LymeOnline May 4 2018

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HAVING A (MASKED) BALL! PAGE 12

Council invests more to keep seafront tidy THE town council has said it is investing more resources into keeping Lyme Regis seafront clean and tidy during the busy summer season.

Town clerk John Wright reported at the annual town meeting that the council had appointed a new seafront attendant and cleansing operative, and was working closely with Dorset Waste Partnership to ensure to seafront is kept clean during summer.

However, Councillor Stan Williams expressed concerns that the sandy beach was not cleaned regularly enough.

REPORT, PAGE 3

Plans revealed for six acre nature reserve

AFTER weeks of poor weather, there’s finally signs of spring in the area with bluebells appearing and golden rapeseed fields in full bloom. Pictured above, Lyme Regis youngster Amelie Austin makes the most of the finer weather Photo by Richard Austin

BOWLED OVER! Bowls club ‘will fold’ if council triples car parking charges MEMBERS of Lyme Regis Bowls Club have warned town councillors that the sporting facility will close down by 2021 if they do not lower “outrageous” charges for their car parking area.

About 35 club members packed the Guildhall this week to object to the council’s latest proposal regarding the club’s lease for its car parking area at Monmouth Beach - to

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk 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.

The town clerk previously advised that the market value for each space was just under £2,000, so the total charge for the club’s car parking area would be about £24,000 – more than three times the amount

currently paid, £7,752.

Several members of the bowls club objected to the suggested charge during the public forum, and complained that the council had been unwilling to meet with them to discuss the lease.

Discussions regarding the lease have been ongoing for two years, with little progress made between the two parties.

The bowls club objected to the council’s previous proposal to charge for 24 car parking spaces at

50 per cent of the market value, arguing that there was only space for 11 cars.

After club members brought a toscale model of the car park to a council meeting last year, showing the spaces marked out according to Dorset County Council regulations, the council settled on the figure of 12 car parking spaces but with the suggestion of charging full market value for them unless the club was FULL STORY ON PAGE 3

EXCITING plans to create a nature reserve and wildflower meadow on the outskirts of Charmouth were revealed at the annual parish meeting last week.

The well attended meeting listened intently to Rob Powell, owner of Hogchester Farm, which sits in Char Valley parish, about his plans to make six acres of the land available for the community project.

REPORT, PAGE 11

Reserves score 31 goals in a week

LYME Regis Reserves scored 31 goals in a week to go top of the Devon & Exeter League Division 5.

They beat previous leaders, Black Swan Town, 3-2, followed by an 11-0 victory over Offwell, a 9-0 win over Dunkeswell and an eight 8-2 victory against Awliscombe.

REPORT, PAGE 24

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

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Council to negotiate with bowls club CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE willing to give up its parking area out of season.

Club captain Alan Nabarro condemned the council at this week’s meeting, describing the proposed charges as “outrageous”, “unethical” and “draconian”.

He commented: “We are here in numbers to protest the latest outrageous proposal this committee is being asked to approve. For several years we have requested that the council discuss the actual number of spaces in the car park. Only now, after our presentation last November in which we showed there were only 11 spaces there against the 24 spaces we had been charged for, you finally get around to measuring it and finally agree with us that’s it’s 11 spaces.

“In the autumn of 2016 the Assets on Monmouth Beach Working Group advised they would discuss charges with us when they had their final figures. Instead, they ignored this and passed a motion in November 2016, massively increasing the charges of the car park.

“We advised this was not viable for the bowls club to survive and requested meetings to discuss this, particularly as this was based on overcharging for the actual number of spaces – 24 against 11. All our requests for meetings have been refused continually and our only access to the council has been through attending the public forum – what a shocking way to treat us, really.

“With the council finally accepting the lower amount of spaces, you respond by charging an even higher amount than the original motion passed in 2016, withdrawing the standard reduction for commercial long-term leases – how unethical is this?”

Mr Nabarro said that the council’s consultant had advised that the club should be charged 30 to 50 per cent of the market value for their car parking spaces, adding: “I recall the anguish of this council when West Dorset District Council charged you just 20 per cent for the loss of their income in Charmouth Road car park for the skatepark. It seems fairness only works one way in this council.”

He continued: “Many councillors have professed support for the bowling club but when it comes to votes, it mysteriously evaporates. If you insist with these draconian charges the bowls club will not survive for long. What then?

“You are demanding we pay a quarter of a million pounds over the next 10 years. Do you want to lose one of the jewels in the crown of Lyme Regis? If not, do not pass the proposal put before you tonight and arrange a meeting between us so we can come to a fair solution.”

Several other club members also put forward arguments, including that the council should follow government policy to encourage exercise for older people; that the council gives out “generous grants” to local organisations but the bowls club had never requested funding; and that the club was an asset and attraction, bringing many visiting clubs to the town.

Club will ‘cease to exist’ Club member Jim Mosley added: “If you implement your recommendation as you see tonight, the bowling club will cease to exist in 2021.”

Councillor Owen Lovell said that the bowling club’s car park was always “chock-full of cars” and that the club had willingly signed up to numbers of spaces and figures set by the council when they first asked for a parking area.

He also pointed out that the council had previously contributed to the club, spending £30,000 to replace fencing.

He added: “I make no apologies for saying, that if I take up the exercise argument that was made tonight, you might suggest they park at Woodmead Halls and walk down.”

His comments received jeers from the public forum, with club members shouting: “Disgraceful!”

Councillor Lovell added that the proposal under discussion was a starting negotiating figure for the council and not necessarily the final charge, and asked club members to “be realistic”.

Councillor Derek Hallett spoke in favour of the bowls club, winning cheers from the packed

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Guildhall.

He said: “There’s four clubs down there, this is the first one to come up and we can all see the financial situation that could ruin this club and go on to ruin the power boat club, sailing club.

“These people work their socks off trying to raise money, they have amazing competitions down there, they invite dozens of clubs to the town.

“This council is money mad, we’re not supporting the community whatsoever. We give hundreds of thousands to all the other things, they ask for nothing, for heaven’s sake support them.”

Councillor Jeff Scowen commented: “I think the bowling club is an amazing asset to the town, I love it. It’s a shame we’re in this position but we need to come together and come to an agreement for both sides.

“We are not money mad, we are well off and we can afford a fair settlement. We want you to survive and thrive, you are a tremendous asset. We want you to survive but we have an obligation to look after the town’s money as well, so you have to see it from our side.”

He emphasised Councillor Lovell’s point that the proposal was a starting point for negotiations, asking club members not to be “horrified” by the words ‘full market value’.

Councillor Stan Williams added: “It’s one of the best club’s in the country... the club is vitally important, very popular, brings people from all over the country and we should fully support it.”

It was eventually agreed 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.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Nabarro said he was pleased they had made some progress as the council had agreed to negotiate with the club and had accepted the lower number of car parking spaces. He added that the club was happy to discuss giving up its parking area during certain months and come to an agreement with the council.

Friday, May 4 2018 3

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FULL COVERAGE OF LYME REGIS ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

Council ‘investing resources’ to keep Lyme’s seafront clean THE town council has said it is investing more resources into keeping Lyme Regis seafront clean and tidy during the busy summer season.

Speaking at the recent annual town meeting, local resident Betty Holmes asked how the town council was planning to work with Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) to resolve the problem of waste bin collection on the seafront during major events.

Town clerk John Wright said the council had been investing a lot of resources this year and last in the seafront, and had appointed a seafront attendant and a new cleansing operative.

He added: “We have now got 94 hours worth of resources to support seafront activities. When we have major events, we focus those resources on supporting those events because we think it’s really important.

“At the same time, we’re having very strong conversations with the event organisers, because actually it’s the responsibility of the event organisers to take their rubbish away.

“DWP finish on the seafront in the early evening and we need to make sure we carry the baton on those busy days. We have thought about this and we are doing something.”

Mrs Holmes said: “I said major events but actually I went down during the Easter holidays when it was a nice day and I was appalled that there again the rubbish was spewing out of the bins. I feel ashamed to be a Lyme Regis resident when I see that.”

Mr Wright replied: “We will not get it right every time but we’re not just looking at major events but holidays and weekends when we know we’re going to be at our busiest. That’s where we put our resources.”

District and county councillor Daryl Turner said eco-group Turn Lyme Green was working to alleviate the use of polystyrene and plastic, which some businesses had already taken on board.

“Imagine the impact if all those shops on the seafront did that,” he said.

Town councillor Stan Williams expressed concern that the sandy beach was dirty and had not been cleaned in recent months.

“On Wednesday I went down the front to look at our lovely, beautiful sandy beach and it was disgraceful,” he said.

“The winter rubbish is still on it, logs, seaweed and mess, everything brought up on it. It’s not clean, it’s absolutely terrible. The beach-cleaning machine has not been there.

“We’re crazy, this council is falling apart on deal-

FRANCESCA EVANS

francesca@lyme-online.co.uk ing with urgent matters. We have more staff than we’ve ever had, I called into the office to complain but it’s not been done properly. Really disgusting!”

The town council administrative officer Adrianne Mullins reported that the tractor and beachcleaning machine had not been able to get on the sand because of a ridge caused by recent stormy weather. However, she said the council’s outside workforce had been sent down to the beach that day to clear as much as possible by hand.

Councillor Jeff Scowen said he thought Councillor Williams was being unfair, adding: “This is a seaside place, we do have storms, we can’t clean up every little bit of log that comes up. It’s not that bad, I’m sure it’s no worse than anywhere else. I think you’re being a little unfair on our beautiful seafront.”

Lyme resident Nigel Ball asked who was responsible for leveling the ridge created on the sandy beach. Councillor Turner reported that West Dorset District Council had no funding to replen-

CLLR Stan Williams said the sandy beach was ‘disgusting’ but Cllr Jeff Scowen said his comments were ‘unfair’ ish the beach. However, when it dredged the harbour once a year, the material removed from the harbour was deposited on the beach.

The dredging took place two weeks ago, and Councillor Turner added: “What’s happened since then is called nature.”

Mr Ball said that a lack of funding was going to become more apparent as a unitary authority took over the existing district and county councils and the community was going to have to work together to overcome such issues.

Flagship Jubilee Pavilion is ‘wasted’ LYME Regis Town Council has been told that its “flagship” Jubilee Pavilion has become “wasted”.

The Jubilee Pavilion on Marine Parade was officially opened in 2012 following extensive refurbishment to the area. It includes a market area, performance area, two community rooms available for hire and a visitor information point.

Speaking at the annual town meeting, Betty Holmes, a former volunteer at the information point, asked the town council what its long-term plans for the pavilion were, as it was not being opened regularly.

Councillor Cheryl Reynolds, chairman of the town’s Tourism, Community & Publicity Committee, said that they currently did not have enough volunteers to open the pavilion throughout the week but were considering whether it would be viable to open it just at weekends.

Mrs Holmes replied: “You need somebody employed by the council, a marketing and commercial person. That’s your flagship building, you should be waving your flags down there.

“It needs to be professionally run, to run the volunteers, to run commercial letting of the rooms upstairs which are usually empty, to make that space in the pavilion something very attractive

that will attract both residents and visitors.

“I worked down there for many, many years and we got a lot of positive things from that, but we felt we weren’t really being supported by the council. It was dirty, the screens didn’t work, we had to complain, just little things like that.

“If you ran it professionally and you let those two rooms out on a commercial basis, that would more than pay for the salary of a person running it.

The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, said the council had previously advertised a marketing position for the Jubilee Pavilion but received no response.

Mrs Holmes replied: “It’s a white elephant to me, it’s such a shame.”

Lyme resident Nigel Ball added: “There was a canopy down there that has been missing for two years, the banners have gone missing, the poles are still stuck out of the walls. You’ve not really done anything with it.

“It’s become a bit of a hole, it’s wasted. When everything is new it’s great but it needs continuity of care. If you look at the bookings of those rooms, I bet it was hardly used last year. It’s a shame, it’s an asset to the town.”

minutes, you could ask the dustcart not to come down Broad Street at 11.30am, he could do it at 7am… even getting a stop-line above Hill Road on Silver Street. Little things like that would solve a lot. There’s so much that could be done but no one seems to be interested whatsoever.”

Mr Gollop did recognise that district and county councillor Daryl Turner had followed up his request for signage and two had recently been installed on Charmouth Road, although he had been hoping for larger signs.

The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, said that the town council had agreed to have a traffic survey carried out this year, and “hopefully we will get some answers from that”.

Councillor Stan Williams reported on a positive meeting with two highways officers from Dorset County Council, but expressed disappointment that more action had not been taken since.

“I have met people before who have said ‘we’re never going to Lyme Regis again’ because of the traffic. Devon won’t even talk to us, Dorset is almost as bad and I was very disappointed that they’re not doing anymore,” he said.

Councillor Jeff Scowen argued that action was being taken, commenting: “The town council is spending £25,000 on a traffic survey, a very comprehensive survey, and we are progressing with the signs.

“I don’t want people to think we’re complacent

and not doing anything because we are. We’re aware of the traffic problems in Lyme, but we’re also aware there’s no silver bullet otherwise it would have been done.”

At a council meeting just two days earlier, Councillor Scowen has said that they were “on the case” with traffic problems in Lyme Regis.

The council has also reported that it is currently waiting for a response from Highways England about the possible installation of further signs on the main roads into Lyme Regis.

Mr Gollop asked if those carrying out the survey would ask local residents what they thought of the traffic problems, adding: “They’ll come here for three or four days, stand at different points, look at the situation and go off again.

We’ve all been driving around Lyme for years, we know what the problems are. They need to get hold of the local people and ask.”

Town clerk John Wright confirmed that the survey would include public consultation.

Resident repeats request for action on traffic congestion

A LYME Regis resident has repeated requests for more to be done about traffic congestion in the town, saying that “nobody is interested in solving the problem”.

The comments were made by Lyme resident and former town councillor Ken Gollop at the annual town meeting , attended by just over 30 people.

Mr Gollop asked council representatives whether there would ever be a public consultation on traffic problems in Lyme Regis.

“This is a repeat of what I said last year, probably what I said for the past three or four years. Nobody seems to be interested in solving our traffic problems in Lyme,” he commented.

Mr Gollop said he had previously suggested to Dorset County Council that they install large signs on the approach to the town, similar to those seen in Cornwall, warning drivers of heavy good vehicles about sharp bends, narrow lanes and steep hills ahead.

He added: “If we had a couple of those up Charmouth Road you might educate these people that come straight through. They don’t take any notice at all of traffic regulations, they go straight round the corner at the London Inn and 20 yards down they meet a bus coming up, and they’re amazed to find this.

“It’s so simple, we could do a lot to alleviate the traffic problems in Lyme. You could ban the hearse from staying outside the church for 40

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■ CONCERNS have been expressed about the number of A-boards and goods on the pavements of Broad Street in Lyme Regis.

Businesses in Lyme Regis are allowed to display one A-board outside their premises, but enforcing this rule has become an ongoing issue in the town.

Speaking at the annual town meeting, former town councillor Ken Gollop pointed out that one shop was now even “selling deckchairs from the pavement”, and asked if Lyme would ever be rid of “A-boards which cause a danger to pedestrians”.

He added: “Some shops are just taking the mick. There’s four boards for one business within four foot. It doesn’t add to the cleanliness of the town.”

District and county councillor Daryl Turner said that A-board policy leaflets had been distributed to all businesses in Lyme but he would ask officers to speak to shopkeepers again and to enforce the rules. He added that trading from the pavements was not permitted under the highways act and the shop Mr Gollop was referring to had been told this.

■ LYME Regis resident Les Loveridge has expressed concerns about the amount of dog’s mess in the town’s cemetery.

At the annual town meeting, Mr Loveridge asked the council why they did not ban dogs from the cemetery, as it was their land.

He was told that West Dorset District Council was responsible for creating Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), and had not agreed with the town council’s request to ban dogs from the area.

Councillor Owen Lovell said the PSPOs would come up for review after three years, which was “our only hope”. He agreed that dogs should be banned, commenting: “People have shown time and time again that they can’t be trusted.”

Mr Loveridge also complained about a lack of maintenance in the cemetery, describing it as being in “disarray”.

The town clerk said the council’s workforce had struggled to maintain the area due to recent bad weather but they would address this.

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

All welcome at Blessing of Boats THE annual Blessing of the Boats service will be held on Sunday, May 6 at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station. Starting at 3pm, the inter-denominational service will be led by the Vicar of St Michael’s Parish Church, the Reverend Jane Skinner, to celebrate the town’s seafaring traditions and remember all those lost at sea. The town band and the Harbour Voices shanty singers will feature in the open air service, to which all are welcome.

Cobb plans to be revealed in June PLANS for the final phase of the coastal protection works in Lyme Regis are expected to go on display in June.

The Lyme Regis Coastal Protection Scheme was launched in the early 1990s to protect the town’s continually eroding coastline.

It started with the creation of new sewage works and a seawall along Gun Cliff, followed by restructuring of

the main beach, Cart Road and stabilisation works in Langmoor and Lister Gardens, which was completed in 2007.The most recent phase saw stabilisation works and the construction of a new seawall along East Cliff open in 2015.

The final part of the scheme will focus on stabilisation and repairs to Lyme Regis’ historic Cobb harbour.

Plans are expected to go on public display in June.

Volunteers join Great Dorset Beach Clean Gas works to last for six weeks

Be aware of Lyme Disease risks

LYME Regis recently took part in the Great Dorset Beach Clean with more than 20 volunteers picking litter from Monmouth Beach. Those taking part collected four large sacks of rubbish, mainly plastic bottles, takeaway food cartons, drinks cans and fishing lines. The next beach clean will be on Sunday, June 10 meeting outside the lifeboat station at 10.30am

RESIDENTS and visitors are being warned about the risks of Lyme Disease as they make the most of the spring weather.

The South West is a high-risk area for tick bites which can lead to Lyme Disease, with several cases having previously found in Lyme Regis. See lymediseaseaction.org.uk for details.

TWO-way traffic lights will be in operation on Cobb Road in Lyme Regis for an estimated six weeks while essential gas works take place. Work to replace the old, metal gas mains with a new, plastic pipe will ensure a “safe and reliable gas supply”. Work started on April 30 and will take six weeks.

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First Care Links Lyme event a success ALMOST 25 health professionals – GPs, nurses, care assistants and administrative staff – from the Lyme Regis and Charmouth GP practices visited last week’s Care Links Lyme event. Held at Lyme Regis Medical Centre, the event saw health professionals meeting with practitioners and volunteers from more than 20 organisations that give residents non-clinical support. There were also two dropin sessions for members of the public to learn about the organisations.

Friday, May 4 2018 5

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Stay up to date at www.lyme-online.co.uk - 24/7 news | sport | community Sports clubs making the headlines

South Wessex Organ Society to host festival THE first South Wessex Organ Society (SWOS) Festival will takes place from May 11 to 13 and offers four exciting events that are open to members and non-members alike. Events will include recitals and musical events in Lyme Regis, Axminster and Colyton churches, as well as a tour of local organs, including Lyme’s impressive Skrabl organ at St Michael’s. For details and tickets visit the website www.sworgansociety.org

Town Mill exhibition ties in with Fossil Festival THE Courtyard Gallery at the Town Mill in Lyme Regis will be hosting ‘Marking Time: Traces of Another Jurassic Coast’, an exhibition of work by West Somerset artists guaranteed to fascinate local residents, fossil enthusiasts and visitors in equal measure. Timed to complement the town’s annual Fossil Festival, the exhibition will be open until May 9.

New marketing tool to Lifeboat volunteers start attract European visitors RNLI’s Yellow Welly Relay LOCAL businesses are invited to attend workshops hosted by the National Coastal Tourism Academy, to learn more about their new England’s Coast marketing and booking tool, aimed at attracting more visitors from Europe. The workshops will be held at the Fernhill Hotel. To book visit https://bit.ly/2Kmns6S

VOLUNTEERS at Lyme Regis lifeboat station had the honour of starting the May Day Yellow Welly Relay in aid of the RNLI on Tuesday. One of the RNLI’s iconic yellow welly boots will be passed around stations in the south and south east throughout the month, finishing at the Thames in Teddington.

Seattle’s Eli West to give intimate gig at Marine bar WELL-known for his work with Cahalen Morrison, Tim O’Brien, and Jayme Stone, the Americana and folk singer Eli West oozes understated talent and is one of the most tasteful and innovative of young American musicians.

He performs an intimate show in the bar at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis this month.

Eli’s recent debut solo album, ‘The Both’, sees him taking the lead on electric and acoustic guitars, banjo and pedal steel, whilst remaining a thoughtful collaborator with jazz great Bill Frisell, new Americana discovery Dori Freeman, and Anna & Elizabeth.

The gig at the Marine Theatre will be held on Thursday, May 17 with the bar opening at 6.30pm and music from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door and can be booked by calling 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

LYME Regis and Uplyme’s sporting organisations feature heavily in this week’s edition of LymeOnline, bringing you news both on and off the pitch (or lawn, or sea in the gig club’s case!).

Lyme Regis Football Club’s Reserves team enjoyed a goal spree last week putting them in line for promotion (page 24), and Lyme Regis Gig Club heads to the world championships on the Isles of Scilly this weekend (page 13).

Meanwhile, Lyme Regis Bowls Club opened its 81st season (page 24) but continues to battle with the town council over its car park lease (page 1). The cricket season also gets underway in Uplyme this weekend, with the club fielding two teams once again.

I popped over to Uplyme last weekend - not for cricket but for a game of croquet. The Lym Valley Croquet Club hosted an open day on Sunday (page 10), with visitors trying their hand at ‘golf croquet’, including myself. Golf croquet is much simpler than association croquet, or so I was told. I didn’t quite get my head around the rules but I did manage to knock a few balls through the hoops!

Despite my lack of sporting prowess (something my dad regularly reminds me of), many will know I’m a keen supporter of Lyme Regis Football Club.

Having grown up at the Davey Fort while dad served as chairman, I’ve been helping to raise funds for the Seasiders since I was about eight.

In 2016, we were lucky enough to be granted £100,000 for our three-year ‘Project Fortify’ development scheme from Lyme Regis Town Council, but the club still needs to raise £12,000 a year itself before it receives each in-

stallment of the funding.

We’re hoping this month’s double celebration for the royal wedding and FA Cup Final will help us reach this year’s target to build a grandstand for our supporters. The event will be held on Saturday, May 19 with live screenings of both the wedding and cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea on the big screen TVs. We’ll also be hosting a mini beer festival, barbecue and other attractions, throughout the day, plus prizes for the best royal-theme fancy dress (kids and grown ups too!). Doors open at 11am and Lyme Regis First Team will take on Wellington Reserves with kickoff at 2pm.

You can also support the Seasiders this month by using a token to vote for ‘Project Fortify’ when you shop at Seaton Tesco, thanks to their ‘Bags of Help’ scheme.

As well as the varied sporting facilities on offer, this week LymeOnline is celebrating the town’s growing reputation as a foodie’s paradise, with our two-page eating out feature (pages 20 & 21). From fish and chips to fine dining, there really is something to suit all tastes and budgets!

Speaking of eating out, this week I was excited to review the recently refurbished Castle Inn at Lulworth Cove. A little out of area, but definitely worth the trip. A full review will be coming soon at www.lymeonline.co.uk

Francesca Evans, Editor

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

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If the seafront is Lyme’s shop window, why the sheer neglect?

F

ORMER fisherman and mayor Victor Homyer once described the seafront at Lyme Regis as “the town’s shop window”. How right he was - but I wonder how he might describe it now?

Had Mr Homyer been present at the recent annual town meeting he may well have taken a very different view.

“Neglected” is how he may have described it.

One member of the public went as far as to describe it as “a hole”.

For many months now the Marine Parade - surely the jewel in Lyme’s crown - has looked, er, unkempt.

This is the same seafront on which more than £1 million was spent a few years back to refurbish and equip the old shelters and rename them the Jubilee Pavilion. The council borrowed heavily to finance the project and Chris Boothroyd, virtually single handedly, raised the £200,000 to make the area functional.

Chris then recruited a team of volunteers to man the information desk at weekends and peak times, a service appreciated by visitors to the town, particularly as the Tourist Information Centre’s location is not exactly in a convenient or prominent position.

I was one of the volunteers, and so was my daughter Francesca, and I enjoyed many a Sunday morning gazing out of the pavilion doors and watching the gigs go out to sea.

But like several others I withdrew my support when the council treated Chris Boothroyd in a shocking manner. We can’t blame this on the cur-

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rent council, it was down to their predecessors, but it has left a nasty taste in the mouths of those who gave Chris so much backing.

One of those people was Betty Holmes, who did not hold back when she raised the issue of the wasted opportunities at the Jubilee Pavilion.

It’s no surprise that the pavilion is rarely open these days as so many volunteers have fallen by the wayside.

Whilst our current council cannot be held to account for the actions of the previous administrations, we can point the finger to the obvious neglect that has befallen Marine Parade.

Nigel Ball, a keen observer of all things Lyme, who is as quick to praise as he is to criticise, drew attention to the disappearance of the canopy over the performing area, the lack of banners which have blown away and never been replaced and the declining use of the two community rooms.

I was the first person to book an event in the Lister Room, the one nearest to the Cobb, and have raised hundreds of pounds since using it as a venue for Cancer Research UK events.

They are a tremendous asset to Lyme Regis and with a few simple marketing techniques I am sure they could be more much in demand.

Other complaints have emerged since the town meeting with attention being drawn to the overflowing rubbish bins over the Easter Bank Holiday.

It would seem the message is getting home as the council has committed to investing more in keeping Lyme’s “shop window” in better order with additional staffing resources.

Concern has been expressed from

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many quarters, and even from some councillors, about whether the town council will be able to cope when they take on other responsibilities once West Dorset District Council disappears to be amalgamated with the county council to form one unitary authority for Dorset.

Lyme is a rich council and is remarkably generous in supporting local organisations. There is not a council for miles around which puts so much back into the community. But with additional responsibilities coming their way, it may not always be so.

One function that is almost certainly being handed back to the town council will be the operation of Lyme’s much admired tourist information centre, located underneath the council offices in Guildhall Cottage.

If this happens the town council will probably move its reception desk downstairs to share the facilities and there are many who would like to see the TIC staff take over the information service at the Jubilee Pavilion, at least for the summer months.

The town council is very keen to develop a corporate plan for Lyme’s future. That’s to be encouraged as Lyme has to compete in a very competitive tourism market.

But before we worry too much about our image in the future, surely it’s paramount that the little things that make a town tick on a day-to-day basis - clean toilets, weed-free streets, safer roads, etc. - are addressed before we look at the wider picture.

We must also remember that it’s not just the visitors we need to look after.

Don’t forget the locals.

REGULAR readers will have noticed that there’s no Geoff Baker column in this issue of LymeOnline.

Regretfully, Geoff has decided to retire from journalism to concentrate on another one of his many talents - writing children’s books. We wish him well.

However, he leaves a massive gap in our attempts to see that Lyme is served by a community newspaper and website.

Geoff has played a key role in helping us get off the ground and his column, as expected, has been greatly admired. Never dull, often controversial, sometimes mischievous. A column you could not ignore.

I gave Geoff his first experience in newspapers and he worked for me as a reporter on the Sidmouth Herald before finding fame in Fleet Sheet and then serving as Beatle Paul McCartney’s PR supremo for 15 years.

A glittering career.

When I eventually went to London we would often meet in Fleet Street for a drink and several at

The Olde Olde Cheshire Street, a famous haunt for journos. They were riotous times.

In more recent times he helped me launch a group of free newspapers in central London and proved very quickly he had not lost his nose for a good story, scooping the Evening Standard and Sunday Times on a number of occasions.

What I will miss most is the encouragement he gave Francesca and I to launch this project after the disappointment of losing control of the View From.

I shall miss his calls, sometimes late at night, when he would say: “Ev’s I’ve got a cracker” and would give me chapter and verse of a great tale he had picked up in the pub that night.

As we did all those years ago in Fleet Street, we would often finish work on a Friday a little early and gather at the Volly with another old hack, snapper Richard Austin, to chew the fat about what times we had “on the Street”.

The day Joe Loss apologised to me in just his underpants!

BOOKING a band for social occasions can be a bit of a lottery. I should know. Over the years I have booked dozens of them.

One of the first bands I booked was for a New Year Ball at the Royal Lion in aid of Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival. I got them through an agency who assured me they could play anything and would get every one up dancing.

They turned out to be a country and western band and could not even play ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at midnight. In the end I think we paid them off and retired to the bar.

Back in the seventies there were two local bands that had a big following and I booked both of them many times - the Tony Graham Combo and the Rowland Halliday Orchestra.

The Tony Graham Orchestra was a showband that played all the popular numbers at the time, led by the late Frank Huddy, who ran the Double H Agency in Chard.

I usually booked them for the Miss Lyme Regis Ball, always held at the Woodroffe School. They were quite posh occasions, always well supported with 200-plus attending, but on one occasion a massive fight broke out at the front of the hall and spilled onto the steps leading up to the stage. In the true tradition of ‘the show must go on’, Frank Huddy continued playing the xylophone whilst he was kicking those who were having a scrap off the stage where the bouncers dealt with them.

The Roland Halliday Orchestra was a big band which played a lot of swing music and which included a number of local musicians, including the Perry brothers, Pat and John, Cecil ‘Jim’ Sweetland, and publican Joe O’Donnell.

I have to admit I became a bit of a groupie and followed them all over the South West, such was their attraction.

The biggest and most famous band I booked was the Joe Loss Orchestra for the Lyme 1200 Ball, part of the programme of events I organised in 1974 to celebrate the town’s 1,200th anniversary.

Again the venue was the Woodroffe School. The Roland Halliday Orchestra were the support band and started playing at around 8pm. Joe Loss was due to go on at 9pm for two one-hour slots. But at 8.50pm there was still no sign of the great man and his ensemble so we sent Harry Williams, the town clerk who was a member of the Regatta & Carnival Committee, out to look for them. There was no mobile phones or any way of contacting them in those days.

Eventually Jo Loss arrived with his orchestra in a very posh bus. I got summoned to his dressing room, a tiny cubicle backstage used by the school’s PE master to change. One of the most famous band leaders of all time, he stood before me in just his Y-fronts and apologised profusely for their late arrival. They travelled from London and thought Lyme was near to Bournemouth, it being in Dorset, so had not left themselves enough time.

He then instructed me to inform the sup-

Those were the days...

TERRY Wogan pictured with former brewing executive Nigel Fortnam at the Miss Lyme Regis Ball in 1973 port band that their services would not be required after 11pm as his band would play to the end of the ball at midnight.

As soon as they struck up the first number - In The Mood - people danced to every piece of music they played and it was a tremendous night.

Other big names I have booked for various events included Alvin Stardust for a ball I organised for the group of newspapers I was managing at the time, Star Newspapers in Taunton, to celebrate the raising of £25,000 for the CLIC children’s cancer charity. He was a really nice bloke.

Not so nice were The Wurzels when I booked them for a Regatta Dance at the Marine Theatre when they were top of the hit parade with ‘I’ve Got A Brand New Combine Harvester’. They were very demanding and I thought their No 1 success had gone to their heads a bit.

That didn’t stop me booking them 30 years later for an open-air gig at the football club when they could not have been more co-operative and even changed in our smelly old dressing rooms.

It’s surprising what fame does to people.

The nicest bloke I ever booked, however, was Terry Wogan, just after he started his Radio One career, for the princely fee of £175, to compere the Miss Lyme Regis contest. He advised me to give up the newspaper malarkey and concentrate on becoming a full-time presenter.

If only I had listened to him...

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Father and son complete penny farthing charity ride

FATHER and son Alistair and Seb Cope combined their two interests - penny farthings and football to raise funds for a charity close to their heart.

Seb, 35, a member of Lyme Regis lifeboat crew and his father Alistair, 59, from Seaton, cycled on their penny farthings from Derby County’s ground to Aston Villa’s stadium in Birmingham last weekend.

They raised more than £200 for the Aston Villa Foundation community charity during their 50-mile ride.

Seb, whose great, great grandfather was born just yards from Villa Park, said: “We cycled on roads, paths and canal towpaths and had a great reception from people along the way, and especially football fans.”

On the way to Aston Villa the pair stopped at the National Ar- LYME Regis lifeboatman Seb Cop and his dad Alistair pictured with their penny boretum where Seb farthings at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, having completed a 50-mile ride Vintage and the next will be a nine-mile ride paid his respects at the RNLI memorial.

At the end of their journey they watched from Seaton on Saturday, June 30. For further details and ticket, which are raising funds for Aston Villa draw 1-1 with Derby County.

Seb and Alistair regularly organise vintage Headway Devon, visit the website www.velovcycle rides and events with their group Velo intage.co.uk

Donations needed as foodbank is relaunched LYME Regis Foodbank will re-open this week, helping individuals and families in the local community that face a shortterm ‘food crisis’.

The foodbank will open at 10am on Wednesday, May 9 at The Hub in Church Street, by kind permission of owners Lyme Regis Development Trust, and will then be open every Wednesday afternoon from 10am to 12noon.

The Foodbank exists to help individuals or families in our community who face a shortterm 'food crisis' - being without food or means to obtain food owing to temporary financial, medical or social support problems.

Managed by LymeForward, it is run by volunteers.

People in need of emergency help are referred to the foodbank by responsible organisations such as GP surgeries, the Citizens Advice Bureau, local churches and chapels, social workers, or health visitors. They can provide a voucher entitling clients to food help for up to six weeks. If the underlying cause of difficulty is not resolved with appropriate professional help within that time, a further six-week referral is possible.

For its stock, the foodbank is dependent on the generosity of resident, who are asked to make voluntary donations of suitable (i.e. non-perishable) products.

A spokesperson from the foodbank said: “Please scour your cupboards, and bear the Foodbank in mind when you do your next household shopping.”

Donations can be left in collection boxes at the following locations: Tesco Express Lyme Regis, Uplyme Post Office & Stores, Kent House Medical Practice, St Michael & St George’s Catholic Church in Silver Street, Lyme Regis Baptist Church, St Michael's Primary School, St Michael’s Parish Church in Church Street, and Uplyme Parish Church. A list of suitable items can be found online at https://bit.ly/2jqwnYH If you are unable to donate items, but would like to help the foodbank, you can make a financial contribution for buying products to fill gaps in the stock. Another way to help is by volunteering at the foodbank on some Wednesday mornings, or by collecting from donation points.

For further information, contact Heather Prior on 01297 441224 or email her on heather@lymeforward.co.uk

Friday, May 4 2018 7

Next generation takes over at Royal Standard

STEVE and Jane Souter-Philips pictured with their daughter Rachael and son-in-law Akis Maravelis at their handing over party at The Royal Standard on Saturday night LONG-STANDING landlords of The Royal in the kitchen, but they have now officially Standard in Lyme Regis, Steve and Jane taken over as licensees.

Souter-Philips, handed over the business to A handing over party was held at the pub on their daughter Rachael and son-in-law Akis Saturday night, with friends, family and regMaravelis on Saturday. ulars celebrating the retirement of popular The young couple are experienced in work- couple Steve and Jane with a disco playing ing at the Palmers Brewery-owned pub and hits from their favourite eras. restaurant on Marine Parade, with Rachael Steve and Jane will continue to manage the often seen behind the bar and Greek chef Akis ice cream parlour outside the Royal Standard.

New barber’s shop with a modern slant opens in Lyme A TRADITIONALS barber’s shop with a modern slant has opened in Lyme Regis.

The Sandyman Chop Shop in premises on the corner of Silver Street and Hill Road opened its doors for the first time on Saturday and is already proving to be popular with the younger clientele.

The shop is being run

by Simon Bones, who has a similar business in New North Road, Exeter.

Simon has been a barber since 2013 and before that worked in education in Worcester.

He describes his business as a traditional barbers for the modern age, offering hot towel shaves as well as hair cuts and beard trims.

He says the business reflects his passions, which included skateboarding, hot rods, motorbikes and tattoo culture and art.

The Sandyman Chop Shop will be open Tuesday to Saturday.

8 Friday, May 4 2018

www.lyme-online.co.uk

VIP treatment for Lyme history fan for suggesting new book

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 William Real and James Cake. With thanks to Vernon Rattenbury from the Royal British Legion for the research.

WILLIAM THOMAS BRADLEY REAL

Able Seaman, HMS Tiger, Royal Navy, Service No. 160792 Born December 31 1875 in Lyme Regis and died May 6 1918 at HMS Vivid William Real had joined the Royal Navy in 1891 and died whilst serving as a member of HMS Tiger’s ships company.

HMS Tiger was the most heavily armoured battlecruiser of the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War, but was not yet ready for service when it began.

The ship participated in the Battle of Dogger Bank on January 24 1915, though she was still on shake down. She also took part in the Battle of Jutland on May 31 1916, where she was only lightly damaged despite suffering many hits by German shells.

Apart from providing distant cover during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on November 17 1917, she spent the rest of the war on uneventful patrols in the North Sea. William died of illness at HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport, leaving a wife and child who lived in Lyme at East Cliff. He is buried in Lyme Regis cemetery, row B.427 and is commemorated on the Lyme Regis war memorials.

JAMES ALBERT BERTRAM CAKE

Private, 9th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment , Service No. 302435 Born April 29 1896 in Lyme Regis and died May 13 1918 in Pas de Calais, France ‘Bert’ Cake lived at 4 Ware Cottages, Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis, and enlisted on May 17 1915, joining 3rd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment at Wyke Regis.

Sailing for France on May 27 1916, he was transferred to 7th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. He was next transferred to 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, before finally ending up in the 2/7th Battalion Royal Scots Regiment.

He was shot in the face and left leg during action on August 25 1916 and admitted to the Military Hospital at Dannes Camiers before being evacuated to England on September 4 1916. Admitted to hospital in Brighton, he remained in the UK and after a long convalescence was returned to service with 4th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment, on February 22 1918. He was then transferred to 9th Royal Scots Regiment and went back to France on April 4 1918.

Bert was killed in action just over a month later on May 13 1918. After his death his parents received a notebook, pipe, ring, photos and coins that were on his person when he was killed.

Son of George Bertram Cake and Emma Jane Cake of Haye Lane, Lyme Regis, he is buried in St Venant Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, plot IV.A.28 and is commemorated on the Uplyme War Memorial. His father served in France with the 6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, during the war, moving to Haye Lane, Lyme Regis with his wife after the war.

HISTORY has always fascinated Lyme Regis resident Nigel Fortnam. His bookshelves are positively creaking under the weight of the heavy tomes chronicling the great events of our country going back many centuries (writes Philip Evans).

Back in 2015 Nigel, a former brewery executive , was particularly taken by ‘Killers Of The King’, an account of one of the bloodiest episodes in English history, the beheading of Charles I outside his palace in Whitehall when Britain became a republic.

The book was written by the Earl of Spencer, and Nigel wrote to him saying how much he enjoyed the book.

He also suggested that it would be a good idea to write about Charles II’s escape after the battle of Worcester in 1652 when the eldest son of Charles I returned to this country to fight for his throne.

Although he was 6’2” tall, the would-be king went on the run for is weeks, in various guises, escaping death on many occasions.

Once restored to the throne as Charles II, he told the tale of his escapades to Samuel Pepys, who transcribed it all.

Nigel thought no more about it but two years later he received a letter out of the blue from author Charles Spencer informing him that he had indeed written a book called ‘To Catch A King’ about

Charles II’s exploits, which brought him to West Dorset in disguise, staying in Charmouth and Bridport, and it was his intention to send Nigel a signed copy.

Nigel, the eldest son of former Lyme mayor and mayoress, Alderman Douglas and Lydia Fortnam, then received a call from the secretary of the Bridport Literary Festival inviting him to a book signing with Charles Spencer. She tracked him down because the author had mentioned Nigel in the acknowledgements as he had come up with the idea.

Accompanied by his brother Peter and his wife Lynn, Nigel was given VIP tickets and they

found themselves sitting in the front row next to Lord and Lady Fellows, with whom the Earl of Spencer was staying.

Before the proceedings got under way at the Electric Theatre in Bridport, Charles Spencer thanked Nigel for coming up with the idea of the book and was later given the first signed copy.

And the Earl also invited Nigel and his new wife Vicki and his family to visit Althorp in Northampton where they would be given a tour of the Spencer’s family seat.

Nigel said: “The latest book is a cracking read and Charles Spencer was charming thoughout.

When I wrote to him I never imagined that he would be so kind.”

Lyme Regis Branch

Don’t miss our forthcoming events: August 16th Strawberries and Prosecco

in the Lister Room £10 Part of Community Week Phone 07796 951991 to book

August 25th The Big Cream Tea £7

October 26th Coffee Morning and Cake Stall Baptist Church Hall, Silver Street

At Fossil Fitness we know that you understand the importance of exercise when it comes to keeping yourself in good shape mentally and physically, we also know that it can be very hard to start a new regime.

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

Working out with Fossil Fitness can mean anything from a power

in the Lister Room 3-5pm Phone 07796 951991 to book

September 21st Soup and Sweet Lunch

at the Woodmead Halls 12 noon to 2pm All welcome

November 3rd Bonfire Curry Night

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

November 30th Christmas Bingo

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

Lister Room Watch the fireworks while enjoying a delicious curry Phone 07796 951991 to book

at the Woodmead Halls All welcome

www.lyme-online.co.uk

PROMOTED CONTENT

Friday, May 4 2018 9

LYME REGIS TOWN COUNCIL Another busy year for council Traffic survey to support WE’RE now coming towards the end of the council year – and what a busy year it’s been.

Among the council’s biggest achievements this year have been saving the town bus service, introducing free beach wheelchairs, and installing free seafront wifi.

We’ve got several other exciting projects which will take us into the next council year, including the refurbishment of the Marine Parade toilets, the enhancement of the town’s war memorial in partnership with the Royal British Legion, and installing cash machines at Bell Cliff.

Inevitably, not everything went to plan, in-

cluding the refusal of planning permission to replace the old seafront railings, difficulty in securing the Sidmouth Road park and ride, and teething problems with the seafront showers.

We start the new council year on May 16 when the mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis, will be officially installed in her second term as first citizen.

This will be the final year of this council administration and it’s set to be an interesting 12 months as we move towards local elections on May 2 2019. Will we see the same 14 faces on the council, or will it be all change?

Barry marks 30 years with the town council

park and ride application

A RADICAL solution is needed to tackle traffic problems in Lyme Regis.

As the town council isn’t responsible for highways, we’re limited in what we can do to resolve the issues which regularly bring the town to a grinding halt and impact on the local economy.

We believe the continued use of the Sidmouth Road park and ride should be part of any solution, but we need to prove this to the district planners.

We’ve applied to East Devon District Council for permission to use the site this year but we’ll need a lot more evidence if we stand any chance of securing permanent permission.

That’s why we’ve asked traffic experts to come up with a parking, transport, access and signage strategy for Lyme Regis and the surrounding area.

We admit the traffic survey should have been done sooner, but we’re not sure what more the town council could reasonably have done over the last few months to demonstrate our commitment to the survey and its conclusions.

It’s disappointing that we haven’t had the support we would like from others, despite genuine attempts to work collaboratively with them. It’s a real shame cross-border relationships have broken down recently and accusations of mis-representation have been made.

We strongly deny this and believe we have acted in an open and honest way.

The members and officers involved in pursuing the application have acted in the best interests of the town and we believe any criticism of them is unfair.

The matter is now in the hands of East Devon District Council and we await their decision. Unfortunately, the position which seems to have been adopted is to refuse the application.

The council wants to move forward to resolve this issue and will continue to talk to the public and other organisations throughout the survey.

We hope the independent experts can help us agree a firm strategy which is fit-for-purpose, now and in the future, and will help us tackle the town’s traffic chaos once and for all.

WE recently met with the Dorset police and crime commissioner and raised concerns over the lack of policing in the town.

Martyn Underhill took up our invitation to come to Lyme Regis in April to meet with the mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis, and the town clerk, John Wright.

Top of the agenda was the reduced level of police presence in the town, particularly in the

summer and during major events.

In the past, we’ve held regular liaison meetings with the Lyme Regis neighbourhood policing team but recently we’ve found it difficult to have direct contact with officers.

Mr Underhill committed to regular liaison meetings, and we’re pleased PCSO Amanda King is now spending a lot more time in Lyme Regis.

EXPECT big changes in local government in the next year or so.

Two new unitary councils will be created in Dorset and they will be looking closely at what services they can no longer afford to provide.

The town council is working hard behind the scenes to limit the impact these changes have on Lyme Regis and where possible, take on services which are important to the town.

These include public toilets, the tourist information centre, town-centre street cleaning, and grants to local organisations including the museum and theatre.

We’ve put a proposal to West Dorset District Council, which protects vital services but is based on one fundamental principle – any services we take on will be at no extra cost to Lyme Regis rate payers.

Police commit to regular meetings with council

Working behind the scenes to limit impact of local government changes

Park and ride open Toilets revamp for Bank Holiday well underway

THE last 30 years have given us smartphones, the fall of the Berlin wall, social media, a smoking ban, and the Queen’s Jubilee – to name but a few.

The last three decades have seen some major changes and innovations, but at the town council, one thing has always remained constant.

Our head groundsman Barry Trott is this year marking 30 years of service to the council.

Barry left Moores Biscuits where he

worked as a baker to join the council on 5 April 1988 as a gardener/handyman, later being promoted to head groundsman.

Things have been a little less eventful since his first day, when a colleague cut off his toe with a lawnmower!

Barry said he enjoys his job because he likes being outside and couldn’t bear to be stuck inside four walls.

Congratulations to Barry – our thanks for 30 years of loyalty to the council.

PARK and ride will be open at the Charmouth Road site this Bank Holiday weekend – providing the forecast remains unchanged.

Poor ground conditions have prevented it from opening recently, but the recent dry spell means have improved conditions.

The landowners have increased the size of the tarmacked area to allow the double decker buses to turn around, so our grateful thanks to them.

Now all we need to do is cross our fingers and hope the weather forecasters have got it right this time!

THE refurbishment work is well underway at the Marine Parade toilets.

All the internal fixtures and fittings have been taken out and the internal wall is coming down this week to create what will eventually be unisex toilets.

The chosen colour scheme is a vibrant green and we’re hoping to have some eyecatching images of Lyme Regis on the walls.

For the latest news and updates from the town council visit www.lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk

theuplymepage

10 Friday, May 4 2018

Volunteers invited to join village clean-up VOLUNTEERS are needed for a village cleanup around Uplyme on Sunday, May 13.

The clean-up is being organised by Uplyme Parish Council and helpers to tackle unsightly weeds and excessive litter on some of the main roads and borders of Uplyme.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the Black Dog (please park elsewhere) at 9am. They should wear sensible clothing and footwear and bring along any equipment that may be of use.

For further details, call parish councillor Rebecca Turner on 07590 495 909.

Cricket training for youngsters FOLLOWING the success of last year, Uplyme and Lyme Regis Cricket Club will once again be hosting the All Stars junior programme for 5-8 year olds.

Sessions will be held on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 10.30am, starting on May 12.

Children taking part will receive a kit bag complete with stumps and a shirt. To register, visit the website www.allstarscricket.co.uk Parents are also being asked to volunteer as ‘activators’ to help run the programme and become more involved in promoting youth cricket.

Training with the cricket club is also available for 9-13 year olds on Wednesdays from 4pm to 5.30pm. The club runs an under 12 team in the West Dorset Junior League and will also enter an under 11s team if there is enough interest.

For details contact Eddie Clarke on 01297 443050 or 07474 682 941.

www.lyme-online.co.uk

New members welcome at croquet club

LYM Valley Croquet Club welcomed visitors on Sunday afternoon for an open day as the 2018 season gets underway.

Visitors tried their hand at ‘golf croquet’, simpler than association croquet, with members showing them the ropes before breaking for tea and cake.

The croquet club is based at the King George V playing field in Uplyme, with its own three-quarter size lawn and use of another two three-quarter lawns and a half-size lawn on the out field of

the neighbouring cricket ground.

Members can play as a fun and social activity, mostly on Monday or Thursday afternoons, or can take part in inter-club competitions or in the South West Federation of Croquet Clubs league competitions at three different levels.

Tuition and use of the club’s equipment is included in membership, and current members are happy to welcome newcomers and help them improve their game during friendly play.

The club has members of all experiences, from beginners to advanced and is keen to welcome more.

Newcomers can attend three introductory sessions before joining, and will benefit from discounted membership fees of £40 for their first year. Full membership costs £75 a year and associate membership is £40 plus £2 per session.

Visitors can also join an existing member by prior arrangement for just £2 a head.

For more information on Lym Valley Croquet Club, visit the website http://lymvalleycroquet.uk or contact secretary David Brooke-Smith on 07909 111 512.

COMING SOON THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DORSET’S MOST POPULAR RESORT

VISITORS try their hand at ‘golf croquet’ helped by current members

A new magazine for Lyme Regis and district, lauching in June 2018 Lyme Life will promote all the major events and feature the many facets of visiting Lyme Regis during the summer season.

With a 6,000 print run for each issue, Lyme Life Magazine will be available for free from a large number of local businesses and all the major accommodation and tourist outlets in the area.

Get your business noticed this summer by advertising with Lyme Life for as little as £55. Call Debbie on 01297 306152 or email debbie@lyme-online.co.uk View our Media Pack online at lyme-online.co.uk/lyme-life-magazine

thecharmouthpage

Friday, May 4 2018 11

www.lyme-online.co.uk

Exciting plans for a nature reserve EXCITING plans to create a nature reserve and wildflower meadow on the outskirts of Charmouth were revealed at the annual parish meeting last week.

The well attended meeting listened intently to Rob Powell, owner of Hogchester Farm, which sits in Char Valley parish.

Six acres are being made available for the community project.

Mr Powell said he was not intending to farm the field, which was next to the village cemetery, in the traditional fashion but was hoping to make the land available for a market garden where organic vegetables could be grown, with the provision of veg boxes, and a community orchard from which they could possibly brew their own cider.

Mr Powell said it would be a “not for profit” project and he was looking for ideas from those who would like to get involved.

“This is an opportunity to get back to the land and be closer to our local

By PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk food story,” he said.

Parish council chairman Peter Noel welcomed the initiative, saying: “This is a very giving community and I think you will be over-subscribed with people wanting to help.”

The project will be based on the principals of the Community Supported Agriculture initiative, a partnership between farmers and consumers in which the responsibilities, risks and rewards of farming are shared.

CSA helps to address increasing concerns about the lack of transparency, sustainability and resilience of our food system. It is one of the most radical ways to retake control and ownership of the food system.

All those interested in the project should contact Mr Powell via the website www.hogchester.com

CHARMOUTH Parish Council chairman Peter Noel sharing last minute instruction with council clerk Lisa Tuck and fellow councillors at their annual parish meeting last week

‘Getting it right’ on the parish council

CHARMOUTH’s annual parish meeting, held at St Andrew’s Community Hall, was attended by about 35 electors – less than last year’s 55 – but parish council chairman Peter Noel thought this was a positive sign that the council was “getting things right”.

In his annual report, Councillor Noel admitted that the council had gone through a difficult period, at times being three or four members down.

But two new councillors had been co-opted – Gerry Bearpark and Kay Solomon – leaving a vacancy for two more.

Appealing for people to put themselves forward for election, Councillor Noel said now was a good time because they would be able to have a year to see what it was like before parish elections in 2019. He was particularly pleased that someone who was born and bred in Charmouth – Gerry Bearpark – had joined the council.

Councillor Noel told the gathering that increasing rules and regulations in local government presented council staff with a “thankless task”, and he praised council clerk Lisa Tuck

and her staff for dealing with the “nightmare” and keeping council records in “pristine condition”.

Councillor Noel referred to the pending unitary authority for Dorset which had become “a bit of a nightmare” with things changing every ten minutes. It had even taken 14 months for it to be decided to call in new authority Dorset Council, he said.

He confirmed that the parish council were in discussions with West Dorset District Council on taking over the public toilets in Lower Sea Lane, which were “a disgrace”, and they were also in talks with Lyme Regis Town Council about sharing resources to keep them clean.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. Most of it is a talking shop,” he said.

Reports on the work of the Foreshore Committee and the Playing Fields and Cemetery Committee were given by Councillors Graham Bender and Martin Sayers.

An update on the Charmouth Neighbourhood Plan was presented by Sarah Edwards and organisation reports were

given by Bob Murphy (Charmouth Bowls Club), Alison Taylor and Marie Oldham (St Andrew’s Church Changing Spaces) and Rob Powell (Hogchester Nature Reserve).

County and district councillor Daryl Turner and district councillor Cheryl Reynolds both attended the meeting.

Library planning more events Charmouth Central Library and Internet Cafe, run by volunteers, is planning a number of events in the coming months.

These include more ‘in conversation evenings’, a cocktails and canapes lunch or evening event with demonstrations of how they are made, a two-course lunch demo with wine and three or four book sales on the foreshore during the summer.

Charmouth Stores The village store that has it all Chilled Food Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Freshly Baked Bread Confectionery Cigarettes & Tobacco Soft Drinks Frozen Food Spirits Lottery Open until 9pm Herbs & Spices Household Products Cakes & Biscuits Charcoal Logs and Kindling Wood Groceries Hot Pies and Pasties Chilled Beer, Wine & Cider Local Products Seasonal Products Contactless Payments Friendly Staff Independent Batteries Greetings Cards LOTS OF Bean-to-cup Coffee Machine OFFERS

Craft Beers Baking ingredients Great Wine Selection E-cigarettes Cash Machine Local & National Ales Scratchcards Gluten Free Section Medicines Fresh Flowers Ice Cream Free Delivery Service Crisps, Nuts & Snacks Part of the Nisa Family

Charmouth Stores ● The Street ● Charmouth ● 01297 560304

SHOP LOCAL: SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE SHOPS AND BUSINESSES

12 Friday, May 4 2018

Having a ball for Cancer Research UK GUESTS partied the night away at a Masked Spring Ball in aid of Cancer Research UK last month.

About 60 guests attended the ball, held at the Woodmead Halls in Lyme Regis, where top Dorset party band Ignition, from Bournemouth, had everyone up dancing from start to end.

Those attending threw themselves into the spirit of the event, sporting a range of colourful masks. Shelley Larcombe and Daniel Buckley were judged to have the best masks by members of the band and went home with a bottle of champagne each.

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Guests also enjoyed cocktails on arrival, a sumptuous buffet prepared by volunteers from the Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research UK, as well as a luxury raffle.

The event raised a total of ÂŁ250 for the charity.

The Lyme Regis branch has raised more than ÂŁ150,000 VOLUNTEERS from the Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research UK, which organised the ball. Below, guests enjoy the party and, below left, Shelley Larcombe for Cancer Research UK since and Daniel Buckley, winners of the best mask competition it was set up in 2008.

Upcoming events for the charity include The BIG Cream Tea on the seafront on August 25, a soup and sweet lunch in September and coffee morning and cake sale in October. See advertisement on page 8 for full details.

Friday, May 4 2018 13

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THE first weekend in May will see thousands of athletes converging on the Isles of Scilly for the annual World Pilot Gig Championships.

Members of Lyme Regis Gig Club will be among those to fight it out for the honours in this highly competitive contest that pitches the best crews in the South West’s against one another in this fastest growing sport.

The World Championships were first held in 1990, only attracting 19 visiting gigs from Cornwall – the home of gig rowing – but this year 155 boats are expected to compete from clubs from coastal towns and villages throughout the region, London and further afield.

There are multiple races that take place over the weekend, of varying distance, all starting on Friday, May 4. The ladies and men’s veterans’ races take place on Friday evening, with the main event happening on Saturday and Sunday.

The longest race is from the island of St Agnes down to the finish line just off the quay of St Mary’s (map pictured). Both veterans’ races follow this course to decide the winner of the trophy for these categories.

On the Saturday, the men and women race separately, and the finishing positions of this race determine the seedings for the subsequent heats. The St Agnes race back to St Mary’s will be exhilarating with the gigs competing driven on by the prevailing South Westerly winds and Atlantic Ocean swell.

Each gig is seeded based on the St Agnes race and the heats are split into groups of 12 for the next race from Nut Rock, back to St Mary’s. Two heats are held, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, with the top two gigs being promoted and the bottom two relegated.

The finals for both the men and ladies take place on the Sunday afternoon, again racing the same course. Each group then has a winner, and the outcome of group A decides who is the overall champions.

Lyme Regis Gig Club, celebrating its eleventh anniversary this year, will be entering its three wooden gigs – Rebel, Black Ven, Tempest and being loaned gigs kindly by Sidmouth Gig Club and London Cornish Pilot Gig Club- with 54

club members competing and hoping to improve on last year’s results, when the Men’s A team was placed 18th overall and Ladies A Team 36th.

They will face competition from clubs across the country, as well as local rivals from Bridport, both of who’s A teams did well in the 2018’s inaugural 3 Rivers Race, held in Saltash in early March.

Radio Scilly will bring the official commentary and coverage of the World Pilot Gig Championships, which you can listen to through the website at www.scillytoday.com.

They will devote the weekend to covering the championships, from first thing in the morning until an hour after the last race. You can also record your own good luck message for broadcast using a laptop, Mac, PC or device by clicking on the ‘send voicemail’ option on the website.

Lyme’s competitive crews have been training hard over the last six months, including circuits and gym sessions, and using the rowing machines and weights at the club’s new yearround dry land fitness centre, based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre, near Charmouth.

Gig rowing is continuously growing in popularity across the UK with over eighty Clubs and internationally in the USA, Bermuda and the Netherlands. Having launched in 2007, Lyme Regis Gig Club now has 190, including 50 Juniors members and five gigs – three wooden and two fibreglass, plus an additional 24 eight to 12 years olds who regularly enjoy rowing the club’s two Cornish sea skiffs.

As well as taking part in the World Championships, the club will be competing in 23 regattas this summer and hosting our own Lyme Regis Rowing Regatta off the Cobb on August 11, 2018.

All Lyme Regis Gig Club’s racing kit has been kindly sponsored by www.identityuk.com. For more information on Lyme Regis Gig Club visit www.lymeregisgigclub.com or and for further details on the World Pilot Gig Championships, visit www.worldgigs.co.uk For video highlights of last year’s championships, visit https://bit.ly/2I0CVvk

MEMBERS of Lyme Regis Gig Club who will be competing at the World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly this weekend. Below, a map of the race course and, bottom, Lyme gig rowers at a previous championship

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14 Friday, May 4 2018

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Axminster Musical Theatre rises to challenge of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ HAVING never seen ‘Little Shops of Horrors’ before, I looked up a synopsis before attending Axminster Musical Theatre’s production at the Guildhall, their first ever spring musical.

“A sci-fi horror musical about a geeky florist shop worker who finds out his venus fly trap can not only speak but gorges on human flesh.”

Hmm. Not for me, I thought, but I was blown away by it.

Never afraid to take on a challenge, Axminster Musical Theatre proved yet again they can push their talents to the extreme and I was left thinking whether there’s a show that could test them beyond their capabilities. If so, this could well have been it – but they rose to that challenge and it was a brilliant success.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ first appeared as a lowbudget film in the 1960s, then adapted as an offBroadway musical before the release of the 1986 American rock musical comedy, filmed at Pinewood Studios, costing $25million and which received wide acclaim.

Central to the whole plot was the presence of the speaking fly-trap which developed from a humble pot plant into the blood thirsty monster which transformed the fortunes of Mushnik’s Flower Shop in a run-down, rough neighbour-

THEATRE REVIEW

by Philip Evans

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Axminster Musical Theatre Axminster Guildhall

hood of New York when it was discovered the plant, getting bigger all the time, needed human blood to survive.

Whilst the plant became ever more demanding, a three-girl Greek chorus – Crystal, Chiffon and Ronette, played by Robin Brakstad, Jasmine Hussey and Lisa Bicknell – kept the audience abreast of the pending doom.

The role of Mr Mushnik was entrusted to the experienced David Adams, a convincing performance as the paranoid shop owner whose business was going down the drain before his much put-on assistant Seymour discovers by accident when he pricked his finger that the plant needs blood to survive.

The meek, down-trodden Seymour – played by Dan Wilde, a young man with a burgeoning stage talent- who names the venus fly-trap Audrey II after the shop girl whom he idolises. Another talented young performer, Silvey Webber, plays the part of Audrey who is in an abusive relationship with Orin, a drugcrazed dentist from hell who ultimately kills himself by inhaling excessive nitrous oxide. Seymour disposes of the body – you know where.

Orin, the role taken

by Bill Murray in the film, was played by stage veteran Ian Crew, an hilarious portrayal and one which would make anyone watching think twice about changing dentists.

Seymour and Audrey DAN Wilde (Seymour) and Silvey Webber (Audrey) in the duet 'Suddenly Seymour' one of the highlights of the show. Below, Orin, played by Ian Crew, the drug-crazed end up in love and feature in the musical dentist about to attempt a root canal on a petrified Seymour highlight of the show – the duet “Suddenly Seymour” – but it doesn’t end well. Audrey is dying and guess where she ends up?

Jodie Glover put her vocal talents to god use as the voice of Audrey II, although we never saw her until the final curtain call, and the movements of Audrey II , another non-visible, was handled by Jess Richards.

This is by far the weirdest stage review I have written – but let’s face it, it’s the weirdest of shows.

Congratulations to

THE ensemble of 'Little Shop of Horrors' take to the stage Jack Price, turning his love of the stage to directing and producing, for presiding over yet another success for AMT. Further challenges face Axminster Musical Theatre as they begin rehearsals shortly for their next production, ‘Made in Dagenham’, to be performed at the Guildhall in November (13-17) and in 2019 their two shows will be ‘Our House’ (May 30-June1) and ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ (November 23-19).

Cast: Silvey Webber, Dan Wilde, David Adams, Robin Brakstad, Lisa Bicknell, Jasmine Hussey, Ian Crew, Jodie Glover, Jess Richards.

Ensemble: Anette Wraxall, Adam SmithJones, Brian Cursley, Emily Smith, Jak Montague, Kira Bellamy, Roly Kelly, Sue Close, Sara Leat, Vanessa Loader.

Band: Joseph Binmore, Cathy Binmore, Bob Illes, David Jones, Steve Douglas.

Creative team: Jack Price (director and producer); Joseph Binmore (musical director); Katie Richards (choreographer); Pam Hunter (prompt); Ian Styles (stage manager); Adam Chudley, Dennis Freeth, Richard Seward, Kris Brakstad (stage crew); Ian Styles and Roly Kelly (props); Chris Walker (sound and lighting assistance); Sarah Leat and cast (costumes); Stuart Courtman and Rose Harvey (front of house); Helma Belbin and helpers); Rose Harvey, Sue Close, Jasmine Hussey, Jack Price (publicity); Archway Bookshop (box office); Wayne Asher (photos); Helma Belbin, Pam Cridge, Rose Harvey and Sue Close (rehearsal teas).

SILVEY Webber as Audrey fielding calls about the blood-thirsty Venus flytrap

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Friday, May 4 2018 15

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Hix named as new theatre patron

Photo by John Puckey

THE Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis has announced that top chef and restaurateur Mark Hix has joined the arts venue as a patron.

Mark splits his time between his homes in London and Charmouth. He owns HIX Oyster & Fish House and the HIX Townhouse in Lyme Regis, as well as six restaurants in the capital.

The chef (pictured), who was awarded an MBE for hospitality in 2016, grew up in West Bay and attended the Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport and Weymouth College.

As well as his love of food, Mark is also passionate about the arts. He is well known for displaying cutting edge, modern art in his restaurants and collaborated

What’s on...

Friday, May 4 - Sunday, May 6

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

Friday, May 4 - Saturday, May 5

Harbour Workshops The Bakehouse Attic at the Town Mill, 11am-4.30pm A fun day making your own whimsical harbour from reclaimed materials to take home, with stepby-step tuition from Harbour Wood Design. Limited places cost £50 payable in advance when booking, plus £10 on the day for materials. To book, call 07843 259 594 or email driftwoodmich@googlemail.com

Friday, May 4

Tankus The Henge Marine Theatre, 7pm This upbeat festival band thrills audiences at Europe’s biggest shindigs, including Glastonbury, WOMAD, and Montreux Jazz Festival. Tickets £10 in advance or £12 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

Saturday, May 5

Into The Groove Disco Marine Theatre, 8pm The Marine Theatre’s popular discos return, this time covering music from the 60s to the 80s.

Retro fancy-dress is encouraged! Tickets £5 in advance or £7 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com Live Music @ Nag’s Head The Nag’s Head, 9pm Weekly live music night, this time with four-piece acoustic covers band Best Kept Secret.

Sunday, May 6

Blessing of the Boats Lifeboat Station, 3pm Traditional Blessing of the Boats service, held annually on Rogation Sunday outside Lyme Regis lifeboat station, to commemorate those lost at sea. All welcome to join.

Marine May Day Marine Theatre, 6.30pm A country knees-up with ceilidh band Red Shed and dancing from Uplyme Morris. Tickets £6 in advance or £8 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

Monday, May 7

Duck Race Windsor Terrace, 12noon Duck race in aid of Lyme Regis Christmas Lights Committee. Get their early to buy your tickets.

Tuesday, May 8

Live Screening: Royal Ballet’s ‘Manon’ Marine Theatre, 6pm Live from the Royal Opera House, Kenneth Macmillan’s powerful telling of Manon and des Grieux’s tragic love is a masterpiece of modern ballet, set to music by Massenet. Tickets £15 in advance or £17.50 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

with British artist Damien Hirst to open his restaurant Pharmacy 2 in 2016.

He’s also a regular visitor at the Marine, commenting: “We’ve worked with the theatre in the past on special events - and having enjoyed many nights out there - I am delighted to accept the invitation as patron.

“I love the breadth of events. It’s great that in our small town you can see a play, listen to a band or laugh at a comedian.

“I’m looking forward to being an ambassador for the venue. It’s so important to support culture in our community.’

Mark joins fellow theatre patrons, Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, actor Oliver Ford Davies and locally-

Wednesday, May 9

Coach trip to RHS Garden Wisley Meeting at Uplyme Village Hall, 7.45am Coach trip organised by the Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society to the Royal Horticultural Society’s main garden at Wisley, Surrey. Tickets £20 for U&LRHS members and can be booked by calling Annie Kobus on 01297 443346 or Gill Williams on 01297 444927.

Talk: ‘The Grandeur and Art of Tuscany’ Woodmead Halls, 10am Christopher Legrand brings his latest presentation to the U3A Heritage Coast branch. Tea and coffee from 10am and talk at 11am. Entry is free for U3A members of £2 for visitors.

Chordoma UK Stall, Marine Parade shelters

New clothing and good-quality, pre-loved summer dresses, jewels and bric-a-brac at bargain prices in aid of Chordoma UK which carried out research into this rare bone cancer.

Thursday, May 10

Live Screening: National Theatre’s ‘Macbeth’ Marine Theatre, 6pm Broadcast from the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy is directed by Rufus Norris. Tickets £11 in advance or £12.50 on the door – call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinethetre.com

Friday, May 11

Lyme Folk Revisited Marine Theatre, 6.30pm A trio of acts headlined by Ranagri, a quartet bringing a little Celtic touch to this corner of Dorset, to raise funds for Lyme Folk Weekend. Tickets £10 – call 01297 442138 or visit www.lymefolk.com Charity Auction The Talbot Arms, Uplyme, 7.30pm Auction organised by local Ride London cycling team Pearls & Peddlers in aid of the charities Anthony Nolan, Make A Wish, Prostate Cancer UK, Children with Cancer UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Saturday, May 12 - Sunday, May 13

MillFest Town Mill Events at the Town Mill in Lyme Regis marking National Mills Weekend – a festival of milling heritage, providing visitors with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate working watermills.

See www.townmill.org.uk for details

Saturday, May 12

‘Adele is Younger Than Us’ Marine Theatre, 7pm Acclaimed comedy duo Stiff and Kitsch bring their Edinburgh show to Dorset. Tickets £12 in advance or £14.50 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com Live Music @ Nag’s Head The Nag’s Head, 9pm Weekly live music night, this time with three-piece covers band The Relics.

Sunday, May 13

May Fete Anning Road playing field, 1pm Community event organised by Lyme Regis Re-

Send your diary dates to francesca@lyme-online.co.uk www.lyme-online.co.uk/events gatta & Carnival Committee with 60 stalls and a full programme of entertainment, including long sword dancing, falconry display, majorettes, morris dancing and taekwondo display, plus hot food, ice creams and refreshments, plants, games, cakes, and bouncy castle. Free entry.

Cinema Screening: ‘That Good Night’ Marine Theatre, 6.30pm John Hurt’s final film: Ralph, a once-famous screenwriter, is in his seventies and terminally ill.

He has two final missions: to be reconciled to his son and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his wife as he goes "into that good night". Tickets £4 in advance or £6 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

Monday, May 14

Football Club Cash Bingo Lyme Regis Football Club, 7.30pm Cash bingo in aid of Lyme Regis Football Club.

Usually held on the first Monday of every month so please note the revised date. Eyes down 7.30pm, book of six for 10 games costs £4.20.

Thursday, May 17

Live Music: Eli West Marine Theatre, 6.30pm Well-known for his work with Cahalen Morrison, Tim O’Brien, and Jayme Stone, the Americana and folk singer performs an intimate gig in the theatre bar. Tickets £10 in advance or £12 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

Friday, May 18 - Saturday, May 19

Persuasion Marine Theatre, 6.30pm Filled with live music, drama, laughter, and romance, Theatre6’s adaptation of the Jane Austen classic is not to be missed. Tickets £12 in advance or £14.50 on the door - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

born scriptwriter Andrew Rattenbury.

Gabby Rabbitts, director of the Marine, said “I’m so pleased to welcome Mark as a patron. He’s put Lyme Regis on the map for food and his passion for the arts is palpable.

“We have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline to work together on projects for the community.”

To celebrate the partnership, HIX Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis is offering Marine Theatre ticket holders 10 per cent off their bill before or after shows.

For full details of the offer, visit the website marinetheatre.com

Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ returns to Lyme

THE classic Jane Austen novel ‘Persuasion’, adapted for the stage, is to be performed at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis by acclaimed company Theatre6.

Lyme Regis famously appears in the book, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, with the two principal characters holidaying in the town in a dramatic trip.

Jane Austen visited Lyme Regis twice herself, and her descriptions in the novel show her love of the town: “The principal street almost hurrying into the water, the Walk to the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which, in the season, is animated with bathing machines and company… are what the stranger’s eye will seek.”

Key scenes from the BBC’s two film adaptations of the book were also filmed on the Cobb.

For all those who have read the book or seen the films, the story is unforgettable. Anne Elliot was young and in love, engaged to the dashing but poor naval officer, Commander Wentworth, and her ambitious family tore them apart. Years later, the tables have turned and a chance encounter could lead Anne towards the true love she has yearned for or a life forever alone.

Filled with live music, drama, laughter and romance from a cast of actors and musicians, Theatre6’s ‘Persuasion’ is not to be missed.

The company will perform the Marine Theatre on May 18 and 19. Tickets cost £12 in advance, £10 for concessions or £14.50 on the door. To book, call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com

LP HYOME BAY TO G RA P H Y

Saturday, May 19

Spring Plant Sale, Uplyme Village Hall, 9.30am Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society host their annual Spring Plant Sale, offering a range of plants and cakes to buy - bring your spares and buy someone else's! Entry £1.

Live Screening: The Royal Wedding Marine Theatre, 10am Enjoy strawberries and cream, homemade victoria sponge, cucumber sandwiches and Pimm’s at this community screening of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Wedding attire encouraged. Entry free but ticketed - call 01297 442138 or visit www.marinetheatre.com Royal Wedding & FA Cup Final Festival Lyme Regis Football Club, 11am onwards Screenings of both the royal wedding and FA Cup Final on the big screen TVs, mini beer festival, all-day barbecue, royal fancy dress and more, plus Lyme Regis v. Wellington Reserves (kick off 3pm). Free entry, all welcome.

Live Music @ Nag’s Head The Nag’s Head, 9pm Weekly live music night, this time with popular Lyme Regis covers band, DeltaTango7.

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by R Ro ob b Coombe Coombe

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MUSIC | THEATRE | WHAT’S ON | COMPETITIONS

Women to steal the show at Jazz Jurassica THIS year’s Jazz Jurassica - the newly named Lyme Regis Jazz & Blues Festival 0 promises a stellar line-up of female artists, from established headliners to young emerging talent performing at the iconic Marine Theatre and on the seafront.

Festival organiser Julie Sheppard said: “At one time women artists were at the forefront of jazz. Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday were synonymous with jazz in the US, whilst British performers barely registered on the radar.

“But that’s beginning to change. Claire Martin, Clare Teal and of course, Liane Carroll, are inspiring the next generation of young female singers and musicians.”

Liane Carroll is indicative of this resurgence of UK-based talent and will headline the festival’s finale on Sunday evening. She’s a multi-awardwinning jazz pianist and singer with a string of accolades to her name.

As a recording artist her albums often top the ‘best jazz album’ awards and in 2016 was voted best UK female jazz singer.

She’s inspiring a younger generation of British performers with her song-writing prowess and passionate delivery.

As she told Jamie Cullum on his recent Radio 2 show: “It’s all about connecting music to the

heart and then reaching out to the audience.”

Julie added: “Liane’s one of the best. She can really swing one minute, then play a blues heart-breaker the next.

“I saw her a couple of years ago at Love Supreme jazz festival when she played to a damp crowd early one morning and completely rocked it. It was a remarkable performance from a truly remarkable performer.

“I’m absolutely thrilled she’ll be with us this year and I’m sure audiences are going fall for her, just as I did.”

But Liane is not alone. Saxophonist Fliss Gorst, Axminster born and bred, is set for a warm festival homecoming when she brings her eightpiece swing band to Lyme Regis.

As a former student of Woodroffe School’s music department, she now returns as one of the few successful female bandleaders in the country, a debut album in the iTunes jazz charts and a growing reputation as a virtuoso sax player, regularly touring with Father John Misty.

With her sparky swing standards, jumping jives and daz-

zling dance numbers, Fliss promises to get a party started wherever she plays. She’s joined by ace singers, Lauren Bush and Shane Hampsheir, who bring extra panache to this swing extravaganza.

If hip swivelling sambas are more your thing, then Julie recommends Annika Skoogh’s Quartet (pictured top left) who fronts a jazz brunch at Lyme’s latest eatery on the seafront, SWIM. Julie said: “Brought up in Sweden, born in Ecuador, now living in Exeter, Annika brings a truly international flavour to jazz and swing classics. And given her latin credentials you can expect some cool Copacabana sounds to wash up on Lyme Bay on that Sunday morning.”

Another young woman making music on her own terms is Exeter-based Clara Bond (left).

Clara has curated her own Soul Sessions for the festival’s Bank Holiday Monday on the seafront.

As a talented performer, song-writer and recording artist, Clara is rapidly making a name for herself in the music business with a busy summer

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

on the forthcoming festival circuit as well as supporting Wildwood Kin on their recent UK tour.

Again, women feature prominently in her on stage line up on the seafront. Clara’s joined

by Eleisha May, a young singer from a local musical family and a formidable talent. Her dad’s the acclaimed pianist, Craig Milverton, who will accompany her as part of the supergroup house band.

Whether she’s singing jazz, blues or soul, her smoky voice and soulful delivery, guarantee she’ll soon be following in her father’s footsteps.

Eleisha’s followed by Canadian-born Melissa Bel’s killer combination of infectious pop beats, powerful soul vocals and heart-warming ballads.

Melissa (above) will be in her comfort zone - out front, guitar in hand, confidently commanding the stage.

Julie added: “We’ve got the pick of the crop this year. Our line-up shows what fantastic female talent we have here on our doorstep. They’ll entertain, excite, and deliver some goose-bump moments.

“Come hear them for yourself – they’re inspirational”.

Jazz Jurassica will be held from May 24 to 28. Tickets and more information are available at www.jazzjurassica.co.uk or call the box office on 01297 442138.

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FLASHBACKS with Richard Austin

Friday, May 4 2018 17

Tales from behind the lens of our award-winning photographer

SELDOM has there been such a fortunate couple as Phillip and Lisa Burgess, who had to control crash land their private helicopter into the sea in Lyme Bay on easter Monday 1999.

The pair were flying across the bay when they were suddenly consumed by dense fog, finding themselves in the water and hanging on to the helicopter awaiting rescue.

Nothing could have been more frightening than being stranded clinging to the side of the half submerged helicopter, not knowing if they will be found before the cold water decided their fate. To heighten the story even more Mrs Burgess was pregnant at the time.

If there was any luck flying around that day, it came from local boatman Jonnie Walker who, using his professional knowledge of the sea state and where they may have drifted, found the pair in the nick of time.

The story became the number one press story of the day, all editors love a knife-edge story like this with a fantastic ending.

For me it was very nearly a huge balls-up. I had received a tip from someone in the rescue services that they had been found off Charmouth and would be brought ashore in the village. When I arrived I was quickly told that they were actually on their way to Lyme Regis, so I had to drive in thick fog and bank holiday traffic desperately trying to get to the Cobb before the lifeboat.

Screeching to a halt outside the Cobb Arms, I grabbed my camera and legged it down the slipway just as the RNLI team were bringing them ashore.

Although it was Jonny Walker who found them they had transferred from his boat into the lifeboat to get them back quicker, although it was the fog that slowed them down and enabled me to get there just in time. The Daily Mail donated £10,000 to the RNLI and Mr and Mrs Burgess came back to Lyme to meet John Walker and the lifeboat team who between them had saved three lives on that dramatic day.

Mr and Mrs Burgess also returned to Lyme Regis again in 2017 with their now grown-up daughter, for the launch of a book on the history of the lifeboat crew by Richard Horobin, in which they feature.

LymeOnline letters

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

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNIT Y PAPER

Responsible fossil collecting needs to be promoted I HAVE been coming to Lyme Regis for half a century, like most visitors, to marvel at the wonderful ammonite fossils, both large and small, loose on the beach and in the cliffs. More recently to do some stone balancing.

For more than 30 of those years, the beach had hundreds of huge flat blocks with dustbin lid sized ammonites. I could return to the same spot year after year and be sure to recognise favourites that became almost friends. I was delighted that most visitors revered these wonders of nature and few tried to hammer, let alone remove them.

I took regular study groups in summer holidays and everywhere we quickly found coin-sized perfect white ammonites. Gradually I had to bring these forays forward to Easter and then to be able to find as many it needed a good winter storm.

Last week I struggled to find even a few, and all of the distinctive pebbles (the ones I know upon splitting will reveal these perfect fossils) also

seem to have been removed by ‘collectors’!

Whilst I have no problem with the few fossils that were taken away before this activity became so heavily publicised (and incidentally I made a point of returning some) there were always plenty for others to enjoy. Responsible collecting is fine but it needs to be promoted.

I have to say that my last trip to Lyme was absolutely ruined, not just by the lack of fossil abundance, but by the wholesales removal of rock. Gone even, were the huge blocks that I always felt were safe from their sheer size. I did come across two parties who were not only loading massive single blocks into rucksacks they could barely lift, one was engaged in what could best be described as quarrying - employing a sledge hammer, four foot long crow bars and a wheelbarrow! Needless to say I could not find a single ‘old friend’ from Monmouth Beach. I could not even fine one of the comma-shaped stones I like to balance!

When challenged one perpetrator, near the fa-

mous Ammonite Pavement, informed me that no ‘collector’ would break this up, and the unsightly mess of broken fragments he had made would soon become rounded by the sea; which is also continually releasing fossils from the cliff.

Well over centuries, this may be true, but like a discarded biodegradable banana skin the hammered mess will be an eyesore for some a time.

I am sorry, I am old enough to know first hand how long it takes for the sea to destroy the fossils, because for many years I could keep going back the same recognisable ammonites. At the same time erosion is making replacements far too slowly to keep up with this kind of selfish wholesale 'collecting'.

It is disappointing that the existing £20,000 fine for removal of this significant geological heritage is nether enforced nor acts a deterrent.

Richard Arthur BSc FGS, Bristol

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

communitynews

18 Friday, May 4 2018

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British Legion branch wins membership award

Record number of stalls at this year’s May Fete

LYME Regis May Fete is set to be bigger than ever this year, with a total of 60 stalls plus a full programme of entertainment and attractions.

Organised by Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Committee, the traditional community event will be held on the Anning Road playing field from 1pm on Saturday, May 13.

The event will be opened by the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, accompanied by her husband Alan Ellis, and all proceeds will go to the local organisations present.

During the afternoon there will be a programme of events with a focus on young talent in Lyme Regis. This will include music from B Sharp and displayed from Lyme Regis Taekwondo Club and Lyme Regis Majorettes.

The month of May will be celebrated with folk dancing from St Michael’s Primary School and Uplyme Morris Men, and following last year’s success, there will be another impressive falconry display.

Regatta and Carnival Committee secretary, Alan Vian, said: “We are so looking forward to a great afternoon here in the heart of Lyme Regis.

“We often forget how many organisations we have in our town and it will be good to catch up on all that they are doing as well as seeing them supported financially.

“The recreation ground will be packed with stalls and we look forward to seeing the expected large crowds of people enjoying the entertainment provided by our talented young people.”

the number of members, around the 130 mark, whilst many other branches throughout the country are experiencing a decline.

In recognition of their efforts the branch has been awarded the county trophy for recruitment and retention in the medium branch category.

Branch chairman Ian Marshall said: “We are delighted to have been recognised in this way and would like to congratulate our vicechairman Daniel Buckley, who is our membership secretary, for his hard work in keeping our membership numbers up.”

The Lyme branch is also promoting the ‘Silent Soldiers’ initiative to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the 1914-18 war.

Lyme Regis Town Council has purchased four of the silhouettes at a cost of £1,000 to CHAIRMAN Ian Marshall pictured with the certificate place at strategic locaand plaque awarded to the Lyme branch tions around the town.

THE Lyme Regis branch of the Royal British Legion has been rewarded for its efforts in maintaining its membership numbers.

The Lyme branch is one of the most active in Dorset, organising various events for the Poppy Appeal. Much effort has also been put in by branch officers to maintaining

LYME Regis outside staff workers Mark Bujniewicz and Pater Williams pictured after erecting a “Silent Soldier” on the Devon/Dorset border. If anyone would like to purchase a silhouette for display they should contact Ian Marshall on 07854 993955

. . . d e t i v n i e r You’

A double celebration at Lyme Regis Football Club Saturday, May 19th 2018, from 11am BEER FESTIVAL

Pimm’s, Prosecco & Gin Tent All day BBQ

Royal tea & cake

Football shirt raffle

The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

WATCH BO T H ON EVENTS IG O UR B SCREEN TVS!

and the

FA Cup Final: Manchester Utd v. Chelsea

PLUS:

Cheer on Lyme First XI v. Wellington Reserves (kick-off 2pm)

Crowns for the kids and prizes for best royal fancy dress!

communitynews

Friday, May 4 2018 19

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Scouts celebrate St George’s Day

PICTURED above and right, members of the 1st Lym Valley Scouts and volunteers at the recent St George’s weekend camp

THE 1st Lyme Valley Scout Group celebrated St George’s Day with a difference this year.

Instead of the usual parade and church service the 34 Cubs and Scouts chose to spend the weekend at a camp, playing games, singing campfire songs and celebrating.

On Sunday, the Beavers joined the group, bringing the total number to 52, and they then played ‘Uplyme Monopoly’ – a challenge which involved running around the village taking selfies at various landmarks and answering questions about the local area.

The day was rounded off with a few games and, as has always happens on St George’s weekend, each Beaver, Cub, Scout and leader renewed their promises.

Scout leader Karen Yelland said: “It’s been a brilliant weekend. It’s been a pleasure to get so many of the group come and experience a camp like this. It’s all about giving them new experiences” Fellow leader Paul Weldin added: “The weather was a bit bumpy, but it all came good in the end and eventually the sun came through the mist. The Cubs has a fun time at the hut, and it was great to be with the rest of the group.”

Rotarians raise awareness of high blood pressure risks

Royal wedding changes Christian Aid Week plans

FUNDRAISERS in Lyme Regis have decided to scrap their usual street collection for Christian Aid Week, due to the royal wedding, and instead hold a lunch and coffee morning.

Locally and nationally, there will be lots of activities to raise funds for this year’s Christian Aid Week. In Lyme Regis, a street collection is usually held on the Saturday, but as this will clash with the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this year, volunteers have decided not to go ahead as they expect many shoppers to stay at home to watch the event.

Instead, a fundraising lunch will be held on Tuesday, May 15 at St Michael’s Parish Church and a coffee morning on Friday, May 18 at 4a Lym Close.

Donations for Christian Aid Week can also be made at Serendip and Martin Diplock Estate Agents in Broad Street.

Tickets still available for Community Lunch

TICKETS are still available for this month’s Community Lunch in Lyme Regis.

Organised by LymeForward, the lunches for the over 50s are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Lyme Regis Baptist Church, with this month’s taking place on Wednesday, May 9 at 12.15pm.

The menu includes spring lamb with mint sauce and seasonal vegetable followed by fruit crumble and custard. Special dietary requirements can be catered for.

Tickets for £6 are available at the Penny Black Café behind the post office.

N E W LO O K

LYM E R EG I S

EVENTS FOR MAY Lyme Regis Musical Theatre presents

HELLO, DOLLY! MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis pictured with local nurse Sally Cable as she take the blood pressure of one of her patients NURSES from both medical practices in Lyme Regis worked with local Rotarians on Saturday to raise awareness of the importance of having your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis hosted their annual Blood Pressure Awareness Day in the offices of Fortnam, Smith & Banwell in Broad Street, where passers-by were invited to have their blood pressure checked.

The event raises awareness of the connection between high blood pressure and the increased risk of a stroke.

Rotarian Peter Fortnam said: “Over 100 people popped into our temporary facility in Broad Street and had their blood pressure checked by qualified nurses, and several were referred to their GPs for further testing.

“As always we are extremely grateful to local nurses Carys Hollis, Louise Tate and Sally Cable, who gave up their valuable free time to take blood pressure readings and advise people on follow up procedure where necessary. Also to Dan Socaciu, patient services manager at Lyme Regis Medical Centre, who supported us all day, and to Fortnam, Smith and Banwell for providing facilities in their Broad Street premises.

“If this campaign has succeeded in making even just one person more aware of the importance of regular health checkups then the day was a success.”

For more information on the importance of regular blood pressure check-ups and the risks of a stroke, visit the Stroke Association website at www.stroke.org.uk

May 15th-19th Tickets available from Serendip Bookshop

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

ADVANCED NOTICE

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

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

thefoodpages

20 Friday, May 4 2018

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WIN A £35 FOOD VOUCHER

DINING OUT NEWS & REVIEWS

Lyme a foodie’s paradise to THE ROYAL LION

BLACK DOG TEA ROOM

BEACH HOUSE CAFÉ

HIX OYSTER & FISH HOUSE

THE Royal Lion Hotel prides itself on its dining facilities, offering a variety of options to suit guests’ requirements whilst you are residing with us.

The pièce de résistance of the hotel’s dining options is The Oak Room Restaurant, an elegant dining room serving a blend of classic dishes and modern cuisine.

For less formal dining occasions, we also have the traditional pub atmosphere of The Inn, with open log fires to warm you during those chilly winter days, offering a selection of gastro-pub delights, as well as a great place to meet for morning coffee, a chilled glass of wine or to grab lunch before exploring the town.

On Sundays, the Royal Lion also serves a traditional Sunday lunch offering a selection of dishes associated with this great British tradition.

The Monmouth Lounge is also open for morning coffee, a hearty slice of cake, or a Dorset cream tea, with large, homely sofas for guests to relax in.

All three of our dining areas are open to residents and non-residents alike.

Privately owned and managed, The Royal Lion Hotel has gained an enviable reputation for its friendly service, first class cuisine and impressive leisure facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. There is a private car park and wi-fi is available in the various lounges throughout the hotel.

ROD and Sonia have been running Black Dog Tea Room in Uplyme for five years and customers come back time and again for their homemade food and loose leaf tea.

With need for more space they have built a summerhouse in the garden as an extension to the tea room with the idea that it can be hired out for meetings or private lunches; it looks out over the landscaped garden and has a lovely view of the Lym Valley.

Black Dog Tea Room is dog friendly so a walk up the River Lym with your furry friend can end up with a lovely cup of tea and a snack. Nearly everything is made on the premises - bread, rolls, cakes and scones - they use locally-sourced produce, the bacon for the Somerset brie and bacon rolls comes from Colyton Butchers. The eggs used in the roasted pepper, mushroom and cherry tomato quiche are free range and come from just up the road. The toast used in Rod's Rustic Rarebit comes from bread made using flour from the Town Mill in Lyme Regis.

Black Dog Tea Room is on the Lyme Road heading towards Lyme Regis and is open every day except Wednesdays when they can be found walking their two dogs Martha and Jorge along the east beach towards Charmouth, Martha chasing the seagulls and Jorge meeting new friends to play with, and Rod and Sonia enjoying the walk and sea air.

JUST a stone’s throw from the glorious sandy beach and the picturesque Cobb area, the Beach House Café - this year celebrating its 20th anniversary under the same ownership - is a haven for those looking for the heartiest of meals.

Offering the best in traditional English food alongside an extensive menu from around the world, this traditional beach café is the perfect place for a pit stop at any time of day.

Since 1998 the café has been nurtured by the mother and daughter team of Audrey and Katie Vellacott. Audrey can be found at the café most days cracking crab practically 24/7 to keep up with the high demand for crab sandwiches and crab soup, which is all caught by local skipper Lewis Hodder off the Antelma.

Alongside its popular full English breakfasts, the Beach House Café is building its reputation for Middle Eastern alternatives, with the shakshuka proving particularly popular.

Originally a Tunisian dish but popular in Israel, shakshuka consists of an egg poached in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, served in a frying pan with feta and coriander with a baguette on the side – perfect for sharing.

Another big favourite at the Beach House is Katie’s delicious homemade cakes.

PERCHED on the hillside offering panoramic views of the Cobb and Jurassic Coast, HIX Oyster & Fish House is arguably the most picturesque spot in Dorset to enjoy locally-sourced fish and seafood. A large terrace wraps around the informal, light and airy dining room with floor to ceiling windows.

Growing up in West Bay, Lyme Regis was the perfect location for local chef and restaurateur Mark Hix to open his second restaurant, celebrating its tenth year this June.

The menus at HIX are built around the long-established, personal relationships that Mark has with his suppliers and use only responsibly-produced, carefullysourced and simply served British seasonal ingredients.

A keen forager himself, wild food is always featured on the Fish House menus with local sea vegetables complementing simply cooked fish and seafood, landed along the Dorset coast and here in Lyme Bay. The wine list reads as a charming tour of the local vineyards including Furleigh Estate, Lyme Bay and boutique vineyard, Castlewood. So, it’s not surprising to see Hix’s own label beers, made locally by Palmers Brewery alongside a seasonal cocktail list showcasing local spirits.

Royal Lion Hotel 17th century coaching inn by the sea Te l : 0 1 2 9 7 4 4 5 6 2 2 The Royal Lion Hotel Broad Street Lyme Regis

The Oak Room Restaurant Elegant and luxurious setting, offering classic cuisine Opening times 6:30pm-9pm For a reservation contact 01297 445622

Our BREAKFAST MENU is served all day from 8am to 3pm including the Full Monty, Full Veggie, Eggs on Toast, Avocado, Feta & Poached Eggs, Kippers & Scrambled Egg, Smocked Haddock, Salmon Royale, Benedict on the Beach, Baked Beans on Toast

AND OUR FAMOUS SHAKSHUKA, SPINACH SHAKSUKA and VEGAN SHAKSHUKA and Middle Eastern Breakfast We also serve MAIN MEALS and LUNCH SPECIALS, BAGUETTES & SANDWICHES, JACKET POTATOES, MEDITERRANEAN WRAPS, SOUP, SALADS and CREAM TEAS Seating outside the cafe and in our beach garden area

Marine parade lyme regis 01297 445923

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Friday, May 4 2018 21

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DINING OUT NEWS & REVIEWS

suit all tastes and pockets THE MARINERS HOTEL

AS well as offering accommodation, The Mariners Hotel has an excellent bar and restaurant facilities.

The head chef sources only the finest and freshest local produce. Totally in tune with the seasons, he then creates dishes that are influenced by the best of British.

Every week he introduces something new to the menu that has excited his imagination and taste buds, then each month the entire choice is rethought and recreated.

The chefs use only the best the West Country has to offer, with fresh fish from Lyme Bay, quality-assured meat from West Country farms, and locally-made beer, wine and gin.

The hotel is steeped in Lyme’s fossiling and literary history and boasts a fantastic sea view garden and lounge, tastefully decorated restaurant and public bar with extensive wine and gin list. See if you can spot the fossil in the wall!

A recent innovation has see the launch of the Mariners’ tasting nights, an eight-course extravaganza with exciting dishes which have received rave reviews - held on the first Friday of every month.

AROMA CAFÉ & KITCHEN

OFTEN described as “Lyme’s little secret”, the multiaward winning Aroma Café and Kitchen in Bridge Street is the kind of place where locals love to chill out over coffee and a tasty snack, and visitors find hugely attractive in these days of mass-produced catering.

Owner John Kellas and his passionate team are committed to providing tasty meals using quality produce, a philosophy which has earned them an enviable reputation and a number of awards.

With another outlet in Bridport, which doubles as a bar in the evenings, both establishments have won Gold accolades in the Taste of The West Awards, as well as being the winner of the family dining section in the Dorset Food Awards last year.

Whether it's a breakfast, all-day brunch or lunch, or one of Aroma’s scrumptious cakes, homemade soups or a healthy platter, there is no lack of choice in a menu that caters for all kinds of diet.

The menu is changed regularly and the Aroma staff encourage families into their back room where there is a play area for the kids (pictured above).

Aroma also caters for outside functions and has introduced the provision of bespoke meals for people staying in the town.

THE FISHERMAN’S WIFE

NO seaside resort is complete without fish and chips and there is certainly no lacking in places where you can buy England’s signature dish in Lyme Regis.

One of the most popular in Lyme is The Fisherman’s Wife, situated just a few steps from the resort’s famous Cobb harbour.

For first-time visitors to Lyme, buying their fish and chips and then sitting on the Cobb to eat them and watching all the boating activity in the harbour is very often the highlight of their stay.

On TripAdvisor, The Fisherman’s Wife has an 86 per cent rating for very good or excellent and a number of reviews refer to it as serving “the best fish and chips in Lyme”.

But The Fisherman’s Wife is no run-of-the-mill fish and chip shop, as alongside the cod and chips, fish cakes and burgers, one of its best sellers is hand-dived Lyme Bay scallops served with garlic butter.

The Fisherman’s Wife is run by Anthony and Rachel Shuttleworth, who are very keen fundraisers for a number of charities, especially the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, their premises being just a stone’s throw from the lifeboat station. Their 11-year-old son Keiran raises funds for the lifeboats by handing out scallop shells for a donation for the RNLI.

& RESTAURANT

H

k

i

d

The Fisherman’s Wife The Mariners is a 14-bedroom coaching inn with fine dining restaurant, open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and bar open daily until 11pm.

Please contact the hotel on

01297 442 753

or email Enquiries@hotellymeregis.co.uk for menus or bookings, available for functions, private parties and weddings.

Near the Cobb, Lyme Regis

Lyme’s little secret!

Fresh and local fish

Multi award winning cafe serves the finest locally roasted coffee, sourcing high quality ingredients for all the homemade breakfasts, brunches and lunches from as close to home as possible.

Catering for all types of diets, from the carb hungry carnivore to the vegan coeliac!

We are always happy to help.

Possibly the nicest bunch of people serving the best quality food, drink and cake on the planet… .and extremely humble with it!

Silver Street Lyme Regis DT7 3HS

Bridge Street, Lyme Regis 10am-4pm

Beautiful hand-dived Lyme Bay scallops cooked in garlic butter

WIN A £35 VOUCHER TO SPEND WITH ONE OF THESE ADVERTISERS HERE’S an opportunity to win a £35 voucher to spend at one of the advertisers on our food pages.

All you have to do is answer the seven questions below. The answers can be found within the advertisements or editorial for each food establishments.

List the answers on the form below and send to: Eating Out Competition, LymeOnline, Unit 5 Uplyme Business Park, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS. The closing date is Thursday, May 18. The winner will be able to choose which establishment they want to spent their voucher at. The editor’s decision is final.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. Name the main restaurant at the Royal Lion Hotel 2. Who supplies the bacon at the Black Dog Tea Room?

3. Name the popular Israeli breakfast dish served at the Beach House Café 4. Where did Mark Hix, owner of the HIX Oyster & Fish House, grow up?

5. How many courses make up the Mariners Hotel’s taster menu?

6. Name the owner of the Aroma Café & Kitchen 7. What is The Fisherman’s Wife’s favourite charity?

WIN A £35 EATING OUT VOUCHER ANSWERS: 1 .....................................................

2 .....................................................

3 .....................................................

4 .....................................................

5 .....................................................

6 .....................................................

7 .....................................................

NAME: ............................................

TEL NO: ..........................................

Send to: Eating Out Competition, LymeOnline, Unit 5, Uplyme Business Park, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS

classifieds&jobs

22 Friday, May 4 2018

Pick up your copy of LymeOnline LYME REGIS Royal Lion Hotel, Broad Street Fortnam Smith & Banwell, Broad Street Outside Serendip, Broad Street (when fine) Paul The Hairdressers, Broad Street The Rock Point Inn, Broad Street Tourist Information Centre, Bridge Street Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street Aroma Café, Bridge Street Lyme’s Fish Bar, Coombe Street Tesco, Broad Street The Volunteer Inn, Broad Street Good Food Café & Deli, Broad Street Co-Op, Broad Street, Post Office, Broad Street Library, Silver Street Nags Head, Silver Street The Mariners Hotel, Silver Street Lyme Bay Medical Practice, Silver Street Woodmead Halls, Hill Road Lyme Regis Golf Club, Timber Hill SWIM, Marine Parade Harbour Inn, Marine Parade Slipway, The Cobb Lyme Convenience Store, Staples Terrace UPLYME Black Dog Tea Rooms Talbot Arms Uplyme Filling Station & Post Office CHARMOUTH Charmouth Stores (NISA), The Street The Elms, The Street Wood Farm Caravan Park HUNTERS LODGE/RAYMONDS HILL Raymonds Hill Post Office & Stores

www.lyme-online.co.uk

ITEMS FOR SALE

VAX Airtech2 upright mains vacuum cleaner.

Clean, excellent condition. Instructions. £20.

01297 444104.

QUALITY Desk with 8 drawers length 129cms, width 69cms, £120 ono. 07884 231136.

MASSAGE TABLE, solid, non portable £100 ono. 07884 231136.

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.

ROCA LOURA white pedestal basin £30 01297 678536.

MICROLAB FC330 2.1 speaker system, boxed £35 01297 678536.

GARDEN BENCHES and a table from £35 to £65. 07854 346512.

HAEMMERLINE Vibrante Go-Poly Prolene pneumatic wheelbarrow, green, vgc 90L £25 01297 561022.

CONSOLE Table, white painted wood 68x28x68cm high, 4 drawers £20. Two single fabric wardrobes £5 each.

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

SOFA modern 2-seater, stone colour, £120.

Sofa modern 21/2 seater, stone colour, £120 - 07748 873690.

Your name: .......................................................................................................................

Your address: .................................................................................................................. ...........................................................................................................................................

Telephone number: .........................................................................................................

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

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LymeOnline Sport Exciting run-in to the end of the season for the Seasiders

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

THERE’s been plenty of disappointments at the Davey Fort this season with the weather decimating fixtures - but the Seasiders’ supporters can look forward to an exciting end to the season.

Although they have lost five of their 18 games, the first team is still in with a chance of promotion to the Devon & Exeter League Premier Division.

If they make it, it will be the highest standard in which the club has ever played. With another four games to play before the end of the month, Lyme are currently in fourth position on 31 points, the same number as their nearest rival,

tables Devon & Exeter Division One P W Colyton 15 12 University of Exeter 18 11 Perry Street 17 9 Lyme Regis 18 9 Lapford 18 8 Heavitree United 2nds 19 7 Sidmouth Town 2nds 18 8 Chard Town Reserves 19 5 Cullompton Rang 2nds 17 6 Chagford 19 6 Wellington Reserves 17 4 Alphinton 2nds 21 3

D 3 4 4 4 4 5 1 6 1 1 4 4

L 0 3 4 5 6 7 9 8 8 12 10 14

F 52 50 44 40 50 37 45 25 39 39 28 25

A Gd 16 36 24 27 24 20 31 9 37 13 55 -18 42 3 42 -17 33 6 52 -13 58 -30 55 -30

Pts 39 37 31 31 28 26 25 19 19 19 13 13

Devon & Exeter Division Five Lyme Regis Reserves 20 15 Black Swan Town 1st 18 14 Elmore 2nds 18 14 Halwill 2nds 18 13 Millwey Rise 21 12 Central 22 12 Hemyock 1sts 18 9 Culm United 1sts 20 7 Ilminster Town Res 20 6 Awliscombe 20 6 Westexe Park Rangers 20 5 Dunkeswell Rovers 19 5 Offwell Rangers 20 0

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

4 3 3 4 7 8 4 13 12 13 14 14 19

76 90 59 53 62 70 52 53 42 33 47 32 9

23 53 29 61 17 42 27 26 38 24 48 22 37 15 60 -7 67 -25 51 -18 81 -34 83 -51 117-108

46 43 43 40 38 38 32 21 20 19 15* 15 0*

Perry Street Division One P W Halstock 12 11 Farway United 15 9 Ilminster Colts 13 9 Forton Rangers 14 8 Waytown Hounds 12 5 Hawkchurch 15 4 Uplyme 16 4 Perry Street Reserves 13 3 Shepton Reserves 15 2 Chard Rangers 15 1

D 1 5 2 3 3 4 3 4 2 1

L 0 1 2 3 4 7 9 6 11 13

Gd 49 29 22 10 2 -7 -17 -10 -24 -54

Pts 34 32 29 27 18 16 15 13 8 4

Perry Street Division Two Thorncombe 17 14 Crewkerne Rangers 16 12 Misterton Reserves 16 11 Forton Rangers Res 17 11 Charmouth 16 9 South Peterton Res 18 8 Dowlish & Donyatt 20 6 Kingsbury 18 5 Chard Utd Reserves 19 3 Combe A 18 4 Winsham Reserves 19 3

3 3 3 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 1

0 1 2 5 5 9 12 11 14 12 15

21 44 47 28 1 9 -28 -10 -41 42 -69

45 39 36 34 29 25 20 17 11 9* 9*

Perry Street Division Three Ilminster Town A 15 13 Donyatt United 14 11 Crewkerne Rang Res 16 11 Merriott Dynamos 12 7 Farway Reserves 13 6 Lyme Rovers 12 5 Thorncombe Reserves 16 4 Chard Rangers Res 15 3 Netherbury Reserves 14 3 Chard United Allstars 15 0

0 2 1 1 1 2 4 1 3 1

2 1 4 4 6 5 8 11 8 14

36 35 25 0 -0 8 -23 -437 2 -46

39 35 34 21* 18* 17 16 10 8* 1

By PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk Perry Street, who have one game in hand.

Colyton, with 39 points from 15 games, look odds-on for promotion two points ahead of University 2nds, who are unable to go up because their first team already play in the top tier.

With the reorganisation of the leagues prominent, it is not known how may teams will be promoted, but if Lyme are able to retain their current position they could well find themselves in the Premier division next year.

The first team are also in with shout of silverware, having made it to the semi-finals of the Grandisson Cup, which was first played for in 1957.

Lyme will meet Tipton St John at Ottery St Mary FC on Tuesday, May 22 (kick-off 7pm).

Lyme Reserves are also on the hunt for silver, currently topping Division Five and with a place in the

final of the Football Express Cup, which they won for the first time last season, when they meet Elmore 2nds at Budleigh Salterton FC on Wednesday, May 23 (kick-off 7.15pm).

The Reserves are leading Division Five with a three-point lead over Black Swan Town, but the Teignmouth side have two games in hand.

Elmore 2nds and Halwill 2nds, with games in hand, could still catch the Ressies so it will be crucial to keep up their winning run to gain a place in Division Four next season.

Although there will be no cup glory for Lyme Rovers this season, the third X1 have done well to maintain a mid-table place in Perry Street Division Three.

And they have given plenty of enjoyment to the Lyme faithful, no more so than on Tuesday evening when they were on the wrong side of a nine-goal thriller after going 3-0 down. The Lyme goals came from Scott Myers (2), Johnny Day and Ollie Alner.

GOALMOUTH action in Lyme Reserves’ 8-2 victory over Awliscombe which resulted in them having scored31 goals in a week

skittles

No Hopers and Anthill Mob top the men’s divisions NO HOPERS have gone the whole season in the Lyme Regis Skittles League without losing a game and have been crowned Division One champions with just one more game to play.

Flyers, who have completed their 16 games, are currently in second place but could be caught by Trappers if they win their last two games.

In Men’s Division Two, Anthill Mob have taken the league title with ten wins out of their 12 games and Alleywits in the runners-up spot.

Results (week ending April 28): Ladies pairs finals - winners Shelley Larcombe and Sarah Churchill, runners-up Sue Yeatman and Karen Aldworth.

Lyme Regis FC current Silver Ball standings for top scorer Steve Batey - 127 Pete Peacock 18 Jake Bearpark -17 Julien Simier - 15 Fred Parsons - 14 Declkan Ellis - 11 Brad Rowe -9 Scott Meyers 7

Men’s - Miscellaneous 373 v Marksmen 354 (+BL), Roadrunners 353 (+BL) v No Hopers 392, Wreckers 347 (+BL) v Flyers 311, Young Guns 353 cv Clueless 354 (+BL).

High scores: J. Cable 74, J. Broome 72, T. Edwards 67, C. Flux 67.

Forthcoming fixtures: Friday, May 4, Men’s Singles (Den Parsons Cup final at Wootton Club - S, Beal, P. Bright, K. Bearpark, R. Beviss, C.

Kapur, J. Lee, S. Stevens, S. Shaw, T. Mayers, I. Locke, A. Sheader, D. Gillings.

Wednesday May 9, Cornish Cup semi-final - Roadrunners v Rousdon Rebels (at The George), No Hopers v Tornadoes (at the Rock Point).

Friday, May 11, Ladies’ singles finals at the Ship Inn - Sharon Churchill, Tracey Chapman, Sarah Churchill, Lisa Taylor, Di Rickard, Joyce White, Elaine Bearpark, Sam

Churchill.

Tuesday May 15, Caswston All Cup semi-final - Rousdon Rebels v Wreckers (at Rousdon Club).

Wednesday, May 16, Cawston All Cup semi-final - Alleytwits v Tornadoes (at the Rock Point).

Friday, May 18th , Men’s Bob Sweetland Cup semi-final (venue tbc) - Tornadoes v Wreckers at the Rock Point).

For league tables go to www.lyme-online.co.uk

bowls

Inauspicious start for Lyme bolwers

By Paul Moffitt LYME Regis Bowls Club ladies kicked off their league season with an away draw against Gillingham.

Unfortunately, it was Gillingham that had the two winning rinks, giving them six points against Lyme’s four. The men started started their leagues today on Monday, the championship side hosting Blandford whilst the newly promoted 2nd team were away to Greenhill.

The club have played three friendlies this past week but had their game against Merriott was washed out on Friday last.

It has been an inauspicious

start by the club who contrived to lose all three games, the one against Seaton in disastrous fashion.

Results

Friendlies: Lyme 62; Seaton 164.

A Darvill, B Driscoll, J Moffitt, R Legg 7-34; M Knight, F Sell, J Moseley, G Mitchell 12-18; R Bishop, N Driscoll, A Nabarro, P Moffitt 7-28; L Young, G Clode, N Solomon, P Knight 13-25; J Bishop, P Stephens, A Rattenbury, S Rowe 9-41; T Allman, B Smith, D Mayo, A Allman 14-18.

Lyme 63; Axminster 85.

A Darvill, B Smith, D CourtenaySmith, R Legg 14-16; D Mayo, E

Sarson, P Knight, Chas Barber 18-19; J Sherring, F Sell, A Nabarro, Chris Barber 19-19; A Sherring, D Sarson, J Kesterton, A Weech 12-31.x Lyme 75; Troedyrhiw Tour 100.

S Dowling, N Stephens, J Moseley, S Pomeroy 16-11; L Young, P Stephens, T Allman, Chris Barber 14-15; A Darvill, D Mayo, A Preece, P Moffitt 20-17; E Sarson, R Burton, A Nabarro, P Knight 6-21; D Sarson, D Courtenay-Smith, N Solomon, H Dowling 10-19; M Knight, C Pomeroy, J Moffitt, Chas Barber 9-17.

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LymeOnline Sport

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

Reserves score 31 goals in week to top the table

sports shorts Ladies captain leads the way

24 Friday, May 4 2018

May 4 2018

Seasiders’ second string in line for promotion to Div 4 LYME Regis Reserves sit on top of the Devon and Exeter League Division Five this week after another goal spree.

THE Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, bowls the first wood to open the 2018 season at Lyme Regis Bowls Club. Below, A bouquet is presented to the mayor

Mayor opens bowls season LYME Regis Bowls Club’s new president, Pat Cole, welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Michaela Ellis, and her escort Alan, to the club and invited her to deliver the first wood to mark the beginning of the 2018 season.

A friendly then took place between club members, in brilliant warm sunshine, followed by supper in the clubhouse.

Before bowling the first wood, Councillor Ellis wished the club another successful season. She was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a gift was also given to her husband.

In a unique family connection with the

bowling club, the 1939 season was opened by the Mayor, Councillor Will Emmett, the current mayor’s great uncle, after which club members took on the councillors and won every rink.

The highlight of the season will be the club’s 61st tournament week from June 15-23 when bowlers from all over the country descend on Lyme.

Lyme Regis Bowls Club was founded in 1937 and is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Lyme’s recreational facilities. Its seven-rink green on Monmouth Beach is named after Charlie Mercer, a former British Isles champion.

The Seasiders replace Black Swan Town as league leaders after three points gained at home in an 8-2 victory over Awliscombe, bringing their tally of goals scored during the past week to 31.

Last Saturday they beat Black Swan Town 3-2, followed by a 11-0 victory over Offwell Rangers on Monday and a 9-0 win over Dunkeswell Rovers on Thursday.

The comfortable cruise against Awliscombe saw the Ressies move to top spot with 46 points, three points ahead of the Teignmouth side who have two games in hand. Elmore 2nds are in third place, trailing Lyme by six points but with three games in hand, so to be guaranteed of promotion Lyme need to win their remaining games.

It was another impressive football display from the Seasiders’ second string with their two Spanish signings, Ruben Rogel Abos and Jaime Rodriguez,demonstrating their passing skills and both getting on the score sheet.

Two goals from Stephen

PHILIP EVANS

philip@lyme-online.co.uk Batey and one apiece from Jake Bearpark, Cam Fowler, Fred Thompson and Alistair Rattenbury completing the scoreline.

Awliscombe did not give up and contributed to an entertaining game with two well worked goals including one brilliant volley.

The Reserves were hoping to strengthen their position at the top of the table last night (Thursday) when they travelled to mid-tablers Hemyock and on Saturday they are at home to Culm United 1sts (kick-off 3 pm).

Lyme 1sts were without a game last Saturday as they were due to play Bickleigh, who have withdrawn from the league.

But their promotion hopes from Division One were given a boost with the news that one of their close rivals Perry Street lost 3-2 at home to Sidmouth 2nds. Lyme, in third place, lead Perry Street by three points but they have two games in hand.

Cup exit down to missed chances LYME Regis 1st X1 paid the penalty for missing a number of chances when they were beaten on penalties by Alphington 2nds in the East Devon Senior Cup on Sunday.

The score was 0-0 after extra-time, but Lyme missed put on a place in

the next round when they fell short in the penalty shoot-out 6-4.

Caretaker manager Mark Bailey started well but they wasted a number of scoring opportunities, including six one-on-ones with the home keeper.

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Come on you Seasiders!

Support your local team

LYME ladies enjoyed a full game with the new bunkers and the course fully in play for their Ladies Stableford and MacMillan Spoon at Lyme Regis Golf Club (writes Richard Jackman).

Leading the way in Division One was this year’s captain, Susan Moore, as she carded the best score of the day with 37 points, picking up four well-earned threepointers in the first nine, to win by seven points.

In second place with 30 as she could not maintain the good start, was Judith Williams, while Gilly Madill improved on the back nine to finish third on 29 points.

Division Two was won by Sheila Claringbold with 31 points as she really upped her game with a super back nine holes. Ros Clemmans again showed her improving game as she started with a four-point hole to come second with 30 points, just beating 3rd placed Debbie Shinners on countback.

Cricket starts this weekend

UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club start there 2018 season this weekend.

Last year the club, founded in 1886, had to withdraw their 2nd X1 from the Devon League because of a lack of players. This season, however, they are hoping they can complete all their games with a new-found spirit among players.

The 1st X1 open their programme in D Division East with an away game at Clyst St George (start 1.30 pm) whilst the 2nd X1 are at home on the King George V playing field against Topsham St James (start 1,30 pm) in H Division East.

Full match reports will appear on the LymeOnline website and in our print version.

Cup final date

LYME Regis Reserves’ Football Express Cup final against Elmore 2nds will be held at Budleigh Salterton FC on Wednesday, May 23 at 7.15pm.

LymeOnline is published by Lyme Regis Media Limited Unit 5, Uplyme Business Park, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS Printed by Newsquest, Weymouth

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