Sherborne Times January 2020

JANUARY 2020 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

LAND TROOPS with Operation Future Hope

sherbornetimes.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE READER OFFER WORTH £600

WELCOME

A

nother year passes, our lives neatly wrapped in packs of 12. Have we taken stock or even taken notice? Have we paused to take a breath or are we impatient at the pretence, in a rush to reach the ‘point’? Whatever form our own personal ‘point’ might take. What though, if this is the point?

And this.

And this.

Not then or when but now.

Dismiss this as tish and pish by all means, but I’ve been guilty of fixing my stare so firmly on the horizon that I’ve often not noticed life tugging pleadingly at my trouser leg. The nature of this humble publication may require a good deal of forward planning but I am fortunate too in that each month I am introduced to fascinating people doing wonderful things and grounded very much in the now. Ironically perhaps, being present enough to make the most of now gives our future selves something for which to be grateful.

One such example is Operation Future Hope. Led by the inspirational Lesley Malpas, OFH is mobilising Sherborne’s school children and making determined efforts on a local scale to help pull us from our ecological flat spin. Sherborne’s level of engagement with the OFH Conservation School project is such that our town has a very real opportunity to become an exemplar of the cause. A Happy New Year indeed.

Have a great month.

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

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 elizabethwatsonillustration.com Print Pureprint Distribution team David Elsmore Nancy Henderson The Jackson Family David and Susan Joby Christine Knott Sarah Morgan Mary and Roger Napper Alfie Neville-Jones Mark and Miranda Pender Claire Pilley Ionus Tsetikas

1 Bretts Yard Digby Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3NL 01935 315556 @sherbornetimes info@homegrown-media.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk Sherborne Times is printed on an FSCÂŽ and EU Ecolabel certified paper. It goes without saying that once thoroughly well read, this magazine is easily recycled and we actively encourage you to do so.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither Sherborne Times nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Sherborne Times does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication.

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

4 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Juliana Atyeo

Sue Hawkett

Simon Barber Evolver Magazine @SimonEvolver evolver.org.uk

Mike Herrmann Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club sbacameraclub.co.uk

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

Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre @SanctuaryDorset @margaretbalfourbeautycentre thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

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

James Hull The Story Pig @thestorypig thestorypig.co.uk

Paula Carnell @paula.carnell paulacarnell.com

Richard Kay Lawrences Auctioneers @LFA_Crewkerne lawrences.co.uk

Bill Bennette

Chris Carver Sherborne Scribblers Cindy Chant Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk Ali Cockrean @AliCockrean alicockrean.co.uk Gillian M Constable DWT Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk David Copp Rosie Cunningham

Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk Sasha Matkevich The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Dominic Murphy Sherborne Area Refugee Support sherbornearearefugeesupport.org.uk Suzy Newton Partners in Designs @InteriorsDorset partners-in-design.co.uk

Jenny Dickinson Dear to Me Studio, Fine Stationery @DearToMeStudio deartomestudio.com

Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkevet.com

Jimmy Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk

Jan Pain Sherborne Literary Society @SherborneLitSoc sherborneliterarysociety.com

Nick Folland Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org

Simon Partridge BSc SPFit spfit-sherborne.co.uk

Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.)

CFPcm Chartered MCSI APFS Fort Financial Planning ffp.org.uk Andy Foster Raise Architects @raisearchitects raisearchitects.com Nicola Goodreid BVSc MRCVS Kingston Vets @TheKingstonVets kingstonvets.co.uk Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk Julie Hatcher Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Emma Rees Yoga with Emma emmareesyoga.com Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles rileyscycles.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 Simon Walker Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk

66 8

What’s On

JANUARY 2020 48 Antiques

116 Finance

16 Film

54 Interiors

117 Tech

18 Theatre

58 Gardening

118 Directory

21 Art

66 OPERATION FUTURE HOPE

120 Legal

28 Shopping Guide

74 Food & Drink

122 Community

30 Family

83 Animal Care

124 Short Story

36 Environment

88 Body & Mind

128 Crossword

38 Wild Dorset

90 Exclusive Reader Offer

129 Literature

46 History

110 Property

130 Pause for Thought sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

Introducing the first hero of Audi’s hybrid charge: the Audi Q5 TFSI e Meet the next evolution of Audi. A new breed of TFSI e plug-in hybrids coming soon – ranging from the A3 Sportback e-tron, through the A6, A7 and A8 saloons, to the 7-seat Q7 SUV. Each of them boasts the style, comfort and performance you expect from an Audi, now with plug-in hybrid technology that pushes efficiency to a whole new level.

Take the new Audi Q5 TFSI e. With up to 26 miles of all-electric range at speeds of up to 84mph it’s perfect for efficient city driving, while its 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol engine gives you the range to go the distance when needed.

Blend the two together, and you get the perfect balance of power and economy – 376PS and 500Nm of torque, delivering 0-62mph acceleration in 5.3 seconds when you need it, and a fuel consumption up to 117.7mpg (combined WLTP) and C02 emissions as low as 49g/ km when you’re feeling more sensible.

It’s everything you expect from an Audi.

And something extra, too.

Yeovil Audi BA22 8RT 01935 574981 www.yeovilaudi.co.uk

Official WLTP fuel consumption figures for the Audi Q5 TFSI e Range in mpg (l/100km) from: Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures (known as calculate vehicle tax on first registration. For more information, please see audi.co.uk/wltp or consult your Audi Centre. Data correct at 17 October for further information. Image for illustrative purposes only.

Batteries included

Combined 104.6 (2.7) – 117.7 (2.4). NEDC equivalent CO2 emissions: 54 – 49g/km. procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted WLTP). The CO2 figures shown however, are based on a calculation designed to be equivalent to the outgoing (NEDC) test cycle and will be used to 2019. Figures quoted are for a range of configurations and are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes. Please consult your Audi Centre

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 8 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

JANUARY 2020 Listings

Wellbeing Group

11.30am

____________________________

Costa Coffee, Cheap St. £3 incl. free

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Parents

dorset-support-groups/

(two sessions). Free art & craft sessions

drink. dorsetmind.uk/services-courses/west-

St Pauls Church Hall/West End Hall

____________________________

for parents & carers of primary school

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10.30am Explore Historic Sherborne From Sherborne TIC, Digby Rd. With

age children. Booking required. 01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Blue Badge Guide Cindy, 1½-2-hour

walk. £8 cindyatsherbornewalks@gmail.com

Mondays 2pm-3.30pm

____________________________

‘Feel Better with a Book’ Group

Wednesdays 1pm

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Shared

Lunchtime Organ Recital

group. Free. 01935 812683

____________________________

reading aloud with a small & friendly

Sherborne Abbey. Free. Retiring collection

____________________________

Wednesdays, Thursdays

2nd Monday of month

& Fridays 10am-2pm

9.30am-3.30pm

Sherborne Lunch Club

1st Thursday of month 9.30am

West Country Embroiderers

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd. 01935 814680

Netwalking

welcome. 01963 34696

Thursdays 1.30pm-2.30pm

____________________________

The Sherborne Library Scribes

Free walk & talk for small business

Last Monday of month 5pm-6pm

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

Digby Hall, Hound St. New members

____________________________

Bookchat

Writing group for sharing & discussion.

Sherborne Library, Hound St.

A lively book discussion group

01935 812683

____________________________

Dorset Mind - Sherborne

owners & entrepreneurs. FB: Netwalk

Sherborne; Instagram: yourtimecoaching; Twitter: @yt_coaching

____________________________

____________________________

1st Thursday of month

Thursdays 2pm-4pm

2pm-3.30pm

Seniors Digital Drop-in

“My Time” Carers’ Support Group

for Help with Technology

The Shielings, The Avenue, DT9 3AJ.

Sherborne Library, Hound St. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6pm-8pm

From Sherborne Barbers, Cheap St.

01935 812683

____________________________ Thursdays term-time 9.30am-

Advice, coffee & chat. 01935 601499/01935 816321

____________________________ Fridays 2pm

Thinking of letting your holiday home?

We know that your holiday home is just that – a home.

That’s why our local team is dedicated to managing your property with the same care and attention you would. With tailored services to suit your needs, you can be as involved as you like, so why not get in touch today?

01929 448 708 enquiries@dorsethideaways.co.uk dorsethideaways.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9

WHAT'S ON Sherborne Health Walks

Friday 10th 11.30am

____________________________

Leaving from Waitrose. Free.

Royal Voluntary

Friday 17th 1.45pm

07825 691508

Service Lunch Club

Singers’ Lunchtime Recital

____________________________ Wednesday 1st 2pm

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

07502 130241/01935 593539

Cheap Street Church, Sherborne.

____________________________

____________________________

New Year’s Day Walk

Free. sherborne.org

Sherborne Abbey Porch, DT9 3NL. £8

Friday 10th 1.45pm

Friday 17th 7.30pm

____________________________

Soloists’ Lunchtime Recital

James Rowland: Revelations

Saturday 4th 2.30pm

Cheap Street Church, Sherborne.

Melbury Osmond Village Hall.

____________________________

____________________________

Who Really Was George Bernard Shaw?

Free. sherborne.org

01935 83453 artsreach.co.uk

Digby Hall, Hound St DT9 3AA.

Tuesday 21st 11.30am

Non-members £5

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

Sunday 5th 10.15am

____________________________

Blackmore Vale & Yeovil Assn (NT).

Royal Voluntary Service Lunch

____________________________

07502 130241/01935 593539

Dorset Ramblers 5 mile Walk Meet at Fiddleford Manor Car Park. jenny.newman@zen.co.uk

____________________________ Tuesday 7th 11.30am Royal Voluntary Service

Saturday 11th 10.30am-11.30am

Lunch Club

Cat Care Talk with

Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd.

Cats Protection

____________________________

6+. Cat crafts for children. Free. Booking

07502 130241/01935 593539

Sherborne Library, Hound St. Suitable essential. 01935 812683

Thursday 23rd 6.30pm

____________________________

Visiting Artists’ Recital –

Monday 13th 6.30pm

Dave Newton Trio

The Other Guys

Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne

Acapella Ensemble Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne School.

Free. sherborne.org

____________________________

School. Tickets £10, Sherborne School Reception, 01935 812249 or tickets@ sherborne.org

____________________________

Wednesday 8th 7.30pm

Tuesday 14th 7.30pm

Friday 24th 1.45pm

Sherborne ArtsLink Flicks:

Sherborne Bradford Abbas

Woodwind Lunchtime Recital

Judy (12A)

Camera Club

Digby Hall, Hound Street, DT9 3AA.

Village Hall, Bradford Abbas, DT9 6RF.

Cheap Street Church, Sherborne.

sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Friday 24th 7.30pm

____________________________

Wednesday 15th 2.30pm

Spitz & Co – Les Gloriables

Thursday 9th 7.15pm for 8pm

Sherborne WI: Colour Magic

Britain & Meiji Japan

with Pauline Bishop,

Buckland Newton Village Hall.

Digby Hall, Hound St DT9 3AA. Non-

Personal Stylist

____________________________

Non-members £4. Includes refreshments

Tickets £6 from Sherborne TIC.

members £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

10 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

sbacameraclub.co.uk (see page 122)

Catholic Church Hall, Westbury DT9 3RA.

Free. sherborne.org

____________________________

01300 345455 artsreach.co.uk

____________________________ Saturday 25th 2.30pm Protein Dance: The Little Prince

JANUARY 2020 Cerne Abbas Village Hall.

07823 778758 artsreach.co.uk

Free. sherborne.org

Thursday 30th 7.30pm Winter Organ Recital

(See preview, page 20)

Sherborne School Chapel

Saturday 25th 7.30pm

____________________________

Free. sherborne.org

____________________________ Alvorada: Choro Music

Friday 31st 1.45pm

from Brazil

Soloists’ Lunchtime Recital II

Chetnole Village Hall.

Cheap Street Church, Sherborne

____________________________

____________________________

07966 177789 artsreach.co.uk

Free. sherborne.org

Sunday 26th 10.15am

Planning ahead

Dorset Ramblers Walk Meet at Stourhead NT Car Park. 5miles

____________________________

am/2.5miles pm. jenny.newman@zen.co.uk

____________________________

Saturday 1st February 2.30pm

____________________________

Tuesday 28th 7.30pm

The Kennet & Avon Canal:

Tuesday 28th & Thursday 30th

Sherborne Bradford Abbas

history, dereliction & restoration

1.30pm-4.30pm

Camera Club

Art Exhibition:

Village Hall, Bradford Abbas, DT9 6RF

Digby Hall, Hound St DT9 3AA.

Process (Braden Maxwell) Oliver Holt Gallery, Sherborne School.

sbacameraclub.co.uk (see page 122)

____________________________

Blackmore Vale & Yeovil Assn (NT).

Non-members £5

____________________________

Friday Lunchtime Recitals 1.45PM – CHEAP STREET CHURCH

(unless otherwise stated)

FREE ADMISSION ALL ARE WELCOME Friday 10th January Soloists’ Recital I

Friday 14th February Strings Recital

Friday 17th January Singers’ Recital

Friday 28th February Soloists’ Recital III

Friday 24th January Woodwind Recital

Friday 6th March A Level Musicians

Friday 31st January Soloists’ Recital II

Friday 13th March Brass Recital

Friday 7th February Pianists’ Recital

Friday 20th March Wind Band Recital

(BSR, Sherborne School)

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 11

WHAT'S ON

Please share your recommendations and contacts via FaceBook @sherborneparents ____________________________

____________________________

Mondays 2pm-2.30pm/

Tuesdays (term-time) 9.30am

2.30pm-3pm

Nether Compton Baby

Helen Laxton School of Dance

& Toddler Group

Tinneys Lane Youth Club. Ballet for

Village Hall

helenlaxtonschoolofdancing.com

Tuesdays 9.15am,

____________________________

9.55am & 10.35am

Mondays 4pm

Monkey Music

Helen Laxton School of Dance

Scout Hut, Blackberry Rd. Booking

toddlers & pre-schoolers

Sherborne Primary School.

Ballet, street dance, hip hop.

____________________________

____________________________

essential. 01935 850541. monkeymusic. co.uk/area/frome-yeovil-and-weymouth

Fridays 7.15pm

____________________________

Shindo Wadokai

____________________________

Tuesdays (term-time)

Karate Club (age 5+)

Mondays 4pm

10am-11.30am

Stardust Dance School

Tuesday Toddlers

Sherborne Dance Academy, North Rd

Oxley Dance Studio. Ballet/Tap/Modern

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

stardustdanceschool@gmail.com

helenlaxtonschoolofdancing.com

dance. Reception-Yr 4

____________________________

Saturdays 10.15am-11am

____________________________

Grapplers United

Wednesdays 10.30am–12pm

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Truth Be Told Intergenerational

Unit B, Western Ways Yard, Bristol Rd

Abbey View Care Home, Bristol Rd.

£2.50 per family. Includes child lunch.

Tinney’s Youth Club Tinney’s Lane, DT9 3DY. Ages 11-16. £1. FB: Tinney’s Youth Club

____________________________

12 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

DT9 4HR. £25/month. 1st session free 07909 662018

____________________________

Booking essential. 07713 102676

1st Saturday of the month

gemmagillard@hotmail.com

10.30am-12pm

____________________________

Sticky Church

Fridays 9.30am-11am

Cheap Street Church Hall. Free group

Bishops Caundle Toddler Group 6.30pm-8.30pm

____________________________

£1.50 per family.

Toddler Group

Mondays & Wednesdays

07769 215881

All Saints School, Bishops Caundle

____________________________

for playgroup & primary age children.

01963 251747

____________________________

JANUARY 2020 Wingfield Room, Digby Hall DT9 3AA Booking essential. 01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________ Wednesdays 10am-11am & Thursdays 6pm-7pm Guided Meditation & Relaxation Tinneys Lane Youth Centre. Breathing Tuesday 4th February 7pm Jason Lewis, Explorer

exercises/mindfulness techniques.

07817 624081 hello@yogasherborne.co.uk

____________________________

Quarr Hall, Gryphon School, Bristol Rd.

Wednesdays 2pm-4pm &

co.uk, Winstone’s bookshop & TIC Friday 7th February 11.30am

theslippedstitch.co.uk

£6/£5 from jasonlewisexplorer.eventbrite.

Thursdays 10am-12pm The Slipped Stitch Workshops

Mondays 10.30am-12pm

____________________________

The Julian, Cheap St. 01935 508249

Yoga with Gemma

____________________________

gemski81@hotmail.com

Snowdrop Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving

Longburton Village Hall. 07812 593314 ____________________________

Cheap Street Church, DT9 3BJ.

Tuesdays 1.30pm-2.30pm

(see page 130)

West End Hall, Sherborne.

Friday 7th February 1.45pm

annamfinch@yahoo.co.uk

01963 210548 revdlesley@aol.com

Chair Yoga

____________________________

No experience necessary. 01935 389357

Pianist’s Lunchtime Recital

____________________________

Cheap Street Church, Sherborne

Mondays & Wednesdays Just Breathe Yoga & Qigong

Free. sherborne.org

____________________________

Workshops & classes ____________________________ Weekly Art Classes & Workshops

Thursdays 2.30pm-4pm ArtsLink Fizz! Parkinson’s Dance

Chetnole & Corton Denham.

07983 100445 justbyoga@outlook.com

____________________________

Tinney’s Lane Youth & Community

Mondays-Sundays

for people who live with Parkinson’s.

Venues - Sherborne, Milborne Port,

____________________________

emmareesyoga.com

Centre. Free dance class & social time

Yoga with Emma

01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

Thornford. emmayogateacher@gmail.com

with Ali Cockrean

3rd Sunday of month 19th

Wheelwright Studios, Thornford.

January-17th May 1.30pm-4.30pm

Mondays-Sundays

All abilities, including beginners.

Sherborne Folk Band Workshop

Hatha Yoga

07742 888302 alicockrean.co.uk

____________________________

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd,

Meditation & Relaxation. Small classes,

Weekly

DT9 3NL. Suitable all levels/all acoustic instruments. £12.50 incl. refreshments.

co.uk FB: @yogasherborne

Creative Courses & Workshops Various venues in Sherborne

01935 815899 sherborneartslink.org.uk

____________________________

Discounts for multiple workshops info@sherbornefolkband.org

____________________________

Tuesdays 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm

Yoga/pilates

ArtsLink Fizz! Art for Memory

____________________________

____________________________

beginners welcome. hello@yogasherborne.

____________________________ Tuesdays 10am-11am Vinyassa Flow Yoga Stourton Caundle Village Hall. 07403 245546 sarahlouisewilliams@yahoo.com

____________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

WHAT'S ON Tuesday evenings

Thursdays & Saturdays

& Friday mornings

Pannier Market

Iyengar Yoga

The Parade

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

Division 1. Terrace Playing Fields,

DT9 5NS. sherbornetownfc.com 3pm start

____________________________

Saturday 7th

With experienced teacher Anna Finch.

Thursdays 9am-11.30am

Longwell Green Sports (H)

01935 389357

Country Market

Saturday 21st

____________________________

Portishead Town (A)

Wednesdays 8.30am-9.20am

Church Hall, Digby Rd

____________________________

Saturday 28th

Vinyassa Flow Yoga

Every 3rd Friday 9am-1pm

Wincanton Town (H)

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd. 07403

Farmers’ Market

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

245546 sarahlouisewilliams@yahoo.com

Cheap St

Wednesdays am,

Every 4th Saturday, 9am-3.30pm

Thursdays am & Fridays pm

Vintage Market

Yoga with Suzanne

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Rd.

Sherborne venues. Especially suitable for aged 50+. 01935 873594

____________________________

07809 387594

____________________________

Wednesdays 2pm-3pm

Sport

Classic Mat-based Pilates

____________________________

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall. £7.50.

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Sherborne RFC

07828 625897 ali@positive-postures.co.uk

7.30pm–8.30pm

____________________________

Mixed Touch Rugby

First XV Southern Counties South

Fridays 4pm-5pm

Sherborne School pitches, Ottery Lane

Classic Hatha Yoga (beginners) Charlton Horethorne Village Hall. £7.50.

07828 625897 ali@positive-postures.co.uk

DT9 6EE. £2 per session, 1st 4 sessions

free. 07887 800803 sherbornetouch.org.uk

The Terrace Playing Fields, DT9 5NS sherbornerfc.rfu.club 2.15pm start

____________________________

Saturday 7th

____________________________

Sundays 9am (from Abbey gates)

Buckingham (A)

Fridays 6pm-7pm

& Wednesdays 6pm (from Riley’s)

Saturday 14th

Evening Yoga

Digby Etape Cycling Club Rides

Beaconsfield (H)

All abilities. Emphasis on relaxation.

Average 12mph for 60 minutes. Drop-

Saturday 21st

____________________________

sherbornecycling.club

____________________________

07768 244462

Fairs & markets

bar road bike recommended.

Marlborough (A)

____________________________

____________________________

To include your event in our FREE listings please email details – date/ time/title/venue/description/price/ contact (max 20 words) – by the

14 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Sherborne Town FC

5th of each preceding month to

First XI Toolstation Western League

listings@homegrown-media.co.uk

ARE YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS ON COURSE? Contact us for a pension review.

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

30 Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, Dorset BH13 7LP Tel: 01202 830730 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315 Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and 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 title ‘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.

Film

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

A

happy and peaceful New Year to you all.

Cinematheque starts off 2020 with a showing of The White Crow on Wednesday 29th January.

Featuring a screenplay by David Hare and direction by Ralph Fiennes, this ‘intoxicating historical drama’ details the real-life story of Rudolf Nureyev’s first encounter with 1960s Parisian society as the star attraction of the Russian Kirov Ballet, and his subsequent defection to the West. At a time when the Cold War was raging, the Soviet authorities decided to send their finest ballet troupe to Paris, to demonstrate ‘cultural refinement’ 16 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

behind the Iron Curtain. Much to the annoyance of his KGB minders, Nureyev wanders the city during his free time, falling in love with its museums and nightlife.

Ralph Fiennes certainly knows how to ratchet up the suspense and stomach-churning tension, as Nureyev has to decide at the airport what his fate, hanging in the balance, will be.

White Crow is Russian slang for a person who is unusual, an outsider, unlike others, or someone of exceptional ability. Nureyev, brilliantly played by the young Ukrainian dancer Oleg Ivenko, fits this

The White Crow (2018)

description perfectly. This fascinating film zig-zags through time, showing Nureyev’s origins and his youth at the Leningrad Ballet School. With plenty of performing on screen, it’s a must for anyone interested in dance.

Ralph Fiennes brings texture and emotional shading to this portrait of a brilliant, inscrutable man whose talent and temperament saw him rock the worlds of ballet and international relations. (London Film Festival 2018) Do come along to see what Cinematheque has to offer and enjoy this entertaining, exhilarating and

intelligent film from a burgeoning British director.

All details on the website. cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk

____________________________________________ Wednesday 29th January The White Crow (2018) 12A Cinemateque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT Members £1, guests £5

____________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 17

Theatre

My Cousin Rachel - Jack Holden (Philip), Christopher Hollis (Guido Rainaldi), Helen George (Rachel). Images: Manuel Harlan

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT Rosie Cunningham

T

heatre has always been my passion. It was something that my parents instilled in me when they lived in Bath and took me to everything that was on at the Theatre Royal, starting with pantomimes. It was a campaign of stealth.

Theatre is like reading a good book, listening to music or going to an exhibition. There is something transformative about musicals, Shakespeare, historical and political plays or even attending a talk. I recently saw the very great Ian McKellen, who has been performing a national tour over the last year to celebrate 18 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

his 80th birthday, and 60 years in the business, in over 80+ theatres. His memory is magnificent, his knowledge of all Shakespeare’s 38 plays and numerous sonnets and poems incredible. He is truly a titan of the theatre. The tour finishes in January in London. If you can make it, do. All fees and profits go to charity.

I love going to matinée performances too. It is a different crowd. Many theatres offer group discounts and the atmosphere is much more appreciative. An ATG Theatre Card, for example, costs just £35 a year and gives members access to priority booking and seating selection,

Simon Shepherd as Nicholas Kendall

and there are no transaction fees. Single tickets for some of the best seats can also be snapped up at the last moment and there is an absolute joy in chatting to one’s neighbours.

And so to My Cousin Rachel, adapted from the novel

by Daphne du Maurier and seen at the Theatre Royal Bath. It stars Helen George from Call the Midwife, who was absolutely magnificent as Rachel and enthralled us all by her power over the opposite sex. Who was this woman who had recently married cousin Ambrose who had then suddenly died? The suspense and atmosphere intensified throughout the unfolding drama. She was evil, she was manipulative, but she was also mesmerising.

There is humour in the play, particularly when the young Philip ( Jack Holden) angrily decries his suspicions that Rachel has poisoned his cousin, Ambrose. ‘I’ve heard many words to describe murder, and marriage is one of them.’ Nick, Ambrose’s best friend and godfather to Philip, played well by Simon Shepherd, makes many risqué comments throughout which are definitely

Helen George as Rachel Ashley

politically incorrect today but which, in Daphne du Maurier’s day, would have simply raised an eyebrow and provoked a laugh, as they did with the very laidback, appreciative audience. By the end we realise that Rachel might well have been innocent, but was it too late?

The play is touring before finishing at the Richmond Theatre in February 2020. Helen George is equally as excellent on stage as she is on the television. There were a few stumbles, and a little overacting from the junior cast members finding their feet, but it was an otherwise entertaining performance. The set is full of gothic atmosphere with Cornish cliffs, a sweeping staircase and stuttering candles. Well worth a visit.

Oh, and did I mention the fabulous Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Galley in London until 3rd May? Stuffed to the gills with excellent pieces but also packed with too many visitors on time slots who are squeezed through a maze of small rooms. Try later in the day. It pays to be tall sometimes! sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

PREVIEW In association with

PROTEIN DANCE: THE LITTLE PRINCE Welcome to the incredible story of The Little Prince, retold with

and entertaining performance suitable for families and children,

in the desert. Find out how the Little Prince leaves behind his

de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince is brought to life using

dance, theatre, humour and spoken word by a pilot stranded

own tiny asteroid and beloved rose, and journeys through the

universe, coming face to face with the baffling world of grownups! Have you ever heard of a king who reigns over nothing?

Or a businessman obsessively counting stars?

Upon landing on planet Earth, the Little Prince is

welcomed by a mysterious snake and a truly wise and friendly

young and old. Based on the world-famous story by Antoine

Protein’s mix of dance, humour and spoken word. Protein’s new show invites us to look at the world through one’s heart and to reconnect with our inner child. Suitable 5+. evolver.org.uk

____________________________________________

fox before encountering the lone pilot. Together they discover

Saturday 25th January 2.30pm

Join award-winning dance-theatre company Protein for a fun

____________________________________________

the power and beauty of friendship and the complexity of love.

20 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Cerne Abbas Village Hall, ST2 7GY. £6/£5. 07823 778758

ARTIST AT WORK No. 15: Patrick Bateman, Hippo Chainsaw Sculpture, £2,000, formed from a condemned copper beech tree in Co. Durham

M

y interest in and love of working with wood as a medium started in detention in the relaxed atmosphere of the woodwork shop at school with Dave Rawlings, who was a stark contrast to the other teachers in the art department.

As a creative, he wasn’t precious or an intellectual, it was all about the love of the material and the process.

I have since come to admire great masters such as the designer George Nakashima, whose root in Japanese carpentry has a deeply spiritual reverence which has led me to making my own furniture.

The use of a chainsaw as a carving tool is both exciting and terrifying! Its raw energy can lend itself to expressive mark making, the marks being retained by the material. A decisive approach is needed as once these marks are made they cannot be removed. I would liken this process to quick sketching with ink, where there is a freedom of line that can’t be overworked.

One of the most rewarding things about this

particular sculpture was learning about the anatomy of a hippo’s mouth; it is truly amazing!

Since moving to Somerset from London and being amongst so many creatives, I am now finding the opportunity to get involved in more sculptural work, although furniture-making will always be close to my heart. hbstudios.co.uk Patrick works from his studio just outside Wincanton, where he designs and makes his own furniture as well as taking on bespoke sculptural projects. Patrick recently showed work as part of Somerset Arts Weeks at Greening the Earth Gallery, located in the former Clementina’s hardware shop in Wincanton, and will be involved in future projects with this gallery.

All work priced individually sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21

Art

A MASTERY OF MYSTERY Richard Kay, Lawrences Auctioneers

I

t was Pierre Auguste Renoir who observed that, ‘there is something in painting which cannot be explained and that something is essential.’ Many artists have enjoyed devising slightly perplexing subjects that cause us to ponder and reflect upon mere fragments of a moment that defy our immediate understanding.

This small picture does just that.

Frederick Cayley Robinson (1872-1927) was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and also drew inspiration from sources as diverse as Fra Angelico (mid-15th Century Florentine) and Puvis de Chavannes (mid-19th Century French). His Summer Evening of c.1910, just 16 x 20cm, captures our attention. He liked to instil an air of quiet mystery in many of his subjects and his titles are paradoxically specific but imprecise, permitting numerous personal interpretations. Cecil French, writing in The Studio in 1922, noted that Robinson blended the, ‘synthetic with the intimate,’ suggesting a union of the creativity and sensitivity. A critic observed that, ‘he seems to brood upon a world seen through the twilight of sub-conscious memorie’ and noted ‘a quite infinity [that] holds us.’

Robinson settled in London after periods of study in Newlyn, Florence and Paris. Having absorbed the serenity of Italian Masters’ works, he also loved the aestheticism and symbolism of the Nazarenes in early 19th Century German art. Cecil French recalls his first encounter with Robinson’s exhibits at the Society of British Artists, ‘The potency of spell, the visionary strangeness, the almost desperate sincerity, of the new, mysterious, isolated artist brought to mind the first strenuous beginnings of the English Pre-Raphaelite group.’

Robinson’s work on the theme of a winter’s evening complemented this subject. Each subject has a measured concentration upon grouping, yet each person within seems isolated and alone. The enclosed, cell-like space and the Annunciation theme on the wall may suggest a benevolent institution such as a school or a convent but 22 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

a modernity of tone and of atmosphere predominates: any intention to becalm the viewer with the languor of a summer evening is disrupted by the sense of something unknowable (but not necessarily malign) that is about to happen. We are clearly in a room where children are sleeping. Our instinct is to be quiet and to withdraw but the figure on the left seems

set on a task, and so our gaze lingers as though we may divine her purpose just by watching her. The high window encloses the space but the palette is not at all bleak or foreboding; it is warm, gentle and comfortingly domestic. At first glance, it is a scene of almost banal simplicity but a sense of strangeness persists. It is an intriguing sensation when a work of art leaves one

wondering about its subtleties even after we have let something else catch our eye.

This little gem by Robinson is expected to make ÂŁ40006000 when sold on 17th January and ‘the potency of spell, the visionary strangeness’ may lift it a little further. lawrences.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 23

Art

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

An excerpt from "The Art Class", a fictitious work Ali Cockrean, Artist and Tutor

M

eredith Matthews loved drawing until Mrs Holmes told her that she was useless at it. It was 1968. Mrs Holmes was an eccentric old teacher with no soul. Meredith was 8 years old.

Mrs Holmes had asked the students in her class to paint a picture of somewhere that meant a lot to them.

Meredith thought very hard about her own favourite place. Grandad’s allotment was a strong contender: the rich smell of the earth; the constant surprise and delight as young shoots developed into mature plants and produce; his calm, encouraging voice explaining each and every task as she helped him plant runner beans or tend the tomatoes; sipping sweet, hot tea as they sat in deckchairs contemplating next week’s jobs just ahead of sunset.

The local beach was also high on the list but a lot of the other children were of the same mind and Meredith wanted her painting to be a bit more personal. Then, out of nowhere, the perfect place popped into her head. She felt a spark of excitement.

At the bottom of the garden Meredith had a den.

24 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

She’d built it with her Dad. She smiled to herself as she remembered how they had sat and drawn a plan together. Dad had loved making shelters in the woods when he was a little boy and she could sense his excitement at reliving the experience with her. She recalled the fun they had creating it, using branches and debris from the woodland floor at the end of the garden. She marvelled at his craftsmanship: making sure the angles were right so the rain would run off the top without soaking the shelter floor; using leaves, twigs, bark and boughs to create a roof and wooden ribs to make sides, to prevent drafts and keep it cosy.

Over time modifications were made to ensure the shelter would last. Meredith didn’t realise how ill her father was but, looking back, she realised that his determination to ‘upgrade’ and ‘weatherproof ’ the shelter was in no small part due to his understanding of how important the den was going to become in the months to follow.

He died in the late spring and Meredith retreated to the den because that’s where she felt closest to him. It

wasn’t a sad place. It brought her comfort. All through the hot, dry summer that followed, she would lie on her back and watch the dappled sunlight on the roof and feel the whisper of the breeze across her skin. She heard his voice and felt his love. She was happiest there.

‘Meredith?’ Mrs Holmes’ shrill voice cut through her daydream and brought her sharply back to the present.

‘Do you know the place you’re going to paint?’

‘Yes Mrs Holmes.’

‘Then get on with it.’

Meredith worked hard to recreate her vision of the den.

As she did so her heart felt warm. Her dad was close once again. It was still important to her to make him proud.

Towards the end of the lesson Mrs Holmes toured the class to inspect the children’s work. Meredith was excited.

She wanted to explain why this place was so important to her, the story behind her painting. Mrs Holmes hovered behind Meredith. After a silence that lasted just a few seconds too long, the judgement was delivered.

‘You’re good at maths Meredith. Art isn’t for you.

Don’t waste your time dear.’

Even now, in her 6th decade, Meredith felt the pain as she recalled these words. The burning tears she fought to hold back, the quivering bottom lip she tried to keep strong and the red-hot shame that pumped through every vein in her young body. She felt she’d let her father down.

At the age of 8 Meredith Matthews was told she was no good at art and she believed it. For the following 52 years she chose to tell herself that Mrs Holmes was right.

Why risk exposing herself to any further humiliation?

However, with her 60th birthday fast approaching, Meredith took stock of her life. Like everyone, she’d had her share of highs and lows. She’d lived a rich life, full of warmth and happiness, with only short periods of darkness and pain over the years. She considered herself very lucky, but she also chose to acknowledge for the first time that she had some unfinished business.

Meredith finally conceded that perhaps Mrs Holmes was wrong. That maybe letting the opinion of one other human determine your destiny was flawed.

As the bells chimed on New Year’s Eve, Meredith Matthews made a resolution. On the 3rd January, she picked up her mobile and made a call.

‘Hello. My name’s Meredith and I’d like to register on your Painting and Drawing for Beginners class please.’

Meredith could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she broke into a light sweat. Her journey had begun. alicockrean.co.uk

FREE HOME VISITS

Specialist Neil Grenyer will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 30th January to value your antiques

AFTER LAURENCE STEPHEN LOWRY 1887-1976 INDUSTRIAL PANORAMA, Offset Lithograph BOUGHT FOR £6,875

To make an appointment please contact: 01460 73041 neil.grenyer@lawrences.co.uk Complete House Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged Professional Probate Valuations

lawrences.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

JANUARY SALE S AR S E E ER

L I F E S T Y L E

B O U T I Q U E

OPEN 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM 33 CHEAP STREET, SHERBORNE, DT9 3PU PHONE 01935 816551

Sherborne DT9 3LN 01935 814027

Dorchester DT1 1BN 01305 265223

SALE Starts Friday 27th December 26 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

ORIGINAL WORKS • FINE ART PRINTS BOOKS & HOME • COURSES & EVENTS

Thoughtfully sourced, carefully chosen.

ELEMENTUM GALLERY SOUTH ST, SHERBORNE • 01935 813776 ELEMENTUMGALLERY.CO.UK • @ELEMENTUMGALLERY

Shopping Guide

Velvet sofa, Circus II, £1,973

Small bowl, Melbury Gallery, £6.50

Chelsea boots, Florence, £99

JANUARY BLUES Jenny Dickinson, Dear to Me Studio

The festivities might be over but don't let that get you down. Pull off your stripy boots, hang up your parka and kick back on your velvet sofa with a wee dram, a bowl of nuts and your favourite blue bunny. deartomestudio.com 28 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Mossburn Scotch whisky, Vineyard’s, £46 (just in time for Burn’s night)

Earrings, Fly Jesse, £9.95

Necklace, Melbury Gallery, £95

Parka, Quba, £140

Jellycat bunny, Melbury Gallery, £18.50

Cushion, Forever England, £16.95 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29

elizabethwatsonillustration.com

OPEN DOORS

30 January 10am 26 March 10am

Visit our Open Doors events and see the Prep, Senior and Sixth Form on a normal teaching day.

Contact our friendly Admissions Team to book your place. www.leweston.co.uk | 01963 211015 | admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk 30 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Scholarships and Awards available FORTHCOMING

SCHOLARSHIP MORNING Saturday 1st February 2020

For further details and to register:

www.sherborneprep.org/scholarshipmorning

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

UNEARTHED Ryan Faber, aged 10 Sherborne Prep

U

nderneath the quiet, smiling and positive exterior, lies a formidable athlete. Talented, driven and hugely successful, Ryan Faber is making a big impact on the skiing community, having been involved with the sport since the age of 4.

Since joining Sherborne Prep, Ryan has become the Great Britain U12 Indoor Ski Series champion, winning all the national indoor events and storming to the overall championship by some distance.

He followed this performance by representing Great Britain at the Indoor Alpine Championship in Landgraaf, Holland. After laying down two excellent runs, he came away with yet another title.

‘Ryan has made a big impression on us all since his arrival. He is a quiet, unassuming pupil whose positive outlook is infectious,’ comments Director of Sport, Huw Thomas. ‘We are conscious of the need to support him in his endeavours and we are working closely with his parents and his ski team to facilitate the time he needs to train, both in the UK and in Austria, whilst also maintaining his academic progress.’

Form tutor Adam Anstey comments, ‘Ryan has thrown himself wholeheartedly into all that is on offer at Sherborne Prep. He is a great role model and ambassador in terms of attitude and approach to school life. He is always willing to give things a go.’

An example of this has been Ryan’s approach to trying new sports, the absolute highlight being a festival at Twickenham for the U11’s in only his first term of rugby!

Ryan shines bright with a positive future ahead. sherborneprep.org

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

32 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Children’s Book Review

Family

by Ethan (aged 11)

Dorset Folk Tales for Children, by Tim Laycock, (The History Press 2019), £9.99 Sherborne Times reader offer price of £8.99 from Winstone’s Books

T

he author of this brilliant book, Tim Laycock, also works as a folk singer, storyteller and actor.

He was brought up in Fontwell Magna and loves Dorset so has chosen to write a book retelling the county’s legendary folk tales. There are lots! Tales about demons, dragons mermaids and giants… I didn’t realise sleepy old Dorset was so mythical!

Each story has a moral in there somewhere, hopefully you will find them all! They all start off with an amazing monochrome drawing by Zoe Barnish, to help create a picture in your mind when reading.

My favourite story was The Old Man of the Sea

because I love the sea! There is also an intriguing magical twist. It is about a poor couple who make a living from fishing but don’t earn very much. Alice, the fisherman’s wife, complains because there are lovely, big bungalows being built across the road. While her husband is out fishing he finds something extraordinary! You’re going to have to read the book to find out what but it changes their lives forever.

Now that I have read the book, I find myself looking around on my adventures in Dorset in case I spot a crocodile or a real giant! I’m even inspired to make up my own folk tale about Sherborne.

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

Family

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD

W

Nick Folland, Headmaster, Sherborne Prep

hen a parent asks a child. ‘How was school today?’, more often than not the response will be about the food, whether positive or negative. We also know that children can be rather choosy with their food, set in their ways and often have not yet learnt the joys of trying something new.

Learning to enjoy food is surely a crucial educational 34 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

concept. Good habits need to be engrained. Food is not only at the core of our health and physical development; it is also an essential part of our family and social lives.

Mealtimes at school should be social and enjoyable occasions too, where children and staff talk to each other and children pick up those key social skills.

Fundamentally, however, food is fuel. Improved

"Head Chef Jason Eland's secret to getting essential nutritional balance is to hide the goodness in everything they eat."

nutrition has the potential to have a positive impact on the academic performance and behaviour of a pupil.

Children need energy to maintain their learning ability during the long and busy school day. Correct nutrition maintains good health and consequently pupils are ready to learn, and likely to have fewer absences and attend class more frequently.

A balanced diet consists of seven essential factors: carbohydrate, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water. A balanced meal, therefore, should contain vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy products with lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs or nuts providing the source of protein. If we can include some superfoods in our meals, such as flax and pumpkin seeds, then so much the better. However, with childhood obesity rising, it is paramount to control portion size and limit the consumption of saturated and trans-fats, sodium and added sugars.

At Sherborne Prep, Head Chef Jason Eland and his superb team are challenged to create widely appealing and nutritionally balanced meals for 250 children every day. With Jason’s expertise in childhood nutrition and encouraging continuous feedback from our parents and pupils, Jason and his team have transformed our school meals.

A constant supply of fresh water is, of course, thankfully a given, so pupils have access to water all day long. Jason’s secret to getting essential nutritional balance is to hide the goodness in everything they eat.

What appears to be a normal tomato sauce is actually full of hidden nutrients. We use miso paste in pasta dishes to add protein, our sausage rolls are packed with apples, squashes, seeds and root vegetables, snacks are low-sugar recipes and fruit is now served peeled or chopped; children tend to eat more of something if less effort is required.

For those with fussy eaters, perhaps this is all sounding somewhat idealistic. However, as parents and teachers, we understand how inherently stubborn children can be when it comes to trying something new. Our responsibility as a school is to create an environment where children feel happy and relaxed, a place where they trust us and just might be tempted to try that new dish. Who knows, they might just like it!

We look forward to meal times here at The Prep and, as staff, we see happy, healthy children, ready to learn and develop their skills for life. sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 35

Environment

DESTINATION: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

‘Fashion shouldn’t cost the Earth.’

Juliana Atyeo

W

ith presents unwrapped and festive food enjoyed, for many people the postChristmas season means one thing: sales.

Anticipating bargains galore, consumers often queue from early in the morning to lay their hands on reduced items in clothing retailers. As the doors open and the crowds push through, jostling to grab whatever item they probably don’t really need, how many spare a thought for the environmental impact of the fashion industry? In some ways, it is perhaps surprising that consumers can be bothered to make it to those sales events: fashion has never been either cheaper or faster.

The fashion industry churns out new styles on a monthly basis, all at an apparently affordable cost that the public now expect. But while we buy cheap garments, the question we should be asking is: what is the true cost of 36 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

fashion and is it a price worth paying?

Some years ago, I remember there were huge campaigns alerting the public to the inhumane nature of sweatshops which treated workers like slaves. For a while, there was an outcry and some of the large, cheaper, high street fashion stores were boycotted.

However, the true horrors of the fashion industry go far beyond the appalling exploitation of the workers, affecting humanity and the planet on an unimaginable scale. The most difficult thing is that there does not seem to be a straightforward solution. There appears to be a drawback to almost every commonly-used type of fabric. With greater awareness of the environmental dangers of plastics, more people now know that synthetic fabrics release thousands of plastic microfibres into the water system when washed. However, even

Vyaseleva Elena/Shutterstock

before synthetic clothing reaches the stores – let alone our washing machines – we need to understand that the process of creating polyester, nylon and other synthetic fibres requires human beings (often children) to be exposed to high levels of toxicity as they work in factories changing petroleum into fibre.

Beyond the fact that tens of thousands of workers face debilitating health issues simply in the production of synthetic fabrics, the chemical outpourings of these factories is polluting and poisoning water, air and land. Added to this the truth that when a synthetic garment reaches the end of its life, it may take centuries to decompose and, as it does so, harmful chemicals will continue to leach into the earth.

Sadly, the story of cotton is not an innocent one either. The World Health Organisation claims that, on

an annual basis, hundreds of thousands of individuals in developing countries die from cancer, are hospitalised or suffer miscarriages due to the toxic chemicals sprayed on cotton in the form of pesticides. Moreover, conventional cotton farming is known to be a key factor in the drying up of the Aral Sea in Central Asia, which was once the world’s fourth largest lake. Now a desert, carcinogenic dust resulting from the pesticides used decades previously blows into villages, causing a plethora of fatal illnesses. Although organic cotton is free from poisonous pollutants, the crop requires enormous quantities of land and water and, as is the case with all monocultures, it has dubious eco-credentials, wiping out entire ecosystems.

Cashmere, which used to be the preserve of the highend market, has now become comparatively low-cost; as a result, the Mongolian steppe used to farm the goats simply cannot support the numbers and is becoming degraded, turning into desert. The knock-on effect on other wildlife such as snow-leopards, ibex and wild yak is devastating. We might not realise it, but the demand that we create when we purchase a cashmere scarf or a cotton t-shirt is contributing to the desertification of vast areas of land and is a massive contributing factor in the extinction of mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates.

Although the fashion industry is busy investigating alternatives such as hemp, flax and other biodegradable, less land-hungry/water-thirsty and more naturally pest-resistance alternatives, there are changes we can make now to ensure that we don’t feed this polluting, destructive monster. By looking after our clothes, washing them less frequently and on lower temperatures (they can be aired between wears) and learning to repair simple faults, we can extend the life of our garments. If we decide that we no longer want to wear something in our wardrobe, then it can be donated to charity or, if it really has reached the end of its life, to a textile recycling bank. However, the most significant action each one of us can take is to say ‘No’ to fast fashion or even to new clothes. We can empower ourselves to look for alternatives in charity shops, on e-bay or at other second-hand outlets. It is a case of simple economics: if we cease to create a demand for toxic and inhumane fashion, the industry will cease to operate in the way that it currently does. Perhaps, like many others, you visited the Boxing Day sales and picked up some fashion bargains, unaware of the true cost. But now, at New Year, surely there is no better time to make a resolution to boycott the fashion industry and, in so doing, to choose to support the wellbeing of the planet and its people. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

Wild Dorset

WINTER WATERLAND Julie Hatcher, Marine Awareness Officer

38 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

W

hile wildlife on land is slowing down for the winter - some animals hibernating, others having headed off for warmer climates - the seabed can still be a hive of activity.

For those animals living in sheltered harbours and estuaries, safe from the worst of the winter’s storms, seagrass meadows provide a year-round haven.

At this time of year, many sea snails and sea slugs are starting to gather with a view to breeding. Divers have recently been seeing large numbers of the elusive bubble snails congregating on the sandy seabed alongside seagrass meadows. These snails remain hidden for most of the year, although their jellylike egg-masses festoon the green seagrass blades in spring and summer. They are small, mostly measuring around 30-50mm, and have a much-reduced shell that is partly concealed beneath their mantle and into which they cannot retreat. With their blunt head and small black eyes, they glide over the fine sand on a conveyor belt of mucus. Although they can be difficult to spot at first, camouflaged against the pale sand and with tiny sand grains trapped in the layer of slime enveloping them, once spotted it is obvious that they are present in large numbers. They can even be found hanging from seagrass blades by their trailing mucus train. It really is an extraordinary sight.

Other animals are left to face the worst of the winter storms, with pounding waves threatening to dislodge them. Limpets for example, living on rocky seashores, turn the winter storms to their advantage.

Instead of cosying up together for mating, these abundant molluscs just throw all their reproductive products into the sea, choosing the stormiest time of year in November and December and leaving fertilisation of their eggs to chance. The resulting larvae, measuring less than 1mm long, settle into lower shore rockpools after a few days.

So, while you put out extra food for the birds and leave nest boxes and insect hotels for wildlife to shelter in your garden, spare a thought for the sea’s inhabitants at this time of year.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre is open for visiting during the winter, 12pm to 4pm Wednesdays and Sundays. Visit the website for details.

Image: Julie Hatcher

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wild-seas-centre

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

Wild Dorset

Image: Ian Williamson

SHERBORNE DWT

A

Gillian M Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust Sherborne Group Committee Member

long-distance trek with wild camping en route is one of those things I would have liked to have completed but failed to achieve.

Ian Williamson, our January speaker, has completed Tasmania’s Overland Track, including Cradle Mountain, carrying all his own equipment. The text on the outline walker in above image tells us that the Overland Track is Australia’s premier Alpine walk. Not only is there superb scenery but also it is estimated that 40-55% of the alpine flora is endemic. Ian camped on the mountain and in the night he heard wombats, which starred in Attenborough’s recent Australia episode, outside his tent.

We shall hear about Ian’s ‘Adventures in Tasmania’ and his amazing walk on Wednesday 15th January. As always, we meet in the Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road. Doors open at 7.00pm for 7.30pm with time for conversation, drinks and nibbles. After many years it is now necessary to increase the entrance fee to £3.00 and a contribution is requested for drinks and nibbles. Nonmembers of DWT are most welcome.

The new year is a time to look back on the best of the wildlife events of the previous year. At the start of 40 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

April, on one of the beautiful spring days, perfection was just about achieved on a visit to Pulham churchyard when flowers and insects were in profusion. Over Easter weekend we visited Butterfly Conservation’s Alners Gorse reserve and, on the track in, a nightingale was within a couple of metres of us singing frantically, with a second a little further away and also a distant third.

Only once before have we had a full view of a singing nightingale and that was in southern Spain; the bush which the bird thought was providing good cover had some very helpful gaps in it for viewers. As always, we had visits to DWT’s reserve at Kingcombe; on one occasion there were numerous beautiful brimstone butterflies about. In the garden, September was particularly good for butterflies. A large clump of self-sown Verbena bonariensis was full of bees, up to 8 species of butterflies and hummingbird hawk-moths.

One could sit with close-focussing binoculars and camera to hand and delight in the beauty of it all.

I hope 2020 brings similar opportunities. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

HUTS TO HUNKER DOWN IN plankbridge.com 01300 348414

Do something wild this year and volunteer with Dorset Wildlife Trust

www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-do/volunteering

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST Registered Charity No. 200222 Photos: Š Rachel Janes & Steve Oliver

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41

Wild Dorset

THE YEAR OF THE BEE! Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

D

uring the winter months, it’s common practice to make the most of the shorter days by focussing on planning the year ahead. Using the lessons learnt during the previous year, and noting our missed opportunities, we can make a fresh start in good time before spring kicks off and there is no longer any spare time for preparation!

What can we do to prepare a bee-friendly environment in our gardens? Reports indicate that we’ve lost over 75% of our insects in the last thirty years, an ecological disaster that forces us to take stock of our actions. I was recently asked if stone walls are good for bees. Something that we need to do is shift from a human perspective to a nature one. When we observe wild nature, it is often unruly and looks disorganised. We, as humans, have grown to prefer ‘neat and tidy’ with rows of plants, stripy lawns and clean walls. Yet we love to see a variety of wild birds visiting our gardens - on bird feeders or, better still, eating the aphids and other ‘pests’. A neat brick wall, with no crevices or nooks for insects and birds 42 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

to hide and nest in, with no ivy creeping up, is not such a wildlife haven. Our beloved cats can easily spot and find tasty birds and mice in such tidy environments.

How can we balance a beautiful garden with sustainable wildlife? We need bees and other insects, not only for pollination of our fruit but also to keep other insects in balance. Wasps eat aphids, allowing affected flowers to bloom, ready for the bees to collect the nectar.

All insects and birds need somewhere safe and dry to shelter, just like us. Dry stone walls are great for all manner of insects and small mammals, and even better if plants are allowed to fill in the gaps and climb the edges. Ideally, a natural hedgerow filled with flowering native trees and shrubs would border the garden, giving year-round protection and forage in the form of nectar, pollen, fruits and nuts. Trees are a great source of forage for bees: elder, hawthorn, willow and hazel are the preferred nectar providers for our native bees. Flowering begonias and the multi-petalled varieties of plants, bred to please our taste, are almost impossible for insects to

MakroBetz/Shutterstock

forage from, so look at older varieties of roses such as our native dog rose, or simple primulas and pansies, to support our wildlife.

When looking for seeds, check that they are not pre-treated with chemicals and fungicides. Science is now proving how beneficial fungi are along with microand macro-fungi, and mycelial ectomycorrhizal fungus.

Just as we need good bacteria in our own systems, the soil needs it to feed our plants. Bulbs are another example of items that can be pre-treated with chemicals to protect them from pests. Think about the overall health of your soil. Healthy soil promotes healthy plants which, in turn, can defend themselves against pests and disease. Think about whether a worm can survive what you put into your soil.

Admittedly the transition may be difficult as the soil will take time to re-balance and restore from years of chemical input. Dandelions are brilliant for clearing the land of toxins (remember not to eat the dandelions that are cleaning up toxic areas though!) Mycelium in

dandelion roots branches down into the soil and digests and remediates contaminants. Experiments in Calgary in 2017 by Kelcie Miller-Anderson studied the benefits of dandelions growing in the noxious ponds created by bitumen mines. These ponds release toxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals into the air and so finding a way to clean the areas up was of key importance to the industry and the nearby residents. Dandelions have been used in western herbal medicine for centuries as well as being recommended by Arabian physicians in the 11th century. Their leaves are a powerful diuretic, although exactly how this works is still not fully understood.

Solitary bees and bumblebees live in our lawns and paths, as well as old bird boxes, piles of rocks and twigs and old vole homes. I get many call-outs for bees nesting in people’s lawns, or even old post boxes. These are usually bumblebees, the cute, fluffy, yellow and black stripy bees with white tails. We have 276 bee species in the UK, only one of which produces honey for us.

The solitary bees and bumblebees are often the first to emerge in early spring, sometimes as early as February.

A fertilised queen will emerge from hibernation and her still-vast body can be heard as she buzzes around the garden looking for a site to make her new nest. She can be seen zig-zagging across our lawns looking for holes or entrances to unused vole and mice holes. When happy with a new location she will start to make small wax cups, laying an egg in each one then adding pollen and nectar to feed the larvae as it develops. First female worker bees will emerge, which take over the collection of forage as the queen remains in the nest laying eggs.

Towards midsummer, she will lay male eggs and finally some queens. They mate and, as the rest of the colony die off, the queens find a safe spot to hibernate until the following spring. Pre-war, bumblebee nests would produce an average of 33 queens each year. That number, as researched by Prof Dave Goulson, has now reduced to an average of 1 queen per year. Quite a shocking statistic.

This represents the true crisis we have for our native bees. It is often thought that getting a beehive will help ‘save the bees’. This does in fact need serious consideration. Existing colonies of honeybees are struggling to find enough native forage. If you’re planning a bee friendly garden for 2020, ensure that you have enough forage for the native species of all bees about to awaken from hibernation before adding a further 50,000 hungry honeybee mouths to feed! paulacarnell.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 43

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History

THIS COACHING BUSINESS Cindy Chant, Blue Badge Guide

S

o, let me start at the beginning and talk about stagecoaches. What exactly do I mean by a stagecoach? A stagecoach is a four-wheeled coach, strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses. It is used to carry fee-paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to require a change of horses.

Long before rail transport was available, a stagecoach made trips using stage stations, or posts, where the stagecoach horses would be replaced by fresh horses.

This was known as ‘staging’.

A stagecoach travelled at an average speed of 5 miles per hour, with the average daily mileage covered being 60-70 miles. At a stage stop, which was usually a coaching inn, the horses would be changed and the travellers would have a drink, a meal, or stay overnight if necessary.

Unless you were a rich nobleman, a merchant or a cleric, your journey would not extend beyond an occasional trip to the local market and such an outing would probably be made on foot, in a farm cart or on the back of a working horse or mule. The roads were hardly suitable for any transport. However, signs of better times began to emerge when an Act of 1555 put the responsibility for road maintenance totally on the parish through which it ran, and Queen Elizabeth I set the fashion for using a coach of sorts as an alternative to riding on horseback or in a litter. Ultimately the demand for better roads, the increasing demands of trade and improvements in vehicle design were to begin the remarkable stagecoach era.

More travel stimulates more business and more employment, resulting in the benefits of additional coaching services and extending to a whole range of other extra services, from a growing coach-building industry to the services of ostlers, farriers, porters and others.

Soon road travel improved with the establishment of the turnpike trusts, which I have already discussed in earlier articles. There now came a legal limit for the total

46 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

number of horses which could be attached to a coach, and that limit was eight. Sometimes, in exceptional circumstances, extra horses had to be attached to pull a coach up the hill, for example on the road to Dorchester at Middlemarsh to pull the coach up the steep Revels Hill. These horses were so used to this section that when the coachman took off their harness on top of Giants Hill, they would happily return down the hill alone, back to Revels Farm to await the next coach or wagon.

Every town had its own coach builders and haulage firms, and Sherborne had plenty. The best-known haulier was the Woollcott family at the New Inn on Greenhill. The Woollcott’s ran their haulage business from Exeter to London. All good things must come to an end though and the New Inn was sadly demolished in 1842 to be replaced by the so called ‘Georgian Houses’ on Greenhill.

You might like to know about a well-known coaching firm, ‘Hills Carriage Manufacturing’, one of the oldest established firms in the west of England. These premises were at the top of Higher Cheap Street, opposite the Antelope Hotel, where the traffic lights are now. Tragedy occurred here in 1844, when a huge fire broke out, causing an almost total loss of all the carriages in stock.

It was presumed to have started from a candle falling onto some very combustible material. The details were fully reported in the Sherborne Mercury, Sherborne’s local newspaper at that time.

Much of this information has come from online research, embroidered with little bits of knowledge that I have learnt along the way during my research.

I do find snippets of local gossip quite exciting and I will continue to offer them to you as I find them. So, next month, I’m going to discuss coaches, ‘Kings of the Road’ and the forerunner to that glorious era of the stagecoaching days. sherbornewalks.co.uk

Whitemay/iStock

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

Antiques

Early 19th C. miniature portraits in the Charterhouse 9th & 10th January Picture Auction

48 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

PICTURE PERFECT

B

Richard Bromell, ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

eing in my early 50s I have owned a mobile phone for several decades. When they first came out, they were just that, a phone, and you used it to make and receive telephone calls.

Moving forward to today, the signal can still be poor in rural areas, along with parts of the A303 and the M25 which I regularly use on business when I am out and about visiting clients.

In some ways, the technology has ‘improved’ but what has changed enormously with mobile phones is what we do with them - which is spending less and less time making phone calls on them!

I am as guilty as the next person on this. I have business Twitter and Instagram accounts (yes, more than one – I have one each for antiques and collectibles, and one for classic cars and motorcycles), but I have concluded that I use my phone mostly for taking photographs. I can then load the images onto social media as and when I get five minutes spare.

It is all very straightforward, as my 85-year-old mother will testify. She uses Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or sends a text with an attachment. When Mother does send a message, it will usually contain a photograph of a grandchild now in their 20s and 30s, but this technology has only recently become widely available (and only taken Mother a couple of years to ‘master’).

Before the invention of the smart phone, if you wanted a picture of a grandchild, you would use a camera. If you had a camera from the 1950s you would probably have colour photos, but before this it was black and white. Back in the Victorian age there were numerous photography studios where you would go to have your photograph taken. For some reason, in most of the photos that we see and sell no one is ever smiling; clearly being a Victorian was a very serious business.

The Victorian photographer offered a less expensive and quicker-to-take portrait than a traditional portrait or miniature artist. The artist would study for years to perfect their own particular style. To sit for a portrait painted in oil, watercolour or pastel would take a fairly long time, as opposed to sitting in the photographer’s studio for a relatively short time. Today, there is demand for 19th century studio photograph portraits but, as there were vast numbers produced, they often have little value, especially if you do not know who they are.

However, portrait miniatures from the 18th and 19th centuries (and earlier) remain very popular at auction, despite not necessarily knowing who the sitter was and, in our January picture auction, we have a collection of early 19th century portrait miniatures.

They are understood by the owner to be distant family members but sadly their names are long forgotten. Having moved home a few years ago, the miniatures remained in bubble wrap in a drawer rather than being on display, so the owner has decided it is time for someone else to enjoy them.

They are truly beautiful works of art and are always hotly contested at auction. However, whether a selfie of me sent to my mother in 2019 will have any value in years to come, I doubt very much. charterhouse-auction.com

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49

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CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers We are now accepting entries for our forthcoming auctions: Pictures, Books, Beswick & Automobilia 9th & 10th January Classic & Vintage Motorcycles 2nd February

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Silver, Jewellery & Watches 6th February

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elizabethwatsonillustration.com 52 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

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Interiors

54 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

FROM ROMANIA WITH LOVE…

R

Suzy Newton, Partners in Design

ecently on my perusal through Instagram (always looking for fresh inspiration!)

I came across Mind the Gap. Instantly captured by their quirky images of fabrics and wallpapers and bold use of colour, I became a fan. It is so refreshing to see an eclectic company who are thinking outside of the box and expressing artistic freedom.

Based in Transylvania they design, produce and supply beautiful home accessories, fabrics, wallpapers and furniture. Their collections show different styles, unique designs and a strong artistic identity. They play with old photography and antique illustrations, vintage drawings and contemporary patterns, resulting in fabulously decorative prints.

Mind the Gap is set up in a beautiful location with a rich heritage and a mixture of different cultures from which they take their influence, putting their own stamp on it.

They are also passionate about helping the local community by manufacturing their products as close to home as possible. As they venture away from the norm, no single design is what you expect and each one creates a talking point, be it Chinese acrobats, burlesque dancers or exotic flora and fauna.

The latest collection from Mind the Gap is ‘The Transylvanian Manor’, a love letter to their mystical homeland. They pay homage to Transylvania’s romantic heritage and history. Telling the story of sixteenth century Hungarian nobility living in Bethlen Castle, the collection reimagines the legends and tales whispered along the castle’s walls and corridors. Classical royal motifs and rich ornamentation evoke the family’s grandly exuberant lifestyle, while painterly landscapes recreate the abundant Renaissance-style gardens, picturesque forests and mountains surrounding the ancient home, where voluptuous flowers bloom, exotic birds swoop and wild animals wander undisturbed.

Eclectic and extravagant, The Transylvanian Manor collection follows the Bethlen’s noble family on their travels, taking in cornerstones of the European nobility’s Grand Tours. Yet it is the history and heritage of Transylvania and the timeless decadence of Bethlen Castle and its former noble residents which prevail throughout the endlessly intricate designs.

Beautifully ornate and feminine, 19 abundantly patterned wallpapers combine the impact of a mural with traditional wallpaper repeats. Well designed and elegantly eyecatching, they’re made with FSC-grade wallpaper from managed forests and printed with eco-friendly inks. Six daringly hued printed velvets and stone-washed linens combine elegant Chinoiserie references with hand-drawn flora and fauna. Upholstered furniture, fringed lampshades, cushions and wall art all form part of the collection and are all designed to complement each other.

Mind the Gap offers us a fabulous opportunity to embrace maximalism – not to have an excess of clutter but to be bold with colour, pattern and creativity. Let’s fill our homes with interest and variety and express our individuality. partners-in-design.co.uk mindtheg.com

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55

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Gardening

GREEN FINGERED

F

Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

or my sins I’m charged with organising the Garden Centre Association annual conference to be held in Bristol at the end of January. My theme for the conference, which is held over three days, is the role gardening plays in all the major issues currently facing us. Not least of these is climate change; gardening has a small but significant role in combatting the effects and even helping reverse climate change. I read a statistic recently that the humble Viburnum tinus can absorb 10kg of carbon at maturity so, if you multiply that up, even the smallest garden, patio or balcony that is planted will have an impact.

Gardening also plays its part in maintaining our health, for example we are told that planting a tree, uses a wide range of muscles and will have a more positive impact than a regular visit to the gym. If we all got involved in planting the 60 million trees being promised in the election by some political parties, then we would really be doing some good.

The filtering of noise and pollution from roads that can be achieved by planting up our front gardens helps keep us healthy too, as will growing houseplants in the home or office. Then there are the significant mental health benefits of gardening. Working outside in the fresh air tending plants has a huge beneficial effect on our wellbeing. After a tough day in the business, my troubles can soon be sorted out and put in perspective by an hour in the garden doing something as simple as mowing pathways through the wildflower lawn.

Where gardening includes growing one’s own fruit and vegetables, the health benefits are enormous.

Remember the ‘five-a-day’ rule? Well now apparently it should be seven or even, according to the Japanese, fifteen, with fifteen different colours being the ultimate, each colour providing a different boost. Oh, and the zero food miles is great news for the environment too!

We can also garden with wildlife in mind, leaving areas of the garden to go wild as well as planting insect-attracting plants. The wild patch could perhaps 60 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

be behind the shed where nobody goes anyway so nothing is lost. Such areas will become havens for a good number of species that are friends of the gardener including larger organisms such as birds, hedgehogs, frogs and toads, slow-worms and grass snakes. Smaller beneficial insects too, such as ground beetles, ladybirds and lacewings, will find a new home there and they all have large appetites for the insect pests in your garden.

This will reduce or even remove the need to resort to the chemical cupboard to keep everything under control. Another boost for the environment!

That all sounds pretty straightforward, however we also need to put some effort into learning how to garden without peat. The best quality multi-purpose

Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock

composts contain peat sourced from ecosystems that have taken tens of thousands of years to form. Also, when peat is extracted, huge quantities of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere so it’s really important that we cut back on its use. That’s not straightforward when planting in pots and so we have several talks coming up and back-up material to help gardeners get used to the peat-free alternatives. We are also trialling such compost in our nursery and our specialist growers are helping out too. Look out for our advice leaflets and come along to our events.

We are also conscious in reducing the amount of plastic that the garden centre and horticulture industry uses. We have always taken back pots to be re-used but

the industry is now using different colours of plastic pot that can be recycled. The traditional black plastic pot gets rejected in most recycling systems and will then end up as landfill.

So, whilst my conference theme will hopefully be useful to the whole industry, we will continue to work on all of these issues in our own garden centres. Look out for our series of talks and events in the New Year and pre-spring season and then join your local garden club to get access to the other talks we do.

Gardening is good for the environment and is good for you too. thegardensgroup.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61

Gardening

62 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

DIARY OF A FLOWER FARMER Paul Stickland, Black Shed Flowers

H

appy New Year! Although we’ve been busy preparing for this new season for much of 2019, this feels like the time when we step up a gear and put those plans into action.

Despite having three seasons under our belts, we’re still at the very beginning of our flower farming journey.

There is so much to learn! This is one of the great joys of horticulture and botany; it offers a lifetime of study and learning. There’s always something new to learn from other gardeners and there are new ways to take this knowledge and adapt it to our needs here at Blackmarsh Farm.

As all gardeners know, getting to know your site and its specific micro-climate and soils really helps if you’re to garden with nature rather than fight it. You often see gardens where the orientation of the plot is ignored, plants are in the wrong place, the wrong species for the nature of the local soil as well as inappropriate but alluring plants and impulse buys are used. It’s not surprising that some gardeners get disillusioned by their gardens. A simple understanding of and respect for your local climate and soils and an awareness of the local flora and fauna will bring a far better chance of successful and rewarding gardening.

That said, it’s never stopped me from pushing the boundaries, experimenting with tender plants being a case in point. Returning from milder parts of the country, peering through a wall of exotic foliage in the car, I’ve brought gleanings from those tempting nurseries in Cornwall, cuttings from a botanist friend’s fragrant conservatory, Peruvian purple running potatoes, new world Salvias, Alocasias and Colocasias, species Dahlias collected by plant-hunting gurus, towering Echiums from Tresco, and ridiculously frost-shy Bananas and Cannas.

Where are they now? Short-lived, but what joy in pushing those parameters. Sometimes it works. I have fresh Myrtle cuttings in the tunnel from a large bush in my mother’s garden in Devon, which originated, via rather tortuous

routes, from the tiny island of Anti Paxos in Greece.

Sadly, the innocent joy of bringing cuttings back in one’s washbag has had to stop. There are many dangerous pathogens threatening our flora from just a few miles across the Channel and we must do what we can to keep them in check. This is one of the very best reasons to support our native horticultural industries and our new raft of small, independent flower farms. As a country, we still import vast quantities of cut flowers and foliage from all over the world and this brings obvious risks. To counter this, all imports have to be fumigated and, in theory, inspected. In reality, in these rather challenging times, this is impractical so buying local makes huge sense, especially as we are lucky to enjoy a climate, although itself uncertain, in which we can grow wonderful, fresh, seasonal flowers and foliage.

So, across the country, our wonderful British flower farmers are getting their growing season into gear.

Seed packets will be excitedly opened, seed trays filled, labels written - all that magical promise that starts in January with the exciting prospect of new varieties and colours. Gardening is a wonderful discipline, good for your health, both physical and mental, because so much of our practice is in the moment: the simple, mindful, meditative joys of working the soil; being intimately involved with nurturing and observing our plants; the extraordinary joy of being outside in all weathers; being close to and learning the ways of nature and the wildlife and environment that we can do so much to help.

However, we also have the hope of the future: that stunning spring display, those spires of summer, the planting of a tree whose glorious prime we may never see. We have one foot in the now and the other deeply invested in the future - ours, our children’s and that of the planet as a whole. blackshedflowers.blogspot.co.uk blackshedflowers

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 63

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n terms of youth power, for a small town, Sherborne punches above its weight. It has five senior schools (if you include the International School in town and Leweston, a short distance outside) and a large number of primary schools, both in the town and locally, that feed into the system. It is perhaps then unsurprising that the young people of this town have taken it upon themselves to address our planet’s spiraling environmental challenges. Under the slogan, ‘Think Globally, Act Locally,’ they are working to shift the emphasis to attainable opportunities within the green spaces under our noses, in a rewilding project that will reintroduce the natural processes of wild habitats to unused parcels of ground around school playing fields. It is hoped that, in time, the local council will follow suit and help make Sherborne a ‘rewilded town’.

Leading by example in the meantime, our schools are focusing efforts on their respective patches and in attaining Conservation School status. >

66 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Lesley Malpas, CEO & founder, Operation Future Hope, with Dr Ruth Sullivan, headmistress, Sherborne Girls sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

68 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

The Conservation School Award is run by Operation Future Hope – a Dorset-based not-forprofit organisation founded by Lesley Malpas, a conservationist with a passion for educating and inspiring young people. We are devouring resources at an unsustainable level: a single year of human consumption for instance, requires ecosystems and resources equivalent to almost twice that. As David Attenborough has said, ‘We will be the reason we don’t exist’ [in the future]. We have witnessed a 75% decline in the invertebrate population across Europe and, before it was even a hot topic, Einstein said that, ‘If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.’ Of course, it’s very easy to become detached from such facts and figures which is why Lesley is working with schools to begin the reeducation at grassroots level.

‘I am really hoping for a ripple effect’ she explains.

‘Schools are powerful places where the students can start a movement that can become national. It is about empowering young people and giving them hope for their future. There is a big shift coming — an awakening and a shift in consciousness. There is still time to save our wildlife, but we have to act now.

In November 2018, Lesley gave a talk to Sherborne Girls Sixth Form on the importance of biodiversity and introduced the vision for the Conservation School Award. The girls got behind the idea and so did the headmistress – Dr Ruth Sullivan. Ruth studied geography and geology and is a committed conservationist. ‘I wanted to give the pupils an opportunity to engage directly with nature and gain hands-on experience,’ Lesley explains, ‘Along with my fellow director Peter Tait, Ruth was the catalyst in helping us launch the OFH Conservation School Award.’ As part of the rewilding plan for the school grounds Ruth agreed to giving over a parcel of land on the edge of the playing fields for the creation of a wildflower meadow.

In March this year, Andrew George, an artist-turnedhabitat creation specialist, was given the task of creating a design which would provide a place for the pupils to be in and amongst nature as well as turning the amenity grass into a diverse and rich habitat for wildlife. Not only will it be a haven for wildlife but also it will provide a garden for the pupils where they can enjoy downtime out of the school setting. As Ruth says, ‘It will allow them to reconnect with nature which is an important part of health and well-being.’

Sherborne Girls has become the first school in the country to be awarded the OFH Conservation School Award. It has also agreed to sponsor the rewilding plan for the The Gryphon School, as part of the initiative for independent schools to nominate and sponsor state schools. ‘It’s very exciting to have a partnership with the headmistress, Nicki Edwards, at the Gryphon School,’ says Ruth. On the day that we meet, the many schools who have since joined the scheme have come together to assist in the sowing of the perennial seeds in the Sherborne Girls meadow. It’s a chance to discover how OFH is not only helping to rewild Sherborne but to bring together children of the town for a common purpose.

‘Sherborne Girls approached us, and the idea chimes with the times,’ says Nicki Edwards. ‘It is something close to my heart and exciting to see the immense benefits and habitats that are possible. We have an Eco Club, which should be called Eco Warriors or even Marines,’ she adds. ‘It is for years 7-13 which is fantastic as all ages work together. There are 30-40 members in the club and they all do different things from rewilding to plastic recycling — whatever is their passion. It is great to see them working across schools.’ She adds that this is an environmental issue about which all children need to know. Nicki goes on to say, ‘Every child in the school is aware of what my generation has done to the planet and wants to be part of the discussion and the solution. This project gives them the opportunity to see the results of their commitment. It is tangible and good for the community. I am very grateful that Ruth (along with Lesley) has been a driving force behind bringing the schools together. It is a common concern no matter which school a child attends.’

Julie Simpson, headmistress of St Andrew’s Primary School in Yetminster, agrees. Her greatest concern is the mental well-being of the children. ‘Mental health and well-being is a big issue for us at the moment,’ she says. At St Andrew’s they are in the process of creating a garden on the site of the school’s disused swimming pool. The children collaborated on the design. ‘What the children wanted was a space to be quiet and calm,’ explains Julie. ‘They discussed it with Andrew, who then produced the design.’

Rewilding school grounds is central to the work of OFH, with each school working to individually tailored plans. ‘I would never have come up with the design for St Andrew’s Primary without the children’s help,’ says Andrew. ‘At the moment we are busy planting up 400 > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

70 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Andrew George, artist and habitat designer

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

L-R: Lesley Malpas, Operation Future Hope, Ann-Marie Kampf, Sherborne Abbey Primary, Julie Simpson, Yetminster Primary, Nicki Edwards, The Gryphon, Dr Ruth Sullivan, Sherborne Girls

72 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

saplings donated by The Woodland Trust, while rewilding the whole outdoor space and stopping the use of pesticides or herbicides. Nature gives a sense of well-being which cannot be dismissed. To me, the fact the children felt the need to call the garden ‘The Big Hug’ says it all.’

Back in the field, the seeds have all been planted and everyone is tucking into hot chocolate and brownies.

Alan Fléchon from the Gryphon tells me, ‘It’s up to the “zoomers” to repair the damage left by the “boomers”.’

Fellow pupil Oskar Maitland agrees, saying, ‘It is really important to restore natural habitats that have been decimated.’ ‘Collaboration is essential,’ adds Alfie Neville Jones. I find Chloë Dick who runs Sherborne Girls Eco Council and is an Eco Prefect, with fellow pupils Ellie Miller and Cat Sawyer, elbow deep in earth, still planting. She is excited to see how the planting grows and says, ‘This project shows that we are doing something towards creating a rewilding scheme for communal effect.’

Sherborne School is also in the process of creating a similar scheme on amenity land at its Carey’s playing field site. Director of Operations, Matthew Jamieson, says, ‘We have had many saplings delivered as part of the design and the boys who are members of the Environmental Action Group are looking forward to going out and digging the space to plant them.’

Headmaster Dr Dominic Luckett is pleased to be part of the Conservation School Award Scheme and, similarly to Sherborne Girls, will be working towards sponsoring King Arthur’s School, Wincanton, in

developing its own biodiverse site.

A lot has happened in a short space of time and I ask Lesley where her drive comes from. She says it began with her mother, who taught her a lot about nature, and then working in Africa in 2002, but it was her decision to return to university and study conservation and wildlife management which marked the turning point. Her aim with OFH is to provide schools with a template on which to build their own biodiversity action plan. The template can be simple, one which gives the school a structure to follow with pupils, or they can invest in a wildflower meadow such as we have seen today. Participating schools receive the OFH Conservation Schools Award and the right to become a Conservation School.

‘I believe in the future we will move from an industrial growth economy to a circular economy where we will restore our relationship with nature. Where rivers, forests and wildlife have rights just as we do.’ I hope she is right. It will provide these children with a lot of opportunities and career choices in the future.

We might have a long way to go before Lesley’s vision becomes a reality but what a joy it has been today to see the town’s young student population working together with shared hope towards a common goal. Seeing these children take such determined steps is inspiring and incredibly humbling. The “boomers” would do well to follow their lead. operationfuturehope.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 74 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

FROM FIELD TO TABLE Order our homegrown Tamworth ham, sausages, joints and bacon Demand for food parcels in and around Sherborne continues to be very high but donations are not keeping pace. Sherborne Food Bank relies solely on the generous food and cash donations from the community and remains in urgent need of your help.

When shopping please consider adding the following items to your trolley: • Tinned Vegetables and Meals • Rice and Pasta • Bottles/Jars/Cartons Donation points can be easily found at

Financial donations can also be made via our website.

Thank you.

www.sherbornefoodbank.org 07854 163869 | help@sherbornefoodbank.org

The finest Tamworth quality and flavour, a taste of the past!

A wide selection of Tamworth meats and meat boxes Our Tamworth Pork Home Delivery Boxes offer the best of artisan butchery, delivered directly to your door Also now taking booking for our amazing Tamworth Hog Roasts. You have never had crackling like it!

Please email or phone us with your individual requirements. info@thestorypig.co.uk Tel. 07802 443905 The Story Pig, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne See more at www.thestorypig.co.uk

Coffee Break The Cross Keys 88 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BJ crosskeyssherb crosskeyssherborne 01935 508130 thecrosskeyssherborne.com Old School Gallery Boyle’s Old School, High Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LF @yetminstergalle 01935 872761 yetminstergallery.co.uk

The Three Wishes 78 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ 01935 817777 thethreewishes.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 75

Food and Drink THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

PARMESAN AND GRUYÈRE BISCUITS

76 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

T

hese parmesan and gruyère cheese biscuits are really buttery and melt in the mouth. I once had some leftover pastry and cheese, so I grated some of the cheese onto the pastry, folded it, rolled it out and then cut out shapes. They were tasty but a little tough. The idea was born, however, and so I decided to incorporate the cheese into the pastry mix. My husband always likes a little heat in his cheese scones so adding the cayenne pepper seemed a good addition. They are ideal as snacks and for adding into packed lunches. They are also a quick bake for bake sales and make lovely little gifts if you are visiting family or friends.

What you will need

Two baking sheets Two silicon mats or baking parchment to put the biscuits on Biscuit cutters (plain round cutters about 5-6cm are a good size but they could be a little smaller. For the festive season you could use a snowflake cutter) Ingredients

80g plain flour 80g cold unsalted butter, cubed 50g Gruyère cheese, grated 30g Parmesan cheese, grated, plus a little extra to sprinkle on top Pinch of cayenne chilli powder (add a bigger pinch if you like a little heat) Ground black pepper Method

1 Pre-heat the oven to 200C, 180F, Gas Mark 7.

2 Put the flour, cayenne and a good grind of black pepper into a bowl or food processor.

3 Add the butter and rub in lightly with your fingertips or blitz in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

4 Add the cheese to the mixture. If using a food processor, pulse until combined.

5 Bring the mixture together with your hands until it creates a soft dough.

6 Wrap the dough in cling film and chill in the fridge

for 30 minutes.

7 On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to around 3-4mm (about the thickness of a pound coin).

8 Cut out the biscuits. Re-roll the dough until it is all used.

9 Place the biscuits on the baking parchment or silicone mat with space between them to allow for spreading.

10 Chill for another 30 minutes to prevent too much spread.

11 Bake for 10 minutes or so, until lightly browned at the edges.

12 Grind some more pepper over them together with a little sprinkle of leftover Parmesan.

13 Leave on the baking trays for a couple of minutes to firm up, then carefully move to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store the biscuits in an airtight container; they will keep for 3-4 days. These biscuits freeze well but will need to be defrosted and then placed in a hot oven for 5 minutes to crisp. bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

Image: Clint Randall

Food and Drink

GRILLED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI STALKS WITH THAI GREEN MANGO SALAD Sasha Matkevitch, The Green Restaurant

T

his nutritious main course salad is substantial, spicy, fresh and fruity. Thai flavours will help you make a healthy start to the new year.

Ingredients Serves 4

4 chicken breasts 3 medium-sized heads of broccoli, trimmed, sliced and blanched in salted water 100g cooked quinoa 100g fresh root ginger, peeled and finely sliced 100g spring onions, finely sliced 2 green mangoes, peeled and cut into thin strips 3 tbsp chopped Thai basil 3 tbsp chopped fresh mint 3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander 2tbsp fish sauce 6 tbsp Kaffir lime juice 6 tbsp Thai chili sauce 1 small chilli, deseeded and finely diced 1 stalk of lemon grass, very finely sliced 4 tbsp olive oil 150g unsalted peanuts, lightly toasted and roughly chopped 1 tbsp grated lime zest Cornish salt and black pepper to taste 78 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Method

1 The day before. Make marinade by combining fish sauce, lime juice, chilli sauce, fresh chopped chilli, olive oil and lemongrass together and set aside for a minimum of half an hour. Place the chicken breasts in the bowl and add 6 tablespoons of the marinade.

Reserve the rest. Marinade the chicken overnight.

2 Next day. Preheat the oven to 100C or gas mark 4.

Take the chicken out of the marinade and pat dry on kitchen paper.

3 Fry the chicken in a heavy-based frying pan until it is browned all over, then cook it in the oven for ten minutes.

4 Set aside to cool completely.

5 Pour the cooking juices and lime zest into a large mixing bowl with the reserved dressing and emulsify it with a whisk.

6 Add quinoa, broccoli, ginger, spring onions, mangoes and chopped herbs. Mix well and season with salt and black pepper to taste.

7 Divide the salad between four large plates and top with thinly sliced chicken.

8 Garnish with toasted peanuts and serve immediately. greenrestaurant.co.uk

A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

A

James Hull, The Story Pig

s the turkey disappears, so too do the memories of the wettest autumn we have had as pig farmers. The nearly constant rain throughout October and November made working conditions in the pig field very difficult but… we are heading into a new year now so things will surely get better. As this is the January article it has to be written quite a bit ahead of time (deadlines James, deadlines!). So, at the time of writing, there are still many things I don’t know, however there are lots of things I do know too.

J is for January and for Just around the corner. We are past the shortest day and, by the end of the month, we will be able to say, as we do every year, ‘Have you noticed, the days are starting to pull out?’ Personally, I always feel better when this happens.

F is for February and for Freezing. February can be the month when winter really bites, with frozen windscreens and pipes. From an outdoor, pig farming point of view, this is a tricky time and one I dread. It’s also the time that new life peeps through: snowdrops are in full bloom, daffodils are forcing their way from the cold ground and we have a glimpse of things to come.

M is for March and for More. More hours in the day, more spring flowers, more cold spring winds, more buds, more birds singing, more happy days outside.

A is for April and for Amazing. Spring is in full bloom, filling us with wonder and gladness that yet again nature has won. Flowers are blooming everywhere, new lambs are being born, the days are getting longer, and the spring sunshine has some heat behind it, giving us a glimpse of things to come.

M is for May and for Magic. Now we are flat out into the most incredible month. Everything is growing at full pelt. As you drive along the country lanes the verges are almost visibly growing. The fields are at their most verdant. Farms are alive with activity, with silaging in full swing. The days are so long that there are almost enough hours in the day. Life feels good and people are happy.

J is for June and for Joyful. The longest days of the year are in this month, time to garden until ten o’clock in the evening. You get up at 5am and it is light, light enough not to need headlights on your car. The garden is in full bloom, filling every gap with lush, soft, green growth. There’s an abundance of midsummer events filling our calendars. The pigs are at their happiest, the

paddocks are dry and they start to sleep under the stars as the night’s stay warm.

J is for July and for Jolly hot. By now the days can be scorching; thoughts turn to ice creams and cold cider.

Thoughts of mud are a distant memory and wellies are gathering dust in the corner. All pig jobs can be done in shorts and work boots. We have to water the pigs when it gets too hot for them.

A is for August and for Abundance. Nature is giving back: the crops that were planted a few short months ago are ripe and ready for harvest. Combine harvesters are rolling, dust is everywhere. There are still lovely long days, although the evenings can have that British bite that makes us glad that we didn’t wear shorts and that we brought a jumper with us to that summer evening BBQ! S is for September and for Sunsets. This month, even though we hate to admit it, things are changing.

Often as September begins, so does the return of heavy morning dews. The light changes, shadows lengthen.

At our farm we have the most amazing sunsets. If it’s been a hot summer the grass is dry and burnt, and lawn mowing has slowed to a trickle.

O is for October and for Out. Out come the wellies. Out go the long days. The days are shortening rapidly now and the clocks change to winter time. We can all comment on how dark it is in the evenings!

No moaning about being too hot now, memories of summer are receding. Thoughts turn to Christmas, although it still seems far away.

N is for November and Not again. My absolute least favourite month. It’s wet, gloomy, cold and miserable and I’m always glad when it has passed.

D is for December and for Dark. Sometimes there are hardly any hours of daylight - I count the days until the shortest day is behind us. Christmas is upon us, thank goodness for that. The lights and Christmas spirit lift us through the bleak winter days. Plants and animals are asleep, what a great idea!

And then it’s round again. Writing this makes me long for the days to come. It also makes me realise just how much I am ruled by the seasons and Mother Nature, and that spring comes every year. How we must look after nature! thestorypig.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 79

Food and Drink

HOLY SMOKE

T

David Copp

he invitation to 2019 Prowien, the world’s largest wine trade fair held in Dusseldorf, offered the opportunity for me to taste a cannabis wine made from biodynamically-grown sauvignon blanc. Their spokesman said, ‘We put the best leaves from our cannabis sativa into the fermenting wine and use the alcohol to extract the harmful tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC).’

For those unaware of such developments I can assure you that cannabis-related drinks are already a billiondollar industry outside the UK. This year the business is expected to grow fast in the UK. It will take some time to wean me off the aesthetic pleasure of opening a bottle of decent claret or burgundy but I can understand the attraction for those health-conscious millennials who wish to curb their consumption of alcohol yet still go to the pub or cocktail bar to wind down after a day’s hard work, or to have a glass or two of wine with dinner.

It helps our understanding to know that cannabis wine is not a new idea: cannabis was first mixed with rice a few thousand years ago. The difference today is that we now know how to separate the therapeutic quality of cannabidiol (CBD) from the harmful psychoactive ingredient THC (which remains illegal).

Moreover, attitudes to cannabis are changing. 65% of respondents in a recent survey said they felt relaxed and satisfied after tasting cannabis wine without feeling high. The balance of people in the survey only thought you might get high. Thus, education will be an important part of any promotional activity.

One vital fact producers will want to get across is that it is illegal to have more than 0.2% of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that is considered harmful. You can be sure that both producers and the relevant industry authorities will keep a close check on this figure.

However, it is not only wine that works well with cannabis. The London-based Hop and Hemp Brewing Company has just announced the UK’s first CBDinfused, low-abv craft beer, claiming that beer lovers will be able to unwind without fear of a hangover.

Hops and hemp are old friends. The brewers were

80 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

attracted to the sector because they recognised there was an underlying interest in low-alcohol or no-alcohol beer.

By adding a twist of hemp-derived CBD, a new product has been introduced to respond to the modern, hectic lifestyle. Hop and Hemp have introduced two low-calorie beers to meet the needs of modern society. Easy Times IPA delivers distinctive aromas from American hops and is big on taste. Lowdown Lager is a crisp, golden pilsnerstyle lager that hits the palate with gentle spiciness.

Hop and Hemp Brewery hoped that drinkers would be able to enjoy their refreshment without the worst effects of alcohol and are pleased with the results from their recent survey of pub-goers who liked their beer for its taste and aroma but who were most pleased that it cut down the alcohol intake.

I remember my first experience of drinking a nonalcoholic beer at the Guinness Brewery in North London.

I had been to lunch there before and knew to expect steak and kidney pudding with a glass of the dark stuff.

However, on this occasion, the beer was not dark but light. I’d heard a rumour that they were moving into the lager market but had no idea we had been drinking a lowalcohol beer. I remember it was a most enjoyable lunch, made memorable by my introduction to low-alcohol lager.

Another British enterprise that delights me is the Cornish Rum Company which has recently launched Dead Man’s Finger, a spiced rum with CBD that is fun to drink without the alcohol traditionally associated with spirits. It delights me because I remember the launch of Vladivar Vodka in Warrington fifty years ago. We promoted our vodka brand as a trendy, lefty, fun-drink best consumed with fruit drinks or coca cola, and we produced an LP record, Join the Party, which had 12 approved hits and Bill Tidy’s drawings showing how to enjoy yourself without over-indulging.

It may be too late for some of us to change our drinking habits but I am delighted to know that safe, cannabisrelated drinks can be enjoyed for fun and relaxation, and will lead to enjoyment without the nasty problems associated with too much alcohol. Let’s hope that 2020 brings lower consumption of alcohol, better health, less strain and stress, safer driving, and more enjoyment.

Lifestyle Discover/Shutterstock

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

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Animal Care

Lucia Romero/Shutterstock

84 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

A DOG’S LIFE

P

Mark Newton-Clarke, MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

lants and wildlife are adapted to the rhythm of the seasons and, once upon a time, so were we.

This connection with the natural world is not completely lost for many of us who walk dogs, cycle to work or spend time outside for leisure or employment.

Whether this tenuous link with the past is enough for our ancient physical and emotional needs remains to be seen. The more comfortable we are, it seems the less satisfied we become. This is where humans and our canine companions appear to differ, as our dogs have taken to the good life with impressive enthusiasm, claiming the warm and comfy parts of the house without any effect on their spiritual wellbeing. Cats have generally continued to plough their own furrow and adopt the hunting lifestyle of their ancestors with little regard for the changes that are going on around them.

We could debate the question of a spiritual dimension to canine existence but, for this column, I think I should concentrate on the more physical and practical aspects of dog health. It is true that the place of the dog in human society has changed from a work-mate to a house-mate in a very short space of time. I certainly won’t deny that my father’s generation had great affection for their working dogs but few were lucky enough to enjoy a long and happy retirement (true for both human and dog). Geriatric medicine and surgery for animals just did not exist 40 years’ ago but, as we all know, age is accompanied by some unwelcome companions. Lumps and bumps, bad teeth and creaky joints are among them. As we grow old with our pets, we want them to have access to the same care as ourselves in the hope that advancing years do not go hand in hand with a proportional decline in quality of life. I am glad to say that we can now do exactly that!

So, let’s go back to our modern lifestyle. The doggies are lapping it up; surely there can be no down side? Well, in fact, relatively few. Many problems are dermatological, the warmth and humidity of centrally-heated homes allowing bacteria, fungi and yeasts to thrive in hot, wet fur. Bugs apart, we are also seeing plenty of allergic skin diseases. One theory to explain the increase in allergic diseases such as eczema and asthma in children suggests growing up in a sanitised environment deprives the juvenile immune system of enough stimulation

to produce the level of tolerance that once prevented such widespread affliction. Probably the same is true for puppies and, although dogs do not seem to get asthma, there is certainly an increase in allergic skin disease in many breeds, though West Highland terriers have always featured prominently in this respect. This observation reflects the power of genetics to influence individual susceptibilities.

Skin disorders in dogs and cats are one of the commonest reasons they are presented to us in the clinics.

One factor is the very visible nature of the complaint, picked up very early by owners who spot the signs of hair loss, itchiness or red, spotty skin. Like all the tissues of our body, the skin can only respond to insult in a certain number of ways, so the symptoms are similar no matter the cause. During the initial consultation for a cat or dog with a skin disorder, the first thing to do is find out if parasites are present. You would think that fleas are easy to spot but long, dark hair is very effective at hiding all sorts of things. Before you visit the vet with your itchy pet, look long and hard, back-combing the fur for the tell-tale signs of flea ‘dirt’, best detected with a sheet of white, wet paper that reveals streaks of dark red after a few minutes of contact. Place the paper under the animal so that the combed dried blood fragments fall on it and examine it closely. Even a single streak means a flea has been at work recently so review your flea control strategy, not forgetting the carpets and soft furnishings in the house that will contain flea eggs and larvae. Call us for advice on the best products to use and how to apply them.

I know I talk about fleas a lot but the legacy of last summer, when we saw record numbers of pets with these pesky parasites, means that their lifecycle will continue in our centrally-heated, fitted-carpeted, comfy-sofa’d houses if we let them.

Perhaps some of you watched the TV series Fleabag?

Well, if so, enough said (wasn’t it fab?) but it had nothing to do with fleas as far as I could make out. If you want to relax in your home at night with the doggies being stroked as you all recline on the sofa (a.k.a. Chez Newton-Clarke), while you binge on a new box set, make sure there are no unwelcome visitors lurking in the rugs. newtonclarkevet.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

Animal Care

FASCIOLA HEPATICA

Nicola Goodreid BVSc MRCVS, Kingston Veterinary Group

F

asciola hepatica is commonly known as liver fluke. It is a parasitic disease that predominantly affects sheep and cattle but can infect any mammal species, including humans. Prevalence of the disease is increasing due to changes in climate and farming practices. Infection usually occurs during the summer, with animals presenting with signs of disease in late autumn.

eat the grass. The fluke then travel out of the intestines and travel up to the liver where they live and reproduce.

The eggs are passed into the intestines via the bile and the cycle starts again.

Eggs can survive on the pasture over winter and immature fluke can survive within hibernating snails.

These fluke will emerge and hatch when the warmer spring weather comes around.

Life-cycle

Acute infection

Infected animals pass fluke eggs in their dung. These eggs hatch and infect snails that live on the pasture. The fluke then develop within the snail before being shed by the snail. The fluke are ingested by the animals as they

Although acute infections are rare, they are commonly fatal. They occur as a result of large amount of fluke being ingested. Such a large number of fluke migrating out of the intestines at the same time

86 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

leads to a large amount of blood loss, intestinal inflammation and liver failure.

Chronic infection

Chronic infections present with much more subtle, nonspecific signs. These signs include weight loss/reduced growth rate, reduced milk yield, change in milk quality, diarrhoea and increased incidence of other diseases, particularly salmonella.

Migration of the fluke through the liver causes scarring and inflammation leading to reduced liver function. Scarring of the liver also leads to it being disposed of in the slaughterhouse due to poor aesthetics. Some statistics indicate that <21% of cattle livers and <6% of sheep livers are condemned due to liver fluke.

Diagnosis

Test for infection include faecal egg counts on dung, blood or milk tests, or faecal antigen tests. Each test has

different merits; some are quicker, easier and cheaper, some are better at picking up early infections. The choice of test is dependent on the individual circumstances.

Treatment

Control plans involve strategic grazing methods and use of medicines known as anthelmintics. The most desired product to use is Triclabendazole as it is the only product that is effective against all stages of fluke.

Due to its popularity, resistance has begun to develop.

Although almost exclusively seen in sheep, there have been reported cases of resistance in cattle. Treatment in milking cows is difficult as there is a period after each treatment that their milk cannot be used. This ranges from 60 hours to 50 days depending on the drug used.

There is little evidence to show that immunity can develop and, given the increasing risk of anthelmintic resistance, correct treatment plans are important to maintain control methods for this disease. kingstonvets.co.uk

Paul Steven/Shutterstock

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 88 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

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Cycling

CHEATING THE WIND Mike Riley, Rileys Cycles

B

ack in February 2019 I wrote about weightsaving on performance bicycles and in September we looked at wheels and friction.

Another factor affecting bike speed is aerodynamics.

When you read this you may be carrying around the effects of too many mince pies, so how can you achieve a performance gain to compensate? If everything is running smoothly the biggest resistance over about 12mph is aerodynamic drag. A graph of drag versus speed shows a cubed relationship; this means if speed increases two 92 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

times, drag increases eight times. The drag of an object is determined by frontal area and how â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;slipperyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the shape is. This affects how cleanly air flows over the object.

While working as a technician testing drag of underwater vehicles, my company hired BMT Teddington wind tunnel. This facility was in high demand; Maclaren used it for testing new designs, and not only cars. Once when we arrived, Maclaren were testing a downhill racer ski suit and helmet. The helmet was a teardrop shape and I was not surprised later to see

time trial cycle helmets adopt this shape. This highlights the point that cycle designers are not inventing something new when they proclaim a breakthrough in technology; they are adopting a principle from another sport or technology area. High-performance race bikes are like Maclaren’s race cars in that technology trickles down from the race teams to the products we can buy.

Wilier bikes are ridden by Team Direct Energie in World Series events, so are tested at the highest level of competition and must keep pace with or exceed the best performance available to remain competitive.

Marginal gain is a buzzword coined by Dave Brailsford, the Sky cycling team manager. It is a philosophy of seeking every small gain possible such as diet, mental attitude and, of course, fast bikes. This scientific approach was preceded over 60 years ago by legendary bike racer Fausto Coppi, who explored vegetarian diets, alternative training methods and who organised his team like a general, however his bike shape was restricted by the materials available.

Another area cycling borrows from is aerospace. With the introduction of carbon fibre, frame designers had the freedom to create complex shapes instead of being restricted to round tubes. Wing shapes are chosen from National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) profiles which are selected to give the best trade-off of lift and drag, and a designer will choose one to suit his application. Racing’s governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) sets rules so bike shapes cannot be too extreme and the depth of a frame member is limited.

This means the trailing edge of the profile tube is blunt instead of tapering to a point, however the air flow over and behind the shape is still smoothed, thus reducing drag. This is why you may read in the specs that a frame has a truncated NACA profile or a Kamm tail.

The biggest impact on the frontal area is the rider.

This is why racers have their handlebars low compared to their saddle. In triathlon and time trials they may use handlebar extensions to keep their arms close together to further reduce their frontal area. I get a buzz from overtaking riders who are not aware of this secret weapon on a descent. My technique is to drop my head and raise my bottom a little off the saddle, this flattens my back and means my knees can absorb bumps, my pedals are horizontal and I tuck my knees and elbows in. On an aero-framed bike I can gain a significant advantage.

You may have read about Adam Anstey’s epic Race Across America last year. Adam had the best aerodynamic set up that could be achieved because his

"I get a buzz from overtaking riders who are not aware of this secret weapon on a descent." compact body shape is ideal. His Wilier NDR bike has a slippery aero-frame shape and his wheels were selected as the best trade-off between climbing and aeroperformance. This saved him many watts of effort on the long plains and allowed him to fly downhill.

I wrote earlier about wheels and there is a fashion now for extremely deep rims which reduce drag. You can visualise the flow of air over an object using computer modelling or coloured smoke in a wind tunnel, and what you will see are whorls and eddies as the air flow detaches from an object. As a sailor, this air flow is important and I trim my sails to achieve the cleanest air flow, using streaming tell-tales to see it. If you viewed the air flow around a rotating bike wheel you would see spokes cause air turbulence and likewise rim and tyre.

A solid wheel is an extreme solution and is used in track racing where cross-winds are not a problem. For road riding, the effect of side winds is a consideration and riders with deep section rims are at risk of being blown sideways when passing a field gate or being passed by a lorry. The deeper rim also adds weight, however they do look very cool and pro! My preference is for a less deep rim with bladed spokes and a tyre size that matches the rim so they form a smooth oval shape.

The latest Wilier high-performance models such as the Zero have an aerodynamic cockpit; this is achieved by a one-piece carbon handlebar and stem where the shape of the bars is flattened. Even spacers on the steerer tube and the seat post are aero-profiled and cables are tucked away in the frame so the bike looks sleek and purposeful.

If you want to gain any more you will need yoga classes to adopt the crouched position Chris Froome adopts on long, fast alpine descents, but you will need to shed the mince pies first! @rileyscycles rileyscycles.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 93

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94 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

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Body and Mind

PARTY ON

Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

Indira's Work/Shutterstock

C

ontinuing with our party make-up tutorial from last month, we can begin to add the glamour and special effects to elevate your make-up look.

Last month we applied our face base, concealed, and applied eyeshadows.

Now turn your attention to your eyebrows to gently define them, which helps to frame your whole eye area and complete your make up. Use either very soft strokes with an eyebrow pencil and then brush through with an eyebrow comb to soften the look, or use a specific brow powder that helps to fill in ‘gappy’ eyebrows and create an illusion of hair depth. If the colour and shape are already good, simply brush them through with an eyebrow comb or brow gel to smooth and neaten them.

Then use some blush or bronzer to add warmth by sweeping it on the upper outer cheekbones with a medium-sized blusher brush. This gives a glow to the face and lifts the cheekbones but be careful not to put your blush too close to your nose as it can flatten your features.

Consider also the colour tone of your blusher as it should be the same tone as your chosen lip product: pinky blush pinky lips; coral blush - coral or peach-toned lips.

Add some pencil eyeliner in a soft grey or brown as black can be very harsh unless you have very dark colouring.

Applying at the roots of your lower lashes about ¾ of the way along from the outer corner is a great way just to define 96 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

the lower lashes and frame your eyes. Do not apply eyeliner, particularly liquid liner, into your water line as it has the opposite effect; it closes up the eye by making the perceived eye opening appear smaller. Applying a little liner along the top root of the lashes as well from the outer corner right at the lash line helps your lashes look longer and thicker.

Take it from the outer corner through to where your eyelashes start to go shorter and stop there, otherwise again you risk closing up the eye by bringing the line too far along towards the inner corner.

Apply your second or third coat of mascara and lift the brush upwards in a zigzag motion to get the most lift into your lashes as you apply the mascara up and out. For lips that last the evening, use a lip liner to line around the lips, then shade this in before working a lipstick in with a lip brush. Using a lip brush rather than applying straight from your stick means you can work the product into your skin much more effectively.

If a solid lipstick is too much for you, seek out sheer formulas and lip glosses to complete your look.

Pack your lip product in your handbag for those later top-ups and take a pressed powder to blot any shine you spot in that toilet mirror! Have fun and ‘Keep Dancing!’ thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

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Body & Mind

HOW TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Ambassador

T

he end of the festive frivolity and the approach of the coldest, wettest, darkest months of winter can be a challenging time for many of us. Here are some reasons why you might be feeling low this winter and some suggestions as to how you can support your own wellbeing, as well as that of others.

The facts

There are diagnosable mental health conditions that can arise at this time of year. Many of us might experience some ‘winter blues’ but there is also a medical condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It affects approximately 2 million people in the UK across all ages, including children. Research suggests the leading cause of SAD is the reduced sunlight which can lead to greater feelings of lethargy and depressive symptoms.

If you think you might be showing symptoms of SAD, contact your GP. Who can help?

Staying mentally well goes hand in hand with staying physically well throughout the winter months. That’s 98 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

why Dorset Mind runs an annual campaign called ‘RED January’, which encourages people across the county to do something active every day in January for better mental health and wellbeing. The charity team takes part too, hosting walks every weekend in January at locations such as Bridport and Weymouth seafront. It’s harder to feel motivated when it’s cold and wet so Dorset Mind will be with you every step of the way. Whether it’s simply using the stairs, taking the dog for a walk or joining a group activity, you set your own goal and Dorset Mind will support you to get active this January.

Feelings of isolation and loneliness can be heightened at this time of year, as well as stress and anxiety. It’s known that the Samaritans support more people around the New Year than any other time of year. If you are in crisis, or know someone who is, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116123.

Self-care is key

It’s easier said than done, but taking additional care of yourself during the cold, winter months is important.

Make time for the things that you really want to do

Murat Emre/Shutterstock

and don’t feel pressured to socialise unless you want to. Most importantly, be honest with yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

your unfiltered life to the filtered lives of others. Make connections with the people who mean the most to you.

Sleep, stress and a routine

Learning, taking notice and giving have all been linked to improved mental health. You could use the winter months to give them a go. Try volunteering for a charity, joining a winter class, developing a skill or taking part in RED January. You could perhaps help an elderly neighbour by getting their shopping when it snows and see how it makes you feel. These are just a few of the many ways you can learn, give or take notice this winter.

Sleep deprivation can affect mental health and wellbeing. Try to ensure that you get regular, sufficient sleep and set yourself a healthy routine. This is not about how many hours of sleep you get as everyone is different and focusing too heavily on this can make things worse.

Instead, set yourself a routine of winding down before bedtime by reading a book, switching off your screens and doing things that help you to relax, such as taking a bath. It is also beneficial to get plenty of daylight during the day and destress with exercise or meditation.

Connect in a meaningful way

Although it’s tempting to hibernate during winter, try to maintain and develop social connections, even if it’s just with your closest friend or a relative. Make sure that you connect with people in person too, rather than just online.

It can be difficult with social media but try not to compare

Other ‘happy’ activities

Where to go for a bit more help

If you need a bit of extra support, Dorset Mind has groups across the county which offer wellbeing advice and peer support. These groups can be attended without referral and without waiting lists. More self-care resources are also available on the website, as well as details on how to get support. dorsetmind.uk/help-and-support sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99

Body and Mind

STAND AND STRENGTHEN

Image: Stuart Brill

Craig Hardaker, BSc (Hons), Communifit

E

veryone at Communifit would like to wish you all a very happy 2020. It’s now time to get back to normality: healthy eating and regular exercise!

It is, however, often hard after the Christmas period to find the motivation to get back to healthy eating and higher intensity exercise in order to burn off the extra calories consumed over the festive season.

In November’s article I gave you four excellent exercises from our Sit and Strengthen class. Here are four more from our equally popular Stand and Strengthen exercise class. This exercise class is great for anyone who wants to build overall strength, mobility and fitness. There are also many exercises that can help you to improve your balance.

100 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

As with all exercise, please be sensible, particularly when working with weights, which should be a weight you are comfortable with. If in any doubt, seek medical advice before beginning.

Squat

Standing shoulder-width apart with an engaged core and looking forward, start to bend your knees so that they cover your toes – keep neutral alignment. With your back straight, aim for a ninety degree angle from the knee joint and then push back up, leading with your heels. If you are concerned you may not be able to push back up after lowering, place a chair behind you. You can also use the chair as a marker, to see how low you

are going! Using your own body weight as resistance is hard enough but adding dumbbells can make this even more challenging.

Exercise classes in Dorset and Somerset

Ball rotations

Standing shoulder-width apart with an engaged core, extend a physio/pilates ball away from the chest.

The further you reach the harder this exercise will be. Turn the ball to the right and then the left, like a steering wheel. Repeat this motion until fatigued.

Just like a steering wheel, the ball can be turned but not moved. The challenge is to keep the ball in a central position. Don’t have a ball? Use a cushion!

Side steps

Keeping your head, hips and toes facing forwards, side-step to the right twice, stepping as far you can, then bring your legs close together and repeat a second time. Once completed, repeat this to the left twice, ensuring you transfer your body weight from one leg to the other. Having completed the two side steps, try hovering with the other foot (left foot when you step right and right foot when you step left).

Progress by taking wider and faster steps.

Chest extension

Standing shoulder-width apart with an engaged core, place both hands on your chest and extend one arm out in front of you to your maximum, and then bring it back towards your chest. Once completed, repeat with the other arm. Both the outwards and inwards phase need to be at the same speed, staying chest height throughout the movement. It is fairly common to have a shoulder limitation, so don’t overextend. Make sure the movement is comfortable.

It is immensely important to perform correct technique on each exercise. It is also worth noting that not all exercises will suit everyone. To make sure you are suitable, and that you are performing the exercises correctly, attend one of our classes for an assessment and join the ever-growing Communifit team. Invest in your health and be proactive, not reactive, in 2020. You are totally worth it.

Once again, best wishes to everyone for the new year, and a very big thank you to all those who supported Communifit, and its drive for better health, during 2019. communifit.co.uk

Over 50s classes Sit and Strengthen

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

Monday 11:00 - 12:00, Jubilee Hall, Church St, Yetminster Tuesday 12:15 - 13:15, Abbey Manor Community Centre, Preston Road, Yeovil Tuesday 13.00 – 14.00, Village Hall, Church Road, Bradford Abbas Wednesday 14:15 - 15:00, West End Hall, Littlefield, Sherborne Thursday 12:30 - 13:30, Village Hall, Halves Lane, East Coker Friday 12:30 - 13:15, Youth and Community Centre, Tinneys Lane, Sherborne

Stand and Strengthen

The same objectives as Sit and Strengthen but you are standing! Targeting all the major muscle groups. You must be able to stand for the whole duration but can hold a chair if needed. A tough class working around your chair.

Wednesday 15.15 - 16:00, West End Hall, Littlefield, Sherborne Friday 13:30 - 14:15, Youth and Community Centre, Tinneys Lane, Sherborne

Don’t Lose it, Move it!

An active circuit-based class, improving muscle strength, aerobic fitness and core stability. The class for those who like a challenge!

Wednesday 16:15 - 17:00 West End Hall, Littlefield, Sherborne Friday 14:30 - 15:15, Youth and Community Centre, Tinneys Lane, Sherborne

Seated Yoga

All the benefits of traditional Yoga, but without the need to get up and down from the floor! Fantastic for anyone looking to gain upper arm strength and core stability, whilst building a calmer mind and stronger body. Perfect for lower body rehab.

Tuesday 13:30 - 14:30 West End Hall, Littlefield Sherborne

£4 for 45 min and £5 for 1 hour classes.

To find out what class will suit you, please contact us for your free consultation.

Pay as you go

@communifit

Booking not required. For more information call 07791 308 773 or email info@communifit.co.uk

communifit

communi_fit

communifit.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101

Body and Mind

YOGA IN SHERBORNE Emma Rees, Instructor, Yoga with Emma

Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock

102 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

I

n the foyer of one local venue there are six posters for yoga classes on the noticeboard. Typing ‘Yoga in Sherborne’ into a search engine, there are – unbelievably – 162,000 results. There is plenty of yoga out there but, like any popular activity, it can be subject to generalisations and misconceptions which may put people off. Yoga has many benefits including improved posture, a lowering of stress levels and better concentration. There are varying styles and different teachers will have different approaches but here I try to bust some of the common yoga myths.

‘I’m not flexible enough to do yoga.’

How much you’ll get out of yoga isn’t determined by whether or not you can touch your toes; every super-bendy yogi was once a beginner. Yoga is non-competitive and poses will look and feel different for each body, depending on a person’s alignment and range of movement. Of course, if you have health conditions or injuries, please be responsible: most classes will involve movement and perhaps some physical challenge so consult a health professional first if you have concerns.

‘Isn’t it just slow stretching?’

Yoga comes in many forms. It could be slow and gentle or it might leave you sweating. Check out teachers’ websites, ask questions and try different classes to find sessions you enjoy. Yoga has a rich history but has evolved in a variety of ways, so it pays to be open-minded. One of the great things about yoga is the variety of people who find their way onto the mat, be it through mindfulness, physical fitness or as a way to set aside an hour of time for themselves.

‘Isn’t it just for women?’

It is generally accepted that the first forms of yoga were developed by men, so it is interesting that it is now often seen as a hobby for women.

Depending on the type of class there may be a greater proportion of women but I would really encourage more men to give it a go. Improving flexibility, strengthening the muscles and switching off from a busy day are benefits that are just as applicable to men. One element of my work is teaching classes of teenage boys. They have been brilliant in their approach to yoga, learning stretching exercises to complement their other sports and vital life skills in terms of dealing with pressure and stress.

‘What about all the expensive kit?’

You can spend a lot of money on stunning leggings, a top-of-the-range yoga mat, and even overseas yoga holidays but you don’t need to. Chances are, you’ve already got something comfortable to wear (no shoes needed!) and most classes will provide mats. You should find class fees are in line with similar activities and there may be discounts for regular students.

There is no shortage of yoga opportunities around Sherborne.

Most gyms offer classes, and a lot of freelance teachers run classes at community halls, so there are plenty of ways to see if yoga is for you. emmareesyoga.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 103

Body and Mind

KEEPING FIT IN YOUR 50s (OR ANY AGE FOR THAT MATTER!)

Simon Partridge Bsc (Sports Science), Personal Trainer SPFit

T

he nation’s ageing population is expected to reach 20 million by 2030 and currently 36% of people aged 55 and over are physically inactive. Now that the New Year is here, we often focus on becoming fitter and healthier. Last month I wrote about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for a healthier mind, so this month I have returned to a subject you might more expect from a personal trainer.

The headline for these tips may well say ‘in your 50s’, but they can of course be applied to all of us, no matter what our age. I turned 50 last year so this particularly resonates with me now. My simple suggestions are as follows.

Include resistance training in your workout

This type of training strengthens bones and helps to improve your stability and posture. As we age, it is important to keep our bones, muscles and joints strong to ensure we stay mobile, prevent injury and defend against physical conditions such as osteoporosis. I am passionate about this type of training and have written many articles in this magazine on the subject. I am also proud to say we have many clients in their 50s and 60s who, as a result of their own hard work and dedication, are strong enough to, for example, deadlift their own bodyweight, both men and women. They are simply inspirational to all our other members both young and old.

Stay functional

We bend, lift, reach, push, twist and pull to perform everyday tasks and we should perform similar movements in the gym; stay away from one-dimensional machines. These movements tend to improve if we focus 104 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Flamingo Images/Shutterstock

on directional change and are aware of fundamental movement patterns.

Eat healthy food

A good gym plan is important but following this with a good nutritional plan is vital. It can help to decrease inflammation, improve digestion, and aid your workout recovery quicker. Other benefits include balanced hormones and improved sleep.

Vary your intensity

Workouts are not just about working hard. Your body responds well to high-intensity activity but being able to control movement and progress at your own rate while using correct technique is far more important. Quality not quantity.

Enjoy your workout

Exercise releases ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins.

As your workouts progress and you improve, you should feel a sense of satisfaction and a reward in being fitter and stronger.

If you do your workouts in a community-based atmosphere, you will gain an even greater feeling of wellbeing and support from others. Crossfit gyms/boxes do this superbly. I believe 100% in coaching and supporting members to achieve their goals around their busy lifestyle.

So, no matter what your age, how healthy, fit and strong will you be in 2020? spfit-sherborne.co.uk meditationpersonaltrainers.com

Sherborne’s Luxury New Care Home NOW OPEN Join us at Trinity Manor Care Home, our friendly team would love to show you around our stunning new home and answer any questions you may have.

Bespoke residential, dementia and respite care • Daily life-enrichment programme • Choice of nutritious and delicious home-cooked meals • Interactive multi-sensory environment for residents living with dementia

Tel: 01935 574 968 Bradford Road, Sherborne, DT9 6EX • www.barchester.com/TrinityManor Private dining • Concierge service • Choice of lounges • En-suite rooms Spa bathroom • Cinema room • Hairdressing salon • Minibus • Wifi • Café

Body & Mind

FOOD ALLERGY OR FOOD INTOLERANCE?

T

Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom GP & Complementary Practitioner

hese days we are all much more conscious of what we are eating for health reasons. Dietary measures are important for the prevention of medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, constipation and obesity. Food choice is also relevant to address medical symptoms and conditions that you might be troubled with. Many people immediately jump to the conclusion that they have a food allergy if they are experiencing symptoms that are associated with one particular food substance.

However, this is not necessarily the case as food allergy is only a minority cause of adverse food reactions.

Food allergy presents with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, flushing, swelling of the lips and tongue, acute onset asthma and runny nose within between 30 seconds and 2 hours of eating/drinking the substance that triggers the immune system allergic response. This can be extreme and lead to anaphylaxis which is a medical emergency needing immediate medical treatment with adrenaline ‘epipen’ injection.

Thankfully only 20% of anaphylactic reactions overall are due to food allergy. If you have had a reaction as above you should discuss this with your GP. Food intolerance is much less serious but certainly troublesome. It tends to come on a few hours after eating the precipitating food substance. There are a number of categories of this form of adverse reaction to food. Wheat intolerance is incredibly common and presents with bloating and diarrhoea soon after ingestion of food containing wheat such as bread, pasta, pizza base and anything else made with wheat flour.

Another adverse reaction is dairy intolerance due to the body’s inability to breakdown the lactose contained in

106 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

milk, butter and cheese. This also causes diarrhoea and bloating, as well as a feeling of general lethargy and sluggishness. Finally, there are the adverse reactions to components in processed food such as colourants, preservatives and taste enhancers. Examples are of these are sulphites, caffeine, MSG in Chinese food, E factors and tartrazine. These are all chemicals that have pharmacological effects that manifest with a large selection of adverse reactions such as facial flushing, headaches, palpitations, sweating and behaviour changes such as hyperactivity.

Detection of foods responsible for adverse reactions is usually by process of elimination. Exclusion of the food substance that you suspect for at least 2 weeks should be sufficient for you to know whether your symptoms have disappeared or persisted. If they have disappeared then you obviously have the solution and continued avoidance will keep you symptom-free. If you do still think you have a food allergy you can be tested by blood tests arranged through your GP or skin prick testing.

Food allergy testing with kinesiology, Vega testing, postal finger prick blood tests, hair or nail analysis is not scientific and studies have invalidated these methods.

Allergy testing can be helpful as it identifies the precise food that is causing the allergic reaction, however, as already stated, food allergy is much less common than food intolerance. The more logical approach is to do your own research initially by eliminating the foods mentioned above one at a time to see whether this relieves your food-related symptoms. doctorTWRobinson.com glencairnHouse.co.uk

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 –

Private Chapels of Rest Website www.ajwakely.com

Independent Family Directors and Monumental Mason 33 SparrowFuneral Road, Yeovil BA21 4BT Tel: 01935 479913 16 Newland, Sherborne, DorsetService DT9 3JQ -Tel: 01935 816817 - 24 Hour Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Private Chapels of Rest

Website.www.ajwakely.com

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 107

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Lettings & Property Management

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

1 Horsecastles, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3FB T: 01935 816209 E: info@stockwoodlettings.co.uk

www.stockwoodlettings.co.uk

108 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Sherborne £POA

Detached farmhouse in secluded location, four receptions rooms, kitchen with Aga, open fires, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, large garden, option on outbuildings.

Coming to the market this month Thornford – Five bedroom farmhouse Thornford – Village centre cottage with four bedrooms Corscombe – Detached, isolated farmhouse presented to the highest standard, with outbuildings Nr Gillingham – Detached three bedroom cottage Kilmington – Exceptional detached family home in the centre of the village For more information, please call our office in Sherborne

81 Cheap Street Sherborne 01935 815 657

traditional | contemporary | heritage sensitive | simple | sustainable raisearchitects.com

Property

THERE ARE REASONS, AND THERE ARE REAL REASONS Andy Foster, Director, Raise Architects

T

his isn’t a true story. I made it up. It didn’t happen. It’s a project for a new house. The clients have thought long and hard about the brief. They want a certain number of rooms; the sizes are specified and they’re all quite large. There are plenty of bathrooms. The kitchen is important and consequently the design for this has already been decided. There’s a study, and a snug and a playroom for the children. There will be a fancy staircase, similar to an example they’ve seen on TV. They want to be sustainable, hence the heating will run off a heat pump; they’d like to re-use rainwater and be careful about the sourcing of materials. Natural materials would be good, as would minimising plastic and toxic substances.

Overall the design should be sympathetic to its location and blend with the surroundings.

We start by investigating the site in order to understand it. We lay things out and try some different approaches. We develop a plan that works, and that sits well in the landscape. We have ideas about materials and how the house will look. We think about the tree planting that will soften the building and connect it with the landscape. We incorporate the latest trends in home automation and green technologies, and we have the scheme costed.

It’s time for the first design meeting, which is exciting. Our first time to present something and the client’s first time to see how their future home might appear. We explain what we’ve done and why. We show them how all of the components of the brief have been assembled. This is how they relate to each other; this is how we’ve treated the external appearance; this is how the interiors might feel; here are the allowances for heating, home automation systems and rainwater storage; this is an idea of the planting scheme.

110 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

We use drawings, models and realistic photomontages to illustrate the scheme. The clients love it and start to imagine themselves living in this thing which, as yet, is only a first idea. Then they ask about the cost and the meeting turns. It’s approximately double the budget. Things go a bit quiet and gloomy.

Some people don’t recover from this point but, fortunately, our clients seem pretty resilient. They thank us for what we’ve done. It’s what they wanted but, given the costs, they will have to reconsider things.

They’ll get back to us.

The following week we’re invited back.

Image: Gemma Evans, Unsplash

Surprisingly, perhaps, the clients appear very positive.

They explain how downhearted they’d been after our previous meeting. They’d built up that picture of their dream scheme over a long time. It was about how they wanted to live; how they wanted to bring up their children; how they wanted to present themselves to the outside world. It was an important, and deeply personal, statement.

However, they go on to explain how relieved they were that the process had caused them to re-assess things; now that they’d seen the scheme, they’d concluded that it just ‘wasn’t them’. They confessed that

many items were in the brief because they’d seen them elsewhere or because friends had them or because they were current and fashionable. They agreed that, whatever they ended up doing, they would need to focus on what they really wanted. They felt they were now in a position to start the real project.

This isn’t a true story. I made it up. It didn’t happen… but a tiny version of it is played out on most projects.

‘We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.’ (Kurt Vonnegut) sherborne@raisearchitects.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 111

Property

LUDBOURNE HALL

T

Bill Bennette

he earliest reference to Ludbourne Hall is in the will of William Sampson, who died in 1714 leaving the property to his wife and then to his son, also William. This suggests that the original building is likely to have been built in the 17th century.

Of course, changes will have been made over time, however the footprint of the building has remained virtually unchanged on maps dating from 1733 up until the current scheme was implemented.

By the end of the 18th century, the property was in the hands of the Crutwell family, proprietors and printers of the Sherborne Journal, a conservative-leaning paper which provided a contrary view to the Whiginspired Sherborne Mercury. From them it passed to Robert Willmott, a successful and compassionate owner of the neighbouring silk mill; it was during his tenure that the house was substantially updated. Subsequent owners included Charles Calder whose daughter 112 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

Georgiana married Louis Napoleon Parker. He was the architect of the Sherborne Pageant, remembered today in the Pageant Gardens which are visible from Ludbourne Hall.

In 1909 the Sherborne Urban District Council purchased the Ludbourne Hall estate as the site for a much-needed Town Hall, and used it as such until 1948 when the move was made to the Manor House in Newland. After that, it was home for a time to a range of light industrial activities, before becoming an old peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. In its latest incarnation, Ludbourne Hall has been transformed into a range of high-quality, modern properties. The development has been named Ludbourne Hall and the house is now referred to as Ludbourne House. The present owners have developed the site to provide stylish, innovatively designed, self-contained homes in the centre of town, featuring all modern conveniences. New joinery is included everywhere and

new services have been integrated seamlessly and do not impose on the carefully planned spaces.

The original house has been sympathetically restored to enhance its fine proportions and classical details.

It retains many of its early architectural features, for example its fine Purbeck stone façade, whilst incorporating timeless new design to meet the needs of contemporary living, including well-considered privacy and security for a new owner. The space has been well utilised to provide elegant and flexible living areas. The main entrance hall is a large and airy space offering good alternative use as a dining room for stylish dinner parties, with its elegant sweeping staircase in period style. The stone-inspired, easy-to-maintain porcelain floors, with efficient underfloor heating, flow through the hall, kitchen and guest wing and form a quiet background for these busy areas. The drawing room, with its oak plank floor, has wonderful proportions, ready to receive fine rugs and furniture from a former, larger home in the nearby countryside or further afield.

There is a stone fire surround in perfect harmony with this beautiful room and classically inspired bookcases

have been sensitively designed to house a collection of books or objects.

There is a large and comfortable, fully fitted family kitchen which includes state of the art appliances and a superb cooking range. A separate utility and boot room is located in a new side extension which also provides guest bedrooms and an integrated garage. The first floor of the original footprint of the plan, now carpeted in a warm stone-coloured wool carpet, has been arranged as a large ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite with two bedrooms and bathrooms, and ample closet space. There is an area which could become a private study or walk-in closet.

The low-maintenance terrace in front of the house, with well-planted espalier trees and shrubs, is private whilst enjoying good sun and light, making it a further living area in good weather.

This wonderful building, witness to some 400 years of Sherborneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fascinating history, has been sensitively, painstakingly restored into a truly delightful new home. knightfrank.co.uk symondsandsampson.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 113

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Finance

EXPLORE THE WHY BEFORE THE HOW AND THE WHAT

P

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

eople seeking financial advice may already have a loose reason as to why they want to invest – some pre-set idea or financial goal in mind. For example, they may want to start an investment ISA or consolidate old personal pension plans.

In other cases, people desire a specific investment idea. They might want to know which fund is best to invest in given the current climate, or how much of their portfolio they should be allocating to emerging markets versus the UK. They want to know ‘how’ they can invest and ‘what’ products they should invest in.

As a financial planner, it is best to put more emphasis on the ‘why’ as the first step in the financial planning process. Knowing why a person wants to invest is essential before exploring the ‘how’ (account type) and the ‘what’ (the right investments).

The importance of ‘why’

Simon Sinek explains more in his global bestselling book, Start with Why. According to Sinek, in business it does not matter what you do – it matters why you do it.

In financial planning, the why is the underlying reason or need of the person that wants to invest. Here are a couple of examples.

Age

A 19-year-old is entering the workforce, debt-free, after completing an apprenticeship. She does not have an early retirement goal but saving 10% of her income in a pension plan would put her on a successful pathway towards retirement planning. This young person has many years to achieve her retirement goals, hence only

116 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

small steps are required today, freeing up short-term cash for her to save or invest towards other financial goals.

On the other hand, a couple in their 50s with few retirement savings but who want to retire in the next decade would need to make up for lost time because they cannot count on as much of the benefits of compounding growth. A much higher percentage of their surplus income needs to be invested.

In both these cases, knowing the why (the age implications) helps to guide the how and the what.

The ‘why’ can – and often will – change. Planners must ensure that the resulting ‘how’ and ‘what’ are dynamic enough to evolve as the ‘why’ changes.

Financial advice vs financial planning

Traditional financial advice focuses on the ‘what’ before the ‘how’, with the ‘why’ finishing last. This approach can lead to an undesirable outcome for clients.

For example, let us consider a client who wants advice on the best stocks and shares ISA. If the planner bases his or her recommendations on purely the best platform and funds currently available, without nailing down the ‘why’, the ISA value at the end of the investment period may not meet the client’s expectations. The client may not have invested for long enough or may not have had enough exposure to high- or low-risk assets.

Real financial planning explores the ‘why’ before the ‘how’ and then explores the ‘what’. This process is much more effective for addressing the client’s underlying needs and expectations. ffp.org.uk

Tech

H

appy New Year, and welcome to a new decade!

Living in the digital world of 2020 means we’ve become accustomed to usernames and passwords. They are used in everything we do online, from Amazon to Tesco, BBC to email. It’s been estimated that we each have over 30 logins, and that number is on the rise. So why do we need all these usernames and passwords in the 21st century?

Computer passwords are a modern-day adaptation of techniques soldiers have used since ancient times to verify who is approaching in the dark. ‘Who goes there?

Friend or foe?’ ‘It’s me, Jimmy.’ ‘What’s the password?’ ‘********.’ ‘OK! You can come in from the dark.’ The importance today is that you are protecting your whole persona against theft and misrepresentation. So, let’s start at the beginning.

In most cases your username is your email address; some older websites force you to choose a name or word but usually want your email address as well. It is therefore imperative that you use a separate and very secure password for your email account as, once hacked, your email account can be used to reset passwords for just about everything else! I usually recommend at least 10 characters long and at least one each of uppercase, lowercase, number and symbol. It doesn’t have to be difficult to remember either: take your two first names (mine are James and William) then mix it up a bit: 8illi@m>jAme5 for instance. Avoid the commonest number/symbol combination which is ‘9&!’.

After that you just need to consider the importance of each login and assign a suitable password to each.

If you must write them down, hide them somewhere sensible and not with your computer on a sticky note for the world to see. I tend to use permutations on a theme when choosing a new password for something. A simple example is: abcd1234, then Abcd1234, then Abcd1234!, then DcAb4312! etc.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a second layer of security to protect an account or system. Users must go through two layers of security before being granted access and this is usually a password and PIN, or password and code supplied by text message.

Highly recommended for peace of mind but a bit of a faff sometimes. Finally, if asked to set up memorable information, try to be a bit creative: Mothers maiden name = Bicycle; Favourite colour = Austin Allegro; First job = Yellow.

I’ve never seen the need to change a password unless you think it might have been compromised or if odd things start happening — just make sure you keep your email password secure. If you ever have to change your email address, remember that you’ll have to change all your online accounts as well to match!

The choice as always, is yours, but if you think you need advice, you know where to come.

Next Month: Email addresses. Why pay for one? computing-mp.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 117

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There is always a vegetarian option available and we are happy to cater for any additional dietary requirements. For those wanting a more luxurious Sunday experience, the Kings Restaurant a la carte menu is ideal.

Booking is recommended to avoid disappointment George Albert Hotel Wardon Hill, Evershot, Nr. Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9PW Tel: 01935 483435 • www.gahotel.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 119

Legal

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS WHEN FORMALISING A RELATIONSHIP Simon Walker, Associate Solicitor, Family Team at Mogers Drewett

T

he idea of ‘family’ is changing. It can no longer be considered as a married couple of opposite sexes with children. Our construct of marriage both in law and tradition was formed when the church and state were much closer and the last 30 years has seen a shift in the law and attitudes to cohabiting, the introduction of civil partnerships, and same- and opposite-sex marriage.

Additional changes came into effect on 31st December 2019 allowing heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership. The impending law change is undoubtedly a welcome development to ensure equality for all, but as a couple what are your options? Here is an introduction to the options and legal rights available to couples looking to formalise their relationship.

couples and was also made possible for same-sex couples in 2014. As of 31st December there is now a new option available to heterosexual couples who want to make a public commitment to one another without getting married: a civil partnership.

In terms of officially committing to spending your life with your partner, there aren’t many significant differences between marriage and civil partnership. It’s down to personal preference; a civil partnership moves away from any religious connections and the formality of a wedding.

When it comes to legal rights, marriage and civil partnerships share the same property rights, pension benefits and the ability to obtain parental responsibility for a partner’s child. They have the same rights of next of kin in hospitals and are also exempt from inheritance tax.

Cohabitation

What’s next for legal reform?

If you live with your partner but don’t wish to enter into a marriage or civil partnership, you may believe you are ‘common law spouses’ which will provide you with rights over property or assets. However, as this doesn’t have any legal recognition, everything you own individually or together is based on fact or a shared understanding. This can lead to problematic disputes if relationships end and you discover you are not entitled to what you thought.

A cohabitation agreement offers some protection as it outlines who owns which assets while you live together, defines how you would split any bank accounts, pension schemes and debts as well as setting out how you would support any children beyond legal duties.

With the number of cohabiting couples in the UK expected to increase, and many deciding not to marry or enter into a civil partnership, the next issue for law reform will be the introduction of specific legislation for separating unmarried couples, who invariably face unfairness due to the absence of any such statute.

Governments of all persuasions have been reluctant to legislate for the benefit of the unmarried given the close connection of the state with the church. It could be said that parliament and the church are out of kilter with the way in which couples in the modern era choose to share a relationship. It will be interesting to see if the option of civil partnerships will be taken up as an alternative to marriage.

Marriage and Civil Partnership

Marriage has always been available for heterosexual 120 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

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Community

SHERBORNE BRADFORD ABBAS CAMERA CLUB Mike Herrmann

Image: Chris Edgecombe

S

herborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club, founded in 1983, meets in Bradford Abbas Village Hall and is a welcoming home for both experienced and novice photographers. The club is well-established with a growing membership, currently 30+, and offers a warm and convivial welcome both to those with experience who wish to meet like-minded photographers and those who wish to improve their skills or just get to grips with the functionality of their camera equipment. The club embraces a broad spectrum of skills, with the most experienced encouraging and passing their knowledge on to other members in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

The Club has an extremely varied agenda. In the course of a year there are five competitions, including inter-club competitions, and visiting speakers who address members on a broad variety of subjects embracing all aspects of photography, plus workshops encompassing many photographic facets. Subjects 122 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

to date have included mono photography, indoor lighting, flash photography, portraiture, mount cutting, and post-processing in programmes such as Photoshop and Lightroom.

Field trips are organised locally, suitable for all skill groups within the club, enabling members to practice and experience a variety of subject matter. Trips organised to date have included night photography, landscape photography, sunsets, flower and plant photography, and macro photography.

Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from September to May. To join this friendly and dynamic photography club please email enquiries@sbacameraclub.co.uk. Alternatively, you can attend one of their club nights, details of which can be found on their website. sbacameraclub.co.uk

SHARES REFUGEE CHARITY Dominic Murphy

T

he numbers are mind-boggling, the suffering hard to grasp. There are tens of millions of people in refugee camps globally, says the United Nations; 37,000 people are forced from their homes every day due to war and persecution.

If this leaves you wanting to do something, then local help is at hand. The charity Shares (Sherborne Area Refugee Support) plays a key role in the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Dorset – people fleeing the horror of just one of the conflicts in the Middle East.

Several families have successfully moved to the area as part of a government scheme co-ordinated

by Dorset Council. While the local authority is ultimately responsible, Shares promotes opportunities for volunteers to give practical support on the ground, including teaching English, helping to find work and what’s known as ‘befriending’.

The Syrians who have settled in Dorset bring a wide range of skills, from teaching and catering to accountancy and nursing. Yet getting a job can be challenging for new arrivals - language difficulties and unrecognised qualifications put them at an immediate disadvantage.

‘It would be fantastic if more local employers could help with mentoring, work experience, or even employment,’ says Geoff Gardner who, along with his wife Penny, is one of the driving forces behind the charity.

Shares puts on local awareness-raising events such as talks at the Gryphon and other schools – young people have become involved in the charity as a result. Shares is also part of a network collecting and sorting clothes, blankets and other donations. Typically, these will be

Geoff and Penny Gardner

distributed to refugees in the UK and to camps in Syria, Lebanon and France.

So what is befriending? ‘It’s like being a really good neighbour,’ says Penny, ‘helping with simple things that most people take for granted, from the low-down on local supermarkets to explaining the bus timetables.’

Penny tells the story of one family who came to Sherborne in 2019. ‘Before they got here, I visited the neighbours and said there was a family arriving soon from Syria. I asked about practical things, such as the day for the rubbish and recycling pick up.’

Then, about two months later, she bumped into one couple she had met during her fact-finding mission. ‘They were just so happy about the new family,’ says Penny. ‘The wife was learning Arabic. They were exchanging meals.

The children were going on walks with their dogs.’

Penny says she sat down and cried afterwards. Amid all the negative publicity and prejudice, these two families had brought each other such pleasure. ‘That’s the kind of thing we’re trying to achieve,’ says Penny. ‘That people can come over here and have a normal life.’

Donations of clean clothing and other aid for distribution to refugees can be taken to Cheap Street Church on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10.30am to 12pm. Volunteers are needed to sort the goods and to deliver them to Taunton. If you’re interested in volunteering to support Syrian families or are a local employer, please email sherborneshares@gmail.com. sherbornearearefugeesupport.org.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 123

Short Story

VALERIE

V

Chris Carver, Sherborne Scribblers

alerie Hunt and I first met at a school dance in the ‘50s. After we left school, we got jobs and lived in Salisbury (Rhodesia). I drove a Vauxhall Velox and was able to visit her frequently. The more I saw her, the more I fell in love with her.

In 1963 I acquired a small sailing boat. It was a Hornet class with a sliding seat which needed a lot of work done on it. We worked on it together and launched it on Lake McIlwaine outside Salisbury. Its name was Coimbra.

The second weekend of July is the Rhodes and Founders public holiday. I asked Valerie if she would like to go to Kariba and sail on the lake. She was very keen as she had never seen Kariba. We set off on Friday morning with Coimbra on her trailer hitched to the back of the Velox and arrived at Charara, where we set up camp. The following morning we awoke to the sound of the fishermen leaving in their boats. After breakfast we soon had Coimbra rigged. We pushed off and were on our way.

We sailed down the shoreline looking for game and saw a large herd of impala, then a small herd of elephant; two lone zebras and a waterbuck were drinking from the lake. Valerie took numerous photos, then we headed out into the main body of the lake.

At midday the wind suddenly died and we were left drifting about two miles out. ‘What do we do now?’ she asked.

‘Wait for the wind is all we can do.’

The sun was shining and it was warm. Valerie came down off her seat and sat next to me.

‘Are there any crocs here?’ she asked.

‘No. They’re all on the shoreline.’

‘Good. I’m going for a swim,’ she said and dived in. She swam around for a while and then wanted to come out. I leant over the stern, grasped her wrist and with great difficulty pulled her in.

It was now lunch time and Valerie got out our lunch. We were chatting when suddenly a gust of wind hit us. Coimbra heeled over alarmingly and I very nearly fell out.

‘Wow. That was close,’ I said. ‘I think we should start heading for home.’ Valerie

124 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

put away the lunch things, took up her position on the seat and we headed for Charara three miles away.

The sail back to Charara was most exhilarating. A fresh wind developed and Coimbra just skimmed over the water, spray flying up whenever we hit a wave.

‘Are you OK?’ I shouted to her.

‘Yeah. Great.’ I smiled at her. She was out on her seat as far as it would go.

We arrived at Charara just after 4.00pm. Most of the fishermen had returned and were unloading their catches. We slowed down, gently nudged the bows onto the sandy beach and jumped out. Valerie’s cheeks were glowing.

‘Are you soaked?’ I asked.

‘A little, but it was wonderful, exciting.’ I loved it when she was happy.

I went to the bows and grabbed the painter to tie to a stump whilst Valerie was at the back collecting our clobber. Suddenly I heard a scream. I looked up, alarmed.

Valerie had gone.

I was shocked and frightened. I just stood there, staring at the water but there was no sign of her. Two fishermen about ten yards way said, ‘It was a croc. A very big croc’. A croc amongst all these people! I thought, ‘No. It can’t be’. Other fishermen had also seen it and rushed over, including a game ranger with a rifle. He was angry and muttering, ‘I warned this would happen’ but I couldn’t follow what he meant.

I next saw him in a boat motoring out of the harbour. It turned left round a headland and a short while later there was a shot. Then a second shot. The boat came back and tied up at the jetty. They lifted a body out. I could see it was Valerie.

My heart stopped. My worst fears were realised.

They loaded her into the back of a Land Rover, covered her with a blanket and drove away, and that was the last I saw of her. I was too upset to talk to anyone so went to our tent, sat on a chair and sobbed.

Valerie’s funeral was held at St. John’s Cathedral and she was interred in Salisbury Cemetery. Every Rhodes and Founders holiday I lay flowers on her grave and say a little prayer. We consummated our love only once, that first night in the tent. I never married and never sailed again and gave Coimbra away. As for Kariba, I never went back.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 125

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DECEMBER SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Participation (11) 9. Sharp-pointed organ of a bee (5) 10. Great distress (3) 11. Head monk (5) 12. Chasm (5) 13. A lament (8) 16. Wild prank (8) 18. Ridge (5) 21. Strange and mysterious (5) 22. Nay (anag) (3) 23. Semiaquatic mammal (5) 24. Free from control (11)

128 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

DOWN 2. Fourth book of the Bible (7) 3. Driving out (7) 4. Expressed something in words (6) 5. Hot fluid rock (5) 6. Recently (5) 7. Sudden large increase (7,4) 8. Quantification (11) 14. Provided with food and drink (7) 15. Continue (5,2) 17. Fine-drawn (6) 19. Most respected person in a field (5) 20. Call forth or cause (5)

Literature

LITERARY REVIEW Jan Pain, Sherborne Literary Society

Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens (Corsair, 2019) £14.99 Sherborne Times reader offer price of £13.99 at Winstones’s Books

T

here is an aura of menace from the start in this story’s atmospheric location. Reaching for the dictionary, we discover the meaning of the word crawdad: a colloquial term for the elusive crayfish.

Set in the coastal marsh land of North Carolina, it is the début novel of a wildlife scientist who vividly describes the desolate landscape of lagoons and swamp inhabited by people who ‘live on the edge’. The child of one such family, Kya, is the focus of the book and the reader is driven to know what her fate will be, at the same time appreciating the finely drawn characters from this backwoods’ region.

Kya’s life is one of abandonment and perpetual search for a sense of belonging. When she is six years old, her mother walks away from her abusive father, leaving the child and her siblings in the marsh shack she calls home.

Gradually, the older children disappear too, including her adored brother, Jodie. Kya has never been to school and a zealous truancy officer coaxes her to attend. She only stays for one day, being ridiculed by her peers for her unkempt appearance and inability to read. She is almost feral, perceived as coming from a dysfunctional family of white trash, and soon earns the soubriquet, ‘The Marsh Girl.’

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

Before he deserts her too, her father has remorseful moments when he teaches her navigational skills in his small boat and how to live out on the marsh and fend for herself. Alone, she shows astonishing stoicism, fishing for mussels that she sells to the black proprietor of a shop across the bay where she buys fuel and provisions. There is an affinity between the two, who both know prejudice: he for his colour (this is the 1960s) and she for her nonconformity.

Kya communes with nature, understanding the ways of the marsh and swamp, intensely interested in its flora and fauna, collecting feathers and shells. A boy called Tate befriends her and, stretching credulity, teaches her to read. She begins to make nature notes to accompany her collections and also paints her specimens. She trusts he will never abandon her but, inevitably, a university education entices him away and she is once again bereft.

After some years he returns to encourage her to submit her manuscripts and drawings to a publisher.

Another admirer, Chase Andrews, a spoiled and arrogant quarterback, besotted by Kya’s wild beauty, sets out to seduce her. It is then the story takes a different turn when Chase is found dead, presumed murdered. sherborneliterarysociety.com

For the perfect bedtime read

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT Sue Hawkett

Let’s talk about death! I recently met with a small group to talk about just this subject. It’s not easy, and often dismissed with statements such as, ‘it’s inevitable so why worry about it?’; ‘why not get on with life?’ or ‘it’s something to think about sometime but not now.’ Isn’t it interesting how we shy away from a subject as inevitable as birth and as natural as breathing, except that you stop when you die!

We hear on the radio and social media of ‘death cafés’ where you can pop in to a welcoming environment and chat to someone over coffee and cake about issues related to dying: how you would like to be cared for; planning your funeral; when to make a will - all subjects that we instinctively put off. We live in a society where we are encouraged to be in control, independent and self-reliant, and so we do not talk about death openly. We are not like our Victorian ancestors, where early death was accepted within a supportive, multi-generational family. We live longer, are supported by wonderful advances in medical science and supporting health services, and we feel we don’t have to address these issues yet. It is said that our reluctance to face death is rather like a child playing games in the twilight - we do not want to go home when we are called.

But is this how it should be? As Christians we believe that we are made in the image of God, we are created beings, and as such valuable and unique. We have a life span and follow the seasons of life with all its joys, warmth, sorrows and losses. Christ came into the world as a vulnerable baby and so has experienced and shared in our common humanity from cradle to cross.

So, on this journey on which we are all travelling, don’t we need to reach out to each other as a caring and compassionate community? Perhaps one of the significant times when this is felt most keenly is at bereavement. With the death of someone we love comes the price for love, the feeling of utter loss, pain and loneliness. This is when the response of love, support, comfort and practical help of family, friends, neighbours and community is vital.

After someone has died, the memories of that person live on in the minds of those left behind.

In fact, it can be their most powerful legacy. For those who are bereaved, it is part of the healing process to remember and to be thankful for a unique and special life.

Each year in February, Sherborne Churches Together host the ‘Sherborne Snowdrop Service’ which provides an opportunity for people to remember, give thanks and say goodbye, irrespective of what or when their loss was or their beliefs. The service includes readings, music and the option of lighting a candle. The event is run by organisations from the local churches, NHS and charities who care about those who are bereaved. The Yeatman Hospital, Weldmar Hospicecare, Marie Curie and Cruse will take part in the service and people will be available to listen and chat afterwards over refreshments.

Whatever your experience of loss you may find in this service a quiet, calm and supportive environment in which to say, ‘I remember and give thanks for you, a precious life.’

Sherborne Snowdrop Service will be held at Cheap Street Church, Sherborne at 11.30am on Friday 7th February. For further details see posters or contact sherbornesnowdrop@gmail.com.

130 | Sherborne Times | January 2020

PROCESS The Oliver Holt Gallery

Braden’s exhibition ‘Process’ in the Oliver Holt Gallery, Sherborne School is open to the public on Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 January, Tuesday 4, Thursday 6, Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 February from 1.30pm - 4.30pm.

Braden Maxwell is the SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) foundation fellow at Sherborne School where he is spending a year teaching whilst working on his MFA in Illustration.

Green by name and nature

LO C A L LY S O U R C E D I N G R E D I E N T S S E A S O N A L P RO D U C E 3 CO U R S E P R I X F I X E M E N U AVA I L A B L E E V E RY F R I DAY A N D S AT U R DAY N I G H T MICHELIN BIB GOURMAND WINNERS 2019 & 2020 Tuesday - Saturday Lunch 12pm - 2.30pm | Dinner 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Sunday Lunch 12pm - 2.30pm

3 The Green, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3HY 01935 813821 @greensherborne www.greenrestaurant.co.uk