July 2019 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

July 2019 Issue No. 88 Est: 2012

Heritage projects changing the face of the town A NUMBER of long-held ambitions of community groups in Blandford began to come to fruition last month and should soon be completed.

Work started at the end of May on the installation of drainage to protect the Langton Meadows flood arches and creation of a staircase to the top.

There will be viewing platforms across the meadows and interpretation boards on the history of the railway which the arches carried, as well as the wildlife to be found on the meadows.

Work also started at the beginning of June on the restoration of the archway which was the entrance to the former Blandford Grammar School and its war memorial and installation of interpretation boards giving information about the school and the neighbouring former burial ground.

Both schemes are funded by the Northern Dorset Location Action Group's LEADER programme after successful bids were made by the Blandford Railway Arches Trust in association with Blandford Town Council, and by Blandford & District Civic Society.

Together they bring more than ÂŁ60,000 of external funding to the town.

Civic Society secretary Nicci Brown, said: "We'd like to hear from any former pupils of the Grammar School and descen-

FORUM FOCUS

dants of those named on the memorial or buried in the burial ground so that we can invite them to the celebration of the completion of the work in July." She can be contacted on 01258 459346 or by email to niccitab15@gmail.com.

Meanwhile enhancements to the North Dorset Trailway to better present its past on the route of the Somerset & Dorset Railway and next to the site of a WWI prisoner-of-war camp is underway, thanks to the Blandford Stour Rotary Club as part of the commemoration of its own 20th anniversary.

The buffers at the end of the Trailway in Station Court were removed in May for refurbishment work, which is being carried out by Mark Farwell of Farwell Plant Hire, who is subsidising the cost of the project. The project is supported by the Blandford Railway Club and could not have been done without the help of Graham Stanley of the Dorset Rangers.

The buffers were put in place to ensure a reminder remained at the 'end of the line' after the closure of the Somerset & Dorset railway, largely at the instigation of David Jones, the late husband of Della Jones.

An interpretation board illustrating the WWI POW camp on the Little Milldown is due to be installed this month.

A digger shifts the accumulation of soil from the top of the Langton Meadows flood arches prior to installation of drainage.

Stonemason Stuart Whitehill working on old school arch in Damory Street.

The first of the interpretation boards in Damory Street giving the history of the former burial ground.

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July 2019

FORUM FOCUS CONTACTS Editorial: Nicci Brown T: 01258 459346 E: editor@forumfocus.co.uk Advertising: John Stayt T: 01258 454427 E: advertising@forumfocus.co.uk Distribution: Jackie Stayt T: 01258 456999 E: distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Design: David Eidlestein T: 01258 450989 E: de@deadlines.eclipse.co.uk Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

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Copies can be picked up from any of our drop points below: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S Langton Road; The Post Office, Library and Parish Centre in The Tabernacle, the Corn Exchange, the Spar shop in Market Place, Gorge Cafe in East Street, Blandford Museum in the Market Place, the Tourist Information Centre in West Street, Chaffers in Salisbury Street, James Newsagents in The Plocks, the Co-op in Salisbury Road, the 3Cs in Damory Street, the Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road, Cherry's hairdressers in Elizabeth Road, Blandford Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, the Central Shop in Heddington Drive, the Brewery Visitor Centre, Lidl in Higher Shaftesbury Lane, and Tesco and Homebase at Stour Park.

In the villages: Charlton Marshall Church Rooms and Charlton pub, Marcia’s Market, Clapcotts Farm, Spetisbury, Abbott Garden Centre, Langton Long, True Lovers Knot and St Richard Close bus stop in Tarrant Keyneston, Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton, Anvil and Farquharson pubs in Pimperne, the White Horse Inn at Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster Post Office, Child Okeford Post Office, Shillingstone Garage, Okeford Fitzpaine village shop, Londis Shop & Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, Post Office and Surgery, Milton Abbas, and The Cricketers at Shroton.

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Youth champion’s honour welcomed THE announcement that Ken Reynolds has been made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List has come as no surprise to those aware of his work for the young people of Blandford since the mid-1980s when he resigned as a service manager for Rolls Royce and set up the Blandford Youth Trust charity.

A pilot project helping children excluded from school, drug users and alcohol dependents developed into Treads youth advice service, acknowledged as a centre of excellence by the local authority, health service and police, and in 1997 as the best example of good practice in young people's voluntary projects across the UK. In 2001, he became student support worker to The Blandford School, with fundraising led by the Blandford Youth Trust.

Sally Wilson, headteacher at The Blandford School, said: "I am delighted for Ken. To be recognised by the Queen and awarded an MBE is extremely special. He is very modest about his contribution but should see this honour as an enormous 'thank you' for his years of selfless dedication. It is so very well deserved.

"Students, staff and governors

are overjoyed that Ken's years of dedication to the young people in this community have been recognised in this way.

"Over the years the Blandford Schools' Network, the Blandford Secondary School Foundation, district councils, community services, charitable organisations and charities supported Ken's work, but austerity meant funding for the project was at times precarious.

"Ken and the Trust wrote countless bids and presented the project to numerous audiences, and his dogged determination ensured the project continued. His unstinting desire to support the needs of young people has always been a key characteristic of his work. During his 17 years as student support worker, he supported well in excess of 5,000 students and established the school's first-ever peer monitoring scheme."

He also played an integral role in the link between The Blandford School and the Gnana Deepam Matriculation School in Tamil Nadu, India.

Ken retired last summer but continues to work with the school as a consultant, and the project continues to flourish through his successor as student support worker Kirsty Radford.

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July 2019

Destiny fulfilled for rail fanatic James STEAM locomotive owners based at Shillingstone station have appointed a new locomotive liaison officer to take responsibility for co-ordinating the overhaul and maintenance of their two locomotives.

Project 62, which owns locomotives numbered 30075 and 30076 based at the North Dorset Railway Trust's station at Shillingstone, have appointed James Frigot to oversee the work on their two United States Army Transportation Corps World War 11 designed locomotives, which

were built in Europe in the 1960s.

James has been interested in railways all his life, being taken to places like the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway and Pecorama from a very young age, and he was always destined to develop a love for steam locomotives and industrial heritage in general.

Dorset-born, he has lived in Broadstone most of his life and also has an interest in the old Somerset and Dorset line that closed in 1966 and ran through Shillingstone to his home town, so

Parking slots may be axed in town centre revamp THE pedestrianisation of part of Blandford Market Place by scrapping the parking places in front of the Corn Exchange could be on the cards if a bid for town enhancement funds proves successful.

Blandford's Town Team is aiming to persuade local authorities and other community historic town centre groups to work together to formulate a bid for a possible ÂŁ250,000plus of funding to enhance the town centre.

At its AGM, members considered the funding programme launched by Historic England for 'Historic High Streets' in conservation areas and, based on an earlier bid by Blandford Town Council to be considered for another funding programme from central government, resolved to help draw up a proposal.

One of the key features could be the pedestrianisation plan, which would mean removing the 16 short-stay parking spaces so that the area can be made more pleasant for events and general use by the public, increasing footfall and pedestrian activity and reducing congestion and air pollution.

Town councillors in June considered a paper produced by the Town Team which stated: "The Historic England High Streets Heritage Action Zones funding programme provides an opportunity to bid for funding to enhance the whole area

in front of the Corn Exchange, repaving with a surface which is both fit for purpose and fits the heritage context, as well as other possible improvements to the town centre Conservation Area."

Other items suggested include support for the implementation of the Neighbourhood Plan supporting the conservation area, considered 'at risk' by Historic England, and the replacement of the broken and slippery paving slabs in the town centre.

The Town Council agreed to support the bringing together of a working group to draw up an 'expression of interest' in the funding programme, which has to be submitted by July 12.

It was suggested the group might include key relevant community organisations such as the Civic Society and Town Museum, which has aspirations to provide extra premises in Bere's Yard, where there is also a proposal being developed for an arts centre.

The Civic Society, at its AGM on July 20 at 3pm in the Corn Exchange, will host a discussion on how the bid might be taken forward if the expression of interest is successful. It has also invited architect Phil Easton of Western Design Associates to give a presentation on the most recent proposals for the refurbishment and restoration of the Corn Exchange.

Locomotive liaison officer with Project 62 at Shillingstone station, James Frigot, with the rolling chassis of tank engine 30075. Picture Bob Bunyar. he is delighted to have this link.

He has been volunteering with Project 62 since 2015 after leaving school and embarking on an engineering apprenticeship for which working with the group's engines gave him good experience.

He is now employed at the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company and will be

working with the Shillingstone tank engines in his spare time, advising volunteers on the rebuild of 30075 which is currently underway.

Further information about Project 62 can be found at www.project62.co.uk and details of the North Dorset Railway Trust and the work at Shillingstone station are available at shillingstone-railway-project.org.uk.

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July 2019

THE HEROES AND THE VICTIMS OF D-DAY HONOURED

The longest day remembered THE 75th anniversary of D-Day was celebrated locally with a series of commemorative events and exhibitions.

Around 670 people attended a service at Tarrant Rushton airfield on Sunday June 2, marking the role of the airfield and flight of bombers towing gliders laden with troops to Normandy on June 4 and 5, 1944.

Another 365 visited the exhibition staged by the Blandford Commemoration Group in the Corn Exchange on June 7 and 8.

In Blandford Museum an exhibition which opened on June 6 will remain for the season.

At Tarrant Rushton, veterans and others associated with the airfield's history gathered to witness a parade of standards inspected by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, before the start of the service, led by the Rector of Wimborne, the Rev Andrew Rowland.

Airfield historian Andrew Wright introduced the service with a detailed account of the flights of

The respectful scene at Windy Corner, Tarrant Rushton airfield. the Halifax planes towing Horsa and Hamilcar gliders carrying troops and tanks on Monday June 5 and Tuesday June 6, 1944, to the bridge near Caen, whose destruction was key to the success of the D-Day landings.

The Act of Remembrance was led by the Deputy Commander of Blandford Garrison, Lieut-Col Paul Williams, Royal Signals,

with the exhortation given by Air Chief Marshall Sir Roger Palin.

Both laid wreaths on the airfield memorial as did the Lord Lieutenant, who was accompanied by his cadet Carla Anning, a member of the Blandford detachment of the Army Cadets.

A flypast by a Dakota which had been due to take place just before the start of the commemoration was brought forward due to the weather conditions. Rain began to fall during the service, causing Mr Rowland to comment that it was "teardrops from heaven" for the lives lost during World War II. It was disappointing that a number of people chose to leave, driving their cars past the service in progress.

Visitors to the exhibition in the Corn Exchange entered through a realistic re-creation by Dave Butler of a landing craft and found themselves among a range of exhibits examining the story of D-Day, the involvement of the local community, and including

the popular bomb-dropping plane, flight simulation and models created by members of the Blandford Railway Club, Blandford Museum and other volunteers.

Commemoration group chairman Roger Carter said there had been a lot of positive comments in the visitors' book and he was pleased to welcome many people who had their own memories of the time.

The exhibition in the Museum was opened by Lieut-Col Retd Bob Brannigan, who said there had been a lot of coverage of the landings, but they should also remember that D-Day would never have happened without many more people working beforehand to make models, swim to the beaches to take samples, lay out markers, intercept messages - individuals whose work impacted on the success of the action - and those responsible for deception tactics leading • To Page 5

The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell at the Tarrant Rushton memorial with his cadet, Carla Anning.

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July 2019

WITH COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS ALL ACROSS THE REGION • From Page 4 the Germans to believe that the Allies planned to invade elsewhere.

Museum director Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews congratulated exhibition creator Dr Michael Le Bas and his team of helpers Tony Owen, Carolyn Martin and David Hurley.

Dr Le Bas described the various panels of the display, showing the story of the invasion, the role of Rushton airfield, the role of the town in accommodating the British and American forces, as well as the impact of being taken as a 14-year-old in 1946 to see the destruction in Normandy by his father, who served in World War II and had landed there with the RAF on D+8, eight days after D-Day.

The parade's tribute during The Last Post.

The wreaths laid on the memorial.

Dr Michael Le Bas (left) and Lieut-Col Retd Bob Brannigan at the official opening of the D-Day exhibition in the Town Museum

A model of a Halifax towing a glider made by members of Blandford Railway Club and displayed in the Corn Exchange.

More D-Day anniversary pictures on our website

Air Chief Marshall Sir Roger Palin at the memorial

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July 2019

Town roadworks just rumble on AS one set of major roadworks in Blandford comes to an end, there was news of another starting this month when repairs are carried out to the Grade II listed Blandford Bridge.

The six-week project is planned to start on July 22 and will mean that the road will be temporarily reduced to a single lane over the bridge, with traffic controlled by portable traffic signals 24 hours a day.

Inspections have highlighted that the bridge and its associated flood arches and retaining walls are in need of repairs to ensure that the structures do not become compromised and will be preserved for the future.

Strengthening work and waterproofing was carried out to arch number one of Blandford Bridge in 2017 and repairs to concrete defects in the flood arches were carried out earlier this year.

Continuation of the repair work includes rebuilding the spandrel wall to the upstream side of arch number one, rebuilding, repointing and the replacement of stones to the upstream parapet, arch and cutwaters, flood arches

and retaining walls and removal of vegetation. • The project will coincide with the final phase of the Southern Gas work in Salisbury Road, which started at the end of May and is hoped to be completed by July 29.

Teams have been working extended hours and at weekends to replace the gas main as quickly as possible, resulting in a series of closures of roads connecting with the A354 and single lane working with traffic signals.

After relaying the main up to Queens Road, the team turned back down Salisbury Road to relay the main on the other side.

The phase, due to start on July 1 and last two weeks, will involve the temporary closure of Churchill Road at its junction with Salisbury Road.

From Monday July 15, Churchill Road will be reopened but Edward Street will again be temporarily closed at its junction with Salisbury Road.

Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for gas network company SGN, said: "We're continuing our work to upgrade our gas network in

Salisbury Road - essential work involving the replacement of old, metal gas mains with new plastic pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply."

He said it was possible that some of the pipes dated back to Victorian times, but more likely that the mains were laid in the 20th century. According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE),

most of the pipes are over 50 years old, but some are over 100 years old.

"All being well, we hope to complete our project by Monday July 29."

The work has impacted not only on residents and motorists, but also on businesses in Salisbury Road. Alex O'Neill at the Forum • To Page 7

Collisions with the outside of Durweston bridge do still occur but are less frequent and not just a modern phenomenon, as this picture from the archive of the county council works committee taken in March 1929 demonstrates.

Diversions in place as bridge is closed ELSEWHERE in the district, where the C13 Higher Shaftesbury Road has only recently reopened after a lengthy closure for works at Dinah's Hollow, the four-week full closure of Durweston Bridge for the final phase of the reconstruction of the causeway carrying the A357 came into effect on June 22.

Long-distance and local traffic is being diverted on to other A roads and local routes bypassing the junction with the A350.

Dorset Council, which is carrying out the essential repair work, has answered a number of questions which the project has raised, explaining that the bridge itself, notorious for the number of times it has been damaged by large vehicles negotiating the junction, cannot be modified since it is Grade II listed, and although old still has the strength to support HGVs using the A357.

In a statement on their website, the council says the installation of a heavy steel barrier preventing trailers from hitting the parapet, and phasing of the lights to prevent traffic flow both north and south on the A350 at the same

time and allow northbound vehicles turning left from the A350 across the bridge to swing out to the southbound lane, have reduced the frequency of bridge strikes.

The work currently underway includes cutting back trees on the inside of the junction so that approaching HGV drivers can see the junction and tightness of the turn from further away. It is hoped to carry out any necessary repairs to the bridge during the four-week closure, but the timescale is very tight.

But in response to suggestions that street lighting might help, they say neither of the A roads is lit, and the height and intensity of lighting to comply with standards would be very intrusive in an otherwise dark landscape within the Cranborne Chase AONB, which is currently seeking dark sky reserve status.

"Any moves to add lighting would be likely to result in objection from environmental protection groups, and even without these environmental impacts, there is currently no funding available for additional lighting requests," said a council spokesperson.

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July 2019

Roadworks

NEWS in BRIEF

• From Page 6 Frier, which on June 7 celebrated National Fish 'n' Chip Day with special offer regular cod and chips for £5, said takings had dropped by 25 per cent when the roadworks started.

Lou Macdonald, store manager at the Co-operative Food store, said: "We would like to thank all of our customers who have continued to support us during the roadworks. We would also like to thank Southern Gas's workers who have kept us updated regularly and have been excellent at working with us to make sure deliveries can still get in and out.

This has allowed us to remain open as normal throughout."

• Temporary night-time closure of the Badger crossroads in the week beginning June 10 allowed Dorset Council to finish works on the traffic signal upgrade at the junction which started in February, including final resurfacing, road markings and signal slot cutting.

There was a temporary nighttime suspension of on-street parking in Park Road and of the one-way traffic order in Park Road and Fairfield Road.

BLANDFORD'S Town Clerk Linda Scott-Giles was shocked to look out of the window on June 10 and see contractors removing the scaffolding behind the Town Hall, giving council staff access to the roof of the Corn Exchange.

Investigations revealed that the contractors were working on the wrong building and should have been removing the scaffolding from the rear of the W H Smith/Lloyds building on the other side of the Market Place.

••• AFTER failing for ten years to find a tenant for the ground floor of the former Three Choughs pub in West Street, Blandford, Hall & Woodhouse have applied for planning permission to convert it into accommodation for staff of the neighbouring Crown Hotel.

The brewery owners, who already use the upper floors for staff accommodation, say that proposals to use the premises first as a community hub and then as an outlet for Starbucks had both fallen through, and no interest has been shown during the last 12 months when it has been again advertised as to let.

Members of the Armed Forces Breakfast Club outside the Royal British Legion Club.

Breakfast and banter BLANDFORD Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club (AFVBC) is an informal gathering of ex-forces personnel who can reminisce, have a bit of banter and "return to the tribe".

There are no fees or subs for those attending, who just buy their breakfast.

They usually meet on the first Saturday of the month at the Hall & Woodhouse Brewery Tap from 10am, but in June, due to another event there, relocated to the Blandford Royal British Legion Club.

Veterans offer assistance such as the PTSD support group which is run by one of their members, and there are plans to hold regular activities, dinners and other military based events.

All serving or former members of the forces are welcome, and can find further information on AFVBC.net, on the Facebook group Blandford Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, by email to Matt Slater on BlandfordAFVBC@outlook.com or by phone to 07368 339083.

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Scouts Finlay and Tom, both aged nine, helping out with publicising the Victory Grand Tour Cape to Cape cavalcade.

July 2019

Cavalcade marks town’s historic role BLANDFORD'S role in the historic journey of Lieut John Richards Laponetière bringing news to London of Nelson's death and the British victory at Trafalgar, was recalled when the 'Victory Grand Tour Cape to Cape 2019' cavalcade of classic cars passed through the town on May 18.

It recognised that the town's Greyhound Inn was one of the 21 coaching inns along the route where the horses pulling Laponetière's coach were changed on his 271-mile land journey.

An exhibition displayed in the Corn Exchange gave more detail of the historic battle and sending of the Trafalgar Dispatch from Nelson's second-in-command, Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, while the Stour Valley Band played in the Market Place for the crowd who gathered to admire the cars.

The previous evening, naval historian Katie Jamieson gave a well-attended presentation in the Corn Exchange on the battle, the schooner HMS Pickle, which brought its captain Lieut

Laponetière to shore, his journey from Cape Trafalgar in Spain to Falmouth and then to London, and the celebration which took place in 2005, the 200th anniversary, as part of Blandford's own celebration of the 400th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter.

She said the classic car cavalcade, which travelled the reverse route from Cape Trafalgar to Cape Cornwall, supported the charity Macmillan, in addition to promoting the work of the 1805 Club to preserve the legacy of Trafalgar and keep the story of one of Britain's greatest naval victories alive for thousands of schoolchildren who no longer study the subject as part of the national curriculum.

In 2017, the club successfully applied for a grant from the Treasury's LIBOR fund, set up especially for military charities, which has allowed significant reinvestment in the Trafalgar Way to ensure the legacy continues for the future, including educational workshops and competitions.

For more information, see thetrafalgarway.org.

Choose a literary logo

Option A

Option B

FOLLOWING the launch, held at the Cedar Tree, of plans for a Blandford Literary Festival, a reading and fundraising event was held at Clapcotts Farm, Spetisbury, where promoters Louise Bliss and Finola Brennan invited authors to contribute work.

Contributors included Simon Hendry, Paula Harmon, Gerald Killingworth, Paul Hyland and Pete Haines and Tom Roberts, who instigated a competition for the Dorset Writers Prize to attract material for Dorset Shorts, an anthology of short stories by local authors.

Planning is now well underway for the festival, scheduled to take place from November 18 to 24 at various venues in the town, and people have been invited to choose which of two logos should be used. Email your choice between logo A and logo B by July 31 to blandfordliteraryfestival@gmail.com.

TOWN councillors have agreed a grant of £175.20 for the hire of council-owned venues for the Free Expression Arts Festival taking place in September and a further grant of £1,000 to Oh No It Isn't for rehearsals and performances of their pantomime in January 2020.

But in view of the number of requests for grants covering venue hire, they have agreed to form a working party to consider how such applications are managed. Grants have already been approved this year to the Town Team for their meetings, and to Kiss My Elbow Productions for their community production of The Borrowers in August.

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July 2019

NEWS in BRIEF POLICE were asked to investigate a break-in at the Lamperd's Field allotments, managed by Blandford Allotment Society, on the night of Friday May 17 in which sheds on plots were targeted and a number of tools stolen.

The gate had been locked at 6pm, there was no sign of forced entry, and the main allotment building on the site was not affected.

But society chairman Ian Rickets said the thieves had entered through the hedge, cutting the wire and branches, and 90 per cent of sheds on the plots were broken into, with three petrol Strimmers taken.

••••• COUNCILLORS were urged to notify members of the public concerned that grass verges have been getting too long in Blandford and across the country that it is Dorset Council's policy to allow the grass to grow to support wildlife and the environment.

County Councillor Byron Quayle said: "If it becomes dangerous and is blocking visibility it should be reported and will be cut, but landowners are responsible for maintaining their own hedges."

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Recycling from the bathroom

MAGIC Circle magician Paul Hyland has won the double. Paul, known locally for the Baffling Blandford walks he and his partner Jana lead on summer Sundays, gained the title Magician of the Year and collected both the judges' trophy and the audience choice trophy for his competition act at the Wessex Magical Association. He showed off some of the magic he performs at banquets, weddings and corporate events. Paul and Jana, as Art of the Impossible, who were performing at the Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair in Dorchester on June 2, will be back with their Baffling Blandford walks every Sunday in August.

We all use toiletries and cleaning products daily our bathrooms are packed full of stuff that can be recycled after we've finished with it.

The great news is most people are doing just that, but there's always room to recycle more.

If everyone in the UK recycled just one bathroom cleaner bottle, enough energy could be saved to vacuum around 82,460 homes!

A top ten list of items that can, and should, be recycled from the bathroom includes: Shampoo bottles, conditioner bottles, shower gel and bubble bath bottles, cardboard boxes eg. toothpaste or soap boxes, toilet roll tubes, bathroom cleaner and bleach bottles (even the spray dispenser), deodorants, shaving foam cans, hand soap bottles (but not the pump dispenser) and moisturiser bottles To help you get organised and keep your bathroom recycling in check, remember to squash your bottles and replace the lid or spray dispenser.

If short on floor space, try hanging a bag on the back of the door to collect recycling, or hide empties away in an empty cupboard or drawer until you can take them to the recycling bin.

Make good use of any wasted space under the sink and grab a second bin for all your plastic bottles, aerosols, toilet roll tubes and toothpaste boxes, or turn a basket or storage box into a bathroom recycling bin.

To find out more visit: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/right-stuff-right-bin

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July 2019

Firefighters called to kitchen blaze at flat RESIDENTS were evacuated when a kitchen fire broke out in a flat in Church Lane, Blandford, just after midday on Sunday June 16.

Firefighters attend a kitchen blaze in Church Street, Blandford.

Two fire appliances from Blandford and Sturminster Newton found smoke issuing from a first-floor window of the building, used as domestic flats, which had been evacuated before their arrival.

The fire was in the kitchen on the first-floor and was extinguished using a hosereel jet and two sets of breathing apparatus.

Residents, some still in their pyjamas, sat on the wall in Church Street and watched as charred curtains billowed out of the window as the firefighters dealt with the blaze in the threestorey property.

An hour later, appliances from Wimborne and Sturminster Newton attended another fire in Diamond Way, Blandford, which involved a washing machine in the kitchen of a house.

The fire was out before the arrival of the fire service, but crews isolated the washing machine and moved it to a place of safety.

The damaged bench in New Road, Bryanston.

Careless cutting wrecks refurbished village bench THE bench in New Road, Bryanston, which we reported last month had been refurbished by the Men's Shed team, was destroyed when it was run over by a tractor.

One irate resident, seeing the newly refurbished bench seat apparently vandalised and badly damaged, said: "I cannot believe that people could carry out such wanton destruction of things that kind people have created in their own time and for no reward except to please local people. I just hope that the culprits can be identified and severely punished, as they deserve."

It was, however, not wanton van-

dalism, but the actions of a careless contractor for Dorset Highways while cutting the roadside verges on June 12. A grit bin on the other side of the road was also demolished.

Parish Council chairman Carol Tompsett said: "The council has accepted their contractor was at fault and fortunately the bench will be replaced for us. We are a parish with a very low precept and replacing the bench would use quite a chunk of it.

"It was only thanks to a vigilant resident who saw the damage and reported it almost immediately that we knew what had happened."

A QUANTITY of suspected drugs was seized and two men arrested on suspicion of dealing class A drugs when a drugs warrant was executed at an address in Highfields, Blandford, on May 9.

An officer used a manual battering ram to gain entry to the property.

A Police spokesman said: "Two men aged 36 and 43 were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and are assisting officers with enquiries."

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July 2019

A poignant reminder of a bitter conflict HEAVY rain showers in the morning and an unfavourable forecast for the afternoon meant it had to be a wet weather programme for the annual ceremony at Tarrant Hinton on Friday June 7.

The occasion was the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of the memorial at Collingwood Corner, by the widow of Commander Alexander Spearman RN, who died at Gallipoli on June 4, 1915.

The service, attended by a parade of naval trainees from HMS Collingwood and their chaplain, the Rev Michael Meachin, was held undercover at Blandford Camp rather than risk its being disrupted by showers at the memorial at Collingwood Corner.

It was led by Mr Meachin, and a challenging address was given by David Wardrop, a member of the Friends of the Collingwood Memorial. He said that on the day after the celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, they gathered to remember a conflict with a very different outcome - the slaughter of the majority of the Collingwood Battalion among 1,400 killed and 15,000 injured in the space of an hour at Gallipoli just over 25 years earlier.

He said the Rector of Blandford at the time, the Rev F E Overton, at the unveiling of the memorial six months after the Armistice, had hoped the spirit would prevail among passers-by seeing it on the road. He said the

signing two weeks later of the Treaty of Versailles brought hope that the conflict over the previous four years had been the war to end all wars, which was tragically undermined only 20 years later.

Quoting Siegfried Sassoon's bitter poem 'On Passing the New Menin Gate' and his anger at the fate of the 'doomed, conscripted, unvictorious ones', he said the annual ceremony must make them similarly angry, but suggested that the granite stone hewn in Aberdeenshire which stands at Collingwood Corner meant much more than a 'sepulchre of crime'.

The exhortation was given by Richard Bridges, chairman of Shaftesbury Royal British Legion, and the Kohima Epitaph by Commander Tefor Fox RN, officer commanding the Warfare Support Training Group at HMS Collingwood. The hymns during the service were those chosen for the unveiling ceremony 100 years earlier.

Wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, representatives from Australia, The Friends of the Collingwood Memorial, Blandford Camp, Blandford Town Council, the Royal British Legion, descendants of those who fell at the third battle of Krithia and the Gallipoli Association.

Mayor of Blandford Councillor Lynn Lindsay bows her head before the drumhead after laying her wreath at the Collingwood Memorial Service.

The wreathlayers during the service - the hymns were those chosen for the unveiling ceremony 100 years earlier.

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'Big Brekkie' supporters and helpers at Blandford Methodist Church with North Dorset MP Simon Hoare.

Brekkie for a cause A 'Big Brekkie' for Christian Aid Week at Blandford Methodist Church hall raised £266.50 with the support of Tesco, Morrisons and Mato, who provided cereal, fruit juice, rolls and milk free of charge and meat at catering prices.

Among the breakfasters was North Dorset MP Simon Hoare.

Organiser Joyce Wild thanked all those who attended and supported the event.

Fiona Daborn, the charity's regional co-ordinator for Dorset, has praised all those who came together to raise money for those less fortunate than themselves.

The theme of this year's Christian Aid Week was 'All mums should live' and focused on helping mothers in Sierra Leone, where 10 women die every day from giving birth.

Mrs Daborn said: "It was fantastic to visit some of the many events taking place across the county. Thank you to those who served up Big Brekkies in Weymouth, Bridport, Blandford and beyond."

July 2019

‘Dumping ground’ fears prompt villagers’ outcry MORE than 130 objections have been submitted to Dorset Council to plans for even more development at Charlton Marshall, where outline or full approval has already been given for more than 100 homes, and applications are being considered for several others.

An application by Hallam Land Management for 80 houses on a site west of the A350 Bournemouth Road, opposite the site where outline approval was recently given for 55, has outraged residents, who packed into a meeting in the village's Church Rooms hosted by Charlton Marshall Parish Council.

The village is seen in the North Dorset Local Plan as one of the larger villages considered suitable for growth. The field between the main road running through the village and the North Dorset Trailway does not have the drawback of other sites suggested east of the A350 impacted more by the river Stour flood plain.

The design and access statement accompanying the application states that the establishment of the A350 through the village has changed its character, and that of

the adjacent conservation area, designated in 1995 and characterised by traditional buildings in a linear roadside settlement.

But residents are concerned at the cumulative growth of their village towards Blandford St Mary, where further development is planned, and the town of Blandford beyond, in addition to the impact of a further access and traffic on to the busy main road and lack of infrastructure to support the additional population.

They are equally concerned at the potential for further development on neighbouring fields in which it is believed the applicants have an interest.

The parish council and ward councillor Andrew Kerby have also objected to the proposal.

Parish council chairman Tim Hill said: "They are saying Charlton Marshall is sustainable, but it is unrealistic to expect people to walk to a supermarket 2km away in Blandford St Mary, and we are being asked to take a disproportionate number of new homes.

We can't be a dumping ground for development because it is not being built in the rest of Dorset."

Clara’s marathon trek to highlight cancer risks A CHARLTON Marshall woman is fundraising to take part in a 50mile trek through the Himalayan Mountains for CoppaFeel, a charity dedicated to ensuring that breast cancer is diagnosed early by educating people, particularly young people, on the signs and symptoms and seeking early medical advice.

Originally from London, Clara Taylor Gallop has a target of £3,000 to raise by the middle of August to take part in the trek in October with 99 others, including a number of celebrity supporters.

She said that four years ago she had the agonising experience of waiting for results of tests on a lump on the breast which turned out to be benign.

"Sitting in the waiting room waiting for the results, a nervous woman entered the doctor's

office and returned half-an-hour later in an inconsolable state, having just been given the diagnosis that she had breast cancer. It was then that I knew I wanted to help fight this awful disease.

"I am raising these vital funds to ensure young men and women are aware of their bodies and the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, so that we can fight the disease as early as possible and save lives."

She has already received support from a number of businesses, including Dorset Dog Grooming, which is donating a pound for every groom done by them.

To help you can contact her by email to claracoppsafeel@yahoo.com or make a donation to her Everyday Hero fundraising page.

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July 2019

Northern Ireland role for MP

Cyclists gather at Tarrant Rushton airfield.

Cyclists seek new role for airfield HUNDREDS of cyclists from all over Dorset and further afield gathered at Tarrant Rushton's disused airfield on June 8 to support a bid to create a safe and traffic-free cycle circuit for Dorset.

The project to improve a mile stretch of the 3.5-mile circuit, which has been used for many years by members of various cycling clubs but is currently in disrepair, is led by GP practices in Blandford, and the subject of a bid in progress with British Cycling and Sport England.

It will also provide storage and basic facilities required for a usable venue for cycling and other sports.

As part of national Cycling UK Week, cyclists were invited to ride to the site to provide evidence of the level of support for

the venue for leisure cycling, coaching, skills development, racing and encouraging people to be more active.

Many took the opportunity to cycle a lap or two over sometimes bumpy terrain and enjoy the magnificent views from the circuit high on the downs from where planes towing gliders flew in June 1944 to play a key role in the success of the D-Day Landings.

Permission was given to open the main gate for two hours and hold the event by landowner Nick Harding, who welcomed the trial to assess how well supported the venue might be.

Organiser Carol Tilley, managing partner of the Blandford GP Practices, said: "This is an exciting community project and a oneoff opportunity to get a good, safe

Tea on the lawn to move indoors MEMBERS of the Disability Action Group (DAG) are this month hosting a charity fundraising event in memory of their secretary Karen Reddaway on the anniversary of her sudden death.

DAG chairman Carolyn Carter said: "At the time of her death, Karen had started to plan what was to be a fundraiser for the charity, 'Tea on the Lawn' in the Woodhouse Gardens. We wanted to honour her memory by taking her plans to support the charity forward and also make a donation to the British Heart Foundation."

The plans for the event, on Sunday July 21, suffered a setback when Blandford Town Council announced the start of work to extend the Woodhouse Gardens pavilion, making it unavailable on the anniversary date.

Relocation to the Corn Exchange has not, however, resulted in a

change of name - and although the alternative venue has no lawn, artificial turf will be laid for tables on which cream teas will be served. There will also be a range of activities for youngsters, a tombola and live music provided by charity members.

Tickets for the cream teas are now on sale from DAG in Nightingale Court, off East Street, Blandford.

DAG is also delighted to announce that it has been awarded ÂŁ2,000 from Tesco's Bags of Help community grant scheme, run in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, which over the years has awarded grants to thousands of local community projects.

Ms Carter said: "Thanks to customers of the Blandford St Mary store voting for us, we will be able to purchase new scooters to replace those which have gone past their 'best before' date."

outdoor circuit up and running that can be used by all. The response has been amazing and shows the potential of the site to be a major asset for those wanting to get out in the fresh air, to walk, run and cycle.

"We also really value the historic significance of the site. Many attending had family stories linking to the D-Day history of the site. To pay tribute to all those who took part in D-Day, the children scattered poppy seeds next to the memorial, thus ensuring the future generations also have a link and shared memories of Tarrant Rushton airfield."

NORTH Dorset's MP Simon Hoare has been elected chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster, succeeding Andrew Murrison, who stood down last month to take up a post as a junior minister.

He was selected following a secret ballot by MPs from across Parliament to chair the committee which examines the administration, spending and policy of the Northern Ireland Office. He secured 239 of the 444 votes cast for three candidates, who included Maria Caulfield and Mark Pritchard.

Mr Hoare backed remain in the EU referendum in 2016, but also voted in favour of the Government's withdrawal deal three times. On June 14 he met with farmers in Dorset to discuss issues, including TB, the Agriculture Bill and future trade deals and imports. In the Tory leadership contest he initially supported Sajid Javid.

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July 2019

Civic recognition for five of the best FIVE people were recognised for their work for the community at this year's mayor-making ceremony, in addition to the creation of a new Freeman of the town, Dr Michael Le Bas. Alan Hunt, who monitors the town's CCTV as a volunteer; Jan Boyd, licensee of the Greyhound Inn, who has supported local charity Teddy 20 and other groups including Macmillan and the Gurkha Welfare Trust; and Sam Elliott, leader and acting chairman of the town Scout Group, of which she has been a member since childhood, were awarded Certificates of Appreciation.

Two further certificates were awarded to retiring district councillor John Tanner and town councillor Harold Galpin, who between them had contributed 43 years to their respective authorities until they lost their seats at the recent elections.

Only two of the five were present to receive their certificates, but the other three were invited to a special presentation before the next full meeting of the town council.

Dr Le Bas has, after and during an impressive academic career, since moving to the town in the 1980s, established himself as an authority on Blandford's history as a member and curator of the Blandford Town Museum and as a committee member of Blandford & District Civic Society, working on exhibitions, projects and publications and providing information to local and international researchers.

His nomination, which preceded by only a few days the opening of the latest exhibition he has organised at the museum, was formally proposed by Councillor John Stayt and accepted unanimously by fellow councillors. He was welcomed by Freeman Carole Sharp.

Retiring Mayor Councillor Roger Carter announced that funds raised for his chairman's charities during the past year amounted to ÂŁ6,200, which were shared between the Blandford Food Bank and the Blandford Opportunity Group.

He also, as chairman of the town's 14-18 Commemoration Group, presented a statue of a WWI soldier to the Town Council as a permanent reminder of the centenary commemorations which have taken place over the last four years.

His successor as Mayor, Councillor Lynn Lindsay, who has been a member of the town

council for 20 years, was proposed by Councillor Hugo Mieville and seconded by Councillor Pat Osborne.

She said last year, when her husband Cliff died, had been difficult, but she was now strong again and proud to represent the town in which she was born and brought up, where she first met her husband, and which she loved dearly. As she exchanged robes with Mr Carter, the Stour Valley Band played 'Bring Me Sunshine' - the music played at her husband's funeral last October.

She announced that her chairman's charity for the year would be the Blandford Community Kitchen and that her chaplain would be the Rector of Blandford and Langton Long, the Rev Canon Jonathan Triffitt.

Blandford's new Mayor and town council chairman Lynn Lindsay with Deputy Mayor Lee Hitchings.

Left: Retiring Mayor Roger Carter presents the WWI soldier statue to Town Clerk Linda Scott-Giles.

Above: Dr Michael Le Bas receives his Freedom scroll from Mr Carter.

Nigel set to call it a day AFTER more than 25 years at Milton Antiques in Beres Yard, Blandford, and with his 80th birthday approaching and a hip operation in the pipeline, Nigel Church is calling it a day, and will be holding a closing down sale from July 1 to 20.

When the business opened in 1993 there were many more independent retailers in town, including three antique shops. Milton Antiques specialised in fine period furniture and the workshop upstairs enabled restoration and conservation to be carried out.

A diverse client base developed over

the years, resulting in a fascinating and challenging career including featuring in Homes and Antiques and making an appearance on The Antiques Roadshow.

In the early 90s, antique furniture attained high values but the following years saw a downward spiral driven by a change in lifestyle and taste.

It is with regret that he leaves Beres Yard but he will be undertaking restoration work from other premises in the locality, and will be available on the same landline number: 01258 450100.

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July 2019

BLANDFORD BUSINESSES BOOMING

Robot joins the team at engineering firm A BLANDFORD manufacturer has invested in its first robot to help boost capacity.

Brimor Engineering, based on Blandford Heights Industrial Estate, is a specialist in precision machined components and has installed a new HALTER LoadAssistant from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) as part of plans to capitalise on a recent 20% increase in sales.

The robot's automated loading of up to 100 workpieces frees up staff to work on other machines and in different roles.

Chris Harley, managing director at Brimor Engineering, said: "A lot of our precision components and assemblies are heading for the automotive industry, so there is a lot of pressure on making sure you deliver high quality and increasingly reducing lead times. “We pinpointed the need to automate the loading process to help

us continue production throughout the night. It is our first investment in robotics and has fitted seamlessly into our factory, potentially saving us up to four weeks of production time every year.

"We had a really strong 2018 and, after freeing up additional capacity, want to go after new opportunities in sectors that are looking for precision complex components and speed of delivery."

Sales director at the Engineering Technology Group, Steve Brown, said they were taking on more work exploring the possibility of producing components through the night without labour costs.

"Advancements in technology mean this scenario is not purely the property of the big boys with millions of pounds set aside to introduce it. SMEs like Brimor Engineering are switching on to the benefits this new industrial trend can bring."

Green investment for print company PRINT waste management company J&G Environmental has invested in new equipment to enhance its plastic recycling services.

The business, based in Holland Way, Blandford, has recently purchased an Avery Weigh-Tronix ZM510 weighbridge for logging weights of different materials, as well as a Rapid 8045 granulator for preparing waste plastic ready to be made into new products.

Print service providers using the service have their plastic waste collected and transported to the J&G Environmental site where it is ground down into granules to be packed up for re-use as wall plugs or rawlplugs.

Processed ink cartridges can be used to make buckets and paint pots.

Jason Goddard, recycling manager at J&G Environmental, said: "When printers are putting contracts together to get new work, more often than not they need to prove they are using a responsible waste management company and are recycling as much of their waste as they can.

"You would be surprised how many companies still have 40yard skips on site and are just throwing all of their waste in there, but a lot of this material can be recycled, and this is where J&G Environmental can help.

"A printer has a duty of care to know what is happening with their waste. We are able to offer full traceability to show what is happening with it, ensuring it does not end up in the ocean."

A NEW War on Waste group for Blandford held its first meeting at Blandford Parish Church in June and is focusing on making the town free of plastic and promoting initiatives to stop waste being created.

Yvonne Mieville told town councillors, when she was given their moral support for the group: "We want to raise awareness about the use of single-use plastics, particularly plastic bottles and cups, encourage and educate people and local businesses how not to use them."

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Readers’ letters

Dancers ignored MY husband and I went to the Three Okefords Steam Rally on Saturday May 18. We enjoyed the event, especially the Morris dancing, but we were dismayed by most of the public's reaction to the dancing.

Very few people watched and even fewer clapped after each dance, even though the men were outside the cider tent!

Morris dancing has been around since the 15th century and is a traditional English way of dancing. It was sad that in Shillingstone the tradition was no longer admired.

By coincidence my Sunday paper today had an article on Morris dancing in Gloucestershire by women and the tradition is flourishing there with many younger people taking part.

Perhaps if the Steam Rally had put the Morris dancers in the main arena and made an effort to promote the dancers it might have been better received. I'm sure not many people knew it was on and I didn't see it mentioned in the programme.

Lorna Clark Okeford Fitzpaine.

Health tonic from Nicky LAST November I visited my GP for a six-monthly health check. I have Diabetes 2 and also suffer

July 2019 Please write to Forum Focus if there is something you'd like to comment on or share with other readers.

Email your letter, which should be as brief as possible, to: editor@forumfocus.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call 01258 459346 or deliver your letter to: Forum Focus, c/o Colin's

from high blood pressure. It became apparent that my weight was increasing and my health deteriorating. I could continue as I was or do something about it. I chose to exercise and decided to diet.

I'd seen the Cambridge Diet advertised in Forum Focus and that appealed to me as it is a 1to-1 diet, not classes, and local agent Nicky Edwards stated in her adverts examples of considerable weight losses, including her own, so I enrolled in January.

Last week I went for my latest six-monthly health check. I was obviously aware that I was losing weight but to see on the nurse's screen a graph showing my health statistics now compared to last November was a real bonus.

I'm so pleased that I chose Nicky Edwards, the award-winning Cambridge Lady, as she encouraged me all the way. She still does on my weekly appointments as I haven't reached my really healthy target weight yet.

So this is a public thanks to Nicky and a suggestion to anybody thinking of a diet, get on with it. You'll feel so much better both physically and mentally.

N. Smith.

Thanks to the Mayor (Letter to the former Mayor, Cllr Roger Carter) WE would like to thank you publicly, as we didn't get a chance at the mayor-making ceremony, for all your hard work and effort in raising money for us in your year

Community Club, 49 Damory Street, Blandford DT11 7HD. Please mark your letter 'for publication' and remember to include your address, which will not be used in full. Forum Focus reserves the right to shorten or edit letters in the interests of clarity, brevity and style.

as Mayor of Blandford.

The Blandford Opportunity Group and the Food Bank were both very honoured to have been chosen as your charities for the year.

We very much appreciate all the effort and organisation that went into many of your events and all the help you had from your family and friends in making these events a success.

A fantastic amount of £6,200 was raised from various events you held around the town and this has been split equally between the two charities. Thank you again for choosing us.

Colin Stevens, Blandford Opportunity Group & Gail del Pinto Blandford Food Bank

Artistic help for school THE Blandford School art department would like to thank the Royal British Legion for hosting the quiz and bingo night this year. The volunteers, organisers, raffle donors and supporters of both the events helped to raise £644 for the department.

The creative community at the school will continue to thrive and have future opportunities from the buying of much-needed materials and equipment. We are all very grateful for the support and help from the Blandford community.

Very grateful thanks also goes to Alison C Board's artistic art swap where items were donated to the department. The art department were astounded by their gen-

erosity. There have also been other generous art material donations from other supportive individual members of the community of frames, portfolios, fabric and paper.

Thank you to everyone in helping us to keep creativity alive for our young developing artists.

Gwen Amey Head of Art, Blandford School

A show not to be missed BLANDFORD Art Society is gearing up for its open exhibition next month. Artists from all over Dorset are getting ready to show their work at this year's event, from Monday August 12 to Saturday August 17 between 10am and 5pm in the Corn Exchange. This year's guest artist is Dennis Hill.

Last year we had more than 1,000 visitors to see over 220 hung paintings, 350 browser pieces, sculptures and cards and were a little amazed at what Blandford can do when it tries.

If anyone came away disappointed, they certainly didn't say, and the comments in our visitors' book were studded with superlatives.

If you haven't popped in before, be sure to do so this year. There is always something for everybody and if you came last year, come and see us again. We promise we will have something to amaze or make you smile.

Judith Ryde Exhibition Organiser Blandford Art Society

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July 2019

Latest link forged in historic walk THE next stage in the new longdistance walk, the White Hart Link, between Stourpaine and Blandford was officially launched when a small group of walkers were welcomed to the town by Mayor Lynn Lindsay.

She was presented by leader Peter Mouncey with a pennant recording Blandford as one of the destinations on the route.

Mrs Lindsay, who was accompanied by Councillor Haydn White as Consort, invited the visitors to enjoy the attractions of the Stour riverside where they stopped for a picnic before returning to their starting point on the North Dorset Trailway at Stourpaine.

She said: "We look forward to welcoming more walkers in the years to come as they discover the wonderful countryside around North Dorset, and all that we have to offer here in our lovely ABBOTS Court in Winterborne Kingston is one of 11 Dorset restaurants declared the best of the south west in this year’s Trencherman's Guide, which aims to showcase 'exquisite and authentic South West dining experiences' and includes Plumber Manor in Sturminster Newton and the Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne.

Georgian town."

The 50-mile circular walking route linking the market towns and villages of North Dorset is being developed by a team of volunteers. Improvement work over the last two years has included replacing stiles with gates and marking the route with its own White Hart Link roundel.

It aims to attract visitors, support local business and encourage enterprise and healthy activity.

The section to Blandford on the North Dorset Trailway joins those already launched from Shaftesbury to Gillingham, Henstridge, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton.

The final stages to complete the route will be launched with a walk between Sutton Waldron and Stourpaine, calling at Fontmell Magna, on July 20, and a final walk on August 26 from Sutton Waldron to Shaftesbury.

The name derives from the legend that the Blackmore Vale became known as the Vale of the White Hart after a white stag protected by Henry III was killed by a bailiff of Blackmore Forest, resulting in his imprisonment and a fine of White Hart Silver for the vale for many years following.

Letters extra Lavender blues OUR lovely Cedar Blue lavender was stolen from our window box over the last May bank holiday weekend.

We grow some of the flowers and herbs and encourage people to pick the herbs as they pass to use for their lunch or dinner.

However, this lavender was sourced from the amazing lavender community farm in Fiddleford.

If by any chance you know where our lovely lavender is, please return, as now perhaps it is just enjoyment for one or two people, whereas before it brought joy to so many.

Lavender has so many wonderful healing properties so we understand the desire to want the plants. If you do like what is in our window box please let us know and we may have some

you can have or point you in the direction on where you can purchase them.

Love and light to all.

The Cedar Tree Anchor Gateway, Blandford

Parkinsons get-together SINCE last year we have been running monthly Parkinsons cafés at Blandford. A Parkinsons café gives people with Parkinsons and/or their carers the opportunity to meet for a coffee and a chat in a relaxed café or pub setting.

The Blandford Parkinsons Café meets at Keyneston Mill, Tarrant Keyneston, DT11 9HZ on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 2.30 to 3.30pm. For further details please contact Sally Wood on 03442 253670 or email swood@parkinsons.org.uk.

Stewart Ruston, Blandford

Peter Mouncey presents the White Hart Link pennant to Blandford Mayor Lynn Lindsay, with Link promoter Jan Wardell, Mayor's Consort Haydn White, and supporters.

Festival for charity A CHARITY family-friendly festival being held in the sports club in Lane End, Milborne St Andrew, on Saturday July 6 is in support of Brain Tumour Support.

Laurie Griffin is leading the team organising the event on behalf of a friend, Amy Quin, from Piddletrenthide, who had a brain tumour. The event is being called Quinfest.

There will be live music from Jim Penfold and Nick Capaldi, among others, live performances

from local clubs and organisations, pony rides, children's activities, craft workshops, magic and food and drink stalls, with support and generous sponsorship of a host of local companies, including Pitmans, Cherry Picked Hampers and IJ Motors. Others have donated advertising materials, a marquee and scaffolding for a stage, together with bands performing free of charge.

Camping is already sold out, but tickets are available from buytickets.at/quinfest.

18

Marilyn Peddle stands between her two winning displays in the Founders (monochrome) Cup and colour Dr Davies Cup.

Phil Clegg with, bottom left, his winning 'Looking Back'.

July 2019

Marilyn snaps up a triple triumph BLANDFORD Forum Camera Club again mounted a stunning display and variety of photographs in their annual exhibition in the Corn Exchange.

More than 250 individual and theme prints and 64 digital images in the club and open competition sections demonstrated the skill, ingenuity and sometimes downright persistence of its members and other exhibitors in capturing the perfect shot.

Entries were judged by John Tilsley, of Dorchester, and the outcome was a decisive victory for Marilyn Peddle. She was three times a winner, of the club monochrome section with 'Winter Evening, Bath', and with contrasting series of 'West Days in Winter' and 'Stour Summer' in the monochrome and colour themed competitions. She was also runner-up in club colour with 'Vale Dawn'.

Other winners were Sally Chaloner in club colour with 'Dahlia and Bud', Jean Bartlett in the President's Trophy for DPIs and club digital images with 'Out of the Darkness' and Ian Ferris in the President's Cup for prints.

In the open sections, Phil Clegg of Blandford was the monochrome

winner with 'Looking Back', and colour winner with 'All Fluffed Up'.

Mike Moors of Bournemouth also won a new open triptych section to win the Forum Cup with a series of pictures of egrets. Chris Thorpe was the winner in open digital images with 'Heading for Cover'.

For the second year running, Colin Cross won the Esme Butler Cup for the print receiving most votes from visitors to the exhibition, this year with 'This is my territory'.

Visitors were also invited to vote for the best print submitted by students from The Blandford School, who mounted their own display.

The winner was Charlie with the highest public vote ever achieved in a BFCC exhibition for 'Humming Bird'.

The awards ceremony at the end of the weekend was introduced by president Norman Carey, and most of the trophies and certificates were presented by Blandford Mayor Lynn Lindsay.

Dave Butler presented the Esme Butler Cup, following in his late wife's tradition of giving a reading - this year of sometimes amusing quotations on photography.

TREADS Young people's advice and information centre is excited to announce its confidence building summer project to keep young people entertained over the summer holidays.

Youth support workers Libby and Carly are looking forward to welcoming 12- to 19-year-olds at summer sessions planned for each Thursday, starting on July 25 with a drop-in session, followed by a crafting workshop on August 1, games and board games on August 8, Murder Mystery on August 15, a gaming session on August 22 and 'Let's Make!' with art, creating bath bombs and beauty products on August 29.

To book in or for more information, email youthsupport@treads.org.uk or call in at 28 Market Place, Blandford.

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July 2019

Business as usual for new village hall THE handover of the keys of Charlton Marshall's new village hall was celebrated when members of the committee had their first opportunity to view the new facilities without hard hats and fluorescent jackets.

Instead they enjoyed a glass of bubbly as cameras flashed for the presentation by John Birtwell, site manager for Matrod Frampton Ltd, to Margaret Chambers, chairman of the village hall committee.

She said: "We can now look forward to making full use of our new village hall."

The handover came just 11 months after Mrs Chambers cut the first sod for one of the biggest community projects ever undertaken in the village, which had involved years of fundraising and sourcing grants from contributors.

One of the finishing touches was the topping-out - carried out by Blandford firefighters on one of their regular Tuesday training nights - of the weathervane, a striking directional silhouette commissioned and donated by Mrs Chambers and made by Charlton

Marshall's own weathervane designer, Graham Smith.

Plans are already in full swing for a programme of film nights in the autumn, plus a Christmas craft fair and a concert, and the regular user groups will soon be back at the hall to restart their weekly classes and group meetings.

Two community viewing days are being arranged for Saturday July 13 and Monday July 15.

A short mat bowling introduction day, with free refreshments, a few ends of bowls with bowls provided for use on the day will be held in the new hall on July 27 between 10am and 4pm by the village group, which has new team Tshirts sponsored by local company Peak Scaffold and is looking for new members.

A garden party in support of the hall on Sunday July 28 at 5 Greenfield Road, Charlton Marshall, from 2pm to 5pm, will be serving cream teas, tea and cake.

The grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday September 7 will feature an afternoon of events and entertainments.

The key handover at Charlton Marshall village hall.

The exterior of the new hall in Green Close.

20

July 2019

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Rain clouds gathering over Shillingstone Hill mix with the steam from the Three Okefords Preservation Society rally.

Steaming ahead despite the rain THE arrival of rain at lunchtime on the second day of the Three Okefords Preservation Society's annual rally at Shillingtone did not prevent thousands attending the annual gathering of steam and stationary engines, vintage vehicles and tractors, collectors and stallholders.

Society chairman Percy Guppy thanked their landlord for allowing the use of his fields - in a slightly different location from usual, which meant revising PLUMBING, heating and air-condition installation company Airbox Ventilation Ltd has agreed a sixyear lease on Unit 3, Brixeys Business Park, Tarrant Hinton, which was marketed by property consultants Myddelton & Major.

the layout for the exhibition and parking areas.

There was showground entertainment as usual from the Dorset Axemen, with live music on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday from Pressgang, Dan Baker, the Badger Boys and the Bell Street Jazz Band.

The best exhibit overall was judged to be the 1924 Ruston & Hornsby steam engine, bought only this year by Nick Baker of Gillingham.

Law chief calls for more firms to work together THE keynote address at the annual dinner of the Dorset Law Society was given by Paul Dunlop, Principal at Dorset law firm Blanchards Bailey.

As the firm's first society president, he called for greater collaboration between legal firms to ensure the highest standards of service are maintained.

He praised the role of the society, founded in 1835 and now with more than 160 members, in bringing together the county's best legal minds to share best practice and act as the voice of the county's legal profession.

"It is in the clients' interest when solicitors on both sides of a

transaction are known to one another and can pick up the phone and discuss the case."

Mr Dunlop's vice-president is Blanchards Bailey senior associate Emma Needham. He also called for more female representation within the society's officers in a year which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first female solicitor and in which female solicitors outnumber their male counterparts.

The dinner raised more than ÂŁ500 for Pancreatic Cancer UK, the charity chosen by Mr Dunlop in memory of his late mother Jane Dunlop, a partner in a law firm who gave him his first job.

July 2019

Hidden treasures of ancient village church are revealed THE hidden treasures of St Mary's Church in Tarrant Crawford - all that remains of a medieval village once located next to a nunnery - were revealed in a presentation in support of the Churches Conservation Trust.

The Grade I listed 13th century building, which is no longer used for regular worship but open daily to welcome over 4,000 visitors a year, has since 1988 been in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust due to its considerable architectural and historic interest.

There are now just five monthly services from May to September at which all are welcome on the fourth Sunday of the month at 10.30am, including this year on July 29, August 25 and September 22.

Conservationist Ann Ballantyne has spent decades uncovering and restoring the church's wall

paintings in work she started in 1989 as a pupil of Clive Rouse, who uncovered and recorded the images in 1948.

At that time she was asked to inspect and clean a portrayal of the annunciations, and was invited again in 1995 to clean paintings to the right of the entrance door showing the weighing of souls with the archangel St Michael holding the balancing scale, and St Christopher carrying the Christ child over the river.

Next came the frieze along the top of the south wall of the church showing the story of Margaret of Antioch, imprisoned and tortured for her Christianity, and in 1997 a portrayal below it of the 'three living and three dead', a late 14th century crucifixion and the visitation of the virgin and mother of St John. After carrying out some emergency conservation work in 2002, it was only this year she was able to

Greenleaves House students at Bryanston School, with Mike and Suzi Hearn.

School aid for refugees A SCHOOL project instigated by Greenleaves House at Bryanston School has resulted in around 40 rucksacks packed with essential items for refugees in northern France being presented to Blandford Cares, the organisation which has been supporting displaced people in Calais and elsewhere.

Housemistress Hannah Fearnley said: "We set each of the 12 boarding houses the challenge of preparing five rucksacks per house by half-term at the end of May.�

In June Mike and Suzi Hearn, of Blandford Cares, attended a Greenleaves house assembly where the students were able to explain how the project had been undertaken.

They then presented the prepacked rucksacks, saying they

would also be supporting the Refugee Community Kitchen, which provides 1,000 meals a day on a continuous basis, through a fundraising day later in the month.

Mr Hearn said: "Once again we have been amazed by the enthusiasm and efforts made by a local school to spread awareness and provide direct help in this human crisis."

A special delivery run has been made to the Care4Calais warehouse supporting 1,000 displaced people.

Blandford Cares has undertaken to once again participate in Festival salvage, this year for the Boomtown and Reading music festivals in August and is looking for volunteers to help. Call Mike Hearn on 07768 403512 or email hearn@forumsprings.plus.com.

return to finish her work.

She was able to show the packed audience, including former Rector Peter Smith, the drawings made by Mr Rouse at the time of his recording of the paintings in 1948, when they were much clearer. They had been partially restored in 1910, and twice sized and varnished, which started to pull the paintings off the wall, and the practice in use in the 1950s of waxing the paintings had caused the medieval earth colours to fade.

Churchwarden Nick Parker, who has been looking after the church for the last ten years, said: "I didn't know half the stories - this has been an enormous job which has taken many years, and without it the pictures would have been lost."

He thanked the Tarrant Rushton Trust and parishioners in Tarrant Rushton for their contribution to the ÂŁ4,850 cost of the latest restoration.

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22

July 2019 ing, sheep shearing, machinery displays, country crafts and trailer rides.

The weather was kind to most of the open farms in Dorset, though many other farms across the country weren't quite so lucky.

This national event, offering free entry to a vast array of different types of farms has become more and more popular every year, as each farm tries to outbid the others with ever more professional events.

A trip to Sherborne Country Fair was interesting on Bank Holiday weekend. There was a good display of animals; the sheep area in particular hosted a number of rare breeds, some with funny hairstyles.

First a pair of handsome Kerry Hill rams, then a pretty Portland ewe the Portlands are an ancient breed, bred to withstand the harsh Portland climate, they usually have only one lamb, and the males sport magnificent horns.

The View from the Hill

by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk

T

HE rain has been very welcome, rescuing the grass so the animals have something to eat again, and it has given the spring crops a lifeline.

The lambs don't like it so much, but they do have a shelter and a lot of bushes to hide in when it's wet. Eight bottle-fed orphans fed four times per day for a month are quite hard work - we are down to three per day now and there is a lot of noise when anyone walks past their field.

Lambing is now over and numbers have generally been disappointing out on the hills. Too many ewes have needed assistance, so a change in policy is on the cards for next year. The pet flock has done better, getting more attention, and 16 live lambs from eight ewes is as good as it gets. Along with the eight orphans, the home paddock is getting a little crowded, so a move will be happening soon.

A hive at 8am, busy bees everywhere.

Feeding time for the pet flock.

The lambs have been popular with the recent school visits we have hosted. The children have also enjoyed pulling apart ears of wheat and barley looking for the developing grains, oilseed rape pods to find the squashy oily seeds, and wild poppy buds, to unwrap the delicate bright red petals and the breeding parts of the flowers held within. Adults seem to enjoy this delicate operation as well.

Recent days haven't been so good for bees, but May was beautiful. The spring flowers have been wonderful, and warm enough to get the nectar flowing.

We have lots of hives on the farm at the moment, and some swarm activity - a huge swarm invaded the office chimney for a few days until they sorted themselves out.

We didn't get close enough to see if they were honeybees, or wild bees, but the principle is the same. If a colony becomes unhappy, either because of overcrowding or lack of food, they will breed up a new queen who will then leave, taking her followers with her, to look for a new home.

If they are honeybees, and more accessible than a chimney, most beekeepers will be happy to take them away and find them a hive.

The wildlife margins around our fields are hosting some interesting butterflies. Not so attractive is the spindle moth caterpillar which seems to attack every spindle

A close inspection reveals these writhing masses of spindle moth creepiness. tree in the hedgerows, noticeable by its cobwebs. It devours every bit of greenery on the poor plants, which very often struggle to recover. I attack their webs with a pitchfork sometimes because I can't bear to see the destruction of such pretty plants - the caterpillars then evacuate swiftly down hastily spun web, like firemen leaving the station for an emergency. I hope they then get eaten by scavenging birds before they have time to weave another cocoon.

Open Farm Sunday at Myncen Farm, Minchinhampton, brought out the crowds. The Meaden family put on a great show, and with the help of fellow farmers and other friends entertained hundreds of visitors with cider mak-

Above: A pretty Common Blue on its preferred food source Bird's foot Trefoil near Websley. Below: A handsome Red Admiral sunning himself on a Guelder Rose in the Jubilee spinney over the road.

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July 2019

News from the Surgeries The Blandford Primary Care Network (PCN) and what it means to us The latest NHS Plans published in January 2019 set out the ambition for every practice to be part of a local primary care network. Eagle House and White Cliff Group Practices are merging on October 1, 2019, and set to become the Blandford Primary Care Network (PCN).

What is a PCN? Since the NHS was created in 1948, the population has grown and people are living longer. Many people are living with long-term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, or suffer with mental health issues, and may need to use their local health services more often. To meet these increasing needs, GP practices have begun working together and with local community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in primary care networks.

Primary care networks will be based on GP registered lists, typically serving 30,000 to 50,000 patients - small enough to provide the personal care (valued by both patients and GPs), but large enough to improve collaboration between practices and local health and social care services. Potentially this will improve access to services and save money. The merged Eagle House and White Cliff Group Practices fit this model perfectly and will be the driving force behind the new Blandford Primary Care Network (PCN).

Dan Baker and Alan Kingshott at work fixing an electric fire, watched by Felix Baldo - who had just had his trousers repaired!

Repair team show the way to avoid waste THERE was a hive of industry in the Blandford Royal British Legion Hall when a monthly Repair CafĂŠ, where people can bring their broken items to be fixed by a team of local volunteers, held its first event.

It was started in Blandford by two local women, Eleana Humphreys and Roz Skellorn, who wanted to help people do simple household repairs, with the aim of reducing the amount of unnecessary waste.

Eleana said: "I have always tried to fix things at home when they've been broken, but I realised that not everyone had the confidence to try to repair items and threw them away instead.

"Recycling and reducing the use of plastics is something many

people are concerned about and we saw this as a way to help educate people and lessen the amount of rubbish being dumped into landfill."

More than 20 local people have offered their services, including seamstresses, electricians, carpenters, gardeners and advisers on upcycling. An appeal has been made for electrical, computer and mobile phone fixers, upholstery and leather workers who can fix items at the event.

There was also tea, cake and a raffle to help raise funds to support the project.

People are invited to bring their broken items and questions to the next event at the Royal British Legion on July 6. Find out more at Blandford Repair Cafe Facebook.

Awards for business ENTRIES have opened for the prestigious Dorset Business Awards, organised by Dorset Chamber, which this year celebrates 25 years of recognising local businesses.

Those entering the free awards in 12 categories, including two new ones for Excellence in Engineering & Manufacturing and Apprentice of the Year, do not need to be Chamber members.

Entrants should be submitted to dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk

by Friday, August 2. For information call Dorset Chamber on 01202 714810. Finalists will be invited to a gala dinner on November 28 when the winners will be announced.

Why the Blandford PCN is important.

The Blandford PCN will be forging greater links between our local health and wellbeing services, whilst keeping the newly merged GP Practice (The Blandford Group Practice) at the very heart of the Blandford community.

It will be building on the core of current primary care services and enabling a better provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and integrated health and social care. It is being described as a change from reactively providing appointments, to providing proactive care - clearly a 'win-win situation' for both staff and patients alike.

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Timewise Traveller LOCAL author Derek Waldie has completed a near-lifetime's work in compiling 'Timewise Traveller: 1066-1901' - a history of people and world events, now available free on the internet.

If covers not only political history but alongside, and in equal

Derek Waldie with some of the galley proofs on which he originally drafted 'Timewise Traveller'.

depth, a chronological account of all the major disciplines such as art, music, medicine, philosophy and the sciences.

In simple book form, it can be found at timewisetraveller.co.uk.

It has already been made available to 4,000 schools and 85 universities nationwide as an educational tool.

Mr Waldie, of Letton Close, Pimperne, said: "I had the idea of a more comprehensive appreciation of history more than 50 years ago when working as a journalist in north London, but it proved too difficult to put it into book form, and I came very close to ditching all my notes, many of which I still have on galley proofs from that time.

"Then along came the PC and the hyperlink! It has taken more than 12 years to complete and a further two to transfer on to the internet.

"I am hoping that it will attract some interest outside of the classroom, and if others can be encouraged to become 'Timewise Travellers', my living will not have been in vain."

July 2019

Book news

Exploring Englishness

Vivienne Endecott with a display of copies of 'Exploring Englishness'.

ONE of Shillingstone Station's volunteers, Vivienne Endecott, launched her book 'Exploring Englishness', a do-it-yourself guide, at a book fair at the station.

Vivienne moved from south-east London to rural Dorset when she was seven years old and was the first non-white child in her village school. She studied environmental economics and environmental management at the University of York because she wanted to make a difference.

Her new book is about belonging and engagement, drawing upon her experiences of walking the landscape. There are specific things to do, places to visit and people to meet. Readers are encouraged to embrace their historical and geographical landscape by walking, reflecting and researching.

Beautifully designed and illustrated throughout, the book features work by William Blake, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Constable, Rudyard Kipling, L.S. Lowry, John Piper, Edward Thomas, J.M.W. Turner, William Shakespeare and many others.

It is published by Ginger Pop Publishing, can be ordered through any bookshop and is available at ÂŁ20 for the launch period from her publisher's website gingerpoppublishing.co.uk.

@forumfocus

Macular degeneration A SUPPORT group for those with macular degeneration is again being established locally.

It follows a presentation at Blandford Youth and Community Centre by Paul Wallis, an optometrist who has worked with the newly blind throughout his career and has written a self-help guide to coping with the condition.

Sufferers and carers were invited by the town's surgeries to attend the presentation, as a result of which a meeting was planned to set up a successor to the group which folded when its organiser relocated away from Blandford.

Mr Wallis, whose work was recognised in The Optician Magazine Awards 2013, discovered while training at Moorfields eye hospital 35 years ago that, while the medical profession was good at treating disease, it was less good at dealing with the effects.

"I have seen thousands of people struggle with the effects of macular degeneration, the leading cause of visual impairment in the developed world. They are the Cinderellas of the blind world, left to cope with little counselling or

Paul Wallis support. Most help is lavished on those who are born blind."

His book, 'Help someone you love who has lost vision to macular degeneration', is designed to be listened to by the visually impaired or read by their carer to help them understand blindness in later life, how their vision has altered, how to stop it mentally crippling them and how to carry on living their life with hope not despair. Copies can be obtained on Amazon, or by calling Emma on 078 958 73 747.

The Dorset Blind Association Blandford Social Club, which meets on the third Monday of every month at the United Reformed Church Hall in Whitecliff Mill Street between 2 and 4pm, is also seeking new members. For more information call Judy Bannon on 07748 212009 or the Dorset Blind Association office on 01202 712865.

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July 2019

Fayre rings the changes to mark VE Day holiday THE government's announcement early in June that next year's Bank Holiday on the first Monday of May would be cancelled and replaced by one on Friday May 8 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day caused consternation for many who already had events planned for Monday May 4.

But within 48 hours, the chairman of Blandford's Georgian Fayre, Colin Stevens, had announced that the usual street fair would not be held next year, but would take on a revised format for the anniversary.

A working group of town councillors was established to make plans for a celebration, including many of those who have worked with the WWI, now BFTC, Commemoration Group, and invitations were sent to other organisations which might participate.

The announcement coincided with the presentation, following this year's Georgian Fayre, to the winner of the draw for his height in beer from the Fayre's main sponsors Hall & Woodhouse. It went to Garry Lees, of Eastleaze Road, Blandford.

He was more than happy to receive several dozen bottles of Tanglefoot, his favourite tipple.

He received his prize from Lucinda Gray, next generation family director and company charity champion of Hall & Woodhouse, who is the first of the eighth generation of the family to join the company.

There have been other changes at the top of the company, where

Anthony Woodhouse, managing director since the death of his brother David in 2009, has become chairman in place of his cousin Mark, who takes on a new role as family director. The changes coincide with the retirement of long-serving directors David Hoare and Martin Scott.

The new managing director is Matt Kearsey, who joined the company 10 years ago and has headed the tenanted pub division, evolving it into a successful business partnerships estate, and enhanced the managed house business, which has seen a rapid growth in sales and profits. In 2017 he completed the advanced management programme at Harvard Business School.

Mr Kearsey said: "It was an invaluable experience, challenging me to think in a different way about how we grow and develop the company and get the very best out of our business relationships.

"The leadership team at Hall & Woodhouse see ourselves as custodians. Our job is to build on our history and legacy and pass on the business to future generations of team members, guests and shareholders.

"Being an independent family business means we are free to shape our strategy around longterm benefits rather than quick profit wins. As we've been around for 242 years and never been in better shape, this is clearly an approach which benefits the company, our team and the community."

Garry Lees collects his height in beer won at this year's Georgian Fayre, pictured with brewery director Lucinda Gray and Fayre chairman Colin Stevens.

Right: Matt Kearsey, the new managing director of Hall & Woodhouse.

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Meet Digital Norm A FRIENDLY new face is showing people in Dorset how easy it is to get better broadband.

Digital Norm is a fun character developed by the Superfast Dorset programme. His family switches to superfast broadband and saves money at the same time.

Norm has been appearing in local newspapers, on council buses and social media. And there's an online animation showing how Norm and his family transform their home wifi.

Watch out for him popping up as a life-sized cut-out in towns, running competitions for merchandise, inviting engagement and raising awareness of the benefits of taking a superfast service.

More than 97 per cent of Dorset premises can now get superfast fibre broadband and over half of homes and businesses have already switched, making it the 'norm' in Dorset.

These faster, more reliable connections mean everyone can be online at the same time, quicker downloads, TV and films on demand and video calling without lag.

The uplift in speeds isn't automatic - you must contact your internet provider and ask to switch to fibre broadband.

Superfast Dorset won Government funding to create the Digital Norm campaign including the short film, which can be seen at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/superfast.

If you need a little help using computers or the internet phone 01305 221048 and Superfast Dorset will match you with one of its Digital Champion volunteers in your area.

July 2019

News round-up Hospital complaints FOLLOWING an official complaint to the Priory Group on behalf of neighbours of the Priory Hospital in Heddington Drive concerned about the behaviour of residents, staff and tradesmen at the hospital, a response was received within the promised 20 days acknowledging that some of their complaints had been partially upheld, and action taken to address them.

But in the majority of cases, no fault was found, and a spokesperson for the residents said they remained dissatisfied.

A further request had been made for a face-to-face meeting with the hospital management, together with a letter to the group's complaints manager in Durham.

A Doggy Treasure Trail organised by Helen Hakimzadeh and held at Winterborne Kingston raised ÂŁ150 for PAWS of Pelion to help stray animals in Greece. Helen is pictured with trophy winners Carolyn Walsham and Charlie.

Art at the museum A NEW record shop specialising in indie vinyl opened in Nightingale Court in June when proprietors Dan Dallenger and Dave Roberts and friends were joined by Mayor of Blandford Lynn Lindsay, who performed the opening ceremony.

Revolution Rocks is a family business which has been operating online since 2014 and stocks new releases, old releases and pre-order rock, punk, folk, EDM, soundtracks and soul.

Concert for the church A SIGNIFICANT fundraising event for the second stage of restoration of Blandford Parish Church will be taking place in the church on Sunday July 7 at 3pm, when a recital will be given by two very accomplished singers and a young talented cellist Eliana Covell.

Mezzo soprano Anne Powell and baritone Tudor Hill will be accompanied by Elaine Korman, who will also perform piano solos.

Admission is free with a retiring collection for the restoration.

ART at the Museum in the Alfred Stevens Gallery of the Town Museum in Bere's Yard this year has included a display in April previewing some of the exhibitions to be held during 2019, including 'A Retrospective' by Bridget Richardson, a long-time member of Blandford Art Society, during May. June's exhibition was 'Blandford on the Square' - characters and Freemasonry in the community.

This month and next features 'Home & Away' - sketches, drawings and paintings from a private collection of the work of Dorset printmaker, Rena Gardiner - and in September, 'Inspired by Blandford' will feature the work of Dorset artist Wendy Jump.

Many of the works on show are for sale with a commission paid to the Museum. Last year sponsorship and sale at the Art at the Museum exhibitions raised around ÂŁ400 and brought in nearly 200 extra visitors.

THE Milton Abbas Local History Group, working on a project researching the effect of World War 1 on the local community, is inviting anyone with information about those who lived or worked in the village during World War I, to get in touch. Contact chairman Pamela Phillips by email to pamelaphillips2013@gmail.com.

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July 2019

Good response to school criticisms PUPILS and staff at Blandford St Mary Primary School are celebrating after a recent Ofsted reinspection brought a judgement of 'good' across all areas.

The school, which was placed in special measures after an inspection in March 2017, has shown considerable capacity for improvement.

In the report released last month, the inspector Tonwen Empson said: "Leaders have relentlessly and successfully tackled the weaknesses seen at the previous inspection. As a result, the quality

of teaching, learning and assessment is now good.

"Leaders are ambitious for the school and drive improvements forward with enthusiasm. Their accurate evaluations successfully identify next steps."

In all key areas the school, with 176 pupils on roll, has been judged as 'good' and the report details the sustained improvements that have taken place and recognises that pupils are continuing to thrive.

"The improvements made by the school are reflected in better out-

Students’ design proves to be a sell-out success STUDENTS at The Blandford School taking part in the FatFace competition, Project Fresh Face, to design a product for marketing in store have this year not only won the competition but seen their product sold in more than 100 stores nationwide and online.

Project team Ameila Starkey, Ella Knightbridge, Charlie Bagg and Sasha Payne were adamant that they wanted to design something which would make a difference to our future. They were inspired by

The students' original design on a white T-shirt (above) was judged by the experts from FatFace, together with designs from the other schools who participated, and very little was changed from the prototype to the finished garment (below).

the fact that a shocking 10 million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the oceans each year.

Their success surprised all those involved in Project Fresh Face, with sales exceeding those of all previous winners, and has led to the range being re-stocked - the first time this has happened since the project was launched.

Alison Marsh, deputy head of faculty design and technology at the school, said: "I am so proud of our students. They gave up hours of their own time to take part in the project, and their passion and dedication was evident to all those involved in the process.

"The fact that, while still at school, the students have been able to design a product which is a commercial success as well as highlighting the current threat to our environment, is a huge credit to them."

The range should be re-available from September.

Pupils of Blandford St Mary Primary School celebrate their 'good' Ofsted report. comes for pupils. When they leave, pupils are equipped with the skills they need for their next step in their education.

"Pupils are proud of their school.

They rise to the challenge 'to be the best I can be'. The focus throughout the school on developing good attitudes towards learning encourages pupils to become confident and independent. They are proud of their work and recognise the progress they make over time."

Headteacher Daniel LasburyCarter said: "I am immensely and overwhelmingly proud of the

report and the progress the school has made. The pupils, teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and governors have all worked above and beyond to turn the school around, achieve this recognition and deserve the praise in this report.

"We are all very proud of our pupils in the school, and to know that we are offering as many opportunities for each of them to thrive continues to be our main aim and motivation. This report is absolutely everything the school, its pupils and community deserve."

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July 2019

July 2019

Rude interruptions THERE are two chances to see the latest outdoor theatre production of the talented Rude Mechanical Theatre Company in the DT11 area this month: on Wednesday July 10 at East Farm, Tarrant Monkton, and on Saturday July 13 at Child Okeford Recreation Ground.

'Ik'r'Us Inc' is set in the little town of Dreamville, Indiana, in the 1950s, where a travelling salesman, Daedalus H Gildersleeves and his son Ikarus sell dreams from a suitcase.

Secret hopes are laid bare as they begin to fly the townsfolk up into the clear blue skies to their dreams.

Meanwhile the ladies of the local Buffaloes Club - the Buffalesses enter a competition to make the

biggest pumpkin pie ever to raise money for 'the sufferin' poor'. For Ol' Mercy Coffin it is just the devil tempting them.

But will they fly and achieve their dreams or come crashing down to the cold hard earth? Will the pumpkin pie get baked? Will they win the competition? It is hilarious, romantic, tender, searching - and laced with rock 'n' roll.

Both shows are at 7.30pm with picnics from 6pm, and audiences are invited to bring their own lowbacked chairs, a picnic and warm clothing. Tickets at ÂŁ17 plus concessions are available from The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, and The Cross Stores, Child Okeford, and online. See the company's website for more details therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk.

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Students conquer the Tors TWO teams of students from Sturminster Newton High School's Expedition Group entered the annual 35-mile Ten Tors Challenge.

Organised by the British Army South West HQ, it involves teams of six young people being totally self-sufficient, navigating and hiking to ten specified checkpoints on Dartmoor and camping overnight.

Both teams finished in good time. It was a great weekend and great achievement for Charlie, Kailib, John, Tom, Bradley, Will and Phoebe, Ollie, Izzy, Katie, Casey, Laura, and their team of volunteer trainers - Nigel, Mike, Tim, Ve and Dom - who gave up many weekends preparing them for the challenge.

The teams had trained during weekends throughout the year, learning orienteering skills and sometimes camping out overnight in extreme weather condition over gruelling courses.

Crafty mix on show THE Dorset Arts & Crafts summer exhibition, from Friday to Tuesday August 2 to 6 at the Purbeck School in Worgret Road, Wareham, is a delightful mix of exhibition, craft stalls, demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

Three main areas within the exhibition, organised by the Dorset Arts & Crafts Association each year - fine art, craft and photography - are open to anyone within Dorset, and Association members, professionals and amateurs alike.

Twenty types of craft can be entered within the craft exhibition alone, which probably makes it one of the most varied shows anywhere. Work entered is

judged, with trophies and awards within the classes.

The two groups invited to stage guest exhibitions this year are Poole Bobbin Lace Circle and the Wessex branch (Weymouth) of the British Sugarcraft Guild, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary and will amaze with their cake decorating and sculpting wizardry.

The Association was founded over 100 years ago when many counties had their own arts & crafts association. Dorset may be the last one remaining and the 2019 exhibition will be the Association's 105th. Further details can be found at dorsetartsandcrafts.org.

Follow us on Twitter @forumfocus & online at forumfocus.co.uk

The boys' (left) and girls' (above) teams from Sturminster Newton High School, which took part in the Ten Tors Challenge.

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July 2019

Shunters taking aim

Pictured (from left) back row: Taryn Scott-Brown, Millie Creffield, Erin Wells, Stephen Quine; front row Charlie Cleale, Alex Kobayashi, Natalie Brushett, Avantika Gurung, Nishchala Gurung, Cerys Scott-Brown, Scarlet Cade, Ella Kobayashi. Fellow squad members not pictured were Issy Leigh, Max Leigh, Wilf Leigh and Ben Minter.

Swimmers’ medal haul A SQUAD of swimmers from Blandford Flyers Swimming Club had an amazing weekend at the West Dorset June open meet where they competed with clubs from across the south-west region in Dorchester.

They seized the opportunity to put all their hard work at training into practice and came away with a host of very rewarding results.

A total of 16 swimmers of all levels of ability took on the challenges and achieved 60 personal best times,15 gold medals,15 silver medals, 11 bronze medals and many fabulous swims throughout the weekend.

Anyone looking to improve their fitness in a fun and friendly environment, or to better their technique and stamina and go on to compete in local galas, will be welcome at free taster sessions held at 7pm on Fridays at Blandford Leisure Centre. For more details see blandfordflyers.co.uk.

THE Shunters skittles team from Blandford have entered the 2019 British Skittles Championships and are hopeful of making it to the grand finals in Torquay in September.

This will be the second year of entering by the team who play home games at Blandford Rugby Club in the Sturminster Newton Skittles League.

They started their British Championships qualification with a hard-fought win in Weymouth.

After a tight start the Shunters edged ahead and, going into the last hand, sat 10 pins in

front. On a low-scoring alley at the Admiral Hardy pub, the Hardy boys hit 55, leaving the Shunters 46 to win. A solid final hand meant the game was never in doubt.

Joe Wells, the Shunters fifth man, hit a nine, resulting in the last three players needing nine pins between them to win the game. Captain James Banks hit eight to draw things level, leaving Daniel Langdown to seal the victory.

It was a good start but, with games in Chard and Exeter to come, there is still a long way to go before qualifying is sealed.

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July 2019

Tri athletes in action

Hames Cup winners Andy Smart and Jennifer Thompson, flanked by the Lady Captain Val Carder and the Seniors’ Captain Robin Morris.

Club Captain Pete Johnson (left) with 2019 Club Champion Steve Sanger.

Tough conditions for golfers THE first weekend of June saw the playing of the Ashley Wood Club Championships to find the champion golfer for 2019.

Conditions were tough at times with a strong breeze and some rain showers on the Sunday afternoon, but the green staff had produced an excellent course for the two days.

A final two-way battle for the Scratch Championship took place, with previous champion Steve Sanger winning by one shot from Dan Brockway, who played the back nine in one under gross.

The 36-hole handicap Durbin Plate was won by Andy Armitage with a nett 138, and Bharat Ghale was second with nett 140.

Club President David Heath with the winning team in the President's Texas Scramble.

The 18-hole Badger Shield winner was Simon Cogdell with an excellent round of nett 66, and the winner of the Mayor's Trophy for 19-54 Handicaps was Dave Smith with a nett 71.

On May 27, members played for

the Hames Cup, a mixed greensome pairs competition in which all the playing partners are drawn.

A fine and sunny day with a strong wind provided for some tricky conditions for the competitors, and the winning pair were Andy Smart and Jennifer Thompson with a creditable 36 points on count back from Paul Wilkinson and Sue Smart.

President David Heath has thanked everyone who took part on the President's Day Texas Scramble, as a result of which ÂŁ650 was raised for the Club Captain's charity, Diabetes UK The winners were Chris Trowbridge, Nick Blazier, Steve Hawkins and Mike Boyle with a nett score of 56.1.

THE inaugural Bridport Triathlon saw a great turnout from North Dorset Tri with a dozen athletes competing, including president Phil Blyth and coach Mark Neish, and three members - Jon Mead, Dave Hewes and Michaila Vivier - achieving first place overall in their age groups.

The juniors have also been busy at well-attended training sessions, and out in force at a number of local triathlons, and there has been training for a number of new first-aiders, thanks to the sponsorship of the club by Autotechnics.

Michaila Vivier with the age group winner plaque.

Scenic bonus for runners in the Tarrant Valley 10k RUNNERS will be taking to the roads, bridleways and farm tracks of the Cranborne Chase on Sunday July 7 in the annual Tarrant Valley 10, a 10km race starting 10.30am from outside The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton.

The challenging race, open to runners of all standards, passes through wooded copses and open farmland, with a spectacular view

over the North Dorset countryside after the final ascent. There will also be a children's one-mile fun run starting 10.35am.

Full details, including online and postal entry methods, can be found online at tarrantvalley10.webs.com The event is hosted on a non-profit making basis with all proceeds going to local chari-

ties, and this year's beneficiaries are the Dorset Blind Association and Naomi House hospice.

Non-runners who come to cheer on competitors can enjoy exploring the village, entertainment and refreshments, including lunch at the pub or afternoon cream teas in the village hall.

32 July To Sunday July 21: Durweston Bridge (A350/A357 junction) full day and night closure for repair work Monday July 1: Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm for Chelsea 2017 and Cream Teas Panda Pre-school Summer Bingo, The Royal British Legion, Church Lane, Blandford, eyes down 7.30pm Wednesday July 3: Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425 Friends of Blandford Community Hospital, 62nd AGM, at the hospital, Milldown Road, 6.30pm, details 01258 450095 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm Thursday July 4 (and every Thursday): Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm Friday July 5: Dorset Wildlife Trust Morning Walk on Fontmell Down with North Dorset DWT Warden, Steve Oliver, no charge, meet 10am at the NT car park, phone 01258 880699 to book Bridge (1st and 3rd Friday of every month - also July 19) in the Blandford Centre Heddington Drive DT11 7TP, 1.15 to 4.15pm (note change of venue from Woodhouse Gardens), details 01258 450544 Friday to Sunday July 5 to 7: Henry Nicholls Antiques Valuation Day, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 4pm UK Boogie Woogie Festival, Sturminster Newton, or call 01258 471194 or 07484 274196, or ukboogiewoogiefestival.co.uk Shaftesbury Fringe, see shaftesburyfringe.co.uk Saturday July 6: Archbishop Wake Summer Fair, 11am to 2pm, BBQ, crazy golf, rides & inflatables, dog show and exciting colour games Blandford Repair Café, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, 12.30 to 3pm, bring broken items for recycling or repair, see Blandford Repair Café on Facebook Messy Games Free family fun afternoon at Winterborne Stickland sports club, DT11 0NT, 2 to 5pm Charity event Quinfest, Milborne St Andrew Sports Field, in aid of Brain Tumour Support, details and bookings quinfest@outlook.com Fashion Show with Travelling Trends supporting Pimperne Primary School, Pimperne village hall, 7.30 for 8pm, tickets £7

What’s on this month Entries in this diary are free of charge. If you have an event you would like included, send details to Nicci Brown, 01258 459346 or email events@forumfocus.co.uk. This page is available and regularly updated on our website at www.forumfocus.co.uk. Readers are advised to check with event organisers before attending.

THE next Artsreach show in the Corn Exchange, Blandford, on Friday July 26 is right at the start of the school holidays and for children, starting 2.30pm. There's also a puppet making workshop after the show where children can make their own puppet to take home.

Curious creatures of all shapes and sizes will be taking part in the show, which is suitable for those aged five and over, including performing fleas, skateboarding snails, gymnastic gerbils, irritable alligators and over-excited elephants. include a welcome drink, call 07969478786 Sunday July 7: The Art Room - Informal art session, 11am-1pm at The Kings Arms, Blandford, full details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Tarrant Valley 10k, from Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, 10.30am, details 07799 360261 Concert for the Cupola, Blandford Parish Church, 3pm, free admission, donations welcome Wednesday July 10: NHS Retirement Fellowship meeting, 10.15 am Committee Room Blandford Community Hospital. Cakes and Chat morning for ex-NHS staff. Details 01929 472441 Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm for demonstration - From Ice to Fire, Christine Evans Thursday July 11: Forum Cancer Support Group, Town Hall (upstairs in the Corn Exchange), Blandford, 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644 Nelson's Cheese & Ale House, Charity Pub Quiz & Raffle in aid of Guide Dogs UK, with special guest guide dog in-training puppies. Details and to book 01258 269942 Friday July 12: Blandford Evening Women's Institute meets 7pm, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, speaker Liz Presti - A 'Pop' of Colour Saturday July 13 and Monday July 15: Charlton Marshall new village hall community viewing (Saturday 10am to 4pm, Monday 4 to 8pm). All welcome Sunday July 14: Town Centre Heritage Walk with

Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346 Trailway Pop Up Café, Stourpaine, outside Holy Trinity church, 12 to 4pm Open Garden and Tea Party, Littlebrook Farmhouse, Belchalwell Street, DT11 0EG, 2.30 to 5pm, garden entry £3 pp, proceeds to Julia's House Dorset Childrens Hospice, details 01258 863683 or email springheadjackie@hotmail.com Ninebarrow folk duo with support from Will McNicol, 6pm (outdoor performance - gardens open from 4.30 for picnics), Springhead Trust, Mill Lane, Fontmell Magna, 01747 811853 or springheadtrust.org.uk/events Monday July 15: Strictly Come Tea-dancing, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30pm to 4.30pm, with the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band, admission £7.50 per person (£5 for non-dancers) Tuesday July 16: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'The space between', a practical workshop, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775 Thursday July 18: Blandford Art Society Workshop with Caroline Ireland, 1.30pm, Pimperne Village Hall, full details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Thursday to Sunday July 18 to 21: Larmer Tree Festival, Tollard Royal, larmertreefestival.co.uk Friday July 19: International spiritual medium Dan Clarke, Corn Exchange, Blandford Forum 7pm Saturday July 20: Cats Protection Coffee Morning & Stalls, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Charlton Marshall Church Fete at

July 2019 the Riverside Garden, DT11 9NE, 2 to 4pm Blandford & District Civic Society AGM and talk, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 3pm Sunday July 21: Learn about the stones making up Blandford on a Geology Walk with Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346 Tea on the Lawn, Corn Exchange, Blandford,1.30 to 4.30pm, hosted by the Disability Action Group in memory of Karen Reddaway, proceeds to DAG and British Heart Foundation Garden Party at Millbrook House Residential Care Home in Child Okeford, 2 to 4pm Tuesday July 23 to Saturday July 27: Dorset Opera Festival, Bryanston School: Nabucco July 23 and 27 7pm, matinee 25 2pm, Lucia de Lammamoor July 24 and 25 7pm, matinee July 27 2pm, Opera Gala July 26 7pm, details dorsetopera.com Wednesday July 24: The Blandford Parkinsons Café meets at Keyneston Mill, Tarrant Keyneston DT11 9HZ (and every fourth Wednesday) from 2.30 to 3.30pm, details 03442 253670 or email swood@parkinsons.org.uk Thursday July 25: Finds Day with Dorset Council Finds officer, Blandford Museum, 10.30am to 1pm Friday July 26: Squashbox Theatre present 'Curious Creatures', Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30pm: post show puppet making workshop 3.30pm, details 01258 480698 or artsreach.co.uk Holy Moly & The Crackers, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, details 01258 475137 or artsreach.co.uk Saturday July 27: Milton Abbas Street Fayre, 11am to 5pm, see miltonabbasstreetfair.co.uk Charity Quiz, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm Dorset Wildlife Trust Evening bat walk with local bat expert, Chris Dieck. Meet 8.30pm at Stour Meadows car park, Blandford. Numbers limited (£3 per person) - phone 01258 880699 to book Sunday July 28: Blandford Skate Park Event, 10am to 4pm - Skateboard, BMX and Scooter workshops, professional demonstrations, open practice sessions, prizes and an award ceremony Garden Party, 5 Greenfield Road, Charlton Marshall, 2pm to 5pm, cream teas/tea and cake, in support of village hall