LymeOnline Digital Edition - February 15 2019

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KATE WINSLET IN TOWN FOR ANNING FILM PAGE 5

New headmaster at the Woodroffe THE Woodroffe School has apppointed a new headmaster to replace Dr Richard Steward, who is leaving at the end of the school year.

Mary Khan, chairman of the Board of Governors, has written to parents this week confirming that the new head will be Mr Daniel Watts, effective from September.

Mr Watts is joing the school from The Queen Elizabeth Academy, Atherstone, where he has been principal for the past four years.

His specialisms include geography and physical education and he holds a BA (Hons) from Exeter Unversity.

Mr Watts will be relocating to the area with his wife and two daughters.

Mrs Khan said: “The appointment of a new headteacher is an exciting and challenging time for Woodroffe.”

Helping to save more lives at sea AN initiative to help save lives at sea is benefiting the Lyme Regis’ fishing community. With funds co-ordinated by West Dorset District councillor Cheryl Reynolds, local boatman have been among the first to receive the new twin-chamber lifejackets. Full story on page 3.

Photo by RICHARD AUSTIN

LANDSLIDE FEARS

Armed police make arrest in Broad Street

A NUMBER of police officers, some of them armed and masked, carried out an arrest of a man in Broad Street in Lyme Regis at 12.45 yesterday (Thursday).

The 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threats to commit criminal damage. He was further arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a class A drug with intent to supply. He is currently assisting officers with their enquiries.

Detective Inspector Jamie Halford, of Dorset Police, said: “I would like to reassure members of the public that this was an operation involving a specific individual and at no stage was there believed to be any threat posed to the wider public.”

COUNCILLORS UNITE TO FIGHT SEAFRONT HOUSE PLAN

LYME Regis could suffer another major landslide if controversial plans to demolish a seafront bunglaow and replace it with a three-storey house go ahead.

A planning application, submitted

by Mr David Ross, the owner of Cobb Gate, a holiday home built in

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk the 1920s, has already been passed

by West Dorset District Council, without going to the planning committee, much to the annoyance of Lyme Regis Town Council who recommended refusal of the application.

The application was recommended for approval by district planning officer Darren Rogers and approved under delegated powers by the chairman of WDDC planning committee, Councillor Fred Horseman, his vice-chairman Councillor Nigel Bunday and Lyme Regis ward member, Daryl Turner.

Town councillors have con-

demned the application because of fears that the removal of hundreds of tons of spoil to bring the house down to Marine Parade street level will endanger of the properties behind Cobb Gate, with one councillor warning that it could cause a landslip that would take the bottom of Broad Street with it.

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‘Dismay’ over planning application prompting fears of another landslide ■ From page one Town councillors are also angry about the limited details they have been given, especially concerning the stability of the site, and have great reservations about how quickly the planning application was approved.

The application was discussed by the town council planning committee last week when chairman Brian Larcombe explained that the plans were sent to them outside their normal cycle of meetings .

However, he had discussed the application with all members of the committee and informed WDDC planners of the town council’s opposition.

Ater doing so Councillor Larcombe issued the following statement: “Lyme Regis Town Council recommended refusal of the application and, in doing so, we expressed our concerns for the land stability at the rear of the proposed demolition and new build.

“The town council, and no doubt residents, are very aware of land stability issues in Lyme. There was an absence of any survey data and plans for the retaining construction that would be necessary given the new depth and degree of cut back into the ground at the rear (which backs onto the rear of properties in Broad Street).

“We also had concerns about the duration of the build (we were told it could be up to a year) and the impact on the Marine Parade and Cart Road during this period.

“There is the potential for public access issues on both of these and no details were provided of the degree of ingress onto them. We had nothing of the plans for removing the huge amounts of spoil from the site or the intended storage of equipment and materials, all of which is likely to impact on the immediate area, adjoining businesses, and access routes to the site.

“We also had concerns about the building design that proposes bedrooms to the front at

THE narrowest part of the Marine Parade where the three-storey house will be built, with access to the front door from the parade ground level, immediately abutting the parade with bedroom windows at eye level, at the very narrowest point of the parade's length. While some of these concerns may be regarded as not being grounds for refusal of planning permission, we do believe they are highly important and the absence of the details needed to address these and other serious concerns led to our recommended refusal.”

At the town council planning meeting last week when the issue was discussed, Councillor Cheryl Reynolds answered criticism from the floor of Lyme’s district council representatives, of which she is one.

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Councillor Reynolds said she had sent an email to Councillor Horsington stating: “Following my conversation with both yourself and Cllr Bundy and following my holiday, I would be grateful if you could record my dismay at this item NOT being sent to committee.

“Lyme Regis Town Council and myself are worried about the depth of the foundations and the bulk dig to reduce the site to the level of the Marine Parade.

“The council also wish to know how the houses on the southern side of Broad Street will be kept safe when doing this excavation and how the works can be achieved without disruption of the Marine Parade and the Cart Road, as it appears from the drawings the whole site is going to be developed and the disruption to the two businesses on either side will be considerable.”

In reply, planning officer Darren Rogers pointed out that there there will need to be a Building Regulations application made which is separate from the planning permission and that will also cover similar ground issues, but the issue that LRTC raised and others – i.e. detail of the land retaining works on the boundaries of the site proposed –will be civil matters.

Councillors were united in their opposition to the development at the town planning meeting at which Councillor Derek Hallet warned that the removal from so much spoil from the site could cause another major landslide and affect houses at the bottom of Broad Street.

Planning approval was granted by WDDC subject to a number of conditions, in the interests of stability, which include details of the method of demolition and subsequent foundation design and provision of a construction management plan and details of hours of use for construc-

tion activity, any dust suppression measures, and parking for construction site operatives (conditions 5 and 6).

For the full debate see page 9

Friday, February 15 2019 3

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Councillors breached Equality Act in debate on pedestrian crossing PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk

THREE members of Lyme Regis Town Council alledgedly breached the Equality Act in comments they made during a debate when they withdrew their support and decided to oppose the proposed puffin crossing in Broad Street.

An extraordinary meeting of the council took place on December 19 when councillors reconsidered their original decision to support the crossing and decided, by seven votes to four, to oppose the plan.

Following that meeting three formal complaints where made by three members of the public, all with disabilities, who spoke during the public forum at that meeting.

A report by the town clerk, John Wright, on the allegations went before Wednesday’s full council meeting naming the complainants as Adrian Robinson, Joanna Robinson and Lizzie Wiscombe.

The names of the three councillors were redacted from the report as they had not had the chance to respond to the complaints.

However, in the public forum the councillors were named as Owen Lovell, Brian Larcombe and Jeff Scowan by pedestrian campaigner Lizzie Wiscombe.

The town clerk reported that he had sought legal advice from the council’s solicitors who had confirmed that the Equality Act applied to the town council and their preliminary assessment was that the council did not act in accordance

with the act.

He also reported that the three complainants had been invited to a meeting with the Mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis, the deputy mayor Councillor Stephen Miller, and the town clerk to consider what action the town council could take to address their complaints.

In a letter to the town clerk, Mrs Robinson said she “felt hurt” that the council was prepared to leave her and others at risk by opposing the crossing and she was so angry that when she got home she wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May. She said: “I wish to make a complaint against the council for not listening to the old and disabled like every other council does.”

In his letter of complaint to the council, Mr Robinson claimed the decision to oppose the crossing would impact on his ability to live an independent life saying it “impacts upon myself to a greater degree than on the population as a whole”.

He claimed the council was “institutionally ageist, disablist and sexist”.

Mr Robinson further complained that in failing to carry out its duties and failing to follow best practice, the council was “guilty of maladministration”.

Lizzie Wiscombe, who has a guide dog, named the three councillors in her letter of complaint, but the names were redacted from the town clerk’s report.

She claimed their actions were “no way to treat” the most needy of the town’s residents and tourists which the town relied on.

She added: “I feel thoroughly let down by the very people that I should been able to depend on

fighting for my right to safely cross the main road in my home town.”

It was agreed at Wednesday’s meeting that the Mayor would write to all members to remind them about their behaviour towards the public at council meetings.

It was agreed also that equality and diversity training would, in future, form part of the induction programme for the new council administration following the election in May. Councillor Cheryl Reynolds, who campaigned for the pedestrian crossing which has been approved by Dorset County Council, said it was clear the three councillors had breached the act.

She told the meeting she had a video of the special meeting on December 19 when seven councillors voted in favour of reversing the council’s decision to support the crossing.

Councillor Larcombe congratulated those who had campaigned for the crossing and explained those who voted to reverse the council’s original decision to back the pedetsrian were only following the advice of the county council officer dealing with the application. He wondered why after the argument had been won in respect of the crossing, members of the public were persisting with complaints.

He welcomed any training on equality and diversity and hoped this would extend to councillors showing respect to each other.

Councillor Lovell was not present but Councillor Scowan said he was “very distressed” by the allegation. He did not understand why the three councillors had been accused of breaching the act when there were seven councillors who voted for the motion to reverse the council’s backing.

Look out for our next issue on March 1 Until then you can catch up with the latest news at www.lyme-online.co.uk

Saving more lives at sea SAVING lives at sea is the aim of Fishing College instructor Steve Postles who travels the length and breadth of the country teaching and refreshing fishermen and women on how to keep safe at sea while taking full advantage of new technology available.

“Life jackets are useless unless worn” that is the moto used by Sea Fish instructor Steve as he took charge of the first of many new twin chamber lifejackets, at The Fishing College, in Lyme Regis.

Steve’s first job is to familiarise all boatmen and fishermen on their use and advantages should there be an emergency on board while at sea. There is a new three-day entrance course at the RNLI college at Poole for all ages and both sexes to encourage new people into the fishing industry.

Said Steve of the latest lifejacket: “The new twin chamber lifejacket has an automatic inflation capsule and a built-in person location beacon enabling emergency services to locate the wearer to within three metres.”

The heavy duty high buoyancy lifejacket is specially suited to harsh working conditions where heavy workwear and equipment may be used.

Funding for the discounted jackets was co-ordinated by West Dorset District councillor Cheryl Reynolds.

Said Steve: “Councillors such as Cheryl Reynolds were vital to the funding arrangements and all the paperwork that goes with it as well as the Dorset & East Devon FLAG, (Fisheries Local Action Groups) which is funded by the Marine Management.”

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4 Friday, February 15 2019

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A VERY welcome visitor, Terry Whitworth, gave members of Lyme Regis Art Society an excellent demonstration of how to create a still life using acrylic paints.

Terry is the society’s president and members are used to seeing him work with watercolours but he enjoys the freedom and versatility that acrylics offer. As he says, you can overpaint mistakes or sand them down or leave them as happy accidents.

Working on an earlier version of this still life arrangement, he painted in the white base sheet, outlining the very important negative spaces between the vegetables, and overpainting some areas to get a better arrangement. He was using paint straight from the bottle with a wide hogshair brush and advocated seeing the work as a whole without focussing on any one element but allowing things to emerge during the process. This gives the painting a looseness and allows the eye of the viewer to fill in the gaps. He left his finished work looking full of light and vitality.

Lyme Regis Art Society meets on alternate Tuesdays in The Woodmead Halls from 2pm to 4pm until the end of March. Their next meeting will be a demonstration on February 19 by Claire Western titled “Rich Combinations” using collage and mixed media. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

For further details, contact Sheila Stratton on 01297 445464 or go to https://www.lymeregisartssociety.org.uk/

Oyez! Oyez! The waterwheel turns again TOWN Crier Alan Vian officially opened the refurbished wooden watermill at the Town Mill in Lyme Regis which opened its doors this week following the completion of the work by volunteers.

The historic Town Mill recently launched a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of the refurbishment, which was carried out by the volunteers during January.

A private reception to celebrate the completion of the project was held for sponsors and volunteers on Sunday, February 3, followed by a public reception at 12 noon when Mr Vian officially announced the turning of the wheel, which was introduced 20 years ago, in a special cry for the occasion.

A spokesperson for the mill said: “This has been a remarkable achievement by all involved and the Town Mill looks forward to once again milling spelt, wheat and rye in readiness for the opening of its doors for tours.

This waterwheel is by no means the Town Mill’s first.

The Mill’s history dates back to 1340 when King Edward III gave the town permission to build a mill and take a water supply from up the river along a new mill leat. (He was the king who also gave Lyme the ‘Regis’ part of its name.

There is still the opportunity to sponsor a bucket or spoke on the waterwheel by visiting the website www.townmill.org.uk

Lyme Society’s membership drive THE Lyme Regis Society, one of the most influential organisations in Lyme Regis, held their annual coffee morning at the Hotel Alexandra to give their 300 members the opportunity of renewing their annual subscription. Pictured are committee members Paul Mellor, Heather Britton, Annie Nichols and membership secretary Dicki Dixon. The society’s next event is a talk on the Iron Age and Roman Dorset by Chris Copston, curator of The Keep Military Museum in Dorchster, at the Woodmead Halls on February 26 starting at 2.30 pm.

THIS seal pup was captured taking the sun on Monmouth Beach this week by local photgrapher Richard Austin. The seal had some damaged skin around the eye but did not seem unduly worried by it.

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THE RNLI is in search of new recruits to work on some of the South West’s most popular beaches, including Lyme Regis, as applications open for 2019’s beach lifeguards.

Many classic jazz songs have been featured in Hollywood films and Broadway shows. On Sunday, February 24 there will be a chance to soak up some of the glamour, with tunes like 'Get Happy' as originally performed by Judy Garland, and 'I've Got the World on a String' as sung by Frank Sinatra Your guide will be vocalist Heather Wensley, accompanied by Philip Clouts at the piano.

After graduating in music performance from Manchester, Heather’s reputation as a vocalist has gone from strength to strength, delighting and enchanting audiences wherever she performs.

Influenced by artists as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Chaka Khan, she has developed her own unique and unforgettable singing style. Heather’s career has taken her all over the UK and abroad performing for festivals, arts centres and private clients.

Friday, February 15 2019 5

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Will Mary Anning film give Lyme another tourist boom?

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk

LYME Regis could be set for another tourism boom if a film starring Hollywood star Kate Winslet about the life of fossiler Mary Anning is a box-office hit.

The film, to be called “Ammonite”, has been commissioned by The Irish Television & Film Network, the script for which has been inspired by the life of Lyme’s famous hunter.

Set in 1840s England, the film will chart the intense relationship that develops between Anning and a young woman sent to convalesce by the sea.

Winslet, who visited Lyme Regis last week, plays the part of Mary Anning with Saorise

Ronan cast as the young woman. Winslet and Ronan, most recently in “Mary Queen of Scots”, are two of the biggest names in Hollywood.

By all acounts, when Winslet visited Lyme Regis Museum last week she was coached in the Dorset accent by museum volunteer Lizzie Wiscombe.

When Lyme Regis was featured in “The French Lieutant’s Woman”, written by local author John Fowles and starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, 40 years ago, the town became a magnet for film fans, especially Americans, resulting in a tourism boom which lasted for many years.

A nuber of locals were used as extras.

Work is due to start in converting the lower part of Broad Street into the 1840s and on Wednesday, Eddy Pearce, location manager for the film makers, Ammonite Fossil Films Ltd, at-

LymeOnline letters extra The ‘utter madness’ of this crazy blot on the seascape ■ IT IS with incredulity that I read about how planning permission to pull down a perfectly good bungalow, Cobb Gate, on Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, was slipped through without public consultation.

Lyme Regis Town Council unanimously objected to this planning application for the bungalow to be replaced by a new threestorey house “in the strongest possible terms.”

But what happened next needs urgent investigation on behalf of every council taxpayer in our area.

The application did not go before West Dorset Planning Committee, so it could be discussed at length in a meeting open to the public. Instead, it was approved by “delegated powers” of the officers, taking into account the views of the chairman, Councillor Fred Horsington, who owns a diary farm near Dorchester.

In other words, in secret with a notable lack of information.

So the town now faces the prospect of a splendid, structurally sound 1920s bungalow being demolished - without any geological report on landslips or potential dangers - along with the closure for months, possibly a year, of Marine Parade and Cart Road.

This is utter madness. No-one benefits, locals or the tens of thousands of tourists which

are the lifeblood of Lyme, by such wholesale vandalism of the sea front.

But more disconcerting is the way this was levered through - against the unanimous wishes of our local council, which represents us all - and the sense of secrecy surrounding the details.

What is the point of Lyme Regis Town Council and all the councillors who serve on it?

Why are we asked to vote for them if their views are so scornfully ignored? What is local democracy supposed to be about? And what was our district councillor doing? Asleep on the job? We should all be suspicious about the way a group of unelected officials have conspired to give approval.

If this crazy plan is allowed to go through, without further investigation or the fiercest of objections, it will be to the regret of the entire town and neighbouring villages. We will all be helpless witnesses to the noise, dust and chaos during the best part of a year as this bungalow is demolished and a house constructed.

And afterwards? We will be left with yet another blot on the seascape and questions about how we ever allowed it to happen.

Garth Pearce, Lower Sea Lane Charmouth

All this for another holiday home!

■ May I express, through your website and newspaper, my sheer horror at the approval given to a development on the Marine Parade between The Alcove and Mollie’s Ice-Cream Kiosk.

Shame on you Daryl Turner for not standing with the town council and raising an objection to the planning permission. This new building will affect every single resident and holidaymaker who takes a stroll along the seafront this summer.

The planning permission allows for the complete removal of a bungalow, piling all around the back of it to stop the houses behind from sliding towards the sea, digging down and removing tonnes and tonnes of earth and mud from the site and then being removed by lorries through Cobb Gate car park and into the chaos that is Broad Street between June and September. This job is going to take 12 MONTHS!

Why didn’t Daryl Turner agree with Lyme Regis Town Council and go for refusal? He could have educated his former friends who make up a lot of members of West Dorset District Council’s Planning Committee and suggested to them that this sort of development on the seafront is totally unwanted and could cause a landslip worse than the one of 1962 in Langmoor Gardens and affecting far more properties.

And at the end of it the new house will just be another holiday home.

Mollie Staples,Church Street, Lyme Regis FOOTNOTE: Having been consulted for his views as a ward member, Councillor Turner said he was “content with approval with the conditions as laid down”.

MORE LETTERS ON PAGE 10

tended a meeting of Lyme Regis Town Council when the plans were discussed.

The film company will spend eight days filming in the Bell Cliff area, starting on Thursday on Monday, March 11.

They will also spend one or two days filming at The Cobb and a day on Monmouth Beach at the end of March.

A section of the non-cobbled pavement - from Seasalt down to the Cobb Gate car park - will be covered with period-relevant ground cover.

The film company is already engaged in extensive consultation with local businesses.

Other requests include the following: ■ Use of small aerial platform on Bell Cliff.

■ Remove and replace handrailleading down to Cobb Gate car park ■ Cover part of the steps with period relevant grond cover ■ Remove three street lamps ■ Build two-storey fake Georgian house front outside Seasalt ■ Build fake stone wall outside the bus shelter ■ Stop/Go traffic management on Church Street, Bridge Street and Broad Street.

The company has requested use of the Guildhall for the entire period of the shoot. All areas would be fully reinstated after the shoot.

In the 1980s when “The French Lieutanent’s

Woman” film was made, a significant sum of money was given to the town for disturbance which enabled intruments to be bought for the reformed town band.

During the public forum Mr Ken Gollop drew attention to the disturbance the filming would cause. He reminded councillors that when “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” was filmed the production campany gave a sum of £8,000 to the town which resulted in instruments being bought for the reformed town band and the formation of the now defunct Junior Band.

Mr Gollop thought the town should receive compensation for the disturbance and that money should be given to an organisation such as the Rotary Club and allocated to help young people, possibly through scholarships or, perhaps, sending a Scout or Guide to a World Jamboree.

Councillors delegated responsibility to negotiate a fee to the town clerk John Wright.

Mr Wright said discussions were already taking place about compensation, but he was unable to reveal a figure at this moment.

Councillor Jeff Scowan thought the town should get at least £100,000 because the film would be “a blockbuster” and make millions of pounds profit.

The Ship Inn is staying open

THE SHIP Inn in Lyme Regis, the only pub left in town with a skittle alley, is to stay open.

Licensee Alan Henson has given up the tenancy of the Coombe Street pub and it is being run on a temporary basis by the Pilot Boat Inn, also a Palmer’s house, until a new tenant can be appointed.

This newspaper also understands that the Bridport-based brewery is planning to spend a significant five-figure sum on carrying out renovations to the pub.

Mr Henson and his wife took over the pub following the death of his brother Dave, a popular landlord at The Ship for many years.

With The Ship being the ony pub left with a skittle alley in Lyme, there were fears for the future of the Lyme Regis Skittles League if the pub was closed down.

Staff from the Pilot Boat are opening The Ship from 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm Monday to Thursday, 5.30 pm to 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 12 noon to 6 pm on Sundays.

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

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philip@lyme-online.co.uk

A rallying call for new councillors WHEELER’S WORLD

I

’VE had a few remarks expressing surprise about my suggestion in last week’s column that it might be a good idea if we looked upon the pending creation of the new Dorset Council, and the election of a new town council, as an opportunity to forge a new wave in local government.

Because my connection with the council goes back for such a long time, people thought I would be dead against changing any of Lyme’s rather quaint and outmoded civic customs.

One opinion I expressed which attracted particular criticism was the view that the time had come to do away with the mayoral robes and the town clerk having to wear a wig in this day and age at civic functions.

I do not advocate, as some have suggested, that we scrap the mayoral chains. I wore them with pride during my one year in the mayoral chair and when I was entertained at the Mansion House in London by the Lord Mayor, Dame Mary Donaldson, who incidentally, spent her honeymoon in Uplyme, she commented on how ornate the Lyme chains were, outshining even those of the Lord Mayor of

London. Unfortunately, due a technical hitch, the final line in my story last week dropped off the page which made a nonsense of the final sentence. It happens.

It should have read like this: “I’m all for celebrating our past but isn’t it time we moved on? And if we did, would we not attract more younger members of our community who would be prepared to sit on the town council and steer Lyme through the challenges ahead?”

My information is that four, perhaps five, of our current councillors do not intend to seek re-election. Will all of the remaining members (nine or ten) be re-elected? I doubt it as not all of them have a high profile so we can expect at least seven or eight new councillors. I really do hope this time round we get an election.

If that is the case I hope there is a smattering of younger people that put themselves forward to a forge a method of operation that the town finds more acceptable, and more in keeping with the times in which we live, than the shenanigans we have witnessed in recent times.

What’s all this about dogs on the beach!

Imagery by Rob Wheeler

A long way to go before the bulldozers move in IT WAS good to see Lyme Regis councillors unite in their determination to block the plan to replace the Cobb Gate holiday bungalow with a three-storey house on the Marine Parade.

It demonstrates that they can put their disagreements and dislike of each other to one side and speak as one on issues

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which may have severe consequences – in this case, another landslide.

Although the planning application has been approved by West Dorset District Council, under delegated powers, meaning the decision has not been made by the elected members, it has a long way to go before the bulldozers move it.

A number of crucial conditions, especially regarding stability of the land, have to be satisfied before the project is likely to go ahead.

The application has fallen within the criteria set for national planning guidelines,

and that makes it difficult for planning officers as it opens them to having to defend such decisions should the matter go to appeal. This is probably why one of Lyme’s West Dorset councillors, Darren Turner, would have given a reluctant nod to the initial planning application.

The green light for this particular development, which will involve moving hundreds of tons of spoil from the site, revolves around how the contractor will achieve this on such a narrow thoroughfare as the Marine Parade and Cart Road.

There is talk of building a bridge over the

parade for pedestrians which could have a disastrous effect on the businesses next to the site. In fact, the owner of The Alcove believes, with some justification, that it could close him down.

The owner is going to need the co-operation of Lyme Regis Town Council and in their present mood, and with the limited information they have received, I cannot see that happening.

I have a feeling that there will be many column inches written in LymeOnline before this application reaches fruition or is kicked into touch.

Percy - a true worthy of Lyme A FEW years ago author John Fowles wrote a controversial book on Lyme Worthies. It caused quite a stir at the time with more discussion about those who weren’t in the book rather than those who were.

In those days I used to compere the annual Christmas concert as president of Lyme Regis Town Band and I wrote a poem for it called “I Wish I Was a Worthy”.

Mr Fowles heard about this and I was summoned to his splendid house in Pound Street to explain myself.

When I read the poem, he roared with laughter and we discarded the tea pot and got stuck into a couple of bottles of chilled Chablis and we talked for several hours about Lyme and its people.

I’ve often thought I should write a sequel to that book and, if I did, there is no doubt that Percy Bird would feature strongly in it.

Percy Bird, who left school at 12 and worked on the rail-

ways all his life, was a fascinating character. When he discarded his railway overalls at night, Percy became a dapper man about town with a passion for a number of pastimes and hobbies - including photography.

His grandson, Robert Wheeler, was recently clearing out the family home when he found 800 glass negatives of views of old Lyme never seen before.

So on Sunday LymeOnline recruited the help of Ken Gollop - he of 25 “Under Shady Tree” presentations and the font of all knowledge on Lyme, and top photographer Richard Austin to stage the “Bird’s Eye View” slideshow.

Ken was his usual brilliant self.

It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon. Nearly 300 people turned up, including a number of the Bird and Wheeler family, and we ended up raising £600 for The Alzheimer’s Society.

Thank you for your support.

Friday, February 15 2019 7

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Rotary raise another £1,500 for Waterbox A SELL-OUT 120 people attended this year's Rotary Club of Lyme Regis soup and ploughman's lunch at the Alexandra Hotel.

The expected profit, including proceeds from a large raffle, will be in excess of £1,500 which will be donated to the Rotary Charity "Water Survival Box".

The Water-Survival Box is the initiative of the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge set up in 2004 to help the victims of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, A total of 3,200 water aid boxes were packed with items donated by members of the public.

Since then thousands of water aid boxes,

containing essential items including a pump that purifies water, have been sent to disasters all over the globe.

The "magic" pump contained in the box, along with a quantity of tools and useful equipment, will supply clean virus-free water to a family of four for up to five years when suitably cleaned each night.

The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis would like to place on record their thanks to the Alexandra Hotel who once again donated the total cost of the soup and the ploughman's lunch so enabling them to generate such a sizeable profit.

GUESTS enjoying their lunch at the Rotary Club fundraiser at the Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis, including the Mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis, and her husband-consort Alan

The BIG Breakfast CHAIRMAN John Dover and members of the Lyme Regis-St George’s Twinning Association flying the Bermuda flag at their fundriasing coffee morning held in the Driftwood Cafe at the Baptist Church Photo by RICHARD AUSTIN

Twinners fly the flag for Bermuda MEMBERS of the Lyme Regis-St George’s Twinning Association are preparing for a busy year, outlined recently at their annual dinner at the Royal Lion Hotel by chairman John Dover.

Mr Dover organised a coffee morning at the Baptist Church Driftwood Cafe which raised around £160 to defray expenses of welcoming guests from St George’s who will be visiting Lyme in July for the annual Sir George Somers parade.

But before that a dozen or so members of the Lyme Association, including their Presi-

dent, the Mayor Councillor Michaela Ellis,will be visiting Bermuda for the annual Peppercorn ceremony in April.

In September Lyme will be welcoming a party of high-worth individuals from Jamestown, the first English settlement in the United States, which now forms a tri-twinning arrangement with St George’s and Lyme Regis.

Sir George Somers, a former mayor of Lyme, was on his way to relieve the starving settlers of Jamestown when he was shipwrecked on Bermuda.

thecharmouthpage

8 Friday, February 15 2019

CHARMOUTH Local History Association committee members are pictured outside Little Lodge and Charmouth Stores (Nisa) with the new village leaflet and map.

In the photograph are Neil Mattingly, Phil Tritton, Mary Saunders and Roger Samsom.

The eight-page leaflet is free and available at most outlets in the village including caravan sites and hotels.

A spokesman for the History Society said: “We are hoping that both villagers and visitors are made more aware of what a wonderful historic past Charmouth has.

www.lyme-online.co.uk

“Many of the buildings featured have links with famous people including King Charles II, Jane Austen, Florence Nightingale, Conan Doyle, Rider Haggard, D.K. Chesterton and many more.

“There is a detailed map which supplies a circular route that can be followed from the Heritage Centre.

In the future it will be wonderful if more people are made aware of the Old Village dating back to the 13th century that runs parallel to the beach.”

Although published by Charmouth Local History Society, it is the Charmouth Traders’ Association that has sponsored both the leaflet and map.

QUALIFIED FOOT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL Peter Mellor MCFHP MAFHP Registered Member of The British Association of Foot Health Professionals We provide a friendly and professional service, in the comfort of your own home.

Flexible hours from a visiting practice.

FOR APPOINTMENTS, PLEASE CALL MOBILE NO: 07761 469676

TASTY dishes prepared by Charmouth Scouts for the annual Dorset cooking competition

Scouts serve up some treats THE 1st Charmouth Scout Troop entered two teams in the annual District Scout Cooking Competition. The theme for the event was ‘World Scout Jamborees - past, present and future’.

One team - comprising Annabelle Roberts, Isabella Johnson-Hyde, Annabel Mackenny and Joby Stonex - decided to serve handrolled sushi, as their starter; followed by a ‘Bento box’, containing freshly-made noodles, omelette and teriyaki chicken; plus an enticing Japanese sweet. The Japanese theme was chosen as the 2015 jamboree was held there.

The second team - comprising Minnie and

Frank Harding, Verity Brown and Will Hide chose to reflect that this year’s jamboree is being jointly hosted by Mexico, the USA and Canada, so they served up flatbreads with salsa and guacamole dips, two kinds of sliders (mini burgers) and maple-leaf shaped pancakes, with made-on-the-spot red jam and white cream - all delicately arranged to look like the Canadian flag.

Despite having a number of practice sessions and serving up and presenting food of a very high quality, the troop could not repeat its winning performance of last year. However, everyone enjoyed sampling their food which is always a good sign.

Friday, February 15 2019 9

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Landslip threat to Broad Street

FULL COUNCIL DEBATEON THE COBB GATE PLANNING APPLICATION

L

YME Regis town councillors were unanimous in their opposition to controversial plans to demolish Cobb Gate bungalow on the Marine Parade and replace it with a three-storey house when members of the planning committee warned that it could lead to another major landslide.

This is the full debate at last week’s meeting.

In the public forum Mr Rupert Bicknell, who lives in Monmouth Street, commended the council for recommending refusal of the planning application. He thought the reasons why they refused it were sensible and well thought out and the proper response to the application at that stage.

He continued: “I don’t understand why West Dorset subsequently approved it. I think there is insufficent grounds for West Dorset to overrule the town council’s recommendation and I don’t believe that to be appropriate. I assume that, frankly, the representatives of this council at West Dorset didn’t do a good enough job in putting the points over.

“They don’t seem to have got enough weight or information to West Dorset Council for them to have really understood what they were saying – that it was ok to get on with, it’s not ok it’s a big mistake.

“The so-called assurances are pretty vague and in no way give sufficient substance to the original application and I don’t think they overcome the worry or concern that this council has or of the people who live and work around there.

“The whole project management of this development needs to be set out in greater professional detail. Yes, there is the whole business of holding the rest of the town up the hill and yes, there is the whole business of the amount of water in the ground there and yes, there is the effect on ordinary people passing by and living in Lyme Regis.”

Mr Neil Hamlin, owner of The Alcove, adjacent to the site in question, said he was very concerned about the bungalow if the retaining wall was taken down down and all the soil excavated.

He told the meeting: “I think it could affect our premises quite considerably and I know that Peter Fortnam is very concerned about Seasalt at the back and the flats. It could really start the whole lot moving. We’ve got a massive spring that runs underneath The Alcove through a four inch pipe. At low tide you can see it running out to sea and I’m very worried.

“I’m not concerned if they just take the bungalow down and replace it. I can understand that, but if they take the retaining wall down that runs along the promenade I just think it’s crazy.

“It would affect our business I don’t see how we could operate. There would be noise and pollution and dust. The owner told me that they could put a bridge in over the promenade. They put a bridge in a few years ago when the other property was done further down but nobody liked walking over it so it would affect the trade along the whole of the promenade. That’s my concerns.”

Asked by committee chairman Brian Larcombe what he thought think the impact would be on his trading during the period, Mr Hamlin replied: “Massive, because we have tables and chairs there on the promenade. No one would sit there and I don’t think The Alcove has got background foundations. If they did start piling there, it would shake the place to pieces.”

Mr Ken Gollop commented: “It’s just ridiculous. I’m sure there will be a big legal battle in court over this.”

Mr Guy Ottewell, of 35 Broad Street, said he and his partner, Tilly Lavenas, were on the point of buying number 7 Broad Street on Bell Cliff which was just one house away from the bungalow. They were very concerned that there was instability in the ground, as is very common in Lyme Regis, and that the digging of foundations might affect that.

He added: “We don’t know and we may not be able to get insurance if we buy that house there.”

Another member of the public, Mrs Hazel Read said: “I just feel that they will be digging a lot deeper than they have before with the foundations and nobody knows what the conse-

THE arrow marks the bungalow, built in the 1920s, which will be demolsished to be replaced by a threebedroomed house with the site excavated to the level of the Marine Parade involing the removal of hundreds of tonnes of soi lwhich councillors fear could cause another major landlside quences of that will be and they are risking, like a pack of cards, the whole lot coming down. It’s really frightening.”

Councillor Larcombe said the council remained concerned about the application which had been passed in planning terms as per the national framework, which was principally about the design of the new build rather than the things that surrounded “the doing of it”.

He pointed out that the size of the new build footprint was exactly the same as the site on which it sat so all of their materials and equipment would have to be stored somewhere else.

“We wait with interest to know where the request will ask for that equipment and the materials to be placed.”

Mr Hamlin continued: “He (the owner David Ross) told us he was going to have a compound on the Cart Road.”

Councillor Larcombe: “We’ve been told nothing, these are the things we are concerned about.

We also remain concerned about land stability in Lyme because it is what it is. Unusually there was nothing in the application about plans or intentions for the retention issues. Usually in other applications in the past there has been that kind of detail provided to give us reassurance as a consultee. There is nothing in there about this.

It is arguable that they don’t need to put it in at this stage, but it would be a reassurance that we haven’t had with this application.

“We also need to have resolution of the degree of our influence on activities and events on the Marine Parade. There’s going to be a heavy reliance I suspect on the goodwill of this town council to assist in any way for the storage of materials and access.

“Ultimately we are principally concerned with public access and all that goes with that. Access is not just as far as that property, it’s for the whole of the seafront and we will be interested to see what kind of mitigation they are going to come up with that gives more substance to these two conditions.”

Councillor Cheryl Reynolds: “Can I just interrupt a minute about the compound on the cart road, remembering that we will have nothing to do with that because the cart road belongs to Dorset County Council.”

Councillor Larcombe continued: “Also we have natural concerns about the comings and goings of large vehicles across Cobb Gate car park (although it’s not ours) and the approach roads.

There is an awful lot of spoil that will have to be removed, not just the demolition but the earth that comes out for the amount of digging back to ground level and, as much as there are land sta-

bility issues, there are also water course issues as have been mentioned here.

“There was no mention of that in the application and yet we have seen applications time and time again about dealing with water courses around Lyme Regis. This one didn’t have it.

“We became a little bit concerned, too, about the speed with which this went through; it seemed to be upon us and before we knew where we were they wanted an initial response between our scheduled meetings which was a little unusual. However, we did make the response that you have seen.

“So there is an awful lot more to be done. Conditions 5 and 6 are highly significant and even in design terms we had issues about the fact that there was proposed to be two bedrooms with

‘We all know that half of Broad Street would go and it would be a nightmare. This could be a major disaster’

- Cllr Derek Hallett

windows at eye level to the parade and with a door opening onto it at the narrowest point of the parade.

“The other thing about the build which we need details about - being such a narrow part of the parade - I suspect the scaffolding would actually have to go as far as the Cart Road.

“We also raised concerns about the impact on adjoining businesses and we gave that as part of our concerns.”

Councillor Derek Hallett: “They say there are crazy people on LRTC , there must be a few on WDDC too. Nobody can believe that this has gone through and it is quite amazing, but it has been passed and that is the big problem.

“We are going to need a planning expert just to look at it all and we are talking about a minimum of £2,000 just to make sure we have got everything right in every way. The only place we can take them on is in the High Court; there is nowhere else to go, that’s the only place we can take them on, so we are looking at £15,000 to go to the High Court.

“If we happen to lose, it could probably be

£30,000 as a minimum so that’s the type of money this council would be looking at to take them on, and we should take them on because this is ludicrous. In my time we have had four bad landslips in Lyme and this would be the fifth one. We all know it and we all know that half of Broad Street would go and it would be a nightmare.

“Legally they have done nothing wrong. It has been passed and we can’t undo that. What we’ve got to do is not work with them in any form and take them on wherever we can.

“It’s the narrowest part of the parade where we are only a third owner and with the new authority coming in, I don’t know if we will be half owner or are we still a third, but we only have a part say in what goes on there.

“This could lead to a major disaster.”

Councillor Larcombe: “Sometimes applications come through and we don’t like the look of them or there is something in the design that we don’t like. It is quite legitimate to go back and say it has a negative impact on the street scene, it’s a material consideration in terms of planning.

“So much of this is not actually about planning, it’s the consequences of it - this is the problem.

If you were to take that building and have it located anywhere with no land problems, no access problems - these issues would not exist.

“The fact of the matter is all the consequences of this that concern us. In design terms the roof is within height concerns, design wise it’s not in keeping I would suggest, but really this is all about the consequences of the build and how it is designed and managed and I would suggest that there is a long way to go yet.”

Mr Bicknell was allowed to make a further comment: “ That site is a very unusual site on the south coast. This bungalow was built in the 1920s. It wasn’t wonderful from day one and the new design isn’t wonderful and it’s not a proper reflection of the special quality of the seafront.

I’d mark it four out of ten.”

Councillor Larcombe: “ We don’t always like the applications presented to us, but we have to have the grounds for saying no. I understand your point about the design, we could argue that it’s not entirely in keeping, but I think that a thin argument to be honest.”

Councillor John Broom: “ The planning application has been passed, we cannot go back on it, we have to fight it purely on project management and how it can be done and, if necessary, we will have to take them to court to stop it.”

Councillor Larcombe asked the deputy town clerk, Mark Green, to correspond with the planning officer concerned to make sure that on conditions 5 and 6 the council was given as much detail as it could be provided with.

Councillor Larcombe: “The means by which they arrive at their decision is not ours to question. We have had the input of a ward member (if Councillor Reynolds had not been on holiday it would have been two) and that ward member (Daryl Turner) is called upon to offer exactly the views that you people would wish to make. We don’t know what was said.

Councillor Reynolds . “They would have approved it under national policy planning framework.

Councillor Larcombe: “ They probably had no choice because it met the criteria.”

Councillor Hallett: “The reason that we got the eastern coast protection work was because without it Charmouth Road would have been gone within 50 years. If this goes through, Broad Street is in danger of slipping as well.”

Councillor Larcombe: “I think our response covered those concerns. We couldn’t have spelled out our concerns about land stability issues and the absence of any information about the retaining structure any more than we did.

They have still got to look at the conditions and make sure that they reach the regulatory requirements.”

Councillor Reynolds: “ That’s the problem because every time we recommend refusal it goes to Fred Horsington, chairman of WDDC planning committeee, , and Nigel Bunday, vice chairman, and they ask the two ward members what they think. I usually agree with the town council because I am on the planning committee, but if

Continued on page 10

10 Friday, February 15 2019

Councillors unite to fight seafront house approval ■ FROM PAGE 9 Councillors Horsington, Bunday and Turner vote against me, then it’s three to one. The whole thing that nobody understands is when something is refused by us, it is those four people who decide whether it should go to committee and that is the end of it.”

Councillor Larcombe: “A big sway on this is the individual views of the planning officers. As a council we often see a different take from different planning officers on what they see as acceptable. One officer will comment in a way that others don’t, so it is a very individual thing but they would argue they are professionals and that is their job.

“It’s a bit frustrating because Lyme is covered by an ANOB but buildings go up that you wouldn’t expect to see go up.

“The conditions are the best way in which the plan is looked at again, but it won’t be looked at from a planning permission point of view it will be a discussion between the owner and the costs and the mitigation measures needed for land stability, water courses and everything that accompanies it and that is going to be fairly substantial.”

Councillor Reynolds: “Also what we have to remember when the new Dorset council comes in instead of having six planning committees we will only have three so we need someone on our Dorset council willing to stick up for Lyme Regis.”

Tilly Lavenas: “Is it possible to make it so expensive for them, with all the concessions they will need?

Councillor Larcombe: “ No, we can’t do that because as planning committee members we cannot impede unnecessarily when people want to build. We can only ask questions about it.

Ms Lavenas: “It’s such an expensive project, what happens if they run out of money so it would just sit there as an empty property?”

Councillor Larcombe: “That’s the applicant’s problem. We have plenty of properties around the town where the owners have neglected them or left them in a state of partial ruin.”

The Mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis: “Can I just reiterate it has been passed. There is nothing we as a council can do about that. All we can do is wait until we get correspondence from the owners, asking about things than can be done on the seafront. Until we get that letter this council cannot do anything about making a decision.

It’s absolutely wrong the way this has gone through so quickly and, in effect, missed our cycle because it came in late and we missed being able to speak on it.”

Mr Green: “The final paragraph of the report suggests that it might be appropriate to arrange a meeting with the applicant’s agent. If members are happy then I will go ahead and do that so that we have the opportunity of a direct discussion.

If it is possible to arrange that meeting between us and the applicant, we might be able to get the planning officer to be there as well because there are things the planning officer needs to hear about our concerns.”

Councillor Reynolds: “The building regulations will be nothing to do with them. That’s completely separate. All we can do, as Michaela said, is wait for them to come to us.”

Councillor Larcombe: “I would like to think that we could have some form of dialogue or correspondence with the people who will be looking at the retaining structures because we have an interest in the access and I don’t want that debate to be simply with the agent.”

Councillor Ellis: “It comes through us. They need to know what sort of structure they are going to need to do it, like the others further along did. We need to have sight of all that before we can make a decision.

“We have a huge responsibility to traders, visitors, the local public and the emergency services. It’s critical to be able to get vehicles along there if they have a compound down on the Cart Road. It was really, really tight last time.

Councillors discussed whether to seek a meeting with the applicant and his architect which prompted Ken Gollop to advise: “ I think you should wait until he comes to you. It’s a done deal.”

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LymeOnline letters Send your letters to francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

GET INVOLVE WITH YO D COMMU UR NITY PAPER

Dogs on the beach: be fair to everyone ■ IT’S funny isn’t it how some people just ‘react’ when something happens, they see, they hear, etc., without actually stopping to weigh up the ‘whole’ picture.

I came to Lyme three years ago and since arriving have purchased a dog. I knew from the start that I had responsibilities for that dog, just like a parent should have for a child. I have to say, I have been pretty appalled by the amount of dog poo that is seen on the beach and surrounding streets of the town.

I have been equally appalled by the amount of litter I see both adults and children just leave on the beach, not to mention beer cans and bottles.

I don’t think it is very helpful at all when I read that a local councillor has made such reactionary comments. It doesn’t help and it is certainly not professional. One would hope that someone in that position would be able to put a little more perspective on the situation.

Personally, I am all about what is fair for ev-

A very happy family after Bird’s Eye View ■THE whole of our family wish to thank all at LymeOnline, Richard Austin, Ken and Joan Gollop and all the staff that prepared the Woodmead Hall Community Centre and all the hard work that went on behind the scene such as advertising, posters, and all the newspaper coverage that happened prior to the Bird’s Eye View slide show.

The attendance was incredible and really took me back. All that was done made our family very happy and grateful.

We hope everyone enjoyed the time and effort that made the slideshow such a success as much as we did....and tea and biscuits.

Thank you.

Rob Wheeler AN out of reach ammonite fossil is tormenting fossil collectors who can only stare and wonder how to get it out of the cliff face.

David Attenborough described the World Heritage Site cliffs along the West Dorset coast as “The best place in the world to find fossils.”

This week in Lyme Regis a tempting ammonite fossil the size of a football has been spotted high-up under a large jutting piece of blue lias rock in a very precarious position.

It could be worth up to £1,000 or more.

To get to the fossilised crustacean it would mean a life-threatening descent from the top or ascent from the bottom of the cliff, a very dangerous process for any fossil collector on a very unstable cliff face where rocks fall constantly.

Each year tens of thousands of fossil hunters wander the beach at Lyme and Charmouth looking for fossils from overnight clill falls, the sight of an ammonite so visible and tantalisingly close is frustrating to all who see it.

The fossil could drop tomorrow or in a few years, the visibility of the ammonite could become a ‘must do’ for people who will have an unusual view of how fossils are embedded at a certain level of the cliff face.

Ammonites in this part of the cliffs are between 190-195 million-yearsold.

eryone and to suggest a total ban for dogs on beaches is definitely not fair. There are enough beaches in Lyme for everyone. The sandy beach/main beach is possibly a consideration for a dog-free zone or dogs on-leadszone. That way, families could be seen to have the security of knowing that their children, families, friends etc., could roam free, swim, wander without the worry of running into a dog. And if a dog should poo and the owner not pick up, they should be approached and if necessary reported.

It would help if the council supplied a few dog bags at strategic points, like the ones that were supplied in Monmouth Street in the summer. I sincerely hope this will happen again, as there was a noticeable difference in the park area.

This should be about putting in place avoidance strategies, before a problem arises, and when it does arise, it should be acted on immediately to prevent a reoccurrence.

If fines need to be imposed on irresponsible

Congratulations on paper’s first year ■ JUST to congratulate LymeOnline on your first year as a new community paper.

It has been a hard year for all of us and hopefully we will all continue to make improvements in our lives and our community.

The paper is a real means of communication for a town like ours and I wish you every success in 2019.

Cheryl Reynolds

people, then so be it. They won’t do it twice.

The vast majority of dog owners in Lyme are in my opinion, very responsible. We should not be punishing everyone for one incident.

That incident and its owner need to be approached and the situation discussed, with appropriate actions taken.

I would say the same about any situation or occurrence that is not deemed acceptable to the majority. Communication is the answer to everything and I say that as someone who has been in a position of authority, managing both adults and children. There must be rules and discipline, but above all there must be respect.

A respect for people, our environment and our beloved animals. Those things come in time and from the way you ‘communicate’ with people.

As I said in the beginning, there has to be a sense of fairness for everyone.

Susan Walker by email

Dog ban will turn Lyme into a sleepy backwater ■ I REFER to Lyme Online letters, February 1 concerning dogs on the beach Yes dogs are everywhere in Lyme, and very therapeutic it is to see them having a great time on the beach They get their owners out rain or shine socialising, eating, drinking, supporting local business and, at the same time, greatly improving their own general heath and well-being and taking the strain off the NHS. "Ban dogs in their entirety from both the beach and adjacent roads”!

Yes, lets send all those dirty dog owning tourists with their fat wallets somewhere else and make local dog owners get into their cars and drive to a more welcoming town. Maybe they would keep on driving. I know we would.

“Its high time there was a total ban on all dogs being allowed on any beach in Lyme including the church grounds”.

Yes, let’s turn Lyme Regis into a sleepy backwater, a place for a few select people to enjoy the quiet beaches and empty cafes. The kids and gulls might be screaming and probably many local business owners, but not a single woof will be heard.

But seriously, like it or lump it, dogs are the new black and owners like to be out with them.

Most local businesses recognise and accommodate this as it makes sound business sense The majority of dog owners are responsible people who just want their dogs to enjoy the beach every day, so why not keep the present restrictions in place but make the sandy main beach (only) dog free all year round from 106pm?

Anna Price By email

Dog friendly makes Lyme a more attractive town

Photo and words by Richard Austin

■ I HAVE been living in Lyme Regis for two years and am a dog owner and lover.

Personally I would prefer to see dogs running around enjoying themselves than a bunch of screaming kids. But I can’t see banning kids from the dog beach going anywhere!

However, banning dogs on all beaches is going too far, so I feel there needs to be somewhere for both people with kids and people with dogs to enjoy their time in Lyme.

I propose dogs be banned from the main beach and allowed on all other beaches all year round.

Lyme Regis relies on tourism and being dog friendly makes it a much more welcoming and attractive place to visit and to live.

David Morton By email

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LymeOnline 1st Anniversary Special

TWELVE MONTHS OF HEADLINES

Friday, February 15 2019 11

12 Friday, February 15 2019

TWELVE MONTHS OF HEADLINES Celebrating LymeOnline’s first anniversary IT’S been a busy first year for LymeOnline.

For a small, seaside town Lyme Regis punches well above its weight and is never short of news - from festivals and fetes to new businesses opening and council debates. Here we look back at some of the top stories and events covered by LymeOnline over the past 12 months.

www.lyme-online.co.uk

LymeOnline 1st Anniversary Special THE lengthy debate over a proposed pedestrian crossing in Lyme Regis was already underway when LymeOnline launched in February 2018.

Town councillors had just approved Dorset County Council’s plans for the puffin crossing, despite concerns it would result in traffic congestion and a loss of parking spaces.

Little did we know that it would be almost another year of going back ■ LYME Regis Pantomime Society hosted its annual production at and forth before the crossing re- the Woodmead Halls for the first time, winning rave reviews from audiences for its take on the classic fairytale ‘Sleeping Beauty’. ceived its final approval.

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THERE were no signs of spring as Lyme Regis was blanketed in snow for the first week of March 2018. The Beast from the East brought Lyme to a standstill as temperatures plunged to -9 degrees and the town was completely cut off. With schools and several businesses closed, residents made the most of the weather, sledging, building snowmen and even an igloo, and skiing down the high street!

MARCH 2018 ■ TRENDY café bar SWIM opened its doors for the first time.

The seafront business was one of the success stories of 2018, proving hugely popular with locals and vistors, and with owners opening a second bar in West Bay, named Rise, later in the year.

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LYME Regis celebrated Easter with its traditional bonnet parade.

A huge number of entrants of all ages turned out for the 20th annual event, which took on a Peter Rabbit theme, and crowds lined Broad Street to cheer them on.

The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, is pictured at the event with husband Alan and their new grandson Reuben, who also proved a hit at Councillor Ellis’ civic night, held later that month.

RESIDENTS of Lyme Regis Community Land Trust’s first development celebrated after moving into their new homes. All 15 affordable units of the Garmans Field development were allocated to individuals and young families with a connection to Lyme.

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COUNCILLOR Michaela Ellis was officially invested as Mayor of Lyme Regis for the second year running.

The traditional mayor making ceremony took place in the Guildhall, which was packed with fellow councillors’ and Michaela’s friends and family.

LYME Regis joined the national celebrations for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with events, screenings and parties held in venues across the town, including at Lyme Regis Football Club and the Marine Theatre.

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■ JUNE 2018 proved a difficult month for Lyme Regis Town Council, starting with refusal of its application to continue using land off Sidmouth Road as a park and ride.

Ice cream tricycle trader Marie Amesbury pointed the finger at councillors, having claimed she had been harassed, stalked and threatened because the council had not made it clear she was trading legally.

The council also received public backlash after putting forward a proposal to ban all major events and festivals from taking place during the peak summer months, which was later turned down after outcry from residents and event organisers.

■ A SOGGY start with rain and high winds turned into a sunny spectacular for Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week.

Huge crowds turned out for the week’s events, which included a display by the Red Devils parachute team, the traditional bathtub race, tug o’ war across the harbour mouth and yard of ale at the Cobb Arms.

IT was announced that the Red Arrows would not be appearing in Lyme Regis in summer 2018 - the first time the town was not included on their programme for more than 40 years.

■

APRIL 2018 ■ LYME mourned the loss of former town crier Richard Fox MBE, who died aged 78 in Portugal, where he had lived in his later years.

Mr Fox (pictured left) was a former landlord of the Cobb Arms. He became a world champion town crier and was instrumental in the twinning between Lyme Regis and St George’s, Bermuda, receiving the MBE for services to tourism.

■ THE town council finally gave approval for an improved lifeguard hut on the beach, after its original decision to reject the plans because of its appearance and size sparked a petition from residents.

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

Uplyme councillors opposed Lyme Regis’ application to continue using the land as a park and ride, saying the town council had overlooked the support and advice offered by East Devon District Council.

They also said Lyme Regis Town Council had been unwilling to collaborate and consult on the matter - claims which some town councillors said were not true.

■

LYME Regis FEBRUARY 2018 declared a war on waste in February 2018, with the town council giving its official backing to plans to become a ‘plastic free’ town.

Eco-group Turn Lyme Green fronted the campaign, creating a new Plastic Free Lyme Regis steering group with the aim of receiving the ‘plastic free’ accolade from Surfers Against Sewage - the leading organisation in the national drive to reduce plastic waste ending up in our seas which they received in June.

■

MAY 2018 ■ MEMBERS of Lyme Regis Bowls Club warned town councillors that the sporting facility would close down by 2021 if they did not lower “outrageous” charges for their car parking area.

About 35 club members packed the Guildhall to object to the council’s proposal regarding the club’s lease for its car parking area at Monmouth Beach to charge the club for 12 spaces at full market value, but to negotiate a percentage figure of this if the club was willing to relinquish use of the car park during agreed months.

Negotiations with the bowls club are still continuing today.

■ UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club launched a fundraising campaign to protect the 132-yearold organisation’s future.

The club announced it had to raise at least £4,300 by September to complete the purchase of a roller, an essential piece of equipment to continue running the club.

■ LYME Regis Football Club celebrated as its First Team was promoted to the Premier Division of the Devon & Exeter League - the highest level ■ YOUNG talent stole the show as residents and visitors of Lyme Regis the club has ever played at. enjoyed the annual Guitars On The Beach event. While the event did ■ LYME Regis Gig Club’s men’s veterans became not beat its own record for creating Britain’s biggest band, a full day of the first non-Cornish crew to win a Cornish Pilot Gig Association major championship. live music was held, featuring many of Lyme’s young stars.

■ STUDENTS

launched a campaign to save the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), based at The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, from closure.

The school announced it would be closing the CCF branch after struggling to find enough staff members to run it, but students said they would miss out on valuable life skills and experiences if it closed.

The campaign was not successful in seeing the CCF saved from closure, but did lead to the setting up of a new Army Cadet Force in Lyme Regis, run separately from the school.

JUNE 2018 ■ THE

Pilot Boat reopened its doors after a complete refurbishment carried out by Palmers Brewery and proved an instant hit, with new licensees Robin and Angela Collyns welcoming patrons along with their son Ben.

■ PLANS to future-proof the hisJULY 2018 toric Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis took a step forward, as West Dorset District Council agreed to invest £1million in the scheme.

The council’s Strategy Committee agreed to contribute £1million towards the £2.3million total cost of Phase V of the Lyme Regis Environmental Improvements Scheme, which will focus on the Cobb.

■ LYME Regis mourned the death of Diana Shervington, aged 99, a popular character in the town known as a direct descendant of author Jane Austen.

Her grandmothers, Louisa and Elizabeth, were sisters, and granddaughters of Edward, Jane Austen’s brother.

At age 15, Diana inherited a collection of Jane’s personal items, starting a life-long interest in the life and work of the author.

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Friday, February 15 2019 13

LymeOnline 1st Anniversary Special

■ AUGUST was a busy month for special events in Lyme Regis, starting with the 70th anniversary of Regatta & Carnival Week, which saw families enjoying a busy programme of seaside activities.

Lyme Regis Town Council hosted its first ‘I Love Lyme Day’, making up for the absence of the Red Arrows with other aerobatic displays and events.

The summer came to a close with a bumper Bank Holiday weekend, which saw the football club host its popular Sausage & Cider Festival, and the return of Candles On The Cobb, organised by the Rotary Club for the first time.

■ TOWN councillors gave their initial support for a statue of famous fossil hunter Mary Anning to be erected in Lyme Regis.

The suggestion of erecting a statue of Mary Anning was raised on social media, winning the support of several residents, and has been taken forward by town councillor Cheryl Reynolds.

■ POURING rain failed to dampen spirits in Lyme Regis as The Rifles exercised their right to march through the town.

The county regiment marched through the town as part of commemorations to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War and for the rededication of the town’s war memorial.

AUGUST 2018 ■ GCSE and A-level students from the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis celebrated another year of excellent exam results.

At A-level the overall pass rate was 99.6 per cent and a GCSE 78 per cent gained more than five standard passes, despite major changes to the examand grading process.

■ UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club announced that a successful fundraising campaign had saved the sporting organisation from closure, but members turned their attention to another issue - a lack of players, which had resulted in the club being unable to field its second team and being docked precious points.

LOCAL journalist, fundraiser and former Mayor of Lyme Regis, Philip Evans, was awarded the MBE for his contributions to the community of Lyme Regis and charitable work. He was presented with the award by Prince William at Buckingham Palace.

■

A SUCCESSFUL year of fundraising at Lyme Regis Golf Club resulted in a cheque for more than £20,000 being presented to club captain Lee Caddy’s chosen charity of the year, the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust at Dorset County Hospital.

■

■ RECORD crowds were seen at Remembrance commemorations in Lyme Regis, which included the unique Pages of the Sea event on the beach, as well as the annual parade and church service. The events marked 100 years since the end of the First World War.

■ LYME Regis resident Clive Juster who was editor of the popular ‘Mr Benn’ children’s television series - received the Special Award at the British Academy Children’s Awards one of the highest honours from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

THE headteacher of The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, Dr Richard Steward, announced he would be retiring at the end of the academic year.

In a letter to parents, Dr Steward said that one of the reasons he had chosen to retire early was due to a “lack of support” they had shown during his time at the school.

IT was announced in NOVEMBER 2018 November 2018 that the Red Arrows would not appear in Lyme Regis in summer 2019.

The news came as a bitter disappointment to organisers of the Red Arrows display, as the aerobatic team had not appeared in summer 2018 either, the first time the town had not been included on its programme for more than 40 years.

The RAF said the Arrows would be unable to give a display in Lyme Regis in 2019 as they were embarking on a tour of the USA instead and would only be appearing at UK airshows.

■

■ RESIDENTS

and visitors of Charmouth celebrated the festive season with the annual Christmas Day swim.

Hundreds bravely dashed into the sea on Christmas morning, watched by a huge crowd of spectators. The annual event raised funds for the RNLI.

LYME Regis glittered gold and white as the 2018 Christmas lights display was unveiled in December. The lights were switched on with the usual celebrations, including a children’s lantern making workshop and competition, followed by a parade down Broad Street.

■

proposed pedestrian crossing for Broad Street, Lyme Regis, was given final approval after months of going back and forth.

Highways officers recommended refusal of the crossing, but Dorset County Council’s Regulatory Committee dismissed concerns over loss of parking and pushed it forward.

Lyme Regis Town Council then formally retracted its support for the scheme just before Christmas, despite pleas from elderly and disabled residents who said it was needed for safety reasons. But it was announced in January 2019 that the county council’s cabinet had given the crossing final approval.

LYME Folk Weekend 2018 was declared “the best ever” by organisers after three days of music, dancing and other activities all around the town.

The festival included three sellout headline shows at the Marine Theatre.

■

OCTOBER 2018

■ TOWN councillors were warned over “unacceptable behaviour” after an argument which stemmed from the teen shelter in Anning Road playing field escalated into a huge row on social media.

Town clerk John Wright warned councillors that personal disputes were bringing the council into disrepute and the mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis, was forced to write to all members warning them about their behaviour on social media and asking them to “respect each other”.

The argument started after local fire chief Virgil Turner reported that his young son had found drugs at the teen shelter. He said he was then accused by his sister, town and district councillor Cheryl Reynolds, of planting the drugs himself to further his case for the shelter to be removed. He also accused Councillor Reynolds of using a racist term in a council meeting.

Councillor Reynolds admitted to using inappropriate langugae and said she had apologised, but denied accusing her brother of planting the drugs.

■ THE

SEPTEMBER 2018

■ IT was announced that Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week had set an all-time record with a final total of £34,765 raised for the RNLI. Members of the organising group, the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, along with lifeboat crew members, were told that donations during the week were £5,693 up on donations last year.

The RNLI’s funds were further boosted in September when chef Mark Hix hosted his sixth Food Rocks festival on the seafront.

■

HAVING closed down in November, it was finally confirmed that the Rock Point Inn in Lyme Regis had been purchased by St Austell Brewery, based in Cornwall, with plans for a full renovation before reopening.

JANUARY 2019 THE town council appealed to West Dorset to reconsider its policies regarding dogs on the beach in Lyme Regis.

Members of the Town Management & Highways Committee agreed they should write to the district council, requesting reconsideration of the policy that allows dogs on the town’s main beach without leads between October and the end of April.

The request followed news that a 12-yearold boy was bitten by a dog while playing on the sandy beach in December.

■

■ NEW Year’s Day in Lyme Regis was busier than ever with huge crowds turning out for the annual duck race and Lyme Lunge swim, organised by the Rotary Club.

DECEMBER 2018 ■

14 Friday, February 15 2019

LymeOnline 1st Anniversary Special

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Why Lyme needs a newspaper S

By GEOFF BAKER EVENTY years ago when newspapers and the BBC were all in black and white, the TV cameras were sent to Lyme to film a remarkable birth - of a local newspaper.

Such was the occasion that R.F. Delderfield, the great English novelist who wrote To Serve Them All My Days and A Horseman Riding By, was asked by the BBC to appear in the newsreel report of the first edition of The Clarion coming off the printing press.

Delderfield was invited to take part because he also wrote All Over The Town, his first novel, published in 1947, which tells the story of a reporter returning from the war to run a local newspaper, also called The Clarion.

Two years after Delderfield’s book came out, Pinewood Films made a movie about it, which was set in Lyme and co-starred a young Bryan Forbes and, as it happens, my Mum – briefly seen walking up Bridge Street.

Anyway, the reason why the BBC made this newsreel was because this new Lyme paper was being produced by just one man and that, TV chiefs judged, was remarkable.

Seventy years on, when Lyme Online was launched a year ago, a few of us contacted the BBC and said, “Oi, just to tip you off, it’s happening again, only this time the newspaper is being produced by just one woman”.

Now you would have thought that in this day and age, when the New Feminism is so strident that it is almost an evangelist religion, that BBC Spotlight would have sent a camera crew here to film Chezzie Evans at work in her green eyeshade, because her achievement is no less remarkable than was the story of The Clarion seven decades ago.

But nobody came from the BBC, Spotlight wasn’t interested.

Maybe they had a cat running the newsdesk that day and it couldn’t see the story: that at a time when local newspapers are closing all over Britain, one young woman was bucking the depressing trend and bravely maintaining a fine tradition to provide an important service.

Perhaps if Chezzie had launched a one-woman Facebook page, TV cameras would be clattering all over the place in a fever to cover the story. Such are the sad times that we live in.

But, and not for the first time, the BBC missed the story. And that’s a shame because what Chezzie has done, and is continuing to do, deserves celebration; her Lyme Online is a triumph of spirit-breaking hard work, dogged determination, sheer talent and probably some tears.

And we should thank her for it, because this town, like any town, needs a local newspaper, it provides a heart for the community, it tells us what’s going on. Without it, we would all be in the dark regarding so much.

We wouldn’t know what the

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Editor Francesca Evans pictured with her first issue of LymeOnline surrounded by old hacks (from the left) Tim Dixon, Geoff Baker, Philip Evans and Richard Austin

town council is spending our money on, we wouldn’t know about the rows in the Guildhall, we wouldn’t know about the pelican crossing debate, nor about the risk of dog bites on the beach, nor about road closures

Thanks to all our readers and advertisers for your support during our first year! lyme-online.co.uk/support-us

and pub closures, nor what on earth is going on with the cinema.

There is so much we would not have a clue about our own community if it was not for Chezzie’s newspaper. Yes, I’m sure the self-appointed citizen journalists would report some of it, badlywritten and appallingly-spelled on Facebook. But local newspapers provide so much more than the puerile tittle tattle of the “community” posts of social media, they provide the long view, the in-depth story, the story behind the story, and, unlike the gossip of digital forums, what they tell us is researched, fact-checked, balanced and is not hysterical.

Yes, I know that her Mum and Dad have a hand in the production of LymeOnline, but in the main it is Chezzie’s handiwork that benefits this town and we should be grateful for it keeping us in the know.

And although they said it wouldn’t last, it has, and if I had half a quid I’d bet that LymeOnline will run and run and in 70 years’ time it will still be running, because although social media is the new big thing, nothing beats a local newspaper for telling us what’s really going on - all over the town.

To keep a local newspaper going for a year, pretty much on your tod, is something to be hugely proud of. It’s been a proud year for the entire Evans family, one that has seen one of them receive the MBE for sterling service to the community and journalism.

It wasn’t Chezzie, but I like to think that MBE stands for another accolade in her case – Magnificent Bloody Effort.

Well done Chez, you do us proud.

DON’T FORGET OUR WEBSITE! ● WHILE it may be the first anniversary of the printed edition of LymeOnline, our popular news website turned one a month ago. ● The LymeOnline website went live for the first time on January 26 2018 having been constructed in just two weeks. Since then, more than 58,000 people have visited our website almost 137,000 times! ● We've uploaded almost 1,400 articles to the website since it launched. The most read article of the year was a story on Woodroffe School headteacher Richard Steward’s announcement that he was retiring, published in January 2019, which was read a total of 2,467 times. ● The busiest day on the LymeOnline website was November 2nd 2018, when 1,171 of you visited a total of 1,398 times in 24 hours. Most were clicking online to read our report on an explosive council fall-out over the Anning Road teen shelter, read a total of 1,016 times. ● Ninety-three per cent of our traffic has come from the UK but the LymeOnline website has also been read across the world - in the US, Spain, Australia, Peru, France, India, Canada, Ireland and Belgium, to name just a few!

TOP 10 ONLINE STORIES

1 refuse to payout leaving Uplyme family 22,291toInsurers rebuild fire-stricken home - March 2018, read times No Red Arrows for Lyme Regis this summer 3 March 2018, read 2,193 times seen it this bad before’ - a blog by Philip 4read‘Never Evans during the heavy snowfall of March 2018, 2,092 times High spirits at The Rifles march through Lyme 5 Regis - Septenber 2018, read 1,770 times Architects work on third proposal for Regent 6 Cinema rebuild - March 2018, read 1,635 times Man fell into River Lim after bridge scaffolding 7 tampered with - August 2018, read 1,626 times Ambitious plans for seafront restaurant - an revealing plans for SWIM, published in 8 article January 2018, read 1,207 times Child injured by dog on Lyme Regis beach 2018, read 1,151 times 9 December Lyme’s major festivals could be banned during 10 peak season - June 2018, read 1,101 times Woodroffe head to retire amid ‘lack of support’ from parents - January 2019, read 2,467 times

Friday, February 15 2019 15

www.lyme-online.co.uk

MARI NE TH EATRE E LYM E REGI S

A STAR IS BORN

WILDE WE EDNESDAYS: LADY WIN NDERMERE’’’S FAN

Friday 15 Febr uar y | £5 advaance

Wednesday W ednesday 27 Febr uar y | £5 ~ £11 advance

QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE

Thursday 21 Febr uar y | £14 advance

LYME REGIS COME EDY CLUB WITH CARL DONEL LLY Friday 22 Febr uar y | £8 advaance BOOKING FEE MAY APPLY 10% OFF FOR THEATRE FRIENDS

MARINETHEATRE.COM

=

ROB NEW WMAN: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF O DESCARTES Saturday 2 Marrch | £14 advance

AMY MAYE ES BAND

Saturday 9 Marrch | £8 advance

TICKETS ONLINE MARINETHEATRE.COM LYME REGIS S TOURIST INFORMATION 01297 442138 BRIDPORT T TOURIST INFORMATION

timeoutinLyme

16 Friday, February 15 2019

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Tuesday night at the movies for the locals

E

VERY Tuesday fortnight from March, the inhabitants of Lyme Regis will be sharing classic Hollywood films in the congenial surroundings of the town’s current cinema, the Marine Theatre.

This strand, called Tuesday Night at the Movies, has been specially created for local people, who prefer their films displayed on a huge screen in a darkened auditorium with rows full of cheering, crying or laughing neighbours with a drink or ice cream in their hand.

The event is the creation of film historian and Lyme local Karol Kulik who enlisted the help of David Johnson, once manager of the Regent Cinema and leading light of the Lyme Regis Film Society.

The films have been chosen

from the results of a questionnaire.

The 12 films that ranked highest in the poll will be screened. The two earliest, from 1940, derive from just published novels: Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca is based on Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel and John Ford’s version of The Grapes of Wrath, by Steinbeck.

The most recent film is award-winning The Piano from 1993, starring Holly Hunter as a mute Scot arriving in New Zealand with piano and daughter in tow to face an arranged marriage, directed by Jane Campion from her original screenplay.

The 53 years in between will bring to the Marine audience popular historical pictures like Tom Jones and A Man for All Seasons, thrillers like The Third Man and Vertigo and musical or comedy clas-

sics like Cabaret and Some Like It Hot. The season’s two openers have special resonance. Blade Runner (1982), being screened on 12 March, was a “sleeper”, gaining in popularity as the years progressed (and then lauded again after its recent sequel).

This Ridley Scott loose adaptation of a Philip K. Dick novel derives its relevance to us from its “futuristic” setting in a dystopian Los Angeles of 2019. Here’s a great chance for Lyme audiences to weigh up its predictions.

Alternate Tuesday nights from March 12 bar opens at 6.30pm with the film starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 in advance or £6.50 on the door, with 10% off for Theatre Friends and U3A members.

HARRISON FORD in Bladerunner - coming to The Marine Theatre soon

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

timeoutinLyme

Friday, February 15 2019 17

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

What’s on...

Friday, February 15

Friday @ The Pilot The Pilot Boat, 9pm Weekly live music nights at the Pilot Boat.

Saturday, February 16

Live Music: Streisand Marine Theatre, 6.30pm The iconic sound of a legend in music and film is brought to life in this brand new production touring the UK. Tickets £17 in advance or £21 on the door call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com.

Bar opens 6.30pm for 7.30pm start.

Live DJs @ SWIM SWIM, 8pm Resident DJs Tom Juno, James Baker & Friends play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at SWIM on Marine Parade.

Sunday, February 17

SAM KELLY with his “Station House” line-up, shortly to appear at the Marine Theatre

Cherished Blues musician brings his band to Lyme SAM Kelly is a musician with more than 40 years in the business.

His “Station House” band has been featuring on the UK music scene for many years, and has just announced a concert at Lyme Regis’ Marine Theatre.

Originating from London’s “Station Tavern” in the early nineties, Station House was formed from the concept of a blues band, mixing funk and soul rhythms with the diversity of the blues. Founder members Sam Kelly, TJ Johnson and Dave Clark were joined by lead singer, Root Jackson. The band held a monthly residency at the Station Tavern for more than a decade.

Fast forward to 2009 when Sam relaunched the band, boasting a new line up featuring Paul Jobson (keys, vocals) and Jerome Mar-

cus (percussion). In 2016, a third “lead singer”, Rowena Poole, joined to work at venues and festivals all over Europe..

Station House’s musical catalogue includes Keb Mo, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and Little Feat. The band’s sound is influenced by soul, jazz, calypso, reggae and British funk.

With three ‘lead’ singers supported by percussionist and an internationally acclaimed drummer, the result is an eclectic fusion of music with its roots firmly based in the blues.

SAM KELLY’S STATION HOUSE | FRIDAY 15 MARCH £8 advance / £10 on the door. 10% off for Theatre Friends Bar opens 7 P.M., Starts 8 P.M.

Award-winning folk duo Play In Lyme ■ KATHRYN Roberts and Sean Lakeman have announced a seaside concert at Lyme Regis’s Marine Theatre.

The Dartmoor-based husband and wife have twice won the Best Duo title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2016 and 2013). Over two decades, they have never been trapped in a groove – they are always bold and innovative, mixing traditional song arrangements with self-penned material which reels from the bitter to the sweet, the wry to the sad, and the political to the passive.

The gig is part of a tour to release ‘Personae’, their fifth studio album. It is an eclectic emotional journey, melding ten tracks of traditional ballads alongside their own songs..

Sunday Craft Market The Pilot Boat, 10am A weekly Sunday craft market at the Pilot Boat Inn, Lyme Regis. Call 01297 443157 to book a stall.

Live DJs @ SWIM SWIM, 12noon Resident DJs Tom Juno, James Baker & Friends play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at SWIM on Marine Parade.

Sequence Dancing Woodmead Halls, 8pm Lyme Regis Sequence Dancing Club meets every Sunday at 7.45pm for an 8pm start. The friendly, welcoming group enjoys popular sequence dances and visitors are welcome.

Monday, February 18

Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support Drop-In Lyme Regis Football Club, 2pm Free drop-in session in support of local people living through cancer. Come along for a supportive chat, meet the team and hear about activities and therapies available.

Wednesday, February 20

LRTC Human Resources Guildhall, 7pm Council meetings are open to the public (except for items under Exempt Business) and members of the public can speak for three minutes each at the beginning of each meeting on items relating to the agenda. For agendas see www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk

Thursday, February 21

Theatre: ‘Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope’ Marine Theatre, 7pm West End actor Mark Farrelly stars in this hit play exploring the life of an icon. Tickets £14 in advance or £16 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com to book. Bar opens 7pm for 8pm start.

Live Music @ SWIM SWIM, 7.30pm Live music every Thursday night at SWIM on Marine Parade, this week with the Joanna Cooke Duo laying soul, jazz and acoustic pop.

Lyme Regis Community Bingo Woodmead Halls, 8pm Bingo night every Thursday at the Woodmead Halls, raising funds for local organisations which are members of Lyme Regis Community Bingo Association.

Pilot Boat Quiz Night Pilot Boat, 8pm Weekly quiz night at the Pilot Boat for teams of two or more with cash prize for the winner plus £100 jackpot prize!

Friday, February 22

“It’s folk music for the modern age.” – The Telegraph – London ‘These guys are something very special’ – Acoustic Magazine KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN | SATURDAY 16 MARCH £14.50 advance / £17 on the door.

10% off for Theatre Friends.

Lyme Regis Comedy Club Marine Theatre, 7pm This month’s headliner Carl Donelly has won a host of awards including Chortle Best Club Comedian 2017 and Chortle Best Newcomer. Two other comedians are on the bill along with resident compere Tom Glover. Tickets £8 in advance or £10 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com to book. Bar opens 7pm for 8pm start.

Friday @ The Pilot The Pilot Boat, 9pm Weekly live music nights at the Pilot Boat.

Saturday, February 23

Live DJs @ SWIM SWIM, 8pm Resident DJs Tom Juno, James Baker & Friends play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at

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

SWIM on Marine Parade.

Sunday, February 24

Sunday Craft Market The Pilot Boat, 10am A weekly Sunday craft market at the Pilot Boat Inn, Lyme Regis. Call 01297 443157 to book a stall.

Live DJs @ SWIM SWIM, 12noon Resident DJs Tom Juno, James Baker & Friends play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at SWIM on Marine Parade.

Sunday Lunch Club Lyme Regis Football Club, 12.30pm Regular Sunday Lunch Club at Lyme Regis Football Club. Two course roast dinner available for £8.50 or £4 for children. To book, call Francesca Evans on 07810 221 420.

Jazz in the Bar Marine Theatre, 7pm Singer Heather Wensley guests in the latest in the Marine Theatre’s ‘Jazz in the Bar’ series, exploring Hollywood’s favourite jazz tunes. Tickets £8 in advance or £12 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com. Bar opens 7pm for 8pm start.

Sequence Dancing Woodmead Halls, 8pm Lyme Regis Sequence Dancing Club meets every Sunday at 7.45pm for an 8pm start. The friendly, welcoming group enjoys popular sequence dances and visitors are welcome.

Wednesday, February 27

Wilde Wednesdays: ‘Lady Windemere’s Fan’ Marine Theatre, 6pm Directed by Kathy Burke and starring Jennifer Saunders, this new production of Oscar Wilde’s social comedy was recorded at the Vaudeville Theatre in the heart of the West End, and will be screened at the Marine Theatre. Duration: 130 minutes including interval, certificate PG. Tickets £11 in advance or £14 on the door for adults, and £5 for under 18s – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com. Bar opens 6pm for 7pm start.

LRTC Town Management & Highways, Guildhall, 7pm Council meetings are open to the public (except for items under Exempt Business) and members of the public can speak for three minutes each at the beginning of each meeting on items relating to the agenda. For agendas see www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk

Thursday, February 28

Live Music: Fleetwood Bac Marine Theatre, 7pm Endorsed by Mick Fleetwood, this celebration of the seventies super group is the only one to replicate the ‘Rumours’ line-up. Tickets £19 in advance or £21 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com. Bar opens 7pm for 8pm start.

Live Music @ SWIM SWIM, 7.30pm Live music every Thursday night at SWIM on Marine Parade, this week with Rupierre Le Funk - One Man Disco and Party Classics.

Lyme Regis Community Bingo Woodmead Halls, 8pm Bingo night every Thursday at the Woodmead Halls, raising funds for local organisations which are members of Lyme Regis Community Bingo Association.

Pilot Boat Quiz Night Pilot Boat, 8pm Weekly quiz night at the Pilot Boat for teams of two or more with cash prize for the winner plus £100 jackpot prize!

Friday, March 1

Friday @ The Pilot The Pilot Boat, 9pm Weekly live music nights at the Pilot Boat.

Saturday, March 2

Mexican Night Lyme Regis Football Club, 7pm Mexican theme night with free entry. Chilli, rice and nachos for £4 each, bar open late with tequila specials, fancy dress encouraged!

Live DJs @ SWIM SWIM, 8pm Resident DJs Tom Juno, James Baker & Friends play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at SWIM on Marine Parade.

18 Friday, February 15 2019

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LYME REGIS TOWN COUNCIL Passionate about Lyme?

Here’s your chance to be a community champion A RE you passionate about the community of Lyme Regis? Do you want to help make a difference to local people and services?

If so, you could make a great town councillor and now is the time start thinking about standing for election.

The local elections for both town/parish councils and the new Dorset Council take place on Thursday 2 May and we’re encouraging residents to consider becoming a town councillor.

As a councillor, you can become a champion for the community and make a real change, giving residents a voice on the decisions the council makes.

There are 14 seats on Lyme Regis Town Council and they are all up for grabs in the May election.

We’re looking for people with a range of skills, knowledge and experience to help the council become truly representative of the community it serves.

The services the town council delivers include car parks, public toilets, beach hut hire, the cemetery, two play areas and a playing field, the town bus, and park and ride.

Major projects in this council term have included the refurbishment of Marine Parade toilets, a new skatepark, a new play park at Anning Road playing field, installation of free public wi-fi on the seafront, showers on the beach, and beach wheelchairs.

To stand for election, you must be: ■ a British citizen or a citizen of the Commonwealth or European Union ■ aged 18 or over ■ a Lyme Regis elector; or in the past 12 months occupied land or premises in the area the council serves; or work in the area the

■ We’re also running two open events on Monday 4 March for prospective candidates to find out more about what being a councillor really involves, the election process and the work of the council.

These will be held in the Langmoor Room in the Marine Parade Shelters from 11am to 1pm, and from 6pm to 8pm.

You can also contact the town council office on 01297 445175 or enquiries@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk, or visit www.nalc.gov.uk/elections

council serves; or live within three miles of the town council boundary So what is actually involved in being a town councillor?

Councillors put aside, on average, three hours a week for council work, but it is entirely up to the individual how much time is dedicated to the role.

The job involves attending meetings and events, engaging with residents, speaking on behalf of the council to other bodies, and representing the council at civic functions.

Working as a councillor is entirely voluntary, but members of Lyme Regis Town Council can claim an allowance of £40.75 to cover costs associated with the role.

The term of office is usually four years, but due to the creation of the unitary Dorset Council, the next term of office will be five years.

Still interested in becoming a local councillor? You’ve got until 4pm on Wednesday 3 April to make up your mind and submit your nomination form.

Woodland walk open THE new woodland walk through the seafront gardens is now open to the public.

The external works’ team has created a new path through the wood in the Langmoor and Lister Gardens and we think it’s looking great.

There are still some finishing touches to be made, including new signs, information boards and features to attract more nature, but the pathway itself is complete.

When you’re wandering through, look out for our resident pheasant, who we’ve named Philbert!

THE seafront gardens were lit in an array of colour this week in a sneak preview of an enhancement project we’re working on.

Councillors were given a demonstration of how the Langmoor and Lister Gardens might look when a major new lighting scheme is put in place.

The demonstration was by Lymelight, the team behind the illuminations at Ab-

botsbury Subtropical Gardens. The town council has been awarded funding from West Dorset District Council to help pay for the scheme, which will draw out key features of the gardens and illuminate pathways and points of interest.

The picture shows the statue of Admiral Sir George Somers and the woodland walk lit up and we were all really impressed by how striking it looked.

Film boost for town’s economy CELEB-SPOTTERS may be able to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan when they film a movie in Lyme Regis next month.

The A-listers will star in ‘Ammonite’, a film exploring a fictional romance between palaeontologist Mary Anning and another woman.

Filming will take place over two weeks in March from various locations in Lyme Regis, including Bell Cliff, Monmouth Beach and the Cobb.

The locations will be transformed by elaborate sets and props to resemble life in the 1840s.

This will include building a fake stone wall to hide the bus stop at Bell Cliff, a two-storey fake

Georgian house front to cover a Broad Street shop, and ground coverings to hide tarmac pavements.

Modern additions such as drainpipes, alarms, signs and railings will be temporarily removed or disguised.

The town council is supporting in various ways, including allowing access to our land, reserving parking spaces, and providing rooms for the cast and crew to base themselves during filming.

When the 1981 film, ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’, was filmed in Lyme Regis it had an immeasurable impact on the town and its tourist trade, and it’s hoped this latest blockbuster will provide a similar boost to the local economy.

Helping to keep our fishermen safe

Former beach huts for sale for £50 A DOZEN seafront beach huts will be available to buy next month.

The pastel-coloured huts on the Cart Road will be replaced over the next three years, with the first 12 being delivered in March.

The huts will be taken to Woodmead car park and will be available for £50 each

Lighting up the gardens

from Friday 8 March on a first-come-firstserved basis.

Anyone who would like a hut will need to go to the council office or call 01297 445175 from 9am on 8 March to reserve a hut.

All huts will need to be taken away by Monday 1 April.

WE’RE delighted that local fishermen will this week take delivery of new equipment to help keep them safe at sea.

Lyme Regis Fishermen’s Association has been awarded funding from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to buy 25 jackets with personal locater beacons (PLB).

A PLB is a portable transmitter which is registered to an individual and sends out an emergency distress signal, providing their exact location to rescuers.

A member of the association came to a town council meeting in April last year to ask for the council’s support in its funding application.

We gave our full support, recognising the importance of PLBs in keeping our local fishermen safe and in turn, contributing to a thriving and active harbour.

Each jacket and PLB costs £400, with three-quarters of the funding coming from

the MMO and the remaining £100 being paid by each of the fishermen.

The funding came via West Dorset District Council, and town and district councillor Cheryl Reynolds, applied to the MMO on the fishermen’s behalf.

Grants deadline looms THE deadline is approaching for applications for minor and medium grants from the town council.

Organisations serving the community of Lyme Regis can apply for a minor grant of up to £999 or a medium grant of up to £4,999.

Application forms are available from www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk/grants/home, by emailing admin@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk, or call 01297 445175.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 27 February 2019.

THIS CONTENT IS PROMOTED BY LYME REGIS TOWN COUNCIL

Friday, February 15 2019 19

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1 Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA 01297 443157

Watch the Six Nations rugby matches at The Pilot Saturday 23 February 14.15 France v Scotland Saturday 23 February 16.45 Wales v England Sunday 24 February 15.00 Italy v Ireland Saturday 9 March 14.15 Scotland v Wales

THURSDAYS

Saturday 9 March16.45 England v Italy Sunday 10 March 15.00 Ireland v France Saturday 16 March 12.30 Italy v France Saturday 16 March14.45 Wales V Ireland Saturday 16 March17.00 England v Scotland

FIZZY FRIDAYS

QUIZ NIGHT from 8pm for teams of two and more.

Cash prize for winning team plus £100 JACKPOT PRIZE

Bottle of Prosecco for £15

Get the right start to your day at The Pilot Boat ...

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between 5pm and 9pm

Live Music 9pm to 11.30pm

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Hurry when it’s gone it’s gone!

Don’t miss our Sunday Morning Craft Market - 10 am to 12 noon

20 Friday, February 15 2019

FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

IN JUNE 2004, exactly 60 years after the DDay invasion of France I was sent to Normandy with two reporters from the Western Morning News.

Sailing across on the ferry I was transfixed by all the stories being told in great detail by D-Day veterans, all members of the NVA (Normandy Veterans Association).

The crossing seemed like five minutes, listening to these amazingly brave men re-living their 1944 arrival in Normandy by land, sea and air.

Those stories sent shivers down my spine, thousands were killed, friends and family lost but they were all immensely proud to be survivors of the largest invasion the world has ever known.

My picture shows a group of Parachute Regiment veterans waiting for the arrival of the Prince of Wales at Pegasus Bridge whilst sheltering under the wing of a duplicate Horsa Glider.

Photographing them as they reminisced in the 30 degree heat, I realised that I was photographing history, just a few of the brave men who liberated Europe and lived to tell the tale 60 years later.

This year it will be 75 years since that historic invasion, no doubt there will still be one or two veterans in Normandy with graphic memories of the day the liberation of Europe began.

H

ISTORICALLY reports of sailing ships being ‘lost with all hands’ was a common occurrence. However, it was not until 1824 that the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwrecks was formed.

Just one year later Captain Richard Spencer R.N., C.B., a naval officer residing in Lyme Regis on half pay while awaiting recall to sea, service set about converting a local boat for lifesaving.

It has been suggested that the boat was a 14 foot Lerret, a double-ended clinker boat used for seine netting off the Chesil Beach. It could however have been any four-oared boat, a Lyme stone-boat is another possibility.

Spencer set about making the boat extremely buoyant even when swamped.

He fitted air-tight copper cases enclosed in pine boxes. These were secured under each of

Tales From Lyme’s Past

A glimpse of our history by Peter Lacey the boats (thwarts) seats, two longer versions were fitted externally to either side of the boat. On October 3 1825 Spencer and two brave volunteers rowed out of the Cobb and after removing the bung allowed it to fill with water.

Despite letting the boat broach broadside onto breaking waves, the boat remained upright and fairly stable. Further trials were carried out, with the craft resisting all efforts to capsize it.

Later in the month a larger boat was used with eight men aboard, once again the results were positive. The Dorset Branch of the

R.N.I.P.L.S., recommended that 14 ounce copper be used to make the air cases stronger and that extra cases be fitted to the bow and stern.

A lifeboat inspector confirmed the alterations had been carried out at a cost of £18.4s.

A newspaper report of the September 27 1927 refers to the ‘temporary lifeboat fitted out as recommended by Captain Spencer’. It states the boat with 14 men aboard was rowed to windward of the Cobb and despite being partially waterlogged it returned without mishap.

A boat that could carry that number of men would indicate a length in the region of 18-20 foot with 6-8 oars. It is evidence that Spencer

was carrying out trials with larger sized boats and with increased carrying capacity.

It has not been possible to find any evidence of the ‘temporary lifeboat’ being used to save lives. Apparently the boat, despite earlier positive reports proved to be unsatisfactory, nearly drowning a man when it capsized.

Left to rot. it was eventually broken up and any parts of value sold off by the Coastguard.

It does however illustrate that Lyme, albeit by the efforts of Captain Spencer. was at the forefront of lifeboat development.

Lyme was not to get its first purpose built lifeboat that could self-right until 1853. It was 27 foot Peake-type, eight-oared boat with two pole-mast from which four cornered sails could be hoisted.

The boat cost £137 of which two-thirds was raised locally. The modern R.N.L.I., lifeboats cannot be compared to their 19th century forerunners but owe their development to men like Captain Spencer.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 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 Leonard Broom.

With thanks to Vernon Rattenbury from the Royal British Legion for the research.

LEONARD SAMUEL BROOM Air Mechanic 1st Class, 18th Tent Detachment, Royal Air Force Service No. 84693 b. 1890 - Lyme Regis d. 10 Feb 1919 - France

A 27 foot Peake-type, eight oared boat, similar to Lyme’s first purpose-built lifeboat in 1853

Leonard Broom lived at 27 Sherborne Lane, enlisting Jun 1917. The 18th Tent Detachment, Royal Air Force entered Cologne 6 December 1918 as part of the British occupying force. Leonard died from Pneumonic (inflammation of the Lungs) in France. Husband of Mrs B.F. Broom, he is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany, plot 11.B.2 and is commemorated on the Lyme Regis War Memorials in the Parish Church and in the town.

Friday, February 15 2019 21

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local services CLEANING

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For more information log onto our website: www.lymebayearclinic.co.uk or email: admin@lymebayearclinic.co.uk John Collins GN, OH, MHN, BSC Over 35 years of nursing experience

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To advertise your business in our Local Services section from just £8 per insertion (minimim four week booking) call the LymeOnline office on 01297 442781 or email francesca@lyme-online.co.uk

classifieds&jobs

22 Friday, February 15 2019

ITEMS TO SELL? 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.

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ITEMS FOR SALE / WANTED SHEEPSKIN COAT. Bayliss and Son Ltd, excellenty condition, mediuym size. £40. 01297 443327.ß DOG agility and training kit, as new, £20 - 01297 443915.

DOG COAT, Equafleece, red, small, very good condition, £10 - 01297 443915.

UKULELE with case and tuner, hardly used, £25 -01297 443915.

STANDALONE MIRROR, light pine, as new, £48 - 07768 901 443.

BREAD BIN, glazed earthenware bread crock, large, bargain at £40 - 01297 445243.

PRINT OR ONLINE ADVERTISING?

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We offer the most competitive advertising rates in the local area, and for every advert booked in our printed paper, you’ll receive a FREE advert on our popular website!

LOFT ladder, aluminium, £20 - 01297 445243.

MIRA Excel Thermostatic Shower Mixer, used but in good condition, £25 - 01297 445243.

GUTTERING, drainpipes and fixings, black plastic, large quantity, £25 - 01297 445243.

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HOT PLATE, 60cm x 20cm, cordless Giles & Posner, new in box, £20 - 01297 445243.

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MIRROR, contemporary natural solid oak frame wall mirror, brand new, size 1,800mm x 600mm, suitable for hall, sitting room, restaurant or modern bar, £70 ono - 07954 038 297.

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

YAMAHA alto saxophone, little used, very good condition, bargain at £495 - 01297 442198.

...........................................................................................................................................

LYME REGIS TOWN COUNCIL GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS 2019

● ●

Lyme Regis Town Council Head Gardener An average of 37 hours a week, subject to seasonal variations Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5pm Salary: SCP 19-22 (£19,945 - £21,589) We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced gardener to lead the gardening team, and to maintain and develop council grounds and gardens.

You must be prepared to lead by example and get your hands dirty.

The successful applicant will be someone who can manage and motivate a small team, lead on projects and plan horticultural operations.

You will receive a mi the opportunity to join the local government pension scheme. Overtime is also available.

For further information and an application pack, contact: Adrianne Mullins, Lyme Regis Town Council, Guildhall Cottage, Church Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3BS Tel: 01297 445175, email: admin@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk Download a pack from www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 25 February Interviews will be held on Thursday 28 February

Friday, February 15 2019 23

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LymeOnline Sport cribbage

football

SHIP Inn are leading the Lyme Regis Cribbage League with 57 points from 19 games, closely followed by Axminster Conservative Club.

In the Beer Leg, Dolphin Beer head the table, one point ahead of Colyton Club.

Results (February 11): New Inn Kilmington A 2, The Hind Musbury 3 (BL 2-1); Colyton Club 2, Talbot Arms Uplyme 3 (BL 2-1); Dolphin Beer 3, Lamb Swans 0 (BL 3-0); Ship Lyme Regis 1, New Inn Kilmington B 2 (BL 2-3); Royal Standrad Lyme 1, Axminster Con Club 2 (BL 0-5).

Ship Lyme Ax Con Club Colyton Club Lamb Swan Dolphoin Beer Talbot Uplyme New Inn Kilm A Hind Musbury Stepps New Inn Kil B Standard Lyme Gerard Colyton 1

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

P 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 19 19 8

W 12 12 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 5 9 6

L 7 7 9 9 9 10 9 9 8 14 10 12

Pts 57 55 50 49 48 48 47 47 43 43 40 38

Keeper man-of-the-match despite letting in 10 goals

By PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk LYME Regis Rovers went out of the Daisy Huchings when they suffered a 10-0 defeat against Perry Street Division One and cup holders Thircombe 1sts.

For the Rovers it was a tough battle in wet and muddy conditions and within 30 seconds the tempo was set as Thorncombe’s captain was yellow carded and lucky not to have been sent off for an elbow and a follow-up grab around the neck.

The referee didn’t see the first incident, but did see the follow-up.

Thorncombe went 1-0 up early but the Rovers fought hard and were a little unlucky to in 3-0 down at half time.

They had a couple of half chances but the home side were by far the better side, scoring a free-kick and a 25-yarder.

The second half was pretty much

one-way traffic and as the Rovers tired all shape disappeared and they were left short of numbers in defence.

Ollie Alner went close with ten minutes to play and Rob Larcombe closer with a 30-yarder that grazed the bar with a minute to go.

Rovers keeper Rob Harp - back for his first game in several months following a serious shoulder injury - was in incredible form and made at least ten outstanding saves and was a clear man-of-the-match for Lyme. Also good to get game time for the returning forward Pete Meacock and Scott Meyers.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Rovers, who are sitting in fourth place in Perry Street Division Three, have a tough fixture at home to second placed Winsham United Reserves.

The match will be played at the Davey Fort (kick-off 2.30pm) because both the first team and the Reserves are playing away.

skittles

No Hopers regain top spot NO HOPERS are back on top of the Men’s Division One in the Lyme Regis Skittles League with a two-point lead over Marksmen.

Results for week-ending February 9th: Ladies’ Doug Clark Cup Rollercoasters 327 v Skittso’s 346; Smashers 302 v Hot Gossips 283; La Crème 310 v Generations 295 High Scores: Claire Richards 64; Judy Dale 62; C Wadey 62; Caroline Sparks 60.

Men’s Palmer Cup Marksmen 370 v No Hopers 396; Roadrunners bt Wreckers; Flyers bt Clueless; President’s Men 333 v Alleytwits 340.

High Scores: Jon Broome 81; Arthur Studley 76.

Cawston Cup Fixtures: Monday, February 18 Smashers v Wootton Wobblers; Pin Pals v Marksmen.

Tuesday, February 19 - Clueless v Shakers; President’s Men v Alleytwits (at the Ship Inn).

Wednesday, February 20: Men’s Pairs Semi-Final: The Ship Inn - A Studley and P Bearpark; R Beviss and G Gibbs; Peter Grinter and L Dare; A Trott and D Rowe; S Flux and T Edwards; N Bearpark and S Beal; C Kapur and T Eaton; J Sims and B Rattenbury.

The George - J Broome and T Mayers; V Foxwell and A Cross; N Charleton and M Bowditch; P Liston and P Rattenbury; P Bright and R Chapple; C Flux and N Daniels; M Williams and A Aldworth; S Shaw and G Kent.

Friday, February 22 - Anthill Mob v British Legion; Miscellaneous v No Hopers (at the Ship Inn); Roadrun-

ners v Wreckers; Rousdon Rebels v La Crème.

Fixtures, Monday, February 25: Ladies George Nomination Cup (semi final) La Crème v Wootton Wobblers; Smashers v Pin Pals.

Wednesday, February 27: Division 2 Curtis Nomination Cup Semi-Final: British Legion v Shakers (at the Ship Inn).

Friday, March 1st: Division 2 Curtis Nomination Cup (semi-final -A lleytwits v Clueless (at Rousdon Club).

Division 1 George Nomination Cup (semi final) - Trappers v No Hopers (at the Ship Inn); Roadrunners v Wreckers.

Monday, March 4th: La Crème v Wootton Wobblers Wednesday, March 6th, Men’s Bob Sweetland Cup (quarter final) British Legion v Flyers (at the Ship Inn); Marksmen v Alleytwits.

Thursday, March 7th: Skittso’s v Smashers.

Friday, March 8th, Men’s Bob Sweetland Cup (quarter final) - Roadrunners v Clueless; Young Guns v Miscellaneous (at the Ship Inn) League Games w/c Monday, March 11: As per fixture book,except Skittso’s v Pin Pals to be played Thursday,March 14th (and not Monday 11th).

No Hopers v Anthill Mob moves to Thursday , March 14th at the Ship Inn. Cup Games, Monday, March 18th: Ladies Singles as per the fixture book – playing at Wootton Club and the Ship Inn

Friday, March 22, Men’s Singles semi-final (Den Parsons Cup): The George - L Hodder; C Kapur; A Sheader; K Trott; M Downs; M Williams; A Rattenbury; G Kent; S Beal; A Studley; R Chapple; P Rattenbury.

The Ship Inn - I Locke; Peter Grinter; Paul Grinter; A Churchill; J Powell; P Hodder; J Rickard; J Fry; R Beviss; A Trott; K Bearpark; P Bright.

LADIES DIVISION P W W/Wobblers 8 7 Hot Gossips 10 7 Smashers 8 5 La Creme 7 5 Skittso’s 8 4 Generations 9 3 Rollercoasters 9 1 Pin Pals 9 1

D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 3 3 2 4 6 8 8

PtsB/L 16 12 12 8 10 8 10 7 8 11 6 11 2 8 2 3

MEN’S DIVISION ONE No Hopers Marksmen Anthill Mob Roadrunners Flyers Young Guns Trappers Wreckers

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

8 7 6 4 3 3 3 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 2 3 5 6 6 6 7

16 14 12 8 6 6 6 4

11 11 12 9 10 10 2 10

14 14 12 8 8 8 4 4

10 4 12 12 12 10 8 4

triathlon

Flo’s new £3,000 racer LYME Regis-based Florence Swan, one of the most promising triathlon youngsters in the country, has a new £3,000 training bike - thanks to some financial assistance from the Lyme Regis and Uplyme Sports Trust.

Flo trains over 200 kilometres a

week so her training bike is key to her racing performance.

This year she will be moving up to Olympic standard distance which entails a 1,500 metre swim, 40 kilometre bike ride and 10 kilometres run.

SUNDAY LUNCH CLUB Take the stress out of Sundays!

Regular Sunday lunches at Lyme Regis Football Club Sunday, February 24th 12.30pm for 1pm Two courses £8.50, children’s portion £4 Plus a free draw ticket for a bottle of wine!

MEN’S DIVISION TWO Clueless 9 Rousdon Rebels 9 British Legion 9 Alleytwits 9 Miscellaneous 9 President’s Men 9 Shakers 9 Skittle M Timbers 9

7 7 6 4 4 4 2 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 2 3 5 5 5 7 7

BOOK TODAY! To reserve a place call Francesca on 07810 221 420

Follow local sport 24/7 on our website - www.lyme-online.co.uk

LymeOnline Sport

24 Friday, February 15 2019

February 15 2019

Tough charity challenge for rowers TWO Lyme Regis gig rowers, Roger Brine and Neil Wittridge, will be taking on a 200-mile challenge to row from Ibiza to Barcelona this July. The rowers will face three days and nights of non-stop ocean rowing, pitted in a race against other crews, all to raise money for the ‘NOMAN Is An Island’ charity.

The endurance row will test the two rowers, both in their 50s, to their limits as they will have to combat the blistering sun, fierce winds, fatigue and sea sickness. Although the two are experienced Gig boat and Seine boat rowers, it is as much about mental capacity, as well as fitness and technique, that will help them reach their goal and cross the finish line first.

The pair each aim to raise £5,000 for NOMAN, a charity that raises awareness of HPV (Human Papillomavirus) related cancer in men and women while campaigning for universal vaccination. The parallels of the challenge reflect the charity’s aim; the race to end HPV, which 80 per cent of the worldwide pop-

ulation comes into contact with during their lifetime.

The intrepdid duo said: “We’ve been preparing for this race for more than 12 months now; fitness regimes, sea survival training and racing competitions.

“This is the one of the biggest challenges of our lives and we know it will be physically and mentally demanding for us both, but it’s for a cause that’s close to us. As so many people in the UK and around the world are affected by the HPV we’re asking for support from our local community to help us reach our target.

We are funding this challenge ourselves so all sponsorship will be helping NOMAN and although we know times are difficult, every £1 can make a difference.”

Follow Roger and Neil’s NOMAN journey and pledge a donation via Pledgit. pledgit.net/campaign/18ca37/roger-brinesibiza-to-barcelona-row-2019 pledgit.net/campaign/10ecfb/neil-wittridgesibiza-to-barcelona-row-2019

www.lyme-online.co.uk

NOW IN THE DEVON & EXETER PREMIER LEAGUE

Saturday, February 16 Lyme Regis Rovers v Winsham United Reserves Kick-off 2.30 pm

All ship-shape for skittlers FEARS that Lyme Regis would lose its last skittle alley have been allayed by confirmation that the Ship Inn is to continue to trade.

Alan Henson and his wife have relinquished the tenancy at the Coombe Street pub and brewers Palmers are looking to appoint a new licensee in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, staff from the Pilot Boat, another Palmers’ house, are keeping the pub open so skittle matches can continue.

League secretary Mark Williams has had to burn the midnight oil of late rearrnging fixtures to keep the league ticking over and games are now back on track with No Hopers leading Men’s Division One, Clueless and Rousdon Rebels sharing the lead in Men’s Division Two and Wootton Wobblers leading the Ladies Divisions.

INTREPID rowers Roger Brine (left) and Neil Wittridge

GOOD NEWS FOR THE SEASIDERS...

Full results and league tables on page 23

BONDY’S BACK! PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk

IT’S good news week for Lyme Regis Football Club - Bondy’s back!

BACK in training - the deadly Joe Bond

Ace goalscorer Joe Bond, one of the most feared strikers in local football has returned from his world travels and is back in training.

One of the Seasiders’ big characters both on and off the field - Bond will relish pitting his wits against the Devon & Exeter Premier defenders.

Lyme have missed his deadly finishing up front this season and Bond will be axious to regain his first team place and add to the 175 goals he has already scored for the club.

Bond made his debut for Lyme in 2007 and his best season was 2015-16 - his last before going to Australia - when he scored 38 goals.

Both the Lyme first team and the Reserves were without games last weekend due to waterlogged pitches and both have away fixtures this weekend.

The first team will be looking for points to stay in touch with the leading pack in the Premier division with a journey to Feniton who have won only six of their 17 games so three points should be in the

bag for the Seasiders. Lyme are hanging in there in fifth place with Exwick Villa looking more like potential champions with every game they play, beating previous favourites Colyton 4-0 last week.

Lyme Regis Reserves, still in third place in Division Four but with two sides below them on equal points, travel to Exminster tomorrow to meet St Martin’s, third from bottom in the table.

With both the first team and the Reserves on the road, there’s a rare home appearanace at the Davey Fort for Lyme Rovers who are smarting after their 10-0 drubbing by Thorncombe 1sts in the Daisy Hutchings Cup last week.

They meet second placed Winsham United Reserves in Perry Street Division Three (kick-off 2.30 pm).

Some good did come out of the cup defeat by Thorncombe for the Rovers.

Goalkeeper Rob Harp returned after several weeks out with a shoulder injury and, although letting in ten, he looked in brilliant form, saving many more.

Uplyme will be looking for three points away to Crewkerne Rangers 1sts to ease their worries at the foot of Perry Street Division One. Charmouth, pressing for promotionfrom Division Two, are at home to Crewkerne Rangers Reserves in the Jack Venn Cup (kick-off 2 pm).

Flo’s new racer A LYME Regis-based triathlete, one of the most promising talents in the country, has a new £3,000 bike for training with the help of a £500 grant from the Lyme Regis & Uplyme Sports Trust, Report on page 23

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