Valley News December 2019/January 2020

E E FR Issue 153

Dec 2019 & Jan 2020

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

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� SUMMER BAUBLE Picture by LYNNE RAINFORD

Helping to inform and unite the Community

The clerk has received a further quote for a set of monkey bars equipment which is considerably lower than the 2 others already received. It was agreed that provided it conformed to regulated specifications a final decision would be made next meeting.

The SID is currently at the top of Dorchester Hill and a member of the public said that it was nice that it said 'Thank You'.

A suggestion was made that as a further attempt to slow the traffic down entering the village that it might be time to consider gates at each end. Other villages nearby have now got them and it appears that they may be having some effect. This is to be considered further.

The PC laptop is now 6 years old and running on windows 7 which is now out of date and with the battery getting old it was suggested and agreed that it should be replaced with a newer faster machine within an agreed budget.

The village telephone box at the bottom of Blandford Hill which has not worked for some considerable time was suggested to be adopted by the PC. The clerk has looked into this but BT have confirmed that as it is a listed building it is not for sale. BT however, have finally agreed to repair it.

The Community Speedwatch Team is still in need of more volunteers and is in danger of stopping. A request for more local volunteers to help has not been successful and further help has been sought from the police liaison officer which as yet has not happened so the team may cease to be after December if no one else comes forward.

For further information on any item mentioned please contact the clerk on 880600 or email winterbornewhitechurch@dorset-aptc.gov.uk The Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year

Editorial Last month saw some very memorable occasions, recognising that this year was the 100th year that the nation has been silent for two minutes to commemorate the lives lost during the two World Wars and the many other conflicts since. Far from celebrating war, these occasions serve as a reminder that with every political decision to undertake military action, there are always casualties; we should never forget the sacrifices made by those men and women, so that our tomorrows are available to us to determine. Freedom should never be over-rated, especially when so hard won.

Recently the newly formed Dorset Council has begun consultations on its plans for the future. For many people locally, recognising the value we get from our Artsreach events in particular, one omission from the plans appears to be that of support for the Arts and Culture. If you share that concern, you may like to look at the plans and make comments, or indeed comment about any aspect of the plans. They can be found at: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk Search for 'Dorset Council Plan' and links will come up to the Plan, and to the consultation which closes on December 20th.

All of us in the Valley community who have been using the Valley Dairy for milk deliveries will have been very sorry to read the letter that came round with our final delivery in November. Not only will the regular delivery service be stopped, far more important was the news that Tim and family are having to give up their dairy business due to ill health. The Valley Dairy has been a constant in the Valley for 55 years, and it has often been commented on about the friendliness and total efficiency of the service that has been provided all that time. Hardly ever a round missed, not even in the harshest of weathers! It was a fitting tribute when Tim won his community award recently and we thank Tim and his family for their superb service to all their customers over so many years. The Valley Dairy will be much missed, and we send our best wishes to the family as they come to terms with their problems.

Our thoughts will be with them.

We are sorry to report that Valerie Ashford has decided that it is time for her to step down from the Valley News team for health reasons.

Valerie has been a very active member of the team since the idea of renewing the Valley News was first mentioned, including for many years making deliveries of copies that totalled more than anyone else! She has hated having to miss any of our team meetings. She is full of enthusiasm and commitment to our community and has always helped us with decision-making, making astute and insightful contributions that encouraged us to focus on the key issues in our deliberations. We have really enjoyed having her company and she will be very sorely missed; we all wish her well.

This edition is the 'combined' December and January one. The next edition of the magazine will therefore be the February one. All that remains is to thank everyone who has contributed to the magazine over the past year, to thank our advertisers for their continued support, and for the team to wish everyone a wonderfully successful Christmas and a happy New Year.

The Valley News team.

Blandford Surgeries For many, the thought of Christmas brings to mind a picture of a time when we celebrate with family and friends. So what can possibly be stressful about this?

But what is stress? Stress for the individual can occur when he or she is faced with something that they perceive they will have difficulty dealing with. Headaches, stomach disorders, muscle tension, anxiety or irritability are common signs that we are experiencing stress.

So what are some of the common causes of stress to look out for at Christmas?

Overstretched credit cards and bank accounts.

Feeling you must eat what you know, due to a health condition, is not good for you and then having to regret it at leisure.

Tired bodies and minds.

Family rows.

Planes, trains and motorways - they seem filled to bursting point.

Travelling at this time can be a nightmare!

So what are some of the things we can do to try and prevent stressful situations at Christmas?

Look after ourselves!

Exercise. Including some exercise each day can really pay enormous dividends.

For those who have strict diet guidelines to follow do try and stick to them.

Avoid burning the candle at both ends. Sleep is vital in combating unnecessary stress.

Worried about how you are going to afford it all? Big expensive presents are not essential or indeed necessary - a small handmade gift can mean an awful lot more.

If travelling, plan well in advance.

Are you worried about what you are going to do at Christmas? There might be someone who is in a similar situation who you could join forces with.

Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council The meeting was held on Wednesday 30th October with 4 members of the public in attendance.

Apologies were received from Cllr Emma Parker (Chair) The meeting was held by Vice Chair Cllr Aideene Turley, with Cllr Steven Pringle and Cllr Liam Deeney present.

Cllr A Turley advised that some of the items on the agenda would not be discussed due to a declared interest and these would be held over until the next meeting.

Report from WW Historic Environment Liaison Officer Martyn Gleaden was provided with an update on finds within 5 miles of the village and a list of listed buildings etc within the parish. Martyn also advised that a team of archaeologists including the County archaeologist will be at the Blandford Museum on 28th December to provide more awareness of the history of the area.

Piers Chichester thanked the Parish Council for the safety mirror they purchased for Chescombe Lane. He also asked about a donation for the grass cutting in the churchyard. He will write with a formal request.

Thank you Valley Dairy I would like to say a big thank you to Tim, Mike and Lesley from Valley Dairy for all the years delivering milk in the valley through all seasons.

Even through snow, we always had our milk delivered without fail.

I've always been able to rely on it since 1976!

Thank you ad we all wish you the best for the future.

Hazel Steele 2

C.W. ABBOTT & SON

Available Now Pot grown Christmas Trees Fresh cut Christmas Trees Handmade Holly Wreaths Christmas/Gift Shop Burning Peat/Turves Logs and Coal Peanuts 25kg £29.99 Bird Seed 20kg £10.50 Sunflower Hearts 22kg £22.50 Shrubs, Perennials, Pansies, Violas & Polyanthus Autumn Onion Sets, Shallots, Broad Bean seed IOW Garlic and a good selection of Spring Bulbs Compost Langton Long, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 9HR Telephone 01258 452513

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Finally, I would like to thank everyone who supports the surgery, including our patient group, volunteer drivers and of course our fantastic staff team for helping provide an amazing service to all of our patients.

Merry Christmas.

Dunbury Academy News It's been so busy since we got back from half term. We have had our school and class photos - which is always a hectic day with two school sites! Scots Pine have had a trip to SafeWise in Bournemouth where the children were involved in interactive and practical 'skills for life' activities covering road safety, fire safety, water safety and home safety alongside crime prevention, what to do in an emergency, and much more. We have also had our first parent consultations of the year which went very well.

We have been supporting Children in Need by holding a 'Wacky Hair' day - the response from the children and the creativeness of our parents has resulted in some really fun and stunning hair styles - well done everyone!

We are now gearing up for Christmas which will soon be upon us.

Preparations will soon be underway for our Christingle Service in St Nicholas Church, Kingston with our lovely Reception and KS1 children, and their Nativity soon after. We also have Carols by Candlelight with KS2 children to look forward to.

Children from Cherry and Silver Birch classes have also been asked to take part in a Christmas show called 'Born', managed by Blandford Evangelical Church, at the Blandford School. The show is a community based, multi-media presentation involving dance, drama, music/singing and visuals with traditional Christmas carols as its backbone. The children are very excited by this and are already rehearsing hard.

Finally, we would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Rex Arnold for the playground work that he has undertaken in Whitechurch base. We now have a lovely new archway into our sensory garden, stepping stone paving slabs and extra fencing. It all looks fantastic. Thank you also to Mrs Jackson, as this has been the culmination of her Garden project at Whitechurch. After securing a grant through the Garden Trust, and with the help of her gardening club pupils, she has transformed the playground area.

Pamela Hambro Hall At the recent committee meeting, members were focused on two key issues - managing the woodworm infestation under the stage, and eco and management issues around our waste.

Firstly, the woodworm - by the time you read this, hopefully the area under the stage will have been treated by a professional company to eradicate the problem. This was scheduled for Nov 29th, with the following 48 hours out of use also. We are sorry for the difficulties this caused - especially for the Post Office not being able to open at the hall - but we hoped everyone would understand that this was an urgent job.

Hopefully this will solve the issue without any further need for intervention.

As far as waste is concerned, we had a lively discussion about our responsibilities, and our desire to be as 'green' as possible. We have also been made aware of the ways that other village halls manage this situation. There have been issues recently where the kitchen waste bin has been left full (very close to overflowing) with mixed waste, with recyclable materials and food waste being included as well as normal rubbish. At the hall, we need to be as aware as at our homes of the need to look after our environment, and manage the way we dispose of waste in as green a way as possible. It costs us business rates to dispose of rubbish from the hall.

What we have decided to do, from January 1st 2020, is to remove the kitchen waste bin and require all our users to remove all waste from their time at the hall. We recognise that this may need some forward planning which is why we are proposing to make this change at the start of the New Year. We hope that by doing this we can encourage greater care over the way that rubbish is discarded. This will also make hall cleaning more straightforward and help us too in our aim to make the hall hire charges as reasonable as we can.

There will still be hygiene bins in the toilet areas, and a small kitchen bin for paper towels only (these can be recycled after use), but all other rubbish - including tea bags, for example - will need to be taken home at the end of each hire.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation with this.

Graham Case, hall secretary

Milton Abbas Surgery A message from Dr Julian Rees: Milton Abbas Surgery has a high antibiotic prescribing rate and we have been asked by Public Health England and Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to look closely at our use of antibiotics and we are doing this during December. This should enable currently available antibiotics to last longer by reducing antibiotic-resistance in our community.

We have already purchased an in-house blood testing machine to help differentiate between simple viral illnesses and those requiring antibiotics (the only such machine in Dorset, paid for by patient donations). We are also working on a more evidence-based method of processing urine infection samples. You'll find we are less likely to prescribe for coughs, sore throats, and ear infections and will be "safety-netting" our advice with patient information leaflets.

We have nominated December as our "antibiotic target month" and you may notice other small changes to our practice in this time. Our initial aim is to reduce our antibiotic use by 7.6% to meet national prescribing rates. To learn more about what we're trying to achieve and why, look at https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/about-antibioticresistance/ .

If you are over 65 you are entitled to a free flu vaccination. If you haven't yet had one this year but would like to, please call the surgery to make an appointment. There has been a shortage of vaccines for eligible children and we are only able to order these in small numbers: again, please contact the surgery.

We would to inform our patients of our opening hours over the festive season. These are as follows: Mon 23rd Dec as usual Tue 24th Dec as usual Wed 25th Dec CLOSED Thu 26th Dec CLOSED Fri 27th Dec as usual Sat 28th Dec as usual Mon 30th Dec as usual Tue 31st Dec as usual Wed 1st Jan CLOSED Thu 2nd Jan as usual Fri 3rd Jan as usual Sat 4th Jan as usual Our dispensary team request that you only order your normal supply of medication over Christmas. There is no need to stockpile as this may cause shortages for other patients as well as increasing the workload for an already very busy team.

Pamela Hambro Hall 100 Club Results November 1st 198 Mrs C Walsham 2nd 138 Gill Fulton 3rd 126 Hazel Lappin

December 1st 182 Tom Cowsill 2nd 176 Mrs P Dawson 3rd 178 Linda Brown

Winterborne Whitechurch 100 Club November 1st 78 Sue Mitcham 2nd 1 Janice Dodd 3rd 77 Mrs J Munster From January 1st subscription for the 100 club will be due at ÂŁ12 per number annually. Tel Angela on 07596899496 for details for payment. To be paid by the 31st of January. Thank you.

Thank you from your former postie!

Following my recent retirement from Royal Mail after 41 and a half years, I've been delighted and somewhat humbled by the cards, gifts, and many kind messages I've received. I'd been contemplating early retirement for some time, and eventually decided to get on with it rather than merely think about it! Unfortunately, having handed in the necessary 7 days' notice, my mother passed away the following Tuesday, and I was unable to say goodbye to customers as planned. After more than 15 years of delivering to the upper Winterborne valley, I won't miss the early morning starts, or delivering in the rain, but I will miss the kindness and friendship of the people, although I hope still to see many of you in the months and years to come.

Many and sincere thanks to you all, have a happy christmas and my best wishes for 2020 and beyond.

Simon Brayshaw 4

Pat Butler

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Everyone is welcome to our extra family events at St Mary's Winterborne Stickland this Christmas 2019 Sunday 1st December: Christingle service at 3pm (Note the earlier time) in St Mary's. All children welcome to come and make their own Christingle with an orange, sweets and a candle followed by a short service led by Rev Sue Litchfield Tuesday 24th December: Christmas Eve Crib and Carol Service in St Mary's at 4pm. Come and sing traditional Christmas carols while the Christmas story unfolds with the help of the children.

Lane where flocks of fieldfares and redwings have been seen during prolonged cold spells in previous years.

We wish all readers a happy Christmas and an even happier New Year. Meanwhile, here are some words for the final verse of The Twelve Months of Streamwatch.

In the TWELTH months of this year the Streamwatch team did see: 12 crows a crowing 11 ducklings swimming 10 people weeding NO yellowhammers 8 egrets and herons Several swallows swooping 6 grey wagtails (5 ? No! ) . . . One Gold-crest 4 calling wrens 3 moorhens Picture by 2 chiff-chaffs R. Marchant And an escapee rainbow trout > c ( ( ( o/ > Stay warm!

Stickland River Management Group

Milton Abbas Local History Group

Down the Garden Path

Season's Greetings A very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful 2020 to all my friends in the Benefice.

With best wishes from Valerie Ashford

Thank you A big thank you to everyone who sent cards and gifts etc for my 94th birthday.

Irene Webb

Christmas events in Winterborne Stickland

There has been much debate in history circles lately about the lack of engagement of university historians with the public. Twitter and the BBC History magazine have had some very heated debates on this issue.

The Milton Abbas History Group have found this out for themselves.

We have done our best to make our history better known but to little avail. We have met with Bournemouth, Exeter and the West of England Universities, but failed to engage them in the many ideas we have of exploring the history of this unique place. Milton Abbey was an important Anglo-Saxon monastic foundation with documentary evidence going back over 1000 years. We are even mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. We have innumerable listed buildings of great architectural significance and the site of the old town, abbey and St Catherine's Chapel surroundings are crying out for archaeological survey.

Of course, if the BBC wants to make an historical documentary then academics fall over themselves to get noticed, as we witnessed recently with 'Pubs, Ponds and Power', and can be seen on many similar documentaries.

We look back fondly to the days of Peter Traskey who, whilst a Master at Milton Abbey School, researched Milton Abbey and published the definitive book on it. He also discussed his research and involved local people, contributing to research on the old roads and tracks, the history of the old grammar school and much else. We are told that there were many discussions with the masters on a Friday night at the Hambro Arms with the locals!

At our November meeting we were entertained by a fascinating presentation by one of our members, Henry Cole. This was the life story of artist and archaeologist George Heywood Sumner 1873 - 1940 who meticulously surveyed many ancient monuments in Dorset and Hampshire. This came as a revelation to many of our members.

We will be getting into the festive spirit at our meeting on Dec 4 when there will be a talk about the history of celebrating the Christmas period. This will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies. If you would like to come along then please contact Pamela via email at: pamelaphillips2013@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you.

What does December mean for you? Is it Christmas shopping, the stress of a large lunch to organise for family or friends or is it an enjoyable time spent with plant and seed catalogues, imagining next year's growing season accompanied by a log fire and a warm glass or cup of something? Organisation is the key to so much and that particularly applies to the garden, being organised and ahead of ourselves takes the stress out of so many things. Gardening is always unpredictable as we have no control over the weather or the quality of the seed we buy, to counter the unpredictability it helps to be as organised as we can be over the things that we can control. So, sit back enjoy the catalogues and plan what you aim to achieve next year.

With the changes in our climate it is fascinating to see the changes in the garden. I planted Cosmos seeds which is one of the few annuals I grow each year, and I tried a new variety. The seeds germinated well and the plants grew on and were planted out. In my mind there was going to be a lovely mass of flowers through the late summer and into the autumn. The plants grew taller with lots of side branches and lovely frilly floaty foliage, but not a flower in sight. Until‌. the middle of October when the stems all started to produce flower buds which began to open in the first week of November!!! I picked a lovely bouquet of beautiful Cosmos on the 12th November, my first big bunch of these flowers this year, so much for my lovely summer display. It won't put me off, I will be sowing Cosmos again next year and will enjoy these flowers for as long as possible.

Over the years I have talked about the fun in growing a pineapple and how easy it is. I have my original from a supermarket pineapple, then I grew a plant from the top of the first pineapple I picked and again from the first pineapple off that plant. Having three plants I decided that was enough as they do become quite big and the bigger the pot and the plant the bigger the fruit. The original plant has just flowered again and is developing a fruit. The flower is so pretty, a mixture of a baby pink and electric blue, these turn into the knobbly bits on the skin of the fruit. Knowing how long it takes for a plant to be old enough to fruit and then to take two years before it re-fruits it is amazing how inexpensive these luscious sweet fruits are. Have a go at growing one for a grandchild. Buy the fruit and let them eat it, show them the top and plant it in a gritty compost, keep warm but do not water until new leaves appear as they rot very easily even when mature. Wait three years and then fingers crossed they will flower and fruit. Don't let them dry out before planting as they won't produce roots. Avocado stones can also be grown into small trees just for fun.

Making one's own foliage wreaths from plants in the garden is an enjoyable thing to do and a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Foliage can be expensive to buy but most gardens have some evergreen shrubs, holly or ivy with the pom pom flowers. Oasis is best avoided as it does not biodegrade and has to go into landfill and gardens produce enough of that with all the black pots. Talking of black plastic, when will Defra do something about all the black plastic which is used to cover silage which decorates all the fields around us and which will end up in landfill? Politics aside and back to Christmas. If you buy a fresh 8

Springwatch Over the past few months Streamwatch has been monitoring the ground water levels at Delcombe Wood which have been increasing steadily since September. The reading in mid November was nearing 130 metres, the level at which we are told that minor flooding can occur in the region. Water levels are certainly up on the River Winterborne through Stickland and Clenston and the flow is pushing ever southward toward Whatcombe. There is again noticeable flow to the south of Whitechurch and much water at the bridge in Winterborne Kingston.

All appears to be much earlier than in recent years. Streamwatch will continue to monitor the position through December and January and provide further reports in February's issue of Valley News.

With thanks to all the autumn volunteers, Water Lane is looking very pretty with a good fast flow of water. Now colder weather is upon us, it is worth looking north to the slopes of the adjacent field in Water 6

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6 Christmas tree try and leave it for at least twenty-four hours sitting in water to re-hydrate before bringing it into the house - there is no way of knowing when they were cut and giving them a good drink helps to keep them looking good and keep their needles.

I bought a bougainvillea about twenty-two years ago which can be temperamental and decide that one year it won't flower but mostly it is very obliging and gives a lovely show of bright flowers in the winter which is always a pleasure. Anything that flowers in the dark months is to be appreciated, such as the heathers that come out now which can be picked for the Christmas table. That's where planning comes in, if we plan it well the garden does not have to look dead during the winter months and there are lots of plants that flower at this time. There is a clematis for each month, cherries that start to flower in November and continue through to March, heathers, cyclamen, winter honeysuckle and sarcococca confusa with its tiny white flowers and full on perfume that fills the garden in February. Winter jasmine with its bright yellow starry flowers has already come into bloom in my garden. I have an evergreen variety which I was given years ago by a neighbour who grew it from a cutting from her daughter's plant in Malta, consequently I call it Maltese jasmine. It has larger double flowers and flowers later than the English smaller yellow, the leaves are bigger and the stems thicker, it also regularly needs a good hair cut to keep it in order but anything that flowers when it's cold and dark is welcome in my garden.

Winter is not my favourite time of the year, long grey days always make me want to draw the curtains, light a fire and disappear indoors, but glorious sunny cold days are different and can lift the spirits. I always bear in mind that winter starts on the 1st December and by the 20th we have reached the shortest day so it is uphill from then on as the days are getting lighter.

Enjoy the next two months and your perusal of the catalogues and mental redesigning of your garden for next year.

Claire Scott

What's Cooking It is so easy at Christmas to hit the shops or the internet and buy foody things for presents but it is much more fun to make your own gifts. I sometimes think that we have lost the idea about present giving - it was never about conspicuous overconsumption with so many presents that it becomes boring to open them or because the one thing you really wanted was not in the pile, which becomes a cause for hysterics and major sulks. All of which is a really good cause for a dose of indigestion.

Present giving was meant to be about thinking about the person concerned and making time and giving of one's effort in the end result.

Home made jams and marmalades are a prime example and whenever I eat bought jam or marmalade I always wonder what happened to the fruit, as the commercial products seem to have become oversweet coloured jelly. My mother always made jam and marmalade, as did my grandmother, and if you have grown up with that exquisite taste as the standard by which you judge jam and marmalade then the bought stuff really does not match it. The only bought ones that are worth having are those home-made ones bought at fairs and fetes. Homemade biscuits also make excellent presents and the savoury ones make delicious and unusual gifts.

Known as SablĂŠs, these crumbly short biscuits are perfect as part of a cheese board or as the base for canapĂŠs. A jar of these with a small selection of local cheeses makes a delicious and very welcome present.

They keep for up to a week in an air tight container and are easy and quick to make. Beat 175g of butter with an electric beater or a wooden spoon to soften it, then beat in 175g of strong cheddar cheese to combine. It is worth making sure that you have a really strong cheddar as you need the punchiness from the cheese. Beat in 1 medium egg and 1 tbsp of freshly chopped chives with 1 tsp of English mustard. When well combined use a fork and blend in 300g of plain flour and a pinch of salt. Bring the dough together with your fingers and turn out onto the work surface and gently knead until smooth. Divide the dough into two pieces and roll each one into a cylinder about 4 cm in diameter, wrap in baking parchment and chill until firm. Heat the oven to 170? C (150? C fan oven) gas mark 3. Slice the dough into discs about 5 mm thick. Arrange spaced apart on 2-3 large baking sheets and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Cool on a rack and pack.

Another variety of savoury biscuits are pecan shortbreads. Mix 125g of plain flour with 100g of chilled and cubed butter in a food processor until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add 50g of finely grated parmesan followed by 40g of finely chopped pecans and some freshly ground black pepper. Tip the mixture onto the work surface and briefly knead to bring together, then wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the pastry to 3mm thick, cut rounds using a 5cm round cutter, rerolling trimmings. Arrange on a baking tray and chill for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 190? C (170? C fan oven) mark 5. Cook the biscuits for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden. Cool for 5 minutes on the tray then transfer to a wire rack till cold. They keep for a few days if kept airtight.

In 1980 Cedric Dickens, the great-grandson of Charles Dickens, published a book called 'Drinking with Dickens'.

It is a delightfully amusing book with each chapter being based on a particular drink illustrated by quotes from the famous works and recipes. We all know Sloe Gin and many of us have made it but what about Damson gin? His recipe for sloe gin has to be kept for seven years before it is drunk and damson gin is made the same way, substituting the damsons for sloes, or cherries can be used instead. Once the fruit and the gin have combined and the resulting liquid has been strained and bottled, don't throw away the residual fruits but keep them to eat with puddings. Dickens advises that "With all homemade liqueurs it is essential to lay down a large stock in the early years. Try to keep them for seven years before drinking. I don't know whether the liquor improves with the passing years; but to be able to say, honestly, when allowing a friend to taste, that it is thus and thus age is extremely rewarding."

As the cold encroaches, we seek out rich sustaining food with loads of root vegetables and delicious casseroles but we do still enjoy salads of a heartier kind. Winter tomatoes are a waste as far as I am concerned as they are tasteless and no longer the sweet unctuous fruits of the 12

Book Review The Tenth Muse, by Catherine Chung Family and mathematical secrets slowly emerge in this intriguing and highly readable second novel by the Korean-American writer, Catherine Chung.

Born with a brilliant mind for pure logic, Chung's heroine, Katherine, realises 'the power of what my mother was telling me: that numbers underlay the mystery of nature. That if you could unlock their secrets, you could catch a glimpse of the order within.' However, Katherine comes to realise that the real unknown in her life is not cerebral but emotional: there is something wrong at home. Her generally supportive parents 'never let me in', keeping their bedroom door locked at night.

Then, one day her Chinese-American mother leaves, for no apparent reason, and with no contact address. Katherine throws herself into her work, revealing an ambition which takes her to an elite university. She finds that mathematical academia is deeply misogynist, though there is one man of interest.

'The way I like to choose a problem ‌ is to take two ideas that seem very far apart, and try to find the connection that brings them together.'

So says Peter Hall, a charismatic maths Professor, who becomes Katherine's great love, though it is not clear if he can accept that she is more gifted than he is. Again and again Katherine has to choose between her sense of personal integrity and the most important person in her life.

Chung's novel has an appealing structure, with overlapping and at times competing layers of psychological, historical and mathematical subtlety. (A word of reassurance: you do not need any knowledge of arithmetics to enjoy The Tenth Muse.) Told in the form of a first person memoir by the ageing Katherine, the certainties of Western science are undercut by a sense of the mystery at the heart of life, something which is not hidden but which requires endless unveiling.

Myths, stories within stories and vignettes of the lives of some of the great 20th century mathematicians cast light and shadow. The further Katherine digs, the less secure everything seems. She tries to produce a famous mathematical proof, but is overtaken by betrayal and an existential crisis. Perhaps it is too late, and she is searching for an illusion. At the same time, in her bid to find the truth about her parents, Katherine is forced to confront unsettling realities in Germany's Nazi past.

Mark Hudson 8

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The Winterborne Valley & Milton Abbas Benefice Christmas is coming and it is for many, tho' not for all, the high point of the year in our culture. The commercialisation of the holy day and holiday is over the top, no doubt, but all the selling and buying means jobs and pay for millions of people.

I like to reflect on the outpouring of good will which also marks the season. The best gifts of course do not cost money. It is in giving generosity and hospitality to those who would otherwise be without or alone that blessing is found - the neighbourly kindness that we witness throughout our rural communities.

The Christmas message presents itself as an antidote to the commercialised holiday season. Some of the stories, films and plays through which it is proclaimed are fine works of art and have deservedly become classics. Others are perhaps shallow and predictable but hold enormous emotional appeal (I for one cannot miss White Christmas!).

It has been remarked that 'Our culture is hungry for heart-warming stories that show a world transformed by the coming of a lovely infant, by a single act of kindness, or by tradition, memory and communal celebration.'

The performing of rites and rituals, the re-telling of stories, and the use of symbols, make our lives more understandable, give to them a sense of continuity and enrich them immeasurably. All this is true for people of all times and all places.

For millions of us, it is never so true as at Christmas.

And so it is that we still make a pudding to Great Grandma's recipe; we hang all the well worn ornaments on the tree; we exchange cards with our old neighbours who we never hear from otherwise; we put refreshments out for Santa and Rudolf the red-nosed; we always buy a new pair of socks for dad; we go up to London and work for Crisis and give money to the Sally Army; we delight when Uncle Fred tells us again about his happy childhood Christmases; we have Brussel sprouts although we're not convinced we really like them - and, keeping up the family tradition, we go to our local Church to (hopefully) sing our favourite carols!

1st Dec 1st Advent Purple Clenston Houghton Milton Abbas Stickland

1000 Carol Service JHB/PC 1800 HC Celtic TS 1000 MW IB/WB 1500 Christingle SL

Whitechurch

15th Dec 3rd Advent Purple

22nd Dec 4th Advent Purple

24th Dec Christmas Eve Gold/White

25th Dec Christmas Day White

29th Dec Christmas 1 White

0930 HC AD 1800 EP Celtic SL 0830 HC BCP JS

1000 Carol Service JHB/JT 1000 HC JS

Turnworth

Clenston Houghton Milton Abbas Stickland Turnworth Whitechurch

8th Dec 2nd Advent Purple

All these traditions and many others will be enacted this Christmas season and, although there will likely be some friendly family disagreements, we will be warmed and enriched for another year.

Burt Bacharach and Hal David's words continue to ring true What the world needs now is love, sweet love It's the only thing there's just too little of What the world needs now is love, sweet love No not just for some but for everyone - and that reminds me of the wisdom of Howard Thurman When the the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among all, To make music in the heart.

All Christmas blessings on you and yours, Canon Janet Smith

5th January Epiphany White

12th January Baptism of Jesus White

1000 HC 1800 HC 1000 MW 0830 (BCP) sHC

1800 Celtic EP 0830 HC BCP 1000 MW 1000 HC

1800 Abbey Carol Service HE/RB 1000 HC JHB

1800 Carol Service TS 1000 HC TS 1000 MW SL

1000 HC Benefice service JS 1800 HC St C’s HE 1600 Candle Lit Service SL

1100 MW SL

1100 HC AD 1000 MW DA/PC

1600 Carol Service DA/PC

19th January Epiphany 3 White

26th January Epiphany 4 White

1800 EP 1000 HC

1000 HC 1000 MW 1800 HC 0830 (BCP) sHC

1000 MW

2330 HC KBOS FROM THE REGISTERS Funerals Burial of ashes June Vincent 10th Nov Milton Abbas Funeral Nicholas Hugh Wilson Auger 22nd Oct Stickland

Please check the benefice website - bwvmabenefice.uk - for more information and service updates SERVICES KEY: BCP 1662 Book of Common Prayer Traditional EP Evening Prayer HC Holy Communion (Eucharist) x Communion by extension SHC Service without hymns or music MW Morning Worship, informal service for all, with old & new hymns & songs, without HC Rev'd Sue Litchfield - SL Rev'd Jimmy Hamilton-Brown - JHB Rev'd Canon Tina Stirling - TS Rev'd Helier Exon - HE AD - Archdeacon of Dorset Rev'd Roger Butcher - RB Karen, Bishop of Sherborne - KBOS Piers Chichester - PC Ian Bromilow - IB Wilma Bromilow - WB Rev'd Canon Janet Smith - JS Jenny Tory - JT Debbie Albery - DA,

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8 summer, so why bother. Red cabbage coleslaw with finely sliced red onions, walnuts and grated celeriac tossed in a light mustardy mayonnaise is perfect with a baked jacket potato and slices of ham, smoked mackerel or grilled halloumi for a perfect lunch after walking the dogs or a morning in the garden raking up fallen leaves. Another winter favourite is baked apples - remove the core and fill with mincemeat, delicious with custard or ice cream or on its own, a quick and easy dessert that does all the work for you. Eating seasonally means that you get the best of the food of the time which also does not have to be picked unripe and travel for thousands of miles. I love asparagus but I love English asparagus in season, the flavour is what food is about and fresh asparagus is divine but when it has been picked, packed and turns up travel weary it has lost its vigour and its flavour. Cabbage can be much maligned and over boiled it is a travesty as all the sweetness and goodness have been destroyed and the water smells. Steamed or lightly sautéed with garlic and finely sliced leek it is altogether different, still green with a light bite to its texture and maintaining its nutty sweetness it is delicious. Carrots can be oh so boring, put on the plate for colour and no other reason, but there are so many ways to cook them rather than being boiled to death and roasted along with your joint or seasoned with cardamom and roasted separately, they shine as something delicious. So as the days get longer and darker enjoy winter vegetables as a joyous celebration of what the garden can give us.

Claire Scott

Inns were a place where revolutions began and plots discussed. This was especially true during the English Civil War when the ideas of equality, liberty, and freedom of publishing and expression were brought to everyone's attention. Pamphlets, petitions and demonstrations were mobilised, and discussion of what to do with the King, the House of Lords and the House of Commons aired.

In the late eighteenth century the inns were the places where French revolutionary ideas were disseminated, again concerning the power of the aristocracy, the House of Lords and the bishops, the lack of available land, and the corrupt electoral system in Britain. This is one reason for Lord Milton to specify in his leases of the new village of Milton Abbas after 1780 that the tenant "shall not nor will keep or permit or suffer to be kept any Inn Tavern Alehouse Victualling house or place of publick entertainment in or upon the premises." In contrast, the old town of Milton Abbas had previously had four inns. We know that Whitechurch and Hilton had inns at this time, and there were almost certainly inns at Stickland and Houghton too.

Surprisingly travellers were not charged for accommodation - but they were charged for the evening meal, and for the ostler to take care of the horses. Most inns accommodated coaches, even in villages, there are many coaching entrances still to be seen, and these led to a yard with stables. This yard was often used to put on entertainments, including plays. Beer was usually made on-site with malthouse and brewery, The Crown Inn in Milton Abbas even had its own cooperage.

Country inns generally only served beer, whereas the taverns in towns supplied wine, port, and gin.

In the days before sanitation and knowledge of infections, we would be appalled by the condition of the rooms, often sleeping several unrelated people in the same bed! There are plenty of travellers' journals of the 18th century which describe the conditions of the inns, some gained praise whilst others met opprobrium. For example, John Byng (Rides Round Britain) writes in 1782, "I intended to have dined at Whitechurch but there was no man in the ale-house to take care of my horse." This was a not uncommon occurrence. "At Blandford, wishing to avoid The Crown, I stop'd at the Greyhound but that was shut up; so I entered The Bear, where I found myself in a most miserable ale-house…"

The travellers' tales were a source of news for the locals, and were eagerly listened to, especially in these rural communities.

We know who the tenants were of the inns. They had to pay £10 every year for a licence, and had to have two backers who also paid £5 each. The original licences for Dorset are in the Dorset History Centre and can be downloaded by Ancestry subscribers. It would interesting if villages were to research their inns and innkeepers. Please get in touch if you have any information..

Bryan Phillips

The Circus I'll introduce you to the Circus Magician, who juggles with magic and fire.

If you've got a strong disposition, join the Acrobats on the high wire.

The Clowns with their comical car, which collapses as though it's unplanned.

The Musicians with their Oompah pah, lead the Performers who pose hand in hand.

The Ringmaster keeps them in order, wearing a top hat, and twirling a cane.

While dancing all around the border, are Horses with bells in their mane.

Trapeze Artists wear smiles on their faces, as each jump it is timed with a call.

And they leap across wide open spaces, with a net underneath should they fall The Animals perform with perfection, all the tricks they have learnt just for you.

While their Trainers give unseen direction, all hidden from Audience view.

Children sit watching with wonder, in their seats at the sides of the ring.

They laugh at the Clowns as they blunder, and Ooooh as the Trapeze Artists swing.

All too soon though the show will be over.

The giant tent will have to come down.

To reappear like a giant Supernova.

The next day, in the very next town. Jackie Grearson

Thanks again Valley Dairy I’m sure Tim, I speak for most of the residents here on Lady Bailey Residential Park, Just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for the excellent service you have given us over many years.

Robert Cowley, Lady Bailey Residential Park, Whitechurch

News from Corfe Mullen Well – yet another year is about to close – I can’t believe we have been in Corfe Mullen for over two years! We are all okay, apart from various problems with the horse and dogs – and various foot and leg problems with myself, but on the whole, we are okay. Life continues to be busy with quite a few visitors over the summer and autumn months Several things very different from Winterborne Stickland – the constant whine of ambulance and/or police car rushing to yet another emergency or indeed rushing to Poole hospital.

It seems crazy that they are still talking about closing the A&E department in that hospital – but let’s hope sense will prevail!

The other thing that is different – the bonfire night season – we had well over a week of fireworks – but as we live in a fairly large housing area, I suppose it is to be expected! Luckily our dogs didn’t panic – we have some very good double glazing! I was worried about my horse but he seems to be okay – his field is down in the valley with not too many housing estates!

May I take the opportunity of wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year and if anyone wants to pop in for coffee and mince pies please do so.

Heather and Des Sims

Local History - Inns Inns, which appeared in the 12th and 13th centuries, were different from pubs, alehouses and taverns as they were primarily concerned with providing accommodation for travellers.

Inns were as essential to every community as churches were. The local inn was not just a place for drinking, it was a meeting place, a place where one heard the news of local and national events, where stories were told, gossip exchanged, political and religious concerns were aired.

They also promoted sports and entertainment, often providing prizes, for example of clothes, much like the meat raffle of today. The "sport" could be bear baiting, bull baiting, or cock fighting, and the inn would be involved in the betting. Before the 19th century, competitive games, such as football, did not have rules, any number of people could be part of the team, and it could be extremely physical and dangerous. Often the game was between neighbouring villages, and invariably ended with a brawl, and more drinking. But more of this in another article.

12

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13

Harvest Festival celebrations at St. Mary’s Church, Whitechurch Sent by Natasha Deeney

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Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2020!

The Valley News participated in the Lord Mayor's Show when Alderman William Russell was installed as the 692nd Lord Mayor of London. The VN is on the steps of the Gold State Coach. Built in 1757 this is the oldest ceremonial vehicle in regular use in the world as the Queen's Gold State Coach and the Speaker's State Coach are used only on very rare occasions such as Coronations.

John Scott

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Times for regular events may change over Christmas COFFEE MORNING & CHARITY SHOP Mondays, 10.30am-12.00, St. Mary’s Church, Stickland WHITECHURCH YOUTH CLUB (7-14 year olds welcome) Mondays, 6.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall COFFEE STOP Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.0, St James, Milton Abbas CUP & CAKE Wednesdays 10.30-12.0, Old School Room, Whitechurch ROUND ROBIN RAMBLERS Sun 1st Dec, 1.30pm, Minterne Magna & Cerne Abbas Meet in car park opposite Minterne Magna Church Sun 5th Jan, 1.30pm, Broad Oak & Sturminster Newton Meet at Fiddleford Mill car park MILBORNE MOVIES presents 'THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS', Fri 6th Dec, 7.30pm, Milborne St. Andrew VH Bar open from 7pm. Tickets £3.50 BINGO, Fri 13th Dec AND Fri 17th Jan, 7.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall In aid of the Air Ambulance Dorset Wildlife Trust Talk - Wildflower Wonders, Wed 15th Jan, 7.30pm, Fontmell Magna Village Hall A talk by Dr. Bob Gibbons. Admission £2.50, children free

LAST CROSSWORD ANSWERS CRYPTIC Across: 1. Labourer 5. Frolic 9. Crosiers 10. Toucan 12. Equip 13. Polit Buro 14. Administered 18. Semi-detached 21. Tae Kwon Do 23. Elect 24. Raider 25. Theocrat 26. Cockle 27. Asteroid Down: 1. Lichen 2. Brogue 3. Unimpeded 4. Ear-splitting 6. Roost 7.

Lacquers 8. Concorde 11. Plain clothes 15. Therefore 16. Esoteric 17.

Amnesiac 19. Weirdo 20. Stated 22. Wheal CONCISE Across: 1. Rucksack 5. Scenes 9. Analysed 10. Fulmar 12. Okapi 13. Sarabande 14. Perfect Pitch 18. Dressing Gown 21. Ranunculi 23. Elbow 24. Brunch 25. Sicklier 26. Eddies 27. Sniggers Down: 1. Reason 2. Cravat 3. Sky divers 4. Cheese Fondue 6. Crumb 7. Nominate 8. Screechy 11. Precognition 15. Powder keg 16. Adorable 17. Bean curd 19. Oblige 20. Awards 22. Nacre

'Here's to the Last of Hard Times' may be an appropriate message when we are in the midst of a General Election with daily spending promises from the major political parties. Sadly this Christmas card was posted in Exeter on Christmas Eve 1913 and a year later the country was certainly enduring hard times with the outbreak of war. Let's hope it works out better this year!

John Scott

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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.

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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.

Answers will be given in the next edition.

CRYPTIC Across 1. Sweetheart in bedside arrangement (4) 3. Exercise regime is about several illusions losing kilo (10) 10. Fantasy fruit convened around November (7) 11. Semi-equestrian gold right after coin (7) 12. Soon to be out, award in hesitation (5) 13. Bananas are fried to be made thinner (8) 16. Winners bites? (6) 17. Lesser perhaps initially, yet more substantially, meaning the opposites (8) 19. Pains beset sick hero (8) 21. First coat reading book (6) 24. Crave one working after love exclusion (8) 25. Hammond, for example, in exchancellor gangland fracas (5) 27. Reflection of you before limits of Gomorrah initially troubled (7) 29. Famous uncle holding odd race, even bars irony (7) 30. Family in embarassed fish lighting once more (10) 31. Principal comes before anise (4)

Down 1. Garment hybridized of daft clue (6, 4) 2. Seaweed loses a supporter to form symbolic calculations (7) 4. God rested on a pot (6) 5. Scots son of stadium dance (8) 6. A hundred weight (3) 7. Foolishly, cathedral town comes after one grandma (7) 8. Countryman of scouser background (4) 9. Middle of connector, run out from Warsaw without hotel, is dead centre (10) 14. Knock down directors normally found on joists (10) 15. Roamers not roaming, she'd rather look upwards (10) 18. Glove in actual payment (8) 20. Poor actor simulated swinger (7) 22. Note handout produces expat (7) 23. Marriage, say, holds son together (6) 26. Where prisoners are kept in, most ironically (4) 28. Good fashionable drink (3)

CONCISE Across 1. Bait (4) 3. Some who looks after children (4-6)

10. Deity (7) 11. Place where birds live (7) 12. Egg shaped (5) 13. On its own (8) 16. Fossil fuel structure (3, 3) 17. Perfume dispenser (8) 19. Ordinary sailor (8) 21. Tested (6) 24. Most inebriated (8) 25. Chuck (5) 27. Unintended blemish when writing (34) 29. Observes (5, 2) 30. About (10) 31. A musical (4) Down 1. Mona Lisa (2, 8) 2. Bird (7) 4. Ascend on a rope (6) 5. Isle of White town (8) 6. Matrimonial agreement (1, 2) 7. Slayer of the Minotaur (7) 8. Shafts (4) 9. Road illuminators (10) 14. Liking (10) 15. Air currents near the equator (5, 5) 18. Not conquered (8) 20. Coward (7) 22. Coffee maker (7) 23. Purloined (6) 26. Metal (4) 28. Shelter (3)

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