CLUB NEWS

Leigh WI – February meeting

The Mayflower Marriage, Arminal Dare

We have, I am sure, all heard about the Mayflower, that plucky little ship that set sail in 1620 for America with 102 Pilgrims on board. They were heading to a new life, free from religious persecution, to a land of plenty where the rivers were full of fish and the forests alive with game.

The Mayflower and her sister ship, the Speedwell, were due to set sail in June 1634 but they had to turn back to Plymouth twice as the Speedwell was leaking.

They eventually got going in September by which time the westerly winds were blowing hard and they encountered many storms which hampered their progress and made their lives a misery. To make matters worse, their food supplies had been depleted with their long wait before setting out and starvation was a real concern.

The book, The Mayflower Marriage, which was the topic of our WI Talk, by Arminal Dare, follows the two main protagonists – and real people – Priscilla and John, on board and travelling to America with all their hopes and dreams. They are an unusual couple in that they see themselves as equals, where women in England were still the property of their husbands.

After two miserable months at sea, the ship arrives in the wrong place and they are forced to spend the hard winter on board; many of them die of cold and disease, leaving only 53 passengers and half the crew alive.

They call their new colony Plymouth and life in the early days is grim. Priscilla loses her father, mother and brother in quick succession to famine and disease, but John is her constant support and their relationship blossoms.

The sweeping, heroic narrative follows them throughout the remainder of their long and eventful lives, but you will have to read the book to discover how they survived the many hardships.

Although Arminal has written this as a novel, the historic facts are mostly true and well documented. She has the gift of turning bare facts into an uplifting and sometimes disturbing story.

The next WI meeting is 29 March at Leigh Village Hall at 2.30pm when Cindy Chant will tell us of the Life and Times of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Morag Orchard

49

Pathways Through Life was the title of the talk the Rev. Anthony Durkin gave to the Wriggle Valley Women’s Group at their February meeting, and his account of his own life showed how diverse such ‘pathways’ can be. Adopted at the end of World War II, Tony was brought up in Kent, with his mother very much encouraging his early love of music. An enthusiastic reader, he would often help fellow pupils with their reading; maths, though, was another matter, especially mental arithmetic...

It was while on a farm holiday that Tony fell in love with cows and learned how to milk which, being only seven at the time, would definitely raise eyebrows today. Yet it was the first step on a ‘pathway’ to agricultural college where he gained diplomas in tractor work and maintenance, plus a lifelong affection for the famous ‘Fergie’. It was around this time that, with the assistance of his parents, he ‘found’ his birth mother, and so gained a second family. He also discovered that his father had been a pilot in the US Air Force and hopes that, one day, it will be possible to track down a third family!

Married at 21 to Frances, a nurse – they later had a son, Christopher and a daughter, Penny – Tony spent some years as a successful farm manager, before another ‘pathway’ led to him joining the police. He was stationed at Yeovil and was among the last officers to receive a cycle allowance. Later, exchanging police service for prison service, he became part of a team that dealt with young offenders, and it was during that time he suddenly felt the call to follow another ‘pathway’. With Frances’ wholehearted support, he began training for the priesthood and, once ordained, became Vicar of St. Margaret’s near Dover, in Kent.

Yet, tragically, it was there that he lost Frances to cancer, and it was not until some years later that he met Margaret, who had also been widowed. Eventually they married and, when Tony retired, moved from Kent to Leigh in Dorset, where they soon became very much part of the village community, with Tony regularly taking services in St. Andrew’s Parish Church.

Finally, in summing up his illuminating talk, Tony said he felt his ‘pathways through life’ had, somehow, come full circle; though now, instead of milking cows, he is caring for two enchanting donkeys!

Wriggle Valley Women’s Group May meeting, an outing to ‘Future Roots’ (taking their tea with them), is on Tuesday 17 May.

Dorothy Baldock

WVCC: Spring and the season ahead

“For it was as if cricket had called the life back to the land: as if cricket had restored warmth to the sun, as if the grass was growing because cricket had demanded it, as if candlestick flowers appeared on the horse chestnut trees so that cricket grounds could look more crickety… that cricket was responsible for making the things grow, and that the turtle doves purred in the trees because they were required to accompany the sound of ball on bat and the sudden hoarse shouts of the fielders.

“The start of a new cricket season still fills me with hope and good cheer. But this mustn’t be confused with hope for victory...The real hope is to be found

in the fact that the whole process is starting again. It’s the continuation of the narrative that matters: the idea of starting again from where we left off.

“Cricket is a game rich in nostalgia, but all the nostalgia in the world is nothing when compared with spring. Never mind the old days: what about the new days? What about the life and promise and hope of the new season? What about the newly warm sun, the newly laundered whites, the fact that it’s all about to begin and – this is the best bit of all – you have absolutely no idea what happens next.”

From ’Spring is here’ by Simon Barnes, The Cricket Monthly, May 2015.

I hope the above has encouraged you to dare to look forward to the spring and cricket season ahead. We have done the hard yards of January and February, and by the time we go to print, we will have March tucked under our belt too. As April and May beckon, we can start to plot dates and events to look forward to on our calendars: nets will start soon after Easter if the weather is kind, with our first fixture on 11 May. Wriggle Valley Wriggle Valley Cricket Club

Wriggle Valley

CRIC K ET CL UB Fixtures for 2022 Wriggle Valley Cricket Club

Fixtures for 2022

CRIC K ET CL UB

May Buckhorn Weston Wed 11th 6.15pm home Blandford Flies Wed 18th 6.15pm home May Ibberton Buckhorn Weston Wed 25th 6.15pm Wed 11th 6.15pm home home Blandford Flies Wed 18th 6.15pm home

June Ibberton Wed 25th 6.15pm home

June Stour Provost Sun 5th 2pm home

Dorset Wanderers Stour Provost Fri17th 6.15pm Sun 5th 2pm home home Montague Wed 22nd away Dorset Wanderers Fri17th 6.15pm home Thornford Montague Wed 29th 6pm Wed 22nd away away

July Buckhorn Weston Thornford Wed 6th 6.15pm Wed 29th 6pm away away Sandon Strollers Sun 10th July home July Bournmouth Tchs Buckhorn Weston Sun 17th 2pm Wed 6th 6.15pm home away Thornford Sandon Strollers Wed 27th 6.15pm Sun 10th July home home Bournmouth Tchs Sun 17th 2pm home T20 T20 T20 T20 T20 T20 T30

T20 T30 T20 T20 T20 T20

T20 T20 TBA T20 T20 T20 TBA T20 T20 T20 T30 T20 T30

If you have played for the Wriggle Valley Cricket Club before, are a supporter or a Patron, we warmly welcome you back. If you have played before and want to find a new home for your talent or if you have not played before but would simply like the chance to give it a go, do get in touch with our captain (Jeff j.beaumont645@ btinternet.com).

If you would be interested in becoming a Patron of WVCC, please contact Steve for more details (steve. fudge@outlook.com).

For those who may be new to the area, Chetnole Playing Field serves as the home ground for the WVCC. It is a wonderful ground bounded by the River Wriggle, overlooked by St. Peter’s Church, with the Chetnole Inn beyond. The team is a great mix of ages and talent and it is this inclusivity that is at the heart of the club. Whilst we always like to win, having fun along the way is equally, if not more important. The home matches are always well attended by Chetnole’s band of enthusiastic supporters, so do please join us as a player or supporter – we would be delighted to meet you.

Wriggle Valley Wriggle Valley CRIC K ET CL UB Your local village cricket club CRIC K ET CL UB

2022 Fixtures Your local village cricket club 2022 Fixtures

With players drawn from

Batcombe - Chetnole - Melbury Bubb - Leigh - Hamlet Will HenryHermitage - Hilfield - Ryme Intrinsica - Yetminster - Beer Hackett - Stockwood With players drawn from Batcombe - Chetnole - Melbury Bubb - Leigh - Hamlet Hermitage - Hilfield - Ryme Intrinsica - Yetminster - Beer 51 Hackett - Stockwood

After the disappointment of the last two years, we are delighted to announce that the Club reopens on Tuesday 5 April at Leigh Village Hall, with a Social Evening and Valuation Competition from 7.30 to 10.00pm.

We have a summer programme and are working on our Winter programme. All Club members and new members are very welcome. We look forward to seeing you all again.

Mick Harris

mick.hilfield@outlook.com 07970 730656

Yetminster & Ryme Garden, Art & Crafts Society

With gardens just beginning to show signs of life, it was perfect timing for our annual buying trip to Castle Gardens, organised as part of their Gold Club scheme. Incentivised by a 25% discount, it is not surprising that there was an enthusiastic turnout, filling the Butterfly House where we were welcomed by Brian King.

Brian gave us a quick introduction to what was on offer, starting with onion sets, through beans and potatoes and finishing up with a range of bulbs and plants. It is amazing how one can suddenly have a sudden, and very strong, desire for a plant which has never, previously, been on the list.

Then it was time to shop. It was a grey afternoon, surprisingly cold and with intermittent showers. Not the sort of day to browse but, despite the conditions, many trolleys could soon be seen weaving their way around the displays with determined shoppers dodging the rain and consulting their lists.

And when the cold began to bite, we were able to take refuge in the beautiful new café, which has only just been opened at Castle Gardens, for a complimentary cup of tea.

A very satisfying afternoon for all our members and a big thank you to Castle Gardens for their hospitality. And congratulations for managing to organise deliveries the very next day.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 12 April in the Jubilee Hall at 7.30pm when we will welcome Jenny Short who will be talking about Rugs, Cushions and Carpets – ground cover planting.

Carol Debell

Erigeron