Unity - the magazine for Sturminster Newton and surrounding villages

issue no. 180 March 2017

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

Boxing Club News page 14

New Club at the Mill page 5 Don't forget you can view Unity on our website : www.unitystur.com

Yewstock Celebrates page 13

local news

Tough conditions for Lions Half Marathon The 25th Blackmore Vale Lions Half Marathon was run on 5th February raising around £4,000 to be shared between St Margaret’s Hospice, various organisations in Bishops Caundle, and the Blackmore Vale Lions Charity Trust Fund, which supports a wide range of charitable causes in and around the Blackmore Vale.

Over 425 registered to run the race however, probably due to the inclement weather, 378 runners (of all ages) took part in the marathon and 5-mile Fun Run organised by the Blackmore Vale Lions Club with the valuable co-operation of Bishops Caundle Parish Council, All Saints Primary School, Bishops Caundle Village Hall and Social Committee.

The race is part of the Dorset Road Race League and is for many the first of the year. Weather conditions after a deluge on Friday and Saturday, were almost perfect for this very tough challenge which many runners use as preparation for the London Marathon in April.

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

THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS IS AS FOLLOWS: Men’s overall Steven Way Bournemouth AC, 1/12/14 Men’s 2nd overall Dorset Doddlers, 1/12/42 Men’s 3rd overall Poole AC, 1/13/58 Ladies’ overall Poole Runners, 1/26/37

Iain Trickett David Broadley Vicky Ingham

Ladies’ 2nd overall Nikki Sandell Bournemouth AC, 1/28/08 Ladies’ 3rd overall Unaffiliated, 1/31/35

Hannah Wilkins

Bournemouth AC picked up both the Men’s and Ladies’ Team Prizes. The Fun Run winner was Ross Wayne of Purbeck Runners in a time of 42min 23sec. The first

Vicky Ingham (also image left)

lady was Robyn Pike in a time of 51min 30sec. The results can also be found on the Lions’ website at www.bvlhm.yolasite.com.

The Blackmore Vale Lions thank and appreciate all the organisations that helped make the event the huge success that it is: this year’s major sponsor Dike & Sons of Stalbridge, also Else Family Butchers of Stalbridge; and the marshals, drinks providers, recorders and referees from the road running fraternity especially Gillingham Trotters, a2e Medical Services, GMS Lions and Sturminster Newton Rotary Club, Air Cadets, Templecombe Scouts, and most importantly the Blackmore Vale Lions ladies who provided all the food and drink both before and after the event.

We hope to see everyone again on Sunday 4th February 2018.

George Wagland, Blackmore Vale Lions PR officer

Steven Way (also image left)

This issue: Front cover photo: Snow drops by Penny Mountain Edited by: Penny Mountain Artwork by: Dawn Wilkins Printed by: Wincanton Print 2

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

local news

From the Medical Centre Local GP practices propose merger

Raise the flag for the Commonwealth Please join us in the Railway Gardens for a short flag-raising ceremony at 9.50am on Monday 13th March to commemorate Commonwealth Day 2017. This ceremony promotes the values of the Commonwealth – unity, understanding and tolerance.

Representatives from the Town Council, William Barnes Primary School and the wider community will gather to celebrate and affirm our membership of the Commonwealth, along with 52 other member countries around the world. All are warmly welcome to attend.

The Town Council

Following initial discussions, the Blackmore Vale Partnership (Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton) and Stalbridge Surgery are formally proposing a merger in order to ensure patients can continue to receive high standards of care in the future.

Dr Simon Horner, the Blackmore Vale Partnership, said: ‘With the NHS nationally facing increased pressure, a crisis in GP recruitment and budget constraints, it makes sense for both practices to consider working more closely together and enjoying the benefits this will bring, including more choice and flexibility for patients, more effective use of GP time and greater negotiating power with the NHS to ensure the best possible services for our patients.’

Dr Steve Clayton, Stalbridge Surgery, said: ‘We understand that patients and staff may be anxious about the proposed merger, however we see this as a really positive move for both practices. I am pleased that succession of primary health care services will be secured for the 4,400 patients of Stalbridge Surgery.’

The next stage of the process will involve teams from the Blackmore Vale Partnership and Stalbridge Surgery working closely with Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England, patient groups and other partners to ensure the merger is in the best interests of local patients and those working within the healthcare community.

Jane Dawes Managing Partner

Proposal to keep Iron Horse

The Town Team is a name taken on by those of us determined to regenerate the town centre of Stur. It is a loose and changing group of people and activities and the title of Town Team was originally used to gain funds to do ‘stuff’ for the town, following Mary Portas’s work on getting business back into High Streets.

Several projects come under that umbrella.

The Producers Market and Christmas Lights teams have the two events in 2017 pretty much underway, for the first weekend in June and the first weekend in December respectively.

Cllr Martin Jones has a dream of a sculpture walk around Stur – Martin was the driving force in getting the Iron Horse on loan to the town. The horse is a symbol of Stur, rearing up and facing a new energetic future. Unfortunately the publicity given to it and subsequently to the stunning soldier statue over at the forge in North Wootton has increased the risk of our horse being sold and moved away. There is a proposal to raise funds to buy it and keep it in the town. We would need to raise around £12,500. It is not something the Council could reasonably

pay for, but maybe there are residents out there who would be willing to contribute, however small a sum, to a fund – it’s called Crowd Funding. As usual, the person to contact is Jacqui Wragg at SturQuest.

Cllr Chris Spackman and colleagues continue to work to promote the economic growth of the town. In particular Cllr Spackman has been in discussion with the Post Office and the banks to keep a personal banking service available to residents.

Cllr Pauline Batstone, Chairman The Town Team

issue 180 March 2017

3

local news

Dorset

NHS Dorset has been carrying out a Public Consultation on its proposals for the future of health services in the county (the Clinical Services Review). Healthwatch Dorset manager Martyn Webster has commented on feedback from local people. ‘While many people have told us that they understand the financial issues facing the NHS and the reasoning behind Dorset CCG’s proposals for health services across Dorset, there’s a lot of scepticism that the new-look “integrated community services” will have the resources or capacity to be able to provide highquality care outside acute hospitals.

‘People are really worried, too, about the re-organisation of A&E departments, concerned that it will result in some people finding it harder to get the care they need when they need it.

Local people have also told us that while centralising certain services in particular hospitals may be attractive to the clinicians, administrators and accountants, they’re worried it will result in much greater inconvenience and hardship for some patients and families, particularly those who are more disadvantaged and vulnerable.’

Mr Webster also reported back on views about the official Consultation Document and Questionnaire. Some people felt:

■ The document was too long. way the proposals were presented made it difficult for ■ Tthehepublic to grasp what their real impact would be.

© Will Bond

NHS public consultation – what you’ve been saying Alaska Contracting Ltd used their £79,000 LEADER grant from Southern Dorset LAG to purchase a new piece of machinery. This will help expand the business and create a new skilled full-time job.

Grants for rural businesses and community organisations Grants from £5,000 to £140,000, are available for rural businesses and community organisations for projects across Dorset from the Southern and Northern Dorset Local Action Groups (LAGs).

With funding from the Common Agricultural Policy, LAGs can fund a wide range of projects:

Buy equipment or construct ■premises ome parts of the document were biased towards promoting ■ Sone to help new or particular option over another. existing businesses grow in a rural area.

■ There was too much use of NHS jargon.

People have told Healthwatch Dorset that they would like to see public meetings where people can question CCG decision-makers.

Healthwatch Dorset is urging people to find out more about what’s being proposed by going to the NHS’s own website (www. csr.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk) and to the Healthwatch website (www. healthwatchdorset.co.uk/CSR) where it has produced its own short guides. ‘Then ask questions; make your views known; fill in the questionnaire and let the NHS know if you think what they’re proposing will result in better services.’

Chris Wakefield

Help farm businesses ■diversify into new activities.

Buy equipment to improve ■woodland management or develop new products.

new technology ■ontoIntroduce farms to increase productivity.

Enhance community and ■cultural facilities.

tourism providers ■andSupport rural communities provide

year round visitor activities and better access to some of our special places.

Come and talk through your project idea or develop your application at a surgery at:

• The Eastbury, Sherborne 2nd March.

• Mountfield, Bridport 14th March.

• Sunrise Business Park, Blandford 16th March.

• County Hall, Dorchester 28th March.

30-minute and hour-long surgeries are available from 10am to 4pm but space is limited. To book a place please contact Emily Greaves on 01305 225525.

Find out more about the opportunities from LEADER funding at: www.dorsetleader.org.uk.

Sarah Harbige

Grants from Northern Dorset LAG The Northern Dorset Local Action Group (LAG) needs your local knowledge to test its priorities for rural grants in 2017/18. Do you know about the needs of farmers or the forestry sector, growing a business, rural tourism or essential services for our rural communities?

If so, come along to the LAG’s Spring Forum on 1st March, 6.30pm in the Bow Room at The Exchange, where the LAG will review priorities and grant allocations for the next year. The meeting is open to both members and non-members and the outcome will inform decision-making for the next year.

The LAG has now awarded two project grants totalling £32,467 and has two years to award another £1.3m. The grant pot is divided among 4

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

six national LEADER priorities.

This allocation was agreed in 2014 after consultation with local residents and businesses.

Members’ decisions about applications are based on local priorities and the amount of funding each is allocated. Are these local priorities and allocations still appropriate in 2017? Do they still reflect local demand and need for financial support for projects in the LAG area?

If you’d like to help ensure that this year’s grants are directed to where there is most need, book your place on 01305 225525.

Sarah Harbige, Programme Manager

www.unitystur.com

out and about

Meet up with likeminded older gents Looking for a bit of company and chat?

Drop in and join likeminded older gentlemen at Sturminster Newton Mill on Monday 6th March (11am-1pm).

Initiated by local man, David House, and supported by Peter Loosmore from the Sturminster Newton Museum & Mill Society, this free fortnightly activity is

taking place in recognition of a desire for companionship by those who live alone. With tea and cake on offer for added conviviality, new friendships will soon be formed.

If you can’t attend on 6th March, then join us at the next session on Monday 20th March.

For more information, contact Peter on 01747 854355.

Jacqui Wragg (Community Resource Worker)

OPEN MON – SAT 9am - 5pm

MUSEUM and MILL SOCIETY Lots on at Museum and Mill

The Museum & Mill Society was grateful to be awarded a grant by the Cheese Festival which has helped us install a new security CCTV system in the Museum.

If you weren’t around 50 years ago and have wondered how the railway fitted into Sturminster, there is an accurate working model in the museum showing the railway layout and the surrounding buildings and roads. There are also a number of items and memorabilia of the Somerset and Dorset Railway – do come and have a look!

In addition, there are several new exhibitions to enjoy – the history of the police in Stur, a collection of children’s shoes and a display of Sturminster Newton crested china.

The Mill opens again on Saturday 1st April, and will be open to end-September on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. We will be milling flour over the weekend of 8th April and on that Saturday afternoon all

members of the Museum & Mill Society are invited to come along for tea and cakes.

Don’t forget, on 1st March we have Mark DuBisson talking on the subject of ‘Empire, Withdrawal from It and Its Legacy’ in the Chivrick at The Exchange. On Wednesday 5th April at 7.30pm in The Exchange widely-travelled speaker Howard Nichols will give a talk

on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Tickets on the door and all are welcome.

Geoff Pearce

To advertise call: 01258 471456 issue 180 March 2017

5

out and about

Keep reading with the Home Library Service If you or somebody you know or care for are unable to get to your local library, the Home Library Service (HLS) can provide a regular supply of books for you at home.

The HLS in Dorset is a countywide partnership between the Royal Voluntary Service and the County Council and is provided from our libraries by volunteers.

New readers in Sturminster Newton and surrounding areas (including Marnhull, Hinton St Mary, Manston, Hammoon, Child Okeford, Okeford Fitzpaine, Hazelbury Bryan, Kingston and Stalbridge) are visited in their homes by a local HLS co-ordinator to find out how many and what type of books they would be interested to read, and in what format, ordinary or large print or Talking Books (CDs or cassette tapes).

Every three weeks, books are selected according to the readers’ preferences, booked out in the normal way and then delivered to the readers in their homes

by their volunteer. All HLS volunteers, including the coordinators, carry identity cards, have provided references and have been through a security check. No fines are levied for HLS users, although items out for a long time are followed up!

The HLS is open to anybody who needs it.

To make contact with the service, telephone or email the Dorset HLS Service Manager, Maria Jacobson on 01305 236666 or maria. jacobson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk, or leave your address and telephone number at Sturminster Newton Library for the HLS local co-ordinator Carey Pearce to contact you, or ring her on 07423 471019 or email carey.pearce@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

We are always happy to receive enquiries from anyone who has an hour or two to spare once every three weeks or so and would like to know more about becoming a Home Library Volunteer, just contact us as above.

KnowStur‌ reporting KnowStur is the group working to bring together our diverse residents of Sturminster.

The Bulgarian Dance Group is flourishing and will perform at the Dorset One World Festival later on this year.

Food Hygiene and Health & Safety Training courses will be delivered in Sturminster in the spring. These will be of value to both settled workers and those coming to work here.

AFC Bournemouth have made it known they wish to help amateur football teams around the county and also are trying to increase the ethnic mix of their supporters. We have put Yasar in touch with their equalities officer in order to get their support for the team of mainly Eastern European residents which Yasar runs.

Cllr Pauline Batstone

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

6

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

local news

Friends of Stur Library Anthology to celebrate Stur

Winning the quilt

‘If I win, I’ll give the quilt to Liz. I don’t know how she can bear to let it go.’ These were my words last year when I bought raffle tickets for the quilt of Sturminster Mill which Liz Wray had designed and embellished and we had constructed – ‘we’ being members of the Martinsey Isle Trust Art of Living and Dying Knit and Natter group.

The Martinsey Isle Trust is a local charity sharing many activities with members, according to need or interest from walking and pub lunches, singing for fun, percussion, word and card games, a drop-in centre, bereavement support, end of life and funeral planning and the afore mentioned knit and natter.

Each year, we make a quilt to raffle at the Cheese Festival, Sero Fair and in our building, Safe Journey Home, in Sturminster Newton to help fund our work and that of other charities.

Well, and I can hardly believe it, I did win – fair and square! On 19th January ticket number 00570 was drawn during our Singing for Fun session, by an independent visitor. As everyone had wanted to own this beautiful quilt, giving it to Liz seemed the perfect solution.

For more information about the Martinsey Isle Trust, please call Judith Anne Pidgeon on 01258 475125 and leave a message.

Judith Pidgeon

News from The Lions den…

The Blackmore Vale Lions Father Christmas Sleigh run produced a remarkable £6,000 during their 2016 tour of the Blackmore Vale.

Your generosity means that lots of local charities and good causes will benefit. The Blackmore Vale Lions would like to thank their main sponsors this year, Vale Motors, Dike’s Family Supermarket and The Ring Service Station. The Lions also thank the many volunteer collectors (School PTA’s, Scout Groups Friends of Lions etc) and Father Christmases who helped make this such an enjoyable event.

Our Swimarathon will take place again this year on Saturday 1st April at Clayesmore School. This event is open to all-comers with a maximum of 6 per team.

There is no age limit so both adults and children are welcome. Contact David Birt: woodsome.birt@btinternet.com Tel: 01258-472219 or Keith Waterhouse: keith@wannacoach.com. Tel: 01963-363998.

April will also see the completion of our annual Giant Easter Egg project (over 1 Kg of chocolate presented wrapped in cellophane and placed in a beautiful basket). This year more than 30 outlets

will take one of our eggs and raffle them off so keep your eyes peeled for the chance to win this egg for £1.

Early days but June will see the annual Lions Golf Fun Day at Folke Golf Club. More news to come.

The Lions are excited and honoured to be asked by the Treorchy Male Voice Choir to promote and run their concert at Sherborne Abbey on the 16th September.

Embryonic at this stage but keep your eyes open for flyers and posters all around the area over the next couple of months.

Everything the Lions do is designed to raise money for local charities and good causes and there is always something exciting going on. If you are interested in helping out on any of the events or joining us to help create them or even develop new ideas for fundraising please visit our website: www.bvlions.yolasite. com or contact our membership secretary (email keith@wannacoach.com tel. 01963363998) or just pop along to one of our business meetings on the 2nd Monday of every month at Stalbridge Hub.

March sees the launch of an exciting community writing project.

The Friends of the Library are inviting submissions of words and photographs for an anthology, which will be published to celebrate the town and immediate area. Everyone interested in being part of this project is invited to a meeting in the library at 7pm on Tuesday 14th March.

Guidelines for submitting fiction, poetry, non-fiction and photographs will be available on the night, or can be collected from the library during normal opening times from that date.

On Wednesday 15th March at 2.30pm, we welcome local author Eve Bonham to the library to talk about her work. Eve has always told stories and started writing fiction – short stories and two novels – when her children left school. This is a free event and the talk will be followed by tea, coffee and cake.

We have an additional Meet the Author event at 7pm on Monday 27th March, when we will welcome North Somerset author Ben Kane to the library as part of a promotional tour for his latest novel. Ben was working as a vet until his writing took over and he is now a full-time novelist, specialising in historical fiction. All his books are born of his obsession with Roman history, and he will give an illustrated talk on his writing and the Roman history that inspires it.

Copies of his books will be available for purchase. This is a free event, with wine and nibbles available.

Michaela Knowles, Secretary

George Wagland Blackmore Vale Lions issue 180 March 2017

7

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 3rd March Town Council Meeting 16th March Planning & Environment Committee 23rd March Amenities 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

Town Mayor's Report Every week I think what a wonderful community we have and how fortunate we are to have so many people who give of their time voluntarily for the good of all living in the town and its environs. This is well illustrated by those who produce ‘Unity’. I suspect that many people read the magazine without giving much thought about all the work that goes into its production – 3,500 copies are produced each month – and a huge vote of thanks must go, not only to those concerned with its production, but also to those who deliver the magazine. Volunteers are currently required for delivery at Green Close and also Hinton St Mary each month.

Can you spare a little time? If so, please contact the SturQuest office.

By the time you read this, the public consultation concerning the Skate Bowl project will have taken place. The Town Council have had a variety of complications over this project and it is good to see that, at last, we seem to be making some progress. Fingers crossed that we may see the Bowl open and being utilised before too much longer.

It may be a long way off but the Carnival Committee are already thinking about this year’s Carnival, to be held at the beginning of September. Despite the inclement weather last year, the event saw an increased entry of 27 in the evening, and I hope that this year’s event will be even more successful. The Committee have had

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

several ideas for Carnival 2017 but it is your event, so please contact a member of the committee or myself if you have any ideas you would like to see included.

Volunteers are always required on the day to marshal and organise, so if you have a little time to spare please get in touch.

I am regularly asked about the continued closure of the Jubilee Path extension. While I cannot be specific it does look as if, at long last, there may be a chink of light at the end of the tunnel, and I hope to have news before too much longer.

Finally, Monday 13th March is Commonwealth Day. A ceremony will take place in the Railway Gardens at which children from the William Barnes School, I and others will be present. Please come and join us at 9.50am.

Andrew Donaldson Town Mayor

Stop Press …

The Annual Town Public Meeting will be held on Thursday 13th April at 7.30pm in the Town Council Chamber. Contact Kate in the office if you have any items you would like to be included on 01258 475136 or admin@sturminsternewton-tc.gov.uk.

Copy deadline for April issue is Mon 6th March

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

8

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

local news and information

NewTech at The Exchange ednesday 15th March – Useful and fun ■ W‘Apps’ for the iPad (all 10.30am to about

The Community Partnership for the Sturminster Newton Area

Also on Monday 13th March (am) and every second Monday of the month our Family History expert is in attendance for help tracing your ancestry tree.

Do join us for a FREE community event at The Exchange on Monday 20th March to meet representatives of local groups and societies and discover all that Sturminster Newton has to offer. For the latest information about this event take a look at the SturQuest Facebook page.

12noon).

Virtual Reality We have a true VR set (not a phone in a headset!) on which anyone in the community is welcome to try out a range of experiences from roller coasters to on-stage at a musical to exploring the body from the inside to relaxing on a Tahitian lagoon!

Help with computers and related technology is available on a one-to-one basis with our volunteers, from basics to advanced topics and problems.

Wednesdays all day (9.30am to 4.30pm) and Monday mornings. All Welcome.

This month’s group introductory sessions: 6th March – Windows 10 ■ MMonday onday 13th March – Apple iPads ■ and Phones onday 20th March – Using and ■ MManipulating Photos on your computer

Website Building We are currently considering a basic website-building course if there is enough interest. Please let us know if you are interested.

Grants Our thanks to ASDA Gillingham for putting us in their green token scheme and for the runners-up cheque presented to us. This now brings us very close to renewing all the 10-year-old computer equipment that was originally installed when The Exchange and The Learning Centre first opened.

David Shepherd 01258 475272 snclc@btconnect.com snclc.org.uk

Now taking place in the SturQuest office Local jobseekers can now receive help and support from Mary-Louise every Monday (10am-12noon). New local jobs are also updated and displayed every Friday.

The next North Dorset Citizen Advice drop-in session is on Friday 3rd March (10am-12noon). Call in to book an appointment.

You can collect your replacement glass box, paper box, food waste bin or kitchen caddy from the office during opening hours. A DWP reference number is provided via an eform on www.dorsetforyou.com.

You can contact the SturQuest Community Office by telephone on 01258 471456 or email team@sturquest.org.uk or visit the SturQuest website at www.stur.org.uk.

■ ■ ■

Jacqui Wragg Community Resource Worker

issue 180 March 2017

9

Box Office Call: 01258 475137

Book Online: www.stur-exchange.co.uk

Coming soon to The Exchange

A NEW FLAME – The Songs of Simply Red Friday 3rd March

7.30pm

Tickets £15

PROF ROBERT WINSTON – Modifying Humans Thursday 9th March

7.30pm Tickets £17/£16

sponsored by

This Month’s film…

THE QUO EXPERIENCE Saturday 11th March

7.30pm

Tickets £18/£16

CINEMA: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Cert 15) Thursday 23rd March 7pm Tickets £4.50

AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING – The Ultimate Tribute Show Saturday 25th March

7.30pm

GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND

Tickets £17.50/£16.50

Tickets £21.50

10

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

Saturday 1st April

7.30pm

www.unitystur.com

THE EXCHANGE 2016 REVIEW The Exchange continued to grow from strength to strength in 2016 thanks to the hardworking small team of staff and our wonderful large team of volunteers.

A few statistics for you…

We receive NO local or government funding. Every penny raised goes towards the running and upkeep of the building for the local community. We are a charity. shows sold 200+ tickets ■ 17‘TheExchange ■ popular Ladyfilmin the Van’ was our most ■ T£2,200 he annual fabric sale raised over bacon sandwiches were served ■ 1in ,327 our café ■ 9profitable 9% of The Exchange shows were numbers attended our Beer Festival ■ RW ecord had a first snow machines on stage ■ for e TLW Dance’s ‘The Nutcracker’ We were delighted to win once again the Blackmore Vale Business Award for Contribution to the Community and be recognised externally and publicly for our achievements.

We welcomed two new members of staff, Stephany Almond and Kate Squire.

Thank you so much to all who supported us throughout the year.

Karen Rhys, Manager

MORE THIS MONTH… HOWARD JONES Wednesday 8th March 7.30pm Tickets £23

SONIA SABRI Thursday 16th March 7.30pm Tickets £9 adults, £7 children

Award winner from SNADS With the set for Pantomime struck, the actors and crew rested and the costumes washed and hung up in SNADS’ wardrobe, it is time to look to the spring play from 18th to 20st May. ‘The Memory of Water’ is directed and produced by SNADS stalwarts Linda and Robert Cowley and performed at The Exchange. In Shelagh Stephenson’s examination of the structures of memory and family, the plot revolves around three estranged sisters who meet on the eve of their mother’s funeral to argue and misremember. As they attempt

to organise her funeral, their memories of their childhood run together and the secrets of their separate lives are revealed.

When the play opened at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in 1996 it was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Heart-warming and acerbically funny with adult language to match, it is not to be missed. More information and tickets from the box office at The Exchange, 01258 475137 or www.sturexchange.co.uk.

Annie Henschel

Two nights at the opera Enjoy a night to remember on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th April when The Exchange is once again delighted to welcome the London Festival Opera Company directed by Philip Blake Jones. They offer two evenings of light operatic entertainment, with breathtaking arias, music and sumptuous costumes, all artistically staged in a colourful setting.

This year the world of opera combines with art to further enhance your evening with an exhibition of artwork, kindly supplied by Swarez, one of Europe’s leading contemporary artists. All profits from the events will go to support two worthy charities: Myeloma UK and The Exchange.

Special thanks to our sponsors Germaine de Capuccini, NFU Mutual Sturminster Newton, Arthouse Chocolate Artistry and Swarez.

Only a few tickets remain for the Friday. Box Office 01258 475137 or online at: www.stur-exchange.co.uk.

STOP PRESS… Saturday 15th April SOLD OUT

GEORGIE FAME Saturday 18th March 7.30pm Tickets £18

LIVING SPIT Thur & Fri 30th/31st March 7.30pm Tickets £10 14+ years

NEW SHOWS ON SALE PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA Friday 7th April CLASSIC ROCK USA Friday 21st April CHINA CRISIS Saturday 6th May DES O’ CONNOR Friday 12th May issue 180 March 2017

11

schools, clubs & youth

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

The Ark’s 50th Anniversary The Ark Child Okeford will celebrate 50 years since its inception in 1967 with a Family Tea Party on the afternoon of Saturday 8th July.

Back in the days of flower power a few local mums started Child Okeford Playgroup, one of the first playgroups in the area. Over the years, the group has grown and expanded, from the playgroup in the village hall, to Child Okeford Preschool, which moved into a room in St Nicholas Primary School in 1994, then finally 10 years ago The Ark Child Okeford, a full-day nursery accommodated in a purpose-built extension to the school.

Newly-created sensory bags have proved hugely popular with the youngest members of The Ark community. The babies have been busy exploring bags filled with rice pudding, jelly, cereal and cotton wool. It’s been a tap, tap here and a poke, poke there, here a squeeze, there

2.15 - 2.45pm

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

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

For what's on at The Exchange see page 10 12

Sue Olds

Here a squeeze, there a prod …

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)

Throughout this time the group has remained voluntary, non-profit-making and governed by the parents.

The current staff and committee would love as many former parents, children, committee members and staff to join them and current parents and children in their celebration this summer.

More information will be published nearer the time but contact The Ark on 01258 861007 or thearkchildokeford@ hotmail.co.uk if you would like to attend and/or have any old photographs or other memorabilia from years gone by.

a prod, everywhere a prod, prod! With potato printing, glittery porridge oats (for play, not for eating) and sensory baskets also on the ‘menu’, the babies have been having a wonderful time.

Chinese New Year has proved an engaging focus for the toddlers. Little mouths have sampled unfamiliar foods: stir fry, rice and noodles. Yum, yum!

Chinese foods have featured in the home corner too, along with beautiful willow pattern plates, chopsticks and pom-poms.

Following the theme of Chinese New Year, the pre-schoolers have made lanterns, showing off their dexterity by snipping intricate designs oh so carefully.

The role-play area has been transformed into a Chinese restaurant, complete with inventive menus, table decorations and a large, colourful Chinese dragon.

Suzanne Chinnock

Stepping Stones is Getting ready for school There have been lots of activities at preschool for the children who will be going to school in September. Our rising 5s session has been building on the dough gym activity by getting children to draw and copy their own names. They have also been building enclosures for wild animals or fish using the building blocks. Children have been counting currant buns and bolts and spanners to find out how many and how many more there are and to share out evenly.

Our board games have proved popular with some good examples of sitting, attention span and waiting for a turn. But the most popular part of the session must be PE, and we have been practising ball skills, moving to music, moving like animals and many other energetic activities.

After half term we will be taking the children into their future reception class to get used to it, the teachers and the rules

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

of the classroom. At that point we will also be practising changing for PE. All these activities are designed to give children the best transition to their reception class that we can.

Booking forms for September 2017 are now available; if you would like one please come and see us.

Val Cuff

www.unitystur.com

schools, clubs & youth

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

Yewstock celebrates another ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted Yewstock School is celebrating a grade of ‘outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted inspection. In January inspectors observed a wide range of lessons, spoke to pupils about their work and looked at data on their progress, and also gathered the views of staff and parents.

Their report commented: ‘You and your staff continually reflect on and seek to improve the impact of your work and are absolutely determined to secure the best possible outcomes for the pupils.

The school’s expectation that pupils achieve high academic standards is skilfully balanced with the strong focus placed on developing their personal, social and communication skills. Consequently, pupils thrive in this school and make exceptional progress from their starting points,

both in their academic and personal development.’

The school was last inspected in June 2013 when it achieved an ‘outstanding’ grade for the first time. This latest report highlights that staff and governors have continued to work hard over the last three years. As lead inspector Catherine Leahy, put it: ‘You and your staff and governors demonstrate ambition and high aspirations for the pupils. There is no complacency at this school.’

The school celebrated its success with a party lunch for pupils on in February. ‘I am absolutely bursting with pride at this outcome,’ said head teacher Seán Kretz. ‘This is a very special place to work, and our pupils make it a joy. The Ofsted inspectors clearly felt this on their visit.’

What should Stur offer its young people?

We have appointed a lead youth worker to take forward this new stage in youth work in Sturminster Newton. We are delighted that Dawn Ball, who has worked at the Centre before, has agreed to come back and establish the new youth club.

We are holding an Open Evening for young people, their parents, grandparents and anyone interested in youth work, at the Bath Road Youth Centre in Sturminster on Friday 17th March from 6pm. Anyone can drop in to hear what thoughts we have and to give their ideas on what is needed for young people in Stur.

We need parents and others who can

give some time to set up and run the Friends of SturYouth. The role of the Friends would be to fundraise and do other essential background activities to keep SturYouth functioning.

We also welcome youth worker Kate Parish who is employed at the High School to help young people who may need a bit more support. Kate is hoping to complement the work of the Youth Centre and has some exciting ideas.

The aim of SturYouth is to provide an even better range of activities for our young people as we move forward.

Cllr Joe Rose, Chairman SturYouth

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 180 March 2017

13

club news

Boxing dinner show for Sturminster SN Boxing Club has had a great start to the boxing season.

We hosted another successful annual dinner boxing show at the Olive Bowl, Gillingham in October.

Not only do we all have a great night but we use all our events like this to raise money towards the running costs of the Club.

At the end of last year Josh Brady won the National Championships and he will, hopefully, retain this in April. Tommy Weeks won the Western Counties and again hopes to have retained the title in February.

We have nine promising carded boxers at present and they will be boxing at our Sturminster Show on 22nd April.

For the first time this will be a dinner show, where you can dress up and have a three-course meal, relax and enjoy the boxing. We have such a good response from the dinner shows in Gillingham that we thought we would bring it to Sturminster. Tickets go on sale on 1st March.

Don’t forget we still have our Fun Box for children aged 5 to 10 years Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm to 7pm; this is a great way to get the children to learn the importance of being fit and healthy but in

Josh Brady

a fun way. The Juniors and Seniors run from 7pm.

We are a friendly but professional bunch and welcome newcomers from all walks of life. For any more information call Shaun on 07817 243101.

Sharna Read

Matt’s Colossal 10 Throughout 2017, Weldmar Hospicecare’s fundraising manager, Matt Smith, is celebrating ten years of working for the charity by setting himself a number of challenges.

‘Matt’s Colossal 10’ is a series of challenges in which he will face fears and physical demands, and experience adrenaline-fuelled excitement. And he is looking for people to join him for each challenge: abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower, the London Marathon, Skydiving, 3 Peaks Challenge, Wingwalking, the Borneo Jungle Trek, a one-mile open water swim, cycling 175 miles between all the Weldmar charity shops and a 10-hour dance-athon.

Matt said ‘In my ten years at Weldmar Hospicecare, I have seen the fantastic care that has been given to thousands of patients and their loved ones, and how vital the services are that are provided across Dorset”.

The NHS contributes 32% of Weldmar’s clinical costs leaving the charity needing to raise £10,240 a day to fund its services through fundraising and its chain of 20 charity shops and five outlets.

More information on the challenges can be found on Weldmar’s website at www. weld-hospice.org.uk/colossal10 where you can also request information packs for the individual activities.

Sponsor Matt at: www.justgiving.com/colossal10.

Matt’s first challenge, in February, was sharing a tank with a shark (here safely outside it) at Weymouth SEALIFE Adventure Park.

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

14

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

www.unitystur.com

out and about

New chairman for Friends of Guys Marsh Friends of Guys Marsh Prison (FOGM) has appointed Giles Fearn as chairman, following Jonathan Davies’ move to Essex in December.

During Jonathan’s chairmanship FOGM helped the prison identify the greatest number of opportunities and programmes to rehabilitate prisoners – the principal remit of FOGM. Giles and his family moved to Dorset in 2003. At the start of his career, he was commissioned into 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and served in Germany, the UK, and also in the first Gulf War. He has most recently been a school governor and a parent governor elected representative with Dorset Council. He has been a member of the BBC’s South West Audience Panel, whose role is to provide advice and feedback to the BBC Trust.

The committee are delighted to have a new chair whose understanding of the hardships of life is first hand but whose belief is that ‘everyone should be given a chance’.

… there when you need us Why should I choose collaborative family law?

Collaborative family law deals with the issues arising on relationship breakdown.

The issues needing resolution are discussed in meetings involving the separating couple and their respective collaborative lawyers. Each lawyer advises their own client with the overall focus on achieving agreement through constructive discussion.

It allows the couple to reach a settlement that is right for their family rather than having one imposed by the court. It moves at a speed chosen by them, not one dictated by the court.

It enables each to hear and be heard by the other and to come to a conclusion which they agree is fair. There is also a much better chance of maintaining a good relationship in the future for the benefit of the children.

For further information, please contact our specialist collaborative lawyers at Farnfields on 01747 825432.

Jonathan Harvey, Associate Solicitor at Farnfields Solicitors 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 Farewell party given by FOGM for its outgoing chairman, Jonathan Davies

POPP Wayfinder Service now open to all adults

The Dorset POPP Wayfinder Service, which is managed by Help & Care and funded

by Dorset County Council and NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, has been extended to support all adults aged 18+.

Wayfinders help people find answers to a wide range of questions by giving them the information they need and putting

them in touch with the right person.

They can give you a phone number if that’s all you want or meet you to talk through your difficulties at a venue to suit you and support you at your pace while you find a solution. The service is free and confidential.

The Sturminster Newton, Marnhull and surrounding villages Wayfinder is Wendy Lake. If you would like to speak to Wendy call 07920 650601 or email wendy.lake@ helpandcare.org.uk.

Find Wendy at one of her regular drop-ins: Sturminster Surgery 4th Monday of each month 9.30-11am Sturminster Library 4th Friday of each month 9.30-11am Safe Journey Home 2nd Tuesday of each month 11am-1pm Marnhull Surgery 1st Monday of each month 9.30-10.30am Marnhull Popp-in Cafe 3rd Friday of each month 10am-12noon

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Wendy Lake

issue 180 March 2017

15

local clubs

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 Albert’s Dining Club 2nd and 16th March

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 March 11am - 1pm Sturminster Christian Fellowship The Row, DT10 1AX. Jane Henderson 0344 225 3694 jhenderson@parkinsons.org.uk.

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

Stur’s thirsty past ‘Only three pubs? Is that all in Sturminster?’

That’s what our forefathers would have said. ‘There were more inns than that in the Market Place alone in our day’ – and on Market day I suspect they were all well patronised.

Want to find out about our thirsty past?

Come to the Bow Room at The Exchange for 7.30pm on 8th March and hear what Jacqui Wragg has discovered about ‘mine hosts’ of Sturminster Newton and their hostelries. Cheaper than a pint at £2.50 for members of the Family History Group and £3.50 for the rest, and the bar will be open!

Hope to see you there.

Felicity Harrison, Family History Group

Is that a ukulele I hear?

The latest offer of a new U3A group is for a beginners’ ukulele group (made by one of our existing members). How lovely it would be if any of our readers offered to begin a group too! We are constantly striving to make our U3A the very best it can be and welcome suggestions and offers of help.

Our annual open morning will now be an open day when we will join other likeminded groups at The Exchange on 20th March; I do hope that you will come along and see what we have to offer.

Two of our hard-working committee members are standing down; might you

STURMINSTER NEWTON

be interested in joining our committee?

We need someone to organise speakers (bi-monthly meetings) and another to co-ordinate the various groups.

Neither of these roles need be onerous; as a committee we are team players, and a warm welcome, support and encouragement would willingly be given to anyone interesting in either role.

Don’t forget to check our website and Facebook page for regular updates, or if you would like to discuss anything call me on 01258 475255.

Angela Wallington, Secretary. U3A

Eyes on spring at the Garden Club Spring is well on its way with daffodils, primroses and other spring flowers delighting our gardens. Seeds are being sown and life in general is returning to the gardens. I am sure our members are casting a eye around their gardens to see if there maybe some flowers for the Spring Show in April.

However, in March we will be transported to New Zealand by Rosemary Legrand who will take us ‘Exploring the North Island’ with some beautiful photographs.

The meeting is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 22nd March at The Exchange.

We welcome non-members and new members to all our meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month, with a talk, tea/ coffee, a raffle and monthly competitions.

March competitions: a) Any vegetable exhibit;

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

b) 6 cut blooms of Daffodils or Narcissi, one variety; c) Single specimen flower or stem of flowers; d) 3 stems of shrubs for foliage, different kinds.

Our AGM in January went off very smoothly.

Lesley Maskrey, a hard-working committee member, decided it was time to step down but we hope she will continue as a member. Thank you for your hard work Lesley. We were very pleased to welcome Peter Jukes onto the committee as a new member. We were also treated to delightful entertainment by Bonny Sartin about his ancestors and how they emigrated to New Zealand. He then awarded the cup for the most points gained over the year for the monthly competitions to Sue Stroud, second was Priscilla Vining and joint third Trudi Simpson and John Billen.

Paula Harris

www.unitystur.com

local clubs

Sturminster Newton Allotment Association The association’s AGM on 23rd January was fairly well attended considering the frosty weather and thick fog. Des O’Connor, stepping down as chairman, was presented with a book token and thanked for all his hard work. Together with Chris Wilkins, he had been instrumental in the smooth changeover from council-run to association-run plots in the town. Des commented that a lot had been achieved over the last two years, especially the rain-water harvesting system at Chinnocks as well as the erection of a communal greenhouse at Filbridge. Most of this work had been carried out by Bob Boutwood with a little help from fellow plot holders.

Mike Burt was elected unopposed as the new chairman. His aims are to make the dealings of the committee transparent, and to put in place a complaints procedure enabling any plot holder to report problems direct to the committee.

Most of the committee members remain as before with Angela Wallington as a new member of the team. Sandra Burt reported that the Kings seed scheme had been successful with a good cash bonus

Floral Club demonstration Sturminster Newton Floral Club will hold a demonstration by Carolyn Vanstone entitled ‘Moving’ in the Chivrick Room at The Exchange at 7 30 pm on Wednesday 8th March. There will be the usual raffle of her arrangements and tea and biscuits. It promises to be an entertaining evening, and visitors are welcome at £5 entry.

Diana Westlake

for the association achieved by ordering early together.

Charles Rowan our treasurer reported a healthy bank balance, but due to a rise in the membership fee of the National Allotment Society and the need to take out public liability insurance it was necessary to raise the rents. This is the first increase in many years.

There was some discussion about maintenance of the paths, and how to secure the manure heaps. Fran Williams put forward a suggestion that we should hold a small stock of items such as canes and netting on site for purchase.

It has always been an aim of the committee to promote the allotments, and this year we will have a table at the SturQuest community event in the Exchange on Monday 20th March. Bob Boutwood was thanked for pumping the water at Filbridge, ensuring there was always water available.

If you would like an allotment please contact Mike and Sandra on 01258 473859, or Barry on 01258 473280.

Barry Cuff

Probus talks It doesn’t seem that it’s March already, wasn’t it Christmas just two weeks ago? Our January Probus speaker was Alan Chitty on ‘Mind Magic’ with a few practical examples – he almost got a sceptic like me believing in magic – almost. In February, another good speaker, Mike McDowell talked on the music of Mozart, with examples.

On 8th March we have a talk by W Fane-Bailey entitled ‘Experiences of a Protection Officer’, which should be very interesting.

Don’t forget, if you feel like joining us, come along to the Royal British Legion in Sturminster the second Wednesday in the month at 12 noon or, if you would like to know more, call Ron Smith on 01258 475378.

Ron Smith

recipe collection Chicken Zafferano A really quick and easy pasta dish that has a tangy, chilli kick!

Tips Add some fresh spinach and a dash of cream at the last stage to make it a supper party special.

Enough for 4 adults 4x small chicken breasts 2 x garlic bulbs Chicken stock 1 glass of wine 1 tbl Butter 340g Pasta Fresh red chillies (as required) 1/4 tsp Saffron Squeeze of Lemon Salt and pepper 50g Parmesan Melt the butter on low heat, then fry the garlic. Mix well and add the saffron and chillies (do not burn). Put to one side when softened.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta.

Fry the chicken and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the wine and stock and reduce by half and squeeze in some lemon and season.

Cook the pasta for 2-3 minutes, then drain.

Combine the butter, chillies etc. with the chicken and heat through. Mix into cooked pasta when ready.

Sprinkle with fresh parmesan and serve…

issue 180 March 2017

17

clubs and church

I’m sure it was there After the conviviality of the February social evening, the WI resumes its programme of talks, which as usual will cover a variety of themes to meet all tastes. In March, Mike Bolton visits us with ‘I’m Sure It Was There’. Mike is well known locally for his excellent presentations on travel and many aspects of history – but

what hides under this title?

The talk is accompanied by a competition on ‘Something lost then found’. Also at this meeting arrangements will be made for the March lunch club.

Come and find out more at 7.15pm on 7th March in the Bow Room of The Exchange.

Judith Bennett

Dorset Wildlife Trust – March Event

Pims and Needles WI Lite At our February meeting Fiona from Angelfishcrafts taught us how to make greetings cards. Some of us had no idea what was involved so it was really interesting, and because we all made the same cards there was a great deal of comparison.

During the break Helen’s delicious cake enhanced our tea and coffee no end.

A new committee was elected at our AGM in January,

and thanks go to all committee members, past and present, who do a brilliant job, especially Petrina who bravely remains our president for a second term.

At our March meeting we will be having basic crochet lessons, as one of our projects will be to make little animals for special care babies. If you are interested in seeing what we get up to please come to our meeting on Thursday 2nd March at 7pm in The Exchange or telephone 07967 806849.

Pam Naylor

Gardens, of whatever size, can offer a wonderful habitat for many of our wildlife species. Yet it’s not always easy to know just what to plant to attract butterflies, birds and other native creatures. The Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Community Conservation Officer, Briony Baxter, can help with ideas for flowering plants to attract insects throughout the year, as well as ideas for water features and why dead wood and long grass can make beneficial habitats. She’ll have many more ideas for you when she delivers her illustrated talk on Gardening for Wildlife on Wednesday 15th March at 7.30pm in the Village Hall at Fontmell Magna (SP7 0PF). £2 (including tea/coffee & biscuits.

Methodists of Stur 185 years young

The Methodist Church in Sturminster will celebrate its 185th anniversary with a weekend of events on 15th and 16th July.

On Saturday the Chapel in Church Street will be open from 10am to 4pm serving free coffee and tea all day; cream teas will also be available.

There will be an exhibition of photographs, including some of the Youth Club, which ran for many years at the Bridge Youth Centre. The Chapel will be decorated with flowers and there will be music, some of which will be played on the Chapel organ. Children’s activities will be arranged for the morning.

At 7pm there will be a free café-style entertainment compered by Martin Clarke, son of the late Reg Clarke. Reg started the Youth Club in 1948, and it continued for more than 40 years with various leaders.

Over the years many young people in Sturminster and the surrounding area have been members of the Club.

18

On Sunday at 10.30am we are planning a Celebration Community Service to be conducted by Timothy Hirst.

He is the son of Rev J B Hirst, who was minister in Sturminster in the 1960s and 1970s. JB will also be with us over the weekend. We will be inviting community leaders and organisations and representatives from the groups that are users of our premises. The Chapel will be open from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday afternoon; tea and coffee will be available.

We will also produce small booklet containing a full weekend programme and a short history of Methodism in Sturminster. Please come along and share your memories.

Chris: 01258 473214. Email lydrose1966@gmail.com.

Community Magazine for Sturminster Newton & Surrounding Villages

Pilgrim Parishes annual pilgrimage Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement which the Archbishop of Canterbury is inviting people around the world to join. The wave of prayer will start in May and run for 10 days between the Christian festivals of Ascension and Pentecost.

Our local Annual Pilgrimage programme will run from 25th May to 4th June and include walks, prayer stops, short church services and shared food. We start on Ascension Day Thursday 25th May with Holy Communion at St Peter and St Paul, Mappowder, followed by an afternoon walk to Stoke Wake and back. On the 26th some pilgrims will visit schools in the area.

Pilgrims will hold a long walk on Tuesday 30th May and a Walk of Witness in Stalbridge on 31st May. Saturday 3rd June is a Celebration Day with a family afternoon walk/ride along the Trailway from Sturminster Newton to Shillingstone Church Centre

followed by a barbeque and children’s entertainment.

The Pilgrimage will conclude with the Covenant Renewal Service on Sunday 4th June at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton.

The full programme with times will be available in local churches during March. All events are open to all, walkers and non-walkers alike. You may join and leave events at any place and any time. Some transport will be available. Put the dates in your diaries now!

www.unitystur.com

clubs and church

News from St Mary’s

Dire situation in South Sudan

St Mary’s Church, through its membership of Blackmore Vale Deanery, has been linked since 2009 with the Diocese of Lui in South Sudan, as part of the much wider 43-year link between Salisbury Diocese and the church in the Sudans. Our representatives have visited Lui and we have received visitors from there. In Sturminster, we particularly remember Bishop Stephen’s visit.

Anne Powell, from Shillingstone, a member of the Salisbury Sudan Committee, often visited Lui when it was possible, and has been to a refugee settlement in Uganda.

We were delighted to welcome her to St Mary’s to update us on the present situation. The people of South Sudan are now having a most terrible time due to a civil war that broke out in 2013 between tribal groups.

This receives little coverage in our press. More than a million South Sudanese are in refugee camps in surrounding countries and 1.8 million have fled their homes but are still within the country. The people of Lui have been attacked and scattered. As their friends, we continue to pray regularly for: in South Sudan.

■ Peace hurch leaders to have ■ Cstrength for the challenges

they face.

People struggling to survive in Lui. People whose health care will suffer through a lack of staff at Lui hospital.

The refugees from Lui in Kenya and Uganda.

The mission of the church which continues despite all obstacles.

A Quarterly Bulletin is available from: sudanbulletin@outlook.com

■ ■ ■ ■

News from under the Blue Lamp There were only four crimes to report within the town for January; these include theft of gas bottles, vehicle tampering and theft of fuel from vehicles and criminal damage, all from commercial premises. A lawnmower was also stolen.

Station Road This is a reminder that Station Road is a pedestrianised area with restricted access to motor vehicles. There is ongoing consultation with Highways and the Town Council to resolve any issues. Please DO NOT use this as a cut through.

Scams Scams continue to do the rounds – HMRC, PAYPAL, MICROSOFT, lottery scams and banking to name a few.

Contact is made either by phone, letter or email. Do not engage with these unscrupulous fraudsters. Please be vigilant and do not give out personal and banking details. Report to Action Fraud either online to www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phone on 0300 123 2040.

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

April issue copy deadline:

Midday Monday 6 March 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 180 March 2017

19

What's on in & around Sturminster Newton Wednesday 1st March 7.30pm

Wednesday 8th March 7.30pm

Mark DuBisson, ‘Empire, withdrawal from it and its legacy’ Chivrick Room, The Exchange

Sturminster Pubs by Jacqui Wragg The Exchange

Museum & Mill Society talk

North Dorset Family History Group

Friday 3rd March and 10th, 24th, 31st and 7th April

Lent Study Course, Scripture and the Arts St Mary’s Vicarage, Sturminster Newton

Saturday 4th March 10.30am-noon

Coffee Morning

Manston Village Hall Bring Books/DVDs to swop/buy Saturday 4th March 10am-noon

Pre-loved children’s sale Stalbridge Hall. 50p entry.

To book table: 01963 362351

Stalbridge Hall 20p. call: 01963 362351 for jumble collection

Holy Rood Church Shillingstone Tickets £8. Contact A Powell: 01258 861397

Jumble Sale

Friends of Stur Library at the Library

Free event with wine and nibbles.

Sturminster Library

Wednesday 15th March 2.30pm

Friday 31st March 7.30pm

Meeting for a book about living in Stur Meet Local Author, Eve Bonham on her work

Free event at Sturminster Library Saturday 18th March 10.30-noon

Coffee Morning

Monday 6th March 7.30-10.30pm

UK Boogie Woogie Clubnight

Stour View Centre, Bath Road Live music, dancing, bar and buffet £4 guest entry: 01258 471194

The Exchange Events are on page 10

Easter Bingo

Child Okeford Village Hall Saturday 1st April 12 noon-3pm

Gluten Free Food Fair

Child Okeford Church Saturday 18th March 5.30pm

STOP PRESS…

Cookery Masterclass – Sarah’s authentic Thai Green Curry demo

Saturday 18th March 7.30pm

Stalbridge Hall: 01963 363702

Meet the Author Ben Kane

Dorset Coeliac UK Corn Exchange, Dorchester

Child Okeford Village Hall Stalls, cakes, books etc entry £1

Car Boot sale

Wandering Winds Concert

Monday 27th March 7pm

Curry supper to follow £10 Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall

Sunday 5th March 9.30-11.30am

Child Okeford Village Hall

Tuesday 14th March 7pm

Saturday 4th March 10.30am-noon

Coffee Morning

Friday 24th March 7.30pm

Saturday 25th March 7pm

The Exchange

Child Okeford Village Hall AGM/Gold club speaker – growing soft fruit

Child Okeford Flower Arranging Child Okeford Village Hall

Saturday 11th March 10.30am

Bow Room, The Exchange Emily: 01305 225525

Child Okeford Gardeners’ Club

‘Reflections’

Creative Writing Group

Wednesday 8th March 3-5pm

Wednesday 1st March 7.30pm

Tuesday 21st March 2.15pm

Film ‘Sully: Miracle on the Hudson’ 12A

Wednesday 1st March 6.30pm

LAG Spring Forum

March 2017

Bizet’s Carmen, Durweston Choral

Thursday 13th April 7.30pm Annual Town Public Meeting, Town Council Chamber Contact Kate in the office for items you would like to be included 01258 475136 /admin@ sturminsternewton-tc.gov.uk Spring flowers by Penny Mountain

Durweston Parish Church £15. 01258 450649 email: gydanmike@gmail.com Monday 20th March

SturQuest Open Day for local groups and societies

The Exchange Contact Jacqui Wragg: 01258 471456 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 April issue is Midday Monday 6th March