Yetminster

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

A belated Happy New year to you all. Well, what a year 2020 was and what a way to start 2021 with another lockdown. Hold on to your hats, by the time you read this, the COVID-19 vaccination programme will have started. A huge vote of thanks goes from me on your behalf to all our NHS staff working tirelessly to deliver it as quickly as possible. Christmas 2020 was different, families had to cancel plans to be together at quite short notice, a much smaller affair for many of us. It was wonderful to see the St Andrew’s Singers performing carols whilst walking around the village. Simon Eadon led a group starting at Upbury Grange and working eastwards towards the middle of the village and Jane Robotham took another group starting at Brister End and working its way east. A very brave effort in such awful weather and in aid of such a worthy cause – Sherborne Food Bank. Thankfully, the singers were rewarded by Sarah Hedin providing mince pies and mulled wine.

I don’t know if leaving the lights on the village Christmas tree was deliberate but it lifted my spirts coming home from Yetminster railway station late at night.

Thank you to St Andrews Primary School for continuing to provide face-toface teaching for vulnerable children and children of critical care workers. Also, 37

to the Lower Covey Montessori Nursery for remaining open. This cannot be easy in such demanding circumstances, with the added responsibility for protecting the health of staff, parents, children and their families.

Oyster Shells

During the restoration of the church pointing, some oyster shells were found embedded in the original C.15th pointing. At the time, such shells (some have also been found in Salisbury Cathedral) were used by the stone masons as wedges to ensure the stones were level. Oysters were a common food for the poor, so it is entirely possible that the mason ate the contents of the shells for lunch before using them!

Terry Fellowes

It is with much regret that I have to report the sad news that Terry Fellowes passed away on 12 January. Terry was very involved in short-mat bowls, having set up the Yetminster club. He will be a sad loss to the village.

News from the Gallery

The gallery was delighted to take part in the Village Christmas Advent Calendar. Their day was 8 December and they decorated the gallery door and campervan windows. The gallery is now decorated in more ‘springlike’ theme, in anticipation of brighter days for all. At the moment, there is an exhibition of Susie Wright’s (a Yetminster textile artist) work, a series of birds, butterflies and fruit. Good news regarding the Flying Pig vacated space, Sarah is taking this over and the ‘new’ room will be called ‘The Drawing Room’. It is slowly being redecorated during lockdown. It will be for workshops, classes, small public and private events, as well as being extra seating space when not being used for events. It will have a small reading area with new books for sale and books to swap – as well as board games and we hope to hold some business support events there as well. There is a bell outside the gallery if you do not want to venture in to collect your orders. Sarah and the team wish you all health, peace, and happiness for the new year.

Finally, I look forward to my vaccination whenever it arrives and the ability to get back to enjoying all that Yetminster offers. I have missed the coffee mornings and other events in the Jubilee Hall, the pub, joining the sports club, coffee and cake in the gallery café, going to church and taking my grandson up to Bath and down to Weymouth on the train. Michaela and I hope to see you out and about in the nottoo-distant future.

These musings have been input on the 13 January so may have been overtaken by events by the time you receive your February edition of the magazine.

Michaela and Graham Plaice

White Hart Pub

We hope that everyone will remain safe and well in these trying times. We would like to thank all our customers for their support during our December opening, even though it was on a much more restricted basis than we would have liked. We are now at the beginning of a new lockdown, but as soon as it is safe and we are allowed to do so, we will reopen and look forward to your continuing support during these difficult times.

Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you at the pub soon.

Jim & Carole

February.....winter coming to an end and spring around the corner....

At the time of writing in early January, it is hard to see what February will bring. It is a time of Battles and Blessings! This phrase is taken from the Bible in One Year by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel from Holy Trinity Brompton, in London, available free via the App Store, and recommended by Rev George Moody. You can read the text online or listen to it being read.

Our Clergy took the decision to have online services only during January and will review this for February. Service details are published weekly in the Yetminster Round Robin, and online on our website www.threevalleysteam.org. Details are also on the church notice boards and in this magazine.

Personal Prayer opening times: with PCC agreement, I took the decision to open our church for personal prayer on two days for longer hours, which gives the church time to self-clean in between. The priority at all times is the safety of our parishioners and volunteers. The church therefore will remain open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 8.00am to 6.00pm. This will be reviewed regularly according to the latest updates from Government.

As the weather improves, with spring just around the corner, and the number of vaccinations growing, there will be many Blessings to enjoy and look forward to. We will win this battle with the virus!

With my best wishes

Clare

churchwarden.yet@gmail.com

St Andrew’s Church Yetminster Restoration

I hope that by the time you read this, the restoration of the church tower and other parts of the building will be complete, though there is still some work to do by ‘roped access’ on the east and north walls of the tower which has been delayed by the cold weather. As you know, we did not raise enough money to carry out the internal changes, however it has been possible to add a few extra repairs including: South Gate: replacing the damaged gatepost and rehanging the gate South Wall: repointing and refixing the capping stones by the gate South Door; carrying out significantly more repairs than first envisaged South Path: replacing damaged stone slab outside south door

The new pointing on the tower and on the walls is very obvious, particularly on the south side when the sun is out. It is as near as possible the same as the original C15th pointing. A piece of undamaged original pointing was removed, analysed for mix and colour and then replicated.

The water ingress in the tower was found to be coming from the tower roof, not through the walls as first thought. This has been rectified and hopefully the tower will remain dry internally. Having said that, the pointing required 39

replacement as much of it was either in poor condition or the wrong type of mortar, so the work will not be wasted.

The rotten lower parts of west and south doors have been replaced with best English oak, a bit bright at present but it will weather in a couple of years.

As mentioned in Graham Plaice’s report on p.38, some C.15th oyster shells were found in the mortar around the tower parapet. Whilst they acted as wedges to keep stones level, they also help strengthen the mortar. The technical term for this is ‘galleting’, In some parts of the country it is known as ‘cherry cocking’ or ‘cherry caulking’ and, in East Anglia, small flints are often used for the same purpose and to provide decoration. Some of the shells have been framed and are displayed along with photographs in church.

I would like once again to thank all of you who helped in whatever way with raising funds to keep the church going for many more years, be it serving on the committee, organising or helping with events, donating to the fund and, last but by no means least, attending the events.

This is also an opportunity to commend the SSH Conservation (contractor) team who carried out the work. They worked hard in all weathers, from very hot at the start with frost and rain at the end of the year. They were a pleasure to talk to and nothing was too much trouble.

David Gould

News from St. Andrew’s School

What an interesting start to the new school term it has been. What a pity the Government sent the children back to school on Monday 4 January 2021 only then to tell them to stay at home on Tuesday 5 January!

I am incredibly grateful to the amazing staff at St Andrew’s School who worked through the night to have the children’s remote learning ready for them to use at home, the next day! They have shown such courage and determination over the last year and should be celebrated in the media – criticised and judged.

I feel such empathy for the parents and carers who are now having to support their children at home with their learning. Again, the Government gave them no warning so that they were able to make adequate plans for another

period of remote learning. They are now faced with the daily task of encouraging their children to complete schoolwork as well as trying to juggle working from home and occupying an age range of children. Rant over!

What has shone through for me over the last three months is the abundance of generosity and community spirit I have witnessed.

First of all, Alison Moody organised the Advent Windows across the village of Yetminster. These were a beautiful display of the hope that the Christ-Child brings to our weary world. Then the wonderful villagers of Yetminster donated food and gifts so that we could make up parcels for our families. We filled eight large boxes with crackers, candles, Christmas cake, mince pies, wine, gifts for adults and gifts for children. I was overwhelmed by the generosity.

We received 25 parcels of food from ABP Ltd, in Yetminster to distribute to our families. The parcels contained a full ‘dinner’ complete with a leg of lamb, vegetables and all the trimmings. The families were bowled over by the fabulous gesture.

Upon return to school, I was contacted by David Savage, of True Potential Wealth Management, who expressed his concern about the lack of technology available to children, who were once again, having to work from home. David then announced that he was donating £1,000 to the school to help us to provide technology, where needed. Well, I was also bowled over by this incredibly generous gift and deeply grateful to David and Tracy Savage for their kind consideration.

In the very same week, a Ryme Intrinseca resident brought a Kindle to the school office to be used for home education purposes. Thank you so much to Alison Fox for thinking of us at this time. That device will make such a difference to a child in our school family.

I am convinced that we are surrounded by angels. They come in different shapes, sizes and colours and will appear when we least expect them, but when we most need them. Thank you to the angels that have been looking out for our families over the last year!

I want to celebrate that fact that I am privileged to be a member of a very special school and local community. “You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and to your poor, in your land”. Deuteronomy 13.11. 42 I feel blessed every day to witness the kindness and love. Thank you to everyone who has come forward, in love, to support us and share the burden.

Julie Simpson

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Chairman’s Notes – December Meeting

The report of our meeting with Dorset Highways in the last issue has resulted in several new volunteers for Community Speedwatch. Unfortunately, patrols have been suspended until the current restrictions are lifted, after which we will be arranging training for the volunteers and planning patrols on roads where excessive speeds have been reported. It has been suggested that consideration is given to a 20mph speed limit on several stretches of road and we will be discussing this with the authorities in due course.

It was agreed to set aside funds for several projects: a new gate will be provided at the Pound on Ryme Road, Yetminster; the damaged boundary hedge at the Meadons Open Space will be replanted with suitable hedges and bushes; three trees that were removed from the Meadons will be replaced and the equipment in the children’s play area will be repainted. As it is the wrong time of year to be planting or painting, these jobs will be completed in March or April.

At our last meeting it was decided to create a sub-committee to oversee the way in which income from the Folly Farm development will be spent. The Parish Council feels that the local community should have a say on the projects that are given financial support and would like to invite volunteers to be co-opted

onto this sub-committee. Please contact the Clerk if you are interested in joining the group at yetminster@dorset-aptc. gov.uk providing details of the experience you would bring to the group.

We were hopeful that we would be able to retain the 2021-22 Precept at the same rate as last year but increases in maintenance and insurance costs have necessitated a slight increase.

We are fortunate to have such an extensive network of footpaths in the parish which have been used more than ever in the last few months. A group of committed enthusiasts has formed a Rights of Way group to ensure that our footpaths remain accessible. The Parish Council regards our rights of way as a fantastic asset that needs to be safeguarded and developed. Information on local footpaths and bridleways can found in the ‘About Us’ section of the Parish Website.

The next virtual meeting of the Parish Council takes place on Wednesday 3 February and members of the public are welcome to attend and air their views at the start of the meeting. Please contact the Clerk for joining instructions.

Andy Perlejewski

Chairman of Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Neighbourhood Plan – February report

Unfortunately, Covid has again rather slowed progress with completing our Plan although we have been successful in our application for further Technical Support from Locality / AECOM in the form of a Habitats Regulations Assessment (this is needed due to the way wastewater is treated and subsequently drained into Somerset Levels and Moors). We have also been successful in applying for a “Facilitation Package” and AECOM have appointed a Conservation Consultant who will review the selected development sites in the light of the concerns raised by Dorset Council.

We are pleased to report that the Habitats Assessment has been completed and the conservation work is underway although, as it is necessary to visit the sites, an initial desktop study is being undertaken pending the easing of travel restrictions.

We requested further parish funding for this additional work; although this has been granted it is now unlikely, due to this further support from Locality, that we will need it.

As reported previously, we are grateful to all those who responded to the Community Consultation in September / October, and the c.20% return rate was felt to be good for this sort of initiative. We hope to be able to provide some feedback on the results of this soon.

With the need to revise the NP plan to consider the recommendations made, and to arrange both the Habitats Assessment and the Conservation review, and the ongoing Covid problems, we have to accept it is unlikely that the plan would be ready for adoption and formal submission by YRIPC before April at the earliest.

YRIPC NP Working Group

1st Yetminster Scout Group

Happy New Year to everyone from all at 1st Yetminster Scout Group.

Prior to the current lockdown all our Sections were able to meet face to face under strict guidelines. We manage to take the cubs and scouts on a local night hike and all enjoyed the experience. The cubs and scouts learnt some basics about planets and star constellations whilst on their hikes, as well as listening to night sounds. The beavers had a night hike to the woods where the new beavers were invested.

Secret Santa and his helpful elf delivered the presents Covid-19 friendly.

Since lockdown, the scout hut has been open as a collection point for Sherborne Food Bank, which we agreed to assist during these very difficult times. If you would like to donate food, please visit their website to see what food is wanted and then drop it off at the Scout Hut situated off Sussex Farm Way between 5.00–6.00pm every Monday evening. Place food in a carrier bag or box and, after knocking the door, please leave outside. The food will be taken inside and there is no requirement to enter the building.

Beavers, cubs and scouts held virtual Christmas parties and more exciting Zoom meetings are planned over the next couple of months.

We will soon be planning our return to face to face scouting in the spring. We would love to expand our group and if you would like to assist as an adult volunteer, please get in touch.

Thank you

Paul Hollick

Groups Scout Leader Gsl.1styetminster@gmail.com 07815135602

50/50 Club Result of the December 2020 Draw

1st Prize £100 No. 9 Mrs. S. Drewett 2nd Prize £50 No. 17 Mrs. B. Driver 3rd Prize £30 No. 32 Mrs. S. Sparks 4th Prize £20 No. 56 Mrs. L. Manaton

Result of the January 2021 Draw

1st Prize £50 No. 23 Mr. G Plaice 2nd Prize £30 No. 5 Mr D Torrance 3rd Prize £20 No. 27 Mr D Price

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

Gwen Fairney 16 November 1924 – 6 October 2020

Gwen’s father, Bill Fox, was a merchant seaman from Portsmouth who married Edith Neale of Weymouth, where Gwen and her brother Gerry were raised.

Gwen was a woman of extraordinary intelligence and drive, whose tendency to be anxious was kept in check by her strong character. At 14 she tried hairdressing, millinery, exercised the horses of Lorton Farm riding over Bincombe Bumps, and enjoyed sailing, crewing for fellow members of the Weymouth sailing club.

When WWII came, Bletchley Park attempted to recruit her, but she refused and joined the land army, eventually being stationed outside Sherborne at Lillington, where she met her close friend Joan Voss of Sussex Farm, Yetminster (subsequently Joan West). A lifelong friendship was forged when an elegant hand was extended over the rump of a horse to reassure Gwenie that ‘if she was ever in a jam just grab my hand’! This friendship is the reason Gwen and Brian ended up in Yetminster and Susie Fudge (nee West) became Gwen’s god-daughter.

After the war, Gwen studied psychology, worked for the Fire Brigade, and then local government at County Hall (in Education and Social Services) where she accepted the chance of adventure. She travelled to the Ugandan protectorate Kampala, where she enjoyed art clubs, parties and came to the notice of a rather attractive, shy young man, who shared her passion for art, Brian Fairney from Northumberland. They married and enjoyed a second tour when daughter Jane was born. Only leaving when Idi Amin appeared, they lived briefly in the home Gwen had set up years before for her parents in Weymouth (an incredible achievement as mortgages and loans were not readily available to women then) and then on to Yeovil, before moving for some years to Bath.

Gwen and Brian were tied to Yetminster by Devon House, an utter wreck when they bought it in the late 1960s, but a labour of love over many weekends and years (some spent in a caravan) saw it turned into a family home, whilst living and working in Bath during the week. Gwen was the Billeting officer at Bath College of Domestic Science (Brian worked for the NHS as Area Supplies Officer). Eventually they moved back to a settled life in Yetminster in the 1980s and much fun with Joan West (who sadly passed away far too young).

Then in the 1990s they moved into Field House where Gwen and Brian were very ‘hands on’ grandparents to their beloved Hannah and Oliver Jeans (later Gwen became known to their friends as ‘Super Gran’, as she would often join in and circulate at 3.00am with trays of pizza at their various teenage house parties!)

Gwen had a fierce regard for honesty and fair play and could be quite fiery on the subject, especially in her local community and at Parish council meetings. She never held grudges and had a kind heart, always telling Jane to think about others’ concerns and motivations before taking anything personally – a good philosophy. Gwen loved to socialise, enjoying family friendships with Kathleen Peace, the Barfoots, Colin and Pat King and Pam Clothier amongst many – imbibing in a glass of wine or three. She always loved art and started Yetminster’s first art group when she was widowed in the early 2020s.

Jane and family moved in to help Gwen with her dementia and, after some years, she moved to the loving care of the Hayes Residential Home in Sherborne. On 6 October 2020, in the company of her daughter, she passed away in calm, loving serenity – never far from her beloved Yetminster and Weymouth and finally meeting up with her soul mate, Brian.

Gwen always wanted to ‘see what’s around the next corner’ leading to unexpected trips to various B&Bs from Wales to Scotland. An adventurer whose anxieties never held her back.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? A series on the origin of Wriggle Valley Village Names

No 4 Yetminster

Yetminster is recorded as ‘Etiminstre’ in the Doomsday Book in 1086. The derivation is not definitively known; one opinion has it that ‘Yet’ is a corruptionof ‘Eata’, perhaps the name of the builder of the original church. There was likely an earlier settlement, as the remains of a Saxon cross (indicating the 10th century) were found in the churchyard in 1938. ‘Minster’ can be found in Royal charters dating back to the 7th century, when it signified a group of clergy living a communal life ‘with an obligation to maintain the daily office of prayer’.

In 1905, Sir Frederick Treves described Yetminster as ‘probably the most consistent old-world village or townlet in the county’. Treves, a famous surgeon, was credited with saving the life of King Edward VII in 1902 (through the first ever use of surgery on an appendix) and was also known for his friendship with Joseph Merrick, ‘the elephant man’

Yetminster was the birthplace of Benjamin Jesty, a farmer and vaccination pioneer (See WVM May 20 issue) 22 years ahead of the more celebrated Edward Jenner. Would that he could witness the role of vaccination today.

Jesty: pioneer, vaccine Treves: pioneer, appendix