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4DORSET

January 2020 Volume 17 Issue 6

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4DORSET January 2020

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Volume 17 • Issue 6 • January 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This is the first time in the 16-year history of our company that our January magazine has been published before Christmas. You may therefore find yourself reading more Christmas items than usual in our New Year copy. Publishing early has made a big difference to our jobs because we were able to take a proper break – or at least that was the idea. I might let you know exactly what happened next month. Although we are looking ahead to the New Year and new beginnings in 2020, we can’t get away from the sobering thoughts about climate change and how it is affecting the natural world. The creatures on the planet can’t make New Year resolutions and stick to them. Instead they rely on us to protect them by offering more habitats to safeguard their futures. There is no need for me to tell you not to overindulge at Christmas but if you do have a blow out, check our New Year, New You feature and hopefully you’ll soon be back in shape. On the day we went to print, the country was voting for a new government. Could we still have a hung parliament in January? That’s my best guess.

Whatever the outcome, have a brave New Year.

Janine Pulford Editor

MAGS4DORSET Ben Pulford managing director ben@mags4dorset.co.uk Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@mags4dorset.co.uk

NEWS DESK 01202 941469 Janine Pulford editor editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk Marilyn Barber news editor newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk

DESIGN

01202 233441

Louis Pulford creative director

louispulford@brightboxdesigns.co.uk

Matt Jaquest graphic designer Lee Roy Cooper social media assistant

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 Simon Thornton account manager DD: 01202 941470 simon@mags4dorset.co.uk Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

LOGISTICS

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

Picture of the month

Ian Lory Alexandra O’Neill

Putting a Ferndown spin on things ©Tom Scrase

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:

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Copy deadline

13 JANUARY 2020

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

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Dorset businesses celebrate The best of business in Dorset was celebrated at a gala dinner at the Bournemouth International Centre. The Dorset Business Awards, organised by Dorset Chamber, saw more than 700 guests celebrate the success of 36 businesses, 12 of which left with a prize. Stuart Dixon, head of marketing and communications at Dorset Chamber, said, “The Gala Dinner is the night of the year where the community comes together to celebrate business in Dorset. It is a fantastic evening recognising and acknowledging the outstanding work businesses in our region are doing. Every year we are reminded of the talent and ambition that thrives in the area, and as the regional chamber, are proud to represent this. He thanked all the sponsors and congratulated all the winners and shortlisted finalists of this year’s awards.

Award winners: Investing in Dorset – Dorset Cruises, Poole Excellence in Engineering and Manufacturing – Field International Ltd, Poole Creative Impact – Global Brand Communications (STARS), Bournemouth Team Jobs Team of the Year – Ceuta Group Talent Management and Development Team, Bournemouth Apprentice of the Year – Emily Birkett Company of the Year – Mploy Staffing Solution, Poole Family Business – Hoburne Group, Christchurch Employee Health & Wellbeing – Health On Line, Bournemouth Dorset Environmental Award – English Oak Vineyard, Poole Business Leader of the Year – Jamie Sergeant, Crowd Excellence in Exporting – Aviation & Defence Spares – Poole

12 award winners

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4DORSET January 2020

Enhanced Business Growth – Venture Engineering Group – Poole

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Tesco u-turn over Ferndown parking limits

decision by Tesco Ferndown to impose parking restrictions in its town centre multi storey car park has been overturned by public pressure. The new restrictions, which were to have been imposed in the New Year, caused a social media storm over the weekend of 7 and 8 December. The limits would have prevented people from parking for more than three hours during Tesco’s opening hours, and 15 minutes when the store was closed, with a fine of £70 for anyone exceeding the limits or infringing other parking rules. It was widely

rumoured that the reason for the parking restrictions was to curb antisocial behaviour, although a Tesco spokesperson maintained it was so the high demand for spaces could be managed. A mags4dorset’s report on its Facebook news page about the restrictions reached over 12,000 people generating nearly 100 comments. Ferndown and Dorset councillor, Mike Parkes, said it was a total surprise when the signs went up in the car park because there had been no consultation with Ferndown Town Council or Dorset Council and that the changes would have had a huge impact on the day time

and evening economy in the town and would have pushed traffic issues elsewhere. He took up the gauntlet to make representations to Tesco and when the news of the prompt u-turn came through on 10 December, he said, “I am delighted that as a direct result of my actions on behalf of many individuals, users, community groups and businesses within the town, Tesco have listened to these representations alongside a huge public tide of discontent and as a result will be withdrawing the restrictions with immediate effect thus securing free and unrestricted parking within the town.”

“We always want to do the right thing for the community we serve and to support our local town” Tesco The store director, Andy Cruttenden, at Tesco Ferndown said, “We always want to do the right thing for the community we serve and to support our local town. After listening to the concerns of our customers we have decided not to introduce parking restrictions in our Ferndown car park.”

Huge sense of community Mike Parkes added, “It is important that we recognise the huge sense of community in the town and I thank everyone for maintaining a sensible approach whilst we collectively worked towards a resolution. “Moving forwards, I will be meeting with senior officers in Dorset Police to discuss a more pragmatic and sensible approach to tackling antisocial behaviour following which I will bringing together all appropriate representatives to ensure the town centre remains safe and welcoming to all users.”

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MAGS4DORSET Charity of the Year In 2013 our Charity of the Year was the MS Society Bournemouth and District Branch. We recently discovered that in 2020 this organisation, which provides a vital community service for those with multiple sclerosis, will become an independent local charity, and will no longer be part of the

national MS Society. In light of this big step for those at the Osborne Centre, we asked if they would like to be our Charity of the Year so that readers could learn more about the changes that are due to take place during 2020. Janine Pulford, Editor

MS Community Hub Thank you so much for choosing â€˜Bournemouth and District MS Community Hubâ€™ as your Mags4Dorset charity of the year 2020 . Our Hub is situated at the Osborne Centre, Church Lane, West Parley where we offer all local people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) physiotherapy in a fully equipped gym, craft workshops, library, hairdressing salon, support and advice. Bespoke transport is available and three course lunches are provided, prepared and cooked in-house. We are open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays giving our disabled members community involvement and their carers some well-deserved free time. As we are totally self-funding we constantly rely on donations and benefactors in order to raise funds to pay for our running costs. One way to donate is by bringing us your unwanted Christmas presents, which we could either give as raffle prizes or sell in our in-house shop at the centre. 2020 is going to be a very exciting time for our Hub as, during the year we will become an independent local charity and no

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4DORSET January 2020

longer part of the National MS Society. We plan to have a launch day with various events following on during the year which hopefully will bring us much-needed funds and, with the help of Mags4Dorset, we will up-date you over the next few months as things progress. The centre is run by volunteers and we are very fortunate to have so many fantastic helpers who give their time every week. However we are always looking for more so If you have a few hours to spare each week we would love to hear from you. Please contact us for more information on 01202 570300. Alan Lindsay Bournemouth and District MS Community Hub

Specially adapted transport

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Armed robbers jailed for Bournemouth heist Eight members of a gang who carried out an armed robbery at a Bournemouth jewellers have been jailed. Jonathan Oriba, 27, of no fixed abode, Rowan McLaughlin, 31, from Bournemouth, and Sophie Rivers, 29, from Tooting, were all found guilty of conspiracy to rob Franses and Sons in Westover Road. They appeared at Southampton Crown Court on 28 November 2019 to be sentenced alongside four other from London Darrius Ingram, 26, Rhys Gregg-Ball, 27, Shahid Sharif, 28, and Akil Tariq Ford, 27, who had already entered guilty pleas to conspiring to rob the jewellers. Oriba was sentenced to 18 years, Sharif and

Gregg-Ball 12 years and 10 months, Ford 12 years, Ingram 11 years, McLaughlin eight years and Rivers six years. Kalan Williamson, 27, of no fixed abode, failed to answer his bail to attend court in July and was subsequently arrested in Surrey in October. He also appeared on 28 November and entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to 16 years and 10 months. At around noon on 14 March 2019, Sharif, Ingram, Ford and Williamson travelled to the shop on three motorcycles with their faces concealed by crash helmets and face coverings. One moped was driven through the shop door and the gang used a bottle of strong

alkaline liquid – which they claimed to be acid – and a Samurai sword to threaten a security guard and passing members of the public. The gang used a sledgehammer to smash glass cabinets and made off with more than £600,000-worth of stock. Detectives from Bournemouth CID found evidence to suggest that Oriba was involved in planning and organising for the gang. McLaughlin allowed the gang to use his Bournemouth home as a base and Rivers manufactured false alibis for her then boyfriend Sharif. A large-scale operation was carried out in London and Bournemouth to arrest the suspects on 11 April 2019.

Christmas tree disposal If you don’t want to go to a household waste recycling centre to dispose of your Christmas tree, Upton Country Park will be accepting old trees up until 12 January in the entrance car park.

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Looking after your future in the present A will is the best way to take care of the ones you love after you die. It’s a way of ensuring that people other than your blood relations can benefit from your estate. That could be your partner if you’re not married to the person you share your life with, and stepchildren as well as children. Unlike wills, Lasting Powers of Attorneys are used while you’re still alive. There are two types of LPA – one that covers health and welfare and the other covering property and finance. Trusts on the other hand provide a way of protecting your assets both in the

present and the future. They can protect against care costs (in the present) whilst ring fencing your assets for your loved ones (in the future) At Maplebrook Wills, we believe in the personal touch. We’ll visit you in person to discuss your circumstances and help you choose the products that are right for you at a price you can afford. We charge a fraction of the cost of a typical high street solicitor and, rest assured, the wills we write are legally binding. Call Maplebrook WIlls today on 01202 283556.

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Tell the chief constable what you think There is a further opportunity for you to have your say on policing in Dorset. The second phase of Your Dorset. Your Police. Your View is now live. Step into the chief constable’s shoes and tell him where you want to see As part of a Royal Academy of Dance initiative, Parkstonebased Centre Stage is offering free street dance classes to boys aged eight to 16. Any boys interested in signing up in the New Year should get in touch with Centre Stage via email enquiries@centrestagedance.org or telephone 01202 733 231.

resources allocated. This phase allows the public to choose where to spend resources on topics like 999 and 101 or searching for a vulnerable missing person. The simple slider tool will allow people to make decisions about the resourcing of police

priorities in Dorset. It will show the potential impact that increasing, or decreasing, resources in any one area could have on the service provided across Dorset. To cast your decisions, go to www.dp.budgetsimulator. com/.

Bournemouth drug dealers pay for their crimes Two men who admitted drug supply offences in Bournemouth have been ordered to hand over thousands of pounds by a court. Malik Deen, 32, formerly of Cavendish Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to 42 months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on 2 August 2019 after admitting offences of possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. His acquaintance Pa Saidou Camara, 40, also of Cavendish Road, was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for

two years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of criminal property. Deen was detained in Horsehoe Common on the morning of 30 August after being seen taking part in a drug deal by members of the Bournemouth South Neighbourhood Policing Team. He was searched and found in possession of a small package wrapped in cling film that contained herbal cannabis, as well as £900 in cash. Deen was arrested and officers attended an address he had links to in order to carry out a search. Camara answered the door and during a search of the premises officers located a large quantity of cocaine and cannabis, as well as around £50,000 in cash. Deen and Camara returned to Bournemouth

Crown Court on 26 November for a hearing as part of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings. The court ordered that the total benefit figure from Deen’s offending was £98,750. He was ordered to hand over £45,357.46 that had been seized by Dorset Police. For Camara the total benefit figure was set at £18,290 and £10,245 that had been seized was ordered to be handed over. Detective Constable Scott Brimicombe, of the Financial Investigation Unit, said, “I hope this case is a further demonstration that Dorset Police will use POCA legislation where it is available to take illegal earnings from criminals. “As with all Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders, the outstanding benefit figure is still owed and the case will be reviewed in the future to ascertain if the defendants have acquired further assets.”

Quick quiz fix Oh dear what went wrong? The quiz in last month’s issue had a few incorrect answers. Here are the right ones for those who want to use the quiz without being heckled. Question 3. Father Christmas had 9 reindeer including Rudolph. Poor Rudolph was accidentally missed out. Question 21. Tom Smith invented the Christmas cracker, (not eight maids a milking). Question 22. The song ‘Walking in the Air’ was featured in The Snowman (not Christmas Cracker). Question 23. Widow Twankey appears in Aladdin, (not The Snowman). Mags4dorset had a severe problem with upsidedown answers and quite possibly won’t be doing that again in a hurry. Thanks for your responses – you can now enjoy the quiz.

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4DORSET January 2020

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England Golf supports Rainbow Laces campaign As part of the recent Come Out Active week run by the charity Stonewall, golfers across the country are being encouraged to show their support for LGBT equality by wearing rainbow laces on their shoes or displayed on their golf bags. Many in the LGBT community live and breathe for sport, yet four in 10 think that sport isn’t welcoming. In the year ahead, England Golf will: • Provide inclusivity training and support for England Golf staff and volunteers • Conduct research to understand the current experiences of LGBT people in golf • Understand the perceptions/barriers to participation in golf by LGBT people • Create guidance for LGBT people on how they can engage with the game • Create guidance for clubs on good practice of inclusion of LGBT people • Review its guidance and policies around inclusion of LGBT people for competition within England.

Schoolchildren put 'Ecological' into Climate Emergency Dorset Council has listened to local schoolchildren by amending its Climate Emergency to become a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’ declaration. At a recent meeting, the newly-titled Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Executive Advisory Panel agreed the change to its terms of reference so that the protection and enhancement of Dorset’s natural environment and wildlife biodiversity is also considered in the Council’s climate emergency mitigation work. It also invited local students to discuss their thoughts on climate change. The panel was then given feedback on Low Carbon Dorset’s recent Town & Parish Climate Emergency Advice Seminar, and was also updated on the Council’s Task & Finish groups’ progress. Notable points and ideas related to buildings, natural, waste and energy, and transport. Officers also presented their timeline for a ‘Call for ideas’ engagement exercise. This will allow the public to submit their ideas for tackling climate change, with a few selected to present directly to the panel early in 2020. Finally, the panel sat with students from local schools to hear their views on climate impact and what could be done to tackle it.

There were concerns that the urgency of action needed to tackle climate change was not being emphasised in the current curriculum and that general awareness amongst the public needed to be improved. The children also spoke of how they wanted to see sustainable transport, tree planting, litter-picking and subsidisation of waste reduction and recycling schemes improved. Antony Littlechild, sustainability team manager at Dorset Council, said, “The protection and enhancement of our natural environment has always been vitally important to Dorset Council and its predecessor organisations, so adding Ecology to our Climate Emergency declaration is a logical progression of our work. We cannot hope to improve our natural environment through carbon reduction alone, so we need to consider other management options also. “I also think I speak for all councillors and officers when I say that we were incredibly moved by what the students had to say about their fears regarding how climate change will affect their future. We will reflect on their remarks as we continue our work, making sure we set realistic but ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions and preserving our natural environment.”

Rainbow laces

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Stewarts bring happiness

Pete Wood with Evelyn Rose

Evelyn Rose from Redlynch won the Stewarts Garden Centres gift card with the £100 worth of vouchers after entering the competition in the 4Dorset October issue. Pete Wood, outdoor plant manager at the centre near Wimborne, had the pleasure of presenting the prize. Evelyn plans to select some trees to add to her much-loved garden. She was thrilled to have won and told 4Dorset that she has entered lots of competitions in the magazine, but this was the first time she had won a prize. Stewarts also set tails wagging when they recently

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4DORSET January 2020

donated a dog hamper to Waggy Tails Rescue, the local animal charity. Volunteers Ginny Roberts and Roz Guest collected the hamper that included Zöon dog food, snacks, treats, toys and bedding. Stewarts is the first garden centre in the UK to stock this brand and Duncan Wills, garden sundries buyer manager said, “We hope that dog owners visiting the centre will let their dogs enjoy some of the free samples available. Tasting and testing will be judged by the amount of tail waggling.”

Roz Guest, Duncan Wills and Ginny Roberts at the presentation

Carving celebrates 100 years of council housing One hundred tenants and leaseholders from Bournemouth and Poole have celebrated the anniversary of council housing in Britain. Bournemouth council housing residents together with those from Poole Housing Partnership came together at the Howe Croft Community Centre for lunch, to share memories and reminisce. There was also a chance to browse historical local housing pictures, talk to council officers and find out about activities within their communities. It is 100 years since the Housing and Town Planning Act 1919, later known as the ‘Addison Act’, launched the system of council housing nationwide. BCP Council has created a unique piece of wooden art to mark the anniversary. A magnificent western redwood tree in the grounds of 1543-

1545 Wimborne Road, Kinson was facing removal as it had died and was causing safety concerns. The top section was removed, but the heart wood was found to be suitable for carving and the stump was earmarked for this special piece. The main tree carving features historical local legend and famous

resident Isaac Gulliver. He was a landowner and larger than life character who lived in Kinson – as well as in Wimborne. Locally, sturdy family homes had been completed for families in Southbourne, Winton and Kinson from around 1920 – just a year after the act was passed.

L – R Mark Warner, Julie Davis, BCP Council, Lea Cornick Slater, resident, and Lorraine Mealings, director of housing

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law spot

Cheque out these smiles!

Money matters on divorce – ‘clean break’ and other options by Colin Mitchell, Family solicitor and Collaborative Family Lawer, Harold G Walker Solicitors

Getting divorced is relatively straight forward, although at best the divorce process currently takes up to about six months from the start by ‘issuing a Petition’ to the end with the ’grant of Decree Absolute’. There is a set process and Harold G Walker’s Family Team can offer a fixed fee when acting for a client on a routine ‘undefended’ divorce. However, sorting out money matters on divorce is more complicated, because there are often several different legal options available, which mean a divorcing couple can find it harder to reach a financial agreement. It is enshrined in law, that the financial

obligations between a couple should be ended as soon after the divorce as is considered ‘just and reasonable’. This means that a separated couple should aim to be financially independent of each other with a ‘clean break’ as soon as possible when they get divorced. Therefore, a legally binding financial agreement, recorded within a ‘consent order’ can be a one-off solution to how all capital and pension assets are distributed, with no ongoing maintenance payments. But, an immediate clean break is harder to achieve when a couple has children. As a result, other options might need to be considered, including:

Colin Mitchell

Maintenance paid for a specific period (‘a fixed term’) so that the receiving party has some limited financial support to avoid ‘undue hardship’ whilst they work towards becoming financially independent ‘School Fees’ orders, if a child attends a privately funded school ‘Capitalisation’ of maintenance, ie a larger lump sum which the party receiving payment can then drawdown over time to supplement their income Harold G Walker Solicitors offer a FREE 30-minutes consultation to review all family matters.

This column is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.

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mags4dorset presented its charity of the year, JTYAF, with a cheque for £500 on 22 November. Linda and Peter Thornton were thrilled. “This will be a huge help towards benefitting the young people of Ferndown,” said Linda. “Thank you mags4dorset,” added Peter. “We are running a project with the first school and this will more than cover the cost.” Editor Janine Pulford said, “We are delighted to be able to help our local charities when we can and JTYAF is a very deserving cause.”

L-R Peter and Linda Thornton receive a cheque from Ben Pulford

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Rethink on popular land train If you want to use the Hengistbury Head land train you have until 5 January to do so. After that date it will be taken away for its annual inspection and pre-season service, with a service returning for the spring half term. The Land Rover service will still operate in January on pre-booking only, with three working days’ notice required for bookings (hengistbury.landtrain@ bcpcouncil.gov.uk). BCP Council is reviewing its options for the future of the land train following the conclusion of a year-long investigation by the Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In October 2018, the land train was suspended from service while under HSE investigation following an incident with one of the carriages. This investigation has now concluded with the HSE informing the council that the traditional trains would require extensive works to run them again, including

fitting engine-controlled brakes to each carriage alongside several other safety improvements. As a result, the council is investigating several other long-term sustainable options including the possible introduction of an environmentally friendly battery-run or hybrid land train to support its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. The council would not be permitted to run the old trains without complete redesign work to meet new Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) standards. Initial enquiries have indicated that to bring these 30-year-old trains up to the required standards would be both complex in engineering terms – and costly and therefore not financially viable. In addition, independent legal advice on the status of the road to the sandspit has concluded that the road is considered public and as such, BCP Council would

need to gain a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) to meet the public passenger carrying standards, with drivers requiring a Passenger Service Vehicle Licence (PSV). A BCP Council spokesperson commented, “The Hengistbury Head Land Train is a very popular service amongst both residents and visitors to the area. Over the last 50 years, generations of people have created fond memories of using this service, and although we are disappointed that we can no longer continue using the traditional train, we understand that modern operating standards require the highest levels of safety and as such, are looking forward to investigating alternative options to keep this popular attraction running.” It is planned for the old trains to be offered for sale/auction, with proceeds being put towards the replacement trains.

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New sculptures for Poole Bournemouth man jailed for stabbing

Plans have been approved for an eye-catching nautically themed sculpture at Hunger Hill in Poole. Designed by artist Michael Condron, the artwork will be based on the form of a rope knot made from stainless steel and illuminated internally by LED lighting. At dusk, a subtle effect will be created by the sculpture, with light only creeping through gaps in multiple overlapping metal segments. The final designs for the sculpture have followed extensive consultation with local community groups, schools and colleges. Alongside the newly

approved piece, a second series of sculptures designed by the same artist will be installed at Barbers Piles, near Poole Bridge. This artwork will feature six stainless steel birds in flight, representing the wildlife of Poole Harbour and local metalworking heritage through the ages. A spokesperson from BCP Council said, “Situated on the threshold of the Port of Poole and town centre, the artwork will encourage civic pride in the local

community. An attractive and instantly recognisable ‘gateway’ piece, it will also greet visitors travelling from the Holes Bay direction over Towngate Bridge and provide a memorable visual spectacle for people leaving the town.’’ The artwork is being delivered as part of the final phase of the Townside and Hunger Hill improvements scheme and will be installed in 2020. This scheme aims to improve access to the port and town centre via an improved road, footway and cycleway network. As part of this, funding has been allocated to create attractive public spaces which enhance the quality of life for local people. In addition to these works, contemporary wayfinding pieces and stylish street furniture designed by David Pierce from DallasPierce-Quintero is also being delivered. Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership has secured £9.6m funding for the Townside and Hunger Hill improvement scheme, through the government’s Local Growth Fund. The new sculpture for Hunger Hill

Ahmed El Ghezawi, 38, of Old Christchurch Road, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 22 November after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The victim, a man aged in his 30s who was known to the defendant, was in his home in Exeter Park Road at around 4.45pm on Saturday 27 July when he heard a knock at the door. He opened the door and El Ghezawi and another man went into the property. The defendant pushed the victim up against a wall and held his arm to his neck. He had a knife in his right hand and made threats to the victim before stabbing him in the chest. El Ghezawi’s victim tried to climb out of a second floor window to escape but the defendant grabbed him by the legs to pull him back in. People outside became aware of the

disturbance and went to the victim’s aid, at which point El Ghezawi and the second man ran away. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to the stab wound to his chest. El Ghezawi was arrested in Bournemouth on Tuesday 30 July 2019. A second man arrested in connection with the incident, aged 29 from Bournemouth, was released from the investigation without any police action.

Ahmed El Ghezawi

Tackling homelessness BCP Council has launched its Homelessness Reduction Board which will be responsible for tackling homelessness across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Alistair Doxat-Purser,

chief executive, Faithworks Wessex said, “So many people of goodwill across the BCP Council area want to play a part in helping individuals facing hidden or street homelessness; we must be able to work more effectively by bringing together the power of each organisation whether statutory, voluntary, all the fabulous church and community activities, or all the untapped skills in the business sector.”

Can you help? Julia’s House is looking for volunteers to help out at its shop in Eastbrook Row, Wimborne. Anyone interested in volunteering in Wimborne or any of the other Julia’s House shops should contact Liz Thompson on 01202 644220.

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If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. 4Dorset is not responsible or liable for damages, which may occur as a result of your use or misuse of the information available on this page.

health and care

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Set realistic goals and do something you enjoy It’s the New Year and for so many of us the most popular resolution is to commit to get fit. But just how do we go about even making a start? Dr Nashir Karmali DC from Alchemy Health Clinic shares some top tips. Don’t run before you can walk If you’re thinking of taking up running, begin with a brisk 15-minute walk, twice a day. Gradually build up to 30 minutes and then an hour a day in one stretch. Then combine walking and running: walk for a minute and run for a minute for about 30 minutes and build up to an hour. Gradually, go for more running and less walking until you can run continuously for 30 minutes. Tune up your engine Running can be bad for

your joints if you already have ankle, knee or hip issues or if you are overweight. So if you have ankle, knee, hip or low back pain then you should get this checked out before you start. You could do some gentle exercises at home to get your body

moving again. Visit www. alchemy-healthclinic.com/ low-back for easy-tofollow exercises you can fit into your working day. Keep up the good work The best way to maintain your exercise regime is to set realistic goals. Aim at spending 30 minutes a day on personal exercises; join up with a buddy for walking, cycling and going to classes. Most importantly – do something you enjoy. If the gym doesn’t appeal – why not take up dancing classes? Or try yoga – relaxing and restorative. Alchemy Health Clinic offers a range of yoga classes suitable for all levels. And if you do break your resolution for a few days – just start again rather than giving up completely.

Table-top game is a hit

An interactive table-top game which teaches hospital staff the difficulties of managing patient flow in the face of unpredictable hospital admission demands could be rolled out nationally. Improvement managers Dan Richter and Ian Neville, from the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals (RBCH), presented their Game Of Flow training tool at the national NHS Providers’ Showcase Conference in October. Since then 13 organisations, including The British Red Cross, acute trusts and Health Education England have shown an interest in adopting the nonhierarchical teaching tool. Game of Flow works by setting teams of people the challenge of managing patients’ journeys through an acute hospital while facing a series of realistic scenarios. Ian said the game taught how a hospital’s true capacity is about its ability to process patient flow quickly and efficiently rather than simply the number of beds it has.

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

Jump up and get into the swing of things This January Ferndown Leisure is launching new badminton and trampoline sessions. Badminton Badminton is an easy sport to learn and can be a very social game. The speed of the shuttlecock also makes this one of the quickest of the racket sports. It can be played at any pace making it enjoyable for all ages. The centre’s qualified coaches, David and Arran, will help develop your skills and get a love for the game.

Ferndown Leisure is working closely with Ferndown Upper School to generate more interest in the sport. Monday 5.00-5.30pm ages 4-7yrs Monday 5.30-6.30pm ages 8-13yrs Monday 6.30-7.30pm ages 14yrs plus Trampolining Whether you enjoy bouncing in the back garden and want to improve your skills, feel like trying it for the first time or are looking to improve. Sessions are run by highly qualified staff to ensure it’s safe and fun so you can enjoy bouncing and learning new skills. The sessions are developed through close links with British Gymnastics. A new pre school session is starting on Saturday morning 10am11am.

In addition to this, the following sessions have spaces available. Tuesday 4pm-5pm Beginner 5pm-6pm Beginner Wednesday 4pm-5pm Beginner 5pm-6pm Intermediate Saturday 9am-10am Beginner Dancing With a Stagecraft approach, join Amy for a course of dance, drama, and singing on Saturday morning 10am11.30am, all ages from 4 years plus.

Lord and Lady Fellowes back The Splash Appeal A reception, sponsored by Lord and Lady Fellowes was held at The House of Commons to help raise awareness and funds for The Splash Appeal, run by Diverse Abilities. Dorset’s disability charity aims to raise more than £1 million to fund a hydrotherapy pool at The Beehive, the charity’s adult activity and therapy centre. Speeches were made by Lord and Lady Fellowes, Lee Ward, father of a child who would benefit from the pool, and Mark Powell, CEO of Diverse Abilities. Lord Fellowes said, “I am very pleased to be involved in this

campaign, I am well aware of the importance of hydrotherapy after it aided my recovery following a severe operation. It has made an extraordinary difference to my own life.” Lady Emma Fellowes said, “After suffering from two strokes, my father attended hydrotherapy sessions in Hampshire; during his time in the water he must have felt ‘normal’ again. The biggest effect however, was how different he appeared after the sessions.” To support the appeal see: www.diverseabilities.org. uk/splash.

Learn to Swim If you can swim, you can enjoy all of the exciting activities that the water has to offer. Ferndown Leisure offers lessons for all ages and all lessons are taught by qualified teachers. The centre works to Swim England’s Learn to Swim Pathway in al sessions. For more information on any of these sports please contact 01202 877468.

L-R Lord Fellowes, Valerie Singleton, Lady Fellowes, and CEO of Diverse Abilities Mark Powell

Mood bears to lift your spirits Teddy bears are comforting so it isn’t strange that a woman has come up with the idea of Mood Bears, to support the mental health of children and young people. Founder of the company Joanna Proud said, “There are five cuddly bears that each express one of the five recognised feelings

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or states. For everyone in need of a hug or a means to start finding a way to show their feelings we hope that the Mood Bears can be a helpful and comforting part of this process. If nothing else who doesn’t love a bear hug?” To find out more email: info@moodbears. co.uk.

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Keep talking: Ten tips on how to cope with grief By communications expert, language trainer and author, Miti Ampoma

During the festive season, we’re under tremendous pressure to eat, drink and be merry. Yet in reality it can be the time of year when we feel at our saddest, especially if someone has died and there is an empty chair at the table. You may try to keep smiling through, yet inside you may be buckling under the weight of your feelings of grief in the face of so much festive cheer. So how do you cope with grief when everyone around you is having a good time? Award-winning communications expert Miti Ampoma says that, while we all grieve in our own way, there are things you can do that will help. Remember the good times Don’t be afraid to lighten the mood by sharing your fondest and funniest memories. This is healthy for you, and you never know how much it could help someone else who’s struggling. It’s OK to smile Even if your loss is new, you can feel a sense of release through a smile or even a laugh. Don’t feel guilty for sharing a joke or if you feel a sense of joy at who you have around you. Smiling and laughing will give your emotions a lift and help you begin to heal.

Connection is key It can be a lovely gesture to send a card or a message of condolence. But as humans we thrive on personal contact. Make time to visit friends and family and talk to them about how they are feeling. And remember the power of touch. A simple hand on the arm or a hug can work wonders and show that you are truly there for each other. Show your feelings Feeling sad is a huge part of the grieving process so do allow yourself to cry, whether you’re on your own or sharing your feelings alongside someone else. Be present for others when they need to share their feelings too. Listen It’s good to show your feelings but remember that communication works both ways. Allow friends and family to talk while you listen. Show that you’re engaged through encouraging body language, by asking questions and offering reassurance.

health and care Don’t be afraid to talk openly about the person you’ve lost It’s good to remember them and will give others the encouragement to do the same. “You know if mum was here, she’d be making us listen to the Cliff Richard Christmas album right about now!” Set healthy boundaries Don’t feel as though you should be going to every party or showing up for every event. While it’s important not to shut yourself off from the world, it’s perfectly OK to accept that you don’t feel up to something and to politely say no when you need to. Be sure to respect others when they’re setting their own boundaries too. Ask for help It takes strength, not weakness, to let people know that you’re struggling and need some help. So don’t be afraid to reach out. You’ll find that friends and family are more than willing to give you the support you need. And being able to help you will likely be a cathartic experience for them as well. Keep talking Feelings of grief can last for years so although working to move forward is a healthy approach, make sure you let friends and family know that you’re there for them for the long term. Learning to come to terms with loss takes time. Be gentle on each other and understand there’s no expiry date on support. Check in Everyone deals with grief in their own way. You may be forthcoming in asking for help or offering support, but others may need a little nudge. Be mindful of this and check in regularly with friends and family to see whether they need someone to talk to, would like some company or simply need a hug. Remember, the most powerful communication is often nonverbal.

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY / real people, real news, local advertising.

2020! New Year, New You

Although there is nothing to stop you waking up one morning on any day throughout the year and making a bold decision to change your life, the first day of a New Year is usually the one on which we make our resolutions. And what better time than in a leap year, which means that with 29 days in February, we will have 366 days in which to keep our resolutions, and not 365. There is of course the old tradition that a woman can propose to a man on 29 February, so maybe that could be your resolution? Looking at the 2020 calendar, there will be four

months, which have five weeks – January, May, July and October. So what will the New Year hold? Well for a start, by 1 April every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 census. Now, we wouldn’t dream of forcing readers to make far reaching resolutions, but

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Holistic offerings increase in Wimborne Alchemy Health Clinic is expanding its services this year. Yoga guru Neeraj Nautiyal will be holding weekly evening yoga classes every Thursday. All the way from Rishikesh in India, he has spent over 10 years in the depth of Himalayas, studying and practicing under the guidance of some old Yogi Masters. Jemma Sandell will be offering body treatments at Alchemy on Monday and Friday. She has over 10 years experience in massage and beauty therapies, so if you want to de-stress with a relaxing back and neck massage or enjoy a full-body treatment, Jemma’s healing hands await. If you are a natural health practitioner or exercise instructor interested in joining the Alchemy team or to book a treatment or a yoga class to kick start your New Year, please contact 01202 880136 or email info@alchemyhealthclinic.com. Visit www.alchemy-healthclinic.com.

suggestions could include: learning something new each day, taking up a fresh hobby, reading more books, spending more time in nature – or the one we all make – getting fitter and eating a more healthy diet. Our advertisers have a few suggestions on how they can help with your resolutions, so read on…

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Slimming World will help you on your weight-loss journey If anybody in Wimborne is thinking of embarking on a weight-loss journey this January, Slimming World is definitely the place to be. Louise, who runs classes on a Tuesday in Wimborne says: “While everyone else looks forward to Christmas, at Slimming World we always joke that we look forward to January because we love welcoming new people to our groups and seeing them discover that they will lose weight and keep it off, by learning how to make healthy choices – without ever feeling hungry. Meet one of our superstars from 2019, Emily. “After leaving school in 2014, I gradually started to put on weight as I was using food for comfort and very quickly became unhappy with the way I felt and how my clothes were looking. “One of my colleagues was attending Louise’s Tuesday group in Wimborne and persuaded me to go along too and it’s the best thing I ever did," explained Emily “I very quickly learnt how to cook my meals from scratch in a healthy, filling way. Before I joined I’d usually just grab the same convenience foods but now I’m trying out new foods all the time and one

of my favourite meals is chicken, leek and bacon pie with loads of veg and topped off with gravy. There are so many unlimited foods. I even make fudge for a living and learnt to deal with that too. “The best part about the group is the friends I have made along the way. The group is so supportive and I look forward to it every week. “When I first attended, the journey ahead of me seemed impossible, but I attended every week and pound by pound it dropped off and as people started to notice, it made me more determined. “I love now being able to buy any clothes off the rail and have the confidence to dress the way I want to again and not just try to cover up.” Louise says, “We are all so thrilled and proud of Emily, she has transformed in front of our eyes having now lost and amazing 3 stone 8lbs and dropping from a size 18 to a size 6 to 8, well done Emily, super proud of you.” Louise runs five groups on Tuesdays at the Community Learning and Resource centre in Wimborne at 9.15am, 11.15am, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, or 7.30pm. Call 07902 566149

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Whole foods and healthy habits

Robyn Eede is a qualified clinical nutritionist and personal trainer helping women lose weight, gain energy and become their healthiest self. She has been fascinated by health for over nine years and helped 1,000s of people around the world get healthier through whole foods and developing healthy habits.

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Emily before

Emily after

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY - Advertisement Feature -

New Year offers to get you fit Are you ready to get fit in 2020? New Year offers at QE and the Verwood Hub are available to purchase. All offers provide platinum benefits of unlimited fitness classes, gym use and swimming at QE. In addition to these benefits, you will receive as part of your membership, a free induction and an opportunity to have a bespoke fit programme designed for you to kickstart your fitness journey to stronger and healthier you. “If you are ready for us to be your centre for leisure in 2020, please do get in touch with the team or browse our website at: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/sport-leisure

“We hope to see you soon!” The Lifestyle Active Team

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Age UK Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset is here to help! Are you over 55 years? Looking to make some changes in your life for the better in 2020, but need some support? The team at Age UK Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset may be able to help. They are opening a new Information Hub based at 22 Victoria Road, Ferndown, set up to support older people living in Ferndown, West Parley, West Moors, St Leonards and St Ives. The friendly team can provide information and advice on a wide range of topics from housing to money issues, care options to a directory of local tradesmen, communitybased activities and many more. Other services include a Footcare Service and Lasting Power of Attorney form completion service. If you want to find out more, or learn about other services, classes and activities, please call the team on 01202 530 530.

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY / real people, real news, local advertising.

2020! New Year, New You - Advertisement Feature -

Ferndown Fitness

We are frequently being told about the health benefits of regular exercise and this can be especially true as we get older. Ferndown Fitness is a club that provides a friendly, fun and relaxed atmosphere where you can exercise, lose weight and improve fitness with support and encouragement from a dedicated team of instructors. Everyone is made to feel welcome and comfortable and given an individual exercise programme suited to them, even if they haven’t exercised for years. Why not call 01202 855321 for a chat or pop in and find out why Ferndown Fitness (opposite Ferndown library) is different from other gyms.

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Iron Mill College Iron Mill College, a leading provider of education in wellbeing, is looking forward to hosting Simon Weston CBE and other special guests at their upcoming conference: ‘Boys2Men: How can we support the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men?’ This one-day event, on Saturday 21 March 2020, takes place at the beautiful Canford School in Wimborne. It is open to parents, carers, teachers, youth workers, therapists and anyone committed to the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men. Simon will share how, as a young man, he turned his experience of trauma into a motivating force for finding meaning in his life. He will share key moments from his journey from helping himself and other young people as insights into what might support young men today also find a sense of purpose. Book now: www.ironmill.co.uk or call 01202 743804.

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY - Advertisement Feature -

Martin has walked away from Type 2 Diabetes “My diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was the kick I needed to sort out my unhealthy habits. Through changes to my diet and the introduction of daily walks, I’ve reduced my HBA1C (three-month average blood sugar level) reading from 129 to 52 in less than six months,” says Martin. “I now walk 5km to the beach and recently completed my 100th consecutive daily walk. Photographing wonderful sunrises makes it so worth it. I track my steps using an app. I’ve cut back on carbs, don’t have takeaways and eat much more fruit. I’ve switched processed food and prepare fresh meals. “There’s still a way for me to go but I intend to stay positive and the results have been encouraging so far. I’ve lost 2.5 stone but want to go further, so am going to contact LiveWell and join a weight loss group via their voucher scheme. It’s encouraging to hear my colleagues notice the transformation. I’ve even had the confidence to join a couple of dating apps!” Are you ready to take your next step to LiveWell? Call freephone 0800 840 1628 or visit livewelldorset.co.uk

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Are you looking to get fit and healthy in 2020? Do you fancy making swimming a regular activity, but feel you can’t face the local public pool? If you would you like a peaceful and private swim in lovely surroundings then look no further. Secluded swim has a beautiful state-of-the-art swimming pool for hire in Ferndown. Many people love to swim or need the hydrotherapy that moving in the water brings, however, they may not want to use the local public pools. A wonderful private pool is located at 352 Ringwood Road, Ferndown and is available for private and exclusive hire by couples, friends, family groups, clubs, personal trainers and swim schools. It is great for general exercise and fitness, for those who are body conscious, looking for a spa pool experience or just need a quiet environment to relax in the water. The pool is beautifully clean and heated to 33 degrees. When you book a swim, the pool is just for you, with family or friends and no–one else! To book or find out more information please call 07403 400 641, email bookaswim@gmail.com or visit the online booking portal at www. secludedswim.co.uk/book

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BUSINESS COMMUNITY | UNITY / real people, real news, local advertising. NEW YEAR, |NEW CAREER / reinvent yourself with a new career - Advertisement Feature -

Train to be a hypnotherapist CPHT Hampshire will again be bringing Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy training to Southampton in February 2020. This gold standard hypnotherapy training enables graduates to run their own successful practice, earning a very good remuneration whilst helping others. The course is based on latest research in neuroscience, is brainbased and evidence-based and this is why it works.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Training is designed to enable you to go successfully and confidently into your own practice, in both part-time and full-time careers, with on-going support of your senior lecturers and CPHT. No academic qualifications or previous experience is required.

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Working with Bluebird Care

Why did I become a care professional? Working in care is rewarding where your job truly has an impact on someone’s life. A care professional could be the only person a customer will see who makes them feel valued, important and respected. Bringing a smile and knowing that you have made a difference gives you a sense of job satisfaction that is incomparable to an office-based role. What does the job involve? The role of a care professional at Bluebird Care is varied, from helping someone to get up and dressed, to taking someone out shopping. You can be involved in helping to prepare meals and tidying up afterwards. Continuity of care is important for the effective provision of care. It allows for

the development of an honest and open relationship where customers feel safe and valued. What skills are required? Tania Davis, care manager says that whilst qualifications are important, attitude is the most crucial. Being compassionate, sociable and enjoying working with people are vital. While being a highly rewarding and worthwhile job, the skills to make a good care professional means it’s not for everyone. You have to love the job and be dedicated to it. If you are interested, please email: ferndown@bluebirdcare.co.uk or telephone 01202 977 200.

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Your next role could be with Autism Wessex Autism Wessex has a number of opportunities to support local people in their home setting and in the community. You will play a vital role encouraging their independence and enabling them to lead a fulfilling life. Autism Wessex is a local charity specialised in supporting people with autism. The work is rewarding and varied as every day is different. Although experience in care is preferred, it is not necessary and an in-depth induction programme is provided with all the training you will need. As a service that runs 24/7 there are a range of shift options available for full time and part time staff.

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Autism Wessex offers: • £9 - £9.50 per hour • Paid enhanced DBS when starting • Bespoke training programmes • Flexible working patterns as part of a shift rota • Sleep ins paid at £45 • Healthcare Benefits • Online perks and discounts • Free parking • Up to 33 days paid holiday • Travel expenses paid at 0.45p a mile To apply simply email your CV to recruitment@ autismwessex.org.uk or call 01202 483360 to speak to a member of the team.

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY UNITY NEW YEAR, NEW| CAREER - Advertisement Feature -

The benefits of being a bus driver Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one: how about a new career? Don’t get stuck in a jam, join morebus as a bus driver. The bus industry has come a long way from the days of ‘On The Buses’ and morebus are now recruiting and training new bus drivers to assist in operating its network of over 40 bus routes across Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne and beyond. If you know you can deliver great customer service and have good local knowledge, then you could be just who they’re looking for. With both full-time and part-time vacancies available for both PCV licence holders and non-licence holders, there are positions available at the morebus Poole, Bournemouth, Swanage, Ringwood and Lymington depots. Haven’t got your bus licence? No problem! Full, comprehensive training is given. All you need is to have held a UK car licence for at least six months. The benefits: • Free bus travel for yourself and a nominee • Stable, long-term employment at a competitive rate of pay • Paid comprehensive training programme with experienced instructors • Progression as you gain experience in addition to providing inflationary pay rises

• A career where every day is different; both challenging and rewarding • Discounts and perks at shops, cinemas, health clubs and off holiday bookings • Professional uniform provided • Excellent holiday entitlement with some flexible working available • Common start and finish location for your day’s work Want to find out more? Visit morebus.co.uk/jobs or call 01202 338420 for an application pack.

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Be part of something special! Activate Health and Activity volunteer team are seeking more volunteers to support local people to get active. In East Dorset, there are 19 health walks, three health rides and two weekly accessible cycling sessions led by trained Health and Activity volunteers. There are a number of roles available. Accessible Cycling - to help meet and greet as well as leading or backing up weekly rides. Health Walks - lead groups on hourlong walks from Sturminster Marshall, Ferndown, West Moors, Corfe Mullen, West Parley and Verwood. Health Cycles - lead hour-long cycle rides at Ferndown, Moors Valley Country Park and Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne. Full training is given. No experience is necessary; all you need is a friendly personality, a keen interest in helping others and a little spare time during the week. Next training courses are: Health Walk Leader Training – 13 February, Wimborne, 9.30am-4pm Health Cycle Leader Training – 30 January, Kingston Lacy, 9.30am-4pm Accessible Cycle Leader Training – tbc (Please phone and leave your details). For more information, call 01425 480811 or email activate@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

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Bob shares his ‘precious moments’ Interview by Marilyn Barber

Bob Hewitt’s book is truly a labour of love. The 88-year-old who lives in Broadstone, wrote ‘Precious Moments’ following the death of his much-loved wife Kath on 2 December 2014. The sub title of the 110,000 word book, which Bob wrote by hand, is ‘A northern lass and an Oxford lad – our life, love, laughter and tears’. Family friend Sonja Sparrow typed up Bob’s words. Bob and Kath met as teenagers and married at Boscombe Baptist Church on 2 April 1955, going on to have four children, nine grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. In his book, Bob recounts the history of both his and his late wife’s families from 1860 to 2017, but it is their life together which pulls at the heartstrings. A chance encounter led to Bob deciding to write the book. He attended a London City function and sitting next to the principal guest told her that while placing roses on his wife’s grave he found his wedding ring that he had lost previously. “She told me that my story had touched her and that I should write it, working on a page a day,” said Bob. He met 15-year-old Kath, a trainee nurse, at a chapel youth fellowship evening in February 1949. Their first date was at the

Deans Court stadium to watch Bournemouth Football Club. As well as the love story, Bob’s book illustrates life during the last 150 years. This includes recounting his father’s experiences at Ypres during the First World War. It is a veritable social history of the post war era in Dorset, with a detailed piece about the Second World War. His father was head gardener on aristocrats’ estates, and Bob has interesting tales to tell about those times too. Bob and his family moved to Broadstone early in early 1947, and went to live in a new threebedroom home below the clock at Delph House – which was owned by James Putnam - in Upper Golf Links Road. At that time Mr Putnam owned two local newspapers, the Bournemouth Times and The Poole and Dorset Herald and printed magazines such as Exchange and Mart. To this day the James Putnam Cup is still awarded at the Broadstone Horticultural Society summer show. The property is now a care home. That same year, Kath and her family moved to Palmerston Road, Boscombe. After working for a small builder, Bob got a job with John Wilson Contractors in Sandbanks, one of the largest building companies in Dorset. He was

involved in many major projects in the county including Poole Power Station, the Further Education and Training College in North Road, Poole and Appletree Court, the council chambers for New Forest District Council. In the early days, Kath worked in a number of local hospitals including Shelley Road in Boscombe, the eye unit at Westbourne, and Poole Hospital. After Bob took a job in London as building’s manager and client representative to McVities UB Group, the family moved back to Dorset, becoming the first of 200 residents to move into the estate at Canford Heath. Subsequently Bob took a job as Clerk of Works with Dorset County Council and they moved to the bungalow in Broadstone, which is still Bob’s home today. When he left that job he became lead clerk of works for the catering school and college at Wallisdown, which later became the initial buildings for Bournemouth University. He went on to become head of the Dorset County Council clerk of work section and in 1986 became president of the National Clerk of Works Council. When he was made redundant in 1992 he started his own business and he and Kath – needless to say – worked well together. One

of their projects was Naomi House children’s hospice, and when it was opened by Prince Charles on 22 April 1998, Bob and Kath were amongst the guests. Bob didn’t retire until he was 77! The couple enjoyed holidays abroad, and these Bob describes with interesting detail. His book includes love letters they exchanged when he was doing his national service, a time he also describes in his book. “We wrote 700 letters between us, and they were all stored in a briefcase in the loft underneath Kath’s wedding dress. I went through them all and picked out 20 for publication,” he said. The book also contains some lovely photos, so evocative of their long and happy married life. During December Bob undertook two local book signings. Writing ‘Precious Moments’ was cathartic for him. It is a real love story, which can’t fail to touch even the hardest of hearts. If you would like a copy of the book, email me at: newseditor@ mags4dorset.co.uk and I will put you in touch with Bob. Is this the end of his writing career? Certainly not. He has started a book on his football years – a title yet to be decided.

Bob Hewitt in his study

Hände hoch if you know more about this gun The Tank Museum in Bovington is appealing for information about a First World War German-issued Luger pistol that was handed in at a police firearms amnesty in Wiltshire. The gun was made in 1911 and an inscription scratched into the leather holster is the only clue to its history. It reads: ‘Souvenir of the Big Advance at Cambrai November 1917’. Also the words ‘To Alice from HUD, Jany 21 – 18’ appear. The police noted its connection with the great tank advance 102 years ago and donated it to the museum. David Willey, curator of the museum, said, “The Battle of Cambrai on 20 November was a

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hugely important moment in the history of the Royal Tank Regiment and is still celebrated today. “It was the first ever large scale and effective use of tanks in warfare with almost 400 fighting tanks that advanced without any prior bombardment so the enemy had no warning.” He added, “This gun was probably captured by a British soldier during that incredible advance.” The Pistole Parabellum - or

L-R Sgt Bill Monk, specialist operations, Wiltshire Police; Tank Museum curator David Willey and Force armourer Jamie Ross presenting the gun

Parabellum-Pistole, commonly known as just ‘Luger’, was based on a design first patented by Georg Luger in 1898 and was produced until 1948.

The German army adopted the 1908 model, which was the Germans’ principal gun for the war, during which more than two million were produced and used.

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Santa Winter arrives in style mortality Father Christmas drew the crowds to Stewarts at Christchurch and Broomhill near Wimborne when he turned up in a classic 1928 Austin Clifton supplied by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. He is now settled into winter wonderland at the centres.

Courses to overcome childhood trauma A Ferndown-based charity is helping victims of childhood trauma recover and begin rebuilding their lives. The Bus Stop Club, funded by organisations including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, provides help through its SOS course. Project manager Susan Sutherland organises and runs two courses each year, teaching the skills needed to cope with the effects of trauma. Susan – a mental health first aid trainer –provides ongoing mentoring and support for the duration of the programme. She said, “It’s changing people’s lives because this course gives them long enough to process trauma from the past and give them the ability to move on.” Many clients refer themselves to the service, and are also involved in other activities organised by the Bus Stop Club which supports residents coping with challenges such as serious debt, food poverty, domestic violence and family crisis - which Susan says can often be linked with the lifelong effects of unprocessed childhood trauma. She says, “You’re just not able to process experiences such as abuse and neglect when still a child. “We do a lot of work around self-care; we look at helpful and unhelpful ways of coping, developing good boundaries, ways of dealing with stress and looking after your mental health. “We talk a lot about boundaries, letting people into our lives that are safe, and knowing how to assess the risk.” “Often people are able to build better, more functional relationships after finishing the course. However, sometimes they end up leaving their partners because they have realised the relationship is unhealthy and dysfunctional, which has resulted in further trauma and mental ill-health.” Martyn Underhill, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset said, “The effects of childhood trauma can last a lifetime, making people become victims for a second time by becoming trapped in domestic abuse situations. “Supporting vulnerable people and improving mental health are two of my main priorities and this project does an excellent job of helping people cope and move on.” For more information about the courses call Susan Sutherland on 07866 692528. The Bus Stop Club is behind Hope Church in Ferndown.

in Dorset up 40%

Dorset Community Foundation, the charity behind the Surviving Winter Appeal, is calling on more donations following news from the Office of National Statistics, which reveals that winter mortality in Dorset has gone up by a shocking 40%. During the winter of 2018 there were 730 excess winter deaths in the county. This is an increase of 210 from the average 520 people dying in Dorset during the winter months. Grant Robson, director at the Foundation said, “The statistics are shocking and the lost lives behind the figures are very sad – older people dying, here in Dorset, a county considered relatively wealthy, because they cannot afford to heat their homes.” In the last eight years the Foundation’s appeal has raised just over £250,000 and helped over 1,300 older people. He said despite the generosity of donors, more support was needed “now, probably more than ever.” Older people over 60 in fuel poverty or those 50 and over who meet the winter fuel poverty criteria and have significant health conditions are eligible for support, which is dispersed through the Citizens Advice Bureaus across Dorset. To donate please send a cheque made out to Dorset Community Foundation and send it to them at The Spire, High Street, Poole, BH15 1DF or donate online at www. dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.

Tackling inequality Equality champion Wanda Wyporska delivered a rousing call to activists concerned about inequality in Dorset: “It doesn’t have to be like this: we can change it!” she said. Dr Wyporska, executive director of the national Equality Trust, spoke at an event organised by the Dorset Equality Group (DEG) in Bournemouth. Over 50 people attended ‘Mind the Gap: an Economy where all can Thrive?’ Dr Wyporska gave an inspiring talk about the scale of inequality in the UK, the work of The Equality Trust, and the scope and need for action, arguing that equal societies work better for everyone. Dorset has many of the least deprived neighbourhoods in England. However in parts of Boscombe child poverty is said to exceed 40%.

The twinning association celebrates 30 years

Twinning association marks 30 years

The Berlin Wall came down in November 1989 just as a group from Wimborne Minster approached Ochsenfurt- on the river Main in Upper Bavaria - to officially seal the friendship between the two historic towns. A unique connection has existed between them since 740AD when a party of nuns from Wimborne’s monastery were sent to the area to convert the people there to Christianity. To celebrate the official twinning 30 years ago between the two towns, a party was held at Allendale House in Wimborne. Amongst the guests were Richard Cutler, honorary consul for the German Embassy based in Southampton, the Mayor of Wimborne, Shane Bartlett, the Deputy Mayor of Ochsenfurt, Rosa Behon and the chairman of the Ochsenfurt Twinning Association, Burkard Bähr. Mrs Margery Ryan and Peter Wesselowsky, who were the mayors of Wimborne and Ochsenfurt at the time of the original signing, were special guests. The German visitors also took part in the Eucharist service in the Minster when candles were lit on the carved ‘twinning stone’ given by Ochsenfurt to Wimborne. Plans are being made for a return visit in 2020.

Wellbeing support for farmers

There is a small team of trading standards officers who are responsible for farm animal welfare and disease control. The team is also responsible for ensuring the welfare of the animals whilst on the farm, being transported, or being sold at market. These standards are simple – the animal should be fed a sufficient diet, have clean water to drink, somewhere dry to lie down and to be treated if they are ill. The vast majority of farmers easily meet or exceed these standards, but occasionally there are cases where the farmer is not doing enough. This can sometimes be down to financial difficulties or mental health problems. Some farmers can become socially isolated and with a busy farm to run they find it difficult to find the time to go to their doctors or talk with others. There are organisations offering help and support. One is the Farm Community Network (FCN). This charity has a team of volunteers in Dorset, many are farmers, so they understand the problems faced in the farming industry. Contact the Farm Community Network on 03000 111999.

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

Fifteenth century pub at the

HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

Sadie Kerslake-Smith, right with Fran Tatman

Review by Marilyn Barber

On a cold winter’s evening a warm roaring log fire beckoned us into The Coventry Arms from the A31. This traditional country pub in Corfe Mullen with rustic décor, exposed beams and flagstone floors dates back to the 15th century – and it even has a 500-year-old mummified cat in a glass case on one of the walls. Offering gastro pub dining, it has lots of cosy alcoves giving you the ambience of a pub of yesteryear, when it was at the centre of the village of Corfe Mullen. The greeting was also warm from Sadie KerslakeSmith, who owns The Coventry Arms together with her husband Richard Kerslake Smith and brother in-law Rob Kerslake-Smith. My husband was offered the chance to taste several of their beers

produced by Timothy Taylors Landlord, and people will be pleased to hear that they do have vegan beer on offer too. We were shown to our table, which was adjacent to an open fire that links two rooms, and then we had the difficult job of choosing from the impressive menu. Homemade soup, jumbo chicken wings and chilli and garlic prawns all sounded attractive as starters, but my husband went for the Caprese salad – creamy mozzarella layered with fresh ripe tomatoes and basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar glaze. I chose toasted ciabatta bread with freshly

made garlic butter and because the two starters went rather well together, we ended up sharing them. The salad was a lovely fresh taste and the bread was light and fluffy, and not so overloaded with the garlic as to be anti-social. The Coventry Arms specialises is ‘Low and Slow’ 12-hour cooked brisket, half smoked chicken and slow-cooked ribs at 110°, but don’t leave your appetite behind if you choose these as the portions are very generous and looked amazing. Also on the menu is a variety of steaks served with sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomato and thick, steak cut chips, plus grilled salmon and a choice of salads. However, my husband does enjoy burgers, and he chose the classic beef one from the list which included chicken, pulled pork, smoked beef, and smoky bacon and cheese, plus a veggie stack. Served in a toasted brioche bun with seasoned skinny fries and a crunchy

Garlic bread

house salad, he declared the burger was succulent, and went so well with the accompaniments. Knowing that I would like to save room for a pudding, I was pleased to see that the menu included a section called Mini Munchies for those with a smaller appetite. There was a trio of speciality meats in a min brioche bun, chicken and mini ribs or red pepper quiche, but I plumped for mozzarella pasta with the addition of chargrilled

Roaring fire

Caprese salad

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foodie news

Classic Burger

My husband couldn’t wait to start on his favourite – apple pie

Mozzarella pasta

chicken - which was very lean. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the cheesy tomato sauce wasn’t over-salted. My husband went for a traditional dessert – Belgian Apple Pie with custard, which he enjoyed, whilst I selected Raspberry Ripple Cheesecake with ice cream, which made a splendid end to the meal. Sadie explained that they took over the pub in May, after it had been shut

Cheesecake

for nine months. “The lead had been stolen from the roof and so we had to re-plaster the ceilings and re-decorate,” she said. There is a marquee extension leading to a very spacious seating area outside, which is beside the River Stour – a delight in summer. Sadie said, “We are working with various agencies to get a bridge to the island, which will

extend the beauty of the restaurant setting and allow for larger events overlooking the gorgeous River Stour at the end of the beer garden.” She added that the summer presented a flurry of canoers and paddle

boarders coming up from Eye Bridge in Wimborne for a fuel top up of food and drink. The Coventry Arms has a separate lunch menu, containing such favourites as baguettes, ‘low and slow’ meats in a brioche

bun and jacket potatoes. The Coventry Arms can offer delicious meals for vegetarians and vegans, as well as those with allergies, making modifications to suit those groups. They can also cater for private dining in one of the larger alcoves. There is nothing like enjoying a good meal in a cosy pub whose walls could tell a myriad of stories.

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Dormice – vulnerable to extinction In Britain, dormice – known for their endearing appearance with soft caramel fur, furry tail and big black eyes – are threatened and are considered to be vulnerable to extinction. In fact, hazel dormice are already extinct from 17 counties in England. The areas where they are still known to exist are almost all entirely south of a line between Shropshire and Suffolk. Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer at PTES (People’s Trust for Endangered Species), explains, “The decline in dormouse numbers is due to the loss and fragmentation of their natural woodland and hedgerow habitats, as well as climate change. In particular, it’s the loss of habitat quality that’s of real concern. Sympathetic woodland management is essential for the recovery of dormice. Whether woodlands are managed for timber or public access, shrubby areas should be created beneath the tree canopy. These provide dormice, and many other species with areas to nest and feed in while also being able to access the mature

trees. It is this variety of woodland habitats required to help dormice survive.” Hazel dormice are arboreal mammals that prefer structurally diverse habitats – they use tree holes to nest in, dense woodland understory to raise their young and feed in, and hedgerows and bramble banks to disperse through. Critically, the way in which woodlands are managed has changed – with traditional management practices such as coppicing, glade creation and small-scale tree felling (which once created mosaic habits) becoming less common, and as a result many of the woodlands we see today simply aren’t suitable for dormice. These factors, combined with unseasonable or extreme weather, (which can affect survival over the winter and impact on their ability to raise young), can be detrimental to dormice survival. But, despite this, there are some areas where dormice numbers are increasing. At 96 of 336 sites (29%) analysed for this report, populations were ‘stable’ or ‘increasing’. Also, at 28 of these sites (8% of the total) the average annual

increase was 5% or more per year. But, elsewhere, there is still a lot of work to do. PTES is working hard to ensure that dormice can thrive once again in our countryside and manages the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) – the longestrunning small terrestrial mammal-monitoring programme in the world. Since it began in 1990 hundreds of volunteers across England and Wales have collected over 120,000 records, providing a significant data set which indicates how dormouse populations are faring. It’s this data that has been used in the State of Britain’s Dormice 2019 report. In addition, over the last 26 years, PTES has managed 30 reintroductions at 24 sites, releasing almost 1,000 captive-bred dormice to create new populations or improve genetic diversity at existing ones. These reintroductions play an important role in the longterm conservation of the species, returning dormice to 12 counties in England where they have been lost. PTES also provides

training and guidance for woodland managers, encouraging them to adopt appropriate land management practices. PTES is working to improve our understanding of dormouse ecology and to improve the problem of habitat fragmentation. The conservation charity is funding research into hibernation when dormice can be very vulnerable; PTES has recently launched the Great British Hedgerow Survey, whereby farmers and landowners are being asked to assess the condition of their hedgerows and PTES are working with the ecological consultancy Animex to create dormouse bridges to improve accessibility between

habitats Ian concludes, “Although the State of Britain’s 2019 report shows a severe decline has taken place over the last 18 years, the good news is that in some areas dormice are doing well. We can help bring this species back if we alter the way we manage our landscape. By providing enough of the right habitat, which is well-connected and managed correctly, dormice, as well as a huge amount of other wildlife, can thrive once again across the country. To read the full report, and to find out more about PTES’ on-going dormouse conservation work please visit: www. ptes.org/dormice

A hazel dormouse. ©Clare Pengelly

Lack of insects has ‘far reaching consequences’ A new report commissioned by wildlife trusts concludes that drastic declines in insect numbers will have farreaching consequences for wildlife and people. The report, ‘Insect declines and why they matter’ has been written by invertebrate expert Dave Goulson, professor of biology at the University of Sussex. The report states that insect decline will cause knock-on losses for insect eating birds, bats and fish, whilst costing society many millions in lost revenue and broken ecosystems. It sets

Bee © Shutterstock

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4DORSET January 2020

out the two main reasons why our pollinators and other insects are dying: habitat loss and pesticides, and what we might need to do to reverse the decline. Professor Goulson, author of the report, says, “Insects make up the bulk of known species on earth and are integral to the functioning of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, performing vital roles such as pollination, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. They are also food for numerous larger animals, including birds, bats, fish, amphibians and lizards. If

we don’t stop the decline of our insects there will be profound consequences for all life on earth. And it’s not just our wild bees and pollinators that are declining – these trends are mirrored across a great many of other invertebrate species. Of serious concern is the little we know about the fate of many of the more obscure invertebrates that are also crucial to healthy ecosystems.” DWT’s president, and entomologist, Dr George McGavin, said, “Insects are fundamental to the ecology of our planet and it is difficult to imagine a world without them. If we do not value the lives of the ‘small majority’ we face a very insecure future. “Our success as a species has come at great cost to the environment. If we continue to plunder and pollute our natural capital, we will find ourselves

Ladybirds © DWT

scratching around for survival on a bare, rocky planet.” The good news though is it is not too late if we take action now. With the right help, many insect populations can recover. To reverse the unfolding disaster, concerted action is needed at a government level, from local authorities and food growers and all of us. There are things everyone can do to help, starting with our gardens. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s

(DWT’s) biggest campaign to date, Get Dorset Buzzing, has already highlighted the need to reverse the decline of pollinators, and this year, 4,000 people took the pledge to do something in their gardens to help pollinators. To read the Insect Declines and why they matter report and pledge to take action for insects, visit www. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ action-insects.

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Organisations join forces to support young people The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) has joined forces with Wimborne Rotary to benefit young people in Dorset. This exciting scheme will start in January 2020 and support a nominated local young person. It will run for the next four years and each annual award winner will receive a £500 bursary, funded by Wimborne Rotary, to help the youngster further their personal development in their chosen field. The JTYAF has been asked to compile a shortlist of JTYAF award winners, between the ages of eight and 16 years old, who received awards in 2019. In January the winner of the Young Achievers Award will be selected from the nominated youngsters by Wimborne Rotary. Pete Thornton, chairman of the JTYAF said, “We are delighted to be working with Wimborne Rotary on this scheme. Their aims, and ours, are to help young people to ‘Climb as High as They Can Dream’.”

A grand affair

Huge turnout for Broadstone Christmas parade Photos by Marilyn Barber

The local community were determined to make Broadstone’s 50th Christmas parade a huge success, with a myriad of local groups, including Brownies, Cubs, local schools, Broadstone Methodist Church and the Pirates of Poole putting in that extra effort to make it an afternoon to remember. After the parade Father Christmas took his place in the grotto in the Broadway to receive presents which will be donated to the Ted Webster Family Centre in Poole.

Organised by Wimborne in Bloom at the Allendale Centre, the Grand Charities Fair raised over £4,500 for the 29 various causes that took part. Wimborne in Bloom prize hampers went to: 1st Peter Dunning. 2nd Carole Rice, 3rd Geraldine and Martin Cole, 4th Chris Brown.

Goats to be grazed on Bournemouth cliffs

It will be shades of Greece in Bournemouth next year as visitors and residents will be able to admire a herd of native goats on the Eastcliff. BCP Council are erecting new fences along the Eastcliff in preparation for their arrival next spring. This follows a successful pilot with a breed of British primitive goats at Honeycombe Chine in Boscombe. These goats form part of a 10-year Environmental Stewardship agreement that the council entered into with Natural England (the Government’s Nature Advisory Body) following a 2012 conservation management plan drawn up by the council. The plan focuses on the preservation and protection of the cliffs, with Natural England providing the funding needed to restore the cliffs natural features. The cliffs provide a valuable habitat for an amazing variety of animals and plants some of which are very rare, but unfortunately large areas have become dominated by invasive, non-native vegetation to the detriment of natural habitats. Grazing with goats is a very effective, safe and sustainable way of managing the land. A BCP Council spokesperson said the 10-20 new goats are of a hardy, native breed that are adapted to survive comfortably on rough terrain and in inclement weather conditions. Over time, the goats will also reduce the amount of thick vegetation on the cliffs, restoring lost views. The scheme will enable the restoration of the natural features of the cliffs, which are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Jitsu celebration Members of the Wessex Jitsu Club brought along their trophies for a group image and put on a demonstration for the Mayor of Ferndown and other spectators, on Monday 2 December at Ferndown Village Hall. Image by Tom Scrase.

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Free plasticfree party!

Ben of mags4dorset with Mike Andrews and Sarah Farmer

There’s nothing like a party in the run up to Christmas, especially if it’s free. When the Plastic Free Ferndown committee invited the public to join them in the Barrington Bar to celebrate plastic-free status for the town, well over 100 people turned out. At least 10 bottles of bubbly and half a dozen bottles of fruit juice were downed as everyone toasted the new plastic-free status awarded to Ferndown by the marine charity Surfers Against Sewage. On top of that an entire Christmas cake and around 100 chocolate brownies were enjoyed by visitors, who came to the Barrington bar during the Ferndown Lights Switch On event on 30 November. Children as well as adults printed their own wrapping paper, there were plastic-free alternatives for sale from Bamboozle, and Our Planet Zero Waste mobile shop, and plenty of advice was served as well as cakes and drinks by PFF volunteers and The Recycling Store. Sponsors included Ferndown Town Council who donated the use of the Barrington Bar for the afternoon, The Recycling Store, and plastic free community champions Colten Care, mags4dorset, The Bay Tree, Xerocad and Pooltime Pro. The plastic-free hamper was won by Taya Bannister with her answer of 151 which was the closest guess to the 150 lids in a bottle. After her win, it was discovered that Taya from Ringwood is being given an opportunity to visit Tanzania for a month in the summer of 2021 to help with local projects and get involved with elephant conservation and beach cleans. She says, “I am passionate about saving the planet.” She was selling sweets at the Ferndown Lights Switch On to help raise the £4,500 she needs to complete her trip and dropped in to meet Plastic Free Ferndown’s committee and entered the free prize draw while she was there.

Julie Robinson with The Recycling Store

Laurraine Veal, Our Planet Zero Waste Lee Roy Cooper, Bamboozle

Austin (8), Tayla (5) and Leo (5)

Flo and Elsie (8)

Plastic free hamper presentation

Sarah Farmer, princesses, the mayor and Holly (15)

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around & about

Proposals for new leisure area for Throop People living in the Throop area could soon be able to take advantage of a new leisure area. Proposals for a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) at Hicks Farm, have been submitted to BCP Council’s planning team following public consultations that took place in September 2019. Proposals for Hicks Farm, which had previously been used primarily for private grazing, include a change of use to an attractive natural 12 hectares of green space, creating a network of new pedestrian and cycle paths, access close to a stretch of the River Stour, new tree planting and the reinstatement of hedgerows to improve wildlife habitats. The proposed SANG will offset the impact that new developments in the town centre, including the Winter Gardens Development, have on protected heathland habitats. The Hicks Farm SANG is to be funded from financial contributions collected from local developments. If the planning application is approved in early 2020, BCP Council would be working to get the site open by early 2021.

Vertigo doesn’t deter mum If you suffer from vertigo one of the last things you would be keen to take part in would be a parachute jump. However, Sian Roff, a security controller for cyber security company C3IA Solutions, based in Poole, made a jump, strapped to a Red Devil, one of the Paras’ freefall display team. Sian and her group of jumpers helped raise more than £2,500 for the SBS Association, a charity that assists veterans from the Special Forces’ unit. Sian, a mother of two who lives in Poole, had

one keen observer from the ground – her dad Matt Horan, a former Para himself.

Sian Roff jumps for charity

Children aged from 2-12 from Bethany and St Clements Schools in Boscombe, Linwood Special School in Winton and ‘Best for Care’ nursery in Queens Park enjoyed a Christmas party at The Marsham Court Hotel thanks to Variety The Children’s Charity. Father Christmas gave each child a specially created bag of presents. Photo by Hattie Miles.

Bournemouth is best Bournemouth is the best seaside town in the UK. For the second time, the town was declared the winner in the prestigious 2019 British Travel Awards.

New flights from Bournemouth Airport Looking ahead to the winter of 2020, TUI UK is launching Saturday flights to Tenerife and the re-introduction of holidays to Sharm El Sheikh from Bournemouth Airport. The first extra flights will be in November 2020.

Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Ian Girling, has joined the Poole’s Business Improvement District board. Ian is also a board member of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and chairman of the LEP Skills Board. Ian said, “Poole town centre is experiencing some real challenges and I have seen first-hand the excellent work that Poole BID are doing to help reinvigorate Poole town centre, increase footfall and tackle antisocial behaviour, and I want this to continue into the future.” Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news please mention 4DORSET Magazine when you contact our advertisers

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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

New Year’s Eve 8pm-1am

Black and White Party. See the New Year in at the Barrington Centre, Pennys Walk, Ferndown. Tuesday 31 December. Box Office 01202 894858.

1 January 10am-3pm

Tea, coffee and cake at the Education Centre at Blashford Lakes, courtesy of Walking Picnics. For further details visit www.walkingpicnics. co.uk/. O1425 4727690.

1 January 11am

4 January 10.30-noon

Wimborne Win on Waste collection at Wimborne Library.

5 January 3pm

New Year Viennese Concert performed by Bournemouth Concert Brass at the Regent in Christchurch. Box office 01202 499199.

5 January 2pm

Poole’s annual charity bathtub race on Poole Quay from The Customs House Steps to the Lord Nelson.

Broadstone FC versus Weymouth Cougars at Plainfield Farm Recreation Ground, Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone,

1 January 3pm

5 January 10am

Wimborne Town FC play Poole Town at the J&Bs Stadium in Cowgrove Road, Wimborne.

1 January 3pm

BSO Johann Strauss Gala in the concert hall at Lighthouse, Poole.

3 January 10.30am

National Association of Therapeuticc Parents Listening Circle at Costa Coffee, Wimborne, Non members invited as a free Listening Circle Trial. Further details, contact head office on enquiries@naotp. com. 01453 519000.

4 January 2.15pm

Wimborne Rugby Club at home to Chippenham at Leigh Park.

4 January 2.30pm

Sleeping Beauty Relaxed Performance at Broadstone War Memorial Hall. Suitable for people of all ages with autism, a learning disability or dementia. Carers free of charge, Contact ticket administator Mike Rustici on 01202 379646 or email : margeret.rustici@sky.com.

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4DORSET January 2020

SuperDuper Car Sunday at Baiter Park, Poole. All cars welcome.

5 January 11am-3pm

Health & Wellbeing Fair at Druitt Hall, Christchurch. Free entry.

8 January 10.30am-11.30am

Health walk around Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve. Meet at Tern Hide. Co-ordinated by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support. Contact Nigel Owen for more information on 01425 655511 or email nigeltowen@aol.com. No need to book

8 January 11am

Aspects of History at Bournemouth Library. Speaker Mary Graham: Story of the Sanatorium, which was important to the development and reputation of Bournemouth.

9 January 9.45am Join Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Urban Wildlife Volunteers at Upton Heath, Corfe Mullen. Details contact Andy Fale email: afale@ dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

12 January 10.30am-12.30pm

Friars Cliff beach clean. Meet at Groyne H5.

13 January 2.30pm

Illustrated talk on Hampshire Nature in Trust by Mike Read to West Moors Horticultural Society at the Memorial Hall. Contact Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536.

11 January 2.15pm

Royal Navy in Dorset to be presented by Stuart Morris to The World Ship Society at Broadstone Community & Arts Centre, 21, Dunyeats Road. Enquiries to 07831 111589 or email: steve@telecommerce. co.uk.

12 January 2pm

PooleTown FC Wessex United versus Redland Rebels at Upton Recreational Ground, Poole.

14 January 7.30pm Trials and tribulations of a horticultural speaker to be presented by Derek Luther to Broadstone Horticultural Society at the War Memorial Hall, Tudor Road. More info 01202 695873 or 01202 697241.

14 January 8.30- 9.30am

Wimborne Minster Chamber of Trade business breakfast at Church House, Wimborne.

15-18 January 7.30pm Forest Forge Theatre Company present 1984 at their premises in Crow Arch Lane, Ringwood. Tickets £6 from 01425 470188.

17 January noon

Dorset Wildlife Trust presents a talk by wildlife photographer John Coombs at the Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne. £3 for DWT members and £4 for non-members. No booking required.

18-25 January

Verwood Pantomime Society present Cinderella at Verwood Hub. Tickets from 01202 828740 or on line at www. verwoodpantomimesociety. co.uk.

18-28 January 10am-4pm

Broadstone Art Society exhibition at The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Park, Poole BH17 7BJ. Closes 2pm on the last day. Proceeds of the raffle to be donated to Wessex Cancer Trust.

16 January 12.30pm-2.30pm

19 January 2pm

Wimborne Repair Café at CLaRC, Kings Street, Wimborne.

Longfleet Youth Lions versus Lytchett Matravers Rangers FC at Poole High School, Wimborne Road, Poole.

16 January 2-4pm

20 January 2.15pm

18 January 10am-3pm

21 January 7.30pm

Christopher Legrand will talk on his wildlife photography trip to Namibia to Ringwood U3A at Greyfriars Community Centre. For more information see www. ringwoodu3a.org.uk or call Pete on 01425 478077.

Winnie the Pooh and the Library Bee at Ferndown Library. Free event for all ages. Colouring, crafts, stories and family fun. Children under 8 must be accompanied by a carer. No booking required.

18 January 7.30pm

The Grange Choral Society, musical director Marcio da Silva with the Ensemble Orquesta and soloists, present the Christmas Oratorio by JS Bach at Christchurch Priory. Tickets www. christchurchpriory.org, booking office Tel 01202 485804. Also on the door.

The Arts Society Wimborne & Blandford. An illustrated Lecture on ‘Weimar Germany’ by Gavin Plumley, at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Visitors welcome. For information visit www. theartssocietywandb.org.uk.

Concert of popular music by Michael Wooldridge at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Blandford Road, Wimborne on behalf of the Bournemouth Electronic Organ Society. Visitors very welcome, £6 payable at the door. Info. 01202 895254.

21 January 8pm

Anne Brown, learning manager of Shire Hall Courthouse Museum in Dorchester will speak to Wimborne Civic Society in the Quarterjack room at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Members and non members welcome. £1 for members and £3 for visitors.

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around & about

Regeneration: Just Can’t Stop the Music Wimborne Musical Theatre Tivoli, 30 November Review by Marilyn Barber Feet were tapping as a 19-strong cast staged 34 numbers, which over the years have been huge hits. From Rock Around the Clock, which arguably started off the pop culture in 1956 to the 90s hit Spice Up Your Life, they were all songs that resonated with the audience. They were linked by a story. Grandmother (Pam Mizon) and grandfather (John Bounds), who were moving house, reminisced with their family, daughter (Selina Rumbold), son-inlaw (Duncan Sayers), and grandchildren, Jemma Cable and Calum Hearne. Medleys made famous by groups such as The Four Seasons and Abba worked well, but I did feel that some of the songs were a little too challenging for the company and maybe should only be tackled by professionals.

Having said that, some performances do need highlighting. Jemma Cable is always a bundle of energy and her rendition of Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock’n’Roll’ was raunchy and spot on. She always lights up the stage, as does Calum Hearne, who appears with a number of different companies. Mikaela Buckby gave an impressive rendition of ‘Proud Mary’ with Selina Rumbold shining on a number of songs such as ‘Lady Marmalade’. Duncan Sayers is a confident performer and he did well with ‘Uptown Girl’, as well as several other numbers. The concert, which made for an entertaining couple of hours, finished with just three Christmas songs, ‘Last Christmas’, ‘White Christmas’ and ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’.

Share your photos Have you any photos of Bournemouth & Poole College Students’ Union over the last five decades? If so the college would love you to share them to mark its 50th anniversary. In February 2020, it will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration for past and present students and staff to highlight the vital role of the Students’ Union and how it provides them with a voice and supports student life. Photos will be displayed at the event. If you would like to contribute your pictures, send them to studentsunion@bpc.ac.uk with the date included if known.

Volunteers required Guide Dogs is looking for volunteers to help blind and partially sighted people to step out in their communities. Volunteers will gain new skills as sighted guides for a few hours each week. Call 0345 1430229 or email: myguide@ guidedogs.org.uk

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around & about / whatâ€™s happening in your area.

"It gets bigger and better," said the Mayor of Ferndown when speaking about the Ferndown Lights Switch On event held on 30 November. A large crowd gathered and celebrity guest, BBC South Today weather presenter, Sarah Farmer said, 'Luckily the weather is onside; dry, crisp and chilly." She added that as much as she would have liked to take the credit for the good weather, she couldn't. Six-year-old Macie from Ferndown First School and two princesses from Once Upon A Princess joined the Mayor, Cllr Julie Robinson and Sarah Farmer for the countdown, which took place in Penny's Walk where Santa's grotto, a Christmas market and entertainment had been held throughout the day. The winners of the renowned Chamber Christmas raffle with four outstanding hampers was drawn with prizes going to 1st Juli Harman, 2nd M Leach, 3rd Jo White and 4th R Ingram. The Lights Switch On was organised by Ferndown and Parley Rotary, Ferndown Chamber's Christmas Committee and Ferndown Town Council.

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photos ÂŠ Tom Scrase

Weather "onside" for Sarah Farmer lights switch on in Ferndown

around & about

Chance to see 1931 film – with live music The Regent at Christchurch is welcoming back the Dodge Brothers and Neil Brand for a premiere of their new live musical accompaniment of the silent movie: City Girl on 9 February. The romantic drama is directed by FW Murnau, one of the most celebrated figures of the silent film era. Best-known for Nosferatu and Sunrise, Murnau’s last Hollywood film before his early death in 1931, is this cautionary tale about the clash between city and urban life. Tall, dark, handsome star Charles Farrell plays Lem, a farmer’s son who travels to the ‘big city’, where he falls in love with Mary Duncan’s disenchanted waitress, Kate. Lem brings his new gal home to meet the folks, but his dominating dad (David Torrence) and the pack of leering farmhands put the young couple’s love to the test. This is an overlooked masterpiece of the late silent era, deserving a new audience. With a line-up featuring Mike Hammond (lead guitar, banjo), broadcaster and film critic Mark Kermode (bass, harmonica), Aly Hirji (rhythm guitar, mandolin) and Alex Hammond (percussion), they are joined by fifth Dodge Brother Neil Brand for this preview screening. There will be a Q and A with the band afterwards. Mags4Dorset has teamed up with the Regent Centre in Christchurch to offer two tickets for the production on 9 February at 7.30pm.

For a chance to win, all you have to do is answer the following question: Q. In what year did F W Murnau die? Enter at www.mags4dorset.co.uk or send your answer to the address on page three of this magazine. Closing date is 10 January 2020. The first correct answer 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 details 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 name and phone number will be passed to the venue or to the promoters for the purpose of allocating the ticket.

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motoring / keeping you on the road.

Audi e-tron 55 quattro Driven by Steve Bulley

We can’t avoid the future - electric cars will become the norm. If Audi has its way it will be leading the German charge. The company is said to be investing as much as £12.5bn in electric mobility and autonomy. Showing their confidence in the technology Audi offer e-tron buyers a battery warranty for up to 8 years, or 160,000km, whichever comes sooner.

The fully electric e-tron has stylish looks and there is little to say ‘electric car’ from a distance. It is fully loaded with electronics and driver aids that are expected these days in premium cars. These include lane departure warning, pre-sense front and basic, a rear-view camera and most interestingly on some models, unique virtual door mirrors. These will take some getting used to for many I think. At 4.9m long, the e-tron lies between the larger Q7 and smaller Q5 in terms of size, but at just 1.6m tall, I feel it has a sportier stance than many cars in this sector. On the road, the weight of the batteries is not noticeable, the e-tron will hit 60mph in under 5.5 seconds. The quattro system gave me confidence on the road and I enjoyed the high driving position. It’s a long vehicle and parking in car park bays can be an interesting experience as with any of the current breed of large SUVs. Inside, it is luxurious with touch screens that resemble tablets and appstyle functions that we are all

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familiar with. So how does the e-tron do for distance? It has a range of up to 237 miles on a single charge under stringent test conditions (there is a e-tron 50 being launched in 2020 with an expected 185 mile range). Recharging is possible in a number ways: at home, via a domestic socket or, for a reduced charging time, with a specially fitted wall box; or on the road, via high-power charging stations. Where available, the e-tron can be replenished at 150kw terminals that can recharge the battery to 80% within 30 minutes and 100% within 50 minutes. The UK government is

keen for people to take up electric driving and provides plenty of incentives. The Plug-In Car Grant, is currently worth £3,500 toward the price. Employers can benefit from installing a charging station if they apply to the Workplace Charging Scheme. It gives £500 off the cost of installation of electric charging points to encourage more employees to go electric. Company car drivers will have no benefit in kind to pay in 2020/2021 with an increase by 1% each year after up to 2023. I have driven the future, and it’s electric. For more information speak to Mark Francis at Poole Audi 01202 775050 / www.pooleaudi. co.uk/business

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motoring

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

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

DECORATING

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

CLEANING SERVICES

ELECTRICIAN

DECORATING

FENCING

FENCING & TIMBER

FENCING

COMPUTER SERVICES

FENCING

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4DORSET January 2020

GARDENING SERVICES

GRAPHIC DESIGN

HEATING SPECIALISTS

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specialist services LANDSCAPING

LOCKSMITH

PLASTERING

ROOFING

TREE SURGERY

LANDSCAPING

LOGS

MAINTENANCE

ROOFING

TILING SUPPLIERS

TREE SURGERY

To advertise in the trades and services section

call 01202 941465

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

WINDOW REPAIRS

To advertise in the trades and services section call 01202 941465

PLANNING IN BRIEF New homes proposed for village: Dorset Council has received an application for the erection of two new homes on land west of New Manor Farm, Emley Lane, Hinton Martell, Wimborne. Ferndown flat plan: a proposal to erect a threestorey block of eight, two-bedroom flats at 78-80 Victoria Road, Ferndown has been submitted to Dorset Council. Infill development: Dorset Council has received an application for the construction of a new chalet bungalow on the plot adjacent to 11, Fernlea Close, Ferndown. Care home plan: a revised scheme to demolish the buildings at 5-7A, Edmondsham Road, Verwood and to erect a dementia care home has been submitted to Dorset Council. Barn conversion: Dorset Council has received an application to convert an agricultural barn at Eastworth Farm, 52, Edmondsham Road, Verwood into a three bedroom bungalow. Alderholt plan: an outline application to sever land at 58, Ringwood Road, Alderholt and to erect four three-bedroom detached houses has been submitted to Dorset Council.

School benefits from food for thought and flavours Dez from Flavours cookery school gave an incredibly funny assembly to the children of Ferndown Middle School recently and highlighted the importance of eating healthily and being mindful of the amount of added sugar they eat. He showed the children how many cubes of sugar there were in foods and drink, explained how much sugar adults

and children should safely eat a day, and helped everyone understand how added sugar can detrimentally affect our health. Years 7 and 8 will be visiting Flavours cookery school in Southbourne in the New Year. In a separate event, 21 students worked with Louise Jones from Food for Thought Cookery school, to make healthy and nutritionally valuable

sweet treats. Students learnt how to make energy balls, cookies and chocolate that actually benefits our bodies, giving us valuable vitamins and minerals. All products were nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and only used natural sweeteners.

Paper hanging skills crowned

Bournemouth and Poole College student Aston Gooding has become the first Dorset apprentice to be awarded a top prize in a national painting and decorating competition. Not only that, Aston was the first student from the college to enter the contest. An apprentice for CG Fry & Son Ltd, Aston was crowned the junior winner of the Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year contest, at a masquerade ball hosted by national trade body the Painting and Decorating Association. The 21-year-old (pictured centre) claimed a £200 cash prize along with a trophy and certificate.

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. 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. 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.

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

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in the home / rejuvenate your home in 2020

I’m taking everything, including the kitchen sink! By Janine Pulford

Did you know that when someone moves house in Germany, they often take their kitchen with them? This may sound unbelievable because in the UK we have a reputation for installing the cheapest of the cheap and leaving it behind for the next person to cope with, or for them to rip it out and start again. Alternatively, we spend a fortune on buying the kitchen of our dreams and when the time comes to move, we leave it behind for the next occupant because a superb kitchen in the UK is considered a strong selling point. Leaving your kitchen behind can sadly be ironic, because the most beautiful kitchen in your eyes, may not be so beautiful in the eyes of the new occupant, and if it is not to their taste, regardless of how new it is, they will pull it out and start again, which is a terrible waste. Even so, I have never come across a fellow Brit who has removed their dream kitchen when moving, but I know a few who have replaced someone else’s dream kitchen soon after, or even before they’ve moved in. I have recently spoken to kitchen fitters who almost despair when they have to dispose of a virtually new kitchen for wealthy clients who simply don’t like the kitchen when there is really nothing not to like about it. So the Germans might have the right idea when they take everything including the kitchen sink when they move. Their kitchens are individual pieces of furniture, which can withstand prolonged usage whilst retaining their stunning appearance

and functionality. They are robustly built, but also, one has to assume, relatively straightforward to dismantle and remove to the next property. This is practical, not wasteful and makes good sense, but there must be occasions when a muchloved kitchen won’t translate into a different space. It also begs the question, what happens when the kitchen is out of date? Perhaps that’s the time to sell it with the property. German rented properties, I am told, have to include a kitchen. Kitchens are very personal spaces. They are widely recognised as the heart of the home and are well worth investing in if you are intending to stay in your home for a number of years. In my life, I have experienced an ancient kitchen, which I loved because it had a walk in larder; a brand new kitchen, which I equally loved because of all the cupboard space and plug sockets in the right places, and since 1986 I have lived with a mis-matched kitchen, which irritates me no end. When we moved to our current bungalow, we splashed out and installed half a new kitchen and retained half

the old one. It was okay at the time and looked lovely, but that was over 30 years ago and we still have the same odd configuration. The cupboards are too tall, the plug sockets are in the wrong place and the sink is in the middle of the room. It is well-overdue for a refit and though we will shop around, I know in the end, our decision will be ruled by our hearts and what we like and what we are prepared to live with (almost anything, it seems). After writing this article, we may even consider investing in a robust German kitchen, but I know for sure that when we move, we will not be taking it with us. The moral of the tale (if you are expecting one), is when buying a new kitchen, purchase the best quality you can afford and choose the kitchen for you, not for somebody else. And though I am not advocating a new trend of packing up everything including the kitchen sink when you move, it may become something our families have to think about in the future when the economic climate forces us to stringently reuse and recycle.

Would you take the kitchen sink?

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in the home / rejuvenate your home in 2020

Coins, jewellery and Chinese and Japanese items selling for high prices

he many antiques programmes featured on TV are increasingly popular with viewers, so here at 4Dorset Magazine we contacted local auction houses to find out what has been making the money locally and what the trends are. In 2019 Ringwood Auctions saw a high demand across all sections, with particular emphasis on jewellery, silver and collectors' items like postcards, coins, stamps and militaria. One highlight, says

Ringwood Auctions sold this gold coin for £2,100

auctioneer Claire Chalkley, was finding a Victorian gold £5 coin amongst a box of old pre-decimal currency. She said, “We sorted through the silver 3d and

A large painting of sunflowers by John Bratby fetched more than £3,000 at Ringwood Auctions

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6d pieces and a few half crowns before unwrapping a small envelope at the bottom of the box containing the gold coin, which pleasantly surprised the vendor - especially when it went on to sell for £2,100.” In the past 15 months, the saleroom has sold three other large collections of gold and silver coins, which have fetched £12,100, £5,050 and £3,600 respectively. Claire added, “Several other clients have also been pleasantly surprised when they have brought in 'costume jewellery' only to find it has been the real thing. Selling jewellery at auction has never been easier and with gold reaching high prices in 2019, many clients were delighted with their results, achieving much more than they expected, including one

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in the home / rejuvenate your home in 2020

A set of twelve Chinese embroidered panels from a Chelsea residence sold for £50,000 at Semley

box of antique jewellery selling accumulatively for over £6,000 including commissions.” Other highlights from the year included being able to help a local charity in their fundraising efforts. A large painting of sunflowers by John Bratby was donated to Minstead Church in the New Forest and they were delighted when it fetched over £3,000 towards their appeal as Ringwood Auctions also waived their fees. Claire said, “Auctions are also a wonderful place to buy furniture and decorative items. Whilst the price of 'brown furniture' is still relatively low, it does make buying period or modern furniture an affordable way to create an individual look

at home. Whereas in the past, people may have been too daunted to go to a furniture dealer to spend thousands of pounds on a Georgian chest of drawers, the same item can now be purchased at a local auction for a lot less.” Ringwood Auctions begin their sales programme on 11 January with a sale including jewellery, silver, works of art, collectables, furniture and other eclectic items they consign for auction. For information on buying or selling items at auction, please contact the saleroom on 01425 480 178 or email info@ ringwoodauctions.co.uk Semley Auctioneers, which recently opened a new office in West Borough, Wimborne said that in the

29 years the company has been in business the antiques business has seen remarkable changes some brought about by the fickleness of fashion, others through socio-economic factors. A spokesman said, “The advent of the internet has heralded an era of global markets, with all the difficulties of language, customs and payments that come with international dealings, but with the advantage of achieving much higher auction prices.” The family business holds monthly specialist sales covering the whole field of antiques and fine art, including four annual sales of jewellery and silver, and a further four annual sales of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and

Islamic Ceramics and Works of Art. Notable results in this field include a Japanese bronze vase by Shoami Katsuyoshi at £92,000 and a pair of Chinese Jiaqing period famille rose figures of Amitayus at £68,000, whereas recent silver successes include the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty cup by Tiffany, New York, which brought £ 72,000. Auction sales are held on Saturdays and are illustrated on four separate

websites, with two simultaneous live bidding platforms. Enquiries regarding consigning items for sale or valuation, either at home, at the salerooms, or at the Wimborne office should be directed to Imogen Wilby at the main Wiltshire saleroom office. For valuations and collections in the Home Counties, London or at the South Kensington office please contact Simon Pearce on 0207 591 0159.

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in the home / rejuvenate your home in 2020

Don’t forget the garden this winter By Marilyn Barber

As we’re in the depths of winter, you thought you could forget about gardening – but no – you can still tackle some jobs over the next few weeks. In fact it’s a really good time to appraise your gardening tools. For a start - how about washing those much-used gardening gloves; now you may not have thought of that one! Secateurs can be sharpened and loose spade handles fixed. Although it is too early to dig in January, you can spend time perusing seed catalogues and planning for the coming year. And if the weather isn’t too unpleasant, you can prune your fruit trees. How we love our first snowdrops, the harbinger of spring. And if you want even more the next year, dig and divide them immediately after they’ve flowered and replant about 30cm apart. Returning to the subject of garden tools –

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4DORSET January 2020

they are valuable and do need to be insured. The AA polled over 15,000 homeowners and found that half of homeowners wouldn’t even consider garden contents when buying insurance, despite theft from gardens on the rise. In 2018, 595,000 thefts from gardens took place; this was up 23% from 2017. Sadly half of homeowners don’t consider garden contents when buying home insurance. It could cost up to £5,000 to replace stolen items. Items that should be covered by your buildings insurance include sheds, patios, garden walls and fences, decking, conservatories, hedges and gates. However your home insurance may not cover everything in your garden, especially items which can’t be locked away. Therefore you need to be aware that if you don’t follow your insurer’s

guidelines – for example expensive items are kept in a locked shed – you may not be able to claim, Should you have a collection of rare garden gnomes – well you might – or valuable Victorian pots, you may need specialist garden insurance. Of course you can keep your garden safe to deter thieves – and this is a good time of the year to address that issue. Make sure fences, gates and hedges are in good condition, especially after bad weather and high winds. Check that all locks on gates and sheds work, and keep them locked when you're not using the garden. If you can't lock your garden furniture away, cover it with a tarpaulin to deter thieves. According to the Office for National Statistics, garden furniture is consistently the moststolen item in thefts from outside homes. If you can, fix ornaments into the ground to make them harder to steal. You'll also reduce the risk of them being damaged during bad weather. Consider investing in motion-activated floodlights or a home security system. Thorny bushes and high fences will put off thieves hoping for easy access to your garden.

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in the home / rejuvenate your home in 2020

Guides for damp standards

Dorset Council has just launched two guides to help homeowners, tenants and landlords. The first advises on how to tackle damp, condensation and mould, which can appear, or get worse, when it gets colder. The second explains how to resolve on-going safety or repair issues with rented homes. As the temperature drops, problems with damp, condensation or mould can appear in the home. The first guide provides advice on how to identify and control these problems and will help you recognise whatâ€™s causing the problem and what to do. It also helps tenants to decide what they need to do if they feel their home is in disrepair or their heating or ventilation isnâ€™t adequate. Any tenant struggling to get their landlord to make their home safe or do necessary repairs can get advice from the second guide concerning Housing Standards. Keeping a rented home up to a good standard is a joint effort between tenant and landlord. Landlords are required to make sure that the homes they rent are in good repair, safe and in good condition. The new guide explains how to report a problem and what tenants need to do. It gives useful information and advice on how to resolve on-going problems. Download the guides at at www.dorsetcouncil. gov.uk/report-housingconditions and www. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ damp

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4Dorset January 2020