APR IL 2017 | FREE
A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR
FORGING FRIENDSHIPS with Farrier, Tony Sutcliffe
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk
WELCOME
T
he landscape is stirring. With an almost perceptible fizz, squeeze and a pop it is awake again and full of ideas – a well-rested, wideeyed chatterbox, urging you to join her outside. Leaving the weight of sullen thoughts behind, we step into the light, feel the warmth on our face and all is forgiven. And so to April… In anticipation of this month’s Sherborne Abbey Festival we meet the Abbey’s head chorister and Sherborne School Swing Band. Our adopted grandmother and Bake Off star Val Stones bakes a batch of dangerously moreish Easter biscuits, film writer Alex Ballinger takes us on a celluloid tour of Sherborne, we celebrate 30 years of Castle Gardens, meet the town’s new baker Gary Reeve, learn from Luke Pender-Cudlip about the urbanite’s lure to the West Country and enjoy a glass of pinot with esteemed resident wine writer David Copp. Katharine and Jo meanwhile watch and listen in admiration, as Tony Sutcliffe shares his story and demonstrates the ancient craft of farriery. Happy Easter. Glen Cheyne, Editor editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk @sherbornetimes
CONTRIBUTORS Alex Ballinger @lexBallinger
Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne
David Birley Mayor of Sherborne
Design Andy Gerrard
Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com
Sub-editor Julia Chadwick Photography Katharine Davies Feature writer Jo Denbury Print Pureprint Distribution team David Elsmore Christine Knott Sarah Morgan Alfie Neville-Jones Maggie Pelly Claire Pilley Geoff Wood Contact 01935 814803 07957 496193 @sherbornetimes editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk PO Box 9170 Sherborne DT9 9DW 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, iStock, Alamy and Dreamstime 4 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardeneronline.co.uk Ryan Clayton Oxley Sports Centre @OxleySports oxleysc.com Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk Giles Dick-Read Reads Coffee Roasters @reads_coffee readscoffee.co.uk Sarah Dodd Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk Millie Furby The Slipped Stitch @ThSlippedStitch theslippedstitch.co.uk John Gaye Sherborne Literary Society sherborneliterarysociety.com Felicity Griffiths Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org Robin Hague Robin James @RobinJamesAveda robin-james.co.uk Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms @SanctuaryDorset thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk Matyn Hurll APFS Peter Harding Wealth Management peterhardingwm.co.uk
Mark Lewis Symonds & Sampson @symsam symondsandsampson.co.uk Jenny Campbell Sherborne Scribblers Paul Gammage & Anita Light EweMove Sherborne @ewemoveyeovil ewemove.com Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkevet.com Kitty Oakshott Upstairs Downstairs Interiors @updowninteriors updowninteriors.co.uk Luke Pender-Cudlip Knight Frank @kfsherborne knightfrank.co.uk Lindsay Punch Lindsay Punch Styling @stylistmum lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk Gary Reeve Reeve the Baker @ReevetheBaker reevethebaker.co.uk Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Kate Scott Bsc (hons) Herbal Medicine MNIMH The Sherborne Rooms thesherbornerooms.com roundhillherbs.wix.com/roundhill Jane Somper Goldhill Organics @GoldhillOrganic goldhillorganics.co.uk Val Stones bakerval.com Sally Welbourn Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Wayne Winstone Winstone’s Books @winstonebooks winstonebooks.co.uk Revd. Dr. Rich Wyld Sherborne Abbey @SherborneAbbey sherborneabbey.com
46 8
APRIL 2017
What’s On
36 Interiors
88 Finance
14 Unearthed
40 Antiques
93 Tech
15 Sherborne School Swing Band
42 Gardening
94 Directory
18 Shopping Guide
46 FARRIER TONY SUTCLIFFE
98 Short Story
20 Wild Dorset
53 Food & Drink
99 Literature Review
24 Family
64 Animal Care
100 Crossword
28 Pattern
67 Body & Mind
101 Pause for Thought
32 Film
78 Property
102 The Mayor
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5
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WHAT'S ON Listings ____________________________ Tuesdays & Thursdays 10.30am Sherborne Town Walk 1½-2 hrs with Blue Badge Guide Cindy. Tuesdays from Sherborne TIC, Digby
tunes by ear, experiment with chords and
different genres; from folk to country,
all instruments. £10 in advance/£12 on
between. Please re-serve seats by ringing
arrangements. Suitable for all levels and
the door/£25 for 3 consecutive workshops. laurelswift.co.uk Julia: 01935 817905
jazz standards, blues and all places in the Box Office. 01305 837299
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Wednesday 19th 7.30pm-10pm
Rd. covering central Sherborne, &
Monday 10th 9.30am-3.30pm
'Birds in a Cage'
Thursdays from the Post Office, Cheap
West Country Embroiderers -
Street covering upper Sherborne and
Needle Lace
Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne.
Saxon Hound Street. £5, 01935 815341
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Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne.
Saturday 1st - Friday 21st 9.30am-
e meet monthly on 2nd Monday of each month, with an optional workshop, £15
5pm Monday to Saturday
booked in advance. New members are
Author, journalist Derek Niemann will be talking about a group of POWs' shared love of birds. £2.50, contact 01935 872742 or 01963 23355
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welcomed. Details: Ann 01963 34696
Wednesday 19th - Saturday 22nd
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Milborne Port Opera's
and Jenny Wheatley
Wednesday 12th 9.30am-1pm
"Into the Woods"
Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street,
Reads Coffee Pop-up Cafe and
Milborne Port Village Hall. A
815261 jerramgallery.com
Limekiln Farm, Thornford Rd,
Wednesday 5th 2pm and 8pm
readscoffee.co.uk
Exhibition Of New Work by Vanessa Bowman, Fiona Millais
Sherborne. Stock viewable online, 01935
Shop in aid of Project Waterfall
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Sherborne DT9 6PS. 01935 481010
Sherborne Decorative and
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wonderfully imaginative take on fairy
stories, anything can happen when their stories intertwine in the dark mysteri ous woods! All set to Sondheim's
spellbinding music and performed by
the award-winning MPO. Tickets £12
Fine Arts Society - Romance,
Wednesday 12th 7.30pm
Realism and Revolution
Sherborne Flicks:
Digby Hall, Hound St. Fenella Billington
A United Kingdom
Fragonard and Boucher, drawing a
In the 1940s, Prince Seretse Khama
Saturday 22nd 7.30pm
he marries a white woman. £6 from
Players Theatre
£12! sherborneartslink.org.uk
dance & laughter that takes you back to the
with £10. concession on Wednesday only. 01963 371572 milborneportopera.co.uk
examines the world of Watteau,
Memorial Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne.
contrast with that of Gainsbor-ough,
of Botswana shocks the world when
The World Famous
Sherborne. TIC. NEW: Pre-film supper,
Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne. Song,
____________________________
golden era of the British Music Hall. Stars
Stubbs and Hogarth, over a period which covers the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. New members are
welcome. For further information visit
____________________________
our website: sherborne-dfas.org.uk
Thursday 13th 11am-2pm
____________________________
Tied Back into History -
Wednesday 5th evening
spinning demonstration
Bournemouth Symphony
with April Grayson
Saturday 22nd 7.00pm
Orchestra concert trip to
Sherborne Museum. Free family-
The World Famous
be gratefully received. April will be
Old Time Music Hall - A Jan Hunt
of her craft over several hours, so pop in
TIC sherborneartslink.org.uk
Lighthouse, Poole Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn. Coach and ticket £56, £51 Friends. sherborneartslink.org.uk
____________________________ Sunday 9th 1.30pm–4.30pm
from BBC's 'Good Old Days.' Tickets £12 from Sherborne TIC. 01935 815899
____________________________
friendly event, although donations will
Players Theatre
spinning and demonstrating the skills
production. Tickets £10 from Sherborne
and ask her questions.
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Wednesday 26th 7pm-9pm
Sherborne Folk Band workshop
Saturday 15th 8pm
An Introduction to Family
Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road,
The Watkins and Swarbrick Band
History with Ted Udall
Leigh Village Hall. Acoustic music from
Somerset and Dorset Family History
Sherborne, DT9 3NL. Learn to play folk 8 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
APRIL 2017 Society, The Parade, Cheap Street,
See the full programme and book online
with Mark Vyvyan Penney
on uncovering your own family stories.
at Sherborne Tourist Information Office,
Friends sherborneartslink.org.uk
Sherborne. An essential 5 week course
Very suitable for complete beginners or for those wishing to brush up on their
at sherborneabbeyfestival.org or in person
Digby Hall, Hound Street. £65, £55
Digby Road or call 01935 815341
____________________________ The Slipped Stitch
skills. Members £30, non-members £35.
Friday 28th 7pm-9pm
01935 389611
of Sherlock Holmes
Wednesday 26th 7.30pm
Sherborne DT9 3AP. £25 per person,
Saturday 1st, 10am-12pm
sherlockinsherborne.co.uk
Wednesday 5th, 7pm-9pm
Download booking form online sdfhs.org
The Singular Exploits
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Powell Theatre, Abbey Road,
The Julian, Cheap St, Sherborne.
Call 01935 508249 or visit us to book theslippedstitch.co.uk
include wine and nibbles. Tickets via
Improvers’ Spinning Club, £13
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Improvers’ Knitting – Cables, £20
Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne.
Saturday 29th 2pm-4.30pm
Monday 10th, 10am–12pm
Talk by Dr Jeremy Howick, Senior
Somerset and Dorset Family
Children’s Workshop – Needle
Researcher, Nuffield Dept of Primary
History Society - From Slavery
Felted Easter Chicks, 7+ £9
Care Health Services, Oxford University.
to the Workhouse: The Poor
Wednesday 12th, 10am–12pm
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Laws in England
Children’s Workshop –
Thursday 27th 7.30pm
The Parade, Cheap Street, Sherborne.
Sew an Easter Bunny, 7+ £9
historian, will outline the origins and
Children’s Workshop – Yarn
Mem-bers £8, non-members £10. Will
Friday 21st, 10am–12pm
form online sdfhs.org 01935 389611
Flower Headbands, 7+ £9
Sherborne Science Café: Evidence-Based Medicine and Why Placebos Work
Sherborne Floral Group Demonstration by Julia Harrison, "I am in the mood for…" Catholic Church Hall, DT9 3EL
Come and enjoy an evening watching some expert flower arranging and
become inspired. Call 01935 812722 for further details.
Friday 28th - Tuesday 2nd May Sherborne Abbey Festival
Ted Udall, an experienced family
Wednesday 19th, 10am–12pm
development of the various ‘Poor Laws’.
Dyeing, 8+ £11
include refreshments. Download booking
Children’s Workshop – Crocheted
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Tuesday 25th, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Workshops and Classes
Improvers’ Crochet – Flower Garlands with Holly, £20 Saturday 29th, 10am–4pm Needle Felted Bears and Hares
Venues across Sherborne. The town's
____________________________
with Lydia, £50
Saturday 1st April 10am-4pm
Plus Knit and Natter runs every
with free entry to 70% of performances.
Woodcarving workshop
Tuesday and Thursday 10am-12pm.
award winning music festival returns
Des O’connor & His Band Friday 12th May, 7:30pm. Tickets £22.50
Box Office:
01258 475137 Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
www.stur-exchange.co.uk
Dance band music from the 1920s-1930s
An evening of music, laughter and iconic moments of television gold!
Friday 7th April, 7:30pm. Tickets £19
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9
WHAT'S ON
Children
In association with sherborneparents.com. Please share your recommendations and contacts via facebook.com/Sherborne-Parents or email mail@sherborneparents.com ____________________________
____________________________
Mondays 2pm-2.30pm
Fridays from 28th April (closed
Fridays 9.30-11am (term time only)
Sherborne Library
for Easter holiday) 1.45pm-3pm
Little Preppers
Free craft session, includes a story,
Trent Babies and Toddlers Group
Sherborne Prep, Acreman St. welcomes
____________________________
Themed creative activities including messy
____________________________
a song and a craft run by a staff member
Trent Youngs School, Trent Village.
Sunday 2nd, 16th & 30th
play, time outside, singing and dancing
11am to 1pm Art Club@Sherborne Studio Room, Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road. Individually tailored art lessons for children 8 years and over
with professional artist and tutor Ali
(wear old clothes!). FREE! Please contact
Georgina Howland or Lizzie Watson via the school office for more details: 01935
parents (and grandparents) with toddlers to come and have some creative fun in our Nursery. £2 per session includes
snacks and craft materials. Check website for updates: sherborneprep.org
____________________________
850496 office@trentyoungs.dorset.sch.uk
____________________________ Tuesdays 10am-11.45am
Easter Monday 17th 3pm
Cockrean. £30 per 2 hour session (artist
Digby Memorial Church
The Sherborne Easter Egg Hunt
quality materials included) Further details
Hall Play Group
at alicockrean.co.uk Call Ali on 07742
Pageant Gardens, Digby Rd. For
888302 or email alicockrean@gmail.com
Play session for babies and toddlers ending
____________________________
with music and singing. £1 per family
includes snack. Group runs term time only, call 01935 816335 for any queries
children up to and including 11 years (must be accompanied by an adult), free entry.
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Fairs and Markets
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Thursday 6th 7.30pm-10pm
____________________________
Saturday 15th 9.30am-4pm
Shape & Style Class
Thursdays and Saturdays
Bookfair
with Lindsay Punch
Pannier Market
Venue in Sherborne TBC. Avoid making
The Parade
Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne
best styles to suit your figure,
Thursday mornings 9.15am-11.15am
info@lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk
Church Hall, Digby Road
Saturday 15th 10am-4pm
expensive mistakes by discovering the
____________________________
DT9 3NL. New, second-hand and antiquarian books. 01803 613356 colinbakerbooks@btinternet.com
lifestyle and budget. To book email
Country Market
____________________________
____________________________
PBFA Book Fair
Thursday 27th 7.30pm-10pm
Every third Friday in
Colour Analysis Class with
each month 9am-1pm
Memorial Hall, Digby Rd,
Lindsay Punch
Farmers’ Market
Venue in Sherborne TBC. Learn how
Cheap Street
Saturday 22nd 8.30am-3.30pm
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Vintage Market
best clothing & makeup colours to
Saturday 8th 10am-4pm
Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne.
giving you a youthful glow. To book
Memorial Hall, Digby Rd,
____________________________
westcountrycraftfairs.co.uk
to build a versatile wardrobe with the
compliment your natural features whilst
Spring Craft Fair
email info@lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk
Sherborne. Free entry. 01749 677049
10 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
____________________________
Sherborne DT9 3NL. Entry £1.
____________________________
30+ sellers of quality vintage items. 07809 387594
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APRIL 2017 Sport
Devizes v Sherborne (A)
Saturday 1st
____________________________
____________________________
Sherborne Town v Street (H)
Every Tuesday and Thursday
Friday 7th 7.30pm
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7.30pm–8.30pm
Sherborne v Dorset Dockers (H)
Saturday 8th
Mixed Touch Rugby
____________________________
Bradford Town v
Sherborne School Floodlit Astroturf,
Friday 14th 7pm
Sherborne Town (A)
Ottery Lane. DT9 6EE. Novices very
Yeovil (Rowsell Cup) v
____________________________
welcome. £2 per session, first four
Sherborne (A)
Friday 14th
sessions free. For more details go to
____________________________
Gillingham Town v
www.sherbornetouch.org or call Jimmy
Saturday 22nd 3pm
Sherborne Town (A)
on 07887 800803
Swanage & Wareham v
____________________________
____________________________
Sherborne (A)
Tuesday 17th
____________________________
Longwell Green Sports v
Sherborne RFC
Sherborne Town (A)
1st IV Southern
Sherborne Town FC
Counties South Division
1st IV Toolstation Western
Saturday 29th
Gainsborough Park, The Terrace
League Premier Division
Bristol Manor Farm v
Playing Fields, Sherborne DT9 5NS.
Sherborne Town (A)
pitchero.com/clubs/sherbornerfc
Raleigh Grove, The Terrace Playing
____________________________
Fields, Sherborne DT9 5NS. sherbornetownfc.com
Saturday 1st 3pm
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DAYS OUT & HOLIDAYS with TAYLORS COACH TRAVEL Day Trips ____________________________
____________________________
RHS Flower Show – Cardiff
Burrow Farm Gardens
Friday 7th April
Sunday 7th May
Adult £31.50, Club £29.50
Adults £20.00, Club £18.00
Bradford on Avon & Canal Ride
Stewarts Garden Centre &
Saturday 15th April
Ringwood Brewery Tour
Adults £25.50, Club £23.50
Sunday 14th May
Lord of the Dance –
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Adults £24.50, Club £22.50
Dangerous Games Saturday 29th April
2017 Day Trips & Excursions
Adults £57.00
Holidays
____________________________
____________________________
our mailing list for our 2017
May Drive & Lunch
A Jewel in the Welsh Crown
brochure call the office now!
Monday 1st May
11th – 15th June
Adults £29.00, Club £27.00
5 Days from £455.00 per person
01935 423177
____________________________
____________________________
brochure now available. To join
www.taylorscoachtravel.co.uk
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11
DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST
Madness & Ska Tribute Night Saturday May 17th
£35 per person Price includes Dinner & Disco The fun starts at 7.30pm for 8.00pm Pre-booking essential Why not stay the night? B&B £80.00 per room George Albert Hotel Wardon Hill, Evershot, Nr. Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9PW Tel: 01935 483430 www.gahotel.co.uk 12 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
70% of all performances FREE ENTRY!
@abbeyfestival
DON’T MISS SHERBORNE’S AWARD-WINNING MUSIC FESTIVAL
Friday 28th April ~ Tuesday 2nd May 2017 See the full programme and book online at
www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org Book in person at Sherborne Tourist Information Office Digby Road DT9 3NL or call Tel: 01935 815341
UNEARTHED ISAAC BINGLEY, AGED 13 Sherborne School and Sherborne Abbey Choir
I
saac Bingley, it would be fair to say, is musically gifted. He started playing piano and classical guitar aged 7 at primary school in Northamptonshire, winning his classes in the festivals and singing with the All Saints Church Choir. Arriving at Sherborne Prep in 2015, Isaac continued his studies, joined the Abbey Choir and was entered into the Sherborne Young Musician competition – the youngest performer by several years. Isaac is now Head Chorister at the Abbey where, under the direction and influence of Director of Music, Paul Ellis, his love of singing has flourished. His sensitivity serves him well as treble but Isaac has every intention of taking his place in the back row as his voice develops. An unassuming boy and not one to chase accolades, Isaac is content to play and sing for the sheer enjoyment of music. Now as a music scholar and academic exhibitioner at Sherborne Boys, where he continues to study piano, guitar and organ, Isaac’s affection is clearly matched by his tireless commitment. The Sherborne Abbey Choir will be performing as part of Sherborne Abbey Festival on Sunday 30th April: 9.30am Festival Eucharist 5.00pm Choral Evensong (with the combined choirs of Romsey & Sherborne Abbeys) Venue: Sherborne Abbey. Free entry with plate donation sherborneabbeyfestival.org sherborneabbey.com sherborne.org
KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY Portrait, lifestyle, PR and editorial commissions 07808 400083 info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk www.katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk
14 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
SHERBORNE SCHOOL SWING BAND
I
David Copp
’m looking forward to the 2017 Sherborne Abbey Festival. I always do. This “gem of a festival,” as it has been described, starts on 28th April this year. On that afternoon, the Sherborne Swing Band will be playing in the Sherborne School Chapel. This event is so popular it has moved to a new venue each year for the last three years to accommodate its growing fan base. The Swing Band specialises in playing fast-paced bebop in a programme of foot-tapping music under James Henderson MA, director of music at the school. It is a marvellous trip down memory lane for swing enthusiasts and fans of Duke Ellington, Glen Miller and Benny Goodman. The band has a strong rhythm section of double bass and drums anchoring a lead section of trombones, trumpets, saxophones and clarinets. With numbers arranged by the likes of Nelson Riddle and Quincy Jones, Henderson gives his talented young musicians a wonderful opportunity to express their improvisational skills. Sherborne School, one of England’s oldest public schools, takes an enlightened view of music. All pupils are encouraged to learn or play at last one musical instrument and to participate in some kind of musical activity. “At Sherborne, music time is protected. There is no question of a boy having to choose between music and other activities,” says Henderson. “Classical music is still the best way for boys to learn the subject, but swing is lively and fun and its complicated rhythms enhance the skills required to play classical music.” I understand what he means. As a Benny ‘King of Swing’ Goodman fan, I know that, having popularised
the style in the 1935-45 period, Goodman turned to classical music, playing at Carnegie Hall and other top classical venues. The recording of his performance of Mozart’s clarinet quintet in A major is still a favourite around the world. Sherborne School has made a big commitment to music. In 2010 it rebuilt the music school with firstclass facilities – rehearsal rooms, recital halls, recording studio et al. Henderson has a first-class musical staff supplemented by visiting teachers and has nurtured a close association with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which allows his school orchestral musicians to attend its rehearsals. “Apart from our own school orchestra we participate in the Sherborne Schools Orchestra with Sherborne Girls School, Leweston and The Gryphon School, we have a 100-strong male voice choir, an elite Chamber Four and a Sinfonia as well as the swing band,” says Henderson. The 22-man Swing Band is popular because the boys like swing music – which has enjoyed several revivals since the 1930s thanks to great musicians and vocalists such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Since 2008, Henderson has also taken the swing band on a bi-annual tour of Barbados, where they have played such sophisticated local venues as the Colony Club and Almond Beach Resort. So be warned – the band’s popularity has spread well beyond the school. Come early if you want a seat! Sherborne School Swing Band will be performing as part of Sherborne Abbey Festival on Friday 28th April at 4.45pm, Sherborne School Chapel. This is a free concert and will fill quickly. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 15
Bespoke Kitchen & Cabinet Makers
J Smith Woodwork Ltd Staffords Green Corton Denham Sherborne Dorset DT9 4LY 01963 220147 | 07773 701812 | jamie@jsmithwoodwork.co.uk jsmithwoodwork.co.uk
Fork, £6; and trowel, £6, both Kent & Stowe, Dibblet, £5, Burgon & Ball (Castle Gardens)
Bee log, £8.50, Tom Chambers (Castle Gardens)
Bucket, £4, Tools, £4.99 (The Toy Barn) Sunflower seeds, £1.99-£2.99 (Castle Gardens)
GARDEN PARTY Jenny Dickinson, Dear To Me Studio
There is no surer sign of spring than the crocuses and daffodils nodding from our flowerbeds. What better time, then, to visit Castle Gardens, which celebrates its thirtieth year this month deartomestudio.com
Phalaenopsis orchid, £8.50; and plant pot, £3.49 (Castle Gardens)
Twine, £9 for set of 5 (3 shown), Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball, Wildflower seeds, £2.99-£3.69, Trug, £45, Thomas Smith (Castle Gardens)
Bird house, £7.99 (Abbey Décor)
Watering can, £40, Haws (Castle Gardens) Cacti, £2 each (Castle Gardens) www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19
Wild Dorset
ALL A-FLUTTER Sally Welbourn, Dorset Wildlife Trust
T
he marsh fritillary butterfly (euphydryas aurinia) is a sight to behold. One of the most beautiful and colourful of all the fritillaries, the marsh fritillary is also one of the most endangered – and the subject of much concern amongst conservationists. Once widespread, they are threatened in the UK and Europe, with the UK populations restricted to the west of Britain and Ireland. For their long-term survival, these butterflies need large and extensive habitat networks and are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment, so seeing a marsh fritillary is a sign of good habitat nearby. Ideal habitats include damp grasslands, coastal grasslands and chalk grasslands. Dorset ticks many of these boxes, so it’s no surprise we’re lucky enough to have thriving populations in some areas of the county. Conservation work carried out by Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) has already led to an improvement to the marsh fritillary population, with their numbers increasing on Powerstock Common Nature Reserve in west Dorset, after concerns their numbers were falling the previous year. DWT also found they had spread into another area at the nearby Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, where breeding has not occurred for some years. The results we have seen on DWT nature reserves are starting to build a more positive picture for these endangered butterflies. Conservation work locally is extremely important to ensure habitats are well managed for a variety of species, including the marsh fritillary. To help us protect wildlife, we need everyone to say YES to wildlife today. wtru.st/say-yes-dorset
MARSH FRITILLARY FACTS • The main food plant for the marsh fritillary is devil’s-bit scabious – this will feed its larvae and it needs an abundant supply. • Marsh fritillaries have seen a drop in numbers of 66% from 1990 to 2000. • Generally, individuals do not move very far from where they first emerged as adults, unless they emerged late in the flight season. • Their wings have bright, highly variable markings consisting of banks of black and orange with paler orange spots. The wings are darker near the body. • Its status is nationally scarce in the UK and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It’s also a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. • Its flight period is between May and July.
dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
20 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Image: Marsh Fritillary, Mark Heighes www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21
Wild Dorset
SHERBORNE DWT Gillian M. Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Sherborne Group Committee
Male Common Redstart
T
he title of the talk for the April meeting of Sherborne’s DWT might make one take a second look, as it is ‘Birds in a Cage’. However, it does not concern captured birds but prisoners of war, managing to gain some relief from their imprisonment by watching birds. In 1941, four prisoners of war at Warburg Camp met regularly to discuss and compare the birds seen from the camp and even to collect data. After liberation, three of the men continued their ornithological studies – Peter Conder went on to become the director of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for more than a decade, while George Waterston dreamt up ‘Operation Osprey’ and John Buxton became an Oxford academic writing about the Redstart, a species he had initially studied at the camp. Following our chairman’s brief annual report, our speaker, Derek Niemann, relates their story at the talk on Wednesday 19th April at 7.30pm in the Digby Memorial Hall. Author, journalist and RSPB employee, Derek was given papers by the family of Peter Conder and so the story unfolded which formed the basis of his book, Birds in a Cage. 22 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Observing a local patch and building up some records can give great satisfaction. We have a calendar on the breakfast table where we try to record anything of interest seen locally. These include garden visits of less common birds, butterflies or the return of swallows and house martins. Over the last six months, only once have we seen a greenfinch in the garden; a few years back their visits went unrecorded, since they were always there. Last month I had an email asking why I had not submitted 2016 records for the Garden Butterfly Survey. My data were important, the email said, as so few came from this region of Dorset. My response was along the lines of ‘numbers depressingly few’. However, since for each species I only needed to report for each of three quarters the date first seen, or a simple tick for seen, using the calendar I was able to submit the data for our garden. Sadly the submission could not reflect their reduced numbers. So how about you keeping some records for your garden and putting our area on the map for Dorset’s butterflies? dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
THE SEARCH FOR INCOME
Many of us invest to generate an income. But in a world of lower investment returns, how do you create the right long-term plan that balances your income needs with the risks you are prepared to take? 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 you invested. For more information about investing for income, contact:
PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JG 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3PU
Tel: 01747 855554 Tel: 01935 315315
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. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd. H2SJP25277 03/17
Family
WORDS ON A PAGE Felicity Griffiths, Head of English
I
t may surprise some of you who know me as head of English at Sherborne Preparatory School, but reading did not come naturally to me at first. I preferred painting or watching television. There were only four channels when I was growing up and, apart from the Magic Roundabout and Fingermouse, there was not a huge choice of programmes to keep you entertained on a rainy day. So if I picked up a book, it was probably out of boredom more than anything else. My brother, on the other hand, always had his head in a book. That made me even less inclined to read – it felt like reading was his thing and that put me off even more. Whether at home or at school, reading felt like a chore. I liked stories, though. My parents used to read 24 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
to me at bedtime and I loved listening to tales being brought to life. But most of the books on my bookshelf just sat there, gathering dust. Not surprisingly, the first book that caught my imagination was a slow burner. My mother suggested What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge, because she had enjoyed it as a child. At first I found it hard going, but halfway through her world is turned upside down by an accident – and, in a way, mine was too. I had discovered the joy of reading. I then discovered the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal. Despite the ridiculous plot lines, I couldn’t get enough of the Wakefield twin sisters and longed to be part of their world. In time my tastes
would become more sophisticated, but I needed those first books to be fun and to inspire me. To this day, I still read for enjoyment above all else and I am sure that this is the key when hoping to inspire young readers to become passionate about reading. Looking back, I wish I had discovered reading earlier – just think of all those books I could have read – but you could say I’m making up for lost time. Nowadays I look forward to nothing more than curling up on the sofa with a good book. In a world where there are so many other demands on our time, I love knowing that I can always escape into another world! I am delighted that something that has become a great passion for me is so good for me, too. There is a wealth of research evidence to show that reading a real book
increases intelligence, expands vocabulary, develops emotional intelligence and empathy and positively influences your sleeping patterns. That is why reading is a cornerstone of our curriculum at Sherborne Prep – and staff and children alike were thrilled to create a window display for Winstone’s bookshop in honour of World Book Day. This event coincided with our celebration of books in a week-long Literary Festival, during which the children were lucky enough to meet and learn from famous authors and film and theatre directors. So whatever you do this week, make time for a good book – either by yourself or with your children or grandchildren. sherborneprep.org
Awarded “Most forward thinking Prep” in The Week magazine Schools Guide
...Building Firm Foundations
Year 6 investigate the relative scales of the planets
For more information or to arrange a visit please contact the Registrar Aurora Mercer 01935 810911/registrar@sherborneprep.org/www.sherborneprep.org www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25
ART CLUB @Sherborne Supporting and Developing Young Artistic Talent
Individually tailored art lessons for children 8 years and over with professional artist and tutor Ali Cockrean
Beautiful baby clothes and gifts
• Explore, experiment and develop fundamental art skills • Build knowledge and confidence • Preparation for art scholarships, GCSE and A level exams Sundays 11am to 1pm Studio Room Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne £30 per 2 hour session (artist quality materials included)
Open 9-5 Monday to Saturday 41 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Call 01935 816111 | natasha@gingerandpickle.co.uk
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Dates and details at www.alicockrean.co.uk Call Ali on 07742 888302 or email: alicockrean@gmail.com
H azlegrove P re -P reP We want your children to have the education you may wish you could have had yourself... Mornings in the classroom are all about learning core academic skills with inspiring teachers. Afternoons are packed full of fun activities developing creativity and co-ordination, led by specialist teachers.
Come and see for yourselves at one of our
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Good foundations are everything... For more information call Sarah-Jane on 01963 442606 26 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Hazlegrove, Sparkford BA22 7JA
Family
Children’s Book Review Wayne Winstone, Winstone’s Books, Independent Bookshop of the Year 2016
The White Hare, by Michael Fishwick (Zephyr) £10.99. Exclusive reader offer price of £8.99 at Winstone’s Books
“That’s the way it was with Mags. She put out his fires.” Robbie is a fourteen-yearold with many problems. These are mostly related to his mother dying of cancer, but also the arson he found to be an attractive hobby whilst getting his head round her illness. Home life is still fraught for Robbie. He has a father he sees as weak-willed, a new stepmother and he is caught between two stepsisters, one older and one younger. They have also moved to a house deep in the countryside, to his father’s old hometown in Somerset. As a result Robbie likes spending time either with Alice, a fellow newcomer from a far-off city, or Mags, who knows all the wild areas thereabouts. But she also knows a heck of a lot that she doesn’t want to tell Robbie, even when it starts affecting his dreams… There is a lot to commend about this book, whose
author lives near Sherborne. For one, there is the ‘nature writing’ aspect. Both the reader and story are richly imbued with the essence of the countryside and nature – but never in an over-the-top way. The book also relates to ghosts, the truths related to rustic old wives’ tales and mysterious events – all laid out against a background of flora, fauna and topography. The story certainly has a strong drama and the balance of putting the rural legend into the commonor-garden teenaged real-life mentality was finely poised. The characterisation was strong, with a great look at a teenager finding his place in a new world – learning, growing and so much more. “Myth, mystery, love and loss collide in an utterly gripping [and] deeply atmospheric coming-of-age novel.” winstonebooks.co.uk
Discover books for the whole family this Easter 'Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016’ 8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128
Family
EASTER BUNNY CARDIGAN Millie Furby, The Slipped Stitch 0-6 months (14in), 6-12 months (16in) Sirdar Snuggly DK 1(2) Main colour, 1 ball of contrast colour 3.25mm and 4mm needles stitch holder 5 buttons Back
Using 3.25mm needles cast on 42 (50) stitches in main colour. Work in 2x2 rib for 4 rows, change to contrast colour and work in rib for 2 rows, then return to main colour and work 2 more rows in rib **, increasing 3 stitches evenly across final row. 45 (53, 57) stitches. Continue in main colour and 4mm needles. Work 32 (36) rows in stocking stitch. Ending with a ws row. Shape raglan armholes
Cast off 5 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 35 (43) stitches. Dec 1 stitch both ends of next and every alt row until 17 (19) stitches ending on a P row. Leave remaining stitches on stitch holder. Front left
Using 3.25mm needles cast on 24 (27) stitches in main colour. 28 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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Work as given for back until **, increasing 2 (3) stitches evenly across last row. 26 (30) stitches.*** Continue in main colour and 4mm needles. Work 32 (36) rows in stocking stitch, ending with purl row. Shape raglan armholes
Cast off 5 stitches at beginning of the next row. 21 (25) stitches. P next row. Dec 1 stitch at beginning of next and every alternate row until 16 (18) stitches remain ending on p row. Shape neck
Next row: K2tog, K7(6) K2tog turn. Leave remaining 5 (8) stitches on stitch holder. Dec 1st each end of second and every alt row until 3 (2) stitches remain. P next row. K3(2)tog and fasten off. Right front
Work as left front until ***. Working in main colour, using 4mm needles, work 4 rows stocking stitch. Next row: K3 (5), using contrast colour insert 1st ow of chart, K4 (6). Next row: P4 (6), row 2 of chart, P3 (5). Continue inserting chart, keeping to the previous 2 rows pattern. Working in stocking stitch continue until you have
worked 33 (37) rows, ending with knit row. Shape raglan armholes
Shape neck
K5(8) leave these on stitch holder. K2tog, K7(6) K2tog. Dec 1st each end of second and every alt row until 3(2) sts remain. K3(2)tog and fasten off. Sleeves (both alike)
Using 3.25mm needles cast on 26 (30)stitches in main colour. Work as rib pattern for back to ** increasing 1 stitch at beginning of last row. 27 (31)sts. Using 4mm needles work 34 (38) rows increasing each end of 5th and every 4th row until 37 (41) stitches, then continue to work without shaping until 34th (38th) row. Shape raglan Cast off 5 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 27 (31)sts. Dec 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until 7 (9) sts remain, ending on a p row. Put remaining stitches on a thread. Join raglan seams. Neck band
With rs facing, using C and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 5 (8) stitches from right front stitch holder, 11 (11) from right front neck edge, 7 (9) from sleeve stitch holder, 17 (19) back, 7 (9) left sleeve, 11 (12) down left neck edge and 5 (8) from stitch holder (62 (76) sts). Work 1 row 2x2 rib using C then 3 rows rib in M. Cast off loosely in pattern. Left band
With rs facing, using C and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 54 (60) stitches evenly. In C work 2x2 rib starting with P2, then 3 rows in M. Cast off loosely in pattern. Mark 5 buttons evenly. Right band
Work as given for left button band, placing 5 button holes, on 1st row of M, evenly to correspond with marked places on left band. Sew up seams and add buttons.
L E W E STO N SHERBO RNE
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Cast off 5 stitches at beginning of the next row. 21 (25) stitches. K next row. Dec 1 stitch at beginning of next and every alternate row until 16 (18) stitches remain ending on a P row.
Open Day
Bank Holiday Monday 1st May 10am All-girls Senior School and Sixth Form Co-ed Nursery and Junior Department Full, weekly, flexi boarding and day “The quality of academic and other achievements of pupils is excellent” (ISI Inspection Report) To find out more please contact us on: admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk
LEWESTON SCHOOL . SHERBORNE www.leweston.co.uk . T: 01963 211 010
Gaudere Et Bene Facere – Rejoice And Do Well www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29
The Joinery Works, Alweston Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5HS Tel: 01963 23219 Fax: 01963 23053 Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk
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Film
Filming The Guinea Pig (Pilgrim Pictures 1948) outside Sherborne Abbey. Photograph by Harvey Studios, Sherborne (Courtesy of Sherborne Museum)
SHERBORNE ON SCREEN Alexander Ballinger, Film Writer
“Of all Dorset towns, Sherborne, tucked away in the peaceful valley of the Yeo, has suffered least in the twentieth century. It is a delightful stone town, richly endowed with beautiful buildings and historic character and set in an area of great beauty.”
S
o rhapsodised Sherborne’s great architectural custodian, Gerald Pitman, in Sherborne Observed. Going by the recent film and television adaptations partly set in Sherborne – including Wolf Hall, The Imitation Game and Far From the Madding Crowd – it is a sentiment shared by location managers too. Eagle-eyed Sherborne-ites will spot Sherborne
32 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
School quad in Wolf Hall, disguised as Cardinal Wolsey’s imposing London HQ. In The Imitation Game, it provides the cloisters and classrooms where school friendships and deceits unravel in the life of Old Shirburnian Alan Turing. Sherborne enjoys a much meatier role as 1870s Casterbridge in Far From the Madding Crowd, flaunting a roster of locations including
the Abbey, Sherborne Castle, Castleton church, St John’s Almshouse and the Abbey Close. Toss into the mix the 1994 adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s The Browning Version (1994), with Albert Finney playing disillusioned schoolteacher Andrew Crocker-Harris; together with perhaps the odd exterior from Anthony Asquith’s 1951 precursor with Michael Redgrave as the ‘Crock’ and you’ve got the beginnings of a Sherborne-on-Screen film festival, maybe the first of many programmes to be held in the proposed Paddock Gardens Arts Centre.
"The gangly O’Toole chases after his new wife, through the school quad and across Abbey Close before leaping onto a bus in Cheap Street" Except for Far From the Madding Crowd – to be discussed in a future Thomas Hardy article – these films use Sherborne as a bit player. Dig further into the town’s filmography and there are three standout films where Sherborne takes centre stage. The Guinea Pig (1948) was adapted by Old Shirburnian Warren Chetham-Strode from his West End play. In it, Richard Attenborough plays a workingclass scholarship boy who suffers and survives the hidebound traditions of Saintbury public school. Despite the 24-year-old Attenborough playing a schoolboy and regularly having to don a school cap to hide his incipient bald patch, the film still packs a punch. Crisply photographed by Gilbert Taylor (who went on to work on Star Wars) standout-location work includes Attenborough taking part in a humiliating founder’s ceremony in front of a Henry VIII statue outside the Abbey, plus a fine view of Abbey Road, crowded with Sherborne schoolgirls interrupted by Attenborough’s enthusiastic wolf whistle. Hard to verify, but it would be gratifying to imagine that the schoolboy’s thrilling, thwarted night-time escape filmed in audaciously low light occurred in the cloisters and creepers of Sherborne School.
On paper, Goodbye Mr Chips (1969) reads like a disaster. It’s a 153-minute-long musical, including 12 minutes of overture, interval and exit music. Peter O’Toole is the eponymous schoolmaster and Petula Clark plays a music hall star, who becomes the love of his life. Yet somehow, it works. The production was awash with MGM money. Thankfully, it was put to practical use by cinematographer Ossie Morris, fresh from Oliver! and production designer Ken Adam, on a roll from the James Bond films. If you want to see Sherborne in majestic widescreen splendour, then look no further… Two sequences in particular are worth seeking out. The first is the schoolboys’ return for Michaelmas term, as they decamp from the railway station and stroll across Pageant Gardens to the school gates, seamlessly constructed in front of the Abbey. The second is the giddy sequence where the gangly O’Toole chases after his new wife, through the school quad and across Abbey Close before leaping onto a bus in Cheap Street. Other locations to look out for are Chips’s residences, the Vicarage in Abbey Close and Lattice House in Castleton. It’s hard to imagine an actor other than Alec Guinness in the role of George Smiley but Denholm Elliott does a nuanced job in A Murder of Quality, filmed in Sherborne in 1990. Here Sherborne School doubles up as Le Carré’s fictional Carne, where the master spy investigates the grisly murder of a housemaster’s shrewish wife. David Cornwell – aka Le Carré – was on hand throughout the production to advise on his first screenplay. It must have been a bittersweet reunion as, aged 16, he had “flatly refused to return to Westcott House, Sherborne, on the solid grounds that I could take no more of such institutions.” In Smiley’s world, Sherborne becomes a town of illicit meetings, whether in the lee of the Horsey Tomb in the Abbey, on a Pageant Gardens bench or in The Digby Tap. It's a town of intrigue too as Smiley (lodged at The Digby) retraces the murderer's route through eery Sherborne Streets. As any actor will testify, a film location is as important as script, costume or hair and make-up when it comes to defining a role. Looking at the performances of Richard Attenborough, Peter O’Toole and Denholm Elliott, it’s clear that Sherborne has more than met their needs. @lexBallinger
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 33
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34 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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Interiors
BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
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Kitty Oakshott, Upstairs Downstairs Interiors
pring is such an inspiring time of the year. I was helping a friend who moved recently, trying to arrange her furniture in rooms that had very different aspects to her previous house. The moving in itself is never easy, but when you are trying to create a look and a certain feel as quickly as possible – one you hope to enjoy for many years to come – it is even more difficult. We moved furniture, stepped back to have a look and didn’t quite like the arrangement, so set about moving more things around. Still nothing seemed to be working. Then it dawned on me – to break up the monotony of the single-colour sofas with a decadently upholstered armchair. This is a classic
Chair, Rockett St George 36 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
VANESSA BOWMAN FIONA MILLAIS JENNY WHEATLEY 1st – 19 th April
Cushion, emmabridgewater.co.uk
trick that will break up the focus and add true depth to the room. You may already have a deep, sumptuous fabric to upholster an armchair, or perhaps you would prefer to choose something completely different. I was able to provide samples of some delightful options and my friend settled on a deep sea-green velvet, mixed with a bold pattern. Our idea was to have the front covered differently from the back, giving a dual aspect to the chair and introducing an eclectic note to what could otherwise be a dull room. We also spent time carefully selecting some contrast piping to add a further dimension to the chair. The result was a true game changer and it completely transformed the room. What a difference a chair makes. Spring also provides us with the wonderful opportunity of celebrating new life in so many ways. The presence of bright green on the trees, hedgerows coming alive and lambs in the fields, not to mention all the birds preparing for their young. What a phenomenal time of the year it is – nature at its miraculous best. For the great home-maker in some of us, this is an opportunity to spring-clean and refresh the house, getting rid of the gloom of winter days. Ways of introducing the new without spending a fortune could be to add a vase of colourful tulips, which can bring so much positivity and energy into the room, or entertain the spring theme with cushions covered in fabric featuring peonies, spring hares or a light feather print. Don’t think inside out, but rather outside in, and have fun bringing new life into the home. With Easter on the doorstep and the end of short days behind us, it’s a fabulous opportunity to make all things bright and beautiful. Happy Easter. updowninteriors.co.uk
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Antiques
BOOKKEEPERS Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers
J
ust about every house in the As an academic, the owner country will have a book in at had specialised in migraines and least one of its rooms. Along headaches. Over the decades, he with country houses and their amassed an important library of extensive libraries, some houses will reference books dating from the have studies piled high with books 18th century through to the mid– so it will come as no great surprise 20th century, along with other more to learn that at Charterhouse, we mainstream volumes. Often when see, value and auction a lot of books. I see such a treasury of books, I I like books – although, being wonder whether the owner ever had honest, I generally read books via a enough time to read all of them. But Kindle. I like the choice and instant on this occasion, I suspect he was a availability this very 21st-century very keen reader and made time. device gives me, but I know many of When we collected the books, you will be resisting technology in there were some 70-80 boxes – you preference of print on paper. This is Scary reading – an early edition of could tell it was a large load, as Bram Stoker’s Dracula £500 - £1,000 fine by me, as we sell a lot of books the van looked decidedly lower on and they have to be printed for us its suspension than usual. When to sell them. I cannot think that I will ever be on the packing the library contents into the boxes, our chaps rostrum selling a downloadable book! were careful to keep like with like, so all the volumes About 20 years ago, when I was working for an relating to Phrenology were boxed together, with most auction house in North Yorkshire, I spent a few years in of the Victorian and later fiction books packed up to be the book department. It was quite a demanding position, sold as a lot. requiring a strong back and eagle eyes to sort through However, they say you must never judge a book by boxes upon boxes of books in the hope of finding a gem. its cover, so I started the task of looking though all the Many people would bring in a book for valuation books in boxes that looked to be uninteresting and of low saying how old it was – but books that are 200 years old commercial value. I was soon rewarded by my discovery can have very little commercial worth. It is the author, of a fine copy of Bram Stoker’s important work, Dracula. title and content that adds value. Just think of Harry This iconic work came out in 1897 and must have made Potter, where first editions can fetch over £20,000. Even fearful reading. The copy I found is dated 1898 and, some Ian Fleming works can fetch half that – a fair chunk though not a first edition first impression, it is nonetheless of money for books that are often younger than me! a good, clean and early copy. It is estimated at £500-1,000 Recently we were instructed to auction the library when it goes under the hammer in our specialist books contents of an academic who lived over in Exmoor. The and picture auction on Thursday 20th April. Maybe if I house was in quite a state. The kitchen roof had leaked can find a couple of days before the auction, I might pick for decades and fallen in. The main roof, in fact, had also it up and have a quick read through! been leaking which had sadly destroyed a fair number of books – though, thankfully, nothing of any great value. charterhouse-auction.com
40 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers
We are now accepting entries for our Spring Auction Programme Classic & Vintage Cars Wednesday 12th April Two Day Sale of Pictures, Books, Sporting Items & Antiques 20th & 21st April Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Wednesday 10th May Raffaello Sorbi £20,000-30,000 (plus 24% BP inc VAT)
Contact Richard Bromell for advice or Justine Jackson to arrange a home visit The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne DT9 3BS | 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com
Celebrate with us
Saturday 1st – Friday 14th April
Castle Gardens, award-winning garden centre and restaurant Everything you need to enjoy your garden all year round
Saturday 1st April
Birthday cake ceremony with special quest Enjoy a slice of cake and a glass of fizz with us from 10am
Friday 7th April
Magnificent birds of prey on display with Sharandys Birds of Prey from 10am-4pm
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• Special events and offers in the garden centre and restaurant • Community and school tree planting • Prices as they were 30 years ago
For gardeners of all ages…
Commemorative Bags - Fundraising Raffles - Prize Draw Treasure Trails - Competitions and much more... Easter opening hours Good Friday: 9am - 6pm | Saturday 15 April: 9am - 6pm Easter Sunday: Closed | Easter Monday: 9am - 6pm Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41
Gardening
EASTER GARDENING
Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group
G
ood Friday has always been a traditional gardening day. This is probably due to the fact that, in the past, it was one of the few days that manual workers had off work, other than Sundays. A major task would have been to plant seed potatoes, which were of course – and in my case still are – a staple of the diet. This year Good Friday is on 14th April and although first early varieties of potatoes – often referred to as ‘new’ potatoes – should already have been planted, there is still time to get main crop varieties in the ground. Choice of which variety can be personal, with desiree and King Edward two of my favourites. The reason behind this is mostly due to tradition, but also from a poster I used to have on my bedroom wall of the top potato varieties. This was soon replaced by one of Suzi Quatro… but that is another story! A newer variety worth looking out for is sarpo mira, a red, blight-resistant type that is great for mashing, roasting and boiling. Potato blight has been a real problem particularly in the last few years, as it’s triggered by wet, humid conditions. It can devastate crops in a bad year. It’s not easy to control as there are no longer any fungicides available to the amateur gardener, but you can reduce the risk by clearing up debris after a crop has been harvested and, of course, choosing blight-resistant varieties. If you’d quite like to have a go at growing potatoes but haven’t got a vegetable garden then this is not a problem, as they also grow successfully in pots. A few tubers can be planted in a potato bag or a large pot, 42 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
followed by good-quality multi-purpose compost. The beauty is that when it comes to harvesting, the crop falls out of the compost and will just need to be gently rinsed before cooking. This growing method is particularly good for new potatoes. There are many other fun jobs to enjoy in the vegetable garden on Good Friday. These include planting peas, beans and root crops like beetroot, carrots and turnips, as well as leafy cabbages and lettuce. Care must be taken to protect frost-sensitive crops, by simply covering with lightweight horticultural fleece for example, which will keep the worst of a cold night away from soft leaves. Some gardeners use wire
hoops to attach the fleece or polythene and these act like a mini greenhouse, bringing crops on faster than they would if left without any protection. It’s also good fun to get some colour into the garden on those in-between days, when it’s too early for summer bedding because of the frosts and when winter bedding is looking a little tired. For a real splash of colour try the senetti cineraria, which makes an impact with powerful hues over many weeks. They are useful in pots as well as in the ground, but just watch out for heavy frosts as they will get nipped. More shades can be obtained from pansies and violas, which can go out at this stage. Antirrhinums are
also tough enough to go out at this stage. Though the traditional varieties won’t yet be in flower, there are some new varieties that will be. With summer in mind, sweet peas can be planted out now. I really like the traditional spencer varieties. These come in a mixture of colours and will grow into tall plants best supported on a wigwam and will eventually be long enough to be cut for indoor display. So there is plenty to do after you get back from church and before you reach for the Easter eggs and hot cross buns – but plenty of good fun to be had too! thegardeneronline.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43
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With dedicated and experienced staff, specialist equipment and passion, Queen Thorne can develop and maintain gardens for all to enjoy. www.queenthorne.co.uk Tel: 01935 850848
44 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
WINDOWS
&
DOORS
Bill Butters Windows are now installing the UltraRoof 380, a lightweight tiled roof which allows the installation of multiple glass panels or Velux Windows. UltraRoof 380 is ideal for those who want a solid roof but wish to retain an element of light within the room. UltraRoof380 overcomes the twin issues of your conservatory being too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Moreover, it provides a beautiful vaulted plastered ceiling interior and a stunning lightweight tile finish. For more information, please get in touch, or visit our showroom and factory where we manufacture all of our windows, doors & conservatories.
For more information visit our website or come down to the showroom.
Unit 1a > South Western Business Pk > Sherborne > Dorset > DT9 3PS billbutterswindows.co.uk 01935 816 168
TONY SUTCLIFFE Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies
W
hat is the definition of a life well lived? Is it a tapestry of tales that one recounts in old age? Or a journey rich in experience that one can pass on to the next generation? Could it be a life of altruism or creativity? Or the satisfaction that one has dedicated oneself to acquiring a skill so completely that it has become instinct and a part of your being? Whichever way you look at farrier Tony Sutcliffe’s life, it has not been far short of extraordinary. I am not going to tell the tale of the time he and a few mates climbed onto the roof of the Horse Guards’ mess and the Home Office was called – on that subject, you will have to ask him yourself. But horses always seem to be at the beating heart of Tony’s antics. Such as on the memorable
46 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
occasion there was a bomb alert at the Grand National meet and he was stranded at Aintree Racecourse for four days when everyone else had left. Or the day Toby Balding’s horse Cool Ground won the Gold Cup in the aluminium shoes Tony himself had fitted. We meet at his house in Leigh on an unremarkable grey morning. We are both glad that the days are getting longer and the dark nights shorter, as everyone feels in danger of developing mud fever. The hunting season is coming to an end and, before the summer-time horseback pursuits, this time of year is traditionally a slack time for farriers. Tony intends to enjoy next week with his feet up. “It’s Gold Cup week,” he laughs, “and everyone knows I won’t be working in the afternoons.”
Life with horses began for Tony when he was a child. He did a bit of riding but “nothing much.” He ticked the box that said ‘riding’ – “one of those choices you made at school” – and thought no more about it. But then, after finishing his education, he and some friends drove down to London for the day from their home in Lancashire. They ended up outside Hyde Park, just in time to see the Household Cavalry trot past on early-morning exercise. Something must have clicked, because a year later he had signed up. “Funny how things like that happen,” he says of life’s odd coincidences, then smiles. “I didn’t particularly like horses, but I get on with them better than humans.” The barracks in Hyde Park houses 200 or more
horses and it was here that Tony took up the apprenticeship to become a farrier. “We all rode but, as farriers, we also shod every horse every four weeks. We had four fires going and were constantly shoeing the animals.” Such work is very hard, very physical and dangerous on occasion – it’s never worth taking a risk. “If a horse is tricky, it is best to get a vet and have it lightly sedated,” says Tony. The skill, however, is in the detail. A farrier has to be able to look at a horse’s hoof and make a shoe from memory. By the time the foot is dressed, the shape of both the front and hind feet should be memorised, because the farrier will have to make a near-perfect shoe by the time of the first fitting. Only a slight alteration >
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47
48 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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50 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
should be required to make an exact fit, which is essential to the wellbeing of the horse. “I spend most of my time looking at horses’ feet,” explains Tony. “I will look at its gait and be able to tell the kind of shoe it will need.” You would think that such farriers need the strength of Samson and the patience of Job to deal with the daily demands of horses. However, Tony disagrees. “It’s no good fighting a horse –shoeing has got to be a good experience for them. They’re very intelligent animals, you’ve got to make a fuss of them. But if they are going to be difficult, then you just get someone to stand at their head.” It was this relaxed but respectful approach to the horses during his time in service that meant Tony was given the honour of riding Lord Mountbatten’s mount, Octave – or ‘Dolly,’ as she was affectionately known – when she was off duty and at the barracks. In 1983, after 11 years in service, Tony left the Cavalry and moved to Dorset. His reputation as a farrier led him to work with racehorses at Toby Balding’s yard at Whitcombe Manor, near Dorchester. This task was rather different. Racehorses regularly have their shoes changed and use aluminium ones for races. It was a heady time for the yard. “I used to shoe Cool Ground – who went on to win the Gold Cup in 1992 – and we had jockeys like Adrian Maguire and AP McCoy,” he muses. After 17 years, Tony decided to branch out on his own and opened a farrier’s yard and forge at Rose Cottage in Hilfield. While running the yard and training his own apprentices, Tony was honoured to be chosen by Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary to train a farrier for the shoeing of Princess Anne's own donkeys. Nowadays, things have changed. For the most part, horses no longer go to the farriers, but rather the farrier travels to them. Tony enjoys working for himself as a mobile farrier, with clients across west Dorset reaching from Bridport to Sturminster Newton to Mudford. “I am now enjoying shoeing more than ever,” he enthuses. Perhaps this is because he is forever adding to his wealth of knowledge on the subject. Having recently completed a BSc degree in Farrier Science at Myerscough College in Lancashire, Tony is looking forward to further studies. “There is so much to learn,” he says, “but shoeing will always be natural for me.” Watching him work, this much is patently clear – it is truly humbling to see the level of instinct and skill that is required to shoe a horse. They say a good farrier will never truly master the craft – but for a man with the experience and passion of Tony Sutcliffe, he must be close. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51
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www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53
Food & Drink
CAPED CRUSADER –
a very brief history of the Cappuccino
E
Giles Dick Read, Reads Coffee Roasters
ach time I have a shower, I notice a small man in a brown cape with a broad smile on his face, nodding at me from the corner of the bathroom. Don’t worry, nothing strange here – he’s just a precious family heirloom, a souvenir monk with a wobbling sprung head brought home from a trip by my father many years ago. I like to think he's a Capuchin, which brings me neatly round to that grand-daddy of all speciality coffee, the Cappuccino – one of the world’s most recognised drinks. As is ever the case with coffee, myths and legends surround the precise origin of the Cappuccino. However, this time one thing’s for sure, my little Capuchin monk provides all the answers. Let’s cast our minds back to 1683. It is July in Vienna. It’s warm, sunny no doubt, and the Ottomans are busily laying siege with a view to wiping out the populus just as they had recently done in Perchtoldsdorf, a few miles up the road. The only hope of salvation for the beleaguered inhabitants lies in a rescue by combined Holy Roman forces. Cutting a long and complicated story very short – but with ‘combined forces’ no doubt being as tricky to work with then as they are now – it fell to one Marco D’Aviano, a travelling preacher of the Capuchin monastic order, to rally Catholics and Protestants on the eve of the climactic battle. By all accounts he did a fantastic job. The battle was won, the Ottomans defeated, survivors leaving all they possessed as they fled. Amongst which were a few bags of coffee – discovered, legend has it, by Marco himself. Apparently too bitter to drink, whether because lowgrade robusta, because they were stale or due to the fact that Marco was a couple of centuries too early to have benefitted from my 1875 rule, we don’t know. But with great presence of mind he added creamy milk and honey to the brew, changing it from pitch-black to a brown
54 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
colour almost identical in hue to his cape. Saved not only from the Ottomans, but also terrible coffee, the Viennese named the drink in his honour and the ‘Little Capuchin’ – or Cappuccino – was born. All this without an espresso machine in sight (although that’s not entirely surprising since they weren’t invented until 1948). The Cappuccino has evolved, standing patriarchal over a venerable family of inventively named milky coffee drinks. The macchiato, mochaccino, babyccino, cortado, frothy coffee and latte all owe their origins to Marco, though I’m led to speculate that the flat white was, in fact, a reference to an unfortunate antipodean onlooker caught in the stampede to escape the battle… who knows? Proper Cappuccinos, I’m pleased to say, are being saved by reversion of real-coffee drinkers to small cups rather than the bucket brews that have been forced upon us by our friends from across the water. A real Cappuccino should be prepared in a 5-6 fluid ounce cup, good and strong, made with milk and foam, these days in roughly equal proportions and carefully heated without being too hot. If made perfectly it will have a brown ring of crema round the rim in homage to Marco D’Abrio, his cape and – quite possibly – his rather natty monk’s hairstyle. What makes this story all the more remarkable is that the Battle of Vienna not only spawned the Cappuccino, but the croissant too – its familiar shape celebrating the Ottoman defeat by way of mimicking the crescents on their flag. Thus breakfast was sorted out for a large proportion of humanity until kingdom come. No wonder my little Marco nods his head in a constant chortle when I’m in the shower… I can’t think what else he might be chuckling at? readscoffee.co.uk
Image: Giles Dick-Read www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55
Food & Drink
A PASSION FOR TRADITION Gary Reeve, Reeve the Baker
M
y grandfather Harold Reeve’s passion for craft baking laid the foundations for what was to become our family business. We still honour his traditional style of baking and pursuit of excellence. In 1952, he started selling the bread and cakes he’d baked in the back of his shop. My father Raymond, who was working for him at the time, spotted an opportunity to expand the business by opening a baker’s shop in Wilton – and that was the beginning of Reeve the Baker. We’ve been passing recipes and baking methods down through the family ever since. We know that making bread with a full flavour and a crisp crust takes time and cannot be achieved by adding magic powders, mould inhibitors or flavour enhancers. Some larger bakery chains and supermarkets use frozen par-baked breads, which are baked off in store and labelled 56 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
as ‘fresh from the oven’. We would never do this. Our bread is made with a slow-dough recipe and baked very early in the morning in our bakery in Wilton, so it’s ready to be delivered fresh to our 12 stores first thing every day. Some breads take even longer to make. My personal favourite is sourdough bread and ours is made using a long-fermented sourdough, which can take up to three days to make. This creates good, old-fashioned bread made with just flour, water and salt. It’s packed with delicious flavour and has a thick crust and a chewy, open texture. We are extremely passionate about sourdough and have worked hard to perfect our recipe over the years. We now have a range of products that includes sourdough bagels, sourdough sticks and our awardwinning multi-seed sourdough loaves. It isn’t just the flavour and texture that are improved
From our table to yours
New Website! Order online at olives-kitchen.co.uk 01963 548181 | info@olives-kitchen.co.uk
COFFEE BREAK by more traditional baking methods – there may also be health benefits. Experts have identified that the marked increase in cases of wheat intolerance has taken place over the last 50 years, since the widespread manufacturing of bread in factories was introduced. It is thought this could be related to the additional amounts of yeast, enzymes and oxidants required to mass-produce bread quickly, rather than allowing it to ferment and ripen slowly in the traditional way. There is something very special about taking the basic, natural raw materials of flour, yeast and water and turning it into a loaf. Craft baking is experiencing a long overdue resurgence – and my grandfather would have been delighted to hear it.
Kafe Fontana 82 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ @kafefontana kafefontana 01935 812180 kafefontana.co.uk Old School Gallery Boyle’s Old School, High Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LF 01935 872761 yetminstergallery.co.uk Oliver’s Coffee House 19 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3PU @OliversSherbs Olivers-Coffee-House 01935 815005 oliverscoffeehouse.co.uk The Three Wishes 78 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ 01935 817777 thethreewishes.co.uk
reevethebaker.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57
Food & Drink
THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones
EASTER BISCUITS
I
have made so many Easter biscuits over the years that I lose count. I started out as a teenager baking for my family, then I made them with my own two children. As a headteacher, I baked these biscuits with pupils every year. The children would take them home as presents in lovingly constructed Easter baskets, running out to their parents on the last day of term to show them off. I have fond memories of the pride and love that shone from their eyes, just before they started cramming biscuits into their mouths. This recipe is for the plain biscuit, which can be iced and decorated.
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Pre heat the oven 180C. Grease and line 3 baking trays. I use silicon sheets so they don’t need greasing and can be washed and used again.
icing is soft, but not runny. Stir in the lemon juice and glycerin, then divide the icing into a number of bowls. Leave one bowl white and then add gel colours to the rest, as desired. I think pastel shades work best. 7 Place a small quantity of coloured icing in a bag and squeeze down, turning the bag so it fits comfortably in your hand. TIP: Place the icing nozzle in an icing bag before you snip the tip off the bag. That way you can judge how much to cut off and not waste any bags. Carefully pipe round the outer edge of the biscuits, a little in from the edge. Try to do this evenly, because you are going to spread this icing out. Using a cocktail stick, gently spread the icing until each biscuit is covered. Place the biscuit on a flat surface and shake from side to side to create a super-smooth top. Leave to set for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. To finish them off, use the white icing to add appropriate piping – such as fluffy tails on rabbits or the features of lambs or ducks. The biscuits can stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Method
Alternative Recipe
1 Combine flour and sugar in a bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. 2 Add the grated zest, lemon juice and beaten egg and mix to a stiff paste. 3 Lightly flour a surface and knead dough for a few turns to ensure it is smooth. 4 Roll dough out thinly – it should be thinner than a pound coin – and cut out your Easter shapes. You should have at least 24 biscuits but this number will depend on the size of your cutters. Place the biscuits on the baking trays, spacing them 2cm apart. 5 Bake in the oven for about 15 mins, until lightly golden. Do not let them colour too much – the middle should be slightly soft to the touch. Leave on the baking sheet for 1 min, then lift them carefully onto a cooling rack. 6 While they are cooking, make the royal icing. Place the egg whites in a bowl and whisk until frothy. Sift in the icing sugar a tablespoon at a time until the
The traditional Somerset Easter biscuit is round, filled with currants and flavoured with cassia oil, which gives the biscuits that distinct Easter biscuit smell and taste. Cassia oil can be found in many cook shops around Easter-time, but I get mine each year from Cobbs Wholefoods, in Somerton. I make several batches of these biscuits and tie them up in cellophane bags with either raffia or pretty thin ribbon.
Recipe
200g self-raising flour 100g caster sugar 100g unsalted butter 1 egg, beaten Rind and juice of 1/2 lemon For the decoration Easter themed biscuit cutters Disposable piping bags Fine piping round nozzle number 3 Royal icing 2 egg whites 500g icing sugar 1/2 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp glycerin Gel food colouring, in yellow, pink and green
To the above recipe add the following: 60g currants A few drops of cassia oil Combine cassia oil with the lemon juice. Add the currants when the eggs go into the mixture. Combine all ingredients as before, roll out and use a round, fluted cutter, to make about 24 biscuits. Bake as before. bakerval.com
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Food & Drink
NETTLE AND RICOTTA TART WITH RED ONION AND ALMONDS Sasha Matkevich, Head Chef and Owner, The Green with Jack Smith, Apprentice Chef Ingredients
Method
2 medium red onions, sliced 2 tbsp olive oil 400g fresh nettles 3 large eggs 200ml double cream 60g parmesan, grated ½ tsp Cornish sea salt 200g ricotta cheese 60g flaked almonds 350g shortcrust pastry, pre-rolled ¼ tsp fresh nutmeg ¼ tsp fresh black pepper
1 Preheat oven to 170C. 2 Cook the red onion with olive oil on a medium heat for around 10 mins, until soft. 3 Blanch nettles in salted boiling water for 2 mins. Refresh under cold running tap, then drain and squeeze the water out. 4 Whisk together eggs, cream, parmesan, nutmeg, salt and black pepper to taste. 5 Line a tart dish with pastry and, using a pastry brush, glaze it with a small amount of the egg mixture. Cook for 10 mins to seal the base. 6 Arrange onions, ricotta and nettles on the tart base. Pour the remaining egg and cream mixture on top and scatter with almond flakes to decorate. 7 Bake for 40 mins, or until set in the centre and pastry is golden-brown. Serve warm.
Serves 6 people
greenrestaurant.co.uk 60 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
PEAR TARTE TATIN
T
Jane Somper, Goldhill Organics
his month we fancied something a little fruity and sweet. Biting into a juicy pear, it was obvious that these smooth-skinned fruits should be the focus of our attention. We were going to work on a poached pear recipe initially, but discovered we didn’t have any alcohol – which we feel is a must when poaching fruits. Discussing it with the family, they all knew exactly what was their favourite. So here is our version of the awesome pear tarte tatin. You will need a large pan that is ovenproof. Ingredients
6-8 pears 75-100g caster sugar 75-100g cold butter 4 cardamom pods 2 star anise 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 500g block of all-butter puff pastry (we confess we don’t make our own)
Method
1 Peel and core the pears, then cut in half and half again. 2 Over a high heat, add sugar, butter, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom to the pan and let it bubble gently, moving the pan around to ensure all ingredients meld together. 3 Once the sauce begins to caramelise, add the pears – arranging in a neat circle if you can. Cook for 8-12 minutes, turning the pears so that all sides are cooked. 4 Heat your oven to 180C, then roll out your pastry to about the thickness of a £1 coin and cut out a disc a couple of inches wider than your pan. 5 Place your disc of pastry over the pears and press down the edges, tucking it in around the outside of the pears. Make a few holes in the pastry then put back in the oven for 30 minutes, checking after 15 that the juices aren’t over-spilling. If they are, pour some off and continue baking for another 15 minutes. 6 Leave the tarte to cool a bit, then place a serving dish over the top and carefully tip the pan upside down. 7 This can be served cold, but we love it warm and drizzled with cream. goldhillorganics.com www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61
Food & Drink
PINOT NOIR David Copp
I
t is always a pleasure to write about pinot noir. It is the first single red varietal wine that I really got to know. My mentor was the late and great Georges Bouchard, whose family company Bouchard Aîné & Fils took me on as a trainee. Thanks to M. Bouchard’s kindness I was able to share with him bottles of grand cru wines of all the great vintages of the 20th century – 1906, 1912, 1923, 1929, 1934, 1937, 1945, 1949, 1959, 1962, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1999. It is easy to go into raptures about such fine wines at their greatest – but the problem is to find really good pinot noir at an affordable price. What is an affordable price? For the purpose of this article I am going to suggest between £10 and £30. That means we will not find a lot of burgundy. I am disappointed about this and here is why – pinot noir is one of the longest established red-grape varieties, having been most decisively developed by the Cistercian monks in Burgundy in the 12th century. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the monks’ diligent and perceptive husbandry raised viniculture to an agronomic art form. In the process, 62 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
they found that pinot noir was the red-grape variety most suited to their vineyards and their empirical research ensured they got the best results from it. When they were satisfied, they propagated clones from their most healthy plants and planted them in the villages around Chambertin and Vosne Romanée. Some of the pinot noir wines from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti estate now sell for £28,000 a dozen. They are in demand because they are superb examples of their type, but few of us have that kind of money lurking to fill our wine bins. So my mission today is to find growers who have discovered sites where the pinot will flourish, have bothered to come to Burgundy for their clones and planted in their own countries. The most outstanding non-Burgundian pinot noir wines I have enjoyed have come from Australia, South Africa and Oregon, but they too have been so successful that they are selling out at prices way beyond our price range. In order to get really fine pinot noir wines within our price range we have to go shopping in established, but ‘newer’, pinot-producing countries such as New Zealand, Chile and West Germany.
Otago, South Island, New Zealand
New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, has the cool climate with warm summers that thin-skinned pinot plants like. It is salutary to bear in mind that the first commercial pinot noir was made in 1987, thirty years ago. Pinot noir accounts for 70% of all New Zealand red wine production and is well set to fill the gap in the market for good-quality wines at sensible prices. New Zealand has three main centres of pinot noir production: Otago, Marlborough and Martinborough. Otago is by far the most interesting, because a hole in the ozone layer gives this most southerly pinot vineyard a chance to ripen fully. The wines have what I call a ‘New-World style’, which makes them very attractive. Marlborough produces a wide range of pinots, some of them a bit simple and jammy, but others showing great clarity of fruit flavour. However, as a lover of burgundy, I personally find the Martinborough wines most satisfying. The Wine Society lists two exceptional exhibition wines – Otago and Marlborough – at around £14. Chile can grow almost every variety well, but the best pinots come from the coastal region Limarí and from Leyda. Again, The Wine Society is a good supplier,
listing four really good wines priced between £12 and £18 a bottle. My Burgundian friends were deeply impressed with the Chilean pinots we tasted at a master class in London. My final recommendation today for serious pinot noir is West Germany. You will have to put up with the word Spätburgunder on the label, but don’t be put off. The best growers are highly trained craftsmen looking for elegance, finesse, perfume and complexity and longevity. There are four growing areas worth considering for fine wines in our price bracket. In passing I would mention that the best pinots, such as Jean Stodden’s Alte Reben 2010, which came out top in a recent Decanter tasting of world pinots, are already priced beyond the £25 mark. However, the Ahr River, Baden-Baden, Franken and Pfalz produce some stunning wines. You will find lots of inexpensive German pinots in the supermarkets, but if you want the real thing ask your wine merchant for advice on the better and most sophisticated growers. I am sure you will not be disappointed.
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 63
Animal Care
SHED ACHES
Mark Newton-Clarke, MA VetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons
I
t’s that time of year, thank goodness, when we start to look forward to the sunny days and prepare gardens and sheds for the year ahead. I love my shed – or rather sheds – but a certain level of untidiness has crept in over the winter. It’s an Aladdin’s cave for the dogs but there are potential dangers, as not everything in there is suitable for the attention of our young and goofy black Labrador, Portia. Some things are obvious – sharp tools, bits of string – from which there can be dreadful consequences if eaten – oil spills, pots of paint and all manner of garden fertilisers and chemicals. It’s worth considering
64 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
some of these in more detail, especially the more toxic substances. Top of this list is slug bait that contains metaldehyde, deadly not only to slugs but dogs, cats, humans and all mammals and birds too! Spreading the pellets on the garden only increases the availability of this deadly toxin, so, if you must use it, take care. There is no antidote for this poison, which causes seizures and coma, causing a neurological catastrophe. If you are suspicious that your cat or dog has eaten something toxic, prevent further exposure and call your vet immediately. As a general rule, the faster we can make an animal sick after eating a poison, the more likely
a successful outcome. A drug called apomorphine is used to induce vomiting in dogs and is highly effective – although Coco Bean, our dear departed chocolate Labrador, had so much of it over her 12 years of scavenging that she became resistant to its effects. Rat poison and antifreeze are numbers two and three on my most-toxic list. There are specific treatments but especially in the case of antifreeze, they must be carried out immediately. Cats are most prone to antifreeze toxicity, as apparently it tastes sweet. The usually fastidious feline is drawn to this deadly toxin, needing only a teaspoon or so for it to be fatal.
Over the last year or so I have been trying to renovate my garden, a process that requires cement – a substance that you may not think of as a danger. However, an open bag of cement or even a sand mixture is an extreme irritant due to its intensely alkaline nature. Portia stuck her nose straight into an open bag at the first opportunity! Contact with eyes, nose and mouth causes the worst burns and so copious washing in water is essential, followed by a trip to your vet to check particularly for corneal ulceration, which develops some time after exposure. What else might a man cave hold that can harm your pet? Pots of paint and oil, DIY products that have tipped over and spilled and all kinds of sticky or smelly stuff are never found in my shed, I assure you! If any of these products contaminates a fur coat, the most important thing is to stop it being licked and so ingested. A head collar or a shirt to cover are useful, but just an old towel is sufficient until you can get to your veterinary surgeon. Although many of these things are not highly poisonous, they can be an irritant if ingested. Clipping the contaminated fur is the most effective way of removal, so don’t be tempted to use white spirit or other chemicals. Unless you have a pair of appropriate clippers leave the trim to an expert, as only very long feathering can be safely removed with scissors. Flower bulbs that should have been planted last autumn or are about to be planted in spring seem to be quite a favourite with dogs, especially daffodils. Not as toxic to dogs as onions and garlic, which may also be strung up in the shed, flower bulbs can still cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Giving the decking or patio a spring clean? Be sure to keep all pets off the treated areas until they are completely dry, as irritated paws lead to excessive licking and then an ulcerated mouth and tongue. Cats are particularly prone to problems with cleaned surfaces, both outside and inside the home, as they are free ranging and have little regard for verbal commands. Easter brings the annual egg hunt in the garden. I know you will believe me when I say your dog is far better at finding chocolate than even an excited child, so make sure you account for all those chocolatey treasures and leave none tucked under the shrubs for a Scooby snack later on. Happy Easter everybody and a safe spring. newtonclarkevet.com
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65
Pet, Equine & Farm Animals
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Body & Mind
WHAT TO WEAR Lindsay Punch, Personal Stylist
W
e sometimes have a tendency to stick to our favourite colour pairings, whether that means an all-black ensemble, denim and white, or navy and red. If you are stuck in a colour rut, you can always look to the fashion world for inspiration, creating looks that feel on-trend with unexpected colour combinations. There are beautiful hues available for spring, with a good mix of bold, cool and neutral shades – all of which will look good when used as blocks of colour. Teaming bright tones with neutral accessories is just one winning combination for achieving effortless style, particularly if you want to appear polished. The colour authority, Pantone, chose ‘greenery’, a tangy yellow-green, as 2017’s colour of the year. As a result, you’ll see a host of citrus shades and bright greens in the coming months to freshen up and add vitality to your wardrobe. The warmth and cheer of yellow shades will leave you looking forward to sunnier days. Fiery flame-reds and powerful hot pinks, either worn separately or together, create a dramatic and catwalk-ready look. If you’d like something more calming and peaceful, cool blues, aquas and soft pinks all infuse a healthy glow. Earthy neutrals add warmth for spring but also double up as effortless transitional colours, taking you through to the cooler seasons. If you want to opt for ‘safe’ colours, you may be surprised to learn that black is not the best choice and you are better sticking with universally flattering shades such as navy, teal or blush-pink. If you are looking to experiment with something new, you could start small with a lipstick colour, scarf, handbag or pair of shoes. Your best bet would be to seek the advice of a professional colour analyst or personal stylist to transform your look and your confidence by wearing colours that suit your skin tone. The Times recently reported how the 1980s trend of ‘getting your colours done’ is proving a hit with the new generation. Having a seasonal colour consultation will offer fresh styling tips to help you embrace the 68 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
colour spectrum for work or play this spring. It allows you to clash layers cleverly with bigger pieces like coats, jumpers, dresses, blazers, or trousers, or to wear your best neutrals if you prefer a monochrome palette. Just adding colours one by one will help you decide if the tone sparks joy! With the help of the online clothing company, Kettlewell (kettlewellcolours.co.uk), clothes shopping has never been so easy, with options to choose your best colours from 150 shades. If you have ever wondered what you will get out of a colour consultation, there are numerous benefits. 1 You will save money when shopping and avoid expensive mistakes. 2 You will save time in the changing rooms and cut out half of the shop floor. 3 You will learn which colours make you glow and the ones to avoid. 4 You will notice a more defined jaw line and cheekbones and reduced appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and dark circles. 5 You will discover what make-up and lipstick colours are the best for you. 6 You will gain tips on how to wear those colours which are not in your colour palette. 7 You will create a totally flattering wardrobe, with colours that make you look fabulous. 8 You will build a versatile wardrobe that can be easily mixed and matched. Once you know which colours compliment your natural colouring, you’ll save hours buying clothes and pulling outfits together. Best of all, there’s nothing like the confidence it will bring you in choosing what to wear. For more information on group or 1-2-1 colour analysis sessions, please visit lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk or facebook. com/lindsaypunchstyling
BRIGHTER SHADES
Image: Temperley London
W
Robin Hague, Robin James Spa, Hair & Beauty Salon
hen the tulips raise their heads above the parapet, it marks the beginning of the springtime for me. There is always a sense of renewal and optimism, longer days – and hopefully warmer ones too. There’s hope that, with winter out of the way, everything will be better and brighter. This next season in the fashion world is looking bright and optimistic too. One of our nation’s greatest fashion icons, Alice Temperley, has created her spring 2017 collection with similar optimism – inspired by dream catchers. “Colours, proportions and design elements work together towards my vision of a modern, relaxed woman full of femininity, energy, emotions and dreams.” Alice Temperley, MBE I think that when stripes are heavily represented in your wardrobe, it signals confidence. But you’d be mistaken if you wrote the perennial favourite off as a one-trick pony,
since seaside stripes are destined to make their way into your wardrobe in the months to come. Taken straight from beach umbrellas and deckchairs, these in-your-face lines are the perfect summer staples. Looking forward to wearing a happy hue this season? Then go all out in yellow – be it stripes, block colour or ruffles. No matter what your skin tone, there is a sunny shade for everyone. Of course, that just leaves the hair. Long hair will be worn in a mismatch of textures with a strong ‘thrown the comb away’ vibe. In contrast, where hair will be worn formally, ultra shine is the way to go, giving the look of a perfect sheet of silk. As for hair colour, blorange is where it’s at for 2017. Somewhere between blonde and ginger, this peachy take on strawberry blonde is a natural progression from the orange tones that crept in last season. Just the thing to frame summer skin. robin-james.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69
Body & Mind
WELL-POLISHED Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms
W
hether on a conscious or subconscious level, a person’s hands are one of the first things we notice. From the ancient ritual of handshaking – a gesture of peace to demonstrate the hand holds no weapon – through to greeting someone with a wave, our hands and the way we use offer a window into who we are as people. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why our nails, too, have always formed such an important part of the grooming ritual. Long ago, lengthy nails signified status, while today a good manicure is an indication that you take pride in your appearance. Nail polish dates back to China circa 3,000 BC, when precious metals like gold and silver were painted onto the nails of the wealthy to demonstrate status and power. In 50 BC, Cleopatra was one of the first to apply colour solely to her fingertips, moving away from henna painting of the hands. After the fall of the Roman Empire, nail painting fell into decline. It didn’t resurface until the Renaissance, when new connections to Eastern trade sparked a fresh interest. During the Victorian age, nails were buffed and polished with creams, tinted oils and powders to create a shiny finish. The nail polish we use today emerged via advancements in paint – specifically, car paint! In the early 1900s, companies like Cutex and Revlon modified the formula of these paints to create a varnish suitable for use on nails. From here, manicure parlours became commonplace and in the 1930s and 40s the colour 70 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
movies of Hollywood widened the appeal of red nails – and lips – to demonstrate femininity. In the 21st century we are able to choose any shade we desire, have a huge choice of brands and a variety of formulas to meet the demands of modern-day wear and tear. Gel polish gives glorious, colourful shine and support to your natural nails. This typically lasts around two or three weeks, depending how hard you are on your nails. Nails and cuticles are prepared before the gel polish is applied before being cured – or hardened – under UV or LED light. UV and LED curing refers to the chemical process that occurs when photo initiators within the gel itself are exposed to the UV or blue light. This chain reaction produces heat and creates long-bonded chains that make the gel hard. Although gel polish has some bad press regarding damage to the natural nail, when applied and removed correctly, it is no more damaging than wearing regular nail polish. Excessive buffing, scraping and picking of the gel should always be avoided and nails should be cared for with oils and lanolin-free hand cream. Always use a proper gel removal soak-off liquid and never use a pure solvent such as acetone to take them off, as it will dry out your natural nails. Reputable nail technicians will offer a gentle professional removal service or sell a product suitable for home removal. Remember, as we say in the trade, nails are ‘jewels not tools’! thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk
HERB MENTALITY Kate Scott Bsc (hons) Herbal Medicine MNIMH, The Sherborne Rooms
A
s a medical herbalist, I get excited at this time of year as the plants begin to emerge in the hedgerows and gardens. To a herbalist, any plant found or traditionally considered to have healing properties is classed as a herb. Scientific research helps us to understand how these plants, and the phytochemicals they contain, help to heal our bodies and how, as natural biological chemicals, they work in harmony with our bodies. Plant medicines have been used for many thousands of years. Hippocrates, the ‘father’ of medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Many plants found in the hedgerow at this time of year can easily be incorporated into meals – such nettles made into soups and even used as an interesting layer in a lasagne, or dandelion leaves in salads. Traditionally, plants such as cleavers, or goosegrass, have been used to help support the lymphatic system after the colds and viruses of winter, with nettle giving a much-needed boost of vitamins and minerals at this time of year. Dandelion leaves act as a natural diuretic, helping to cleanse the body. They are also rich in potassium, among other minerals, and the roots act as
liver support, helping to boost clearance of toxins with their detoxifying effect and gentle laxative action. Liver herbs are very important to the herbalist and something I use a lot in integrative health care and in my work supporting visitors to the Breast Cancer Haven. One of the things I love about being a herbalist is the variety. I get to spend time with people when I see them in clinic and have great feedback around treatments. I am also lucky enough to harvest and preserve my own herbs and love teaching others how to safely identify and use herbs – either on herb walks, workshops or while lecturing at the College of Naturopathic Medicine. With a passion for native plants, I believe that the rich flora of the British Isles equips us to source and produce our own herbal medicines as we have done traditionally for very many years, with modern research now showing the efficacy of our own plant medicines. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Kate at kscott703@btinternet.com or 07969 882439. roundhillherbs.wix.com/roundhill
Body & Mind
EXERCISE NUTRITION MACRONUTRIENTS, WHAT ARE THEY? Ryan Clayton, Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor
M
acronutrients are the three main components that make up everybody’s diet – carbohydrates, protein and fats. Each nutrient has a specific function that helps the body to run like a well-oiled machine. When trying to reach an exercise goal, whether it is to lose weight, build muscle mass, improve aerobic fitness or even improve muscular strength, these three macronutrients play a really important role in getting you towards your target. Therefore it is really important that you get all three macros in through your diet in the right quantity – as having too much or too little of each one can hinder your progress towards your goals. So what does each one do? Let’s start with our main source of energy – carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the most important fuel for exercise and can be found in a variety of foods, including types of fruit, bread, cereals, potatoes, rice and pasta. When consuming carbohydrates it is important to get your balance right, especially 72 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
when you are exercising. Eating too much of this macro can have a negative effect and cause weight gain, but having too little means you won’t be fuelling your body sufficiently for your workout. The carbohydrates we eat are stored in the muscles as glycogen, which we use as energy – just as when you fill your car with fuel, which is then burnt throughout a journey. You eat your source of energy, so make sure you are always fuelling your body before and after your workouts. Next we have protein, which plays a really big role when exercising, since protein helps with the growth and repair of your muscles. During exercise your body breaks down muscle fibres, so eating or drinking your protein helps with the recovery process of your muscles. This means a quicker recovery time, so that you can get back in the gym or out training for that marathon you have signed up for. Protein can be found in a large source of foods such as chicken, beef, turkey, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, beans, lentils, pulses and so on. Protein also comes
in the form of supplements, the most commonly used being protein powders. Supplement is the key word in the last sentence – they should not be used as a replacement for natural sources of protein but used alongside whole foods to assist you in getting your daily protein intake. The average human with a sedentary lifestyle should be consuming 0.75g of protein per kilogram of body weight, with more active people needing more due to the intensity of their training. Finally we have fats – the dreaded F word. Fat has always been a controversial topic. Do we need it in our diet? Should we be cutting it out if we want to lose weight? Should we buy low-fat options to help with our weight-loss journey? The optimal total fat intake has probably been the most researched topic in nutrition over the last two decades. Large cohort studies and randomised trials with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer as outcomes have shown no overall relationship, though the type and quality of fat are important. Yes, you read correctly – eating fat is not bad for you. Providing it is eaten in the correct amounts and comes from the correct sources, fat can be a very efficient nutrient. Like carbohydrates, it acts as fuel source for the body. However, unlike carbohydrates, it is burnt off by the body much more slowly, which means it is lot more stubborn to get rid of. Fats are broken down into three categories – trans fats, saturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Trans fats are your bad fats. These are present in processed foods and should be avoided as far as possible in your diet, though we all love a cheeky treat now and again. Saturated fats should be consumed in moderation, as if consumed in excess they can be harmful to cholesterol and the heart. Finally we have unsaturated fats. These are our good fats and they should make up the majority of your fat intake. If consumed in the correct quantities they can benefit brain function and aid in the absorption of vitamins in the body. So there we have it, your macronutrients. If you want to learn a little bit more about nutrition, pop down to Oxley Sport Centre and have a chat with one of our instructors who will be able to answer any questions you may have. oxleysc.com
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01935 818270 www.oxleysc.com Bradford Road, Sherborne DT9 3DA www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73
Body & Mind
HAYFEVER
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom, GP and Complementary Practitioner, Glencairn House
W
ith the onset of spring many of us will be bracing ourselves for this year’s bout of hayfever – sneezing, running nose and sniffing due to congestion, along with itching of the eyes, roof of the mouth and throat. The way to prevent these symptoms is to avoid exposure to the pollens, but in reality this is not possible. However, measures such as shutting the bedroom windows during the day, closing car windows and recirculating the air, plus not mowing the lawn or camping while the pollen count is high may help. Conventional treatments can be obtained on prescription from your GP or bought over the counter from the local chemist. Modern once-daily non-sedating anti-histamines such as Cetirizine 10mg are preferred to older ones such as Piriton, which makes you feel sleepy. The twice-daily nasal steroid spray Beconase or the newer once-daily Avamys reduce the congestion and runny nose. Opticrom eye drops stop itching and redness of the eyes. Annual long-acting steroid injections are now discouraged due to potential adverse side effects at the site of injection and also in the body generally. Many people find homeopathic medicines helpful. Hayfever symptoms can be prevented by giving Mixed Grass and Pollen 30c twice daily throughout the season – the concept is that you are taking a very small dose of the causative trigger factor and in some way this dampens down the body’s immune response to the pollens and spores. Hayfever symptoms can also be treated when they occur with a relieving remedy called Hayfever 30c. This is a combination of three medicines, Allium Cepa for nasal symptoms, Sabadilla for sneezing and Euphrasia for eye itching. Another alternative treatment option is herbal medicine – Eyebright and Plantain are said to be supportive of the lining of the nasal passages as well as anti-inflammatory. Some people swear by eating local honey – the rationale is that the bees are sourcing the local pollen from trees 74 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
and flowers that you ingest and those pollens then stimulate your immune system to make anti-bodies against those same pollens. The selection of hayfever symptoms may also have an effect at other times of the year. If they occur in the early spring they may be due to tree pollen, especially birch; in late autumn they may be due to moulds. Outside these times symptoms may be due to year-round airborne allergens such as house dust mite, cat fur, dog dander and household mould. In order to establish the factor causing the symptoms, allergy testing can be very helpful. The two tests that are scientifically accepted and backed up by evidence-based medicine are skin prick testing and specific IgE blood testing – not finger prick testing, which can be obtained from health food stores or the internet. Other methods such as kinesiology and Vega testing are not scientific and studies have clearly demonstrated their inconsistent and inaccurate results. One of the commonest non-seasonal allergies is house dust mite. If this is identified through allergy testing, eliminating it from the household with regular highfiltration vacuuming and the use of mattress covers and pillow cases made of micro-porous material can be helpful in symptom reduction. Successful management of hayfever allergy is important to optimise quality of life during the spring and summer months. It is also key for work productivity as well as school performance – one study showed a 40% chance of dropping an exam grade in those pupils whose hayfever was poorly controlled. Hopefully the above advice for hayfever treatment, either conventionally or by using complementary medicine, will help reduce or even eliminate those annoying symptoms and thus enhance your enjoyment of the summer months. doctorTWRobinson.com GlencairnHouse.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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76 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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We are delighted to announce that following our recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission we have been awarded a rating of Outstanding. This means we are in the top 1% of care homes in England.
The Old Vicarage CQC overall rating
28 January 2016
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 care@tovic.com
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Lettings & Property Management
Substantial Family Home, three receptions, five bedrooms, two utilities, kitchen/breakfast room, large garden, outbuildings/ garage, drive parking.
Independent Letting Agent representing town and country property throughout Somerset and Dorset
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Lopen, South Petherton: 01460 243100 Child Okeford, Dorset: 01258 861100 Priorswood, Taunton: 01823 323575
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78 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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Found Your perfect buyer. Sell with Knight Frank.
Despite Brexit, we have had our best 12 months since 2006, with property sales up 33%. Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately. On average, our Sherborne office has achieved 94% of the guide price on sales of property valued over ÂŁ400,000*, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. 15 Cheap Street Sherborne Dorset DT9 3PU 01935 590022 @KFSherborne sherborne@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/Sherborne *Over the past 12 months
@KnightFrank
Property
CITY LIMITS
Luke Pender-Cudlip, Sherborne Partner and Office Head, Knight Frank
The call of the countryside
It could be a deep-seated desire to return to our roots, a wish to roam a little freer or the hope of a quieter pace of life. Whatever motivates Londoners to up sticks and head for the countryside, Knight Frank has been helping to make the move a painless one for generations. There is the famous Johnson quote, of course, but the truth is that few people leave London because they’re tired of what the city has to offer. Moving out is usually more about what the country can give them and their family at that point in their lives. A bigger house, a generous garden,
80 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
good schooling and a more relaxed lifestyle are some of the most popular reasons given by those moving out. The timing of the move tends to follow a fairly clear pattern. There are two life stages that we observe more than any others. The first is when the children are reaching primary or secondary school age – so the strategy tends to be: find a good school in the countryside and settle in the area for the duration of their education. The other is retirement – when working in town is no longer an issue it can be a chance to sell the London house and move out to begin a more rural way of life.
The charms of village life
Not everyone who is moving out of town is hunting for a country pile and a garden the size of their local London park, however. For some, the dream is a quintessential English cottage with a village community, pub and a shop. So what is it that prompts people to choose this kind of country living over staying in London or buying the manor house set in splendid isolation? We believe that the answer changes depending on what stage of life people are at. A village house can be an initial rural base before selling up for good in London and buying a bigger property with land. It can be a wish – often after the kids have left home – to cut down on the maintenance of a big house and swap it for somewhere that’s easy to lock up and leave. Another factor is changing work patterns. As remote working increases and trainjourney times shrink, the country dream is becoming a viable option for more and more purchasers. For those not quite ready for the slower pace of rural village life, market towns offer a good middle ground with their rich social and cultural possibilities. Those that are currently ‘in vogue’ are often characterised by their delicious eateries and cultural or social hubs. Some of the top locations include The Roth Bar & Grill at Hauser & Wirth and At The Chapel in Bruton, The Riverside in Bridport, Brassica in Beaminster, the ever-popular Babington House in Frome, The Green Restaurant in
Sherborne, HIX Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis, the Crab House Café in Weymouth and Rick Stein in Sandbanks, amongst many others. A decade ago, when moving out of London, a buyer’s search would have concentrated on the Cotswolds or, for those with looser ties to the capital, Devon and Cornwall. But steady price rises in these areas have seen many buyers looking elsewhere. The winners have been Dorset and Somerset, counties with a good stock of picture-postcard villages and most within reasonable travelling times to London. The facts back this up. In spite of the Brexit vote, the American election result and a host of other diversions, the Knight Frank Sherborne Office has had its best year since 2006 – and that was the best year ever. Year on year, viewings are up 26%, instructions up 65% and sales are up 50%. It is a curiously English phenomenon, this draw of rural living. There are so many practical reasons why people do it – from space to price per square foot – but there’s more to it than that. At a time when everything’s moving faster and life seems to be getting busier, there’s nothing quite like slowing down a little and taking a breath – and our incredibly diverse countryside is simply a wonderful place to do it. knightfrank.co.uk/sherborne
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81
Property
THE STICKS
A
Mark Lewis FRICS FNAVA, Partner, Head of Agency, Symonds and Sampson
t our Move To The Country Show at Chelsea Old Town Hall last year, I was talking to a lady who was desperate to buy a property in the South West. Her son, who was in his mid-teens, was reluctant to leave London and could not understand why anyone would swap such a vibrant place for, as he called it, life in the sticks. So we sat down and went through the pluses and minuses of London and the country. First on his list was 4G and broadband and how his life could not function without it. This was a tricky point, as there are still parts of the West Country where people do have to go halfway up a hill in order to obtain signal. However, 4G is now commonplace and super-fast fibre optic broadband is reaching more and more homes. “London is the city of culture,” he said, “and the West Country is a cultural desert.” I asked him when he last went to the Tate or The National Gallery, all on his doorstep – but rarely visited. The South West is renowned for music, comedy and theatre clubs, whilst the number of museums is very healthy. “It takes so long to get about in the country,” he suggested. I was on the back foot with this one as the bus services are not very frequent! Getting from A to B, however, can be far more pleasurable than the crowded tube or a dirty night bus and the scenery can be 82 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
breathtaking. I am not sure he was convinced. Shopping was mentioned, but my reply was, “Well they do have shops in the country, you know!” Independent book, food and record shops abound – and there is always the internet. He had to concede that he buys most of his ‘stuff ’ on the web already. His mother mentioned schooling. I cited the acres of open fields, brilliant inspiring teachers and wonderful OFSTED reports. He seemed to be switching off. We talked about congestion, crime, friendships and fresh air, but I felt we turned a corner when the beach and sea were mentioned. He had been sailing with his grandfather during the holidays and loved it. A move could give him far more access for his new passion. Was it the clincher? Was he convinced? Well I am not sure he would admit it, so we agreed the argument had merit on both sides. His mother sighed. “Before we start dreaming too much we have to sell our London house.” Thankfully the estate agents Douglas & Gordon were on the next stand and I was able to introduce her. All was well. So if you see a sign in a Symonds & Sampson window stating, ‘Desperate lady seeks house with reluctant son,’ you will know who it is! symondsandsampson.co.uk
Do you want to get more from your retirement? An Equity Release mortgage may be an option for you. Equity Release can provide a way to release some of the money tied up in your home if you are a homeowner aged 55 or over. You may wish to: • Repay debts or outstanding mortgages • Boost your income • Help your family • Make improvements to your home Equity release enables you to use some of the money tied up in your home to provide a tax free lump sum, to spend on almost anything you wish. If you would like to understand the options in more detail please contact our consultants for a no cost initial meeting without obligation. At the meeting we would explain and agree the fees that would apply if you wish to progress the enquiry. Equity release may not be right for everyone. It may affect your entitlement to state benefits and will reduce the value of your estate.
Our Sherborne advisers Johanna Kemp CeMAP
Equity Release, Mortgages, Life Assurance M: 07813 785355 E: jk@abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk
Jeremy Howe DipPFS MAQ
Equity Release, Mortgages, Life Assurance, Pensions & Investments M: 07885 660775 E: jh@abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk
Tel: 01202 646960 Web: abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk
FCA No: 576165
Property
THE PROS AND CONS OF SHORT-TERM LETTING
S
Anita Light & Paul Gammage, Ewemove Sherborne
hort-term letting is a booming business at the moment, as a means of providing both tourist and domestic accommodation. A short let is generally considered to be anything less than six months and normally the rent includes utilities, TV and internet. The premises in question is also normally fully furnished and equipped, with bed linen provided. Beyond that, there’s a great deal of diversity. Your short let might be letting your spare room, letting your house while you’re away or letting your second or buy-to-let property. It might mean letting for a day, a week or five months. The pros
The main and obvious advantage is that tenants will normally pay significantly more for short-term lets. The rental transaction costs of using some of the popular portals are also usually lower to landlords than using a letting agent. If you own your own place and are going away, a short-term let in your absence can provide a great solution. Or perhaps a lodger in your spare room a few nights a week may be enough to make ends meet. The cons
For most short-term lets, you’ll probably have to pay the council tax and water bill. If it’s a holiday let you may also have other services to cover, like electricity and Wi-Fi. Another key consideration is making sure your property is health and safety regulation-compliant. That means risk assessments, gas and electricity inspections and appropriate fire precautions. In most circumstances you will need to ensure that you have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and this requirement applies to holiday lets – if you let your property for more than four months in a year – and room rental if the room is self-contained and has its own bathroom, lavatory and kitchen. In short, check the regulations carefully. You also have to consider the demands of a high
84 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
turnover of tenants. You will need to clean, market and manage your property in between tenants and the chances are you won’t have much opportunity to vet them. Ask anyone who has let property on shortterm lets and you’ll probably find they have had mixed experiences, with some tenants leaving their property spotless, others leaving it an absolute tip. Short-term tenants have high expectations of your property and if something goes wrong, they usually expect it to be dealt with within the day. Not much fun if you’re on holiday on the other side of the world or caught up in your working day. Finally, as the owner of a property with a mortgage to pay, the big problem with short-term lets is that you face a very real risk of long periods when your property is empty. Don’t forget the legalities
If you have a mortgage, check the terms with your lender as to whether it is a buy-to-let mortgage or not. You’ll need appropriate insurance, then there’s the tax implications of extra income. You should also check with your local council and, if you’re a leaseholder, check the terms of the lease. After all, if you fail to comply with the legal requirements, those attractive rents will be eaten up very quickly if something goes wrong. Is short-term letting for you?
Short-term letting has been revolutionised by the likes of Airbnb and, though controversial, short lets are here to stay. Whether it’s right for you will remain a personal choice depending on your particular circumstances, but just don’t get caught by the pull of high rents. Make sure you consider all the implications and take appropriate advice from a professional before you jump on the bandwagon. ewemove.com/sherborne
Hi, we’re Anita and Paul Branch Directors of EweMove Sherborne Your Local Property Expert
8 Reasons Why Homeowners Trusted EweMove To Sell Their Home 1 We’re open 24/7, so we never miss out on a viewing or offer 2 We advertise on all major property portals: RightMove and Zoopla 3 Our award winning Ewereka! system allows buyers to book their online viewings 4 We will personally manage your sale beginning to end
Oborne, £260,000
Chilthorne Domer £287,500
• 3 Beds with great size plot, Amazing Countryside Views
• 2 Double Bedroom Bungalow, Wonderful Village Location
Julie Warren
5 We take professional photographs of your home that will make it stand out and increase your click through rates 6 2D & 3D floor plans to allow people to visualise themselves in your home 7 If you’re not happy, you can walk away at any time and you won’t pay us a penny 8 Our customers have rated us 5 star on Trustpilot making us The UK’s Most Trusted Estate Agent
Lower Odcombe £290,000 • 3 Beds, 2 Baths, Extented and Renovated
Chetnole, £425,000 • 3 Double Bed Period Property, Sympathetically Updated
Stoford £230,000 • 3 Bedroom Cottage, Excellently Presented
Total Transparency and Honesty
Anita and Paul run an estate agents like none you will have ever experienced before and believe me I have tried quite a few over the years! There is total transparency and honesty at all times combined with expert communication – I knew what was going on every single day and as things happened, not when someone decided I needed a weekly update. I had more viewings in 6 weeks than I had in the previous 6 months but from people who actually were interested in my property not just viewings for the sake of viewings. Equally my purchaser was over the moon and the completion went smoothly and without a hitch. Why put up with the normal sloppiness of high street estate agents, save your time an awful lot of hassle and money and go to the best in the area – that’s exactly what I will be doing next time.
Get Your FREE Online Valuation Estimate Visit: EweMove.com/Sherborne Or Call: 01935 350 350
jackson-stops.co.uk
Big enough to cope small enough to care With 8 offices in the West Country and over 40 nationally, including 8 in London, we combine expert local knowledge with comprehensive national coverage. For sales and valuation advice please contact your nearest office. Bridport 01308 423 133
Dorchester 01305 262 123
Sherborne 01935 810 141
Shaftesbury 01747 850 858
Exeter 01392 214 222
Barnstaple 01271 325 153
Truro 01872 261 160
Taunton 01823 325 144
People Property Places
don't put all your eggs in one basket
Sherborne Office
01935 817903 James Mobile
07824 389750 Lucinda Mobile
James Oliver DipPFS CeMAP Independent Financial Advisor Pensions and Retirement Planning • Investments • Inheritance Tax Planning • Mortgage and Equity Release • Life Assurance and Protection
james.oliver@ssfs.co.uk
07791 094 551 www.ssfs.co.uk
Lucinda Warren CeMAP BSc (Hons) Independent Mortgage Advisor Mortgage • Life Assurance and Protection • Buy to Let Mortgage
lucinda@ssfs.co.uk
Strategic Solutions is a trading style of Strategic Solutions Financial Services which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, number 525733. Principals: Kevin Forbes: Jefferson Fawcett: Giles Wellington: Allan Cruse.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Finance
SIMPLIFYING THE RESIDENCE NIL RATE BAND (RNRB)
Y
Sarah Dodd, Head of Later Life Support, Mogers Drewett
ou may have heard that you could save substantial amounts in inheritance tax when a home is passed to your lineal descendants upon your death. This should include children, stepchildren, grandchildren and/or their spouse or civil partner, provided they have not remarried. However, it is not quite as simple as that. The basic idea is to give taxpayers an additional inheritance tax allowance when a residential property is left to lineal descendants, but this additional allowance is not available to everyone. A new law comes into effect from 6th April 2017 that will be phased in over four years. This means that the full £175,000 allowance will not be available until April 2020. The maximum residence nil-rate band (RNRB) will provide £100,000 in the first year, £125,000 in the second, £150,000 in the third, and finally £175,000 in the fourth. The RNRB is transferable between spouses and civil partners on death. This is very similar to the normal nil-rate band. The unused percentage from the estate of the first dying can be claimed in the estate of the second dying irrespective of when the first died and whether they actually owned residential property at their death. Very simply, there should always be an additional 100% RNRB unless the first dying had an estate of more than £2 million. Those fortunate to have very large estates will not see any benefit from this RNRB. The RNRB will be reduced by £1 for every £2 that the deceased’s net estate is over £2 million.
88 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
The RNRB may be lost if the property is placed into a discretionary trust for the benefit of the deceased’s children or grandchildren. However, if the trust gives a child or grandchild an absolute interest, or an interest in possession, in the property then the RNRB can still be deducted. The RNRB and its uses can be quite confusing. You may be asking if the trust in your will retains the RNRB? If you have a debt charged on the home, should you charge the debt on some other asset? If your estate exceeds £2 million, should you make lifetime gifts in order to reduce your assets? If you and your spouse own a home jointly, should you sever the tenancy and become tenants in common? If you want a more in-depth answer to any questions such as these, you may wish to take legal advice. With this new law, it would be a good idea for property owners to dust off their wills and look to see whether existing provisions will make the best use of the additional allowance being offered. As head of later life support at Mogers Drewett, Sarah and her team are dedicated to providing services for later life and vulnerable clients, including the elderly and those with special needs or children. They focus on issues such as care home management, lasting power of attorney, order protection, wills and looking after affairs for the elderly. md-solicitors.co.uk
ARE YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS ON COURSE?
D
Martyn Hurll APFS, Chartered Financial Planner, Peter Harding Wealth Management
espite the benefits offered by pensions, many employees are still failing to make adequate provision for retirement, while critics claim that tax privileges are unfairly weighted in favour of high earners. It’s no secret that the government needs to encourage everybody – especially younger generations – to engage with the idea of saving for retirement. The tax breaks that come with pensions are not always well understood and those in their 20s and 30s don’t always feel incentivised to put away more than the bare minimum. The launch of the new Lifetime ISA (LISA) is scheduled for this April and is designed to address the challenges facing the under-40s by allowing them to save for retirement or a first home and benefit from a more explicit government bonus. However, the 25% bonus under the LISA is far less generous than pension relief for higher earners who can claim relief of 40% or 45% on their contributions. But Theresa May has said she intends to focus her attention on those “just about managing”. Curbing costly tax breaks for high earners could therefore be politically expedient and trim billions from the UK’s budget deficit. The first we will hear of any reform will probably be in the coming Budget, so predicting change is pure speculation. One thing we do know is that HMRC’s approach to tax reliefs is based on the simple premise of ‘use it or lose it’ so, with the tax-year end very close, investors should be reviewing their plans to ensure they maximise the current tax breaks and take a step closer to a more secure retirement. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or inheritance tax planning, please contact Peter Harding Wealth Management on 01747 855554 or peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk or visit peterhardingwm.co.uk.
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89
Finance
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
H
Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning
ow much money do you really need for the rest of your life? The fact is, the majority of people have no idea where they are heading financially. They may have assets, investments and/or high levels of income, but most people have no idea what it all means, or what sort of financial future awaits them. On the one hand they don’t want to retire too early, only to discover that their money runs out. On the other hand they don’t want to retire too late and end up working when they could have been playing! Then again, because of taxes due upon death, they don’t want to die with too much money… But they’re afraid to spend it or give it away. What we all need to know is, “How much money do I really need for the rest of my life?” Having an insight into how much money you actually need can be enlightening. It can put you in control. Knowing how much is enough will give you the freedom to live your life smarter. After all, life is not a rehearsal – it needs to be lived to the full. The NUMBER is the amount of money you need for the rest of your life – not just to survive, but to live it to the full. It’s different for each of us, of course. So what’s your personal NUMBER? Is it £1 million? £2 million? A lot more? A lot less? How much do you really need? You can probably have a lot more fun at 55 than you can at 85. So the earlier you understand your NUMBER the better. Without knowing your NUMBER, how can you plan? How can you decide what’s best? The great thing about discovering your NUMBER is that when you have found it, you can then start to build it, nurture it, protect it and – most importantly – enjoy it. Real financial planning – some call it lifestyle financial planning – is the key to knowing your NUMBER. Real financial planners don’t flog financial products, but help people to identify where they are now, to identify where they want to be in the future and to identify what needs to happen to make that future come alive. Do you know your NUMBER? ffp.org.uk
90 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Your Life, Your Money, Your Future Trusted, professional, fee based advice We live in a complex world. At FFP we aim to remove complexity, replacing it with simplicity and clarity so that our clients can enjoy their lives without worry
FFP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
For a fresh take on your accounts, speak to Hunts.
Telephone: 01935 813322 Email: info@ffp.org.uk Website: www.ffp.org.uk
Jackson-Stops & Staff Do you need a professional RICS Red Book Valuation? For PROBATE | DIVORCE | FAMILY DIVISION TAX | LAND ACQUISITION Contact Julian Bunkall FRICS
T: 01935 815008 E: info@huntsaccountants.co.uk W: huntsaccountants.co.uk @Hunts_Sherborne The Old Pump House, Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX
Registered Valuer with the RICS Over 35 years’ experience valuing property in Dorset and the South West
Tel 07970 872 974 Email julian.bunkall@jackson-stops.co.uk Chartered Surveyors and Valuers Over 40 offices in London and the UK
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91
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.
The Manual and Electric Garage Door Specialists
Replacing an existing garage door? Planning to build a new home or garage? Founded in 1991, Dorset Garage Doors are a family business covering Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. All our work is guaranteed and carried out by fully trained installation engineers • 10 year warranty on selected Garador products • Spares, Repairs and Installation
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www.dorsetgaragedoors.co.uk 92 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Tech
Microsoft Office
Whether you like it or not, this is the industry-standard suite of programs that most of the world uses for creating documents, spreadsheets and the like. The program names are Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word and they sit alongside the lesser-known Access database manager. Nearly every business also uses the email, calendar and planning program called Outlook. It is never free and whatever version you’ve got will have come as part of your computer’s package, or you will have subscribed somewhere along the road. Microsoft did offer another package called Works that was free, but it has been retired and has not been distributed for several years. Most people want Microsoft Office on their computer as they will have learned to use it at work or at school and they have no idea that there are alternatives that are FREE! However people don’t like change and it takes a while to get used to something else. On the other hand, many people do… Open Office
Apache OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages – like Microsoft Office. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose, including business use. It does look slightly different, but it is at least as good as Microsoft Office. LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a powerful office suite – its clean interface and feature-rich tools make it a great free alternative. It was based upon Open Office and is probably the most developed clone. LibreOffice includes several applications that make it the most powerful free and open source office suite available.
These include Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts) and Base (databases), among others. WPS Office
WPS Office 2016 Free is another free office software suite that has limited functions but a nifty PDF editor. It is the smallest-size office suite consisting of Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets and there is an online version as well, so you don’t have to install it at all. That said, they do try and get you to buy the full version with all the bells and whistles unlocked. Open Office and LibreOffice are both fully free forever. Google Apps
Good old Google had to join the bandwagon and they have developed a suite of free apps. Rather than be all things to all men and women, Google’s suite is content to cover the basics – and to cover them well. It’s fast, lightweight and works on a wide range of devices, plus it’s both easy to use and easy to administer. If Google’s apps cover the features your users will need every day, it’s a very compelling product for free users and it’s a product you can test risk-free. Footnote for Apple Users
Of course, if you’re an Apple user then you’ve had your own suite of programs free for years. However, you can use any of the above as well if you want to, or you can buy a Mac version of Microsoft Office – one that is just as ambitiously priced as the Windows version. As always, you know where to come if you need help. Coming up next month… Post-Brexit price creep and other issues. computing-mp.co.uk www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93
Extensive range of wool
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Buttons, ribbons & crafty bits
New Season Collections Available Now! Find us in Half Moon Street, Sherborne, opposite the Abbey
Yarn, haberdashery and workshops
01935 812 927
1 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3PT
Tel: 01935 508249
www.theslippedstitch.co.uk
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See website for workshops
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96 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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Short Story
NEW YORK DREAMING
S
Jenny Campbell, Sherborne Scribblers
tanding by the rails of the Staten Island ferry from Battery Park was better than Hollywood. This was the scene of a hundred jilted movie heroines, headscarves billowing in the breeze as they hold back the tears before… “Gloria?” “Duke? Is it you? Is it really you?” The music swells and you know the rest. For this is New York. City of hopes as high as its shimmering skyscrapers and dreams as golden as the Chrysler building that shines out over them all. New York had long been on my dream list. So, three years ago, when my daughter Fiona suggested a four-night city break at the Intercontinental Barclay on East 48th Street, I didn’t need to think about it. The only problem, once we’d checked in to this lovely old hotel just round the corner from the Waldorf, was where to begin our tour of the city. Nearby Grand Central Station seemed as good a place as any. And though I did not sit down and weep by it, like author Elizabeth Smart, I could have, easily. Because this too was Hollywood, with its meetings, partings and reunions beneath that huge clock featured in countless films. Familiar, also, was the marble balcony overlooking the station’s central concourse, where all human life can be seen hurrying towards Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and that mecca of all aspiring writers: Greenwich Village. I could not wait to get there; and within minutes of emerging from the subway into brilliant May sunshine, Fiona and I found ourselves in a tree-lined avenue of painted brownstones that demanded to be photographed. A young man came out of one of them, smiled and said, “We get a lot of people taking pictures.” When we asked why, he told us that this was where they did some of the filming for Sex and the City. Which was fine. But where, I wondered, were all the writers and artists I’d come to gawk at? Clearly they were all beavering away in their attics and studios during the day, since the bohemian Village could not have looked more quietly suburban. We stopped for lunch at a café on leafy Cornelia Street and it was there, at our sidewalk table, that I suddenly realised something: dogs. They were everywhere. Pampered pooches, all on leads, going ‘walkies’ with their adoring owners or loping along with an official dog walker in packs of four or five. Later, walking up Fifth Avenue from Washington Square, I spotted more; and the following day, in Saks, a snooty black poodle trotted across the shop’s main floor as if it owned the place. Who knows, perhaps it did. For one thing was clear: New Yorkers love dogs. I don’t recall seeing any dogs in Washington Square, but dozens of graduating students from the university were there, dressed in gowns and mortar boards, being photographed with parents and friends. We stopped for a while, enjoying the laughter and glorious sense of new lives beginning, then wandered into Washington Mews where, to our utter astonishment, a large red-bearded gentleman in a kilt appeared. But before we could even say, “Hi!” he had vanished into one of the mews’ elegant houses and left us wondering… We walked the forty-eight blocks back to our hotel along Fifth Avenue, taking in Madison Square, the Flatiron Building and St Patrick’s Cathedral. We stopped en route for an iced coffee at Caffè Lavazza, which houses what must be the largest Italian deli and emporium in the country. You could get lost in it. During our few days in New York we saw so many of the places I had only ever read about. But holidays should always have a little magic in them and, for me, that was drooling over the diamonds in Tiffany’s; chatting to a local poet outside the New York Public Library; walking in Central Park; entering book heaven at Barnes & Noble; discovering a blissful oasis inside the mansion that is home to the Frick collection of art; the Algonquin Hotel (“Stay with us, be inspired and write the next top novel”) where, in the 1920s, Dorothy Parker, Edna Ferber, Robert Benchley and other leading writers of the day met to exchange vicious gossip at their infamous round table; and, in the mornings, wandering over to the corner diner for a breakfast of pancakes, maple syrup and crispy bacon – just like real New Yorkers. There is magic also in dreams. From Trump Tower to Times Square, New York is full of them.
98 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
Literature
LITERARY REVIEW John Gaye, Sherborne Literary Society
Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - The Mavericks who Plotted Hitler’s Defeat by Giles Milton (John Murray) £20.00 (hardback)
I
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t is often said that war brings out the best and the worst in people. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the pages of this book. When Britain felt most threatened it brought about great innovation and creativity and, if Len Deighton’s horrific vision of SS-GB – BBC’s recent Sunday-evening serial – had ever been brought into reality, the invading Germans would have been plagued by a very well-equipped, highly motivated and skilled resistance. Before this book, little had been revealed about this guerrilla force of farmers, poachers, gamekeepers, miners and the like, as they were never called upon to activate. This was not a Dad’s Army of amateurs, but a highly talented bunch of rural workers led by handpicked leaders. But this guerrilla force was only one small element of what today would be called ‘thinking outside of the box’. It was Churchill who created the title of this book, when he called upon Hugh Dalton to create such a ministry. Once it was clear that the invasion was no longer an imminent threat, this department turned its attention to offensive operations elsewhere. To achieve maximum effect, new and totally unconventional weaponry – as well as techniques for its delivery – had to be developed, often despite the total revulsion and strong resistance of the more conventional elements of the General Staff. Fortunately the department set up to oversee these unconventional developments and their deployment had the direct ear of an important supporter – Winston himself, who took a very close interest in all their activities.
The characters involved are as extraordinary as the ideas they created and the many and varied roles they fulfilled. One of numerous fascinating descriptions is that of the invention of the limpet mine to attach to the hull of ships. Two somewhat eccentric inventors, when given the task, set about the problem in a garden shed with great creativity. They purchased most of the essential ingredients from a highstreet hardware store, from the local Woolworths and from both the local sweet shop and a chemists (for aniseed balls and condoms respectively). They experimented with their new creation, minus the explosive, in the local swimming pool after closing time. It worked and the resultant creation went into full production. We have all heard of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) which operated in many theatres of the war with great courage. But rather less well known is the detail of the infrastructure that supported their activities. This book brings out so much of this extraordinary detail and the characters involved. If you think that Q branch in the James Bond films has some weird and innovative ideas, then read about the original version that met the demands of a real war. This is a fascinating, well-researched book about some quite extraordinary characters, whose influence on the war has never really been fully acknowledged. sherborneliterarysociety.com winstonebooks.co.uk
Talk and Signing with Tom Fort
Author of the bestselling A303 Highway to the Sun
'Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016’ 8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128
April 18th 6.30 for 7 pm
Meet author Tom Fort who will be talking about his new book The Village News: The Truth Behind England’s Rural Idyll
Tickets £2 redeemable against the book. Refreshments provided
Mesopotamia
All in the Balance
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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
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Revd. Dr. Rich Wyld, Curate, Sherborne Abbey
here’s something about being English – possibly – that means I tend to avoid conflict at all costs. I might tut quietly, but under most circumstances I tend to stay well away from disagreements wherever possible. I wonder when the last time was that you disagreed with someone? How did you handle it? Did you manage to resolve it? It’s a challenge to resolve things and we quite often say that we’ll agree to disagree. This isn’t too bad, but it does mean that we can end up sweeping things under the carpet. As a member of the Church of England, I’m all too aware that some of our disagreements have been very public recently and, seemingly, quite bitter. I say seemingly, because of course what tends to get reported are the most strident points of view. Under the radar, there are kinder voices to be heard. Even if we are in a bit of a crisis just now, it’s worth considering the magnitude of the task we have set ourselves. You see, quite often societies deal with difference either by silencing minority voices – and the Church has often been guilty of that – or by relegating our differences to the private sphere, where they don’t impinge upon other people. That isn’t really celebrating diversity at all. What the Church of England has been trying to do, and perhaps not very well, is to go a step further and see if we can maintain genuine bonds of affection between people with radically different views. That’s an incredibly difficult task but, while this rarely gets reported, it often does work out well. Amidst all the angst, I’ve also seen some quite heroic acts of kindness from people with opposing views towards one another. That gives me great hope – not just for the Church, but for us all. It suggests that we can manage different views over Brexit, Scottish independence or whatever, not by pretending that the differences aren’t there, but by opening ourselves up to one another and taking the risk of engaging with a different perspective. Soon the Church will remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus around Easter. We remember that Jesus assembled a group of followers from radically different backgrounds, all with their own ideas about what he was up to. What none of them had expected was that he would be executed and so, as he died, they also had to learn to let go of their agendas. But as we celebrate Easter and the resurrection, one of the things we celebrate is new possibility that comes from beyond ourselves, just as the disciples found themselves anew as they met the risen Jesus. For Christians, this new hope comes from God. However, it reminds us all that there can be new hope and new ways forward from beyond ourselves. The more open we are to those who are different from us, the wider our horizons can become. sherborneabbey.com
www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101
OUT AND ABOUT
M
David Birley, Mayor of Sherborne
anners makyth man, the motto of Winchester College, may sound old fashioned – and, some would say, outdated. Life in our big cities is rush, rush, with no-one seeming to have time for anyone else. Indeed, it often seems that everyone is walking in the opposite direction to you as you are pushed and jostled about. How lucky we are to live in Sherborne, where the common courtesies of life are still observed and things get done just as well – in fact probably better – than in our cities. People you don’t know will smile and say good morning, customers going into our shops will be greeted as sir or madam and if you are looking lost – as often happens to me! – a friendly assistant will come and ask if they can help you. Being such a friendly place, it is not long before you are on first-name terms with the shops you frequent. Indeed, it is very easy to make new friends – especially, I find, if one has a dog. Years ago it was doing things with one’s children that often led to new friendships, but in Sherborne, dogs have taken over from children in that role. I think that more people know my dog Rosy’s name than mine. Many of our shops keep dog biscuits or treats and often the first question I am asked is, “Would Rosy like a treat?” Lucky her! Purlieu meadow is a great place to walk and meet fellow dog owners and, in the summer, for your dog to have a swim. If you walk to Purlieu from the Castleton direction, do pause at the castle side of the river bridge and look upstream. You will often see a brilliant blue flash as a kingfisher goes about its business. We are very fortunate to have so many who care about the appearance of our town and do such great voluntary work. It is a rare event to find litter in our streets. As well as the town council estates team, we have Anthony Vosper and his team of litter pickers. Anthony was educated in the area and returned to Sherborne after a career in the army and business. He took over from Peter Rhodes on his election as mayor in 2012. At that time there were forty supporters on the books, but there are now over one hundred and fifty. It is gratifying to learn that they collect fifty per cent less litter than five years ago and that the scheme has spread to surrounding villages. We are also fortunate to have so many gifted and knowledgeable gardeners – including, of course, the Sherborne in Bloom team. It was a great and well-deserved honour to win the South West in Bloom award last year and, this year, we will be competing in the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom finals. So let’s all do our bit to make – and keep – our town prettier than ever. Don’t forget Bank Holiday Monday, 17th April, is our Easter Fun Day, with an Easter egg hunt starting at 3pm in Pageant Gardens. Everyone is welcome, but the eggs are for eleven year-olds and under, who must be accompanied by an adult. I look forward to seeing you there and hope you will enjoy it.
102 | Sherborne Times | April 2017
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