Sherborne Times June 2018

J UNE 2018 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

SCULPTING SOUND with Wessex Strings

sherbornetimes.co.uk

WELCOME

C

hildren return home from day-long adventures, bugs in hair, sand in shoes and small fists clutching perfect pebbles. The skies are a chattering tangle of hungry newcomers while contented plump pigeons purr on their nests. On the pavement below, bodies liberated from winter layers are draped in summer dresses and the air is sweet with the smell of suncream.

And so to June. We are excited to welcome Sherborne’s effervescent Blue Badge Guide, Cindy Chant with the first of her series on “Sherborne’s adopted son” – Sir Walter Ralegh. We bump into Laurence Belbin outside The Digby Tap, Val Stones bakes a cake fit for royalty, and Colin has tea and biscuits with Richard Baker of Parsons Butchers. Jo and Katharine meanwhile attend a rehearsal of local orchestra Wessex Strings in the run up to their 21st birthday concert on the 17th June, the day before which of course sees the return of Sherborne’s very own Summer Festival at Purlieu Meadow. We are also delighted to feature an exclusive extract from the new book by Stephen Moss, Mrs Moreau’s Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names.

Have a great month and see you on the 16th.

Glen Cheyne, Editor glen@homegrown-media.co.uk @sherbornetimes @sherborne_times

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio Sub editors Jay Armstrong @jayarmstrong_ Elaine Taylor Photography Katharine Davies @Katharine_KDP Feature writer Jo Denbury @jo_denbury Editorial assistant Helen Brown Illustrations Elizabeth Watson @DandybirdDesign Print Pureprint Distribution team David Elsmore Christine Knott Sarah Morgan Mary & Roger Napper Alfie Neville-Jones Claire Pilley Geoff Wood Contact 01935 315556 @sherbornetimes editor@sherbornetimes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk

Simon Barber Evolver Magazine @SimonEvolver evolver.org.uk Simon Barker Knight Frank @knightfrank knightfrank.com Laurence Belbin laurencebelbin.com David Birley davidpfbirley@hotmail.co.uk Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum @SherborneMuseum sherbornemuseum.co.uk Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardeneronline.co.uk Jenny Campbell Sherborne Scribblers Marco Cavallaro The London Road Clinic @56londonroad 56londonroad.co.uk Cindy Chant Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk Zoe Charlton SPFit @spfitsherborne spfit-sherborne.co.uk Malcolm Cockburn

Homegrown Media Ltd 81 Cheap Street Sherborne Dorset DT9 3BA

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.

Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartome.co.uk Emily Eccles Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk

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.

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CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk

Additional photography: contributor's own, Shutterstock and iStock

Paul Gammage & Anita Light EweMove Sherborne @ewemoveyeovil ewemove.com

4 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Hayley Frances Thurlow Hayley Frances Nutrition hayleyfrancesnutrition.com

Nicholas Goodden @gr8thingstodo greatthingstodo.co.uk Julian Halsby MA (Cantab), FRSA, RBA julianhalsby.com Craig Hardaker Communifit communifit.co.uk Peter Henshaw & Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles @rileyscycles rileyscycles.co.uk @DCNSherborne dcn.org.uk Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms @SanctuaryDorset thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk Colin Lambert colinlambert.co.uk Loretta Lupi-Lawrence The Sherborne Rooms thesherbornerooms.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 Lindsay Punch Lindsay Punch Styling @stylistmum lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Paul Stickland Black Shed Flowers @NaughtyDinosaur blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Andy Treavett Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org Reverend Jono Tregale St Paul’s Church @StPaulsSherb stpauls-sherborne.org.uk Sally Welbourne Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Wayne Winstone Winstone’s Books @winstonebooks winstonebooks.co.uk

64 8

What’s On

JUNE 2018 52 Antiques

116 Finance

18 Shopping Guide

56 Gardening

118 Tech

22 Community

64 WESSEX STRINGS

122 Folk Tales

24 Wild Dorset

72 Food & Drink

124 Short Story

28 Family

84 Animal Care

127 Literature

36 History

88 Cycling

128 Crossword

40 Art

90 Body & Mind

129 Pause for Thought

46 Interiors

106 Property

130 Out and About

114 Business

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

Everything you would expect from Audi, condensed.

Experience the Audi A1 now at Yeovil Audi.

Yeovil Audi. Look No Further. *At the end of the agreement there are three options: i) pay the optional final payment and own the vehicle; ii) return the vehicle: subject to excess mileage and fair wear and tear, charges may apply; or iii) replace: part exchange the vehicle. With Solutions Personal Contract Plan. Finance subject to status. Available to 18s and over. Indemnities may be required. Off er available for vehicles ordered and delivered by 30th June 2018. Off ers are not available in conjunction with any other off er and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Finance subject to status. Accurate at time of publication [June 2018]. Audi Finance, Freepost Audi Finance. Ocean Automotive Ltd (t/a Yeovil Audi) acts as a credit broker and not a lender.

Official fuel consumption figures for the A1 Sportback range, in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 42.1 (6.7) – 64.2 (4.4), Extra Urban 64.2 (4.4) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 54.3 (5.2) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions 123 – 97g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.

A1 Sportback S line

£199

per month

£3,599

customer deposit

Mead Ave

Representative finance example for A1 Sportback S line £9,464.62

£199

Option to purchase fee*

£10

Customer deposit

£3,599

Total amount payable

£24,475.62

Yeovil Audi deposit contribution

£1,850

Total amount of credit

£15,796

Retail cash price

£21,245

Acceptance fee

£0

Representative APR Rate of interest (fixed)

6.4%

Yeovil Audi

Lu ft on W ay

6.37%

Preston Rd

Yeovil Audi Houndstone Business Park, Mead Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8RT

Way Stourton

Av e

Optional final payment

e Western Av

48 monthly payments of

49 months

M ea d

Duration

Houndstone Business Park

Houndstone Retail Park Luft on

01935 574981

Way yeovilaudi.co.uk 

ASDA

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 8 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

THE DORSET OPERA

MMXVIII

The full Country House opera experience on your doorstep with internationally-renowned soloists, a full orchestra and a chorus of 70 Marquee bar | Individual Picnics | Formal Dining British Stage Première Jules Massenet

LE CID

24, 26 July at 19:00 | Matinée 28 July at 14:00 Sung in French with English surtitles

Giacomo Puccini

LA BOHÈME 25, 27, 28 July at 19:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

The Coade Theatre Bryanston Blandford Forum Box Office: 01202 499199 Book Online: dorsetopera.com

WHAT'S ON Listings

Sherborne Museum. Talk and demo by

Jack Lewis of Palladwr Falconry Hoods

____________________________

and his Lanner Falcon. Free for all the

Every Monday 2pm-3.30pm

family, donations welcome.

‘Feel Better with a Book’ group Sherborne Library, Hound St. Do

____________________________

you love classic stories and poems and

Sunday 3rd 11.30am-3.30pm

in shared reading aloud with a small,

Waterwheel Centre Open Day

and you can attend as regularly as you

donation. Limited parking on site,

would enjoy listening or taking part

Sherborne Steam and

relaxed and friendly group? It is free

Oborne Road, DT9 3RX. Entry by

wish. 01935 812683

additional parking available nearby on Oborne Rd. 01935 816324 sswc.co.uk

____________________________ First Thursday of

____________________________

each month 9.30am

Sunday 3rd from 12pm

Netwalking

Tim Edwards Memorial

from Pear Tree, 4 Half Moon St. Free

Cricket Day

walk and talk with other small business owners and entrepreneurs. Bring the

Chetnole Playing Fields, DT9 6PD.

Refreshments available. Raising funds for

desire to move your business forward as

Friday 1st 7pm

the Yeatman Hospital

FB: Netwalk Sherborne Instagram

“One of the most important films of

Wednesday 6th 2pm and 8pm

____________________________

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd Journalist

Splendour of Hampton Court

and an international team of scientists

With Linda Collins. New members and

well as helping others to do the same.

Film - A Plastic Ocean

yourtimecoaching Twitter @yt_coaching

our time” Sir David Attenborough.

Arts Society talk - The

Craig Leeson, free diver Tanya Streeter

Digby Hall, Hound Street DT9 3AA.

and researchers, travel to twenty locations

visitors (£5) are welcome. 01935 474626

First Thursday of each month 2pm-3.30pm “My Time” Carers’ Support Group The Shielings, The Avenue, DT9 3AJ. Good company, advice, information,

relaxed atmosphere, coffee and a chat.

Info 01935 601499 or 01935 816321 Saturday 26th May Sunday 10th June Dorset Art Weeks

around the world to explore the fragile state of our oceans, uncover alarming

____________________________

theartssocietysherborne.org.uk

____________________________

truths about plastic pollution, and reveal

Thursday 7th 8pm

immediate effect. Tickets £6.50 - £9.50

Trooper, Stourton Caundle, DT10 2JW.

under 12 free.

jhnwaltham@yahoo.com, 01963 362890

working solutions that can be put into

Martin Carthy concert

on door or waveofchange.uk Children

Tickets £12 on the door or advance:

____________________________

The open studio event continues at venues

Friday 1st 7.30pm

Friday 8th

Mike Denham and Tom 'Spats'

Free Facial Friday

Visit dorsetartweeks.co.uk for details

Langham in Concert

Sherborne Rooms, 56 Cheap St.

Friday 1st - Sunday

refreshments, from Sherborne TIC and

throughout Sherborne and across Dorset.

10th 10am-5pm

Cheap Street Church. Tickets £10, inc.

on the door. In aid of the Friends of the

Bookings essential and spaces limited.

01935 507290

____________________________

Rendezvous

Friday 8th 7pm for 7.30pm

____________________________

Poetry Plus - The New Hardy

Farmyard at Mill House, Back Lane,

Sunday 3rd 11am-2pm

Players ‘Woodland Words’

H is for Hawk - the craft of

Margaret’s Hospice

creating hoods and accessories

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd. Sherborne

Yetminster Group of Artists Exhibition Chetnole, DT9 6PL. In aid of St

10 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

for birds of prey

Literary Society event, £5, canapés. sherborneliterarysociety.com

JUNE 2018

Children

____________________________ 1st Saturday of the month 10.30am-12pm

Please share your recommendations & contacts via FaceBook @sherborneparents

Sticky Church

____________________________

____________________________

Sundays 11am-1pm

Every Friday 9.30am-11am

Art Club@Thornford

Bishops Caundle

playgroup & primary school age children.

No 1 Wheelwright Studios, Thornford

Toddler Group

provided. £15 for 1 hour or £30 for 2 hours.

School, Bishops Caundle. £1 per

Church Lane close to the Abbey. Extremely

FB page: All Saints Under 5’s

Facebook page or sherbornemuseum.co.uk

Cheap Street Church Hall. FREE group for Making, stories, songs. Info: 01963 251747 ____________________________

DT9 6QE. 8 years +. All materials

School Hall, All Saints Primary

Sherborne Museum

Info: 07742 888302, email alicockrean@

family, contact the school for info or

child friendly & free. 01935 812252,

gmail.com or visit alicockrean.co.uk

____________________________

____________________________ Saturday 9th 1pm-5pm Leigh Open Gardens Chetnole and Leigh Garden Club. £5

(inc light refreshments) in aid of Future Roots Charity

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Haydon Church Studio, Haydon, nr

this account of his early days as Prime

in collaboration with Sherborne Area

across Western Europe. Tickets £6 (or

Sherborne, DT9 5JB. Film screening Refugee Support. Tastings and bakes

from Comins Tea + handcrafted spirits, liqueurs and cocktails from Forager Spirit. Tickets £7 in advance from

Minister, and as Nazi Germany swept

pre-film supper £12) from TIC 01935

815341 or on door. sherborneartslink.org.uk ____________________________ Thursday 14th 10am

otherside-eventbrite.co.uk

Ramble (5.5 mile walk to Oborne)

South Somerset and West Dorset

Monday 11th 9.30am-3.30pm

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne

Fabric Books with tutor

473951, southsomersetramblers.org.uk

Saturday 9th 2.30pm The Railway History of Yeovil,

From Terrace Playing Fields. 01935 ____________________________

DT9 3NL. Somerset and Dorset Family

Annette Bolton

Thursday 14th 10.15am

History Society talk with Roger Marsh.

Ramble (4.5 mile walk to

£5 (£3 SDFHS Members). Pay on door

Digby Hall, Hound Street. West Country

Bradford Abbas)

or via email: sdfhsmembership@outlook.com,

Embroiderers meet on the 2nd Monday

of each month with an optional workshop £15 payable in advance. New members

From Kings Arms, Thornford. 01935

very welcome. Details: Ann 01963 34696

415612, southsomersetramblers.org.uk

____________________________

01935 429609

____________________________

Thursday 14th 7.30pm

Monday 11th 6pm-8pm

Sherborne District Gardeners’

Sherborne Chamber

Assoc. AGM and Seasonal

of Trade AGM

Flower Demonstration

Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road

Digby Hall, Hound St. Talk with florist

Wednesday 13th 7.30pm

____________________________

____________________________

Judith Searles. 01935 389375

Sherborne ArtsLink Flicks -

Friday 15th - Saturday 16th

Saturday 9th 7.30pm

Darkest Hour

Moth Night and Guided Walks

Other Side -

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. Gary

Ryewater Nursery, Bishops Down, near

Human Flow by Ai Wei Wei

Oldman stars as Winston Churchill, in

Sherborne. BYO tent and food. 07776

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11

WHAT'S ON 100613. dorsetbutterflies.com/events

from Sherborne TIC or £10 on the door.

guided nature walks

Saturday 16th 12pm-10pm

____________________________

Terrace Meadows (Terrace Playing

See our lead feature on page 64

Quarr Nature Reserve (Bristol Rd) and

Sherborne Summer Festival

Monday 18th 7.30pm-9pm

Purlieu Meadow. (see David Birley's

Insight Lecture - National Truths

Fields). 01963 23559 or 07981 776767. dorsetbutterflies.com/events

article on page 130 for more information)

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. Talk by

Saturday 16th 3pm-6pm

changes in Latvia. 01935 812452

Crystal and Tibetan Singing Bowls

St Andrew’s Church, Yetminster.

Monday 18th -

Pre-book: 01935 389655

tower for breathtaking views! Raising

Church Tower Tea Party

____________________________

Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga on

Sunday 24th 2pm-4pm

____________________________

Village Hall, Oborne DT9 4LA.

Delicious teas and climb the Church

Saturday 23rd 7.30pm The Amateur Players of

Sunday 24th 2pm-5pm

funds for the church tower restoration

Sherborne - “A Midsummer

“Made in Longburton”

Night’s Dream”

Summer Fair

Sherborne Studio Theatre, Marston

Longburton Village Hall, DT9 5PG.

____________________________

Free admission, refreshments available.

Road. £8. aps-sherborne.co.uk

Wednesday 20th 2.30pm Sherborne W.I.

____________________________

Arts and crafts by Longburton residents.

Info: 01963 210018

____________________________

‘Why Music in Prison?’

Saturday 16th doors and bar open 6.30pm, film starts 7pm MOVIOLA: Paddington 2 Leigh Village Hall, DT9 6HL. £6 on

the door, kids free and free ice cream (if

Catholic Church Hall, Westbury. Talk

by Ann Hinchliffe. New members and visitors always welcome. £4, to include refreshments.

____________________________

you bring an adult). Info: 01935 873269

Thursday 21st 7.30pm

____________________________

leighvillage.org.uk/events/moviola

Dave Martin's Jabbo Five Concert

Friday 29th 2pm-3pm Writing the Natural World

Saturday 16th 7.30pm

Martock Parish Church. £9 on door, £8 from 07955 467896 Info: ewanandsue@ gmail.com

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Talk

____________________________

by Jay Armstrong from Elementum

Journal. Free to attend. 01935 812683

Sherborne Singers and Friends 'Liquorice All-sorts’ St Peter's Church, Stourton Caundle.

Saturday 23rd 11am-4pm

elementumjournal.com

Tickets £12, 01963 362692 terry@

Digby Hall, DT9 3AA. FREE event

Saturday 30th 2.30pm

____________________________

01935 815899, sherborneartslink.org.uk

History Centre film and

Concert directed by William Slogrove.

ArtsLink - Celebrating the Arts

barleyclose.co.uk

for all ages - talks, demos, art, cafe. Info:

Somerset and Dorset Family

____________________________

discussion - ‘All around Milbo’

Sunday 24th 10am-4.30pm

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne

Gartell Light Railway Open Day Common Lane, Yenston, Templecombe.

01963 370752, newglr.weebly.com

____________________________ Sunday 24th 11am

____________________________

DT9 3NL. With Richard Duckworth.

£5 (£3 SDFHS Members). Pay on door or via email: sdfhsmembership@outlook. com, 01935 429609.

____________________________

Sunday 17th 3pm

(The Quarr Nature)

Saturday 30th 7.30pm

Wessex Strings Concert

and 2pm (Terrace Meadows)

(doors 6.45pm)

Cheap Street Church. Tickets (inc. tea) £9

Open Day at Two Nature Sites -

An Evening with Jo Burt

12 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

JUNE 2018 Milborne Port Village Hall. Raising

New people welcome. ArtsLink 01935

Fairs and markets

drink) from Sherborne TIC, Wayne

funds for hall foyer refurb. £10 (inc first

815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

____________________________

Thursdays and Saturdays

Pullen Butchers, Milborne Port, 01963

Thursdays 7.30pm-9.30pm

Pannier Market

251217 or skiddle.com. Raising funds to

Art Club@Thornford for Adults

refurbish the hall foyer. joburt.co.uk

The Parade

____________________________

No 1 Wheelwright Studios, Thornford DT9 6QE. Tutored art with Ali

Thursday mornings 9.15am-11.15am

only) or £15 (materials included). Info:

Church Hall, Digby Road

gmail.com or alicockrean.co.uk

Every third Friday 9am-1pm

____________________________

Farmers’ Market

Thursdays 2.30pm-4pm

Tuesdays and Thursdays

ArtsLink Parkinson’s Dance

10am-12pm

Cheap Street

Tinney’s Lane Youth Centre, Sherborne.

Knit and Natter at

Every fourth Saturday (exc.

A fun, supportive and therapeutic class

The Slipped Stitch

April and December) 9am-4pm

with movement specifically designed

Saturday Antiques and Flea Market

for those experiencing the symptoms of

The Julian, Cheap St. To book call 01935

Parkinson’s followed by a cup of tea and

508249, email info@theslippedstitch.co.uk or online theslippedstitch.co.uk

Church Hall, Digby Rd

____________________________

____________________________

Saturday 16th 9am-4pm

Workshops and classes ____________________________

social time. Free with donations welcome.

____________________________

Cockrean. £10 per session (tuition

Country Market

07742 888302, email alicockrean@

____________________________

____________________________

DAYS OUT & HOLIDAYS with TAYLORS COACH TRAVEL Day Trips ____________________________ Air Show – Weston Super Mare Saturday 23rd June Adult £19.00, Club £17.00

____________________________ Brixham Sunday 1st July Adult £17.00, Club £15.00

____________________________ Hampton Court Flower Show Sunday 8th July Adult £49.50, Club £49.50

____________________________

Short Breaks

Dartmouth, Paddle Steamer

____________________________

Cruise and Totnes

Brussels – Carpet of Flowers

Sunday 15th July

17th – 20th August

Adult £39.50, Club £37.50

4 Days - £365.00

____________________________

____________________________

2018 Day Excursions & Holiday brochures available.

To join our mailing list please call the office on

01935 423177 www.taylorscoachtravel.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

WHAT'S ON (public and trade)

Every Tuesday and Thursday

v Christchurch (A)

Chasty Cottage Antiques

7.30pm–8.30pm

Saturday 23rd

and Collectables Fair

Mixed Touch Rugby

v Shillingstone (H)

Digby Hall, Hound Street.

Sherborne School Floodlit Astroturf,

Saturday 30th

____________________________

welcome. £2 per session, first four

____________________________

call Jimmy on 07887 800803

Planning ahead

____________________________

____________________________

collectables, antiques and crafts. Free entry.

Sherborne Cricket Club

Saturday 7th July, 10am – 5pm

01749 677049 westcountrycraftfairs.co.uk

The Clubhouse, The Terraces, Sherborne

Dennis Chinaworks

____________________________

Silver Jubilee Celebrations

Saturday 23rd 9am-3.30pm

DT9 5NS. DCB Premier League sherborne.play-cricket.com Saturday 2nd

Shepton House, Shepton Beauchamp,

Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. 30+ sellers

v Broadstone 1st XI (A)

Somerset TA19 0JT. Open day,

demonstrations and sales + afternoon

Info: 01963 370986

Saturday 16th 10am-4pm Fleamarket Memorial Hall, Digby Road. 1000s of

Vintage Market

Ottery Lane. DT9 6EE. Novices very sessions free. Visit sherbornetouch.org or

of quality vintage. 07809 387594

Saturday 9th

____________________________

v Poole Town 1st XI (H)

Saturday 30th 10am-4pm

Saturday 16th

Summer Craft and Gift Fair

v Swanage 1st XI (A)

Memorial Hall, Digby Road. Free entry.

Saturday 23rd

____________________________

Saturday 30th

01749 677049 westcountrycraftfairs.co.uk

v Parley 2nds (A)

talk from Richard Dennis: ‘My Life

with the Victorian Potter, William De

Morgan’. Pottery tearoom will be open.

Tickets £5 in support of NSPCC. Spaces are limited so please reserve your seat on 01460 240622 dennischinaworks.com

v Stalbridge 1st XI (A)

____________________________

v Dorchester 1st XI (H)

To include your event in our

____________________________

FREE listings please email details –

____________________________

Compton House Cricket Club

date/time/title/venue/description/

Every Sunday 9am

Over Compton, Sherborne DT9 4RB.

price/contact (in approx 20

comptonhousecricketclub.co.uk

preceding month to gemma@

Sport Digby Etape Cycling Club Ride From Riley’s Cycles. 20 - 30 miles,

average 12 to 15 mph. Drop bar road

Dorset League County Division 1

words) – by the 5th of each

Saturday 2nd

howmegrown-media.co.uk

bike recommended. Facebook: Digby

v Poole Town 2nds (H)

Mike 07443 490442

Etape Sherborne Cycling Club or text

Saturday 9th

Due to the volume of events

v Hamworthy Recreation (H)

received we are regrettably unable

____________________________

Saturday 16th

to acknowledge or include them all.

Classical Music WORKSHOP

SING GREGORIAN CHANT JOHN ROWLANDS PRITCHARD

Saturday 16 June, 10am - 5pm St Peter’s Church Put Out Into The Deep: Chant For St Peter, Apostle And Fisherman

For full event listings, visit our website

June/July 2018 CLASSICAL MUSIC

MARTIN JAMES BARTLETT

Thursday 5 July, 8pm Corn Exchange BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014 winner returns by popular demand with a new programme of works for piano

Dorchester Arts, The Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1HF Dorchesterarts | 01305 266926 | dorchesterarts.org.uk | Charity No. 1015546 14 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Sat 23 June 5-9pm Street Party Sun 24 June 2.30pm The Winter’s Tale - Festival Players Sun 24 June 7.30pm Cathedral Brass in Concert - Wells Cathedral School Mon 25 June 11.30am Alexandra Lomeiko - Violin Recital Mon 25 June 2.30pm Daisy Goodwin - Living with Victoria Mon 25 June 6.00pm Choral Evensong - Exeter Cathedral Choir Mon 25 June 8.00pm Baron von Schmidt Singalong incl Supper Tues 26 June 11.30am Tedesco Trio - String Trio Tues 26 June 2.30pm Gordon Corera - Secret Pigeon Service Tues 26 June 7.30pm Martin James Bartlett - Piano Recital Wed 27 June 11.30am Gemma Summerfield - Song Recital Wed 27 June 2.30pm Tom Cox - 21st-Century Yokel Wed 27 June 7.30pm Scott Brothers Duo - Organ and Piano Thur 28 June 11.30am David Halls - Organ Recital Thur 28 June 7.00pm Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective - Piano Quintet Thur 28 June 9.30pm Late night concert inc. light supper Fri 29 June 11.30am Magnard Ensemble - Winds and Piano Fri 29 June 2.30pm Helen Rappaport - The Race to save the Romanovs Fri 29 June 7.30pm Lizzie Ball, Morgan Szymanski - Viva la Vida con Frida Sat 30 June 10.30am Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music Sat 30 June 8.00pm The Overtures - 60s Tribute Band Sun 1 July 11.00am Family Morning Service Sun 1 July 12-5pm Community Picnic - Bands, Entertainers Sun 1 July 7.30pm Choir of Clare College - President’s Concert Sun 15 July 2.30pm Twelfth Night - Castle Theatre Durham Sun 15 July 6.30pm Twelfth Night - Castle Theatre Durham Community Events include Sat 23 June to Sun 1 July Beaminster Museum exhibition - Hatch, Match and Dispatch Sat 23 June to Sat 30 June Beaminster School Art at the Yarn Barton Centre Sat 23 June to Sun 1 July Beaminster School Photography at the Museum Wed 27 June 9.30am Live Music Now workshop at Mountjoy Wed 27 June 2.00pm Beaminster Seniors - Songs and Scones Thur 28 June 10.45am Mountjoy School Handbell Team Art Exhibition and Art Workshops Sat 23 June to Sat 21 July Exhibition: Sheet Music For Summer Paintings Of Landscape, Dance And Music Making Tue 26 June Workshop: Frida Khalo Tree of Hope Paint with the tools and colours of your imagination Thur 28 June Workshop: En plein air - in the garden of, and by kind permission of John and Jenny Makepeace

june 23rd - july 1st

For full event listings and online tickets visit www.beaminsterfestival.com or call 01308 862943

PREVIEW In association with

BASTIEN & BASTIENNE + THE IMPRESARIO Sunday 1st July Herrison Hall, Charlton Down, DT2 9UA. 7.30pm. ÂŁ18.

01305 269512 artsreach.co.uk popupopera.co.uk

Sit back and enjoy two delicious one-act comedies in which a pair of actresses battle it out to be

the prima donna, and a pair of lovers tease and test their feelings for each other. Pop-up Opera is an innovative touring opera company dedicated to making opera enjoyable and inviting, without losing the quality of musical performance. These two lively and engaging stories showcase

Mozart’s gorgeous music and sense of playfulness, the first written in the last 5 years of his life and the second when he was just 12 years old! Directed by New British Music Theatre Award nominee, Anna Pool, critically acclaimed for her bold and fierily original directing style. evolver.org.uk

16 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Film screening in collaboration with Sherborne Area Refugee Support

SATURDAY 9TH JUNE 7.30PM

CHURCH STUDIO HAYDON DORSET DT9 5JB Ticketed event - £7 in advance from other-side.eventbrite.co.uk Tastings and bakes from COMINS TEA

Handcrafted spirits, liqueurs and cocktails from FORAGER SPIRIT

www.denmangould.com/other-side

A series of free talks, lectures, live performances and screenings in support of

Shopping Guide

Vanilla and Fig soap, £3.95 GIFT

Biscotti, £3.45 The Pear Tree Deli

Succulents, from £3 Black Shed Flowers

BOYS OWN

Jenny Dickinson, Dear To Me Studio This month brings us Father’s Day and March for Men in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. What better opportunity then to treat the men in our lives. deartomestudio.com prostatecanceruk.org 18 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Regal Rogue Bold Red Vermouth, £17.99 Vineyards

Reusable coffee cup, £9 Bean Shot Coffee

Shepard Fairey signed print, £140 (£170 framed) GIFT

Tough Guys book, £11.99 Circus

Dear Barber Fibre, £10 The Sherborne Barber

Ortigia Aftershave, £40 GIFT

Izipizi reading sunglasses, from £29 Circus

Aloha Shirt, £59.95 Sporting Classics

Brass fountain pen, £73 Midwest Stationers sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

oh those lazy crazy days of summer . . .

Sherborne O1935 814O27,www.melburygallery.co.uk DT9 3LN

Dorchester O13O5 265223, DT1 1BN

Here Comes the Sun.....

OPEN 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM 33 CHEAP STREET, SHERBORNE, DT9 3PU PHONE 01935 816551 20 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

PROUD TO BE STOCKING LOEWE TV’S

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Community

SHERBORNE STUDIO THEATRE MARSTON ROAD CHAPEL Malcolm Cockburn

T

he corrugated iron chapel, sometimes called the ‘Tin Tabernacle’, was built early in the 1880’s on land given by the Digby Estate: it had been recognised that no place of worship was available at the north of the town where the stone quarries employed several families living in Coombe. The congregation were Baptist; four square feet of floorboard can be lifted to reveal a deep cavity near the altar which may have been the baptismal font. In 1928, however, a new, brick Baptist church was built further up Coombe to replace the ‘Tin Tabernacle’.

Corrugated iron buildings could be bought, delivered and erected for a few hundred pounds and it is likely that the Marston Road chapel would have been bought from the catalogue of William Cooper in London and transported to Sherborne by train.

When the new Baptist Church was opened, the ‘Tin Tabernacle’ was sold to Messrs Easons, (undertakers at Newell close by) and used for the manufacture of coffins.

The sturdy workbench is still in the chapel although the deeds state that the building should never again be used for that trade. After the Second World War, the chapel was bought by Dodge and Son for furniture restoration and then, in the 1980’s, by Piers Pisani as a furniture workshop. He put it up for sale in 2011.

At that time the Amateur Players of Sherborne (APS) were told to vacate both their rehearsal room at Sherborne House and the storeroom for props and costumes at the Castle Stables. For the first time since 22 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

they began in 1926, the APS had nowhere to go and the chapel seemed to be a solution. The interior was unsuitable for theatre productions, so these always took place at the Digby Hall, Hound Street. The chapel could, however, contain all the costumes, flats and props as well as providing a comfortable club room.

When the exterior paint was stripped to bare metal it revealed corrugated sheets entirely free from rust - and that after more than one hundred and twenty years. More recently the main body of the chapel has been cleared of the walls and floors inserted in the twentieth century and returned to the original space with the addition a half-balcony. A stage has been built and a Green room and toilets are in the original vestry.

We now have a studio theatre ready for an audience of up to fifty visitors.

Already this year the APS has held a rehearsed reading of Displaced, written by Jan Pain of the Sherborne Scribblers (who meet monthly in The Chapel), and in March there were three performances of Neil Simon’s London Suite. At the time of writing, plans are under way to celebrate the final completion of the work with a Grand Opening and a week of performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I would like to thank the contractors who have helped to make the theatre what it now is: J. Biskup exterior; Bamfords of Yeovil, interior transformation; and Timothy MacBean for the essential planning and change of use regulations.

DENNIS CHINAWORKS

POTTERY OPEN DAY

SILVER JUBILEE TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF THE POTTERY Saturday 7th July 2018, 11am – 5pm Demonstrations, Throw a pot, Sales, Exhibition, Treasure Hunt.

Pottery Tearoom open for lunches Complimentary Wine Afternoon talk by Richard Dennis 2.30pm ‘My Life with the Victorian Potter, William de Morgan’ Tickets £5 for the NSPCC, please reserve your seat.

Shepton House, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, TA190JT 01460 240622 dennischinaworks.com

Summer Club 9 July – 29 August

EDITION FOUR

Contributors to the next edition of Elementum include Jackie Morris, Alex Preston, Neil Gower, Catherine Hyde, Helen Scales and Whitney Brown.

AVA I L A B L E TO P R E - O R D E R O N L I N E

ELE M E NTU M J O URNA L . C O M

23 July – 24 August To book your place please visit

www.leweston.co.uk/events supercamps.co.uk Co-educational day and boarding school for ages 0 to 18

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 23

Wild Dorset

FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLY

J

Sally Welbourne, Dorset Wildlife Trust

une heralds summer and our hopes for sunny days replete with wildflowers and butterflies, their wonderful colours and variety being the very essence of the season. It is a peak growth time for them, though one in which these beautiful insects can seem to have gone away. Many of the more common species that regaled us in spring such as the brimstone, small tortoiseshell and peacock, having amazingly survived the whole winter in their adult form, have finally succumbed. Having laid eggs, many are now the archetypal hungry caterpillars munching through nettles and other plants we’d rather they didn’t… these species are in their less visible forms. As with their moth cousins, this is the bountiful time in which they are key foodchain elements sustaining birds and other predators. June is an ideal time to expand your butterfly knowledge by learning to find these other lifecycle stages, and also to help them by leaving patches of nettles, tall grasses and other foodplants, and avoiding the use of pesticides and insecticides.

A different set of butterflies is now on the wing - those that wintered as eggs or caterpillars. These can seem less common as they are denizens of meadows and chalk downlands, the naturally flower-rich grasslands that are now in such short supply in so much of our countryside. The dingy skipper and common blue will be at home where there’s plenty of birds-foot trefoil. It’s also the flight time for some of our rarest and most threatened species such as the marsh fritillary, large blue and swallowtail. All are legally protected and can be very localised. Dorset’s best downlands are refuges for the marsh fritillary, while specially protected sites on Somerset’s Polden Hills are the only places in the country to enjoy the spectacle of large blues. Previously extinct in the 1970s, it was successfully reintroduced through a careful, researchbased conservation programme. Our British swallowtail is a distinct race from the widespread European one and is restricted to the Norfolk fens where Milk Parsley, its caterpillar’s food, abounds. It is the largest and most spectacular of our resident butterflies and the pilgrimage to see them is a worthwhile experience.

FACT FILE • The wingspan of the swallowtail can reach up to 90mm.

• The large blue was reintroduced from populations in Sweden.

• Marsh fritillary caterpillars overwinter in groups of over a hundred, tightly secured inside web nests.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

24 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Marsh Fritillary (m) 'Euphydryas aurinia' Image: Š Ken Matthew Dolbear Roberts MBE sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

Wild Dorset

Image: Gillian M Constable

SHERBORNE DWT

T

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

he Sherborne Group of DWT is now on summer break from indoor meetings and we have a field meeting to Bracketts Coppice on Thursday 31st May. There is limited parking at Bracketts Coppice, hence a minibus from Sherborne has been organised. Please contact the group secretary for further details.

From 26th May until 10th June, Dorset Art Weeks is underway; you have probably seen the DAW signs about the county. Several of DWT’s centres (Kingcombe, Brownsea, Chesil Beach and Kimmeridge) are the venues of exhibitions by groups of Dorset artists, themed on wildlife and in a range of media. You have the opportunity to discover simultaneously the artists and these DWT reserves enjoying a splendid day in the Dorset countryside.

At Kimmeridge you could even try the snorkelling trail.

The DWT owl webcam at Lorton Meadows reserve is in action once again. The owls, Brenda and Bob, currently have 7 eggs and we hope that all will progress as successfully as last year when 5 owlets were fledged.

Most days last year I took a peep and seemed to find that the owlets were sleeping off a good meal of Lorton 26 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

voles or mice - the comments column indicated that I had just missed the excited owlets’ activity. As I write Brenda is on the eggs with Bob snoozing beside her.

It is always amazing to observe the white fluffy balls changing into such handsome creatures and it is a privilege to watch their progress.

Have you read about the possible return to the UK of the black-veined white butterfly? It is believed that climate change has made conditions suitable for its return. It is reported to be one of Sir Winston Churchill’s favourite species and one he tried to reintroduce at Chartwell. The picture above was taken on a chilly day in western France, north of Bordeaux, when one sat on my finger enjoying a little warmth whilst I struggled one handed to obtain a photo. It might be spotted from late June. Another less welcome species, new to the UK, is the geranium bronze, which has been seen in the south. Introduced from South Africa, it is not a friend to geraniums. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

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

40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315

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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 ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 28 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Something unique is always worth a closer look

Separate yet together

01935 810403 admissions@sherborne.org sherborne.org

01935 818224 registrar@sherborne.com sherborne.com

UNEARTHED WILLIAM MORRIS, UPPER SIXTH, AGED 18 Sherborne School

W

hen Will joined Sherborne in the Lower Sixth from The Gryphon on a Rugby Scholarship, he quickly immersed himself in every aspect of school life.

Down to earth, caring and brimming with talent on the field, in the classroom and in the studio, Will is an all-rounder in every sense.

Scouted by Sherborne’s Director of Sport, David Guy, Will’s passion for the game is palpable. Sport runs through the Morris family and as well as representing the school, playing at County and South West England Counties level, he also plays for Sherborne RFC. Exhausted after a 15-hour Art examination showcasing his print making skills inspired by the weather, Will has his sights set firmly on achieving a strong set of A Level results this summer in his subjects: Art, PE and Business Studies. Business Management is his next move, keeping his creativity alive with an option in Marketing and no doubt continuing to play his beloved game during his time at university and beyond.

A school Prefect, Will is remarkably modest about his achievements. In the Digby, a house which he loves, Will took on the role of a Prefect with special responsibility for the Third Form, many of whom were new to boarding as he was. He sums up his role by saying, “I wouldn’t classify myself as a role model, I just try to get the voice of the other boys across and look out for the lads from Third Formers through to Upper Sixth.”

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

30 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

bringing

bestin every pupil out the

For more information or to arrange a visit please contact the Registrar, Charlotte Carty

01935 810911 or registrar@sherborneprep.org Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NY

www.sherborneprep.org

Dawn Chorus Breakfast

Sketching Owls

Photography Workshop

The Art of Enjoying Nature

Astrophotography Workshop

Needle Felting

Beekeeping Course

Stained Glass Workshop

Wild Learning

Book a course or workshop with Dorset Wildlife Trust and enjoy learning something new about the natural world.

Visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events & www.kingcombe.org

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST Photos Š Dawn Blight, Ken Dolbear, MBE Julie Herring, Sarah Morrish, Matthew Le Breton, Carla Taylor & Paul Williams.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

Family

32 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

WHO IS GOOD AT MATHS? Andy Treavett, Head of Junior Maths, Sherborne Prep School

M

ost people will have a view on whether they are “good at Maths”, but what does this actually mean? I would always say that children need to learn times tables and number bonds; it’s also great to see ticks in books and high marks in tests. But does the ability to recall number facts and get answers right necessarily make someone “good” at Maths?

At Sherborne Prep School we use Numicon (Nursery and Reception) and Inspire Maths (Years 1 to 4, with Year 5 starting in September) as a base for our Junior Maths programmes. These are based on successful international methods. At the heart of our teaching is the concrete-pictorial-abstract approach. Children use physical objects, then diagrams or pictures, before moving on to written number work. We aim for the children to develop a secure number sense, with a deep conceptual understanding, rather than just the ability to follow a procedure to find the answer.

Consider this example: How do you multiply a number by 10? Do you just add a zero? This works as a procedure to multiply 34 by 10 to give 340.

But doesn’t this method fall apart when you look at a number with decimals?

Conceptually, it does not work. In Year 4 we discuss why 3.70 has the same value as 3.7; adding the zero does not multiply by 10! A child might work out the “add a zero” shortcut, but it needs to be grounded in a solid conceptual understanding so that they know why it works and when they can use it.

Our children learn Maths on a mastery basis. This is more than a requirement that the children grasp each concept. Take a question such as this: “What is 4000 subtract 3998?”. “Two!”, you say straight away. But how did you do this? Did you sit down with a pencil and paper and use column subtraction, regrouping the four thousands into three thousands and ten hundreds and so on? Or did you just count on two from the subtrahend (3998) to the minuend (4000)? Either method should give the correct answer, but the former method is much more error prone. Having mastery in Maths is about knowing a range of methods and being able to select which is best in the circumstances.

Our junior Maths classrooms buzz with children making numbers with blocks and counters, the sounds of mathematical discussion and the excitement of Maths games. This partner and group work is fundamental to building our children’s learning. It enables them to gain confidence, with the opportunity to “have a go” and learn from each other’s mistakes. At the same time, they increase their mathematical fluency and, we hope, develop a love of the subject.

With this fluency, a solid conceptual understanding and mastery we aim to give our children the ability to solve non-routine Maths problems without relying on learnt procedures. We develop these skills further into the children’s senior years in preparation for secondary schooling, associated examinations and independent learning. In addition, this is invaluable in later life and should also mean that they really are good at Maths. sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 33

Family

Children’s Book Review Wayne Winstone, Winstone’s Books, Independent Bookshop of the Year 2016

Mixed: A World of Colour by Arree Chung (2018, Macmillan Children’s Books), age range: 0-5 years, £6.99 paperback Sherborne Times reader offer £5.99 at Winstone’s Books

“I

n the beginning there where three colours. Yellow, Red and Blue”. Mixed

by Arree Chung is a tactfully written and thought provoking concept for a picture book. Why shouldn’t a Red be friends with a Blue?

Why is it unacceptable for a Yellow to fall in love with a Red? The harmonious world that the colours inhabit is turned upside down one day, when a Yellow notices a Blue and the two become friends, fall in love and eventually

Explore the colourful world of books

have a Green baby.

Mixed is a bright and hopeful tale, awash with all of the colours of the rainbow.

“From the brilliantly talented Arree Chung comes a sweet tale of difference and acceptance. Mixed is a charming and timely story with characterful illustrations and bags of humour.” winstonebooks.co.uk

'Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016’ 8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128

Family film screening

MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA (U) ‘flawlessly faithful’ The Guardian

SATURDAY 14TH JULY 6PM

THE TOY BARN, BLACKMARSH FARM, SHERBORNE, DORSET DT9 4JX Tastings and bakes from COMINS TEA

Popcorn, juice and nibbles

Handcrafted spirits, liqueurs and cocktails from FORAGER SPIRIT

Authentic Sri Lankan curries from HARI HARI

A series of free talks, lectures, live performances and screenings in support of

Suggested donation £7

History

RALEGH’S FORMATIVE YEARS Cindy Chant, Sherborne Blue Badge Guide

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the execution of “Sherborne’s adopted son” – Sir Walter Ralegh. On 29th October Sherborne will celebrate Walter’s life and times, and his significant contribution to the town, with a day of festivities. Over the next six months, in the run up to this event, our favourite Blue Badge Guide, Cindy Chant, will introduce us to her ‘Golden Boy of English History’. Here, in her first instalment, Cindy takes us back to 1552 (ish) where it all began.

W

alter Ralegh was born around 1552-1554.

His father, also called Walter, was a tenant farmer and ship owner, and an important figure in the part of Devon where they lived. Ralegh’s boyhood home was Hayes Barton, a Tudor farmhouse in the village of East Budleigh; this area of land, with its peaceful, rolling hills, is roughly between Exmouth and the River Exe to the west and Sidmouth to the east, and is now known as Ralegh Country.

Hayes Barton was where Squire Ralegh brought up his large family. His third wife, Katherine Champernowne, was a widow with three sons. She then 36 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

gave her new husband two more sons, of whom Walter was the youngest. He grew up a true country boy but he also loved the sea, frequently going out on his father’s boat and always longing to listen to the sea stories told by the old fishermen. Walter developed a strong Devonshire accent that remained with him all his life.

Near to Hayes Barton Farmhouse, in the little village of East Budleigh, was the Church of All Saints where the Ralegh family would have worshipped every Sunday and where Squire Ralegh was, for many years, the Churchwarden. They were a strongly Protestant family, disliking the Roman Catholics and, as a result, young

Walter developed a hatred of Catholicism.

For his early education, it is thought that Walter was first taught by the local vicar and then, as he got older, he continued his education at Oriel College in Oxford. On leaving school he went to France to serve with the Huguenots in the French Civil War. As a young soldier he was now exposed to the brutality and the massacres of the war. He remained in France for about four years, the most formative years of his life.

He had gone off to France as a young innocent country boy but he returned home worldly-wise, confident, opinionated and cynical.

His first big break came in 1578 when his halfbrother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, was granted a six-year licence from Queen Elizabeth I to discover new lands and to colonise unclaimed territories in the New World. Humphrey chose Walter to be his partner in this great enterprise and Walter was given command of the Queen’s ship, The Falcon. Sadly, it was all doomed to fail. The fleet was twice driven back by huge storms and forced to seek shelter, first in Plymouth then in Dartmouth. Eventually the voyage was abandoned.

In 1580, Walter was offered the chance to serve with Lord Grey in Ireland and was given command of 100 foot soldiers. It was in Ireland that Walter showed great military daring, courage and bravery but he also showed the flaws in his personality: he was devious and disloyal to his superiors. Also whilst in Ireland, he sowed his wild oats; it was there that he met Alice Gould, fathering the baby girl that he was to remember years later in his will.

In 1582, Walter was recalled to London and to the Royal Court, where he began to attract the Queen’s attention. She found him physically very attractive, and of course he was, being six feet tall and slim. He drew attention to himself by wearing flamboyant clothes and jewels: sparkly rings on his fingers, pearls in his hair and one pearl always in one ear, and a jewel on each of his boots. He was upright, virile and very proud. Everything about him radiated self-importance however, most of all, it was his quick wit with words and his strong Devon accent that really appealed to Elizabeth. Whether or not, when attending the Court at Greenwich, he really did lay down his cloak so that she could walk dry-foot over the puddle we shall never know, but the well-known story does show his charm.

Maybe she noticed the way he was dressed. Maybe she thought he had style, or that certain “magic” something. But what was the sudden attraction between them? Sex? Power? And who needed whom? Did she need him so much? She was almost twenty years older than him, unmarried and menopausal. Was Walter satisfying his strong ambition, or his private desire? And, of course, now he began to woo her with his poetry, seducing her with his love and idolatry.

The truth is so very complex.

Next month, Cindy will offer more adventures concerning Walter’s intimacy with the Queen. sherbornewalks.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

History

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

THE SHERBORNE HALFPENNY Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

T

he emergence of a country banking system and the growth of provincial coinage were features of economic development in Britain during the second half of the 18th century. Many of these banks grew out of the financial activities of local tradesmen and merchants who faced a shortage of quality coins for small transactions or the paying of wages. Although there were several commercial concerns which produced tokens redeemable at their own establishments, the Sherborne Halfpenny was the only coin series which was issued by a bank in its strictest sense. No other such coins were produced locally and they circulated as familiar small change over a significant time period.

Simon Pretor was born in Lyme Regis in 1727 and married Elizabeth Vowell in Sherborne in 1753, where he was already established as a grocer and tea-man opposite the Shambles at the bottom of Cheap Street.

He was also operating some kind of bill-discounting business, and soon expanded to the corner of Church Lane near the Conduit in 1757. Eventually he was selling both wholesale and retail, an exotic and heady mix of “11 varieties of tea, chocolate, sugar, spice, herrings, saltpetre, turpentine, canary seed, gloves, laces and pins”. At that time Sherborne, a substantial market town with a population of 3000, was ripe for a “banking shop” and Pretor shrewdly exploited this niche, building on this aspect of his concerns until his bank was set up separately in Long Street. It is believed to have been the first of its kind in Dorset.

The coin itself is very attractive and represents a milestone in the bank’s history. Made of copper, it is 29mm in diameter, 2mm thick and weighs just over 11 38 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

grams. The obverse shows PPW in cipher characters surmounted by a beehive with 17 bees, the letters standing for Pretor, Pew and Whitty. Until 1793 the bank operated variously as Simon Pretor and Son or Simon Pretor & Co. Pretor’s son unfortunately died in 1790 and an errant nephew was removed from the company two years later.

A new, reinvigorated partnership was created by Simon and two sons-in-law, Richard Pew (1752-1834), a Shaftesbury surgeon, and Samuel Whitty (1760-1833), son of the inventor of the Axminster carpet. Both men had been with the company since their marriages.

The familiar beehive image was already popular with many insurance companies and friendly societies and symbolised industry based on co-operation.

The reverse displays a double-headed eagle, surrounded by the legend in raised capitals: A SHERBORNE HALFPENNY 1793. This symbol of the eagle has long been associated with power in IndoEuropean cultures, possibly originating from Hittite iconography; it is representative of the Pretor arms, still visible today on his family tomb near the south entrance to Sherborne Abbey. Around the coin’s edge it is possible to read: PAYABLE AT THE BANK IN SHERBORNE + DORSET + The Museum holds thirteen such coins, two of which were kindly presented to us on loan by The Royal Bank of Scotland Archives Group through NatWest.

The Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm.

Admission is free. sherbornemuseum.co.uk

Burchell & Burchell

Art

40 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

P

ainting has proven rather difficult these last few months; the weather has been so changeable that planning a painting trip outside was something of a gamble. Time to paint has been short too, as the preparation for Dorset Art Weeks (26th May to 10th June) has been allconsuming. I did however manage a small 12” x 12” picture of the Digby Tap on one of the few sunny days. As it’s just across the road from my studio, it’s a handy watering hole for when I get painters' block!

I think I have said before in these pages that I do like the drawn line and try and keep that showing in my work. Sometimes the first lines have all the feeling of the subject and covering them over seems a sin. I re-state some of them should they lose their strength during the painting process. In this painting of the Tap it was the high wall in shadow against the brightness of the pub wall which caught my eye. The orange chimney stacks also play an important role and are always nice to see. The sun catching the drinkers standing around outside made the scene relaxed and very inviting. This time though I gave it a miss showing restraint I didn’t know I had!

I am often attracted to strong light and dark compositions such as this recent painting of Sherborne Abbey. The view is from an upstairs window of a house owned by a very nice couple whom I have known for some time. I had been meaning to ask them for years if I could paint it. When I finally got around to asking, I had very little time to execute the painting as they were due to move house at the end of that week! The day was bright with some good cloud and I chose afternoon as, by then, the low light was striking the end of the Abbey and turning the yellow stone golden. >

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

Art

All the colours were heightened, making the shaded areas even more noticeable and I particularly enjoyed playing around with the oranges and blues. The slate and tile of the foreground roofs were useful in helping to create the contrast with the sun spots. Where the sun hit the lead of the Abbey roof I was able to lighten the blue, which in turn brought out the golden colour of the stone - not forgetting that it was this that had grabbed my attention in the first place! Using purple here and there helps with the transition from cool to warm and holds 42 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

it all together. When it came to the sky I used the blue/ grey in the lower section to push the Abbey forward and made sure that the soft pinks and the pale Naples yellow were present in the tops of the huge clouds. Those clouds themselves had wonderful shadows too good to be missed.

Both paintings will be shown during the Arts Weeks in my studio, Venue 21. It would be nice to see some of you. laurencebelbin.com

Sketch for the Portrait of Lytton Strachey 1914. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

HENRY LAMB: OUT OF THE SHADOWS

W

Julian Halsby MA (Cantab), FRSA, RBA, Art Historian

e are very well served for regional museums in Sherborne, having Salisbury, Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Poole on our doorsteps. These museums are often able to stage exhibitions of lesserknown or unjustly forgotten painters, something which the major London museums cannot do - largely because they fear that they would not attract enough visitors and therefore revenue. Salisbury Museum is offering us the chance to re-assess the work of Henry Lamb (1883-1960), a fascinating and important figure in this period who has rather fallen into obscurity, hence the title of the exhibition.

Lamb was born in Australia in 1883 but returned to Britain with his family when his father was appointed Professor of Maths at Manchester University in 1885.

After Manchester Grammar School, Lamb went to

medical school then to Guys Hospital in London.

However, in 1906 he abandoned medicine and enrolled at Chelsea School of Art, founded by two former Slade pupils, Augustus John and William Orpen, where he started a long friendship with the eccentric and brilliant young John. In 1907 he went to Paris, as did many art students at the time, to study at one of the many private studios. He returned to France in 1908, 1910 and 1911, working mostly in Brittany. His Death of a Peasant, one of his most famous works, was painted in Brittany in 1911. It was bought by the important collector Sir Michael Sadler and is now in the Tate.

In 1906 Lamb married Nina Forrest, an artists’ model whom he called Euphemia because she reminded him of St Euphemia in a painting by Mantegna. An eccentric > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

Art

Gola Island 1913 Oil on Canvas – Private Collection

and Bohemian, she modelled for Augustus John while Lamb became romantically involved with John’s mistress, Dorelia McNeill. Euphemia was also close to Duncan Grant. The Lambs’ stormy marriage was doomed to failure and they separated within a few years, though not 44 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

divorcing until 1927. By now Lamb was working and exhibiting with the British avant garde, taking part in the first Camden Town Group exhibition in 1911 along with Walter Sickert, Spencer Gore, Harold Gilman and Augustus John. Lamb was also close to the Bloomsbury

In 1913 he was a Founder Member of the London Group along with Mark Gertler and David Bomberg.

When war broke out in 1914 Lamb returned to his medical studies at Guys Hospital and soon enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served on the Western Front where he was badly gassed, and also in Palestine. In 1919 he was commissioned to paint Irish Troops in the Judean Hills surprised by a Turkish Bombardment, a striking work now in the Imperial War Museum and closely related to Stanley Spencer’s Mesopotamian war paintings.

In 1927 Lamb married Lady Pansy Packenham, daughter of the 5th Earl of Longford and some twenty years younger than Lamb himself. She was a translator and novelist and, like all the Longford children, had ‘a fierce independence of spirit and a positive relish for being different’. They settled in Coombe Bissett, a village outside Salisbury, where they entertained a wide circle of friends including Evelyn Waugh, David Cecil, L.P. Hartley, Lady Ottoline Morrell, Nancy Mitford and John Betjeman who wrote: “O the calm of Coombe Bissett is tranquil and deep, Where Ebble flows soft in her downland asleep; There beauty to me came a-pushing a pram In the shape of the sweet Pansy Felicia Lamb.”

Group and his most notable portrait is that of Lytton Strachey, one of the most famous and enduring portraits of Bloomsbury and currently in the Tate.

Lamb was a great admirer of both Stanley and Gilbert Spencer’s work and introduced them to several patrons.

They had three children including the journalist Valentine Lamb and Henrietta Phipps the landscape gardener.

During the Second World War, Lamb was appointed an official war artist, often working with the Canadian Army. He also painted many military portraits.

Lamb had moved away from his avant garde days of the early century and settled into a comfortable but very accomplished conventional style, reminiscent of Vanessa Bell’s later work. His many portraits record his interesting and varied life. Elected Associate of the Royal Academy in 1940 and a full member in 1949, Lamb died in a Salisbury nursing home in 1960. Adrian Green, Director of Salisbury Museum has written, ‘Early 20th century artists such as Augustus John and Stanley Spencer achieved huge fame and success that still resonates today, but Henry Lamb who worked alongside them is little known. This major exhibition seeks to shine a new light on this talented artist who had a significant influence on his contemporaries.’

Henry Lamb: Out of the Shadows, Salisbury Museum, 26th May – 30th September, £8 adults, £4 children sherbornetimes.co.uk | 45

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 46 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

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Interiors

48 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

PREPARE FOR THE BRITISH SUMMER!

MARK CORETH 16th June – 4th July

Kitty Oakshott, Upstairs Downstairs Interiors

W

e’re embracing the British summer this year, as we introduce to you the latest range of outdoor fabrics. New fabrics from Thibaut’s ‘Sunbrella’ range solve several problems. Sunbrella fabrics are not only bright, colourful and fun as an update to your outside spaces, they also offer a number of brilliant properties. They are water repellent, which means no rushing outside to bring in the seat pads, and they are also lightfast and stain-resistant, making them the perfect outdoor textiles during the changeable weather of the summer months.

Use Sunbrella fabrics for outside seat pads, bench cushions or why not have a bespoke parasol made? The designs are fabulous - from bright pink paisley and blue and green geometrics to orange turtles. The fabrics also have a great feel, you wouldn’t be able to tell they have all those amazing properties. Why not update an old deckchair or hammock? Perfect to bring your garden to life, bringing in colour and pattern.

Sunbrella fabrics aren’t just for outdoors, they can be beneficial inside the home too. Being stainresistant they are great for dining chairs or window seats, or any upholstery or soft furnishings for that matter, especially if there are little people or pets around the home. Use them in sunny, south-facing rooms; being fade resistant they will keep their colour for longer, which is perfect for blinds and curtains.

Mix the bold colours and vibrant designs for a collection of scatter cushions in the conservatory or sun room, or maybe use them for some giant floor cushions. They also have some lovely, lightweight voiles within the range that will work perfectly as a soft curtain for those sunny windows.

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Antiques

JUST IN A DRAWER Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

I

hear the words, “it was just in a Dambusters raid. Estimated to sell drawer” almost every working for £60,000, there was a protracted day. At our salerooms, we bidding war with the overseas have specialist valuation days - not collector eventually parting with on auction days of course, when £148,000 for the pleasure of we are somewhat tied up! At our owning them. valuation days you can meet our Moving forward to our next team of specialists who have expert coins, medals, militaria, stamp knowledge on everything from and collectors auction in June, wine to watches. Those of you we have also been instructed who have been following me in to sell more family medals. the Sherborne Times for the past This time they belonged to the couple of years may remember my owner’s grandfather and are of passion for and interest in medals, more modest value. The family militaria, coins, and stamps, so The First World War medals awarded to have been in the Frome area for Private Harry Davage estimated at £100, if you are looking to have items generations. The owner never with the Frome press cutting incorrectly spelling his name as Davidge valued from this specialism you met his grandfather and has will be seen by me. little connection to him. With In this field of collecting, items are not usually the medals having lived in a drawer for years, he took discovered in an attic, barn or garage but rather in a advantage of a specialist medal valuation day and bookcase, cupboard or chest of drawers. Such items can brought them over to Sherborne. be found here for a number of reasons: space, lack of The First World War medals comprise a 1914 Star interest or, more usually, because people did not know with Mons bar, a British War Medal 1914-20 and a what to do with them so they were put away – out of Victory Medal and were awarded to Private Harry sight, out of mind.

Davage who served with 1st Battalion, Wiltshire However, there then comes a time to have a sort Regiment. With some 400,000 such medal groups out which is when people come to see us to have their awarded it is not rare, but what collectors will find possessions valued. A couple of years ago a client near interesting is that not only is this the first time the Marlborough was having a sort out and decided to have medals have been on the open market but also there his father’s medals valued. His father, Flight Lieutenant is a press cutting which accompanies them. The press Richard Trevor-Roper, flew Lancasters in World War II cutting incorrectly spells his name and notes that he was but was killed in action in 1944. The decision to sell was unlucky, having been shot in the knee which resulted in not an easy one. his leg being amputated.

The son had never met his father and the medals Estimated at a more modest £100, rather than the were just in a drawer. Put away, not seeing the light £60,000 Dambusters medals, they will no doubt be a of day, they were not being enjoyed by anyone. When great addition to the successful bidder’s collection when valuing medals, there are many factors to take into they go under the hammer in our 21st and 22nd June consideration – rarity, bravery, regiments, campaigns, collectors’ auction.

Royal Navy, Army and RAF are just a few. What made these medals stand out was his participation in the charterhouse-auction.com 52 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers We are now accepting entries for our forthcoming auctions:

Classic & Vintage Cars Sunday 17th June Single Owner Collection of Model Cars & Automobilia Thursday 21st June Coins, Medals, Stamps, Clocks & Collector’s Items Friday 22nd June Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Friday 31st August

1963 Morris Mini Minor

Contact Richard Bromell for advice or Rosie Bowen to arrange a home visit The Long Street Salerooms Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com

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Sundays 10th June 15th July Hundreds of stalls inside and out Public 9.30am - 4.00pm www.sheptonflea.com Enquiries 01278 784912 Admission £4.50 FREE PARKING sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53

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@elizabethwatsonillustrations 56 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

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Gardening

PROGRESS

F

Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group

oolishly, in January’s column, I set down a list of my gardening resolutions for 2018. Thinking that no-one would take much notice, I gave myself quite a bit to do, expecting that a few of the projects might fall by the wayside and become future aspirations.

Then I could say to myself that perhaps they were overoptimistic, and that I had bitten off more than I could chew. However, people keep asking me how I’m getting 58 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

on, which means I’ve had to do most of the jobs that I set out to do! So, here’s a progress report.

The wildflower “meadow” parts of the lawn have been bolstered with wild pansy, knapweed, harebell, musk mallow and some fabulous foxgloves donated by a reader, all planted before the nasty weather. I sowed the seed in late April and pricked out the plants in cell trays before planting in mid-May. We’ve just found a commercial

"He is very guarded about the variety, so all I have are the plants and no further information!"

grower of wild plants of a quality that we are happy to stock, allowing us to widen the range. I’ve planted the plugs in groups and will monitor their spread over the coming years. At the time of writing, the grass is really enjoying the current levels of moisture and is growing well, but hopefully it will slow down as the summer arrives, allowing the wildflowers to dominate.

I also discussed an experiment in the control of ground elder. The premise was to see if tagetes and/or calendula (pot marigold) could be used as allelopaths to control the spread of the weed. I’ve extended this experiment so that one patch is being controlled by weed killer and another is being chopped back regularly. It’s too early for results yet, but I just wanted you to know that I’ve made a start.

The shrub borders were pruned hard and everything is re-growing well. I have discovered some plants that were buried at the base of the trellis fence including some wonderful epimedium that are now returning at pace. These are herbaceous plants that usually hold onto their leaves through a normal winter and then flower early in the year. They are excellent for shady spots, hence their survival in this case.

My vegetable crops are doing well, particularly the baby carrots in pots and the speedy salad mixes, which are now on their third lot of cutting. Meanwhile the cape gooseberry are coming on nicely as are some exhibition runner beans brought in by a friend of ours who wins lots of prizes in local shows. He is very guarded about the variety, so all I have are the plants and no further information!

We’ve been discussing what to plant up around the patio and, whilst waiting for a group of customers to leave after an evening event at Castle Gardens, I was overwhelmed by the scent from the night scented phlox (zaluzianskya) with its white flowers. It’s a low-growing plant that looks good in the daytime but only becomes scented after dark. So, we’ve decided to add some night scented stocks and then, for daytime, scented nemesia wisley vanilla, which means we should be smelling sweetly right around the clock!

Our gourd experiment is continuing and I’ve also planted some in a raised bed covered with Bloomin’ Amazing mulch and soil improver, which I think they are going to enjoy. So, there is an update for the time being and please, no more checking up on me, I’m doing my best! thegardeneronline.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

Gardening

DIARY OF A FIRST TIME FLOWER FARMER Paul Stickland, Black Shed Flowers

Image: Paul Stickland 60 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

W

e’ve just been celebrating the first anniversary of our cut flower farm, Black Shed, and what an extraordinary, rollercoaster ride it’s been! It’s been incredibly hard work bringing our acre into full production but with the fantastic support of our partners, Peter and Amanda Hunt, and our two wonderful Workaway volunteers, Alice from Adelaide and now Ilenia from Venice, we’re getting there. To be honest, we’re a bit surprised by how far we’ve come in the last twelve months.

It started with an acre of raking. That got us fit. We are blessed with fantastic, virtually stone-free soil here at Blackmarsh Farm so this was considerably easier than it could have been. Nevertheless, it still took a month’s hard labour under a blazing sun!

Then we had to call upon the geometry skills that, as a pop-up book designer and paper engineer, I have kept fresh since my school days when Maths was definitely my favourite subject. The gardens are laid out on a strict 8 metre grid. It really helps us to calculate how many plants any given bed will need and, subsequently, how many flowers that will then generate. This gives us great blocks and strips of particular species which also, slightly accidentally, looks fantastic. I was told not to try and design the plot like a garden but I simply cannot help placing my favourite species together for effect. The pure joy of walking between beds of head-high delphiniums and foxgloves justifies this! First thing in the morning or catching the last rays of the setting sun, when everything is alive with the thrum of insects and the singing of the birds, I simply can’t stop drinking it all in. Even after an exhausting day it’s difficult to leave; there’s always something else bursting into bloom, jostling for my attention.

It’s been a steep but very enjoyable learning curve.

We took our seed-sowing skills to the next level in order to grow the thousands of plants we need - only a few thousand last year but tens of thousands this year.

It’s a major logistical exercise and we're still sowing: a few quick annuals to take us up to the first frosts, then biennials and perennials for next year. Tulips, ranunculus and anemones have been ordered in bulk, one of the many benefits of being members of Flowers from the Farm, whose generous members are always happy to share their knowledge on everything from aphids to marketing. Their closed Facebook group contains a wealth of information and support - very

necessary when your ranunculus are wilting or you’re despairing at the never-ending winter and yet another unexpected frost!

Our floristry skills were honed on the job; we must have made hundreds of bouquets to order last season.

It really is a joy to use the flowers that we grow; we already know them well and it’s such fun to extend this knowledge into floristry. We had to get up to speed with all things wedding, from barely knowing our pew ends from our corsages to the point where weddings are a large part of our business.

Any idea that flower farming is all about wafting around a glorious garden, stylishly dressed in retro worker’s clothing under a crisp panama hat with a trug full of glorious perfect blooms a là Monty Don is very far from the truth. Mud-splattered waterproof trousers, shoes so caked with dirt that they weigh a couple of kilos, layer upon layer of thermal clothing beneath the ubiquitous and very necessary stormproof coats and hats, hands chapped and cracked, cold, aching knees and backs: you get the picture. From November to late April that was our lot. Now the better weather has arrived it’s easy to forget all that but nonetheless we are constantly grubby. The washing machine is permanently running and our car and the road outside our house has taken on the exact colour of our soil. I try not to leave muddy footprints around Waitrose, I don’t always succeed.

Has it been worth it? Oh yes. It’s been incredible to see the garden grow and thrilling to share its glories and bountiful produce with all our visitors, customers and clients. Our 9-year-old daughter, Tabitha, now knows how to create a beautiful bouquet and most of the aspects of running a flower farm. Mum and Dad are not quite ready to put aside their old day jobs though. Helen is still the smiling face of Winstone’s bookshop and, in the midst of all this activity, with my children’s books hat on, I’ve visited around 40 schools in the UK, spent three weeks working in the botanist’s paradise Singapore as visiting Author and Artist at the American International School. More locally, I’ve just finished an Arts Council-funded project with the children of St. Michael’s Academy in Yeovil. I doubt I’ll ever stop that work as I love working with children but for now a long season of growing fabulous flowers beckons. What a wonderful prospect! blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61

FENCING | GARDEN DESIGN | LANDSCAPING | TIMBER STRUCTURES | LAWNS | PAVING

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Call us on 01935 850388 lawnandlandscape.co.uk

62 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

At Bill Butters Windows we offer total window, door and conservatory solutions. Based in Sherborne, Dorset, we manufacture, supply and install high quality aluminium and uPVC products using market leading suppliers to service both the retail and commercial sectors.

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WESSEX STRINGS Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

M

usic is constantly changing and evolving and some will argue that it’s the conductor who moves the music from mere mechanics to an emotional and inspirational experience. ‘The relationship of the movement and sound within the music is what I work on,’ says Wessex String’s current conductor, Arturo Serna.

Arturo is Venezuelan and came up through El Sistema, the country’s internationally-acclaimed music education programme. ‘As a child I played cello with an orchestra for two hours a day, five days a week, as well as taking lessons,’ he says. He later went on to study with Jonathan Vinden and Jonathan Rose at the Trinity College of Music in London and has recently begun a Conducting Masters degree at the University of Surrey.

Arturo joined Wessex Strings in 2012 and when not conducting he teaches the cello at several schools in Dorset and Somerset. >

64 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65

66 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

On the evening we arrange to meet, Arturo’s running late. His wife is expecting a baby any day and concerned whispers are circulating that Arturo may not appear at all. The orchestra meets in the rehearsal room of the Stuart Centre at Sherborne Girls. I watch as music stands are unfolded and adjusted, and listen to the familiar sounds of instruments warming up and the rustling of music sheets. Still no conductor, so it’s agreed that Heidi, who plays first violin, will take the lead.

Amelia Monaghan, a sixth-former from Sherborne Girls and one of the solo cellists for the next concert, has arrived and sets up facing the orchestra.

It’s commendable to see her play in front of these accomplished and mature musicians but they are all clearly on her side. Suddenly, that palpable silent moment of shared concentration and expectation before the first notes are played – and then they’re off, riding the crest of the music. Arturo arrives and he stands at the back, listening for a moment. ‘They are the most

eager of orchestras,’ he says and smiles before walking to the front and taking his place.

Wessex Strings was formed 21 years ago by conductor and pianist Martin Walker. The group’s first double bass player, Richard Woodall, has been with them ever since.

‘There were just 12 of us to start with,’ Richard recalls. He tells me that he was inspired by The Shadows in the 1950s and used to play the bass guitar. He bought his cherished double bass in 1968 and it’s the same one he plays now.

Performers like to have a ‘living’ dialogue with composers Richard tells me, ‘Your ears get in tune with the composer and, for me, with the bass of the music.’

When Richard first joined Wessex Strings he was living in Milborne Port but has since moved close to Dorchester. ‘I still play as I enjoy the camaraderie so much,’ he says. ‘One of the great benefits of local orchestras and groups is that you still get the chance to play whether you’re a professional or not. The best thing though is the coffee break, which tends to over-run > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

68 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

70 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

because we talk too much,’ he chuckles.

Deborah Bathurst is the current chair of the group and started playing the violin at the age of 11. Now retired, she worked as a consultant dermatologist and played wherever she was posted including Oxford, London and Manchester. She has lived in Sherborne for the last 28 years. ‘Playing the violin is a great way of relaxing,’ she says. ‘I really enjoy being part of a group and working towards a concert. Wherever I’ve lived I’ve joined an orchestra because it gives me the chance to play the repertoire with other people, which is what I particularly enjoy. What I like about this group is that we encourage young musicians to play a concerto with us. It gives a young musician - such as Amelia - the fantastic opportunity to have an orchestra accompany them. We perform in Cheap Street church which has near perfect acoustics, and it’s all in aid of a charity.’

This year the orchestra will accompany three young soloists: the cellist Amelia will play the first movement of Haydn’s cello concerto in C major; Freya Green of Bruton School for Girls will play Vivaldi’s cello concerto in C major and Felicity Lennard (also Bruton) will play Sammartini’s recorder concerto in F major. The concerts will also include Telemann’s Don Quixote overture, Mozart’s Divertimento K137, and Elgar’s Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit, all part of the orchestra’s 21st birthday celebrations this month.

The orchestra now has approximately 24 members. The current lead violinist, Heidi Berry, began the violin at the age of two and a half, following the Suzuki method before switching to the traditional method. She then studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and enjoys being part of the orchestra. She agrees that the opportunities the orchestra gives young soloists is ‘amazing’ and ‘important to the community of Sherborne as a whole.’

As the famous conductor Alan Gilbert once said, ‘music helps to define what it is to be human, it has an eternal power to move us.’ Wessex String’s 21st birthday concert on the 17th June promises to be a special one.

This remarkable orchestra, all highly talented members of our community, are touching lives and inspiring us through music.

Wessex String’s 21st Birthday Concert, Sunday 17th June, Cheap Street Church, 3pm. Tickets on the door £10 or £9 if bought in advance from Sherborne TIC. Tickets include tea with homemade cakes after the concert. wessexstrings.wixsite.com/orchestra sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 72 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

OPEN FARM SUNDAY

10th JUNE

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Food & Drink

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

ELDERFLOWER AND LEMON CAKE

Image: Katharine Davies

T

hese two flavours are beautiful on their own but when combined they are sublime. Chosen as the wedding cake by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, this cake tastes like summer and can be decorated with fresh, edible flowers or some fresh summer berries. It transforms a lemon Victoria sponge into a showstopper. I recreated it in May for the Royal Welsh Spring Festival, where I used the 'all-in-one' method. I like to use my homemade lemon curd but if you don't have time to make your own a good quality shop-bought one will do.

What you will need

• Four 20cm diameter baking pans (if you only have 2 you can halve the sponge recipe and repeat the sponge-making twice). Grease the pans with a little butter and place a round of silicone or parchment in the bases then dust with a little flour. This size cake 74 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

pan is my favourite family size and it would be worth investing in as it is the perfect size for a 4-layer cake.

• To make the lemon curd you can use a double boiler if you have one but you can also make it in a bowl in the microwave or in a bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. I use Delia Smith’s recipe.

• A saucepan to make the syrup.

• A disposable piping bag and an 844 size piping nozzle.

• A stand mixer with the egg whisk attachment or an electric hand-held mixer. I use a stand mixer to make the cake and a hand-held electric mixer to make the Chantilly cream (I place the beaters in the refrigerator whilst the cake is baking).

• An offset spatula would also be a useful tool.

• A cake board or cake plate slightly bigger than 20cm diameter.

• A cake turntable would be helpful.

5 Beat the cake mixture on high for two minutes, share the mixture between the four pans (I place a pan on my weighing scales and weigh into it 280g of mixture).

6 Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, checking to see if they are baked after 20 minutes.

7 When baked, place them on a cooling rack and brush the top of each cake with the elderflower syrup and allow to cool completely.

Sponge Cake Serves 12

(all the ingredients should be at room temperature)

280g eggs (out of shells) 280g caster sugar 280g soft margarine 280g self-raising flour, plus a little for dusting the baking pans 10g baking powder 2 tspn lemon extract 1 tbsp elderflower cordial Zest of two unwaxed lemons Lemon Curd

2 jars of Tiptree lemon curd Elderflower and Lemon Syrup

3 tbsp elderflower cordial Juice and zest of an unwaxed lemon 50g caster sugar Elderflower Chantilly Cream

500ml double cream 1 tspn vanilla extract 3 tbsp of elderflower cordial 2 tbsp lemon curd 75g icing sugar 20 viola flower heads or 400g soft summer fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries Method

1 Set the oven for 180C, 160C fan assisted.

2 Sift the flour and baking powder.

3 Place the eggs in a bowl, add the other ingredients and gradually combine before beating for one minute.

4 Leave the egg mixture in the bowl to dissolve the sugar while you grease and line the baking pans.

Elderflower Syrup (prepare while cakes are baking) 8 Place the cordial, lemon juice, zest and caster sugar in a pan and gently bring to the boil, allowing the caster sugar to dissolve. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes to reduce the syrup slightly.

Chantilly Cream (prepare while cakes are cooling) 9 In a bowl place the cream, cordial, lemon curd, icing sugar and vanilla extract. On low speed begin to beat the ingredients until they are combined and then beat on medium until thick and standing in peaks.

To assemble the cake 10 Place the cake board on the cake turntable, place a tablespoon of the Chantilly cream on the middle of the board to anchor the cake down on the base.

11 Spread about 4 tablespoons of cream onto the cake with a spatula and then spread 2 tablespoons of lemon curd onto the cream.

12 Place the next cake layer on top of the first layer and repeat the process until the four layers are stacked.

13 Using the spatula spread the cream around the sides of the cake, making sure to fill in where there are gaps.

14 Holding the spatula vertically against the side of the cake turn the turntable and smooth the sides of the cake (in doing this you will expose some of the cake - don’t worry, this is the fashion and it’s called “a semi-naked cake”).

15 Place two tablespoons of cream on the top of the cake and spread evenly.

16 Half-fill the piping bag with Chantilly Cream and pipe 8 roses on the top of the cake. When you have completed the circle of roses continue to pipe roses around the cake side diagonally to create a rope of roses around the cake winding down to the cake base.

17 Place the flowers or fruits around the cake.

The cake can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 75

Food & Drink

WHAT’S ON THE KIDS’ MENU? Hayley Frances Thurlow, Cook, Caterer, Nutritional Therapist

I

love working with babies and children. There is nothing more satisfying that watching little ones devour their food with that intense hunger that comes with new life. I feel excited when my little clients start to eat better, and as a mum I am fulfilled and relaxed when my daughter, Lexi, has a good appetite for the food I cook for her. It makes me smile when she eats, her fists clenched around a piece of mackerel or giant strawberry; face smeared in olive oil.

So, what kind of food should we be feeding our children? Well, allergies and intolerances aside, your children should eat what you eat. Now, obviously if you are eating a highly processed diet and three takeaways a 76 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

week, then your children should not be eating what you eat - but then neither should you! But if you are cooking your meals from scratch and consuming a diet rich in all the essential nutrients, then no matter which cuisine you prefer, be it Thai, Italian, Spanish or Moroccan, your children should be eating it too, from six months old.

And yes, even chilli peppers, sea salt and anchovies are on the menu, from six months old. Of course, babies and children do have unique nutritional needs at different ages, and you can work with a nutritional therapist or dietician to ensure you are a) aware of and b) fulfilling these needs. But otherwise, if your baby is healthy, then there’s nothing wrong with feeding them ‘adult’ food.

baby food from jars. Please don’t worry about salt. One or two pinches of sea salt in a large pot of home-made pasta sauce translates into a microscopic amount in the tablespoon that you are putting into their bowl. When browsing the shopping aisles try to resist the cute, heavily marketed snacks for babies and toddlers. I can’t even give you an example because I don’t buy them, but you’ll know the stuff I mean – convenient, easily grabbed packets masquerading as vegetable or fruit-based delights. Just give them vegetables or fruit. Little treats are important though so if you are out for coffee and cake at the weekend then share your caramel slice with the little ones (or buy two!); being inclusive is sometimes more important than worrying about nutritional perfection and embracing these pleasures is an important part of raising children without food issues.

If your children are past the infant stage it's never too late to make changes. Slowly empty the freezer of ‘kids food’ (fish fingers, pizzas etc.), stop preparing them separate meals and try not to worry about their reaction.

You might be surprised. I have worked with several teenagers and often find they embrace these changes towards a healthier lifestyle.

Preventative nutrition is amazingly enjoyable for me.

I see many adults really struggle to manage their weight and health after years of poor lifestyle and a disrupted relationship with food and, I’m not going to lie, reversal is harder work than just starting off on the right foot in the first place. So, please, would you do at least one thing for me? The next time you are in a restaurant and the waiter asks if you’d like to see the ‘kids’ menu’, say ‘no thank you’.

Image: Richard Pearce

Starting young helps – and when I say ‘young’, I mean in the womb. Babies taste molecules from your bloodstream and will therefore begin to recognise flavours and develop preferences even before they are born, so it helps to pack your diet with as much variety as possible at this stage. If you are able (and choose) to breastfeed, this can further develop their palate, since they taste your diet through their milk.

Once you start to wean, introduce puréed versions of your meals immediately and don’t hold back on flavour. Government guidelines on salt can all too easily scare people into making their children separate, blander versions of dishes or, even worse, resorting to

Hayley is a Nutritional Therapist (N.F.H Dip MFNTP) Cook and Caterer, inspired by the Aegean & Mediterranean. She is based at both her clinic in Stokesub-Hamdon and the Sherborne Rooms, and is active on Facebook and Instagram as Hayley Frances Nutrition.

Hayley will be running the Little Strawberries Summer Cookery School for Children from her village home near Sherborne every Monday morning from Monday 30th July to Monday 3rd September. To book please visit: littlestrawberriessummercookeryschoolforchildren.eventbrite.co.uk She will also be running the masterclass 'What to Feed your Kids this Summer' as part of the Wonder Women summer masterclass day on Saturday 16th June in Sherborne. For futher details and booking information contact Hayley on 07586 717678 or hayley@hayleyfrancesnutrition.com hayleyfrancesnutrition.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

Food & Drink

Image: Nicholas Goodden 78 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

GRASP THE NETTLE Nicholas Goodden

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s I sit in the sun writing this article, I have just finished drinking a bottle of homemade nettle beer and could kick myself for not giving home brewing a try much earlier in my life. Since moving from London to Dorset last October we’ve been patiently waiting for Spring and it has finally arrived, bringing with it a bounty of things to forage for during walks, everything from dandelion leaves to wild garlic. But I want to discuss one plant in particular and one which isn’t particularly popular: the stinging nettle.

Nettles are possibly the easiest and safest way to take your first baby steps into foraging, which can indeed be daunting - you wouldn’t want to pick the wrong plant and end up in hospital. Nettles aren’t just easy to identify and readily available. The reason we decided to focus on including nettles in our food in the past couple of months is their wealth of benefits. Our ancestors knew very well how useful this plant was; it provided medicine, food and fibre for clothing. However, over time and with humans gradually losing their connection with nature, it all got a little forgotten.

Nettles are packed full of protein, vitamins A, C, D and B complex, beta-carotene, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, making them pretty much a super-food. But without delving too deep into the compounds found in nettles or their health benefits, I’m here to talk about food and drink, our favourite thing to talk about here at Goodden HQ. The first thing we made with nettles was the humble nettle soup. Add to it a little wild garlic (which is also readily available) and a dollop of cream and you’ll soon be in soup heaven! Another interesting way to use nettles is to make nettle pesto: simply blanche nettles in hot water for a minute or steam them to remove the sting, add grated parmesan, garlic, olive oil and pine nuts… delicious!

It is said nettles are also particularly good at helping prevent prostate problems in later life and, since my father’s family is badly affected by prostate issues, I’m

going to make nettle tea (which tastes quite lovely) my new evening drink.

Our latest discovery, however, is what I most love nettles for: nettle beer, a delicious fizzy, citrusy, bitter and refreshing beverage which can be made in 10 days.

After decades of beer drinking I’m totally sold and really can’t say it enough: it’s delicious… and free. I’m told my grandfather used to make nettle beer after WWII and I enjoy the sense of connection that knowing this brings, as he died when I was young. I like to feel he would have enjoyed sharing his hobby with me, as well as sharing a well-deserved pint of our brew. After searching for my grandpa’s recipe and gathering many others found online, I’ve so far brewed four gallons and I’m happy to report that my second batch was an improvement on the already quite delicious first, though maybe quite a bit stronger.

With my chef background and a little time to experiment, taking many notes I shall refine the process as well as the recipe, including aromatic herbs and other ingredients from our garden until it’s perfected. It’s only once you make your own booze that you can truly appreciate the beauty of it. If that’s not alchemia then what is? We turn water and sugar into alcohol! I say we but, in reality, the true heroes of this story are my little yeast buddies; they are the ones who make it all possible.

As I reflect on this while drinking a second bottle of my nettle beer, I also appreciate how it took many thousands of people and years to get to where we are now. Humans made great discoveries but fermentation has to be one of their greatest.

As for a brand name for my nettle beer… how about “Nettle Gooddness”?

If you fancy trying home-brewing yourself, I’d say, “Do it”. And if you’re not sure where to start, look for a book called Booze by John Wright which currently is my go-to reference.

Beware though, it’s a hobby that is addictive! greatthingstodo.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 79

Food & Drink

‘U

UGNI BLANC David Copp

gni Blanc? Whatever is the fellow on about?’

I can hear you say. Ugni Blanc is one of the world’s most widely planted white varieties, better known in its Italian homeland as Trebbiano, and it produces some of Italy’s best white wines in appellations such as Soave, Orvieto and Frascati. Ugni Blanc came to France with Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul and its position was later confirmed when the papacy arrived in Avignon. The variety took to French soils and became the preferred grape of distillers of eau-de-vie which will be the subject of my three articles on spirits, and Cognac, Malt Whisky and Gin in particular.

Ugni Blanc has three important virtues for the distiller: it is a heavy cropper, it holds its acids well and produces wines relatively low in alcohol. It made its French home in the Charente around Cognac, a small, countryside town about twice the size of Sherborne, squeezed in the land between the Atlantic and the Massif Central. The great advantage of the region is its mild climate with sea humidity, which works wonders when the newly distilled spirit is poured into Limousin oak casks and left to mature.

The best vineyards are those around Cognac called Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois. Don’t be confused by the use of the word champagne. In French it means ‘open field.’ And there are plenty of those around Cognac, through which the Charente River quietly meanders. King Henry IV of France, who was born in the département, described the Charente as ‘the prettiest stream in my country.’

The river meanders because the topography is generally hilly: it might best be described as somnolent, with its sleepy little hamlets and stone-built houses with wellweathered tiles and firmly shuttered windows.

This is absolutely appropriate because fine Cognac takes time to develop and likes to be left in peace to mature in mature oak casks in damp cellars. Some of the fine champagne Cognacs I tasted were forty and fifty years old, and I saw demi-johns of old spirit going back to 1914.

Before I get ahead of myself I should explain that the Cognac distiller is looking for fresh and fruity wine which he double distils with the objective of separating the best elements from the more volatile.

The wine is boiled up in an onion-shaped copper still and the vapours pass through what is generally called a swan neck on their way to the rectifier, where the 80 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

precious vapour is condensed to emerge as pure spirit.

In every distillation the distiller separates the ‘heads and tails’ from the prime spirit because they are less pure and need to be redistilled. The ‘heart’ is the prime spirit.

The spirit is double distilled to ensure that no impurities whatsoever remain before the precious liquid is filled into casks to begin its long, slow maturation in oak barrels of about 350 litres. The oak is carefully selected and matured for at least three years before being coopered. Sessile oak is preferred for its hardness and because of the character it gives to the spirit.

Standard Cognacs mature for around three years, VSOPs for four years, five years for Napoleon, and six years for an XO. In addition, most of the great Cognac houses such as Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin and Courvoisier produce splendid individual vintage cognacs and specially blended old Cognacs, made with supreme skill by master blenders with a good nose!

The industry is doing well with worldwide sales up 10% in 2017. By far the biggest markets are USA and China where the marketing skills of the larger houses are evident. But there are also many smaller houses making a name for themselves with fine old cognacs only from the Grande and Petite Champagne wine producing regions, which are sold as fine champagne cognacs. I visited Delmain and Jacques Denis whose skills are harmonising the flavours of very old cognacs.

Hine specialises in producing fine vintage cognacs.

The Hine story is of particular interest. The business was developed by the son of a linen merchant from Beaminster, Dorset, who so loved Cognac he sent his 16-year-old son Thomas to France to learn the art of distilling it. Thomas was a diligent student who not only learned quickly but also fell in love with the daughter of his employer. They were happily married, the father-in-law being so impressed with Thomas’ work that he agreed the name of the firm should be changed to Hine on his death.

Cognac is most often thought of as a digestif but whilst in Cognac a top-class bar tender taught me how to make cognac cocktails. I am not a great cocktail drinker but I can assure those of you who are that there are plenty of recipes freely available for such exotic drinks as Horses Neck, Stinger, Mint Dulep and Sidecar.

And don’t forget that good sparkling water and ginger are natural partners for your tipple of Cognac.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Food & Drink

RED MULLET AND SCALLOP SOUP Sasha Matkevich, Head Chef and Owner, The Green with Jack Smith, Apprentice Chef

T

his is one of my favourite Mediterranean classics. Perfect to share with friends and family on a cool summer's evening.

Ingredients Serves 6

1 tbsp good olive oil 3 large shallots, chopped 4 small garlic cloves, chopped 1 small red pepper, chopped 1 stick celery, chopped 1 head of fennel, chopped 1/2 tsp saffron 1 medium size red chilli, chopped 1/4 bunch basil 1/4 bunch coriander 200ml fresh tomato juice 1l fish stock 6 medium size red mullet, filleted 6 large scallops 1 tbsp good white wine 200g mayonnaise, made with free range eggs Cornish sea salt and black pepper to taste Basil leaves to decorate 82 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Method

1 Heat the olive oil in the large saucepan and cook gently shallots, garlic, celery, fennel and red pepper until soft but not coloured.

2 Add saffron, chilli, coriander, basil and tomato juice.

Bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, and then liquidise in a blender until smooth.

3 Return to the large saucepan and stir in the fish stock.

Bring to the boil and add the mullet fillets then poach in the hot soup until just cooked (approximately four minutes depending on the thickness of fillets).

4 Lift the fish out into the serving bowls.

5 Sear the scallops on one side and add to the serving bowls.

6 Liquidise the cooking liquor in the blender, slowly adding mayonnaise. Add white wine, salt, pepper and liquidise for another 30 seconds.

7 Pour over the fish and scallops.

8 Decorate with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

Na zdorovie! greenrestaurant.co.uk

COFFEE BREAK 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 @yetminstergalle 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 The Trooper Coffee House The Trooper Inn, Stourton Caundle, DT10 2JW @TrooperinDorset @thetrooperinn 01963 362405 thetrooperinn.co.uk

Sherborne Surgery Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228

Yeovil Surgery 142 Preston Road 01935 474415

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or email info@homegrown-media.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

Animal Care

THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Mark Newton-Clarke, MA VetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

F

or most of us, our earliest memories of contact with the veterinary profession are either a trip to the surgery with a pet, a visit by the vet to the farm, or watching the TV vet James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small. Over the years, medical science has forged ahead, paving the way 84 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

for new treatments and procedures for old problems and spending much effort keeping out new diseases.

Being an island has largely protected us from the latter, although the movement of animals between the UK and the rest of Europe has meant that even greater surveillance is needed to maintain our biosecurity.

The pet travel scheme has been in place now for almost 20 years and with the summer nearly upon us many owners are taking their dogs abroad.

A relaxation in the rules has meant that travel has never been easier: a rabies vaccine, a microchip and a passport (for participating countries) and it’s bon voyage! The need to blood test and a 6-month wait are all behind us, the only restriction being a 21-day period between vaccination and re-entry into the UK. All very simple but be aware of some nasty, exotic diseases that are all-so-easy for your dog to catch.

Throughout Europe, a tick-borne disease called Babesia is very common and so a treatment that

prevents ticks from even getting a tooth-hold in your dog is essential. Unfortunately, Babesia has now been recorded in the UK, brought here from mainland Europe over the last few years due to the cancellation of the legal requirement for tick treatments on your return. Make sure you use the best treatment available and speak to your veterinary surgery if in doubt, as these products are prescription-only. Leishmania is another problem, usually found in southern Europe and spread by the bite of the sand-fly. Prevention is more difficult and local knowledge of the presence of this disease is important when assessing risk.

Sand-flies are active at dusk and dawn, so avoid walking at these times and use an insect repellent collar, although this is not guaranteed protection.

Heartworm (Dirofilaria) is similar to our home-grown lungworm and needs monthly treatment to prevent infestation. Despite these potential problems, with the right preparation and protection, there is no need to be paranoid but do be vigilant.

Although the day-to-day things we see at the clinics are much the same as 30 years’ ago, we now have the ability to define problems more accurately through digital x-rays and ultrasound, non-invasive biopsy techniques and endoscopy. I view the challenge of clinical medicine as getting as close to the truth as possible, bearing in mind that the welfare of the patient is paramount. The number of specialist referral centres has mushroomed in the last two decades and we can call on consultant-level expertise in all disciplines when an expert second opinion or specialist treatment is required. We are also now lucky enough to have a team of orthopaedic surgeons who regularly visit the clinics in both Sherborne and Yeovil, performing procedures that once required travel to a referral hospital. If you have ever had a broken limb or ligament, you’ll know the less travel the better!

Changes in the way medicine and surgery are practised will continue as new technologies filter through into the clinics. An even bigger change is happening to the ownership of veterinary practices in the UK as, by the end of this year, 80% of vets will be owned by a handful of large corporations. What difference this will make to owners trying to choose the best practice for their pet remains to be seen, however, rest assured, the Newton Clarke Partnership will remain independent for many years to come! newtonclarkevet.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

Award winning Friars Moor Livestock Health open a new collection centre for medicines and supplies at Pearce Seeds.

We are very pleased to announce that we have opened a new collection point for medicines and supplies at Pearce Seeds, Rosedown Farm. This will provide an improved service for our clients in and around the Sherborne area. Medicines ordered with the team in the Sturminster office before 11am will be available for same day collection between 1pm and 5pm. The service will run from Monday-Friday.

We also welcome our new vet John Walsh. John joins us after working 8 years as a farm vet in Castle Cary and will be working 3 days a week at Friars Moor.

Please call the office on 01258 472314 for all enquiries

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

Pet, Equine & Farm Animals

• Operating theatres • Digital x-ray • Nurse clinics • Separate dog and cat wards • Laboratory Kingston House Veterinary Clinic Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB

Grove Dene Veterinary Clinic The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL

Tel: 01935 813288 (24 hours) Email: sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk

Tel: 01935 421177 (24 hours) Email: yeovil@kingstonvets.co.uk

Mon-Fri 9.00-10.30, 16.30-18.00 Sat 9.00-10.30

Mon-Fri 8.30-12.00, 14.00-18.30 Sat 9.00-12.00

kingstonvets.co.uk

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Cycling

ENJOY THE RIDE Peter Henshaw, Dorset Cyclists Network Mike Riley, Riley’s Cycles

I

f you’ve seen a fit-looking 65-year-old cycling around Sherborne on a traditional drop handlebar bike, it’s likely to have been Alan Longhurst.

The ex-postman hasn’t always cycled, only taking it up seriously after a health scare in his late twenties.

Mind you, he’d done plenty of pedalling as a youngster, growing up like many of his generation in a household without a car.

“We lived in Sturminster,” he told me, “and didn’t have a car so I grew up with bikes. My dad was a painter and decorator, and he cycled everywhere.

When I was sixteen I was apprenticed to Wincanton Engineering, just off Ludbourne Road where Sainsburys is now. They specialised in metalwork for milk production – churns, tankers, all that sort of thing.

You’d see the tinned milk churns in stacks outside the factory. I had a little James motorbike, which I used for commuting until it broke down, then I was cycling from Sturminster to Sherborne every day!”

Alan’s apprenticeship sounds like a local job, but he was sent all over the world on warranty work for the company’s tanks. He and a colleague were once flown out to Melbourne and spent 14 weeks travelling round Australia doing repair work. That must have been exciting, I say. “Not really,” smiles Alan, “one milk factory is much like another.”

He’d given up cycling by this time but an interview with the doctor would change all that, and his lifestyle into the bargain. “I was a smoker and drinker at the time,” he said, “I’d be out most nights. Then I started getting pains in my chest, went to see the doctor who said I had to lose weight – I was only about 28. Anyway, I gave up smoking and bought a bicycle from the cycle shop on Coldharbour– it’s the Chinese takeaway now.

I found it hard getting back into it. I can remember stopping just before Crackmore Rocks, panting and puffing. But gradually I started to get fitter. I had to

88 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

cycle to Yeovil for work and each day I’d manage to get a little further up Babylon Hill before having to get off and push.”

From then on there was no stopping him and in 1982 Alan rode the ultimate: Land’s End to John O’Groats.

“A mate hired an old banger in Yeovil and took me and my bike down to Cornwall. I did the ride OK, but the hardest bit was the first section through Cornwall and Devon – the Scottish hills were longer but nothing like as steep!” It was quite a comeback from being overweight at 28, but Alan’s job would have helped. He became a postman, a job he loved. “I’d recommend that to anyone.

You’re out in the open air, getting exercise, and once you’re on a round you’re virtually your own boss.”

But cycling was becoming a big part of his life, and Alan retired at sixty to give himself more time for long rides, doing at least one epic trip a year. When I dropped in to see him, he was preparing to get a lift up to Hull, then cycle to John O’Groats, down to Land’s End and back to Sherborne, 1,700 miles in all. It’ll take five weeks; he should be home by the time you read this. But what’s the attraction? “It’s being outside, and I find that if I’ve got a problem, whatever it is, the solution comes to me while I’m cycling. You don’t have to think about it, just relax, enjoy the ride and it’ll come.”

Alan is proof of the health benefits of cycling.

Another famous example was Frank Bowden, who was seriously ill in his 30’s and his doctor gave him six months to live. Bowden took up cycling on his doctor's advice and bought a bicycle from a shop on Raleigh Street, Nottingham. He was so impressed with his recovering health that in 1888 he acquired control of the Raleigh company and lived to the age of 73. Why not dust off your bike and give it a go? dcn.org.uk rileyscycles.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 90 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Body & Mind

SKIN SMART Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms

Check-ups

Your skin is the largest living organ of your body, defending you from UV and pollution, eliminating toxins and oils and stopping you from losing water and shrivelling like a prune. So, shouldn’t we give as much attention to our skin as we do to our hair and nails (which, by the way, are dead cells!)? For the same reason that doctor and dentist check-ups are necessary for better health, so are skincare treatments. A 45-minute skin treatment and review every couple of months with your professional skin therapist can turn your skin from dull and lacklustre to glowing and dewy.

Avoid comedogenic ingredients

Comedone is a fancy name for blackheads and, believe it or not, there are a few skincare ingredients that can actually cause blackheads. The worst offenders are D and C red dyes that give products and make-up their pink and red hues. If you have noticed blackheads along your cheek area or around the lips, check your blusher and lipstick. Another nasty is Isopropyl Myristate, a cheap ingredient used to give products a silky feel. The problem with this ingredient is that it creeps into the pores of the skin causing irritation and congestion. It’s also what often causes your compact mirror to fall out as it loosens the glue!

Go acid-balanced

No, this is not a new diet regime but rather an awareness that your skin is naturally acidic in order to keep you protected from the outside world and to maintain the

high levels of moisture that gives your skin a dewy glow.

In direct opposition to the skin’s PH are alkaline soaps and washes, which will strip the skin and leave it dry and itchy. Always opt for an acid-balanced cleanser which can be rinsed off with water for kind-to-skin cleansing.

ALWAYS wear sunscreen

Okay, I know you are bored of hearing therapists talk about the importance of sunscreen but it truly is the most critical skincare product choice in ensuring you have your best skin ever. Although UV may make you feel better as it warms your bones and brings beauty to nature, it also ages skin prematurely and causes uneven pigmentation. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 is a great everyday level but an SPF of 50 should be worn at least on the face in summer weather. Whichever product you choose, make sure you wear an SPF, every day, rain or shine – your skin will thank you for it.

Fragrance free

The number one skin-sensitiser is artificial fragrance. The skin sees it as an enemy and sets up a defence reaction which can lead to redness and inflammation at best - and hives and swelling at worst. It also can react with sunlight causing dark pigmentation as seen in many women who spray perfume on their neck. So, if you like your products to smell good, choose formulas with naturally fragrant botanicals that actually benefit your skin. thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

Body & Mind

WHAT TO WEAR Lindsay Punch, Stylist

T

he majority of us love the summer, however the thought of wearing fewer clothes can sometimes be paired with less confidence and it is a feeling many women dread as the days get hotter. Many of the 550 women who joined my January online programme, ‘How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe’, pleaded for a summer one, as they found dressing stylishly in the heat and ever-changing temperature a challenge. So, what is your biggest challenge when it comes to surviving summer dressing? Is it because you struggle to find shorts or cropped trousers that fit and flatter? Or you worry about “looking like mutton dressed as lamb” on the school run? Or you feel that you do not look smart in fewer clothes or natural fabrics?

These are common problems but the good news is they can easily be solved with a bit of patience and a touch of confidence. One of the most important things is to embrace the fact that all bodies are different and worthy of self-love and respect. Yes, it is a difficult step to take and society has led us to believe that we need to cover up our wobbly bits, but when you embrace and accept what you have you will stop worrying about what others think of you. I am not saying walk down Cheap Street in a crop top and hot pants, however you do not need to completely cover up! Sundresses, shorts and sleeveless tops are acceptable. Just know this: no-one is paying attention to your body. No-one at all!

When you are focused on being negative about your body, it is easy to think that everyone else is too. After all, if your milk bottle legs, curvy hips and the extra flesh on your upper arms are consuming your thoughts, you imagine other people must be checking them out too. The truth is, everyone else is focused on their own cellulite, un-shaved legs and varicose veins rather than assessing 92 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

the details of your body. Honestly, no-one cares! A little frank, but when you realise this it will remind you that people are not as focused on your body as you are. If you find it difficult to believe that other people are not judging the way you look, it may be that you have taken to judging other people yourself. If so, work really hard on replacing negative thoughts of others with positive ones. You will learn to apply the same positive focus to your own body and wardrobe choices.

If you feel exposed in the summer because you cannot hide behind winter layers or opaque tights, you probably do not own a summer wardrobe you enjoy wearing. If you find a few summer staples you truly love, you will look and feel amazing, so treat yourself to a few pieces!

When deciding on a summer style, choose an area you do not mind showing off. If you have great arms but do not like showing your legs, balance the covering up and wear a sleeveless maxi dress. Choose light fabrics like jersey or rayon in your favourite colour, as they can be just as cool and breezy as short dresses. High slits will provide ventilation without showing off too much leg.

Phase Eight is quite reliable for a maxi shape that has an open neckline and fits under the bust with a little twist which creates a defined waist without being clingy. Wrap midi-dresses and skirts are available from Warehouse in summery tropical prints and will not expose knickers if caught by a gust of wind. A denim jacket can be thrown over all of these to keep the chill off on cooler days, and if you are worried about the age-appropriateness of a denim jacket, go for a darker colour and a more fitted style. If you prefer to cover the tops of your arms, wear long-sleeved blouses or cut-out, crochet-like tops in breathable natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, or silk. Mango have launched a new linen range and Free

People offer an array of natural fabrics that are smart and structured, so it will not matter if it crumples a little. If you prefer something brighter and more colourful, kimono jackets from River Island return every year and provide coverage while keeping your overall look youthful.

Light layers such as long sleeveless cardigans or waistcoats look stylish over lightweight trousers, palazzo pants or shorts. They have the added benefit of covering the backs of legs if your bottom feels exposed in a denim short or you have lightly coloured, see-through trousers! Denim shorts are a great, casual summer staple but if the fabric is too heavy you can opt for an ultra-light, breezy chambray.

Choosing a colour palette will save you reaching for the black and will help you mix and match pieces to create more outfits with fewer clothes. If you prefer warmer colours, opt for a palette of cream, khaki, coral, mustard, lime and gold. If your love is for pastels, white, light grey, icy blue, baby pinks, lemon yellows and silver provide a fresh palette. If you are unsure if you are suited to cool or warm tones, a colour analysis is a great experience to help you feel confident and glowing in a rainbow of colours. (More details on this can be found on my website.)

If all of the above fails, go big on accessories!

Wearing ridiculously oversized or cat-eye sunglasses will ooze confidence and will have everyone thinking you own your look. Equally, sparkly sandals will draw attention away from everything else. Good accessories can make an outfit.

In a few months, we will be complaining about having to layer up in the cold, so let us embrace our summer bodies and not pass up the chance to wear a pretty dress. However, I know that taking the step to self-love is difficult, and body image issues are complicated and personal. My advice is to take small steps out of your comfort zone. This will lead you on a path to confidence so you can create a summer uniform with more comfort and confidence, regardless of shape, size or age!

To receive more information on Lindsay's June’s online programme, ‘How to Build a Summer Wardrobe’, please contact her via the links below. lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk info@lindsaypunchstyling.co.uk. facebook.com/lindsaypunchstyling

We are back with a set of Summer Masterclasses

Hayley Frances Thurlow Nutritional Therapist & Cook

Sarah Hickling & Dawn Hart Life & Business Coaches

Lindsay Punch Stylist & Image Consultant

Loretta Lupi - Lawrence Neal’s Yard Remedies Independent Consultant

SATURDAY 23RD JUNE SHERBORNE • What to feed your kids this summer • How to build a summer wardrobe • Making time for yourself • The lighter side to menopause

To book masterclasses: wonderwomensherborne.eventbright.co.uk For more info email: wonderwomensherborne@gmail.com Facebook.com/UKWonderWomen or call 07817 624081 One to one consultations available by request

We are Wonder Women - all of us!

Join us for laughs, great food and hacks for a simple, joyful lifestyle

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

Body & Mind

PREPARE TO RECOVER

M

Loretta Lupi-Lawrence, The Sherborne Rooms

y clients often ask me to help them prepare and manage big changes in their lives: menopause, ivf and fertility, and adoption specifically. I also get asked a lot for guidance pre- and post-operations. I myself am about to have a lifechanging operation in the next few months which is now placing a spotlight on my own advice. No matter what type of operation you are having, to help you with a seamless recovery the pre- and post-op steps are really important. Deconstruct the process to make this journey as organised as you can.

1 Research. Read up on how long your recovery is predicted to be: how long you may need bed rest; what kind of exercise is recommended post-op; when you can drive again; how long the totally recovery is. Knowing what to expect will make planning for support so much easier.

2 Plan post-op first as this will help you to stay calm in the run up to an operation. What support do you need? Hire a cook for two weeks post-recovery so feeding your family doesn’t become a stressful issue.

Do the same for your house and hire a cleaner - tidy house, tidy mind. Ask your friends and family to come and see you – it’s a good idea if they come separately so you feel fully supported every day. If you have a dog, find a dog walker so you know your pooch will be looked after. If you have children buy some activity packs that will engage them when you would normally be playing with them. Have enough reading material to engage your mind when you are on bed rest. If you are going to have scarring, make sure you have calendula cream to assist in healing and rosehip oil to reduce the size and redness of the scar.

3 What do you need for your hospital stay? Two clean outfits which should be comfortable and not figurehugging. Pyjamas. A cream cleanser that can be used without water – try Calendula cleanser which will keep your skin calm and hydrated at the same time.

A nourishing moisturiser that will feed the skin after the effects of anaesthetic (I highly recommend the Frankincense range from Neal’s Yard Remedies as the effects of frankincense are three-fold). Your shower bag.

Season dependant, a warm jumper or a cooling spray. A good, uplifting book. Pen and paper to write down your 94 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

thoughts – during a hospital stay your mind can start to re-evaluate and plan. Visitors – let those you love know that you want to see them; it’s often found that friends don’t want to intrude on a private time.

4 So now we come to pre-op. This is the most important part of all the steps to prep for an operation.

• Exercise. Whatever you love doing, get your exercise in – this will bring your body to a better place once you are in recovery.

• Tell your friends and family. Make a point of letting them know your operation date, what support they can give you (generally people feel great about helping) and how you are feeling about it.

• Fill your freezer. Cook things that can just be thawed out and heated up such as lasagne and sauces.

• Buy supplies. That way you know you won’t run out when you are in recovery and shopping doesn’t become an issue. Set up online shopping so if you do need anything it can be ordered and delivered to you.

• Organise your work life. This mustn’t be stressful whilst you are recovering or you may feel pressure to skip some recovery time to get back to work.

• Prepare your children or grandchildren so they know what to expect and how they can behave around you.

• If you need to, get some professional support for your mental health. Some operations need you to reassess your whole life and it’s a good idea to get on top of your state of mind.

My own operation is in July so I am planning a summer of recovery. Work will be pre-planned, my husband will be taking more time from work to look after our 3-yearold twins, I have hired a cleaner and a fabulous cook for two weeks until I can shuffle about and I have a stack of books that I would like to get through. I’m calling it my 2018 summer sabbatical! I am staying positive and making the most of my ‘down time’!

Free Facial Friday for June is on Friday, 8th - bookings essential and spaces limited. Sessions will begin again in September following Loretta’s sabbatical. She will be available as usual for Neal’s Yard Remedies orders on 07545 328447. thesherbornerooms.com

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hayley@hayleyfrancesnutrition.com - @HayleyFrancesNutrition

hayleyfrancesnutrition.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

Body & Mind

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Zoe Charlton, Personal Trainer, SPFit

A

s the weather gets brighter, providing us with some warmth, it’s natural to start thinking about holidays, forthcoming social events and summer bodies. For many it also means a fantastic time of year to get creative with health and fitness plans, as it opens up opportunities for outdoor training.

There are many examples of switching from indoor to outdoor training during the summer months: people leaving the treadmill behind to enjoy a run in the fresh air or abandoning their indoor bike to hit the roads and cycle paths whilst exploring the beautiful surroundings of our countryside. However, it does not have to be limited to cardiovascular and endurance training. For example, there is Bootcamp-style training where you can combine cardiovascular (CV) and weight training in a unique environment which is both challenging and fun.

Whilst training indoors has its practical benefits, training outside has many advantages for our health and fitness too. Who doesn’t feel happier when the sun is shining? Exercising outside on sunny days (with appropriate safety measures of course - sunscreen, hydration etc.) allows us to absorb Vitamin D, a commonly known treatment for depression and many mood disorders. Raising our heart rate circulates more oxygenated blood around our bodies and we release endorphins while we exercise. We all want to feel good!

Taking advantage of exercising outside often means trying new and varied exercises that provide you with a challenge and keep your mind and body inspired. New scenery gives your brain stimulation; we are all aware that training within the same walls can become dull. It also allows you to become more creative, using different equipment or reacting to varied terrain.

Outside boot camps are becoming increasingly popular for their fun and effective structure. They use compound 96 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

moves, working multiple muscle groups. At SPFit we love to utilise our outside space, providing Bootcamp HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)-style group training and programmes.

Bootcamps are designed to challenge every muscle in your body. They have short rest periods, meaning you keep moving, blitzing tons of calories whilst building strength, power, speed and co-ordination! It is so inspiring to many of our members to see both men and women flipping huge tractor tyres, battling with heavy duty ropes, slipping on a harness, and digging deep to drag tyres, boxing, doing grid sprints and much, much more! These sessions are full of team spirit, motivating, challenging, effective and fabulously fun.

Let’s take a closer look at the ‘Tyre Flip’. What exactly is involved and why do it? Firstly, it’s important to point out that these are heavy, unconventional pieces of equipment and exercising with them requires the correct form in order to complete the exercises safely and prevent injuries. Done correctly, tyre flipping provides massive muscle engagement and a huge sense of self-achievement. We start in a shoulder-width stance close to the tyre, hips back and down, core engaged and chest lifted to maintain a flat back. This is an explosive move, so you need to drive through with the strength and power of your legs as you extend your hips to get the tyre on its side. From this point you use your core and upper body strength to push it back to the ground.

Once you’ve got it, there’ll be no stopping you!

So, with the warmer months upon us, why don’t you challenge yourself to become more active outside, enjoy more walks, opt for a run or cycle, or even join some outside classes. Any of these activities will provide benefits to your health and fitness. spfit-sherborne.co.uk

"Leave the house confident in the colours and shapes that make you, you"

OPENING HOURS:

Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5pm Saturday 7.30am - 4pm Walk in, relax. No appointment necessary

Stockists of Men’s Hair & Beard Care Products Barbering team this month Henri, Sadie, Shawna, Tom, Helen & Fatima Colour Analysis, Shape & Style, Consultations, Wardrobe Re-styling, Personal Shopping, Online Shopping, Mens Styling, Bridal Packages, New Mum Styling, Colour & Style Parties, Skincare & Makeup Advice, Gift Vouchers Available 07969 557004 INFO@LINDSAYPUNCHSTYLING.CO.UK WWW.LINDSAYPUNCHSTYLING.CO.UK

Order your Neal’s Yard Remedies here

LONDON ROAD CLINIC Health Clinic • Acupuncture • Osteopathy • Counselling • Physiotherapy • EMDR Therapy • Shiatsu

• Podiatry and Chiropody • Manual Lymphatic Drainage • Soft Tissue Therapy, Sports & Remedial Massage Therapy • Hopi Ear Candle Therapy

Tel: 01963 251860

www.56londonroad.co.uk Email: info@56londonroad.co.uk 56 London Road, Milborne Port, Sherborne DT9 5DW Free Parking and Wheelchair access

8th June Free Facial Friday 30 minutes free mini facial, throughout the day 1pm - 2pm informal drop in session to join my NYRO team.

Come and find out what benefits are waiting for you!

All orders over £30 in June for Neal’s Yard Remedies receive a free gift!

Spaces limited Booking Essential for all events

07545 328447 email sherbornerooms@gmail.com or visit www.sherbornerooms.com

56 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3BJ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97

Body & Mind

SUCCESSFUL AGEING Craig Hardaker, Communifit

Image: Stuart Brill

T

he most obvious way to define age is chronologically: the number of years or months since birth. However, chronological age is an inadequate measure of age when you compare the functional ability of people in the same age group.

(Communifit delivers exercise to a 104-year-old who has the same functional ability as most 80-year-olds!)

Successful ageing refers to the ability to retain functional independence and psychological wellbeing into old age.

This is becoming even more important now due to a much longer life expectancy. So, what must we do to promote successful ageing?

There are many different aspects to successful ageing.

Good lifestyle choices such as eating a healthy balanced diet, not smoking and limiting alcohol intake are all 98 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

important. But exercise is also a key ingredient. With so many different types of exercise, and ever more options becoming available to us, it can be quite difficult and confusing to prioritise what would be most beneficial swimming, walking, pilates, yoga, tai chi and chi gong to name but a few! You may find some more enjoyable than others, but do you attend because it’s enjoyable or do you attend for the health benefits? Hopefully both.

One of the main negatives of the ageing process is muscle deterioration, a process called sarcopenia.

Unfortunately, this negatively affects our joint mobility, muscle flexibility, balance and overall functional independence. (Did you know the ageing process starts on average from 35 years of age!) Literally every activity we perform each day is strength-related. Without

Specialised Exercise Classes

muscle strength, we would struggle to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. Sarcopenia is also linked to osteoporosis, where our bones become brittle. With no resistance going through muscle tissue, there is also none going through bone or our joints. This not only makes our bones weaker but also decreases joint mobility and muscle flexibility.

Kyphosis (arching of the back) is a common result of sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Surgeon Peter Ward of dorset-hip-clinic.co.uk can help to explain the negatives of sarcopenia on our bodies, and in particular our bones: ‘As a hip and trauma surgeon I see an everincreasing number of patients who have had simple tumbles and falls arriving in hospital with hip fractures. A broken hip can be a life-changing event and, as with all health issues, prevention is always better than cure. Recovery from a broken hip is often painfully slow and rarely do people fully regain the independence and level of mobility they enjoyed before their accident. The rising number of these potentially devastating injuries is in part a reflection of our ageing population. Why we fall more as we age is due to a complex change in our sense of balance, our ability to react quickly and upon our muscle power and control. We believe that using muscles regularly and working on keeping strength and muscle mass not only helps to reduce the risk of a horrible fall but also may reduce the rate at which our bones lose strength and become more at risk of fracturing should such a fall occur. As a surgeon that replaces arthritic hips in patients of all ages, there is no doubt that those who have kept fitter, stronger and more active, both recover more quickly and benefit more fully from their new replacement joints.’

Exercise classes need to be fun, but they also need to be beneficial. Regular attendance at a strengthening exercise class will help to slow down the ageing process. Such attendance will strengthen muscles that will, in turn, improve functional independence and fall prevention.

45 minutes

Communifit have a range of classes suited for all abilities aged 50+. If you are unsure of what class to attend or would like further information, contact Craig who will be happy to advise.

Pay as you go

communifit.co.uk info@dorset-hip-clinic.co.uk

“I’m Craig Hardaker & have been working in the health & fitness industry for over 12 years.

I enjoy working with individuals, improving their physical condition to help with everyday activities no matter how big or small.”

45 minutes

45 minutes

30 minutes

communifit

Sit & Strengthen

£4

Stand & Strengthen

£4

Don’t Lose It, Move It!

£4

Golf Strength Conditioning

£4

A chair-based exercise class aiming to increase your strength, flexibility, joint mobility, balance & functional independence - all while having fun!

Wednesday 2pm at the West End Hall Friday 12.15pm at Tinneys Lane Youth Club

Same objectives as sit & strengthen, but you are standing! Targets all major muscle groups. You must be able to stand for the whole duration.

Wednesday 3.15pm at the West End Hall Friday 1.30pm at Tinneys Lane Youth Club

An active circuit-based class improving muscle strength, aerobic fitness & core stability. Be proactive, not reactive, towards your health & fitness! Suitable for all ages.

Wednesday 4.15pm at the West End Hall Friday 2.30pm at Tinneys Lane Youth Club

Dynamic strength conditioning, using resistance to strengthen both upper & lower body, and your core. Improve both your golf and everyday strength.

At Folke Golf Centre, contact for more details Booking not required. For more information call 07791 308 773 or email info@communifit.co.uk

communi_fit

communifit.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99

Body & Mind

SHIATSU THERAPY Marco Cavallaro, The London Road Clinic

This summer embrace an active and happy lifestyle with shiatsu therapy. Here’s how.

O

fficially, spring begins in the West on March 21st, the Spring Equinox. In contrast the Chinese celebrate its beginning at Chinese New Year, when the light is returning and the early signs of new growth begin. This year in the UK we had to wait a little bit longer, but spring did arrive and not a moment too soon. Along with the blossom and bluebells our bodies begin to wake from their winter slumber; if only it felt like we did it with as much beauty and vigour as they!

The cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down but our fast-paced society means few of us may get that luxury. There is just always something to do.

Winter is Yin in nature; it is inactive, cold and damp, and therefore an indoor and more sedentary wintertime can leave us feeling physically stiff, frustrated and prone to muscle aches, migraines, injury, IBS and depression.

When cloudless sunny skies tempt us back out of doors in spring, we may find the lethargy of the winter months hard to shift. Those of us fortunate enough to wake with more enthusiasm may find ourselves quick to injure as we spring back into action with stiff and aching muscles.

Shiatsu, at this time of year, treats some specific areas of the body to support the wood element (which is the spring element in Chinese culture), and to regain balance 100 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

in the body. The wood element is strongly linked to muscle function and tendon elasticity and when they are depleted stiffness and muscle aches occur. Shiatsu therapy uses deep tissue massage and gentle structural realignment to leave the body feeling physically balanced and revitalised, ready to “spring” forward into the new season. It also works along the same principles as acupuncture, using finger pressure to gently rebalance and bringing spring energy to the mind: that of new beginnings and a fresh start.

During a shiatsu therapy treatment, you can expect to be fully clothed, either lying on a futon or massage table or seated on a chair. A range of body work techniques are used to treat physical ailments such as injury, sciatica or repetitive strain injury, for example, deep tissue massage, stretches and gentle structural manipulation.

For stress, depression and anxiety-related ailments gentle techniques are used to facilitate the flow of blood and energy through the body.

To find out more about how shiatsu therapy can help you to fully enjoy the coming season of new life and energy contact The London Road Clinic in Milborne Port.

56londonroad.co.uk

Wincanton’s award winning dental practice are proud to launch their latest medical aesthetic treatment PLEXR. This treatment can provide skin tightening, wrinkle reduction, non-surgical blepharoplasty (removal of saggy eyelids), skin tag removal, wart removal and much more.

Other medical aesthetic treatments on offer: Botox, Filler & Dermaroller.

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www.churchstreetdentalcentre.com @churchstreetdentalcentrewincantonÂ

Body & Mind

DEMENTIA

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

D

Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom, GP and Complementary Practitioner, Glencairn House

ementia is becoming ever more prevalent; we all fear the loss of memory and general faculties that it causes. It is worth considering ways that can help prevent the onset of this unfortunate disease.

In both varieties of dementia, Alzheimer’s and multiinfarct, the gradual decline of mental function and memory is frightening for the sufferer and distressing for the loved ones. Risk factors such as smoking and excess alcohol intake should be tackled. Strict control of high blood pressure and diabetes is important. Research into other ways to help prevent or slow its onset is looking promising.

Studies have shown that diet can reduce both risk and progression of dementia. Foods containing antioxidants, especially Vitamin E but also Vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids, have been shown to slow the loss of brain nerve cells as well as reducing the oxidation and inflammatory damage of brain tissue. A dietary intake of green leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach, tomatoes, almonds and hazelnuts will contain all the antioxidants you need. If you think your diet is not sufficient you could supplement it with a standard multi-mineral/multi-vitamin from your local chemist or health food shop.

Studies have also shown that oily fish and omega-3 fatty acids, especially those containing DHA, are protective against Alzheimer’s and mental decline. A recent trial has shown that one fish meal per week is associated with a 60% reduction in risk of cognitive decline. It is also important to go easy on the dairy products as a high saturated fat intake increases the risk of dementia; monounsaturated oils in avocado, extra-virgin olive oil and nuts are protective against furring-up of the arteries.

102 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Yet further studies have shown Vitamin B complex supplementation helps preserve brain function in the longterm. Higher levels of homocysteine have been found in patients with Alzheimer’s and vitamin B complex reduces these levels. Vitamin B12 can be found in fish, shellfish, meat (especially liver), eggs and milk products.

The herbal medicine Ginkgo boosts circulation and reduces inflammation and there are studies that demonstrate improved brain cognitive function due to these properties. The new kid on the block is Curcumin, derived from the Indian spice turmeric which has antiinflammatory properties.

Besides these nutritional approaches to dementia prevention, studies have shown that regular exercise and physical activity reduces impaired memory.

Exercise may also help relieve depression in patients with dementia. Intellectual stimulation may also help protect against dementia.

In summary, it is important to view dementia and memory problems holistically. My recommendations are: • A healthy diet, to ensure that you are getting all the vitamins, fats and minerals listed above.

• Ginkgo should be tried over a 3-month period to see if it has any benefits.

• Exercise regularly (30-minute walk, 5 times a week).

• Get a brain ‘work-out’ with Sudoku, a game of chess or the Times crossword!

Hopefully this holistic approach will help delay the onset of this sad condition. doctorTWRobinson.com

INVITATION Join us for a friendly chat at our OPEN DAYS

Thursday 28th & Friday 29th June 10am-4pm Meet the hearing experts, enjoy refreshments and trial the latest in hearing technology with Moxi All R Please RSVP to e: sb@girlinghearingaids.co.uk

Call us for a free consultation on 01935 815647 Girlings Complete Hearing Service | 4 Swan Yard | Sherborne DT9 3AX

www.girlinghearingaids.co.uk

@girlingshearing

Brister&Son Independent Family Funeral Directors

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

A J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons - 24 Hour Service -

www.ajwakely.com

16 Newland, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3JQ Tel: 01935 816817 Please contact Clive Wakely or a member of the dedicated team for any advice or guidance 104 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

The Old Vicarage Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6HL

01935 873033

care@tovic.com

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

@elizabethwatsonillustrations 106 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Over Compton Attractive modern family home, two reception rooms, sun room, kitchen with appliances, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, garage and parking, enclosed garden.

Lettings & Property Management

Independent Letting Agent representing town and country property throughout Somerset and Dorset

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T: 01935 816209 E: info@stockwoodlettings.co.uk

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 107

Property

SO, HOW IS THE PROPERTY MARKET? REALLY?

A

Paul Gammage & Anita Light, Ewemove Sherborne

question, not surprisingly, that we get asked all the time. As in all professions you never want to be overly negative and of course you don’t want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

However, you do need to be realistic and, when a client or potential client asks the question, we like to be honest and transparent and tell it how it really is.

I recently read a very interesting article by the well-respected Peter Knight of The Property Academy. The article highlights the debate in the industry about how many properties that come to the market actually sell, that is legally complete. Whilst there is no empirical data to give a specific percentage, various surveys, research and industry feedback put the answer at broadly 50%. What does that say about the effectiveness of estate agents? Is it all down to the political and economic climate? I would suggest a mixture of the two. What isn’t in dispute is the primary causes for not achieving a sale.

Overpricing of the property

The NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) has recently reported that a record 9 out of 10 properties are achieving less than the marketed price. I believe that most people have a very good view of what their home is worth. If an agent gives you an overly optimistic valuation, please ask to see the data behind the valuation and examples of comparable homes they have sold. Motivated buyers have ready access to the same data as estate agents so overpricing a home doesn’t do anybody any favours.

The condition of the property

It really does pay off to invest some time and effort in presenting your home - not just for viewings but for the initial marketing of the home. Professional photography will show your home at its best and really make it stand out when people are viewing that online page of 10 search results on the portals. And when that leads to an enquiry and subsequent viewing, you really don’t want them to start getting negative thoughts as they pull up to the kerb and walk to the front door. Kerb appeal is a cliché but it is said for a reason.

Change of mind or circumstance

It is widely reported that approximately 33% of sales fall though, hardly surprising when the average time between Sale Agreed and Exchange of Contracts is reported as being between 14 and 16 weeks. Whilst there will be some circumstances that just cannot be avoided, there are a lot of circumstances that can be if they are managed with a proactive approach. Discuss measures with your estate agent such as signing up with a ‘no sale no fee’ conveyancer at the point of marketing and not waiting until the sale is agreed. Look at paying for the searches in advance and transferring the cost. Ensure your agent provides weekly updates and provides anticipated key milestone dates so you really know and understand where you are in the process.

I hope the above does not come over as all doom and gloom. In short, there are motivated buyers out there but, in order to maximise your chances of achieving a sale at the optimum price and in the time-frame you desire with the least amount of stress, you need to talk to a proactive agent. ewemove.com/estate-agents/sherborne

108 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

F I N D O U T W H AT YO U R H O M E IS WORTH Use Our FREE Instant Online Valuation Tool If you’re thinking of selling your home our Hometrack valuation report is a great starting point to find out what your home might be worth or what you could rent it out for.

It’s free and available on our website - they’re used by 16 of the top 20 UK lenders!

This report normally costs £19.95 and includes ALL recent house sales near you.

Get your FREE online valuation report at: www.EweMove.com/Sherborne Or Call 24/7: 01935 350 350 EweMove respects any existing sole agency agreement already in place with another agent.

Property

MARKET INSIGHT Simon Barker, Partner, Knight Frank

A

ccording to our data, property prices in Dorset and South Somerset rose by 1.6% between January and March 2018 and have climbed 3.5% over the last 12 months. Price growth has eased slightly over the past two years, in line with a wider trend seen across the UK. Prime markets, in particular, have had to adjust to higher rates of stamp duty as well as political uncertainty. However, while this may be the case, our figures suggest that underlying demand remains robust. The figures show year-on-year increases in the number of new prospective buyers, property viewings and transactions over the 12 months to March.

110 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

A number of our buyers are moving from London or from further afield and buying homes in the countryside and villages in Dorset and South Somerset. In fact, 57% of our sales since 2016 have been to buyers from outside of the South West region. The most challenging aspect of the market has been – and continues to be – a relative shortage of new property being offered for sale in the most popular towns and villages. In the last few weeks, however, we have seen an increase in new listings, which should help underpin activity in 2018. knightfrank.com

Meet

your local experts

Your local property team at Knight Frank Sherborne will ensure a fresh, forward thinking service, grounded in local knowledge and true market expertise.

Our long-standing relationships with clients show our dedication to providing the best service possible. Let us sell your property, so you can get back to what you love, sooner.

Luke Pender-Cudlip MRICS Partner, Office Head With over 30 years of property experience plus a chartered surveyor’s credentials, Luke’s experience is extensive.

He has been involved in property of all shapes and sizes from £400,000 to £20 million. His client base has also been varied having dealt with those in finance, food, modelling, recruitment, sport, government and many more from all corners of the world.

Simon Barker MRICS Partner Simon has been selling country houses from the Sherborne office since 1995. He mainly concentrates on the sale of properties up to £1,250,000. He has also assisted with a number of sales over this price point, since joining Knight Frank.

For property advice or a no-obligation market appraisal of your home, please call our team.

We’d love to help you.

T: 01935 590023 sherborne@knightfrank.com 15 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3PU

Sherborne Town Centre Restaurant Available to Lease

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A huge warm welcome to Meg Cleal, who joins our award-winning team here at Meyers Lettings Our values here at Meyers are simple, and they are entwined within every aspect of the business:

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Tel: 01935 814946 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 113

Property

GDPR: WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN? Emily Eccles, Associate, Corporate Commercial at Mogers Drewett

A

fter much publicity, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), became enforceable in all EU member states, including the UK, on the 25th May 2018. But what does it really mean for businesses?

Does it affect my company?

GDPR applies to any business that processes personal data, regardless of size, and includes businesses that outsource the processing of personal data to a third party.

What is ‘personal data’?

Personal data is classed as any information, automated or manually obtained, relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified, such as names, addresses, location data and more.

Check your procedures

• To be informed • To access their data • To have their data rectified or erased • To restrict the processing of their data • To have their data transferred You should check your procedures to (a) ensure they comply with these enhanced individual rights and (b) detect, report and investigate any data breaches, subsequently making any changes that are needed.

Training for those involved in any data processing within your business is essential to ensure compliance.

Appoint Data Protection Officers

So, what steps should your business have taken to comply with GDPR?

Ensure that decision-makers and key individuals are aware of GDPR. You should consider appointing someone who has the knowledge, support and authority to take responsibility for your businesses data protection.

Carry out a ‘data audit’

Review consent

You need to understand what personal data you collect, use, share and process and, most importantly, the reasons for processing that data. This includes any information that may be processed about employees and consultants within your business.

It is important to review how this is obtained, recorded and managed and whether any changes need to be made to your processes. Consent must be positively given by opting in and any existing consents that don’t meet the required GDPR standard will need to be updated.

Communicate privacy information

How can we help?

Under the GDPR there is additional information you must pass on to individuals so they understand how their personal data is collected, used, shared, retained and erased. This should be contained in a privacy notice.

It’s important to review any current privacy notices to ensure the correct information is being provided in a concise, easy to understand way.

For more information or guidance on the GDPR requirements, including a review of your current data protection documents, terms and conditions and contracts between data controllers and processers, please contact the Mogers Drewett corporate commercial team who will be happy to assist you.

114 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

mogersdrewett.com/for-business/company-commercial/

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At your side.

At your side.

On your GDPR On your GDPR journey. journey.

25 25 May May

Legal expertise.

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Here for you, when you need Here for you, when you needus. us.

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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

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116 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Finance

BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE

Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.) CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning

“To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What’s needed is a sound intellectual framework for making decisions and the ability to keep emotions from corroding that framework.”

T

hese words were spoken by Warren Buffett, probably the world’s most successful investor.

In earlier articles we have been looking at the key components to a successful investment strategy, the basis of the sound intellectual framework that Warren Buffett refers to. Starting with the importance of developing an individual financial plan (identifying the life that you want to live in the future) we then looked at the most crucial decision of all, asset allocation. Next we looked at the importance of maintaining discipline by regular rebalancing as well as the importance of reducing costs when investing. In this article we now turn to the importance of keeping emotions from corroding that framework.

Most investors understand the importance of remaining disciplined at times of heightened uncertainty.

Very few, however, succeed in staying calm in turbulent markets. Indeed, many end up taking exactly the wrong course of action.

“The investor’s chief problem – and even his worst enemy – is likely to be himself ” (Benjamin Graham).

Perhaps the biggest danger is that of short-term thinking. All the available evidence tells us that there are more buyers in the stock market when share prices are rising. In a way this is an irrational view. What other product would see increased demand when prices go up!

Sadly, the evidence also tells us that when stock markets

are falling there are more sellers than buyers. Focusing on the long-term goal and recognising that there will always be periods of poor investment performance (which can’t be predicted in advance, except by chance) is likely to significantly increase your chances of success.

Most investors would never consider consulting a fortune-teller when making investment decisions. Yet many individuals listen to well-qualified economists expressing opinions on the TV or in the money pages of the newspapers. They can’t predict the future either but they often encourage us to change our plans for all the wrong reasons.

One of the roles of a real financial planner is to prevent investors from making mistakes. Research from Vanguard indicates that a real financial planner can add, on average, 1.5% per annum to an investor’s return by preventing them from making mistakes.

The last word should, I believe, come from Charles D Ellis in his excellent book Winning the Losers Game.

“The hardest work in investing is not intellectual, it’s emotional. Being rational in an emotional environment is not easy. The hardest work is not figuring out the optimal investment policy; it’s sustaining a long-term focus at market highs or market lows and staying committed to a sound investment policy.” ffp.org.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 117

Tech

A

long time ago, in a land far, far away… my father came to visit me at college in Portsmouth and we went to look at the newest technology on the high street: the “Compact Disc”. Many years before he had gone with his father to look at electronic gramophones playing records at 33⅓ rpm… how time marches on.

What relevance does this have I hear you ask? Well, that newest bit of tech has lasted no more than 40 years.

The advent of internet download and streaming has just about killed it off. New PCs and laptops rarely have a built-in CD player any more, as even the install programs for computers are all downloadable today.

The same can be said for DVDs. You don’t need to buy the latest movie on DVD any more, you just rent it and stream it from Netflix or Amazon. As for storing your photos on disc to show the family at the weekend… just email them or share them on Facebook.

The USB port on your computer has been a good friend for years with USB1 and USB2 (10x faster).

However, USB3 (100x faster) is obsolete before we’ve started realising its benefits. Designed for connecting keyboards, mouses, printers, scanners, cameras etc., all of these devices now connect by Wi-fi or Bluetooth.

What about your external hard disk and memory stick?

On-line storage and back-up are now replacing these peripheral systems. Even cameras now come with builtin storage that simply connects to your wi-fi and uploads automatically to cloud storage and social media.

So where does this leave us? The good old PC was 118 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

originally made the width it was so it could incorporate the 5¼” CD drive. With this limitation removed we now see an increasing number of small form factor (SFF) computers, less than half the width of their predecessors.

Then take away the old floppy disk drive and the card reader, add the energy efficient processor and a smaller power supply needed since there is so much less to power, and you end up with a much more manageable package. Is it cheaper? Not really; computer prices have remained pretty static as the manufacturers have simply replaced all this with more memory and processing power. The same is true of laptops, which are now smaller and thinner but not much cheaper.

However, nothing much changes today or tomorrow as this is progressive; you’ll only really notice the difference when you buy a new PC or laptop, and then you’ll just have to adapt your workings to suit the new technology.

Occasionally, really old peripherals will need to be replaced as they simply won’t work with your newer equipment, but normally there is enough overlap between the old and the new to prevent this. “Progress?”, I hear you ask. Mostly, but not always!

As ever, if you need help with this or anything else, you know where to come.

Coming up next month Phone line, broadband and 4/5G internet. computing-mp.co.uk

Live for today and plan for the future

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YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Celebrating the Arts Saturday 23 June 2018 11.00 am–4.00 pm

Covering South Somerset & North Dorset

Digby Hall, Sherborne DT9 3AA Talks • demos • art activities • café • mini tea dance • art exhibitions Full programme from: 01935 815899 www.sherborneartslink.org.uk

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 121

FOLK TALES with Colin Lambert

RICHARD BAKER: BEESNESS AS USUAL

A

s a child I believed storks delivered babies. I now know that Queen bees are delivered by Royal Mail. Please be patient.

Yeatman Hospital, August 1952. Richard arrives into a world of family farmers and butchers. He will become the fifth generation of Parsons Butchers in Sherborne, producers of the famous, secret recipe ‘Sherborne Sausage’. We meet at the home he shares with Gill, partner of 14 years.

Earl Grey tea and biscuits are served as I listen to Richard’s story.

“As with many old established businesses, there was a huge expectation that the children would ‘carry on the tradition’. My dream of university ended on my 16th birthday. My present - the bicycle opposite. I really did have an amazing time though, delivering meat for miles around, rain or shine, on my trusty old bike. Dad was a great teacher and mentor and the staff respected me as one of them. I scrubbed floors, learned the trade and did my job.”

“Boss in your 20’s?” I enquire.

“Almost. With a fully working slaughterhouse behind the shop, runs to Yeovil Market, animals to buy and orders to deliver, I was more part of a working team than the boss.”

“Your 30’s and 40’s?”

“I was married by thirty. Two boys, now flown the nest. I played cricket for Sherborne - I’ve always loved cricket from my early days at Sherborne Prep. I took up sailing, bought a ‘Flying Dutchman’, entered the Olympic trials and came last, but I had a ball.”

“All balls have to end,” I say.

122 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

“Yes. On February 11th, 1985 a cow, known only as No. 133, died. It had BSE (Mad Cow Disease as it became known). Our turnover fell by 50% overnight.

By 1990 Yeovil Market and our slaughterhouse had closed. Sherborne had eight butchers in 1980; we’re the only survivor, and proud of that fact. We lived above the shop, all pulled together but, as you say, ‘all balls have to end’ and divorce came next. The boys were still at school but after the usual ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ they came back to Cheap Street.”

“Tell me more about the business,” I suggest.

“BSE really changed the way we practise. Cows over thirty months’ old can’t be used for meat. Logistics is an important aspect of our work.

Andrew, Russel and Craig run the shop with our new apprentice, Luke.

A day’s work could include collecting beef from Bridport, lamb and pork from Bridgehampton and Shaftsbury. We only buy free range, quality livestock; it may not be called organic but it’s the best. Our secret recipe sausages are made on-site. All our beef is hung for two weeks during which time it loses 10% of its weight but it adds much more to the taste and tenderness. I have a great team and it’s very much business as usual. No plans to hang up the bicycle clips yet.”

“I see you’re limping Richard, an old cricket injury?”

“Cricket, sailing and the rest. One knee replaced last year and the second two weeks ago. I’m impatient to get back on my feet. We purchased a Nicholson 39 yacht a few years back and she’s in Denmark patiently waiting for me to get back on my bike.”

“Your old bike looks good; do you still cycle?”

Image: Katharine Davies

“Yes, I love it - not fast enough for the Digby Tap Wednesday lot, but I’ll happily do 20 miles or more.”

The heavens open and hailstones bounce across the lawn. I notice two structures that look remarkably hive-like.

“Bees, wow. My PhD daughter Emily told me that, globally, there are more honey bees than any other pollinating insects, so they’re the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It’s estimated that one third of the food we consume each day relies on pollination by bees. She runs a business making ‘seedballs’ to attract bees.”

“Yes, we’re bee-keepers. We have two hives, winter around 2,000 in each and up to 50,000 in the summer.

And yes, preservation of bees is vital to the planet.”

“50,000. Poor Queen, she must get worn out.”

“You’re right, the Queen can only produce eggs for 3-4 years and then she’s done.” Richard claps his hands together, indicating the retiring Queen’s demise.

“Ok, so storks deliver babies but who delivers

Queen bees?”

“Royal Mail” beams Gill, handing me a small plastic box with gates and compartments. Gill continues, “The bees’ temperament is governed by the Queen, so to have a good-natured colony it’s necessary to re-queen the hive periodically. The new Queen arrives by post. We put a few drones into the next compartment, letting them get angry wishing to save the old Queen. After a few days they decide the new Queen could be fun and it’s ‘beesness’ as usual.”

“Amazing,” I say, noticing I’ve just eaten my fourth choccy biscuit.

Thank you so much Richard for sharing your folk tales with us. Thanks to Gill for the bee-keeping lesson and to both of you for helping save an endangered species so vital to our future.

Have a great June. Sheila and I are building a greenhouse. colinlambert.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 123

Short Story

THE NOVEL WAITS FOR NO WRITER Jenny Campbell, Sherborne Scribblers “It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you are ready.

I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now.” (Hugh Laurie, Time Out, New York, 2012)

A

famous American author, whose name I have long forgotten, had been invited to talk to a group of creative writing students in New York.

He began by asking how many of them wanted to write a novel, and about half of the people in the room put up their hand. ‘Then, goddamit, why aren’t you at home writing it instead of sitting here?’ he thundered.

Probably because they did not feel they were ready to write it. The younger ones may have felt that they did not have sufficient experience of the world to produce anything worthwhile. Others in the audience may never have moved out of their immediate neighbourhood where nothing exciting ever happened and, therefore, a novel was out of the question since they had nothing interesting to write about. Well, all I can say to that is: Catherine Cookson didn’t do so badly, nor did the Scottish novelist Margaret Thomson Davis, author of over two hundred short stories and forty novels, two of which were adapted for the stage. Born in Bathgate but raised in Glasgow from the age of three, her first novel, The Bread Makers, was a best-seller, proving that while not everyone wanted to read about a working-class Glasgow family during the Depression and Second World War, there were plenty who did. Typically, when an ecstatic Margaret rushed home to tell her own working-class family about her first big publishing success, they merely looked up and said, ‘Oh, aye? That’s nice, hen’.

Often, you hear people say that they are going to write a book ‘when the children leave home,’ ‘when I retire,’ ‘when I can find that special place to write in, with no distractions’. And I am certainly with them on that last one. So many times in the past, when the simple demands of everyday life left little opportunity to sit down and write, undisturbed, I yearned for such a place: a Mediterranean island retreat, maybe, a luxurious

124 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

room of my own in a five-star Glasgow hotel like that other great Scottish writer, William McIlvanney, or, at the very least, a room in our house where I could just shut the door at ten in the morning and not emerge until dinnertime having written my statutory thousand words for the day. Jim, of course, would have cooked the dinner, be ready and waiting with my pre-prandial G&T, fielded all the phone calls and turned away unwanted callers. But, whoops! No. That was my role, wasn’t it?

One person I really take my hat off to is JK Rowling.

How, in the name of the Great Gatsby, did she ever manage to write in that Edinburgh café with people coming in and out all the time and a coffee machine hissing away? It would have driven me crazy. Give me the wild Cornish retreat of John le Carré, Hardy’s cottage or, at a pinch, Roald Dahl’s garden shed, any day.

Another reason so many of us keep putting off that happy day when we can finally sit down at our desks - or wherever - to write our novel is that, like those students in New York, it’s so much easier to listen to a famous author telling us how to do it than to our own insistent voice. Granted, just as one would not expect someone to pick up a violin and start playing like Yehudi Menuhin without a few lessons, the would-be novelist has first to study the art and craft of writing fiction. The trick, I suppose, is knowing when to stop.

I have only just begun seriously to write the novel that has been at the back of my mind for years. Since my name is not Mary Wesley, and mainstream publishers these days only seem to be interested in writers under the age of thirty-five with plenty of money-making mileage in them, my chances of ever seeing my novel in Waterstones are slim. Now, however, it is the writing process itself which gives me the greatest pleasure, and for that I am always ready.

There is an old Hebrew saying which reminds us that the serious novelist must sometimes forget about the guilt trip, go out on a limb, shut the door and tell the kids to make their own tea, before inspiration dries up: If I am not for me, then who is for me? And if not now, when?

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Literature

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

Stephen Moss has written over 20 natural history books, including bestselling titles on birds and British wildlife. He writes a monthly Birdwatch column for the Guardian, frequent articles for BBC Wildlife and Birdwatch magazines, and presents a primetime BBC Radio 4 series on birdsong. Stephen is a former producer at the BBC Natural History Unit. Here Stephen kindly shares with us with an exclusive extract from his latest, fascinating book.

126 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

Mrs Moreau’s Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names

by Stephen Moss (Faber Guardian, £16.99 Hardback)

S

Exclusive Sherborne Times Reader Offer of £15.99 from Winstone’s Books.

wallow and starling, puffin and peregrine, blue tit and blackcap. We use these names so often that few of us ever pause to wonder about their origins. What do they mean? Where did they come from? And who originally created them?

Sometimes it’s easy to assume that we know what a bird’s name means, and often that assumption is quite correct. Treecreepers creep around trees, whitethroats have a white throat, and cuckoos do indeed call out their name.

The origin of other names can seem obvious, but may not be quite as straightforward as first appears. Even the simplest of English bird names, ‘blackbird’, turns out to be more complicated than you might imagine. There is also a whole range of folk names, from ‘scribble lark’ to ‘sea swallow’ and ‘flop wing’ to ‘furze wren’ (yellowhammer, common tern, lapwing and Dartford warbler), each of which has its own tale to tell about our language, history and culture.

Another pressing question is, when were birds given their names? Broadly speaking, it is reasonable to assume that most common and familiar birds were named a long time ago, by ordinary people – hence the term ‘folk’ names – while scarce and unfamiliar birds were named much more recently, by professional ornithologists.

Another general rule is that most early names were based on some obvious feature of the bird itself: its sound, colour or pattern, shape or size, habits or behaviour. Some of our longest-standing names reflect this, such as cuckoo and chiffchaff, blackcap and whitethroat, woodpecker and great tit.

Once the professionals got involved, from the seventeenth century onwards, names began to be based on more arcane aspects of birds’ lives, such as where they live or the locality where they were found. These include habitat-based names such as reed, sedge and willow warblers, along with placebased names such as Dartford warbler and Manx shearwater.

The final category of bird names – most of which also originated fairly recently, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries – is in many ways the most beguiling. These are the species called after people, such as Montagu’s harrier, Bewick’s swan, Cetti’s warbler and Leach’s petrel.

So what of the future? As we shall see in the final chapter of this book, a radical change in the way scientists classify species is already leading to an explosion in new names, even as the birds themselves are threatened with extinction. Yet despite the pressures of globalisation, and the resulting homogenisation of the English language, most bird names are still proving remarkably resistant to change.

So next time you hear the croaking call of the raven, remember that the name we use for this huge and fearsome corvid is not all that different from what our prehistoric ancestors might have called it, as they stared up into a cold, grey sky and watched these huge black birds passing overhead.

For me, that revelation is, in equal measure, both astonishing and comforting. stephenmoss.tv

Elly Griffiths

'Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016’ 8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128

Sunday Times Bestselling Author Tuesday 19th June 7-8pm Cheap Street Church

Alison Weir

Historian & Novelist Thursday 28th June 7-8.30pm Cheap Street Church Tickets £3, available in store

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MAY SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Unorthodox religion or sect (4) 3. Having a striking beauty (8) 9. Art of clipping shrubs decoratively (7) 10. Lift with effort (5) 11. Shrub; eye colour (5) 12. Took small bites out of (7) 13. Optical phenomenon (6) 15. State of matter (6) 17. Moves up and down repeatedly (7) 18. Special reward (5) 20. Covered with water (5) 21. Clique (7) 22. Discouraged from doing (8) 23. Mineral sources (4) 128 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

DOWN 1. Reach the required standard (3,3,7) 2. City in Bolivia (2,3) 4. Putting down carefully (6) 5. Restore to good condition (12) 6. Prophets (7) 7. Loyalty in the face of trouble (13) 8. Someone skilled in penmanship (12) 14. Bring a law into effect again (2-5) 16. Soul; spirit (6) 19. Mistake (5)

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

M

Reverend Jono Tregale, St Paul’s Church

y mother has just moved into an apartment in a sheltered housing complex. It’s a wonderful place. It’s well looked after, the grounds are beautiful and the staff are all warm and friendly and obviously deeply caring. But, after almost forty-five years of living in the family home, it’s quite a change for her. Working out what she could take with her was quite a challenge – distilling the contents of a five-bedroomed house to fit into a twobedroomed apartment. And with forty-five years of “stuff ”, working out what was important or valued, and what was just rubbish (let’s not beat about the bush) wasn’t easy. But she’s there now and seems very happy.

It made me think though about all the stuff we carry around with us, accumulated perhaps over many years. What does it all mean to us? Is it valued or is it rubbish? Do we still need it?

In sorting through the old house, we came across all manner of interesting things, especially things which had belonged to my father who died almost ten years ago and which had probably not seen the light of day for decades: his papers from his time as a young soldier sent off to war in the 1940s, his teaching certificate (he’d re-trained as a teacher after being de-mobbed as a squaddie – Lance-Corporal to Head-teacher in ten years), and all sorts of technical gadgets from the 1950s (we have no idea what they’re for). This has given us a fascinating insight into his life, about which he spoke little, and these are the things we have kept. These are things we value as a family. These are the things which are important.

Perhaps we shouldn’t need to wait for a house move or some other major life event to decide what it is valued and what is important, because the answer to these questions will surely help us to prioritise how we spend our time, energy and money. Could it be helpful to take time out and think about such things? Key moments in our lives. Lessons learned over the years.

Pictures, letters, certificates of achievements. Memories, both joyful and those filled with sadness and regret. Practically, sorting through all the stuff stashed away in the loft or garage could be a first step in this – a physical decluttering leading to a more mental, emotional, even spiritual decluttering. What is important? What is valued? And what is just rubbish?

In the Bible, St. Paul, writer of much of what we call the New Testament, faced much hardship. He knew physical deprivation and opposition to his work, despite in earlier times being considered wealthy and successful. He had plenty of opportunity to reflect on life as he sat imprisoned on many occasions. And so he came to write these words, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” St. Paul had decided what was important to him, what he valued most. What will it be for you? stpauls-sherborne.org.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 129

OUT AND ABOUT David Birley

S

herborne is one of the nicest places to be, whatever the weather - and we have certainly seen some strange weather this year, with snow in April as well as some very hot days. We are fortunate to be surrounded by pretty countryside and charming, picturesque villages but one of the main glories of Dorset is its undulating landscape. There are no mountains or deep valleys, just gentle folds of hills and dales with, at this time of year, lovely bright green pastures.

In Sherborne we are lucky to have many keen gardeners. Of course, the gardens are tucked away out of sight behind the houses but a walk on any of our streets will reveal well-kept front gardens and window boxes which hint at what lies behind.

Cheap Street is one of the prettiest streets for many miles around and its hanging baskets enhance its charm. You may have noticed that we have a new type of hanging basket which needs less watering and maintenance, and which ensures the colourful displays last longer. I’m sure we are all very grateful to the Sherborne in Bloom team for their hard work.

It is nice to report that Sherborne itself is blooming; by that I mean we have new shops and enterprises opening up. I particularly enjoy Just Bears with its imaginative window displays and I know it will become a firm favourite with my granddaughter. The newly refurbished Plume of Feathers has rapidly gained a strong following. I am also glad to see Partners in Design take on what used to be Quba at the top of Cheap Street, and excited to hear stirrings in the former Chocolate Musketeer and also the old Dodge Interiors.

Don’t forget that 16th June is our Sherborne Summer Festival day. It will take place in Purlieu Meadow from 12pm to 10pm and will be a great family day out, with a bouncy castle and lots of fun for the young. You will also be able to try your hand at archery and fly-fishing. This year’s raffle has some really good prizes so be sure to buy lots of tickets! Taff Martin of Abbey 104 has lined up some great bands. As well as our primary school choirs and great local talent such as Jorden Lindsay, there is the exciting Stevie & the Masquerades, The Jamie Turner Band, Livewired, Bad Edukation, Electric Temple, Ollie Back & Sam on the Fiddle, and The Diamonds.

It's going to be quite an event so don't miss out. We look forward to seeing you on the day.

130 | Sherborne Times | June 2018

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