December 2020/January 2021 No.331 by Wriggle Valley Magazine

WRIGGLE VALLEY MAGAZINE No 331 December 2020/January 2021

In this issue: Remembrance Services across the Benefice 97 Miles for the Yeovil Yompers History of the Christmas Tree

DECEMBER’S POEM

Christmas

G.K.Chesterton wrote a number of Christmas Poems, some were published with a collection of Christmas Stories. This poem was written after Chesterton spotted a statement in the press from

G.K.CHESTERTON

his local Chief Constable claiming that children carol singing in the street was illegal and even ‘morally and physically injurious’. This was his response, though don’t try matching it to the tune....

God rest you merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay; The Herald Angels cannot sing, The cops arrest them on the wing, And warn them of them docketing Of anything they say. God rest you merry gentlemen, May nothing you dismay: On your reposeful cities lie Deep silence, broken only by The motor horn's melodious cry, The hooter's happy bray. So, when the song of children ceased And Herod was obeyed, In his high hall Corinthian With purple and with peacock fan, Rested that merry gentleman; And nothing him dismayed. Chesterton was born in London, in 1874. He was drawn into writing almost accidentally, after being asked to contribute to art magazines. He went on to become one of the most prolific writers of his time, essentially in four spheres: social criticism, literary criticism, religious and comic essays, though often his most humorous pieces would lead to a telling and serious conclusion. He wrote over 100 books and poems, five plays, five novels and 200 short 2

GKC: funny man, funny hat

stories, including, his hugely popular series featuring detective/priest Father Brown. The New Yorker called his The Man Who Was Thursday “one of the hidden hinges of twentieth-century writing, the place where, before our eyes, the nonsense -fantastical tradition of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear pivots and becomes the nightmare, fantastical tradition of Kafka and Borges”. Running after one’s hat and In defence of nonsense were of similar originality and brilliance.

CONTENTS EDITORIAL 5 Hedgehog alert p21

Investigating medieval scratch dials p23

Millennium Hangings in Yetminster p39

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGES

Batcombe 6 Beer Hackett 8 Chetnole 11 Hermitage 21 Leigh 24 Ryme Intrinseca 37 Yetminster 38

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

CLUB NEWS

POGLES WOOD EXPLORERS 52 OTHER NEWS

OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES 58 Afghan Connection news p23

PLANNING 62 REGULAR EVENTS

ADVERTISERS’ REGISTER

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e: wvm.editor@gmail.com www.wrigglevalleymagazine.co.uk Chairman: Graham Plaice gplaice@gmail.com 01935 872921 Editor: Kathryn Edwards wvm.editor@gmail.com Secretary & Diary: Judith Palmer ja_palmer@btinternet.com Treasurer: Rob Barfoot 01935 873306 rbarfoot48@gmail.com Advertising & Villages coordinator: Gordon Ratcliffe 01935 872996 gojan@btinternet.com Design & Production: Left Field / Remous Print Distribution: David Wallace 01935 873077 djwallace@gmail.com Copy Deadline: 12th of month prior to publication, 5th of month if artwork required Maximum article length: 400 words Photographs: either jpeg (300dpi minimum) via e mail or originals Village news please e mail /deliver to your village rep (see contact details under each village heading) Collection points for handwritten or typed articles: WVM Box Old School Gallery Yetminster (on the Boyle cafe) No 1 Cloverhay, Yetminster Printed by Remous Print, Sherborne

Other than when I was small, birthdays have not been that important (even less so now, when I’d rather forget them altogether). Christmas, however, has always been marked with great celebration and happiness; my family comes together, with the addition of spouses and children, to enjoy the warmth, laughter and ‘hygge’. As we go to press, we hope that restrictions will be eased for the festive period, so that people can get together after such a desperate year of distancing. There are reminders in this Christmas issue of those we think of at this time of year – from the Remembrance services across the Benefice, to the Yeovil Yompers raising money for Save the Children and the Emergency Box for food in Leigh church. There is a wonderful update from the Afghan Connection, the charity supported by St. Peter’s church, Chetnole. I would like to welcome Tom Beels as the new rep for Hermitage; he has taken up the baton from Keith Warren-Price, who has reported on all the news, stories, and photos from Hermitage for the last four years. My sincere thanks to Keith for all his hard work and commitment to the magazine. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a hope for a happier, healthier 2021.

Kathryn Edwards Editor 5

BATCOMBE

REP & DISTRIBUTOR: Johnny Gibbs jg@intramar.co.uk 83187

Photo: J Gibbs

View of the Wriggle Valley from Great Head, with autumn mists

Batcombe Church We plan to have the traditional Christmas Eve Children’s Carol service at Batcombe church at 3.00pm on Thursday 24 December, with mulled wine and mince pies. There will be some changes this year to ensure we are Covid-secure; final arrangements are yet to be confirmed but people will almost certainly have to book. Although no sung carols inside are possible, we will probably sing one in the candlelit churchyard at the end of the service. We hope that the traditional readings might be interspersed with music from our usual orchestra but, at the time of writing, this is still to be planned. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions mean 6

that we will not be allowed a Christmas Day service at Batcombe this year. Despite the scaffolding and the restrictions, we managed to hold a socially distanced service on 25 October. It was well attended with several friends from the Wriggle Valley and elsewhere. The Rev. Jonathan Herbert from the Friary officiated. At the Remembrance service held on 8 November in the churchyard in Yetminster, Andrew Graham read out the names of the fallen from Batcombe and the other parishes – Hilfield, Ryme Intrinseca and Yetminster. A solemn and physically distanced service but, under the gentle light of the Autumn sun, it was also a very moving one.

Not much else to report except for an exciting and unusual sighting of two different hedgehogs on two consecutive nights between Leigh and Batcombe. Such a rare occurrence now. The Batcombe church lottery prizewinners were: October 2020 1st

No 6

Archie Cameron

No 35

Dawn Andrews

3rd

No 43

Eddie Shelford

Thought from the Rise of the Wriggle “Never forget that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.” Nelson Mandela

Johnny Gibbs Caper and Treacle sit attentively

Photo: J Gibbs

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on West Hill

BEER HACKETT

REP: John Parker johnwincanton@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Susan Ferdinand

Photo: John Parker

Our annual parochial church meeting on 2 October marked the official end of Mrs. Veronica Crane’s 24-year service as our PCC treasurer. Following the meeting, Rev. Tony Gilbert presented Veronica with a hardback copy of ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’ by Simon Jenkins, from our PCC in recognition and with grateful thanks for her long and loyal service. We are delighted to

welcome our new treasurer Mrs Mengxi Gibson and thankful to her for taking on this role in our PCC. In mid-October Mr. Nick Swann, an amateur video maker from Warminster, visited to make a video of St. Michael’s Church and grounds. Nick’s aim is to make records of old English churches in which he is interested, especially in Dorset. He had already made an excellent video of St. Peter’s in Chetnole (see the November issue) and we are similarly impressed with his results for us. Do have a look on Youtube https:// youtube/FJBu-ECA8dg. Our Service of Remembrance on 8 November was cancelled and we were able to join the service at St. Mary Magdalene, Thornford instead. St. Michael’s was decorated with poppies and open as usual on Sundays (and Wednesdays) for private prayer.

warmth and anticipation we usually share in a well-attended service. We are making plans to hold a socially distanced event outside on Wednesday 16 December at 6.00pm, which we hope will enable us to come together and enjoy looking ahead to Christmas. Please keep an eye on the website www. threevalleysteam.org and local posters for up to date information on our carol service and Christmas services. Thank you. John Bingham

Friends of St. Michael’s

With sadness we realise it will be impossible to hold our traditional carol service in the usual way, with all the

These are strange and difficult times and most of us will have been affected in some way by the Coronavirus epidemic. Sadly, the epidemic has caused Friends of St. Michael’s to significantly curtail its planned activities for 2020 and we have had to cancel the village party and jazz concert planned for June; suspend our village lottery (although we anticipate this recommencing in 2021); and defer our first AGM, which was initially scheduled for May 2020, then re-scheduled for September 2020, and is now planned for February 2021, probably via Zoom. However, we’re still here. A big thank you to our membership for your continuing support, which is greatly appreciated. Our website https://www. friendsofstmichaelschurchbeerhackett. org will continue to operate as a village resource and we plan to create a Message Board page for useful posts concerning Beer Hackett and surrounding areas. If you would like to make a post, please contact Olive Davison firemoon2015@ hotmail.com or John Trench john. trench2@btinternet.com John Trench 9

Rebel Book Club

I started Rebel Book Club with a friend in 2015 when we realised we both suffered from what the Japanese call ‘Tsundoku’ – the growing pile of unread books on your bedside table. We both loved reading – especially nonfiction books about the world – but often found we didn’t get past chapter 3. We looked for a book club to join but couldn’t find one that felt like a good fit for us. So, we started our own – Rebel Book Club. The idea was simple, every month we would encourage and support each other to read one non-fiction book before meeting in an unusual place and enjoying a book-inspired cocktail. We would look at what lessons we could learn from the book and apply in our lives. We’ve kept this routine up for 67 months in a row, and now have 1000s of members all over the world. We cover topics like nature, finance, gender, race, music icons, creativity and technology. I even now work on it as a full-time small business. Since the pandemic, I’ve been hosting online meetups with hundreds of members and authors, all from Beer Hackett. There is a library box of ‘rebel books’ in the Beer Hackett Church unlocked porch, available for those interested in something different to read. If you – or someone you know – is curious by nature and likes to learn about new things then come and join us at rebelbook.club Ben Keene 10

What’s in a name? A series on the origin of Wriggle Valley Village Names. Number 3. Beer Hackett The dictionary of British Place Names lists a ‘Bera’ dating from 1176 and a ‘Berehaket’ from 1362. The first part of the name is probably a derivative of the West Saxon ‘beara’ or Old English ‘bearu’, one of many in the South West called Beer(e) or Bear(e), meaning ‘grove or ‘wood’. Haket is probably a manorial affix, taken from a 12th century owner of that name. The parish church of St Michael was rebuilt in 1882 (except for the tower) and seats 100 people, an expansive plan perhaps, anticipating perfect attendance or packed congregations for weddings and funerals, as the population of the entire parish, including Knighton, was about 85 persons around that time.

E A Fry bestseller? Original 1896 edition bottom right

The parish registers date from 1549. They were transcribed by Edward Alexander Fry in 1896 and his small volume clearly has enduring appeal, as at least three further editions of his work have been published since, one as recently as 2017.

CHETNOLE with

Hamlet, Melbury Bubb & Stockwood

REP: Liz Tebbatt 873140 tebbatttowers@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Stan Darley

View towards Chetnole from Stockwood

Well here we are, the last month of 2020 and I’m sure that by now most of us will be glad to see the back of it for obvious reasons. I really hope that by the time you read this, you will be looking forward to the end of lockdown2 (with no extensions) and making preparations for Christmas, in whatever form it is allowed. It’s been a strange experience this COVID-19 but what has really lifted my spirits is seeing the resilience and stoicism of everyone and the determination not to let it beat us. We’ve learned new skills we never thought we’d develop and have become more innovative in maintaining connections with jobs, family and friends, leisure activities – we even had a Covid-secure flower show! So I wanted to say Well Done You and keep it going, you’re doing great! We send our love to Nick and the family as we remember our wonderful Bella and her amazing work as editor over the years and also congratulate our new editor Kathryn who is doing a fantastic job too. Merry Christmas to you all and wishing you a happy, hopeful and healthy new

year. See you all soon in the February 2021 issue. Liz Tebbatt

St Peter’s Church Chetnole church will remain open on Wednesdays and Sundays, with book exchange and foodbank as usual. However, the door will be closed, as it is getting cold and blustery heading into winter. Hand sanitiser is provided. We were sorry to have to cancel Remembrance Sunday service because of regulations. We hope many of you took the opportunity to stop into church for a quiet moment either on 8 or 11 November, or were able to look at the displays of poppies, wreaths and crosses.

Many thanks to the Guides for the lovely paper poppies which they gave this year – their painted stones from a few years ago still look wonderful.

We have two dates for your Christmas calendar! These are obviously dependent on guidelines in place at the time, so more details will be given as we know more, but we hope they will be possible one way or another: Sunday 20 December at 5:30pm – Carol service Christmas Day at 9:45am – Family service Aly Kozowyk

Yeovil Yompers for Save the Children As the 16th Greasy Spoon Cafe has been postponed until next year, we thought we would raise funds for Save the Children through sponsorship by walking 97 miles by Christmas Jumper day on 11 December. This is the length of the Jurassic coast path. Other branches from the South West will be joining us. Some of the 97 miles will be completed with extended dog walks locally. Aly, Bee, Sarah and Ginny are the Yeovil Yompers; please sponsor us by going to our Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/YeovilYompersforSCF

Bee Grant Peterkin 12

PS. Save the Children cards are still available at Chetnole Mill, even on Christmas Eve if you have run out of wrapping paper! Tel: 872255.

Chetnole Village Hall needs your help Chetnole Village Hall is, quite rightly, in the centre of our village. Folk like Photo: Liz Tebbatt to think it is also the heart, or hub, of the village. The Hall Management Committee give a lot of their time and energy to make this so. We do not enjoy financial support from our local authority, so we must raise funds to pay the considerable maintenance costs. We do this by hiring the Hall to various community groups and by organising shows and entertainments throughout each year.

However, in line with government restrictions the Hall has largely been closed since March, exceptions being the outreach Post Office and, more recently, the re-opening of Wednesday coffee mornings, neither of which attract hire charges. Thus, we have received no regular income since March and now need to dip into reserves. We were lucky to receive two bequests earlier this year which have helped, plus there are residents who thankfully support the Village Hall with covenants. Our Chairman, Gwen Adair, says, “We keep hire costs to a minimum to better support the community and we intend to maintain this policy. However, with no current hiring income, we need extra help from our friends”. Although we understand the present situation is difficult for everyone and this is likely to continue for some time, we do need support to keep the Village Hall alive. Please would you consider entering a four-year covenant for a fixed amount, payable annually during each of those four years, on a date suitable to you. This would help cover running costs and provide continuity and a future for YOUR Village Hall. Should you not wish to make a full four year commitment then a “one-off” donation would be most welcome. An easy way to help your Village Hall When shopping with Amazon go to smile.amazon.co.uk and select Chetnole Village Hall from the list of charities. You then simply proceed with your ordering in the usual way. There is no extra cost to you but Amazon will donate 0.5% of the value of your purchases to Chetnole Village Hall. 13

To offer support, please contact John Head – Treasurer (873555) or David Russell – Secretary (873816)

Chetnole Village Hall Management Committee

Internet connection in Chetnole As many of us know, the internet connection in Chetnole is being pushed to the limit this year. With lockdown, there are more people in the village, some working from home, and many of us have endured a frustratingly slow connection, making work, video calls and uploads/downloads a testing experience. Sophie Charrington has been in touch with Wessex Internet (WI) who are offering rural areas in the South West the unique opportunity to receive Full Fibre Network across the village, via the Government’s Rural Gigabit Connectivity Voucher Scheme. Not only would this provide the entire community with much faster internet speeds via WI’s fibre optic cables, but the voucher would allow us to offset the cost of this usually expensive installation. Residents of Chetnole can claim a £1,500 voucher, and businesses a £3,500 voucher, towards the project (we also have the option of using the new Dorset top up fund announced this 14

year which would add to these vouchers considerably). To receive these vouchers, Sophie is asking as many residents as possible to register their interest on the Wessex Internet website: www.wessexinternet. com/iwantfullfibre/ – the more interest we get, the more vouchers we will receive, and the more likely it will be completely free! Should we be successful, there will be a non-intrusive installation, after which residents will receive a monthly internet bill from Wessex Internet, replacing their current provider, while they enjoy super-fast streaming, high quality video calls with family and an uninterrupted workflow. For those who have already registered, you can sit back and relax while Sophie waits to hear from WI as they apply for funding from the Government based on our interest. For those who haven’t – what are you waiting for?

If you have any questions about the scheme, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Wessex Internet – full contact details are on their website (www. wessexinternet.com)

Halloween Spooky Walk We enjoyed a walk around the village on Halloween, seeing all the pumpkins displayed in people’s driveways. Everyone had made a real effort to celebrate the time of year and bring a smile to all of the children. Betty the dog nearly got an unexpected treat too! Malena Burgess

An appeal for help from Dave and Ruth Rose We are desperate to find a solution to our situation and would be grateful if there is anybody in the area who could be interested in helping us. Dave sustained a Spinal Cord Injury in March 2019 but has now been out

of hospital for seven months following his year-long stay in the Salisbury Spinal Unit. He is totally paralysed from midchest downwards but is fully able to converse and be involved in all aspects of his care. The NHS provide us with two full-time live-in carers who are sourced via a Care Agency. To maintain continuity of care, the Agency’s plan is to have three permanent carers working in rotation (often each carer can only stay for a few days) and this is fine if everyone gets on; for a time we had a very happy household. Unfortunately, the main carer who was with us since Dave’s return home had to leave and since her departure, the situation here has deteriorated dramatically. I wonder if there is anybody in the Wriggle Valley area who knows someone who might be interested in joining our household? If so, we would presumably need to go through the Care Agency, but this could be discussed. It might suit two friends or perhaps a husband and wife team. 16

Dave and I are both 80 but we’re only old in years, not in outlook. We are optimistic and sociable, and I am fit, well and active and able to support Dave’s care. We hope to acquire a wheelchair vehicle to enable our carers to take Dave out and about. We appreciate that the Covid-19 situation makes finding carers more difficult but hope there is somebody in our area who could help us to solve our problem by providing the quality and consistency of carers that our situation requires. Email: kestruda@talktalk.net With my thanks for spending time to read my appeal. Ruth Rose

Fuel groups – delivery dates for 2021 Chetnole Fuel Group delivery dates for 2021 are as follows: January 10 February 26 April 15 June 17 August 19 October 7 November 25

You may also order for any of the Leigh/ Yetminster fuel delivery dates, as follows: February 12 April 30 June 25 September 20 October 21 November 29

Buy at the 5000 litre rate. Please contact John Sanford on 01935 872973 at least five working days before delivery.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN WVM AND REACH 1300 HOMES ACROSS THE WRIGGLE VALLEY Rates include a 150 word editorial and free advertising on our Website. See page 3 for details.

HERMITAGE

REP: Tom Beels tom@beelsandco.com DISTRIBUTOR: Faith Hervey

Photo: Jan Pescott

The residents of Hermitage would like to thank Keith Warren-Price for all his hard work on the multitude of village news, messages, articles and photographs that have been published here in the WVM. Great job Keith! I have now taken over the role of Hermitage rep for the magazine, so please let me have your news – tom@ beelsandco.com Tom Beels

Macmillan coffee morning Regretfully it was not possible to hold a coffee morning to raise money for charity during the Summer, but Hermitage Village Hall sent a cheque for £250 to Macmillan Cancer Support. Jan Pescott

Hedgehog alert! There have been lots of hedgehog sightings in Hermitage recently, which is excellent. It is important for their wellbeing that we play our part in helping them to thrive. Here are some tips that may interest nature lovers. • Leave areas of the garden ‘wild’, with piles of leaf litter and logs. These are an attractive nest as well as a home for the invertebrates (slugs, beetles) that hedgehogs like to eat. • Try to leave gaps in your boundary fencing if you can, they can travel a long way! • Making an artificial home can be as simple as placing a piece of board against a wall. 21

• Food and fresh water will encourage hedgehogs to return. Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food (not fish-based) and crushed dog or cat biscuits. Specialist hedgehog food is also recommended and can be bought from wildlife food suppliers. • Never feed hedgehogs milk as it can cause diarrhoea; instead, provide plain, fresh water in a shallow bowl.

• Cover drains and holes and place bricks at the side of ponds to give hedgehogs an easy route out. • Check for hedgehogs before using strimmers or mowers, particularly under hedges where animals may rest. Check compost heaps for nesting hogs before forking over. • Build bonfires as close to time of lighting as possible and check them thoroughly before lighting.

SCRATCH DIALS: Medieval Sundials A scratch dial is a primitive – little use at night! But they medieval clock cut into the were doomed by the advent of stone of a church, usually clocks and a settled method on the south porch or a of recording time beyond nearby buttress. Typically, individual villages, and by the there is a hole large enough needs of a better educated to insert a wooden peg as population. By 1600, scratch a ‘style’ to cast the sun’s Yetminster dials had been outcompeted. shadow. From this centre The most complete of the Dating individual dials point, crudely scratched two dials more accurately than ‘early’, radiating lines mark the hours, with ‘transitional’ or ‘late’ is hard. None noon at the bottom. The earliest dials – appear in contemporary records. Over ‘mass dials’ – are often basic but were a the centuries many have eroded or have simple way to remind passers-by of the been damaged or defaced. Some were times of the daily Masses. relocated during restoration, a few of These fixed, vertical dials preceded these upside any established time system, let alone down! We are is clocks, and took no account of seasons fortunate to have or other variables. In our terms they some excellent were hopelessly inaccurate, besides examples of having the obvious sundial problems these intriguing with cloudy weather and dusk. Bit by bit, medieval relics dial designs became more sophisticated. clearly visible on Thornford Unusual dial on the window Radials were graduated to record time several churches ledge east of the porch (two more accurately as the sun rose and in our Benefice, windows have these). The declined. Complete semicircles and including a rare vertical stone edge of the window acts as the gnomon added decoration became increasingly window type in to cast a shadow. popular. Some were set inside a full Thornford. On circle, some had dot markers, some even some churches – Yetminster and Bradford had both. Later ones added numerals. A Abbas, for example – there is more than few ambitious ones show a full 24 hours one dial. It is still possible to find an unrecorded one. All these dials date back 400 years and each one adds to the rich history of our villages, our Bradford Abbas Hermitage Holwell churches and their Two adjacent dials Single dial set low down on the Two dials on the high up on the nave wall east of the porch right side of the medieval past. buttress to the left of porch, the lower Keith Salvesen the porch one very eroded 23

LEIGH

REPS: Philippa Toulson philippa.toulson@gmail.com Eddie Upton upton.eddie@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Judy Tuke

Christmas creeps ever nearer and, in this strange year, I imagine very few of us have any firm plans. The seasons pass, and this autumn has been particularly spectacular, but the human side of life doesn't seem to have caught up with the natural world. We have been so distracted by COVID issues and regulations, domestic politics and the American election that the passage of time, for once, has been almost a side issue. It seems more important than ever to think of our neighbours and to be aware that some are considerably worse off than we are. Not so long ago, the BBC Countryfile programme included a feature on rural food banks and focused particularly on our local one in Sherborne. What struck many 24

of us was that they showed footage of Leigh. Surely, we aren’t touched by rural poverty – are we? Well, perhaps we are. So please can we remind you that there is an Emergency Box in the church. This contains a variety of tinned and dried foods which are there for villagers to use in any sort of emergency, including lack of transport. If you do help yourself, please try and replace items as soon as you are able. Finally, some very happy news that just missed last month’s magazine. Congratulations to Chloe and Steve on the birth of Fern. We look forward to making a proper fuss of them every time we see them in the village.

Philippa Toulson and Eddie Upton

eternal appreciation of the sacrifice made to maintain our freedom”. We heard that on this day a hundred years ago, the body of an unknown British soldier was repatriated from France and laid in the tomb in Westminster Abbey. At the same time the Cenotaph was unveiled in Whitehall as our national memorial.

St Andrew’s Church, Leigh We at the church been lucky these past four weeks. We had two Services of Holy Communion thanks to our clergy team, and we managed a gathering in the church on Bible Sunday, 25 October, and a Remembrance Day Service in the church yard on 8 November. For Bible Sunday we heard the remarkable story of a young, sick prisoner in 1943 on the Burma/Siam Railway who collected hundreds of bibles and set up a Bible Lending Service within the prison. This proved so popular for the 4,000 prisoners that he had to ration his bibles to one hour per person. For Remembrance Sunday, with a small congregation from Chetnole and Leigh, we watched Caroline Birdsell enter the church alone to lay the wreath on our brass War Memorial, “on behalf of all the residents of Leigh Parish, in

The beautiful formality of our outdoor Service in Leigh, and the awe-inspiring words from St John 15 left us all feeling serene and thankful. Our open-air commemoration continued on Armistice Day, 11 November, at the eleventh hour when we scattered poppy seed in the churchyard and remembered “In Flanders Fields the poppies blow/ Between the crosses row on row.” Hilary Cumming 25

2020 Christmas Carol Service St Andrew’s Leigh has a long history of epic Carol Services! For years, the church has been packed on Christmas Eve and people of all ages have contributed to a real community event. Clearly this year will be different. At the time of writing it is not certain that anything will be possible, but we are rightly proud of our tenacity and are therefore starting to plan an event of some sort. We hope we will be able to have a carol service in the churchyard and, in view of the shorter days, think that it would be better to hold it on the afternoon of Sunday 20 December at 2.30pm Please could you get in touch if your children would like to be involved in the nativity play. philippa.toulson@gmail.com Philippa Toulson

Our services are likely to be a mixture of clergy and lay-led, with the lay-led ones being our brand new Service for Six. These will be held on Sunday mornings and afternoons for just six people and it is essential that you book your place by contacting Eddie on 07813 089002 or upton.eddie@gmail.com If all goes according to plan, our Christmas Communion service will be at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. Finally, we hope that we will start December with a pair of spanking new hand-crafted gates. Thanks to Mr Chutter and his craftsmen for doing such a fantastic job and thank you to the people who have made such generous contributions towards the cost. We are of course more than happy to receive further donations. We hope you have a joyful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Alaistair Cumming and Eddie Upton, Churchwardens

Fuel Group delivery dates 2021 The Leigh/ Yetminster Fuel Group delivery dates for 2021 are as follows:

Services Well, we are writing this in November, uncertain about what we can do and when. Currently we can’t hold standard services though, thanks to our small army of cleaners, the church is open every day until 2.00pm. According to the Government’s hopes, we should be able to start services again on 6 December, but please keep your eye on the church notice board or get in touch with one of us. 26

You may also order for any of the Chetnole dates which are as follows: January 10

February 12

February 26

April 30

April 15

June 25

June 17

September 20

August 19

October 21

October 7

November 29

November 25

Buy at the 5000 litre rate. Please contact John Sanford on 01935 872973 at least five working days before delivery.

Leigh Parish Council update In late October, it proved necessary to close the Leigh play park due to some shortcomings in two pieces of equipment. These are now rectified, and the facility is open once more and, thankfully, permitted to remain open despite the current Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Details on the new slide that is to be installed on the mound have now been finalised, and we expect this work to commence shortly. We aim to plant some trees and establish some occasional benches at various points around the perimeter of the village green. With the kind help of Bob Cutler, we now have a comprehensive list of desirable trees, and a provisional location plan. Anyone in the village who might be interested in sponsoring a bench or a tree, and/or helping with the planting should contact Annabel Ward (wards@totnell.co.uk ). The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) can now provide a full night HEMS – Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. This night capability depends however on there being an appropriately certified night landing site near to the patient. Leigh’s village green has now been assessed by the DSAA’s chief pilot as being entirely suitable for this purpose. So, if one night (or of course, day) you see or hear their helicopter landing on the village green, do not be alarmed. It is indeed good to know that we are now so well served for anyone requiring such immediate assistance. The restoration of our parish ‘fingerposts’ continues to progress,

thanks to the on-going efforts of Graham Fudge, Gordon Morris, Les Wallis, Bill Jolliffe and Steve Addison. However, as explained in the October edition of this magazine, this is proving to be a much greater task than originally envisaged. In particular, the very large number of replacement aluminium cast letters required have driven up the cost considerably, to the extent that funding has now become an issue. Even with the discount that we have managed to secure so far from the materials supplier (Dorset AONB), renovation of each post is about £350. If anyone (or any group) is interested in sponsoring one of these parish signposts (or even one finger), please contact Graham Fudge (grahamfudge51@gmail.com) Alan Bennett arcbennett@hotmail.co.uk

2020 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal – Hermitage, Hilfield, Batcombe and Leigh As explained in the October edition of this magazine, a door-todoor Poppy Appeal collection was ruled out for this year. Thankfully however, the RBL approved the placing of collection facilities in high footfall locations; so poppy trays and collection ‘tins’ were positioned in Leigh Village Stores and The Old Vicarage. I also established one at Stone House, as several kindly passed me their donation in person. Despite this suspension of a personal service to your door, your ever-kind annual donations in remembrance of those of our Armed Forces personnel killed 27

during active service for their country, and in support of the severely injured who remain among us, raised a total of £482.32 in aid of the 2020 RBL poppy appeal. Although considerably down compared to normal years when our doorto-door collection team has been out and about, a huge thank you to all those who have given so generously once more to our local collection effort during this difficult year. And thank you too to those who gave so generously at the short-notice outdoor Remembrance Service held at St. Andrew’s church, during which a further £140 was donated. Unsurprisingly, the planned talk in Leigh village hall by Admiral Sir George Zambellas had to be cancelled. However, with luck he will be available next year – Friday 12 November 2021 is the date for your diary. Let’s hope the pending vaccine and associated inoculations will allow normal service to be resumed by then. Looking ahead, I would very much like to be able to offer some of the more senior members of our local collecting team the opportunity to pass their annual fundraising effort on to someone younger – so please do contact me if you feel you might help next year. A couple of hours of your time is all that is involved – I will provide you with all the necessary wherewithal. My email address is archennett@hotmail.co.uk Alan Bennett Poppy Appeal coordinator for Hermitage, Hilfield, Batcombe and Leigh

Village Hall AGM The Village Hall’s AGM was conducted as a ‘virtual AGM’ on Tuesday 3 November. The Annual Report and its Financial Report had been forwarded 28

to all Committee members and to the village website. There was no dissent nor any questions. So, we are healthy both physically and financially. During the year we have had the floor resurfaced, the curtains and chairs cleaned, the old shed removed, and the new shed given a protective coat before the winter. A new sound system is installed and many of the card tables have a new baize. We are delighted to report that all the Committee have agreed to continue their trusteeship through 2021. My thanks to Duncan Moore who has agreed to continue until after the Leigh Festival planned for mid-summer 2021. And to Michael Morrell who will put to bed our annual accounts at the end of January. Both Alaistair Cumming and I will also step down after the AGM in 2021. We will be in our 80s and it’s time for new blood. Looking to the future, we have had a limited use of the Hall and this may be the case for a while. We will of course continue to repair and make good the Hall and its surroundings. However, a big thank you to those who have supported us and let us wish for a better time in 2021. Lastly, a grateful thank you to our mini-market Wednesday traders who have supported us through the lockdowns. A Happy Christmas to you all.

Julian Turnbull and Alaistair Cumming

New yoga classes at Leigh Village Hall Professional yoga teacher Angela Renton B.W.Y. is starting two new yoga classes – a class for specifically for men on Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am and a YogaFit class on Wednesdays, 9.15-10.15 am. These will start as soon as lockdown is lifted. As we move into winter, Angela designed these classes to help people improve their strength, flexibility and stamina. Attendees will also learn various relaxation techniques and exercises to improve energy levels and boost the immune system. Exercise is known to help people physically, mentally and emotionally which, during these challenging times can be of great benefit. Taking time to relax and improve your breathing can help to maintain your health and promote better sleep. It doesn’t matter what your level of fitness or experience may be, as Angela offers a relaxed, fun and informative style of teaching. She says she felt the need to run a men’s class to encourage more men to experience the benefits yoga has to offer. She previously taught a men’s group for two years at Guy’s Marsh Prison with great reviews about the benefits the men felt from their sessions. For those who have a level of fitness and would like to use yoga to improve then the YogaFit class is designed to help. If you have any queries or would like to book a place, please call 0777 365 1530 or look at the website, livingrhythmsyoga.wordpress.com. Due to social distancing there are only 10 places available, so please book in advance if you can.

Message from Gill Nash Peter James Nash 19.08.47 – 26.08.20 James Owen Nash 12.02.78 – 08.08.20 Thank you so much to all who sent such heartfelt messages of sympathy and fond memories following the deaths in August of my wonderful husband and our beloved son. They both touched the lives of many in the community, and we are heartbroken by these tragic events. There will be tributes to follow in the fullness of time.

Gill Nash

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NOVEMBER WINNERS. If you would like to take part, please contact: Julian Turnbull on 01935 873846 or Alastair Cumming on 01935 872401. It is only £1 per month

Winners for the October draw:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

No 110 No 17 No 134 No 96

K. Brazier Judy Grose Gill Wills Karen Spencer

£40 £20 £10 £5

White Feather Care is a unique heartfelt care support service, providing practical and emotional support to the individual and their families.

Emily Spearing 07737 496617 emily@whitefeathercare.com www.whitefeathercare.com

The fatal secrets of Sir Walter Raleigh He lost his head. Bess kept hers (and his). As many a contemporary high-profile public figure has found, Raleigh’s concealment of damaging secrets merely lead to greater trouble in the end. Raleigh was born to the quietly formidable Elizabeth Champernowne, the third wife of Raleigh’s father. She was the widow of Otho Gilbert, with whom she had produced three sons, Adrian, Sir Humphrey and Sir John Gilbert. All three, along with the two sons from her marriage to Raleigh Senior, Sir Carew and Sir Walter, emerged as able, ambitious and intellectually powerful personalities. In Raleigh, there was also a questioning mind, fertile imagination and an originality of thought that was to play such a part in his securing the Queen’s admiration, but which may well have also laid the foundation for his apparent atheism, one of the two fatal secrets. Once brought to the attention of Queen Elizabeth, Raleigh’s good fortune came swiftly. There seems little doubt that his physical attractiveness and compelling spirit played a large part in the process. His enjoyment of the Queen’s patronage was similar to that of Robert, Earl of Essex, his great rival and detractor. By too closely linking their fortunes to the capricious Monarch both were to come to grief. Adventurer, Writer, Poet, Spy, Patron of the Arts (he mentored Edmund Spenser, author of The Faerie Queene), Knight of the Realm, Captain of the Guard and commander of three major expeditions in the service of the Queen, Raleigh was a man of complex personality and robust temperament. He was twice imprisoned for fighting and twice challenged to duels. His success generated resentment and unpopularity and he Raleigh: an oil painting was perceived by the De Veres and the Devereaux of the age as a ‘jack’ a ‘knave’ and an ‘upstart’. This is ironic, as one of the reasons for the Queen’s extreme displeasure on hearing of his secret marriage to Elizabeth Throckmorton (Bess), was her belief that he had married beneath him. The scandal of his liaison with one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting was the second fatal secret. Elizabeth first rewarded him with large estates for his exploits in Ireland. Throughout the early 1580s his favour grew: he was given trade privileges and the right to colonise America; received the patent for granting licenses to sell wine; knighted; awarded a London residence in Durham House and became captain of the Queen’s guard. He reached his probable zenith in January 1592, with the bestowing of the country seat of Sherborne Castle. As an aside, Raleigh never ‘owned’ Sherborne. Queen Elizabeth had identified Dr John Coldwell as a candidate for the Bishopric of Salisbury, and he was persuaded, possibly as an inducement to gain the appointment, to release to the Crown the Estate of Sherborne and its manors on a 99 year lease. Subsequently, this was sub-let to Raleigh for £200 pa (about £55,000 today). 34

It is possible Raleigh’s role was not just that of unwitting grateful subject. As one 19th century historian writes: “He (Raleigh) seems to have effected his design not without some fraudulent or perhaps violent means…..and (this) was probably the cause of his misfortunes… raising the envy and avarice of his fellow courtiers, who waited for, and soon after found, an opportunity to deprive him of it”. It was at this point his attempts to guard the secrecy of his liaison with Bess Throckmorton misfired. Was jealousy one reason why the Monarch reacted so angrily and vengefully on hearing of Raleigh’s affair? There is no doubt the relationship between Queen and subject was erotically charged, as much of his verse about the Queen (or Cynthia as she was known in his poems) suggests: Those eyes that set my fancy on a fire Those crisped hairs that hold my heart in chains Those dainty hands which conquered my desire That wit which of my thought doth hold the reins..

Bess: by all accounts, not an oil painting

Leaving aside the question of whether ‘crisped hairs’ are that romantic a concept, such sentiments are not those of a distanced, formal relationship. Historians consider a physical relationship to have been unlikely, but if one had occurred, neither the Queen or Raleigh are likely to have left a detailed account. If Raleigh ever believed the Queen’s favour might turn into something grander, by the 1590s reality must have dawned. He was by then in his late 30s. Bess Throckmorton was 25. Their secret romance was underway. In his poetry, Bess is ‘Serena”:

Now, Serena be not coy; Since we freely may enjoy; Sweet embraces, such delights; As will shorten tedious nights…. Raleigh was about to command an expedition designated to attack a Spanish Treasure Fleet off Panama. Part-financed by the Queen, though more substantially by Raleigh, the fleet’s sailing was delayed by bad weather. The Queen began to have second thoughts about the mission. This was disturbing for Raleigh, as the potential loss of the Queen’s contribution or outright cancellation would be ruinous. Worse, Raleigh’s role in the adventure was to change, the Queen had arranged for Martin Frobisher to assume the command. Surely Raleigh knew his secret was out? He ends a letter written from Chatham, Kent to Robert Cecil on March 10 1592: “I mean not to come away, as they say I will, for fear of a marriage (ie his marriage). If any such thing were (true) I would have imparted it to you before any man living… I beseech you to suppress what you can any such malicious report…” This was a blatant lie, as Raleigh had married Bess the previous November. Moreover, she was in advanced pregnancy. On March 29 Arthur Throckmorton wrote: cont35>

“my sister has been “delivered of a boye, Damerai, between 2 and 3 in the afternowne”. Although Bess attempted to return to court, her duplicity was seen as gross effrontery to the Queen and from August to December she was confined to the Tower. Raleigh was at first placed into the custody of Cecil. Conceivably this unexpectedly modest punishment was to give Raleigh and his wife time to show contrition. If so, the opportunity was missed. Nevertheless, Raleigh, being useful, was more quickly freed, on September 15, in order to organise distribution of the treasures of the Spanish carrack Madre de Dios, which had been captured by his ships off the Azores. Raleigh had regained his freedom, but his position was fatally weakened, especially after the Queen’s death, to the encouragement of his many detractors and enemies. None was more formidable than Elizabeth’s successor James I (“the wisest fool in Christendom”). Robert Cecil, once helpful to Raleigh, now intrigued against him. He had plenty of ammunition. There was the continued suspicion of Raleigh’s atheism, considered Elizabeth 1st: ‘crisped hairs’? at the time synonymous with with treason. He was known to be involved with The School of Night, a group of poets and scientists - including Christopher Marlowe - all thought to have atheist leanings. Sir Francis Bacon's essay "Of Atheism” was widely circulated, but it was wise not to admit you had read it. A Reverend Ironside recorded a “dangerous conversation” at a supper given by the Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset which incriminated Raleigh and his brother Carew (a report was later passed to the Privy Council as evidence). Cecil induced Lord Henry Howard “the subtle serpent” and a resolute enemy of Raleigh for 20 years, to weave with him a disparate and murky case against Raleigh unconvincingly connected to the ‘Bye Plot’ or ‘The treason of the Priests’. This case would be described today as ‘trumped up’. Conviction was a formality, as was the sentence: hanging, drawing and quartering. James played a cruel game, arranging for the execution of three other alleged plotters to be enacted prior to Raleigh’s, in his full view from the Bloody Tower, commuting them only as they stood on the scaffold. Raleigh must have experienced emotional turmoil as the three men were led away with their heads very much on. After an agonising delay, he too was spared. His imprisonment continued for 13 years, but he was allowed to live in the Tower with his servants and the loyal Bess. He wrote his ‘History of the World’ (1614) and even produced a second son, Carew. He was released in 1616 and immediately seized upon the idea of an expedition in search of gold in South America. Unfortunately, he invaded and pillaged Spanish territory at a time James was seeking peace with Spain, and was forced to return to England, where the charge of treason was at once resurrected. This time, there was to be no commutation. He was executed on October 29 1618, at Old Palace Yard, Westminster. He was buried immediately at nearby St Margaret’s Church, though it was reported that Bess carried away his head in a red velvet bag. It was preserved and remained with the family until finally buried along with Carew, in 1667. 36

Wilson 872982 gml.wilson@btinternet.com RYME INTRINSECA REP: Gilly DISTRIBUTOR: Clive & Cindee Taylor 872463

We finally managed to have a village meeting by Zoom on 22 October which was well supported by about 20 people; it is, however, not the same as the real thing so hopefully the spring meeting may be back to normal. Georgie Williams has set up a Ryme village news site on Facebook. As usual there was lots of talk about the amount – and speed – of traffic through the village; we need a real campaign to get a 20mph zone established.

New Year walk With luck, it will be possible to have our annual New Year walk which has been pencilled in for Sunday 10 January, meeting at Frankham Farm. There will

be more information by email nearer the time about food etc., but I’m sure dogs on leads will be welcome.

Church services Nothing has yet been arranged for Christmas Church services, as no-one knows what will be allowed by then. But Mike will keep all news on the email up to date. If you do not have email and would like to be informed, please leave a message on my phone – 01935 872 982. The church is open daily for private prayer, approx. 8.00am-4.00pm. Please use the hand sanitiser in the porch. Wishing you all a healthy Christmas and a much better 2021. Gilly Wilson 37

YETMINSTER

REP: Michaela and Graham Plaice: gplaice@gmail.com 872921

Yetminster Millennium Hanging

So here we are again and, as I write this, we are hopefully slowly coming out of our second lockdown. We were just about seeing green shoots appear after the first set of restrictions – with the school open under challenging conditions, the Gallery Cafe operating, the pub thriving and the SPAR shop continuing to offer its comforting support to the community by just being there – when wallop, up pops the lockdown, announced at great speed over a weekend. Carole and Jim were particularly devasted by the second lockdown and were looking forward to opening the White Hart with a new tenant lined up. Hopefully, this can still take place after 2 December. 38

Photo: Barrie Allington

In these difficult times it is important to remember that we are lucky to live in such a vibrant and wonderful village and if there was ever a time to say thank you, and to support local businesses, this is it: they and indeed all those who live in the village provide the very heartbeat of Yetminster. It would also be remiss of me, on your behalf, not to give a big shout out and thanks to the Health Centre and their staff and all those who work in the pharmacy. They continue stoically to provide caring health care under difficult conditions. The additional effort, as appears likely, to administer a possible Covid-19 vaccine will only place more pressure on them.

The November Remembrance Ceremonies within the village were different, with restrictions negating the use of our central triangle. However, the garden of remembrance in St. Andrews’ churchyard (by coincidence also a triangle) provided a suitable substitute for a service on Sunday 8 November and a ceremony on 11 November. It was a remarkable moment when, just as the Last Post finished, a military helicopter overflew the churchyard. I know we have a lot of retired and a few serving members of the armed forces living in the village and surrounding areas, but this showed outstanding organisation (only joking). Two wreaths were laid, one by the Scouts and one by the children of Lower Covey Nursery.

STOP PRESS Alan Tucker, previously at the Bradford Abbas shop will commence being the new tenant of the White Hart Pub from 1 December. Not sure of Alan’s opening date but would imagine he would like to open as soon as possible. Yetminster Millennium Hangings Many people aren’t familiar with the Yetminster Millennium Hangings. They’re really rather special. The hangings consist of 26 canvaswork panels that took a team of 65 men and women in the village ten years to make, to celebrate

By the time you read this, we will be thinking about Christmas so do please try and support any local organisation that is trying to fundraise, as they all make a significant contribution to village life. As a rural community we know in normal times that some of our residents are on their own and quite isolated. Covid-19 has only exacerbated this so please be good neighbours and look after those who are on their own. I wish you a peaceful and enjoyable festive season and I am sure that we all look forward to a happier 2021. Graham Plaice 39

the Millennium. They include panels that feature the history of our village, its buildings, personalities and places as well as industry, crafts, farming and seasonal panels that show local flora and fauna. The images of the village are a delight; an irreplaceable record of Yetminster past and present. The hangings represent thousands of hours of effort and dedication as well as some masterful needlework. They are hung in the Jubilee Hall and a selection are also always on display in St. Andrew’s Church. To arrange to view the hangings please contact the Churchwarden of Yetminster via the Three Valleys Office: 3valleysoffice@gmail.com. If you’d like to know more, please contact Jane Waight on jwaight@ hotmail.co.uk

and separation – you can also contribute to the upkeep of St Andrew’s, Yetminster’s centuries-old architectural gem. These three Christmas cards have been beautifully printed, featuring festive images taken from the decorated canvases that make up the acclaimed Millennium Hangings. This 26-piece artwork documenting village life and history took over a decade to craft. Professional photographer Barrie Allington has expertly captured every close-up detail. All profits will go to benefit St Andrew’s. The inside of the cards is blank, so there is plenty of space to write personal messages and all your news. Supplied with envelopes, a pack of 10 cards of any one design is exceptional value at just £8.50.

St. Andrew’s Church, Yetminster Advent, Christmas and Epiphany...

This is normally the busiest of times in the church calendar and we hope very much to have a 10.00am Family Service of Holy Communion on Christmas Day. However, at the time of writing we still don’t know what the latest rules will be, so please do look at the website on www.threevalleysteam.org for the most up to date news of all our services. The online services will continue via the Facebook/Three Valleys Team link, and via Zoom. The weekly Round Robin also has the latest news on service timings, so if you don’t already get it, please email me.

The Millennium Hangings: unique Yetminster Christmas Cards

If you’re planning to send cards this Christmas – and they will be better received than ever in this year of lockdown 40

To order your cards, which will be delivered in time to catch the post, email Jane Waight at jwaight@hotmail. co.uk with contact details and number

of packs required. Payment can be made by BACS, cheque or cash. The story of the Hangings’ creation is told in an illustrated booklet, ‘A Stitch in Time’. It makes a fascinating stocking filler for anyone interested in Dorset village life or in needlecraft. This is available from the Benefice office at a price of £5.00 – or you can order from Jane at the same time as your cards. A very happy and peaceful Christmas, and a New Year full of hope and promise for the future. With my best wishes Churchwarden Clare Churchwarden.yet@gmail.com

Boyles Educational Foundation The Boyle’s Educational Foundation was pleased to award eleven grants this year to a range of intrepid students off to university or studying more locally. It is hoped that the arrival of the cheques did something to brighten the unusual start to their years of study and as you can see the proceeds have been wisely spent. The Governors of Boyle’s would like to wish all recipients good luck in their chosen courses and hope they are managing to enjoy some aspects of normal student life.

Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Neighbourhood Plan Update

Thank you to everyone who responded to the recent community consultation; there was a return of approximately 20% which is felt to be a good turnout. The paper questionnaires have been added to the on-line digital survey and the various comments are being reviewed. In general, it was evident that the plan was liked, and people were happy to have it adopted. The necessary Statutory Consultees (Dorset Council, Highways England, Natural England etc.) have made several suggestions and recommendations. From these it is necessary to undertake an additional Habitats Regulations Assessment, due to recent new environmental surveys on the way wastewater is treated and subsequently drained into the Somerset Levels and Moors. A Technical Support Package is available for this from Locality and an application has been made to them and is under consideration. 41

We also need to consider the comments by the new DC Conservation Officer, and we are discussing possible further technical assistance for this with Locality. If unsuccessful, we will need to appoint a consultant to advise us due to the specialist knowledge required. Now that the NP plan must be revised to accommodate the recommendations, and arrangements made for both the Habitats Assessment and the Conservation review, it is accepted that the Plan will unlikely be ready for the Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council to adopt, and then formally submit to Dorset Council, before February or early March 2021. We have accordingly updated the agreed delivery timetable that we are working to. The Parish Council has agreed to provide a further £1000 to take the Plan forward to completion and will allocate £500 in the next financial year. A full breakdown of the consultation statistics will be made available on the Neighbourhood Plan pages on both the dedicated NP and the Parish Websites once they are available. YRIPC NP Working Group

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council Chairman’s Notes – November Meeting The result of the recent community consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan indicated that local residents are happy for it to be adopted, that they recognise the amount of work that has been done and the professionalism of the document. We had a positive meeting with Dorset Highways and they have agreed to review road signs and markings 42

throughout the Parish. The speed limit on Thornford Road will be moved beyond the new housing development, consideration will be given to the installation of chevron signs on Tark’s Hill and the approach to the bridge leading to the A37 will be reviewed. Dorset Highways have evidence to suggest that the installation of a wigwag (flashing light system) does not affect speeds and they are not in favour of 20mph speed limits. However, they would be prepared to review their position on speed limits if we were to provide them with evidence from our Speedwatch patrols, and they would be happy for us to pay for the installation of a wig-wag. The Parish Council is committed to producing a Highways Strategy to prioritise our requirements. If you have walked along Boyle’s Path recently, you cannot fail to have noticed the new fencing. We would like to thank Perrett Fencing for completing such a professional job. We have received the first of three instalments of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the Folly Farm development. This will provide us with a significant amount to be invested in local projects, so it has been decided that this income will be ring-fenced in a separate account and that a new sub-committee will be created to manage the expenditure. Finally, a reminder that we are still looking for volunteers from the local community to join our Website Working Group that will help to keep the content of our website current and that there is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor. Andy Perlejewski Chairman of Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Beavers, Cubs Scouts 1 Yetminster Scout Group What a fantastic October we had, even if the weather was not always kind. All the Sections held regular meetings and had fun taking part in a wide range of activities and challenges. The Beaver and Cubs enjoyed celebrating National Apple Day by baking cored apples, adding their own favourite filling. st

They also took part in a tallest tower building competition using cocktail sticks and midget gem sweets. The Cubs were tasked with making a night sky constellation finder. Using a constellation template, they marked the stars onto a piece of wood before drilling holes where the stars were located. After sanding the wood, they then used a torch to light up the stars before finding the same pattern in the night sky.

The Scout Troop made the most of getting outside when the weather permitted and enjoyed cooking over a campfire and playing games in the woods. Beavers and Cubs cleaned plastic milk containers before designing and drawing their own creepy images onto the containers to make scary Halloween lamps. On Halloween they used nightlight snap sticks to illuminate the containers after filling with water.

The Sections also took park in a Halloween pumpkin and poster design challenge for Halloween over the HalfTerm break. There were some amazing designs, and everyone had fun. Scouting was again suspended due to the lockdown but just before then, the Cub Pack made a Remembrance presentation during their last meeting as they knew they would not be able to attend the annual

Walking our village rights of way

Remembrance Events. This was edited by Ollie, one of our adult leaders and published through the Village Facebook site. The Scout Group were represented at the Armistice Day Event and a wreath laid on behalf of the Group. We are looking forward to resuming our meetings in December and have some exciting things planned before the Christmas break. We have waiting lists for all Sections now but are hoping to increase our section sizes come the Spring. We are looking to increase our team of adult volunteers, there are many flexible roles open to you and by volunteering you will be giving so much to the young people and the Community. Please contact me for more details 07815 135602. The Group would like to thank the local Community for their support and on behalf of all the young people, adult volunteers, parents and friends we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Paul Hollick Groups Scout Leader Gsl.1styetminster@gmail.com 07815135602 44

2020 is a strange year, with both lockdowns giving us time to walk more than usual. My family has lived in Yetminster for nearly 50 years, but I have never had the time to walk all the rights of way. This year on my walks, I have met and chatted with many lovely people, discussing the beautiful countryside and the various problems with the paths, which I have passed onto the Parish Council. If you find a problem with a right of way please report on: https://mapping.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ rightsofway/reportproblem. The Council Ranger needs to know of any problems so he and his team can repair and improve the paths, although there is little money for major improvement. So how can we help easily? I take some secateurs with me to trim around styles and gateways. Which is your favourite walk? One of mine is walking down past the Old Chapel, Ryme Intrinseca, to Trill Lane and back through Folly Fields Farm to Coles Lane. The bluebells and wild garlic were just beautiful in May. Let`s hear about your favourite walk. A few of us have realised that there are many stiles to climb over within the proximity of the village, which is restricting some walkers from going far or doing a circular walk. We identified about 10 stiles where a change to gates would make access much easier. This can bring other problems as some walkers leave gates open when they should be shut. We can help with this by putting springs on or weighting the gates. We would need to contact the landowners who are responsible for gates and stiles to gain their consent;

Purple = Parish boundary

Pink = footpaths

secondly, there would be a need to fundraise as a community. How can we fundraise? If anyone knows of any funds available for this project, please contact us. What about a sponsored walk when we are permitted? All ideas are welcome, as is anyone who wants to join this group. Please contact any of us for details. Daphne Barfoot dj04bar@gmail.com; Jane Jeans janejeans48@hotmail.com; Sara Greenwood sara.a.greenwood@ gmail.com Sara Greenwood

Green = bridlepaths

50/50 Club NOVEMBER 2020 Draw 1st prize £50 No.33 Mrs. L. Bateman 2nd prize £30 No.31 Ms. J. Sims 3rd prize £20 No.11 Ms. D. Kemp

Want to join? – forms available at http://yetminsterparishes.gov. uk/a-z/yetminster-fair-association The Association raises money for local organisations and is nonprofit making and run entirely with voluntary support yetminsterfair@aol.com 45

CLUB NEWS News from Afghan Connection Many of you will remember that back in the summer of 2019, the WV Cricket Club hosted an excellent fundraising cricket match against an army team, the Delhi Spearman. The match raised money for the charity, Afghan Connection, that St Peter’s Church was also supporting. The charity has just sent us news about the great progress they’ve made and some heart-warming success stories – it makes for happy reading in these difficult times, so here are some highlights!

‘Cricket: we are excited to see that our final cricket project to coach 500 girls and train 50 female coaches in Kabul and Herat has created genuine momentum. Not only has the Afghan Cricket Board continued to support the girls, running tournaments and identifying talented players for regional teams, but exciting news – hot off the press – is that they have now officially selected 25 women to form a National Women’s Cricket Team. A much hoped for wish will now become a reality!’ Maggie Henry

Wriggle Valley Ladies Group

‘We are pleased to report that, despite many challenges, the projects have continued to run this year. In Worsaj and Rustaq, we succeeded in delivering teacher training programmes for a total of 89 teachers (79 women, 10 men). Children in our community-based education classes are now back at school after class closures due to the pandemic. Every effort was made to ensure students had access to learning materials during the suspension of classes and teachers’ salaries have been paid throughout. Construction work has continued at Kiwan School in Rustaq and the school should be complete by the end of the year. More than 500 girls who once studied outside, exposed to the elements, will soon be sitting at desks in newly built classrooms.

In the words of Dame Vera Lynn, ‘we’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when,’ .. but we will meet some time soon. I do hope everyone is staying healthy and safe in these unchartered times. It seems so long ago when we were all together enjoying such a happy time and I am so sorry it will not be this year, but it will happen again. I now wish you all a happy and good Christmas and a healthy New Year. Ruth Sanford

Wriggle Valley Voices

– lockdown won’t stop the music! Despite all the uncertainties and barriers that the ever-changing government guidelines have put in the way, Wriggle Valley Voices are back! Rehearsals resumed in October, following all the relevant rules and safety measures. Kate felt quite mean making all choir members stand in draughts by 49

open doors and windows in Leigh Village Hall, but we have managed to continue meeting and learning new music, and noone has frozen solid. With yet another change in the restrictions, choir rehearsals went online at the last minute last week, and many

Christmas Trees From Saturday 28 November until sold out Mallows Church Street, Yetminster DT9 6LG Please call 01935 873306 or 07970832778 email rbarfoot48@gmail.com Busy times On arrival if it looks busy, please wait by the gate until some customers leave or if asked by a member of staff to wait. We are open weekdays too, although times may vary so please check for details. Weekdays are generally much quieter than the busy weekends.

Face Coverings and Distancing Face coverings are not mandatory as you are outside. 50

intrepid singers gave it a go. It’s not like the old days, which will return, but music is being made and even a bit of fun is being had. If you want to join a Zoom session, email wrigglevalleyvoice@gmail. com. Rehearsals are still on Thursday evenings, between 7.00-10.00pm. Please be patient, respect staff and other customers. Keep a minimum of two metres away from others at all times. Parents must supervise their children at all times.

Payment Cash payments can be accepted. We do have a pin machine which will accept the usual contactless card payments up to £45; Apple Pay is also available Any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us – 07970832778 or 01935873306

Dog walkers beware Two adult wild boar and four piglets have been spotted in Prince’s Wood, close to Hermitage. Wild boar can be aggressive to dogs, particularly if they have young. Take care if you are walking in Prince’s Wood. If you spot the wild boar, please let Dave Whiteoak know – cdwhiteoak@hotmail.com

Oh Tannenbaum O Tannenbaum Wie Treu sind deine Blatter!*

The first mention of candles is in 1793 with a tree “decorated with gilded nuts, little lamps and a figure of Like beach towels on pool the child Jesus”. The idea chairs and cars that work, of decorating a tree at the Christmas tree is Christmas spread rapidly authentically German in after that as any illustrated origin. As one proud occuedition of Dickens’ ‘Christmas pant of the Fatherland Carol’ will show. The obvious wrote in the 19th century: danger of fire from lit candles “It has wandered from An led to “illuminating the Christa t e Germany to all other lands. namel Victorian tree mas tree with tiny electric bulbs German poetry, German feeling, and of different colors”. Note the spelling of German piety have planted the ‘color’ to indicate this was an American Christmas tree, have cultivated it and development, inevitably led by Thomas decorated it with its peculiar splendour”. Edison in 1880. And, rather like Germanic - Anglo Saxon It takes as little as 5 years (Pine) or football rivalry, where one tribe revels in as long as 10 (Noble Fir) to grow a tree the defeat of the other, it isn’t enough 6 feet high. In Britain about 8 million real they they had them – it was a source of trees are sold annually. Two thirds of pride that we lacked them: “The English households prefer artificial trees. Which have no burning, is best for the radiant Christmas environment? tree. But, in our Well, taking into Fatherland, it beams account manufrom house to facturing (lots house”. But before of plastic) and we become too shipping (mostly admiring we should from China) the recall that ‘Tannencarbon footprint baum’ the German of an artificial for ‘Fir Tree’ was tree is 10 times also the code name that of a real for the planned tree, even if the Nazi invasion of real tree is neutral Switzerland “And Papa this time be sure you have the fire brigade’s number” burned after use, in WW2. The earliest proven record of though these days more people take widespread use of Christmas trees is in their tree to their local council for shredding 1604, in Strasbourg, when they would (if you compost your tree it produces be hung with dolls and sweetmeats, methane). Better still, go to pot. Sales of and afterwards “shaken and plunpot grown trees have surged. dered”. (Though there is a counter claim * Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree How faithfully you blossom! from Riga, in Latvia, of 1510) 51

POGLES WOOD EXPLORERS It is hard to imagine that the next time I write it will be another year! By then, the days will be getting longer and we will be looking forward to spring! I should finish the year by saying a massive thank you to all the people who have supported us this year. Thank you to those who have come and volunteered here and to those who have donated numerous and varied things, from chipped mugs to junk modelling, from wood to window frames – it has all been wonderful. You have no idea how exciting it is to arrive here to find a few cracked mugs sitting in the post box, or what a thrill it is to wander round the site and see things people have done and donated! We are very lucky. More important still is a huge thank you to all the children and their families who have been here during the year. You are a constant joy and we can’t wait to welcome you all back next year. I am still hoping to hold some Saturday woodland craft sessions for primary aged children through the winter months but

it is hard to know what is sensible at the moment, so I have still not fixed any dates. Please keep an eye on the Facebook page where it is easier to respond to rapid changes in the virus situation. Depending on how the situation develops we may even have our usual Christmas decoration making session – who can tell? Have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Philippa Toulson philippa.toulson@gmail.com Facebook: Pogles Wood Explorers

Unique & Stylish BRITISH GROWN FLOWERS E: katewh1@live.co.uk

T: 07788217521

www.cutflowersbykate.co.uk

OTHER NEWS

Email and telephone scams The Neighbourhood Watch Network encourages local coordinators to collate and circulate information to communities regarding suspicious behaviour of all kinds. Reports are often made by local residents as well as the police via the ‘Dorset Alert’ system. In the last few weeks there has been an increase in the number of email and telephone scams that have been reported to Neighbourhood Watch in our area, so please be extra vigilant. If you do receive a telephone call from someone that you don’t know or recognise, our advice is that you don’t allow them to engage you in conversation, simply put the phone down. You might find this difficult to do as it can feel impolite, but this is something that scammers are aware of and they use it to their advantage. You may wish to make an excuse and say you will phone back shortly before you hang up, if it makes you feel more comfortable. If you haven’t registered with the ‘Telephone Preference Service’ (TPS) this is strongly recommended. You can do this at tpsonline.co.uk by using an easy and free registration form. It may not stop all nuisance calls because some originate come from non-UK sources. The law is

such that companies making ‘cold calls’ may not ring numbers that are on the TPS list. Scam emails are still a problem. A modern antivirus program on your computer will do a good job of stopping most of them. If you do get an email you weren’t expecting, perhaps from someone you do not know, see if it has a heading or email address that looks unusual. If so it is best to mark it as ‘Spam’ or ‘Junk’ and delete it. When you receive a suspicious email, never reply and never click on a link. Sometimes an email may appear to be from someone you know with a message that looks irregular or unexpected. When you check the ‘real’ email address (depending on your software you can ‘hover’ the cursor over it or ‘right click’) you may well see that it is strange computer-generated one that contains a random series of numbers and letters or odd series of words. This is a scam email, delete it. If you are unsure or confused about what to do, don’t be in a hurry, its best to ask for help from a friend who uses computers more often. David Whiteoak and Gordon Ratcliffe Hermitage Neighbourhood Watch and Chetnole Home Watch

Rural Reader’s Book Page will be back in February. As we go to press, ‘Shuggie Bain’, the first novel of Douglas Stuart and a Rural Reader recommendation last month for Christmas book buying, has just won the prestigious Booker Prize. Barack Obama’s first volume of White House memoires, also mentioned last month, sold a record-breaking 900,000 copies on day one of its US publication. 57

CHURCH NEWS News from the Three Valleys Team

Our Church communities is on our side and that, no matter how bad things may become, we are not alone and that there is always hope. Yours Tony Gilbert Team Rector

Dear Friends We are now fast approaching the Christmas season which, because of Covid, is shaping up to be a most extraordinary festival this year. There will be fewer church services and fewer, if any, parties as people will be fearful of what News from Yetminster Methodist is around the corner; there is a general downbeat atmosphere. The media seem Church to be concentrating on concerns that I have never written an article for the families will be unable to get together Advent and Christmas Season in more this year and, of course, that is likely to uncertainty! The question on everyone’s be true. Unfortunately, when the media mind, can we be with our extended do that, they miss the fact that for many family and friends this Christmas season? who have no family or for whom family Perhaps a deeper question, should we life was so painful, such meetings are be? And if we are not what does that quite problematic and many feel alone at mean – isolation, loneliness, long hours this time of year anyway. stretching out? What is there to look Christmas as celebrated by the forward to? Christian Community is not a festival Some of my friends who that revolves around love Christmas put their families, nor is its trees up at the beginning primary importance as of November, anything to a festival for children. brighten the mood. Some Many families and will see that as a positive friends do use the time choice to make things feel to catch up with each better, and there is nothing other and there is no wrong with that. denying that children I wonder though if God do enjoy it all, with the is calling us to something promise of presents deeper. To recognise our and fun together – it loneliness, isolation, to name will be hard if they are deprived of that. But it, to lament for it. That is perhaps, this year of all to cry out to Him about how years, it would be best it really is, being bluntly to remind ourselves that honest, recognising our need Christmas is actually a “This hope is a strong and for relationship and intimacy. festival of Hope. A time trustworthy anchor for our That deep need for connection. when we can look at souls. It leads us through the To not be frightened of that the troubles all around curtain into God’s inner sanc- need, it is the core of our us and know that God tuary.” Hebrews 6:19 humanity to know and be 58

known. Oh, we run from that, filling our lives with business, and doing, achieving. Anything to fill the dull ache of longing to love and be loved. That ache which I believe God has placed within each one of us as a longing for himself, a longing for Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew 1: 23 says, ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ God with us deeply, intimately. He is not confined to staying two metres away, behind a mask. When invited, he takes up residence deep in our souls to fill us with peace, presence, and hope. Perhaps some of you reading this are wondering, well how do I do that then? How do I let God cross my threshold when people cannot, so I do not feel so alone? Here is a suggestion. Sit with your hands on your lap and your hands open to receive. Start by telling God how it is, no fancy words, just talk, pour out your heart and then invite God to come and fill the deep need for perfect love that you have and wait…… Trust Emmanuel

God with us to come and be with you, where you are at, in the midst of all the pain and isolation. I know many want to fast forward through 2020 and get to 2021, to a time when we can hold hands and hug again. It is wonderful that vaccines may be just around the corner and, if effective, let us hope we can get back to normal. But my prayer is that we do not just go back to normal, but that we build a new normal. Our President, Rev’d Richard Teal has taken as his text Isaiah 43: 18-19, ‘Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’ I hope we hold firm to what we have learned over the past nine months, that relationships and hugs are vital and life giving. That stillness is essential for creativity and to make us aware of our need for deep relationship and connection. That we recognise our interconnectedness as the whole world is affected and, as we act, we do so together, building for a new normal. I hope that, as we re-build, our first thought is for the poor, the marginalised. I dare to dream of a better world – a new thing – let it spring forth. Let us pray that God makes a new way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. May God richly bless you this Christmastime. Our plan, if it is possible, is to join with the worshipping community at the school on 13 December and then to share a time of meditation and readings on Wednesday 16 December at 2.00pm at the Methodist Church. If you would like to join us, please email me revkatekonrad@ gmail.com or phone 01935 415837. Rev’d Kate Konrad 59

THREE VALLEYS TEAM Team Office:

Team Rector:

Rev’d Richard Kirlew

Yetminster Jubilee Hall, Church Rev’d Tony Gilbert @RuralChaplain Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LG The Rectory, Church Rd, 01963 23570 01935 872600 Thornford, Sherborne. DT9 6QE e: rector3valleys@gmail.com

01935 873044 e: rector3valleys@gmail.com Jubilee Hall Yetminster ENQUIRIES: Three Valleys Opening hours Benefice Office, Team Vicars 01935 872600 Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri Rev’d George Moody e: 3valleysoffice@gmail.com The Rectory Church St, 9.30am – 12.30pm e:3valleysoffice@gmail.com w:www.threevalleysteam.org

Tues 1.30 – 4.30pm

Yetminster DT9 6QE

01935 873214 e: revgeorgemoody@gmail.com

Yetminster Methodist Church Chapel Lane, Yetminster DT9 6LJ

Treasurer: Mrs S Gilbey

Minister: Rev Kate Konrad 01935-415837 Worship co-ordinator: Mrs Barbara Driver Tel: 01935 873690

All services begin at 10:30am followed by coffee.

Roman Catholic Services Roman Catholic Church

Sundays:

Tuesday to Saturday

7.30am Morning Prayer followed by silent prayer 8.30am Sung Eucharist 12.30pm Midday Prayer 5.15pm Evening Prayer, followed by prayer time Night Prayer arranged at supper

7am Silent Prayer in Chapel 7.30am Morning Prayer 12 noon Midday Prayer and Eucharist 5.15pm Evening Prayer, followed by prayer time 9pm Night prayer (8.15pm -Thurs, 8.45pm-Sat)

The Sacred Heart & St. Aldhelm, Westbury, Sherborne DT9 3EL tel: (01935) 812021

Weekend mass times: Saturdays at 6.00pm Sundays 10.30am Holy Days 10.00am and 6.30pm Parish Priest: Monsignor Canon Robert Draper e: sherbornerc@prcdtr.org.uk w: sherbornecatholicchurch.org.uk

SERVICE SCHEDULES FOR DECEMBER, CHRISTMAS AND JANUARY Dear Friends You don’t need me to tell you that this has been a difficult year. Covid-19 has disrupted all our lives and that seems set to continue for some time to come. As I write this note we are in our second lockdown. Although we have been assured that it will end on 2 December, and that we can expect to have a near normal Christmas, we don’t know what other restrictions might be placed on us that will affect church services. It is the clergy team’s intention to hold December and Christmas services where we can, to which you are all invited. However, we can’t know at this time exactly how we will provide them nor what we will be permitted to do in December or indeed in January. That means that I can’t give you the normal schedule of service times that you would expect to see in this magazine. All we can do is to ask you to keep an eye on your church notice board and the Three Valleys website (http://www.threevalleysteam.org) where we will do our best to give you up to date information. The specific website page for services can be found at: http://www. threevalleysteam.org/index.php/services If I may remind you that, above all else, Christmas signals hope for a better tomorrow so although things may look dark at the moment, we know that the coming of the Christ child signals hope for us all. Let me join with the whole team in wishing you a Blessed Christmas. Yours Tony Gilbert Team Rector

PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECEMBER 2020 BATCOMBE WD/D/20/002323 22/09/2020 MINTERNS FOLLY, STILE WAY – Application for Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed development Removal of existing conservatory and erection of single storey rear extension. Approved 6 Nov 20. WD/D/20/001497 29/06/2020 PARK HOUSE, STYLE WAY – Erection of first floor extension over existing single storey utility room to create additional bedroom & en-suite. Approved 23 Oct 20. CHETNOLE WD/D/20/002174 08/09/2020 ROWAN COTTAGE, YETMINSTER ROAD – Proposed single storey side extension and associated alterations. No Decisions. WD/D/20/001802 18/08/2020 MANOR FARM, DEEP FORD LANE – Erect roof to cover the existing concrete yard to provide welfare for livestock. No Decision. WD/D/20/000900 14/04/2020 NICKS NEST, BATCOMBE LANE – Erect a replacement commercial store. No Decision. HERMITAGE WD/D/20/002029 25/08/2020 NORTH COTTAGE, HOLNEST PARK, HOLNEST – Conversion of existing workshop to accommodation. No Decision. HILFIELD Nil LEIGH WD/D/20/002509 08/10/2020 FORMER BUNGALOW, THREE GATES – Request for confirmation of compliance of conditions 1,2,3,4,5,6,7and 8 of planning approval wd/d/20/001296. No Decision. WD/D/20/002251 14/09/2020 GUYERS COTTAGE, CHETNOLE ROAD – Works to facilitate installation external air source heat pump and central heating. No Decision. WD/D/20/002109 03/09/2020 KEEPERS COTTAGE, BATCOMBE ROAD – Demolish conservatory, erect two storey & single storey extensions with linking garden room. No Decision. WD/D/20/000941 20/04/2020 LOWER TOTNELL FARM, TOTNELL – Alterations to the former dairy building which forms additional living accommodation to the main house. No Decision. WD/D/20/000942 20/04/2020 LOWER TOTNELL FARM, TOTNELL – Internal and external alterations to the former dairy building which forms additional living accommodation to the main house. No Decision. MELBURY BUBB Nil

PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECEMBER 2020 RYME INTRINSECA WD/D/20/002051 27/08/2020 OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, RYME ROAD – Change of use from Office Use (Class B1(a)) to a dwellinghouse (Class C3). Prior Approval Not Required. WD/D/20/001057 05/05/2020 LAND KNOWN AS, CLIFTON FARM, CLIFTON FARM LANE, CLIFTON MAYBANK – Installation of a renewable energy scheme comprising ground mounted photovoltaic arrays together with substation; onsite connection to grid network; transformer stations; access; internal access track; landscaping; biodiversity measures; security measures; access gate and ancillary infrastructure. No Decision. YETMINSTER WD/D/20/002717 30/10/2020 WEST HILL FARM, BRISTER END – Form removeable concrete sleeper access track to be utilised by the livestock on the when leaving the farmyard and going out to graze. Prior Approval Not Required. 11 Nov 20. WD/D/20/002339 05/10/2020 LAND TO REAR OF POPLAR COTTAGES, BRISTER END – Erect agricultural storage building. Prior Approval Not Required. 16 Oct 20. WD/D/20/002439 16/09/2020 FOLLY FARM, THORNFORD ROAD – Modification of obligations on Section 106 agreement dated 12th July 2016 (original planning approval WD/D/16/000642). No Decision. WD/D/20/002238 15/09/2020 LAND ADJACENT MILL LANE – Amendment to planning permission WD/D/20/00538 – Reposition building from Western boundary. No Decision. WD/D/20/002231 14/09/2020 FOLLY FIELDS FARM, THORNFORD ROAD – Change of use of agricultural buildings to 3 no. dwellinghouses (class C3) and associated operational development. No Decision. WD/D/20/001367 09/06/2020 SUGARLOAF HOUSE, CHURCH – Change the roof covering from concrete tiles to natural slate. Clad the reconstructed concrete blocks in natural render with some oak or larch cladding in places with one small area in brick. Approved 8 Oct 20. WD/D/20/001340 05/06/2020 YEW TREE COTTAGE BRISTER END – Erect extension and alterations to existing annexe/holiday let known as Bothy Cottage and use as a separate dwelling. No Decision. WD/D/20/001341 05/06/2020 YEW TREE COTTAGE BRISTER END – Erect extension and alterations to existing annexe/holiday let known as Bothy Cottage and use as a separate dwelling. Approved 27 Oct 20. WD/D/19/002011 07/08/2019 LAND NORTH OF CLARE COTTAGE, HIGH STREET – Erection of 1 No. Dwelling. Refused 2 Oct 20. WD/D/18/000819 23/04/2018 THE OLD COURT HOUSE, HIGH STREET – Request for confirmation of compliance of conditions 3,4,5,6,7 and 8 of planning approval WD/D/14/000548 (Compliance with Conditions). Under consideration. The next Dorset Council – Northern Area Planning Committee meeting will take place on 3 December at 10.00am, these meetings are being held remotely as an MS teams live event. A full register of all past and present planning applications can be found at: https://planning.dorset.gov.uk/online-applications/ applications. Note: due to publication deadlines these details only reflect the website records up to 14.11.20

Graham Plaice 63

White Feather Care has been recently set up by Emily Spearing to offer a heartfelt care support service to those in Sherborne and surrounding areas. Providing a friendly, caring and personal service and offering practical and emotional support to make everyday lives that little bit easier, whilst providing rest for partners and families. The inspiration behind White Feather Care stems not only from 17 years of care experience and working for Annie

Sinnott, but both of Emily’s Grandads who developed dementia, one of whom is still alive today. White Feather Care aims to provide support in areas that medical staff and carers are unable to, from taking people to appointments, assisting by running errands or helping with light household duties and life admin, or being a point of contact for healthcare professionals. emily@whitefeathercare.com www.whitefeathercare.com 07737 496617

Regular Meetings, Events & Activities Name Every Mon Table Tennis Bev’s Core Vinyassa Flow Yoga Cummunifit Sit & Strengthen Leigh Short Mat Bowls Yetminster Table Tennis Club Bev’s Core Vinyassa Flow Yoga Yetminster Bell Ringers Every Tue Men’s Yoga Topsy Turvy Toddlers Drop in Coffee Morning & PO Chetnole Art Group (until Easter) Beginners Pilates Cubs (in term) Every Wed Yoga Fit Community Coffee morning Gentle Yoga Croquet Coach/Play Wednesday Club (in term) Chetnole Chuckers Pétanque Club Women’s Table Tennis Croquet Junior WV Players (in term) Beavers (in term) Scouts (in term) Beginners yoga Yetminster Short Mat Bowls Every Thur Tai Chi Advanced Pilates Yetminster Short Mat Bowls Leigh Rainbows (5–7yrs) Leigh Brownies (7–10yrs) Guides Dance Fit Wriggle Valley Voices Every Fri Table Tennis Croquet Club (May – Oct) Croquet Every Sun Second Sunday Informal worship Chetnole Chuckers Pétanque Club

Time 9.30–12.30pm 9.30–10.30am 11am–12 noon 2–5pm 10–12noon 6.30–7.30pm 7.30pm–10pm 9.30am–10.30am 9.30am–11am 9.30–12 noon 10am–1pm 1.10–2.10pm 6–7.30pm 9.15–10.15am 10.30–11.30am 10.30–11.30am 3pm (until Oct) 3.15pm–4.05pm 2pm 2–4pm 5.30pm summer only 6–7pm 6–7pm 7–9pm 7pm 7–10pm 10am 10am 2–5pm 5.45–7pm 5.45–7pm 7–8.30pm 6.30pm (term time) 7.30pm 9.30–12.30pm 3pm 3pm 9 for 9.30am 2pm

Venue Leigh Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Yetminster Jubilee Hall Leigh Village Hall Scout Hut, Yetminster Chetnole Village Hall St Andrew’s Church Leigh Village Hall St Andrew’s Primary School Chetnole Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Scout Hut Yetminster Leigh Village Hall Old Vicarage Care Home Leigh Village Hall Yetminster Playing Fields St Andrew’s Primary School Chetnole Playing Fields Leigh Village Hall Church Farm, Hermitage Leigh Village Hall Scout Hut Yetminster Scout Hut Yetminster St Andrew’s Primary School Yetminster Jubilee Hall Leigh Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Yetminster Jubilee Hall Trim Room, Yetminster Yetminster Jubilee Hall Yetminster Jubilee Hall St Andrew’s Primary Sch Chetnole Village Hall Leigh Village Hall Yetminster Sports Club Yetminster Sports Club Yetminster Jubilee Hall Chetnole Playing Fields

Regular Meetings, Events & Activities Name

Time

Venue

1st Mon

Chetnole & Leigh Garden Club

7:30pm

Chetnole Village Hall

1 Tue

Leigh Discussion Club (wint)

7.30–10.30pm

Leigh Village Hall

2 Tues nd

Wriggle Valley MU (alt months) 7pm

Church Hall, Yetminster

Yetminster & Ryme Garden Soc. 7.30pm

Yetminster Jubilee Hall

Senior Winter Lunch Outings

Sue Footner 873610

7.30pm

(not July/Aug) Halstock & Distr. British Legion

3 Tues rd

Sheaf of Arrows

WV Women’s Group

7.30pm

Wriggle Valley Lunch Club

12.15–3pm

Leigh Parish Council – alt mnths 7.30pm Last Tues Leigh Women’s Institute Pub Quiz 1 Wed st

Gable Court Leigh Village Hall Leigh Village Hall

7.30–11pm

Leigh Village Hall

7pm

The White Hart, Yetminster

Coffee ‘n’ Cakes

10–11.30am

Yetminster Jubilee Hall

Batcombe Coffee Morning

11am

tba

[not Aug & Dec]

Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca PC 7.30pm

St. Andrew’s Primary School

2 Wed

Yetminster Historical Society

2.30pm

Yetminster Jubilee Hall

Police Support Unit

2–3pm

The Cross, Leigh

Chetnole & Stockwood PC

7.30pm

Chetnole Village Hall

2nd/4th Wed High Stoy Bible Study

7.30pm

Venue contact 872342

Last Wed Woodland Wednesdays

12.45–2.45pm

Pogles Wood nr Leigh

2nd Wed/alt mth

Police Community Support Yetminster Fair Association

By Church, Yetminster 7.30pm

Meadens Hall, Yetminster

Wed – Sat Friary Shop

2.30–4.30pm

The Friary, Hilfield

1st & 3rd Thu Yetminster Scribblers

6.30–8pm

Old School Gallery, Yet

Meadens Coffee Morning

10.30am

The Meadens

Leigh Short Mat Bowls

7–10pm

Leigh Village Hall

Pub Quiz

8pm

The White Haart

2 Thurs nd

Last Sat

District Council Members serving you in 2020 Cllr Mary Penfold Dorset Council e: mary.penfold@gmail.com Councillor for: Yetminster Representing the villages of Yetminster, Ryme Intrinseca, Chetnole,

Stockwood Leigh Hermitage Longburton, Melbury Osmond, Corscombe, Halstock and Evershot. 8 Waterside, Sydling St Nicholas, Dorchester DT2 9NY T: 01300341545

WVM ADVERTISERS’ REGISTER DECEMBER 2020 Old School Gallery

BED & BREAKFAST Chetnole Inn

Hound House

CARE HOMES Old Vicarage Care Home, Leigh

BACK PAGE

CARS, VANS & MOTORCYCLES, HIRING & SERVICING Addison Motors

Steve Mumford General Builder 64

FUNERAL SERVICES

ART & ANTIQUES

Brister & Son

Neal Electrical Services

Grassby Funeral Services

JJP Plumbing

Pearce Energy Heating Oil

Sellick & Saxton

TS Boiler Services

Spearbuild

B.A Wallbridge

Westcountry Electrics

AJ Wakely & Sons

GARDEN & OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE Burrow Water Treatment Plants 56 John Butler Master Thatcher

P. Houchen Dry Stone Walling

KDS Garden Machinery Repair

Knighton Countryside Mgmt

HOME, OFFICE & INTERIORS KC Decorators

Melbury Kitchens & Interiors

Sibley Kitchens & Bathrooms

Michael Sturmey Carpets

SBF Curtains & Blinds

54 54

Autotech Garage Services

Komit Kompost

Brotherwood

Logs & Woodworking – Simon

Express Equipment Centre

The Log Man

N.S Autos

Maiden Newton Clearance

Wayne Timmins

West Country Cars

M&S Welding

Upstairs & Downstairs Interiors 55

MAD Mowers

CM Furniture

Paul Hambidge Contracting

Cut Flowers by Kate

Perrett Fencing

LEGAL SERVICES

Pestwright & Mole Catcher

Porter Dodson Solicitors

Rampisham Timber Services

Professional Will Writer

SCR Tree Care

PETS & LIVESTOCK

COMPUTERS, MARKETING & IT

Tree Surgery (Westree)

Dog Grooming & Stripping

Dalaric Managed Internet Services 53

Wriggle Valley Fencing

PHOTOGRAPHY

DMDH Computers

Will’s Walls, Dry Stone Walling 30

Chetnole Drone Photography

HEALTH & WELL BEING

POST OFFICES

CHIMNEY SWEEPS Alexander the Grate

A Clean Sweep, Roger Dodd

i Sweep, & video inspections

Steve White Chimney Sweep

PDC Computing

EDUCATION Barn Owls Nursery

Lower Covey Montessori Nursery 18

EVENT VENUES

Robert Frith Optometrists

Tania Geere Chiropodist

Therapy Barn Mandie Holloway 65 Yetminster Health Centre

White Feather Care

Chetnole Village Hall

HOME - BUILD & MAINTENANCE

Leigh Village Hall

AD Renovations

Yetminster Jubilee Hall

J Bennett Joinery

Ian Crossland Property Maint.

Dorset Plasterers

FOOD, DRINK & CATERING

66 48

Chetnole Village Hall (Wed am only) 48 Leigh

Yetminster

PRINTERS Remous, Milborne Port

PROPERTY & HOLIDAY LETS Holiday Home Nr Bordeaux

Mallows Cottage, Yetminster

PUBLIC HOUSES & FOOD Chetnole Inn

SPORT & LEISURE

Leigh Village Stores & PO

5 Star Bars & Catering

On the Boyle Café

Steve Jones, Carpentry & Joinery 18

Spar Stores & PO Yetminster

Heart Of Wessex Railway

Knott Roofing

Wriggle Valley Cars

Tu Casa Tapas Takeaway

Lawrence Electricals

WRIGGLE VALLEY MAG ADVERTISING

Stuart Goodier Boiler Servicing 64

Barfoots’ Bouncers

M Harris

TRAVEL

December 2020/January 2021 No.331

Articles inside

OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES

REGULAR EVENTS

PLANNING

OTHER NEWS

POGLES WOOD EXPLORERS

CLUB NEWS

Yetminster

Ryme Intrinseca

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

Chetnole

Leigh

Hermitage

Beer Hackett

Batcombe