Viewpoint February 2019

Established Over 35 Years Mid Feb 2019

Your Independent Local Magazine

VIEWPOINT

Volume 43, Issue 4

VERWOOD RINGWOOD FORDINGBRIDGE WEST MOORS WIMBORNE FERNDOWN ASHLEY HEATH ST IVES, ALDERHOLT

For your Valentine…

What is thought to be the world’s most expensive bouquet of flowers has been launched by Endura Roses. If you want to make an impression this Valentine’s Day, The Cullinan bouquet at £20,000 contains 100 specially preserved flowers: six encased in 24-carat gold; intricately designed heart roses; lavish rare roses and flowers finished with diamond dust. At its centre are two Cullinan diamonds. Check out www. enduraroses.com to find out more.

take one it’s

ISSN 2397-7183 (print) ISSN 2397-7191 (online)

Free

INSIDE THIS ISSU E:

• TREAT YOURSE LF COMPETITION • 2ND PLACE SH ORT STORY 'THRO W AWAY LIFE' • COCONUT FISH CURRY BY SARAH AL I CHOUDHURY • AMARONE RE VIEW

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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VIEWPOINT

Volume 43 • Issue 4 • February 2019

Hello Readers

MAGS4DORSET

The importance of local magazines and newspapers should never be underestimated.

Over the past few weeks many people have told me that they rely on the regional press to find out what is happening in their town or village.

This is information that cannot always be sourced elsewhere.

Headline grabbing news such as murders, assaults and road traffic accidents will be flagged up on the national news, websites and social media in minutes, but it is the detailed local news, the things that affect you and me that would be missing without local magazines.

For instance, people want to know what entertainment is on offer, where to join the next litter pick and how to get involved with voluntary organisations.

Dorset boasts impressive events such as carnivals, folk festivals, pancake races and Christmas and Remembrance Sunday parades, so how sad it would be if there were no papers to record these events, and to recognise all the work that goes into them.

Unsung heroes who work for In Bloom and local charities deserve recognition as do those who plan to embark on a challenge to raise funds for an organisation dear to their heart.

Local amateur dramatic societies spend months rehearsing their productions and really appreciate it when a journalist takes the time to give them a review.

And isn’t it great when you can read a first-hand review about a local restaurant?

Local magazines also give you the chance to share your views with thousands of others, so do send in your letters to me. Either email them to: newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk or write to the address on this page.

And finally I would like to thank all those people who have said they are delighted that I have joined Viewpoint and 4Dorset. I look forward to hearing from you all.

Marilyn Barber News Editor

Picture of the month

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

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

NEWS DESK 01202 870270 Janine Pulford editor editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk Marilyn Barber news editor newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk Sarah Ali Choudhury contributing editor mags@mags4dorset.co.uk

DESIGN 01202 233441 Louis Pulford creative director louispulford@brightboxdesigns.co.uk

ADVERTISING 01202 816140

Mark Beechey account manager DD: 01202 941465 mark@mags4dorset.co.uk Russell Harness account manager DD: 01202 941466 russell@mags4dorset.co.uk Simon Thornton account manager DD: 01202 941470 simon@mags4dorset.co.uk Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

LOGISTICS Ian Lory Alexandra O’Neill

Reflections © 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

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Copy date

20 FEBRUARY 2019

VIEWPOINT 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 VIEWPOINT 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 VIEWPOINT 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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MAGS4DORSET is pleased to be a new sponsor for The Wimborne Minster Pancake Race which will take place on Shrove Tuesday 5 March.

The venue is as always, outside the main north porch entrance to the Minster and the first race will commence at 11am as the pancake bell is tolled. Competitors will be required to run round the Minster tossing their pancakes at the four corners of the church.

All competitors should report to the north porch by 10.30am to enrol, complete with frying pan and ready-cooked pancake. Anyone can enter - male or female, young or old, individuals, schools, groups and organisations. All are most welcome.

So, are there some challengers (over 18) to compete for the John Loader Memorial Cup, presented by Martyn and Kathy Curtler and become the Minster Pancake Champion 2019? The winner will also receive a new prize presented by MAGS4DORSET. There will also be races for the under 18s. Depending on the number of entries these will again be spilt into three age ranges 4-9, 9-13 and 13-18. Likewise there will be races for pre-schools and toddlers and those using wheelchairs. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category.

So come on, get yourself into training for the big day and pick up an entry form from the Minster or the Parish Office in Church House, (next to the Minster) or just turn up on the day.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

Betting shop robberies could be linked A string of robberies in Dorset and Hampshire could be linked.

The suspect is a man around 5’9” carrying a knife or bladed weapon and wearing a black hooded top. Reported instances include: 13 January, 8.10pm, Corals in Bitterne Road Precinct. Staff threatened with knife. Man made off with cash.

14 January, 8.10pm, Betfred on The Hundred, Romsey. Man with knife jumped over counter, demanded money and made off with cash.

16 January, 8pm, Ladbrokes, Station Road, West Moors.

Man jumped over counter and threatened staff with meat cleaver or large kitchen knife, stole cash from the safe and escaped. He had blue fabric stretched over his face and was wearing a black hooded top, dark trousers and red gloves.

20 January, 5.10pm, Ladbrokes, Long Lane, Holbury. Man with knife jumped over counter, made staff open safe and made off with cash.

22 January, Ladbrokes in Commercial Road, Poole. Man threatened staff with a weapon, believed to be a bladed weapon

West Moors robbery (CCTV)

New sponsor for Wimborne Pancake Race

or screwdriver, before making off with cash.

23 January, 8.10pm, Betfred, Upper Northam Road, Hedge End. Man with knife demanded money and made off with cash.

27 January, 9.40am, Corals, Oakmount Road. Masked man with red knife jumped onto counter and demanded cash. Escaped with £500.

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police by emailing 101@dorset.pnn. police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55190008387. Or Hampshire Police on 101 quoting 44190032517. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Nationally important New Forest wildlife sites under pressure A new study calculates that the New Forest now has over 15 million recreational visitor days each year – up 12% from the last study in 2004.

It is predicted that by 2037 there will be over 17 million recreational visitor days a year to the National Park.

Over half (56%) of the New Forest National Park is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

This is a higher proportion than all the nine other English national parks. The new visitor calculations therefore equate to an average of 39,000 visitor days a year per square mile of protected habitat.

Recreational visitor days are defined as days or part days spent in the New Forest National Park by people in their leisure time. Most visitor days (77%) are by people who visit and return home on the same day.

New Forest National Park Authority Chairman Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre said, “I think people will be surprised to read just how much pressure the New Forest is under and the huge number of visits to these protected habitats.” He added that this new study will help inform future decisions.

LETTER

Kudos for short story winner

I felt that I had to e-mail you to say how much I enjoyed reading the winning entry, ‘The Lesson’ by Adam Foster, in the 10th anniversary of your creative writing competition.

I have entered probably about four of your writing competitions over the years and although I've not had success with them, I've thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the writing process.

It was an extremely clever and well-written story and thoroughly deserving of the prize. I'm looking forward to reading the second prize entry soon.

Lesley McLean Email Lesley, thank you for getting in touch. You will find the second prize winner’s story on page 30.

Editor

Members of Wimborne War on Waste held a litter pick recently with more than 27 people turning up. The next one is on Sunday 24 March from 11-1pm at Redcotts Park. Email wimbornewronwaste@gmail.com for more information.

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law spot

Porker pignapped

Is it true a ‘Common Law Marriage’ means nothing in law?

Law Spot provided by Harold G Walker Solicitors Cath Porter, Partner and Head of Family Law

There are about 3.3 million unmarried couples currently living together in the UK. That is about one family in five, and this is also the fastest growing family type.

There are many reasons for choosing not to get married, but many unmarried couples do not realise that they are leaving themselves in a precarious financial position.

This is because many of these couples mistakenly believe that if a couple lives together for long enough, or after they have had children together, that they will each automatically have the same legal rights and responsibilities as a married couple if they later split up or one of them dies without leaving a will.

Whilst unmarried parents do have legal and financial obligations towards any child they have together, the same does not apply between the parents themselves.

However, there are steps which cohabiting couples can take to protect themselves from any problems arising from separation: Cohabitation Agreement – This records the couple’s intentions concerning property and other financial support for their children if they separate.

Declaration of Trust – This records how the equity in a property, should be shared between a couple even if their financial contributions are not equal.

Make a Will – This details how financial support will be provided to the survivor on the death of their partner.

For further information please contact a member of the Family Law team.

Law Spot is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice. For more information on this subject contact your solicitor or the Family Law team at Harold G Walker who will be pleased to help.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

Hamburglars trotted off with a life-size silhouette of a pig that had been touring the New Forest to raise awareness of animal road accidents.

The three-foot swine was pignapped in Fawley last month, leaving just a pony, cow, donkey and sheep to raise awareness of animal road deaths. Recently-released figures show that 63 animals were killed on the roads in 2018, an increase of 13% compared to 2017.

This makes this winter’s campaign by New Forest commoners particularly important. Commoning families own animals that graze the Forest.

“Pigs are particularly vulnerable on the roads,” says Tony Hockley, chairman of the Commoners Defence Association. “In the autumn pannage season they eat the acorns that are poisonous to other animals. We’re appealing to local people to have a good poke around for our porker, and we’ll put up a reward of New Forest pannage pork to anyone who gives information leading to the return of our pig.”

Fair builds on recordbreaking year Hot on the heels of a record year for volunteering in the National Park, the New Forest Volunteer Fair returned on 27 January.

Volunteers have contributed almost 20,000 hours to help care for the New Forest over the last year. Their achievements include preserving historical documents, bringing habitats back to life and helping young people experience the great outdoors.

Now thoughts are turning to making 2019 the biggest year of volunteering yet as part of the government’s Year of Green Action. The year-long event also marks 70 years since the UK’s National Parks were first established.

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Sarah Ali Choudhury

Marilyn Barber

Editorial team at MAGS4DORSET strengthens

DIY cycle repair arrives in Lyndhurst Need to tweak your saddle height or add more air to your tyres when cycling in the New Forest? A cycle repair facility has been installed outside Lyndhurst Community Centre in the main car park.

It provides cyclists with free equipment to make adjustments and repairs on the spot 24/7 and features a range of eight tools, as

well the option of a pump and wheel holder.

Funded by the New Forest National Park Authority, with a grant of just under £2,000 from the Sustainable Communities Fund, the repair station has been provided by Lyndhurst Parish Council.

For more information about funding sustainable community projects visit:

www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ fundedprojects

Two recent appointments have strengthened the editorial team at mags4dorset.

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

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

The second appointment is Sarah Ali Choudhury.

Sarah is an award-winning personality whose strengths lie in column writing and catering. She also appears in the top 100 list of female entrepreneurs 2019 at f:Entrepreneur #ialso Top 100. Her email contact is mags@mags4dorset. co.uk.

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

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

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Microgapping: the new ‘time out’

Did you know that the latest travel trend is to microgap?

But what is it?

Microgapping was initially taken up by 18-34 year olds who went on short breaks, instead of gap years, to enrich their lives without having to take time out of their studies or jobs. However, it is now becoming a trend for all.

Microgap is becoming a buzzword, especially as travel isn’t all about exotic locations. Your home county is a tourist destination for someone, somewhere else in the world. Dorset, for example, is bursting with the enriching experiences that people want from a gap year or career break.

Weekends and bank holidays can be packed with experiences closer to home and this is becoming so popular that travel

agencies and tourism sites are creating ideas and opportunities to plan your microgap.

A microgap experience for someone who lives in Bournemouth could be to have a jam-packed itinerary exploring Swanage. You could visit nearby Corfe Castle, which looks incredible among the Purbeck Hills; take in six miles of beautiful scenery and the Blue Flag accredited Swanage beach, and follow this with some comfort food while shacked up in a tranquil

glamping pod, overlooking views that will take your breath away.

If you happen to plan your visit between 22 March and 10 April you will even get the chance to see the record-breaking ‘Flying Scotsman’ – the most famous steam locomotive in the world, which just happens to be visiting the Swanage Railway at that time. It will also be reunited with a rare Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage for the first time in almost 50 years. A definite ‘must see’.

Don’t be scammed by love With the most romantic day of the year approaching, trading standards are alerting people to be wary of romance scams.

These are crimes that break the hearts of victims, not only because of the financial loss they suffer, but also because of the loss of the relationships they believed were genuine.

Thousands of people lose money to romance frauds each year after being conned through online dating sites and social networks. Scammers set up fake profiles, use fake photos and claim to be from other parts of the world, for example the USA. They weave stories, presenting themselves as successful, thoughtful, caring and loving individuals, who are looking for a soul mate. They ask what the victim wants in their life and use the information to turn it into a dream that becomes a reality to the victim.

Once a relationship is established, the scamming begins. In all cases they plea for financial assistance. It may be asking for help to cash a cheque they are unable to cash themselves, or requesting financial assistance to help them out of a difficulty, e.g. they were mugged, or are in hospital but cannot pay their bill, or they are desperate to come to visit but need financial help.

Last November, Panorama, on BBC One, showed ‘Catfish: The Billion Pound Romance Scam’ in which investigative reporter, Athar Ahmad, created a fake dating profile to turn the tables on the romance fraudsters, exposing the international gangs behind the scams. The criminals are called ‘catfish’, promising love and marriage to get cash.

The programme is still available on iPlayer.

For further advice, or to report a scam to Trading Standards, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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Scouting out local help for refurbishment The 1st Ferndown Scout Group, based in Cherry Grove, Ferndown, is appealing to the wider local community for help with crowdfunding to cover a major refurbishment of heating, double glazed windows, lighting and security The refurbishment, requires £8,200, which will be match-funded, hence the focus on raising £4,100 by 15 February. Pledges will be matched through Projects That Matter, Dorset Partners Wessex FM, Dorset County Council and Crowdfunder.

David McGregor, Group Scout leader, has suggested people help by running events in tandem with the crowdfunding push.

Group chairman Richard Dean said that the improvements will allow more activities for the members during the dark nights. He added, “An updated infrared heating system will cost £2,700, insulation and replacing the remaining original Scout hut windows with UPVC will cost £2,100, security cameras and external lighting £900, and a watertight steel container for storage costs £2,500.”

In the last two years, 1st Ferndown Scout Group, which was set up in 1964, have replaced the kitchen, (thanks to Howdens, Ferndown), repainted the hall in bright, neutral colours, installed and updated the toilets to allow disabled

access, as well as putting heating in the toilets and meeting room and upgrading the electrical system, all in compliance with the current legislations.

Richard continues, “The hut is available for the whole community to use and we encourage children’s parties, family parties and society meetings when it’s not being used for Scout activities, therefore these improvements to the fabric of the building will boost its appeal as a valuable community resource.”

Scouting is a movement for all, open for all young people, both boys and girls, aged between six and 25; it also welcomes leaders and helpers, whether young adults or older.

Scouts are looking forward to even more improvements in their hall

To help Ferndown Scouts, please visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ help-heat-our-hut or email Genevieve Bond, group secretary for more information: secretary@ferndownscouts.org.uk Scouts: #SkillsForLife

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West Moors sportsman follows his dreams A 16-year-old footballer has received the 2018 Jean Ware Legacy Award from West Moors Parish Council, to help him follow his dreams.

Daniel Neild will now be able to claim up to £1,000 to go towards progression in his chosen sport.

The Jean Ware Legacy Award recognises and honours outstanding

performance and achievement of young people from West Moors who excel in their chosen field.

Daniel had applied for the award twice before, each time demonstrating commitment to football.

In 2017 he was offered a contract at Yeovil Town FC for the under 16s for the 2017/18 season. He

played at the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden and the team reached the semi-finals. He also played in the county schools football squad representing Dorset.

Last year, Daniel passed all his GCSEs. In August he was selected to become a scholar at Yeovil Town FC on a two-year scholarship – another

Later Life Planning A free planning event to give you an overview of all you will need for financial security and peace of mind in later life will take place at Burley Manor on 20 March, starting at 10am.

Frettens Solicitors and Archway Financial Solutions, based in Ringwood, have teamed up to talk about: Inheritance Tax and how to plan for it, and how you may be able to reduce the amount you pay

Lasting powers of Attorney Care homes – ways to help make the funding process easier and more affordable Equity release – hear how it could give you the financial freedom and peace of mind to enjoy your retirement.

Friendly, approachable experts will spend the morning answering your questions in the

beautiful surroundings of Burley Manor in the New Forest. There will be complimentary tea, coffee and pastries with an option to stay for lunch.

To book your free place call 01202 491773 or email events@frettens. co.uk and say at the time of booking if you would like to stay on for the 2-course lunch and free-flowing prosecco for the exclusive price of only £20.

great step, and requiring huge commitment not only for Daniel but for his parents, who have a lot of travelling to do.

Daniel said, ‘”I am very proud of myself for achieving my goal of a footballing scholarship and look forward to making West Moors Parish Council very proud of their homegrown footballing talent.”

He received an engraved glass trophy from chairman of the council, Cllr Mike Hawkes.

Applications for the Jean Ware Award will be open in May until November.

Call 01202 861044, or visit www.westmoorspc.gov.uk or email office@westmoors-pc. gov.uk for a form.

Backland development in West Parley approved A three-bedroom chalet bungalow is to be built on land at 38, Church Lane, West Parley.

Councillor Barbara Manuel asked for the application to come before the recent East Dorset District Council planning meeting because of concerns about backland development and the design.

Objections were received from West

Parley Parish Council who argued that the proposed bungalow would be too close to the neighbouring property.

An application for a four-bed chalet bungalow on the site was refused in September last year.

However, planners agreed with officers’ recommendations that the new bungalow would make a positive contribution to housing in the district.

Eddie Howe

East Dorset District Council planning appeals

Eddie Howe backs March for Men Hot place for Katie Ingham, Stuart Harrison and Tim Martin

Men’s healthcare issues are often not highlighted sufficiently, but AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe wants to change all that.

He is encouraging local people to sign up for March for Men - one of Bournemouth Hospital Charity’s biggest events. Thousands of men from every part of Bournemouth’s community are facing men’s health concerns such as prostate or testicular cancers.

On Monday 24 March, people are invited to walk, jog or run either 1km, 5km or 10km to raise awareness and funds for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Urology department.

Eddie Howe said, “March for Men is the biggest fundraising event locally for men’s health and is definitely something that local people should be getting behind this year. We all know dads, granddads, brothers, sons or mates who have been to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for treatment and this event is a great way to raise awareness of the health problems men face.”

The Bournemouth Male Voice Choir will provide entertainment. Visit BHCharity.org/m4m/ to sign up or call 01202 704060.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

time capsule

Dating back to the 1830s, the Count Rumford Oven, which is no longer in working order, now contains a time capsule. The oven has recently undergone careful repair and preservation and the team involved in the development work of the East Wing decided that the oven would be an ideal place for a time capsule. It contains memorabilia, literature, a short piece of history of the castle as well as photographs.

Kate Ingham, heritage team leader at Highcliffe Castle said, “We decided to mark this recent phase of the work to the castle by burying a time capsule for a future generation to discover.”

The East Wing should be open in April, with an official opening in late May.

DISMISSED: 1. Dog kennels and cattery with associated office at Misty Meadow, 147, Ringwood Road, Longham.

2. A new holiday let at 81 Church Road, Three Legged Cross.

3. Severing a plot to erect a three-bedroom property at 23 Chine Walk, West Parley.

4. The demolition of buildings at 133-135 Christchurch Road, West Parley and the construction of nine homes.

5. The provision of a new building to provide hay, tractor and an implement store for use in the management of the Glendon Estate at Brog Street, Corfe Mullen.

6. The conversion of an agricultural building to residential at Little Manor Farm, Waterloo Road, Corfe Mullen.

7. The siting of a caravan to be used as offices in conjunction with the equestrian yard at 147 Ringwood Road, Longham.

8. The siting of a storage container at 147 Ringwood Road, Longham.

ALLOWED: 1. Raising the roof to form a two-storey house at 86 Lonnen Road, Colehill 2. The demolition of 129, Christchurch Road, West Parley and the construction of four homes at 129-131 Christchurch Road.

3. The construction of a detached bungalow at the rear of 24, Camel Green Road, Alderholt.

Planning applications East Dorset District Council has received an application to erect a detached property at 7 Wills Close, Corfe Mullen.

Other applications include a detached house at 6-8A Rowlands Hill; the construction of two semi-detached properties to the south/west of Tapper Court, Wimborne and the erection of a bungalow on land to the rear of 198/200 Leigh Road and 12 Parmiter Road.

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News in Brief

Harry swings into action

Big spring clean West Moors Parish Council has organised a litter pick on Saturday 9 March. Meet outside the Co-op at 10.30am.

Gloves, litter picking sticks and tabards are provided. To get involved call 01202 861044 or email office@westmoors-pc.gov.uk

‘King of the Jungle’ Harry Redknapp swung into action to officially open new entry gates at Ferndown Golf Club.

Annual Parish Meeting The annual meeting for the parish of West Moors will be held on 5 March at 7pm at St Anthony’s Catholic Church Hall, 8 Pinehurst Road, West Moors.

The former soccer manager, recently won the hearts and votes of millions in the hit ITV programme ‘I’m a Celebrity’.

He became a member of the golf club last year and described the new entrance as “terrific!”

It was funded anonymously by two Harry Redknapp watched by (L-R) Ian Walton, general manager; club members and is part of a five-year Trelawney Dampney, chairman, Policy & Steering Committee; improvement programme costing more Matt Fleming, captain, and Stan Randell, president than £500,000.

He added, “Nice people, good club include the Hennessy Cognac Club, featuring atmosphere, iconic golf course and now an leading players from the European Tour; the impressive new entrance. What more could you European Ladies’ Championship and the Women’s ask?”

British Open.

Future projects at Ferndown Golf Club, which has over 800 members, include a new car park, covered driving range and ongoing improvements to the course and clubhouse.

Founded in 1913, Ferndown Golf Club is a 27-hole heathland golf course, ranked in the top three per cent of the world’s courses by Rolex.

It has a long and proud association with the Alliss family, including the ‘voice of golf’ Peter Alliss who has described Ferndown as his favourite course.

Prestigious tournaments hosted at the

Volunteers and new members welcome Ringwood and Fordingbridge Club for the Blind meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at Greyfriars Activity Centre in Ringwood. If you are interested in joining the group or volunteering contact Kate on 01425 476568 or Russell on 01425 476618 or email rwfbclubforblind@hotmail.co.uk Coast with the most Summer jobs along the award-winning stretch of coast that spans Bournemouth, Poole and for the first time – as a result of the creation of a new council – Christchurch have been announced including general assistant, land train guard, KidZone assistant, facility cleaners and more. A recruitment open weekend will be held at the Marsham Court Hotel on 23 and 24 February. The RNLI will be there too, to discuss requirements for the Lifeguard teams. For more info, email seafront.recruitment@bournemouth.gov.uk.

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education / the future relies on what we learn today.

Another outstanding achievement for Ferndown Upper School Ferndown Upper’s 2017 and now their 2018 combined results are the best in Dorset (GCSE, A Level and Applied General qualifications) Recent government league tables have confirmed that Ferndown Upper School’s students achieved the fifth best GCSE progress score for Dorset (fourth last year and fourth best in comparison to Hampshire).

The A Level results were the third highest, for the second year running and for Vocational A Levels Ferndown’s students came in first place, up from their second place last year.

This means that Ferndown Upper School has the highest combined results in Dorset for the second year in a row, which is an outstanding achievement. The students should be very proud of their achievements. Other highlights were the best post 16 Level 2 provision in Dorset.

For A Level: Fine Art, Media, Travel and Health all gained the highest outcomes in the county with maths, German, Biology, Textiles and Photography all following closely behind. In fact, ALPs, an independent performance evaluator, placed the achievement of Ferndown’s A Level students in the top 10% of the country.

Pastoral care is also a key strength of the school, and was praised as

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

outstanding in a recent local authority report.

Ferndown Upper School have very happy students and in a recent wellbeing survey over 95% of their students agreed or strongly agreed with; ‘behaviour in this school is good’ and ‘I am proud to be a student at Ferndown.’

Headteacher Philip Jones commented, “As the Headteacher of such a high achieving school, I am very proud of the efforts of all our students and staff. It is their hard work and effort that have made these results possible.”

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education

On the path of a ‘dragon’

Improved school swimming pool in St Ives A grant of £20,000 from East Dorset District Council means that St Ives Primary School can carry out repairs to its swimming pool, which should be completed in May. The grant application was submitted by Cllr Barry Goringe with the support of Cllr Ray Bryan and approved in September.

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

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

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

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

Entirely run and funded by parents and the community, the pool relies on volunteers to open, lifeguard and run it outside of school hours. Anyone wanting to submit their views, or help support the upkeep of the pool, should contact Samara Stewart on SISAinfo@stivespta.com

F

our young entrepreneurs from the Avonbourne Peter Jones Enterprise Academy have won a national ‘Flash’ Challenge as part of their Peter Jones Foundation Enterprise and Entrepreneurship course.

Students across the country were challenged to come up with a new mission statement for a business or organisation.

And Josh, Sarra, Lydia and Sarvish chose ‘The Heart of Insurance’ for major local employer, Liverpool Victoria (LV=).

The teenagers provided key recommendations on how LV= can increase customer satisfaction and improve employee engagement.

Their mock-up website design, mission statement and recommended objectives so wowed judges that they won the overall national prize.

Josh, was inspired by his own story when three years ago he helped to deliver his triplet brothers and said, “My experience has shown me to always expect the unexpected – you just never know what is going to happen in life.

“That’s why we chose an insurance company because

The four young entrepreneurs - Josh, Sarra, Lydia and Sarvish

insurance is vital to help protect you when those unexpected moments in life happen.

“Often these moments can have huge impact on people’s lives and our mission statement for LV= is all about putting people first.”

Avonbourne’s director of Sixth Form, Kathryn Loughnan, said, “We are absolutely thrilled that our students have won their first ever Flash Challenge.

“These challenges are set by Peter Jones, and other business leaders, throughout the academic year for students that attend his academies across the country.

“In September Avonbourne Sixth Form became the first college in the south of England to become a Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and it’s amazing that only a few short months later we’ve already won our first national award.”

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

| 13

ringwood news

LLL starts 2019 off with a kick

The Hampshire Live, Laugh, Love Ladies Club hosted their first gathering for the new year at The Elm Tree in Ringwood, where 37 ladies enjoyed a carvery lunch. Chef and speaker Sarah Ali Choudhury, who also recently became contributing editor at mags4dorset, demonstrated how to cook a king prawn curry with mustard seeds, coconut milk and lots of fresh chillies to give it a bit of kick.

Linda Weeks has been running the club for two years and said, “It was a wonderful start to 2019. It was fun and fabulous.”

LLL is known for connecting women socially to educate, uplift, inspire and empower women. The ladies who attend are of mixed ages and backgrounds, some are working and some are in business. The common factor is they like to live life, love life and have lots of fun and friendships.

Lunch, refreshments and a free raffle are included. Cost is £12 members or £15 non members. You can find out more at www.livelaughloveladies.club/lindaweeks

GOSH an extra donation!

Following a talk last August by Christine Whiteley and Anne Peters on the history and work of the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, Ringwood U3A made a donation of £173. In addition, the committee and members also decided to donate the proceeds of their 2018 Christmas raffle to the charity and were able to send them a further £175 to assist with their vital work.

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Adventures of a Podiatrist For over 1,000 years there have been trails crisscrossing their way to Santiaga, a city in northwest Spain. There is no common theme to the type of person who walks the Camino de Santiaga, but there are two things that unite them: getting a bed in the hostel as far away as possible from the person who snores, and foot and leg pain.

I wasn’t a podiatrist when I first walked this route and didn’t understand the needs of my feet and skeleton. I lasted 10 days. My knee blew up like a balloon, and I later learned the knee pain that stopped me, was caused by tight/ inactive muscles; the extra weight I was carrying, and the sandals I wore to prevent blisters. However I was determined to get back and finish the 800km route.

Eleven years later (2014), and a qualified podiatrist, I returned with the correct shoes, simple therapy equipment and dressings, and most importantly knowledge.

Needless to say, people came to our group asking, "Where’s the podiatrist?” The dressing equipment I took with me came in handy and my newfound celebrity status lasted until the door of the cathedral where the walk finishes. I had not one blister in the 28 days it took to complete.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

My top tips for walking the Camino can be found on the Footfocus Podiatry website blog, however, if you are thinking about doing this or any length of walk and are looking for professional guidance look no further than Footfocus Podiatry. It might be the difference of reaching your goal or not.

At Footfocus, we aim to provide complete healthcare from the foot up. We don’t just look at the problem, we search diligently for the cause and prevent it in the future. If you have any foot, leg or hip problems, we highly recommend that you book an appointment, because it could be the difference in success and failure.

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WHEN WORDS COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU

By Edward Holmes, Forest Edge and Meesons Solicitors

M

y son has just passed his driving test and is on the road. After all these years I am now no longer the chauffeur and my wife and I have even managed to have a few lifts, although we have to endure his music. He says we made him listen incessantly to 80s’ music and now it is time for pay back. In this respect I suppose he may be right.

However, he has to suffer us telling him to slow down, be careful and ignore me slamming my foot to the ground when I am a passenger looking for the brake. I am forever telling him to be careful so as not to have an accident.

Sometimes, though, words come back to haunt you! Added to this recently, I had been very grumpy with my wife when she scraped the paintwork by the boot of my car when removing the shopping.

Well, I was parking my car in the office car park and I was in a hurry. I reversed waiting for my rear sensors to kick in. I kept going, and going, and going – no sound until the crunch! How was I going to explain this? Who put the wall

there? Clearly the wall had jumped out and hit me. Putting aside the incriminations from the family, how was I going to relate this to the law for my Viewpoint article?

Firstly, I came clean with my wife to avoid requiring any divorce advice – no need for help from Sue Barnes our matrimonial specialist.

Secondly, as the wall was mine – no need for any land of conveyancing advice from Sarah Macey or Meriel Quain our conveyancing experts.

Thirdly, I was not injured – no need to consult Nichola Turpin our personal injury expert.

Fourthly, after my not so near death experience – I did not need to change my will and consult Fiona Clarke or Ruth Lucas our probate and will experts.

Finally, I couldn’t sue anyone for damages – so no help required from Matthew Parker my fellow Director and litigation expert.

We have a complete team at Forest Edge and Meesons and are ready and happy to help. If you need advice, contact us now for your initial free consultation.

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TRADITIONAL VALUES WITH A CONTEMPORARY TOUCH Hamiltons is a friendly, third generation, family-run jewellers offering traditional values with a contemporary touch. It occupies a prominent position at 53 High Street, Ringwood, where jewellers have been situated for over twenty five years.

Recognising the exceptional value offered by high quality previously owned jewellery and watches, this is an area in which Hamiltons specialises and always stock a stunning variety of fabulous jewellery and quality watches as well as an extensive range of new jewellery.

In addition to the usual jeweller's services of supplying and fitting batteries and straps, replacing missing stones, pearl re-stringing, insurance and probate valuations, Hamiltons offer in-house one-day jewellery repairs, full jewellery CAD design and creation, watch servicing of virtually all makes including Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Longines and are fortunate to have their own watchmaker.

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

| 15

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

£60 yourself to treat

We all need to treat ourselves sometimes, so here at Viewpoint Magazine, we thought we’d give you an opportunity to relax at our expense.

Listed below are a few ideas (that aren’t wine related) to encourage you to reward yourself, and with a chance to win a whopping £60 voucher to spend at any of the advertisers on this page, why not put in an entry?

• • • • • • • •

The winner of the £60 dining out competition in December was Kirsten Smith from West Moors

Indulge in luxurious therapies at Callula Beauty in Ringwood Enjoy the benefits of whole body vibration at The Wobble Rooms at the Allendale Centre in Ferndown Station Hair in West Moors ensure clients’ hair not only looks fantastic, but feels fantastic too Pamper Me Do is designed to induce an instant feeling of relaxation and harmony in West Moors Treat yourself to an authentic Italian meal at La Lambretta in Fordingbridge Give you feet some love and attention at Paula’s Podiatry in Fordingbridge Townhouse Hair in Ringwood welcomes you for a unique and unforgettable salon experience Take your pick from any of the retailers at the picturesque Furlong shopping centre where you can eat, shop and socialise in Ringwood

All you have to do for your chance to make the most of this generous prize, is let mags4dorset know, in less than 30 words, why you would like to win the £60 voucher

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

Enter online at www. mags4dorset.co.uk or send your entry to Treat competition, mags4dorset, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ. The closing date is 25 February 2019.

When entering, you must specify where you want to spend your voucher. The best entry will be the winner.

Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd and the advertisers on this page are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final. The voucher will be valid for 30 days from the date of issue and if not spent in store is worth £0.001p.

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

If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. Viewpoint 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.

Climb three peaks to raise funds for hospital You may be feeling sluggish after Christmas, but you have four months to get in shape to take part in an epic adventure.

Bournemouth Hospital Charity invites you on the experience of a lifetime with the Welsh Three Peaks challenge You will be able to take on the great mountains of Pen y Fan, Cadair Idris and Snowdon – all on the same day.

These peaks will certainly test your endurance, but you’ll also be rewarded with stunning views of the spectacular Welsh countryside.

The Three Peaks challenge takes place over the last weekend in June.

You might be an experienced walker or fancy pushing yourself to take on a new test. Whatever your background, make sure you’re fit and ready to take on this challenge.

Don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with the tricky Welsh terrain – you’ll have an expert mountain guide alongside you every step of the way.

By taking part, the sponsorship you’ll help raise will go directly to supporting efforts to provide new equipment, improvements and training at your local hospitals.

Sign up today for the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge at BHCharity.org/3peaks/.

Vintage charity fundraiser

M

osaic, which supports bereaved children, and Macmillan Cancer Support, will benefit from an event being organised by Councillor Toni Coombs, the chairman of East Dorset District Council.

A vintage style gala dinner will take place at Bentley’s Restaurant at Dudsbury Golf Club on Saturday 2 March at 7pm for 7.30pm.

Dress code is black tie or vintage which gives you a great choice.

The ticket price of £40 includes a welcome drink, a three course meal, an auction and entertainment

by The Blustockings, who provide vintage harmonies.

To book contact Toni on 07947 002000 or email kmills@ christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk.

health and care

Tree-mendous effort by charity Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability “Special thanks go to our charity, raised £7,800 by collecting sponsors – Maidmans Moving & Christmas trees to be recycled.

Storage, Keyfort and Timbers Tree Over the course of three days Care, all our amazing volunteers in January, over 1,000 Christmas who worked incredibly hard and trees were collected from residents drove all around Dorset, Abacus in Dorset after they pre-booked for providing extra vans for their collections making a minimum collections, Stewarts for allowing of £5 donation per tree. The us to chip trees at its Broomhill initiative was so popular, bookings centre and the local councils for closed three days early due to full their help promoting the scheme capacity. and arranging for some of the Volunteers gave their time and trees to be recycled at Nuffield and lent their vans to collect trees from Millhams Recycling Centres, and Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch Meyrick Park.” and other areas of East Dorset.

Nicole Warrilow, corporate and community manager at Diverse Abilities, said, “This was our fourth year of collecting and recycling Christmas trees. Not only does it take away the hassle for local residents disposing of their tree, but it raises funds to further support children and adults living with disabilities in Dorset.

Volunteers Mike and Caragh collect trees

Looking ahead - if you would like to express interest in the Christmas tree recycling scheme for next year, whether that is for a collection or to lend a hand, please call Nicole on 01202 718266 or email Nicole.warrilow@diverseabilities.org.uk

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NEW CLINIC HELPS COMBAT THE VEIN PAIN Dr Haroun Gajraj, a Specialist Vascular Surgeon based in the south of England is pleased to announce a new vein clinic in the centre of Ringwood. It is dedicated to the care of all vein conditions using the latest diagnostic and treatment methods.

Vein conditions are very common and distressing with approximately 40% of adults currently troubled by varicose veins and thread veins. Not only do they cause significant discomfort and embarrassment, varicose veins can also be complicated by varicose eczema, bleeding, leg ulceration, DVT and phlebitis. They are not simply a cosmetic condition.

Unfortunately, such vein conditions are not a priority in the NHS and many people simply put up with the unsightly appearance, or they soldier on with ache, swelling, itching and throbbing. Now, however, you can access high quality advice and treatment at the new Ringwood Vein Clinic, part of the VeinCare Centre group of clinics in Dorset and Hampshire.

The VeinCare Centre specialises in the treatment of varicose veins and thread veins. All treatments are performed by experienced consultant vascular surgeons under local anaesthetic as a walk-in, walk-out procedure after a thorough assessment by ultrasound.

Not only do legs look and feel better after treatment, there are many health benefits from having varicose veins treated, in particular the risk of leg ulcers is reduced. These modern non-surgical treatments give superior results with minimum recovery time. There are no surgical incisions, and no general anaesthetic.

For a free information pack about the VeinCare Centre in Ringwood or to speak to an advisor call 0800 698 3467 or visit www.theveincarecentre.co.uk

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

| 17

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

If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. Viewpoint 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.

Keep warm this winter

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VALENTINE’S TREAT FROM CALLULA BEAUTY

In this busy and demanding age we all live in, self-care is more important than ever.

Treating yourself can help reduce stress levels and reminds you that you and your needs are important, too.

This is why we are offering an exclusive reader offer at Callula Beauty in Ringwood for couples or for you and a friend.

Book any two 30-minute massages (back, neck and shoulder) and receive 20% off*.

Callula Beauty (Latin American for small beauty) is located in the vibrant Furlong shopping centre in Ringwood. As well as beauty treatments and massages, they can also tailor-make stress busting and luxury pamper packages to suit your needs and get you ready to take on the world.

To take advantage of this exclusive Valentine’s offer, call 01425 489994 or visit their website www. callulabeauty.co.uk *Both massages have to be booked between Monday 11 – Saturday 16 February inclusive. Please quote “CallulaLOVE” when booking.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lose pounds with Cambridge Weight Plan Things are so different now for Sarah Ellington from Three Legged Cross after she lost 4 stone with the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan. She radiates confidence and is enjoying her new life as a weightloss consultant.

“I absolutely love seeing my clients make the changes I have,” says Sarah who works from home and mobile in the area visiting her clients in their homes and at work. “My one-to-one personal support really does make all the difference.”

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health and care

If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. Viewpoint 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.

Help for people with hardened arteries

P

atients from the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH) who suffer from hardened arteries – claudication - have set up a support group.

The Artery Army, meets every month to exercise together,

support each other and share hints and tips, to enable them to better cope with the symptoms.

The group is open to patients diagnosed with claudication who have attended the hospital’s supported exercise programme.

Claudication is a condition in which the arteries

narrow, due to a hardening of the artery itself, which results in a discomfort in the legs during exercise.

Claire Thomson, an advanced vascular nurse practitioner at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, said, “It became clear there was a need

for a patient support group and so the Artery Army came to be.

It’s been shaped by the patients themselves – after all, they know what sort of support they need most.”

To find out more, email claire.thomson@rbch.nhs.uk.

Reaching out for diverse volunteers

A major programme to train and attract volunteers to help lonely and isolated older people is to go ahead following a grant to Brendoncare Clubs from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons.

The £29,800 grant will help train volunteers to assist Brendoncare with the running of their service, which allows them to confidently deliver an engaging programme of activities for club members, providing more fun and friendship for those attending.

There are currently 1,030 members who attend the 71 friendship and activity clubs across Hampshire, with 217 volunteers supporting them. Brendoncare Clubs is now looking to attract more diverse volunteers who can perhaps offer other skills and are keen to work flexibly across more than one club. They especially want to recruit volunteers who live close to clubs and are able to build relationships in their local community.

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

| 19

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

Teaching the left to do what is right By Marilyn Barber If people can paint and write with their mouths and feet, then I should be able to perform most tasks with my left hand A slippery path and loose gravel resulted in me loosing my footing and crashing to the ground in an undignified fashion in Ferndown.

The wrist started to swell in an odd way and a visit to Poole Hospital confirmed I had broken the radius and ulna in my right arm.

With the wrist in plaster I had to face the fact that for the next six weeks everyday tasks would take a whole longer, as I am right handed.

On the journey back from the hospital

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

I comforted myself that I had once been told that I had mixed handedness as I deal cards with my left hand. Also as a child I had taught myself to play the recorder the wrong way round. I can also paint walls with both hands.

However, ambidextrous I am not as I soon discovered.

In the first week, with my arm in a sling, it was clear I wasn’t going to be able to use a knife and fork, so supper was the first hurdle.

I would have to use my left hand to eat meals with a fork. My food would have to be cut up. Oh the indignity of it!

However, I have to say that my husband has produced some excellent dishes that can be eaten in this way – and

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health and care yes, custard would be out.

On the first evening, having had help with undressing, I just about managed to remove my make-up with my left hand, but washing and drying my hands took ages.

You don’t need me to go into the problems of having a shower, whilst keeping the affected arm dry – just let’s say I had a lot of help. I subsequently discovered a firm called Limbo Products which has a whole range of waterproof limb coverings.

I am never seen without make-up so that was the next challenge and I asked my husband to do it for me. He didn’t seem to have an inner Eddie Izzard and so I ended up with eyebrows in the wrong place and way too much blusher. Any local am drams looking for a one handed panto dame?

That was one task I certainly needed to hone.

Women’s underwear can be tricky and we can all have a tussle with tights.

Jumpers need to have wide sleeves to get over the cast, so that cuts out half my wardrobe.

I might be incapacitated but my brain still functioned so I was eager to get on my computer.

My right handed husband always uses the mouse in his left hand, so I have had to get used to that too in conjunction with that annoying little touch pad on my lap top.

Household chores were certainly off limits in that first week which saw me being waited on hand and foot – however I didn’t dare shout out – Mae West style – ‘peel me a grape’. Things like changing the duvet are impossible one handed.

One week after the accident I was back at the hospital having the final cast fitted as initially they leave a gap to accommodate swelling.

“We can get rid of the sling,” the practitioner said to my delight, adding that the arm does still need to be elevated where possible.

The modified cast enabled more finger movement, which was great. The physiotherapist advised me to keep the digits moving otherwise you can end up with a claw hand.

“Do things that are dextrous such as typing – yippee – doing up buttons and sewing,” he said. Oh heck does that mean I need to sew buttons on my husband’s shirts or take up embroidery?

A few weeks down the line I have become quite innovative at getting into containers of all sorts, and have even mastered trouser hangers but there is one thing that defeats me – writing with my left hand. There are some who maintain that my writing is so much of a scribble that it looks as if I am writing with my left hand anyway!

If there is anything positive to be gained from all this, it is to have an empathy with people in a similar position or those who have only one hand.

And there is supposedly one big bonus. Some medics maintain that using your opposite hand helps you to grow new brain cells – always useful.

As a postscript – I have to say the treatment I have received at Poole Hospital has been exemplary. Kindness and concern all the way.

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

| 21

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

If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. Viewpoint 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.

Do you know how to keep fit and healthy?

Confused – I’m sure you are.

2019 has seen a plethora of TV programmes giving health and slimming advice, with national and glossy magazines adding to the huge amount of information that is out

there for us to digest.

And then there are the recipes you could follow - some needing a few ingredients, other requiring ten items not in your store cupboard.

Some advice is conflicting.

Should you take part in high intensity training, or just enjoy regular exercise such as walking, running, swimming and gardening?

Calorie counting, points counting, eliminating carbs, cutting back on sugar, going veggie or vegan – the choice is immense.

However Viewpoint would be interested in hearing from readers who have health tips that work for them and that they would like to share.

Email them to newseditor@ mags4dorset.co.uk.

Twelve weeks to conquer unhealthy habits Help is on hand if you want to look back on 2019 as the year you took steps to improve your health.

LiveWell Dorset is inviting you to take part in a 12-week healthy lifestyle transformation.

Take Twelve, which starts on 1 March, invites residents to commit to a healthy living goal and to conquer unhealthy habits. Goals could include quitting smoking, losing weight or drinking less alcohol.

During the programme, participants will receive

support and advice from LiveWell Dorset.

Coaches and nutritionists will share information to guide participants to live well. Online community and tools will encourage participants to take each next step to live well.

Join Dorset’s healthy living challenge at livewelldorset.co.uk/ take-twelve.

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

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

Track your child's swimming lesson progress online See what your children have achieved and what they are working towards, as well as move them up as they achieve the swim stages, via a home portal in the comfort of your home.

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

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

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

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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verwood news

Afternoon Music Concerts at the Hub

Verwood in Tune concerts are switching to the afternoons this year. Held on the last Wednesday afternoon at 2pm each month, February to November, the concerts will have a performance by a different professional artiste each month. Each will provide a varied programme of popular music over a wide range of genres on an electronic keyboard, which can create the sounds of a full range of instruments and even an orchestra. Screen projection shows the hands on the keyboard and of course you can see the busy feet wherever you sit in the theatre’s tiered seating. Tickets are £8 from the Verwood Hub on 01202 828740.

Party Time for TG

A variety of events will be held around the country this year as the Townswomen’s Guild celebrates its 90th birthday.

The recent local Verwood TG celebrated the guild’s 38th birthday, the New Year got off to a fun and entertaining start with a performance by ‘Retro Rita’ (Jo Geraghty) who sang songs from several musicals over the decades, to much appreciation from members.

A birthday cake was served at the tea break and a large raffle was held.

Committee member Carole Sheldon-Couch was presented with a 10-year service badge.

For more information contact Linda on 01202 827575.

Tackling homelessness in Verwood

Short term accommodation for the homeless is to be provided in Verwood.

January’s East Dorset District Council’s planning committee agreed, after much discussion, to approve the change of use of the former NHS St Gabriel’s care home at 25, Ringwood Road to the Sui Generis Short Term Hostel.

The plan was not without its detractors and the council received 14 objections.

The building will provide eight bedrooms with a maximum occupancy of 16 residents. There will be no resident staff on the premises, but a dedicated housing officer will visit regularly.

Extract from plan issued by Dorset County Council showing nominated site (edged red) with proposed access route (red broken lines). © Crown Copyright and database rights 2010 Ordnance Survey 100019790.

Residents object to Horton Heath quarry proposals A number of local people are up in arms about proposals to introduce quarrying on land near to Horton Heath and Dorset County Council has received numerous objections.

The site at Redman’s Hill was announced in December, with a short period of consultation which ended on 28 January.

Verwood Town Council has objected strongly to the inclusion of the site.

They commented that the potential removal of up to 3.5 million tonnes of mineral would create up 80 HGV movements on a typical day during the extended 12-17 year lifetime of the extraction period. The council added that such an intensification of HGV movement would increase still further the traffic volume beyond the existing and anticipated increase resulting from the expansion of the Woolsbridge Industrial Estate on the C2. The plan for Woolsbridge includes a household waste transfer depot, which in itself will generate significant additional HGV traffic movements.

The authority is also concerned about the conflict between HGV traffic and horse riders/walkers using the rights of way adjacent to the site and its proposed access.

Dorset County Council along with Bournemouth and Poole councils, is in the process of preparing a mineral sites plan to identify sites across the county to meet the need for various minerals.

The document was considered by a planning inspector at public hearing sessions last September and October. It did not initially include land at Horton Heath as an allocation for future development. However, following discussion at a public hearing by the inspector, landowner, the council and others, the site is now being considered as a possible additional option.

There will be a final stage of consultation on the plan this spring. Any sites allocated in the plan will then need to secure planning permission to be developed.

Marilyn Barber

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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verwood news

New clients welcome

Age Concern Verwood is offering free open days “Come and see for yourselves,” is the invitation from Age Concern Verwood who meets at its Day Centre at the Bandhall, Moorlands Road, Verwood, BH31 7PD. The organisation is inviting anyone interested in joining to come and find out what is on offer by providing them with an opportunity to socialise and chat with current members and volunteers. They meet on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm.

Age Concern Verwood provides assistance with

transport within Verwood to and from the Day Centre together with refreshments morning and afternoon and a two-course midday meal. Activities are centred around members’ interests and include games, gentle exercise, good friendly company and the occasional outing for lunch or tea outside Verwood.

Alternatively you can get further information by calling Mark on 01202-821786 or Gordon on 01202-813805 or emailing talbot_tz@yahoo.co.uk

Have you seen the people in yellow T Shirts at Potterne Park on a Sunday morning?

If you happen to be walking your dog or involved in some of the Sunday sports down at Potterne Park, Verwood, you may stumble upon Hope Cafe. A free bacon roll and hot coffee is included to warm you up on these cold mornings for anyone who drops in.

Verwood Family Church has branched out into Potterne Park hosting a Hope Cafe on a number of Sunday mornings in the year and will be there 10 March, 12 May, 14 July, 15 September and 17 November.

Live music creates a great atmosphere and there are fun activities for the children. Their vision is to make Jesus the talk of the town in a positive and relevant way, serving the community.

Verwood Family Church has been around for some 15 years now and meets at The Hub every Sunday from 10am to 12.30pm. Why not drop in and take a look?

Home Library Service thanks long standing volunteers A special coffee morning took place at Verwood Library towards the close of last year. Bob and Mary McKay, Home Library Service volunteers with the Royal Voluntary Service, retired after 16 years of volunteering, first for the Meals on Wheels Service in Ferndown and more recently for the Home Library Service in Verwood.

Dorset Home Library Service Manager Maria Jacobson said, “We will really miss Bob and Mary. They are wonderful volunteers who have visited older people in their own homes for many years, bringing much needed friendship and social contact as well as reading materials. They have been hugely reliable, thoughtful, kind and supportive and I would like to wish them all the very best for their well- deserved retirement.”

The Home Library Service in Verwood needs new clients: if you or someone you know finds it difficult to get to the library then this service might be for you.

It is provided by Dorset Library Service free of charge, and delivered

by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers every three weeks. Books and/or talking books are chosen individually for each person, and delivered to your home by volunteers, providing not only a regular supply of reading materials but also a visit by a trusted volunteer.

To request a visit please call Maria Jacobson on 01305 236666, e-mail maria.jacobson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or call Verwood Library on 01202 822972.

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FOCUS ON CHARITIES

Charity needs more volunteers Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre is seeking to recruit a new team of community fundraisers to help raise awareness and additional funds for the charity. This is an exciting time to join the charity as it continues to grow and expand its services throughout Dorset. The new fundraising team will be involved in a number of different events from local shows to bag-packing in supermarkets.

Full training and induction is provided as well as on-going support and volunteer events. For more information please email info@dorsetrapecrisis.org on contact Elsa Travers – Fundraising Trustee on 07776 688767.

Work towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Duke of Edinburgh is the world’s leading youth award giving millions of young people, from the beginning of Year 9 to 24 years old, the opportunity to formally evidence personal achievement. Corfe Mullen Open Centre has a long and successful DofE history, as have other DofE Centres across Dorset. There are Bronze, Silver and Gold spaces up for grabs. You can go directly to Silver or Gold if of age. Contact dofe@dorsetcc.gov.uk for advice.

MAGS4DORSET The Stable Charity of the Year Family John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation Home Trust More young people SFHT is a charity based in Dorset and Hampshire supporting adults with learning disabilities.

Services include: Supported Living; Residential Services; Aspire Personal Development Programme.

Each service is able to provide support based on the needs of the individual, working with the service user and those in their circle of care to ensure the right package is created.

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

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

set to benefit from charity’s support

By Linda Thornton (JTYAF)

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

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

AFC Bournemouth Legends v Armed Forces XI

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

Get your prams at the ready

If you would like to make a difference to local young people and have fun in the process, we have just the thing. On Saturday 22 June, as part of the Fete of the Field in Ferndown, the John Thornton Pram Race is back for the third successive year. If you don't want to miss out on this fun-packed event why not get your friends together and sign up.

You will need a team of at least two people up to a maximum of 5 (over 14 years). Obviously, a pram too and dressing up is essential!

Join our team at JTYAF

Over 1,700 young people have benefited from JTYAF support since 2008. Funds raised helping them to discover their potential, develop their talents and pursue their ambitions.

If you would like to find out more about the work we do, or join our team of volunteers, please visit our website: www.jtyaf.org or contact us at enquiries@ jtyaf.org

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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FOCUS ON CHARITIES

Going For Bust now offers new support centre

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

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

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

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

Ladies who have been diagnosed with breast cancer can relax in a coffee lounge, have a consultation for a subsidised

Bra Service

Michelle Ormston

Bra Service

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

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

Appointments can be made on 01202 889258.

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

Wig room

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| 27

Horrible Histories illustrator tells audience they too can draw

The acclaimed sculptor Rodin called her a fine artist and her brother, Augustus, said that she was the greatest woman artist of her age and that “fifty years after my death I shall be remembered as Gwen John’s brother.” Despite this, most people who have a passing interest in art have heard of Augustus John but many will not know much about Gwen.

Gwen was two years older than Augustus and trained, like her brother, at the Slade School of Art. She wrote that when she was a child she could remember being told, ‘Don’t cry now, when you grow up you will have something to cry about,’ and this made her afraid of growing up, and led her not to expect happiness in adulthood.

She appeared to be a shy and timid person and was described by Augustus as a ‘retiring person in black with her tiny hands and feet, a soft, almost inaudible voice and a delicate Pembrokeshire accent.’

Despite this, when she left The Slade, she set off with her friend Dorelia to walk across Europe to Rome paying her way by drawing portraits and often sleeping out under the stars. The plan was over ambitious and they gave up at Toulouse then settled in cheap lodgings in Paris.

She took art lessons from Whistler and became a model and then the lover of Rodin.

Her paintings are delicate and restrained and she had a laborious technique that was slow and often involved her repeating works over and over again with slight variations.

She supplemented her income by modelling for Rodin and other artists but eventually signed an agreement with an American art dealer John Quin which meant he paid her a regular income in return for her sending him her paintings.

In the 1920s, Augustus and his now partner Dorelia were keen to see more of her and provided a loan so that she could buy Yew Tree Cottage at Burgate Cross on the outskirts of Fordingbridge. She was enchanted by it, describing it to a friend as bordered by little fir trees, saying it was, ‘a lovely little cottage and the countryside is exquisite.’

Gwen came to stay with her brother at Fryern Court

and whitewashed the cottage rooms and removed partitions. It was only furnished with one of her brother’s paintings and a dresser so she asked her friend Ursula Tyrwhit if she had any unwanted furniture. Soon some furniture, a carpet and a warm coat were delivered to Fordingbridge station and transported to the cottage.

Dorelia took Gwen to buy a bed that cost her £5.10s, which was more than she had intended to spend on furnishing the whole cottage. She also bought ‘some blue cups spotted white’ and ‘a thing for sharpening pencils’.

Socially ill at ease, Gwen took her meals in the bedroom at Fryern when visitors came, or retreated to the cottage. She asked Ursula not to tell anyone she was staying in Fordingbridge because she did not want to be troubled by them.

She was, however, soon pining for Rodin and her beloved cats and returned to France. She converted to Catholicism and according to Augustus became ‘more pious than the Pope’. Augustus wrote that she was ‘always indifferent to physical conditions’ and bought a new home that, ’consisted of a mere shed, hardly weather proof, erected in half an acre of waste ground.’

Having been left some money by her grandfather and father she eventually gave up painting which she now likened to housework. In 1939 she took a trip by train to the seaside at Dieppe and collapsed and was taken to hospital. Realising she was dying she wrote her will, not forgetting to leave suitable provision for her cats.

She had been home educated by her mother and Augustus could not resist mentioning the spelling mistakes in the document. No cause of death was noted and no one knows where she was buried. She was 63.

Her cottage was sold back to the Johns before she died and they rented it to a friend who maintained the garden and replaced the cement floors with brick.

Yew Tree Cottage still stands, being the thatched cottage set back on the left directly after the turning at Burgate cross as you travel toward Salisbury on the A338.

It is privately owned.

Martin Brown, a great supporter of Wimborne Library and illustrator of the Horrible Histories series of books, gave a fascinating talk – plus a fun art demonstration to the many Friends of Wimborne Library and guests who packed the library hall.

Written by Terry Deary, some 33 million of the books have been sold worldwide and translated into over 30 languages.

Martin explained the fun side of drawing: “When people say they can’t draw, what they really mean is – they don’t like how they draw. Then they go into a spasm and their elbow locks. You don’t have to draw realistically. Just relax and have fun. I taught myself to draw. I didn’t have a magic arm and am quite slow. I am lousy at tennis and dancing - but I have fun trying. We give ourselves licence to do these things because they are fun.”

An author himself, Martin’s beautifully illustrated, informative and humorous non-fiction book ‘Lesser Spotted Animals’ features an array of animals unknown to most people. The Independent newspaper gives it high acclaim: Packed full of fun facts with plenty of icky bits. These are the tidbits that will see your child win their local pub quiz in future years.

His second book ‘Lesser Spotted Animals 2’ is to be published in April this year – plus there’s another Horrible Histories on the way.

Selwood’s continued growth

property consultancy Vail Williams, operating out of Portsmouth and Southampton, advised Selwood. Russell Miller, a partner at Vail Williams said, “Selwood was keen to remain on the Woolsbridge Industrial Estate because of its strategic location near to a good road network and close to Ringwood, Ferndown, Wimborne and the north

existing premises to the new unit being constructed

by Ankers & Rawlings, enabling lease-related savings for Selwood.”

Selwood’s previous lease on the same estate was due to expire and the building had become too small due to the company’s expansion plans. A new 15-year lease on the one-acre site has been signed.

Gwen John’s links to Yew Tree Cottage

by Julian Hewitt, Fordingbridge Museum

F

ounded in 1946, a leading pump solutions and plant hire company in the UK is set to continue growth with purpose-built new

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premises in East Dorset.

Selwood’s Bournemouth plant hire branch has moved just yards from its former site of 16 years on Woolsbridge Industrial Estate at Three Legged Cross.

Thirteen staff are based in the new premises, which will provide plant hire services across the region and include a large yard.

Commercial

VIEWPOINT February 2019

of Bournemouth. Given the limited availability of existing suitable buildings, the most viable option was development-led and we therefore sought competitive proposals from developers for a new build.

“On behalf of Selwood, we agreed terms with Ankers & Rawlings, [who owns the Woolsbridge Industrial Estate] including linking the lease exit of the

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Plastic Free Ferndown: join the national Mass Unwrap!

With three more businesses anticipating plastic free status, Plastic Free Ferndown’s campaign continues to move towards its aim.

The charity spearheading local campaigns, Surfers Against Sewage, is holding a national Mass Unwrap, between 3 and 10 March. These events will be held throughout the country and Plastic Free Ferndown is trying to organise one locally on Sunday 10 March between 10am and 12 noon. Further details will be posted on Plastic Free Ferndown’s Facebook page, so ask to join the group.

A mass unwrap is where shoppers carry out their usual supermarket shop, but after purchasing their goods, they go to one of the plastic free campaign community leaders who will help them remove any unnecessary plastic wrappers. These will be collected and returned to the supermarket for recycling. Photographs will be taken to demonstrate the volume of unnecessary single use plastic gathered during the two hours.

Local support is needed. If you want to take part in the Ferndown supermarket mass unwrap, please register your interest with your local Plastic Free Ferndown leaders, either through the Facebook group, or call Janine, Ben or Louis on 01202 870270 and leave your name and contact number.

Outstanding awards for Cedar Vets

All three practices of Cedar Veterinary Group in Ringwood have achieved outstanding awards from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for Client Service.

The RCVS is the governing body for veterinary surgeons and the award is given to practices that demonstrate high levels of client care.

Clinical director Darren Lucas comments, “We are all delighted to have achieved Outstanding Client Service; the team works really hard to give our clients excellent service and receiving such high recognition has given us a strong sense of pride. This is fantastic reassurance for our clients that they are receiving the best service possible.”

Cedar Vets has practices in Ringwood, Verwood and Ferndown. The main hospital at Ringwood offers a wide range of modern and comfortable facilities, and is staffed 24 hours a day, providing its own 24-hour emergency care.

Cedars have further branches at Ferndown and Verwood, all with their own parking.

Broadstone Players to stage Funny Money Following their much-acclaimed production of Journey's End, Broadstone Players Theatre Company are getting ready for their next production.

Funny Money by Ray Cooney, well-known for his hilarious comedies, involves the accidental swapping of identical briefcases, lots of ill gotten cash, dinner guests, the police, the villains, swapping of names and identities, an increasingly convoluted plot, and all at a fast pace.

Performances will be at Broadstone War Memorial Hall on 19-23 February at 7.30pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm. Tickets are £8.50, with a special offer of £6.50 on opening night.

Led by director and well-known local actor John Sivewright, Funny Money is just the ticket for brightening up a winter's day.

Tickets are on sale at Broadstone News and Wimborne Tourist Information Centre. They can also be reserved by emailing honsec@broadstoneplayers.co.uk or ringing 01202 678449.

Mark Mould, Patricia Reid, Jonathan Ashworth MP, Graeme White, and Will Haydock, Public Health Dorset

James Vaughan

Permanent post for top police officer James Vaughan, who held the post temporarily, is set to become the permanent chief constable of Dorset.

Mr Vaughan, who was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal in this year’s New Year’s Honours list, was chosen by the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill, and his appointment was due to be confirmed at the beginning of this month by the Police and Crime Panel.

Mr Vaughan began his career in Wiltshire in 1992, and in February 2017 was appointed deputy chief constable (chief operating officer) for the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Strategic Alliance. In April 2018, he was appointed temporary chief constable for Dorset.

The right thing in the right bin It’s clear that most Dorset residents are recycling. Thanks to their efforts 59.5% of Dorset’s waste is recycled, with just 16.8% going to landfill. But there is still more to do.

From the BBC’s ‘Blue Planet II’ revelations about plastic pollution and major developments in reducing unnecessary plastic, to hundreds of smaller community initiatives, this year people have been more motivated to care about the environment than ever before.

However, recent date shows that more than three quarters of UK households add one or more items to their recycling collection that is not accepted locally, while over half put at least one item in the general rubbish that could be recycled.

Putting the right thing in the right bin, using your food waste service and cutting down on the amount of rubbish your household produces will help the environment and means more of your council tax can be spent on essential local services.

If you’re ever in doubt as to where your waste should go or need help with your bins, visit dorsetforyou.gov.uk/which-bin or call 01305 221040.

Praise for hospital’s alcohol service Poole Hospital’s alcohol addiction service should become a benchmark for hospitals across the country.

That is the opinion of Jonathan Ashworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has visited Poole Hospital’s alcohol service.

He described the alcohol care and treatment service (ACTS) as “the model we want to see everywhere.”

Mr Ashworth was invited to meet the ACTS team by the trust’s head of addiction services, Graeme White, and has spoken previously about the importance of these services and how his family has been affected by alcoholism.

He also met with deputy chief executive, Mark Mould, and Patricia Reid, director of nursing, to learn more about the hospital and its services and the visit was rounded-off with a walking tour of the emergency department.

Mr Ashworth said, “I just want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at Poole, particularly the alcohol care team, who should be particularly proud of the work that they do. What the team does is a real bit of innovation that’s incredibly forwardthinking and I want to see it delivered in every hospital across the country.

“I really hope the NHS bosses come to Poole and pick this up as the model that we want to see everywhere – that’s certainly the argument I’m going to be making.”

While visiting the ACTS team, the MP met with former service user, John McBride. Speaking about his experience while in the care of the team, John said, "I needed the input from the team to re-establish routine in my life, to get over physical dependence and put my life together.

"It can be a very lonely place and the team was able to help me with that.

"I know somebody is always there who I can contact and to say that I'm struggling and someone I can relate to."

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| 29

10th MAGS4DORSET Creative Writing Competition

2ND PLACE In 2nd place in this year’s Short Story Competition, winning £100 cash prize and publication, was Tania Kremer-Yeatman from Sturminster Marshall.

She grew up in a Midlands mining village and as a youngster, was eager to discover what lay beyond.

She said, “I joined a travelling ice show at 17. After skating my way around the world, I finally settled in a Dorset village where my husband and I have brought up our two children along with a variety of pets, from guinea-pigs to stick-insects. We currently share our home with a very loving and slightly nutty collie-cross, Coco, and her moggie friend, Bambi.”

Writing for Tania has always been about fun, escape and a kind of therapy. Several years ago she joined a local writers group and found “a wonderful community of friendship, learning and a mutual love of the written word.”

In recent years, she has enjoyed a few competition successes, including short stories, poetry and children’s fiction. She is currently working on her first novel – a supernatural tale spanning six centuries.

Throwaway Life “And now we are going over to Lianne Fleming, reporting from London; Lianne?”

“We have breaking news just coming in; yet another world leader has inexplicably disappeared, bringing the total to five.

Brazil’s President Lucas Vidal is reported to have gone missing in the early hours of this morning. So far since last Tuesday, the mysterious disappearance of at least four other world leaders have been disclosed; United States President Bernice Walters, Egypt’s Addai Hegazy, China’s Biyu Jin and German Chancellor Gerda Helman. The Prime Minister, Maria Fellows, has been unavailable for comment, sparking concerns that she may indeed be the sixth victim.” *** Nemisha glides through the tranquil waters; her flaxen hair trails in ribbons behind, occasionally brushing the top of her shimmering tail. Morning light dapples the surface and casts silvery beams into her world; one which is beyond the comprehension of mere humans and has thrived in blissful obscurity for millenniums.

But now the tide has literally changed, and Nemisha has no choice but to invite them in, the humans; no choice but to make them hear the mermaid’s heart and feel the mermaid’s plight.

Like a starling she flits towards the sea bed, leaving behind the once crystal shallows; where erstwhile enchanted sunbeams now only serve to spotlight plastic microbeads, like dust motes in the air.

Deep, deep she dives dragging the limp body of a human. She comes to rest, somewhere far away from light, a place where dead things rot and strange monsters lurk. A place where Nemisha and the Council of the Sea, hold captive a small group of humans. An insignificant assemblage, of significant people.

Guards haul the new prisoner into a cell constructed of dead coral and discarded fishing nets. Soon he will wake from his stupor; soon he will find that Nemisha has gifted him with the temporary skill of breathing underwater, and soon he will see that he does not stand alone in his calamity.

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

“Porfavor?” President Vidal mutters, opening his eyes. He is in a strange murky world, but his eyes adjust quickly. It is cold, he is in water and yet weirdly his lungs fill with oxygen.

“It’s no good fighting.”

A voice to his right says and he looks around him; they’re all there, the principal statesmen of the planet, “what’s going on?”

“Don’t speak.” Nemisha whispers and pushes the remnants of a plastic bag into his mouth.

“Hey!” another calls, “do you know who you’re dealing with here?”

Nemisha swims over and silences this one with more plastic waste.

Someone breaks down and begins to cry.

“Why, why are you punishing us like this?”

Nemisha strokes her face, “You humans, you are so clever, and yet so stupid. This is not punishment Prime Minister Fellows, this is a lesson.”

Nemisha doesn’t need to look far for the menu she feeds her guests. It is all around her, suffocating her home and murdering those innocents who depend on the ocean to live.

She is sad for the suffering of her prisoners, distressed by their palpable fear; but it is necessary, for all their sakes, and for the sake of the planet. A mermaid’s heart physically bleeds to witness the pain of others, but the bleeding for this group is nothing compared with the bloodshed of her friends entrapped in mankind’s garbage, or left dying on the beaches, their guts filled with litter.

“The Sea Council has decreed there is only one way left to make mankind stand to account for his carnage; you must experience it for yourselves.”

Bit by bit Nemisha fills the bellies of her captives with the fallout of human apathy; plastic bottles, bags, polystyrene and countless nurdles. How ironic that men nickname these ‘mermaid tears’, when they have caused her to shed so many real ones.

“Learn,” she says, “understand that this slaughter must end, and take the message

By Tania Kremer-Yeatman of respect back to your countrymen. By living your throwaway life, you callously throw away life, every second of every day. If and when you wake from this plastic nightmare, you will be unscathed, but hopefully not unchanged.

Remember we are living that nightmare every day.” *** “And now Lianne Fleming, has an update for us on the mysterious case of the missing world leaders. Over to you, Lianne?”

“Following the astonishing reappearance of all the missing leaders in the last few days, we can now report on an interesting development concerning these events. Only forty-eight hours after her return, President Bernice Walters has called a summit of all those dignitaries who also disappeared. The President has hinted that the meeting is to focus on developing a coherent and united strategy to promptly deal with the growing problem of plastic waste. As yet, the President and indeed all the said world leaders have declined to reveal what actually happened to them, other than to confirm that the incident was not terrorist related. There has been some speculation that the group were secretly engaged in a joint project to save the world from itself.” *** In a choppy swell off the coast of Somalia, Nemisha effortlessly cuts through the burgeoning waves. Together with an army of followers around the globe, she monitors the waters for debris. She has filled the mouths of the powerful with the poisons they inflict upon the marine world. Enough she hopes for them to truly realise the critical state of the oceans; but she can take no chances. She watches and she waits. Time is running out. If they did not listen well enough, if they did not suffer long enough, there will be no alternative. One by one, the perpetrators will be brought to task and subjected to the persuasiveness of the desperate. One by one, in the miry depths of the dark and unforgiving sea, the peoples of the world will be forced to dine out on their own indifference.

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Sarah Ali Choudhury

shares Coconut Fish Curry with VIEWPOINT readers Award-winning Indian food expert and columnist, Sarah Ali Choudhury, is passionate about sharing the joys of Indian cuisine.

Full of enthusiasm and a true love of cooking, Sarah takes great delight in teaching people simple meals and recipes from all over India. She loves to dispel the myth that all curries need numerous complex spices – and loves to tackle the intimidation that can so easily lead people to pick a jar of curry sauce off a shelf rather than cook from scratch.

Sarah is recognised as an inspirational and motivational speaker. She was recently appointed the national lead for women in catering by the Federation of Small Business (FSB). Over the past 17 months, she has won multiple awards and was one of eight selected finalists out of 8,000 contestants in an International Indian Chef of the Year competition where she was presented with her award by HRH The Princess Royal.

Listed in the British Bangladeshi ‘Who’s Who’ guide for 2017 and 2018, she received a standing ovation by the Bangladesh Catering Association (BCA) for her contribution to the Asian catering industry. Currently listed in the top 100 female entrepreneurs for 2019 at f:Entrepreneur #ialso Top 100, Sarah is also an ambassador for Macmillan Caring Locally in Christchurch.

Coconut Fish Curry

Sarah says, “This is a delicate South Indian dish cooked with mustard seeds and coconut milk. You can add fresh chillies if you like it spicy.”

Ingredients:

Method:

•

2tbsp vegetable oil

1.

•

1tbsp mustard seeds

•

1/2 inch ginger (finely chopped or a paste)

Heat oil in the pan on medium heat, when hot add mustard seeds until they pop.

•

4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped or a paste)

2.

Add garlic, ginger and onion until onions soften – about 3-4 minutes.

•

1 small onion (finely chopped)

•

2 fillets of firm fleshed, white fish (cut into 2-3 inch pieces)

3.

If you are adding a fresh chilli to your curry, you can add it at this point.

•

1/4 tsp turmeric

4.

•

1/4 tsp chilli powder or 1 whole fresh chilli

•

1tsp coriander powder

Stir in the turmeric, chilli and coriander powder and cook for about 2-3 minutes, turn the heat to a low flame.

•

200 ml water

5.

•

200ml coconut milk

Add water, coconut milk and tamarind paste.

•

1 tsp tamarind paste

6.

•

1 tsp chopped coriander

•

salt to taste

When the sauce is boiling, add in the fish, cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes and then sprinkle with fresh coriander.

What is tamarind ?

Tamarind is a seedpod from native African trees, which are extremely tall and used in South Asian and Indian cooking to flavour curries.

It is a fruit that is shaped like a long bean in which a sour pulp, containing seeds, is processed to make a paste. It has a delicious, tangy flavour and the name describes it as "Dates of India."

As most ancient foods do, tamarind has a long history of medicinal uses. Many involve easing stomach discomfort and aiding digestion. Tamarind preparations are used for fevers, sore throat, rheumatism, inflammation, and sunstroke.

In the Bahamas, large, but still unripe tamarind fruits called ‘swells’ are roasted in coals until their skins burst open. The sizzling pulp is then dipped in wood ashes and eaten as a quick snack.

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| 31

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

Date Night at Amarone

By Sarah

Ali Choudhury

I’ve been married for almost 19 years to my husband Ramjan, and we have four beautiful children.

Between us we lead very busy lifestyles and so very rarely do we get the chance to go out for dinner... without kids!

T

o my delight, Janine, the editor of Viewpoint, asked if I would like to review Amarone Italian Restaurant in Ringwood for the upcoming publication, which made me feel very excited.

So, on the night of the super blood wolf moon, Ramjan and I got ready to have an evening out. The journey took less than 15 minutes from our home and we arrived early.

The restaurant, which is named after an Italian wine, was tucked away on Christchurch Road, but nicely lit up.

Upon entering we were greeted by a true Italian waiter who looked stylish and suave.

It was an unusually cold evening, so I was pleased the interior was warm. We were shown to our table next to the window and I was rather impressed by the comfortably warm radiator.

Ramjan and Sarah enjoying ‘Date Night’

Andrea Bocelli’s romantic opera voice filled the restaurant with true Italian grace, which set the standard for a wonderful evening ahead, adding even more character to the 44-seater restaurant.

Traditional paintings of Italy line the walls while the Italian flag on the ceiling with bottles of wine strategically placed around it, give the restaurant a cosy and charming feel.

Ramjan felt as though he’d been transported to a small Italian village.

There was a small bistro table outside the front of the restaurant with two seats and some planters, giving customers a nice welcome.

Amarone is clearly well-known locally, as most of the couples who entered after we did, appeared to be regular diners who were greeted with warmth and kisses on both cheeks.

After selecting our starters and mains from the menu, we were served nibbles of olives and warm, home-made toasted bread with olives which had been prepared with onions and garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dip the bread in to while we were waiting for the starters to arrive.

It was nice to be informed by our waiter that the dishes are cooked to order so, if you don’t want a particular ingredient, the chef can remove it, to make it perfect for your taste.

Ramjan cleans up after Gamberi all’Aglio

I ordered the calamari with garlic bread as a starter. The calamari was dusted with flour and deep-fried so it was crispy and that’s exactly how I like my calamari. It was served with a side-salad and a delicious fresh lime dill dip. Ramjan had the Gamberi all’Aglio which is pan fried black tiger prawns in white wine with a fresh garlic and chilli sauce, served with home-made bread lightly brushed with garlic.

I couldn’t resist trying some. This dish must’ve been cooked with the finest

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

tomatoes. It was perfectly balanced with the added herbs.

Garlic bread, slightly overcooked on the underside, suited Ramjan, but I prefer mine to be light and fluffy rather than crispy.

Pollo Gamberetti served with fries

It took around 20 minutes, after we finished our starters, for the mains to arrive.

Ramjan had ordered Spaghetti Bolognese, which was made with steak mince and cooked in the traditional Italian way, as recommended by our waiter who said in his accent, “If you want to taste true Italian flavours, always choose either the Spaghetti Bolognese or the Margherita Pizza.”

There was no way I wanted to be eating pizza on our date night, so I chose the Pollo Gamberetti, which was pan fried chicken breast with king prawns, onion, garlic and chilli with a dash of white wine and a hint of cream and tomato sauce.

My main was very rich, full-flavoured and moreish. The prawns were plump and juicy while the chicken was moist and succulent. The fries went well with it, but if you prefer, you could choose to have it with vegetables, rice or salad instead.

Ramjan’s spaghetti was not as rich and full-flavoured, and when he looked longingly at my dish, I let him have a taste – after all, it was date night.

The meals were filling, so for dessert we chose to share a chocolate fudge cake.

It came out very quickly, but clearly was not made in house which is a shame as everything else they made was on point.

When people go the extra mile with the small things, it makes a huge difference and we felt it was a truly perfect ‘Date Night’ for us both.

The staff at Amarone were hospitable, the food was delicious and the ambience was perfect. We will definitely be going back again soon.

To book your table call 01425 472555

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foodie news

Celebrating Wonderful Watercress!

The slightly eccentric and very British Alresford Watercress Festival is celebrating its 15th year.

It will be returning for one day only, Sunday 19 May, in Alresford, Hampshire – the ‘Capital of Watercress’.

Only in the UK would a town give itself over entirely to the worship of watercress – the peppery superfood to which it owes its prosperity – with the ritual procession of the newly crowned king and queen of watercress dispensing freshly picked watercress to the gathered throngs, while other devotees take part in the World Watercress Eating Championships to see who can consume an 85g bag in the fastest time.

Join the other 15,000 watercress fans, (which include many celebrities who’ve expressed their admiration for the ‘green stuff’ over the years, such as Mary Berry, James Martin, Skye Gyngell, Anthony Worrall Thompson, Dick Strawbridge, Sophie Grigson, Lucas Hollweg, Jane Devonshire and Matt Pritchard), who will converge on Alresford to celebrate the start of the UK watercress season.

The Alresford Watercress Festival runs from 10am to 4pm. Free

bags of watercress plus samples of delicious and healthy watercress smoothies, or watercress pesto, are available but the organisers do urge visitors to give a donation to the Joe Glover Trust, a

wonderful local children’s cancer charity in return.

For more information about watercress, the festival, or for directions and parking visit www. watercress.co.uk/festival

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

| 33

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

15 February 7.30pm

Michael Buble Tribute at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown.

Box Office 01202 894858 or book online.

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

16 February 9am-1pm

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

16 February 10am-12 noon

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

Greyfriars, 44 Christchurch Road, Ringwood BH24 1DW.

16 February 7.30pm

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

Tickets £7 (incl refreshments) available at the door or from Margaret McDermott 01202824339.

16-23 February 10am-4pm

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

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

34 |

19 February 9-11.30am

24 February 10am-1pm

19-21 February 10-12.30pm

25 February 7.30pm

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

Spring Half Term Fun for children at Russell Cotes, Bournemouth. Details: russellcotes.com/half-term for more details.

21 February 11am & 2pm

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

21 February 2pm

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

21 February 7.30pm

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

22 February 2pm

Lily & The Albatross performed

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

VIEWPOINT February 2019

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

Wimborne Camera Club is a friendly local club, offering a broad programme of events, with support for photographers of all abilities. who meet every Monday at St Michael’s Church Hall, Colehill, Wimborne, BH21 7AB. Further information can be found at www.wimbornecameraclub. org.uk/

27 February 7.30pm New Forest Jazz Workshop at Godshill Village Hall.

For further information call 01425650770 or email hippotrain@btinternet.com.

6 March 2.30-4.30pm

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

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

6 March 7.30pm

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

6 March 7.30pm

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

8 March

Prama, in partnership with Ferndown Town Council and Mayor, Cllr Jean Read, are hosting a lunch at the Barrington Centre, Ferndown in memory of former Mayor, Cllr Steve Lugg. Isolated and vulnerable people from the Ferndown area are invited for an afternoon of entertainment and soup and sandwich lunch.

Tickets £2 per person. Call 01202 894858 or pop into the Centre to reserve your place

11 March 2.30pm

West Moors Horticultural Society illustrated talk ‘The National Garden Scheme’ by David Moon at West Moors Memorial Hall. More details: Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536.

12 March 7.30 to 9.15

Bournemouth & Beyond discovery group discusses Musical Heritage of Thomas Hardy with Bonnie Sartin.

Meetings held at Richmond Hill St Andrews Church Hall, St Stephen's Road, Bournemouth BH2 6JJ £20 per term, or £4 per meeting. Refreshments 30p.

12 March 10am

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

13 March 2pm

Friends of the Red House Museum talks at Priory House, Quay Road, Christchurch, BH23 1BU ‘Conan Doyle: Edinburgh to Minstead’. Gill Pitt will be giving a talk in an attempt to discover who Conan Doyle really was. £2.50/£4.50 Friends/visitors.

01202 482860 to book.

15 March 7.30pm

An evening with Sir Geoff Hurst – the only man in history to score three goals in a World Cup Final – is with compère Terry Baker at the Regent Centre, Christchurch.

Audience Q&A and small charity auction. VIP Meet & Greet tickets available. Book early.

16 March 9am-1pm

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

16 March

‘Iran – Land of Great Kings, Shahs and Ayatollahs’ lecture

by John Osbourne at The Old School, Sturminster Marshall.

Tickets £6. Tel: 01258857528.

23 March 1.30pm

West Moors Horticultural Society Spring Show at West Moors Memorial Hall. More details: Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536

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around & about Talking Heads, Ferndown Drama Barrington Theatre - Review by Marilyn Barber

A scene from Cinderella

Cinderella – Highcliffe Charity Players Regent Centre, Christchurch - Review by Marilyn Barber Cinderella is the most performed panto by both professional and amateur groups and so it is always a challenge to make it that little bit different.

But co-authors Stephen Hutt and Charles Michael Duke – who played Buttons – and director Georgina Smith managed to achieve this.

As far as the Ugly Sisters were concerned, it was a case of the more grotesque the better. Tooti (Pete Whitaker) and Frooti (Mike Young) wore a kaleidoscope of colours in costumes that almost defied the imagination. Their exploits elicited plenty of boos, as did Ellie Tripp as the evil stepmother.

Charlotte Starr in the title role had plenty of opportunity to showcase her excellent voice, and her transformation dress brought gasps from the audience.

The role of Buttons is pivotal as he is

the character who gets the children on side, and Charles worked achieved this with lots of bounce and energy.

The Prince is usually portrayed as almost too charming, but in this production he was haughty and supremely confident. And instead of Dandini there was the Lord Chamberlain (Barry Gray).

Brie-anna (Stanley Smith), Dough-na (Holly Prince) and Merlotti (Laura Lock) added to the colour and fun, whilst Jade Morrell as the Fairy Godmother helped to move the story on.

This, coupled with the versatile adult chorus, produced an enjoyable couple of hours for the packed audience.

I went on the second night, and some of the scenery changes – although rather good – took more than a few seconds, although I expect this was rectified further into the week-long run.

Awesome is a much used and indeed very often misused word, but it has to be said that for an amateur actor to hold the stage for 30-40 minutes is quite frankly just that.

This group managed to persuade one actor and two actresses to perform monologues in three separate plays by Alan Bennett.

Harry Susser was Graham in A Chip in the Sugar. A middle aged man with self confidence issues, he just wanted to keep his ageing, forgetful mother to himself, and was unsettled by the arrival of an elderly man who threatened his cosy existence.

The audience were with Graham every step of the way with his moving performance.

A Cream Cracker Under the Settee evoked many emotions as Doris, (Jenny Sibley), failed to come to terms with the fact that a care home was on the horizon. She had fallen and injured her leg, and then when she tried to move to make a cup of tea, she fell again, ending up on the floor for hours. However, there was humour amongst the pathos – a real triumph for Jenny who has been with the company for 20 years.

Finally Marie Bushell brought Lesley to life, taking us through the ups, but more downs, of an aspiring actress, in Her Big Chance. With numerous quick costume changes and a spirited performance, Lesley painted a vivid verbal picture.

This would be a huge challenge for any drama group but Ferndown certainly pulled it off, so a big round of applause too for director Chaz Davenport.

An awesome evening!

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| 35

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

Snow Patrol BIC Bournemouth 27 January Review by Janine Pulford

Extraordinary and worth the wait with a surprise appearance by James Corden

W

© Bradley Quinn Photography www.bradleyquinn.com

36 |

VIEWPOINT February 2019

hat more can I say? Fans sang, danced and nearly cheered the roof off the BIC, they were so delighted to see Snow Patrol back on stage after a long absence.

The band rocked up with Take Back The City and everyone was right in there singing their hearts out.

Just a few favourite tunes from the night were Empress, Open Your Eyes, You’re All I Have, Shut Your Eyes – when Lightbody got the fans whispering the words and gradually brought them louder and louder. Life On Earth (which took five years to write and is off the band’s new album Wildness) was truly ‘something else’ and produced really tight playing, I loved everything about it – incredible. Heal Me, brought psychedelic beauty into the room and Chasing Cars, got some

huge singing by the fans.

Laser lights exploded on to the stage bounced across the audience and into the roof, lifting the music to next level and I’ve never seen a band disappear into what looked like a surreal giant fish tank before with zillions of bubbles of light and forward projection. Super cool.

Excellent support acts Roe and Kodaline deserve a mention. If you can catch this tour elsewhere, do so.

You won’t be disappointed, but you probably won’t get the bonus we had in Bournemouth.

James Corden came on stage and sang What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get? with Gary Lightbody. Now if a song is going to give you away, it’s that one. Corden said, “This could be a disaster but I hope you like it.” Well, it didn’t ‘hurt like hell’ guys, it was beautiful.

Victorian thriller tackles emotional abuse The play that coined the term ‘gaslighting’ – a form of emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their sanity – will be performed by Wimborne Drama Productions at the Tivoli Theatre from 21 to 23 February.

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton, a classic Victorian thriller, is a powerful story of a young woman psychologically dominated by her husband.

While Jack Manningham is out on the town each evening his wife Bella stays at home alone, believing she’s losing her mind. She can’t explain the disappearance of familiar objects, the mysterious footsteps overhead or the ghostly flickering of the living room gaslights. The surprise arrival of retired Detective Rough leads to a shocking discovery that will shake her respectable Victorian marriage to its core.

Gaslight was first staged in 1938 and won Ingrid Bergman an Oscar for her role in the 1944 film version.

“I always like taut psychological dramas and I love thrillers,” says director Sam Moulton. “As well as it being good entertainment, there is a very serious core of social comment in this play. It has given its name to the modern term ‘gaslighting’. Only recently in the media, the former Spice Girl Melanie Brown used the term about her own abusive marriage.”

Gaslight stars Tracey Nicholls, Richard Neal, Chris Durham, Chrissie Neal and Jemma Cable, with support from Gary Paine and Richard Scotson.

It is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. For tickets and further information, contact the Tivoli box office on 01202 885566 or book online.

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in the home

Banish the blues with Feng Shui

By Sarah Ali Choudhury

If your home feels like it's been in a constant state of the blues, it's time to banish those negative, sad and downright depressing vibes that can have a dramatic effect on your mood once and for all.

Feng Shui pseudoscience originates from China and claims to use energy forces to harmonise individuals with their surrounding environment.

Here are 10 tips to create good feng shui in your home.

Neutral colors for positivity Dark, rich colors are full of personality but sometimes when you're already overwhelmed by life, that's the opposite of what you need. Stick with neutral colours.

Add mirrors Placing mirrors around your home increases positive energy (also known as chi).

Remove sharp and pointy edges One of the most important rules in feng shui is to remove as many sharp angles and edges around your home as possible.

Start with a clean slate If you are moving into a new home make sure you clean and wipe down surfaces before moving your belongings into the home, even if the house is already spotless because this aids in removing any type of negative energy from the previous owner.

Salt the room Pouring salt into the four corners of your rooms and letting it sit for 48 hours absorbs negative energy. Either vacuum or sweep the salt and throw it away after.

Crystal energy Black touraline is known to ward off and dissolve negative energy. Rose quartz replaces negative emotions and feelings with positive ones. There are other crystals you can keep in the home for encouraging positivity.

Remove clutter Objects retain lots of energy and physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually block our 'path. Keep the items that truly make you happy and get rid of the ones that don’t.

Repair or go Broken things bring negative energy into your home, so anything broken needs to be fixed or needs to go.

Air your space Open up all the windows and create a draft to let the air come through, even if it's freezing cold outside. While you're at it, shake out your pillows and blankets, which will clear any negativity.

Burn incense Nag Champa is an incense best used in a clean home for meditation as it's property creates a calm and serene atmosphere.

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

| 37

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Holman’s giving to charity

Holmans has a BIG new Panasonic 65” 4K Ultra HD Television to give away to a deserving (not for profit) organisation, club or charity in the local area.

This television has been donated to the Holmans Team for outstanding performance with Panasonic. It cannot be sold so the Holmans Team has decided to donate it to charity rather than raffle it amongst themselves and are now looking for a worthy cause to give it a home.

Nominations and applications are invited from local groups and charities telling Holmans why they would benefit from receiving the television. Visit their website for details.

38 |

Mindset for decluttering

By Sarah Ali Choudhury

How often do we feel overwhelmed in our own homes?

Do you ever feel like you're losing control of keeping the house together? Do you look around your own home and feel like throwing everything out and starting all over again?

Clutter is bad for the mind and bad for your wallet.

You might even consider ripping out the kitchen and at the same time stripping all the wallpaper out of the lounge.

Before you decide to do any major job, try these little pointers, and you might feel completely different about your home.

VIEWPOINT February 2019

For some people, being organised is part of who they are, but for others trying to remain organised isn’t as simple.

If your home is in need of a spring clean but you don’t know where to start, look no further. Here’s what you need to get you into the right mindset and by the end of this read, you'll have the tools required to donate, gift, or toss out things that do nothing but take up space in your lives. Whether you've been forced to downsize or you're just looking to trim down the physical stuff in your life, this article will help you make the tough calls, so you can get back to enjoying the things you love.

Start by getting into the right mindset, by sitting in the space and imagining it being tidy and organised.

Be prepared to part with old unused items that attract dust.

Create an inventory of your home and use this to find out if you have lots of the same items which you don’t need and which you don’t use.

Consider how someone else might find some of your unused items really useful. For example, there may be family or friends who are going away to study at university, or someone setting up a new home on a budget.

One of the best things to do before starting your ‘big clear out’, is to have a cleaning plan. Believe it or not, you can find downloadable cleaning plans online.

Before you start, make a list of the cleaning products you think you'll need. Also, obtain a minimum of four large

cardboard boxes for ‘the four box cleaning method’ and label them: Keep, Sell/ Donate, Store, Throw.

Sell/Donate will go to goodwill, or your favourite charity or hopefully make you a little money on eBay or Gumtree.

It took time to collect all that stuff, it'll take some time to let it all go. It won’t be possible to clean the entire home in a day, so don’t try. Declutter in small focused bursts, which will be successful. Making a plan and targeting specific areas over a prolonged period and sticking to it will prevent you from exhausting yourself.

Give yourself a couple of hours a day ensuring you take a break every half hour.

Some people find it difficult letting go of things so ask yourself these questions to ensure you can feel good about saying that last goodbye.

Consider the utility of the item and what makes it unique. What does it do?

Does it do one thing or a multiple of things?

Ask: “What does this item do for me that nothing else does?"

Also ask yourself if you have anything else that does it better, and finally, does the item have any sentimental meaning?

Don't leave any stones unturned – open up that box and look inside. Even if it seems okay, it could be a box full of old papers that ought to be shredded – you'll be happier with them gone than taking up space.

Apply these three questions to virtually everything you own. If you're moving, you have a natural reason to evaluate everything you possess, but if you're decluttering to clean and organize, make sure to give yourself time to review everything.

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in the home

Selling or renting out a second property?

By Sarah Ali Choudhury

N

o one wants to spend a fortune preparing an empty property that is about go up for sale or rent. Instead, it makes sense to achieve the highest possible value for the property, working with what you already have.

Here are some ways that will help ensure that any money spent will yield a return.

It should not be hugely expensive to put the small things right, like leaking taps, cracked windowpanes or missing drawer handles – repairing small things can make big improvements.

Prospective buyers or those seeking to rent a property can find it hard to envisage how appealing a place will look once their furniture is in place, the windows dressed and the beds made, so a garden that is well-stocked can create a sense of ambience. A welcoming garden could help clients make a more informed decision as to whether the property is right for them.

An empty property often appears cold and unwelcoming making it visually unappealing. Visit regularly and freshen it up, give it a dust, water the plants, tidy the mail and make sure it maintains a warm and inviting impression.

Make the most of cleaners, gardeners and window cleaners if you don’t have the time to do these jobs yourself, or consider a house dresser to stage your property for the purposes of increasing market value and making it more pleasing to the eye, It won’t take long before you will be in a position to achieve the best possible price for your home. There are other factors that you will need to consider too, including the selection of an appropriate estate agent. It is important to select an agent who is active in the area, and who you feel confident will carry out the sale or rental efficiently.

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

| 39

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Keep your carpets clean

If you are the owner of beautiful new carpets you may have purchased a warranty. If so, it's advisable to check whether or not you need to have your carpets cleaned professionally.

Some carpet companies will not honour your carpet warranty unless you regularly clean your

carpets professionally, and professionals are hired annually. Between professional carpet cleaning you should be vacuuming at least weekly or more often if you have pets. Obviously, carpets need to be vacuumed as often as needed but it does not count as carpet cleaning, according to some carpet insurance

By Sarah Ali Choudhury

companies.

A dirty carpet is not just an eyesore – it also poses a health risk. Professional carpet cleaning can help prevent many serious problems and among these problems is reducing and eliminating dust mite infestations. Carpet also tends to trap odours. This is especially significant if the homeowners have pets. Pet urine and faeces can be one of the most difficult smells to remove from carpet fibres.

Dust particles have been linked to nose, sinus, and breathing problems such as asthma. If these contaminants are not removed from the carpet, they can cause numerous health problems, especially in young children Indoor air quality can be considerably worse than outdoor air quality

if you don't clean your flooring, clean your drapes and let air inside regularly, which can affect asthma sufferers and people with allergies and breathing difficulties.

One of the most common errors people make when vacuuming is that they do it too fast. Vacuuming slowly allows a vacuum cleaner to do its best work by vibrating carpet fibres and containing dust in the vacuum.

Make sure you blot any spills immediately. Spray carpet cleaner on a cloth and dab the stain, working from the outside to its centre. Rinse with a clean cloth in the same way, and

then blot it dry. Make sure you don’t start rubbing a stain, as this will spread goo around and can distort the carpet's pile.

Hiring a machine and attempting to remove stains from an expensive carpet can prove disastrous.

Possible damage includes shrinkage of carpets, browning, setting of stains and lingering odours caused by over-wetting.

Expert carpet cleaners provide you with the peace of mind of knowing that your carpets have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and regular hovering will ensure that your carpet is looking its best all year round.

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The ‘on your hands and knees, scrubbing and carrying dirty water’ process is now a thing of the past. With the advancement of new technology and products, Zero Dry Time have developed a fully robust cleaning system that can provide you, the home owner, with what you want when having your carpets cleaned.

Dry carpets and upholstery ready for immediate use with no fuss – what’s not to like?

Imagine if you were having your carpets cleaned, would you like to be told: “that they’re fresh, dry, clean and ready to use for immediate use.”

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For a free, no obligation quote on flooring or upholstery cleaning requirements, please call John or Debby, locally based in Ringwood, on 0800 180 4052.

40 |

VIEWPOINT February 2019

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

BLINDS & CURTAINS

BUILDING SERVICES

DECORATING

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

COMPUTER SERVICES

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

DECORATING

CATERING

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ELECTRICIAN

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specialist services FENCING

DISABILITY PRODUCTS

FENCING

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

GARDENING SERVICES

HEATING SPECIALISTS

LANDSCAPING

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LOCKSMITH

LOGS

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PLASTERING

To advertise here call: 01202 816140

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| 43

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

RUBBISH AND WASTE CLEARANCE

TREE SURGERY

TREE SURGERY

WINDOW REPAIRS

TREE SURGERY

WINDOW REPAIRS

To advertise here call: 01202 816140

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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Green light for more than 300 new homes for Wimborne Although outline permission had been granted for a new 305-property housing estate on the outskirts of Wimborne, full details of the Barratt David Wilson Homes scheme at Park Farm Leigh Road have now been revealed with approval by East Dorset District Council of its appearance and layout.

The reserve matters application for the site - which was included in the Core Strategy - was given the green light at the last planning committee meeting.

An estimated £1,683,419, secured by a Section 106 legal agreement, will go towards middle and upper school provision, around £1,521,514 towards the maintenance of the SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) and £20,000 to enable council officers to monitor the construction of the SANG. The development will consist of 85 affordable properties, 59 affordable rented properties, 26 shared ownership properties plus 135 properties to be marketed.

Wimborne Town Council and Colehill Parish Council

expressed no objections to the plans, but concerns from local people included the lack of public transport close to the site and the housing density. Affordable housing of just 28 per cent has also been criticised The properties will be predominantly two-storey houses, although there will be some bungalows plus one-anda-half and two-and-a half storey buildings.

There will be 701 parking spaces comprised of 61 for visitors with 640 spaces allocated.

Outline permission for a large retail unit on the site has already received permission. No development is to be permitted until a number of conditions are met.

These include: the submission of a Site Specific Drainage Strategy; Protected Species Mitigation; the diversion of a Public Right of Way and the approval of the local authority for interpretation display boards relating to the Roman Road.

Marilyn Barber

Artist makes presentation

The artist who painted a picture of Wimborne Model Town, which was the prize in the attraction’s annual raffle, recently presented it to the winner, Karen Kebby.

Rosemary McDonald’s painting also features on many items of the model town’s gift shop range. Karen said, “I am thrilled with the painting and it was such a privilege to meet the very talented lady who painted it.”

Money raised by the raffle will assist with the upkeep of the model town, which will open for the 2019 season on 30 March.

Thief identified

A mischievous birdie has been spotted swiping balls at Parley Golf Centre and flying off with them.

Identified as a crow, by manager Daryl Dampney, the thief has been picking up balls in various locations and flying into the woodland with them. “It’s the first time something like this has happened,” said Daryl.

Tony Whitehead, a spokesman for the RSPB, explained, “This does happen occasionally. It is likely that a single bird is responsible and is mistaking the balls for eggs that it wants to eat. Crows will fly off with food and store it in a larder for later.

“It is most likely a carrion crow and the way to stop it happening is to use fluorescent balls for a time.”

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motoring / keeping you on the road.

Dorset roads are becoming safer Since 2012, the number of people killed and seriously injured on Dorset’s roads has shown a sustained fall says Dorset Police.

In 2012 it was 355, in 2018 with figures to be confirmed, it was 239, a reduction of slightly more than 32%.

Slight or minor collisions have showed a similar reduction of a little over 30%.

An average of 378 people were killed or seriously injured annually on Dorset’s roads in the preceding 13 years (1999 – 2011), showing a steady reduction to the present.

Chief Constable James Vaughan, Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill and Head of Roads Policing Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk have put the positive change down to active and intelligence-led roads policing, investment of funds and resources and close partnership working.

Chief Constable Vaughan said this was an excellent result “and vindication of the planning, targeted intelligence-led policing and effective allocation of resources and funding that goes into roads policing every year.

“We would like to invest more and not only continue but accelerate this trend, and an increase to police funding by way

of a small rise in the police precept would certainly help with that," he said. “It is also a suitable reflection of the hard work and professionalism of the officers in our No Excuse and Alliance Roads Policing teams, and of our partner organisations.”

The No Excuse approach was launched in 2010 followed by the introduction of a dedicated police officer led enforcement team in 2014 and since that time has carried out its own proactive roads policing operations and supported other police units with localised operations. It concentrates on the Fatal Five top contributory factors to death and serious injuries on the roads.

Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said, “I am optimistic that our Dorset Partnership has managed to achieve a sustained reduction in deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The No Excuse campaign, coupled with the No Excuse Team, Op Dragoon, Op Allied Wolf and other such initiatives have clearly been instrumental, coupled with consistent messaging through print, social media and local media about the Fatal Five."

Speeding ticket issued in error

If you have received a speeding ticket and you know you were not at the location on the time and date specified, request a photograph.

Someone at the mags4dorset office had to do this recently after receiving a speeding ticket at a location near Dorchester. It was known that on the day and time of the ‘offence’ the vehicle in question was parked on a drive in Ferndown.

A telephone call resulted in a worrying conversation when it was explained that the make and colour of the vehicle was the same, however, the ‘victim’ knew it could not have been his car and insisted on being sent a photograph.

When it arrived, it immediately confirmed that the model of the vehicle was completely different, however, the number plate was almost identical. The discrepancy was between a K and an X and the person who had issued the ticket had not looked properly at the number plate, but merely glanced at it. A formal apology was received.

If something similar has happened to you. Write and let Viewpoint know. It would be interesting to discover how often this type of error occurs. Send your letter to newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk

Road reopening delayed

M

otorists who hoped Allenview Road in Wimborne would have re-opened to through traffic this month are going to have to wait a little longer.

Although residents on the estate have been able to access their homes since the closure in July last year, Wessex Water say that due to engineering difficulties the sewer installation works will have to be extended by another nine weeks. They plan to complete the work by the end of March.

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2019

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VIEWPOINT February 2019

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