WRIGGLE VALLEY MAGAZINE No 328 September 2020
In this issue: Chetnole Flower Show Sky dive for charity VJ Day memory – Robbo’s ‘monstrous’ trek The WVM Readers’ survey
The happier the cow, the better the milk.
Hollis Mead is an organic farm whose ethos is to produce high quality organic milk and food, whilst at the same time enhancing the environment for wildlife. We milk only once daily allowing our gorgeous girls more time to graze and relax, because happy cows produce the best milk. We deliver fresh organic
milk daily to Princes Place, Holt Mill, Yeovil, BA22 9RH, just off the A37, and to other vending machines near you*. Everyone says our milk is delicious and just like ‘how milk used to taste’. But don’t take our word for it, come along to Princes Place and try it for yourself
* visit our website www.hollismeadorganicdairy.co.uk or follow us on Facebook
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CONTENTS
Off to University or starting an apprenticehips? p52
EDITORIAL 5 Yetminster & Ryme Intrinsica Neighbourhood NEWS FROM THE VILLAGES Plan Batcombe 7 p36 Beer Hackett 9 Chetnole 12 Hermitage 22 Leigh 23 Ryme Intrinseca 28 Yetminster 33 Email: judygallimore61@gmail.com
Dorset Historic Churches Trust Annual Ride and Stride p55
CLUB NEWS
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OTHER NEWS
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POGLES WOOD EXPLORERS 64 OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES 65 PLANNING 69
A good read – book review p60
REGULAR EVENTS
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ADVERTISERS’ REGISTER
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ADVERTISING IN THE WRIGGLE VALLEY MAGAZINE 2020 Advertise your business and reach almost 1300 homes. Included in the rates is a 150 word promotional feature and FREE advertising on our website www.wrigglevalleymagazine.co.uk. Contact:gojan@btinternet.com Rates: 1/6 page (62x62mm) £120pa (10 issues) One-off £30 1/3 page (62x128mm landscape or 128x62mm portrait £230pa (10 issues) One off £50. Other sizes by negotiation. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this magazine’s content we cannot accept responsibility for information given or claims made by our contributors and advertisers. Should you have any complaints please send them to the Chairman of the magazine, Graham Plaice.
WVM
32 years 3
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WRIGGLE VALLEY MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2020
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: gojan@btinternet.com 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 YOU CAN FIND US ON FACEBOOK Cover photo: Jane Wills, Yetminster
It seems no time at all since the last issue but two months have passed – fields are now cut and blackberries and sloes are appearing – autumn is almost upon us. Life in lockdown is easing slowly and some Wriggle Valley villages have been able to enjoy a semblance of appropriately-distanced normality; a COVID-secure Chetnole Flower Show went ahead and there is once more news from our clubs and societies. We also have up-coming events – look out for the annual Ride + Stride on 12 September to raise funds for Dorset’s historic churches. VJ Day was celebrated on 15 August and there is a remarkable personal story commemorating the valour and endurance of those who fought for the Allied Cause. On a more local scale, Yetminster’s Priscilla Dickens tells of her own derring-do for charity. There is also a new feature – the Rural Reader review of two books, in partnership with Winstone’s in Sherborne, which is offering a discount on the books. You will see that there is a short – anonymous – survey in the centre of the magazine. The Wriggle Valley Magazine (WVM) has been a feature of our locality’s life for more than 30 years. But changes in village life continue and it’s important that the magazine reflects these changes and stays relevant and interesting for everyone who reads it – and even encourages new readers. Please do take a few moments to complete this questionnaire so that we have an up to date view of your interests and preferences. The information will help us to continue to provide a successful, engaging magazine for everyone in the Wriggle Valley community. Please return your completed questionnaire to your village rep. Finally, a warm welcome to Philippa Toulson and Eddie Upton who have taken up the baton once more as the reps for Leigh. Thanks to Emma Harris who undertook the role so admirably for the last five years.
Kathryn Edwards 5
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BATCOMBE
REP & DISTRIBUTOR: Johnny Gibbs jg@intramar.co.uk 83187
Photo: Stephen McKay
Batcombe Church
Batcombe Church On a beautiful summer’s day in late July a small group including some residents of Batcombe joined the Rev George Moody on his walk from Batcombe Church to Hermitage Church via Hilfield Churchyard (part of his walking pilgrimage round the seventeen churches of the Three Valleys Benefice).
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This included visits to the two churches and started with a climb of the five-sided turret stair in the fine embattled tower at Batcombe to enjoy the spectacular views to the north over the Wriggle Valley and beyond. After several months it was great to have a well-attended Wriggle Valley service of Morning Prayer taken by George in our church in early August. It was our first service since early March and we observed all the new anti-Covid protocols to ensure safety. We enjoyed socially-distanced coffee and biscuits on the tombstones in the churchyard afterwards. We hope that there will be more services to come soon.
with 99/100 correct answers. Even the incorrect one was only one word out!
Church lottery The annual church lottery renewal is taking place with effect from 1 August but there is still time to buy tickets – £12 buys a ticket for 12 months – that’s 12 chances to win a prize and at the same time help raise funds for Batcombe Church. Please contact Bridget Gordge for tickets.
The lottery prize-winners were:
15 and counting
JULY 1st 2nd 3rd
Congratulations to Carole Potter on the birth of her grandson, Arlo – her latest and 15th grandchild.
Thought from the Rise of the Wriggle
Summer competition The Initials Competition proved to be quite a brain-teaser, narrowly won by Georgina Taylor who not only finished it in record time but also won the prize 8
2020 66 28 2
Emily Graham Jamie Macpherson Jean Lilly
The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. Amelia Earhart
Johnny Gibbs
BEER HACKETT
REP: John Parker johnwincanton@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Susan Ferdinand
Photo: Nick MacBean
News from St. Michael’s Church Our opening on Wednesdays and Sundays for private prayer is continuing. We do look forward to when our church can be open every day as it should be. On 2 August we hosted the third Sunday service in the current Gifle Valley rota within the overall Three Valleys Benefice. We took the opportunity to have a thorough clean and polish and were delighted to welcome an attendance of twenty seven adults and children, including the Matthews family who moved to Clifton Maybank last July. Richard Mentern played three hymns on the organ and the congregation were able to follow the words even though we were prevented from singing. Veronica Crane kindly supplied this simple but beautiful rose decoration from her garden.
We will be holding our Annual Parish Church Meeting (APCM) in mid September and hope for everyone’s sake that the lockdown rules will permit safe progress into the autumn. We should also thank our Three Valleys clergy team for their regular, thoughtful and prayerful support via the internet on Zoom and Facebook. This has certainly become part of our ‘new normal’. Well worth a try if you haven’t already. John Bingham 9
Happy Hacketteers Our village Covid WhatsApp group (formerly Help In Isolation) has proved to be such a useful community communication network with villagers that it has now been re-named as the ‘Happy Hacketteers’ to sound a more optimistic note. If you would like to join, contact Susannah Keene on: susannahjkeene@gmail.com
Thornhackett Parish Council (THPC) There will be a vacancy for a Beer Hackett representative on the Parish Council from 1 November. If you are interested in joining THPC, please contact the Parish Clerk on thornhackett@dorset-aptc.gov.uk or Cllr John Parker on 07812 105721.
Friends of St Michael’s Church Unfortunately due to COVID, many of the ‘Friends’ fund raising activities such as the popular Village Lottery and the annual Village Tea Party/Music Event have had to be halted or postponed.
If you are interested in joining the ‘Friends’ or have any queries about subscriptions, please contact: Olive Davison, Secretary on firemoon2015@ hotmail.com or 07552 818389 Membership Renewal – a courtesy reminder: If you have not yet paid your subscription, you can do this by cheque, BACS or Standing Order.
Farewell to the ‘Pillar Box Lane’ Post Box Sadly Beer Hackett bade farewell to the Post Box that sat at the junction of Pillar Box Lane and the busy Thornford Road. The Post Box was vandalised earlier this year and the Post Office took the decision to remove it, though with a view to possibly reinstating it nearby at a safer location that would comply with current Post Office guide-lines. The box provided a useful 4.30pm collection time.
AGM Friends of St Michael's Beer Hackett Saturday 26 September 3.00pm Venue: St Michael's Church – outside (weather permitting) Members and non-members are cordially invited to attend Social distancing in place subject to any further Coronavirus regulations coming into force. Please note: paid up members only can vote
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A Post Box had been located there since Victorian times and was originally housed in a brick built column. John Parker
Finding Beer Hackett – the perfect home! Our recent move to Beer Hackett was entirely by chance! Yes, Andy and I were keen to move away from the Heathrow sprawl but, due to our rather precise requirements of a bungalow with annexe and ample garage space, we found ourselves considering numerous locations from Shaftesbury to Chard and everything in between, without success. Feeling despondent after a day of fruitless viewings, Fate or, more precisely Fortune, intervened! Mary, the landlady from the Rose and Crown, where we were staying, had to go out early. So, we made use of the extra time and drove to Beer Hackett to look at a property we had previously seen on the internet. Approaching from this direction we realised that it was only a couple of miles from Bradford Abbas, where an old friend of ours was already living, and was much easier to get to than we had previously thought. Things were falling into place at last. Happily, Andy and I moved in on 27 November 2019. We were lucky to have a huge amount of help from friends, a great removal company and a very professional fish transporter, as not only did we have our possessions to move, but also a pond full of fish! Not to mention our cat Jeeves, and an elderly buzzard called Selwyn, which we foster on behalf of the Hawk Conservancy in Andover. A local gas fitter and an electrician (both of whom were excellent) came on the day we moved in to connect our cooker and talk us through the operation of the central heating system. And the neighbours couldn’t have been more welcoming – leaving us cards, helpful notes, gifts and
mountains of useful information. We also met Sarah, delivering the post, who suggested we keep wellies in the car, and cautioned us never to drive through “the dip” after heavy rain! On 18 December we attended the Carol Service in the beautiful St Michael’s Church, followed by seasonal refreshments, which gave us the opportunity to meet and chat with other villagers, some like us who had recently relocated and others who had spent their whole lives in the vicinity. In March came lockdown during which Beer Hackett neighbours really came into their own, setting up a WhatsApp group offering practical help, inspirational words and photos, birthday messages and generally keeping in touch with one another. We also discovered the benefit of local shops and the selfless dedication of those who run them. Not forgetting the pubs offering take-aways, and greengrocers and butchers who were willing to deliver. We spent the time, like many, gardening or decorating and enjoyed the lifestyle so much that we also took the decision to close our industrial training company and for Andy to join me in retirement and rekindle his love of motorcycling and all things mechanical. In the fullness of time, we are hoping that my sister-in-law, Helen, who is currently a full-time carer to her Mum, will join us here. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been in a position to move to such a beautiful part of the country, to find ourselves part of a small community, and to be able to look forward to many happy years in Beer Hackett.
Andy and Sylvia Whitman 11
CHETNOLE with
Hamlet, Melbury Bubb & Stockwood
REP: Liz Tebbatt 873140 tebbatttowers@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Stan Darley
“Planet Chetnole”
Get well soon to Ruth Sanford who is recovering from a nasty fall – we are all thinking of you.
Angie Holman We were very sad to hear the news that Angela Holman ("Ange" to many) who ran the village post office and shop for a number of years with her lovely husband John had passed away last month. Ange was a fantastically fun person and was a regular attendee of the infamous Chetnole Inn karaoke nights back in the days of landlords Andy and Pat Davies. She was an enthusiastic member of the Wriggle Valley Players, featuring in numerous plays and pantos – she made a stunning Fairy Godmother – and was 12
Photo: Bella Neate-Clegg
a great friend to many in the village. A wonderful mother to her children and grandchildren, we send our sincere condolences to John and the family at this very sad time. Missed by many. Chetnole is slowly emerging from lockdown thank goodness and it’s great to have the Chetnole Inn back in business so well done to Maria and the team in maintaining its happy, welcoming atmosphere alongside the new anti covid social distancing adaptations. It’s been so nice to sit outside in the heatwave last month and enjoy a cold beer amongst friendly faces again. We were all a bit choked up when our much-missed editor and friend
Bella was announced at the Flower Show as the winner of the Sybil Howard Community Award. Her husband Nick bravely accepted her cup, an especially big moment for him too. Lastly, to our exam students, we hope you achieved your desired result despite all the marking chaos and can move on to the next stage of your education or career. We wish you all the best. Enjoy September and stay safe. Liz Tebbatt
Wriggle Valley Voices If any Wriggle Valley Voices are keen to meet up socially, some members are currently gathering at nearby tables in the beer garden of the Chetnole Inn, in fine weather, at our normal choir meeting time on Thursdays. Group singing is still not allowed, according to Government guidelines, so Kate is unable to lead any singing for now, but if you want to bring a chair and chat to other members at a safe distance, do pop along.
Chetnole Oil Group If you would like to order some domestic heating oil, please contact John Sanford
on 01935 872973 at least five working working days before the delivery date. The next two delivery dates for Chetnole are 24 September and 3 December. John Sanford
St Peter's Church Many thanks to all the Chetnole church flower ladies for the wonderful arrangements in church for Flower Show day on 1 August. Also to everyone who stopped by to admire them and to those who kindly made a donation too. The church looked beautiful and the flowers were much appreciated! We had a great turn out for our socially distanced Holy Communion service on Sunday 26 July. Many thanks to George for organising and leading a beautiful service. The church remains open for private prayer on Wednesdays and Sundays. You can stop by for a quiet moment or two, or just come in to spend some time in this beautiful building. We also plan gradually to get back to having occasional services, with all safety measures in place. Aly Kosowyk
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Chetnole Flower Show 2020 Thank you to all those who supported the 73rd Chetnole Flower Show on 1 August. The Committee decided early on that we would go ahead with the event and adapt it as needed. We certainly didn’t want the show to be remembered for the wrong reasons in these challenging times, so we decided to forgo the usual fete stalls to minimise any chance of COVID infection. Under the military precision and planning of our Acting Chairman, Karen, one-way systems and sanitisation stations were discreetly placed and the show moved into a more open air format.
Barbara Wallace and her driftwood sculpture
contributing well over 400 entries between them, there was much to admire and praise. Thank you to all our stewards and judges for ensuring the judging ran smoothly – for some it was their first time and we hope we’ll see them again next year. The entries demonstrated how creative, inventive and accomplished members of our community are, not to mention competitive! Naomi Hewitt
Just as well we had more space, as our exhibitors had clearly spent lockdown very productively! With over 100 exhibitors of all ages 14
A cloudy sky and a short shower did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of our picnickers, who supplemented their fayre with tasty pork buns provided by the Chetnole Inn and delicious cakes from Jenny’s kitchen. The size of the whipped ice creams kept many a child quiet for longer than usual.
Lastly, and most importantly, our annual Flower Show raises money for a number of local charities; without the fete stalls we were worried we’d be unable to support them this year. Happily, with help from our sponsors (Stockwood Lettings), the sale of over 1000 Prize Draw tickets and the generous (and often anonymous) donations from our community, we’re confident we can offer grants to some great local causes again. If you have a local charity that you’d like to nominate for support, please contact us with their details by email to chetnoleflowershow@ gmail.com. We’ll be announcing the recipients later in the year so please keep an eye on the Wriggle Valley Magazine and our Facebook page. Thanks again to all of you. Whether you attended, exhibited, helped out or donated, your efforts are all greatly appreciated and are what we hope will continue to make the show thrive! Looking forward to seeing you at next year's show. The Chetnole Flower Show Committee 15
CHETNOLE FETE & FLOWER SHOW 2020 Prize Winners VEGETABLES & FRUIT Christopher Goodbody Memorial Trophy (Best entry Joanna Rice Memorial Plate (Best collection mixed herbs) Residents Cup (Highest points Chetnolian) Sanford Cup (Highest points open to all) CHILDRENS Childrens Cup Childrens Shield FLOWERS Penny Dibben Award (Best Sweetpeas) Horsey Cup (Best Rose) Chetnole Cup (Highest Points) WI Cup Runner Up Floral Art Cup (highest points for arranged)
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Mary Prodger Mary Ann Charrington Janet Wood Imogen Davenport
Calum Heath Chloe Foy
Mary Prodger Shaune Fox Gwen Adair Mary Prodger Aly Kozowyk & Marie O’Flaherty
DOMESTIC Decorated Cake Challenge Bob Dibben Gentlemen’s Challenge Childrens Challenge WI Domestic Cup (highest points)
Anita Smith Dave Orton Ava Davies Mary Prodger
HANDICRAFTS Jean O’Neal Cup (best exhibit) Handicraft Cup (Highest Points)
Aly Kozowyk Judy Gallimore
AMATEUR PAINTING & PHOTOGRAPHY Chetnole Inn Cup (Best Exhibit Painting) Henry Gisborne Cup (Best Exhibit Photography)
Edmund Hume Claire Murphy
OVERALL WINNERS Gordon Heaven Trophy (Family with most points) VPA Cup (Individual with most points) Sybil Howard Community Service Award
Murphy Family Gwen Adair Bella Neate-Clegg
From Nick Clegg – thank you .... Monte, Hebe and I were touched and moved to read so many lovely tributes to Bella in the last issue of the Wriggle Valley Magazine, particularly knowing that they came from such a broad spectrum of our community. It was a huge sadness to Bella when, as her illness progressed, she was forced to give up her work at St. Andrew’s school. She had felt a huge amount of pride and satisfaction in what she had achieved. We have had some delightful messages from former pupils reminiscing and espousing her talent and inspiration. This same pride and the desire to create beautiful and fun things drove her to work so hard on projects for the Wriggle Valley Players, the Wriggle Valley Magazine, the Wriggle Valley Voices and most recently the Craft Therapy in Cancer group.
Bella loved being part of this community and this was reflected in her passion for this magazine. May I take this opportunity to thank people who sent cards and letters or messages by social media. I would like to thank you all in person but in many cases I don't have your contact details so please accept this open letter as an expression of our appreciation. Yours sincerely Nicholas Clegg
Notice From Chetnole Village Hall In consultation with the Charities Commission, and due to the unprecedented issues caused by the Corona Virus lockdown, it has been decided that:
The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee be deferred until May 2021, precise date to be arranged and advised. This action safeguards the health of both committee members and the public who may have attended. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please refer them to: David Russell, The Hall Secretary email: dorussell@talk21.com or telephone: 01935 873816 Your Committee will endeavour to respond swiftly. 17
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HERMITAGE
REP: Keith Warren-Price keithwp@hotmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Faith Hervey
St Mary’s Church, Hermitage – re-opening planned soon
Photo: Eddie Davenport Photography
The Hermitage Village Lunch The Village Hall Committee decided to go for it! Some 80 people were present and social distancing, sanitising and common sense ruled. What a brilliant day after we have all been in lockdown for so long. Needless to say, the lunch menu was truly superb and all the puddings were made by people in the village. It would not be a Hermitage event without the Heads and tails event! Here are the finalists Cindy Durham and Peter Rowlands (winner). Winner of the bottle of Prosecco was Joyce Chutter. All chairs were numbered and she, happily, was sitting on the winning seat. 22
We are hoping to be able to open the church again in late August. We shall need to put social distancing and sanitisation measures in place for visitors and for congregations at future services. Our church is here for all-comers, regular church-goers or occasional visitors, and we are always grateful for the support of the community. Church Services will probably start again in October. See pew sheet and benefice website. Please remember your facemask! Services continue on-line at www.threevalleysteam.org Help needed! Thank you to all who help with cleaning, mowing, flower-arranging and financial contributions. If you feel that you too could help, especially as many of the existing team become less able to help, please contact us as follows: • Can you help with flower arranging, cleaning, or tidying the churchyard? Please contact Churchwarden, Elizabeth Kenton • Can you make a donation to the church or a regular contribution? The costs of maintaining the church continue to be ever present! Please contact Treasurer, Jan Pescott • Can you join us on the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to help with the running of the church? Please contact Secretary, George Grazebrook or Churchwarden, Elizabeth Kenton Keith Warren-Price
LEIGH
REPS: Philippa Toulson philippa.toulson@gmail.com Eddie Upton upton.eddie@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Judy Tuke
Lime trees at Stones Farm
Photo: Morag Orchard
Village We have to start with a huge thank you to Emma Harris who has been Leigh Village Rep for the magazine for the last five years. She steps down and walks straight into a new career in teaching, for which we send our very best wishes. The job of Village Rep is rather like a relay. In about 2009, Philippa offered to go to the bottom of the list to replace David Reason. She soon found out that the bottom was also the top. Six years later she handed over the baton to Emma. The one problem here is that you’re not supposed to rejoin the race, but here she is again, though this time as a job share with Eddie. Please make a note of our email addresses and send us your news, before the 12th of each month. Don’t forget to tell us if you have new neighbours so we can welcome them to the village. Philippa Toulson and Eddie Upton
We’re very sad to say that, under the present circumstances, we don’t feel that we can start the pub again for the foreseeable future. We are making plans to re-launch and look forward to welcoming you back through our doors as soon as we possibly can. Michelle Read 23
Handbell band Eddie is a member of The Handbell Ringers of Great Britain and, by the time you read this, will have taken delivery of a very smart 2-octave set of bells on a long-term loan. The plan is to set up a small handbell band to play tunes and do occasional local performances. If you are interested in joining please contact Eddie on 07813 089002 upton.eddie@gmail.com No experience is necessary and an ability to read music will not necessarily be an advantage!
Coffee morning Don’t forget our monthly coffee morning, which will be on Tuesday 1 September from 10.30am. If the weather is fine it will be in the churchyard. Please try and remember to bring a mug with you.
St Andrew's Church, Leigh – August 2020 We are pleased to report that we have now managed to hold a number of services in the churchyard. By holding open air worship, we are able to accommodate more socially-distanced people than we can inside the church, and we can take advantage of our own small and occasional group of professional singers. Our clergy team is planning changes to our regular pattern of services from October but, in the meantime, they will continue to conduct a maximum of three services per Sunday in the whole Benefice during September. We don’t yet know how these services will be allocated so we are planning to conduct two services ourselves – an Evensong at 6.00pm on 13 September and a lay-led morning service at 10.00am on 27 September. This means we will have a clergy-led service on either 6 or 19 September. 24
Ride + Stride Saturday 12 September is the date for this year’s Ride + Stride event when you will find people cycling or walking along our lanes to visit some of our lovely churches and raising money for Dorset Historic Churches Fund (DHCF). Alaistair is our local lead on this and he will tell you how you can sponsor him and thereby raise money for our own church as well as DHCF. Finally, a request for help please. Les Wallis created much of our wonderful church woodwork, including the main gates, which he reckons are about 50 years old. Sadly, the ravages of time, weather and the occasional careless driver have taken their toll and we need to replace them. The new gates will cost in excess of £3,000 and we are inviting villagers to consider making a contribution towards the cost of something we hope will last for another 50 years.
Alaistair Cumming and Eddie Upton Churchwardens
The Three Platters I was delighted, on behalf of the Leigh Village Hall Committee, to present Paul Orchard, Duncan Moore and Michael Morrell with a specially commissioned plate by Plaxy Arthur on their retirement
from the Hall’s Committee and to thank them for their stewardship and commitment in guiding the Hall through its first decade and beyond. They will be a hard act to follow. Julian Turnbull
Duncan Moore, Paul Orchard and Michael Morrell receive their plates
After a summer to forget, one to remember. The Leigh Village Festival June 18-20 2021. A multi-event weekend for everyone. Planned events include: Saturday Night Band Summer Play Performance Children’s ‘Mini-Festival’ Craft Fair Book Events with guest author and ‘Tea with a Tale’ ‘Say yes to the dress’ Bridal Exhibition Contacts: Craft Fair Stalls: s.fudge054@btinternet.com Art Competition: julianturnbull@btinternet.com All other enquiries: leighvillagefestival@gmail.com
Art & Photography Show and Competition (16 to 18s) Bar, Food Stalls and more. It kicks off with a special Friday Night edition of Leigh’s renowned Pop-up-Pub, with music and food. Leigh
Save the date. It’ll be memorable.
Village festival
June 18 - 20 2021
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Bag it and bin it I bumped into John Harvey the other day who was perambulating on his mobility scooter bedecked in flags and mirrors. In a brief chat I was surprised and horrified to hear that he collects a black bag full of rubbish roughly every fortnight. WHAT ARE WE DOING? Why do we find, on our roads and byways, ice cream wrappers, cider bottles, Costa coffee cups and plastic, plastic, plastic? He reports that the main thoroughfares through the village – Hilfield Road, Three Gates and Batcombe – seems to have most rubbish.
So please – take it home, bag it and bin it for the refuse collectors. There was a time when Stanley Waterfall and Paul Orchard would call for volunteers and we would do a clean sweep but only once a year. Now John is collecting every week. We know that our rivers, lakes and seas are being seriously polluted and affecting our fish stocks. We in turn consume the fish that contain the nasty plastic. It can’t be good for us so PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS AND OUR FUTURE. It’s not much to ask, for all our sakes. A grumpy old man
Correction to June 2020 Edition The obituary for Chloe Sadler was written by her sister, Tessa Hill, and her nieces, not by Emma Harris as stated on page 25 of the June edition of this magazine. John Harvey with the latest collection
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR JULY AND AUGUST 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 July draw:
1st Ball 2nd Ball 3rd Ball 4th Ball
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No 120 No 82 No 123 No 26
Mrs K Brazier £40 Mr R Cutler £20 Mr A Little £10 Dr J Tuke £5
Winners for the August draw:
1st Ball 2nd Ball 3rd Ball 4th Ball
No 84 No 75 No 48 No 95
Mr G Fudge Mrs R Graham Ms N Socks Mr Drabik
£40 £20 £10 £5
Leigh Candle Auction 2020 This year’s socially-distanced candle auction was held in the village hall on 23 July. It was different! With no bar or food, and only the Trustees, the bidders and a couple of members of the public present, it was possibly the quietest auction since the ‘summer winter’ of 1879–80, when snow fell in July (and who now remembers that?) Nevertheless, all present, having heavily sanitised themselves, sat on socially-distanced disinfected chairs to await the excitement of the first of the two auctions. The first, for Bere/Beer Mill Mead, the piece of woodland close to Stake Ford, was a tightly fought contest between Yetminster’s Malcolm Wills and Leigh’s Charlie Read. There were 19 bids during the 19 minutes of the candle’s life (known in the candle auction trade as a ‘long burn’). Malcolm and Charlie, experienced candle watchers both, are well aware of how tricky the final seconds of a candle’s life can be, as roaring flame turns to tiny flicker, and back again. This year it was Charlie’s turn to judge the flame correctly, with a last millisecond bid of £225.00 that saw him through to victory. The auction for Alton Mead, however, was a very different affair, with only five bids possible before the flame just .... died, after barely three minutes of life. Jen Greenwood was the successful – and lucky – bidder, as the owner of the mead kindly agreed to allow the successful bidder (£125.00) to make use of the summer grass, as well as the later, or ‘after’ grass that is the auction winner’s by right. We hope that next year we can return to our normal arrangement of auction
and social event. Time will tell. Suffice to say that the Trustees were very pleased to have been able to hold the auction. Finally, the Trustees would like to say a public thank you to Simon Read, who came to our rescue when a tree in Alton Mead’s hedge fell across Leigh Lane, completely blocking it. Thanks Simon – a great help. (NB: for any reader in need of a tree surgeon, Simon’s telephone number is 07737 052477). Pip pip Gordon Morris Chairman, Leigh Parish Lands Trust Tel. 01935 873051 27
RYME INTRINSICA
REP: Gilly Wilson 872982 gml.wilson@btinternet.com DISTRIBUTOR: Clive & Cindee Taylor 872463
Photo: William
Lakegate Lane, Ryme Intrinseca
Welcome to Michael Scriviner and Ami King who have moved into Wheat Barn. Having both been working from a small flat in Bristol during lockdown, they decided to escape to more space, a great outlook, fresh air and less noise in the country. Michael is a graphic designer and Ami runs a Mental Health App for businesses. Hope they will be very happy here. Congratulations – again – to Roger and Ellie Excell on becoming grandparents. Their younger son Jamie and his wife Jessie welcomed Molly Jean into the world on 19 July. Jamie and Jessie are currently working in Kenya but Molly was born in Dorchester. Not expecting any more Excell news for a while now! 28
Readers Please, please readers send me your news to put in the magazine. See how much other villages have! I am really struggling here every month. My email is gml.wilson@ btinternet.com or put a note through my door – it’s Pomeroys Forge, the thatched house opposite the church. The letter box is through a small metal gate end of house. Or phone on 01935 872982. I look forward to receiving your answers to the survey – do remember they are completely anonymous. Gilly Wilson
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YETMINSTER
REP: John Ferretter john.ferretter@cloud.com 873812
As we slowly come out of lockdown, despite warnings of its return, there are signs of a few tentative steps towards some former normality. It’s pleasing to see people sitting outside the White Hart enjoying a pint, while keeping their social distance of course. Sitting at the back under the open-sided marquee, again with all due respect to distance, is also a cheering – if nearly forgotten – experience. Similarly, up at the Gallery Café it is heartening to see people chatting away (at the proper social distance!!) over their coffees and Sarah’s excellent cakes. Fortunately the weather has been with us, allowing people to take those first nervous steps towards meeting up again, albeit in the open. Several took their courage further and moved inside (still keeping those safe distances) as the sun moved round and the shade made it too cool to sit outside. Given that there are now many more
humans tramping the local footpaths and fields, against expectation nature seems to be popping its head up too. I’ve seen grass snakes slithering across Scrap’s Way and an adder in Birch Lane, although rather sadly with its neck squashed by some vehicle. It is said that British adders will be extinct in 30 years and that was another one gone. Down by the River Wriggle there have been separate sightings of kingfishers and an otter. Then there are of course the seasonal attractions of the ripening barley and maturing fruits.
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Meanwhile buzzards wheel overhead. Whether they came down and disposed of that adder or some passer-by scooped it into the hedge, I don’t know, but it was gone by the evening of that day. Normally in the September issue, as autumn rapidly approaches bringing the darker evenings with it, we look forward to distractions courtesy of the local clubs and societies. Sadly though, the C-word means most of these activities have been postponed till the new year at least, pending further government advice. We will have to work out how to meet in the open, duly wrapped up. One thing to look out for in particular, because it affects us all as residents, is the Neighbourhood Plan Consultation which will be taking place in September and October. You will find more detail on other pages but do look out for it. Complete the questionnaire online or, if you prefer, post your answers in the designated boxes. John Ferretter
Yetminster coffee morning Coffee ‘n cake is taking place once again on the first Wednesday of every month, at 10.00–11.30am, in the Jubilee Hall. We look forward to welcoming you all back on Wednesday 2 September 2020 following the COVID guidelines to keep you all safe.
Yetminster Fair 2020 I think everybody will agree that this year has been very strange for everyone, not least for Yetminster Fair. The virus meant that there was no possibility of holding a public event and the Committee was very upset to have to cancel all the plans in line with the other organisations in the village. This was a great shame, not only because the Fair has become part of Yetminster over the long years, but it also provides a celebration and a meeting point in the middle of summer as a focus for the village. 34
50/50 Club JULY 2020 1st prize £50 No.36 Mr H Drake 2nd prize £30 No.2 Mr A Reek 3rd prize £20 No.22 Mr E Pennington
50/50 Club AUGUST 2020 1st prize £50 No.53 Mrs V Jones 2nd prize £30 No.45 Mr A Leggett 3rd prize £20 No.4 Mrs E Jubb Although this year we couldn’t hold the Fair, the Committee hopes very much that in 2021 the country may have returned to some sort of normality and the Fair might take place. There are many things to organise as you can imagine and the Committee will start planning as soon as it is safe to hold meetings, although at the moment there are no promises as we don’t have a reliable crystal ball! However, that does leave us with one rather pleasant task this year – to distribute the funds that we have available to our local groups and good works. We are indebted as ever to Derek Mott for his work in organising the Fair 50 Club which provides most of the funds we will be able to distribute. We normally have our AGM in November but at the moment we don’t know what form this is going to take. Traditionally, organisations have attended the AGM and been presented with their cheques, but this year it will quite probably be different. However, we
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 would very much like to hear from any organisations who have projects in the village who feel that they might benefit from a donation from the Fair. Please in the first instance could they contact the secretary, Jane Smith, on secretary.yetminsterfair@gmail.com with an application for funding and a brief outline of what is proposed. The committee hope very much that in 2021, the Fair will be part of the general year in Yetminster once again.
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The Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Neighbourhood Plan Hopefully, you are aware that we have been working to produce a Neighbourhood Plan which covers the development of the Parish in the period to 2036. Written by a group of volunteer residents, with advice from people with specialist planning experience, it is shaped by the feedback from the various consultations that took place in 2017 and 2018. The adopted Vision Statement contained in the Plan says what we hope it will help to achieve and there are then six main sections in the document relating to: the environment; climate change and water management; community services and facilities; housing; business services and economy; and traffic, road safety and transport. Importantly, whilst the new development in the Thornford Road provides 85 new homes in Yetminster, as the Plan looks forward for the next 16 years, more housing will be needed and six sites have been identified where, in principle, further housing could be built. It is essential that we get the Plan right and, with the Coronavirus restrictions lifting, we are now able to ask you to tell us what you think about it and what it is trying to achieve. With this feedback we can finalise the Plan and submit it to Dorset Council for independent review and, hopefully, referendum and subsequent adoption in the knowledge that the community has ownership of it. 36
Please take the opportunity to comment! It is important that you do this. You will receive a letter outlining the consultation process and details of the online questionnaire (which we would prefer that you use) to give us your feedback. If you do not feel confident in using this then you will also have a paper copy of the form which you can complete and “post� back to us using one of our four posting boxes. In addition to the letter and questionnaire there will be a summary of the Plan so that you have an idea of what it contains. Should you not receive the letter and questionnaire, then please contact the Clerk to the Council and you will be sent one – tel: 01935 83915 email: yetminster@dorset-aptc.gov.uk Details of the consultation process and the Plan itself will be available online. Printed copies of the plan will be placed at a number of locations and copies can also be made available where people do not have internet access. The letter includes all the necessary details on viewing the document and on how to respond. YRIPC NP Working Group The Consultation will last six weeks, starting on 7 September and ending on 19 October. Please respond as soon as you can once you receive your letter.
My Sky Dive for Charity In January I had a rather rash idea, despite my vertigo, to do a sky dive in 2020 to raise money for Bloodwise, my Charity as Lady Captain of Sherborne Golf Club. At last, the jump was to take place on 22 July after the restrictions due to Covid were lifted. I have been closely involved with the RNLI Sherborne Branch over many years and I was greatly encouraged by Chris Copeland (Chairman) who has raised thousands from free fall sky diving. He supported me all the way and even though we were not able to do the Three Fall Challenge due to Covid restrictions, he was able to come in the same drop and preceded me from the little airplane. This was also the reason for donating also to RNLI. I was apprehensive but determined that I would jump. The briefing at Dunkeswell and all the precautions to keep us safe were excellent. There was no backing out now but actually I was so busy following all the safety instructions, meeting my tandem instructor and photographer, putting on the harness, snood, and goggles and posing for photographs that suddenly the time had come and off we went. The one thing
we were told was to enjoy the view and, whatever happens, do not grab the instructor’s arms in panic! The green light came on and we were at 15000 feet. The worst part was seeing Chris launch himself out into the ether and dropping at 140 mph from view. On my knees, arms crossed and head back, very firmly strapped to my tandem instructor and out we went. It was so noisy with the wind rushing past, and that minute seemed like a lifetime before the parachute went up. It was then so peaceful and we were able to speak and enjoy the incredible views of Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall.
It was all over in six minutes. My spectators were there to greet me, rather relieved that I was still in one piece! I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family and fellow golfers. Thank you so much for all your contributions. Priscilla Dickens 37
Yetminster History Society What do we do now?
As mentioned in the last issue, alas the Covid situation means we cannot hold a live AGM in the Jubilee Hall as we would have done under what was once “normal” circumstances. Instead the plan is to set up a “virtual” AGM using Zoom. For those members who wish to join in, the meeting will be viewed, and participated in, from home via laptop, tablet or similar device. If you are not familiar with Zoom, don’t worry, it really is very easy to use.
By the time of reading this members should have received the Chairman’s Annual Report, the Statement of Receipts and Payments for the 2019-20 year and details of Payment of Subscriptions, together with a covering letter of explanation by email (or by post for those who don’t use email). There will also have been request to let the Society know if you want to join in the Zoom meeting. If you have not received either of the above please let us know by emailing yetminster8@gmail. com. 38
New members
If you would like to join the History Society and receive details of the planned programme of presentations and visits, please let us know via the same email: yetminster8@gmail.com. There is also more information on the village website.
What have we missed?
The presentation that we will have missed this September along with the AGM would have been on The Battle of Jutland by Robin Miller. Fortunately Robin has agreed to give us this talk in September 2021. Here are a few salient points. You will be expected to ask Robin plenty of questions next year based on this pre-acquired knowledge!!! • It was the largest naval battle of WW1 • It started 31 May 1916 and lasted two days • Over 100,000 men and 250 ships were involved. • The result was inconclusive, with both sides claiming victory. However the German fleet did not put to sea again. Hope that hasn’t spoiled anything but rather whetted your appetite for next year. See you there, and hopefully on Zoom this September. John Ferretter
Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council Notes from the Chairman
It is felt that our first “virtual” meeting on 8 July went well, although we did spend time rather rubber stamping decisions that we had made since our last meeting and my apologies to those residents who were in attendance. It must have seemed rather bureaucratic, but it is important that we follow the regulations that we have adopted and ensure that are decisions our properly motioned, proposed and seconded. Good progress has been made with the refurbishment of the Ryme Intrinseca signpost and this should be installed in the next four weeks. We know that residents feel that speeding within the villages is a persistent problem and we are looking at traffic calming measures near St. Andrews school entrance and the possibility of a Speed Indicator Display that could be moved to speeding “hotspots”, the use and cost of which could possibly be shared with our neighbouring parishes. Our survey of allotment holders is underway and we would urge all those who have plots to respond to this so that we can better plan for the future – our report on the allotments and a suggested strategy for their future use is available on the Parish Website. We are happy to help the Scouts with improvements to the Scout Hut and voted funds for new heaters and for the protective coating to the external woodwork. We have also agreed to underwrite the cost of maintaining the St. Andrew’s Church clock and we will be increasing the yearly grant to the PPC accordingly. The amended draft Neighbourhood
Plan has been adopted by the Council and we are now working towards the community consultation of the document in September with a view to finalising and submitting the plan by the beginning of the new year – there is a separate article with fuller details on p.36 so do please make sure you read this so you know what is happening and how you can read the plan and provide us with feedback. The end of year (2019/2020) financial statements and balances were approved and we have appointed Darkin Miller Ltd to act as our auditors. The Council members took the opportunity to thank all those who had supported the community during the Covid restrictions. We were sorry to learn that The Flying Pig is closing as Terrie is developing a local cider farm and will be running a farm shop from there – we wish her luck. Please do continue to stay safe and follow the social distancing guidance David Torrance, Chairman YRIPC
Garden fawna? Jane Wills was in her garden in Yetminster, when she spotted a very young fawn in the field next to her, which then disappeared into her neighbour’s garden. She quickly dashed into the lane and peered through the neighbour’s hedge, phone in hand and started taking photographs just as it started to walk towards her. Beautiful!
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St. Andrew’s Church, Yetminster September: season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.....and gathering swallows twitter in the sky. How fast our summer goes, and here we are on the cusp of autumn already! The clergy have been working very hard during the long spring and summer, bringing us Zoom services and online services via Facebook/ Three Valleys Team. These will continue for those who cannot make it to church. During July and August, we slowly opened up our services again, with very grateful thanks to all those kind neighbours who hosted the garden coffees after the services. Our church continues to be open daily for personal prayer. Starting in September, the new pattern of monthly services for St Andrew’s Yetminster will be as follows: 1st Sunday 10.30am HC 2nd Sunday 09.00am HC (BCP) 09.30am approx, Breakfast 10.00am Second Sunday Worship 3rd Sunday 10.30am HC 4th Sunday 10.30am HC (CW) Of course, at the time of writing we do not know how things will be in September, so it may be a BYO Breakfast! The Tower works continue and should take about three months. During this time the path around the tower will be closed, so please use the main north door to enter and exit the church. Our next PCC meeting takes place on Monday 7 September via Zoom. If you have any questions for the PCC, please let me have them beforehand. As many have noticed our churchyard 40
has taken on a more rural aspect this year, with one of the highlights being the bug hotel above created by Celia Brayfield! Grateful thanks to Celia and to all those who mow and maintain the churchyard. We do need more volunteers to help mow the churchyard..... So please get in touch. Looking ahead, our Harvest Thanksgiving service will take place on Sunday 11 October at 11am, followed we hope by a soup and cheese lunch in the hall. To be confirmed. I send a round robin newsletter out each week, with church news and items of local interest, so if you would like me to add your name to the distribution list, do please contact me on churchwarden. yet@gmail.com With my best wishes Churchwarden Clare
Yetminster Guides and Rangers Girlguiding announced on 15 July that units would finally be able to meet face-toface outdoors over the summer months. Numbers are limited to 15 attendees (including leaders) in accordance with Government and England National Youth Agency guidance, and meetings can only take place after completion and approval of a detailed risk assessment.
Unable to attend school since March, many of our girls had not seen their friends in person for months. Faced with the possible prospect of being back on Zoom as soon as the nights draw in, the leaders decided to run Guide and Ranger meetings throughout the summer holidays and it has been very popular with girls and parents alike! Our Guide and Ranger units were the first to restart meetings in Dorset and it has been well worth the effort of filling in the 8-page risk assessment and seeking approvals to see them all chattering and laughing together.
Finding a suitable outdoor space has not been difficult thanks to the support of our local community. We have held several meetings in the Lower Covey Forest School area in Vecklands Wood and at Chetnole playing field – many thanks to Lower Covey, the Woodland Trust and the Wriggle Valley Cricket Club for allowing us to use your facilities! We are expecting an announcement very soon regarding a return to meeting indoors in late September, but do not yet know what precautions we will need to put in place. Before the suspension of face-to-face meetings in March, we had almost 50 members (Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers) meeting on the same evening and in the same hall over a three hour period – we may need to make changes to days and venues but, whatever happens, our Guiding Light will continue to shine in the Wriggle Valley. We have four sections normally meeting in Yetminster every Thursday during term time. Leigh Rainbows and Brownies meet 5.45–7.00pm and Yetminster Guides and Rangers from 7.00–8.30pm. We currently have spaces in all sections and would be delighted to welcome new members – please go to www.girlguiding. org.uk and click on Information for Parents, Register your Daughter.
Angela Orton Guide and Ranger Leader
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Yetminster Health Centre News On 30 June 2020, Drs Cleaver and Fleet left the partnership to allow for a new partner to join the practice. As there will be a short period before our new partner can join us, Dr Cleaver will still be working for us providing the same level of service to our patients. This will mean ‘business as usual’ for the next few months. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE EVERSHOT BRANCH SURGERY PLEASE READ CAREFULLY As you may be aware, our branch site at 13 Fore Street, Evershot has been closed
for a number of months. After careful consideration we have made the difficult decision not to reopen it. This means it will permanently close to patients on 30 September 2020. This decision has not been one we have taken lightly. We want to ensure we are able to offer safe and accessible services to all our registered patients, both now and in the future. Unfortunately, we now feel we are unable to do this at the Evershot branch surgery, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic where we are relying more on technology to support patients. For further information, please refer to our website https://yetminsterhc.com/
Flu Immunisation Clinics 2020
We will be holding clinics for patients registered at Yetminster Health Centre at the following times:
Date 1st October
Day Thursday
Time 09.00 – 18.00
13th October
Tuesday
09.00 – 18.00
13 November
Friday
12.00 – 19.00
th
Venue Yetminster Church Hall Yetminster Church Hall Yetminster Church Hall
Group Over 65s only Over 65s only All age groups
It is advised that all patients over the age of 65 years and those who are at risk through chronic respiratory disease, chronic renal conditions, MS, stroke, chronic heart disease, diabetes etc. and pregnant women should receive this vaccine. You can make a booking for a flu vaccination from Tuesday 15th September onwards. Please call in the afternoons only from 2pm to reserve an appointment.
YETMINSTER HEALTH CENTRE Church Street Yetminster Sherborne, DT9 6LG Telephone: 01935 872530
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CLUB NEWS Leigh Discussion Club We very much regret that the COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed our programme for the foreseeable future. Our summer and autumn talks and events have been cancelled, as has our annual Christmas meal. We will do our best to keep you all informed of our future plans and we hope that we may be able to resume our activities in the New Year. Our intention is to book the speakers who had to be cancelled because of the pandemic. Mick Harris Chairman
Yetminster & Ryme Garden, Art and Craft Society The Potato in a Bag Competition goes from strength to strength! The Garden Club may have had no meetings, no outings and no parties since lockdown began in March but one event in its calendar was unstoppable. Throughout these troubled times members have been watering and feeding their precious Charlotte potato in its black bag, hoping that a crop of prizewinning proportions was growing unseen beneath the compost. And Saturday 1 August was the day of reckoning. A record 15 members in all delivered their bags and then spread out on the grass outside the Jubilee Hall to watch while the weighing took place. After such a socially-deprived few months, this was a rare excitement for a lot of us as each bag was emptied, and the potatoes weighed and counted. Local hero John Burt acted again as judge with his usual assistants Robin
Debell and John Ferretter making sure that even the smallest potato was not overlooked. There were two impressive winners this year. Elizabeth Jubb’s potatoes weighed in at 1545gms, an overall weight which beat the nearest entry by 260gms and she quite rightly won a bottle of good champagne for that achievement. The prize for growing the largest potato went to Phil Legge who managed to produce a 338gm specimen, which beat the next entry by a sizeable 104gms, which provided him with a big smile and a bottle of wine. It was brilliant that so many people joined in and took part in the event. And it didn’t matter if you won or if you didn’t, it was all a bit of much-needed fun and was proof, as if we needed it, that the spirit of the Garden Club is surviving, albeit underground (like the potatoes!), and is ready to be resurrected when times change for the better. Judy Ferretter 47
Yetminster Community Sport Club (YCSC) After several months of forced closure, the clubhouse has reopened for Picnic on the Pitch, taking place every other Sunday afternoon. It has been fantastic to see so many local residents in attendance, taking advantage of the facilities, making the most of the lovely weather and being respectful of the COVID 19 guidelines under which we operate.
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We were entertained by the guitar playing of JBass at our last event and plan to run similar music events in the future. It has also been encouraging so see the increased numbers playing tennis and croquet. YCSC provides a range of facilities and activities that are the envy of other villages, but we need the support and patronage of the local community if we are to continue. The clubhouse is available for use by local clubs and societies as well as for functions, while we are still offering free membership. Details can be obtained at ycsc@btinternet.com or on the Yetminster Parishes website: https:// yetminsterparishes.gov.uk/community/ sports-club/ Once we are certain that pubs and clubs are not going to be closed again we will move to more regular opening hours. In the meantime, do not hesitate in contacting us if you have ideas for events that we can stage or if you would like to use the facilities for football or skittles. Andy and Lee YCSC
The Countrymen Club, Rylands Farm, Boyshill Drove, Holnest Over the last few months, the Countrymen’s Club at Rylands farm has been put on hold and only recently have we been able to welcome some of our retired farmers and countrymen back in small groups.
We have been keeping in touch through newsletters and telephone calls, but nothing beats getting back on the farm with likeminded men with a rural background. Many work on projects such as woodwork and pyrography as well as caring for the animals. Others prefer to share their stories over a cup of tea in the barn. Over the summer we have been running cream teas as well as distributing treats donated to us from Percy’s Biscuits, House of Dorchester chocolates. We deal with a diverse range of men with many different health conditions. We would love to show you around to see if you would enjoy what the club has to offer. Give us a ring and we will book you in for a trip around the farm, we’re sure you will love it! Please ring 01963 210703 or email jan@countrymenuk.org
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OTHER NEWS 75th Anniversary of VJ Day – a very personal memory The 75th anniversary of VJ Day was on 15 August. In grateful remembrance of the multi-national, multi-racial forces who formed the Allied troops, I write this short and very personal piece to highlight one episode that followed on the Japanese Campaign to occupy Burma, as well as a post-script from many years later. The Japanese Campaign lasted from December 1941 to June 1942 and its object was two-fold: to cut off the ‘Burma Road’ which allowed access northward to Allied China; and to occupy Burma with the hope, perhaps, of facilitating the occupation of India, or parts of it, to the west. Burma fell to the Japanese in 1942 and this Occupation meant that all Allied military personnel stationed in Burma, as well as civilians, were trapped behind enemy lines. Thousands escaped to India; by train while they were still running and by air, before the airports were bombed. Many, however, undertook this exodus on foot. My father, Robbo (Arthur Leslie Roberts), then 28 years old, was one such individual. Robbo was a regular solider in the Royal Corps of Signals, normally stationed on the North West Frontier. In 1941 however, he was in Burma together with a group of Indian Signallers, some of them Panjabis; by June 1942, they were all trapped behind enemy lines. The Japanese had been wooing Indians and Burmese with the promise of freedom from British Rule. The Signallers told Robbo that they were planning to desert and go over to the Japanese but, because 50
they liked him they were not going to kill him. With that, they disappeared into the night leaving Robbo alone. He resolved to make his escape to India on foot. The geographical characteristics of the region meant that weather, disease and terrain had a major effect on all operations. His walk to India was across the notorious Hukawng Valley, in the middle of the seasonal monsoon rains. I don’t know Robbo’s actual starting point but: “The trek across this Valley was itself in the order of 300 miles, over the Chaukan Pass at the North West end of the mountains dividing Burma and India, with treacherous crossings on the Dapha River. It rose to over 9,000 feet at the highest point and was a swamp at the its lowest. Before 1942, only five European explorers ever crossed using this route and not in the monsoon
season. The Hukawng Valley ... was a monstrous, monstrous trek through the jungle which killed many and left many others debilitated.” Dr Kevin Greenback, Centre for South East Asian Studies, University of Cambridge – CSAS.
now in remembrance of my father and all he endured, in remembrance of all those who suffered on these treks and afterwards; in remembrance of all who died; and also, on this VJ Day 2020, to give thanks for those who left hearth and home to support the Allied Cause.
It is known that working elephants were used to help the refugees across the swollen Dapha River onto the Indian side. Is this how Robbo got across? I don’t know as he never spoke about his trek. Robbo arrived in India suffering from multiple diseases and the medical personnel did not expect him to survive. But survive he did and eventually resumed military duties, even being posted back to Burma after Indian Independence. Burma continued as a theatre of war after the Japanese Occupation and hostilities did not cease until 15 August 1945. These war-time treks, which left many dead or traumatised, have been the subject of various BBC programmes and many personal stories are stored at the AngloBurmese Library in London. However, this story I have told concerning the desertion of this group of Indian Signallers and this particular Hukawng Valley trek by my father, has not been told before. I do so
Post-script: Robbo resigned his commission some time after Burmese Independence. By this time he was married to Noreen, an Army Nursing Sister, and I had been born. In mid-1949, Robbo took a job with a British mining company in Orissa. In 1953, a Panjabi man, who spoke good English and was skilled in all matters to do with the terrain, mining, explosives and electrics, turned up in our district in Orissa. There was a strong rumour that this gentleman had been a deserter from the British Royal Corps of Signals during the War. This certainly gained him no hint of general condemnation. I remember him very well. Did my father and he recognise each other? Possibly. Nothing was confirmed – or denied. In matters of peace and reconciliation, the War was over. Dr Shelagh-Margaret Mitchell, Yetminster
Elephants crossing the Dapha river.
Credit: Imperial War Museum
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CITIZENS ADVICE NOTES Sherborne Citizens Advice has recently reopened for face-to-face advice at the Manor House, Newland, Sherborne with social distancing arrangements in place. The office will only be open initially on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10.00am – 2.00pm. Clients who attend will be offered a phone or e-mail follow-up or immediate advice if the issue is straight forward. If you are a new client, please call: 0344 411 1444
Beware scams
Beware scams especially for vulnerable people. If you are supporting a vulnerable person and want to reduce their exposure, talk to them about setting up the Telephone Preference Service or the Mailing Preference Service which can reduce the amount of calls or mail received. In some circumstances, you may want to consider arranging a Power of Attorney.
Email: judygallimore61@gmail.com
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If the vulnerable person is receiving care from the Local Authority and you have a concern, and their permission, then talk to the Adult Services Safeguarding team. Telephone Preference Service: 0345 070 0707 Mailing Preference Service: 020 7291 3310 Fundraising Preference Service (to restrict incoming charity mail): 0300 3033 517 All of these services are free so ignore anyone asking for a payment.
Self employment, benefits and Coronavirus For information go to our online advice website www.citizensadvice.org.uk and follow this path: Adviceguide > England > Benefits > Universal Credit > Reporting self-employed earnings
Cerne Abbas Surgery and Flu Vaccines – help needed! Cerne Abbas Surgery’s Patient Participation Group (PPG) is currently recruiting volunteers to help (safely) at ‘flu vaccination clinics in September/ October this year. Due to COVID-19 these clinics will require careful marshalling and we estimate that 10 volunteers will be needed per session – preferably working in pairs, to provide cover. On 13 October there will be morning and afternoon sessions at Cerne Abbas Village Hall and a full day’s clinic there is likely. Clinics are planned at Piddle Valley First School (19 October), Hazelbury Bryan Village Hall and Buckland Newton Village Hall (dates tbc). If no volunteer did more than one session, we could therefore need 70, but currently only have about 10. For further information, or to register an interest in volunteering, please contact Eugene Balbinski, (balbinski@waitrose. com) or ‘phone (01300 341714) or Denise Whiteoak (cdwhiteoak@hotmail. com) as soon as possible. Please don’t volunteer if you have been ‘shielding’ or are similarly vulnerable.
New email – Cerne Abbas taxi cerneabbastaxi@gmail.com
Would You Like to Help Other Families in West Dorset? Do you have parenting experience and 2–3 hours a week available to visit a local family in need? Home-Start West Dorset is looking for volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families with children under five.
Families require help for many different reasons, including loneliness and isolation, multiple births, poor mental health, illness or disability, housing or financial stresses; or maybe they are just finding parenting a struggle. Covid 19 has also meant many families in Dorset have been finding life particularly hard for the last few months. Home-Start West Dorset is a wellknown local independent charity that has operated across West Dorset, Weymouth, Portland and Sherborne since 2009. All volunteers undertake a 26-hour training course, spread over multiple weeks, which gives them all skills and tools they’ll need. Once matched with a suitable family, our volunteers continue to be fully supported, including a personal supervision every six weeks. During this time of social distancing the charity has successfully moved its support to on line; still giving weekly support through phone and video call, texts and post. Kelly Rolfe, one of the charity’s organisers says, “As lockdown guidelines have eased, many more families have been pushed towards a vulnerable status and we’re getting increasing amounts of referrals. We are aiming to organise a new volunteer training course as soon as it is safe to do so, and are looking for women and men with parenting experience, aged 18 and over, to apply now so that we can get going again as soon as possible.” For more information or an application form contact us on 01305 265072 or email office@homestartwestdorset.co.uk 53
IN GOOD COMPANY – Hollis Mead Organic Dairy
High up on the West Dorset Downs above Hooke, a herd of cows munch organic pasture and gaze out on what must be one of the most beautiful views in the area. They are Hollis Mead cows, mainly British Friesians with an increasing number of Ayrshires; they represent a new venture in organic dairy farming for Oliver Hemsley. “I’m passionate about nature and conservation and believe there must be a way for profitable dairy farming and wildlife to flourish alongside each other. But,” he says, “I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to farm in the way that I required so decided to do it myself.” The ethos of the farm is to produce high quality, organic milk while allowing nature to thrive. “Our cows are milked only once a day, which means the quality of the milk is second to none.” Oliver pauses to rescue a small field mouse trapped in a corner of the shed. He continues: “The milk is gently pasteurised but not homogenised. It’s nothing like the white water produced by the processing companies. Everybody old enough to remember tells me it’s just how milk used to taste.” 54
There are no intensive agricultural practices – the land is free from pesticides, insecticides and herbicides– and all farming activities are risk assessed against the ethos of protecting the environment and wildlife. Miles of hedges have been planted and field stubble is left over the winter to provide food and shelter for skylarks, yellow hammers and finches amongst other birds, mammals and insects. Hay is cut only when the birds have finished nesting. Milk yields are very low relative to those of an intensive dairy farm. But Oliver says they reflect the approach to milk production at Hollis Mead. “The cows graze naturally on a grass and wild flower only diet, without the use of antibiotics and wormers. Nature is allowed to take its course, with clear benefits for animal welfare and wildlife protection.” He beams. “Look at the cowpats, they’re riddled with holes made by busy dung beetles – that’s natural carbon storage and soil fertility for you!” Oliver has big ambitions for the business. “We are only selling direct to our customers through a number of vending machines in the area and these are proving increasingly popular. We are growing the size of our milking herd and planning to produce cream, yoghurt and cheese, from the same delicious milk.” He smiles. The cat that got the Hollis Mead cream? Kathryn Edwards
Dorset Historic Churches Trust Annual Ride + Stride Saturday 12th September 2020 Cycle or walk to Dorset’s beautiful churches and raise money for their upkeep. Calling walkers, cyclists, horse-riders! People in villages across the Wriggle Valley are participating in the national Ride+Stride fun event to raise funds for their churches. All the money raised from each church goes to the Dorset Historic Churches Trust, with half then being returned to that church towards its upkeep. See below to sign up and/or support the fund-raising in your village. Chetnole Please support St Peter’s Church, Chetnole. To take part or donate, sign the form in the church porch. Donations can also be made via https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/chetnole. Further details from Anne Andrewartha 873196 anne.andrewartha@gmail.com Hermitage Geoff and Elizabeth are planning to Stride (or amble) between some of our churches; if you would like to sponsor them, half the money raised will go to our church here in Hermitage. Or find sponsors and plan your own route between churches, going just as far as you want to. If you would like to take part, ask Elizabeth Kenton
for more information and forms. elizabeth.kenton99@gmail.com Leigh Alaistair Cumming, with any other volunteer, will be riding round the Benefice on Saturday 12 September for Ride+Stride. In the past the folk of Leigh have been extremely generous with their giving and last year we were 8th out of 178 parishes in the Salisbury Diocese to gather donations. Please give generously again. Yetminster Please see the link and contact Alex Mitchell on altrmitch@hotmail.com. https://dorsethistoricchurchestrust. co.uk/index.php/ride-stride 55
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of Keats’s famous poem It is 200 years since the‘Topublication Autumn’ (though it was written in 1819). It signalled the end of his career as a poet as, due to debt, he turned his attention to more lucrative writing. He died in Rome just a year later. Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease, For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells. Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind; Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep, Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers: And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep Steady thy laden head across a brook; Or by a cider-press, with patient look, Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours. Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft, And gathering swallows twitter in the skies
A page from the 1819 manuscript
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The Book Page
In association with Winstone’s Bookshop
rapacious of all, enclosing seven million acres, about a sixth of England, between Nick Hayes Bloomsbury £18 1760 and 1870 are ‘Rotten Borough’ MPs, England’s green and pleasant land: most of whom are ....landowners. we had it, now they’ve got it. Sometimes, the dispossessed This well researched and engagingly were burned out of their homes. Forced written book chronicles how most of our migration to cities, poverty and hunger land came to be in the hands of a tiny followed. Even Arthur Young, Pitt’s First elite with little interest in sharing its Secretary of the Board of Agriculture delights with the rest of us. Over eleven conceded it was unjust. Today, about anthropomorphically-titled chapters, 1% of the population still owns half the from Badger to Stag, Hayes argues not country, companies and corporations a for grabbing the land back, but for all of good deal of the rest, often anonymously and held in tax havens. us to have fair access to it. Towards the end of the His target is not the owner of book Hayes, a talented artist a good-sized garden, or our (the boldly beautiful woodfarmers (though he will discuts throughout the book are tinguish between family his) tells of engineering a owners and multi-nationals meeting with a more recent who nab tax-payer pounds former MP, one Richard galore in subsidy) but the Landocracy. My word not his. ...boldly beautiful woodcuts... Benyon, owner of a sizable First on the landwagon were grouse moor in Scotland and 12000 the 11th century Barons. As the Duke acres across West Berkshire. As he entertainingly describes of Westminster said, asked for his advice to young entrepreneurs, ‘make the meeting, the suavely confident sure you have ancestors who were close Benyon, on record in 2014 bemoaning friends of William the Conqueror’. The ‘the something for nothing culture of the regimen of deceit, secrecy, exploitation welfare state’, after receiving, in the previous year, £119,000 in housing and downright theft was underway. Sycophants to various Kings benefit, disengages as Hayes’s questions carried it along and were rewarded with turn less to his liking. He leaves the room. Interspersed with lyrical accounts vast estates. The powers that be in the Church were no angels, charitable land- of Hayes’s own trespassing walks (kept owners form a minority. Perhaps the most within the guidelines of the Scottish
THE BOOK OF TRESPASS
Get 10% off these two books at Winstone’s when you show this copy of Wriggle Valley Magazine. 8 Cheap St., Sherborne, DT9 3PX. tel: 01935 816128 e: winstonebooks1@gmail.com www.winstonebooks.co.uk 60
Land Reform Act, 2003, which he posits might be a model for reform in England) fascinating digressions and a vault of absorbing facts, this is compelling reading, though if you are a descendant of one of the starring Dukes or Earls, maybe not so much. When you next visit that nice stately home, set in thousands of acres and owned by ‘generations of the same illustrious family’ consider how they came to own it all in the first place, why you can’t walk in their wood and just how ‘noble’ their forebears really were.
A Gentle Reminder ... to everyone to wear a face mask when entering the Leigh village stores and post office. There have been a few occasions with people wandering around in the shop – not a mask in sight. Please think of the safety of others!
BRITISH SUMMERTIME BEGINS Ysenda Maxtone Graham Little, Brown £18.99 As I write, this is being read on Radio 4. A whiff of the ‘Famous Five’ permeates the pages, as Maxtone-Graham essentially edits the memories of interviewees, whose schooldays range from the 1930s to the 1970s, as they recall their summer holidays. A numbing six weeks of going nowhere and playing yourself at football (if they were poor) or an anyone-fortennis excitement (if well off) borne of Mummy and Daddy picking them up from Boarding ..with lashings of ginger beer... School to go off to their house in the country. It’s not a serious social history (for that see David Kynaston’s and Peter Hennessy’s books on the 50s) but it’s likable and features copious Brownie snapshots. My own prize 3x2 inch (inch? what’s that?) of the time shows Ramsgate beach on a blistering day. I am dressed in full school uniform, with tie. Must have been Sunday. The Rural Reader
Call for photos please! We are lucky enough to live in a very beautiful part of the country, surrounded by rolling hills, ancient woodland, historic buildings and diverse, colourful wildlife. All of which are shown in some of the striking photos in this issue. But we will always need more. In particular, we want to continue featuring an outstanding photo from a local contributor with a keen eye, on the front cover of each issue. Any topic of local interest would be welcome – whether flora, fauna, architecture or people. Please email wvm.editor@gmail.com with your pics! Thank you very much. Kathryn Edwards 61
THE CLUE’S IN THE NAME... Many moths have descriptive common names giving a clue to their identity. The following photographs represent a small selection of the larger UK moth species that have been on the wing throughout these past summer months, some flying well into autumn. It just shows what an amazing diversity of form and colour can be seen in these beautiful, mainly nocturnal, visitors to our gardens and hedgerows . . . . Gill Nash Gold spot Puss moth Dotted Bee Fly Peppered moth Merveille du Jour Lime Hawk-moth Purple Thorn Answers on p.66
Hummingbird Hawk-moth Barred Yellow Streamer Dot moth Large Yellow Underwing V-pug Green Carpet
Magpie Canary-shouldered Thorn Green Silver-lines Poplar Hawk-moth Frosted Orange Heart & Dart Spectacle
q
w
e
r
t
y
u
i
o
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...CAN YOU MATCH THE NAME TO THE MOTH?
a
s
d
f
g
h
j
k
l
1(
2)
2! 63
POGLES WOOD EXPLORERS So as it turned out, the swallows safely produced and fledged two broods of young and, by the time you read this, they will be thinking about heading off for a warm winter somewhere. Writing in the midst of the heat wave it is hard to think of anything much warmer! Whilst the swallows swooped, overhead we managed six wonderful weeks of Holiday Club sessions with every day fully booked. It was a joy to have the children back and they tie dyed and made paper, counted butterflies and made dens, chatted and read in the reading room (when it wasn’t too hot!) and made lots of friends. It was a glorious time for all of us.
Teamwork
Artwork for repainted toilet
Dens in the woods
September is usually a quiet time with some holiday for us and a few jobs to be tackled. Like many other people there won’t be a holiday this year but we will be trying to repaint the cabin so do pop along with your paint brush if you fancy helping! 64
At the moment I am expecting our regular school groups to start in September and planning to offer Holiday Club for four days in October half term (Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th). Please book in advance as places usually fill up quickly. For more info contact: philippa. toulson@gmail.com or Facebook Pogles Wood Explorers Philippa Toulson
CHURCH NEWS News from the Three Valleys Team Dear Friends People often find the Old Testament difficult because of the violence and cruelty they read in it, which then leads them to discount God as being the same. This misunderstands what the Old Testament is. It is true that the Old Testament is the story of a nation’s history but, unlike modern history, the writers sought to find God’s workings within it. There are many aspects and perspectives to be found, including those of individuals and groups, as well as editorial comment and individual thoughts about events. All had in common the view that God was leading His people and that a great purpose was being worked out. We find little of what we would regard as ‘objective history’. Indeed, the Old Testament writers would have been puzzled at the very concept of ‘objective history’. The writers took the view that all the peoples on Earth (knowingly or not) could be used by God to further His purposes. Thus, when the Israelites were carried into exile in Babylon, the writers wrote about God punishing Israel for not obeying him, through the actions of his tool the Babylonians. The prophets who lived at the time also had this understanding and so we read such things as: The word of the Lord came to me a second time saying “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot facing away from the North.” Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the North evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the North”, says the Lord, “and they shall come and every one set his throne at the entrance of the gates of
Our Church communities Jerusalem, against all its wall round about and against all the cities of Judah. And I will utter my judgments against them for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have burned incense to other gods and worshipped the works of their own hands.” Jeremiah 1 vs 13 to 16 Each book in the Old Testament tends to deal with several subjects at once and it is not always easy for people trained in C20 ways of thinking to deal with. Each writer wrote about God and society as seen through the lens of the society he or she lived in. It was not God that was cruel and violent but the society God sought to teach. Tony Gilbert Rector Three Valleys Benefice Rural Dean of Sherborne
News from Yetminster Methodist Church Hello
As I write the sun beats down and temperatures soar, I have no idea what the weather will be like as you read this magazine. 2020 feels like the year when we could not predict anything. Where plans get made, only to be shredded and reorganised, in hope but constant uncertainty. We like to be organised people but, as we learn to live with uncertainty, even fear for the future, where is God? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29 verse 11 Hmm. Yeah right, I hear you sarcastically cry, especially if you are someone facing redundancy or fearing the loss of your business as you struggle to make ends meet. Don’t worry, I am not going to trot out
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Rev’d Kate Konrad q Poplar Hawk-moth w Lime Hawk-moth e PDotted Bee Fly r Hummingbird Hawk-moth t Large Yellow Underwing y Dot moth
u Magpie i Gold Spot o Purple Thorn a Green Silver-lines s Peppered moth d Barred Yellow
some simple platitudes. I promise you that during my 34 years as a constantly committed Christian I have yelled a fair few times at God. As our adoptions went wrong (not once, but twice); in the face of a friend dying from motor neurone disease, barely 40 years old. Each reader will have their own experiences of unfairness, injustice, horror and tears to add and which I acknowledge as deeply painful and nonsensical. So why dare I say that God has plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Am I asking you to have blind faith? In my experience God longs to and does bring good out of bad as we trust Him to redeem our lives from the pit. It does require radical trust, choosing to believe despite our circumstances, that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3 verse 20).
Often it is only as we look back that we can see God weaving his perfect plan. We have already seen through the pandemic our world rest and recover ecologically. We have valued being together as we were unable to be together very much. Friendships, relationships have become more significant. Many of us have enjoyed being and not doing so much. One key question going forward will be how do we retain some of the good things we have gained…. Yetminster Methodist Church will reopen for worship with Harvest Festival on Sunday 13 September at 10.30am which I will lead. We will be wearing masks and unable to sing; we will sit apart, socially distanced, and so need you to book in for church as our building is small. For further information email me at revkatekonrad@gmail.com or speak to Barbara Driver. It is not without risk meeting together indoors, but we have conducted a risk assessment to minimise this. Rev’d Ruth Farrant will lead worship again on Sunday 27 September at 10.30am. Although please bear in mind my opening paragraph! May God bless you and keep you close to Him in these strange times.
f Merveille du Jour 1( Green Carpet g Canary-shouldered Thorn 2) Heart & Dart h Puss moth 2! Spectacle j Frosted Orange k V-pug l Streamer
Answers to ‘Match the name to the moth’ 66
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
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THREE VALLEYS TEAM LOCAL CHURCH SERVICES For complete list see www.threevalleysteam.org go to Services page Because of Covid-19, restrictions are still in place for worshipping in churches and the full schedule of services can not be implemented. Please check with the website and your local church. SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 2020
6th
13th
20th
27th
TRINITY 13
TRINITY 14
TRINITY 15
TRINITY 16
10am CW Holy Communion
BATCOMBE 10am Family Service
BEER HACKETT BRADFORD ABBAS
10am CW Holy Communion
10am Harvest 10am Harvest
CHETNOLE HERMITAGE 10am CW Holy Communion
LEIGH RYME INTRINSECA
10am CW Holy Communion
THORNFORD 10am CW Holy Communion
YETMINSTER ON-LINE SERVICES
10am via Three Valleys Facebook page
CW= COMMON WORSHIP
10am via Three Valleys Facebook page
10am via Three Valleys Facebook page
10am via Three Valleys Facebook page
BCP= BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
EXTRA AND WEEKDAY SERVICES
MONDAY
21st
6pm
LPA Commissioning Yetminster Service led by the St Andrew Bishop of Sherborne
MONDAY
Every
6pm
Compline
On-line via Three Valleys Facebook page
WEDNESDAY
Every
6pm
Night Prayer
On-line via Zoom See website for details. Please email for link.
FRIDAY
Every
6pm
Evening Service
On-line via Three Valleys Facebook page
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020 BATCOMBE 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 & ensuite. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001084
11/05/2020
NEW INN, BAKERS MOOR LANE – Erect two storey side extension, balcony and installation of solar panels. Approved 20 Jul 20.
WD/D/20/000949
20/04/2020
SCOTLEY FARM, ROAD PAST SCOTLEY FARM TO DYERS FARM – Request for confirmation of compliance with conditions 3 and 4 of planning approval
WD/D/19/002854 WD/D/20/ 000783
No Decision. 20/04/2020
SCOTLEY FARM, ROAD PAST SCOTLEY FARM TO DYERS FARM – Request for confirmation of compliance with conditions 3 and 4 of planning approval WD/D/19/002854. Prior approval not required – 23 Apr 20.
WD/D/20/001289
03/06/2020
MANOR FARM, DEEP FORD LANE – Erect roof to cover the existing concrete yard to provide welfare for livestock. Planning permission required – 9 Jul 20.
WD/D/20/001288
29/05/2020
CLYST HOUSE, MILL LANE – Erection of car port and single storey rear/side extension; extension of canopy to front. Approved 3 Aug 20.
WD/D/20/001164
19/05/2020
CHETNOLE FARM – Re-thatching of roof. No Decision.
WD/D/20/000900
14/04/2020
NICKS NEST, BATCOMBE LANE – Erect a replacement commercial store. No Decision.
WD/D/20/000817
01/04/2020
LAND TO THE SOUTH OF NICKS NEST – Erection of dwelling. Refused 4 Aug 20.
WD/D/19/002939
26/112/2019
LAND AT MANOR FARM WEST OF YETMINSTER ROAD – Formation of gated access. No Decision.
WD/D/19/002864
15/11/2019
GROVE COTTAGES, MILL LANE STOCKWOOD ROAD – Alterations to internal partition wall; internal alterations to create en-suite bathrooms Approved 1 Jul 20.
WD/D/19/002127
19/082019
STONE BARN HOUSE, YETMINSTER ROAD – Change of use and conversion of agricultural buildings to 1 No. dwelling with associated internal and external alterations. Refused. Appeal lodged.
98/06/2020
WILLIFORD FARM, WILLIFORD LANE – Residential dwelling without conditions imposed by Outline Planning Permission Ref: B.O/A/517713 and Reserved Matters Application Ref: 1/N/75/0008. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001803
05/06/2020
WHITEHALL FARM, SOUTH STREET – Erect new agricultural storage barn. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001478
07/07/2020
DRUMMERS FARM, BATCOMBE ROAD – Erection of a timber cow kennel to house 57 dairy cows. No Decision.
CHETNOLE
HERMITAGE WD/D/20/001361
HILFIELD Nil
LEIGH
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020 WD/D/20/001416
19/06/2020
LAND SOUTH OF LEIGH – Erection of one dwelling and garaging together with alterations to existing vehicular access. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001296
04/06/2020
FORMER BUNGALOW, THREE GATES – Demolish existing dwelling and erection of new dwelling. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001174
20/05/2020
LAND EAST OF DROVERS COTTAGE, CHETNOLE ROAD – Request for confirmation of compliance with condition 5 of planning approval WD/D/18/001955. Decision. not available – 12 Jun 20.
WD/D/20/001158
18/05/2020
ILES FARM, SHERBORNE ROAD – Change of use of land from agricultural to a mixed agricultural and equestrian use, (Use Class D2 and Sui Generis) and the construction of a stable block, tractor shed and manege for private use. 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.
WD/D/20/000934
17/04/2020
TOTNELL HOUSE SOUTH, TOTNELL HOUSE, TOTNELL – Erection of ancillary music room and accommodation. Approved 10 Jun 20.
WD/D/20/000865
06/04/2020
WHITEHALL FARM, SOUTH STREET, LEIGH – Erect single storey rear extension and internal alterations. Approved 5 Aug 20.
WD/D/20/000866
06/04/2020
WHITEHALL FARM, SOUTH STREET, LEIGH – Works to facilitate erection of single storey rear extension and internal alterations. Approved 5 Aug 20.
WD/D/20/000603
06/03/2020
BAILEY RIDGE CORNER HOLMBUSHES, BAILEY RIDGE – Erection of rear extension. Approved 29 Jun 20.
WD/D/19/002718
04/11/2019
LAND SOUTH OF, LEIGH – Erection of 2.no dwellings and garages and alterations to existing vehicular access. Withdrawn 19 Jun 20.
MELBURY BUBB WD/D/20/001015
28/04/2020
REDFORD FARM, MELBURY BUBB – Essential engineering works to the existing silage clamps to provide new structural walls, effluent drainage, effluent storage tank and associated works. Approved 23 Jun 20.
RYME INTRINSECA 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/20/001863
11/08/2020
MEADOWAY FARM, CHETNOLE ROAD – Construction of a concrete yard base. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001864
11/08/2020
MEADOWAY FARM, CHETNOLE ROAD – Form agricultural access track. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001387
15/06/2020
SANDERS, CHURCH STREET – Replacement of existing double glazed window with French doors and sidelights at rear. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001388
15/06/2020
SANDERS, CHURCH STREET – Replacement of existing double glazed window with French doors and sidelights at rear. No Decision.
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020 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. No Decision.
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. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001281
02/06/2020
ABP FOOD PRODUCTS, CHETNOLE ROAD – Construction of covered by-products, peltstore, extended workshop and site ancillaries. No Decision.
WD/D/20/001220
28/05/2020
RYALLS GROUND, QUEEN STREET – Erection of first floor extension. Approved 7 Aug 20.
WD/D/20/001271
01/06/2020
PETTIES FARM, HIGH STREET – Change of use of agricultural buildings to 2.no dwellings (Class C3) and associated operational development. Prior approval NOT required 23 Jul 20.
WD/D/20/000887
13/04/2020
RED HOUSE, QUEEN STREET – Demolition of garage and erection of new garage. Approved 29 Jun 20.
WD/D/20/000694
18/03/2020
STAKE FORD BARN, STAKE FORD CROSS – Amendment to planning permission reference WD/D/19/000711 – Addition of windows and a workshop. No Decision.
WD/D/20/000538
02/04/2020
LAND ADJACENT MILL LANE,MILL LANE – Erect a L shape Stable / Livestock wooden building and level ground down. Approved 24 Jun 20.
WD/D/20/000244
30/01/2020
SUSSEX HOUSE, BRISTER END – Erect 1no. dwelling (accessed off Whittles Lane). No Decision.
WD/D/19/003147
20/12/2019
BARN 5, HAMLET – Agricultural building to dwelling. Prior approval refused 14 Feb 20.
WD/D/19/002011
07/08/2019
LAND NORTH OF CLARE COTTAGE, HIGH STREET – Erection of 1 No. Dwelling. No Decision.
WD/D/19/000776
14/03/2019
LAND SOUTH OF FOLLY FARM, THORNFORD ROAD – Residential development (Variation to outline planning permission reference WD/D/16/000642 and Condition 1 of approval of reserved matters reference WD/D/18/001139 to amend the approved plans). Appeal status – unknown.
WD/D/18/002623
14/11/2018
ABP FOODGROUP, CHETNOLE ROAD – Use of Chetminister House as offices. (Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing)). Approved 21 Jul 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 the 18 August and 15 September 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: www.dorsetforyou.com/planning applications. Note: due to publication deadlines these details only reflect the website records up to the 12 August 2020.
Graham Plaice 71
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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 Topsy Turvy Toddlers Chetnole Art Group (until Easter) Beginners Pilates Cubs (in term) Every Wed Drop in Coffee Morning & PO Community Coffee morning Morning Yoga Class 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–11am 10am–1pm 1.10–2.10pm 6–7.30pm 9.30–12 noon 10.30–11.30am 10.30–11.30am 3pm (until Oct) 3.15pm–4.05pm 3pm 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 3pm
Venue Leigh Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Yetminster Jubilee Hall Leigh Village Hall Scout Hut, Yetminster Chetnole Village Hall St Andrew’s Church St Andrew’s Primary School Chetnole Village Hall Chetnole Village Hall Scout Hut Yetminster Chetnole 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
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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
st
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
nd
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,
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Stockwood Leigh Hermitage Longburton, Melbury Osmond, Corscombe, Halstock and Evershot. 8 Waterside, Sydling St Nicholas, Dorchester DT2 9NY T: 01300341545
Cut flowers from an English country garden, based in the beautiful Dorset countryside, Kate will grow, cut and deliver flowers
to your door fresh from the field. With a cut flower patch that expands year on year, Kate uses British grown flowers from her farm or from other British growers, no flower foam and embracing eco-friendly and sustainable methods, Kate creates stunning installations using chicken wire and natural bolsters. Fabulous seasonal bouquets and unique arrangements are available to order. Wedding flowers, natural confetti, edible flowers and pick your own. The farm is ideally placed to deliver to the popular wedding venues Kate also runs workshops including Christmas wreath-making and children's days for schools and private parties. For more information or to order flowers please contact Kate on: 07788217521 or Email: katewh1@live.co.uk
Unique & Stylish BRITISH GROWN FLOWERS E: katewh1@live.co.uk
T: 07788217521
www.cutflowersbykate.co.uk
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WVM ADVERTISERS’ REGISTER SEPTEMBER 2020 ADVERTISER
Page No.
ADVERTISER
Page No.
Page No.
Steve Mumford General Builder 58
FUNERAL SERVICES
ART & ANTIQUES
ADVERTISER
Old School Gallery
77
Brister & Son
73
Neal Electrical Services
20
The Station Emporium
42
Grassby Funeral Services
73
JJP Plumbing
56
AJ Wakely & Sons
73
Pearce Energy Heating Oil
77
GARDEN & OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE
Sellick & Saxton
72
TS Boiler Services
43
Burrow Water Treatment Plants 45
Spearbuild
18
B.A Wallbridge
30
Westcountry Electrics
30
West Country Tiling Services
21
BED & BREAKFAST Chetnole Inn
18
Hound House
74
CARE HOMES Old Vicarage Care Home, Leigh
BACK PAGE
CARS, VANS & MOTORCYCLES, HIRING & SERVICING
John Butler Master Thatcher
57
P. Houchen Dry Stone Walling
31
Hannah Bradish-Ellames
19
JS Gardening Services
43
KDS Garden Machinery Repair
45
Addison Motors
29
Autotech Garage Services
58
Brotherwood
6
Knighton Countryside Mgmt
19
Express Equipment Centre
42
Komit Kompost
44
N.S Autos
56
Logs & Woodworking – Simon
31
WANTED Old Motorcycles
58
The Log Man
4
West Country Cars
32
Maiden Newton Clearance
43
M&S Welding
44 32
CHIMNEY SWEEPS
HOME, OFFICE & INTERIORS Country Office Furniture
58
KC Decorators
44
Melbury Kitchens & Interiors
21
Sibley Kitchens & Bathrooms
57
Michael Sturmey Carpets
18
SBF Curtains & Blinds
43
Wayne Timmins
72
Upstairs & Downstairs Interiors 44
Alexander the Grate
31
Mad Mowers
A Clean Sweep, Roger Dodd
45
Matt Turner Property & Garden 6
i Sweep, & video inspections
30
Paul Hambidge Contracting
20
LEGAL SERVICES
Steve White Chimney Sweep
4
Perrett Fencing
21
Porter Dodson Solicitors
74
COMPUTERS, MARKETING & IT
Pestwright & Mole Catcher
19
Professional Will Writer
77
Dalaric Managed Internet Services 42
Rampisham Timber Services
32
PETS & LIVESTOCK
SCR Tree Care
56
Dog Grooming & Stripping
Tree Surgery (Westree)
18
PHOTOGRAPHY
Wriggle Valley Fencing
57
Chetnole Drone Photography
DMDH Computers
72
PDC Computing
30
EDUCATION Barn Owls Nursery
4
Lower Covey Montessori Nursery 4
EVENT VENUES Chetnole Village Hall
6
Leigh Village Hall
57
The Marquee Hire Company
6
Yetminster Jubilee Hall
20
FOOD, DRINK & CATERING
Will’s Walls, Dry Stone Walling 29
HEALTH & WELL BEING Robert Frith Optometrists
31
Tania Geere Chiropodist
32
Therapy Barn Mandie Holloway 73 Yetminster Health Centre
45
HOME - BUILD & MAINTENANCE AD Renovations
20
J Bennett Joinery
56
Ian Crossland Property Maint.
58
Dorset Plasterers
32
CM Furniture
18
Cut Flowers by Kate
77
74 6
POST OFFICES Chetnole Village Hall (Wed am only) 6 Leigh
29
Yetminster
21
PRINTERS Remous, Milborne Port
78
PROPERTY & HOLIDAY LETS Holiday Home Nr Bordeaux
42
Mallows Cottage, Yetminster
74
PUBLIC HOUSES & FOOD
Hollis Mead Organic Dairy
2
Chocolate Art School
29
Hilfield Herefords
72
Leigh Village Stores & PO
29
5 Star Bars & Catering
29
Steve Jones, Carpentry & Joinery 4
On the Boyle Café
77
Heart Of Wessex Railway
44
57
Knott Roofing
Spar Stores & PO Yetminster
21
Wriggle Valley Cars
19
Lawrence Electricals
29
WRIGGLE VALLEY MAG ADVERTISING
4
Stuart Goodier Boiler Servicing 72 M Harris
74
Chetnole Inn
18
SPORT & LEISURE Barfoots’ Bouncers
4
TRAVEL
79
