LymeOnline April 20 2018

TRIBUTE: The town crier that left a lasting legacy on Lyme

LymeOnline RICHARD FOX TRIBUTE Page 21

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Uplyme ‘let down’ on highways problems UPLYME councillors have said the parish has been “let down” by Devon County Council, following slow response to deal with a number of highways issues in the village.

Uplyme has been hit by a number of road closures and diversions in recent weeks, as well as “dangerous” potholes caused by the bad weather.

County councillor Ian Hall apologised at a recent parish council meeting, saying he was “less than impressed” with the way the matters had been handed.

REPORT, PAGE 8

Fears over future of Charmouth post office

WEATHER forecasters say there’s a heatwave on the way but it was a very different story in Lyme Regis earlier this week where mountainous waves provided surfers with a last chance to demonstrate their skills before the calmer seas usher in the summer Photo by RICHARD AUSTIN

Cross-border angst Lyme and Uplyme councils in dispute over park and ride

RELATIONSHIPS between Lyme Regis Town Council and their cross-border neighbours in Uplyme are at an all-time low over differing accounts surrounding the park and ride debacle.

The town council succeeded in getting the park and ride scheme at Charmouth Road in place by the Easter weekend, after planning permission to extend the times it could operate was obtained from West Dorset District Council by

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk land owner Dick Wellman.

However, the council was unable to operate it as the ground was too wet following the recent heavy storms.

But an application for temporary permission for the Sidmouth Road scheme was not submitted to East Devon District Council until early in March and was subsequently opposed by Uplyme Parish Council.

The parish council said that, while

they wanted to support the application for the traders and public of Lyme Regis, they had no option but to recommend refusal because the town council had overlooked the support and advice offered by East Devon and had shown disregard to comply with their requirements.

They also expressed disappointment that there had been “no collaboration” from Lyme Regis Town Council, and said they were surprised that an application was being sought before a traffic management plan was put in place.

A recent town council meeting, however, Lyme councillor Stephen Miller said they had been working “extremely closely with East Devon Council” to resolve the issue.

The dispute is likely to generate some awkward questions at tonight’s (Friday) annual town meeting in Lyme Regis where parishioners are able to question councillors about their concerns

over how the town is run.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 3

THERE has been a post office in Charmouth for 224 years – but there is increasing concern about the future of the current PO in The Street.

Sub-postmaster Steve Pile is doing all he can to secure the survival of the village post office, but he has revealed in an article in Shoreline, the village magazine, that it may be forced to close.

REPORT, PAGE 9

Spanish players sign for the Seasiders

LYME Regis Football Club has signed two Spanish players to help them fulfill their fixtures in the run-up to the end of the season.

Ruben Rogel and Jaime Roderiguez, who are both working at the Royal Lion Hotel during the season, played an important role in Lyme Reserves’ crucial 3-1 victory over Elmore 2nds on Saturday.

REPORT, PAGE 24

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LymeOnline

Published by Lyme Regis Media Limited Hyper-local website and fortnightly newspaper serving the communities of Lyme Regis, Uplyme & Charmouth.

Unit 5 Uplyme Business Park, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS www.lyme-online.co.uk edit@lyme-online.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/LymeOnlineUK Twitter: twitter.com/LymeOnlineUK Instagram: instagram.com/lymeonline Editor: Francesca Evans francesca@lyme-online.co.uk 07810 221 420 Contributors: Philip Evans philip@lyme-online.co.uk Geoff Baker edit@lyme-online.co.uk Richard Austin edit@lyme-online.co.uk Production: Jackie Evans jackie@lyme-online.co.uk Regular Columnists: Sophia Moseley, Marine Theatre Jo Smith Oliver, Turn Lyme Green Mark Vandeweyer, Citizens Advice Peter Lacey, Tales of Lyme’s Past

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Council ‘on the case’ with traffic concerns HOPES NEW SIGNAGE WILL DETER HGVs FROM LYME’S NARROW STREETS LYME Regis Town Council is continuing to pursue means of preventing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from unnecessarily travelling through the town.

The ongoing issue of HGVs causing problems such as traffic congestion on the narrow streets and hitting the historic Guildhall in Lyme Regis was once again raised at this week’s council meeting.

It was reported that recent repairs to the Grade II* listed Guildhall’s over-hanging window in Bridge Street cost £5,512.80 plus VAT, and that bollards had been installed outside to stop large vehicles getting too close to the building.

A sign had also been installed on Charmouth Road that read ‘Narrow route, severe bends’ to warn drivers of the sharp corner.

Councillor Brian Larcombe commented: “Any signage of this sort is useful, the disappointing thing is that this sign is so far down Charmouth Road that by the time you’ve read it you’ve got difficulty turning around an going back again.”

Councillor Larcombe said he had been working with the deputy town clerk to follow up the “highways element” and there were hopes of having size restriction signs installed at Fernhill and Boshill.

“There’s a sign being mooted by highways at Dorset County Council and they’re proposing it to Highways England. That sign will do the job,” he added.

Deputy town clerk Mark Green confirmed signs had been proposed for the A35 which “would stop or at least discourage HGVs from accessing Lyme Regis”, but no response had yet been received from Highways England, which is responsible for main A-roads.

The council’s operations manager, Matt Adamson-Drage added: “Hopefully Highways

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

England will move, they’re the people we need to convince.”

Councillor Stan Williams expressed disappointment that more action to improve traffic concerns had not been taken since a positive meeting with Dorset County Council’s highways department.

“We’re not accepting that that’s the end of it?” he asked.

Councillor Jeff Scowen, chairing the meeting in the absence of Councillor John Broom, replied: “No, we are on the case.”

Mr Green added: “We are pursuing it. One of the issues around this is that contravention of any kind of sign that we’re talking about is deemed a moving traffic offense, which has to be enforced by the police, so it’s important we convince the police to support any measures as they’re the ones who will have to enforce

QUICK thinking by staff at Lyme Regis Post Office saved a pensioner from being scammed out of £1,000.

Police have been warning about professional scammers attempting to steal hundreds of pounds from people’s bank accounts by purporting to be calling of behalf of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or PPI investigators.

Lyme Regis postmaster Bill McGowan told LymeOnline that there had been at least two victims they had come across last week.

Mr McGowan said that “one dear old lady” was last Saturday sending money to a private address to fund a PPI claim. The amount required was under £400, but she was unable to withdraw that amount of money from the post office.

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Council refuses ice cream tricycle

THE town council has refused permission for a mobile tricycle selling ice creams and cold drinks along the seafront and in the public gardens in Lyme Regis.

Councillors felt that allowing the mobile operation would be unfair to permanent traders along the seafront, who paid “massive rates” for their businesses, and were concerned about historic by-laws which prevented the use of bicycles in the gardens.

However, the trader is already operating her tricycle under a pedlars licence. She requested the full-time licence from the town council, as she said she wanted to “work harmoniously with the people of Lyme Regis”, but can legally continue to trade as a pedlar.

Post office staff save pensioner from scam

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it.”

He said the town council had a meeting scheduled with the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset and this matter would be raised.

He continued: “Somehow the scammers became aware of the situation and paid for a taxi to get her to her bank in Bridport. She was told the amount required had doubled as the amount of PPI refund was more.”

On trying to post the money on Monday, the post office in Lyme became suspicious and contacted the police.

“I hope she has not been receiving threatening calls once the money was not received,” said Mr McGowan.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted should contact the police or Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, on 0300 123 2040.

Friday, April 20 2018 3

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Lyme and Uplyme councils in dispute over park and ride THE Sidmouth Road park and ride planning application has resulted in an acrimonious dispute between Lyme Regis and Uplyme councils.

FRANCESCA EVANS

councillor Steve Miller said that they had been working “extremely closely” with East Devon District Council, which had actually requested and that the town council should instead apply that another temporary application be submitfor permanent use of the land and should sub- ted to allow time for the full traffic survey to Uplyme parish councillors have accused mit a full traffic survey. be carried out. their Lyme Regis counterparts of “misrepreHe expressed disappointment that Uplyme Uplyme Parish Council said that, while they senting” what has happened in the run-up to wanted to support the application for the Parish Council had recommended refusal of a planning application being submitted for traders and public of Lyme Regis, they had no the application following advice from East continued use of land off Sidmouth Road as a option but to recommend refusal of the appli- Devon district councillor Ian Thomas, who arpark and ride. cation because Lyme Regis had overlooked the gued that Lyme Regis had “made no material Lyme Regis Town Council submitted a plansupport and advice offered by East Devon and progress” since previous applications for temning application for the park and ride facility the town council had shown disregard to com- porary use of the side and had “failed to adin March to East Devon District Council, as dress the requirements” set out by the district the land lies just across the county border in ply with their requirements. council.

They also expressed disappointment that Uplyme.

Councillor Miller also said that the town This was the sixth application for temporary there had been no collaboration from Lyme council had been in consultation with all releRegis Town Council, and said they were suruse of the land, requesting permission to use vant parties but had not met with Councillor it as a park and ride up until the end of prised that an application was being sought Thomas recently, as he had been unable to atbefore a traffic management plan was put in September 2018, despite planning officers at tend a number of suggested meetings.

East Devon previously advising that no further place.

Speaking at this week’s Uplyme Parish Speaking at a recent meeting, Lyme Regis Council meeting, chairman Chris James said temporary applications should be submitted that the implication that his members had only listened to Councillor Thomas’ comments was “a total September 2004 oping a shared vision for parking ar- permanent retention of a seasonal and utter falsehood”.

West Dorset District Council applied rangements agreed by both commu- park and ride facility at Sidmouth He argued that his for temporary use of the land as a park nities.

Road. East Devon planning officers planning committee and ride facility while Holmbush car In April 2015, East Devon granted advised that the application be rehad “followed planpark was used as a compound for permission for continued use of the fused on the grounds that the town ning guidelines which Phase II of the coastal protection site until September 30 2016. How- council did not submit a strategic trafLyme Regis Town works along the seafront and in the ever, it said that further temporary ap- fic management plan, as previous reCouncil has not”. gardens. In November 2004, permis- plications were unlikely to be quested. sion was granted to use the land up supported and there was a need for a Councillor James However, because of concerns until December 31 2009. comprehensive and evidence-based about the immediate implication the said that he had met The park and ride first opened in strategy for car parking in Lyme Regis. refusal would have on Lyme Regis with Councillor Miller 2005 and, although the coastal proand the deputy town traders and visitors, it was agreed to tection works finished in 2007, the faApril 2015 clerk of Lyme Regis grant a further temporary consent for cility continued to operate to improve Hallam Land Management applied for last year to discuss the park and ride up until September traffic and parking problems in the planning permission for up to 120 resthe park and ride.

10 2017, providing an opportunity to town. idential dwellings plus a care home “We told them we and a retained and improved park and collect comprehensive traffic movewould give them ment and parking figures, and for a March 2010 ride facility on land off Sidmouth every support if they working group of representatives from Lyme Regis Town Council submitted Road. followed what East all interested authorities to develop a its first application to continue using This application was completely Devon District Counthe land for a park and ride facility for separate to the town council’s park strategic approach to the managecil advised them to ment of traffic and parking in Lyme a temporary period. and ride applications. It was met with do,” he added.

Uplyme Parish Council supported strong opposition from neighbouring Regis and surrounding areas.

Arguing against Despite this temporary consent the application and East Devon residents and Uplyme Parish Council Councillor Miller’s granted retrospective permission in and was refused by East Devon in Au- being granted, the park and ride did comments that a not operate during the summer of July, as the town council was actually gust 2015. number of dates for already using the land for a park and 2017, except on Red Arrows day, as meetings had been ride, on the condition that the land be July 2016 the bus operator pulled out at the last suggested, Uplyme restored to its former condition on or Lyme Regis Town Council applied for minute. councillor Andrew before September 30 2014. a variation to the permission granted Turner said only one in April 2015 to allow it to continue March 2018 date had been put forDecember 2014 using the land as a park and ride for a The latest application for temporary ward which several Lyme Regis Town Council applied for further three years. consent to continue operating the parish council memcontinuation of the temporary consent Uplyme Parish Council did not ob- park and ride was submitted to East bers and Councillor for a park and ride on the Sidmouth ject, subject to the park and ride re- Devon by Lyme Regis Town Council, Thomas could not Road site. maining temporary and not setting a with many questioning why it was left make.

Uplyme Parish Council objected to precedent to becoming a brownfield until the week before the Easter holiCouncillor James the application, saying there was no site. Councillor Ian Thomas said a furdays. added: “We have aljustification for it now that car parking ther extension of the existing tempoUplyme Parish Council and Councilspaces at Holmbush had been re- rary consent was “inappropriate” ways been willing to lor Ian Thomas have both recomstored. The parish council also argued following the previous advice from the that the site was not well used, was district council, and the town council mended refusal of the application, open at limited and unpredictable should instead seek permanent con- arguing that Lyme Regis Town Council has failed to meet the requirements times, its entrance had poor visibility sent. and the site was an “unwanted visual East Devon refused the application, set out by East Devon. However, town intrusion” in an Area of Outstanding saying that the town council had not councillor Steve Miller has said that Natural Beauty. submitted satisfactory information re- the district council had requested East Devon district councillor Ian garding existing car parking usage Lyme submit another temporary application to allow them time to complete Thomas suggested a one-year exten- and capacity. a full traffic survey. sion to the existing permission and esEast Devon District Council has yet tablishing a cross-border group of February 2017 local councillors with the aim of devel- Lyme Regis Town Council applied for to make a decision on the application. francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

Park and ride timeline: 14 years in planning

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work with them and are still willing to work with them, but we have to be given the chance to meet them.

“It does not help when certain people misrepresent what has happened.”

Uplyme councillor Colin Pratt commented: “We were told last year quite clearly that they would not be allowed another temporary application. What do they put in? Another temporary application. There was no way we could pass it.”

Referring to the late submission of the application, just before the Easter holidays, he added: “Why did they come to our March planning meeting when they wanted to open it in March?”

Councillor James said that Lyme Regis Town Council had been given clear advice and had had four years to resolve the issues surrounding the park and ride.

“What more can we do?” he asked.

Councillor Turner added: “I just feel sorry for the traders of Lyme Regis.”

The planning application for temporary use of the land off Sidmouth Road as a park and ride is now under consideration by East Devon District Council and can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/2EFI6uL Meanwhile, planning permission for extended use of the Charmouth Road park and ride site has been received but the facility is currently not being used as the ground is too wet.

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NEWS ONLINE: Catch up with A round-up of the top stories from our website

New youth theatre Lifeboat guild raises £64k for RNLI launch at Marine EXETER Northcott and the Marine Theatre have joined forces to launch a significant new youth theatre based in Lyme Regis. Starting on April 23 at the Marine Theatre, the Marine Young Company marks a major step forward in placing young people at the heart of the venue, offering places for 40 young people to make thought-provoking theatre in a professional setting. More information is available by calling 01297 442394.

VOLUNTEERS in Lyme Regis and Charmouth raised nearly £64,000 for the RNLI during the past year.

The figure was announced at the annual meeting of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild – the local fundraising branch of the charity – by treasurer Brian Cursley, who said it had been “an excellent year”.

Another financial success was the lifeboat shop on the Cobb. Volunteer manager, Krys Lavery said her

second year in charge had ended in a turnover of £126,000 and the shop was seventh in the league table of RNLI outlets, despite being one of the smallest.

The meeting ended with praise for the outgoing chairman of the guild, Irene Roper, who received the RNLI’s award for excellence in volunteering. Irene was said to have led the guild in raising some £166,000 during her nine years, five of them as chairman.

Pro-European Union campaigners in Lyme Lunge raises £3,400 for Shelterbox Proposal message lost with phone PRO-European campaigners were out in force on Saturday, April 14, including in Lyme Regis, for the largest ever joint grassroots National Action Day, with more than 100 events taking place all across the country. The event tied in with the launch of a new People’s Vote campaign, calling for the British people to be given a vote on the Brexit deal.

THE final figure raised from this year’s Lyme Lunge reached £3,400 for Shelterbox. The annual Lunge, organised by the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, saw hundreds of brave swimmers dash down the beach for a quick dip on New Year’s Day, and funds raised have now been donated to the charity.

A SENTIMENTAL note that reads “Marry me?” has been found with a phone on Charmouth beach. Paulette Ward found the mobile while out walking her dog. She took it home to try and dry it out and found the scrap of paper inside the case. If this belongs to you, call LymeOnline on 01297 442781.

Follow LymeOnline on social media to stay up to date 24/7 facebook.com/ LymeOnlineUK twitter.com/ LymeOnlineUK instagram.com/ lymeonline

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French foray for Axe Valley Pedallers MEMBERS of Axe Valley Pedallers (AVP), the community cycling club for West Dorset and East Devon, swapped the local roads and coffee shops for a brief taste of cycling in France. In spite of recent politics and the spell of unseasonably cold and wet weather, 15 pedallers embarked on the club’s annual ‘French Foray’, sailing from Plymouth to Brittany for the day. Axe Valley Pedallers attracts cyclists from Seaton, Axminster, Lyme Regis and the surrounding areas.

Friday, April 20 2018 5

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the latest from Lyme Regis

FROM LYME’S OW N COMMUNIT Y WEBSITE

Stay up to date at www.lyme-online.co.uk - 24/7 news | sport | community Our villages deserve the best too

Volunteer appeal ahead of annual Fossil Festival LYME Regis Fossil Festival will return over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 5 and 6, and organisers are looking for volunteers to help set up and guide visitors around the event. The popular science festival is being led by a new team this year, and will include stands and activities run by the Natural History Museum, The Palaeontological Association and many other science organisations. For full details, visit the website www.fossilfestival.co.uk

Plastic free plans move forward thanks to grant THE town council has further endorsed plans for Lyme Regis to become ‘plastic free’ to the tune of £1,500 as part of its annual grants. The funds will kick-start Turn Lyme Green’s plastic free campaign, and a steering group to take forward the project has now been established, to be chaired

by Grenville Bar, who said he was “delighted” with the council’s support.

CROSS-border tensions may be rising over the park and ride, as reported on this week’s front page, but Lyme Regis and Uplyme - and Charmouth too - will always be interlinked communities.

From Uplyme’s rural walks and sporting facilities, to Charmouth’s famous fossil-laden beaches and heritage centre, there’s no doubt that Lyme’s neighbouring villages add to the area’s attraction for both residents and visitors.

Having covered the Lyme Regis area for about 10 years, it’s a little shameful I’ve only been to a handful of Uplyme and Charmouth parish council meetings. But we’re hoping to change that with the launch of LymeOnline and plan to give our neighbouring villages full and comprehensive coverage with dedicated pages for both communities (see pages 8 & 9).

Philip Evans has recently started covering Charmouth Parish Council and, having a rare Wednesday evening with no Lyme Regis Town Council meeting scheduled, I decided to pop across the border to cover Uplyme instead.

I have to say, the meeting was a breath of fresh air - a warm (if a little surprised) welcome and I was even thanked for attending at the end.

There were a few good-humoured jibes throughout the evening, but no malice, no bickering, plenty of decent debate and members moved through the long agenda swiftly, efficiently making lots of decisions.

It was also good to see standing orders suspended on several occasions to allow members of the public attending to share their expertise on

certain subjects - surely a commonsense approach?

Of course, it’s not all about the council and we’ll also be covering the many community events in Lyme Regis, Uplyme and Charmouth. As the summer fast approaches, LymeOnline’s events diary is definitely filling up and last weekend I was kept busy covering the mayor’s Civic Night (pages 11-13), enjoyed by one of the biggest attendances in recent years, and the Guitars On The Beach fundraiser at the Marine Theatre (page 14) - both great nights showing off our local musical talents and an excellent excuse to dance the night away (I was working, promise!).

Printing LymeOnline on a fortnightly basis allows me extra time to get out of the office on weeks when we don’t have a deadline looming, so as well as covering all the local events I’ve also recently enjoyed volunteering at the Community Lunches.

This is a one of several great community initiatives organised by LymeForward, offering the over 50s a two-course lunch for just £6, as well as the chance to socialise and catch up with friends.

Held on the second Wednesday of every month, the next will be on May 9 in Lyme Regis Baptist Church - book your tickets fast at the Penny Black Café, behind the post office.

Francesca Evans, Editor

New out of hours service All invited to Seasiders’ for local GP patients royal wedding festival A NEW evening and Sunday service for patients registered with Lyme Regis and Charmouth GP practices has opened at Bridport Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit. The service, led by nurses and healthcare assistants, is open every weekday evening from 6.30pm to 8pm, and offers some weekend clinic sessions.

LYME Regis is invited to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the town’s football club. The Seasiders will be hosting a double celebration on Saturday, May 19 with screenings of both the royal wedding and the FA Cup Final on the big screen TVs, alongside a beer festival and other attractions.

Ronnie Scott’s band coming to Lyme

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O r f ind us o n f ac eb o o k -@sinsgrillandb ar FROM London’s world-famous jazz club, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars will take to the stage at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis to celebrate ‘The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook’ – a show of jazz, alongside narration and rare archive images. The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars will feature at the Marine Theatre on Friday, June 15. Early bird tickets cost £24.50 and standard advance tickets £32, available by calling 01297 442138 or at www.marinetheatre.com

www.sinsgril l andb ar.com *1 child eats free with each paying adult.

Children aged 12 years and under.

6 Friday, April 20 2018

LYME MATTERS with Philip Evans Essential reading for all those with Lyme at heart

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philip@lyme-online.co.uk

Last time I went to a dance at the Marine there were 700 of us M

Y fondness for the Marine Theatre stems from the fact that I did most of my courting in the old place where I fell in love and had my heart broken - virtually every Saturday night!

These were the days of The Big Beat Nights, brought to Lyme Regis

by London music promoter Bob Alexander, a big cheese in the music business, or so we thought.

They were heady days for me. At the time I was writing a column called ‘Teens ‘n’ Twenties’ for the Express & Echo and got to interview many of the top pop acts when they appeared at the ABC in Exeter as well as being sent the pre-releases of all the Top Ten 45s to review.

Not that I knew much about music, evidenced by the fact that I tipped Long John Baldry for international stardom! What was his only hit? ‘Let The Heartache Begin’, very appropriate for my romantic experiences at the Marine where Bob Alexander brought every popular band of that era.

One occasion stands out - the one day that every football fan will remember. Saturday, July 30th 1966 - the day England won the World Cup - and the day that The Searchers, one of the top bands in the country, were booked into the Marine.

With 700 - yes that’s 700 - of us packed into the Marine all the blokes started chanting “Inger-

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Those were the days... land”, “Inger-land” until The Searchers gave up and walked off stage.

The girls in the hall were far from impressed as it was an hour before the chanting ceased and the band returned to the stage.

There was always a big scramble for the pretty girls as the half-time break approached. To get a dance you would just tap the girl on the shoulder and start jiggling around.

There was no room for proper dancing.

I had my eye on a pretty blonde for weeks and bucked up courage to ask if she would like a drink in the back bar of the Pilot Boat (classy!) during the interval. To my amazement, she said yes.

Thinking she might like a vodka and lime (very popular in those days), she asked for a pint of Palmer’s IPA. Four pints later she left me prostrate in the corner of the bar and went back to the Marine on her own. You see, she came from Chard, and from that day onwards I made a policy never to go out with Chard girls again.

It was common in those days to cram in 500 or more revellers into the Marine Theatre for such events.

No health and safety in those days.

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THE Searchers - circa 1966 when they appeared at the Marine Theatre The Big Beat nights attracted music fans from all around the area with busloads coming from as far afield as Yeovil and Weymouth.

There were some massive fights outside the building and it was the unruly behaviour, including a stabbing incident, that caused the old borough council to change their thinking about the Marine and Bob Alexander returned to London having made many marriages in this little Dorset town - and a few divorces!

I was reminded of all this on Saturday evening when I popped into the theatre quite late to support Geoff Baker’s Guitars On The Beach gig.

I couldn’t get there earlier as I was performing my president’s duties at a race night organised by Lyme Regis Musical Theatre to raise funds for their forthcoming produc-

tion of ‘Hello, Dolly!’, an altogether much more sedate occasion but a profitable one.

But I’m glad I did. There was nowhere near as many as 700, of course, the Marine’s maximum now being 350, and Geoff was a little bit downhearted that the place wasn’t packed to the rafters.

No one could have worked harder to get people through those doors, bombarding social media for weeks running up to the event and knocking the cost of tickets down to a tenner.

But those who did turn up were having great time and I was really

taken by the last band to perform, The IOUs, a Somerset-based trio.

Young Tyler Street won fifty quid for the best air guitarist with local footballer and Status Quo fan Simon Flux surely coming second!

We joked in the bar afterwards that we were going on to a club in Weymouth or might even drive to Heathrow Airport for breakfast, which we sometimes did back in the day.

Or we might have gone up town for chicken and chips in the little Broad Street shop which is now Eeles Pottery.

Shoreline, the best village magazine I have seen CONGRATULATIONS to Shoreline, the Charmouth village magazine celebrating its tenth anniversary.

And a special word of praise for former parish councillor Jane Morrow, the editor who started the project, and her team of Leslie Dunlop, Neil Charleton and John Kennedy.They can be justly proud of bringing out such a comprehensive and high quality publication.

It’s by far the best village magazine I have seen and I’ve had cause over the years to curse many for getting the best stories before the papers I edited.

Charmouth has not received the

editorial coverage it deserves for many years. Early on the View From raised the bar a bit but none of the other local papers took much interest in the village - and still don’t.

LymeOnline is hoping to change that. I’ve started to cover Charmouth Parish Council meetings again and we are publishing a Charmouth page in every edition.

Shoreline started with 12 pages in 2008 and has blossomed into the current 52 pages, crammed with everything you need to know about life in the village.

Here’s to the next ten years, Jane!

Bringing together those who care for us when illness strikes OUR corner of West Dorset is well provided with GPs and their clinical services. But all GPs and nurses are under pressure, so the NHS expects charitable and voluntary groups to do more of the nonclinical help that keeps us healthy and offers care when we're not.

Yet non-clinical health and care support has always been thin on the ground here, too often stopping at Bridport to the east or restricted by the county boundary to the west.

LymeForward has been work-

ing to tackle this 'black hole' by encouraging more providers to recognise that we too are entitled to their services.

And when opportunities are here, they need to be known about. That applies to the GPs and their staff, busy people who don't have time to investigate everything that's available, as well as to the rest of us.

So the 'Care Links Lyme' event on Thursday, April 26 (see advertisement on page 11) is important. It brings into one place a range of providers –

from the National Childbirth Trust through to Age UK and Cruse Bereavement Care, from 'health coaches' like LiveWell Dorset and My Health My Way to support groups for people with physical or mental health conditions, and to advisory bodies like Citizens Advice and the Partnership for Older People.

In addition to around 20 representatives, leaflets and information about a wider spread of activities will be available.

GPs, nurses and other clinical staff will drop in during the day,

for having all this information conveniently in one place will be useful to them.

For two hours in the morning, and again in the afternoon, the event at Lyme Regis Medical Centre is also open to us all, irrespective of which of the three local GP practices we're registered with.

It's a good opportunity and I take my hat off to those indefatigable souls at LymeForward for engineering and delivering that opportunity.

Friday, April 20 2018 7

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Jack to take on marathon in aid of Save the Rhino

VOLUNTEERS pictured at the BIG Breakfast at the Woodmead Halls

BIG Breakfast raises Cycling team host record total of £1,000 THE annual BIG Breakfast in aid of the Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research UK raised a record £1,000 this month.

The breakfast was held at the Woodmead Halls for the first time, where volunteers could make use of the recently-extended kitchen facilities, and more than 100 people tucked into a full English breakfast.

Organisers would like to thank all those who supported the event, Complete Meats of Axminster for their generosity in supplying sausages and bacon and local cook Sarah Causley who helped in the kitchen.

The branch’s next event is a Masked Spring Ball on Saturday, April 21 at the Woodmead Halls, and last minute tickets may still be available by calling 07796 951 991.

charity auction

A GROUP of local cyclists will be hosting a charity auction to raise funds ahead of their 100-mile ride around London.

Team Pearls & Peddlers - made up of Jo and Gavin Fowler, Tracey West, Roger Smart and Ben Buller - will be raising funds for Children with Cancer UK, Anthony Nolan, Make A Wish UK, Prostate Cancer and the British Heart Foundation by taking part in this year’s Ride London.

To boost their funds, they will hold a charity auction on Friday, May 11 at the Talbot Arms in Uplyme, starting at 7.30pm.

All welcome.

Tales From Lyme’s Past

A glimpse of our history by Peter Lacey

REGATTA REGATTA Day had its inception sometime in the 1820s, its forerunner (circa 1810) being an annual boat race.

The word regatta is of Venetian origin indicating a series of boat or yacht races and were the dominant element of early regattas, in 1847 there were three races with silver cups to the value of £300.

By 1861 the event had developed into a more comprehensive and festive occasion. A newspaper report stated that the Coastguard Watch House, the Custom House, the Marine Parade and vessels in the harbour ‘were all gaily decked out’. There were numerous stalls selling refreshments, gingerbreads being a speciality.

The Cobb and the whole seafront was crowded with spectators including ‘parties of ladies who had arrived by carriage’. Events included sailing and rowing races, with competitors competing for generous prize money.

Local Coastguard Stations raced each other in four-oared gigs and in twenty-oared station boats. Sponsorship of regattas was viewed as a civic obligation, contributions coming from gentlemen and the town’s tradesmen.

The 1889 Kelly’s Directory stated that ‘a regatta formerly held is now discontinued and the money applied to maintaining the town band’.

It was soon resurrected and expanded as the programme for the 18th August 1898 clearly demonstrates, there was even a military band.

Sailing included a race for Lyme ketches and for open boats, prize money ranged from £10 to 10 shillings.

FORMER Lyme Regis resident Jack Loughlin is preparing to take on the London Marathon this weekend in aid of Save the Rhino.

Former Woodroffe School student Jack, now aged 27, is the son of Lyme Regis author and artist Rikey Austin of Alice’s Bear Shop fame. He grew up in Lyme Regis and recently moved to London to take up a career with Ofgem in their Westminster offices.

Jack will be taking on the London Marathon this Sunday (April 22) in aid of wildlife charity Save the Rhino. He chose to support the cause after meeting the team and some of last year’s runners at their stall at the 2017 marathon.

Speaking about the charity, Jack said: “From South Africa to Sumatra, Save the Rhino work around the world to support vital conservation efforts that give these marvellous creatures a lifeline. They provide and coordinate valuable resources for rangers, educators, NGOs and a host of other groups that are on the front line in the fight for the rhino’s survival.

“Ruthless poaching is the biggest threat by far.

Rhino horn, which consists of a substance called keratin – the very same thing that our hair and fingernails are made of – has played a central part in traditional medicine in South-East Asia for over 2000 years, and is touted as a cure for a range of maladies, from a simple hangover to terminal illness.

“This drives demand and consequently the incentive for poaching gangs to become increasingly sophisticated in their methods. A vicious circle emerges, where, as populations dwindle the money to be made increases, placing an exponential strain on the species.

“To put this into perspective, in 2016 a total of 1,159 rhinos were poached in Africa alone – of a population of roughly 25,000. This is unsustainable.

“A Vietnamese subspecies of the Javan rhino, of which there are fewer than 100 left in the wild, was shot to extinction in 2010, leaving the species clinging to survival on a single, tiny nature reserve.

“But there is hope. For example, in the last two decades the African Black rhino has made a

comeback, with their numbers doubling to 5,000, and the Indian rhino’s status has gone from endangered to vulnerable. Much of the credit for this great news belongs to Save the Rhino, and the tireless work they do to improve the prospects of this iconic species. With your support, they can help make sure that our horned friends live on.

“A world without rhinos – let’s keep that idea to the confines of our imagination.”

Jack has been busy training for the marathon in recent months, including runs in Dorset, Staffordshire, London, Dublin and Munich (pictured). He completed his last big training run of 22 miles through central London last Sunday.

He is hoping to raise £1,500 for the charity through cake sales, a pub quiz, raffle and online donations. Jack can be sponsored by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JackLoughlin For more information about the charity Save the Rhino, visit www.savetherhino.org

Lyme School of Ballet Principal:

Mrs Jill Chase (RAD Registered)

Interested in Ballet?

Teacher:

Miss Freya Lovett Two novelty events were a rowing boat tugof-war between Lyme and Charmouth and a tub-race for which competitors had to find their own tub. The stone-boats had their own rowing race as did men over the age of 60 years .

There was only one swimming race and that was for boys under 14 years, in fact there was no female participation in any part of the programme, feminine decorum being an impediment.

Sand sports in the afternoon started with the Jerusalem Stakes, a donkey race, ‘no whips or spurs allowed’. There were running, walking and various obstacle races with a special event for boys from Saint Michael’s Home, all had worthwhile cash prizes. The coastguards took on ‘civilians’ in a tug-of-war challenge event and there was also a chance to win a leg of mutton by climbing a greasy pole.

Regatta Day was a memorable event for both inhabitants and visitors, in 1898 it ended with a ‘Grand Illuminated Naval Engagement and a firework display featuring ‘Niagara on Fire’.

Peter Lacey’s book ‘Ebb and Flow - The Story of Maritime Lyme Regis’ is now on sale for £5 - call 01297 443630

(RAD Degree Student with Cert.HE and Dip. Dance Education) For more details call Miss Freya on:

We teach

Ballet and ballet for children and teens (boys and girls) and Silver Swans classes for adults

01297 445185/ 07535 432379 or email her at

freya.lovett@ btinternet.com Find us on Facebook @lymeballet or visit our website

Pre School

www.lymeschoolofballet.com

of all ages too.

theuplymepage

8 Friday, April 20 2018

Parish council gives away £1,360 in grants UPLYME Parish Council has agreed to give away a total of £1,360 in annual community grants.

Organisations to receive grants for the 2018/19 financial year are as follows: King George V Playing Field - £510; Axe Valley Ring & Ride - £350; Uplyme Parish Church Magazine - £250; Bridport & District Citizens Advice Bureau.

Book your place at Uplyme Fete

UPLYME Village Fete will this year be held on Saturday, June 9.

The annual event will be held on the King George V Playing Field with entertainment and attractions for all the family.

Bookings are now being taken for stalls, sideshows and promotions. Those wishing to book a place should email Pete on uplymefete@gmail.com or call/text 07770 624 879.

Residents invited to parish meeting UPLYME’S annual parish meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 9 starting at 7.15pm in the village hall.

All parish residents are invited to raise any local concerns they may have with council representatives.

The meeting will be followed by the annual meeting of the parish council, at which the chairman and committees are elected.

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Parish ‘let down’ on highways issues UPLYME COUNCILLORS DISAPPOINTED WITH LACK OF RESPONSE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL

UPLYME councillors have said the parish has been “let down” by Devon County Council, following its slow response to deal with a number of highways issues in the village.

Uplyme has been hit by a number of road closures and diversions in recent weeks, as well as “dangerous” potholes caused by the bad weather.

Road works have affected Lyme Road, Pound Lane and Whalley Lane, with more expected in Lime Kiln Lane in the coming weeks.

Residents have complained of confusion over road closure dates and locations, and parish council chairman Chris James said there was “panic” in the village after a road closure sign was seen on the main B3165 through Uplyme, but it was later revealed that highways workmen were supposed to have left the sign in Lime Kiln Lane.

Diversions have resulted in the village’s narrow lanes becoming congested, larger vehicles getting stuck, rubbish not being collected and “near accidents”, with many residents taking to social media to express their concerns.

Residents have also complained about potholes, including one particularly dangerous hole on the B3165 in Yawl, which has damaged vehicles and was eventually filled in by local resident James Booth after receiving no response from the county council.

The issues were raised at this month’s Uplyme

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk Parish Council meeting, where county councillor Ian Hall apologised and said the matters had not been helped by a shortage and change of staff in the highways department.

Councillor Hall said he was “less than impressed” with the way the issues had been handled but he knew he had to be held accountable as the village’s county councillor.

Uplyme councillor Andrew Turner praised Councillor Hall and parish clerk Ricky Neave for trying to deal with the highways issues, commenting: “Ian and Ricky have done so well in trying to get things done when we have been so let down by Devon County Council.”

‘Nothing gets done’ Referring to the pothole on the B3165, he added: “For someone from the parish to go and buy tarmac and fill in a pothole... how many times do we have to contact the emergency line before something gets done? It’s damaged cars and is going to cost thousands in repairs.

“It’s still dropping, it’s still dangerous. Numerous times we have contacted them and nothing is done about it. Even though it’s an emergency, nothing happens.”

Referring to the county councillor with responsibility for highways, Councillor Turner added: “Stuart Hughes needs a kick up the backside!”

Councillor Hall said he was “less than satisfied” and suggested the parish council write him a “strongly worded letter”, assuring them he would be put it “in the right hands”.

“The people I represent deserve better than this. I do share your frustration,” he added.

Councillor James replied: “We do appreciate you have done all you can with highways and it’s just a lot of difficult issues coming at once.”

Councillor Hall said he felt like “only half the job is being done”, adding that Mr Booth was “absolutely admirable” for filling in the pothole.

Despite the recent frustrations over road closures, Councillor James condemned the behaviour of some residents while flood prevention works were carried out on Lyme Road.

“Some residents were totally out of order with the contractors and our local PCSO, who was met with abuse and swearing,” he said.

“I’m sorry it was an inconvenience to the village and Lyme Regis community, but at least it’s done and will protect our village.”

Councillor James expressed concern that future developments planned for Uplyme, including the building of a new school, would continue to affect traffic flow through the village and suggested a full traffic survey be carried out.

He added that highways concerns were the biggest issue raised in the Uplyme Neighbourhood Plan and it was a “miracle” no one had been seriously injured on the village’s roads.

Councillor James also said the problems did not just affect Uplyme but also people visiting Lyme Regis, as it was a major route into the town.

Councillor Hall said he would be supportive of any application for funding from the county council to deal with highways issues, including a traffic survey so the village had an independent view of how best to move forward.

Councillor Turner suggested that Uplyme should collaborate with Lyme Regis on the issue of highways, as Lyme Regis Town Council was already planning a traffic survey of its own.

It was agreed to spend £450 on an initial walkaround with a traffic consultant, and to write a letter to Devon County Council expressing councillors’ disappointment with the way highways matters had been handled.

Tea party raises £700 for charity in memory of Harcombe resident At Fossil Fitness we know that you understand the importance of exercise when it comes to keeping yourself in good shape mentally and physically, we also know that it can be very hard to start a new regime.

Some gyms can be intimidating and there are those who feel that personal training can be costly and only suited to younger people.

Working out with Fossil Fitness can mean anything from a power walk to more intense cardio with or without weights. What’s important is that we work with you to achieve your goals, whether they be weight loss, greater flexibility, a healthier heart or just the ability to make the most out of your hobbies and time with your friends and family.

To learn more and book a free consultation, which will include a 30 minute taster session, contact Alli on 07774 696269 or at allison.mackrell@icloud.com

A TEA party held at Uplyme Village Hall on Saturday raised £700 in aid of the Salvation Army.

The event was held in memory of the late Harcombe resident Sally Holland, who died suddenly in December last year. It was organised by her friends Annie Kobus and Alison Ayshford-Harris, from Busy Bee Florist in Axminster, where Sally worked. Friends and family of Sally were treated to an impressive spread of homemade sandwiches, scones and sweet treats, served with tea and coffee in vintage china with proceeds going to the Salvation Army of which Sally - who previous worked at Rhode Hill - had been a long time supporter.

SHOP LOCAL: SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE SHOPS AND BUSINESSES

thecharmouthpage

Friday, March April 20 2018 9

www.lyme-online.co.uk

The fight to save village Post Office Postmaster Steve Pile says: ‘We have done all in our power to see the Post Office survive’ THERE has been a post office in Charmouth for 224 years – but there is increasing concern about the future of the current PO in The Street.

Sub-postmaster Steve Pile is doing all he can to secure the survival of the village post office, but he has revealed in an article in Shoreline, the village

By PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk magazine, that it may be forced to close.

There has been rumours about the future of the service for several weeks and Mr Pile, who is hoping to retire shortly, has outlined the situation in the spring issue of Shoreline, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Mr Pile writes: “There have been so many comments and rumours locally that I find it necessary to tell you the situation.”

He reveals that they have been looking for a new subpostmaster since 2013 and there are 600 post offices in the UK in a similar position.

The preferred option, and one preferred by Mr Pile, is for the post office to be incorpo-

rated into another business in Charmouth and he reveals that discussions are in place with Post Office Ltd to bring about this change.

Mr Pile has committed to continue running the service in the short term, but, he says, a solution must be “reasonably expedient”.

He concludes his article by saying: “We hope the post office is here for another 100 years.

“We have done all in our power to allow the survival of our post office and it will be with great regret if we have to close, but it may happen.”

A bumper 52-page issue of Shoreline celebrating its 10th anniversary is available free at a number of outlets in Char-

mouth.

See Lyme Matters on page 6 - “The best village magazine I have seen”.

CHARMOUTH Post Office - under threat after 224 years of service in the village

Post office fact file ● Like

95% of post offices in the country, Charmouth Post Office is not directly managed by Post Office Ltd. Mr Pile performs his duties as a self-employed sub-postmaster appointed as an agent by Post Office Ltd. ● Post Office Ltd cannot close Charmouth Post Office while Mr Pile is sub-postmaster and without his agreement. A petition to Post Office Ltd will have no effect on the eventual outcome. ● Post Office Ltd is under instruction from the Government to maintain the current level of post offices.

UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 MEMBERS of the organising committee at their coffee morning in the village hall

Raising funds for village retired folk EVERY year the senior citizens of Charmouth are treated to a free Christmas lunch and a summer outing.

It’s a tradition which has been going on since 1968 when it was run by the social club at The George public house.

From 1985 the organisation of the events for all those retired in the parish of Charmouth was handed over to a committee.

The two social events are funded by the staging of a produce auction at The George in September and three coffee

mornings every year, the latest being held on Saturday, April 7 which was well supported as usual by villagers.

This year the summer outing will be held on June 27 when the Charmouthians will visit the Devon resort of Teignmouth.

The annual Christmas lunch is held in St Andrew’s Community Hall, the last one being attended by the maximum number of 70 with entertainment provided by pupils of Charmouth Primary School.

charmouth briefs...

CHARMOUTH Traders have handed over responsibility for organising the main village attractions to the Charmouth Events Committee.

The traders will still provide funds for the Christmas trees and lights in The Street, much of which is covered by the sale of the 2018 calendar, now virtually sold out.

The business community has also made a donation to enable hardy fuchsias and evergreen shrubs to be planted at the foreshore.

CHARMOUTH’s annual parish meeting will take place in St Andrew’s Community Hall on Wednesday, April 25, starting at 7.30pm. The meeting will be

chaired by Charmouth Parish Council chairman Peter Noel and this year’s topical speakers will come from Charmouth Bowls Club, Charmouth Primary School, ‘Changing Spaces’ at St Andrew’s Church and the Hogchester Nature Reserve.

BOOKS are “an essential backdrop to civilised life”. That’s the view of Russell Telfer, the new chairman of Charmouth Central Library and Internet Cafe.

In an article in the current edition of the village magazine, Shoreline, Mr Telfer also pays tribute to the “wonderful spirit” of the library volunteers.

PARISH OF CHARMOUTH NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT The Parish Meeting for the Parish of Charmouth will be held at

ST ANDREW’S COMMUNITY HALL on WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2018 at 7.30pm UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PETER NOEL Such persons only as are registered as Local Government Electors for the Parish will be entitled to vote at the meeting, but the meeting will be open to the public during the proceedings unless the Parish Meeting by resolution otherwise direct.

THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT THE MEETING WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

This year’s topical speakers:

• Charmouth Bowls Club;

• Charmouth Primary School;

• “Changing Spaces”, St Andrew’s Church; • Hogchester Nature Reserve.

An update on Parish Council activities in the last year ALL PARISH ELECTORS ARE WELCOME

SHOP LOCAL: SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE SHOPS AND BUSINESSES

10 Friday, April 20 2018

the GEOFF BAKER column

Entertaining, mischievous and thought-provoking

www.lyme-online.co.uk

edit@lyme-online.co.uk

Lyme’s lack lustre for a great live night out G

IVEN what I hear is a burgeoning growth in Lyme’s wife-swapping scene, one would have thought that tomorrow night’s Masked Ball at the Woodmead Halls would have sold out weeks ago.

Because ever since the astonishing success of ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ made masquerade balls the big new thing for those who like to flirt from behind a skimpy disguise, swingers have swarmed to get their masks on for a night out of exchange and tart.

According to no lesser august authority than the Sunday tabloids, such events are now where it’s at for the many who now enjoy the “alternative lifestyle” – as they coyly call it – and so when the Lyme branch of Cancer Research UK announced its own masked ball I expected coach parties to be coming from Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.

And yet tickets are still available for this admirable fundraiser. How so?

Well, possibly because the Cancer Research ball is not that sort of a do. For starters, as it stars Ignition, one of Dorset’s premier rock and pop bands, it will be much more of a bopping dance night than an all-mask-and-no-knickers waltz, but also because Lyme is currently suffering from an apathy towards having a great live night out.

This is very bad news for the town and unless this miserable reluctance to enjoy itself stops soon then Lyme will suffer as organisers of the many poorly-attended live events will just not bother to put them on any longer.

I have personal and considerable recent experience of Lyme’s indifference to being remotely alive and fun. Last week my Guitars On The Beach mates staged a fundraiser at the 350capacity Marine Theatre. Although the night featured four of the best bands for miles around – Slinky Machine, Dream Phaser, the GOTB House Band and The IOUs, all of whom generously performed for no fee - the theatre was only about a third full.

We promoted the gig for months. This newspaper alone carried four large articles prominently publicising what turned out to be a fantastic night for those who were there, posters were plastered all over the shop and the event was massively pushed on Facebook and Twitter.

But still it wasn’t anything like a sell-out. Even for just a tenner a head and a fiver for under-18s the crowds did not come.

Instead they either stayed indoors to hold their manhoods cheap and watch ITV reveal that Britain Manifestly Hasn’t Got Talent [don’t tell me that performing dogs do proud a nation that once gave birth to The Beatles] or else they were in the local bars where a pint of Peroni costs more than £5 these days.

Naturally, they couldn’t be spending ten quid having fun and supporting the town when they need that money to be in the pub to experience the same old bores droning on about the same old garbage that they were tediously gibbering about last week.

Cross? I am a bit. I’m a little narked because if there is one thing that Lyme likes to moan about it’s that “there is nothing to do here”. That incessant complaint could almost be the motto of the Regis. Never mind ‘The Pearl of Dorset’, we ought to be known as ‘The Bitch of Dorset’ for the amount of bellyaching that goes on among those who are too lazy to get off their bar stool.

And yet when volunteers – and it is always volunteers – pull

LYME’S masked ball - not quite ‘50 Shades’ but a great live night out

their sleeves up and put in a lot of bloody hard work to put on something for those who complain that there isn’t anything happening in the town, the moaners can’t be arsed to join in.

Now when it comes to a guitars gig not raising the money that it had hoped to get in order to stage an event which widely promotes the town and benefits its businesses – and which in particular especially benefits its bars - it’s not such a big deal.

Thankfully this year Guitars On The Beach has benefitted from a generous grant from our town council and that, along with the benevolent sponsorship from a handful of kindly local businesses which include just one town bar [interestingly its new one, SWIM], has cushioned us against any loss we will have made on the Marine Theatre gig. We’ll be OK, our sand show will go on.

But it’s a completely different matter when it comes to Cancer Research.

Whereas a bunch of bands performing on the beach in the summer isn’t, in the scale of things, actually important, cancer actually is.

I’m a hypocrite about cancer. I’ve lost six friends to it so far and yet I continue to smoke a packet a day like I have for 45 years. If there was any fairness in this world it would be the stupid likes of me who get cancer; we’ve made our idiot choice in the face of every warning imaginable, we smokers ought to be the ones who cop it, not the innocents who are struck down through not fault of their lifestyle.

Even if we escape it ourselves, we’re all going to know someone who gets cancer. One in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives, according to the most accurate forecast to date from Cancer Research UK. But the very good news is that, thanks to research, such huge advances have been made in the treatment of cancer that many people who get the disease will now live on. Thanks to research, the UK’s cancer survival has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the disease for more than 10 years.

If a very good friend of mine who died young of breast cancer 20 years ago had got it now instead, she would be OK.

“

However, that is – as I have clearly stressed – due to research and that research is very largely enabled by the funding that is raised by good people, all unpaid volunteers, who bake cakes, go on sponsored fun runs and stage events like the Masked Ball at the Woodmead Halls tomorrow night. Lyme’s branch of Cancer Research UK has raised more than £150,000 over the past 10 years, all for the common good.

Without such funding organised by ordinary people – because, let’s face it, neither our parsimonious government nor the tobacco and alcohol companies are ever going to provide the sort of money that they morally ought to do - medical research into cancer will flounder.

Which in turn could mean that those one in two might not be OK. As it happens, I can’t go to the Masked Ball tomorrow night because we’ve got on a long-arranged family thing. I feel bad about hectoring you to support this event when I can’t, so I’ll be donating my fee for this column to Cancer Research UK because they need the money to do their work to try save our lives.

But it’s not just the money that matters with staging Lyme events, it’s the numbers; it’s trying to raise a decent crowd so that bands, especially young bands, will get the audience that they should for their considerable efforts to entertain a town that would prefer to drink itself even more stupid than have some community-benefitting fun.

And ‘stupid’ is the right word for describing Lyme’s attitude to its live entertainment, I make no apology for that. It’s stupid because anyone with the remotest bit of intelligence ought to be able to see that if we’re not going to attend live events because instead we really need to prop up a bar or stay in to vote for a singing baboon on the telly, then organisers will simply stop putting them on. And lord won’t the howling start then?

As for me, I’m just grateful that - for now at least - there are still some in the town who appreciate a good time like tomorrow night will be at the Woodmead Halls and thankful for the many wonderful local musicians who are prepared to put on a show, even though it is questionable that Lyme deserves it.

If we’re not going to attend live events then organisers will simply stop putting them on

From thought-provoking comment to travel and eating out, read the latest from all our regular columnists at lyme-online.co.uk/blogs

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Mayor welcomes 130 to annual Civic Night THE Mayor of Lyme Councillor Regis, Michaela Ellis, celebrated her year in office with about 130 guests at the annual Civic Night on Saturday.

It was one of the biggest attendances at Civic Night in recent years, with guests including friends and family of Councillor Ellis, as well as fellow councillors and representatives from many local organisations.

Guests arriving at the Woodmead Halls were announced by town crier Alan Vian before being greeted THE Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, and her husband Alan Ellis with by the mayor and the grandson Reuben - the youngest guest at this year’s Civic Night rest of the civic party, including the mayor’s consort Alan Ellis, Church’s Tower Fund.

In a short speech, Councillor Ellis thanked deputy mayor Councillor Steve Miller and his wife Heather, town clerk John Wright and all those for attending and for helping her organise the event. mace bearers Derek Hallett and Jon Hunt.

She added that she planned to continue A buffet supper was provided by Italian caterer Antonio Strillozzi, followed by enter- raising money for the church’s Tower Fund in her second year in office, having recently tainment by Lyme Regis band DeltaTango7.

There was also a raffle, raising funds for the been elected to continue as mayor from May mayor’s chosen charity, St Michael’s Parish onwards.

COUNCILLOR Ellis and her husband Alan greet Bob McHardy, chairman of the Lyme Regis/St George’s Twinning Association and, below, town and district councillor Cheryl Reynolds is welcomed to the event

Friday, April 20 2018 11

Care Links Lyme Thursday 26th April Lyme Regis Medical Centre Drop-in any time between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm Come and meet the people and organisations who, in addition to doctors and clinical staff, can help keep you healthy or can offer you care and support with health conditions Please contact Heather Prior for further information: 01297 441224, heather@lymeforward.co.uk

CIVIC NIGHT PHOTO SPREAD ON PAGES 12 & 13

12 Friday, April 20 2018

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Celebrating a year in office with their new grandson

THE Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis pictured with her family on Civic Night - husband Alan, daughters Jarvia and Kelsey, their partners Chris Aylott and Matthew Rattenbury, and grandson Reuben

PICTURED above left, the mayor is given a kiss by town council gardener Jamie Grant. Above, greeting former mayor Ken Dibben and, above right, the Reverend Keith Vivian. Left, Nicky and Alex Levan from Lyme Regis Football Club are welcomed to the event and, right, Councillor Ellis greets Janet Thornley

COUNCILLOR Ellis shows off her new grandson to deputy mayoress Heather Miller. Right, town councillor Richard Doney is greeted by Alan Ellis

Friday, April 20 2018 13

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PICTURED clockwise from top left - Councillor Ellis and her husband welcome her sister Sarah Horton to the party; the mayor greets Honoured Citizen Chris Hutchings; pictured with the band DeltaTango7; the mayor and Mr Ellis greet Paul Oatway from Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Committee; Marine Theatre manager Sophia Mosley is welcomed to the event; LymeOnline editor Francesca Evans is greeted by the town clerk and civic party; the mayor welcomes friends Adrian and Debbie Wood; and president of the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, Lesley Baker.

Photos by Francesca and Philip Evans and Alan Ellis

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Young talent shines at guitars gig YOUNG musicians grabbed the spotlight when they were invited

by Guitars On The Beach to play in their fundraiser at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis on Saturday.

The bands taking part were: Slinky Machine, Dream Phaser, The IOUs, Irve Griffiths and Jess Hill, and the GOTB House Band, which now features three young new talents - Tyler Street (15, guitar), Ella Foxhall (17, vocals) and Jake Causley (17, sax).

Guitars On The Beach organiser Geoff Baker said: "All of the old guard at Guitars On The Beach are delighted that the benefit night gave a platform for the phenomenal talent of the young musicians from Lyme and the surrounding area - they were all on fire and they played a blinder.

"It's always been the aim of GOTB to encourage and assist young people and we're chuffed that adding the young blood of Tyler, Ella and Jake to the House Band has given it a lot more thrust.

“Saturday was a big gig for them and a good preparation for the much bigger gig at which they'll be playing on the sand on June 16th, along with The IOUs, who brought the house down on Saturday.

"It was a shame that more people didn't turn out but it's their loss because the gig was one of those magical 'I Was There' nights and in particular that applies to this, the debut gig of Dream Phaser.

“They were fantastic, hugelytalented and incredibly tight for such a young band. They are going to be a big new name on the music scene and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Dream Phaser become the first big-star band ever to have come out of Lyme Regis.

"Dream Phaser may not have debuted to the biggest crowd but I remember that the night Oasis were signed at Manchester's Hacienda Club, and launched to be the massive band they became, legend has it there were only eight people at the gig."

THE Guitars On The Beach House Band entertain at the fundraiser

Slick swing tunes promised This month at the Marine at Fliss’ homecoming gig

GIG organiser Geoff Baker pictured with Tyler Street and his prize money after winning the air guitar competition

Catch up with Lyme’s Little Theatre by the Sea

THE clocks went forward, the Marine Players performed their brilliant ‘Vicar of Dibley’, we had our first Children’s Week and it didn’t snow.

There was a definite case of jet-lag that settled on the theatre office and on one or two of our friends in the Tourist Information Centre. You wouldn’t think losing just one hour would be so irksome but turns out, unless it is caused due to a flight south to warmer climes where you are going on holiday for the week so it really doesn’t matter what time it is, it takes around a week to recover your senses.

Talking of senses, I regularly meet a local man on my way in to work. Nothing unusual in that you say, except whilst I am dressed in enough layers to keep an Eskimo warm, he is trotting back from the sea in trunks and flip-slops having just enjoyed an invigorating swim (his words not mine).

Anyway we were soon back on track, especially after enjoying a performance of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’. Apparently Lorraine Knowles, aka Alice, had watched hours of the TV comedy to finely tune the character. It was spot-on and had the audience in fits of laughter. I came along incognito as a regular punter on the Friday night and without my ‘Theatre Manager’ hat on, Tom the duty manager and our brilliant front of house team had to do a double-take when they recognised me.

Our first Children’s Week went very well, with over 30 events across the town involving a host of other businesses, there was something for everyone. It did cause our resident builder a few challenges, but Tom Southgate Builders are extremely accommodating and kept the hammering, sawing and drilling to a minimum.

Meanwhile our bar manager, Claire Jillings, who is also a brilliant cake maker, supplied our pop-up café with a wide range of delicious cakes; my favourite is salted caramel brownies

but I know the flapjacks went down very well.

Of course spring is the time to think of love and romance so what better time to sort out your wedding plans. I showed two wedding parties around this month, one has already booked their date but wanted to play around with some table layouts and the other couple, who had been to the Marine a couple of years ago, had forgotten how wonderful it is and fell in love with it again.

Talking of love, which Shakespeare did often, we screened the RSC production of ‘Julius Caesar’. I studied this play for my O Level and definitely don’t remember quite so much shouting, but things were different then and, anyway, it was an all-girls school so no shouting was allowed. We have the National Theatre Live performance of ‘Macbeth’ coming up soon and the Handlebards performing ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on Theatre Square, so plenty of the Bard to enjoy.

The Guitars on the Boards was a great evening with a host of different bands performing including Brian Street and, having seen him on stage at the mayor’s Civic Night just the night before, I’m beginning to feel like a bit of a 'circuit regular' especially as he recognised me albeit in my regular ‘day wear’ and not flying across the dance floor, well maybe not flying, but I managed a to recall a few of my disco dance moves.

With our Into the Groove Disco night coming up next month I may well dig out my crop-top, ra-ra skirt and high heels. I wonder what our front of house would make of that?

Sophia Moseley,

Theatre Manager

LOCAL musician Fliss Gorst is all set for a warm homecoming when she brings her six-piece swing band to play at Lyme Regis’ Jazz Jurassica festival.

Hot on the heels of her sell out show at Seaton’s Gateway last year, Fliss will be pulling out all the stops for her local fans.

As a former Woodroffe School student, she’ll play in the town which did so much to nurture her early musical talent.

She returns with a top-class band of musicians and a couple of vocal powerhouses in tow – and as one of the few female bandleaders in the country. And with a debut album in the iTunes jazz chart.

Fliss was born and brought up in Axminster but now lives in London. Acquiring her first saxophone at the tender age of 14, she soon found herself playing in local jazz bands including the Woodroffe Jazz Band. She studied at Exeter College and then the Birmingham Conservatoire where the jazz bug seriously began to bite.

“I worked on cruise ships for three and half years, playing every day with a variety of musicians, and then I made the big move to London,” she said.

Initially Fliss set up Jivestar, a jive and rock and roll band.

“But I guess my tastes have changed somewhat since then,” she added. “I don’t want to be pigeonholed by a band title”.

The move from Jivestar to the Fliss Gorst Band signals more than just a name change. It’s a sign of a growing confidence in her own arrangements and compositions that has led to a successful debut album, ‘The Place for Me’, released in March.

“The title represents my inner struggle with my love for London and my home county of Devon,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be able to live the life I live without my connection to either of these places. I regularly visit my parents in Axminster, as well as Lyme Regis, to escape city life.”

The pressure-cooker life in London where Fliss combines playing and teaching leave little time for rest and recuperation. She’s one of the few successful female bandleaders in a male-dominated profession.

As she herself says: “You have to balance being assertive and someone musicians want to be around. You need to earn their respect as well as their friendship.”

Fliss acknowledges the support of some fantastic musicians – including Dave Borazon on trumpet (“my right-hand man”) and Liam Dunachie on piano (“one of the best”). And two vocalists in the shape of Lauren Bush and Shane Hampsheir, who are outstanding performers in their own right.

“Lauren’s a highly acclaimed Canadian jazz singer, who brings pizzaz to every song she sings. And swing’s in Shane’s DNA - his recent solo gig at Ronnie Scott’s sold out. He’s our swing supremo!”

Julie Sheppard of Jazz Jurassica said: “It’ll be a potent cocktail of sparky swing standards, jumping jives and dazzling dance numbers – it’ll be slick, hugely entertaining and fun, with lots of onstage banter amongst eight friends who obviously love playing together.”

The Fliss Gorst Band will plays on Friday, May 25 from 8pm at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis as part of Jazz Jurassica, which runs from May 24 to 28. For tickets call 01297 442138 or visit www.jazzjurassica.co.uk

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Dance the night away at May Day celebrations A TRADITIONAL country knees-up headlined by popular ceilidh band Red Shed will be held at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Having impressed audiences at many New Year parties at the Marine, Red Shed will this time be celebrating the Bank Holiday by playing all night long on Sunday, May 6, with dancing from Uplyme Morris and a special selection of local ales and ciders on offer.

Red Shed is a six-piece barndance band with caller playing high energy traditional English and Irish dance tunes.

The Devon-base band has a special twist - a solid back-line

of bass, drums, and electric guitar combine with fiddle, sax, and whistle to creates a unique combination of 18th century influences with a 21st century edge.

As well as playing for weddings and parties, Red Shed has played at some of the best folk music event across the country – including at Sidmouth, Cornwall and Wimborne folk festivals, Guernsey Arts Festival and Cecil Sharpe House in London.

A folky institution, the band has been together for 25 years, even playing as far afield as Yaroslavl in Russia.

Dancing will be led by Uplyme Morris - a local side

What’s on...

Friday, April 20

Lyme Regis Annual Town Meeting Woodmead Halls, 7pm A chance for residents to raise local issues with town, district and county councillors and police representatives.

Saturday, April 21

Jumble Sale St Michael’s Primary School, 10am-12pm A jumble sale in aid of St Michael’s Primary School PFA. Know Your Blood Pressure Day Fortnam, Smith & Banwell offices, 10am-2pm Organised by the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, have your blood pressure checked by local nurses and learn more about the increased risk of stroke high blood pressure causes.

Fellowship & Bible Teaching Uplyme Village Hall, 3.30pm and 6pm Peter Glasgow of Wellington leads fellowship and Bible teaching sessions at 3.30pm and 6pm, with afternoon tea served in between. Organised by Bethany Chapel.

Masked Spring Ball Woodmead Halls, 7.30pm A Masked Spring Ball in aid of Cancer Research UK, featuring entertainment from top Dorset party band Ignition. For tickets, call Philip Evans on 07796 951 991.

Live Music @ Nag’s Head The Nag’s Head, 9pm Weekly live music night, this time with classic rock four-piece Shakedown Ridge.

‘Dirty Dancing’ Open Air Cinema Screening Lister Gardens, 9pm Pop-Up Events hosts an open-air screening of 1980s classic ‘Dirty Dancing’ in Lyme’s seafront gardens, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Food stalls open at 7pm and screening at 9pm - book tickets at https://bit.ly/2HyZ1Cp

Sunday, April 22

The Sunday Sessions Marine Theatre, 3pm A post-roast music session in the Marine Theatre bar, hosted by Brian Street and Jon Matthews, an acoustic duo who are half of popular local band DeltaTango7. Free entry.

Tuesday, April 24

‘The Dorsets 1917-18’ Woodmead Halls, 2.30pm Lyme Regis Society’s annual general meeting following a talk ‘The Dorsets 1917-18’ by Chris Copson of The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester. Entry costs £3 for visitors and is free for members.

Friday, April 27

‘Gardening by the Moon’ Uplyme Village Hall, 7.30pm

which was reformed 10 years ago, and are very active throughout the year, performing at many local activities, venues and festivals, and also appearing on TV and film.

The Marine May Day celebrations will be held on Sunday, May 6 with the bar opening at 6.30pm and entertainment from 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £6 in advance or £8 on the door and are available from Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre by calling 01297 442138 or online at www.marinetheatre.com where a booking fee may apply.

Please note, this event is standing.

Send your diary dates to francesca@lyme-online.co.uk www.lyme-online.co.uk/events

A talk by Stephanie Haggerty, an organic, no-dig gardener who is also a chef and writer, for Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society. Tea and biscuits will be available before and after the talk.

Entry is free for members, £3 for visitors.

Friday, April 27

UPLYME Morris will lead dancing at the Marine’s May Day ceilidh

Lyme Regis Comedy Club Marine Theatre, 7pm Actor turned comedian James Redmond headlines Lyme Regis Comedy Club, with three other comedians on the bill and MC Tom Glover, from Bridport. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door - call 01297 442138 to book.

Quiz Night Woodmead Halls, 7.30pm In aid of the Woodmead Halls. Teams of up to six welcome costing £2 per head. Bar open.

Saturday, April 28

Coffee Morning Bethany Chapel, 10.30am Refreshments and cakes raising funds for the lifeboat and air ambulance. Free entry.

Henry Blofeld: 78 Retired Marine Theatre, 6.30pm The cherished golden voice of cricket, Henry Blofeld, celebrates his retirement with a brandnew show jam-packed full of unheard anecdotes from on and off the pitch. Tickets cost £20 in advance or £23 on the door - call 01297 442138.

Live Music @ Nag’s Head The Nag’s Head, 9pm Weekly live music night, this time with classic rock three-piece The Perfect Strangers.

Sunday, April 29

Café Worship Uplyme Church, 9.30am Relaxed, all age, café-style worship at Uplyme Church on the last Sunday of each month.

Lym Valley Croquet Club Open Day King George V Playing Field, Uplyme, 2pm Free open day, all equipment and refreshments provided, please wear flat shoes. Learn the basics of croquet and have fun!

Jazz in the Bar Marine Theatre, 7pm Vocalist Julie Dunn will perform great jazz numbers from Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, as well as her own music, in the Marine Theatre bar.

Tickets cost £8 in advance or £12 on the door call 01297 442138 to book.

Friday, May 4 - Sunday, May 6

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival Various venues around town Enjoy one of Dorset’s largest fossil and science festivals. Find out all about the amazing Jurassic Coast with specialist talks, walks and incredible interactive activities. See www.fossilfestival.co.uk for full details of events.

Tickets NOW ON SA LE

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Top bill for folk festival fundraiser LYME Folk Revisited - the annual fundraiser for the town’s popular folk festival - is just around the corner.

NE W LO OK

LYME REG IS

This year the one-off concert will be held in the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis on Friday, May 11 for what will be an evening of brilliant folk music, with all proceeds going towards staging the summer festival.

On the bill are three amazing acts, two of whom have been seen on smaller stages at previous Lyme Folk Weekends, and one complete newcomer to the town.

Regular visitors will be familiar with singer-songwriter Steve Dagleish, who captivated audiences on a moonlit seafront stage last summer.

Also on the bill, all the way from the frozen North (of England), is virtuoso guitarist Toby Noble, who filled the Pilot Boat in 2015 and 2016.

And finally, four-piece band Ranagri, a wonderful live act really making a name for themselves on the folk scene, will be bringing a little Celtic touch to this part of the world.

Tickets are £10, on sale now on the Lyme Folk Weekend website or by calling Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre on 01297 442138.

Friday, April 27th starting at 7.30 pm

Full teams up to six £2 per entrant BAR In aid of Woodmead Halls Development Fund Organised by Jackie Hedley-Tuffs

FOUR-piece band Rangari, Toby Noble (right) and Steve Dagleish (inset) will play at the folk festival fundraiser

LYME RE REGIS, GISS, PUT YO YOUURR

Join us for food, craft beer and cocktails.

Music kicks offf around 8.30pm

Marine Parade, Lyme Regi g s, Dorset, DT7 3JH Follow us on social media @swimlyme | 01297 442668 | info@weswim.co.uk

Friday, April 20 2018 17

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.

LYME REGIS

MAY GOINGS ON

TALK UNDERWATER SOUND IN BLUE PLANET II

MUSIC ELI WEST Thursday 17 | Bar opens 6:30 P P.M., .M., star ts 7:30 P P.M. .M. £9 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £10 adv v.. | £12 door

Thursday 3 | Bar opens 6 P P.M., .M., star ts 7 P P.M. .M. £4 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £5 adv v.. | £7 door

THEATRE PERSUASION

MUSIC TANKUS THE HENGE Friday 4 | Bar opens 7 P P.M., .M., star ts 8 P P.M. .M. £9 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £10 adv v.. | £12.50 door

MUSIC INTO THE GROOVE: DISCO

Friday 18 and Saturday 19 | Bar opens 6:30 P P.M., .M., star ts 7:30 P.M. P.M. | £10 adv v.. concessions £11 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £12 adv v.. | £14.50 door

THEATRE FRANKENSTEIN

Saturday 5 | Bar opens and star ts 8 P.M. P.M. £4 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £5 adv v.. | £7 door

Tuesday 22 | Bar opens 6:30 P.M., P.M., star ts 7:30 P P.M. .M. £8 adv. v. concessions | £9 adv v.. Theatre Friends £10 adv v.. | £12 door

MUSIC AND DANCE MARINE MAY DAY

COMEDY’ LYME REGIS COMEDY CLUB

Sunday 6 | Bar opens 6:30 P.M., P.M., star ts 7:30 P.M. P.M. £5 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £15 adv | £17.50 door

Monday 28 | Bar opens 7 P P.M., .M., star ts 8 P P.M. .M.

SCREENING ROYAL BALLET: MANON Tuesday 8 | Bar opens 6:15 P.M., P.M., star ts 7:15 P P.M. .M. £12.50 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £15 adv | £17.50 door

TICKETS MARINETHEATRE.COM

Sunday 13 | Bar opens 6:30 P.M., P.M., star ts 7:30 P.M. P.M. £3 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £4 adv v.. | £6 door

MANY MORE EVENTS ONLINE” LYME REGIS

£7 adv v.. Theatre Friends | £8 adv v.. | £10 door

ONLINE

CINEMA THAT GOOD NIGHT

CHURCH STREET

.

DT7 3QB

MARINETHEATRE.COM

LYME REGIS TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

01297 442138

BRIDPORT TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

01308 424901

BOOKING FEE MAY APPLY*

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Daffodil appeal raises £1,100

ORGANISERS of a recent street collection in aid of Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal would like to thank all of those who supported the campaign. The collection was held on Easter Saturday and organisers recently received a thank you letter from the charity, saying that Lyme Regis had raised £1,100.

LP HYOME BAY TO G RA P H Y per erssona photogra servvice by

by Ro Rob Coombe Ap onal pho tographic phic service b Coombe

Beautiful, natural wedding photos to cherish h h for f a lifetime

07921 556723 lymebayphotography@gmail.com www.lymebayphotography.com lymebayphotos

@lymebayphotos

@ lymebayphotography

Raising funds for Hello Dolly

MEMBERS of Lyme Regis Musical Theatre have been hard at work in recent weeks raising money to help fund their next production - ‘Hello, Dolly!’ at the Woodmead Halls (May 14 to 19).

Pictured left is chairman Jo Hopkins with committee members Sue Wiscombe, Jane Broom, Pauline Beviss and Helen Webber manning a beach stall on Marine Parade which raised more than £200.

Inset, supporters who attended a race night at the Woodmead Halls last Saturday are pictured during one of the races.

The event, MC’d by society president Philip Evans, raised more than £700.

01297 441355 letsgo@notjusttravel.com Turkey 5* All Inclusive Bristol from £529pp June Turkey 5* All Inclusive Bristol from £629pp July Disney In August Family of 4 (8 &10) 2 weeks from £4399 For The Family From Gatwick Canaries In June Bristol from £319 per person Greece In July Bristol from £389 per person Maldives 4* All Inclusive London from £1599 pp June/July Thailand 4* B&B from £769pp London May/June Sri Lanka 5* B&B from £969pp London Sept

7 Nights Norwegian Fjords P&O Britannia Southampton 17th June from £599 per person 7 Nights Eastern Med P&O Oceana 31st May from 749 per person 11 Nights Arabian Gulf P&O Oceana 31st Jan 19 from £1149 per person 14 Nights Scandinavia & Russia Celebrity Silhouette 23rd June from £999 person 13 Nights Italy & Adriatic fly cruise from Barcelona Celebrity Eclipse 10th Nov from £1449 per person. Free Drinks Package

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IN our regular series commemorating the 100th anniversaries of the deaths of all men from Lyme Regis and the surrounding area who died in the First World War, this week we remember six men from the area. With thanks to Vernon Rattenbury from the Royal British Legion for the research.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

WILLIAM CLIVE PERRY 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry Service No. 31812 Born March 30 1890 in Lyme Regis and died April 20 1918 in Haverskerque, France William Perry, known as Clive in the town, attended school in Ilminster from 1897-1902 when he left to train as a baker.

He married Beatrice Hitchcock in 1915 and enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment at Lyme Regis, being one of the first in the town to volunteer.

Going to France on January 5 1915, he was transferred to 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. We know this from his service number that this would have been sometime between July and September 1916.

His regiment was present at the Battle of the Somme suffering heavy casualties. They also fought at Passchendaele in 1917.

In November 1917 they were transferred to Italy.

Whilst there they did not take part in any major actions. They served in Italy until April 1918 when they transferred back to France taking part in the Battle of Hazebrouck, April 12 to 15 1918.

He was wounded four times and gassed once during the war and was killed in action on the first day of his arrival at Haverskerque during the German Offensive of 1918.

The only son of Mr and Mrs W. Perry of Ditton Road, Ilminster, and husband of Beatrice Laura Perry (nee Hitchcock), he is buried in Morbecque British Cemetery, France, plot I, row B, grave 15.

He is also commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorials in the parish church and in the town (as Clive) and on the war memorial in St Mary's Church, Ilminster.

CHARLES BERNARD DEWEY Private, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment Service No. 10288 Born 1885 in Rhode Hill, Devon and died April 22 1918 in Loos, France Charles Dewey enlisted at Basingstoke in 1915 in the 10th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. His battalion then sailed from Liverpool on July 7 1915 landing at Gallipoli on August 6 1915. The battalion took part in many actions against the Turkish.

He was later transferred to 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who were serving in France. They were present at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and also at Passchendaele in 1917.

Charles was killed in action in the German Spring Offensive of 1918 during the defence of Givenchy.

He lived at Bemerton, Salisbury. Son of Mary Dewey, 14 Priory Court, West Hampstead, London and of the late Mr Joseph Henry Dewey, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France, panel 73 and is also commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorial.

DONALD LEO CARDEN (STEINER) Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, Service No. 30912 Born 1899 in Cologne, Germany and died April 24 1918 in Somme, France His family immigrated to England from Germany and the original surname of Steiner was dropped when war broke out. He was educated at St Edmunds College, Hertfordshire (1910-1913) and enlisted at Dorchester.

In October 1917 he was serving with 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment and when he joined this battalion they were already serving in France. They fought hard battles throughout March and April

NEWS FROM CITIZENS ADVICE CITIZENS Advice is calling for new rules to be introduced to try and better protect consumers who take on rent-to-own loans.

New research carried out by the charity shows high-interest rates, late payment fees and expensive add-ons are leaving rent-toown consumers struggling to pay for goods that they can end up being forced to return.

About 400,000 people in the UK are estimated to have rent-to-own debt in the UK. Loans can have annual percentage rates (APRs) as high as 99.9% over the course of three years, as well as punitive late payment fees that add to the original cost.

In evidence produced earlier this year by rent-to-own company, Brighthouse, to an investigation into household finances being carried out by the Treasury Committee of the House of Commons it was revealed that about half of its rent-to-own agreements do not get to the point of ownership.

Last year Citizens Advice helped more than 5,000 people with problems relating to their rent-to-own loans. On average they had rentto-own debt of nearly £1,000 and their average overall debt was more than £8,000. The vast majority of those seeking help were women and 63% of them had dependent children.

Citizens Advice is concerned that for rent-toown consumers a combination of low incomes and high interest rates is trapping them with problem debt and it wants to see tougher regulation of this market so that in no circumstances can people ever pay back more than double the list price and that late payment fees cannot total more than £15 during the course of the agreement.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said that the latest research together with a recent comment from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had made it clear that there are significant problems in the sector that need to be addressed.

She added: “The FCA needs to put in place

measures to protect people from expensive borrowing and spiralling debts. What can appear to be a lifeline shouldn’t become a tripwire.

"The evidence is clear - the cap on the payday lending market secured a much better deal for consumers. The FCA should use its upcoming high-cost credit review to build on the success of the payday loan cap and extend the same protections to rent-to-own customers."

Citizens Advice is also concerned that affordability checks are not always identifying where clients may struggle to meet the cost of their rent-to-own agreements. Currently, while all lenders have to conduct these checks, there are no rules on what they have to include.

The charity has found that people with rentto-own debts are more likely to be behind on other important payments, such as energy or council tax bills, and around half of the consumers who have rent-to-own agreements have had to borrow to meet the payments.

Citizens Advice is continuing to make it easier for people to visit its advice sessions in Lyme Regis. On a trial basis it has been holding sessions since February at the Lyme Regis Medical Centre in Uplyme Road, DT7 3LS and two more are due to take place before the end of this month. They will take place between 10.00am and midday on Monday April 23rd and Monday April 30th.

These session are in addition to the regular weekly advice days that are held every Wednesday from 10.00am to 3.00pm at the St Michael's Business Centre, DT7 3DB, in the town.

Anyone is welcome to visit Citizens Advice, even if they do not have an appointment, and the advice they will be able to obtain is free, confidential and impartial.

1918 and Donald was killed in action on the Somme at Poziers Ridge during the German Offensive of 1918.

A resident of Lyme Regis at the time of his death, he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial, France, panel 24 and 25, and on the Lyme Regis war memorial.

ALFRED JOHN FREDERICK GOLDSWORTHY Private, 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment Service No. 52321 Born 1899 in Lyme Regis and died April 24 1918 in Amiens, France ‘Fred’ Goldsworthy had enlisted in Dorchester joining the Worcestershire Regiment. He joined the battalion sometime after the start of 1916. They were present at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and also at Passchendaele in 1917.

Fred was killed in action during attacks by the Germans at the Battle of Villers in Bretonneux, south of Somme. He is buried in Adalaide War Cemetery, Villers- Bretonneux, France, plot II.J.20.

He lived at 9 Monmouth Street and is commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorials in the parish church and in the town.

CHARLES EDMUND TYRWHITT REPTON (Croix de Guerre) Lieutenant, 142nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Born June 20 1877 in Brussels, Belgium and died April 25 1918 in Palestine Charles Repton first saw active service with the 21st Lancers during the Boer War, afterwards emigrating to Canada.

He enlisted at Valcartier, Canada in the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1914 then sailed to England where intensive field training was undertaken.

In January 1915 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Nottinghamshire Hussars. During his time with the South Nottinghamshire Hussars they fought with distinction during the Gallipoli Campaign until withdrawn in December 1915 to Egypt.

He moved with the regiment to Salonika in February 1916 and then became an Observer with the Royal Flying Corps.

He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French for shooting down an enemy plane near Pateros 5 June 1917. In 1918 he went with 142 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps to Julis in Palestine flying RE8s.

Charles was killed when his plane, an RE-8 aircraft (No. B6601), was shot down after less than a month in theatre. He is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel, plot M.80 and is commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorial.

His name also appears on the Beaumont College War Memorial, Berkshire and he is also commemorated in the Canadian First World War Roll of Honour, page 592.

GEORGE FOWLER 12th Battalion, Gloucester Regiment Service No. 38945 Born 1893 in Lyme Regis and died April 26 1918 in France George Fowler first served in France with the Army Service Corps (Expeditionary Force Canteen), part of the British Expeditionary Force sent across the Channel in 1914. The Expeditionary Force Canteen was the forerunner of the NAAFI and provided hot food and drinks as well as comforts to the troops.

In 1916 he enlisted in the 12th Battalion, Gloucester Regiment at Calais, France.

In March 1916 the 12th Battalion, Gloucester Regiment were on the front line at Vimy Ridge, in front of Arras. During this period there were many trench raids, sniping and mining activities. They fought throughout 1916 on the Somme front, at the Battles of Arras and Passchendaele in 1917 and during the German Offensive of 1918.

George died of wounds received. The son of Harry and Susan Fowler of 35 Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, he is buried in Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes, France, plot 2, row A, grave 9.

He is commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorials in the parish church and in the town.

N E W LO O K

LYM E R EG I S

EVENTS FOR APRIL MASKED SPRING BALL

Friday, April 21st - 7.30pm to midnight Tickets £25 (table of 10 £225) including cocktail on arrival, superb buffet supper, dancing to party band Ignition Tickets by phone 07796 951991 Organised by Cancer Research UK Lyme Regis

QUIZ

Friday, April 27th - 7.30 pm Full teams up to six - £2 per entrant In aid of Woodmead Halls Development Fund

Other regular events include Ballet, Yoga, Pilates, Fitness Steps, Bingo and Short Mat Bowls

ADVANCED NOTICE

The Annual General Meeting of the Woodmead Halls Management Committee will be held on Monday, May 21st at 7.30 pm. Representatives of all local organisations are invited to attend

To book the Woodmead Halls telephone Michaela Ellis on 07856 630975 Follow us on Twitter @WoodmeadHalls and Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodmeadhalls

20 Friday, April 20 2018

FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

Beaching of the Napoli LymeOnline letters and a climb up Beer cliffs Send your letters to francesca@lyme-online.co.uk Lifeguard hut a ‘white elephant’ that almost killed me!

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNIT Y PAPER

IN 2007 there was a story kicking around on the national news about a container ship in trouble and listing dangerously.

At that time is was way out into the English Channel, off north Cornwall, or so I thought.

Later that night in the Volunteer Inn I was told the ship had grounded a mile off Branscombe beach in East Devon. So I was on the cliffs before first light with only a TV camera man from ITV Westcountry.

As the light came up suddenly I could see the shape of the grounded ship with the containers.

The morning sun aluminised the ship and the image became quite an attractive one, almost artistic with the colours and the way the ship was listing, but as I observed and took in the distance and location, the containers started sliding into the water with half a dozen already on the beach surrounded by brand new beer barrels, some wrapped in polythene.

I made my way down the footpath from Beer Cliffs, which was almost a vertical, to the beach.

There was one police officer on the beach about half a mile from where I had just emerged from the bushes; he saw me and made all the physical signs with his arms telling me to get off the beach, which I totally ignored until I had photographed what I needed. It was then back up the cliff path, a path that nearly finished me off, what a climb that is!

As the weeks passed I was sent by various newspapers to Branscombe on a daily basis watching the wreckers come and go with bizarre choices of souvenirs, the larger stuff such as motorbikes were long gone.

People were arriving from all over the country and soon the inevitable happened, local houses in the village were being robbed with one farmer loosing all his chainsaws in a night time break-in.

Scavengers is a good word for some of them, thankfully the police closed the beach for the official clear-up - it took months.

NO, no, no! I feel compelled to write as a protest to the elevated lifeguard station that has recently been featured in your last two editions of LymeOnline.

It is so American and so wrong for Lyme Regis - a quintessentially English seaside town. These large cabins are put on legs because the huge sandy beaches in America are so flat, the higher viewpoint is necessary for the lifeguard to see for miles.

Lyme’s beach is small - the sandy part, very small - and the beach has its own natural gradient to the water. The old RNLI lifeguard hut can see clearly above people’s heads, positioned on

the ‘upper level’, as it was, and we all knew that if there was a lost child, or a swimming drama, someone would run and tell the lifeguard immediately if they had not spotted the trouble themselves.

Please do not spoil our beautiful, quaint and very special holiday resort by putting a huge eyesore white elephant on the beach that is so inappropriate.

Council members, please reverse your decision again, or take a public vote. It will ruin the look of the beach front and is quite unnecessary.

Monica Simpson, Long Entry, Lyme Regis

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO FRANCESCA@LYME-ONLINE.CO.UK OR USE THE POSTAL ADDRESS ON PAGE 2 THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN LETTERS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND NOT NECESSARILY OF THIS NEWSPAPER

Friday, April 20 2018 21

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The champion town crier who will have a lasting legacy on Lyme Regis A

BIG man in every sense of the word. Big in stature and big in character.

Lyme Regis was saddened by the recent death in Portugal of Richard Fox MBE, former publican, shop owner, antique dealer, and world champion town crier.

Aged 78, Richard died in a hospital in Faro.

Richard and his wife Marilyn made an immediate impact on the community when they arrived in Lyme Regis in the 1970s to take over the Cobb Arms after running a pub in the Yeovil area.

He was instrumental in the founding of Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week, which went on to become one of the biggest events of its kind along the south coast, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the RNLI every year.

But Richard made his real mark when he took over from George Norman as town crier. His imposing frame, bushy beard and stentorian voice made him an ideal candidate for the role and he went on to win numerous regional and national contests, culminating in becoming World Champion town crier.

With Marilyn’s needlework skills ensuring that Richard’s costume added to his presence, the couple won numerous best dressed accolades at nearly every contest they entered.

After claiming the world title, Richard was engaged by British Airways to publicise Great Britain, bringing a huge amount of publicity to Lyme Regis worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

After winning the title, Richard appeared on breakfast television and I well remember the media scrum on the end of The Cobb to catch that iconic shot of Richard, bell aloft, making a cry with Golden Cap in the background – images that were screened around the world.

Richard’s travels allowed him to mix with high-flyers all around the globe and when he staged the World Championship in Lyme, a colourful and unique

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk occasion, he arranged for the criers from many countries to travel to London, where they were able to make a cry at the Privy Purse Door at Buckingham Palace and visit the Palace of Westminster, where lunch was served on the terrace running alongside the River Thames, and the Mansion House in London, the home of the Lord Mayor.

A that time – 1984 – I was Mayor of Lyme Regis and was privileged to accompany the town criers on this trip. It was one of the highlights of my year in office.

When I walked into greeting room at the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor walked towards me with her hand outstretched, saying: “You don’t have to tell me anything about Lyme Regis, Mr Mayor, my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Uplyme.”

The town criers could not believe they were able to make a cry at Buckingham Palace and they were all anxious to have their photos taken on the Victoria Memorial with the palace in the background. I know of no one else who could have arranged such a trip than Richard.

On the way back to Lyme we stopped at Richard’s old pub near Yeovil for a game of skittles before getting back to the Volunteer Inn in Lyme, which he was then running, for a riotous night.

Richard and Marilyn also ran the sweet shop in Broad Street for some years and the antique centre on Marine Parade before retirement and a subsequent move to Portugal.

Perhaps Richard’s biggest legacy will be Lyme’s twinning connection with St George’s in Bermuda, colonised by Admiral Sir George Somers, a former Mayor of Lyme Regis. Admiral Somers’ ship, the Sea Venture, was shipwrecked off Bermuda on its way to Jamestown, Virginia, in the 1600s with food for the starving settlers, a story said to have

been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’.

Admiral Somers rebuilt two new ships in Bermuda and completed his mission to Jamestown before returning for more supplies in Bermuda, where he died. His heart was buried in St George’s and his body preserved in a barrel and returned to the Cobb for burial at his home in Whitchurch Canonicorum.

It was Richard who perpetuated this story, leading to the formation of an official twinning link between Lyme Regis and St George’s in 1996, which continues to this day with reciprocal visits between the two communities. A statue of Admiral Somers has also recently been erected in Langmoor Gardens.

The story has provided Lyme Regis with countless column inches in the travel press over the years.

Richard was remembered by the Lyme Regis/St George’s Twinning Association, an organisation he chaired for many years, at their meeting this week when it was decided to send a message of condolence to his family.

A tribute has also been made by the Mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis.

She said: “Richard was one of Lyme’s biggest characters from the time he came to the town and did a huge amount to promote and publicise our town. He represented the town with great dignity at all times and was a popular figure among locals and visitors alike.”

Richard was awarded the MBE for his services to tourism and it is unlikely that Lyme will see the likes of him again. We will remember him not just for his booming voice and jolly disposition, but for his love of his adopted home town and his energy in promoting all things Lyme Regis.

Richard is survived by two sons, Julian and Jason, as well as his wife Marilyn.

His funeral took place in Portugal last Wednesday.

RICHARD Fox (kneeling) pictured on Lyme Regis beach with Bermudan town crier Michael Jones, who borrowed his world-class costume to win the Commonwealth title at the annual town crying competition in Kingsbridge, Devon, during a visit to England Photo by Richard Austin

Family pay tribute to son after tragic snowboarding accident IT is with deep sadness that the family of Bridport resident, Daniel Marsh, announce that he died tragically in a snowboarding accident whilst working in Meribel, in the French Alps.

Daniel, aged 23, died instantly after a fall during heavy snow. He had been in France since early December, along with girlfriend, Chantal Blackledge, also from Bridport.

A former Colfox school student, Daniel enjoyed sailing at the new Olympic site on Portland, and was also well known in the Lyme Regis area.

Like many young people, Daniel was working for the winter ski season, spending his evenings working as a night porter and snowboarding during the day. He had spent the past four years working at The Anchor in Seatown, saving to finance his trip.

Daniel’s family; his mum Diana, brother Tom and uncle Nick, travelled to Meribel to collect his belongings and make arrangements to bring him home. They were greeted by the many friends and resort co-workers that Daniel had made during his time there.

His mum Diana said that he had followed his dreams.

“As a boy he loved skateboarding, then sailing and parkour, but snowboarding had become his big passion for the last five years,” she said.

“He was having such a fantastic time. He was known as ‘King of the Tarentaise’ by his snowboarding colleagues at the Meribel resort.”

Daniel was well-respected by those he worked with.

Jordan Valentin, manager of the resort, said: “There are some in life who have an everlasting impact; Dan is exactly that type. His kind heart made its way in to everyone he met. I would like to express the joys and memories that all of us at Tarentaise share, in loving memory of Dan. “There is not a single person who could deny that Dan was the most radiant and genuine person. He knew everyone and would do everything with a smile.

‘Through day and night, overcast and bluebird skies, you could guarantee Dan was having a great time. Joking, laughing, smiling and living every single day.”

Daniel’s family are now together and making preparations for a celebration of his life, which they hope to share with close friends.

Details are yet to be confirmed but they want to thank everyone for their well wishes and support.

DANIEL Marsh, pictured left and above with girlfriend Chantal Blackledge, and below snowboarding in Meribel, France

classifieds&jobs

22 Friday, April 20 2018

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EXPERIENCED/ REGISTERED CARERS required to assist a lady with a severe chronic illness.

Duties include personal care, food preparation and housekeeping during a lunchtime visit.

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References required.

If you would like an informal chat, please leave a voicemail with your contact details and you will be called back on: 07486 604302 Or apply by email to: jubbliehontas@gmail.com.

ITEMS FOR SALE

TOP quality, as new, sofa bed. Cost £350, will accept £150. Collect, Lyme Regis - 07974 268504.

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You can advertise items for sale up to £200 free by filling in the form below or emailing francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

Please note this service is only for private sellers, not for commercial items, tradespeople or vehicles. Please include a brief description of your item, the cost and a telephone number where a buyer may contact you.

If you wish to advertise an item over £200 your advertisement will cost 10p per word, please email or phone us to arrange payment. Please also include your name and address, although this will not be published.

PORTA Potti as new for camping/caravan, etc £30 - 01297 442991.

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LARGE dark green leather pouffe, size 32”x26”x16”, £10. Evenings Lyme Regis 443419.

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XXL dark green ¾ length kid leather coat, offers around £50 - 07870 603345.

jane@woodfarm.co.uk Wood Farm Caravan Park, Charmouth

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Send this form to: Items For Sale, LymeOnline, Unit 5, Uplyme Business Centre, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS

THE ROYAL LION HOTEL Have you got Broad Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QF Reservations: Tel (01297) 445622 Fax (01297) 445859 Email: enquiries@royallionhotel.com www.royallionhotel.com

your copy...

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We are currently looking to bolster our team and are looking to fill the following positions:

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Alternatively send your CV to enquiries@royallionhotel.com

WE have set up a number of distribution points where you can pick-up a print version of LymeOnline. These include the following:

LYME REGIS

Royal Lion Hotel, Broad Street Fortnam Smith & Banwell, Broad Street Outside Serendip, Broad Street (when fine) Paul The Hairdressers, Broad Street The Rock Point Inn, Broad Street Tourist Information Centre, Bridge Street Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street Aroma Café, Bridge Street Lyme’s Fish Bar, Coombe Street Tesco, Broad Street The Volunteer Inn, Broad Street Good Food Café & Deli, Broad Street Co-Op, Broad Street, Post Office, Broad Street Library, Silver Street Nags Head, Silver Street

The Mariners Hotel, Silver Street Lyme Bay Medical Practice, Silver Street Woodmead Halls, Hill Road Lyme Regis Golf Club, Timber Hill SWIM, Marine Parade Harbour Inn, Marine Parade Slipway, The Cobb Lyme Regis Convenience Store, Staples Terrace

UPLYME

Black Dog Tea Rooms Talbot Arms Uplyme Filling Station & Post Office

CHARMOUTH

Charmouth Stores (NISA), The Street The Elms, The Street Wood Farm Caravan Park

HUNTERS LODGE/RAYMONDS HILL Raymonds Hill Post Office & Stores

Friday, April 20 2018 23

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LymeOnline Sport Victories for all three teams as Seasiders press for promotion

email your sports reports to edit@lyme-online.co.uk

WITH all three senior teams playing for the first time for several weeks, after the recent inclement weather, Lyme Regis footballers were celebrating on Saturday with each side recording a victory.

The first team travelled to Devon & Exeter Division One promotion contenders Lapford, one of the tougher sides in the league, and returned with three points after an impressive 2-1 victory to keep their chances of winning a place in the Premier division very much alive.

Caretaker manager Mark Bailey described the game as “one of our best foot-

tables Devon & Exeter Division One P W Exeter Universoty 2nds16 12 Colyton 13 12 Lymne Regis 1st 18 9 Perry Street 15 8 Sidmouth Town 2nds 15 8 15 7 Lapford Chard Town Reserves 17 6 Cullompton Rang 2nds 15 5 Chagford 15 6 Alphington 2nds 18 4 Heavitree Utd 2nds 14 3 Wellington Reserves 18 3 15 23 Bickleigh 1sts

D 2 1 4 4 1 3 3 4 1 2 4 3 0

L 2 0 5 3 6 5 8 6 8 12 7 12 12

F 56 51 41 44 49 43 25 40 39 24 27 30 33

A Gd 17 39 14 37 33 8 23 21 31 18 32 11 45 -20 36 6 33 6 48 -24 50 -23 66 -36 76 -43

Pts 38 37 31 28 25 24 21 19 19 14 13 12 9

Devon & Exeter Division Five Black Swan Town 1sts 17 14 Millwey Rise 1sts 19 12 Central 1st 19 11 Lyme Regis 16 11 Halwill 2nds 15 11 Elmore 2nds 14 10 Hemyock 1sts 16 8 Ilminster Town Res 17 5 Awliscombe 1sts 17 5 Culm United 1sts 18 5 Dunkeswell Rovers 16 5 Westexe Park Rangers 16 2 Offwell Rangers 16 0

1 2 2 1 1 1 5 2 1 0 0 1 0

2 5 6 4 3 3 3 10 11 13 11 13 15

88 59 61 45 46 40 43 37 29 46 31 33 8

26 62 31 28 35 26 19 26 22 24 15 25 33 10 57 -20 40 -11 56 -10 65 -34 76 -43 91 -83

43 38 35 34 34 31 29 17 16 15 15 6* -0*

Perry Street Division One P W Halstock 11 10 IlminsterColts 11 8 Forton Rangers 10 8 Farway United 10 7 Waytown Hounds 10 5 Hawkchurch 13 3 Uplyme 13 3 Perry Street Reserves 10 3 Shepton Reserves 12 2 Chard Rangers 14 0

D 1 1 0 2 2 2 3 1 1 1

L 0 2 2 1 3 7 7 6 9 13

Gd 44 19 15 21 3 -7 -10 -10 -20 -55

Pts 31 25 24 23 17 14 12 10 7 1

Perry Street Division Two Thorncombe 14 11 Forton Rangers Res 14 10 Misterton Reserves 13 9 Charmouth 14 8 Crewkerne Rangers 11 7 Dowlish & Donyatt 16 6 South Peterton Res 15 5 Kingsbury 15 4 Combe A 15 4 Chard Utd Reserves 15 2 Winsham Reserves 16 2

3 1 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 1

0 3 1 4 1 8 9 9 9 11 13

38 29 33 4 24 -10 -1 -9 -27 -27 -54

36 31 30 26 24 20 16 14 9* 8 6*

Perry Street Division Three Donyatt United 13 10 Ilminster Town A 11 10 Crewkerne Rang Res 14 9 Merriott Dynamos 10 6 Lyme Rovers 10 5 Thorncombe Reserves 15 4 Farway Reserves 10 4 Netherbury Reserves 13 3 Chard Rangers Res 13 2 Chard United Allstars 13 0

2 0 1 1 2 4 1 3 1 1

1 1 4 3 3 7 5 7 10 12

32 30 20 4 14 -21 -4 6 -41 -40

32 30 28 19 17 16 13* 8* 7 1

By PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk balling performances for a long time”.

The Seasiders had two goals disallowed in the first half for offside, both suspect decisions.

Lyme maintained their pressure after the break and were rewarded in the 60th minute when Ben Turner scored from close range.

Lapford got themselves back in the game against the run of play in the 85th minute, but Lyme showed tremendous character and the three points were secured just two minutes from time when Turner latched onto a Bailey through ball to seal a deserved victory.

The Seasiders still face an uphill task to stay in the promotion mix, but this was three crucial points that keeps them in third place with 31 points from 18 games.

Colyton, favourites for the title but with another 12 league games to play, strengthened their position with a 2-1 over Sidmouth Town 2nds, and fourth place Perry Street – four games in hand on Lyme but only three points behind – chalked up a 5-3 home win over Heavitree.

Lapford drop to sixth place with 24 points, but they also have three games in hand over Lyme.

So it’s game on in the last few weeks of the season – with all to play for – for the five teams chasing leaders University of Exeter, who are unable to be promoted because their first team already play in the Premier Division.

Lyme Regis Reserves are also battling to win promotion from Division Five. Currently in third place with 34 points from 16 games, trailing leaders Black Swan Town 1st (40 points from 16 games) and Millwey Rise (37 points from 18 games), the Ressies were at home to team-of-the moment Elmore 2nds, cocka-hoop after their Devon Intermediate Cup victory over the league leaders the previous Thursday.

The game was switched from the Davey Fort – still unplayable – to the Woodroffe School pitch where the surface is far from ideal. This was another must-win game for Lyme’s second string and they put in a gutsy performance to win 3-1.

There’s no doubting Elmore’s quickpassing and aggressive style of football, but they looked a tired side after their midweek cup victory.

The match started with the pitch veiled in mist, reminiscent of Lyme’s old ground in Sidmouth Road, just over the hedge of the Woodroffe ground.

The Seasiders opened the scoring after 27 minutes when Brad Rowe scooped the ball into the net with the visiting keeper diving at his feet.

Lyme looked more than up for this niggly encounter and increased their score after 37 minutes when new signing, Spaniard Ruben Rogel, who looks a useful acquisition, knocked in a long throw from Steven Batey to make it 2-0 at halftime.

CHARMOUTH FC who are enjoying a reasonably good season in Perry Street Division Two, having won eight of their 14 games and are lying in fourth place in the table. They have another six league games to play this season The visitors, who wasted a good amount of their energy arguing among themselves and castigating the referee, dragged themselves back into the game after 47 minutes when Batey was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the penalty box, despite the fact he had his back to ball when the so-called misdemeanor occurred.

Lapford made the most of their luck and scored from the resulting freekick.

Rogel demonstrated his potential when he grabbed his second when he cut inside and slotted the ball into the corner of the net to make it 3-1 after 60 minutes.

It gave Lyme the cushion they needed and they defended brilliantly until the final whistle as Elmore tried to rescue the result to no avail.

Another Spanish new signing, Jaime Roderiguez, came on as a substitute and demonstrated that he could be very useful to the Seasiders in an hectic run-in to the end of the season.

The Reserves face a real tough challenge tomorrow (Saturday) when they welcome league leaders Black Swan Town to, hopefully, the Davey Fort.

Lyme Rovers completed a hattrick of victories – triggering a happy hour for drinks in the clubhouse – when they edged the advantage in a five-goal thriller in an away John Fowler cup-tie against Ilminster A, their goals coming from Finn McLean, Scott Mayers and Matt Preece. They now meet Netherbury Reserves tomorrow at the Woodroffe School for a place in the final against Donyatt United, who are already through.

Uplyme lost ground in their bid to climb the Perry Street League Division One table when they went down 3-1 at home to third place Forton Rangers.

The Swallows dominated the first half with Harvey Brimicombe putting them 1-0 up and Nial Wa-

terhouse hitting the bar from a free-kick. But they were undone by conceding three soft goal in the second half.

Charmouth’s bid for a promotion place in Division Two came unstuck when they conceded four goals with just one reply away to Crewkerne Rangers, who sit one place below them in the table.

It was a close fought affair in the first half with Charmouth playing the better football, but they failed to take their chance and went in at the break trailing 2-0.

The home side added two more after the break with Paul Minors getting the Uplyme goal.

■ In the last print version of LymeOnline we referred to Uplyme as The Robins. We apologise for this - their nickname of course is The Swallows.

golf

Filtness shoots six points better than par

By Richard Jackman HOPEFULLY for the last time for a while, the 16-hole layout at Lyme Regis Golf Club was used for both this week’s competitions.

Making the most of them and winning Division One of the seniors’ stableford with the best score of the day was regular podium visitor – Geoff Filtness, scoring 38 points as he plundered points at will, shooting six

points better than par.

Paul Dike bettered nett par on seven of the 16 holes as he returned 35 points to come second while the effervescent Michael Hankey scored well to take third spot with 34 points.

Division Two belonged to Jerry Garrett as his third hole 4-point birdie set him up for a winning score of 36 points, despite the efforts of Colin Conn who finished second, scoring 12 of his 35 points on three holes, while

Denis McCallum finished third on 33.

The ladies’ foursomes was keenly contested and saw a really close finish as the top three all finished on 31 points. Jane Andrews and Julia Coote were worthy winners on countback, as they finished strongly, while Cyndy Mudford and Amy Mudford showed family strength in second with Di Harris and new member Carol Watson taking third spot.

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LymeOnline Sport

24 Friday, April 20 2018

April 20 2018

Viva España!

Seasiders sign two Spanish players as the season hots up PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk WITH better weather forecasted and the Davey Fort drying out after going 19 weeks without hosting a game, Lyme Regis Football Club supporters are looking forward to an exciting run-in to the end of the season.

THE Seasiders’ Spanish duo - Ruben Rogel (left), who scored twice for the Reserves last Saturday, and Jaime Roderiguez (on the ball)

Royal British Legion Poppy Run Saturday, June 30 2018

3km and 10km races

starting at 11am and 11.15am from steps on East Cliff walkway All competitors to report to Lyme Regis Football Club by 10am Entry fees: 3km (unaccompanied minimum age 10) - £5 10 km (minimum age 16) - £10 To enter go to the Poppy Run event on Facebook There will be family events at the football club including bouncy castle, face painting, sponsored walk and more!

Both the first team and the Reserves are in with a chance of promotion from their respective Devon and Exeter League divisions - but it will mean the firsts winning all of their remaining six games to stay in the mix with some of the chasing packs dropping points.

Lyme has signed a couple of talented Spanish players, who are working at the Royal Lion for the summer, to help them through the final weeks of the season.

On Saturday, one of them, Ruben Rogel, scored two goals in the Reserves’ hard fought 31 victory over Division Five challengers Elmore 2nds, having come on as a substitute for the first team in the previous week’s victory of Sidmouth 2nds.

His work colleague Jaime Roderiguez was brought on as a substitute for the Ressies on and demonstrated some of the skills so prevalent in the Spanish style of football.

The race for Premier football next season is hotting up with favourites Colyton catching up on their fixtures.

Their 2-0 win over Perry Street at Tatworth on Monday saw them consolidate their second place in the table, one point adrift of leaders University but with three games in hand.

Lyme remain in third place, six points behind Colyton but

having played five more games.

University are unable to gain promotion to the Premier division because their first team already play in the division.

Lyme’s other man rivals are Perry Street, Sidmouth Town 2nds and Lapford who could overtake them with games in hand.

At the moment it is not known how many teams will be promoted as the league is undergoing reorganisation, but Lyme take on the challenge in good form, having beat Lapford away last Saturday in what caretaker manager Mark Bailey described as “our best footballing display” of the season.

If Lyme do make it to the Premier Division, it will be the highest standard of football the club has ever played and delivers local derbies with Seaton and Beer.

The Reserves, managed by club stalwart Gerard Hitchcock, are also in the running for promotion from Division Five.

A gutsy 3-1 win over Elmore 2nds on the bumpy Woodroffe School pitch last Saturday kept them very much in the hunt.

At the time of writing, the Ressies are sitting in fourth place and could possibly finish runners up if they win their remaining eight games.

Lyme’s third X1, the Rovers, could also finish the season on a high as they have reached the semi-final of the John Fowler Cup against Netherbury Reserves tomorrow (Saturday). If they win, they will meet Donyatt in the final.

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Come on you Seasiders!

Support your local team

Enjoy a drink in the bar after every game at the Davey Fort

sports shorts Hot Gossips top the table SKITTLES: Hot Gossips have won the Ladies’ Division in Lyme Regis Skittles League, taking the title with just a single point lead over Wootton Wobblers.

The Ladies’ Division Beer Leg was won by Smashers.

With three games still to play, No Hopers have clinched the Men’s Division One and it looks like Flyers will finish in the runners-up spot with Marksmen winning the Beer Leg. In Men’s Division Two Anthill Mob have topped the table with a four-point lead over Alleytwits, who looked to have won the Beer Leg. Results (week-ending April 14): Ladies - Hot Gossips 293 (+BL) v Generations 282; La Creme 337 (+BL) v Skittso’s 323; Wootton Wobblers 304 v Smashers 279 (+BL).

High scores: J. Wyatt 68, E. Summers 65, P. Williams 64, T. Holmes 62.

Men’s: British Legion 315 (+BL) v President;’s Men 355; No Hopers 361 (+BL) v Marksmen 353; Alleytwits 324 v Tornadoes 334 (+BL); Flyers 347 v Young Guns 328 (BL drawn);Miscellaneous 371 v Clueless 323 (+BL); Trappers beat Roadrunners (+BL).

High scores: S. Case 74, R. Cridge 70, J. Kendrick 68, P. Rattenbury 67.

The next two weeks will see all the cup competitions being played, including the Ladies’ Pairs final at Wootton Club on Monday (April 23).

Cricket fixtures

UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club start their 2018 season on Saturday, May 5 when the 1st X1 travel to Clyst St George.

The 2nd X1 will be at home to Topsham St James 2nd X1 (1.30pm).

LymeOnline Sport will be reporting on all the games throughout the season.

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