Yetminster

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

I was about to start this month’s article in an upbeat manner; however, we have just had to cancel the family holiday, bah humbug. Monday 17 May saw the introduction of Stage 3 of the Government’s COVID relaxation plan, so hopefully the community can get out and support our local amenities and events.

The development of Folly Farm has meant the release of funding in the form of a Community Infrastructure Levy. The Parish Council are asking for ideas and suggestions regarding spending this money, please read the full article on page 40. The Council is also looking for a new clerk, this is a part-time paid post – see more on page 40.

A big thank you to the team who have taken down, repaired and replaced the finger post on the Ryme Road. Geoff Goater has included an article on page 38.

The White Hart opened on 26 May, I do hope you can support this vital village resource. Carol and Jim have worked so hard to get the inside and outside ready for re-opening along with the challenges of getting to grips with the website, waiting for new kitchen equipment and a license issue.

The Old School Gallery café goes from strength to strength. Sarah and Kelly are absolute marvels. The new room, which is called the ‘Drawing Room’ should now be open and Sarah hopes to resume classes at the end of June, COVID restrictions allowing. The room will also have new books, a book swap area and it will be available for people to sit in when not being used for events.

The first week of June is the second week of Dorset Art Weeks (DAW). It was postponed last year, so it is brilliant that it can take place in some form this year. The Gallery is part of DAW, exhibiting local artists as they have been for every DAW since 2012. Sarah and the team hosted a coffee and cake event in aid of Marie Curie which was a huge success.

The Yetminster Fair takes place in it’s new format down at the Sports and Social Club. The date for your diary is the 17 July at 12.00. Please see the Committee’s article at page 34.

The Yetminster Community Sports Club reports that, after an encouraging increase in membership since being permitted to reopen for outdoor service, the club is now open from Thursday to Saturday evenings and on Sunday afternoons, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks (the details may change at time of print). Details of opening times and events planned for the next few months can be found on Facebook YCSS Yetminster Community Sports Club. It is good to see the tennis court and croquet lawn used regularly and it would be fantastic if a team could be found to use the football pitch for the 2021–22 season. If you would like free membership, please visit the Club or request an application form from YCSC@ btinternet.com.

The Yetminster and Ryme Walking Group had its first walk on the 30 May, I hope the weather was kind and that it was a great success. The next walk is on 12 June, details regarding the group can be found at: https://yetminsterparishes. gov.uk/community/walking-group/

Horizon Post Office scandal – Yetminster Post Office

Many in the Wriggle Valley Community and especially Yetminster, remember the awful trials and tribulations suffered by Tracey Merrit – the former Yetminster Postmistress. The recent Court of Appeal verdict exonerated many accused of fraud. There is an excellent article published in the Blackmore Vale Magazine which can be read in hardcopy or viewed at the following link; https://blackmorevale.net/latestissue/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkN6 EBhBNEiwADVfya40UbfYGT 06r5ldGN8gBan5OF3lcK5o_ IUXtO3zQNOxfwxJq6ugjhxoC9rIQAvD_ BwE

I commend the community to read this heartfelt and very sad story.

Finally, events are beginning to take place within the community, so please forward future dates to Judith Palmer, who runs the diary pages for the magazine: email ja_palmer@ btinternet.com. Inputs need to be in the following format: day, date, name of event, time and venue.

A timely reminder that the deadline for inputs to the Editor is the 12th of the month and the July issue is a double one as there is no magazine published in August.

Please send me any info you think would be appropriate for this section of the magazine, no matter how trivial you think it is. My contact details are at the top of the page; you can also send articles by post to 1 Cloverhay, Yetminster, Dorset DT9 6LB, and we are happy to collect if necessary.

Michaela and Graham Plaice The Yetminster Fair is back for 2021 (after a year’s unavoidable break) and will be taking place on Saturday 17 July at 12:00.

The Fair will have a new look this year as it will be taking place on the Yetminster Sports Ground with some attractions to make the most of the new space. There will be lots for all the family including a dog show, classic car display, children’s activities and performances as well as some new musical entertainment, including The Wriggle Valley Jazz Band. There is still room for local musical talent so if you are interested in taking part email ken. horswell@btinternet.com

The Fair will start at 12.00noon and there will be all sorts of food and drink available for lunch as well as homemade cakes and cream teas. For those happy to just relax and sit in the sun with a pint or a glass of wine, the Sports Club bar will be open all afternoon. There will be a wide range of stalls and even the opportunity to try your hand at croquet.

Plans are still being finalised, subject to the relaxation of Covid rules. The Fair Committee are keen to hear from any local clubs or societies who would like to take a stall at the event. If you are interested, please email alan.tanyrallt@ lineone.net. If you would like to help in any way on the day we would love to hear from you.

Yetminster Fair Association 50/50 Club

The Yetminster Fair Association 50/50 Club is a local lottery that financially supports village activities whilst giving people living in the area a monthly chance to win cash prizes.

The 50/50 Club name reflects that the proceeds are split equally between prize money shared with participants and funds that are distributed annually to local societies, clubs, organisations and charities. The Club is registered with Dorset Council and complies with the requirement of The Gambling Act 2005.

For just £1 a week (paid quarterly by standing order or cheque) members can win one of three cash prizes each month, with bigger sums paid out every quarter. The draw takes place on the 1st of each month at The Old School Gallery and winners’ names are published on the Yetminster Facebook site and in the Wriggle Valley Magazine.

To take part, email yfa50club@gmail. com for information on how to join. Once you are signed up you will receive your unique number for the monthly draws and a welcome pack with information about the club.

Yetminster Fair 50/50 Club

Result for the May Draw:

1st prize of £50 No 27 Mr D. Price 2nd prize of £30 No 40 Mr D Walton 3rd prize of £20 No 50 Mr K. Hunt

St. Andrew’s Church

June.... is bursting out all over! With all the glories of our summer gardens … As I write before the next 17 May ‘unlocking’, I know we all eagerly await 21 June, and a taste of summer freedom.

Here at St Andrew’s, plans are well ahead for opening the Tower again, on Saturday 26 June, from 3.00-6.00pm. Apart from the challenge of the 85 steps up the Tower to see the sensational views, there will be delicious teas, a treasure hunt for the kids.

We are also launching Jane and Ollie Robotham’s major churchyard plans for tracing your ancestors. This has taken them over four years and we are all hugely grateful for their time and commitment. As Jane says below ...

CHURCH TOWER TEA PARTY

You are invited to a summer tea party St Andrew’s Church, Yetminster on SATURDAY JUNE 26 2021 3pm – 6pm

The Church Tower will be open – climb the 85 steps for spectacular views over the Three Valleys!

Treasure Hunt and Fun for Kids Live Music Find Your Ancestors with the new Churchyard Map Pimms from 5pm

Tracing your Ancestors

Have you ever tried to locate the final resting place of your ancestors, to complete your family’s story? Would you like to investigate a surname to see if you can find further relatives? Access our new alphabetical database and grid system, which catalogues burials, cremations and inscriptions going back to the 1600s. You may find more than you bargained for!

There will also be the beautiful Millennium Hanging cards on sale, and Pimms at 5.00pm!

So do come and join us for this special celebration. After such a difficult 15 months in all our lives, the PCC has decided that there will be no fund raising for the church this year but rather that there will be donations to local charities. We hope to have some Yetminster Scouts on duty with buckets to collect donations for the Sherborne Food Bank.

The clergy are working hard on plans for fuller church services when we can get together and sing, at last! Our choir are looking forward to getting together in the autumn, when we also hope to have a car boot sale.

With my best wishes for happy summer days ahead. With my best wishes

Churchwarden Clare

Churchwarden.yet@gmail.com We will be returning on Wednesday 9 June 2021 from 10.00–11.30am, in the Yetminster Village Hall. We will have lots of yummy cakes, tea and coffee for you to enjoy.

We look forward to welcoming you back with COVID secure guidelines. Everyone is welcome.

Thank you for your continued support.

Angela and Grace

Coffee and Cake

Celebration at the Jubilee Hall

A small happy socially distanced gathering recently took place at the Jubilee Hall in absolutely glorious sunshine. The occasion was to thank Brian Crumpler for all the work he had done over the years for the Jubilee Hall, serving on the management committee for longer than he could remember. Brian and the Hall are near contemporaries – the Hall was only eight years old when Brian was born in 1930.

Brian is a much loved character in the village. As well as helping at the Jubilee Hall, he also belongs to Sherborne Probus, the Garden and History Societies and, quite an inspiration to us mere striplings, the short mat bowls and table tennis clubs.

Other management committee members attended the gathering and Brian was thanked and given a patio rose for his garden which is kept immaculately, although he admits to needing a little bit of help now and again.

The Committee will miss Brian’s cheery friendly personality at meetings and will also miss his wisdom gained over long years and wish him well in his ‘retirement’.

News from St. Andrew’s Church primary school

The spring term finished with a flourish on Maundy Thursday. Children and staff came to school adorned in their Easter Bonnets. There were prizes for the best bonnets, which were judged by our new foundation governor, Mrs Jenny Thomas. What a difficult job she had, choosing two bonnets from each class!

Some of our children went to St. Andrew’s Church to create an Easter garden in the church porch. We were grateful to Penny and David Gould for allowing us to visit their garden and relieve them of moss and primulas, for the display. The children thoroughly enjoyed climbing their beautiful rockery to find the moss – what an adventure!

The summer term is in full swing and I am hopeful that all outdoor activities will be good to go in June and July.

Sadly, the YHA has cancelled our Year Six residential visit to St Briavel’s Castle. However, all is not lost, as we are organising two full days of activities ending with a ‘camp out’ on the school field. Thank you to The Oxley Centre for accommodating us at such short notice and offering an exciting programme of activities for the children. We hope to make it a memorable experience for our Year Six leavers.

The work on the Boyles Building is progressing very well. I am delighted to report that the Boyles Foundation Trustees have authorised a further £5,000, in addition to the original £10,000, to enable the project to be completed. I would like to thank the Trustees for their generosity and support – our children will benefit greatly from the Boyles Foundation and its long history of supporting children and young people in Yetminster.

Near the end of the summer term, we are hoping to hold an Art Exhibition in the school hall. Mrs Mitchell is currently completing large pieces of art, which will be entered into the Dorset Art Prize 2021. These will then be displayed, along with individual pieces, during the week beginning 12 July. If anyone has any free standing display boards that we could borrow for the week, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact Moira in the school office – office@ yetminster.dorset.sch.uk .Thank you!

After the May half term break, we will be welcoming back our much appreciated volunteers, into school. If you feel that you may have some spare time to come and share your skills with our children, please do contact Moira, as above. We are particularly keen to welcome enthusiastic bakers and cooks to work with our children, each term. Many blessings.

Julie Simpson

Email: judygallimore61@gmail.com

It’s back! Many thanks to Sue and Brian from the Parish Council and Ray and David from Yetminster Community Projects for organising the refurbishment of the fingerpost at Yetminster Cross in record time. It went back up on quite a blustery day last month, but at least the rain held off (well, nearly, no-one got drowned). Everything fitted perfectly and hopefully it will last for a long time before any more maintenance is needed.

Thanks due also to John Burt who helped us dismantle it and to Julian Bennett who made the new fingers. A great team effort.

Cllr Geoff Goater

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Chairman’s Notes – May meeting

At the annual meeting Stuart Hughes was re-elected as Vice Chairman, I was re-elected as Chairman and all those Councillors present reaffirmed their intention to remain in office for the next year. All Parish Councillors work in a voluntary capacity and I would like to thank them all for giving up their time for the benefit of the local community.

We will be sending representations to Dorset County Council to reinstate bus services to the village as part of Bus Back Better, a government scheme which will fund new bus routes.

We are delighted that the long-awaited work to improve the flooding and sewage problems in Brister End has now been scheduled for 1 August. Although there will be seven weeks of traffic restrictions, I am sure the resulting improvements will make this disruption worthwhile. I would like to thank Councillor Hollick for his perseverance in liaising with Wessex Water to achieve this fantastic outcome.

The process for administering the Community Infrastructure Levy grant was agreed. Whilst there is a degree of flexibility in how the criteria for spending can be interpreted, an initial key element in the assessment of a project will be how it can be shown to help address the demands that are placed on the village by the new development. There is a separate article on this initiative (see p.xx) and I would ask you to read this and let us have your ideas and suggestions either using the yetminster@dorset-aptc.gov.uk email address or the contact form on the parish website in the normal way.

After a competitive tendering process KTD Gardening has been awarded a three-year contract to carry out all grounds maintenance.

There is a growing concern over the speed at which traffic is moving through the village and, although the general feeling is that many of the speeding cars are driven by people who do not live locally, evidence suggests that many of the culprits are in fact local residents. We would ask everyone to be mindful of their speed when driving through the parish. We have written to Dorset County Council asking them to consider creating some 20mph limits in the area, but this is likely to take some time to be approved. In the meantime, we will be restarting the Speedwatch patrols and would love to hear from anyone who wishes to join this volunteer group.

There have been a couple of real positives to come out of the pandemic. The first is that there has been a huge increase in the popularity of gardening which has resulted in all our allotments being occupied for the first time in many years. Please contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list. Secondly, the newly formed Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Walking Group will be holding several organised walks over the next few months, details of which can be found on the village noticeboards and on their page on the website.

Our Clerk, Jodie Carter, has resigned from her post and we would like to thank her for the work she has done for us over the last few years. We are fortunate that David Torrance has agreed to take on the role temporarily until we can find a permanent replacement. We would be delighted to receive applications from anyone interested in the post of Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer.

We are no longer permitted to hold 39

virtual meetings so have decided not to hold a meeting in June and to wait until July to hold our first face-to-face meeting, by which time we hope that all restrictions with have been lifted.

Andy Perlejewski

Chairman of Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

YETMINSTER & RYME INTRINSECA PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer

A vacancy has arisen for the role of Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer for Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council.

The position is for up to eight hours per week working mainly from home. There are 10 council meetings per year held in Yetminster on the first Wednesday of the month which you would be expected to attend.

The successful candidate will be expected to provide professional support and guidance in respect of the council’s work including acting as the council’s Responsible Financial Officer.

The position will suit a self-motivated person with good verbal, written, interpersonal, IT and accounting skills.

The salary payable will be within SCP 18-22 of the National Agreement on Salaries and Conditions of Service of Local Council Clerks in England and Wales which equates to between £5,399 to £5,844 on a pro rata basis.

For more information and a full job description, please contact David Torrance at yetminster@dorset-aptc. gov.uk 01935 873979. Please submit a letter of application and CV by Friday 18 June 2021.

Ideas and suggestions please!

The development of Folly Farm has meant the release of funding in the form of a Community Infrastructure Levy the intention being that this is used locally over the next five years to help offset the potential demands that will be placed on the “infrastructure” of the parish by the new development. There is a degree of flexibility in how this is interpreted but eligibility for CIL Funding will generally fall within the following areas: green infrastructure and recreation provision serving the needs of the wider area; culture and leisure facilities; waste management facilities; transport, including highway safety and improvements, bus services, walking and cycle improvements.

As an example, a project could propose the increase in the Hamcrate Allotment Area with new space being set aside for the residents from the new housing development.

Alongside this could be an initiative to engage with the Highways Authority to provide a permanent pavement to ensure safer access at Brister End to the Hamcrate Play Area and the Hamcrate Sports Field to encourage newcomers to the village to use these facilities.

A more general “recreational” proposal could be better signposting of the Rights of Way and the provision of village maps at key locations, encouraging newcomers to explore and ‘own’ their area.

A further initiative could perhaps be the recognition that soft landscaping could neutralise some of the boundaries caused by the different styles of development within the parish over the last 50 years to make a more homogeneous mix.

The Parish Council has set up a working party to administer the fund and we want the community to be involved in the identification of suitable projects and initiatives at an early stage. Your suggestions and ideas are therefore sought; ideally there would be a ‘pool’ of initiatives from which to draw, to produce a balanced distribution of the levy.

So, if you have an idea or are keen to develop an initiative that you feel that the CIL Fund might be able to help with, please email yetminstercil@dorset-aptc. gov.uk or use the contact form on the parish website.

YRIPC CIL Working Group

1st Yetminster Scout Group

It is fantastic to be back to face-to-face meetings indoors and outdoors. The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have returned to a programme full of fun activities and challenges.

The Beaver colony enjoyed their first meeting back and welcomed several new Beavers, they took part in some code breaking challenges and learnt a little about how scouting started and its history in the village. They had a hike around the village and looked out some of the local Heritage Plaques, discovering that Yetminster railway station was opened in 1957, exactly 100 years after the founder of Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, was born.

The Beavers spent an evening taking part in some indoor sports and learning their Beaver promise before they are invested.

The Scout Troop returned and went on a 7km hike from Yetminster towards Chetnole, across towards Leigh and then back to the scout hut, learning how to find North without using a compass or electronic device. The Scouts started to prepare the allotment plot and spent an evening clearing and digging part of it over. They are planning to grow a few vegetables and tend them over the coming months.

The Cubs also went on an adventure hike following local footpaths and discovered many different plants and trees growing in the area. They’ve been busy on the allotment too and did very well digging over some of the plot and weeding it out ready for planting later in May.

The Cubs spent an indoor night making mini pizzas and cooking them in the oven before devouring them, they all looked very tasty.

They also learnt about using a Trangia stove, how to assemble it and light it safely. They looked at cooking without using a flame, electric or gas, this would be useful when out hiking.

We are still looking to increase our team of adult volunteers, anyone aged 18+ is welcome to try our Four-Week Challenge. We have a vacancy for:

Group Executive Chair

Scout Leader and Assistant Scout Leader

Section Assistant roles

By volunteering you will be giving so much to the young people and the Community. Contact me for more details.

The Food Bank is still collecting donations, and these can now be dropped off at the scout hut by arrangement on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings. Please call me to arrange.

Paul Hollick

Groups Scout Leader Gsl.1styetminster@gmail.com 07815 135602

COME ALONG FOR A WALK

Now’s the time to throw off that lockdown feeling. The Yetminster and Ryme Walking Group gets going on May 30th. If you would like to join us, pleasecontact: yetpaths@gmail.com All walks start outside The White Hart, Yetminster. They are about an hour long, on routes around Yetminster and Ryme. Please wear sensible footwear and suitable clothing for the weather. Sociable dogs on leads are welcome For more details and a list of the walks to date visit the Parish Council website at: https://yetminsterparishes.gov.uk/foot paths-and-bridleways/ The Council Rangers team have been busy repairing stiles, although we seem to require a giant’s step to get onto the stile parallel to the railway, N34/1, which will hopefully be improved soon. If, on the rights of way you know, you encounter any problems with fallen trees or branches or undergrowth please take a photo and send to https://mapping.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ rightsofway/reportproblem/LocateArea Please get in touch with us at yetpaths@gmail.com if you have a view on how this

Upcoming dates: group might develop Sunday 30th May 10.30am – the best walks,

Saturday 12th June 2pm distance and duration

Friday 25th June 4pm and so on. Sunday 25th July 2.30pm If anyone would like to be on a voluntary maintenance team please contact Sara Greenwood, Parish Council Rights of Way Representative, yetpaths@ gmail.com. We look forwardto seeing you soon!

Memories of a childhood in the 1930s – from a nonagenarian (born 21 April 1928).

For the first nine years of my life Battersea Park was my second home. From the age of seven I was allowed to go into the park on my own, as long as I asked someone to see me across the Albert Bridge Road. Once a playmate, who lived locally, arrived at the kerb at the same time as me. He suggested we went into the park together, and I told him my parents’ rule. He said he could see me over the road, and I agreed.

The park had many park-keepers in their buff uniforms, available for any help needed. In good weather there were also usually several red-coated Chelsea Pensioners sitting around the bandstand. I frequently met a large wicker perambulator containing several toddlers being taken for an airing from a local orphanage.

For two weeks every August, my grandparents took charge of my parents’ shop, a men’s outfitters, to allow my parents a much-needed holiday. Their preference was always for a quiet south coast resort, incorporating seaside and countryside. I believe I took my first steps at Herne Bay.

I always knew the holiday was imminent because the family trunk was brought out, packed and dispatched as ‘luggage in advance’ by Carter Paterson. On the day of departure, we had a taxi to Victoria Station, the first excitement, and my memory of the train journey to the south coast was the first sight of the sea and the wonderful smell of the ozone.

The chosen accommodation was always one with a landlady, who would provide full board. We shopped for our main meal, often in the fish markets, but the landlady would cook it for us. We had a main meal at midday, followed by a high tea late afternoon.

When we stayed at Littlehampton, which was one of our favourites, we went by bus to Arundel Castle. The grounds were open to the public and had wonderful walks through the woods.

My next memory is of a summer’s evening – looking out of the window one Sunday and seeing a zeppelin flying low in the sky. Apparently, zeppelins did a regular passenger service and with special sightseeing trips over European capital cities.

On 30 November 1936, the Crystal Palace burnt down. A nightwatchman had dropped a cigarette stub and the conflagration wasn’t seen until it was too late for the fire brigade. The following morning, from Battersea Park Road, I was able to see the smouldering smoke in the distance.

Another memory was walking to school with my father and being overtaken by Oswald Mosley with a group of Blackshirts, which made me feel a bit anxious. I didn’t know what it was about, but I remember the feeling.

At that time London was notorious for the ‘peasouper’ fogs – before the Clean Air Act. On my walk to school, I was

swathed in a large scarf from my eyes to my shoulders and, around my neck, next to my skin, was a block of thick Vick which was supposed to keep the germs at bay.

My memories of winter in Battersea are somewhat melancholic – we were close to the river and the atmosphere was generally gloomy. Sometimes, on Sunday afternoons, this was enlivened by the visit of the organ grinder with his instrument, and a monkey.

I must have known of the Antarctic expeditions at the time, because I remember upturning a kitchen chair onto the floor, sitting on the back, attaching something to the legs and pretending I was driving a sledge.

In 1935 George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee and they arranged a motor tour through the poorest parts of London. I saw them driving slowly down Battersea Park Road. George V’s health was deteriorating, and his doctors prescribed Bognor as a place for convalescence. He resisted a suggested third visit to Bognor, reportedly saying, “Bugger Bognor”. He died in January 1936. I have a clear memory of sitting beside my parents by the wireless, listening to the announcer in a quiet voice saying, “The King’s life is drawing peacefully to its close.”

The Prince of Wales was immediately pronounced Edward VIII, bringing out all the rumours about his relationship with Wallis Simpson, a twice divorced American. We used to sing ‘Hark the herald angels sing, Mrs Simpson’s pinched our King’! Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936.

On George VI’s Coronation Day, 12 May 1937, I went with my parents to join the crowds outside Buckingham Palace. Many years later I learned that George, my future husband, was also in that crowd and he appeared in a newspaper photograph the next day, sitting on his father’s shoulders.

But in August of that year, we moved to Bagshot in Surrey, and overnight I became a country child.

My father had bought a village department store which stocked everything from haberdashery, women’s clothes, and textiles of all kinds. When my father retired and the shop closed, the local newspaper had a headline saying, ‘villagers would need to go as far as Reading now to buy a cotton reel’!

Bagshot had been a staging post for centuries, on the way to the West Country. Bagshot Heath was notorious for highwaymen, including the mythological Dick Turpin! It had a comprehensive range of shops, including three bakeries, a specialist cycle shop, a pharmacy, a large butchery, a grocery store, and a Tudor hostelry. When we moved there, the milk was still delivered by horse and cart straight from the dairy in the village.

We were on holiday in Folkestone just before the war started. My parents realised that war was imminent, and we came home after a week. My lasting memory is of standing at Folkestone station, surrounded by children waiting for a train to evacuate them. They were all wearing cards around their necks with their names on, carrying carrier bags.

As an only child, many memories of my childhood in the Thirties are surprisingly clear. With the hindsight of extreme old age, I realise how momentous those years between the two World Wars were.