Viewpoint October 2017

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Mid Oct 2017

Your Independent Local Magazine

VIEWPOINT

Volume 41, Issue 12

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

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

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• ST LEONARDS HOSPITAL TO CLOSE • SARAH FARM ER LIGHTS UP FERNDOWN

BRITTAS IS BACK! Story on P22

INVICTUS GOLD. Story on P19

• RINGWOOD CARNIVAL SUCC ESS • COMPETITIO N – ADOPT A BE EHIVE

Halloween Fiesta The Metropole Street Market at Lansdowne in Bournemouth will return on 29 October with a ‘Day of the Dead’ event.

Inspired by the southern Mexican holiday ‘Dias de Los Muertos’– a day of honouring deceased loved ones – the street market is just in time for Halloween and will be all about celebrating and having fun.

A ‘Day of the Dead’ costume competition will see prizes awarded for the best male, best female, best child and best couple. Additionally, participants can expect a spectacular ‘Dias de Los Muertos’ parade led by Miss Dorset 2017 and Miss England Social Media Queen 2017, Samantha Bumford.

October’s street market is set to be bigger than the first one last month, with 20 extra local trade stalls and an extended line up of street performers, entertainers and musicians.

After Halloween, the next couple of Metropole monthly markets will be on 26 November and 17 December.

Dark Side of the Mirror

Photos of the first Metropole Market © CatchBox

Eli (6) from Christchurch

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

Ricky Also

VIEWPOINT Volume 41 • Issue 12 • October 2017 MAGS4DORSET Ben Pulford managing director design@mags4dorset.co.uk Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@mags4dorset.co.uk

News Desk 01202 872813 Janine Pulford editor editorial@mags4dorset.co.uk Carol Waterkeyn contributing editor

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

Adam Trimby graphic designer designstudio@mags4dorset.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 Richard Marrow account manager DD: 01202 941470 richard@mags4dorset.co.uk

LOGISTICS Ian Lory Alexandra O’Neill

Hello readers!

My role as editor of 4Dorset and Viewpoint magazines, as you can imagine, includes attending events as well as meeting and interviewing people.

I have lost count of all the famous faces I have photographed over the years, including royalty, and this responsibility weighs heavily on the shoulders, which is probably why I walk with a stoop. Getting the facts right, whilst juggling with a camera for the best shots isn’t easy.

So each assignment brings a fair share of nerves because I worry about what can go wrong. What if I say something stupid? What if my photos are blurred? What if my battery runs out? (I take a spare these days). There are so many unknowns, it’s better in a way to just not worry about anything. If only.

Anyway, meeting the whole cast of the Brittas Empire when they turned out to open the new gym at Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre was perhaps the most nervewracking build up before the event I can remember. But, I needn’t have worried because it was a relaxed, fun and happy press call.

The moral of this tale is, don’t over prepare and let the nerves get a grip. The things you worry about most, are rarely as bad as you imagine.

I must admit taking Tom Scrase with me to take the photos did help, as did the trusty recording device I keep in my handbag.

Turn to page 22 to find out how I got on.

How to contact useditorial

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 King George V Pavilion, Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9EN

next copy closing date:

27 OCTOBER 2017 The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

Janine Pulford Editor

4Dorset is independently published and distributed free to homes and businesses in selected areas of Dorset and Hampshire. It is also available by subscription at £35 per year. Views or opinions expressed in 4Dorset are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement deemed to be unsuitable for publication. Information about a service does not imply recommendation. All purchases made through this publication are done so entirely at your own risk. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with 4Dorset and should not be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher.

Three lovely ‘Brittas Empire’ ladies © CatchBox

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

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COLUMN SUPPLIED BY WESSEX PENSIONS

Daniel Parkin

A

uto enrolment commenced five years ago in October 2012 and, as we near the end of the government’s journey to get every employer to set up a pension scheme for their

Five years of auto enrolment

By Daniel Parkin

staff, what has been happening?

According to the Pensions Regulator as at the end of July 2017, there have been nearly 700,000 employers who have completed their declaration of compliance, with 8.3 million workers automatically enrolled and a further 7.3 million

workers not being enrolled. An additional 10.2 million workers were already in a qualifying scheme.

There have been mistakes along the way, and I have helped employers that have either missed their staging date or have tried to complete themselves and got into

a mess. The Pensions Regulator has been aware of the challenges and tends to work with the employer and bring them back on track if needed.

Fines have been imposed with 19,300 fixed penalty notices being levied. The worse case was a company that ignored all the responsibilities.

The Regulator had asked them to complete and their initial £400

fine turned into a £40,000 fine, which they eventually paid; an expensive lesson for ignoring their duties.

Employers that become an employer from 1 October 2017 onwards will not have a pre-determined date as they will need to meet legislation as soon as they employ their first member of staff and register for a PAYE reference.

April 2018 will then bring the increase in contributions for those companies that started with the minimum combined contributions of 2% to a combined amount of 5%.

I just hope that pension providers and employers remind their staff in advance that this is happening rather than during April payday, when workers will see their pension contribution increase from 1% to 3%, if the employer only decides to contribute their minimum increase to 2%.

Column supplied by Wessex Pensions, 17 Headlands Business Park, Salisbury Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3PB For more information about pensions, telephone Daniel Parkin on 07801 432182.

David Bailey will be the judge International award-winning wildlife photographer, David Bailey, will judge a competition and provide the prize for a local amateur wildlife competition.

‘Wildllife in Action’ entries must be handed to Avonway Community Centre in Fordingbridge by 10 November and the winner will be announced at ‘an evening with David Bailey’ when he will give a talk.

Born in the New Forest, David went to the primary school originally within Avonway Community Centre. He now lives in Wales.

In 2016 he was awarded a BrandLaureate International Personality Award as being a world leader in his field. When he received the award, it was in company with personalities in other categories such as Adele, Keanu Reeves and John Simpson.

David Bailey’s talk at Avonway Community Centre, Fordingbridge on 25 November will start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5, booking is advisable. His book and wildlife photographs will be on sale, and there will be a raffle. Proceeds from the event will support the Fordingbridge Day Centre.

For more information contact Maureen Burt on 01425 654288.

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

Clean and fresh in Verwood Cheryl Mason has taken over Gilbeys in Verwood and rebranded the well-established dry cleaners as Mason’s. The town’s mayor Cllr Lindsey Dedden helped celebrate the opening of Mason’s along with Cheryl and her children, landlord Mrs Hall, original proprietor Mrs Gilbey and the very first seamstress at Gilbeys, Brenda Slade (all pictured).

Universal Credit: help at hand Citizens Advice are helping people get ready for Universal Credit as it rolls out in full across the area. Although the charity continues to ask the government to pause the roll-out until problems with the benefit are fixed, it will start from October across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. Universal Credit is a new benefit that helps people on a low income, or not in work, meet their

living costs. It combines six benefits into a single monthly payment.

With most people facing a six-week wait for their first Universal Credit payment, Citizens Advice is encouraging people to apply for an advance payment if they’re concerned about meeting their living costs in the meantime. The advance payment is a loan and will have to be paid back.

The charity is actively raising the waiting time for first payments and other concerns with the government.

Anyone wanting advice should call Citizens Advice on 0344 241 1291/0344 411 1444.

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

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Photo from 2016 © Catchbox

Sarah Farmer breezes into Ferndown There will be a bright atmosphere at the Christmas lights switch-on in Ferndown this year and the event in November is set to be the biggest yet, with BBC South’s weather girl Sarah Farmer throwing the switch.

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

O

rganised by Ferndown Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Ferndown, with the lights provided by the town council the festive occasion will include Santa’s Grotto, children’s rides and amusements, a Christmas Market in Penny’s Walk, food, candy floss, mulled wine and mince pies and the usual enormous Christmas hamper being raffled by the chamber to raise funds for the next event.

To showcase all the entertainers, there will be two live stages. One outside the Barrington Theatre and the other under the clock tower.

The light switch-on will be carried out by BBC South’s weather presenter and journalist Sarah Farmer, and is an event not to be missed.

It starts at 1pm on 25 November in Penny’s Walk, with the switch-on at 5pm, so pop the date in your diary now.

Short story competition shortlist The entries tumbled in for the 9th mags4dorset short story competition and after much reading and re-reading, the shortlist was chosen by editor, author and publisher Janine Pulford. She said, “There were over 30 good quality stories from all over the country and as far away as France. It took a while to finalise the top 10 and those who entered, who are not on the shortlist, should not be too disappointed.

This year’s entries were, once again, of a high standard.

“I’m very glad I don’t have to judge the final placings.

We now have four judges to carry out that task.”

The judges are author and writing tutor Ian J Burton; editor and short story writer Adam Trimby; editor and author Carol Waterkeyn and editor Marta Dimitrova. They will make their decision from the following submissions in the next few weeks.

Twenty Steps to Blue Heaven, A Fragrant Memory, The Painted Lady, When I Fall in Love…, The White Hat, Untitled Story, Blue Steps and Community, Play It For Me, The Silken Thread, All That Jazz.

Pudsey at the Barrington Pudsey Bear is coming to Ferndown on Friday, 24 November. He will be attending a variety performance to raise funds for BBC Children in Need.

The event, organised by Warren Brown, will include a tribute to the late Sir Terry Wogan.

Hosted by the Barrington Centre, children will be able to have their photographs taken with Pudsey prior to the performance and also during the interval.

A packed programme includes Jenny Oag, Wimborne St Giles First School Choir, Catherine Gray, Paul Michael, Phoenix Junior, Lily Meads,

Polz Apart and much more.

Book now before it’s too late and help raise money for BBC Children in Need. 01202 894858.

Julian and Emma Fellowes open charity shop in Ferndown

Julian and Emma Fellowes with staff of Dorset Blind Association © Radio Solent

Lord and Lady Fellowes, patrons of Dorset Blind Association since 2015, have officially opened Dorset Blind Association’s first charity shop in Ferndown.

Julian Fellowes, a member of the House of Lords, is also famously known as an English actor, novelist, film producer and screenwriter. He is the writer behind one of the UK’s best-loved period TV dramas, Downton Abbey.

Emma Kitchener-Fellowes is the great-great-niece of the first Earl Kitchener and is also Lady-in-Waiting to HRH Princess Michael of Kent.

On the opening of the shop, they said, “It is hard to imagine a gift more precious than sight, or a pain more severe than losing it. So, it feels good to know that here is a practical way we can all help. Everything given to, or bought from, this shop will bring real aid to the local blind or partially-sighted community and I would urge everyone to support it in any way they can. Any of us could lose our sight, at any time, so let us pray that we would be treated with generosity and support when and if it happens.”

Occupying a prominent position on Penny’s Walk in Ferndown, Dorset Blind Association’s first shop is designed to not only raise much-needed income to fund their services, but is itself a part of their service delivery.

The shop includes a mini equipment and advice resource centre.

The shop provides an opportunity for visually impaired people to volunteer, to gain useful skills and experience and allows easy access to all members of the community.

Dorset Blind Association is seeking volunteers who can help in the shop on Mondays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons, especially those with till experience.

The local Ferndown Social Club is also looking for volunteer drivers. Call the shop on 01202 920385 if you can help.

Are you celebrating your platinum wedding anniversary this year?

Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip will be celebrating 70 years of marriage this November. In honour of this occasion, the chairman of East Dorset District Council, Cllr Derek Burt, would like to find out if there are any couples in East Dorset who will be sharing the royals’ platinum year.

If you, or a couple you know, will be celebrating 70 years of marriage this year (2017), Cllr Derek Burt is keen to hear from you by 31 October.

You can contact Cllr Burt’s office through the following: Email: kmills@christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk, call: 01202 795219 or write to: Kay Mills, Civic Support Officer, Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Christchurch BH23 1AZ Visit www.mags4dorset.co.uk for more local news

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LAW SPOT

Fourth gold in a row

By Nicola Lowe,

Managing Partner at Harold G Walker Solicitors

Q.free legal advice?

Are you able to offer

A. Yes we are.

We believe it’s important that everyone has access to professional legal advice, that’s why our firm regularly hosts free legal advice clinics at our offices and at venues within the local community.

Our clinics provide the opportunity for you to talk with our legal professionals and get the answers to your questions.

Whether you need advice on Family Law, Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, or Wills and Probate, our team of experts is available to help you.

All our legal clinics are very informal so there is no need to make an appointment. However if you wish to discuss a particular area of law then we would ask you to contact us beforehand so we can ensure we have a representative from that department available at the session.

Our next free legal advice clinics will be held as follows:

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

Every First Wednesday of the month Local Epicentre, West Moors, BH22 0HT – 10am-12pm Every Second Thursday of the month HGW in Verwood, 27 Vicarage Road, BH31 6DR – 10am-12pm Every Third Tuesday of the month HGW in Christchurch, 33a Bargates, BH23 1QD 10am-12pm Every Fourth Wednesday of the month HGW in Wimborne, 1 The Square, BH21 1PS – 5pm-7pm For further information please contact a member of our team.

Wimborne in Bloom press officer Anthony Oliver, Susie Gatrell, secretary and Richard Nunn receiving the awards from Joe Talbot, who presents the radio gardening programme DIGIT

Wimborne in Bloom is celebrating gold for the fourth year in a row, and winning the town title for the first time in the regional in bloom competition.

Due to the increase in the town’s population, it had for the first time, moved out of the small town category and into the town category, so the win was greeted with joy.

Delighted chairman of Wimborne in Bloom, Richard Nunn said “Not only were we in a new category but we won it at the first attempt.”

He thanked all who had helped achieve the “magnificent result” during the group’s 25th anniversary year.

In addition, the Redcotts Recreation Ground won a silver gilt.

Anthony Oliver, the former chairman and founder of Wimborne in Bloom received one of the region’s Outstanding Contribution awards for 2017 for all that he has done in the name of ‘In Bloom’ over the past 25 years.

The Regional South and South East in Bloom awards ceremony took place in Gatwick on 20 September.

Apply now for Rustic funds The 24th annual Rustic Fayre held on Bank Holiday Monday at Potterne Park, Verwood, has been ranked as one of the best with 4,500 visitors and over £12,000 raised.

The organisers, Verwood Rotary Club, are now inviting applications from local charities and good causes for a share of the funds. The cut-off for applications is 31 October 2017 and the presentation evening will be on 28 November at 7pm in the town’s memorial hall. Those wishing to apply for funds should email secretary@verwoodrotary.org.uk

charity of the year

RNLI

What a Boone!

Geoff Barfoot is known to many local people as his alter ego ‘WE Boone’. WE Boone on Poole’s high street, is the Aladdin’s cave of all things hardware, where time has stood still, the place to go for your fork handles, letter Os, nails, teapots to fishing tackle, whatever you need for whatever job. Endless stock is stashed away and Geoff knows exactly where everything is.

Alongside running his emporium, Geoff has been a stalwart at Poole Lifeboat Station, and recently stood down after clocking up 30 years of RNLI volunteering.

Back in 1987 when Margaret Thatcher became the longest-serving prime minster, Geoff joined the lifeboat crew, which was then based at Salterns Marina. He was an active crew member on the Sam & Iris Coles, which was Poole’s Boston Whaler, and Inner Wheel,

Jonathan Clark presenting Geoff Barfoot with a bottle of vintage port

the Brede class lifeboat.

Within the station, Geoff was known in many guises, like the quartermaster or ‘Arkwright’ keeping the station supplied, whether it be with light bulbs, locks or the most important Brasso! He provided entertainment as the music man, playing his guitar for a sing-along at crew socials, he would also keep the crew well fed, be it by cooking bacon sandwiches on his boat whilst waiting for Father Christmas to arrive on the Quay, or whipping up his legendary paella to sustain the crew during the busy summer months. Geoff was also the treasurer in the early days.

In later years, applying his experience as a crew member and as a local boat owner, Geoff became a Deputy Launch Authority (DLA).

These are the lifeboat stations’ ‘elder statesmen’. The DLAs are the first point of call for the Coastguard when lifeboats are needed, and as the initial request comes in, the decision of which lifeboat is launched ultimately lies with

the DLA, who sets the pagers off. This alerts the volunteer crew that there is a ‘shout’. The DLA also supports the lifeboat operation manager.

Poole Lifeboat Station’s longest serving volunteer, Jonathan Clark, spoke about Geoff, “We started out at Salterns together and have seen a lot of changes, moving the lifeboat station, working on various lifeboats and some of our kit that we wore is now on display in the old Lifeboat Museum.

“Geoff is one of the good guys. He has been very supportive on, and off, the water, always doing lots of stuff in the background, keeping the morale going and I would like to thank him personally for all that we have shared and all that he has done for Poole lifeboat over the past thirty years. Though I am certain that he will not miss the phone calls from the Coastguard in the middle of the night.”

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

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COMPETITION

A Taste of Honey

In the run up to National Honey Week on 23-29 October, here are some facts you may not know about honeybees:

• • • •

One bee makes on average a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

A million flowers will have to be visited to make one pound of honey.

Bees make honey from nectar gathered from flowers. The sweet, sticky substance is mixed with enzymes in their stomachs and stored in the wax, hexagonal, honeycomb.

Ivy flowers are one of the only food sources for bees in the autumn, so don’t cut it back.

In a good year, honeybees will make far more honey than they need. Beekeepers take the spare honey, but should make sure more than enough honey is left in the hive, as this is the bees’ food supply, too.

Help the honeybee

The British Beekeepers Association offers an Adopt a Beehive scheme. It costs £36 for one year. In exchange you receive a welcome box of bee-related goodies and updates throughout the year from your beehive and beekeeper. All profits from the scheme are ploughed into environmental and educational projects to help save the honeybee. mags4dorset in conjunction with BBKA have one Adopt a Beehive set to give away, with the winner receiving a year’s subscription to the scheme, worth £36.

For your chance to win, answer the following question: how many sides does a hexagonal honeycomb have?

Enter online at www.mags4dorset.co.uk or send your entry to Bees, mags4dorset, First Floor King George V Pavilion, Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9EN by 2 November 2017. The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. There is no cash alternative.

Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd are not permitted to enter. The editor’s decision is final.

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

Livestock handling can be a challenge Every year there are deaths and injuries involving farm workers whilst handling livestock, in particular cattle.

These are often caused by poor equipment, lack of experience and not enough respect for the strength and speed of cattle when being moved around or treated.

It is also dangerous for those who have to visit farms, such as vets, and ourselves.

Our dealings are usually instigated from problems that have been identified on the farm and often involve animals that have usually not been handled and are at their most volatile.

Pigs can be difficult, unless they have been used to being handled, and you have experience with them. They can be pretty wilful and don’t like being pushed around and piglets can be a real challenge. Understanding pig behaviour and body language can contribute to a safe and rewarding experience for the pigs and handlers.

Sheep are extremely

sensitive. Sudden changes can startle them and they are often not used to being handled, so are not so easy to deal with.

Horses need total respect.

Even those who have spent years around horses can get hurt. I found this out to my cost when I fell over as a horse rushed past me and I ended up in hospital.

Occasionally we have refresher courses with livestock handling. Recently we held our own livestock handling course in Dorset inviting animal health officers from other counties.

Christine Scott

Animal Health + Welfare Inspector For more information on this subject please contact 01305 224475, or visit www.dorsetforyou.com and follow the links to Trading Standards, Animal Health pages.

Recalling the days when the film broke down at the cinema

By Julian Hewitt

I

went to the newly refurbished Fordingbridge Regal Cinema the other evening and looking around at the spectacular craftsmanship and design, I could not help wondering what the staff or the audience in the early to middle part of the last century would have made of it.

Prior to the advent of the talkies in the 1930s, pianists Mrs Waller or Molly Parker, would have tried to play music that matched the mood and pace of the film.

The public would have been alerted to films that were coming up,

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not by checking on the Internet, but by trailers and advertising.

When King Kong was about to be shown, the projectionists came up with the brilliant idea of projecting an image of the monster across the street onto the wall of the school opposite.

A ‘B’ movie would be shown first and in the intermission, before the main feature, adverts and trailers for future films would be shown. Short newsreels produced by either Pathé or Gaumont News companies would also have been shown.

When an important event took place, such as

VIEWPOINT October 2017

Newly refurbished Regal in Fordingbridge

the Coronation in 1953, there would have been private documentary showings for selected audiences and sometimes local schools would have been invited to educational films.

Staff who ran the cinema would have included a manager, people on the pay desk, usherettes and a team of projectionists. The latter worked in two teams of two, one covering the first half of the week and the other the second half.

Being part-time, they would have carried out their duties after finishing doing their daytime work. As well as projecting and rewinding the film they had to stoke the coke boiler, which heated the building. They also had to draw back the heavy curtains as the film began, using a system of ropes that ran in pipes from

the screen alongside the audience to the projection room.

If a rope broke, one of them would have to dash to the screen to pull on an emergency rope. For this they were paid 2/6d a night (12½p) but they were allowed to go to the cinema free on their nights off.

Film reels would have been to numerous other cinemas before they were sent to Fordingbridge and it was the job of the projectionist to remove damaged sections of film and hand splice it together.

This was a job that, if it had to be done whilst the film was showing, would be met by foot stamping and slow handclaps from the frustrated audience.

If the electricity failed mid-film the manager had to go into the shed at the rear of the tiny car park and hand crank the emergency

generator. A great cheer from the audience would greet the noise of it firing up.

A 1950’s programme held in the museum shows that it cost 1/- (one shilling or 5p today) for the front stalls 1/9d (one shilling and nine old pence) for the centre stalls and 2/3d for the back stalls. How these early cinema-goers would have marvelled at the comfy seats of today, complete with drink holders, the top quality digital images, the computerised ticket system and the swish bar.

They would have recognised the cinema as a community focal point where friends met for an enjoyable night out, but having experienced today’s luxury, I doubt if many of them would have hankered after the “good old days” for all their quaintness.

Let the semis begin

Comedy play on the way

Bigger and better and in partnership with the Ferndown Potato Pants Festival, the heats of Live:Ferndown are about to begin.

With 16 confirmed entries, the semi-finals will be held at the Forest Inn on 13 October, 17 November and 19 January. A maximum of 21 acts can take part, so get your entry in now.

Sponsored by R T Knight Eyewear and Xerocad Printing Ltd, prizes will be presented by the mayor of Ferndown.

With previous winners Harmony Twist, Emma-Jane Toop, Amie Knight and Draconem, the level of quality is proven.

Visit the website, or check out the Facebook page, and get involved in this ever-growing music community. www.liveferndown.co.uk

Want a good laugh? Fordingbridge Players will be performing Curtain Up by Peter Quilter in November.

Directed by Sarah Farr, it is the hilarious story of five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life.

They try various fundraising schemes but their most ambitious is to hold a concert featuring local talent and a world-famous star, who agrees to appear for no fee. When their plans go awry, it’s a race to prevent their audience from guessing the truth.

This fast-paced comedy premiered in 2004 and has been performed more than 100 times in the last decade. See it at the Victoria Rooms, Fordingbridge, 23-25 November at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available on-line from www. fordingbridgeplayers.org.uk or from Jessica’s, High Street, Fordingbridge, Tel 01425 652395; at £8 each.

education NEWS - advertising feature -

Outstanding A level achievement This year at Ferndown Upper School around a third of all grades awarded were A* or A grades and all students gained their expected place at university or into employment. Two students have even gone on to study Medicine.

It is therefore of no surprise with around a third of all grades being A* or A grades, that some students did extremely well.

Michaela Sibsey: A* – Eng Lit, A* – Maths and A* – Psychology Michaela will be going to Bath to study Psychology. She said, “Thanks to all of my teachers, I’ve loved every minute at FUS.” Katy Dunn: A – History, A – Ethics and A – Eng Lit Katy is going to Southampton to read History and Philosophy. She commented, “The teachers are always in your corner, I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

Jake Ford: A – Maths, A – Further Maths and A – Physics Jake is going to Southampton to study Aerospace Engineering.

Mara Tomei: A – Biology, A – Chemistry and A – German Mara is going to The University of Groningen (Netherlands) to study Medicine. She said, “I would just like to thank all of my teachers, they have made this possible.”

Michaela Sibsey

Jake Ford

However, all of the students achieved highly, and the staff at Ferndown Upper School were pleased to see so many of their students gaining their expected places at Russell group and other universities, or going into fulltime employment.

In fact students achieved a 100% pass rate.

The STEM subjects, (Maths, Biology, Physics and Engineering) had particularly high results with the Arts highlight being 100% A*-C for Fine Art. Other standout subjects were MFL (Modern Foreign Languages), where every student gained an A grade in their French and German A levels.

The vocational subjects also performed very highly (Sport, Media, IT, Child Care and Engineering), with their results placing Ferndown Upper in the top 1% of the country for progress, with every student in Sport and Childcare attaining the highest possible grade. Three students successfully gained engineering apprenticeships with prestigious local companies Superior Seals and Curtiss-Wright, having achieved the highest possible grades in Engineering and IT. These results mean that Ferndown’s government Value Added score is a superb +0.28, the best result in Dorset. This means that every 3rd student gained a higher grade than predicted by the government.

A Level students L-R Millie Harris, Hannah Johnstone, Katy Dunn

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

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health & FITNESS

St Leonards Hospital to close in radical shake-up Bournemouth to become main A&E hospital

by Carol Waterkeyn

St Leonards Hospital, near Ringwood, is set to close after NHS Dorset CCG governing body unanimously agreed the Clinical Services Review proposals.

Among other controversial decisions, the main Accident and

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Emergency hospital in the east of the county will be the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, with an urgent care centre at Poole Hospital to deal with less life-threatening injuries and planned care. As well as losing its A&E, Poole’s maternity and

VIEWPOINT October 2017

paediatrics services will be axed, and will transfer to Bournemouth. Thousands of people sent in objections to the proposals and angry protesters had gathered with placards, but it made no difference to the final decision, said to be necessary to save the £158m shortfall in funding in the county by 2021.

Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester is to remain a district general hospital with the most seriously ill or injured patients transferred to Bournemouth.

The decision was made

at a meeting in Dorchester on 20 September.

Jacqueline Moss, chair of the Friends of St Leonards, said, “We have just heard that we have lost our battle to save our hospital at St Leonards. We had fought long and hard and it will close in about 18 months. This is a sad day for us all who live in the area because I, along with the Friends and all the nurses and staff, know it will all end in tears and people are not going to get the care that they need.”

There are currently

13 community hospitals in Dorset, which provide services like scanning, x-rays, and outpatient appointments with 40-50% of space not being used. It was decided 12 community hubs across Dorset would offer a range of outpatient services, such as for tests and scans.

The community hubs with beds are expected to be located in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital or Poole, then Wimborne, Bridport, Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Swanage, and Weymouth hospitals. It is said the total number of community beds would increase by around 70.

Also in the proposals, the community hubs without beds would be located in Christchurch, Dorchester, Portland and Wareham.

Alderney, Westhaven and St Leonards hospitals will not be used as community hubs and services based there are to be moved to other locations. Proposals for the future of mental health beds that are currently in Westhaven and Alderney hospitals are currently being reviewed in separate consultations.

health & FITNESS

Light Up the Prom with shining lights

- advertising feature -

Feel good for the festive season As the festive season approaches, now is a great time to get fit. To help you, Ferndown Leisure Centre is offering a 3-month fitness membership for £99, or swim membership for £60.

Fitness membership gives you full membership benefits including unlimited use of the gym, workout classes, swimming pool and SWIMTAG. To help each member make the most of their visits, you will have three personal training sessions with a qualified fitness instructor who will explain how to use the equipment correctly and safely, discuss fitness goals, and devise a personalised programme to follow. You will also get full use of the Places Locker app and all its benefits, and 14 days priority booking.

For those who prefer the water, the swim membership offers welcome sessions, Masters and coached swim sessions, and the use of SWIMTAG.

B

ournemouth Hospital Charity teams up with Macmillan Caring Locally on 20 October to remember people who were shining lights.

Members of the public can dedicate a light to the memory of a loved one for just £5 and then join hundreds on the Bournemouth Pier Approach for a magical evening.

The event features

two minutes of silent reflection as hundreds of lights illuminate the prom, followed by a fireworks display.

Musical entertainment will be provided by the Bournemouth Male Voice Choir.

This year’s event is sponsored by Harold G Walker Solicitors, who

say they are proud to be supporting the event.

Anyone wishing to dedicate a £5 light to a loved one can do so from the Charity Office at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, by calling 01202 704060 or online at BHCharity.org/light-up/.

See your results SWIMTAG is a wristband that enables you to record your distance, swim stroke, speed, duration of swim and see how many calories you burn etc. As well as making swimming more fun, this helps you stay motivated.

October Half Term 23 – 27 October

View the full programme on Ferndown Leisure’s website www.ferndownleisurecentre.co.uk or pick up a programme from the centre.

Children’s swim lessons

Contact Becky or Sue from the Swim Admin team if you would like your children to learn to swim to a good standard in a friendly environment.

Adults’ swimming lessons

Would you like to overcome a fear of the water or being out of your depth, learn to swim, or improve your swim technique? There is an adult swim programme to help you achieve this.

Pétanque

Pétanque has arrived at Ferndown Leisure Centre. Why not go along and play this up-andcoming sport. It is suitable for anyone to play and great if you are looking for something you can do with your partner or friend. If you are a carer why not enjoy this activity together?

Beginner courses are available now with the opportunity to play games on a regular basis. Email joannesinclair@pfpleisure. org for more information.

Whether you’ve never exercised before, or want help to progress further, call the centre on 01202 877468 to get started.

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

| 15

health & FITNESS

Therapeutic garden is blooming marvellous

Orchard Garden: gold winner (courtesy of Ann Aveyard Photography)

Hospital to evaluate the garden, said she was thrilled to award gold, adding, “The Orchard Garden is an outstanding example that is made even more extraordinary as it is a first-time entry.

It’s incredibly rare for this to happen, but so well deserved.”

Haematology consultant Dr Helen McCarthy, who originally envisioned the concept of the project, said, “I strongly believe in the healing power of gardens and I’m grateful to those who supported my vision of creating this small oasis in the grounds of a hospital.

I would like to thank all of our patients, their families and our staff for their passion in fundraising to make this possible. Much emotion has been invested in this lovely garden for cancer patients to enjoy.”

The Orchard Garden has transformed the previously unused and unattractive courtyard in between the hospital’s

Jigsaw Building and Pathology Department into a tranquil area of relaxation and beauty for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy.

The area now features a therapeutic courtyard garden linked by a sensory orchard walkway to the hospital lake, where a fully accessible wooden deck offers an area of peaceful retreat overlooking the water.

The Orchard Garden was significantly supported

by Dorset Cancer Care Foundation – who administered a legacy from the late Betty Hyams – as well as the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ programme that contributed £12,000 after local Tesco shoppers voted to back the project at the checkouts.

Touchingly, over £35,000 of the total was donated in-memory of former patients who were never able to enjoy the benefits of the Orchard Garden, but who received treatment during its construction.

© Ann Aveyard Photography

A therapeutic garden at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital was heralded as ‘outstanding’ by judges after it received a gold award at the South & South East in Bloom 2017 awards ceremony.

The Orchard Garden – funded by donations to Bournemouth Hospital Charity – was awarded the highest honour at the annual ceremony on 20 September in Gatwick, after it had been nominated for the awards by the Bournemouth in Bloom organisation.

South & South East in Bloom judge Ruth Growney, who visited the Royal Bournemouth

Art4Health A new group held at Turbary Resource Centre in Ferndown on Thursdays between 10am and 12 noon during term time, provides a calm space in the week for anyone over the age of 16.

Art4Health especially welcomes those living with mental ill health or long term disability.

There is no charge, but donations can be made for refreshments.

For more information or to book a place call Susan on 07866 692528 or email ssutherland@hotmail.co.uk

16 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

health & FITNESS Seek medical advice if you get stung

Getting back on their feet

BSE group session at Alderney Hospital with physiotherapist Laura Forsyth

Around one in three people aged over 65 falls each year, sometimes resulting in broken bones and even hospitalisation.

Worse, falling can shatter a person’s confidence, leading to a spiral of physical decline and loss of independence. But innovative working by Dorset HealthCare is helping many older people in Bournemouth and Poole get back on their feet – and successfully stay there.

Last month, national Falls Prevention Awareness Week aimed to dispel the myth that falls are a “normal” part of aging. And, the Bournemouth and Poole Community Therapy Team has been actively proving the point.

In 2015, it set up a falls clinic at Alderney Hospital in Poole. This allows patients to be seen by a range of experts in one visit with staff who can assess the reasons why they are falling, and provide support or treatment which will reduce their risk of future falls.

Demand for the clinic is high –180 people have been seen there over the past year – and the results are positive. Most patients assessed no longer require follow-up home visits and are able to live more independently, with increased awareness of falls’ risk factors.

Occupational therapist Cathy Worboys said, “There can be all sorts of reasons why people have falls – their home environment, sight problems, medication, injuries or illness. Staff at the clinic look at all the possible reasons, and then make a plan to help reduce the risks.”

Part of the service provided at Alderney is the Balance, Strengthening and Education (BSE) Group. This offers weekly exercise and information sessions over a period of around three months, aimed at people who have fallen.

Physiotherapist Laura added: “If you have a fall or are worried about your balance, don’t keep it a secret. Speak to your GP, community nurse or other healthcare professional – there is help available.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) has received reports of the Portuguese man o’ war being found washed up on Chesil, Kimmeridge and Charmouth beaches.

DWT advice is not to touch them. Marine conservation officer, Emma Rance said, “Whilst they have been described as ‘invading’ our beaches, so far, only a handful have actually been sighted in Dorset this autumn. If you find any, we advise that you do not touch them, as they can sting even when dead.”

Though they cause a very painful sting, they are rarely serious, and only fatal in a few rare cases.

The Portuguese man o’ war is not a true jellyfish, but floating

colonies formed by coral-like hydroids living joined together to create venom-filled stinging tentacles reaching 10-30m long – perfectly adapted for capturing prey fish.

These tentacles hang from a large gas-filled iridescent float capable of angling itself to catch the wind on the seas surface.

Emma adds, “These are fascinating and beautiful creatures and are only seen in very rare cases on our seashores, so Dorset Wildlife Trust is really keen to hear about any sightings in Dorset.”

To do this, email kimmeridge@ dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

If you are worried you may have been stung, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

Portuguese man o’ war © Sarah Hodgson

-advertising feature-

New Brendoncare club opens in Verwood for older residents Verwood’s older residents are invited along to a new activities club, which has recently opened.

It was launched by registered charity Brendoncare Clubs, which currently runs over 90 clubs for those in later life across Dorset and Hampshire.

The new Verwood club will run every Saturday and will offer a range of games and other activities, such as kurling and bingo. Plus, of course, there will be the essential time to chat with other members over tea, coffee and biscuits. Violet is a member at one of the charity’s other clubs.

She explains, “My life changed completely when I lost my husband. I now live alone. The Brendoncare club was recommended to me by a friend and joining a club has made a difference to my life; it is always something to look forward to and I enjoy the variety of things we do.”

Brendoncare 1/4

The Verwood Activities Club meets every Saturday between 1.45pm and 3.45pm at Verwood United Reformed Church. It costs £3 per session on a pay-as-you-go basis, which includes light refreshments. The first session is free, so local people are encouraged to come along and try the club out at no cost.

For more information, please visit www.brendoncare.org.uk/clubs or telephone 01962 852133.

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

| 17

verwood NEWS

Overall winner (courtesy of Val Bright)

Best blooms win prizes The overall winner of Verwood in Bloom was Mrs S Simpson who received her award from Rob Ward.

M

rs S Simpson also won the category for best use of containers/hanging baskets.

Pip Holley of Willow Floristry judged the competition and made the other presentations at the Verwood & District

Horticultural Society’s autumn show on 16 September, along with cheques for £50.

Other results: Best front garden: Mr D Giles; Best commercial property: Plane Cuisine; Best school display: Verwood 1st Pre-School

Council Matters

By Cllr Simon Gibson

Cllr Simon Gibson

I want to return to an issue that I have touched on previously – housing.

The housing crisis is hardly new and it is now a central part the political agenda. However, despite much discussion, it seems far from clear how the political parties will solve this critical issue. This is because there are no easy answers and alongside Brexit and social care may well be the defining policy areas for governments to tackle for decades to come.

Wherever possible, councils must be proactive and creative.

No council can ignore the needs growing in their communities.

Schemes such as the excellent new development in Lyme Regis where new homes are built with priority given to local people are good models to follow. We must ensure that where we do build houses they help local people who seek a

home in the area they grew up in. Building the right type of housing to meet the specific local needs, rather than solely the homes that developers want to build, will go some way to rebalancing our local housing stock. Personally, I favour a return to councils building their own homes and an increase in the amount of social houses in our area. Additionally, we must also find new ways to increase the amount of homes to rent.

New homes do create friction with our natural environment and any development, especially in the green belt, needs very careful consideration.

In East Dorset, we do not have many brownfield sites available and I have no wish to concrete over our countryside. How we strike this balance is one of my primary concerns.

During a recent visit to a new development in East Dorset I was encouraged to hear that many of the interested buyers were young local people. This is excellent news for those people who can secure their first home, and also does not increase the pressure on our busy services.

Have a fair trade Christmas Verwood URC in Manor Road will host the annual Traidcraft Christmas stalls on 27 and 28 October between 9.30am and 1pm. Refreshments available. Traidcraft sells the ‘best of’ fair trade products. Visit traidcraft.co.uk to find out more.

18 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

verwood NEWS Congratulations Lindsay Chapman

By Janine Pulford The first competitor to win gold for GB at the Invictus Games in Canada last month was Verwood girl Lindsay Chapman, who flew to victory in the IT5 wheelchair 100m final.

A former private in the army, Lindsay was paralysed from the chest down in a road accident almost 10 years ago. Since then, she has struggled with her self-worth and experienced low confidence and depression.

The Invictus Games, she says, have given her a goal and a purpose.

After her victory, Lindsay told Viewpoint, “Winning the gold felt totally amazing and a little overwhelming. Being on that track in front of the crowds, hearing them cheer was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.

“Knowing my friends and family were there seeing the results of the work that’s gone into this year. It’s all come together because of their support and because they believed in me.”

And they are not the only ones. The founder of the games, HRH Prince Harry,

was so inspired by the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel at the US Warrior Games in 2013, that he founded Invictus in 2014. The word means ‘unconquered’.

The royal prince took time to meet Lindsay. It will be a moment she will treasure along with her gold medal. She said, “Harry is a lovely and warm person who has an amazing ability to make you feel very calm.”

She added, “Invictus has given me a purpose and something to get out of bed for. I’ve met some wonderful people from around the world. I love how Invictus has brought us all together. We’re an ‘Invictus family’.”

Lindsay also achieved a personal best in the four-minute endurance rowing.

Before the games, she said she wanted to win a medal for those who have supported her along the way and stood by her side. “I want to win a medal for them to show my appreciation and make them proud.”

She has certainly achieved that.

Invictus Games fact file: The third Invictus Games opened in Canada with speeches from Prince Harry, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and actor Mike Myers.

The Games bring together servicemen and women – both serving and veteran – from 13 nations including the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The first Games marked the beginning of a legacy programme to support accessibility of adaptive sport and further employment opportunities for transitioning servicemen and women leaving the armed forces.

Lindsay wins Gold for GB

It’s not every day you meet a prince

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

| 19

all about WEST MOORS Wild about West Moors The growth of West Moors was heralded with the arrival of a railway junction in 1847. Sadly, there is little evidence of this today because the station met its fate when Beeching’s axe fell.

By 1934 there was electric lighting in the village and in 1938 West Moors had a mains water supply. The 1871 census recorded a population of 158, today around 8,000 people live in West Moors.

Despite the increase in development, the village boasts pleasant open

spaces. There are schools, a memorial hall, numerous shops and services as well as cafés, public houses and express supermarkets.

A strong community atmosphere sees organised events including school fetes, Christmas carols at the Petwyn, the Remembrance Day Parade, and West Moors MAD (Multi Activity Day) which next year will be on 14 July on Fryer Field.

MP Chris Chope also holds a regular surgery in the library.

With plenty of free

This year at the MAD event

parking and being close to Ringwood, Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown and Wimborne, the village of West Moors is a popular place to live.

Reading Challenge stars After his regular surgery in West Moors Library, Christchurch MP Chris Chope handed out prizes to children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge. Manager Angela McVeigh said, “This year was the best ever for children participating in the challenge in Dorset.” The team at West Moors also organised extra activities and tickets to family attractions as prizes.

155 children joined the challenge and 144 finished it.

In no particular order: Oliver Knapper, Freddie Hunt, James Stacey, Maya Hince, Leah Double, Megan Giltrow and Samuel Newth with MP Chris Chope

20 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

all about WEST MOORS -advertising feature-

New pet supplies store comes to West Moors Honey has paws-on role

BTH Pet Supplies recently opened its doors in Station Road, West Moors.

An independent store, it focuses on offering friendly service and stocking a variety of quality products.

In addition to tried and trusted brands, there are lesserknown lines such as a big range of colloidal silver remedies by Nature’s Greatest Secret.

Proprietors, Bünyami and Rebecca have both been passionate about animals since childhood, and between them have kept a wide range from – hamsters to cows.

In Istanbul, they worked closely with their local vet to improve the life quality of street dogs and cats in their neighbourhood.

Three of these animals, Bobby, Topsy and Honey joined them in England last year. The shop is named for them, and Honey has a

very paws-on role in store greeting the customers, whereas Bobby and Topsy prefer to test the cat products at home.

Rebecca, who grew up locally said, “We aim to offer healthy foods, and remedies that actually work. The people in West Moors take the welfare of their animals very seriously. The relationship between people and their pets is so special. I love the way people’s faces light up when they talk about them. It is great to meet animal lovers all day long, and to pat the dogs too!”

Brands currently available in store include, among others, Albion Country Bowl raw food, Forthglade, Burgess, James Wellbeloved, Billy and Margot, Arden Grange, Barking Heads, Danish Design beds, Ancol and CJ Wildlife. More ranges are being added in consultation with customers, so call in and take a look.

-advertising feature-

Believe in Better…

Be more Awesome St Mary’s CE First School in West Moors is a very happy school, which has a ‘family feel’ to it thanks to our caring, personable approach. We are proud to be members of The Heath Academy Trust.

On behalf of our staff and governors I would like to welcome you and your child to the St Mary’s family.

‘Believe in Better…Be more Awesome’ is our school mantra.

It drives our shared vision to continually develop in many exciting ways, providing a more enriching experience for all our pupils.

We strive for high expectations and will work with individual children and families to ensure children meet their full potential.

I am extremely proud to lead a dedicated team that is committed to providing the very best opportunities for the children and the wider community of West Moors.

The teaching team endeavour to deliver a rich and challenging curriculum; to prepare your child for future education; to help them acquire the skills and self-belief essential for them to feel competent and confident, and to help them develop a sense of passion and purpose.

The best way to find out about our school is to come and visit, see us in action and meet the children and staff.

A visit will help you gain an understanding of how our school is organised and help you appreciate the exciting opportunities on offer to children in our care.

A telephone call to the school office on 01202 874838 is all that is needed to arrange this.

We look forward to welcoming you to our school, and to a happy and successful partnership with all our new children and families.

Roy Sewell Headteacher

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

| 21

Fan Yvonne Leitch with Pippa Hayward © CatchBox

Ringwood gym opens Brittas-style with ‘comeback’ script on the table A gym renovation four weeks ahead of schedule; the entire cast of The Brittas Empire – what could possibly go wrong?

by Janine Pulford

I

f you arrived at Ringwood Leisure Centre half an hour before the cast on 2 October, you may have thought you were in an episode of the legendary 90s’ BBC sitcom. There were wires dangling out of the ceiling, corridors in darkness and people in reflective jackets working manically while a boiler-suited manager calmly carried out interviews as if nothing was amiss.

It brought memories flooding back of Gordon Brittas, the Whitbury Leisure Centre manager who despite all his good intentions managed to create mayhem.

The Brittas Empire was filmed at Ringwood Leisure Centre and in a flash of inspiration, someone suggested that actor Chris Barrie (Brittas) should be invited to open the new gym.

As it was 20 years since the popular TV series was filmed, the invitation snowballed

Two managers, one whistle © CatchBox

and on the day, the whole cast arrived with cowriters Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss. The warmth and friendship throughout the centre was tangible.

To the fans’ delight Chris Barrie and Harriet Thorpe, (Carole), went straight into character and spontaneously acted a skit.

Meanwhile it was a bean-feast for autograph hunters.

Pippa Hayward, the long-suffering Helen Brittas, said, “Everybody’s got a bit of Brittas in them, he’s such a great character.” She gladly signed a card for Yvonne Leitch who travelled from Crewkerne.

Another young lady, Martha, came from Manchester. Her favourite character is Linda, “She is so enthusiastic about anything,” she said and fan Sarah Millard (22) travelled from Romsey on her autograph hunt.

About Gordon Brittas, actress Julia St John who played Laura said, “He drove everyone insane, but I was always the one to see the good in him. I was the voice of reason.”

As for a widely-rumoured comeback, writer Richard Fegen told Viewpoint that he’d written a script, “and gone the whole nine yards.”

On cutting the ribbon to officially open the gym, Chris Barrie said, “It’s great to be back, it’s great to be part of the rebranding of Ringwood Leisure Centre that we knew of course as Whitbury.”

Rob Mangles thanked the Brittas cast for coming along and added that the original brief was a 14-week renovation of the gym, “We have done this in 10. It has been a great, great local business project seen all the way through without mishaps Brittas-style. As Mr Brittas would say, “It’s been an Eeeeeexcellent project.”

Michael Burns, writer Richard Fegen and Harriet Thorpe

Chairman of New Forest District Council, Cllr Mrs Christine Ward with Chris Barrie © Tom Scrase

22 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

Sarah Buckle, NFDC marketing manager and Rob Mangles photo bomb the cast picture

3 thousand miles, 2 brothers, 1 world record...

by Janine Pulford

In December, intrepid brothers Jay and Kiran Olenicz will set out across the Atlantic in an attempt to break the world record for the youngest pair to row any ocean.

A

t the same time, their Oarsome Odyssey will be raising funds for Julia’s House children’s hospice, and BRACE, a charity committed to defeating dementia through scientific research.

Kiran and Jay, aged 19 and 22, from Poole will set off on their awesome 3,000 nautical mile journey from Gran Canaria heading to Barbados in a rowing boat.

The vessel has a proven track record having already crossed the Atlantic twice and the Indian Ocean once.

“She is an extremely trustworthy boat, built by Rossiters in Christchurch,” said Jay, adding, “Once we leave the safety of the harbour we will be on our own and at the mercy of the elements.”

The fearless duo are rowing independently,

without a support boat.

Jay says, “We are acutely aware of the dangers that may lie ahead including the possibility of severe weather and mountainous waves. It takes a certain kind of person to keep going when faced with blisters, salt rash, sharks and sleep deprivation.”

As if that’s not punishing enough, the brothers will be rowing two hours on, two hours off for 50 days, so training is vital. They are currently undertaking sessions on rowing machines.

“We have also been doing sea swims/sprints in the event we fall off the boat and need to sprint back towards it,” says Jay. And working out at the gym is helping to increase muscular strength and endurance. “We’re trying to gain weight for our voyage as its common for rowers to lose up to 20% of their body weight,” adds Kiran.

Another priority is learning how to fix vital equipment, for example the water-maker.

On the row the brothers will eat a variety of flavoured dry rations, which

don’t sound too appealing.

“You add hot water boiled via our jetboil,” explains Kiran, “the food then expands and you can eat it. One pack contains 1,000 calories and we eat three of those a day. We then consume another 3,000 calories through mass gainer drinks, brownies, flapjacks, nuts etc.

“Neither of us have done any type of ultra endurance before. Jay is the rower, he has taught me the basics, however, river rowing is completely different to ocean rowing.”

The brothers have sailed together at world championship level and have swum at national level in the pool – the Oarsome Odessy Atlantic challenge will eclipse both.

“We are aiming to raise £10,000 for our chosen charities,” they say.

If you would like to support this intrepid pair, you can donate at www.virginmoneygiving. com/oarsomeodyssey and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Exclusive

Woofability socialisers reveal what it’s all about

By Janine Pulford

H

ave you ever wanted a dog without the usual ties? A dog you can love, but share with others, and which will be really helpful when trained?

I met a Bournemouth couple who say they have found the perfect solution.

Sally and Peter Rufus have, for more than seven years, given their energy and time to socialising nearly 40 dogs and puppies in their own home for Woofability – the local charity that trains assistance dogs for the disabled and autistic children.

The couple kept golden retrievers for around 30 years and were heartbroken when their last one, Barney, died.

It was then that they discovered Woofability.

Sally said, “We got talking and found out that if we became socialisers, or puppy parents, Woofability would look after the dog when we went away or needed time for ourselves.”

Socialisers are an important part of helping an assistance dog become familiar with a wide range of environments to ensure they will be able to cope with their future role. They help each dog develop its skills and character by taking them wherever they go. Socialisers also attend weekly training classes in Verwood.

A puppy parent is different. Whereas a socialiser may just take a dog for a walk, or have it for a weekend or so, a puppy parent gives a commitment to have the pup from about 10 weeks old until it is 15 months. In that time, it can be returned to Woofability during holidays, but the idea is that the puppy has continuity with the same ‘parents’ during its early development, so it becomes well balanced and ready for intensive training.

“We have been puppy parents three times,” said Peter. “And we had two puppies at the same time.”

You have to be an exceptional person to look after a puppy for so long and then hand it back.

“That’s the hardest part,” admitted Sally.

“The nice thing is, though, we don’t lose touch with any of the dogs and see the help and companionship each dog gives to their human partner, which is what it’s all about.”

Another bonus is the support network. Andy Clarke, who set up Woofability with his late wife Jenny, or one of his helpers, is always at the end of the phone and there are many events for socialisers. “We all help each other,” said Sally, “and the dogs are really well-adjusted and will

Peter and Sally with Olwen and Finley

adapt to any situation.”

It’s clear from Peter and Sally that their love of dogs has led them down a path of giving something incredible back to the community and reinforces the great service provided by Woofability.

“It is great fun too,” adds Sally with a smile.

“I would definitely encourage others to do it.”

If you want to find out more, call Woofability on 01202 814643.

It costs £10,000 to train a puppy for the first three years and there is a puppy sponsorship scheme. You can also take part in the Unity lottery for £1 each week to help raise funds for Woofability.

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

| 23

in the HOME -advertising feature-

Bob Duffield

How a house was reborn into a home for a growing family Bob Duffield and his family live in a beautiful 19th century villa-style house – here’s his story of how they uncovered its best features and created a perfect home for them all.

Please tell us a little bit about you and your family and your house: We moved to Cheltenham in the summer of 2013. We rented a modern duplex apartment and Frankie our son was born in June 2014. We always had an eye out for a place to buy but we took our time until we found the right place. This turned out to be Paxton Lodge – a Grade II, four-bed Regency town house, with a separate basement flat.

How important were the tiles and how/where did you source them?

Tiles were key to our design thinking. We found Original Style online and then visited a local showroom.

Was it a major refurbishment project?

Definitely, we had to bring the house kicking and screaming into the 21st century. There were many species of carpet that had to go!

The house needed substantial refurbishment. This included:

What advice would you give to other people who want to create tiled focal points in their homes?

Get the Original Style brochures – they are colourful and informative. Then visit your local store where you’ll get a good sense of how they look in real life.

• • • •

Tell us about shopping for tiles at the Original Style Showroom – how would you rate your experience?

Very highly. That’s why we want to tell our story. We got to know almost everyone in the store.

bringing the basement flat back into the main house as our main kitchen and dining area transforming the galley kitchen on the ground floor into a play room Swapping a bedroom for the main bathroom and vice versa Stripping out the main bathroom and two en-suite bathrooms and refitting and retiling them

This house is so beautifully designed that we knew our efforts would be rewarded.

Visit the new Original Style Showroom at 520 Wallisdown Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH11 8QE

26 |

4DORSET October 2017

in the HOME

Putting the heart into your home ‘Heart Wood’ is revealed as the Dulux 2018 Colour of the Year.

As we head into 2018, the Dulux trend forecast panel of experts say the mood is felt to be one of unpredictability and uncertainty: a world in which we don’t know what the news will bring every day; a world with more expectations and more demands on our time; a world of division, and a world where we have greater access to information and choices than ever before.

Heart Wood, a warm neutral colour, with a hint of heather has been chosen

by Dulux ColourFutures™ to best reflect the way we want to live as we move into 2018.

Our home needs to be a place where we can turn down the noise – shut the door on the outside world and step into a place that is uniquely ours. Our home needs to be our sanctuary, a space where we can all look forward to…

28 |

4DORSET October 2017

A Welcome Home.

It’s this theme that encapsulates the Dulux 2018 Colour of the Year and the subsequent trends that they say will permeate the way we choose to live and style our homes.

Heart Wood is inspired by the warm wooden materials used in all kinds of interior decorating and architecture. The warmth of wood reflects the comfort that we need in these uncertain times – an essential element for

creating the welcoming environments we desire.

The versatility of the palette gives consumers the freedom to balance softer shades with bolder tones to create a calming backdrop – effectively transforming any space into an environment of comfort and restfulness.

Visit your local Dulux suppliers to find out more about the latest colour trends or dip into www.dulux.co.uk/ colourfutures2018.

in the HOME

Save Money When Buying Paint Suzy Orford

Peter Robbins Decorators Merchant The simplest way to save money on your next decorating project is by working out how much paint you will need for the job. It’s surprisingly easy to buy the wrong amount of paint and this can end up costing you more money. Smaller tins are more expensive per litre than larger tins. However, buying a large tin and only using half isn’t cost effective either.

On the back of every can you will find a coverage figure, which will vary between brands and finishes. For example, Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt quotes a coverage of 17m² per litre while a typical own brand vinyl matt has only 12m² per litre. This seems straightforward: if you have 75m² of wall, a 5 litre tin of Dulux Trade will do the job, whereas the own brand will not.

But, what if you need more than one coat? The maths is simple, for two coats you will require twice as much paint, and for three coats you will need three times as much. The more difficult question is “How many coats will I need?”

You will only achieve a good finish with a single coat of regular emulsion if you’re going over a similar colour. For most jobs two coats will be sufficient, however where there is an extreme change in colour you should budget on three. In these cases you can reduce costs by using less expensive white or magnolia as a basecoat. You will also find that some colours require an extra coat, for example bright reds never cover as well as other shades.

Quality of paint is another factor. Many of our customers comment on how heavy our tins of trade paint are compared to retail brands. This is because they contain more solids, which give better obliterating power. A professional decorator will always pay a little extra for a quality product that will do the job in fewer coats.

It’s also important to consider the type of surface you’re painting.

Textured finishes will need more paint, very heavy textures such as pebble dash or rough cast render can take twice the paint of a smooth render.

For more advice on calculating quantities visit one of our stores in Ferndown, Lymington or New Milton where our staff will be happy to help you. You can also shop online at peterrobbins.net

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

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in the HOME

Bari Blush wallpaper

TO ADVERTISE IN VIEWPOINT Call 01202 816140

Cosy changes for the home P30 Cosy changes for the home

by Carol Waterkeyn

by Carol Waterkeyn

There’s a definite autumnal chill in the air as I write this, and the heating has been turned on at home for a week. It’s time to get the boiler serviced for the winter, I realise, and there are other things to organise to make the house seem cosier for the colder months.

I

t’s time to get the fire going, and whether real or ornamental the flames certainly give a warmer feel to the living room. Then out come the throws, draught excluders, thermal curtains and more. Blinds can also help to retain the heat in a room – particularly if used in conjunction with curtains. Apparently, in an uninsulated home, a staggering 20% of domestic heat is lost through windows and doors.

Alongside these, is it time for a new, thicker duvet, I wonder? Do we need an extra throw at the bottom of the bed for chilly nights, and where is that hot-water bottle?

Tiled and wooden floors that seemed wonderful in summer are now not so appealing. Should we have carpets, or rugs instead?

Does your bathroom feel like a fridge in winter? You could consider fitting a heated towel rail, radiator or special overhead heater. Remember that electricity and water don’t mix so make sure a qualified person installs it for you.

Warmer-coloured shades for bedding, cushions and curtains are suddenly more appealing now that summer’s passed. Warmer tones in paint and wall coverings make a big difference, too. As previously mentioned, Dulux’s new colour Heart Wood is a dusky mauve described as a ‘warm neutral with a hint of heather’ and designed to work in harmony with a palette of muted tones. Wallpaper with a subtle touch of metallic shimmer makes this colour look great, adding interest in both daylight and at night-time.

Metallic wallpapers in these shades include Bari Blush.

Having dealt with the internals, is your loft wellinsulated? The current recommended thickness of insulation is 250mm or 10 inches. Are your external doors fitting properly and is your double-glazing in good condition? Units can cease to be efficient. In some cases the glass can be replaced, but otherwise new double, or triple, glazing will keep you warm and save you money in the long run.

The nights are drawing in, so soft lighting from lamps and candles enhances the look and feel of your home.

There’s been a lot of talk about hygge this year. Hygge is a Danish word covering bringing feelings of intimacy, warmth and cosiness into your home. I hope you manage to stay snug throughout the colder months and experience hygge.

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4DORSET October 2017

ringwood NEWS

Library renovation creates a buzz

Ringwood school students’ expeditions to Peru and Rwanda This summer, 41 Ringwood School students and staff ventured to either Peru or Rwanda to provide much-needed help to communities in these countries.

The Camps International expedition to Peru was a four-week, life-enhancing trip for 25 sixth form students with four teachers. Team members were in awe of Peru’s incredible scenery and world famous ruins. They assisted with the development of a new community centre kitchen in the Colca Canyon as well as a new school dining room.

The expedition to Rwanda, in partnership with The Amakuru Trust, is now in its fifth year.

The team, consisting of seven Ringwood sixth formers and two members of staff, visited various schools and donated much-needed equipment.

The Ringwood youngsters taught various subjects to Rwandan students. One of the students is now pursuing an Apprenticeship in Nursery Nursing and hopes to return to Rwanda in the near future.

There was no rest for the staff at Poulner Junior School over the summer holidays as they worked tirelessly to transform their school, especially the library.

The ‘new look’ library was officially opened by visiting poet James Carter and the Mayor of Ringwood, Cllr Tim Ward, with parents and children joining in with the celebrations. A children’s competition to win lunch and a VIP question time experience with James Carter also took place.

Headteacher, Jo Walker, who joined the school in April 2017, instigated the improvements having done the same when head of her previous school in Chandler’s Ford.

She explained the reason for the changes, ”Poulner is a school that is at the heart of the community and Cutting the ribbon with the Mayor and Mayoress of children here deserve up-to-date Ringwood and poet James Carter facilities to learn in, and teachers who inspire, and the library was a key part to this.”

Now a vibrant and inspiring learning space, the library includes eight brand-new PCs. “The children’s and parents’ reactions to the changes have been extremely positive and there is a real buzz about the school,” said Mrs Walker.

The library renovation has been part of a bigger project including a new IT computer suite and a secure and welcoming entrance area. A new website is also under construction.

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

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ringwood NEWS

RINGWOOD CARNIVAL

An outstanding event

All unmarked photos © Paul and Carol Waterkeyn

The first Ringwood Carnival was held in 1929 with the event held every year since 1950.

M

embers of the mags4dorset team were at the most recent Ringwood Carnival on 16 September.

Around the town, people were entering into the spirit of the day, with entertainment from Amie Knight, Scarlet Swing, Simon Gainey and his gang, and more.

Carnival Queen Morgan Long appeared along with her princesses and attendants, Cassidy Smith, Sophie Emery, Daisy Crowther and Jessica Van-Hoof, on a horsedrawn coach.

The large number and range

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

of floats, walking entries and marching bands made for a colourful spectacle both in the day and evening.

Mayor of Ringwood, Cllr Tim Ward, who attended with his wife Jane, said afterwards, “The Carnival Committee and all the volunteers are to be congratulated for all their hard work and time to make this such an outstanding event. A special thanks also goes out to all the people and organisations who work so hard to create the amazing floats and costumes.”

ringwood NEWS

Š Tom Scrase

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

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foodie NEWS

TASTY SUCCESS West Moors Fine Foods, owned by Alex and Lou Webb, which comes from the family-owned Webbs Butchers, has recently won two Great Taste Awards.

They picked up the best strawberry jam award, after their success for raspberry jam last year.

The couple have also won an award for their dry-cured smoked bacon, following on from an award for dry-cured back bacon last time.

Since opening in 2010, Webbs Butchers has won a variety of awards including numerous golds.

Webb’s Butchers and West Moors Fine Foods are at 165 Station Road, West Moors. They have a website at www. webbsbutchers.co.uk.

Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is a benchmark for fine food and drink. It has been described as the

‘Oscars’ of the food world.

The Great Taste logo is a quality endorsement you can look for when buying food and drink in your local area.

Among the other local winners were Conker Spirit, Dorset Tea, Hall & Woodhouse and Ma Bolton.

What to do with those pumpkins

By Carol Waterkeyn It’s Halloween at the end of this month. Lots of people will be buying pumpkins to use as lanterns on 31 October, but what do you do with the bits you take out when you carve your masterpiece?

To save wasting them, remove the seeds then put the flesh into a curry, add them to a tasty risotto or you could make them into a sweet pumpkin pie like they do in America.

Buy a ready-baked sweet pastry pie-crust in foil. Preheat oven to 220°C. Cook the pumpkin in a saucepan with a little water until soft, then blitz to a puree. Take off the heat. Add a tin of sweetened condensed milk, 2 eggs, plus a pinch each of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and mix together. Pour mixture into the pie-crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-25 minutes until set. Enjoy!

What a FEASTival FEAST Weymouth, an eight-week festival, began at the beginning of October with an array of chefs, food and cocktails at the event in Hope Square. To celebrate the start, visitors were treated to live cookery and cocktail demonstrations as well as food and drink stands from Dorset Food & Drink.

FEAST Weymouth is supported by Weymouth BID and promoted through the visitor website www.weareweymouth.co.uk.

Chef demonstrations included: Eric Tavenier, Les Enfants Terribles, Carl MacShilton, Delicious, Nigel Bloxham, Billy Winters, CJ Lohez making cocktails from Mallams and Adam Foster of Sea Beats.

The FEASTival food producers taking part include: Dorset Chilli Shop, Hotch Potch Gluten Free Savoury Pies, West Milton Cider and James’s Cheese.

Participating eateries include 29 local restaurants and cafés.

To see all the menus, visit the We Are Weymouth website.

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

foodie NEWS

Pub grub hits the bullseye (which is more than we did)

T

Review by Russell Harness

here is nothing better than walking into a pub that makes you feel like you are entering somewhere warmly comforting and familiar. This is how it was when I entered the Cross Keys at Mannington and the landlady, Viv, welcomed me with a smile.

Having grown up with a “good old-fashioned pub” at the various places I lived in during my formative drinking years, it was pleasing to find these traditional places haven’t all been lured over to the dark side of jus instead of gravy, or crème anglaise instead of custard.

It was an unusual event for two of the mags4dorset marketing team to have an evening out and sample some of the food on the menu, and ales from the bar. Mark and I relaxed in a quiet corner and contemplated what we were going to choose from the wholesome pub grub on offer.

Over a pint of Dartmoor Brewery’s finest Jail Ale for me, which is incidentally brewed in Princetown – one of the places where I grew up – and a pint of lager for Mark, we made our selections.

Mark chose Breaded Mushrooms with Garlic Dip and I opted for the ever-popular Duck Pâté. We didn’t have to wait long before the starters arrived. The mushrooms were piping hot and succulent and came with a creamy dip and side salad. The pâté was smooth and the orange sauce perfectly complemented the richness of the taste. Both dishes were devoured with gusto and anticipation of the main course.

Mark chose Viv’s special of Steak & Kidney Pie made with British beef and Guinness encased in handmade short-crust pastry. It came with chips, peas and gravy.

The beef was tender and the pastry was melt-in-the-mouth good; the portion size was enough to satisfy anyone with a hearty appetite.

I also went for an old favourite of the pub grub menu – the 10oz Rump Steak which came with all the trimmings of chips, peas, grilled tomato, mushrooms and onion rings. The steak was perfectly cooked to medium-rare and tantalised the taste-buds along with the rest of this fine dish. Again the portion size was easily enough to satisfy the largest of appetites.

The sweets we chose were again wholesome and filling with a Blackberry and Apple Crumble with lashings of custard for Mark and a tasty Chocolate Brownie pudding served warm with clotted cream ice-cream for myself.

With those polished off, Mark and I decided to round the night off with some old-fashioned pub entertainment and had a game of darts. I don’t think that local celebrity darts’ champion Scott Mitchell will be quaking in his boots anytime soon but we had a go.

Anyone who likes the thought of visiting a traditional country pub that serves good food without the frills of the gastro pub, and has a fine selection of wines, beers and spirits, is sure to enjoy a meal at the Cross Keys at Mannington.

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

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foodie NEWS

Book your s e i t r a p s a m Christ

NOW!

It’s time to think about booking those Christmas parties, before all the best places are filled up.

Whether it is a few spaces needed for a family gathering or a whole restaurant for a business celebration, don’t dally or you may lose out on the restaurant of your choice.

Places seem to get booked up earlier and earlier. So, whether the choice is for traditional turkey with the trimmings, or something spicy and warming, you need to start perusing the menus and making those bookings.

Take a look at our advertisers on the four Foodie pages. All are offering Christmas dining in the lead up to the big day, with some even open on Christmas Day, but you will need to make a reservation.

Let someone else concentrate on the catering for your celebration, so you can relax and enjoy this special time. Cheers!

A new coffee brand tackling homelessness The Big Issue and Old Spike Roastery have teamed up to make a difference to people who have found themselves homeless, and on the streets. The launch of a coffee brand, Change Please, aims to help.

Old Spike Roastery in London, founded by Cemal Ezel, produces premium, ethically sourced coffee and is staffed by people who used to live on the streets. There are also eight coffee carts that will be run by homeless people in the capital, from where they will be selling the drinks from November.

Old Spike Roastery have just launched a new retail coffee pack that is available in Sainsbury’s Ferndown store, and 100% of the profits from Change Please coffee will go back into reducing homelessness.

The artisan coffee will also be available to buy online at www.changeplease.org

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

foodie NEWS Complimentary cream teas offered for cancer patients

H Staff from Royal Bournemouth hospital and Maria Tidy from the Bournemouth Hospital charity try out some cream teas

Keeping it in the family for 30 years More than 160 family members, hotel guests, staff and suppliers attended celebrations at the Marsham Court Hotel recently to mark its 30-year milestone as a family-run businesses.

The 87-bedroom hotel has welcomed over a million guests through its doors since it was taken over by Jennie Deavin in October 1987, with her previous husband.

Jennie remarried in 1991 and she and her husband Hugh took over the hotel in 1997. Jennie went on to become one of Bournemouth’s longest-serving hoteliers and saw the Marsham Court win the Bournemouth Hotel of the Year award in 2016, before sadly passing away earlier this year following a five-year battle with cancer.

Daughter Rosie Wallace, the managing director, said her mum had specified every detail of the 30th anniversary celebrations before she died.

Jennie’s sons Russell and James Dixon Box, who are both directors of the hotel and its sister hotel, the Ramada Encore, thanked the guests for their support over the years.

Russell, Rosie and James

allmark Hotels in Bournemouth have been working with Bournemouth Hospital Charity to provide complimentary cream teas to inspirational cancer patients who are currently undergoing, or have recently completed chemotherapy treatments.

The charitable project began with a meeting between the Bournemouth Hallmark Hotel cluster

general manager, Paul Clarke and the senior corporate fundraiser at Bournemouth Hospital Charity, Maria Tidy.

After hearing some incredibly moving and inspirational stories, Paul was keen that three Hallmark hotels should find a way to support chemotherapy patients at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Providing an opportunity to escape with

family or friends, Paul and his team have now given out over 40 cream tea vouchers to the charity.

Maria Tidy said, “We are very grateful for the Hallmark Hotels cream tea donations. We know that they’ll be greatly appreciated by many of our patients who are currently undergoing chemotherapy.

I would like to thank Paul and the Hallmark team for bringing a smile to all our faces.”

A festival for foodies As in previous years, organisers are hoping for perfect autumnal weather on Saturday 21 October for the 2017 Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival. It takes place from 10am to 4pm.

The town will be busy with traders, and, hungry and thirsty visitors visiting the stalls around the High Street, Square and Minster Green.

There will be professional chef demonstrations in the Cornmarket from David Shepherd of La Fleur de Lys in Shaftesbury, Pete Murt from Rick Stein in Sandbanks, Sarah Ali, and new this year, Lisa Osman from the All Hallows Cookery School in Wimborne St Giles.

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

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around & ABOUT

what’s on

this month until 31 October Lewis Manning Hospice Art Exhibition of varied works by their patients at Highcliffe Castle. More details from 01425 278807

14 October 6pm Gospel evening and Americanstyle supper featuring The United Church Ferndown Choir and Bournemouth Community Church Choir, Tracyanne and Arthur. New hymns – some old, some blue. Tickets free, reservations required. Contact Church office 01202 871440 or Carole 01202 573032.

14 October to 2 December Richard Allen’s “Surfaces” Exhibition of Paintings in Main Gallery, Lighthouse Poole. Free entry during normal building opening hours.

Comprises Richard’s still-life landscapes and more direct observational work including recent Purbeck-based images.

14-21 October Arts By The Sea Festival in various venues, Bournemouth includes free outdoor events.

Organised by Bournemouth Borough Council with the support of Arts Council England. At Bournemouth’s gardens, beachfront and pier, and other venues which participate in the Fringe.

Theme this year is ‘Plastic Beach’. More details at: www. bhlivetickets.co.uk

16-28 October 10.304.30 (closed Sunday 22nd) Bournemouth Electric Camera Club exhibition at Bournemouth Library, Triangle, BH2 5RQ in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally.

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

17 October 9-11am

19 October 2pm

Dynamic Women in Business (DWIB) event at Urban Reef, The Overstrand, Undercliff Drive, Boscombe BH5 1BN. Tickets £15 + booking fee.

Details www.dwib.co.uk

U3A at Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood with speaker Jeremy Prescott on “WW1 Sacrifice and Remembrance”. Visitors welcome, more information from www.ringwoodu3a.org.uk

17 October 7.15pm

19 October 2pm

Bournemouth Electronic Organ Society presents concert of popular music by Ian Griffin at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne. Visitors welcome. £5 payable at door. More information 01202 895254.

17 October 7.30pm Bournemouth & Beyond Discovery Group talk on Roman Life byJohn Smith.

St.Andrews URC main hall, St.Steven’s Road, BH2 6JJ. Visitors welcome £3. Details www.bournemouthandbeyond. co.uk

18-22 October Dorchester Literary Festival at various venues across the town, includes Tracy Chevalier and Christopher Biggins. For tickets see website www. dorchesterliteraryfestival.com

18 & 25 October 2-5pm Open garden for the National Gardens Scheme at Edmondsham House, 9 miles NE of Wimborne on Wednesday afternoons.

Admission £2.50, 50p for children. Tea, coffee and cake available to buy between 3.304pm.

VIEWPOINT October 2017

Author talk at Fordingbridge Library with Pauline Rowson, thriller/crime writer. More details and tickets from Fordingbridge Library or call 01425 657524.

21-29 October 11am-3pm Enjoy Halloween at Corfe Castle. Take part in a spooky trail and enjoy other activities.

Zip-wire challenge and watch the castle trebuchet in action.

Event is free but normal castle admission applies. Details: 01929 481294 or www. nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle

22 October 10am–4pm

“Coastal Reflections” textile exhibition by All Ways Threads at The Gallery Upstairs, Upton House, Upton Country Park, Poole BH17 7BJ. Details www. allwaysthreads.co.uk

Model Railway Show by The Central Southern Gauge O Group, with layouts, demonstrators traders and bring and buy. Refreshments available. At the Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1AS. Adults £4, accompanied children free.

20 October

24 October 5-6.30pm

19-30 October 10am-4pm

Quiz night at Ringwood Library, Christchurch Road, BH24 1DW. Contact the library for more information.

20-21 October

Bournevaria: Oktoberfest beer festival at Bournemouth International Centre. With German beer, German food and live music. Tickets £10.50, for groups, 1 in 10 goes free. Over 18s only. Tickets and more details from www. bhlivetickets.co.uk

21 October

Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival, including Dorset Farmers’ Market, with stalls around the High Street, Square and Minster Green. Cookery demos and wine tasting in the Cornmarket. Details: www. foodevents4u.co.uk

Family Halloween Night Cycling at Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, Ashley Heath, near Ringwood, BH24 2ET. £10 per person. Pre-booked bike hire £2.50 per bike. Night lights/ helmets provided. Details: 01425 470721

24 & 26 October Halloween Family Fun Shows with Mervyn Cole at Wimborne Model Town. More details from 01202 881924

25 October 7.30pm Verwood Keyboard Society concert with Michael Wooldridge on Roland Atelier keyboard in the Hub theatre. Tickets £10 on the door. Further information from Janetta, 01202 822936 or Organfax website.

25 October 7.30pm The Christchurch Branch of Save the Children is holding a fashion Show at M & Co, 38 High Street, Christchurch, BH23 1AY. Tickets £5 available in the store (01202 475016) with complimentary glass of wine and nibbles. Also raffle.

26 October 7-11pm Hallowed-themed club night at Cameo in Bournemouth for adults with disabilities.

Tickets can be purchase on the night and entry is suggested donation of £6, with £2 for carers. All profits are going to Diverse Abilities. More details from andylauratrek@gmail.com

27 October 7.45pm Wimborne Movie Makers talk “Behind the BBC Scenes” with Rob Bayly at clubhouse next to Allendale Centre, Wimborne.

Details 01425 470329.

27-28 October 9.30am-1pm Traidcraft Autumn Event at Verwood United Reformed Church (next to library).

Wide range of fairly-traded everyday/Christmas items to buy or order: gifts, cards, food, household and more.

Refreshment available. 01202 814270 for details.

28 October 10.15am West Moors Horticultural Society Coffee Morning with tombola, raffle, cake stall and the Anthony Nolan Stall plus refreshments at West Moors Memorial Hall.

around & ABOUT

Poppy explosion over Ferndown Following the success of Ferndown’s first town-centre Poppy Launch last year, Ferndown Town Council, The Royal British Legion and the Barrington Centre, supported by local businesses and the Ferndown Chamber of Commerce, are again organising a big community event to launch the 2017 Poppy Appeal with a bang on Saturday 28 October.

Starting the day at 10am with the judging of the Children’s ‘Best Dressed Poppy’ competition, the families parade will be led through Penny’s Walk Precinct by the Mayor, Cllr Cathy Lugg, with her escort of Chelsea Pensioners and the Bournemouth Youth Marching Band.

The traditional playing of the ‘Last Post’ and the Silence at 11am will signal the Poppy Explosion with thousands of poppy petals fired from the Barrington and falling onto the precinct and crowd.

This will be followed by the Bournemouth Youth Band in concert and performances by local singers and groups, together with the presentation of the Mayor’s ‘Best Dressed Window’ award for town-centre shops and businesses, some surprise guests and static displays from Dad’s Army, Ferndown RBL Modellers, the Dorset RBL Riders and others.

Ferndown RBL chairman Grant Parrott said, “The day aims to bring together families, young people, and not so young in Ferndown to enjoy the day, remember what we owe and launch the Poppy Appeal for another bumper year in Ferndown.”

The Appeal in 2016 collected over £46million, with Dorset’s total of £682,000 seeing an increase of nearly 9% on the previous year, allowing the Royal British Legion to spend more than £1.6 million every week to care for and support serving and ex-service men and women and their families whenever and wherever it was needed most.

Crafty Visit by Beauty and the Beast

COMPETITION WINNER The winner of the Live Aid competition in August’s Viewpoint was Anita Rigler of Verwood. The answer was 1985.

Characters from Beauty and the Beast will be visiting the annual craft fair taking place at Hoburne Naish Holiday Park, New Milton on 19 November from 10.30am.

The fair showcases local craftspeople offering a wide variety of crafts from paintings to pottery, bags to bears, and crackers to cushions, plus a whole range of jewellery.

It is an opportunity to purchase unique and original handmade gifts at affordable prices, whilst supporting local artists.

Entry fee is £1 and refreshments are available.

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

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Dismissal of Dorset Police officer

Charlotte Wild, project officer

BIN YOUR BUTT Photos by Tom Scrase

After Ferndown was identified as having specific issues with cigarette-related litter, Litter Free Dorset’s Bin your Butt campaign turned up in the town centre on 26 September.

Helping to spread the word to ‘bin your butt’ was Cllr Steve Lugg dressed up as a cigarette end, the town crier, Mike Andrews, and Stuart Fleetham representing Ferndown Chamber of Commerce.

Cigarette butts are one of the most

Dog Control Order after attack on alpacas Conditions have been placed on a dog after an attack on three alpacas on a farm near Bartley.

Following the attack by an unsupervised dog on 22 December 2016, the alpacas all required treatment and one subsequently died.

Hampshire Constabulary’s Country Watch officers pursued a civil Dog Control Order and this was granted at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 13 September.

It will last for the dog’s life and its owner must ensure that the dog wears a muzzle at all times whilst in public or on any land not owned, occupied or controlled by the dog owner; and it is kept on suitable leads at all times whilst in public.

Inspector Lou Hubble from the Country Watch team said, “Because alpacas are not classed as livestock, we were not able to pursue a criminal case.

“However because of the impact this type of attack has, we felt it important to bring about a civil action.

“We will continue to protect our rural communities. This outcome should send a warning to any owners who allow their dogs to be unsupervised or out of control around animals of any description.”

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commonly collected bits of litter within the UK. Due to their small size, people don’t often think of them as litter. Not only are they unsightly, but the filters contain plastic fibres; if they make their way down the drains, it means they stick around once in the sea and can take between 18 months to 10 years to decompose.

Free posters and stubby packs for smokers for their used cigarette butts were being handed out at the campaign stall.

MUGA relocation

Following community engagement events about the refurbishment of the Heatherlands Centre, the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) will be relocated.

An alternative site, at nearby Dugdell Close, was secured by the town council.

Cllr Steve Lugg said, “Residents spoke and we listened. This work between East Dorset District Council and Ferndown Town Council is a great example of how local government can work in partnership to achieve the maximum benefit for the community.”

The refurbishment works to the Heathlands Centre are due to start this month. When completed in 2018, the centre will operate as a multi-use community hub offering a wide range of facilities delivered by East Dorset District Council, the NHS and Dorset County Council. The extension of the Dugdell Close play area is likely to begin in January 2018.

The Reading Group If you like reading work by popular local author Della Galton, you will love The Reading Group. Written under her pen name Della Parker, The Reading Group is a laugh out loud tale of friendship, loyalty and love.

Grace, Anne-Marie, Kate, Jojo and Serena couldn’t be more different, but each month they meet in Serena’s cliff top cottage to discuss their book of the month – oh and their lives, which are stranger than fiction. Or are they?

Between new loves and old flames, cheating husbands and wayward children, there’s always a surprise around the corner… thank goodness they have each other to share it with.

‘Brims with laughs, love, family and friendship.

You will love this heartwarming read!’

Trisha Ashley, Sunday Times bestselling author ‘Exceptional’ Amazon reviewer The Reading Group by Della Parker is published

by Quercus in paperback, audio and for Kindle (£7.99 paperback). Available from 2 November.

VIEWPOINT October 2017

A Dorset Police officer has been dismissed without notice after a special case hearing.

The allegation was that the officer, who cannot be named for legal and safeguarding reasons, conducted a sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim he had met in the course of his duties.

Chief constable Debbie Simpson said, “This was a serious breach of Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. The fact that he instigated and maintained a hidden sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim of abuse severely undermines the trust and confidence required in providing a policing service.

“Each role within the police family impacts on maintaining trust and confidence and professional behaviour is necessary in all roles, not just frontline operational posts. I therefore believe it to be untenable that an officer who has admitted gross misconduct in the circumstances outlined in this case can hold a position within the police service. I am confident that I would be supported in that assertion by members of the public.”

The hearing took place on 15 September 2017.

First ‘use of force’ statistics released Dorset Police officers attended 23,193 incidents in the county between 1 April and 30 June 2017.

Under new requirements Dorset Police are expected to publish quarterly ‘use of force’ statistics and, during the same three-month period, 2,041 individual use of force forms were submitted for approximately 1,572 individual incidents.

Each officer present at an incident involving use of force must submit a form.

Data required includes tactics used such as handcuffing, restraint, use of a Taser, or irritant spray.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, said, “The new publication guidelines aim to increase transparency. Recording each use of force will help to ensure that forces are held to account and officers continue to use force appropriately and proportionately.”

The data also includes

officer-perceived age, gender, and ethnicity for the individuals and multiple forms may be submitted for an incident. The majority of forms were submitted after contact with 18 to 34-yearold men.

Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said, “Use of force tactics are there to protect not only the public but also the safety of our officers. Figures show that in the same time period, 75 officers were assaulted in Dorset.”

He added that the figures show that use of force tactics often diffuse potentially volatile and dangerous situations. “Out of 32 records of officers drawing their Taser, it was fired on only six occasions.

This clearly demonstrates that the deployment of Taser alleviates potentially serious situations,” he said.

Martyn Underhill said he would be discussing the data at an upcoming use of force scrutiny panel in November.

What ‘Allot’ of prizes With 153 plots to view, ranging from 100 to 500 square metres, the Ringwood Garden Club had the daunting task of judging this year’s Allotment Competition held by the Ringwood Town Council. The overall winners were Robin and Ann Shields.

Other results: Upper Kingston: 1st Robin and Ann Shields, plot UK10; 2nd Kay Sutton, plot UK11; Southampton Road: 1st Colin Joy, plot SR8; 2nd Mrs Hurlock, plot SR21A; Hightown Road: 1st Peter Molloy, plot HR17; 2nd Martin Cracknell, plot HR15; Mini Plots: 1st Caroline Sheen, plot HRM5; 2nd Josephine Burkin, plot HRM12.

All prize-winners received gift vouchers and certificates.

Site winners and the overall winner also received trophies.

FREEADS Proceed with caution when buying privately.

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

Rugby success for Wimborne Under 14s Wimborne Rugby Club Under 14s squad were recognised on 23 September for their success as runners up in the Dorset and Wilts Cup 2017 season.

The team was the highestplaced in Dorset, which took them to an exciting final cup match, which they narrowly lost against Chippenham at the end of the last season.

During the One Club Day at Wimborne Rugby Club in September, members of the squad were awarded their medals

by Graham Leveridge, the Dorset and Wilts Rugby Competitions organiser.

All 30 members contributed to this success as they all played in the cup games as part of the club’s inclusive policy.

Now playing as WRFC Under 15s, the squad has got off to a storming start to the new season beating Oakmedians 20 to13 on 23 September.

The Wimborne squad would like thank sponsors PB Lewis and Harwood Installations for their support last year and their continued support into this season.

Wimborne Rugby Club welcomes new members at any age and any ability: for more information how to join contact Sue Tinsdale, mini/youth secretary on 07767 477972.

Theraposture automatic adjustable bed with massage unit £75. Inspection welcomed.

Ashley Heath. 01425 472930

Single bed (2’ 6”) with two drawers and headboard, immaculate condition £25.

Colehill. 01202 882487

Builder’s wheelbarrow, exc cond £30. New ladies’ moleskin trousers size 18, medium leg £20. Poole. 01202 695561

American oak square table 22 x 22 x 22” with bevelled glass insert also circular table 25 x 22”, both with rattan shelf below, £20 each, will split.

Ferndown. 01202 873411

Ladies’ golf clubs – woods and irons, stand, bag and rain cover £75. West Moors. 01202 895682 Wing-back fireside chair with riser assist lever. Soft green with mahogany trim, vgc £40.

Buyer to collect. Ferndown.

01202 891369 Denby china, 16pcs grey/ green popular colour little used £55. Wedgewood cutlery 24pcs, high quality stainless steel, unused £40. Muscliffe.

01202 518720 Renault Scenic wheel and tyre 205/60 R16, new £60.

West Moors. 01202 876627 Russell & Bromley size 5 red leather peep-toe court shoes, £12. St Ives. 01425 478288 G-Plan teak dining table size 48 x 36” (extends to seat 6) and four chairs vgc £100.

Colehill. 01202 840285 Willowbrook brown leather electric recliner armchair, unwanted competition prize. £225. Wimborne. 01202 888892

Large hexagonal birdcage, approx 6’ high, 35” at widest point. £100. Ferndown. 01202 873411 Rug 100% wool 212 x 139cm attractive oriental design, lovely colours, like new, £75. Delsey large suitcase 2 wheels, hard shell, combination and key lock, blue with gold piping, pull handle and carry handle, 77 x 56 x 22cm. £20. Wimborne 01202 849112 Car boot items, good selection. £25. Ashley Heath.

01425 472533 12 Minibus seats for Ford Transit, 3 singles, 3 doubles, 1 triple v.g.c. With fixings and seatbelts, £500. West Moors 01202 877968 Dress, royal blue, size 14, knee length, lovely style £15.

Practise dance shoes, size 5, vgc £12. Corfe Mullen. 01202 692848 Cast-iron dog grate, andirons and decorative backplate, unused, free of charge.

Ferndown. 01202 854714

G-Plan three-seater settee and two armchairs, £200 buyer collects. Kinson. 01202 578412 Small anvil w14cm x L29cm x H6cm, weight 28lb/10kg £50.

Ferndown. 01202 922039 Large rug coffee/cream striped, 3m x 3m, free of charge, if collected. Ferndown.

01202 872489 234 DVDs for sale – kids’, comedy, horror, action, sci-fi, thrillers vgc. £1 for 4, or £40 the lot. Kinson. 01202 389756 Truckman top white for Ford Ranger £99. Ferndown. 01202 891739 Mamas & Papas travel cot in zipped bag. £20. Ringwood.

01425 471682 Stressless recliner chairs with footstools, bottle green leather with mahogany bases, circular side table on one. £250 each set. St Ives. 01425 479908 Garden clothes dryer Brabantia, 3-branch. £8.

Ferndown. 01202 873411 Yamaha DGX digital piano, 88 keys, c/w stand vgc £100.

Men’s Barbour jacket navy 42” unwanted gift. £100. Ashley Heath. 01425 291587 Majesty magazines from first issue May 1980 to April 1994, 168 magazines in hard-backed binders. Exc condition. £20.

Bournemouth. 01202 534293

If you wish to advertise in this section, complete the form and send to mags4dorset, 1st Floor, King George V Pavilion, Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9EN. Free insertions limited to two items per person. Trade adverts must be paid for £30 per item plus VAT, max 25 words.

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specialist SERVICES AIRPORT TRANSFERS

CHIMNEY SWEEP

FENCING

DISABILITY PRODUCTS

FLOORING

GARDENING SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

MAINTENANCE

ROOFING

LANDSCAPING

MOTORHOME ACCESSORIES

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WANT TO ADVERTISE? Call 01202 816140

42 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

specialist SERVICES ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES

DECORATING

AERIAL & SATELLITE INSTALLERS

FENCING

FENCING

PLUMBING & HEATING

EXTERIOR DESIGN

LOCKSMITH

TREE SURGERY

WINDOW REPAIRS

WEB DESIGN

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| 43

motoring NEWS Vehicle theft on the increase Reports of vehicle theft increasing by 30% has prompted TRACKER, the stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, to remind motorists that nearly 50% of all cars stolen in the UK are never reunited with their legitimate owners.

Today’s criminals are quick to overcome sophisticated security systems and their means of disposal are tried and tested, with stolen vehicles being sold on to unsuspecting buyers disguised by a cloned identity.

A vehicle with a cloned identity is harder for the police to identify, and easier for the thief to sell on. Stolen vehicle recovery devices that combine VHF, GSP and GSM technology, such as TRACKER’s unique SVR solution, offer owners the greatest chance of their assets being located and recovered.

Recently a TRACKER equipped Metropolitan Police patrol car tracked and recovered a Land Rover Discovery in Carshalton that was already on false plates, even though it had only been stolen a couple of hours earlier.

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER says, “Fitting a tracking device is one of the few means by which the police can still identify cloned cars, in fact over 95% of stolen vehicles fitted with a TRACKER unit are successfully located and recovered.”

Are you unwilling to switch?

Where would we be without the miracle of electricity and its ability to power our household needs at the flick of a switch. Yet, when it comes to motoring, and despite fuel prices spiralling upwards, drivers are still reluctant to switch to electric vehicles.

P

ump prices, according to the Confused.com weekly fuel price index are at a sixmonth high, (119.6p petrol and 120.5p diesel). The newly launched index reveals the yearon-year prices of petrol and diesel are up 7% (+7.6p) and 6% (+7.2p) compared to last September.

As the cost of filling the tank increases, UK drivers are split on government plans to ban the sale of petrol- and diesel-fuelled vehicles by 2040. According to new research, 28% of drivers disagree with the ban, while a further 28% are positive about the proposals.

But despite surging fuel costs and the proposed ban on selling petrol and diesel cars, research from the driver savings site reveals almost eight in 10 (79%) of motorists are not convinced about buying an electric car as their next vehicle, even though it is widely acknowledged electric-powered cars are far cheaper to run than their fossil-fuelled predecessors.

This is also despite a wave of car companies, such as Volvo, Uber and Jaguar, announcing they will be adopting the electric approach as early as 2019 – much sooner than the 2040 deadline.

The biggest concern among drivers is that there are not enough places to charge their car in their local area (60%), even though there are over 3,800 electric charge points across the UK. Other highranking concerns include worries about how long the power will last (56%), length of charging times (50%) and expensive upfront costs (54%). A further two in five (41%) are holding on until the technology

improves.

While drivers have their reasons for holding off on an electric car purchase, they’re paying the price as fuel becomes more expensive over time.

To fill the tank of your average medium-sized car (57 litres), drivers can now expect to pay £68.17 for petrol and £68.69 for diesel. This is over £4 more than it was a year ago (September 2016), and this rising expense certainly adds up and makes a significant dent in a driver’s annual fuel bill.

Even so, the majority of motorists say they would opt for a petrol-powered car as their next vehicle (43%), but hybrids now come in at second place (21%) and are now more popular than diesel.

In fact, diesel cars are the preferred fuel choice among just over one in 10 (12%) drivers. However, electric vehicles are still the least popular, with only 7% saying they’d be most likely to choose this fuel type.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, says, “The 2040 ban on selling petrol and diesel vehicles certainly has drivers divided. We expect many are still unconvinced about going electric because it sounds like it’s such a long way off. But it could come around much sooner as major manufacturers start to commit to electric as early as 2019.

“Drivers could be missing a trick by not switching to new fuel types. Diesel and petrol prices are continuing to show an upward curve, impacted in the short term by events such as Storm Harvey and the rising cost in the price per barrel.”

If you have switched to an electric or hybrid vehicle and would like to share your experience with our readers, please email the editor at editorial@ mags4dorset.co.uk or call the mags4dorset newsdesk on 01202 872813.

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44 |

VIEWPOINT October 2017

motoring NEWS New apprentice for National Motor Museum The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has appointed a new workshop apprentice for its historic vehicle collection.

Apprentice Emily Leese, aged 18, has joined the museum’s experienced workshop team to help maintain and restore its collection of more than 250 historic vehicles. In an industry traditionally dominated by older men, Emily’s training will help to keep alive the essential skills needed to look after and preserve the museum’s remarkable machines.

When she completes her apprenticeship, Emily will become the first to do so since museum manager and chief engineer Doug Hill finished his apprenticeship 40 years ago.

Classic car fanatic Emily, who has been a volunteer at the National Motor Museum since the age of 14, is starting a four-year apprenticeship, which is being generously funded by a small group of Beaulieu One

New apprentice Emily Leese

Hundred members. Members are committed to supporting the work of the National Motor Museum Trust to preserve Britain’s motoring heritage for future generations.

Emily’s training will be overseen by apprenticeship provider Heritage Skills Academy, which specialises in enabling trainees to work towards industry-standard qualifications as part of its Heritage Engineering Apprenticeships programme, tailored to the specialist automotive restoration industry.

Spending most of her time based in the museum workshop at Beaulieu to gain vital hands-on experience, Emily will also study the skills of the trade with Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist P&A Wood in Essex as block release study, working towards Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Classic Vehicle Restoration.

Draper Tools has generously donated a comprehensive tool kit and chest to Emily from its Draper Expert range, which will be indispensable to her over the course of her apprenticeship.

National Motor Museum manager and chief engineer, Doug Hill, said, “Ever since Emily first visited us for work experience four years ago, I have been impressed by her enthusiasm and determination. I was the last apprentice to complete my training here at the National Motor Museum 40 years ago, so it makes me exceptionally proud to offer this opportunity to a new recruit by employing Emily as our apprentice.”

Emily said, “It’s good fun being in the workshop and getting involved in whatever

projects are being worked on, from cleaning and polishing to putting things back together. Recently, I helped to re-fit the engine to our 1930 ‘Blower’ Bentley, helping to steady the engine and to line everything up.

“I don’t know why I love cars so much but I have ever since I was about three-years-old. … I came in for work experience and they couldn’t get rid of me!”

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

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IRVING AND SONS ESTATE AGENTS NOW INCORPORATING ISEARDS

F

ollowing retirement on 19 September, Colin Iseard (director of Iseards) closed his office in Verwood, but not before he’d ensured his clients were in safe hands for the future.

Having traded successfully in the town for 25 years, Colin’s priority was to pass his legacy to a firm he was confident in. He was not short of offers from other estate agents, but most of those wanted to effectively run the business from a centralised location outside of Verwood, and Colin felt that would not be the best for his clients.

In considering his options, he made a personal approach to Irving and Sons.

Nolan Irving commented, “Colin approached us and we were absolutely delighted to speak direct with him regarding the situation. It became clear very early on in our discussions that our two lettings businesses operated in a similar way, which meant that we could ensure that the transition from Iseards to Irving and Sons would be seamless and with no negative effect on either the tenants or landlords.”

With a similar ethos, both businesses used the same property management software, the same local tradesmen and Irving and Sons already knew many of Iseards landlords and tenants.

“We have also put systems in place to ensure that tenants continue to

pay their rents into the same bank account, and we are in the process of switching landlords over to a faster payment method to ensure they receive their rents promptly and in some cases quicker than previously,” said Nolan, adding, “In order to further enhance the smoothness and continuity of the transition we were thrilled to secure the services of Tee Warner who was a vital lettings team member at Iseards. Tee actually worked for Irving and Sons previously and we knew that she would be the perfect addition to our established and knowledgeable lettings team run by our lettings manager Hannah Irving.”

Hannah Irving commented, “Tee has settled in to our lettings

team very well, as we knew 01202 823333 lettings@ she would and Tee, Jessica irvingandsons.co.uk.” and myself are working Should you have any closely together to ensure questions regarding the that all clients continue to transition, please contact receive the very best and either Nolan Irving who is most professional lettings the director in charge or service possible.

Hannah Irving the lettings “If you are an existing manager. And if you are a landlord client of Iseards landlord looking to secure or a tenant in one of their the services of the area’s managed properties, then leading lettings agency, you can contact a member then please give Irving and of our experienced letting Sons a call. team by using the Iseards phone Hannah Irving numbers or email addresses, as these have been transferred to Irving and Sons as part of the continuity planning.

Alternatively, you can use the Irving and Sons contact details

IRVING AND SONS SCOOP TOP PRIZE AT THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS 2017 The British Property Awards 2017 ceremony event in London was a night to remember for the team at Irving and Sons Estate Agents. They added to their award for the Best Estate Agent in Verwood with the regional award for the South West & Dorset.

Nolan Irving commented “I’m very proud of each and every member of our team for receiving the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and commitment to going the extra mile when helping our clients more home.”

The judging period was extensive covering almost every agent in the country.

They were surveyed against strict judging criteria based on telephone calls and mystery shoppers over a period of several months. The local award winners were announced a few months ago now and Irving and Sons impressed the judges so much that they were successful in securing the award for the whole of the South West region.

The entire Irving and Sons team were present at the award ceremony in

London hosted by Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts.

Nolan Irving added, “It was a great night for us all and it’s recognition like this from The British Property Awards, as well as all the many kind thanks that we regularly receive direct from clients, which makes taking the strain on behalf of the client so worthwhile.

“Our industry is currently suffering from a rise in pop-up estate agents who aim to sell themselves solely on cheap fees and a stripped back service and it was interesting to see that none of those agents won in their own towns let alone regionally or nationally.

“I have been in the estate agency business now for over 20 years. I

know that providing a full service package from a high street office where I am supported by other great estate agents, working on behalf of the client, is the only way to ensure that they not only receive a superb service but the best possible sale price for their home.

Our selling fee is always going to be competitive but it will also be well earned through hard work, communication and a determination to provide an excellent service.”

If you are thinking of moving home or just wanting some good honest advice then give the AWARD WINNING team at Irving and Sons a call 01202 823333.

Irving and Sons, 1 Edmondshan Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 7PA 01202 823333 www.irvingandsons.co.uk sales@irvingandsons.co.uk | lettings@irvingandsons.co.uk

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VIEWPOINT October 2017

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