The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 175 by The Blackmore Vale Limited

August 2014 Issue no. 175

Wish You Were Here! Wareham Ladies Delight Crowds! Pg 62

Wish You Were Here! Pg 33-43

Infrastrata Statement. Pg 54

Farewell, Mr Brown. Pg 28

SWANAGE & PURBECK TAXI Call Martin Williams

ALL JOBS CONSIDERED

07969 927424

Swanage Associated SaT

Taxis Telephone (01929)

421122 or 425350 Station Approach, Swanage. BH19 1HB

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Editor’s note...

elcome to the August edition of YOUR Gazette! It’s officially our month of ‘summer madness’, when the schools have broken up and everyone is intent on getting out in the sun as much as possible before autumn draws in. We start the month with the tail-end of Swanage Carnival and all the fun and activity that brings us. Get out there, join in and let your hair down! Throughout our region in August we have flower festivals, summer fetes, music performances, open air cinema at both Lulworth and Corfe castles and much, much more - so there is no excuse for not having some fun! The first person we hear complaining that there’s ‘nothing to do’ will be ducked from the end of the pier - promise! Our feature this month is ‘Wish you were here’, showcasing the best attractions, businesses and services in Purbeck for the summer months. Grab yourself a fabulous new outfit, book a delicious meal or gather friends together for a night’s entertainment. In this edition we also say a fond farewell to a son of Purbeck, Roger Brown. Roger left Purbeck for a final voyage on the high seas last month, after passing away on 28th June. Roger allowed us to use his image in the paper in return for providing the local hospitals with a free column each month. In Roger’s memory, we will continue to support our local hospitals each month. R.I.P. my friend, we’ll miss you.

FREE CAR STICKERS THIS MONTH! Collect from our office in Commercial Road, Swanage on Tues or Thurs!

YOUR Community Magazine 20,000 copies (15,000 door-to-door)

Swanage - Dorchester Lulworth - Bere Regis Over 10,000 MORE copies than our closest competitor! All YOUR news, views & events - written by LOCAL people - a real community paper, produced FOR YOU DAILY NEWS WEBSITE FOR PURBECK: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk What happens, as we get the news in, online, FOR YOU.

Public Notices & Information

TIDE TIMES AUG‘14 Peveril Ledge, Swanage

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Low ------00.41 01.50 02.47 03.39 04.27 05.12 05.56 ------00.01 01.06 02.03 02.53 03.36 04.15 04.51 05.23 05.53 06.22 ---

High 00.17 00.47 01.25 02.14 03.19 05.06 06.24 07.24 08.17 09.07 09.53 10.38 11.23 -00.31 01.18 02.08 03.04 04.08 05.26 06.50 07.53 08.38 09.15 09.47 10.18 10.47 11.13 11.37 -00.16

Low 07.18 07.53 08.34 09.25 10.31 11.59 13.17 14.19 15.14 16.03 16.50 17.35 18.19 06.39 07.28 08.10 09.04 10.13 11.26 12.33 13.36 14.30 15.16 15.57 16.35 17.09 17.40 18.08 18.37 06.50 07.23

High 12.35 13.06 13.52 14.47 16.06 17.40 18.50 19.49 20.42 21.31 22.17 23.01 23.46 12.08 12.53 13.40 14.31 15.28 16.37 18.04 19.31 20.25 21.04 21.35 22.03 22.32 22.58 23.22 23.46 12.04 12.38

Low 19.37 20.15 21.01 22.02 23.18 - - NP ---- - FM -- - ST -19.03 19.49 20.39 21.39 22.51 - - NP ------- - SP --19.08 19.44

ST=Spring Tide NP = Neap Tide NM=New Moon FM=Full Moon

Swanage Town Council Meetings - August 2014

Finance & Performance Management Council Policy & Planning

Fri 1st Mon 4th Mon 18th

9.30am 7pm 7pm

Please check the Town Council’s website www.swanage.gov.uk or call the Town Hall on 01929 423636 for the latest information.

Wareham Town Council Meetings - August 2014 Council Planning & Transport Wareham in Bloom Policy, Resources & Finance

Tues 5th Mon 11th Wed 20th Mon 25th

7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm

Purbeck DC Meetings - Open to public - August 2014 Standards Committee Council Policy Group Planning Board (rescheduled)

Wed 6th Tue 12th Wed 20th Tue 26th

2pm 7pm 7pm 9.15am

Meetings are subject to change. To double check, see: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/ meetings/purbeck and see ‘dates of council and other meetings’

About The Purbeck Gazette & Purbeck Media Ltd

The Purbeck Gazette prints 20,000 copies every month and delivers throughout the region from Swanage to Dorchester, Lulworth to Bere Regis. The Purbeck Gazette is published by Purbeck Media Ltd. All editing, graphic design and lay-up is completed in-house by Purbeck Media Ltd. The Purbeck Gazette is printed by Blackmore Ltd of Shaftesbury and distributed by Tudor Distribution Ltd of Poole. The Purbeck Gazette Daily News and Gazette online website is managed and edited on-site by Purbeck Media Ltd. Purbeck Media Ltd also publishes The Purbeck Guidette, the Purbeck Visitor Guide. All rights reserved. OUR TEAM: The Gazette team consists of: Nico Johnson, Editor, Joy Lamb, Sales & Accounts Executive, David Hollister, Columnist, John Garner, Columnist, Charlie Hobbs, Columnist. Kim Steeden, Spotlight Diary Editor, David Bishop. VOLUNTEERS: A massive thanks to our volunteers, whose help is invaluable each month with proof reading. They are the very professional: Gerry Norris and David Holman. Thank you both so very much!

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Foxes in my garden - again! Another stunning picture from Fran Rennix - thanks Fran!

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS/IT COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Avoid Rental Hell Farewell, Mr Brown Gazette Gardening, with Simon Goldsack John Garner writes - Clear Water Michael Gove Comes To Purbeck My Wartime Memories - Brian Guy writes Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes Through The Keyhole - Swanage Town Council Wareham Carnival in pictures Wish You Were Here Feature FOOD - The Gourmet Peddler HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Sydenhams YOUR PICS

58 44 11 2 69 46 28 56 55 23 24 11 22 62 33-43 51 63 4 48 54 66 72 32

17b Commercial Road Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

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at: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk Joy Lamb 01929 424293 or email: ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

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The legal stuff.. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this magazine, but the Editor is unable to accept responsibility for any omissions or errors that may occur. The inclusion of any article or advertisement does not constitute any form of accreditation or approval by the Editor. No part, written or visual, of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the Editor.

DEADLINE FOR SEPT IS 12pm, FRI 8th AUG

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LULWORTH RANGE WALKS & TYNEHAM VILLAGE OPENING TIMES The clue is in the heading above - these are our readers’ letters. They are NOT articles, they are letters. By you. Our readers. They are not our letters, they are yours - your letters. Simple! Please send all letters to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk with ‘letter to the editor’ in the email subject line. Please do not exceed 350 words. If handwritten, please ensure it is short and legible. PLEASE DO NOT DUPLICATE LETTERS TO OTHER PUBLICATIONS WE DO NOT PRINT MULTI-PUBLICATION LETTERS.

SEPT edition deadline: 12 noon Fri 8th August

Where Has Respect Gone? Dear Nico, While reading the Advertiser June 26th 2014, Mr Frank Roberts wrote “I would urge everyone in Swanage and the wider community to support the National Forces Day events in any appropriate way.” My life in uniform spans seven years. Eighteen months of this was spent in the Malayan jungle from 1952-53, seeking out terrorists. This job was very difficult when you rarely see the ones you fight. I have always been proud of my service and my comrades. Since leaving the services, I have been privileged to attend many military functions, so I was pleased to answer Mr Roberts’ call, and I am afraid I was very disappointed. I was the only infantry man there, and I had the impression that I was not wanted, not one man in the parade spoke to me, and I still have no idea who this Frank Roberts was, who set up this effort. There was not one uniformed serving person there, so obviously they were not wanted and hadn’t been asked. There was no R.B.L. standard to head the parade, and I know that Corfe Castle R.B.L. was not asked for their support. Had it not been for the Mayor and Corporation who outnumbered the veterans by far, and the band, I think it might have been called off. When entering the church, I followed the crowd, and sat down, as did the ones ahead of me. No sooner had I done this a little man came and said “Who are you representing? And what group are you in?” My reply was “I am a veteran and I have come, as asked, to support the cause.” With this he said “You can’t sit there” and ushered me to the other side of the church. There were a few women and a couple of men down this side of the church, I don’t think they were ex-service. I can’t believe how unfriendly ex-service men could be, but I think it only applies to a few in Swanage. Mr Roberts and his half dozen. He didn’t want anyone in the parade, otherwise he would have spread the word, and perhaps he would have had a few of the old veterans who paraded at Swanage Railway Station last week. I am over eighty years of age and as I looked around, I should imagine I was one of the oldest there. Where has respect gone? The band did a great job (as always) but please Mr Roberts, next time you advertise your parade, add to it ‘Please attend in groups or not at all’. Yours sincerely, Jungle Basher. (Name and address with held on request) Ed’s note - We’ve passed an invitation on to you to join us for the ‘People’s commemoration of D-Day’ in 2015, where you will be treated with the respect you deserve. We will be celebrating with an afternoon of tea, cake and music from the band, before heading to Fort Henry for 6pm. I hear rumours of free cream teas for the veterans, assistance with transport and more....!! If you have any ideas you’d like to share for the people’s commemoration, do let us know - this is an event run by the people, in honour of the veterans.

Brian Brown’s Seat

Hi Nico, I write as a local who is a regular visitor, after moving to Herefordshire twenty six years ago, and find several things happening in the town that I take issue with. But I have now had some of my faith restored by the locals with a good memory of a man who drowned just off the stone quay whilst doing a good deed. This man was Brian Brown, a local boatman and fisherman, who, during a storm on 1st September 1964, swam out to a boat that had broken its moorings, which he managed to secure. Watching from the stone quay were his parents Betty and Danny Brown, and holiday makers. Brian waved to them as he left the boat to swim back, but alas he did not make it, even

The Lulworth Range Walks and Tyneham Village are open to the public every weekend with the exception of: 27/28th September In addition to the weekends, they are open every day during the following times (all dates are inclusive): 26th July - 31st August Tyneham School & Church exhibitions open 10am -4pm whilst open Ffi, please call 01929 404819

though his friend Maurice Lane, another fisherman, dived in to try and save him, his body was found days later. We locals remember a fun-loving good man who was cursed with polio and as a result had one small short leg, which made his courage even more special, and he was a strong swimmer. His ashes were later taken out to the sea. At the time money was raised to purchase a memorial seat, and so much was raised that three seats appeared at the stone quay. These seats were taken away, as the condition was poor, after so many years. After some research I found the seats in the council yard, where staff were very helpful with the seat’s history. Then it was the town hall, again staff very helpful and in particular Dr Martin Ayers (Town Clerk) and it was agreed that if carpenter Nigel Taylor can make one good seat from three (which he can) it can be placed close to the Stone Quay facing out to sea where he sadly died, and have it there by 25th July, ready for carnival week. I thank all the locals who remember and gave money to help restore and maintain the seat. I also thank Andree Turner, Brian’s niece, for her help and information. Alan Houghton, Townsend Court, Leominster, Herefordshire

‘Ask Dorset’ Answers Back

Dear Ms Johnson, Further to the article published in the June edition of the Purbeck Gazette (Outsiders Set To Decide Future Of Our Region?), I would like to clarify a few points that were raised. Firstly, you state that Dorset County Council did not properly publicise the Ask Dorset roadshows, and did not inform the Purbeck Gazette in particular. In fact, all local media – including the Purbeck Gazette, were invited (on 16 May) to attend a briefing on the Ask Dorset campaign, which took place on 22 May. The Purbeck Gazette did not attend, though representatives from a number of other media outlets did. While we are aware of copy deadlines, it is not always possible for us to issue news releases in time to suit everyone, as there may be details that are still to be finalised. Nonetheless, the Gazette still had the opportunity to attend the briefing and find out as much information as possible. Secondly, you criticise the fact that we did not ask people who took part in a roadshow where they live. While we are aiming to reach Dorset residents, it is not always possible to gather specific demographic information due to time constraints. We want the survey to be as quick as possible for people. Those that complete the survey online are asked a series of demographics questions. The comment regarding the twenty or so day trippers that were witnessed taking part in Swanage may be correct. However, if they are in the county of Dorset and are using services that are provided here, they retain the right to have their say. At the time of writing, we have already spoken to more than 4,500 people at the roadshows. A further 1000 people have filled in paper copies in local libraries and a further 600 have completed it online. Their comments are very supportive and people are extremely pleased that the county council has undertaken this exercise. The roadshows have been widely publicised through various means. The campaign has received much support – both before and during the roadshows - from print, broadcast and online media across the county. There have been regular updates on dorsetforyou.com, an article in the county council’s resident’s newspaper (Your Dorset) along with social media campaigns and e-newsletters. The views of any participants will be taken forward to county council members who are looking at the future of the council, and the research undertaken will help inform how budgets are allocated to services provided or assisted by the county council. The Ask Dorset campaign is one of the biggest listening exercises that the county council has ever undertaken, and the numbers of participants have far exceeded all expectations.

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PEOPLE OF WAREHAM! We’re searching for someone to attend the monthly council meeting at Wareham Town Hall and writeup what occurs for the Gazette (as our Swanage correspondent does for Swanage Town Council meetings each month). If you regularly attend council meetings, and are NOT an ex-council member, and are not affiated with the council in anyway (you need to be unbiased), then it could be you! If you care about the decisions the council makes, then please do get in touch with us! Please note that this is a voluntary position - you do it for the love! I trust that answers some of the points raised in your article. Yours sincerely, Cllr Toni Coombs, Cabinet member for communications, Dorset County Council Ed’s note - as mentioned in the article you’re responding to Toni (‘Outsiders set to decide future of our region’), the first contact we had from DCC with regards to the road shows was well past our publicised deadline for the June edition, so our attendance at the briefing would have been an utter waste of time. No press release was issued in time for publication, so we’re still wondering just how you expected locals to know about the June roadshows? We stick wholeheartedly to our original points - without demographic information the survey is a pointless exercise which will NOT show what local residents deem to be important - it’s local residents paying for the roadshows, remember. The questions asked regarding methodology and data analysis remain unanswered.

Purbeck WWI Dead Remembered

Dear Nico, As part of the commemoration this year of the start of the First World War, it is planned that the names of all those from the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury (which includes Purbeck) who were killed in the First World War are being read out loud at certain times of the day in Salisbury Cathedral starting on Sunday, 29th June and ending on Remembrance Sunday, 9th November. There are two brass plates in St Mary’s Church forming a Memorial to those from Swanage who were killed in the First World War. All the names from this memorial have been sent to the Cathedral to be included in the commemoration. Yours sincerely, Avril Harris, Churchwarden St Mary’s church, Swanage

Bigoted Bile - Not Free Speech Dear Editor The anonymous correspondent who penned the letter “Too Much Censorship?” in July’s edition claims that unnamed comedians are concerned about a creeping tide of political correctness that is stifling freedom of expression. I suspect that the only comedian who would champion the examples of “free speech” that he uses would be the late unlamented Bernard Manning. The days when women, ethnic minorities - and disabled people - could be insulted, denigrated and trivialised under the disingenuous claim that “it’s only a joke” are thankfully passing. This has little to do with “political correctness”, it is simply the world moving on from more ignorant and prejudiced times. For your correspondent to defend such behaviour and then request “mutual respect and tolerance” is beyond risible. You correspondent talks of “The “N” word, whatever it signifies...” I feel reasonably secure in saying that to someone from an ethnic minority it signifies hatred and discrimination. If curbing its use will be “...a sad day (for) our national sense of humour...”, then God help us all. I note that your correspondent hides behind “Name and address withheld”. This of course is his right, but naturally it invites speculation as to his identity. I would hazard a guess as to a white, middle-aged or elderly male, who, being such, is immune and thereby blithely unconcerned by the torrent of bigoted bile still poured out daily for the sake of a cheap laugh. Barry Ramshaw, by email

Sarcastic, Cynical - Entertainment Dear Editor. I just had to write and thank you and your contributors for the excellent July edition of The Purbeck Gazette. To be honest, when our friends in Swanage gave the copy to us I thought it would be another quick read and then in the bin, just like I do with our local rag. But how wrong I was! After an hour of reading I was besides myself with laughter. What a whingeing lot you are. Even the notice for sending letters in was started with a cynical sentence, brilliant. Subjects that covered a ‘not so wide’ spectrum, UKIP and the perennial favourite of the issue of wind turbines. I heard one lady explain that, ‘they should be put in the north of the country because ‘they’ have more room’. Twelve pages devoted to ‘Living our golden years in Purbeck’, basically come to Purbeck to retire and later die. David Hollister’s rants on the death of the Jurassic coast and car tyres! My top four articles have got to be :Joint 4th, ‘ Where do you think you’re going?’ by John Garner and ‘Rules for tourists in Purbeck.’ Superbly written. 2nd place. Not on your Nellie. Who ever the writer is, apart from consigning Wimpy to the bin and it’s employees to the dole queue, obviously hasn’t been to public houses and seen the vast amounts of food consumed by the ever increasing elderly population and which in my experience is more disgusting to watch than someone chucking a burger down their throat. 1st place. The fantastic article written by Catlin Dyer. I wish you considerable success. So, Purbeck Gazette, I am looking forward to the next sarcastic, cynical and hugely entertaining edition. Sincerely yours, T.R. Hunter, by email Ed’s note: Living and working in the most beautiful place in the world means we have to whinge a bit Mr Hunter - life’d be just too darn perfect otherwise!!

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CMS Electrical Repairs Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Tumble Dryers, Electric Cookers, Fridges, Freezers Colin Shailer 01929 554809 07711 165062 c.shailer@sky.com

Originals, Limited Edition Prints and Commissions

Litter Bin Mystery Dear Nico, Can anyone please explain why the litter bins in the High Street have been removed? Recently the one near Purbeck Lighting and the (very well-used) one outside the Methodist Church have gone. There also used to be one near the British Legion Club. The one that used to be on Church Hill was not replaced after the church railings were knocked down. What are the holiday-makers supposed to do with their fast food and drinks containers - drop them in the road or throw them into front gardens? In addition, the dog waste bin (the only one in the High Street) has been removed from outside Arkwrights store. What a great incentive for those dog owners who do clean up after their dogs. I did phone the waste authority and was told my comments “would be noted” so I don’t expect any action. Yours sincerely, Mrs G Smith, High Street, Swanage.

GARAGE SALE at 1 Holmes Rd, Swanage Household items & furniture

AUGUST 10th 10am - 4pm For info, call 01929 423917

Ocean Bay Watersports, Swanage Pier, California Barn, The Castleton Hotel, Langton Scouts, The Old MaltHouse, Swanage Life Boat Crew, The National Trust, Spyway Farm, Purbeck Hospitality Association, Swanage Rotary Club, Swanage Steam Railway, Swanage Cricket Team, the Swanage School football team, The High Street Café, Suttles Stone Quarries, Burnbake Campsite, The Rempstone Estate, Purbeck House Hotel, Tom’s Field and Acton, Swanage and Langton Scout groups, Sax Purdy, Sean Adamson, the Bushey shoot, Vertex Instructor Training, Swanage Pitch & Putt, the Bull & Boat, and the Snackbar. We look forward to meeting many more locals very soon. If you see us on the beach, please come on over and say hi! Warm regards, all the staff at Land & Wave

Wonderful Times At St Marks

Penalty Charge For Council

Dear Editor, I was casually strolling through Swanage (the lower park at Peveril Point by Marshall Row), on the afternoon of Sunday 15th June. We came across a bin near the pier entrance. We were all shocked at the condition of the bin. The bin was actually a dog poo bin yet for some strange reason it was filled to the rim with everyday rubbish. In addition to this, bags of rubbish were scattered around the bin! (see picture). Not a poo bag to be seen! We took a photo of the bin and moved on up the hill and didn’t see another bin until we came across one right at the top of the park at Belle Vue Road, the only one in the entire area from what I could see, meaning everyone has to put their rubbish in there, but it was overflowing! (see pic). It was not possible to put anything more inside it. Somebody had even put a bag of rubbish on top of the bin. We took a picture and just as we walked away we saw a sign that said ‘Please help create a healthier, tidier environment. Penalty for not clearing up £1000’. As the council hasn’t done their job properly does this mean I can fine the council £1000? In my opinion there is an extreme lack of bins in and around the Swanage area. Yours sincerely, Tally Tipple, Swanage, aged 11.

Thank you Swanage Dear Editor, Open Thank You Letter to the Swanage Community This month Land & Wave is moving to Swanage and we cannot wait! The last four years have been incredible for Land & Wave and there’s no way we could have achieved what we have without the help of the local community. Businesses, organisations and individuals of Swanage, you’ve all been great. It’s your kindness and warmth that encouraged us to move from our base in Poole to Swanage. We’d like to say a MASSIVE thank you to… Harrow House, The Fish Plaice, Herston Leisure Campsite, Love Cake etc,

Dear Gazette, Thank you to the community of Herston and Swanage. The children, parents, staff and Governors of St Mark’s CE VA Primary school would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who attended our celebration event on the 4th of July (pictured, above). We raised over £1100 which will go towards our brand new play trail at our new school site on the High Street, so all the present and future children of St Mark’s will benefit. We heard such lovely stories from past pupils and staff of the wonderful times they had spent at St Marks, and to see people meet others they had not seen in years was truly moving. Although we move from the Bell Street site after 159 years, we will be opening new doors in the life of the school and will continue to inspire all who share with us in this journey promoting our values of love, trust and respect. Thanks again to all. Marion Marchant, Head of Governors, St Mark’s CE VA Primary School, Swanage.

Society Day Out Dear Nico, A boat trip down the River Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth gave members of the Purbeck Society a chance to unwind after a coach trip from Swanage on Tuesday 6 May. As I sipped a glass of red wine on the top deck of the Cardiff Castle we drifted along the calm, wide river listening to the fascinating commentary. Famous people like Dyson and the Dimblebys had homes at Dittisham, while Agatha Christie had settled at Greenway House on the other side of the river. Sir Walter Raleigh lived here. Towards Kingswear they were filming the Onedin Line, with plastic crocodiles in front of magnificent woodland representing the Amazon, when a steam train sounded its whistle and ruined the day’s filming. The

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01929 421398 interesting buildings included a boathouse and a Devon thatched long house. After shopping for presents for our friends in Rudesheim we had a cream tea at a Great Western Railway Station in Dartmouth, which never had a railway, before crossing the river to Paignton with its lovely pastel coloured houses. Returning to Paignton on the steam railway we paid an extra £1.50 to travel in the Devon Belle Observation Coach, which is identical to the coach that runs on the Swanage Railway. From the railway were views of the yachts on the River Dart. Then the train emerged from a tunnel, passed through Churston and followed the coastline of Torbay. Through the carriage window we could see the cliffs of ancient Devonian sandstone, the sandy beach at Goodrington Sands and the grass-covered headlands. I would like to thank Frank Nicoll who organised the visit, the Purbeck Society and the coach driver for a wonderful day out. Yours sincerely, Robin Brasher

‘Gull’ Update

Hi Nico, I’m out of hospital after my leg op, but ordered to rest my leg, like Mother Seagull! The family are progressing although one of the three is missing after a commotion early the other morning which could have been a fox, cat or human. Their attitude to people is more aggressive to people approaching their nest area, although they have come and kept me company on our terrace. With Mom’s broken leg she couldn’t have coped, but the male gull has been working hard to feed the chicks and his mate. The ‘Gulls’ are missing the shade of the hutch I put up last year, but of course the Holiday Flat’s Management Company have prohibited me from reinstating it this year I’ll keep you posted, Regards, Rob Owen, by email.

MATT HILLAN Colin Lander Building Alterations & Maintenance

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Memorial Renovation undertaken and Inscriptions added I will make a home visit at a time to suit you 01929 423787 // 07593166867 01929 423787 07593166867 Happy to help and advise colin.1949@hotmail.co.uk While I agree that Herston Fields would be an unsatisfactory site for a new housing development, even though we badly need more low cost housing, I have to take issue with his statement about ruining the view on the way into Swanage. I thought the new Swanage School had already done that. I can remember a time when you couldn’t build a property on a main road in Swanage unless it was built out of Purbeck stone, at least unless there was already a local precedent. The only reason I can think of for the design of Swanage School is that they have made allowance for the school failing within a couple of years, like several others, and that the design would be suitable for conversion to commercial use. That is a warehouse they’ve built at the back isn’t it? Looking forward as always to David’s next column. Yours sincerely, David Miller, Taunton Road, Swanage.

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A Big Thank You To You All Dear Nico, I am overwhelmed by all the letters, cards and good wishes following my accident. Thank you to all who helped at the scene, Dr Hombersley, paramedics, air ambulance, police and kind friends. I will never be able to thank you enough. Southampton Hospital were brilliant, I have never had such good care. It is good to be back in Swanage. Sorry for all the disruption I caused in the town. A big thank you to all. Pauline Dorland, Swanage.

Slamming Absence Of ‘Slam’ Dear Editor, As an ex-English lecturer and local poet, I was disappointed that the usual poetry competition (‘slam’) did not appear in this year’s PAW festival and indeed that no poetry was included in the festival at all. Perhaps somebody could explain why. Martin Hobdell, Swanage, by hand.

Just A Thought... Dear Ed, Speed limits are a function of increasing population; no-one wants to squash a neighbour’s child and these days, you see them now and then in Harmans Cross. Regards, Kevin Vicars, by email

SELF STORAGE UNITS From 15ft x 6ft up to 15ft x 15ft

School Design Questioned Dear Nico, As usual David Hollister produced another amusing and thought provoking article covering a variety of topical issues. We can only hope that for once his cynicism is unfounded and that the powers that be have enough sense to throw out the Navitus Bay proposal and leave our coastline alone.

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Energy letters - for balance, we have a statement from Infrastrata with regards to the California Gas Rig, on page 54.

Stop Swanage Gas Rig Dear Gazette, As a member of the ‘STOP the Swanage Gas Rig’ group (contact savingswanage@gmail.com) I was aghast to find that Swanage Town Council had failed to place the gas rig proposal at Suttles Quarry on the agenda at a recent meeting. As there had been a meeting between a number of Councillors and a sizeable team from Infrastrata, one might have been forgiven for thinking that those who had attended might have wanted to share information gained with the public. The continued insistence of STC to avoid discussing this abomination is starting to raise eyebrows. I couldn’t help thinking of the Bush administrations’ refusal to talk about oil before invading Iraq! Truly I have witnessed more debate in that chamber over the widening of a driveway than about this project that I believe will be detrimental to this area for generations to come. Now why is that? Of course under normal circumstances STC would have little sway over a project of this magnitude, but, as they own the road which not only accesses the site but also forms a third of the planning application land area, they are right in the driving seat as the planning permission granted is attached to that land, and therefore can only be exercised with their permission. I understand that STC and Suttles have an agreement over the use of road, however any lawyer worth their salt would successfully argue that this application is, rightly, very different from the stone haulage that any current agreement is in place for, and that new terms should be discussed and agreed. After all, the gas and oil that is being sought in this initial stage has a ‘street value’ of a cool £55 billion – yes that’s £55,000,000,000 of which the Swanage community will currently be lucky to see £20,000 – so naturally why would you bother to talk about that? The proposals at California Quarry ride rough shod over reams of extensive protections for conservation of the area and threaten the intrinsic scenic, spatial and wildlife integrity of the Jurassic Coast. There has been minimal consultation with the people of the town and no environmental impact assessment carried out. The gas and oil Infrastrata are so desperate to get their hands on has been in the ground for about 150 million years, so shouldn’t we at least get them to hold on for just one more year so we can all go through this a little more thoroughly? On the UNESCO world heritage site website Sir David Attenborough says ‘The future of the World Heritage Site is an exciting long-term commitment for the whole area, involving thousands of people helping to conserve and celebrate the coast. Our aim is to pass the Site on to future generations to experience, learn from and enjoy in the same way we are able to do today.’ I am unconvinced that a floodlit drilling site the size of three football pitches, surrounded by razor wire and with a gas refinery located on it is the best way to achieve that. How about you? Andy Kirkwood, Swanage.

Awards Might Be Withdrawn Dear Gazette, Swanage has been granted and internationally benefits from being AONB and World Heritage Site. This is all being put in danger now, that these awards might be withdrawn, in my view. This is by moving the criteria from Natural Beauty to Industrial use by Planning applications with the proposed

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Gas Rig at California Quarry and the Navitus Wind farm. Please print this letter as l fear the area is sleepwalking into losing these hard won Awards. Name and address supplied and witheld on request

Interested Party Needs Answers Dear Gazette, I sent a letter to Swanage Town Council on the 21st June 2014 outlining some of my concerns and am still awaiting a response. Could you please publish my edited version below in this month’s Gazette? Regarding: Application no. 6/2013/0456 Exploratory Borehole, California Quarry. To Swanage Town Council. We hereby state we are an “Interested Party” in the above planning application. I wish to request a copy of the agreement Swanage Town Council have with Suttle Quarry regarding the use of the road they own. Has the inspection and risk assessment of the road near us been done by the Council and the Quarry operator? Can we be present if it is still to be done? Re: Dorset County Council planning application No.6/2013/0456 On page 7/8 I quote: 4.8 Highway Liaison Engineer. “He advises that it is not appropriate to require a contribution to the Purbeck Transport Strategy. Most of the transport is associated with construction which is not included within any contribution calculations and any other trips are over a short period of time.” I have a letter from Swanage Town Council dated 21st February 1995 stating that, and I quote: “They will be expected to contribute to future re-surfacing,” “I would not expect any contribution due under these arrangements to exceed one to two per cent of the cost.” In relation to this we request in writing and on a map the exact portion of road this relates to. Please furnish us the list of all properties this pertains to ASAP, and inform all relevant parties. This will impact increased industrial use of this route and will impact on the surface of this road. We request that this financial bearing is overturned urgently and that we have this in writing as it does affect the resale value of our properties or renders a financial future risk to us. Regarding page 14 of the document Conclusion/Reason for Grant of Planning/ page 21 7. Noise-Vehicle Reversing Warning “Prior to the commencement of operations details of the proposed arrangements for ensuring that reversing plant vehicles do not emit warning noise.” Regarding the articulated lorry involved in the incident on 6th November 2013, when the automatic gearbox could not engage on the slope: The conditions stated by the quarry operator in your letter are incorrect. I have video footage of the vehicle, luckily with reversing noise, reversing back down that road having tried to get up the hill when the transition failed and he was forced to reverse backward around the blind corner. In the video it is not dark and the road is not greasy or wet!! To quote your letter: “As you are aware, the vehicle had an automatic gearbox and could not engage in the above conditions, making movement up the hill impossible and to go backwards would not have been the safest manoeuvre.” He did have to go backwards and the only thing telling us residents of the danger was his reversing warning noise, thankfully. This calls into question the silencing of vehicles reverse warning noise. This should be reconsidered as part of a risk assessment. Your comment please. I need a comprehensive list of the exact closure/parking restrictions of the proposed route near our house ASAP. I run a business from home and I have daily deliveries to and from the property. I need to seek a resolution as to how this may effect my trade as I am relied on seven days a week at various times of the day. Karla Daniels, Swanage.

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Bewildered And Frustrated Dear Gazette Readers, I am writing to express my concern over the proposed gas rig works that will start work at California Quarry near Durlston Castle from September 2014. The proposed exploratory works of drilling are to be carried out in an area of Outstanding National Beauty along the Jurassic World Heritage Coast Site. I am bewildered that this has been passed by Dorset County Council and concerned about the effects of this on tourism, rights of way, noise and dust pollution, ground water contamination, air quality and light pollution. I can find very little information being shared about this huge issue in local newspapers or at Swanage Town Council. Are there people out there who are also bewildered, angry, frustrated and wanting of some community pulling together to protect our extraordinarily beautiful and universally acknowledged area of the country? Kind regards, Frances Quinlan, Resident at Harmans Cross

Concerned And Alarmed Dear Editor, Before I moved to Swanage I was impressed by your wide ranging and thoughtful letters pages. Such an extensive space for the free expression of views and information is to be cherished. So I would like to express my deep concerns that, as I understand it, from September, for ten weeks, planning permission has been granted for the erection of a gas rig to explore the potential for gas and oil extraction at California Quarry, Herston. I am concerned the only access to the site at Panorama Road for the heavy lorries needed will be through Corfe Castle, High Street and the residential streets of Herston (no more parking outside Costcutters to pop in for a pint of milk?). I am concerned that the drilling itself will cause noise and produce dust and wonder if there is a potential for gas escapes. I am concerned that once it is completed there will be a large area of cliffs, right next to Durslton Country Park and the South West Coast Path that will be blighted by a 40m. high gas rig that has permission for a gas flare to burn gas for twelve hours at a time. I am concerned that, if gas and oil are found then the companies concerned will want to drill for oil and gas about a mile from my home and right on the Jurassic Coast. I understand that in the 1980s the cliffs were drilled for oil but it was abandoned when oil and shale leaked into and polluted the sea. I am concerned that this would have a dreadful impact on most tourism related businesses in Swanage and the enjoyment of our beautiful environment for the people of Swanage. And finally, I am concerned that although this is not fracking, DCC say that fracking has not been ruled out and that, if fracking were to come to Purbeck, it would be a very different kind of fracking from that which goes on at Wytch Farm. Yours in great alarm, Alison Tilley, Swanage, via email.

Don’t Repeat Past Mistakes Dear Nico, A Swanage Gas Rig Even if the product of ‘fracking’ shale gas underground in Purbeck is a very valuable national asset, it is sensible to produce it now when its monetary value will become very much greater in the second half of this century, when both conventional cheap natural gas and oil become increasingly scarce global commodities. You wouldn’t dream of selling something you own immediately when you know that it inevitably will become twice as valuable in thirty years time.

The

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The UK Government made the mistake of encouraging the production and sale of North Sea oil and gas between the 1970s and the present time when the price was much less than it is now. With almost three quarters having already been produced, the remaining quarter will return as much money as the previous three quarters. It didn’t have to be exploited in the 1970s. There was already more than enough produced in the world. The main consequence of that mistake is that UK manufacturing has declined from 22.5% to 10% as a proportion of GDP, and is now having to be rebuilt to get us out of £55 billion of trade debt. The government mustn’t be allowed to make the same mistake again with ‘fracking’ for British shale gas. Best wishes, John Davis, Swanage.

Speedy Repair Please!

Dear Editor, I have recently returned from a holiday in Wales. It was a pleasure to drive on roads of smooth tarmac with pavements to match. Here in Wareham some roads are full of potholes or devoid of surface. My particular gripe is the bottom of Shatters Hill, where those walking into Wareham from Sandford must negotiate bumps and ruptures. It is dangerous for pram users and frail pedestrians. After several road-works, the junction is totally uneven. I know the council is aware. Now the government has forwarded £3 million to Dorset to rectify such, may we look forward to speedy repair? Hilary Goodinge, North Street Wareham

Newcomer Horrified

Good Morning Nico, I am a new resident in Swanage and have been horrified to learn that a gas rig is intended to be built in this beautiful town! The Jurassic coast is such a stunning place, I don’t know how anyone can even contemplate ruining it by building a gas rig on such an amazing piece of coast line, especially on top of that hill, for all and sundry to see! UNESCO have classed the Jurassic coast as a World Heritage site, of which there is only one natural one in the whole of the UK - ours, and we plan to have a gas rig on part of that? Shocking! I know the planning is only ‘temporary’ (well, three years!), but I am also astounded to hear that no Environmental Risk Assessment has been carried out! Three years is a long time, and think of all the wild and plant life just the building phase is going to destroy, not to mention the heavy traffic which will affect everyone. How is Corfe Casltle going to cope with all those lorries coming through town every day, not to mention the residents of Swanage and its tourism industry. It seems there are so many points against this. The only real benefit I can see is for Infrastrata, and the amount of money they are going to make. Lucky them! And when they are gone, who is going to be left to pick up the pieces? Swanage residents and its lost tourism industry? I wonder? The other thing I find unbelievable is the attitude of Swanage Town Council in all of this. They had a public meeting on Monday 7th, in which the rig didn’t even make it on to the agenda, despite them having a closed meeting with Infrastrata the previous week - surely this was important and should have been shared with the public? It also upsets me to learn how opposed they all were to Navitus Bay, yet the gas rig seems to wash over them? Kind regards Kate Whattam, concerned Swanage resident

Council Have Failed Us Dear Purbeck Gazette Editor, Over the last two years there have been numerous letters about the Navitus Wind Farm. There has been an appropriate public consultation period and a vociferous local campaign against it (Challenge Navitus). Whatever the outcome, we know that, locally, we have had our say. By contrast, the plans to build an oil/gas rig at California Quarry have only recently come to light. Although formally in the public domain, there was minimal publicity, so that I can safely say that the vast majority of Swanage, and Purbeck, residents were entirely unaware of the plan. Planning permission has been given already by Dorset County Council, with no comment given by Swanage Town Council on the weak, bureaucratic grounds that they own part of the access to the site. At the very least Swanage Town Council might have informed local residents of the plan and in this they have failed us. Infrastrata have permission to drill an exploration well at California Quarry. Work starts this winter, continuing next winter. The implications are immense for the town, even for this stage of the project. Further down the line we have the prospect of conventional gas or oil extraction. Use your imagination for the impacts in store. Why have we not been informed of this? Ideally, we would have been consulted, but information-sharing would have been at least courteous in the circumstances. For me it is quite beyond belief that Dorset County Council, Purbeck District Council and our own Town Council have failed to give out proper information about this development here, a development that will undoubtedly endanger the UNESCO designation and change this town forever. Alice Rogers (contact details available on request)

Carbon Economy - Dangers Dear Nico, The plan by Navitus to build a wind farm 9.1 miles off the Jurassic coast is only of a visual impact; Conversely the proposal to commence fracking in Purbeck has an actual heavy industrial impact on the environment; some last ditch attempt to hold on to the carbon economy which empowers, the eggs in the one- basket electro age. From our garden I watch Knitson’s and Godlingston’s turbines (cows being milked by solar energy) and rather than degrade the beautiful hills, I feel that they enhance them with their rotating blades in an intelligence for a future that our kids will inhabit; they seem to belong. Drilling beneath your house, relative to government legislation, is undermining to say the least. I raise my tomatoes on a shed roof (growing

The Purbeck Gazette suggestion) because in future a plethora of highly toxic chemicals (many banned in the U.S.A) may infuse with surface water and deep well penetrations. How would the people of Purbeck or anywhere feel, not being able to turn on their household taps? Research from Cornell University sites in a study of new rigs in Pennsylvania a 6% seal failure rate, releasing gas into drinking water and the atmosphere, promoting climate change well in advance of calibrated carbon emissions. There are an estimated 310 million cars in Europe, I wonder how many there will be in Purbeck during Carnival week. This year we may have to stack them. Yours sincerely, M J K Hamilton. Swanage

Superfluous Exaggeration Dear Editor, Mr Postlethwaite’s imaginative exaggeration, in last month’s edition, of the legitimate concerns voiced by well-informed opponents of Navitus Bay Wind Park, is superfluous. As so clearly pointed out by David Hollister in his column ‘Goodbye Jurassic Coast’, the proposed project is absurd enough already, without any exaggeration. Mr Hollister is right in his pessimistic but realistic view that it must be pre-emptive commitments, unsanctioned by the British electorate, that have drawn this project inexorably onwards. The philosophic, scientific and economic arguments against pledging such huge amounts of public money for the generation of unreliable electricity, at an unacceptable cost to the environment, are overwhelming. But Mr Postlethwaite’s arguments are based entirely on ridiculing opposition to the wind farm without presenting his own rationale as to the appropriateness of this particular technology, on this particular scale, in this particular place. Richard Tasker, Swanage.

The Invention Of Vandals? Hello Nico, This morning, I heard the following proposal for the “finished” war memorial. Initially there will NOT be a protective wall surround (unlike before), with the opinion to ‘see how it goes’. My questions are: Who will stop dogs from piddling on it? Who will stop Vandals from doing the same? Who will stop Vandals from just lolling about on it? Who will stop Vandals from ‘fish and chip’ eating on it? Vandals come in all age groups, at all times. Holiday time is when humans go mad, whether visitors or local. This happens in other places. The waist-high wall needs to be replaced (not just a ‘token chain affair’). It would be the height of folly, that having taken such time and trouble to re site ‘Our Memorial’ and given it the true reverence it deserves, that we fail to complete the job. Before anyone asks. Yes, I am eighty, yes I do remember our memorial did not have a walled surround until after WWII. My answer is that, in times gone by, vandals and free expression had not been invented. General behaviour dictated whether you or your relatives gained employment in a small town. These days of mobility removes that restriction. Best wishes, Bill Squibb, Swanage Ed’s note: The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe, or group of tribes, who were first heard of in southern Poland, but later moved around Europe, establishing kingdoms in Spain and later North Africa in the 5th century (so they’ve actually been around for a while). Socrates (469–399 B.C.) describes the youth of his day (over two thousand years ago) thus: “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.” (Plato attributed this quote to Socrates). The young have always been the young, it seems. When I was a teenager, the wall around the memorial allowed us somewhere to hide away without being seen, thus making it more likely to be ‘lolled in’ and ‘piddled on’, in all honesty!

The Purbeck Gazette

Of Bullies, Bakers & Big Business

David Hollister writes...

sad little tale reached me recently regarding tenants of a ‘sheltered accommodation’ complex somewhere near Purbeck, who have been indirectly threatened with eviction by the Housing Association if they persist in feeding the few thin and hungry stray cats who turn up on their doorsteps. I cannot mention names, but I have written to this particular Housing Association asking for clarification that they are not seriously considering putting a few elderly people on to the streets in their twilight years for the simple offence of feeding a few cats? Look on ‘YouTube’ for ‘adventures with bailiffs in Dorset’. A film about a local trader who was attacked and abused by bailiffs. He had the last laugh, however, because the bailiffs who – acting for Dorset County Council - allegedly descending in a ‘dawn raid’ to seize his possessions, actually attempted to seize business assets belonging to someone else. He retained his presence of mind and indeed his possessions; his stand on the matter was one of principle. I hope that such apparent disregard for rules and regulations and attitude towards bully-boy tactics carries itself into the Purbeck Council Chamber, where he’s an Independent Councillor who now appears to hold the balance of power! And that he stands up for what he believes in, regardless of pressure from political parties and indeed the officers… But alas, when such independent spirit comes into contact with the trappings of power, it usually ends up like the end of Animal Farm (go on - look it up). I recently received a brightly coloured pamphlet shouting “Stop the Swanage Gas Rig – is nowhere safe from the greedy oil companies”. Don’t get me wrong – I’m no supporter of ‘fracking’ but I do think that SavingSwanage@gmail.com has gone well over the top with their scare tactics. As well as producing a leaflet which may well have looked good on the designer’s computers, but which is actually pretty difficult to read due to the use of small white and yellow type over colour photos, they’ve made huge and seemingly unsubstantiated assumptions as to the damage that this proposal will cause. Perhaps it would have been a good idea for them to have first read the Department of Energy’s brochure entitled “Fracking UK shale: planning permission and communities”. Find it at : www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/283832/Planning_v3.pdf For the avoidance of doubt. The planning consent restricts site construction and drilling activity to between September and March. There are three phases to the drilling process; construction of the wellsite - expected to take up to eight weeks this winter (2014/15); the assembly and installation of drilling equipment and drilling of the exploratory well - expected to take up to eight weeks in late winter (2014/15) or early next winter; should oil or gas be encountered, the drilling rig would be demobilised and InfraStrata would undertake a long-term test to establish whether it could produce oil or gas commercially using conventional methods. Any subsequent development of the site would require planning permission. If no commercial oil or gas are encountered, then the well will be plugged and abandoned and the wellsite restored to its original state. The pamphleteers express concern for Durlston Country Park – on the UNESCO World Heritage Site and AONB next to where the “cliff top rig” is allegedly to be situated. Well, the news is that by the time they start,

there won’t be a ‘World Heritage Site’ as the wind farm proposals will have knocked that particular layer of protection into the long grass. The wind farm offers what the ‘Saving Swanage’ people seem to want – renewable and non-polluting energy, but in the face of 90% local opposition and just as many hard objections as there are to the ‘fracking’. Do make your mind up what it is that you want……. I wonder where some of their “facts” have come from? Accommodation for forty workers on-site? Razor wire? Toxic chemicals? Are we talking Purbeck, or the worst examples of the USA? If the planning office have ‘yet to see the drawings’, how come the objectors are warning us of the construction of a ‘gas refinery’? What do they know and what have they seen that the planners haven’t? Previously I’ve highlighted the problem of heavy lorries travelling through our villages and residential areas. Whatever the numbers, our infrastructure just isn’t built for that size vehicle. So here I’m in total agreement. On the reverse of the leaflet, however, they’ve really gone into meltdown suggesting that our water table will be polluted, our farm animals decimated, our food chain poisoned, our houses will become unsalable and uninsurable and therefore worthless. It’s a really good yet somewhat unfounded ‘rant’. Trust me. I should know a good unfounded ‘rant’ when I see one …… Purbeck is represented by Parish Councils, a District Council, a County Council and two MPs. All of whom, incidentally, come up for re-election next May. The leaflet suggests that “it’s time they started representing the people”. Once again I agree wholeheartedly. On both the windfarm and the fracking issue, our local ‘representatives’ have been somewhat backward in coming forward. So now let’s ask them shall we? Let’s ask District Councillors David Budd (Wareham) and Nigel Dragon (Corfe Castle), Gary Suttle, Ali Patrick and Mike Pratt (Swanage South) how they feel about ‘1000 heavy lorries’ charging through their wards. Let’s ask Mike Lovell (Langton) and Bill Trite (Swanage) of DCC about environmental impacts and how – and indeed if - they intend to seek out the views of the majority of their electors and to what level of personal inconvenience they are prepared to go to represent them? If they want to chain themselves to the railings, then I’ll personally buy the chain and padlocks. Let’s ask Annette Brooke MP and millionaire Richard Drax MP how they feel about windfarms and fracking. And indeed why we should vote for them next May should they decide that Purbeck is actually expendable in the interests of what the objectors call ‘greedy oil companies’ but what I call ‘dirty done deeds in the sewers of Westminster’. Our columns are here; we’ll await their comments with interest. Whatever happens, it seems unlikely that we ordinary people will have a say in any of it, that any ‘consultation’ will prove to be just ‘lip-service’ and that the government will bash on regardless. Strangely, bashing on with the oil and gas extraction to increase our CO2 production, and with our windfarm to reduce it. And they will carry on regardless because actually 90% of voters prefer to keep their heads below the parapet and let themselves be right royally r…….. – well, taken advantage of! I may be dumb, but I’m not that dumb. Even someone as thick as me recognises a forked tongue when I hear one. See? I told you I knew a good rant when I see one……..

The Purbeck Gazette

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Bladen Estate Centenary Exhibition

Saturday 9th August to Saturday 23rd August 2014 riantspuddle is holding an exhibition to celebrate the founding of the Bladen Estate. The estate was created by Sir Ernest Debenham of Debenhams stores, to fulfil his vision and advanced ideas on experimental and self-sufficient agriculture. At its height in the 1920s the estate covered ten thousand acres of central Dorset and amongst its many technological advances it was bottling longlife milk for the Cunard Line which was shipped as far afield as Rhodesia. Debenham commissioned Arts and Crafts architects Halsey Ricardo, with lead architect MacDonald Gill in residence, to develop progressive designs of housing for estate workers and industrial buildings for the farming activities. The buildings were constructed from bricks and innovative cavity-spaced concrete blocks manufactured on-site.Sir Ernest received his knighthood in recognition of his services to agriculture. The aim of the exhibition is to bring to a wider public this incredible chapter in social history and the wonderful legacy it has left. The exhibition runs from Saturday 9th through to Saturday 23rd August in Briantpsuddle Village Hall (DT2 7HT) and will be open 1pm-4pm weekdays and 10am-4pm weekends. Free Admission. Refreshments available. Disabled access. Free parking. www.briantspuddle.info

Flood Wardens Needed

ocal communities across Dorset are being asked to get involved in managing flood risk in their area. Many areas already have flood wardens who work with parish or town councils. Depending on the size of the community they work either independently or as part of a team checking drainage channels, supporting people affected and identifying actions to reduce the risk and impact of flooding. Dorset County Council and the Environment Agency need to recruit more flood wardens or flood teams to help more communities protect themselves. Flood wardens need to be good communicators, have an interest in their local area and be contactable during the day. Training will be given on all areas of the work and there is an annual seminar, to share experiences and to learn more about flooding. Email floodwessex@environment-agency.gov.uk by the 29th August 2014 to show you are interested becoming a flood volunteer.

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Not on your Nellie...

ellie and I have now completely given up on the brown food waste containers. We wholeheartedly support the principal of the new system, but the last straw made it’s appearance the third time the biodegradable bag burst on me as I was transferring it, leaving me with yet another smelly clean-up. I can see why biodegradable bags are necessary; I just wish they would wait until I have finished using them before they begin the process. We have chickens and compost bins, but beyond that neither Nellie nor I are going to divulge what now happens to our food waste. The badgers will be disappointed, I’m sure, but they might now go and visit someone else’s property in search of a free meal. And now a non sequitur, apropos of nothing in particular, lest I carry on ad infinitum about the brown bins. Like many others, at prep school I suffered Latin. The endless declensions and voices only served to confuse me

linguistically and it wasn’t until I went on to do other languages that I realised grammar did not have to be that complicated. I still remember the dreaded brown copy of The Shorter Latin Primer, defaced by a former victim during an idle, bored moment to The Shortbread Eating Primer. We learned of the exploits of Cotta and Labienus - predictably converted to Flabbyanus - and then never heard of them again. Reading recently about ‘inspirational’ teachers I realise this was a luxury we never experienced. We had bad masters who beat you or fondled your thigh - luckily never both at the same time - and not-so-bad ones who did neither of those things but tried to be your friend. I’m still not sure which was worse. Much later, taking A levels at college, I had female teachers which I found to be a much better experience all round, and I did well. The prospect here of being beaten or having my thigh fondled would have been far from unwelcome, but sadly I had to confine myself to pleasing them in the only way I could. As a boarder, I was perpetually hungry even though the porridge contained lumps of uncooked oats through lack of stirring, and the pasta suffered similarly. I do not recall a single boy ever having an allergy, and to this day I am intolerant of faddy, picky eaters. So did Latin do me any good? I doubt it. It is claimed to be the foundation of all the romantic languages but it carries scant resemblance to modern Italian, and we didn’t learn English grammar via the Gaelic. Speaking of Gaelic and related Celtic languages, now Cornwall has been granted National Minority status, will it become a racist crime to refer to them as pasty crunchers?! And will my taxes be purloined for bilingual signage to placate the estimated one thousand speakers of this useless language? Answers on a postcard, please, and a pint in my favourite pub to he or she who spots the deliberate linguistic error at the outset of this piece.

The Purbeck Gazette

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R.N.L.I. Crew Profile Tom Greasty

RNLI Helm om Greasty, who is 31, joined Swanage RNLI in October 2000. He grew up around the boatpark and lifeboat station, and always knew that as soon as he was old enough, he’d join the crew. He runs an angling charter business called Swanage Sea Fishing, so spends a lot of time on the water and says; ‘The fact that the RNLI exists to come to the aid of people in distress is a great comfort to me and my other skippers so I feel its only right to make myself available when I can to help others.’ Since joining the crew aged just 18, Tom has worked his way up to become the Senior Helm on the station’s inshore D class lifeboat and navigator on the all-weather Mersey class lifeboat. Not surprisingly the area where he spends most of his time, around the lifeboat station, is Tom’s favourite part of Swanage. He most enjoys the camaraderie of the crew and working with a team of likeminded people. When asked what his favourite memories of being part of the volunteer crew were, he said there were far too many to recount them all! He says: ‘The arrival of the new Shannon Class lifeboat is extremely exciting for the volunteer crew. I am especially looking forward to getting to grips with all the new technology and equipment onboard, the new Shannon has very sophisticated navigation tools which I will need to learn. It’s an exciting new phase for us at Swanage and a challenge to which we are looking forward to.’ ‘The approval of the planning application for the new station marks a big step towards getting the new lifeboat, and that in itself is very exciting for the crew. At the moment we have to get changed in a very cramped and draughty area of the boathouse, which after a long and cold shout is not much fun. To have dry changing facilities and a hot shower will make a huge difference to us all.’

Swanage Town Twinning

ur bi-annual visit to Rudesheim am Rhein in Germany took place in June leaving Swanage by coach for Heathrow Airport. On arrival in Frankfurt it meant another coach ride to our destination, a tired but happy group arrived to a warm welcome. The first morning we were invited to the Rathaus (Town Hall) for bread and wine whilst the Burgermeister (Mayor) welcomed us. Our Chairman Mike Stollery thanked him for his hospitality and suggested their visit in 2015 could combine with the Swanage Folk Festival in September. We also visited a state of the art Wine Cellar, some members chose to take a guided tour of the interesting town of Eltville, in searing heat! On Saturday we had a day long trip to the city of Limburgh visiting the beautiful but quite small Cathedral set high on the hill, with supper at Lahnstein, we were lucky enough to sit out in the courtyard which was somewhat cooler than sitting inside. Throughout our visit the weather was very hot, at times reaching 34 degrees. The farewell party was organised in the courtyard of the local church, food was plentiful, all done by the ladies of the Partnerschaft. A perfect end to a successful visit. Perhaps some people may think the Town Twinning costs the tax payer of Swanage money, but I’m happy to re-assure them we raise all our own funding by holding bbqs, tea dances, Oktoberfests plus raffles at our monthly meetings etc. We also personally fund our own travel expenses and host the family who hosted us in Rudesheim entirely at our own expenses. I hope this helps people to understand how we operate. September meeting on Monday the 8th will be a talk on the Bermuda Triangle by Howard Nicholls, plus feed-back of the visit. All our meetings are held at All Saint’s Church on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm unless a fund raising function is planned in the month. Our web site is www.swangetowntwinning.co.uk, for further information please ring Jan on 422309. New members always welcome. Janet Enoch, Vice Chairman and Publicity

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Lions Update

im Mersey takes over as Swanage Lions President from Paddy Rideal. Paddy was the first female president of the Lions and had a great year fundraising for charities in the area. Her notable achievement was the 50/50 auction in collaberation with the R.N.L.I.. This one event raised £8000, shared equally between the Lions club and the Lifeboat. Tim now takes over for the next twelve months. This photo is of the outgoing president Paddy and the incoming president, Tim Mersey, at the changeover night. Swanage sending tools across the world Swanage Lions are seeking the help of the good people of Swanage to dig deep into dusty sheds, cluttered garages, crafty corners and any other hidey holes to find hand tools, in reasonable condition, that are no longer wanted. These tools will be revitalised and sent out to countries where people have few skills, little education and no means of earning a living*. The idea is to switch from aid dependency to self sufficiency. People get training as well as a tool kit or, in the case of sewing and dressmaking, given a sewing machine with fabric, thread etc, to get them started. We are grateful for the support of Nixons and Travis Perkins, who have kindly donated drop off bins, sited in their shops from August, for small tools. For collection of bigger stashes or more information, please contact Kim on 427828. Look out also for details of a collection day that we plan to hold in September. Thank you in advance for your donations - they will make a world of difference. * Swanage Lions are supporting the charity Tools with a Mission http://www.twam.co.uk and local volunteer Rosemary Moore.

WANTED PLEASE 2/3 bedroom property to rent in Wool/Lulworth or surrounding area. Contact Kate/Andy on: 07703 774554 or 07591 234066

OUR FEATURE NEXT MONTH:

“Purbeck Pastimes & Pleasures”

Celebrating all the wonderful hobbies, activties and ways to spend your time here in Purbeck!

Let our readers know what YOU offer, be it retail or service. Call Joy to book YOUR space NOW on 01929 424239

The Purbeck Gazette

Judging Day For Wareham In Bloom

014 marks the 20th Anniversary of the formation of Wareham in Bloom and once again the town is entered for the South and South East in Bloom Competition. Members of the Wareham in Bloom Committee met Competition Judges Matt Wakefield and Derek DonnisonMorgan on Monday 7th July. Chairman Eric Osmond and Vice Chairman Sue Elmes welcomed them with refreshments in the Town Hall, a display of Wareham in Bloom’s many achievements (including two appearances in recent years at the national Britain in Bloom finals representing the whole of the South and South East region) and a presentation by Rod Curtis, Town Clerk, on the current situation and Wareham in Bloom’s plans for the future. There followed well over two hours of outdoor judging. Areas visited included St Johns Hill, Priory Meadow and the Frome tow path, the Quay (wonderful floral displays on the newly refurbished toilet block), the war memorial garden, Bestwall Allotment Site, the newly created ‘Saxon Magic Corner’ on former waste land and County Council owned land outside Purbeck View Park, Wareham St Mary Primary School children’s allotment and the cemetery gardens at Lady St Mary Church. The route included a magnificent front of house display at ‘The Old Stables’ in Mill Lane where the judges were ‘blown over’ by the myriad display of colourful baskets and window boxes presented by local resident Mr Malcolm Evans. Not forgetting Wareham’s usual stunning display of town centre baskets and stands which looked magnificent in the sunshine. Everything seemed to impress the Judges – but you never know what they are thinking! The result of Wareham’s entry as a ‘Small Town’ will be announced in September at the regional award ceremony. Watch this space! Rod Curtis, Wareham in Bloom Committee Pictures: Top, judging begins...Below (by Robin Brasher): Mayor of Wareham, Mrs Carol Turner, with the two judges Matt Wakefield and Derek Dennison-Morgan at Wareham town hall on Monday 7 July.

The Purbeck Gazette

Create Your Dream PURBECK ELECTRICAL Ice-Cream! 01929 424177

61 High Street, Swanage. (next to the Red Lion)

ue to the great success of Not Just Sundae’s Summer Sundae Competition last year, we are about to do it all again! Throughout the month of August you can have the opportunity to design your

dream ice-cream. Pop into the café to pick up your entry form and let your ideas run riot. Get busy with the sprinkles, add a dash of edible fairy dust and get tippy with the toppings, to concoct your ice-cream heaven! The deadline for the competition will be on Saturday 30th August. All competition entries received throughout the month will go on display in the café and our great team of volunteers will get the chance to choose the winning entry. Just as our winner Erin did last year. This year’s winner and three of their friends will be invited back to the café, to get the chance to create the winning design and have the opportunity to eat it! One of our most popular ice-creams, created by one of our customers, is the Wareham Wheel - two chocolate covered digestive biscuits sandwiched together with an ice-cream of your choice and rolled in sprinkles. At just £1, it’s been one of our best sellers and it’s the perfect excuse to get messy and enjoy the summer. So can you create the next best ice-cream in Wareham? Contact us via our facebook page (Not just sundaes Community Café), on the web (www.notjustsundaes. com), or pop in and see us in South Street, Wareham (opposite the library). Pictured. Last year’s winner of the Not Just Sundaes Summer Sundae Competition, Erin!

Can’t tell the difference between these GU10s!

..except one is hot and 50 watts, and one is cool and only 6 watts - and lasts up to 25 longer!! Brilliant! Come and see us for all your Electrical and Lighting needs!

Come and be Surprised!

Wareham - Hemsbach Update

bout twenty people came to our barbecue, which was in the garden of a member’s house. She cooked the meat in the oven before finishing it off on the barbecue to make sure the meat was cooked through. We had a wide choice of salad and sweet courses. Despite a poor weather forecast it was a pleasant afternoon. One of the subjects we discussed was about travelling to Hemsbach. The group had flown to Frankfurt Hahn airport which is a long way from Hemsbach. They preferred travelling all the way by coach with an overnight stop on the route. This month our friends from Hemsbach will travel by coach to Wareham. The organised events include a visit to Arundel and a pig roast. Robin Brasher, publicity officer Wareham-Hemsbach Society

SHOCK NEWS!

JULY EDITION INFORMS PUBLIC THAT DEATH FOLLOWS LIFE!

The Purbeck Gazette

Relief School Crossing Patrols Needed GRAND FETE Hurry along to the

ocal communities are being asked to help support their local school crossing patrols. Dorset County Council urgently needs extra help to ensure that its 56 school crossing patrols are covered when permanent members of staff are unable to work. Rob Camp, the council’s senior road safety technician, said: “We have been fortunate for many years to be able to call upon a loyal group of relief staff, who have covered countless staff absences over many years, often at short notice when it is most important. Unfortunately, we have come to a point when new staff are required to come on board and help us maintain what is widely acknowledged as an excellent school crossing patrol service. “The role of relief school crossing patrol is likely to appeal to someone semi- retired, or who prefers to work on an ad hoc basis with the associated flexibility. Relief staff are paid an hourly rate with an additional travel allowance. “We are looking for relief staff that can either cover just one school or several schools over a larger area. The more casual staff we have on our books, the more likely we are able to cover our school crossing patrol sites. Peter Finney, the county council’s Cabinet member for environment and economy, said: “Our patrol relief service is fantastic, covering 99.9 per cent of staff absences. We want to keep it that way by recruiting more casual staff. “Although the ultimate responsibility for the safety of children on their journey to and from school is a parental one, we choose to provide this non-statutory service in certain locations that meet strict national criteria. If we fail to recruit relief officers this provision could be under threat.” For more information about becoming a school crossing patrol officer or to apply visit www.dorsetforyou.com/roadsafety/schoolcrossingpatrols

SATURDAY 30 AUGUST

12 noon - 4pm ST. MARY CHURCH LAWNS (opp. the firestation) Proceeds will be shared between the Parish Team Churches Ministry and Gull’s Place Trust Fund. Registered charity no: 1058808 (a Poole hospital charity)

The Purbeck Gazette

Out Of The Blue Calendar Cop. his month’s cop is Sgt Jon McCarthy. Sadly he is leaving Purbeck for a new role in Poole. Jon has been working in Purbeck since April 2011 and has done a fantastic job of coordinating community policing during this time. Jon has policed all major events in Purbeck and recently set up our Purbeck Police social media which has been very well received. Jon has worked in CID, Domestic Abuse, Safeguarding and many other stations as a uniformed officer including Kinson, Wimborne, Blandford and Bridport. He also spent 18 months as a temporary Inspector managing critical incidents 24/7 before coming to Purbeck. Despite all his roles to date, he has found Purbeck his most enjoyable and rewarding experience. Jon was born in Cardiff where he met his wife (a Purbeck girl) and needed little persuasion to move to Dorset and settle in Purbeck. Jon is a qualified teacher and started working in Dorset as a primary school teacher but soon realised that being a cop was what he really wanted to do. Jon keeps fit having run a half marathon and cycling 100 mile rides for various charities. At heart he is a family man, enjoying his long walks along the beautiful Purbeck coastline with his chocolate Labrador Charlie (pictured). Jon will be a great loss to the section but we all wish him well with his new adventure, nothing stays still in Policing for too long. Next month we will introduce Jon’s replacement Sgt Jane Mooney. UPDATES What a fantastic time of the year, nice weather, lots of visitors and local businesses making the most of it. A number of exciting events are all taking place, so much to do and lots to enjoy. Your officers are very busy at this time of year and leave is limited, so spare them a thought, they are doing their best to keep it all ticking over. On the crime front things are still looking good in Purbeck. Crime is currently 24% less than it was this time last year. The areas of concern at the moment appear to be criminal damage and assaults. They are sitting just above our five year averages. We have looked at these in detail and we have not found any pattern or commonality between offences. Damage seems to be either very random; commonly it’s damage to cars, or the victim has a good idea who the offender is and is often of a personal nature. Regarding assaults (these will include domestic abuse) and we are always

Dorset’s Recycling

esidents have helped increase Dorset’s recycling rate by 6% since a new, standardised collection service was launched, according to figures from the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP). Dorset recycled 54% of its waste from kerbside collections and recycling centres in 2013/14, up from 49% in 2012/13. More than 60% of the waste collected in Christchurch, East Dorset and North Dorset has been recycled since the Recycle for Dorset service was introduced in October 2012 and June 2013. The service is now used by two thirds of Dorset households, having started in Purbeck and part of West Dorset in March. Purbeck’s recycling rate for the first month was 56%, more than twice the district’s rate of 27% in March 2013. The Recycle for Dorset service is being rolled out across Dorset’s six districts and boroughs, aiming to increase Dorset’s recycling to 68% and drive down costs by £2m a year. The service means residents can now have food waste collected weekly and recycle a wider range of materials, including plastic pots and tubs. Around 30,000 households have also paid for an optional, fortnightly garden waste collection. Another 50,000 properties in Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset will switch to the scheme in October, followed by the rest of West Dorset next year. The total amount of Dorset’s waste sent to landfill last year was 23%, down from 26% in 2012/13. In addition, 18% of Dorset’s waste was sent

AUGUST- Sgt Jon McCarthy encouraging victims to seek support, so this is not always a bad thing that reporting has increased. If you are in an abusive relationship and want support please call the police or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. CONTACTS - To contact Dorset Police please call our police enquiry centre by dialling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency when there is a risk of harm or a crime is in progress. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 (mobile phone tariffs may apply). Follow our social media, Twitter - @PurbeckPolice and Facebook – facebook.com/Purbeck-Police Regards, Purbeck Safer Neighbourhood Team

for either mechanical biological treatment, where further recycling is extracted, or to produce electricity. Dorset’s statistics for 2013/14 also show that, compared to 2012/13: The total amount of household waste collected grew by 2.5% Three times more garden waste was collected for composting 32% more recycling was collected at the kerbside 26% less recycling was taken to community bring banks 18% less non-recyclable rubbish was collected 17% more food waste was collected to generate renewable energy Councils currently pay £80 in tax for every tonne of waste sent to landfill. Including gate fees, it costs £1,060 for a dustcart to dump 10 tonnes of rubbish in landfill, compared to an income of £127 for the same amount of recycling. In a recent survey of 5,000 residents using the new service, 89% said they were satisfied with it and 74% said it was an improvement on their previous service. Steve Burdis, Director of the Dorset Waste Partnership, said: “Thanks to residents enthusiastically using their new collection service to do their bit, Dorset is recycling more than ever. This means we are keeping more waste out of expensive landfill sites and recovering value from useful resources rather than burying them in the ground. Recycling is a way of life in Dorset. These figures suggest that having one, easy-to-use service can help us become one of the best areas for recycling in the country.” For more information about the Recycle for Dorset service, go to www. dorsetforyou.com/recyclefordorset

The Purbeck Gazette

NCI Lookout Opens Its Doors

he St Alban’s Head station of the National Coastwatch Institution, on the coast path south of Worth Matravers, will be welcoming members of the public to its Open Days over the August bank holiday weekend. The lookout will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on each of the three days, 23rd to 25th August. Visitors will be able to find out about the work of the volunteers who help to keep the sea and coast path safe for all users, and to inspect the equipment used. Hot drinks and home-made cakes and biscuits will be on offer. Everything is free, although donations will be welcomed.

Fun For The Family! If you’re looking for activities to keep your children entertained during the school holidays, then use Dorset County Council’s Family Information Service. The Family Information Service supports parents and carers of children aged 0-19 (or up to 25 for young people with a disability) through its online directory. From seeing what fun activities are on nearby, to finding local childcare and parent support groups - it is packed with information to help families, including lots of summer events. Visit www.dorsetforyou.com/aboutfis or call (01305) 221066 for more information.

The Purbeck Gazette

News from Wareham Town Council

First Flush of Success for New Loos! Wareham Quay Toilets Re-Opened after Major Refurbishment. areham Quay public toilets, closed for major refurbishment for seven weeks, have been officially re-opened by the Mayor, Councillor Carol Turner, who announced the completion of the project to a large crowd. All thanks to a major grant from the Viridor Landfill Communities Fund (Dorset Steering Group), donations from Imerys Minerals, Synergy Housing Neighbourhood Zone 6, and Purbeck District Council, plus wall rendering and provision of flower baskets from Mike Richards of the Quay Inn. Two public toilet blocks at Howards Lane and The Quay were transferred from Purbeck District Council to Wareham Town Council on 1st October 2013 and have now been entirely refurbished. Like Howards Lane toilets, the Quay toilets now have state of the art facilities with automatic sensorcontrolled lighting, taps and urinal flushing, baby changing facilities, new cubicles, ceilings, tiling, flooring, rooflights and a similar makeover for the disabled toilet cubicles. The Mayor said, “Wareham Town Council is giving Wareham residents

and its many visitors the public amenities it deserves. We believe a first rate job has been achieved by our contractors, the new facilities would not disgrace a Hilton Hotel and we are ‘flushed with success!” Chairman of the Amenities Committee, Councillor Mrs Nicola Wiggins, said “After decades of having very outdated, low grade public toilets in

Howards Lane and at The Quay the town now has something to be proud of as a major amenity for our residents and for our many visitors.” The Mayor held a prize draw and our picture shows lucky winners Heather Scharnhorst and baby Jack, who won a box of chocolates, and Michael Tomlinson who won a bottle of wine. They then had the great honour and privilege of being first to inspect the new facilities - with baby Jack being first on the baby changing mat! Rod Curtis, Town Clerk, Wareham Town Council

Through The Keyhole Swanage Town Council Our Gazette correspondent details the goings on in recent council meetings..... Swanage Town Council 7th July. f the three major matters about which residents have questioned the Council over recent months (the Seafront stabilisation scheme, the Navitus Wind Farm and most recently, the application by Infrastrata to test for the presence of oil and gas in what the company call the ‘Purbeck Prospect’ (but to be accessed locally by drilling on California Farm), only the Stabilisation Scheme is under the remit of the Council. The final decision on the Wind Farm will, after what many locals consider an inadequate public consultation, be made nationally. The licence for exploration at California Farm has been granted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall. In both cases the Council has made its views known. On the Wind Farm it has done so on many occasions (it is against it). And though it has no powers in respect of the oil/gas exploration licence, it has informed the Company of the local concerns, has met with the Company, and following this meeting, a detailed response from the Company was distributed to those concerned and to the public at the meeting. Some of the main points (text in full on page 54) I quote from this document. ‘The planning consent restricts site construction and drilling activity to between September and March.’ ‘We are only using conventional drilling methods to target Jurassic and Triassic sandstones and limestones to reach reservoirs (of oil or gas) which have been in production elsewhere in Dorset using these same methods for many decades’ ‘The Company’s drilling methods will not involve hydraulic fracturing (fracking) – either now or in the future.’ Clearly some members of the public either disbelieve the Company or fear that at some later point information gained during this exploration could lead to an application for fracking. The Council, however, has been assured by Infrastrata that, for reasons of its geology, the Purbeck Prospect is not and could never be, a suitable site for fracking. (The Council meeting took place in the same week when there seemed to have been a gear change in the national argument about fracking – influential independent scientists now believe that in large parts

of the UK where the prospect of fracking has been mooted the closeness of the possible fracking to the source of local drinking water supply would make it insane to allow the technology to be risked). One highly practical concern about the California Farm drilling which was raised once more from the public seats was that of the dangers posed, particularly to children, by the numbers of HGVs which will go to and from the site along Panorama Road. It has been asserted at previous meetings by residents that the presence of large vehicles and playing children in the same space is a recipe for disaster – particularly during winter months. In the Company’s document sent to the Council it has only this to say about the HGVs; ’Where necessary traffic management strategies will be implemented to ensure that local traffic flows freely and safely.’ Apart from reading as if that had been written by a Dalek, it is hard to imagine that parents along the route to be taken by the HGVs will feel their concerns have been taken seriously on the basis of that sentence. The Council is in any event carrying out a risk assessment of Panorama Road in respect of this application and has been assured that the number of lorry movements is, in fact, very small. In some rather heated exchanges a member of the public who appeared to have no idea of how limited the powers of a Parish Council are, asserted that because Panorama Road is ‘owned’ by the Council it could (and should) have stopped the California Farm application. The Town Clerk and the Mayor were at pains to inform him – as they have on this matter many times before – that, whether they like a project or not, a Parish Council has no power whatsoever to object to this use of ‘their’ roads. A spokesperson for the World Heritage Organisation was also quoted enthusiastically from the public seats. It had apparently been stated that World Heritage Site Status and extractive industries were incompatible. That will be news to quarriers between here and Portland.

The Purbeck Gazette

My War-time Memories. By Brian Guy

The Bridge Too Far. Belgium! Brussels, Beautiful Brussels. ver the border and straight on, in fact we never stopped until we had swept right through Brussels and arrived in a wood a few miles the other side of the city. Our officers decided that the men ought to get the chance to see Brussels. “Just one day men, we have to move on” Recently I managed to get hold of the Company history and in there I discovered that officially, and I quote: September the 13-16th “Company training in unit location, with one platoon at a time away for a day and a night on assault rafting in Brussels” What a wonderful excuse to cover our 24 hours in the big city! I cannot imagine for one second where we were supposed to go rafting? All of a sudden, out came uniforms, dirty old denims that we wore nearly all the time were discarded, and this scruffy bunch with long hair. (Not the cleanest of Her Majesties Service Men,) having lived in holes in the ground for three months, tried their very best to smarten up, I even saw gaiters being scrubbed and boots polished! We had always tried to keep as tidy as possible in action, though it is difficult, living in holes in the ground in all weathers. For the first time for three months we began to look like soldiers again, some even looked smart! One fly in the ointment that threatened our trip to the fleshpots of Brussels was that some men had to stay behind to guard the company vehicles, the half-tracks, carriers, plus that captured from the enemy; all that goes to make an R. E. Field Company. It was decided that men would gather in groups and toss coins to see who would stay as guards, about ten men were required for this duty. Yes! Who else but me would manage to lose the toss all the way through. One of the men, keeping his mates in mind, drove back to our harbour area all the way from Brussels in a taxi, with a prostitute! Great big wench! Not pretty either! This great big lass offered her services free to those staying behind. Me, an innocent nineteen year old country boy from Dorset, knew all about war, but nothing about the ladies! Not a damn thing. This lady tried to convince me that all would be well. Yours truly was not too sure! I decided that rather than make a complete fool of myself, I would try my hand with the female sex in my own good time. Great big grin! In those far off days, seventy years ago, things were very, very, different! The mind boggles when you see what happens today. In passing, it is well to mention that Hitler robbed our generation of its youth, long gone those times when we worked 12 to 14 hours a day in the Engineering workshops, then dashed off to change into our Home Guard uniforms and out half the night when the night raids were on. Next day our men arrived back full of the tales about Brussels and of the good time they had. Our officers then decided that the rest of us could have the day in the city and make our own way back, or catch up with the company in the morning. We set off full of excitement, the great big city of Brussels to explore. On my own, and not knowing anything about Brussels I decided to stop for a drink in a cafe and there fell in with a cut throat band of the Belgium secret army. I believe they called themselves the ‘White army’, they were a real load of ruffians and well on their way to being roaring drunk. It was there that I met an elderly gentleman who tried to communicate in what could only be described as fractured English. Eventually, I found out that this old gentleman wanted me to go with him and meet someone. Not wishing to hurt his feelings, I agreed, and went with him. He took me to a department store in the centre of the city where his wife worked behind the counter. It seemed they wanted to invite me to their home and share a meal with them. They were so keen I never had the heart to say no. Looking back, I would not have missed this old couple’s invitation for anything. They were absolutely wonderful. The lady, quite elderly, spoke

some fractured English, just a little better than her husband. They made me very welcome in their home and shared what little food they had. To be truthful I think that I was given all they had. When I protested, they told me that they had been waiting for the moment of freedom when they could entertain an English soldier, and it had been a very long time coming. In all those years they had been saving up for it. They told me how Grandmother had flown round Brussels on her 90th birthday and a lot about the family. (The things one remembers!) Later they took me on a tour of Brussels, into the main square where all the architecture of the buildings is different. I was also taken to see the Manikin, that’s the little boy having a wee, very realistic! They were very proud of their city, with good reason, it was a very attractive place. In the evening they took me to a cabaret and treated me to a steak dinner, very expensive! Can you imagine how I felt? Eating the food? I could not refuse to eat it, they would have been very upset. They would not hear of my protests and again told me they had been saving up for years just for this moment, though I must admit it did stick in my throat a bit. That night I slept in a real bed with clean sheets! Just think for a moment how this felt after so long living out in the open and in fox holes. Glory be, without the sound of war. When I awoke first, I looked out of the upstairs window to remember my bearings just in case I would be able to return and thank these wonderful folk for their great kindness. To my left was a very imposing building that I would remember, even today, their house was in the “Forest” area of Brussels. Treated to a very hearty breakfast, this wonderful old couple actually apologized in case I had been prevented from spending the night with a woman! The name of these gracious people? Something like: Charles and Lucia van Dusselaire or something very like that. Like most service men, little things trigger off memories of past kindness’ and I remember those very kind folk who tried to help a young soldier on his way with deep gratitude. I wish that I could have returned to thank those gentle folk properly. Unfortunately I had been wounded so severely later, that it was difficult to get back into employment, therefore it was not possible. Yes! I remember. I remember. Nor am I likely ever to forget. That next morning a mad dash to catch up with the company. They had moved on to a small village, preparing to go into action again, the name Thielt comes to mind, but I am not sure. The local folk invited us to the village hall where they had prepared an evening’s entertainment. They had on offer Belgium beer, I am sorry to say that we found it absolutely awful, but we drank it anyway. Music was provided and this band of “clod hopping young men” got to dance with the local village girls in our army boots, not very romantic! They did not mind. The girls taught us this dance and at the end of the dance, you got to kiss the girl you were with. I thought it was great, the girls liked it and I wished we could spend more time there. In no time we had moved up again, this was the period when the Airborne had landed at Arnhem, miles ahead. Operation “Market Garden” the drive to relieve the troops battling it out in Northern Holland. We had to press ahead as fast as possible to get them out. Next. Onward into Holland. That flat wet freezing cold land Brian’s book, ‘Cameos of War’ is available from the Gazette office, priced at £11, with all profits going to BLESMA.

The Purbeck Gazette

Sewing Solutions For ALL!

wanage Sewing Solutions opened a small workshop in January but demand for our services has forced us to move to a larger premises next door at Unit 10, Kings Court Business Centre, Swanage, BH19

25 1HS. So far we have made covers Swanage Sewing Solutions and awnings for houses, boats, an open air bar, barbeques, garden Purbeck’s answer to table and chair sets. your stitching needs We also make curtains and blinds, ...from doggy boots do upholstery on furniture and car to parachutes (plus seats. We have replaced zips in …. well, pretty much everything really. bags, zips, sails, awnings, Got a wedding coming up? furniture re-upholstery, etc) Linda makes beautiful wedding Unit 10, King’s Court Business Centre dresses and Simon can make you Kings Road West, Swanage. awnings to keep the weather off 07770 683702 / 07561 144707 the guests. During August to October we intend to run weekly classes in the evenings for anyone interested in a variety of sewing related handicrafts. These classes will not be expensive, unemployed persons will enjoy reduced rates and any homeless can come and learn for free. Call us on 01929 427371 or drop by Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm. Saturdays by appointment.

Swanage Foodbank Update

udgens stepped-up recently to offer their support for Swanage Food Bank. Manager, Brian, is pictured (right) with Foodbank volunteers. The foodbank has been set-up, like many across the country, to assist those in need following the financial crisis. According to one of the UK’s largest providers of foodbank services, the Trussell Trust, 913,138 people received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust foodbanks in 2013-14, a steep rise from previous years. Swanage is no different and we have people in need, so please place your contributions in the collection point inside the main entrance of Budgens in Swanage. Look out for the blue bin! Thank you all. (Food Bank logo and poster designed by local artist Monica Hawley)

Michael Gove Visits The Swanage School

he Swanage School opened their doors to Richard Drax, Member of Parliament for South Dorset, and the recently-deposed Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, in mid-July. Headmaster Tristram Hobson introduced staff and pupils to the then Education Secretary at Dorset’s first free school, which opened its doors to its first intake of students last year. Headmaster Tristram Hobson said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Gove to our school, and to give him the opportunity to see our students at work. “He clearly enjoyed stepping up in front of a year 8 maths class and testing their knowledge, and he spent quite some time talking to a group of year

7 humanities’ students about their experience of working on their 2000word extended projects this term.” Mr Hobson added: “I think he was genuinely impressed by the dedication of our staff and the happy but hard-working atmosphere in the classrooms he visited.” Mr Gove visited classrooms in the landmark new building, which opened just in time for the start of the summer term in April. He praised the quality of the facilities, and the staff for the success of the vibrant new school. MP Richard Drax said: “We had a lot of fun, visiting classrooms, chatting to the students and teachers and listening to the head explain how the school was developing. The school is well led and you feel that the moment you enter. “We had several amusing moments, not least when a teacher and pupil asked Michael to pose for a ‘selfie’ - which he did!” Sensibly, Mr Gove avoided a visit to Parkstone Grammar School, home to last month’s fourteen-yearold columnist, Catlin Dyer, who penned an article on her opinion of the way our current education system is run! Mr Gove was removed from the position of Education Minister in July shortly after the visit, during the government’s cabinet reshuffle, and has now been given the position of Chief Whip. Pictures: L: Tristram Hobson, Richard Drax, Michael Gove. R: Michael Gove, Richard Drax.

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Firestation Update

i and welcome to a look at what’s been happening at Swanage Fire station during May and early June. Operationally we have attended the following calls: Five fires involving people and property. One of which was a thatched cottage in East Lulworth. This started in a stable block and then spread to a thatch cottage. The cause of this incident appears to have been an electrical fault in the stable which then spread to the adjacent thatched cottage that was approximately seven to eight metres away. Twelve Firefighting appliances with about sixty firefighters attended the incident. The incident was first reported to our fire control room at 3:51pm, first appliance on scene a few minutes later and the last appliance left the incident at 10:52pm that evening. Two other fires that we attended involving properties in the town area appear to have been started deliberately. One near to Days Park and the other in the lane at the rear of Victoria Avenue. These fires could have had very serious outcomes, so if you have any information on either of these incidents please contact the local Police. We also attended three heath fires, four false alarms, two fires involving underground electrical cables and there was a further incident on Shore Road where the contractors unearthed more phosphorus bombs that had been buried there since the last war. This again was a protracted incident that involved many of the different emergency services. Last but not least we were called to help the Ambulance on three occasions. One of which was a practically difficult rescue of a workman who had sustained a back injury four floors up on scaffolding. The casualty was secured to a back board in order to protect his injury, he was then loaded onto a special stretcher and secured to the cage of the hydraulic platform from Westbourne fire station. This then lowered him to ground level where he was taken by Ambulance to hospital for treatment. That’s all on the operational side of the station, however I would like to send our congratulations to Firefighter Andy Mutter and his new wife Kat who got married recently (pictured, below). As we are enjoying the summer weather, I have noticed that there are lots of people out riding their bikes, which is great to see, however, occasionally you do hear horror stories of accidents so I would like to bring to your attention the following advice:It doesn’t matter how you look at it or view the figures, most of our serious bike accidents occur as a result of RIDER ERROR. It might be going too fast for the circumstances, riding too close, or making a bad decision, like overtaking when it’s not safe to do so. If you knew what might happen, you wouldn’t do it!! You can help yourself and take steps to prevent becoming a statistic by taking further training and learning how to ride a road that offers more than a straight or the odd roundabout. This is what BikeSafe is all about. All the information is on www.bikesafe.co.uk That’s all for now, stay safe and don’t forget to test your smoke alarms! Phil Burridge Station Commander

Get Your Camera Out!

he team behind this year’s Coast Path Photographic Competition is excited to announce that David Noton has agreed to come on board as their Professional Judge. David is an award winning landscape and travel photographer who writes regular columns for Practical Photography and Outdoor Photography. He is no stranger to photographic competitions either, having won awards in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition on a number of occasions. Amateur and professional photographers, of all ages, are encouraged to enter their best pictures of the Coast Path in this annual photographic competition, which closes on December 31. Last year a keen amateur photographer, Peter Edwards, beat hundreds of entrants to the 1st Prize. This year’s twelve winning photographs will feature in the South West Coast Path 2016 calendar with the 1st prize winner taking the front page. Each copy sold raises a minimum of 25p for the South West Coast Path Association for path improvements www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk Prizes include a One Night Luxury Spa Break at Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa, Cornwall and a gift voucher towards products from David Noton’s website. Full details about how to enter your images and terms and conditions, as well as a slide show of last year’s winning entries are available via the website at www.southwestcoastpath.com/photo-competition Image Caption: Porthgwarra, Cornwall by Miles Cowton. A 2013 competition winning photograph.

The Purbeck Gazette

Farewell, Mr Brown

The Purbeck Gazette

ne of Purbeck’s better known characters from a long-standing Purbeck family, Roger John Brown, passed away in Poole hospital at 8.30pm on 26th June 2014. Roger was the grandson of the famous Charles Brown, who joined the Swanage lifeboat crew in 1896, serving in the last days of ‘pulling and sailing’. Charles went on to become Coxswain from 1934 until his retirement in March 1941, serving on the lifeboat during the war years. On one occasion, whilst out searching for a British pilot who had bailed out, a Swordfish aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters next to the lifeboat. It was after this that the lifeboat crew were armed for the first time, to enable them to defend themselves should there be a need. Roger’s uncle, Robert Brown, also served on the lifeboat, later becoming a councillor. Roger’s father, Walter John, worked as a fisherman from Swanage and joined his father and uncle on the lifeboat, working as a crew member for twenty-four years. Walter (John) then joined the Royal Navy in 1939, serving until late 1945. Roger joined his family and served on the lifeboat in his younger years. Roger grew up working in the local fishing industry (which was thriving at the time), and then began working in the local stone industry. He became a Stonemason, and in 2006 was proclaimed a Freeman of the Ancient Order of Purbeck Marblers and Stone Cutters - a rare accolade and something Roger was immensely proud of. Known across Purbeck for his talents with Purbeck stone, Roger worked throughout the area for many years, whilst never losing his love of the sea. Roger was also one of the last in Purbeck to hand-make traditional lobster pots (as his father had before him), heading up to Worth in the early spring to collect and soak the withies before weaving the pots out in the bitter cold winds. In his later years, Roger only wove pots for decoration; for gardens and so on. Several years ago, Roger approached us at Gazette Towers to ask how he could help Swanage Hospital have a regular slot in the paper. Roger offered to become a ‘face of the Gazette’, allowing us to photograph him with a blank board (pictured left) on which we could write whatever message was required. He also designed a T-shirt bearing the motto ‘Rogered’, with the request that we sell the T-shirts to help cover the cost of printing a regular column for the hospital. The monthly column can still be found in our Health & Beauty section - now renamed in honour of Roger and his strong support of our local hospital. We have decided to continue supporting the hospital in Roger’s memory. Gruff, kind, generous, highly knowledgeable, stubborn and often to be heard swearing loudly after a few ciders, Roger was a Purbeckian through to his core and he will be dearly missed by many. Roger was remembered at a wake held at the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers on July 11th, attended by friends from near and far. The sun shone, stories were told, old friends reconnected and Roger’s ashes were in pride of place in a beautiful stone sarcophagus (below). According to his wishes, on the day following the wake, Roger took to the seas one last time, aboard Jeff Lander’s boat, the Star of Hennock, with a small group of close friends. Roger’s chosen final resting place is the Well, a deep crevice not far off Peveril Ledges, where he was laid to rest in a small private ceremony.

The Purbeck Gazette

Some comments from the ‘Roger Brown Facebook page’: Dave Ogden: It would be nice if all the pubs Roger drank in started a memorial fund to erect some kind of monument to him - a nice stone seat or similar, with one of his many quotes carved on it. RIP old Man of Purbeck Phil Robinson: When my daughter, Daisy, was born, there was quite a fuss at our then, local, the Red Lion. Roger took me aside and said “my dear chap, in the past it was custom to press a sovereign into the parent’s hand for the child well we don’t have sovereigns anymore so this will have to do”, and with that he pushed a two pound coin into my palm. Three days later we met again and once again he solemnly told me the same story. I tried to tell him he’d already done this, but I was five or six pints too late. Bless him, he gave me another sovereign. A couple of days later..... yes you’ve guessed it... another sovereign. Eventually the sovereigns ended. Many people had showered our new born baby with cuddly toys, but with Roger’s sovereigns I bought her a cuddly cockerel, kinda felt appropriate if you knew Roger, and she still has him, now 13yrs old, and he is of course, called Roger. Mark Shepherd: Life’s character, rest in peace old lad, you’ll be missed! Mike Constable: Roger Brown. Fisherman, Stone Roofer, Connoisseur of fine Port. Master of The Pipe, Master of International Relations and good friend. RIP. Nige Genfour Bower: R.I.P Rodge, we had a laugh din us? Remember in the Swan when a rambling couple came in and asked (in quite a upper middle class, Hyacinth Bucketesque tone) where they could get a book so they could find out which mushrooms were edible and which were poisonous? You didn’t even look up from your Sudoko and said “Yerrr, they’re all edible once Mrs.” Sleep well mate. Lee Knight: Rip my dear old chap , last time I spoke to him he told me he was off to the big house to see the master. I asked him if was ill, he answered no you silly buggar, they’ve got Katy back in the Oak. We had some good times and a great trip to Oxford. Be in peace my friend x Adam Goodwin: I got to know a different Roger while working on Dave Bowerman’s roof. He was actually a very generous and fair man. One day he was sitting on the roof looking out over Swanage and said, “This is where I belong, up ‘ere with God.” (I don’t think it was in a religious context). He was so happy doing what he did best. I learned a lot from Roger on that roof - good memories and lessons. Gary McDonnell: R.I.P Roger - we had many drinks together, have a few more over the Rainbow Bridge. Will never forget when you got pulled by the Police for having a bottle of Port sticking out of your electric push bike - they thought it was a shotgun!! Pictures show: Opp page: Top: Roger with his fishing boat. Bottom: Roger as a youngster on Swanage beach. Left: Roger at his wake at the Square and Compass. Top left this page: Roger being awarded the ‘P.I.S.S. Tie of the year’ Cup, Christmas 2013. Top right: one of Roger’s lobster pots. Middle right: Jeff Lander on-board the Star of Hennock with Roger (inset, the Star of Hennock taking Roger out to the Well). Right: Rog with Charlie Newman and the cider crew. Below: Roger’s co-ordinates at the Well.

Rest in peace Roger - You’ll not be forgotten.

The Purbeck Gazette

Purbeck Good Neighbours – Monthly Update We have had a busy time working with The Beacon Project setting up the Upton and Lychett areas with volunteers ready to start our service to the residents there. After holding a volunteer recruitment meeting we are happy to report that we have twenty Upton and Lychett folk offering their time. We are now publicising Purbeck Good Neighbours and are ready to take on small tasks. The rest of Purbeck is still being kept busy and we now are lucky enough to have five coordinators taking turns to deal with the enquiries. If you have a task and are not sure whether we can do it for you, always ring and ask. If we can’t help, we will probably know someone local who can. We work closely with the all POPP Wayfinders who have lists of traders and services to hand. Once again, we must thank Swanage & Purbeck Rotary for another generous donation towards our largest expense, our printing costs. You can find our brochure in the local libraries and medical centres. As always – A very big thank you to all our volunteers. Call Centre No: 01929 424363

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Wareham Senior Forum

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Wareham Area Seniors’ Forum

Stuart Morris, local historian & author of ‘Dorset, The Royal Navy’. A talk on the Royal Navy’s activities during WW1

York House CARE HOME

SWANAGE York House Rest Home, situated in a pleasant position opposite the pleasure gardens, and a level walk to sea front and town. 24 hour care and attention. Permanent or respite care. Private and funded residents welcome

Wareham Parish Hall (on Wareham Quay) 10am to 12 noon Monday 8th September

Single en-suite rooms available

Coffee/Tea & Bacon Bap on arrival, musical entertainment with Maurice Turner

Please contact Manageress for coloured brochure on

For information, or for transport to attend, call Sue on 07825 264353. Age 50+ All welcome

areham Senior Forum had a successful and informative meeting with Alan Davies from Purbeck District Council Planning Department, informing all about the new developments for the Wareham area, plus a time for questions from the floor. The Forum was pleased to accept an invite to a barbecue organised by Wareham Youth Centre. Twelve members of the Forum joined the young people and enjoyed the time to reminisce about their favourite holidays and destinations – past and present. 8th September is the next date to put in your diaries as we are very lucky to have Stuart Morris who is a Local Historian and Author. Stuart will be talking about Dorset’s story of the Royal Navy plus its involvement in World War 1. Maurice Turner will be providing musical entertainment and there will be plenty of opportunity for all to join in with all the old favourite songs from that period. The Forum will be offering bacon baps as refreshments and time to mingle and chat with old and new friends. Please join us or for more information contact Sue 07825 264353

01929 42 5588 Any Queries email: york.house@hotmail.com 8/10 Cauldron Avenue, Swanage, Dorset (Registered Dorset County Council Level 3 Care)

HELPING HANDS Cleaning, Gardening, Cooking, Shopping Bovington & surrounding areas Call Nicola on: 07803 839670

Book advertising at: www.purbeckgazette.com

The Purbeck Gazette

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I am a resident at Clifftop. I like living here. Some of the people I meet are bonkers. Others a little queer. The things they get up to really make you laugh - I am not talking about the residents, I am talking about the staff! CYRIL HAS HIS SAY! yril Gardner - age 81 - Resident of Clifftop Care Home since Oct. 2007. If I was elderly and living alone! Reading and hearing the various reports of sub-standard care and attention at some care and nursing homes, the prospect of residential care would fill my heart with trepidation. I would, however, like to paint a different picture. I moved into this care home seven years ago. The management and staff cheerfully attend to the residents’ every need, whether medical or physical. Here the rooms (all en-suite and some with shower) are clean and comfortable, each with its own TV. Residents may also install items of their own furniture. Small cage birds may also be kept in the rooms. The food is good wholesome and plentiful. A choice of two or three dishes is offered at every meal and selected diets catered for. Fruit and sweets are always available. In addition to their physical needs, the residents here are offered mental stimuli. On a regular basis we have films, quiz nights, karaoke, play team Scrabble and Wii games. During better weather coach trips to places of interest are arranged and the occasional barbecue may be held. There is no restriction on the residents’ movements and taxi fares to and from town will be refunded. There is no place like one’s own home, but THIS HOME is a very good substitute; providing care, comfort, companionship and above all, a feeling of security.

£3

Clifftop Care Home

YOUR Pictures.....

The Purbeck Gazette

Send us your pictures to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk Original files ONLY please, as they come straight off the camera with NO alterations. Some mobile phones may not produce useable pictures due to low resolution. Remember to include your name in the email!

Painting by Roy Pilkington.

Attractions at Wool Carnival, by Christine Bridson-Jones

Lava of Sawfly on Silver Birch, by Phil Kimbrey

Silver Studded Blue at Priest’s Way, by Donna Derrek

Aren in the evening, by Donna Derrek

Swanage Jazz Festival parade, by Anne Elford

Robin Brasher in Rudesheim, by Nicole Pabiou

The Purbeck Gazette

Wish You Were Here!

urbeck is a truly wonderful place to be when the sun shines down - not only do we boast a World Heritage coastline and stunning scenery of every description, we are also lucky enough to host some fabulous local businesses and attractions too! In ‘Wish You Were Here’, a special selection of Purbeck businesses and services open their doors to you, the reader, in an attempt to entice you to come and visit during the summer holidays! From the sunny delights of Swanage by the sea with all it has to offer, to organised events in the ruins of Corfe Castle itself, there is tons to see and do for everyone! So, come rain or sun, take a browse through the following pages and see which local businesses are inviting you to drop in during August. Take the family along, remember the sun cream and enjoy a fantastic local day out - we’ll see you out and about!

Thanks to Fi from Fi Fi’s in Swanage for lending us some Swanage Rock for the above illustrations! Yummm!

SWANAGE LIONS

Swanage & Purbeck Rotary Club

welcome you to their

SUMMER FETE ON SANDPIT FIELD, SWANAGE THURSDAY 21st August 12 noon till 4pm

FREE FAMILY SPORTS AND TRADITIONAL STALLS “Come and join in the fun!” ALL PROFITS GO TO LIONS CHARITIES

FETE & CRAFT FAIR on Sandpit Field Thursday 7th August 10am - 4.30pm Stalls, Crafts, Entertainments, Games, Raffle & so much more! www.swanagerotary.org

The Purbeck Gazette

Tourist Information

each Gardens (pictured, below left) is an accessible landscaped park with pretty gardens. Offered to Swanage Town Council by John Mowlem in 1930 and developed into a beautiful sports park. Beach Gardens is a haven of activity in the high season with beautiful gardens, nestled in between Northbrook Road and De Moulham Road, here you will find an 18 hole putting green, an outdoor Bowling Green and all-weather tennis courts that gives adults and children alike hours of competition and fun. Equipment is available for hire and refreshments. The newly re-furbished tennis courts are used by locals and holidaymakers

alike. There is also an outdoor bowling green that is used by Swanage Bowling Club, contact details for the secretary can be found on www.bowlsdorset. org.uk . Group bookings discount is available, making this a good area clubs to use. You can contact Beach Gardens on 01929 424339 for booking tennis, putting and bowls. Beach Gardens are open 10am to dusk, May to September. Bookings for tennis available out of season from the Tourist Information centre. Swanage TIC is proud to announce that all staff (including our Beach Wardens) are now fully trained in First Aid, including use of a life-saving Defibrillator, with one on-site at the TIC, should it ever be required.

Swanage Pier Events The Friends of Swanage Pier

FUN DAY Sunday 3rd August from 10.30am Local Seafood, BSAC Dive Club ‘Live Link’, Tombola, Catch a Fish, Golf, Treasure Hunt, Human Fruit Machine and more!

The Swanage Pier trust Registered Charity No. 290397

e have two summer evening Fish and Chip cruises this year. The first will be on Wed 30th July, leaving the Pier at 6.30pm, cruising to Poole Quay and then back to Swanage for the evening fireworks. The second cruise will be on Wed 13th August, when there will be more time ashore on Poole Quay. To book on or buy tickets for either of these cruises call 01929 425806, alternatively, they are available in the gatehouse or from the shop on the Pier. Our annual Pier Fun Day will be on held on Sunday 3rd August. This will include the ‘Under the Pier Show’ on the Boat Deck at the end of the Pier, the Human Fruit Machine, Tombola, Local Seafood Barbecue, Treasure Hunt and many more. Do come along and enjoy a stroll or a day on this glorious Victorian Wooden Pier with marvellous views over Swanage Bay to the Isle of Wight and Ballard Down, or a coffee and cake or ice-cream in the shop. Everyone is very welcome!

The Purbeck Gazette

Lifeboat Week

ifeboat week 2014 has a special focus for the Swanage RNLI volunteers as we are working hard to raise funds for our new Swanage Lifeboat Station that will house the Shannon class lifeboat due to arrive in 2016. With planning recently approved building work is due to commence during the winter months of 2014. Whilst the building work is underway the all-weather lifeboat will be kept on the RNLI mooring and the volunteer lifeboat crew will muster in the boat park, where they will change into their seagoing kit and launch a boarding boat to reach the all-weather lifeboat, or head straight out on the inshore lifeboat, depending on the nature of the rescue. The facilities for the volunteer lifeboat crew in the new lifeboat station will exceed anything we have had before and the crew are keen to raise funds towards their new station which will become the heart of RNLI activities in Swanage for many years to come. So in 2014 we hope that Swanage Lifeboat Week will be the biggest and best, ever! We always finish Lifeboat Week with a bang and this year will be no exception. If you think you can become the best dressed raft race crew in our infamous raft race, or are willing to take up the challenge to build the fastest boat in our ‘build a boat’ competition put Saturday 16th August in your diary and start planning! We also welcome local favourites Jim Etherington (Friday 15th August) and The Reptiles (Saturday 16th August) to our stage to entertain us during the evenings. Please come along and enjoy the fun!

The Purbeck Gazette

PURBECK’S RAILWAY

s the season hots up in Swanage, the Railway’s highly popular evening diesel service makes a welcome return. The “Sunset Diesel Shuttle” will operate every evening from 21st July until 31st August and additionally on 5th and 6th September. The service will enable visitors to the area to leave their cars at home and let the train take the strain. Visitors staying at the popular camping and caravan sites can ride the train to quaint pubs in the attractive village of Corfe Castle and to restaurants and other attractions in the seaside town of Swanage. The Sunset Diesel Shuttle operates throughout the evening and has specially discounted fares. Can there be a cheaper, easier and more relaxing way to travel with a grandstand view of the line and the beautiful Purbeck countryside from the glass fronted diesel unit (see website for Shuttle fares or pick up a leaflet at our stations) The Swanage Railway “Freedom of the Line” tickets available on the daytime steam trains are also valid on the evening service at no extra charge. This year evening ticket holders have the opportunity to get special discounts at pubs and restaurants in both Corfe and Swanage (see website for participating venues) Carnival Week will see a train service operating every 40 minutes between 10:00am - 17:20 pm. from Norden Park & Ride and Corfe to/from Swanage. The Shuttle will operate all evening with the last train from Swanage at 23:00. On firework nights’ trains will connect with the conclusion of the firework display and the park & ride will be open until late.

The Purbeck Gazette

Experience The ‘Wild Side’

Purbeck Marine Wildlife Centre - Kimmeridge The village of Kimmeridge stands on Jurassic shale cliffs and is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site because of the quality and variety of geological landforms along the coast. A Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre is situated in Kimmeridge. Beneath the cliffs there is a large wave-cut platform and a rocky shore with good quality rock pools and a variety of rocky shore wildlife. Down near the fore-shore you’ll find the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve - the friendly staff can point you in the right direction for their ‘snorkel trail’ (they have the appropriate kit for hire) and are there to help you discover the wonders of nature that are prolific in Purbeck. Kimmeridge is famous for its fossils, and some lovely fossils can be found within the bay. (Please note that hammering for fossils is not allowed.) Fossils can be found on the foreshore or within the cliff face, however collecting from the cliff face is dangerous and definitely not recommended as there can be regular cliff falls. Kimmeridge is one of the most challenging parts of the coastline and is probably not suitable for families with children during the winter/spring

months. If you are visiting with children be aware that the rocks on the shore can be treacherously slippery and if you do not supervise very closely you may end up with wet and miserable offspring (as the writer herself did some years ago!). Kimmeridge bay is also a surfer area with surfing locations to the left and right as well as the bay itself, which is considered to be the safest area. Directly east of Kimmeridge bay is a folly known as Clavell Tower which inspired P.D. James’s novel ‘The Black Tower’. Because it was in danger of falling down the eroding cliff, the tower has been dismantled and reassembled 35 metres back from the cliff edge.

Luna Cinema Comes To Lulworth Castle Win! Win! Win! Win! Win! Win! Win!

his summer, The Luna Cinema transforms the magnificent grounds of Lulworth Castle into the country’s most exciting outdoor cinema! We invite you to come and enjoy a classic film on a giant screen, in a beautiful location. Look out for exclusive Benefit experiences at the screenings this year - including complementary make-overs and goodie giveaways. As always, we will have a full bar and delicious food on site at each screening – cinema under the stars is a summer experience not to be missed! For your chance to win a pair of tickets to The Luna Cinema at Lulworth Castle to see Breakfast at Tiffany’s on 27th August or Mamma Mia on 28th August please answer the following question correctly: In Mamma Mia, the main character of Sophie is played by which Hollywood superstar? a. Jennifer Lawrence b. Amanda Seyfried c. Kate Hudson Please give your answer, name and contact details (including phone number) via email to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk or by postcard to

The Purbeck Gazette, 17B Commercial Road, Swanage, BH19 1DF by Wednesday 20th August. Ts & Cs: Winners will be selected at random from all correct entries. Winner receives two standard tickets to either Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Mamma Mia. Ticket holders are advised to check the timing of the event beforehand. Tickets will be redeemable via a guest list on the door with no cash alternative. Tickets are subject to availability and cannot be resold or transferred to another performance. Competition is run by boom ents.

The Purbeck Gazette

Gallery at 41 S

et in one of the most beautiful and historic villages in the country, the Gallery at 41 in Corfe Castle has seen its group of Dorset artists achieve great success and critical acclaim over the last year. Its changing Summer exhibition showcases the range of their talent celebrating the stunning scenery of the Isle of Purbeck and Dorset and continues until September 6th. The Gallery features atmospheric oils of the dramatic Dorset coastline by David Atkins, much sought after paintings of the stunning light on Poole Harbour and delightful beach scenes by Richard Price (an elected member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters) and evocative French pastels and small oils by Felicity House PS. The Gallery features new work from Judy Tate our highly popular Corfe Castle artist who had two paintings selected for the Society of Women Artists London Exhibition this year, Edward Vine’s much collected acrylics and watercolours, imaginative landscapes from Vicky Finding and watercolours of busy London from Mike Jeffries. Figurative sculpture has always been a big part of the Gallery and this year Moira Purver was elected a full member of the Society of Women Artists. Sue Lansbury’s figures on Purbeck marble have again received critical acclaim in London exhibitions. The Gallery is also the place to visit for Janet Parker-Laird’s vibrant ceramics, Do Michel’s ceramics and jewellery, Steve Robinson’s art glass, Mary Baker’s seaglass jewellery and Sheila Hickey’s porcelain lanterns.

A World Of Stone B

urngate Stone Carving Centre is an educational charitable trust located in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, on the world famous ‘Jurassic Coast’. We provide facilities and expert tuition for traditional stone carving skills for local residents and visitors ages 6yrs - 80years+ The Centre also offers a variety of children’s and family activities in school holidays, and cater for group bookings and school parties. We offer a wide range of art and craft courses, Gallery of sculpture, local art and craft for sale and a small tearoom. In our Gallery and craft shop we have an interesting range for sale including stone sculpture, paintings, prints, jewellery, pottery, needlework, cards and much more. Come and visit us for tea and Dorset apple cake or the local Purbeck ice-cream and take in the magnificent view of Swanage bay and the Isle of Wight. Cyclists, walkers and their dogs are always most welcome. We are opposite the Worth gate turning, a short walk from the Acton bus stop,

look out for our red banners Summer Activities throughout the school holidays: Children’s have-a-go stone carving every Tuesday 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm Adult have-a-go stone carving every Wednesday 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm Kids messy art every Wednesday 10am – 11.30am Family have-a-go stone carving every Thursday and Saturday 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm Visit our website for more details on our bookable courses www. burnagtestonecentre.co.uk or Tel 01929 439405.

Corfe Castle Events

Medieval Village with Knight and Damsel Academy at Corfe Castle, 28 July-31 August 2014 he Battle of Agincourt is the inspiration for a spectacular medieval month at Corfe Castle with daily living history displays 10am6pm and a packed events programme. The Medieval Village with Knight and Damsel Academy (28 July to 31 August) transports visitors back to St Crispin’s day 1415 – a date made famous by Shakespeare in Henry V. Come and meet one of Henry’s knights in his campaign tent and hear his tales of battle and daily life in the 14th century. Other characters waiting to greet you include the siege engineer, the armorer and the medieval cook. Interactive activities for budding knights and damsels include: The Schoole of Sword: learn how to handle a sword safely in preparation for war or self-defence, Medieval cookery: period kitchen with food preparation and talks on the medieval menu, Siege warfare: tales of the dark arts employed to make the walls come tumbling down. At the armoury: metal bashing medieval style as a skilled armorer demonstrates how to make and repair the knight’s best friend, Knighting ceremony: kneel before the king to become a knight of the realm, Havea-go archery: try your hand with the longbow – the weapon that won the Battle of Agincourt (additional £2 charge applies). Talks and demonstrations take place throughout the day and the Medieval Village living history display is open daily from 10am-6pm. Stroll around the village and chat to the fascinating characters you will meet there. The Medieval Village with Knight and Damsel Academy is a free event but normal admission charges apply. Admission to Corfe Castle is free to National Trust members. Pic: Knighting ceremony at the Medieval Village in Corfe Castle. Picture credit National Trust/Martin Franks

The Purbeck Gazette

Harman’s Cross Field Day

Monday 25th August A Fete - A Flower Show - A Gymkhana! his is a true old-fashioned English Village Field Day with plenty of entertainment and fun for all the family. The Flower and Vegetable Show is famous for the quality and quantity of exhibits, whilst Horse Show and Gymkhana – starts at 9am offers lots of rosettes and trophies to be won and fun for all throughout the day. Our attractions include a Grand Raffle – 1st prize £100 – and lots of other great prizes. The much-loved Dog Agility Display – come and watch the pups put through their paces! The Wessex Military Band will be playing two sets of music in true traditional style. The Village Club and their team will be serving delicious teas & snacks, and there will be a licensed bar, barbecue, cold drinks and ice-creams. We have craft & produce stalls with a huge variety of local produce for sale, displays to entertain and inform; there’s lots for children, too, including Children’s Rides – roundabouts, bouncy castle, zip-wire, trolley ride, swingboats, and Jamie Jigsaw - the magician and juggler. For all ages we have side-shows and games – darts, hoopla, wheel of fortune, pick a duck, pull a cork, coconut shy, skittles and much more.

All this for just £1 entrance; free parking…surely the best value in Dorset! And if you come on the train – then admission is half price. The proceeds of this annual event go straight to Village Hall funds and enable us not only to keep our rental prices low for local groups, organisations and casual hirers, but also to keep our beautiful new Village Hall properly maintained and in tip-top order. We hope to see you there!

Delightful German Cakes!

A Unique Cuisine isit Kaffee und Kuchen for the experience of freshly made German cakes, a selection of teas and excellent freshly ground coffee. The coffee is made to order and often to your specification. Our Hot Chocolate is superb, really tasty and complements all the cakes. The cakes are made here, in the coffee shop, every day, by Claudia who is from Hanover. The selection changes daily, although some of the favourites are usually available. Apple Strudel is a very popular choice, Cherry Krummelkuchen is always well received, baked cheesecake and cold cheesecakes are in daily demand. Waldmeister cheese cake (photographed, above) provides a novel and totally unique flavour which makes it one of the most popular cakes we do. However the Baiserolle, or meringue roulade made with double cream, Greek yoghurt and raspberries is the winner in the popularity polls.

We have an unusual heater, quite unexpected and some very clever seating and tables. We also have some extremely comfortable sofas, lovely to sit on, difficult to leave. We also have free Wi-Fi and lots of informative leaflets about forthcoming events, free maps of the area and we can usually answer queries to help you enjoy your stay. Come and join us, Bill and Claudia, for Coffee and Cake at Kaffee und Kuchen on the High Street, opposite Age UK and close to the Town Hall!

The Purbeck Gazette

Chococo Delights!

f you want to treat yourselves this summer, look no further than Chococo, the chocolate shop, café & kitchen on the Commercial Road lanes in the heart of Swanage. Their award-winning chocolates, handmade with many local fresh ingredients, make delicious unique gifts from Purbeck. Their selection includes the new Bronze medal award winner in the European semis of the International Chocolate Awards. ‘Brilliant Black Cow’ chocolate is made with fresh Dorset cream, Venezuelan origin milk chocolate and Black Cow vodka from here in Dorset. You can also enjoy ice cream sundaes or milkshakes made with Purbeck ice cream, chocolate afternoon teas, delicious cakes, all baked in-house, light lunches and an extensive range of hot drinks & now an even wider range of cold drinks including iced tea and new local Comins loose leaf teas. There is either sitting outside in the sunshine or in their air-conditioned café, and as Chococo is very family-friendly, there is also a newly decorated upstairs with mini play zone to keep the little people entertained. If this wasn’t enough to inspire, Chococo host hour-long chocolate

Views to dine for...

CHOCOCO the purbeck chocolate co.

Enjoy ice creams, drinks & sweet treats in our chocolate café Book into our holiday chocolate workshops for children & adults We are open 7 days a week

Find us at: Cocoa Central, Commercial Road, Swanage Workshop bookings: 01929 422748 www.chococo.co.uk workshops for children throughout the summer holidays. (Wednesdays and Fridays) and evening masterclasses for adults (Tues 29th July, Tues 12th Aug & Tues 26th Aug). Call their bookings hotline on 01929 422748 for more details. Or, you can get creative in their chocolate lolly-making sessions, just drop-by and see when they are running!

Dining with magnificent views

The Grand Hotel in Swanage offers the perfect location for dining. Our Bar/Conservatory menu, served from 12 noon - 2pm, is designed to offer something for everyone, whether you are looking for a quick snack or just wish to indulge in one of our many dishes on offer, with a bottle of wine and just take in the views of the bay. Indulge in either a Traditional High Tea or Afternoon Tea, which is served daily from 3pm - 5pm (High Teas must be booked in advance). We now have our Civil Wedding Licence, and can offer a complete Wedding package, with a stunning outdoor Wedding venue that’s hard to beat. Our Head Chef, Matthew, is on hand to offer any advice that you may require with regards to your booking with us. Whatever your requirements, come and visit us at The Grand Hotel and we will be happy to welcome you.

Lunches served from 12pm Afternoon Teas & High Teas served 3pm - 5pm (High Teas must be booked in advance)

Burlington Road, Swanage, BH19 1LU 01929 423353. www.grandhotelswanage.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

Economic Review of the 2nd Quarter of 2014

uring the three months to end of June 2014 the FTSE 100 index rose by 2.2% but was down by 0.1% since the beginning of the year. Our analysts commented as follows:‘Globally, economic activity has disappointed in the first half of 2014 especially in the US, Europe and China, but equities have moved higher over the second quarter. Economists remain confident that economic growth will improve in the second half and into 2015, led by US and largely driven by improvements in employment and investment. The risks are China’s credit-driven imbalances, deflation in Europe and the impact of geopolitics on the oil price’. With reference to the UK in particular our analysts commented:‘In the second quarter, the UK equity market was supported by takeover speculation, especially in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, with both Astrazeneca and Shire receiving takeover bids. Most of this activity has been focused on blue-chips which have significantly outperformed mid-caps in the second quarter. Corporate optimism is reflected in business surveys and GDP is growing above 3%, well ahead of other G7 countries. Hence, members of the Monetary Policy Committee are beginning to hint at a gradual and limited rise in interest rates and investors should be prepared for a possible first interest rate increase in November. It is believed that the medium-term neutral interest rate could be between 2.5% and 3.5%, not the long term average of 5%. Apart from possible increases in financing costs, other headwinds to contend with are higher oil prices and the appreciation in the value of the Pound. Nonetheless, with the strongest G7 economic growth rate, we stay overweight in UK equities. The FTSE 100 Index is on a 2014 PE (Price Earnings) ratio of 14.3’. The Halifax House Prices Index showed that house prices fell by 0.6% in June, but were still up by 2.3% in the three months to the end of June and by 8.8% over the year, with the average house price in the UK now standing at £183,462. Stephen Noakes, Halifax Mortgages Director commented:‘Housing demand continues to be supported by an economic recovery that is gathering pace, with employment levels growing and rising consumer confidence, although real earnings growth remains sluggish’. The stockmarket is generally quieter in the summer months, as holidays take preference over finances. However, once September comes and the schools go back, we usually find that we all re-focus on everyday life and the stockmarket becomes more active again. Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is a stockbroker with Charles Stanley stockbrokers, Dorchester office – (01305) 251155 – kate.spurling@charlesstanley.co.uk Charles Stanley & Co Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

MARGINAL TAX RATES

What rate of tax would you pay on an additional £1 of earnings? If your annual income is between £41,865 and £150,000 you may think the tax rate would be 40%, but the peculiarities of the UK tax system mean you could pay much more. To start with earned income above the 40% threshold carries a national insurance charge (NICs) of 2% so for every £1 you earn above £41,865 (for 2014/15) you will pay 42% in tax and NICs. Child benefit is withdrawn from the highest earner in the family at the rate of 1% of the benefit for each £100 of income exceeding £50,000 per year. This translates into an effective marginal tax rate of 60% on income between £50,000 and £60,000. When your income exceeds £100,000 your personal allowance is withdrawn at the rate of £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. This is an effective tax rate of 62% including NICs. From 6 April 2015 married couples will be able to transfer up to 10% of their personal allowance between them. This will allow up to £1,050 of the allowance to be transferred from the person who earns less than £10,500, to their spouse who earns up to the 40% threshold. Thus £1 of additional income that takes you over the 40% threshold will mean you lose the whole of that transferable allowance - an infinite marginal tax rate. If you are able to control the level of your taxable income, perhaps because you run your own business, it makes sense to adjust your income to avoid those high marginal tax rates. Perhaps you could employ other members of your family, or take them into business with you as partners, to spread the business income. Payments of pension contributions and Gift Aid donations can stretch your 40% threshold, so the higher earner in the family should making those charitable donations and pay pension contributions. We can help you plan to avoid the highest tax rates and make the best use of all allowances available.

Over 65? For a limited period, we are offering a FREE consultation, including Tax Return preparation. Just ask us!

The Purbeck Gazette

Trading Standards Burning Cows and Rabid Dogs ne area of trading standards work that many people don’t realise we’re involved with is animal health and welfare. This is to prevent the spread of certain diseases such as foot and mouth and ensure that welfare standards for farmed animals are adhered to (the RSPCA look after domestic animals). A few years ago my then boss decided it would be a good ‘career development opportunity’ to move me into the animal health team having spent most of my career dealing with counterfeit clothing. I had to quickly learn a whole new language such as ‘hogget’ (a sheep over a year old) and ‘stirk’ (a one year old heifer or bullock). Within the first two weeks of joining the team I received a telephone call from Defra to say they had taken samples from a dead cow that may have anthrax. They then dropped the bombshell that it was my problem to dispose of the carcass by burning it in situ. A number of frantic phone calls later and our well prepared emergency plans were set in motion and I found myself as part of a team on a hill side with a digger, a ton of coal, a pile of railway sleepers and a dead cow. It was the middle of January and I had to stay in the field all night to keep the fire burning. I will never forget cracking the frost off a bag of coal at 2 o’clock in the morning wondering how this was developing my career. Thankfully the results came back negative. Another disease that we are responsible for policing is rabies. There are strict importation controls for animals coming into the UK but unfortunately over the last couple of years we have had quite a few cases of pedigree puppies being smuggled into the Country. In all cases it is the innocent new owner of a puppy that is then told the dog will have to go into quarantine at their expense. Please be very careful if you are thinking of buying a pedigree puppy. If the price seems too good to be true it could cost you a lot in the long run! For advice or to report an issue contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 040506. If you’re a business looking for animal health or welfare advice call us on 01305 224475.

Avoid Rental Hell!

The Purbeck Gazette

We’ve been receiving serious complaints from landlords and tenants over the past eighteen months, so if you rent a property, or are a local landlord, then read on.....

ental properties are big business. There are overwhelming numbers of people needing to rent a property due to increasing house prices, which make purchasing property impossible for many, particularly our working population here in Purbeck, on an average wage of around £13,000pa. In Purbeck, we have a range of estate and letting agents, many members of official bodies who regulate the industry, providing some comfort to those dealing with agents, either as landlords or as tenants. Although joining a professional body may be expensive for the agency themselves (and is not obligatory), it can give clients peace of mind that a code of conduct will be adhered to. In addition to our local lettings agents, we have a bevy of private landlords, who are also legally required to stick to the law when it comes to renting. Over the past eighteen months, we’ve had several complaints from both tenants and landlords with regards to both letting agents and private landlords. From misappropriation of funds to a failure to utilise the nowlegal Deposit Scheme, some of the complaints would make your toes curl. It seems that many private landlords are still not utilising the Deposit Scheme - a legal requirement and NOT an option. Check before you rent and if your landlord doesn’t follow the law, don’t take the property - you’re likely to run into problems further down the road. We’ve heard from one tenant recently who notified their landlord that there was a significant mould problem in the property. The landlord

ignored the information and failed to act, so the tenant was forced to call the council for help. The result? The landlord gave the tenant notice to quit, and so a family lost their home as a result of trying to get a serious problem with the property sorted - which was in the landlord’s interests, as well as the tenant’s. It is currently alleged that one local letting agent seems to have a reccurring inability to pass the rent paid by tenants on to the landlord - figures reported as ‘missing’ go into the thousands, much of it from tax-funded housing benefit payments. No small matter if you have a buy-to-let property and require the rent payment to cover a mortgage. The tenants in question stand to lose their homes as although they’ve paid their rents, if the landlord does not receive the payment, it’s the same as not paying. We called Purbeck District Council about this specific issue after speaking to a local tenant, in danger of losing his home due to the failure of the letting agent to pass the monthly rent onto the landlord. We asked what can be done about it, and who our readers can contact should they find themselves in the same boat. We have also spoken to one of the landlords attempting to investigate precisely what happened to the rent payments that the tenant made to the agent - his experience is in his own words, below. As some of the current complaints seem to be with regards to housing benefit payments, it is in the public interest to ensure that funds provided to cover rent charges are actually paid to the landlord in question, and are not misappropriated by agents acting illegally, and possibly even criminally.

Housing Benefit Fraud, by landlord, Piers Gladhill ’m paying for it. You are paying for it. Council Tax payers are all paying for it. The important safety net that is Housing Benefit, a necessary ingredient in Britain today, is being abused. Let’s not talk of scroungers - this benefit is a basic provision, a sticking-plaster to cover social ills, a bare minimum to survive. I can remember when the first cardboard cities appeared, tents in parks, and cartons in shop doorways: young and old in makeshift shelters. This story concerns two Swanage letting agencies whose services were at best inefficient and at the worst dishonest. Having bought a one bedroomed flat in Swanage, we employed letting agents and word of mouth to provide tenants. We’ve had tenants with children, tenants with dogs, tenants with motorbikes in the garden or surfboards in the bedroom. There have been the houseproud, the gardeners, the small scale DIYers. We weren’t exactly friends, but often got on well. Thank you Mrs. X for a garden full of flowers and Mrs. Y who enjoyed a chat when I brought round a miniature of gin. I don’t feel it was an exploitative relationship: we provided secure, warm and practical accommodation in exchange for the rent, and benefit claimants were welcome. The last tenant provided by the first agency was a catastrophe. The regular inspections and supervision outlined in the contract were not respected, which lead to damage and degradation. A handbasin cracked. Walls scribbled on. Filthy kitchen and carpets. Rent not paid.

We were advised by the agent to go to the Small Claims Court. We won the case but the agent would not tell us the new address of the ex-tenant (a friend of the agent). Data protection legislation has ensured that a personal address, even in a successful claim like ours, cannot be revealed. We never received that back rent. The second agent later created a different problem, when no rent arrived for several months. Questioning revealed that Purbeck District Council had indeed been paying the rent. The tenant, backed up by his bank paying-in slips, had indeed been paying the rent to the agent. And there the trail stopped. Emails, letters, even personal visits to the agent led to empty promises : ‘The money will be with you within a week’; ‘we’ve been ill’ ; ‘there are delays at the Council’. We never received that rent either. So, what is to be done to protect the needy tenants, the decent landlords or the Council (without creating more paperwork)? There are national organisations such as ARLA (Association of Rental Letting Agents), but only if the agent is registered. There is the CAB (Citizen’s Advice Bureau), but they are already over-stretched. Perhaps a simple leaflet produced by the Council could outline the pitfalls of letting? Above all, take advice before signing any agreement.

The Landlord’s Story

The Council’s Advice

irstly, Purbeck District Council wishes to clarify that it does not have any preferred letting agents. When a claimant is entitled to Housing Benefit, the Council’s role is to help with the funding to provide accommodation for that person. The Council cannot specify which particular letting agent a prospective tenant should approach. Landlords who employ letting agents will have a contract which covers the duties and responsibilities of both parties. If a letting agent does not keep to those duties and responsibilities, it will be a contractual matter between the parties and should be dealt with as such. For further advice in this matter, the Council suggests that a landlord should contact Trading Standards business advice line on 01305 224702 or 01202 224702. A landlord can terminate their contract with the letting agent (observing

any contractual responsibilities) and approach the Council for future housing benefit payments to be made to them direct. Customers who need advice on their housing situation can contact the Council’s Housing Needs Team for advice on 01929 557370. Customers who wish to make any changes to their Housing Benefit claim, including who the payments are sent to, can contact the Council’s Benefits Team on 01929 557240. If a housing benefit recipient would prefer the Benefits Team to discuss their claim directly with their landlord, they must firstly give the Council their permission to do so. Once again, please telephone 01929 557240 to discuss this further.

If you’re affected by any of the issues on this page, PLEASE call the relevant authority or others will suffer the same problems. If there is a problem with an agent acting inappropriately, or if you suspect rental payments have gone astray, call TRADING STANDARDS on 01305 224702 and report it TODAY - ‘vanishing’ money is THEFT!

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL WORKERS Priced Out Of Housing Market Want to buy a house in the country? The average worker will need a 150% pay rise Priced out of Rural England - PORE people pushed out of countryside eople living and working in the countryside are being pushed out, as house prices in rural areas soar, second homes lie empty and populations become older and more vulnerable. Figures released by the National Housing Federation to mark Rural Housing Week show rural areas have become some of the least affordable places to live in the country. On average house prices in rural areas are 11 times the average salary, meaning potential homebuyers working in these areas would need to see wages rise by a staggering 150% to afford a home. Around half (44%) of the 50 most unaffordable places to live in England outside of London are in rural areas. House prices in these areas are between 13 and 20 times the average salary. Dubbed as POREs (Priced out of Rural England), workers in rural areas have actually seen wages rise at a slower rate than the rest of England in the last decade, by 21% compared to 24% in the rest of the country. Adding to housing woes in rural locations, a shortage of the right kind of properties is pushing up prices. Increasingly, families are feeling forced out of their local areas as more buyers seek second homes in desirable countryside areas which are often left empty outside the tourist season putting pressure on local economies. In some areas like South Hams in Devon, as many as one in ten properties is a second home. Of the 25 local authorities with the highest proportion of second homes, nearly two thirds are rural. Whilst the unaffordability crisis in rural areas is forcing young workers and families out, the number of over 65s has risen 2.5 times faster (by 20%) than in towns and cities. Recent figures project that by 2020 around 65% of over 65s (an increase of 24%) in many rural areas will need help with simple domestic tasks like shopping, washing dishes and opening screw tops. The National Housing Federation is warning that rural areas will struggle to support the ageing population boom unless more affordable homes are built ensuring families and working people can keep communities alive. David Orr, National Housing Federation chief executive, said: “The traditional picture of the English countryside is fast becoming extinct. We know how difficult many under 40s are finding it to afford a home in towns and cities, but it’s becoming impossible for people to put down roots in our villages and market towns. “The unaffordability crisis in rural areas is putting local shops pubs and schools at risk of closure and ageing populations are putting pressure on communities. “These worsening problems would be solved if more affordable homes were built. We are not talking about concreting over the countryside. It’s not ruining the countryside to build 10 high quality, affordable new homes in our villages and 50 in market towns. That’s all it would take across the land to end the rural housing crisis and help to solve the country’s housing crisis within a generation.”

Quality Signs Traditional and Modern methods and styles.

01929 481215 kevin_vicars@outlook.com

The Purbeck Gazette

The Best Of British! by David Hollister

f you’re a fan of great British car marques, if the names ‘Austin Healey’, ‘Bristol’, and ‘MG’ bring a frisson of fond nostalgia to your mind, then best look away now. I am told that Simon Goldsack has a great gardening column on page 56. For many years I have associated the name ‘MG’ with the final foundering of the UK motor industry. Unreliable noisy leaking rust-buckets with useless brakes and – apart from the astonishingly fast MGB-GT-V8 – cars which promised much and delivered little. So it was with some trepidation and not a little scepticism that I accepted a challenge from my friend Tim Pyne from Wool & Bovington Motors to spend a weekend with ….. an MG3! I knew that they were back in this country, that they were mostly built in China but styled, designed and assembled in Longbridge so I guess that makes it British. I was prepared to – no, I really wanted to – dislike it. Remember, I’m into Toyotas, Nissans and Mazdas …… My only disappointment was that actually, I really didn’t dislike it. Not at all. In fact, quite the contrary. It was so good that it hurt. The MG3 Style is basically a five-door hatchback with a 1.5 litre engine, clean lines, and a really sporty look. It comes with a (claimed) million permutations of ten colours, graphic packs, and all sorts of personalisation options. This one was white (my favourite colour at present) and covered with all sorts of MG decals which I assume were put on by Wool & Bovington Motors but which – were I to buy one – I would happily leave on! They said ‘here I am, I’m not just another bland hatchback’. I watched heads turn as we drove by. People stopped me in the car park and commented on it. We decided to take our ‘classic British sports car’ on a trip of classic British National Trust properties in North Devon, made all the more pleasant by a couple of sunny days and the fact that as members we don’t have to pay to get into any of them. Even the Holiday Inn was pleasant, no unnecessary frills, perfectly functional, and “did what it said on the tin” – just like the MG3. Other reviewers have criticised the 1.5 engine. For my part, I like it. Quiet, frugal, and easy to drive. That’s if you want it to be. Or alternatively ……... the clue is on the rev counter which goes all the way up to 7000 before the red line starts, and up to over 8000 if you’re brave enough. And using the revs combined with a fast and easy gearbox gives you a really nippy little car which will produce 0-60 in a tad over ten seconds, and a maximum speed of over 100 mph if you’re feeling silly. The emissions aren’t as low as some other similar cars, but £130 road tax is a small price to pay for such fun. And I managed 39.8 mpg against a claimed combined cycle of 48.7, that’s 82% which in my book is pretty good. It’s in insurance group 4e which wont break the bank. The suspension is somewhat stiff compared to my Mazda2; Tina could feel most of the bumps in the road, but strangely as we drove into Somerset and Devon, the bumps disappeared. Probably a coincidence…… But the sports suspension really helps the handling round fast corners, and honestly it’s a pleasure to drive. Most definitely not boring. This is the top-spec model, which comes with blue-tooth, ipod connection, DAB radio, aircon, electric windows all round, steering wheel audio control and – my favourite – cruise control. I was let down by the absence of detailed instructions for the DAB radio but no doubt it’s easy enough to get used to if you have it longer than two days or a teenager in the family! It has 16-inch alloys and a neat little spoiler, which make it look really smart. The driving position is fine; the seat has a huge amount of height adjustment, ideal for a vertically challenged driver like me. The dials are striking, and well laid out. The trip computer gives you all the information you could need at the touch of a stalk-mounted button. There are automatic lights,

automatic wipers, and indeed automatic door locks which lock you in as you drive away at 5 mph. A feature which perhaps might take a while to get used to but which I’m sure can be turned off in the software. Reversing bleepers are (fortunately) standard. Didn’t reverse into anything all weekend. For a change. This MG3 Style was at the top of a range of three models, with its only ‘extras’ some part-leather trim. The range starts at £8399. And at the top of the range, for this car – you still get a pound change from ten grand. Astonishing. Absolutely astonishing how so much equipment, such great style, and so much fun can be had for £9999. No, it hasn’t got a built in sat-nav but what do you want for ten grand? If you’re in the market for a five-door hatchback and you want some fun, to stand out from the crowd, and be different – then this is the car for you. And yes. It has a ‘squirty kit’ rather than a spare wheel but I guess if you talked to Tim nicely……… This car’s never going to be a ‘classic’ like the MGB; you won’t hear it spoken of in hushed tones in forty years time. But it will start when you ask it to, its brakes work, it’s a damned sight safer, and you wont have to lie under it every weekend to fix it. In your book – maybe sacrilege to attach an MG badge. In my book – it’s brilliant. Nostalgia is for people who strive to recreate as reality the dreams which belong as dreams. Wake up - this is 2014. I said earlier that ‘it was so good that it hurt’. That’s simply because when my beloved Corsa SRI moved on, I couldn’t find anything with enough pzazz to take its place and the nearest equivalent – my Mazda2 – was over three grand more. It’s a nice little car, easy to drive, reliable, frugal, etc, and I’m really pleased with it but …… if I’d seen and driven an MG3 back in November last year, then right now I’d have three grand in my pocket and a great big smile on my face.

Wanted Cash Buyer Seeks Motor Vehicles. £100 - £10,000 prompt collection & settlement. Mature polite buyer. No pressure or obligation. Often better than part exchange offer. DVLA paperwork completed. Classic & left hand drive motors especially wanted. Best prices paid.

07967 245172 www.blue-moon-cars.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

About Face Greets New Peugeot Bipper Van

ocal charity, About Face, has taken delivery of a Peugeot Bipper van, courtesy of the Westover Group. The van will be used at events - like the Swanage Regatta and Carnival (26 July to 2 August) - to raise awareness of the support the charity offers, as well as to transport team members on support visits. It was presented to the charity’s management team – which is made up of local volunteers - by Peter Wood, Westover Group joint managing director and trustee of About Face, at a recent meeting. “The Bipper van will be a huge asset to About Face,” says Ian Catley, the charity’s chief executive. “Vehicles are an expensive and testing outlay for charities, especially at a time when fundraising is so challenging. Voluntary organisations are slowly recovering from the impact of the recession but we’re well aware that finances remain tight in most households. Westover’s donation has therefore not only saved us a significant sum but also a great deal of hard work! The Bipper will also allow us to cut costs on an ongoing basis, thanks to its fuel efficient engine and low maintenance bills. I know the team here wishes to pass on their thanks to everyone at Westover Group.” About Face offers support, help and friendship - as well as the use of its volunteers’ experience - to people currently experiencing, or having

experienced, facial cancer, including skin and oral cancers. The charity supports people from across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and East Devon, offering one-to-one and group support. The About Face Centre (opposite Poole Hospital in Dorset) runs a ‘dropin’ session on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as a monthly support group. For more details regarding About Face, please call 01202 677340 or visit www.localgiving.com/aboutface.

The Purbeck Gazette

Food

The Gourmet Peddler

Bum Sandwich

“Life’s a shit sandwich... the more dough you have the easier it is to swallow” Bob Dylan. nd so here we are once again, with a deadline, and the additional issues of the end of my thumb not being present. I survived a great weekend of Motorhead and Black Sabbath at Hyde Park, swiftly followed the next day by a notoriously dangerous bike race down a mountain on a 1930s post office bike, which is far more dangerous than you can ever imagine. I survived it all, but in the race I won a bottle of alleged wine “Chateau Brown, Carrot Wine, produce of Northampton”. I also happened to come across a weird sputnik of a vegetable called a “Kohlrabi” a sort of German turnip cabbage thing. What could go wrong, they are only mere vegetables. The bottle of wine was shared between three people, hardly an Oliver Reed session, but we were instantly behaving like 15 year olds on cheap booze. It was crazy strong. Tasted like sherry, veg and wee. But having said that, after half a glass you couldn’t taste it. Later that evening I started working on my sputnik turnip, making a beef tagine. However the charity shop tagine dish didn’t like the heat and exploded, at exactly the same moment I was making the first incision into sputnik. And the first incision was straight through the end of my thumb, which is now missing and assumed to be amongst the now bloody ingredients. So after being attacked on all side by vegetables, plus the problems caused by having missing body parts... this week’s recipe is a real bummer. It’s Bum Sandwich. What we do here is simply take nice bread, great ingredients that you like, whatever you like. Aromatic ingredients like basil really work well as it all infuses together. I used: Parma ham Buffalo mozzarella Fresh basil Tomatoes Butter And some pumpkin seed bread I made at home. How to cook... Make the sandwich, wrap in several layers of Clingfilm. Sit on it for about 45 minutes to an hour. Yep, you sit on it. The ambient body temperature, combined with the pressure causes a lovely infusion and a delightful sandwich. Apparently pregnant ladies are best (if you can find one) as they have a higher ambient body temperature. I reckon Captain our 40kg basset hound would be ideal, but I’m sure he will eat the sandwich before its ready. Next month. I really don’t know. But in late August I am cycling across

The Bikemonger Cooks....

the interior of Iceland, a proper mountain expedition. The puffin is not only their national bird, it’s also the national dish. On another note…. Not great in food, but needs a mention. In Swanage we have a sewage works that from time to time will flush untreated sewage into the sea near Swanage. In severe cases there are other outfalls directly onto the beach. This tends to happen during floods and storms. However we are fortunate enough that “Surfers Against Sewage”, an organisation that protects water quality for all water uses (not just surfers) have set up a text alert service, with the help and cooperation of Wessex Water. So you can now get a real time text when the poo starts to flow. Playing in sewage can cause: stomach upsets, ear infections, skin infections, sore throat, chest infections, eye infections, hepatitis, and even E Coli. Use this link or google “SAS text alert”... http://www.sas.org.uk/sewagealert-service/ and get signed up if you are a swimmer, or even if you just take your kids to the beach. I’ve been signed up for several years, and have received nine warning so far this year. So I can now make informed decision about when to swim or surf in Swanage. I understand that warning beach visitors when sewage is being discharged will become a condition of having a blue flag beach. Some people think this will make Swanage look bad. But it reminds me of the mayor in the film “Jaws” who didn’t want to close the beaches as it would make the town look bad.... and we all know what happened next.

Purbeck Products PURBECK PRODUCE

The Purbeck Gazette

By Hester Viney

he cheese stall at the market in Chamonix is colossal. I’m here mostly because they’ve got samples and I’m a bit hungry, but when I see the huge wheel of local Tomme de Savoie, I’m compelled to ask for une tranche. Anyway, they notice if you eat all the samples; it’s not polite. As I wait for the ruddy cheeked, be-hatted stall owner to serve me, I notice the list of lovely places represented in his display. Cheeses like Roquefort - a region in southern France, famous for its caves, lush valleys and limestone plateaus; Beaufort - another tasty Savoie product of which the variety marked ‘d’alpage’ is made in chalets in this part of the alps; and there’s Valençay - named after the town in the historic region of Berry where it comes from. Like their origins, each cheese has its own character and is proudly associated with a place in this country obsessed with fromage (there are around 400 varieties). So how can we compete in Purbeck? Well, our market can’t boast of an enormous cheese stall, though I’m a big fan of the Windswept Cow creations from Marian Field in Worth Matravers. But we’re rich in other ways. Locally reared meat from Kath (lamb) and Phil (pork) represent beautiful Langton, Acton and Church Knowle. Locally sourced ingredients including what they forage or create themselves goes into all the tasty products from the Farm Cottage Kitchen and Jurassic Cottage Foods. Fruit and vegetables don’t get fresher than those from glorious Godlingston Manor Gardens and the hand of Regula Wright. If you’re in the market for game, Ashley Barnes plucks the best of what

FARMERS’ MARKET

COMMERCIAL ROAD, SWANAGE

on Saturday 9th August & Saturday 23rd August Including:

Cup Cakes by Sarah! LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS

www.purbeckproducts.co.uk roams Arne and Corfe for Purbeck Wild Meats and brings rabbit, pigeon, pheasant and venison to market. Our producers only represent a little corner of our country, but we Purbeck folk can be as proud as the French of what they bring to the table. Support our local businesses and pay the Purbeck Products markets a visit this month, we’re on Commercial Road on Saturday 9th August and at Putlake Farm in Langton on the bank holiday weekend - Saturday 23rd August.

Swanage Bay Fish Come and see our Daily Manager’s Specials! We source our fresh fish and shellfish direct from local fishermen out of Swanage Bay. Dover Sole, Skate, Bream, Red & Grey Mullet, Bass, Pollack & Huss, Line-Caught Mackerel. Shellfish, lobster & crab also available. Senior citizen 15% discount on Tuesdays.

48 High Street, Swanage. Tel: 422288

e would like to say a big thankyou to all who contributed, helped and particularly those who participated in Swanage Bay Fish’s Crabby Event, held on June 21st, It was a great success and we raised £450 for the Fisherman’s Mission, a national charity. We had great fun tasting some lovely dishes cooked up for us by Jane Ford and Karla Daniels and then everyone enjoyed dressing crabs with Terry and Julia. We all look forward to future events! Pictured - Karla Daniels and Jane Ford

The Purbeck Gazette

Ethical Heroes!!

Local organic business is national ethical hero Riverford wins at the Observer Ethical Awards eople in the Dorset area will be feeling good as they eat well this week, thanks to Gareth and Gill Rossiter, their local Riverford delivery team. The network of organic farms famed for its flavourful vegboxes has recently been named Best Retailer at the Observer Ethical Awards 2014, and with good reason, as Gareth explains. “We pride ourselves on being a fair-thinking business that makes considered decisions about how to do business with minimum impact on the environment and wider community. Our policies include supporting small-scale British farmers and producers as much as possible, and never air-freighting produce from overseas. We believe that good food should be available to everyone, and we’re delighted to have won such a prestigious award that shows you can do well in business without being unethical.” This is the fifth time that Riverford has won this award, which was hosted by Observer columnist and BBC One Show presenter Lucy Siegle in London on Wednesday 11th June.

The Purbeck Gazette

Infrastrata - Statement On Gas Rig W

ork will start this winter preparing the site at California Quarry near Swanage ready for the drilling of an oil and gas exploration well (pictured). The project is being carried out by InfraStrata plc and will only use conventional drilling methods. It will not involve hydraulic fracturing (fracking), either now or in the future. InfraStrata’s chief executive, Dr Andrew Hindle, said: ‘We have now discharged all the pre-start planning conditions required by Dorset County Council and are preparing to start on the site this winter. Before this, we plan to run a short seismic programme to further image the geology under the wellpath and finalise the design of the well.’ The planning consent restricts site construction and drilling activity to between September and March. ‘Before we start on site this winter, we are going to hold another public information event to ensure that everyone living locally and further afield is fully informed of our plans,’ Dr Hindle added. ‘We want people to know that we are only using conventional drilling methods to target Jurassic and Triassic sandstones and limestones to reach reservoirs which have been in production elsewhere in Dorset using these same methods for many decades.’ The three-acre site for the exploratory well lies within California Quarry,

Flower Festival

ady St Mary Flower Festival will be held from 7th to 11th August, with the theme this year of WW1. A preview on Wednesday 6th August at 7-45pm will be by ticket only, available from the Parish Office at £6 including refreshments. The Festival will depict people who have achieved memorable acts and sacrifices throughout the four year period. There will be an exhibition in the Parish Hall, along with refreshments, during the time of 10am – 5pm. A concert on Saturday 9th at 7pm including music and poetry of the WW1. On Sunday there will be our annual Songs of Praise at 6pm. Further information can be obtained from the Parish Office 01929 550905 or from Pat and Clive Cherrett 552087.

southwest of Swanage in Dorset. It is on a previously quarried area of a working quarry and has been chosen carefully to minimise the impact on neighbours. It is screened by mature trees to the north and not overlooked by residential properties on the other three sides. The project includes the construction of an enclosed well site compound within the three-acre site comprising a flat stone surface, soil screening, containment bunds and a security fence. Using conventional directional drilling, the well will reach a depth of approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) below the sea to the south of the site. There are three phases to the drilling process. Construction of the wellsite - expected to take up to eight weeks. Likely to be undertaken winter (2014/15). The assembly and installation of drilling equipment and facilities and drilling of the exploratory well - expected to take up to eight weeks and likely to be undertaken in late winter (2014/15) or early next winter (2015/16). Should oil or gas be encountered, the drilling rig would be demobilised and InfraStrata would undertake a long-term test with the well to establish whether it could produce oil or gas commercially using conventional methods. Any subsequent development of the site would require planning permission. If no commercial oil or gas are encountered, then the well will be plugged and abandoned and the wellsite restored to its original state. Speaking about the potential benefits of the project, Dr Hindle said: ‘If oil or gas were encountered and later successfully developed in Purbeck - following the relevant approvals - it would have a positive longer term impact on local and national industry, with local job creation and other economic benefits. In the short term, although drilling operations require specialised personnel, some support services contracts will be sourced locally. Nearby hotels, guesthouses and shops will benefit from the drilling rig and associated services personnel.’

Creech Country Day

he Parish of Wareham are pleased to announce that, by kind invitation of Mr Norman Hayward, Creech Grange will be open to the public on Sunday 17th August. The day will start with a short open air service at 11am followed by the grounds and attractions open at 11.30am. Please come and join us for this once a year special day. Enjoy a walk in the grounds to the beautiful little chapel of St John where there will be musical renderings throughout the day. Enjoy a cream tea on the lawn or other refreshments, visit the Morgan Vintage car display and watch the Harleys arrive. There will be numerous stalls, donkey rides, alpacas and tractor rides. At 4.00pm there will be a sung evensong in the chapel. This special day enables the parish of Wareham to raise money for the work of the church over the next year and we are grateful to Norman Hayward for giving us this opportunity.

The Purbeck Gazette

Clear Water - by John Garner

ith the seas warming up, now is the time to get in the sea and experience all the benefits it has to offer. Currently reported sea temperatures are around 16 degrees which is pretty warm even for someone like me who isn’t very robust when it comes to cold water. Having spent quite a bit of time in the water over the past three months or so here, are some of my observations. There are pockets of warmth as you swim through the sea. I’d always assumed that this was as a result of having swum through something sinister and not entirely original to the sea, but I may be wrong. Pockets of warm water increase through the summer and join up and the more they join up the lesser the cold spots, or so I am lead to believe. I still haven’t quite found the reason for the warm spots, but tend to keep my mouth shut when I swim through them. Actually, as a rule of thumb, I’ve discovered that keeping your mouth shut underwater isn’t the worst idea ever, but they don’t always tell you this in those free online training videos. So far I’ve been swimming all over the coast, but my favoured area is Swanage. The fact the Swanage sounds a bit like sewage hasn’t phased me one jot. Incidentally, when Swanage was originally named, sewage was offered as an alternate title for the town and trailed, but during this economically dark period in the town’s history, summer takings were significantly lower than expected and the entire tourist board of the time were sacked and replaced in the Victorian era by a much more business savvy team who stuck by Swanage for the town name and the rest is, as they say, not very accurate history. A bright move. Ask yourself. Would you relish a swim in Sewage? Would you book a holiday in a hotel overlooking Sewage Bay? Would you sink your molars into an unedifying stick of Sewage rock? Try the famous Sewage battered cod and chips? I put it to you that you would not. They knew a thing or two, those Victorians. And factor in also that Swanage is a very beautiful place however you look at it, especially from the sea, and you’ll understand why the name change was a non-starter from the outset. I often swim up to the Mowlem theatre and back from roughly the middle of the beach. Mowlem was a visionary builder during Victorian times as you can see from his theatre, which looks remarkably like something coughed up in the 1960s, showing just how far ahead of his time he was in architectural terms (ok, it was actually rebuilt during this period). It has started to look a little dated now, but there should be no question of replacing it with something more in keeping with the town. Besides it will serve to make the windmills look good. Bugger. I promised myself I wouldn’t mention them again. As you chug along in the water it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for buoys, boats and other craft as a swimming cap is scant protection should your noggin come into contact with any of these at speed (clearly the speed would have to be provided by the object and not by the swimmer in this case. Me hitting an object whilst swimming would create as much cranial

damage as vigorously head-butting a partially inflated balloon). A rapidly approaching Jet Ski is an excellent tool for concentrating your mind. Wear a bright hat would be the best advice I can give and then hopefully the jet skiers will see you shortly before they run you over, which means they might just stop and call the emergency services for you as a courtesy. Seaweed is crafty. A clear vista can suddenly be tainted by the browns and greens of floating seaweed. When attached to the bottom it is an excellent indicator of the direction the current is flowing in. When on the surface it can be quite alarming the first time your hand plunges into its claggy midst. It is almost impossible to shrug off once attached, so best avoided in the first place if you can. All varieties of seaweed are supposed to be edible, but you rarely see them on any menus outside of numerously starred Norwegian eateries. Jellyfish I have yet to see, although a friend swam in Weymouth last week and said there were jellyfish of epic proportions wallowing about in the deeper oceans off shore. I’ll be honest. I’m not the biggest fan of jellyfish. It’s an all too innocent sounding name that in reality generally equates to something very unpleasant. Dark shadows appear from time to time. A dark shadow can be something as benign as a cloud passing in front of the sun. Or a dark rock on the bottom of the sea. Or a patch of seaweed. Or a rabid all-consuming predator hunting you down with the single minded determination and hit rate of Uruguayan centre forward in search of a vulnerable defender to gnaw on. The chances of an all-consuming predator patrolling Swanage Bay remain relatively slim, but there’s nothing like a long swim in the hot sun and a fertile imagination to have you creating scenarios that don’t exist. At the point when this starts to occur, or ideally just before, it’s probably time you called it a day and got out. You’ll have had a blinding time anyway and you won’t be so spooked that you’ll not want to do it again. Fish. I’ve seen the odd one but as they’re infinitely better adapted to life under the waves I assume they are away and out of site a long time before I ponderously get anywhere near them. Jacques Cousteau I am not. I might take a snorkel with me one day and just hang around on the surface face down waiting to see what hoves into view. Should anything appear it’ll probably be the last thing I notice before the inevitable jet ski places a divot in my head. Dangers aside, I encourage you all to go swimming mostly for the sheer enjoyment of it all. To finish with and with a note of caution, I’ll leave you with the following scene. Myself and a number of my new swimming buddies were out the other evening for a couple of miles of serious swimming. The four of us in matching silicone swimming caps and expensive streamlined goggles, sleek smooth skin wetsuits torpedoing us through the water as we breathlessly attempted to shave a few precious seconds off our previous best times. The water was mirror flat and everything was perfect. We were unbeatable….Until. With about half a mile to go a swimmer in just a pair of speedos raced past us as if we weren’t there and stroked off into the distance at a rate of knots barely comprehendible. One minute he was alongside, the next merely an ever decreasing series of water disturbances disappearing into the distance. It was a sobering moment and one that reminded me of how little I’ve done and how much I have to learn in terms of sea swimming. And a reminder to make sure I enjoy the swims and don’t take them or, myself, too seriously. Or maybe I can convince myself it was just another dark shape moving in the water and it never really happened at all.

The Purbeck Gazette

Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

Penstemon for the perfect Summer.

ou may already be familiar with this beautiful family of plants but if not, let me introduce you. Penstemon are one of the most valuable of late summer-flowering perennials and are easy and reliable. Related to foxgloves, their exquisite tubular flowers start in July and with regular dead heading will continue up to the first frosts. They perform best in full sun or light shade in most reasonable garden soils. On clay they require little watering, but when you plant work some grit into the soil to aid winter drainage. On free draining sandy soils a heavy watering every 2 weeks in summer is enough to keep them thriving. Penstemons can become woody and leggy if they are not pruned annually, so trim them hard once the winter weather is over in late April or early May. In autumn, limit wind rock and tidy up borders by cutting back penstemon by about a third, being sure to leave enough foliage to provide winter protection. Holme will be running a special offer on Penstemon in August so look out for the following varieties Pocahontas (Top left) A New form with Lavender pink flowers, burgundy foliage and red stems. Hewells Pink (Top 2nd left) Quite a tall form but with masses of flower. The trumpets are pretty pale pink and slender. Garnet (Top 3rd left) An old and very reliable form with deeper pink flowers. Czar Laura (Top right) A very striking bicoloured form with large trumpets. Dark Towers (left, bottom) A recently introduced variety with purple foliage and pale lilac pink flowers. Tips for August Dead head regularly to keep new flowers coming. In hot weather, water shallow rooting plants such as bedding plants

and vegetables often. Newly planted deeper rooting plants such as trees and shrubs do better with a periodic drenching of the soil once per fortnight. Try not to water established trees and shrubs unless absolutely necessary. Keep feeding repeat fruiting plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers Visit other people’s gardens to get ideas for your own!

The Purbeck Gazette

Classical Music As part of the Purbeck Chamber Music Festival, we are delighted to be hosting a performance by acclaimed cellist Natalie Clein on the 30th August at 11am. Natalie will be performing in the intimate setting of the newly refurbished Learning Centre. Tickets are £10 and advance booking is essential (via www.purbeckchambermusic.org) as numbers are strictly limited. Contemporary Craft Sale If you enjoyed the contemporary craft exhibition in the Belvedere during Dorset Art Weeks, then you will be pleased to hear that metal-smiths Wendy Nutt and Caroline Parrott will be back in the Belvedere with a craft sale from Friday 22nd – Sun 24th August. Both makers will be on hand, with a range of work to suit every pocket, including jewellery, accessories, automata and ornamental pieces, mostly inspired by wildlife and the natural world. Purbeck Footprints If you want an excuse to get out and enjoy Durlston’s summer wildlife, while ‘developing’ your photography skills, then join Julian Sawyer from ‘Purbeck Footprints’ for a wildlife photography walk on the 3rd August at 2.30pm. £5 Booking required. Family Events Our programme of summer holiday family activities continues

this month, with free drop in days at the Learning Centre every Wednesday between 11.30 and 3pm. Use microscopes, look through moth traps or take part in art or craft activities. Every Thursday at 2.30pm, our ever popular programme of led activities continue, including mini-beast hunts, wildlife mysteries and games and activities. These cost £3 and booking is required. ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ RNLI Exhibition Our exhibition by the RNLI continues every day until the 25th August, so if you haven’t visited yet, do come and have a look. The exhibition explores how the lifeboats, boathouses and equipment have changed over the years, but the courage and commitment of the crews has remained as great as ever. It also includes the chance to see what the new Swanage Boathouse and ‘Shannon’ will look like. August Wildlife As the summer turns, the meadows are still bursting with life, with grasshoppers, bush crickets and insects of every description hopping, crawling and flying among the variety of flowers. A huge variety of butterflies are on the wing, while the first signs of autumn migration are appearing overhead. On the downs, Autumn Gentian is starting to appear, while the first Autumn Lady’s Tresses will be in bloom towards the end of the month.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue Mr Bojangles (right) needs a home! r Bojangles is a male two-year-old Labrador cross. He is a very intelligent boy and the commands he has learnt include; sit, down, leave, wait, paw and other paw and go find. He is very loyal and would quickly bond to a new owner. He has started doing basic obedience and agility and is at his happiest when learning something new. Mr Bojangles enjoys travelling in the car and long walks so he would love an active outdorsey home. He would prefer a home without children but would be able to live with a female dog. If you think you could rehome Mr Bojangles, please contact Lincoln Farm, Dorset on 01929 471340 or email lf@margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk. Binks (left) needs a home! Binks is a very handsome gentleman, who has just celebrated his 13th birthday! He came into our Church Knowle sanctuary recently as his owners had to move into a flat. Binks enjoys human company and will spend a lot of his time with you. He will also happily entertain himself outside too. Binks loves affection on his own terms but he would rather find a mature home as the only cat. Could you give Binks the best birthday present ever and give him a loving home in his twilight years? Please contact Church Knowle, Dorset on 01929 471340 or email ck@ margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk. Do come along to our Companion Dog Show and Family Fun Day on Sunday 3rd August between 11am and 4pm!

The Purbeck Gazette

Open Air Cinema

With Purbeck Film Festival and the National Trust Open Air Cinema - See Films on the Big Screen urbeck Film Festival and National Trust are again co-presenting a summer film season. ‘Stars on the Beach’ on Saturday 16 August features the fun-filled musical HAIRSPRAY (John Travolta as you have never seen him before) outside the Discovery Centre, Knoll Beach, Studland. If it rains the first 40 ticket holders will still be able to keep their bouffants immaculate under cover in the centre. The ticket includes a Fish and Chip supper (veggie option) in the cafe before the film and the world famous National Trust Cocktail Bar, ‘Bee Hive’, will be open! Tickets (£13 for Supper and Film and £6 Film Only) in advance from Knoll Beach Office 01929 450500 or on the gate. Free Parking after 7.00pm. For August Bank Holiday weekend ‘Stars under the Stars’ come to the grounds of historic Corfe Castle. On Friday 22nd we are screening CAPTAIN PHILLIPS - the Oscar nominated thriller starring Tom Hanks and based on a true story of hijacking at sea. Saturday 23rd has a complete change of mood with fun for all the family in THE LEGO MOVIE - ‘ordinary’ Lego mini-figure Emmet and friends try to save the Lego universe from the evil tyrant Lord Business. Our last screening on Sunday 24th features a an epic game of life and death, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, as Captain Kirk leads his crew in the hunt for a one-man weapon of mass destruction. Bar, hot and cold drinks and Purbeck ice creams will all be available. All the Corfe Castle films are weather permitting, so we are hoping that last

year’s wonderful weather can be repeated! Tickets are only sold on the gate on the night. Remember for all the films bring your own seating, blankets, a picnic for Corfe Castle and do wear warm clothing. Full details on our website: www.purbeckfilm.com

Miracle Theatre - The Tempest

he Miracle Theatre company paid their annual visit to the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers on 3rd July, bringing their production of The Tempest to an appreciative audience. Billed as ‘The Tempest - shaken and stirred’, this alternative outdoor telling took the basics of the story and retold it in ‘Miracle’ fashion. With a small, multi-functional stage operating as the island, a small but enthusiastic cast offered-up a delightful and highly-watchable performance. Having cut around 30% of the original text, and revised the cast list as a result, this Tempest was an updated version, adapted as Shakespeare himself might have, for a more modern audience. Nothing was lost of the original story, and the Miracle version certainly went down well with the audience. Catherine Lake gave an outstanding performance as Ariel (top right), with Hannah Stephens providing plenty of comedy and laugh-out-loud moments in her role as Miranda (left). Prospero was played by Simon Norbury, who gave a solid performance (also left). Lisa Howard, playing Caliban (right), gave a wonderful, earthy and comic rendition of the ‘monster’, connecting well with the audience. Costumes were great, adding to the overall atmosphere. Directed by Bill Scott, this was an entertaining and well-told tale. If you missed it, catch the next showing at Kimmeridge Village Hall on August 3rd at 6.45pm.

The Purbeck Gazette

Dance, Dance!

or the last three summer terms children at St Mary’s School in Swanage have been really lucky, not only to learn country dancing with a live band, but also to have such a wealth of folk music knowledge and expertise amongst some very special members of the band and callers. Rollo Woods (3rd from left) has been playing his concertina since 1948 and is highly regarded in the folk world. He was introduced to folk music in 1936 and is the 4th generation folkie in his family. Not only was he a Morris and Sword dancer for seventy one years he now gives his time playing and writing music for country dancing. Likewise Mike and Frances Walshaw (2nd and 3rd from right) who have been country dancing for over 40 years together, and calling ceilidhs (or Barn Dances) in that time for all ages as well as the local Folk Dance Club, say they are delighted to be able to introduce children to this form of traditional English social dance, which goes back 100 years or more. All the band members are volunteers and are so pleased that children want to take part in the country dancing club. The children have really taken to the dances and love to perform them either just at the club or at the school fete. They even appeared for a star turn at the URC Garden Party to entertain the guests in July. Anyone who has ever been to a ceilidh will know how enjoyable they are as well as really satisfying when it all comes together - the live music being the cherry on the top! With St Mary’s new school opening this September it is hoped that children from all the local schools might be able to come and join us for some sessions in the new school hall so that more children can experience country dancing to a live band. Photograph: (back row L-R) Jonathan Wollen, Elizabeth Shore, Rollo Woods, Chris Cooper, Chris Pullen, Mike Walshaw, Frances Walshaw, Dinah Johnson (front) Children from Years 3 to 5)

The Purbeck Gazette

The Bishop Reviews

Literary expert and our in-house Book Reviewer, David Bishop, writes.... From Rags to Riches; The Life and Travels of Jeanne Tower by Marjorie Edwards have often wondered why the biography of a famous person should be more interesting than that of an ordinary person, when I have neither known nor met either of them. In theory, I suppose, fame should inspire by the example of achievement against all the odds, but increasingly it is merely the exploitation of a natural talent. Whatever the case, Marjorie’s delightful little book gave me the opportunity to ponder this and I am grateful. As a title, Rags to Riches probably challenges the boundaries of artistic licence in that Relative Discomfort to Relative Comfort might have been more accurate, but admittedly less eye-catching. However, it is a good read and I enjoyed Jeanne’s various exploits far more than those of some twopenny-halfpenny soap star. I hope Marjorie will carry on and find a local historical project to write up because her research is thorough and her presentation will be good once she has permanently disabled the exclamation mark key on her keyboard!!! Nothing betrays the novice like an overuse of exclamation marks, Marjorie, and I counted at least ten on every page!!! Use the words to create the impact and your writing will be much improved. Published by, and available from www.authorsonline. co.uk as a paperback for £6.99, or as an e-book.

My Tyneham Sketchbook by Billa Edwards his lovingly produced sketchbook of watercolours featuring principally the abandoned village of Tyneham, but also the Povington area, is the result of a unique opportunity created by Edwards in gaining, over the four-year period it took to create the book, the trust of the Range Wardens to the extent of being given her own key and the chance to experience Tyneham in total solitude, except for her faithful border terrier of course. Nothing exceptional, one suspects, for Edwards whose own biography would make a fascinating read on par with Rose Macaulay with a hint of Freya Stark. At 76 she still organises exclusive painting expeditions to the lesser-known areas of India. Her paintings are executed in a very individual style, with an interesting use of colour, and of particular interest are those depicting the buildings with the view from the Gardener’s Cottage at dusk being my favourite. It is presented in a soft binding by Hierographics with incidental photography by Jack Daniels. Available at various locations including Jill Blanchard’s ‘New & Secondhand Books’, the Blue Pool tearoom and Gallery 41 in Corfe. It retails at £19.99 which is very reasonable considering no expense has been spared in producing this lovely book.

Graffiti by Year 6!

n May 2014, Year 6 of St George’s Primary School in Langton Matravers were learning about graffiti and the effect it has on the local environment. “We wanted to see if graffiti could communicate a positive message”, said one Year 6 pupil. The class were given the opportunity to create some graffiti artwork to go on display at Swanage Youth Hostel. Youth Hostel Manger Garry Hayman asked us to present our artwork together with a text about the concept behind the design. Three pieces were chosen based on the positive message they conveyed and the presentation the children gave. This artwork can now be viewed by the public at YHA Swanage, 20 Cluny Crescent. Garry, who also established a contact with the Dogs Trust, selected one additional piece about the issue of dogs being abandoned, which is currently on show at the hostel but will eventually be displayed at a local dogs home. An external moderator commented that the work which stemmed from this project was the best independent writing the children had produced

this year. “Writing for a real purpose is fantastic and extremely motivating,” said Kathryn Sealy, Year 6’s teacher. Anita Cubitt, the head teacher of St Georges School, commented that ”we are delighted to have been involved in the graffiti art project with YHA Swanage and to be able to give our pupils this wonderful opportunity to work within the local community. This article was written by Jack, Henry and Jasmine from Year 6 St George’s Primary School Langton Matravers

The Purbeck Gazette

Purbeck Folk Festival

ith a stellar musical line up of international artists and loads to do for all the family, Purbeck Folk Festival is proud to announce its very own real ale, Buzz Lightbeer. Brewed exclusively for the Festival by the Isle of Purbeck Brewery in Studland, Buzz Lightbeer is a golden beer made with prime Purbeck honey. “We wanted to create a beer that reflected the nature of Purbeck Folk Festival so it’s a lovely, laid back, heady honey beer that’s really summery with some wonderful local heather notes – a proper taste of Purbeck!” says Isle of Purbeck’s Pippa Lightbown. In all Purbeck Folk Festival is welcoming more than 50 beers and some 20 ciders this year to a 600-acre working sheep farm at Langton Matravers from 21 to 24 August where the music bill is headlined by Turin Brakes, Lloyd Cole, Eddi Reader, Idlewild Acoustic, The South, Chris Wood, Nizlopi and Sally Barker from BBC’s The Voice. The four festival stages and bar are contained in covered barns, but outside there is a wealth of activities including bushcraft workshops, storytelling, singing sessions, fancy dress parade, the hilarious beard-off contest, amazing art interventions, films and a poetry slam. The Salt Pig will also host a hog roast. Weekend tickets for Purbeck Folk Festival are available at www. purbeckfolk.co.uk, or by phone on 023 8071 1818. A limited number of day tickets are also available.

Wareham St Mary Young Artists

hildren from Years 2 and Reception were recently presented with Gold and Bronze awards respectively for their colourful and creative banners, constructed from textiles, in the ‘Young Artists’ category for Purbeck Arts Week. During workshops sessions at the school with local textile artist Jane Colquhoun, children from Reception to Year 5 constructed material-based banners representative of class topics, including ‘Nocturnal Animals’, ‘The Mayans’ and ‘Rain Forests’. The resulting works of art were displayed at Rollington Barns, Corfe Castle, alongside photographs of the school workshops in action. At an awards ceremony on Thursday 22nd May, Tim Arnold, Chairman of Purbeck Arts Week, presented representatives from the two classes with their awards, watched by other pupils, parents and teachers from the school. Following the ceremony, the children, parents and teachers enjoyed icecream and entertainment from a local musician. The banners will shortly be returned to the school and be displayed proudly in the hall.

The Purbeck Gazette

Wareham Carnival Carnival 2014 2014 Wareham

The Purbeck Gazette

Pain

Treat It, Don’t Let It Become Chronic

n the last decade we have learnt how acute pain from muscles, joints or internal organs can develop into chronic widespread pain/fibromyalgia. Pain messages enter the spinal cord ‘exciting’ the area which becomes more alert to further messages. Specific areas of the brain are alerted, action is taken or another area sends a message back down to inhibit or block the pain. Injured soldiers carry on fighting, marathon runners and dancers continue through pain. Injuries and pain should subside in three months. If the pain messages continue the spinal cord and brain pain areas become sensitised and pain inhibition malfunctions. Normal sensations such as light and touch can now feel like pain. The increased sensitivity can be to movement, bright lights, sounds or smells! It can be easy to put up with pain, doctors are busy, physiotherapy departments have waiting lists and perhaps the pain will just go away. If the pain starts to ‘wind up’ - spreading from place to place, anxiety builds up, the imagination augments the situation and now brain areas for emotion also become sensitised. All manual therapies aim to prevent or resolve pain. Trigger points in muscles are one of the culprits of continuous pain messages. Massage can desensitise these often hidden areas, also aiding tissue healing and relaxing stress. Joint misalignment from injury or awkward working positions can trigger both the muscles and the pain messages. Early readjustments with chiropractic treatment can prevent ‘wind up’. Acupuncture needles appear ‘magical’ to western minds but the tip of each needle effects parts of the brain. Trigger points respond and other points influence other brain areas which we now know can all be sensitised. Movement and posture training at the right time are vital as pain alters our posture and the way our muscles control movement. This is often forgotten once the initial acute pain subsides but later the pain returns with minimal cause. At Swanage Therapy Centre we offer all these skills. We hope to explain the cause of the pain, we give time to talk, we listen to your concerns and beliefs and we pool our skills to help our clients. We offer a free fifteen minute consultation and advice on who might best help your pain. Please call in to 5 Court Road, Swanage or phone 01929 426506

Advertise your Health or Beauty Service HERE! See www.purbeckgazette.co.uk for rates

Edith Mason-Hubacher I.T.E.C. M.I.P.T.I B.A.U.K.

Qualified Bowen Practitioner Indian Head & Neck Massage Gift vouchers available Telephone: 01929 424956 or 07967 978 695 for details

Swanage Therapy Centre

Are you in pain? Then let us help We look forward to seeing you! T: 01929 426506 www.swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

CHIROPODY Rachel Ciantar

Home Visits & Clinic Appointments Comprehensive foot care - Diabetic Patient’s Care Biomechanics & Orthotics Registered with Society of Podiatrist & Chiropodists, HPC Registered

Contact 07979 840542 NEW PATIENTS £5 OFF FIRST TREATMENT

The Purbeck Gazette

Shortage Of Support Kate Smith, ITEC KAESO FACIALS NO Parabens, mineral oils, sulphates or propylene glycol For Dementia Sufferers HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY, WAXING,

ne in five people affected by dementia (21 per cent) were given no information and support after a dementia diagnosis, finds a poll carried out by the Alzheimer’s Society. The poll of people with dementia, carers and people with a family member or friend with dementia, reveals a desperate shortage of post-diagnosis support provision, with 90 per cent of those surveyed dissatisfied with the amount of information and support provided. The Alzheimer’s Society has launched a new campaign, Right to Know, to ensure people with dementia get a diagnosis and, following that, access to vital information, support and available treatments. The campaign is launched to voice concerns of people affected by dementia, with 97 per cent of respondents agreeing that the Government should do more to support people who have a dementia diagnosis. Tony, a person with dementia from the South West said: “I was diagnosed with dementia fifteen years ago and in my case, I received lots of information and support from medical professionals but I would like to see more empathy and understanding from companies and government bodies, and positive help to encourage the person receiving a diagnosis to live life to the full – it is possible to live well with dementia.” As well as improving post-diagnosis support provision, the charity is calling for: • A 66 per cent dementia diagnosis rate across all areas – with a commitment now to reach 75 per cent by 2017 • No one to wait longer than 12 weeks from seeing their GP to diagnosis • A guarantee that everyone has access to a Dementia Adviser or equivalent following a diagnosis Of the 85,000+ people living with dementia in the South West, less than 46 per cent currently have a formal diagnosis. There is wide regional variation in diagnosis rates. In the best performing areas 75 per cent of people with dementia currently have a diagnosis, while in others little more than one in three people with dementia get diagnosed.

Hair Chop For Charity!

y twenty-four year old daughter, Kirsten Jennings, had her hair chopped off for charity. She had grown it for her wedding which took place last month and decided to have it shaved off so two charities could befit, Heroes Haven and Little Princess Trust. Heroes Haven is in Swanage, and provides especially adapted holiday accommodation for serving and ex serving injured personal, be it missing limbs, lost of sight, those suffering from Combat Stress Disorder, etc. The other charity benefiting is The Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs for children with hair loss. Kirsten is donating the hair she had cut off today, along with the hair she had cut off thirteen years ago when she was just eleven years old. Kirsten will also be donating a cheque for £100 which was kindly given by Swanage Conservative Club. To date she has raised in the region of £1,500 for Heroes Haven but donations are still coming in. Should any of your readers feel like they would like to donate to this worth while cause, there is a Just Giving Page or donations can be handed in to Innovation Hair & Beauty Salon, 63 Kings Road West, Swanage.

MANICURE, PEDICURE, SHELLAC Kate Smith is available at:

RubyTuesdays Tilly Mews, Swanage Call Kate for details on 07505 313179

Advertise your Health or Beauty Service HERE! See www.purbeckgazette.co.uk for rates

The Purbeck Gazette

Matron’s Round

Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

Hello again from Swanage and Wareham Hospitals! ummer holidays, yippee – what a great time of year, so much fun to be had! It also means the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) located at Swanage Hospital is embarking on its busiest time of the year. The MIU is open all year round and led by a team of experienced nurses, who have a wealth of knowledge and skills at their disposal. They have all undertaken advanced level training in order to be able to give advice and provide care and treatment as necessary. We would like to take this opportunity to give some tips for keeping safe and healthy during the school holidays; When out in the sun ensure that hats and sunglasses are worn and high factor sun cream is regularly applied. Avoid the midday sun (12.00 – 15.00) During the hot weather stay hydrated, keep a drink with you – water is best. Beware of weever fish when going in the sea, as they can give a nasty sting, it is a good idea to wear jelly shoes. During the warm weather when walking through long grass, ticks can attach themselves to people. To prevent this, wear closed in shoes, boots or trainers and long trousers. Always wear a helmet when cycling and ensure children have appropriate additional protection such as knee protectors and elbow pads when on scooters and skateboards.

When using disposable BBQ’s ensure children keep away from them. Once you have finished cooking with them fully extinguish and dispose of safely. If a child sustains an injury try to stay calm which will help prevent the child becoming distressed. If necessary give pain relief, this will not mask symptoms for any future assessment. Ensure you have a supply of pain relief and anti-histamine suitable for adults and children in your first aid kit. Most of all whether you live locally or are here on holiday we hope you all enjoy the summertime. Until next time, take care Matron Jane

Swanage Hospital Minor Injuries Unit Open 7 days a week from 8am - 10pm If you have an injury, we’re here to treat it! Call us on 01929 421329. We’re here for YOU, so use our services!

Celebrations At Philip Mills Hair Salon!

Treat your sun-stressed hair and have a Conditioning Treatment HALF PRICE with a wash, cut & blow-dry throughout August (Must be booked in advance, and bring this voucher with you. Only £5.25!)

hilip Mills celebrated thirty years of hairdressing in June, holding a celebration evening at the salon in North Street, Wareham. Staff, customers and past associates of Philip’s joined the crew of Philip Mills Hair Design Salon for a special evening which, true to Philip’s style, doubled as a charity event - raising money for Dorset Young Carers. This is a cause close to Philip’s heart, and he has run several fundraisers for the charity, which supports those youngsters in our community who have the added responsibility of caring for a family member as they grow up. The Gazette went along and were delighted to see so many turn up to celebrate with the team, as well as taking part in competitions to raise money for charity. A massive well done to all at Philip Mills!

Models required for BLOW DRYS from Thurs 21 August, every other week from 4pm onwards. Only £7.50. Book early! Also CUTS £15 and Colour from £15

49 North Street, Wareham, Dorset BH20 4AD

Tel: 01929 551855

The Purbeck Gazette

Sport

une was another busy month for the Club with a variety of activities taking place, and planning for the summer events of the carnival and rowing challenges ahead. The Open Rowing sessions on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings are now very busy with members of the public coming into the new Boathouse to have a look at the gigs and then coming to try a row on the water. The summer weather is ideal for the members who prefer to row for pleasure and fitness rather than racing at regattas and so we often have several boats at a time on the water during the day and at weekends with crews enjoying the long evenings. The club rowers have been to several events and returned with some medals and cups to show for their efforts. On the 21st June crews went to Saltash in Cornwall for the Veterans regatta – rowing is a fitness activity which can be enjoyed at any age, and it reflects the number of rowers over forty who want to race, and this regatta has the advantage of allowing older crews to race against others of a similar age group. In bright weather both the ladies’ and men’s crews all made it through to finals with the Ladies claiming to be the fastest crew outside Cornwall! The following week, a crew set off to Plymouth for the Eddystone Challenge, a gruelling 28 mile row round the lighthouse and back – unfortunately the weather was too rough for some of the smaller craft

and the alternative race around the Sound was run over some 17 miles. Rowing in Old Harry, Swanage overtook and then held off Teignmouth over two and a half hours to win the class by 30 seconds and collect the trophy. At the same time, 250 miles to the east SSRC took part in the Langstone Cutters regatta with some of our newest members. Ladies winning medals for an excellent 3rd place in their first event, and the mixed crew beating some men’s crews much to their delight. On the 29th June another crew took part in the Round Hayling Island event rowing 13 miles in 2hrs 39mins. All those who took part said it was a very enjoyable event, and celebratory mugs and certificates were given to all participating crews. The Club has also seen a significant rise in the number of Juniors coming to the Monday evening sessions, with two boats of juniors on the water and others practicing on rowing machines in the Boathouse, which is excellent news for the Club. A gig also supported the Swanage School Family Fun Day by giving taster sessions to some of the pupils from the beach.

Swanage Cricket Club

icky King’s Saturday 1stXI have won 4 of their 8 games in the Premier Division One to currently occupy 5th place. There have been some fantastic all-round performances from Rob Hatchard, Ricky King, Matt Thomas and Jem Warner as well as some fine bowling by Elliott Baczala and Ryan Norman and batting by both Dan and Mike Salmon. David Haines’ Saturday 2ndXI have won 5 of their 7 games to occupy 3rd place in Division 4. There have been some fine batting displays from Andy and Pete Baczala, Matt Beard, Haines, himself, Tim Ives, Joel Lowe and Paul Norman. The highlight of the bowling was Mike Nash’s 4 wicket haul - whilst Pete Barker, Matt Beard, Binoy Devasia, Dave Morton and Andy Tillman have also all performed admirably with the ball. Both of the Sunday sides have struggled this season due to a vast majority of the

players being unavailable due to University/School commitments. Despite this, Ben Baczala, Steve Kent and Mike Nash have all made significant contributions with the bat in Pete Barker’s 1stXI team and the highlight of the bowling has been the Captain’s two 5 wicket hauls, also, in Terry White’s 2ndXI - there have been some excellent all-round performances by Roger Wilcox. With regards to the Youth Section, the Under 11’s, 13’s and 15’s are all having productive League/Cup campaigns with Cameron Beard, Matt Dunster, Charlie Dyke, Safia Nadaf, Tia Norman, Mia Werndley, Sam Willcocks, Lily Wood, Alex Woods and Steve Wooley all excelling. It also gives me great pleasure to announce that Cameron Beard, Alex Woods and Tom Woolen have all made their debuts in a Senior Adult side. The club are also pleased to announce the addition of another major local Sponsor - Suttles Stone Quarries to go alongside the Club’s Principal Sponsor - Land and Wave. This is in addition to the club’s long-standing Sponsors:- Gee Whites Restaurant, Golden Bengal Indian Restaurant, Harrow House International College, PJC Accountancy Services, PTN Systems and Masala Indian Restaurant. Mike Nash (Press & Media Officer)

The Purbeck Gazette

Purbeck Marathon

ince its initial race in 2012, The Purbeck Marathon has gone from strength to strength. The 2013 event was rated the best Marathon in the UK by Runners’ World magazine. For 2014, we have increased the number of entries and we expect to be full before the closing date of 31 August 2014. Subject to availability, it will be possible to enter up the closing date through www. thepurbeckmarathon.co.uk. In 2014, The Purbeck Marathon succeeded in raising over £4,000 for local charities. We are expecting to raise even more for charity in 2014, including our designated Chairman’s Charity, The Lewis Manning Hospice. For 2014, charities are able to purchase guaranteed places in the race. These charities will also have a presence in the race finish area on Sandpit Field in Swanage, where there will also be food and drink available to runners and spectators. The Purbeck Marathon cannot take place without the help of many organisations or individuals, either on the day or supporting the event in other ways. Assistance is required in areas such as marshalling the course or manning water stations. If you would like to help you can contact us through our website www.thepurbeckmarathon.co.uk, or by e-mail at marshals@thepurbeckmarathon.co.uk. Even if you can’t help out, maybe you can come and cheer on the runners and soak up the superb atmosphere. We are proud to live in Purbeck and our Marathon is designed to show off this beautiful part of England.

Support Mark!

Swanage Bowls Club at the Pavilion Beach Gardens, Northbrook Road. ur summer bowls season continues with good weather, our new canopy and decking being appreciated by both members, visitors and onlookers. We have already acted as host to several visiting bowling clubs and have more scheduled in the coming months. For many people this is an introduction to Swanage and unfailingly visitors comment favourably on the beauty of the area and our Club’s setting, which must be one of the finest. We continue to welcome new members and are enjoying activities most days, ranging from inter-club matches for both ladies and gents, practice and instruction for those requesting it, informal roll-ups, club competitions and social get-togethers. We are especially pleased to hear from any prospective junior members and particular mention must be made of Alfie Leaton, who this year has played for our club in a Bournemouth and District game. The ladies are presently third in the Edna Paisley league and fifth in the second division of the Dorset Womens’ Bowling League. They are preparing for the prestigious June Culpin trophy. The men are fifth in the Bournemouth & District League Section 4, third in Percy Baker League 5, and competing enthusiastically in Division One of the Dorset County League. As is customary, as part of Swanage Carnival week, the Club organizes a friendly bowls drive on Monday 28th July for residents and holidaymakers for which a small charge is made for the town’s charity. Still to be enjoyed in August, our Captains’ Day (a traditional English cream tea) and President’s Day (a themed events day with a Hogroast under the new canopy) We are always pleased to hear from prospective new bowlers or those just interested to have a try on our Club nights, Friday evenings at 5.00 p.m. To arrange this or just to hear more telephone Jean Thomas on 01929 426795.

x-Gazette Sales Manager, Mark Luty will be riding the Prudential London 100 mile closed road event – Olympic Park to the Mall via the Surrey hills on August 10th to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care nurses. Mark is photographed during a recent 100 miler (for the same cause), and would be grateful for any sponsorship from readers for this worthy cause. You can donate to Marks’ justgiving page at: www.justgiving.com/DrMark-Luty. If you’re not online, you can donate cash/ cheque by hand at Gazette Towers in Commercial Road, Swanage and we’ll pass it on to Mark.

Swanage Football Club

he end of season Dorset Premier League awards evening was held recently at Weymouth Football Club. Club Chairman & Secretary Mark & Mari Watson attended and didn’t leave empty handed. The first award we received was for the Website of the year. This was an amazing achievement, as regular readers of this article will remember, just over a year ago our old website was hacked into and left us unable to access or indeed input any information. So special thanks must go to Gerald Dimarco, Alan Lay, Brian Churchill and John Peacock who have been the driving force behind getting this off the ground and inputting information onto the site on an almost daily basis. Check out our award winning site at www.swanagefc.com. The next award Mark & Mari collected was for the programme of the year “The Swan” This award goes down to the hard work, programme editor, Gareth Davies has put in and is truly fitting as Gareth leaves the post on a high. The evening didn’t end there as the Club’s photographer Trudy Lay collected second prize for her photo (see above). This was a hard job for Trudy to trawl through all the photos she has taken throughout the season - over a thousand pictures. Trudy attends every game taking over a hundred photos per game

The Purbeck Gazette

and these photos can be seen on our Website and Facebook page a day or two after the game has been played. Mark was absolutely delighted to collect these awards and the icing on the cake was in winning these awards the Club collected £400. The season is almost upon us as the 1st team begin their campaign with an exciting list of pre-season friendlies including Bournemouth Poppies, Hamworthy Utd & Wimborne Town. The DPL starts on 9 August, as Alan Lay and his management team look to improve on last season’s 7th position and we have a home fixture against Sherborne Town Reserves. A week before, on August 2nd, we welcome Wareham Rangers to Day’s Park to compete for the Axel Cup. We plan to have our youth teams playing against Wareham teams on the day prior to kick off. There will be a barbecue going throughout the day and the clubhouse bar and tea hut will also be serving refreshments. Both senior teams start the new season with new kits. The 1st team, thanks to The East Bar & Bar One and the Reserves have Miles & Son to thank for sponsoring their kit. And SAT Taxis have kindly donated polo shirts to the first team. Swans have been handed a home tie in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. Alan Lay’s side, who are back in the competition after not entering in 2013/14, will face Sydenhams Wessex One side Downton at Day’s Park on Saturday 6th September. The Robins suffered relegation from the Wessex Premier last season and will present Swans with a tough challenge to progress on the road to Wembley. They were regular opponents of Swanage during our own Wessex League days with the last meeting at Day’s Park coming in Swans final season at Step 5, with Downton winning 5-2 in late October 2001. The pitch at Day’s Park is looking better than ever. We have been looking for somewhere secure to store our lawn mowers and were delighted when Allen Lovell from D & P Lovell donated a shipping container to the Club. A big thank you must also go out to Kevin the local mobile mechanic who we called on when our Allett cylinder mower broke down. When he came out not only did he repair it for no cost to us, he also paid for the bits that needed replacing. COME ON YOU SWANS!

The Purbeck Gazette - Proudly Supporting The Swans

Swanage Tennis

athan Fowler, Head Coach at Swanage Tennis Club organised his first awards event for children on Saturday 5th July. Nathan awarded the efforts and achievements of the children who attend regular after-school coaching at the club. Each player was presented with a certificate and a medal –as well as plenty of cake and squash! With the sun shining on a glorious evening, Swanage Tennis Club Men’s first team headed off across the Sandbanks ferry bound for East Dorset Tennis club. Slightly demoralised after watching the exit of Andy Murray, the team knew that they would need to play well to beat this larger club. In idyllic conditions: warm and without the need for artificial lighting -Swanage had a battle on their hands. It was an interesting meet in that both the first pairing of Mike Angell and Jeff Veale and the second pairing of Paul Lowry and Jamie McDonald had really good competitive games against the younger East Dorset first pairing, eventually losing 7 -6, 6-4 and 6-3, 6 -2.

The East Dorset second pair posed a completely different challenge to the Swanage team. Unlike the fit, hard hitting, agile nature of the first pair, the second more experienced couple cleverly and cunningly mixed their shots and placed the ball exactly where they wanted it. They dazzled their way to victory in both matches. Mike Angell commented that the two East Dorset pairs were like ‘chalk and cheese’. And so – like Murray, the Swanage Team returned home a little frustrated and disappointed. Ladies Corfe Mullen away: 2:2 rubbers (Swanage lost on games) David Lloyd home: Lost 0-4 rubbers Mixed 1 Sandleheath home: Lost 1:3 rubbers Mixed 2 St Leonards home. Lost 1:3 rubbers Mens Pugs Hole: 2:2 rubbers (Swanage lost by one game)

The Purbeck Gazette

Spotlight Event Diary

Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £5 plus VAT per entry, per month. DEADLINE for Sept is noon, 8th Aug KEY: * = Start time not known or n/a; Ffi = for further information; Sw = Swanage; Wm = Wareham; VH = Village Hall, Telephone code 01929 unless otherwise stated.

AUGUST 2014

Fri 1 *

Sunset Diesel Shuttle Service ‘Let the train take the strain’. Last train from Swanage at 11pm. * ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ RNLI Timeline Exhibition of artefacts and photographs from Swanage station. At Durlston Country Park. Stone Carving Festival At The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. * 10:00 ‘A Dorset Woman at War’ At Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. ‘Mabel Stobart and the Retreat from Serbia 1915’. Ffi: 01305 262 735 11:00 Purbeck Artists and Stallholders At Worth Matravers Village Hall. Crafts, Arts, Cakes, Jellies, Jams & Chutneys, Flowers, Cream Teas, & Purbeck Ice Cream. 10:00 100th Annual Exhibition of Arts & Crafts At The Purbeck School, Wareham. Art, photography, crafts, demonstrations, childrens activities. Adults £5, Seniors £4, Family Ticket £10 Free parking, disabled access, refreshments. Ffi: www.dorsetartsandcrafts.org 18:30 Isle of Purbeck Model Railway Group Meets at Furzebrook Village Hall, Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR. Entrance £2, children 50p. For further information contact Terry Jenkins -07960 691479. 19:45 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting At Wareham Day Centre, Bonnets Lane, Wareham. A meeting on the first Friday of every month to answer any questions about alcohol misuse and alcoholism. Proffessionals and members of the public concerned about family or friends are welcome to attend. Free. Ffi: www.westdorsetaa.org.uk 21:00 Boyle Monti Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 2nd * Roses Pawn Shop & many other acts Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 10:00 100th Annual Exhibition of Arts & Crafts At The Purbeck School, Wareham. Art, photography, crafts, demonstrations, childrens activities. Adults £5, Seniors £4, Family Ticket £10 Free parking, disabled access, refreshments. Ffi: www.dorsetartsandcrafts.org 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet and park at Scotland farm for a circular walk on Rempstone Heath, mostly on forest tracks, with no steep slopes or stiles. Ffi 01929 425165. 10:00 Great Dorset Chilli Festival held with the kind permission of the Earl of Shaftesbury at St Giles Park, stalls selling all things chilli, from pepper plants to cayenne condiments and seeds to ceramics. Artisan food producers, spicy street food vendors, ice cream, cooking demonstrations from top chefs, talks from some of the best spice retailers and chilli growers, beer and cider tents, music tent and falconry displays. A blind tasting competition, judged by the public in the Tasting Tent, Exhibition tent and a chilli eating competion; strictly not for the feint hearted! Join us at this fun, friendly festival guaranteed to be Dorset’s hottest event! 14:00 Three Parishes Fete at Church Knowle Purbeck’s most traditional family fete. Traditional stalls, funfair & children sports, BBQ, cream teas & ice creams. Valuable prizes in the Grand Draw. Proceeds to local churches & charities. ONLY £1 entry. Children & parking FREE. 14:00 The Lytchett Matravers Flower, Craft and Produce fair. In the village hall. Come and enjoy this traditional village show. There will be displays of vegetables, flowers, crafts, cakes, preserves, wine, art, photography and a children’s section. See stunning flower arrangements whilst enjoying tea and cakes. Cups and trophies will be awarded at about 4PM. There will also be a plant stall and tombola. Profits raised will be donated to local worthy causes. 21:45 Swanage Carnival Fireworks (Amended launch site - please see brochure for details) Sun 3rd * Stone Carving Festival At The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers. 10:30 Swanage Pier Fun Day Local seafood, BSAC Dive Club ‘Live Link’, Tombola, Catch a Fish, Golf, Treasure Hunt, Human Fruit Machine and more! 11:00 Companion Dog Show and Family Fun Day At Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary, Church Knowle. Stalls, competitions, BBQ, and much more! Evtry £3 adults, £1 children (12 and under). 14:00 Mother Uckers Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 14:30 Wildlife Photography Walk At Durlston Castle. £5 booking required. Mon 4th 21:00 Woohoo Revue Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Tue 5th 10:00 Cottees Antiques, Collectables and General Antiques, Collectables and

General Auction. Viewing on Saturday prior to sale 10am - 12 midday and Monday prior to sale 9.30am - 5pm or Morning of Sale from 9am. Catalogue online www.cottees.co.uk For further information contact 01929 552 826 19:30 ‘It Runs in the Family’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Box Office: 01929 422239 21:00 Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Wed 6th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Worth Matravers Walkers CP for circular walk via Hill Bottom, West Hill and Emmetts Hill. Ffi 01929 426926. 14:00 NGS Gardens Open At “Stonerise” 25 Newton Road, Swanage. 18:00 Raft Race At Wareham Quay. Bar, BBQ, childrens tractor slalom. Music by The Other Guys. 19:30 ‘It Runs in the Family’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Box Office: 01929 422239 21:00 Broken Boat Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Thu 7th 10:00 Fete & Craft Fair On Sandpit Field. Stalls, crafts, entertainments, games, raffle and much more! www.swanagerotary.org 21:00 Kangaroo Moon Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Fri 8th * Swanage Lifeboat Week Various events in and around Swanage. Ffi: www. slbw.org.uk 08:00 Open Golf Competition Swanage Lifeboat week event at East Dorset Golf Club 09:00 Mountain Firework Co. Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 21:00 Lucas Raye Live music at The Greyhound Inn, Corfe Castle Sat 9th * ‘Robin Hood’ By Illyria. At Corfe Castle. Ffi: 01929 481291 www. nationaltrust.org.uk/corfecastle 10:00 Swanage Lifeboat Station Open Day A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 10:30 Swanage Walking Group Meet and park near Portland Castle for all day 9 mile walk on Isle of Portland. Ffi 01929 422554. Sun 10th 09:00 Swanage Angling Club Comp A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 09:00 Charity Duck Race A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. Ducks on sale in town £1 from 9am. Race from The Post Office at 3pm, Swanage, finish at The Mowlem. 10.00 Flux n Flame Jewellery School Open Day. To celebrate our 11th birthday, Flux n Flame Jewellery School in Milton Abbas are holding an open day. Silversmithing and jewellery-making demonstrations, fairtrade gemstones, exhibition of students’ work alongside latest jewellery collections from awardwinning designers Jesa & Al Marshall. Email smilealot@fluxnflame.co.uk for further details. 14:00 Hightown Crows Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Mon 11th 19:00 Outdoor Theatre ‘Treasure Island’ At Prince Albert Gardens, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. Tue 12th 17:30 Swanage Sailing Club, Junior Race A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. Wed 13th * ‘The Case of Captain McManus’ By Double Act. At Corfe Castle. Ffi: 01929 481291 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfecastle 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Kingston Walkers CP for a circular walk via West Lynch, Blashenwell Farm and East & West Orchard Farms. Ffi 01929 426926. 14:00 Stoborough WI Garden Party - venue t.b.a. 14:00 NGS Gardens Open At “Stonerise” 25 Newton Road, Swanage. 18:30 Fish & Chip Cruise Leaving Swanage Pier, to Poole Quay and back for the fireworks. Tickets call 01929 425806. 19:00 Food and Drink Festival with Tractor Races At Wareham Quay. Bar, BBQ, stalls and fairground rides. Fireworks. Music by Where’s Clive. 19:00 VIP Boathouse Guided Tours A Swanage Lifeboat Week event, (tickets £10). 20:00 Kreg Weiselman Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Thu 14th 18:00 Gig Race At The Main Beach, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 18:30 Swanage Sailing Club Senior Race A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. Fri 15th

10:00 Swanage Disabled Club Handicraft Sale At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone Rd, plus books, tea/coffee available. 18:00 Live Music, Bar & BBQ At Prince Albert Gardens, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 20:00 Emily Mcquire Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Sat 16th * George’s Marvellous Medicine By Illyria At Corfe Castle. Ffi: 01929 481291 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfecastle 10:00 GRAND BAZAAR At The Catholic Church all, Rempstone Rd, Swanage (organised by Emmanuel Baptist Church). Loads of stuff on offer ... household, toys, pictures, ornaments, books, CDs, DVDs, home produce and much, much more! be there early before it’s all sold out! 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet and park at far end of Corfe Mullen car park by village hall for circular walk around Corfe Mullen. Ffi 01202 623230. 10:00 Books, Coffee and Cake At Moreton Village Hall (DT2 8RF) 10am to 12 noon FREE ENTRY Huge selection of books for just 25p a book. Home made/ grown produce and crafts too . Donation of books always welcome. Make a morning of it in Moreton - visit Lawrence of Arabia’s Grave and the beautiful etched glass windows in the Church. For more details contact Maeve 01929 463221 or moretonvillagehall@talktalk.net website: www.moretonvillagehall. btck.co.uk 11:00 Lifeboat Festival & Fair At Prince Albert Gardens, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 12:00 Build a Boat Comp At Prince Albert Gardens. Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 16:00 Build a Boat Race The Stone Quay, Swanage. Swanage Lifeboat Week event 17:00 Raft Race Main Beach, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 18:00 Live Music, Bar & BBQ At Prince Albert Gardens, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 19:00 Open Air Cinema At Knoll Beach, Studland. ‘Hairspray’ (PG). Gates Open at 7pm. Tickets £13 to include fish & chip supper. www.purbeckfilm.com 20:00 Radio Banska Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Sun 17th 09:00 Lifeboat Fun Run From Prince Albert Gardens. 8am sign in. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 10:00 Craft Fayre At Church Knowle Village Hall, 20 traditional crafts, bring and buy stall, refreshments and cream teas served all day, picnic tables provided. Make the most of your outing by visiting St Peter’s Church and the Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary. Entry £1.00, children free. For more information telephone 01929 480951. Email: grant258@btinternet.com 11:00 Lifeboat Festival & Fair At Prince Albert Gardens, Swanage. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 11:00 Creech Grange Open By Invitation of Norman Hayward. 14:00 Eva Abraham Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. 19:00 Lifeboat Service At Swanage Pier. A Swanage Lifeboat Week event. 19:30 ‘Walking on Sunshine’ 12A At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Box Office: 01929 422239 Mon 18th 19:30 ‘Walking on Sunshine’ 12A At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Box Office: 01929 422239 Tue 19th 10:00 Cottees Collectables and General Antiques, Collectables and General Auction. Viewing on Saturday prior to sale 10am - 12 midday and Monday prior to sale 9.30am - 5pm or Morning of Sale from 9am. Catalogue online www.cottees.co.uk For further information contact 01929 552 826 14:00 New Christian Spiritualist Church At The Community Hall at Queensmead Swanage. Wed 20th * Canoe Club Regatta with Barn Dance At Wareham Quay. Shanty singing, barn dance with Black Sheep, fireworks. 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Stour Meadows Car Park, Blandford for an all-day walk to Stourpaine and back, outward along Stour Valley Way. Ffi 01929 422795. 14:00 NGS Gardens Open At “Stonerise” 25 Newton Road, Swanage. 20:00 Tori Reed Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Thu 21st * Purbeck Folk Festival Ffi: www.purbeckfolk.co.uk - see you in the woods! 12:00 Summer Fete On Sandpit Field, Swanage. Free family sports and traditional stalls. Profits to the Lions Charities. 20:00 Wareham Whalers Folk Night At The Anglebury House, in North Street, Wareham. All are welcome to sing, dance, tell stories or just listen. No charge Ffi 01929 551979 Fri 22nd 20:00 Kent duChaine Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers. Sat 23rd * Purbeck Produce Farmers Market At Commercial road, Swanage. www. purbeckproducts.co.uk 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at the Community Centre in centre of Lytchett Matravers for an open country and woodland walk. Ffi 01202 623230. 10:00 NCI Coastwatch Open Days At St Alban’s Head, Worth Matravers. 14:00 Garden Fete At St Edwards RC Church, Shatters Hill, Wareham. Sun 24th

The Purbeck Gazette 10:00 NCI Coastwatch Open Days At St Alban’s Head, Worth Matravers. Mon 25th 10:00 NCI Coastwatch Open Days At St Alban’s Head, Worth Matravers. 12:00 Harman’s Cross Field Day Gymkhana, flower show, fete. Entrance £1. Free parking! Tue 26th 10:00 Art Exhibition At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Wed 27th * Open Air Cinema At Lulworth Castle. ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Ffi: www. thelunacinema.com 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Ballard Stores (North Swanage) for a circular walk around Ulwell, via Whitecliff Farm, Ballard Down, and Knitson Farm. Ffi 01929 422795. 14:00 NGS Gardens Open At “Stonerise” 25 Newton Road, Swanage. 19:00 Grand Finale At Wareham Quay. Queen tribute band, bar, BBQ, stalls, fireworks. Music by The Great Pretender & Jim Etherington. Thu 28th * Open Air Cinema At Lulworth Castle. ‘Mama Mia’. Ffi: www.thelunacinema. com Fri 29th 10:00 Art Exhibition At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. Sat 30th 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet on West side of South Bridge, Wareham for mostly level walk along west and north walls to Swineham Point returning alongside river. Ffi 01929 427387. 12:00 Grand Fete At St Marys Church Lawns, Swanage. Sun 31st 10:00 Art Exhibition At The Catholic Hall, Rempstone rd, Swanage. 14:00 Roving Crows Live Music at The Square & Compass Pub, Worth Matravers.

WEEKLY EVENTS

EVERY MONDAY 09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH. 09.30 Notelets Music Group for under 5s at Parish Hall, Wm. 09.45 Toddler Club URC, Sw. Till 11.15 10.00 Table Tennis Club Sw FC All ages/abilities £2.50 Till noon. 480093 10.30 Extend Exercise Class to improve strength, balance & flexibility. At Furzebrook VH. Donations welcome. Ffi: 471490 13.30 First Steps Group for early walkers up to 2 years old at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 3pm Ffi: 552864 14.00 Pins and Needles at Harmans Cross VH. 14.00 Swanage Disabled Club meet until 4pm. Meeting place alternates between Catholic Hall & Queensmead Hall, Sw. Transport available. Call Mrs Daphne Saville on 01929 425241 ffi. 16.45 Soccer Skills Sw FC First Sch chldn £1 Till 5.45. 425175 18.00 Sw Tennis Club Snr Club Session. 426312 19.00 Wareham Choral Society meet URC Meeting House, Chch St, Wm. Till 9. New singers always welcome. 554229/553460 19.00 Swanage Youth Club. School year 10 and upwards. Till 9.30pm 19.00 Whist. Come & join us at the Reading Room, Church Hill, Swanage. Ffi, call 07984 968733 19.00 Purbeck Chess Club. Mortons House Hotel, Corfe Castle. Ffi, call Brian Beard 425988 19.30 Purbeck Quire rehearse at Wm Methodist Church. New/visiting singers (no audition necessary). String & wind players also welcome. Ffi: 423505 or 480737. 19.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. Ffi: 553718. 19:30 Badminton & Table Tennis Club, Adults, Swanage Methodist Church Hall. Small friendly club. All levels welcome. Til 10pm. 07917 473390 19.30 Wm Folk Dance Club Stoboro’ VH. All welcome. 553519/422730 20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Sw. 20.00 Sw Conservative Club WHIST & DARTS. Sw. All welcome 20.00 Herston Hall Management C’ttee Bingo EVERY TUESDAY 09.00 First Steps Toddler’s Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 10.15am. Ffi: Tom Bullock on 421767, office hours, or tom@swanagemethodist.org.uk 09.30 Kiddies Corner Mother & Toddler Group (term time only) No fee - donations welcome. Purbeck Gateway Church. 551415 09.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. Ffi: 553718. 10.00 Sw Tennis Club Associate Club Session. Till 11. 426312 10.00 Short Tennis at Sw FC All ages & abilities £1.50 Till noon. 425175 10.30 Swanage Walking for Health Group starter walks (15-30mins). Start from the Mowlem Shelter on Swanage Seafront. Get back into the swing of things gently! Ffi: 475692 10.30 Twins Group - for Mums with Twins run by mums with twins at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 12 noon. Ante-natal mums expecting twins welcome. Ffi: 552864 11.00 Guided Church Tour at Bere Regis Parish Church. Volunteer-lead tour of this wonderful medieval church. No charge, but donations gratefully received. 13.00 Baby and Toddler Group at Harmans Cross VH.

The Purbeck Gazette

14.00 Swanage Walking for Health Group. Walks of 60-90mins, various locations. Walks are very social, for a range of abilities. Walks start from car parks at Studland, Corfe, Arne, Durlston, Langton, Acton, Worth and Kingston. Ffi: 475692. 14.00 Harman’s Cross Village Hall Art Group Till 5 14.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls. Furzebrook VH. Roll-up session, all standards welcome. Ffi 401799 17.00 Sw Tennis Club Junior Session till 6pm. 426312 18.00 Sw Youth Centre Girls’ Night (Yr 8+) Till 10 18.00 Yoga - gentle at Swanage Arts Centre, Commercial Rd, Sw. £6 for 70 mins or £20 per month. Private lessons also available. Ffi call Johanna (certified Yoga teacher): 07892 680360 18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Comm’ty Room. 423497 18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 8.30pm 18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 423497 19.00 The Mayday Singers rehearse at The Old Malthouse, Langton. New members very welcome, contact Paul Baird 07802431012 19.30 Swanage Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at Swanage Day Centre, High Street, Swanage. If you want help to stop drinking, you are welcome. Or call 01202 296000 for more details. 19.30 Sw & Langton Folk Dance Club Langton VH. Ffi: 424252 19.30 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at All Saints Ch, Ulwell, Sw. All singers welcome! 423350 20.00 Sw Regatta & Carnival Assoc Bingo Herston Leisure, Herston Yards Farm, Sw. 20.00 Sw Conservative Club Bingo, Pool & Snooker. 20.00 Carey Hall, Wm Bingo 20.00 LEAGUE POOL at the RBL Club, Sw. EVERY WEDNESDAY 09.00 St Mark’s Toddlers Group, St Mark’s Church, Swanage. Herston, Sw Till 11am 09.45 Corfe Wool Workshop Corfe VH, East St. Members £1.50; non-members £2.50. Till12.00. 427067 10.00 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome. Equipment supplied. Till noon. 10.00 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Offering peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till 12 noon. Ffi: 552864 11.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Swanage Library till 1pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities 12.30 Young Parent’s Group at Wareham Children’s Centre, Streche Road, Wm. Ffi: 552864. Till 2pm. Transport Available. 13.15 EBC TOTS meet Emmanuel Baptist Ch, Victoria Ave, Sw. Til 2.45. £1 per child. 14.00 Herston Senior Citizens meet Herston Hall, Jubilee Rd, Sw. All welcome 14.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 3pm. With Penny at the Mowlem Community Room, Sw. Ffi 07969925502 16.15 Swanage Football Club U-7s Training til 5.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346 17.15 Swanage Football Club U-9s Training til 6.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346 18.00 Swanage Youth Club. School years 7&8. Till 8.30pm 18.45 Sw Hockey Club Training Wm Sports Centre. Till 8. 424442 19.00 Sw Town Band rehearsals. Town Hall Council Chamber. Till 8.30. 426926 19.00 Wm Bridge Club at the Library, South St. 552257 19.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club Roll-up evening Furzebrook VH. 401799 19.30 Swanage Musical Theatre meet Swanage Bay View Complex Rehearsal Room. All welcome. Ffi: 426161 19.45 Badminton Group meet at the Purbeck Sports Centre until 9.15pm for games of mixed doubles. Ffi, please call Kate on 01929 421806 or email katespurling@ btinternet.com 20.00 Sw Youth Centre Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 10 20.00 Sw Royal British Legion BINGO. High St, Sw 20.15 Dorset Buttons Morris Practice. URC Hall, Wm. 423234/421130 20.30 Wm Swimming Club Adults. All standards + stroke improvement. Till 10 22.00 Sw Youth Centre Club Night (16+) Till 11.59 EVERY THURSDAY 08.30 Wm Home Producers Veg, cakes, plants, flowers, handicrafts. URC. New producers/helpers welcome. Till 11. 553798 09.00 Swanage Painting Club. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Friendly group. New members including beginners welcome. Till 1pm. Ffi: Jan on 01929 480471 09.30 Pottery Classes held in Wareham. Till 11.30am. For details contact Rachel 01929 480455 to book 15pw. 10.00 PEEP for 2 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. A six week course in early childhood learning. Please call to book a place on 552864. Till 11.30am 10.00 Wm Parent & Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45. 556806 10.30 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club Drop In Coffee Morning. Arts Centre, Commercial Rd, Sw. Til 12 noon. Come see find out what the Arts Club does. 10.00 Wool Country Market D’Urbeville Hall. Cakes, preserves, plants, crafts, vegetables. Coffee & biscuits available. 10.00 Sw Tennis Club Associate Club Session. Til 11am. 426312 10.00 Tea, Coffee, Biscuits at Queensmead Hall, Sw. Til 11am. Adm 50p 10.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Wareham Library till 12pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities. 10.30 Harman’s Cross Village Hall Chinese Art Group 10.30 Mid-Week Market Morning Service URC, Church St, Wm. Prayer requests to

Revd. Simon Franklin 556976 13.30 Under 1 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Anti-natal mums welcome. Till 3pm. Ffi: 552864. 13.30 Toddler Group. All Saints’ Church, Sw. 423937. Till 3pm (Term times) 14.00 Life drawing classes at Harmans Cross Village Hall from 2pm till 4pm. For further information, ring 427621. 14.15 Sw Over-60s Meet in the URC Hall, High Street, Sw. All Welcome. 15.00 Guided Church Tour at Bere Regis Parish Church. Volunteer-lead tour of this wonderful medieval church. No charge, but donations gratefully received. 17.45 Swanage Youth Club. Learning Difficulties and disability (age 11-25) night. Till 7.30pm 18.00 Five High Singers, United Reformed Church Hall, Swanage. 11 - 18 years. Till 7pm 18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 9pm 18.30 Swanage Sea Rowing Club Circuit Training at Swanage Middle School. Ffi: 07776 201455 19.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 8pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 19.00 Purbeck Gateway Club meets at Wareham Youth Centre until 9pm. Purbeck Gateway is a club for adults with learning difficulties. We meet during term time and have fun! All welcome. Ffi: Lew on 552173. Email: Lewisbell1@aol.com 19.15 Wm Town Band Brass & Woodwind players welcome. 551478/01202 242147 19.30 Short Mat Bowls in the Durbeville Hall, Wool. All standards welcome, till 9.30pm. Ffi: 552682 19.30 Sw Conservative Club Line Dancing 19.30 IoP Arts Club Choir meets till 9.30pm at Swanage First School (NOT Dec 14, 21, 28, Jan 4, Feb 22, Apr 5,12) till May 10 19.30 Swanage Youth Club Youth Action (year 7 - sixth form). Till 9.30pm 20.00 Swanage Conservative Club Shove Ha’penny. 20.00 Herston Hall OAP Committee Bingo Sw EVERY FRIDAY 09.00 Stay & Play at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 10.30am. Ffi 552864. 09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 09.30 Little Fishes Baby and Toddler Group. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Term time only. Until 11.30am. Ffi: Alex on 07904 412067. 10.00 Table Tennis Club Sw FC All ages/abilities £2.50 Till noon. 480093 11.00 Toddler Time For Under 5s And Carers. Wareham Library. Stories, songs and crafts. Every Friday, including school holidays. Ffi: 01929 556146 14.00 Pottery Classes held in Corfe Castle. 2 - 5pm. Call Rachel 01929 480455 to book. £10pw 14.30 Short Mat Bowls at Durbeville Hall, Wool. Till 4.30pm. All standards welcome. Ffi: 552682. 18.00 Purbeck War-Game & Model Club. Lower Salvation Army Hall, Kings Rd East, Sw. 426096 (shop hours) 18.00 Sw Youth Centre Club 12-13 (Yr 7-9) Till 8 18.00 Sw Tennis Club Senior Club Session. 426312 18.15 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 423497 19.00 Sw Youth Centre Seniors Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 9.30pm. 19.00 Swanage Scouts meet during term time at the URC Church Hall, Sw. Open to boys & girls aged 10-14 years. Ffi: swanagescouts4th@hotmal.co.uk 19.30 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome. Equipment supplied. Till 9.30pm. £3. 20.00 BINGO & TEXAS Hold’em Poker at R.B.L. Club, Swanage. 20.00 Sw Youth Centre Live Bands (as advertised) Till 10pm. 22.00 Sw Youth Centre Late Session (Yr 9+) till 11.59pm (members free) EVERY SATURDAY 09.00 Sw CC U11 - U15 Practice till 10.30 09.30 Sw CC U9 & U10 Practice & Kwik Cricket till 10.30 10.00 Men Behaving Dadly - Group for Dads/Grandads/Male Carers & their children at both Wareham and Swanage Children’s Centres till noon. Bacon sandwiches available! Call 552864 to find out what’s happening where this week and to book a space. 10.00 Tea, coffee and home-made cakes in the Parish Hall on Wareham Quay during the Community Market. Til 2pm. Bric-a-Brac stall weekly. Christian bookstall .most weeks. All welcome for a warm-up and a friendly chat. 20.00 Herston OAP Committee Bingo at Herston Hall, Sw EVERY SUNDAY Gay Women’s Walking Group meet most Sundays for a walk around Swanage * and beyond. We’re a friendly, supportive group for gay or bisexual women. Ffi: 07964 659100 or email outandabout.purbeck@gmail.com 09.45 Skyscrapers Children’s Group at Swanage Methodist Church Hall. Including a cooked breakfast, games and fun bible stories, ages 0-11. Ffi: Tom Bullock on 421767, office hours, or tom@swanagemethodist.org.uk 10.00 Arts and Crafts Market at the Mowlem in Swanage. A wide range of local art for sale, including pottery, glass, cards, fabric and much more! To book your table, or for more information, call Tony on 01929 421321. 10.30 Stoborough Emmanuel Baptist Church meet at Stoborough First School, Stoborough. All very welcome. 13.00 Sw Royal British Legion BINGO. High St, Sw. 13.15 Sw Conservative Club Members Draw

The Purbeck Gazette

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NJA Specialist Tree Care All aspects of Tree Surgery & Hedgework undertaken Fully insured and NPTC Qualified Free Quotations and advice 07703 210647 or 01929 481600

Windows & Doors supplied & fitted General Building & Repairs

FENSA Tel: 01929 481496 Mobile: 07796 237351 Email: L.Lander@btinternet.com

MAINTENANCE TEAM Painting & Decorating Plumbing & Heating Roofing & Guttering, Fencing, Shed Felts FREE ESTIMATES Dean or Kevin: 01929 448446 or: 0782-672-9176

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING SINGER / PIANIST / KEYBOARDS

SWANAGE & DORSET

EASY LISTENING FOR ALL OCCASIONS VOCALS / PIANO

CANNON SCAFFOLDING ANDREW 01929 421401 All aspects of Residential & Commercial Scaffolding Emergency Call Outs - Free Quotations & Estimates Temporary Roof Coverings - Fully Insured

IDEAL SKIP HIRE

OUR PRICE WON’T BE BEATEN

Skips from 2 - 40yds

01929 424553 01258 858214 07813 346993

SAND GRAVEL HARDCORE SHINGLE & TOP SOIL

ROOFING SPECIALIST SPARROW’S

Boiler Service & Repair Specialist Gas Certificates & Installations All Types of Work Undertaken: Plumbing, Electrical, Kitchen, Bathrooms & General Maintenance

Over 30 years Membership Federation of Master Builders

NO JOB TOO SMALL 01929 421156 07974 077885 The Premier Trade Organisation High Performance Flat Roofing Specialists Re-Roofing - Slating & Tiling Roof Repairs - UPVC Facias & Gutters Chimneys Removed or Repointed sparrowroof@gmail.com

Purbeck Aerials

SKY - LOW PRICES RICHARD HARVEY 07976 222887 / 01929 553705 SAME DAY SERVICE Local engineer - OAP Discount - Free Quotes www.purbeckaerials.co.uk

Roy Osmond Ltd Traditional Forge Works Light Fabrication, Security Grills, Hand & Balcony Rails, Fire Escapes & Bespoke Work To Your Specification

Contact Roy Osmond on: 01929 400520 or mobile: 0779 6044859

DORSET FLOORING

Tel no: 07774 132154 (mobile)

Swanage-based

SWANAGE & DORSET

Reg. No: 510565

ROOFING

ALL ASPECTS OF ROOFING WORK

Flat roofing Re-roofs, Slate or Tile All repair works Free Quotations

01929 424553 07813 346993

Available loose or in 25kg & 1 ton bags Delivery or Collection

Trade & DIY customers welcome A Fast, Friendly & Efficient Service

TEL: 01929 422980 JIM BAGGLEY BUILDING SERVICES Ltd Renovations, Alterations, Extensions, New Cut Roofs, Loft Conversions, Upvc Windows & Doors, Carpentry & Joinery

Tel: 01305 852311 or 07879 817662

Email: jessjim@baggleyltd.wanadoo.co.uk

PURBECK PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE Central Heating Installation, Cylinder Replacement, Solar Panels, Power Flushing of Heating System. Boiler Services/LGSC. Bathrooms. Drain Jetting.

Installers of

Swanage based Window & Door Company FENSA

Windows - Doors - Bi-fold Doors - Conservatories Fascias - Soffits - Guttering - Cladding Garage Doors - Window & Door Repairs Misted Sealed Units replaced UPVC - Aluminium - Timber Ggfi Insurance back guarantee 10 years guarantee

Carpets, Vinyls, Laminate Wood Jez Astells owner/fitter jez.astells@gmx.us

All areas covered - Free Estimates

Home Selection Service M: 0775 4263885 No Job too Small or Big T: 01929 450617 Supply & Fitting or Fitting Only

01929 550858/07831 312740

For a free, no obligation quote contact us on: Office 01929 424199 Mobile 07538 950 230 Email - redhillwindowsltd@hotmail.co.uk Web - www.redhillwindowsltd.co.uk

purbeckplumbing@yahoo.co.uk

20 years experience working in Purbeck

Contact Stephen Iles 31269

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING Established 1968

Long Established Family Firm

Felts in High Performance or GRP ALL WITH 20 YEAR GUARANTEE

Freestyle Flooring

CJS LANDSCAPES

Carpets Vinyl Tiles Wood

& Garden Maintenance

Many Years Experience

Landscaping Driveways Patios Pathways Hedge cutting Fencing Turfing Garden jungles cleared

Ian Campbell

01305 268248 or 07909 441084

01929 554292 or 07802 667250

All Garden Waste removed Free Advice Free Estimates Fully Insured Over 20 years experience

G&B

From concept to completion - 35 years in the building trade

Cjs Landscapes www.cjslandscapes.co.uk

Highest standards guaranteed Fully certified & insured No hidden charges & no VAT Call Steve at Pile-Up on 01929 553861 or 07974 529017

General Building Services Ltd

Full builds - Extensions - Loft Conversions Plumbing - Heating - Electrics Groundwork - Roofing

Call Craig J Smith on: t: 01929 551660 m:07534 217032

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

Tel: 01202 624588 - 0777 3421184 email: gandb_generalbuilding@sky.com

LYTCHETT MINSTER JOINERY LTD Specialising in purpose-made hard & soft wood joinery Staircases, Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Gates, Traditional Skirtings & Mouldings Over 25 years experience

Call Steve Rawlings: 01202 622441 or email: steve.1226@live.co.uk

Brian & Penny Armstrong

Decorators Insured & guaranteed 01929 552483 / 07743019590

Coastal Plumbing & Tiling For a friendly, reliable service, call Steve on: 07951 249299 / 01929 475632

City & Guilds qualified 23 years experience

NOT advertising is like winking at a beautiful lady in the dark, and expecting her to notice...

PLASTERER CEILINGS, WALLS, RENOVATIONS, REPAIRS FREE quotes & advice Reasonable prices - Reliable service

Tel: Rob on 01202 889811 evenings 07970 174285 daytimes www.robtheplasterer.com

From only £126 plus VAT for SIX MONTHS, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a better deal Call Joy on 01929 424293 to book

Delivering The Gazette every month

Need an EXTRA INCOME? Reliable adult distributors required in SWANAGE! Call or email Tudor NOW for further information on:

01202 813630 or mail@tudordistribution.co.uk www.tudordistribution.co.uk

Man & Van available to hire

Rubbish Clearance Half the price of a skip and we do all the work!

07767 479438 Fully licensed & insured