Sherborne Times December 2022

Seeing our breath over breakfast was the clincher. It had almost been fun up until then. Huddled around the toaster and arguing over who gets to hug the dog, we were gripped in a battle of wills – determined not to touch the heating switch. Perpetually damp towels however do not bring out the best in people and the shivering was proving a distraction.

My priorities are thrown into question each Friday as I treat myself to a bottle of wine from Hannah, Sadie and the team at Vineyards. I justify this ritual indulgence by convincing myself that the wine itself provides fortification against the elements and the process of buying it offers its own unique and priceless kind of warmth. I usually meet someone I know, will inevitably learn something about wine or the town from Hannah and, if particularly lucky, I get to wrestle a pair of bulldogs.

Customers leaving happier, better connected, more knowledgeable and a little furrier, are just some of the reasons that Vineyards continue to scoop independent wine merchant awards. They’re fighting many corners and the industry is taking notice.

So with cockles warmed and a glass of red in hand, I wish you all a truly happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Have a great month.

Glen Cheyne,

Editor glen@homegrown-media.co.uk @sherbornetimes

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CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Hitch

Mary Lister Ashby

Sherborne Scribblers

Laurence Belbin

Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum

Catherine Broadley

Sherborne Churches Together

Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers

Chris Bryer ReBorne Community Church

Mike Burks

The Gardens Group

David Burnett The Dovecote Press

Michael Cannon The Sherborne Paula Carnell

Cindy Chant and John Drabik

Michela Chiappa

Victoria Cobham Mogers Drewett Solicitors

Paul Collins

David Copp Rosie Cunningham

James Flynn Milborne Port Computers

Mat Follas Bramble Restaurant

Simon Ford

Nico & Chrystall Goodden

Craig Hardaker Communifit

Andy Hastie Yeovil Cinematheque

James Henderson Sherborne School

Rosie Hendry Sherborne Prep

The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms & The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

James Hull The Story Pig

Annabelle Hunt Bridport Timber and Flooring

Revd. Kate Konrad

Cheap Street Church and Sherborne Churches Together

Wendy Lane-Beale

Red Panda Eco Shop

Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind

Peter Littlewood Young People’s Trust for the Environment

Chris Loder MP

Paul Maskell The Beat and Track

Tom Matkevitch

The Green Restaurant

Hamish Murray Dorset Wildlife Trust

Gillian Nash

Paul Newman & Emma Tabor

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

Rebecca Price BVetMed, MRCVS Friars Moor Vets

Andy Rollo

Mark Salter CFP Fort Financial Planning

Katherine Sharp Sherborne Singers

Jonathan Stones Sherborne Literary Society

Val Stones

Joanna Weinberg Teals

Emma Wimhurst Sherborne Girls

ARTIST AT WORK

No. 49 Andy Rollo, Out of Bounds

Mixed Media on Canvas, 150 x 100 cm, £2,000

Time and place have had a significant influence on my creative practice; whether the paintings are abstract pieces in response to the geology, maps and the history of human habitation etched across the Dorset landscape or my more recent works that pay homage to the woodland and light around Sherborne and the county.

The striking landscape of our local area became a place of sanctuary over the last couple of years and began to symbolise for me (as for others perhaps) strength and protection, steadfastness, and long life.

The tree withstands whatever nature throws at it, and we have had to do the same whilst continually being reminded of our own mortality and the passing of time. The transformational quality of light has enabled areas of woodland to take on an almost cathedral-like quality for me; awe-inspiring and magnificent with their juxtaposition of grandeur and the spiritual. It is this that I so often have attempted to convey in my paintings.

andyrollo.com adrolloartist

‘Every work of art is the child of its time, often it is the mother of our emotions.’ Wassily Kandinsky

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

With people now needing to return to public spaces for post-Covid emotional and mental well-being, Cinematheque’s audiences are slowly building to pre-lockdown levels. We had always hoped that if we could continue to provide quality films at a great venue our members would come back eventually, and so it is proving, thank goodness. Now well into our stride with the current season, we have two films coming up this December.

On 7th we are showing Petite Maman (2021) which I reviewed last month, and one week later on the 14th we have Parallel Mothers (2021), another wonderful film from our favourite Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. This marks the eighth reunion with Penelope Cruz and reaffirms their status as one of modern cinema’s great director-actor collaborations. Almodovar says of Cruz, ‘Penelope is a film actress and the camera loves her –the film actress needs to be photogenic. When she gets a grip on the character she’s incredible. She takes risks with me that she won’t take with other directors.’ No wonder she’s happy to work with him.

Penelope Cruz plays Janice, a heavily pregnant forty-something photographer, sharing a room with Ana, a teenager, in a Madrid maternity hospital. This different generation-intertwined storyline cleverly runs in parallel with Janice’s dealings with the legacy of the Spanish civil war on her family, particularly a part of history that has been kept out of sight; over 114,000 civilians killed by General Franco’s forces during the war, disappearing into unmarked mass graves all over the country. It is through the two women’s stories that Almodovar combines issues of life and death – the newborn babies, and Janice’s work in getting permission

for a mass grave to be dug up in her home town – and the polarised position of the two Spains. Ana represents the new, continued amnesia, refusing to engage with history’s injustices, whilst older Janice is determined to call for the state to exhume the bodies so that they can be reburied with dignity and respect. These two parallel narratives of the women’s lives are so masterfully linked, by a director determined to draw attention to Spain’s unresolved relationship with its bloody 20th-century history, and that connection with the theme of the women’s unresolved issues. This clever, engaging film is Almodovar at his finest, confronting the injustices of Spain’s recent history at both a micro and macro level. One definitely not to be missed.

If you have never been to a Cinematheque screening at Yeovil’s Swan Theatre, this is a great film to start. Come as a guest for only £5 to see what we offer. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed; all details are on the website below.

Finally, may I wish everyone a joyous Christmas and a peaceful New Year. cinematheque.org.uk swan-thatre.co.uk

Wednesday 7th December 7.30pm Petite Maman (2021) U

Wednesday 14th December 7.30pm Parallel Mothers (2021) 15 Cinematheque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT Members £1, guests £5

Milena Smit and Penelope Cruz in Pedro Almodovar’s Parallel Mothers

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT

Rosie Cunningham

Ifinally saw David Tennant in C.P. Taylor’s play, Good, which had been delayed for two years due to Covid. As we queued to go into the theatre, the staff put stickers over our mobile phone cameras, same as Cabaret, ‘out of due consideration to future audiences’ and, to be fair, very little information has leaked out

about the play. This is a story about how a German professor, whose best friend is Jewish, gets sucked into the build-up towards World War II, Nazism and the SS, undergoing a gradual horrifying transformation. The key to understanding John Halder, played by David Tennant, is that he is a lonesome man, with a single

Image: Johan Persson

David Tennant in Good at the Harold Pinter Theatre

friend, a chaotic unsatisfying home life with a reliant and needy wife and dependent mother, and a total lack of personal empathy. The attraction of joining the Nazi party is the offer of companionship and the opportunity to be part of something tangible, and he is good at obeying orders. Snatches of music, of every variety, subliminally accompany and distract Halder throughout and he struggles to understand their meaning.

The three actors remain on stage throughout, with Elliot Levey playing Halder’s friend Maurice and other roles, and Sharon Small playing Halder’s wife and mother, and other roles. This abrupt change of character is sometimes confusing to follow, as the actor turns around, assumes a different accent and stature, and begins to speak. The stage, designed by Vicki Mortimer, resembles a concrete bunker, relieved only by two sliding doors that, when opened, hide destructive secrets. Pieces of music come and go throughout, interspersed by the sound of planes flying overhead and other unsettling noises. I won’t explain the monstrous ending, because it would ruin the play for future audiences, however, it is the persistent presence of the music which provides the clue. My companion was not impressed and left at half-time, but I stayed to the end, and I admit that I have been turning over the play in my mind, seeking further meaning. How can a ‘good’ person be so totally corrupted? Powerful rhetoric, flattery, and the desire to find fellowship. It makes you think about comparable modern-day examples. On until 24th December at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Letters Live, which first began as an event in 2013, attracts outstanding actors to perform remarkable letters, written over the centuries and from around the world, in front of a live audience. You never know who is going to appear on stage or what letter they are going to read and at the Royal Albert Hall recently the line-up included Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Jonathan Pryce, Julian Cleary, Graham Norton, and Dolly Alderton. Some of the letters are poignant, others comic or unbearably sad, all brought to life by seasoned performers. All the proceeds from ticket sales go to a nominated charity, and this year it was Choose Love, supporting refugees. To find out when and where the next event is, sign up to the Letters Live Family on the website. These evenings are like gold dust and the atmosphere is magical and celebratory.

haroldpintertheatre.co.uk letterslive.com

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

FIFTEEN ARTISTS

2nd - 21st December 2022

www.jerramgallery.com

BRIDGET LANSLEY THREE MEN AND FRIENDS

TOM HOAR AFRICAN QUEEN

AN ARTIST’S VIEW

Laurence Belbin

A little while ago I had the opportunity to produce a piece of artwork somewhat different from that which I normally apply myself. It took the form of a map of Over and Nether Compton. I was approached firstly by Three Pigeons Press, a local publisher in Long Street, asking if I’d be interested. I was. I then spoke to Barbara Elsmore, the author of a wonderful book titled Over & Nether Compton Snapshots in Time. It follows the story of the Collings family from mid-Victorian times through to the year of the coronation of our late Queen Elizabeth II.

The map I produced is a stylised version based on others, some old and some not so. Having done a map of the mills of Sherborne for the Museum a few years back I followed a similar approach, creating an aerial three-dimensional look, this one being in watercolour rather than oil. Using the field lines and noting where orchards, woodland and pastures were I tried to bring to life an area that was lived in as well as providing a guide to the various houses etc which appear in the text. It has a good selection of photos and my illustrations and map are there to help identify the properties whilst walking around the two villages.

Reading the book and knowing and seeing the locations mentioned really does bring

history to life. A good local read and it can be obtained directly from Barbara via her website comptontales.uk

Still on a historical theme, I went to Shillingstone Railway one Wednesday and did some drawings and watercolour sketches of the new boiler being lifted and placed on the bed of a loco being restored. It’s not something you see often these days and I thought it worthy of capturing in a medium other than photography. There were many ‘high viz’ clad chaps, all very keen volunteers with a wealth of knowledge of engineering and the like, making it all happen.

I found the orange jackets just as interesting to paint as the boiler itself!

The drawing here is A5 in size and I used pencil and pen and ink. I had to work quite quickly and moved the crane a little closer so as to tell the story. Health and safety isn’t shown in my drawing but it was all done proper! I had more time later on to draw/paint, as the last few inches before the bolts were inserted seemed to take ages. It reminded me of the golden shot, down a bit, left a bit!

The station and cafe are open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. A great place where you can go back to a time when train travel was an adventure, at least for children, and promised an enjoyable day out.

COUNTER CULTURE

Paul Maskell, The Beat and Track

No.16 Sub Pop - ‘Going Out of Business Since 1988!’

For those of us of a certain age with a love of punk/indie music, Sub Pop will mark the musical revolution that would shape our tastes for years to come. Originally the brainchild of Bruce Pavitt, Sub Pop started as a fanzine in the early eighties, documenting local bands and gigs. As the fanzine developed, Pavitt began to include compilation cassettes with the magazine highlighting the regional punk scene that was on the increase. After relocation to Seattle, Pavitt hooked up with a local promoter and radio host Johnathan Poneman. Ironically at the time, on 1st April 1988, Pavitt and Poneman jacked in their jobs and formed Sub Pop records. Within a month the company,

being run on minimal capital, was on the verge of bankruptcy. As full partners the duo still pushed on and proceeded to release material from local bands who Pavitt was convinced would become great if only they could be heard. The label’s first releases were by the likes of Green River, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Nirvana. These releases proved that Seattle had a sound and that it was a sound that everyone needed to hear. The duo of Pavitt and Poneman forged ahead and developed a label identity based on the success of labels such as Motown. Using a bold logo and a consistent recording engineer/ producer (Jack Endino) to create a sound and attitude, the label became a go-to place for a new form of punk

rock christened ‘Grunge’.

Consistently on the brink of bankruptcy, the label made its first masterstroke that would help keep them afloat. In late 1988 the Sub Pop singles club was launched. Customers would pay a yearly subscription of $35 and receive a monthly single through the post. Customers would not know what singles by which bands they would receive, only that it would be typical Sub Pop music. The first single to be released by the club was Love Buzz/Big Cheese by Nirvana. A limited run of 1000 numbered copies and 200 unnumbered promos were pressed – if you’re lucky enough to own an original copy it’s worth anything up to £5000. The single helped propel the singles club and the label into the industry spotlight and spurned classic singles by Mudhoney, Tad, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Fugazi, Babes in Toyland, Dinosaur Jr and too many more to mention without me nerding-out on the merits of bands such as Rein Sanction, Earth, Godflesh, Sebadoh and Codeine. I’ll save you from that.

The second masterstroke, although it was somewhat forced upon the label, was the signing of a label contract by Nirvana. On the recording of their debut album Bleach it is reported that Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic accosted Bruce Pavitt while on the way home from a party demanding that the label gave the band a contract. This was something that the label, up to this point, had never considered with any of their rosters but an agreement for a three-album deal was agreed.

Fast forward to the summer of 1991. Sub Pop wasn’t delivering on its promises to some of its top bands. This saw the desertion of Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Nirvana to major labels. The label had laid off most of its staff and had run out of money. Cheques for promo photography were bouncing, and Pavitt and Poneman were paying bills by spending their savings to keep the

label alive. Then came the revolution.

That summer saw the release of Nevermind by Nirvana. I was 17 and bought the album the day it came out. By the end of December, 2 million more people had bought the Geffen-released album. The contract Pavitt was forced to provide Nirvana suddenly raised them from being bankrupt and unable to pay the phone bill to receiving a cheque for $500,000. With the huge success of Nevermind came the renewed interest in Nirvana’s debut Bleach. This only helped to steady the Sub Pop ship and put them back on the industry map. The contract also ensured a slice of the In Utero pie when this album was released in 1993.

With the cash procured by the release of the Nirvana albums and ongoing interest in previous Sub Pop releases, the label began to rapidly expand. This resulted in the purchase of 49% of the company by Warners. The corporate culture that was introduced to the label went against everything that Pavitt stood for and culminated in his resignation. The label spent the next few years trying to find some stability in the post-grunge world. These years were somewhat barren and the label began to lose some of its kudos within the industry. This was rectified by the discovery of the band The Shins. With the release of their debut, Oh, Inverted World, the label gained newfound respect in a post-Nirvana world. The label has since grown in stature and has gone on to release more than 800 singles, EPs and albums. It is again a hive of great taste and innovative music from bands like Low, Father John Misty, Band of Horses, Orville Peck, Weyes Blood, Metz, Clipping, Postal Service, Kiwi Jr, Squid and so many more. Not bad for a label that’s been ‘Going out of business since 1988!’. thebeatandtrack.co.uk

WHAT'S ON

Every Monday & Thursday

1.30pm-4pm

Sherborne Indoor Short Mat Bowls

West End Hall, Sherborne 01935 812329. All welcome

Every 1st Thursday 9.30am Netwalk for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs Pageant Gardens. @Netwalksherborne

Thursdays 7.30pm-9.30pm

St Michael’s Scottish Country Dance Club Davis Hall, West Camel £2. Call Elspeth 07972 125617 stmichaelsscdclub.org

Thursday 1st 2pm

Coker Canvas: The Textile Industry of the Somerset/ Dorset Border Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road Free to members of Sherborne Museum, £5 to visitors. Tea included

Saturday 3rd - Saturday 10th December 10am-5pm

Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival Cheap Street Church. Proceeds to Sherborne Food Bank and Sherborne

Christians Against Poverty (see page 24)

Sunday 4th 10-4pm

Sherborne Festive Shopping Day Abbey and Church services, Christmas tree lighting, Santa’s grotto, music, bands and choirs, street events, festive shops and stalls, food and drink

Monday 5th – Saturday 10th December 7.30pm

Amateur Players of SherborneBetrayal by Harold Pinter Sherborne Studio Theatre, Marston Rd £10/£12 07786 070093 aps-sherborne.co.uk

Tuesday 6th 8pm

Members’ Christmas Evening - Dr Ruscombe Foster - A Moral Threesome: Florence Nightingale and the Herberts Digby Hall, Hound Street Members free, visitors £5 sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

Wednesday 7th 10.45am

The Probus Club of Sherborne Talk - Medical Detection Dogs

The Grange Hotel, Oborne New members always welcome. Info: jhbuckleyfca@aol.com 01935 507459. probus-sherborne.org.uk

Wednesday 7th 3pm & 7pm

The Arts Society Sherborne Talk - Toulouse Lautrecthe Golden Age of Cabaret Digby Hall Hound Street theartssocietysherborne.org

Wednesday 7th December 7.30pm

Petite Maman (2021) U Cinematheque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT Members £1, guests £5. cinematheque.org.uk (see preview page 8)

Thursday 8th 2.30pm

Sherborne and District Gardeners’ Association Quiz & Festive Refreshments

Digby Hall, Hound Street All are welcome. Non-members £2. Info 01935 389375

Friday 9th - Sunday 1st January Dick Whittington Octagon Theatre Yeovil. 01935 422884 octagon-theatre.co.uk

Friday 9th 7.30pm Concert - Mike Denham’s Elite Syncopations Cheap Street Church. £15.00. Bookings:

raymondwood1949@gmail.com. In aid of Sherborne Food Bank and CAP (Christians Against Poverty)

Saturday 10th 10am-2.30pm

Milborne Port Christmas Fair

Milborne Port Village Hall, DT9 5RE In aid of the Friends of Milborne Port Community Library

Wednesday 14th 10.45am

The Probus Club of Sherborne Talk - History of Pantomime

The Grange Hotel, Oborne New members always welcome. Info: jhbuckleyfca@aol.com 01935 507459. probus-sherborne.org.uk

Wednesday 14th 7.30pm

Parallel Mothers (2021) 15

Cinematheque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT. Members £1, guests £5. cinematheque.org.uk (see preview page 8)

Saturday 17th 10am-12.30pm (last repair 12.15pm)

Repair Cafe

Cheap Street Church Hall Bring household items to be repaired and avoid landfill. repaircafesherborne@ gmail.com or @repaircafesherborne

Sunday 18th

The Sherborne Market

Local producers, suppliers, amazing food, arts and crafts. thesherbornemarket.com

Sunday 18th 4pm

Candlelit Village Carol Service St James the Great, Longburton. Come dressed as a nativity character or we can dress you when you arrive. Seasonal refreshments. vicarlesley@outlook.com

Sunday 25th 12.30pm-3pm

Sherborne Churches TogetherChristmas Day Lunch

Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road Bookings - Sherborne Abbey Parish Office (3 Abbey Close) or 01935 713777 (mornings only). Free to all.

Planning ahead

Sunday 1st 2pm-4pm

Divine Union Soundbath Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA. £15. Advance bookings 01935 389655 or ahiahel@live.com

Wednesday 4th January 2023 3pm & 7pm

The Arts Society Sherborne -

Join us on the first Wednesday of the month at 3pm and 7pm

Digby Hall, Hound Street

7th December: Toulouse-Lautrec and the Golden Age of Cabaret

4th January: The Gateway to Eternity - Icons NEW Programme can be seen at www.theartssocietysherborne.org

Come as a visitor or join now, gaining 1 month of free membership theartssocietysherborne.org

The Gateway to Eternity - Icons Digby Hall, Hound Street

Free for members, £7 for non-members theartssocietysherborne.org/

Sport

Sherborne RFC

The Terrace Playing Fields Men’s 1st XV (3pm KO)

Saturday 3rd St Austell (A)

Saturday 10th Sidmouth (H) Saturday 17th Truro (A) (2.30pm KO)

Sherborne Football Club

The Terrace Playing Fields Men’s 1st XI (3pm KO)

Saturday 10th Clevedon (H) Saturday 17th Cadbury Heath (H) Monday 26th Street (A) listings@homegrown-media.co.uk

STREET SPIRIT

Nico Goodden, Photographer

Lalage Snow

For many years, local photographer, filmmaker and writer, Lally Snow covered wars in Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East. Her first book, War Gardens published in 2018, illustrates and explores the healing act of gardening in the face of brutal conflict.

LEAVING A LEGACY

Michael Cannon, The Sherborne

The Sherborne seems to be the talk of the town at the moment; people keep asking questions because of the major restoration work being undertaken. So, I thought it a good time to introduce myself to the town and share a little bit about what we’re trying to achieve.

My brother-in-law brought the house to my attention many years ago, while my wife and I were living in Devon. There was a BBC programme called Restoration in 2004 which highlighted the property was ‘at risk’, although it had been under the ownership of Dorset County Council since the 1930s. I thought as many did, that there was going to be some kind of funding for Sherborne House, but unfortunately, this didn’t happen. So, the building has been slowly decaying and waiting for something to be done for nearly twenty years, which was such a shame.

When my wife and I settled nearby, my brotherin-law mentioned the building to me again. I was uncertain at first, due to the scale of the renovation. Being on the Heritage at Risk Register would require meticulous planning – and rightly so.

My first experience in Dorset was with Devenish Brewery based in Weymouth. They had over 350 pubs across the region but were struggling to keep them up to scratch. There were lots of challenges and everyone thought I was mad for taking it on – but I did and, thankfully, it worked. Ultimately, the success of that company has enabled me to invest in this colossal project.

I’ve always seen Sherborne as an artistic and cultural centre; the town has so many interesting people, and there’s an abundance of talent around. Over the past few decades, the South West has established itself as a hub of creativity – we’ve got Hauser & Wirth and The Newt in Bruton, Sculpture by the Lakes outside Dorchester and many others. The two key things that I want to achieve are to preserve a beautiful, historical building and to give it a bright future.

The venue will be run as a charity, complete with trustees because unfortunately, I won’t be around

forever. My job is to ensure it’s viable for a long time, without any Government support, as I don’t think that will be an option. The Arts Council and funding organisations are really pushed to the limits too. So, we are going to do what we can ourselves – hence it being a multifunctional arts venue, complete with hospitality areas to help with costs.

As I write this, the historic restoration is well underway, which is incredibly exciting. We’ve curated an exceptional team to work on this project. We have enlisted Stonewood Builders, who simply have the best people. The craftsmen are absolutely fantastic – the intricate work on the panelling has been extraordinary to witness. These panels will be covered in handmade silk, made by the same manufacturers as Buckingham Palace, so we’re all rather looking forward to seeing that come together.

Likewise, local design and architectural specialists, Spase Design are on board. Stefan Pitman and his

Michael Cannon with artwork remaining on The Sherborne's walls from its time as a girls' grammar school

team are very dynamic and capable. Stefan majored in historical buildings and he’s very calm, collected, and able to deal with people – including me, which can’t be easy at times!

Our next-door neighbour, Patrick Macintosh, is the renowned antique dealer and owner of Macintosh Antiques. He is sourcing some interesting pieces to bring The Sherborne to life.

The kitchens and the dining areas are going to be fabulous – under the supervision of the Commercial Director, Jeremy Lee. He left London for Dorset several years ago and is known by many for his transformation of The New Inn in Cerne Abbas. When he became available, I thought I need to snap him up quickly as he’s the kind of chap to set this project alight.

We’re delighted that The Sherborne will be the new home of Dorset Visual Arts. They will be responsible for producing a dynamic arts and events programme, prioritising imaginative, accomplished art, craft, design,

and digital media created in the area – and exploring its connections to creativity elsewhere. We want local artists and makers to become involved too.

The Friends of Sherborne House have been invaluable with their knowledge of the building’s history and are a vital part of our preservation process.

So, we’re using our best efforts to make it somewhere that people want to come, meet, explore, and experience – especially local schools, whom we really want to inspire.

But any charitable enterprise like ours needs an army of volunteers to bring the project to life, so I’m hoping many of you will come forward and get involved. Ultimately, this project is for the town. I am here as a passing ship, and I am handing this glorious building over to you, the townspeople, to use, enjoy, and hopefully, benefit from.

You can follow the progress of our restoration journey at thesherborne.uk.

SHERBORNE CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2022

Catherine Broadley, Sherborne Churches Together

Many of you will have been looking forward to, and enjoying, the annual Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival, held in Cheap Street church each year. It has become a heart-warming community event, which not only brings joy to those who visit but also raises money for charity. The idea stemmed from Bridport United Church and was brought to Sherborne in 2002 by Yve Ackroyd, who is still an active participant. Don Farquharson, Margaret Beard and other members of Cheap Street church have nurtured the festival and made it what it is today. During lockdown they decided it was time to hand over the reins and Sherborne Churches Together have now taken over the organisation, although it will still be hosted by Cheap Street church. Sherborne Churches Together comprises representatives from eight local churches, and also organise other annual community events such as the Christmas Lunch and the Snowdrop Service.

In the early days of the festival, the Christmas trees and lights were funded by the committee, but about four years later Castle Gardens recognised it as a local community event and generously offered to donate up to 40 trees. The proceeds have always been shared between two charities, at least one of which is always local. Over the years, the festival has raised over £45,000 and the yearly attendance has been up to 4000 people!

Local charities sponsor a tree and design their own decorations. It is a wonderful way to showcase the special interest and support groups based in the town, and contact details will be available for people wishing to find out more about the charities and get involved. This year we will have the option of giving via contactless payment as we recognise that not everyone now carries cash. Donations are voluntary and very much appreciated! All proceeds will be split between two local charities and reflect the difficulties

that many people are facing with the rising cost of living: Sherborne Food Bank which is a volunteer-run organisation that helps the hungry and families in crisis, within and around the parish of Sherborne, and Christians Against Poverty (CAP) which provides free professional services to help people get out of debt, find a job or gain vital life skills.

We are delighted that some local choirs will be singing during the week and would love your support. There will also be a jazz concert and the closing carol concert with music by the Town Band. We look forward to welcoming you!

Saturday 3rd - Saturday 10th December 10am-5pm

Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival 2022 Cheap Street Church

Festival Highlights

Saturday 3rd 10am Christmas Tree Festival opens

Sunday 4th 10.30am Sunday Morning Worship led by Rev Kate Konrad

Monday 5th 2.30pm Abbey Primary School Choir

Tuesday 6th 2pm Leweston Prep Choir

Wednesday 7th 2pm U3A Choir carols

Thursday 8th 2pm Sherborne Primary School Choir

Friday 9th 7.30pm ‘Mike Denham’s Elite Syncopations’ jazz concert (see What’s On pages)

Saturday 10th 5pm Closing Carol Concert with The Town Band, Town Mayor and presentation of cheques to the Food Bank and to CAP Please note Cheap Street church is accessible via a ramp as well as steps and is wheelchair-friendly.

Guschenkova/Shutterstock

THE SHERBORNE SINGERS

Katherine Sharp

Christmas is coming! It isn’t just the falling leaves, the low, brilliant autumn sunshine and certainly not the premature hype in shops and on television that brings this home to me. It is the first glimpse of the beauty of Christmas in music – music that our choir will be learning and perfecting through the darkening days ahead and finally performing when Christmas has arrived and the air is charged with the goodwill of the season.

This time last year was perhaps a particularly poignant moment. We had had a long silence enforced on us by the pandemic and although our programme was more limited than usual we were able to sing again in preparation for our musical come-back at the Sherborne Abbey Christmas concert and at a festive evensong. Singing and laughing seem to have a similar effect; both are physical manifestations of joy - and once they start they escalate. Our rehearsals are full of both. It was truly wonderful to experience all that again and to belt out At The Round Earth’s Imagined Corners by Malcolm Archer as if we had never sung in our lives before!

I first joined the Sherborne Singers because I missed singing in the church choir where I lived previously. I was thrilled to find a choir that sang mostly sacred music. It means we sing some of the most beautiful and haunting choral music ever written. Some of it dates back to the medieval period but some is very modern. The choir introduced me to the incredible work of contemporary composer, Alexander L’Estrange and now I am a real fan. I was no stranger to singing and reading from a score, but under the expert directorship of conductor, William Slogrove, I feel as if I am learning and broadening my scope all the time.

We fulfilled our programme through 2022. We sang the Evening Service in D Major by Charles Wood at Salisbury Cathedral in April. Our repertoire also

includes music composed by William himself and we sang his communion setting at Sherborne Abbey, while his daughter Amelia (now a guest in the choir) sang Ex Ore Innocentium by John Ireland. Sublime! At evensong, also at Sherborne, we sang the Stanford in A setting of the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis and, to my delight, Alexander L’Estrange’s Let all the World in Every Corner Sing – not an easy thing to master, but we did it!

For the Sherborne Singers, choir night is also cake night. In Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree, old Michael Mail of the Mellstock choir remarked, ‘There’s a friendly tie of some sort between music and eating.’ How true that is! In addition to the cake, we love to round off a good Salisbury evensong with a convivial repast, or a Sherborne communion service with a late croissant breakfast at William’s house.

Over the past years, the Sherborne Singers have been privileged to be asked to sing in many beautiful country churches at Christmas time. Hardy wrote touchingly of the Mellstock choir getting ready to go carol singing. When it was time for them to run through ‘number seventy-eight’ from the Christmas carol book, Michael told them, ‘He’s a good tune, and worth a mint o’ practice.’

William has chosen some good tunes for the Sherborne Singers this Christmas and, like the musicians of Mellstock, we are putting in a ‘mint o’ practice’.

We meet every Wednesday during school term times for rehearsals (and cake). There is an informal audition for new members but no preparation is required and it really isn’t scary. If you would like to join, or just ‘test the water’, contact William on 07879 287285 or email dorset.musichouse@btinternet.com.

The Sherborne Singers will be performing as part of the Sherborne Abbey Christmas Concert on Monday 12th December.

MARKET KNOWLEDGE

WENDY

LANE-BEALE,

Welcome to The Sherborne Market! What brings you here? We have an online shop but want to raise our profile locally. We find the shoppers of Sherborne are in-tune with our ethos and are very proactive about going green. We like it here so much we’ve actually just opened a shop on South Street

Where have you travelled from? Gillingham, so not too far.

Tell us about what you’re selling. We sell plastic-free and sustainably-made homewares, kitchenware, self-care products, natural rubber wellies and handmade bags and baskets. We also like to support local makers and feature lots of artisan products in our shop.

RED PANDA ECO SHOP

Where and when did it all begin?

It began in early 2020, just before Covid happened. We launched the website in March and started attending markets in July 2021.

What do you enjoy most about selling at markets? Meeting so many fabulous people, being able to display our products and discussing their benefits in person.

If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit? We like to pop over to Compton Candles, James’ Cheese and Dorset Pottery when we can.

Where can people find you on market day? Our stall is usually on Half Moon Street or Digby Road. Our Red Panda Eco Shop on South Street will always be open on market days too.

redpandatrading.com

OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER

Christmas is just around the corner, and Sherborne never fails to provide the ideal backdrop for yuletide festivity. For as long as I can remember, Christmas activity in and around Sherborne has been the staple of Christmas for me. Stocking up at the Christmas Festive Shopping Day and late-night shopping for example. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at Sherborne Abbey and bellringing in village churches around the wider Sherborne area. And of course, what Christmas dinner would be

complete without the roast potatoes, brought to the western world by our very own Sir Walter Raleigh of Sherborne Castle fame.

This is also a time for many of us to think about those who may not be able to enjoy what many take for granted this time of year. A happy family around them, or even any companionship at all, or without the ability to pay out for presents or Christmas dinner. But this is where I think Sherborne really comes into its own. Every year, I see new people, churchgoers or

Chris Loder MP, Member of Parliament for West Dorset

Image: Len Copland

not, brought into the community spirit at Sherborne Abbey. Our town is also very fortunate to have such a dedicated volunteer network serving the community, one that I think communities across the United Kingdom would do very well to emulate.

Sherborne Community Kitchen is a prime example. Covid and the lockdowns exacerbated the loneliness and discontent many people may have already felt in their daily lives. Christmas 2020 allowed a brief reprieve for some families from the isolation of the previous lockdown, but many households were not that fortunate. Sherborne Community Kitchen nonetheless stepped up and provided those in need with a free roast dinner for Christmas, ensuring those who may have felt they were missing out could at least be given some semblance of normality for the festive period.

Last year for Christmas, whilst Coronavirus was still an issue, we did not have the scale of isolation experienced in 2020. This allowed for much greater community involvement in festivities. Sherborne Community Kitchen’s Christmas dinner drew in support from local supermarkets and schools, shops and businesses from all around who recognised the vital service they provide. I understand that for 2021, they attracted almost 50 volunteers to help! And it’s more than just a ‘service’ – it’s a gift and a godsend for so many people struggling through Christmas. Adverts and programmes on television in the lengthy run-up to 25th December often do many people real hurt by the lavish consumerism and reminders of what they may not have. The people and organisations in and around Sherborne have demonstrated the perfect antidote to this.

The state cannot and will never be able to provide all the answers to people’s problems. Of course, the state will help those in need by meeting their material requirements and living needs. But it can never replace the warm hand of a family member, friend or neighbour. Volunteer action, charity and community spirit when channelled through fantastic organisations like what we have here in Sherborne, will no doubt make an immeasurable difference to the lives of so many for Christmas this year and I would like to thank them very much for contributing to the life and fabric of our Sherborne society, both at Christmas and throughout the year. Wherever you’re spending Christmas this year, can I wish you and your family and friends a very Happy Christmas.

chrisloder.co.uk

UNEARTHED

Tom Northcott, aged 17 Sherborne School

Tom was 8 years old when he started go-karting, inspired by his dad’s participation in karting and rallying and being surrounded by cars from a young age. Now in the Upper Sixth at Sherborne, Tom participates in Rental Karting, whenever he is back at home, competing nationally and all over the country at different racetracks.

Rental Karting is what it says on the tin; you rent a kart, turn up to find it waiting for you and hope it is the one that is going to help achieve the fastest possible time on the track! Tom is clearly passionate about karting and perhaps it is no surprise to the adrenaline junkies amongst you, that the competition, speeds reached, and danger involved are reasons why Tom continues to race and remains committed to karting.

With a home racetrack in Herefordshire, Tom’s proudest moment was becoming the regional champion this year and, having achieved an impressive ninth place nationally, he hopes to podium at the National Championships 2023.

Tom enjoys the tactical nature of racing. Each track is different and requires concentration, focus and decisionmaking in pressured situations – skills that will come in useful when he comes to take his driving test next year!

07808 400083

info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk www.katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk

sherborne.org

Image: John Patterson/Claire Gutteridge

BookChildren’sReview

This book is about Paddington Bear and the important things about Christmas. Paddington doesn’t have much money and worries about presents for his family. The story really explains the pictures which not all storybooks do. I especially liked the bit about Paddington burning Christmas biscuits because he has to bake with his paws!

The best thing about this book was the envelopes on each page and the surprise of taking things out – this felt like finding treasures! My favourite envelope was

the one with an ornament inside for Mrs Bird.

When you read this story it makes you remember the Queen and when she had tea with Paddington. Now she’s died it makes me think of her and the fun she had with Paddington. I love everything inside this story. It’s beautiful. I learnt from this book that Christmas isn’t all about presents, it is about seeing your family and friends.

leweston.co.uk

Celebrating 10 Years as Sherborne’s Independent Bookseller 2012-2022

8 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PX www.winstonebooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 816 128

Emily, aged 6 Leweston Prep

Paddington’s Christmas Post by Michael Bond, illustrated by R. W. Alley (Harper Collins Children’s Books) £12.99

Sherborne Times reader offer price of £10.99 from Winstone’s Books

Your mortgage is most probably the largest commitment and investment that you will ever make.

That is why it is so important to make sure you have the right mortgage for you that suits your individual circumstances.

Fully independent, and directly authorised, our adviser Chris Towell, is able to research every mortgage product available to the independent market, including those which are not available on the high street.

The first appointment is free of charge and we will then provide you with a tailor-made solution for your needs.

We believe in making the mortgage application process easy and straightforward for our clients, helping you to understand mortgages.

We provide our clients with an outstanding supportive service throughout the whole of the mortgage process. Existing clients return to us at renewal and are happy to refer new clients to us.

AT THE TABLE

Michela Chiappa

EASY PEASY PANCAKES

Pancakes are a fantastic way to get some good nutrients into your children and help avoid sugary, processed cereals. This is the basic recipe but you can jazz them up by making different colours and giving them a festive twist. A tablespoon of beetroot powder adds goodness and makes them a fun pink colour or a tablespoon of blended spinach gives them a natural green hue – you can then use Christmas cookie cutters to stamp the shapes once they are cooked. Simple ideas, but lots of fun.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves: 3–4

Pancake ingredients:

100g self-raising flour

100ml whole milk

1 egg Oil or butter, for frying

Method:

1 Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.

2 Add any flavour ingredient (see below) and mix well.

3 Heat a non-stick frying pan on medium heat.

4 Drizzle a little olive oil or butter into the pan and let it heat up.

5 Dollop a tablespoon of batter at a time into the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Flavour ideas:

• Add 1 tablespoon of puréed sweet potato to make orange pancakes.

• Substitute the milk with coconut milk and add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened desiccated coconut for coconut pancakes.

• Cut an apple or pear into discs, dip them into the batter and fry for a fruity fritter.

@michela.chiappa

TheChiappaSisters thechiappas.com

Baby at the Table: A 3-Step Guide to Weaning the Italian Way (Michael Joseph) £16.99. Sherborne Times reader offer price of £14.99 from Winstone’s Books

Simply Italian: Cooking at Home with the Chiappa Sisters (Michael Joseph) £22 (hardcover). Sherborne Times reader offer price of £20 from Winstone’s Books

CREATING ENTREPRENEURS OF THE FUTURE

Emma Wimhurst, Business and Entrepreneurship Lead, Sherborne Girls

Starting a cosmetics business from scratch at my kitchen table and growing it into a multi-millionpound operation with fifteen employees, opened some unexpected doors. The opportunities that followed - publishing a book, speaking at major business conferences, judging business competitions and giving talks to schools - made me realise that I wanted to inspire and support the bright young minds of the future.

Now in my seventh year as Business A Level teacher and Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator, I am privileged to be educating future generations of women. I am also fortunate to be doing so in a school that was built on an entrepreneurial vision.

Fostering the qualities and skills associated with an ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ is enshrined in one of Sherborne Girls’ five strategic pillars: our commitment to preparing girls for their future in the workplace, whether as business leaders, entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs. This commitment is embraced by all staff and is embedded in everything we do.

We recognise that being entrepreneurial is not just about knowing how to start and run your own business – it is about being the best you can be, making sure that you are in the driving seat, and making a difference. It’s about having the confidence to disrupt the norm and defy the doubters. It’s about creating opportunities, rather than waiting for them.

When our girls come to leave us, we want to make sure that they are prepared to make the most of a world where there are more opportunities for female business leaders and owners than ever before. Female entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the greatest opportunities for economic growth in the 21st century. Following the Treasury-commissioned Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, published in 2019, the UK Government committed to increase female entrepreneurs by an additional 600,000 by 2030, through a range of education initiatives and financial support.

According to the World Economic Forum, the skills required to thrive in the workplace include complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and co-ordinating well with others. The Sherborne Girls' Entrepreneurship in Education Programme, now in its third year, is designed to foster these skills and more across all year groups.

The programme is built on four key elements. First, we use real-life challenges to foster problem-solving and confident decision-making. Working with The Inspirational Learning Group, our L4, U4 and M5 participate in one-day challenges, which are set by real employers and designed to encourage pupils to develop and apply workplace skills.

This year, for example, our M5 took part in the NatWest ‘Go Green Challenge’. They were asked to create a new product or service to help NatWest customers ‘Go Green’ by saving energy or reducing their carbon footprint. The winners (Winnie Foster, Betsy Chow, Diyala Deeley, Ella Davidson and Rose Wingfield-Digby) came up with ‘Coffee Print’, a paper manufactured from coffee grounds by solar-

powered machines, reducing dependence on trees, coffee waste and carbon footprint.

Second, we give our girls opportunities to learn from the many successful local businesses within our thriving local community. Our L5, for example, take part in a ‘Coffee Shop Challenge’ in which they work in teams to create a new coffee shop concept. During this six-week programme, they carry out market research in Sherborne to identify gaps. Visits to some of the town’s most popular coffee shops, including lively and informative talks from owners such as Graham Cox (Bean Shot) and Jane Wood (Oliver’s) not only inspire but also encourage discussion around target audience, marketing and branding. The teams present their ideas to a panel of judges in the summer.

Third, regular exposure to a wide range of entrepreneurs provides valuable insights into what can be a rollercoaster ride between idea and business reality. In attending talks given by some of our highly successful alumnae, girls learn about the importance of qualities such as resilience, courage, tenacity and integrity. As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week

2022, for example, we are hosting lunchtime talks with Tattie Isles (Tattie Rose Flowers) and Thea Carroll (Thea Carroll Property Consultancy) who will share their own entrepreneurial journeys.

Finally, and perhaps most powerfully, we take a genuinely cross-curricular approach to entrepreneurship. For example, during the ‘Coffee Shop Challenge’, our L5 will receive support from staff across the curriculum including in Computer Science, Food, and Art and Design. My colleagues will help the girls with web design, food costs and production, as well as product design and manufacture.

This collaborative approach is, in my view, one of the main drivers behind our track record of fostering individuals who leave their mark on the world. The Entrepreneurship in Education Programme is my responsibility but the skills, qualities and habits it fosters are also supported and celebrated by all members of staff working in partnership to prepare young women of the future.

sherborne.com

MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES

Rosie Hendry, Head of Music, Sherborne Prep

Whether Chinese curse or not, the expression ‘May you live in interesting times’ has undeniably caught us in its exhausting grasp. As the world staggers from the frying pan of Covid to the fire of belt-tightening and energy crises, parents and educators could be forgiven for deciding that there were more important things to worry about

than music. Where music has remained central, though, communities have thrived, as I personally have witnessed.

Covid was a ‘Noah’s Ark’ moment during which we were instructed to stop and consider our patterns and priorities. Before coming to teach at Sherborne Prep, I taught music in an Italian School in Padua where the permanent wearing of face masks was mandatory,

singing was forbidden, and amateur music was outlawed. I saw school pupils disappear into themselves, desperate for connection ‘IRL’ (in real life) and the exploration of expression. By heart-warming contrast, Netherton (our performing arts centre) is a warm and inviting hearth of creativity where pupils’ minds, selves and souls are fired up through music, drama, and dance. With nearly 120 one-to-one music lessons a week, 20 different weekly ensembles, and 12 professional visiting music teachers (in a school of slightly more than 200 pupils), the re-suited boarding house to the Performing Arts Department provides plentiful and high-quality opportunities to the entire school community.

This is all the more remarkable when one remembers that not so long ago we justifiably questioned whether students and professionals would ever again perform shoulder-to-shoulder in front of live audiences; whether the industry itself would recover. But, as it has done so often before, music – that greatest companion to life – has won through as the daily habits of consistent practice guide us to realms of ineffable beauty.

Music gives an insight into other lives lived, battles won and lost, and the supernatural and sacred. It is impossible to rationalise being totally subjective. It can lift people out of their humdrum existence and exalt them into heavenly and life-affirming spheres. If we think of the world as being a product of patterns and cycles, we can draw parallels between music and life, seeing music as a symbolic representation of harmonic equilibrium. Our favourite, most analysed and admired music, for example, is often where the extremes of simplicity and chaos meet (from Hendrix to Bach to Sally Beamish). Music gives its students an example of proximal development (or the right amount of chaos, in other words), subtly showing them how to flourish without being overwhelmed. Regardless of this, and whatever your interaction with music, and no matter how hard-nosed you might be, you simply cannot toss it asunder.

This Christmas month, we have traditional rituals of togetherness, all punctuated and accompanied by music. Every single person involved in musicmaking makes a tremendous commitment and believes in excellence. Not as something exclusive, but as something essential and completely inclusive, proving that tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive, but go hand-in-hand.

sherborneprep.org

Image: Katharine Davies

"Music – that greatest companion to life –has won through"

CHRISTMAS MUSIC-MAKING

Advent Sunday (27th November) marks the beginning of the rehearsal season for Christmas music that theoretically comes to an end with Epiphany. So as the Abbey choristers start rehearsing carols on cold and wintry mornings at 7.45am, and then enjoy performing wonderful choral repertoire right up to and including Christmas Day, so too do school music departments rehearse their choirs for end-of-term carol services and, in many cases, their bands and orchestras for seasonal concerts.

For many, singing becomes a daily activity during this season. And increasingly, singing regularly in this way is perceived as being good for mental health:

seemingly it makes you happier; it reduces stress; it improves cognitive function; it boosts self-esteem; and it collaboratively builds community with a strong sense of the team. Choirs often form their own subcommunities through their singing whilst carol singing, as a larger communal activity, promotes a strong sense of wellbeing amongst its participants.

Years ago on a dark, wet and windy December evening in the Abbey during a Sherborne School Evening Prayer, there was a flicker of the lights as the power dipped, and the organ was silenced mid-hymn. Mistakenly, the rest of the hymn which, if memory serves me correctly, was a carol, fell to silence. What was

James Henderson, Director of Music for Sherborne School and Sherborne Abbey

both interesting and unexpected was the reaction of the pupils after the service. ‘Why didn’t we sing the rest of the carol without the organ?’ I was asked. ‘We were looking forward to that one: we haven’t sung it in ages; it’s one of the good ones and it makes everyone feel happy!’ No doubt something resembling a hearty rugby chorus had been feared by those in authority if the singing were to have resumed, but clearly everyone felt ‘robbed’ by the absence of six or seven verses of their favourite hymn.

You just can’t beat the old classics such as O come, O come Emmanuel, Hark! The herald angels sing, and The First Nowell but at least one other musical off-

shoot of the season in schools is a proliferation of fresh compositions based around the Christmas message. Composition, to one degree or another, has been a part of the GCSE and A Level Music specifications for the past twenty-five years or so and, since the arrival of Music Technology made it possible to listen to what is being written — and to make changes to the sound of the music with a few clicks of a mouse — the possibility of producing convincing Christmas music without having had formal instrumental training is eminently possible. For so long, composing had been a slightly isolated process involving pencil, paper and rubber and requiring an ability to hear what was being written inside the head. But the arrival of Logic, Ableton and Sibelius software, where the composition is played back instantaneously on sampled voices and instruments, has enabled anyone to have a go, and composition communities or after-school clubs (they’re often called ‘Co-Curricular Enrichment Clubs’ these days) has moved the generation of bedroom and living room composers (particularly during lockdowns) to collaborative composition sessions in classrooms and rehearsal rooms. What fun!

Have a think, though, about those who rehearse their singing, playing and composing as Christmas approaches. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without them and their music. Like everything, and no more or less than in the much lauded and applauded world of sport, music-making in its various different forms — particularly when it is at a high level — requires a huge commitment and unfading dedication from all of those involved. This is not just from youngsters, but also from their supportive parents whose lifestyles are undoubtedly dominated by the proliferating rehearsals of the season. Some have their own to attend.

Almost without exception, all musical activities are ‘voluntary’. But of course, if they are to be good and are to be enjoyed by everyone involved every bit as much as the listening audience, the only bit of them that is genuinely voluntary is the moment that someone decides to take part! Music-making, after all, involves making a choice to prioritise the pursuit of excellence over many other activities and pursuits, first through individual practising and then through community rehearsing — and that includes prioritising it over Christmas indulgence!

sherborne.org sherborneabbey.com

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THE FIRECREST

Murray, Dorset Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer

One of the real gems of Dorset’s winter woodland is the diminutive firecrest which vies with the goldcrest for the title of the UK’s smallest bird. Firecrests were first recorded breeding in the UK in Hampshire in 1962, and are now found in coniferous forests throughout much of southern England. A small number of these tiny sprites breed in the county but the population is boosted in winter by visitors from continental Europe.

Compared to the equally tiny and closely related goldcrest, firecrests are generally brighter with clearer markings. The black and white face pattern is particularly distinctive and contrasts with the goldcrest’s rather vacant expression. Male firecrests can usually be distinguished from females by their bright orange crown edged with black, while the female’s crown is yellow, but this can be difficult to see. The firecrest’s name has a royal ring to it - Regulus ignicapilla translates roughly as the fire-capped little king, a reference to that beautiful orange crown.

Firecrests can be found in a variety of woodlands and hedgerows but seem to have a slight preference for evergreens like holly and holm oak. Like many small birds, they are more often heard than seen and the high-pitched calls are often the first sign of a firecrest

in the vicinity.

During the late autumn and winter, firecrests can be found in many Dorset locations. I’ve been lucky enough to observe several in my garden, where they often feed on the many aphids found on the underside of sycamore leaves. Although often solitary, firecrests can also be found amongst the roving flocks of tits which forage in the winter woodland.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

FIRECREST FACTS

• Firecrests are restless, energetic little birds that rarely stay still for long.

• A hint of orange on this bird’s crown stripe suggests it’s a male

• Goldcrests are closely related but are generally duller than firecrests with a rather ‘sad-eyed’, vacant expression.

• If seen well, the striped head pattern of a firecrest is unmistakable. The bright green ‘collar’ is another good identification feature.

Hamish

Image: Hamish Murray

DRAWN TO THE LIGHT

Silver Y Autographa gamma

Gillian Nash

The Silver Y is one of our commonest migrant moths and may appear throughout the year in almost any UK habitat, especially in southern counties.

Most sightings however will be during spring through to autumn as they arrive from North Africa and southern Europe, having taken advantage of fast, high airstreams to assist flight. Although essentially an immigrant species, there will be one or two homebred generations during late spring and summer – these individuals tend to be of deeper shades of marbled and mottled silver, black and brown than the often paler, greyer migrant individuals. The resulting late-season offspring of these earlier visitors may return to their counties of origin in autumn.

Some years see high numbers of migrant Silver Y moths. One such year was 2016 when the Paris Euro football final coincided with a large influx, making international headline news. Overnight stadium lights had attracted thousands of moths to the pitch and stands. Such an unusual sight caused a mixed reaction with some panic from the arriving crowds

and players as the resting but now disturbed moths tried to locate alternative hard-to-find cover during the match.

Green larvae hatch from single eggs laid on many different groups of plants including nettle, dock, hop, toadflax, brassicas and garden peas. Such a wideranging variety of foodplants make it less likely that significant harm would be caused to UK garden vegetable crops in years of normal migration levels.

In its tentiform resting pose, the characteristic striking silver ‘Y’ on each intricately patterned forewing easily reveals the identity of this beautiful moth. Less frequently seen closely related species including Plain Golden Y and Beautiful Golden Y have a similar identifying mark but none are day-flying. Active both at night and during daylight hours, they fly rapidly from flower to flower seeking nectar from many cultivated and native plants of open bloom type such as scabious, knapweeds and buddleia. Incorporating nectar-rich species in garden planting schemes will almost certainly reward with the sight of this amazing insect among town and country flower borders.

HWall/Shutterstock

FARMING AND CONSERVATION

Simon Ford, Land and Nature Adviser

Dorset is one of the most beautiful counties in Britain, with an amazing variety of places, from the heaths of Purbeck to the rolling downland around Cerne; the forests at Puddletown; the heavy clay of Blackmore Vale and the sea cliffs at Golden Cap. There are no truly wild areas in Dorset and arguably in Britain, with man’s influence found from the top of the Cairngorms to areas below sea level in East Anglia and Somerset Levels.

Farmland covers about 70% or 24 million hectares of the United Kingdom. There is an additional 3.2 million hectares of woodland, accounting for 13% of the land area, although half of this is commercial conifer plantations. We have farmed land for millennia, from Neolithic man clearing the forests to the monasteries draining wetlands and modern tractors ploughing even the most difficult terrain.

It is well known that we have squeezed out nature in our demand for more and more production. Ponds have been filled in, hedges ripped out or flailed to an inch of their lives, traditional hay meadows sprayed with herbicide and woodlands grubbed out.

The very sad result of this is that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, bottom of the G7 and Europe and only just above countries such as Somalia and Sudan, in the last 10% of 180 countries.

One in seven species in Britain now faces extinction and in Dorset, the Wildlife Trust estimates that we have lost over 400 species that were recorded here in the past. Clearly, this is worrying and we should not be allowing this to spiral any further.

When I was a young ranger, working for Dartmoor National Park, there was an exciting development. In 1987, The European Union (or EEC as it was then), rolled out a new scheme to help fund positive management for wildlife on farmland. It was called the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and the UK was one of the first countries to adopt it.

Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock

The plan was to pay farmers and landowners a grant ‘to implement environmentally beneficial management of land and to conserve wildlife, maintain and enhance landscapes, protect the historic environment and natural resources and to promote public access’. My job was to speak to farmers to see if we could get some wildlife gains in lieu of payments.

Over the years, these grants morphed into different schemes, such as Higher Level Scheme and in some areas Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme and Habitats Scheme, but all had the same aim of protecting the areas we had left and to enhance degraded areas. Management plans were written by ecologists and organisations such as the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and the local Wildlife Trusts to make sure that the plans would

not only benefit nature but also would be suitable for the farmer. Payments were made to landowners to help them achieve the plans and could include projects such as re-planting lost hedges, re-seeding wildflower-rich downland, creating ponds, leaving margins on arable fields to encourage rare birds and arable ‘weeds’ and removing conifers from heathland.

It has been rewarding seeing previously degraded sites, once again flourishing. The farmers and landowners were proud of what they had achieved and to be able to do something positive to redress some of the losses we have seen in the UK.

Over the past 6 years, a great deal of work has been put into designing a replacement for the previous environmental schemes. The proposal was to create a new scheme called Environmental Land Management

Scheme (ELMS). Many people will have seen in the press that there has been a great deal of disquiet from almost every environmental charity from the RSPB, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, Bat Conservation Trust, Bumblebee Conservation, The Rivers Trust… (the list goes on) about threats to environmental protection and the future of grants to maintain naturefriendly farming.

Let us hope for an enlightened approach, where wildlife is seen as an incredible asset and vital to all of us, rather than something which is a block to growth. Everyone needs nature. Let’s try to reverse the declines and do something positive for the environment.

simonfordgardening.wordpress.com

THE THREE KINGS OF HONEY

Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

There are some things that are just not available locally produced – some single variety types of honey are an example. I find it interesting that many people won’t think twice about eating lemons, coffee, chocolate or bananas, and yet declare that importing honey is wrong.

I agree wholeheartedly that wherever possible we should eat local food, and in season. I also believe strongly that we are a global community and trading with communities around the world is vital for

mankind’s survival.

In the UK we consume far more honey than is produced on our islands, and so much honey is imported to satisfy the demand. Sadly a large proportion of that is adulterated or mis-labeled, implying it is honey produced by bees. Honey is the second most adulterated food (to olive oil) and trusting the label isn’t enough to ensure that you are eating what the packaging says. Any jar that is labelled ‘A blend of EU and Non-EU honey’ has the potential for adulteration. Honey is sold in

Paula

Mauro Rodrigues/Shutterstock

Zandaz

Oregano

Sidr

drums around the world, and checking each one would be impossible. The industry has ‘experts’ in fooling the tests, adding pollen to sugar and rice syrups, using a small percentage of real honey, and then topping it up with water or fructose corn syrup.

Any honey is only as good as where it comes from. Local would, of course, be excellent, if the bees are foraging in a pristine, chemical-free environment, and if their beekeeper hasn’t drenched the beehive in smoke, miticides or antibiotics. Following the disastrous number of ‘adulterated’ honey that entered the Montreal Apimondia in 2019, the beekeepers who failed the testing for their honey demanded more information on why their honey failed, after all, they were mostly small honey producers who’d simply extracted the honey from their hives. This year, CSI, the German honey analysis laboratory, respected globally for their thorough and complex testing, published the detailed results of the follow-up testing of each sample. What they discovered was honey contaminated with high levels of processed sugar, miticides, smoke and even genetically modified soya, which some beekeepers had used to make winter and spring ‘pollen patties’ to feed their bees. I think we could all agree we wouldn’t want to be eating honey with any of those ingredients in it.

The bees do a marvellous job of removing toxins from plants and the environment when they produce honey, but even they have their limits.

Knowing where your food and honey come from is therefore important if you are to make an informed choice on your purchase.

Through my travels, studies in Bologna in honey sensory analysis, and judging global honey, I have learned much and connected with many excellent beekeepers and honey producers. My own bees need a large portion of the honey they produce, and so to ensure my customers can have quality honey all year round, I support other beekeepers, in the UK, Spain, Romania, Madagascar, Mexico and Morocco.

My favourites this autumn for the winter months, and festive season, are Sidr, Oregano and Zandaz. The latter has an incredible story, only being produced twice in any five-year period. Although looking like a typical honeydew honey with its dark viscous consistency, it actually comes from a small flowering shrub found in a small area in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. For the shrub to bloom its yellow flowers, there have to be warm sunny days, cold moist nights, and a 50 degrees centigrade breeze from the Sahara desert! The added

complication is that that hot breeze burns the wings of the bees causing them to die after only 3 days on the wing, rather than the usual 3 weeks. It is therefore no wonder that the beekeepers hold on to this rich honey until the second harvest before selling the first! Sidr is the favoured honey in the Islamic community, coming from a very holy tree found across the Middle East and North Africa. Said to be the tree used to make the crown of thorns, its huge spikes are distinctive in the dry arid landscape it is found in. It has a distinctive almond flavour and smooth consistency, ranging from dark amber to a pale cream when crystallised. I found in Oman that most households have a large litre bottle of this Sidr honey in their medicine cabinet, their warm climate preventing the honey from crystallising. There are Sidr trees found in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Arabia and Northern Africa. It’s also known as Jujbe, Lote and Nabkh – the botanical name is Ziziphus spina-christi, Christ’s thorn. The Sidr leaves are rich in calcium, iron and magnesium, extracted from the soil by its deep roots. The leaves have strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties making their use wide in producing natural wound disinfectants as well as herbal shampoos and deodorants. It makes sense to believe that some of those properties from the tree would be translated into the honey. It has one of the highest levels of antioxidants per 100 grams. N 2017, Dr. Taher Ashraf a researcher in Los Angeles found that ‘Sidr honey acts as a potent anti-inflammatory that impedes tumour cell proliferation and inhibits angiogenesis – the process by which new blood vessels form – by inhibiting the expression of the tumour suppressor gene on the cell membrane.’ Oregano honey from Morocco is one of the most sought-after and appreciated in the world. Oregano was a symbol of happiness for the ancient greeks and Romans with the name literally translated as ‘joy of the mountain’. Moroccan oregano honey can be produced from three species of the plant creating an unusual and unique flavour. Locals use the honey in massage to treat rheumatism. Internally it’s taken to treat digestive complaints, as well as anti-intoxication. What better selection of honey to get us through the festive season!

paulacarnell.com

Paula’s hive in Galhampton will be open to visitors every Thursday and Friday between 10am-12pm in December. Call or email to book an appointment for alternative times.

It seems there is a new trend coming this Christmas. With the cost of living going up and with shoppers finding that they have less disposable income available to them, more of us will be buying reconditioned gifts that have previously been used by others.

Buying refurbished goods does make a lot of sense. Many electronic items, such as phones, smartwatches, and computers can be expertly restored to the point where they are as good as new. Additionally, refurbished items often come with a guarantee from the refurbisher, which can mean the customers enjoy similar levels of protection to those they would receive if they bought the same item brand-new. And of course, refurbished

goods tend to be considerably cheaper.

In recent years, Black Friday has become an opportunity for retailers to create a consumer buying frenzy, with shoppers feeling the need to try and grab bargains in advance of Christmas. But this can often end up being a frenzy of waste, with shoppers getting carried away and buying items they neither wanted nor needed, simply to satisfy their craving for a bargain.

Black Friday 2022 was different, at least for some retailers. Online auction site eBay took the decision that for Black Friday 2022 it would only promote refurbished goods. No brand-new items received any promotion on the day. It’s a reflection of a trend, which

Peter Littlewood, Director, Young People’s Trust for the Environment

is already seeing increasing numbers of shoppers choosing to buy refurbished goods rather than opting for new items. A recent survey found that over 50% of UK shoppers intend to buy secondhand or refurbished goods as Christmas gifts this year.

Taking the decision to buy items that have been previously used doesn’t just save you money though. It also cuts down on the number of raw materials needed to create new items.

Today’s sophisticated electronic devices contain a wide range of metals and minerals, all of which have to be mined, extracted and refined at considerable cost to the environment. Buying items that have

already been made, sold and used before does not create any new levels of environmental impact - at least not over and above the impacts of getting them delivered to your home.

And if electronics aren’t your thing, there are alternative refurbished and reused items that you might consider gifting this Christmas. There are plenty of places where you can get hold of pre-loved clothing. At the most basic level, you could visit your local charity shop in search of bargains, but you could also go online and search sites like eBay, Vinted or Depop.

The trend for reusing clothes is becoming so strong that High Street retailer Zara recently launched Zara Pre-owned, its own online service for shoppers to buy and sell preowned Zara clothing and to offer and book repairs. In doing so, it is joining other retailers, including Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, all of which have teamed up with partners to offer the resale, and in some cases refurbishment, of their own clothing.

It is predicted that the market for reselling and refurbishing clothes is going to grow considerably faster than that of the general fashion industry. Selfridge’s, for example, has stated that it wants almost 50% of its interactions with customers to be about resale, repair, refills, or rentals by 2030.

Increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of the fashion industry has surely been a key driver of this change. With fashion being the second most damaging industry on the planet in terms of environmental impact, it’s good to see an increasing number of businesses within the industry begin to take more responsibility. And that new trend has no doubt been driven by increasingly aware consumers.

When it comes to your food and drink choices, try to buy more locally sourced produce this festive season, if you can. About a quarter of our carbon footprint comes from the food we eat. A lot of our food is now grown hundreds, or even thousands of miles away and transporting it to us has an environmental cost. Reducing that distance by buying from local producers enables us to have a real impact on lowering that carbon footprint. It’s also good in these difficult times to be supporting the farmers and growers who produce food for us in the areas where we actually live.

So join the trend and put locally grown and preowned items on your Christmas list this year. It’s better for the planet, and it’s better for your pocket too!

ypte.org.uk

ArtMarie/iStock

LITTLEBREDY, THE VALLEY OF STONES AND GREY MARE AND HER COLTS

Emma Tabor and Paul Newman

Distance: 4 3/4 miles (plus 1/2 mile detour)

Time: Approx. 2 1/2 hours

Park: By the village green in Littlebredy Walk Features: Starting from the picturesque village of Littlebredy, the walk heads out onto the downs surrounding the village which form the head of the Bride Valley. There is a climb to reach the Valley of Stones, a curious remnant from around the last Ice Age, before climbing out of the valley and along the top of the downs with good views over the English Channel. It’s then a steady descent back to Littlebredy. As with last month’s walk, there’s also the opportunity to extend the walk with a detour to the Grey Mare and her Colts, a Neolithic burial chamber, this time approaching from the east.

Refreshments: The Brewers Arms, Martinstown >

Each 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.

Littlebredy is a hidden gem and a wonderful start to the walk, worth exploring with some beautiful buildings including the parish church of St Michael and All Angels and nearby Bridehead House, with a beautiful lake and waterfall. Older settlements and structures feature on this walk too with the earthwork of Old Warren (or Dane’s Camp) to the south and Neolithic structures including several burial mounds to rival that of the landscape surrounding Stonehenge. Sarsen stones from the Valley of Stones were used to build many of the pre-historic structures in this area- the valley is an example of a sarsen stone boulder train, a result of freeze-thaw action at the end of the last Ice Age. It is now also a National Nature Reserve and home to many species including autumn gentian, lichens and the adonis blue butterfly.

Directions Start: SY 587 892

1 Park by the road by the village green in Littlebredy, as close as possible to the wooden memorial shelter.

2 With the village green on your right, walk up the road through the village until you come to a

fork in the road with Bridehead estate cottages on your left. Take the right fork and stay on this lane, passing the cricket pitch. Walk gradually uphill through trees, with Bridehead House behind you and after half a mile you will reach Basket Hill Cottage and a large gateway on your right, with a footpath sign and an information sign for the Valley of Stones.

3 Head up the valley and in just under 100 yards, go through a kissing gate next to a large gate and then keep the hedge on your left. In this field, you will now start to see some of the stones. After approximately 400 yards, pass through another kissing gate to now go slightly right with a fence and the stones also on your right. After a few more yards you then come to a large wooden gate also on your right, towards the top of this field. Go through this gate to walk up through the middle of the Valley of Stones. Walk to the end of the field and turn left along the hedge, keeping the hedge on your right and walk to the top of the field and towards Bishop’s Road, out of the valley. Go through a large metal kissing gate then turn right onto the single-track road.

4 Walk along the road, looking out for amazing views towards the sea on your left. Keep walking until you come to a right fork, before a left bend in the road, with signs for Kingston Russell Stone Circle

and The Grey Mare and her Colts. Walk up this road, forking to the right as you come to a cattle grid. There is another sign to the Stone Circle (20 minutes) and Grey Mare and her Colts (7 minutes).

5 To detour to the Grey Mare and her Colts, go through a large metal gate with signs then walk for seven minutes (!) along a grassy lane to reach a small wooden gate on your left which takes you into a field. Walk ahead and slightly down, following a hedge on your left until you reach two wooden gates, one large and one small. Go through this to find the burial chamber just on your left. Retrace your steps back to the grassy lane until you get to the large metal gate you passed through earlier. Turn left to continue on the main track which left Bishop’s Road.

6 If clear, there are amazing far-reaching views further along. Walk along here for half a mile until you reach a large metal gate at a slight fork in the track. The right fork goes to a house, Top Parts, but you take the left fork through the gate with a blue footpath sign on the left post.

7 Walk into the field to then walk down the middle of the valley following the line of the telegraph poles. Old Warren is on the hill ahead to your right. Pass through a metal gateway into another field and then another metal gate into a farmyard (Foxholes Farm). Go past the barns and then the farmhouse

on your right, then between more barns following the track through the farmyard which then meets the main farm track; to the right leads to the farmhouse, so go left up the track. At the time of writing, the footpath which leaves the farm to go back to Littlebrey could not be established so stay on this track, leaving the farm behind, with a lovely wood below to the left. After 1/3 mile the track bends left and then right through some woods (The Rookery), eventually passing Stonehills Cottage on your right. Keep on the track which then turns to the right, passing the Walled Gardens, (open AprilSeptember). Just before the road makes a final short uphill climb to the village green and the start of the walk, go right to follow the sign for the church of St Michael and All Angels as well as the lake and waterfall in the Bridehead grounds. There are some beautiful tree species in the grounds and the lake is located in an equally delightful and stunning setting and is well worth the short detour.

Thanks to Greg, Nicole and Barney for making a very wet walk lots of fun!

Dorset AONB have a brilliant resource, Land of Bone and Stone which tells you more about the rich archaeology of the South Dorset Ridgeway area. dorsetaonb.org.uk

LOST DORSET NO. 30 STURMINSTER NEWTON

David Burnett, The Dovecote Press

With the worst of the winter ahead and soaring energy costs this photograph of a family gathering firewood is a reminder that country people were once reliant on a well-stocked log pile for their warmth. It was taken in about 1890 on the lane known as the Halter Path leading towards Bagber. By then, scenes like this were increasingly rare. The Dorset dialect poet, William Barnes, who was born at Bagber in 1801, mourned the gradual loss of common land and the right to ‘cut a lot o’ vuzz and briars, vor heaten ovens, or vor lighten viers.’ The wagon is the Dorset box wagon, usually painted yellow or blue with red undersides. Because they were low and wide, and easily manageable on a hill, their popularity spread through much of central southern England. Note who is doing most of the fetching and carrying!

dovecotepress.com

The Dovecote Press has been publishing books about Dorset since 1974, many of which are available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers. This photograph is taken from Lost Dorset 1880-1920: The Towns.

OBJECT OF THE MONTH THE OX ROAST PHOTOGRAPH

Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

Aunique event occurred on 9th January 1891 during an exceptionally severe winter when the Castle lake froze to a greater thickness than ever before. A novel idea sparked by the generosity of ‘Jack’ Wingfield Digby, it was seen as something that would go down in the history of the town – an ox roast held on the ice itself!

As the Western Gazette reported, while many thousands of people had already been engaged in ‘the graceful art of skating on the lake and the time-honoured pastimes of sliding and promenading’ without major accident, it was deemed a severe test to maintain a three-ton weight on an area fifteen foot square and with five foot of freezing water below. Happily, however, ‘those who predicted disaster found themselves mistaken’.

The roasting arrangements were entrusted to Mr W. Pragnell, who first had deal planks placed upon the frozen surface, then a layer of coconut fibre, followed by elm planking and a coating of iron and earth. This platform was fixed with ropes attached to stakes driven into the ice. Mr Sawtell supplied the ox, a Devon breed seven-foot-long and weighing seven and a half hundredweight. Fires were kindled at 3am and cooking was supervised by Mr. E. Pragnell of the Half Moon, dressed in a chef's outfit. Two men were continuously occupied in turning the carcass on a spit to make it ‘brown all over’. Basting was executed by a six-footlong ladle to allow the cooks to escape the fierceness of the flames. Screens were set up to enclose the heat and shelter the platform from a bracing wind which had got up and ‘wafted to the other side of the lake, the savoury smell of the dish which was in preparation’.

Although during the morning Digby Road was already ‘pretty well thronged’, Sherbornians, Yeovilians and other residents of the neighbourhood packed the

lakeside in anticipation between 1pm and 4pm with the Military Band providing ‘excellent music’ all the while. Some of the oldest inhabitants assembled early ‘and were much gratified at being allowed to hold the huge ladle for a few seconds.’

Cooking was completed around 3pm when the ox was removed from the spit and cut up. Joints were set aside for all those who desired a taste ‘in memoriam’ and the baron and two prime cuts were taken to the Castle. 63 years later, Edwin Pragnell recalled in the Western Gazette: ‘Anyone could have a taste given on a bit of bread. We then took the ox to the coach-house at the Castle stables...where all the employees [around 100] sat down to supper; roast beef, bread and cheese, long clay pipes and real good beer and a jolly evening. Next day the carcass was removed to the Castle where in a large copper I made gallons of good thick pea soup which was given away to the poor.’ Pieces of bone from the skeleton were given as souvenirs, one of which resides in the museum collections.

This extraordinary event might never have taken place for the very next day the thaw set in after six weeks of remarkably cold weather.

A very happy Christmas to all our volunteers, visitors, members and supporters.

A Christmas card featuring the ox roast, one of six wintry archival photos from our collection, is currently on sale in the museum shop.

The museum is open with free admission from Tuesday –Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm until 10th December, after which we will be closed until the beginning of February.

sherbornemuseum.co.uk

DORSET’S OLD STONE CROSSES

Cindy Chant & John Drabik

The remains of stone crosses can be found throughout the British Isles, often in situ or near to where they were constructed. My coauthor John Drabik and I, armed with our 1906 copy of Alfred Pope’s Old Stone Crosses of Dorset, have been exploring our shared passion and researching some of these interesting and very old monuments. They are often found in a very sorry state – many go unnoticed and are frequently seen as mutilated stumps of stone, each hiding a more glorious past. Some were quite intricate, with arched niches or recesses for statues, and were possibly carved by monks.

Throughout Britain, Anglo-Saxons and Romans converted to Christianity faster than churches could be built, so wooden crosses marked the spot where priests and monks preached to the local community. Many of these were replaced by permanent stone crosses – some having a church built on the same site.

These revered and important emblems of the Christian faith were once used for a variety of purposes, but are now relics of a past age. They were visited by many, for pilgrimage, penance, prayer, or to gather

around to hear notices and proclamations. Our aim in writing about these ancient stone crosses, often referred to as ‘preaching crosses’, is that hopefully, we will persuade you to take an interest and become as passionate about them as we are.

The earliest examples of stone crosses in Dorset date back to the Saxon period. These were beautifully carved with Celtic knot-work and topped with a Celtic cross. The Celtic cross, also known as the ‘wheel cross’, was originally used by the Druids for spiritual ceremonies and represented the coming together of spirit and the Earth. Later, this symbol was adopted by early Christians to represent the crucified Christ, with the same design spanning over 1000 years, from about AD300 to AD1400.

But most of our stone crosses here in Dorset were erected in the 14th or 15th centuries. They were usually elevated on round, square, or octagonal steps, known as a ‘calvary’, and these were between one and five flights high. On top of this was cemented a huge carved socket stone into which a long shaft was leaded into place. The shaft, sometimes decorated with religious figures and texts, was usually topped with a plain Latin cross,

or sometimes, an elaborate crucifixion scene. They can be found in churchyards, in the centre of the village, and some, by the side of the road marking the way for travelling pilgrims. The crosses were adopted and used for multiple purposes – some even as a pillar for lashing criminals. Those in the marketplaces were often maintained by the local monks, who, after preaching there, would collect alms and market fees.

Some villages boasted two crosses, such as Maiden Newton, Shillingstone, Leigh and Rampisham. Important places of pilgrimage, such as Shaftesbury, had as many as five. Hutchins mentions three crosses here in Sherborne. The higher cross, at the top of Cheap Street, was removed in the early 17th century with the permission of the first Lord Digby. A lower cross stood at the junction of Half Moon Street and South Street, and the square base of a cross remained in Newland at the time of Hutchins –today there is a plaque showing the site of this cross.

No fewer than 5,000 Christian crosses stood in England alone, prior to the Reformation, although this great religious upheaval did not cause the most damage to these monuments. Most survived the purges of Henry Vlll and remained intact for nearly another century. Their

mutilation and destruction came with Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans. In 1643, shortly after the start of the Civil War between Charles I and Parliament, an ‘Ordinance’ at the instruction of Cromwell, was passed. It was for the removal or defacing of all crosses, as well as other religious artefacts. Sadly, the Rectors and Church Wardens had to organise a local workforce to destroy these religious symbols, as substantial parish fines were imposed if the orders were not carried out. Parts of the crosses, and calvary, were often recycled and later found embedded in nearby walls and buildings.

By the end of November 1643, many stone crosses were either pulled down, or broken where they stood. The only exception to this appears to have been ‘memorial crosses’, which were dedicated to particular individuals. This may be the reason why the magnificent cross at Stalbridge came to be spared. For two centuries these broken crosses were left to the ravages of time until restorations began, for some of the lucky ones, in the 19th century. For many crosses, the help came too late, and it is only within the 21st century, that antiquarians, and people like John and me, have taken an interest in them as relics to a past age and memorials to past customs.

Forthcoming Auction Programme

Pictures, Books & Maps

5th January

Decorative Arts to Mid-Century Modern 6th January

Silver, Jewellery & Watches 2nd February

Classic & Vintage Cars 9th March

Classic & Vintage Motorcycles

30th March

Further entries invited

Brough Superior SS100 £250,000-280,000

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

The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com

A TURKEY IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

We always have items in our stores at the salerooms for future auctions, but it does feel strange to be penning an article about a lot coming up in our auction of Decorative Arts in January next year. The item in question is a turkey. Not one to be basted and put in the oven to be served with all the trimmings as lunch on Christmas Day and to be enjoyed for a couple of days after, but one carved from a piece of walnut.

When I look at a picture, I usually turn the picture over to look at the back first. This is due to more information often being noted on the back rather than on the front. Should there be any notes on the back it generally records the artist, subject or title along with any gallery or exhibition details – extremely useful if there is no signature to read on the picture!

So, when I saw this figure of a turkey sitting on the sideboard of a house in Cerne Abbas the first thing I did was to turn it over. I half expected not to see anything on the underside of the carving but was really pleased to see it was nicely inscribed with the artist’s details.

Anna Edith Catford was born in 1905. Nancy, as she was known, went to Sidcot School in Somerset and this is where her lifelong love of art began. After experimenting with woodcarving, she was taught by Stanley Parker in Letchworth and then subsequently she attended the School of Woodcarving in South Kensington, quite unusual for a lady at that time.

Clearly, she was an accomplished wood carver. The scale and detail of the turkey are divine. I fully understand why she proudly inscribed her name on the base. It is quite handy she also dated it as ‘Nov 1932’. Perhaps she carved it with Christmas in mind or perhaps she just carved it on a whim.

Either way, without the information on the base I would never have been able to identify her as the artist. It is just a shame that other artists do not always sign or inscribe their names. Thomas Chippendale, arguably one of the most famous furniture designers and cabinet makers, did not sign his furniture. Perhaps he would have done well to have taken a leaf out of Nancy’s book.

charterhouse-auction.com

The Joinery Works, Alweston

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5HS

Tel: 01963 23219 Fax: 01963 23053

Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk www.fcuffandsons.co.uk

VINEYARDS

Words Claire Bowman Photography Katharine Davies

Hannah Wilkins was walking home from work one evening when she learnt that her Sherborne wine shop, Vineyards, had just been named one of Mary Portas’ top five favourite independents in the UK. ‘It was one of those moments when your phone just goes crazy,’ says Hannah, who started the business in 2005, aged 24, having previously held the position of youngest-ever manager of Wine Rack. ‘Mary was doing TV’s Queen of the High Street at the time and was very pro-independents. On the Monday she recommended her favourite family-owned butcher up North and on the Tuesday she recommended us. She had been staying with friends locally and had popped into Vineyards on a number of occasions, so we had obviously been doing something right.’ >

Ten years on and Hannah’s very personal approach to selling wine is as compelling as ever. Voted Best Wine Shop in the South West and Harpers Wine No 5 in the UK 2021, and finalists in the prestigious 2022 Drinks Retailing awards, making it to the Top 3 with the winner being announced in Feb 2023, Vineyards is the place to go not just for those who know their wine but for those who need a little help to find it. Whether it’s a white to accompany the Christmas turkey (‘I’ll be drinking a German Von Buhl Riesling,’ says Hannah) or a red to match a curry (‘A Georgian red or a nice Côtes du Rhône, nothing too robust like a Sangiovese’), Vineyards is all about helping the customer.

Right on cue, a customer comes into the shop in search of something to drink with their Sunday roast that weekend. ‘Here,’ says Hannah, quick as a flash, as she reaches for a bottle on the shelf, ‘this Quercus Pinot Bianco from Slovenia will work brilliantly.’ It is that human touch that has secured Vineyards the loyal following it has today.

‘There is an expectation that when you shop ‘independent’, you are getting more knowledge, more expertise and that personal service. That’s exactly what we want to maintain,’ says Hannah’s wife and business partner, Sadie, who was an English teacher in Essex before moving to Dorset. ‘There’s always been something a little bit magical about what goes on within these four walls, and that’s not just in terms of wine but what it means to be a really good indie,’ she continues. ‘Hannah has 24 years’ experience doing really

great stuff in Sherborne. If there’s something going on, if there’s a cause that needs getting behind, you can guarantee that Hannah will be involved, whether it’s supporting the Ukraine effort or helping to raise funds for Yeovil Hospital’s cardiology department.’

The desire to offer their customers that extra sprinkle of Vineyards magic is what inspired Hannah and Sadie to relocate from Digby Road to Old Yarn Mills last October. Looking to add 250 wines to their portfolio, create a wine lounge and take advantage of more storage space, they were quick to see the potential in a vehicle repair shop that had seen better days.

‘It was in a shocking state when we took it over but within five weeks we’d completely transformed it,’ says Hannah, scrolling through some chaotic ‘before’ photographs on her phone. ‘We created a wine lounge mezzanine, resurfaced the floor, installed wall-to-wall shelving, and put in a counter made from repurposed wooden wine crates. We were happy in Digby Road for the 16 years we were there, but we simply outgrew it and love the space we’ve created here.’

With neighbours that include Brewed Boy, Lolly Agency and Molecular Antiques, Old Yarn Mills has become a buzzy little quarter of Sherborne – a new home that seems to be suiting the Vineyards team (and bulldogs Hugo and Lola) down to the ground. ‘It has almost the feeling of a little Bermondsey Beer Mile area about it – we call it Yard Life,’ says Sadie with a smile. ‘There are a lot of makers here – everyone has a trade

or a passion or something they specialise in.’

‘We’ve taken a bit of a leap of faith moving to Old Yarn Mills,’ Sadie admits. ‘And we’ve totally changed our business model, but out of the flames of a pandemic, we’ve come here, introduced foodie pop-ups and a snazzy tasting lounge, and brought back events with a vengeance. It’s been a really exciting time for Hannah, Nikki, Julia and me, and the best decision of our little wine shop’s life.’

If that weren’t enough to keep the team busy, they have also launched Vine of the Times, an annual blindtasting competition designed to unearth drinking gems from underrepresented makers across the world, kicking off with the category ‘Women in Wine’. Bringing together wine from female winemakers across the world and judged by an independent panel of female judges, the inaugural competition was an overwhelming success.

‘Proud as we are to be voted fifth best independent wine shop in the UK, we were the only women featured in this year’s top 10 indie wine merchants by Harpers Wine – and in 2022, it just doesn’t feel right,’ says Sadie. ‘We’re in a much better position than we used to be but it’s still not where it needs to be. That’s why you have to get on your soapbox, you have to keep pushing and championing the underrepresented in the trade –although, ultimately, it would be so much better if you could just say, ‘This is a great winemaker who really knows what they’re doing’, instead of having to talk about their gender, race, etc.’

Shaking things up, breaking down stigmas and changing perceptions – that is what Vineyards is all

about, and few wine merchants work harder to ensure their customers are put at ease the moment they step through the door. ‘We’re aware there is something a bit intimidating about going into a wine shop,’ says Sadie. ‘People feel they have to know something about wine – it’s one of the few places where they feel they have to earn the right to browse. They’re immediately apologetic, saying, I don’t know much about wine… Well, maybe not but we do, and that’s why you’re here!’

It is also why many linger for a while, sampling wine at the counter, heading down to enjoy an early evening glass of wine on a Friday or Saturday in the tasting lounge. If there was any doubt that Sherborne would get behind their move to Old Yarn Mills, it must surely have been dispelled over the past year. ‘Yes, we’re very fortunate to have this two-way support system going on. Our customers are so supportive,’ says Hannah. ‘That’s why we also love working with the pubs, hotels and restaurants in town, like Mat Follas’ Bramble Restaurant and the Digby Tap, which sells our Prosecco and Carménère. Or the boys at Bean Shot café who supply the coffee beans for our own-label Espresso Spirit. It’s the local economy.’

‘There’s definitely something about Sherborne that is really special. I was born in the Yeatman Hospital, and I had my first Saturday job at Oxfords Bakery – this town has my heart. I know that when you support the town, the town supports you back.’

Cheers to that!

vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

ALTERNATIVES TO A CHRISTMAS TREE

Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

Thinking of whether to have a Christmas tree this year? I can’t believe that! But in fact, more and more people are going without or preferring another feature as the centrepiece of their Christmas display. Sometimes this is due to space restrictions, sometimes it’s the fear of the tidy-up after Twelfth Night and there is also the concern that a cut tree is not sustainable environmentally.

With the latter issue, it is debatable. Many say that as long as at least another tree is planted to replace the one cut down then the process is carbon neutral – apart from transport and production costs of course. If it’s bought from us then the tree can then be brought back to Castle Gardens (or we’ll even collect it) and we’ll turn it into useful mulch. Some recent research shows that for the same environmental impact, an artificial tree needs to be kept for ten years to be comparable.

Other options are to have a container-grown tree and the best quality grown trees are ideal. For them to be a success in the long term it is wise to bring them into the house as late as possible before Christmas and to get them back out into the garden as soon as possible afterwards – a warm, centrally heated house is not the normal environment for a Christmas tree! For the rest of the year the tree will need to be kept very well-watered and even sunk into the ground and lifted again a year later.

Useful potted varieties include the Blue Spruce and the Nordman Firs, as well as Norway Spruce. An alternative to these traditional varieties is the Norfolk Island Pine, which is a house or conservatory plant. Its perfectly uniform tiered branches are quite wonderful, especially in a contemporary setting.

There are also some wonderfully realistic artificial trees ranging from 3 inches high to 12 feet or more. Gone are the days of silver or gold trees, although black was the latest chic a few years ago. Most of the high-quality trees look so good and of course, can be used from year to year.

Some are even pre-lit with a few well-chosen decorations. Add in your old favourites and family heirlooms and the Christmas atmosphere will soon be apparent.

Having said all of this, I can be certain to hear many times over as we get close to Christmas ‘I wasn’t going to have a tree this year but…’ - luckily, we have a wonderful range of the best quality trees from the traditional Norway Spruce to the more popular non-needle drop varieties such as Nordman, Noble and Fraser Firs.

Certainly, in our house, we’ll have a real tree and it’ll be chosen at the same time in December as we always do. Our favourite is the Noble Fir – just beautiful with a curved needle which holds well.

thegardensgroup.co.uk

LIVING THE GOODDEN LIFE

and Chrystall Goodden

Early winter is an inspiring time for us both. The garden twinkles with sparkling frosts and intricate webs that string their way from seed head to seed to seed head. Sure the days are short and cold but the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. The fallen leaves allow us to see the skeletons of the trees, creating striking silhouettes on the horizon while letting light through the woodland canopy.

The long warm October meant we were, unbelievably, enjoying the very last of the courgettes and tomatoes in the first week of November. It was a brilliant year for growing tomatoes outside. We’re experimenting by saving a couple of cuttings from this year’s plants to over-winter inside under lights in the hopes of getting a head-start on next year and having strong, sizeable plants ready for spring.

This extended warm weather bought us some time

in other areas too. We sowed broad beans, onion and garlic sets perhaps a little later than we should, however, I read somewhere that a good time to plant is when you feel like it and well, for us, that was in the half-light of a November afternoon before a blazing sunset.

Lamb’s lettuce and mustard leaves cover just about every inch of soil and whatever doesn’t get eaten (by us or the pheasants) will be worked back into the soil in the spring. The chicory, however, remains well and truly covered, protected mainly from the pheasants seeking refuge in the garden. The makeshift polytunnel erected with bamboo and clothes pegs has stood up remarkably well to the autumn storms. The ‘Rosa de Treviso’ and ‘Rosalba’ varieties have turned the beautifully vivid red and pink tones that are only brought on by the cold. These vitamin-rich leaves make for gorgeous salads with winter citrus (and a big blob of burrata for good

Nico

Image: Nico Goodden

measure) that will brighten up even the dullest of winter days.

We’ve been enjoying our rather abysmal squash harvest – just a couple of Crown Princes this year. They needed far more summer rain than 2022 had to offer. However, a little still goes a long way. They’ve been a welcome roasted side to a number of Sunday lunches, centre-stage in Nico’s pumpkin pie and the staple in simple soups that await in the freezer, ready to thaw and warm us inside and out through the coming months.

Yacon is a true winner this time of year and is being thrown in to bulk up sweet and savoury dishes. It takes on the flavour of whatever it’s swimming in but retains its crunch, a little like a water chestnut. It’s found its way into curries, tagines and a delicious quince crumble. It’s our second year growing these and they held up remarkably well to the dry summer. We’re trialling leaving the juicy tubers in the ground and covering them with a thick straw mulch until we want to use them in the hopes they’ll keep better.

It’s our first year growing Jerusalem artichokes. We lifted a few tubers from Nico’s uncle’s garden, planted them in the spring and have all but forgotten about them until now. Such an impressive yield for very little effort involved and they make a delicious soup with thyme and chestnuts.

Speaking of which, it’s been an incredible year for chestnuts – each woodland walk had us filling our pockets with the largest we’d ever seen. The woodland generosity has not been limited to that – the fungi keep on giving. We found our first Ceps and Amethyst Deceivers this year and the Oyster mushrooms keep on coming. They were all brought together in an unforgettable creamy chicken, bacon, chestnut and wild mushroom pie - winter food at its absolute best.

And while the garden all but grounds to a halt,

there are still more fungi to look forward to. We’re particularly on the lookout for wood blewits, which are said to be excellent eating. There is plenty of wood-ear or jelly ear to be found, normally clinging to mossy branches of elders. This is a beautifully unusual fungus (as most of them are) and is used a lot in Asian cuisine. Delicious as a salad with garlic, chillies, spring onion, soy sauce and fried shallots. However, another favourite way to enjoy them is to rehydrate the dried jelly ears in festive schnapps, then dipped into melted chocolate and left to set. They retain the flavour of the schnapps and keep a Turkish Delight-like texture - delightful!

There are plenty of jobs on the garden to-do list, however, it’s December and after resisting getting swept up in it all through November, we are now firmly in festive mode. We’ll get to the jobs in January so for now, it’s all about preparing gifts of sloe gin and preserves and getting into the spirit of the season.

While we leave most seed heads for the wildlife over winter, vases of teasel, poppy heads, lunaria and a good swathe of old man’s beard have been drying away in the potting shed, waiting for their time to shine in Christmas wreath form. We weave the wreath base from our willow garden fence, collect evergreen spruce and pine windfall from the surrounding woodland and wrap it all up with jute – that way it’s completely biodegradable and can all be thrown on the compost in January.

After a long year of growing, it feels quite special to be able to serve our home-grown vegetables at the Christmas table. It reminds us why we go to such an effort to grow our own food; to share great food and the best of ingredients with family and friends.

Nico: @nicholasgoodden Chrystall: @thegooddenlife creativebritishgarden.com

Manure & Chippings

COLLINS

‘Not only was the food absolutely delicious, it was beautifully presented, and most definitely of the same quality or higher as some of the top restaurants in London.’

‘He turned our vague wishes into amazing dishes. We and all guests were totally delighted. A superb meal and most memorable dinner and evening.’

‘Paul is great on all the little details that make a simple dish into a great dish…a great way to entertain at home –we’ll definitely be booking again’

‘As a top UK chef, his resume says it all…’

A MICHELIN AWARD-WINNING CHEF

www.chefpaulcollins.co.uk paul@chefpaulcollins.co.uk Mobile 07774 866902

BESPOKE LUNCHES & DINNER PARTIES IN YOUR HOME BY

THE CULT OF FERMENTING

One of the most intriguing shelves of goodies at Teals can be found, perhaps surprisingly, in the chiller. Generous glass jars lined up like an army of flavour containing a selection of colourful ferments: red cabbage and beetroot spiced with garam masala, turmeric bright Thai-kissed carrots and fiery kimchi, all in the handsome design of local growers and fermenters Cult Jar.

Fermented foods (which include miso, kimchi and tempeh, as well as the more familiar yoghurt, sourdough and sauerkraut) have taken the foodie world by storm over the past five or so years, and in particular, since lockdown, when social media came alive with the competitive passions of home sourdough bakers, brewers and picklers. The fashion for it has been driven by chefs at frontier-changing restaurants such as Noma in Copenhagen and Blue Hill in New York, who have taken traditional preservation skills and made them new again, approaching them flavour first.

Ferments are defined as fresh food that’s preserved by bacteria or yeasts, making it both long-lasting, yet still alive, with a flavour profile that is changing all the time. That they happen to be brilliant for both your gut health as well as an effective way to stretch seasonal bounty through the year, is for some a selling point, and for others, a happy side-note. Such is the case for

Peter Prescott, founder of Cult Jar. Hailing from a restaurant background (he was partner in the London restaurants of the late Sir Terence Conran), he decided to take inspiration from these leading chefs around the world and launch a line of restaurant-quality ferments to bring their flavours to home cooks and enthusiastic eaters everywhere.

I recently went to meet Peter at Cult Jar HQ, to see the fermenting in action (literally). Based on a farm near Wells, Somerset, which, until the Second World War, supplied produce to the Bishop of Wells’ own kitchens, the generosity of the vegetable gardens to the front of the house belie the newness of the project. Healthy bulbs of fennel with their frothy pale green tops compete for space with smart lines of young leeks, as well as more unusual vegetables that have a restaurant appeal to them, such as broccoli rabe, which is easy to grow yet hard to buy.

‘We supply fresh vegetables and salads to some local restaurants such as Osip in Bruton and Queen of Hearts in Glastonbury,’ he says, leading me down an avenue of young fruit trees: a variety of plums, pears and of course, apples, that will over time add to the farm’s bounty. We arrive at productive gardens to the back, planted in strips of beautiful vegetables: bright purple kohlrabi interlaced with the delicate pale green

Images: Neil White

Joanna Weinberg, Teals

cousins, bulb fennel, hot orange pumpkins and giant, almost black, cabbages. Sheep graze on the hill behind and beyond falls away a long view of rolling west country land, barely interrupted by buildings or other signs of human life. It’s been a huge project to clear and establish: only a few years ago, it was marshy and brambly and impossible to farm.

But it’s the fermented foods, made in a smart, wooden-clad commercial kitchen next to the gardens that are the true heart of the Cult Jar project. Inside, large white tubs have bubbling mixtures of vegetables at different points in the fermentation cycle. ‘I’ve always been interested by the flavour bombs that the best chefs in the world put on the plate – and so often, they are fermented,’ he says. ‘To make them available to the home cook just seemed like an obvious gap in the market.’

Now he supplies his bright and beautiful fermented produce to selected delis in London and a small number more locally. I take home a few jars to taste: they are like eating crunchy, sharp, intense, and profoundly interesting salads but ones that can keep in the fridge for six months. In one, matchsticks of Jerusalem artichoke and fennel (a collaboration with nutritionist and herbalist Jo Webster) are crisp, hot and clean with fresh horseradish. In another, beetroot and red cabbage are warmed by the distinct notes of clove and cinnamon. The Curtido, a

cabbage, onion and carrot fresh relish, transports you to Central America, perfect with any barbecue, or stuffed into tacos and sandwiches (and washed down with a cold beer). Each leaves me keen to try more: next, I’ll be trying their celeriac combined with capers, mustard and tarragon to create their take on remoulade –surely perfect to lift Christmas leftovers.

Peter gives me a bottle of hot, pink shrub to try, too – an intensely tangy, cider vinegar-based drink of lightly fermented fruit and herbs: the blackcurrant and mint are thick and sharp and irresistible as a grown-up alcoholfree cocktail when diluted with sparkling water or tonic.

Show Cult Jar a special ingredient, and they will figure out how to preserve it: mid-winter bergamots (the citrus fruit that gives its scent to earl grey) become thin shred marmalade, early forced rhubarb sits in raw honey. Their own herbs are dried and blitzed into herb salts, sprouting broccoli is pickled in cider vinegar, purple carrots become Japanese-style pickles, in gingered rice vinegar. It is a project that is current in so many ways: low in waste and organic, it’s environmentally thoughtful in every way and deserves its place at the table. Most joyfully, it bangs out flavour in every bite – and that’s something to lift the spirits.

teals.co.uk

SPICED OVEN-ROASTED VEGETABLE STICKS WITH HORSERADISH CRÈME FRAICHE

These delicious roasted vegetables work brilliantly with the horseradish crème fraiche dip and are a great way to elevate your snacks for the festive season. It’s important to use organic, high-quality vegetables for the best result.

Ingredients

For the crème fraiche

100g fresh horseradish 600g crème fraiche

Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

For the vegetables

6 small parsnips

1 large sweet potato

1 large Maris Piper

2 large carrots

2 medium turnips

1 tsp dark muscovado sugar

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

¼ cinnamon stick

2 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp caraway seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp hot smoked paprika

1 black lemon

Generous Dorset Sea Salt

Method

1 Peel and finely grate the horseradish, add to the crème fraiche and season with salt and cayenne pepper. Mix well.

2 Grind the seeds and spices with a pestle and mortar until fine.

3 Peel vegetables and cut them into very thin, long strips. Place in a large baking tray.

4 Add the ground spices to the vegetables along with the oil, muscovado, honey and grated black lemon. Mix well.

5 Roast at 170*c for 30 minutes or until crisp, and mix round several times so they cook evenly. Remove to cool in a dry place and serve with the crème fraiche.

greenrestaurant.co.uk

Tom Matkevich, The Green

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

All our Christmas food is thoughtfully sourced and selected for the best in local quality, freshness and flavour. You can order your Christmas meats ahead, too.

Our light and airy restaurant is open all day to restore you with delicious lunches, barista coffee, artisan hot chocolates, tea and cakes.

Come and solve your Christmas under one friendly roof at Teals!

Image: Steve Painter

SALMON CAVIAR CANAPES

Mat Follas, Bramble Restaurant

Agreat Christmas canapé. Forget sturgeon caviar – for me, the best roe money can buy is salmon. It’s not as salty or as overtly fishy as true caviar – if you like eating your salted anchovies by the tin however you might want to save up for the real stuff. Salmon roe is stunning to look at and this recipe is for a simple canapé that will get you thinking of other uses for roe. Try using it in other dishes as a garnish, the roe adds a visual and a taste sparkle to any plate of seafood.

Prep: 30min

Cooking: 10min

Makes 30 canapés

Ingredients

50g salmon roe

100g cured salmon or gravadlax, finely sliced

2 cooked beetroot

1 focaccia loaf

Olive oil

Horseradish cream

Small bunch dill

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 180C.

2 Thinly slice the beetroot and trim it into squares of about 20mm.

3 Cut 6 thin slices of the focaccia and then into squares approximately 1 inch. On a baking tray drizzle the focaccia squares with a little olive oil and bake at 180C for 5 min until crispy.

4 Remove the crispy focaccia and spread a little horseradish cream on each, then place the beetroot on top, followed by a generous slice of salmon and dress with a little roe and some dill tops.

bramblerestaurant.com

CAVALO NERO AND WALNUT PESTO

Paul Collins, Chef

This is a real treat at this time of year. I make it quite often during the winter months for a simple supper for the family, full of this wonderfully nutritious green vegetable that is readily available at this time of year (I buy mine from Steve and Holly at Sherborne Market Store on Cheap Street) and with the added benefit of being relatively inexpensive. Once it is made I have found that children and even adults will devour this with some fresh gnocchi or pasta and the benefit of getting all of that fibre and many other valuable nutrients into your diet. I tend to make a double batch and keep one in the freezer for those nights before football practice when a quick supper is needed and we are all running a little late.

Ingredients: Serves 8

360g cavalo nero or kale

75g walnuts nuts

350g olive oil

10g garlic

7g salt

15g golden linseeds

Method:

1

Pick and wash the cavalo, blanch in a large pan of boiling salted water for at least 5 minutes and when well-cooked remove from the water and refresh in ice-cold water.

2 Remove the cooked cavalo from the water once cold and squeeze out the excess water with your hands.

3 Blitz up the nuts and seeds with the olive oil and garlic in a food processor/blender.

4 Add the squeezed-out cavalo to the oil mixture slowly, ensuring it blends evenly. Do not do it too much as if you heat up the mixture it will turn grey and look unappetising.

5 Serve over fresh pasta or gnocchi.

chefpaulcollins.co.uk

Images: Tory McTernan

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... Visit our website to find out about our Christmas Workshops.

MARZIPAN FRUITS AND PETIT FOURS

When I was a teenager, many moons ago, there was very little ready-made anything so when it came to Christmas preparations

I loved making these little sweetmeats. Homemade marzipan is easy to make and I think the flavour and texture surpass that of commercially made marzipan that often has dubious ingredients such as palm oil or corn syrup.

Preparation time - 15 minutes to make the marzipan, 20 minutes to colour pieces of marzipan. Up to an hour to make the selection of sweets.

What you will need

Selection of food colours

Fine paintbrush

Cling film to wrap the different coloured marzipan (to stop it from drying out).

Rolling pin

Fine grater

A teaspoon for the indentations on peaches and plums

Small gold or silver petit four cases

Ingredients

340g ground almonds

340g icing sugar, sifted plus extra for kneading paste

340g caster sugar

2 small eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of sherry, rum or brandy, optional

Whole cloves (press the clove onto a board to break the round end to create small calyxes or stalk ends)

Angelica cut into slivers for creating stalks and leaves on strawberries

A little more icing sugar and caster sugar to create the ‘bloom’ on the peaches and plums

THE CAKE WHISPERER Val Stones

Image: Katharine Davies

Method

1 Place the almonds, icing sugar and caster sugar in a mixing bowl and stir well to combine.

2 Make a hollow in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the lemon juice, almond extract, vanilla extract plus alcohol if using. Gradually add the beaten egg a little at a time to create a thick paste – you may not need all the egg.

3 Mix well with a wooden spoon until all combined and a ball comes together. Turn out onto a lightly icing-sugared surface and knead until smooth with no cracks.

4 Divide up the paste for the different fruits needed. Colour each with a few drops of the appropriate colours, wrapping each coloured paste in cling film until needed.

Tip - Add the colour one drop at a time as it is very strong.

The fruit and petit fours all need to be left on a tray or baking sheet to dry in a cool place. Once hard on the outside, they can then be placed in the petit four cases and stored in an airtight container. Serve on a pretty Christmas plate decorated with a few baubles or holly.

Fruits

For all the fruit, take a small ball and shape it into the fruit – a good size is slightly smaller than a walnut.

Oranges, lemons and strawberries - Roll the fruits on a fine grater to give them the surface pattern then toss in a little caster sugar. Stick a clove into the oranges and lemons. For the strawberries add a few pieces of angelica for the hulls.

Apples, pears and bananas - Add the cloves for calyxes and point in with stalks pointing out. Using the food colouring, dilute slightly to make the ‘paint’ and add shades onto the fruits to give them a realistic look.

Peaches and plums - Use the tip of a teaspoon to indent them with their characteristic curve and once dry dust them with icing sugar for the bloom.

Petit Fours

These are prettily coloured, shaped marzipan bites.

Catherine wheel - take half the marzipan and divide it into 3 equal pieces – leave one uncoloured, one green and the third pink. Roll each piece into an oblong of equal size. Place the green down first, then the next 2 colours, and press down lightly with a rolling pin to stick the layers together. Roll up tightly like a Swiss roll, trim the ends straight and cut into slices about 1/4-inch thick.

Chequers (think Battenberg) – take half the marzipan, divide in two, leave one half plain and the other a colour of your choice. Roll out each piece into a 1/2-inch diameter roll. Place the rolls side-by-side, pushing them firmly together to join. Cut in half and place one on top of the other to give alternative colours. Push together firmly with a palette knife to make a straight-sided oblong, then carefully cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.

Marbles - this is an ideal way to use up all the leftover shades of paste. Place all the pieces into a ball and knead a little to create a swirling mixture of colours. Break off walnut size pieces and roll into multicoloured balls.

Happy Christmas everyone – may the coming year bring you health, happiness and contentment.

bakerval.com

A WHITE WINE CHRISTMAS

David Copp

Over the years I have often written my Christmas column about the best wine to drink with turkey on Christmas Day. Because I worked for a Burgundy shipper, I showed my preference for Pinot Noir. But when I first went to California and tasted Zinfandel with turkey at Thanksgiving, I recommended it as an ideal partner. On other occasions, I have recommended Chardonnay but quite recently, William Christopher invited me to a tasting of Alsatian wines which included a Pinot Blanc d’Alsace.

Pinot Blanc is actually a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir so there is still a Burgundian influence. But William drew my attention to the Pinot Blanc d’Alsace and I would wholeheartedly recommend that you add it to your list of possibilities when deciding what to drink with your turkey this Christmas.

Turkey is a flavourful meat but don’t forget there will probably be other flavours on the plate ranging from well-roasted, crispy potatoes to sparky spinach. It is also worth taking into account that turkeys can be quite large birds with beautiful white breasts but darker meats from the legs and wings. Also, it is a meat with which a creamy sauce may be served.

Chardonnay is a classic for roasted white meats because it complements such a variety of flavours including the herbs you may use for your basting. Oak-matured Chardonnay is good for bringing out more complex flavours. Chablis, in my view one of the world’s greatest white wines, is probably too fine and delicate, but Australian, Californian and Burgundian Chardonnay do the job well. Austrian Riesling and Riesling d’Alsace are also possibilities.

My colleague Fiona Becket is not only a gifted food and wine critic for The Guardian, but she has also consistently promoted Pinot Blanc as a pairing when creamy white sauces are served. Pinot Blanc d ’Alsace is essentially a medium to full-bodied wine with good minerality and a long finish. It also pairs well with fresh seafood such as fried scallops, and pork tenderloin.

If Pinot Blanc is relatively new to you, have a chat with your wine merchant about which style of the fuller-bodied Pinot Blancs you choose. I suggest that it may be one with some oak ageing. If you haven’t already done so, give Pinot Blanc d‘Alsace a go. You may be surprised. One final tip – it is best served in traditional white wine glasses curving at the top to retain aromas.

A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

James Hull, The Story Pig

As beads of sweat form on my brow, the heat beams down on me and burns my cheeks. I have gained quite a glow over the last few weeks. No, we are not on a winter sun holiday to some far-flung part of the world – of course not – actually I am cooking pizzas! Our new pizza oven runs at a scorching 800 degrees, cooking a pizza in under 90 seconds. At no point in my life did I ever think I would be a pizza baker – a farmer, yes, a gardener yes, a landscaper, yes, an architect, yes, a builder yes, but never a pizza slider. On the other hand, Charlotte is never happier than when she’s covered in a fine film of flour and wearing a brown apron with big white hand prints. It’s funny the paths that life takes us down. But actually, I love cooking the pizzas and so far they seem a hit with our customers.

We are now into my least favourite month of the year. It feels like the whole winter is still ahead of us. The mud is only going to get deeper for quite a while yet and the despair will deepen too – the trudging through muddy paddocks with a straw bale on my back to bed up the pig arks to keep the pigs warm on the long winter nights. The level of jeopardy of whether I will stay on my feet rises until the odds are stacked against me. Every pig job takes on a whole new level of planning – moving pigs, setting up hurdles to sort pigs into different groups, even

feeding the pigs and trying to find somewhere dryish to feed them. Most groups are fed in troughs in the winter, but our sows are fed on the ground with big pig nuts and it gets harder to find a dry spot. Well, actually there are no dry spots but less muddy at least. We have had a changing of the guard at the farm and have said goodbye to our two breeding boars who had got too big and tended to get a look in their eyes that made me uneasy –basically, they would look at me telling me they could go their own way if they want to and may well not do as I wish. It’s not a look I enjoyed. As I carry out nearly all the pig work on my own, from a safety angle I prefer younger boars who still believe that I am in charge. So at the moment we have 4 new boars, a Tamworth called Pumpkin, a Duroc called Thunder and two homegrown Tamworth cross Saddleback boars. We are going to try to mix up our gene pool a bit, so we will have piglets of all colours in a few months’ time. Watch out for them in early springtime as they begin to appear at the farm.

As I write I still have a lot of lavenders left to trim and the garden is way too messy for my liking. I hope by the time you read this I will have finished the lavenders and got to grips with the garden – we also have 2000 daffodil bulbs to plant. Our winter cafe is set up in our big barn. It is dressed for Christmas and we would love all our little visitors to make Christmas decorations to help us make the barn even more Christmassy. Finally, although it’s wintry and often wet and muddy, bring your wellies and go for a winter walk, have a hot chocolate, and something tasty. Let’s get through this winter together and before we know it, spring will be knocking on our doors… Who am I kidding?!

thestorypig.co.uk

Our Tamworth pigs are bred for quality and flavour. They are outdoor-reared and homebutchered to the highest welfare standards here at our farm in Sandford Orcas, just outside Sherborne.

Sausages, joints, bacon and burgers available to buy online for home delivery, click-andcollect or direct from the farm every weekend. BUY LOCAL!

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

Kingston House Veterinary Clinic

Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB

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

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

Grove Dene Veterinary Clinic

The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL

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

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

CHRISTMAS PAST…

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

Ask most vets about Christmas and you’ll get plenty of stories about the weird and wonderful things they’ve done on that special day. Of course, the truth is, it’s only another day from an animal perspective and illness and injury have no respect for festivals and holidays, secular or religious. So just like all the other emergency services, somebody has to be on-call and ready to respond.

Assisting at an animal birth has an added poignancy at Christmas, especially if it involves being in a stable or barn. For dogs, I have always advocated choosing the spring season for mating as the puppies come into the world in early summer, avoiding any chance of a

caesarean on Christmas morning. For farm animals, a similar luxury cannot be accommodated for commercial reasons and I have attended many calvings on Christmas Day in years gone by.

One year I was called from my Christmas lunch, not to a cow but a sow. I couldn’t help muttering under my breath as I drove to the farm (I won’t repeat the words) but I tried to keep cheerful by reminding myself that I was quite well equipped for a farrowing, having long arms and small hands. The big difference between a calving and a farrowing is the former is normally done standing up and the latter is always on the floor, as sows lie down to give birth. Now, when I say ‘floor’, in this

Foto-Sabine/Shutterstock

case, I mean cobbles covered with what you might expect in a pig sty, albeit with some straw sprinkled over the top.

So, in order to assist a labouring sow, you have to lie down flat on the ‘floor’, directly behind the patient, and gradually inch forward, inserting a cleaned and lubricated arm in the time-honoured James Herriot fashion. Now, the naughty little piggies inside get the idea that someone else is in the room and take evasive action accordingly. What this means is when I touched a piglet’s snout, in an attempt to get my fingers behind its head, it wriggled backwards out of reach of my rescuing hand. Result: you have to inch in further and further until the inevitable happens and your face is pressed firmly against the sow’s rear end. Despite these circumstances, all thought of physical discomfort was forgotten, displaced by the single-minded desire to help a dozen piglets into this world – a place they clearly were not keen on entering.

After half an hour or so, my tally was one big piglet successfully delivered at the cost of an arm that had been squeezed lifeless by the powerful contractions of the mother, who continued to grunt quite contentedly throughout. Realising my physical limitations would soon be reached, I decided the one member of the litter that was now happily filling up on milk was probably the cause of the whole situation, acting as a cork stuck in a bottle. Not that my mind was turning to my abandoned lunch with its rather good red wine! So I reached for a different and, under the circumstances, a much more useful bottle, that of oxytocin solution that I had brought with me and administered a good dose by injection.

Now, oxytocin is a wonderful hormone but it has to be used with care. As I’m sure many of you know, it enhances uterine contractions and also causes milk letdown. An excellent combination for the birthing mother.

Unless there’s an obstruction. Then it’s potentially a disaster as I have often explained to dog breeders who request it for their medicine cupboard – a roundabout way of saying no, your whelping bitch cannot have it until an examination has been performed. Anyway, back to the farrowing, with fat piglet No.1 now in a milky heaven (all teats available and literally spraying milk) I’m glad to report his litter-mates arrived in quick succession, leaving the farmer and me admiring the scene with not a small amount of satisfaction.

All animals have their specific smell, often not unpleasant, but that’s when it’s on them not us. The most pervasive is the billy-goat, the salt-tang-ammonia scent somehow resistant to several changes of clothes and multiple showers and hair-washes. Second is possibly pig, certainly not so bad, but not welcome at the by-then Christmas tea table. Maybe all the wriggling around on the ‘floor’ ingrained my skin with a certain aroma, not that I cared a fig as the job was a good ‘un and it was still Christmas Day.

Happy Christmas to all readers and clients from everyone at Swan House. We wish you peace and happiness and a New Year better than the last! newtonclarkevet.com

Sherborne Surgery

Swan House Lower Acreman Street 01935 816228

Yeovil Surgery 142 Preston Road 01935 474415

www.newtonclarkevet.com

"All thought of physical discomfort was forgotten, displaced by the single-minded desire to help a dozen piglets into this world."

Image: Kathy Hornblow

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VET

Rebecca Price BVetMed MRCVS, Friars Moor Vets

Having joined Friars Moor last December I am coming up to my first full year as a practising Veterinary Surgeon. I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College last summer and have enjoyed the challenges that life as a farm vet in Dorset has to offer. Our clinical year at University was greatly disrupted by the Covid pandemic, and our hours spent out on farms and in clinics were greatly reduced, but I count myself very fortunate to have found myself working somewhere as supportive as Friars Moor. Every day is a learning day, and each season brings its new challenges.

This time of year, especially with the stormy weather we’ve been having of late, something we are all on the lookout for is acorn poisoning. Acorn poisoning most commonly occurs in sheep, but can also affect goats, cattle and horses. Acorns produce a toxin called tannin, which interrupts the body’s ability to absorb protein, by contracting tissues in the body. Because of this, animals with acorn toxicity typically present as being constipated, not eating, having abdominal pain (colic), being dehydrated and having blood in their urine.

Once consumed there is little that can be done to reverse the toxic effects, and treatment options are supportive. We typically use activated charcoal if ingestion was thought to be recent, and focus on rehydration with oral fluid therapy. Acorn poisoning can be severe and cause fatalities, but, if caught early enough, treatment can be successful. It is important to be mindful of the plants on your property and consider restricting access to them, especially after a storm.

I think one of the most daunting things about starting out as a new graduate vet, especially as a farm vet out on the road, is that the first time you encounter most clinical presentations will be by yourself. At university we are told to problem-solve – come up with lists of differential diagnoses and consider multiple different care options. But the reality is that very few animals have read the textbooks! As a result of this, we have a wide variety of diagnostic tools at our disposal, and experienced colleagues who are happy to share their advice from similar cases they have seen.

By far the best part of the job is meeting new people, and successful outcomes to tricky cases – whether that’s a tricky medical case to unravel and understand, or a complicated surgery. Every day is different, and the variety keeps us on our toes, always learning more and sharing experiences. We are lucky to be able to work with such proactive clients and getting involved in client education through meetings and courses has also been a great way to learn from other speakers and their specialist knowledge. My first year on the job has been a steep learning curve, stressful at times, but almost always rewarding – there is no job I’d rather be doing!

friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk

friarsmoorvets.co.uk

JEWELS,

NOT TOOLS

Our hands are precious and powerful. They are in constant use, exposed to extremes, substances, and abrasion, plus we wash them all the time, which strips the skin and nails of their natural oils. They are one of the first things to show wear and then we suddenly realise we have ‘old lady hands’ and it’s too late! Now I’m not for a second telling you not to wash your hands – we still live in tricky times – but I am saying you need to replace moisture lost from washing. Also aim to wash with warm water, not hot, as it dries out your skin and causes polish to

soften and lift.

Treat your hands as you treat your face by using any excess product on your quick-to-age paws. Exfoliating your face? Use the rest to scrub away dead skin around your cuticles and on the backs of your hands. Slathering on face cream? Rub the remainder on your mitts, particularly night cream – every little helps.

Invest in a decent quality hand cream and apply twice daily minimum to really make sure your skin is being rehydrated, keeping it plump and supple, frightening those wrinkles away. Avoid creams

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

containing lanolin as they will cause nail polish, gel polish and self-tan to lift. Position your hand cream by the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, on your bedside table, next to where you watch television...you get the point. This way you will always remember to apply (and reapply) throughout the day and night.

Gently push back your cuticles to release the edge from your nail plate. A good time to do this is with a soft towel after a bath or shower. Cuticles are there to protect your nail root from infection so be gentle. Hangnails, on the other hand, should be trimmed

immediately so you don’t end up snagging them on something (or more realistically, picking at them while you’re bored in a meeting). Tidy these with proper cuticle nippers – don’t tear at them with your teeth. When you’re filing your nails use long and controlled movements and only ever file in one direction. Sawing a file back and forth will split the layers of your nail. This can also send shockwaves through your nail to the nail matrix which can cause ripples and ridges in your nail as it grows. Rub in cuticle oil once a day, preferably one containing jojoba oil as this has properties which most closely match that of our skin’s sebum.

Sporting a fabulous gel polish manicure? DON’T PEEL IT OFF! You are peeling off the top layer of your nail which is why underneath your nails are dry and split. Have them removed professionally or learn how to do it properly at home. If you are painting your own nails at home over the festive season, always start painting your nails using your non-dominant hand first – you have more patience when you start, and you won’t have any wet polish on that hand to smudge. ‘Squeak’ your nails clean with a non-acetone nail polish remover to remove any oils from the nail plate. Choose a nail polish which is non-toxic. Look for 5- Free which means the polish doesn’t contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, toluene or dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and is therefore better for your health. A base coat helps the polish adhere to the nail plate and stops your nails from staining. Two or three thin coats of polish are better than one or two thick coats, allowing 2-3 minutes of drying between each coat. You’ll be more in control and the layers will dry much quicker if you build up the colour. Finish with a glorious shiny topcoat to seal off your manicure making it last longer and really bring out any glitter in the polish. Matte topcoats are available if shiny isn’t your thing.

Re-apply your topcoat after 3 days, it will prolong the wear of your polish by a day or two and refresh them. Your nails are jewels and NOT tools so wherever possible, don’t use your nails to pick, scratch or open cans or work with anything fiddly. Treat them with tender care and use proper tools for the job instead. A little extra care will keep them healthy and presentable. Wishing everyone a fabulous Christmas! Take time for yourself outside of the merriment and bring on 2023!

thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

Anastasiia Holubieva/Shutterstock

THE WORRY TIME TECHNIQUE

Lucy Lewis,Dorset Mind

We all worry from time to time. Worrying is a normal part of being human and how we detect and manage perceived danger or stressors. However, worrying becomes an issue when it feels uncontrollable, overwhelming, or excessive.

Excessive worrying can lead to uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as a racing heart, stomach aches,

cognitive issues such as being unable to concentrate, and behavioural symptoms such as avoidance.

It is often unwise or extremely difficult to try to cease worrying entirely. Trying not to think of something can often be counter-intuitive and make us worry about it more later. Therefore, the worry time technique encourages effective scheduling of worrying, rather than avoidance.

Goffkein.Pro/Shutterstock

STEP ONE – Design your worry time routine

• Plan to have your worry time at a similar time each day. Our brains thrive on routine, and keeping things consistent will allow you to get used to only worrying during your planned timeframe.

• Pick a time later in the day, without being too close to bedtime. Choosing a time later in the day will provide more time for the worries to accumulate, but waiting until before bed can make it difficult to fall asleep.

• Decide how long you will worry (between 15 and 30 minutes) and plan either an enjoyable, mindful or relaxing activity to do straight after it finishes. This will help you to transition and decompress from your worried headspace.

• Choose somewhere not too comfortable to have your worry time, such as sitting at your kitchen table. This can help you avoid staying in your worry time for too long.

STEP TWO – Postpone your worry

• When a worry occurs, write it down. We often ruminate and think about a concern over and over as we worry we might forget it, so writing it down removes the need for mental rehearsal.

• Tell yourself that you have written it down, allocated time to consider the worry and that you will deal with it then. You may have to remind yourself of this repeatedly if your mind keeps going back to the worry. Stay consistent. Over time it will get easier to wait until worry time as your mind gets used to the routine.

• Once the worry is written down and you have reassured yourself, distract yourself. Be mindful and fully present in whatever you are doing. Look up

mindfulness techniques to help you with this.

STEP THREE – Worry time

• If you feel anxiety symptoms, such as a racing heart, stomach ache etc. do some deep breathing or a relaxation technique

• Work through each worry in turn, by asking yourself:

1. Is this still a concern? (If you are no longer worried about it, cross it off.)

2. Do I have any control over this worry?

If you do, make a plan. The plan does not have to completely resolve the problem, it just has to include achievable steps that you can take towards improving the problem.

If you do not have any control over the problem, consider:

A. Is the problem likely to happen, and if so, is it likely to happen soon?

B. Can I survive it if it does?

3. Whether you have control or not, consider whether the problem will have any lasting effect on your life 5 years from now.

When your allocated worry time is over, praise yourself for effective coping and move on to a fun or relaxing activity.

If you would like to learn more about worry and services that can help, visit dorsetmind.uk. If you are struggling to cope with your mental health in general, please talk to your GP.

If you’re in a crisis, treat it as an emergency – call 999 immediately or The Samaritans, FREE on 116 123. NHS Dorset’s Helpline ‘Connection’ can be reached on 0800 652 0190. It’s also available 24/7.

CHRISTMAS FITNESS

Craig Hardaker BSc (Hons), Communifit

Festive greetings to you all! All of our team would like to send you our warmest wishes this Christmas. It has been another hugely successful year for all involved with Communifit. None of this would have been possible without your love and support. Thank you for reading our articles, attending our classes and supporting our events. Last month we raised a whopping £548 for Yeovil Freewheelers from our charity 5k/10k fun run. The Freewheelers are a charity organisation who provide a critical, free service to the NHS delivering blood, medication, scans and many other important products across South Somerset. As with all our other charities, we are delighted to be able to help such a worthy cause. This month sees our next run raise vital funds for Sherborne Food Bank. Again we are pleased, indeed proud, to be able to help. We would love to see you participating in our next 5K/10k, providing valuable support for the Food Bank. If you don’t want to run, we are always on the look out for marshals!

December is a busy month for us all and regular routines can go out of the window. There is lots to do with so little time. Unfortunately, this can adversely affect our exercise routine. This tends to be in complete contrast to January when we tend to punish our bodies with vigorous exercise programmes and perhaps unrealistic nutrition programmes after an enjoyable Christmas period. Avoid any feeling of guilt or discomfort by starting a pre-Christmas routine!

There is lots we can do to narrow the need for a punishing January without being a scrooge during the festive season – here is how!

Drink lots of water Water will fill you up so you are less likely to eat as

much! Eating fewer calories in December will result in less to burn off in January. With all the rushing around and increased social (and perhaps alcohol and chocolate-filled!) activities, we tend to drink less water in December than during any other month. Be wary of this and stay fully hydrated.

Higher intensity workouts

If you are struggling to fit in your standard one-hour exercise routine, why not shorten the duration of time given up to exercise and increase the intensity? This is a popular training alternative for anyone who has little time yet is wanting to build strength, burn fat and relieve stress. Perfect training for the Christmas period! However, this method isn’t suitable for everyone feel free to contact us if you have any doubts

Sense of routine

With most routines going out the window in December, why not commit to thirty minutes of exercise each and every day? Being able to de-stress during what can be a busy and sometimes chaotic month can also be important for your mental wellbeing, so ring-fence time for yourself in order to help you focus, and de-clutter, in turn helping ensure you have a more enjoyable month.

With this being said, Christmas is nevertheless the month to celebrate with your loved ones. So please do eat, drink and enjoy your Christmas and New Year celebrations – we can’t wait to help you achieve your health and fitness objectives in 2023.

Wishing everyone the most wonderful Christmas and all the best for the new year.

communifit.co.uk

Image: Dave Bendell

TRANSFORMATION

Respecting the past, embracing the future

In the 231 years since we were established, The Abbey Pharmacy has seen many changes in our society. We continue to evolve and are now, more than ever, committed to meeting the changing needs of our customers.

Our vision for the transformation of The Abbey Pharmacy invests not only in the health of our community but also our high street – we need your support in making this a reality.

To find out more about our exciting plans and to register your support, please visit www.theabbeypharmacytransformation.com

THE FESTIVE TOUCH

Annabelle Hunt, Colour Consultant, Bridport Timber

We all have different festive rituals and traditions but celebrating with our nearest and dearest is at the heart of most people’s holiday season. As the days grow ever shorter, transforming your home into a festive hideaway is easy; add a little Christmas magic with twinkling lights, colour, and pattern. Whether you are hosting a sophisticated soirée for seventeen, or a cosy kitchen supper for two, the trick is to create a seemingly effortless atmosphere and make everybody feel at home.

If you want to add a little colour to an otherwise calm neutral scheme, you might consider adding shades of green or jewel-bright pops of colour around a fireplace or on the frame of a mirror. For a bigger statement, Farrow and Ball’s deep burgundy Preference Red, or their beautiful archive colour Chinese Blue, really make decorations pop. Green is not only festive, it looks good all year round and is soothing – botanical tones are particularly on-trend. For the brave, dark Studio Green or saturated Calke Green bring intense drama. If it is a golden glow by candlelight, or warmth and sunshine that you crave, India Yellow is perfect.

Once you have hauled the decorations box out of the loft, concentrate on a few key areas rather than opting for a scattergun effect. Grouping ornaments and foliage into a beautiful display will make a much more stylish impact than odd bits dotted about here and there. Really going to town on decorating the staircase, mantelpiece or dining table will create focal points throughout your home.

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to create an instant atmosphere. Strings of twinkling fairy lights wound over curtain rails and piled into empty glass vases bring instant festive sparkle to any space. I usually choose warm white as they feel cosy and complement any colour scheme, allowing the colours around them to sing, but multicoloured fairy lights do have a lovely nostalgic vintage feel.

Foraging for foliage is a fun thing to do with little children. Picking up leaves in autumn, collecting pinecones or snipping holly and ivy from the garden, are simple, sustainable ways of bringing nature inside. Natural foliage looks particularly elegant against neutral colour schemes such as subtle, green-based Bone and soft Off-Black.

Encourage family and friends to linger longer around a beautifully decorated dinner table. More is definitely more when it comes to a festive table. We used to simply ‘lay the table’, but ‘tablescaping’ has become something of an art and has worked its way into our consciousness over the last few years. Layer place settings with colour and pattern clashes; start with a tablecloth then add a runner, placemats, and napkins. Choosing mismatched patterns, contrasting colours and materials, and avoiding anything that feels too matching will keep it feeling current. Add your favourite dinner and glassware, flowers and foliage in tiny bud vases and finally, for a cosy and romantic ambience, add candlelight. Continue a colourful theme with mismatched jewel-toned candles or keep it simple and elegant with white or ivory.

Finally, if you have a spare hour or two and depending on how creative you are feeling, use leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper to make five-pointed star decorations, either origami or cut-outs or simple garlands of paper circles sewn or glued onto string. YouTube has lots of videos and ideas for whiling away a crafty afternoon making wreaths and garlands. You could use up old sample pots to print simple motifs onto gift tags and cards or even hand-paint a Charleston-inspired table runner. Don’t feel you have to stick to traditional red and green; look online for design inspiration, think about your overall colour palette, use whatever you have and get into the festive spirit.

bridporttimber.co.uk

James White No. 2010 and Green Smoke No. 47

Yeabridge Green No. 287 and Bancha No. 298

Chinese Blue No. 90 and James White No. 2010

Pink Ground No. 202

DAVE GAWLER

Telephone:

CHRISTMAS CONTACT AND GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS

Given the lockdown restrictions over the last few years, many grandparents will not have seen their grandchildren over Christmas and will be looking forward to being able to do so this year now that restrictions have eased. However, for grandparents who have a child or children that have separated, Christmas can be a difficult time of year, regardless of Covid. We are often asked what rights grandparents have to see their grandchildren in this event.

The law and legal process

Unlike the children’s parents, grandparents have no automatic legal right to see their grandchildren. Grandparents seeking to establish or maintain contact with their grandchildren following a separation have two options open to them.

• Agreement with parents – be that directly, at mediation or via solicitors

•

An application to Court for a Child Arrangements Order

For grandparents, an application to Court is often a longer and as a result more expensive 2-stage process, as they will need to request permission from the court to make an application in the first place.

Court proceedings are the last resort and wherever possible you should try and reach an agreement with the parents.

Tips for the Christmas period

Given that Christmas often becomes a very emotive

time of year, with separated parents themselves often finding it hard to agree arrangements, communication and discussions early on is key.

Don’t take sides

Whilst communication with the parents can be difficult, try not to take sides and remain neutral. The festive period can be a stressful and hectic time for parents and so offering some respite to both parents during the holidays can provide them with support and also allow you to spend time with your grandchildren.

Be flexible

If seeing your grandchildren on Christmas Day itself is not possible, explore other opportunities for contact in the lead-up to Christmas and in the New Year. It may be that you pick a day and treat it as your Christmas Day where you exchange Christmas gifts and have festive treats. There may also be the opportunity to attend school plays or carol concerts.

If seeing your grandchildren in person is not possible, perhaps due to location, then make arrangements for a telephone call or better still, Skype, Zoom or FaceTime where you can watch them unwrap your Christmas present and even play games together.

I hope you are able to reach an agreement before the Christmas break, but if not and you would like advice on your rights as a grandparent, please do contact me.

mogersdrewett.com

Victoria Cobham, Associate Solicitor, Family Team, Mogers Drewett

Laura Somoza

Elizabeth Dowler

Simon Walker

Rebecca Silcock

Victoria Cobham

PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS

Mark Salter Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning

Well what a year 2022 has been, a memorable one but not perhaps for the right reasons.

We are currently in a very changing and turbulent environment with the pound hitting all-time lows, energy bills and living costs rising, a new King and another new Prime Minister! As I sit down and write this article the Bank of England has just increased interest rates to 3% when they began the year at just 0.25%.

Almost all of these changes have been outside our control, which has certainly felt unnerving at times.

Despite this, we do know that Christmas is still just around the corner and over the next few weeks we will all be reminded frequently of the number of shopping days until Christmas.

At this stage many of us start thinking about planning for Christmas and we’re certainly going to be thinking more about how much it’s all going to cost. You might begin by writing a list of all the people you need to buy presents for and then thinking about how much you will spend on each person. You’ll also be thinking about what extra food and drink you’ll need and the cost of the big Christmas food shop.

Whilst many people follow this approach, we all know someone that’s been buying presents since January and somebody else that will be leaving everything until the last few delivery days before Christmas.

This got me thinking about the similarities of planning for Christmas and what I do every day as a lifestyle financial planner. Many people might have a plan for Christmas but very few have a plan for the rest of their lives. Even a very basic plan is certainly better

than having no plan at all.

A good place to start is creating a budget and thinking about the cost of your lifestyle now and how this might change in the future. What else do I need to pay for such as children’s education, more holidays, new cars etc?

Once you have an idea of the costs, you can then start thinking about how you might pay for it, how much you need to save or how long you will continue working. It is also important for you to know how your income will change in retirement.

You then have a basic plan to work from. You’ll be able to calculate how much you can afford to spend or how much you need to save. Unfortunately, many people live day-to-day and leave it too late.

If you’re a business owner, have you thought about what happens when you want to stop working or perhaps reduce the number of days you work each week? In most cases building an exit strategy from a business needs careful planning and time.

One important consequence of planning, whether it’s for Christmas or for the rest of your life, is that you’ll start feeling more organised, you’ll be less worried and start feeling happy and positive about the future.

A bit like the Christmas shoppers that start planning early – when everyone else is frantically looking for presents and worrying about how they’re going to afford them, they’re at home with a warm mulled wine and all the presents neatly wrapped under the tree, ready to enjoy Christmas.

ffp.org.uk

CD DRIVES –WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?

James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers

Since I joined my father at Milborne Port Computers I have been fixing laptops and PCs with optical drives, or as most people know them, the CD drive. The retraction of the drive has been around for a while but suddenly it is one of the questions we are asked a lot – where have they gone?

Before USB memory sticks or external hard drives, CDs were the thing you used to back your computer up with, transport data or store pictures on. When CDs first came on sale, they had storage of 650MB, which was huge compared to what else was around. That would fit around 100 images on or 80 minutes of audio. I’ll never forget walking around with a CD player in my pocket (although I’m also old enough to have had a Walkman which fitted so much better in your pocket). I still have a drawer full of CDs that I use for random older repairs on Windows XP machines and Windows user password issues.

15 years later came the DVD! Same physical size but bang! 4.7GB of storage – a massive leap compared to the CD. Now DVDs also feature in my drawer because Windows 7 and above would only fit on a DVD as the installer for Windows 7 was around 2.4GB. Along with this came DVD movies which when they first came out were normally restricted to 2 hours of movie length, until manufacturers developed formats that allowed for significantly greater storage capacity. Who has still got a cupboard full of DVDs at home? I do!

People got used to CDs and DVDs over the years and in this time, USB drives and external hard drives were released and were gaining traction over these

discs for data transfer and backups. But still people were keen on burning things to CD/DVDs, like home movies and pictures.

Now why are people still so keen on them? I think one reason is habit, ‘I’ve had one before, I must have one again with my computer.’ The other is that some new devices you buy for the computer still come with a CD to install the device i.e. printers (which you all know we love!).

The reason why optical drives don’t come fitted anymore is down to space-saving and cost-saving for the manufacturers. The standard-size desktop isn’t really a thing anymore since SFF (Small Form Factor) machines came out which is where everything inside the box is turned on its side or made smaller to fit it in a smaller box. They started to use the same optical drives that they put in laptops in SFF machines but now seem to have scrapped that idea. Some manufacturers do give you the fittings and a plastic plate for the front of the box if you want to buy your own. With laptops it is a case where they cannot fit them in and they add to the weight of the machine and in a world where we want everything thinner, lighter and to have a better battery life, the optical drive is the easiest thing to get rid of.

So, the solution? Get yourself a USB CD/DVD drive, which I have in the aforementioned drawer, and it will plug into any laptop or desktop that has a USB port and won’t break the bank! These normally cost anywhere between £20-£50.

Any problems, as ever, you know where to come!

computing-mp.co.uk

GRANDPA GEOFFREY NEEDS HELP

Mary Lister Ashby, Sherborne Scribblers

Tyson and his dad, Ian, sat in front of the television eating their cereal. Tyson was pleased. It was Saturday and there was no school for two days. Tomorrow would be Tyson’s ninth birthday and they were going to go bowling. His dad looked happier than he had been in a long time. They had started a ritual of looking at pictures of Tyson’s mum together each week and they had bought a small tree in her memory. Ian had put it in a pot and planned to plant it in their garden when they owned their own house again. ‘This tree was Maxine’s favourite.’ His dad could say her name aloud now. ‘How long ago did she die, Dad?’ Tyson felt he could ask questions about her too now. ‘It will be eighteen months ago tomorrow that she died. She was well enough to celebrate your seventh birthday with you. Do you remember? We had a party in the garden and Aunt Jacky and Uncle Clive came to stay.’ Tyson was not sure if he remembered but he nodded. It helped to look at the picture of his mum sitting on the swing with him. She wore a headscarf and had her arm around him. He took the cereal bowls to the kitchen. His mind had switched from the time with his mother and was whirring to find a place to settle.

Tyson went into the garden and kicked his football around. Then he remembered Grandpa Geoffrey. ‚That ’s strange,’ he thought, ‘I haven’t heard from him for weeks.’ He remembered their trips together. They first went with Nancy to Chester Zoo and Grandpa did that magical thing of going through a wall on the platform just like in the Harry Potter films. This meant that they got from Basingstoke to Chester in record time. His favourite trip was to that island where they went fishing. Sometimes he thought that was just a dream. How could Grandpa make a Land Rover fly? Some weeks ago, he went with them both to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Grandpa again worked magic. How could he fly down the side of the tower with just an open umbrella? ‘I miss him,’ Tyson thought. ‘Dad,’ he called through the kitchen door, ‘have you heard from Geoffrey and Nancy?’ ‘No mate, shall I give them a call?’ ‘Yeah.’

Soon after, Tyson could hear his dad talking to Nancy. ‘Oh no, I am sorry to hear that. Is he feeling better now? Surely, he has had his booster vaccination.’ ‘Oh no,’ thought Tyson, ‘not another person going to die.’

‘ Tyson,’ his dad shouted, ‘would you like to see them this afternoon? Nancy has invited us to tea.’ ‘Well, he can’t be about to die then,’ Tyson thought. His grin gave his father his answer.

Geoffrey and Nancy lived in a bungalow on a quiet road on the edge of Basingstoke. The front garden was covered with white pebbles and fringed by narrow beds of tulips and forget-me-nots. The door chime made Tyson and his father laugh as it sang out Radio Gaga, one of Grandpa’s favourite tracks. Nancy welcomed them in, but Grandpa was nowhere to be seen. ‘He is down in his shed as usual,’ Nancy explained. ‘Go and find him Tyson and bring him back for a cup of tea in a bit.’ Tyson ran out of their tidy kitchen and down the path to the shed. Inside, Grandpa was sitting with his head in his hands. Tyson hovered on the threshold, feeling shy again as though they had only just met. ‘Ah, Tyson. Good to see you. I have been at a loss for what to do.’ Tyson waited. ‘You see, I have not been very well, and my mind is tired. The Land Rover is ready to fly again but where do we go from here? I have been to places beginning with A, B, C, D and E but I cannot think of where to go beginning with F.’

‘Why not France? The Eiffel tower was awesome,’ said Tyson, ‘and Mr Jordan, the geography teacher, has been helping me to speak French. Comment allez vous, monsieur?’ Grandpa did look impressed but then sighed. ‘It needs to be somewhere more exciting, like the Fiji Islands.’ ‘What about the Philippines? Our neighbour comes from there – she works in the hospital.’ Grandpa let Tyson down gently. ‘The Philippines begins with P, but we could remember that for later.’ They both then heard the bell ringing. ‘That will be Nancy calling us in for tea,’ Grandpa explained.

In the kitchen, Nancy and Ian were chatting. There was a big chocolate cake on the table and a big box next to it. ‘That’s his present for tomorrow,’ Nancy told Ian. ‘You are very kind,’ he said. ‘I am afraid his real grandmother does not keep in touch with us. She blames me for Maxine’s death. My parents live so far away, and we hardly ever see them. Tyson looks on you both as grandparents.’ Nancy smiled, ‘I think Tyson is the one to help Geoffrey recapture his magical powers.’

This was indeed the case. At that moment Tyson and Grandpa were in the garage checking over the Land Rover. ‘It is ready to fly. I will work on it, and we can try somewhere during your half-term holiday.’ ‘Can I help you?’ Tyson asked whilst buffing the green bonnet over with a cloth.’ ‘Of course.’ Grandpa began to feel better already. They joined the others in the kitchen and munched through a large slice of cake each. Again, Tyson felt the happiness that he was accustomed to feeling in Grandpa’s company.

LITERARY REVIEW

Jonathan Stones, Sherborne Literary Society

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (Doubleday, £20) Sherborne Times reader offer price of £18 from Winstone’s Books

Just after dawn one morning in 1926, ‘a party crowd of doubtful provenance’ has gathered outside the gates of Holloway prison to greet the doyenne of their Soho demi-monde on her release from six months imprisonment. She is Nellie Coker, owner of a string of nightclubs of varying degrees of rackety jollity and mock-respectability, and matriarch to six children, who she manages with the same impersonal efficiency as she manages her business. At the end of the book we are told that the chief inspiration for the novel comes from the life and times of Kate Meyrick, a Soho hostess between the wars. (Fellow oldies of the current age may recall the equally notorious Cynthia Payne, whose various activities, both in and out of the courts, helped to keep the hacks of Private Eye gleefully employed for years.)

What follows is a cheerfully narrated and, in the main, skilfully managed romp among an extensive cast of characters including the denizens of this underworld, but carrying with it a whiff of corruption and violence. For Nellie has attracted envious enemies while she has been ‘away’, amongst them a Maltese gangster and not one but two corrupt police officers, who between them are determined to part Nellie from her highly profitable business. Ranged against them and the delinquent Coker empire is the strait-laced stalwart Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher, inaccurately dubbed ‘Frobisher of the Yard’ in the popular press, (and apparently drawn from that 1950s comic-book boys’ real-life hero ‘Fabian of the Yard’) and his unlikely

sidekick, Gwendolen Kelling, a former librarian and now on the lookout for two young girls who have run away from home in the North of England. The tentative love affair between Frobisher and Gwendolen is handled with Atkinson’s typical sympathy and flair, and we are skilfully made to care both about Gwendolen and one of the young runaways, Freda, as they negotiate the dangerous shoals in which they are forced to swim.

Atkinson creates a hectic swirl of characters around the various plot-lines, including the participants in a gangland shooting, a despicably venal pawnbroker, a couple of hard-as-nails landladies and a quietly omniscient chauffeur. The reader may perhaps be excused for wishing that a cast list of characters had been included, Dickens-style, at the beginning of the book. Nellie’s six children are drawn with varying degrees of opacity, but Atkinson has great fun using them as mirrors of the ‘Bright Young Things’ of the jazz age, some of whose absurdities she pins with evident glee. Occasionally the dreaded trap of the ‘historical novel’ is allowed to rear its knowing head: ‘Actually when I was in Paris I had a very interesting discussion with an American chap called Hemingway…’. The ending comes with a rush in which the many loose ends are tied up, not always convincingly, but this sortie into an antique milieu is enjoyably handled by its highly skilled narrator.

sherborneliterarysociety.com

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Revd. Kate Konrad, Acting Minister Cheap Street Church & Chair of Sherborne Churches Together

Are you organised yet? Have you made your list(s) and checked it twice? Are you the mega-organised type, or a last-minute person waiting to catch a bargain? Either way remember Christmas is all about spending!

Perhaps not this year, as we grapple with the huge cost-of-living crisis might we, at last, be able to get off the spending merry-go-round? Yes, even for the children. If you don’t think Christmas is about getting into debt but about family, I hope you have had the family arguments about whose turn it is this year. My husband’s family used to shuttle between both sets of grandparents, changing the children in the back of the car out of the clothes the first set of grandparents bought into the ones the others bought.

After all, Christmas is all about getting stressed trying to meet everyone’s expectations.

Stop the world I want to get off! Surely there has to be more.

We tell ourselves each year it will be different. But to make it different requires an act of will, a decision, a choice. My challenge to you is to put in your diary an appointment with yourself to take time to breathe deeply and to reflect on what really matters. It’s not easy to do. But when you know what’s really important, just do that.

This week I listened to the story of a man who read a book one lunchtime and fell in love with the pink-headed duck, that is thought to be extinct, and has plunged all his energy, time, and money for two decades into trying to discover if it’s still out there. Waiting.

Advent is all about waiting. What are you waiting for? What is really important to you? Do you want to know if there’s a God? And if you think there is a God, how do you relate to him? If you have got this far, and are not ignoring the question, why not dare to make space for him to encounter you this Christmas? You might even find he loves you. Yes, even you.

cheapstreetchurch.co.uk

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR

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