Viewpoint January 2019

Established Over 35 Years Mid Jan 2019

Your Independent Local Magazine

VIEWPOINT

Volume 43, Issue 3

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

Happy New Year!

As we enter 2019, MAGS4DORSET is delighted to make an exciting announcement. See page 5 for full details.

MAGS4DORSET also welcomes the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation as its charity of the year.

If you love your local community news publication, tell the advertisers in this issue that you saw them in Viewpoint Magazine.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE : • INTERVIEW W ITH SNOW PATROL FRONTMAN • FAB FOOD AT THE OLD THATCH • WINNING SHOR T STORY • HELPING FURR Y FRIENDS SHED POUNDS

VIEWPOINT

Volume 43 • Issue 3 • January 2019

Picture of the month

MAGS4DORSET

Happy New Year!

Ben Pulford managing director design@mags4dorset.co.uk

It is great to be able to start a new year with good news, so I am delighted to announce that MAGS4DORSET’s parent company, Pulford Publicity, has been awarded the contract to produce a prestigious new business magazine in partnership with Dorset Chamber. (See page 5).

The extra work is welcomed, particularly after the demise of the Stour and Avon Magazine at the end of last year. The weekly community newspaper folded for commercial reasons and this highlights how hard it is to survive when producing free publications that rely solely on advertising revenue. The volume of online news makes it harder for paper issues to keep their foothold, as does the skewed perception that social media is the place to advertise because it is free. With every man and his dog (literally) on social media, businesses can be hard to find. It’s getting the company name to the right people that that is difficult, and reinforcing it to the consumer. This is where the paper issues shine.

VIEWPOINT and our other title 4DORSET have supportive and loyal advertisers, and are buoyant. We can’t thank our advertisers enough for backing our family-run company and in return, receiving the benefits of knowing their adverts are reaching their customers.

Please use our advertisers when you can, and say where you saw them.

With that in mind, 2019 could be a good year for everyone, despite Brexit.

Janine Pulford Editor

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

Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@mags4dorset.co.uk

NEWS DESK 01202 870270 Janine Pulford editor editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk mags@mags4dorset.co.uk

DESIGN 01202 233441

Frozen

© CatchBox

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

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

25 JANUARY 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

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

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Lottery boost for Forest FM

Extreme sleeps raise £1,300 for JTYAF Two young men summited and slept on three of the UK’s highest mountains to raise money for the John Thornton Young Achiever’s Foundation (JTYAF).

Russell and Charlie from Go Ape Moors Valley raised over £1,300 by challenging themselves to climb the mountains and sleep on them. They ascended Helvellyn, the 3rd highest peak in England, Aonach Beag, which is second only to Ben Nevis, and Glyder Fawr in Wales. In addition to the climbs, three extreme sleeps provided the ultimate challenge. They battled rain, and winds that gusted up to 80mph.

Pete Thornton, JTYAF chairman, commented, “We are so proud of Charlie and Russell and all that they achieved in the most awful conditions. Their challenge symbolises all the charity values; courage, determination, unselfishness and cheerfulness in adversity. The money that they have raised will make a big difference to the opportunities that we can provide for local young people in 2019 and we can’t thank them enough.”

Donations can still be made. Please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ alternative3sleeps

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

The National Lottery Big Lottery Fund is helping Forest FM boost its coverage. Just over £7,000 from the ‘Awards for All’ fund has been allocated to the community radio station Forest FM in order to improve its coverage on FM. Reception has always been a little patchy in the Ferndown and West Moors area and Forest FM has been working with regulator OFCOM to improve the signal there.

Station manager Steve Saville said, “We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery for providing funds for new equipment to make this possible. Planning is well underway and we hope to be able to announce the improvement early next year.”

Homeowners remember Macmillan Caring Locally Homeowners at Cherrett Court in Ferndown enjoy regular monthly coffee mornings to raise funds for Macmillan Caring Locally.

In December, £204 was collected.

This will be donated to the Brick by Brick appeal, to go towards the building of new facilities at Christchurch Hospital.

Since starting to support the charity, homeowners have raised more than £2,000.

Coffee mornings are held on the first Friday of the month at 10.30am. Visitors are welcome.

Call Joyce Little 01202 980839 for more information.

Tackling domestic abuse

£1.3m has been secured to help tackle domestic abuse across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Dorset County Council is supporting Hart District Council in leading an innovative project bid to prevent domestic abuse and support victims across the region securing £1,297,125 of funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It will be used to: • introduce new initiatives focused on early intervention • break down barriers faced by those in the most hard to reach communities • support people experiencing domestic abuse and keep them safe in their homes This new funding means that the success of Dorset’s Isolated Communities Engagement Project provided by the You Trust will continue to operate in the county for another 18 months. Learnings from the project will be shared with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

New initiatives that will be adopted through the fund include early intervention in hospitals, GP surgeries and other community health care settings and increasing the number of specialist refuge bed spaces locally.

Dorset will also learn from Hampshire’s Making Safe Scheme, which provides security measures to homes of people threatened by domestic abuse to help keep them safe.

Anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse can contact the confidential, free 24 hour helpline on 0800 032 5204 or by visiting www.dorsetforyou.com/ dvahelp

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Dorset Chamber launches new business magazine

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

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

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

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

“We plan to shine a light on key sectors and really tell the stories of businesses in Dorset. Our chamber brand is already strong and we see the new magazine reinforcing our first class service and enabling us to reach a wider audience.”

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

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

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

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Column supplied by Wessex Pensions

Climate change and investing No investor can ignore the impact and risk of climate change, and in recent years we have seen many of them increase their focus on considerations relating to the environment, social and government factors before making their investment decisions.

Ethical investing is not just the case of mitigating risks around climate change, but also to take advantage of the new investment opportunities that may arise.

The so called Millennials; those born in between the early 1980s and 2000s, are particularly interested in sustainable investing, citing that they wish to do more to support either the environment or sustainable companies and/or have been influenced by increasing media focus on environmental issues.

Investors also have voting rights and again this has seen an increase in investors making their voices heard on a number of business initiatives, including climate resolutions. This has led to businesses disclosing how they are addressing climate change and their use of renewable energy.

When we talk about ethical investing, what we really mean is putting your money into investments that are responsible and sustainable. Investment Fund Managers investing in this area tend to use a ‘negative’ screening process to exclude companies that ethical investors would rather avoid, not just

considering the environment but also areas such as tobacco, Daniel gambling or Parkin armaments.

Many now are also using positive screening alongside this, in order to seek out those companies who are committed to sustainable and socially responsible practices.

Ethical investing also has its drawbacks, especially as ethical funds cannot and will not invest in certain industries. Certain shares and sectors will fall in and out of favour during periods of political and economic uncertainty.

Investors may also experience greater volatility because ethical investments tend to exclude government bonds and other lower risk assets. UK gilts and other government bonds, traditionally considered a low risk asset, can be screened negatively and therefore excluded from ethical investors given that government invest in areas that may be regarded as unethical, such as armaments.

Despite the additional volatility in ethical investing, I feel 2019 will see a further interest in this sector, as more and more investors not only just consider the performance of their investments or pension funds, but also take an interest in how these investments affect the world around us.

For more information about pensions, telephone Daniel Parkin on 07801 432182.

17 Headlands Business Park, Salisbury Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3PB

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Why I Love West Moors

You could win £100 if you write the best poem in a creative writing competition being held by West Moors Parish Council. The poem must be original, on one sheet only (A4 or A3). They can be hand written or computer generated. Closing date for entries is 1 July 2019, with a presentation being made on Saturday 13 July 2019 at 3pm on Fryer Field. Entries cost £1.

A competition for children (4-18) is also being run. The design a logo costs just 50p to enter with a prize of £50. The A4 design can be drawn, painted, collaged using any materials, or can be computer generated.

For more details call 01202 861044 or call into the parish office at 4 Park Way, West Moors.

Sudden closure of Stour and Avon Magazine The sudden closure of the Stour and Avon Magazine at the end of 2018, was a sad day for the local community and the print industry. Started

by Joan and Martin Tidd as Wimborne Magazine in 1986, the weekly paper covered local news and events. It was owned by Reach and was not connected in any way to MAGS4DORSET whose independent titles 4Dorset and Viewpoint remain buoyant in the marketplace.

Anyone wishing to send news to MAGS4DORSET for these magazines should email news@mags4dorset.co.uk or editorial@ mags4dorset.co.uk. Those wishing to run advertising campaigns, please turn to page 3 for contact details.

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MAGS4DORSET welcomes JTYAF as charity of the year Here at the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) we are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by MAGS4DORSET as their ‘Charity of the Year’. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to be able to keep in touch with you throughout 2019 and we can’t thank our friends at MAGS4DORSET enough for their support.

The JTYAF was set up in 2008 in memory of our son Lieutenant John Thornton who was tragically killed in Afghanistan while serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines. His Foundation helps local young people to discover their potential and develop their talents, by providing scholarships and bursaries through the 20 local youth organisations that we support. The JTYAF has no paid staff, no premises and is run on a purely voluntary basis. Keeping running costs to a minimum ensures that the maximum amount of funds raised can be directly invested in young futures. Since 2008 more than £615,000 has been awarded to over

1,600 individual young people.

Without the kindness and generosity of our supporters and the local community, none of this would be possible, as the work we do very much depends on the funds that we raise. January is the most exciting time of the year for us as we work out how the money raised in 2018 will be awarded. We especially look forward to the ceremony at Ferndown Upper School, where we get to meet the amazing young people who have been selected to receive awards.

We have some great fundraising events planned for 2019 including our first ever ‘Charity Football

Match.’ AFC Bournemouth Legends, including Eddie Howe, Steve Fletcher and many more big names, will play an Armed Forces XI at Wimborne Town. An event not to be missed.

We’ll have more news on this, our awards and other events next month, but until then, we wish you a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous 2019.

For more information please visit our website www.jtyaf.org Linda Thornton Secretary JTYAF

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Consultation on land at Horton Heath

People are being asked for their views on a site earmarked for quarrying.

Lunch Club looking for new members Every Wednesday the Catholic Church of Saint Anthony is filled with the laughter and chatter of the Lunch Club.

W

hile some arrive by their own means, many of them take the Age Concern bus. Starting at 11.30am, regulars catch up with those who come less often and newcomers are warmly welcomed.

The faces may be familiar, but the food and the entertainment always vary.

The Lunch Club aims to offer variety to its club-goers each week. From giant Scrabble, played in two teams that can get very competitive, to bingo (everyone’s favourite) there is always something to do.

The club is for those over 60 and only for residents of West Moors. Volunteers Sylvia, Vicki and Joyce explain about how the club is very popular with those who go and how it helps them with different aspects of their lives.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

This is echoed by some of the lunch clubbers. “It feels like a little family really.

You could have had the worst week and coming here just makes it so much better.

We’ve met some life-long friends here and that’s what brings us back. The lunch, cakes, coffee, games and entertainment are great but it’s the other people here that make it special,” said one member.

The Lunch Club costs £10 a week in total for those who use the Age Concern bus and £8 for those who come on their own. New members are always welcomed as the club strives to have something for everyone.

Those interested can call 01202 897129 for more information.

The land near to Horton Heath, Three Legged Cross, is being considered as a site for the future quarrying of sand at Redman’s Hill.

The project could see up to 3.5 million tonnes of sand being quarried over a 12-17 year period.

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.

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

Cllr Daryl Turner, cabinet member for the Natural and Built Environment said, “We want to encourage people to give their views over the coming weeks so that they are involved in plans to build a sustainable economy for the future whilst protecting Dorset’s unique environment.”

Following the current consultation, comments will be considered to assess whether the site at Horton Heath should be included in the mineral sites plan.

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

Residents can find out more online at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk or by calling 01305 224675.

Copies of the consultation document, including details of the site, can also be viewed at Verwood and West Moors libraries as well as County Hall, Dorchester.

Comments must be received by 28 January 2019.

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25th Great British Beach Clean The Penn © Lara Jane Thorpe

Happy New Year Colin Burstead The eagerly anticipated Ben Wheatley drama – ‘Happy New Year Colin Burstead’ aired on BBC2, on Sunday 30 December at 10.30pm.

‘Happy New Year Colin Burstead’ tells the story of its lead character who hires a lavish castle for his extended family to celebrate New Year. The backdrop for this black comedy was Penn Castle and the estate grounds, as well as surrounding locations on Portland, bringing the spotlight to the most southerly point of the Jurassic Coast.

The entire cast and crew took over Pennsylvania Castle Estate for the twoweek film schedule, where the team also managed accommodation and catering.

Top names such as Neil Maskell, Charles Dance, Richard Glover, Joe Cole and Sam Riley spent time on location on Portland, whilst staying on the Estate for the duration of filming.

Results show community cleanups have made a dent in beach litter figures this year, but charity stresses this masks a growing plastic litter trend.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says their Great British Beach Clean, run in partnership with Waitrose, was the biggest mass participation beach clean and survey event the UK has ever witnessed. The charity says the event, held over four days in September, involved just short of 15,000 volunteers – double the number in 2017.

At many of the 494 beaches that were cleaned and surveyed around the UK coast (155 more than in 2017), there were well over 100 volunteers – amongst the highest the charity has ever seen on individual beaches. 8,550 kgs of litter was picked up across the whole of the UK. Volunteer cleaners picked up an average of 600 items of litter on every 100m surveyed. But although the volunteer number and events rose, the amount of litter collected dropped.

Lizzie Prior, MCS Beach and River Clean-up project officer, says although a drop in litter sounds like good news, it is in fact anything but.

© The Marine Conservation Society

She said, “In 2017 our volunteers picked up an average of 717 items of litter for every 100m they cleaned and surveyed, this year that figure dropped by 16%. But it’s almost certainly a false dawn. UK governments must certainly not think the crisis is over and slow down or shelve any much-needed litter legislation.

“Litter levels fluctuate year on year and for the last decade have risen by over 15%. The Great British Beach Clean is just a snapshot of the UK litter story and must be seen in the context of the broader trending picture. There’s more litter in our seas than there has ever been.”

On average, for every 100 metres of the UK coastline cleaned there were – • Nearly 189 plastic/polystyrene pieces • 38 plastic caps /lids • 21 cotton bud sticks • 16 drinks bottles and cans • 12 wet wipes • 5 plastic bags • 3 plastic / polystyrene cups

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verwood news

A look back in time for Hillside The pupils and staff of Hillside First School in Verwood were honoured with a visit from Henry VIII’s niece and husband, the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk recently, as part of Year 4’s Tudor topic.

The couple, who were greeted with respectful bows and curtsies, talked to the children about life in their times and went into great detail about how the Tudor men and women would dress.

They proceeded to remove a few of their many layers of clothing, explaining the reasons for their design and choice of materials – a little cap with ear pieces to ensure that the devil couldn’t whisper in your ear, or the fine cloth being shown off by being pulled through the slits of a doublet.

The children were encouraged to feel samples of fabric, wooden plates and pewter tankards. Some lucky children were delighted to try on various pieces and even the headteacher, Mr Jeremy Harrison, was persuaded to try on some hose (short trousers) and the Duke’s jacket.

The Duke and Duchess, Nigel Manley and Fiona Starkey, were impressed with the pupils’ knowledge of their topic and the informed questions they were asked. The children enjoyed the visit and will remember the facts that were brought to life for them.

Verwood Choral Society raises money for ‘Coping with Chaos’ Verwood Choral Society held another successful concert on 1 December at the Methodist Church in Verwood and a large audience enjoyed some lovely Christmas music and carols.

A

ll of the concerts raise money for charity and this one was no exception. A total of £650 was raised for Coping with Chaos, a local charity which supports disabled children and their families. This enables them to go away for short breaks together as a family and also provides support and help for the families and carers.

The choral society, since its formation 30 years ago, has raised well over £20,000 for mostly local charities. They

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

will soon begin preparing for the next concert in June 2019.

New members, both ladies and gentlemen of all ages are welcome to join them, especially tenors and basses.

Rehearsals take place every Monday evening between 7.30pm – 9.00pm at the Parish Church of St Michael’s in Verwood.

For more details please call the chairperson, Sue Longstaff, on 01202 829212 or e-mail sumlon@hotmail.co.uk

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verwood news -| Advertisement feature |-

Equity release and mortgage advice for free Are you thinking of obtaining equity release from your property to boost your income, or enjoy an exotic holiday?

Or, do you need a mortgage?

New nursery celebrates

Verwood CE First School’s new nursery celebrated its first Christmas by joining forces with the older children on a festive production.

The nursery officially became part of Verwood CE First School in September 2018.

If so, the Mortgage Place, based in the centre of Verwood, offers free advice on how to obtain the best service for your requirements.

The company is owned by Tony Nottage, who has spent his whole career in finance, and you can call in, or make an appointment to see him. He will also visit you at your home, if it is more convenient.

As well as the advice being free, once your equity release, or mortgage, is arranged, there is no fee payable to the Mortgage Place. “This is quite unusual,” says Tony, “But I like to offer clients a fully-advised free service tailored to their individual requirements.”

The Mortgage Place will also arrange associated insurances, such as home insurance, and again, there is no fee payable for this service.

Equity release, Tony explains, is more heavily regulated these days with larger providers getting on board. He says people often choose it as an option to boost their income, take a holiday, buy a new car or to do up their property. In fact, equity release can be used for almost any purpose, as long as it is legal.

So to find out more give Tony a call on 01202 497500.

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

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ringwood news Volunteer fair promises opportunities The New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair returns this month. It will bring together dozens of local groups to help budding volunteers find their perfect role.

Taking place on Sunday 27 January from 10.30am to 4pm at Lyndhurst Community Centre, it will showcase opportunities from over 30 groups.

Volunteer roles will include recording wildlife, inspiring youngsters, restoring landscapes and helping some of society’s most vulnerable people.

College student Hannah Makin from Brockenhurst began volunteering in 2018. She said, “For my volunteering placement I was offered a rare experience – travelling to the British Museum Store Rooms in London to take photos of Roman pottery found in the New Forest over 100 years ago.

“I really enjoyed finding out about these rare objects.

I was fascinated at how they have survived for so many years in such good condition and largely intact. And so I am now considering further education in this field and volunteering opportunities in the National Park.”

To find out more about the New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteerfair

Rob presents cheque to Jon’s mum, Lorraine Tarrant-Heckford, Diana and Peter Knight (U3A members), Jon’s dad, Steve with Jon, and Anthea Saqui who suggested Kisses 4 Jon

Main chute fails in charity skydive After his wife gave him a 79th birthday present of a parachute jump, a Ringwood man took the

plunge to raise money for local charity, Kisses 4 Jon. What he didn’t expect was for his main chute to fail, but as he was jumping with an expert on a tandem skydive at the Army Parachute Association in Wiltshire, there was help at hand. His instructor deployed the reserve chute and they landed safely.

Having survived unharmed, Rob Forrester-Addie said, “I knew I was in a life and death situation, but my buddy Tony Locke was totally competent.”

When Rob was asked in a BBC interview if he

Teeth knocked out in assault

Collapsed main 'chute.

would do it again he said, “Too right, yes, I would.”

A video of Rob’s jump can be seen on the BBC news website.

Despite the hiccup, the exhilarating experience helped Rob raise £1,855.20 for Kisses 4 Jon. He told Viewpoint Magazine, “This came from the generosity of Ringwood people, including many Ringwood U3A members.”

Hampshire Constabulary is appealing for witnesses and information after a 19-year-old man had his front teeth knocked out during an assault at the Ringwood Health & Leisure Centre car park.

It took place between 10.40am and 10.55am on Sunday, 9 December.

The victim had parked his motorbike in the motorbike parking area at the leisure centre in Parsonage Barn Lane, Ringwood.

He was approached by a group of around seven male teenagers.

One assaulted the victim, knocking out his front teeth.

During the incident, the bike’s wing mirror was smashed.

The first male is described as being a white man in his late teens, of medium build, around sixfoot tall and with cropped dark hair. He was wearing shorts and a light jumper.

The rest of the group are described as being white males, all aged between 13–19 years old.

One was holding a metal pole.

The victim will have to undergo extensive dental surgery as a result of his injuries.

There were numerous other people in the vicinity who may have seen what happened. If you witnessed the incident or if you have any information, please call 101, quoting reference 44180458890.

Christmas in ringwood

Christmas got underway in Ringwood on 2 December. Stalls, funfair attractions, bubbly snow and entertainment kept the crowd amused until the arrival of Father Christmas who had been kept busy in his grotto beforehand. © CatchBox

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health and care

Double brain tumour tragedy inspires awareness drive

A Dorset woman who lost both her father and sister to brain tumours has pledged to raise awareness of the disease and funds for research.

Michelle Scott, 42, from Poole has been fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity since her life was turned upside down by the disease.

Her father Peter and sister Sarah both died from incurable brain tumours in 2004 and 2017, respectively.

So far, Michelle has raised over £9,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity through charity runs, gigs and bake sales and she plans to do more for the charity in the future.

Michelle hopes that by sharing her family’s story she can help to raise awareness of the disease.

Michelle, an ICU consultant at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital said, “In February 2004 Dad collapsed at home with what doctors thought was a stroke, although he had no risk factors for this and as a family we felt this was not the case.

“Despite having surgery for his bleed and

subsequent radiotherapy, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he lapsed into a coma one month after the diagnosis.”

Before Peter could be discharged from hospital he passed away at the age of 59.

Eight years later, the family were hit by a second tragedy when Michelle’s sister Sarah had a seizure whilst collecting her daughter from nursery and was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma.

Michelle said, “Sarah went to see her GP who despite being told that Dad had died of a brain tumour, dismissed her concerns.

“Sarah knew something more was wrong so went for a private MRI scan and on her 41st birthday she was told she had a brain tumour.”

Sarah underwent surgery within two weeks, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy however in 2016 her tumour progressed to a grade

four tumour, known as a glioblastoma.

Sarah had further surgery and immunotherapy but despite this sadly passed away in June 2017, aged 44, leaving behind two young children.

While Sarah was undergoing treatment Michelle learned that a close friend and colleague of hers had also been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Michelle added, “The Brain Tumour Charity supported my sister a lot while she was ill, she phoned their helpline frequently and discussed their work on her local radio. She was also featured on the charity’s website and I know it would make her proud that I am continuing her legacy and

helping others faced with the disease.”

Geraldine Pipping, director of fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity said, “We are immensely grateful to Michelle for her continued support of The Brain Tumour Charity.

“We receive no government funding and rely entirely on voluntary donations and gifts in wills, so it’s only thanks to supporters like Michelle that we can progress towards our twin goals of doubling survival and halving the harm caused by brain tumours.

“The tragic loss of both Michelle’s dad, Peter, and sister, Sarah, to a brain tumour is a fierce reminder of why we have to find a cure for this devastating disease. Their memory and that of all of those who are

Michelle running Brighton Half Marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity

affected by brain tumours will continue to inspire us every day as we work towards that goal.”

To find out more about brain tumours, their symptoms, and about The Brain Tumour Charity and how they can help, visit: www. thebraintumourcharity.org

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

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A New Year’s resolution is a great way of promising to make certain changes in your life that you believe will better you. Although not obligatory, resolving to turn over a new leaf at the start of the year can help improve your health and wellbeing.

Dieting and exercise, with the aim of shedding the pounds after the Christmas excesses, are popular resolutions in an ever growing health conscious society.

The take-up of gym memberships increases in January as those who want to get fit, commit to achieving it by working to specific fitness goals. With the

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

abundance of equipment and classes available at leisure centres and fitness clubs, there is every opportunity to reach your goals.

The only reason this may not happen, is because you lose your staying power.

By the time February is upon us, a percentage of those who enrolled in the New Year are not

planning to go back again any time soon. Make sure you’re not one of them by following a few simple tips.

Gyms can be intimidating places for those who are starting out and want to exercise regularly, but don’t know what to expect.

With the number of subscriptions and deals available, the hi-tech

equipment and the regular gymgoers bustling around, you can feel a bit like a fish out of water – or a rower outside of the boat.

But don’t let any of this put you off, as joining can really help you follow through with your resolution.

And there are ways that can make that transition into the gym a lot easier.

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health and care

The right mindset You need to get into the right mindset and be ready to commit to regular exercise.

This can be especially difficult for those who are used to a more sedentary lifestyle. So before making the commitment, tackle the problem outside the gym first. Incorporating small, regular times for exercise in your daily life so that you can start the habit of getting moving every day can do this. Walking is a great example. Start off by walking several times a week. And if you don’t want to walk alone, join a walking group. There are many around, some are guided and they generally do not cost anything. You may find that the act of getting yourself outside on a regular basis could lead on to jogging and going for runs.

Once the idea of regular exercise becomes less daunting, you may find the pull of the gym becomes stronger.

The right place

Finding the right gym can make a big difference when it comes to how you feel about enrolling. Location, parking and price are some of the most common considerations.

Other things to think about revolve around what more the establishment can do for you. Some gyms offer inductions and packages that may suit your needs, others may offer specialist equipment for those with specific needs. Take time to look around and weigh up the pros and cons before making your choice.

Doing your research can really make the difference, as turning up on your first day to a gym that doesn’t suit you, could put you off.

The right type of exercise

This ties in with finding the right gym, as the type of exercise you want to pursue can have an effect on how you feel about the gym you’re joining. While some who want to build up their strength by hitting the weights will look to a gym with more equipment and classes aimed towards that, others who are looking to increase their cardio may look for gyms with a pool and classes dedicated to getting the circulation going. Spinning is another popular exercise and if you want to do it with friends, you might prefer a gym with a large spinning room.

Whatever you’re looking for, carrying out your New Year’s resolution to get fit isn’t always easy but it can be made easier with the right gym.

Good luck with your resolution

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| 15

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

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Making them proud Swimming is a great all round exercise, ever seen a flabby dolphin?

It’s an activity for everybody, whether you want to get healthier, fitter, or just have fun or relax.

Being confident in the water opens up so many opportunities to enjoy yourself more, whether on holiday, or being able to join in and have fun with the family, especially within the area we live surrounded by water.

You can be a new swimmer or a better swimmer at any age. For those wanting to start swimming, Ferndown Leisure Centre offers learn to swim classes for all age groups from parent and baby through to adults. All classes follow the Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway and are taught by reputable qualified instructors who will help to develop confidence both in and around the water.

Track swimming lesson progress online To continuously improve the delivery of the swimming lessons, Ferndown Leisure Centre has the latest technology to record the performance of children and adults during their lessons. Through an internet based home portal you will be able to access information about your child’s or your swimming lessons and move up as they/you achieve the swim stages.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Free Swim Assessment

The centre offers a free swim assessment to help you place your children within the best class to suit their ability.

Duckling Swim Programme Be a push and glide ahead with the nationally recognised swim classes designed for parents and children from 4 months – 4 years.

Adult Swim Lessons Would you like to learn or improve your swim technique? Adult swimming lessons, duration 60 minutes with Janet Latham are available on Sundays.

Contact the Swim Team on 01202 877468 option 2 for more information or visit www.ferndownleisurecentre.co.uk

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health and care

Keep on running applications now open The 2019 Health-on-Line Bournemouth Bay Run will take place on Sunday 7 April.

Supported by the British Heart Foundation, the Health-onLine Bournemouth Bay Run is set to welcome more than 4,500 runners to the resort to participate in the popular half marathon, 10k, 5k or 1k family fun run.

Online applications are now open and the closing date for entries is Friday 29 March, visit www.Bournemouth. co.uk/bayrun to register.

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Making life easier

Alina Homecare gives you choices. It provides high quality and reassuring care to help you achieve whatever you choose. Alina Homecare is there when you or a family member need help to remain independent at home for as little or as long as you want.

Care staff are trained in an exclusive Alina Homecare Academy to ensure they have the right balance of professional skills and empathy to meet the variety of needs of the people they support.

Alina Homecare offers a range of care services in your home, tailored to you including: personal, companionship, live-in, respite and crisis, and dementia care.

Whether you need help to get ready for the day, make your meals, take you to places and activities you enjoy, or to get back on your feet after an illness, Alina Homcare is there for you.

Making life easier.

Call: 01425 333222 Email: ringwood@alinahomecare.com allinahomecare.com

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| 17

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

Care South residents enjoy a Christmas Coffee Morning at AFC Bournemouth Residents from Care South’s residential care homes in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Ferndown were invited by AFC Bournemouth to a Christmas Coffee Morning at the club’s Vitality Stadium last week.

Joining a group of over 65s AFC Bournemouth season ticket holders, more than 50 Care South residents and carers from residential homes including Alexandra House, Fairlawn, Talbot View and Queensmead enjoyed the special event held in the Champions Top Floor Restaurant at the

Cherries’ ground.

Entertainment was provided by local singing duo The Land Girls who entertained guests with their renditions of war time songs and some Christmas favourites. Members of the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team and former Cherries players, Dickie Dowsett,

Terry Gulliver and Tommy Taylor, were also on-hand to chat to guests about the club, players and changes through the years, not to mention the recent successes in the Premier League.

Many of the attendees on the day were lifelong AFC Bournemouth supporters.

Simon Bird, chief executive of Care South, commented: “Our partnership with AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust is one we are very proud of and it’s events like these that are really welcomed by our residents, home care service users and staff.”

Most adults live unhealthy lifestyles The overwhelming majority of adults in England are so unhealthy they put their lives at risk, a survey suggests.

The data from the Health Survey for England showed nearly nine in 10 adults had at least one unhealthy trait.

These were classed as: those who smoke; drink more than 14 units of alcohol; eat fewer than five portions of fruit and vegetables; are obese; or have low rates of physical activity.

Alexandra Preston, head of Healthy Hearts at Heart Research UK, said, “These results are not unexpected, it is vital we all take responsibility for our health right now. Although four in 10 adults have no signs of illhealth developing yet, people need to act now to prevent developing conditions such as heart disease in the future.

“Fewer manual jobs, more office based roles, and an increase in TV watching and video gaming, means the current working generation are the first who need to make a conscious decision to build physical activity into their daily lives. We are simply consuming too many calories and not burning off what we consume.”

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

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Free healthy living advice and coaching

Have you ever tried to lose weight, get active, drink less alcohol or quit smoking? It’s tough isn’t it? Seven in ten of us have two or more unhealthy habits. Two thirds of us are trying to lose weight most of the time. You are not alone.

LiveWell Dorset has supported more than 20,000 people in Dorset to make a lifestyle change. Here’s Bernie’s story: Bernie weighed 19 stone, had high blood pressure and was at risk of diabetes. He had a lightbulb moment when spending time with his grandson, prompting him into action. He said, “I realised that I’d miss out if I didn’t change.”

He called advisors who discussed his options. LiveWell Dorset offered a three-month weight loss programme voucher, explored his alcohol consumption and physical activity. He chose to quit drinking alcohol completely.

Bernie now weighs 13 stone.

He added, “LiveWell Dorset have literally helped me to live well.”

LiveWell Dorset is a free health service provided by your council. Their advice and coaching will guide you to a healthier lifestyle. Do you want to become more active, lose weight, quit smoking or drink less alcohol? Contact LiveWell Dorset.

Hospice all shook up by Elvis fundraiser Forest Holme Hospice Charity were all shook up recently when a special Elvis Experience Show featuring local performer Garry J Foley raised £5,332.

The money raised is to help the Poole-based hospice continue to be there for patients and their family and friends during the most difficult time of their lives.

The event was organised by Lisa Phillips in memory of her brother Malcolm Fripp who was cared for by Forest Holme, while Elvis tribute artist Garry performed in memory of his mum, June, who was also looked after at the hospice.

Paul Tucker, fundraising manager at Forest Holme, said, “We are extremely grateful to Lisa for all her hard work in organising the event in memory of her brother Malcolm Fripp, but we also must say a special thanks to Lisa’s husband Chris and her friend Janice, who made table runners, place mats and bunting with sunflowers on for the show, which we will continue to use at the hospice. Both Garry and MC Neil Willard were absolutely fantastic and made it a very special event.”

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| 19

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

While this turn of phrase is used a lot during this time of year, it certainly has some meaning to it. The New Year is the ideal time to make changes that you may have been putting off in the past.

by Liam Parker

With 2018 behind us, looking forward to the year ahead can be both an exciting and daunting thought. Implementing changes in your life that you may have been pondering for a while could help you tackle the upcoming year with a positive and fresh outlook.

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Learn and share at University of the Third Age

Your local ‘University of the Third Age’, serving Verwood, Three Legged Cross and surrounding areas, has grown to have 274 members with 27 interest groups and activities.

It is run by volunteers and meets weekly or fortnightly in local daytime venues.

There are no exams or tests and no entry requirements or qualifications needed. The fact is that ‘Third Age’ means anyone no longer in full time employment, so if you are seeking an active retirement socially, mentally and physically, U3A offers all three.

For details on how to join U3A go to, www.verwoodu3a. org.uk, call 01202 823541 or pick up a flyer in the Library.

University of the Third Age operate on the academic year so membership costs from January to July are only £25.

A new look

Changing your appearance may have more of an impact on the inside than you think. Seeing in the New Year may be the perfect time to say hello to a new image or goodbye to some of your previous hang-ups.

Whether it’s a new hairstyle/colour or the decision to shed a few pounds, the start of 2019 is a good time to challenge yourself to make the changes.

A new way of thinking

Changing the way you think may seem like the smallest of changes on this list but it can have just as much effect as the others – if not more.

Taking time to think positively about you and how you want the year ahead to go can be the best pathway to a new you. Try to clear out any negativity, as negative thoughts will hold you back.

Positive thinking can really help you visualise what it is you want so that you can make the relevant changes. This will help you discover what parts of the old you that you want to bring into the New Year.

A new place With the idea of change in the air it is easy to start to think about all the ways we can change our lives. And while a new look or a new skill are great things to help make you feel good this year, neither are as big of a change as moving home can be.

Many of us have lived in one location, or even one building, for the majority of our lives. While this is the ideal environment for lots, as they have found where it is they want to stay, others may desire some new scenery.

If it’s the place itself, or just the home you’re living in, moving can be a big change to make. 2019 may give you a chance to explore somewhere new or find the place you want to wake up in every day.

If you are thinking of renting your home or perhaps finding a place of your own, why not do it this year?

While moving may be a possible change to make no matter what time of the year, the start of a new year could be the right push you need to do something about it.

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What mindfulness can do for you?

Mindfulness can help us be more fully present in each moment of our lives, appreciate enjoyable experiences and cope better with the stresses of everyday life. Joining an eight-week course will enable you to cultivate your mindfulness practice and enhance your well-being.

The next course will start on 4 February 2019 and run 7-9pm for eight weeks, with a practice day on 16 March.

Courses take place at Sarpenela Natural Therapies Centre, Farnham, Dorset, DT11 8DG Contact Sarah Monro at sarah@mindfullifedorset.co.uk or on 07552 438233 for further details. www.mindfullifedorset.co.uk

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

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What can Sarah do for you?

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 oneto-one personal support really does make all the difference”.

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY -| Advertisement feature |-

What is a lash lift?

A lash lift is a long lasting lash treatment that helps to open and emphasise the eyes by creating beautifully curled and lifted lashes. Short straight lashes appear longer and darker, droopy tired eyes appear more open and awake. A lash lift is a comfortable, ‘easy to wear’ treatment that makes the most of natural lashes without the need for extensions or daily use of mascara and mechanical eyelash curlers.

How often do I need to have it done?

The effect of a lash lift lasts up to 6 weeks and then the treatment is repeated.

A new hobby

Maintenance and removal?

A lash lift is low-maintenance for the client, removal and repeat treatments are not essential as the lashes can be left until the effect grows out.

What is the cost of the treatment?

A lash lift costs £40 and includes a full lash tint in a colour of your choice.

For those who have been thinking about a hobby for years but haven’t quite taken the step, why not do so now?

Thinking of joining a local sports team? Always wanted to learn Italian? Desperate to get cooking? Or just want to meet new people? Starting a new hobby can be a great way to infuse the year with more time for you.

Having a hobby can not only help you meet likeminded people but it can also teach you new things, even at times when you believed you were finished with learning. So dust off your trainers, pick up that phrase book, get your apron on or follow anything else that interests you.

Now is the time to do it.

Hobbies are a great way to make this coming year even better.

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| 21

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Rental sector not generally wheelchair friendly There are 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK today, but the UK Private Rented Sector (PRS) is failing to provide wheelchair accessible homes, according to Abode Impact’s new report, Accessibility is the Key. The largest-ever survey on wheelchair users and their housing needs has found: • • • •

There is a chronic lack of wheelchair accessible homes in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), according to new research by Abode Impact 4 in 5 are currently living in a home that fails to fully meet their needs as a wheelchair user 91% have experienced barriers to accessing the PRS Wheelchair users report having to be carried downstairs in order to leave their property, and being turned away by estate agents after arriving in a wheelchair

T

he findings show that some wheelchair users have no option but to seek social housing or stay in a home that fails to meet their needs. One survey respondent said that they are unable to leave the house on their own and have to be carried down the stairs.

Of respondents, 4 in 5 are currently living in a home that does not fully meet their needs as a wheelchair user, 91% have experienced barriers to accessing the PRS and 62% said this was due

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

to a lack of accessible properties.

Another respondent commented that a “rental agent withdrew my offer when I turned up in a wheelchair”.

In the age of Generation Rent, wheelchair users in particular are chronically underserved. Fifty per cent of respondents said they would like to privately rent a home, but only 18% are currently living in the PRS. The Abode Impact research, funded by Commonweal Housing, surveyed 448 wheelchair-user

households and gained insight from social housing providers to provide an investment case for accessible housing.

In response to the demand for accessible rental accommodation, Abode Impact will launch the first accessible housing fund for London next year. The fund is targeting social impact and financial returns by purchasing one- and two-bedroom newly built accessible homes for private rent.

As Abode Impact’s research shows, if a home meets the needs

of a wheelchair user, they are more likely to stay in their home for longer. Investors can therefore benefit from the low tenant turnover and a reliable source of income; while tenants experience the benefits of improved mental, physical and financial well-being by living in an accessible home.

Abode Impact is inviting wheelchair users who are looking to privately rent an accessible London home to register their interest via www.abodeimpact. co.uk/register-your-interest/

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in the home / home is where the heart is .

A cosy January

As the nights become longer towards December, our festive decorations often create a warming environment for us to come home to. Once they come down, as the New Year is seen in, we can be left with rooms that feel less inviting.

Trying to bring back the winter warmth to your home, without keeping up your tree, may seem difficult but there are small additions that can give your house that cosy feeling until spring is here.

With Christmas behind us and a large chunk of the winter still to come your home can feel a little colder, and not just temperature wise.

Candles A lot of the time a room can feel cold if the lighting isn’t right. White lighting doesn’t portray the warmth that amber or yellow lighting does. Candles are a one way to add that type of glow to your rooms.

While real candles can look and smell great, caution must be taken when using them.

Candles can cause fires when left unattended or in a bad location. Electric candles can create the same glow without the risk, making them perfect for those with small children or pets.

A change of colour

Throws and rugs will be less effective at making your home feel warmer if they are cold colours.

Much like lighting, the colours of the things in your home can add a different mood to a room depending on what they are. Colours such as dark yellows, oranges and reds are ideal for winter as they visually warm up a room.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

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in the home

Throws Rugs

While literally keeping you warmer, when used as a blanket, adding throws to your bed or sofa is a great way to make where you sit or sleep look and feel far more comfortable.

In a similar way, rugs can not only keep your feet warm from cold hard floors but can also make the room feel cosier. Open floors can give the illusion of a lot of space, which can be a good thing for smaller rooms that you want to look bigger. However this can have a negative effect in bigger rooms as they tend to feel less cosy. Rugs break up the floor and can make the room look smaller, creating a more snug part of your house.

In the final winter months before days start to get brighter, longer and warmer, having a cosy house to come back to on miserable days can make the beginning of the year more cheerful.

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New Forest Designs Whether you want to revamp your kitchen, give your office a facelift or make some needed changes to your bedroom, New Forest Designs is waiting for your call.

W

ith over 20 years of experience, New Forest Designs wants to bring customers closer to their dream home when it comes to home interiors. Able to design, supply and install a chosen project, whether it is your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, home office or other living space, New Forest Designs prides itself on providing great service.

The company understands that everyone has different tastes, varying budgets and that no two scales of project are the same. These factors will all be taken into account because New Forest Designs knows how important your home or office is and wants those spaces to look their best.

So whether it’s a classic look you want, or more of a modern twist, from minimalist to a lover of colour, talk to New Forest Designs and find out how they can help.

Some projects can be overwhelming and are easy to put off no matter how much you want them. New Forest Designs strives to make it clear that it doesn’t have to be that way. With homely and relaxed showrooms, you can choose what is right for you while also getting an idea of what the end result will look like.

New Forest Designs now has a showroom in Fordingbridge and is welcoming those who may be interested to visit for a coffee and a chat.

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| 25

in the home / home is where the heart is .

Warning on candle safety

While candles are used far more in winter due to the cosy feel they can give to our homes, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take care when using them.

In December, fire crews were called to a property in the north of the Service area, where a candle had been allowed to burn down inside a glass holder, which was placed on top of a satellite television box. Because the candle burned right down, the glass holder overheated and broke.

Station manager Greg Izon said, “Fortunately, the occupier returned home before going to work, so discovered the fire and raised the alarm. As such, the damage was contained to the bedroom, but it could have been a lot worse. You should extinguish candles when you leave the room, always make sure none are still burning if you are leaving the house or going to sleep, and only ever use correct holders on solid surfaces.”

The Service has the following advice for the safe use of candles: •

•

• • •

•

Never leave lit candles unattended.

Put burning candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re out completely at night.

Place your candles carefully. Make sure they are on a stable surface, out of the reach of pets and children, and keep them away from flammable objects like curtains, furniture, bedding and books. Never place on baths, televisions, set-top boxes or anything else plastic.

Don’t move candles once they are lit, and don’t let them burn right down.

Don’t burn several candles close together as this might cause the flame to flare.

Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, out of drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, soot and dripping.

Always put scented candles in a heat

•

•

resistant holder. These candles are designed to liquefy when heated to maximise fragrance.

Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them regularly.

A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time.

Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do if a fire should occur, including practising your escape routes.

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Moses Rutland relocates Head Office to Ringwood Providing a wide range of surveying expertise, including valuations and condition surveys as well as expert witness and related advice, Moses Rutland are relocating their Head Office to Ringwood.

Having started Moses Survey Limited in 2010, Phil Moses acquired the business of Rutland Chartered Surveyors in 2014. Today, they have offices covering Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Their new Ringwood-based Head Office was up and running from 7 January.

To contact Moses Rutland’s Ringwood office, call 01425 370044

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in the home

Preventing crime in the home Keeping your home safe can be a big concern for any homeowner no matter what their age. However it’s understandable that the elderly may feel unsafe when not taking the right precautions to protect their home from intruders.

With doors and windows being at the top of the list when it comes to securing your home, AgeUK have come up with the following tips when asked, “How can I make my doors and windows more secure?”

to Make your home more secure you should fit: • An automatic rim latch lock (also called a nightlatch).

• A five-lever mortice deadlock with Kitemark BS 3621.

• A letter box cage to prevent thieves tampering with locks through the letterbox.

• A door peep-hole to check who is outside before deciding whether to open the door.

• A door chain to help screen doorstep callers, but avoid leaving it on all day because this can stop family, carers or emergency services getting into your home if they need to.

• A five-lever mortice deadlock.

• A security mortice lock and mortice bolt, if you have French doors.

• Locks to patio doors.

• Window locks with keys to all downstairs windows and any others that are easy to reach, such as those above a flat roof or near a drainpipe.

Other home securtiy tips include: • Before you leave home, make sure all windows are closed and doors are locked, including the garage door.

• If you own a bicycle, make sure it is securely locked away.

• Fit good quality locks to shed doors, garages and garden gates.

• Consider fitting alarmed padlocks.

• If you are going away, tell a neighbour and ask them to keep an eye on your home. Let them park a vehicle in your drive so it looks like someone is at home.

• Use timers for your lights, so the house looks occupied at night.

With crime on the increase, it is natural to want to feel safer in the place that means the most to you.

Making your home more secure can be achievable with small changes and the right understanding.

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| 27

Christmas Tree Woodland with its creator: artist and former FUS student Heidi Mercieca

Plastic winter wonderland - a recycling marvel Ferndown Upper School (FUS) is making great strides to meet Surfers Against Sewage criteria to help Plastic Free Ferndown achieve plastic-free status.

The school’s latest project saw a ‘Christmas tree winter woodland’ constructed by the Art Department, headed by Tim Holbrooke-Jones and visiting artist and former student, Heidi Mercieca.

The unique aspect of the installation was that it was assembled by recycling plastic bottles collected by each tutor group as part of the Plastic Free Ferndown campaign. Head of the School Council and deputy headteacher, Richard Redwood, said, “In just a few weeks students had brought in 500 bottles and the Art Department was given the task of using them creatively. Tim and Heidi came up with the idea.”

A ‘woodland’ of 13 Christmas trees was constructed by Heidi with help from the Art Department and technician Keith Wigley. Other items used were broom handles, sand for ballast, plastic lids and battery-operated lights.

The bottles were scrunched to give a seasonal feel to the display by making them sparkle.

Richard Redwood said he was overwhelmed with the response of the staff, students and

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

parents to the installation. “We have received enquiries about purchasing the trees and may auction them off,” he said.

One was included in the St Martin’s URC Church Christmas Tree Festival in West Moors, where it stood proudly among 30 more traditional trees and created quite a talking point.

FUS School Council have spearheaded the plastic free initiative and have already removed single-use plastic bin liners from classroom bins, removed plastic cutlery from the dining area/cafeteria and introduced eco-friendly cups, rather than plastic. The catering department no longer supplies drinks in plastic bottles.

Richard said, “We had not thought to make any of these changes before Plastic Free Ferndown came in to see us. Now, we are creating conversation and the students

are coming up with ideas on how to further reduce single-use plastic. The changes we have made are simple, but effective, and the cleaners have even said their job is easier without plastic bin liners to contend with.

“If there are any other schools who would like to make similar changes, I would be more than happy to talk to them.”

Janine Pulford, a PFF community leader said, “Our committee has been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of Ferndown Upper School.

They have embraced the plastic free initiative with open arms and we can’t wait to hear about their next project.”

The school also collects plastic lids, which are sent to Lush cosmetics in Poole for recycling.

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pets and wildlife

Flock to Poole Harbour January is traditionally a dark and dismal month, but for over-wintering birds, this is a busy time of year, and Poole Harbour is one place guaranteed to be bursting with (bird) life.

D

uring late-summer and autumn, birds start arriving back onto the Brownsea Island lagoon to overwinter. The unique location of the lagoon means it provides shelter and food sources in abundance, but its shallow waters mean it’s also still accessible for birds when the rest of the harbour is under deeper water.

It’s also a thoroughfare for birds flying from far flung corners of the globe, who use the lagoon to rest and eat before migrating to other winter habitats.

In the past Dorset Wildlife Trust has recorded rare sightings of the semipalmated sandpiper, and in October there was a sighting of the small sanderling visiting from its arctic breeding grounds.

A favourite and frequent visitor to the lagoon is the spoonbill. For many years the spoonbill flock sizes have been building, and in 2014 it peaked to the largest flock of spoonbills ever seen in Britain, with 49 birds recorded in one flock.

Other frequent and easily identifiable guests are large flocks of waders, particularly avocets, which are distinguishable by their long blue legs and

curved bill, perfect for sifting through the mud for fish.

They breed in East Anglia, France and Germany but the number seen on the Brownsea Lagoon is of international importance, where 1,200 or more can be seen in the winter.

The black-tailed godwit breed in Iceland but can be seen through the year on Brownsea Island, with up to 2,500 visiting in the winter to feed on worms found in the lagoon.

A unique partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, National Trust and Birds of Poole Harbour has been set up to run boat trips around Poole Harbour during the winter months, so visitors can get a first-hand experience of the thousands of birds feeding and roosting on the Brownsea Island Lagoon, when the rest of the island is closed for winter.

Tickets start from £25 and trips run on specific days in January and 3 February.

For more details call 0344 2491895.

Avocet on Brownsea © Paul Williams

Brownsea Lagoon at Dawn © Paul Williams

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Weight Clinics – how to help our furry friends shift the Christmas pounds The festive period is an indulgent period for us all - we often enjoy an extra treat or three. As a nation of animal lovers we often treat our pets too; whether it is with a Christmas type lunch or an extra snack throughout the day, and this can have an effect on our their waistlines.

Overweight pets are becoming a more common sight within the veterinary profession which increases concern for their health. As with humans, obesity can lead to diabetes, arthritis, exercise intolerance, heart problems and much more.

Here at Cedars, we run weight clinics with our nursing team to design a weight loss plan that suits both the pet and their owner. With monthly check-ups we ensure the pet is not losing weight too quickly and is within the recommended average weight loss per week; this is 0.5-3% for dogs and 0.5-2% for cats.

Squidgy is a recent member of the healthy weight club after reaching her target and losing a total of 1.3kg, 25% of her original body weight.

She was switched to a weight control diet that helps pets lose weight and then maintain their ideal shape. As Squidgy’s weight deceased her family noticed she was becoming more active and having a lot more playful spells. We not only tracked her weight but also her body condition score, waist and chest measurements, as some pets will often not lose weight on the scales but will lose an inch around their waist.

If you think your pet is overweight and would like some help, please call us on 01425 473683 to make an appointment with one of our clinic nurses.

Let’s get all of our pets into the healthy weight club and enjoy all the benefits of them being fit and active.

Just like Squidgy!

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| 29

Snow Patrol in Bournemouth Gary Lightbody interview with Janine Pulford

It was seven years ago when Snow Patrol left us in the wilderness, and the only way of sating our thirst for their unique brand of music was to keep replaying their first handful of albums.

Now they’ve elevated us out of the wilderness and into the ‘Wildness’ of their new album, which was released in May last year.

Since then, they’ve been touring and playing festivals. The great news is that the draw of the prestigious BIC has lured them to perform in Bournemouth later this month.

I caught up with front man Gary Lightbody: Q. How did you feel being back with Snow Patrol after being away for so long?

Gary: “You know, we were working together all the way through those seven years. I mean we started making the album that would eventually be called ‘Wildness’ in 2013 with a view of getting that out in 2014, I guess, but it just didn’t work out that way and we wanted to keep rolling really.

“All we did was take one year off Snow Patrol, and then we got back at it. The songs just weren’t ready, they weren’t right.”

Q. It’s widely reported that you battled depression and alcoholism whilst writing ‘Wildness’ and it’s reassuring to know you’ve overcome those demons. Are you happy to be back touring?

Gary: “Yeah. Course. It’s so exciting to be back, to have the album finished, have the album out there, to get back out on tour, and you know, to tour Britain and Ireland again is amazing.”

Q. You moved to LA, whereas the other members of the band lived in the UK. How did that work?

Gary: “Yeah I mean, we took a little bit of a break. Nathan started Little Matador, I did another Tired Pony album and co-wrote with a bunch of different people, and Johnny McDaid was doing that as well and producing. Jonny started Polar Publishing, Pablo was writing and producing. Everybody was doing their own thing. I was trying to write the Snow Patrol album at the same time but, you know, I’ll write generally on my own and then I’ll take it in to Garrett (producer) and we will work on tracks together and then everyone else will come in.

“The years between 2013 when I started writing and 2017 when we finished, we would get together for a couple of weeks or a month at a time. I think the album was probably about nine months’ work. So it wasn’t constant working for five years – that would have probably killed us!”

Q. I love the raw earthiness of Snow Patrol’s latest album. Was it you who got the ball rolling?

Gary: “Yeah. Because I write the songs, or at least start to, people are waiting for me to have some ideas before we get together.

“We’re not a jamming kind of band, we don’t get together and jam a bunch of ideas and then take the best bits. I know that some bands do it, and they do great at it but it just never really worked out for us, it never really clicked, so I like to have the songs written before we record them, you know.”

Q. Now that you’ve turned around your personal life, has it changed your song writing?

Gary: “I have access now to a part of myself that I was always maybe afraid of, afraid of is maybe the wrong term, but I was afraid that it would make other people not want to be my friend!

You know, like, as in that fear that our deepest, darkest thoughts would frighten everyone else, and that was always the reason why I never talked about it.

“I found the opposite when I started to talk about my demons. People, at the very least, understood what I was going through, and at the very best had actually been through the same thing themselves. It made me feel so much less isolated, so much less alone, and I waited until I was 40 years old before I opened my mouth about it.

“I just wish I had done it sooner. When you let the light flood into those dark places in yourself, you kind of create this space in yourself, you create this kind of bravery.

“I’m not sure if it’s changed the way I approach writing because I think that will always be the same, it’ll be a combination of inspirations and graft. But the subject matters that I can write about now have broadened, have widened into absolutely anything, nothing is off the table.

“I think it will always have to be generated from within, I don’t really take external forces, I’m not a political writer.

“I think, as far as writing goes, I think it will always be a kind of inner struggle that seems to be the kind of subject matter that I’m drawn to.”

Q. How do you rate your stagecraft?

Gary: “When I first started out, I had no confidence. I just used to get on stage and stare at my feet and had a big red face the whole time, like I was embarrassed to be there.

“I guess I probably was, I was still probably questioning what I was doing and I didn’t really have any self-belief. Then over many, many gigs and many years, the confidence kind of grew, that outer shell began to thicken, and I was able to look at the crowd to begin with, and then interact, and then cause a reaction. I try and make sure that everybody has a great night and get people singing along.

“In the smaller shows you really see everybody and sometimes that makes you feel like you’re very exposed.

“The bigger shows; after the first few rows everything starts to blur a little bit, my eyesight is not that great, so you’re able to come out of yourself more. In the last few shows, I’ve really felt like my old self on stage again.

“Some people are born great front men, I wasn’t, I’m an introvert by nature. You learn over time how to make a gig feel the way you want it to feel.”

Gary also revealed that Snow Patrol have a few “lovely, lovely little tricks up their sleeve” for the Wildness tour. “They will be spectacular,” he promises. “We don’t just turn up with our equipment and a couple of lights on the night.”

Be prepared to be surpr-iced by Snow Patrol at the BIC in Bournemouth on 27 January.

Wildness review

by Janine Pulford

This album has a tribal rawness with some tracks ultimately driven by the drumbeat. There is mysticism too. Lightbody’s voice is pure and controlled. It is without doubt the making of the band, but the rest of the guys are integral to the overall sound. My favourite tracks are ‘Life on Earth’, ‘Don’t Give In’ and ‘Life And Death’. The album left me wanting more, and the lyrics in places hit such emotion, it was impossible not to get drawn in there with them. I also loved the drumming, it really carried some of the songs into a new and progressive place.

We have been starved of Snow Patrol for too long and it is such a great feeling to have them back.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

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foodie news

Fulfilling the honey dream from the rooftop TASTE REVIEW | By Janine Pulford

Gathered from beehives on the top of the roof at the Dolphin Centre in Poole, Rooftop Honey is a deep golden colour and looks deceivingly runny in the jar.

When presented with a pot, I was worried it was going to be one of those honeys that left a trail from the jar to the bread. But something surprising happened when I dug the knife in and gave it a couple of turns. The honey appeared to glue itself in place.

There was no dripping. The golden nectar reached my brown bread and butter intact.

This made me nervous about how easy it would be to spread, would it lift the butter and tear the bread? To my surprise it did neither, instead, it spread like a dream.

I added more, folded the bread and took my first bite. The natural sweet notes hit my senses, as the smooth texture rolled around my mouth. The flavour was not as strong as some other honeys I have eaten. Instead it had a delightful and unexpected orange tang and didn’t fall into the trap of leaving a medicinal ‘aftertaste’ behind, which has occasionally put me off some other brands.

Rooftop Honey left me wanting more. Oddly, once on the bread, it became slightly more runny than when on the knife and I did need to eat my sandwich holding the plate underneath. It is even more delicious on warm toast because it melts into the bread with the butter.

I tried it with plain yoghurt and the flavour was as delightful as its golden looks, reminding me of a honey I ate in Greece long ago and have been searching for since. At last, I have found a decent substitute.

Decadently, this honey can be eaten from the spoon, it’s that sublime, and to further prove this point, the entire jar lasted me just 10 days. I could not stop eating it.

SKC PHOTOGRAPHY

I am now wondering how I will manage until the summer without a supply, as the bees are not producing it now. But as soon as the next batch is ready and available from the Dolphin Centre, I intend to be first in the queue.

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| 31

heaven at

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

Food

The Old Thatch Review by Liam Parker

The new owners of this beautiful pub situated between Wimborne and Ferndown, have already made their mark.

T

heir improvements may not be obvious from the outside, as the pub couldn’t be more aptly named. A low thatched roof sits on top of a traditional English pub, surrounded by greenery.

A warm glow comes through the small windows and the smell of food in the air makes it incredibly inviting on a cold winter day or evening. The inside of the Old Thatch is just as cosy and traditional as its exterior, with a warm fireplace and a large area for dining, as well as a comfortable seating area for those just having a drink.

While the surroundings shout ‘classic pub’, the menu has a different feel. And whilst the traditionalist foodie will certainly find something to suit their appetite, the Old Thatch also offers unique twists on traditional meals as well as new ones altogether.

Knowing how different our tastes are, I took my friend Louise with me. We arrived hungry and ready to enjoy a pub meal and were pleasantly surprised with the menu.

Choosing starters from their ‘Scrumptious Smaller Plates’ menu, we decided to go for king prawn and chorizo, pan fried in garlic lemon butter with pitta chips. The only aspect of the dish that was better than the presentation was the flavour. Served on slate with a side salad, the prawns and chorizo worked perfectly together. Even I, the pickiest eater when it comes to seafood, could have ordered a second plate.

Falafel skewers, yogurt, mint & cucumber dressing, hummus served with warm pita bread was equally delicious in a very different way. While the first dish was rich and full of powerful flavours, this plate, again served beautifully, was full of freshness, yet had more subtle characteristics. The falafel added a crispy element to the salad, while the addition of the hummus and pita made it a perfect start to an increasingly great meal.

With our appetites heightened, we were looking forward to the arrival of our mains. The first, from the ‘Bigger Plates’ menu arrived soon after: The Old Thatch 8oz gourmet beef and chorizo burger, smoked back bacon, Applewood cheese served on a pretzel bun with tomato and mixed leaves, homemade burger relish and gourmet chips.

The chorizo in the starters certainly influenced the order of the burger and it didn’t disappoint a second time. Two patties sat between tasty ingredients all held together in a pretzel bun. The bun was a refreshing change to the popular brioche bun that can’t be escaped in most restaurants at the moment.

Surprisingly the mouth-watering burger was not the star of the show: the chips stole the limelight. Perfectly seasoned and incredibly crispy while as chunky as chips can get, they could have

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

been a dish all on their own.

My dining companion meanwhile was enjoying a slow roasted game casserole, roasted vegetables and garlic crushed new potatoes, or mash. While this dish was leaning more towards the classic type of meal you would normally find in a pub, it had elements that made it stand out. The meat fell apart and sat well next to fresh roasted veg, but it was the potatoes that added a twist.

Opting for mash, the potatoes came with a garlic edge and were the second type of potato of the evening that could have been served alone, and still have made a great meal.

Afterwards, we initially felt a bit too full to tackle dessert, but the menu certainly changed our minds. The ‘pudding faces’ menu wasn’t big but it had great sounding choices that took a moment to narrow down. Finally we opted for the Poached

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foodie news

winter berry Eton mess and Chantilly cream and Baked ginger pudding with ginger glaze and salted caramel ice cream.

Similar to the dishes that came before them, the desserts were presented to look almost as good as they tasted. The Eton mess went down a treat with the tart berries cutting through the extremely sweet meringue.

The ginger cake and ice cream had a similar effect as the spiced cake was complemented by the cooling ice cream.

The recent improvements at the Old Thatch have lifted the pub into a new dimension, and word is getting out. We visited on Thursday night, and it was bustling with people, many taking part in the weekly quiz.

To enjoy the ambience of a classic pub, whilst eating a delicious meal from a creative menu, book your table at the Old Thatch.

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| 33

Police & Crime Commissioner asks for £2 a month All sorts of shoeboxes for the homeless The response to last year’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal in aid of local homeless people was phenomenal. Held in memory of the late Cllr Steve Lugg, who introduced it two years ago and was the driving force behind the appeal, it resulted in over 500 boxes being donated. Local co-ordinator, Rachel Taylor, from East Dorset District Council said, “This year’s response is a great sentiment to Steve’s legacy. Thank you to everyone across Ferndown, Wimborne, Colehill and beyond who has supported the campaign.”

Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Jean Read, said she was overwhelmed with the response and thanked every person and organisation that donated and Meridian Air Conditioning who were Ferndown’s drop-off point.

Cllr Kelly Webb, the mayor of Wimborne also thanked everyone who took part adding, “It is heartwarming that so many people took the time to carefully put these boxes together.”

World Braille Day Louis Braille created and published his Braille system of communication in 1829 and every year World Braille Day is celebrated on 4 January, which was his birthday.

Although, today, fewer than 1% of the two million visually impaired people in the UK use Braille, the day remains an essential reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for those who are blind or visually impaired. It increases awareness about Braille, and other accessible forms of communication, to ensure that everyone has the same ability and freedom to make personal choices in their everyday life.

Ringwood and Fordingbridge Club for the Blind provide as much support for their members as possible with a ‘Talking News’ CD, audio books, a club newsletter in large print, and advice about equipment to facilitate reading of books, magazines or newspapers.

The club meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at Greyfriars Activity Centre and anyone with any degree of visual impairment is welcome to join in. For further information please contact Kate on 01425 476568 or Russell on 01425 476618 or email rwfbclubforblind@hotmail.co.uk

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is reluctantly asking members of the public to pay the equivalent of an additional £2* per month to help fund policing.

Last month, rather than providing a balanced funding settlement for policing, the government has instead placed the responsibility for the majority of this year’s settlement with police and crime commissioners (PCCs). The Government has enabled PCCs to increase their precept up to a maximum of £24 per year.

PCC Martyn Underhill said, “A few weeks ago, the chief constable and I shared our concern that, without significant additional investment, Dorset Police would be unable to provide the current levels of service to our communities.

“As a result of last month’s funding settlement, we now believe that there is the flexibility – providing that we continue to relentlessly pursue efficiencies – to ensure the force will no longer be required to make the cuts that we had feared.

“I remain immensely frustrated that the financial burden has, once again, been passed to local taxpayers and it is important that members of the public are under no illusion: this is a short-term fix that barely covers the need. The home secretary’s announcement does not address the considerable, and unfunded, police pension issue, new training regime and inflationary and pay pressures, all of which have been thrust upon national policing. Nor does it reverse the eight years of austerity that have left Dorset Police with the lowest number of officers since 1981.

“Nevertheless, the flexibility that an extra £2 per month on the precept provides would leave Dorset Police in a much better position than was feared just a few months ago. Further, the chief constable is confident that this would allow him to make improvements in a number of areas of emerging demand.

"Throughout 2019/20 he is seeking further efficiency savings so that Dorset Police can reinvest in areas such as rural crime, marine crime and tackling county lines drug networks. The force is also committed to the introduction of volunteer police cadets, improvements to youth justice and a Bobby Van scheme, to help protect vulnerable members of the community.

“The chief constable and I remain grateful for the public’s support and I will be consulting widely to ensure that I understand the views of Dorset residents.”

Visit the survey at www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/dorsetpolice The link will remain live until 24 January, so have your say now. *The £2 a month calculation is based on a Band D property. The link will show property bands.

A trip to Salisbury Cathedral

Youngsters from one of Dorset’s smallest schools were among 600 schoolchildren who took part in 50th anniversary celebrations for Christingle at Salisbury Cathedral before Christmas.

The 20 Witchampton CE First School pupils joined a huge congregation, which helped raise funds for the Children’s Society. Also in attendance was the charity’s patron, the Duchess of Gloucester.

Head of Witchampton, Jo Hancock, said, “It was an incredible honour for our children to be invited to be at this royal occasion.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Views needed on new country park Following Christchurch Borough Council’s decision to develop a new country park, the public are being invited to make their suggestions on the layout, features and activities. Two Riversmeet Park is the name currently being used for the proposed park. The existing Information Centre will become a focal point for information, education and engagement across the whole park.

Information about the proposals is available on the 2 Riversmeet Leisure Centre website at www.dorsetforyou. gov.uk/sport-leisure/leisure-centres/two-riversmeetleisure-centre/two-riversmeet-park.aspx

Living out Christian values Pupils at a Wimborne middle school have raised more than £2,000 for children with cancer after a series of fundraising events.

Jordan Burnell, aged 23, of Parsonage Barn Lane, has been charged with attempted robbery at Ringwood Service Station on 24 December and possessing a knife blade/ sharp-pointed article in a public place on the same day. He has also been charged with assaulting a police officer (two counts), criminal damage and a public order offence, all in Ringwood on 27 December.

Lyndhurst Park Hotel public enquiry cancelled

The government’s planning inspectorate has notified the New Forest National Park Authority that Winchester-based Pegasus Life has withdrawn its appeal against a planning refusal for a controversial scheme for 75 retirement flats and 15 affordable homes at the Lyndhurst Park Hotel Site.

The public enquiry, due to start on 29 January, has been cancelled.

Steve Avery, executive director of Strategy and Planning at the New Forest National Park Authority, said, “No reasons have been given as to why Pegasus Life decided to withdraw its appeal at such a late stage.” He said it had incurred a lot of unnecessary time and expense for the authority in preparation and added, “We will be looking to recover our costs in full from Pegasus Life for the appeal work.”

Mr Avery said the authority does not know what the intentions of Pegasus Life are now for the former hotel.

The National Park Authority has set out in its draft Local Plan a policy that supports a more modest redevelopment of this landmark site, whilst seeking to retain the historic elements of the building. The draft Local Plan was the subject of a public examination last month and the authority is awaiting the planning inspectors’ final report on its proposed policies.

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

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

Youth Hero Award – Alex Rimmel.

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

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

George Phillips

Having had both his lungs collapse on stage, in Charles as Buttons with the middle of the Regent Cinderella (Charlotte Starr) Centre’s Christmas Spectacular show in 2015, Charles Michael Duke of Highcliffe, a lifelong cystic fibrosis sufferer, had to wait three-and-a-half years for a double lung transplant.

In that time he wrote his own pantomime, Cinderella, with a friend, had the script accepted by Highcliffe Charity Players (HCP) to be performed on stage at the Regent and successfully auditioned for the plum role of Buttons, which will be his first live performance using his new lungs. Twenty-three-year-old Charles said, “It was my ever first principal role with my old lungs (with HCP in 2013), and is now my first principal role with my new ones. I haven’t been fit enough to perform for four years, so I can’t wait to get back on stage.”

The much-loved rags-to-riches tale of Cinderella has sparkling dance routines and popular show songs, sumptuous sets and costumes, plus the usual quota of outrageous slapstick comedy and audience participation. It runs at the Regent from 19-26 January.

Ringwood man charged with attempted robbery

Royal British Legion

Charles Buttons up with new lungs

First narcissi bloom in Wimborne

Photographed on Boxing Day by Anthony Oliver, were these the first narcissi to flower in Dorset?

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Tom Scrase

Alex Rimmel

Five of the students from St Michael’s CE Middle School are donating their hair to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for young people with cancer.

In addition, a Christmas jumper day and 4km run raised hundreds for Piam Brown Children and Young People’s Cancer Ward at Southampton General Hospital.

Headteacher, Ron Jenkinson, said, “This fundraising initiative came directly from three of our Year 8 students, Hala Hazarika, Ambrose Evamy and Jabez Lee, who approached me to ask if we could do this.

“It is particularly heartening to see young people care so much about other children who are very poorly.”

The five students having their hair cut for the Little Princess Trust are Evie Prianes, Caitlin DalrympleIrving, Kacey Esposito, Imogen Cable and Verity Stevens.

Evie, aged 10, and Imogen, aged 12, went for the chop in the last week of term in front of 580 students. Caitlin, Kacey and Verity, aged nine and 10, will be donating their hair in the New Year.

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

what’s on

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

All January

'Go Dry this January'. A onemonth booze-free challenge.

It's not too late to join in. It will help you feel great and save some cash. Get in touch with livewelldorset.co.uk to help get you started.

January onwards

Fordingbridge Whippet Racing Club meets at Fordingbridge Recreation Ground twice a week to race whippets, terriers and lurchers. If you want to join this small, friendly group call Doreen on 07931 661 038.

14 January 2pm

Wimborne Horticultural Society presents ‘Kingston Lacy Garden throughout the year’ by Andrew Hunt, head gardener. Members £1, non-members £3. Visit www. wimbornehorticulturalsociety. btck.co.uk for details.

15 January 7.30pm

Bournemouth Electronic Organ Society presents concert of popular music by David Harrild at Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne. Visitors welcome. £6 at the door. Info: 01202 895254.

16 January - 24 March

Miracle of Migration exhibition at Durlston Country Park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage.

17 January 2.30pm

A fun quiz for members and friends of Verwood U3A. Verwood Memorial Hall, Ringwood Road, BH31 7AA. £2.50 per person.

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18 January 7pm for 7.30pm

Charity fun quiz night at Horton & Chalbury Village Hall. Teams of up to 6. Quizmaster Simon Hoare MP. Tickets £15 to include fish and chip supper.

Pay bar and raffle. Tickets from Cllr Toni Coombs on 07947 002000 or via email cllr. tcoombs@eastdorset.gov.uk

18 January

‘Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook’ at Lighthouse, Poole. Handpicked by Adele herself on a BBC special, Kate Markham will be delivering some of Adele’s hits in a concert performance. For tickets call 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole. co.uk.

19 January 9am-1pm

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

19-26 January

‘Cinderella’ at the Regent Centre, Christchurch. It’s the ultimate rags-to-riches story as the celebrated, award winning Highcliffe Charity Players return with one of the nation’s favourite pantomimes.

Call 01202 499199 or visit www. theregentcentre.co.uk

22 January 7pm

‘To Eritrea and Ethiopia: Retracing a Victorian Expedition’ with John Pilkington. John will present his lively new talk on recent travel adventures at Ringwood Library. Tickets cost £5. Call 01425 474255 or visit hants. gov.uk/shop.

VIEWPOINT January 2019

23-26 January

Verwood Pantomime Society presents ‘Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood’. Box office: 01202 828740. Visit www. verwoodpantomimesociety. co.uk for more information.

24 January

Ringwood and Fordingbridge Club for the Blind meets at Greyfriars Activity Centre.

Anyone with visual impairment is welcome. Contact Kate 01425 476568 or Russell 01425 476618 for details.

25 January

Denis Sulta +44 – One Night Only at the O2 Academy Bournemouth. Tickets from £16.25 available from Ticketmaster or call 01202 399922.

26 January

‘Priceless’ Annual Art Exhibition at the Town Mill Malthouse Gallery in Lyme Regis. Visit www.townmill.org. uk for more information.

26 January 2.30pm

Kipling’s India lecture by Andrew Lycett at The Old School, Sturminster Marshall.

Tickets £6. Tel: 01258 857528.

27 January 10.30am-4pm

Volunteer Fair at Lyndhurst Community Centre. The fair showcases groups including Pondhead Conservation Trust, Hampshire Swifts and Oakhaven Hospice Trust and more than 30 others. Free to visit.

27 January 4pm

Lighthouse Big Sing. Keen singers can learn and perform some of Leonard Bernstein's most exhilarating choral works at Lighthouse, Poole.

Workshop, followed by a performance. Application forms at: http://www. lighthousepoole.co.uk

27 January

Snow Patrol at Bournemouth International Centre, performing songs from their first album in seven years ‘Wildness’. Visit www.bic. co.uk for tickets and more information.

30 January 7.30pm

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

1 February 7-9.30pm Fordingbridge Comedy Club.

Minimum Age 16. At Victoria Rooms in Fordingbridge.

6 February 7.30pm

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

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

6 February 7.30pm

Kinson Historical Society present an illustrated talk Discoveries in South Wales

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

Until 10 February

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

11 February 2pm

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

11 February 2.15pm

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

More details: Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536.

15 February 7.30pm

Michael Buble Tribute at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown.

Box Office 01202 894858 or book online.

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.

19-21 February 10-12.30pm

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

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around & about

John (4) can’t believe his eyes

Red Barrows fly through West Moors

Sleeping Beauty

The night Father Christmas arrived in style on a trike in West Moors also heralded the second Red Barrows charity fun race. With five entries, the Red Barrows got off to a flying start and the winners were St Mary’s School. It was Ian Reid who steered the team to victory with and his son Adam as the passenger in a red wheelbarrow. Adam’s brother Ewan won the Christmas card competition.

Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre 17 December 2018 Review by Chloe Laming

The children were dancing in their seats I took three very excited girls to see Sleeping Beauty at Bournemouth Pavilion.

This traditional and much-loved pantomime was brought right up to date with dazzling costumes, stunning dance routines, and a very modern soundtrack that the children loved singing along to, and dancing in their seats.

Silly Billy (Noel Brodie) did a great job getting the children interacting and laughing with all his jokes.

Talking of jokes, there were also plenty for the adults.

The entire cast kept the audience enthralled all evening and the younger stars also did a fantastic job remembering all their choreographed dances so well.

I wanted more of the good old “Oh no there isn’t!” style within the performance, but I really cannot fault the show in any other way.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed it saying “it was so much fun” and “it was really good.”

Well done to everyone involved for creating such a wonderful show that children and adults of all ages could enjoy at this wonderful time of year. You were all fantastic!

The panto was fun, upbeat and enjoyed by all.

Roy Sewell and Aiken (12) in the St Mary’s barrow

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| 37

Blue Planet II

– Live in Concert hosted by Anita Rani Take a deep breath and discover a whole new world hidden beneath the surface of the sea.

BBC presenter Anita Rani is to host Blue Planet II – Live In Concert.

The 13-date arena tour starts on 13 March at Bournemouth International Centre.

Blue Planet II – Live In Concert will present incredible visuals from the BAFTA Award winning BBC One landmark series, highlighting the amazing natural wonders of our blue planet, projected on a giant state of the art 4K Ultra HD LED screen.

The concert will feature exciting visuals including the ‘folklore-turned-reality’ sea lion tuna hunt.

TV personality, Anita Rani is a household name as one of the presenters of the BBC One series Countryfile, and regularly presents the BBC’s One Show amongst other programmes.

Rani said, “I am really honoured to have the role of host on the Blue Planet II Live In Concert arena tour. The TV series was such a fantastic and enlightening show and has really empowered society to view our oceans and environment with a great deal more care. I can’t wait to stand on stage with an 80-piece orchestra and huge screen showing some of that incredible Blue Planet II footage, it should be an amazing experience.”

Accompanied by the original music score

by Bleeding Fingers Music, composed by Hans

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming, the concert will be performed live by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Matthew Freeman.

Blue Planet II was the most watched TV programme of 2017 in the UK, reaching 37.6m viewers.

Tickets from: www.AXS.com, www.eventim.co.uk www.seetickets.com www.blueplanet2live.co.uk

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to Blue Planet II – Live in Concert at Bournemouth International Centre on 13 March 2019, answer the following question:

How many viewers did the TV programme Blue Planet II reach in 2017?

Enter at www.mags4dorset.co.uk or send your entry to BPII mags4dorset, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ. Closing date is 8 February 2019.

The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final.

Personal details will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winners of the competition. The winner will be announced in the magazine and their details will be passed to the venue and/or to the promoters with respect to the ticket allocation.

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Dream come true as Regent staff meet André Rieu A VIP reward by the King of Waltz was given to two of the Regent Centre staff at André Rieu’s recent concert at SSE Arena in Wembley. An invitation to meet André Rieu following the concert was a dream come true for the Christchurch theatre’s general manager, Felicity Porter, and marketing officer, Laura Dean.

The Regent has been the number one cinema in the UK and Ireland for the last four years for the best audience attendance at André Rieu’s concert broadcast screenings, and the King of Waltz decided it was time he re-paid the favour by inviting Porter and Dean for some of his very special VIP treatment at his concert in London on 12 December.

Front row tickets, VIP reception and a chance to meet André Rieu in person after the concert were all part of the package.

It was all arranged for the lucky ladies by André’s son, Pierre and André told them, “We are so thrilled with the fact that you are such great supporters of us. Please keep it up.”

Porter and Dean were treated like fellow royalty by the King of Waltz and

commenting later, Felicity Porter said, “This has been a dream come true, finally getting to meet André in person and seeing him live on stage playing his wonderful music.

This is a brilliant acknowledgement by André for all of the hard work put in by the Regent staff and volunteers to make the Centre the number one cinema in the UK and Ireland for audience attendance at his concert screenings. It has been a real night to remember for Laura and me.”

André Rieu can be seen next at the Regent for his New Year Concert from Sydney on Saturday 5 January at 7pm and Sunday 6 January at 3pm and 7pm.

Felicity was able to tell André in person that advance ticket sales for the three screenings are already going through the roof and that she is confident that the Regent will retain its title as his number one cinema in the UK and Ireland in 2019.

L - R Laura, André and Felicity

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| 39

Bottles

by Julian Hewitt, Fordingbridge Museum

After 1880, councils began to collect rubbish and take it to landfill. On my first archeological dig it, therefore, came as no surprise that I happened upon a Victorian rubbish dump. In amongst the coal ash, clay pipes and pottery, one of the main finds was bottles. Some were ceramic but many were glass.

Victorian and Edwardian glass bottles come in all shapes, colours and sizes. In an age where many people suffered from a range of medical conditions, many of the bottles are medicine bottles but one can also find ink bottles, wine and beer bottles and soft drinks bottles.

The art of glass-blowing dates from the first century BC and up until WW1, many bottles were still hand-blown and, therefore, all slightly different.

Victorian medicine bottles are some of the most interesting to bottle collectors. Up until the 1850s there were no regulations on the sale of poisons. Arsenic, for example, could be bought cheaply and was used to kill insects and vermin.

In the days before electric lighting, reaching out for your medicine in the dark or by candle light could be a dangerous thing to do. Suppliers of bottles came up with a variety of solutions to this problem. Poison bottles were often coloured blue or green and were given a distinctive shape or texture. Coffin or skull shaped boxes denoted the possible consequences of drinking the contents. These are now much sought after by collectors. Other poison bottles had ridges on

LETTERS to the

EDITOR

them or raised letters with ‘death’ or ‘poison’ and sometimes a skull and crossbones.

In 1772, Joseph Priestley discovered the way to produce carbonised drinks by dissolving carbon dioxide in water. At first these drinks were stored in earthenware bottles but it was found that the gas leaked out making the contents flat. A glass torpedo shaped bottle, which could not be stood upright was developed and this meant that the cork was always kept wet to prevent shrinkage and leaked gas. These were not easy to store so Hiram Codd from Suffolk developed a bottle with a marble in it to keep the gasses from escaping. The pressure of the gas kept the marble pressed against a rubber washer in the neck of the bottle. The bottle neck was pressed together to form a chamber that prevented the marble falling into the bottle when it was pressed down with the drinkers thumb or a special opener to release the contents. It may be a myth that serious beer drinkers derided this sort of bottle dismissing the contents as codswallop.

Codd bottles are now quite rare because children used to break them to get the marble out.

Later on, flip top ceramic stoppers held in place by wires were developed.

And in the 1890s an American, William Painter, invented the crown cork bottle cap that we have on most beer bottles today and which was opened with a bottle opener.

The next time you dig up a bottle in the garden take a close look at it for it may be a valuable find. Fordingbridge Museum, which will reopen at Easter, has a collection of interesting bottles.

Correspondence should be sent to the editor at the address on page 3, or email editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk

Chief Exec’s Pay-out – was it a typo?

My comment here maybe a bit late in the day of this story, (Mid Nov 2018 Viewpoint page 9), nonetheless: further to Mr Gooch’ letter of the month re the severance package of Ms D Ward I have no sound objection to the payment of three month’s salary in lieu of notice for an employee at that level but it does go against the grain somewhat.

It’s difficult to see how they can contribute to the organisation in any productive way when working notice so they may as well not be there. “Here’s your money leave your car keys, phone and laptop at security on the way out”, a common enough occurrence in the private sector.

The council however should be able to exercise some degree of mastery over its controllable costs, payroll being one of such.

Six years’ service would warrant a maximum of, say, 10 weeks statutory redundancy payment [Five grand in round numbers].

Under the circumstances the employer contributing an equal number of weeks salary is not uncommon in the private sector [say thirty-five grand all up].

One presumes that the figure of £130,000 for a redundancy payment published recently in the press was a misprint or typo. If not, one would question just what control the council does exercise over public funds when coughing up a redundancy payment which is, give or take, four times larger than a generous pay out need have been. I suppose it is easy to be altruistic with other peoples’ money.

Peter Street Verwood The figure quoted in Viewpoint of £129,914 redundancy payment was provided

by Dorset County Council. As was the £40,211 payment in lieu of 13-weeks notice. The pension strain payment relating to Debbie Ward is over £300,000 and this will be made by the county council to the pension fund. Editor

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Images show a torpedo bottle, a Codd bottle and a green-ridged medicine bottle

£36,629 and rising…

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Poppy Appeal in Ringwood and District. Yes, Armistice 100 - 2018 is a very special year but the sum raised locally so far is simply astounding.

Whilst the Legion is seen as the UK's leading Armed Forces charity, it is the support of the local general public and companies that provide the funding for all the Legion’s work.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gave so generously to help us reach this total, and we know that there is more to come.

It really has been an incredible time. We started the Poppy Launch on 27 October with the Legion Gazebo on the Gateway, courtesy of the town council, with the town mayor, Cllr Tony Ring, being presented with a poppy by members of 165 Port & Maritime RLC, 266 Port Sqn Blighmont Army Reserve Centre, Southampton.

The Poppy Sellers who were out and about on the streets on the following weekend, and for fourteen days after the launch, were made very welcome - kind people even provided them with refreshments to keep out the cold - our thanks to each of the sellers and those who cared for them.

We would also like to thank all the businesses and organisations in the area that backed the Poppy Appeal – the shops and businesses did some wonderful window and floral displays participating in the commemoration in that way.

A big thank you must also go to Knights Brown for all their help and their roundabout poppy display, and to the Gateway, Furlong and Meeting house for accommodating our poppy gazebo, and to Ringwood Surplus Store for hosting our static stall.”

Our annual concert in the Parish Church by the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary raised £250 profit to add to the total, besides being a very enjoyable evening.

Yes, there were a lot of people involved We certainly could not have achieved such an astounding result without our team of Poppy Appeal volunteers, and it did rain and blow a lot, challenging us with the gazebo, but the public response has been truly wonderful.

Thank you so, so much, it is really appreciated and all the monies raised will go to support the core of the Royal British Legions work – providing through-life care to anyone who currently serves in the British Armed Forces, who has previously served, and their families.

Val Aldridge Ringwood and District Branch Poppy Appeal Coordinator Royal British Legion

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10th MAGS4DORSET Creative Writing Competition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read Adam’s excellent, yet sobering tale below.

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

The Lesson

T

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

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

Twenty-seven hands shot up.

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

“Are we all going to die?”

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

Not yet, anyway.

He looked to Lydia’s left.

“Marcus.”

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

“It’s true that it was his

by Adam Foster

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

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

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

“Don’t shout out, Jason.

Remember our rules.”

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

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

“How could they have prevented it?”

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

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

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

“What rule did they break?” asked Andrew.

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

everyone else thought they could too.

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

Only billionaires could afford to go.

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

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

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

“Anything that can go wrong,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the meantime, back to English.”

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

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

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

Like despair, bitterness, anger.

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

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

BLINDS & CURTAINS

BUILDING SERVICES

DECORATING

DISABILITY PRODUCTS

FENCING

GRAPHIC DESIGN

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

FENCING

FENCING

GARDENING SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPING

LOCKSMITH

LOGS

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specialist services PLASTERING

TREE SURGERY

TREE SURGERY

TREE SURGERY

TREE SURGERY

WEB DESIGN

WINDOW REPAIRS

Growing Places fund The Dorset LEP Growing Places Fund has been provided with £9.7m from central government as a revolving loan scheme to support innovation, productivity and the creation of jobs and housing in Dorset.

The special fund is a repayable loan that encourages local economic growth in Dorset. It is designed to unlock capital projects that have a significant economic impact and the potential to increase innovation and productivity, create jobs and housing, and deliver tangible economic outcomes.

The fund may also be used where businesses are unable to access alternative funding mechanisms for viable schemes that will deliver economic growth and support Dorset LEP’s strategic objectives.

To find out more, contact Martina Hanulova, programmes manager on 07925 891380 or email: mhanulova@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements

WINDOW REPAIRS

FREEADS Proceed with caution when buying privately.

MAGS4DORSET cannot accept any liablity for transactions carried out as a result of responding to these freeads.

Invalid wheelchair, perfect condition, cost £300, accept £85.

West Moors. 01202 873722 Avtex 18.5 HD Digital TV/ DVD/Satellite combo. £265.

Verwood. 01202 828328 January 2019

Pulford Publicity Limited (“the Publisher”) reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertisement without notice or explanation.

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

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

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

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

Cancellation of an advertisement must be advised in writing 28 days prior to copy date.

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

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

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

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| 43

motoring / keeping you on the road.

KEEPING YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD THIS WINTER The first few months of the year are often the dreariest. Cold and dark, without the festivities of December, the poor weather and lack of sun can make everyday things a lot harder. It’s not just us who find it difficult to get moving at this time of year though, as the winter can take a toll on your car.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

During the lower temperatures people tend to walk a lot less, using their cars for trips that would be deemed too small in the warmer months. And it’s ironic that the time we use our car the most is also the time when it’s the most at risk of having problems.

Winter weather can have negative effects on your vehicle, making it more likely to break down, and with the evenings at their darkest and the temperature at its lowest it is potentially the worst time for people to be stranded on the side of the road.

While giving your car an MOT isn’t something that you can do yourself, there are small things that can be carried out to make your car a safer place to be when on the road.

Tyres It’s advisable to have a spare tyre with you in the boot. Many of us forget about our spare tyre until we need it and it’s times like those that can be made much worse without one. The colder air on January days can cause tyres to lose pressure much faster than normal. A tyre’s surface area touches the road far more when the pressure is low, making it more prone to tearing and causing a breakdown, or worse- an accident. So check your pressure regularly.

Breaking down on a cold day or night due to a tyre issue can be avoided with regular checks and solved much faster if you have your spare tyre with you.

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motoring Battery Keeping an eye on the life of your battery is recommended. Like tyres, car batteries are also affected by the cold weather. This is due to the engine needing almost twice the amount of current when temperatures are lower, compared to other times of the year.

Most drivers have experienced a dead battery at least once. Whether it’s an issue with the battery itself or simply not turning off the lights causing it to go flat, getting into a car that won’t start is a pain – especially on a cold morning. Monitoring your battery and getting a new one if you’ve been putting it off for a while can help avoid this.

Windscreen

While screen wash may seem like the least of your worries, keeping it topped up during the winter is a legal requirement. There are screen washes that contain antifreeze.

These will save the morning rush when ice is on your windscreen. It will also allow you to keep your windscreen and wipers clean as they become dirtier during the cooler, damp weather.

Dirt, however, is not the biggest issue for your windscreen when the temperature drops. Cold winds can turn chips into cracks and can even cause them to shatter completely. While this is a risk year-round it is only heightened during winter. Frost from the outside and heating from inside your car can make the glass more prone to these issues.

To avoid this, get any chips seen to as soon as possible.

Popping into a local garage is ultimately the best way to ensure that your car is doing okay. A winter check or service will allow the experts to spot issues that may otherwise go missed, which can save you money, time and potentially your car.

Cars can be such vital parts of our everyday lives and, when the weather is bad, can safely take us to our destinations. Keeping your car healthy can help it keep you on the road this winter.

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| 45

Best in British wildlife photography at Moors Valley

Collision course, Wiltshire © Philip Selby BWP (2018 highly commended, animal portraits category)

An award-winning local photographer will present an interactive talk about his work, and how his pictures reflect his love for conservation and wildlife.

M

att Doggett, a New Forestbased photographer has won numerous awards for his work capturing stunning images of a variety of wildlife.

He will present his illustrated talk at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest on 12 February.

The evening will also include an opportunity to view the winning and highly commended images from the nationally acclaimed British Wildlife Photography Awards competition.

Matt has a PhD in marine biology, and combines his passion for underwater photography with diving. His work has been featured in a variety of wildlife publications including BBC Wildlife, Diver Magazine and Ocean Guide.

In 2012, he earned the overall title of British Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his entry in the Coast and Marine category for his spectacular image of diving gannets off the coast of Scotland.

This year his image of a spiny lobster among jewel anemones has been awarded highly commended in the habitats category.

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VIEWPOINT January 2019

Of the British Wildlife Photography Awards competition Matt said, “The BWPA does a fantastic job in showcasing British Wildlife at its best.

It publicises the incredible diversity we have in the UK and which we must strive to protect for our own health and well-being, if nothing more.”

Communication Ranger at Moors Valley, Katie Davies said, “It is a privilege to be able to share such a remarkable collection of photographs celebrating the immense beauty and variety of British wildlife.”

Diving gannets © Matt Doggett BWPA (2012)

The talk starts at 7pm on 12 February. Tickets are £6, and will include a glass of wine or soft drink. To book, call Moors Valley on 01425 470721. For more on BWPA visit www.bwpawards.co.uk

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