaps our own experience tells us that. On the other hand, God's story shows us the way to go about making our communities wonderful experiences. It is about offering a warm and sincere welcome. I hope that you will find that in our churches this Christmas time. Looking forward to seeing you… And may you know God's blessing this Christmas time, Alan
Dear Reader, Writing early in November (I am determined that this being with the editorial team on time - it wasn't), I find it hard to imagine what January will be like for our villages. Will things have changed? What things will stay the same? Do we think about these things, do we even care? Harriet and I have just experienced change. The grandchild we were expecting in December arrived at the end of October. That has been interesting and changed things for us. We have been along to Devon in this last week or two more often than we had planned. In fact, I don't think we had planned a trip to Devon at least until December! The difference a baby makes! Suddenly, we find ourselves making room for an extra little life that we were not quite ready for. Not much resemblance to the story of Christmas, other than a baby being born. Although, Christmas does seem to begin to arrive earlier every year! Our new little grandson needs caring for. When I look at him, I just want to make sure that he is safe and secure, that he knows he is loved, and I can't help but think of the Bethlehem babe. FROM THE REGISTERS 3rd Dec 1st Advent Purple Clenston
Houghton
1000 HC Advent carols JHB/PC 1800 HC AR
Milton Abbas
1000 MW IB/WB
Stickland
1600 Christingle SL?
Turnworth
Whitechurch
Baptism 10th Dec 2nd Advent Purple
Freddie Logan Vincent
17th Dec 3rd Advent Purple
24th Dec 4th Advent Purple
25th Dec Christmas Day White
on 11th November 31st Dec Christmas 1 White
0930 HC AR
1800 EP (BCP) AR
18th 1800 Carol Service AR
0830 HC BCP AR
1800 Abbey Carol Service 1000 HC AR
1000 Carol Service JT/JHB 1000 HC AR
14th Jan Epiphany 2 White
21st Jan Epiphany 3 White
28th Jan Epiphany 4 White
1800 EP AR
1000 HC AR
1000 HC AR
1000 MW SL
1000 HC TS
1000 HC Benefice service AR 1000 HC AR 1800 HC St C’s AR 1600 Candle Lit Service SL
7th Jan Epiphany 1 White
St James, Milton Abbas
1800 HC AR
1800 EP (BCP) AR
1000 MW SL
1000 MW JHB IB
0830 HC BCP AR
0830 (BCP) sHC AR
0830 (BCP) sHC AR
1100 HC AR
1000 MW JT/JHB
1800 HC AR
1600 2330 1000 1000 0830 Carol HC HC MW (BCP) sHC Service AR AR DA/PC AR DA/PC MIDWEEK SERVICES: Mondays & Tuesdays 0835 Morning Prayer Stickland Wednesdays 0930 HC Milton Abbas SERVICES KEY: BCP 1662 Book of Common Prayer Traditional EP Evening Prayer HC Holy Communion (Eucharist) MW Morning Worship, informal service for all, with old & new hymns & songs, without Holy Communion SHC Service without hymns or music Rev'd Alan Ryan - AR • 01258 880482 • www.winterbornevalleyandmiltonbenefice.com Rev'd Sue Litchfield - SL Rev'd Jimmy Hamilton-Brown - JHB Rev’d Tina Sterling - TS Rev'd Helier Exon - HE Emily D'Silva EdS Debbie Albery DA Harriet Ryan HR Jenny Tory JT Ian Bromilow IB Wilma Bromilow WB Piers Chichester PC
Valley News Information VN Team: Advertising: Distribution: Printing: Payments: Small Ads: Charity Events: Articles: Deadlines:
Graham Case, Valerie Ashford, Claire & John Scott, Barbara Luke, Jim Luke Anne Donnelly ads@valley-news.co.uk 01258 881261 Treasurer: Janet Snook news@valley-news.co.uk Sue Eggar and Angela D'Silva news@valley-news.co.uk Layout: Mark Steele news@valley-news.co.uk Purely Print www.purelyprint.co.uk 01258 459977 All advertising to be pre-paid. Cheques payable to ‘Valley News'. Internet Bank Transfers now accepted. Private sellers only. Small ads will be included for a donation and confirmed for publication when the donation is received. Events in the Valley News area will be listed free on the Events page. Normal advertising rates will apply for boxed ads. Send by email to Mark Steele at news@valley-news.co.uk or to Valerie Ashford, 11 Fairmead, Stickland (DT11 OND) Please include name & contact number in case of any queries. For Advertising : 10th of the prior month. For all other submissions (articles, pictures etc.): 15th of the prior month. Late items may not appear until the next edition. More information at sites.google.com/site/valleynewsdt11
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Ring Pauline on 01258 880084 / 07760 303332 Gift Vouchers available.
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truth. How will they be received? Feedback from exhibitions is so important and helpful, but it's also a little nerve-wracking ‌‌ This Christmas my studio is having a makeover; my brother is coming on Boxing Day to stay over with his two young children, so I shall be turning my work space into a family bedroom. If I tidy away the tables and stack the framed work elsewhere, there will be enough space for 3 mattresses and a little Christmas tree. It should be quite cosy! We will be having our Christmas Dinner a day late this year, to account for my brother's arrival from France and also for my eldest daughter, who will be working on Christmas Day on her elderly care ward at Winchester Hospital. I can't let her miss out on her roast dinner and Christmas pudding!! I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and many thanks for reading my column. As always, if you have any questions about printmaking in general or would like information about printmaking workshops, please e-mail genevieve.lavers@btinternet.com
Thank you Thank you for the cards, messages, good wishes, visits and help during and after my recent stay in hospital. Thank you to Zena and the family for all your help. The doctors advised me that it will take me 6-8 weeks to fully recover. Hazel Steele
Dunbury Academy The past term in Maple class has seen the children tackling the Great Fire of London. We have made our own Pudding Lane houses and even become newspaper reporters for the day. The children have investigated different properties of materials by burning them and conducting experiments using candles. Next term our topic is the very seasonal 'Ice'. The children are already investigating Arctic animals and writing instructions to help us to care for a penguin. We will be conducting many more chilly activities before the term is finished culminating with a snowball fight on the last day of term!
Down the Garden Path Winter has arrived gently so far this year which has left many gardens with loads of colour late in the season, perfect for the bees and butterflies which have not yet hibernated. It is helpful for wildlife to leave some of the seed heads standing through the winter so that birds can continue to enjoy them - watching birds feeding on teasel heads in the winter sunshine is a real joy. Increasingly evidence confirms the role that gardens have in sustaining our wildlife and the recent very worrying report of the massive reduction in flying insects only adds to the need for gardeners to think about providing habitat and food for insects as well as birds and amphibians. During the winter the need for clean water for bird baths is just as important, as is the need to break the ice when the time comes, and just watching their ablutions is a pleasure in itself. Leaf mounds, wood piles and unkempt corners are perfect for hibernating insects and mammals. You may be aware from some of my previous articles that I don't regard plants as fashion accessories or trophies. I have always had house plants wherever I have lived and derive immense pleasure from eating a pineapple which has been grown from the discarded top of a supermarket purchase. They are easy to grow and have lovely foliage and, with patience, will produce fruit, if on a smaller scale than from the tropics but just as sweet. Simply cut the leaves off the top of a pineapple, remove any flesh and the lower leaves to reveal a short stalk. Plant this in a gritty compost and ignore for three months until you see signs of growth. Then water occasionally but no sooner or the stalk will simply rot. It may take a few years to fruit but by building up a small stock of plants you should have at least one fruit each summer. As houses and flats have diminished in size with no gardens or balconies, house plants are making a comeback and foliage plants are replacing orchids as the plant of the moment. Garden centres no longer just stock poinsettias and Christmas cacti but are going for plants with interesting foliage, some of which prefer shade to bright sunshine and they make wonderful Christmas presents which last for years. Fresh herbs are always useful and many are easy to grow on a window sill through the winter - mint, chives, parsley and basil all grow well in pots, as does cut and come again lettuce. There are several winter tolerant salad leaves that can cope under a cloche and the issue for many plants is not the cold but the light. Increasingly our winters are becoming milder with less snow and fewer really hard frosts but some of our valleys are so steep that they get even less sun during the short daylight hours of winter and this dictates what plants will grow. Winter gives us the chance to sit back and think about what worked this year and what we want to change for the coming season. Once the leaves have dropped and been gathered up for compost we can see the shape of trees and shrubs and work out what needs pruning after a year of heavy growth. There is always something to do and to see in the garden and this is part of the ongoing reward for all the effort. As I write there is a pheasant having a drink, two great tits feasting on a teasel, a wren eating seed in a shrub and a butterfly enjoying the warmth of the sun. Even Mr. Robin knows that Christmas is approaching and enters the house at every opportunity, sadly leaving small presents on the clean laundry!
Christmas at Dunbury The children from Dunbury Academy will be out singing to the communities again this Christmas. We hope you'll be able to join us at the various valley coffee mornings to enjoy a Carol or two! For more information, please see the dates on our Christmas adverts and posters or contact the school office (01258) 880501
A year in the life of a village printmaker Now I have explained that collagraphy is essentially a hand-pulled print from a textured board (plate) I can talk about the next phase: proofing. Once the collaged materials are dry on the board, and the plate has been varnished for protection, I can get the inks out! It's usually a few days to a week after making the collage plate to ensure everything is properly dry. Obviously, I have an idea of a final print in mind when I build a collage plate, but until I add the ink and pull the first print I have no idea whether the idea will work. "Hooray!" I think to myself smugly, when I peel the paper away from the plate to reveal exactly what I'd hoped for. "The Printmaking Gods are smiling down on me today!" Proofing isn't always like this. The Big Reveal (peeling the paper off the plate) can be The Big Disaster. At the beginning I was apt to just abandon the plate at this point and do something else. These days I have become a lot better at sticking at it, so I wipe the ink off the plate and try to rescue it; it could be that one particular material I have use just overpowers the print - so I rip it off and stick something else on; it could be that there isn't enough detail - so I get the knife and score some more lines to delineate the shapes more clearly; it could be that there aren't enough light or dark areas to give contrast - so I paint on some more PVA glue or add a bit more carborundum grit. Then I varnish the amended areas again, and back I go to the inking table for another try. When I am being asked where I trained, I want to say at "the School of Trial and Error" but usually make do with "I am self-taught". There is a kind of snobbery in the art world that says you're not a real artist unless you have been to an art college and have an MA. I have certainly learnt from the expertise of others, but most of my learning and improving happens when I experiment by myself and make mistakes. I am self-critical of what I produce, but if I were not, where would I find the motivation to keep trying harder? As I write this, I am preparing for a couple of events where I have to show myself in public and say: "These hand-inked prints are mine!" I have worked hard on a new set of prints inspired by my tea adventure in China, and now it is the moment of
Claire Scott 10
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Events COFFEE MORNING & CHARITY SHOP Mondays • 10.30am-12noon • St. Mary’s Church, Stickland WHITECHURCH YOUTH CLUB (7-14 year olds welcome) Mondays • 6.30pm • Whitechurch Village Hall COFFEE STOP Tuesdays • 10.30am-12noon • St James, Milton Abbas CUP & CAKE Wednesdays • 10.30am-12noon • Old School Room, Whitechurch ROUND ROBIN RAMBLERS SUN 3rd DEC • 1:30pm • Hambledon Hill (4½m) SUN 4th JAN • 1.30pm • Bryants Puddle Heath & Oakers Wood (4½m) WED 17th JAN • 11am • Fontmell Down (6¾m) For more info and meeting points call Ian Bromilow 880044 FRIDAY 8th DECEMBER AND JANUARY BINGO • 7.30pm • Whitechurch Village Hall Raffle, Refreshments. In aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER A FUN CHRISTMAS EVENING • 7pm for 7.30pm • Old School Room, Whitechurch Tickets £10 includes glass of mulled wine and two course festive supper. Bring your own drink. Raffle. Entertainment. Tickets in advance from Ann Guy 837959 or Cup & Cake.
Deadlines for February’s Valley News Adverts & Events WEDNESDAY 10th JAN Articles MONDAY 15th JAN
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undercutting has eroded beneath the road surface, up to 0.8 metre in places. In other places vehicles have gone off road and gouged furrows in the soft verges, in some areas pushing previous bank restoration stones/blocks into the watercourse and opening up old swallets.
What's Cooking It's winter and Christmas is less than four weeks away, offering the chance to catch up with friends and family. These days it is easier to buy in those special treats for Christmas which take some of the stress out of the season but there is also the time to make the family's favourites which have become 'must haves' at this time of year. The secret to organising meals for lots of people is planning, a good freezer and a store cupboard. Make a list to cover the basics as well as the extras. Having a fish pie, lasagne, casserole or shepherds pie ready for use in the freezer is a useful stand-by for unexpected visitors or when you have over-indulged the day before and simply want some time off. This applies also to fruit crumbles and pies just waiting to be popped into the oven. Having bought filo and puff pastry sitting in the freezer is a life saver when there is so much else to do. Boiled vegetables can be delicious if not boiled to death but they don't have to be add-ons to a meal. Root vegetables benefit from roasting which brings out their natural sweetness and the addition of herbs such as thyme, rosemary or smoky spices such as cumin, coriander or the North African ras-el-hanout, add a further twist. Another easy way to cook veg is in tin foil. Chopped carrots, celery, fennel, onion, garlic, parsnip, herbs and seasoning cooked together in a parcel of foil produces perfectly flavoured vegetables. For the liquid to provide steam use five tablespoons of a good vinaigrette dressing. The other bonus is the reduced washing up! Fennel is a lovely versatile plant, delicious in salads, wonderful braised in stock or cider, and traditionally served with fish but, in reality, it goes well with roast meats. Years ago, in one of her early recipe books, Delia Smith created a stuffed sweet pepper by cutting the red pepper in half, removing the seeds and filling each with a skinned and halved tomato, anchovies, garlic and olive oil but you could equally well swap the tomato for fennel. This is also the season for Jerusalem artichokes, a member of the sun flower family, with edible roots. Try to find the less knobbly varieties to make skinning less of a chore and they can be roasted or combined with potato for mash and they make a wonderful soup. Recently I had a Jerusalem artichoke veloutĂŠ, a soup which is thickened with flour. A good stock is added to the classic roux, followed by the cooked and purĂŠed artichoke. This is sieved to make a very smooth liquid into which is poured cream and then heated. The result is simply divine and you can serve a poached egg in the bowl and then pour the soup around it at the table for dramatic effect. It only remains to wish all my readers a tasty and indulgent festive season while I put aside my pen for its own Christmas break. Claire Scott
Himalayan Balsam is under control along Water Lane with only a handful of plants removed in early summer. Himalayan Balsam was added to Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in April 2009 in Wales and England. It will be included in Scotland by the end of 2011. As such, it is an offence to plant or otherwise allow it to grow in the wild. This plant, related to the Impatiens species (like Busy Lizzies) attracts bees in preference to garden and native plants, thus reducing the pollination of indigenous and cultivated species. This is to the detriment of the rich diversity of native wild flowers and wildlife - as it is to our gardens which in themselves are a rich and much needed refuge for wildlife. Wishing you all a good Christmas and many good walks along the Winterborne River. Stickland River Management Group
Book Review The Grass Roots of English History: local societies in England before the industrial revolution, by David Hey Up until the First World War, many people in Britain referred to their local district as their 'country', a term now forgotten but one which David Hey, a leading academic in local history studies, takes as his starting point. His argument is that local human identity has always been far more unchanging than historians make out, while the nature of local landscapes and culture is far more varied than we realise, at least up until about 1800. Although many people moved from their place of birth in the Tudor and Stuart eras, this did not change the essential nature of the rural parishes which made up virtually all of Britain, nor did it affect the underlying geographic continuity of most families. Until the modern era, families throughout England tended to remain settled near the place where their surname was first recorded. There were exceptions of course, notably London, which was a magnet for young people from all over England from the medieval period onwards. Indeed, for the entirety of its life, says Hey, London has always depended on immigration to keep its population from declining. Even in Tudor times, only a minority of Londoners were born there. It wasn't until the sixteenth century that most people had moved from living in isolated farmsteads or hamlets (for example, places whose names end in -ton or -ley), to villages. Change was very gradual in the countryside, where over 90% of the population lived until urban growth took off, from a very low base, in Tudor times. Even by 1700 only about 20 towns in England had more than 10,000 people (the size of Blandford today), and most county towns had less than 2,000 - while London and its suburbs already had 500,000, completely dwarfing the rest of the country. Going back much further, Hey summarises recent DNA studies which show that the majority of modern Caucasian Britons are the descendants of people who came over from the continent of Europe after the last great ice age, over 8,000 years ago, in two great waves:
Streamwatch We come to the end of year report for Streamwatch and some interesting facts about the non-native Himalayan Balsam. Firstly, the report. The river along Water Lane between Houghton and Stickland has been prepared for winter with many thanks to a team of helpers, the support of Tim Martin of Glebe Farm and from the Dorset Waste Partnership. The river course is looking emptier to allow for winter rainfall and increased water levels due to increased ground water that are expected each year. The immediate impact of this work is evident in three ways: increased Grey Wagtail presence along the open stretches of water, the downstream flow reaching the road bridge along Clenston Road, increased positive feedback from locals enjoying a riverside stroll. The swallet repair work undertaken during the summer continues to hold well and has ensured that the Stickland Village Green has not dried up as was feared likely in May. The regime of severe cress removal in 2016 has proved successful; this created more light for Ranunculus to re-establish which can be seen growing well. The health of the river is evident; during the autumn tidy-up many Bullhead fish had to be rescued from the bank and returned to the water. Despite earlier glimpses and bank evidence of water voles in some locations, two surveys conducted by wildlife experts were unable to confirm residence. One of the features of maintenance work this year was to take particular care not to disturb potential water vole sites. A highlight of the year was the presence of Whitethroats - two pairs and possibly nesting. On the downside, expected repair work to reinforce the road has yet again not taken place this year. There are several places where river 16
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one from Iberia, travelling up the west coast of what is now France; and the other from across the North Sea. The key point is that the Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman invasions led only to the replacement of the ruling elites, while the vast majority of the population stayed the same in ethnic, if not cultural, terms. Most white British (and probably most people reading this article) can theoretically trace the majority of their ancestors back in Britain for 6,000-8,000 years. When we hear about the Irish, Welsh or Scots people being more anciently established on these islands, it's not true. It's just that our ancestors had their 'Celtic' culture eradicated by the slowly accumulating Anglo-Saxons. Looking at the organisation of the land, the earliest shires (including Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire) were formed in the eighth century by Anglo-Saxons. Surprisingly, the amount of land cultivated at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 was not much different than today (but productivity was obviously vastly different), and the share of English wooded land (15% of the total) was the same as now. The single biggest change to the landscape in Britain in the past 1,000 years, arguably, was enclosure, which came relatively late to Dorset (perhaps because of a preponderance of sheep farming?), but when it did come (mostly from the seventeenth century) it was with a vengeance. Enclosure was the legal and physical process - only available to the wealthy, due to cost and connections - of legally claiming and then fencing or putting up a hedge to restrict land to one owner. Hedges are nowadays regarded as a great natural heritage, but when they first appeared they were hated by most yeoman farmers, who had hitherto farmed the majority of the open and common land either as tenants or as small farmers with customary rights. Further changes happened in the eighteenth century, as many great landowners ruthlessly cleared villages to create landscaped parks, as happened at Milton Abbey. Three final surprising facts: in the seventeenth century an average of about one quarter of all children died before they reached the age of ten, usually from infectious diseases; the great majority of English couples in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were well into their twenties when they married - and in Elizabethan times one in three brides was pregnant before marriage. There are many such fascinating snippets in this well-written ramble across thousands of years of life in England. Mark Hudson
After a few years specialising in soft tissue tumours she entered a hospice as a staff nurse: "I wanted to go back to basics," she said, "to get that connection with patients again. When you've been working in a senior post you lose that." Chris found she had much more time to be with patients in her new role, something she still appreciates hugely in her work for Weldmar, where she's been working for nine years after relocating to be nearer the sea. "Over the years you pick up a lot of expertise and contacts," she said. "It's very much tailoring treatment to the individual. People often don't know what help is available to them until we tell them. "It's not a nine to five job, though we try to fit it all in from Monday to Friday there's always someone on call. I think the best thing is having the time to give to people when they most need it, having a supportive network behind you and the resources you need. "It's about helping people to live with their illness, about meeting the challenge of uncertainty. They expect it to be all doom and gloom but we're here to help them make the most of each day, to give them options. Life is about living. "People can get so overwhelmed with what they've been told they sometimes can't see the woods for the trees. "One of the nicest things about this job is that you meet so many lovely people at a very hard time in their lives. It's such a privilege to be able to give them control over their lives."
Updates from Dorset Police Is Your Vehicle Winter Ready? Now would be a good time to make sure your vehicle is winter ready. In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for braking on dry roads. If the steering becomes unresponsive, it means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road. Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. You should keep well back from the vehicle in front. This will increase your ability to see and plan ahead. Why not head out to your car over the weekend and complete this checklist: Do your tyres have good tread depth and are they at the correct pressure? The legal minimum for a car is 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three quarters of the tyre. Is your battery in good working order? Is there enough coolant/anti-freeze and oil in your vehicle? Are your wiper blades clean and in good working order? Check for splits and damage. Have you topped up your windscreen wash? Are all your light bulbs around the vehicle working? Is the vehicle clean and tidy? You don’t want mud covering your indicators or number plate! A BT internet scam is affecting residents in Dorset Many reports have been made from residents across Dorset stating that people claiming to be from BT Open Reach are asking for remote access to computers to 'make checks' on things like connection speed, routers and security software. These people are convincing and quite insistent. To offer reassurance about the legitimacy of the request, people are being provided with a telephone number to call. Once the number given is dialled it is answered by a supposed BT operator. Please be aware – this is not a trusted way to verify a caller’s identity. Always use the company contact number found on a utility bill or correspondence from that company. Never trust a number given to you over the phone to confirm identity. Please don't engage with these people, just terminate the call. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) scams Dorset Police has been made aware of a scam whereby individuals are being contacted, in a variety of methods, and told they owe an outstanding debt to HMRC. In one day, 13 reports were made to Dorset Police from residents, primarily in the North and East of the county. Detective Inspector Neil Wright, Force Volume Crime Unit, said: "I urge residents to be aware of this trend affecting Dorset. Tell your loved ones, your neighbours and your colleagues. "This is a scam. HMRC will never ask you for iTunes vouchers or
Weldmar "It's a privilege to work with people at a time when everything seems to be falling apart," says Weldmar's community nurse for Blandford and the surrounding villages Chris Senter.
"Everyone is an individual and I'm there to point them in the right direction. It's all about how I can make things better." Chris covers Milborne St Andrew, where she lives, and a wide area including Mappowder and Hazelbury Bryan. She regularly visits Milton Abbas, Eagle House and Whitecliffe GP surgeries to find out where she can help with complex cases as a specialist palliative nurse. Chris currently has 35 cases on her book, though she usually has around 25 - she's covering a wider area to cover for a colleague. She started nursing in 1975 and worked as a paediatric nurse in Birmingham before moving into orthopaedics then starting to specialise in soft tissue conditions. She was the only person in the hospital doing this for a while, and though another person was recruited she found she 'got a bit of burn-out' with all the travelling from her home in Coventry, and became a Macmillan nurse. 18
THE DORSET SAWMILL Fence panels Posts, rails and most sawn timbers LOGS for sale Air dried / Barn stored / Kiln dried Kindling Call Kevin 01258 860053 • 07766 556010
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anything else similar as payment for unpaid tax. "If you receive a suspicious call just hang up. Don't engage with these people as it just gives them more opportunities to pull you in." iTunes gift cards are becoming more popular as a way to collect money from victims because they are easy to redeem and quick to sell on. You do not need to be in possession of the physical card to redeem the value. Often victims are asked to read out the serial code on the back over the phone which instantly credits their account. A HMRC spokesperson said: “HMRC takes security extremely seriously. We are aware that some people have received telephone calls from individuals claiming to be from HMRC. We have a well-known brand, which criminals abuse, to add credibility to their scams. “We recommend if you cannot verify the identity of a caller, do not speak to them. We encourage you to check GOV.UK for information on how to avoid and report scams, recognise genuine HMRC contact and make payments to HMRC.” If you are suspicious of an email or text claiming to be from HMRC, please send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk so it can be checked. For information and advice about scams in Dorset, go to the Fraud Alert page of our website - dorset.police.uk/fraud. Scams should be reported to Action Fraud (the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre) on 0300 123 2040. Alternatively you can sign up to Action Fraud Alert to receive direct, verified and accurate information about scams and fraud in your area by email, recorded voice and text message. Horse Watch Crime Prevention Equestrian Safety is not just about being safe whilst riding, it goes hand in-hand with the importance of ensuring your property; vehicles; stables; and land are all safe and secure at all times. Listed below are some useful preventative measures in relation to crime prevention for you to consider which have been kindly put together by one of our Dorset Horse Watch volunteers Chrissy. Perimeter Regularly check your fences, hedges and gates for damage or weakness and repair as soon as possible. Consider turning gate hinges upside down and weld if necessary so gates cannot be lifted off the hinges but can still be opened and closed for access. Ensure that they are securely locked when not in use. Buildings & Security Ensure that all buildings within your yard are well maintained. Carry out regular checks looking for rusted and broken locks, loose hinges, cracked window glass or rotten frames. Opportunist thieves look for features such as these. If you keep your tack in the yard ensure it is kept in a secure locked room but do not advertise that it is the tack room. Install internal bars on windows. Invest in good quality secure locks, hinges and padlocks. Ideally “Dusk to Dawn” lights should be used as opposed to sensor lights as they give out a low level continuous light. CCTV needs to be considered carefully as to what you want from the system. Alarms are a good deterrent, there are many on the market that can send text messages to mobile phones or linked to IPad. Do not leave vehicles unlocked when unattended or be tempted to load vehicles the night before travelling to an event or show. Ensure any valuables are removed from vehicles, you do not know who is watching your vehicle/trailer/horsebox when you leave it. Horse/Pony Before purchasing consider checking the Stolen Horse Register which is accessible on www.stolenhorseregister.com Keep up to date records and photos of your horse/pony to include Breed, Height, Colour, Markings, Branding and Age. Tack Marking & Inventory Engrave/punch your postcode or identifying number onto your tack. If your tack is marked it will make it harder for the thief to sell on. Rugs can be marked with your postcode by using either permanent marker or paint. Keep an up to date inventory of all your vehicles, tack and equipment including colour, make and security markings together with photographs. Ensure that records are kept secure and not left where they are easily accessible to others.
Do not be tempted to load vehicles the night before travelling to an event or show. Take photographs of your trailers and horse boxes and make a note of any distinguishing features including chassis/serial numbers. Consider painting your vehicle registration on top of the trailer/horsebox roof. Fit a tracking device onto your trailers and horse boxes. Ensure it is secure when unattended in your yard, at shows, events, or parked in a beauty spot or road siding. Suspicious activity Take note of unknown vehicles or people you see in your yard or on your property. Note their description, vehicle make/colour/registration number then report it to your local Police on 101. If you see a crime taking place, call 999 immediately. For Security and Crime Prevention advice please contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team or local Crime Prevention Advisor specific to your individual need(s) by phoning 101. Information can also be found on-line by visiting the Dorset Police website www.dorset.police.uk and www.dorsethorsewatch.org Information relating to the quality and use of security products is available on www.soldsecure.com Horse Watch Alliance UK has provided useful information relating to riding, equipment and vehicle safety together with links to Horse Watch Groups around the UK. You can view and join the group by visiting www.ukhorsewatch.org.uk
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VIVIENHORDER Estate Agents See the latest properties online:
www.horderproperty.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk www.teamprop.co.uk A local family run business Established 1984 Dealing with all types of residential property "We pride ourselves on personal service" 4 Salisbury Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7AR Email: office@horderproperty.co.uk Fax: (01258) 454459
Tel: (01258) 454419
BRYANSTON design Chartered Architects Building design work Planning and Building Reg. Applications Listed Building works Feasibility studies
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NEW WORKS, EXTENSIONS and REFURBISHMENT. Richard Disbrow RIBA Blandford 01258 454879 www.bryanstondesign.co.uk e-mail bryanstondesign@btinternet.com
Conveyancing • Wills • Probate A friendly and efficient service Contact Paul Lowe, Solicitor 01258 881142 paul@lowelegal.co.uk www.lowelegal.co.uk
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Congratulations to Valerie Ashford who celebrated her birthday at The Valley Gardening Club’s November talk. Pictures by Lynne Rainford
Your Pictures
More pictures from the Winterborne Whitechurch Beavers, Cubs and Scouts visit to see The White Helmets in one of their final displays. Pictures by Lynne Rainford
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Your Pictures
Congratulations to Valerie Ashford who celebrated her birthday at The Valley Gardening Club’s November talk. Pictures by Lynne Rainford
Deadlines for February’s Valley News Adverts & Events WEDNESDAY 10th JANUARY Articles and copy MONDAY 15th JANUARY 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 is that ideas should have benefit to the community. A committee of volunteers select successful projects.
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ROBERT JONES • STURMINSTER NEWTON 01258 817111 • 07760 385161 rjclocks.co.uk • robertjonesclocks@gmail.com
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Valley Organisations & Contacts Abbey Swimming Club Milton Abbey Swimming Pool. Tue 1830-2030, Fri 1930-2030, Sat 1000-1200, Sun 8am-9am, Lynn 881443, Pat 880601, Stephen 881524, abbeyswimmingclub@gmail.com Aquacise and lane swimming for fitness Exercise in the water - safe and fun for all ages. Ladies and gentlemen welcome Fridays 6.30pm Maria 880895 secretary@masportsclub.org.uk Badminton Fri 6.45, Rec Hall, Milton Abbey School Anita Handley 882118 Bere Regis Floral Group 2nd Tue each month, 2pm, Kingston Village Hall, Diane Edmunds 01929 472 331 British Horse Society (Dorset) County Bridleway Officer • 01258 880318 carolshoopman@btinternet.com Bus2Go Margo www.bus2godorset.org 01258 837749 / 07917 298321 Dunbury Church of England Academy www.dunbury.dsat.org.uk • 880501 Extend Exercise (to music for 60s+) Fri 10am-11am, PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 Golf Club Milton Abbey School, Laura Haim 881872 Jan’s Fun Art & Craft Classes 07836 639514 janodesigns@yahoo.co.uk Ladies Keep Fit Wed 7.30pm WVH. Mary Fripp 880416 Milborne St. Andrew Village Hall Events Alice Harrall 01258 837371 msavillagehall@gmail.com Milton Abbas 2001 Women’s Group Pauline Northeast 880223 Milton Abbas Art Group Mon 7pm-9pm, RRMA, Janet Maughan 881210 Milton Abbas Cricket Club Thu, Juniors 6.45, Seniors 7.30 Rec Hall, Milton Abbey School,
OSR PHH RMA WVH
VENUE KEY Old School Room, Whitechurch Pamela Hambro Hall, Stickland Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas Whitechurch Village Hall
Milton Abbas Local History Group 1st Wed each month, 7.30pm RRMA Bryan or Pamela Phillips 880385 Milton Abbas Neighbourcar For your medical transport needs, 01258 470333 Milton Abbas Riding For The Disabled Friday 10-12, Pound Cottage Riding Centre, Sue Hodder 880229 Milton Abbas Sports Club Tennis and Squash. Based at Abbey School. Maria 880895, secretary@masportsclub.org.uk The Middleton Players Mike Roberts 880976 Pamela Hambro Hall 880969 • pamelahambrohall.wix.com/home Patient Voice (the Patient Reference Group for Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery), Sec. Nigel Hodder 880229 Pilates 1 hr classes: Mon 10am; Tue 6.45pm; Wed 10am; Thu 12.00; PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 POPP Wayfinders for The Winterbornes Sue Inman 07920 650608 Sue.Inman@helpandcare.org.uk Richard Hewitt 07971 338129 Richard.Hewitt@helpandcare.org.uk Round Robin Ramblers Normally 1st Sun & 3rd Wed each month Ian Bromilow 880044 River Stickland Management Group Richard Marchant 881716 (Secretary) r.marchant@btinternet.com Running Club Sunday morning social runs with Milton Abbas Sports Club Madgits. Maria 880895 or Jonathan D: madgits@masportsclub.org.uk Short Mat Bowls Mon 1.30pm, Wed 2pm-4.30pm • PHH • Francis Dennett 880129 The Spanish Society Susana 01258 721261 / 07766 069836
To add or update a listing on this page please email
news@valley-news.co.uk 27
Sticklebacks Parent & Toddler Group Tue (Term Time) 10am-12pm, PHH Cheryl 07795687151 cheryl_s84@hotmail.com Swimming Lessons Juniors and adults. Beginners and improvers. Maria 880895 or Richard 837402 Table Tennis Tue 2pm-4pm & Fri 7pm-9pm, PHH Graham Case 880740 Tap Dancing (Adult) Thu: Intermediates 6.15, Advanced 7.30 RRMA. Elizabeth Goodchild 01305 268029 Tennis Club Winterborne Sports Club, Stickland Debbie Albery 451873 Valley Ringers John Close (Tower Capt, WW) 880457 Ann Fox (Tower Capt, WS) 881156 Valley Computer Club Richard D’Silva 880118 Valley Gardening Club Talks: 3rd Wed (Sept-Jun), 7.30pm, PHH WS sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset Valley Players 881415, www.valleyplayers.co.uk Whist Drive 3rd Wed of month, 7pm, RRMA. Entry £1 W. Stickland Sports & Community Club Vaughan Manners 880969 • wssc.club Winterborne Whitechurch Scout Group Fri, Cubs 6.30-8.15pm, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 7½-11 years Fri, Scouts, 6.30-8.30pm, OSR Girls & Boys 10½-14 years. Alan 881164 Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall See Text Ads Yoga Thu 9.30-10.30am, PHH, Louise Hull 860381 Zumba WVH, Various classes, AM & PM, Tue & Thu Tracy 07971 636437
Parish Council Websites winterbornestickland.org.uk winterbornehoughton.org.uk miltonabbaspc.org.uk. winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk
Valley News is printed by Purely Print incorporating Stour Print Tel: 01258 459977