Unity - the magazine for Sturminster Newton and surrounding villages

issue no. 179 February 2017

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

Skate board park update page 12

SNADS panto page 15 don't forget you can view Unity on our website : www.unitystur.com

Unique Dance Academy page 14

local news

Cheese Festival Awards 01258 475419

The Sturminster Cheese Festival held Thanks were due to the Rotary Club its awards evening on December 15th at of Sturminster Newton, under whose The Exchange, attended by some 70 invited auspices the event is now run, and guests. The guests were representatives to all the members of the organising of organisations and charities receiving committee who work so hard throughout awards and those who assisted in the the year to make it happen. Additional successful running of the event. thanks were due to the many clubs and Martin Parrott, the Festival Committee organisations in the town which assisted Chairman, welcomed everyone to what has with the running and setting up of the become an annual event and said that the event and for the substantial support and original purpose of the festival (back manpower provided by the Rotary Clubs of in 1999) was to raise awareness Blandford Forum, Sherborne, Shaftesbury of Sturminster Newton, and Gillingham as well bring people to the town as the Blackmore Vale and to raise money for Lions Club who help The Cheese local charitable causes man the gates and the that might not otherwise bars. Everyone seems to Festival has become be able to raise finance. thoroughly enjoy taking so successful that The 2016 Cheese part and there is no Festival, was bigger and doubt that without this in 2016 it won the better than ever. Despite enthusiastic support the award for “The Best comparatively poor festival could not be run. weather on the Saturday, The Cheese Festival Food Event” of the it was again very has become so successful year from Dorset successful. The weather that in 2016 it won the on the Sunday was much award for “The Best Food Food & Drink better and resulted in a Event” of the year from record attendance, but Dorset Food & Drink, overall the total numbers supporting our own view for the weekend were a little down, with the that it is “The best garden party in the West”. result that there was somewhat less money The 2017 Cheese Festival will take available for distribution. However, the actual place over the weekend of the 9th and amount to be given away was once again a 10th of September. very substantial sum and took the total over Malcolm Parker the last 5 years very close to £200,000.

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is published by the Sturminster Newton Magazine Group.

Circulation 3,200. The SturQuest Community Office, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH Telephone: 01258 471456 This issue: Front cover photo: Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra by Steve Chick Edited by: Dawn Wilkins Artwork by: Dawn Wilkins Printed by: Wincanton Print 2

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

medical

From the Medical Centre

Parking at Sturminster Newton Medical Centre and The Exchange We continue to experience difficulties with parking for our patients and for genuine visitors to The Exchange next door. Parking bays are as follows: The Green bays are short stay for patients and should only be used whilst attending appointments.

The Red bays are for permit holders, which include spaces for doctors. Please do not park in these bays, as from time to time doctors need to leave quickly to attend to patients in their homes and to park quickly on their return.

White bays are for short stay parking only. These are for visitors to The Exchange and other offices on the site. They are not intended for all day parking for workers or residents of Sturminster Newton.

Other car parking is available in the town and we would like to ask all residents of Stur and surrounding villages if they could please be considerate in their parking habits.

Many patients find walking any distance quite difficult, so it is important they can park near to the entrance.

We will continue to monitor the situation over the next couple of months. When polite notices are placed on offending vehicles we receive a barrage of complaints and abuse. This is really unacceptable and we need to work together to make the best use of the spaces we have available for our patients. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Jane Dawes Managing Partner

Have your say in shaping the future of NHS services in Dorset NHS Dorset’s Public Consultation on the proposals contained in their Clinical Services Review began on December 1, 2016 and will run until the end of February 2017.

The Clinical Services Review covers both community services and hospital services and proposes some significant changes. The Public Consultation gives local people the chance to have their say.

We’ve put together some short guides to the Review, which you can find on our website here: www.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk What do you think?

We’re keen to know what local people think about the way this Public Consultation is being run. We believe it’s vitally important that as many people as possible can take part in it, understand what changes are being proposed and have their say.

So, we’d like to invite you to give us your own feedback on the different aspects of the Consultation, including:

■

The drop-in events Several events at locations around the county where you can go and talk to representatives of the CCG, ask questions and find out more about the proposals. You can see a list of the events at: www.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk

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The Consultation Document The official document which explains the proposals. You can see it here: www.ors.org.uk

■

The Consultation Questionnaire The NHS Dorset Questionnaire which gives you the chance to say what you think about the proposals. Visit: www.ors.org.uk If you attend one of the drop-in events and would like to let us know what you thought of it and if you found it helpful, please email your comments to Chris Wakefield: chris.wakefield@ healthwatchdorset.co.uk We will collate all the feedback we receive and pass on the results to NHS Dorset CCG, but it will be anonymised and nobody’s identity will be revealed.

Chris Wakefield

Copy deadline for March issue is Mon 6th February

issue 179 February 2017

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out and about

MUSEUM and MILL SOCIETY Did you know that the Symonds and Sampson building used to be the Police Station?

When the museum reopens on 23rd January there will be two new exhibitions. The first explains the history of the Police in Sturminster Newton. The 150-year-old building on the corner of Station Road, now occupied by Symonds and Sampson, closed as the Police Station in 1967. The Sergeant, who was based there, had as many as seven constables under his control. The second exhibition is a collection of 19th and early 20th Century children’s shoes that were found concealed in a thatched roof in Shillingstone. Shoes have been found hidden in buildings across Europe and it is thought that the purpose of placing them was to ward off evil spirits.

If you’re stuck looking for a birthday present, particularly one with a local theme, our gift shop in the museum is always worth a visit.

Our talk on Wednesday 1st March at 7.30pm at The Exchange will be by Mark DuBisson, a historian from Blandford, on ‘Empire, withdrawal from it and the legacy’. He will compare the British experience with that of other European countries. Tickets are available on the door. Don’t forget, on 1st February we have Dr Anthony Philips talking about the Fovant Badges.

Dorset Wildlife Trust

Deadline for the March issue is Monday 6th February

North Dorset Events

New technology has opened up the world of photography to many more people, but sometimes with varying success. Whilst most of us are happy to simply ‘point and shoot’ to capture a special moment, others strive to create an image of the living world around us, and that takes a great deal of patience and preparation.

Stewart Canham leads DWT’s Photographic and Video group and is an experienced wildlife photographer. On Wednesday 15th February 2017, he will give an illustrated talk on Wildlife Photography at Fontmell Magna Village Hall (SP7 0JU), starting at 7.30pm. This will be the perfect opportunity to discover the art of wildlife photography and learn from a highly skilled practitioner. We ask for a small donation of £2 (including tea/coffee & biscuits) to help cover expenses, but there is no charge for children under 16.

Ann Davies

Echoes of Dorset

Monday 13th February at 7.30pm, Ark room, St Nicholas’ School, Child Okeford An evening programme of words and music with a theme of Dorset, presented by Dr Richard Hall – director of the Dorset Rural Music School and Mrs Nicky Johnson. For reservations please call 01258

860767 entrance is £5. Also, our COCCL talks will continue on 13th March at 7.30pm in the Ark room, with a talk from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, Mr Martyn Underhill on “Policing in Dorset, now and in the future”.

Please phone 01258 860767 to reserve a seat £5.

Mrs Downer

To place an advert please contact the SturQuest Community Office by email at: advert@sturminster-newton.com or by telephone on 01258 471456 4

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

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out and about

Another Successful New Year’s Day Vehicle Run The 22nd New Year’s Day Vintage and Classic Vehicle Run was very successful, despite the forecast rain, which didn’t materialise until the end of the run. Around 210 vehicles met in Stur’s Station Road car park before setting off on a 39-mile run, ending at the Green Man, Kings Stag. A vast range of vehicles took part, including cars, vans, campers, motorbikes, a large representation of military from WW1 and WWII, an articulated lorry and a 1911 steam engine (which went by the direct route to Kings Stag!). During the run there was a coffee stop in Blandford, where the Mayor and her consort welcomed the vehicles to the town.

The event, which is generously sponsored by Harts of Stur, raised £2,711 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

The organisers would like to thank everybody involved, including their sponsor, staff at The Exchange, Streeters Carpets, Hansons Fabrics and The Factory Shop for the use of their parking areas. Thanks also go to the many local businesses and individuals who donated raffle prizes and cash, the Air Ambulance volunteers and all other helpers on the day.

Ray Long

OPEN MON – SAT 9am - 5pm

issue 179 February 2017

5

letters Tracey Hughes

Your Letters



write to us at unity with your views and comments...

Letter to the Editor Further to the recent article in last month’s magazine entitled ‘Banking in town’, I would like to share my recent experience with your readers.

On Wednesday 21st December I queued in Lloyds’ in town hoping to exchange a £20 note, a £5 note and some coins for 3 £10 notes. These £10 notes were to go in money wallets and form part of the Christmas presents for three young relatives. When I got to the till and asked the cashier if I could exchange the money she asked whether I was a Lloyds’ customer. When I replied that no I was not, she explained that change could only be given to Lloyds’ customers. I found the response particularly unhelpful, especially as I had waited patiently in the queue for some time. I feel that a sign stating ‘Change can only be given to Lloyds’ customers’ should have been displayed as that would have at least saved me the time wasted queuing. The cashier suggested that I try the Post Office which I duly did.

At the Post Office I was again informed that they did not give change and that they “were not a bank”. I was advised to buy something to get change so I broke in to the £20 note to buy a second class stamp, however I wanted two £10 notes not £15 in notes and coins for the rest of the change.

I decided to ask the young man serving on the till at One Stop who did oblige me with the notes but informed me that he “wasn’t supposed to “.

I am a Sturminster resident and I came away feeling that the service I had received that afternoon was distinctly unhelpful.

After all we have lost two of our banks, of one of which I had been a customer.

I wonder how local traders get on when they need change? If I had been visiting someone in Stur that day and not a local, I may have formed a bad impression and not felt that I would want to return.

Come on Lloyds and the Post Office, surely it would not have been that difficult to swap some bank notes?

resulted in 1062 signatures. The petition has been sent off to Lloyds regional management and we now wait to hear whether our branch is in the next round of cuts.

Hopefully Lloyds will take note of the importance of the branch to the town, its residents and small businesses, and provide some security over its future.

Additional lobbying has been taking place with senior management of Lloyds through our MP Simon Hoare and via Age UK in London. I would like to thank Ken, Jacqui at SturQuest, Simon and all the businesses and people who have been helping with the campaign to keep the branch.

Chris Spackman

Good Samaritans visit Nazareth Lodge With so much negativity in the world at the moment, we very rarely hear any good news. So, I am pleased to say that there are still some good people around. As many people will know, Nazareth Lodge is a small, residential care home for the elderly in Sturminster Newton. Just before Christmas two “Good Samaritans” turned up at the front door with some bags of Christmas presents to give to any residents who do not have any relatives or were not expecting visitors over the Christmas period. The visitors would not leave their names – they just left the bags and cycled off!! So, we would like to convey through this magazine, our heartfelt thanks to those two “Good Samaritans” who helped to make Christmas extra special for some of our residents.

Camilla Trimble, Proprietor, Nazareth Lodge

Dear Unity Magazine Loved your photographs and article on page 17 of Issue 178 in relation to The Big Freeze. I have recently found the attached photographs in an old photograph album of my parents that I thought you would like to see. My mother has often spoken of this Winter in the 1960’s when her and her siblings skated and sledged on the River Stour and also of the happy memories of when they travelled by steam train from Sturminster Newton to the coast.

We have loaded the attached photographs on our Abbot and Slater Facebook page for our followers to take a look at over Christmas. Best wishes

A disgruntled resident

Campaign to save our local Lloyds Branch Readers of Blackmore Vale Magazine and Unity will have been aware of a campaign to support the retention of the Lloyds Bank in the town. A petition was organised and led by Ken Hall, a local resident, and supported ably by SturQuest. This

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Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

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local news & events

KnowStur A very successful Bulgarian Dance evening was held at The Exchange in December and enjoyed by a wide audience. The event was led by Margarita who runs Bulgarian dance classes “English as a foreign language” classes ceased at the end of January. We hope this is only a temporary glitch and that the classes will restart later in the spring.

Cllr. Pauline Batstone

Friends of Stur Library Our speaker for 15th February is Harry Bucknall who divides his time between London and Child Okeford. Harry’s illustrated talk seems perfect for a February evening in England, as it is about an epic journey from Venice to Istanbul of over 5,500 miles, across the Aegean, which included the wonders of Mount Athos, 36 islands and every island chain in the Greek Archipelago, 57 sea passages on 35 ferries, 4 landing craft, 3 hydrofoils, a fishing caique and a sea plane, plus road trips on 11 buses, 2 trains, an open top Land Rover and a duck egg blue 1961 Morris Oxford. Harry’s book of the journey is entitled In the ‘Dolphin’s Wake’ and copies will be available for purchase at the event. Entry is free and includes wine and nibbles. Donations invited.

We are always looking for more pairs of hands to help us with supporting the Library and its staff. If you have any spare time to give please contact Secretary Michaela Knowles, friendsofsturlibrary@hotmail.co.uk or leave a message for her at the Library.

Cllr. Pauline Batstone Chairman, Friends of Stur. Library

email your letters to: copy@sturminster-newton.com issue 179 February 2017

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STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL Old Market Hill Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1FH Tel: 01258 475136 Email: admin@sturminsternewton-tc.gov.uk

www.sturminsternewton-tc.gov.uk

The Town Council Office is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm Council and Committee meetings are held on Thursday evenings at 7.15pm

Meetings this month 2nd February Town Council Meeting 16th February Planning & Environment Committee The Agendas will be displayed on notice boards and Minutes and Agendas can be obtained at the Town Council office or the Library.

The Councillors’ Surgery will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 12noon, in the Bibbern Gallery, The Exchange

List of Councillors 2015/16 Councillor Pauline Batstone Elvlyn Cottage, Glue Hill, Sturminster Newton DT10 2DJ Tel: 472583 Councillor Nicholas Cowell West Way, White Lane Close, Sturminster Newton DT10 1EJ Tel: 473237 Chairman & Town Mayor Councillor Andrew Donaldson Sequoia, Brinsley Close, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AX Tel: 472392 Councillor Mrs. Claire L Feltham 2 Bagber Farm Cottages, Lower Bagber, Sturminster Newton DT10 2E

Tel: 07717 475295

Town Mayor's Report The town has looked really festive over the Christmas period and I have received many favourable comments. I renew my thanks to all concerned for the joy that they brought to the community.

Thanks are due to Councillor Helen Reed and her team for their efforts on Christmas Day and providing a Christmas lunch for 35 people who would otherwise have been on their own; thanks as well to Newstone House for their effort on New Year’s Eve. Compliments continue to be received regarding “the horse” in the Community Garden. I have been delighted to note the publicity, both in the national press and national television, for Martin Galbavý and Chris Hannam who have constructed a twenty-foot-high statue of a First World War soldier using the same techniques and materials as they did when ‘sculpting’ the horse. It is gratifying to see some heartening publicity for a local business.

On the subject of local businesses, at the beginning of the month, Simon Hoare M.P., Cllr. Chris Spackman and I visited a number of businesses in the town. Simon was particularly impressed with the vibrancy in the town during his visit and believes this bodes well for the future.

The Neighbourhood Plan consultation finished at the end of the second week in January. The steering group will consider the completed questionnaires and amend the plan as necessary prior to seeking Town Council approval probably at the February or March full Council Meeting.

Following this, the plan will go before North Dorset District Council and then be forwarded for inspection prior to a local referendum.

The Town Council budgetary deliberations have now been completed.

The most delicate subject that the Council had to consider was the future of SturQuest now that the District Council financial support is about to be withdrawn. The decision to partially support SturQuest for one year whilst other financial options are investigated has not been an easy one but I suggest that a small financial rise in the local precept, whilst regrettable, is a small price to pay for the work that SturQuest does.

Thanks are due to all SturQuest volunteers for their efforts.

I have received comment regarding the southern face of the town clock which is two hours slow at present (there is no problem with the northern face). At the conclusion of B.S.T. the clock should have automatically gone forward an hour but the southern face went back an hour. Any work on the clock requires the erection of scaffolding and given that the clock was due for service in January it was decided to wait rather than go to the expense of erecting scaffolding twice. By the time you read this I hope the problem will have been rectified.

Andrew Donaldson Town Mayor

Copy deadline for March issue is Mon 6th February

Councillor Victor G Fox ‘Little Thatch’, 21 Church Street, Sturminster Newton DT10 1DB Tel: 473989 Councillor Charles G Fraser ‘Newton House’, Newton, Sturminster Newton DT10 2DQ Tel: 472783 Councillor Martin Jones River House, Stalbridge Lane, Sturminster Newton DT10 2JQ Tel: 472497 Vice Chairman & Deputy Town Mayor Councillor Helen Lacey Waterway Cottage, 2 The Row, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AX Tel: 473133 Councillor Helen Reed 2 The Common, Broad Oak, Sturminster Newton DT10 2HD Tel: 07900261812 Councillor Gerald (Joe) W Rose 13 Shortedge, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AD Tel: 472877 Councillor Christopher Spackman 5 Orchard Gardens, Church Lane, Sturminster Newton DT10 1FE Tel: 471751

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Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

local news and information

NewTech at The Exchange Your community technology centre is open all day on Wednesdays and (jointly with Age Concern) on Monday mornings. Make use of our computers, or get help and advice from our volunteers on all related technology.

Call in to one of the weekly dropin sessions or start with one of the introductory seminars: 6th February – Introduction ■ Mtoonday Android Tablets and Phones onday 13th February – Windows 10 ■ MIntroduction 20th February – Introduction ■ Mtoonday Apple Ipads and Phones onday 27th February – Talk to your ■ Mcomputer – making it easier for all and

enabling access for those with disabilities (all 10.30am to about 12.00).

Also on Monday 13th February (am) our Family History expert is in attendance for help tracing your ancestry tree.

Virtual Reality: We have true VR set (not a phone in a headset!) on which anyone in the community is welcome to try out a range of experiences.

Website Building: Are you interested in building your own simple website? If you are, please email or call us on the number below. If we get enough interest we’ll arrange a set of instruction sessions. Say, 90 minutes for 3 weeks and we will explain the basics and how you can use a free or low-cost website builder to design, (on your own computer), and implement your website. Plus, help with the hosting so that you can update it and improve it once live.

This sort of website would be ideal for an individual, a small club/association or to advertise a small business (but not including trading on-line).

Cheese Festival: Our thanks to the Cheese Festival which awarded us a grant recently enabling one of the remaining original 10-year-old computers to be replaced with a good new computer capable of hosting VR and other likely new technology over its lifetime David Shepherd 01258 475272 snclc@btconnect.com snclc.org.uk

The Community Partnership for the Sturminster Newton Area There is much to enjoy and appreciate in our fabulous town and there is now an opportunity to meet and see for yourself all those groups, organisations and activities which bond our community.

In collaboration with The Exchange, we challenge you to “Live a more eventful life”. We invite you to join us for a FREE community event at The Exchange on Monday 20th March to discover all that Sturminster Newton has to offer.

Why not find out how to become more involved, learn a new skill, rediscover an old passion, or even make new friends?

Are you interested? Then, look out for further information about the exhibitors and activities planned for the day.

Alternatively, contact the SturQuest Community Office, telephone on 01258 471456 or email team@sturquest.org.uk or visit the SturQuest website at www stur. org.uk or ask the staff at The Exchange.

Jacqui Wragg Community Resource Worker

Who’s Who in

Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton Job Club is held every Monday 10am – 12pm in the SturQuest Community Office, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1FH. Mary-Louise, your local Job Club Tutor, will be able to help you, if you are looking for work for the first time or if you are returning after a break from working.

Get help on any of the areas listed below with guidance tailored to suit your individual requirements.

■ CV Skills ■ Application Letters ■ Using Universal Job Match ■ Interview Job Skills ■ Confidence Building ■ Job Searching ■ Applying Online ■ Using a Computer

Jacqui Wragg

To place an advert please contact the SturQuest Community Office by email at: advert@sturminster-newton.com or by telephone on 01258 471456

There is much to enjoy and appreciate in our fabulous town and there is now an opportunity to meet and see for yourself all those groups, organisations and activities which bond our community.

In collaboration with The Exchange, we challenge you to “Live a more eventful life”. We invite you to join us for a FREE community event at The Exchange on Monday 20th March to discover all that Sturminster Newton has to offer.

Why not find out how to become more involved, learn a new skill, rediscover an old passion, or even make new friends? Are you interested? Then, look out for further information about the exhibitors and activities planned for the day.

Alternatively, contact the SturQuest Community Office, telephone on 01258 471456 or email team@sturquest.org.uk or visit the SturQuest website at www.stur.org.uk or ask the staff at The Exchange.

Alan Harrison

issue 179 February 2017

9

Coming soon to The Exchange Box Office ✆ 01258 475137 www.stur-exchange.co.uk Beatles With Wings Friday 3rd February 7.30pm Tickets £13.50 Howie Casey was an original member of Wings and played on “Band On The Run”, “Wings at the Speed of Sound”, “Back To The Egg” and “Wings Over America”.

Howie’s band Beatles with Wings features some of the finest musicians around who have collectively played with, and for, top class artists around the world. No look alikes or sound alikes, but a celebration of The Beatles’ and Paul McCartneys’ and Wings’ music. This is a 10 piece band not to be missed!

SNADS Present Ali Baba and The 40 Thieves Wednesday 8th – Saturday 11th February 7.30pm Saturday Matinee 2.30pm Tickets £8, £7 conc. £25 Family The 2017 SNADS Pantomime is ‘Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves’. With fantastic costumes, jokes and surprises, plus plenty of audience interaction from the very beginning.

Angel Heart Theatre Presents ‘Malina’s Dream’ Sunday 12th February 4pm Tickets £6, £5 u18s. £20 Family Malina is a young Inuit girl who lives with Grandpa in the land of the midnight sun.

Into her frozen world comes a dream, and in that dream comes a stranger, whose ship is crushed in the ice. When Malina discovers her dream has become real she knows only she can save the stranger’s life! Suitable 4+ An Afternoon with Anita Harris Wednesday 22nd February 2pm Tickets £10 An Afternoon with Anita Harris is a wonderful cocktail of song, glitz, chat and humour. Anita reveals wonderful anecdotes from her life in show business, the people she has met and the places she has been. She performs the songs that have made her into one of the country’s best loved stars including “Memory”, “Just Loving You”, “All That Jazz” and “Route 66” amongst many others.

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6 Hands with John Williams, John Etheridge and Gary Ryan Friday 24th February 7.30pm Tickets £20 We are thrilled to be welcoming 6 Hands, comprising John Williams, John Etheridge and Gary Ryan to our stage. After many years of playing together, John Williams and John Etheridge are excited to announce that the classical guitarist and composer Gary Ryan is joining them in a colourful and varied programme of solos, duos and trios.

ELO Again Saturday 25th February 7.30pm Tickets £20 ELO Again really do give you a dramatic taste of what the classic ELO were like in the heyday.

ELO Again provide the full effect of ELO’s orchestrations, full of depth and tone and they certainly know how to entertain, as the hits just keep on coming. Live cellos and the infamous blue violin make this show the best ELO tribute out there and certainly the most musically authentic.

A New Flame – The Songs of Simply Red Friday 3rd March 7.30pm Tickets £15 With more than thirty Top 40 singles and several of the best-selling albums of the last four decades to choose from, A New Flame brings you a truly memorable evening of great music. The exceptional 9-piece band recreates every slick groove and perfect melody from Mick Hucknall’s remarkable global career in an unparalleled display of authenticity and style, guaranteed to keep the audience dancing and singing all night.

Howard Jones Wednesday 8th March 7.30pm Tickets £23 Howard Jones solo shows are an intimate trip through Howard’s 30 year music career. Many of his best known songs were composed

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

on his favourite instrument; the piano.

Howard shares behind the scenes stories and reveals the inspiration behind the songs in this rare acoustic show With support from Rachel Sage.

Robert Winston – Modifying Humans: Where Does Genetics Stop Thursday 9th March 7.30pm Tickets £17/£16 conc.

Advances in gene technology mean that we can not only select embryos for ‘desirable’ characteristics but we can now modify genes of animals with remarkable ease; so possibly very soon we may be able to enhance humans by genetic modification. Will ethical considerations prevent us from the next step manufacturing stronger, more gifted and very intelligent children? Or will our imperfect knowledge of how our abilities are inherited mean that there are some major surprises in store?

The Quo Experience Saturday 11th March 7.30pm Tickets £18/£16 With an impressive line-up of seriously experienced musicians and passionate Status Quo fans, along with a stage show that includes a quality light show, The Quo Experience is not just another Quo tribute band - it is an ‘experience’; a chance to ‘experience’ the sounds and looks of “Britain’s biggest singles chart band of all time” as we all remember it!

Georgie Fame Saturday 18th March 7.30pm Tickets £18 One of a very select number of UK tour dates, Georgie Fame appears with his much loved blend of Jazz and Rhythm & Blues.

www.unitystur.com

Thurday 2nd Sturminster Newton WI- Pims and Needles Group

7.30pm

Friday 3rd Beatles with Wings*

7.30pm

Just George Carnival Club Bingo 7.30pm Tuesday 7th Sturminster Newton WI

7.15pm

Wednesday 8th Blackmore Vale Family History Society

Weekly activities in The Exchange Monday Country Market

9 - 11.30am

Community Learning Centre

9.30 - 12.30pm Bereavement ‘Knit or Natter & Craft Café’

10am - 12.30pm Contact: Judith 01258 475125 Short Mat Bowls

7.30pm

Weds 8th - Sat 11th SNADS present Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves* 7.30pm Sat Mat. 2.30pm Sunday 12th Shadow Puppet Workshop 12.15-3pm Angel Heart Theatre ‘Malina’s Dream Puppet Show’* 4-5pm Wednesday 15th Sturminster Newton Floral Group

7.30pm Thursday 16th Cinema: Bridget Jone’s Baby* (15) 7pm Friday 17th Ruby Turner in Concert*

8pm

Just George Carnival Club Bingo 7.30pm Wednesday 22nd An Afternoon with Anita Harris*

2pm

Sturminster Newton Garden Club

7.30pm Thursday 23rd Blackmore Vale Masonic Lodge

8pm

Friday 24th 6 Hands in Concert with John Williams, John Etheridge & Gary Ryan* 7.30pm Saturday 25th ELO Again – The Ultimate Tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra 7.30 pm

sponsored by

THIS MONTH’S FILM Bridget Jones’ Baby Thursday 16th February 7pm Tickets £4.50 Breaking up with Mark Darcy leaves Bridget Jones over 40 and single again.

Suddenly, her love life comes back from the dead when she meets a dashing and handsome American. Things couldn’t be better, until Bridget discovers that she’s pregnant. Now, the befuddled momto-be must figure out who the proud papa is.

6.30 - 10pm

Bulgarian Folk Dancing 7.30 - 8.30pm Tuesday Mess & More! Toddler Group 10am - 12noon Contact: Amy 01747 850288 (Childrens Centre) Short Mat Bowls Sturminster Dance School Wednesday Zumba

2 - 5pm 4 - 7pm

9.30 - 10.30am

Community Learning Centre

10am - 4pm Yogalates

Photos by Steve Chick

…and also this month

Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra

10.45 - 11.45am

Chair Exercises

2 - 3pm

Short Mat Bowls

2 - 5pm

Sturminster Dance School

4.30 - 6.30pm Bulgarian Folk Dancing 7.30 - 8.30pm Thursday U3A Exercise Class

10 - 11am

Sturminster Dance School

4.30 - 6.30pm Friday JGCC Bingo (bi-weekly) Saturday Sturminster Dance School

7.30pm

10 - 11am

Could you contribute a cover photograph for ?

Send us your high-quality pictures, with local interest and we will choose the best one each month for our cover and make sure that you receive the credit. Send to copy@sturminster-newton.co.uk

The 30th December 2016 saw the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra playing to a sell-out audience at The Exchange.

The BBO may well be unique; a blues band expanded to 19 musicians (this time), including string and brass sections and three very different vocalists.

Born out of the Barrelhouse Blues Club, masterminded by the late Paul Hart, the Orchestra achieved national coverage in 2003 and played some amazing concerts in Dorset’s bigger venues. With the opening of The Exchange, at last Sturminster had a big enough stage for the BBO to come home.

The line-up included many familiar faces interspersed with new talent – not least the excellent Jon Kenzie, on vocals and guitar. Jon’s voice was instantly appealing – strikingly soft in tone but with all the power that was needed.

The first set made some changes from the traditional all blues programme and showcased some of the quality musicians on stage, including Rebecca Chambers’ vocal timing and style, and Clive Ashley’s sax solos. The arrangements worked, the execution was excellent – at times it felt almost too well organised! But with the second set came a looser, more relaxed feel. Gren Fraser’s ‘big bluesy and blowzy’ seemed to sum it up. Helen Hardy’s powerful voice was well used, Bob Shearn excelled on guitar, and the galaxy of talent assembled for the occasion combined to create a memorable evening.

It is a pleasure to see such able musicians generating such a vibrant performance.

STOP PRESS Although the BBO was hoping to be back in May that is now cancelled but they hope to arrange a concert later in the year.

Robert Cowley issue 179 February 2017

11

schools, clubs & youth

The Youth Centre Now we are into 2017 we will be working towards the appointment of a part-time worker and a reopening of the Youth Club this spring. We are still looking for parents, grandparents, ex club members, indeed anyone to help us form the Friends of SturYouth.

Those interested please contact our Chairman Cllr. Joe Rose, 01258 472877, 07917 551129, joe.d.rose@btinternet.com.

Cllr. Pauline Batstone

for what's on at The Exchange see page 8

We are back to exploring at Stepping Stones We had a very busy Autumn term at Stepping Stones when children made mince pies, cards, calendars, pretty pots for an adult to put a candle in, tree decorations and reindeer antlers to wear.

Both glue and glitter were used to excess and everyone seemed to have plenty of it on their clothes.

Some of the children were still recreating fire fighting in their playtime after the fire station trip, using all the resources to help them. The term finished with our Christmas party when all our children were given a Christmas present from Santa, kindly funded by our committee of parents.

Having returned to preschool we have been talking about our home experiences

of Christmas and all the things that we have done over the break. The children are quite safety aware after their fire station trip and looked a bit worried when we talked about setting fire to the pudding…our budding fire fighters nearly sprang into action.

We have been exploring paint and watching to see what happens when we mix the colours together on a table and talking about the feel of the paint on our hands – some lovely descriptive words were used.

Booking sheets for September 2017 are now available. Please call Val or Donna on 07778336928 or call in to get one as soon as possible. We would love to show you round but please make an appointment to do this.

Val Cuff

Chilly Plans at the Ark! There are lots of chilly plans afoot at The Ark as everyone ventures into 2017.

Winter walks in the village (all wrapped up, of course) are in store for the babies.

Indoors, lots of sensory activities are planned, some of them with an icy touch!

In keeping with this chilly theme, the toddlers will be exploring ice – inside and out! What fun it will be to create coloured ice cubes and then to drop them into water and watch the colours disperse.

Items found in the garden, such as leaves, pinecones and twigs will be added to bowls of water and frozen. Little hands will then hang these frozen ’ornaments’ on the sensory tree, and little eyes will watch as they melt.

Not to be outdone, the pre-school children will be thinking about the cold weather, frosty mornings, icy puddles and snow. They will be exploring the Arctic, and the animals that live there: the beautiful arctic fox, the snowy owl, walruses, seals, and not forgetting the narwhal, unicorn of the sea. Maybe they will construct an igloo or two!

Suzanne Chinnock

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Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

schools, clubs & youth

Year 5 Say No to Racism

Weekly Young Sturs Monday The Jay & Jay Club Methodist Church 4-11 yrs 3.30 - 4.30pm Boxing Club CLOSED Tae Kwon Do Leisure Centre 7+ yrs 7 - 8pm Beaver Scouts Tel: 01258 472189 5¾-8 yrs Scout Hall: 5.45 - 7pm

Tuesday Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) has been a key part of the National Curriculum for many years. At William Barnes, the school uses a scheme of work called “Jigsaw” which helps the children to develop the values they need to become successful global citizens at the beginning of the 21st century.

The programme is mindfulness based approach and encourages the children

Time for Toddlers Monday Mother and Toddler Group 0-4 yrs 9.30 - 11.30am Child Okeford Com. Centre 861007 SureStart Breastfeeding Group Health Centre 1 - 3pm Tuesday Rainbow Kids Toddler Group 0-4 yrs 9.30 - 11.30am Methodist Church, Church St. 269054 Mess & More! Toddler Group

10am - 12noon Chivrick Room The Exchange Contact: Amy 01747 850288 (Children's Centre) Wednesday Free Stay & Play Everyone welcome 2 - 3pm Tops Day Nursery, Station Rd 473753 Messy Church Toddler Group 9-11.30am Child Okeford Community Centre Contact: Lauren Radburn 01258 860697 Thursday Marnhull Baby & Toddlers Group Marnhull Village Hall 9.30 - 11.30am Contact: Sandy 01258 820068 or Lisa Woodhouse 01258 820158 Friday Bumps Babes & Bigs Toddler Group 0-4 years 9.15 - 11.15am Okeford Fitzpaine School 01258 860023 Rhyme Time Sturminster Library (Friends of Stur Library)

2.15 - 2.45pm

For SureStart events call 01747 850288 www.dorsetforyou.com/childrenscentres For Rainbow Kids Toddler Group Contact: Kirsty Bee 07973 238321

to regulate and be aware of their own emotions, helping them to interact with other members of the community with greater sensitivity.

As part of the programme, the children in year 5 recently spent some time learning about racism. After discussing the unfairness of judging human beings by the colour of their skin, their religion or their country of origin, the children were inspired to create their own posters encouraging values such as tolerance, harmony, acceptance and compassion.

They produced some fantastic work; it was heartening to see the children feeling so strongly about this issue.

Mr Hull explained, “I have been so privileged to teach children from many different countries whilst working at William Barnes. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to have children from such countries as Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Brazil and Spain. It’s wonderful to see how they settle and become part of the class, how they make new friends and then thrive. The rest of the class then get the chance to learn about the customs and cultures of these children, and any misconceptions are broken down. It really is one of the most gratifying parts of my role as a teacher. Because of the mix of cultures we have at the School, when the children learn about racism, they know from firsthand experience how morally and ethically wrong it is.” The picture shows the children holding up the anti-racism posters they designed before Christmas.

Richard Hull

Youth Centre

term time only

Monday Stalbridge – Village Hall Years 6 - 8 Tuesday

6.30 - 9pm

Sturminster Newton – Senior Drop In Years 8+ 6.30 - 9pm Stur Climbing Club 8+ years Wednesday

3 - 5pm

Sturminster Newton – Junior Club Years 6 & 7 6.30 - 9pm Thursday Stur Film Club 8+ years

3 - 5pm

Stur Street Dance 8+ years

3 - 5pm

Tae Kwon Do 7+ yrs Leisure Centre Young Dragons 4-7 yrs 4 - 5.30pm SturSteppers Dance School Street Dance – all ages 4 - 5pm Ballet 5 - 6pm Adult Tap Beginners 6 - 7pm Boxing Club Also open to the public Fun Box (5-10 years) 6 - 7pm Structured boxing (10 yrs +) 7 - 8.30pm Scouts Tel: 07765 096784 10+ yrs Scout Hall: 6.30pm

Wednesday SturSteppers Dance School Tap, Jazz, Modern, (Intermediate)

4.30 - 6pm Cubs Scout Hall 8-10 yrs 6.45 - 8.15pm Boxing Club Open to the public 7 - 9pm

Thursday SturSteppers Dance School Tap, Jazz, Modern, (Seniors) 4.30 - 6pm Boxing Club Also open to the public Fun Box (5-10 years) 6 - 7pm Structured boxing (10 yrs +) 7 - 8.30pm Tae Kwon Do Leisure Centre 7+ yrs 7.30 - 9.30pm

Friday SturSteppers Dance School Tap, Jazz, Modern (Juniors) 4.30 - 6pm Boxing Club Closed Special After-School Club for budding Authors Sturminster Library 7-11 years from 3.30pm (Friends of Stur Library)

Saturday Orchestra Workshop Any age 9.30 - 11.45am Stour View Centre Tel: 01963 362849 SturSteppers Dance School Tap, Jazz, Modern, (Tiny Tots) 10 - 11am Weekly Young Stur Contact details Leisure Centre Contact: 01258 471774 Boxing Club 9 Richmar Trading Estate Contact: 01963 364292 / sharnaeaton@aol.com Thank you for your support SturSteppers Dance School at The Exchange Contact: Jill Wright 01963 364524 issue 179 February 2017

13

club news

Unique Dance Academy PART ONE Mary-Jess brings a touch of magic Professional singer, Mary-Jess Leverland, brought her magic to Shaftesbury Arts Centre on Saturday 17th December – just in time for Christmas. Singing songs from her new album as well as a selection of carols, Mary-Jess held her audience spellbound with her beautiful voice. With a true feel for the community, MaryJess invited local children with musical talent to perform as part of the evening’s entertainment. Nominated by Shaftesbury School, Year Nine pupil, Olivia Ward, sang a stunning solo. Olivia was also honoured

to sing a duet ‘Walking in the Air’ with the star. Youngsters from Ludwell Primary School added sparkle with a variety of festive songs.

Four dancers from Sturminster’s Unique Dance Academy brought a beautifully choreographed dance routine to accompany Mary-Jess’s song ‘Prayer to a Snowflake’. This was a magical, candlelit evening. As well as having the voice of an angel, Mary-Jess proved a warm and considerate host, one who had time for everyone.

PART ONE A ‘unique’ year of dance What a year it has been for Unique Dance Academy, brim-full of magnificent achievements. The results of the academy’s annual IDTA freestyle and street dance examinations were amongst the best yet, with 34 dancers achieving ‘Honours’ (90% and above), 40 gaining ‘Highly Commended’, and four dancers awarded ‘Commended’.

Several dancers also represented Unique at the IDTA regional qualifiers in July, with a good number reaching the finals. Held in November, the venue was Blackpool’s impressive Winter Gardens with its beautiful balconied ballroom.

With hundreds of regional finalists competing, many of whom attend fulltime dance schools, the IDTA Nationwide

14

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

Medallist of the Year 2016 – Freestyle competition is a showcase of talent where the competition is very steep indeed. It was thus a perfect end to the year when Unique’s Millie Chinnock reached the final of the under-9 slow dance, and was placed fourth in the UK. This result is a fitting testament to Millie’s absolute passion for dance.

Unique, now in its sixth year, can look forward to an exciting 2017, starting with a ‘Dance Showcase’ at The Exchange on January 15th. What’s more, many of the dancers will be representing the South West at the IDTA Nationwide Street Dance Finals in March.

Louise Ward Principal, Unique Dance Academy

www.unitystur.com

SNADS update

… there when you need us

SNADS busy rehearsing Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 8th to 11th February

This season’s pantomime from SNADS is Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, one of the tales from the Arabian Nights told by Scheherazade, the storyteller to a Persian king.

It is the tale of two brothers from Bagdad, Ali Baba and Cassim. One day Ali Baba stumbles across a band of thieves disappearing into a cave using the magic words ‘Open Sesame’. He waits until they leave and enters the cave with the same words, discovering treasure beyond his wildest dreams. Cassim also learns about the cave, but he is caught by the thieves and

put to death. Knowing that their secret has been found out, the thieves devise a trick in an attempt to kill Ali Baba and anyone else who might know about their hiding place.

Richly staged, it is a traditional good fun pantomime with plenty of comedy, adventure, magic, evil baddies to boo and hiss at, slapstick, puppetry, a host of fabulous characters and of course a happy ending with good overcoming evil! Oh yes and a dancing camel.

SNADS are proud to be raising money for ‘Help For Heroes’, the charity set up to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty.

Tickets availiable from The Exchange: 01258 475137. www.stur-exchange.co.uk

Choosing the right solicitor is so important when it comes to dealing with your legal affairs. For some, visiting a solicitor can be quite daunting but the reality is that most lawyers have gone into the profession because they want to help.

At Farnfields, we pride ourselves on being a well-established local family law firm, with generations of families using the legal expertise of the firm in many areas which include:

■ Wills and probate ■ Lasting Powers of Attorney ■ Succession planning for the whole family ■ Helping clients to “look after their family silver” ■ Buying and selling property ■ Divorce and Separation ■ Living together agreements ■ Mediation and collaboration law including franchising and commercial ■ Business contracts ■ Agricultural and equine law Farnfields has offices in Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Warminster and opens every Saturday morning at Shaftesbury and on Saturday mornings once a month in Warminster and Sturminster Newton.

www.farnfields.com or call us on 01258 474270

Annie Henschel

issue 179 February 2017

15

local clubs & information

Senior Stur Blandford Carers Support 3rd Wednesday every month 2 - 4pm Durweston Village Hall DT11 0QA Contact: Peter Collins 0777 285 0003 Age Concern ‘Drop In’ at SturQuest every Tuesday morning for general enquiries 10 - 11am Weekly exercise class Tuesday at the Leisure Centre with a qualified instructor 10.45 - 11.45am

How much rain did we have?

At 29.3 inches, the total rainfall in 2016 was broadly similar to the moderate figure in 2015. The totals in the first half of the year tended to be above the average: but then both months of July and December were particularly low.

The attached Charts give a wider picture of previous years and average monthly rainfalls in this area.

Alan Harrison

Albert’s Dining Club 2nd and 16th February

from 12.15pm Stour View Day Centre – cost £6 for a two course meal with tea or coffee Carers Support Group (for carers and cared for) Alternate Fridays 10am - 12.30pm Stour View Day Centre Contact: Stephen Hopcroft

01258 473152 The Martinsey Isle Trust Knit or Natter Craft Cafe Monday mornings at The Exchange

10am - 12.30pm Card & Word Games Tuesday – 7 Market Cross 11am - 1pm Drumming For Fun Alternate Thursdays – 7 Market Cross

10am - 11am Singing For Fun Alternate Thursdays –(Details from Judith) Drop in Centre Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & some weekends – 7 Market Cross Chair Exercise Wednesdays at The Exchange 2 - 3pm Contact: Jenny Wise 0776 293 4888 Parkinson's UK Group Coffee Morning 9th February 11am - 1pm Sturminster Christian Fellowship The Row, DT10 1AX. Jane Henderson 0344 225 3694 jhenderson@parkinsons.org.uk.

Sturminster Newton Allotment Association While walking along the Dorset coast early in the New Year it was interesting to see ancestors of some of our widely grown vegetables. On the cliff top between St Aldhelm’s Head and Winspit were numerous plants of wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) recognisable by its thick leathery leaves and empty seed pods. On both sides of the path were dried seed heads of wild carrot (Daucus carota) and wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). On the shore at Kimmeridge were plants of sea beet (Beta vulgaris) closely related to beetroot, swiss chard, and spinach beet as well as sugar beet. The wild form can cross-pollinate with all of these. Above the bay in a wet gully were plants of wild celery (Apium graveolens) still with some green leaf and its characteristic smell.

Back on the plot, January is a fairly quiet month. There are still plants to harvest needed for the dinner plate and ingredients for soup, these include

leeks, carrots and parsnips whose taste has been improved by the winter frosts.

The Brassica family supplied Brussels sprouts, Calabrese and three different Kales, Redbor, Green Curled, and Nero Di Toscana. The winter salad leaves stood up well to some hard frosts, one as low as -6 centigrade. As did the winter radishes, Black Spanish Long and White Icicle. There were still a few plants of celery and celeriac.

January is the month to plan for the growing season, which can start as early as late February. It is the best time to buy seed potatoes as they arrive at garden centres.

If you wish to have a go at growing your own vegetables, flowers and fruit put your name on the waiting list for a plot at Filbridge Rise or a smaller plot at Chinnocks. To obtain an application form please contact Sandra and Mike on 01258 472859 or Barry 473280 Barry Cuff

Sturminster Newton Garden Club recipe collection We are often given wonderful recipes that we try out and love, but don't get the opportunity to share. If you have a favourite recipe, email it to the Unity team and we may print it in the next edition for others to enjoy.

Send it to copy@ sturminster-newton.com, marked recipe 16

The New Year is with us and we are looking forward to spring, longer days and warmer weather so that we can start planting vegetable and flower seeds. Spring flowers will be lighting up the garden. With this in mind we welcome our guest speaker Martin Young who has visited us on many occasions for our February meeting. This time he is going to give us two shorter talks on two very topical subjects – Fragrant roses and plants for the shade. Finding plants to put in shady areas always causes problems.

Our meeting is on 22nd February at the Exchange at 7.30pm. We welcome non-members and new members to all our meetings on the fourth Wednesday

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

of every month, with a talk, tea/coffee, a raffle and monthly competitions.

February Competitions a) Vase or bowl of cut flowers (not shrubs) from your garden b) Pot or bowl of bulbs or corms c) Pot of any other flowering plant or foliage plant d) Any vegetable exhibit In December we had our Christmas Party – a cold buffet supper with a Beetle Drive to follow which was very competitive and closely fought. Everyone enjoyed a fitting end to a successful year.

Paula Harris

www.unitystur.com

clubs & local news

Change to Diners Club Following the successful move to the Stour View Day Centre we are delighted at how successful and sustainable the Diners Club activity group has become. So much so that we realise that Albert and his helpers can manage the group on their own.

We have been supporting lunch clubs since the 1970’s as a charity and realise that this support is no longer required and that our limited resources need to be redirected. Our current services are: a car scheme providing vital transport in rural North Dorset, a befriending service, computer support, information and advice (including benefit advice).

We now have an office in the Day Centre and will be working closely with staff here to develop other services and offer more outreach work to help those rurally isolated people.

This change will take effect from January 2017. Albert has mentioned that any surplus funds raised from the future running of the Diners Club will be donated to his chosen charity, Julia’s House.

Trustees of Age Concern North Dorset

Nazareth Lodge …

… Award Winning Home!

What a year 2016 was for Nazareth Lodge! Having already achieved an “Outstanding” rating from their regulators, the CQC, at the end of 2015 bringing them into the top 1% of all care homes nationally, Nazareth Lodge went on to win several other care-related awards.

In November, they were pronounced regional winners in the following categories of the Great British Care Awards: Team • Care Care Team • CPalliative Trimble for “Outstanding Contribution • toamilla Social Care

STURMINSTER NEWTON

Hambledon Hill talk We have an excellent talk at our next bi-monthly meeting in the Bow Room, The Exchange on 16th February 2017.

The speaker will be Clive Whitbourn, who is the National Trust Ranger for Hambledon Hill. Clive has a wealth of knowledge of the hill and its natural history. Do come along and find out more about this local landmark, which we can all see each day from the Railway Gardens.

Exciting news for those who wish to lose a few pounds after Christmas, we are starting a Line Dancing group in the Chivrick Room at The Exchange on Tuesday 7th February from 3 to 4pm. Please contact Wendy Benton on 01258 475608 if you are interested.

There will be a weekly charge of £2.50 each.

We also have our annual Skittles challenge match against Blandford U3A on

February 17th at the Old Ox Inn, Shillingstone. If you are interested, please ring me on 01258 475427. The cost is £9 per head.

Remember, our meetings are open to all for a nominal charge of £1 for members or £2 for non-members. We start at 3.15pm, so that you can take full advantage of the free parking in Station Road car park from 3pm.

Our annual Open Morning, will take place on Monday 20th March from 9.30am in the Chivrick Room at The Exchange. Why not come along and meet our group leaders and find out all about U3A and what it has to offer?

If you can’t make it why not check out our new website at http://www.u3asites.org.uk/ sturminster-newton/welcome or see us on Facebook?

Barry Curtis - Chairman

The home will attend the nationals judging day in February with the results being announced at the end of March.

In addition, Ann Ambrose, Manager, was a finalist in the Care Manager category of the National Care Awards.

Miss Trimble, proprietor of Nazareth Lodge, said “I am absolutely delighted that my Manager and my wonderful team of care assistants have been acknowledged for all their hard work and dedication in keeping the home one of the best in the whole of the United Kingdom. They should all be very proud of what they have achieved together. We are keeping our fingers tightly crossed for when we attend the nationals judging day in February!”

issue 179 February 2017

17

clubs and events

Family History Group Excited about a meeting?

We are about our February meeting, which will be in Stalbridge for the first time in ten years! The meeting will be at ‘The Hub’ next to the Station Road Car park. We’re also trying a new time – 2.30pm, for those who don’t like to come out in the dark. If you would like to attend but have no transport please give me a ring on 01258 472942 and we’ll try to arrange a lift.

And what of the meeting itself? For several years Marilyn Stansfield has been

researching Broad Oak, the hamlet which stretches up the hill from the Bull tavern in Sturminster, and compiling a database about various aspects of life there. Marilyn will be sharing her findings and answering questions. Broad Oak used to be very self-contained and is still very much a community.

Usual charges apply (£2.50 for S&D members £3.50 for nonmembers).

We look forward to seeing you there.

Felicity Harrison

Norman Conway Prangley of Lloyds Bank

Born in 1895 in Ashton-Keynes, north of Swindon, Wiltshire. His parents ran the local post office, which was still operated by his sister in 1939 at the start of WWII. However, this occupation was not for him and he began a banking career with Lloyds Bank, working in the newly opened Sturminster Newton branch following a takeover of the Wilts & Dorset in 1914.

Norman enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, probably in early 1916, as documents regarding his medal entitlement show that he didn’t arrive at the battlefront until mid-November 1916. He was killed, aged 21, 98 days later.

He had transferred from the 2nd Battalion to the 23rd (Service) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers at the beginning of December and on the 17th February 1917, he found himself in the Somme trenches near Miraumont, a village south west of Bapaume.

As the regiment were forming up just before dawn, they suffered many casualties under German artillery bombardment (the enemy had had an early warning of the attack from information given by deserters), and, when the assault commenced, the German barbed wire was found to be largely uncut and they became easy targets for the German machine guns.

85 men of the 23rd Battalion were killed and they lie beside Norman Conway Prangley in the Regina Trent Cemetery, 8km north of Albert.

Norman appears alongside those commemorated in St Mary’s Church, and one located in the Lloyds Banking Group building known as Canons House situated on the Bristol harbourside.

His picture appears courtesy of Lloyds Bank and can be found at https:// www.facebook. com/Lloydsbank memorialalbum/

Grants and support to grow your Food & Drink business in Dorset

There has never been a better time to start the year with high hopes and ambitions. Dorset Food & Drink, the county’s networking and membership organisation for food producers and retailers is delighted to bring together a mix of partners who can help businesses start or develop their plans.

The food and drink businesses of Dorset are deeply rooted in a long history of artisan producers, many of which have developed into strong local and even national brands. Consumers, retailers and the hospitality industry look to this heritage to assure themselves of high quality, locally and ethically sourced products that enhance their own experience.

Katharine Wright of Dorset Food & Drink said “The New Year is often time when we think of a fresh start and 2017 could be an inspiring time for our wonderful food and drink businesses.

There are grants and other support available to help create new jobs, or improve marketing and business skills. All food and drink businesses are invited to join us at Kingston Maurward College on Monday 16 February to meet representatives from grants programmes, and business support.”

Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset will be present as the Key Note speaker and there will be plenty of opportunities to talk to grant providers and business support. The event starts at 5pm and booking is essential.

To book: 01305 224785 or go to https://www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/newyear-change-up-a-geartickets-29815966358

Pims and Needles WI Lite The Pims & Needles WI Lite group had another successful meeting in January where we made paper flowers whilst having a natter, as well as drinking tea and wine! We were pleased to welcome some new members and also to catch up with existing members after the Christmas break. Hopefully we are getting the balance right between sociability and attempting various crafts, some more proficiently than others but all having fun.

We meet at 7pm on the first Thursday of the month in The Exchange and at our next meeting on the 2nd of February we are looking forward to being shown how to make cards, so if you would like to make new friends of all ages we would love you to come along and find out what this group is all about.

If you want more information please contact Petrina on 07967 806849.

Pam Naylor

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Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

out and about

News from St Mary’s

Though we look forward to what 2017 will bring, we must look back to Advent and Christmas 2016, when lots happened at St Mary’s. Two Advent lunches were held, one at the vicarage and one at Nazareth Lodge. The money raised went to the charity ‘Mary’s Meals’, a laudable global movement that aims to give ‘every child one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need share with those who lack even the most basic things.’ We also ran a ‘reverse Advent calendar’ for the food bank.

Instead of removing something (i.e. a sweet) from an Advent calendar daily, we encouraged to put a donation of food or a small gift into the collection box… a most successful and gratefully received initiative.

A large congregation enjoyed the ‘Advent’ processions with carols and the service of ‘Lessons and carols’. The Christingle and crib service, including a wonderful tableau performed by the children, filled the church with families.

Gifts donated were given to the ‘Refuge’, and the two school Christmas services which raised £419 went to the ‘Children’s Society’.

St Mary’s was delighted to receive a grant from the 2016 Cheese Festival helping towards the cleaning and refurbishment of the valuable and historic organ in this community building. Every part of it needs attention: checking, cleaning, repairing, greasing, with the pipes being entirely removed to the workshop to be attended to… a huge and very expensive task!

Women’s Institute For the WI 2017 started some 1500 years ago, with John Smith’s powerful evocation of the country under the Romans.

Particularly interesting was its relevance to Sturminster, and a Roman settlement connected with the villa at Hinton St Mary.

It is the time for selecting the annual resolutions to be put to the National AGM in the summer and, after discussion, our members voted to seek government support for women’s refuges which are

sorely deprived of funds for the vital work they do for abused women and their children.

Throughout this year we shall be meeting on the first Tuesday of the month, 7.15pm in the Bow Room of The Exchange – there will be a wide range of activities on offer, as well as a monthly lunch club and other outings. The February meeting on 7th with a social time will be a good chance to meet our members.

Judith Bennett

for what's on at The Exchange see page 8

News from under the Blue Lamp There are five crimes to report for December: theft of cash, damage to the public toilet building in Station Road, theft of gas bottles from commercial premises, one reported shoplifting and theft of milk from a doorstep.

Beauty Spot Thefts There are some wonderful beauty spots in the local area: unfortunately there are some unscrupulous people who see this as an opportunity to commit crime. Whilst you should not let this deter you from enjoying these fantastic places – DO NOT leave valuables in your vehicle as you may become a victim of crime.

Please feel free to drop by and say hello at one of my surgeries on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the SturQuest Office. Due to operational reasons, there are times when one of the team is not able to make the surgery. Our unavailability is rare but please leave a message at the office.

Mandy Robinson PCSO 5352

Sturminster Newton Police Station Dorset Police non-emergency number: 101 stourvalleysnt@dorset.pnn.police.uk In an emergency only, please dial 999 Your Town Beat Officer is PC 2146 Phil Sugrue

COMMUNITY OFFICE OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm

March issue copy deadline:

Midday Monday 6th Feb When submitting articles or other copy for the magazine, please include your name and contact telephone number plus, if possible, a heading or title for your copy. If you include photos, please tell us the name of the photographer and the names of any people in the photos. Photos, images and logos to be high resolution/300dpi minimum and of good quality.

Please email copy to copy@sturminster-newton.com by the above deadline. If you do not have access to email or a computer, please deliver your copy to the SturQuest Community Office, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton DT10 1FH by the above deadline, and a volunteer will type it onto the computer for you.

To advertise please contact the SturQuest Community Office by email at: advert@sturminster-newton.com or by telephone on 01258 471456 The letters and articles published in this magazine are accepted in good faith and the views expressed therein are not necessarily the views of the Editorial Board, whose decisions on publication are final. issue 179 February 2017

19

What's on in & around Sturminster Newton Thursday 2nd February

Monday 13th Feb, 6.30 onwards

Stourview Centre, Bath Road

Come & discuss plans for the creation of a skate bowl in Rixon Recreation Ground The Bow Room, The Exchange

Albert’s Dining Club Community Lunch Saturday 4th February 10.30am – noon

Coffee Morning

Manston Village Hall Bring Books/DVDs to swop/buy

Photo: A cold and frosty morning in Shillingstone

Monday 6th February 7.30 for 8-10.30pm

UK Boogie Woogie Club Night

Stour View Centre, Bath Road Live music ,dancing, bar & buffet. £4

Skate Bowl Workshop

Wednesday 15th February 7.30pm

Wildlife photography, Stewart Canham Dorset Wildlife Trust Fontmell Magna Village Hall Wednesday 15 February 10am – 1pm

Garden and Flower Photography Course

The Exchange

For all abilities Please book on info@springheadtrust.org.uk Open garden with stalls, light lunches & refreshments. £25

Monday 13 th February 7.30pm

Thursday 16th February

St Nicolas’ School, Child Okeford COCCL

Stourview Centre, Bath Road

Wednesday 8th February 3-5pm

Creative Writing Group Echoes of Dorset

Albert’s Dining Club Community Lunch

February 2017 Tuesday 21st February 2.15pm

‘Buds, Bark and Lichen’ Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club Child Okeford Village Hall

Friday 24th February 7.30pm

Film ‘Bridget Jones’ Baby’ Child Okeford Village Hall

Ash Wednesday 1 March 2017 10.00am

St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton: Holy Communion Service

If you’d like to publicise an event within approximately a 6 mile radius of town, then let us know. A snappy entry on this page is free; a bigger advert in the magazine will be charged but don’t forget how affordable our rates are – you can advertise in unity from only £24 and the magazine reaches 2,500 homes in Sturminster and local villages.

The copy and advertising deadline for the March issue is Midday Monday 6th February