4Dorset February 2019

FREE

ISSN 2397-723X (print) ISSN 2397-7248 (online)

Your free Independent Local Magazine

4DORSET

February 2019 Volume 16 Issue 7

Broadstone Christchurch Colehill | Ferndown Merley | West Parley Wimborne Ashley Heath | Bournemouth Canford Heath | Corfe Mullen Kinson ||Poole | Ringwood St Ives |Three Legged Cross Verwood | West Moors

2

| 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

4DORSET

Volume 16 • Issue 7 • February 2019

Hello everyone!

MAGS4DORSET

While the country shudders in the wake of the Government’s massive Brexit defeat, which must have considerably lowered happiness levels in parliament, January brought some major changes at mags4dorset.

We are delighted to welcome well-known reporter Marilyn Barber as our news editor, and Sarah Ali Choudhury as our contributing editor. Between the three of us, we will be bringing you refreshed and dynamic 4Dorset and Viewpoint magazines.

The changes came about swiftly after my new assistant had to leave unexpectedly. Ironically, I had just announced in the new Dorset Business Focus that I hadn’t missed a deadline in over 15 years. This was instantly regretted as I was now close to the wire and in danger of missing my first deadline.

Fortunately, my dear friend Carol Waterkeyn, stepped up when I needed her most, so thanks Carol for all your help.

Maybe things happen for a reason because that old adage ‘all’s well that end’s well’ has been fulfilled.

And to have Sir Cliff Richard on the front cover was the icing on the cake for me because I’m a life-long fan. It considerably boosted my happiness levels and if you turn to pages 16 and 17, you can read Gerry Clarke’s 10 top tips to help you find happiness. Maybe the Government should take his advice.

Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@mags4dorset.co.uk

Enjoy the magazine, and don’t forget to enter our competitions.

Simon Thornton account manager DD: 01202 941470 simon@mags4dorset.co.uk

Picture of the month

Ben Pulford managing director design@mags4dorset.co.uk

Janine Pulford

NEWS DESK 01202 941469 Janine Pulford editor editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk Marilyn Barber news editor newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk Sarah Ali Choudhury contributing editor mags@mags4dorset.co.uk

DESIGN 01202 233441 Louis Pulford creative director

louispulford@brightboxdesigns.co.uk

ADVERTISING 01202 816140

Mark Beechey account manager DD: 01202 941465 mark@mags4dorset.co.uk Russell Harness account manager DD: 01202 941466 russell@mags4dorset.co.uk

LOGISTICS

Ian Lory Alexandra O’Neill

Editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

Account managers celebrate the launch of Dorset Business Focus © CatchBox

How to contact us

Enquiries: 01202 870270 Advertising: 01202 816140 Brightbox Designs: 01202 233441 Email: mags@mags4dorset.co.uk Web: www.mags4dorset.co.uk Twitter: @mags4dorset Facebook: mags4dorset.news Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine/ Copy date

8 FEBRUARY 2019

4Dorset is independently published and distributed free to homes and businesses in selected areas of Dorset and Hampshire. It is also available by subscription at £40 per year. Views or opinions expressed in 4Dorset are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement deemed to be unsuitable for publication. Information about a service does not imply recommendation. All purchases made through this publication are done so entirely at your own risk. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with 4Dorset and should not be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. The company’s privacy policy can be read at www.mags4dorset.co uk

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

3

Construction work expected to start on nine-screen cinema complex in Poole

T Computer generated image of the Dolphin Centre cinema complex

he Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole has announced that construction work is expected to start on converting the former Argos store and adjoining units into a new-build, nine-screen cinema complex.

Planning permission was granted by Borough of Poole in September and Empire Cinemas has signed a 25-year lease to operate what will be the first multiplex in the town centre. The cinema development is part of the Dolphin’s £26 million programme of investment with Legal & General.

Legal & General bought the centre in 2013 and has introduced other changes to the centre throughout 2018, including mall refreshes, public realm updates and a host of new retailers.

Lavatory Key safe ‘not so safe’ alert options Hampshire police are reminding householders to be vigilant following a burglary in Barton-on-Sea.

At the end of last year, someone broke into the key safe at a property in Western Avenue, Barton-on-Sea. Nothing is believed to have been taken from inside the property but the key was taken.

If you have a key safe, consider relocating it to somewhere less obvious and contact the company that makes your key safe and ask how it can be made more secure.

Key safes are often vital for people who need care in the community, however others may use them as a helpful back-up system for when members of the family lose keys.

Consider taking the key out when you know you won’t need it, like at night.

To protect your home further, consider installing security lights, alarms and CCTV.

4

| 4DORSET February 2019

S

axon Square public toilets in Christchurch are being refurbished and for the duration of the works, temporary toilets, including disabled and family facilities, are being provided at the rear of the Regent Centre in Wick Lane Car Park.

Additional disabled and family facilities are also available in Bridge Street outside the civic offices in Christchurch. The works should be completed by 31 March.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Please call Atheneys to find out more on 01202 798866 or email info@atheneys.co.uk

Marilyn Barber

Atheneys help individuals and families with some of the tough financial decisions that relate to their Estates when they die. Many people think that simply writing a Will automatically safeguards their assets. However, personal wealth can be lost due to a number of factors, including divorce, second marriages, care fees, creditors, taxes, and even probate fees.

But you can set up a trust to help protect your home and savings. There are several types of trust available. If you think a trust may be right for your family, call Atheneys for a free consultation to find out more.

Funeral costs have been in the spotlight recently and continue to rise. Atheneys can help you with an industry leading funeral plan to give you peace of mind, from only £2,995, securing the cost at today’s prices.

Sarah Ali Choudhury

Helping you with tough financial decisions

Editorial team at MAGS4DORSET strengthens Two recent appointments have strengthened the editorial team at mags4dorset.

“I am thrilled to announce that Marilyn Barber will be joining us,” said editor Janine Pulford. “Marilyn has been reporting in the area for the last 30 years and will strengthen our news stories. We have crossed paths frequently when working for rival publications, but are now looking forward to working together.”

You can email Marilyn at newseditor@mags4dorset. co.uk with all your news stories and events.

The second appointment is Sarah Ali Choudhury.

Sarah is an award-winning personality whose strengths lie in column writing and catering. Her email contact is mags@mags4dorset.co.uk.

“The talented mother of four is passionate about writing, Indian cuisine and women’s rights and will bring a new dimension to our magazines,” said Janine.

“I believe the three of us will make a vibrant and exciting team and that 4Dorset and Viewpoint will be elevated to a new level.”

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

5

Sandbanks Ferry denied toll increase after public inquiry Purbeck District Council has welcomed news that the Secretary of State for Transport has refused an application for toll increases for the Sandbanks to Studland Ferry.

Following numerous objections, the application by the BournemouthSwanage Motor Road and Ferry Company was referred to the Secretary of State who decided that a local public inquiry should be held.

Six local councils worked together to object to the proposed increases, and a barrister presented their case to an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State at the public inquiry in September last year. The councils were: Purbeck District; Swanage Town and the parish councils of Corfe Castle; Studland; Wareham St Martin; and Worth Matravers.

The Inspector reported to the Secretary of State and, on 12 December 2018, confirmation was received that the application had been refused.

The Secretary of State agreed with the inspector’s conclusions that, although a replacement ferry will be necessary at some stage, there was no confirmation that a toll rise would result in this being achieved.

The Secretary of State also agreed there is no assurance that the ferry replacement reserve would be safeguarded and reach the level required to enable a replacement vessel. He said the fact the ferry replacement fund was not ring-fenced and did not provide for an assured separate fund was “a significant area of concern.”

The Bournemouth Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company must wait at least another 12 months before it can make another application.

6

| 4DORSET February 2019

Dorset Police Chief Constable awarded the Queen’s Police Medal Chief Constable James Vaughan has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) for 27 years of service to British policing.

The QPM is awarded to those in the force who have shown gallantry or distinguished service.

During his time in the police he has helped transform the service locally, regionally and nationally. He has addressed numerous high profile issues as well as leading many projects to success, such as the South West Forensic Collaboration project.

Chief Constable Vaughan qualified as detective and progressed through the ranks in Wiltshire to chief superintendent. He led on a number of serious and organised crime cases and developed his abilities to influence policing further than his own force area.

In Dorset he was promoted to assistant chief constable and a year later on to deputy chief constable. His dedication to public service continues to go beyond force boundaries, such as being the national lead for the police for forensics.

After receiving the award, Chief Constable James Vaughan, said: “I am delighted to be honoured in this way for a job I love doing. However this is about more than myself, it is recognition for all the men and woman in Dorset Police who give so much.”

He finished by saying, “I am extremely pleased that my fellow Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer in Devon and Cornwall Police has also been recognised.”

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Safe and secure plans for Poole Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill visited the board of directors at Poole BID in December 2018 to discuss a variety of initiatives that could be employed within the town and seek a potential security solution.

Poole town centre, like many other towns, struggles with aspects of antisocial behaviour.

The Public Service Protection Order (PSPO) introduced

by Borough of Poole in 2018 has helped to improve issues such as reducing persistent anti-social behaviour relating to street drinking, begging and drugs however it can only be applied to those over the age of 16.

Adam Keen, Poole BID Chairman, commented, “We had a very productive meeting with Martyn Underhill and have a selection of positive actions to take forward with Borough of Poole and Dorset Police.

“One of the projects, as outlined in the Poole BID business plan, is to ensure that the high street is safe and secure. It is our duty to listen to the feedback from our levy payers and voice their frustrations at the appropriate levels. We’re looking forward to keeping our levy payers updated as we reach developments in the plans that have been discussed.”

True Grit

Following the extreme weather of last winter, which saw 24-hour working to keep strategic roads open, Dorset Highways asked residents to name their gritting fleet. After reading through all the suggestions here are the names: Chillingstone, Cold-Harbour, Gold Chill, Spreadisbury, Ice Maiden Newton, Osmington Chills, Wooly Monkey, Wimborne Monster, Polar Bere Regis, Cerne Giants’ Chilly.

They were chosen by the gritter drivers, and where possible, the vehicles are named after the route they serve, so when the weather gets chilly watch out for your local gritter.

Contact info@poolebid.com if you would like to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the ‘Safe and Secure’ project.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

7

Bournemouth Panto raises thousands

Bucket collections at the Bournemouth Pantomime have raised more than £9,000 for Variety The Children’s Charity and BH Live.

Collections were made following 48 performances of Sleeping Beauty starring actors Rita Simons, from ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ and ‘East Enders’, and ‘Brookside’ star Jennifer Ellison who shared the role of the wicked fairy godmother Carabosse.

The £9,453 is shared equally, with Variety's half going towards a replacement Sunshine Coach that is urgently needed at Beaucroft Special School in Wimborne. BH Live will use their money to provide underprivileged children with access to the arts.

Pat Coyne, BH Live’s Director of Venues and Events said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of all who have donated and thank everyone for their contribution. This will be used to develop our creative learning programme and enable underprivileged young people to enjoy cultural activities.”

Don’t put lives at risk Managers of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) have warned that unnecessary 999 calls could delay emergency help for people in real need of an ambulance.

SWASFT has released a montage of clips from 10 inappropriate calls it received from the public recently, as examples of people calling 999 for the wrong reasons.

The 10 inappropriate calls were made to SWASFT because: • A man had found an injured seagull in his house.

• A woman’s dog had died.

• A man was having strange dreams.

• A woman’s fingernail had come off.

• A woman had punched a wall.

• A man was sweating when using his computer.

• A man wanted a lift home.

• A man wanted some nonurgent medical advice.

• A woman wanted to be transferred to the 101 police non-emergency number, which costs 15p a call, because she had run out of phone credit.

• A woman wanted to complain about the noise of ambulance sirens.

People are reminded only to call 999 when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life may be at risk.

David Fletcher, Head of SWASFT Clinical Hubs, said, “The 999 service is only to be used for extremely urgent or life-threatening emergencies, and we urge people to use it wisely.

“If you call because someone is unconscious, not breathing, or has serious bleeding, you are making the right call.

“But calling for an ambulance when it is not absolutely necessary puts additional pressure on our limited resources, and may mean we cannot reach those who are most in need.

“Please think carefully before calling 999 and ask yourself – ‘is it a real emergency?’”

For non-emergency incidents: phone NHS 111, see a GP or a pharmacist, or visit an NHS Walk in Centre.

8

| 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Dorset Chamber launches new business magazine As the dawn of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 70th year begins, the organisation has launched a dynamic new magazine to be published in partnership with Pulford Publicity Ltd. Dorset Business Focus is aimed at all businesses throughout the county and will cover gritty issues, celebrate successes and discuss topical matters within the local business community as well as detailing wider international issues and opportunities. Updates on Brexit, the economy, strategic developments and news from the British Chambers of Commerce will all feature.

Working in partnership with Ferndown-based Pulford Publicity, the Dorset Chamber sees Dorset Business Focus becoming the go-to publication for all business-related issues.

Chief executive of Dorset Chamber, Ian Girling, said, “This is an exciting new development for the Dorset Chamber as we enter our 70th year and we are thrilled to be working with Pulford Publicity in Ferndown.

“We plan to shine a light on key sectors and really tell the stories of businesses in Dorset.

Our chamber brand is already strong and we see the new magazine reinforcing our first class service and enabling us to reach a wider audience.”

Ian Girling (left), and Ben Pulford ‘Seal the deal’

With distribution planned to the wider business community, news can be submitted by members online www.dorsetchamber.co.uk.

For more information on the Chamber magazine contact Pulford Publicity on 01202 233441.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

9

Boscombe celebrates Year of the Pig with a lucky £8,888 For one lucky member of the public, the Chinese New Year will mark a prosperous start to 2019 thanks to Boscombe’s business community. In celebration of the Chinese New Year and Boscombe’s strong Asian community, a new competition has been launched.

The number 8 has long been regarded as the luckiest number in Chinese culture, which is why one fortunate winner will find themselves £8,888 richer at the end of the competition.

Free to take part, the competition encourages locals and visitors to join them in the Chinese New Year festivities by exploring shops in Boscombe, Pokesdown, Southbourne and Westbourne where they’ll need to collect 10 stamps in a unique order for the chance to win £8,888.

Every completed gamecard also provides another chance to win £88.

Twenty businesses, from local restaurants and cafés, fashion outlets, butchers, gift shops and

10 | 4DORSET February 2019

supermarkets, are hosting the competition.

Stefan Krause, Bournemouth Coastal BID Manager, said, “The Boscombe business community along with businesses in Southbourne, Pokesdown and Westbourne are celebrating this Chinese zodiac ‘Year of the Pig’ by launching this competition to collect unique stamps and win £8,888. Coastal BID is delighted to be supporting this treasure trail and wishes good luck to all who join the fun hunting for stamps!”

To take part you will need to collect 8 different stamps plus two ‘joker’ stamps from across the twenty participating businesses and send the completed gamecard to: Bournemouth Coastal BID, 26 Ashley Road, Bournemouth BH1 4LH by 8 February 2019 to be entered into the prize draw.

Stamp cards are available from participating businesses and also, along with a list of participating retailers can be found online at www.cny2019.co.uk

Awarding initiative Royal Bournemouth Hospital nurse specialist, Heather Johnson, has received a national award. Heather collected her award at the Tillotts IBD Nurse Recognition Awards ceremony, where she was praised for introducing an IBD nurse clinic as part of a project to improve patient care and reduce demand on outpatient clinics.

The project, where nurses use a narrow tube with a light and camera on one end, called a flexible sigmoidoscopy, to investigate patients with IBD symptoms, has led to faster diagnosis for patients, meaning treatment has been able to start earlier.

Speaking after the ceremony, Heather said, “Being an IBD nurse specialist is an extremely rewarding role, I work in a very supportive team of IBD nurses and we all try and put the patient at the centre of everything we do to try and make a difference in their care.

I feel very humbled receiving this award as there are so many IBD nurses working hard to help patients manage their condition – it’s just nice to think we are making a difference somewhere – to somebody.”

Simon McLaughlin, Consultant Gastroenterologist, nominated Heather for the award, “I have worked closely with Heather for eight years and during that time she has always done her best to develop the IBD service and improve patient care. I was keen that her work was recognised nationally and without her knowledge put her name forward for this award. I was delighted to hear that she has received the recognition she deserves.”

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

£500 and unclaimed lost property Items given to animal rescue charity

B

us operator First Wessex has donated £500, plus boxes filled with unclaimed lost property, as part of a long-term arrangement with the Margaret Green Animal Rescue charity. As part of First Wessex’s commitment, it will supply the charity with unclaimed items, which they can then sell via their chain of charity shops in Weymouth, Wimborne and Winton.

After an item is found on a bus, drivers look after it and hand it over when they arrive at the bus depot, where it is carefully logged on a database and placed in a secure storage for at least one month, giving ample time for owners to claim and retrieve lost items. Food and other perishable goods are thrown away. Although the regulations governing lost property entitles a bus operator to charge a fee for handling lost property, First Wessex say they have never done so. Items that are not collected within the statutory holding period are then provided to Margaret Green Animal Rescue, who will sell them through their charity shops in Dorset or recycle them.

Carol Sim, operations manager for First Wessex said, “Margaret Green Animal Rescue do an amazing job caring for the animals and we are pleased to have found a way to help this charity raise funds in this way and, we feel like we are helping to

rehome lost property for a great cause”.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue’s Geoff Wright, chief executive said, “There are so many ways that people can help us care for around 1,200 animals a year, and receiving these donated items from unclaimed lost property from First Wessex is a great way for us to raise much-needed funds.”

Over the past 12 months, First Wessex drivers found some 850 items on First Wessex buses, including many items of clothing, sports bags and homework, glasses, umbrellas, keys, phones and wallets. A selection of items have a resale value and will find their ways onto the shelves and clothes racks of the shops.

Carol said, “We are keen to return lost property to its rightful owner, and we don’t charge for this service. Unfortunately, of the around 850 items left on our vehicles last year only around 250 items were returned to their rightful owner, which leaves around 600 items that went unclaimed. Donating many of those to Margaret Green Animal Rescue is one way for those items to hopefully find a new home and support the animal charity in the process.”

To report missing items, customers should contact 01305 783645 or fill in the online form on the First Wessex website.

Last year’s collection of lost property on First Wessex buses 156 items of clothing 148 bus passes 129 miscellaneous items (toys, sports equipment, watches, headphones etc) 122 wallets, purses and credit/debit cards 91 bags 76 mobile phones 74 pairs of glasses 30 lots of keys 11 umbrellas 2 laptops 2 pieces of homework

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

11

Volunteer awards bring joy George Phillips

Ferndown Mayor's Volunteer Awards were presented on 20 December at a reception held at the Beacon Café. Recipients were announced by the mayor, Cllr Mrs Jean Read, and received their awards as follows: Ferndown Community Champion – George Phillips. Highly Commended: Michael Baker and Audrey Gaskell.

Royal British Legion

Voluntary Group Award – Ferndown Royal British Legion Club. Highly Commended: Volunteers at Ferndown Plus, Ferndown Jitsu, Ferndown Community Connectors.

Youth Hero Award – Alex Rimmel.

Alex Rimmel

Tom Scrase

A special award was presented to Tom Scrase for his outstanding services to Ferndown Town Council and the community it serves. The local, professional photographer, who spends much of his time behind the lens had no idea he was going to be at the other end of the camera.

The winner of the Christmas Card Competition, Marie-Sophie Reichel, a student from Ferndown Upper School, also received recognition on the night for her stunning card design.

Bowling along The Verwood Outdoor Bowling Club starts its playing season on Saturday 13 April.

Please go to www. verwoodbowlingclub.co.uk for application forms or contact Roger Bassett on 01202 376296 12 | 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

health and care / caring about people is an act of maturity .

-| Advertisement feature |-

Swimming lessons – spaces available

If you can swim, you can enjoy all of the exciting activities that the water has to offer. All the lessons at Ferndown Leisure Centre are taught by fully qualified, friendly teachers who focus on the fundamentals of swimming in a positive encouraging way.

Ferndown Leisure Centre follows the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework and offer the following lessons: • Adult & Baby • Pre-school lessons • Swimming Lessons for School Age Children • Aquatic Skills Lessons e.g. Competitive Swimming, & Rookie Lifesaving • Adult Swim Lessons • Private Swim Lessons

Track your child's swimming lesson progress online

See what your children have achieved and what they are working towards, as well as move them up as they achieve the swim stages, via a home portal in the comfort of your home.

Free Swim Assessment

Ferndown Leisure Centre offers a free swim assessment to help you place your children within the best class to suit their ability.

Free swimming is available for all children on swimming lessons so that they can come swimming with you at other times to develop their confidence.

If you are interested, call Ferndown Leisure Centre on 01202 877468 or visit www.ferndownleisurecentre.co.uk for more information.

Keep warm this Winter Bluebird Care (Ferndown) has urged older people, their families, friends and neighbours need to think WARMTH as the weather gets colder.

“We love to talk about the weather in this country, but are often unaware of the real threat to life that our winters can cause for older and vulnerable people,” said Bluebird’s care manager Lorraine Maher.

“We are urging them to prepare for the colder weather with the following simple guide to staying warm and safe.”

Wrap Up indoors and outdoors. Wearing extra layers indoors can help you keep warm. If you need to go outside, sturdy shoes with good grip or attachable grips to wear over your shoes can help prevent falls, and an insulated waterproof coat will help keep you warm and dry.

Alert – keep an eye on the weather forecast and stock up with nutritious food and speak to your GP about medicine in advance of a cold snap. If you have vulnerable neighbours, try and check up on them during cold weather.

Risk – minimise the risk of falls or becoming ill by taking the weather into account when you plan activity. Plan ahead for the cold weather by talking to your GP about getting a flu jab, and talking to your

14 | 4DORSET February 2019

neighbours about clearing snow in front of your home.

Money – winter bills can be very expensive. Make sure that you’re receiving all benefits you’re eligible for. In addition to the Winter Fuel Payments (helpline 0845 915 1515), if it gets very cold you could be entitled to additional Cold Weather Payments (helpline 0800 731 7898). www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/heating Temperature – keep your bedroom heated to 18°C (64°F) and your living room around 21°C (70°F). If you prefer to heat just your living room during the day, to keep you warm through the night try heating your bedroom just before you go to sleep.

Hot Meals – one hot meal a day, and hot drinks throughout the day can help to keep you warm. Eating nutritious food regularly can help to keep up your energy levels and support your immune system in cold weather.

Lorraine added, “You can contact Bluebird Care Ferndown by email: Ferndown@ bluebirdcare.co.uk or call 01202 977200 if we can assist you in any way.”

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Armed forces health champion receives MBE

Andy Gritt

health and care

Tireless work to improve the lives of Dorset’s military veterans and serving personnel has earned Andy Gritt an MBE in the New Years’ Honours List.

Andy, who leads Dorset HealthCare’s Armed Forces Community Health and Wellbeing Team, said he was “absolutely amazed and humbled” by the announcement. He added that the prestigious accolade was "not just for me, but for all those alongside me.”

The MBE caps a great year for Andy, after his team scooped the Excellence in Mental Health Care accolade at the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards last summer. He collected that honour at the Houses of Parliament in London in July.

Andy joined the Trust in 2007 after more than 20 years’ experience in the military, including peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and quickly set about creating a dedicated service to support the county’s growing armed forces population.

The team provides vital health and welfare support as service personnel and their families make the transition to civilian life, helping them overcome issues around health, homelessness, relationship breakdowns and unemployment.

Andy helped set up a ‘hub’ group that brought together charities and other organisations such as the police and local councils to provide more seamless, targeted support for local veterans.

His efforts were recognised in 2015 when Dorset HealthCare became the only NHS organisation in the South-West to earn the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award from the Ministry of Defence.

In recent years, Andy’s team has helped develop a local care pathway tailored to retired and serving personnel, which provided specialist support to 55 people in its first year.

Eugine Yafele, who was recently appointed the Trust’s new chief executive, said the honour was very well deserved.

“Andy does so much, so selflessly, for our veterans and serving forces community. All of us at Dorset HealthCare are pleased for Andy and proud of him,” he said.

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

15

health and care / caring about people is an act of maturity .

Happiness Wellbeing and

by Gerry Clarke, World Happiness TV

Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, so said Aristotle, ancient Greek philosopher who lived over 2000+ years ago. And he knew a thing or two.

To me, happiness is a feeling of contentment and joy, a sense of satisfaction with life, a sense of worthiness and connection. Happiness is closely related to wellbeing, the state of being healthy in body and mind.

My new year's resolution was to discover what really matters in life and I recently signed up for an Action for Happiness course to learn how to live a happier life. There are several taking place in the local Dorset area and over the next 10 weeks, I'm aiming to discover what actually makes us happy, and how we can find contentment and peace of mind during this period of enormous uncertainty about the future. In addition, I’m keen to discover what makes for great relationships and explore how we can build happier communities and create a happier world.

So what exactly is happiness?

Academic research distinguishes between short-term and long-term happiness.

We can also differentiate between hedonic and eudaimonic happiness.

Short-term happiness is something we experience in special situations where we are affected by strong positive emotions – such as when you buy your first sailing boat, when you get engaged, or when you are offered a dream job.

Hedonic happiness is concerned with maximising pleasure and minimising pain and discomfort, for example eating a bar of chocolate.

Long-term happiness is described as a deeper, more fundamental satisfaction with life – a lasting sense that exists independently from momentary moods.

16 | 4DORSET February 2019

Eudaimonic happiness is concerned with achieving some meaning in life, finding one’s place in the world and being part of something greater than oneself.

What I wanted to learn is how we can all be happier in life and take steps to improve the quality of our lives.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

health and care Here are my top 10 practical tips for living a happier life 1. It’s not all about money Once you have a basic amount to live comfortably, time is what affects your happiness. The cost you pay in time to earn extra money can outweigh the enjoyment you get from it.

5. Get enough Sleep.

Sleep is crucial to our wellbeing. Deprivation alters our brain activity and may lead to problems with decision making, problem solving and processing emotions.

2. Relationships are very important Friends and family can be a big cause of happiness.

So, if there is not enough time for all your friends, do a friend’s audit.

6. Discover the garden Plant a seed, grow some fruit, flowers or vegetables. Gardening is highly recommended to those with mental health issues, because it ticks so many boxes when it comes to improving wellbeing.

3. Get Creative!

Try drawing, writing, sculpting, poetry, craftwork or playing a musical instrument. Creating art and music provides a pleasant distraction, giving your brain a break from your usual thoughts.

4. Keep in touch with Nature.

Take a walk along the beach, through the countryside, enjoy a breath of fresh forest air, etc.

Walks can increase your happiness through the release of Serotonin, the happiness hormone.

7. Sport and Exercise.

Get involved with some physical activity. Sport and exercise can reduce your stress and make you feel better afterwards and help make your brain work better.

8. Get a dog or cat!

Stroking a pet has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Household pets also overcome loneliness. So find a furry friend to spend some time with and increase your happiness!

9. Give a hand to help others Either with your time, by teaching others something beneficial or through your generosity. Consider joining a local club, society or association with a strong feeling of teamwork.

10. Review your life.

Do a happiness audit. What are the main sources of your happiness and how can you get more of them into your daily routine?

Spend more time on doing the happy things in life.

Gerryke Clar These are just some of the things that I discovered we can do to enjoy a happier life. If you would like further details of Action for Happiness courses in the area, visit www. actionforhappiness.org.

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

17

health and care / caring about people is an act of maturity .

Longevity not down to eating vegetables The oldest resident at Care South’s Queensmead care home in Bournemouth celebrated her 103rd birthday amongst fellow residents, friends and family.

Four generations of her family were at the home to share Gaye Gibson’s special day with her, including four-weekold twins, as well as staff and residents from Queensmead.

Tracey Walker, home manager at Queensmead, said: “We had a wonderful day helping Gaye to celebrate her 103rd birthday, it is an honour to take care of someone with so much life experience and so many stories to tell. She has an incredible, positive outlook on life and everyone at the home agrees she is a joy to be around. We hope to be celebrating lots more birthdays with Gaye at the home.”

For Gaye, the key to a long life is independence, a loving family, and of course, a glass of gin every now and again. She has been a resident at Queensmead since June 2015 and has always celebrated her birthday with cake, and not a vegetable in sight, because she hates them.

18 | 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

health and care -| Advertisement feature |-

Volunteering for Brendoncare Brendoncare Clubs is a registered charity dedicated to providing older people with opportunities for social interaction through its friendship and activity clubs.

Brendoncare’s 90+ clubs, offering fun and friendship to 1,200 members, are run by dedicated volunteers, supported by the Brendoncare team.

Volunteers play such an integral part in the clubs’ service - you only have to see the smiles on the faces of club members to understand the significant role that volunteers play in people’s lives.

Brendoncare’s Club volunteers range in age from 16 to 90+ enjoy a variety of roles, from co-ordinating activities and helping generally to more specific tasks such as bookkeeping.

“The volunteers are always lovely and cheerful. It’s a great pleasure to belong to this club – I look forward to it every week!” said one club member in Dorset.

By giving just a small amount of your time as a volunteer, you can help enrich the lives of local

older people.

Brendoncare has maintained its Investing in Volunteers accreditation since 2009.

This independently awarded accreditation recognises the quality and commitment of volunteering within the charity. As a volunteer for Brendoncare, you will receive a full induction and basic training as well as the opportunity to join a variety of training sessions. The aim is to have fun, make friends and maybe even learn new skills. Most of all, you will be proud of the fact that you are making a difference to the lives of the older people living near you.

For more information, please contact Brendoncare Clubs’ on 01962 857099.

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

19

FOCUS ON CHARITIES

An evening with Harry Redknapp

L

ighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts has announced a second date for An Evening With Harry Redknapp in the Concert Hall on Thursday 23 May. The second date follows unprecedented demand for tickets for the previously announced show on 22 May. Fresh from his triumph in the jungle, winning last year’s I’m a Celebrity… with an astonishing 69% of the public vote, Harry is looking forward to appearing in his adopted hometown theatre to share hilarious stories from his lengthy career as a professional football player and manager, as well as lifting the lid on what life was really like in the I’m a Celebrity… jungle.

At the end of the evening there will be an audience Q&A session.

Tickets and information 01202 280000. www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

20 | 4DORSET February 2019

Great year ahead at the Barrington 2019 is going to be a time of great change at the Barrington in Ferndown.

In the early summer work will start on the renovation of Penny’s, the toilets and bar. With the support of Ferndown Town Council and East Dorset, the dream of a modern and up to date facility will be realised, bringing the Barrington bang up to date. This will inevitably involve some considerable disruption and more details of timings will be released beforehand.

Sunnyhill

Another group joining the Barrington this year has been a new and ‘different’ type of church featuring modern, high quality and contemporary music.

Sunnyhill church opened its doors on 6 January.

This new community congregation aims to complement rather than compete with the other churches in the area and is led by Adam and Fru Bird, who have been residents of Ferndown since last year.

At the Barrington Sunnyhill Campus, the primary passion is to provide a place where people – especially young people – can have a lifechanging experience with God. The church is described as a vibrant, contemporary, multisite church that is faith-filled, life-fuelled, fun loving and passionate about Jesus. It isn’t about stuffy religious practices, but it’s about people expressing life and faith in Jesus.

Their weekly services are now a regular fixture at the Barrington, meeting each Sunday at 10.30am in the heart of Ferndown.

Their doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey.

So whether you’re a spiritual seeker who’s just starting to ask questions about God, or a committed Christian who wants to sink the roots of your faith even deeper, you can find a home at Sunnyhill Barrington.

MAGS4DORSET

Charity of the Year

John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation

More young people set to benefit from charity’s support

By Linda Thornton (JTYAF) 2019 is well underway at the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF). At our recent Trustees Meeting we agreed that £85,500 will be allocated to support local young people in the year ahead. Young people from 21 local youth organisations are set to benefit including youngsters from all the local schools.

Last year more than 300 amazing young people received bursaries and scholarships. The charity also supported no less than 12 whole school projects and numerous group projects, in addition to providing a 16-seater mini bus for use by local schools and youth organisations. We hope to build on this in 2019.

AFC Bournemouth Legends v Armed Forces XI Fundraising is obviously an essential part of the work we do, and we are looking forward to our first ever ‘Charity Football Match’, which is sure to be a great event. AFC Bournemouth Legends, including Eddie Howe, Steve Fletcher and many more big names, will play an Armed Forces XI at Wimborne Town on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May. We are extremely grateful to John and Viv Williams, our sponsors Custom Creations and BCP, all the players on the two teams and the staff at Wimborne Town FC for their incredible support. Tickets are now available on our website at www.jtyaf.org and at just £5 per person an absolute bargain.

Get your prams at the ready

If you would like to make a difference to local young people and have fun in the process, we have just the thing.

On Saturday 22 June, as part of the Fete of the Field in Ferndown, the John Thornton Pram Race is back for the third successive year. If you don't want to miss out on this fun-packed event why not get your friends together and sign up. You will need a team of at least two people up to a maximum of 5 (over 14 years). Obviously, a pram too and dressing up is essential!

Join our team at JTYAF

Over 1,700 young people have benefited from JTYAF support since 2008. Funds raised helping them to discover their potential, develop their talents and pursue their ambitions. If you would like to find out more about the work we do, or join our team of volunteers, please visit our website: www.jtyaf.org or contact us at enquiries@jtyaf.org

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

FOCUS ON CHARITIES

Going For Bust now offers new support centre

An organisation that has swept through the area in a few short years could be said to be ‘going for bust,’ but that is not how the name of this charity came about.

Going For Bust, headed by a dedicated team, was set up by people who have had first hand experience of breast cancer.

The first Going For Bust charity shop was opened in West Moors in 2013 and today there are 12 in total throughout East Dorset and West Hampshire. Each is dedicated solely to raising money for breast cancer with proceeds being regularly donated to local hospitals and support groups, in order to support those who are experiencing, or have experienced the disease.

Going For Bust’s most recent addition, though, isn’t a charity shop. Instead, the forward thinking charity has set up a dedicated support centre for ladies with breast cancer. Situated in Wimborne, above Barclays Bank in the Square, the support centre is a relaxing place to visit and the concept is something that should have been thought of long ago.

Ladies who have been diagnosed with breast cancer can relax in a coffee lounge, have a consultation for a subsidised wig, take advantage of the post surgery

Michelle Ormston

Coffee lounge

Wig room

bra service and enjoy a relaxing therapy treatment all at the same place. Specialist associates are there to help and advise and though the services are free, there are suggested donations to help the charity maintain the valuable support it is providing.

A bright and welcoming place, the Going For Bust support centre is open initially Monday to Thursday - 10am-4pm.

Appointments can be made on 01202 889258.

Good quality donations are always appreciated at the Going For Bust charity shops, ESPECIALLY FURNITURE. Email goingforbust@outlook.com.

Bra Service

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

21

FOCUS ON CHARITIES

The Stable Family Home Trust SFHT is a charity based in Dorset and Hampshire supporting adults with learning disabilities.

Services include: Supported Living; Residential Services; Aspire Personal Development Programme Each service is able to provide support based on the needs of the individual, working with the service user and those in their circle of care to ensure the right package is created.

All nine of the SFHT’s supported living services have seen development in the last three years, now offering large studio flats alongside communal kitchens and living areas to give the option of socialising with housemates.

Within Aspire Personal Development Programme, SFHT offers a wide range of activities, each one focusing on skill development. There is also a communitybased shop Gifted in Highcliffe, this offers a number of opportunities that help improve skills and build selfconfidence to work toward employability.

Crafts forall ages and ability Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne is an education charity dedicated to raising awareness of contemporary craft and encouraging participation whatever your ability or age. Whether you are interested in trying a particular craft; seeing examples of exceptional work from across the region and beyond; or simply enjoy watching expert makers at work, a visit to Walford Mill Craft is always worthwhile. You may even be encouraged to join our growing band of enthusiastic volunteers.

The historic mill building on the banks of the River Allen houses a gallery, shop, workshops and learning space, while across the courtyard is an excellent café restaurant.

Work towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

DofE is the world’s leading youth award giving millions of young people, from the beginning of Year 9 to 24 years old, the opportunity to formally evidence personal achievement.

Corfe Mullen Open Centre has a long and successful DofE history, as have other DofE Centres across Dorset. There are Bronze, Silver and Gold spaces up for grabs. You can go directly to Silver or Gold if of age. Contact dofe@ dorsetcc.gov.uk for advice.

Get Ready to Glow

Local disability charity, Diverse Abilities, is holding its third Dorset Neon Run in Poole Park on Saturday 27 April, sponsored by Castlepoint shopping park.

Last year, those who took part raised over £10,000 for the charity that supports children and adults with disabilities in Dorset.

By signing up, you will have the chance to glow as you run, dance or walk around the 5k route. Participants will be provided with a Dorset Neon Run t-shirt, glow sticks, bracelets and neon paint.

A local DJ will play sizzling sounds beforehand and there will be a warm up from a Zumba instructor.

Sue Reid, events manager at Diverse Abilities, said, “Last year was so much fun and everyone had a fantastic time. We hope many more local people take part in the event this year which will help us light up the lives of children and adults living with disabilities in Dorset.”

The Dorset Neon Run is open to anyone over 12; under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is from 7pm on the night, with the warm up at 9.10pm and the race starting at 9.30pm.

Entry is £10, increasing to £20 closer to the event.

To find out more or sign up visit www.dorsetneonrun.com To find out more about Diverse Abilities, visit www.diverseabilities.org. uk or call 01202 718266.

Charity needs more volunteers

Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre is seeking to recruit a new team of community fundraisers to help raise awareness and additional funds for the charity. This is an exciting time to join the charity as it continues to grow and expand its services throughout Dorset. The new fundraising team will be involved in a number of different events from local shows to bag-packing in supermarkets. Full training and induction is provided as well as on-going support and volunteer events. For more information please email info@dorsetrapecrisis.org on contact Elsa Travers – Fundraising Trustee on 07776 688767.

22 | 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

BUSINESS | COMMUNITY UNITY real people,a real Waggy Tails / thank you to those| kind enough/ to sponsor dog news, local advertising.

Sh

elb

y

ie

Vinn

42 Churchill Rd, Poole BH12 2LT 112-114 Cobham Rd, Ferndown Industrial Estate, BH21 7PQ

Sh

ay

Romeo

Rosie 121 Victoria Road, Ferndown, Dorset.

BH22 9HU

Extensions and building services srichards3004@gmail.com

a Tar

Roma

n

Unit 4, Verwood Trading Estate, Blackhill, Verwood BH31 6HA

136 Alma Rd, Bournemouth BH9 1AL

Roman

116 Wareham Rd, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne BH21 3LH 2 Peddlars Walk, Ringwood BH24 1EZ

Pictures show dogs and rabbits and their sponsors.

For details about the pets please contact Waggy Tails direct January 2019 24 | 4DORSET February 2019

Follow Follow 4DORSET 4DORSET MAGAZINE MAGAZINE on on FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Co

l

si a B

nno

Lexi

r

BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY

Br

uno

12 Victory Cl, Woolsbridge Industrial Park, Wimborne BH21 6SX

a

Pash

y

120 Victoria Rd, Ferndown BH22 9JA

Ma

inx

Valentine’s Day is not just to celebrate the love between two people. This year you could make it a celebration of the perfect partnership between you and a rescue dog.

Waggy Tails Rescue, the Dorset animal charity, has lots of dogs waiting for their special Valentine. Can you make their dreams come true?

All the dogs are individuals and require different things in their lives, but they also have one thing in common – the need for their forever home.

So whether it’s a pup who will need lots of exercise and playtime, or a ‘golden oldie’ who requires a retirement home – they all need love. Make this their best Valentine ever.

How about Lexi - a beautiful soft, soppy lady looking for that somebody with a bit of space... she is a larger lady, or perhaps Rosie... an older, slightly slower Staffie would be your dream date. She loves walking in the countryside, relaxing by the fireside and getting cuddles There are others too... just take a look at these pages and see if you can find your perfect match.

Waggy Tails also has dogs who are in long-term foster care or who can't be re-homed, and you could always consider sponsoring one of them. You will even receive a Valentine's Day card from your dog.

iss

J

u

u

@OscarPetFoodsAvonAndStour

165 Station Rd, West Moors, Ferndown BH22 0HT

M

155-159 New Rd, West Parley, Ferndown BH22 8EB

73 Victoria Rd, Ferndown BH22 9HU www.oscar.co.uk

co

Co

For more details, visit www.waggytails.org.uk or telephone 01202 875000.

x

u

u

Waggy Tails Rescue, Helen’s House, 143 Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne BH21 3AW

Patc

h

Collingwood Rd, West Moors, Wimborne BH21 6QQ

Lily

7 Edmondsham Rd, Verwood BH31 7PA

Giz

mo

d ica an Jess ten s Gli

81 Victoria Road Ferndown BH22 9HU

179 New Road, West Parley Ferndown, Dorset BH22 8ED Dana House, Spinneys Ln, Ferndown BH22 9BZ

Foxes Moon, 40 Ringwood Road St Ives, Ringwood Dorset BH24 2NY

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please our please mention mention 4DORSET 4DORSET Magazine Magazine when when you you contact contact our advertisers advertisers

|

25

pets & wildlife / home is where someone runs to greet you.

Ringwood's most dog-friendly office asks “Can you beat our total?"

An IT Software Solutions company in Ringwood believes it may have the highest number of dogs who regularly join their owners to work in their open-plan offices.

Considering KFA Connect Ltd's team is no larger than 27 staff, a total of eight regular ‘office’ dogs is a challenging record to beat. KFA would like to hear from you if you have surpassed it.

Operations director, Juliet Ward, was one of the first to bring her dogs Kiah and Jazz to work five years ago. She says that many clients and suppliers who visit their offices are impressed with the warm welcome offered by some of the eight dogs who daily accompany their owners to work. Other staff own an additional nine dogs, but these only attend on special occasions.

“What is incredible is that all the dogs get on very well. The newest member Maisy, owned

Livestock worrying is a criminal offence

Juliet (first left) with Jazz, Emily (front) with Maisy and team with their own dogs

by Emily, one of our developers settled in very fast last summer.

Many of the team take their four-legged friends out for walks as a group during their breaks or at lunchtime,” said Juliet. “We have never found that the dogs in the office have put off potential new recruits.”

The directors at £2.5m-turnover KFA Connect believe that the furry friends in the workplace have a calming effect on the staff who can often be stressed whilst approaching tight deadlines when updating

major IT systems.

“It’s very therapeutic to have them in the office and there are so many other benefits including the fact that the dog does not get left at home all day alone, and there is no need to pay for dog walkers during the day. We just find that the fun of owning a dog also works well in the workplace.”

If you can beat the total of eight dogs that attend your workplace, please let KFA Connect know by emailing them at info@kfa.co.uk

During 2018, Dorset Police received 40 reported attacks on livestock by dogs.

In 11 cases the dog owners were identified and dealt with. Three more cases are ongoing.

‘My dog has never done anything like that before’ is repeatedly seen on police incident logs.

This year, police have already seen another dog attack on sheep in East Dorset from a dog that has “never done it before.”

If you’re out walking the dog on agricultural land and it worries livestock, you are committing the offence of livestock worrying.

Dorset Police is asking dog owners to be responsible when out enjoying the countryside.

Keep all dogs on a lead around any livestock and remember to always release the lead if chased by cattle and get yourself to safety.

The penalty for livestock worrying can be six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1,000.

If you see a dog worrying or attacking livestock please call Dorset Police on 999.

-| Advertisement feature |-

Rhinoscopy investigation not to be sneezed at Priory Vets in Christchurch has a range of endoscopes, which are fibre optic cameras that can be used inside animals. They connect to a television screen so that the picture from the camera can be seen on the screen. They range in size and come in rigid or flexible options. When they are used in the abdomen they are called laparoscopes. At Priory, laparoscopes are used to carry out spays by keyhole surgery, which gives a quicker recovery and needs less pain relief. When endoscopes are used to look up noses, they are called rhinoscopes, and Priory Vets recently needed to use its rhinoscope.

Alfie the working Cocker Spaniel came to Priory Vets after he had a nosebleed. His owner had also noticed him sneezing over the past 10 days. Vet, Dan May, suspected that he had something stuck up his nose so admitted Alfie to investigate.

Dan x-rayed Alfie’s face and could see an area on the lefthand side which looked unusual.

A rhinoscope was then used to investigate up the left nostril. As 26 | 4DORSET February 2019

suspected, there was some plant material present but none of the staff were expecting a piece of stick which was 4cm long. There was a loud gasp in the room as Dan pulled it out.

Once Alfie recovered from his anaesthetic, he quickly stopped sneezing, his nosebleeds stopped and he went back to his normal nose-to-the-ground spaniel self!

Follow VIEWPOINT MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/viewpointmagazinedorset

Dorset’s damaged roads get more attention Dorset County Council’s highway fixers are treating more of Dorset’s damaged roads thanks to extra funding.

Dorset Highways currently have three resurfacing gangs repairing 53 sites across the county. They will be in action up to the end of March.

Additional drainage work is also taking place, with a dedicated gang funded to investigate known historic issues. The team will be initially targeting the C5, Corfe Mullen; C2, Castleman Trailway; B3072, Three Legged Cross; B3067, Lytchett Minster and the C6, Bere Regis.

Most of these flooding issues will be resolved through high pressure jetting of blocked pipes, clearing grips, emptying existing ditches and cutting new ditches.

Larger scale drainage schemes are also being investigated, with the aim of designing schemes during the year at various sites in Dorset including Knobcrook Road, Wimborne.

An extra gully emptier is also in action to clear more drainage channels on the county’s C and D class roads. This will help prevent flooding and protect roads from water damage.

Five hand-patching gangs, a NuPhalt Thermal Repair patching team and a velocity patcher gang are continuing to fix smaller potholes and road defects, as they are reported.

Spiritual Queen launched in Dorchester

Award-winning lifestyle blogger and life coach, Emma Mumford, launched her debut book, Spiritual Queen, in Brewery Square’s soft furnishings store, Margo & Mya, in Dorchester.

The book focuses on self-help techniques and spiritual advice, alongside Emma’s memoir segments and business advice. Following her studies and becoming a Reiki Master, Emma shares her experiences and teachings on the Law of Attraction and Spirituality.

Spiritual Queen is available to buy online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Waterstones for £10.99.

L-R Victor Copeland, Paul Jenkins, Dave Rodger after a fundraising kayak expedition from Swanage to Keyhaven

Help Paul reach fundraising target Paul Jenkins who was diagnosed with bowel (colon) cancer in 2016, has so far raised just over £2,000 of his £5,000 target to help the department that cared for him every step of the way.

Paul said, “I have been fundraising to give something back to the fantastic medical teams on Ward 16 who looked after me and who are an integral part of the NHS that look after all of us on a daily basis 24/7. Their professionalism and dedication is unwavering despite all the challenges they continually have to face.”

The Colon Cancer Department at Royal Bournemouth Hospital specialises in major operations following the diagnosis of bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK with nearly 42,000 people being diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. It is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK with more than 16,000 people dying from bowel cancer every year. Around 94% of new cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. Nearly 59% of those are diagnosed in people aged 70 or over. However bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age with more than 2,500 new cases diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50.

Further information on bowel cancer can be found on NHS Choices at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/ If you are able to help Paul reach his target, please donate by logging onto: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rbhward16

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

27

10th MAGS4DORSET Creative Writing Competition

Results announced Congratulations to Adam Foster whose wife entered him in the 10th MAGS4DORSET creative writing competition as a birthday present. Adam, 37, from Christchurch, has won the £300 top prize with his story ‘The Lesson.’

He teaches Year 5 children at Durlston Court Prep School and has been writing short stories to read to the pupils for about three years. He is also working on a children’s book.

With his wife inspiring him to enter the ‘Plastic Nightmare’ themed competition, he submitted two stories and it was discovered, after judging, that both had been shortlisted.

Adam has been a teacher for nine years and was overjoyed with his win. “I would love to do more writing,” he said, “but finding the time is difficult.”

The competition judge, author, lecturer and short story writer Della Galton, said “‘The Lesson’ was the standout winner.”

Runner up was Tania KremerYeateman from Sturminster Marshall with ‘Throwaway Life.’ Tania will receive £100 prize and her story will be published in a future magazine.

Read Adam’s excellent, yet sobering tale below.

MAGS4DORSET has donated £50 from the competition entries to Surfers Against Sewage, the charity that has laid down criteria for communities to achieve plastic-free status.

The Lesson

T

he pupils were quiet that morning, shocked that they even had to come to school. Under the unnaturally dark sky it felt pointless, like the world had ended, though none of them could quite articulate just how much the incident would affect them.

John Clarke, 6C’s class teacher, spoke to his pupils after morning assembly. “Well, even though I should technically be recapping different types of noun today, I think we’d be better served talking about what’s happened.” Twenty-seven pairs of eyes fixed on him and waited for him to explain away their fears, hoping he would reveal some new development that suddenly made everything better. “Any questions?”

Twenty-seven hands shot up.

“Yes, Lydia,” said John, nodding at the girl by the window with her taut plait of blonde hair sweeping back from her forehead like a mountain ridge. Her mum still bothered to do her hair, he thought. Doesn’t she realise it’s all worthless now?

“Are we all going to die?”

Yes. “No Lydia, we’re not all going to die. We don’t fully know how serious the situation is, but we’re certainly not going to die, don’t worry.”

Not yet, anyway.

He looked to Lydia’s left.

“Marcus.”

Marcus, a tall, brown-haired boy who mooched around with a permanent frown at the best of times, put down his hand. “My dad says it’s all Scott Carlsen’s fault.”

“It’s true that it was his

28 | 4DORSET February 2019

by Adam Foster

company’s spaceship and in that sense he’s responsible, but this accident could’ve been prevented in a hundred different ways.

Realistically, Scott Carlsen himself had as much to do with it as you or me.”

“But if it wasn’t for him the spaceship would never have been there!” blurted out a voice.

“Don’t shout out, Jason.

Remember our rules.”

We’ll see how long people remember the rules for. I give it a week before the shops are all smashed up and everything’s gone.

John looked down at the small boy in front of his desk, his hand rising hesitantly. He was by far the smallest in the class, almost fragile looking. God you’re tiny. You’re so tiny and they’ve cocked it up so monumentally. “Yes, Andrew.”

“How could they have prevented it?”

“Well, we have rules for a reason...” John stole a look at Jason, “... and the Chinese were the first to break them when they invented the pulsed fusion engine.

It works by squeezing together two atoms very, very tightly which fuses – joins – them together.

It creates a massive amount of energy, more than we could ever create before.”

“What rule did they break?” asked Andrew.

“It’s a very dangerous process, so all the countries that could have invented it signed an agreement not to try, just in case anything went wrong. It was called a nuclear test ban treaty. But the Chinese secretly built one anyway. Once one country had ignored the rules

everyone else thought they could too.

“Now,” John continued, “the pulsed fusion engine worked so well that people ignored the fact that this rule ever existed. You know how it’s really easy to go into space these days? We all remember Marcus’ uncle going there last year? Well, when I was your age it was still very expensive.

Only billionaires could afford to go.

The pulsed fusion engine changed everything. Firstly, it meant that the price of going up for a day trip became affordable for loads more people, and secondly we had the bright idea of saving the planet by shipping all our waste to the Sun.” Andrew raised his hand again.

“We’ve sent a lot of stuff to the Sun though, haven’t we? I mean, it did work?”

“For a time, yes,” accepted John, “but we started off slowly and steadily, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere towards Jupiter before slinging round and heading straight for the Sun. It was working. But some of these waste companies tried to take a short cut. And yes, Marcus, Scott Carlsen owned the company that was the first to try it. They thought if they made a rocket with enough power it wouldn’t need to slingshot around Jupiter, it could accelerate much quicker from Earth and get straight to the Sun. So what did they do? They built the biggest pulsed fusion engine ever. They thought a lot about Newton’s Laws when they built it, but forgot about Murphy’s Law.” “What’s Murphy’s Law?” asked Lydia.

“Anything that can go wrong,

will go wrong.” John let the children digest that for a moment.

“You saw the news before it took off yesterday. We talked about it in our Science lesson last week. The world’s biggest ever engine in the biggest ever spaceship carrying the biggest ever load of cargo.” He felt his voice rising despite himself.

“Eight per cent of the Earth’s waste, most of it plastic, was leaving our planet with a one-way ticket. Much better than stagnating in landfills.

A few more trips and we’d have got rid of our guilty conscience. Oh, it was too difficult to change our toxic habits. Instead we found a way to brush it under the carpet and forget it ever existed.”

John moved over to the window near Lydia and looked out at the permanent twilight caused by the mass of plastic waste drifting mockingly in its suffocating orbit.

“Well, now we’ve remembered it exists, haven’t we?”

He looked back at the children’s faces. He had meant to come in and be reassuring, but had only unsettled them further.

“It’s okay,” he said, moving back to his desk, “don’t worry. I’m sure our best scientists have got a plan to get everything cleaned up.

In the meantime, back to English.”

John gave them a chance to settle. “Who can remind me what an abstract noun is? Yes, Jason?”

“Something you can’t touch, like a feeling.”

“Good, Jason. Something you can’t physically put your finger on, but nevertheless exists.”

Like despair, bitterness, anger.

John watched Lydia turn towards the window. “Like hope,” she announced, looking skywards.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Club’s large donation will help triplets As part of the Rotary Club of Bournemouth’s centennial year, it has donated £2,500 to Diverse Abilities, one of its charities of choice, to help deliver a very special present to one of the charity’s schools, Langside.

The funds will purchase a specialist classroom chair, which will assist children supported at the school and more specifically the triplets, Harvey, Gabriel and Daniel.

Nicki Priddle, the boys’ teacher at Langside School said, “Since the boys started with us we’ve seen so many improvements. Harvey loves the rebound therapy on the trampoline, Gabriel likes story time, bubbles and the Langside cuddles and Daniel really loves time in the hydrotherapy pool.”

The specialist classroom chair will help the three special boys, who all have varying disabilities, progress even further at the school because it will offer them the postural support they require to enable them to access their environment and activities in order for them to make progress and reach their potential.

Langside is a specialist school for pupils aged two to 19 with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex medical needs. The school provides a full sensory and therapeutic approach to meeting the needs of the pupils and helps them to achieve their full potential, with nursing support in every class.

Jon Seaward (Langside), Roz Scammell and Keith Adams (Rotary) with Gabriel and Harvey

Views needed on new country park Following Christchurch Borough Council’s decision to develop a new country park, the public are being invited to make their suggestions on the layout, features and activities for the park.

Information about the proposals is available on the 2 Riversmeet Leisure Centre website at www.dorsetforyou. gov.uk/sport-leisure/leisurecentres/two-riversmeetleisure-centre/two-riversmeetpark.aspx Two Riversmeet Park is the name currently being used for the proposed park. It will be a distinctive and integrated public space opening up new recreational opportunities close to the centre of the town. It will also help to protect more vulnerable habitats.

By changing the golf course to general open space with recreational usage more residents will have greater benefit from the area, whilst still taking in the surrounding landscapes with panoramic views of Christchurch Harbour, the Priory and Hengistbury Head. The existing Information Centre will become a focal point for information, education and engagement across the whole park.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

29

foodie news / most of us are sorry for what we said when we were hungry.

Chance to win a ÂŁ60 dining out voucher to spend at one of the restaurants on these pages.

To enter, solve all of the anagrams below and put your answers in the same numerical order. The anagrams are of all the restaurants on this feature. When you enter, you must also state where you want to dine out if you win.

A meal out will certainly help to banish those February blues. Who will you take? A partner, parent, friend, neighbour, carer, business associate or bank manager, maybe?

1. Hetti Iain 2. O sear truant 9292 3. Hoeing regent 4. Monitored rainbow 5. Doeth linen 6. Gathers minks 7. O thin torn hen The lucky winner will have 30 days to use their dining out voucher at their chosen restaurant.

Good luck!

30 | 4DORSET February 2019

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

foodie news

Enter at www. mags4dorset.co.uk or send your answer on a postcard to DINE OUT FEBRUARY COMPETITION, mags4dorset, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9BZ. Closing date is 20 February.

The first correct entry drawn will be the winner.

Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd or the eateries included in this competition are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final. Personal data submitted when entering any mags4dorset competitions will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition, which will be announced in the magazine. mags4dorset will only retain your personal details for as long as is necessary to process the data and for as long as is reasonably required for its lawful business purposes or to comply with a statutory or other legal requirement.

Personal data will be treated confidentially and only the winner’s details will be shared to facilitate the prize.

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

31

foodie new venue newsreview / most of us are sorry for what we said when we were hungry.

TRY AND TRY

and try a gin Review by

Janine Pulford

Writing food reviews is one of the highlights of my job, but a gin bar?

I was more than slightly worried, having never been a gin drinker.

H

onesty is the best policy, so I was upfront with Lord Trevor Davis who opened his Tin of Sardines in partnership with his son Ben, at the end of last year near Poole Quay.

He kindly said, "Reserve judgment until after your visit," adding that the whole experience could woo me.

On the plus side, I didn’t want to turn down the chance to visit what is set to become the gin capital of the new ‘city by the sea’ when Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch councils merge in April. And my husband, Nick, was keen. Especially after I mistakenly thought he didn’t like gin and put a social media alert for a review buddy to join me. He soon put me straight and we set off to Poole Quay, having made an arrangement to sleep on board our boat in the nearby marina because it was only a short walk from Tin of Sardines. This was because we suspected we would be over the 32 | 4DORSET February 2019

drink drive limit by the end of the evening.

We instantly felt at home when we entered the bar and it was nothing to do with the gin. Tin of Sardines is fitted out like the back of a motor yacht. There is even a super-size photo on the wall of the view across Poole Harbour that you would see if the wall wasn’t there.

The seats are nautical, as are the coat hooks and if you use the ‘head’ at the right time, you even get the shipping forecast. There can’t be many yachties around that won’t make Tin of Sardines in the High Street their first port of call when visiting Poole, and booking is easy on ship to shore or mobile phone.

Once aboard the “gin palace” we were faced with over 300 gins, 40 mixers and a collection of botanical ingredients, all neatly arranged, yet dizzying at the same time.

Where to start? There’s an extravagant gin menu, created, tried and tested by Trevor and Ben, or you could pick the ingredients

for your own cocktail. A shot of your favourite gin, a mixer to complement the flavour, garnish and lots of ice is the way to go.

Our first was Italian Malfy Gin with Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic served by ginologist Stuart Gardener, who usually works at Tin of Sardines in Durham – another of Ben and Trevor’s establishments.

Also in Durham, they have The Court Inn and Old Tom and if you’ve heard of an outside catering company called the Cheese and Pickle Company, that’s Trevor’s too.

Born in Sandbanks, Lord Trevor is a character who has led a colourful life, and whilst sipping gin, we learned about his globetrotting and the entire history of ‘Mother’s Ruin’, as gin was known in the 18th century.

Having been a chef for 15 years to the rich and famous, Trevor has many a tale to tell, discretely, of course and it’s clear to see how he became a gin aficionado.

He takes pride in his relationship with distilleries throughout the Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

new venue foodie review news Tin of Sardines in Poole has offered a prize of a gin tasting for four people with a meat platter and a cheese board. This gin-tastic prize is worth £120 and Trevor will even throw in a couple of ‘Tin of Sardines be your own ginologist’ books written by him and Ben that contain some of their favourite recipes.

To be in with a chance of winning this incredible prize answer the following question:

In which country is Malfy Gin produced?

Enter online at www.mags4dorset.co.uk or send your answer to Gin Competition, mags4dorset, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ. Entries to arrive no later than 15 February 2019. The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final.

Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd and Tin of Sardines are not permitted to enter. The gin tasting for four people must be booked within three months of winning the prize and is only valid Sunday to Thursday at Tin of Sardines, 3 High Street, Poole. Personal data submitted when entering this competition will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition. The winner will be announced in the magazine and their contact details will be passed to Tin of Sardines to facilitate the prize.

UK and worldwide, and offers customers some sought-after brands. He is a practised gin hunter and offers Lilliput Gin, Jingle 999.9 and the famous cult gin, Monkey 47 among the brands.

Laura Addicott brought us some nibbles to go with the Malfy, which I had to admit, was light with delicious citrusy notes that were wonderfully refreshing in the mouth.

The classic juniper hit was less obtrusive, which was possibly why I enjoyed it so much. Served with a straw (not plastic), it was easy to sip and there was nothing ‘not to like’ about it. I was smitten, but would understand if a gin purist preferred something more traditional.

It did make me a little light-headed, so when the cheese board and meat platter joined us at the unique table, I dug in.

Stuart put the cheese my side, which was fortuitous as I am not a lover of meat. That was Nick’s department.

The platters were darned good. I mean who

couldn’t like nettle cheese?

There were silverskin onions, pickle, olives, baby tomatoes, lettuce as well as a selection of cheese, biscuits, bread and meats.

If you want a full meal, dine before you arrive and book your cheeseboard at Tin of Sardines afterwards, or book a meat platter at the gin bar as your starter, go and have your meal, then come back for the cheeseboard. These exciting possibilities will make your evening out in Poole much more interesting. Several people did exactly this while we were there. Having said that, Nick and I had not eaten an evening meal and the platters easily kept the wolf from the door. We did resort to a sandwich on the boat later that night, but if I’m brutally honest, that could have been greed.

Our next gin arrived.

Smoky Chilli Gin with Fever-Tree Smoky Ginger Ale, cardamom, kaffir lime leaves, chilli and cloves. I loved the ginger tones and chilli kick, but the cloves didn’t push my buttons.

Surprisingly, I drank it

all, so it can’t have been that bad, or maybe I was becoming less fussy as the night wore on.

Trevor kept me spellbound as he elaborated about the gins.

When he told me about Monkey 47, I had to ask him to repeat himself several times. At 47% and containing rare botanicals, a neat glass will set you back between £65 to £110 depending on which ‘cut’ you purchase. A gin with many facets, it is one to seek out if you haven’t tasted it already. But £110?

I can only hazard a guess at which footballer will buy that one.

I wouldn’t turn it down if it was offered, but it would probably overwhelm me with its flavours. Yet, in my own small way, I was beginning to understand what gin drinkers look for.

Our third gin was more straightforward. Boodles Mulberry Gin with FeverTree Mediterranean Tonic.

A pink gin, it had a warming flavour and with fruity notes, which clearly are the ones I enjoy most. I don’t think I am a juniper woman, but I would class myself as a gin convert now because I have learnt that there are gins out there to suit most tastes.

If you were really adventurous, you could work your way right through Trevor and Ben’s gin menu, but with over 250 recipes, it will take a lot of visits to sample the entire collection starting with 3 Pugs Bubblegum garnished with strawberry and cherry, and ending with Zymurgorium Turkish Delight with ginger and rose petals.

Also available at Tin of Sardines are beers, whiskys, rums, vodkas, tequilas and wines. And if you’re driving, there are plenty of soft drinks available, or you could bring a yacht to sleep on!

Tin of Sardines opens Sunday to Thursday, 10am to midnight and Friday and Saturday, 10am to 1am, so you can also be sure of a great cup of coffee or tea and a tempting pastry or cake, and if you’re over 60 and get there between 10am and 11am on Thursdays, your cuppa is free!

Tin of Sardines offers a great evening out and there is no doubt that if you try, and try and try a gin, you will definitely find a flavour that you love.

I did and it was a great revelation.

The bar is small, seating around 20 people and with standing room for 20 or so more. Booking is strongly advised at weekends.

There are also regular gin tasting events and if you want the chance to win a tasting for four people, see above.

please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

|

33

Improved pool in St Ives

St Ives Primary School has received a grant of £20,000 from East Dorset District Council for repairs to its swimming pool and work should be completed in May. The grant application was submitted by Cllr Barry Goringe with the support of Cllr Ray Bryan and approved in September.

Currently, during the summer term children at St Ives School and two other schools in the ‘Holt Heath cluster’ use the outdoor heated pool. It can generally be used by community groups on weekdays after school from 3.30pm and most weekends.

The school’s PTA are now looking to introduce new swimming-related opportunities and would welcome the views from the local community.

Samara Stewart, PTA chairman said, “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in securing the grant for the swimming pool.

“We have a fantastic opportunity for local people to make use of the pool during the summer months,” she added that the PTA would like feedback about the type of classes people would choose such as swimming sessions for seniors, children, toddlers, parent and baby, aqua aerobics or lifeguard training. The swimming pool can also be hired.

It is entirely run and funded by parents and the community and relies on volunteers to open, lifeguard and run the pool outside of school hours. Anyone with the relevant skillset who would be interested in supporting the upkeep of the pool should contact Samara Stewart on SISAinfo@stivespta.com

Worldwide Vets and a Mosaic of Tiles

The first meeting of Colehill Evening WI for 2019 took place on 9 January.

Speaker Chris Payne, from the Worldwide Veterinary Society, talked about the charity's work around the world, especially in Asia. He explained the charity's mission to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and to hopefully eradicate rabies from areas by vaccination. He also showed how the charity was training vets and veterinary nurses enabling them to work with soft tissue injuries and neutering.

The next meeting will be on 13 February, when the speaker will be Jo Amey talking about ‘A Mosaic of Tiles in East Dorset’.

Visitors are always welcome and if you would like to contact the WI beforehand then please email colehillwi@aol.com

Free music lessons Learn to Play Day - a free national event to encourage everyone in the UK to start making music - is coming to Dorset this March.

Supported by Jools Holland OBE, and run by charity Music for All, the 2019 Learn to Play Day will take place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March, and will see music shops, teachers, venues and schools throughout the county partner with leading musical instrument brands to offer thousands of free music lessons.

So far participating venues in Dorset include: Absolute Music in Bournemouth and Play it Again UK in Poole.

Since being launched eight years ago, the Learn to Play Day initiative has helped thousands of people pick up and play a musical instrument. Many had never played before, while others played as a child but gave up.

Held in partnership with the Musicians’ Union, the ‘Take It Away’ scheme and Making Music, the Learn to Play Day initiative has been growing in popularity with a record 10,000 free lessons held during last year’s event.

Famed musician Jools Holland said, “As Patron of the Music for All charity, I’m delighted to lend my support to National Learn to Play Day on March 23rd and 24th. It’s a pleasure to be able to share the joy of music, and this special day allows thousands to get involved as venues all over the country offer music lessons for free.”

Participating venues across Dorset are being added every day. To find your closest FREE music lesson, visit https://musicforall.org.uk/learntoplayday/

Budding pianist © Alan Fletcher

Sax lesson © Indigo Images

Learn guitar © Brian Slater

Grant funds extension of MS day centre Talbot Village Trust has donated a grant of £11,000 to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Bournemouth to fund the extension of its day centre.

The Osborne Day Centre in West Parley is used regularly as a meeting place for people with MS, their carers and volunteers. Members of the society also have access to physiotherapy, yoga and hairdressing facilities. The new extension has created space for a private consulting room. A disabled toilet has also been constructed, due to the growing number of people who use the centre on a weekly basis.

Rod Slip, chairman of the MS Society Bournemouth, said, “We are so thankful to the Trust for choosing to donate to the centre and allow us to construct our extension. Before this project began we were restricted on the activities which we could host, but now we have the extra space to strengthen our support services and activities offering.”

Russell Lucas-Rowe, Trustee of Talbot Village Trust, added: “As a Trust we are always looking to support charities, big and small, that play an integral role in the community. It has been so interesting to learn about MS Society Bournemouth Michael Lander, Rod Slip, Pam Mead, Beryl Bundy, Jenny Clark and Stewart Fairbarss and the essential work they carry out for people with MS in Dorset.”

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ALL PAID FOR ADVERTISEMENTS Pulford Publicity Ltd (“the Publisher”) reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertisement without notice or explanation.

Claims for any error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement must be made within 10 days of publication to the Administration Department.

Whilst the Publisher will endeavour to represent the best interests of the client in undertaking client’s instructions, it is fully understood that it is the agreed responsibility of the client to supply 4Dorset accurate copy details of the advertisement(s) to be placed and any alterations to the copy must be received prior to copy date.

Advertisers are requested to check their advertisements after the first insertion. The Publisher will not be responsible for any errors on subsequent insertions, which have not been advised to them.

Guarantee of insertion cannot be given and the Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement or by the total or partial failure, however caused, of publication or distribution of 4Dorset. In no case shall the total liability of the Publisher for any misprint, error or omission exceed the price charged by the Publisher for that advertisement. The Publisher shall not be liable for any damage or loss save as stated and, in particular, the Publisher shall have no liability to the Advertiser in any circumstances for any claim for damages to, loss of, or costs in respect of any anticipated profits, revenues, business opportunities or for any other indirect or consequential loss.

34 | 4DORSET February 2019

Cancellation of an advertisement must be advised in writing 21 days prior to copy date.

Unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Publisher the terms of payment for credit accounts are 10 days from date of invoice. Any discount, which the Publisher may have agreed with the advertiser will be forfeited in the event of failure by the advertiser to meet these credit terms. All rates quoted are subject to VAT at the current rate in force at the time the advertisement appears.

Copyright of advertisements produced wholly by the Publisher belongs to the Publisher. Advertisers may not reproduce such advertisments without the Publisher’s written consent.

Full details of copy dates are obtainable direct from 4Dorset and/or its representatives. The placing of an order for an advertisment shall amount to acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Equipment New swimming stolen from pool cemetery -| Advertiser’s announcement |-

opening in Ferndown!

Ferndown Swim School is pleased to announce the opening of its new swimming pool in Ferndown.

From March, the swim school will be teaching from its brand new pool at 352 Ringwood Road.

Bookings are being taken now.

To book lessons, just call or email one of the swim school’s friendly team who will give you suitable availability and any advice you may be after.

Finding the right pool and teacher is important for children to learn, so you can just pay for one session to see how you get on.

Ferndown Swim School has a maximum of five children per class, so lots of attention is given.

The pool is very warm, beautifully clean and perfectly balanced.

On site there are great changing and shower facilities, full colour TV of the lesson taking place, for the parents who don’t want to be on poolside. Tea and coffee is readily available too.

If you continue with Ferndown Swim School, you can pay monthly, making the lessons affordable and easier to fit in with your budget.

Ferndown Swim School teaches babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and adults.

Whatever your age or ability, there will be a lesson that will suit you.

Call 01202 925310 for more details or email info@ ferndownswimschool. co.uk or visit www. ferndownswimschool.co.uk See the inside front cover of this magazine for more details.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a break-in at a storage container on 15 January, around 10pm, at North Cemetery in Strouden Avenue, Bournemouth.

A container in the grounds of the cemetery, which is used to store gardening equipment, was broken into. A section of fencing backing onto Howard Road had been cut and a number of items, including strimmers and chainsaws had been taken.

It is believed the total value of the items taken was several thousand pounds.

If you saw any suspicious activity in the area at the time of the burglary, or have since been offered gardening equipment for sale in unusual circumstances, please contact Dorset Police on 101 or email 101@ dorset.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

BOFA’s new appointment BOFA International, global leaders in industrial fume and dust extraction systems, has appointed Geoff Hamilton as international sales manager.

Geoff has more than 20 years’ industry experience in senior international sales roles and will focus on developing sales in all BOFA markets, other than North America, where the company operates through BOFA Americas, a subsidiary business.

In his new role, Geoff will identify and engage with new clients to develop longterm relationships through managing and interpreting their needs and will support marketing activities by attending trade shows, conferences and other marketing events around the world.

Geoff said, “I first became involved with BOFA in 2016 and was immediately impressed with the company’s innovative portfolio of systems and its ambitious growth plans, so I am delighted now to have the opportunity to contribute to the future success of the business in existing and emerging territories.”

Geoff lives in Poole and is married with two teenage daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, loves skiing and is a keen Southampton FC supporter.

West Moors Kate Adie bookmakers Historical robbed Police are appealing for witnesses after a man stole cash from Ladbrokes in Station Road, West Moors.

The man entered the betting shop on 16 January at around 8pm, jumped over the counter and threatened staff with what appeared to be a meat cleaver or large kitchen knife. He stole cash from the safe before making off from the scene.

The man is described as being around 5’ 10” tall and of stocky build. He had blue fabric stretched over his face. He was also wearing a black hooded top, dark trousers and red gloves. Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on email 101@dorset.pnn. police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190008387.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www. crimestoppers-uk.org.

Man charged following house explosion A man has been charged in connection with an explosion at a property in Poole.

Dorset Police was called at 1.47pm on Monday 22 October 2018 to the address in Sterte Road following a report that an explosion had caused the property to partially collapse.

A woman aged in her 60s was treated at the scene for minor injuries and a 66-year-old man was arrested and taken to hospital.

The man, now aged 67, has been released from hospital and has been charged with an offence of arson with intent/ reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 16 January.

Literacy Award The Dorset Archives Trust has announced the inaugural Kate Adie Historical Literacy Award. Aimed at students in years 7 and 8, the competition encourages pupils to engage with original sources from the archives as well as developing literacy skills.

The competition deadline is 31 May 2019, and details have been sent out to all Dorset middle and secondary schools.

Carola Campbell, chair of the Trust said, “One of the main roles of the Dorset Archives Trust is to promote Dorset’s disappearing histories. What better way to do this than by engaging young people with sources from the archives and the stories behind them.”

Children will be asked to write a short newspaper article of no more than 500 words (one or two small pictures may be included). Entries must be typed and emailed. The article must be based on an original source from the archives at the History Centre. A selection of sources will be available, with background information.

There are cash prizes for the schools and for the individuals reaching first and second place, plus five runner up cash prizes.

Caught on video doorbell camera

A burglar identified after he was caught on a video doorbell camera has been sentenced.

Yomi Simeon Davies, aged 37, of Compton Avenue in Poole, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on 10 January 2019 after admitting to a burglary. He received a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Davies was also ordered to pay compensation of £150 and a victim surcharge of £140.

On 30 August last year, the victim, a man aged in his 60s who was away from home, received a notification on his phone from his doorbell CCTV system to indicate someone was near his front door.

The CCTV showed a man approach the front door and attempt to force it open with a tool. He was unable to gain entry and walked around to the rear of the property.

Around 10 minutes later the house alarm was activated and police were called to the address. It was discovered that a first floor window had been broken but the offender had left the premises. Nothing had been stolen.

Police issued a public appeal with images from the CCTV and received two responses identifying Davies as the offender. He was arrested in Poole on 29 October 2018.

Detective Constable Michelle Lawrence, of Bournemouth CID, thanked the members of the public who responded to the appeal to help bring Davies to justice.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

35

around & about / what’s happening in your area.

what’s on

this month Details were correct at the time of going to print but readers are advised to check before attending events

6 February 2pm Talk: Gypsy families in Dorset, with Ray Wills at Rossmore Library, Herbert Ave, Poole.

The Gypsy Poet Ray Wills' new book, Where the River Bends, tells the story of the gypsies' journeys from the east to their arrival in the UK, in particular to the New Forest and southern England. Details 01202 746023.

6 February 2.30-4.30pm Strictly Come Tea Dancing at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne on the first Wednesday of each month.

Music provided by the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band. Cost £7.50 per person (£5 for nondancers). More info Ian Thorp on 07939 030875.

6 February 7.30pm Vera Riddell ‘Vive la Différence’, Ferndown French Circle at the Barrington Centre.

Members £3. Visitors £5. More info from 01202 526918.

Until 10 February Mini Painting Project Exhibition at the Café Gallery at RussellCotes, Bournemouth with nearly 400 pieces of artwork made by children from local primary schools. There is no charge to view the Café Gallery.

11 February 2pm Wimborne Horticultural Society presents ‘Adventures In Yunnan Province of China’ by Rosemary LeGrand. Members £1, non-members £3. Visit www. wimbornehorticulturalsociety. btck.co.uk for details.

11 February 2.15pm West Moors Horticultural Society talk on woodcarving and stick making by Mike Tuck at West Moors Memorial Hall.

More details: Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536.

15 February 7.30pm 6 February 7.30pm Kinson Historical Society present an illustrated talk ‘Discoveries in South Wales’

by Brian Popple at Kinson Community Centre, Millhams Road, Bournemouth.

9 February 7pm Dorset Police Male Voice Choir concert in support of Service amputees with guest Wet End star Richard Knight.

At Boscombe Salvation Army Hall, Palmerston Road, BH1 4HT. Adults £8, concs £5. For tickets contact Mike Rogers on 07717 201082.

36 | 4DORSET February 2019

Michael Buble Tribute at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown.

Box Office 01202 894858 or book online.

16 February 10am-12 noon

21 February 11am & 2pm

Ringwood U3A Open Day. Come along and find out more about the activities on offer.

Greyfriars, 44 Christchurch Road, Ringwood BH24 1DW.

‘Once Upon A Princess’ princess party production at the Regent Centre, Christchurch. Tickets £11 from ticket office on 01202 499199 or www.regentcentre.co.uk.

16 February 7.30pm

21 February 2pm

‘Bourne2Sing’ male voice choir concert at Verwood Methodist Church, Vicarage Road, Verwood BH31 6DR in aid of Future Pillars (Zambia).

Tickets £7 (incl refreshments) available at the door or from Margaret McDermott 01202 824339.

16-23 February 10am-4pm Superhero Week at Shire Hall, Dorchester. Calling all superheroes! Follow the trail to Shire Hall’s underground, secret lair, where you can design your own superhero badge and visit the café for some heroic treats. Kids dressed up as superheroes get to visit for free. (Up to two children per full paying adult.)

More info: shirehalldorset.org. uk or call 01305 261849.

19 February 9-11.30am 15 February 10.30am ‘Adventures in Art’ by Michael Sandy. Wimborne U3A talk at the Methodist Church, Wimborne. £2 members, £3 visitors.

16 February 9am-1pm

Dorset Farmers Market in Wimborne. Fresh produce and foodie treats directly from the producers.

Dynamic Women In Business breakfast meeting at Urban Reef with Julie Bramah of House of Colour. Details www. dynamicwomeninbusiness.com

19-21 February 10-12.30pm Spring Half Term Fun for children at Russell Cotes, Bournemouth. Details: russellcotes.com/half-term for more details.

Gale Gould talks about ‘The Hampshire Wonder and other tales from history’ in this U3A Ringwood monthly meeting at Greyfriars, 44 Christchurch Road, BH24 1DW.

21 February 7.30pm

‘Hairy Bikers: On the road again in the Concert Hall’, Lighthouse Poole. A night of cooking and conversation with national treasures Si King and Dave Myers. For tickets call 01202 280000 or visit www. lighthousepoole.co.uk.

22 February 2pm

Lily & The Albatross performed

by Forest Forge at the centre in Endeavour Park, Crow Arch Lane in Ringwood. A tale of wild weather, wild birds and wild ambitions, for ages 5+. Tickets 01425 470188 or book online through the website: forestforgetheatre.co.uk.

24 February 10am-1pm

Upton Wood Volunteer Day, Poole. A volunteer day to help manage Upton Wood. Visit www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk for more information.

27 February 7.30pm

New Forest Jazz Workshop at Godshill Village Hall. For further information call 01425 650770 or email hippotrain@ btinternet.com.

6 March 2.30-4.30pm

Strictly Come Tea Dancing at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne on the first Wednesday of each month.

Music provided by the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band. Cost £7.50 per person (£5 for nondancers). More info Ian Thorp on 07939 030875.

6 March 7.30pm

Susan Seigle-Morris ‘Ma vie de pilote de rallyes’, Ferndown French Circle at the Barrington Centre. Members £3. Visitors £5. More info from 01202 526918.

6 March 7.30pm

BSO in Magical Fairytales at the Concert Hall, Lighthouse, Poole. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Ion Marin, perform music by Ravel, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov - his first piano concerto, with featured soloist Alexander Gavrylyuk. Call 01202 280000.

8 March 12-3pm

Prama, in partnership with Ferndown Town Council and Mayor, Cllr Jean Read, are hosting a lunch at the Barrington Centre, Ferndown in memory of former Mayor, Cllr Steve Lugg. Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, soup and a sandwich. Book on 01202 894858 or pop into the Centre to reserve your place

12 March 10.00am

A hospital talk has been organised at Charminster Library, Strouden Avenue, Charminster, Bournemouth BH8 9HT to provide updates on The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and changes to local hospital services. Members of the public are invited to come along to the free event.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

around & about

Fast and Fureys

To Advertise in the 4DORSET MAGAZINE Please call: 01202 941465 | 01202 941470

Legends of Irish music and song, The Fureys, will be performing live at the Regent Centre in Christchurch in April.

Renowned for their hit songs ‘I Will Love You’, ‘When You Were Sweet 16’, ‘The Green Fields of France’, ‘The Old Man’, ‘Red Rose Café’, there will be some of these favourites and more when they return to the Centre, on Thursday 4 April.

Inevitably changes have occurred within the band over the years. Paul died suddenly in June 2002 and Finbar left the band in December 1996. However, George and Eddie have continued to delight audiences on their tours and have just released a new CD The Fureys…40 years on…to be continued.

The band will be performing their set, and getting toes tapping, in Christchurch on 4 April 7.30pm. Tickets are £22.50 each (concessions £21.50), and 4Dorset has teamed up with the Regent Centre to offer one lucky person two tickets as a prize.

For a chance to win, all you have to do is answer the following question: Which of the Fureys’ songs features a red flower?

Enter at www.mags4dorset.co.uk or send your answer on a postcard to FUREYS COMPETITION, mags4dorset, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9BZ. Closing date is 28 February. The first correct entry drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd or the Regent Centre are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final. Personal data submitted when entering any mags4dorset competitions will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition, which will be announced in the magazine. mags4dorset will only retain your personal details for as long as is necessary to process the data and for as long as is reasonably required for its lawful business purposes or to comply with a statutory or other legal requirement. Personal data will be treated confidentially and only the winner’s will be shared. For more information, please contact Janine Pulford, data protection officer on 01202 870270.

Dorset County Orchestra in spring concert The Dorset County Orchestra's Spring Concert is at Wimborne Minster on Saturday 2 March at 7.30pm.

Martin Henderson returns to the podium to conduct Elgar's tone poem in the South.

Conceived while the Elgars were holidaying in Italy, the overture’s moods reflect those of the composer at the time— fluctuating from morose to excitable and stoic to playful.

Mozart's Bassoon Concerto is the first of his woodwind concertos written when he was only 18; it is said to be a 'little masterpiece'.

Anton Bruckner's Symphony No 4, given the title The Romantic Symphony on account of its ambitious scope and grand emotional gestures, was the first of Bruckner’s symphonies to achieve public success, and it remains among his most frequently performed works.

Martin Henderson is an enthusiastic and accomplished conductor of amateur orchestras and a professional double bass player having held the position of principal bass in the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Laura Vane, the soloist, is a talented bassoon player who performs regularly with Dorset County Orchestra and the Royal Marines Association Band.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

37

around & about / what’s happening in your area.

Primrose Festival celebrates pretty tough plant

© Michelle Kloboucnik

Regent’s staggering success What do Sir Cliff Richard, André Rieu and Sheridan Smith all have in common? They have all had national No 1s at the Regent in Christchurch for their Event Cinema screenings.

The Regent Centre has in the last few weeks heard from the Event Cinema distributors that it is the No 1 Cinema in UK & Ireland for admissions to Cliff Richard’s 60th Anniversary Tour (12A) screened last October and November; André Rieu’s New Year Concert from Sydney (12A) screened in January; Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl – The Musical (12A) which was screened in November; An American in Paris – The Musical from the Dominion Theatre (12A) and screened at the Regent in May of last year and The King & I from the London Palladium (12A) which was screened at the Regent in November and December.

An exuberant Tom Howson from Trafalgar Releasing said, “Overall, the Regent is the most consistently high performing cinema on our books, no doubt about that.”

Regent Centre general manager, Felicity Porter was equally enthusiastic, “All of this is incredible news. What a fantastic start to the New Year and it is such a great tribute to the staff and volunteers who work together so hard to make the Regent Centre the success story it is today.”

Comscore Inc Movies Reporting and Analytics that measure more than 95% of worldwide box office results have reported in their end of year results for the UK and Ireland that André Rieu’s 2018 Maastricht Concert (12A), Cliff Richard Live: 60th Anniversary Tour (12A) and The King & I from the London Palladium (12A) were the top three Event Cinema presentations in the UK and Ireland during 2018 and the Regent was the No 1 cinema for all three.

The purple patch at the Regent’s cinema box office in 2018 didn’t stop there. It proved to be a golden year for movies too.

Leading the pack of high performing films was the long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s smash, Abba-inspired hit, Mamma Mia. The new

2018 film, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, took the summer season by storm and was easily the most popular film at the Regent with 12,041 Abba fans attending the main film, the sing-a-long version and Mamma Mia Spectacular.

2018’s Top 10 films at the Regent in descending order were: Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, The Darkest Hour, The Greatest Showman including its sing-along version, Bohemian Rhapsody, Peter Rabbit, Finding Your Feet, A Star is Born, The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, The Post and The Incredibles 2.

The Regent’s press officer and film programmer, Gary Theobald said, “2018 has been a fantastic year for film at the Regent,” and “2019 is already off to a flying start.”

And it’s not only the silver screen that is drawing the crowds. Pam Ayres has recently had unprecedented ticket sales and is doing three shows on the bounce.

She was originally set to appear at the Regent on Saturday 16 February only, but agreed to do an extra date on 15 February because tickets sold so quickly. When sales soared again, Pam agreed to add a third show on Sunday 17 February.

Gary said, “No visiting artist at the Regent has ever achieved the accolade of confirming three nights in succession live on stage at the centre with their show, let alone selling them all out. If all of our visiting stars were this popular and sold out so quickly, I would be out of a job!”

Congratulations!

December competition: the winner of two tickets to see Cinderella at the Regent in Christchurch was Mr K Bates from Broadstone.

38 | 4DORSET February 2019

One of the first plants to flower in the spring, the primrose (primula vulgaris) proved how tough it can be when it survived last year’s snow and low temperatures (-4C) as Britain endured the weather period nicknamed the “beast from the east.”

This year Stewarts Garden Centres at Christchurch and Broomhill are celebrating the remarkable plant with a Primrose Festival between18-24 February, where there will be displays of many of the key varieties.

Primroses can be often seen in the countryside and are a protected species. They should not be picked in the wild. Their flower heads are appreciated by many insects and can be a welcome addition for a wildlife garden.

Katherine Hunt, plant buyer at Stewarts, says that these hardy perennial plants deserve to have the focus of a festival.

“They are such great survivors that provide such brilliant colours throughout the winter and spring no matter what the weather does, and they look great in borders, containers or hanging baskets. This year we will have our largest displays showing the splendid variety of colours.”

Katherine Hunt

Transforming Poole after dark Transforming Poole’s familiar townscape after dark with an ambitious programme of more than twenty light art spectacles that respond to the theme of ‘tides’, Light Up Poole is set to make an international statement.

It will incorporate three world premieres and a European premiere as well as site responsive versions of works by leading European artists such as Gijs Van Bon’s poetry robot NYX, Tom Dekyvere’s treetop Rhizome installation and the Celestial Beings illuminated stilt walkers of Elixire Circus Arts.

French engineers MinuitUne will provide revolutionary new technology and work with Poole-based Wolf Lighting to illuminate the dockside cranes and create Harbour Glow, a bold new work by light designers James Smith and Audacious that shows the urban industrial space of the Harbour in a new light.

But the festival’s global vision is most apparent in Horizon, a signature projection by artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid on the outside of St James’s Church that has resulted from their partnership with Napa Lighted Art Festival in California. Horizon juxtaposes medieval texts by 13th century English polymath Robert Grosseteste and 21st century imagery from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to illustrate how the things we can and cannot see shape the extent of our knowledge.

“We’re very proud to have built this link between Poole and Napa and we really hope both festivals will be able to extend connections from one country to another – especially in the light of what’s going on at the moment with Brexit,” says Ross.

With the launch of the festival’s new GLEAM Talent Development Programme, Light Up Poole now offers a direct progression route for emerging and local artists, connecting them to industry.

In addition there’s a Young Film Makers competition, student showcase exhibitions and the return of the phenomenally popular Silent Disco.

Sponsored by Poole BID and funded by Arts Council England, the three-night festival of light will take place between 21 and 23 February at Poole Quay and Old Town.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

in the home

ADDING SPACE AND VALUE TO YOUR HOME

By Carol Waterkeyn

In the early part of the year it’s exciting to sit down and make plans for your home. Whether you are staying put in your property and extending/improving, or have decided to move house, now’s the time to put your plans into action.

Selling your home

If you are selling, there are things you can do to spruce up the home, meaning you have a better chance of selling and obtaining a better price. However, there’s a word of caution here because you can make expensive mistakes by spending a lot of money for little or no return.

The most important rooms of the house are the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure they are clean and tidy. If the kitchen units are shabby you may want to replace them.

If you can afford it, if your bathroom suite and tiling are dated, cracked and stained, replacement with an inexpensive white suite and some modern tiles will probably be worth the investment.

Don’t go mad with repainting your interiors with really bright or dark colours.

These make rooms look smaller and darker and prospective buyers may not

have the same taste as you. Instead go for pale, neutral colours and white, which will reflect the light and add to the feeling of space. Resist the urge to put up wallpaper with large patterns which again can be overpowering and make rooms look smaller. Strategically placed large mirrors will help reflect the light, too, and make a room look bigger. Pale wooden flooring and carpets will help as well.

Clear out the clutter – prospective buyers don’t generally like to see loads of ornaments, piles of magazines and excess toys, DVDs and games. Either put them away out of sight in cupboards, or the loft, or consider external storage for a short while.

Tidy up the outside, hide bins, cut lawns and shrubs, sweep up any fallen leaves, and replace broken fence panels.

Continued over...

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

39

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Improving your home If you are improving your home and are planning to stay for a number of years, then it’s worth spending extra to have the home you enjoy and want.

Replacement windows and doors will smarten up your home and will probably improve your energy usage as well. Make sure your roof is watertight, especially relevant with any flat roofs.

As before, undertaking new kitchens and bathrooms makes a huge difference. If you want a big open plan area downstairs, which is the current trend, you may decide on an extension or conservatory, to give you additional space.

40 | 4DORSET February 2019

If you need more room upstairs, such as with extra bedrooms or a study, there’s the possibility of extending into the loft - if you have a high enough roof. You may have to apply for planning permission so check with your local authority.

If your home is quite old it may need rewiring before you do any redecorating. If you have the old patterned Artex ceilings these can be skimmed to give you nice smooth ones, and if

you have any nasty cracks appearing, walls can be replastered. New tiles on walls and floors can lift a kitchen or bathroom.

Do all the messy jobs first, then the painting and wallpapering, before you turn your attention to the floors. If your carpets or rugs are stained but in good condition otherwise, you can have them professionally cleaned.

If not, it may be worth replacing with new ones or wood/laminate, or both.

Soft furnishings always make a difference to the look and feel or your home.

New curtains or blinds, bedding, sofa covers and cushions can change the appearance of your rooms. You can even get a new look by moving your curtains, cushions, rugs and lamps to an alternative room.

Moving on to the outside, there is more emphasis these days on having a living area outside; whether it’s by installing a new patio, barbecue, dining area, seating, gazebo, pergola or more to enjoy during warmer months and for entertaining. Landscaping your garden can make a huge difference as can updating driveways and the approach to your home. Replacing tatty fencing and untidy hedging will also improve the aesthetics.

Many of the advertisers on these pages and in the service adverts will be able to help, should you need assistance with any of your improvements. Don’t forget to mention this magazine if you give them a call!

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

in the home

CLEARING THE CLUTTER

By Carol Waterkeyn

So you’ve decided to clear out the clutter and now you’ve got a pile of stuff, so what on earth do you do with it? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Furniture in good condition can be sold or gifted to charity. Try Dorset Reclaim and other organisations. For smaller items you can sell online, through ebay or Gumtree, on Facebook, or you could place an advert in the 4Dorset freeads.

When the weather warms up you could take the items to a car boot sale or hold a garage sale and make some cash. In not so good weather you can take a table at a tabletop sale. Clothes and household fabrics can be given to charity either by taking to one of the many charity shops locally or by putting in a charity recycling bin at your supermarket.

Other charities do doorstep collections and provide a sack for you to fill. Alternatively, you could hold a clothes swap with your friends. Spare bras can be sent to the Smalls For All charity, see www.smallsforall. org.

Children’s books, drawing paper and pens can be offered to local schools, while books for adults can go to various organisations, or sold to secondhand book businesses.

Tins, boxes and packets of food that you bought on a whim, or were given, such as boxes of chocolate, and are still within their packaging and ‘sell by’ or ‘use by’ date, can be donated to your local foodbank.

Some charities will take electrical items, but not all, so check beforehand.

You can sell old mobile phones.

Google ‘sell my mobile phone’ for a list of companies who will give you money in return for your old phone.

Wood offcuts, and scrap metal, plus paints can go to the recycling centre.

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

41

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Reminder issued about working smoke alarms Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a reminder about the importance of working smoke alarms.

The kitchen of a house in Seaward Avenue, Bournemouth was severely damaged by fire last month after flammable items were left too close to the gas hob and ignited. The rest of the property was affected by smoke, and the occupant had to be taken to hospital as a precaution after breathing in smoke.

Firefighters from Christchurch, Springbourne and Westbourne were called to the property just after at 9pm and used four breathing apparatus wearers, two hose reel jets and a main jet to extinguish the blaze.

Station Manager Graham Kewley said, “The property didn’t have working smoke alarms, so the occupier was fortunate that this fire broke out while she was still awake, rather than later at night when she may well have been upstairs and asleep. Had that been the case, the outcome could have been far worse. Every home should have a working smoke alarm on every level, and these should be tested regularly.”

He added, “In this instance, while the fire damage was contained to the kitchen, the rest of the property was badly affected by smoke, which shows the importance of keeping internal doors closed. Nearly two thirds of all accidental dwelling fires in Dorset and Wiltshire last year started in the kitchen, and this incident shows just how easy it is for accidents to happen.”

42 | 4DORSET February 2019

The Fire and Rescue Service offers the following kitchen safety advice: • Take care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking. Take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.

• If a pan catches fire, don’t take any risks – ‘Get Out, Stay Out, and Call 999’.

• Double check the hob is off when you’ve finished cooking.

• Keep tea towels, cloths and anything flammable away from the cooker and hob.

• Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – this can easily catch fire.

• Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking. Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe.

• Take care with electrics – move leads and appliances away from water and place grills away from curtains and kitchen rolls.

• Keep your equipment clean and in good working order. A build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.

• Don’t cook after drinking alcohol.

• Hot oil can catch fire easily – be careful that it doesn’t overheat.

• Never throw water on a chip pan fire.

• In the event of a fire, have an escape plan in place.

• Don’t take risks by tackling a fire. ‘Get out, stay out and call 999’.

• Get a smoke alarm and test it weekly.

Seaward Avenue kitchen after the fire

The Service also provides free Safe and Well visits, which aim to make you safer in your own home. A member of staff will come to your home and provide you with bespoke home safety advice, covering areas such as the use of candles, cooking, electric blankets, overloading sockets, chimneys, low energy light bulbs and much more. They even fit or replace smoke alarms, if appropriate.

To request a visit, call 0800 038 2323 or see www.dwfire.org.uk/safety for more information and advice.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

specialist services / who to contact for the service you need.

BLINDS & CURTAINS

BUILDING SERVICES

DECORATING

CARPET CLEANING

CATERING

44 | 4DORSET January 2019

ELECTRICIAN

DECORATING

DISABILITY PRODUCTS

FENCING

DECORATING

DECORATING

FENCING

FENCING

LANDSCAPING

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

specialist services GARDENING SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

LOCKSMITH

HEATING SPECIALISTS

LOGS

LOGS

PLASTERING

RUBBISH AND WASTE CLEARANCE

TREE SURGERY

TILING SUPPLIERS

TREE SURGERY

TREE SURGERY

WEB DESIGN

WINDOW REPAIRS

WINDOW REPAIRS

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

45

motoring / keeping you on the road.

Rolls-Royce achieves historic record

46 | 4DORSET February 2019

Despite all the current business worries relating to Brexit, for 2018 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars achieved the highest annual sales in the marque’s 115-year history, with 4,107 cars delivered

to customers in more than 50 countries around the world in 2018. They also launched the new Cullinan – the Rolls-Royce of SUVs – to great acclaim.

Reflecting on the company’s performance

for the year, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “2018 was a most successful, recordbreaking year for RollsRoyce. We have seen growth in all our regions around the world. At Rolls-Royce we are deeply focused on each and every one of our customers and are delivering on their demanding expectations.

The Home of RollsRoyce at Goodwood is acknowledged and celebrated as a global centre of luxury manufacturing excellence, where our skilled, dedicated team create the world’s finest, most sought-after luxury products. We set a formidable mark in 2018: I am confident it will prove the spur to even greater success in 2019.”

The Americas remained the company’s largest market in 2018.

Sales also grew across all other regions. The Phantom was a major growth driver, flanked by the contemporary Wraith and Dawn models.

Follow 4DORSET MAGAZINE on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/4Dorsetmagazine

Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

|

47