Sherborne Times September 2016

September 2016 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

MAMMA MIA!

Lunch for little ones with Michela Chiappa

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME

T

he children of Sherborne have returned to the classrooms and sports fields, leaving the beaches, streets and gardens ringing with echoes of another summer well spent. While some of us leave no pause, leaping to plan next year’s distractions and attractions, others take stock, catch their breath and treat the day anew. For others, nothing might change but the seasons, the ebb and flow, the here and now and so it goes.

While the sun still shines and the will is strong we hold fast to the spirit of summer welcoming to our ranks Sherborne’s very first Gelateria. With scratched, stained hands we pull fruit from hedgerows, and with eager eyes we glimpse kingfishers on Purlieu Meadow. We welcome new writers, Luna Dellar, Anne-Marie Hamer, Samantha Kirk, Sarah Hitch, Martyn Hurll and meet artist Emma Brownjohn ahead of her new pop-up launch.

We spend a giddy few hours in the company of Michela Chiappa, her sister Emanuela and an adorable entourage of hungry mouths. Taking a sneak peek at their new book of children’s recipes, two-thirds of the TV threesome offer inspiration and practical advice for feeding young families.

Buon appetito!

Glen Cheyne, Editor editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk @sherbornetimes

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and Creative Direction Glen Cheyne

Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com

Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk

Design Andy Gerrard

Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardeneronline.co.uk

Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkepartnership.co.uk

Photography Katharine Davies Feature Writer Jo Denbury Print

Jemma Cable Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Jan Pain Sherborne Scribblers Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp

Distribution Team Maggie Belly Richard & Heather Betton-Foster Sarah Copley Christine Knott Sarah Morgan Roger & Mary Napper Claire Pilley Judith Rust Geoff Wood

Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk

Contact 01935 814803 07957 496193 @sherbornetimes editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk

Andrew Fort Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk

Sherborne Times is printed on Edixion Offset, an FSC® and EU Ecolabel certified paper. It goes without saying that once thoroughly well read, this magazine is easily recycled and we actively encourage you to do so.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither Sherborne Times nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Sherborne Times does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior permission from Sherborne Times.

Additional photography: contributor’s own, Shutterstock and iStock 4 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Giles Dick-Read Reads Coffee Roasters @reads_coffee readscoffee.co.uk Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk

John Gaye Sherborne Literary Society sherborneliterarysociety.com Mark Greenstock Sherborne Literary Society sherborneliterarysociety.com Marcel Wadman 56 London Road Clinic @56londonroad 56londonroad.co.uk Amanda Hunt The Sherborne Rooms thesherbornerooms.com Mark Lewis FRICS FNAVA Symonds & Sampson @symsam symondsandsampson.co.uk Paul Gammage and Anita Light EweMove Sherborne @ewemoveyeovil ewemove.com Sarah Tait Sherborne ArtsLink @RealArtsLink sherborneartslink.org.uk Andrew Maddock Sherborne Chamber of Trade and Commerce @SherborneCOT sherbornechamber.co.uk

Kitty Oakshott Upstairs Downstairs Interiors @updowninteriors updowninteriors.co.uk Lisa Osman All Hallows AGA Approved Cookery School @cooksandmakers allhallowsfarmhouse.co.uk Peter Henshaw & Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles @rileyscycles rileyscycles.co.uk @DCNSherborne dcn.org.uk Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Wayne Winstone and Helen Stickland Winstone’s Books @winstonebooks winstonebooks.co.uk Samantha Kirk Oxley Sports Centre @OxleySports oxleysc.com Canon Eric Woods Sherborne Abbey @SherborneAbbey sherborneabbey.com Richard Bramble @richardbramble richardbramble.com Luna Dellar Sherborne Prep @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org Anne-Marie Hamer Mogers Drewett @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk Philippa Tarling Ecco Gelato Barbara Elsmore Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms @SanctuaryDorset thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk Martyn Hurll Peter Harding Wealth Management peterhardingwm.co.uk Jeremy Le Sueur 4 Shires Asset Management 4-shires.com Gemma Loader Kingston Vet Group @TheKingstonVets kingstonvets.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2016 6 What’s On

30 Toy Story

80 Calm After the Storm

Your monthly events guide for Sherborne and its villages

Latest finds from auctioneer Richard Bromell

Keeping your head in a turbulent market, with financial advisor Martyn Hurll

10 Unearthed

32 In the Garden with Mike Burks

81 Financial Security After

Jonathan ‘Jonno’ Franke

Hedgerow Harvest

Selling Your Business

12 Shopping Guide

36 MICHELA CHIAPPA

Jenny Dickinson’s whipping something up in the kitchen

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82 Minimising Costs

44 Food and Drink

for the Investor

with coffee roaster Giles Dick-Read, Lisa Osman of All Hallows Cookery School, The Green’s Sasha Matkevich, Michela and Emanuela Chiappa, Philippa Tarling of Ecco Gelato and resident wine expert David Copp

Understanding the real costs of investing, with Andrew Fort of FFP

16 The Bee

Jemma Cable of Dorset Wildlife Trust 18 Upton Heath

Gillian M. Constable of Dorset Wildlife Trust Sherborne Group 20 Painting Kingfishers

Local artist Richard Bramble ponders the kingfisher 22 Bringing Languages Alive

Luna Dellar, Head of Languages and Head of Teaching and Learning at Sherborne Prep 24 Archer. Journey to Stonehenge

Sarah Tait of Sherborne Artslink reviews Jane Brayne’s graphic novel inspired by the Amesbury Archer 25 Children’s Book Review

____________________________

56 Cycle Sherborne

Peter Henshaw and Mike Riley’s utopic vision of a bike-friendly future 58 Body & Mind

Swimming with Samantha Kirk, Walking with Barbara Elsmore, Sunscreen with Sarah Hitch, Cupping with Amanda Hunt, Foot-care with Marcel Wadman and Treating Anxiety with Dr Tim Robinson 70 Breeding

The ethical and health considerations of pet pregnancies and breeding, with vet Mark Newton-Clarke

What comes next, with Jeremy Le Sueur

84 Sherborne Chamber of Trade & Commerce

A local business update, with Chamber president Andrew Maddock 85 Day-to-Day (The Local Alternative)

A look back on a month in the life of IT expert Jimmy Flynn 88 Sherborne Literary Festival Preview - Noel ‘Razor’ Smith

The 2nd of John Gaye’s key speaker previews in the run-up to October’s festival 90 Five Pieces of Me by Jan Pain

The continuing series of short stories from local writing group, Sherborne Scribblers 92 Folk Tales

Jo Denbury meets local artist Emma Brownjohn

Wayne Winstone and Helen Stickland of Winstone’s Books review The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

72 Late Summer Cattle Pests

75 Different Roads Sometimes

Shore: from the White Cliffs

26 Surrogacy in the South West

Lead to the Same Castle

to Land’s End, by Tom Fort

with Family Solicitor, Anne-Marie Hamer

A post-Brexit view of the property market with Mark Lewis of Symonds & Sampson

with Mark Greenstock of the Sherborne Literary Society

28 Interiors

A post-summer spruce up with Kitty Oakshott of Upstairs Downstairs Interiors

Cattle care with vet Gemma Loader

94 Literary Review - Channel

95 Crossword

76 Does Your Property Have an Energy Performance Certificate?

98 Fresh Starts & New Beginnings

with Anita Light and Paul Gammage

with Canon Eric Woods www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

WHAT'S ON Listings

members: £10. Pre book: 01935 389611

Thursday 8th 7:30pm

www.sdfhs.org

Sherborne & District

____________________________

Gardeners’ Association Talk

Sherborne Town Walk

Friday 2nd 7pm

Tuesdays from Sherborne TIC, Digby

Holwell Variety

Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne.

Office, Cheap Street. 1½-2 hrs with

Holwell Village Hall, DT9 5LL.

for a thousand years of history about

Snacks, soft & hot drinks available.

Thursday 8th 7:30pm

A monthly evening of music, poetry,

the Calvert Trust

form of shared entertainment we can

selection of works by Bach, Albinoni

____________________________ Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30am

Road and Thursdays, from the Post

Performance Night

Blue Badge Guide Cindy. Only £5

Live music, SwapShop, B.Y.O. booze.

this beautiful ancient town. 01935

815341 Keep up to date with www. sherbornewalks.wordpress.com

____________________________ Tuesdays and Fridays Tour in the Abbey 10:30am every Tuesday and 2:30pm

Sherborne Abbey, DT9 3NL. A

all enjoy. To get involved email:

& Habershon. A pre-concert talk

Music@BearCatCollective.co.uk

____________________________ Art UK: Uncovering the Nation’s

____________________________

Hidden Oil Paintings

Thursday 1st 2:30pm

Mary-Rose Rivett-Carnett offers an

insider’s view of the Art UK project.

Free talk. 01935 814633

____________________________ Thursday 1st 2pm-4:30pm Write like an Egyptian Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, The Parade, Sherborne. Dr

Memorial Hall. Tickets £10-£25 from Sherborne TIC. Info: 01963 220581

____________________________

Heritage Week

Hound Street www.sherborne-dfas.

to the public, such as Hardy’s Cottage,

Dorset Architectural

members are welcome. Digby Hall,

Many unique buildings of Dorset open

org.uk 01935 872136 (afternoons) or

Max Gate, Bridport Town Hall,

01935 816504 (evenings)

____________________________

The aim will be to have all participants

Castle Gardens, Garden Centre, New

end of the afternoon! Members: £8. Non-

____________________________

reading a sentence in hieroglyphs by the

Road, Sherborne. Free talk. 01935 814633

The Three Degrees

More than two decades on, the soulful threesome have retained all three of their major qualities beauty, sparkling choreography and precise vocal qualities. This is not a tribute!

Friday 16th September, 7:30pm Tickets £20

6 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

will be held at 5:30pm in the Digby

involved in uncovering them. New

Talk: Between the Roses

www.stur-exchange.co.uk

and composer Helen Habershon,

Thursday 8th - Thursday 15th

but complex ancient hieroglyphic script.

Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH

celebrated polar explorer Jim McNeill

intriguing paintings and the detective

Thursday 8th 2:30pm

01258 475137

entitled ‘Music and Nature’ with

She describes some unusual collections,

Patricia Spencer will explain the beautiful

Box Office:

____________________________

art, storytelling, games or any other

Sherborne Abbey. 01935 812452

Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne.

Fruits of Autumn. 01935 813679

Concert in aid of

Wednesday 7th 2pm and 8pm

Ageing Borders

Bebbington, Field Naturalists discuss

£4 suggested contribution.

every Friday. Free (donations welcome).

Talk: Rejuvenating

Dr Anne Bebbington and John

Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre, Guildhall & Belmont House in Lyme

Regis, Melbury House and many tours.

See online for details or pick up a

brochure from West Dorset TICs. www.dahw.org.uk 01202 888992

____________________________

Lee Hurst

Lee Hurst is back on the road with his next stand up show...

Comedy Show No. 9. It’s a show, it’s the 9th one and it’s comedy.

What else do you need to know? Come along for a night of laughs with that bald bloke you thought was dead. This performance may contain adult material that some might find offensive. (16+) Friday 23rd September, 8pm Tickets £16

SEPTEMBER 2016 SOS_GUIDE_2016_COVER_Half Page (Wide) Ads 11/07/2016 09:56 Page 1

with Samantha Muir and Lara Taylor.

Saturday 10th 1pm-4pm Sacred Heart and

T RSE E SOPM EN IOS O U D ST 16 0 2

St. Aldhelm Church Fete Pageant Gardens, Sherborne, DT9 3NB. All welcome. 01935 817884

____________________________

ER

TOB

Saturday 10th

17

OC -2 BER

TEM

SEP

Music in the Butterfly House Castle Gardens, Sherborne. Fun

Saturday 17th - 2nd October

featuring The Vendettas, in aid of

Close to 300 artists open their private

(to include supper) from the Garden

Somerset, showcasing a huge breadth of

filled 50s, 60s, & 70s themed evening

Somerset Open Studios

the Fortuneswell Trust. Tickets £10

studio spaces at 211 venues across

Centre. 01935 814633

work of every background and discipline.

Tickets to include a drink, £10 from

Allan Rodger 01963 220759 and Jill Oliver 01963 220637

____________________________ Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th Healing & Spiritual Weekend Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne.

11am-7pm Sat, 11am-6pm Sun.

Reflexology, Reiki, Aromatherapy, Aura Camera, Tarot, Thai Massage, Light

Therapy, Crystals, demos & talks and more. Entry £1. 01963 251477

____________________________

www.somersetartworks.org.uk

Sunday 18th 2:30pm-4pm

Sherborne Flicks:

Saturday 17th 9am

The Man That Knew Infinity

Camelot Challenge

Pageant Gardens, Sherborne, DT9 3NB.

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne.

Gryphon Leisure Centre, Sherborne.

____________________________

camelrace@hotmail.co.uk

Tuesday 29th November 2pm-4pm

____________________________ Wednesday 14th 7:30pm

£6 from Sherborne TIC

Music In The Park Music from Sherborne Town Band. Free!! ____________________________

Multi-terrain half marathon. Enter:

Tuesday 20th September -

____________________________

Age Well Complete Beginners

Flower Show Forum

Saturday 17th

Computers Course

Castle Gardens, Garden Centre,

Cider Day

Sherborne Library, Hound Street. Come

summer shows, following the spring

Sherborne DT9 3BP. Learn about local

Thursday 15th 2pm-4pm

New Road, Sherborne. A review of the

Sherborne Museum, Church Lane,

forum in March. 01935 814633

cider making, orchard keeping and

along to a 10-week course for only £30.

No experience necessary! 01202 262300

____________________________

wassail. Experience fresh-pressed apple

Wednesday 21st 7:30pm

entry. 01935 812252

Talk by Nicky Hoar, Wildlife Trust.

Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne.

Saturday 17th - Sunday 25th

01305 264620

____________________________ Thursday 15th 2:30pm Talk: Butterflies and Wild Flowers

juice or locally produced ciders. Free

The Great Heath Project

____________________________

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne.

Free talk. 01935 814633

10:30am-4:30pm

____________________________

Inspired by Tuition - An

Thursday 22nd 2:30pm

Friday 16th September -

Exhibition of Students’ Work

Talk: Autumn Bulb Planting

Friday 7th October 9:30am-5pm

Four amateur art groups and some

Castle Gardens, Garden Centre, New

will be showing a wide selection of work

____________________________

Monday - Saturday Exhibition of New Work

by NEAC Artists Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street,

Sherborne. All gallery stock can be viewed online: 01935 815261 www.jerramgallery.com

____________________________

individual students of Laurence Belbin

____________________________

Road, Sherborne. Free talk. 01935 814633

along with sketch pads from some of

Friday 23rd

Westbury, Sherborne DT9 3EN 01935

(followed by AGM) Raleigh Hall,

____________________________

www.sherborneliterarysociety.com

the students. Free entry. Westbury Hall,

Words With Wine

816618 info@laurencebelbin.com

Digby Rd, Sherborne. For details see:

Saturday 17th 7pm

____________________________

From Guitar to Ukulele

Saturday 24th 7:30pm-10pm

Poyntington Church. A musical journey

Last Night of the Proms www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 7

WHAT'S ON Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne. With

Wednesday 28th 7pm-9pm

Monthly Book Fair

the Sherborne Town Band and youth

Refresher Crochet Session

Every third Saturday, 9:30am-4pm

and audience participation. Tickets

The Julian, Cheap St, Sherborne. Call

____________________________

sherbornetownband.co.uk

theslippedstitch.co.uk

and SwapShop

band. Enjoy great music, entertainment from Sherborne TIC. www.

Church Hall, Digby Road

01935 508249 or visit us to book www.

Monthly Table Top Sale

____________________________

Saturday 3rd 10am-1pm

Thursday 29th 7pm

Wednesdays

‘A life in Journalism’ by celebrated

(starting 21st) 1:30-4pm

Holwell Village Hall, DT9 5LL. Used

correspondent, Kate Adie

Water Colour Classes

in support of Friends of St Michael’s, in

Buckland Newton Village Hall, for

Tickets £12 from North Cadbury Shop

sessions, Lynda Connolly 01305 871178

____________________________

St Michael’s Church, North Cadbury. or 01963 440929 or 440683

beginners and intermediates, £115 for 10

items, produce & crafts, clothes, cookware, books, CDs, DVDs, bric-a-brac and toys.

Sellers: £5 per table, set up from 9am. samantha-jane-@hotmail.co.uk

____________________________

paintwatercolour@hotmail.co.uk

Chasty Cottage Antiques Fair

____________________________

Saturday 3rd 8:30am (trade)

Friday 30th 10am-3pm

Thursdays 2pm-3:30pm

9:30am (public) to 4pm

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Sherborne Activity Club

2016 - in aid of Macmillan

Come along and join us for a variety

Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne.

____________________________

Cancer Support Delicious coffee and light refreshments

- come and see the Reads Coffee roaster

in action and support Macmillan nurses.

Grey Trailer Cafe, Limekiln Farm,

Thornford Road, Sherborne DT9 6PS

____________________________

of activities including quizzes, curling and indoor games, £2.50 per week -

light refreshments included, Raleigh

Up to 35 stands, homemade food and refreshments available at coffee shop

within the fair. Entrance £1. 01963 370986 ____________________________

Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9

Fleamarket

clubpoole@brendoncare.org.uk

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne,

3NL 01202 722211 or 07467 955864

Saturday 10th 10am-4pm

____________________________

DT9 3NL. An old fashioned fair for

Workshops and classes

Fairs and Markets

everyone. 01749 677049

____________________________

____________________________

Car Boot Sale: Friends

Pannier Market

of the Yeatman Hospital

____________________________

Every Thursday and

Sunday 11th Sellers 8:30am

The Slipped Stitch

Saturday on the Parade

(£5 per car), Buyers 9pm-12pm

Knit and Natter runs every Tuesday and

____________________________

Terraces, Sherborne. 50p per person.

Saturday of the month 2pm-4pm.

Thursday mornings 9:15am-11:15am

Monday 5th 2pm-4pm

Thursday 10am-12pm and on the last

Country Market

Sorry, no dogs allowed in the field.

____________________________

Church Hall, Digby Road

Book Fair

____________________________

Saturday 17th 9:30am-4pm

Refresher Knitting Session

Farmers’ Market

Saturday 10th 10am-3pm

Every third Friday in

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne,

Beginners Crochet Day

each month 9am-1pm

Refresher Crochet Session

____________________________

Friday 15th 2pm-4pm

Cheap Street

DT9 3NL. New, second-hand &

antiquarian books (also magazines,

prints, postcards & ephemera). 01803

613356 colinbakerbooks@btinternet.com

Monday 19th 10am-3pm

Saturday Antiques & Flea Market

Improvers Knitting Day - Fair Isle,

Every fourth Saturday every month

Vintage Market

Intarsia and Lace

(exc. April and December), 9am-4pm

Saturday 24th 8:30am-3:30pm

Thursday 22nd 6pm-8pm Christmas Product Launch Evening

Church Hall, Digby Road

____________________________

Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne,

8 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

____________________________

DT9 3NL. 30+ sellers. 07809 387594

SEPTEMBER 2016 ____________________________

Saturday 3rd Saturday 10th

Sherborne Town v

Sherborne v

Melksham Town FC

____________________________

Swanage & Wareham

Wednesday 7th

Every Thursday 7:30pm-8:30pm

Saturday 17th

Sherborne Town v

Over 30’s Touch Rugby

Marlborough v

Bridport FC

Sherborne School floodlit AstroTurf,

Sherborne

Saturday 10th

Horsecastles Lane. £2 per session. First

Friday 30th

Sherborne Town v

three sessions free. For more details go to

Sherborne v

Bitton AFC

www.sherbornetouch.org.uk or call Jimmy

North Dorset

Tuesday 13th

on 07887 800803

____________________________

Street FC v

Sport

____________________________

Sherborne RFC

Sherborne Town FC

Sherborne Town Saturday 17th

____________________________

Cribbs Friends Life FC v

____________________________

1st Team, Toolstation Western

Sherborne Town

1st IV, Southern

League Premier Division

Tuesday 20th

Counties South Division

Raleigh Grove, Terrace Playing Fields,

Shepton Mallet FC v

www.sherbornetownfc.com

____________________________

Gainsborough Park, The Terrace Playing Fields, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NS www.pitchero.com/clubs/sherbornerfc

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NS

Sherborne Town

DAYS OUT & HOLIDAYS with TAYLORS COACH TRAVEL Days Out

Holidays

____________________________

____________________________

Oxford

Taste of France

Saturday 10th September

8th - 13th September

£19, Club £17

6 Days £595

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

German Christmas Market

Saturday 17th September

25th - 28th November

£43, Club £41

4 Days £345

Tavistock Goose Fair

Newquay Tinsel and Turkey

Wednesday 12th October

12th - 16th December

£17.50, Club £15.50

5 Days £335

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Billy Elliot - Bristol Hippodrome Thursday 27th October

2016 Day Trips & Excursions brochure available now.

£67, Club £65

For further information please call 01935 423177.

____________________________

www.taylorscoachtravel.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9

UNEARTHED JONATHAN ‘JONNO’ FRANKE Aged 18, Sherborne School for Boys and Compton House Cricket Club

J

onathan ‘Jonno’ Franke joined Compton House Cricket Club two seasons ago as a talented youth player and has rapidly progressed as a specialist batsman and part time bowler. He has established himself as the regular number 4 slot in a highly talented team which competes in the Dorset Saturday League division 2 against teams such as Blandford, Poole and Portland.

“I was born in 1998 in Hong Kong where I lived for two years before moving back to the UK. I went to Hazlegrove Prep School for ten years before moving on to Sherborne Boys, where I spent five further years, graduating in 2016”.

This season has been a real breakthrough year for Jonno, establishing himself high in the club’s averages and scoring a stunning half century earlier in the season against league leaders, Cattistock. Jonno is an aggressive batsman who likes to take the bowlers on from the off, however, backs it up it up with elegant stroke play and superb timing. He also holds the record for the biggest ‘6’ of the season at Compton House.

“I have been lucky enough to be coached by Matthew Pardoe at Sherborne Boys this season. He used to open the batting for Worcestershire with Moen Ali (current England All-rounder). My batting has improved no end with his help. I am hoping soon to score my first competitive century and also next season to establish myself in the Birmingham University team, where I will be studying for a degree in Economics”.

Let’s hope Jonno makes it back home for the Saturday matches at Compton House! www.comptonhousecricketclub.org.uk With thanks to Jonny White

KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY Portrait, lifestyle, PR and editorial commissions 07808 400083 info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk www.katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk

10 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Move Faster.

Sell with Knight Frank.

Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

15 Cheap Street Sherborne Dorset DT9 3PU 01935 590030 @KFSherborne sherborne@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Sherborne

SHOPPING

Otone Bluwall Direct Wireless Speaker, £169 Godden & Curtis

Azada Lemon Olive Oil, £8.99 The Pear Tree Petite Maison Trio de Bols, £19.99 The Pear Tree

IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES Jenny Dickinson of boutique stationery brand Dear to Me Studio shares her favourite Sherborne finds. www.deartomestudio.com 12 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Soft Touch Kitchen Timer, £3.99 Abbey Decor

Pepper Mill, £7.99 Abbey Decor

Baby at the Table, Michela and Emanuela Chiappa, £16.99 Winstone's Books

Ascot Mixing Bowl, £7 Abbey Decor

RICE Whisk, £5 The Circus

Mer Meri Baking Kit, £25 The Circus www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

Hollow Form in Holm Oak by award-winning Woodturner, Rod Page

Exclusively wood.

Sherborne’s new contemporary gallery with focus on sculpture and applied art.

The Grain Loft, South Street, Sherborne DT9 3LU ♦ Tues – Sat: 10am – 4pm ♦ T: 01935 814208 ♦ info@thegraingallery.co.uk ♦ www.thegraingallery.co.uk

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST

14 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

NEW RESTAURANT OPENING 23RD SEPTEMBER

Ash Skyward, 15 x 15cm, © Paul Newman 2011

D I S C O V E R T H E M E DITATIVE WOR K O F G R A P H I T E A RT I S T PAUL NE WMAN PREVIEW PARTY FRIDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

LIVE MUSIC AND ARTIST TALKS OVER THE TWO WEEKS

THE OLD BANK HOUSE HIGH STREET CASTLE CARY BA7 7AW Smooth thegallerybar.co.uk snake tongue © Steve Davis

Wild Dorset

THE BEE Jemma Cable, Dorset Wildlife Trust

B

ees have long been a welcome feature of the Dorset countryside, often seen combing our wildflowers in search of pollen. From honey to strawberries to soap, we have bees to thank for many of life’s luxuries.

Bees play a vital role in the wild and are the most recognised pollinators of plants. Pollination provides humans with both food and financial security which makes bees critical to our very existence. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT’s) Community Conservation Officer Katie Wilkinson explains: “Without bee pollination many wildflowers and crops could disappear. This will have a knock-on effect through the food chain with both wildlife and humans being seriously and adversely affected.”

Sadly, our bee population is under severe threat.

Since the 1930s, two species of bee have become extinct in the UK and more are in rapid decline. Changes in agricultural practices and accelerated urban development have resulted in a 97% decrease in the UK’s flower-rich grasslands. It’s not surprising then that with only 3% of their food source and habitat remaining, many bees struggle to survive.

DWT wants to help stop the decline by encouraging people to get involved with our ‘Wildlife Friendly Gardening’ scheme. Over one million acres of land in the UK is occupied by private gardens. So, by introducing bee-friendly plants to your garden, you can help convert this huge resource into a bee-friendly haven.

16 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Five bee facts 1. Honeybees perform a waggle dance!

Honeybees perform a choreographed group of movements called a ‘waggle dance’ to inform other bees about the location of pollen rich sources.

2. There are around 250 species of bee native to the UK

According to the Bumblebee Conservation, there are 24 species of bumblebees, around 225 species of solitary bee and a single honeybee species.

3. Bees contribute millions to UK economy

Bees save humans from pollinating plants by hand or mechanically, which saves the UK an estimated £400 million each year.

4. Bees and plants may

communicate via electrical signals

Researchers from Bristol have found bees distinguish between different ‘floral fields’ as if they were petal colours. This means plants can potentially inform bees about their nectar and pollen levels.

5. Only female bees can sting

A bee’s stinger, called an ovipositor, is a feminine reproductive organ. Bees will generally only sting if provoked or feeling threatened.

To find out more about DWT’s Wildlife Friendly Gardening scheme and apply for a plaque for your garden, please visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-gardening

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Wild Dorset

UPTON HEATH

Gillian M. Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Sherborne Group Committee

A

s the evenings draw in, DWT Sherborne Group restarts the talks programme. On 21st September, 7.30pm, in Digby Memorial Hall, Nicky Hoare will speak about DWT’s Great Heath Project. Nicky, based at its Beacon Hill Centre, is DWT’s Learning and Interpretation Officer for the project. This is a huge project in the south east of the county to create an urban living landscape in Dorset.

Upton Heath (which has been a DWT reserve for many years) is our nearest component of the Great Heath. A recent Saturday Times included Upton Heath in its list of the 15 best nature reserves to spot summer wildlife. All 6 of our native British reptiles live there and might be seen basking in the sun.

We ventured there to discover something about the reserve but sadly we were not particularly successful. We parked at the only access site with a carpark and headed in what seemed to be the right direction. On our route, unlike Tadnoll, there was a lack of a display board with a 18 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

map and visitor information. From an excellent viewpoint we could see broad walking tracks but could not see how to access them. If you visit, choose a different parking place from the recommended Springdale Road carpark.

We got into conversation with a local lady who explained where we would find better access. She told us that on her short circuit that day she had seen a Dartford Warbler. Following her directions we had a short walk seeing a deer but sadly little else.

Recently we had the pleasure of seeing two hares locally; they were probably juveniles. We see them so rarely. This sighting coincided with finishing the book ‘The Running Hare’ by John Lewis-Stempel. It relates a year in which the author recreated a cornfield of the ‘old style’ with wild flowers, birds and hares. It was a super read and made one realise how much had been lost through recent agricultural developments. www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

ARTISTS OF THE NEW ENGLISH ART CLUB 17th September – 5th October

CAROLINE FROOD

CHARLES HARDAKER

THE JERRAM GALLERY Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LN

HYDRANGEAS

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Wild Dorset

PAINTING KINGFISHERS Richard Bramble, artist, designer and conservationist

I

’ve long been attracted by the vivid colourings of the kingfisher [Alcedo atthis] and created some new paintings of them only last year. A famously colourful bird of rivers and streams, the striking mix of its bright-blue back and metallic copper breast makes the kingfisher unmistakable.

If you want to see them in their natural habitat then head for a good stretch of clean river and be prepared to wait patiently, looking out for the characteristic blue flash as they fly low along the water. They tend to perch on posts or low-hanging branches, and you often do not notice them until they move or dive to catch a small fish, and then only fleetingly, but it is worth the moment. Kingfishers are really good indicators of a healthy, clean river as they depend on clean running water in order to see and catch their prey. They have an incredibly complex eye system which gives them the ability to see really well under water which is a great advantage.

I’m writing this piece from North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, where I spend part of the year. It is my opportunity to fish, dive, kitesurf and observe the abundant marine and wildlife species in the area.

Many Highlands & Islands species have featured in my collection including salmon, otters, basking sharks, stags and highland cattle. The kingfisher is a rare visitor in these parts although they can sometimes be found in glens, valleys and reserves on the Scottish mainland.

20 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Closer to home in Dorset I’ve often seen them along the rivers Frome and Stour, and have heard of sightings on the Yeo at Purlieu Meadow - they like to breed near lowland watercourses and lakes which have suitable banks for burrowing nests and shallow edges for feeding.

They even occasionally visit private gardens, although I’ve never been that fortunate, even though Silverlake where I live near Sherborne would at one time have been a superb habitat for them.

Small fish such as minnows and sticklebacks form the core part of kingfishers’ diets, topped up with shrimp (and even frogs and tadpoles) along with a variety of insects. In fact they need to eat an incredible sixty per cent of their own bodyweight each day, so it’s not surprising they need to be flexible on the menu! That reminds me, it’s nearly time to go and check the lobster pots again… there’s nothing as good as a Hebridean dinner straight from the sea.

Richard Bramble is a British artist, designer and conservationist who lives in Sherborne and The Hebrides as well as travelling the world for new countryside, wildlife and marine life subjects to paint. His work is highly collectible, reproduced on iconic design ceramics and textiles. To find out more visit www. richardbramble.com or call by his studio and warehouse at The Old Dairy House, Silverlake DT9 3SN [just off the Bradford Abbas Road]

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Family

BRINGING LANGUAGES ALIVE Luna Dellar, Head of Languages and Head of Teaching and Learning at Sherborne Prep

A

s a teacher of languages, at Sherborne Prep and previously at A Level and IBDP, I have often found that pupils really embrace the real world application of their language skills.

CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is the use of a foreign language as a communicative tool in learning content from a subject area. This is not a new concept. Many European schools utilise bilingual teaching as a means to encourage linguists.

Disappointingly, this method is relatively rare in the UK, although the concepts behind CLIL have been used in 22 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Wales since the learning of Welsh became compulsory in 1990. In England we have seen a gradual shift towards CLIL as an alternative to ‘traditional’ language learning. Schools at the forefront of this movement, such as Hockerill Anglo-European College, have reported a great increase in levels of second language skill since the introduction of their bilingual programme.

The introduction of CLIL courses, such as ‘Fristory’, is slowly increasing in popularity, and, in the independent sector, where we have the freedom to create our own curriculum, opportunities are endless. Art, as a

practical, historical and sociological subject, provides the perfect framework for integrating content and language.

To hispanophiles, an understanding of the lives and works of Goya, Miró, Velázquez and Dalí can add a real insight into Spain, and a familiarity with Matisse, Monet and Degas can really enhance the study of French language and culture. This not only enriches the pupils’ understanding of the history and mindset of the cultures we are studying, but also creates some wonderful opportunities for exciting projects.

At Sherborne Preparatory School, we teach a carousel of languages to our younger pupils. Reception children learn Italian and Year 1 and 2 children learn Mandarin through song, dance and art. As they progress through the school, our children learn German through cooking and drama. This November we are taking the Year 7 pupils to France for a week, where they will be taught a variety of outdoor activities in the French language. Our class of Year 8 scholars recently wrote, illustrated and made children’s pop-up books in French.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Fernando Velázquez, a world-renowned contemporary artist, teaching Spanish as well as Art to our children. I was delighted hear from one pupil this Summer, who had just returned from a family holiday to Morocco, and said “It was brilliant. I could communicate in French with the taxi driver and the souk sellers, and I could read some of the information displayed in the museum. In one place they had put up a quote from Delacroix which I really like.

I can’t wait to show it to Mr V”.

Our pupils perceive languages, not as a dry set of theoretical information to be swallowed and regurgitated, but as a useful and relevant skill. Our job as language teachers is to bring a language alive and show our children its application in the big wide world outside the classroom. www.sherborneprep.org

A familiarity with Matisse, Monet and Degas can really enhance the study of French language and culture

Luna graduated in French and Italian at the University of Birmingham and worked in industry as a translator and interpreter before completing her PGCE at the University of Nottingham. She has taught French, Spanish and Italian in the UK and in Malaysia. When she is not busy developing the Prep’s languages website LanguagePrep.org and devising even more exciting ways to inspire children to learn a language, she enjoys exploring Dorset and Somerset with her husband Adrian, and two young daughters, Florence and Eloise. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 23

Family

ARCHER. JOURNEY TO STONEHENGE Sarah Tait, Sherborne Artslink

J

ane Brayne’s beautifully illustrated graphic novel for children is inspired by the story of one prehistoric man whose burial site was discovered on a hillside at Amesbury in 2002. His grave proved one of the most richly furnished of its time in Europe and amongst many other objects contained three small copper daggers and a pair of hair tress rings made from beaten gold; the earliest metal objects found in the British Isles.

These objects and subsequent radiocarbon dating, as well as analysis of his teeth, soon established that the Amesbury Archer, as he was dubbed, lived around 2300 BC, early in the Beaker Period. It is also likely he was in a mountainous region of central Europe. The Beaker Period, named for the decorated earthenware drinking vessels found in many parts of Europe, lasted some eight hundred years and is thought to have spread by travel and the sharing of ideology and artifacts.

Artist and archeological illustrator, Jane Brayne was called upon to make a drawing of the Amesbury Archer.

Though he had lain there undisturbed for over four thousand years, the matter of excavating his grave was urgent. New houses and a school were about to be built on the site. National and International newspapers and magazines used the resulting illustration and it now forms part of a display at the British Museum.

The Archer’s history was an intriguing one and Jane decided to write a book about him as she responded to questions from the children in the school newly built 24 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

over his burial site. She had been commissioned to paint two murals in the school, one of the archer, another of a test pilot (funded by Boscombe Down Air Base), the model for which proved to be another great explorer, the future astronaut, Tim Peake.

Meticulous research followed, advice from archeological colleagues ( Jane also worked as series illustrator for BBC2’s ‘Meet the Ancestors’ among many other commissions) and much art work to find the best style for the story.

The resulting richlyillustrated graphic novel reflects Jane’s close attention to authentic detail in bringing the Amesbury Archer to life. Children and adults will equally appreciate the adventure of his story while the fineness of her illustrations promises to make this book a family treasure.

In addition to her illustration work, Jane Brayne is a successful independent artist whose close observation of nature and seasons is reflected in her atmospheric paintings. She is also an experienced teacher of fine art, giving lessons in water-based media through Sherborne Artslink, which is fortunate to count her amongst its impressive team of Artist Tutors in Sherborne.

‘Archer. Journey to Stonehenge’ is out now and published

by Small Boat Books. www.janebrayne.wordpress.com www.sherborneartslink.org.uk

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

Wayne Winstone & Helen Stickland, Winstone’s Books, Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol (Chicken House) £6.99 Exclusive Sherborne Times reader price of £5.99 at Winstone’s Books

Y

oung readers who’ve ever felt second best will identify strongly with apprentice witch Arianwyn. After she fails her witch assessment, horribly and publicly, she is sent to the little town of Lull to be their not-quite-qualified witch.

It’s not long however before she starts to prove her real abilities.

Kind and generous, and a much better witch than anyone realises, Arianwyn soon makes friends not just with the townspeople but some of the magical creatures that live

nearby too. Even the arrival of the school’s arch bully doesn’t seem so terrible, though it turns out to have dangerous consequences for Arianwyn and everyone in Lull. Full of spells, cheery characters and a real sense of magic, this is an exciting story and Arianwyn will win lots of friends.

We think this is a brilliant debut from James, perfect for fans of Harry Potter. www.jamesnicolbooks.com www.winstonebooks.co.uk

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Family

SURROGACY IN THE SOUTH WEST Anne-Marie Hamer, Family Solicitor, Mogers Drewett

S

urrogacy is becoming an increasingly sought after option in the South West and across the UK. Parents use a surrogate mother to have a baby, with the firm intentions that once the child is born it is handed to the intended parents. The surrogate acts as a carrier on an altruistic basis, meaning she will not receive any monetary value except reasonable expenses.

While altruistic surrogacy is permitted in the United Kingdom, commercial surrogacy is illegal. The first act introduced by Parliament to deal with this area, took the form of the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985. The second act, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (amended by 2008 Act) took the guidance further still as set-out under s.54.

The current legislation is failing many intended parents and there is a call for reform. The current challenges faced by any parents who wish to enter into a surrogacy arrangement are centred on the uncertainty of the current process. Even if you have a Surrogacy Agreement drawn up it is not legally binding and there is no set-in-stone guarantee that the surrogate will not change her mind once the baby is born. On the birth of the child, the surrogate mother is regarded as the legal mother, and only by the making of a Parental Order are those legal rights transferred. Surrogacy at present is only permitted if it falls under the strict guidelines set out in s.54 HFEA 2008, and surrogacy for a single parent is currently not permitted (but is being challenged). Another area of uncertainty is the issue of reasonable expenses 26 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

and what is acceptable in terms of payments to the surrogate. The calls for reform ask for greater clarity on these issues.

Over the last two years it is clear that the judiciary are prepared to read-down the interpretation of statute in this area, where the child’s interests are ‘paramount’ and their needs are to be protected. In terms of stretching the boundaries of legislation, I believe the time has now come for changes to take place to achieve fairness in this area, for all parties, whether you are the intended parents or the surrogate mother.

What is also clear is that perhaps in time the Government may open up to the idea of commercial surrogacy, but I believe we are many years away from that. The case of Re Z, in 2016 challenged the boundaries of the current legislation where at present single parents are not allowed to engage in a surrogacy agreement. Is this fair in the modern era, when adoption is the only route for single parents? The answer to this was clarified by the judiciary where they felt that it went against the individual’s rights to a family life.

Anne-Marie has specialised in private Children Act work for over 9 years and in December this year will be visiting California to work with one of the most recognised Surrogacy Lawyers, Stephanie Caballero. If you are considering Surrogacy or you need advice on Fertility Law please contact Anne-Marie on 01935 813691. www.md-solicitors.co.uk

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Interiors

ALWAYS THE SUN Kitty Oakshott, Upstairs Downstairs

W

ell, that’s it! The summer is almost over. Was it good for you? I find this time of the year a little sad as we balance ourselves between seasons. Finding a little bit of sand in a trainer can be quite emotional for some people, taking them back to some glorious, relaxing days on sun-bleached beaches.

Aaaah! And coming home, did you find everything looking just a wee bit tired?

So let’s cheer ourselves up. It won’t take long, will be very easy to do and reasonable on the pocket. All you need is to find some lively fabric to cover a slightly depressing footstool or chair or make a couple of cushions. Immediately a room is brightened. It won’t cost a lot and if you use colours that somehow reflect your holiday, every time you see them you will have happy memories.

Be brave! Even if most of your décor is neutral, a wild, funky accessory will bring some fun into your house and be a perfect talking point.

The children are going back to school so is now the time to take a deep breath and tackle their rooms? Maybe a change of curtains with matching duvet covers would do the trick. Let them have the final say on the fabric.

Have you ever thought of covering headboards and maybe footboards? This is a perfect way to brighten a bedroom. You can live with some things for so long you 28 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

just don’t notice them. Are the curtains faded by the sun at the sides? Could the windows be dressed to look more attractive? Take a serious look and be honest with yourself. Is the room as beautiful as it could be? It is so easy, with a bit of thought, to dramatically change a room in a way that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You want to be able to walk into a room and say to yourself, yes, I like this! Can you do that?

This month, ease yourself gently into doing little things in the house but start thinking of some major improvements you want to make in the next few months. There are some wonderful new fabrics coming on to the market with a range of absolutely stunning designs to appeal to everyone. Start browsing around, looking through magazines, talking to people.

Begin to think what you would like to do by Christmas and make a plan. It might sound crazy, but it comes around so fast! First, a list of tiny improvements you really need to do, then the bigger things you really want to do and lastly, the major things you would like to do if possible.

Don’t forget to add a few touches to bring back happy, holiday memories which will be especially important for you and your family in the grey days of winter. www.updowninteriors.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29

Antiques

TOY STORY

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers

I

enjoy my job. Actually no, I really, really enjoy my job.

I like nothing more than getting into my car, going out and about visiting clients to help and advise on the antiques and collectibles they are looking to sell.

Travelling, apart from road works and slow moving traffic, is not a problem. Whilst we do not cover intergalactic miles every year, we do get out and about.

For our 2nd September classic motorcycle auction we picked up a collection of motorcycles and automobilia from a client in Cumbria, so I was somewhat amused when speaking to a client from Wincanton who asked me if I ever travelled there!

Out and about, we are invited to all sorts of homes, from a country house to a studio apartment, but one thing they all have in common is a sense of excitement when we walk through that door. It can be a client looking to downsize and we are called in to auction items surplus to family requirements. With our September collector’s auction looming, I was recently asked to a house in Yeovil to view a few trains which belonged to the client’s late father. Having dealt with several train collections before, even I was somewhat surprised to see their dining room completely full of boxes crammed with locomotives, carriages, rolling stock, trackside building and other accessories. With nearly 100 boxes, large and small, the lady of the house was very relieved when I said we could quickly pick up the collection and she would get her dining room back!

Just like the client from Yeovil, dining rooms are good hunting grounds for auctioneers as clients will often put out items they want us to look at. At a home near Dorchester, I looked at a group of items which has been stored in their attic. In essence, it was two generations of

30 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

toys. First up was a collection of Meccano. Dating to just after The Second World War, it had been in the owner’s possession from new. We discussed the various “projects” which had been completed and then he pulled out a fantastic Iron Man he had made. In fact he had made this Iron Man many times, in his youth and for both his daughters. Now his daughters having grown up and left the family nest, he decided to have a sort out of “the old stuff ” up in the attic. Initially he thought to dismantle the Iron Man and had removed its arms, but I asked him not to go any further as I thought it a wonderful work of art in its own right which would fit into any man-cave or toy collectors cabinet. Although interested to know the value of the Meccano (£100-200) the owner was really looking to pass it over to the next enthusiast to enjoy.

However, it was the next generation of toys which really got my attention as he pulled out a few plastic dolls. Usually of little value, one doll immediately stood out to me – a Sasha doll. In fact there were several Sasha dolls (I don’t think they had been breeding, although Sasha’s mate Gregor was also present in the box!). The dolls dated to the mid/late 1960s onwards but it was an earlier doll which caught my eye as I recognised it as a very rare early model. Originally designed by Swiss artist and doll maker Sasha Morgenthaler, they were very popular in their day and today they are actively sought out by mature collectors, possibly many of whom had the dolls as children. With some subtle design changes in the very early dolls, I was pleased to let the client know that one of the family’s plastic dolls should sell for £700£1,000 when it goes under the Charterhouse hammer. www.charterhouse-auction.com

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

Gardening

IN THE GARDEN with Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

HEDGEROW HARVEST

I

love blackberry picking! It might be considered a little old fashioned but each time I find myself in a bramble patch it takes me back to a whole host of days in the past (the dim past too!) and the places that I have foraged. Picking in Devon as a child brings back idyllic memories, although I do recall that the best fruit was always the other side of a deep nettle-filled ditch! The hardest picking has got to be forays on the coast in North Wales where the sandy soils meant that berries were small and so the pie was hard to come by. The most fruitful picking spot has to be around the outer fringes of Castle Gardens and in particular the driveway to our goods-in area where the fruit is plentiful, large and relatively easy to reach. I think the size of some of the fruit must come from crosses with cultivated varieties, especially as many flowers are pink rather than the normal white.

Heading to my in-laws’ native Yorkshire, we have picked bilberries on the moors. They of course, have the wrong name as the bilberry turned out to be the whortleberry that I knew from Devon but they wouldn’t have it! Elsewhere in the UK it’s known as the Blaeberry, Huckleberry or Whinberry, and the Latin is Vaccinium myrtillus. This is a fiddly job but the resultant pie is magnificent. One year our dog Polly, who, to be fair, had helped with the picking, was left in the car whilst we were preparing to visit relatives. The pie was also already loaded and minutes later we discovered that Polly was somewhat partial to bilberry pie – she’s a messy eater and bilberry stains aren’t the easiest to get out of car upholstery.

Growing blackberries in the garden needs space but can be really enjoyable. Because blackberries fruit in a two-year pattern, it is advisable to train the new growth in the first year (against a fence or on wires) to one side.

That will continue to grow through the year and will start to flower and fruit the following year. In the second year train new growth in the opposite direction. This will allow the first year’s growth to be hard pruned back once 32 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

the fruiting and picking is complete. Otherwise a huge tangle results – just like a bramble patch!

Variations of crosses between blackberries and raspberries have produced species, such as loganberry (large crops of dark red fruit), tayberry (large purple red sharp/sweet fruit), boysenberry, which is crossed with a dewberry too (large black sweet, tart and flavoursome), all of which can be grown in a similar way to the blackberry. If you don’t like the prickles, then choose a thorn-free variety, such as blackberry waldo, which is a compact grower and suitable for a smaller space.

Blueberries are very much in fashion and make a great patio plant. The flowers are bell-like and pleasing in the spring, while the fruit can be plentiful, even on a young plant, and will be more numerous if multiple plants are grown because of improved pollination. In the autumn, the foliage colours up in a delightful way with oranges, yellows and reds, which stay on the plant well into the winter. Blueberries like acidic soil so plant them in a large pot with an ericaceous compost and water where possible with rainwater. For a bit of variety, we have a pink-berried version called Pink Lemonade which is well worth looking out for.

All of these berries are very good for us and blueberries are especially high in antioxidants, but it’s the blackberry that I have a huge fondness for with the adventure of the picking combined with the great evocative flavour.

A word of warning though, in Sherborne they are not to be picked after Pack Monday Fair because the fruit then belongs to the Devil! By then they will have perhaps more protein than one might care for in a fruit! www.thegardeneronline.co.uk See Lisa Osman’s and Sasha Matkevich’s Hedgerow Harvest recipes on pages 47- 48

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 33

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34 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

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MICHELA CHIAPPA Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

With two recipe books to her name, a Channel 4 series, two YouTube Channels, a new cookery programme airing in Australia and two young children, Sherborne resident Michela Chiappa is one busy mum. Here, we meet Chiappa and her daughters Fiamma and Serafina, her sister Emanuela, with daughter Fiorenza and a gathering of hungry little friends. They don’t stay hungry for long…

‘F

resh pasta is such a great thing to do with kids,’ declares Michela Chiappa, ‘as all you need are flour and eggs.’ The food writer’s winning enthusiasm and can-do verve come as no surprise when you consider that she is a protégée of Jamie Oliver’s. Besides, cooking is in her blood. ‘My nonna made pasta all the time and we children were encouraged to help – inevitably getting flour everywhere, of course. Making a well in the flour and cracking an egg into it is what we called the volcano stage; we had to stop the “lava” from escaping.’ >

36 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

Michela and her two sisters, Emanuela and Romina, were born to Italian parents based in Wales, near Merthyr Tydfil. They grew up in a house that was connected to their grandparents on one side and their aunt, uncle and cousins on the other. ‘We had separate homes, but it was also one big house,’ she explains. ‘It meant lots of fun and entertainment for us, but so many meals were shared that it reinforced the importance of family and food. Not only that, but coming together taught us social skills as well as table manners and an appreciation of what we were eating.’

Every summer, the entire Chiappa clan decamps to northern Italy, to a village tucked in the foothills of the Alps. ‘When we are on holiday, our days revolve around what we are going to eat next and often we sit down to meals that last over five hours,’ says Michela. ‘Good food is not a trend in Italy – it is a way of life,’ she adds. ‘It’s not about being fancy; it’s about wholesome ingredients, cooking together and sharing a meal in company. The social aspect of sitting and interacting around a table is equally important.’

These twin elements of food and family are at the heart of Michela’s latest cookbook, Baby at the Table.

Published this month, it provides a wealth of nourishing, 38 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

speedy recipes all the way from the weaning stage, designed to encourage families to eat together. With two daughters of her own – Fiamma, three, and Serafina, one – Michela hopes to pass her passion and experience onto the next generation, by way of her mother and grandmother’s example. ‘Nothing they made was complicated, but it was always fresh and home-cooked and, to me, this is the most important element for bringing up a family. It encourages a social environment in the kitchen, there are delicious smells and plenty of good things to eat!’

Perhaps unexpectedly, Michela never meant to make food her career. She studied at the University of Exeter and then went on to work in PR and marketing where she counted Olympic diver Tom Daley among her clients. A television producer heard about Michela and her sisters’ novel upbringing in ‘Little Italy’ in the Welsh Valleys and commissioned them to make the Channel 4 television series Simply Italian. A cookbook dedicated to their family’s favourite recipes, soon followed as did a recipe series for Jamie Oliver’s FoodTube channel. ‘Jamie saw some of the pilot films and has backed us ever since,’ says Michela. ‘He is a huge supporter of Baby at the Table, which itself advocates his own campaign to inspire kids >

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

40 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

and families to cook good fresh food.’

Michela moved to Sherborne in 2014, when her husband, Dan, became director of boarding at Sherborne Preparatory School. ‘We live on-site where Dan is a houseparent,’ says Michela. ‘It is a fantastic opportunity for our little ones to feel part of a bigger community, which is a value that is so important to both of us. The Prep School is now an extension of our growing family.’

Dan spent much of his childhood in a boarding house alongside 80 pupils at Marlborough College, where his mother – who is, coincidentally, Welsh and originally from Cowbridge – was housemistress. An understanding of ‘big families’ 'meant he fitted into the Chiappa household from the start and is a dynamic he and Michela are keen to recreate for their daughters.

With various projects on her plate (so to speak), including The Chiappa Sisters YouTube Channel and two small children to care for, there is little time to spend preparing food in the kitchen. Happily, the Chiappa way is to keep life as stress-free as possible.

‘Who uses five pots and pans to cook a purée the size of a walnut for their six-month-old? I certainly don’t have time for that, so I decided to write this book with my sisters. If you are in a rush, there are plenty of 10-minute meals to turn to,’ she says. ‘Keep the timeconsuming stuff for the weekend, when you can restock the freezer with back-up meals – mine are gnocchi, fish pie and Bolognese. These can be life-savers when you’re in a rush during the week, with no spare hands.’

Clearly Michela is passionate about feeding her family to the best of her ability. ‘Letting children experience food where and whenever possible is so important,’ she explains. ‘But, really, I believe that giving your children variety from a young age can help them overcome fussiness and avoid obesity later on. It takes five minutes to make a pasta sauce and, after that, you can sit at the table for half an hour with your family enjoying it. What can be better than that?’

Baby at the Table: A 3-Step Guide to Weaning the Italian Way by Michela and Emanuela Chiappa, published by Michael Joseph, £16.99. For further information and recipes, visit www.thechiappas.com (See Michela and Emanuela’s recipe for the Classic Basil Pesto used in this feature on page 49) A very big thank you to Waitrose Sherborne, Boden, Kate Scorer, Lisa Lewis, Julia Chadwick, Beatrice, Teddy and Tilly www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

H ELYAR ARMS THE

Patrick and Claire welcome you to the all NEW Helyar Arms Completely refurbished with a fabulous new lunchtime and evening menu using local produce wherever possible. Come and see us or visit our website

East Coker • Somerset • BA22 9JR

T: 01935 862332

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COUNTRY AND WESTERN NIGHT Saturday 15th October £35 per person including a 3 course dinner To reserve your table call

01935 483430

Don’t forget to ask about our accommodation offer George Albert Hotel Wardon Hill, Evershot, Nr. Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9PW Tel: 01935 483430

www.gahotel.co.uk 42 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

From our table to yours Delicious, frozen ready meals, made in Sherborne using only the very best local ingredients

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY* Order by phone on 01963 548181 or email info@olives-kitchen.co.uk

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View our range of dishes and local stockists online at www.olives-kitchen.co.uk *Free local delivery available within 10 miles of Sherborne. Nationwide courier service available. Minimum order value £35. Please see our website for full details.

COFFEE BREAK Kafe Fontana

Oliver’s Coffee House

Old School Gallery

The Pear Tree

82 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ 01935 812180 kafefontana @kafefontana www.kafefontana.co.uk

Boyle’s Old School, High Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LF 01935 872761 www.yetminstergallery.co.uk

19 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3PU 01935 815005 Olivers-Coffee-House @OliversSherbs www.oliverscoffeehouse.co.uk

4 Half Moon Street, Sherborne, DT9 3LN 01935 812828 @peartreedeli www.peartreedeli.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

Food & Drink

DEMYSTIFYING MENUS Giles Dick-Read, Reads Coffee Roasters

Having last month established that filter may be best described as ‘normal coffee’, what about the rest of the drinks that will confront you on a mystifying coffee shop menu?

I

’ll try to keep this simple, avoiding anything that’s either fluff or, in some cases, just plain silly. I’m putting syrups and other flavourings off to one side, categorising them as ‘sugar’, which they all tend to be in one form or another. That some of them appear to come with a half-life suggests that they are perhaps best kept well away from decent coffee in any case, but…if you must!

44 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Espresso

Let’s start at the bottom and work up. At the core of all the drinks is espresso. Think of it as the concentrate, much like squash, the very best flavour squeezed out of the coffee under great pressure, distinct with its rich mid-brown crema when properly made. Drunk neat, it’s best with a healthy dollop of white sugar, itself suspended for a few seconds on that crema before

Food & Drink

Lisa Osman, All Hallows AGA Approved Cookery School

WHAT TO EAT NOW - SEPTEMBER The sun is still warm during the day but as soon as the evening draws in the nights are chilly and there is a nip in the early morning air. I love September. In the kitchen we have the best of both worlds. Armfuls of late summer garden produce and cut flowers for the house but the autumn bounty is coming gently into season.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 45

folding gently into the brew, creating a syrupy shot that should do for you what Getafix’s magic potion did for Asterix – the original Red Bull.

Needless to say, nothing is ever simple and espresso comes in various forms. Single: one 7-8g shot of coffee.

Double: 14-16g coffee with twice the liquid volume.

Ristretto: short and extra concentrated. Lungo: longer, more dilute and rare in the UK. One of the great things about espresso is that as it’s so efficiently brewed by the machine which uses relatively little coffee to make a strong extraction, cup for cup it’s actually fairly low in caffeine. A couple of tips, the espresso should brew from the machine in around 25 seconds, count if you can while it’s being made. If brewed fast your concentrate will be diluted before you even start… bitter and under-extracted at that. Also, make sure the brew handles are on the machine when you arrive. If not, they’re most likely cold and won’t brew properly.

Walk out…quick!

Americano

Espresso’s first cousin is the Americano. Dating back to the years after WWII when American GI’s flooded back to Italy as tourists, the Italians needed an answer when asked for ‘an American coffee’, so compromised using their espresso machines simply by adding hot water to the concentrated espresso. Drink it just like you would a filter coffee, white or black – try always to have it made with a double shot espresso as it’ll taste much better. If your barista knows his onions, he’ll be careful to add the hot water to the cup first so that the crema floats neatly on top – so don’t be put off or think it’s milky, that’s a very good sign!

Cappuccino

Now to the milky bunch. Most people know what to expect when they ask for a cappuccino, the foamy one.

Named after the Capuchin friars – it should arrive with a neat ring of coffee encapsulating smoothly frothed milk on top of your espresso, so resembling the monk’s head. The proportions should be roughly one third each, espresso, hot milk and foam, the espresso and milk blending together. A morning drink for the Italians, many say never to be drunk after 11am. Ask for a dry cappuccino and you should just get foam with very little milk…a wet one, vice versa. If you want a mini cappuccino, ask for an espresso macchiato (‘marked espresso’), you’ll get a micro cappuccino – perfect after lunch or as an afternoon pick me up.

46 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Latte and Flat White

Now for the latte and it’s antipodean brethren, the flat white. The latter is a tremendous cause of confusion while most have a grip on what to expect from a milky latte.

Made with the same single or double shot of espresso as cappuccino, topped off with steamed milk and a little foam, the latte is by far and away the most popular coffee of the boom. Americans consume them by the bucket load, quite literally in some cases where ridiculous mega-vente cups can be found. ‘Would you like a cup carrier with that, sir?’

‘No thanks, but a small crane might come in handy…’

So, the flat white. Whether its origins are Aussie or Kiwi, nobody’s quite sure as both claim it to be their own. It doesn’t really matter as it’s simply their interpretation of the latte. How did it get its name?

Again, we’re not sure, but maybe test a broad Aussie next time you see one by asking him to say ‘latte’…the result may explain everything.

The flat white can be the best coffee you’ll ever taste, and the worst, all depending who made it and how.

Proper ones should be made like this: Brew a double ristretto (lots of power, little bulk) into a small cup – 8oz max. Then add perfectly steamed milk that has a micro-bubbled texture, but no foam to speak of. Poured carefully, the maker should be creating some perfect latte art to finish off the brew. Sometimes served in a glass, made well, it’s a stunner. Be careful of commercial offerings, they’re often just a small latte and a way of robbing you of a few extra pennies for the privilege.

There are plenty more to run through, but space, and your patience, is limited, so I’ll end with a note about cups. All the recipes for the best coffee are completely dependent on the café using the correct size of cup. If their cups are too big then the drinks will end up as mostly milk. As rule, the smaller the cups, the better the brew. Come to think of it, the Italians have been showing us the way on that front for years!

Reads stock filter cones of various shapes and size, papers, hand grinders, Aeropress, Moka Pots and all sorts of other practical paraphernalia for the coffee aficionado. They’re also shortly launching a regular delivery service for Sherborne. For further info go to www.readscoffee.co.uk or call 01935 481010.

Visit Reads at the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2016 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, 10am to 3pm, Friday 30th September, Grey Trailer Cafe, Limekiln Farm, Thornford Road, Sherborne

It is a time of change. The leaves are glistening and beginning to turn golden brown. At home there is the excitement of a new school year and in the fields, the ploughing has begun, as a new growing season unfolds.

At the end of the month there is Michaelmas, which was traditionally celebrated with a goose that had grown fat from the gleanings of harvest. We cook ours slowly in the AGA and stuff the neck with mashed potatoes and a purée of Bramley apple which deliciously mops up the juices.

It seems that my time is spent equally gathering from the hedgerow, orchard and then returning to the kitchen.

There are plums and apples, cookers and eaters to gather and a few pears from a tree that is so old it produces less than a handful of fruit. I should replace it but I do not have the heart to fell it.

The blackberries are plentiful and so are the elderberries which we just snip, a cluster at a time, from the branches. Then sit at the table (or bribe someone else) and take a dining fork in hand, gently pushing the jewel-like berries from each frond. These tiny berries are made into jelly but the brambles are quickly frozen for crumbles and cakes during the winter.

In the cutting garden we have a fruit patch and on the never-ending ‘list of jobs’ is to build a cage to protect the crop being generously shared with the pigeons. The autumn raspberries are now in their prime and perfect to serve with Bircher muesli and a generous dollop of yoghurt, to be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Our butcher and game dealer will soon be offering hare and rabbit idea, for a slow cook or pie topped with butter-rich pastry and there will also be roast duck and a seasonal treat of partridge for Sunday lunch.

Followed by warm Dorset apple and blackberry cake for a memorable family gathering – but don’t anticipate there will be any leftovers.

About Lisa Osman

Lisa lives in Wimborne St Giles and teaches at her AGA approved cookery school with rooms in a Georgian farmhouse on the edge of the village. Lisa also offers bespoke classes at your home (wherever that may be!) and corporate team building events for clients of North Cadbury Court in Somerset. Her Sherborne Times features can be found at www.allhallowsfarmhouse.co.uk Lisa has been an arbitrator of the Great Taste Awards since 2013 and is a Slow Food Chef Alliance Member.

DORSET APPLE & BLACKBERRY CAKE

You need:

175g (6oz) butter – softened 250g (9oz) self raising flour 175g (6oz) caster sugar 350g (12oz) Bramley apples, peeled, cored and sliced 350g (12oz) blackberries, washed well 3 free range eggs – lightly whisked together 20cm or 8” round greased tin and lined with baking parchment Method:

1. M ake sure that your cold shelf is ready for use in a 2-oven AGA with the grid shelf on the floor. If baking in a 4-oven AGA we recommend that you set the shelf on the first setting from the floor of the oven. If baking in a conventional oven, set the temperature to 160C or Gas Mark 3.

2. Prepare your baking tin.

3. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

4. Add the whisked eggs and half of the flour, mix carefully together. Add the remaining flour and mix to combine.

5. Add the apples to the mixture and mix together.

6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 30-40 minutes until a golden colour and firm to the touch. Remember to insert the cold shelf into a 2-oven AGA before you slide your tin onto the grid shelf.

7. Test the cake with a skewer to make sure it is fully cooked. Leave in the tin to cool then transfer to a cooling rack to get completely cold.

8. If the cake is not eaten on the same day, cover and store in the fridge and allow to reach room temperature before serving. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

Food & Drink

PICKLED GIROLLE Sasha Matkevich, Head Chef and Owner, The Green with Jack Smith, Apprentice Chef

Pickling is one of the best ways of preserving. At The Green we use the pickling liquor from this recipe not only for mushrooms but for many other wonderful ingredients that September brings us.

Ingredients

1kg of girolle 500ml of olive oil 200ml of white wine vinegar 200ml of white wine 1 carrot 1 stick of celery 1 leek 1 bay leave 5 cloves of garlic 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns Parsley stalks Basil stalks 2 sprigs of thyme 48 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Method for the liquor:

Combine all the ingredients in a large pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and leave it to simmer for 30 minutes. Pass the liquor through a fine sieve making sure to squeeze all the liquid from the vegetables To prepare the girolle:

Pick nice firm girolle and clean them with a brush or dry paper to remove any grit. Cut any large mushrooms into halves or quarters, depending on the size. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a sanitised preserving jar. Pour the hot liquor over the mushrooms, close the lid and cover with towel and leave it to cool down slowly. Store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months (never lasted that long in our kitchen!).

Enjoy, Sasha and Jack www.greenrestaurant.co.uk

CLASSIC BASIL PESTO Michela and Emanuela Chiappa Serves: 6–8. Preparation time: 5–10 minutes

Ingredients

Method

2 handfuls of fresh basil 50g cashews 1 clove of garlic 8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 handfuls of grated Parmesan cheese (30g) Salt and pepper, to taste

Blitz all the ingredients together until smooth using a stick blender or pot attachment. Remove a portion for baby before seasoning for toddlers and adults.

Baby At The Table: A 3-Step Guide to Weaning the Italian Way by Michela and Emanuela Chiappa, published by Michael Joseph, £16.99 www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49

Food & Drink

ECCO GELATO Philippa Tarling

Philippa Tarling, landlady of Horsington’s Half Moon Inn, has taken an exciting leap into the delicious world of gelato. Ahead of opening Ecco Gelato, Sherborne’s very first Gelateria this month, here Philippa reminisces about her time at Gelato University.

T

he most important thing to know about gelato?

Never call it ‘Italian ice cream.’ Gelato is a high-quality product made with fresh, natural ingredients and a milky – rather than a creamy – base that acts as a conduit for outstanding flavour. Any gelatiere worth his salt (or his sugar, perhaps) would be insulted by such an indiscretion.

There’s no doubt about it: Italians take gelato seriously.

That was my first lesson as I entered the doors of the Carpigiani Gelato University in beautiful Bologna.

Within an hour it became obvious that the course would be very detailed and quite intense. Our instructor, Stefano, introduced us to the basic elements of high-quality gelato – taste, texture and structure.

The first session covered the ingredients, their properties and purpose in the mix, pasteurisation, temperatures and freezing. Mornings were given over to theory and then we would go into the laboratory for the practical part.

Of the 20 students in our class, I was the only Brit.

Working in groups of three – my partners were Thany, from Thailand, the Linbo, from China – we were given two recipes to try. Ours were mocha and Gianduia, a mix of chocolate and hazelnut flavours, based on an Italian dessert paste similar to Nutella.

The weighing, mixing and pouring into the batch freezer were the easy bits; next the gelato had to be put into the pan. The mix flowed unstoppably out of the

50 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

machine and all around the room were shrieks that it was ‘going too fast’ and queries as to whether it had all come out yet. One by one we took our first pans to the display cabinet. After cleaning and stripping down the machine, the tasting began. It was amazing: smooth, creamy and full of flavour.

As a completely natural product, gelato has a finite life and there is a lot to learn about hygiene, cleaning and maintenance, as well as the myriad of regulations governing its manufacture, storage and sale. There is an enormous amount to learn, some of it very technical, involving quite complex calculations.

I soon realised that gelatomaking is an art form limited only by the imagination. The main ingredients may be just milk, water, sugar and air but, by adding a complex mix of exotic (and nourishing) natural ingredients, you can create an endless range of exciting flavours.

Following my return home, I have been motivated by combining this quintessentially Italian treat with traditional British tastes, creating recipes using our lovely West-Country milk and cream.

Ecco Gelato opens this month at Salcombe House, Long Street, near the corner with Cheap Street. Alongside old favourites we can look forward to combinations such as pear, pineapple and mascarpone, almond-mocha and tiramisu as well as the nutty Gianduia. See you there! ( Just don’t call it ice cream…)

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

Food & Drink

SWEET WINES David Copp

52 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

H

aving just returned from the Dordogne where I was able to indulge my enthusiasm for Montbazillac, the delightful sweet wines of the region, I am thrilled to pass on what I have learnt about a category that became unfashionable with our desire to shed weight, but has returned to favour with wine-enthusiasts because of the sheer excellence and variety of sweet wines available from around the world.

The very first point I would like to make, however, is that we should not simply consider sweet wines as ‘pudding’ wines. As a rule I do not eat puddings yet enjoy the great sweet wines of Sauternes, Tokaj, Rhineland and Austria, as aperitifs or with pate de fois gras or rich creamy blue cheeses. On more than one occasion in Sauternes, I have been offered Chateau d’Yquem with lobster because they have a touch of sweetness in them.

The second point I make is not to be put off by the idea of sweetness because the natural sugar is balanced with fine acids which allow the freshness and flavour of the grape to overwhelm your senses rather than sugar.

The third point to remember is that most good wine merchants now offer a wide range of great sweet wines available in half bottles. If you haven’t already done so, I dare you to select one and to try it with something other than dessert.

The key to making great sweet wines is the ‘nobility’ of the grapes. By ‘nobility’ I mean rottenness, caused by spores on the grapes (from varieties such as Semillon, Riesling and Furmint) which often look shrivelled and mouldy with a grey/brown colour.

This noble rottenness is created in river valleys that attract early morning mists which are later dispelled by warm sunshine. Such climatic conditions cause thin grape skins to split so that the juice oozes away, leaving a ‘noble’ raisin-like grape on the vine. When these ‘noble’ or ‘botrytised’ grapes are carefully picked and marinated with fresh wine and allowed to mature in wood, they develop quite wonderful characteristics.

Tokaj has been producing such wines for more than 400 years. For centuries the great Tokaji wines were the most expensive wines in the world. In France, Scandinavia, Poland and Russia they were prized above all others and considered more acceptable as princely gifts than diamonds or gold.

When Tokaj was curtained from us after WWII, we found other great sweet wines in France, Germany and Austria to replace them. Now almost every leading wine producing country - Australia, California, South Africa - boasts a fine sweet wine. But Tokaj still takes some beating.

In this short piece I will focus on the most famous wines because they deservedly have a large following in the fine wine world. Sauternes owes much of its fame to the fact that in 1847 the Czar of Russia was so enamoured with the Chateau d’Yquem that he bought as much of it as he could and bottled it in crystal decanters.

Chateau d’Yquem still delights fine wine enthusiasts but now there are many excellent first growth wines available at sensible prices.

I am delighted to report that the excellent Royal Tokaji wines are now more readily available in the UK through Waitrose and The Wine Society. In Tokaj the ‘noble’ grapes are hand-picked and placed in wooden hods called puttonyos. They go to make what are labelled Aszu (nobly-rotten grape) wines. On the label you will see a number - usually between three and six - which tells you the degree of sweetness reckoned by the number of hods of noble berries per cask of fresh wine.

I recommend those made by Istvan Szepsy which cost between £30-40 for a half litre.

Szepsy, widely recognised as one of the world’s greatest winemakers, produces some of the most sublime wines I have ever tasted, any one of which I can heartily recommend as a gift for special occasions.

On the Austrian border with Hungary at Neusiedler See, Alois Kracher produces world class sweet wines from Welsch Riesling. While in Germany, Egon Muller leads a long list of great Riesling producers in the Rhine, Mosel and Saar river valleys who craft highly sophisticated late-harvest Auslese wines which have won plaudits for their beauty and their brilliance.

I acknowledge that such wines are not to everyone’s taste and certainly not for ‘everyday drinking’ unless you are very rich and a fine wine enthusiast. However why not select a sweet wine to try with some appropriate delicacy other than ‘pudding’. I am sure you will delight yourselves and your lucky guests. Or even on a warm evening outside, share a bottle Monbazillac, as we did in the Dordogne.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53

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www.dorsetgaragedoors.co.uk 54 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

BARBER SHOP For those who know the difference

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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday - Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 3pm Booking recommended

01935 815501 6a Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX /jps_barber_shop

CYCLE SHERBORNE Peter Henshaw, Dorset Cyclists Network Mike Riley, Riley’s Cycles

S

herborne is, by and large, a pretty good place to cycle. A30 apart, the traffic’s not too bad, and I see far more good driving than bad. When Cheap Street is closed to cars, you can walk your bike up and park outside your shop of choice without thinking about traffic at all. All right, there are a few hills, but it’s a compact town – cycling from one end to the other takes less than 15 minutes.

But it’s not perfect. What follows is a sort of wishlist of what could make Sherborne a safer and easier place to ride a bike. Some of it you may or may not agree with – letters to the editor…

20mph Limit

Already supported by the Town Council for the town centre (though the County Council makes the final decision) but why not extend it right across town to include all the residential areas – excluding A30, Horsecastles Lane and Bristol Road. Twenty limits have worked in many towns, reducing casualties and making life more pleasant for pedestrians as well as cyclists.

Parking

In theory, you can park a bike almost anywhere. In practice, no one wants to block the pavement or lean their bike against a plate glass window. So, more cycle stands would be nice outside the conduit (near the wall to leave room for market day stalls), on Westbury outside the dental practice (also handy for the chip shop and Digby Tap) and at all the GP surgeries. Something halfway up Cheap St would be good too but there’s not a lot of space there.

North West Passage

Nothing to do with Alaska, more of a missing link between the west of Sherborne and the Gryphon/ Sherborne Primary, through Old Farm linking Richmond Road to Acreman St – doubly useful now 56 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

that the pedestrian crossing at Acreman is in place.

This came close to fruition once and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t again.

Horsecastles Lane

Also known as the Sherborne Bypass, and the only road in town wide enough for painted cycle lanes. The 40 limit and relatively heavy traffic tends to put cyclists off, but lanes with white broken lines would encourage them but still leave room for HGVs. Lenthay Lane

The cycle route that never was. Officially National Cycle Route 26 between Sherborne and Yeovil used to be signposted down Lenthay Road, turning right at the end of the lane for a quiet route up to Bradford Road.

Looked great on the map but on the ground, part of it

is unsurfaced, with guaranteed mud around the field gate. A simple surface at the end of Lenthay would reopen this quiet way out of town.

Sherborne Hill

Bit of a controversial one this. Dorset Cyclists Network does not condone riding on pavements, and nor do I, but my one exception locally is Sherborne Hill. The main road here is narrow, busy and has a 60mph limit – not a good idea when toiling up the hill at less than 10mph.

So I use the pavement, because it’s safer and hardly used by pedestrians – I’ve met two in 15 years. Making this shared use – with pedestrian priority – would be a good move, along with clearing it back to its original width.

Riding downhill of course, it’s not an issue because there’s less of a speed differential with traffic, so in that case I stick to the road.

Sherborne-Milborne Port Link

Another one that’s been discussed for years, but the arguments for are more pressing than ever, with new housing in Milborne Port and increasing traffic on A30.

The main road (and the nasty blind bends through Crackmore Rocks) could be avoided altogether by allowing cyclists and walkers to use Pinford Lane through the Estate, emerging on Castleton Lane. A big ask for the Estate? Well perhaps, but it would benefit a lot of adults and children, both in town and Milborne Port.

Why should Sherborne do any of this for its cyclists? It would make cycling safer and more pleasant, encourage more people onto their bikes, reduce traffic and increase fitness – that’ll do to be going on with. www.rileyscycles.co.uk www.dcn.org.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57

Body & Mind

LET’S GO SWIMMING Samantha Kirk, Centre Manager, Oxley Sports Centre

E

veryone loves water! Any sort of water, be it open water, lakeside, seaside, poolside or the sort of water you shoot from a water pistol! Everyone loves the beach, dipping their toe in the sea, paddling in the lake, letting the children play in the stream when camping or just enjoying listening to the waves lap up against the sea wall while sitting by the coast with something cold to drink in your hand.

There are so many different varieties of swimming out there to be enjoyed, not just popping down to the 58 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

local pool. Your starting point will be to look at your swim technique and to go from there. Depending on how well you think you can swim, when the last time you entered the water was (and not just to paddle in the shallow end with the children) and how adventurous you are feeling will help you decide what type of swimming to have a go at. There’s diving, synchronised swimming, water polo, open water swimming, wild swimming, free diving, snorkelling and scuba diving; take your pick.

Once you have decided, the world is your oyster,

Witnessing swimming at this level demonstrates just how powerful and graceful the sport can be.

excuse the pun, so get yourself out there and have a go.

There are various outlets for your enjoyment, Vosper near Frome is great open water and free diving venue, Bowleaze Cove at Weymouth is great for sea swimming along with a convenient cafe to refuel after your swim.

Not only will you experience the benefits of getting in the water and exercising without realising it, you will have fun and meet like-minded people. Contrary to a popular myth, swimming is a social sport and the swimming community always welcomes newcomers.

As you will know, swimming is renowned for being the best form of overall exercise for you. Get your technique right and the benefits will out-weigh the thought of having to appear in public in your cozzie!

Despite what you might think everyone is too busy thinking about themselves to worry about what you look like anyway.

The health benefits from swimming are numerous including; keeping your heart healthy; balancing your build - building longer and leaner muscles; cross training - boosts cardiovascular capacity while increasing muscle strength; increased flexibility; strengthening your core - utilising all the body’s muscles simultaneously; endurance; adventure (see above!); and last but not least, weight loss - “People who consistently swim strenuously enough to be out of breath when they finish and elevate their heart rate do burn calories and lose weight,” says Jane Moore, M.D., a physician and active swimmer.

So what is it about getting into the local pool that puts people off ? If you had seen the diving pool at the Olympics in Rio I would have said the colour, as it certainly wasn’t meant to be the sea green it became!

Pool water should be sparkling and clear; you should be able to see the bottom and not worry about swallowing anything nasty.

Watching the swimmers this year in Rio was a sheer delight. Witnessing swimming at this level demonstrates just how powerful and graceful the sport can be. It’s true that not all swimmers in the local pool look this graceful and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a stroke but they are in there, embracing the swimming philosophy and have made the commitment to keep fit, become healthier and enjoy themselves.

So, find yourself a costume, your preferred body of water and dive on in to rediscover the joys of swimming.

The pool at Oxley Sports Centre is open to members and the public. Download their pool timetable at www.oxleysc.com www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

Body & Mind

FOLLOWING THE BEATEN TRACK TO BRADING, ISLE OF WIGHT Barbara Elsmore

S

etting the alarm for 5:00am seemed a small price to pay once we were heading for Sherborne station on a perfect summer morning. We were catching the 6:30am train, via Salisbury, to Portsmouth Harbour to join a group of friends who were travelling from Winchester to enjoy a walk together on the Isle of Wight. Our train arrived at Portsmouth Harbour with just time for a quick coffee before boarding the Fastcat to Ryde. Passing close by the Spinnaker tower and heading out into the busy Solent, we had stunning views from the upper deck.

Soon we were pulling alongside the end of Ryde Pier which, at nearly half a mile long, is the secondlongest seaside pier in the country. The original wooden structure at Ryde opened in 1814 and allows ferries to berth even when the tide is out and here it goes a very long way out indeed. Then it was straight on to the little awaiting train, which formerly saw service on the London Underground, and it headed off down the pier towards its final destination at Shanklin.

We could tell we had travelled further South as one of the station gardens we passed was planted up with exotic tree Echiums, Osteospermums and vivid blue Agapanthus. We left the train at Brading, where the 60 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

charming little station is a Tourist Information point with a tea room and railway exhibition, and it was from here we began our walk. We were following the Bembridge and Culver Downs marshes trail and we had downloaded the map and route plan from the National Trust website. Leaving Brading station we struck out across the nature reserve and then headed up to the Bembridge windmill where there was time to pause for a coffee or an ice-cream.

Then it was along the cliff tops of Whitecliff Bay and following a steady climb we were rewarded by some magnificent views from Culver Beacon and the Yarborough monument. The Culver Haven Inn is perfectly situated for a lunch stop. After lunch we looped around Bembridge Fort and back across the marshes to return to Brading station. We had been promised a 6.5mile walk but my pedometer and my feet told me it was nearer 8. However, I do not regret a step of it as it had been a beautiful, scenic walk in glorious summer sunshine taken in the company of old friends who could ask for more?

We caught the 3:48pm train from Brading and we were back home in Sherborne, with our feet up, just before 7:00pm.

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No appointment necessary 56 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3BJ www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61

Body & Mind

SCREEN TIME

W

Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms

e all know how important it is to cream up, or cover up, on those hot sunny days but it’s easy to forget that even on balmy, hazy days we need to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun. We may not even realise that sun damage can occur through cloud, glass and even from fluorescent indoor lighting, at any time of the year. So your skin is at risk even if you spend your days in the car or a well-lit office. In fact, around 90% of photo ageing can be prevented by wearing a high-level broadspectrum sunscreen daily, all year round.

We all appreciate the warm glow of the sun and the lift to our soul. Our skin makes use of Summer sunlight to make Vitamin D - which aids our bones, teeth and muscles - but this process stops after just 15 minutes of exposure. If it didn’t, levels would become toxic and make us ill. A healthy, balanced diet containing oily fish, red meat and fortified cereals is usually enough to keep sufficient levels in the body all year round. And supplements can be helpful of course.

To maintain a healthy, smooth, even-toned skin, it’s important to apply enough of a good quality sunscreen that suits your skin. There are two main types: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and turn UV light energy into heat energy. But if you’ve ever felt the burn of a sunscreen on application or during time in the sun, then a physical sunscreen will be better for you. These are mineral-based and bounce the light and heat off the skin due to their reflective quality – perfect for sensitive skins.

62 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) theoretically indicates how long it will take for UVB rays – the main cause of sunburn – to burn the skin. For example, SPF 15 allows a person to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning than they could without sunscreen.

But this doesn’t take into account the UVA rays - the ones emitted by tanning booths, which penetrate the skin more deeply, and play a major part in accelerating the signs of ageing and initiating skin cancer. UVA rays account for up to 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface.

To protect your skin from both UVA (ageing) and UVB (burning) rays, don’t just rely on a product with an SPF of 15 or higher. Make sure it is labelled ‘Broad Spectrum’, which means it contains a combination of ingredients known to protect against both types of UV rays. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars is generally considered to give a good level of protection.

The recommended amount of sun cream is a shot glass full for the body and a teaspoonful for the face to deliver the SPF level on the bottle. So ladies, a dab of foundation with a built in SPF just isn’t going to cut the mustard! And gents, remember that you are not immune. At the end of the day – be it a sunny one or not – ‘more is better’, and your skin will thank you for it.

Like the song says: “If I could only offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it”. www.thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk

CUP GLORY

T

Amanda Hunt, Acupuncturist, The Sherborne Rooms

he Olympic Games last month provided thrilling spectacles of sporting prowess, courage and determination and I for one was in awe watching sportsmen and women at the top of their game as they experienced triumph and overcame challenges and disappointments. You may have noticed a lot of press reports which speculated on the red, circular marks which appeared on the bodies of many of the swimmers and gymnasts, particularly from team USA, including the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps. These are the results of a practice known as “cupping”, an ancient therapy which has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The therapy uses glass cups to apply suction on the skin, muscles and fascia over specific acupressure points, either by using heat or a pump to create suction. Athletes say they are using the therapy to ease aches and pains and to help with recovery from the physical toil of constant training and competing. Many celebrities such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston have also been photographed bearing the tell tale marks of cupping treatment and are said to use it for pain management.

How does cupping work? Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that pain is the result of stagnation in the movement of blood, energy and fluids around the body and which can result as a consequence of injury or stress. Cupping therapy has a long history and is understood to help restore the flow of life energy – or

“qi” – to the affected part of the body by stimulating the body’s natural responses to restore health. The marks caused by cupping are understood to be a result of internal toxins being pulled up to the skin and the greater level of stagnation present, the darker the marks will be. During a cupping session a trained practitioner will traditionally use heat inside the cups or a small pump will be attached to the cups to depressurise the area to create suction. The cups will be placed over specific points on the body, usually on the back, and will either be left in place for about 10 minutes or oil will be applied so that the cups can be glided over the skin, thus stimulating a larger area of the body.

What does it feel like? Cupping creates a unique sensation that doesn’t compare with anything else you’ve experienced before. Because of the suction, there is a pulling sensation in the skin and muscle layers which results in a tight feeling under the cups. The first few minutes can be rather intense, but most patients report that once that has subsided, they feel pleasantly relaxed.

I love using cups on my patients and find that I get really good results, particularly for people who are suffering from back and neck pains, and stiff muscles.

I generally use cupping therapy alongside traditional acupuncture, where I devise a treatment specific to the individual, using fine needles on acupuncture points to re-establish the flow of energy. www.thesherbornerooms.com

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Body & Mind

MEAN FEET

C

Marcel Wadman, Podiatrist and Practitioner, 56 London Road Clinic

orns and verrucas are very common and most of us will get one or more of these seemingly small conditions during our lifetime. They affect both male and female patients alike and may exist alone or together.

So let’s start at the basics. The corn is a small clearly defined hard plug of skin often found on the weight bearing areas of the foot. They are painful on weight bearing and when direct pressure is applied. If the corn has been present for a long time, it may be covered by an area of hard skin that we call a “callus”. Contrary to common belief, they do not grow into the foot but are caused by skin that is compacted.

Our skin is made up of various layers and is constantly growing from the base layer to the top.

This occurs on average over a 30-70 day period. Small areas of pressure accelerate this and tissues retain their adhesive properties that are usually lost in their journey to the top layer of the skin called the epidermis. And so skin is constantly produced at this area and not lost, leading to a hard core of skin, bottom to the top, a corn!

They can be very painful and will remain until removed and the source of pressure removed. “What causes pressure?” I hear you say. Well, it can be damage to the lining of a shoe or a prominent bone on a hard surface, anything that can cause a finite area of pressure and friction to the skin of the foot.

64 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Corns can be found on the top or base of the foot and even between the toes, most often between the little toe and its neighbour. A chiropodist should be able to remove the corn with minimum discomfort. If your corn is reoccurring, then it is most likely that too much time is lapsing between debridement. Any remaining corn, or reoccurring corn is causing sufficient pressure for the cycle to continue.

As for the verruca, this is often confused with the corn but it is quite different. This is caused not by pressure or friction but by a viral infection of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and will on occasions and in some individuals, resolve without treatment. Like a corn the verruca can also be very painful. If it is squeezed and if cut, can bleed for a considerable time. The duration and number of verrucas one has can be directly related to the state of one’s immune system and any large number that have been present for some time should be investigated. Treatment is via Cryo surgery (freezing) chemicals applied to the verruca only and more recently laser. Verrucas do not have overlying hard skin but project above the line of the epidermis.

Verrucas can be present in various forms. They can be singular or multiple or multiple tightly packed individual verrucas and as most people know, verrucas can be contagious. www.56londonroad.co.uk

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Body & Mind

NERVES AND WORRY – THE HOLISTIC APPROACH ON TREATMENT Dr Tim Robinson, MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom, GP & Complementary Practitioner

F

eeling worried and anxious from time to time is a normal reaction that we all experience in certain situations or circumstances. If however, those feelings of anxiety are present on a regular basis they can interfere with your everyday life. A generalised anxiety disorder is common, especially in those ‘born worriers’ amongst us. On the physical level, it can cause dry mouth, tummy bloating, palpitations and tension headaches. On the mental level it can cause apprehension, fear, terror, restlessness, irritability, despair and panic attack, when severe.

Anxiety can be treated a number of ways, either alone or in combination. Conventional medicine is effective. For the pre-event anxiety such as before an exam, interview or plane flight, you may be prescribed Propranolol (a betablocker that reduces the body’s ‘fight or flight’ adrenaline) or Diazepam (Valium, a sedative but be careful as it is addictive if taken regularly and you should not drive with it). An anti-depressant in the same class as Prozac called Citalopram also has a licence for anxiety. This is taken on a regular basis if you have generalised continuous anxiety and is monitored by your GP. If you would prefer not to take conventional medication you could try herbal medicine. Valerian is a relaxant and mild sedative. Studies have shown that it is effective in improving sleep quality and duration.

Chamomile has a gentle anxiety-reducing action and relaxant effect – many people take it after the evening meal for this reason.

Homeopathy can also be very helpful for anxiety. For the exam, interview or speech nerves, a remedy called Arg Nit is especially effective for those anticipatory fears. Arsenicum Album is a remedy for those tense and

66 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

restless types who just can’t relax and settle. Anxiety that follows a specific event such as a shock is relieved

by Aconite (it is also very effective for panic feelings).

Besides medicines and remedies, generalised anxiety also responds excellently to counselling in order to tease out, understand and come to terms with the trigger factor that brought it on. More specifically, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is even better as it teaches you how to deal with the anxiety state itself; it gives you the tools to stop the downward spiralling of anxiety as well as the brooding and dwelling on the worry factors.

You can access NHS counselling services through your GP or directly by contacting ‘Steps 2 Well-being’ in Dorset or ‘Right Steps’ in Somerset.

Mind-body techniques such as meditation and relaxation may be helpful. Exercise releases the stimulant chemicals ‘endorphins’ which help both anxiety and depression. Yoga and massage can also be helpful to bring calm and focus. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is helpful for some people; selected needling can help restore the natural balance and flow of internal energies that are disturbed in general anxiety.

As I outlined above, anxiety which is either ‘brief ’, such as with an event, or ‘on-going’ as in the ‘born worrier’ should be tackled especially if it is interfering with your life. The biggest step is recognising it, admitting it and most importantly, asking for help. You may choose one strategy or technique, either alone or in combination.

Hopefully this guide will help you deal with your anxiety in order to enjoy life to its fullest. www.doctorTWRobinson.com www.glencairnclinic.co.uk

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When your family suffers the loss of a loved one, we are here to support, guide and reassure you – every step of the way Call Daniel on 01935 812647 100 Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AG Email: daniel@wsbrister.com www.wsbrister.com

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Tel 01935 389391 www.sherbornemobility.co.uk Visit our showroom Unit 5, South Western Business Park, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PS (Access via the station car park)

68 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

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Set in its own secluded, beautifully landscaped gardens, woodland and meadow, and with stunning views overlooking the Dorset countryside, it’s hard to resist the charms of the Old Vicarage. As soon as you step through the front door of this charming country house, you’ll discover an oasis of comfort, warmth, calm and relaxation.

Our highly trained staff ensure that everything - from the mouth-watering food and drink and the stylishly cosy bedrooms to the wide range of activities - will make the Old Vicarage truly a home from home. We have been recognised by the Cinnamon Trust as being one of the best pet friendly care homes in the country.

To arrange a visit please call on 01935 873033 or email info@tovic.com

Animal Care

BREEDING Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership

H

aving done most jobs to be found in general practise over the last 30-odd years, it’s ironic that one half of the profession spend their lives trying to get animals pregnant and the other half spend theirs trying to prevent unwanted kittens and puppies entering the world. With my large animal days behind me, I spend my work time with the furry and the fluffy, the purebred and the cross, helping some to breed but mostly preventing pregnancies.

It still surprises me that a few people forget that a kitten can become pregnant at 6 months old if allowed to roam freely, her mate an alley-cat with very loose morals and a good chance of carrying a sexually 70 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

transmitted disease. No matter how remote, the tomcat can sniff out a female in season and another unwanted pregnancy is on the way along with a potentially incurable infection, to be passed on to the next generation even before birth. Feline leukaemia virus (Felv) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are in the same family as HIV and are transmitted in the same way with the same consequences. The younger the victim, the more dire the prognosis and infected kittens rarely live more than a couple of years, spreading the infection to other cats during their short lives. The lesson is clear; neuter male and female cats before puberty and stop unwanted pregnancies, homeless kittens and

premature deaths in young cats.

So here’s a problem...if everyone did as I say, there would be no “moggies” born at all! The only kittens to be found would be pure breeds that have protected health status as the breeding toms and queens are tested for Felv and FIV (and other infectious and inherited diseases) to ensure they are clear. This potential problem of no “ordinary” kittens might need to be addressed but not until the full-to-bursting cat rescue centres have cleared their catteries with inmates gone to new homes. If this situation ever arose (which I doubt), then a system of healthy out-breeding could be established to create a supply (just short of demand) of healthy kittens that were valued properly by society. Although this controlled situation would require identification and licensing of all breeding cats, microchips are designed for just that and we already have a law requiring all dogs to be microchipped. Such strict regulation would lead to a reduction in the UK cat population in general but individuals would lead happier and healthier lives, and wild birds would benefit greatly!

Breeders of purebred cats have been selectively breeding for over 100 years, when a regulatory body was established known as the Cat Fancy. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy is the feline world’s Kennel Club equivalent and anybody thinking of breeding any cat should study their website for advice and guidance. The health of future generations must be the most important consideration, all the more difficult with the inbreeding necessary to maintain pure breeds. Although the health status of purebred cats is generally high, Persians often need wider nostrils and longer noses and Ragdolls and Maine Coons need genetic testing for a heart defect. Did you know cats can suffer from hip dysplasia? There are also inherited forms of deafness and blindness, biochemical disorders and skeletal deformities. Many of these conditions occur in non-pedigree cats but with much lower frequencies.

The importance of screening tests for breeding animals is well-recognised in the pedigree-animal world, to prevent extreme or unhealthy characteristics from being passed on to the next generation.

The situation for dogs is not so different although

certain breeds and crosses suddenly become very popular, for no reason other than a social media frenzy generating a temporary fashion. French Bulldogs are currently very popular and the value of a puppy has soared. The surge in this demand outstrips ethical UK supply by honest and caring breeders so, increasingly, the supply is being filled by under-age puppies from breeders in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, a trade that is unethical, illegal and dangerous. Mass production of puppies is a welfare problem no matter where it is based but add in the journey across Europe, the frequent lack of rabies vaccination and worming and we have firstrate animal welfare and public health issues happening right now. The Dogs Trust is trying to raise awareness (see their website) but it is up to everyone to consider where your puppy is coming from. Buy local! See both parents and visit the litter in reality, not in cyberspace! Do not believe claims on web-sites that import puppies from abroad, even though the import might appear legal. If we continue to support this trade, we are all responsible for the conditions the poor breeding dogs and puppies are subjected to. If you are buying a puppy or kitten, or thinking about breeding with your own pet, take the opportunity to help stop unhealthy breeding and unethical selling.

Unfortunately, protective legislation is inadequate and enforcement woefully unfit-for-purpose but with enough pressure, hopefully this will change.

Good UK breeders of pedigree dogs are registered with the Kennel Club and will have potential breeding dogs tested for inherited eye diseases, hip and elbow conformation. Ultrasound screening for heart and head defects in several breeds is well established and with the growing list of genetic tests available, some of the problems we have introduced into many breeds over the years is being reversed. If you are planning to breed your dog, ask your vet for advice and research healthy breeding on the Kennel Club website. Planning for a litter of puppies is a big job and it needs to be done properly, it’s not enough just wanting a puppy from a beloved family pet, no matter how attractive that might seem.

The lesson is clear; neuter male and female cats before puberty and stop unwanted pregnancies

www.newtonclarkevet.com www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

Animal Care

LATE SUMMER CATTLE PESTS Gemma Loader BVet/Med MRCVS, The Kingston Veterinary Group

As we approach late summer having had some variable weather, owners of livestock are advised to be extra vigilant over certain parasites.

Lungworm/Husk

Fluke

Following a few showers of summer rain alongside the warm conditions there will likely be a heavy burden of lungworm larvae on the grass. The larvae aim to crawl up the blades of grass and then become ingested by livestock. Dry weather will halt the movement of the larvae up the grass, but as soon as there is a shower of rain the larvae migrate up the grass stem. Huge volumes of lungworm larvae will be ingested and this results in a clinical lungworm outbreak.

The larvae migrate from the gut of the animal to the lungs where they mature to become adult worms. Mature adult lungworm then produce eggs which are coughed up and swallowed and then passed in the faeces – by the time the eggs come out in the faeces they have developed into an infective larval stage which allows them to quickly infect any animal that eats them. Within four weeks of ingesting these larvae, the cow or calf can be shedding millions of fresh larvae onto the pasture. Lungworm larvae can be spread large distances by a fungus which is found on cow dung. This propels the lungworm larvae into the air where they can be carried between farms if the wind is right. This can make it hard to eliminate it from a farm.

Lungworm generally affects dairy heifers in their first grazing season but for beef calves it would their second grazing season. Clinical signs associated with lungworm are: coughing, breathing difficulties, milk drop in adult dairy cows, weight loss and diarrhoea. The onset of clinical signs is very rapid and may arise with little warning. Severe, irreversible lung damage may occur in a short space of time. Early treatment with an appropriate anthelmintic (wormer), is therefore essential for a good outcome. However, prevention of the disease can be achieved via vaccination before the grazing season.

Warm and wet weather will also increase the incidence of liver fluke, which is caused by the parasite Fasciloa hepatica. This is because the intermediate host, the snail, thrives in warm, wet conditions. Fluke eggs are passed in the faeces of the cow then hatch and develop into an intermediate stage when the temperature is above 10o. The intermediate stage has a short lifespan and must be ingested by the intermediate host (the snail), to complete their life cycle. Development continues in the snail until it is shed and attaches itself to firm surfaces, such as blades of grass. These are then ingested by the cow completing the life cycle. Once inside the cow, the fluke migrate through the gut wall, and target the liver. An adult fluke can survive in cattle anything between six months to two years.

The clinical signs associated with liver fluke are: weight loss, diarrhoea, anaemia, reduced milk yield, reduced fertility and reduced weight gain.

A number of products are available for treating fluke in cattle. Flukicides are effective against immature and adult fluke.

Prevention can be achieved if cattle are kept from grazing on wet areas such as river banks and marshy ground. An appropriate anthelmintic (worming) protocol should be adopted to ensure liver fluke is covered.

72 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

For more information please contact the Kingston Veterinary Group on 01935 813288 or sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk www.kingstonvets.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

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DIFFERENT ROADS SOMETIMES LEAD TO THE SAME CASTLE Mark Lewis FRICS FNAVA, Partner, Symonds & Sampson

I

f you follow Game of Thrones you might recognise the quote but I think it sums up the post Brexit mood quite well. Whether you voted remain or leave we are where we are and there is a collective desire to arrive at the same place. A stronger, stable and healthy economy is the desire of everyone.

Research from Symonds & Sampson shows that we are on the right course with more sales agreed since the referendum than in the same period last year. In 2015 we were expecting a post-election lift but it was slow to materialise and the summer lull came early. This year people have postponed making the decision until the outcome but then, in the overwhelming number of cases, proceeded as they had planned.

So what’s the explanation? For most buyers and sellers the drivers to move are employment, age and more importantly the stage of their life, affordability and housing need. So if you think you’re still going to have a job, still need somewhere to live and can access mortgage lending then needs must. Moving to be nearer work or grandchildren, a desire for a larger or smaller house or garden or just a place of your own are decisions that cannot be put off forever and being happy is often far more important than worrying about what might happen in two, three or five years.

Change is likely to be slow – interest rates are forecast to remain low and lending availability should remain constant, unlike in 2008/9 when the banks were

in deep trouble. This means we would expect house prices to remain stable as demand persists and new supply is historically weak. This said, with uncertainty comes hesitation and we may see the number of transactions cool as people feel less urgency to move or climb the ladder. So while the basic need to buy and sell will keep the market predictable for the majority of buyers, there have been some interesting upshots from the Brexit vote.

Our sales throughout Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire have been strong, £45 million agreed since 24th June, with buyers continuing to move from the South East and London but it is the enquiries from expats in Europe that have been most interesting.

Many UK citizens living in France, for example, are nervous about President Hollande and the taxes that he might impose on them.

So the current sentiment seems more concerned with day to day practicalities of life than the uncontrollable machinations of global politics. There can be no doubt that impacts to the cost of borrowing, employment, skilled migration for the house building sector, internal UK politics and EU deals will all influence the housing market but with a new prime minister who appears strong, and certainly no pussy cat despite the kitten heels, it seems that we are back on the right road. www.symondsandsampson.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 75

Property

DOES YOUR PROPERTY HAVE AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE?

E

Anita Light and Paul Gammage, EweMove Sherborne

nergy Performance Certificates (EPC) are required on the construction, sale or rent of nearly all properties so the chances are that your property does need one. An EPC is valid for 10 years and there are some very limited exemptions.

Rented properties requiring an EPC:

• An individual house/dwelling (i.e. a self-contained property with its own kitchen/bathroom facilities) • Self-contained flats (i.e. each behind its own front door with its own kitchen/bathroom facilities) – separate EPCs will be required for each flat • Shared flats/houses (e.g. a letting of a whole flat or house to students/young professionals etc. on a single tenancy agreement) – you only require one EPC for the whole house • Mixed self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation – one EPC is required for each selfcontained flat/unit but no EPC is required for the remainder of the property

responsibility to ensure an EPC has been ordered prior to marketing and that one is returned within the relevant timescales • There is a penalty of up to £200 for non-compliance and an EPC will still be required • Please refer to April’s article “Energy Efficiency Improvements For Tenants” that details the landlord’s obligations should a property be below the required EPC rating Exemptions

There are various exemptions such as stand-alone buildings of less than 50m2, buildings due to be demolished, temporary buildings and listed buildings but most rented properties do not fall within these categories.

However, properties that are rented out for less than 4 months in any 12 month period are also exempt.

What about new builds?

Bedsits or room lets where there is a shared kitchen, toilet and/or bathroom but where each room has its own tenancy agreement do not require individual EPCs.

New build EPCs are created from plans and the building specification but can only be produced once the property is complete. During construction and before completion, a predicted energy assessment (PEA) can be produced and needs to be used in place of the EPC.

What are your obligations?

Holiday homes or an annexe

• Before marketing the property, and that includes marketing it for rent, you need to book an appointment with an Energy Assessor so that you have an EPC. Your EPC has to be available within 7 days of marketing unless there is a valid reason and every attempt has been made to get one in which case a further 21 days are allowed. If following this extension there is still no EPC, the property must be withdrawn from the market • The EPC rating must be included in all advertising/ commercial media. Where there is room in the particulars, the graph should also be included. Where there is not room, it is sufficient just to show the rating • It is primarily the property owner’s responsibility to ensure there is an EPC but the agent also has a

Do you rent a holiday home? If so, the rules apply if it is rented out for more than 4 months in any 12 month period.

If you have an annexe designed to be used separately from the main property (in that it has its own living facilities including bathroom, cooking facilities, a bedroom and own access) then it will need a separate EPC.

76 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Residential properties within a commercial property

If a residential dwelling is accessed via a commercial building then one commercial EPC will be required for the whole building. However, if the dwelling has separate access then a commercial EPC will be required for the commercial unit and a domestic EPC for the dwelling. www.ewemove.com/sherborne

Hi, we’re Anita and Paul Branch Directors of EweMove Sherborne Your Local Property Expert

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I have experience of buying & selling properties & how stressful it often is. On this occasion however, I have been lucky in discovering ‘EweMove’ who take the stress out of it by providing a brilliant service. I feel like they are working solely for me. Paul & Anita at EweMove in Sherborne are constantly in contact with us keeping us up to date with everything. They are professional in what they do, yet put me at ease so I feel confident to ask them anything that I am unsure about. From initially contacting them online I feel we have had their constant attention.

Whereas other more traditional agents are either unavailable or slow to respond. The photos, description & overall presentation of our house sale have been superb. I feel that this has been a significant factor in securing us a buyer within hours of being marketed. I can’t recommend Paul & Anita at EweMove highly enough.

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A R E YO U P R E PA R E D F O R THE CHANGES AHEAD? In the current climate of uncertainty, it is important to seek face-to-face financial advice.

Global markets have been turbulent since the EU referendum, and there is no denying that the Brexit result will continue to create disruption in the short term. Parts of the transition period are likely to continue to be volatile for investors, and markets will not be fully at ease until there is more certainty about the timing and nature of the UK’s exit.

Whilst the result may yet alter a great deal about the UK, it does not alter the principles of investing for the long term or the need to build and protect your financial future.

Contact us today to gain a clear perspective on the challenges and opportunities that exist in the current climate.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

Tel: 01747 855554 Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk

The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The title ‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

Finance

CALM AFTER THE STORM

Martyn Hurll, Chartered Financial Planner, Peter Harding Wealth Management

T

he United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union brings a 43-year association to its end. Parts of the transition period are likely to continue to be volatile for investors and markets will not be fully at ease until there is more certainty about the timing and nature of the UK’s exit and details of its future trading agreements are known.

Global markets have been turbulent since the referendum, while the pound has come under pressure and there is no denying that the Brexit result will continue to create disruption in the short term. But, putting aside the recent volatility and taking a longterm view will help people plan more confidently for the future. “At times like this, it pays to keep calm when all around are losing control” says Neil Woodford, one of the UK’s most experienced and successful fund managers. “This doesn’t change anything fundamental.

I don’t think the prospects of the businesses I have invested in have deteriorated as a result of Brexit”.

Whilst there are also fresh political risks for people to consider, the referendum result does at least remove the largest domestic uncertainty that had been troubling financial markets. Looking ahead, the very slowness of exit negotiations should enable sentiment to settle and investors’ focus to turn to the future and explore their options carefully. Indeed, post-Brexit global stock markets have probably surprised most observers on the upside with the UK market hitting a twelve month high and Wall Street climbing to a new all-time level as investors absorb the immediate ramifications.

Following the vote, Central Banks were swift to reassure global markets by promising additional liquidity to banks. Here in the UK, at its August meeting, the Bank of England cut interest rates to just 0.25% and

80 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

re-instated its quantitative easing policy by announcing it intends to purchase both gilts and corporate bonds over the coming months as part of a £170bn financial package to boost growth. BoE Governor Mark Carney did however scotch the idea of negative interest rates, where banks and potentially private investors have to pay to keep cash on deposit, which have undermined sentiment towards banks in the EU and done little to help a stagnating Japanese economy achieve meaningful and lasting recovery.

Away from the UK the American economy continues to grow, albeit slower than many would like, helping unemployment drop significantly in recent years and boosting consumer confidence. This has helped support share prices on Wall Street which is seen as a relatively safe haven for international equity investors compared to its global peer group. It also helps explain why investors have withdrawn record amounts of funds from the likes of Europe in recent months as they re-position their portfolios to reflect current uncertainty.

Recent events have, unsurprisingly, created a great deal of short term noise in the markets and this is not always easy to resist. Difficult as it may be, it is important to always maintain a long-term view and, whilst the referendum result may yet alter a great deal about the UK, it does not alter the principles of investing. This means ensuring investors both understand and manage the inherent risks of investing to help them retain confidence. So, however uncomfortable it may feel at times like this, investors should remain focused on the reasons why they invested in the first place. www.peterhardingwm.co.uk

FINANCIAL SECURITY AFTER SELLING YOUR BUSINESS

I

Jeremy Le Sueur, 4 Shires Asset Management

t can be a wonderful moment when that big cheque arrives from your solicitor. The bank account is full but there are many demands that can be made on your funds, from holidays, paying off mortgages to house deposits for children. The thrill of selling your business is soon replaced with a need for solid and tax efficient financial advice. Putting in place a sensible financial structure will mean your money can last longer, be more tax efficient and give you the security you may need after your main income source has been turned into capital.

Assuming you have timed your sale with your retirement plans, you may well have a sufficient pension pot to fund your basic income needs. If you feel your pension is insufficient, it is usually tax efficient boosting your pension with contributions.

ISA allowances should also be used to boost your tax free retirement income. This year the allowance is £15,240, but from 5th April 2017, this will rise to £20,000 per annum. If you and your spouse contribute, over the next 8 months you could boost your tax free assets by £70,480. Continual take up of those ISA allowances also means your tax free income and capital growth options will grow over time.

By then targeting higher and sustainable incomeproducing shares in your portfolio, you will also be able to boost your financial prospects. These shares are out there but often research available to individuals is limited, and this is where a professional investment manager can add considerable value. www.4-shires.com

Want to know what your home is really worth?

We offer a free, no obligation valuation service. There’s no hard sell and it only takes 20 minutes.

Given the recent property price increases we have witnessed across the county, this is a perfect opportunity for you to understand the value of your home should you wish to sell, or are simply interested in what your home is worth.

01935 815 155

St Georges House, Greenhill, Sherborne, DT9 5HF • Email: sherborne@mortonnew.co.uk www.mortonnew.co.uk

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Finance

MINIMISING COSTS FOR THE INVESTOR Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning

W

hen we plan to buy anything in this internet age, from a kitchen appliance to insurance, making a price comparison is easy to achieve; a Google search or a visit to a price comparison website and Bob’s your uncle.

When it comes to investing, gaining meaningful insight into the real cost is not quite so simple. We had a go using the latest insights available and came to the conclusion that a non-predictive investment approach is still a better alternative to active fund management.

Why costs matter

You can’t control the markets but you can control how much you pay to invest. Every pound that you pay in costs and charges comes directly out of your potential return.

Costs, like interest, have a compounding effect over time. They can have a dramatic impact on investment returns, one that’s not always obvious or transparent.

The elements of investment cost

The range of fees and costs incurred by investors is long, complicated and hard to put an accurate figure on. We have tried to make it a little simpler: Ongoing charges figure (OCF):

The ongoing charges figure (OCF) is the clear cost that investors incur from investing in a fund. It is the sum of the annual management charge (AMC) charged by the fund manager and other direct costs incurred by the fund which can be offset against its underlying returns.

As such, the OCF is nearly always higher than the AMC alone. OCFs can be found in the Key Investor Information Documents (KIIDS) that each fund is required to produce.

Turnover (dealing) costs:

These are the hidden costs incurred by investors when 82 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

securities within a fund are bought and sold. The costs are the product of the proportion of the fund that has been turned over and the costs of carrying out the trades to sell and buy securities. Investors are, by-and-large, in the dark when it comes to dealing costs although some academics have previously attempted to calculate their impact.

Costs in practice

The illustration below provides a summary of the estimated cost differential based on the latest research that we can find, capturing both the visible and the hidden costs. The figures relate to a 60% growth assets (equity) and 40% defensive asset (bond) mix. The representative non-predictive portfolio is based on a global portfolio with allocations to value and small cap equities, emerging markets and global commercial property, balanced by inflation-linked and short-dated global bonds. The average active portfolio is based on the same asset allocation and dealing costs but uses the average OCFs of UK domiciled equity and bond funds and sector-specific portfolio turnover rates.

Conclusion

We cannot overstate the importance of tight management of all costs. It is something that we continue to do on behalf of our clients, through our systematic and low cost approach to investing. Over the past few years nonpredictive fund costs have fallen significantly, which is great news for investors. As the legendary Jack Bogle once said: ‘In investing, realise that you get what you don’t pay for.

Whatever future returns the markets are generous enough to deliver, few investors will succeed in capturing 100% of those returns, simply because of the high costs of investing — all those commissions, management fees, investment expenses, yes, even taxes — so pare them to the bone.’ We agree. www.ffp.org.uk

Your Life, Your Money, Your Future

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FFP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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Earning enough on your investments?

We offer experienced, personalised investment management for private clients We are experts at managing income portfolios We keep the costs of owning financial assets down to enhance returns We offer our clients superior financial planning Contact us today for your free portfolio review and see how we can help you improve returns Call Jeremy Le Sueur on 01935 813380 or email info@4-shires.com www.4-shires.com

Expert Asset Management

21 The Old Yarn Mills, Westbury, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RQ 4 Shires Asset Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise, and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

SHERBORNE CHAMBER OF TRADE & COMMERCE

A

Andrew Maddock, President

s readers will well know, Sherborne is famed for its eclectic array of independent stores. From homewares to jewellery, boutique fashions to hard-wares, we really do have something for everyone in this town.

In fact, we pride ourselves on the overall shopping experience we provide to visitors. We know people visit our town to amble up Cheap Street and pop in and out of the wonderfully laid-out shops and browse what’s on offer.

However, running a small, independent store does not come without its challenges. We have to work incredibly hard and make every purchase count. Of course, we welcome browsers, but we always hope for at least one purchase, no matter how small. We are, after all, up against issues like rent, rates, staff costs, stock etc, which all add up.

That is why the Chamber is supporting the Just a Card initiative. The campaign aims to encourage people to support independent shops, galleries and designer/makers by making a small purchase in every shop they visit.

Since the campaign launched, the organisers have been inundated with messages from retailers who say how vital the message is. They have reported that the buying public said they were often embarrassed to make a small purchase as they felt it appeared mean. This is exactly the sort of mentality we need to change.

The aim is that, by recognising the distinctive logo, people will be prompted to think again before they say ‘how lovely’ to the shop owner before walking out. Then two days later, when in need of that perfect birthday card, they panic buy at the end of their supermarket shop.

The campaign uses cards as an example, as people always need cards, but any item lovingly created can be worthy of a purse raid.

You will start to see the Just A Card promotional cards in our independent shops – so now you know a little of what it’s about. To find out more, visit the website www.justacard.org.

That’s not to say we do not care about the bigger chains, which also have so much to offer our residents and visitors. We would love to have involvement from more of the chains within the chamber. More on that in a future column. www.sherbornechamber.co.uk

84 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

I

’ve been doing this job for some years now and I am still asked what I do all day and if it is a ‘real job’! So I thought that this month I’d relate just a few of the things we have done in the last month.

There is a care home not many miles away that wanted wi-fi throughout the building, so I went along and surveyed. I worked out that we would need 3 cables routed around the outside to feed 6 access points around the home. The quote was accepted and the cables installed. I then returned to connect it all up but it failed to work, and after much testing we found out that the access points didn’t like working in pairs and that they set-up interference between each other. I had to go back with a different brand and all worked fine. Despite the best intentions things don’t always go as planned!

I recently went to Blandford to repair a broken monitor. I turned it on! Need I say more?

A fair sized local organisation caught a nasty ransomware virus contained within an email despite having the best email filtering system, despite having a network firebox with built-in security, despite antivirus on the PC And despite the owner being bright enough to have known better! The virus encrypted all the data on his PC and then went on to encrypt the data on a network storage device and other shared data.

We successfully stopped and removed the virus, cleaned the system or encrypted files and recovered 99% of the damaged data from cloud backup…all within 24 hours. If you’re a business or individual with valuable data or just family photographs you cannot have too much backup!

We sold a new laptop system to a nice couple who had downsized and wanted to get rid of their PC, screen, keyboard, mouse, scanner and printer. We installed the laptop downstairs in the kitchen with the wifi and a wireless all-in-one printer in a cupboard upstairs. No clutter and we also managed to get all their email and address books to synchronise with their iPad…happy people!

Another local man, who shall remain nameless, was ‘cleaning up my PC’! He succeeded in deleting most of the operating system and start-up files along with a few other bits and pieces. Sadly we couldn’t put it back together but we were able to get all his data back and then re-install his operating system from new!

And finally, a man gave his young daughter his old iPhone when he got a new one. He spent hours transferring all his stuff but forgot to turn off the sync between the two phones. When his daughter found hundreds of unwanted contacts and emails on her phone she set about deleting them all. He watched in horror as his stuff magically disappeared from his new phone, seemingly by itself ! Again, cloud backup got most of it back again.

I don’t think that any of the national chain stores or internet wholesale outlets can offer a service like this so, as always, if you need help, you know where to come!

Next Month … How old is old? www.computing-mp.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

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86 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

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info@franksgroup.co.uk www.franksgroup.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87

SHERBORNE LITERARY FESTIVAL PREVIEW John Gaye, Sherborne Literary Society

NOEL (RAZOR) SMITH

I

magine being a lively, somewhat rebellious, teenager of 14 years, playing truant from school with a friend of the same age. Imagine being lifted off the streets of your home town by a van load of police, being tortured by them until you admitted to 68 different acts of burglary, having your fingers broken one by one until you gave in to the pain and then being ‘fitted up’ for those crimes, signing a confession and being brought before the magistrate.

It all sounds very third world and certainly one likes to think it would never happen in England, let alone in our capital city. But this is the back story to Sherborne Literary Festival’s speaker on Thursday 13th October, Noel Smith, and it did happen in London and only about 40 years ago.

Fortunately the magistrate who had young Noel and his companion up in front of him spotted the bizarre nature of the charges and discharged them without a stain on their character. But the damage had been done. Noel Smith had lost any faith in authority and in particular he declared war on the police.

From that moment Noel Smith set out to create hell for his local constabulary. He started stealing motorbikes, with which he could taunt coppers in their cars; he moved out of his parental home, left school prematurely and started to live on the run while living it up off the proceeds of his bike sales. He developed a taste for this style of life and very soon he was being arrested, charged and imprisoned on a regular basis.

By the time he was 17 he was a hardened criminal and regular guest of Her Majesty in various institutions from where he could develop his career in crime. By now, when he was not locked away, he had become a gang leader involved on a routine basis with regular fights and criminal rackets. His nickname of Razor came about by the use of his favourite weapon of choice.

From there his craving for ever more excitement and quick riches developed into bank robbery with guns and

88 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

he became one of London’s most notorious armed bank robbers. He was very good at it and quickly became a very rich man. But inevitably justice caught up with him and he was jailed for 20 years.

In prison he was a nightmare. He was constantly trying to escape and no-one messed with Razor. He regularly beat up those incarcerated for what the inmates regarded as unacceptable crimes and prison officers lived in fear of him as many of them had found themselves in hospital as a result of crossing him. He spent much of his time in solitary confinement. As a result he taught himself to read and developed a real love of books.

Then he had a Damascene Moment.

His eldest son, who was in HMP Feltham, died and he was forbidden from attending the funeral. This was the moment when he realised how much of his life he had wasted and how much his actions had impinged on his family. From that moment on, he was determined to prove to everyone that he could revert to being a responsible citizen.

Noel began a long period of rehabilitation helped through his writing and encouraged by the journalist Will Self, who helped publish his first book A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun, written while still in prison.

As a result of his own efforts and one particularly enlightened institution he was eventually released and since then has been on the editorial board of Inside Times, the in-house journal for prisoners. He has also written three more books and is a well-known and highly respected commentator on TV and radio about our judicial system, about which he knows more than most. www.sherborneliterarysociety.com Noel (Razor) Smith will be speaking at the Sherborne Literary Festival (sponsored by Peter Harding Wealth Management) at 11:30am on Thursday 13th October.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Short Story

FIVE PIECES OF ME Jan Pain

90 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

I

t is unsurprising that the following selections reflect the past. I have a strong sense of history and family and am prone to sentimentality.

The most atmospheric house in which I once lived was a Bath terrace where a cache of late 18th century woodcuts were discovered under floorboards. These meticulously engraved small cards were intended as children’s reading aids with delightful illustrations of contemporary life.

Each is described by a phonetically hyphened word: for example the pot-ter, showing the artisan at his wheel. The collection is now framed and is a daily reminder of Bath life over 200 years ago - a city still dear to my heart.

The face of a solemn little girl stares out at me from an old photograph.

She is standing beside iron railings in Battersea Park, circa 1915. Wearing a white flounced dress and matching mob-cap, she pictures perfectly an indulged only child. Years later she recollected her outings. Accompanied by her nursemaid, Edith, she was never truly at ease. These occasions were when Edith secretly met her ‘young man’, threatening my mother with dire repercussions if she ‘split’. Captured by a Brownie Box camera, my mother’s expression speaks volumes and evokes sadness and confusion.

Before my grandfather went to war in 1915, he took his wife to Brighton on a shopping spree in The Lanes. There, he bought her what is now my most treasured piece of jewellery, a gold ring in the shape of The Star of David, set with Russian brown diamonds. It was second-hand and, to the best of my knowledge, my forebears were Gentile. It was bought on a whim, perhaps, as a farewell gift. When my grandmother died, she still had the invoice for £13.10s! The romance stays with me, as I wear it constantly.

It is the regret of many auctioneers that furniture becomes ‘separated’.

When wills are made and the time comes for the division of the spoils, matching sets are broken up. Thus it is with my elegant satinwood display cabinet in the revived Adam style of the 1880s. The floral and swag design is exquisitely inlaid with coloured woods and the bevelled glass doors reveal the original eau de nil velvet-lined interior. Consulting an old inventory, it appears there were originally twelve complementary chairs!

In contrast, prosaically, to illustrate the practical side of my nature, I treasure my 1930s multi-purpose kitchen gadget. My father, working in a solicitor’s office, had a client, Mr. Jaffa, an inventor. He had patented his latest flight of fancy, which information is engraved on the metal blade: Jaffa’s Patent No. 280437. Price 2/8 Post Paid, 7 Tor Hill Road, Torquay – a precursor to mail order. Its functions include a potato peeler, apple corer and cucumber slice. Used daily, it surpasses any other kitchen tool. So impressed was my father by Mr. Jaffa’s entrepreneurial flair, he purchased several spares!

Can it be that five random objects define me? Alongside my sentimentalism and sense of history, I admit to incurable romanticism, an aesthetic appreciation and, above all, practicality. This exercise has flushed out the detail.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

FOLK TALES EMMA BROWNJOHN Words Jo Denbury, Photography Katharine Davies

E

mma Brownjohn has come home. The energetic illustrator, muralist and writer has returned to the fold after over 20 years in London and Brighton. Now, with her faithful terrier, Gypsy at her side, it doesn’t take long to realise that Emma has big plans afoot.

Having grown up in Sherborne, Emma left town at the age of 18 for Camberwell School of Art where she graduated with a first in Fine Art Illustration. As one of only two that year to gain a first, Emma felt a responsibility to continue in illustration and pursued a successful career working for the likes of Harrods and Coca Cola before turning to her first love, painting, 12 years ago.

‘I have painted since I was three,’ she says, ‘But I was too nervous to do it at art college because I felt you had to express some sort of political agenda. But now, for me, I strive to create work that celebrates colour, and joy, something just as important.’

‘I rarely watch the news because I find the inequality too depressing,’ she continues. ‘So my aim, through my work, and ventures like The Yard, is to try to create little pockets of space and time within this complicated world for people to enjoy themselves and feel inspired.’

The Yard, a pop-up shop above Vida Comida in Swan Yard, opens on the 1st October. It will feature a vibrant, eclectic mix of goods from over 25 makers and artists both local and from further afield, including fashion, textiles, lighting, ceramics, pottery, jewellery, furniture, leather bags, glassware, prints, as well as Emma’s own work and, I am told, opportunities to ride on vintage planes!

The process of finding work to show is what Emma describes as ‘colliding’ with artists. She has purposefully allowed the work to come to her eye rather than going out to source particular pieces. Emma is adamant that

92 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

as an artist herself she wants to give something back to the art community by offering lesser known artists and producers a ‘voice’.

As Emma says, ‘The whole premise of this pop-up is to showcase both fledgling and established artists and makers. Those with an innate desire to ‘make’ or ‘create’, a shared calling without the burden of worrying where it will go, who will see it, or, perhaps, how much it will sell for. Here you will find artists who work on a smaller scale and others that prefer the process of making to that of self promotion.’

A keen traveller, Emma has ventured through New Zealand, Indonesia and India. ‘The eight months I spent in India heavily influence my use of colour, muted tones and big ‘sparks’. I am interested in the effect colour has on us as viewers and how it lifts the mood.’

She admits that here in Dorset the lush and already painterly vistas are hard to improve on but that is, in part, the reason for Emma’s return - a new challenge and a desire to work in her native landscape.

Her natural sense of adventure has led Emma to embark on a new series for The Yard. These surprising, enticing sculptural works of found objects, whilst very different to what has come before, remain true to Emma’s residing, energetic themes of colour, and joy.

In the short time since Emma’s return she has already enjoyed a successful solo exhibition of her work through the Jerram Gallery. With the opening of The Yard and Emma’s exciting new creative direction I have a feeling there is a lot more to come. www.emmabrownjohn.com The Yard pop-up gallery and shop opens 1st October until 31st December, above Vida Comida on Swan Yard, Sherborne DT9 3AX.

www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

LITERARY REVIEW Mark Greenstock, Sherborne Literary Society

Channel Shore: from the White Cliffs to Land’s End,

by Tom Fort (Simon and Schuster 2015) £8.99 Exclusive Sherborne Times reader price of £7.99 at Winstone’s Books

T

om Fort, the author of the best-selling The A303, has now written up his cycle ride of 2013 along the Channel coast of southern England. The book originated in an invitation to create a BBC television series, since aborted; but that might not have been as satisfying as its offspring.

The question is, how is it to be read? As with The A303, it could be a strategic mistake to start at the beginning, though one might want to end where the author does, at Land’s End. Just as good, perhaps, to visit the skeletal map at the front of the book, and in conjunction with the Index pick and choose one’s way according to preference.

I started with Devon’s Budleigh Salterton, where I spent many delightful spring holidays as a child, and where my great aunt Edith claimed to have captained the Croquet Club – the latter, at any rate, is still going strong today according to Fort, with a notice warning the unwary: ‘Danger. Beware. Injuries Can Be Caused

By Fast Moving Croquet Balls.’ The book does not claim to be a comprehensive gazetteer or a travel guide; it’s a treasure-trove of observations, conversations, anecdotes, quotes, questions. Did George V say ‘Bugger Bognor’?

Why is there a statue of the Vietnamese general Ho Chi Minh at Newhaven? Which building in Bournemouth was voted the most hated in the British Isles? Did Jane Austen bathe naked at Lyme Regis? Were German torpedo boats really responsible for the deaths of American servicemen in Lyme Bay? Several pages are devoted to Dorset’s most famous shipwreck, of the 94 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

Halsewell in January 1786 under the command of ‘the unfortunate Captain Peirce’ (spelt incorrectly as Pierce).

Fort is dispassionate enough about the ambivalent lure of the familiar, but in his stories about promenades, piers, shrimping pools, crowded beaches, amorous adventures, fossil-hunters, shipwrecks, smugglers, sea monsters and mermaids, there is plenty of material for amusement or even nostalgia. Inevitably some of the past glories of the coast have gone forever or are irredeemably blighted by second homes and caravan parks, though Fort tries to put in a kindly word for both. Reaching the puzzling anticlimax of Land’s End, he orders a cream tea at the hotel. ‘The scone was stale and powdery. I ate it anyway and thought how far I had come from Dover. I had not solved any great mysteries or uncovered any startling truths. I stopped thinking about myself and my journey, and surrendered myself to the sound of the waves breaking insistently against the rocks below.’ In the end it is the people and the ever-unreliable weather that have the last word. As a gent wrapped up against the chill of April on Hayling Island muses, ‘What is it about the seaside? I don’t know, I just know I can’t be without it.’

This book will bring much pleasure and contentment, like the recognition of an old friend.

Tom Fort will be appearing at the Sherborne Literary Festival on Saturday 15th October, 2pm, Digby Hall.

See www.sherborneliterarysociety.com for further details

t, , ’s ld 16 or er or 20 pp b W g u m , e in S te rm th orn cer ep Fa at M an th S iln rne ds ee C 0 ek rbo e ea ff an 3 R Co ill ay Lim Sh it m d , is st c ri fe d, V ge Ma , F Ca oa m r R ig f B o 3p ile rd d a ai to Tr fo In am ey orn r h 10 G T

SUDOKU

Fill the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 section contain all numbers between 1 and 9 AUGUST SOLUTIONS

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Act of making peace (11)

2. Old Spanish currency (pl) (7)

9. Type of poem (5)

3. Wear out completely (7)

10. Vitality (3)

4. Well-matched (6)

11. Last Greek letter (5)

5. Electronic device (5)

12. ______ MacArthur:

6. Maritime (5)

sailor (5) 13. Strip of land by a highway (8) 16. Tonic (4-2-2) 18. View; picture (5)

7. Movement towards a destination (11) 8. Freed (11) 14. Japanese flower arranging (7)

21. Strong gust of wind (5)

15. Happening after the event (7)

22. Strange (3)

17. Situated within a building (6)

23. Spanish wine (5)

19. ______ Izzard: stand-up

24. Holland (11)

comedian (5) 20. Our planet (5) www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

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FRESH STARTS AND NEW BEGINNINGS Canon Eric Woods, Vicar of Sherborne

I

had a letter from the Church of England Pensions Board the other day, informing me that on 26th June this year I had clockedup 37 years and 299 days of stipendiary (that is, salaried) ordained ministry and am therefore entitled to a full clergy pension when I retire.

Whoo-hoo! That means I can look forward to receiving two-thirds of my present stipend – or, put another way, two-thirds of not very much.

But I’m not asking for or expecting sympathy: we shall still be much better placed than many in today’s world.

To be honest, I had wondered if six years of higher education (three reading history and three studying theology) might have made a dent in my pensionable service. But that is apparently not part of the legacy of those special years. I remain immensely grateful to a system which allowed me to pursue my studies – first at Oxford and then at Cambridge – without incurring huge student debts. Today’s students start their studies knowing that they are beginning to amass a legacy of debt. It seems to me the very opposite of progress. And I also had the opportunity to do seasonal work in the vacations, which is harder to come by nowadays.

School until 18 and then all that time at university make me think to this day of early autumn as the real New Year. I can still smell the smell of my school as we headed back in September for the start of the new term: a

98 | Sherborne Times | September 2016

strange mixture of ink and chalk and polish and gym shoes. And I also vividly remember the heady sense of new beginnings and a fresh start.

The possibilities seemed endless.

Perhaps those “new years” at school and university instilled in me a deep appreciation of new beginnings. And many, many people tell me that this is what they most crave in life: the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again. How many times have you begun a sentence with ‘If only I knew then what I know now...’ or ‘If only I hadn’t...’. In fact I think ‘if only’ is the saddest phrase in the English language.

The central message of Christianity is that every day can be the start of a New Year, with all the old regrets and guilts dealt with – the slate truly washed clean, and new life beckoning. All we have to do – but it is all – is to dump at the foot of the Cross the emotional baggage we all carry round: everything we’ve thought and said and done (or has been said or done to us) which has become a burden. A simple prayer asking for God’s forgiveness can open up a whole fresh start. But sometimes it’s more complicated than that: the burdens of the past can take a lot of unpacking. That’s where the clergy can so often help. We have the time – or, rather, we can make the time – to listen. Come and talk. www.sherborneabbey.com

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