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FOR LYME REGIS, UPLYME & CHARMOUTH ● FORTNIGHTLY ● JUNE 26 2020 ● www.lyme-online.co.uk
WHAT ABOUT THIS RETRO LOOK FO A WELCOME? R LY ME MATTERS PAGE 6
Three arrested in Monmouth Beach incident
Lyme getting ‘beach ready’ LYME Regis beach is set to be in pristine condition by the end of the week, ready for the main summer season and overnight visitors to arrive from July 4. Beachgoers were limited in their sun-bathing spots this week, as large parts of the sand and shingle were closed off. The town’s main sandy beach and large sections of Cobb Gate shingle beach were cordoned off to allow Dorset Council contractors to carry out re-profiling works. The work coincided with one of the hottest weeks of the year, with beach-goers packing into the small areas that remained open, leaving some concerned over the lack of social distancing. The sand beach is expected to reopen at 5pm today (Friday) and the shingle beach was due to fully open yesterday.
Reserves ‘wiped out’ SERIOUS CONCERNS RAISED OVER TOWN COUNCIL FINANCES
LYME Regis Town Council is facing serious financial concerns in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with reserves currently expected to drop by more than £900,000 over the next year. Lyme Regis has often been de-
FRANCESCA EVANS
francesca@lyme-online.co.uk scribed as a “rich council” in recent years, with reserves at one point standing at £1.3million and the council handing out more than £100,000 in grants to local organisations each year.
But with a heavy dependency on tourism-related income and a major capital project currently being carried out - the resurfacing of the flat roof above the Amusement Arcade, Antiques & Craft Centre and SWIM on Marine Parade - the council is now having to hold discussions on how it can
strengthen its financial position and prevent itself from becoming insolvent. In April, as lockdown measures first took hold, the council’s reserves stood at £969,794 but by June this had dropped to £581,674.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
TWO teenagers and a 22-year-old man were arrested following an incident at Monmouth Beach car park in Lyme Regis, during which a police officer was assaulted. Police were called to the area just after midnight on Thursday, June 18 following reports of a disturbance in the car park. A 16-year-old boy from Uplyme was arrested after refusing to leave the area and becoming abusive. An 18-year-old man from Seaton was arrested following a helicopter search having reportedly hit one of the officers with a crutch, and a 22-yearold man from Lyme Regis was arrested after attempting to block the ambulance which took the injured officer to hospital.
REPORT, PAGE 3
Councillors call for more democracy
LYME Regis councillors have called for a more democratic way forward as the authority continues to operate under COVID19 restrictions. With normal meetings on hold, seeveral members have said they do not feel involved and have called for a more democratic approach moving forward.
REPORT, PAGE 2
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Published by Lyme Regis Media Limited Hyper-local website and fortnightly newspaper serving the communities of Lyme Regis, Uplyme & Charmouth. Unit 5 Uplyme Business Park, Uplyme Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS www.lyme-online.co.uk edit@lyme-online.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/LymeOnlineUK Twitter: twitter.com/LymeOnlineUK Instagram: instagram.com/lymeonline Editor: Francesca Evans francesca@lyme-online.co.uk 07810 221 420 Contributors: Philip Evans philip@lyme-online.co.uk Richard Austin edit@lyme-online.co.uk Regular Columnists: Sophia Moseley, Marine Theatre Peter Lacey, Tales of Lyme’s Past Production: Jackie Evans jackie@lyme-online.co.uk
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Councillors call for democratic governance during lockdown
LYME Regis councillors have called for a more democratic way forward as the authority continues to operate under COVID-19 restrictions. Normal council meetings were suspended at the end of March when lockdown measures were first put in place. Town clerk John Wright was given delegated authority to spend up to £150,000 and make decisions in consultation with the mayor. The council has held some meetings virtually via video conferencing app Zoom during the lockdown, but these have been considered “working groups” and have therefore not been open to the press and public. The first public virtual meeting of the full council was held on Wednesday evening, when several members said they did not feel involved and called for a more democratic approach moving forward. Councillor Richard Doney said he had some concerns about the way “we have been forced to operate” in recent weeks and said he was keen to see the normal democratic process resumed as soon as possible. “It will be difficult as we are not able to meet in person but other companies and organisations are managing,” he added. Councillor Doney added that the “elephant in the room” was his long-standing concerns about the council’s committee structure, which he has said is inefficient and creates more work for officers. He suggested that now was a good time to consider how the council would operate in the future. Councillor Doney said he would also like to see the council elect a mayor and deputy mayor for the remainder of the council year, after it was previously decided that the current incumbents would remain in place until normal meetings could resume. Councillor Michaela Ellis supported this pro-
posal, adding that she would like to see regular virtual full council and committee meetings open to the public, so members could discuss important issues and residents could see they were still working. Councillor Stan Williams also spoke in favour of more regular virtual meetings, adding: “I think a lot of councillors feel they are not involved; we are not really part of it anymore and that really disappoints me.” Councillor Belinda Bawden said that virtual council meetings were legalised in early April and questioned why it had taken until late June for the council to host one. “We would like to get back to having a proper say and representing the people of the town, as we were elected to do,” she added. Members then voted on whether a mayor and deputy mayor should be formally elected. The vote was split 7-7, with the current mayor, Councillor Brian Larcombe MBE, given the casting vote. He rejected the proposal to hold an election, meaning he and deputy mayor Stan Williams would remain in post. Councillor Larcombe said that new leadership would cause “too much disruption” at this time. It was agreed to hold monthly public full council meetings via video conferencing app Zoom until normal meetings could resume, and a working group meeting would be held next week to have a full discussion about future governance and committee structure. Members also agreed to continue with the current arrangements for the town clerk’s delegated powers, but decisions will now be made in consultation with all committee chairmen and vicechairmen, as well as the mayor. Councillor Larcombe said he hoped it would not be too long until the council could meet faceto-face, and they could then do so at the Woodmead Halls, rather than in the Guildhall, as it offered more space for social distancing.
Bomb disposal called to Lyme Regis beach A BOMB disposal team were called to Lyme Regis on Monday to deal with a "piece of military ordnance" found on the beach. Coastguards were first called to the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth at about 2.15pm on Sunday, June 21 after a member of the public found the suspicious object. Once located, it became clear to officers that this was not the usual old car part or similar often found on this part of the beach, which sits below the old town dump. A 300m exclusion zone was immediately put in place whilst the bomb disposal team, also known as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), were advised. However, with the spring high tide still coming in, the object was soon submerged by the sea. The area was then marked and the coastguard arranged to meet EOD officers at low tide on Monday to enable safe identification and disposal. On Monday morning, having confirmed that the object had not been swept out to sea overnight, coastguards set up a cordon whilst awaiting the arrival of the EOD team from the Royal Logistic Corp in Tidworth. On arrival, the EOD specialists identified the object as the nose cone of a WWII 8lb 'practice bomb'. These were usually dropped by Lancaster bombers. The nose cone was deemed to be safe and was removed from the beach. Lyme Regis Coastguard would like to thank the members of the public that made the initial report, adding that it was "better to be safe than sorry".
Pubs and restaurants plan for opening PUBS and restaurants in Lyme Regis will be opening their doors on Saturday, July 4 - but it will be an entirely different experience for diners and drinkers.
The more expansive premises are definitely opening but there is some doubt whether the smaller establishments will follow suit despite the social distancing rules being reduced from two metres to one-plus. Among those opening on July 4 are the Pilot Boat, SWIM, Lyme Bay Café Bar, the Harbour Inn, the Royal Standard, the Talbot Arms in Uplyme and the refurbished Rock Point, which all have outside seating areas. For the smaller venues such as The Volunteer, the Nag’s Head and the Ship Inn, it will be more difficult to adhere to government advice, even though the distance required between tables has been reduced. Lyme’s biggest pub/restaurant, the Pilot Boat, will reduce its indoor covers from 160 to 80 with additional room on its terrace where reservations will not be taken. Licensee Robin Collyns has been working in the hospitality trade for 40 years. He told LymeOnline: “I have managed through two recessions but nothing like this. We just don’t
know how it will work out.” The Pilot will open its doors from 9am to 10pm every day, Table reservations are required for dining which must include a main course per person. Each table will be reserved for one hour 45 minutes from the time booked. There will be no standing at the bar and all drinks will be served to the table. Those just requiring drinks do not have to book a table but will be offered one on arrival on a first come first serve basis. Every guest who comes into the Pilot will be registered. There will be limited space for dogs. A takeaway service for pizzas will continue to be available. The two-metre rule will still be THE Pilot Boat undergoing a complete deep clean before re-opening their restauobserved between tables in the bar rant on July 4 and restaurant, with tables on the terrace one and a half metres apart. A one-way system will be in operation throughout the building. Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned at least every 30 minutes, there will be hand sanitizers throughout the building and tables will be disinfected between guests. Mr Collyns said: “We will be doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our customers and our staff and the key message is to book a table.” Other venues in the town will be following similar guidelines.
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Three arrested and police officer injured in Monmouth Beach incident TWO teenagers and a 22-year-old man were arrested following an incident at Monmouth Beach car park in Lyme Regis, during which a police officer was assaulted. Police were called to the area just after midnight on Thursday, June 18 following reports of a disturbance in the car park. Officers attended and spoke to a small group of people who reported that there had been an altercation. When the group were asked to leave the
area, a 16-year-old from Uplyme refused and became abusive towards officers. He was then arrested. A second teenager reportedly struck an officer with a crutch. The officer suffered a head injury was taken to hospital for treatment. A 22-year-old man from Lyme Regis was arrested for a public order offence as he tried to block the ambulance as it was leaving with the injured officer. Following searches of the area by the Na-
tional Police Air Service helicopter, an 18year-old man from Seaton was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the officer. All three are now assisting officers with their enquiries. A statement from the police said: “Dorset Police takes reports of violence towards our officers and other emergency service workers very seriously and a full investigation into this incident is now underway.”
Dredging works ‘did not compromise water quality’ DORSET Council has assured beachgoers in Lyme Regis that there has been “no compromise in water quality” caused by recent harbour dredging works. In recent weeks, sand and water has been pumped from the harbour, across the sandy beach and into the sea. The water has often looked dark in colour and changed the colour of the sandy beach in places, leaving some concerned that it was not safe. Residents took to social media to question whether it was still safe to go in the sea while the work was being carried out, and expressed concerns over the darkened appearance of the beach and water quality. One said she was concerned that the water had made her child ill and another said it had stained their paddleboard. A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “The dredging is part of an approved package of works to maintain flood defences provided by the sand
beach in addition to maintaining the navigable channel on the approaches to Lyme Regis harbour. “The material being deposited on the beach is predominantly sand with a small amount of organic matter. Material that has not been exposed to the air for a period of time can be dark in colour but once it has been washed or moved around by wave action it becomes lighter in colour. “Markers have been set up around the discharge point to warn of the hazard but there is no compromise in water quality. We recommend people maintain a safe distance from the end of the pipe and avoid swimming near it.” The dredging works finished on Wednesday but the sand beach, as well as large sections of the shingle, was then closed for re-profiling work. The beach was expected to reopen fully today (Fri- WATER being pumped from the harbour across the beach often looked black in colour Photo by Jeanne Goodridge day).
LymeOnline newspaper will return in August PUBLICATION of the free, fortnightly LymeOnline newspaper will start again on Friday, August 7. The publication of the printed newspaper was suspended due to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, which saw our advertising revenue and sponsorship deals drop significantly. During the lockdown we have continued to publish a fortnightly digital edition of the newspaper, and we launched LymeOnline Extra an eight-page, compact, printed version available via subscription, especially for those unable to access the internet. Four issues of this have now been printed with another two scheduled. The full, free newspaper will then return on Friday, August 7 partially thanks to grants from the Google News Initiative and Dorset Council, plus welcome donations from our readers. However, LymeOnline is a not-for-profit community venture and moving forward will continue to rely on advertising and sponsorship to cover costs. If you’re interested in advertising or supporting LymeOnline, contact managing director Philip Evans on 07796 951 991.
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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 4 Friday, June 26 2020
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VIEWS OF LYME REGIS TO KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH!
BOGDAN Tudor sent in this photo looking back at Lyme Regis from the Cobb
SUNRISE over the cliffs, taken by Jeanne Goodridge
A BEE pictured on an agapanthus flower was taken by Liz Fitzpatrick
JOHN Hodgetts took this sunny photo of the harbour
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LOOKING across the rocks towards the Cobb, taken by Liz Morris
Friday, June 26 2020 5
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LymeOnline launches ‘shop local’ campaign LymeOnline is launching a campaign to help local traders get back on their feet as the lockdown restrictions are lifted. As shops across the country open their doors for the first time in months, residents are being encouraged to support their local high streets. Dorset Council members and West Dorset MP Chris Loder are among those who have been spreading the ‘shop local’ message, as well as the Federation of Small Businesses. LymeOnline is also backing the ‘shop local’ message and is offering free promotion to local businesses as they reopen. We have compiled a list of businesses which are currently open or will be opening shortly, which will be regularly updated and posted on our social media channels over the coming weeks. The list will also be published in the fortnightly digital edition of the LymeOnline newspaper. We are also offering local businesses currently trading a free listing in the LymeOnline Local Business Directory up until the end of September. These listings usually cost £10 for a year and include your business name, photo/logo, a short description of what you do and full contact details, i.e. phone number, postal address, email and links to your own website or social media. For your free business directory listing, or to be included in the regularly updated lists of open businesses, email edit@lyme-online.co.uk
Shops/businesses now open in Lyme Regis include: Arthur Fordham & Co Corner ● Fine Art & Framing ● Roly’s Fudge – 300g fudge bags at less than half price ● Puddleduck – 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 12noon to 4pm Sundays, online shop and local delivery also available ● Lyme Regis Butchers ● Primary Colours ● Lyme Gifts ● Boots ● Lloyds Pharmacy ● Tesco Express ● Co-op ● Post Office ● Boylo’s Watersports – 9.30am to 5pm seven days a week ● Quba & Co ● Mountain Warehouse ● Papa Luca ● The Seriously Good Wine Company ● Serendip ● Liberty & Family ● Seasalt ● The Wet Fish Shop – 10.30am to 5pm everyday ● Ginger Beer – Saturdays and Sundays only ● Casualwear at the Old Bonded Store, Marine Parade – opening hours will be limited to 10am to 4pm everyday, only one person in shop at a time. ●
● Quality
● Blue
Lias Convenience Store ● Lyme Launderette ● Travis Perkins ● Uplyme Stores, Post Office & Filling Station ● Charmouth Stores ● House of Flowers from workshop at 18 Woodmead Road ● Persuasion ● The Slipway ● Deli Weli ● WH Smith ● Indica ● Kathrens Knitwear – open Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm for walk-ins and private appointments ● Things I Like ● Calico Boutique at Cobb Square – Wednesdays to Sundays from 10.30am, private shopping slots also available by calling 01297 444484 ● Ammonite Fine Foods ● Pug & Puffin ● FatFace ● PCM Footcare – mobile foot care practitioner based in Colyton and covering Lyme Regis area, call 07761 469 676 ● Lyme
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Food/drink outlets currently open for takeaway include: ● Red Panda – Saturday and Sunday lunch 11.30am to 2.30pm and Saturday evening 6pm to 7pm, plus opening further days next week with updates on Facebook and Instagram ● The Cornish Bakery ● Lyme’s Fish Bar (Coombe Street takeaway and Marine Parade kiosk) ● Ship Inn – Open Sesame kebabs, curries and desserts every Friday night ● Tierra Kitchen – delivery service available Tuesday to Saturday ● The Millside – takeaway menu on Saturdays and Sundays, plus fresh produce available on Wednesdays ● Lyme Regis Brewery ● Hong Kong Chinese Takeaway ● Lal Qilla ● Poco Pizza – Thursday to Saturday, 5pm to 8pm ● Pilot Boat – pizza takeaways available on Saturdays and Businesses which have announced future dates for opening include: ● Old Forge Fossils – June 27 & 28 with further dates to be announced ● Your World Travel – July 1 ● LBK Burger Bar – July 3 for takeaways and deliveries
Sundays ● Talbot Arms – takeaway menus and off-license on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays ● SWIM – kiosk open at weekends for takeaway drinks ● The Royal Standard- takeaway food and drink everyday, weather dependent ● The Galley Cafe – open seven days a week 9.30am to 2.30/3pm, plus Dom’s Table three-course takeaway menus on Saturday nights ● Herbies takeaway kiosk ● Ocean View – fish and chip takeaways ● Kiosk – new café opened on Cart Road ● Taste of India ● Ice Cream Parlour at Cobb Square – open every day until 8pm ● Whole Hog – 10am to 3pm Fridays to Sundays ● Baboo Gelato kiosk ● Town Mill Bakery – 10am to 2pm at weekends ● Good Food Café & Deli ● The Pop Up Kitchen
To add your business to our regularly updated lists, please email your details to:
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6 Friday, June 26 2020
LYME MATTERS with Philip Evans Essential reading for all those with Lyme at heart
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Testing times for the town council WILL CASH RESERVES HIT ROCK BOTTOM?
I
T would seem the days of milk and honey may well be over for Lyme Regis Town Council.
We learn this week that in the wake of the coronavirus the council’s reserves are expected to drop by nearly £1 million. The situation is so critical that one observer at the council’s video conference meeting on Wednesday asked: “What measures are you taking to stop the town going bust?” Lyme has long been considered to be a generous council, especially in its support of grant aid to good causes and local organisations. Facing some costly capital projects before the word “coronavirus” had ever been uttered, the council reduced the amount of grants from £130,000 last year to £80,000 this year. Even this lower amount is more than other neighbouring authorities in bigger towns than Lyme give away, but if the worse case scenario comes to fruition, there is no way the council can retain its level of support. It is unfortunate that a once in a 50year requirement to resurface the roof above the Amusement Arcade, Antiques & Craft Centre and SWIM, on Marine Parade, costing about £600,000 fell in a year when a pandemic plunged the world into financial turmoil. The roofing project is almost complete and that £600,000 has made a big dent in the council’s resources which not so long ago stood at £1.3million. As our front page story reports, the council’s finances in April, as lock-
down measures took a grip, stood at £969,794 but by June this had dropped to £581,674. The council has gone through a quarter of the financial year with very little money coming in with car parts and seafront undertakings having all being closed down. The man who had to deliver these disturbing figures was town clerk John Wright who adopted a cautious viewpoint. This was the right course of action because if the situation turns out to be more than his worse-case scenario, he is the man who would carry the can as the council’s chief financial officer. Councillors were concerned that by the end of the current financial year in March 2021, their reserves could be down to as little as £67,000. And the town clerk warned that it was virtually impossible to give accurate estimations but the situation could vary by as much as £200,000 either way. The council’s perceived wealth has come over the years from car parking. revenue and resort amenities, such as beach huts and mini golf, all due to open in July. But the council is expecting to take just 50 per cent of their historic income from these sources. Only 75 per cent of income from the chalet and caravan park is forecasted and commercial rents are expected to drop from £190,000 to £120,000 as the council is aware that some tenants are experiencing difficulties. It all makes a pretty grim picture but these are the doomsday figures and if this week is anything to go by, and we enjoy good weather for the
prime summer months, it may not be such a bad picture. I understand that holiday letting figures for July and August are encouraging but the council will be looking at every cost centre to trim their budgets where possible. One project that is likely to be shelved is the refurbishment of the council office, planned for when the Tourist Information Centre moves out of Guildhall Cottage. The mayor, Councillor Brian Larcombe MBE, came up with an interesting observation at this week’s meeting. He said the one thing that the pandemic had proved was that Lyme is “too dependent” upon the tourist-related income. This is not a good time to be mayor or indeed a councillor. We need to cut them a bit of slack and play our part in helping the town recover from this crisis. Councillors need to put aside personal grievances during this period. There will be plenty of time to settle scores when this is all over. The council will soon be meeting behind closed doors to discuss. how they are going to deal with the dramatic decline in resources. As always, when financial matters are discussed, the public will not be able to have a presence at this meeting but the mayor has promised LymeOnline that a full statement will be issued on any decisions made. In the meantime, local organisations which have benefitted greatly from the council’s generosity in recent years need to start thinking about how they will survive financially. Already, there are rumours that some of them may not survive.
So what to do about the yobs in town? YOBBISH behaviour is becoming an increasing concern in Lyme Regis, especially for those who live in Cobb Road and along the seafront. There have been a number of distressing incidents in recent weeks and the culprits are not all local by any means. In one recent late-night incident on Monmouth Beach, a police officer was, allegedly, hit across te head with a crutch and had to be taken to hospital with three youths being arrested, two teenagers from Uplyme and Seaton and a 22-year-old from Lyme Regis. This happened in the early hours of the morning and one of the teenagers was just 16 years old.
The first question you might ask is what was a 16-year-old doing out at that time of the night? The playing of loud music and unacceptable behaviour has become a regular occurrence in the public gardens and some of those who live nearby are, I am told, at the end of their tether. More complaints were made to the police overnight on Wednesday and it would seem few nights pass without an incident of one kind or another. With such a small police presence in Lyme Regis, it’s difficult to know what the town council, as owners of the gardens, can do about it. One idea would be to employ a couple of security guards, as happens in other
towns, but in view of the council’s current financial challenges (see above) this is not a practical solution. I know the mayor, Cllr Brian Larcombe, is concerned about the frequency of the complaints received and he believes that such behaviour is giving Lyme a bad reputation at a time when the town needs to portray itself as a safe haven for its residents and visitors as we recover from the coronavirus crisis. We have to hope that those who are apprehended by the police are dealt with by the courts to send out a message to others that Lyme will not tolerate such behaviour.
TIC FREE TOWN LYME IS A PLAS a, George’s, Bermud Twinned with St nce and Barfleur, Fra
LOCAL photographer Percy Bird pictured at the old ‘Welcome to Lyme Regis’ sign with a couple of new additions made
Let’s go for more traditional welcome signs for Lyme ■ I RARELY join in Facebook discussions on local matters but when this photo popped up on my screen I couldn’t help but say we should return to this more traditional ‘Welcome to Lyme Regis’ sign. It started a conversation in which many people expressed their agreement and it even went as far as local artist David Manners being asked if he could come up with a suitable alternative to the existing, more anodyne signs at the three entrances to the town. I had no idea that Lyme Regis Town Council was considering replacing the signs which, if my memory is correct, were sponsored by the Rotary Club and include references to fossiling
and Lyme’s twinning arrangement with St George’s in Bermuda. The council’s Tourism, Community and Publicity Committee was given the go ahead this week to commission new signs to include the town crest and Lyme’s new plastic-free status - a draw for eco-conscious tourists. I am fully supportive of the efforts of Plastic Free Lyme but I hope any addendums to the new signs can be accommodated on separate panels below the main sign itself as happens in many other towns. One for Plastic Free Lyme and another for the twinning arrangement would be sufficient (as illustrated above).
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New businesses defy coronavirus pandemic ■ POP-UP restaurant The Monmouth Table
MELANIE Attrill and her daughter outside Kiosk ■ IT may be an unusual time for a new business to open, but that hasn’t stopped the owners of Kiosk – Lyme Regis’ new seafront cafe. Melanie Attrill and her family have opened Kiosk next to the beach huts on the Cart Road, in premises which have been recently refurbished by the town council. Before the coronavirus outbreak, the family had hoped to open their new venture in time for the Easter holidays. But with lockdown measures still in place, they were eventually able to open as a takeaway earlier this month. Melanie, who lives in Hawkchurch, has 30 years experience in the catering business. Commenting on her decision to open Kiosk, she said: “I had seen the space before and thought it could be livened up a bit. I wanted to do something I could really enjoy, working with people again and it’s in such an amazing location.” Melanie’s new venture will be run as a family business, with help from her daughters Emily and Daisy, but they will be recruiting for new staff when lockdown restrictions are lifted. Kiosk is currently serving food and drink to takeaway in line with all government guidelines.
They serve the Fairtrade and organic Honduran coffee with a range of milks available, as well as homemade cakes, ice creams breakfast bagels, lunchtime toasties and sandwiches, including their popular crab sandwiches. All of the ingredients used are locally-sourced where possible and Kiosk caters for a range of dietary requirements, including vegan and dairy free. Melanie said it has been challenging opening a new business during the coronavirus pandemic, but it has allowed them a chance to overcome teething problems and get to grips with current restrictions without the mad rush of the usual summer season. “It’s been great to have the chance to introduce ourselves to Lyme Regis residents and we have had lots of support from both our customers and other local businesses,” she added. Kiosk will be open every day throughout the summer period, weather depending, and is currently offering discounts for NHS key workers and lifeboat crew members. You can find out more by following ‘kiosk_lymeregis’ on Instagram.
will be opening a new pantry store in Broad Street, Lyme Regis, next month. The Monmouth Table, run by Annie Coplestone and Carlotta Paolieri, have been catering events and serving up their unique tapas menus for the last two years at both The Pop Up Kitchen in Lyme Regis and Soulshine in Bridport. But as the pandemic hit and doors closed up and down the high street, local business owners and consumers alike were forced to re-think the way they traded and shopped. It was back to basics for many, with popup stalls selling locally farmed goods, homemade meals bought from doorsteps, local ciders sold through windows. Although originally it was an adaptive way for restaurants and suppliers to survive, many have enjoyed the charm and simplicity of it all, taking us back to the days before the super market. And this is what you’ll find at the new Mon-
mouth Pantry, set to open in Broad Street in July. Taking over the premises formerly occupied by ceramics ship Sicilia, just one door down from The Pop Up Kitchen, Annie and Carlotta have been collecting their knowledge of everything from local organic vegetables and dairy to artisan bread, fresh herbs, spices, cheese and homemade preserves to create a good old-fashioned grocery shop. Championing local farmers and producers, keeping it green with minimal plastic and reintroducing self-serve and weigh, The Monmouth Pantry will provide shoppers with an explorative and conscious approach to their weekly shop. Annie and Carlotta are keen to hear from potential customers with ideas of what you’d like to see on their shelves. To make a suggestion or for further details, search The Monmouth Pantry on Facebook or Instagram.
ANNIE Coplestone and Carlotta Paolieri of The Monmouth Table
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Churches keeping busy despite being closed for lockdown
CHURCH doors may have been closed in recent weeks but there’s still been lots going on behind the scenes. At St Michael’s Parish Church in Lyme Regis, the clock is finally chiming again having been repaired as the final part of the recent tower refurbishment. The clock stopped working last year but its repair was put on hold while the entire tower underwent a major re-rendering project, which was completed just before the coronavirus lockdown. The repairs have now been carried out by Luke Ridge of Cumbria Clock Company and the clock is chiming every hour once again. The Parochial Church Council is now looking toward the reopening of the church, with private prayer now permitted every Friday from 10am top 4pm.
THE Reverend Nicky Davies has been appointed new team vicar, covering Uplyme
Meanwhile, the Golden Cap Team of Churches – which includes St Michael’s, St Andrew’s in Charmouth and 10 other churches around West Dorset – has been hosting weekly Sunday services via YouTube, as well as a midweek message from the clergy or lay preachers. The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, has also shared a weekly message online and, for those without internet, services have been given over the phone. You can find out more details of what’s going on within the Golden Cap Team of Churches at www.goldencapteamofchurches.org.uk Lyme Regis Baptist Church is also uploading pre-recorded services to its website every Sunday and these can be accessed at any time, along with other resources and links, such as audio sermons. You can find these online at www.lymeregisbaptistchurch.co.uk Uplyme Church has just welcomed news team vicar, the Reverend Nicky Davies, who will be covering the Axe Valley Mission Community, which also includes Axmouth. The licensing of the Reverend Davies will take place at The Minster Church in Axminster on Tuesday, August 11, conducted by the Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Jackie Searle. Further information about this service will be given in due course dependent on the regulations regarding the holding of church services. Meanwhile, services have been offered via a special phone line, while meetings and Bible study courses have been offered via video conferencing app Zoom. You can see full details at www.uplymechurch.org.uk
newsfromwestminster
A monthly column by West Dorset MP Chris Loder
I HAVE been lobbying government and championing the cause of hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses in Lyme Regis and surrounding areas for many weeks now. With these sectors so critical to local economies and jobs, the Prime Minister’s statement on Tuesday was most welcome; although I appreciate that some of our landmark and historic premises in Lyme Regis may need a little more time to adapt to the requirements before re-opening. I am supporting this positive news with a new campaign ‘Destination West Dorset’, to promote all that we have to offer in this beautiful part of the world. Hotels, B&Bs, holiday apartments, caravan parks, campsites, pubs, restaurants and cafes can now reopen for business from July 4, if they can do so safely - just in time for a muchneeded summer season in Lyme Regis and all along the Jurassic Coast. With feature film ‘Ammonite’ soon to be released; following the life of Mary Anning, Lyme Regis’ famous fossil collector, there will be a renewed spotlight on the area and every opportunity to take advantage of. It is reassuring that in the most recent update on the ‘R’ number, the South West is shown to
have the lowest rate in the country at 0.6-0.9 and I am grateful that last week we had just two coronavirus cases in our local hospitals. However, as restrictions ease on social distancing, we must not become complacent, rather taking individual responsibility; using common sense, staying alert and adhering to all the sensible precautions that government advises. During this crisis, I have been moved by the remarkable voluntary efforts of local people, no more so than in Lyme Regis, all in the spirit of community support and fellowship. I invite you, if you have not already done so, to nominate those unsung heroes you know, who you believe should be recognised for their efforts in the community, by visiting www.chrisloder.co.uk/heroes no later than June 30. I end with extending my deepest sympathies to those bereaved following the shocking terrorist attack in Reading last Saturday. I was humbled to pay tribute to one of my own parliamentary team during a speech in the House of Commons on Monday. He was in Forbury Gardens when the incident took place and selflessly ran to the aid of victims, giving first aid without concern for his own safety, and I am very proud of him.
Visit www.chrisloder.co.uk for links to my social media channels and news, or email hello@chrisloder.co.uk if you are interested in a face-to-face meeting at one of my surgeries
LUKE Ridge of Cumbria Clock Company pictured next to the internal mechanism of the clock at St Michael’s Parish Church, which has now been fixed
Lifeguards to start patrols in Lyme Regis next month LIFEGUARDS will be back patrolling Lyme Regis beach from July 4. Since announcing the intention to be on more than 70 per cent of beaches across the South West by the beginning of July, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, RNLI teams have been working hard to establish the service and have now released the final list of South West beaches which will be lifeguarded. The announcement comes as warmer weather and large swell is forecast for the coming week, and the charity is urging surfers and beach goers to heed safety advice. RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling the following beaches from this Saturday (June 27): Kennack, Gyllyngvase, Godrevy, Gwithian South, Upton Towans, Beachview, Porthminster, Gwenver, Porthcurno, Porthcothan, Boobys, and Trevone in Cornwall; and Dawish Warren and Teignmouth North in Devon. From Saturday, July 4 patrols will start on: Seaton, Tregantle, Crantock, Towan, Porth, Tolcarne, St Agnes, Perran Sands, and Sandymouth in Cornwall; Westward Ho!, Sandymere, Sandy Bay, Blackpool Sands, and Challaborough in Devon; Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset; and Lyme Regis and West Bay in Dorset. Crackington Haven in Bude will be lifeguarded from July 9. The lifeguard hut has already been set up on Lyme’s main sandy beach in preparation for patrols to begin. The beach is only usually patrolled during the main summer seasons so has not missed out on any lifeguard cover due to the coronavirus pandemic, unlike some other areas. Guy Botterill RNLI area lifesaving manager in the South West, said: “The charity have been providing a lifeguard service on a limited number of beaches since the beginning of June which has enabled us to thoroughly test the new ways of working, PPE, staffing and new equipment as a result of coronavirus. Despite the continuing challenges created by the pandemic, we are now confident we can provide a safe, comprehensive lifeguard service this summer. “It has taken a lot of hard work by the whole team, especially our RNLI lifeguard supervisors and technicians, but we are really pleased to be able to provide safety cover on over 70 per cent of the beaches we’d usually cover by the beginning of July.”
In order to ensure the safety of both our lifeguards and the public at this time, the charity has provided lifeguards with the appropriate PPE and enhanced training supporting the new operating procedures and precautions that must be taken in order to manage the challenges of coronavirus, in addition to the other demands of their role. This means the public may notice that the lifeguard service looks a little different this year. Lifeguards will wear PPE similar to ambulance crews in some situations. New protocols for all first responders mean the lifeguards may not deal with some minor first aid cases but will support people to treat themselves. They will also try to keep socially distant from beach goers, and may need to adopt different patrol methods at times, such as not using the red and yellow flags and asking people to keep apart but close to shore, to help keep people safe while maintaining social distancing. Mr Botterill continued: “With the large surf conditions forecast coupled with spring tides, rips currents will be stronger than normal. We are urging surfers and bathers to not enter the water alone, always go to a lifeguarded beach and ask the lifeguards and local surfers for advice. “With the summer solstice in full swing it will be light until 10pm for the next couple of weeks so please be careful if you are surfing or swimming outside of lifeguarded hours. Know your limits and know what to do if you are caught in a rip current or get into difficulty. Keep hold of your board or floatation device and paddle parallel to the shore.” Anyone planning a visit to the coast should remember and follow RNLI safety advice: ● Have a plan – check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage ● Keep a close eye on your family – on the beach and in the water ● Do not allow your family to swim or surf alone ● Do not use inflatables ● If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE, fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and FLOAT ● In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard
Friday, June 26 2020 9
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RICHARD AUSTIN’S PHOTO FILE
AFTER all said and done, they were here first - seagulls that is - and you either love them or hate them. But nowadays the relationship between the gulls and sun-worshippers eating lunch on the beach is fraying at the edges. Pasties, ice creams, sausage rolls, sandwiches are all on the al fresco menu for the masters of the sky, especially in Lyme Regis. Thinking back and as a kid from Kingsway, I don’t remember ever seeing a gull nesting on any roof top anywhere. Those were the days when Lyme Regis was its own borough and had its own rubbish tip where everything was dumped over the edge of the cliff at the end of the Davey Fort lane. In doing so the gulls and thousands of rats fed off discarded food of all sorts. A few decades ago this process of dumping everything over the edge of the cliff stopped overnight, leaving the gulls with a shortage of food. They then began to look
further for sustenance and the beach it was - the only drawback from their point of view was that humans were eating it and not them. For a while the gulls started nesting on the graves in the cemetery but they soon moved on to the comfortable roof tiles of dozens of houses. In the early days of roof nesting, especially when the chicks had hatched, people were dive bombed and struck on the head but I think the birds have evolved into thinking if they wipe out half the Lyme population with head strikes there won’t be anyone left to carry the food on the seafront! Smart birds are these gulls, they even know the difference between breakfast and lunch; the gulls only start their pasty hunt at lunch time, so if you want to avoid becoming a fully paid up member of the “I’ve been snatched” club, then eat your lunch at breakfast time!
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RICHARD AUSTIN’S PHOTO FILE
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A hotch-potch of architecture: how The Woodroffe School has developed since its foundation stone was laid in 1931
T
HE Woodroffe School. Home to 1,075 children, it grew like topsy from the latter part of the 20th century and such is its popularity, it is not unusual for parents to rent a house in or around Lyme Regis just to get an address within the catchment area.
But I’m not interested in pupil numbers, stats or SATS (don’t get me started on that topic), I wanted to know what lies behind the façade of that renowned Arts & Crafts architectural design. It seems the concrete of the 60s and 70s and wooden huts of the 80s mostly, making it a hotch-potch of misfits and add-ons. The foundation stone was laid on April 29 1931 by Alban Woodroffe and it was opened by Lord Shaftesbury on May 23 1932; by September there were 144 pupils. “If I could, I’d bulldoze the whole lot and start again,” was the opinion given by a previous incumbent during my first visit to the school in 2011. Being an admirer of the 1920s style of building, I thought that was a bit harsh but then I didn’t have to deal with the daily challenge of maintaining a site that has had to shoehorn in additional space for the increasing number of pupils. “It’s a stunning location, but it’s also the location that is part of the problem” A slightly more sympathetic opinion given by the current headteacher, Dan Watts. With just under two terms under his belt when I spoke to him before the coronavirus outbreak, Dan spoke positively about his new charge. “It’s not only built on an incline but due to the geography of the area, anything we do is going to be expensive.” Having worked in a number of different schools across the country, Dan knows how important it is to work with the local councils and government as the schemes on offer fall into and out of favour. Gone are the days when all it took was a bit of behind the scenes manipulation (as it is alleged happened in 1923 when Woodroffe ensured there were sufficient eligible children to justify a school); for instance there’s the Private Fund Initiative (PFI) or the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) and Dan has wisely organised termly meetings with Lyme’s mayor Brian Larcombe. But mnemonics and geography aside, how has the Woodroffe School coped with its increasing popularity vs. its limited space to ex-
From 144 pupils to over 1,000, guest writer Sophia Moseley explores how The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis has developed, not just in numbers, but architecturally over the past 90 years pand? “You can tell how it’s developed overtime without looking at plans,” says Dan, “you can see the timeline of architecture and styles.” That includes the huts that are a bit like marmite, you either love them or hate them and I’ve spoken to staff and pupils alike who say they are warm and dry so sometimes preferable to the main building! But even if they could bulldoze the school and start afresh, that might create more problems than it solves because the latest schemes are formulae-based and calculate building capacity on student numbers and the curriculum, so there is the possibility you end up with less room or less flexible space. Chris Sweetland, who was known as ‘Mr Starter’ from firing the starting pistol at the swimming galas, started teaching at the school in 1971 when the majority of pupils were from either a diplomatic background or military and he can remember the Emperor of Ethiopia’s son being a student who was at times a royal pain in the neck. “All the building work has been done during holiday time so there is no disruption, other than 1981 when three new labs were built,” he said. Local cartoonist Ian Dicks was a Woodroffe boarder during the mid 60s. His parents thought he needed a bit of toughening up having grown up with four sisters. He remembers the dorms were the worst of the 60s concrete craze with an extension bolted onto the Georgian elegance of St Andrews. “The walls ran with condensation during the winter and the floor was like an ice rink as you skidded across,” he said. “There were radiators, but none of them worked and the curtains at the windows were only for show, they weren’t big enough to cover the window, and the shower had a lead tray and no curtain with a dribble of water coming out, so no one used it.”
NEW headteacher Dan Watts has said the school is built in a ‘stunning location’, but it’s its location that is part of the problem as it offers limited space to expand
When I told Ian the school swimming pool was no more, he was very disappointed. “It opened just before I arrived and that’s where I learned to swim.” It seems the girls’ accommodation was luxurious in comparison and even the boys’ leisure time did nothing to raise their spirits. “There was table tennis but no bats THE original school building is well known for its recognisable Arts & Crafts arand a billiard table chitectural design with the wrong balls, but you didn’t complain. Major Pearn ran the means cutting into the grass bank, but unlike boarding house with military authority; I re- previous additions, this is not intended to inmember he had a very expressive pipe per- crease capacity but to improve the quality of space for new teaching. manently clamped between his teeth.” There are also plans to remove some of the There’s no question the original school building is impressive but with the mish- huts, although it is undecided what will happen to the space that is left; it might be used mash of different architectural designs as the site has grown over the decades, it doesn’t ex- to alleviate the squeeze on parking. With the developers’ determination to proactly ‘flow’, says Dan. “With the various building materials and mote interesting architectural design to hardesigns, it can be a little challenging when it monise with our ever-changing environment, comes to maintenance, particularly as some I wonder what people will think of the latest of the eras were worse than others when it development in 10 or 20 years’ time. Chances are everyone will have their brains came to building methods.” But there are now plans afoot for a new hotwired into a device of some sort and won’t build in the summer. There will be a block even notice their surrounds… definitely don’t built to the side of the sports hall, which get me started on that topic!
NEWS FROM CITIZENS ADVICE
ONE in three people (36 per cent) in the South West region have been the target of a scam since lockdown came into effect across the country, finds Citizens Advice Dorset. Over half of people (58 per cent) are worried someone they know will fall foul of a con. And the large majority of people (88 per cent), reported they felt wary of coronavirus scams. There are many new scams around at the moment and fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated ways of accessing personal information such as sending emails pretending to be from the government saying there are problems with people’s direct debit payments for, say, TV licences and asking for banking details to be entered. As part of #ScamAware fortnight which runs from June 15, Citizens Advice across Dorset and Trading Standards are encouraging people to talk about their experiences and look out for others they think could be at risk. Rovarn Wickremasinghe, chief officer of Citizens Advice Bridport, said: “Our data shows that the last few months have been very difficult for a lot of people across Dorset. And despite this, we’ve seen appalling evidence of opportunistic scammers taking advantage of people’s worries and concerns. “One third of people in the South West have been targeted by a scam since lockdown began, showing we all need to be on high alert. “It’s really important we all do our bit and report anything that looks like a con when we see it. By learning how scammers operate, and helping each other understand what to look out for, we can all work together to stop fraudsters in their tracks.“ To help stop more people being fleeced by these types of scams, Citizens Advice Dorset and Trading Standards are sharing the following tips on how to spot them. If you’re worried you, or someone you know, could be getting scammed take the following steps: ● Look into installing a call blocker to help combat telephone scams
Talk to your or their bank immediately if there is any suspicious activity or transactions from their account or credit cards ● Report the scam to Citizens Advice who will give you advice on what to do next and report the scam to Trading Standards at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/reporting-a-scam ● For online scams call Citizens Advice Online Scams Action advisers on 0808 250 5050 between 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday ● Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 ● If you or someone you know is struggling to pay bills or outstanding debts Citizens Advice may be able to help You can also take the following steps to safeguard yourself and others: ● Be suspicious if you’re contacted out of the blue, even if it’s from a name you recognise ● If it sounds too good to be true it probably is ● Never send money to someone you’ve never met ● Never give out your bank details unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you ● Stay alert for emails requesting personal information and always check the sender’s email even if it looks official ● Don’t be rushed – you never need to make a decision straight away and if you feel pressured say “no” ● Suspect a scam? Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line or use another phone to call Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams Contact Citizens Advice if you need help because of a scam. Phone us and leave a message on 01308 456594 or call Dorset AdviceLine on 0344 111 444 or send an email to advice@bridport-cab.org.uk. We will call you back. ●
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Council reserves expected to drop by £900k in wake of coronavirus pandemic CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE Although car parks are now open at the Monmouth Beach caravan and chalet park is expected to open in July - the council’s tow biggest sources of income - financial forecasts shown that the reserves are expected to continue dropping over the next year. By October they are expected to drop to £496,288, when the council enters a “warning” phase as this is only 40 per cent of its opening balance, and by January 2021 the authority will be breaching policy as the figure drops to £229,531, less than 20 per cent of its opening balance. By the end of the financial year in March 2021, the reserves are predicted to be just £67,000. However, town clerk John Wright has warned that is currently it very difficult to make accurate financial predictions due to the constantly-changing circumstances, and these figures could vary by anything up to £200,000 either way. In a report presented to councillors, the town clerk explained the assumptions on which the financial predictions have been made. Car parking and amenities such as the mini golf, expected to open in July, are predicted to make 50 per cent of their historic income. The council is expecting to receive 75 per cent of income payable in 2020-21 from the chalet and caravan park and commercial rent is expected to drop from £190,000 to £120,000 as the council is aware of some tenant in financial difficulties. The town clerk has admitted that the council does have a financial “issue”, adding that the pandemic was “wiping out our reserves”. He has now called a special virtual meeting of the council specifically to discuss this and
measures which could be undertaken to improve the current outlook. This meeting will be held in private due to the “sensitive” subject matter. Speaking during the public forum of this week’s virtual full council meeting - the first to be held in public since lockdown was introduced - former councillor Steve Miller questioned whether the council was taking any measures to ensure it “does not go bust”. The town clerk reported that all non-contractual expenditure had been stopped, that many staff have been placed on the furlough scheme and the council had been seeking funding from elsewhere, including government grants, but had so far been unsuccessful in this. He has not given any further details of the money-saving measures to be discussed at next week’s private meeting. Office refurbishment put on hold Councillor Michaela Ellis said this was the “most important issue” the council needed to be discussing. Looking at the list of decisions made by the town clerk and mayor during the lockdown period, she said she was concerned about money being spent on the proposed council office refurbishment, which she suggested should be put on hold until they had a better idea of their future finances. Deputy town clerk Mark Green said that urgent work requited to a lintel at the office would go ahead, which would only cost between £2,000 and £3,000. An architect had drawn up proposals for the office refurbishment and an invoice for this had now been received, but there was currently no intention to spend any further money on the project. Councillor Stan Williams said he was “deeply
concerned” about the council’s finances, and questioned whether outstanding payments from Monmouth Beach chalet owners had been chased up, and whether Dorset Council was paying for use of town council land near the Cobb. “Monmouth Beach used to be out goldmine and it could be again,” he added. “We need to me awake and we are not awake on these issues.” The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Brian Larcombe MBE, said the council’s reserves had been “grown quite dramatically” in previous years, in part to pay for “essential asset maintenance” that had to be carried out, such as resurfacing of the flat roof area, which is estimated to cost £600,000. He said the reserve they still had was much larger than many other local councils, although this did not mean it was not going to be difficult as the virus had “hit everyone in different ways”. The mayor later added that the pandemic had shown them that the town’s dependency on tourism-related income had become too high. Councillor Rob Smith agreed, adding that a second wave of coronavirus or any other kind of crisis could hit the council’s finances again in the future. Councillors are now expected to meet virtually at the beginning of July to discuss how the town will be reopening at lockdown measures are lifted, and the measures that need to be taken to improve the financial situation. Although the meeting will be held in private due to sensitive financial matters, the mayor has told LymeOnline a full statement about the measures to be taken will be issued afterwards.
Coastguards called to injured woman LYME Regis coastguards were called out on Monday, June 22 to help a 65-year-old woman with a suspected broken pelvis. The woman had fallen about 1.5 metres from a groyne on the beach and landed on a rock, with her left hip taking most of the impact. The initial reports said that the ambulance might take an hour to arrive. After assessing the casualty and her injuries, coastguards found the woman’s pelvis was splinted she was carefully ‘packaged’ onto a stretcher. The casualty was then carried further up the beach to avoid the incoming tide. When the ambulance arrived, the woman was taken to Dorset County Hospital at Dorchester for further treatment. For emergencies on the cliffs, beach, sea or tidal river, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Town bus service reinstated this week FOLLOWING a suspension during the coronavirus lockdown, the Lyme Regis town bus service will be back up and running on Monday, June 29. The 71 bus, operated by Damory and subsidised by the town council, was suspended at the end of March due to lockdown restrictions. It will be back up and running next week, but passengers should note that they are now required to wear a face covering when using public transport.
Anti-social behaviour in the gardens
POLICE received reports of anti-social behaviour including loud music in Langmoor Gardens, Lyme Regis, in the early hours of Thursday, June 25. It was reported that this is a regular issue between the hours of around 11.30pm and 2am to 3am. Local officers have been made aware and will be making enquiries.
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Happy 70th Birthday Les Bounds - 21st June 2020 Love from sons Adam & Jamie and grandson Owen xx
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Raising spirits and charity Council ‘prioritising businesses funds at Fairfield House over residents’ during lockdown
FAIRFIELD House Residential Care Home in Lyme Regis recently held a cupcake day for staff and residents to enjoy, while also raising funds for The Alzheimer’s Society. The event raised £76.85, which staff said was a huge success considering restrictions the care home is currently under due to the coronavirus pandemic. All staff members baked cakes and the “fun filled day” also included a raffle, helping to keep spirits high during this challenging period.
A LYME Regis resident has said he feel the actions of the town council during lockdown have favoured tourism-related businesses over residents, who have been left “overly exposed to danger”. At this week’s virtual full council meeting, Councillor Cheryl Reynolds read a statement on behalf of resident Adrian Robinson, who accused the council of prioritising business interests over the safety of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that, while he condemned reported acts of abuse towards second home-owners during the lockdown period, the crowds recently seen on local beaches felt like a “kick in the face” from visitors who had been asked to stay away and he also condemned second home-owners who defied government advice to stay at the primary residence. Mr Robinson added: “The effects of these actions did a great deal to foster resentment among some local people and has led to an unresolved hiatus in relations between many locals and the visiting public.” Mr Robinson added that social media comments referring to “NIMBYs, yokles and inbreds” had been equally unacceptable to those against visitors Speaking about the mayor’s recent decision to post letters to holiday let owners to tell them they would be welcome in Lyme Regis again when restrictions were lifted, Mr Robinson asked why letters were not sent out earlier in lockdown asking visitors to follow guidelines
and stay away. “Dorset Council has acted in balanced way for all its voters in deterring visitors through the lockdown period,” he added. “However, we are dismayed that the town council has solely acted in support of the often very loudly stated pecuniary interests of local businesses, not always locally owned, and has failed to recognise and address the deep concerns of local residents who do not have a direct pecuniary interest in tourism, and have feel your willingness to welcome people to share our wonderful town has been sorely abused.” He continued: “We recognise the vital importance of the local economy. However, many residents have told us they feel their concerns have been left unaddressed and that pecuniary interests are the only concerns that gain the ear of our town council.” Mr Robison added that the actions of the town council has left residents “overly exposed to danger” and were at a disconnect to the actions of Dorset Council and West Dorset MP Chris Loder. Town clerk John Wright said that the they had worked very closely with Dorset Council and Mr Loder throughout lockdown and had followed government guidelines when making decisions on car parks, etc. He added that it had been “incredibly difficult to maintain a balancing act” and they had tried to take into account the interests of both businesses and residents throughout the pandemic.
This month at the Marine LymeOnline Letters Catch up with Lyme’s Little Theatre by the Sea
THE show must go on... even when there’s a pandemic. In fact, when you come to think about it, during its 125 years, the Marine has survived two world wars, the Great Depression and six major recessions. So when COVID-19 hit, we rose to the challenge to continue to give first class entertainment to our wonderfully supportive audience. Stage right…Declan Duffy. Yes, with its growing reputation and popularity, the Sunday Session or as our own John Puckey nicknamed it, the ‘post roast’ music session, moved online so performers could Zoom into each other’s home for an afternoon of jamming with friends. The first one went out on April 14 when Declan, many of whom will know from that epic outdoor performance, ‘Monmouth’, but who is also a musician and songwriter, hosted the monthly musical medley. Since its early days in the Marine bar to when it outgrew that space and moved to the main auditorium, Declan was keen to keep the musical spirit alive and continued the open mic sessions via Zoom. There were two more in May and June. Declan told me “the sessions are an extremely rewarding community event that I look forward to each month. Our regulars include Andreas the German slide guitar master, Richard the harmonica and Gerry the Cajon”. When it moved online, other than a few minor internet problems, people were still eager to take part. If you want to take part in the next one, all you need to do is pre-register on the Marine Theatre Facebook page. Declan is looking forward to when he can welcome everyone back to the Marine. “The key missing aspect is the physical con-
nection most of us need,” he said. More online entertainment was our brilliant community play that premiered on YouTube. ‘Are You Going to the Marine?’ really did draw the crowds; originally scheduled to be shown at the Marine on June 3, it was made available on YouTube and with over 400 views, it is a show that will go on forever. Another planned online event is Invisible Music on Wednesday, July 15 starting at 8pm. This experimental new musical journey from Pete Flood (Bellowhead’s arranger and composer) takes you on an immersive journey of hearing loss drawn from Platform 4 Artistic Director Catherine Church’s personal experience. Go to our website to find out more. Our Young Technicians’ Course starts Monday, September 21. This 10 week course will provide the first step in technical training to enter the world of music and the theatre industry. This is a subsidised programme to give all young people aged 16-25 the opportunity to gain new skills and practical experience. We have joined forces with B Sharp and the programme is limited to 10 participants. To find out more, go to our website. Our Reopen the Marine Theatre Fund has so far raised a remarkable £5,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of our wonderful supporters. We cannot wait to see you all again very soon when COVID-19 will be another notch in our theatrical bedpost!
Sophia Moseley
Theatre manager
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Statue celebrates colonisation - ‘the precursor to slavery’ ■ I HAVE been reading with great interest the local articles about the vandalism of the George Somers statue in Lyme Regis, and I am sure there has been much discussion amongst the local journalists about this. I am intrigued to know whether the permanence of the statue will be reviewed, as it is with many of the controversial statues around the country. I was disappointed with the tact of your article (Philip Evans’ Lyme Matters column, (June 12), and brushing off the relevance of statues in peoples lives - yes, they are inanimate objects, but to many they represent something that should not be celebrated and they link to a brutal history of racism that is still so systemic in our country. Removing something that reminds people of this racism whenever they see it would be a step in the right direction of solving our problems of today. Anish Kapoor says of statues: "Statues are not history, they are emblematic monuments to our past which can be thought to represent how we see ourselves and our history. It is long overdue that we reassess these emblems and get rid of the bigots they portray. “We must acknowledge the horror perpetrated in our names by these horrid individuals and seek to find nobler ways to make spaces of commemoration and history. This must now mean looking at the forgotten amongst us." I am fully aware of the links between Lyme Regis and Bermuda, which came about by chance when Somers ran ashore on Bermuda and colonised it. Supporters of the statue will of course argue that Somers died before the slave trade started, however, this is really not the point. As children we were all taught about the great achievements
of the British Empire and this has become normalised for so many. Of course, this history was brutal and colonisation was the precursor to slavery. It was based on the assumption that indigenous people were "savage" and inferior, it was based on racism. Whether Somers was involved in slavery or not is therefore irrelevant - we are celebrating a man who took over a country, taking away the rights of the indigenous people. Is this right? It is actually incorrect that the slave trade was not happening until after the death of George Somers. The first British slave trader was John Hawkins, who with his cousin Frances Drake was said to have captured between 1200 and 1400 West Africans between 1562 and 1567. He sold these people to the Spanish. It is estimated that three times that the capture of these people would have involved the killing of three times that number. Slavery was well and truly happening during George Somers' time. Whether he was a slave trader or not is almost irrelevant. He sailed across to the Caribbean to steal land that was not his. I found it very interesting that Bermuda itself has removed the Somers Day part of its biggest national holiday (Cup Match), replacing it with Mary Prince Day - a great instrumental woman who was involved in the abolishment of slavery and also happened to be traded as a slave. This is rather more fitting as a pairing to the first day of the national holiday, which is the Emancipation Day. I am sure there are many more relevant people who could be celebrated (most obviously Mary Anning of course who is at last hopefully going to be celebrated with a statue). Ashley Wheeler (by email)
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My cricketing memories – Part Three
Snooker at the Regent Cinema By PHILIP EVANS
F
OR most of my cricketing days we used to get changed in the old pavilion on the far side of the King George V playing field.
It was typical of the facilities at village cricket grounds at the time in that it had no facilities! If you wanted a pee, you had go behind the pavilion and do it in the brook that ran around the ground. But it looked pretty and to this day it still gets complimentary remarks from visitors. Those relieving themselves had to tread carefully, however. One senior player, who shall remain nameless to protect his blushes, slipped into the river whilst doing so and entered the field of play with his whites soaked and caked in mud. He didn’t say anything, pretending everything was normal, but we knew better. The old pavilion was replaced by a purpose-built construction in the early 1980s, costing, I think, about £8,000. The work was led by one of Uplyme’s great stalwarts over the years, Arthur Larcombe, with help from numerous players who worked in the building industry and some of us who were not much use at all. My skills were put to much better use by organising a three-week festival of sport in 1982 to help raise money to build the pavilion with great assistance from chairman Dennis Applebee. We produced a newspaper and delivered it to every house in Lyme and Uplyme to promote the event
which brought a number of sporting celebrities to the town - footballer Jimmy Greaves, cricketer Colin Milburn and gymnast Suzanne Dando. One of the most successful events was a professional snooker match which we held at the Regent Cinema. We took out the first four rows of seating to accommodate a fullsized snooker table which had to be built from scratch by a team who specialised in such events. An exhibition match was then played between former world champion Terry Griffiths and Cliff Thornburn, two of the top snooker professionals in those days, with our club umpire Jim McMurty, who ran the Conservative Club in Coombe Street where snooker was played, as referee. We rigged the light above the table using scaffolding but as the game progressed the light got lower and lower, causing the players to run around the table to make their shots and finish the match quickly. It was the first time professional snooker had been played in the town. It hasn’t happened since and I don’t suppose it ever will again. With about 400 people buying tickets, it made a sizeable profit although we had to pay the players a pretty hefty fee and import a proper snooker table, which was not cheap. Another very popular event was a soccer symposium at the Marine Theatre featuring the great Jimmy. Greaves whose alcoholism at that time was well documented. Jimmy took questions from the floor for two hours from an audience that included many local footballers from around the area. I remember one very convoluted
THE new cricket paviion at the King George V playing field which was built by members of Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club
THE old pavilion, now used as a store, in the idyllic setting of Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club on the King George V playing field. question coming from a local club manager about training techniques. Before he answered, Jimmy leaned over to me and said “I bloody hate coaches” and he went on to say how he thought they were ruining the modern game. To be polite, at half-time I asked if he wanted to go up to the bar. His response did not surprise me. “No thanks mate, if I go up there you will never get me out.” I thought I might finish this third part of my cricketing memories with my recollections of some of the characters I played with at Uplyme. That’s the thing about cricket there are no shortages of characters. One that immediately springs to mind was Ken Hutchings, a cricket fanatic who arrived in town. He was very knowledgable about the game but he was never going to trouble the scorers too much. But you could do nothing but admire his enthusiasm in the field. I was keeping wicket when the batsmen skied the ball and I positioned myself to take what was certain to be the easiest catch of the day. As I was cupping my gloves to do so I could hear this heavy breathing and wheezing sound getting closer and, just as I was about to take the catch, Ken dived to do likewise, grounding me and the stumps in a cloud of dust. Fortunately, I held onto the ball. Ken picked himself up, dusted down his whites and strolled back to the boundary muttering: “I must
stop taking those Derek Randall pills!” Ken was so keen on cricket that it was rumoured, with some truth I might say, that he would lay in bed on a match day morning bouncing a cricket ball off the bedroom wall! Although we played our games in a competitive spirit, there was always plenty of laughter before, during and after the games. And there was always laughter in great abundance when you were playing with spin bowler Brian ‘BJ’ Rattenbury, who always referred to the cricket ball as “the crimson rambler”. Brian is a great mimic and was able to take on our beloved chairman Dennis Applebee to the tee in a cockney accent and peppered with Dennis-type stutterings. Another character I enjoyed playing with was former Yeovil Town director Mike Spearpoint. Mike was ultra-competitive, winning was all that mattered, but he always had a good word to say about his team mates, irrespective of ability. Sometimes, however, his competitiveness would get the better of him. One occasion none of us will forget was when he threatened to hit a visiting batsman - whose family had strong associations with the club - over his head with his bat. He was half way up the wicket, bat waving around his head, before we could calm him down. The player with the dryest sense of humour had to be wicketkeeper
Chris Sweetland, now a much admired umpire in Somerset cricketing circles. Standing in the slips beside him was an hilarious experience as he always had a quip or two about the visiting batsmen. Chris was also club secretary for a time and the manner in which he recorded the minutes of committee meetings would do justice to any comedy sketch. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon we would have friendlies against groups that played cricket just for fun. Regulars to the King George V were the Taunton Wine Circle who always brought dangerous quantities of their homemade hooch. We were batting and had already consumed a gallon of extremely potent banana wine. Terry Matthews was clearly seeing the ball like a football and started cracking the ball all around the ground, including one giant six into the tennis courts. Soaking up the applause, he turned to the crowd and ran his hand from the quiff, forever to be known since then as ‘The Fonz’. That was the night I took Brian Rattenbury home in the boot of my car and Terry lost nearly all his kit going up Whalley Lane, bouncing off each side of the road and emptying his kit bag at the same time. Such happy days! In the final part of my cricketing memories I’ll recall a few more tales from the King George V playing field.
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