J UNE 2021 | FREE
A MONTHLY CELEBR ATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR
A FRESH START with Tess Kelly of Dorset Dips
sherbornetimes.co.uk
Maggie and Milly and Molly and May went down to the beach (to play one day) and Maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and Milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were; and Molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles; and May came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone. For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea E.E. Cummings
CONTRIBUTORS Editorial and creative direction Glen Cheyne Design Andy Gerrard @round_studio Sub editor Sadie Wilkins Photography Katharine Davies @Katharine_KDP Feature writer Jo Denbury @jo_denbury Editorial assistant Helen Brown Social media Jenny Dickinson
Kerry Bartlett Artsreach @Artsreach artsreach.co.uk
Annabelle Hunt Bridport Timber @BridportTimber bridporttimber.co.uk
Laurence Belbin laurencebelbin.com
Danny Kitts The Marchant Holliday School marchant-holliday.co.uk
David Birley Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum @SherborneMuseum sherbornemuseum.co.uk Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers @CharterhouseAV charterhouse-auction.com Mike Burks The Gardens Group @TheGardensGroup thegardensgroup.co.uk David Burnett The Dovecote Press dovecotepress.com
Illustrations Elizabeth Watson elizabethwatsonillustration.com
Rob Bygrave Sherborne Science Cafe @SherborneSciCaf sherbornesciencecafe.com
Print Stephens & George
Paula Carnell @paula.carnell paulacarnell.com
Distribution team Barbara and David Elsmore Nancy Henderson The Jackson Family David and Susan Joby Christine Knott Adam May Sarah Morgan Mary and Roger Napper Mark and Miranda Pender Claire Pilley Ionas Tsetikas
Cindy Chant & John Drabik David Copp Rosie Cunningham Jemma Dempsey Jess Egan jesseganart.com James Flynn Milborne Port Computers @MPortComputers computing-mp.co.uk Andrew Fort & Jeremy Brett Fort Financial Planning Brett Investment ffp.org.uk brettinvestment.com trustedadvisorgroup.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 FSC® and EU Ecolabel certified paper. It goes without saying that once thoroughly well read, this magazine is easily recycled and we actively encourage you to do so. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither Sherborne Times nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Sherborne Times does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior permission from Sherborne Times.
4 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Mark Greenstock St Paul’s Church spcs.church Simon Gudgeon Sculpture by the Lakes sculpturebythelakes.co.uk Cllr Anne Hall Sherborne Town Council sherborne-tc.gov.uk Craig Hardaker Communifit @communifit communifit.co.uk Andy Hastie Cinematheque cinematheque.org.uk Alex Hennessy Dorset Wildlife Trust @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk James Hull The Story Pig @thestorypig thestorypig.co.uk
Lt General David Leakey CMG CVO CBE Sherborne School @SherborneSchool sherborne.org Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind @DorsetMind dorsetmind.uk Peter Littlewood Young People’s Trust for the Environment ypte.org.uk Belinda Loder Bee Floral beefloralweddings.com Chris Loder MP @chrisloder chrisloder.co.uk Sasha Matkevitch The Green Restaurant @greensherborne greenrestaurant.co.uk Mark Milbank Sherborne Scribblers Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Partnership @swanhousevet newtonclarkevet.com Kate Norris Mogers Drewett Solicitors @mogersdrewett md-solicitors.co.uk John Paget-Tomlinson Leweston School @LewestonSchool leweston.co.uk Simon Partridge SPFit @spfitsherborne spfit-sherborne.co.uk Shaun Rigby & Amanda Slogrove Sherborne Preparatory School @Sherborneprep sherborneprep.org Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom Glencairn House Clinic glencairnhouse.co.uk doctortwrobinson.com Val Stones @valstones bakerval.com Emma Tabor & Paul Newman @paulnewmanart paulnewmanartist.com Frances Walker Sherborne Literary Society @Sherlitfest sherborneliterarysociety.com John Walsh BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Vets @FriarsMoorVets friarsmoorvets.co.uk Kevin & Val Waterfall Sherborne Group @DorsetWildlife dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
84 8
Art & Culture
JUNE 2021 78 Gardening
132 Finance
24 Community
84 DORSET DIPS
136 Tech
32 Family
92 Food & Drink
138 In Conversation
50 Science & Nature
104 Animal Care
142 Short Story
64 On Foot
110 Body & Mind
144 Crossword
70 History
124 Home
145 Literature
76 Antiques
130 Legal
146 Pause for Thought
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 5
30th June - 4th July
Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset DT2 8QU www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk office@sculpturebythelakes.co.uk
30th June - 4th July
Dorset Arts Festival, the multi-award winning event of last summer, is back and even bigger and better, with 60 incredible artists and makers exhibiting and demonstrating their work in wood, stone, ceramics, painting, textiles, and more. Entrance to Festival and Sculpture Park £12.50 Book tickets online at www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset DT2 8QU office@sculpturebythelakes.co.uk
Art & Culture
ARTIST AT WORK
No. 31: Jess Egan, Morning Landscape, acrylic on canvas, 100cm x 100cm, £500
L
andscape, coastline and the skies above are fundamental features in my work. They are where I find space to think and, ever since I was small, I have been compelled to try and capture what I see around me; just recently, I was prompted to remember drawing mountains in Spain on a childhood family holiday. I am enthralled by openness, large scale vistas, and my human-sized place within that – but, also consider how to represent the details of the land, down to the undergrowth. Working with acrylics, inks and mixed media, I like to explore intuitively through my materials. The process is important to me, the physicality of mark making, and so my work is often abstract as it takes the original focus into an emotional experience. In recent years, I have come to realise how important making art is for me; painting, drawing and taking photographs help me to maintain my peace of mind. I am currently working on a series of pieces that celebrate this – work that has been enabled by the award of the Creative Pathways bursary from Somerset Art Works. I will be exhibiting the series in the Yeovil Art Space as part of the Somerset Open Studios event later this year. jesseganart.com
__________________________________________________ Saturday 18th September - Sunday 3rd October Somerset Open Studios 2021 One of the country’s largest Open Studios events, showcasing the work of Somerset Art Works Members in a range of private and pop up workspaces across the county. somersetartworks.org.uk
@somerset_art_works @SAW_Somerset
@somersetartworks.page
__________________________________________________
8 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 9
Art & Culture
OPEN AIR SUMMER THEATRE Kerry Bartlett, Executive Co-Director, Artsreach
O
h Mary! is a solo physical theatre show, presented outdoors, by acclaimed Cornish actor Bec Applebee, based on the incredible life story of Mary Bryant. Oh Mary! tells the true story of an 18th century Cornish highway woman, who survived
F
or its 35th year of touring, The Festival Players International brings you Shakespeare’s most popular history play, Henry V. After a rebellious and spirited youthhood, carousing in the taverns of London, Prince Hal takes on the responsibility of Kingship and leads his troops, of low and high station, across the Channel to do battle with the French at Agincourt. Follow the charismatic King Henry V in this stirring tale of leadership, bravery, humour and love – exhilarating open-air theatre for a summer’s evening. ___________________________________________ Friday 2nd July 7pm The Festival Players – Henry V Halstock Village Hall Field. £12, £8 u18s, £35 family of 4
___________________________________________
artsreach.co.uk
10 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
the raw brutality of life as a convict, sailing halfway around the world to Australia. Mary is at the heart of one of maritime’s greatest escapes. This is an epic, little known story of personal strength, bravery, loss and of an indomitable human spirit. Bec Applebee is well known for her work with internationally-acclaimed companies Kneehigh Theatre, Cousin Jack’s, Dalla and the Tosta Band. The show features a driving soundtrack recorded by bands Dalla and Radjel, including specially commissioned tunes by Neil Davey. With narrative by Anna Murphy (Kneehigh, BBC Radio 4), choreography by Helen Tiplady (Cscape Dance, HFC) and directed by Simon Harvey (Kneehigh Theatre, O Region).
___________________________________________ Friday 25th June 7.30pm Bec Applebee – Oh Mary! Higher Orchard, Sandford Orcas. £10, £6 u18s
___________________________________________
THE DORSET OPERA
MMXXI
The home of Country House opera in South West England featuring renowned soloists and orchestra Marquee bar | Picnics | Formal Dining
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
DON GIOVANNI 19, 22, 24 July at 19:00 | Matinée 21 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
COSI FAN TUTTE 20, 21 July at 19:00 | Matinée 24 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Händel/Mozart K566
ACIS & GALATEA Semi-staged concert | Friday 23 July at 19:00 Sung in English with surtitles
Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum
Box Office: dorsetopera.com 07570 366 186 Public Booking: 18 May
Art & Culture
ON FILM
Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque
Minari (2020)
W
ith the UK Odeon cinema chain having re-opened the doors at most of their 112 sites on 17th May, closely followed by Cineworld and Vue, things are looking up for film fans. Initially, however, they will find that the Hollywood blockbusters are going to take some time to get back into full flow and with many of the films available already being on various streaming sites, we are in a unique situation where smaller, but no-less-worthy, films might get a look in. The release of the latest James Bond offering, No Time to Die, has been postponed repeatedly until such time that cinemas are back to full capacity, and has been widely heralded as the saviour of British cinema when it does eventually show – no pressure then! I can only guess as to how the distributors of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet (2020) felt, when after being delayed 3 times, it was finally shown in the UK on 26th August last year – right in the middle of the Covid pandemic. It failed to break even because of its limited release, although receiving generally positive reviews. It will be re-released worldwide this summer, but with incurring new marketing costs, production fees are pushed upwards, bringing more pressure on the box office to drive up revenue. Three films, although available on various streaming services, are worth looking out for if they end up in 12 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
a cinema. American director Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow was finished in 2019, but became a victim of the pandemic, and is only now being shown. It tells a story from the 1920s old west – much like her brilliant Meek’s Cutoff – concerning a cook and an itinerant Chinese worker who team up with a dream of becoming rich making biscuits but are only able to make any profit by stealing the milk to produce them. This precarious existence is an engaging story where jeopardy is real for the survival of the two heroes. Minari (2020) has just won the Golden Globe award for best foreign language film and follows a Korean family’s move to rural Arkansas in the 1980s to grow Korean vegetables and herbs - the ‘minari’ of the title. The story follows director Lee Isaac Chung’s own background as an immigrant Korean-American. This tender, but authentic drama also took the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Stray (2020), an extraordinary documentary from Elizabeth Lo, recalls the lives of stray dogs on the streets of Istanbul. It was shot over three years after Turkish law was changed to forbid the killing of strays in the city, following a backlash campaign against the government’s extermination programme. The camera is held low, mirroring the dog’s point of view, and mainly follows Zeytin, a large, powerful young bitch as she roams around the city. With hardly any dialogue,
First Cow (2019)
Stray (2020)
microphones pick up snatches of conversations going on around the dog’s precarious lives. These dogs spend a lot of time with a group of homeless young Syrian refugees, and the parallels between their lives are painfully clear, except the dogs are treated with more kindness and concern. Three excellent – very different – films and subject matters, but all share the insecure lives of
their protagonists. As plans are continuing to progress at the Swan Theatre, I hope next month to be able to give firm details as to how our film society, Cinematheque, will be re-opening this summer. Can’t wait! cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 13
Sherborne 01935 812 112
Dorchester 01305 250 240 robin-james.co.uk
@robinjamesaveda
Art & Culture
CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT Rosie Cunningham
T
he first thing that I visited when the British Museum doors were flung open on the 17th May were the Benin Bronzes. Following the recent debate about repatriation, I wanted to go and admire them myself. Slightly hidden away but so much deserving of a visit. They are glorious. Dating from the 16th century in what was the Kingdom of Benin, I am sure that they will be returned to Nigeria sometime soon. The Original Theatre is offering some fabulous plays online. I saw A Splinter of Ice, written by Ben Brown, and starring Oliver Ford Davies and Stephen Boxer playing Graham Greene and Kim Philby respectively. The meeting is in Moscow two years before the end of the Cold War and thirty years after Philby had defected. The play is based on a true story. They were friends from MI6 days and Greene had written the foreward for Philby’s book My Silent War: The Autobiography of a Spy written in 1967. The two-handed play is excellent, and the undercurrent of tension seems ready to erupt at any moment. Available until 31st July, 16 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
price £20. Do watch it. There are other gems available, and I have booked for A Cold Supper Behind Harrods with David Jason, Stephanie Cole and Anton Lesser which looks fabulous. Live streaming Friday, 11th June at 7.30pm. The Hay Literary Festival is back this year, although only available online. However, there are many excellent talks from authors that are worth watching. On until 6th June, and all events are available to watch 24 hours after their live broadcast. Do try and watch something and make a donation. Barn Theatre in Cirencester present A Russian Doll, a play written by Cat Goscovitch, based on a true story about the world of data and deceit from a member of Russia’s disinformation campaign during the EU referendum. On until 12th June, before transferring to London. The Barn Theatre is quirky and fun with many interesting events planned for the year. Dream Girls is touring next year and is coming to the Bristol Hippodrome from 5th January 2022. Three
MARK CORETH RECENT SCULPTURE 11th – 30th June
Image: Sally Mais
talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, which was a revolutionary time in American music history. This is their story with masses of uplifting classic songs. Constellations, by Nick Payne, is on at the Donmar Warehouse from 18th June – 12th September. This is a beautiful and heart-breaking romance through the multiverse and the infinite possibilities of a relationship. Different actors play the two roles for short runs including Peter Capaldi and Zoe Wanamaker. Originally at the Royal Court theatre, this play won many awards for artistic director, Michael Longhurst. I have booked my seat. Finally, my wonderful friend Issy van Randwyck has been asked to reprise her show, Dazzling Divas, at the Jermyn Street Theatre in June. This is a mesmerising musical journey illuminating the lives and work of legendary performers such as Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin and Mama Cass. Famous for being the smallest theatre in the West End, this is a must. On from 13th – 20th June. You will not be disappointed.
SWOOP OF THREE SWIFTS
BRONZE
Mark Coreth will be in the Gallery on Saturday 12th June to meet visitors and discuss his work
www.jerramgallery.com THE JERRAM GALLERY Half Moon Street, Sherborne, 01935 815261 Dorset DT9 3LN info@jerramgallery.com Tuesday – Saturday
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 17
Art & Culture
DORSET ARTS FESTIVAL 2021
W
Simon Gudgeon, Sculpture by the Lakes
e are very excited to be launching Dorset Arts Festival 2021, following the sell-out success of last year’s inaugural event. It will extend over five days from 30th June to 4th July and involves an incredible line-up of close to 60 artists exhibiting and demonstrating their work. Last year’s festival was a joyous event which seemed to capture the imagination and mood of so many people, as we surfaced from the first lockdown. We were proud to be one of the only large-scale festivals to safely go ahead, as hundreds across the country were cancelled, and see the event recognised with three prestigious awards. This year, as we emerge from hopefully the last lockdown, we’re offering something 18 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
even more exciting, and we expect that jubilant atmosphere to return tenfold! The outdoor event will bring together the very best artists and makers from across Dorset, taking full advantage of the stunning 26-acres lakes, woodland, and gardens we have at our site, which is nestled in the countryside just east of Dorchester. And while lovers of the arts can never normally expect to see 60 galleries in one day, at the Dorset Arts Festival they can. From pottery to jewellery, sculpture to textiles, both exhibited and available to buy. Visitors can also get a rare insight into how these artists create their work, with all exhibitors demonstrating their skills and techniques live.
Visitors will be able to watch as paintings are created, pots are thrown, jewellery is made and a whole range of other arts and crafts will be spread across an even larger area of the sculpture park, where my own large-scale sculptures are installed. There will also be sculptures by more than 20 other artists on display around the park, which is something new for this year. There will be range of takeaway food options, from coffee to paella, as well as a range of delicious choices from our own Café by the Lakes. As in 2020, the event is being run with Covid safety in mind, so ticket numbers are capped each day and sold in advance. The exhibitors will be spaced across a wide area to support social distancing. Our aim is to make the whole festival about seeing artists and crafters demonstrate their skills and exhibit their work, so you can see and understand the
process. Artists’ creative processes, their exquisite skills, imagination, and talent, are endlessly fascinating – including for me, as an artist myself. This event is all about celebrating beauty and creativity in a relaxed and informal way. sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/dorset-arts-festival ___________________________________________ Friday 30th June - Wednesday 4th July 10am-5pm Dorset Arts Festival 2021 Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8QU. Tickets are available now for £12.50 (the same cost as
standard entry to the park). No children under 14 or dogs
can be permitted. To find out more, or to book tickets visit: sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/dorset-arts-festival
___________________________________________ sherbornetimes.co.uk | 19
Art & Culture
MARK CORETH
B
orn 1958 in London, Mark Coreth grew up on the family farm in Kenya but returned to the UK in 1971 to attend Ampleforth College. Serving in the forces from 1979, he pursued both a military and artistic career from 1986, following an exhibition at the Sladmore Gallery. Since 1993, he has been a full-time sculptor and has become respected internationally as a master at capturing three-dimensional animals in motion. Coreth’s exotic Kenyan childhood lay the foundations for his passion for sculpting wildlife, and he now travels extensively to observe animals in their native habitat for his work - such as his visit to Nepal to track snow leopards, and Russia to study the Siberian tiger. With no formal artistic training, his work is the result of dedication and a sensitive perceptive eye. The distinctive charm of Coreth’s sculptures lies in how they reflect his deep understanding of the behaviour and physicality of the animals he studies. Each unique piece captures every sinew, muscle, fold, ruffle and balance of weight so as to truly place before us the animal – as if in the flesh – with its elemental character, poise and nature, frozen in time, in the textured mouldings of the form. Coreth works quickly in plasticine or clay to build up his initial impression of his subject, rejecting it within a couple of hours if it fails to meet his expectations. With the ability to capture speed, violence, tranquility, pathos and movement with deceptive ease, he has been commissioned to create numerous monumental animals for public locations, as well as royal and private collectors. His most spectacular commission to date has been an enormous 16-foot-high life-size charging elephant, versions of which now reside in collections in Rome and Australia. Coreth works and teaches from his Dorset studio, and his donations of sculpture to charity auctions have raised substantial sums for many good causes. The Jerram Gallery’s exhibition will incorporate a wide selection of original works in bronze. From cheetah to antelope, pelican to otter, these stunning sculptures will not fail to inspire and move their viewers, representative as they are of the fundamental essence of Coreth’s creative passion for wildlife. jerramgallery.com
_______________________________________________________________________ Friday 11th – Wednesday 30th June Mark Coreth Solo Exhibition The Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LN
Mark will be in the gallery to meet visitors and to discuss his work on Saturday 12th June. Gallery opening times: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30am - 5pm. 01935 815261 info@jerramgallery.com
_______________________________________________________________________
20 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Image: Jamie Coreth
Wild Boar Sitting, Bronze 5½" x 6" x 3", Edition of 9 sherbornetimes.co.uk | 21
Art & Culture
AN ARTIST’S VIEW
A
Laurence Belbin
s a follow-on from my drawing of the violin repair workshop I did a while back, I decided to look at my own place of work – my studio at Westbury Hall. I have found that it is easy to almost dismiss places that are so familiar but in fact they hold a wealth of possibilities. A case of not seeing the wood for the trees. With a cuppa, I sat and viewed my domain. I was tempted to rearrange things but showed restraint as I knew that would take away the essence and alter the true working environment I had before me. Where to start! The light coming through the end windows gave me some contrast against the uprights of the easels, so there was my focus. Detail – I wanted to include everything, but, on the other hand, I didn’t want to lose the open feeling of the studio. So, by being selective and drawing what cries out to be drawn, you can create the illusion of it all. I worked on green-tinted paper to negate the need to tone the whole page, as the lightest tone was the windows and relatively small. Using pastel, pencil and pen, I tried to keep it more suggestive, leaving the viewer to see more than there is drawn. Perspective plays a big part in interiors to create the sense of space. The studio/workshop of Graham Church at Holnest was my next ‘place of work’ to do. Now, this is something else! No way was I going to draw all that was there. It’s a work of art in its
22 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
own right as is the garden too. A den of creativity and new ideas alongside an almost museum or shrine to artefacts of the past. I did drawings outside as well as the interior shown here as his workshop flows from one to the other with ease. The knurled section of very old apple wood is in the process of becoming a table and I decided to make that prominent. The rest has been, like my studio, reduced – to give the feeling of busyness without the confusion if I were to draw everything. As I looked around, I found so many interesting items not least the sculptures being made. He is open for Dorset Art Weeks, as shown in last month’s issue – venue 169, and I urge you to visit. You will not be disappointed. It might be a little different with finished items on display, but the essence will remain. Back to the drawing! Tinted paper again for the same reason. This time, I used watercolour, conte and pen. The old drill bits and rusty bolts on the bench are echoed outside too with gear wheels, hinges and brackets of all shapes and sizes all ready to be made into something else or not! I often say I will come back to do more but this time I definitely will, with my oil paints. The colour of rust is irresistible! laurencebelbin.com With lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted, Laurence is pleased to be able to reopen his studio to visitors by arrangement. Please call 01935 816618 or email info@laurencebelbin.com. Laurence’s studio is a delightful space and well worth a visit.
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 23
Community
MARKET KNOWLEDGE BELINDA LODER, BEE FLORAL
Welcome to The Sherborne Market! What brings you here? We love to be part of community events – especially since the last year has been so terrible; it’s really lovely to see people out and about, amongst so many lovely small and independent businesses. Sherborne Market is very well organised and we’re proud to be a part of it. Where have you travelled from? Our little wooden studio at our home in Yeovil. Tell us about what you’re selling. We have an abundance of beautiful fresh cut flowers, seasonal plants and dried flower wraps, which are proving very popular, and a selection of ornamental garden decorations. Where and when did it all begin? Bee Floral was created in 2009 after three years of study and achieving our NVQ Level 1 and 2 in Floristry. My mum, Sharon, and I both fell in love with this 24 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
profession and decided to open a little shop in Yeovil. After several years, we decided to create our lovely little studio, working from home. What do you enjoy most about selling at markets? Meeting all of our wonderful customers and providing them with beautiful, fresh flowers – we are so grateful for all of the support we receive and comments about ‘Olive’ our stunning Horsebox, converted by my husband Simon. If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit? There are so many amazing stallholders – we couldn’t possibly choose! Where can people find you on market day? We are situated at the bottom of Cheap Street, next to The Cross Keys pub. beefloralweddings.com
Flying the flag for local
Hand picked & selected artisan market featuring local producers, suppliers, amazing food, arts and crafts.
2021 dates
June 20th September 19th October 17th July 18th August 15th November 21st
TRENDLE YARD
Bespoke, contemporary furniture, made to order using timber sourced directly from local estates Trendle Yard, Trendle Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NT Tel 07900 645450 www.trendleyard.com
Victoria Young Jamieson - victoriayj.com - 07833 475 342 Molecula Modern Design - molecula.co.uk - 07810 000 097
Old Yarn Mills Sherborne Dorset, DT9 3RQ
22 MAY - 6 JUNE VENUE 230
CONTEMPORARY ART • 20TH CENTURY DESIGN • PERIOD LIGHTING • POTTERY • ANTIQUES • HOMEWARES 26 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
ARTI S A N R
O
U
T
E
by c l iv e w e bbe r
ALPACA - PIM A COT TON - SI LK
Open Day Event – The Grange at Oborne New Venue – Monday 21st June This special event will be held on Monday 21st June from 10.30 AM – 3.30 PM. There is plenty of parking in the Grange car park. We will be featuring our new Spring Collection (and some previously unseen collections from 2020) of Alpaca Knitwear, ‘Perfect Fit’ Pima Cotton Tops, and Silk Scarves – All by Artisan Route. This is a young company and brand name, but please remember that Clive Webber has had connections for over 20 years in Sherborne and really knows how to
Ezra – A fabulous long edge to edge jacket. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.
Lauren – Classic jacket with crochet covered buttons. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.
Kesia – Elegant links knit jacket with self covered buttons. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.
Alicia – Beautiful reversible jacquard jacket. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.
Pilar– ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton short sleeved Scoop. Available in 10 colours.
Patricia – ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton long sleeved Crew. Available in 12 colours.
produce top quality designs in Alpaca, Pima Cotton and Silk. The beauty of the Open Day is that it provides the opportunity for Artisan Route to show our products in reality, giving customers the chance to see all the products we have. Personal service and attention is the focal point of our small business. Our very good friend Mel Chambers will be with us to help and assist. You might already know how to reach The Grange at Oborne, but just in case, the postcode is DT9 4LA.
We have chosen a spacious setting in the beautiful Regent Room - a safety sensitive environment to give you a warm and friendly experience ! You can check out our collection in advance on our website, please enter the full address below
w w w. a r t i s a n r o u t e . c o . u k or phone for a brochure. T : 01896 823 765 ( Monday - Friday 10.00 - 18.00)
Community
THE NEW MAYOR OF SHERBORNE’S PLANS FOR THE TOWN Cllr Anne Hall, Sherborne Town Mayor
T
he world has changed so much during the last 18 months and it is time for the town council to change with it. Over the next 12 months, I intend to evolve the position of mayor and help shape the future of our town. I am not one for openly joining the chain gang for the sake of it - I believe that everything I do in the name of Mayor of Sherborne must have a quantifiable benefit to the town, if not, then I will turn my time to something that does. So, what will I aim to do, why and how?
I intend to invite local organisations to the town council meetings on a more regular basis, so we can truly understand their work and needs. We have such great voluntary groups within our town, and I believe the town council can do more to help these groups survive and go on to thrive. Where there are gaps in the sector, I will look to work with others to create opportunities. We have all seen how much value the town’s open spaces are. I will use my horticultural background, along with volunteers, to look after areas within the town, such as revamping Paddock Garden, but in a sensitive way, as many of the original plants were donated by local residents. This will give the opportunity to both young and old to help Sherborne move forward, thus 28 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
helping with mental health and well-being. My aim is to do this on a regular basis, to allow a feeling of ownership, achievement and to make friends. When safe to do so, this can be done with the added bonus of coffee and cake. More can be done with the woodland at the Terraces - volunteers to clear pathways, creating homes for wildlife, and nature trails could be sought. We would like to use the services of local woodsmen to maintain the area, providing long term maintenance for the trees and local crafts people with wood to use. I would also like to take the opportunity to create a directory of local walks in and around the town for visitors and locals alike. I litter-pick within the town already and will continue to do so, but would look to work closely with our communications officer to inform residents where I will be; enabling those with questions about the town council to speak to me. In an effort to make the council more approachable, a more relaxed way of contact may be beneficial. I intend to work closely with the town clerk and council members on various projects in the town that need and should be done. The refurbishment work in Pageant Gardens will be finished. The water feature area, along with further
Volunteers at work in Paddock Garden
planting will allow for a greater biodiversity, which, in turn, enriches all our lives and will be a focal point in our town. Keep an eye out for bird boxes going up into the mature trees at some point this year. The green infrastructure work at the Terraces will be started; in a bid to reduce our carbon emissions footprint, we are hoping to install an air-source heat pump along with solar PV panels and low energy lighting. There has been investment into the Terraces’ playing field area; the sports pitches and equipment have been upgraded to ensure the local clubs are able to perform at a higher level. We are moving forward with the work on the verges in town; by cutting them a little higher to allow native, low-growing wildflowers to populate the verges and for the pollinators a source of food. We have an attractive protected verge on the edge of New Road and Dancing Hill, which just shows what can be done with cutting verges and picking up the trimmings; it’s enabled the wild cowslips and pyramidal orchids to populate it naturally, which, in turn, encourages the insects, wild bee and butterfly populations. There is a need to set out a replacement/renewal plan for all our play areas which amounts to nine sites to be reviewed.
The roof of Digby Hall is in a poor state of repair and needs investment this summer, along with installing solar panels; another measure to reduce our carbon footprint and help reach our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. We need to make the Digby Hall more sustainable and to create a venue for acts like those at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, so that residents have a greater opportunity to stay in Sherborne for their entertainment rather than taking their money out of the town. Finally, I intend to support our town clerk in moving the town council towards a committee-based structure to help us achieve our goals and to be more accountable along with creating the staffing structure to enable this. All in all, we need to deal with and concentrate on what the town council does and owns rather than adding more new things which this council has never done before; and which results in a huge strain on our finances. I intend to concentrate on the items above which will appear on our agendas in the coming year. Over the next 12 months, members please join me in creating a town council fit for the challenges and needs of the decade to come. sherborne-tc.gov.uk @SherborneTownCl sherbornetimes.co.uk | 29
Community
OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER Chris Loder MP, Member of Parliament for West Dorset
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fter a few months of quiet from me in the Sherborne Times, I’m restarting my column to share some more in-depth thoughts on issues of the day or matters affecting daily life here in West Dorset. This month, I’m going to share my thoughts with you on the Church of England. The CofE is a wonderful and far-reaching intergenerational institution that has contributed so much good to us and this country. Primary schools across the nation are one of its greatest legacies. But care, community, fundraising, fellowship are also elements that have transcended the generations as a gift from the Church. My faith and the Church have played a large and 30 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
extremely valued part in my life, and it is for this reason that I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable seeing the institution of unity shift towards one of increasing political opinion on day-to-day matters and away from faith and spiritual wellbeing. Our average parish congregation is made of all political colours. It brings us all together, but the risk of the Archbishops of the Church being political – of ‘picking a side’ – is that, inevitably, some parishioners will be alienated or disenfranchised because of political statements or views with which they do not align. But more and more, I feel that this unifying force is eroding with Bishops and Archbishops focusing more on the politics of the day, becoming a spin machine, and
Image: Len Copland
leaving behind our spiritual wellbeing as a result. The Church has brought together people with very opposed political views. Some of my closest friends I have met through the Church and they are of very different views politically to me. My good friend and former Labour Mayor of Sherborne, Keith Batten, who passed away some 18 months ago, being a good example, as is my Liberal Democrat counterpart from when I was on the District Council. I have much love for our own Sherborne Abbey and our parish churches. I learnt to play the organ there as a child, to bell-ring and sing in the choir, and it even offered me one of my first jobs. But at a national level, I feel increasingly that
decent, good people, who are not on the left of politics, who don’t think the EU was great, and have a different view, are feeling marginalised. That inclusivity is becoming a pseudonym for ‘only if you share the same view or if you agree are you welcome’. In April last year, I wrote to the Archbishops openly. They were acting, in my opinion, outside the bounds of canon law, but using the prerogative of canonical obedience. It was the same for funerals in church too. It was not government guidance to stop funerals in church, but church guidance, including disciplinary consequences to clergy if they disobeyed that order. In The Times on 24th April last year, I wrote that it felt as though MPs had become ministers (of the clerical kind), pressing for the churches to be open whilst Archbishops had become politicians wanting churches closed, not recognising the spiritual nor the financial consequences. But things are now moving on. With the CofE HQ bloating with an ever-growing middle management and bureaucracy that absorbs and centralises control, it focuses on writing studies and reports rather than doing things. Parish clergy are often the only group who actually do things and make a difference but struggle more with day-to-day parish pressures whilst the clergy numbers reduce. It has become clearer and clearer to those of us in Parliament who care, that priorities at the top of the CofE need recalibrating because we need to evolve and change the machine of spin. One of actions in place of words, rather than an autocracy which aligns to the ‘middle-management’ of actively lobbying on legislation and making statements that are increasingly political. I and other MPs are making the case for our parish churches more than the Archbishops who lead it. I shouldn’t have to push back on urban clergy, who say in national newspapers that the rural church should have the ‘Beeching treatment’, when they are often the hub of important social outreach and the font of local and family history for generations. My faith and church mean a lot to me and I know they do to a lot of you. But amidst the trials and challenges ahead, my colleagues and I will be making the case for our rural parish churches, their role in the community, and for complete political neutrality, so that politicians can focus on the earthly things whilst the church can focus on its own health and wellbeing and, of course, the divine. chrisloder.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 31
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Project Support • Event Management • Property Maintenance and Management • Household management Contact Ms Anifa Sba Mobile: 07950 390 193 Email: anifa.sba1@gmail.com
Would you like to use your skills to improve education for children across North Dorset and South Somerset? SAST TRUSTEE VACANCIES (FOUNDATION AND NON-FOUNDATION)
Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust has two vacancies for non-executive directors (Trustees) and we would love to hear from you. This is a chance to be part of a diverse, dedicated and exciting team of Trustees where vigorous discussion is encouraged and everyone is heard. Our Trust, which was created in June 2017, consists of 17 schools who have come together, based on a shared vision which encompasses the values of partnership and collaboration, equality and distinctiveness, holistic, life-long learning and excellence. We are a Church of England Multi-Academy Trust which upholds the Christian distinctiveness of our Church schools and those of our non-foundation schools. SAST is committed to create an ambitious, forward-thinking learning environment for all our pupils, students and staff. There are opportunities for everyone connected to the Trust to grow and develop to fulfil their ambitions. Our Trustee Board is an enthusiastic, committed and friendly team who welcome a wide range of different skills and experiences to ensure that our continued development is as productive and creative as possible. We are committed to diversity and inclusivity and we welcome applications from people from every age, gender, background and walk of life. We believe that education embraces our entire community, and we are eager that community voices be heard and be part of the debate and discussion at our board.
SAST has appointed a new CEO to join the Trust as of 1st September 2021 who will bring a wealth of experience and passion for schools. This is an exciting time in our journey and one that you could be a part of! We would especially welcome applications from individuals with the following: • a passion for education and its power to transform young lives. • a background in Human Resources, Estates or Finance • experience of state school education especially the primary school phase
Please contact Nigel Rees, Chair of the Trust Board via Nigel.Rees@sast.org.uk for an informal chat and to find out more information. We look forward to hearing from you.
UNEARTHED Caio Waters, Aged 13 Sherborne Prep School
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aio already has a career in medicine mapped out; specifically, he aspires to work as a trauma surgeon and/or in cardio-thoracic medicine. Inspired by his father, a botanist, and mother, a chemist, Caio is interested in the complexity of medicine and the fast-paced, critical nature of the profession. His desire is to help others and to make a difference as a surgeon in the future. Hearing about medicine in Year 6, Caio’s interest was sparked and around the same time he was given £20, which he used to purchase his first suturing kit! The kit included a haemostat, curved needle, needle driver, scalpel tips and tweezers. Caio has since progressed to more advanced kits, with an evident determination to pursue his chosen career. He is a remarkable pupil and has seized the opportunities made available to him. Caio has been encouraged by Mr Roberts, his science teacher, and is supported by Mr Pyman, his tutor, who have also considered that should they require a surgeon in the future, Caio could be the one to offer assistance! sherborneprep.org
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Children’s Book Review by Rosa Collis, aged 9, Leweston Prep
Twitch by M.G.Leonard, (Walker Books) £7.99 Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £6.99 from Winstone’s Books
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witch is a book about a boy who loves animals, and particularly birds. He has chickens and pigeons that live in his bedroom and his favourite thing to do is to watch birds from his secret hide-out. Twitch gets teased and picked on by a group of boys, and his life is quite hard, until suddenly he embarks on a secret mission. He finds out that a prisoner has escaped from a local prison and the police can’t find him. Twitch knows that he is hiding somewhere near his secret hide-out, so he decides to try and catch him! Twitch soon realises that there are plenty of people who
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have the same interests as him, and that his hobbies are nothing to be ashamed of. Before long he has even managed to find some great friends. This was an excellent story. The story gets going quickly and there is lots of good description so I felt like I really knew Twitch and could see his hide-out. When the prisoner is hiding there are lots of bits that really keep you guessing. I think that the story had a great message about how important it is to just be you as well. I would really recommend this book, as I enjoyed it so much. I think it would be great for anyone aged 8 and above.
Summer Reading for Children & Young Adults
Family
HOME FRONT Jemma Dempsey
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fter 13 days in a hospital bed, with only partial views of the world outside, I emerged somewhat mole-like, squinting at the sun with an upturned nose sniffing the cool, fresh air as the nurse pushed me out of the foyer toward the familiar silhouette of the husband, who was waiting to collect me. I thought I was special being dispatched in a wheelchair until I saw another patient leaving the cancer ward in a bed. My near fortnight’s stay coincided with the end of my treatment, along with an infection and a blood transfusion. Though disappointingly even that hadn’t given me the sparkle to swing from the hospital chandeliers. The whole affair had not been pretty, and, at times, it turned me into a banshee. At one point I think I hissed at the radiographer when he came to collect me for treatment, hiding pointlessly under my paltry hospital blanket like a wounded animal. They said it would be gruelling – they were right. They also said the effects of the radiotherapy would continue to get worse for a couple of weeks after treatment ended and only then would I start to recover. As we set off with a boot full of hospital gear and medication I would need at home for the coming weeks, I managed a pathetic smile at the thought of me as a broken-down car being towed off by a recovery vehicle. For recovery is a strange place for cancer patients. After the 6 weeks of treatment, the daily commute to Taunton, the familiar faces and small talk, the blood tests and, ‘sharp scratch’ from the nurses, ooh I’ll give you ‘sharp scratch’ I think as I lament my poor, pin-cushioned body and those chemo sessions where it took 4 or 5 attempts to get a cannula into a vein in my bruised hand. The world of treatment is a rigid routine but enter recovery, especially at springtime, where you expect it to be a haven of lambs and tulips and pink fluffy clouds where you feel tangibly better … well it’s just not like that. Recovery has, so far, been a strange place. A topsyturvy, slightly surreal experience where you’re at home 38 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
but living in another universe. The fatigue wipes out most attempts to just be normal and carry out dayto-day tasks. Have a shower – will need a lie down afterwards. Sit with the children while they have dinner – might need a rest after that. The accruing and lasting side effects from the treatment for head and neck cancer are particularly tough, because they affect how you interact with the world – how you talk, eat, breathe. And it is possible that I am not the best patient; I want to escape this place that’s been my world for the past few months and am grumpy because I know this is not possible. The reality is there is no going back to my old self and I need to get used to and embrace the idea. My oncologist has one of those surnames which is impossible to spell no matter how long you look at it.
Alberlan/shutterstock
But her first name is Petra, like the old Blue Peter dog, and I almost bow whenever we meet, so I figure she doesn’t mind. I see her four weeks after treatment ends and she says I’m doing well. I say I’m curious to know what she’s basing that on as I still feel pretty lousy. She laughs and tells me that a month ago I wouldn’t let her near my mouth, let alone look down my throat, which I’d just let her do. Hmmm, what about a scan to find out if this godawful treatment has worked? We must wait four months for the inflammation to subside for an accurate picture. We talk about the lasting, potentially permanent, side effects – lymphedema, dry mouth – and I well up as it reminds me of what I’ve just been through. It also reminds me of the time decades ago when I had a nasty bout of sea sickness while sailing to the Channel
Islands and the skipper of the yacht wisely consoled me, ‘What you’re feeling, this will pass.’ Little did I realise, at the time, he was opining Buddhist philosophy. But what I felt… it did pass; he was right. Still, what I have found hardest about recovery is not knowing how long things will last and putting my brave girl pants on has been easier said than done. As a journalist, I like to deal in absolutes – how much, how long and when. And as anyone who has had cancer knows, there are rarely hard and fast answers with this awful disease and recovery is an ocean of good days and bad. Riding the waves and staying afloat is the best you can hope for. I’ve been lucky – I’ve got a good sturdy life raft and a demon crew. All I can do is pray for fair winds. jemmadempsey@hotmail.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 39
Family
WHERE ARE WE NOW? MARCHANT-HOLLIDAY SCHOOL, NORTH CHERITON, SOMERSET Danny Kitts, Head Teacher
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he Marchant-Holliday School was originally known as Whatcombe House School, a large, rented country house located near Blandford in Dorset. It was the vision of Mr Cyril MarchantHolliday and his wife Marjorie, a nurse who he met whilst in India where he had been a tea planter before the outbreak of the Second World War. Upon returning to England in 1950, they decided to follow a long-held ambition in establishing an independent school for boys who were identified as having ‘failed’ in education – some at a very young age. In April 1954, Mr and Mrs Marchant-Holliday purchased the present property in North Cheriton, Somerset and converted the assorted buildings for use as a school which continued to be known as Whatcombe House School. In April 1963, when Mr MarchantHolliday died, the School and Company names were changed to The Marchant-Holliday School to commemorate the name and inspiration of its founder. The distinguishing feature of the school since its 40 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
inception has been the retention of its core values, namely to provide excellent opportunities for education and care that help children to develop their full potential for social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth. The vision of Mr Marchant-Holliday was that all children could and should thrive in a caring, tolerant, understanding and supportive environment, enabling them to overcome life’s difficulties and challenges. This undertaking still stands firm today in our strategic vision for the school and is at the very heart of all that we do. Our founder’s philosophy, vision and fervent belief that all children, given a safe, supportive and consistent environment, could thrive academically and emotionally are as relevant today as they were when first conceived back in the 1950s. Mr Marchant-Holliday was indeed a pioneer of nurture-based education which now, in the 21st century, we acknowledge as being fundamental to children’s health and wellbeing. Every child has the right to feel safe in order to thrive and build their self-esteem whilst developing a lifelong love of learning. This is the
Image: Studio H Photography
essence of the Marchant-Holliday School in providing a nurturing environment for children who experience difficulties accessing mainstream education. So where are we now? The school continues to operate as a not-for-profit Independent Special School and is a registered charity with a board of Governors who are also the Trustees. The 2000s heralded developments in the form of significant building and renovation projects, resulting in the upgrading of the residential accommodation, a bespoke additional classroom block with six new classrooms, two separate classrooms for younger pupils, food technology room, art room, new ICT suite, a covered swimming pool, two outdoor classrooms, school gardens and a new outdoor learning area, including the MHS chickens! All the school’s recent Ofsted reports, both education and care, have rated the school as ‘Good’ which we are immensely proud of however, work continues and currently the School is exploring an exciting
development programme aimed at further improving facilities to embrace 21st century demands. The school operates as a day and weekly boarding provision for boys aged 5 to 12 who are unable to access mainstream education for a variety of reasons. The school currently has capacity for up to 53 boys and referrals come from local authorities across the South and South West of England. After spending time with us, our aim is to enable our pupils to transition successfully and to lead happy, fulfilling lives. Small class groups with a high staff ratio, coupled with innovative approaches to delivering the national curriculum and outstanding facilities all support a vibrant, exciting learning community. The school enjoys strong, pro-active support from parents and carers. Whilst Covid-19 has currently curtailed our comprehensive programme of activities, trips and visits, we hope to return to these soon. We invest in these opportunities as they develop key life skills and bring the curriculum to life. We also look forward to re-engaging with all our primary partners as part of the local school sports partnership. As much as our school is about our boys, it is equally about the people who work for us. The staff at The Marchant-Holliday School are all deeply committed and passionate about giving the children the very best opportunities available. They hold high expectations in order that the boys referred to us develop their selfesteem and self-worth in order to progress as confident, independent learners. Working within a special school environment poses its own unique challenges and we are all continually learning however, the rewards are immense. To change a child’s expectation from one of exclusion to inclusion is a profound experience and a privilege to be part of. It is affirming to hear of past pupils who contact us to let us know of their successes and that they feel the school played a significant part in their development and success. marchant-holliday.co.uk The Marchant-Holliday School welcomes prearranged visits to the school and engagement in the wider community. Moreover, those who would be interested in embracing the values of the school through Governance can find out more by contacting the school’s Clerk to The Governing Body on 01963 33234 or visiting the school website for further details. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 41
Family
COLOURING PAGE
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42 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Come anfodr join us REE your F ss first cla
Hooray! Monkey Music is back! Try our award-winning music classes for babies & young children! Come and join us for your FREE first class as we return to venues for the summer term Sherborne
on Tuesday at The Scout Hut Blackberry Lane DT9 4DE
Dorchester
on Wednesday at The Pointe Durngate Street DT1 1NA
Book your FREE class at bit.ly/monkeymusicclasses or email sherborne.dorchester@monkeymusic.co.uk MonkeyMusicSherborneandDorchester MonkeyMusicSherborneDorchester
Family
JOINING FORCES Lt General David Leakey CMG CVO CBE, Chairman of Governors, Sherborne School
Image: Josie Sturgess Mills 44 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
T
he recent merger between Sherborne School and Sherborne Preparatory School reflects a wider trend in the independent schools sector. It is one that has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis, but in our case the merger was already in motion before the pandemic hit. In a town like ours, where cooperation between three separate independent schools has long been the norm, a vertical merger such as ours makes particular sense. By joining with Sherborne Prep, we are able to leverage our scale to the benefit of pupils from preschool age up to age 18. The merger also makes the most of our connection with Sherborne Girls, enhancing the educational offer to parents and their children. Thanks to our close relationship, we offer children of all ages first-rate facilities, a rounded and stretching curriculum and a wealth of co-curricular activities. At senior school level, we combine the best of single-sex education with all the social benefits of a co-ed setting – and all in a single town. In many cases, the school mergers and takeovers of the last 12 months have been driven by financial necessity. Smaller schools in particular have struggled to survive against the challenges of lockdowns and attendant fee discounts. Coupled with a significant loss in income from commercial lettings during vacation periods, many schools have simply reached the point where they cannot make ends meet. In such circumstances, a merger becomes the only way of continuing to operate, albeit in a different form. It brings stability to pupils and their parents, though often results in uncertainty for teaching and support staff and a lack of continuity as the new institution emerges from the combination of two previously unconnected schools with no shared history or culture. For us, that challenge has not been apparent. Sherborne Prep was in a healthy position financially, with a surplus budget every year. The merger with Sherborne School was not therefore driven by finances. Rather, it has been shaped by a sense of common purpose, and recognition of the profound benefits of working even more closely together. There is clearly a period of cultural readjustment for all parties in any merger, even when they have much in common. We have been very clear that each school
in our group has a distinctive identity that is to be preserved. Sherborne Prep retains its own Head, with the current postholder Nick Folland being replaced by Natalie Bone when he retires in the summer. While Sherborne’s Headmaster Dr Dominic Luckett has executive responsibility for the whole Sherborne Schools Group, the day-to-day running of the prep school is overseen by its own Senior Leadership Team. Anyone familiar with the schools will know that we have a similar ethos. As with our partners at Sherborne Girls, we are committed to the flourishing of every pupil, giving them every opportunity to find their talents and prepare for a bright future. So the cultural transition necessitated by the merger has been straightforward: we have worked closely for many years, and therefore have a good understanding of the ties that bind us. For all that, we are keen to treat certain elements of our operations as before. For example, admissions from Sherborne Prep to Sherborne School will continue to be separate, so as to ensure a level playing field with our other feeder schools. We are aware that Sherborne School isn’t the right choice for every boy in the prep school, and will retain the same approach to senior school transitions that has always been in place. Likewise, Sherborne Prep pupils are treated the same as any other when applying to Sherborne School. By operating with one governing body and taking advantages of opportunities to collaborate across our adjacent sites, we are able to enhance the compelling educational offer that is at the heart of Sherborne. It is a beautiful town steeped in heritage, with brilliant access to the rest of the UK and beyond, which offers a first-rate education for all ages. For us, the merger of Sherborne School and Sherborne Prep is manifestly worthwhile, and we look forward to building a bright future together: for our schools, our communities and, most importantly, the children whose education, formation and growth we are trusted to provide. Lt General David Leakey is an Old Shirburnian whose children also attended the School. He has been a governor at Sherborne School since 2017 and was made Chairman of Governors in 2020. sherborne.org
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 45
Family
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Shaun Rigby performing at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
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n and out of school they come, often with a funnyshaped bag and, frequently, at antisocial times in order to work around the academic lessons of the pupils they teach. A furrowed brow, if a pupil has not arrived, and a hurried search quickly ensues – all in the name of a love for music and a passion for teaching. At Sherborne Prep, we are incredibly fortunate to have a star-studded line-up of teaching talent – many of whom have alternative guises. Orchestral Percussion Teacher Shaun Rigby, has performed all over the world as a freelance musician, with a wide variety of ensembles, including Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Peripatetic piano and clarinet teacher Amanda Slogrove, teaches music theory and for the last thirteen years has run a music group for toddlers called Toddler Tunes. She also enjoys singing with The Sherborne Singers and co-runs Sherborne Young Singers with her husband. 46 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Image: Kiran Ridley
Shaun Rigby
As the Orchestral Percussion Teacher at Sherborne Preparatory School and Sherborne School as well as a freelance performer, I admit, it was an unintended career choice! The current pandemic has had a significant impact upon the music industry, which has adapted and evolved with new practices and the development of new skills amongst teaching professionals. Remote teaching, setting up a mini recording studio in my garage and splicing videos together was an unexpected career direction, which now simply falls into the remit of ‘being a 21st century musician’… it is so much more than simply performing. Acquiring new skills has pushed many music teachers outside of their comfort zone - creating recordings, for example, has continued to provide the vital percussion accompaniment, which so many music pieces require, enabling music performances to continue.
Amanda Slogrove
The creation of ‘lockdown performances’ through video editing has widened access to music and with Glastonbury 2021 being an online affair there is high chance that the music industry, whilst we long to return to performing live to a crowd, will perhaps retain a hybrid element with online and live concerts. Children have become used to performing in front of a camera, so perhaps this will continue. Amanda Slogrove
Prior to becoming a peri, I was a full-time music teacher at Leweston School. Now, as a peri, I teach at Sherborne Prep, Leweston and Sherborne Primary, and squeeze in teaching private pupils at home! I enjoy the advantages of being able to organise my time around teaching the piano and the reward of teaching children on a 1:1 basis where relationships are formed. Sherborne Prep School has enjoyed a rich musical history, but it is the current Director of Music, Yvonne Fawbert, who brings an infectious buzz to the department
Image: Amelia Slogrove
and has created a plethora of musical activities. The Covid safety measures at Sherborne Prep have enabled teaching to continue, albeit with considerable challenges. The frequent sanitising of instruments, social-distancing of pupils and the requirement to teach from behind a screen might reasonably be considered enough to put off both teacher and pupil, I have found however, that pupils rise to the challenge, showing patience and a resilience that had not previously been required. Wi-Fi issues were overcome, remote lessons became the ‘norm’ and pupils truly gained independence as they made their own notes in music diaries rather than relying upon teachers’ help. These qualities will stand our pupils in good stead and while, like so many other music teachers, I am keen to return to concert performances and ensembles, there are indeed, positives to take. sherborneprep.org sherbornetimes.co.uk | 47
Family
GOT TO HAVE FAITH John Paget-Tomlinson, Head, Leweston Senior School
W
ith all due regard to the danger of starting yet another article or letter with phrases such as ‘what we have learned from Covid 19’ or ‘what the pandemic has taught us’, I feel it necessary to highlight something that is critical to all of us – all of the time. Something that perhaps has only been highlighted more clearly by the current situation we all find ourselves in … and that something is faith. As a headmaster of a Catholic school I am perhaps 48 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
honour-bound to discuss faith and it is true that I like nothing more than a rousing Christological debate that takes in the nuancing of miaphysitism and monophysitism, with a touch of Nestorianism and Arianism for good measure but it is not that to which I am referring. As a Catholic school, Leweston promotes faith in God, and Christ forms the centre of our teaching. His example is critical to how we view ourselves and others in all that we do. I believe,
however, that we also teach our pupils the wider significance of faith, to have faith in themselves, others and the future. Faith in oneself comes from that inner belief that one has the ability to carry on throughout the most testing of times, coming out the other side stronger and better equipped for the next phase of one’s life. We need to teach our pupils that to take risks, have grit, resilience and high expectations are all one and the
same thing: faith in one’s own abilities. If you strip back the educational jargonese - which I admit I am prone to lapse into - what we are really teaching our children is to be able to cope with the increasingly diverse situations that may, and probably will, arise in their lifetime. Education, like life, is not a railway line of stations at neat intervals but a drive up the Hardknott pass in the pouring rain and what will get you there safely is the faith you have in yourself. We teach our students that faith in oneself is not arrogance, but a celebration of the gifts one has to perform well, seize opportunities and take the next step. Our pupils may draw on a spiritual strength to do this, but they may have a more individual approach. It is the job of any good school to bring out this skill and provide opportunities for it to be learnt and practised, ready to face the test of job interviews, mortgages and second-hand car purchases. To raise their own children without taking the temperature of a newborn every hour throughout the night for two nights straight, the day they come back from the hospital (I admit that was a personal example there). We also instil faith in others. A school needs to make certain that its pupils understand their place in society and their duty to their fellow citizens. Trust is the cornerstone of our community and faith in those around you and what you are being told is essential to progress. It should be noted that we must teach this as a critical analytical faculty that doesn’t lay them open to being taken advantage of. Rather it allows them to be free to make choices without anxiety. We encourage a faith in action approach that goes beyond simply assuring our pupils play a passive role in their lives; they should seize that inner strength from the skills they have learnt and believe that they can make a significant change and contribution to the lives of those around them. Finally, the above all point to having faith in the future. At the moment, many of the pupils across the UK and the world will be finding this harder than at any other time. They see the adults around them equally failing to come to terms with the situation we have all found ourselves in and there is no one person who we can turn to for the answers. In order to protect our children’s future, as a school we ensure that we maintain their faith and hope in a positive outcome. We hope that we have throughout this trying time given our pupils that faith, the tools for them to sustain it and the belief that they can encourage it in others. leweston.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 49
elizabethwatsonillustration.com 50 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
D I S C O V E R | E AT | S H O P | S TAY | C E L E B R AT E
Welcome to Symondsbury Estate, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside just a stone’s throw from the Jurassic Coast. Join us for lunch. Browse our shops. Visit the gallery. Explore our fabulous walks and bike trails. Relax and unwind in our holiday accommodation. Celebrate your wedding day...
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Science & Nature
Comfort, Texas, February 2021
FOUR SEASONS IN ONE DAY WEATHER AND CLIMATE
T
he below is an excerpt from the report on a lecture given to Sherborne Science Cafe on 2nd June 2016 by Dr Jeremy Walton from The Met. Office, Exeter. Dr Walton is the lead computational scientist for the UK Earth System Model (UKESM). A major application of UKESM will be in the next round of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project, which aims for a better understanding of climate change in a multi-model context. UKESM and other climate models will be used to run the same set of experiments, and comparison between their results will be used to assess their performance and quantify the spread amongst future projections. Climate modelling was one of main themes of Dr Walton’s talk, but he first gave a brief account of the history and role of the UK Met Office. It was the wreck of the clipper Royal Charter in 1852 following a particularly violent storm that led Admiral Robert Fitzroy (the Captain of the Beagle on Darwin’s voyages) to speculate whether the event could have been 52 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
predicted. The Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade eventually became the present Met Office, and was responsible for the first real attempt to forecast the weather. The Met Office employs over 1,900 staff (1,400 at its Exeter HQ). Dr Walton next turned to weather forecasting, starting with examples of recent significant weather events. The potential damage and loss of life from extreme weather, for example hurricane Katrina, emphasise the need for accurate forecasting. Three stages were identified: firstly, to observe the various physical quantities that characterise the current situation; then, to model the data to see what could happen, and finally to bring these two stages together to make a forecast of future events. Observations are made on the ground, at sea, in the air and by remote sensing by satellites. The atmosphere is modelled in three dimensions by solving a number of differential equations. The complexity of the model and amount of data to be handled require the use of multi-processor
Update 2021 Robert Bygrave, Chair, Sherborne Science Café Since that lecture took place, the following events have occurred: • Forest fires in the Arctic Circle – at temperatures of over 30oc • Snow in Texas – Feb 2021 Marcus Wennrich/Shutterstock
• The 5 hottest years ever recorded – 2016-2020 • The worst ever wildfires in California
super computers. The Met Office has one of the most powerful computers in the UK, currently a Cray XC40. Weather forecasting has improved steadily as computing power has increased; a current 4-day forecast is as accurate as a one-day forecast was 40 years ago. A major problem of the modelling is that small perturbations in the initial data can lead to very different forecasts. One approach is to model a large ensemble of possible scenarios, enabling an estimate of how probable the final forecast is. Dr Walton then returned to climate, as distinct from weather. Whereas weather forecasting is concerned with predicting a few days ahead, the timescale for climate modelling is years, decades and centuries into the future. The topic of climate change and the possible role of humans in global warming is controversial. However, there is a large body of evidence that the earth is warming: of the 13 hottest years since 1980, 11 have been between 2001-2011. Several illustrations of climate predictions were shown which depended on the assumed levels of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2.
and Australia • 6 category 5 hurricanes in Caribbean area • As glaciers melt, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) increase in Andes and Himalayas with 1,308 recorded by 2016 and 12,000 deaths. • Increasing drought in countries round the world, between the tropics
The Future? IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) predictions: • Temperature increases by 2100 = 3.2oc • Sea level rise 28-97cm by 2100 – 2.4 billion people live within 60 miles of the sea • Permafrost decrease 37-81% by 2100 – releasing huge amounts of stored CO2 In November, COP26 will be held in Glasgow to make plans to tackle these problems. The world’s population is counting on them to get it right!
sherbornesciencecafe.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 53
Science & Nature
WATER VOLES
Alex Hennessy, Marketing and Communications Officer, Dorset Wildlife Trust
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ater voles have been described as ‘Britain’s fastest declining mammal’. This semi-aquatic rodent is traditionally found in rivers and streams across the UK, including here in Dorset, but the population has reduced drastically over the last century. They are vital to river ecosystems as their burrowing and feeding habits create conditions where other wildlife can thrive. Loss of habitat and predation are among the threats to this species. Post-war pressures on agriculture and development have chipped away at their habitat – they need space to build burrows into banks along streams and rivers without strong currents or too many trees. Water voles seek out lush grasses and reeds to protect them from predators and support their largely vegetarian diet. These small animals eat around 80% of their body weight in vegetation each day. They can thrive in and around lakes, ponds, reed beds and canals as well as rivers. Water voles are preyed upon by several species, including foxes, owls, otters and mink. Tell-tale signs of the presence of water voles include feeding stations with discarded plant stems nibbled at a 45-degree angle, and a ‘plop’ heard as they disappear into the water. Ensure you tread carefully around rivers and streams to avoid disturbing them. Water voles have chestnut-brown fur, small ears and a blunt nose. They look similar to brown rats but can be distinguished particularly by their ears – the rats’ are more pointed and stand up vertically from their head. The national picture is uncertain for water voles, with a 2020 report on Britain’s population finding an estimated reduction of 23% between 2006 and 2018. A national monitoring programme keeps track of water vole populations, while reintroduction programmes, including one in east Dorset in 2011, also seek to increase the population. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s work includes managing riverside habitat on nature reserves and working with local landowners and partners to ensure habitats are managed in a way that benefits wildlife, including species like water voles. You can find out more and support this work by visiting dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.
Water Vole Facts: • Ratty in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows is a water vole. • Water voles are much larger than other vole species, such as field voles. • Water voles start to breed in spring, having three to four litters a year of up to five young.
54 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Image: Terry Whittaker sherbornetimes.co.uk | 55
Science & Nature
Images courtesy of Dorset Wildlife Trust
BRACKETTS COPPICE RESERVE
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Kevin & Val Waterfall, Dorset Wildlife Trust Sherborne Group Members
ow that we can venture a little further from home, there is a Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve that is a hidden gem of flora and fauna in West Dorset. Between Halstock and Corscombe you will find Bracketts Coppice, which is home to some of Dorset’s best-loved species including dormice, otters and woodpeckers as well as playing host to several species of migrant warblers and fields rich in wildflowers from now until autumn. At 46 hectares, it is quite a large reserve and there is a variety of woodland, meadows and open glades, all clustered around a stream. The stream rises at Winyard’s Gap and eventually flows down to form the headwaters of Sutton Bingham Reservoir. On the other side of Winyards Gap is the source of the River Parrett and the start of the Parrett Trail footpath that will take you out through the Somerset Levels to the Bristol Channel. As the stream cuts through the clay that’s under your feet, 56 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
you can see that it is going down through blue clays of the lower and middle liassic that also form the flat slabs of rock of the riverbed. The Ryewater stream used to drive the mill at Halstock which was used for grinding corn. There is a network of rides and footpaths giving access around the reserve and two stout bridges across the stream. Otters use the fast-flowing stream, possibly tempted by the presence of signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus; these are the non-native species introduced in the 1970’s as a commercial species. However, they escaped into our waterways and apart from carrying crayfish plague, they outcompete the native, whiteclawed crayfish for habitat and food. Dormice nest in the wood – you will see boxes for them by Dorset Wildlife Trust. Roe deer are usually moving quietly through the trees and harvest mice scurry about the pastures. Several species of bat, including the very rare Bechstein’s bat, Myotis
bechsteinii, roost in the woods. The woodland is a mixture of tall oak and ash with an understorey of hazel and holly. The air is clean, and the lichens and mosses cover tree trunks and bare branches. The ground is covered in bluebells, wood anemones and wood sorrel, with white swathes of wild garlic at this time of year. Green and great spotted woodpeckers are there, with lots of nuthatches making some of their varied calls; in late summer, you may see a family of them. Woodcock, flycatchers, breeding kingfisher and the more common woodland species such as treecreeper and chiffchaff are all over the reserve and, of course, great tits with their TEA-cher, TEA-cher call. They have a number of calls and sounds, often mimicking other birds, so may confuse novice birdwatchers. Some people remember that they used to be called tomtit, but also, they were once called oxeye, pridden prals, be-biter, saw-sharpener and sit-ye-down. If you are lucky, you may hear or see wood warbler or willow warbler. Summer brings the riches of wildflowers including several orchid species, betony, adder’s tongue fern and common knapweed. In early summer, the fields were
covered in cuckoo flowers, Cardamine pratensis, also known as lady’s smock, mayflower, or milkmaids; it’s a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. These were sticking up amongst the rushes, complementing the swathes of cowslips, but on dryer ground you might find some oxlips. The fields are full of butterflies in summer with typically lots of meadow browns and small blue species, but also several important species of butterfly, such as marsh and silver-washed fritillaries. Purple hairstreak, marbled white and small heath can also be seen. The reserve can be accessed by road, footpath or Common Lane track – there are two parking areas. Common Lane was once part of the Harrow Way, a Neolithic track running from Kent to Devon by way of Stonehenge. At the Halstock end is a Roman Villa, built on the site of an Iron Age farm. Rediscovered in the 19th century, the villa’s mosaic floor was uncovered by the Earl of Ilchester but was unfortunately destroyed by poor villagers looking for buried treasure. You can find out more by visiting the reserve website dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/bracketts-coppice sherbornetimes.co.uk | 57
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Science & Nature
FLIGHT OF FANCY? Peter Littlewood, Young People’s Trust for the Environment
W
ith the summertime nearly upon us, I’m sure many of you are now thinking about your holidays. I know I’ve been feeling more of a yearning to get away than usual, and I guess it’s a result of the lockdown and the limited options for going anywhere – let alone AWAY. It’s likely that the majority of us Brits will end up holidaying in the UK this summer, as there are still too many doubts over travel restrictions to risk booking a holiday overseas. A quick look at an online flight tracker today – as I write – has told me that there are plenty of planes flying across the globe again. But the aviation industry was hit very hard by the restrictions on international travel that have occurred as a result of Covid-19. At the peak of the international lockdowns (March, April and May 2020), the number of flights globally dropped by up to 75%, resulting in a 60% reduction in CO₂ emissions from aviation. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this 60 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
kind of change would make a big difference to humanmade greenhouse gas emissions, but the reality is that only around 2.5% of our emissions come from air travel. Don’t get me wrong – flying is a way to travel which is massively high in emissions, but the majority of people on our planet simply don’t fly at all. I last flew in 2003, partly for environmental reasons, partly because I simply don’t like flying. That puts me in the minority (in 2018, 52% of people living in the UK took at least one flight overseas). But the story is actually more complicated than this, because a small number of aviation addicts skew the figures. According to the Department for Transport, more than half of all international flights from the UK were taken by just 10% of fliers in 2018. Before Covid, it was so easy just to jump on a plane and fly (often very cheaply) to sunnier climes or interesting cities. Aviation emissions increased by 32%
Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock
in the five years between 2013 and 2018 alone. The trend for international travel was on a definite upward curve. Covid has definitely changed the shape of that curve – at least temporarily. Not flying at all is actually not that unusual on a global level. A study undertaken in 2018 showed that in that year, only 11% of the world’s population flew anywhere, while only 4% actually flew to destinations outside their own country. The same study found that just 1% of the world’s population produce around 50% of all emissions from aviation. These frequent fliers clocked up on average over 35,000 miles each of flying per year. So, as international travel restrictions lift, perhaps later this year, maybe in 2022, we need to think about how we want air travel to change. It’s clearly the most inequitable form of transport on the planet. Flying is very much a habit that wealthy people in
the world’s richest countries have formed. Do we need to make access to air travel fairer, or should we think about limiting it? Could everyone receive an air mileage budget at the start of each year to limit the total miles they fly in a year? Could the people who fly more often be taxed more the further they fly? Airlines are looking at carbon offsetting as a means of reducing impacts from air travel. The thinking behind this is that by paying for trees to be planted and by protecting forests in other parts of the world from destruction, you can negate the impacts of the emissions produced by a plane’s engines every time it flies anywhere. Whilst carbon offsetting does make some difference, and it’s great that forests are being protected under Redd+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries), the ‘carbon credits’ purchased by airlines don’t magically take away the emissions that flights cause. And environmentalists argue that the carbon credit schemes do nothing to actually make aviation engines more fuel-efficient, or to make airlines think about operating in more sustainable ways. Flying causes CO₂ emissions because fuel gets burned in a plane’s engines. Paying to plant some trees doesn’t stop those emissions. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are being developed using exciting technologies including recycling waste fats, and creating fuels made by capturing CO₂ from the air and combining it with hydrogen. SAF might help, but not (according to the Climate Change Committee) until well into the 2030s. Even by 2050, it’s expected that only 25% of aviation fuel will be sustainable. Hybrid and even all-electric jets may be available in the 2040s too, which is great, but what do we do in the meantime? As we’ve seen, this isn’t really everyone’s problem. The people who fly for a well-deserved holiday once (or maybe even twice) a year aren’t the issue here. It’s the 1% of the world’s population who are responsible for more than half the world’s aviation emissions who need to take action. How can we get them to kick the flying habit and realise the damage they’re doing? Has Covid created a permanent change in people’s views on air travel? Will business practices change, so that international meetings take place more often via video link, rather than in person? The airlines don’t think so, and they are predicting a return to business as usual by 2024. What do you think? ypte.org.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 61
Science & Nature
LEAVING BE
Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker Fotokostic/Shutterstock
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his time last year, I wrote for the Sherborne Times about us beginning to emerge back into the world after our enforced lockdown. We would never have guessed that a year later, I could write the same. After a year of bittersweet experiences, what have we learned? My message then – the same as now – was that bees teach us nature does best when left well alone. You may or may not have been following many of the doctors and health professionals around the world, professing the same. Perhaps by the time you are reading this, more of us have stopped awaiting a cavalry to rescue us from ourselves, and those that control us, and have become empowered to be our own cavalry, protecting the nature around and within us. As beekeepers, we are often tempted to intervene with nature, feeding a weakened colony 62 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
with sugar, only to find they die out anyway in a few months’ time. Although death grieves us at any time, we must remember that it is inevitable and a vital part of life. I listened to an interview with an eminent virologist, ‘We all wish for a long life and a quick death.’ How true, and by observing our own health and wellbeing, this can be true for so many of us, and should be a goal for us all. The bees certainly don’t entertain long and lingering illnesses. June guides us to midsummer, the height of fertility and expansion. Lime blossom on trees along with the first bramble blossoms providing many bees and pollinators the richest of harvests. June for humans usually sees festivals, and family gatherings, celebrating the longer evenings, warm sunny days, maybe even travels far and wide. This June was meant to be filled
with all the events postponed from 2020, yet again they are held off with the hope of a freer time in 2022. Today, early May, I learned that the past year together we managed to keep the annual death toll of humans to less than the 2005 figure of 1143.80 per 100,000 population – with 2020 being 1043.50. Was this due to our compliance of locking down, washing hands, wearing masks, socially distancing, and not hugging our parents or grandchildren? The numbers were out prior to the vaccine roll out, and can’t help but beg the question why in 1990, right through to 2010, were the same restrictions not imposed? The last 10 years saw figures around the 950 per 100,000 people, making 2020 look like an increase, yet not when compared with the numbers over the past 20 years – especially when we consider how much our population has increased. Something I do know: if you seal up a beehive and don’t allow the bees out, they very quickly die. Whereas last year swarms started early, this year they’re late – at least in the West country. Beekeepers and bees are on hold, tightly sprung coils waiting for the warmer weather to spread our wings, take flight and procreate. The delay has given me more time to prepare – despite the winter being long and plenty – to prepare hives and all my beekeeping equipment. Needless to say, I was kept busy running naturopathic beekeeping courses and so, as ever, I am praying for another week of cold weather to delay the inevitable. The saying goes ‘A swarm in May is worth a bale of hay; a swarm in June, a silver spoon.’ This saying in itself isn’t completely clear, a bale of hay could have had more value to a country farmer than a silver spoon. I have seen a greater number of mason and carder bees this spring, for which I am delighted. They have been able to brave the crisp mornings and fly in the stronger winds. The apple blossoms that survived the extremely dry April and early May storms should at least bring us a bountiful harvest. We often forget that a single mason bee can do the pollination work of 250 honeybees. Yet, these important solitary bees are often the first to be wiped out by indiscriminate chemical spraying on orchards, or the use of glyphosate in our gardens. Back in 2018, the University of Texas in Austin showed that glyphosate destroyed the gut microbiome in honeybees. Losing some of their beneficial good bacteria, the bees then became more susceptible to infection and death from harmful bacteria. I have wondered about the impact of this chemical for many years, routinely used before planting, and before new
crops appear to minimise ploughing. Cereals and popular bee food, oil seed rape, also have it ‘applied before harvest to help make harvesting easier, control weeds, reduce disease and the potential for natural contaminants to develop’ – NFUonline. I heard from a Dorset bee farmer that bee losses in France have been the greatest number in recent years in 2020, this is after a 10-year ban on neonicotinoids. Researchers in Canada also found that numbers of greatest bee losses by commercial beekeepers, coincided exactly with the locations of genetically-modified corn crops introduced due to the resilience to large doses of glyphosate. Many farming associations, and agrochemical companies insist that glyphosate is safe and, in fact, beneficial to us all – yet the science is also piling up showing us otherwise. Due to the molecular structure of this herbicide, glyphosate is made up of a linear carbon chain with weak carbon bonds, making it less persistent in the environment. Added salts help it degrade, however it has been found to not degrade so quickly in plants, hence its recommended use in animal feed (corn and soybean) and cotton, rather than food consumed by humans. We do, however, eat the meat, as well as wear the cotton. Bacteria in soil break down glyphosate, however genetically-modified plants do not metabolise glyphosate but rather have resistance based on a mutation in the EPSPS enzyme. This could therefore mean that an accumulation of glyphosate residue in GM plants is a potential issue to human health. The overwhelming lessons surely are for us to take responsibility for our own environment, both physically and emotionally. Perhaps the true cost of the Government’s approach, wholeheartedly supported by so many it seems, will not be seen until the lockdown babies, starved of stranger’s smiles and family cuddles, grow up with a sense of loss and detachment – maybe even distrust. Who knows the true cost of human connections? Bees teach us so clearly that only as a colony can they survive; a single bee is lost without its connection to the super organism. The colony can survive without a number of the individuals. I often ponder about the similarities, the bees’ harsh expulsion of sick and dying bees from the hive, yet their allembracing compassion and care for the brood within the hive, and willingness to work together when things need to be done. Work needs to be done now, and together we can certainly become a superhuman organisation! paulacarnell.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 63
On Foot
64 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
On Foot
ORCHID HUNT AT KINGCOMBE MEADOWS Emma Tabor and Paul Newman
Image: Debbie Billen
Distance: 1.5 miles Time: Approx ¾ hour Park: Plenty of parking at Kingcombe Meadows visitor centre. Open 9am-5pm. Walk Features: Beautiful views over the Hooke Valley, a riverside ramble and an abundance of wildlife, with plenty of information in the visitor centre on what to see. Please wear stout footwear - the reserve can be quite boggy in places. Dogs need to be kept under control in certain areas. Refreshments: Light refreshments available at Kingcombe Meadows visitor centre. The Fox Inn at Corscombe is also nearby. >
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 65
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 June, we take the longer of two marked trails around Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve and we invite you to explore with us, noting some of the wildlife supported by this rich and ancient patchwork of fields, unimproved meadow and woodland. The walk is also timed to coincide with the appearance of some of the reserve’s many varieties of orchid. Although it is a relatively short walk, it is best appreciated at a slow pace, allowing time to absorb the variety of wildlife as well as the special atmosphere of this secluded corner of Dorset. Directions
Start: SY 555 999 The walk starts at Kingcombe Meadows visitor centre. 1 From the car park at the visitor centre, go out onto the road and turn right. Cross a small bridge over the River Hooke to follow the lane towards the 66 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
left. After 300 yards, on a bend to the left, you will see a sign for Mary’s Well Lane and Lot’s Corner, along with a purple circular walk marker. Leave the road and head up the lane, which is quite stony and can also be wet underfoot. The lane is lined with some fine examples of hazel, oak and ash, forming a natural tunnel as you make your way uphill. You may see bees burrowing into the base of moss-clad trees here. 2 Just after 500 yards, look for a gate into a field on your left, marked ‘White Sands’. Go through this and then immediately left into Mitchels Ten Acres. Don’t be tempted to take the short cut across the field; keep to the route which follows the hedge on the right to go up a short, steep stretch into the corner of the field, with cowslips lining the way. This is a good spot to see bee orchids in early June. The views from the top here are well worth the short climb, looking back across to Toller Porcorum and part of May’s Walk. Watch for passing ravens and buzzards wheeling lazily and listen for skylarks and blackcaps in the fields and hedgerows.
Swallows skim across the fields here while swifts soar high above. 3 Turn left on the corner and, with the hedge still on your right, start to head diagonally across the field to a gate in the far hedge. Go through this into Long Mead and keep downhill through another gate into Lady’s Mead. The boggy area at the bottom of Long Mead is a good place to see southern marsh orchid from late May. Pass through another gate back onto the road you left earlier and cross this to enter Lord’s Mead. Look out for marbled white, meadow brown and ringlet butterflies. 4 Now head more towards your left to cross a particularly boggy stretch as you make your way down towards the River Hooke. Just before reaching the river go through a gate; the route then continues towards the left, skirting and then crossing through another boggy area with yellow flag iris. Head towards a bridge on your right. Upon reaching it, there are a few lovely alders as well as some decaying trunks riddled with holes, and hopefully a glimpse of a great spotted or green
woodpecker. The river gently meanders in places and, if you are very lucky, you may catch sight of a dipper here too. 5 After crossing the bridge and walkway, emerge into a field - you have the option of turning right to extend your walk by joining the shorter route around the common ground to the south of the river. Along this route, there is the chance to see green winged orchids and lousewort. Alternatively, turn left and head back towards the visitor centre through a couple of small enclosures. Also at Kingcombe: The site is nationally important for waxcap fungi and is home to great crested newts and dormice. Kingcombe Centre runs various events and courses throughout the year and there is also accommodation including bed and breakfast. kingcombe.org dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 67
CHARTERHOUSE Auctioneers & Valuers
Forthcoming Auction Programme
Coins, Medals, Militaria & Stamps Thursday 10th June
Clocks, Collector’s Items & Antiques Friday 11th June
Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Wednesday 30th June
Classic & Vintage Cars Thursday 15th July
1975 Ducati 750 Sport £28,000-32,000
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
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History
SECRETS OF THE BATCOMBE HILLS Cindy Chant & John Drabik
T
he ancient road above Batcombe Down, connecting the A35 near Minterne Magna and the A37 at Holywell, is steeped in both history and mystery, with evidence of ancient settlements, burial grounds, pilgrim routes and some miraculous and eerie stories. Years ago a local told us of a huge old oak tree, sited on the sharp corner at the top of Telegraph Hill. It was here that a highwayman took his last breath, before being hanged from one of the boughs. For many years the stump of the tree remained visible, but now is no longer. There remains only a spine-chilling feeling, and a spooky atmosphere which can be sensed by some. Further along the road we cross ancient tracks, welltrodden by pilgrims travelling from Abbey to Abbey. Coming from Glastonbury and, after admiring MizMaze in Leigh, they made their way over the Batcombe hills and along the ancient track, known as Furzey Down. Their destination - the magnificent Benedictine Abbey at Cerne Abbas. Close to this pilgrim route is the site of an ancient round barrow burial mound, ploughed over long ago, 70 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
and nearby can be seen the lonely stone pillar known as the ‘Cross in Hand’. Despite its modest size, this marker stone stands proudly overlooking a spectacular view of the Blackmore Vale. There are several folklore tales associated with this mysterious stone, some of miracles and some of murder. Four kings were said to have crossed hands on this stone, swearing never to do battle with each other again. Travellers left alms for the poor here and grateful children would amble up from the villages, to help themselves. It was even used as a ‘Moot’ stone where witches would meet. Some present day visitors often indulge in a ‘wish’ and, with a simple ritual, leave offerings on this mystic stone. It is mentioned in Hardy’s famous novel, Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Alec d’Urberville made Tess swear, with her hand on this stone, that she would never tempt him again. Later she asks a local shepherd the significance of the old stone: ‘Tis a thing of ill-omen, Miss. It was put up in wuld times by the relations of a malefactor who was tortured there by nailing his hand to a post and afterwards hung.
The bones lie underneath. They say he sold his soul to the devil, and that he walks at times.’ Our favourite story stems from the middle-ages. One dark and stormy winter’s night, the local priest was called out to administer the last rites to a man close to death. Taking his ‘Pyx’, containing the Blessed Sacrament, and his prayer book, the priest bracingly sets off through the storm, along the Ridgeway to the sick man’s house. To his shameful dismay, on arriving he realised he had dropped the sacred Pyx somewhere on route. Faced with the hopeless task of finding it, his duty compelled him to venture into the wet, lashing winds and once more onto the wild desolate ridge. In the darkness he spotted a beam of fiery light shining down from the heavens onto the lost Pyx, with an assortment of bedraggled cattle and forest animals kneeling in a circle around it. The stone shaft is all that remains of the cross which was erected here to mark this unusual miracle. A short distance away, we come to the turning leading steeply down to Batcombe Village. A 17th century Squire, known as ‘Conjuring Minterne’, would
often ride his horse this way. On one occasion, no sooner had he turned this corner, he realised he had left his book of Black Arts and Magic Spells open. Fearing servants might discover his dark secrets, he spurred his steed to gallop and, with the help of the devil, took a flying leap and soared over the church, to hastily return to his abode. With its mighty jump the horse clipped one of the four church pinnacles, which came tumbling to the ground. There it lay for several years, the locals fearing bad luck would befall the village should they reinstate it. They say marks created by the horse’s landing can still be seen - grass refusing to grow on this accursed spot. The pinnacle was eventually replaced, but for some reason the masons were unable to erect it properly and so, to this day, it remains slightly crooked. As for John Minterne, he requested that, on his death, he be buried ‘neither fully inside nor outside the church’. These arrangements were honoured, with a semi-tomb for his outside half, but after part of the church was demolished, he lies fully outside, and his tomb can now be seen in the churchyard. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 71
History
LOST DORSET
NO. 12 TRENT
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David Burnett, The Dovecote Press
he post office and village shop in about 1900, only a few years after Trent’s transfer from Somerset to Dorset in March 1896. Other neighbouring parishes to change their traditional allegiance at the same time were Goathill, Poynington and Sandford Orcas. Fifty years earlier, Holwell – until then an isolated Somerset pocket encircled by Dorset – was also handed over as part of a general tidying-up of parishes detached from their county. The principal reason for the 1896 boundary change was that all four parishes sent their poor to a Dorset workhouse, the Sherborne Union in Horsecastles, which was demolished in 1939. After the war, the retirement housing of Durrant Close was built on the site. Trent’s postmistress was Ann Smith, whose day began at 7.30 with the arrival of a pony and trap bringing the post from Sherborne. Postal orders and telegrams were dealt with at Nether Compton, reached by a footpath over the fields. The post office/shop later moved to another cottage, but both are now private houses. dovecotepress.com Lost Dorset: The Villages and Countryside 1880-1920, by David Burnett, is a large format paperback, £12, and is available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers.
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FREE HOME VISITS Specialist Matthew Denney will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 24th June to value your objects & antiques
John McGhie (1867-1952) Sailing the Toy Boat
Estimate: £4,000-£6,000 to be sold 23rd July 2021
Welcoming Consignments for our Summer Fine Art Sales 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd July 2021 FREE VALUATIONS ALSO AVAILABLE Online | Phone | Email | WhatsApp To make an appointment call or email 01460 73041 matthew.denney@lawrences.co.uk Professional Valuations Available for Probate & Insurance Complete House Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged
lawrences.co.uk
History OBJECT OF THE MONTH
THE LUSITANIA MEDALLION Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum
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his object is a British replica copy of the German Lusitania medallion, 55 mm in diameter and 4 mm thick; it has a complex and interesting background. On Friday 7th May, 1915, in fine weather off the Irish coast, the Cunard ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed without warning by a German U20. It sank within 20 minutes and, of the nearly 2000 passengers on board, 1201 men, women and children drowned including 128 American citizens. To mark the event, a German medal-maker, Karl Goetz, struck what he intended to be a satirical medallion. On the obverse, the stricken liner sinks with its stern submerged to the left while its bow, laden with armaments, rises clear of the water. The bow is depicted as ram-shaped, a reference to the configuration of warships of the period and a reminder that the British Admiralty had ordered merchant vessels to ram German submarines. Above the ship, the text reads KEINE BANNWARE (No Contraband); below it the text is embossed: DER GROSS–DAMPFER LUSITANIA DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT 5.MAI 1915 (the liner Lusitania sunk by a German submarine 5th May 1915). On the reverse, a skeleton (Death) is behind the ticket office counter of the Cunard Line in New York issuing tickets to the crush of passengers. Above the window is CUNA LINIE vertically and below the counter FAHR KARTEN AUSGABE (Ticket Office). At the extreme left, a man reads a newspaper headlined U BOOT GEFAUR (U Boat Danger); standing next to him is a top hatted figure, the German ambassador to the USA, Count Johann-Heinrich von Bernstorff raising a warning finger. This refers to the German-sponsored announcement in the New York papers reminding passengers that Germany was at war with Britain and her allies, and this included waters immediately around the British Isles. Above the scene,
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the text reads GESCHAFT UBER ALLES (Business Above All). The designer’s initials are at the base: KG. Goetz regarded the event as stemming directly from the bewildering irresponsibility of the British Government and the Cunard Steamship Co. in allowing the return of the liner from New York to Liverpool at a time of intense U-boat activity. Furthermore, the vessel had an ambiguous status, being registered as an armed auxiliary cruiser and was carrying rifle cartridges and shrapnel shell cases. The medallion was intended as a satire, mocking the Allies’ perceived obsession with Business. However, Goetz made an error regarding the date of the sinking and British Intelligence exploited the incorrect date to give a new lease of life to the impact of its actual sinking, obscuring the original intention by claiming it was nothing but a perverse celebration of an act of atrocity and was clearly premeditated – i.e., the ship’s fate was sealed before leaving the harbour. 300,000 British copies were made on the instructions of Captain Reginald Hall RN, Director of Naval Intelligence presented attractively with accompanying anti-German propaganda. This deflected attention from other contentious issues involving the British, such as the brutal quashing of The Easter Rising in Dublin, which had partially alienated the other Allies. The replicas were sold at 1s each and proceeds were given to the Red Cross and St. Dunstan’s Blinded Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Hostels. In January 1917, the Bavarian War Office ordered the manufacture of the original to be forbidden. Sherborne Museum remains closed at this time; however, essential building maintenance is taking place to allow for opening later in the summer. Thanks go to our volunteers and members for their support. sherbornemuseum.co.uk
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Antiques
MAKES YOU SMILE Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers
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miling is important to us all. We smile when we are happy and that is good for all of us. Wearing face masks for over a year now has hidden many of our smiles and other facial expressions. I suspect the face mask will be with many of us for some time yet but that will not stop us smiling. Walking around the salerooms there are often lots which make me smile. They can be little or large and made of any material under the sun. The most valuable lot I have handled at Charterhouse was the chipped Italian pottery plate we sold for £565,000, although I did not manage to crack a smile until it was paid for and collected! However, every so often I come across something which puts a smile on my face and on those around me. A long-term client contacted me for a home visit near Taunton. A keen car collector and enthusiast, he had recently not been too well. With his car collection and the ability to just drive one car at a time, he made the tough decision to start thinning out his collection and asked me to look at a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite. The Austin Healey Sprite is more affectionately known by most people as the Frogeye Sprite. This baby Austin Healey was first unveiled to the world’s motoring press in 1958. With its wide mouth grill and pop-out eye headlights, it was a difficult car not to like and smile at. Made for just 3 years, the Frogeye (known in America as the Bugeye) Sprite was fundamentally the same as the MG Midget but offered a unique character that was simply charming – not to mention a whole lot more distinctive. Fitted with a 948cc A series engine, it was no speed machine producing just 43bhp and was generally accepted to be underpowered – even when new. The Frogeye I was asked to look at was bought as a present for the owner’s wife in 1980 (needless to say, 76 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
I have also bought Mrs B presents I have wanted to own over the years too!) In 1981, the car was completely restored by the owner for his wife. At the time, the engine was changed for a 1275cc motor and gearbox giving this Sprite a spritelier performance. Moving forward 40 years, and the car still presents
very well today – testament to his restoration skills and painting abilities. Sadly, his wife passed away a few years ago and with his health not being what it was, he has now decided to enter this charming little sports car into our classic and vintage car auction being held over at the Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford on Thursday 15th July.
Estimated at £12,000-14,000, Mrs B will no doubt heave a big sigh of relief as this will not be on my shopping list of presents for her, but one thing is guaranteed, the car will put a smile on people’s faces – even under their masks. charterhouse-auction.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 77
elizabethwatsonillustration.com 78 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Savour the summer As summer brings a wave of colour and interest to our gardens, it’s time to make the most of your outdoor space.
Summer bedding plants, such as Begonias, Sweet Peas and Petunias, can add scent and colour to your flower beds and borders, while pots and hanging baskets can bring the best of the season to your patio or decking area. With our social distancing measures in place, you can pick up your seeds, plants and pots any day of the week: Monday to Saturday: 9am – 6pm Sunday: 10am – 4:30pm For those still stuck at home, you can place your orders by telephone or via our brand-new Online Store and we’ll deliver free within 25 miles.
Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR www.thegardensgroup.co.uk
thegardensgroup
01935 814633 store.thegardensgroup.co.uk
Co.ofLandscapers GARDEN DESIGN STUDIO
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Gardening
ANNUAL CLIMBERS Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group
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worked with a primary school a few years ago to plant some climbers that would brighten up the school buildings. To make this educational and good fun, we created a bit of competition to see which would be the fastest growing climber. Finalists in this gardening Olympics included a honeysuckle, a Russian vine, sweet peas and golden hop. The winner, by a margin that in normal athletics rules would have triggered a drugs test, was the golden hop. I’ve measured the growth on the hop in our own garden and some days the growth is in excess of 15cm per day! We are just starting a competition with this specimen by growing a whole range of annual climbers alongside it on the trellis. In lane one is the well-known sweet pea. Individual colours are available, but longer flowering is often achieved with mixed colours such as the Spencer varieties – these are long stemmed and good for cutting with great perfume. They will do best in the ground but also can be effectively grown in a deep pot with quality multi compost. Plenty of water is the key and regular picking will keep the flowers coming. Alongside the sweet pea will be the Cup and Saucer vine. Cobaea scandens has large white or purple flowers which, if laid on their side, look like a cup and saucer as the name suggests. I also like their foliage, which is lobed and has intrepid tendrils that cling onto anything to hand. These will attain a height of 8 feet plus in a short time. More delicate, and so an outsider in the betting, is the Asarina with flowers that are reminiscent of Antirrhinums, hence the common name of climbing snapdragon. These climb with their growing tip winding around the climbing frame. There are a number of colours available, but the most effective are Snow White and Mystic Rose. A strong favourite is the Morning Glory, which are
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wonderful plants although some hardened gardeners will realise that they are closely related to bindweed! Others will know that the root of some varieties is edible, and part of the genus includes the sweet potato. Those most useful in our theme though are a wellknown variety called Heavenly Blue with its sky-blue colouring. Another is called grandpa ott, producing dramatic dark purple flowers with a violet centre. They will both take off at some speed and the number of flowers will be impressive. Others in the running include Thunbergia, commonly known as Black Eyed Susan. The standard variety is yellow with a black centre to the flower and there is also a variety called African Sunset with a dusty apricot hue. Both are very happy in a good soil or also in pots with plenty of depth. The climbing Nasturtium or Canary Creeper is also good fun, again with yellow flowers and a remarkable growth rate on interesting foliage. Not really climbers, (and so guests in this race, but great plants especially if you just want to be one step ahead of your gardening neighbours) are the climbing fuchsias and climbing geranium. Really, they have a habit that makes them grow much taller than their normal relatives, but they are a bit of fun. The fuchsia is a variety called Lady Boothby with purple and red flowers on pleasing foliage. The geranium include varieties Antik Violet and Antik Scarlet. These, as with the fuchsia, aren’t really climbers and so need a bit of support for them to be effective. So, there are lots of really useful quick-growing plants to choose from, that will fill space in a very short time and which every garden will have space for. And the great thing is that even if you don’t like what you have planted, it only lasts for one year! thegardensgroup.co.uk
Elena Medoks/Shutterstock
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Now you can enjoy your garden all year long with our vast range of awnings, sun rooms, pergolas, wooden constructions and decking. Completely bespoke and fully customisable for every home or business. Our outdoor rooms can be free-standing or attached to your property. Call us on 01935 324377 or email us on info@sunroomsuk.com today for a free no-obligation quotation. If you would like to see more of our work, visit our website at www.sunroomsuk.com.
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Mobile - 07762 798473 Home - 01963 23692
Yenstone Walling Ltd Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping All types of stone walling undertaken Patrick Houchen DSWA member CIS registered
82 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
01963 371123 / 07791 588141 yenstonewalling@btinternet.com www.yenstonewalling.co.uk
WINDOWS
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For more information visit our website or come down to the showroom.
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DORSET DIPS Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies
W
e are lucky; the weather in Weymouth is on our side and it is one of those mornings when everything is still. Even the sea can only barely muster a rhythmical tickle of tiny waves on the shoreline. Tess Kelly has arrived early – the pink pirate flag of her swimming group Dorset Dips is flying high, serving as a beacon to the swimmers who gather here at Overcombe beach for their monthly plunge. As we perch on pebbles waiting for the first arrivals, Tess tells me how her love of the sea started. ‘It began in Sidmouth, we used to have our family holidays there, but I have always been drawn to water, and the sea, for as long as I can remember, especially during emotional periods of my life. I like the way the sea can be stormy and wild one day and then calm the next. It reminds me that however intense things get they are temporary.’ >
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As a teenager, Tess struggled with her confidence and developed an eating disorder. ‘It crushed my selfesteem,’ she says of the time, ‘and as a result I hid myself away and it robbed me of my chance to swim.’ Her son was then born fifteen years ago, when she was 17 and the sense of isolation increased, ‘with so many things out of my control I began to suffer from anxiety and worry about providing the best life for him. Thankfully, with the support around me, I looked for tools to overcome this and after finding the benefits of exercise combined with my love for the outdoors, I finally found my path back to the sea.’ Tess is a personal trainer and swim coach at Sherborne School and Sports Centre but last summer, in the midst of lockdown, she noticed the familiar creeping arrival of anxiety. It was around this time that she began to host a local sea-swimming community in Weymouth. She named it Dorset Dips and co-ordinated it under the flagship of the Mental Health Swims Association, which hosts cold-water swimming groups across the UK. It’s run by a community of volunteers who organise swims in safe, friendly and importantly, non-judgemental environments. Tess, who is also a qualified open-water swim coach, was a shoo-in as Dorset’s host. It doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself a toe-dipper, bobber, or swimmer, Dorset Dips provides a convivial space where anyone can enjoy the benefits of the sea. ‘When I organised the first meet last summer, I was so worried that no one would turn up,’ says Tess. ‘I remember nervously putting the flag up and being scared to turn around on the beach in case no one came. And then there they were! We bobbed about and chatted in the sea and ate cake afterwards and I felt overwhelmed with emotion. People had needed the group.’ There are many well-being benefits of swimming in cold water and much has been written about it, you certainly can’t help coming out buzzing. ‘The second you immerse yourself in the water you have no choice but to focus on everything in that moment,’ says Tess of her experience. Because it is cold our brain is focussed on keeping warm. ‘It is the ultimate act of mindfulness,’ agrees Tess. ‘It’s like hitting the reset button, clearing away any worries or repetitive thoughts to give you clarity and perspective. Then it hits you like glitter through your veins; the endorphins kicks in.’ Back on the beach, the members of the group have arrived, armed with warm clothes to change into afterwards and an assortment of swimming gear from
expensive wet suits to the old-swimming-costumefound-at-the-back-of-the-cupboard. Anything goes here, as the group’s mantra says, it’s ‘Dips Not Distance’. One regular, Hannah, has nipped down from Cattistock; she has been living alone during lockdown ‘I found it really hard at times,’ Hannah admits, ‘this is an opportunity to see a friendly face – albeit socially distanced in the sea.’ Then Kerry arrives – she’s just off the train from Frome. A stay-at-home mum with a son at nursery today, she tells me it’s her ‘chance for a bit of me time.’ Tess’s sister Becky arrives, just off the nightshift as a trainee midwife – she’ll have a quick dip before going home to sleep. The throng is still arriving and as they clamber into their swimming gear, Tess keeps an eye out for Jean who uses a mobility scooter and will need help with her walking frame to navigate the pebbles. This will be Jean’s first time with the group and because there’s no proper access to the sea for people with physical disabilities, she will need assisting into the water. We spot Jean on the promenade and Tess goes to help while the others head for the shoreline. By now, the tide is out, and the sea is like a millpond, glistening in the sun. The group immerse themselves bravely into the cold with delighted shrieks. Loudest of all is Jean - she has made it to the water, finally liberated from the trappings of life on land. And that’s the powerful thing: release. Release from our alwayson society, our phones, work and family pressures, the demands we put on ourselves, the expectations of others real or imagined, the sea takes your weight and washes these worries away. I stand jealously on the shoreline, kicking myself for forgetting my costume. Personally, I swim for the comfort and monotony of the repetitive stroke, the thrill of the cold and taste of salt. It’s a ritual I can’t do without but more than anything, I take assurance in the knowledge that the sea will always be there. Jean is a retired Methodist Minister and a PADI dive master with 25 years under her belt. Osteoarthritis however hinders her mobility and she hasn’t been in the sea for years. For her, today is revolutionary and her smile says it all. Jean emerges from the sea – Tess and a fellow member at her side – sporting a beaming grin. ‘I absolutely loved it,’ she says. ‘I’ve not been in for years and I can feel the tremendous high you get from the raised serotonin levels. I need the water to support my body and I was worried about coming here today but swimming with a group is so reassuring. They’re so supportive and helped me to the water’s edge – it’s so nice to be back in the water.’ > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 87
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Kerry is out and quickly changed into warmer clothes. She stands clutching a hot drink and tucks into a chunk of the delicious cake which Tess had handed round. Kerry tells me she also suffers from anxiety and is equally passionate about the Dorset Dip experience. ‘Swimming here gives me headspace,’ she says. ‘I joined towards the end of last year and loved it. There are no inhibitions. There is an inclusiveness in the group, it’s like a family. It’s definitely not about having a bikini bod. Literally everything melts away when you are in the water – you feel nothing matters. It’s like getting a massive dose of Vit D and a healthy glow for free. It makes me feel I can tackle my fears.’ Tess agrees: ‘Overcoming fears to plunge into cold water and adventuring off to find wild swim spots has taught me what my body can do and how to appreciate all it does for me,’ she says. ‘I sometimes wish I could have used it as a tool when my younger self was struggling, but I believe we become stronger from our struggles and can use the experience to help others. The more the cold water empowered me the more important I knew it was to share my experiences in case it helps anyone else.’ Standing on the beach, sharing a collective sense of exhilaration, we could enthuse about the sea for hours, but alas, the working day beckons. So, clad in woolly hats and jumpers, we bid farewell and go our separate ways. If there is one thing I take away from this morning’s experience it will be Tess’s words: ‘Swimming reminds me of the thrill of being alive and to not take yourself too seriously.’A reminder that I imagine would do us all the world of good.
@dorsetdips mentalhealthswims.co.uk Tess is keen to chat with any readers interested in taking up open water swimming for well-being and can be contacted via Instagram or the Mental Health Swims Weymouth Facebook group. She will also be running open water swim sessions with Dorset Mind over the summer months.
Tess’s tips: • Always remember that the sea can be wild and unpredictable, much like us! It is important to respect this and be safe at all times, especially when beginning wild swimming. • Don’t swim alone or at the very least, let someone know where you are and when you’ll be back. • Be prepared. Check weather, tides, entry and exit points and have warm, dry clothes that are easy to put on afterwards. • Wear a bright hat, so you can be seen at all times. • Acclimatise and be prepared to float on your back if experiencing cold water shock. • Know your limits.
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elizabethwatsonillustration.com
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Food and Drink
THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones
YORKSHIRE CURD TART
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y husband’s two grandmas both made curd tarts and my children loved them, so I had to learn to make them. It isn’t easy to find curds and so I added this to my list of things to learn – I found it was really easy and the left over whey that is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals can be put to good use in so many recipes. I've given a few suggestions on page 96. Serves 4-6 Preparation time
2 hours if making the curds and whey yourself or 1 hour otherwise. What you will need
If you are making the curd cheese (ricotta) - sugar thermometer, sieve and a muslin for separating the curds from the whey. For the tart - a 7in loose-bottom flan/quiche tin Short crust pastry (or you can use bought pastry) 94 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
250g plain flour 125g unsalted butter, cubed 1/4 tsp fine sea salt 25g caster sugar 1 medium egg, lightly beaten 40-50ml chilled water Homemade curds and whey
4 cups whole milk 2 tbsp lemon juice Filling
228g cottage cheese or curd, if available 60g caster sugar 60g currants 1 medium egg, lightly beaten 45g margarine melted 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
To make the curds and whey
1 Add the milk to a pan and steadily bring to 90°C – be careful not to go higher than this. 2 Remove from the heat, allow to cool to 40°C, and whisk in the lemon juice. You should see the milk separating out into loose pieces of curd. 3 Cover the pan with a cloth and leave for at least an hour. 4 Place a colander over a bowl and line with a piece of muslin. Pour the pan of curds and whey into the colander and allow the whey to run through, leaving behind the curds, then cover with a cloth and leave until all the whey has dripped through completely. Twist the muslin to squeeze out any excess whey and place both the whey and curds in the fridge whilst you make the pastry. To make the pastry
1 Place the flour and salt in a large bowl, add the cubed butter and lightly rub in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs and stir in the caster sugar 2 Make a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in the egg, plus 40ml water sufficient to bind the pastry into a firm dough – add a little more water, if needed. Gently knead the pastry and form into a round. Then, flatten slightly, wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes. 3 Grease the flan tin. 4 Remove the pastry from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature for about 5 minutes. 5 Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the pastry to form a large circle to fit the flan case – the thickness of a pound coin. Fold the circle of pastry in half and then quarters. Place the folded pastry into the flan tin and open out carefully, then press gently into the tin. With a rolling pin, roll across the top of the flan tin to cut off the surplus pastry. Fork mark the base evenly as this will help it to remain flat. Place in the fridge to chill for 15-20 minutes. To make the filling
1 Set the oven for 220°C, 180°C fan, 425F, gas mark 7 2 Place the margarine into a microwavable bowl, cover with a plate, then microwave on medium for 1 minute until melted. 3 Mix in all the other ingredients until well combined. 4 Pour the filling into the pastry flan case and spread evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes until slightly golden
– the curd should be only just set. If baked too much, the curds will become hard. 5 Place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before removing from the quiche tin. If not serving immediately, place in the fridge. Eat within 3 days.
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MORE WHEYS THAN ONE…
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any years ago when I first started to make my own curds for tarts I would throw the whey away. I now realise I was throwing away a very versatile and healthy product. I began to research the uses of whey at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 as I was making my own light cheese and yoghurt. What I found out was amazing and has made me think of whey not as a byproduct but a valuable ingredient with many culinary uses and I haven’t even begun to look up other uses. Whey is low in calories, packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and active bacteria. When you consider milk is the natural building block of every mammal, it has to be full of nutrients. Here are some of the things that I have found and will include in my baking and making. I put the whey in a glass bottle and keep it in the fridge for up to 10 days and use it as I need it. > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 95
Creme Fraiche This is so easy to make and produces a very tangy, extravagantly rich, soured cream. It has many uses in the kitchen - added to fresh fruit and stirred into soups or sauces, adding a little acidity and thickness. This recipe makes just over half a pint. Ingredients
1 pint of double cream 3 tablespoons of whey - add a little more if you want a thicker cream but it will take longer to thicken
leaving behind the curds. Cover with a cloth and leave until all the whey has dripped through completely. Twist the muslin to squeeze out as much whey as possible, place in a bowl and add a pinch of salt for a simple ricotta or add a teaspoon of fresh herbs. 5 Dampen a piece of muslin and line the cheese mould, spoon in the cheese and press down, fold over the muslin and place on a plate before leaving in the fridge until needed. This is a fresh, light cheese for spreading or cooking.
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Method
1 Combine the whey and double cream in a nonreactive container - plastic or glass bowl, ceramic bowl or mason type jar. 2 Cover and allow to rest at room temperature until thickened to desired texture, about 12 hours, more if you have added extra whey. This time can vary depending on the room temperature so be patient and keep going. It could take up to 24 hours but it will be worth it. 3 When your creme fraiche is the thickness you require, store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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Ricotta You might like to buy the small, ceramic cheese moulds that have holes in the bottom to allow any excess whey to drip through. You will need small squares of muslin. Ingredients
4 cups of whole milk 2 tablespoons of lemon juice A pinch of salt A teaspoon of finely chopped garden herbs, thyme etc Method
1 Place the milk in a pan and bring steadily to 90°C – be careful not to go higher than this. 2 Remove from the heat, allow to cool to 40°C and whisk in the lemon juice. You should see the milk separating out into loose pieces of curd. 3 Cover the pan with a cloth and leave for at least an hour. 4 Place a colander over a bowl and line with a piece of muslin, pour the pan of curds and whey into the colander and allow the whey to run through 96 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Sourdough Starter You will need a non-reactive bowl, box or mason jar. I have decided to keep my starter in a Pyrex bowl with a lid. Also use a wooden or silicon spoon for stirring. Don’t be afraid to do this as in 2020, when we couldn’t buy yeast due to shortages, this was an excellent way of continuing to make bread. It’s fun and interesting to do and you should give your starter a name - I made two and called them Tom and Jerry. You will need a sugar thermometer or a probe thermometer. Ingredients
250ml skimmed milk 3 tablespoons of yoghurt whey 125g bread flour (half rye, half white) - you will need 50g of flour each alternate day to maintain the starter. Method
1 Heat the milk to 100F. 2 A dd 3 tablespoons of whey and stir, cover with a clean cloth and set in a warm place for 24 hours 3 After 24 hours the mixture should look like yoghurt. 4 Add the flour and stir well, cover and set aside for 3-5 days, stir the mixture every day - you will see bubbles appearing daily. From day 5, on alternate days add 50g of flour and stir in well. Do this 4 times and the starter should smell mild and natural but not disgusting. If it smells of vinegar then it needs feeding with more flour, and a teaspoon of honey. 5 To maintain the starter take out half of it and use it to make a loaf, add a cup of skimmed milk and 50g of flour and let your starter grow again. bakerval.com
01258 920022 | GREENMANKINGSSTAG.CO.UK KINGS STAG, STURMINSTER NEWTON DT10 2AY
Food and Drink
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE VELOUTÉ
WITH TOASTED ALMONDS AND PARSLEY OIL Sasha Matkevich, The Green
T
his soup has been one of our most popular takeaway starters in recent times, so we will be continuing to serve it as an amuse-bouche.
Ingredients
400g Jerusalem artichokes 3 cloves of garlic, sliced 1 large onion, sliced 1.5 ltr vegetable stock 100ml olive oil 1 small bunch of parsley 50g flaked almonds 98 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
10g unsalted butter 100ml almond milk salt pepper Method
1 To start, peel the Jerusalem artichokes, cut them in half and add them to some lemon water to stop them from oxidising. 2 In a large, heavy-based pot on a medium heat, add the onions and butter and sweat until the onions are translucent and soft. Add the garlic and cook for a
iMarzi/Shutterstock
further 3 minutes. 3 Add the vegetable stock to the pot and bring to the boil. Once boiling, add the Jerusalem artichokes, reduce to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes or until the artichokes are soft. 4 While the artichokes are cooking, bring a separate pan of salted water to the boil and blanch the parsley for one minute, then transfer to some iced water to stop the cooking process. Add the oil and parsley to a blender and blitz until smooth, then strain through a muslin cloth and keep refrigerated. 5 Once the artichokes are cooked, add the almond
milk and bring back to the boil. Ladle the artichokes into the blender with your stock and blitz until smooth. Pass through a chinois or fine sieve and season with salt and pepper to taste. 6 Just before serving, add the flaked almonds to a dry pan on a high heat and toast until golden brown. Divide the soup equally into serving bowls and decorate with the toasted almonds and parsley oil. Enjoy! greenrestaurant.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 99
Food and Drink
A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM
A
James Hull, The Story Pig
s the dark clouds got darker and the rain poured off our gazebo, we moved our tables in further underneath. We were at the May Sherborne Market. We set up early with all the other traders – it was not a day of excitement and trepidation but more a day of what will be will be. This month, the weather was against us but, incredibly, still people turned out, dressed in winter coats and wellies; our customers braved the rains to come and support what has quickly become a regular part of Sherborne life. We seem to break weather records every month lately. Firstly, it was an April with not a drop of rain, cold winds that blew daily and whipped the dust up, then flung it across everything in its path. Our drive was dusty like an outback sheep station, rain was needed, talk of a drought was in farming circles…. Be careful what we wish for, May came and it rained, gently at first, needed, we were grateful, but as is so often the case, it wouldn’t stop, it got heavier, more frequent, until this weekend when it really rained, our stream that only runs in the winter is flowing fast again. Our garden is flooded, not even in the depths of winter was it this wet in there. General farm life has become consumed by our new shop and cafe. We are nearly there, opening on 28th May. We have done nearly all of it ourselves - we are tired, running on empty, but fingers crossed all the hard work will be worth it. Still the list of jobs seems to get longer, not the big jobs, the fiddly jobs, finishing off this and that, remembering to order all the small things that we haven’t thought of. We are going to need help with the shop and cafe – we are looking for enthusiastic staff to join us. If you are that person or know someone else who is keen, happy, hard-working and would like to work in a farm cafe this summer, please get in touch. 100 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
All the normal pig jobs carry on as normal too, feeding twice a day, every day, moving, weaning, fencing. Luckily it is a good time of year for outdoor pig farming, or it was until the monsoon hit! We have farrowed 8 sows this week, with litter sizes varying from 12 down to 6. 12 is good, 6 is not! One mother farrowed before I realised she was due, she was still in a paddock with 7 other sows, all sharing one pig ark. When I realised she had farrowed I went with trepidation to see what the outcome was of a sow farrowing in amongst 7 others. I needn’t have worried - 8 lively, tiny piglets were curled up in the middle of the ark, having somehow managed to avoid being squashed by anyone. It’s a miracle really – the size of a newborn piglet is about the size of 3 bananas (just checked the bananas) and an adult sow weighs about 130 kg x 7 (that’s a lot of bananas). We are in the process of moving them all together into a new paddock with lots of grass. T hey will love it in there,
what a mob, 70 piglets that will join together to form a mass of trouble! Down at the farm we have Martha - she is our oldest sow and has just had seven piglets, she is in our viewing paddock for all our visitors to see. She is slow and kind, likes to be scratched behind the ears and generally has a nice disposition. Martha is acting as Tamworth breed ambassador for us. Our six sheep have all lambed and we have 7 lambs. They have grown at an incredible rate and already have horns that are a couple of inches long in a matter of a few weeks. Charlotte has perfected a technique of feeding the mothers and stopping Handsome, the ram, from butting them all away and eating all their food which they need and he certainly doesn’t. For all of us who can remember Crocodile Dundee and Mick using his special powers to bring a water buffalo to its knees, well she’s perfecting this move on Handsome. He does not like her pointing at him and keeps well back.
Our garden has suffered somewhat this spring, too dry and cold to plant much, not enough spare time on my part and now too wet to do anything. It’s not been the best start to the gardening year. Our lavenders though are doing well, on their slope with great drainage - they are growing strongly and full of promise for the summer. So, as farmers have to do, we are looking on the bright side. Hopefully we are getting all the rain out the way before we open and we will have a glorious summer… We can dream! One final date for your diary, 27th June, is Open Farm Sunday. We will be open for this event at our farm - we will have trailer rides to see the pigs in their fields, live music, a cider bar, our hog roast and lots more. Please come along and see where your food comes from and how we farm. 10am-4pm. It will be a great day. thestorypig.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 101
Food and Drink
StevanZZ/Shutterstock
ALTO ADIGE
W
David Copp
hen I think of Italy as a wine-producing country, I think mostly of the great red wines of Barolo, Chianti, Bolgheri and Montalcino. At Vinitaly, as the Verona International Wine Fair is now known, I was with a group of judges tasting red wines. It was a real treat, after the Wine Fair, to be invited to the Alto Adige for the first time. We set off from Verona on the motorway which runs alongside the Adige river all the way up the narrow, steep-sided valley to Bolzano. We stopped at Trento 102 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
to see the historical palace in which the great Church Council took place in 1545, and at Termeno, the village that gave its name to the Traminer grape. For a long time, Alto Adige was not considered a top-quality wine producing region – apple farming was a bigger business in the valleys. Grape growers produced simple wines for domestic consumption. Vineyard plots were small, averaging about a hectare. However, some of the leading winemakers began to think about what they might do to make the most of
their vineyards. Their most fundamental decision was to select the most promising red and white varieties for their terroir, increase the density of planting, and restrict the amount of fruit grown on each vine. The net result was the production of finer wines, which they were able to sell for a higher price. Alto Adige has one great advantage over other white wine-producing regions; it has the greatest diurnal temperature difference. Its south-facing vineyards are drenched in sun during the day, which encourages grape ripeness, while cooler mountain air at night aids the retention of acidity – vital to the flavour intensity of the grapes. The small size of the average vineyard turned out to be another advantage: it led to a co-operative approach to winemaking and, more importantly, to vinicultural practice. The net result of these decisions is that Alto Adige now produces some stunning wines. Clean, fresh, fruitladen, intensely flavoured, and beautifully balanced. Leading growers have refined their vinification and learned how to get the very best out of their unique terroir and the grape varieties on which they have decided to focus. One of them has just been awarded 100 Parker points, an accolade few wines ever receive. Since South Tyrol has more German speakers than Italian, it is not surprising the growers first leaned towards the German grapes. In the village of Traminer, they had their own white grape. But they realised their soils and climate were ideal for Pinot Blanc, originally from Burgundy but refined in Alsace. So, Pinot Blanc moved south and Traminer went north to Alsace (which for a long time was German) and liked the conditions – particularly when it was late harvested. They added the word ‘Gewürz’ which is usually translated as ‘spicy’ but in Italian is taken to mean ‘aromatic’, which I find altogether more appropriate. Gewürztraminer is one of my very favourite white grape varieties and I am quite familiar with Alsatian versions from growers such as Leon Beyer, Hugel and Trimbach. All this is to say, I was particularly grateful when Billy and Caroline Beaumont invited me to join family and friends in tasting some outstanding Italian wines which included a superb Gewürztraminer produced by Elena Walch in the Alto Adige. From the first sip, my mind was flooded with several emotions. I delighted in the pure golden colour, the aromatics were divine, and the ripe, clean, opulent fruit, thrilled the palate. I am determined to go and meet the
producer – and I intend to so when travel restrictions ease – because she has opened my eyes to the fine wine the region can produce. I have been lucky in my wine travels to meet some of the world’s greatest winemakers. The one thing they have in common is a genuine desire to express what they have in front of them. They do not want to ape anyone else. They simply want to turn the fruit of their vines into an expression of their culture. They want to produce wines that do not require words. They wish to express themselves entirely through their wines. I do admit to a particular interest in the great sweet wines of the world, first stimulated in Sauternes and Barsac, then on the Rhine, followed by Tokaj and Niagara on the Lake where some superb ice wines are made. Making sweet wine demands many skills. There is little room for error. Interestingly, the Elena Walch Gewürztraminer was offered as a dessert wine, but it could have been served as an aperitif with terrine de foie gras or with a blue cheese. There will be many winemakers to visit when I do get to the Alto Adige, but I shall head first for Elena Walch, and thank Billy and Caroline for the introduction.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Cantina Andrian Müller Thurgau, Trenito, Alto Adige, Italy £15 Vineyards On the right side of the Adige lies the dreamy village of Andriano at an elevation of 285 metres above
sea-level. Rich fruit orchards and
vineyards, cool yew forests, natural ponds, and white-water brooks are just some of the glorious
characteristics of the magnificent
landscape. Cantina Andrian’s Müller Thurgau is a delicious wine which is
subtly aromatic, has a well-balanced acidity and offers refreshing tropical notes on the palate. Great as an aperitif or outstanding with fresh Alp cheese. vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 103
elizabethwatsonillustration.com
Pet, Equine & Farm Animals
• Operating theatres • Digital x-ray • Nurse clinics • Separate dog and cat wards • Laboratory Kingston House Veterinary Clinic Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB
Grove Dene Veterinary Clinic The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL
Tel: 01935 813288 (24 hours) Email: sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk
Tel: 01935 421177 (24 hours) Email: yeovil@kingstonvets.co.uk
Mon-Fri 9.00-10.30, 16.30-18.00 Sat 9.00-10.30
Mon-Fri 8.30-12.00, 14.00-18.30 Sat 9.00-12.00
kingstonvets.co.uk
Free registration appointment for new clients when accompanied by this advertisement 104 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
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
www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk Companions at Peace Pet Cremation
Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. • Collection Service • Farewell Room • Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border
Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk
Award-Winning Dog Behaviour Specialists covering Dorset, Somerset and beyond 1-1 New Puppy Starter Package 1-1 Dog Behaviour Packages
Sherborne Surgery Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228
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www.newtonclarkevet.com
Still working throughout lockdown plus video consultations for anyone shielding tpetrainingandbehaviour.com Contact Sarah on 07769 705807 or sarah@thepetexperience.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 105
Animal Care
MILK MONITOR
Mark Newton-Clarke MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeon
Vladimir Gjorgiev/Shutterstock
106 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
T
his year, the month of June will be particularly significant for us (hopefully) with our pattern of life starting to resemble something like normal, or perhaps the new normal. Our pets have clearly had the best of the pandemic with almost unlimited attention from their housebound families. The surge in puppies being born may well prove to be sustained – at least for a while. With so many pregnant and whelping dogs, there has inevitably been an increase in the number of birth-associated problems we have been seeing in the clinics. One peri-natal problem of the nursing bitch arose last week, highlighting the need for breeders to be continually vigilant. This particular disorder is not confined to dogs; indeed, it affects dairy cows and sheep more commonly – or at least it used to. I am talking about low blood calcium levels, called eclampsia in dogs and milk fever in cows and sheep. Almost everyone knows about calcium, the mineral found in our bones and teeth, sourced from dairy products and green leafy vegetables in our diet. All animals with skeletons made of calcified bone have a reservoir of calcium stored there but it is firmly locked away. Just as well because a small rise in our blood calcium level can be fatal. Unfortunately, we are also exquisitely sensitive to low calcium levels and if you are a high-producing dairy cow or a bitch with a hungry litter of puppies, the drain on readily available calcium can exceed immediate dietary supply. Result, hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium) and a medical emergency which, without treatment, leads to muscle spasm (tetany), seizures, coma and death. This is a dramatic and rapidly progressive disorder, becoming life threatening in a matter of minutes. The first time I encountered eclampsia in a dog was in my first few months as a vet, in rural Lincolnshire. I had been out on many farms treating cows with the same condition, a job done by vets in those days, but a late-night call from a dog owner very nearly caught me out. I failed to recognise the importance of the owner’s description of his bitch’s symptoms, which he described as ‘walking like a tin soldier’. After offering to see the dog in the morning, I put the phone down and rested my head back on the pillow. A very short time later, I remember sitting bolt upright, wide awake with the word ‘ECLAMPSIA’ filling my brain. The owner was a bit surprised when I phoned him back and insisted on an immediate consultation, just a few minutes after my placatory noises during our first conversation. The
dog was treated with a calcium infusion and made a full recovery, making me bless whatever sub-conscious thought process happened in my brain that night. Funny how the experience of near disaster (the Lincolnshire dog would have been dead in the morning had I not realised my mistake) makes for such a strong memory. So, when the owners of the spaniel whose whelping I attended a month ago called me at about 10pm one night last week, I was immediately suspicious. The symptoms of early eclampsia can be subtle and varied, including restlessness and excessive panting, not uncommon in normal nursing mothers with a demanding litter in a hot room. The stiff gait can be a later sign, like seizures and coma, none of which were being exhibited in this case. But in my book, any pregnant or nursing bitch who displays any form of abnormal behaviour needs a blood test for calcium levels (and glucose, among other things). Unlike 35 years ago, we now have blood analysers that give results within minutes and so confirming the diagnosis at the time of presentation is so much easier. So, we made our diagnosis, and the treatment was therefore obvious, intravenous calcium solution with muscle relaxants if tetany is present. Easy-peasy? Well, yes, but there’s a catch. Calcium given directly into the blood stream is tricky as just a little bit too much or too quickly can result in a fatal heart attack. So, not for the first time, making the correct diagnosis is only the initial step; the patient still needs to survive the treatment! I’m happy to say all was well and Lala was back with her brood later on that night. All good? Well, almost. In an effort to reduce calcium loss through mum’s milk, feeding the puppies milk replacer is often recommended. This is easier said than done as a nasty rubbery teat with funny-tasting milk is no substitute for the real thing. More work for the humans, who also have to cope with a stressed mum who can’t understand why her puppies are not being allowed to feed. In Lala’s case, close monitoring of blood calcium with food supplements allowed her to feed her puppies, although the messy job of weaning onto solid food may be brought forward a week or so. The next month will bring mixed emotions, sadness at the puppies’ departure to new homes but relief that life can start to return to normal – a thought that brings us full circle. It will be a case of puppies out, human guests in.... newtonclarkevet.com sherbornetimes.co.uk | 107
Animal Care
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE John Walsh BVSc Cert AVP DBR MRCVS, Friars Moor Vets
I
am not sure if I have mentioned to you before in these articles, but as well as being a vet, I also live and work on my wife’s family dairy farm near Sherborne. My wife has just joined the farm partnership and is now helping to run the farm alongside her father and the dedicated team of workers, who all work together to look after the milking cows and following young stock. It will be a challenging but exciting time over the coming months as she learns the ropes and we go through a new chapter of our lives together. Over the past few years, I have developed a real 108 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
interest – bordering on obsession – with soil health. Arguably, soil is the most important life-sustaining asset we have on the planet – after all, most of our food is grown on it or in it – without it, we would simply not be here! However, we have unknowingly been degrading our soils with some agricultural practices, such as ploughing or excessive use of chemicals or fertilisers. Farmers are beginning to realise the importance of soil health and the benefits this has for their businesses, the environment and the health of both human, farm animal and wildlife populations. Soils are living ecosystems that contains millions of
Mr.Khatawut/shutterstock
"One handful of soil contains more organisms than there are people on the Earth"
bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, insects, worms and many other living organisms. One of the most mindblowing statistics is that one handful of soil contains more organisms than there are people on the Earth. Interestingly, these regenerative farming practices to build soil health could hold one of the solutions to climate change. Healthy, regenerated soils, with healthy plants, convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into plant material and sugars – via photosynthesis. The most interesting point is that plants grazed in the correct way will store more carbon in the soil than those which are never grazed by animals. Plants have evolved to have synergistic relationships with the organisms in the soil. When plants are grazed, the plant will release carbon-containing substances from their roots, which are called exudates. These exudates feed the bacteria and fungi present in the soil and, in return, the bacteria and fungi help to release nutrients from the soil to help the plants regrow after being nibbled. You can measure the amount of carbon in the soil by measuring the percentage of organic matter. If you raise the soil organic matter levels by just 0.1% (e.g. 4.2% to 4.3%), you will sequester an extra 8.9 tonnes of CO₂ per year, per hectare of land. If all land around the world transitions to this type of management, then you can see the impact this might have on lowering CO₂ levels. On our farm, we grow crops to sell or to feed to the cows for producing milk. This year, we have a started an experiment to grow maize with minimal soil disturbance to help keep our soils healthy. We have used a piece of equipment called a ‘strip tillage machine’, which only disturbs the soil in the area where we will plant the seeds. The rest of the soil remains untouched, helping to preserve soil health. If the results are good, then we can roll this out across the farm. Exciting times lie ahead as we start our regenerative agriculture journey – farming the animals both above and below the soil! Over the coming years, we aim to improve soil health and biodiversity, capture carbon and leave the land in a better shape for future generations at the same time as producing healthy nutritious food for you. friarsmoorvets.co.uk Friars Moor have started a regenerative farming discussion group at the practice. For more information and details about their next meeting, please contact the practice on 01258 472314. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 109
elizabethwatsonillustration.com
Branch and Root Therapy and Supervision
Explore the roots of your feelings and behaviour in order to grow and flourish Fully qualified counsellor, based in the centre of Sherborne now offering face-to-face consultations as well as online and telephone appointments. I work with young people and adults using creative and talking therapies. For more information visit www.branchandroot.co.uk email karenbranchandroot@gmail.com or call 07581 498930
YogaSherborne Classes on-line, outdoors and inside (subject to guidelines) • Hatha Yoga • Relaxation and guided meditation Contact Dawn for more details 07817 624081 @yogasherborne hello@yogasherborne.co.uk Yoga Alliance qualified teacher
Set in the beautiful village of Trent, lies The Lazy Barn. We offer an extensive professional range of treatments from massages, facials, waxing, microblading, microdermabrasion and all beauty and make up treatments. Our aim is to give each guest an exceptional memorable experience, even if it’s a simple eyebrow wax! We look forward to welcoming you to The Lazy Barn.
Muntanya is an independent trekking and outdoors shop offering clothing and equipment from major suppliers.
1 Trent Court - Sherborne - Dorset - DT9 4AY 01935 851826 | naomi@thelazybarn.co.uk | www.thelazybarn.co.uk
7 Cheap St, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PT david@muntanya.co.uk 01935 389484 • 07875 465218 www.muntanya.co.uk
110 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
BORN BEFORE 1971? 42% OF OVER 50s IN ENGLAND HAVE A HEARING LOSS... WE CAN HELP.
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Body and Mind
FATHERS’ MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS TOO… Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Ambassador
F
athers are often disregarded when it comes to post-natal support. Paternal mental health has not been researched as extensively as maternal mental health, and fathers are rarely provided enough support to manage the effects of parenthood on mental health. However, it’s proven that fathers’ mental health difficulties can cause negative effects on the father, the mother, and the children they raise. When men are provided with ample support, they are better equipped to support mothers with their mental health and be the best parent they can be for their child. 112 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
For these reasons and more, International Fathers’ Mental Health Day (IFMHD) – that occurs the day after Fathers’ Day – was established to raise awareness about these issues and provide resources and information to support the mental health of fathers. This year, it falls on 21st June. Dr Andy Mayers, Principal Academic at Bournemouth University and Patron for Dorset Mind, is one of the leading advocates for IFMHD and conducts research into perinatal mental health. As Dr Mayers highlights, supporting father’s mental health is ‘not about support for fathers instead of mothers; it’s as well
What can contribute to paternal mental health difficulties?
Many factors can make a father more vulnerable to perinatal mental health difficulties. First time fathers and fathers younger than 25 are more likely to experience post-natal depression. Additionally, if the father has a history of mental health, financial, or substance issues, they may be at greater risk. Signs of paternal mental health difficulties
While it is normal to experience some emotional changes after becoming a parent, it is important to look out for indicators that a father could benefit from mental health support. These may include pervasive, distressing emotional changes, such as feelings of guilt, irritability, anger, sadness, stress, fear, confusion, and difficulties bonding with their baby. Additionally, they may experience cognitive effects such as pessimism, indecisiveness and difficulties concentrating. Behavioural changes such as isolating themselves, withdrawing from work and hobbies, arguing more, and increased alcohol, nicotine, or drug consumption may also indicate a mental health issue. Finally, a struggling father may experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, appetite change, weight change, insomnia, and stomach issues. Effects of paternal post-natal depression
Wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock
Research suggests that post-natal depression in fathers can be detrimental to the wellbeing of both mother and baby. They may over-discipline and spend less quality time with their child if they are struggling with their mental health. This has been associated with developmental delay in the child, as well as behavioural and mental health issues. Where to find help
as. If we help fathers, we help mothers. If we help them both, we also help their children.’ How many fathers are affected?
Research conducted in 2010 (2) suggests that approximately 10% of fathers experience depression after their child is born or during the pregnancy. This concerning rate may increase if the mother is also experiencing mental health difficulties; fathers with depressed partners have a 24-50% chance of also becoming unwell. Importantly, postnatal depression in men often goes undiagnosed.
It is important to get the right help, as soon as possible, if you are struggling with your mental health. Speak to your GP about your symptoms and they may be able to offer you treatments such as medication or talking therapies. Additionally, there is a wealth of online support and resources available. Visit mind.org.uk to browse a range of online support. If you experience a mental health crisis, don’t delay reaching out for support. Call 999 or The Samaritans FREE on 116 123. sherbornetimes.co.uk | 113
Body & Mind
BALANCE
Craig Hardaker BSc (Hons), Communifit
W
e are super proud to say that we have helped many people throughout the last few years to improve their balance. Since Covid, it has been challenging but we have still managed to help people throughout Dorset and Somerset. During lockdown, our programme has in fact helped others in the wider community with groups in Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool – to name just a few – gaining from our structured programme. This, in turn, has reduced the chances of individuals falling and perhaps even reduced the amount of hospital admissions. We are currently working with medical professionals in the local area to further help individuals to improve their balance. It is very important we continue to help so they can live a safe, healthy and independent life. This really does tie-in with the return of our indoor classes this month(!) If you are aged 50-107 (our oldest client!) then we have a programme for you. But what can we do to improve our balance? Here are three areas we focus on within our programmes. Strengthen
It is quite simple; the stronger we are, the less likely we are to fall, as we can hold ourselves upright and react quickly when called upon. Targeting the major muscle groups of the body is proven to improve your balance. Therefore, with structured and specific strengthening exercise our balance can improve. Of course, this doesn’t mean we will never fall with stronger muscles, but it does mean it is less likely and, if we did fall, we have muscle surrounding the bone that acts as a cushion to help prevent injuries such as fractures. Visualise
Visualising the activity ahead, before doing it, can certainly help with our balance. An example of this might be turning around on the spot or getting up from a chair. If we picture what we are doing before making 114 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
StoryTime Studio/Shutterstock
the movement, our body can adapt and brace itself ready for movement. It can also help us with what we call ‘clumsy falls’ such as not picking your feet up whilst stepping onto a kerb, as we are thinking about our movement before actually doing it. Give it a try; it can help! Body weight distribution
In some ways, this is linked to visualisation. We
need to learn how to transfer body weight from our left and right sides, and also forwards and backwards. Visualising this before doing it can help too. Maximising our skill to distribute our body weight effectively is also proven to prevent us from falling. Probably the most common balance test is standing on one leg. You are having to learn how to adapt to this body weight distribution and then apply it to everyday activity. If we trip, our body
weight distribution can assist in preventing us from falling, with the help of strong muscles from our strengthening exercises. We are very excited to welcome back everyone to our classes from 1st June, and help with balance and all other areas of our health and fitness. Stay safe, stay positive and stand strong! See you soon. Craig communifit.co.uk sherbornetimes.co.uk | 115
A brand new eco salon nestled up on West Down Farm, just outside Sherborne. Hair@E4 is Covid secure and peaceful in tranquil surroundings. Emma has over 25 years experience in the hair industry,13 of those running her own salon in Sturminster Newton before returning to Sherborne. • over 25 year experience • Covid secure, quiet and tranquil • free and easy parking • Kevin Murphy, Olaplex and Wella products
4 Westdown Business Park, Corton Denham, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LG e: haire4@hotmail.com t: 07951 076965
off your first visit when you present a copy of this advertisement. Voucher can only be used once
Skin, Makeup, Wellbeing We have re-located our beautiful salon into the most idyllic converted barns at West Down Farm, a short distance from Sherborne, completely accessible to Bruton & surrounding areas too. The salon setting is tranquil and quiet, enjoying the expanse of the rolling Dorset countryside. Relax, unwind and just enjoy the gorgeous surroundings while experiencing some wonderful treatments. Facials – Environ, Cool Peels & Aromatherapy • Brows • Massage • Lashes Manicures • Waxing • Pedicures • Makeup Lessons • Bridal & Occasion Makeup Free Parking • Outside space to sit and enjoy a refreshment • Covid secure Stockists of Environ skincare, Jane Iredale mineral makeup and Advanced Nutrition Programme skin, hair and nail supplements. Gift Vouchers available by treatment or amount.
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116 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
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Body & Mind
TRAIL RUNNING
RUNNING OFF ROAD TO BECOME FITTER, STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT Simon Partridge BSc (Sports Science), Personal Trainer SPFit
I
write this article dreaming of completing the Mont Blanc Marathon in Chamonix this month with some good friends who all live in the Sherborne area. This amazing trail race has already been postponed once due to the pandemic, but fingers crossed my friends will still be able to run it this year, as an injury means I will be unable to. Nevertheless, getting off-road gives runners a whole new world to discover, with thousands of miles of trails and new routes to explore in this country alone. We have beautiful countryside surrounding our lovely town but as lockdown eases, we can start to explore the moors, coastal paths, hills, forest tracks and mountain paths. The chance to run deep into some unforgettable surroundings with incredible views is all the motivation I need to put my trail shoes on and run. Trail running provides a unique whole-body workout while stimulating our minds as well as providing ‘ecotherapy’ by being immersed in nature. Here are some quick tips to help you blaze a trail: Strengthen your core
You need to be able to fully activate your core or poor posture can result in a loss in running economy. Try to fit in at least one activity a week such as pilates, yoga, weight training or some simple breathing exercises. Slow down
The running surface on trails is less predictable than on the roads, so expect natural obstacles such as stones, roots and yes, even glorious mud! This means to really enjoy each trail we need to be less fixated with our watches, speed and times. Stride length
Uneven terrain requires you to use your judgement to alter your stride to use shorter, lighter steps. This will
118 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
not only improve your stability, but also protect your joints. Keeping your feet underneath you puts less pressure on those all-important ankles and knees. Look forward
Do not keep looking down at your feet. Instead, scan ahead to prepare for what is coming to not only run faster but also enjoy the environment all around you. Walking is allowed
Trail running is a very different sport to road running and you are allowed to walk up hills. No egos here. In fact, it should be actively recommended – such is the need to conserve energy – and many trail runners now use poles, especially at elite level. Running with poles is also becoming a very popular technique, especially in the mountains. Downhill is for relaxing
Try and relax and just let yourself go when running downhill. Many people find running downhill painful on the knees for example, because they tense up, which jars their joints. Just try and keep a flowing rhythm, which also has the added benefit of conserving energy compared to stiffening up. Invest in good kit
Trail shoes is the first, maybe most obvious, investment but also get a vest pack that will provide far better comfort, stability and ease of access for your food, water and spare kit. Good luck and make the most of this summer – wherever you run. I would love to hear of anyone’s running adventures, whether local or far, far away. spfit-sherborne.co.uk
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NEVER MISS A COPY If you enjoy reading the Sherborne Times but live outside our free distribution areas you can now receive your very own copy by post 12 editions delivered to your door for just £30.00 To subscribe, please call 01935 315556 or visit www.sherbornetimes.co.uk/subscriptions
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When your family suffers the loss of a loved one, we are here to support, guide and reassure you – every step of the way Call Teresa or Daniel on 01935 812647 100 Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AG Email: info@wsbrister.com www.wsbrister.com
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Body & Mind
LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE
H
Dr Tim Robinson MB BS MSc MRCGP DRCOG MFHom, Retired GP & Complementary Practitioner
aving written about a wide spectrum of individual conditions and treatments over almost 10 years, I thought that a summary of key pointers to overall health care, learnt over my 30 years of general practice and complementary medicine, may be of some interest. This also serves as a farewell to all my loyal readers, who I hope to have enjoyed and benefitted from my monthly articles. It is time for me to direct my energies into the newly formed clinic dealing with the complex condition of Long Covid. And so, for now, here are my tips on how to live a long and happy life. Attention to diet. Eat a mixed, balanced diet that contains at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables. They contain antioxidants that mop up damaging by-products of metabolism as well as vitamins and minerals for cell repair and biochemical pathways. Their ‘prebiotic’ fibres nourish the microbiota in the large intestine, so are important for support of the immune system and production of brain neurotransmitters. Eat oily fish twice a week or take fish oil supplements; these ensure adequate intake of Omega 3 fatty acids, essential for cellular membrane integrity and anti-inflammatory factors. Do not eat excess refined sugar and carbohydrate-loaded foods, in order to control weight, prevent diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Cook with salt but try to avoid adding to your plate, another way to prevent high blood pressure. Eat moderately sized portions for weight management. Attention to exercise. Regular daily exercise for 30 minutes is sufficient. If you choose walking, make sure that it is at a fast and sustained pace. Exercise has so many benefits; aiding weight control, cardiac fitness, lung function, support of immune system, brain function, memory enhancement (brain scans following exercise show enhanced activity in the hippocampal memory area). Mental health is supported through the production of brain endorphins, the ‘feel-good’ hormones. Studies show reduction in anxiety and depression scores with regular exercise. Taking exercise outside exposes us to sunshine UV light that stimulates Vitamin D production in the skin – so important for bone health, immune support and muscle strength. We should all be taking Vitamin D, living in the northern hemisphere above 40 degrees latitude, especially in the winter months. Attention to the brain. Both exercise and rest for the brain is equally important. Exercise your brain by learning something new, a game, language, a musical instrument, something that
122 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
is the opposite to what you normally use your brain for. This stimulates remodelling and growth of brain tissue, the process known as neuroplasticity. But equally important is resting the brain. Over-working the brain through continuous stimulation and processing, scrolling texts, checking emails, processes occurring in the brain’s left hemisphere, suppresses the balancing function of the right hemisphere, the intuitive and creative side of the brain. It’s important to treat your brain to ‘down time’ once a day, for 30 minutes preferably. The practice of mindfulness or meditation improves this, but it doesn’t mean you have to meditate for this – purely going for a walk out in nature in which you have time to think of nothing, to switch the brain off and simply take in the beauty and stillness around you, will suffice. Attention to sleep. As we all know, sleep is the great healer! Try to get 7 hours per night. Brain pattern recalibration, organisation and memory processing are important functions that occur whilst asleep – as does bodily cellular repair and regrowth. Metabolites, physiological pathways, and chemicals are rebalanced and brought into harmony. Hormones, particularly growth hormone, and cortisol are released according to the circadian ‘day night’ cycle. Attention to sleep hygiene, with no iPad or phone screens whilst in bed – they emit blue light which increases cerebral activity when you should be trying to bring on sleepiness. Consider eye visors or draw the curtains to ensure full black out. Attention to muscle. Joint and muscle care is important for a number of reasons. Loadbearing activity will reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis ’brittle bone’ disease. Stretching of the muscles, tendons and ligaments will maintain their elasticity and flexibility. The joints will have a greater range of movement, synovial fluid production in the joint space will be stimulated, pain due to arthritis in the large joints and lower back will be minimised, balance systems will be more tuned and efficient, thus reducing your falls risk. Simple stretching exercises will benefit you. And finally, in order to live longer, happier, healthier, you should put a stop to unhealthy habits. Stop smoking to prevent heart disease, blood clots, cardiovascular disease, a whole spectrum of cancers, premature ageing, suppressed immune system – the list is endless. Drinking alcohol in moderation is fine but count your units. Red wine contains the antioxidant resveratrol as the French remind us – they are long livers in the Languedoc – despite the foie gras! Identify and combat stress – try prioritising the important things in life and replace the stressors with alternative options – easier said than done, I admit. Know when to say no, focus on the intrinsic motivators, the things you want to do because they make you feel good and satisfied. The pandemic has brought to our attention the adverse effects of isolation; we are social animals and studies show that lack of social interaction is closely related to mental illness. Social interaction, even if it is through the companionship of a pet, will bring great benefits to mental wellbeing. And so there it is, my summing up of ways to live life longer and happier. I hope this piece and my monthly offerings over the years have been helpful. And on that note, I wish you all well and it’s time for my next adventure! Cheerio ;) doctorTWRobinson.com glencairnHouse.co.uk
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elizabethwatsonillustration.com 124 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
“We are delighted to offer this simply beautiful design-led, contemporary house, surrounded by landscaped gardens and with the inclusion of a versatile annex. Recently constructed from Canadian cedar wood under a powder coated steel roof, The Cedar House in Stowell is currently configured with three bedrooms but, due to its versatile design, could easily provide more. There is an abundance of light and space throughout that help to enhance the somewhat coastal influenced colours and finishes in a property made for entertaining. The house is surrounded by wonderful gardens that have been carefully planted, along with a variety of mature trees providing the perfect backdrop to this enchanting residence.” Guide Price: £1,750,000 EPC B For more information please contact Anthony Pears at Jackson-Stops, Sherborne.
SH E R B O RN E
01935 810141
sherborne@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk
PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910
Home
SETTING THE STAGE
Annabelle Hunt, Colour Consultant, Bridport Timber & Flooring
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A
fter being housebound for large parts of the last year, some of us may have been idly scrolling through property websites wondering if it might be nice to move out of town, take on a new project or indeed an entire change of lifestyle. Competition within the property market is fierce and there has been a definite shift from actual IRL viewings to virtual tours and image galleries, which have become the online equivalent of kerb appeal. I have scrolled past immaculately presented Mrs Hinch style properties in all colours as long as it’s grey, to derelict picture postcard cottages with sad standard lamps wearing their shades at improbable angles, and everything in between. The key is to create a good first impression both on screen as well as in the flesh. Potential buyers will just scroll past if the photographs are lacklustre. It’s a good idea to think about who would be looking for a property like yours and what sort of style they might find most appealing. Whilst I’m all for the use of bold and beautiful colour in the right place, if you’ve decided to put your house on the market it is a good idea to appeal to the broadest possible audience by using a warm, neutral palette. Obviously, you can’t please everyone, all the time, but you can make it easier for them to imagine themselves living there. First things first, consider repainting your front door. Choose a colour and finish that really compliments the style of your home, whether that may be a classic neutral or a bold statement. Stand outside your house, look around and take your colour cues from your surroundings. Once inside, the hall creates the first and last impression of your home, but they can be dark. Pale walls paired with clean crisp white woodwork is a classic combination. Unless you have stylish radiators, create an uncluttered feel by colour-matching them to the walls – F&B’s Estate Eggshell is ideal for this and can be used on both interior wood and metal surfaces. A calm, clutter-free, sitting room will give the impression of an easy, comfortable lifestyle. Building on the neutral palette started in the hall, the addition of delicate powdery colours and dusky tones will create a relaxing atmosphere. Think about what the main feature of the room might be; perhaps, it’s a period fireplace or a view of the garden. Make sure the mantel isn’t cluttered or that heavy curtains aren’t obstructing the window. Take out anything unnecessary or unattractive
and then add colour and interest with a simple vase of flowers or a potted plant, a rug, cushions, or throws. It’s important to create a dining area, whether it’s a cosy corner of your living room, part of a sociable open plan kitchen or a traditional dining room. Clear away any clutter and make sure it looks like it’s used regularly by either laying the table or dressing it with a tablecloth and some flowers. Try a contrasting wall colour to define a dining area and keep it from getting lost in a larger, open-plan layout. Bedrooms need to feel comfortable, calm, and spacious. The bed should be the centre of attention; crisp white bed linen combined with soft neutrals and aquatic shades on the walls – perfect for creating a soothing environment for sleep. A clever trick to make a bedroom feel even more restful is to try painting the ceilings, woodwork, and walls all in one colour. Everyone knows it’s unreasonable to expect children’s rooms to be immaculate, but plain bedding and a few matching storage boxes will cut down on the clutter. In the kitchen, as with the rest of the house, a light, neutral scheme is the safest and most effective option. You can update a tired kitchen without having to spend a fortune by repainting the doors and adding new handles. However, totally neutral kitchens can sometimes look a little too bland - it’s easy to add pops of colour here and there with well-chosen appliances. Clear the worktops and never underestimate the effect of a simple bowl of fruit. Just like kitchens, bathrooms are rooms that can make or break a sale. In your bathroom, you should aim for a relaxing spa-like environment. Stark white walls, whilst looking fresh and clean, can come across as sterile and chilly. Instead, go for a warming neutral which will flatter the faces of early risers and soothe tired bathers. Tidy away all the half-used bottles of shampoo and squeezed out tubes, adding instead one or two foliage plants, some scented candles and some new fluffy white towels. Remember, whatever you buy to brighten up your house will go with you to your new home. But who knows, once you’ve transformed your home into a house hunter’s dream, you might just decide you don’t want to move after all. bridporttimber.co.uk
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lodestoneproperty.co.uk
MAKING HOMES HAPPEN We may stay true to traditional values when it comes to high quality personal service, but our unique modern sales and marketing methods mean we are able to tick all the boxes when it comes to selling your home: Dedicated Sales Progressor Higher staff to property ratio Local specialist viewing team Best social media following in Somerset & Dorset Contact us for a free market appraisal.
Rachel Badrick, Sales Progressor. bruton@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01749 605099
Lettings & Property Management
shaftesbury@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01747 442577
Coming to the market this month… Abbotsbury
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
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128 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
wells@lodestoneproperty.co.uk 01749 605088
Second home/long term holiday let. Barn conversion presented in excellent order, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan living/dining/kitchen, enclosed garden, parking.
Holwell
Rousdon
Semi-detached cottage in lovely rural setting close to the coast. Sitting room with wood burner, dining room, kitchen, utility, larder, Four bedrooms, study, enclosed walled garden, terrace, private parking.
Two bedroom barn conversion, very Sherborne well presented, located on busy working Ground floor apartment with farm, no pets or children accepted. easy access in excellent retirement development, sitting room, small kitchen, double bedroom, bathroom Nr Wincanton Semi-detached period cottage, currently with low-level bath and shower over, walk-in storage. Further communal undergoing redecoration, sitting room sitting room and garden, warden assisted. with fire, kitchen with appliances, larder, lobby, three bedrooms, shower room, parking and garage. Sherborne Two bedroom modern house close to centre with enclosed garden and off-road parking, offered fully furnished and equipped.
LANDOWNERS
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Lawrence Foote & Partners Chartered Surveyors and Valuers 31 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3PU LONDON
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Legal
HELPING A FAMILY MEMBER DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA MANAGE THEIR AFFAIRS Kate Norris, Paralegal, Mogers Drewett
T
o assist someone with their affairs (whether related to finances or health), you must hold the legal powers to do so. The route you will need to take will depend on the mental capacity of the person you are seeking to help.
• Give or refuse consent to life sustaining treatment The process of obtaining an LPA involves the completion of the relevant document, which then needs to be registered with the Office of Public Guardian.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
If your family member does not have the mental capacity to enter into an LPA, then an application to the Court of Protection will need to be made on their behalf to appoint a Deputy. A Deputy is a person (or persons) appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the affairs of an individual who lacks the mental capacity to do so themselves. The Deputy is usually a friend or relative but, in some circumstances, it could be a professional such as a solicitor or an accountant. There are two types of deputyship applications: Property and affairs deputyship The most common type of deputyship application is for property and affairs where the court appoints a deputy to manage a person’s property and financial affairs.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows the donor (the person making the LPA) to choose another individual or individuals (attorney/s) to make decisions on their behalf about their property and financial affairs and/or their health and welfare, at a time when they are no longer able to make those decisions themselves. In order to enter into an LPA, the donor must have the required mental capacity to do so. A diagnosis of dementia does not automatically mean that the person concerned does not have the mental capacity to enter into a LPA but it does mean that time is of the essence. Should the person concerned have the required mental capacity, there are two types of LPA: Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare. The following types of decision can be made under these LPAs: Property & Financial Affairs • Buying and selling a house • Managing investments • Running a business • Accessing and using bank accounts Health & Welfare • Treatment and care the donor receives • Where the donor lives and with whom • Day-to-day matters such as diet and daily routine 130 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Loss of mental capacity
Health and welfare deputyship A Deputyship Order for Health and Welfare is rare. Deputies are usually only appointed in complex situations in relation to specific decisions rather than a blanket Order for general welfare. It is important to highlight that families should not wait for a diagnosis to act but instead start the conversation today and put in place LPA’s now to have the peace of mind that your family are able to manage your affairs. mogersdrewett.com
PLANNING A SMOOTH TRANSITION Our team of experts will help guide you through every stage of life.
ON YOUR SIDE, AT YOUR SIDE FOR: • Companionship – if distance prevents regular family visits
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• Assistance moving from your home in to care
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• Finding suitable long or short term care providers
• Assistance selling your home to fund care
• Lasting Powers of Attorney • Care Funding
Our team are here to help – get in touch today.
mogersdrewett.com | 01935 813691 | enquiries@mogersdrewett.com
Finance
SETTING A COURSE
T
Andrew Fort, Fort Financial Planning & Jeremy Brett, Brett Investment
he difference that a real financial planner can make can be illustrated by the following case study. Michael Confused owned his own business, but quite frankly he had had enough. Work was no longer enjoyable as it once was and Linda, his wife, was about to retire, so he wanted to know if he could too. The trouble was that although he had various investments and pensions, as well as a business to sell, he didn’t know if it was going to be enough for him and his wife to lead the kind of retirement they always envisaged. Essentially what he wanted to know was how big his bucket needed to be. Michael and Linda had accumulated various assets during their lifetime. They owned their own home (value of £350,000), had investments and pension funds of about £600,000 plus they also had Michael’s share of the business (the value of which they weren’t sure about). To be honest they were confused and needed help. First of all we got Michael and Linda to think about the kind of lifestyle they wanted for now and into their retirement. It turned out that each had a passion for travel, so using powerful financial planning software we looked into their financial future, taking account of inflation and based upon realistic returns from their investments. This helped calculate how much they would need in their ‘money’ bucket for Michael to retire and be able to live the life of their dreams without the fear of running out of money. More importantly, we were able to calculate how much Michael would need to sell his share of the business for (after costs and taxes) to have enough money. It turns out it was less than Michael thought but it also turns out, somewhat paradoxically, that now that Michael knows his number he has greater certainty and confidence about his future and has now begun to enjoy work again. Michael and Linda are now well on course to achieving their plan. They meet annually with their financial planner, so that real progress can be made and their dreams become reality. Some years they find themselves slightly off course so minor adjustments need to be made. Their investments now have a structure to them and a strategy that suits their long term goals. In addition, they are pleased to be financially well-organised and consider that they only worry about money once a year – the day of their annual planning meeting! ffp.org.uk brettinvestment.com trustedadvisorgroup.co.uk
132 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
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
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TAKE YOUR TIME
AVAILABLE ONLINE sherbornetimes.co.uk
134 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Successful investment management is about effective risk management
To learn why our approach to portfolio management is predicated on controlling risk contact us at 01935 382620 | enquiries@church-house.co.uk | www.ch-investments.co.uk
At Church House Investment Management, we only make recommendations from our range of portfolio services and associated investment accounts. Full details of the nature of our service can be found at www.ch-investments.co.uk/important-information. Please note the value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment. You should also be aware that past performance may not be a reliable guide to future performance. Church House Investment Management is a trading name of Church House Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Tech
USERNAMES & PASSWORDS “I DON’T THINK I HAVE ONE…” James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers
H
ow many times have we heard this! For the record, every email account will have a password. Living in the digital world of 2021 means we’ve become accustomed to usernames and passwords. They are used in everything you do online; from Amazon to Tesco, BBC to email. In fact, it’s been estimated that we each have over 30 logins, and that number is on the rise. But why do we even need all these usernames and passwords in the 21st century? Computer passwords are a modern-day adaptation of techniques soldiers have used since ancient times to verify who is approaching in the dark: ‘Who goes there; friend or foe?’ ‘It’s me, James.’ ‘… and what’s your password?’ ‘********’ ‘OK! You can come in from the dark.’ The importance today is that you are protecting your whole persona against theft and misrepresentation. So, let’s start at the beginning… In most cases, your username is your email address; some older websites force you to choose a name or word, but usually want your email address as well. It is therefore imperative that you should use a separate and very secure password for your email account as, once hacked, your email account can be used to reset passwords for just about everything else! I usually recommend at least 10 characters long and at least one each of uppercase, lowercase, number and symbol. It doesn’t have to be difficult to remember either – it just needs to not be an obvious one like your date of birth. Also try to avoid the commonest number symbol combination which is 9 and ! 136 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
Then, you just need to consider the importance of each login and assign a suitable password to each. If you must write them down, then hide them somewhere sensible and not with your computer on a sticky note for the world to see. I tend to use permutations on a theme when choosing a new password for something … simple would be abcd1234 then Abcd1234 then Abcd1234! then DcAb4312! etc. Then there is two-factor authentication (2FA). This is a second layer of security to protect an account or system. Users must go through two layers of security before being granted access and this is usually a password and PIN, or password and code supplied by text message. Highly recommended for peace of mind, but a bit of a faff sometimes. Finally, if asked to set-up memorable information, try to be a bit creative: mother’s maiden name = Bicycle; favourite colour = Austin Allegro; first job = Yellow. But what is important is that you remember these details, so making a note of them somewhere can be helpful. I’ve never seen the need to change a password unless you think it might have become compromised, and don’t click a link in an email to change a particular password. If in doubt, ignore the email and log in to the account via their website and you will soon know if you can access it or not! And remember… without your username and passwords (especially email ones) you won’t be able to access your accounts, so please make sure you remember what they are! The choice, as always, is yours, but if you think you need advice, you know where to come. computing-mp.co.uk
Dorset Residential & Commercial Ltd BUYING A NEW-BUILD HOME IN DORSET?
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T: 01935 816767
info@swsigns-sherborne.co.uk www.swsigns-sherborne.co.uk
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Enjoy a two course lunch for just £5 Supporting Sherborne’s most vulnerable Enjoy a delicious 2 course lunch delivered fresh to your door (Provided in microwavable containers to reheat at home) Call our team on 07561 067381 or email communitykitchenteam@gmail.com to find out more A big Thank You to our partners Sherborne Community Kitchen is a charitable incorporated organisation. Charity number 1190451
sherbornetimes.co.uk | 137
Image: Katharine Davies 138 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. GREG MILES The Apples Medical Centre David Birley DB Earlier this year, you celebrated being a GP in Sherborne for thirty-five years – a great achievement. GM Yes, it was on St David’s day in March, which was rather appropriate in view of my Welsh roots. Sadly, due to Covid, we were unable to have much of a celebration! DB To begin at the beginning, what was your childhood like? GM I was born in 1956 in Abertridwr, which was a mining village. My parents were teachers. My brother and I liked exploring the countryside and wildlife and would often be out all day. We had a happy upbringing. I started playing rugby at the end of my primary school and it got a real hold on me in my teenage years. As my parents were teachers, we had long summer holidays and travelled in the UK and Europe. I started skiing, which has become a lifelong passion, when I was eleven. I then went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to read medicine. My brother was also there reading natural sciences. We both played rugby for the college and I played for Cambridge medics against Oxford medics. I also started scuba diving. DB How did your career evolve? GM After graduating, I went to St Thomas’ Hospital in London or ‘Tommies’ as it is affectionately known. It was so different from Cambridge and initially I was quite lonely in London. College life was so friendly and you knew everyone whereas in London you went back to your accommodation and I did not really know anyone. I met my wife Jill there, she was a Nightingale which is what St Thomas’ nurses are called, after Florence Nightingale who worked there. I qualified in 1980 and we married in 1982. I then had various posts in London and Sussex learning different medical specialisations. To train as a GP, I had to do two years in hospital jobs and one year as a GP trainee after which I could apply for jobs. DB What brought you to Sherborne? > sherbornetimes.co.uk | 139
GM I just replied to a box number advertisement in the BMJ. My mother was in South Wales and my in-laws were in Bournemouth, so Dorset was convenient for both. The ad had said ‘Dorset market town’ and the specialities they were looking for matched my qualifications and experience. I must admit I had never heard of Sherborne, it was just luck and I got on well with the partners at the interview. I then had what I call ‘trial by sherry’ and we had a meal with all the partners, their wives and children. We quickly grew to love Sherborne and the delightful surrounding countryside. All my four children went to the Sherborne Primary and then on to the Gryphon. DB What was your involvement with the Yeatman? GM All GPs had posts at the Yeatman and I did anaesthetics once or twice a week. In those days, we were much more able to look after the whole of our patients’ lives whereas now it is much more ‘nine to five’ and busier. Sadly, it is no longer the way medicine is practised when a GP would pop in at any hour to see how his patient was. We are now doing much more in Primary Care. I am delighted that the minor injuries unit is reopening. DB You must have seen a lot of changes? GM Yes, both in medicine and in GP practice, most of them have just evolved. Obviously, Covid has caused major changes in the past year. However, when I began we used to do a lot of regular routine home visits every week, but this is not so common nowadays. Home visits now tend to be for acute illnesses. At the surgery, we do a lot more looking after chronic cases like diabetes and heart disease. Medicine has changed a lot and there is much more we can do – especially to help the elderly. However, in Sherborne, so many of the elderly are physically fit and healthy, much more so than other parts of the country. The one thing that has not changed is my relationship and friendship with my patients. It makes me look forward to coming to work each morning. DB Do you have any regrets? GM I think there are more demands on GPs and our ‘simple life’ has changed. We also communicate by computer too much, such as to the district nurses, rather than face-to-face and so, I miss the personal approach. On a personal level, the work demands of being a GP has affected my work-life balance. DB How have you found coping with Covid? GM To begin with it was pretty quiet and manageable, then it changed. The phones are constantly ringing and answering them all leads to long twelve-hour working days with no breaks. We have to run a telephone appointments list simultaneously as a face-to-face appointments list and try responding to the ever-increasing demand of emails. So, in fact, it seems we are working three times as hard and the pressure is just continuous. We are adapting and learning as we go. DB What do you do in your down time? GM I like bird-watching, walking with my dogs, skiing and travelling – when Covid permits! I also enjoy watching rugby and cycling. Together with some friends, I cycled from Orkney to Sicily. DB Do you have a personal wish? GM To get back to the new normal quite quickly, though I doubt we will ever get back to how we were. I would like to be able to see people, family and friends on a regular basis – everyone at present is so isolated. DB Do you have a wish for Sherborne? GM Sherborne is lovely, but since Covid Cheap Street has become quieter and less vibrant. I wish that with our emergence from lockdown that Sherborne manages to project itself and Cheap Street, such as The Sherborne Market and the opening of more successful independent shops. Look how Frome has transformed itself. I look forward to the social pleasure on a Saturday morning of walking down Cheap Street with its unique charm, meeting friends and acquaintances while popping into a great variety of shops. sherborneapples.co.uk 140 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
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Short Story
A HIDDEN SECRET
B
Mark Milbank, Sherborne Scribblers
ack in the early 1960s, the world news was all about ‘JFK’, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban missile crisis etc. None of this concerned Bob too much as he was more interested in his new farming venture near Oxford. He had been a very good sportsman at school and now, as a young man, was keen to continue playing as much sport as possible. Rugger was fine, but you had to be terribly fit, and it was only played in the winter, while cricket took too long and was only played in the summer – and both were team games anyway, so, he opted for golf, which he could play virtually any time that he could spare. He had been at school with Jim and when his friend was suddenly based at nearby Braze Norton airport to continue his flying career, Bob asked if he would like an occasional game of golf. Jim appeared to have a very ‘mixed’ sort of job – time-wise. Bob could get time off whenever he wanted, as long as the farm jobs got done. So, they used to play 9 holes – possibly twice a week – on the good, little course nearby. In mid-October 1962, the weather was unseasonably warm; Bob had finished most of his pre-winter farming jobs and was keen for as much golf as could be fitted in, before the weather turned nasty. But he could not drag Jim out to play with him. OK, Jim had been married to Maggie for not much more than a year, and Bob had always considered her a bit of a ‘dragon’ as she did not really approve of him playing golf with other men in his free time – rather than entertaining her. Bob was not married; he did have the occasional girlfriend, but never let them intrude on his planned sporting activities. The lovely days dragged by and Bob continued to pester Jim, but he continued to come up with very inadequate excuses and Bob got really worried that he might have offended him in some way. Sure, he did tease Jim a bit about his ‘new status’, but he had been his best man and they were old friends, so felt he had a bit of latitude in the matter! He did go out and play a couple of rounds on his own, but that was not as fun. Then, suddenly, right at the end of the month and just before the weather turned nasty, Jim suddenly rang Bob up and asked if they could have a game that very afternoon. Bob had already arranged to do something else but immediately agreed to Jim’s proposal and cancelled his previous engagement.
142 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
‘Welcome back, mate,’ he said, as they left the pro shop after paying for their round. Then added – a bit cheekily, ‘Maggie letting up on you, is she?’ ‘Nothing to do with Maggie letting up on me,’ replied Jim – seriously, ‘More accurately Khrushchev backing down.’ Bob just looked at him with his mouth open, before finally asking, “What on earth has that bloody Rusky got to do with our golf ?” ‘Well, for the past month, both myself and a couple of others have been on 24 hours ‘stand by’ to go and drop a nuclear bomb on Moscow. We had to be ready to react at five minutes’ notice and the P.M. would have been a little peeved if I was unavailable on the golf course!’ Wow! was all Bob was able to utter. Then Jim added, ‘But now that ‘K’ has backed down, by agreeing to Kennedy’s ultimatum, and turned his missile-laden ships back from Cuban waters, we can all relax. So, hopefully, a nuclear war has been put on hold – at any rate, for the immediate future.’ Bob continued just to look at Jim with his mouth rather unattractively open, before gulping, ‘But I thought you were just a domestic charter pilot?’ Jim grinned, ‘We all have our little hidden secrets, old boy, don’t we? Go on… tee off. I was at school with Jim in Kenya and used to play a lot of golf with him on the lovely Long Sutton golf course. He died a couple of years ago, but I well remember looking at him with my mouth wide open when he once told me that story about himself and his friend, Bob, while drinking a pint of Doom Bar in the clubhouse.
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Thank you for your support during this difficult time. Sherborne Food Bank relies solely on the generous food and cash donations from the community and is in urgent need of your help. Please consider adding the following items to your shopping trolley: • Anti-bac hand gel and wipes • Savoury biscuits • Cereals (Please no pasta or tinned soups and beans)
Donation points can be easily found at: Thank you.
www.sherbornefoodbank.org 07854 163869 | help@sherbornefoodbank.org
MAY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS 1. Not hard (4) 3. Relating to education and scholarship (8) 9. Single-handed (7) 10. Enclosed (of animals) (5) 11. Unhappy (12) 14. Lubricate (3) 16. Accustom (5) 17. Drink a little (3) 18. Pertaining to letters (12) 21. Saying (5) 22. Gasping (7) 23. Central principle of a system (8) 24. Headland (4)
144 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
DOWN 1. Operational unit in an air force (8) 2. Apartments (5) 4. Partly digested animal food (3) 5. Medicine taken when blocked-up (12) 6. Iron attractors (7) 7. Cipher (4) 8. Firm rebuke (12) 12. Pollex (5) 13. Concluding section (8) 15. Simple song for a baby (7) 19. Porcelain (5) 20. Facial disguise (4) 22. Joke (3)
Literature
LITERARY REVIEW Frances Walker, Sherborne Literary Society
How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers, by Tim Harford, (The Bridge Street Press), £9.99 paperback
T
Sherborne Times Reader Offer Price of £8.99 from Winstone’s Books
he sub-title for this book by Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio Four’s More or Less, Tim Harford, is ‘Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers’. I am not a numbers person, but I am glad that I was asked to review this book because it has been an eye-opener. Statistics do not have to be dull. Thinking back to the beginning of the pandemic reminds us how desperate a situation can become when statistics simply aren’t there. Tim Harford’s engaging style captures one’s interest immediately. He neatly avoids jargon, and his clarity and wit make it easy to follow his argument. At every stage he explains his intentions and regularly summarises the important points thus far. The ten rules are presented in separate chapters illustrating how we can approach statistics with an open mind. We do not have to accept what we are told, nor should we reject a claim because we do not want to believe it. Harford recommends that we ask ourselves certain questions: How does a statement make you feel? We should be aware of our emotional reactions to a claim, rather than accepting it because it reinforces what we want to believe or rejecting it because it makes us feel uncomfortable. Harford uses the example of the years of statistical work behind the revelation that cigarettes cause lung cancer. Do we reject dry statistical evidence in the face of personal experience? Harford calls this ‘the worm’s eye view’ as
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opposed to ‘the bird’s eye view’ and advises us to take both perspectives. If you are waiting for a bus during the rush hour in London and it’s not until the fourth bus that you can squeeze aboard, you will find it hard to believe Transport for London’s statistic that the average number of seats occupied on a London bus is twelve. How has the data been collected? Have there been differences in the way the same information has been recorded? A tabloid headline, Harford explains, had claimed that there were high mortality rates in new-born babies in a Midlands hospital, compared with the mortality rates in a London hospital serving a similar community. It is an emotive subject, and the newspaper was looking for a shocking headline, but it was a classic example of lack of scrutiny of the facts. What was recorded as a miscarriage just before twenty-four weeks in the London hospital was recorded as a death in the Midlands hospital, perhaps in the hope of helping those parents to process their grief. They were describing the same tragedy in two different ways. Throughout the book, Harford constantly reminds us to stop and think, to ask questions and to keep an open mind. He quotes Maynard Keynes, ‘When my information changes, I alter my conclusions.’ Finally, Harford sums up his Ten Commandments in one Golden Rule which we would all do well to follow: Be curious, look deeper and ask questions. sherborneliterarysociety.com
SUMMER READING
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
O
Mark Greenstock, St Paul’s Church
ne of the acknowledged masterpieces of modern stained glass is the Baptistry window in Coventry Cathedral, designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens. Rising eighty-five feet above the stone font (brought from a hillside near Bethlehem), its 198 panels glow with radiance as a brilliant golden-white orb of sheer light bursts through the surrounding dark blues and reds. Its message is one of hope and a new quality of life. One of the disturbing paradoxes of the current coronavirus pandemic is that though technology may have brought us together more closely for formal and informal times of conferencing, many of us who have had relatively few ‘real’ meetings (as opposed to ‘virtual’ ones) over the past long year are genuinely nervous about encountering actual unmasked people all over again. If we don’t use the internet much or at all, our sense of social isolation may be all the more acute. People are strangers. Our lives seem to be going nowhere, or to have had great chunks missed out. Piper’s window suggests the opposite of gloom and despair. There is the possibility of a fresh start. The angry reds and purples of the old selfdirected life are consigned to the periphery as ‘the light of the world’ takes centre stage. Belief in the resurrection banishes irrational fears. All-toohuman folk like Mary, Thomas and Simon Peter can walk with Christ in the dawn of a confident future. Our failures and fears, real as they are, simply don’t count in the scale of things. Above the stone font are calmer green and light blue panes, inviting the onlooker to pause and reflect. We are still the same people, shot through with our familiar flaws, doubts and discords. But there is glory for the asking. ‘Remember,’ says Jesus at the close of Matthew’s Gospel, ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ We are not alone. coventrycathedral.org.uk spcs.church
146 | Sherborne Times | June 2021
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