Sherborne Times December 2020

DECEMBER 2020 | FREE

A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS with Val Stones

sherbornetimes.co.uk

Greerascris/Shutterstock

WELCOME

O

ur youngest son was left to his own devices one afternoon in November and took it upon himself to adorn his room with the contents of our Christmas decorations box. Toys were repurposed and furniture reimagined to create a veritable winter wonderland, complete with snowcapped mountains, an ice rink and a convincing Santa’s sleigh (his favourite bear playing the lead role). He then proceeded to sing his way through a back catalogue of festive hits, at the top of his voice, throughout the day and up to the point of falling asleep.

As our son slept, his innocent face aglow under pulsing fairy lights, I immersed myself in this fantastical land of his making. Not for him were the limitations of an object’s intended function, the boundaries of time or society’s permitted schedules. I stood beneath the pom-pom mistletoe absolved of all things ordinary.

This was a place untethered from the increasing weight of the world.

Here, our only concern was that how, having recently moved to a house without a chimney, was Santa going to deliver his presents? Hope was replenished and a much-needed sense of perspective took hold.

I wish you all a truly peaceful Christmas and a healthy, uncomplicated New Year.

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

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio

Cllr Jon Andrews Sherborne Town Council sherborne-tc.gov.uk Laurence Belbin laurencebelbin.com David Birley

Annabelle Hunt Bridport Timber @BridportTimber bridporttimber.co.uk Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk

Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum @SherborneMuseum sherbornemuseum.co.uk

Chris Loder MP @chrisloder chrisloder.co.uk

Photography Katharine Davies @Katharine_KDP

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

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

Feature writer Jo Denbury @jo_denbury

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

Sean McDonough Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk

David Burnett The Dovecote Press dovecotepress.com

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

Sub editor Sadie Wilkins

Editorial assistant Helen Brown Social media Jenny Dickinson Illustrations Elizabeth Watson elizabethwatsonillustration.com Print Stephens & George Distribution team Barbara and 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 Ionas Tsetikas

Sue Cameron Sherborne Scribblers Paula Carnell @paula.carnell paulacarnell.com

Jan Pain Sherborne Literary Society @SherborneLitSoc sherborneliterarysociety.com

Cindy Chant Sherborne Walks @sherbornewalks sherbornewalks.co.uk

Simon Partridge SPFit @spfitsherborne spfit-sherborne.co.uk

Gillian M Constable Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cath Rapley Lodestone Property @LodestoneProp lodestoneproperty.co.uk

David Copp

Mike Riley Riley’s Cycles rileyscycles.co.uk

Ian Crighton Sherborne Community Kitchen sherborne.kitchen Rosie Cunningham Jemma Dempsey Charles Dutton James Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk

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.

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4 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Andrew Fort B.A. (Econ.)

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

Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Emma Spearing White Feather Care whitefeathercare.com Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Emma Tabor & Paul Newman @paulnewmanart paulnewmanartist.com

Kit Glaisyer @kitglaisyer kitglaisyer.com

Huw Thomas Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org

Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk

Jono Tregale St Pauls Sherborne @JonoTregale stpauls-sherborne.org.uk

Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre @SanctuaryDorset @margaretbalfour thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk James Hull The Story Pig @thestorypig thestorypig.co.uk

John Walsh BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Vets @FriarsMoorVets friarsmoorvets.co.uk Hugh Watkins George Young theartstable.co.uk

64 8

DECEMBER 2020

Art & Culture

56 Gardening

118 Finance

24 Community

64 VAL STONES

120 Tech

28 Family

74 Food & Drink

122 In Conversation

42 Wild Dorset

86 Animal Care

125 Crossword

46 On Foot

92 Body & Mind

126 Short Story

50 History

106 Home

128 Literature

54 Antiques

116 Legal

129 Pause for Thought

DORSET-GROWN AND PERFECTLY SHAPED

Now with free delivery to Sherborne and the surrounding areas Order online at

www.tschristmastrees.co.uk Call

01305 834760 Or visit our Christmas Tree Centre at Trinity St. Dorchester sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5

SHERBORNE INDIES ABACUS FINANCIAL OPTIONS Johanna Kemp, your local independent mortgage and insurance specialist. Helping with mortgages, equity release and protection.

07813 785355 jk@abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk

BLACK SHED FLOWERS

Sherborne’s very own cut flower farm for the very best in local seasonal British fresh and dried flowers.

Christmas Trees and wreaths now available - free delivery in Sherborne The Toy Barn, Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne DT9 4JX 07859 911817 info@blackshed.flowers @BlackShedFlowers @blackshedflowers blackshed.flowers

FLY JESSE Remember we are ONLINE! Organic Baby & Children’s Clothes First Time Baby Gifts 100% Wooden Toys Gifts for Him & Her Something for the Home 37 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3PU @flyjesseonline flyjesse.co.uk

ANNA STILES POTTERY

AVALON DISTILLERY

Gift vouchers for lessons and clay kits available.

Artisan distillery based in Cerne Abbas. Producer of the award-winning Viper Gin.

Regular lessons, short courses, wheel-throwing and hand-building.

One-off lessons with a finish and glaze service.

07742 408528 annastilespottery.com

COMMUNIFIT Exercise for all age groups and abilities.

Personal training, group training, outdoor bootcamps, running groups, over 50s exercise classes, charity events, mobile gym.

Now offering Christmas Gin Boxes with free delivery within 30 miles! info@viperspirit.co.uk @viperlondondrygin @viper_gin viperspirit.co.uk

ECCO GELATO Gelato and more, delivered to your door. Order by 8pm Thursday for delivery Saturday.

Orders being taken for Christmas Semifreddo and gelato.

Long Street, Sherborne DT9 3BU

07791 308773 @communifit info@communifit.co.uk communifit.co.uk

01935 813659 philippa@ecco-gelato.co.uk @EccoGelato @eccogelatosherborne ecco-gelato.co.uk

GODDEN & CURTIS

MELBURY GALLERY

Television and audio, sales and repairs.

Merry Christmas to all our customers Greenhill, Sherborne DT9 4EW 07718 253309 / 01935 813451 simon@goddenandcurtis.co.uk goddenandcurtis.co.uk

@shoplocalinsherborne #shoplocalinsherborne

We are a bright and colourful shop selling a wonderful individual collection of clothes.

Lots of new clothing, jewellery and accessories arriving.

Late night opening in December.

Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LN @Melbury Gallery melburygallery.co.uk

SHERBORNE INDIES OLIVER’S

THE PEAR TREE DELI

Delicatessen & cafe open 9am-4pm, Monday - Saturday.

Open 7 days a week.

Delivery service available for birthday cakes and buffet lunches.

Orders now being taken for Christmas cakes and mince pies.

19 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3PU 01935 815005 @oliverssherbs @oliverscoffeehouse

Delivery & take away service for sandwiches, coffees and cakes plus many more deli items. Christmas gifts and hampers now available Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LS 01935 812828 @ThePearTreeDeli @thepeartreedeli peartreedeli.co.uk

PURE HAIR

RILEY’S CYCLES

Pure Hair is the perfect place to relax and be pampered.

Riley’s is Sherborne’s long established cycle shop, providing a range of bicycles and e-bikes plus parts, accessories, clothing, repairs and servicing.

Established salon of 17 years.

Hair and Beauty Finalist 2019 & 2020.

Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LN

Trendle Yard, Trendle Street, Sherborne DT9 3NT

01935 814172 @purehairsherborne

01935 812038 info@rileyscycles.co.uk rileyscycles.co.uk

SHERBORNE WEB DESIGN

THE THREE WISHES

Your local ‘one-stop shop’ for everything that falls under the umbrella of web design; custom built for you.

Enjoy coffee and lunch in our garden and restaurant. Now open until 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Join us for Thai Night every Thursday.

118 Yeovil Road, Sherborne DT9 4BB

78 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BJ

01935 813241 info@sherbornewebdesign.co.uk sherbornewebdesign.co.uk

01935 817777 reservations@thethreewishes.co.uk thethreewishes.co.uk

THE PLUME OF FEATHERS 16th Century pub serving Italian small plates. Authentic homemade dishes using some of the finest Dorset and Italian ingredients.

Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LN 01935 389709 theplumesherborne.co.uk

THE ROSE & CROWN TRENT The country inn loved by locals and travellers for generations.

The perfect place to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views or curl up on an winter evening.

Trent, Sherborne DT9 4SL 01935 850776 theroseandcrowntrent.co.uk

TROUVAILLE GALLERY

Discover a wonderful selection of unique handmade cards and gifts, created by local artists and craftspeople 24c Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3PX 07779 788465

@shoplocalinsherborne #shoplocalinsherborne

Art & Culture

ARTIST AT WORK

No. 25: George Young, Plaster Walls, Oil on Paper 2020, 69 x 104cm £2,300

M

y work starts with a real event or situation and is, in that sense, diaristic. I do several versions of a painting until I’m happy to show it, often moving from being more obviously representational to much more constructed compositions.

It is a process of stripping out the inessential and expanding on the more painterly elements. I make my own paint by grinding pigment with oil, not least because the time I spend making them is essential to get a feel for the different colours and textures I can use. The goal is always to make a painting that works as a painting rather than tell the truth about a given moment.

Though grounded in lived experience, I don’t feel constrained by trying to make my paintings factually correct or by the laws of perspective etc. So, they often

8 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

end up as distorted versions of reality. For me, this is liberating and makes them more capable of emotional or expressionistic leaps.

Since the pandemic started, my work has become, by necessity, more inwardly focused, looking at my family life within the confines of our home. Plaster Walls is ostensibly a happy and homely scene of my wife and son, but the sparse room and bare plaster alludes to a sense that we are getting by more than thriving.

Work by George will be available to view at The Art Stable, Child Okeford, Blandford DT11 8HB this December, with a solo show to follow in May 2021. theartstable.co.uk

. o d e W Weddings at Leweston

Email: bawdenk@leweston.dorset.sch.uk ď‚ą Tel: 01963 211011 www.lewestonenterprises.co.uk/weddings

Art & Culture

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

Network (1976)

W

orking in SW and Central London during the 1970s and 80s, the chances of bumping into people from the entertainment and film world were always high. I had worked for, amongst others, a former Miss World, several Bond girls, but also Tommy Cooper! One of the production staff on his TV show came to the workshop with a full-sized photograph of Mr Cooper, asking for it to be stuck onto board, cut out, and then cut down the middle lengthways. I did this and didn’t think any more of it, until a few months later when, quite by chance, I saw an episode of The Tommy Cooper Show on TV. Tommy Cooper walked on stage, carrying under his arm the photograph I’d cut out and, holding it up, said, ‘Here’s my half-brother,’ then walked off. The whole joke lasted just 5 seconds, but had taken hours for me to prepare.

Whilst working in a house in Montpelier Square (Knightsbridge, extremely posh, near Harrods), the man painting the window frames always got in very early, turned his radio on, climbed up the scaffolding and started painting. One morning, I answered a knock at the door to a rather irate Frank Oz, who happened to be living next door. Here was the American actor and director who not only was the voice of Yoda in all the Star Wars films but, much more importantly to me, was Miss Piggy from The Muppets!

I recognised him immediately and couldn’t mistake his voice. He asked if the painter could turn his radio down; I apologised that the volume control was broken, so it could only play at one level - loud. He stormed off, but returned a couple of hours later with 10 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

a brand new boxed radio (probably from Harrods) and said ‘Here, give this to the painter,’ smiled, and walked back into his house.

My main brush with stardom, however, happened in the newsagent’s shop in Montpelier Street. I became aware that there were only two of us in there, and the other person was approaching me. I looked up and saw... Faye Dunaway! Time immediately turned into slow-motion, as she smiled, holding two small boxes out to me, and came closer. I waited; the sexual tension crackled - was she going to fall into my arms as in The Thomas Crown Affair, or were we going to die in a hail of bullets like Bonnie and Clyde? She finally reached me and uttered the immortal words ‘Do you know which of these are hard and which are soft? My son will only eat the soft ones.’ She was holding a box of Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles in one hand, and a box of Fruit Gums in the other. I pointed to the pastilles replying, ‘These are soft.’ She thanked me, turned, and walked out of my life... forever.

There is no positive news from Cinematheque, with the second lockdown now under way, but I would highly recommend Network (1976), Sidney Lumet’s viciously funny indictment of American TV news media. It is even more relevant today than when it was made, and stars my close personal friend, Faye Dunaway! It is available to stream from Amazon Prime, or to buy on DVD. Stay safe. cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk

Art & Culture

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT Rosie Cunningham

A

s soon as live theatre opened up again, whoosh it has gone, but do book for 2021.

Lockdown Theatre produced Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound via Zoom. This was a fabulous whodunnit with an incredible cast of acting legends such as Simon Callow, Derek Jacobi and Jennifer Saunders. Every penny from ‘ticket’ sales goes 12 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

to The Royal Theatrical Fund. Do visit their website.

Death Drop, a Dragatha Christie Murder-Mystery, is on at the Garrick Theatre from 3rd December.

Starring RuPaul’s Drag Race superstars. ‘A high-heeled whodunnit like no other’.

Competing productions of A Christmas Carol are on. The first, at The Bridge Theatre with Simon Russell

Beale as Scrooge, directed by Nicholas Hytner and booking until 16th January 2021. The second, a musical version on at The Dominion Theatre starring Brian Conley from 7th December.

The Jersey Boys musical is coming back to the newly refurbished and renamed Trafalgar Theatre from 14th April 2121. If you like Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, this is for you. I see that they market themselves as a ‘Covid-19 Secure Venue’. The Theatre Royal Bath has a ‘See it Safely’ official venue logo. Both designed to convince theatre goers that it is safe to return.

Another musical, Back to the Future, is booking from 14th May 2021 at the Adelphi Theatre. For fans of the 1985 film.

David Tennant stars in Good, which was delayed from this year and is now booking from 21st April 2021 at The Harold Pinter Theatre.

I watched Matthew McConaughey live in conversation with Idris Elba talking about his new book, Greenlights. It’s all about finding a state of success called ‘catching greenlights’ with all the upsets and challenges along the way. He is an unusual man and talks with great insight. My book has arrived, so I am happy.

I did manage to see the delayed Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, now called the Winter Exhibition, co-ordinated by the video artist twins Jane and Louise Wilson, which is on until 3rd January 2021. The usual array of novice artists interspersed with academicians hung five or six deep. What was missing, due to the timed entries and Covid restrictions, were the crowds just perfect for leisurely viewing.

The Artemisia Exhibition is on at the National Gallery until 24th January 2021. I didn’t go and see it, but I did attend an online talk with Letizia Treves, Alexandria Lapierre and Michael Palin. Artemisia became the first woman ever to be admitted to the prestigious Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (the Academy of the Arts of Drawing) in Florence, but struggled to find the recognition that such a great painter should enjoy because she was a woman. What a turbulent life she led.

Michael Palin was interesting and entertaining, having studied her life before making a documentary in 2015.

Well worth watching on his website.

The usual Christmas Pantoland at The Palladium, starring Julian Clary and others, is on from 12th December – 3rd January 2021. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas otherwise.

Happy Christmas to one and all.

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION 15 ARTISTS’ WORK FOR SALE 5th – 19th December

SARAH SPACKMAN

VIVIENNE WILLIAMS

LITTLE LYCHEE BOWL

BLUE JUG WITH FRUIT PLATES

www.jerramgallery.com THE JERRAM GALLERY Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LN 01935 815261 info@jerramgallery.com Tuesday – Saturday

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13

Art & Culture

FRANZ SCHUBERT: WINTERREISE D911

Benjamin Hewat-Craw (Baritone), Yuhao Guo (Piano) Hugh Watkins

B

enjamin HewatCraw was educated at Sherborne Preparatory School and Sherborne School (2006-2011) as well as being a chorister in the Sherborne Abbey Choir in which his father still sings! After taking a first-class honours degree in Ancient History and Archaeology at Durham University, he moved to the Musikhochschule at Cologne, where he has studied for the last five years, and met Yuhao Guo. At the Abbey Festival 2019, they gave a wonderful performance of Winterreise (Winter Journey), one of the very great works not only of classical music in particular but also of art in general. This song cycle is a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller about a jilted young male lover’s journey in winter. This new recording on the German Ars Produktion CD label is an unqualified success.

In Schubert Lieder the role of the pianist should be as prominent as that of the singer and in Yuhao, Benjamin has found the ideal collaborator. Indeed, much enjoyment is to be had by listening to the piano part and realising how wonderfully Schubert captures the text in sound (musical onomatopoeia). Meanwhile, in reflecting the changing and increasingly depressed mood of the jilted lover, Benjamin demonstrates what a fine singer he is. Furthermore, he is a fluent German speaker and his singing of that language has received much praise from reviewers in Germany.

The inlay of the CD is very well produced and includes the German poems with English translations

by Benjamin. The commentary by the two musicians

14 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

is very informative and amongst other things explains how the messages in Winterreise - e.g. loneliness (Einsamkeit) which many have been forced to suffer during the Coronavirus pandemic - are as relevant today as they were in Schubert’s time 200 years ago; but then, great works of art neither go out of fashion

nor get out of date.

It seems that just about any male singer, who is or was anyone in German Art Song, has recorded this iconic work. I own two other versions by great artists of the post-1945 era – Hans Hotter/Gerald Moore and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Alfred Brendel. Still in their twenties, Hewat-Craw and Guo are nearly world class if they aren’t already.

After their concert in 2019, some people stayed behind to thank Benjamin and Yuhao. They included a lady and her 13-year-old daughter. They had never been to this sort of concert before but had bought two tickets at the door on the spur of the moment. They had been deeply moved and wanted to say so. This is what great music making is all about. As the careers of these very fine young artists continue to blossom as surely they should, maybe in 20 years’ time some of us will be able to say, I was there.

The CD (£13.75) is on sale at the Abbey Shop in The Close, Sherborne, DT9 3LQ. Opening hours are from 11am to 3pm on Monday to Friday. Alternatively, it can be bought online at benjaminhewatcraw.com.

It will solve some of my ‘Christmas present’ problems and, I hope, yours too!

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Phone: 01747 855322 Email: info@bloomfieldifa.com www.bloomfieldifa.com

Art & Culture

AN ARTIST’S VIEW Laurence Belbin

W

hat a year! Let’s hope things will be better in ’21… I have managed to do a bit of painting and drawing but none of it planned. As I always have a drawing pad with me, I am able to grab any opportunity I get. Sometimes, I find myself in unexpected locations and do a little sketch or 16 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

two in case I don’t get another chance.

It’s not always what you know, but who; I am fortunate to have friends in high places, hence the view shown here from an upstairs window. This came about from a casual conversation and I leapt at the chance.

I very lightly indicated the main buildings in fine

pencil to make sure I had enough room for everything I wanted to include. It’s so easy to misplace the focal point on the page and lose some interesting stuff off to the side. Once I was happy with the content, I discarded the graphite and just used a pen.

I find rooftops very interesting to draw, with so many angles all interlocked. To see buildings that are quite familiar at ground level and then, from on high, become completely unknown and difficult to identify is fascinating. It was a pleasant hour or so and I think I will try and go back to do another but looking the other way. For those unsure of where this is, I am looking out over Cheap Street and the round-fronted building - bottom left is Orvis, with Abbey Bookshop further down. The foreground rooftops are keeping ‘Forever England’ and ‘Mortimers Bakery’ dry! The group of trees, middle right, are, I think, in the courtyard garden of The Three Wishes and beyond that, school buildings.

The next pen drawing is of ‘Bean Shot Coffee’ in

South Street. One of the many independent coffee shops we are blessed to have in Sherborne. It was done before the troubles hit. It seems like another world where you didn’t need to wear masks and could gather in groups and enjoy tea and coffee with friends. I sat having a hot brew and decided to do this little interior of this very busy and comfortable coffee shop. Interiors of cafes and pubs are great to do; there is always plenty to look at. I like the fact that almost nothing, except the furniture, remains still. It concentrates the mind and forces you to work quickly and put down things as you see them.

Although things now are not quite as they were, the coffee is still very good.

I’m sure the atmosphere this Christmas in Sherborne will be as enjoyable as it always is, just a little different. Hope you have a good one. laurencebelbin.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 17

Art & Culture

Björk Haraldsdottir

BRAVE NEW ART WORLD Kit Glaisyer

W

e’re all adapting to a changing world, and the art world is no exception. For me, as an artist, it has certainly been a challenging time, but also a positive road-test for my new venue, ‘Bridport Contemporary’, in central Bridport, which serves as both my studio and art gallery. As I’m always busy working on commissions, my gallery was only ever intended to open for two days a week, and by appointment at other times, so it’s a model that seems 18 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

particularly suited to the ‘new normal’.

During lockdown, I made the most of the circumstances by working, undistracted, on a number of poignant paintings that seemed to chart the emotional rollercoaster that we were all going through, and which I now call The Theatrical Landscape. This series of paintings are all vistas from Eggardon Hill, an Iron Age hillfort that stands to the east of Bridport and commands breath-taking views across the valleys >

Far Above 01, Jon Adam, oil on linen 104 x 190cm

Cottages by the Coast Gerry Dudgeon, 25 x 37cm sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19

below. The public response to this new series has been particularly positive and has now led to a new series of commissioned landscape paintings.

Alongside my own paintings, the Bridport Contemporary Gallery also shows a small, handpicked selection of artists from across the West Country. We’re currently displaying a towering installation of ceramics by Björk Haraldsdottir, a truly innovative talent who ‘explores the conversation between the pseudo perfection of geometric patterns and the tactile impurity of hand modelled clay.’ In 2019, Björk 20 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

won the John Hubbard Prize in the Marshwood Arts Awards, having already scooped the Applied Arts Prize two years earlier. Another remarkable artist is Jon Adam, who was born in Cornwall and has become a widely respected painter with exhibitions in New York, London and across the UK since the early 90s. His distinctive oil paintings express an emotional interpretation and abstraction of the natural world around him, using hand-ground pigments to maximise depth and luminosity and intensify the viewers’ emotive response. Then there’s Helen Jones,

Golden Clouds above Eggardon Hill, Kit Glaisyer

an artist based at BV Studios in Bristol, who creates virtuoso pastel drawings of the natural world, most frequently capturing ghostly skies and seas. She has recently shown at the RWA, Abierto Valencia, and the Jerwood Drawing Prize, and has been awarded prizes in Drawing at the RWA. Also, at the gallery we have the hugely popular Gerry Dudgeon from Melplash, whose paintings explore the shapes and rhythms of the Dorset hills and valleys surrounding his studio, whilst celebrating a vibrancy of colour and an interest in mark-making. His work has been exhibited at the

RA Summer Exhibition, the RWA Bristol, and The New English Art Club, London. Other Gallery artists include Boo Mallinson, Peggy Cozzi, Liz Somerville, Ella Squirrell, Grace Crabtree, and Ellie Preston.

The Bridport Contemporary Gallery opens on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Browse and buy online at bridportcontemporary.com and explore @ bridportcontemporary on Instagram. kitglaisyer.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21

OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER Chris Loder, Member of Parliament for West Dorset

I

am writing with hope for December, in anticipation that the period of national restriction might be behind us here in Sherborne and that there will be brighter times ahead in the final few weeks leading up to Christmas, allowing us to see our families and friends once again. As I write this column, midway through the lockdown, festive lights are already brightening up the town - a sign indeed that Sherborne is looking positively forward. I am grateful for the considerable efforts being made by the Chamber of Trade, Town Council and others to create an atmosphere of hopeful celebration following a year of uncertainty. I was also heartened to learn that the local community had contributed to boost the number of Christmas trees adorning Cheap Street this year and I am sure that local shops and businesses, along with visitors to the town, will be most appreciative of that support.

At the end of a year which has brought so many challenges, and continues to do so, we have also seen many silver linings to this Covid cloud. We are left in no doubt of the resilience, strength and togetherness of our community – proven time and time again as individuals, groups and businesses have stepped up to help others in need. In recognition of this, I was particularly pleased that the Sherborne Community Kitchen has recently benefited from a grant of £10k through the Government-funded Coronavirus Community Support Fund, supporting its team of volunteers to keep going above and beyond, especially for those who find 22 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

themselves on their own this Christmas Day. It will be a very different Christmas without our usual packed church services in Sherborne and surrounding villages, and especially the magnificent carol services from the Abbey. Schools and local groups, families and shoppers, and of course the popular steam train from London, would now be planning their annual visit and carol concerts. I continue to lobby, as I have been doing since the spring, for church services to be allowed to continue and, I hope, in time for Christmas.

In what little spare time I have, I enjoy playing the organ and hope to be playing at one or two carol services in our village churches. In the meantime, I hear many creative ideas from local people, determined to bring the spirit of Christmas to us. So much so, that they are even contemplating ‘drive-through’ carol services! 2020 has blighted religious life for those of us who value collective worship and there could be no greater Christmas present than to sing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ at the Abbey – one for our prayers I think in the meantime.

Business in Westminster continues as usual up until 20th December and then I will very much look forward to spending time here at home, as there really is nowhere quite like being in Sherborne for Christmas.

I send to you, your family and friends my warmest best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and hope for a very Happy New Year. chrisloder.co.uk

D I S C O V E R | E AT | S H O P | S TAY | C E L E B R AT E

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Community

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR A RENEWAL OF HEALTH AND HOPE IN SHERBORNE Jon Andrews, Mayor of Sherborne

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hat a year! Nobody expected 2020 to be like this. When we first heard about a new virus affecting Wuhan in China, little did we realise how much new words such as Coronavirus, Covid, Zoom and Teams would come to dominate our lives.

Once again, our wonderful volunteer sector has stepped up and helped in so many essential ways. The Sherborne Viral Kindness group, Sherborne Good 24 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Neighbours and many others were out and about delivering prescriptions, food, shopping and so much more. Out of this, the community kitchen was formed, a real godsend as the senior lunch clubs had to shut down and are still not in operation. The food bank received more referrals week by week. Neighbours were helping neighbours in a way not seen for years.

The sense of community spirit was highlighted when we all stood on our doorsteps on Thursday evenings to

applaud our heroes in the NHS, many of whom are part of our Sherborne community and are still dealing with this horrible virus in our local hospitals.

As the year ends, the voluntary sector is still working hard feeding people, doing essential shopping and delivering prescriptions. Sherborne Town Council has set up a community pandemic recovery fund. The fund is for not-for-profit organisations such as locally registered charities, food banks and community groups who may struggle to survive or to meet demand in the pandemic.

Our Patient Participation Groups (PPG’s) from the Apples Surgery, The Grove Medical Centre and, more rurally, the Yetminster Surgery, have taken steps to ensure that priority groups received their winter flu vaccines in a safe environment, which included a drivethrough centre at the Terrace Playing Fields’ car park.

A big thank you must go out to the practice managers and all the volunteers involved in what must have been a logistical nightmare.

I fear another logistical challenge is set to hit the surgeries when a possible two-part Covid vaccine arrives to be administered several weeks apart.

When the first lockdown was partially eased, our independent businesses were quick to adapt to the regulation and restriction. But, footfall in Cheap Street was slow to come back. The future economy and prosperity of Sherborne depends, to a great extent, on the wonderful variety of independent businesses in retail and hospitality. It’s one of the factors that makes the town a very special place to live and visit.

Government financial support allied to the furlough scheme has been a lifeline. But the second national lockdown came at one of the busiest times of the year for small business owners. Our businesses are still struggling; fighting for survival. So please shop local to help them survive. Now we are due to come out of the second lockdown, our local businesses need your support more than ever.

Like everyone else, Sherborne Town Council had to adapt to keep essential services going. We had five councillors shielding, and some staff either shielding, isolating or working remotely for periods of the initial lockdown. During this time, our staffing team processed a mountain of cancelled bookings for Digby Hall events, Manor House weddings and sports matches at the Terrace Playing Fields.

Meanwhile, the grass still had to be cut, and the bins emptied. And our lovely gardens and sport fields became even more important to give people a place

"The shepherds have not been furloughed, and the humble Bethlehem innkeeper has just managed to keep his doors open." to get out into the open air. Sadly, graves still had to be dug. The council’s maintenance crews worked throughout the pandemic, separated to keep safe, in special, staggered shifts.

When our new Town Clerk, Steve Shield, agreed to join us, he found himself thrown in at the deepest of deep ends. A warm welcome to him. And I am very happy to welcome another couple of new faces at Sherborne Town Council. Suresh Jeganathan was co-opted as a town councillor in October to replace James Carey, who resigned after moving out of town.

Sarah Rudd has also joined us as Communications Officer to deliver a professional, proactive and creative communications, marketing and PR service for the town council, with a focus on building relationships with key stakeholders including local voluntary, community groups, organisations and residents.

Looking ahead, the council faces huge challenges.

All local government budgets are under immense pressure. The major loss of income from Digby Hall comes just as the hall was coming back to life after a major refurbishment. Like everyone else, we are just about coping.

Contrary to social media posts, the nativity can take place this year – in a controlled environment. The three wise men have an exemption from the travel ban; the shepherds have not been furloughed, and the humble Bethlehem innkeeper has just managed to keep his doors open. Despite the rule of six, Santa will still be working with Dancer, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Donner and Blitzen. Rudolph has been tested because of that suspiciously bright red nose and he’s in the clear.

I hope and pray that everyone in Sherborne has a good Christmas in this most difficult of times. And I also pray the New Year will bring us renewed health, happiness and hope. sherborne-tc.gov.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 25

Community

Image: ArtFo-Tography

DELIVERING A LITTLE FESTIVE CHEER

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Ian Crighton

ith the constant ongoing threat of lockdown and the most vulnerable told to isolate at home to remain safe, the very thought of a ‘new normal’ Christmas this year must make some Sherborne residents feel a little sad and lonely.

Many will not even be able to enjoy the sit-down Christmas Day lunch that last year was provided by the churches of Sherborne, where around 100 residents were served a three-course lunch in the Digby Memorial Hall, all of course before any of us had heard of Covid-19.

All is not lost however, and the great British spirit of goodwill will prevail; we are in the new normal after all.

If the residents can’t come to us, we will go to them!

The dedicated volunteers at Sherborne Community Kitchen will be spending their Christmas Day cooking and delivering 120 three-course roast turkey lunches – free to the homes of those who definitely deserve a little Christmas cheer this year. Not only will our special Sherborne residents enjoy a freshly cooked meal, but they will also receive a few special surprises as well.

Sherborne Community Kitchen started life, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of the 26 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Sherborne Viral Kindness group. It was clear that residents who were told to self isolate in the first wave of the virus were struggling to cook fresh food, which is where Sherborne Community Kitchen stepped in. We recruited a dedicated team of volunteers who continue to prepare and deliver freshly-cooked meals, using locally-sourced ingredients to residents, on a daily basis. The meals are created in a five-star hygiene rated kitchen in Sherborne, and all our delivery drivers have completed DBS checks.

If you would like to support Sherborne Community Kitchen, why not take advantage of their daily £5 for 2 courses menu – delivered fresh to your door by their DBS-checked drivers every day of the week. After all, they do say that charity starts at home.

Sherborne Community Kitchen is a registered charity.

Visit sherborne.kitchen to find out more or to donate.

Another Sherborne charity, Sherborne Food Bank, also provide free supply and delivery of essentials and food to those around Sherborne who are most in need. They can be contacted on 07854 163869.

BARBER SHOP For those who know the difference

5* Rating

TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR US ALL, BUT IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD YOU CAN BE CERTAIN OF JP’s

We’re helping you to help us. No drop in quality, No drop in service, just a drop in price* Haircut £14 Shampoo & Cut £28 Over 65s £12.50 Over 65s Back & Sides £10 Crew Cut £10 Beard Trim £7 Under 11s £10 Student 11-21 (age verification required) £12 Father & Sons Bundle (father + 2 or more children) £10 each Look out for our last minute specials on Facebook JP’s Barbershop Sherborne

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Telephone bookings also taken Monday 8am - 5pm | Tuesday - Friday 8am - 6pm | Saturday 8am - 2pm | Booking Only

01935 815501 | 6a Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX Book your next appointment with me through Booksy.

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A local charitable group working hard to

#EndChildFoodPoverty Supporting free school meal (FSM) families from Sherborne area schools with vouchers for food supplies and providing hot meals during the school holidays.

A helping hand in a difficult time makes a big difference.

To find out more information and make a donation, visit our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/stoptherumblesherborne Stop The Rumble is supported by The Fabulous Foundation, a local registered charity RCN:Â 1164111

28 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

HANFORD

THE SCHOOL RUN AT HANFORD traditionally modern

Independent Boarding and Day School for Girls Aged 7 to 13 visit hanfordschool.co.uk or call Karen on 01258 860219

UNEARTHED Annie Scorer, aged 10 Sherborne Primary School

W

hen Annie started thinking about ideas for her homework project in the school holidays, she had no idea she would end up uncovering new stories about her own family history.

Annie’s class began studying WWII, so Annie decided to do some research into her great-grandfather who she knew had served in the RAF. Spending time with her grandpa, she meticulously researched flight logs and other primary sources, to build up a timeline of his experiences during the war.

Flight Lieutenant Leslie Scorer was awarded a number of medals during the war including the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is given for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’.

Amazingly, if you visit the Imperial War Museum, the spitfire on display is the very plane flown by Annie’s great-grandfather.

Headteacher Ian Bartle said, ‘Annie’s history home learning was truly inspiring as it was so real. This project brought the Second World War to life for Annie and all her friends with her fascinating, personal story.’

Flt Lt Leslie Scorer died in 2007, so Annie never had the chance to meet him, but by spending time researching his past, and learning valuable research skills with her grandpa, she feels it has brought them closer. The project has sparked a passion in Annie for family history and she is now working on a family tree, which so far spans four generations. sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk

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

30 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Strong Citizens.

Strong Community.

Stronger Outcomes.

01935 810911 or registrar@sherborneprep.org

www.sherborneprep.org

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31

Family

Children’s Book Review

By Ethan, aged 12, The Gryphon School

Where Snow Angels Go by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniella Jaglenka Terrazzini, (Walker Books 2020) £14.99 (hardcover) Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £13.99 from Winstone’s Books

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here Snow Angels Go was a very good book. Maggie O’Farrell (the author) has only ever written adult books, so this was a big leap for her to write her first children’s book. In my opinion, she has done a great job! I think you can tell she writes grown up books because the story isn’t written in a childish way.

This book really made me think about what might or might not be real.

In this story, when you make an angel in the snow, it becomes a real angel that watches over and protects you. Normally, you can’t see them so you wouldn’t know they were there but, Sylvie, the little girl in this story, can somehow see hers.

Sylvie becomes very ill, but thanks to the snow angel her mum is able to get help. When she eventually recovers, Sylvie tries to find ways to bring her angel back; she wants to ask him a favour.

The illustrations were amazing and life-like. The theme of this story really made me get into the Christmas spirit and I felt very cosy while reading it. I would recommend the book to children aged 4-12. Overall, I would give this book a 9/10 not a 10/10 only because it was quite short, and I would love to have read it for longer.

Have you ever made a snow angel? Just imagine – it might be watching over you…

We’re fully open from 2nd December and every Sunday until Christmas Eve Open for late night shopping Thursday 10th and 17th STAY WELL. STAY WELL-READ

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

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 33

Sizzling sale now on

Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne, DT9 4JX • 01935 815040 • toy-barn.co.uk

Volunteers Needed to Listen to Children Read in Local Primary Schools More reading volunteers are desperately needed due to Coronavirus. Thousands of children won't have had enough reading practice during lock down. In a normal year, one in four children leave primary school unable to read well. This year, most children will have missed a term of school, so the reading gap is now even wider. Children who struggle with reading are more likely to live in poverty and be unemployed as adults.

Schoolreaders needs more volunteers in your local area to support children’s reading and prevent them falling further behind. If you want to make a difference to a child’s life, apply to become a Schoolreader. No qualifications are needed; just a love of reading and some spare time each week.

The process to become a Schoolreader takes a few weeks, so please apply now and you can be ready to start as soon as it can be arranged.

Registered Charity Number: 1159157

34 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

This picture was taken before social distancing rules were introduced. All of our volunteers must adhere to school and government guidelines when in school.

To join us, please visit the website www.schoolreaders.org/volunteer-application-form or call 01234 924111 for further information.

A

S A I NT

BIS H

O

DL

E

S

LL

P S C AU N

All Saints CE VC Primary School

We are so proud of our fantastic pupils, wonderful staff, superb facilities and unique family feel.

Come and see for yourself!

• Breakfast and After-school Clubs each day • Warm and friendly ethos • Forest School and Swimming pool • Both support and challenge for pupils as required

• Excellent staff : pupil ratio • Individual Chromebooks for all KS2 pupils • Unequalled outdoor space • Just 4 miles from Sherborne, Stalbridge & Milborne Port

Parent Comments October 2020: ‘It is like an independent school without the fees’ ‘I could not be happier that I sent my child here’ ‘All Saints is such a lovely school’

To arrange a socially distanced, COVID-secure visit. please call 01963 23450 or email office@bishopscaundle.dorset.sch.uk All Saints CE VC Primary School Giles Lane, Bishops Caundle, Dorset DT9 5NQ www.bishopscaundle.dorset.sch.uk

Family

HOME FRONT Jemma Dempsey

Triocean/Shutterstock

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y ‘Things to Do’ list is long; in fact, I realised I should have stopped when I added ‘paint skirting boards’, as they are destined to remain bare until we sell this place, when they’ll receive a quick gloss prior to a first viewing. But, having a list makes me feel virtuous and I waft it under the husband’s nose when he asks me what I’m going to do during this new lockdown. Last time around, I was too busy to do stuff around the house as I was playing teacher to my recalcitrant nine-year-old during home schooling.

But now, I’m thinking it is time to don my old, paintflecked dungarees and, who knows, maybe I’ll get the drill out and put up those IKEA shelves that have been languishing in the garage for months. I have, however, never used the drill before and immediately images of that 1980s Kenny Everett TV sketch spring to mind, when his DIY character would come a cropper while trying to carry out simple household tasks. Clearly, I could end up with more than wonky shelves.

36 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

The relief at knowing Abbey Décor is staying open is reassuring; I may singlehandedly keep the place open prior to Christmas. I get the spirit level out of the garage and marvel at it and decide that with its simple ingenuity and my unerring common sense, I cannot go wrong. The husband is not so sure, ‘It’s not as easy as you think, putting up shelves.’

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence, why are you here anyway?’ I growl, ‘haven’t you got an important meeting to zoom into?’ But I know he is right and at once I can feel my newly found eagerness ebbing away. I stand the spirit level, at perfect right angles, in the corner and watch a YouTube tutorial on how-to-put-up-shelves. I then watch another. I now have a fear of the drill; it is a dangerous piece of machinery with a life of its own. I consider taking up crochet instead and think how I could knit ‘things’ for Christmas presents instead of putting up shelves, which may or may not fall down at some point in the not too distant future. I put the kettle on and console

myself with a coffee. The dog senses my sad frustration and puts her head on my lap, eyes looking up at me as if to say, ‘Take me for a walk and you’ll feel much better.’

As we wander round our now even quieter locked down village, I wonder if Yeovil College does DIY courses. I suspect I wouldn’t be the only middle-aged housewife there, though, for the record, let it be known I do know how to wire a plug, change a fuse and operate the spaceaged central heating system in our house. And I’m a dab hand with a paint brush, so maybe for now I’ll just stay in my comfort zone.

The garage is not my domain - that firmly belongs to the husband. I’d like to say it’s an Aladdin’s Cave, a place of oohs and ahs, where things once considered lost are found. But, it’s not. It’s where Dracula hides out and I don’t like it. After being attacked by an old ironing board and something hanging from the rafters, I eventually find white gloss, undercoat and primer, sandpaper and various paint brushes. ‘I’m going into Sherborne to get some masking tape,’ I shout at the office door, ‘Do you want anything?’ Silence follows, before I hear laughter and some talk about progress

with the next quarter, which tells me he’s in a meeting and that my words have fallen on deaf ears.

Town is busier than I was expecting, but the car park is littered with empty spaces – one of the few joys of lockdown – so I take my pick and head towards Cheap St. But, I quickly stop dead in my tracks and do the ‘I’ve forgotten my mask’ reverse shoe shuffle and hot foot it back to the car. I dig one out of the glove box, cursing under my breath as it’s now started raining.

Hasn’t someone come up with an invention for us poor bespectacled folk who get all steamed up as soon as we put our masks on? To be honest, I’m surprised people aren’t bumping into each other all the time. I zig zag my way down to Abbey Décor, pick up the bits I need and rip off my mask as soon as I get back in the car. Again, I doff my imaginary cap to all those doctors and nurses who manage for hours on end, not just with masks, but with all the other garb they have to wear.

After lunch, I collect together my decorating swag and look at my list. I’ve a couple of hours before the school run. It looks like those skirting boards won’t escape this lockdown after all.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 37

Family

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT FOR LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK

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Huw Thomas, Director of Operations and Co-curricular, Sherborne Prep

or the sports fans amongst you – particularly of a certain generation – the epic documentary mini-series The Last Dance on Netflix is a must watch. The series revolves around the career of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls basketball team of the 90’s. Arguably the best player ever and certainly one of the best teams ever, the series takes a behind the scenes peak into the world of Jordan and his team mates during the highs and lows of a decade of dominance in the NBA. The combination of strong leadership and teamwork become clearly evident during the series and the important role that Coach Jackson plays in both handling the pressures of elite level sport and the intricacies of managing such an eclectic group of personalities. If you haven’t heard of Dennis Rodman, then you are probably in for a shock! The importance of culture and values in creating a successful environment is at the core of this journey and, although the ‘Bulls’ could call upon some of the best players of all time, providing clear leadership and generating the right environment for those players to flourish was ultimately key to their success in the 90’s.

Drawing comparisons with school sport in Dorset would seem a big jump, but some of the core messages are the same. The last twelve months have been exceptionally challenging for us all but in many senses, it has allowed us to press reset and focus on what is really important. The benefits of teaching leadership and teamwork through sport are obvious and well documented. The importance of developing co-operation, accountability, communication, decision making, collaboration and individual responsibility in our children is almost a pre-requisite of a modern education. As a school, we recognise the responsibility that we have to develop the citizens of the future. The 38 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

life skills that will equip our pupils for the challenges that they face in the ‘new normal’ world are right at the forefront of our thinking, as we look to adapt our curriculum for the rigours of a modern society.

In the sporting context, the lack of fixtures and competitive afternoons with our friends from other schools left a hole in our provision. At the start of last term, it was an obvious concern to us all that the children would miss out on these experiences (and, of course, the delights of match teas, or is that just me?) Without the constraints of preparing teams

for fixtures though, we have been able to adapt our sporting programme to focus on core values and, in particular, the importance of leadership and teamwork.

Granted, we want to be able to put this to the test in a competitive environment in due course, but in the meantime, we have had a lot of fun this term and have enjoyed a lot of new sports along the way. We have made a concerted effort to mix the girls and boys throughout and this has been a real success. Hopefully, during this process, we have laid a strong foundation for what is to come but if nothing else, we have tried

to grab the opportunity to enforce the core messages of teamwork and the individual responsibility that comes with being a member of our community.

The sporting provision within all schools continues to be a wonderful vehicle for this approach and provides key learning opportunities and experiences for all our pupils. If we take nothing else from Coach Jackson and the Bulls, the quote ‘Remember, team, surrender the me for we’ is a pretty good starting point for us all! sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39

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Wild Dorset

SHERBORNE DWT Gillian M. Constable, Dorset Wildlife Trust Sherborne Group Committee Member

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hristmas 2020 looks as if it will be like no other Christmas we have experienced previously.

However, we shall be able to make lots of walks to discover the beauties of nature in mid-winter.

The above picture was taken early, one December.

What wild flowers are still managing to survive from last summer? What plants can be seen bursting into growth for 2021 and where are the first snowdrops and primroses? Can we identify tree species based on shape of tree, bark and leaf buds? There are lots of challenges for the observant walkers. I often think that walkers, who are just out for the walk, miss so much when marching across the countryside.

Perhaps, DWT can help with this year’s Christmas shopping problems. They have membership packages available; individual, joint and family. You will be supporting Dorset wildlife and will receive the magazine and emails for latest news. Each month, there is a species of the month to look out for and submit sightings. This month, it is teasel and we have a number growing in the front garden. They are good for bees, when flowering, goldfinches for seeds and now, I learn the seed heads provide shelter for overwintering insects. Their only disadvantage is their willingness to grow from winddispersed seeds. Two other options for Christmas gifts are to adopt a red squirrel or seahorse; both can be done online or by post and you receive a certificate of adoption.

DWT and other nature management groups will hopefully soon resume working parties. You generally need to register intention to attend and observe distancing rules, but it does give the hardy – desiring good exercise - a chance to contribute to next summer’s delights. You will need to look at the appropriate websites to obtain the latest information. During the 42 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Image: Gillian M. Constable

last week, it has been a joy to see the wildflower verge management at Dancing Hill. There has been a close cut of the 2020 growth and then a thorough raking to remove the dead material to prevent it enriching the area. Already there is a nice regrowth.

The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland organises a New Year Plant Hunt by volunteers, over New Year, of all plants in bloom including grasses.

Last year, they received data from 1714 individuals covering 615 species. The most common species were: daisy; groundsel; annual meadow grass and dandelion, recorded by over 65% of participants and these have been the top four species for six years.

Littleton Powys, head of Sherborne Prep 1905 to 1923, loved to encourage pupils to take local walks recording the species of flowering plants observed.

He would set two small groups of pupils to complete a circular walk; one group clockwise; the other anticlockwise, and the competition would be to see which group recorded the most species. Current restrictions permitting, how about some groups of friends trying the same method of operation for walks this Christmas break? I know there are lots of local walking groups and this would make a competitive change from treasure hunts. I mention it now to give individuals time to plan such an event and they could even submit some data to the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI). The BSBI map for last year’s submission seems to be empty around Sherborne. We have never sent data to them, but most years we try to form a list of local flowering plants. The numbers seen are very variable and dependant on the autumn weather. dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

The Joinery Works, Alweston Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5HS Tel: 01963 23219 Fax: 01963 23053 Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk

www.fcuffandsons.co.uk

DESIGNERS AND MAKERS OF BEAUTIFUL FINE BESPOKE JOINERY SINCE 1897

Wild Dorset

R&R

Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

Image: AKP Branding

A

s the bees are tightly clustered together, hopefully in a state of ‘torpor’, it’s the time for beekeepers to travel and ensure that all their hives and equipment are clean, secure and ready for the next season. As 2020 ended up not being a year for travel, the additional time has enabled me to concentrate on skep and sun hive making. Torpor is not quite hibernation; it can be defined as a ‘state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total insensibility’ 44 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

and it usually only lasts for short periods of time. Bees will go into this state when the temperatures drop below zero and there is no suitable weather to enable foraging. Thankfully, this usually coincides with times of the year where there is also nothing flowering, so the bees are not missing out on important food supplies.

Throughout the spring and summer months, bees will maintain their colony at a steady 35˚C – essential for the rearing of brood. Through late autumn and early

winter, there will not be brood to keep warm and so, the colony is able to survive lowering their external cluster temperature to 10˚C. This state means that they will not be consuming much of their stored honey to maintain their temperature, thus increasing their chances of survival as long as they had a minimum of 20kg of honey stored in their cells.

Gradually, after the winter solstice on 21st December, the colony will increase its temperature to the brood-rearing 35˚C. Understanding these basic facts helps with a number of aspects of successful and sustainable beekeeping. Bees that are native to the British Isles are well adapted to the variances of climate, with the queen only laying when the daylight lengths and temperature are right. She will also ensure that her colony are frugal with their honey stores. Sadly, for a number of years, many thousands of queen bees have been imported from the Mediterranean with the promise of stingless and bountiful honey harvests!

This year, I have been more conscious of what we can learn from the bees, attempting to pace my life alongside nature, as the bees do. After a busy summer and bountiful harvest, I should also be looking forward to periods of torpor to allow my body to rest and restore, whilst also being frugal with my larder contents!

The episodes of lockdown, however frustrating, could actually be interpreted positively as our time to stop rushing about, and reconnect with the natural rhythms surroundings us. We have become accustomed to a seasonal build-up of activity, preparing for various winter celebrations, when in fact, perhaps we should be more inclined to slow down a little, restoring our energies for a busy and bountiful spring?

Over the past few years, I have taken the opportunity to travel to places where the bees were still busy, and the sun was shining – a combination of work and recuperation. This year, I’ve reverted to weaving straw skeps, and teaching others to do the same. Whilst stitching the thatching straw with lapping cane, I myself go into a mild state of torpor: my breathing slows, and my metabolic temperature also lowers, especially when sat still in the cold for a number of hours! I am noticing that I put off this all-important time to weave; it feels indulgent. The more I weave, the more I want to, and the harder it is to return to the faster speeds of office and household duties. Much like meditating, we feel we don’t have time for it, but as a wise monk once said, ‘if you don’t have time for 10 minutes meditation, you need 1 hour of meditation!’ By committing to teach skep

weaving, I have a purpose and a deadline. Being listed as an endangered craft skill, it is also vital that I continue following my teacher, Diana Robertson’s, footsteps, sharing the knowledge of this simple and valuable skill.

It was whilst weaving a skep that I finally understood the rhyme, ‘There’s a hole in my bucket’.

As children, we repeatedly chanted the mantra of wise Liza, ‘mend it with straw’ yet I couldn’t see how a block of straw would fix a tin or more familiar plastic bucket. A well-made skep will not only withstand its maker ‘dancing a jig’ on top (in the words of master skep beekeeper Chris Park), but it is also waterproof.

The careful bundling of straw and curving of each band ensures that bees inside are somewhat protected from the rain outside. An extra protection of ‘cloaming’, coating the basket with a mixture of lime clay and cow dung, will really make sure it’s watertight. This explains why buckets were once made of straw.

It is thought that straw skeps were introduced during the 5th century by the Anglo Saxons. Until then, bees were most likely kept in wicker hives, as introduced by the Romans. Skep beekeeping was replaced by wooden hives in the 19th century as demand for honey increased. Extracting honey from skeps is not an easy task and up until the 16th century, it was common to kill the bees by suffocation in order to retrieve the honey laden combs. Moveable frames in boxes became the norm and the need for straw skeps, and so their makers, decreased in number. Readymade straw skeps can be purchased quite cheaply now, imported from China, but nothing beats the satisfaction of housing bees in your own handmade skep. When using materials carefully grown nearby, it feels like a truly sustainable way to house your bees.

In recent years, as natural beekeeping has become of more interest, it has been shown that bees can be kept in a healthy ‘treatment-free’ way in these baskets. The rough interior is favourable for the bees to line with their protective propolis. Modern wooden hives with smooth interiors make it difficult for the bees to attach their antibacterial wonder substance. Professor Tom Seeley, as well as Marla Spivak’s research in Minnesota, USA, has proven how bees benefit from living in a propolis envelope. Perhaps this winter will see more beekeepers taking to weaving straw skeps, reviving an ancient craft, and providing wonderful country homes for our bees in 2021! paulacarnell.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 45

On Foot

46 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

On Foot

LITTLEBREDY, LONG BREDY AND POOR LOT BARROW CEMETERY Emma Tabor and Paul Newman

Distance: 4½ miles (plus extra mile for detours) Time: Approx. 2½ hours Park: By the village green in Littlebredy Walk Features: A circuit which takes in the head of the Bride valley with a bracing return along the ridge overlooking Black Down, plus detours to view Martin’s Down Bank Barrow and Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery.

There is one moderate climb from Long Bredy up Long Barrow Hill. The walk is boggy in a couple of places but otherwise straightforward.

Refreshments: The White Horse, Litton Cheney >

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47

E

ach month we devise a walk for you to try with your family and friends (including four-legged members) pointing out a few interesting things along the way, be it flora, fauna, architecture, history, the unusual and sometimes the unfamiliar. For December, we discover the head of the Bride Valley, with the distinct church towers of St Michael and All Angels in Littlebredy and St Peter’s in Long Bredy, nestling beneath Black Down. There are fine views south towards the coast and across the surrounding downland, marked by strip lynchets, as well as many signs of prehistoric activity including bank barrows, long barrows and cross dykes. The return route provides the opportunity to walk up to Martin’s Down Bank Barrow and also detour to Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery which has all four types of round barrows and rarer pond and disc barrows.

48 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Directions

Start: SY 587 891 There is plenty of space to park along the road running by the village green, just after the bus shelter.

1 Before setting out, take time to admire some of the fine buildings in Littlebredy with a mix of architectural styles including Jacobean and Gothic.

2 Turn down a marked footpath by the bus shelter.

After 75 yards, turn right across a small section of grassy common to a stile. Climb this then head diagonally across the centre of a field, slightly uphill, towards a wooden stile on the right. Head over the stile and straight across the next field, following the contours around a large oak tree in a marshy area, towards another wooden stile set in the next fence.

Cross this, into a marshy field and reed bed, which is very boggy in places. The footpath soon meets a

short wooden walkway; cross another stile into a not-so-marshy field! Go straight ahead and uphill towards a group of beech trees where a hedge on your right reaches the trees. Turn right in front of the beeches; there is a stile on the right which you go over to then meet the road.

3 Turn left onto the road and walk for just over 1/3 mile. Where the road is crossed by the Macmillan Way, it then turns sharply left. On this bend, at the entrance to Belmont House and Farm, go slight right off the road, through the gate that faces you as you leave the road. There is no visible footpath sign but go through the gate (with a golden duck on it) into the field ahead. Do not go up the drive to Belmont House. Head uphill towards a small metal gate in the hedge - ignore the stile towards the left. Go through the gate, up the field and keep the fence and trees on your right. You soon come to a seven-bar metal gate on your right. Go through this and follow the footpath to emerge into a triangular corner of a field. Head uphill and then round to your left, following the contour of the hill. The village of Long Bredy is now visible down to your left hugging the base of the hill, with the coast beyond. As you walk round the hill, the view opens up to reveal bare-shouldered hills, lined with sheep tracks, with the square-turreted church of St Peter’s nestling in the fold of the combe. Look out for buzzards, ravens and green woodpeckers along here as well as flocks of finches. You soon meet a fence with a small wooden gate - pass through this into a small paddock, turn slight left and walk down towards a small metal gate taking you out of the paddock and then into a drive between buildings.

Emerge onto a road at a junction and then bear round to the right following the sign for the church.

4 Just before the church, turn right through a large gate, heading uphill along a sunken field track, between grassy banks. Go through another gate and keep heading uphill, with a lovely view over the church and school houses. After a few more yards, you reach the top of the hill and three gates. You can detour here and go left for ⅓ mile and climb Martin’s Down to take a closer look at the Bank Barrow and Long Barrow. Otherwise, go through the small metal gate on the right and turn right.

5 Walk along this track for a short while; where the track then turns left, keep going straight on through a seven-bar metal gate. At the top, go through a

five-bar metal gate keeping the wire fence on your right. There are some good views all around from here. You then come to a seven-bar metal gate with a bridleway sign. Go through this, keeping straight on; on your right is a lovely, old, crumbling flint wall studded with wind-blown hawthorns. You will start to see more barrows along the ridge. A view then opens up across Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery which has over 40 barrows of differing types, size and construction. If you are carrying an OS Explorer map, you will see cross dykes marked along the path here as well.

6 You will soon meet another five-bar metal gate.

Go through this and then cross the middle of a large field - look out for the large barrow on your left which the field boundary bisects. Once you reach the hedge, go through the gate then turn immediately left. Keep the hedge on your left, heading downhill until you meet another track. You can take the second detour of the walk here and turn left to investigate Poor Lot Cemetery further.

Otherwise, turn right onto the track, which is the route of the Jubilee Trail. The track heads slightly downhill and then uphill, around the edge of a wood on your left and soon passing farm buildings on your right. After a short while, you will meet a road junction.

7 Turn right here onto the road and follow the sign for ‘Littlebredy ½ mile’ downhill until you reach the village and back to where you have parked.

The light was fading as we completed the walk.

Descending the road into Littlebredy, we watched the leaves falling from the trees which formed a sheltered boundary along the road. The failing light through the trees was sublime, bouncing off the sea and revealing the outline of nearby Crow Hill and Tenant Hill. As with many of the walks, we wanted to linger. It was a moment of crepuscular wonder and, in the confusion of twilight and hibernal gloom, we realised that among the falling leaves a bat was patrolling the canopy.

As the year closes, we’d like to say thank you to readers who have enjoyed the walks, even if just through reading them! We hope that we’ve been able to convey some of the wonder and interest of what we’ve seen. We’ve tried to give a sense of the variety of things to see at different points throughout the year and look forward to sharing some new walks in 2021. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49

History

END OF THE ROAD; THE COMING OF THE RAILWAYS Cindy Chant, Blue Badge Guide

A

nd so, now it is time to leave the period of travel known as the ‘coaching era’. By 1850, coaching was almost over and its history was now sadly coming to a close. This golden age was just a short 25 years. So much had happened during that period from 1750, and it is now obvious looking back that it had been the base that had established our present way of life, by allowing movement of travel and the sharing of ideas.

Improvements with coaches and with the roads enabled the whole country to be served with efficiency, but that all came together just when the railways appeared.

In 1825, the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened, and in 1830, the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway was an immediate success and carried over 30,000 passengers a month. At first, there were no signs of railways being a rival to the coaching industry, except for sometimes the carrying of merchandise. Railways, initially, were regarded as dangerous and smelly, although one of the great coach proprietors, William Chaplain, did foresee the future.

He bought himself some railway shares, and then used his own horses and carriages to carry passengers and goods to the railway station!

50 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Whitemay/Shutterstock

Passengers soon overcame their fears and quickly realised that the railways were superior for speed, price, and carrying capacity.

For a while, it was thought that stagecoaches could be converted to steam and in 1831, the first regular steam-driven carriage service from Cheltenham to Gloucester drove over 3000 miles. But these pioneering attempts were ended when the turnpike trusts, in league with the stagecoach proprietors, raised the tolls for steam carriages to the level of £2, in contrast to the horse-drawn coaches at 2/-, unwittingly signing the death warrant of their own business. Then, in 1838, an Act of Parliament allowed the mail to be carried on the trains, so in 1839, the last mail coach ran from London to Birmingham and in 1843, from London to Bristol, followed by London to Plymouth in 1847.

Here in Sherborne, although there had been a lot of discussion about the coming of the railway to the town – as early as 1848 - it was not until 1860 that it eventually arrived. Sadly, the route meant cutting through the medieval borough of Castleton. The proposed railway was to run just north of the old castle; an opportunity was taken by the Digby family to close that part of Pinford Lane and the old road, which ran

through the Castle Park, and push it slightly to the west and its now present route.

Consequently, the old road from Pinford Lane could no longer climb up over Gainsborough Hill.

But since the West Hill Road was, by these times, more important, a new road called ‘The New Road’ was completed in 1857 and joined the West Hill Road just beyond the Westbridge. The last long-distance stagecoach to pass through Sherborne was on the 25th August 1855.

One of the effects of the extension of the railways was the increase of the population. Another, in the subsequent improvement in local Government facilities, was the disappearance of the Turnpike Trust and the old system of toll gates for raising revenue. The toll gates around Sherborne were abolished in the early 1850s and the toll houses were then sold off. All of the old roads, some of which were now only footpaths, were ‘stopped up and closed’ as being ‘useless’ and ‘unnecessary.’

By the early 1860s, the highway roads had taken over the functions of the Turnpike Trust and under the Highway and Locomotive Amendment Act 1878, the principal turnpike roads became main roads, and maintenance became the responsibility of the local authorities. The stagecoaches were effectively dead.

At the beginning of the 20th century, steam propulsion remerged on the road transport theme, and some steam buses were operational for about the next ten years or so. For around 50 years, from 1850 to 1900, horse-drawn coaches and carriages continued their important, but subsidiary, role of acting as railway feeders. The dazzling days may have passed but there was still a glamorous and useful living to be made by linking communities and villages to their nearby towns.

The final coaching years were the province of cabs, horse omnibuses, and every imaginable type of private coach. Horse-drawn vehicles provided the transport for thousands of work and club outings, but as I have said earlier, the stagecoaches were finished, although they were rapidly transformed in the public imagination into objects of romantic nostalgia with a glamour that would have astounded the old uncomfortable, grumbling passengers of the previous 200 years.

Nothing is more surprising about the story of coaching than the fact that it ended so quickly.

Stay with me and read more next month...

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sherbornewalks.co.uk Get well soon Cindy! sherbornetimes.co.uk | 51

History

LOST DORSET

NO. 6 CHETNOLE

A

David Burnett, The Dovecote Press

Christmas highlight in Dorset was the appearance of the mummers, a group of half-adozen or so men who toured the inns and big houses in return for beer and pin money, as here in 1911. The traditional Dorset mumming play involved St George fighting a Saracen or Turkish knight, but there were endless variations, both on the plot and characters involved. Also included in this photograph are Father Christmas and his wife, who was always played by a man and who, after being killed, was brought back to life by a comic doctor. Much beer was drunk, so much so that on one occasion in Chetnole the mummers performed to a haystack which they mistook for a house. The First World War brought mumming to a close, and the only surviving play in Dorset is the one performed in Symondsbury, near Bridport.

Lost Dorset: The Villages and Countryside 1880-1920, by David Burnett, is a large format paperback, price £12, and is available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers. dovecotepress.com

52 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

THE PIERCED ANTLER

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Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

otifs of stags’ heads, deer and antlers abound at Christmas, perhaps because we traditionally associate them with Santa Claus and his sleigh, but do they carry a deeper meaning?

Many cultures around the world depend on deer for food, leather, bone and gut; likewise, in early societies they were an important resource for hunter-gatherers, but they were also seen as a powerful symbol of rebirth. No other mammal can regenerate a lost organ, particularly something as large and complex as an antler, which structurally and functionally replicates the original.

Their growth and shedding are triggered by hormonal changes brought about by fluctuations in day length. As a symbol of regeneration, a stag with its branched head of antlers is especially appropriate at the time of the winter solstice, when we start to anticipate the return of the light and the re-greening of nature. Its emblematic value pervaded Christian thought; the English Benedictine monk St. Bede, for example, likened the stag to the body of Christ and throughout medieval times, the image of a stag was often imprinted on the communion wafer to indicate renewal. The symbolism was further developed during the Renaissance.

This red deer antler was discovered in August 1915

by Ernest Alfred Rawlence, who was a land agent for The Castle Estates, after a tenant farmer, Stephen Shutter, drew his attention to what he thought were signs of prehistoric activity on the face of a quarry on Louse (Low’s) Hill. There had been other circular marks, indicating, perhaps, the presence of former huts or burial mounds. Rawlence, a member of the Royal Archaeological Institute, became involved in the ensuing excavation which uncovered ash, bone and a boar’s tooth, along with pottery fragments from a

Bronze Age cinerary urn, items with which the antler was associated. It is possible that the worked flints the museum holds from Silverlake farmlands may have been manufactured and used by the same Bronze Age peoples who cremated and buried their dead on the higher grounds of Louse Hill; a ritual landscape in which the ancestors would have been ever-present, overlooking the very fields in which flints are still to be found today.

Many prehistoric Northern European burials have been found to contain antlers, which have been perhaps made into a favourite tool as a gift for the dead or placed as a marker of their status. The museum’s antler shows evidence of manipulation; however, a carefully drilled hole 2.5 cm wide pierces it near the burr. It is believed that this deliberate action was intended to confer extra magical power on an already significant object. These types of pierced amulets have often been found buried with those who met a dramatic and premature death, more usually women and infants, possibly to ward off any associated ill-luck. As such, they may have had apotropaic value and would ‘seal’ a grave, accompanying the dead to the afterlife but also preventing their return, thus protecting the living.

This tangible yet mysterious object highlights the tenuous grasp we have on mortuary behaviours in prehistory and stands as a testament to the complexity and humanity of our ancestors.

The staff of Sherborne Museum wishes all our supporters, members and visitors a peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year, in the hope of better times ahead. sherbornemuseum.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53

Antiques

OLD MONEY Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

A selection of coins from the Dorchester collection

I

n between Lockdown and Lockdown 2.0, we cleared a property in Dorchester. In reality, it was more of a man cave than a home, but he did live on his own. The property itself was a modest semi-detached house. He moved into a nursing home some time before and I knew I had arrived at the right house to meet the solicitor, as the garden was somewhat overgrown.

Walking into the hall, it was a sensory overload with a variety of militaria including a group of brass shell cases - the largest measuring over 3 feet high, with a dummy round placed on the top.

54 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Then, into the living room and it was full of West Country pottery including Poole Pottery and Verwood earthenware owls. Any ledge or shelf which could hold a piece of pottery was crammed with the stuff. Rather surprisingly, however, there was no television and not even a radio - just an old settee which he would sit on and admire his collections.

Moving upstairs to the bedrooms, and again, they were jam-packed. There was more militaria with swords and helmets. Some on display, some shoved in the back of wardrobes and some stored away in old cardboard

boxes, and it was in here that I also came across a collection of coins.

I have had a long interest in coins, which started nearly 50 years ago. My father collected medals and militaria and I would often be dragged around fairs and junk shops by him. Being a child reliant on pocket money, I was not able to afford the items my father collected, but I did find I was able to buy coins quite cheaply. I vividly remember old Quality Street tins full of copper coins with handwritten labels all coins 5p each and the like, wherever we went.

We moved into Sherborne in 1970, when my father was moved by Barclays Bank to the Cheap Street branch. He would occasionally work over the weekend and take me to the bank. Here, I would sit on a clerk’s stool at the counter and go through the bags of 5p and 10p coins taking out the pre-1947 coins which have a silver content, rather than the post 1947 coins which are made of cupronickel (and replacing them with cupronickel coins I must add!)

For many years afterwards, I continued to collect coins. Then came the adolescent years, when my priorities and interests changed to girls, motorbikes,

cars and drinking in The Black Horse (now long gone but I’m still amazed today you could be served wearing a school uniform!)

Work and marriage followed, but Mrs B had little (or rather no) interest in old money. The collection was relegated to a couple of boxes. Shortly after we bought our first house in Cheltenham, the coins were sold at the auction house I worked in with the money spent on, amongst other things, a bed.

Now, the coins from the house in Dorchester we cleared are included in our three-day December auction. They range predominantly from the late 17th century (I do particularly like the unusual double headed coins of William & Mary) through to the mid-20th century, with copper pennies to gold sovereigns which are going under my gavel on Saturday 5th December.

I had thought very briefly about asking Mrs B whether we could sell our bed and buy some of the coins, a reverse of what we did back in the early 1990’s, but then again thought better of it. charterhouse-auction.com

CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers

Forthcoming Auction Programme

Pictures & Books Thursday 7th January Decorative Arts & Mid-Century Friday 8th January Silver, Jewellery & Watches Thursday 4th February Antiques & Interiors with a Selection of Wine, Port & Whisky Friday 5th February Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles Wednesday 10th February

An Art Nouveau 18ct gold, diamond and enamel pendant in our January two-day auction £500-£1,000

Contact Richard Bromell for advice on single items and complete collections Valuations for Probate and Insurance

The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55

elizabethwatsonillustration.com

Call us to order your bespoke Christmas door wreaths or pop in and see our range of lovely Gifts, Home & Garden Decor, Houseplants and more...

Ellie Taylor

01935 814 308 occasionsofsherborne@outlook.com occasions-flowers.com 43 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU

56 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Deck the halls

As the days shorten and the frost begins to bite, preparations for the festive season are in full swing.

Whether choosing the perfect tree, buying new baubles or gathering gifts, it’s time to lay the groundwork for a Christmas to remember.

With our social distancing measures in place, you can pick up your Christmas Trees, decorations, Christmas houseplants and a wide range of other gifts any day of the week, during our new opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am – 6pm Sunday: 10am – 4:30pm For those still stuck at home, you can place your orders by telephone or email, and we’ll deliver free within 25 miles.

01935 814633

Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR www.thegardensgroup.co.uk

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01935 310302 or 07738 860680 www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57

Gardening

MERRY AND BRIGHT Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

T

his Christmas, I think as I write, will be somewhat different to normal - and Christmas is usually so dominated by traditions; some, very personal to particular families. I recall the significant difference between Christmas at my parents’ house (with my three brothers, three sisters, grandparents and various hangers on) which was wonderfully chaotic, and then the calm of the sophisticated, gentile event that took place at my in-laws! It was equally splendid but at opposite ends of the scale!

Plants associated with Christmas are equally traditional, although there are some good modern twists in the collection. They make great presents and can be gift-wrapped and delivered too. There are actually quite a number of plants with Christmas in their common name.

I used to joke that anything with Christmas in the plant name meant that the plant did nothing at Christmas, with the Helleborus niger – The Christmas Rose in mind. We used to have plastic Christmas rose flowers that could be pushed in alongside the plant or used in wreaths, but the modern varieties are very reliable and the specialist growers that we work with are good at getting the plants in perfect form for Christmas. Right now, I’m looking at the variety Helleborus niger Wintergold, which is budding up nicely with the first sign of white poking through.

The Christmas Box or Sarcococca never fails to deliver.

Its tiny green buds open to small white and highly scented flowers right through the winter. There are a number of varieties, but almost all are suitable for planting in a pot, which means that they can be positioned somewhere that you walk past on a regular basis to get the full effect. My favourite is Sarcococca confusa, but some of the newer varieties, such as Winter Gem, are very reliable with strong growth and lots of flowers.

In recent times, a number of plants thought to be just for indoors have crept outside too. These include the mini cyclamen, which are now a staple part of 58 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Natalia Greeske/Shutterstock

the winter bedding scene. Another is the Christmas Cherry, a variety of Solanum called Thurino. This has orange/red round fruit on top of bushy growth to about nine inches and can be used outside for the autumn or in a cool bright spot inside or in a conservatory.

Its name ‘Christmas Cherry’ sometimes causes confusion between it and the Winter Flowering Cherry (or autumn cherry), Prunus autumnalis. This is a real flowering cherry and grows as a small tree with delightful winter flowers, pink in bud turning to white, or there is also the variety ‘rosea’, which has pink flowers. The blooms are small and dainty but look fabulous on the bare stems on a bleak winter’s day. This is a great example of why the use of the latin name can avoid difficulties, as the true cherry won’t fit on the kitchen windowsill!

Helleborus niger

If its fruit that you yearn for, then there is an apple variety called Christmas Pippin. It is a cox-style apple which matures late, so will easily store to be eaten at Christmas time and beyond. I can vividly remember as a child our family being given a present of a whole box of Coxes Orange Pippin apples – different times but much more memorable than an Xbox!

The sound of bells at Christmas can be matched by the sight of the flowers on the clematis Jingle Bells. This evergreen variety with small, neat leaves is a manageable size and the creamy white hanging flowers come in the winter months. It would prefer a sheltered spot, but again is a sign of hope in the depths of the winter.

The classic Christmas houseplant is of course the poinsettia and the common name in many countries is the Christmas Flower or Christmas Star because of the shape of the bracts. The best-known variety has

bright red bracts, but now there is a vast array of other colours including white, pink, cream and marbled with the foliage also available in a variegated form too. The best quality plants are compact and bushy, often being dwarfed using hormones. They are sensitive plants and like an even, warm temperature away from draughts and also don’t like getting too wet.

On a smaller scale, is the Christmas Cactus, which is one of those plants that can be kept for generations. It can be forced into flowering by neglecting it for a number of weeks in the summer until flower buds start to form. Then, potting it on or increasing the watering brings it back into good health and lots of flowers will follow.

It may be different this year, but it should still be a time that we can enjoy, and I hope we can all find some peace. thegardensgroup.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 59

Gardening

DIARY OF A FLOWER FARMER

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Paul Stickland, Black Shed Flowers

s the nights draw in and the last of the flowers have dwindled away, our thoughts are firmly fixed on the new year and spring. There’s little time in summer to have too many thoughts of next year when you’re 110% engaged with the current one. Yet, we have to. Tulips need to be ordered not that long after they’ve finished flowering and we have to get our anemone and ranunculus orders in by midsummer to have any chance of getting the most desirable varieties for next year’s customers. As you know, there are a bewildering number of colours and forms of tulips, indeed all spring bulbs, to choose from and at the wholesale level, even more. Trying to second guess the colours and tastes of next season is not an exact science, so we opt for the more unusual varieties and add to those ones that really worked well last year.

Keeping up with the work of florists and designers on Instagram is a great starting point, but nothing beats discussing it with them when they visit, observing the way they put colours and forms together gives us an idea of what to look for when those tempting catalogues arrive.

So, these last couple of months have been full of bulb, corm and claw planting – some in trays of compost in our wonderful new polytunnel, some outside. We stagger these plantings too, so that the flowering season will last as long as possible. The polytunnel will be a game changer for us; it already is my favourite place to be in these winter months. Currently full of chrysanthemums, which are looking rather fantastic. I wasn’t expecting to like them, having long nurtured snobbish prejudices based on garage forecourt horrors, but I really have fallen for them. There are a lot of subtle and interesting varieties out there, in virtually every colour and form, flowering when everything else has faded. Oh no, another obsession looms…

Dried flower orders have been flying out. We’ve hung up a whole summer’s worth in our now two grain silos, which looks and smells really special. Much easier to pack and send than fresh flowers, they really help extend our season; let’s hope their current popularity continues!

With Christmas on its way, we’ve been using them ourselves to create the wreaths and decorations that’ll be available alongside the wonderful bushy Nordmann Christmas Trees, waiting in the big barn here at Blackmarsh Farm. Confident in the quality of our UK-grown trees and to make tree shopping as safe and simple as possible, we’re offering a click and collect or delivery service for all our trees this Christmas.

Beyond that, we have an exciting new year ahead of us, but what do we plan for? Will weddings and events be allowed? Will people be sending flowers to each other as they have done so generously this year? Will mail order be so important, or will it be our amazing local customers? Will it be all of these? Flowers help us express so many feelings and have so many roles in our lives, we’re confident that there will be homes for our flowers, so we’re going to get on and just grow the best we can.

We thank you for all your support in this extraordinary year and if there’s anything we can do to fill your lives with flowers, just let us know! blackshedflowers.blogspot.com @blackshedflowers

60 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

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TAKE YOUR TIME

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AVAILABLE ONLINE

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VAL STONES Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

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ockdown 2.0 got in the way of Val Stones and me meeting for coffee and buns in her kitchen as planned, so instead, we chatted by phone and frankly, I could have listened to Val’s soft lilting Yorkshire tones all day. Val, now in her 70s, still works as a locum teacher on occasion, while the rest of her time is spent baking and creating recipes. Val is a familiar face to readers of Sherborne Times, her bakes having adorned our pages for the last 3 years. Many of you too will know Val from her ‘Great British Bake Off ’ days when she reached round five in 2016.

One of Val’s earliest memories was sitting under her Nana’s kitchen table while her parents were at work and her Nana baked. ‘Where’s Val? Nana would say,’ recalls Val, ‘and she would get me to help, you know put currants in the buns, make pastry that sort of thing. There were four women in the house at the time because it was just after the war; there wasn’t much money, and my Nana took my family in and also my aunt. So, I just pottered around and watched.’ >

64 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

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Val’s father was a miner, and she remembers moving to their first pebble-dash house in 1953. She was the eldest of four children. ‘My mother had her last child in her forties,’ recounts Val, ‘and she became very sick; we thought we would lose her - it was pleurisy. I was about 16 at the time, I took 10 weeks off school and I nursed her back to health while I looked after my three younger siblings. I would cut the recipes out of Women’s Weekly and cook for them - I never thought about it.

My brother and sisters would come down and say, what are you going to make? And I would make treats like peanut brittle for us all, as well as the meals.’

At school, she had taken domestic science but at college, she decided to train as a teacher. ‘My dad was a miner and my mum a homemaker. They were both clever but they couldn’t go on to grammar school and 66 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

wanted the best for us,’ she explains. ‘I did my teacher training and went on to teaching. I have been the head for three primary schools but at 56, I decided to stop.’

The new regulations that came in and the curriculum, in her view, became dumbed down and prescriptive. So, she left, although she has worked in supply teaching ever since. ‘Of course, I didn’t stay in any job for more than five years,’ she adds.

‘Oh? Why not?’ I ask.

‘Well, every Thursday I would bake the treats to take in for the staff on a Friday. A teacher said to me, you can’t repeat a bake Val. That’s what planted the seed in my mind for my cookbook, The Cake Whisperer. After about five years, that was it – I left because I would have had to repeat the bakes!’ There’s a heart-melting chuckle at the other end of the line.

Val has a son and daughter, both now adults and with children of their own. They were both born in Yorkshire and their roots ran deep, then 37 years ago the family moved to South Somerset. ‘My husband was offered a job in Somerset on Friday and we said yes the following Tuesday. Three months later we moved to Somerton,’ she says with typical forthrightness. Around that time, she took eight years off work to look after her children while they were young. Those were happy days and recounted in dessert trends of the 80’s: roulade, Black Forest gateaux, baked cheesecake, arctic rolls, trifle and ice-cream cake.

So, it wasn’t a huge surprise, although in my view, massively brave, that she applied for The Great British Bake Off. ‘I was sat with my sister-in-law on New Year’s Eve at the end of 2015, when she said: Why don’t you apply for ‘Bake Off ’? So, I did,’ explains Val. ‘I did it very light heartedly, putting humour into my application and I made it very warts and all, then went off supply teaching.

On 10th January, I was in the middle of a lesson and my phone went, and they said Hello, Love Productions here about ‘Bake Off ’ I said I can’t speak; I’ve got 32 children with me.’ She rang them back that evening.

The process of applying for GBBO I discover, is a little more involved that you might think. In fact, there are a number of obstacles to overcome before you get to go anywhere near that tent and wear the apron.

The first interview was a 90-minute conversation by phone: ‘the researcher just quizzed me about my application and technical questions,’ explains Val. Then, three days later, the phone goes again: ‘come for a personal interview and bring two bakes,’ they said. ‘So, I took my sausage rolls and a king cake.’

‘A king cake?’ I ask.

‘It’s a showstopper,’ explains Val. ‘A cinnamon roll covered in garish green, yellow and purple icing and coloured sugars. Then, I hide a plastic baby in it – the prize is for whoever finds the baby.’ Heard of it? No. Nor had I, it is a New Orleans-themed cake in the colours of the Mardi Gras. ‘My husband said, it’ll never get in, adds Val. ‘Beware the nay-sayers,’ I say.

‘Well, I arrived, and people were bringing in the three-tiered cakes and I just thought oh no.’ But it didn’t stop. She was invited back for 20 minutes filming, which was cut down to two minutes and shown to the BBC. The BBC selected 190 contestants and Val was through to the next round of interviews.

For the next round she had to make a ‘Mary Berry

bake’ and a ‘Paul bake’ and do a technical challenge.

That was easy; it was shortbread and bread, and then Val says, ‘I have an aversion to technical challenges, but I made a Victoria Sponge.’ There were more questions, more interviews. It was the beginning of March 2016 by then and Val was in Doncaster when the phone rang.

‘It then ran out of battery,’ recalls Val. But Val made contact and found she had secured a place on the show – the contract arrived an hour later. She was in.

The most memorable moment? ‘When my gingerbread Empire State building collapsed, and Paul took a bite out of my sister [also gingerbread]; he loved it. But really,’ says Val, ‘the real highlight is walking into that tent, putting the apron on and thinking I am not watching it, I am doing it.’ After Val left, she was invited to appear on the Christmas Special along with a number of GBBO events and spin-offs.

Our own version of a Christmas Special has Val building a gingerbread house with four eager young boys. ‘I baked plenty for that,’ says Val, ‘so that they would each have a go with the icing. Their mothers said it was the first time they had been quiet for an hour.’

You can see that she has a natural affinity with children and a gift for holding their attention; it’s something that’s close to her heart. In 2017, she raised £14k with 3 friends walking the Great Wall of China in aid of NSPCC and Cystic Fibrosis and has continued to give support to charities through the sale of her book: Val Stone’s: The Cake Whisperer We reach the end of our chat and discuss the merits of ice cream cake, a retro favourite of mine and highlight of many a birthday party. It’s just appeared on this year’s Bake Off. ‘Aha, now I have a very easy recipe for ice-cream cake.’ That’s Val – effortlessly generous with her time and tips. ‘There are times,’ she says, ‘when I think this is crazy. I am just a baker.’ But Val is so much more than that. She is a mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, fund-raiser, social media influencer (with close to 90k followers) and an inspirational baker who sprinkles a little happiness wherever she goes. Now, about that ice-cream cake… @valcake.walks @valstones An ever-increasing collection of Val's recipes and her book Val Stones: The Cake Whisperer are available at bakerval.com You’ll find Val’s recipe for a festive take on ice-cream cake on page 80. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67

68 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 69

FESTIVE GINGERBREAD COOKIES

EASY CHILDREN’S RECIPE

70 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

I

love making gingerbread cookies and usually use a melting method but recently, I have been baking with very young children (2-4 year olds) and I needed to develop a recipe that would not need to be heated. Also, by using a rubbed in method, it’s very tactile for little ones and can be used straight away, as tiny folk don’t like to wait – but, the dough does improve if you give it 15 minutes to chill in the refrigerator.

Although this is a Christmas recipe, it can be made at any time of year and goes well with a cup of tea or coffee. These are ideal cookies to batch bake as gifts for family friends and as fundraisers.

You will need

Mixing bowls, 2 or 3 baking sheets, baking parchment and cookie cutters.

Ingredients

For the cookie dough 350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling (this can be replaced with gluten-free, plain or coconut flour) 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 124g butter 175g light soft brown sugar 1 free range egg 4 tablespoons golden syrup (weight 100g) To decorate 200g icing sugar 40g egg white Or Sufficient water to make a water icing that is thick enough to pipe Edible gel colours of your choice Different edible sprinkles Method

1 Set the oven for 170˚C fan, 190-200˚C, 375400˚F, gas 5-6.

2 Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, mixed spice, cinnamon and nutmeg into a bowl.

3 Cut the butter into small pieces and rub the butter into the spiced flour mixture, until it

disappears. Then, stir in the brown sugar.

4 Place the syrup and egg in a bowl and beat until combined. Stir the syrup mixture into the flour mixture and using a knife, pull it together to make a dough.

5 Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Wrap in cling film and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

6 Lightly flour the work surface and roll the dough out to the thickness of a pound coin.

7 Flour cutters of your own choice and cut out shapes, then place them onto a baking tray that is lined with parchment/greaseproof paper or silicon sheets.

Tip - leave spaces between the cookies as they will spread. Once baked, if you find that some cookies are touching, use a sharp knife whilst the cookies are still hot out of the oven and place it between the cookies that are sticking, to cut apart. Use the knife with side to side movements to tidy the cut edges.

8 Place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes; they are baked when they are slightly risen and golden in colour.

9 Leave on the tray for 1 minute, until they have cooled slightly, which will make it easier to transfer them to a cooling rack.

10 The cookies can be left plain or iced. I prefer to use royal icing but if you don’t wish to use raw egg white, use water icing that is slightly thick in consistency.

To make the icing

11 Place the icing sugar in a bowl and add sufficient water/egg white to make a stiff spreading, or piping, consistency.

12 Have fun by adding different colours to your icing or leave white.

Tip - A very easy method of icing is to spread icing over a cookie and then dip into sprinkles that have been placed in shallow, wide bowls. Leave overnight, or until the icing has set completely, before storing in an airtight container. These biscuits will keep for at least a month, but I doubt they will last that long. They can be bagged up in pretty cellophane packets and sold or given as gifts. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

72 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

W

hen my children were little, I made this delightful buttery gingerbread house too. Whilst the children were at school, I would make the house. When they came home, they helped me to decorate it; it was very informal, but they decorated it with love. They also made cookies with the leftover dough and personalised them for family members including their grandparents.

What you will need

A template for a gingerbread house Tip - for simplicity of assembly, look for a template that is 2 rectangles and 2 triangles A variety of Christmas cookie cutters 2-3 flat baking sheets A cake board or a piece of wood to set the house on Ingredients

1 medium egg 25g black treacle 200g caster sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground cardamom 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 250g butter 350g plain flour 5g baking powder For the royal icing 40g egg white 200g sifted icing sugar Disposable piping bag For making the house you will need:

1-2 boxes of Matchmakers to make the roof or instead something else of your choice A selection of brightly coloured sweets such as Skittles, Smarties, or jelly beans A couple of tins to support the house as the icing sets A little icing sugar to sift over the finished house.

The important thing is to be creative.

Method

1 Set the oven for 160˚C fan, 180-190˚C, 350-375˚F, gas 4-5.

2 Line and grease 2 baking sheets.

3 Place the eggs, treacle, sugar and spices in a bowl, then beat well.

4 Melt the butter in a pan on the hob, or in

a microwave, on medium for 2 minutes or until melted. Let it cool, then stir into the egg mixture.

5 Sift the flour and baking powder and stir to the mixture, binding with a wooden spoon or by hand to form a dough.

6 Wrap the dough in clingfilm or foil and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

7 Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface until 7mm thick (about the thickness of a pound coin).

8 Use the template to cut out the shapes and place them on the baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between the pieces.

9 Bake for 15-20 minutes but every 5 minutes, remove the tray from the oven and use a pallet knife to push the shapes back into their original shape as they will spread and bow. Alternatively, when the shapes are baked firm to the touch, remove them from the oven and place the original template on top of the gingerbread and trim back to the shapes required.

10 Leave to cool and firm up for 5 mins then place on cooling racks to become cold.

To assemble and decorate the house: 11 Mix the icing sugar in a bowl with the egg white to make a stiff spreading consistency.

12 Fill the piping bag and use a bag clip on the end to prevent icing being pushed out of the top – snip about a cm from the end.

13 Have the cake board ready. Using the icing like cement, take the two rectangles and run icing along the top edges of both pieces, then push together to create a tent shape. Prop up with the tins and leave on the board to set.

Don’t worry if it looks a little messy; once set, you can cover this ‘glue’ with the sweet decoration.

14 When the rectangles are set, run icing along one triangle and place at one end of the house, then repeat with the second triangle for the back of the house. Leave to set completely.

15 When the house is set and firm, you can be creative in using icing to form a door and windows and use the icing to stick the sweets etc. onto the house.

16 If you have any spare dough, make into Christmas cookies and decorate with any remaining icing. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 73

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Available from

SHERBORNE MARKET STORE 52 Cheap Street, Sherborne

FRUIT & VEG • ECO LIVING • REFILLS • PET FOOD Open 7 days a week • Telephone 01935 812509 For home deliveries email sherbornemarketfruitandveg@aol.co.uk 74 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Food and Drink

FRESH SHCHI

Sasha Matkevich, The Green Restaurant

T

his version of the Russian classic is made from fresh cabbage, rather than from sauerkraut, and will benefit from home-made stock. A warming dish for this time of year.

Ingredients Serves 6

1 large turnip 2 medium potatoes 2 small carrots 50g butter 2 small onions, diced 2 celery sticks, diced 1 small white cabbage (700g) 1.6 litres stock made from turkey bones 1 Granny Smith apple, cored, peeled and chopped 1 bay leaf 1 tsp chopped tarragon 1 tbsp chopped parsley 10ml pickled cucumber juice Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 76 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Image: Clint Randall

Method

1 Cut the turnip and carrots into julienne strips.

2 Melt the butter in a large pan and fry the turnip, carrot, onion and celery for 10 minutes or until soft and golden.

3 Peel and dice potatoes, then add to the pan, together with the turkey stock, apple and bay leaf.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes.

4 Shred the cabbage very thinly and add to the pan, with tarragon, and cook for a further 5 minutes.

5 Remove the bay leaf and stir in the pickled cucumber juice. Season with Cornish sea salt and plenty of pepper.

6 Cover with a lid and let it rest for 10 minutes.

7 Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley and accompanied by soured cream and rye/ Borodinsky bread.

S Rozhdestvom! greenrestaurant.co.uk

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WHITE PARK BEEF IRON AGE PORK PORTLAND HOGGET 180-DAY CHICKEN Order online at www.lyonshill.co.uk or call 07497 879186 Lyons Hill Farm, Hilfield, Dorchester, DT2 7BD sales@lyonshill.co.uk

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CH RISTMAS

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See more at www.thestorypig.co.uk A wide selection of Tamworth meats and meat boxes. Please email or phone us with your individual requirements.

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77

Food and Drink

78 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

THE WHITE HART VALE VINEYARD OWNERS CO-OPERATIVE

S

Charles Dutton, The Headmaster’s Tipple Vineyard

ome 15 years ago, when we lived at Bishops Down, I was keen to manage/farm a very small area of land opposite the house. There was about half an acre and no real room to cultivate the ground; Christmas trees and an orchard were out of the question, so I decided I would try to grow some vines. After all, there was a professional vineyard nearby at Sherborne Castle; how difficult could it be!

With the help of the local soil maps in Yeovil Library and expert advice from Vigo Ltd, near Honiton, I decided on three varieties of grape: two white and one red. It all seemed fairly bulletproof and required minimal intervention and, because of the size, the investment was modest. I originally planted Seyval Blanc, Phoenix and Rondo. The Rondo did not do well on our clay soil, but the two whites did.

A good many years later, Seyval Blanc vines proved to be the most versatile, reliable and forgiving of our soils. After some research, I was able to establish contact with an expert professional winemaker near Shepton Mallet, who really is the star of the whole project. From my 125 vines, yields varied from 12 to 180 bottles per year!

That vineyard now has a new owner and an expert gardener, who has the bug just like me.

My friend down the lane also ‘caught the bug’ and planted some 60 vines in a very similar bit of ground between two hedges. Two other local friends joined our group, and I planted a new vineyard behind our home in Glanvilles Wootton, renting a piece of land from our lovely nextdoor neighbours. So, we are now five vineyards, varying in size from the biggest at ½ acre to some very small, all growing the same Seyval Blanc grape variety because our soils are similar.

For those that do not know the grape, it produces something like a Pinot Grigio wine. The beauty of our little group is that we can all share ideas about how best to grow the same grape and we harvest at the same time. This year, and it’s been a horrendous year (remember those very late May frosts?) we harvested almost 500 kilos of grapes from our collective vineyards, so we should get back in return about 450 bottles of delicious wine.

I am passionate about growing things and the utilisation of land. There are lots of funny corners of ground about the countryside if you look and if you have half green fingers, it can bring a lot of pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction – not just the drinking of it! Above all, we are ALL amateurs.

What I find amazing is that we can produce something so good from very small bits of ground and if you do have half green fingers and access to a small area of ground, why not have a go?

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 79

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

SWEET MINCEMEAT ICE CREAM CHRISTMAS CAKE

I

ce cream cakes were a dessert of the 1980s, as were arctic rolls and Viennetta ice cream. I hadn’t eaten an ice cream cake since then, so I decided to develop a Christmas celebration ice cream cake using one of my favourite Christmas treats – homemade sweet mincemeat. Mincemeat is usually made with suet, but I use butter, which makes it a vegetarian recipe; if you prefer, you could use a vegan butter. The mincemeat is also perfect for folding into yoghurt or into whipped cream to serve with Christmas pudding or mince pies.

If you wish, you can simply make the sweet mincemeat ice cream by folding the mincemeat into the ice cream and serving as is. Serves 12 Preparation time

40 minutes to make the mincemeat 15 minutes to assemble the cake You will need

21cm/8in loose bottom cake tin Size 2 piping nozzle tip 9-10in cake board 80 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

For the mincemeat 2 medium-sized (around 150g when peeled & cored) tart apples, such as Bramley 50g dried cranberries, chopped 50g dried cherries 100g raisins 150g sultanas 25g Californian pre-soaked prunes, chopped small 150g light brown sugar 30g butter 150ml cider Zest and juice of an orange and a lemon 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 3 tablespoons brandy 3 tablespoons orange liqueur, or 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice, if you prefer not to use alcohol.

For the cake 1 round panettone 1 litre good quality ice cream

Katharine Davies/S_Photo/Shutterstock

Food and Drink

4 -6 tablespoons mincemeat 6 tablespoons orange liqueur 6 tablespoons brandy N.B. If you do not wish to use alcohol, use the same of freshly squeezed orange juice To decorate 500ml double cream 1 tablespoon icing sugar 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (or juice) Dried orange slices to decorate or decorate with items of your choice Method

To make the mincemeat 1 Peel and grate the apples and place in a large pan with the brown sugar, cider, zest and juice of the orange and lemon. Stir well and place on a medium heat. Gradually bring to the boil, stirring frequently until the apples are soft.

2 Add the butter, dried fruits and spices to the pan, stir well and simmer until thickened (30-40 minutes).

3 Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.

Once cool, stir in the brandy and orange liqueur (or the orange juice).

4 The mincemeat can be packed into jars or into fridge containers until needed.

To create the ice cream cake 5 Allow the ice cream to soften a little.

6 Whilst the ice cream is softening, cut the round bottom from the panettone then slice the remaining into 4 thick slices.

7 Place the brandy and orange liqueur (or juice) in a shallow dish and dip the round base of the panettone on both sides, then place it into the base of the cake tin.

8 Dip a slice of the panettone on both sides in the shallow dish and fit on the inside of the cake tin to form a side of the cake, with the curved part of the slice uppermost. Repeat with 2 more slices and a 4th, if needed, so that the cake sides are formed.

Press the pieces firmly into the sides of the tin.

9 Place the ice cream in a mixing bowl and break it up a little, then fold in the mincemeat until it is evenly distributed. Quickly spoon the ice cream into the middle of the cake and smooth the top.

10 Carefully trim the curved pieces of panettone level

with top of the cake tin and place these on the top of the ice cream with the curved edges against the side of the tin, as they fit well this way.

11 Place a round of greaseproof paper on the top of the cake, then add a tea plate on top and weigh down with a heavy weight - 2 tins of beans work well or similar. Place in the freezer for 2 hours to firm up.

12 Place the cream and icing sugar in a bowl and beat until it holds its shape. Fold in the orange liqueur (or juice) and beat a little more if it slackens.

13 Remove the cake from the cake tin and place on the cake board. Spread cream around the sides and top, then smooth. Pipe rosettes around the top for decorative detail.

If the cake is to be eaten straight away, place in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up the ice cream, then remove and decorate with orange slices or decorations of your own choice.

If not eating straight away, freeze the cake and after 2 hours place in a box or cling wrap and place back into the freezer until required. When needed, unwrap the cake whilst frozen, then defrost for 2 hours before adding the final decoration.

N.B. This cake can be kept frozen for 4 weeks but once defrosted, must be eaten and not re-frozen. bakerval.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 81

Food and Drink

82 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

A

James Hull, The Story Pig

nd here we are again. It’s December; I have just read last year’s December article to see what was on my mind exactly a year ago. I read it knowingly – rain features highly, and sheep, and piglets, but... absolutely no mention of the one thing that was to turn all of our lives completely upside down: the virus. I can safely say it was not a thing I had ever even given headspace to worrying about before, but wow it blindsided us all.

The human capacity to adapt to things thrown at us is incredible. In March, I remember thinking it felt like we were at war – that this was our equivalent to the second world war.

Now, months on, I don’t think like that. Many times, through life, I have wondered how our ancestors survived the war… well, now I think I have a little bit more insight; they had to, as much as we do now. There is no choice we just have to get through it all.

Here, at Lavender Keepers, you could be forgiven for thinking, what virus? The rain still falls, the wind still blows, we have no near neighbours to isolate from. The pigs keep eating and growing, the farm is alive with sounds of new piglets, we have had 40 born in the last 2 weeks, and the cycle starts again. The first born I can now only describe as little hooligans, tearing up and down their long pen, already trying to steal their mother’s food, charging from one pig ark to the next. The other two litters are much younger; they are still in the confines of their warm straw-filled pig ark – too little to venture out into the winter rain and winds quite yet. Their mothers leave them briefly to feed and then hurry back, grunting softly at the doorway, to check all is well before entering and moving straw around to get things just as they should be.

The piglets wake up instantly and rush to feed. In piglet land all is well at least.

The land is good for grounding us; there is nothing like the rhythms of nature to keep things real – to keep focus on what’s important. The seasons, as always, move on – thank goodness! As I write, we are in peak difficult pig farming time: it’s wet again, slippy and slidey, the pigs spend many more hours in their warm houses, seeing out the bad weather, like me, just waiting!

So, Christmas is coming again. None of us are at all sure what that means this year. For us at the farm, the build-up is very different this year: all our Christmas events have been cancelled, so we have to hope that our loyal customers remember us and our meat. We will have everything available as normal; we will just deliver, or you can pick up directly from us.

We like that. It gives all of you a chance to see where your meat is produced and join the links, so please get in touch and let us know what you would like in plenty of time. Charlotte and I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a big look forward to next year – it can only get better! thestorypig.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 83

Food and Drink

GROOVY! David Copp

I

n the 1990s, an alternative dry white wine to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc became immensely popular. Gruner Veltliner (green grapes from the area of Veltlin) was hailed as a crisp, fresh, white wine with a delightful expression of pure fruit.

But because the name was a bit foreign, Londoners called for ‘Groovy’ and it became immensely popular in the capital’s wine bars and restaurants. It still is and its offerings are getting better and better.

I first came across it earlier in the decade in Sopron that region of western Hungary nestling along Austria’s eastern border. But it was only by going into the hills above Vienna and the Wachau, the main wine making area on the steep, northern banks of the Danube, that I really learned how splendid a grape it was.

Central Europe is a classic white wine growing region because the heat from the Hungarian plain provides lovely, warm grape growing conditions during the day and the Austrian mountains, with a lovely cool air, give such intensity of flavour to the fruit grown there.

84 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Gruner Veltliner is Austria’s signature grape. Other cool climate white wine areas have planted it, but the Austrians have made it something very special indeed.

There are many different qualities: light quaffing wine in the hillside villages above Vienna, but also full and rich wines for the capital’s restaurants and now the world.

As a confirmed Riesling enthusiast, I was inclined to like the wines at first tasting, but the skill of the modern Austrian winemakers is such that Groovy now holds its own with the classic white wines such as Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The real skill is bringing out the inherent qualities of the grape, refining them and producing wines of great elegance and charm.

If you are relatively new to this variety, I would definitely advise a chat with your wine merchant about what foods go best. I tend to think of shellfish and white meats, but I am a bit set in my ways. The only thing I am sure about is that goulash, with its hot peppers, is not such a good idea!

On the subject of other distinctive white wine grapes worth trying, if you haven’t already done so, I would

to its freshness. Ken Forrester, one of the first to show what fine Chenin Blanc wines could be made, is still refining the art. Oldenberg is another name to note alongside Beaumont, a little more expensive but with a magnificent bone-dry finish.

Chenin Blanc has hitherto been somewhat overshadowed by its more famous stable mate Sauvignon. But the quality of the South Africa offerings has brought them into the limelight. South Africa now accounts for half the worldwide plantings of the grape and the quality of the wines is going from strength to strength.

Alsace is wonderfully located in the shadow of the Vosges mountains and has almost the most perfect climate for making fine wines and notably bone-dry Rieslings and Pinot Blanc. I happen to be a huge fan of its vendange tardive wines and consider the best Gewurztraminer one of the world’s most exotic and delightful wines. As I get older, I find white wines more fascinating than ever.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Stefan Rotter/Shutterstock

Huber Terrassen Grüner Veltliner, Traisental, Austria £12 Vineyards

mention Torrontés, South African Chenin Blanc and Alsation Pinot Blanc. There are inexpensive examples of these varieties available, but my advice if you are wanting to develop your wine knowledge is to find examples from the leading exponents of the art in each region.

Argentina is known for its Malbec but also produces world class Chardonnay and some superb Torrontés, a variety that originated in north west Spain but was overtaken in popularity by Albariño.

Never mind, it has found a new home in the higher vineyards of the Salta province in northern Argentina where it is planted at 1700 feet. I like its lightness of touch, crispness and acidity and its distinctive nose with a reminder of its relationship to Muscat. Cool fermentation ensures its intensity of flavour.

I am also a great fan of South African Chenin Blanc. The variety originated in the Loire where it still produces many outstanding wines. The great thing about South African Chenin Blanc is the grapes soak up the sun without losing the acidity so vital

Pure pepper on the nose, hinting at typical

Grüner spiciness. Aromatic herbs and yellow fruit are dense and complex on the palate.

True minerality from beginning to end. This

is a perfect wine for accompanying fish; trout and salmon are especially good pairings. It also lends itself to a little spice in food.

Mulderbosch ‘Steen Op Hout’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa £12 Vineyards Aromas of fresh pear, ripe apricot and subtle oak spice lead to a fine, crisp palate with

vibrant flavours of ripe Granny Smith apples and cinnamon spice. Everything you want

in a South African Chenin, or as they call it ‘Steen’, from start to finish and produced by a very reputable winery! vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 85

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Sherborne Surgery Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228

Yeovil Surgery 142 Preston Road 01935 474415

www.newtonclarkevet.com 86 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury Please call the office on 01258 472314

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Pet, Equine & Farm Animals

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Animal Care

HIGH SPIRITS

Mark Newton-Clarke, MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgery

Koljorova/Shutterstock

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any of us are wondering what sort of Christmas we’re going to have this year, adding to the uncertainty that has been the hallmark of 2020. However, for those of us who look after animals, in whatever context (pet owners and carers, vets or farmers), Christmas Day will always have a predictable pattern. We all know the animals under our care need attention every day; hopefully, only feeding and exercising for dogs and the same for 88 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

cats, without the exercise! Livestock farmers and horse owners are all too aware of the 24/7 nature of animal welfare. The daily routine can be a chore, especially in the cold, wet or dark, but this past year has taught many of us the value of having a purpose to the day – something that gives structure and meaning. Perhaps this desire for a focus in the household has contributed to the rise in the number of puppies and kittens entering homes for the first time over the last year.

Dogs and cats can behave like excited children as the Christmas decorations and goodies start to come out.

For many, this will be the first time strange objects and foliage have been seen in the house and the temptation to investigate further is too great to resist. Just imagine the sight of tinsel sparkling in the candle-light if you are a predator-puss attracted to movement and shine.

Like a mackerel to a spinner! There may not be any hooks on your tinsel (I hope!) but swallowing it can do almost as much harm. Think that’s never happened?

You name it, it’s been swallowed.

Looking back over the topics I have written about in 2020, social/behavioural issues with our pets have featured quite strongly. This will have some relevance over the Christmas period, as we all know the preparations can be quite stressful! In normal circumstances, the influx of seldom-seen relatives or friends into our houses increases over Christmas, disrupting the normal flow of the daily routine. For most dogs, this is an opportunity for more human attention but for others, it can be quite worrying.

Whatever happens this year, there will be celebrations and distractions, so if your dog or cat dislikes anything out of the norm, stress management may still be helpful. There are natural and pharmacological remedies, but these should be combined with environmental changes to calm the troubled canine or feline mind. As for the troubled human mind, maybe the same applies. The difference is, we can pick and choose for ourselves, our pets cannot.

The fact is, species apart, we all deserve less stress and more joy this Christmas. As our household pets are sensitive creatures, if the human members of the family are happy, the animals usually are too (and vice versa).

The Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick, has just published a book on animal/human relationships and I’m glad it highlights the positive effect of our pets on our lives.

Maybe the book is an idea for a present? Many of us give gifts to our pets at Christmas and so I always advise care when choosing these. Cats love a warm place in an elevated position to spend most of the day asleep, so placing that new bed up off the ground will be as important as the snuggly lining inside it. Make sure this is washable as, heaven forbid, if your cat gets a flea that is where the eggs and larvae will be. Older cats will need some help reaching a high surface, so think about a stepped access, perhaps using a strategically placed chair or windowsill.

Chewable toys for dogs are plentiful but even

the high-density rubber ones can be destroyed and swallowed by something as small as a terrier. I speak from personal experience as Jessica, our Jack Russell, can complete the job within minutes. One Christmas, I had to attend a collie that had been given a hollow, dumbbell shaped toy made of plastic. One end had been chewed off and the poor dog managed to get its tongue stuck inside the cylindrical part. The inevitable trauma caused swelling of that most delicate organ, making it impossible to get out. From a distance, it looked like a big cigar being chewed by a very unhappy dog. Could have been funny if it wasn’t so painful for the dog.

A general anaesthetic and careful use of wire cutters solved the problem, leaving the justifiably aggrieved owner to seek recompense from the well-known high street shop that sold the product.

On the subject of presents that benefit your dog, Tracey and I have decided to buy each other top-quality waterproofs for walking in. What relevance does this have for our dogs, you may ask? Well, if we are warm and dry, Portia our black Labrador will have longer walks, no matter what the weather and that makes for a happy Lab. In Cornwall, back in September, we came across a couple with a young puppy, miles from anywhere on the coast path. I was a bit concerned until I noticed the dog-pack, a purpose-made see-through rucksack that sat comfortably on the shoulders of the owner. This may be the ideal solution if, like us, you have one very fit and active dog and another who’s idea of a long walk is ten minutes around the block.

So, this year, spoil yourselves and your pets with carefully chosen gifts that will benefit both the giver and the receiver. Just as this was being written, lockdown was imposed upon us all (again). This should hopefully focus our source of inspiration and supply on Sherborne’s very own and long-established pet store, C.B. Brett & Son. They have remained open throughout both lockdowns and also offer home delivery to those isolating. Brett’s and all our local traders, once open, will need our support.

It only leaves me to wish all the Sherborne Times’ readers a very Happy Christmas from everyone at Swan House. May I personally send my thanks to all our loyal clients for working with us over the course of a challenging year and we look forward to the time when our waiting room is again full of wagging tails and cross cats! newtonclarkevet.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 89

Animal Care

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VET John Walsh BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS, Friars Moor Vets

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big part of many dairy farm’s enterprises involves raising the next generation of animals to bring into the herd to replace the older girls, who have become too old to milk or have developed problems which make them not suitable to be milked.

These replacement animals are called maiden heifers and they only graduate to being called cows after the start of their second lactation. The aim is to ensure these animals grow at the correct rate so they can have their first calf at two years of age and then enter the milking herd. Some farmers do not raise their own replacement heifers but instead operate what are called flying herds, where replacement heifers or cows are either bought from market or directly from farms.

The raising of these animals can be split into different sections including from birth to weaning, where heifers are fed on milk or a milk powder (like human baby formula), from weaning to service, and then, from conception to calving. Each of these stages is optimised to ensure replacement heifers are as healthy as possible at the start of their milking career.

As with many things in farming, there are multiple systems for raising heifers, but all have the aim of getting these animals to calve at two years of age.

Animals that calve at the correct size and age are more efficient to rear and have increased life expectancy, when compared to older heifers that calve at three years of age. At Friars Moor Livestock Health, we have a very successful youngstock group with around thirty members. This enthusiastic and knowledgeable group of farmers get together for quarterly meetings (under normal circumstances) and learn from both each other and experts on the best ways to raise their own youngstock. We try to arrange these meetings on farms and over the years we have a covered a wide range of topics. These have included talks about nutrition, genetics and breeding, grazing management, the control 90 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Etonastenka/Shutterstock

of diseases, housing management, as well as many other interesting topics. The farmers gain a great deal from these meetings as they all strive to improve their own operations by learning from what others are doing well.

As part of the group, our veterinary technicians also go out to farms regularly to weigh all the young heifers to assess their growth rates. Steph, our youngstock group coordinator, is based in the office and takes charge of organising the weigh sessions and produces lovely reports for the group members, with each

animal’s growth rates and the group averages presented.

My job, along with one of our other vets, Lucy, is to oversee the group and organise the quarterly meetings.

All the growth rate reports are sent to me, which means I can compare individual farms growth reports with others, allowing me to pick up quickly if there have been any drops in growth rates on that farm. There can be many causes of growth rate drops, but this initial information allows us to act quickly and, working with the farmer, correct any disease or management problems before they cause detrimental effects to the heifers.

The success of the youngstock group speaks for itself with new members joining all the time. If you would like more information about our youngstock group or youngstock services, then please contact the practice on 01258 472314 or email farmoffice@ friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk.

I and the whole team at Friars Moor Livestock Health would like to wish everyone a healthy and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year! friarsmoorvets.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 91

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Body & Mind

WINTER RIDING Mike Riley, Riley’s Cycles

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uring the early part of Lockdown 2.0, I was out for a local ride with Cliff, a chum from the cycling club, when I thought it might be helpful to explain the start-to-finish process of a winter ride. I was prompted by a website which amuses me called Velominati - imaginary custodians of rules of cycling. As I browsed the tongue in cheek definitions, I came across an apt one: flandrian face mask - the muddy visage, with clean patches from glasses, of a rider who has been riding in winter with others without mudguards.

It conjures up images of finishers of the annual Paris Roubaix classic.

Pre-ride checks

Before any long ride, you need a good breakfast; I prefer porridge with blueberries. I carry food for any ride over an hour such as a banana or dried fruit, energy bar, a gel and water. On longer Caundle Velo rides, some take a small flask of coffee. Steve from the Yellow Bicycle cafe has posted super Instagram pictures of his coffee steaming in the fresh winter air at a picturesque location during his bike rides.

I have optical inserts in my glasses which steam up 94 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

in wet weather and they are usually encrusted where my eyes have watered, so I clean my glasses with warm water then a lens cleaning spray which reduces fogging.

Lights are a wise addition for daytime riding as a safety feature; charge rechargeable types or carry spare batteries for non-rechargeable ones.

Bike checks

Check fastenings are secure, bearings are smooth, wheels run free and true, tyres are not worn or have nicks in them, and inflation pressures are as recommended embossed in the tyre wall. Inspect brake pads for wear and imbedded particles which can score rims or discs.

Lightly lubricating moving parts, such as derailleur gears, will protect them from grit, salt and wet conditions. Also, use a wet lube for the chain. Water gets into the frame, so some riders add protective gaiters, made from old tubes, around the seat post, for example.

Bearings, rims and drive trains suffer badly in British winter conditions, so don’t ride your expensive lightweight bike with carbon wheels and ceramic bearings or you will trash it. Some riders are

fortunate to have an alternative winter bike. You can get information about this from the GCN show on YouTube. Among keen riders, summer is for racing, winter is for putting in the miles. If a second bike is not possible, consider at least swapping your tyres for winter ones or have a second set of wheels.

Servicing

It is a good investment to service your bike if you ride in winter because bearings need cleaning and greasing to protect them, also cables can benefit from being replaced with stainless steel versions. You might be able to obtain a government ‘fix your bike’ voucher to help with the cost. We can advise on servicing, clothing, modifications or complete bikes for winter riding at Riley’s Cycles.

Kit

Mudguards are invaluable for winter because they protect the rider, the bike and following riders. Your feet stay dryer and components are exposed to less road muck.

Guards can be tricky to fit on racing bikes because of restricted clearance between tyres and frame. This situation is improved on bikes with disc brakes and that is why a gravel bike or disc-braked bike can make a good winter bike. There are slimline mudguards, or partial mudguards which give some protection on racing bikes.

You are more likely to have a puncture on wet winter roads, so make sure you have the essentials for a roadside repair: pump or co2, spare tube, tyre levers, or a tubeless repair kit, depending on your bike setup.

Familiarise yourself with using this kit before you have to learn by the roadside in unpleasant conditions.

Tubeless tyre technology is improving and can reduce punctures. If you are sticking with tubed tyres, an efficient pump like the old frame-mounted style can have you back on the road quicker.

The ride

Slippery road surfaces require caution; watch out for wet manhole covers. Rim brakes are less efficient when wet, so increase stopping distances. It is important to avoid oily contamination of disc rotors and pads as they will squeal.

Try to keep warm and avoid stopping for too long.

If you ride with someone who does not maintain their bike and have regular ‘mechanicals’, they may soon find themselves riding alone!

I like to dress to regulate my temperature, so items such as arm/leg warmers, a zip front jacket and

lightweight waterproof jacket and trousers are good to consider. Because my feet are first to chill, I wear a thicker sock and waterproof overshoes. To keep hands warm, I wear an inner glove and waterproof outer shell.

In extremely cold conditions, gloves which keep fingers together maintain warmth; they look like a lobster claw, so fingers can control gears. A hat under the helmet also helps keep you warm and the peak of a cap can protect eyes from rain or low sun.

Post ride

I stretch after a long ride because cyclists’ hamstrings tighten up and work against our muscles. I check my GPS distance and average speed, which is usually slower than I would like! Next, prep the bike for cleaning: spray with a cleaning product that loosens muck before it dries. A small bottle filled with watered down detergent and with a spray head, plus a bucket full of rainwater ready, saves a lot of time and avoids traipsing mud through the house. At this point, I sponge off overshoes before removing them. I then use water, brush and sponge to clean off the bike. I avoid using jet washers or a hose on high pressure as this washes out grease.

Pay extra attention to wheels; on rim brake bikes, clean grit from rims and brake blocks to prevent premature wear. Occasionally, clean rims with a nylon scourer and concentrated detergent. I then dry the bike off with a soft cloth and lubricate the gears. I save cleaning the chain because I am ready for a cup of tea by this stage and the wet work is done so I can clean myself up.

Caring for your kit

Cycling kit is often made of technical fabrics designed to breathe. Normal detergent and fabric conditioner affect the performance of the fabric. I wash my kit in a gentle liquid called Nick, a wax-based wash, which does not block breathable fabric on a delicate fabric setting.

Refuelling

There is a school of thought that there is a window of 30 minutes after vigorous exercise when you can eat anything. I think it is intended healthy protein is consumed to repair and rebuild muscles. In winter, it is nice to have something hot like scrambled eggs on toast. On Digby Etape rides, substitute cider and chips!

In summary, prepare yourself and look after your bike and you can enjoy cycling in winter. Stay safe! rileyscycles.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95

Body and Mind

THE EYES HAVE IT Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

FussoPics/Shutterstock

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ower faces covered by masks, dewy skin, steamy glasses and shallow breathing hardly evoke a sparkle in one’s eyes. However, in these strange and hopefully temporary times, it’s all about our eyes; they somehow have to say so much and convey all the hidden facial expressions that we are contorting beneath cloth. As a tunnel to our soul, we find ourselves giving even more eye contact and looking in earnest as if to read each other.

96 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

The area around your eyes is thinner and, therefore, shows the wear and tear of life so much more quickly.

You may find the masks themselves are irritating the inner eye near the bridge of the nose and you are developing dry skin or sensitivity. Apply a lightweight cream or balm, as anything overly greasy will cause puffiness. Also, consider changing your mask to something softer if appropriate. Masks should of course be changed or washed after each wear and doing so may

stop congestion and breakouts.

The steam and moisture that can dissipate from the top of your mask dehydrates the eye area and this will become ever more uncomfortable as we go into very cold weather. Consider buying and applying an eye balm or cream to combat this dryness and associated crêpiness.

If you find your eye make-up is not lasting or going walkies, then this too is down to the moisture escaping.

Changing to a waterproof mascara and eyeliner will massively help your make-up stay put, rather than it ending up above or below your eyes!

Prepping the eye area with foundation or eye concealer, followed by powder, will create a stable base on which to apply your eyeshadows and make blending easier. This should help to stop the creasing and keep the colours true.

Your brows are having to work overtime to lift and frame the eyes and to convey expressions and emotions.

Give them a helping hand by brushing them into place and if desired, a sweep of brow colour. This will help to fill in thin areas, disguise the I haven’t been able to see my

therapist for a while look, and frame the eyes. The aim here is for definition - not to have two black caterpillars dancing about on your forehead!

If you can get to see your beauty therapist for a brow shape and possibly a brow tint, it will take the hard work out of day-to-day grooming. If you haven’t considered having your brows professionally tended to before, this could be the best time. The right thickness and shape of eyebrows will lift your face, open and elevate your eyes and can take years off a person. Male and female brow grooming is one of the most inexpensive forms of maintenance to refresh a face. Male brows may need only tidying, trimming or thinning to create a neater, less dense brow. It certainly will not be for all chaps to have a shape put in or to even have them tinted to cover greys. A good consultation prior to any treatment is key, so that you are thrilled with the results and we, as therapists, are super proud that we have made your day! thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97

Body & Mind

TIME TO CARE Emily Spearing, White Feather Care

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ith the long months of enforced lockdown this year, there really isn’t a greater or more relevant time that the older generation needs our help and assistance. It is essential that our elderly are offered practical and emotional support to help make their everyday lives a little bit easier and a little less lonely.

To be able to listen to an elder reminisce on the old days brings out a light in their eyes, reminds them of their identity and their good memories.

We all know there is no doubt, in years to come, we shall reminiscence about the year of 2020 and the community spirit of the pandemic lockdown.

Through the eyes of a professional carer, working for the older generation is a real privilege. There is nothing more motivational to me than making a difference to someone’s life, by assisting with their shopping or tying their shoelaces to the significant events in end-of-life care. We can all help without being carers.

We can: • Check on our elderly neighbours and friends regularly • Offer to do jobs they can’t, such as tidying their 98 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

garden, picking up shopping or taking out their bins • Cook them a hot meal on a Sunday and deliver to their house • Simply smiling and saying a cheery ‘good morning’ on your way past could make their day – you may be the only person they speak to that day • Picking up their daily paper from the shop • Driving them to the doctors or a medical appointment • Be an information point; tell them about Sherborne Viral Kindness, the guided walks from the surgery, or the community dog walking service • If you feel they need more, contact a professional carer that can check on them for you.

Being empathetic towards others helps eliminate their feelings of loneliness and, as a bonus, gifts them a sense of safety. The touch of hand can bring great reassurance to someone who may be frightened and confused, filling them instead with comfort. whitefeathercare.com

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Body & Mind

EMBRACE YOUR NORMAL Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Ambassador, Dorset Mind

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his year, everything is different. Everything we were used to, or took for granted, has changed considerably. Whether that’s going to the shops, visiting our loved ones, or planning things to look forward to – we no longer have the freedom we once had. This has, understandably, had a huge effect on the wellbeing of many. And that’s without considering loss of income or loved ones and worries about our health and that of people close to us.

Unfortunately, Christmas holidays can be difficult at the best of times but this year, they’re likely to be extremely different from what we are used to. As we adjust to ‘a new normal’, it’s important to safeguard our wellbeing and make the best of the festive season, even with these new challenges.

Here are our top tips for looking after your wellbeing during the festive season: Don’t bow to present pressure

It can be easy to fall into the trap of buying more and more to surprise the ones we love. We’ve all had a difficult year, and it’s understandable to want to cheer up our loved ones with exciting new gifts. However, it’s important not to sacrifice our financial stability and wellbeing. Try setting an affordable budget for holiday shopping to ensure you can afford those festive treats.

Just like you wouldn’t want a loved one to break the bank to buy you a gift, your loved ones are more likely to value your company and the sentiment portrayed through a carefully chosen (or made) card, rather than an expensive present.

even normal to feel a bit blue. Christmas and other festivities are always hyped up so much through media and so, it’s easy for them to fall a bit short of your expectations. That’s completely fine. Try not to be hard on yourself for not being as happy as you feel you should be around this time. It’s OK not to be OK, even during the ‘merriest’ time of year. Be kind to yourself, all year round.

Don’t feel bad about feeling bad

Find ways to connect

The holidays are portrayed as a joyous time of nonstop fun and cheer. However, it is perfectly fine and

No one is quite sure what the festive season will be like this year. This in itself can be anxiety-inducing.

100 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Vectorfusionart/Shutterstock

One way to tackle this anxiety due to uncertainty is to create a comprehensive contingency plan, so you can be prepared for whatever the situation may be. Your ‘Plan A’ may be Christmas with the whole family as normal, whereas your ‘Plan B’ might involve your family split across two households, but digitally connected via video chat.

Having a list of back up plans for any situation may also help you feel less overwhelmed and distressed, if the unexpected occurs. Try working through every eventuality down to your worst-case scenario (though, hopefully, you won’t need it) so you know you are well

prepared for any development.

Remember, you are never alone. If you need emotional support, the Samaritans are available to call, text or email at any time or date in the year.

Their free phone number is 116 123 and their email is jo@samaritans.org.

For more information about mental health and where to find support over the holidays, visit dorsetmind.uk. The mental health charity has plenty of useful resources on their website and social media. They intend to operate services ‘as normal’, albeit within government restrictions and public holidays. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101

Body & Mind

FACEMASKS

Craig Hardaker, BSc (Hons), Communifit

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appy Christmas from us all at Communifit!

Writing this article in November, it is impossible to know what restrictions will have been lifted. But one thing is for sure, we need to stay positive and focus all our energy on what we can do - not what we can’t. Exercise is a great starting point…

Now, for a moan! The combination of wearing glasses with a face mask is really, really irritating. As soon as I put a mask on, my glasses steam up and I can’t see. I then take my glasses off, yep, for obvious reasons, I still can’t see! It seems I lose out either way (washing up liquid doesn’t seem to work - any ideas?). It is, however, despite the hassle, essential we continue to wear face masks and follow Government guidelines. But when else would a face mask be beneficial?

A year of disappointment has seen me both have to postpone my wedding and miss the opportunity to run in the London Marathon. It was whilst training for the London Marathon in October last year, long before we knew anything about Covid-19, that I bought a rather different face mask. I bought myself a training mask (costing £25.99) to use for some of my runs. The training mask’s sophisticated valve system allows athletes to gradually regulate air supply to make breathing easier, or harder, during a workout. It promotes the ability to inhale deeper and more consciously, simulating the supply of breathing air at altitudes between 900 and 5500 metres.

Now, unlike me, you don’t need to spend £25.99 on a mask (which doesn’t protect you from Covid-19!).

102 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Your face mask will have a similar effect. Whilst you are shopping and supporting all our wonderful independent shops in local towns and villages this Christmas, you may notice you get out of breath when wearing a mask.

Now, this may mean you need to attend one of our live or pre-recorded exercise classes, but it could also mean you are simulating exactly what I needed when training for my London Marathon training, and reducing the oxygen flow into your body.

Reducing the oxygen intake can be an effective method of training, but definitely not suitable for everyone! If you are a runner, why not try wearing a face mask when you next go out? After all, now is probably a better time than any other! Cold air entering the lungs can have a similar effect on the oxygen intake. Oxygen needs to be ideally at body temperature before being absorbed into the blood stream. This is why the first few minutes of a cold weather run always seems the hardest.

Finally, whatever this Christmas period holds for us, let’s all do what we can to support local businesses.

There are some amazing people in our local area who, right now, are really needing our support. Buying a coffee and cake from one of our amazing coffee shops, whilst buying all our presents from independent shops, will make a big difference to a lot of people.

Together, we are stronger – let’s support and continue to ‘strengthen the local community’. communifit.co.uk

TOO MUCH HIIT IS NOT BENEFICIAL FOR US MERE MORTALS Simon Partridge BSc (Sports Science), Personal Trainer, SPFit

Click and Photo/Shutterstock

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am writing this at the start of lockdown 2.0, so I was really pleased to read a recent article in a very popular men’s fitness magazine extolling the value of other forms of training than High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), especially low intensity training, and questioning the current trend suggesting that everyone should do HIIT, all of the time.

We have always encouraged our clients to concentrate on 3 pillars of fitness: strength, cardio, plus mobility and flexibility when setting their specific goals.

Then, we design specific training programmes relevant to each client to cover as many bases as possible.

HIIT is portrayed as the quick-fix solution for everyone to lose fat and get into shape, but its core principles are often badly misunderstood. We have discussed the different forms of training we use after each group session for years now to ensure our members understand what and why they are doing it. Armed with the correct knowledge, we can make informed decisions as to what is best for each of us.

Tabata is one of the most popular forms of HIIT training, but who really understands how and when to use it, or even how to vary effectively rather than just arbitrarily. Tabata training was discovered by the Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. These workouts lasted four minutes and 20 seconds (with 10 seconds of rest in between each set for 8 sets) and were used for Japanese speed

skaters training for the Olympics.

Often HIIT, sold in the social media world, is watered down and ineffective. True, we love burpees, but just doing them for the sake of it will burn a few calories, but if you want your sweat sessions to go beyond simple calorie crunching, as per the three pillars above - stronger, fitter and better conditioned – we need to train smarter.

Having said that, there is still a time and place for conventional, high intensity training; just make sure you also include specific strength training sessions such as weightlifting and time under tension training. Your body and muscles only adapt to progressive overload; you need to ensure the load you are lifting, or the reps you are completing, increases by including progressions in all your programmes. Then, also include longer, low intensity exercise to ensure you do burn sufficient total calories.

Often, the most neglected pillar is conditioning; try to include your own specific mobility drills, and stretching, for greater flexibility or participate in yoga and pilates, which have enormous benefits for us all.

Finally, even elite endurance athletes spend 70% of their training at low intensities, with only 10 – 20% being HIIT based. So, for the majority of your cardio training, stick to more sustainable heart rate zones to provide you with all the fat burning and fitness boosting benefits that you need. Your muscles, immune system and maybe even your mental health will be better for it. spfit-sherborne.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 103

Body & Mind

VITAMIN AND MINERAL TABLETS: SHOULD WE BE TAKING THEM?

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

he most optimal source of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for all the cellular processes in the body is through a mixed and balanced diet. However, this may not be possible for a number of reasons. Firstly, fruit and vegetables are not cheap. Many of us don’t have the time to shop and cook healthy food options.

Besides failing to achieve an adequate intake, the concentration of vitamins and minerals in food may not be adequate; this is true of the mineral selenium found in European wheat when compared with its selenium-rich American equivalent. There also seems to be fewer whole grains eaten overall – these are an excellent source of B vitamins and trace elements such as zinc, magnesium and copper. Overcooking vegetables denatures vitamins. The anti-cholesterol campaign has resulted in fewer people eating eggs – these are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, D as well as zinc and iodine (incidentally, dietary cholesterol intake has very little effect on blood cholesterol level!)

Iron intake has fallen for the same reason – red meat is discouraged as it contains higher levels of saturated fats. There is iron in vegetables, but it is not as bioavailable as ‘haem’ iron in meat.

For all these reasons, it is important to address potential insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals to prevent deficiency and promote optimal health.

Grouped studies have shown that the lack of vitamins is a risk factor in heart disease, stroke, some cancers and osteoporosis. A solution is to take a multimineral multivitamin, the so called A-Z supplement. This will

104 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

provide the recommended daily amount (RDA as seen on the label) of minerals and vitamins. It is important to stick to the RDA; exceeding this is unwise as it may cause side-effects such as nausea, indigestion or even harmful effects – as seen in some studies (vitamin A and selenium). The best time to take your A-Z is after your evening meal rather than at breakfast.

This is because the body repair processes and mineral movements in the body are greatest at night, when your growth hormone is at its highest level. It is best to swallow them down with water or juice and preferably not tea or coffee – these contain substances that interfere with their absorption.

Along with your A-Z, the other supplement worth considering is omega-3 fish oil. If you are not able to eat the recommended two portions of oily fish per week – because of expense or a dislike of fish – a supplement that contains the long chain fatty acids (DHA, EPA) is needed. Studies have demonstrated protective effects against heart disease risk and stroke as well as reduced blood stickiness. They are also natural anti-inflammatory agents of benefit in asthma and joint disease. They have also been shown to be helpful for depression and brain health.

And so, in summary, my view is that taking A-Z / multimineral multivitamin and omega-3 supplements is not as nature had intended, but they are a wise nutritional safety net to facilitate optimal health and wellbeing. 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 Teresa or Daniel on 01935 812647 100 Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AG Email: info@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 | 105

elizabethwatsonillustration.com 106 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

WINDOWS

&

DOORS

Solidor has long been the market leading timber core composite door. The extensive Solidor range is as widely admired for its stunning design, as it is for its unparalleled security. No other composite door even comes close to competing with Solidor in terms of sophistication and performance.

Choose from a variety of colours, styles, glass and furniture options for a truly personalised entrance to your home.

As a Solidor approved installer, all of our Solidor composite doors are manufactured at our factory in Sherborne.

For more information visit our website or come down to the showroom.

Unit 1a > South Western Business Pk > Sherborne > Dorset > DT9 3PS billbutterswindows.co.uk 01935 816 168

Home

CHRISTMAS DECORATING Annabelle Hunt, Colour Consultant, Bridport Timber

Farrow & Ball Calke Green

C

hristmas, this year, will undoubtedly be quite different from any other most of us will have known. With so much uncertainty over the last weeks and months, some of us may have been tempted to bury our heads in the sand, whilst others have had their lights up since Halloween. However you are planning to spend the holidays, it is possible to lift the mood with colour and make this festive season feel special. There may be fewer faces around the table, but we can still create inviting spaces which will bring a smile to your face, as well as to those around you.

As we are already into December, you might be thinking But, there’s just not enough time! At this point, the trick is to enhance what you already have. If you are lucky enough to have a dining room, the chances are that it has been requisitioned as an office over the last few months. Switch up the atmosphere with candles and twinkling lights and if you’re feeling bold, paint a strong, dramatic colour on the walls. This will throw them into shadow, firmly placing your table at centre stage.

If you would rather change the character of your room without changing the colour of the walls, the ceiling is an oft forgotten part of a decorating scheme.

108 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

For those who prefer a ‘white’ ceiling, each of F&B’s understated off-whites are perfectly pigmented to compliment particular shades on the colour card.

Whether you want a traditional look, or a crisp, clean feel there are many more options available than brilliant white. For a slightly different decorating style, using the same colour on the ceiling as on the walls (yes, even if they are dark) will make the ceiling have more depth, as there is no sharp line of contrast to draw the eye, and it is harder to tell where the walls and ceiling meet.

If the mere thought of redecorating a whole room makes you want to go and have a lie down, start small and think about the details. For a simple, contemporary update, choose a festive colour to compliment your Christmas tree decorations or table setting and paint a frame or a rectangular panel directly onto the wall around mirrors and pictures; ideal for using up any sample pots you may have under the stairs.

Although feature walls have rather fallen out of favour, zoning is very much on trend and can work brilliantly in multifunctional, open plan spaces. Whilst lighter shades are more suited to large spaces and working areas, defining a smaller space with rich colour or pattern will

create an inviting area perfect for entertaining.

Paint will transform old pieces of furniture. Not family heirlooms, please; flea market finds are ideal candidates for a makeover. Perhaps paint the legs of your table in something really daring – as they are below eye level you can afford to go really bold.

Painting wooden chairs in the same colour as your walls will create an elegant, streamlined look, really throwing the spotlight onto your festive table. For a more relaxed feel, mix up the colours.

One of my favourite tricks is to add bold colour in unexpected places. Even if you naturally shy away from stronger colour or pattern, the inside of a cupboard is the perfect place to add a bold pop of colour. You’ll get a little jolt of joy every time you open the door.

Lastly, whichever of these decorating ideas you may choose to adopt, for a super luxe look, I would strongly recommend that you consider using a high-gloss finish.

Just think about how fabulous twinkling lights and flickering candles would look reflecting off a glamorous colour in a gorgeous glossy finish. bridporttimber.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 109

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Affordable interior fabrics thefabricbarn.co.uk 110 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

01935 851025

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Wishing all our clients a Very Happy and Safe Christmas, with better days ahead for the New Year and 2021 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

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 111

Home

A VERY INDEPENDENT CHRISTMAS Catherine Rapley, Lodestone Property

W

hen we’re opening our presents on a family Zoom call come Christmas Day, or the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, what will we be thinking (aside from hoping the minutes don’t run out now)? It doesn’t take an astrologer to predict that most of us will be deleting this year from our hard drives, looking forward to a vaccine.

Among the wrapping paper and resolution lists, the festive season is always a time of hope – a treasure more precious now than ever. Yet, like a ruby in the dust, finding positivity in despair has been one of the surprise gifts of 2020– and one that Sherborne’s independent retailers have readily received.

Despite forced temporary closures and enforced rethinks, Jane Wood, owner of Oliver’s Coffee House and Chair of the Sherborne Chamber of Commerce, isn’t aware of anyone going bust (although many are worried about rental prices). They’ve survived thus far, not only because of government grants, but because they’ve pivoted and worked together. This doesn’t mean it hasn’t been tough though. ‘Everything happened so fast,’ continues Jane, remembering when the first lockdown was announced. ‘Loads of us went to the pub the night it was forced to close! A lot of tears were shed.’

And yet, quite quickly, Sherborne’s small businesses adapted. Local growers, Black Shed Flowers initially faced a year of 60 postponed weddings, but saw mail orders flourish as people sent thoughtful bunches to each other. The Circus Boutique, which sells candles to cashmere, used Instagram as a way to take orders from 2000+ followers.

112 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Elementum

Jane says it’s important that people back their independent shops because ‘they’re the ones who organise everything in town, from markets to Festive Shopping Days. They’re the ones who formed the Sherborne Viral Kindness Initiative and The Community Kitchen [during lockdown] to act as a lifeline for vulnerable people. Without us, a huge part of the community would collapse.’

It’s not surprising then that this crisis illuminated how much Sherborne’s Indies are appreciated.

Lodestone Property’s Managing Partner, Sue Macey agrees. ‘So many of our clients are keen to support their small shops – it’s very attractive to potential buyers to live within a thriving community. What’s also been so noticeable is that village stores have become both a central hub and part of the local task force helping those residents who are shielding.’

So, with lockdown 2.0 crashing into the preChristmas selling period, normally the busiest retail time of the year, we thought we’d shine some fairy lights on six of Sherborne’s small retailers, to give you a taste of how, why and where to spend this season.

Elementum

This beautifully presented shop is run by photographer and publisher Jay Armstrong, who describes what’s on offer as ‘a wonderful selection of books, fine art prints, ceramics and gorgeous paper products.’ Despite cancelling a summer of courses and events, she continued to sell Elementum’s eponymous nature writing journal online. Jay has since introduced a click and collect service,

The Circus Boutique

remote shopping via Zoom and popular Facebook group – Elementum Gallery Sale. Elementum’s seasonal recommendations include beautiful Cambridge Imprint origami kits and limited edition prints by artists Dee Nickerson and Sarah Ross Thomson. uk.bookshop.org/shop/elementum Sherborne Market Store

As a food retailer, this energetic little grocer kept their market stall open throughout the original lockdown on Thursdays & Saturdays, and have since opened a shop on Cheap Street. During lockdown, they offered delivery and click and collect services, plus linked with other traders like Parsons the butchers to offer a joint delivery service. Order your Christmas veg from them. @marketsherborne The Circus Boutique

Former interior designer Sam Bourne, now a 6th generation Sherborne shop owner, describes her colourful, eclectic store as a ‘lifestyle boutique’ – stocking furniture, fashion, homewares and gifts. ‘I like it to be cheerful and interesting,’ she says. Her customers used Facebook and Instagram to order from her during lockdown, but she missed her customers, explaining it was ‘a massive void without them.’ This Christmas, her favourite picks in store include Charlie Dodge jewellery, treats from The Chocolate Society (made locally) and panettone by Sicilian company, Ortigia. @thecircussherborne

Black Shed Flowers

Three and a half years ago, Paul and Helen Stickland and their daughter Tabitha started a flower farm in a bare field and have been incredibly busy ever since.

‘We hit the market just at the time that people wanted locally-sourced flowers,’ explains Paul. This Christmas, they’re selling trees, wreaths and garlands. @blackshedflowers The Truckle Truck

Cheese from a vintage Citroen van? Yes please. Owner Carolyn describes her business as ‘a travelling cheese shop.’ After events and markets were cancelled this year, she started a delivery service and drops off in Sherborne on Wednesdays. This Christmas, she’s specialising in cheese gifts sets. thetruckletruck.com The Pear Tree Deli

For nearly 25 years, this artisan outlet has been serving Sherborne with local deliciousness – Dorset cheese, chocolate, paté and fruit wines are particularly popular.

They continued trading during lockdown, starting a home delivery service, which is still running, and which included doorstep cream tea delivery. They also donated food to the Sherborne Viral Kindness campaign. This Christmas, they have lots of festive foods like cooked meats, pies and a hamper service. peartreedeli.co.uk lodestoneproperty.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 113

White Feather Care is a unique heartfelt care support service, providing practical and emotional support to the individual and their families.

YogaSherborne Small classes and 1-1’s • Hatha Yoga • Relaxation and guided meditation Contact Dawn for more details 07817 624081

Emily Spearing 07737 496617 emily@whitefeathercare.com

@yogasherborne hello@yogasherborne.co.uk

www.whitefeathercare.com

Yoga Alliance qualified teacher

DORCHESTER PODIATRY AND WELLBEING Podiatry Services HCPC registered • Routine nail cutting • Corn and callus removal • Ingrowing nails • Insoles and Gait analysis • Diabetic / arthritic foot care • Verrucae treatments • Nail surgery • Shockwave therapy • Fungal infections

Reflexology Treatments AOR registered Reduce the symptoms of: • Stress, Anxiety, Depression • IBS, Sleep Disorders • Back Pain • Bladder Problems • Sluggish Circulation • Infertility, Menopausal Problems • Respiratory, Asthma and Migraine Problems

19 Colliton Street, Dorchester DT1 1XH 01305 265850 • dorchesterpodiatryreception@gmail.com

Muntanya is an independent trekking and outdoors shop offering clothing and equipment from major suppliers.

7 Cheap St, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PT david@muntanya.co.uk 01935 389484 • 07875 465218 www.muntanya.co.uk

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU FROM

The Curtain Circuit Secondhand Curtains

NEW OPENING HOURS Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm We also have first class curtain alteration, making-up, loose cover and Roman blind services.

The Old Cycle Shop, Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BS Call 01935 815155 www.curtaincircuit.co.uk

Wayne Timmins Painter and Decorator • • • • •

Interior & Exterior Fully Qualified 20 Years Experience Wallpapering & Lining Residential & Commercial

01935 872007 / 07715 867145 waynesbusiness@aol.com 114 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Competitively Priced, High Quality Carpets, Vinyls, Woods & Rugs SHERBORNE SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Unit 12, Old Yarn Mills, Westbury, Sherborne, DT9 3RQ A family run business established in 1998, we promise a highly professional level of service Tel: 07733 101064 or 01935 817885 www.lsflooring.co.uk

Michelle Parish Virtual Assistant OLD TOOLS WANTED FOR CASH BEST PRICE IN UK

VINTAGE, COLLECTABLE & GOOD USED TOOLS Tel: 07977 298834 • Email: danletts51@gmail.com

boyshilltoolsandtreen.co.uk

Virtual Executive and Personal Assistant service.

Assisting small business and individuals with everyday business administration, from social media strategy and planning, ad-hoc projects, diary management, events, board meeting coordination and minutes.

Get in touch, e: michellevirtualea@gmail.com or let’s have a chat 07979 300607

DAVE THURGOOD Painting & Decorating interior and exterior

07792 391368 NO VAT www.sherbornedecorators.com michellethurgood@sky.com

Covering South Somerset & North Dorset Small Business Support

Networks & Cabling

New PCs & Laptops

Wireless Networks

Repairs & Upgrades

Broadband Setup

Virus Removal

Disaster Recovery

The Weighbridge • High Street • Milborne Port • DT9 5DG www.mpfix.co.uk

01963 250788

GARDEN & PLANTING DESIGN Suppliers and Manufacturers of quality Signage, Graphics and Embroidered Workwear

studio@ vanessaboal. co.uk 07815 742 510 01963 363749

T: 01935 816767

info@swsigns-sherborne.co.uk www.swsigns-sherborne.co.uk

Unit 14, 0ld Yarn Mills, Sherborne Dorset DT9 3RQ

Yenstone Walling Ltd Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping All types of stone walling undertaken Patrick Houchen DSWA member CIS registered

01963 371123 / 07791 588141 yenstonewalling@btinternet.com www.yenstonewalling.co.uk

WWW.VANESSABOAL.CO.UK

Rotamow • Grass & Brush Cutting • Rotavating Rough Ground to Seed Bed • Moss Problems • Mini Digging/Slew • Patio & Path Cleaning

Please telephone

01963 237890 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 115

Legal

THE EXTENDED CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME EXPLAINED Sean McDonough, Employment Partner, Mogers Drewett

T

he Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) – better known as the furlough scheme – has been extended until the end of March 2021. I have outlined here the key points of the extended scheme.

• Employers across the UK can claim, whether their businesses are open or closed, and do not need to have used the CJRS previously.

• Under the terms of the extension, the government will pay 80% of wages, up to a £2,500 cap for hours not worked, with employers paying employer NI and pension contributions until January 2021.

• In January, the government will review and decide whether economic circumstances are improving sufficiently to ask employers to contribute more.

• Businesses have flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part-time basis or furlough full-time.

• Employees can be furloughed if they are shielding and are unable to work from home.

• An updated furlough agreement needs to be in place and a copy kept for 5 years.

116 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

• To be eligible, employees must be on an employer’s PAYE payroll by 23:59 30th October 2020. This means a Real Time Information (RTI) submission notifying payment for that employee to HMRC must have been made on or before 30th October 2020.

• Employees that were on the payroll on 23rd September 2020 who were either made redundant or left their employment after that date can be reemployed and claimed for.

• Employers need to report and claim for a minimum period of 7 consecutive calendar days.

• The grant must be paid to the employee in full with employers being able to choose to top-up wages at their own expense.

• Employees continue to accrue leave and are able to take leave during furlough. Employers must top up the grant to full pay for any holiday taken.

• The launch of the Job Support Scheme has been postponed until the end of the CJRS. mogersdrewett.com

Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on what matters most to us all and this year more than ever.

At Mogers Drewett we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Finance

REALITY CHECK

M

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

ost people imagine that a financial planner is a person who sells them life assurance, pensions or investments. Most people have no idea that a real financial planner does much, much more than sell these products.

A real financial planner will help you to make sure that all aspects of your financial security are addressed. They will make sure that your will is up-to-date and that the right people will receive your assets upon death, whether this is a long way into the future or tomorrow. They will make sure that you have a lasting power of attorney so that a trusted member of the family can take decisions if you are unable to through accident or illness. They will make sure you have enough life assurance and, indeed, tell you if you have too much, and they will help you save for a rainy day, making sure you put enough money into a pension.

But how much is enough? A real financial planner will help you to think about your future, not just your present. A real financial planner will help you to create a jigsaw puzzle showing the life that you would like to lead. They will then help you to build all the pieces of this jigsaw so that at some point in the future, you can live that life.

In this respect, a real financial planner can almost be a life coach. When times get hard – and in this Covid era, they most certainly are – they help you to refocus on where you want to be and, most importantly, support you in focusing on the steps that you need to take to get there. Just as a strong wind can blow a yacht off course, it is very easy for day-to-day life to get in the way of fulfilling dreams. A real financial planner will help you make small changes to keep you on track.

As we head into another lockdown, now could well be the time for you to start thinking about your future. What do you want to do for the rest of your lives? How can you achieve financial independence (retirement)? How can you make sure that you never run out of money? What steps do you need to take now to protect your loved ones? How can you become financially well organised? Do you know how much money you can spend without fear of running out in the future? What investment return do you need to secure your future?

What investment risk are you currently taking? Do the two match up?

Make sure you talk to a real financial planner; one that can help you look into your financial future so that you can see and understand the direction in which you are travelling. ffp.org.uk

118 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

Your Life, Your Money, Your Future Trusted, professional, fee based advice We live in a complex world. At FFP we aim to remove complexity, replacing it with simplicity and clarity so that our clients can enjoy their lives without worry

FFP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Telephone: 01935 813322 Email: info@ffp.org.uk Website: www.ffp.org.uk

AHEAD IN THE CLOUD Our real-time cloud accounting solutions present you with a full picture of your financial position 24/7, allowing you to proactively plan and respond ahead of tax deadlines.

For a fresh take on your accounts, speak to Hunts

T: 01935 815008 E: info@huntsaccountants.co.uk W: huntsaccountants.co.uk @Hunts_Sherborne The Old Pump House, Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 119

Tech

LOCKDOWN 2.0 & STOCK – WHAT STOCK? James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers

A

nother month goes by and, as I write this, we have just entered lockdown 2.0. Every day is different at Milborne Port Computers and you never know what job is going to turn up. It normally surprises people when I say I have an empty diary for the upcoming week, but this is because folk only call when they have a problem and most then want it done ASAP. We strive to get things done as quickly as we can, while ensuring that we work safely and keep your data safe too. Currently, we are still open for drop-off repairs and remote support, although Kelly has sadly been placed on furlough for the time being. If I’m being honest, I have no idea if we are allowed to be open or not at this time.

Are we essential? Most of our customers seem to think their computers are essential for things like shopping and communication, so I’ll go with YES. For me, personally, Lockdown 2.0 is slightly different to Lockdown 1.0. I seem to have extra responsibility and a little less sleep. Some of you may or may not know that little Harry James Flynn was born in the middle of Lockdown 1.0 and is now somehow 6 months old. As people with children will know, this changes the way you think about everything and although my multi-tasking skills were pretty good, they are now even sharper!

A lot of people don’t know this, but we also sell new laptops. We try and source laptops that will suit 120 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

every user’s needs; this normally includes: Intel Core i3 Processor, SSD (Solid State Drive), 4-8 GB RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HMDI port and a sturdy touchpad.

Repairability is also very important to us, so we try and sell laptops that can be repaired or upgraded. We normally always have something in stock for that emergency replacement. However, at the moment, I am constantly on the hunt for stock at a reasonable price.

So, why is laptop stock so scarce?

Due to our changing times, with people needing to work from home and children needing laptops for online learning, the country is slowly running out of these ‘entry level’ laptops and if you go to the top retailers websites and search for an i3 Core laptop, then a lot of the time you’ll be faced with ‘not available’ or ‘back in stock soon’. If you can actually find a laptop in stock, you may find that it is likely to be 25% more expensive. I was given a tip-off by one of our suppliers that this was going to happen back in March, but I honestly couldn’t believe it. But then, I’ve struggled to believe a lot of things this year… Rest assured I will continue to look hourly for these elusive laptops!

So, as I’ve previously said, ‘time spent on reconnaissance is rarely wasted’ and if in doubt, you know where to come. computing-mp.co.uk

Commercial Development Management Sales

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TO

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Chesters Harcourt have been managing commercial property in Sherborne for well over 30 years. If you have an interest in commercial property or land do give us a call or visit our website.

01935 415 454 info@chestersharcourt.com www.chestersharcourt.com

IN CONVERSATION WITH

AIR MARSHAL SIR CHRISTOPHER COVILLE David Birley

DB What was growing up in Liverpool like?

CC I was born just at the end of the war. Liverpool had been badly bombed, particularly the docks and railways. The suburbs had also been hit; we called them the Debris and they were our playgrounds. I remember rationing - you could buy sweets for a penny - and also the stresses and strains in families caused by wartime experiences. But growing up was a lot of fun. I was a teenager at the time of the Merseybeat boom. I played rhythm guitar in a group called the Black Hawks; we played Chuck Berry and all the other great R&B songs, although not to a very high standard.

122 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

My father was an accountant and ran a large pianomaking business. All houses and pubs used to have a piano until TV came along. I went to a grammar school where I was good at games and potentially academic, but I was lazy. I enjoyed football, cricket, basketball, and also athletic events that did not involve too much running, such as the discus and the javelin. I won several trophies and represented the county. Even in those early days I loved the outdoors, and for that reason joined the Scouts.

One day, I met a young man in RAF uniform who told me about the Air Cadets, which I joined and where

I developed my passion for aviation. During this time, I met my wife, Irene, at a school dance and invited her to come flying with me; not a bad opening line for a seventeen-year-old. In fact, I gained my pilot’s licence before I got my driving licence. Obviously impressed, she came flying with me and has stayed with me ever since.

DB How did your career evolve?

CC I didn’t go to university and was not interested in joining my father’s business. I don’t know how I got in, but I went to the RAF College at Cranwell in 1964. We were selected for having the potential to be senior officers in the RAF. The vast majority of my fellow cadets were public school boys who had a selfconfidence and poise that I, as a grammar schoolboy from Liverpool, lacked. I found it really quite difficult.

I was used to total freedom, as my mother had died when I was sixteen and my father just let us do what we wanted. For the first six months at Cranwell, we were not allowed out at all; it was a very cloistered environment. Then there were the public school pranks like cleaning the parade ground with a toothbrush.

Also, I hadn’t got through my laziness towards academic studies and was seen as bolshy, lazy and not really the right stuff to be a senior officer. As a consequence, after six months I was put on review and given three months to sort myself out, otherwise I would be out on my ear.

This was a significant turning point for me. I realised that, as a result of my own shortcomings and laziness, I was going to miss out on a wonderful career, so I pulled my socks up and was taken off review. Then, we started flying, initially in the jet Provost which could fly up to 350mph. I have to say that life at Cranwell was pretty hectic: we were up at 5.30 every morning. But the comradeship was great, and we bonded for the rest of our lives.

DB You had a pretty meteoric career in the RAF. CC Yes, I married Irene shortly after graduating and we moved around a great deal as I rose through the ranks. I had a marvellous time and worked with some great people. I was very lucky to fly the Lightning, followed by the Phantom and Tornado, and to command the famous Treble One Squadron – perhaps the highlight of my flying career. I also did six months in the Falklands in 1983, just after the war. The Argentinians were still testing us operationally, and I worked seven days a week and slept on the airfield. The Falkland Islands are a unique place; there is no pollution, and you can see for a hundred miles on a good day, and the flying was as good as I have ever experienced. The wildlife was

amazing, and the people were so hospitable. I did spells at several UK bases, had a tour in Brussels and later in the Netherlands as a senior NATO commander. My last RAF job was as the Commander-in-Chief of Personnel and Training Command.

DB What were the highlights of your RAF career?

CC One of my personal highlights was commanding RAF Coningsby, which was home to the new Tornado F3, but also was the base for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. I have always been a real ‘Hog’, which is RAF slang for someone who gets more than his fair share of flying, and I took full advantage of this tour to fly the Spitfire, Hurricane and even the Lancaster. Another highlight was flying as the senior supervisor of the Red Arrows; in the back seat of them all, each season, to assess their safety and performance.

I have to say that being knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2000 was a very special moment for myself and the family.

DB What was your favourite aircraft?

CC So difficult to answer! I loved the Lightning, but I have to say that flying the Spitfire was a spiritual experience for a fighter pilot.

DB Why were you so successful?

CC That’s very difficult to answer without sounding immodest. At the end of my first tour my commanding officer told me I was one of the few people he could depend on when given a task. He also told me that he thought I had real prospects but needed to work harder.

As a result, I went into my next tour and all subsequent ones with a very different mental attitude. I also started doing an Open University degree, which helped immeasurably, and I am still connected with the OU as an ambassador of their Disabled Veterans’ programme.

I always felt that people should be my priority as a commander, not the machines or paperwork. That said, I did insist that anyone who was in my team adopted a work hard/play hard approach to life, and not all of them could live with the high standards that I demanded. But looking back, I have no doubt that Irene’s influence has been pivotal in my life: running the house and family, being a hostess and being my closest confidante.

DB After leaving the RAF, you had lunch with the Queen.

CC To my great surprise I had an invitation to an informal lunch at Buckingham Palace. Twelve people were there, and I sat on the Queen’s right; I still have the seating plan and menu. Knowing of the Queen’s sense of humour, I said to her, ‘you know Ma’am, > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 123

I have never really forgiven you for spoiling my eighth birthday.’ To which she replied, ‘How did I spoil your eighth birthday Sir Christopher?’ At this stage the Duke of Edinburgh was getting ready to throw me out! I answered, ‘Ma’am my eighth birthday was on 2nd June 1953 and no one took any notice of me at all, as it was your coronation day!’ The Queen burst out laughing, the Duke sat down and everyone else relaxed into what was a wonderful occasion.

DB What did you do after leaving the RAF? CC I decided I wanted a portfolio of jobs and charitable roles, so I did consultancy work and was defence advisor to BT. People say why BT? but providing the MOD telecoms was the biggest contract they had. I was asked to be a non-executive director at Westland Helicopters, which I did for three years, and was then Chairman of this famous company for six years. I also had a range of charitable jobs, including chairing the Forces Pension Society and the Regular Forces Employment Agency.

DB What brought you to Sherborne?

CC When I left the RAF in 2003, we moved into a lovely house in the delightful village of Litton Cheney, near Bridport. But when we reached 70, we decided we 124 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

needed to be a little closer to everyday amenities and a railway station, and as we had always loved Sherborne, it was a natural choice. Looking back, it was the best location decision we have ever made.

DB Is there anything you might have done differently?

CC I wish I could do it all over again. There were one or two things I did not do terribly well and on a couple of occasions I misjudged people and have regretted it; however, there was no occasion when I wasn’t able to put it right. I probably devoted more time to my career than to my family in the early years and have tried to put that right later with my seven wonderful grandchildren.

DB What piece of advice would you give your younger self ?

CC Don’t take too much on and don’t be afraid to say no when people ask you to do things. I would also say beware of the risk of saturating yourself with too much work; I fell for that on too many occasions and continue to do so.

DB What changes did you see in your career?

CC Huge ones: when I joined the RAF, leadership was largely Second World War officers who had flown Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters. This changed to an air force of supersonic flight and other aspects like space, cyber warfare and artificial intelligence. These have been dramatic changes in a short period of time.

But the RAF has adapted well to new challenges and, if not the biggest, is still the best in the world.

DB What are you currently involved in?

CC I am acting chairman of the Sherborne CPRE, a Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, an ambassador for the Open University’s Disabled Veterans Scholarship Fund, and I am still gliding.

To pay for all this and for my grandchildren’s pocket money, I do some consultancy work with Secure Cloud Plus, a marvellous cyber security company. I stay close to the RAF with the RAF Association and the Air Cadets and, in my spare time, I have written a book and I am currently writing another.

DB Do you have a personal wish?

CC I would like all my children and grandchildren to have happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

DB Do you have a wish for Sherborne?

CC After the pandemic, I hope it will return to being a vibrant centre of commerce and the arts. I am hoping to help in this massive but vital endeavour, working closely with our Town Council and other interested stakeholders.

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sherbornetimes.co.uk | 125

Short Story

CATASTROPHE

W

Sue Cameron, Sherborne Scribblers

hat could be better than Sicily in May? Its ancient name was Trinacria, the three-cornered island, whose shores are washed by three different seas and each region has its own history, dialect, customs and character. Over the years, it was invaded by more rulers than almost anywhere else in the world: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish. But now, in spite of its multifarious makeup, it is a fiercely independent, though the poorest region of Italy, with a strong sense of unity and identity. Its climate is one of extremes, and the landscapes vary from the fertile coastlands to the arid interior; dominating the north-eastern region is Mount Etna.

We flew to Catania and based ourselves in an Agriturismo apartment in an olive grove with a working press. When we commented on the beautiful blue sky our host said, ‘Of course. Sicily has the most beautiful sky in the world. We have more hours of sunshine every year than anywhere else in Europe. Enjoy it. Look at the view from your window.’ There was Mount Etna standing proud above the fertile foothills.

Our top priority was to go up to Mount Etna’s crater, but first we decided to take a few days exploring the coastal road towards Messina. Just north of Catania is the fishing village of Aci Castello. The northern edge of Aci Castello marks the beginning of the Riviera dei Ciclopi. According to Greek mythology, Polyphemus and his friends lived on Etna. The small harbour of Aci Trezza faces a fascinating group of basalt rocks of varied shapes and sizes which, according to Homer, Polyphemus hurled at the fleeing Ulysses who had blinded him.

We could wait no longer to decide which route to take to the crater of Europe’s largest active volcano, described by Leonardo Sciaschia as ‘a huge house-cat that purrs quietly and awakens every so often.’ Little did we know how crucial this decision would be. Only the foolhardy go to the summit alone: we had hoped to go part-way by cable car or ski lift, but unfortunately that option had been wiped out by an eruption the year before and was not yet in operation again. We could take a bus, a minibus,

126 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

a train… and then a wiry or wily old guide suggested that the following afternoon he could drive us in his jeep to a point from which we could walk with him, up through forests, orchards and wildflowers to the crater.

Decision made.

It was a beautiful afternoon. As he drove, our guide regaled us with stories about Mongibello, as he called Etna. The Greeks thought the mountain was Vulcan’s forge but, nowadays, it was sacred - a god of fertility, as well as a god of destruction. The 1669 eruption destroyed Catania and lava flows continue to destroy everything in their path and yet, the people choose to rebuild and stay on the fertile foothills. He pointed out the orchards of citrus fruit, olives, almonds, grapes, walnuts and pistachios, as well as ruined castles and dark volcanic villages. Almost every town and village along this route was damaged at some time by lava flows from the erupting volcano. They might have been regarded as catastrophes but because the lava fertilised the land and produced strong building material, the inhabitants rebuilt and stayed. Even Nelson had property here. Ferdinand IV of Bourbon gave him the little town of Bronte and surrounding estates to thank him for helping him to suppress revolts in Naples in 1799. Castello di Maniace survived several major eruptions and remained the property of Nelson’s heirs until 1981.

Bronte was where we left the jeep and followed our guide, on foot, up through lush vegetation: gorse, prickly pears and pine trees on to the rough, bare ground around the crater. The white cloud of steam can be seen for miles and now we could smell the sulphurous air. As we gingerly approached the edge, we became aware of hot air rising and, looking down, we saw the lava quivering and bubbling as though it was girding its loins. It began to shine with tinges of yellow, purple and red, and the bubbles sucked and plopped more loudly. Our guide looked anxious. ‘It looks ominous,’ he said. ‘We should get down from here before things start to be belched out.

Although it looks exciting, it will be catastrophic if the lava flow gets to Bronte more quickly than we can. Run for your lives…’ And we did.

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 127

Literature

LITERARY REVIEW Jan Pain, Sherborne Literary Society

The Betrayals, Bridget Collins (The Borough Press), £14.99 (hardcover) Sherborne Times Reader Offer of £13.99 from Winstone’s

T

he realms of fantasy and the dystopian world of a 1930s totalitarian state meet head-on in this novel. It was unsurprising to learn that the author, Bridget Collins, read English at Cambridge and thereafter graduated from drama school, combining, as she does, the world of academia and theatre in her vivid portrayal of Montverre, an extraordinary school, reminiscent of Hogwarts, set in a remote mountain landscape.

The protagonist, Léo, sometime Minister of Culture, falls from grace by not toeing the party line and is banished to his alma mater from which he graduated ten years previously.

The ethos at Montverre has shaped the nation, including those currently in power, and is meant to pave the way for humans to approach the divine, endeavouring to embody truth and beauty and a testament to the grace of God in the minds of men.

Collins uses the device of the grand jeu, a task that has to be completed in certain disciplines, in order to graduate. In the way students might work towards a degree, their aim is to create this elusive game, with such strategies as music, philosophy and maths in the mix, each overseen by a magister, or professor. At the top of the tree is the Magister Ludi, the first woman ever to be appointed to the post, under whose watchful eye Léo finds himself on his return. The reader might assume he is there to be brainwashed and retrained or

perhaps simply as a government ‘plant’, whose cooperation could lead to his reinstatement. He is aware that the game has been sullied by its success as men achieve and misuse power.

The betrayals of the title are mostly those between Léo and the enigmatic Magister Ludi (alias Claire Dryden) both flawed characters with a propensity to deceive, whose relationship lurches from loathing to sexual frisson.

There is unease in the air as the story unfolds and, every so often, a chapter is devoted to The Rat, a shadowy figure who lurks at night, searching for food and avoiding human contact. Her character is in stark contrast to the elite students who are perpetuating the glory of achieving their goal by devising the best grand jeu. She is the embodiment of a social underclass that has fallen through the net of privilege. Ultimately, however, she plays a significant part in resolution and redemption when the fate of Léo and Claire is decided after a momentous dénouement.

Intriguing, imaginative and often chilling, the novel becomes something other than fantasy as the gradual exposure of the characters’ vulnerabilities is revealed and deception is never far away. The grand jeu is makebelieve but does not lack credibility, being the thread that holds the story together – a compelling read! sherborneliterarysociety.com

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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

A

Jono Tregale, Vicar, St Pauls Church

s I write this, we are about to enter a second national lockdown – and as you read it, we should all just be coming out of it, hopefully. Even in these words, there is uncertainty or even anxiety. In a rapidly changing situation, it is difficult enough planning ahead one week, let alone foreseeing what life will be like in one month. But whether lockdown has been a success or we’re still in it, the focus for most of us will be on Christmas.

What will it be like this year? Will we be able to gather with family across the generations?

Will those we love be safe and well? There will be hopes and fears.

Christmas will certainly be different. For many of us, we will reflect back on a year none of us would have imagined a year ago – with its challenges to our health, finances and personal freedoms (though for many across the world these have always been a daily reality). Some of us might echo the words of the Queen in her Christmas speech of 1992 in which she described that year as an ‘annus horribilis’ – a horrible year. Others might prefer the words of Charles Dickens. I’ve recently begun reading A Tale of Two Cities again, for the first time since studying it for my O level English exam. It begins with the words ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ Disappointment, frustration, pain even, have been experienced on one hand, but the growth of neighbours caring for one another - shopping, cooking, visiting, phoning - has shown such wonderful generosity and community spirit.

Christmas will certainly be different. It will be stripped back; there won’t be parties. Family gatherings may be smaller. Church carol services will be restricted in the numbers who can attend. Festive shopping opportunities will be curtailed. Many will be struggling financially after months of furlough or even redundancy. But maybe in the face of such a different Christmas, a simpler Christmas, we will find time and space to think in a new way about what is important to us. With all the glitz and noise subdued this year, could we perhaps rediscover something of the profound message of Christmas? – the message that God comes into the painful reality of human existence, offering comfort and joy. The Christmas story reminds us that God doesn’t stay distant and disinterested but is with us in the midst of our daily lives. In lockdown and beyond it. Alone or with others. Whilst hopeful or whilst anxious. In the best of times, and in the worst of times, God is with us.

Christmas will certainly be different. And maybe we’ll find a fresh perspective on life and a new hope for the future through the enforced simplicity that it has to be this year. In the words of the Christmas carol ‘O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.’ stpauls-sherborne.org.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk | 129

WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL, HEALTHY NEW YEAR from

SHERBORNE TIMES

sherbornetimes.co.uk 130 | Sherborne Times | December 2020

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